Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Approach Research Articles

English

Domestic revenue generation occupies a central domain in most countries, leading to continuous mapping of strategies towards its enhancement. Taxation is a dependable and foreseeable avenue to generate revenue for governments to fulfil their key obligations of employment creation, economic growth and infrastructural development, poverty reduction and state security. Despite these plausible arguments, tax revenues are minimal and tax bases narrow in developing countries. Contemporary tax debates point out that informal sector represents a lucrative fountain of tax revenue for governments, yet opponents of taxing the sector suggest that taxation might cripple small firms. Zimbabwe introduced presumptive tax in 2005, further enforcing to expand the tax base by including the sector into the tax basket in 2011. Researchers have focused on tax evasion and non-tax compliance when studying this sector, this paper focuses on the stakeholders perceptions on the impact of informal sector taxation on revenue generation and growth. This study adopted a sequential exploratory mixed method approach, argued to be ideal for under-researched areas such as this one. Key findings were that the current one size fit all tax framework suffocates small firms. Governments have to strike a balance between revenue mobilisation and the sector’s key economic contributions, without crippling informal firms.   Key words: Informal sector, taxation, growth, stifling, revenue mobilisation.

Exploring motivation to engage in intraorganizational knowledge sharing: a mixed-methods approach

PurposeIntraorganizational knowledge and information sharing are important steps toward more-accessible organizational knowledge. The aim of this study is to qualitatively explore factors that contribute to employees' motivations for sustaining intraorganizational knowledge-sharing behaviors and to examine the impact of these factors in a quantitative study with the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defense. This ministry faces a retirement wave in the next 5–10 years. Intraorganizational knowledge sharing before, during, and following this wave will play a decisive role for the organization in the near future.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory sequential mixed-methods study was conducted. The study design involved a qualitative study phase with expert interviews and stakeholder workshops (n = 9) and a quantitative study phase based on a cross-sectional online survey with an implicit association test on intraorganizational knowledge sharing (n = 59).FindingsIn the qualitative study phase, three main research topics regarding intraorganizational knowledge sharing were identified: employee attitude, organizational support, and specific relational aspects of knowledge transfer, such as reciprocal relationships among employees and opportunities for knowledge exchange. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that perceived organizational support was the only factor that was a significant predictor of motivation for engaging in knowledge sharing. We also analyzed the data for moderation effects and demonstrated that sociopsychological factors (e.g., the engagement or openness of colleagues to share their knowledge) further strengthened the positive relationship between employees' perceived support and personal willingness to share knowledge.Practical implicationsWe conclude that an organizational culture that supports knowledge sharing within the organization is highly relevant for motivating employees to share their knowledge. Practitioners will also benefit from the insights of the various dimensions of employees' willingness to engage in knowledge-sharing behaviors to better design further interventions in organizations.Originality/valueIn accordance with an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach, we followed a transdisciplinary process in which scientific and practical experiences and knowledge were integrated. For this purpose, interviews and workshops with experts and stakeholders in the organization were conducted. The qualitative findings were incorporated into a quantitative survey and an implicit association test for the employees of the organization. This approach demonstrates a different and more holistic approach to analyzing a real-world problem in the context of a governmental agency in order to investigate the multidimensional and complex topic of intraorganizational knowledge sharing.

