scholarly journals Reasons for knitting blogging and its importance for crafting

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 48-62
Author(s):  
Katja Vilhunen ◽  
Sinikka Hannele Pöllänen ◽  
Harri Pitkäniemi

The purpose of this study was to describe the reasons for knitting blogging and the importance of blogging for the bloggers’ crafting. A multiphase mixed-methods study focusing on quantitative research methods was the methodological basis. Therefore, the study included both sequential and simultaneous investigation paths. In this study, the quantitative data were collected from the same group of Finnish knitting bloggers by two online surveys in 2008 (N= 501) and in 2013 (N= 212). The quantitative data focused on time-related changes in blogging, whereas the qualitative data, collected by essays (N=50) during 2013-2014, was used to explain the quantitative data. In quantitative analysis, the key features of reasons for knitting blogging were analysed by principal component analysis. The differences in the principal components for the background groups between the surveys were elucidated by means of 2-way analysis of variance. The qualitative data were analysed by data-driven content analysis. The results indicated that there were several reasons for knitting blogging. According to the results, the elements of knitting blogging were: 1) inspiration and materialization, 2) connecting and community support, 3) encouragement and 4) reflection and reminiscence. Knitting blogging has reshaped crafting by combining the material and tactile process of knitting with digital practices of life-streaming and with participatory activities in networked spaces. It appeared that knitting and blogging complemented each other, and that blogging supported development of the blogger’s crafting into a serious leisure activity with meaningful long-term activities and clear goals. Keywords: digital practices, knitting blog, leisure, mixed methods design, online communities

Author(s):  
Anita Triastuti

This study aimed to assess pre-service teachers’ knowledge base of teaching and the extent they perceive and reflect its implementation in a microteaching course. Employing mixed-methods design, the study involved pre-service teachers in a state university in Special Territory of Yogyakarta. The quantitative data were collected from a test on the pre-service teachers’ understanding of teacher knowledge base of teaching and a survey of their perceptions towards the implementation of teacher knowledge base of teaching in their microteaching practices. The qualitative data were gathered from the pre-service teachers’ reflections. The findings showed that despite the overall good test score average of the pre-service teachers’ knowledge base of teaching and the generally positive self-rating perceptions, the pre-service teachers’ limited and descriptive reflections did not sufficiently depict their actual implementation of teacher knowledge base of teaching in their microteaching practices.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghadah A. Al-Sharif ◽  
Alia A. Almulla ◽  
Eman AlMerashi ◽  
Reem Alqutami ◽  
Mohammad Almoosa ◽  
...  

Background: The onset of the pandemic necessitated abrupt transition to telehealth consultations. Although there is a few tools that gauge the patients' perception about their experiences, none of them are contextualized to an emergency in the Middle East and North Africa region. Accordingly, this study aims at developing and validating a tool to address this gap, and deploying it to assess the patients' perception of telehealth services during COVID-19 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).Methods: A convergent mixed methods design was adapted. A random selection of 100 patients from Dubai, UAE were invited to participate. Qualitative and quantitative datasets were collected using a tailor-made survey. The qualitative data, collected through open-ended questions, was analyzed using multi-staged thematic analysis. As for the quantitative data, it captured the patients' extent of satisfaction, and was assessed using SPSS (with a series of descriptive and inferential analyses). The qualitative and quantitative findings were then merged via joint display analysis.Results: Out of the 100 patients that were randomly selected, 94 patients participated in this study. The reliability score of Cronbach's Alpha for the instrument was 98.9%. The percentage of the total average of satisfaction was 80.67%. The Principal Component Analysis showed that 88.1% of the variance can be explained by the instrument (p < 0.001). The qualitative data analysis expanded upon the quantitative findings enabling a better understanding of the patients' perception. Three themes, revolving around the quality of the patient telehealth experiences, surfaced: “Factors that worked to the benefit of the patients,” “Factors that the patients were not in favor of,” and “Opportunities for improvements as perceived by the patients.”Discussion: This study introduced a novel patient satisfaction with telehealth consultation survey contextualized to the COVID-19 times in Dubai, UAE. The participants were quite satisfied with the quality of their experience, however they suggested areas for improvement. Regional healthcare decision-makers can leverage the identified advantages and opportunities for improvement of telehealth. This will enable making informed decisions regarding the continuity of telehealth irrespective of how matters unfold in relation to the pandemic. It will also better prepare the healthcare sector for potential resurgence(s) of COVID-19 and/or the occurrence of other similar emergencies.


