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Study Research (study + research)
Kinds of Study Research Terms modified by Study Research Selected AbstractsCase Study Research in PracticeJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 5 2010GARY WINSHIP phd ma rmn No abstract is available for this article. [source] Case Study Research in Applied Linguistics edited by DUFF, PATRICIA A.MODERN LANGUAGE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2009MARK ANTHONY DARHOWER No abstract is available for this article. [source] Case Study Research: Principles and Practices by John GerringAMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, Issue 1 2008DAVID SHULMAN No abstract is available for this article. [source] Summer learning and its implications: Insights from the Beginning School StudyNEW DIRECTIONS FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, Issue 114 2007Karl L. Alexander There is perhaps no more pressing issue in school policy today than the achievement gap across social lines. Achievement differences between well-to-do children and poor children and between disadvantaged racial and ethnic minorities and majority whites are large when children first begin school, and they increase over time. Despite years of study and an abundance of good intentions, these patterned achievement differences persist, but who is responsible, and how are schools implicated? The increasing gap seems to suggest that schools are unable to equalize educational opportunity or, worse still, that they actively handicap disadvantaged children. But a seasonal perspective on learning yields a rather different impression. Comparing achievement gains separately over the school year and the summer months reveals that much of the achievement gap originates over the summer period, when children are not in school. The authors review Beginning School Study research on differential summer learning across social lines (that is, by family socioeconomic level) and its implications for later schooling outcomes, including high school curriculum placements, high school dropout, and college attendance. These studies document the extent to which these large summer learning differences impede the later educational progress of children of low socioeconomic status. Practical implications are discussed, including the need for early and sustained interventions to prevent the achievement gap from opening wide in the first place and for high-quality summer programming focused on preventing differential summer learning loss. [source] Southern African social movements at the 2007 Nairobi World Social ForumGLOBAL NETWORKS, Issue 1 2009MILES LARMER Abstract How relevant is the anti-globalization movement to the ideas and activities of social movements seeking to achieve economic justice and greater democratic accountability in southern Africa? Case study research in four southern African countries (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Swaziland) indicates that, while aspects of the anti-globalization approach resonate with civil society and social movement actors (for example, an emphasis on mass participation and the internationalization of campaigning), the global social justice movement frequently displays the characteristics of globalization. These include: unaccountable decision-making; profound (yet largely unacknowledged) inequality of access to resources; and an imposed and uniform organizational form that fails to consider local conditions. The World Social Forum (WSF) held in Nairobi in January 2007 provided many southern African social movement actors with their first opportunity to participate in the global manifestation of the anti-globalization movement. The authors interviewed social movement activists across southern Africa before and during the Nairobi WSF about their experiences of the anti-globalization movement and the Social Forum. An assessment of the effectiveness of this participation leads to the conclusion that the WSF is severely limited in its capacity to provide an effective forum for these actors to express their grievances and aspirations. However, hosting national social forums, their precise form adapted to reflect widely varied conditions in southern African states that are affected by globalization in diverse ways, appears to provide an important new form of mobilization that draws on particular elements of anti-globalization praxis. [source] Evaluation and change management: rhetoric and realityHUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT JOURNAL, Issue 3 2004Denise Skinner Despite its inclusion in prescriptions that are offered for successful change management and the benefits this could bring, it is widely recognised that systematic, planned evaluation of initiatives rarely takes place. On the basis of the findings from qualitative case study research undertaken in the public sector, this article explores both the rhetoric, as represented by the literature, and the reality of evaluation in the context of three change initiatives. What emerges is the importance of informal, personal evaluation which appears both to negate the need and to act as a replacement for systematic planned evaluation for the management group. Equally significant is the evidence of informal evaluations occurring at every level of the organisation that were not recognised by management as important , and which were being neither captured nor shared, other than in a very restricted sense. Consequently, decisions were being made on the basis of an assumed reality that did not necessarily reflect the experience of those affected by the change. Rather than emphasising the need for planned, systematic evaluation processes for change initiatives, it is suggested that inclusion of approaches that facilitate recognition and sharing of perception and experience across group boundaries may be more