Embracing community-building in online classes to promote academic integrity

Given that universities have transitioned to emergency remote teaching, academic integrity becomes a subject of ongoing inquiry. Students taking an English Preparatory Program (EPP) in universities aim to gain sufficient proficiency in English to continue with their courses in their departments. In an online teaching context, coping with requirements of the EFL (English as a foreign language) curriculum becomes a challenge for the students as students are deprived of their communities where they collaborate, interact and learn from each other. In this sense, teachers need to refocus not only on subject matter, but also ethical mores of academe and it is often simple day-to-day practices that build the community and establish a climate of integrity. While academic integrity has been researched extensively, more research is still needed about developing a learning community in online classes as a way to promote academic integrity. This investigation seeks to explore daily teaching practices towards community-building and analyse elements of the curriculum that work in favour of academic integrity in the context of emergency remote teaching. Six teachers and eighty EFL students (N=86) in an EPP of a state university in Turkey participated in the study. This case study drew upon an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach. The triangulation of the findings was carried out through a combination of various data sources. Qualitative data were collected through content analysis of course syllabi, assignment documents and policy statements, classroom self-observations; and focus groups with teachers and students. Quantitative data were gathered through a short survey with questions specifically designed for this context. Another aim of using the survey was to promote awareness on academic integrity among students. The results from multiple sources revealed that community-building not only facilitates positive collaboration in online classes, but also creates room for mutual trust and reduces chances of academic misconduct. Exploring results from the research can help faculty design measures to prevent academic dishonesty and eventually shape institutional policies. The positive implications for classroom practices of community-building towards academic integrity are discussed.

Informal community spaces, mentoring and representation: unpacking factors that influence African American engineering undergraduates

PurposeIn this article, we examine the experiences of African American engineering undergraduate students who participated in two student–faculty mentoring programs. This work provides critical insights about important factors that enhance students' experiences in higher education (e.g. the need for informal community spaces, mentoring and representation).Design/methodology/approachUsing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, participants were surveyed and interviewed about their experiences in the mentoring programs. Data were analyzed using basic statistical methods and thematic analysis.FindingsFindings indicate that students prosper in informal community spaces, where representation allows them to build mentoring relationships that are fostered naturally through common identities in a shared space.Research limitations/implicationsGiven the intimate size of the program, the sample population was limited.Practical implicationsTo benefit student development, mentoring program practices should consider dedicating funding and space for students and faculty of shared racial backgrounds and lived experiences to meet informally.Originality/valueThis work identifies explicit mentoring program factors that support the development of minoritized students in engineering.

Development of a professional practice competency for undergraduate nursing students: A mixed-method study

Nursing professionalism relates to the knowledge, skills, conduct, behaviour and attitudes of registered nurses. Difficulties related to student assessment of professionalism have been anecdotally described as a disparity between the meaning of the term ‘professionalism’ to nurses and its application and measurement in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to develop a professional practice competency for undergraduate nurses on clinical placement. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach with a two-phase design was used to develop the competency. Phase one, the Delphi method with 16 expert nurses, was used to develop the competency. This involved the thematic analysis of key statements over four rounds, five key themes were identified (attitudes, communication, knowledge, standards, relationships) that formed the framework and 33 individual competency statements. This was followed by phase 2, content validity, using the Table of Specification with 58 clinical facilitators. The findings confirmed the statements (80% consensus) deemed important to assess the essential construct of nursing professional practice. It is envisaged that the professional practice competency will assist student insight into their professional role and subsequently allow adjustment and achievement of professional practice competency.

Investigating Pre-Service Science Teachers’ Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge through License and Master’s Program (LAMP)

This research used a case study approach to investigate “in-depth” pre-service science teachers’ preparation programs in the Licensure and Master’s Program (LAMP) in the College of Education at the University of Toledo (UT) to integrate technology into their teaching. In this study, the study focused on technology parts TK, TPK, TCK, and TPACK preparation by finding out and knowing the gap in using technology in science. The case study would include a sequential exploratory mixed methods approach, which involves collecting qualitative and quantitative data in order to understand the technology preparation for pre-service science teachers in teaching and practicing in terms of their technology knowledge (TK), technology, and content knowledge (TCK), technological pedagogical knowledge (TPK), and technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK). This paper aims to investigate pre-service science teachers’ technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) through the LAMP program. This study focused on pre-service science teachers in science and social studies studying in the two-year LAMP program at the University of Toledo. Three data collection tools were used to investigate pre-service science teachers’ preparation programs in college: The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Scale of Pre-Service Teachers survey, an open-ended interview, and the student’s study plan. According to the TPACK survey findings, the participant did not have any TPK, TCK, and TPACK. Also, in TK, the participant knew no more than 50%. The most important finding was that participants did not believe that we should teach or use technology and preferred traditional methods. Even though he stated that he knows that technology is essential in facilitating education, he did not believe that he should integrate technology in teaching into his classrooms. Therefore, more research on TK, TPK, TCK, and TPACK would help redesign the program that prepares pre-service science teachers to be effective teachers. The pre-service science teacher in the LAMP program in this study needs more support for TK, TPK, TCK, and TPACK in their training program to teach with technologies.

