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Co-creating Sustained Impact for Diversity and Inclusion Engaged Marketing
No full textPurpose – This paper aims to examine the complexities inherent in a collaborative academic-practitioner journey to co-create sustained impact that advances diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts in the marketing field.
Design/methodology/approach – Building on empirical insights from a series of academic-practitioner co-creation workshops and in-depth collaborations with two key stakeholders, this paper reflects on the co-creation efforts and use of brokerage and bridging practices, to engage effectively with different stakeholders under the Diversity and Inclusion Engaged Marketing (DIEM) Initiative.
Findings – To illuminate the collaborative practices that have facilitated enhanced knowledge sharing between the academic and practice fields, we present two case studies, showcasing the impact outcomes co-created with DIEM-related practitioners based in the UK and the US.
Research limitations/implications – This paper provides a roadmap for a co-created impact journey, starting from a cross-contextual approach to impact gap identification. Our approach involves bridging capital and brokerage of knowledge in the development of collaborative platforms and academic-stakeholder interactions, generating impact outcomes that are not without challenges.
Practical implications – The roadmap can be used to facilitate future academic-practitioner collaborative efforts.
Originality/value – The reflections on ongoing co-created impact journeys reinforce the value of a wider understanding of impact for practitioners and academics, stemming from sustained academic-practitioner collaborations
Hematology patients’ metaphorical perceptions of the disease and psychosocial support needs in the treatment process: a phenomenological study from a rural region of Türkiye
No full textPurpose
Although health services and access to these services have increased worldwide, there are still major barriers to access to health services, especially for rural, poor, and disabled individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the metaphorical perceptions of hematology patients living in rural areas in Türkiye about the disease and their psychosocial support needs during the treatment process with a phenomenological approach.
Methods
In this study, in which the phenomenological research method was used, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 hematology patients receiving treatment in a state hospital in a province in the eastern region of Türkiye. Criterion sampling method, one of the purposive sampling methods, was used to reach the sample group. Interviews continued until data saturation was achieved. The data of the study were evaluated using thematic analysis. The study was conducted and reported according to the COREQ checklist.
Results
Data analysis revealed two main themes including the following: metaphorical perceptions towards hematologic cancer with the sub-themes of emotional turmoil, social alienation and stigma and physical debilitation, and pathways to resilience with the sub-themes of disease process management, inner resilience and faith, and psychosocial support.
Conclusion
This study revealed that the adaptation process of patients to hematologic cancer is quite difficult, and psychosocial support is an indispensable requirement for them in their lives. In order for patients and their families to cope with this very difficult disease process, it is thought that providing them with a higher level of psychological support will be beneficial in coping with the disease effectively
Muslims are leaving football, they think ‘what is the point?': A qualitative study on Islamophobia in grassroots football in England and Wales
No full textThis paper explores Muslim players’ experiences of Islamophobia at grassroots football. It employs Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a theoretical framework to interpret Islamophobia as a form of anti-Muslim racism in football. The paper considers the complexities of intersectionality in terms of race, religion, gender, and the ‘space’ where Islamophobia is manifested, both online and offline. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 40 British Muslim footballers, findings show that Islamophobia in football is intersectional, yet it is normalised and understood as ‘part of the game’. Participants’ race coupled with religion was also a key trigger for the hate that they received both online and offline. It will be concluded that grassroots football could be understood as a ‘racial project’ whereby Muslims are stigmatised, oppressed and excluded. To this end, grassroots football becomes a mirror of Islamophobia in wider society
Influence of carbohydrate mouth rinsing on repeated interval swimming performance in well-trained adolescent swimmers