acceptable and productive. [source] The impact of Investors in People: a case study of a hospital trustHUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT JOURNAL, Issue 3 2002Irena Grugulis This article reports on case study research conducted in a hospital trust and explores the impact that the Investors in People award had on employees. Investors in People is widely seen as the principal mechanism for increasing workforce skills within a voluntarist system as well as supporting ,good' employment policies. Yet in this case study, as elsewhere, most of the ,soft' HR initiatives had existed prior to accreditation and the internal marketing of corporate value statements was met with both amnesia and cynicism. More worrying, training activity was focused on ,business need', which was defined in the narrowest sense, with the result that some employees had fewer opportunities for individual development. Motivation and commitment levels were high, staff were enthusiastic about their work and many actively engaged in training and development. But this owed little to Investors in People, and its impact here raises questions about its influence on skill levels more broadly. [source] From preparedness to partnerships: case study research on humanitarian logisticsINTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 5 2009Rolando M. Tomasini Abstract Disasters are on the rise, more complex, and donor support is increasingly unpredictable. In response to this trend humanitarian agencies are looking for more efficient and effective solutions. This paper discusses the evolution of supply chain management in disaster relief and the role of new players like the private sector. It is based on research conducted by the Humanitarian Research Group at INSEAD. [source] Schematic representation of case study research designsJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 4 2007John P. Rosenberg Abstract Title.,Schematic representation of case study research designs Aim., The paper is a report of a study to demonstrate how the use of schematics can provide procedural clarity and promote rigour in the conduct of case study research. Background., Case study research is a methodologically flexible approach to research design that focuses on a particular case , whether an individual, a collective or a phenomenon of interest. It is known as the ,study of the particular' for its thorough investigation of particular, real-life situations and is gaining increased attention in nursing and social research. However, the methodological flexibility it offers can leave the novice researcher uncertain of suitable procedural steps required to ensure methodological rigour. Method., This article provides a real example of a case study research design that utilizes schematic representation drawn from a doctoral study of the integration of health promotion principles and practices into a palliative care organization. Discussion., The issues discussed are: (1) the definition and application of case study research design; (2) the application of schematics in research; (3) the procedural steps and their contribution to the maintenance of rigour; and (4) the benefits and risks of schematics in case study research. Conclusion., The inclusion of visual representations of design with accompanying explanatory text is recommended in reporting case study research methods. [source] A case for case studies: exploring the use of case study design in community nursing researchJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 4 2000Ann Bergen BA MSc RGN DipN DNCert Cert Ed DNT A case for case studies: exploring the use of case study design in community nursing research The case study has become an accepted vehicle for conducting research in a variety of disciplines. However, the meaning behind the term is not always made explicit by researchers and this has given rise to a number of assumptions which are open to challenge, and to questions about the robustness of the method. This paper explores some of the issues arising from one particular definition of case study research, used in a study by Yin which examined the practice of case management in community nursing. Four main areas are discussed. First, defining ,case' is seen to pose questions about the relationship of the phenomenon to its context, the degree of researcher control over case definition, the limits to what may constitute a ,case' and what is meant by the term ,unit of analysis'. Second, the relevance of external validity to case study research is supported through the use of a number of tactics, in particular Yin's concept of replication logic, which involves generalizing to theory, rather than to empirical data. Third, the use of method triangulation (multiple methods of data collection) is advanced as a means of enhancing construct validity in research where data converge around a particular theory. Finally, the relationship of the case study to theory construction, through the prior development of ,propositions' is discussed. Each of these issues is applied to the design and conduct of a research study based closely on Yin's multiple case study framework. Thirteen ,cases' were selected of case management practice and data were collected through interviews and examination of literature and documentation, to explore the suitability of community nurses for the role. It is concluded that, given the appropriate subject matter, context and research aims, the case study method may be seen as a credible option in nursing research. [source] Product specification and agribusiness chain coordination: introducing the coordination differential conceptAGRIBUSINESS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 1 2009Altair Dias de Moura As customers increasingly demand more specific products, firms are adopting new business approaches to satisfy customers and cope with competition. Efforts