Mixed Methodological Approach Research Articles

Rural Tourism Destination: The Ligurian Farmers’ Perspective

Rural tourism is considered a high potential form of tourism, enhanced by the demand for more sustainable and nature-based solutions, and able to contribute to territory resilience. A rural area is not necessarily a tourist destination, but it might become one, if agricultural enterprises are willing to diversify their economic activities by investing in rural tourism, and local actors provide active support and co-participation. This research focuses on the development of rural tourism in hinterland, mountainous, and hilly areas of the province of Savona in Liguria (North-West of Italy) in order to gather the farmers’ perspectives about local rural tourism destination development. Liguria is known above all as a seaside tourist destination. In recent years, policy makers have initiated a debate with local actors to relaunch Ligurian tourism by trying to develop alternative forms of tourism, such as rural tourism. A sample of 32 farmers already proposing rural tourism activities such as agritourism were involved in a mixed methodological approach aimed at validating local interest toward rural tourism and collecting information for designing future local development policies. At first, a questionnaire set up by a panel of experts was carried out, followed by one-to-one semi-structured interviews, and finally the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used to identify local priorities, strategies, and tools. The results highlight the willingness of farmers to invest in the rural tourism sector, the presence of heterogeneous interests, and the complexity of management of the relationship among the various stakeholders. Findings are partially explained by the early stage of development of rural tourism in the analyzed area, a phase in which starting a constructive dialogue on objective and project ideas among all stakeholders seems to be a crucial priority among the farmers taking part in the study.

Resistance to change during uncertainty-perspective of covid-19: An empirical investigation into resistance management in the healthcare organizations

Resistance to change is widely recognized as the main reason forfailure whenit comes to any kind of change initiative. Despite its importance, there is still rather limited knowledge concerning the factors that trigger this behaviorinthe workplace. The primary purpose of this research study is to uncover the reason behind the resistance to change during uncertainty (perspective of covid-19). A mixed methodologyapproach was used in this research study to identify the factors that facilitate resistance management in healthcare organizations in Bangladesh. Data collection was semi-structured interviews with purposive sampling to select respondents which included top executives, human resource managers, CEOs,and line managers. To create themes and sub-themes computer software NVIVO has been used and 10 total interviews were recorded by the software. Clustered probability sampling method has been carried out for the questionnaire survey and analyzedthe data with computer software SPSS. The results show that effective communication reduces the intensity of resistance in healthcare organizations.The study also revealed that resistance to change often helps to explore alternative perspectives

Development of Policy-Relevant Indicators for Injury Prevention in British Columbia by the Key Decision-Makers.

Indicators can help decision-makers evaluate interventions in a complex, multi-sectoral injury system. We aimed to create indicators for road safety, seniors falls, and ‘all-injuries’ to inform and evaluate injury prevention initiatives in British Columbia, Canada. The indicator development process involved a five-stage mixed methodology approach, including an environmental scan of existing indicators, generating expert consensus, selection of decision-makers and conducting a survey, selection of final indicators, and specification of indicators. An Indicator Reference Group (IRG) reviewed the list of indicators retrieved in the environmental scan and selected candidate indicators through expert consensus based on importance, modifiability, acceptance, and practicality. Key decision-makers (n = 561) were invited to rank each indicator in terms of importance and actionability (online survey). The IRG applied inclusion criteria and thresholds to survey responses from decision-makers, which resulted in the selection of 47 road safety, 18 seniors falls, and 33 all-injury indicators. After grouping “like” indicators, a final list of 23 road safety, 8 seniors falls, and 13 all-injury indicators were specified. By considering both decision-maker ranking and expert opinion, we anticipate improved injury system performance through advocacy, accountability, and evidence-based resource allocation in priority areas. Our indicators will inform a data management framework for whole-system reporting to drive policy and funding for provincial injury prevention improvement.

