bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovative User Interface: Friendly Touch Control Screen for Multifunctional Electronic Printing System
Authors: Mosing Lionel , Ciuffini Tony , Villano Tony
Published: July 2017

So that a wide range of users can and will make effective use of the functional richness now possible in electronically intensive, multi-functional office products, Xerox Printing Systems Division has developed an innovative approach to user/system interaction. Important elements in the progression from creation, through design, development and evaluation of this friendly user interface will be reviewed. These activities were integral to the product design process and its introduction.

The symposium panel consists of a behavioral scientist, a physical scientist and a computer scientist who were intimately and interactively involved in the creation and development of this unique user interface for the Xerox 5700 Electronic Printing System. The effectiveness of the integrated, multidiscipline approach used to achieve early product introduction will be discussed. Innovation was in the user interface, the product and the process by which the user interface was achieved. Time will be set aside for audience interactions and questions.
Relationships Between Readability of Printed and Crt-Displayed Text
Authors: Kak Anita V.
Published: July 2017

The feasibility of reading assessment and training via CRT-displayed text was investigated by implementing a computer-displayed version of the Nelson-Denny Reading Test. Experiments were conducted to directly assess the effects of CRT display upon reading, rather than lebibility test performance. Results suggested that standard legibility measures (e.g., scanning rate) may be inappropriate criteria in evaluating CRT displays in more usual reading tasks.
Experimental Evaluation of Exit Directional Indicators
Authors: Lerner Neil D.
Published: July 2017

The direction to a safe exit is a critical message to convey in built environments. As pictorial signs have been increasingly used, many exit symbols have been used or proposed, but none has been shown to be both well understood and optimally visible under potential emergency conditions. This report focuses on a narrower issue which parallels the exit symbol problem in general: that is, the selection of a directional indicator, or “arrow”, for use with exit signage. In one experiment, a set of arrows was tested for visibility under simulated emergency viewing conditions. In another experiment, arrows were evaluated for suitability on the basis of connotative meaning, uniqueness, and appropriateness of appearance. One arrow was identified as the preferred candidate among the set tested, and some general features were identified for use in selecting exit directional signage.
The Development and Evaluation of Pictographic Symbols
Authors: Sloan Gary , Eshelman Paul
Published: July 2017

The premise adopted in this study is that representatives of the audience for whom a symbol is intended should be participants in its evolution as well as subjects in its evaluation. Several situations in need of product misuse warnings were supplied by a manufacturer of ovenware products. Symbol design possibilities were first generated for each message category and then design input was obtained from a sample of potential product users. New design candidates were developed on the basis of subject recommendations. Study generated symbols proved to be significantly more effective than designs used by the manufacturer for the same message categories as assessed by differences in reaction time and error rate.

The relative effectiveness of different negation sign designs was also evaluated. Differences in both reaction time and subjective ranks of communicativeness suggest that a thin black cross is more effective in conveying negation than a thin black slash, a partial slash or cross, and a contour slash or cross. Significant differences were not found in the extent that the designs interfere with symbol recognition.
Ergonomics and the Design of Glove Boxes
Authors: Nielsen Waldo J.
Published: July 2017

Glove boxes, also known as containment cabinets and dry boxes, are being used much more frequently in industrial, university and government laboratories, and in manufacturing processes, as more and more substances are being labelled suspect carcinogens or toxic. Dry boxes are so named because they are designed to protect the substance from the atmosphere.

The need to incorporate ergonomics input into the design of glove boxes will be discussed. The published literature concerning ergonomics in glove box design is very sparse. The purpose of this paper is to alert the glove box user to this need, to outline some of the problems encountered in glove box use and to indicate areas where additional studies are needed.

The performance of tasks inside a glove box can impose severe constraints, both physical and visual, on the operator. There are physical and visual limitations on reaches and restrictions on the range of arm, hand and finger movements within the glove box. Quite often, awkward body postures and awkward limb movements are required in order to perform the task. Dexterity and manipulative ability are further decreased by the wearing of gloves. These constraints and limitations are very task dependent.

The interface between user and glove box most readily lends itself to ergonomics input. Treating the glove box as a special type of individual workplace, existing data and accepted ergonomic principles of workplace design can be utilized in designing this interface. This involves specifying the height of the glove box for either a seated or a standing operation and designing adjustability into this workplace in order to accommodate the individual operator. This ability to adjust oneself to the workplace, and to the task, should minimize awkward body postures and awkward limb movements.

This interface and opportunity for adjustment, are the factors most immediately under control of the user organization when setting up a glove box, which is, most often, an off-the-shelf purchase from a glove box manufacturer.

Other factors to be considered in designing a glove box workplace are visual constraints, room lighting, gloves (type and size) and pass through provisions (from adjacent glove box or hood).

