bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the use of a mobile annotation system for geography education
Authors: Hoe‐Lian Goh Dion , Razikin Khasfariyati , Sian Lee Chei , Peng Lim Ee , Chatterjea Kalyani , Hung Chang Chew 
Published: September 2012

PurposeMobile devices used in educational settings are usually employed within a collaborative learning activity in which learning takes place in the form of social interactions between team members while performing a shared task. The authors aim to introduce MobiTOP (Mobile Tagging of Objects and People), a mobile annotation system that allows users to contribute and share geospatial multimedia annotations via mobile devices.Design/methodology/approachField observations and interviews were conducted. A group of trainee teachers involved in a geography field study were instructed to identify rock formations by collaborating with each other using the MobiTOP system. The trainee teachers who were in the field were guided by their lab counterparts on the tasks required to identify the rock formations.FindingsParticipants were able to appreciate the fieldwork task as it augmented their classroom lessons. The system allowed them to communicate with one another in order to meet the objectives of the study. However, there were some technical difficulties in relation to the affordance of the mobile and web applications that affected the usefulness of the applications.Originality/valueThis study reports the design and implementation of a mobile annotation system that was evaluated in an actual classroom setting. The results of this work have implications for both mobile applications design and mobile learning.
IT self‐efficacy and computer competence of LIS students
Authors: Malliari Afrodite , Korobili Stella , Togia Aspasia 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of the present study was to expand the knowledge of student computer competencies and IT self‐efficacy in two LIS departments in Greece.Design/methodology/approachThe participants in the study were students in the two LIS departments of the Technological Educational Institutes (TEI) situated in Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece. The survey was addressed to sophomores, juniors and seniors, because IT courses are taught after the first year of study. The instrument of the survey was a structured questionnaire comprising three parts, measuring a total of 48 variables.FindingsThe levels of students' IT self‐efficacy is rather high, while the mean score of computer competence indicates a rather low level of perceived ability in using computers. Students were more competent in using e‐mail and Facebook, as well as using the internet for personal purposes. IT self‐efficacy and perceived computer competence were positively related to the frequency of use of certain electronic activities and previous PC/internet experience. In addition, the frequency of IT use was a strong predictor of IT self‐efficacy, and both frequency of use and experience were predictors of computer competence. The findings also suggested that increased levels of self‐efficacy and computer competence were associated with higher grades.Originality/valueBy being aware of the factors that predict self‐efficacy and perceived ability, educators in both LIS departments can design instruction or other interventions in a way that will boost self‐efficacy beliefs. Such an approach is likely to increase the acceptance and use of IT and help LIS students meet the learning objectives of IT courses.
Cultural data and semantic technologies
Authors: Lazarinis Fotis 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to present a problem‐based learning case on the use of XML technologies for semantically describing cultural data. Students of three higher and continuing education institutes were divided into groups and were encouraged to solve specific problems and eventually to understand the concepts and the deployment of semantic technologies through their practical involvement. The aims of the teaching approach are for students to become familiar with XML technologies, to annotate historical data and to understand the importance of annotating cultural information for enabling further processing and exploitation of the identified data relationships.Design/methodology/approachInitially the aims of the teaching case were set and specific problems associated with them were designed. A start‐up lecture on the basic concepts of XML was presented and then students were challenged with ill‐defined problems as the problem‐based learning method advises. Students then presented and discussed their solutions and approaches. At the end of each problem‐based section the knowledge of the students was assessed. On the completion of the teaching case, the students' opinions were surveyed and the results towards the approach were very positive.FindingsThe students provided solutions to the problems presented, and their opinions at the end of the teaching approach indicated that students preferred the problem‐based approach to the lecture‐based method. Students argued that, although learning on their own and with little help from the instructors is more demanding, it has specific advantages. They mentioned that they can work at their own pace and better understand the concepts involved. The skills and the knowledge acquired are transferrable to other situations.Originality/valueAlthough the problem‐based learning approach has been applied to medical and gifted education, minimal research has been conducted outside these fields. Therefore, this article focuses on the cultural heritage domain and presents a case of teaching a technical topic to non‐computer science students.
