Large-scale Quantitative Survey Research Articles

The more the merrier? PhD supervisors’ perspectives in engaging in co-supervision

ABSTRACT Over the past decade, co-supervision of PhD candidates has become increasingly common across the disciplines. However, co-supervision has been explored previously primarily from the candidates’ viewpoint and in small-scale qualitative studies. We have extended the research by examining co-supervisory experience from the supervisor’s perspective, and by exploring the influences of co-supervision for supervisory competencies and the occupational wellbeing with a large-scale quantitative survey. 561 supervisors participated in the study. The data were analysed with statistical methods. The results showed that having a supervisory team has become the dominant from of supervision across the disciplines. Furthermore, the frequency of engaging in co-supervision was related to supervisor’s occupational wellbeing, but the association was not straightforward. Having experience in co-supervision seemed to contribute to feeling more confident with one’s supervisory competencies. The findings imply that the development of well-functioning co-supervision practices can enhance supervisors’ competencies and occupational wellbeing alongside promoting PhD candidates’ studying.

Developing citizen science ecosystem: critical factors for quadruple helix stakeholders engagement

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide answers regarding the factors that motivate or discourage the quadruple helix (QH) stakeholders and the wider public in citizen science (CS) activities. The research reveals a current overview of the perceptions, attitudes, concerns and motivation with regard to development of CS ecosystem in four countries: Greece, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Spain. Design/methodology/approach The researchers deploy a mixed methodology, entailing an in-depth literature review and a large-scale quantitative survey (approximately 2,000 citizens) targeting QH stakeholders and general public from the local national ecosystems. The results contain both descriptive statistics and statistical analysis per country. After the comprehensive overview of drivers and barriers regarding the participation in CS activities in general, the focus is narrowed down on the engagement motivation of different QH stakeholders and the differences in enabling/hindering factors at the local ecosystems. Findings Depending on the country and the pre-existing level of CS maturity, the results provide a complicated network of factors that unlock or block participation in CS activities. These factors include, to name a few, political maturity, civic engagement, technological infrastructures, economic growth, culture of stakeholder collaboration, psychological stimulus and surplus of resources. The implications of the findings necessitate the alignment of the envisioned CS ecosystem with the local dynamics in each country. Research limitations/implications The quantitative nature of the survey method, limited sample size and only four countries context are noted as limitations of the study and offer future research potential for longitudinal settings and mixed-methods studies. Originality/value The results contribute to the wider literature on CS that focuses on perspectives, possibilities and differences in local contexts with respect to the public engagement by developing CS ecosystem. At the same time, its added value lies in the overall practical proposition, and how the latter can effectively and efficiently attract and retain different stakeholder groups and citizens, under a collaborative approach.

Understanding and planning for informal learning space development: A case study in Hong Kong

Informal learning space (ILS) has increasingly become important for higher education. Yet, most studies were conducted on a piecemeal basis, without considering the planning of the campus. This study adopts a systematic and data-driven approach in understanding the types of ILS, preferences and behaviors using a case study in Hong Kong, by first classifying ILS into user-defined types followed by usage behavior for each ILS types. A mixed-method approach was used by conducting qualitative interviews, focus groups, on-site fieldwork observations and large-scale quantitative survey (N = 999) with students. Five types of ILS with unique characteristics were identified. This applied research seeks to suggest development directions and design input for ILS types, with implications for master planning in ILS development, extending to any universities using the same procedure.

Does a quantifiable difference exist in pre- and post-EFL regional and national identities?