Since the constraints and limitations are very task dependent, ergonomics input is invaluable in specifying or designing special tools, trays and containers that will or can be used inside the glove box. The ergonomist can make recommendations on the placement and positioning of equipment inside the glove box and on the best use of standard laboratory equipment inside the glove box, or, if necessary, suggest modifications to the equipment.

This input has to be compatible with the major design considerations involving the complete protection and safety of the user, correct negative pressure, exhaust system, necessary services inside glove box, latch seals, glove attachment, cleaning and decontamination facilties, and other stringent requirements for a completely enclosed system.
Factors Affecting Wire Stripping Performance of Telephone Company Craftspeople
Authors: Kohl George , Donegan John , Connelly Richard
Published: July 2017

Telephone company craftspeople strip insulation from the ends of almost one billion wires per year. We conducted field and laboratory studies to identify and recommend improvements on factors affecting this wire stripping performance. These factors included: user strength characteristics; the size and shape of the stripping pliers; the size, shape, and position of the stripping notch; the stripping motion used by the craftsperson; wire insulation adhesion forces; and allowable stripping forces. A description of these studies and the resultant recommendations are presented.
Brick Grip Method, Cardio-Vascular Costs and Postural Discomfort
Authors: Webb R.D.G. , Handyside J.
Published: July 2017

Ten male subjects were tested using two brick handling methods. When bricks were handled four at a time rather than two in each hand, heart rate increased by 20 beats per minute and significant increases in back, arm and chest muscle activity and discomfort were observed.
Human Factors in Equipment Development for the Space Shuttle: A Study of the General Purpose Work Station
Authors: Junge M.K. , Giacomi M.J.
Published: July 2017

NASA - Ames Research Center has recently developed a specialized Class II Biohazard contained working space for life Sciences experiments. This work bench, the General Purpose Work Station (GPWS), has been designed for use in the first dedicated Life Sciences Spacelab payload of the Space Shuttle. The experimenter's position and access to the work station directly impact the performance of the procedures. A series of science functional tests were developed by NASA-ARC to determine the capabilities of the GPWS and to reveal the critical points of operator interface. Four procedures were performed three times each by six subjects: mouse handling, a hematology experiment, a plant dissection, and a squirrel monkey observation. Data were collected via video taping and user and observer evaluation forms. Analysis of the voice comments, body posture and movement, and placement of equipment from the video tapes showed clearly the areas needing human factors improvement. The subjective evaluation forms with a five-point acceptance scale, were adequate in the assessment of the test. The user and observer evaluation forms collected information on the observed problems in one-g and the potential problems in zero-g. From the results of the data collected, it was concluded that various hardware features needed to be changed or modified. Immediate problems such as the electronic touch panel configuration were solved. The long term problems of zero-g work surface height and muscle fatigue need to be studied further. In order to answer some of the problems of muscle fatigue, the procedures to operate the GPWS can include appropriate rest and stretch time periods for the operators. In addition, plans are underway to study posture and muscle fatigue at work stations in underwater simulation of zero-g.
Human Factors in the Application of Large Screen Electronic Displays to Transport Flight Station Design
Authors: Companion Michael A. , Wasson Raymond L.
Published: July 2017

To reduce pilot workload and increase safety, transport aircraft flight station designers have begun to introduce cathode ray tube (CRT) displays into their designs. This paper examines the concept and questions pertaining to the possible application of large electronic display devices, specifically 33.0- and 48.3-cm CRTs, to future flight station design to improve pilot performance. Large CRTs offer many intriguing possibilities such as multisegment displays and variable format size (zoom), as well as the larger display area necessary to make innovative 3-dimensional (D) formats and touch panel overlays more feasible and usable. Lockheed-Georgia Company, in conjunction with NASA, has established a program to examine these advanced display concepts for future transport aircraft flight station design.
A Computer-Based Undergraduate Course in Human Factors
Authors: Halstead-Nussloch Richard
Published: July 2017

A project, aiming to improve the undergraduate laboratory course in human factors, is ongoing at Stevens. It is funded by the National Science Foundation and Stevens. Six instructional modules are either developed or under development. The modules use computers to first give students a direct hands-on experience of critical concepts and phenomena, and then have them infer design criteria from simulated data. The computer tools appear to qualitatively change the course from one of passive absorbtion of human factors concepts and principles to active development of these concepts, principles and design criteria.
Integrated Control/Display Unit vs. Dedicated Control Heads for Radio Tuning in a KC-135 Flight Simulator
Authors: Warner Debra A. , Gunning David R.
Published: July 2017

A two-part study was conducted in a KC-135 flight simulator to determine the appropriateness of replacing dedicated control heads with an integrated control/display unit (CDU) for accomplishing cockpit communication (UHF, HF) and navigation (VOR) radio tuning. The CDU is being evaluated as a means of decreasing pilot workload to potentially enable a proposed reduction in KC-135 crew size.

