Extending far beyond migration to a new home, the cultural, emotional, and mental plight of immigration plagues immigrants and refugees of all ages. Nonetheless, immigrant youth are commonly overlooked in acculturation studies. This mixed methods approach to arts-informed research examined the acculturation strategies adopted by immigrant and refugee youth attending community-based programs. Through the use of participant drawings, the think-aloud technique, and the Acculturation, Habits, and Interests Multicultural Scale for Adolescents (AHIMSA) instrument, this research also examines the ways in which immigrant and refugee participants communicate their cultural paradigms. The findings emerging from this study illustrate that immigrant and refugee youth cope with cultural transitions through varied approaches that integrate expressions of individuality and cultural behaviors. By exploring six key findings, this study contributes to literature examining acculturation in youth populations as it provides an analysis of cultural transition that expands beyond traditional examinations of cultural behaviors, and highlights the importance of expressing individuality, values, and interests, in the acculturation process of immigrant youth. / Ph. D. / Extending far beyond migration to a new home, the cultural, emotional, and mental plight of immigration plagues immigrants and refugees of all ages. Nonetheless, immigrant youth are commonly overlooked in acculturation studies. This mixed methods research study uses participant drawings, the think-aloud approach, and the Acculturation, Habits, and Interests Multicultural Scale for Adolescents (AHIMSA) instrument to examine the acculturation strategies adopted by immigrant and refugee youth attending community-based afterschool programs. The findings of this study suggest that immigrant and refugee youth cope with cultural transitions through varied approaches that integrate expressions of individuality and cultural behaviors. Exploring six key findings, this study contributes to the literature examining acculturation in youth populations as it provides analysis of cultural transitions that expands beyond traditional examinations of cultural behaviors and highlights the importance of expressing individuality, values, and interests.

Yes / The aim of this review is to create awareness about uses of available social research methods and to provide a guideline in adopting appropriate methods specifically in qualitative and mixed methods research genre. Based on the review of contemporary social research methods I believe that mixed methods research produces more accurate results than relying on either qualitative or quantitative methods alone in explaining complex social issues. This paper contributes to the methodological literature in two areas. First, create awareness among social researchers and students about the available research methods in order to help them to adopt suitable research designs in addressing their particular research questions. Second, encourage scholars from all disciplines to theorize further, especially in the field of mixed methods, and engage in a dialogue in order to improve methodological appropriateness for future research in social sciences. / Please Note: The "Publication Date" of 2005 is the date added to the Bradford Scholars Repository. The paper was presented at the Annual PhD Conference, University of Bradford School of Management in June 2014.

The current literature reports that oral language development is not a realistic goal for autistic cochlear implant users (ACI). This is curious, due to the general success of cochlear implants and the fact that many autistic individuals develop strong spoken language skills. Therefore, this study aimed to examine clinician and caregiver insights into spoken language development in the ACI population with the aim of elucidating the factors that influence the poor outcomes reported in the literature. We predicted that cochlear implant function would not be the limiting factor in ACI language development, but that device use and sensory atypicalities might have significant impacts. Participants were two speech-language pathologists (SLPs), six audiologists (AuDs), and one dually certified SLP/AuD. Additionally, six mothers and their ACI children participated in the study. All participants, excepting one ACI parent, took a survey and then participated in a 30–60-minute interview about their experience either caring for or working with ACIs and their insights into their language development. We also collected language samples in ACI participants. Quantitative analysis included computing descriptive and inferential statistics, where appropriate, concerning language abilities, sensory processing, anxiety, and survey responses regarding factors associated with cochlear implant (CI) use. We also engaged in qualitative thematic analysis of caregiver and clinician interviews. Quantitative and qualitative results were then integrated to triangulate findings. In important ways, our results are inconsistent with current literature concerning ACIs. For instance, caregiver and clinician statements, as well as quantitative results suggested that it was very possible for ACIs to develop spoken language, when given the right conditions. Qualitative themes that shed light on the factors important to positive language-related outcomes in ACIs included: a) finding (and advocating for) access to care; b) sensory processing difficulties; c) differentiating between autism and hearing loss, and the spectra of both conditions. One specific and novel finding showed that sensory profiles—especially sensory seeking versus sensory averse—may have a significant impact on a child’s oral language development following cochlear implantation and should be considered when counseling families on possible outcomes. These findings provide new insight into and concrete future directions for supporting the ACI population.

