Navigating Fit Challenges and Solutions in Denim Manufacturing: A Qualitative Inquiry Through the Engineering Design Process Model

Well-fitted ready-to-wear apparel provides reasonable comfort, allows sufficient ease in performing relevant duties, and conforms to current fashion, among others. This study analysed fit problems associated with ready-to-wear apparel among female teachers in rural and urban areas of Kogi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 400 female teachers (200 in rural and 200 in urban) from the list of 3,986 secondary school female teachers aged 20-60 years in the study area. Primary data obtained through questionnaire administration to female teachers in active service were analysed using descriptive statistics and mean scores from a Likert-type scale. The results show that most (52.8%) of the female teachers were in the age bracket of 31-40 years. In both rural and urban areas, the most prevalent body shape is characterized by balanced proportions between the bust and hips, while the least common shape is the inverted triangular body shape. The most reported fit problem is at the waist with the majority experiencing tightness at the waist region. This is followed by the hip fit problem, bust fit, neckline, and shoulder fit problems. The least reported problem is the underarm fit problem. The result further shows that female teachers in urban and rural areas relied on the company's size recommendations when making apparel choices. The study recommended that ready-to-wear manufacturers or sellers should ensure clear size labelling, offer a diverse range of styles and sizes, provide customer education, and establish a feedback mechanism to address fit and comfort issues among female teachers.

Early Experience with the Total Artificial Heart as a Bridge to Cardiac Transplantation

Qualitative Research in CKD: How to Appraise and Interpret the Evidence

Poorly fitted bras lead to physical discomfort or more serious health problems such as muscle fatigue or pain. The purpose of this study is to find the relationship of bust prominence (one aspect of size) to fit problems women perceive in their everyday bras. To investigate this relationship, this study recruited female college students and measured their bust prominence using three previously developed methods of determining bra size. A bra fit questionnaire was then administered to survey the participants' perceptions on the bras they typically wore to school or work. Results show that lack of sufficient support is the most prevailing bra fit problem among this group of young women, and participants with prominent breasts, in particular, are likely to perceive the fit problems of tight bra cups and loose bra bands. Although the convenience sample may not represent a generalization of breast shape in college women, findings related to bra fit perceptions of women will assist bra companies in designing and producing better fitting bras for female consumers with various bust prominences. Meanwhile, information related to calculated differences of chest, bust and under-bust circumferences will help design a more practical and reliable bra classification system.

Fitting and Pattern Alteration: A Multi-Method Approach to the Art of Style Selection, Fitting, and Alteration, Third Edition, shows readers how to recognize, evaluate, and correct fit for 88 figure variations. This comprehensive guide presents proven methods of style selection, fitting, and alteration. The authors use a multi-level approach that is both logical and easy to follow, and each procedure is clearly identified and fully illustrated with a second color added to clarify the procedure and show directional measuring. Each figure is drawn to scale ensuring consistency and accuracy. The cause for the fitting problem is clearly identified and explained--giving readers the why behind each fitting procedure. Highlights of this edition include new photographs of common fit problems, as well as instructions for working with multi-sized patterns and correcting garments that have more than one fit problem.

The aim is to analyze the bra design features and fit problems of older women and to design solutions to improve bra fit and design for older women. Twenty-six participants aged 62 ± 4 years participated in bra fitting experiments with eight commercial senior bras featuring different design features. The bra design features were firstly quantified into 19 parameters including dimensions and/or curvatures, material properties, bra tension and elongation. The associations between bra design features and related problems were then systematically addressed. The most common fit problem was bulging, which was affected by underarm height ( r = 0.23, p < 0.01), underband elongation ( r = –0.25, p < 0.01), rigidity of wing fabric ( r = 0.30, p < 0.01), rigidity of top of the elastic underband ( r = 0.32, p < 0.01), rigidity of bottom elastic band ( r = 0.32, p < 0.01), and tension of the underband ( r = 0.23, p < 0.01). Except for neckline length, other measurements were also found to be related with bra fit problems. The well-fitting bras for older women have wide straps, large width at the front of strap, sufficient vertical cup length, increased gore height and underarm height, fabric straps on the back, and an underband with high rigidity. The reasons are discussed, and new design solutions are given. The design recommendations formulated in this study can advance the design and development processes of bras for older women.

