Excel spreadsheet as a tool for social narrative analysis

Qualitative research is an open field where different researchers from several disciplines deal with social meanings and with the issue of understanding. During the last two decades, the use of computers and software has extended to become a relevant part of our daily landscape and also a basic device of social research, even in relation to a qualitative approach. There are many applications of qualitative research software specially designed by a diversity of firms and institutions producing different levels of sophisticated tools that can be used in the social research process. This paper presents a protocol for using an Excel spreadsheet as a tool for analyzing social discourses. We will show how to work with the documents produced in the empirical data collection and the criteria to structure the components of the application and its main representations. Finally, we offer a methodology for developing a personalized application in order to orient social design as a powerful and reflexive tool that contribute to a social thinking immersed in continuous improvement.     

Communication in virtual teams: a conceptual framework and research agenda

As virtual teams are becoming more frequently implemented within organizations, research examining the effect of virtual tool use on team functioning has correspondingly expanded. One primary focus of this literature is the impact of virtuality on team communication. However, findings remained mixed. Specifically, the impact of virtuality on the mechanisms between communication and performance as well as the simultaneous moderating effect of contextual factors on this relationship remains to be fully examined. One reason for this lack of clarity stems from ambiguity regarding the elements that constitute communication. To address this gap, this paper delineates which aspects of communication are most influential and should, consequently, be the primary focus of future research efforts. An overarching framework of the communication process with accompanying research propositions is also described to inform future research and the practice of virtual teams.     

Qualitative data envelopment analysis by affinity set: a survey of subjective opinions for NPOs

Measuring the performance of Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) is a complicated issue: data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a popular quantitative tool in the past literature. However, the subjective opinions of NPOs could disturb their actual performance, and this problem is seldom considered. In this study, we use the qualitative DEA as a tool to find the emphasized inputs and outputs for these NPOs. Most DEA models are established by the basis of quantitative data, they are difficult to describe the qualitative performance of NPOs. This paper proposes a new perspective for computing the efficiency of a Decision Making Unit based on qualitative data by affinity Set. The DEA model for qualitative data could be traced back to the work of Cook et al. early in 1993. Our contribution prevents the identical efficiency scores from the model of Cook et al., and a combinatorial optimization technique is used to solve the new problem. Finally, we found most NPOs would like to get more resources from outside; but interestingly, they don’t like to be officially monitored. Therefore, we should use the quantitative DEA on NPOs very carefully.     

Building Better Theory by Bridging the Quantitative–Qualitative Divide*

abstract Qualitative methods for data collection and analysis are not mystical, but they are powerful, particularly when used to build new or refine existing theories. This article provides an introduction to qualitative methods and an overview of tactics for ensuring rigor in qualitative research useful for the novice researcher, as well as more experienced researchers interested in expanding their methodological repertoire or seeking guidance on how to evaluate qualitative research. We focus our discussion on the qualitative analytical technique of grounded theory building, and suggest that organizational research has much to gain by coupling of use of qualitative and quantitative research methods.     

基于TRIZ对智能手机交互技术成熟度的预测

针对智能手机交互技术的成熟度进行预测。以TRIZ进化理论的S曲线为基础,通过对国内专利中与智能手机交互技术有关的专利数据,对发明专利及实用新型专利分别以罗吉斯曲线为工具进行计算及相关分析。研究结果表明目前智能手机交互技术已经进入了成熟期,但距饱和点还有一定时间。     

A qualitative analysis of cross-cultural new media research: SNS use in Asia and the West

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of social network sites (SNSs) from a qualitative methodological approach, looking at both Asian and Western countries. There has been growing interest in systematic analysis of the use of SNSs as such sites have become increasingly popular, global means of self-expression and forming social connections. However, most previous research into SNSs has been based in a single cultural context, with very few cross-cultural studies having been conducted. To address this lacuna, this study compares SNS users in Korea with those in the United States, specifically examining the nature of their SNS social relationships and their attitudes toward self-disclosure via SNS. Using semi-structured focus interviews, our research provides qualitative data-based analysis of the culture-specific effects that new social media has on communication. Our study demonstrates that a qualitative method is useful when examining the cultural differences that appear in online communication behavior designed to establish social relationships and to compose content, and further indicates that cultural differences may have considerable influence on SNS users’ attitudes towards SNSs and on their communication style. This study thus contributes to existing literature by advancing the research into a broader, inter-cultural sphere.     