Studies have demonstrated that positive psychological well-being positively influences survival rates across both healthy and diseased populations, suggesting that enhancing the well-being of individuals and communities could serve as an effective health promotion strategy. Alongside traditional treatment, researchers advocate for increased investment in mental health promotion and protection to boost overall well-being. Seligman’s PERMA model, which includes Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment, contributes to this well-being by providing a framework for a flourishing life. Additionally, the significant role of music in promoting well-being and health is widely acknowledged, music therapy has the potential to be a unique and rich treatment approach to address diverse mental health problems in a range of populations. The purpose of this study was to better understand the PERMA model as a theoretical framework for promoting well-being with well adults in group music therapy (GMT). This study employed a convergent mixed-methods design, which allowed the researcher to independently collect, analyze, and compare both qualitative and quantitative data. A total of 30 participants from Minzu University of China were recruited and randomly assigned into experimental or control group. The quantitative phase utilized a pre-post test with an experimental group and a control group who received a briefer version of the intervention at the end of the study. Well-being and mental health were measured for all participants at two timepoints: before and after the PERMA-GMT intervention. The General Health Questionnaire-12 and the PERMA-Profiler scale were used to measure changes in well-being and mental health. The quantitative findings revealed that, after eight weeks of group intervention, the experimental group exhibited significant improvements in well-being. Compared to the control group, which did not receive any interventions, the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in Positive Emotion (p<.001), Engagement (p<.05), Meaning (p<.01), Happiness (p<.01), Health (p<.01), and overall Well-being (p<.001). Additionally, it experienced reductions in Loneliness(p<.001) and Negative Emotion(p<.01). The experimental group also experienced a significant improvement in their mental health (p<.01) compared to the control group. In the qualitative process, the experiences of PERMA-GMT was explored using semi-structured interviews with 10 participants of the experimental group. In terms of qualitative results, the data indicated that music therapy activities impacted the participants of the experimental group in various degrees across different dimensions of PERMA. These include Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment, which collectively contribute to enhanced mental health and well-being. Additionally, the PERMA-GMT approach significantly boosted Happiness, reduces Loneliness, and mitigated Negative Emotion, indicating its comprehensive benefits for well-being. The integration of quantitative and qualitative data found that the qualitative insights confirmed and expanded the quantitative results. The study ultimately confirms that group music therapy interventions based on the PERMA theory are feasible in enhancing well adults’ sense of well-being, which in turn may significantly improved their mental health status. The results offered robust evidence for the efficacy of music therapy in the prevention and intervention of adult mental health issues. / Music Therapy

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to develop quality and efficiency improvements in the health care administration system of Mauritius. The aim of the study is to describe how the health care services of Mauritius could be improved based on the results obtained during this investigation. Methodology: The health care executives, board members, search firm executives, and health administration managers, as well as several patients, were selected by stratified sampling 1802 participants (quantitative) and by purposive sampling method nine focus groups of nine participants each (qualitative). The population for the qualitative research was comprised of patients and health care professionals selected by the purposive sampling technique. The population was comprised of patients and health care professionals for quantitative phase selected by stratified and the health care professionals for qualitative part selected through purposive sampling technique. Findings: The participants showed a preference for Patients’ Satisfactions, ISO Quality Standards Compliance, workforce efficiency, infrastructure fitness, and adaptability principally experience a better quality of care. Moreover, there was no statistical difference between financial cost and quality of health care was depicted. The outcome of the study: A common aspect, recognised empirically, is the approach regarding enhanced external pressure on the healthcare administrators in their work. Higher administration decisions, patient pressure and judgments made by policymakers have impacted and established the choices prepared by health care managers regarding where to concentrate attempts of growth. In the context of practical implications, health care administrators must properly make new management control systems so that they help healthcare systems in their work. Implications for the healthcare leader’s perceptions are that knowledge from the environment is normally complicated and not easy to define and also transmitted from particular stakeholders. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Ghana was introduced to alleviate the problem of citizens having to pay for healthcare at the point of delivery, given that many did not have the financial resources needed to do so, and as such were unable to adequately access healthcare services. The scheme is managed from the national headquarters in the capital Accra, through satellite offices located in districts right across the length and breadth of the country. It is the job of these offices to oversee the operations of the scheme within that particular district. Current literature however shows us that there is a digital divide that exists between the rural and urban areas of the country which has led to differences in the management of information within urban-based and rural-based districts. This thesis reviews the variables affecting the management of information within the scheme, and proposes an information management model to eliminate identified bottlenecks in the current information management model. The thesis begins by reviewing the theory of health insurance, information management and then finally the rural-urban digital divide. In addition to semi-structured interviews with key personnel within the scheme and observation, a survey questionnaire was also handed out to staff in nine different district schemes to obtain the raw data for this study. In identifying any issues with the current information management system, a comparative analysis was made between the current information management model and the real-world system in place to determine the changes needed to improve the current information management system in the NHIS. The changes discovered formed an input into developing the proposed information management system with the assistance of Natural Conceptual Modelling Language (NCML). The use of a mixed methodology in conducting the study, in addition to the employment of NCML was an innovation, and is the first of its kind in studying the NHIS in Ghana. This study is also the first to look at the differences in information management within the NHIS given the rural-urban digital divide.

Backpacker tourists frequently express “anti-tourist” attitudes and are confident that they contribute positively to their destinations. Ironically, they are sometimes characterised by stakeholders in destinations in less developed countries as neo-colonial invaders. In spite of their anti-tourist attitudes, in reality, backpacker tourists tend to stay in backpacker enclaves where the cultural and moral values of backpackers are dominant. This happens because they encounter many obstacles to enjoying the backpacking experience in an unfamiliar interregional (intercultural) environment. Given such contradictory phenomena surrounding backpacker tourists in less developed countries, one question is how they manifest their responsible behaviour. Therefore, this research aims to explore the nature and degree of responsible behaviour amongst backpacker tourists in Thailand, which is one of the most popular backpacker destinations in the world. Through mixed method research, this principally explores (1) the frequency levels of backpackers’ behavioural intentions, their actual responsible behaviour, and the gap between them based on a series of items representing responsible behaviour, and (2) their definitions and perceived experiences of responsible behaviour. The research found that whilst backpacker tourists tend to report their frequent responsible behaviour and perceive themselves as “responsible” tourists, in reality, they experience many difficulties in behaving responsibly in an unfamiliar interregional (intercultural) tourism setting in spite of their intention to do so, and while being well aware of the importance of behaving responsibly. There is a propensity among backpacker tourists to exaggerate the importance of small and fleeting experiences of responsible behaviour outside backpacker enclaves (e.g. a moment of demonstrating a respectful attitude towards local people). Also, cultural experiences within backpacker enclaves, which are staged authentic manner (e.g. participation in a cultural or cookery class), tend to be exaggerated in importance and regarded as highly responsible behaviour. Moreover, whilst backpacker tourists appreciate themselves as “responsible” tourists and during their travels they respect others and behave so as not to disturb others which are required to do so regardless of place, culture and custom even in the home in daily life, they represented their reluctance to “engage” in responsible behaviour, especially altruistic and philanthropic activities (i.e., engagement in volunteering work or donating to local communities). These propensities were common to all types of backpacker tourists in this study; even those who reported their own outstandingly frequent intention and actual responsible behaviour (i.e., backpacker tourists who travel extensively with the strong motivation to explore destination countries). The principal conclusion in this research is that, whilst the behaviour reported by the backpacker tourists was never harmfully irresponsible, there are several contradictions between their evaluation of their responsible behaviour and their actual behaviour patterns. Moreover, there is a gap between their behavioural pattern of responsible behaviour and the concept of “responsible tourism” for backpacker tourists. The declared good intentions and instances of actually behaving in a responsible manner by backpacker tourists do not necessarily mean that they behave altruistically and philanthropically that the concept of responsible tourism aims to engender.