Developing a Measurement Scale of Opposition in Tourism Public-Private Partnerships Projects

Stakeholder opposition is reported as a central aspect of public-private partnership (PPP) failure; however, it has not gained much attention in either tourism or general PPP studies. Therefore, this study seeks to explore stakeholder opposition and develop a measurements scale of opposition in tourism PPP projects. An exploratory-sequential mixed methods approach is employed to holistically understand the subject. The results confirmed that lack of perceived value, relational strength, stakeholder management approach, and a conflict (and power) management mechanism, in addition to inadequate capabilities of stakeholders and poor experience outcomes, are antecedents of opposition to tourism PPP projects. Other notable results and their implications for theory and practice are included in the article.

Knowledge and attitudes of critical care providers towards neurophysiological monitoring, seizure diagnosis, and treatment

To explore the attitudes of paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) health care professionals towards diagnosis and neurophysiological monitoring of seizures. This study used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach, interconnecting quantitative and qualitative features, comprising questionnaires and interviews, with equal weighting between stages, of health care professionals working in UK PICUs. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis and triangulated with questionnaire data. Seventy-two questionnaires were returned: 49 out of 60 (71.0%) of respondents reported that seizures were extremely hard or somewhat hard to diagnose in a critically ill child, and 81.2% had seen misdiagnosis occur. Thematic analysis revealed two main themes: (1) feeling out of control when faced with 'grey areas'; and (2) regaining control, which compromised three subthemes: aggressive intervention, accurate diagnosis, and eschewing diagnosis. Health care professionals find accurate diagnosis of seizures difficult, particularly in sedated/paralysed children and those with chronic neurological disorders. They report they would like better educational opportunities on discriminating between epileptic and non-epileptic events to improve their confidence. Professionals want routine neurophysiological monitoring that can be applied and interpreted at the bedside throughout the day to regain a sense of control over their patient, direct treatment appropriately, and, potentially, improve outcomes, but report appropriate training and peer review are essential if it is to be introduced into routine care.

Context matters: Integration of social determinants of health in AEGD and GPR curricula.

To examine the integration of social determinants of health (SDH) in the US Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) and General Practice Residency (GPR) programs. This study used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach. A 46-question survey was sent to all 265 AEGD and GPR programs in February 2019. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors influencing SDH curricular inclusion. A convenience sample of program directors (PDs) was interviewed between June and December 2019. Through content analysis, themes and subthemes were identified. Of the 265 AEGD and GPR PDs, 111 completed the survey (42% response rate). Almost three-quarters of PDs (72%) agreed that it was important for residents to understand basic SDH concepts. However, programs lacked eight of the 10 surveyed SDH subtopics. The odds of teaching five or more SDH subtopics were 0.09 (95% CI: 0.02-0.41) for programs with none-to-minimal levels of SDH integration in their clinical settings compared to close-to-fully integrated ones. Coding of PD interviews (N=13) identified five major themes: 1. influences to integrate SDH, 2. training strategies, outcomes, and outputs, 3. reasons for training strategies, 4. barriers and solutions, and 5. future integration goals. Most PDs cited delivering SDH content during patient care and reported time and organizational culture being barriers to more curricular inclusion. AEGD and GPR curricula are deficient in SDH content and risk underpreparing residents for caring for the underserved. PDs and organizational leaders must prioritize SDH inclusion in order to train dentists for integrated person-centered care.