Studies regarding second language learning and national identity tend to, understandably, use small scale ethnographic studies of individuals who have participated in English as a Foreign Language education. Through Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory, this article asks whether a large-scale quantitative survey can demonstrate whether there exists a quantifiable difference in the local and national identities of regional Colombians who have had either no EFL education or different years of EFL exposure. A survey was distributed to 1000 people in the city of Ibagué with categories of 0,1,2, 3 and 4 years of EFL education, asking how strongly they associated as Colombians and Tolimenses (the state) and whether they feel that learning English has positively or negatively affected these identities. The results show statistically significant differences in the self-identification in both state and national identities with both identities being valued less after exposure to EFL. English as a foreign language education does have a quantifiable effect on Colombian national and Tolimense regional identities, and the value given to both identities is reduced over exposure to EFL but the change does not enter the range of negative association with the local identities at any point. Thus, the figures argue that identity change does take place, but the attitudes towards the identities are still relatively positive.

Exploring the effects of a participatory climate services approach on smallholder decision-making in Rwanda using a gender lens

Effective climate services are crucial in supporting farmers to adapt to climate variability and change. Different factors may hinder certain types of farmers in accessing, using and benefiting from climate services. Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA) is a climate services and agricultural extension approach that has been used in more than 20 countries. PICSA has empowered women and men farmers in their planning and decision making and led them to make beneficial changes. Over 112,000 farmers were trained in Rwanda. Results from a large-scale quantitative survey and qualitative case studies with selected farmers are analyzed by gender, headship and wealth to enable understanding of how different farmers access, use and benefit from the information and tools that make up PICSA. Almost all respondents made changes in their farming and/or other livelihood enterprises as a result of the training. The majority of farmers reported that the changes they had made were beneficial, however, a key finding is that in some cases women heads from the least wealthy categories are less able to benefit. This paper provides insights on how gender, headship and wealth status influence responses to climate information and decision-making tools and in so doing highlights important implications for the design of climate services and similar interventions.

Inclusion of multilingual students—teachers’ perceptions on language support models

ABSTRACT Inclusion of multilingual students—teachers’ perceptions on language support models Ensuring the best possible support for multilingual students is a challenge for educational systems the world over. In Austria, new language support models, the so-called German language support classes (GLSC) and pull-out courses (POC), have been installed in the school year 2018/19. The new models offer language support in separate classrooms and have been strongly criticised since their implementation due to their segregative and assimilative character. This study aims to examine teachers’ perceptions of language support models for multilingual students in Austria. For this purpose, a large-scale quantitative survey including 1,267 in-service teachers (mean age = 43.40) from eight of nine states in Austria was conducted. Results indicate that teachers perceive a segregated language learning setting more negative for the academic, social and emotional development of students compared to an inclusive one. Furthermore, they also experience that more resources are needed to adequately implement an inclusive learning environment for multilingual students.

The Exclusionary Power of Microfinance

In recent years, international banks, investment agencies, and development institutions have created new markets for capital accumulation by rapidly expanding the commercial microfinance industry in the global South. In Cambodia, which has one of the largest microfinance industries in the world, the typical loan amount now exceeds the average annual household income and requires land-based collateral. Cambodian borrowers are increasingly over-indebted, compelling families to reduce their food consumption, take out new loans to service prior debts, migrate, and/or sell their land in distress. In this paper, we investigate this last effect of over-indebtedness, distress land sales. We argue that the exclusionary power of microfinance debt—constituted by collateralized legal contracts, discourses of moral responsibility, and public shame—is driving land dispossession among the country’s most vulnerable people. To make our argument, we draw on ethnographic fieldwork, supplemented by quantitative data from the Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey, MIX Market, and two industry-sponsored large-scale quantitative surveys of over-indebtedness. We trace the rise of the commercial microfinance industry, show how it has contributed to over-indebtedness, and consider how household debts can lead to distress land sales. These land sales have largely gone unacknowledged in the industry because they take place through informal channels rather than the court system. We conclude that microfinance-debt-induced land dispossession in Cambodia is a product of an overly commercialized international microfinance industry that now values profits over people.

