Deconstructing Persuasiveness of Online Hotel Review Platforms

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-333
Author(s):  
Edina Ajanovic ◽  
Beykan Çizel
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Hotel Management ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Structure Characteristics ◽  
Peripheral Cues ◽  
Review Management ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Multiple Case

Considering the significant influence of online hotel reviews on both tourism demand and supply side, these may be considered as a successful persuasive tool. Accordingly, it is necessary to investigate the broader context in which reviews are generated and what are the components that contribute to their effectiveness. The main goal of this study was to analyze the communication occurring on hotel review platforms from a social psychological perspective through understanding structure, characteristics, and functions of attitudes expressed in guests' reviews. In addition, it aims to identify how persuasive cues in review responses should be defined. Following this aim, the authors applied multiple case study design and collected data in several stages through document analysis, participant observation, netnography, and interviews with different stakeholders involved in online review management process. Results of the qualitative content analysis showed that, in order to use the full persuasive potential of review platforms, it is necessary for hotel management to define its presence and visibility on these platforms, to conduct in-depth analysis of structure, characteristics, and functions of attitudes expressed in reviews, and to establish a systematic approach towards use of central and peripheral cues in review responses to induce desired cognitive processing of these messages.

scholarly journals Manufacturing Pre-Decisions: A Comparative Analysis of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Reviews in Brazil and Portugal

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Fan Rocha ◽  
Tomás B. Ramos ◽  
Alberto Fonseca
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Review Process ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Environmental Impact Statements ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Study Methodology ◽  
Environment Agency ◽  
Review Reports

The review of environmental impact statements (EIS), despite its relevance to impact assessment effectiveness, has received scarce scholarly attention. Few studies have gone beyond the realm of regulatory evaluations to understand the managerial meanders of the review process. This study evaluated the responsibilities, procedures, information inputs, and scope of EIS reviews within two environmental authorities: APA (Portuguese Environment Agency), in Portugal, and SEMAD (State Secretariat for Environment and Sustainable Development), in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Based on a qualitative multiple-case study methodology informed by participant observation, unstructured interviews, and content analysis of 12 EIS review reports, the study provided what is arguably one of the most detailed characterizations of EIS review to date. While following similar institutional arrangements and broad procedural steps, the EIS review has important differences in APA and SEMAD. Overall, the Portuguese agency was found to have a more structured, participative, interdisciplinary, detailed, and grounded review, thus meeting some of the good practices often cited in the literature. The EIS review reports prepared by APA reviewers were also found to provide a profoundly more complete and transparent account of the review process. The details of the review process revealed in the article can affect perceptions around the legitimacy and reliability of reviewers’ recommendations.

Spiritual Explanatory Models of Mental Illness in West Nile, Uganda

2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Verginer ◽  
Barbara H. Juen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Research Field ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Holistic View

Integrating indigenous cultural knowledge into conceptualizing mental illness offers highly valuable insights to better contextualize mental health. The meaning given to symptoms determines what is abnormal and requiring treatment. In Uganda, the formal health care system is neither the only nor the most widespread treatment provider. Help is often sought from traditional and religious healers, too. Despite numerous calls for cooperation between the healing systems, this has translated into reality only to a very limited degree. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into local explanatory models of mental illness, to gain an understanding of the different patients’ needs, and to develop a more comprehensive system of care. We used an ethnographic investigation approach, which allowed for a more holistic view of the research field. This was geographically delimited to the West Nile subregion in Northern Uganda. We conducted a total of 56 semistructured interviews with traditional healers ( n = 5), Christian religious healers ( n = 3), psychiatric patients ( n = 16), their attendants ( n = 16), and community members ( n = 16). In addition, we used the method of participant observation. The data collected were analyzed using Qualitative Content Analysis and Grounded Theory methodology. For the purpose of this article, we exclusively extracted the spiritual explanatory models. These were spirit possession and curse. Both were traditional concepts with a religious reinterpretation involving the action of spirits.

Team based communication and the healthcare communication space

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 825-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Alexandra Cornett ◽  
Craig Kuziemsky
Keyword(s):  
Common Ground ◽  
Group Communication ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Communication Space ◽  
Support Team ◽  
Healthcare Communication

Purpose While previous studies have described structural, process and social aspects of the healthcare communication space there is no overall model of it. Such a model is an essential first step to improving the operationalization and management of healthcare communication. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This paper used a case study approach to study team-based communication on a palliative care unit. Non-participant observation, interviews and documents were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings The analysis developed an overall model of the healthcare communication space that consists of five stages: purpose, practices and workflows, structures, implementation, and the development of common ground to support team-based communication. The authors’ findings emphasized that implicit communication remains a predominant means of communication and workflow issues at the individual level are a frequent cause of unnecessary group communication tasks. Originality/value To improve team-based communication we first need to develop protocols that support team communication needs such as loop closing of group communication tasks in order to minimize unnecessary individual communication tasks. We also need to develop common ground at the protocol, document and terminology levels as part of supporting team-based communication.

