Email Interviews Research Articles

Support from the government for SMEs in South Africa

This study intended to investigate how the Lephalale Local Municipality's small and medium companies (SMEs) are hampered by a lack of government support. This study also aims to demonstrate how SMEs face difficulties in surviving as a result of problems in the business environment. Consequently, the government of South Africa has programs to assist SMEs. The growth of SMEs is important for advancing innovation, wealth distribution, and employment. The majority of SMEs launch and maintain their businesses with their own money. By using a qualitative research approach and semi-structured in-person, phone, and email interviews to collect data, the goals of this study were met. There were 318 registered SMEs in the area. Using purposive sampling methods, data from operational enterprises with a lifespan of 0 to 5 years were gathered. Atlas TI 8 was used to evaluate the data. The primary conclusions of this study show that (i) small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) find it difficult to maintain their operations because they lack access to capital and business equipment. This fails if SMEs are not given the proper support. Because they lack the resources to compete with big companies, SMEs find it challenging. (ii) Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should think about enrolling in bookkeeping training and sending their staff to business training in order to network for the survival of the company. In order to assist SMEs in fulfilling the requirements for maintaining their enterprises, this study advises the government to examine present standards. With the right assistance, SMEs can create business plans and maintain operations, which will result in the creation of jobs, particularly for local communities. The government ought to think about mentoring and overseeing sponsored SMEs.

Investigating the Benefits of Multimodal Project-Based Learning in Teaching English to International Students

This research investigates how English as a Foreign Language (EFL) educators in Saudi Arabian higher education institutions modify their approach to implement project-based learning (PJBL) in their classrooms. Eleven EFL teachers with experience in PJBL implementation were selected for email interviews, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The data was procured by means of email interviews conducted with the participants, wherein the interview questions were formulated based on the research inquiries and encompassed various dimensions of PjBL implementation in EFL instruction. The participants were instructed to furnish their responses to the questions via email, and subsequently, their replies were meticulously transcribed verbatim. The results showed that the teachers employed various adaptation strategies, including modifying the project tasks to suit the language level of the students, using scaffolding techniques to support learning, and incorporating multimodal elements into the projects. The study highlights the importance of teacher autonomy and flexibility in adapting PJBL to the needs of EFL learners. The findings also suggest that PJBL has the potential to enhance language learning and promote critical thinking skills. However, some limitations to PJBL implementation were identified, such as the need for additional training and resources. The study provides recommendations for EFL teachers and institutions to improve PJBL implementation and support effective language learning.

School Nurses' Experiences and Needs in COVID-19 Pandemic Response: A Qualitative Study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic drastically shifted the public health burden onto the school health system. We, therefore, explored the school nurses' experiences and needs for confronting the pandemic in school settings across Korea. This qualitative investigation enrolled 30 participants after their written consent. A written interview conducted through email and focus group interviews using an online meeting application verified participants' opinions and experiences. Collected data were subjected to text-mining and content analysis. The school nurse was found to be responsible for many tasks, including education on preventive measures with unclear quarantine guidelines. Content analysis identified three key themes: "aggravated difficulties owing to lack of support resulted in burnout," "reflection on supportive resources; direct provisions were helpful," and "needs and suggestions to safeguard students' health in the event of another pandemic." Recommendations should all be considered to keep schools and students safe from future pandemics.

Understanding the context of positive experiences of primary care for transgender and gender diverse adults: An email interview study in Aotearoa New Zealand

Background Past research has demonstrated that transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people often have negative experiences of healthcare. Exploratory research is needed to provide in-depth understanding of the healthcare experiences of TGD people. Primary care is a crucial element of healthcare, but past research has tended to overlook what contributes specifically to positive experiences of primary care for TGD adults. Aim The aim of this study was to explore positive experiences of TGD adults when engaging with primary care in Aotearoa New Zealand. Methods Semi-structured email interviews were conducted with 11 TGD adults aged 20- to 62-years-old, with a range of binary or non-binary genders living across Aotearoa New Zealand. The email interview method allowed nationwide recruitment and flexible interaction. All aspects of the study were led by a researcher who is part of the TGD community. Results Three themes were formulated to explain TGD participants’ positive experiences with primary care. In order to contextualize positive experiences, participants described past negative experiences of healthcare and low expectations (Theme 1: The Sad State of Care). Participants also described exerting autonomy, for example by carefully selecting a general practitioner (GP) or choosing when to disclose transgender status to their GP (Theme 2: The Sphere of Control). Three levels were evident in positive experiences (Theme 3: The Gradient of Positive Experiences): basic professionalism, more desirable experiences of trans-specific competencies, and GPs as advocates for systemic change. Discussion TGD people experience positive interactions in primary care in a variety of ways, all of which are contextualized by the negative state of healthcare at present. TGD people create opportunity for autonomy while navigating healthcare, which requires a form of interacting that can be termed reactive self-determination. Training for health professionals could apply the gradient of positive experiences to scaffold appropriate primary care for TGD adults.