<div class="WordSection1"><p>I am honored for being an alumnus of KEMC, and am delighted to write this editorial for the Annals. I have, ever since done my research and taught qualitative methods, felt that clinical methods are quite akin to qualitative research. Then, why only few clinical researchers use qualitative methods? A witness to this assumption is the research published in the Annals. In this treatise, I try to identify some parallels between the two types of methods and argue for the clinicians to invest in learning qualitative research methods to practice clinical methods well.</p><p> Qualitative research is to identify and interpret issues from the perspective of participants, their experience of: illness or disability, using health service, and to appreciate the meanings they give to the behaviour, events or objects in the context of their social and cultural norms. In this type of research, the emphasis is on exploring the associations and understanding the phenomenon in its holism; and not, like in quantitative research, from an outsider’s perspective and for certain specific aspects.<sup>1</sup> It requires participants with specific characteristics, selected purposely that can best inform the research topic. More participants, identified inductively during data collection, are added to develop full and multiple perspectives about the cases.<sup>2</sup></p><p> No preset data collection tool is used, instead qualitative researcher guided by a research question acts as an instrument, since the line of enquiry he changes during data collection as new understanding is gained and/or the situation changes.<sup>3</sup> The data for research is derived from the observation, interviews or verbal interactions, focus group discussions, document reviews, life histories etc. and the researcher asks why, how and under what circumstances things occur; and not just what, where and when. It is recorded in words or pictures and log book is used to record notes arising from interviews, observations, extracts from documents etc.</p><p> In health care settings patients are the subjects for clinical methods. The clinician, even prior to any verbal communication, observes the patient, e.g. for his gait and appearance. If in a bed or examination couch, his posture could give some clue to the illness. Inspection, a clinical method, is like systematic observation, which is qualitative method, should be holistic. In my third year during bedside teaching, Professor (late) Rashid Ahmed Qureshi said, <em>“patient has come to you as a whole and not his stomach in a tray”</em>, when a student straight went to examine abdomen of a patient with acute abdomen. History taking, another clinical method, is like conducting semi structured in depth interview – a qualitative research method. In both disciplines, we are told, <em>“not to ask leading, but follow up and probing questions”; </em>and Professor (late) Alamgir Khan, while teaching clinical methods, would add, <em>“if a good history is taken, you will establish diagnosis in over 65% of cases”. </em>Likewise, as part of history taking, documents related to patient’s illness history and treatment are reviewed similar to document review in qualitative research.</p><p> The two approaches however differ in how the data is analysed. In clinical practice, diagnosis is established based on the pathophysiological knowledge or patient’s clinical condition is discussed in clinicopathological conference.<sup>4</sup> On the other hand, qualitative research employs meaning based data analysis, whereby the qualitative data is transformed into some form of explanation, understanding or interpretation of people and situation that is investigated.<sup>5,6</sup></p><p> In conclusion, the history, the observation and the review of document related to patient are since obtainned using qualitative methods, the clinician trained in these methods could not only conduct these methods well but also interpret the data to identify and detect obstacles to the change in clinical condition and the reasons why improvement does or does not occur.<sup>7</sup> Finally, while it is heartening that research forums are organised in the institutions affiliated with KEMU, in order the research is richer, the researchers’ skills in qualitative research methods should be built.</p></div>

Guest editorial: What's common with qualitative nursing research these days?

<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-kerning: none">This paper aims to take the initiative to identify the fit-related challenges and opportunities for denim manufacturers during production as the fit is one of the crucial factors in determining the quality of denim production. This study employed a qualitative research method of one-on-one in-depth interviews. The ten participants in this study were experts in their respective divisions in the different denim manufacturers in Bangladesh. We interpreted our data through the lens of the engineering design process model using a reflexive thematic approach. The findings were interpreted into five categories: fit problems occurred, exploration of fit problems, search for alternatives, evaluation and decisions, and suggested solutions. It was found that each participant narrated unique and common problems in each division. They agreed that one fundamental way is to extend the affordability and feasibility of the technology. Future research can examine how available technologies solve fit problems.&nbsp;</span>

目前，公共衛生領域，有愈來愈多學者，採質性研究探索實務與理論問題，然而，國內較少討論質性研究科學哲學理論背景的文章。質性研究是引自社會學界之研究方法，自二十世紀初期以來，就以多元面貌出現：其理論基礎，包括後實證主義、扎根理論、建構詮釋學、批判主義、女性主義、後現代主義等；資料收集方式包括深度訪談、觀察法、民族誌法、行動研究、文獻實物分析等；不同學術背景，也有包羅萬象的研究內容。因此，對於何謂質性研究，並沒有一個明確的定義，對於背後的科學哲學理念，也沒有一致的共識，以致於不同背景的初學者，對於不同取向與方法之異同、對錯及應用時機，常常有所混淆，對於如何整合質性研究與量性研究，也不易了解。本文作者以一個寓言故事開始，嘗試以紀登斯「雙重詮釋」的概念，描繪創意、多元、互為主體的社會現象，理解質性研究的內涵、多元的面貌與共通的特徵，並說明在科學哲學的層次上，如何可能整合質性研究與量性研究的理論基礎。

