bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How you can evaluate the integrity of your library service quality assessment data
Authors: Thompson Bruce , Kyrillidou Martha , Cook Colleen
Published: November 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to explain how the integrity or trustworthiness of library service quality assessment data can be evaluated. Using the metaphor of a bathroom scale, the paper also aims to present the ideas underlying score reliability and score validity in an accessible manner.

Design/methodology/approach

The use of the software, SPSS, to compute the related statistics is illustrated. LibQUAL+® data are used in heuristic examples, to make the discussion concrete, but the illustrations apply to both new and other measures of library service quality.

Findings

The paper suggests that assumptions about the quality of data should always be empirically checked whenever an attempt is made to characterize service quality.

Originality/value

This user‐friendly, conversational paper explains some of the more critical elements of service quality assessment.
LibQUAL+® (library quality), ProSeBiCA (development of new library services by means of conjoint analysis), and CAPM (comprehensive access to printed materials)
Authors: Choudhury Sayeed , Kyrillidou Martha , Heath Fred , Cook Colleen , Koeper Bettina , Decker Reinhold
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The work described in this paper aims to reflect the natural evolution of longstanding dialogue between the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), Johns Hopkins University (JHU), and Bielefeld University.

Design/ methodology/approach

This study looks at how each institution has combined library and assessment expertise and developed evaluation methodologies that emphasize different, but interrelated aspects of library services.

Findings

The resulting tools may be viewed as an integrated decision support system (DSS) that can offer librarians and library administrators a comprehensive framework for choosing appropriate tools, methodologies, and resources for evaluation of both existing and future library services.

Originality/value

This paper provides an excellent introduction and overview for practitioners new to the topics described.
When the evidence is not enough
Authors: Hiller Steve , Kyrillidou Martha , Self Jim
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to report on the findings of the two‐year Association of Research Libraries (ARL) sponsored project, “Making Library Assessment Work: Practical Approaches to Effective and Sustainable Assessment,”; it aims to examine the organizational factors that facilitate and impede effective data use and the implications for assessment in research libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

Information was gathered from a variety of sources, including: a self‐evaluation of assessment activities and needs done by each of the 24 participating libraries; extensive discussion with a designated contact at each library; a review of library and institutional sources such as annual reports, strategic plans, accreditation self‐studies, ARL and IPEDS statistics; and the observations and discussion that occurred during 1.5 day site visits.

Findings

The paper finds that libraries surveyed have made some progress incorporating data in decision making and services improvement, but there is much work to be done.

Originality/value

This is not an evidence‐based practice study but rather one that examines why evidence (the data on which a decision may be based) is not used more widely in libraries.
“They can't read, but they sure can count”
Authors: Gorman G.E.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this short paper is to focus on the parallel games of journal rankings and citation counts.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses journal ranking and citation procedures.

Findings

Journal rankings can often reflect personal bias, and therefore can be flawed.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the differences in ranking journals and citations, globally.
Finding open access articles using Google, Google Scholar, OAIster and OpenDOAR
Authors: Norris Michael , Oppenheim Charles , Rowland Fytton
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the relative effectiveness of a range of search tools in finding open access (OA) versions of peer reviewed academic articles on the world wide web.

Design/methodology/approach

Some background is given on why and how academics may make their articles OA and how they may be found by others searching for them. Google, Google Scholar, OAIster and OpenDOAR were used to try to locate OA versions of peer reviewed journal articles drawn from three subjects (ecology, economics and sociology).

Findings

Of the 2,519 articles, 967 were found to have OA versions on the world wide web. Google and Google Scholar found 76.84 per cent of them. The results from OpenDOAR and OAIster were disappointing, but some improvements are noted. Only in economics could OAIster and OpenDOAR be considered relative successes.

Originality/value

The paper shows the relative effectiveness of the search tools in these three subjects. The results indicate that those wanting to find OA articles in these subjects, for the moment at least should use the general search engines Google and Google Scholar first rather than OpenDOAR or OAIster.
No place for news in social network web sites?
Authors: Thelwall Mike
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent to which the news is discussed in social network web sites.

Design/methodology/approach

This article reports a quantitative analysis of the text of 26,953 Windows Live Spaces from September 2006 to February 2007 using a heuristic designed to detect news discussions. In addition, a comparative link and page analysis of 20 popular general social network environments (e.g. MySpace and Facebook) and 11 popular blog environments (e.g. Typepad and Blogger) is presented.