Stakeholder communication in service implementation networks: expanding relationship management theory to the nonprofit sector through organizational network analysis

• Nonprofits increasingly participate in government-funded service implementation networks (SINs). However, extant research does not explore how organizations might strategically tailor communication to different stakeholder groups or use different communication tools for management. Stakeholders are not a monolithic group, and communicating with stakeholders within SINs is hypothesized to involve different forms of communication than communicating with stakeholders outside of the network. In this paper, relationship management theory is used to examine strategic communication with stakeholder groups within and outside of SINs. Both traditional and emergent (e.g., social media) forms of communication are examined. Survey and interview data on communication within and outside communication networks are analyzed using organizational network analysis techniques. The findings indicate strategic communication in the network differs from strategic communication with stakeholders outside the network. Within the network, organizations place varying emphasis on the use of traditional and emergent forms of communication for management, implying nonprofit managers funded under government grants continue to rely on face-to-face and phone communication and have yet to adopt emerging communication strategies to assist in the management of their programs with their partner organizations.

Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Research orientation and agglomeration: Can every region become a Silicon Valley?

Not only success stories, such as Silicon Valley, but also non-success stories can inform regional innovation policy. In order to provide a benchmark for regional innovation systems we compare both success and non-success stories. Regional innovation systems differ in structural and functional requirements, because development processes are path dependent. We suggest that regions’ development paths emerge from agglomeration patterns and research orientation. Accordingly, we have developed a typology of regions including (1) their agglomeration patterns (either MAR or Jacobs’ type) and (2) the degree to which their research is predominantly oriented towards obtaining fundamental understanding or addressing considerations of use. We combine qualitative and quantitative data on thirty-six European regions to categorize them according to research orientation and agglomeration, thereby developing a typology. We use this typology and some basic quantitative economic data to see how success and non-success regions are distributed. Our results indicate that a better understanding of how to combine agglomeration patterns with research orientation can guide context-sensitive policy.     

New attitudes and technologies make now the right time to create a "virtual" association

The World Wide Web has become a convenient tool for research, communication, and even commerce, but a recent survey of foundations and corporate giving programs reveals that grant makers are not making full use of computer and Internet capabilities that might benefit them.     

The power of using video data

Most data for qualitative research studies in the management field are collected through observations and interviews. Written words and photographs are too static to accurately portray the depth of the given event or interview. We advocate the application of video data. The advantages of video data are its ability to capture the interaction of the participant with the environment, capturing of nonverbal cues, and establishing a permanent record. We recommend the use of Patten’s (Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods, Sage, Newborn, 1990) process of analysis as a basis for an analytical procedure. To code video data research, software such as Vivo or ATLAS.ti can be used. The four standards to examine the validity and reliability of qualitative research studies (credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability) should also apply to video data analysis. The only outcome and true goal for the use of video data in management research can only be the provision of richer knowledge for academic development.     

内容分析法在上市公司年报研究中的应用

目前已有大量学者利用上市公司的定量数据进行了广泛的研究,但鲜有学者对上市公司年报的定性部分(语言部分)进行研究。本文运用内容分析法在年报语言部分作了研究。首先介绍了内容分析法的定义、研究步骤和应用领域,然后介绍了年报的语言部分在传递公司信息的重要作用,并介绍了利用内容分析法对年报研究的主要研究成果。     

Best practices in noncommercial radio fundraising: a practitioner perspective

• This study uses in-depth qualitative interviews with radio professionals in the United States to identify best practices for noncommercial radio fundraising. Most noncommercial stations use on-air pledge drives to solicit donations from listeners, and this is a major source of revenue for these stations. The interview data are analyzed using the constant comparative method. Findings indicate that radio professionals use a variety of fundraising appeals to reach listeners with different motivations for donating. These fundraising appeals have three dimensions: altruism/self-interest, rational/emotional, and reinforcement/trigger. The data also indicate that noncommercial stations try to foster relationships with their listeners and donors. These relationships are managed through direct communication and through mass communication, which produces parasocial interaction.

Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Integrating qualitative and quantitative data: index creation using fuzzy-set QCA

This paper demonstrates the use of fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) for index creation. It uses the example of economic, including development, policy towards Latin America in Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom as an example of how fsQCA can be deployed in order to integrate qualitative and numerical evidence into a coherent, comparable framework. Moreover, it shows the usefulness of an index based on fsQCA in the comparison of cases that have strong national idiosyncrasies, making them difficult to compare. FsQCA therefore increases the researcher’s ability to combine different types of data from various backgrounds, making it a useful indexing tool for small to medium-N research in the social sciences.     

