scholarly journals Purchase Preference Factors for Traditional Rural Retailers: A Cross-sectional Conceptual Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dev Narayan Sarkar ◽  
Kaushik Kundu ◽  
Himadri Roy Chaudhuri

Executive Summary A scrutiny of existing literature suggests that traditional rural retailers are important for the success of rural marketing efforts in developing nations. The present study attempts to decipher the indications on the factors that could possibly influence purchase preferences of rural traditional retailers through the use of statistical methods of content analysis. The purpose of the study is to identify the factors that influence purchase preference, analyse the temporal movement of conceptualizations of these factors, and determine whether academic thought on this topic has a conceptual core. This research work presents a longitudinal analysis of the factors over a period of 40 years: the need for information and training on new products and their selling techniques seem to maintain the same significance throughout the study period; the need for discounts has maintained almost a uniform ranking over the period of study; there is also a relative stability in the need for regular/frequent service; doorstep delivery had the highest ranking in the first period, which is probably owing to the relative weakness of delivery systems during the early phase of rural marketing; the requirement for credit seems to increase from the first period to the second period and then decrease. The factor of margins and commissions seems highly ranked only in the second period. Dimension reduction technique and frequency tabulations are the methods used for content analysis. The core concepts indicate that a traditional rural retailer can possibly be persuaded to purchase high-demand products and brands, through the provision of credit, discounts, quantity discount schemes, margins and commissions, by using local distributors and by appointment of local company staff to provide regular service. The analysis has yielded two discernible conceptual clusters: high-demand products and brands and credit; and doorstep delivery and regular service. The clusters that emerge during the content analysis of traditional rural retailers’ purchase preference factors reflect the exact content from conclusions in at least one research paper that is not used (to prevent cyclic conclusions) during the content-analysis process. The result confirms that researchers have been moving on similar lines in their conceptualizations of the purchase preference factors of traditional rural retailers.

Author(s):  
Lucy Erazo-Coronado ◽  
Sergio Llano-Arristizábal ◽  
Miguel Garcés-Prettel ◽  
Ana-María Erazo-Coronado

The emerging concept of university social responsibility (USR) consists in the fulfillment of the mission of the university in terms of ethical standards, community support, respect for human beings, and respect for the environment. Thus, universities must not only provide professional training but also instill ethical principles in students to allow them to behave as good citizens and help solve community problems. On the other hand, competition for students requires efficient management of university reputation and communication with their stakeholders, to demonstrate the accomplishment of the university’s mission and attract potential students. The objective of this paper is thus to explain the causal relationship between communication about university social responsibility (USR) activities through institutional websites and university selection, as well as the role of reputation. Research work was carried out based on an explanatory cross-sectional design, with a sample of 356 subjects from a population of 11th-grade students from public and private schools in the City of Barranquilla (Colombia). The results revealed that USR communication through institutional websites has a significant influence on university selection, not only directly but also indirectly, through reputation as a mediating variable. These findings contribute at a theoretical level by providing empirical evidence to understand and explain the analyzed topic. Furthermore, the results provide useful information to evaluate USR disclosure and implement strategies to make progress on USR issues. Resumen El naciente concepto de responsabilidad social universitaria (RSU) consiste en el cumplimiento de la misión de la universidad dentro de unos estándares éticos, de apoyo a la comunidad, respeto al ser humano y al medio ambiente. Así, pues, la universidad no sólo debe impartir formación profesional, sino inculcar a sus estudiantes principios éticos que les permitan comportarse como buenos ciudadanos y contribuir a la solución de los problemas de la comunidad. Por otra parte, la competencia entre universidades exige una gestión eficiente de su reputación y de la comunicación con sus distintos stakeholders, para demostrar a la sociedad el cumplimiento de su misión social, y para atraer estudiantes potenciales hacia la institución. Por lo tanto, este artículo tiene como objetivo explicar la relación de causalidad entre la comunicación de las prácticas de RSU en los sitios web institucionales y la selección de universidad, y el papel mediador de la reputación en esta relación. Para lograrlo, se llevó a cabo una investigación cuantitativa de nivel explicativo experimental y diseño transversal, con una muestra conformada por 356 sujetos, de una población de estudiantes de grado 11º de colegios públicos y privados de la ciudad de Barranquilla (Colombia). Los resultados revelan que la comunicación de las prácticas de RSU en los sitios web institucionales ejerce una influencia significativa directa en la intención de selección de universidad, e indirecta, a través de la reputación como variable mediadora. La evidencia empírica aportada representa un avance teórico en la comprensión y explicación del fenómeno estudiado, e igualmente servirá para que las universidades evalúen si están comunicando adecuadamente su responsabilidad social y adopten estrategias para avanzar en este aspecto.