Findings

The text analysis suggests that news plays little role in most Windows Live Spaces, but the link and page analysis suggests that the key difference is less between social network environments and blog environments than between free standardised environments (e.g. MySpace and Blogger) and professional or semi‐professional blogs, with the former tending to carry relatively little news‐related content.

Research limitations/implications

The methods used are exploratory rather than giving definitive conclusions.

Practical implications

Those interested in public reactions to the news should focus on blogs and blog‐like social network sites rather than general social network sites, and should expect only a tiny proportion of the discussions to be news‐related.

Originality/value

Although the role of blogs in reporting, discussing and making the news has been analysed frequently, this is the first study about the extent to which general social networking sites engage with (mass media) news.
TWiki for knowledge building and management
Authors: Kai‐Wah Chu Samuel
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on a study examining the effectiveness of TWiki, an open‐source online collaborative groupware, in facilitating students' co‐construction of knowledge in their group work. The paper focuses on the groupware's impact on knowledge management, in terms of knowledge creation, capture, sharing and transfer. It also discusses some of the obstacles faced by students in using the software and how these can be addressed.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, TWiki was used in structuring the knowledge‐building environment for group projects in an undergraduate course on knowledge management. Students created a chapter for a wikibook. Wiki templates were designed for the course to help with the organisation of contents in TWiki. A questionnaire and individual interviews were used to collect student opinions on the advantages and disadvantages of using the wiki software for their projects.

Findings

Overall, students were generally positive about the effectiveness of TWiki in facilitating their group projects. In particular, TWiki was seen to improve group collaboration and work quality, and as a useful tool for knowledge management in terms of knowledge creation, capture, sharing and transfer.

Research limitations/implications

With its ability to improve student collaboration as well as their quality of work, TWiki can clearly be a suitable tool for collaborative constructive learning such as group projects. However, the study also showed that students and teachers should be adequately trained to use the tool in order to maximise its benefits. Some features of TWiki have to be improved and technical difficulties need to be fixed for easy use. Further studies could focus on using TWiki in different subjects and in classes of different sizes.

Originality/value

There were several important outcomes of the study: first,the comparison between students' perceptions of TWiki and MS Word in terms of usability and effectiveness; second, the findings with regard to improvement of work quality in small group size, which are unique; and third, TWiki was found to be an effective knowledge management tool.
Personal photo browsing and retrieval by clustering techniques
Authors: Lin Chun‐Nan , Tsai Chih‐Fong , Roan Jinsheng
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Because of the popularity of digital cameras, the number of personal photographs is increasing rapidly. In general, people manage their photos by date, subject, participants, etc. for future browsing and searching. However, it is difficult and/or takes time to retrieve desired photos from a large number of photographs based on the general personal photo management strategy. In this paper the authors aim to propose a systematic solution to effectively organising and browsing personal photos.

Design/methodology/approach

In their system the authors apply the concept of content‐based image retrieval (CBIR) to automatically extract visual image features of personal photos. Then three well‐known clustering techniques –k‐means, self‐organising maps and fuzzyc‐means – are used to group personal photos. Finally, the clustering results are evaluated by human subjects in terms of retrieval effectiveness and efficiency.

Findings

Experimental results based on the dataset of 1,000 personal photos show that thek‐means clustering method outperforms self‐organising maps and fuzzyc‐means. That is, 12 subjects out of 30 preferred the clustering results ofk‐means. In particular, most subjects agreed that larger numbers of clusters (e.g. 15 to 20) enabled more effective browsing of personal photos. For the efficiency evaluation, the clustering results usingk‐means allowed subjects to search for relevant images in the least amount of time.

Originality/value

CBIR is applied in many areas, but very few related works focus on personal photo browsing and retrieval. This paper examines the applicability of using CBIR and clustering techniques for browsing personal photos. In addition, the evaluation based on the effectiveness and efficiency strategies ensures the reliability of our findings.
Web site design, trust, satisfaction and e‐loyalty: the Indian experience
Authors: Cyr Dianne , Kindra Gurprit S. , Dash Satyabhusan
Published: November 2008

Purpose

With the rapid expansion of global online markets including India, researchers and practitioners are challenged to understand drivers of customer satisfaction, trust and loyalty towards web sites. The paper aims to focus on web site design, which is expected to influence whether customers revisit an online vendor.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants in India evaluated a local and foreign web site of the same online vendor. Surveys and interviews were used to collect the data.

