Progress in information technology and tourism management: 20 years on and 10 years after the Internet—The state of eTourism research

This paper reviews the published articles on eTourism in the past 20 years. Using a wide variety of sources, mainly in the tourism literature, this paper comprehensively reviews and analyzes prior studies in the context of Internet applications to Tourism. The paper also projects future developments in eTourism and demonstrates critical changes that will influence the tourism industry structure. A major contribution of this paper is its overview of the research and development efforts that have been endeavoured in the field, and the challenges that tourism researchers are, and will be, facing

Machine Learning and the Future of Realism

The preceding three decades have seen the emergence, rise, and proliferation of machine learning (ML). From half-recognised beginnings in perceptrons, neural nets, and decision trees, algorithms that extract correlations (that is, patterns) from a set of data points have broken free from their origin in computational cognition to embrace all forms of problem solving, from voice recognition to medical diagnosis to automated scientific research and driverless cars, and it is now widely opined that the real industrial revolution lies less in mobile phone and similar than in the maturation and universal application of ML. Among the consequences just might be the triumph of anti-realism over realism

Developing an ontology of mechanisms of action in behaviour change interventions

Background: Behaviour change interventions can influence behaviours central to health and sustainability. To design better interventions, a strong evidence base about ‘why’ interventions work is needed, i.e., their mechanisms of action (MoAs). MoAs are often labelled and defined inconsistently across intervention reports, creating challenges for understanding interventions and synthesising evidence. An ontology can address this problem by providing a classification system that labels and defines classes for MoAs and their relationships. Aims: To develop an ontology of MoAs in behaviour change interventions, and to explore challenges in understanding MoAs and their links to behaviour change techniques (BCTs) Methods: Behavioural scientists’ challenges to understanding MoAs and BCT-MoA links were investigated using a thematic analysis (Study 1 [S1]). To help better understand MoAs, Studies 2-7 developed the MoA Ontology: (S2) Identifying and grouping MoAs from 83 behavioural theories; (S3) Converting the groupings into an ontology by drawing on relevant ontologies; (S4) Restructuring the ontology to be more usable and ontologically correct; (S5) Applying and refining the ontology to code MoAs in 135 intervention reports; (S6) Nine behavioural scientists reviewing the ontology’s comprehensiveness and clarity, informing revisions; (S7) Investigating the inter-rater reliability of researchers double-coding MoAs in reports using the ontology, informing changes to the ontology. Results: Study 1 suggested challenges to understanding broad and underspecified MoAs. To form the basis of a detailed ontology, Study 2 identified 1062 MoAs and formed 104 MoA groups. Building on these groups, Studies 3-7 created the MoA Ontology, which had 261 classes (e.g., ‘belief’) on seven hierarchical levels. Inter-rater reliability was ‘acceptable’ for researchers familiar with the ontology but lower for researchers unfamiliar with the ontology (Study 7). Conclusions: The developed ontology captured MoAs with greater detail than previous classification systems. With its clear class labels and definitions, the ontology provides a controlled vocabulary for MoAs

Amy's story: a research agenda for smoking cessation in pregnancy

The purpose of this paper is to report on a case from Nottinghamshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT) as an exploratory study examining the role of social marketing’s contribution to smoking cessation during pregnancy. Insights from the case will be used to inform and stimulate debate around future inquiry regarding the effectiveness of such campaigns, specifically with respect to smoking cessation in pregnancy, the role of low-budget highly-localised programmes and, in response to a recent Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) paper (Thorp, 2009), the extent to which social marketers lead the way in producing behavioural change in populations. Whilst well discussed in the health literature, smoking cessation during pregnancy remains under-researched in the marketing literature offering opportunities for research and practice. Also, this study is of contemporary interest in light of the proposed public sector cuts which will restrict social marketing budgets, the move of Public Health to local authority control placing it as central to the Government’s public health plans, and the Government’s reported interest in behavioural change techniques such as nudge theory (Stamp, 2010). The paper is structured by presenting the case using The National Social Marketing Centre’s (NSMC, 2010) benchmark criteria for effective social marketing, whilst identifying findings and themes from the literature

Exploring perspectives of people with type-1 diabetes on goalsetting strategies within self-management education and care

Background. Collaborative goal-setting strategies are widely recommended for diabetes self-management support within healthcare systems. Creating self-management plans that fit with peoples’ own goals and priorities has been linked with better diabetic control. Consequently, goal-setting has become a core component of many diabetes selfmanagement programmes such as the ‘Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) programme’. Within DAFNE, people with Type-1 Diabetes (T1D) develop their own goals along with action-plans to stimulate goal-achievement. While widely implemented, limited research has explored how goal-setting strategies are experienced by people with diabetes.Therefore, this study aims to explore the perspectives of people with T1D on theimplementation and value of goal-setting strategies within DAFNE and follow-up diabetes care. Furthermore, views on barriers and facilitators to goal-attainment are explored.Methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 people with T1D who attended a DAFNE-programme. Following a longitudinal qualitative research design, interviews took place 1 week, and 6-8 months after completion of DAFNE. A recurrent cross-sectional approach is applied in which themes will be identified at each time-point using thematic analyses.Expected results. Preliminary identified themes surround the difference in value that participants place on goal-setting strategies, and the lack of support for goal-achievement within diabetes care.Current stage. Data collection complete; data-analysis ongoing.Discussion. Goal-setting strategies are increasingly included in guidelines for diabetes support and have become essential parts of many primary care improvement schemes. Therefore, exploring the perspectives of people with T1D on the value and implementation of goal-setting strategies is vital for their optimal application