Repertory Grid Research Articles

“Generic and unusable”1: Understanding employee perceptions of cybersecurity training and measuring advice fatigue

Security Education Training and Awareness (SETA) programs often fail to reduce organisational cyber risk, and this is linked to the way that employees perceive and appraise such programs. Rather than improving employee awareness, a poorly implemented SETA program may cause fatigue and result in risky cyber behaviours. This paper describes two studies aimed respectively at examining how SETA programs can lead to fatigue and development of a measure of SETA Advice-Related Cybersecurity Fatigue. In Study 1, a repertory grid technique was used to examine employee responses to a series of SETA videos. A total of 24 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals from a variety of industries. Key themes related to the content, style, and design, of cybersecurity training videos, but also employees’ perceived characteristics of the intended audience and broader preconceptions of cybersecurity principles. In Study 2, we developed the Cybersecurity Advice Fatigue Scale (CAFS) Scale, a self-report measure of the fatigue which results from poor cybersecurity advice. A principal component analysis of CAFS scores for 457 working adults revealed a five-factor structure that broadly aligns with the themes identified by the qualitative analyses of Study 1. The results of both studies highlight that employees make inferences about the corporate motivation behind the SETA program, and this influences their receptivity to the content. From an applied perspective, cybersecurity practitioners can use the CAFS to identify features of their cybersecurity training programs which should be improved to enhance the program's efficacy.

Empirical study for human engagement in collaborative robot programming

The need for flexible production has turned manufacturing’s attention to integrate fast and uncomplicated solutions. Collaborative robots (cobots) have been considered the most impactful technology due to their versatility and human-robot interaction feature. Its implementation requires expertise in both process and cobot programming. Consequently, demand for effective programming training has increased over the past years. This paper, then, aims to design and explore a smart cobot programming system and conduct an empirical study to understand human engagement and programming performance. A repertory grid is employed based on cobot experts to understand different cobot programming approaches. Meaningful insights were considered to design and implement a smart programming system configuration. Then, an empirical programming study was performed considering cobot expertise and human engagement. Results demonstrated similarities and disparities in data collected, which was inferred to indicate differences in cobot programming behavior. Finally, the work identifies and discusses patterns to differentiate programmer expertise levels and behaviors.

Striking a Balance Between Researchers’ and Learners’ Voices in L2/FL Empirical Studies: A Guide to the Group Repertory Grid Approach

ABSTRACT Against the backdrop of greater emphasis on learner centredness and growing attention to learners’ voices in recent decades, concerns have been raised over researchers’ dominance in shaping research scope and findings. Whether it be quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research, learners’ voices are mostly absent at the methodological design stage. In this article, we discuss the imbalance between researchers’ and learners’ voices in L2/FL empirical studies and why this deserves our attention. We then introduce personal construct theory and delineate the repertory grid approach, with which many language researchers are unlikely to be familiar. With a step-by-step illustration, we endeavour to exemplify how an adapted version of this approach can be applied to mid/large-scale studies. The article ends with a conclusion of how this approach potentially complements and supplements the use of common quantitative (e.g., questionnaires) and qualitative (e.g., interviews) instruments, and calls for a wider adoption of this approach in L2/FL studies.

How Kenyan Potato Farmers Evaluate the Seed: Implications for the Promotion of Certified Seed Potato

Improving the quality of seed potatoes that smallholder farmers plant continues to represent one of the most important challenges of the potato sector in most developing countries to counter the long-lasting poor yields. This study aimed to better understand the way farmers choose seed potato by exploring the attributes they look for and the benefits they expect from them. We used means-end chains analysis in combination with Kelly’s repertory grid as an elicitation technique and disaggregated data for male and female partners. In total, farmers named 38 attributes they look for when selecting seeds. Farmers associate “good” seeds to those that are well-sprouted, have many eyes, are of a variety they know, are medium in size, are certified, and are undamaged. Most preferred attributes lead to a higher yield and consequently higher income which is the most predominant avenue for farmers to achieve their desired values in life. Female farmers mentioned fewer attributes and also pursued fewer values than their male counterparts. Users and non-users of certified seed were shown to use the same attributes to select their potato seeds. Non-users of certified seed thus seem to be aware of the benefits of certified seed even though they are not using it. The results from this study indicate that increasing the availability of certified seed is not necessarily a straightforward way of improving the quality of seed potato planted by Kenyan smallholder farmers.

