scholarly journals A method for establishing taxonomic research priorities in a megadiverse country

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 203 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine Victor ◽  
Gideon F. Smith ◽  
ABRAHAM E. VAN WYK
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
End Users ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Taxonomic Information ◽  
Taxonomic Research ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Associated Data

A coordinated strategy for biosystematics research that addresses the needs of end-users can improve the relevance and impact of research products. The basic types of information that taxonomists provide, common to all organisms, are the names, descriptions, and a mechanism for identifying components of biodiversity, and associated data such as distribution information. This information is provided through taxonomic research.      A biosystematics research strategy has been developed in South Africa to focus on the main gaps in taxonomic knowledge. A prioritisation process has been developed and applied to plants, but can potentially be used for all organisms. The methodology for development of the taxonomic priorities to formulate a research strategy is described. Determining priorities for taxonomic research and development of the strategy will facilitate bridging the gaps among compilers, users and implementers of taxonomic information, and streamline the taxonomy-conservation impediment.

scholarly journals Plant taxonomic capacity in South Africa

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 238 (2) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine Victor ◽  
Gideon Smith ◽  
Abraham Van Wyk ◽  
Shanelle Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Research Trends ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Taxonomic Information ◽  
Utilisation Management ◽  
Taxonomic Research ◽  
Training Institutions ◽  
Human Capacity ◽  
Management And Conservation

South Africa’s exceptionally rich and diverse flora faces challenges in terms of utilisation, management and conservation; these actions are underpinned by taxonomic research. The principal purpose of this review is to determine whether South Africa has the human capacity and resources to conduct taxonomic research that is required to support end-users of plant taxonomic information, and to identify shortages of capacity or resources that might prove to be an obstacle for plant taxonomic research. From an analysis of the existing gaps in taxonomic information, current research trends, and resources, it is apparent that there is a critical shortage of human capacity in South Africa to conduct plant taxonomic research for the benefit of biodiversity and society. Training institutions need to ensure the supply of suitably trained graduates including concentrating on those who meet Employment Equity targets. The need for more taxonomists is clearly justified, but may not be a priority in a country that already has such shortages of capacity in education and social services. Aside from lobbying for more jobs to be created, there is an urgent need to utilise available resources (human and other) effectively, and to implement a strategy for taxonomic research to ensure that priority activities are conducted.

scholarly journals Consensus on research priorities for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance: a Delphi study

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah McLachlan ◽  
Hilary Bungay
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Consensus Methods ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Air Ambulance ◽  
Research Questions

Abstract Background Consensus methods such as the Delphi technique have been used widely for research priority setting in health care. Within pre-hospital emergency medicine, such approaches have helped to establish national and international research priorities. However, in a dynamic field such as pre-hospital critical care, it is necessary to regularly review the continued relevance of findings. Further, considering the variability between pre-hospital critical care providers, it is also important to determine priorities at the local level. Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) sought to develop a five-year research strategy that aligns with their clinical work streams and organisational priorities. Methods All staff and Trustees were invited to participate in an online Delphi study with three Rounds. The Delphi was administered via email and Online Surveys software. The first Round invited participants to submit up to five research questions that they felt were of greatest importance to EHAAT  to advance the care provided to patients. In Round 2, participants were asked to rate the importance of questions from Round 1, while Round 3 required participants to rank questions that were prioritised in Round 2 in order of importance. Results 22 participants submitted a total of 86 research questions in Round 1, which were reduced to 69 questions following deduplication and refinement. 11 participants rated the importance of the questions in Round 2, resulting in 14 questions being taken forward to Round 3. Following the ranking exercise in Round 3, completed by 12 participants, a top five research priorities were identified. The question deemed most important was “How does a pre-hospital doctor-paramedic team affect the outcome of patients with severe head injuries?”. Conclusions The top five research priorities identified through the Delphi process will inform EHAAT’s research strategy. Findings suggest that there is still work to be done in addressing research priorities described in previous literature.

scholarly journals Introduction: Communications Teaching and Research--Looking Forward from 2000

2000 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowland Lorimer
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
The State ◽  
Complex Media ◽  
Strategic Action ◽  
Media Environment ◽  
Teaching And Research ◽  
The Media

Abstract: This introductory essay examines the state of Canadian communications scholarship. It maintains that the dominant stance taken by Canadian communications scholars is rooted in a leftist critique of the media that has become both detached from the media and disengaged from informed strategic action. In the context of a complex media environment, the paper argues for a refocusing on communication itself, an embrace of professional training, and, in the context of technological and social change, a research strategy based on research and development. Résumé: Cet article d'introduction examine l'état de la recherche en communication au Canada. Il soutient que le parti-pris prédominant de chercheurs canadiens en communication se fonde sur une critique gauchiste des médias qui au fil du temps s'est détachée à la fois des médias et d'actions stratégiques averties. Tenant compte de la complexité de l'environnement médiatique actuel, cet article appuie un retour à des approches portant sur la communication elle-même, une mise en valeur de l'entraînement professionnel et, dans le contexte de changements technologiques et sociaux, une stratégie de recherche fondée sur recherche et développement.

