School of Arts, Social Sciences and Management

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The electronic school library
(1987) Harring, James E.
In the vast literature now available on automation in libraries and information services of different kinds, relatively little has been written on the effects of automation, in particular the use of microcomputers, in school libraries. Yet it is in this area that some of the most interesting developments have taken place. It should also be remembered that the creation of the electronic school library brings information technology to all pupils in a school whereas in other libraries, e.g. public libraries, only the minority of the public who use the public library have access to the technology. The growing use of information technology linked to the development of information skills teaching in schools has, in Britain and elsewhere, created new roles for the school librarian and has enabled pupils to use information technology to think about and effectively use information as well as technology.
Setting Service Standards for Local Government Reception Services
(MCB UP Ltd, 1994) Donnelly, Mike; McMullan, Ciaran
Analyses the number, distribution and nature of enquiries made at Stirling District Council's central reception and the times taken by staff to deal with them satisfactorily in order to measure meaningful service standards. A survey of customers was conducted to try to establish a profile of the users of the reception service. With the aid of queuing theory, tries to obtain a better understanding of the way in which reception service quality target levels can be defined, measured, monitored and improved.
Complaints handling and staff training by UK food retailers
(MCB UP Ltd, 1997) Leighton, Caroline; Bent, Richard
Complaints handling is now a marketing tool for retailers. Intense competition within the food retail sector makes it an area for retailers to gain competitive advantage. However, the commitment to complaints handling through employee training is a largely unexplored area. Describes how an in-depth questionnaire was used to survey UK multiple food retailers regarding the existence of complaints procedures; aspects of training such as prevalence, frequency, hours and methods; and the authority to resolve complaints in relation to employee status. Customer and staff communication, as part of the complaints handling process, was also investigated. Seven retailers took part in the survey and included a cross-section of retailers (including one of the major multiples), based on number of branches. Reports the results, which showed that all the food retailers had some form of training. However, this varied with employee status. Generally, training was not given frequently in a formal manner, but on an ad hoc basis. Authority to resolve complaints appears to lie still with senior staff, although customer and staff communication facilities appear to exist. Argues that complaints handling can be effective only with appropriate staff training at all levels.
Long-term dietary compensation for added sugar : effects of supplementary sucrose drinks over a 4-week period
(Cambridge University Press, 1997-01) Reid, Marie; Hammersley, Richard; Hill, Andrew J.; Skidmore, Paula
The long-term physiological effects of refined carbohydrates on appetite and mood remain unclear. Reported effects when subjects are not blind may be due to expectations and have rarely been studied for more than 24 h. The present study compared the effects of supplementary soft drinks added to the diet over 4 weeks on dietary intake, mood and BMI in normal-weight women (n 133). Subjects were categorised as 'watchers' or 'non-watchers' of what they ate then received sucrose or artificially sweetened drinks (4 250 ml per d). Expectancies were varied by labelling drinks 'sugar' or 'diet' in a counter-balanced design. Sucrose supplements provided 1800 kJ per d and sweetener supplements provided 67 kJ per d. Food intake was measured with a 7 d diary and mood with ten single Likert scales. By 4 weeks, sucrose supplements significantly reduced total carbohydrate intake (F(1,129) = 5381; P < 0001), fat (F(2,250) = 3333; P < 0001) and protein intake (F(2,250) = 2804; P < 0001) compared with sweetener supplements. Mean daily energy intake increased by just under 1000 kJ compared with baseline (t (67 df) = 382; P < 0001) and was associated with a non-significant trend for those receiving sucrose to gain weight. There were no effects on appetite or mood. Neither dietary restraint status as measured by the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire nor the expectancy procedure had effects. Expectancies influenced mood only during baseline week. It is concluded that sucrose satiates, rather than stimulates, appetite or negative mood in normal-weight subjects.
Beyond hierarchy? An assessment of the early phase of implementation of the Beyond Hierarchy Initiative at North Staffordshire NHS Trust
(Queen Margaret College, 1998) Buchan, James; Ball, Jane; O'May, Fiona
Working together, turning legal principles into practice: The case of the UK and Denmark
(British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering, 1998) Ellison, Marion; Dorthe-Hestaek, A.
Putative functions of the prefrontal cortex: Historical perspectives and new horizons.
(Erlbaum, 1998) Darling, Stephen; Della Sala, Sergio; Gray, C.; Trivelli, C.; Mazzoni, G.; Nelson, T. O.
Planning for sibling continuity within permanency: Needs led or needs unmet
(British Agencies for Adoption & Fostering, 1998-12-01) Ellison, Marion; Mullender, Audrey
Although the requirement that siblings be accommodated together whenever ‘reasonably practical and consistent with [the child’s] welfare’ is written into section 23(7)(b) of the Children Act 1989, neither the Act nor its accompanying regulation and guidance documentation makes direct reference to sibling continuity planning in terms of placement together or of contact as a proactive and deliberate means of maintaining such links. In practice, proactive commitment to the importance of sibling relationships can be demonstrated in a range of forms of care planning for sibling groups. Having revealed a lack of any tangible policy or practice theories, the research reported here progressed to a more detailed focus upon decision-making processes as they impacted upon practice and as they were perceived by looked after sibling groups, their families, social workers and carers, so as to ascertain what professionals were actually doing.
Staff motivation in small food manufacturing enterprises
(MCB UP Ltd, 1999) Bent, Richard; Seaman, Claire; Ingram, Arthur
Examines the factors which affect staff motivation and satisfaction in small food businesses. Explores previous theories of motivation. Thirty-eight small food processing and manufacturing companies in Scotland formed the sample. Interviews and open-ended semistructured questionnaires were employed in the research. Results emphasise the importance of the management style of the owner/manager particularly when it comes to factors such as ``lack of appreciation'', ``poor communication'' and ``training''.