The effect of beer label design on customer purchase behavior

The brewing industry and its products represent an important economic indicator in the Czech Republic through which the health of the economy can be assessed. A significant problem can be seen in the regulation of marketing communication on the products of breweries by legislation. For this reason, there is a big boom in the creativity of beer labels and their impact on potential customers. The level and creativity of the label design reflect the perceived tradition of the brand, and vice-versa the influence of tradition on the design can be assumed – therefore a two-way link can be considered. The main objective of the paper is to find out potential factors, which influence customers’ purchase decision-making process in retail. The beer labels are considered a key marketing communication element, on which base target customers usually choose and buy beer. The research was realized by repertory grid (RG), on which participated young people, during September 2023. The RG concept was employed in 24 mini-focus groups (MFG) where respondents identified possible influencing factors of three beers’ labels on their potential purchase behavior. In realized 24 MFGs, there participated 3-6 members (a total of 119 persons). According to answers in the RG we defined seven influencing groups of factors with defined poles.

Teachers and school-aged learners: do they inhabit the same classroom world?

ABSTRACT This paper reports on research in secondary schools in Brunei to investigate how teachers and learners view the English language learning classroom. The paper reviews the literature on learner perceptions, and comparisons with those of teachers, and argues that a ‘researcher's agenda’ frequently imposes limitations on data gathered. A research design utilising personal construct repertory grids was therefore developed to allow respondents to ‘speak for themselves’. Respondents were asked to build repertory grids in respect of task types from their classroom, in order to establish the constructs they draw on when thinking about their language lessons. Findings show that the teachers and learners have very different views, with evidence that the learners view the classroom as a ‘social event’ in direct contrast to the teachers, who view the classroom as ‘a pedagogic event’. The significance of this is that the learners are unlikely to be oriented towards achievement in language learning, and that the teachers will therefore find it difficult to keep learners focussed on the learning objectives. The paper concludes that only by involving learners in establishing aims and objectives, and in determining ways of working, will teachers and learners be brought to ‘inhabit the same classroom world’.

Advancing the use of the repertory grid technique in the built environment: A systematic review

Since the development of personal construct theory, the repertory grid technique (RGT) has been the most recognized tool to elicit personal constructs. Although RGT was found to be a viable scientific and practical method in different fields, its utilization in the built environment has been extremely limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore RGT as a research method and advance its use in the built environment field. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, this study conducted a systematic review to identify studies on Scopus that have used RGT before 2021. These studies were investigated according to subject area, location, year of publication, aim, and research design. Among the 782 studies contributing to more than 24 subject areas, 30 used RGT within the built environment scope. Results indicated the validity of RGT to the built environment by exploring different ways it may be employed. This review strongly recommends advancing the use of RGT in the built environment and taking advantage of its potential.

An exploration of the professional identity of clinical academics using repertory grid technique.