During both individual tuning tasks and simulated missions, time and error data were collected comparing pilot performance for the two tuning methods. Although subjective opinion favored the CDU concept, objective results indicated that the conventional tuning method (except HF) was faster. Various features of the CDU plus relative subject inexperience using the CDU were probable contributers to these unexpected results. Subsequent reevaluation is scheduled to occur incorporating changes which are designed to enhance CDU operability.
Mandatory Processing of the Background in the Detection of Objects in Scenes
Authors: Klatsky Gary J. , Teitelbaum Richard C. , Mezzanotte Robert J. , Biederman Irving
Published: July 2017

Would the relationships between an object and its real-world setting affect the detectibility of that object even when the observer knew what the object was and where it would appear? Mandatory processing of scene backgrounds was investigated using a pre-cue design in which the target object's name and location was supplied to the subject prior to a single 100 msec. presentation of a line drawing of a real-world scene. The deleterious effect of violating relationships between the target and background indicated that the processing of the scene background was mandatory and affected the perceptability of the target rather than the memory of the scene.
Effects of Blur and Noise on Digital Imagery Interpretability
Authors: Turpin James A.
Published: July 2017

Ten medium scale (1:2700 to 1:4400) aerial photographs typical of the imagery viewed by Air Force photointerpreters, were digitized to 4096 x 4096 files (20-Mm aperture by 11 bits intensity) on a scanning microdensitometer. The image files were then multiplied by two Gaussian filter functions (Fourier domain) to yield two blurred and one “ground truth” level of each image and transformed to eight bits of intensity for output. One of four weightings of a 4096 x 4096 Gaussian noise file was added to each image file, yielding 3 Blur x 5 Noise x 10 Image combinations (150 images, total). Positive transparencies then served as the data base for an information extract task.

Fifteen photointerpreters (PIs) from the 548th Reconnaisance Technical Group, Hickman AFB, Hawaii, served as subjects. Blur was a between-subjects variable with five PIs at each of three noise levels. Noise was a with in-subject variable (five levels). The nose main effect was significant (p < .01). The Blur main effect and the Blur x Noise interaction were not found to be statistically significant. The data were correlated with scaling values from a separate study using the same images and PIs. A significant correlation was found (r = .898).
President Truman Speaks: A Study of who Believes What
Authors: Swanson Charles E. , Jenkins James , Jones Robert L.
Published: July 2017

Further findings in an analysis of reactions to the President's “Twin Cities” speech challenge the notion that audiences will be more likely to accept an objective news story than the opinion-loaded sentences of an editorial. The authors are all members of the faculty at the University of Minnesota.
The United States Senate and the Press, 1838-41
Authors: Marbut Frederick B.
Published: July 2017

The background and conclusion of the New York Herald's quarrel with the Senate over press privileges are given in this article by Dr. Marbut, who wrote his Ph.D. dissertation at Harvard on “The History of Washington Newspaper Correspondence to 1861.” The author is on the Penn State journalism faculty.
Useful Tools for Interpreting Newspaper Readership Data
Authors: Nafziger Ralph O. , Maclean Malcolm , Engstrom Warren
Published: July 2017

How can readership figures be analyzed and used most effectively? The authors believe that frequency distribution charts and factor analysis offer great promise in this connection. They illustrate their points with examples drawn from two newspaper studies made under a grant from the Office of Naval Research.
California's Retraction Statute: License to Libel?
Authors: Newell Thomas M. , Pickerell Albert
Published: July 2017

Two Californians analyze their state's “drastic” retraction law and ask whether it is really sound legislation. Mr. Newell is assistant professor of journalism at Stanford University, as was Mr. Pickerell before joining the journalism faculty of the University of California. Both are former newspaper men.
The Place of the Mass Media in the Lives of Boys and Girls
Authors: Lyness Paul I.
Published: July 2017

The media dominated the leisure time of respondents in the third through the eleventh grades even in pre-television days, according to a survey in the Des Moines public schools. Dr. Lyness, now a research executive with the Curtis Publishing Co., was formerly on the journalism faculty at Iowa.
New Communication Techniques Studied in FAO Workshop
Authors: Rogers Charles E.
Published: July 2017

A specialized international agency plans procedures by which solutions of land tenure problems can be transmitted to the people of areas which do not have access to the conventional mass media. Dr. Rogers formerly had charge of educational relations for the Food and Agricultural Organization.
Trend is toward Supervision of Student Newspapers
Authors: Bert Russell E.
Published: July 2017