Making sense of qualitative research: a new series

The purpose of this focused issue is to advance understanding of qualitative research methods in the international business context. Debates on qualitative research methods in the key international business (IB) journals have been rare. There has been no focused issue on this topic previously, either in mir or in other journals in the field, making this a 'special' issue. During the process of editing a recent handbook on qualitative research methods (Marschan-Piekkari/Welch 2004), we realized that while this collection covered many topics, often for the first time in the IB field, there were many others still outstanding. There was thus scope for continuing a dialogue about qualitative methods in the IB research community. The challenge of making qualitative research count in the quantitative world of IB remains. Qualitative research is difficult to define, since the term encompasses many different research traditions, research strategies and methods for data collection and analysis (Prasad 2005). A typical definition is that everything non-numerical is qualitative research (Marschan-Piekkari/Welch 2004, p. 19). However, even this very simplistic definition soon breaks down, since research strategies which are typically considered to be qualitative, such as case studies, can combine numerical with non-numerical data (Hurmerinta-Peltomaki/Nummela 2004). There is also no clear divide between qualitative and quantitative research in terms of research traditions, with much qualitative research in management and IB sharing the positivist assumptions of quantitative research (Prasad/Prasad 2002). This focused issue is not about reporting the empirical findings of IB studies applying qualitative methods; rather it is about the process of undertaking qualitative research in the IB field. Of course, there is a large volume of literature on qualitative research methods already. However, we would argue that the IB context warrants special treatment. As the authors of this focused issue discuss, the distinctiveness of the field stems from its multiple linguistic and cultural settings; organizational complexity; and its intellectual roots in post-War academic institutions in the USA. These issues receive little treatment in general texts on qualitative methodology. There has been some methodological debate in previous issues of mir. Earlier articles in mircan be grouped into three categories: first, reviews of existing methodological practices in IB publications (e.g., Cavusgil/Das 1997, Nasif et al. 1991); second, proposals for new quantitative techniques (e.g., the use of key informants in cross-cultural studies, as proposed by Lenartowicz and Roth 2004 and a linguistic-based measure of cultural distance as developed by West and Graham 2004); and third, calls for new methodological approaches (Boddewyn/Iyer 1999). The absence of qualitative research methods in this debate perhaps reflects the limited amount of empirical qualitative research published in this journal. A recent analysis of mir issues between 1990 and 1999 revealed that only 5 percent of articles published in this period used qualitative methods (Welch/Welch 2004). This focused issue is therefore a response to those, such as Boddewyn and Iyer (1999) in this journal, who have called for alternatives to surveys and secondary data analysis. This focused issue attracted 39 submissions from more than 15 countries. Given that there have been limited outlets for methodological articles in IB, this is a considerable number. It perhaps suggests a level of interest to which IB journals have not responded to date. Of the total number of submissions, 11 were selected for review. On the basis of reviewers' comments, six of these papers were ultimately rejected. The final five papers underwent two and, in some cases, up to four rounds of revisions. In selecting the articles, we used the following criteria: appropriateness of the topic for the focused issue; demonstrated knowledge of IB and methodological literature; quality of argument; originality and innovativeness of the contribution to IB methodology; organization and clarity of the paper; and potential application to research practice in IB. …

Background and aim:Researchers, in qualitative researches, both influences on and take effect from the research process. One of the mainissues in qualitative research is validity of the researcher as an instrument of data collection. If the researcher doesnot have enough validity in the data collection, the results of the study will also not be cited. The researcher asinstrument provides an opportunity for researchers to enter into the unknown world of individual about thephenomena in question and sometimes faced many challenges in reaching this goal. This study has been reviewingthe opportunities and challenges of researchers as an instrument in the qualitative research.Materials and methods:This was a review study on the methodology of qualitative research. Using keywords including qualitative research,instrument, challenges, and opportunities, articles and available books were investigated in PubMed, Scopus,Science Direct, Proquest, Magiran iSCI iIranDoc, SID, Medlib, IranMedex databases with no time limit. TheQuality of the articles was assessed by using the McMaster Critical Review Form for Qualitative studies.Findings:Studies over 12 books and 18 articles showed that the role of the researcher can be varied in different qualitativeresearch designs such as phenomenology researches, grounded theory, ethnography, and content analysis researches.Also previous experience and skills in the process of observation and interview, having effective communicationand asking the appropriate questions have an important impact on the role of researchers as a key factor inqualitative research.Conclusions:Researchers have the main role, especially in data gathering of different types of qualitative researches. 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Increasing challenges to health care systems and the prominence of patient-centered care and evidence-based practice have fostered the application of qualitative approaches in health care settings, prompting discussions of associated ethical issues in a range of disciplines. The purposes of this work were to identify and describe the application and value of qualitative health research for physical therapy and to identify ethical considerations in a qualitative research study. This was a qualitative interview study with telephone follow-ups. Forty-six participants were interviewed about their early experiences with rheumatoid arthritis. They also were asked what motivated them to volunteer for the study. To inform the discussion of ethics in qualitative health research, this study drew on the in-depth interviews, took a descriptive approach to the data, and applied the traditional ethical principles of autonomy, justice, and beneficence to the study process. Ethical issues emerged in this qualitative health research study that were both similar to and different from those that exist in a positivist paradigm (eg, clinical research). With flexibility and latitude, the traditional principle approach can be applied usefully to qualitative health research. These findings build on previous research and discussion in physical therapy and other disciplines that urge a flexible approach to qualitative research ethics and recognize that ethics are embedded in an unfolding research process involving the role of the subjective researcher and an active participant. We suggest reflexivity as a way to recognize ethical moments throughout qualitative research and to help build methodological and ethical rigor in research relevant to physical therapist practice.

Qualitative and mixed methods research in trials