Clinicians who divide their time between clinical work and research have contributed to some of the most fundamental breakthroughs in medicine in recent history, yet their role is not always well-understood or valued. Understanding the factors which contribute to career success for clinical academics is critical for supporting this workforce. Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) provides a conceptual framework for career success, incorporating personal and environmental factors. The aim of this study is to explore clinical academics' construal of successful clinical academic practice and to contribute to a holistic view of the professional identity of the clinical academic. Using a constructivist technique, repertory grid, the authors interviewed ten clinical academics at different career stages in one-to-one structured interviews conducted virtually between November 2020 and April 2021. Data from the interviews were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. Common themes were identified, analysed, and ranked according to importance with respect to successful clinical academic practice. Using SCCT as a framework, constructs were categorised as personal factors, organisational factors, competencies and person-environment fit. A differential analysis between established/trainee and female/male participants was carried out. One hundred and thirty-three constructs were elicited and categorised into 20 themes (constructs). There was consensus among participants that 6 were of high importance with respect to successful clinical academic practice, 8 of intermediate and 4 of low importance, with no consensus on 2 constructs. Personal factors of high importance include innovation and integrity. Competencies including research and teaching skills are highly important, and ability to collaborate is also considered central to successful clinical academic practice. Female participants expressed greater concerns about the impact of familial responsibilities on career progression. This study highlights the importance of interactions between the person and environment, and characterises the important attributes of successful clinical academics including personal factors such as integrity and innovation.

Decisions on the quality of piano performance: Evaluation of self and others.

In common with other professional musicians, self-evaluation of practise and performance is an integral part of a pianist's professional life. They will also have opportunities to listen to and evaluate the performances of others based on their own criteria. These self-constructed perspectives towards to a piano performance will have an influence on both self-evaluation and external evaluation, but whether differently or similarly is not known. Consequently, this research study aimed to explore how judgements on the perceived quality of a performance are undertaken by professional standard pianists and what criteria are applied, both with regards their own performances as well as the performance of others. Participants were six professional pianists (3 men, 3 women) who were based in the United Kingdom (Mean age = 31.5 years old. SD = 5.1). They were asked to play individually six trials of a piece of R. Schumann's "Träumerei" Op. 15 No. 7 in a hired hall for recordings. Then, within 2 months, each participant was asked to come to a self-evaluation session to listen to and evaluate their own six recordings, using a Triadic method as a Repertory Grid. For the external evaluation focused session, the participants were asked to return again to evaluate a further six recordings made up of 'best' recordings as selected by each participant from their own individual self-evaluations. Analyses of the resultant data suggest that there was no significant difference between the participants in their overall ratings in the external phase, but that self-evaluation showed significant individual differences amongst several participants. The performance criteria in both self-evaluation and external evaluation predominately overlapped with each other in terms of musical factors, such as tone quality, phrasing, and pedalling. The ranking of the performances was highly correlated with perceptions of overall flow, tone quality and pedalling. It appears that pianists apply similar criteria to decide performance quality when evaluating their own performances as well as others.

Self-concept 6 months after traumatic brain injury and its relationship with emotional functioning.

This is an observational exploratory study assessing self-concept and its association with depression, anxiety, satisfaction with life, and quality of life 6 months after experiencing a traumatic brain injury. Participants were 33 patients who suffered a traumatic brain injury 6 months before the assessment. The measures used in this study were the Repertory Grid Technique, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Satisfaction With Life Scale, and the Quality of Life after Brain Injury. We calculated Euclidean distances to assess differences in pre-and post-injury self-perception, as well as the proportion of opposed pole construct rating and polarization to understand how they are associated with the scores of the other offered measures. We found that the distance between the present and ideal self, as well as the distance between the present self and the self before the lesion showed moderate positive correlations with depression, and negative correlations with satisfaction with life and quality of life. Also, for the present and self before the lesion, the proportion of opposed pole ratings was correlated with depression symptoms, quality, and satisfaction with life, while for the present self and the ideal self this proportion was correlated with all the measures. The proportion of polarization of the present self and the total polarization was negatively correlated with symptom measures. The repertory grid might facilitate a greater understanding of self-concept after traumatic brain injury. This information could be used to guide treatments that address the emotions related to distances observed in the perception of the self.