Based on a survey of 141 colleges and universities, including 34 with accredited schools of journalism, this study reveals some interesting developments. Mr. Bert is head of the journalism department and director of publicity at Superior (Wis.) State College. He did the survey as part of his master's thesis at Iowa.
Current Trends in Income of Communications Enterprises
Authors: Kinter Charles V.
Published: July 2017

Communications income shows more stability than national income, but costs appear to increase more rapidly than revenue in a boom and fall less in a depression. Author of several earlier articles * on this subject, Dr. Kinter is economist with a Chicago investment firm and lecturer on economics at Northwestern.
Religious Freedom as a Theme of the Voice of America
Authors: Larson Cedric
Published: July 2017

Co-author of Words That Won the War, Mr. Larson is well known for his research and writing on Public Opinion and Propaganda. Now a free-lance writer in New York City, he is currently at work on a book about the OW1 of World War II and the present overseas information work of this country.
Research in Brief
Authors: Rafferty Keen , Aromiskis Vera , Bartfield Louis , Howard Jack , Jackson Phyllis , Johnson Eugene
Published: July 2017

This department is devoted to shorter articles and notes on research in the communications field, either completed or in progress. Readers are invited to submit reports on investigative studies which might prove useful to other students because of content, method, or implications for further research.
How the Weekly Press Covers News of Local Government
Authors: Duncan Charles T.
Published: July 2017

Fewer than half of the weekly newspapers reporting in a national survey give on-the-spot coverage to three key units of local government. Competition appears to be a significant factor in determining diligence. The author is an associate professor in the School of Journalism at the University of Oregon.
Research in Brief
Authors: Stempel Guido H.
Published: July 2017

This department is devoted to shorter articles and notes on research in the communications field, either completed or in progress. Readers are invited to submit reports on investigative studies which might prove useful to other students because of content, method, or implications for further research.
Viewpoints on Oncoplastic Surgery in Invasive Breast Cancer
Authors: Mustonen P. , Härmä M.
Published: July 2017

Breast conserving therapy is the best method to the breast cancer treatment when concerning the psychological sequelae to the patient. Cosmetic results after conservative surgery are not always acceptable: about 20 % of patients need a revision operation and correcting the residual defect of the breast or asymmetry of the breasts afterwards. On-coplastic surgery means that the methods familiar to plastic surgeon are used to increase the number of patients treated with conservative surgery without compromising the oncologic results. Even wider margins than in normal breast conservation can be gained, if local glandular flaps, musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi flaps or microvascular free TRAM flaps are used to immediately preserve the shape and symmetry of the breasts. With plastic surgery it is possible to reshape the breast, replace the nipple and gain breast symmetry. As we know every tenth woman will have a breast cancer during her lifetime, and 80 % of breast cancer women will survive. It is important to operate breast cancer immediately to save costs and help a patient feel that her breasts are still a part of her own body.
Acute Traumatic Hemarthrosis of the Knee. Is Routine Arthroscopic Examination Necessary?
Authors: Sarimo J. , Rantanen J. , Heikkilä J. , Helttula I. , Hiltunen A. , Orava S.
Published: July 2017

Background and Aims:

Distortions and contusions of the knee are common. Fairly often they will result in hemarthrosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the findings in patients with acute traumatic hemarthrosis of the knee and based on these findings estimate the necessity of acute arthroscopic examination.

Material and Methods:

A total of 320 patients were examined arthroscopically between the years 1994 to 96 in the Turku University Hospital. Patients with other than chondral or osteochondral fractures were excluded.

Results:

The most common arthroscopic findings were rupture of the ACL (45 %), dislocation of the patella (23 %) and meniscal tear (21 %). In only 113 (35 %) cases an immediate therapeutic procedure was performed in addition to the arthroscopic examination.

Conclusions:

Based on our findings we believe that routine arthroscopic examination is not necessary in patients with acute traumatic hemarthrosis of the knee. In our opinion the patient should be examined and followed by an orthopedic surgeon and if a lesion requiring operative treatment is diagnosed or suspected, an arthroscopic examination should be scheduled. The timing of the procedure should be such that all possible lesions encountered can be treated in the same operation.
Good Reduction of Paresthesia and Pain after Excision of Excessive Callus Formation in Patients with Malunited Clavicular Fractures
Authors: Nowak J. , Stålberg E. , Larsson S.
Published: July 2017

Background and Aims:

Sequelae following non-surgical treatment of clavicular fractures are not uncommon. The aim with this study was to describe results after excision of excessive callus in patients with late onset of paresthesia/numbness.