Author(s):  
Karen Keptner

Mixed Method Design: Principles and Procedures by Janice M. Morse and Linda Niehaus (2009) is a "how-to" book for conducting mixed method research. Morse and Niehaus go step-by-step through mixed method research and provide clear explanation for combining qualitative and quantitative research methods. They also provide examples of what is not mixed method design. The book is easy to read. It could be an invaluable reference for anyone who conducts research in health and social sciences, seasoned researchers and students alike.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 429-429
Author(s):  
Ladda Thiamwong

Abstract The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has magnified inevitable physical, mental and social health consequences, especially in Hispanic older adults who experience health disparities and ageism. Even though physical distancing has been adopted as a key strategy to help reduce further spread of COVID-19, prolonged periods of physical distancing may worsen existing health problems. This study aims to explore how the COVID crisis affected diverse older adults. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was utilized. Quantitative data were collected by questionnaires via Qualtrics survey and qualitative data were collected by individual phone interviews with four open-end questions. One in 4 older adults lives alone and one in 20 has no friend to call on. More than half of the participants were afraid of COVID and a fourth of them were afraid of losing their life to COVID. Participants identified keeping themselves busy as key to staying healthy during the pandemic.


Author(s):  
Andries C. Hauptfleisch

Unsubsidised private retirement resorts in South Africa developed during the last three decades present residents with many challenges. There is no existing generally accepted knowledge base or guidelines to serve this sensitive market. The research objective was to establish which elements are experienced by residents of retirement resorts as satisfactory and which as problematic. A literature study was also undertaken. Quantitative as well as qualitative data were obtained by means of structured questionnaires, interviews and a seminar. The results reported pertain to eight resorts in the east of Pretoria, four in Bloemfontein and two in Knysna. The study is currently being extended to other centres. The quantitative data is arranged in order of the priorities set by the biggest group (Pretoria), with the other groups in comparison. So the research was based on the sourcing of quantitative and qualitative data, as well as on descriptive evaluations. The results offer insightful knowledge and guidelines towards establishing an optimal profile for the development of long-term sustainable private retirement resorts. The implications and value of this study are that both developers of retirement resorts and prospective residents are provided with guidelines to better equip them to evaluate a specific retirement resort with regard to the sustainable well- being of residents long-term.


2016 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Jones ◽  
Julia Bauder ◽  
Kevin Engel

Grinnell College participated in ACRL’s first cohort of Assessment in Action (AiA), undertaking a mixed-methods action research project to assess the effectiveness of librarian-led research literacy sessions in improving students’ research skills. The quantitative data showed that the quality of students’ sources did not markedly improve following a research literacy session, while the qualitative data indicated that many students were able to state and describe important research concepts they learned. This article profiles the development of Grinnell’s AiA project and discusses how Grinnell’s librarians responded when the initial results led to more questions rather than to satisfactory answers.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2349
Author(s):  
Heather Clements ◽  
Stephanie Valentin ◽  
Nicholas Jenkins ◽  
Jean Rankin ◽  
Nancy R. Gee ◽  
...  