Visual thinking strategies as a pedagogical tool: initial expectations, applications, and perspectives in Denmark

This paper examines the introduction of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) in Denmark and its potential as a pedagogical tool used throughout Danish education culture and particularly in Danish primary schools. The first active Danish users of and trainers in VTS in the country provide purposive qualitative interview data through structured e-mail interviews focused on their experiences with VTS and their impressions of this pedagogical tool in the Danish education culture context. The analysis of this qualitative data indicates that VTS is highly and widely adaptable to Danish education culture which, like other Scandinavian education systems, is based on bildung didactic principles. In their contemporary manifestation, these principles value the emancipation of the individual and the promotion of democratic learning processes. The introduction of VTS is still a work in progress in the Danish context and is not yet formally used in the school system. However, it is precisely there that a rich vein of opportunities exists for VTS in Denmark.

The Forging of a “Singapore Sound” in Saxophone Compositions of Zechariah Goh

The main objective of this study is to examine two of Goh’s saxophone works that demonstrate how the composer realized Singaporean identity through the synthesis of Western, Tibetan, and Indian musical elements. The research design of this qualitative case study is narrative research with data collection carried out by semi-structured questions, email interview with the composer and review of text, videos, and journal articles that relate to the government policies of racial integration and multiculturalism in Singapore, followed by analysis of two of the recent works that evolved from the fusion of Eastern and Western styles. The two works for this qualitative study are Images of Tibet for Soprano Saxophone and Piano, and Confluence for Saxophone Ensemble and Mridangam. The findings show that 1) Images of Tibet uses Western formal structures, the technique of thematic development, and Tibetan musical idioms; and 2) Confluence for Saxophone Ensemble and Mridangam employs the Indian Tala, motivic modification technique used in the Fugues of Johann Sebastian Bach, and pandiatonicism as employed in Impressionistic works of Debussy and Ravel. This study reveals the two ways in which the composer uses to intertwine the East and West in his connection to his cultural roots.

O-259 1.\tComparison of endometrial versus vaginal microbiota in 71 infertile patients

Abstract Study question 1.Mostly, endometrial microbiome probes are acquired by trans-cervical sampling using a “pipelle”. However, it is unclear, whether this approach “contaminates” the endometrial material. Summary answer 1.Vaginal and endometrial microbiome samples are significantly different from each other with respect to (alpha-)diversity showing the endometrial community to be more polymicrobial. What is known already 1. The female genital tract is colonized by a continuum of microbiota, ranging from the typically more diverse, but lower-biomass, bacterial communities in the endometrium to the typically less diverse, but higher-biomass, communities in the vagina (Chen et al., 2017). In reproductive-age women, vaginal bacterial communities are mainly dominated by lactobacilli (Ravel, 2011). By contrast, the composition of the endometrial microbiome has remained less well-characterized. With the more recent introduction of next generation sequencing a more quantitative and comprehensive picture of the composition of endometrial bacterial communities has begun to emerge (Baker et al., 2018). Study design, size, duration 1. The study was conducted at “novum, Zentrum für Reproduktionsmedizin”, Essen / Duisburg, Germany. Of 76 enrolled patients undergoing treatment,73 provided both vaginal swab and endometrial biopsy samples from the same sequencing run between February 2020 and March 2021. All analyses were carried out retrospectively. Information about pregnancy or delivery were extracted from medical records or obtained by telephone or email interviews conducted through June 2022. Participants/materials, setting, methods 1.Amplification of V1-V2 16S rDNA regions was carried out at “dus.ana, Düsseldorf Analytik”, Germany, using the QIAseq 16S screening and regional panels. CLC Microbial Genomic Workbench was used to assess bacterial community composition, alpha diversity, and microbial community structure (PCoA). Pairs of complete corresponding vaginal and endometrial microbiota data were available for 71 patients (two patient was excluded due to too low read counts in the vaginal or the endometrial probe, respectively). Main results and the role of chance 1.Patients exhibiting a mean age of 35 years (range 26 – 42) and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 24,5 (range 18,8 to 38,7). 20 (28,2 %) patients were diagnosed with chronic endometritis (more than 1 plasmacyte per HPF) and 15 (21,1 %) with endometriosis. 40 study participants were found to have undergone past miscarriages, and 11 study participants were found to have given birth to 15 children. 2.Abundance analyses showed differences between vaginal and endometrial samples for the Lactobacillus sp., most pronounced for L. jensenii and L. gasserie. The group of non-lactobacilli was only slightly enlarged in the endometrial group, encompassing mainly G. vaginalis. With regard to diversity (Shannon entropy), both microbiota are significantly different (Kruskal-Wallis test). In addition, distribution of the genital microbial communities illustrated by PCoA indicated that the vaginal samples were clustered together showing variance only in one dimension. However, the endometrial samples were far away from each other and grouped very disperse. Limitations, reasons for caution 1.Group of infertile patients of an IVF center with different underlying clinical diagnosis studied in a retrospective setting. Wider implications of the findings 1.Trans-cervical sampling with a “pipelle” provides an endometrial microbiome which is obviously a more polymicrobial community - with a higher diversity, that may harbor more biological heterogeneity, and hence functionality – than the corresponding vaginal microbiome. Further analyses studying the correlation between sequencing and clinical data are ongoing. Trial registration number 2021-1448

