Thesis and Research Data Repository Leeds Beckett University
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Exploring the Effect of Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies on Ghana's Employment Landscape of Construction Artisans.
No full textThis study investigates the effect of 4IR technologies on employment opportunities and working conditions for construction artisans in Ghana. This research adopts a structured survey to collect qualitative data on employment trends, skill requirements, and technology adoption in the construction sector. This research reveals that introducing 4IR technologies has both positive and negative implications for construction artisans in Ghana. On the one hand, adopting technologies such as Building Information Modelling, robotics, and automation has increased productivity and efficiency, thus resulting in higher demand for skilled artisans. However, the study also highlights concerns regarding potential job displacement, as machines can now automate or perform some traditional artisanal tasks. It is concluded that construction artisans need to upgrade their skills to align with the changing technological landscape and emerging roles in the industry. The study recommends implementing upskilling and reskilling initiatives to ensure CAs remain relevant in an evolving industry. This research contributes to the existing literature by focusing on the employment landscape of construction artisans in Ghana within the context of 4IR technologies. It offers insights into artisans’ challenges and opportunities faced in adapting to technological changes. Further, it provides recommendations to ensure a smooth transition to the new work environment.</p
Local resources inform design: mid-point results from the Building from England's Woodlands project
No full textConsidering the energy consumption and carbon equivalent emission of the construction industry, a massive shift towards more sustainable and less carbon intensive materials and building techniques is desirable. In this regard, wood and timber products will be more utilised within the built environment, posing the question of what can be done to prevent resources from being overused and to ensure it is properly managed. To try to address the issue within the UK, the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation funded project “Building from England’s Woodlands” aims at bringing together England's sustainable forests, manufacturing sector, and construction industry to encourage wider use of homegrown timber and demonstrate that engineered components made from English wood are reliable and feasible, paving the way for innovative and large-scale wood products in the UK construction market. The project is targeting suitable hardwood species for construction and assessing their relative characteristics to inform future strategies for sustainable forest management and creation in England. The paper introduces some of the findings so far, whilst showing the plans for the prototypes to be created within the last part of the project. The prototypes aim to showcase what is feasible when the understanding of the resource informs the design process, as opposed to designing a system and then trying to determine how it can be realised from the available resource.</p
Seasonal variations in exposure to indoor air quality in existing UK social housing dwellings
No full textStrategies for protecting the UK population against the health effects of indoor air pollution are constrained by the lack of empirical data on the impact of dwelling characteristics on exposure to air pollutants inside homes. Evidence is particularly limited over different seasons and by different housing typologies. This paper undertakes empirical measurements of indoor temperature, relative humidity (RH), carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter (PM)2.5, PM10 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (Isobutylene and EtOH) in the living rooms of 34 social housing dwellings located in Warwickshire (UK) during 2021-2022. Contextual data about the physical and household characteristics of the dwellings were gathered using in-person surveys. Results revealed that the effect of seasonality was apparent, with indoor air quality (IAQ) being particularly poor in winter. The seasonal discrepancy in ventilation practices was significant. Strong seasonal variations were observed in indoor temperature (ranging from 9°C to 37°C), with widespread overheating in summer and under heating prevalent in winter across the dwelling sample. The lowest mean wintertime indoor temperatures (17.7°C) and the highest mean summer indoor temperatures (25.7°C) were recorded in bungalows. RH levels remained stable across seasons and building typologies, averaging between 45% and 54%. Regardless of seasons or typologies, the concentrations of CO2 levels stayed above 900 ppm, indicating inadequate ventilation. CO2 concentrations were found to be particularly higher across bungalows inhabited continuously by elderly residents, while high PM concentrations of 100 µg/m3 and above were experienced in terraced dwellings, exceeding the WHO limits of 15 µg/m3 for PM2.5 and 45 µg/m3 for PM10. This was possibly due to residents’ indoor activities such as smoking and cooking, confounded by poor ventilation. About 12 out of 34 dwellings experienced mean VOCs levels higher than the sample means of 0.95 ppm (EtOH) and 0.11 ppm (Isobutylene). Given that these dwellings are likely to be energy retrofitted in the near future, it is vital that trends in IAQ are used to inform the retrofit measures, especially regarding adequate ventilation alongside insulation.</p
International Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society (SEEDS) Conference 2024 - Conference Proceedings
No full textConference theme: Achieving Resilience through Sustainable Digitalization and Ecological Engineering in the 21st Century.In the year 2023, we find ourselves in a world transformed by rapid advancements in digital technology. Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), exemplified by models like ChatGPT, has emerged as a transformative force that is reshaping industries and revolutionizing the way we approach problem-solving, creativity, and sustainability. Generative AI, with its ability to generate human-like text and assist in complex decision-making processes, has found applications far beyond its origins. In 2023, industries spanning from healthcare to finance, from education to entertainment, have witnessed significant shifts in the way they operate. AI-driven insights, automation, and creative assistance have become the new norm, empowering professionals across sectors. In the field of ecological engineering, generative AI plays a pivotal role in the design and optimisation of sustainable solutions. It enables engineers and researchers to simulate and model intricate ecological systems with unprecedented accuracy, leading to more efficient resource management and environmentally friendly designs.At the nexus of digitisation and sustainability, we find an evolving landscape where technological advancements not only complement but also enhance the core tenets of Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society (SEEDS). While we embrace the vast potentials of digital technologies in improving efficiency, predictive capabilities, and data-driven decision-making, it is crucial to integrate these tools without losing sight of the fundamental principles of ecological design. These principles, centered around harmony with nature, resource conservation, and sustainable development, remain as relevant today as they ever were. The challenge and opportunity for SEEDS 2024 lie in marrying the innovation and agility of these advancements with the wisdom and foresight of ecological design. This integration aims to foster solutions that are not only technologically advanced but also deeply rooted in ecological responsibility and sustainability.Thus, this year’s conference serves as a bridge between three essential elements:• Embracing cutting-edge innovations• Preserving time-tested ecological wisdom• Fostering resilience in our communities and ecosystemsThis year we ask:How do we leverage the advancements in digital technology and industry 4.0 to promote sustainable and ecological engineering for society?</p
Museums in Mind: Exploring the role of museums for people with mental health problems and working towards best practice
No full textResearch into the contemporary concerns of mental health organisations and individuals with mental health problems reveals both a preoccupation with challenging invisibility and stigma alongside looking at new ways and spaces to help and empower individuals. This thesis explores how museums represent and engage with people with mental health problems. The research is presented within the context of the contemporary agenda for museums in England and the landscape of mental health care and cultural priorities for individuals today.Today’s museums, the Museums Association declares, can “change lives” (Museums Association, 2023, n.p.). Through collection, representation and engagement, they can challenge exclusion, empower individual identity and enhance wellbeing. This research explores the collection of the tangible and intangible heritage of mental health, interpretation of its narrative, and how museums engage with individuals with mental health conditions, including exploring the innovative practice of co-production. The research establishes a broad understanding of historic and current practice in England, then focusses on findings from case study work with four organisations to explore participant perspectives before considering future practice.Museum practice is explored within the framework of the philosophies of both Freire (1972) and Bourdieu (1986). This provides a structure to interrogate the transformative agency of the museum in relation to its practice of representing and engaging with individuals with mental health conditions.The study adopts a variety of methods to capture qualitative data. This includes survey, focus group and interview data. Fundamental to this study has been the inclusion of the voice of those with lived experience. The methodology in exploring museum engagement therefore borrows elements from action research and emancipatory methodology. Working alongside participants, I have explored the nature of museum visiting and engagement through a variety of museological activities, and the outcomes of these initiatives