Software as a facilitator of quality processes in social sciences research

The objective of this work is to evaluate the strategy of triangulation in the validation of information by integrating quantitative/qualitative information based on the use of different statistics software packages In our case, we opted to begin with a quantitative strategy and use IBM SPSS AMOS Statistics; we then replicated the study with a qualitative strategy using NVIVO. To this end, we used as an example case a study conducted on a sample of 445 university teaching personnel regarding intentions to use the blended learning teaching model in their usual teaching practice. We did so to analyse the extent to which it is possible to explain the process of adopting this educational method as well as its use and its dissemination in higher-education contexts, taking as a theoretical reference the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and the Theory of Diffusion of Innovation, proposed by E. Rogers. The analyses carried out verified the convergence or overlap of the results obtained after the application of different methods of data collection (a questionnaire and interviews) for the same study object. The results confirm the benefit of using data-processing software as a resource to facilitate multimethod strategies in educational research owing to its strengthening of results and the examination of the level of convergence or divergences within them.     

Central bank disclosure as a macroprudential tool for financial stability

The Basel Capital Accord (pillar 3) states that disclosure of information (transparency) is essential to financial stability. This study analyzes, through inflation reports, the disclosure of information from the Central Bank of Brazil concerning the credit market. We consider credit risk and capital buffers as measures of financial stability in this analysis. Furthermore, in order to measure the perception of the monetary authority on the credit market, we built two indices based on the central bank’s communication on credit development. We performed a panel data analysis based on a sample of 125 banks for the period from June 1999 to September 2014 (7000 observations). The findings suggest that central bank communication regarding expectations concerning the credit market contributes to financial stability. Therefore, this kind of communication of central banks (about credit development) may constitute an important macroprudential tool to improve financial stability.     

手机病毒防御技术解析

随着3G网络的推进和智能手机的不断普及,上网卡的大量使用及流量型业务的快速增长,将传统互联网的安全问题带进了通信网络,针对手机的恶意行为也逐渐浮出水面,严重影响了用户的正常使用,也影响了运营商的网络环境、公司收益及社会声誉。长远来看,手机病毒防御将会是通信运营商互联网业务面临的头号挑战。     

Qualitative methodology and its pitfalls in educational research

There is considerable controversy in educational research with respect to the use of qualitative and quantitative data and as to what constitutes scientific research. The objective of this study is to explore the degree to which in-service teachers understand the difference between qualitative/quantitative data and methods, validity/authenticity, generalization and how these can be used to solve problems faced by the teachers. The study is based on 84 participants who had registered for a 10-week course on Methodology of Investigation in Education, as part of their Master’s degree program. The course is based on 11 readings drawing on a history and philosophy of science perspective (positivism, constructivism, Popper, Kuhn, Lakatos). Course activities included written reports, class room discussions based on participants’ presentations, and written exams. Based on the results obtained it is concluded: (a) Most participants understood that the problem to be investigated precedes the method and determines the methodology to be used; (b) As all observations are theory-laden, it is preferable that interpretations based on both qualitative and quantitative data be allowed to compete in order to provide validity to our research findings; (c) The difference between validity and authenticity was controversial and most participants considered the need for interpreting data and hence favored authenticity; (d) Discussions led to the idea of ‘degrees of validity’ as both validity in the quantitative sense and authenticity in the qualitative sense, ultimately depend on critical appraisals of the community; (e) Generalizability of results obtained from qualitative studies was a controversial topic and most participants agreed that it is not desirable to generalize; (f) Discussions suggested an alternative: In both qualitative and quantitative research generalizability is possible, provided we are willing to grant that our conceptions/theories are not entirely grounded in empirical evidence but rather on the degree to which the community can uphold such a consensus; (g) Most teachers considered the use of participant observation in qualitative research as non-controversial. Class discussions led to the understanding that emphasizing observations may lead us to the Aristotelian ideal of empirical science; (h) Formulation of hypotheses, manipulation of variables, and the quest for causal variables was considered by many teachers to be equivalent to the scientific method. Discussions facilitated the understanding that this led to idealization and thus helped to reduce the complexity of a problem.     

Systematic social observation of police decision-making: the process, logistics, and challenges in a Canadian context

Research on police decision-making and the use of discretion predominantly relies on official records or qualitative interview and participant observation data. Pioneered by Albert J. Reiss, Jr. in the 1960s, systematic social observation is a field research method simultaneously gathering quantitative and qualitative data in a natural setting. Data collection procedures are stipulated in advance reducing bias and allowing for scientific inference, replication, and measurable process outcomes as the observations recorded are independent of the observer. Although three large scale studies have been conducted in the United States to understand police behaviour, this ‘gold standard’ is used infrequently due to methodological challenges in an applied setting. The current research is the first sole observer and non-U.S. study conducted with a Canadian regional police service. Discussion of methodological innovation, challenges, and process are based on the experience of collecting data on 406 police–citizen encounters involving 568 citizens over 637 observational hours. To assist future researchers, the method and data collection using modified instruments as well as the challenges of resources, police cooperation, bias, reactivity, field role, and dynamics of conducting research as a female in an insular, male-dominated setting are explored.