Findings

The results indicate significant preference for the local web site in almost all design categories. Further, the local site instilled greater trust, satisfaction and loyalty. Data collected for this study are compared with parallel work conducted using the same procedures in four other countries.

Research limitations/implications

The current investigation is relevant for researchers who aim to expand knowledge concerning the impact of web site design related to user trust, satisfaction and loyalty. The work also has implications for web designers or managers who seek to enhance the market attraction and retention of online web sites. Limitations of the study are that both the local and foreign web sites used were Samsung web sites and that only a single task (searching for a cell phone) was used.

Originality/value

Few studies have examined web design in relation to user outcomes such as trust, satisfaction and loyalty in international markets.
User evaluations of tax filing web sites
Authors: Chang Lee Kun , Kirlidog Melih , Lee Sangjae , Gun Lim Gyoo
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the web‐based tax filing systems of Turkey and South Korea. The comparison is based on user satisfaction which has parameters such as ease of work, adequacy of the amount of information, display speed, convenience to life, job productivity, and help service.

Design/methodology/approach

The tax filing systems are presented along with a background of such systems and their usability parameters. The survey instrument that has been prepared for gauging user satisfaction was applied to the users in both countries. The statistical analyses of the results are performed through t‐test and stepwise regression.

Findings

The study shows that users in the two countries felt differently in such factors as ease of work, adequacy of the amount of information, display speed, convenience to life, job productivity, and help service. Although Turkey has a complex tax system Turkish users did not find the tax filing system difficult to use and that may be attributable to the fact that they are accounting professionals who frequently use the system.

Practical implications

Electronic tax filing is an important e‐government application that has become increasingly common all over the world. Beyond the usual benefits of e‐government such as reducing transaction costs and providing convenience, electronic tax filing systems are particularly useful for governments to avoid tax evasion and errors. Although, by definition, web‐based tax filing systems of different countries have to be different, universal design parameters of each system and the resulting user satisfaction levels may provide guidelines for new systems.

Originality/value

Unlike other types of information systems, which have been comparatively analyzed in the context of more than one country, this is not applicable to e‐government systems. To the authors' knowledge the present article is the first attempt to compare and analyze two countries' different e‐government systems.
How many web‐wide search engines do we need?
Authors: Jacsó Péter
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how many web‐wide search engines are actually needed.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper was researched by testing and reviewing different search engines and studying comparative papers about the popularity of web‐wide search engines.

Findings

The author tests and reviews the new search engine Cuil, and discusses its ability as a search engine, with varying results. The paper also compares this new search engine to other more favourable search engines.

Originality/value

The paper provides insight into the requirements of new search engines and whether there is any need for more search engines within the world wide web.
International initiatives in market regulation: the storm before the calm?
Authors: Grieve Chuck , Gleeson Simon , Crown Simon
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze causes and regulators' responses to the current international financial market crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses warning signs of the crisis in world financial services markets, principal underlying problems that have been identified, steps the financial services industry and its regulators are taking to address those problems, and the likely direction of future regulation.

Findings

More resource was put into structuring investment portfolios than in managing the risk positions those vehicles created. The problem with credit ratings was less in the actual ratings than in the meaning attached to them. Regulators were focusing mainly on credit and discovered they should have been worrying about access to liquidity; however, liquidity is difficult to regulate. The Financial Stability Forum has highlighted shortcomings in the way regulators cooperate across borders. The industry will not be allowed to sort this out by itself. Increased bank capital requirements and tightening of regulations on structured or off‐balance‐sheet vehicles are likely.

Originality/value

The paper is an overview and insight from experienced financial services lawyers.
SEC provides guidance regarding use of company web sites to disclose information for investors
Authors: Lese Laurence S. , Chowdhury Azim
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarize and analyze SEC guidance to companies and issuers of securities on the use of company web sites to disclose information to investors, as published in an interpretive release, Release 34‐58288, Commission Guidance on the Use of Company Web Sites.

Design/methodology/approach

The Release provides guidance to public companies posting information on their web sites, including: when information posted on their web site is considered “public” for purposes of the “fair disclosure” requirements of Regulation FD; the application of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws to information posted on company web sites; the types of controls and procedures advisable with respect to posting information; and the appropriate format of the information presented on the web site.