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, countries worldwide placed limitations on social interaction, which is anticipated to have severe psychological consequences. Although findings are inconsistent, prior research has suggested that companion animals may positively influence human well-being and reduce loneliness. In the context of COVID-19, this has important implications, as companion animal guardians may be less negatively affected by the pandemic. The primary aim of this research was to investigate the influence of companion animals on mental well-being and loneliness during the pandemic, with specific interest in the role of ornamental fishes. A mixed-methods study was conducted, using an international sample. Quantitative data were collected via an online survey (n = 1199) and analysed using robust hierarchical multiple regression analyses; the influence of level of engagement with companion animals was examined for dogs, cats and ornamental fishes. There was no evidence that companion animal guardianship was associated with loneliness and mental well-being during the pandemic but spending more time engaging physically or socially with dogs (and to a lesser extent cats) was generally associated with poorer outcomes. Qualitative data were collected through open-ended survey responses (n = 757) and semi-structured interviews (n = 25) and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Two themes were developed—one related to companion animals as providers of social and emotional support, and the other to companion animals as providers of purpose and perspective. Concerns regarding the impact of the pandemic on animal welfare were also identified. Compared to other animal types, more participants expressed indifference regarding the impact of their fishes on their well-being during the pandemic, possibly because fishes cannot provide comfort via physical touch. The findings of this study reflect the wider field of human–animal interaction; although qualitative data suggest guardians believe their companion animals are a positive influence in their lives, there is little convincing quantitative data to support these beliefs. This highlights the need to refine theories regarding which aspects of companion animal guardianship may influence human well-being; the findings from this research may be useful in the refinement of such theories.


Author(s):  
Roger Baran

The complimentary nature of qualitative and quantitative research methods are examined with respect to a study assessing the market's view of a training and development institute in the Middle East. The qualitative portion consisted of focus groups conducted with seven distinct market segments served by the institute. The results proved insightful with respect to uncovering and understanding differences of opinion among the seven groups; however, taken alone, the qualitative research would have been very misleading with respect to the institute's standing in the Middle East.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Glass ◽  
Ruchika Gajwani ◽  
Fiona Turner-Halliday

Background and Aims.Research on child maltreatment has largely overlooked the under-five age group and focuses primarily on quantitative measurement. This mixed-methods study of maltreated children (N=92) entering care (age 6–60 months) combines a quantitative focus on the associations between care journey characteristics and mental health outcomes with a qualitative exploration of maltreatment in four different families.Methods.Care journey data was obtained from social care records; mental health and attachment assessments were carried out following entry to care; qualitative data comprised semistructured interviews with professionals, foster carers, and parents.Results.Significant associations were found between suspected sexual abuse and increased DAI inhibited attachment symptoms (p=0.001) and between reported domestic violence and decreased DAI inhibited (p=0.016) and disinhibited (p=0.004) attachment symptoms. Qualitative results: two themes demonstrate the complexity of assessing maltreatment: (1) overlapping maltreatment factors occur in most cases and (2) maltreatment effects may be particularly challenging to isolate. Conclusions.Qualitative exploration has underscored the complexity of assessing maltreatment, indicating why expected associations were not found in this study and posing questions for the quantitative measurement of maltreatment in general. We therefore suggest a new categorisation of maltreatment and call for the complimentary research lenses of further mixed-methods approaches.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanette M. Garcia ◽  
Alen Agaronov ◽  
John R. Sirard ◽  
Diane Whaley ◽  
David J. Rice ◽  
...  

Background:Sedentary behavior (SB) increases throughout adolescence, and is associated with adverse health outcomes.Purpose:Examine psychosocial and friend influences on SB and screen time in adolescents using a mixed-methods design.Methods:108 middle and high school students wore accelerometers to measure objective SB, completed screen time and psychosocial questionnaires, and nominated friends to complete activity questionnaires. Focus groups centered around influences on SB behavior. Regression analyses and NVivo software analyzed quantitative and qualitative data.Results:Screen time was associated with greater screen time enjoyment, lower self-efficacy, and friends’ screen time (r2 = .21, P < .0001). Friends influenced whether adolescents engaged in screen time behaviors, with active friends encouraging less screen time.Conclusion:Active friends influenced adolescents to engage in less SB. Interventions should place an emphasis on encouraging less screen time, and providing opportunities for adolescents and their friends to engage in activities that promote physical activity rather than SB.


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