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The growth and penetration of Internet across developing countries has led to availability of a plethora of ICT applications. Quite often, potential users of these applications hold varying perceptions, both negative and positive, in respect of potential usefulness. This in turn, results into variations in adoption outcomes. The extant literature posits that 80% of user perceptions are negative while only 20% of their perceptions towards available ICT application are positive. The negative perceptions inevitably results in low adoption or at times even non-adoption of applications, which then remain under or un-utilized. This paper reports on a participatory action research study, which explores how ICT application adoption may be enhanced through 'empathetic participatory design' as a method for creating knowledge that may have meaningful application utility. This is achieved through user behavioural simulation. The main mode of data collection and analysis was the repertory grid technique used to elicit constructs from simulated prototyped elements of a selection of applications. In this paper, the knowledge creation process involves the use of design scenarios and use-cases from the typical users' point of view during co-problem discovery and scoping in respect of problems identified by the user community. The findings of this paper reveal that a co-design approach results in reflective experiences, that create a hybridity of knowledge which is both tacit and explicit, reciprocating each other to enrich the design outcomes of the applications. We argue that knowledge is not only a belief of knowing and thinking but rather has the ability to be transformed into real action. The paper posits that tacit and explicit forms of knowledge are inextricably linked and that knowledge is created and expanded through social interaction between tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge using modes and methods of 'knowledge conversion'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mersin University Journal of the Faculty of Education / Mersin Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Mersin University Faculty of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article identifies common features of existing models of radicalization and deradicalization, such as the transition from uncertainty to certainty, before integrating these in a model based upon personal construct theory. It is proposed that the personal construct concepts of validation and invalidation are particularly relevant to processes of identity change such as radicalization and deradicalization. Thus, it is argued that radicalization occurs when major invalidation of an individual's construing is followed by the development of a new radicalized view of the world that provides a turning point in his or her sense of identity and a more structured and certain view of the world. There is likely to be seeking out of validation for this view in interactions with others who share similar views or by extorting evidence for the individual's radical constructions. These constructions are likely to involve extreme negative views of another group, by contrast to members of which, and possibly by taking extreme action against this group, the individual's new self-construction may become further defined. These same processes can be seen to operate in deradicalization, and it will therefore be argued that the model has implications for the development of deradicalization programs. A further advantage of the model is that it has an associated personal construct methodology, particularly repertory grid technique, that may be used to investigate processes of radicalization and deradicalization. As illustrations of such investigations, results will be summarized from a repertory grid study of Salafist Muslims in Tunisia, some of whom had returned from fighting in Syria, and an analysis of the writings of the Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik. The findings of these investigations are argued to be consistent with the personal construct model of radicalization and deradicalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared gifted learners' and their English teachers' perceptions of who is an effective English as a foreign language (EFL) learner. The research questions include the following: (a) What are young gifted learners' perceptions of an effective EFL learner? (b) What are English teachers' perceptions of an effective EFL learner? and (c) Is there a match between young gifted learners' and their English teachers' perceptions of an effective EFL learner? The participants were two gifted learners attending the English classes at the Science and Arts Center (BILSEM) in Adana, Turkey, and two English teachers working with these students. Data were collected through repertory grids, written accounts of the students, and retrospective interviews. Findings include implications for designing appropriate instruction for gifted EFL learners and teacher educators who work with these specific learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Available evidence regarding the reasons for people to acquire body markers such as tattoos is contradictory. The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between self-esteem and body image in young women with tattoos. To this end, the repertory grid technique (RGT) was adapted and used to assess differences between women with and without tattoos in terms of self-esteem and body image. Sixty young women with tattoos and sixty young women without (all aged 18–35 years), performed the Color RGT in order to evaluate the relationship between self-esteem and body image. Compared to women without tattoos, women with tattoos showed significantly lower self-esteem and displayed stronger relationships between three constructs: ideal body, ideal self and tattooed woman status. No significant differences in body image were detected between the two groups. Women with tattoos were characterized by an association between body image and self-esteem, while women without tattoos did not display such a correlation. Thus, it appears that links between self-esteem, ideal body, ideal self and constructs of "woman with tattoos" may play