Articulating a Māori educator’s pedagogical constructs: a co-constructed case study

We agreed, as a non-Māori manager and a Māori educator, to use personal construct theory (PCT) methods to articulate and reflect on the second author’s (SA’s) pedagogical meaning-making which she had intentionally aligned with a tikanga Māori approach to teaching a mixed group of non-Māori and Māori learners on a new – and by all accounts successful - foundation-level programme, Te Tuapapa Hauora (translated: firm foundation in health). We elicited SA’s pedagogical constructs, using four role titles she was positively disposed to, and four she viewed as opposites. We included SA’s choice of 10 constructs in a repertory grid. Her ratings allowed us to generate grid-based probes for reflecting on her pedagogy. We analysed post-grid interview data, identifying several key themes in her meaning-making which were consistent with key factors perceived as enabling Māori learners’ success (Chauvel & Rean, 2012). We arrived at a dual outcome: a co-constructed account of SA’s tikanga Māori pedagogy and an exemplar of how educators could use repertory grid analysis for reflective purposes

Repertory Grid Methodology to Research Tacit Knowledge in Construction

Quality and buildability are important issues in construction, and both emerge at the earliest stages of design. However, neither are well-defined concepts. Our premise is that behaviour, values and culture impact on quality and buildability in the design stage, but these are also vulnerable to precise definition and difficult to investigate within a typical hypothesis-driven positivist approach. A better method may lie in a theory of personal constructs or ‘constructivism’ which takes the human experience as a whole. Qualitative research methods and data collection techniques are critically reviewed to assess those methods best fitted for purpose in approaching the research problem. Personal Construct Psychology (PCP), using repertory grids emerges as a suitable candidate and is applied in two pilot studies in Australia and Singapore. Preliminary results show the appropriateness of the approach for engaging in buildability studies.

Conflicting perspectives on urban landscape quality in six urban regions in Europe and their implications for urban transitions

The European Landscape Convention urges countries to involve stakeholders including citizens in the governance of ordinary (urban) landscapes. This paper studies conflicting stakeholder perspectives on urban landscape quality in the context of urban sustainability transitions in six European urban regions in the Netherlands, Italy, France, Croatia, Belarus and the Russian Federation. Repertory grid technique helped to identify the dimensions through which persons evaluate urban landscape quality. Ninety-three (93) interviewees elicited 1400 bipolar constructs, such as “Edible green – Concrete” or “Community, group – Loneliness”. They then selected two constructs they consider most relevant in the context of urban sustainability transitions, and ranked all pictures on a 10-points scale. The rankings were analyzed using Multiple Correspondence Analysis. We find that, in spite of the many social and cultural differences between the regions, stakeholders largely agree on the preferred direction of urban transitions; more green and blue spots where people can meet and undertake joint (leisure) activities. The main conflict is between, on the one hand, a preference for organized development and beautification and, on the other hand, naturalness (permeability of soil) and organic development. The paper considers several challenges for transition governance.

Pagbalangkas: Issues and opportunities on natural heritage sustainability of Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), Philippines - Basis for inclusive organizational management framework

Pagbalangkas is a Filipino term, which means formulation or conceptualization. And in the conceptualization of a place branding strategy, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS), stakeholders, specifically the government sector, must understand different factors and aspects of sustainable development. This study explicated the different issues and opportunities for conservation, and sustainable development, specifically for Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), Philippines. Specifically, the study also determines the associations of different efforts mandated and implemented by different government agencies both from the national and local, assessing the impacts and effects of current and potential plans and programs for conserving and sustaining SINP as a future UNESCO WHS and to conceptualized a framework that would highlight the basic factors on place branding development based on the case of SINP. The research used a qualitative-case study design, specifically by measuring information through focus group discussion (FGD) and content analysis on available government-issued documents. Participants from the FGD were representatives from different government agencies from the national, regional, local, and people’s organizations. The gathered information was analyzed through a repertory grid. Based on the research, conceptualizing a place branding development, such as UNESCO WHS, must determine the government organizations, institutions, and systems framework, situation analysis of the place and its community, issues, and opportunities manifested.