Findings

While the Release sanctions web site‐only disclosures in some cases, companies should continue to file particularly important or time‐sensitive information with the SEC and also issue a press release. To avoid liability for “republishing” historical information, companies should organize their web sites so that previously posted statements and materials are separately located and identified. Companies should make the context of hyperlinked information clear; a company will not be shielded from antifraud liability for hyperlinking information it knows, or is reckless in not knowing, to be materially false or misleading. To avoid liability, companies should clearly identify summary information as such and alert readers to the location of more detailed disclosure. If a company chooses to post certain information such as non‐GAAP financial measures, committee charters, and amendments to codes of ethics on its web site in lieu of filing it with the SEC, that information should be subject to the same disclosure controls and procedures that apply to information filed with the SEC. Acknowledging that information on company web sites is becoming increasingly interactive and not static, the SEC will not require information appearing on company web sites to satisfy printer‐friendly standards unless already specifically required by SEC rules.

Practical implications

In view of the principles suggested in the SEC's guidance, each issuer should carefully review its disclosure policy and web site.

Originality/value

The paper offers practical guidance by experienced securities lawyers
SEC proposes guidelines for directors overseeing mutual fund portfolio trading
Authors: Strench Bibb L.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an update on the mutual fund industry about new brokerage review responsibilities for directors of mutual funds.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper carefully reviews the SEC release proposing the Guidelines, including the appendices to the Release. The appendices set forth numerous questions that directors should ask when reviewing mutual fund brokerage and soft dollar arrangements. Advisers and brokers need to take immediate steps so that they are in a position to fully answer these questions.

Findings

As noted in the paper, the release is noteworthy because the SEC guidelines, if adopted, will require directors to probe mutual fund advisers for a remarkable amount of detail about brokerage and soft dollar arrangements. In some cases, the new responsibilities will bring directors close to managing certain aspects of these arrangements.

Practical Implications

It is clear that brokerage practices are a top priority of the SEC and that agency is now expecting far more involvement by directors in the process of placing trades for mutual funds and obtaining research through soft dollars.

Originality/value

The paper may serve as a road map for advisers when reviewing their brokerage compliance procedures and attorneys and consultants to mutual fund boards when setting agendas for board meetings.
SEC staff highlights areas of focus in broker‐dealer, investment adviser and investment company exams
Authors: Blake Margaret R.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarize and comment on a July 22, 2008 SEC ComplianceAlert letter, which summarizes findings from recent compliance examinations by the SEC Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations of investment advisers, mutual funds, broker‐dealers, and transfer agents, identifies some issues of particular concern, and suggests some solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The areas of concern for investment advisers and mutual funds include personal trading by an advisory staff, proxy voting and funds' use of proxy voting services, valuation and liquidity in high‐yield municipal bond funds, and soft dollar practices. The areas of concern for broker‐dealers include securities firms targeting seniors by providing free‐lunch sales seminars, valuation and collateral management processes, broker‐dealers affiliated with insurance companies, solicitations of advisory services, mortgage financing as credit for the purchase of securities, and supervisory arrangements and practices under the Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction.

Findings

The paper finds that while the ComplianceAlert points to the danger of certain deficient practices in the areas of concern, it also emphasizes throughout the importance of strong, well documented policies, procedures, controls, supervision, record‐keeping, and compliance reviews.

Originality/value

The paper is a practical explanation of SEC guidelines by experienced securities lawyers.
President's working group committee reports weigh in on side letters
Authors: Ohayon Lior J. , Lee Terisa H.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze disclosure issues relating to side letters between funds and individual investors or groups of investors, as discussed in recent reports by the Investors' Committee and the Asset Managers' Committee of the US President's Working Group on Financial Markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper addresses criteria regarding the types of terms in side letters that should be disclosed to all investors, the manager's fiduciary duties to investors in a fund, and practical considerations as to whether various types of benefits should be offered to an individual investor or group of investors or rather offered to all investors by amending a fund's documents.

Findings

To satisfy its fiduciary duties, a manager should ensure that the fund documents accurately reflect the material terms relating to the fund and that generally side letters should not materially alter those terms without adequate disclosure to all investors. Terms that could adversely impact on other investors include those related to control rights, preferential liquidity rights, preferential fees, and material alterations of the investment program.