No full textBackground: Carbohydrate mouth rinsing (CHO-MR) may provide an ergogenic effect for exercise performance, with small beneficial effects demonstrated in cycling and running exercise ≤ 1 hour. There is little evidence supporting the use of CHO-MR during high-intensity intermittent activity such as some swimming disciplines. As such, the aim of this study was to explore the impact of CHO-MR on sprint time, perceptions of effort and arousal, and gastrointestinal comfort in well-trained adolescent swimmers. Eleven participants completed three trials (CHO-MR, placebo and control) in a randomised, double-blinded fashion. Participants were fasted and completed four 50m sprints separated by 30-seconds rest, with rinsing occurring prior to each sprint. Results: There were no significant differences between conditions for fastest (CHO: 29.7 ± 3.3 s; PLA: 30.0 ± 3.2 s; CON: 29.3 ± 3.2 s), mean (CHO: 31.4 ± 3.0 s; PLA: 31.4 ± 2.8 s; CON: 30.8 ± 2.6 s), total sprint time (CHO: 125.5 ± 12.2 s; PLA: 125.5 ± 11.4 s; CON: 123.3 ± 10.5 s) or percentage decrement score (CHO: 5.8 ± 4.2%; PLA: 4.9 ± 4.2%; CON: 5.7 ± 4.7%). Furthermore, no significant differences between conditions were observed for rate of perceived exertion, arousal, or gastrointestinal comfort. Conclusion: The results of this study do not support the use of CHO-MR as an ergogenic aid for repeated interval swimming. Future research could explore the impact of CHO-MR on longer duration swimming given the potential ergogenic effect in other disciplines
Seizure prediction in pregnant women with epilepsy: An umbrella review of clinical practice guidelines and systematic reviews
No full textObjective
To identify risk factors for seizure in pregnant women, and in the general population with epilepsy.
Study design
Umbrella review of clinical practice guidelines and systematic reviews on risk factors or prediction models for seizure occurrence in pregnant women with epilepsy, adults with epilepsy, or all individuals with epilepsy. Guidelines or systematic reviews exclusively for children were excluded. We searched MEDLINE, Emcare, Embase, CINAHL, TRIP PRO, Epistemonikos, World Health Organisation, Guideline International Network, DANS, and grey literature (2000-2023) without language restrictions. Risk factors or predictors listed in the final guidelines or systematic reviews were collated and thematically analysed.
Results
From 3406 citations, we included 13 articles (ten guidelines, three systematic reviews) reporting 26 risk factors in pregnant women and the general adult population with epilepsy: eight factors in guidelines for pregnant women only; five in both pregnant women and general adult populations (four in both guidelines and systematic reviews, one in guidelines only); and 13 factors in the general adult population (four in both guidelines and systematic reviews, eight in guidelines, and one in a systematic review). Risk factors were categorised into five broad themes: seizure type; seizure control; anti-seizure medication; neurological; and epilepsy and medical history. Three risk factors for seizure ocurrence were cited in more than two guidelines or systematic reviews: seizure freedom (reduced risk), immediate initiation of anti-seizure medication after first seizure (reduced risk), and abnormal electroencephalogram (increased risk). Three risk factors were linked to a more than two-fold chance of seizures in pregnant women with epilepsy: tonic-clonic seizures in the last three months (RR 7.20, 95% CI 6.63-11.93), a history of non-tonic-clonic seizures (RR 2.11, 95% CI 1.88—2.62), and seizures in the pre-pregnancy year compared to no seizures (RR 3.51, 95% CI 3.13-3.94).
Conclusion
Multiple risk factors have been recommended for use in practice across different guidelines and reviews to identify those at increased risk of seizures in the adult population with epilepsy, and specifically in pregnant women with epilepsy. Further research is needed on the implementation of tools for predicting seizures to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes
Industry 4.0 Readiness Level and Operational Performance: Empirical Evidence from the Indian Auto Components Manufacturers
No full textIndustry 4.0 is significantly impacting the operations, processes and business models and has attracted attention among manufacturers of developed economies, where the adoption is more advanced as compared to emerging economies. However, challenges remain entailing the adoption of Industry 4.0 in emerging economies. To fully unfold Industry 4.0, manufacturers need to assess the readiness of their firms and identify the preconditions which can be manifested in the implementation of Industry 4.0. This study was motivated by the need to identify these preconditions and extended into evaluating how such preconditions contribute to operational performance, which has always been pivotal for managers before embracing any technological advancement. This research endeavours to fill the gap in the literature by integrating two subsets of Industry 4.0, encompassing Industry 4.0 readiness and operational performance. This study investigated the relationship between readiness level and operational performance within the context of the Indian auto component industry.