Japanese Professors’ Experiences in Teaching Sport for Development in Online English-Medium Courses

This qualitative study examined professors’ experiences in teaching online courses in an English-medium graduate program at a Japanese university. Based on Andragogy Theory, data included in-depth, semi-structured interviews with six professors who were faculty in a graduate program in Sport for Development. Synchronous online and follow-up e-mail interviews were conducted. A constant comparative method was used to interpret the data and identify themes. The recurrent themes were: (a) positive experiences in teaching online sport for development courses, (b) learning how to become effective teachers in an English-medium program, and (c) the importance of faculty professional development. To better support Japanese professors’ online teaching, this study encourages academic departments, administrators, and faculty to better design professional development activities that enhance the quality of online education and the use of English as the medium of instruction.

Using email interviews to reflect on women’s careers at a regional university

The article investigates asynchronous narrative research via email as a flexible and agentic method of collecting data that may empower female participants. A case study was used that focused on the challenges for academic and professional women at an Australian regional university. Twenty-one women responded by email to a range of questions about working conditions and career progression. The data demonstrated that participants found this methodology empowering, encouraging agentic behaviour as they could respond at a time that suited them and in as much detail as they desired. They could also leave their narratives and return to them after some reflection. While lacking the non-verbal markers that often add to meanings in face-to-face interviews, the participants’ writing gave voice and form to their lived experience that has been missing from academic literature. This research method may be vital in the continuing COVID-19 environment where it can be difficult to access geographically dispersed participants.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and E-Learning: The Digital Divide and Educational Crises in Pakistan’s Universities

Recent advances in information and communication technology (ICT) have significantly impacted some critical sectors of societies (such as transport, health, business, and communication) across many developed and developing countries. Nevertheless, the Internet has proliferated unequally across the world, resulting in global digital inequalities. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the deployment of online education to prevent the interruption of academic progress in schools and universities worldwide. The global pandemic further worsened the situation for Pakistan, which is neither economically strong nor has a well-established ICT infrastructure capable of facilitating the successful implementations of virtual courses and classes. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the level of Internet access among Pakistani universities’ teachers and students, and their ICT skills as they applied to online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study used the qualitative method of email interviews and thematic analysis to present the study’s results. This study revealed that most Pakistani students, especially those from rural and remote areas, experienced challenges because they neither had proper Internet access, nor could they use laptops and virtual learning systems. Students who belonged to the upper and middle classes of urban areas and enrolled in private-sector universities, were not as directly affected by Pakistan’s pervasive digital divide to carry out their education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anthologising COVID: an Interview with Kendra Boileau and Michael Green

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly one of the most significant bio-socio-economic crisis of the early 21st century. Amid the fear, anger, hope, anxiety, disorientation, and uncertainty of the times, Graphic Mundi published COVID Chronicles: A Comics Anthology (2021), and Distant Connections published a comic series titled The Lockdown Lowdown. COVID Chronicles, edited by Kendra Boileau and Rich Johnson, includes 64 mini-comics from 70 contributors and offers an insight into the various lived experiences of the pandemic. Similarly, The Lockdown Lowdown series comprising of two zines and a special issue (on women and COVID-19), features artists from diverse backgrounds and geographical locations (such as Europe, the USA, and China), exploring the challenges and possibilities within the new normal. Taking these cues, Kendra Boileau and Michael Green share their experience of anthologising COVID comics through an email interview. The interview is divided into two parts. In Part A, titled ‘Suddenly our world changed completely,’ Boileau and Green answer questions common to both of them, and in Part B, titled ‘When can we give grandad a hug?’ they answer questions specific to the anthologies in discussion while also giving the reader a peek into their creative/editorial processes.

