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Demystifying consumer invisibility in marketing research: Towards a conceptual framework
No full textThe emergence of social media and new technologies have resulted in consumers facing an increasingly complex challenge regarding invisibility. Despite this, there is mixed evidence about the notion of consumer invisibility, its impact on consumer wellbeing and the conditions under which it may be desirable or undesirable for consumers. We address this important research gap by extensively reviewing the relevant literature on consumer invisibility and related concepts. We then conceptualize consumer invisibility as a construct with three underlying dimensions (type, context, and form). Next, we identify five types of antecedents (technological, organizational, environmental, social, and individual) and three levels of outcomes (micro, meso, and macro) of consumer invisibility, with potential moderators (emerging technologies, communication media, culture, and message alignment) that may influence its impact on important consumer outcomes. Finally, we develop a Consumer Invisibility (COIN) framework with ten testable propositions about the relationships among these variables. This research would help marketing managers design products and services to serve diverse consumer groups more effectively by looking beyond surface-level interactions to uncover deeper needs of their customers
A Mixed-Methods Exploration Into the Experiences of High School Girls Participating in a 100-Day Biomechanics-Based Mentoring Program
No full textThis study implemented a mixed-method design (postprogram survey and structured interviews) to develop a detailed understanding of mentee experiences in the Biomechanics Research and Innovation Challenge. Forty-nine mentees completed the postprogram survey, and 26 mentees participated in the interview. Based on the survey results, 65% of mentees enjoyed the university campus experience, and 63% valued the networking opportunities. Learning about the research process and different careers in science and biomechanics were appreciated by 63% and 61%, respectively. Over 90% of mentees responded positively to statements about their mentors' suitability for the Biomechanics Research and Innovation Challenge, supportiveness, and availability, and 85% of mentees would recommend the program to their peers. The interviews revealed 4 key themes: developing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills; discovering biomechanics; STEM role models; and facilitators and barriers to participation. Furthermore, the interviews highlighted the development of essential STEM skills, exposure to biomechanics, and the positive impact of mentors. The program's hands-on and collaborative nature facilitated participation, whereas communication tools and scheduling were barriers. Our findings highlight the positive mentee experiences related to participation in the Biomechanics Research and Innovation Challenge program, enabling them to develop STEM skills and discover the diverse field of biomechanics. Overall, the program was well received and recommended by participants.</p
Bridging the Gap between Microstructurally Resolved Computed Tomography-Based and Homogenised Doyle-Fuller-Newman Models for Lithium-Ion Batteries
No full textLithium-ion batteries (LIB) are synonymous with the modern age of electrification, yet advances in battery design, manufacturing, and chemistry are still urgently needed. Mathematical modelling plays an important role in understanding LIB performance and can provide physics informed design directions, optimisation and explain outcomes. We present an exploration and detailed comparison of the commonly used homogenised Doyle-Fuller Newman (DFN) model and X-ray computed tomography (CT) based microstructural model for LIBs, along with experimental data. We provide insights into the relative benefits of each model and highlight why they are important to battery technology development. We compare two common cathode chemistries, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), and lithium iron phosphate (LFP), and investigate discharge current density. The DFN and CT-based models show good agreement for averaged LIB metrics, such as the voltage response and active material utilization, demonstrating that homogenised, computationally inexpensive models are an essential basis for battery design and optimisation. The CT-based microstructural model provides further insight into localised particle and electrode dynamics, considering heterogeneities that are a source of battery degradation. Qualitatively, the models also compare well with experimental secondary ion mass spectrometry mapping of the Li concentration in the active particles across the electrode thickness.</p
Spontaneous adverse drug reaction reporting:potential facilitators perceived by community pharmacists in Egypt - a cross-sectional study
No full textPharmacists are recognized as specialists in medications and are responsible for maintaining drug safety. A recent study showed that Egyptian community pharmacists face several barriers to the spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). This study aimed to identify the potential facilitators perceived by community pharmacists in Egypt that could enhance ADR reporting and contribute to the development of national ADR data. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to 1,316 community pharmacists in Egypt. Of the 905 respondents (68.7% response rate), only 125 (13.8%) revealed they had reported an ADR, with 30 (24.4%) being unable to correctly identify ADR types and 34 (27.2%) reporting they lacked the training required to do so. Key facilitators identified be respondents included ensuring that ADR-related training is available from universities (95.7%), the Egyptian Pharmacists Syndicate (91.9%), and peer-reviewed journal articles (90.6%). Participants advocated for simplifying the reporting process (92.5%), providing clear instructions (92.8%), having access to a smartphone application (80.0%), receiving regular reminders (92.4%) having their role promoted in the media (95.6%). Community pharmacists are crucial in ADR reporting, especially in low-to-middle-income countries e.g. Egypt. The study identified several facilitators to improve reporting practices, including educational interventions, process enhancements, and motivational strategies. Implementing these facilitators could address underreporting and data inaccuracies.</p
Unstructured Parental Feedback at A Tertiary Maternity Hospital:A Cohort Study Using Routinely Collected Health Data
No full textBackground: Hospital care for neonates can be challenging for parents, and a negative parental experience can affect the well-being of the infant after discharge. A family-centred approach is the gold standard of care in neonatology. Aim: This study aimed to identify common themes in voluntary unstructured feedback received from parents and caregivers of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, special care nursery or postnatal ward or followed up by neonatal outpatient services at a tertiary Australian Women and Children's Hospital. These findings are intended to inform the development of effective family-centred neonatal care approaches. Methods: This single-centre observational study used routinely collected unstructured parental voluntary feedback received between 2010 and 2021. All feedback is entered prospectively in the online consumer feedback module of a reporting database (RiskMan). Deductive thematic analysis (whereby themes, codes and categories were chosen prior to the analysis) was used to analyse the extracted quotations. Results: During the study period, 3533 unstructured feedback items were received. Most of the feedback received was compliments (2725/3533, 77.1%). The main feedback category was ‘staff competency and efficiency’, which accounted for 80.8% (2201/2755) of the compliments and 45.0% (364/808) of the complaints. Most complaints were from outpatient services and postnatal wards and centred around ‘infrastructure and systems’ (280/808, 34.7%) and ‘information, explanation and communication’ (152/808, 18.8%). Conclusions: Parental satisfaction was positively affected by ‘staff competency and efficiency’. This study supports collecting and analysing unstructured feedback to reflect parental experiences and drive quality improvement.</p