Trauma-Informed Parenting Education Support Groups for Mothers in Substance Abuse Recovery

Purpose: A trauma-informed educational support group pilot addressed traumatic stress, substance use disorders (SUDs), and child-rearing for clients who were pregnant and/or parenting young children. Methods: Seeking Safety was adapted with parenting content and delivered at two intensive residential rehabilitation facilities. An explanatory sequential mixed methods approach was used to evaluate the pilot. Forty-eight participants completed starting assessments (intention-to-treat) and 31 graduates completed postgroup surveys (per protocol). Focus group sessions were completed with 19 graduates. Results: Paired samples t tests of intention-to-treat data showed a statistically significant decrease in self-reported symptoms of stress and substance cravings and increases in positive behaviors and parenting self-efficacy. There were no statistically significant differences on lifestyle behaviors, parenting skill, and parenting confidence. Most participants found the intervention acceptable and felt supported to improve their parenting. Discussion: Trauma-informed parenting education support in inpatient rehabilitation settings may offer an important complement to existing SUD and parenting programming.

A Mixed-Design Study on Development of Spatial Perception Skills in Life Science Course

This study aimed to examine how instruction of geography subjects in primary school third-grade Life Studies course with several methods affects students’ attitudes toward this course and their spatial perception skills. To that end, the study was designed with exploratory sequential mixed methods approach. Two third-grade classes at a public school on the European side of Istanbul province were randomly assigned as experimental and control groups. After the Life Science Attitude Scale and the open-ended perception questionnaire were administered to the both groups as pretests, their readiness were found to be similar. The groups were given a education that included geography subjects and aimed to improve spatial perception skills for eight hours. In the experimental group, the education involved the instruction of geography subjects in Life Science course by using methods such as case study, drama, and question-answer whereas it involved the instruction of the same geography subjects with the methods included in the textbook in the control group. Later, the scale and questionnaire were read ministered as posttests. The quantitative data of the study were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests, and the qualitative data were subjected to the content analysis which was made using codes, categories, and themes. Consequently, Life Science Attitude Scale scores of the experimental group were found to be significantly higher than the control group. Moreover, as shown by results of the open-ended perception questionnaire, the experimental group had a better grasp of the concepts about spatial perception skills compared to the control group.

Effects of awareness of user rights on compliance with copyright laws and policies in academic libraries

The complexities and ambiguities of copyright laws influence compliance for librarians and patrons of academic libraries. The study investigated the relationship between awareness of copyright laws, particularly user rights, and the level of compliance in academic libraries in Ghana. The sequential explanatory mixed methods approach was employed for data collection from 530 postgraduate students, and 4 head librarians of two public and two private universities using questionnaires, focus group discussion and qualitative interview sessions. Awareness of copyright laws and policies generally influenced copyright compliance. However compliance was differently influenced by awareness of different aspects of the copyright laws and policies. Awareness of user rights positively influenced compliance of copyright laws and policies. The positive influence of awareness of user rights on compliance implies that copyright educators, in seeking to address the increasing levels of copyright violations in academic libraries, will do well to promote user rights.

Lecturers’ Aptitudes, Attitudes and Professional Development in Higher Education at University of Cuenca

<p style="text-align:justify">Continuous changes in social demand and development provide an acute and continuous pressure on universities. The question is whether higher education institutions (HEI) in Ecuador deliver graduates with the competences to provide timely economic, ecological, and sustainable solutions. Additionally, HEIs should prepare graduates to find employment in a society characterized by greater uncertainty, extensive use of information technology, speed, risk, complexity and interdisciplinary work. To face this challenge, universities need lecturers to possess a mix of aptitudes, attitudes, and professional development in teaching, research, and services. Unfortunately, knowledge is sparse about the readiness of their pupils to function effectively in a rapidly changing and increasingly globalized environment. Accordingly, this study uses an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach to explore the impact of lecturers’ aptitudes, attitudes, and professional development on teaching and student learning at the University of Cuenca. Lecturers’ perceptions about their aptitudes and their attitudes are higher than the students’ perceptions. Faculty representatives believe that untenured lecturers have a better attitude and aptitude than the tenured lecturers. A third part of lecturers have achieved one of the required criteria in research development. Students from biological sciences are more satisfied with their lecturers and the competence development that they receive than the students from social sciences or engineering. Understanding the likely implication of the variables, aptitudes, attitudes and professional development, on the quality of teaching and learning is fundamental for the design and carrying out of educational reforms.</p>