A study of the functional use of language by Portuguese bilingual children in Bournemouth
(World Education Fellowship, 1999) Eady, Sandra
An investigation of possible correlation of general anxiety with performance in eleven-plus scores in year 6 primary school pupils
(Taylor & Francis, 1999) Eady, Sandra
This study focuses on measuring levels of anxiety experienced by 11‐year‐olds in their last year at primary school and aims to investigate the effect of anxiety on pupils’ performance in eleven‐plus tests. The Taylor Manifest Anxiety Test was used to determine individual levels of anxiety amongst a Year 6 cohort. Their final test scores in the eleven‐plus examination were used as a measure of their overall performance. Correlations were carried out to see if there was any link between levels of anxiety and performance in eleven‐plus for the group as a whole and in terms of gender. There appeared to be no significant link between levels of high anxiety and poor exam performance. However, although there seemed to be no apparent correlation, highly anxious boys performed well in the eleven‐plus examination, as did highly anxious girls.
Destination and marketing system strategies in Scotland and Ireland: an approach to assessment
(Cognizant Communication Corporation, 1999) Frew, Andrew J.; O'Connor, P.
This article examines, compares, and contrasts the experience of Scotland and Ireland in their attempts to implement a DMS. Scotland's vision is shown evolving through three distinct waves over more than a decade with rather mixed results, whereas Ireland has, with some apparent success, produced both an initial and a reengineered version of their DMS approach, Gulliver, within a 5-year period. Comparisons are made between the two approaches in terms of technical structure/architecture, funding, and ownership/management and interorganizational issues. The philosophy adopted by the two regions is also explored, and reference is made to the wider European context and selected other DMS projects. Key issues deriving from work of researchers and commentators is examined alongside those emerging from current system implementation. The article concludes by presenting some core system attributes and problems related to implementation and considers some perceived success factors by means of a preliminary assessment framework.
Maternal Sensitivity, Child Functional Level, and Attachment in Down Syndrome. Chapter III.
(Wiley-Blackwell, 1999) Atkinson, Leslie; Chisholm, Vivienne; Scott, Brian; Goldberg, Susan; Vaughn, Brian E.; Blackwell, Janis; Dickens, Susan; Tam, Francis
Investigated the influence of child intellectual/adaptive functioning and maternal sensitivity on attachment security, using a sample of children with Down syndrome. Found a relationship between attachment security in DS related to the interaction of maternal sensitivity and cognitive competence.
Making interactions visible: Tools for social browsing
(1999) Davenport, E.; Connolly, R.; Spence, R.; Buckner, K.; Whyte, A.; Barr, K.
The authors describe the problem of 'community myopia': a lack of awareness of people and resources that might assist members of a community to carry out tasks. They present a prototype social browser in two stages: a basic computer based social network diagram using off-the-shelf application software and an advanced social browser using Netmap ®, a proprietary analytic and visualization software tool. Tradeoffs between functional capability and ease and pleasure in use are discussed
Staff motivation in small food manufacturing enterprises (2): the perceptions of owners and managers
(Emerald, 2000) Bent, Richard; Seaman, Claire; Ingram, Arthur; Forbes, Claire
Earlier work examined the factors that affected staff motivation and satisfaction in small food businesses, focusing on staff whose roles did not include overall responsibility for the firm. As part of this work, 38 small food processing and manufacturing companies in Scotland were recruited and data collected using interviews and questionnaires. In order to examine the topic in greater detail and to offer a more complete perspective, the owners and/or managers of the 38 firms were interviewed and the results presented here as a contrast. Results highlighted differences in perception between the owner/managers and those staff who took part in the earlier data collection.
A critical analysis of tourism information technology research
(Springer, 2000) Frew, Andrew J.
Negotiating India in the Nineteenth-Century Media
(Macmillan Press, 2000) Finkelstein, David; Peers, Douglas Mark
This collection of twelve original essays is the first concerted attempt to examine representations of India in the 19th-century media. It offers analyses of a representative sampling of contemporary media publications produced in India as well as in Britain between 1840 and 1900. The result contributes to ongoing analyses of the complex cultural relations between metropole and periphery in imperial systems.
Information Technology and Tourism: A Research Agenda
(Cognizant Communication Corporation, 2000) Frew, Andrew J.
This article describes an attempt to bring together the tourism information technology research literature and provides an initial critical analysis. Literature sources were restricted to refereed/reviewed research work in this domain and from which significant themes, trends, and issues were derived. Within the identified contextual boundaries, definitions, and resource constraints, some preliminary analyses and interpretation are offered. The findings illustrate that in the 6 years of 1994-1999 inclusive there has been a sustained level of research activity with the principal sources being the UK, Germany, Austria, and the US. Significant efforts have been focused on tourism information systems, electronic distribution and commerce, and diverse Web-based developments. The implications of the mismatch between actual areas of research activity identified in the findings and those forecast by earlier studies are considered.
Evaluating electronic channels of distribution in the hotel sector: a Delphi study.
(Cognizant Communication Corporation, 2000) Frew, Andrew J.; O'Connor, P.
This article is based on the findings of the initial rounds of a Delphi study that focused on identifying a potential range of methods to help hotels both select and evaluate electronic channels of distribution. A review of the background to both electronic distribution in the industry and hotel distribution in particular is provided, highlighting important issues for hoteliers. The work demonstrates the need for and potential utility of a channel evaluation methodology. Construction of the Delphi and the selection process for participants is described along with key findings and interim conclusions.
SMEs in European tourism: the virtual enterprise model of intervention.
(2000) Frew, Andrew J.; Davenport, E.
Discusses the use of an IT approach known as the virtual enterprise model to improve regional presence and economic growth for small firms in the European tourism industry