to satisfy ever more demanding markets appear to be associated with increased chain coordination, yet the relationship between these two factors is unclear. This research addresses the factors that affect chain coordination, focusing on the management of business processes to meet product specifications for customers. Five fresh meat New Zealand chains were the focus of multiple case study research. Results suggest that chains use different strategies and coordination mechanisms to deliver desired product specifications. More important, while product specifications are related to chain coordination as expected, the relationship is mediated by the coordination differential,the type and amount of effort that firms employ in their business processes to achieve the desired specifications. The nature and implication of the coordination differential concept are discussed. [L140, L150, L170]. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Influences On Knowledge processes In Organizational Learning: The Psychosocial FilterJOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES, Issue 6 2000Kate M. Andrews This paper reports a segment of broader theory-building case study research exploring organizational learning and knowledge processes in a bio-medical consortium. Its focus is the individual-level factors that influence knowledge processes associated with organizational learning. As we explored how rganizational learning occurred, the underlying knowledge processes came forward as complex and idiosyncratic. In an unanticipated finding, micro-processes emerged as highly influential, with individual perceptions of approachability, credibility and trustworthiness mediating knowledge importing and knowledge sharing activities. We introduce a model ,the psychosocial filter, to describe the cluster of micro-processes that were brought forward in the study. Firstly, scientists filtered knowledge porting by deciding whom they would approach for information and from whom they would accept input. The individual's confidence to initiate information requests (which we termed social confidence) and the perceived credibility of knowledge suppliers both mediated knowledge importing. Secondly, scientists mediated knowledge sharing by actively deciding with whom they would share their own knowledge. Perceived trustworthiness , based on perceptions of what olleagues were likely to do with sensitive information , was the factor that influenced knowledge-sharing decisions. Significantly, the psychosocial filter seemed to constitute a heedful process with high functionality. Its effect was not to block knowledge circulation, but instead to ensure that nowledge-sharing decisions were made in a thoughtful and deliberate way. The psychosocial filter suggests an initial framework for conceptualizing the role that individual-level processes play in organizational knowledge sharing. Building on this, the model provides a platform for more focused exploration of knowledge processes and social relationships in organizational learning. [source] The influence of core teaching conceptions on teachers' use of inquiry teaching practicesJOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING, Issue 9 2007Christine Lotter This article investigates three teachers' conceptions and use of inquiry-based instructional strategies throughout a professional development program. The professional development program consisted of a 2-week summer inquiry institute and research experience in university scientists' laboratories, as well as three academic year workshops. Insights gained from an in-depth study of these three secondary teachers resulted in a model of teacher conceptions that can be used to direct future inquiry professional development. Teachers' conceptions of inquiry teaching were established through intensive case,study research that incorporated extensive classroom observations and interviews. Through their participation in the professional development experience, the teachers gained a deeper understanding of how to implement inquiry practices in their classrooms. The teachers gained confidence and practice with inquiry methods through developing and presenting their institute-developed inquiry lessons, through observing other teachers' lessons, and participating as students in the workshop inquiry activities. Data analysis revealed that a set of four core conceptions guided the teachers' use of inquiry-based practices in their classrooms. The teachers' conceptions of science, their students, effective teaching practices, and the purpose of education influenced the type and amount of inquiry instruction performed in the high school classrooms. The research findings suggest that to be successful inquiry professional development must not only teach inquiry knowledge, but it must also assess and address teachers' core teaching conceptions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 44: 1318,1347, 2007 [source] Managing the transition from bricks-and-mortar to clicks-and-mortar: a business process perspectiveKNOWLEDGE AND PROCESS MANAGEMENT: THE JOURNAL OF CORPORATE TRANSFORMATION, Issue 3 2004David Barnes This paper reports from case study-based research that investigates the impact of the transition from bricks-and-mortar to clicks-and-mortar businesses on the management of core internal business processes. It has two main aims: firstly, to identify the business models for the processes of order fulfilment and delivery used in clicks-and-mortar e-businesses, and any organizational and environmental factors affecting these processes; secondly, to identify the main factors involved in the adoption and use of Internet-based ICTs for e-commerce in clicks-and-mortar e-businesses, and any organizational and environmental factors affecting adoption and use. Results from eight UK-based companies that have been changing from