“Never Hire Those—!” Hiring stigma in Turkish organizations: An exploratory sequential mixed methods approach

AbstractThis mixed method study aims to analyze how stigma and discrimination operate in hiring processes. Although numerous studies address hiring stigma, extensive research and multiple factor measures in the Turkish and broader context are lacking. We employed an exploratory sequential mixed method design in this three‐phase study (N = 423). Phase I was to analyze interviews from 23 employers/human resource managers in different sectors. Phase II was to develop a scale using findings to measure hiring stigma and to validate the scale, which is composed of 5 dimensions (people with criminal records, problematic alcohol and other drug use, disabilities, minority and/or nonconforming, and refugees) and 17 items. We then tested for discriminant and convergent validity on a different sample. Phase III was to administer the developed scale to a different sample in order to test factor analysis. Findings suggest that the hiring stigma scale is a valid and reliable measure and employers mostly stigmatize people with problematic use of alcohol and other drugs, people with criminal records, and refugees. We suggest organizing workshops, such as diversity trainings to increase awareness about stigmatizing attitudes of employers. Antidiscriminatory legislation should protect not only those with disabilities, but also other stigmatized groups at the state level.

The intertwining of traditional and electronic word-of-mouth in building the credibility of local fashion brands

In ascertaining the credibility of a brand, the source of relevant information is important, and choosing appropriate sources is a difficult task. Without a doubt, this has been complicated by the rise of the internet, which has changed the way people share information with each other, prompting a shift from the traditional word-of-mouth (WOM) to electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM). Many consumers, especially millennials, utilise social media not only as their primary source of information but also to disseminate information to such an extent that traditional WOM now receives less attention. This article will explore the significance of WOM and e-WOM as credible means of building the credibility of local fashion brands. Using an explanatory sequential design and mixed methods approach, it combines qualitative, quantitative and digital netnography to collect data about both traditional and electronic WOM. It finds that local fashion brands in Indonesia engage actively with their consumers through online and offline channels, using both traditional and electronic WOM to increase their credibility.

"It Is Like Medicine": Using Sports to Promote Adult Women's Health in Rural Kenya.

Despite the well-documented health benefits of recreational sports, few opportunities exist in lower- and middle-income countries for adult women to participate in recreational physical activities. An explanatory sequential mixed methods approach was used to explore associations between an innovative soccer program for adult women and self-reported health status. Cross-sectional survey data were collected in 2018–2019 from 702 women in the Nikumbuke Project, a health and literacy program in southeastern rural Kenya, followed by focus group discussions with 225 women who also participated in the Project’s soccer program. Quantitative findings suggest that women who participated in soccer had 67% greater odds of reporting good or excellent health than their non-soccer playing peers. Thematic analysis of qualitative data indicated that women credited soccer with less pain, fatigue, and stress, as well as weight loss and reduced dependence on medicine for hypertension, pain, and sleep problems. Women equated health benefits with greater ease and efficiency in completing chores, reduced worries, youthful energy, male-like strength, and pleased husbands. Soccer programs for adult women may be particularly effective interventions in settings where access to health care is limited and where lack of opportunity to engage in physical aerobic activity increases women’s risks for poor health outcomes.

Discovering IoT implications in business and management: A computational thematic analysis

IoT as a disruptive technology is contributing toward ground-breaking experiences in contemporary enterprises and in our daily life. Rapidly changing business environment and phenomenally evolving technology enhancement necessitate a robust understanding of IoT implications from business and management perspective. The current study benefits from an explanatory sequential mixed-method approach to represent and interpret the inductive topical framework of IoT literature in business and management with emphasis on business model. Bayesian statistical topic model called latent Dirichlet allocation is employed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of 347 related scholarly articles to reveal the topical composition of related research. Further, we followed a thematic analysis for interpreting the extracted topics and gaining in-depth qualitative insights. Theoretical implications with emphasizing on research agenda for future study avenues and managerial implications based on influential themes are provided.