Semantic annotation and retrieval of documentary media objects
Authors: Kanellopoulos Dimitris 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to propose a system for the semantic annotation of audio‐visual media objects, which are provided in the documentary domain. It presents the system's architecture, a manual annotation tool, an authoring tool and a search engine for the documentary experts. The paper discusses the merits of a proposed approach of evolving semantic network as the basis for the audio‐visual content description.Design/methodology/approachThe author demonstrates how documentary media can be semantically annotated, and how this information can be used for the retrieval of the documentary media objects. Furthermore, the paper outlines the underlying XML schema‐based content description structures of the proposed system.FindingsCurrently, a flexible organization of documentary media content description and the related media data is required. Such an organization requires the adaptable construction in the form of a semantic network. The proposed approach provides semantic structures with the capability to change and grow, allowing an ongoing task‐specific process of inspection and interpretation of source material. The approach also provides technical memory structures (i.e. information nodes), which represent the size, duration, and technical format of the physical audio‐visual material of any media type, such as audio, video and 3D animation.Originality/valueThe proposed approach (architecture) is generic and facilitates the dynamic use of audio‐visual material using links, enabling the connection from multi‐layered information nodes to data on a temporal, spatial and spatial‐temporal level. It enables the semantic connection between information nodes using typed relations, thus structuring the information space on a semantic as well as syntactic level. Since the description of media content holds constant for the associated time interval, the proposed system can handle multiple content descriptions for the same media unit and also handle gaps. The results of this research will be valuable not only for documentary experts but for anyone with a need to manage dynamically audiovisual content in an intelligent way.
A dialogic communications interrogation of the online brand dispositions of banks operating in Ghana
Authors: Hinson Robert E. , Madichie Nnamdi O. , Ibrahim Masud 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the dialogic communications potential of bank web sites in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThe authors undertook a qualitative content analysis of bank web sites in Ghana, drawing upon Kent and Taylor's dialogic communications framework.FindingsBanks in Ghana have been fairly successful in creating web sites with high dialogic value, with over half the banks sampled scoring on more than half of all the dialogic principles (dialogic loop, ease of use, usefulness and conservation of visitors). Most banks, however, scored rather poorly on the principle of return visit.Practical implicationsThe revelation that the communication content of banks’ web sites in Ghana does not encourage visitors to return poses a serious challenge for banks in their bid to leverage favourable brand dispositions associated with strong customer relationships.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the scarce literature on dialogic communications potential of bank web sites in an emerging market context.
Salesperson resistance to change: an empirical investigation of antecedents and outcomes
Authors: Jaramillo Fernando , Mulki Jay Prakash , Onyemah Vincent , Rivera Pesquera Martha 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate why salespeople resist change and the impact of resistance to change on customer responsiveness and performance outcomes.Design/methodology/approachSurvey responses derived from 233 salespeople from three large financial institutions in Mexico are used to test relationships involving salespersons’ resistance to change.FindingsSalespeople are more likely to resist change if they believe that change increases their workload. They are less likely to resist change when they have higher levels of job autonomy and self‐efficacy. Resistance to change has a negative impact on customer responsiveness and salesperson's performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study makes an important contribution to the literature by identifying factors that explain salesperson's resistance to change. Study findings rely on salesperson survey responses collected in one country and industry. Future research is needed to assess the generalizability of findings and causality of the proposed relationships.Practical implicationsResistance to change affects the salespersons’ capacity to respond to customer demands and ultimately undermines performance. Managers can help reduce resistance to change by providing salespeople with greater job autonomy and by explaining how change affects their workload.Originality/valueTo the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper linking salesperson resistance to change to job performance.
Do client firms manage the perception of auditor independence?
Authors: Zerni Mikko 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is examine whether agency conflicts between controlling and minority shareholders affect firms' decisions to purchase non‐audit services (NAS). The author examines whether client firms engage separate firms for audit and non‐audit functions, especially if the expected agency costs are high.Design/methodology/approachThe sample consists of 772 firm‐year observations from Sweden where the ownership patterns are highly concentrated. The hypotheses are tested using multivariate regression analyses.FindingsEmpirical findings reveal that higher levels of agency cost proxies are significantly negatively related to both absolute and relative non‐audit fees but, at the same time, are significantly positively related to the level of outside consulting services purchased from non‐incumbent auditors. Together, these findings support the view that client firms are protecting the appearance of their auditor's independence.Research limitations/implicationsOne cannot rule out the possibility that there are some unspecified factors unrelated to auditor independence issues that affect both client firms' purchases of NAS and the level of outside consulting services purchased from non‐incumbent auditors.Practical implicationsThe research findings have implications for the functioning of the audit and NAS markets. The increasing pressure on companies to improve the perception of their auditor independence by engaging separate auditors and consultants further limits the auditor choice decision.Originality/valueThis is the first paper that investigates whether agency conflicts between majority and minority shareholders affect firms' decisions to purchase NAS. This is also the first paper to examine determinants of purchases of NAS from non‐incumbent audit firms.