2021 ◽  
pp. 146531252110333
Author(s):  
Keelin Fox ◽  
Parmjit Singh

Objective: To profile the posts on open orthodontic Facebook groups and identify which communication strategies and media modalities generate the most engagement from users. Design: A cross-sectional content analysis. Setting: Facebook Internet-based search. Methods: Post data were collected over a one-month period from the 10 largest public orthodontic Facebook groups. Evaluation of group characteristics included membership levels, number of administrators, time each group had been in existence and growth rate of each group. The number of posts, the numbers and types of engagement (likes, emojis, comments, shares) and engagement rate were calculated. The communication strategies (e.g. case presentation, course promotion, etc.) and media modalities (e.g. plain text, photograph, etc.) were recorded. Results: The study identified 190,268 Facebook members from the 10 largest orthodontic Facebook groups (median 17,811; interquartile range [IQR] 11,977). The median time the groups had existed was six years (median 2175 days; IQR 2311 days) and the median number of new group members in the past month was 1257 (IQR 2773). The median number of new group members in the past month was 1257 (IQR 2773). There were 227 postings during the study period with 2546 engagements. The overall median number of engagements was 196 (IQR 445) and the engagement rate of posts was 1.3% overall. Posts relating to course promotion (n = 63, 28%) followed by product promotion (n = 42, 19%) were the most common. Case presentation style posts accounted for 15% (n = 35). The level of engagement was greater for posts that had a clinical component compared to posts that did not ( P < 0.001). For media modality, posts that included a photograph had greater engagement ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: There are frequent posts on course and product promotion in orthodontic Facebook groups; however, these are associated with low levels of engagement. Posts that are clinically orientated and include photographs have higher levels of engagement.


Author(s):  
Nathaniel Scherer ◽  
Islay Mactaggart ◽  
Chelsea Huggett ◽  
Pharozin Pheng ◽  
Mahfuj-ur Rahman ◽  
...  

People with disabilities and as women and girls face barriers to accessing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services and facilities that fully meet their needs, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Women and girls with disabilities experience double discrimination. WASH policies should support and uphold the concepts of disability and gender inclusion, and they should also act as a guide to inform WASH programs and service delivery. Using a modified version of the EquiFrame content analysis tool, this study investigated the inclusion of 21 core concepts of human rights of people with disabilities and women and girls in 16 WASH policy documents and seven end-line program reports from Bangladesh and Cambodia. Included documents typically focused on issues of accessibility and neglected wider issues, including empowerment and support for caregivers. The rights of children and women with disabilities were scarcely focused on specifically, despite their individual needs, and there was a disconnect in the translation of certain rights from policy to practice. Qualitative research is needed with stakeholders in Bangladesh and Cambodia to investigate the inclusion and omission of core rights of people with disabilities, and women and girls, as well as the factors contributing to the translation of rights from policy to practice.


Author(s):  
Nedal H. Arar ◽  
Divya Nandamudi

Background: The work of multidisciplinary research teams (MDRTs) is vital for translational research. The objectives of this study were 1) to understand the structure and function of MDRTs, and 2) to develop effective strategies to enhance collaboration among team members. Methods and Findings: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 participants involved in multidisiplinary research work at two San Antonio, Texas, institutions. Interview materials were tape-recorded, transcribed, and content analyzed using qualitative methods.Themes that emerged from the content analysis were used to develop and refine strategies to enhance the work of MDRTs. The findings showed that MDRTs operate through multiple cycles of: 1) team formation, 2) team collaboration, 3) sustainable collaborative activities, and 4) team maturity. Content analysis identified four interrelated basic elements within the MDRT tract that facilitate team cycles: 1) shared interest/vision among agreeable team leader and members, 2) viable means of communication, 3) available resources, and 4) perceived gain/benefit of teamwork.Conclusions: Our findings highlighted several opportunities and challenges in the formation, dynamics, and growth of MDRTs. Effective strategies to enhance teamwork should levearge these opportunities and address challenges, taking into consideration the interdependent aspects of the basic elements within the MDRTs tract.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda A. Leon ◽  
Kala Chand Seal ◽  
Zbigniew H. Przasnyski ◽  
Ian Wiedenman

