Online Delivery Research Articles

The role of IT in prisoner education

Studies have consistently found that prisoners who undertake education while in prison are less likely to reoffend, and return to prison. However, in an environment where post-secondary education is increasingly being offered via online delivery, prisoners with no access to the internet are experiencing barriers to education offered by non-prison providers. This study examines the Australian prison environment, the education needs of prisoners, and their current access to education, information technology and the internet. Recent and future Australian and international developments in delivering online education to prisoners are examined.

The Impact of E-Marketing on Consumer Satisfaction during Pandemic Time

During the pandemic, E-marketing was of great importance to enterprises in general. Digitized enterprises or enterprises that have been digitized during the pandemic have managed to develop their work processes without stalling in their development. At the time when everything stopped working, the companies that had already digitized processes within their companies were managing to cope with the situation that had gripped the whole world. The approach of enterprises in the time of the pandemic has greatly influenced the perception and importance of the digitalization of enterprises in the daily work processes. Communication, process management, and employee management have been a key factor in not stalling processes, ie in maintaining the health of employees of those enterprises. As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, the majority of business executives have ordered their organizations to digitize at least a portion of their operations to safeguard workers and cater to clients who are experiencing limited mobility. We have all watched what is undoubtedly going to go down in history as the widespread adoption of digital access to services and remote work, even though many doubters have not recognized this as a viable prospect. Online ordering and delivery have become the primary business of grocery businesses. In many nations, the emphasis in schools is entirely on online education. Plans for "online" supply chains and factories are being actively developed by manufacturers. Although in some regions the masses have started to reopen and businesses are opening, many businesses are still considering digitalization and further development of their internal processes as a priority. Customer satisfaction is one of the greatest assets of any business, including e-business in today's competitive environment. Several factors can help e-businesses to build a base for their customers. It undoubtedly includes service and customer satisfaction which can be the determinants of success.

Audience Preferences for Extension Forestry Zoom Webinars

The Washington State University Extension Forestry program switched to all online programming in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 2,000 people participated in our webinars, providing an opportunity to survey a large audience about their webinar preferences. We found that people prefer webinars that are approximately an hour long and offered in the evening or late morning. Participants placed high importance on having a recording available, but they had mixed views on including video of the instructor speaking. Participants found online delivery to be successful and had a strong preference for online programming in the future.

Dine in or Takeout? Trends on Restaurant Service Demand amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented damage to restaurant businesses, especially indoor dining services, because of the widespread fear of coronavirus exposure. In contrast, the online food ordering and delivery services, led by DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats, filled in the vacancy and achieved explosive growth. As a result, the restaurant industry is experiencing dramatic transformations under the crossfire of these two driving forces. However, these changes are not fully exposed because of the lack of firsthand data, let alone their potential consequences and implications. This study, thus, leverages foot traffic data to reveal and understand the trends of restaurant service demand through the pandemic. We devise a mixture model to decompose the aggregate foot traffic by dwelling time patterns into dine-in and takeout volumes. The transitions of demand structures are then identified for various restaurant sectors by service types, price levels, and locations. We observe that limited-service and budget restaurants saw a significantly faster recovery than full-service counterparts given their comparative advantages in adapting toward takeout channels. But, in the long run, our results suggest more robust demands for dine-in services at full-service restaurants, particularly those that provide more premium dining experiences. Comparatively, the off-line channels at limited-service restaurants appeared vulnerable to the cannibalization from online ordering and delivery channels, which strengthened even after society moved out of lockdown. Regionally, exurban restaurants seem to trend toward the takeout mode, whereas urban areas did not see a notable modal migration between dine-in and takeout from restaurants.