Practices and Strategies for Adaptation to Climate Variability in Family Farming. An Analysis of Cases of Rural Communities in the Andes Mountains of Colombia and Chile

Climate variability imposes greater challenges on family farming and especially on rural communities in vulnerable mountainous regions such as the Andes in Latin America. Changes in rainfall patterns and fluctuations in temperatures cause a greater frequency of extreme events, increased pests, and crop diseases, which even lead to food insecurity in communities that depend on self-production for survival. This is why strategies need to be developed to face this new scenario. Two cases of adaptation experiences to the effects of climate variability in rural communities in Chile (Araucanía Region) and Colombia (Cauca Department) were analyzed on this paper. For this, a mixed methodological approach was adopted that included the analysis of climate data, socioeconomic, and productive characterization of the communities, and a characterization of adaptation practices for both cases. The results show various ways of adapting mainly to changes in the availability and access of water for the development of agriculture and for domestic use. Likewise, it is shown that in order to be successful, the measures for facing climate variability must be part of coordinated strategies under a community-based adaptation approach and not developed in isolation.

Make-in-India and Industry 4.0: technology readiness of select firms, barriers and socio-technical implications

PurposeIn this research, the emphasis is multifold. First objective is to study differences amongst India's Make-in-India, Germany's Industry 4.0 and China's Made-in-China 2025 on a macro level. Second objective is to identify where does individual industry segment out of the five broad segments (prioritized by Make-in-India initiative) represented by ten firms in India stand in terms of adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. Third objective is to identify key barriers for each of these five industry segments. Finally, socio-technical interventions are also proposed aimed at faster adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies.Design/methodology/approachA mixed methodological approach is followed to achieve the research objectives. First, for the macro-level comparison of three pertinent countries, extant research and industry literature have been relied upon. Thereafter, at a micro level, inputs from experts belonging to focal sectors are included in this study to ascertain the current level of readiness of adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and the barriers to adoption. Finally, the authors argue for and propose some socio-technical interventions that are aimed at mitigation of barriers for adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies.FindingsIt has been ascertained that amongst the ten firms (two each from given focal sectors) considered in the study, the automotive and the software firm are perhaps best placed to adopt the Industry 4.0 technology, while the infrastructure project management firm is least ready for Industry 4.0 technologies. The common barriers to adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, as elaborated by experts belonging to each of the ten firms, are also identified. These three commons barriers are resistance to change, unclear economic benefits and problems related to coordination and collaboration.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is one of first attempts to understand the nuances related to technology readiness across focal industries pertaining to the Make-in-India initiative and Industry 4.0. The study furthers the extant understanding of common and distinct barriers across industries. Employing the soft-systems methodology, the study advocates for a number of socio-technical interventions pertaining to establishment of e-skill ecosystem, community learning clusters and sector-focussed skill acquisition and augmentation. Since the study considers only two firms corresponding to each of the five focal sectors, including more firms across industries could have resulted in further validation of study as well.Practical implicationsContrasting the initiatives of the three countries results in identification of different thematic focus of the respective initiatives. While India's Make-in-India initiative has a strong social dimension, Germany's Industry 4.0 and Made-in-China 2025 have key objective related to integration of cyber-physical systems and to graduate to innovation-driven country, respectively. Further, analysis on the technology readiness for adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies based on the respective experts' assessment results in understanding of the underlying barriers.Social implicationsAdopting the soft-systems perspective linking nuances of stakeholders, socio-technical systems and socio-economic characteristics results in several propositions to further the social objectives of India's Make-in-India initiative. These propositions advocate for pathways in which extant strengths in terms of technology, people and existing socio-technical structures can be brought together to cater to the requirements related to employability and skill augmentation of new as well as existing workforce.Originality/valueExtant research literature is primarily focussed on certain specific topics within Industry 4.0 implementation and is mainly based on conceptual or theoretical basis. From a practitioners' perspective, only a few empirical papers could be found that too are typically focussed on single case studies resulting from pilot applications of Industry 4.0. However, such papers have not examined the broad implications of Industry 4.0 in terms of differences between key countries' manufacturing initiatives, readiness of key sectors, sectoral barriers and accompanying policy-level implications associated with implementation of Industry 4.0. Thus, the objective of this research is to abridge these research gaps.

