Professionals' Experiences of Grief Counseling: Implications for Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren J. Breen
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Grief Counseling ◽  
Intervention Effectiveness ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Grief Work ◽  
Grief Counselors ◽  
Counseling Practices ◽  
Current Practices ◽  
Grief Theories

Despite the escalating interest in grief interventions, there is a clear misalignment between contemporary grief research and grief counseling practices, and this disparity may limit intervention effectiveness. Semi-structured interviews with 19 grief counselors revealed their current practices of grief counseling. The counselors' descriptions of grief and their grief counseling practices were diverse and many were influenced by classic grief theories and the grief work hypothesis. The grief counselors described negotiating several issues and dilemmas in their work and provided recommendations for achieving greater exchange between research and practice. The findings have the potential to inform the delivery, efficacy, and relevance of grief counseling in Western Australia.

scholarly journals Curriculum flexibility in a blended curriculum

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herma Jonker ◽  
Virginie März ◽  
Joke Voogt
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Teacher Education Institution ◽  
Student Enrolment

This study offers insights into the processes that play a role in realising curriculum flexibility. Curriculum flexibility is conceptualised in terms of adaptability and accessibility of the curriculum to students’ needs and capabilities. To realise curriculum flexibility, the teacher education institution in this study designed a blended curriculum with face-to-face and online components. This flexible curriculum aimed at increasing student enrolment and allowing for variety in students’ graduation portfolios. Through semi-structured interviews with 10 teacher educators, conditions that could foster or hinder the realisation of flexibility were investigated. Results indicate that different contextual, teacher-, and student-related conditions were perceived to affect (further) curriculum flexibility. Furthermore, teacher educators identified several challenges related to these influential conditions, which were recognised as tensions. Based on a discussion of these findings, recommendations for research and practice are given.

Enhancing internal communication to build social capital amongst hospitality employees – the role of social media

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 2675-2695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ceridwyn King ◽  
Hyemi Lee
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Internal Communication ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Empirical Examination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Current Practices

Purpose Adopting a social capital theoretical (SCT) lens, this study aims to propose a conceptual framework of effective internal communication (IC) for the hospitality industry. The study explores how to enhance current practices and the suitability of social media as an augmentation to traditional IC channels. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research methodology, consisting of 20 semi-structured interviews with hospitality employees, was adopted. Following a “reduction” and “interpretation” process, 16 themes related to effective IC were identified which informed a conceptual framework. Findings Characteristics of effective IC were identified in addition to IC benefits at both employee and organizational levels. Considering the limitations of current practices, the applicability of social media was explored. Requirements of effective IC suggest that new channels (e.g. social media) should be adopted to build social capital. Research limitations/implications The study informs SCT from a meso-level (process) perspective. The articulation of an IC framework informs how social capital can be built through effective IC, providing a foundation for further empirical examination as to the impact of various channels on the IC process. Adoption of a case study design suggests that results and implications can only be generalized to similar environments. Practical implications The study details the characteristics of effective IC and its subsequent benefits, highlighting how social media can augment current IC practices in a hospitality organization. Originality/value Being a 24/7 labor-intensive operation makes employee communication to ensure service excellence challenging in the hospitality industry. Through the application of SCT and the exploration of social media in a workplace setting to enhance IC, significant theoretical and practical insights are realized.

scholarly journals HR Metrics and Talent Analytics

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis A. Fink ◽  
Michael C. Sturman
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Investment Decisions ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Hr Practices ◽  
History Of Research ◽  
Decision Points ◽  
History Of ◽  
Current Practices

Taking advantage of the history of research quantifying the effects of human resource (HR) practices, leveraging current advances in information systems and opportunities presented by big data, HR metrics and talent analytics present a renewed opportunity to help drive effective HR practices. HR metrics are operational measures, addressing how efficient, effective, and impactful an organization’s HR practices are. In contrast, talent analytics focus on decision points, guiding investment decisions. The chapter provides an overview of the historic roots and current practices around HR metrics and talent analytics. Through this, we explore the role, benefits, and risks of benchmarking and utility analyses as two common approaches to setting HR metrics. We discuss how current advances in research and practice make the use of HR metrics and talent analytics a greater business necessity. We conclude the chapter with a discussion on fostering talent analytics within organizations.

scholarly journals HARDWIRED BIOLOGY AND LIGHT-BULB MOMENTS: DIVERGENT DISCOURSES AND LIFE TRAJECTORIES OF OLDER BISEXUAL WOMEN

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S826-S826
Author(s):  
Sarah Jen
Keyword(s):  
Later Life ◽  
Light Bulb ◽  
Bisexual Women ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Sexual Identities ◽  
Life Trajectories ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Positive Sense ◽  
Life Context