Regulation, awareness, compliance and SME performance in Cameroon's manufacturing and retail sectors
Authors: Akinboade Oludele A. , Kinfack Emilie 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the regulation, awareness, compliance and performance of small and medium‐size enterprises (SMEs) in Cameroon's Central and Littoral regions, focusing on the manufacturing and retail sectors.Design/methodology/approachThe full survey was conducted on 700 randomly selected SMEs which have identifiable business locations. From this, only 575 enterprises were retained for analysis after performing the coherence test.FindingsBusinesses registered for tax and those in the manufacturing sector see tax regulation as a burden. Those having opinions that regulation is rigid, inconsistent and that there is corruption also opine that regulation is negatively impacting on business. High compliance with customs and municipal regulations significantly negatively affect business development. On the other hand, high compliance with health and safety as well as trade regulations is good for SME development. Businesses registered with the Ministry of Trade tend to be more compliant, while those registered with the Municipality are not.Practical implicationsOverall, it is important that government should create an enabling environment for the development of the SMEs in Cameroon.Originality/valueThe number of studies focusing on the relationship between regulation and business performance in Africa is limited. Hence, the contribution of this paper is to enrich our understanding of this important field.
Determinants of food security in rural areas of Pakistan
Authors: Ejaz Ali Khan Rana , Azid Toseef , Usama Toseef Mohammad 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to estimate those variables which have significant impact on the food security in a developing country such as Pakistan. The matter of food security in rural areas is of immense nature and needs to be probed. A number of factors are responsible for the situation. The current paper examines the determinants of three aspects of food security in rural areas of Pakistan, i.e. food availability, accessibility and absorption.Design/methodology/approachTo estimate the determinants of each component, a series of models is created, in which each component of food security is a function of socio‐economic variables. Ordinary least square regression is used to estimate the coefficients.FindingsIt has been observed from the results that the production of wheat, rice, maize, pulses, oilseeds, poultry meat and fish at the district level is found to affect food availability positively. All the district, except Sindh, is more probable to be food insecure in availability. In the food accessibility, electrification and adult literacy emerged as the factors having negative effect. Child immunization, safe drinking water and number of hospitals have shown positive effect on food absorption.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a first study which measures the determinants of three aspects of food security in rural areas of a developing country such as Pakistan, i.e. food availability, accessibility and absorption. This study provides a new road map for the next studies.Practical implicationsThe paper guides the policy makers and experts, showing how they are able to minimize the disparity among the different regions of a developing country such as Pakistan.Social implicationsThe paper will help to minimize the social disparity among the different segments of a developing country, especially in the rural areas, which is the most neglected part in most of the developing countries.Originality/valueThe paper presents the first study of its nature which has been conducted in Pakistan.
Labour market conditions and crime in Greece
Authors: Kollias Christos , Paleologou Suzanna‐Maria 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of unemployment on various types of crime in Greece.Design/methodology/approachA battery of econometric tests, including Granger causality tests, a variance decomposition analysis, and an impulse response analysis are used to explore the nexus between unemployment and 14 different types of crime.FindingsOut of the 14 different types of criminal activity, only in the case of three – vehicle thefts, robberies and contraband & smuggling – was a nexus with unemployment established.Practical implicationsGiven that such criminal activity is primarily motivated and driven by economic gain, a policy implication is that crime thwarting policies need to be complemented by corresponding labour market interventions, especially in periods of recession, when unemployment emerges as a major problem for disadvantaged social groups.Originality/valueThe issue between labour market conditions and crime has not been addressed before in the case of Greece, a country that has experienced a generally growing crime rate.