Computational thinking in Montessori primary school

Here, we contribute to the debate on the relationship between Montessori’s pedagogy and new technologies. In this longitudinal study we used a mixed methodological approach, relying on structured evidence, field observations and notes. We show how in children, following the use of technological material aimed at developing computational thinking, in the five years of primary school in a Montessori class in Grottaferrata (RM), creativity and a sense of community have increased. The sense of community has consistently remained at a good level. The pervasiveness due to the error at a low level. Our evidence indicate how technological materials must respect the typical characteristics of Montessori development material to be integrated in school job: freedom of choice, error control, aesthetic attractiveness, autonomy of use, manual interactivity, possibility of collaborating with peers, repetition of the exercise, quantity limits are essential characteristics.

Lifelong learning activities for older adults: a scoping review protocol

Objective: To map lifelong learning activities for the elderly to understand how this paradigm has been incorporated into practical actions. Methodology: A scoping review type survey will be conducted in the literature published in English in five databases between the period 1972 to 2020. The mnemonic PCC (Population, Concept and Context) will guide the search strategy, the selection and extraction process of the studies, which will be conducted by two authors independently. Peer-reviewed articles that present the conceptual notion of lifelong learning as the central theme of the study, the target audience of men and women aged 50 and over and the description of formal educational activities will be included for the analysis, non-formal and informal. The review will include articles with a qualitative, quantitative or mixed methodological approach. The evidence will be organized in a specific form containing bibliometric data and the main characteristics of the studies, as well as specific information to answer the objectives of this scoping review. Results: will be presented in descriptive synthesis accompanied by tables and diagrams.

EFL Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Virtual Classrooms in Enhancing Communication Skills

This study aimed to examine students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of virtual classrooms in enhancing their communication skills. Study participants were 43 female English majors at the College of Education at a Saudi Arabian university. This study was conducted during the first semester of the 2020/2021 academic year when COVID-19 restrictions necessitated online learning. The study implemented a mixed methodology approach in which qualitative and quantitative tools were used to collect data. Two data collection instruments were used: a questionnaire and observations. In the questionnaire findings, students identified lack of confidence, anxiety surrounding making mistakes, and lack of vocabulary as their greatest challenges when communicating in English. The questionnaire also revealed that students held positive attitudes towards the effectiveness of virtual classrooms in enhancing their oral communication skills. The observation data revealed that virtual classrooms can play a significant role in enhancing students’ communication skills. However, despite their positive views of virtual classrooms, students agreed that the lack of face-to-face communication was a major obstacle in online learning.
  

MOOC, a Tool for Strengthening Mathematical Competencies in Higher Education

Due to the high rates of failure in mathematics, the Department of Basic Sciences of Santo Tomás University - Bucaramanga (USTABUCA), with the support of its Virtual Campus, proposes the design of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to help in the development of mathematical competencies and processes that allow students to perform successfully in the Differential Calculus course. The course was designed in four sections: Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry and Geometry, which were structured in lessons with practical exercises and entry and exit tests to check the competencies achieved in each section of the course. To determine the effectiveness of the MOOC and to investigate the students' catching-up potential, a research with a mixed methodological approach was carried out in two stages: a quantitative one with the application of questionnaires and satisfaction surveys and a qualitative one with the application of interviews to students who participated in the MOOC and teachers in charge of the Differential Calculus course. Each of the stages followed a sequential explanatory design; the instruments were applied at different times. The results indicated the relevance of the course to improve students’ catching-up processes and the improvement actions to achieve more meaningful learning experiences.

Analytical skills and imaginative education in the subject of history

The objective was to establish imaginative education in analytical skills in the history subject at the Veintitrés de Octubre Educational Unit of the Montecristi canton, Manabí province, Ecuador. To achieve this purpose, a mixed methodological approach was applied. First, the exploratory research allowed the application of surveys to teachers and students for data collection. Among the main findings found, the deficient application of imaginative education in history classes was evidenced due to the limited knowledge of this methodology on the part of teachers. 43% of the teachers surveyed know little or nothing about the tools of imaginative education, and a considerable 30% realize it moderately. For these and more reasons it is concluded that it is suitable as a strategy for teaching the subject above.