The Differences Between Japanese and Western Strategic Management and the Diffusion of Management Practices in Both Directions

The study compares Japanese and Western strategic management and other forms of management. The study is based on e-mail interviews with two world-renowned Japanese professors and an American professor who have worked in Japan for a long time, and seven Finnish business leaders who have worked in Japanese or Finnish companies in Japan for a long time. The study provides a concise summary of the differences between Japanese and Western strategic management and other forms of management. The study also describes the spread of management theories and practices between Japan and the USA at different times. The paper concludes by considering why and how Japan and the West could benefit from developing each other’s management doctrines together, rather than merely transferring knowledge and practices in one direction as was done in the past.

Of comics and dementia: an interview with Nigel Baines, Rebecca Roher, and Liza Futerman

ABSTRACT Dementia is often represented as both a terrifying illness and a social threat. Graphic medicine is a burgeoning comics genre dealing with the experience of dementia through physical, and emotional issues. Through the medium of comics, graphic memoirs tease out how dementia operates formally and thematically. In this email interview, three graphic memoirists, Nigel Baines (author of Afloat), Rebecca Roher (author of Bird in a Cage) and Liza Futerman (author of Keeper of the Clouds), reflect on their nuanced understanding of dementia, their experience as caregivers, the challenges of dementia caregiving, and the potential of graphic medicine to convey such issues. The interview is divided into two sections: in Part I, titled Of Comics and Dementia, the authors respond to common questions related to dementia, personhood, dementia care, and graphic memoirs, among others, and in Part II, titled ‘Tragedy not deep and sharp if it can be shared with friends’: The Power of Storytelling, each of the authors responds to questions related to their respective dementia comics

Goats diagnosed with neoplasia display variability in clinical presentations, treatments, and outcomes.

To describe clinical presentation, treatment, and short- and long-term outcomes of goats diagnosed with neoplasia. 46 goats with a definitive diagnosis of ≥ 1 neoplastic process admitted over a 15-year period. Medical records for all goats admitted to the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital over a 15-year period were reviewed to identify animals diagnosed with neoplasia. Signalment, presenting complaint, duration of clinical signs, diagnostic testing, treatment, and short-term outcomes were recorded. When available, long-term follow-up data were collected via email or telephone interview with owners. 46 goats with 58 neoplasms were identified. The prevalence of neoplasia within the study population was 3.2%. The most commonly diagnosed neoplasms were squamous cell carcinoma, thymoma, and mammary carcinoma. The Saanen breed was the most common breed noted in the study population. Evidence of metastasis was found in 7% of the goats. Long-term follow-up was available in 5 goats with mammary neoplasia that underwent bilateral mastectomy. No evidence of mass regrowth or metastasis was noted in any of the goats 5 to 34 months postoperatively. Goats are increasingly treated as companion rather than strictly production animals, making it important for veterinarians to provide more evidence-based and advanced clinical care. This study provided a clinical overview of presentation, treatment, and outcome for goats diagnosed with neoplasia and highlighted the challenges associated with the wide variety of neoplastic processes affecting goats.

Dealing with hotel customer stealing practices: a managerial perspective

PurposeThe incidents of hotel theft constitute a significant cause of concern for the hotel industry. Such incidents result in substantial financial implications, inventory management issues and complications in finding exact replacements. This study, therefore, investigates customer stealing practices in Indian hotel industry.Design/methodology/approachA structured email interview was conducted with twenty-five senior hotel managers. The data were analyzed by adopting a coding technique using inductive content analysis.FindingsThe results were discussed under seven headings-extent of such stealing incidents, financial consequences of such practices, strategies to prevent such instances and, finally, how to deal with customers when caught stealing.Research limitations/implicationsThis study highlighted themes related to the profile of customers involved in stealing practices, motives, consequences and strategies required to manage such customers. Future studies can focus on restaurants, airlines, airports and tourist attractions to identify strategies and best practices for preventing such practices.Practical implicationsThe study's findings have tremendous potential for the hospitality industry. Dealing with customers’ stealing practices is a very sensitive issue. Furthermore, hotels bear lots of expenses if the policy for tackling the problem still needs to be implemented. Furthermore, if not handled professionally, a lack of effective guidelines can cause embarrassment for managers.Social implicationsThe study has the potential to raise awareness among the members of society to be more responsible toward hotel property.Originality/valueThis study extends to the limited literature on hotel guests' theft. The comprehensive analysis of the themes generated from an interview with the senior managers of the hotel industry provides a unique insight into the nature of the problem. The solutions offered in this study are an original contribution to the literature.