Abstract Older bisexual women report a less positive sense of their sexual identity, less belonging in LGBTQ communities, and worse mental health outcomes compared to lesbian counterparts. These patterns are consistent with those identified among younger bisexual cohorts and appear to be connected to how bisexual identities are perceived and experienced; however, sexual identities take on unique meaning by gender and age and across historical contexts. To explore how older bisexual women construct and make meaning out of bisexual identities, this study applied a Foucauldian discursive and critical feminist conceptual framing to examine semi-structured interviews with bisexual women ages 60 and older (N=13). Findings reveal two divergent groups of women, the Early Emergers and Mature Migrators, who differ in their constructions of bisexuality and the timing of their first experienced attractions to other women. While the Early Emergers construct bisexuality as a stable, “hardwired” biological concept, the Mature Migrators challenge this narrative by emphasizing the fluidity of sexuality through discourses of migration spurred by “light bulb” moments in which they first recognized their attractions to women. This study illustrates the contributions of discourse analysis in revealing nuanced constructions of life course histories as well as the need for acknowledgment of life context in research and practice with older bisexual individuals. Scholars and practitioners must intentionally critique and contribute to discourses of bisexuality in later life.

Artificial Intelligence: A Strategic Disruption in Public Relations

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geetanjali Panda ◽  
Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay ◽  
Komal Khandelwal
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Public Relations ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Relevant Research ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Mass Personalization

This article discusses the concept, benefits, application, impact and role of artificial intelligence (AI) in public relations (PR) industry. It examines the application of AI-based systems and their role as strategic disruption in the PR industry. This article is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews of 31 PR professionals and is grounded in the insights from the review of relevant research papers, articles, and case studies. It highlights the developments in research and practice related to AI application in the PR industry. AI-powered systems can scan social media and are smart, intelligent and experts in handling queries. These AI-enabled systems can post responses on social media in real time for the client and manage the crisis. With AI, PR professionals can save time spent on mundane activities like creating media lists, scheduling meetings and sending follow-up emails. Mass personalization and customization using AI are improving the effectiveness of PR activities. It is too early to say whether AI will act as strategic disruption in the PR industry. Based on the insights and discussion in this article, the PR professionals and researchers can make decisions on whether to invest in AI tools and solutions.

A Comparison of Non-Certified and Certified Grief Counselors in Regard to Education, Experience, Credentials, and Supervision

2003 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack P. Locicero
Keyword(s):  
Professional Organization ◽  
Information Support ◽  
Grief Counseling ◽  
Death Education ◽  
Training Experience ◽  
National Board ◽  
Bereavement Counseling ◽  
Grief Counselors ◽  
Individual Knowledge ◽  
Composite Scores

This study utilized a causal-comparative research design to explore the similarities and differences between non-certified and certified grief counselors in the areas of education, training, experience, credentials, and supervision. Respondents included 623 non-certified and certified grief counselors, all of whom were members of the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). The response rate was 63 percent. The findings of this study provide data on certified and non-certified grief counselors who are members of ADEC. Certified grief counselors report significantly more experience as counselors at the post-master's level, significantly more grief counseling experience, significantly more credentials, significantly higher mean composite scores on the 14 knowledge areas adapted from ADEC (1995) and the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), and significantly higher scores on 12 of the 14 individual knowledge areas. ADEC is the oldest multi-disciplinary professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence in death education, bereavement counseling, and care of the dying. Through theory and research, ADEC provides information, support, and resources to its multicultural membership, and through them, to the public. ADEC is the only professional organization that provides credentialing in grief counseling and death education.

scholarly journals Maintaining dual career balance: A scenario perspective on Swedish university student-athletes’ experiences and coping

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 47-55
Author(s):  
Lukas Linnér ◽  
Natalia Stambulova ◽  
Kristina Ziegert
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
University Student ◽  
Dual Career ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sport Event ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Difficult Situations

A dual career (DC) scenario perspective was introduced in the Erasmus+ Sports project “Gold in education and elite sport” (GEES) and is characterized by integration of student-athletes’ athletic and non-athletic demands into difficult situations or periods (i.e., scenarios) requiring coping efforts. In this study we consider balance as the primary challenge for student-athletes and set out to identify DC scenarios that influenced university student-athletes’ optimal DC balance, and the factors involved in coping with such scenarios. We implemented a post-positivist qualitative design through semi-structured interviews with six university student-athletes. Our thematic analysis generated seven DC scenarios (e.g., A sport event coincides with exams, and Finalize degree project and continue to train and compete). The scenarios, their characteristics and student-athletes’ corresponding coping are described. Based on the findings, we suggest an updated definition of DC scenarios and present their taxonomy, with four types of DC scenarios in which student-athletes’ circumstances require (a) several shifts between sport and study in daily life, (b) prioritizing sport while maintaining study, (c) prioritizing study while maintaining sport, and (d) prioritizing personal life while maintaining sport and study. We discuss how these developments can be useful for DC research and practice.