a role in tattooing behavior in young women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advances in studies in the area of public safety few studies in the area of quality of life specifically of military police have been developed. The profession presents itself as highly stressful and dangerous since it deals ostensibly with social problems. Some changes in routine police and available facilities can improve the quality of life and work of these professionals. The present study related the Repertory Grid technique with the attributes that improve the quality of life of the police officers. We interviewed 41 military police officers of the 19th Military Police Battalion of Novo Gama - GO about the factors that can improve the quality of life of these workers. The results were obtained through the triangulation method followed by an interview with the participation of the police. The results express that the greater variety of scales and vehicles adequate to the work developed (quantity and quality) are the most important attributes for the policemen interviewed. We can consider that some actions can be done to improve the quality of life at work of the military police of the Battalion of Novo Gama - GO, as well as new studies should be performed comparing with the results obtained in this study, as a way to improve the quality of life. of military Police. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to explore the relationship, suggested by recent developmental approaches, between several aspects of self-knowledge organization and depressive symptomatology in late adolescence, within the comprehensive framework of Kelly's personal construct psychology. The repertory grid technique was used to obtain six measures of self-knowledge organization: global differentiation; polarization; presence of conflicts; and discrepancies between actual self, ideal self, and others. Two inventories were used to create two samples of late adolescents according to their level of depressive symptoms. Results supported the expectations of greater global differentiation and actual-ideal self discrepancy (or lower self-esteem) for adolescents with depressive symptoms, as well as a higher likelihood of intrapersonal conflicts. However, discrepancies between self (actual or ideal) and others (identification, and perceived adequacy of others), and polarization showed no significant differences. Furthermore, the association of symptom severity with different grid measures was stronger for adolescents with depressive symptoms. Results and limitations of this study are discussed, and the potential of using personal construct theory and the repertory grid technique in studies of self-knowledge and psychological adjustment during adolescence is explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subjective importance of constructs elicited with the repertory grid technique (RGT) has been conjectured to depend on elicitation order. Constructs elicited early in an interview are assumed to be subjectively more important than later ones. For the RGT, this conjecture is based on only one empirical study with a small sample size using person role titles as elements. This study has not been replicated or tested for other domains. The research for other elicitation techniques shows that the conjecture does not always hold true for nonperson domains. To assess if the order importance relation can be replicated for person and nonperson domains, we conducted two RGT studies with different designs (German study, triadic, nonperson elements, N = 60; Spanish study, dyadic, person elements, N = 61). Construct importance was assessed using importance rankings and ratings. We found no relation between the order of elicitation and importance for the nonperson elements and only a small significant relation using persons as elements. The results indicate that the conjecture should be treated with caution, as it may be weaker than previously assumed for the personal domain and not generalizable to other domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of repertory grid test in marketing research. An experiment was made to test the hypothesis that performance on repertory grid is related to divergent thinking and independent of sex, age and social class. Twenty high-divergent and low-divergent adult thinkers, well matched on sex, age, and social class, were screened from a larger sample. To test their divergent thinking, they were asked to think of as many different uses as possible for five everyday objects. From 196 items, 186 items derived from repertory grids were descriptive. Thus, if evaluative items are likely important, these may be missed if repertory grids are used exclusively. Conjunction with conventional qualitative research methods were best used for repertory grid interviews.

A number of abstracts are presented for articles pertaining to marketing research and forecasting. They include "The Development of Market Research in South East Asia," "The Application of the Repertory Grid Technique to Problems in Market Research," and "An Econometric Model for Southern California and Forecasts for 1967."

This study aims to identify teachers’ personal constructs about students and students’ personal constructs about teachers and to reveal to what extent they see each other as ideal. The study is descriptive and multiple-case in nature. In this regard, it was conducted with 6 third-grade students with different mean scores and 6 teachers who instructed them in a private school. Teachers’ and students’ views towards each other were identified through a repertory grid technique, which is a semi-structured interviewing method. Teachers’ and students’ constructs towards each other are reciprocal. Students who were represented with successful and positive personal constructs, and thus who were placed closely to the ideal student profile, tended to see their teachers as ideal teachers. Similarly, students who were represented with unsuccessful and negative personal constructs by their teachers, and thus were placed as distant from the ideal student profile, tended to evaluate the teachers who had those representations negatively. Findings of the study were discussed in terms of the expectancy effect model and the transactional model.