Material and Methods:

Eight patients with hypertrophic callus after a malunited clavicular fracture were operated with removal of excessive callus and scar tissue, without stabilizing ostheosynthesis. The reason for surgery was paresthesia/numbness in the arm and hand. There was a delay between trauma and onset of symptoms on average 10 (6–18) months. Neurophysiology prior to surgery was normal in the patients tested. The mean age at trauma was 29 years and the mean time between trauma and operation was 66 months. A prerequisite for surgery was symptoms without recovery for at least 6 months.

Results:

At follow-up on average 20 months after surgery the paresthesia/numbness, pain at rest, pain during activity, headache and dizziness were significantly reduced or even gone in all patients. The improvement occurred almost immediately after surgery with no signs of recurrence during follow-up.

Conclusion:

Removal of excessive callus and scar tissue after a malunited clavicular fracture can reduce or fully relieve disabling paresthesia and pain even if surgery is done several years after the fracture. Neurophysiological examination is normal due to lack of permanent neurologic damage and can not be used to confirm the symptoms.
Preoperative Staging of Colorectal Cancer — Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Blomqvist L.
Published: July 2017

Cross-sectional imaging techniques are increasingly being used in the preoperative evaluation of patients with colorectal cancer. Both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging have been improved with significant advances of the technological hard- and software. This has contributed to high patient acceptance due to shorter examination times and more open configuration of the systems, consistent high quality images with better delineation of the normal abdomino-pelvic anatomy and pathology. New techniques such as CT-colonography have emerged from a research application to a clinical tool which can be used in different clinical settings. Phased-array receiver coils have significantly increased the usefulness of MR in the evaluation of rectal neoplasms due to the high resolution that can be obtained. New organ specific contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging have facilitated the preoperative evaluation of liver metastases in favour of more invasive techniques with similar sensitivities. However, preoperative staging criteria for colorectal cancer using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging has to be updated and the results of new techniques have to be confirmed in large trials. In the future, further development of CT and MR may offer ‘one-stop-shopping’ protocols for both diagnosis, local and distant staging of colorectal cancer. Diffusion weighted MR-imaging, in vivo spectroscopy as well as further targeted imaging, such as with lymph node specific agents for MR may also prove to be helpful in the preoperative evaluation of patients with colorectal cancer.
Laparoscopic Resection of Colonic Cancer
Authors: Veldkamp R. , Gholghesaei M. , Bouvy N. D. , Kazemier G. , Bonjer H. J.
Published: July 2017

Laparoscopic resection of colonic cancer can be regarded as a safe and efficacious procedure. Short-term outcome is better after laparoscopic colectomy than after open colectomy. Long-term results of the first published randomized clinical trial indicate improved cancer related survival following laparoscopic resection of colonic cancer. However, patients included in this single center study were operated on by highly experienced laparoscopic surgeons and included relative small numbers of patients. Results of other large randomized controlled trials have to be awaited before laparoscopic resection can be recommended for colonic cancer. Higher in-hospital costs and a long learning curve hinder rapid implementation of laparoscopic colectomy into general surgical practice. Integration of laparoscopic surgery into surgical training programs is mandatory.
The Welsh Collaborative Care Pathway Project: Implementing an Integrated Care Pathway for the Dying Patient in Wales
Authors: Fowell Andrew , Finlay Ilora , Johnstone Ros , Minto Lindsey
Published: July 2017

The primary goal of this project was to improve the care of the dying patient through the introduction of a pre-developed integrated care pathway (ICP), while concurrently seeking to determine the feasibility of implementing a pre-developed ICP throughout Wales.

Thirty-eight teams, reflecting four care settings crossing the statutory and voluntary sectors, participated in the project. Training was delivered on a regional basis in the north, south and middle areas of Wales. Participating teams' implementation of the ICP was monitored for one year. Support was provided by quarterly regional meetings, a project website, quarterly newsletters and a telephone helpline.

After one year, 80% of the 38 teams participating in the project were using the ICP in their workplace. A further 10% were prepared and ready to use the ICP when a suitable patient was referred, while only 10% were unable to implement the ICP. The feasibility of implementing a pre-developed care pathway for the last days of life across different care settings and sectors throughout Wales was clearly demonstrated. The central collection and analysis of variance sheets established a baseline measure of palliative care quality, facilitated local and national benchmarking, and indicated future directions for research and development to improve the care of the dying patient in Wales.
Using Integrated Care Pathways to Ensure Best Practice in Clinical Transfusion
Authors: Nanuck Yusuff , McCombe Jane
Published: July 2017

