This article presents an ethnographic study conducted within five distinct Slovenian families, the aim of which was to discuss how different models of family communication intersect with the ...regulations of mobile devices and responses to regulatory strategies within the same families. Following the four ideal types of family communication (protective, consensual, pluralistic, and laissez-faire) and many studies that have confirmed a correlation between media use and family communication, this article primarily focuses on the ambivalent roles of smartphones within family relationships. According to the results based on in-depth interviews with parents and their children, the study finds that parents mediate children's use of mobile phones with three distinct tactics: through co-use of devices, surveillance of usage, and strict rules that limit the use of phones within the homes. Children resist such regulations, yet again in different ways: through persuasion, by avoiding the rules and hiding their practices, and through partnership with parents. The role of family communication in this regard is not linear but quite complex: It seems that within the families oriented more towards conversation, children learn how to affect and potentially transform the rules, while for the families oriented towards conformity, this is not always the case.
Sense of security is important throughout the lifespan not at least in advanced age with increased risks of functional declines and decreased social capital. Despite this, knowledge concerning older ...person's perceptions and experiences of sense of security when moving into nursing homes is scarce. This study is a longitudinal, descriptive, exploratory case study with in-depth interviews and observations of three older persons in the age of 87, 88, and 91 years in a mid-sized municipality in the south of Sweden, in order to highlight how sense of security is experienced when moving into and living in a nursing home. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis, which resulted in one main theme and four categories. The main theme, 'Adaptation and sense of security', indicates older persons' need to adapt to the new context of the nursing home, and how this relates to their sense of security. The categories - 'Control', 'Struggling for understanding', 'Lack of influence', and 'Grasping' - suggest that older persons' sense of security is reduced when they must adjust to routines without sufficient management and understanding. When able to maintain control over daily routines, and felt as a part of the new context, they perceived a sense of security.
After the community of Almena, Kansas, lost its newspaper, citizens formed an all-volunteer organization to publish the hyperlocal Prairie Dog Press, which has existed for 21 years. This study ...examines the dynamics of the organization and volunteers’ motivations and finds collective efficacy and civic engagement at least partially explain the organization’s longevity. Volunteers’ strong bonds with one another have been key to sustaining the newspaper’s production.
The last few years have seen considerable research expenditure on renewable fuel technologies. However, in many cases, the necessary sustained and long-term funding from the investment community has ...not been realized at a level needed to allow technologies to become reality. According to global consulting firm Deloitte's recent renewable energy report (http://www.deloitte.com/energypredictions2012), many renewable energy projects stalled or were not completed because of issues including the global economy, the state of government finances, difficulties in funding and regulatory uncertainty. This investigation concentrates on the funding aspect and explores the perceived barriers and enablers to renewable technologies within the investment and renewables community. Thematic analysis of 14 in-depth interviews with representatives from renewable energy producers, banks and investment companies identified key factors affecting the psychology of investor behaviour in renewables. Eight key issues are highlighted, including a range of barriers and enablers, the role of the government, balance between cost/risk, value/return on investment, investment time scales, personality/individual differences of investors and the level of innovation in the renewable technology. It was particularly notable that in the findings the role of the government was discussed more than other themes and generally in quite critical terms, highlighting the need to ensure consistency in government funding and policy and a greater understanding of how government decision-making happens. Specific findings such as these illustrate the value of crossing disciplinary boundaries and highlight potential further research. Behavioural science and economic psychology in particular have much to offer at the interface of other disciplines such as political science and financial economics.
: In Norway living kidney donors account for approximately 40% of all renal transplants. There is a shortage of information about how living kidney donors experience the donation process during the ...initial recovery from surgery. The aim of this study was to explore physical and psychosocial issues related to the experiences of living kidney donors 1 wk after open donor nephrectomy. A total of 12 living kidney donors participated in the study. Data were collected by individual in‐depth interviews and analysed using empirical phenomenological method. Being a living kidney donor is a complex experience. The informants expressed strong feelings of responsibility and obligation concerning the recipients and had a positive attitude towards the donation. On the other hand, the donors experienced it strange to be a fit individual and go through a major operation. Several of the donors reported that it was painful to go through donor surgery and regarded the recovery period as troublesome. Some donors also reported the double role of being both a patient and a relative to be a stressful experience. This study reveals the importance of being aware of the complex situation of living kidney donors. Health professionals need to understand the nature of the donation process and the donors’ needs. It is essential to focus on physical, mental and interpersonal factors when counselling potential living kidney donors.
This exploratory study seeks to provide an appreciation of brand orientation in retail banking. Through in-depth interviews at head office and branch level, we explore managers' brand mind-set. We ...also surface managers' views about the relationship between market and brand orientation. Further, we examine managers' perceptions about the role of brand values as resources in creating a brand orientation. In a large-scale study of front-line employees, we examine the level of agreement with brand values, and describe differences in brand buy-in across employee clusters.
Living with breast cancer, a Lebanese experience Doumit, Myrna A.A; El Saghir, Naji; Abu-Saad Huijer, Huda ...
European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society,
02/2010, Letnik:
14, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Abstract Aim The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to provide in-depth understanding of the experience of Lebanese women living with breast cancer. Background Breast cancer is the ...most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. In Lebanon, a country of 4 million people, breast cancer is as well the most widespread type of cancer among Lebanese women. The meaning of cancer diagnosis, the meaning of childbearing and femininity all have cultural bases in Lebanon. The international literature lacks information on how Lebanese women live with breast cancer when compared with women of other cultures. Method The study followed purposeful sampling and saturation principles in which 10 participants with a mean age of 51.3 years were chosen based on their actual knowledge of the phenomenon, and their readiness to share that knowledge. Data were collected between December 2007 and May 2008. All interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed based on the Utrecht School of Phenomenology. Findings Four major core themes describing the participants' lived experience emerged from the interviews: Living with losses; living with guilt feeling; living with fears and uncertainty; Living with the need to know and to share that knowledge. Conclusion The experience of Lebanese women with breast cancer revealed distinctive themes not reported by other women from other cultures. The results of this study challenge health care providers and educators to be aware of the difficulties that Lebanese women are facing when they are living with breast cancer.
PDF