traditional bricks-and-mortar companies to clicks-and-mortar e-businesses are reported. Five main conclusions are drawn from a cross-case analysis: (1) increased integration in e-commerce business processes is inhibited by both technological and business barriers; (2) organizations display various and often confused motives for adopting e-commerce; (3) barriers to the increased adoption of e-commerce are not just technological, but also sociological and economic; (4) the adoption of e-commerce challenges existing supply network relationships; (5) the adoption of e-commerce is tending to automate rather than redesign existing business processes. A three-pronged approach to future research work in this under-researched area is recommended. This encompasses undertaking longitudinal case study research to track e-commerce developments over time, extending the range of cases to include other industry sectors (such as not for profits), and undertaking survey research across a large number of organizations, using quantitative methods, to test the generalizability of the findings from this research. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Ethics of Reflective Research in Single Case Study InquiryPERSPECTIVES IN PSYCHIATRIC CARE, Issue 4 2007Gary Winship PhD TOPIC.,Recent developments in policy change in the governance of research ethics in the UK are reviewed and discussed regarding how the changes in informed consent impacts on single case study research. CONCLUSIONS.,Changes in the ethics of health research (particularly in the UK) and informed patient consent have potentially negative implications for case study research where overregulated research guidance may impinge on patient treatment. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.,The psychotherapy milieu is a highly protective environment where case study research design has, historically, been effectively applied without compromising clients' interests and treatment. A distinction between "prospective" and "reflective" psychotherapy research is proposed that offers an ethical foothold, protecting patients and allowing scope for practitioners to continue to advance knowledge from their reflective practice. [source] MAKING THE CORE CONTINGENT: PROFESSIONAL AGENCY WORK AND ITS CONSEQUENCES IN UK SOCIAL SERVICESPUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 2 2008KIM HOQUE In recent times, the UK has witnessed a steady growth in the use of agency workers to fill core professional roles in public sector organizations. Similar trends have been noted elsewhere, particularly in Australia and the US. In this paper our objective is to explore some of the consequences of this growth, drawing on case study research on social services. We point to a number of problems associated with the management of agency workers and to the potentially negative consequences for the quality of services. These problems, in turn, may impact on key aspects of a (largely functional) public service employment model founded on strong internal labour markets, employment stability and collegial ethos. We also note that while there are ways in which public organizations can manage this situation, certain constraints may prevent them from doing so. [source] Dealing with sectoral corruption in Bangladesh: Developing citizen involvementPUBLIC ADMINISTRATION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2009Colin Knox Abstract Bangladesh has had a troubled political history since gaining independence in 1971 and is also beleaguered by poverty and natural environmental disasters. In particular however, corruption is blighting its prospects for economic growth, undermining the rule of law and damaging the legitimacy of the political process. This article adopts a sectoral approach to the study of corruption by examining people's experiences of using health and education services in Bangladesh through a large scale quantitative survey. It also presents case study research which assesses the impact of anti-corruption work by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in the areas of health and education. The article concludes that: the poorest in Bangladesh are most penalised by corruption; there are significant benefits for health and education service users resulting from TIB's interventions and there is a need for committed political leadership if ongoing efforts to tackle corruption are to be effective and sustainable. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Communication Flows in International Product Innovation TeamsTHE JOURNAL OF PRODUCT INNOVATION MANAGEMENT, Issue 5 2000Rudy K. Moenaert Recently, we have witnessed a strong growth in the internationalization of many firms' product development activities. However, the lack of attention devoted by scientific research to the management of international innovation contrasts sharply with the importance attached to it as a cornerstone of international business success. Although several empirical studies and normative theories have specified the communication requirements in innovation teams, an empirically based insight is definitely needed on the communication requirements and requirements that prevail in the complex context of international innovation teams, in which the participants are located in different company units, countries, and cultures. This article addresses the following research question: viewing international innovation as an interfunctional activity, what are the communication requirements an international innovation team is facing, and what are the communication capabilities (interface mechanisms) that may be adopted to initiate, develop, and launch the new product effectively and efficiently? An extensive case study research project was designed to develop a comprehensive theoretical framework. Over a two year time period, the research team has investigated selected innovation