Piracy and social norm of anti‐piracy
Authors: Tsui Hsiao‐Chien , Wang Tzung‐Ming 
Published: September 2012

PurposeIf a society does not identify with purchase of illegal goods, consumers will undertake more psychological burden when buying the goods. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of social norm of anti‐piracy on social welfare.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a theoretical model to consider that although consumers will select piracy goods for the concerns of net utility, due to pressure from social norms, consumers are not wiling to purchase piracy goods.FindingsThe results show that enhancement of social norm of anti‐piracy will improve overall social welfare; however, the social norm of anti‐piracy must be limited to certain scope. Extreme social norm of anti‐piracy, in comparison to the situation without social norm of anti‐piracy, will lower overall social welfare.Originality/valueIf complete laws and strict enforcement cannot curb piracy, we can boldly assume that mature and high degree of “rule of low” is the force to restrain purchase of piracy goods. The paper examines the relations between social norm of anti‐piracy and social welfare.
The Parramatta Māori Seminary and the education of indigenous peoples in early colonial New South Wales
Authors: Standfield Rachel 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the theme of centre and periphery in education through a study of the views and actions of the Reverend Samuel Marsden, New South Wales colonial chaplain, in relation to the education of Aboriginal people and Māori.Design/methodology/approachTaking a broad view of education, the author explores the contrasting models of education applied to Māori and Aboriginal youths, which exposed indigenous peoples to aspects of European life and emphasised a particular place in a developing racial hierarchy in the region.FindingsThe paper argues that Marsden was key to a process whereby Māori were brought into British imperial activity while Aboriginal people were relegated to the periphery of colonial interests in indigenous peoples.Originality/valueBy considering these educational “experiments” applied to indigenous peoples in the region together, this paper explores the role of imperial and colonial contexts, and developing discourses of race, on indigenous education.
“Disaffection in the library”: shaping a living centre of learning
Authors: Carroll Mary , Reynolds Sue 
Published: September 2012

PurposeTo most minds libraries exist at the periphery of debates over education and educational reform. However, the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how, in 1910, the Melbourne Public Library (now the State Library of Victoria) was central, rather than peripheral, to a conflict which focussed on the role of the library in education and how the library and its collection could best be organised to meet this purpose. It will be argued that libraries and the way they are organised act as indices of the dominant views about education and can be seen as social and educational artefacts. As artefacts they encapsulate community beliefs about how learning could best occur at a given time and what knowledge was esteemed, made available and to whom.Design/methodology/approachTo illustrate this point of view and illuminate the broader issues, this paper will use a particular set of events and a particular group of protagonists in Australian history as a case study.FindingsThis case study illuminates conflicting ideas about the place of libraries and the organisation of their collections in early twentieth‐century society and demonstrates how these ideas continued to have an impact on the place of libraries in educational reform agendas in Australia in the following decades.Social implicationsThe argument reported as “the disaffection in the library” was both philosophical and practical and illuminated ongoing debates surrounding the place of the library in education. The outcome influenced the shape and place of libraries in Australia and demonstrates broader concerns at work in Federation Australia.Originality/valueThe paper casts a new light on the relationship between libraries and education and the place of libraries in the educational process. The network of influence in Federation Australia and the impact of this on the development of institutions and professions in Australia is also examined.
The centre is dead, long live the centre! Reflections on centre and periphery in Australian senior history curricula
Authors: Kuehnel Reinhard 
Published: September 2012

PurposeBy deconstructing centres and peripheries in Australian history curricula, the purpose of this paper is to establish in what ways these documents blended local, state‐specific concepts of major civilisations with trans‐local, and even global cultural assumptions about centre and periphery in world history.Design/methodology/approachThe paper identifies a specific idea of centres in the 2009 Shape of the Australian Curriculum published by the National Curriculum Board. It demanded that “[s]tudents should have an appreciation of the major civilisations of Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Australia”. The idea of five groups of “major civilisations” is used to frame an analysis of history curricula from Western Australia and New South Wales. Syllabi from these States are used as examples because they demonstrate oppositional positions, geographically and in their approach to history teaching. Only senior secondary syllabi exhibit a continuous development of the subject history in most Australian states and territories. Hence, the paper deconstructs history syllabi for Years 11 and 12 and discusses in what ways a discourse between centre and periphery can be identified.FindingsThe author proposes a concept of a global centre in history curricula, which is found in multifaceted expressions at the peripheries.Originality/valueFully acknowledging that syllabi emerge from a web of local influences, which include state‐specific social, political, economic, and administrative factors, the paper adds a global perspective to the understanding of Australian history curricula which draws on the idea of cultural power.