本研究以文獻回顧的方法探索凱利方格法的原理與策略，再反思科學教育研究領域中可應用凱利方格法進行研究的契機與限制。凱利方格法的分析與探索主要包含下列階段：元素與構念的萃取、方格的建構與評比，以及方格的分析與解釋。這些資料分析的過程對教育研究而言具備以下優勢。首先，研究者透過凱利方格法的應用，建立有系統的資料蒐集與彙整架構，發現資料中既存的脈絡。再者，凱利方格法除了能針對單一個案所反映的方格評比進行探索與分析外，也容許跨個案的比較。在科學教育相關研究中，這些優勢適合被應用於探索學生科學學習、教師專業發展，以及評鑑科學課程與教科書等。本研究最後也說明在應用凱利方格法分析時須考量的信度與效度，以及相關的研究限制，以更明確地說明使用凱利方格法分析的策略。 This paper discusses the possible application of the repertory grid technique (RGT) in science education through a literature review. We first describe the common strategies for using RGT in psychology and education research. We then explore the reasons for using RGT and the relationship between the aforementioned strategies and the purposes of studies in the literature. Finally, we explain whether and how using RGT can assist researchers in deeply exploring science education. Three basic strategies for using RGT are summarized according to a literature review: eliciting elements and constructs, constructing the grid, and analyzing the grid. RGT enables researchers to construct and reconstruct the qualitative data on the basis of quantitative analysis, which supports exploring subjects’ cognitive systems and comparing subjects. In science education, studies have applied RGT for various purposes, which we categorized into three types: exploring individual cognitive systems, developing principles for teachers’ professional development, and evaluating the quality of textbooks. The limitations and validations of RGT are discussed in the final section of this paper.

Gastronomic image (GI) has increasingly been recognized as a valuable and inimitable source of competitive advantage by many destinations. However, little is known as to what attributes constitute GI, especially from tourists’ perspective. This study attempts to explore the salient attributes and dimensions of GI through the repertory grid method and generalized Procrustes analysis. Based on 50 repertory grid interviews with international tourists visiting Taiwan, a total of 46 GI attributes were identified. These attributes were classified into seven categories, namely, attractiveness, flavor profile, familiarity, cooking method and ingredients, distinctiveness, convenience and price, and health and safety. The findings provide useful insights for practice and serve as the basis for future research in the field of GI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the lived experience of black and minority ethnic (BME) clinical psychologists employed in the U.K. National Health Service (NHS). A mixed method qualitative approach was employed using repertory grids and interpretative phenomenological analysis. Six female BME clinical psychologists took part. Four master themes emerged from the analysis, including standing out as different, negotiating cultural and professional values, sitting with uncertainty, and feeling proud to be a clinical psychologist. The repertory grid analysis supported these findings and enriched the study. Implications of the study are discussed—namely, the importance of the profession increasing the cultural competency and sensitivity of its members as well as becoming more diverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cohesion enhances positive workplace outcomes, including job satisfaction, team performance, and productivity. Despite the importance of cohesion, definitions, factors, and measures of cohesion are used inconsistently. For example, the contribution of both task and social cohesion has been highlighted in previous research but ignored by other researchers in cohesion. This exploratory study examined the components of cohesion using a repertory grid technique and weighted multidimensional scaling. Twenty-six participants were interviewed. Findings supported cohesion being a multidimensional construct with 6 cohesion dimensions, comprising 1 task and 5 social elements, thereby revealing some areas of overlap with previous research. There was no support for group verses individual components of cohesion. Further research is required to develop instruments to measure the 6 cohesion components. Factor analytic studies could then confirm the factor structure of cohesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There is an ongoing discussion in the visualization community about the relevant factors that render a visualization effective, expressive, memorable, aesthetically pleasing, etc. These factors lead to a large design space for visualizations. To explore this design space, qualitative research methods based on observations and interviews are often necessary. We describe an interview method that allows us to systematically acquire and assess important factors from subjective answers by interviewees. To this end, we adopt the repertory grid methodology in the context of visualization. It is based on the personal construct theory: each personality interprets a topic based on a set of personal, basic constructs expressed as contrasts. For the individual interpretation of visualizations, this means that these personal terms can be very different, depending on numerous influences, such as the prior experiences of the interviewed person. We present an interviewing process, visual interface, and qualitative and quantitative analysis procedures that are specifically devised to fit the needs of visualization applications. A showcase interview with 15 typical static information visualizations and 10 participants demonstrates that our approach is effective in identifying common constructs as well as individual differences. In particular, we investigate differences between expert and nonexpert interviewees. Finally, we discuss the differences to other qualitative methods and how the repertory grid can be embedded in existing theoretical frameworks of visualization research for the design process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augmented reality (AR) offers potential advantages for intensifying environmental context awareness and augmenting