Mitigating high development cost of low-cost housing: findings from an empirical investigation

The high development cost of Malaysian low-cost houses (LCH) remains one of the major encumbrances towards wide-scale development, and the worst hit is the low-income group. Several studies have investigated the causes with insufficient evidence and impassive in the possible policy solutions, thus, the issues remain. This paper attempts to identify the root cause and proffer possible policy solutions via an unexplored exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach. First, 40 participants were engaged and the qualitative findings were further analyzed by 149 suitable retrieved questionnaires. The ‘quantilized findings’ were validated by the Malaysian LCH policymakers. Findings show that provision of land and capital facilities to utility companies by housing developers, scarcity of land in cities, and construction cost increased over the years are the three major causes of high development cost. Waiving all forms of taxes for LCH, housing developers to embrace industrialized building systems, utility companies should provide land for their infrastructure and absorb the construction cost, ceiling price should be revised upward to RM65,000-RM70,000/unit (RM4.10/US$1) while the government subsidizes housing costs among others were recommended. This study adds a new perspective in mitigating high development costs by utilizing the Public Interest Theory of Regulation as one of the theoretical underpinnings.

The level of awareness and understanding of copyright laws and policies among academic librarians in Ghana

Awareness and understanding of copyright laws are critical in the proper administration of copyright in academic libraries. Data from 38 library staff and 4 head librarians was used in a sequential explanatory mixed methods approach to assess the level of awareness and understanding of copyright laws among library staff with regards to balancing user rights with rightsholder rights in academic libraries in Ghana. The data was collected using questionnaires and qualitative interviews. Though awareness of all the copyright laws, which was not influenced by the educational status of staff was high, the level of understanding was lower. Work experience, schedule of work and current position of staff significantly influenced the level of understanding. The generally moderate level of understanding of copyright laws for library staff; particularly for fair use and creative commons licensing, is a worrying development for copyright administration in academic libraries in Ghana.

Exploring the impact of wiki-mediated collaborative writing on EFL students’ writing performance, writing self-regulation, and writing self-efficacy: a mixed methods study

This study adopted a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach and followed the Vygotskian social-constructivist theory of learning to explore the impact of wiki-mediated collaborative writing on English as a foreign language (EFL) students’ writing performance, writing self-regulation, and writing self-efficacy. To this aim, two intact classes were selected and randomly assigned to experimental group with 35 EFL students and control group with 32 EFL students. Over the period of one term (almost 12 ninety-minute sessions), the students were aimed to co-construct and improve their writing performance, writing self-regulation, and writing self-efficacy through collaborative writing activities. In the experimental group, the EFL students received wiki-mediated collaborative writing instruction, while in the control group the EFL students experienced face-to-face (non-wiki) collaborative writing instruction. Two timed writing tasks, second language writing self-regulation and writing self-efficacy scales, and an individual semi-structured interview were conducted to collect the required data. Additionally, the types and frequencies of the students’ writing mediations in the wiki-mediated collaborative writing group were identified. The quantitative data were analysed using paired samples t-tests and one-way ANCOVA, and language-related episodes and thematic analyses were applied to analyse the qualitative data. The quantitative data analyses indicated that both wiki-mediated and non-wiki collaborative writing instructions improved the writing performance, writing self-regulation, and writing self-efficacy of the EFL students. The quantitative data analyses also showed that the EFL students in wiki-mediated collaborative writing group outperformed those in the non-wiki collaborative writing group. The qualitative data analyses uncovered a number of peer writing mediations contributing to the EFL students’ writing content (i.e. clarity of the produced message), writing organisation (i.e. sequencing of information), and language use (i.e. grammar, lexicon, & writing mechanics) in the wiki space. The qualitative data analyses further indicated the EFL students’ positive attitudes and perceptions towards wiki-mediated collaborative writing. Pedagogical implications are further discussed.