A New Lens for Seeing: A Suggestion for Analyzing Religious Belief and Belonging among Emerging Adults through a Constructive-Developmental Lens

In recent years, there has been an explosion of research on the religious lives of adolescents and emerging adults. Methodologies vary from large-scale quantitative surveys to smaller qualitative interview protocols. Findings point to a significant drop in religious affiliation among emerging adults. Making good sense of the findings can be difficult for ministers and educators who serve across these populations. In this article, we suggest using a constructive-developmental lens to read qualitative findings. We offer a framework to guide researchers in interpreting the narratives of research subjects, noting how they make sense of religious belief and belonging.

The status quo of the visual turn in public relations practice

AbstractWhile most research in public relations and strategic communication concentrates on textual elements, this contribution shifts the focus to the growing importance of visual elements. The theoretical background is based on visual theory and the concept of strategic mediatization. By using a large-scale quantitative survey among 3,387 European communication professionals, this study is the first empirical evidence of communication professionals’ perspectives concerning visual communication. Therefore, the paper empirically demonstrates a visual turn in strategic communication. Although practitioners have been using visual elements since the very beginnings of their trade, only a minority guide these activities through a sound management process. This calls for a deeper consideration of visual communication management in practice and visual public relations research in academia.

Exploring factors affecting academics’ adoption of emerging mobile technologies-an extended UTAUT perspective

With the proliferation of technology and the Internet, the way education is delivered has undergone a rapid change in different educational settings. Whilst a large amount of research has investigated the implementation of mobile technologies in education, there is still a paucity of research from a teaching perspective across disciplines within higher education. For this reason, this study investigated the acceptance, preparedness and adoption of mobile technologies by academic faculties within higher education, using the context of China. Underpinned by the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) Model, a large-scale quantitative survey investigated the factors affecting academics’ behavioural intentions and use for mobile technologies, and variations between different demographic groups. Findings suggested that the most significant factors affecting academics’ behavioural intention and behaviours of use were their performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation and habit. Behavioural intention also affected how the faculty staff used their mobile technologies. Moreover, gender, age, teaching experience and discipline were found to be moderating factors. This research provides further verification of the effectiveness of the UTAUT2 Model in the higher education context and the field of new technologies implementation. Findings from this study provide beneficial insights for universities, faculties, and academics in policymaking, faculty management, professional development and lecturer instruction concerning mobile technologies.

How do people interpret the value concept? Development and evaluation of the value conceptualisation scale using a mixed method approach

ABSTRACT Value research has a long and extensive history of theoretical definitions and empirical investigations using large scale quantitative surveys. However, the way the general population understands, defines, and relates to the concept of values, and how these views vary across individuals is seldom addressed. The present study examined subjective interpretations of the term through focus group interviews, and reports on the development of a Value Conceptualisation Scale (VCS) that distinguishes six dimensions of different views on values: normativity, relevance, validity, stability, consistency, and awareness. Focus group interviews (n = 38) as well as several surveys (n = 100, n = 1519, n = 903, n = 94) were used to develop, refine, and test the scale in terms of response variety, temporal stability, as well as convergent and discriminant validity. These systematic results show that views on values do indeed vary significantly between participants. Correlations with dogmatism, preference for consistency, and metacognition were found for corresponding dimensions. The VCS provides an original measure, which enables future research to explore this variation on the conceptualisation of values.

Out of the City Heat—Way to Less or More Sustainable Futures?

Rural alpine areas are affected by climate change in multiple ways. Today, many lower regions already face challenges in winter. However, several authors indicated new potentials for near-metropolitan areas in summer. As the first study for a metropolitan area, this paper discusses results of a large-scale quantitative survey (n = 877) from Vienna (Austria) to evaluate the intentions of urban residents to seek refreshment in nearby mountainous regions. The results regarding their adaptation behavior confirm the likely increase in demand to escape to nearby refreshing areas during heatwaves. This trend could lead to (re-)vitalization potential for rural near-metropolitan areas in Eastern Austria, which are often characterized by depopulation and degradation of infrastructure. A closer look at the respondents’ mobility behavior, reveals a high risk for unsustainable developments. Although the high and increasing share of car-free households in Vienna would suggest a strong demand for public transport, the likelihood to travel by car towards such destinations is high even among this group. Focusing predominantly on on-site mobility offers would be recommended since many travelers did not use their car within the destination. At last, the attractiveness of climate-friendly travel options is discussed considering mobility-related needs and preferences of three touristic motive groups.