students’ experiences in real-world environments by dynamically overlapping digital materials with a real-world environment. However, some challenges to AR learning environments have been described, such as participants’ cognitive overload and the ways to provide assistance in constructing the presented learning materials. In this study, a mindtool-based AR learning system was developed, based on the repertory grid method and the contiguity principle of multimedia learning, for assisting students in constructing their knowledge in a natural science course. Furthermore, an experiment was carried out on an elementary school natural science course to compare the influences of this method with those of the conventional AR learning system on students’ learning effectiveness. The experimental results show that the designated approach effectively promoted the students’ learning achievements, and no significant difference existed between the mindtool-based AR learning system and the conventional AR learning system in terms of students’ cognition load and satisfaction degree; moreover, both the experimental group and the control group perceived low cognition load during the learning activity and rated their own AR learning systems as being highly satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Several articles have discussed the effect of variations in the repertory grid procedure on measures derived from the data it generates. Largely unexplored, in contrast, is the effect of a more subtle variation inherent in the grid procedure itself: the specific combination of elements used in a dyad or triad during elicitation. This study investigates the differential effects of a specific element combination on the elicited constructs by means of data-driven content analysis. Three independent repertory grid samples were collected, one using nutrition styles (N = 70) and two using occupational profiles as elements (both N = 60). For the latter two studies, the sorting technique (dyad vs. triad) was varied. A pronounced specific effect of the sorts on elicited construct content was found across all three studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software Quality Assurance (SQA) is a set of methods, tools and techniques that allows managing the quality in the development of a software product. In spite of a fundamental element in developing a project, not all companies apply due to budget matter, lack of staff or more complex standards adaptations. This article, presents a practical approach as a strategic guide, to manage the quality in the development of a software project. For this, a method of SQA is presented that consists of three components: The Essence, which seeks that work team understands the concept of quality; which is not only reflected in activities or tasks, but also in the way the team works. Tools, whose purpose is to control the quality in the software project. Finally, the Metrics used not only to measure the results obtained, but also to improve internal processes. The Method was applied in a case study, for the development of a web application, helping tobetter control the changes and future risks that could occur in the development of the project, providing a more secure way of working. Although the method facilitated meeting customer needs, it has not been tested in larger workpieces. In addition, the collection of metrics is long-term, which for this case study, could not be proven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of obesity among Australian pre-school children is a major concern with links to poor health outcomes. One contributing factor is excess energy intake. Sugar-sweetened beverages are energy-dense, nutrient-poor, readily available and have been implicated in the increasing prevalence of obesity. Furthermore, preschooler beverage consumption may develop into dietary habits that track into adulthood. There is little research on factors influencing parents' decision-making when serving beverages to their preschoolers, or on mothers' perceptions of preschooler's beverages. The aim of this study was to explore mothers' perceptions of commonly consumed preschooler beverages. Methods: The Repertory Grid Technique and the Laddering Technique methodologies were utilized in interviews with 28 mothers from Melbourne, Australia, to explore beverage perceptions. Results: A large number of diverse perceptual categories ('constructs') (n = 22) about beverages were elicited, demonstrating the complexity of mothers' perceptions when making beverage choices for their preschoolers. The five most common categories were related to health, sugar, dairy, packaging, and additives. Thematic analysis of responses from the laddering method identified three major themes: concerns about the types of beverages mothers would like to provide their preschoolers, the healthiness of a beverage, and the sugar content. Conclusions: Mothers' perceptions of beverages are sophisticated and need to be included in the design of health communication strategies by health promoters and government agencies to influence mothers' beverage selections for their preschoolers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the organizational impacts of enterprise mobility and the configurations of mobile information technology (IT) impacts in companies with various value creation logics.Design/methodology/approach An exploratory approach combining semi-structured interview and repertory grid method was used to evaluate managers’ perspectives on the effects of mobile technologies.Findings The qualitative findings unearth managers’ perspectives about the organizational impacts of enterprise mobility, which are categorized into six intermediary dimensions and two fundamental impacts. A further analysis of material collected from interviews also shows the differential context-related configurations of mobile IT impacts in companies.Research limitations/implications This study