with individuals. The study has included a complex consideration of ethics, and a considerable degree of personal investment, both from my perspective as researcher but also as someone with my own experience of mental health problems. The methodological and research implications of these issues is explored both in considering approaches to this research and in its conclusion.Findings suggest that whereas museums are encouraged to aspire towards a role of social agency, they remain remote for many individuals who are excluded both in terms of engagement and in the invisibility of their own narrative. Museums have had a limited role in collecting the largely ignored and silenced heritage of the asylum and the stories of mental health and its treatment. Where representation exists, there is a failure to challenge the dominant discourse and to encourage the voice of lived experience. Representation and engagement practice affirms individuals within the role of patienthood rather than personhood. The study of co-production practice with which the research concludes, however, reveals a more fundamental empowerment, challenging the othering and passivity of marginalised communities. It is proposed that further research into the practice of co-production would provide the opportunity to extend understanding of the beneficial outcomes and help inform future development of this practice.</p
Foreign Direct Investment, Information Communication Technology and Economic Growth: A study in Sub-Saharan African countries
No full textThis study explores the dynamics among foreign direct investment (FDI), information communication technology (ICT), and economic growth within Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Spanning from 1995 to 2019, this research employs quantitative analysis and feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) econometric techniques to analyse data sourced from the World Bank indicators concerning 15 diverse SSA countries at various stages of economic development. The study primarily investigates the role and interplay of FDI and ICT in influencing economic growth, focusing on key ICT variables such as mobile phone subscriptions, fixed telephone subscriptions, and internet users.Within the GDP model, the findings reveal a negative statistically insignificant correlation between FDI and economic growth, suggesting FDI has no impact on economic growth. Conversely, for ICT, mobile phone subscriptions and internet users, exhibit a positive impact on economic growth, highlighting the critical role of modern communication technologies in fostering economic development. In contrast, fixed telephone subscriptions are negatively correlated with economic growth, indicating a shift towards more efficient, up to date technologies. Similarly, under the FDI model, a negative statistically significant coefficient is found between economic growth and FDI. Both mobile phone subscriptions and internet users have a positive impact on FDI while fixed telephone subscriptions have a negative impact on FDI.The study concludes that to harness the potential benefits of FDI, SSA policymakers should focus on creating a conducive environment, infrastructure improvements, and stronger regulatory frameworks. Furthermore, the significant positive impact of ICT on growth underlines the need for substantial investments in ICT infrastructure and digital literacy to ensure widespread and affordable access. This shift from traditional to modern ICT methods suggests that resources should be redirected towards mobile and internet-based platforms to maximize economic growth and attract FDI. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers aiming to leverage FDI and ICT as catalysts for economic growth in SSA.Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment, Information Communication Technology, Economic Growth, Sub-Saharan Africa, Econometric Analysis</p
The emerging discourses of social, emotional and mental health and their impact on the lives of children
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In 2014, the Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years (DfE & DoH, 2015) introduced four broad areas of need to describe pupils who required special educational provision in England. One of these categories was Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH). A narrative literature review revealed a paucity of research in this area. While the general language of special education and the impact of categorising children was the subject of interesting research, papers focused on SEMH had several shortcomings.
This thesis used the work of Michel Foucault to explore the emerging discourses of SEMH and their impact on the lives of children. Research was undertaken at an SEMH special school in England and activities were conducted as year 11 pupils prepared for the transition to post-16 education. Data were collected from teachers and parents via experiential focus groups. Data were collected from pupils via semi-formal interviews. (Critical) discourse analysis was used to consider and compare the discourse used by pupils, parents and teachers when describing SEMH. Phenomenology was used to consider pupils’ experiences of this discourse. The findings were conceptualised as a ‘Game of Truth’.
