Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-168). Also available via the Internet.

Ph.D. (Marketing Management) / The study was conducted for the purpose of providing a scientific research quality framework to provide guidelines and new knowledge for focus group research practice in South Africa. The need for a guiding focus group framework was borne out of the critical need for scientific and quality marketing information generated through focus group research. The growing need for quality focus group research information across industries in South Africa was evidently not met, due to the various challenges inherent within the local industry practice of focus group research. The various challenges impacting on the quality of focus group research were identified through an extensive literature investigation, and later confirmed through the empirical study which was preceded by an exploratory qualitative study. The major sources of research quality challenges identified and investigated for purposes of the study relate to non-systematic approaches to focus group research, malpractices and misuse of the focus group method leading to quality compromises. The unstreamlined approach to focus group research practice was found to be due to the different versions of the focus group process followed by many research practitioners, including their own self-guessed approaches. A further complication arises from lack of adherence to scientific procedures, either deliberately in the rush for profit or out of ignorance of research science with respect to the marketing research process. For these reasons, the quality of focus group research produced within the local marketing research industry may not me deemed scientific. Evidence abound, a desirable focus group research practice environment, guided through scientific application of the research method and conducive to the supply of quality focus group research needed to be created, in order to mitigate the quality challenges. The implications for questionable research quality were confirmed through the study to be dire for research user organisations across industries. Unsuspecting research users paid for and applied the defective research to inform their decision-making processes thereby risking failure in the face of market uncertainty.

In the past, consolidation of schools was studied for the post-consolidation phase. This study focused on the pre-consolidation perceptions of administrators, teachers, and parents in the areas of academics, athletics, and interactions and collaborations between administrators, teachers, students and parents of two school districts in Mississippi that went through consolidation. Data were collected through: a) archival data, b) observations, and c) focus group interviews of administrators, teachers, and parents from the two school districts. Data from all sources were carefully reviewed and coded, further categorized, and emerging themes were related to the research questions. This study found that after consolidation, Starkville School District (SSD) students would continue to do the same academically while the Oktibbeha County School District (OCSD) students will improve and do much better academically. SSD students would continue to do the same athletically but face more competition while OCSD students will have more choices, and face more competition. All stakeholders agreed that most of the OCSD administrators will be without employment. Teachers and parents from both school districts thought the administrators from both school districts will get along fine. Moving into the future all thought teacher interactions will go well. SSD administrators, teachers, and parents thought student interactions will be fine. OCSD administrators, teachers, and parents thought initially student interactions might be rough but it will be fine later. SSD administrators, teachers, and parents and OCSD teachers thought parent interaction will go well. OCSD administrators and parents thought parent interaction would be fine if they were treated right by the SSD parents. More research during the pre-consolidation phase needs to be done. Areas like transportation and funding need to be studied. Quantitative studies for the areas looked at in this study need to be done. Longitudinal studies needs to be done in the future. Students need to be used as participants in future research.

No description available.

Womens roles in the work force have increased, however, womens positions in the household have not changed greatly (Lennon & Rosenfield, 1994). While paid work research has focused significantly on the qualities of roles, household work research has not (Janzen & Hellsten, 2007). As the few existing instruments that do measure the quality of household work roles lack psychometric evidence (Janzen & Hellsten, 2007), a new instrument assessing all aspects of the quality of household work roles and possessing evidence of validity and reliability is required. The first step in the instrument development process is the identification and definition of relevant constructs. Thus, the main purpose of the study was to identify household work themes. Four focus groups of triple role women were performed with a total of 20 participants. A snowball sampling technique was used to recruit participants. Thematic analysis of the transcripts identified eight themes: No End Result, Scheduling, Time Constraints, Psychological Strain, Equality in Work, Value, Money, and Reward. The results found women to enjoy certain aspects of household work, but that they lead busy and hectic lifestyles. The themes created in the study were placed into a table of specifications this is to guide future instrument development research in which items can be included for each of these eight themes.

The aim of this research is to do a comparison between students’ view of equality in secondary school and in gymnasium. The research begins with four focus groups, two on each grade to conduct material. The focus groups with girls and boys were separated from each other. With help from the researcher, acting as a moderator in the focus groups, the students have discussed advertisement and what message it convey. The students have also discussed their view of femininity and masculinity. With its starting point in separate maintenance and hierarchy, the theory of gender was discussed and connected to the result of the research. The conducted material was further on analyzed to be able to find out if the school can affect the students’ thoughts about equality. The conducted material from the focus groups was compared between boys and girls and also between the two grades.

Womens roles in the work force have increased, however, womens positions in the household have not changed greatly (Lennon & Rosenfield, 1994). While paid work research has focused significantly on the qualities of roles, household work research has not (Janzen & Hellsten, 2007). As the few existing instruments that do measure the quality of household work roles lack psychometric evidence (Janzen & Hellsten, 2007), a new instrument assessing all aspects of the quality of household work roles and possessing evidence of validity and reliability is required. The first step in the instrument development process is the identification and definition of relevant constructs. Thus, the main purpose of the study was to identify household work themes. Four focus groups of triple role women were performed with a total of 20 participants. A snowball sampling technique was used to recruit participants. Thematic analysis of the transcripts identified eight themes: No End Result, Scheduling, Time Constraints, Psychological Strain, Equality in Work, Value, Money, and Reward. The results found women to enjoy certain aspects of household work, but that they lead busy and hectic lifestyles. The themes created in the study were placed into a table of specifications this is to guide future instrument development research in which items can be included for each of these eight themes.

The MJCCA Weinstein Center for Adult Days Services provides social activities and medical services to older adults, including individuals with memory loss. Center administrators requested a program evaluation to explore attraction and retention of clients, beneficial effects of Center activities, and the current case management program. Regular members of the Center’s Traditional Group (n=14) and family caregivers of Memory Loss program attendees (n=10) participated in open-ended interviews in focus groups. Content analysis revealed that clients consider Center activities, staff, and social environment superior to the few other day care alternatives. The activities benefit clients primarily physically and emotionally. Potential areas of improvement include enhanced communication with caregivers and more engaging, mentally-stimulating activities personally significant to participants. Findings reveal that person-centered care is appropriate in the adult day service setting and may guide the Center in program modifications. The evaluation partially satisfies new rules in Georgia for licensure and quality assurance.

No description available.

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on October 20, 2009). Thesis advisor: Dr. James (Sandy) Rikoon. Includes bibliographical references.