contributes to literature on the business value of IT in general and mobile IT in particular by examining managers’ cognitive constructions of the organizational impacts of enterprise mobility and highlighting the complexity and context-related variety of mobile IT impacts.Practical implications This study provides valuable insights for managers and decision makers that enterprise mobility shows promise in enhancing a firm’s operational and marketing performance.Originality/value Different from prior literature, this study is an exploratory attempt to investigate complex enterprise-mobility-performance relationship and preliminarily uncovers that the mechanisms with which mobile IT influences firm performance vary in different organizational contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizational identity has emerged as an important theoretical concept. However, our understanding of distinctiveness is inadequate since this aspect of organizational identity has received limited research attention. Accordingly, this paper reports the results of a qualitative study designed to explore how managers construe their organization's identity distinctiveness. Based on this study's findings, this paper furthers our knowledge of organizational identity by presenting a theoretical model depicting how identity distinctiveness is construed. Overall, the results of this study suggest that managers construct an internal story - via markets, competencies and intangible identity attributes - which they believe both legitimates and distinguishes their organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of information technology (IT) depends on its embeddedness into its contingent context. Thus, enabling adequate knowledge management (KM) system design requires awareness of the characteristics of the knowledge that is created. Since related insights are missing, we explore what software developers learn on their projects by conducting interviews based on the Repertory Grid Technique. We assess the characteristics of the identified knowledge and skills and derive suggestions for KM system design accordingly. Our study gives rise to challenge the common idea that KM design should be chosen according to the type of knowledge (explicit versus tacit) to be managed. Incorporating further knowledge characteristics (task domain and volatility of knowledge), our results indicate that organisations should implement a codification strategy or a strategy between codification and personalisation, depending on the knowledge at hand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multistage expert surveys like the Delphi method are proven concepts for technology forecasting that enable the prediction of content-related and temporal development in fields of innovation (e.g., [1, 2]). Advantages of these qualitative multistage methods are a simple and easy to understand concept while still delivering valid results [3]. Nevertheless, the literature also points out certain disadvantages especially in large-scale technology forecasts in particularly abstract fields of innovation [4]. The proposed approach highlights the usefulness of the repertory grid method as an alternative for technology forecasting and as a first step for preference measurement. The basic approach from Baier and Kohler [5] is modified in-so-far that an online survey reduces the cognitive burden for the experts and simplifies the data collection process. Advantages over alternative approaches through its simple structure and through combining qualitative and quantitative methods are shown and an adaption on an actual field of innovation - civil drones in Germany - is done. The measurement of a common terminology for all experts minimizes misunderstandings during the interview and the achievement of an inter-individual comparable level of abstraction is forced by the laddering technique [6] during the interview. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore young people’s conceptions of political information. The study sought to identify what political information sources young people encounter, how they construe these sources and the messages they communicate, and how the information experiences of young people may be better understood to inform information literacy interventions to support the development of political agency.Design/methodology/approach Using personal construct theory as a conceptual framework, repertory grid (RG) interviews were used to explore the different ways in which 23 young people aged 14-15 from a town in Northern England conceive of political information and how they evaluate its quality and authority.Findings The study identified the sources of information young people engage with for finding and receiving what they understand as political information. The results from the RG interviews indicated that young people use a wide range of sources of political information to become informed about politics and the world around them. These sources of information include family, friends, teachers, television news, newspapers, radio shows, comedy shows, social media and community meetings. Participants were aware that they passively encounter information sources as well as actively engage in debate and discussion with other sources. Some participants had difficulty critically evaluating the political information sources they encounter. The nature of young people’s experiences of political information varied greatly. The degree of complexity in the experiences of political information varied not only between participants but was also dependent on their particular relationship with the information sources under scrutiny.Research limitations/implications The paper has implications for personal construct analysis as a research approach broadly, from the point of view of its use within library and information science research. It is the first study to apply the personal construct approach to the study of young people’s