scholarly journals Diseases and Disease Management Strategies Take Top Research Priority in the Watermelon Research and Development Group Members Survey (2014 to 2015)

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandrasekar S. Kousik ◽  
James Brusca ◽  
William W. Turechek
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Hollow Heart ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Fruit Rot ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Development Group

Watermelon is an important crop grown for its fruit in the United States and many other countries across the world. A survey of members of the Watermelon Research and Development Group was conducted (2014 to 2015) to identify and rank research priorities. Participants were asked to assign a ranking from 1 to 10 for 25 listed priorities with 1 being most important. Priorities were partitioned into five groups on the basis of the results of several complementary analyses. Based on 30 respondents included in the final analysis, diseases and strategies for their management were identified as the most important research priorities. Fusarium wilt and host resistance to gummy stem blight were considered top priorities and were included in group 1. Group 2 included bacterial fruit blotch, anthracnose resistance, Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, fruit yield, improved post-harvest fruit quality, and powdery mildew. Group 3 included seedless pollination, Phytophthora fruit rot, seedless hybrid production, hollow heart, downy mildew, firm flesh, and sugar content. Grafting methods, various viral diseases, and whitefly resistance were included in the 4th group. All write-in priorities fell into the 5th group. The present survey results indicates that research efforts should be directed towards developing solutions for managing important watermelon diseases. Accepted for publication 23 March 2016. Published 29 March 2016.

Audio-Psycho-Phonology at Potchefstroom: A Review

1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 136-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter E. van Jaarsveld ◽  
Wynand F. du Plessis
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Mentally Retarded ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Clinical Observations

Audio-psycho-phonology (APP) has been hailed by some critics as refreshingly new, dynamic, pioneering and revolutionary, whilst others question the theoretical principles and the therapeutic approach, inter alia, because of the strong accent on clinical observations and the lack of rigorous empirical backing. This article presents a short outline of the Tomatis APP approach as well as an overview of eight empirical studies conducted in South Africa on topics such as laterality, stuttering, anxiety, and the application of the technique to the severely mentally retarded. The studies indicate positive effects, such as improved self-control, self-concept, interpersonal relations and achievement functioning. However, identified methodological deficiencies limit the degree to which the gains can be attributed to the APP approach alone. Finally, the authors propose the adoption of a research strategy that is more likely to identify, and produce an understanding of the strategies, agents and mechanisms by which different elements of the APP approach produce their results.

Global Midwifery Research Priorities: An International Survey

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hora Soltani ◽  
Lisa Kane Low ◽  
Alexandra Duxbury ◽  
Kerri D. Schuiling
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Neonatal Morbidity ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Normal Birth

PURPOSE: This exploratory project aimed to provide an up-to-date list of global midwifery research priorities to inform the International Confederation of Midwives’ (ICM) research strategy for development of its research agenda.DESIGN: An online survey conducted in 2014 asked ICM Research Advisory Networking members (who then disseminated it to a wider midwifery research interest group) to grade the importance of research priorities and provide further suggestions. Research priorities listed were based on those identified in previous scoping exercises and a recent literature review.FINDINGS: Two hundred seventy-one respondents from 37 countries completed the questionnaire including midwifery practitioners, researchers, lecturers, and service providers. Promotion of normal birth, prevention of maternal and fetal/neonatal morbidity and mortality, and psychosocial aspects of maternity care were identified by the respondents as the top three important themes. Subanalysis by country, region, and continent found promotion of normal birth the greatest priority in more resourced regions, whereas prevention of maternal and fetal/neonatal morbidity and mortality was the most important research priority in less resourced locations.CONCLUSION: This study provides a systematic global mapping of research priorities from midwives’ perspectives which will inform the ICM research agenda. Geographical variation in key research priorities reflect midwives working in very different settings with specific local health and resource related challenges such as staff shortages, human immunodeficiency virus, or obesity. Future research should aim to address these priorities to improve maternal and infant health. Limited number of respondents from some geographical areas should be borne in mind when interpreting the global implications and further research with an optimized scoping for inclusion is required to ensure adequate representativeness from all countries.

scholarly journals End-Users’ Product Preference Across Three Multipurpose Prevention Technology Delivery Forms: Baseline Results from Young Women in Kenya and South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Weinrib ◽  
Alexandra Minnis ◽  
Kawango Agot ◽  
Khatija Ahmed ◽  
Fred Owino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Young Women ◽  
End Users ◽  
Product Preference
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document