Online food delivery services: cross-sectional study of consumers’ attitude in Malaysia during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysian consumers were more likely to purchase food online and have it delivered to their doorstep. To stay afloat, many restaurants were pushed to provide online food delivery services (OFDS), and this sector has grown tremendously. However, will the trend persist after the pandemic? This study aims to look into how consumers’ perceptions of OFDS affect their attitude towards them. It investigates the relationship between convenience motivation, perceived ease of use, time-saving orientation and price-saving orientation in terms of future intent to use OFDS. Method Primary data was collected from 307 respondents in Malaysia using convenience sampling method through an online survey. Respondents’ demographic background was presented statistically in cross tabulation tables to study the ratio comparison implicitly. Consistent Partial Least Square approach and bootstrapping techniques with 5,000 subsamples was employed, with the aid of SmartPLS.V3 software, to identify the significant factors influencing consumers’ continuance intention after the pandemic. Result Perceived ease of use does not contribute significantly to continuance intention as most consumers have prior online purchase experience. Nevertheless, time-saving orientation has a positive correlation with perceived ease of use due to the simplicity of placing an order with just a click. It is also found that price-saving orientation is related to convenience motivation, particularly when prices can be compared on the websites or online ordering platforms. Consumers’ intention to continue using OFDS even after the COVID-19 pandemic is positively influenced by all the parameters studied, except for perceived ease of use. Conclusion Limited work has been done on the continuance intention to use OFDS beyond the pandemic. This study provides insight for food retailers on how to enhance their business and retain their customers with the support of technology, even after the COVID-19 pandemic.

HRM practices in app work: exploring training and feedback in the food delivery ecosystem

Purpose This study aims to explore the human resource management (HRM) practices related to training and feedback in the app work industry, specifically in online food delivery service, and investigate the emotional and behavioral responses of gig workers. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a qualitative approach by interviewing 19 gig workers from six food delivery firms operating in different countries. Findings The results show limited training and feedback opportunities are provided to app workers, although the complexity of training and delivery methods differ across platforms. To address this shortage, app workers developed response strategies relying on social interaction. Research limitations/implications This study adds to the research on HRM practices in the gig economy by portraying the way in which training and feedback unfold in the food delivery app ecosystem and by disclosing the gig workers’ emotional and behavioral responses to it. Practical implications This study shows that the way training activities are currently designed may provide little value to the ecosystem and are likely to produce negative emotional responses in gig workers. Thus, platform providers may make use of these findings by introducing more transparent feedback and social learning opportunities. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first empirical studies on online delivery gig workers addressing specific HRM practices. It reveals significant insights for training and feedback, suggesting app economy characteristics strongly affect training and feedback practices for app workers.

Group Cohesion and Necessary Adaptations in Online Hearing Voices Peer Support Groups: Qualitative Study With Group Facilitators.

Face-to-face hearing voices peer support groups (HVGs), a survivor-led initiative that enables individuals who hear voices to engage with the support of peers, have a long-standing history in community settings. HVGs are premised on the notion that forming authentic, mutual relationships enables the exploration of one's voice hearing experiences and, in turn, reduces subjective distress. As such, group cohesion is assumed to be a central mechanism of change in HVGs. The rise of digital mental health support, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in many HVGs adapting to online delivery. However, to date no studies have examined the implementation of these online groups and the adaptations necessary to foster cohesion. This study aims to understand the experience of group cohesion among HVG facilitators in online groups compared with face-to-face groups. Specifically, we examined the ways in which the medium through which groups run (online or face-to-face) impacts group cohesion and how facilitators adapted HVGs to foster group cohesion online. Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with 11 facilitators with varied experience of facilitating online and face-to-face HVGs. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings are organized into 3 themes and associated subthemes: nonverbal challenges to cohesion (lack of differentiation, transitional space, inability to see the whole picture, and expressions of empathy); discursive challenges to cohesion (topic-based conversation and depth of disclosure); and necessary adaptations for online groups (fostering shared experience and using the unique context to demonstrate investment in others). Despite challenges in both the setting and content of online groups, facilitators felt that group cohesion was still possible to achieve online but that it had to be facilitated intentionally. This study is the first to specifically investigate group cohesion in online HVGs. Participants noted numerous challenges to group cohesion when adapting groups to run online, including the unnaturally linear narrative flow of dialogue in online settings; lack of transitional spaces, and associated small talk before and after the session; ease of disengagement online; inhibited sharing; and absence of shared physical presence online. Although these challenges were significant, facilitators nevertheless emphasized that the benefits provided by the accessibility of online groups outweighed these challenges. Necessary adaptations for cultivating group cohesion online are outlined and include capitalizing on moments of humor and spontaneity, using group activities, encouraging information sharing between participants using the chat and screen-sharing features, and using objects from participants' environments to gain deeper insight into their subjective worlds.