political information use and to consider implications for information literacy support that would have been difficult to access using other approaches.Practical implications The paper provides insight into an understudied area; that of young people’s conceptions of political information. This insight may be used to inform the improvement of political information provision and information literacy support for young people.Social implications A deeper understanding of the different ways in which young people identify, engage with and use information for political purposes may contribute to a clearer understanding of young people’s information needs, ideally leading to improved political education and a strengthened democratic process.Originality/value The paper explores a relatively under-researched area of library and information science research, and does so using a relatively under-used method in the domain. Insights into the perceived characteristics of different sources of political information are novel and contribute to the development of information behaviour and information literacy fields in terms of information for empowerment and democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The repertory grid technique was used in this paper to investigate the decision-making process of travellers. Results showed that both destination physical attributes and the travellers' feelings towards the destination play a significant role in the choice of holiday destinations. Notably, a distinct choice pattern emerged from the analysis, which showed some travellers begin their planning process not based on the destination features but on the availability of air tickets on sale. This observation suggested the potential influence of the 'sequence' of receiving or searching for transport and tourism information on the choice of a holiday destination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how consumers construe a product service system (PSS) for the supply of pushchairs. A PSS is a system of products, services, networks of actors and supporting infrastructure designed to be more sustainable than traditional business models. PSSs face an implementation challenge in consumer markets, and this case based research explores some reasons for this. The study applies personal construct psychology (in particular, the repertory grid technique), which has not previously been used in relation to researching PSSs. Results suggest that a PSS might be difficult to implement in relation to pushchairs. Renting pre-used equipment may meet resistance because of a perceived risk that acquisition by this means might endanger infants. Participants in the study construed buying new products from specialist infant product shops as being the best way of acquiring them. Accordingly, PSS providers may, for instance, have to implement certified quality assurance processes in order to reassure consumers. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Psicoterapia is the property of Revista de Psiquiatria y Psicologia Humanista, S.L. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of the study was to identify the occupational aspirations and thematic content of vocational constructs of 112 secondary school students belonging to the Yaqui Indian community (Sonora, Mexico), through the application of an ideographic version of the Vocational Grid (VG). We performed a qualitative content analysis of the elements and constructs of the VG to identify categories of occupational aspirations and to develop a classification system of vocational constructs. Most students mentioned the aspiration to exercise jobs requiring higher education; the most common constructs were "social contribution" and "intellectual development". Gender differences and vocational guidance needs were identified. It is concluded that VG is useful to evaluate the system of vocational constructs of this group of students. The VG provides information and identify idiosyncratic specific needs, useful in designing relevant programs of vocational guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceptions of stakeholders can influence who is included and excluded from environmental policy-making processes. Repertory grid technique is a qualitative method that captures how a person differentiates objects according to dimensions of similarity. Used in a qualitative way, repertory grids reflect a person’s individual constructed reality of the world. We adapt the technique to create a quantitative perception matrix that offers research participants the same set of stakeholder groups and descriptors that, unlike qualitative applications, can be used to compare perceptions between decision-makers to understand and predict preferences for stakeholder inclusion. Eight senior policy advisors and six scientists who were involved in developing fox eradication policies in Tasmania, Australia, completed a perception matrix with a supplied set of stakeholder groups (i.e. repertory grid elements, e.g. government, media, general community) and descriptors (i.e. repertory grid constructs, e.g. credibility, effectiveness, influence). They rated each stakeholder group against each descriptor. The results show that different groups of stakeholders were rated similarly to each other, for example, scientific experts and government departments were rated similarly between participants, and were considered more credible and effective than the general community and the media. The results also show that sets of descriptors were used to describe stakeholders, for instance if a stakeholder was perceived to be credible, they also tended to be perceived as effective. Differences between policy advisors and scientists revealed opportunities to explore functional roles of stakeholders, where stakeholders are considered in terms of what they can offer to the decision making process, rather than who they are. Our adaptation of repertory grid technique, with supplied