To influence and implement effective changes in clinical practice where a single discipline is involved can be challenging for any health care professional in any clinical setting. However, changing practice in the transfusion chain poses a greater challenge for practitioners mainly because of its multidisciplinary involvement. The transfusion chain involves as many as five different disciplines and up to 11 steps to accomplish its course effectively. Furthermore, the clinical risk implications of transfusion practice require careful planning and usage of appropriate tools to ensure optimum safety. Here, an integrated care pathway for adult blood transfusion is demonstrated as an effective tool in influencing such changes in clinical practice.
Framework for the Implementation of Integrated Care Pathways: Part 2
Authors: Cook Susy , Scott Marie
Published: July 2017

This is the second part of a series of three papers that looks in detail at the framework developed to support teams within the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust who are considering utilizing integrated care pathways (ICPs) as a tool to deliver change improvements. This paper discusses the value of assessing the readiness for change, ensuring that the correct tool is chosen to deliver the change and emphasizing the importance of building capability and capacity in relation to change projects and, more specifically, successful ICP development and implementation.
Is Everything in the Garden Rosy? An Integrated Care Pathway for Acute Inpatient Mental Health Care, from Development to Evaluation: Part 1
Authors: Hall Julie , Grant Robert , Pritlove Roger
Published: July 2017

This paper is the first of two which consider the development, use and evaluation of an integrated care pathway (ICP) for acute inpatient mental health care. The care pathway discussed is in use on seven inpatient wards within a UK mental health trust. Pathway development began in January 2003, and after a pilot period the pathway was fully implemented in June 2003. Since that time the pathway has been revised twice and the current version can be viewed at http://www.nimhe-em.org.uk/pages/integrated_care_pathways/index.shtml . This paper describes ICP development and implementation, with extracts from variance reports, compliance audits and concluding with lessons learnt from the process. Paper 2 of the series, which follows, describes an evaluation of the pathway's impact upon securing interventions.
Balancing Culture, Ethics, and Methods in Qualitative Health Research with Aboriginal Peoples
Authors: Meadows L. M. , Lagendyk L. E. , Thurston W. E. , Eisener A. C.
Published: July 2017

Including Aboriginal women in qualitative health research expands our understanding of factors that contribute to their health and well-being. As part of the larger WHEALTH study, we gathered qualitative health data on midlife Aboriginal women living both on and off reserves. Despite careful planning and a commitment to methodological congruence and purposiveness we encountered a number of challenges that raised ethical questions. We present how we addressed these issues as we attempted to produce ethical, culturally sensitive, and sound research in a timely fashion. This article provides important considerations for other researchers and funding bodies while illustrating the benefits of working with Aboriginal women as an under researched population.
El Investigador Como Instrumento Flexible de la Indagación
Authors: de la Cuesta Benjumea Carmen
Published: July 2017

La reflexividad convierte al investigador en actor de su estudio e instrumento de la indagación con que construye el diseño, como producto de las decisiones que toma. Esto se mostrará con una investigación sobre el cuidado familiar de pacientes con demencia avanzada. En la construcción de la pregunta me presento como sujeto situado ( Rosaldo, 1991 ) y en el desarrollo del estudio como parte del mundo social ( Hammersley y Atkinson, 1995 ); aquí doy cuenta de las oportunidades, ajustes y dificultades que lo moldearon. Con ello pretendo ilustrar el carácter emergente de un estudio, y en concreto resaltar que el investigador lo construya a través de múltiples y superpuestos procesos sociales. Los investigadores cualitativos reconocen su presencia, tratan de comprenderla y explicar sus efectos ( Rossman y Rallis, 1998 ). La reflexividad contribuye a la validez y desde el punto de vista del interaccionismo simbólico, el proceso reflexivo dota al investigador de un self indagador.
Tech Tips: Using Video Management/ Analysis Technology in Qualitative Research
Authors: Spiers J.A.
Published: July 2017

This article presents tips on how to use video in qualitative research. The author states that, though there many complex and powerful computer programs for working with video, the work done in qualitative research does not require those programs. For this work, simple editing software is sufficient. Also presented is an easy and efficient method of transcribing video clips.
Students' Involvement in Faculty Research: Ethical and Methodological Issues
Authors: Ferguson Linda M. , Yonge Olive , Myrick Florence
Published: July 2017

Faculty who engage students as participants in their qualitative research often encounter methodological and ethical problems. Ethical issues arise from the fiduciary relationship between faculty and their students, and violations of that relationship occur when the educator has a dual role as researcher with those students. Methodological issues arise from research designs to address these ethical issues. This conflict is particularly evident in faculty research on pedagogy in their own disciplines, for which students are necessary as participants but are captive in the relationship. In this article, the authors explore the issues of double agency when faculty involve students as participants in their research.
The Incremental Marketization and Centralization of State Control of Public Higher Education: A Hermeneutic Interpretation of Legislative and Administrative Texts
Authors: Harbour Clifford P.
Published: July 2017