This study aims to investigate the relative contribution of tangible and intangible resources, and capabilities on firm performance based on the measures of market share, sales turnover and profitability and explore the complex interaction and foundation of different resource sets and capabilities in the process of performance creation within the context of resource-based theory. In order to address these objectives, a mixed-methods research approach incorporating both qualitative and quantitative components was utilised. Hence, a sequential explanatory design is employed, commencing with qualitative methods including in-depth interviews along with the literature review to define and organise resources and capabilities in a coherent system that will form the basis of survey instrument, leading to quantitative methods which empirically test a series of hypotheses regarding the contribution of resources and capabilities on firm performance. Whilst qualitative data analysis indicated organisational culture, reputational assets, human capital, business processes and networking capabilities as the most important determinants of firm performance, the survey that was conducted on a total of 243 questionnaires obtained from 951 firms revealed that intangible resources and capabilities contributed more greatly to firm performance compared to tangible resources. However, in contrast to the proposition of resource-based theory that views capabilities as the most important skills that underpin the development and deployment of both tangible and intangible resources, capabilities offered rather limited additional explanatory power to the prediction of firm performance only with respect to profitability against the combined effects of tangible and intangible resources. All findings were explained especially within the context of Turkish business environment that shows typical emerging market characteristics. Moreover, some noteworthy results were elaborated based on the developed and emerging market differences. Overall, the study raises some questions with respect to resource contributions on firm performance and offers a fruitful avenue for further research.

This mixed methods research study used a QUAN-QUAL Model to examine the impact that various factors have on student persistence to graduation in postsecondary education. A documentary research approach was used to collect secondary or existing data from the student information system for first-time full-time freshmen in the Fall 2008 Cohort who graduated within six years. The size of the sample for the quantitative inquiry was 211. A correlational research design was employed to determine if a significant relationship existed between the dependent variables—Persistence to Graduation within Six Years (YEAR) and Final GPA at Time of Degree Completion (FIN GPA)—and the independent variables, Financial Aid Awarded (FINAID), High School GPA (HSGPA), ACT Composite Score (ACT COMP), SAT Combined Score (SAT COMB), First-Year First-Semester GPA (FYFS GPA), First-Year Cumulative GPA (FY GPA), Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), and On-Campus or Off-Campus Housing (ON-OFF CAMP). Descriptive statistical analyses were used to describe, summarize, and interpret the data collected. A case study research approach was used to gain an in-depth understanding into the real-life experiences of a small group of students who did not graduate within six years and who were still persisting toward degree attainment. The Graduation: Survey of Undergraduate Persistence questionnaire was distributed to the participants to gain a holistic understanding of the impact that family, faculty, peers, financial resources, and other environmental influences had on their experiences while persisting toward a college degree. Four questionnaires were completed and returned, followed by three in-depth interviews. The findings from the survey and interviews on the role of financial aid supported the quantitative findings on the relationship between financial aid awarded and persistence to graduation. In the quantitative data analysis, persistence to graduation within six years was significant and positively related to the number of occurrences of financial aid awarded. As the number of financial aid occurrences decreased, the number of years to graduate decreased. Alternatively, an increase in the number of financial aid occurrences resulted in an increase in years to graduate. Postsecondary educational leaders and P-12 educational leaders can utilize the study in forming partnerships to foster collaboration and a “move to action” in preparing students to do college-level course work upon graduating from high school.