The Impact of Deductive, Inductive and Mixed Methods of Instruction on EFL Students’ Public Speaking Skill (A Case of Georgian Higher Educational Institution)

The paper aims to assess EFL students’ abilities to master public speaking skills at higher educational levels when applying different teaching approaches: inductive, deductive, and mixed (inductive & deductive) ones. Public speaking samples, namely TED talk videos, were used for observation and inspection during the teaching procedure, accompanied by various public speaking tasks and assessment rubrics that students participated in. The fortyseven video-taped public speaking performances, which were prepared and delivered by the participants, were analyzed and scored with the help of Public Speaking Competence Rubric (PSCR). The speeches were assessed by the researcher and some other expert and non-expert raters, as well as students themselves to maintain objectivity and avoid any kind of bias. Students were all informed about and taught the criteria that the PSCR involves during the studying procedure. The experiment was based on students representing B2 level of English language according to Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and it was carried out at one of the private HEIs in Tbilisi, Georgia. Statistical data were collected through pre, while and postexperimental tests in terms of public speaking performance and later analyzed in the SPSS program. According to the research results, TED Talk video samples have a positive impact on EFL students’ public speaking skills quality when accompanied by mixed (inductive and deductive) methodological teaching approaches. Particularly they improved their gesturing and posture, the majority of them overcame the stage fright (standing and speaking in front of an audience), their speeches became more organized.

Educational Influencers on Instagram: Analysis of Educational Channels, Audiences, and Economic Performance

Influencers have positioned themselves as opinion leaders capable of influencing large social groups, extending their presence to areas such as education. Instagram is one of the most consolidated social networks focused on the image where citizens interested in educational areas can find information from specialized channels on this topic. The purpose of this study is to analyze, during the period of confinement by COVID-19, the use of Instagram by educational influencers to consolidate their channel in new audiences, influence through interaction with their followers and create their transmedia production. Using a mixed methodological approach, a descriptive analysis of a sample of 810,200 users and a content analysis of 13 profiles of educational influencers is applied. The results show educational influencers as true experts in the use of Instagram, managing visually pleasing and harmonious profiles for new audiences. These influencers reach a large number of users, mostly women between the ages of 25 and 45 with an interest in “motherhood” on the platform. Educational influencers use digital marketing codes in their social networks, with a communicative style adapted to this type of space that seeks to increase the interaction and participation of new audiences and, as a consequence, economic profitability. There is a high number of influencers whose objective is to share educational resources, using their accounts as showcases for their transmedia educational production and for the sale or promotion of their productions and creations.

CTI-SOC2M2 – The quest for mature, intelligence-driven security operations and incident response capabilities

Threats, cyber attacks, and security incidents pertain to organizations of all types. Everyday information security is essentially defined by the maturity of security operations and incident response capabilities. However, focusing on internal information only has proven insufficient in an ever-changing threat landscape. Cyber threat intelligence (CTI) and its sharing are deemed necessary to cope with advanced threats and strongly influence security capabilities. Therefore, in this work, we develop CTI-SOC2M2, a capability maturity model that uses the degree of CTI integration as a proxy for SOC service maturity. In the course, we examine existing maturity models in the domains of Security Operations Centers (SOCs), incident response, and CTI. In search of adequate maturity assessment, we show threat intelligence dependencies through applicable data formats. As the systematic development of maturity models demands, our mixed methodology approach contributes a new in-depth analysis of intelligence-driven security operations. The resulting CTI-SOC2M2 model contains CTI formats, SOC services and is complemented with an evaluation through expert interviews. A prototypical, tool-based implementation is aimed to document steps towards the model’s practical application.