Originality/value

The paper is a useful interpretation of Working Group Guidelines by experienced securities lawyers.
CFTC Reauthorization Act of 2008 enacted into law
Authors: Ervin Susan C. , Hinkle Philip T. , Fox Brendan C. , Rosenblat Alan
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarize key provisions of the CFTC Reauthorization Act of 2008 which reauthorizes the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) through the year 2013 and substantially enhances the CFTC's authority in several areas.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the enhancements to the CFTC's authority over off‐exchange retail foreign currency transactions; explains the expanded CFTC oversight of significant price discovery contracts; and summarizes other amendments to the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), including expansion of CFTC anti‐fraud authority over principal‐to‐principal futures transactions, modification of civil and criminal penalties for certain violations of the CEA, required CFTC and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rulemaking on: risk‐based portfolio margining for security options and security futures products; and trading of futures on broad‐based indexes of foreign equities, and other technical amendments.

Findings

This paper notes that the key provisions of the CFTC Reauthorization Act substantially enhances the CFTC's regulatory authority in several areas and provides an introduction to those provisions.

Originality/value

The paper is an introduction to the new regulatory authority of the CFTC by experienced lawyers specializing in financial services.
Removal of class actions filed in state court alleging federal securities law violations
Authors: Jacobs Caryn , Strauss Jeffrey M. , Tharp John J. , Agonis Katherine
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to survey the landscape of recent federal securities class actions filed in state court and explore arguments for removal of those cases to federal courts under the Securities Litigation Reform Act (SLUSA) or the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses: US Congressional legislation designed to bring the bulk of securities class actions back into federal courts, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) and SLUSA; CAFA, another law designed to redirect class action litigation away from state courts; recent cases that have tested the limits of SLUSA and CAFA for removal from state to federal courts; and arguments for removal under SLUSA and CAFA.

Findings

Legislative history for both SLUSA and CAFA suggests that these statutes should be read as evidence of Congressional intent to return most securities class actions to federal court. Nonetheless, plaintiffs have continued to devise legal schemes to litigate class actions in what they perceive to be friendlier forums in state courts.

Originality/value

Although the arguments discussed in this paper are not exhaustive, they are a starting point for defendants seeking removal once litigation arises.
Pitfalls for non‐US financial institutions undertaking business in the US
Authors: Grieve Chuck , Plews Tim , Pax Thomas , Houck Robert
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the regulatory challenges that financial institutions around the world face in entering the US market.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides examples of the intricacies in US banking regulation that a financial institution has to think though as it considers buying US assets, including selected provisions of the Bank Holding Company Act, the nature of Federal Reserve jurisdiction and supervision, competition among various federal and state regulators, and dangers related to class action suits and intrusive discovery in civil proceedings.

Findings

The paper finds that as soon as a foreign bank buys or opens a US bank, it becomes a bank holding company under Federal Reserve jurisdiction. Often there is competition among regulators; securities markets are mostly regulated at the national level, but each state also has its own code. Another new factor is cooperation among international law enforcement agencies. Class actions and intrusive discovery, for example tens of millions of pages of e‐mail records, are the most expensive potential problems.

Originality/value

The paper contains guidance and insight from experienced financial services lawyers.
“It does my head in … buy it, buy it, buy it!” The commercialisation of UK children's web sites
Authors: Nairn Agnes
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Against a background of social concern about the commercialisation of childhood, the purpose of the paper is to analyse the commercial activity on the favourite web sites of UK children and report the views of a sample of parents and children.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the theory underpinning current debate over risks to children from online commercialism and summarises the key provisions laid out in current international regulatory guidelines. The broad principles of protection from harm and deception are identified. This review is used to frame a research design encompassing web site observation and qualitative data collection from children and parents.

Findings

A great deal of advertising is poorly labelled and deceptively integrated into content. Most sites visited by children are created for an adult audience which means 25 percent of adverts were for dating, gambling, loans, surgery and age‐restricted products. There was also evidence of pester power, dubious “free” offers and incitement to make impulse purchases using mobile phone credit.

Research limitations/implications

Surveys of commercial activity on children's web sites must be ongoing as technology, advertising techniques and regulation change at a fast pace.

Practical implications

Companies which attract a child audience (inadvertently or not) should revise their strategy for selling advertising space. Advertisers should review potentially deceptive techniques such as advergames, product placements and embedded commercial content. “Wish lists” should be reviewed in the light of guidelines on pester power. Online payment methods available to children should be reviewed.