projects in four European multinational corporations. The analysis of the case study data suggests five requirements that determine the effectiveness and efficiency of communication in international product development teams: network transparency, knowledge codification, knowledge credibility, communication cost, secrecy. To cope with these communication requirements, organizations may create firm level capabilities (parallel structures, cross-functional and inter-unit climate, communication infrastructure, goal congruence) and team level capabilities (core team, team leadership, formalization, procedural justice). The evidence from the in-depth case study research indicates that these mechanisms provide a parsimonious and powerful approach to address the communication requirements in international product innovation teams. After the information processing framework proposed by Tushman and Nadler [124], the adoption of these mechanisms is expected to improve innovation effectiveness. This holds important consequences for the management of international product innovation projects. First, the innovating firm must balance centralization and decentralization, employ formal as well as informal strategies, and integrate ad-hoc and permanent strategies. Second, it highlights the critical role of the project leader. Given the fact that companies often select the most available person, rather than the best person for the job, the allocation of light weight project leaders may create heavyweight problems in international teams. Third, following the argument in favor of procedural justice, the absence of involvement may severely hinder cross-functional commitment to international innovation projects. Fourth, the innovating firm must also actively manage the communication flows with external parties. Failure to do so may result in flawed specifications, and a limited understanding about product design and market strategies. [source] ICT implementation: what makes the difference?BRITISH JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2003Penni Tearle This paper addresses the question of why some schools have managed to introduce widespread use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) into teaching and learning across the curriculum, where other schools have had much less "success" in this matter. The issue is addressed through interpretive, case study research in a UK secondary school where almost all staff are now using ICT to enhance and extend learning in their subject areas. After setting the context, a summary of the methods used and an overview of the findings are presented. Whilst some of the findings are specific to the context, it is suggested that much can be learnt from the single case, both by practitioners seeking to develop ICT use and researchers interested in taking the subject forward in other contexts. [source] Buying into our future: sustainability initiatives in local government procurementBUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Issue 5 2007Lutz Preuss Abstract Local government in the United Kingdom is well placed to make a contribution to sustainable development in its area. Although only enjoying partial autonomy from central government without its own constitutional basis, its aggregate purchasing expenditure dwarfs that of central government. Case study research into procurement by local authorities in England reveals a wide range of activities aimed at addressing the challenges of sustainable development, covering environmental and social as well as economic development aspects. However, these initiatives are still of a patchy nature, in terms of both differences between aspects of sustainability and variation between local authorities. Many sustainability initiatives also have cost implications for local government, which may clash with other priorities. To overcome such barriers, local authorities could cooperate with other public sector organizations in the United Kingdom and beyond, as well as with the private sector, to learn from the sustainability experience elsewhere. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Relationships among levels of government support, marketing activities, and financial health of nonprofit performing arts organizationsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NONPROFIT & VOLUNTARY SECTOR MARKETING, Issue 2 2007Theresa A. Kirchner This exploratory study researches and analyzes the empirical effects of financial levels of government support and marketing practices on the financial health of nonprofit performing arts organizations. Declining government subsidies and increasing competition from non-traditional sources have presented these organizations with unique opportunities and challenges that call for a market-centered, as well as an art-centered approach. Financial health is critical for the long-term success of a nonprofit performing arts organization. Few empirical studies have examined the interrelationships between these key variables. This study analyzes a sample of 63 American professional symphony orchestras employing 20 years of data. The correlations among financial levels of government support and marketing activities were positive and significant, the correlations among levels of government support and financial health were negative and significant, and the correlations between levels of marketing activity and financial health were negative and varied in significance. Causal analyses were less conclusive, but significant causal relationships were found for large symphony orchestras, indicating that segmentation research may be warranted. Implications and opportunities for future research are presented which have potential application for government agencies, academic researchers, and arts organization managers, boards of directors, and donors. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||