Could lean and green be the driver to integrate business improvement throughout the organisation?

2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Chaplin ◽  
Simon T.J. O’Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Thick Description ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Lean And Green ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Multiple Case Studies

Purpose It seems to be the consensus (Zhang et al., 2012; George et al., 2003; Arumugam et al., 2013) that Lean Six Sigma (LSS) has become a beneficial improvement initiative used in a variety of industries. There is a move towards integrating any high-level business improvement methods holistically throughout the whole organisation. Indeed, Hoerl (2014) explored the idea that when using LSS for business improvement, the programme should engage the whole organisation in much the same way as the financial function is present throughout each department. The purpose of this paper is to posit that using the lean and green agenda may be the driver to achieve integration. Design/methodology/approach The research adopted a subjective ontological perspective with the researcher using participant observation as the main research instrument. Denzin and Lincoln (2005) note that it is now common for scholars to argue that the only relevant data are those based upon the personal experience of the researcher; this served as an informing foundation for the approach for the exploration of the topic. Based on multiple case studies, chosen because they operate in different sectors, the paper adopted an extended case method (Burawoy, 1998) to analyse and gather the research. The organisations were chosen because they both were at a similar stage in their continuous improvement (CI) journey. The main reasoning behind the selection of the two different organisations is to reach “Thick Description” (Geertz, 1973, p. 3, 2001). Findings The findings suggest that there are still significant benefits of implementing a large-scale lean agenda in particular when using an LSS methodology. The paper finds that there are also significant gaps in achieving full integration within the organisation and argues that lean and CI are still the remit of the operations manager. The document goes on to argue that if the CI initiative is driven by the corporate social responsibility (CSR) plan, then any lean/lean green implementation will enable the company to drive CI integration with all stakeholders. Research limitations/implications The research has implications for those responsible for the CSR function within the organisation and the operations manager who is charged with implementing any lean/lean and green CI. Practical implications The paper argues that the lean and green agenda can drive integration of any CI activity throughout the organisation and suggests that the way this can be achieved is any CI activity that is included in the wider CSR plan. Social implications This paper contributes to the “lean and green” agenda and offers a solution for the problem of integrating LSS activities throughout the whole organisation by placing CI and LSS within the CSR remit. Originality/value There is little consensus how this holistic integrated approach should be implemented by the company. This research uses multiple case studies to critically examine the application of LSS as an improvement programme within two large UK-based organisations, each company operating in very different industry sectors to identify the benefits of LSS but also the missed “green/societal” opportunities and argues that if any lean and lean and green agenda is to be holistically adopted, then any CI activity should be driven by the CSR department.

15. Working with Documents

2019 ◽  
pp. 291-310
Author(s):  
Tom Clark ◽  
Liam Foster ◽  
Alan Bryman
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Student Research ◽  
Documentary Data ◽  
Practical Guide

Although much of the data used in social science dissertation projects is produced by interviews, surveys, and participant observation, there are other forms of data that can be used for the purposes of social science. This chapter explores some of this ‘documentary’ data and how to use it for the purposes of research. Documentary forms of data have some significant advantages that make them particularly useful for student research projects. This does not mean that they are without problems, but the chapter provides a practical guide for those who are prepared to look beyond familiar horizons. It makes the case for using documents; explores what can be included under the broad heading of documents; and introduces both quantitative and qualitative content analysis as a means to analyse documents.

scholarly journals Rural families' interpretations of experiencing unexpected transition in the wake of a natural disaster

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisele Cristina Manfrini Fernandes ◽  
◽  
Astrid Eggert Boehs ◽  
Sharon A. Denham ◽  
Rosane Gonçalves Nitschke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Rural Families ◽  
Family Transition ◽  
Social Lives ◽  
Transitional Experiences ◽  
New Development ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Multiple Case