Aesthetico-Cultural Cosmopolitanism and French Youth: The Taste of the World by Vincenzo Cicchelli, and Sylvie Octobre

Reviewed by: Aesthetico-Cultural Cosmopolitanism and French Youth: The Taste of the World by Vincenzo Cicchelli, and Sylvie Octobre Virginie Ems-Bléneau Cicchelli, Vincenzo, and Sylvie Octobre. Aesthetico-Cultural Cosmopolitanism and French Youth: The Taste of the World. Palgrave Macmillan, 2018. ISBN 978-3-319-66310-4. Pp. 405. This sociological study of France's youth maps out the intricate correlation between patterns of cultural consumption and degrees of cosmopolitanism. In this context, aesthetico-cultural cosmopolitanism refers to the level of interest and awareness that French youth show regarding (inter)national aesthetic products (literature, film, music, news, architecture, etc.), and the manner in which these products impact their understanding, or imaginary, of the world. Through their analysis of both a large-scale quantitative survey and of qualitative interviews, the authors have identified five aesthetico-cultural profiles. The majority of French youth falls within one of three types of cosmopolitanism: inadvertent cosmopolitans (34%) indiscriminately consume a variety of foreign contents dubbed or translated into French; specific cosmopolitans (32%) on the other hand are more selective as they seek out particular contents of a [End Page 209] culture or genre; like inadvertent cosmopolitans, cosmopolitan fans (17%) consume an array of cultural products, but this group is more likely to do so in the original language. What distinguishes these three types of cosmopolitanism is therefore the individual's intent to consume, as well as their level of engagement with foreign cultural products. By contrast, a smaller number French youth voiced a strong rejection of international contents (the national fans, 11%), or a lack of taste for cultural materials in general (the impossible cosmopolitans, 6%). Interestingly, the survey reveals that familiarity compels appreciation, as young people usually voiced dislike toward things they did not know, and appreciation for things they did. Even though this book is a sociological study of French Youth, many of its findings will resonate in other societies and disciplines. Language educators for example will find it interesting that"the desire to learn a foreign language is overwhelmingly linked to the joy of discovery" (143), and not to utilitarian objectives such as finding a job or passing a class. The authors did observe however that when the consumption of cultural products in their original language "becomes too onerous, [it] conflict[s] with the pleasure expected out of the activity" (141) and brings one to lose interest. Although this survey finds that French youth greatly derive their knowledge and understanding of the world from cultural media, interviewees often expressed their concerns as to the accuracy of representation, with certain forms considered more realistic (television series), and other more artistic or escapist (independent films, plastic arts, music). The authors note that those who possess the greatest cultural resources tend to question the veracity of aestheticocultural contents and become more critical of products they see as "disingenuously serv[ing] the interests of global capitalism, [...] or because [they are] deemed insufficient and overly one-dimensional" (262). Finally, while many young people see aesthetico-cultural cosmopolitanism as a means to"transcend one's social and cultural horizons" (269), this unbridled multiplication of cultural models can foster tensions and divisions, especially for individuals with a weak sense of cultural identity. The danger lies in pushing these fragile individuals to retreat into the national, have psychological breakdowns, or reject all forms of otherness. Virginie Ems-Bléneau Georgia Southern University Copyright © 2019 American Association of Teachers of French

National culture as a driver of pro-environmental attitudes and behavioural intentions in tourism