Perception of online interprofessional education among pharmacy and medical students in tertiary university

Background: The COVID-19 crisis impacted the educational system worldwide, which shifted from face-to-face sessions to online learning modes. However, online delivery should not jeopardise the outcome of students learning from interprofessional education (IPE) and should integrate students from different professional backgrounds closer. Objective: To identify the perception of medical and pharmacy students towards online IPE activity at Taylor’s University, Malaysia. Method: An online cross-sectional questionnaire was distributed to second and fourth-year students from the medical and pharmacy programmes. Students were considered to have a positive perception if their total score was above the median score. Result: More than half of the students (53.6%) showed positive perceptions towards the online IPE programme. Medical students had the highest percentage of students (54.9%) showing greater positive perceptions compared to pharmacy students (52.7%). Both health sciences students possessed the highest score on all the SPICE instrument’s domains. Conclusion: This discovery offers valuable insights into the interprofessional competency of students engaged in online IPE activities at their current academic level. It underscores the imperative of integrating online IPE activities into the curriculum design to equip students with the competence necessary for effective collaboration within an interprofessional team.   

An Investigation of the Impact of Online and In-Person Delivery of Undergraduate Biology Instruction

Online learning is a well-established and growing, yet controversial and widely criticized, component of higher education. In this study, in-person and online versions of an undergraduate introductory biology class were compared to determine whether the online version of the course promoted student performance as well as the in-person course. Student survey responses were also analyzed to identify which teaching modality students perceived to be most effective at promoting learning, and to determine which components of the course were perceived by students to be most effective. No statistically significant difference was observed in exam scores or course grades between the two course modalities. Interestingly, some course components, such as completing virtual labs, were perceived to be more effective in the online version of the course, while others, such as participating in class discussions, were ranked as more effective for the in-person course offering; other components were ranked as similarly effective in both versions of the course. Therefore, this study provides evidence that online education can be effective if appropriately designed and implemented, and it provides a framework for strengthening the effectiveness of online education in the future.

EDUCATION FOR EXERCISE PROFESSIONALS, DELIVERED BY EXERCISE PROFESSIONALS: THE ACTIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

CASE SETTING Experience as director of a young exercise physiology clinic has facilitated extensive supervision of practicum students and graduates. This exposure has highlighted the inconsistent learning opportunities offered in pilates exercise prescription. This is alarming given the emergence of recent findings that suggest pilates is beneficial in the management of various pathologies. TREATMENT/INTERVENTION “The Active Education Program” was developed in January 2023 to facilitate structured learning opportunities for allied health students, graduates and professionals, particularly in the prescription and delivery of pilates based exercise. The courses involved in the program provide professional development in matwork, reformer, other studio equipment and rehabilitation based pilates exercise. Course participants receive a workbook and online exercise library for each course. The foundations and learning outcomes of this program are also embedded in a self-developed exercise science and physiology student placement strategy. Participants were asked to complete a survey on course completion pertaining to resource quality, experience and satisfaction. RESULTS A total of 32 participants completed at least one course in 2023. The quality and volume of the online exercise library was rated as ‘exceeding expectations’ by 87.5% and 90.6% participants respectively. The majority of participants (93.8%) felt confident in their ability to prescribe and deliver a matwork pilates class following participation, while 84.4% felt the course provided a high value of contribution to their professional development. Finally, 100% of attendees felt they received enough feedback during the course. REFLECTIONS/LEARNINGS The Active Education Program has demonstrated high quality learning experiences and promoted industry readiness. Previous feedback has facilitated the refinement of content and delivery strategies for forthcoming courses. For example, future endeavours include offering an online delivery option to increase program reach. The program will continue to connect professionals and provide a network of support while providing a high quality of professional development.