초등학생이 인식하는 경쟁학습의 구성개념 분석

Purpose: In order for Competitive learning(CL) to be usefully employed in school, It is important to know how students perceive competitive learning. The purpose of this study was to reveal how elementary school students perceive CL so that CL can be positively employed in classrooms. Methods: To achieve this purpose, the characteristics of the CL recognized by elementary school students were analyzed using the Repertory Grid technique, which is a representative research method of Personal Construct Psychology. Results: Of the constructs of CL the following were found: 'A sense of achievement', 'Ability and Effort', 'Focus on results or activity', 'Recognition of rivals', 'Competition burden', 'Damage of sociality', 'Operation of rules', 'Deprivation according to the result', 'Responsiveness of people around', 'Pursuit of Competence', and 'Competition preference'. The degree of recognition differed according to the competitive-cooperation tendency, and the recognition was similar based on the activity. Conclusion: CL has a positive aspect, and it can be one of the effective learning methods if the positive aspects are maximized and the negative aspects are minimized. The focus of CL should be on the activity, not the reward. Furthermore, CL should be approached differently depending on the subject, environment, content and other areas.

Competency model for international engineering project manager through MADM method: The Chinese context

Due to the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese engineering contracting companies have ushered in excellent opportunities in the international engineering market. However, for the lack of comprehensive talents, Chinese international engineering projects are currently facing various difficulties. How to select, evaluate, and train highly competitive engineering project managers is of great significance to them. In this paper, an improved Multi-Attribute Decision Making Method (MADM) is used to construct the competency model of international engineering project managers, so as to provide a reliable reference and suggestions for the evaluation process and future development.The current study of project managers’ competency is mainly focused on the local level rather than the international level, and discussed about the competency of general project managers instead of a specific industry of engineering. Also, we noticed the lack of a systematic method of competency evaluation for Chinese international engineering project managers.Aiming at the manager competency of international engineering projects, this paper firstly combines Repertory Grid technique (RepGrid) with the help of Chinese experts abroad and factor analysis to construct a competency evaluation index system, and then combines Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Analytic Network Process (ANP) to explore the interaction between various indicators and determine the weight of each indicator. Finally, through improved Vlse kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method the five candidates from a Chinese company in the case are evaluated. The final parts of this article provide a methodological reference and improvement suggestions for the recruitment, performance evaluation, training and career development of international engineering project managers based on the constructed model.

Uncoupling Conceptual Understandings and Political Preferences: A Study of Democratic Attitudes among Singapore's Highly Educated Young People

Democracy is subject to constant and seemingly interminable contestation in academic and policy contexts, and yet, empirically and methodologically robust analysis of what the term means in practice for actual citizens has remained an area of relative lacuna. Admittedly, large-N surveys have attempted to address this research gap by examining attitudes to numerous components of democracy, but without the fine-grained detail required to overcome simply reproducing the focus on liberal procedural, Western precedent-based, top-down approaches to understanding such a complex and varied political system. This article proposes a methodological approach, based on the requirements of comparative political theory and research into how people view democracy. This allows us to explore political attitudes and the meaning of democracy with a bottom-up approach using the methods of repertory grid and in-depth interviews. Singapore is a particularly exciting case for comparative political science: although it has all the advantageous conditions that, according to classic modernization theory, promote the development of democracy, it is still not a democracy.<br/> To what extent will the conceptualization of democracy by citizens in a country like Singapore resemble theoretical definitions, and how suitable do they consider democracy to be for Singapore? What are their expectations for a good government or regime? This article examines what highly educated Singaporeans, ranging in age from their twenties to their forties, think about democracy. In doing so, the article also pursues the goal of comparing methods between repertory grid interviews and in-depth interviews in order to work out potential interfaces, and points of connection, between the two methods to allow for the most productive research outcomes. We find that, conceptually, these Singaporeans' perceptions of democracy appeared very similar to what is usually discussed as electoral democracy in established literature. When evaluating the performance of a government or a regime, however, liberal ideas of freedom and fairness competed with more pragmatic approaches that reflect the principles of progress and success as well as community and performance-focused orientations. As a result, our respondents did not prioritize democratic practices as much as other aspects of governance like e ciency. Our findings on the influence of state ideology on highly educated young people in Singapore strengthen the arguments of political myth as an integration and legitimization strategy in autocratic regimes and democratizing strong states or regimes with a particularly pronounced ideological hegemony.