A mixed methodology was adopted to explore the current practices and operational performance through semi-structured interviews with 15 small and large-scale companies. Following a web survey on 217 Indian auto component firms, this study elucidates the Industry 4.0 readiness field by focusing on how readiness levels affect operational performance. Following exploratory factor analysis (EFA), four factors were used for structural equation modelling to test the number of hypotheses for determining the relationship between Industry 4.0 readiness level (independent construct) and operational performance (dependent construct).
The readiness level confirmed the assumption that companies still require several steps to scale to level 4 as 60.8% of firms are at the beginner and intermediate level. The research found that Industry 4.0 readiness levels have a significant positive relationship with production process efficiency and network integration. There is no significant relationship between Industry 4.0 readiness level and responsiveness towards OEM demand. Network integration is the key operational performance measure considering it makes the largest contribution to production process efficiency, while technology readiness level contributes more to network integration than production process efficiency and responsiveness towards OEM demand.
The thesis contributed to the existing research in the following ways. First, the study developed a progressive tool to measure the Industry 4.0 readiness for operational performance. Second, this research contributes to the existing literature by refining concepts such as network integration, production process efficiency and responsiveness in the context of Industry 4.0. These concepts were further tested with a quantitative study and attempts to provide a holistic framework for measuring performance with operational variables in the context of Industry 4.0. As a theoretical contribution, this study tested the relationship between Industry 4.0 readiness level and operational performance from a Resource-Based View perspective
Evaluating the Dynamic Psychological and Behavioral Changes of Water‐Saving in Public Buildings Under Effective Interventions
No full textThis paper addresses the critical aspect of water conservation in public buildings within the context of sustainable urban water resources management. While conventional approaches rely on pricing controls and water-saving appliances, this research emphasizes the key consideration of psychological factors influencing users' willingness to conserve water. Through a survey involving 1,206 volunteers, an expanded theory of planned behavior model is constructed and analyzed to evaluate the impact of water-saving attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and perceived behavioral control on individuals' water-saving behavior. Intervention experiments conducted in three types of public buildings equipped with smart water meters unveil the nuanced dynamics of real-time water-saving behavior and its responsiveness to external interventions. Findings underscore the collective influence of subjective norms, water-saving attitudes, self-efficacy, and perceived behavioral control on individuals' intentions and behaviors. Noteworthy is the observed time lag and diminishing impact of external interventions, where economic, feedback, and subjective norms interventions prove more effective. This study not only contributes a theoretical framework but also provides practical insights, emphasizing the need for consistent and targeted external interventions. Practitioners, decision-makers, and stakeholders are urged to recognize the profound impact of users' psychological factors on public water-saving behavior and strategically employ interventions for sustained positive outcomes
Early Childhood Studies Graduates in the Workplace: Experiences and Perceptions
No full textThis report of an Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network (ECSDN) funded collaborative research project explores the experiences and perceptions of Early Childhood Studies (ECS) graduates in the workplace. Previous research has shown the benefits of a graduate workforce in the delivery of high-quality education and care for young children, their families and communities. This project aimed to build upon the previous two ECSDN funded projects and was completed in two phases. The first involved a national survey of ECS graduates which aimed to understand their experiences as they entered the workforce and developed their own career pathways. The second phase centred around an online ‘world café’ event for employers which aimed to understand the value of the degree and its graduates from the perspective of the sector. Shared thematic analysis brought the findings from these two phases together to draw conclusions about the overall experiences and perceptions of ECSgraduates in the workplace. The key findings and recommendations are:• 1. Promoting the value of the degree experience to the individual learner There needs to be greater appreciation of the wide diversity of career pathways that ECS Degrees contribute towards and the transferable skills developed through the ECS degree experience.• 2. Advocating for ECS degrees and their value to societyEmployers value ECS graduates for their knowledge and understanding, but there needs to be a shared appreciation of this value from parents, policymakers and wider society.