Abstract This study explores the phenomenon of humor in advertising in the context of recruitment advertising and answers the research question: How can humor in recruitment advertising on the Internet be approached from communication perspectives? The study is positioned on humor in advertising literature, particularly incongruity theories of humor, and it approaches the context of recruitment advertising by utilizing employer brand message conceptualization. Motivation for the study was to understand poorly investigated phenomenon of humor in recruitment advertising; observations were collected in a small company’s Internet communication channel. Theoretical motivation was rooted in the lack of earlier studies on humor in recruitment advertising within the literature of humor in advertising. Earlier studies on humor in advertising have been dominated by experimental quantitative studies, and this study provides methodological novelty by using a mixed methods research approach. The study had different data collection methods: A between-subject experimental design with a quantitative approach and case studies with content analysis and qualitative analysis methods. The phenomenon were investigated on different empirical levels (both recruitment ads and recruitment campaign) and collecting evidence from a setting of a small company’s Internet communication channel. The dissertation is based on a compilation and published research papers, three journal articles and one book chapter, which are able to create new perspectives related to the phenomenon of humor in recruitment advertising. A framework on humor in recruitment advertising on the Internet will be developed by focusing on different communication perspectives: investigating the use of humor in the employer brand message, the job seekers’ response to humor, moderator (this study: congruence) effects of humor, and the managerial challenges and opportunities of humor. The potential of humor was identified as working as a device for a person-organization fit and offering the potential for social media marketing by increasing the sharing intentions of recruitment ads. The challenges of humor are related to negative intermediate advertising effects and negative word-of-mouth. This dissertation contributes to the advertising literature by developing new research approach on humor in recruitment advertising and extending the body of research on humor in advertising empirically in recruitment advertising on the Internet. / Tiivistelmä Tämä tutkimus tarkastelee huumorimainonnan ilmiötä rekrytointimainonnan kontekstissa ja vastaa kysymykseen, miten huumoria rekrytointimainonnassa voidaan lähestyä viestinnän eri näkökulmien kautta Internetissä? Tutkimus on asemoitu huumorimainonnan kirjallisuuteen, erityisesti huumorin inkongruenssiteoriaan ja se tarkastelee rekrytointimainonnan kontekstia hyödyntäen työnantajan brändiviestin määritelmää. Tutkimuksen lähtökohtana ovat yksittäiset havainnot olemassa olevasta mutta vähän tutkitusta ilmiöstä, huumorista rekrytointimainonnassa pienen yrityksen Internet-viestintäkanavassa. Huumorimainonnan kirjallisuudesta puuttuvat toistaiseksi huumoria rekrytointimainonnassa käsittelevät tutkimukset. Aikaisempia huumorimainonnan tutkimuksia ovat hallinneet kokeelliset kvantitatiiviset tutkimukset. Tämä väitöskirja on menetelmällisesti uutuusarvoinen, koska tutkimuksessa lähestyttiin ilmiötä monimenetelmätutkimuksen kautta. Tutkimuksessa käytettiin erilaisia tiedonkeruumenetelmiä: kokeellisia tutkimusasetelmia kvantitatiivisella lähestymistavalla ja tapaustutkimuksia, jotka hyödyntävät sisällönanalyysia sekä kvalitatiivisia analyysimenetelmiä. Ilmiötä tutkittiin sekä rekrytointimainoksien että rekrytointikampanjan empiirisillä tasoilla ja aineistoa kerättiin pienen yrityksen Internetin viestintäkanavasta. Väitöskirja koostuu yhteenveto-osuudesta sekä julkaistuista tutkimuspapereista, kolmesta journal-artikkelista ja kirjan kappaleesta, jotka tuovat kukin eri näkökulmia huumoriin rekrytointimainonnassa. Tutkimuksen tuloksena rakennetaan viitekehys rekrytointimainonnan huumoriin Internetissä. Se keskittyy viestinnän eri näkökulmiin: määrittelee huumorin osaksi työnantajabrändiviestiä, tutkii työnhakijoiden vasteita huumoriin, huumorin moderaattori (tässä tutkimuksessa: kongruenssi)-vaikutuksia sekä huumorin käyttöön liittyviä liikkeenjohdon haasteita ja mahdollisuuksia. Huumorin potentiaali tunnistettiin siinä, että huumori testaa henkilön ja organisaation yhteensopivuutta ja tarjoaa mahdollisuuksia markkinointiin sosiaalisessa mediassa lisäämällä muun muassa aikomuksia rekrytointi-ilmoituksen jakamiseen. Keskeiset haasteet liittyvät mainonnan negatiivisiin vaikutuksiin ja negatiiviseen word-of-mouth-ilmiöön. Tämä väitöskirjatyö kontribuoi mainonnan kirjallisuuteen kehittämällä uuden tutkimusnäkökulman huumoriin rekrytointimainonnassa ja laajentamalla huumorimainonnan tutkimusta empiirisesti rekrytointimainontaan Internetissä.