Factors and expectations influencing concussion disclosure within NCAA Division I athletes: A mixed methodological approach

BackgroundParticipation in sports is associated with many benefits to all aspects of health; however, it also comes with the risk of injury, particularly concussions. Self-disclosure and care seeking following a concussion are especially important because of the lack of outwardly visible signs and/or symptoms. Although recent research has explored factors affecting concussion disclosure, use of isolated methodologies limits the ability to contextualize how disclosure or nondisclosure occurs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe the factors and expectations of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes that may influence concussion disclosure. MethodsThis mixed-methods convergent parallel research study included 25 NCAA Division I athletes representing 13 sports, all of whom completed a concussion-education session with pre-/post-test surveys and a semistructured interview. Eligible athletes were at least 18 years old and on an NCAA roster. The surveys focused on previous concussion-related disclosure behaviors, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, norms, and intentions about disclosing concussion. Interviews focused on the athletes’ experiences related to concussion disclosure. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U tests. Interviews were analyzed using a Consensual Qualitative Research tradition. ResultsParticipants had good concussion knowledge (median = 46.0), positive attitudes (median = 38.0), strong beliefs (median = 13.0), and strong intentions to disclose concussion symptoms (median = 7.0). None of the constructs differed by participants’ gender. Although quantitative findings were mostly positive, interview data highlighted factors that may explain why some participants are successful in disclosing concussions and why others may find disclosure difficult. Educational efforts, sport culture, and medical professional presence were the primary facilitators discussed by participants. Stigma, pressure, and a lack of team support were perceived as disclosure barriers. ConclusionThe context in which concussion disclosure occurs or does not occur is vital to the success of educational interventions. Interventions must prioritize stakeholder- and team-based perspectives on concussion to establish a network supportive to disclosure.

INFLUENCE OF PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP VALUES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF TRANSITION RATES FROM PRIMARY TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KAHURO SUB-COUNTY, MURANGA COUNTY, KENYA

<p>The introduction of free and compulsory secondary education popularly known as 100% transition rate has met many schools unprepared. This has led to many principals facing various leadership challenges such as poor state of physical facilities; inadequate learning and teaching resources; inability to repair or provide learning furniture; inadequate trained teachers and high teacher turnover, low teacher student ration, and lack of supporting services. The study sought to examine the influence of principals’ leadership values on the management of transition rate in Kahuro Sub-County, Murang’a County, Kenya. The study was be guided by the System Theory of von Ludwig (1968) and Situation Leadership Theory as explained by Dr. Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard. The researcher used mixed methodology approach and convergent parallel design. The study targeted 505 respondents comprised of 42 principals, 42 deputy principals, 420 BOM members and one Education Officer in the Sub-County. The researcher used purposive sampling method to sample 127 respondents comprised of 42 Principals, 42 Deputy Principals, 42 BOM Chairmen and the one Education Officer. The study used questionnaires for teachers and interview guides for the Principals, BOM Chairmen and Educational officer to collect data. To ensure reliability, validity, dependability and credibility, a pilot study was conducted in 10% sample size in Kigumo Sub-County. Reliability of the instrument was determined through split-half technique where, if the correlation coefficient (r 0.78 was obtained indicating that instrument was reliable. Content validity through supervisors and expert judgment was done to evaluate clearness of the questions in the research tools. Credibility and dependability were demonstrated through an audit trail, examining the documentation of data, methods, decisions and end product. Quantitative data in the questionnaires was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics while qualitative data obtained from interview guides was analyzed using thematic data analysis. Frequency tables, graphs and pie charts and correlation coefficient statistics was used to present the quantitative data. The qualitative data was presented in form of narratives. The study showed that some schools had large classes, beyond the recommended ratio of 40:1. This could be attributed to the introduction of subsidized public secondary education program. The free schooling enabled those who could not afford education to attend school, increasing enrollments in schools. The study concluded that the curriculum could not be implemented effectively, hence low academic achievement among the learners, prequisite for increased indiscipline in schools which will call for principals in schools to improve their leadership values in order to manage the transition effectively.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0987/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

A Systematic Review of Science Discourse in K–12 Urban Classrooms in the United States: Accounting for Individual, Collective, and Contextual Factors

The literature on science discourse in K–12 classrooms in the United States has proliferated over the past couple of decades, crossing geographical, disciplinary, theoretical, and methodological boundaries. There is general consensus that science talk is at the core of students’ learning; however, a synthesis of key findings from the expansive literature base is needed. This systematic literature review is guided by a complex systems framework to organize and synthesize empirical studies of science talk in urban classrooms across individual (student or teacher), collective (interpersonal), and contextual (sociocultural, historical) planes. Findings are discussed in relation to contemporary approaches that integrate theories and methodologies to account for the complex phenomena of science discourse, including interacting elements across levels as well as stable and changing patterns that influence students’ access to, and nature of, science talk in urban classrooms. Unresolved questions related to high-leverage, equitable, and sustainable discourse practices; future lines of inquiry that can benefit by drawing from diverse theoretical traditions and mixed methodological approaches; and practical implications for classroom-based strategies to support science discourse are also discussed.