The explosive growth of business analytics has created a high demand for individuals who can help organizations gain competitive advantage by extracting business knowledge from data. What types of jobs satisfy this demand and what types of skills should individuals possess to satisfy this huge and growing demand? The authors perform a content analysis of 958 job advertisements posted during 2014-2015 for four types of positions: business analyst, data analyst, data scientist, and data analytics manager. They use a text mining approach to identify the skills needed for these job types and identify six distinct broad competencies. They also identify the competencies unique to a particular type of job and those common to all job types. Their job type categorization provides a framework that organizations can use to inventory their existing workforce competencies in order to identify critical future human resources. It can also guide individual professionals with their career planning as well as academic institutions in assessing and advancing their business analytics curricula.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1593
Author(s):  
Kyoko Yoshioka-Maeda ◽  
Yuka Sumikawa ◽  
Noriha Tanaka ◽  
Chikako Honda ◽  
Riho Iwasaki-Motegi ◽  
...  

This cross-sectional study aimed to (1) describe the unclassified contents of telephone consultation services provided by a public health center during the first wave of COVID-19 in Japan and (2) examine whether the contents required assistance from public health nurses (PHNs). We analyzed a total of 207 calls in which the purpose of the call was unclassified into pre-set categories. PHNs transcribed the exact text of the consultation conversations recorded from 25 March to 20 April 2020 in City A. Approximately half of the calls were from residents. Seven categories were extracted through a qualitative content analysis. The most common topic was infection control measures, where the presence of COVID-19 infection was assumed (n = 62); the second most common was extreme anxiety and fear of infection (n = 50). Questions about the COVID-19 response system (n = 30), discrimination and misunderstandings about COVID-19 (n = 24), and response measures for COVID-19 outbreaks within organizations (n = 18) were also included. The unclassified consultations included various topics, several of which required the expertise of a PHN. Each local government should consider sharing and task-shifting telephone consultation services among PHNs and other staff to reduce their burden and allow them to concentrate on conducting infection control more effectively.


1969 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 503-507
Author(s):  
BUSHRA GOHAR SHAH ◽  
HAMID JAVAID QURESHI ◽  
IZAZ UR REHMAN

OBJECTIVES: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of serum anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptideantibody (anti-CCP) with serum rheumatoid factor in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in acommunity hospital in Lahore, Pakistan.DESIGN: Cross-sectional analytical study.PLACE & DURATION OF STUDY: Subjects were recruited from Fatima Memorial Hospital,Rheumatology Outpatient Department from January, 2010 to December, 2010. The research work wasconducted at Department of Physiology and Cell Biology of University of Health Sciences, Lahore.SUBJECTS & METHODS: Eighty diagnosed patients of rheumatoid arthritis and thirty normalhealthy controls were included in the study. After selection of subjects, written informed consent wasobtained. The venous blood sample was taken and secured in vacutainers. Serum was extracted bycentrifugation and stored at -20°C till analysis. Titers of anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor weredetermined by ELISA. The data obtained was analyzed by using SPSS version 16.0.RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of serum anti-CCP was found to be 58.6% and 86.7%respectively as compared to 47.5% and 83.3% for serum rheumatoid factor (RF) in diagnosingrheumatoid arthritis. Sensitivity of anti-CCP antibody in RF negative sub-group was 32.1%.CONCLUSION: Serum anti-CCP antibody is more sensitive and specific marker for diagnosis ofrheumatoid arthritis as compared to the rheumatoid factor.KEY WORDS: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Anti- Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody (ACCP), Rheumatoid Factor


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mowafa Househ ◽  
Nassif Hossain ◽  
Amr Jamal ◽  
Nasriah Zakaria ◽  
Ashraf Elmetwally ◽  
...  