Voluntary changes in consumer behaviour hold significant potential to mitigate the growing environmental repercussions of tourism. Such behavioural changes can occur due to positive behavioural intentions that are in turn underpinned by pro-environmental consumer attitudes. To reinforce voluntary behavioural changes in tourism, it is paramount to understand the major drivers of pro-environmental consumer attitudes. Although national culture can influence pro-environmental attitudes of tourists, its role has been under-researched, especially in the context of emerging tourist markets. This study utilised the environment-orientated dimensions, or value orientations, of major cultural frameworks (Hofstede; Schwartz; Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner) to explore the effect of national culture on pro-environmental attitudes and behavioural intentions in a large-scale quantitative survey of Polish tourists. Correlation between the cultural background of tourists and their pro-environmental attitudes was established, thus highlighting the need for national culture to become an integral element of future scientific, policy-making, and managerial discourse on the key drivers of more sustainable consumer behaviour in tourism.

Barriers to smart services for manufacturing companies – an exploratory study in the capital goods industry

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify and investigate non-technical barriers for smart services in the capital goods industry.Design/methodology/approachA multiple methodology approach is adopted. First, qualitative workshops and interviews were conducted with 14 experts from five companies. The findings generated subsequently provided a basis for a large-scale quantitative survey of manufacturing company service representatives in the capital goods industry, the data from which were analyzed using explorative factor analysis.FindingsIn total, 25 items that represent barriers to smart service businesses were identified, using qualitative research. Large-scale quantitative research revealed 24 items structured into four factors. Additionally, the respondents’ assessment of the individual barriers’ impact on their smart service businesses is presented.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on manufacturing companies in the capital goods industry, mainly, in the European countries. Caution should be exercised in seeking to generalize the results to other industries. The findings should be confirmed with subsequent confirmatory analyses using additional data.Practical implicationsThe authors’ findings provide a comprehensive list and classification of barriers, as well as an assessment of their severity, serving as a practical guideline for managers.Originality/valueThis paper explores the barriers to smart services from a provider’s perspective. Its holistic approach and use of large-scale quantitative data qualify it as one of the first studies of this kind.

Energy justice, unequal access to affordable warmth, and capability deprivation: A quantitative analysis for Belgium

This paper explores the energy justice nexus, drawing on Sen and Nussbaum’s concept of capabilities. Our contribution operationalises most of the ten capabilities defined by Nussbaum, and examines them for all households of a single country (Belgium) in relation to household access to energy and especially to affordable warmth. We argue that the three dimensions highlighted by environmental-justice theories – income distribution, procedures producing unequal distributional outcomes, and cultural and political recognition of vulnerable and marginalised social groups – are more evident when posed contra the range of differences between energy-poor households and other types of households of a country. Thus, we propose a five-group typology of households that also takes into account the social aid granted in the country. Using Belgium as an example, this typology is used to compare across these five groups with respect to the extent to which energy poverty is associated with other difficulties of daily life beyond just housing and health. A new simple statistical index is developed to summarise these comparisons. The approach of the energy justice nexus is thus systemic rather than causal between access to energy and potential capabilities’ deprivation. The data used is a large-scale quantitative survey that is part of the Generation and Gender Programme (GGP), and it enables to proxy most of Nussbaum’s capabilities with several questions asked in this GGP survey. As these GGP surveys are standardised and realised in 16 countries, our approach is transferable to other nations/regions as well. Results show that energy poverty in Belgium is associated with deprivation of several capabilities, in more areas than expected: not only regarding housing, health, and mobility, but also regarding access to culture and recreational activities, as well as the feeling of fulfilment and ontological security. Furthermore, the comparison between energy-poor people and other energy-access groups makes the issue of social stigma clearer, and thus so the dimension of political recognition. In terms of policy, these results suggest to fighting energy poverty as a transversal issue.