The importance of multi-agency collaborations during human trafficking criminal investigations

ABSTRACT Human Trafficking (HT) has serious social and economic implications for both society and the victims of the crime. Despite being one of the most complex crimes to detect and investigate, multi-agency collaboration can often underpin effective investigations. There remains, however, a scarce evidence-based knowledge concerning the investigation of HT and police collaboration with partner agencies. The present study examines police collaborations in England and Wales when investigating HT, providing empirical knowledge on (i) the types of support police officers usually require from other agencies when investigating HT crimes; (ii) the agencies with whom they usually collaborate; and (iii) the types of support agencies can provide. The study uses the Repertory Grid Technique to gather and analyse data from 28 investigators from nineteen police units in England and Wales investigating trafficking crimes. Data from the individual grids was analysed through content and descriptive analysis. A median grid was created and analysed through principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. The study identified that police officers need to collaborate with partner agencies when working with victims, planning and assisting police operations/strategies, building the criminal intelligence picture and obtaining information about premises/companies and individuals. Findings also reveal that the police believe they need to rely upon several key agencies for each category of support. Findings evidence the need for police collaboration with partner agencies to secure victim-centred and intelligence-led investigations.

How Early-Career and Experienced Researchers Construe Academic Wrongdoings: A Repertory Grid Study

The present paper investigates how early-career and experienced researchers construe or mentally represent academic wrongdoings. Particularly, early-career researchers are believed to be at risk of committing academic wrongdoings and have a crucial role in forming future research environments. Instead of employing self-reported survey data, a cognitive mapping methodology called the repertory grid technique (RGT) (Kelly, 1955) is applied to dig further into the underlying phenomena. Academic research integrity is a topic where clear definitions of safe behavior and misbehavior, the latter especially covering Questionable Researched Practices (QRPs) are lacking. This lack of clarity leads to misunderstandings amongst researchers about what is (not) allowed. Hence the need for studies exploring researchers’ real construal or mental models of academic wrongdoings. 63 researchers (early-career and experienced researchers) from major Belgian universities were interviewed using the repertory grid technique. Results indicate that there is a shift going on in researchers’ perception of QRPs. Both early-career and experienced researchers consider honorary authorship, duplicate publication, failing to present data that contradicts one’s research, and overlooking others’ misbehaviors not as really “damaging“ academic wrongdoings. Especially early-career researchers construed honorary authorship and overlooking others’ misbehaviors as innocent. These misbehaviors tend to be considered ‘normal misbehavior’ which might undermine academic integrity and the trust in academic research. Knowing what is considered as ‘normal misbehavior’ is pertinent with a view to fostering research integrity. Hence this study is helpful for defining academic integrity enablers. Practical suggestions are given to remove the laxity about ‘normal misbehavior’.

Mindful Action in Tension: Responding to Errors in High Reliability Seeking Organization

We studied how actors in a high reliability seeking organization (HRO) respond to errors through mindful actions that are in tension. Scholars conceptualized mindfulness in HROs as a combination of awareness and action, however, prior research has primarily emphasized mindfulness as enriching awareness (Weick et al, 1999) with less attention to action. The element of rich awareness has produced important insights into how organizations can notice errors or prevent them from occurring. However, we know little about the role of mindfulness as action. By adopting a paradox lens and using the repertory grid technique, we elicited simultaneous opposites that actors navigate in their responses. In exploring individual actors’ responses to two types of errors – near-miss and accidents – allowed us to elaborate how individuals configure their action repertoire. When enacting their responses, actors locate their actions in between multiple opposite poles that create tensions. Actors’ sense of tension changes when errors are deemed near-miss or accidents thereby locating their actions between the simultaneous opposites differently. Finally, actors’ repertoire of actions reflects their awareness of not only errors, as the extant literature suggested, but also their awareness of the social context and their place in this context.