Singing for lung health in COPD: a multicentre randomised controlled trial of online delivery

BackgroundSinging for lung health (SLH) is an arts-based breathing control and movement intervention for people with long-term respiratory conditions, intended to improve symptoms and quality of life. Online, remotely delivered...

Validation of the Learner Engagement Instrument for Continuing Professional Development.

Learner engagement is the energy learners exert to remain focused and motivated to learn. The Learner Engagement Instrument (LEI) was developed to measure learner engagement in a short continuing professional development (CPD) activity. The authors validated LEI scores using validity evidence of internal structure and relationships with other variables. Participants attended 1 of 4 CPD courses (1 in-person, 2 online livestreamed, and 1 either in-person or online) in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine model fit for several alternative structural models, separately for each course. The authors also conducted a generalizability study to estimate score reliability. Associations were evaluated between LEI scores and Continuing Medical Education Teaching Effectiveness (CMETE) scores and participant demographics. All statistical methods accounted for repeated measures by participants. 415 unique participants attended 203 different CPD presentations and completed the LEI 11,567 times. The originally hypothesized 4-domain model of learner engagement (domains: emotional, behavioral, cognitive in-class, cognitive out-of-class) demonstrated best model fit in all 4 courses, with Comparative Fit Index ≥0.99, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual ≤0.031, and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation ≤0.047. The reliability for overall scores and domain scores were all acceptable (50-rater G-coefficient ≥ 0.74) except for the cognitive-in-class domain (50-rater G-coefficient 0.55 to 0.66). All findings were similar for both in-person and online delivery modalities. Correlation of LEI scores with teaching effectiveness was confirmed (rho 0.58), and a small correlation was found with participant age (rho 0.19); other associations were small and not statistically significant. Using these findings, we generated a shortened 4-item instrument, the LEI Short Form. This study confirms a 4-domain model of learner engagement, and provides validity evidence that supports using LEI scores to measure learner engagement in both in-person and livestreamed CPD activities.

VARDARA: An Online IOT Based Water Delivery Application

This paper presents a novel online water and delivery system, "VARDARA," designed to address the pressing need for convenient and efficient water distribution. Our solution integrates an intuitive Android application with smart IoT vehicles to enable seamless online ordering and timely delivery of water. By optimizing delivery routes and leveraging IoT technology, we ensure quicker and more environmentally friendly deliveries, bridging the gap between e-commerce and efficient water distribution. This innovative approach enhances customer convenience and contributes to sustainable resource management. Key Words: water, delivery, online, IoT, efficiency, sustainability.

Development and analysis of a Numbas diagnostic tool for use in a mathematics refresher program

We describe the development and analysis of an online diagnostic tool implemented in the Numbas e-learning system and used in an Australian university mathematics refresher program. Following the rapid transition to online delivery of the refresher program caused by COVID-19, the diagnostic instruments and methods used within the pre-pandemic, in-person, version of the program were lost. In 2022, we undertook to revive them in a way that would honour their original diagnostic purpose but offer a more sophisticated approach utilising the Numbas diagnostic exam type. Improvement of the tool after its initial deployment has involved the use of Rasch-based item analysis and recursive refinement of the knowledge map underlying the items.

Effectiveness of a universal, school-based, online programme for the prevention of anxiety, depression, and substance misuse among adolescents in Australia: 72-month outcomes from a cluster-randomised controlled trial