In this article, the author reports on an analysis and interpretation of institutional accountability legislation enacted by the Colorado General Assembly from 1985 to 2005. The method of inquiry for the study was grounded in the principles of hermeneutics and narrative policy analysis. Analysis and interpretation of legislative and administrative texts reveal how they rationalize marketized higher education and centralized state control of public colleges and universities. This interpretation also explains how a new integrated funding and accountability framework creates de facto institutional missions validated by marketization and secured by centralization of state control.
Implicated Audience Member Seeks Understanding: Reexamining the “Gift” of Autoethnography
Authors: Berry Keith
Published: July 2017

Researchers have characterized autoethnography as a highly evocative and personalized mode of discourse that affects authors and their audiences. In this article, the author examines autoethnography by recalling experiences communicating with Tillmann-Healy's (2005) “The State of Unions: Activism (and In-Activism) in Decision 2004,” an autoethnographic poem about recent U.S. election results, civic inactivity among gay men, and the need for their political engagement. Sparked by a philosophical goal more to understand and respond than to admonish and territorialize, the author uses hermeneutic phenomenology and narrative reflections to consider the complexities of autoethnographic communication, and the hope and challenges that such personalized accounts of “experience” make possible for conversational partners.
Translation as an Ecological Tool for Instrument Development
Authors: Vinokurov Andrey , Geller Daniel , Martin Tamara L.
Published: July 2017

In this paper the authors outline the translation process involved in Macro International's evaluation of the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Georgia. IVLP is a long-running program in which professionals and prospective leaders from around the world participate in funded short-term visits to the United States to learn first-hand professional practices and values of American society and democracy. The authors highlight the importance of attending to the theoretical issues in, discuss contextual factors inherent in, and outline specific phases of the translation process, and present the modified decentering translation technique adapted for the project. They describe the types of translation equivalencies that were addressed and present findings that attest to the quality of the translation. They underscore the importance of the translation process as a qualitative tool for the instrument development that maps the contexts of people's lives, documents emic-etic aspects of cross-cultural research, and fosters collaborations with all stakeholders of the research project.
Amazement, Pauses and Whereabouts. The Methodological Path Followed by a Research Beginner in a Transnational Context
Authors: Lizardi-Gómez Alejandra
Published: July 2017

Explaining the decisions taken in the methodological development of a study ensures rigor in the process of qualitative research. However, few researchers are concerned about outlining the reasons for their methodological strategy selection and the results obtained. A study on chronic illness care in a transnational community is an example where traveling down the methodological path took a different turn than originally intended. In this study the author explains why it was necessary to adopt methodological strategies, keeping in mind the concepts of reflexivity and flexibility. Additionally, several implications are raised in the design due to the transnational characteristic of the community and its members.

Explicar las decisiones que se toman en el desarrollo metodológico de un estudio garantiza el rigor del proceso de investigación cualitativa. Sin embargo, son pocos los investigadores preocupados por exponer las razones de selección de las estrategias metodológicas y los resultados obtenidos. En una investigación sobre la atención a un padecimiento crónico en una comunidad transnacional, el camino metodológico tomó un camino diferente al planteado en su inicio. En este trabajo se explican las razones por las que fue necesario adaptar estrategias metodológicas, reconociendo dos conceptos: reflexividad y flexibilidad. Se plantean además, algunas implicaciones en el diseño por la característica transnacional de la comunidad y sus miembros.
Clarifying Analysis and Interpretation in Grounded Theory: Using a Conditional Relationship Guide and Reflective Coding Matrix
Authors: Scott Karen Wilson , Howell Dana
Published: July 2017

Although qualitative methods, grounded theory included, cannot be reduced to formulaic procedures, research tools can clarify the process. The authors discuss two instruments supporting grounded theory analysis and interpretation using two examples from doctoral students. The conditional relationship guide contextualizes the central phenomenon and relates categories linking structure with process. The reflective coding matrix serves as a bridge to the final phase of grounded theory analysis, selective coding and interpretation, and, ultimately, to substantive theory generation.
A Literature Review to Evaluate the Choice and Use of Visual Methods
Authors: Pain Helen
Published: July 2017