elements and constructs, demonstrates the usefulness of perception matrices in enabling statistical comparison of implicit perceptions; identifying similarity and variability among individuals’ perceptions of stakeholders; and providing a visual representation of the structure of perceptions of groups of individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to introduce and demonstrate a new model for service quality that separates out the measurement of service quality in ways grounded in psychological theory and methodological symmetry.Design/methodology/approach A review of experience in service quality management suggests that new approaches are needed. By seeking a way of managing service at different levels, with symmetry between data collection and data analysis, a model is presented that has more potential applicability and flexibility than is found in traditional models.Findings A national study in Namibia, Africa provided data that successfully demonstrate the method of working and illustrate the contextual, analytical and data management issues and the reporting potential out of complex service management data.Research limitations/implications This new approach to the design of service quality measurement and assessment extends the capability that is generally found in other existing approaches. It provides a new foundation for further research into complex patterns of service success and that will establish more clearly the inter-dependencies between service encounters, service attributes and service measures at the survey item level.Practical implications Studies of multiple service sectors and multiple service recipient groups can now gather and manage large complex data sets and analyse and report that data in ways appropriate to the needs of different stakeholders.Social implications In any context where service quality is a socio-economic or development issue, it is now possible to take a more careful and nuanced approach to the collection and aggregation of data, which will inform policy makers and other stakeholder groups at the national or regional level.Originality/value This new model addresses a range of problems that have been reported with historical approaches such as SERVQUAL and related methods of working. It also provides foundations for new designs for large-scale service management data collection, organisation and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The golden section has been shown to be a robust feature of the connotative structure of repertory grids. This article extends the research with repertory grids by providing an analysis of the connotative structure of a historical collection of 124 letters written to Galileo by his eldest daughter, Suor Maria Celeste. I found that the mean level of positive connotation in the letters is quite close to the golden section. This result suggests that the golden section is an underlying connotative feature of the letters Maria Celeste wrote to Galileo, and it provides further support for the golden section hypothesis that the construing person strikes a balance between negative and positive experiences in which negative experiences are focal relative to a background of positive experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the construal of midwives by pregnant women with a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2 (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). Method Ten pregnant women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 were recruited from antenatal clinics at a maternity hospital in the North West of England. Each participant completed a repertory grid. The participants chose people to match roles including themselves, pregnant women, midwives of different BMIs and hypothetical elements. They also generated psychological constructs to describe them. Results Pregnant women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 construed themselves as vulnerable and self-conscious. Some women endorsed obesity-related stereotypes for themselves and felt responsible for their weight. The midwife with a BMI 18 < 30 kg/m2 was considered to be most similar to the ideal midwife, while the midwife with a BMI ≤ 18 kg/m2 was construed as having an undesirable interpersonal style. The midwife with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 was often construed as sharing similar experiences to the pregnant women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, such as struggling with the psychological consequences of a raised BMI. Some women construed the midwife with a BMI 30 < 40 kg/m2 in a positive way, whereas others viewed it as sharing similar feelings about weight as the midwife with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2. Conclusions The pregnant women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 in this study described perceptions of themselves and the midwives responsible for their care, which may affect their engagement and satisfaction with services. Pregnant women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 should be involved in service development activities to ensure the structure of services and the language used by midwives are acceptable and do not confirm weight-related stereotypes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message Pregnant women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 construe themselves as vulnerable and self-conscious and perceive themselves responsible for their weight., Pregnant women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 construe midwives with a low BMI as having an undesirable, cold, interpersonal style., Midwives with a raised BMI are construed as similar to the women, because they share the uncomfortable psychological consequences of a raised BMI., The nature of pregnant women's construal may affect their engagement and satisfaction with maternity services and midwifery care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]