Originality/value

This is one of the first overall assessments of the commercial content of UK children's web sites.
What do young people want from today's BBC? Initial observations from outreach work carried out by the BBC's Regional Audience Council for London
Authors: Fanthome Christine
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore young people's views, both positive and negative, about BBC services, and to investigate their preferred means of accessing news.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports recent research for the BBC conducted in November 2007 by the Regional Audience Council for BBC London, as part of a study covering all of England on behalf of the Audience Council England which advises the BBC Trust. Data were gathered from questionnaires and focus groups. The sample comprised 42 young adults.

Findings

Results show respondents were most interested in discussing television content, delivery, and BBC services. Secondary topics raised included the image/reputation of the BBC, scheduling matters and presentation issues. Findings indicated that although modes of access may be changing, television remains the preferred means of accessing news within this group.

Research limitations/implications

Differences regarding social variables in the respondents are not considered in the analysis.

Practical implications

Knowledge of the preferences of discrete audience groupings is becoming increasingly important to broadcasters as “mass” audiences fragment and more opportunities to view are offered. This paper offers insight on the preferences of the youth market.

Originality/value

This paper makes a contribution by updating and contributing to the debates about young people's media consumption within the context of today's competitive multi‐media environment.
Jordanian children's perception of fathers' communication structures and patterns: scales revision and validation
Authors: Al‐Zu'bi A. , Crowther G. , Worsdale G.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Based on father‐child dyadic responses, this paper is aimed at revising and validating the scales of fathers' communication structures, identifying Jordanian fathers' communication structures and patterns.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on two different studies, group interviews face‐to‐face, self‐administered questionnaires and drop‐off self‐administered questionnaires were respectively employed to solicit young children's and fathers' responses. While the first study (n=100) depended on convenience sampling procedures, proportionate stratified random sampling technique that relied on young children of ages 8‐12 was conducted to select the participants of the second study (n=916). Fathers' consent on the participation of their young children in the group interviews was obtained before collecting data.

Findings

Children of ages 8‐12 can precisely perceive family communication patterns (FCP) as adolescents and mothers. The influence of culture on fathers' communication structures and patterns is not clear. Jordanian fathers are principally classified as pluralistic fathers in their communication related to consumption issues and there is significant association between fathers' consumer socialisation goals and their communication structures and patterns.

Research limitations/implications

The development of fathers' communication dimensions was based on a single‐country study and the two research samples were restricted to the public schools of Amman metropolitan.

Practical implications

Marketers can directly target Jordanian children in their advertising campaigns since children are more likely to make their own purchasing decisions. The marketers may focus on young children in their promotion campaigns to influence the family decision making related to products and services since their fathers adopt concept‐oriented communication structures.

Originality/value

An important contribution of this study is that neither fathers' communication structures nor young children's perceptions were previously used in revising and validating the scales of family communication structures and patterns at the level of collectivistic or individualistic cultures.
Alcohol consumption among young consumers: a review and recommendations
Authors: Cismaru Magdalena , Lavack Anne M. , Markewich Evan
Published: November 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to examine social marketing programs aimed at preventing or moderating alcohol consumption among young consumers. It seeks to show how protection motivation theory can be used as a theoretical framework to create effective communications targeting young people.

Design/methodology/approach

Communication materials aimed at preventing or moderating alcohol consumption among young people were identified and gathered from web sites in five English‐speaking countries (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK). A qualitative review of these materials was conducted.

Findings

A majority of the alcohol moderation/prevention campaigns targeting young consumers followed the tenets of protection motivation theory by focusing on the threat variables of severity and vulnerability. Some campaigns also focused on costs, as well as self‐efficacy and response efficacy.

Research limitations/implications

Only English‐language materials and materials targeting young consumers have been considered, so findings cannot necessarily be generalized to other languages or countries.

Practical implications

Future youth alcohol moderation/prevention initiatives should include self‐efficacy messages, to increase confidence among young people that they are able to carry out the recommended actions.

Originality/value

The review presents a comprehensive examination of initiatives aimed at preventing/reducing alcohol consumption among young consumers, and shows how protection motivation theory can be successfully used in this context.
Gender portrayal in food and beverage advertisements in Hong Kong: a content analytic study
Authors: Furnham Adrian , Li Jessica
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine gender portrayal in food and beverage advertisements in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 45 commercials produced locally in Hong Kong and 45 commercials produced in a Western country were separately coded for ten content categories: time of day, age, mode of presentation, credibility‐basis, role, location, argument, reward type, background and end‐comment..