The CSC study found that the universal delivery of a school-based, online programme for the prevention of mental health and substance use disorders among adolescents resulted in improvements in mental health and substance use outcomes at 30-month follow-up. We aimed to compare the long-term effects of four interventions-Climate Schools Combined (CSC) mental health and substance use, Climate Schools Substance Use (CSSU) alone, Climate Schools Mental Health (CSMH) alone, and standard health education-on mental health and substance use outcomes among adolescents at 72-month follow-up into early adulthood. This long-term study followed up adolescents from a multicentre, cluster-randomised trial conducted across three states in Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia) enrolled between Sept 1, 2013, and Feb 28, 2014, for up to 72 months after baseline assessment. Adolescents (aged 18-20 years) from the original CSC study who accepted contact at 30-month follow-up and provided informed consent at 60-month follow-up were eligible. The interventions were delivered in school classrooms through an online delivery format and used a mixture of peer cartoon storyboards and classroom activities that were focused on alcohol, cannabis, anxiety, and depression. Participants took part in two web-based assessments at 60-month and 72-month follow-up. Primary outcomes were alcohol use, cannabis use, anxiety, and depression, measured by self-reported surveys and analysed by intention to treat (ie, in all students who were eligible at baseline). This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12613000723785), including the extended follow-up study. Of 6386 students enrolled from 71 schools, 1556 (24·4%) were randomly assigned to education as usual, 1739 (27·2%) to CSSU, 1594 (25·0%) to CSMH, and 1497 (23·4%) to CSC. 311 (22·2%) of 1401 participants in the control group, 394 (26·4%) of 1495 in the CSSU group, 477 (37·%) of 1289 in the CSMH group, and 400 (32·5%) of 1232 in the CSC group completed follow-up at 72 months. Adolescents in the CSC group reported slower year-by-year increases in weekly alcohol use (odds ratio 0·78 [95% CI 0·66-0·92]; p=0·0028) and heavy episodic drinking (0·69 [0·58-0·81]; p<0·0001) than did the control group. However, significant baseline differences between groups for drinking outcomes, and no difference in the predicted probability of weekly or heavy episodic drinking between groups were observed at 72 months. Sensitivity analyses increased uncertainty around estimates. No significant long-term differences were observed in relation to alcohol use disorder, cannabis use, cannabis use disorder, anxiety, or depression. No adverse events were reported during the trial. We found some evidence that a universal online programme for the prevention of anxiety, depression, and substance use delivered in early adolescence is effective in reducing the use and harmful use of alcohol into early adulthood. However, confidence in these findings is reduced due to baseline differences, and we did not see a difference in the predicted probability of drinking between groups at 72-month follow-up. These findings suggest that a universal prevention programme in adolescence is not sufficient to have lasting effects on mental health and substance use disorders in the long term. In addition to baseline differences, substantial attrition warrants caution in interpretation and the latter factor highlights the need for future long-term follow-up studies to invest in strategies to increase engagement. Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

Consumer preferences for commission rates in the online food delivery industry: a willingness-to-pay approach

PurposeFood service establishments and online food delivery companies use a revenue share model based on a commission rate. Because of the asymmetry of bargaining power, many food service establishments are vulnerable to a high commission rate. What is missing in the ongoing discussion about the revenue share model is the perspective of food consumers, who are the third party in the multi-sided market.Design/methodology/approachWithin a willingness-to-pay (WTP) framework, we study if food consumers have preferences for the commission rate charged by food delivery companies to food service establishments. With 456 random consumers in the United States, we conduct a controlled experiment in which information is used as treatment in two groups. In the first group, the provided information only relates to the revenue share model (i.e. economic). In the second group, participants also received information about price control initiatives (i.e. economic and political).FindingsBased on WTP-space mixed logit model results, there is a significant effect of information on preferences for the commission rate. While participants in the control group exhibited no aversion to the commission rate, participants who received treatment had a significant and negative WTP. The magnitude of the effect is estimated at -$1.08 for participants in the first treatment and -$2.28 for participants in the second treatment.Originality/valueTo date there is no applied research on the preferences of consumers in the online food order and delivery industry with respect to upstream conditions (i.e. commission rates).

The Future Higher Education in Albania in the Digital Era–Challenges and Opportunities

Over the last decade, Albania made genuine attempts to adopt its education system after the European model considering the implementation and integration of ICT as a functional skill of digital literacy to face, among others, the challenges of current globalization. But the Covid-19 crisis evidenced that such a revolutionizing of the education system was applied to ICT incorporation and implementation into a curriculum of merely conventionally-based teaching and learning process. Precisely, the research question addresses the evolution of the higher education in Albania against the backdrop of lessons learned from the pandemic crisis in view of an effective and qualitative education system while making the most of technological and digitalized tools. The study is based on a qualitative analysis offering a theoretical approach of primary and secondary sources and continues with the empirical research conducted in 2023 - a survey questionnaire regarding students’ perceptions of the blended mode of teaching and learning process and also a comparative assessment with the one conducted in 2020 regarding their attitudes of online delivery. Hence, by considering the analysis in two quite differing contexts, the aim is to explore how have students’ outlooks changed regarding the mode of delivery of the teaching and learning process since the pandemic period to date. The study also includes in-field expertise acquired to that aim from the University of Münster (Germany) in the framework of the RESILIENCE Project.