Construction and validation of the motives for smartphone use questionnaire
No full textBACKGROUND AND AIMS: Smartphones have been so widely adopted that many consider them essential for modern life. However, some people use their phone excessively, which can cause functional impairment or harm, termed problematic smartphone use (PSU). Smartphone use motives may help explain why users engage in general smartphone use and PSU, but existing measures may not capture certain motives which research suggests are important to smartphone use. To address this, across two studies, we constructed and validated a Motives for Smartphone Use Questionnaire (MSUQ) among young adults.METHODS AND RESULTS: In Study 1, the Delphi method was used, whereby engagement with a panel of 23 international academic experts resulted in a pool of 62 smartphone use motives items that measure 11 proposed motives. In Study 2, the 62 items were administered to 680 young adults aged 18-25 years (Mage = 22.50, SD = 2.16). Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses found that the MSUQ has a seven-factor structure, assessing smartphone use to cope, pass time, socialize, obtain social comfort, feel safe, fulfil social obligations, and seek information. These motives differentially influenced PSU and smartphone usage.CONCLUSIONS: The MSUQ is a valid measure of motives for smartphone use. It was developed specifically for smartphone use and it includes motives not captured in prior measures.</p
Comparing the mental health of Australian university students with that of young people who are not in higher education
No full textCompared with their non-student counterparts, young adults engaged in higher education are often reported to be at greater risk for mental health concerns. However, research directly comparing university student and non-student populations is limited. This study uses a community sample to investigate differences in the mental health and wellbeing of young Australians (17–25 years) engaged in university study (n = 828) compared with their age-matched non-studying peers (n = 880). Comparisons are made on mean levels of psychological distress, wellbeing, resilience, and loneliness, as well as the proportion of individuals meeting commonly used classifications for mental health and wellbeing. We then examine the role of employment on reported distress and wellbeing. While a substantial proportion of the sample reported high to very high distress, our study found no overall substantive difference in levels of distress or wellbeing between students and non-students. An examination of employment status revealed a more nuanced result. Full-time employment was associated with greater psychological distress in students, where otherwise students reported better wellbeing and lower distress than their non-student peers. These findings challenge the common discourse of tertiary students as having a greater risk of distress than the general community. However, attempting to combine full-time work with full-time study is challenging, and the pressures of such work can increase distress. Increased financial assistance for tertiary students is needed to ease work pressures, along with greater understanding of the flexibility needed to balance work and study commitments
Lawmakers worldwide want to talk to the Meta insider whose memoir is a US bestseller – after Zuckerberg took her to court
No full textThe Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Public Attitudes Towards the Australian Police
Get PDFPositive public attitudes towards Australian police have reduced since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following study aimed to explore these changing attitudes. Specifically, this study examined differences in attitudes towards the police across a pre-pandemic and during pandemic sample, taking into consideration the levels of contact participants had with the police and the Australian states they reside in. Furthermore, the associations between participant’s understanding of the role of police during the pandemic and their attitudes towards the police were identified. Using a cross-sectional survey design with quantitative measures, demographic data and participant’s opinions regarding the police were gathered. An open-ended survey question was also used to gain information regarding participant’s understanding of the role of police during the pandemic. Participants were 406 Australian adults (228 females, 175 males, and 3 others). When compared to pre-pandemic attitudes, a significant reduction in overall attitudes towards the police was identified during the pandemic. Participants living in states that were highly impacted by COVID-19 (i.e., Victoria, Australia) reported the least favourable attitudes towards the police. Finally, participants who had an accurate understanding of the role of police reported the most favourable attitudes towards the police. Each significant result displayed a high effect size. This study provides preliminary information for policing agencies on strategies that can be used to improve community to policing relationships in future disastrous events. Findings are discussed in relation to future research directions, educational implications and public awareness campaigns.</p
Validity and reliability of a novel impulse-based method to analyse human striking performance
No full textWe investigated the criterion validity and within- and between-day reliability of a novel method for human striking performance assessment. The Impulse Block Method allows the measurement and calculation of a range of striking variables using a load cell incorporating an impact absorption block and laser gate timer. To assess the criterion validity, we performed repeated drop tests and compared the relationship and agreement between predicted and measured velocity and initial momentum (calculated from impulse) with predicted values using linear regression and Bland-Altman plots (Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, 10 healthy adults performed palm strikes against the Impulse Block on two occasions, and within- and between-day reliability was calculated for impulse, initial momentum, velocity, effective mass, kinetic energy, and power. There was a strong linear relationship and high agreement between measured and predicted velocity and initial momentum (Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, the within- and between-day coefficients of variation were 4.95–10.2% and 6.15–12.1%, respectively, for all variables. Within- and between-day intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.72–0.99 and 0.92–0.99, respectively, for all variables, indicating moderate to excellent reliability. Our findings show that the Impulse Block Method is valid and reliable for analysing a range of striking performance variables in well-targeted and perpendicular linear strikes.</p