The current practices of food and beverage photography and styling in food business

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Duran Cankul ◽  
Ozlem Peksen Ari ◽  
Bendegul Okumus
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Data ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Emotional Appeal ◽  
Career Opportunities ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Current Practices

Purpose This study aims to analyze the current practices of food and beverage (F&B) photography and styling through the eyes of professionals involved in the food business. Design/methodology/approach A phenomenological research approach was used and empirical data were collected via a series of semi-structured interviews with professional food photographers. Purposive and snowballing sampling methods were used and the participants of this study consisted of 26 F&B photographers and stylists who were actively and professionally working in this field. Content analysis was applied to the empirical data. Findings The research findings reveal several key themes in F&B photography and styling: emotional appeal, key trends, career opportunities, required skills and abilities and interventions and ethical considerations. Three specific roles were identified in F&B photography and styling: food and beverage photographer, food and beverage stylist and prop stylist. Research limitations/implications This study offers discussions on the pros and cons of F&B photography beginners and professionals and the food business. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to offer empirical findings and discussions on the concept of F&B photography and styling.

scholarly journals Examining emerging ICT's adoption in SMEs from a dynamic process approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunday Chinedu Eze ◽  
Yanqing Duan ◽  
Hsin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Dynamic Process ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
Adoption Research ◽  
Process Perspective

Purpose – This paper aims to advance information and communication technologies (ICT) adoption research and practice by examining and understanding the emerging ICT adoption in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from a dynamic process perspective using actor-network theory (ANT). Design/methodology/approach – This study employs a qualitative approach to investigate how services SMEs are constantly engaging in ICT adoption for improving business performance. Two rounds of interviews were conducted with 26 interviewees. Data collected from the unstructured and semi-structured interviews were analysed to understand the dynamic adoption process, actors involved and their interactions. Findings – The findings reveal the recursive and dynamic nature of the emerging ICT adoption process and the constant interactions and negotiations of various actors. Underpinned by the key concepts of ANT and validated by the empirical data, a framework is developed to depict the stages of dynamic process of emerging ICT adoption, the actors involved and the associated key activities. Research limitations/implications – Qualitative research is interpretive in nature and the size of the sample used is limited. These limitations require caution for the generalization of the findings. The framework can be further validated across a wider population using mixed methods combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. Practical implications – Emerging ICT adoption has moved from a simple adopters’ participation process to involving various actors that constantly interact and influence the process. SMEs manager can be influenced by and influence the technology advancement. As a result, SMEs need constantly interact with various human and non-human actors to keep up with the new ICT development and benefit from the emerging opportunities. Originality/value – The research focuses on the emerging ICT adoption in SMEs from the dynamic process perspective using ANT. It advances ICT adoption research and practice by developing a framework to depict the dynamic and interactive nature of ICT adoption process, and the actors involved and their interactions in the adoption process.

scholarly journals Cognitions and Practices of Iranian ELT Instructors and Content Teachers in Teaching Discipline-Based EAP Courses: A Replication Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Soleimani ◽  
Ahmad Alibabaee
Keyword(s):  
English For Academic Purposes ◽  
Replication Study ◽  
Note Taking ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teaching Activities ◽  
Field Note ◽  
Research Studies ◽  
Current Practices

Although research studies on methodological issues of English for General Purposes are abundant in the literature, they are still one of the less explored areas of research in English for Academic Purposes, especially with respect to teachers’ cognitions and practices. Also, lack of collaboration between ELT instructors and content teachers in teaching discipline-based EAP courses has resulted in noticeable inconsistencies in the two groups’ instructions. The present study was an extension of Atai and Fatahi-Majd (2014) and explored the cognitions and practices within and across six Iranian ELT instructors and six content teachers regarding their translation-based, form focused, feedback and vocabulary teaching activities. Each participant was observed for six sessions. Field note taking and semi-structured interviews were also done with the two groups of teachers so as to delve into the cognitions underlying their actual practices. The general findings supported Atai and Fatahi (2014) in all the areas under investigation where there were within group inconsistences and across-group discrepancies within and between the two groups of teachers respectively with content teachers being much more inconsistent than ELT instructors in terms of their practices and cognitions. The findings of the study have implications for renewing the current practices of ELT instructors and content teachers teaching discipline-based EAP courses worldwide.

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