Online vs in-person delivery of preclinical coursework: A retrospective cohort study evaluating National Board of Chiropractic Examiners performance.

To evaluate the association between basic science curriculum delivery method with other academic and demographic factors on National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) part I pass rates. This was a retrospective cohort study of students from 3 campuses of 1 chiropractic institution who matriculated in 2018 or 2020. COVID-19 regulations required online delivery of a basic science curriculum for students in the 2020 cohorts, whereas students in the 2018 cohorts experienced a traditional classroom delivery. A general linear model estimated odds ratios for passing NBCE part I, comparing individual online cohorts with the combined classroom cohort while adjusting for academic and demographic variables. A total of 968 students were included, 55% from the classroom cohort. The spring 2020 cohort had the fewest students with bachelors' degrees (59%) and more students with high in-program grade point averages (GPA; 61%) along with the lowest estimated odds ratio [0.80 (95% CI: 0.73-0.87)] for passing vs the classroom cohort. The fall 2020 cohort had significantly higher odds [1.06 (95% CI: 1.00-1.03)] of passing vs the classroom cohort. Additional predictors included main campus matriculation, white ethnicity, bachelors' degree, no alternative admission status, and in-program GPA. Students with high in-program GPA (vs low) had a 36% increased odds of passing. Compared to the classroom cohort, the spring 2020 cohort had the lowest odds while the fall 2020 cohort had the highest odds of passing part I. In-program GPA had the highest association with passing. These results provide information on how curriculum delivery impacts board exam performance.

Using secondary data from mobile phones to monitor local food market access during disasters: an Australian case study

ABSTRACT Community food security is vital to creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities with zero hunger, in alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development. Local food economies are fundamental to community food security, but there is little knowledge of how they adapt to disruptions, such as pandemics and natural disasters. Monitoring local food market access during disasters is essential to ensuring local food economies are not accidentally impacted by policy decisions. This study established a methodological framework to monitor local food market access, integrating secondary mobility data and the novel use of readily available analytical tools. The validity of the approach was tested at two local food markets in Southeast Queensland, Australia, during disruptive events. The results show that the 2019 bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted the number of visits to both markets. The findings show mobile phone data can act as a useful proxy for directly observing visitation patterns, providing insights that can be combined with information about online purchasing and delivery services. The method can be used immediately to monitor and evaluate local food economies during and after disasters. Telecommunications companies can aid disaster response and recovery by sharing mobility data for policy decision support.

Blended Learning Delivery Methods for a Sustainable Learning Environment: A Delphi Study

The outbreak of COVID-19 necessitated social distancing. Universities around the world were left with two options: a total suspension or a major reduction in students’ attendance. While the nature of many courses made it very difficult to teach them online, blended learning was the most suitable approach to teach these types of courses. Academics and educational institutions have realized the significance of blended learning not only as a response to immediate disruptions but also as a pivotal element in fostering a sustainable learning environment. However, designing successful blended learning courses requires making challenging decisions regarding the selection of the most appropriate delivery methods to achieve learning outcomes. To support higher education adoption of blended learning, this study identifies and rates the importance of the delivery methods that need consideration when designing a blended learning course. The aim is to assist academics to prioritize their delivery options and provide adaptable and resilient educational models. A Delphi study of two rounds was conducted to identify and rate the delivery methods. An expert panel of 19 academics with extensive experience in course design and online delivery was recruited. The findings indicate that online collaborative work and face-to-face collaborative work should be academics’ first delivery choices. Interestingly, face-to-face instructor-led learning was at the bottom of the list and rated well below all the other delivery methods.