Findings

Gender‐role effects were non‐significant in a majority of the content categories contrary to findings in other research in this area. This finding is discussed in the context of the changes in Hong Kong culture

Research limitations/implications

Sampling was limited to broadcast recording on TVB Jade in December 2007.

Practical implications

The absence of gender based content in food and beverage advertising should inform marketing practice in a SE Asian context.

Originality/value

This paper modifies a well‐established research procedure and analyses food and beverage advertising in Hong King. This has not been done before.
The gifts we buy for children
Authors: Parsons Andrew G. , Ballantine Paul W.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the topic of gift‐giving to children, highlighting some of the issues that provide insight into how consumers might be making their choices.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 285 personal interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire. All participants were aged 18 or over, and had purchased a gift for a child aged under‐13 within the previous three months.

Findings

The findings of this study are that kinship, gender of the buyer, and the presence of siblings are related to the type of gift bought, including how traditional or contemporary it is, how educational it is, and whether the gift is reflective of the child's personality.

Practical implications

Understanding the purchasing behavior of shoppers giving gifts to children allows marketers to participate in important stages in societal development.

Originality/value

This paper provides insight into the purchasing behavior of consumers when buying gifts for children.
Perceptions of safety and offshore helicopter travel
Authors: Mitchell Simon J. , Braithwaite Graham R.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

UK oil and gas producers through unilateral action and consensus have been ultimately responsible for many key safety improvements in global helicopter services. With production assets no longer concentrated in the hands of a few major operators, the question is whether this leadership role can be assured in the future. This paper aims to summarise doctoral research that examined the economics of safety in the offshore helicopter industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The offshore helicopter industry has particular characteristics, including: greater levels of safety training and choice is severely limited. A carefully structured questionnaire was presented to a sample of offshore helicopter passengers, and the responses analysed in depth.

Findings

Shifts in perceptions of safety risk are predictable, and potentially measurable, and translate into demands for action based on a mechanism of individual choice. It is then the cumulative effects of any shift in individual choices that determine the scale and scope of organisational response required by the employer and/or its agents.

Research limitations/implications

This research data is only sufficient to predict the manner in which perceptions of safety impact on the sustainability of offshore helicopter travel.

Originality/value

The fundamental characteristics and dynamics of offshore helicopter travel still have the potential to result in some significant instability amongst the offshore workforce, and within the industry. There is strong evidence that oil and gas producers need to be prepared to take a leadership role. As the demands for consensus increase, this research can be developed into a useful analysis and safety management aid.
A general equilibrium analysis of potential demand side management programs in the household sector in Thailand
Authors: Timilsina Govinda R. , Shrestha Ram M.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine potential demand side management (DSM) programs in terms of their impacts to the overall economy in Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi‐sector computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of Thailand has been developed to accomplish the objectives of this study. The potential DSM program considered refers to replacement of less efficient electrical appliances with their efficient counterparts in the household sector in Thailand.

Findings

The study finds that the economy‐wide impacts of the DSM program (e.g., economic welfare, GDP, international trade) depend on three key factors: the project economics of the DSM option or the ratio of unit cost of electricity savings to price of electricity (CPR); the implementation strategy of the DSM option; and scale or size of the DSM option. This paper shows that the welfare impacts of the DSM programs would improve along with the project economics of the DSM programs. If the DSM program is implemented under the CDM, the welfare impacts would increase along with the price for certified emission reductions units. On the other hand, the welfare impacts would increase up to the optimal size or scale of the program, but would start to deteriorate if the size is increased further.

Research limitations/implications

The welfare function considered in this paper does not account for benefits of local air pollution reductions. The study provides crucial insights on designing DSM projects in Thailand to ensure that DSM programs are beneficial for the economy as a whole.

Originality/value

Analyses of DSM options under the CDM using CGE models are not available in the literature. This is the first paper in this area.
The International Universities Walking Project: employee step counts, sitting times and health status
Authors: Gilson Nicholas , McKenna Jim , Puig‐Ribera Anna , Brown Wendy , Burton Nicola
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Awareness of potential health impact and variations in key risk factors for chronic disease are important considerations in multi‐site, workplace physical activity interventions. This study seeks to examine associations and site variations between workday step counts, sitting times, waist circumference and blood pressure in three universities.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were white‐collar, university employees (172 women and 44 men; aged 41.0±10.3 years) from Barcelona, Spain (n=81), Brisbane, Australia (n=71) and Leeds, UK (n=64). Workday step counts and sitting times (five days) and waist circumference and blood pressure were assessed and compared against health‐related thresholds. Step counts were classified into tertiles and differences in sitting time, waist circumference and blood pressure were compared across tertiles using ANOVA, as were site variations in key variables.