Leaving No one behind: tracking the effectiveness of the Global Partnership for Education Grant in Ghana

ABSTRACT The Global Partnership for Education (GPE)/Education for All (EFA) seeks to reduce poverty and bridge inequalities through the provision of quality education in developing countries. This paper sets out to accomplish two main objectives: (a) examine the extent to which the Ghana Partnership for Education Grant (GPEG) retained its pro-poor intentions during the course of implementation, and (b) examine if/whether GPEG eschewed resource capture by the political elite. A mixed methodology approach was employed in this study. Findings of the study showed the programme was largely implemented in a pro-poor manner and was also devoid of the elite capture of resources.

Solutions for effective diffusion of BIM for BIM late adopters: case study of UAE AEC industry

Despite the vast success of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in developing residential, commercial facilities and infrastructure; the track record of the country’s Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is somewhat different with overwhelming evidence of poor performance. Albeit the promising nature of the UAE’s AEC industry, that sought to embrace the latest technologies, the research revealed that, BIM is not yet widely utilised. The UAE was selected as a case study due to the diversity of its local AEC industry, whereby the AEC market has attracted contractors, consultants, suppliers from across the globe. This research adopted a mixed methodological approach using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to gather data from BIM users and non-users. The research investigated the perceived benefits and challenges of adopting BIM and the impact of short and long-term initiatives that can be deployed to drive the effective diffusion of BIM. The study found that there is irrefutable evidence of a lack of impetus to generate interest in BIM from an industry that has in fact undermined the pace of BIM adoption. This paper offers a set of practical recommendations not only for the government to accelerate the transition to BIM, but also to BIM late adopters.

Religious pursuits? Chinese international students encountering Christianity in Britain

ABSTRACT The increased presence of Chinese international students has contributed to the diversity of culture and religion on British campuses. While overseas Chinese students who convert to evangelical Christianity have been well researched in the United States since the 1980s, the role of religion in secular British universities remains under-researched. This study aims to understand Chinese international students’ religious seekership and their interactions with evangelical Christians in Britain. It makes an original contribution by including evidence from non-converts. Data from a mixed methodological approach illustrate the attitudes and perceptions of newly arrived Chinese international students and the subjective reasons underlying their initial seekership in multi-ethnic English-speaking religious environments. The findings challenge the assumed lack of interest of Chinese international students in local integration. Crucially, by examining the ongoing formation and cultivation of Chinese Christian identifications on British campuses, this research demonstrates the permeable boundaries between language, culture, and religion.

The effects of skills shortages on construction costs in the UK

The UK’s construction industry is facing an ever-increasing skills shortage and is experiencing the highest density of shortages across all other sectors. The skills shortage is extensively explored, but research rarely considers whether the skills shortage directly contributes to the rising cost of construction. This research explores the severity of the current skills shortage, identifies the causes, assesses the effects on rising costs and, finally, ascertains the consequences and recognises the strategies that help alleviate the skills shortage. A mixed methodological approach was adopted in this study. A total of 78 questionnaires and three semi-structured interviews were conducted using purposive sampling; the complementary data were statistically and thematically analysed, respectively. The existing literature tends to separate time, cost and quality, but the findings from this study reveal that industry professionals are reluctant to separate cost from other project variables. They believe that all issues have direct and indirect implications on project costs. Additionally, measures intended to reduce the industry’s skills shortage – for example, the direct employment mandate for public works – may be driving up project costs even further. This research offers pragmatic recommendations to organisations using insights from practitioners and policy influencers that can help mitigate the skills shortage crisis and improve project costs as well.