Participation in the Sharing Economy: European Perspectives

This report presents results of a large-scale quantitative survey of European citizens on the topic of participation in the sharing economy. Based on a model of divides in sharing participation, it examines levels of engagement among Europeans, socioeconomic antecedents, motives for sharing participation as well as Internet skills and access. It differentiates reasons for non-participation and examines outcomes of both consumptive and productive participation. The report highlights sharing divides between participants and non-participants, active and passive participants, as well as occasional and professional providers in the sharing economy. It is part of a European Union Horizon 2020 Research Project on the sharing economy: Ps2Share Participation, Privacy, and Power in the Sharing Economy. We aim to foster awareness of the consequences of the sharing economy for the way people behave, think, interact, and socialize across Europe. Our overarching objective is to identify key challenges of the sharing economy and improve Europe’s digital services through providing recommendations to Europe’s institutions.

Diversity and (In)equality in the Global Art World: Global Development and Structure of Field-Configuring Events

AbstractThere is a boom of art historical studies on the globalisation of the arts or global art world. Sociological accounts are, despite the rise of cultural and art sociology in recent years, almost complete absent from this discussion. This paper makes a contribution to the globalisation of the arts, but from a sociological and quantitative perspective. The focus of this paper is on particular type of global institution – biennials and other types of art festivals or large-scale exhibitions. These institutions are seen being major places of exchange and formulation of norms and standards. They define what is hip and new. However, theories of globalisation, in combination with accounts from professionals of the field, claim that these institutions propagate only Western values or have a homogenising quality, because they only show caste works from artists of the Western hemisphere or that they repeat the same works and artists across the globe. However, based on a large-scale quantitative survey, this paper will demonstrate that picture is more complex and that we find tendencies to homogenisation and heterogenisation existing at the same time or that the locality of these events acts as a source of uniqueness and innovativeness. The paper proposes a new theoretical framework that interprets these findings as based on Niklas Luhmann’s idea of second-order observation and Bruno Latour’s and Harrison C. White’s conception of the network.

The development and testing of the Person-centred Practice Inventory - Staff (PCPI-S).

The aim of the study was to develop and test an instrument, underpinned by a recognized theoretical framework, that examines how staff perceive person-centred practice, using proven methods of instrument design and psychometric analysis. The study used a mixed method multiphase research design involving: two Delphi studies to agree definitions and items to measure the constructs aligned to the person-centred practice theoretical framework (Phase 1); and a large-scale quantitative cross-sectional survey (Phase 2). Phase 1 was an international study involving representatives from seven countries across Europe and Australia, with Phase 2 conducted in one country across five organizations. Two international panels of experts (n = 33) in person-centred practice took part in the Delphi study and a randomly selected sample of registered nurses (n = 703, 23.8%) drawn from across a wide range of clinical settings completed the Person-centred Practice Inventory - Staff (PCPI-S). The main outcome is to establish a measure of staff perceptions of person-centred Practice. Broad consensus on definitions relating to 17 constructs drawn from a person-centred practice framework was achieved after two rounds; likewise with the generation of 108 items to measure the constructs; a final instrument comprising 59 items with proven psychometric properties was achieved. The PCPI-S is psychometrically acceptable instrument validated by an international expert panel that maps specifically to a theoretical framework for person-centred practice and provides a generic measure of person-centredness.

Peer influence as a predictor of producing and distributing hurtful images of peers and teachers among Flemish adolescents

This study examines whether self-perceived popularity, need for popularity, and peer pressure explain teenagers’ use of the mobile phone to make and distribute hurtful pictures and videos of peers and teachers. A large-scale quantitative survey study among 1787 Flemish high school pupils in 2010 revealed that, in the six months prior to the study, 25% of adolescents had made a picture/video of a peer who was being ridiculed, 8% of a peer who was being physically bullied, and 11% had distributed such a picture/video online. Thirteen percent had made a picture/video of a teacher being ridiculed, and 6% had distributed such content online. Self-perceived popularity, need for popularity, and perceived peer pressure positively predicted adolescents’ involvement in several of the above practices. The results suggest that greater investments need to be made to counter the social rewards that adolescents receive when engaging in these bullying practices.