The findings suggested that a clear and consistent discourse of SEMH does not yet exist. Instead, a myriad of voices contributed to a series of diverse discourses being simultaneously generated, applied, accepted, subverted and rejected. These discourses included those of difference, deviance, protection and trauma. There was evidence to suggest that elements of these discourses caused some pupils significant distress and contributed to feelings of anxiety and shame. An original model was used to illustrate the link between power, discourse and subjectivity and revealed some teachers and parents to be parrhesiastic truth-tellers. The work of Avery Gordon emerged as an effective and original way to theorise the haunting experienced by pupils and capture their desire for something to be done. A cautious recommendation is made to those working in SEMH special schools so that support is offered to pupils while further research is undertaken.</p
Sustainable coffee packaging data
No full textData sets related to how consumer perceptions of sustainable packaging influence brand loyalty and purchasing decisions.</p
Multidisciplinary profiling of elite youth male soccer players: implications for talent identification, development, and de(selection) in an english soccer academy
No full textElite youth soccer academies in the UK aim to identify and develop talented young soccer players into future elite performers. The need to develop more and better home-grown players, has coincided with an ever-increasing volume of research which aims to understand the potential predictors and characteristics of future elite performers. Despite the quantity of such research, a large majority has failed to account for the multidisciplinary, longitudinal nature of player development. Additionally, much of this research has focused purely on objective measures of performance, failing to account for the subjective opinions of key staff. The current thesis adopted a novel approach to investigate how a multidisciplinary, longitudinal profiling tool, encompassing data from objective and subjective sources in the form of signs (isolated measures of performance attributes), samples (in-game measures of performance related variables), and subjective expert opinions (contextualised perceptions of player performance), impacted talent identification, talent development, and (de)selection processes within a single elite youth soccer academy. The studies undertaken: a) reviewed the landscape of current talent identification methods in team sports (Chapter 2), b) investigated the academies current processes (Chapter 3), c) developed elements of the profiling tool (Chapters 4 and 5), d) engaged with the reflections from academy staff (Chapter 6), before e) providing examples (Chapter 7), empirical research (Chapter 8), and challenges of the profiling tool being utilised within the academy environment (Chapter 9). Key findings demonstrate the need for, and processes of, developing a multidisciplinary, longitudinal profiling tool utilizing both objective and subjective sources of information. Such a tool was then shown to demonstrate utility in facilitating key decisions, accurately classifying 78% of players in regard to (de)selection. The findings provide insight into a novel, transferable, and applicable approach to talent identification, development, and (de)selection processes within elite youth soccer.</p
My Undiagnosed Autistic Life: Sequential Art Storytelling and Empathetic Connections from an Autism Perspective
No full textThe aim of this study was to explore the comic design preferences of the autistic
community and to better understand the reasons behind those choices. With this, the
researcher hoped to gain a clearer view of how comics could be used to share information in
an engaging, creative, and reader-centred way. These techniques were utilised to create an
exemplar comic, through an Aut-ethnographic memoir of the researcher’s experiences of
being an undiagnosed autistic woman. Yergeau (2013) described Aut-ethnography as an
autie-ethnographic narrative in her paper regarding Theory of Mind. As an autistic
researcher, she felt this term would be appropriate to describe research which has been
studied from the inside out.
A mixed-methods approach combining Aut-ethnography and Constructivist Grounded
Theory (CGT) - combining surveys, an online art exhibit and interviews - allowed for a
thorough collection of data and analysis. Surveys provided a view of the autistic community’s
tastes in comic books and why they chose comics to engage with. As well as giving an in depth outline of specific likes and dislikes regarding design features, while interviews
allowed a thorough understanding of those tastes and provided important conversations
about educational diversity.
Initial and focused coding was used to develop the final categories which suggested
that (1) The Impact of the Comic Community, (2) Comic Accessibility, (3) Influence of Media,
(4) Aesthetics that Induce Escapism, (5) Positive use of Comics in Pedagogy, and (6)
Diverse Learning Options were key themes that reflected the importance of the ever-present
theme of empathy. Not all participants had access to comic book shops, some feared what
people thought about the genre of comics they enjoyed, and the aesthetics of comics
allowed them to escape out of a difficult world. The central theme of empathy reflects the
importance of having a diverse and accepting society. This also indicates that autistic people
seek out empathetic content with a focus on the history of the characters, immersive world
building and relatable story writing. This helps the individual connect with an immersive
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world which is important for their physical and mental wellbeing. This research contributes to
knowledge by suggesting that the empathetic connection between graphic texts and reader,
with their combination of imagery and information, could improve neurodiverse people’s
understanding and knowledge, grip their attention, and motivate people to have
conversations between each other and institutions.</p