Providing patients opportunities for self-management and education about their disease, asthma applications designed for use on an Android operating system can have positive health outcomes across the range of demographics who use mHealth applications. This study provides a content analysis of freely available Google Android Platform Mobile Applications for Asthma. A list of applications was collected on 26 October 2014, using the search feature of the Google Play Android platform and using the words and phrases “Asthma,” “Lung Function” and “Peak Flow.” Each application was coded for its approach to asthma self-management, based on categories adapted by Huckvale et al., which are based on the Global Initiative for Asthma and the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. The characteristics of the 15 asthma applications are described. Most of the asthma applications’ primary function focused on patient self-monitoring and self-assessment. Using the HON Code, we found low health information quality across all asthma applications. Android asthma applications can have positive outcomes in helping patients as they provide opportunities for self-management and education about their disease. Future research should continue to monitor and evaluate the development and use of mHealth Asthma Applications. Based on these findings, and their indication of a gap in existing research, subsequent studies can continue to evaluate the development and use of mHealth Asthma Applications with increasing methodological consistency to improve the quality of in-app health information.


2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mir-Jafar-Sadegh Safari ◽  
Mirali Mohammadi ◽  
Golezar Gilanizadehdizaj

Abstract The condition of incipient motion and deposition are of the essential issues for the study of sediment transport. This phenomenon is of great importance to hydraulic engineers for designing sewers, drainage, as well as other rigid boundary channels. This is a study carried out with the objectives of describing the effect of cross-sectional shape on incipient motion and deposition of particles in rigid boundary channels. In this research work, the experimental data given by Loveless (1992) and Mohammadi (2005) are used. On the basis of the critical velocity approach, a new incipient motion equation for a V-shaped bottom channel and incipient deposition of sediment particles equations for rigid boundary channels having circular, rectangular, and U-shaped cross sections are obtained. New equations were compared to the other incipient motion equations. The result shows that the cross-sectional shape is an important factor for defining the minimum velocity for no-deposit particles. This study also distinguishes incipient motion of particles from incipient deposition for particles. The results may be useful for designing fixed bed channels with a limited deposition condition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matete Lerutla ◽  
Renier Steyn

Orientation: Although a lot is written about leadership in Africa, little empirical research has been conducted and published in prominent academic journals, which comprehensively and specifically define the concept of African business leadership.Research purpose: The goal of the research study was to define the African business leadership comprehensively, tapping into the views of young leaders and making a contribution to the discourse and literature on leadership in Africa.Motivation for the study: Whilst business leadership practices are deemed to be universal by some, others argue that the matter is geographically specific. The latter view is supported by those interested in decolonisation and Africanisation. Although politically inspired and philosophically embedded definitions of African leadership are readily available, definitions stemming from empirical processes seem to be absent.Research approach, design and method: This research focuses on the sub-Saharan region, which accounts for the greater part of the African continent. A total of 121 adult students, representing 14 sub-Saharan countries, participated in this study. The participants were part of the Young African Leaders Initiative, a leadership development programme facilitated by the University of South Africa. A cross sectional survey design was used, as part of which open-ended questions were posed to the young leaders. Summative content analysis (Cohort 1) was uses to identify elements central to African leadership, and directed content analysis was then framed based on inter-relational plots, which include all these identified themes.Method: A cross-sectional survey design was used, as part of which open-ended questions were posed to the young leaders. Summative content analysis (Cohort 1) was used to identify elements central to African business leadership, and directed content analysis (Cohort 2) was applied to verify the themes. A definition of African business leadership was then framed based on inter-relational plots, which include all these identified themes.Main findings: Eight elements typical of African business leadership were identified and, following an analysis of inter-relational plots, a definition incorporating the participants’ inputs was crafted. African business leadership is seen as unique to leaders on the continent (Afrocentric), as an act of service to the community (Ubuntu), operating in challenging and resource-deprived environments (because of the legacy of colonialism) and providing hope for creating a better future. African business leadership is further seen as being dominated by those in positions of (political) authority, who engage in entrepreneurial activities, and yet as still requiring development because many leaders are corrupt (brokenness), which seems to be legitimised by post-colonial sentiments (Afro-centric).Contribution: The research study presents a multidimensional perspective on defining African business leadership, reiterating the admirable community orientation, but also the skill gaps, and therefore, the need for improvement.Practical Implications: The definition crafted from the research study provides a compelling conceptualisation of a phenomenon that is often described from only a philosophical or political perspective. This empirical research study contributes to the leadership debate by providing a multidimensional and comprehensive definition of African business leadership, incorporating both the positive and negative elements.


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