• 3. Bridging the gap between theory and practiceThe practitioner role is increasingly challenging and complex. Graduates will continue to require support once they enter workplace. There is scope for new networking opportunities for graduates within ECSDN and for further alignment between degree and workplace professional learning opportunities.• 4. An eco-system of early childhoodA joined-up, bi-directional partnership approach to working with the sector, that supports ECS students and employers, as well as universities, is needed at a time of crisis for the sector. • 4. National qualifications frameworks and pay scalesPolicymakers should consider a national qualification framework with commensurate funding and pay scales.This report of an Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network (ECSDN) funded collaborative research project explores the experiences and perceptions of Early Childhood Studies (ECS) graduates in the workplace. Previous research has shown the benefits of a graduate workforce in the delivery of high-quality education and care for young children, their families and communities. This project aimed to build upon the previous two ECSDN funded projects and was completed in two phases. The first involved a national survey of ECS graduates which aimed to understand their experiences as they entered the workforce and developed their own career pathways. The second phase centred around an online ‘world café’ event for employers which aimed to understand the value of the degree and its graduates from the perspective of the sector. Shared thematic analysis brought the findings from these two phases together to draw conclusions about the overall experiences and perceptions of ECSgraduates in the workplace. The key findings and recommendations are:• 1. Promoting the value of the degree experience to the individual learner There needs to be greater appreciation of the wide diversity of career pathways that ECS Degrees contribute towards and the transferable skills developed through the ECS degree experience.• 2. Advocating for ECS degrees and their value to societyEmployers value ECS graduates for their knowledge and understanding, but there needs to be a shared appreciation of this value from parents, policymakers and wider society.• 3. Bridging the gap between theory and practiceThe practitioner role is increasingly challenging and complex. Graduates will continue to require support once they enter workplace. There is scope for new networking opportunities for graduates within ECSDN and for further alignment between degree and workplace professional learning opportunities.• 4. An eco-system of early childhoodA joined-up, bi-directional partnership approach to working with the sector, that supports ECS students and employers, as well as universities, is needed at a time of crisis for the sector. • 4. National qualifications frameworks and pay scalesPolicymakers should consider a national qualification framework with commensurate funding and pay scales
Shakespeare and International (Soft?) Power: Through the Lens of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s Collections
No full textScattered Diaries: Biographical Dialogues on the Ethnographic Imagination, Friendship and Popular Music Research
No full textThis chapter seeks to be surprising; it is purposefully different and will not conform to the ‘traditional’ academic format. Instead, this is a playful exploration of one of the distinctive tools within ethnography: the diary. This diary is not a linear documentation of events, but an imperfect retrospective, a scattered dialogue between two friends and research collaborators – Asya and Shane. We aim to reflect, in a new and personal style, on the biographical aspects of doing popular music ethnography, teaching and research through working together. We tell a story about an academic friendship There are two broad theoretical frameworks to this critical dialogue which derives firstly, from C. Wright Mills’ (1959: 216) The Sociological Imagination, which suggests “you must learn to use your life experience in your intellectual work.” Secondly, from Les Back’s (2016) Academic Diary, whereby we chronicle our engagements through dates, but these dates are not presented in a chronological narrative but are scattered under the weight of pressure and rhythm. We do not offer a self-help guide to the academy or a saucy intro to ethnography, it is a highly personalised account which dips in and out of theoretical language because this what we do in the academy. We seek to question our relationship, how and why it developed with a focus on biography, subjectivity, and emotionality. Asya and Shane first met as undergraduate student and lecturer, then were PhD researcher and doctoral supervisor, co-lecturers, and then subsequently to become joint co-authors in writing academic studies and holding musical events. This chapter builds on the key characteristic of our collaboration in less conventional ways. It gives voice to personal experience through the metaphor of an academic journey which moves from the personal to the cultural and back again. Our working relationships have been dynamic and intimate. The glue that has kept us together consists of trust and surprise operating on the principle of accepting ideas ‘out of the blue’