Abstract: Natural disasters affect populations in various parts of the world. The impacts of disasters can cause many problems to the health of people and disruption to family life, potentially leading to an unexpected transition. The objective of this paper is to present the unexpected transitional experiences of rural families following a natural disaster. A multiple case study of six families was conducted with children and adolescents in a rural area affected by a 2008 disaster in southern Brazil. For data collection, we used participant observation, narrative interviews, genograms, ecomaps and an instrument called calendar routine. The analysis of the data resulted in different family interpretations about the changes resulting from the storm and compared life before and after the disaster. The loss of homes and loved ones, migration, unemployment, and losses from the farm were the main changes associated with new development tasks. The experiences of family transition after the disaster revealed that losses influenced social lives, daily routines and the preservation of cultural values.

scholarly journals The purpose of the communication process of group activities in the Family Health Strategy

2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 396-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leticia Silveira Cardoso ◽  
Marta Regina Cezar-Vaz ◽  
Mara Regina Santos da Silva ◽  
Valdecir Zavarese da Costa
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Work Organization ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Communication Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Group Activities ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Health Strategy

This study identified the purposes of the communication process in the group activities of the Family Health strategy from the perspective of nurses. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and recorded with 60 nurses and non-participant observation with 19 group activities, analyzed according to qualitative content analysis. Five categories emerged: Health education, Clinical follow-up, Co-responsibilization of patients, Team-Community Interaction, and Work Organization. These categories revealed that the establishment of reciprocal interactions among professionals, patients and families favor health promotion because it encourages the exchange of knowledge among the participants concerning their health experiences.

A Framework for Assessing ERP Systems' Functionality for the SMEs in Australia

2011 ◽  
pp. 160-187
Author(s):  
Liaquat Hossain ◽  
Mohammad A. Rashid ◽  
Jon David Patrick
Keyword(s):  
Field Data ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Real Field ◽  
Erp Systems ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Erp Software ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Anticipating the use of ERP systems among small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to be the future area of growth, ERP vendors such as SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, J.D. Edwards and Bann are introducing ERP software that appeals to the market segment of the SMEs. Introduction of the ERP systems for SMEs includes compact packages, flexible pricing policies, new implementation methodologies, and more specialized functionalities. The strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats (SWOT) framework of the ERP software offered by the aforementioned vendors for the SMEs requires in-depth analysis based on real field data. The aim of this study is to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of ERP systems offered by the five leading vendors for the SMEs in Australia. Multiple case study design approach is used here for collecting the primary data from the ERP vendors. A SWOT framework is developed to study the functionality of the ERP systems offered by these vendors. This framework may guide the managers of SMEs in selecting and implementing ERP systems for their organizations.

A Framework for Assessing ERP Systems Functionality for the SMEs in Australia

2011 ◽  
pp. 182-208
Author(s):  
Liaquat Hossain ◽  
Mohammad A. Rashid ◽  
Jon David Patrick
Keyword(s):  
Field Data ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Real Field ◽  
Erp Systems ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Erp Software ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Anticipating the use of the ERP systems among small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) to be the future area of growth ERP vendors such as SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, JDEdwards and Bann are introducing ERP software that appeal to the market segment of the SMEs. Introduction of the ERP systems for SMEs includes compact packages, flexible pricing policies, new implementation methodologies, and more specialized functionalities. The strengths-weakness-opportunity-threats (SWOT) framework of the ERP software offered by the aforementioned vendors for the SMEs requires in-depth analysis based on real-field data. The aim of this study is to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of ERP systems offered by the five leading vendors for the SMEs in Australia. Multiple case study design approach is used here for collecting the primary data from the ERP vendors. A SWOT framework is developed to study the functionality of the ERP systems offered by these vendors. This framework may guide the managers of SMEs in selecting and implementing ERP systems for their organizations.

The Changing Role of the Teacher in ICT-Supported Foreign Language Instruction

2020 ◽  
pp. 333-349
Author(s):  
Saša Podgoršek
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Language Instruction ◽  
Foreign Language Instruction ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
The Impact

This chapter aims to explore the teacher´s role in foreign language instruction (FLI) supported by information and communication technology (ICT). The recent research on the impact of ICT on the teacher´s role in FLI indicates changes in the role of the teacher. However, there has been little empirical evidence on the nature of this change in foreign language classes. To fill this research gap, a multiple-case study of three teachers and 78 students in three secondary school classes in Slovenia was conducted. This chapter presents an in-depth analysis of sections of semi-structured interviews and class observations exploring the five categories of change of the teacher role identified by Podgoršek. The findings confirm these categories in general, but they also show which sub-categories of change are hard to achieve in real school environment.

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