Visual methods are accepted tools for qualitative research and are increasingly used in a wide range of disciplines, such as sociology, psychology, geography, and health care. A literature review was undertaken with the aims of understanding why visual methods are chosen for use in research, reviewing any evidence regarding outcomes arising from those choices, and reflecting on the role of visual methods in these outcomes. Searches conducted from 2000–2010 across multiple bibliographic databases yielded 109 research papers that cited reasons for their choice of visual method. These were reviewed using a method tailored to the review's purpose but also informed by a narrative synthesis approach. The reasons given were collated and analysed inductively, with two categories of reasons emerging: those principally related to enrichment of data collection or presentation and those concerning the relationship between participants and researchers. Support for these reasons is reviewed and the ethical implications regarding choice of method are discussed. This article concludes that support for the use of visual methods to enhance data richness is strong, but more research is needed to facilitate a better-informed choice of method. There is some support for using visual methods for purposes connected with relational aspects between researcher and participants, but the visual media's contribution derives mainly from the ability of images to facilitate and enrich communication thus enhancing the data. The enrichment of data and an approach to participants that is affirming and empowering are intricately connected in the attainment of relationship-focused outcomes.
“Thanks for Using Me”: An Exploration of Exit Strategy in Qualitative Research
Authors: Morrison Zachary James , Gregory David , Thibodeau Steven
Published: July 2017

This article examines, through a synthesis of the literature and excerpts from a qualitative case study, the concept of exit strategy, specifically its relation to vulnerable populations (e.g., overweight adolescent boys) and potential impact on the researcher-participant relationship. The quality and duration of the researcher-participant relationship, along with rapport and trust building, are potential indicators for negotiated closure (i.e., exit strategy). Reframing this relationship as “participant-researcher” resituates vulnerable participants as foremost in such relationships. Given what is potentially at stake for participants in qualitative research, there is a moral and ethical imperative to enter into the dialogue of closure. Otherwise, participants may unwittingly serve as a means to an end, that is, as objects in the enterprise of qualitative research. Researchers, research supervisors, and human subject ethics committees are urged to establish protocols to guide how research relationships are ended within the context of qualitative methods, particularly with respect to vulnerable populations.
From Field Notes, to Transcripts, to Tape Recordings: Evolution or Combination?
Authors: Tessier Sophie
Published: July 2017

For researchers doing qualitative research, interviews are a commonly used method. Data collected through interviews can be recorded through field notes, transcripts, or tape recordings. In the literature, there is a debate regarding which of these recording methods should be used. There are issues of reliability, cost (time and money), loss of data, among others. Technology plays a pivotal role in this debate. Indeed, new technologies (e.g., direct coding) are often seen as potential replacements for older technologies (e.g., transcripts), which leads to a debate that is based on an evolution narrative (from field notes, to transcripts, to working from tape recordings). This article argues that a combination narrative should be considered where combination is better than substitution. Moreover, combining the advantages of field notes, transcripts, and working from tape recordings without accumulating each method's disadvantages is possible because of new technology. To support this argument, two technological tools (OneNote and SmartPen) are presented as a way to increase the effectiveness, efficiency, and economy of qualitative data management.
Who is the Desired Applicant for Schools and Colleges of Education?
Authors: Katz Sara , Frish Yehiel
Published: July 2017

Acceptance for schools and colleges of education is based on the existing standardized traditional admission system, which focuses mainly on cognitive competencies. High academic scores are insufficient to make a good teacher. Endless discussions on who the teachers college desired applicant is led us to the present challenging study. This study discusses the use of personal attributes for assessing applicants who wish to study for teaching credentials. A set of qualitative tools and methodology were used to elicit each individual's personal attributes and to determine their weight, using a qualitative research design. Currently used tools do not supply a sufficiently detailed database to differentiate between applicants. When tools are interesting, meaningful, and taken from real life, tacit knowledge is easily revealed (Sabar-Ben Yehoshua, 1990). Applicants in this study document their reflections and their academic, vocational, or personal growth as a major part of the raw data for analysis. The new model delicately differentiates both between individuals and groups, providing an applicant profile pool of competencies, useful for admission committees, as well as for empowering student-teachers' strengths during their studies. This study emphasizes a shift from generating scores to profiles, for the consideration of admissions committees. It included 99 post army/national service participants: 68 women and 31 men, aged 20–25. These procedures can easily be applied by teacher education faculty members. The predictive validity of the presented model requires further study in a longitudinal trial.
Towards a Critical Occupational Approach to Research
Authors: Njelesani Janet , Gibson Barbara E. , Nixon Stephanie , Cameron Debra , Polatajko Helene J.
Published: July 2017

Critical approaches to research are becoming increasingly more prevalent but occupational science and critical approaches have not been explicitly combined into one approach despite the potential to enrich the understanding of the assumptions and ideologies underlying human activity. In this article we outline an approach to research that is mutually informed by occupational and critical social science perspectives. The critical occupational approach we describe can be used to explore the ways in which knowledge is produced through engagement in occupation, who controls knowledge production, the mechanisms of how occupations are taken up, and who stands to gain or lose. We discuss the implications and considerations for generating research purposes and methods and conducting analyses. We then illustrate the use of the approach through a case study. We conclude this article with consideration of the wider uses and implications of a critical occupational approach within health and social research.