One by One, the Stars

One by One, the Stars

SLIDING INTO YOUR DMS IN 1, 2, 3: INSTAGRAMDATING PRACTICES OF FILIPINO PROFESSIONALS IN A RELATIONSHIP AMIDST THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

This study explores self-reported narratives of Filipino professionals in a relationship (FPR) in terms of their online-dating practices. It examines how romantic alternatives are experienced and expressed through Instagram (IG) My Stories during the quarantine period brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the present study aims to investigate the reasons and dynamics of IG-dating practices as well as how social media usage impacts romantic alternatives. The study hopes to fill the knowledge gap on the role IG dating plays in the various stages of online-dating practices during the quarantine period. The researchers analysed responses from two semi-structured interviews, six narratives or written responses, and follow-up email interviews with all eight FPR involved in this study. Findings indicate that compared to previous findings, the FPR did not regard being in IG as an important marker of their romantic and emotional relationships as it is merely their coping and surviving mechanism against boredom at the time of quarantining and their way of escaping and diverting their worries about the pandemic; hence, ending a relationship can take place at any stage in the form of “ghosting”. Furthermore, IG’s main activities such as posting, reacting, replying/commenting, and chatting can initiate and maintain these romantic alternatives, and the primary motivation of the FPR to engage in IG dating concerns face-/self-presentation and negotiation. Finally, the term “quaranfling” is proposed to describe a phenomenon pertaining to a no-strings-attached flirting during quarantine, which is basically a casual romantic relationship. The current study may be a precursor to further investigations on quaranfling and whether online platforms (e.g., social media and dating apps) can be attributed to the growing number of relationship dilemmas (e.g., cheating and breakups) among modern-day couples not only in the Philippines but also in Asia Pacific.

Online Student Teaching Practicums During COVID-19: A Successful Case in the UAE

The COVID-19 outbreak necessitated a sudden shift to online teaching and learning worldwide in early 2020. This impacted the preservice teachers’ (PTs) practicums in schools—a cornerstone of Bachelor of Education programs. The teaching practicum (TP) enables PTs to apply their theoretical learning practically. We narrate the shift to e-practicum at a higher education institute in the UAE; document the challenges faced, opportunities gained, and guidelines designed for the implementation; and recognize the vital role of the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the national federal higher education institutions in facilitating online teacher education. We describe the registration of PTs on the MoE’s online teaching and learning platform (MS Teams) and the measures that facilitated the e-practicum. The study employs a case study approach to document analysis of email correspondence and interview scripts to provide insights from the preservice and mentor school teachers. Content and thematic analyses indicate that despite the resistance and unpreparedness of PTs toward this transition—the use of unfamiliar technology—they benefitted from the e-practicum and developed strategies to allay fears, keep students on task, and overcome technical challenges with the support of their mentors. We conclude with the lessons learned and recommendations for post-pandemic TP design.

The needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder when transitioning into the labour market

INTRODUCTION: South Africa, like other regions of the world, has an increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The transition of these individuals into the labour market is of concern. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of individuals with ASD and their parents in terms of their unmet needs in relation to transitioning into the labour market and the role an occupational therapist can play METHODS: A qualitative explorative descriptive research method was used. Purposive sampling selected young adults with ASD currently or previously employed in the open labour market. Data were collected using email interviews with individuals with ASD and face to face interviews with their parents. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis RESULTS: Two themes were identified: Transitioning was really hard, and Occupational therapists can do more. The results emphasised the lack of services in preparing adults with ASD for finding and maintaining employment, as well as suggestions for the role of occupational therapy in facilitating prevocational skills, job seeking skills and supported employment CONCLUSION: There is a lack of services for individuals with ASD transitioning into the labour market particularly in relation to vocational orientation and rehabilitation. Occupational therapists are ideally situated to provide services to meet needs of individuals with ASD transitioning into the world of work Implications for practice • Occupational therapists need to play a role in developing vocational rehabilitation services in preparation of individuals with ASD into the labour market. • There is a need to investigate what is currently offered and what can be added regarding occupational therapy programs supporting transition from school into employment for individuals with ASD in South Africa. • Vocational rehabilitation services and transition programs should be developed in conjunction with individuals with ASD to ensure issues that are relevant to the population of individuals with ASD are addressed.

An E-mail interview with Prof. Shyam Sundar.

An E-mail interview with Prof. Shyam Sundar.