Findings

Daily step counts were inversely associated with sitting times (p<0.05), women's waist circumference (p<0.05) and systolic (p<0.01) and diastolic (p<0.05) blood pressure. Activity rates – relative to the public health criterion of 10,000 daily steps – were lower in Brisbane (16 per cent) and Leeds (15 per cent), compared with Barcelona (47 per cent). Barcelona employees also sat less (p<0.001), had lower men's and women's waist circumference (p<0.01) and lower women's diastolic blood pressure (p<0.001).

Research limitations/implications

The small number of male participants precluded meaningful analyses for men.

Originality/value

The findings evidence the health benefits of workplace walking in the samples and highlight the need to account for variations in multi‐site, multi‐national interventions.
Exercising at work and self‐reported work performance
Authors: Coulson J.C. , McKenna J. , Field M.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the interplay of workplace exercising on self‐reported workplace performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed methods design combined a randomised cross‐over trial with concurrent focus groups. Three workplaces (two private companies, one public service organisation) were purposefully selected for their provision of on‐site exercise facilities, size (>250 employees) and large proportion of sedentary occupations. Two mood diary questionnaires were distributed to employees exercising on‐site only. Order of questionnaire completion was randomised: self‐selected exercise‐day (ExD) or no‐exercise day (NExD) first. Exercise specifics (duration, intensity, mode) and ExD mood (pre‐/post‐exercise) were recorded. On NExD, mood was measured early and late in the working day. A 15‐item work performance grid was completed at day‐ends. Three on‐site focus groups were held concurrently to explore performance‐related topics.

Findings

Among 201 volunteer respondents (67 per cent female, mean age 38.2 years), mood improved on ExD, pre‐to‐post exercise (all p<0.01). Performance indicators were higher on ExD, versus NExD (all p<0.01), independent of exercise specifics and workload. Positive changes in performance outcomes were almost exclusively linked to changes in mood. Inductive analysis of focus groups revealed 13 (of 17) themes exhibiting positive outcomes. Employee tolerance and resilience were central to the subjective findings.

Research limitations/implications

The naturalistic, dual‐paradigm study demonstrated that workday exercise can improve white‐collar workers' mood and self‐reported performance on days when they exercise at work over days when they do not. There are clear implications not only for employee wellbeing, but also for competitive advantage and motivation by increasing opportunities for exercising at work.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies that addresses the acute effects of exercise in the workplace in the same people. Self‐rated productivity effects attributable to exercising during the working day were strongly mediated by changes in mood. Statistical power is amplified within the cross‐over design.
Measuring presenteeism in Catalan employees: linguistic adaptation and validation
Authors: Puig‐Ribera A. , McKenna J. , Gilson N.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Instruments that measure the effect of health on productivity help to inform intervention programmes aimed at improving employees' presenteeism. The Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) has been used extensively to measure presenteeism but has not been validated for use in the Catalan‐speaking population. The aim of this study is to translate and preliminarily test the reliability and validity of a Catalan version of the WLQ (CWLQ).

Design/methodology/approach

The WLQ was translated into Catalan using back‐translation. The final version of the instrument was administered to 19 volunteer university employees in Barcelona. Feasibility (employee debriefing) and psychometric evaluation included internal consistency (Cronbach's α), four‐day test‐retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC), and concurrent validity (ICC) in comparison with the original English WLQ.

Findings

Item analyses showed a high degree of internal consistency for the total score (α=0.80) and for the four scales of the CWLQ (subscale 1, r=0.82; subscale 2, r=0.80; subscale 3, r=0.81; subscale 4, r=0.78). The test‐retest reliability was also acceptable for the total score (ICC=0.69) and subscale 1 (ICC=0.68), subscale 2 (ICC=0.68), subscale 3 (ICC=0.67) and subscale 4 (ICC=0.75). The total score of the CWLQ showed good concurrent validity (ICC=0.81).

Originality/value

Preliminary results suggest that the CWLQ is a valid and reliable scale for the assessment of presenteeism in Catalan‐speaking employees. Use of the questionnaire will help to inform Catalan companies and business on how to effectively target presenteeism through health promotion interventions.