Pragmatic meta analytic studies: learning the lessons from naturalistic evaluations of multiple cases

This paper explores the concept of pragmatic meta‐analytic studies in eLearning. Much educational technology literature focuses on developers and teachers describing and reflecting on their experiences. Few connections are made between these experiential ‘stories’. The data set is fragmented and offers few generalisable lessons. The field needs guidelines about what can be learnt from such single‐case reports. The pragmatic meta‐analytic studies described in this paper have two common aspects: (1) the cases are related in some way, and (2) the data are authentic, that is, the evaluations have followed a naturalistic approach. We suggest that examining a number of such cases is best done by a mixed‐methods approach with an emphasis on qualitative strategies. In the paper, we overview 63 eLearning cases. Three main meta‐analytic strategies were used: (1) meta‐analysis of the perception of usefulness across all cases, (2) meta‐analysis of recorded benefits and challenges across all cases, and (3) meta‐analysis of smaller groups of cases where the learning design and/or use of technology are similar. This study indicated that in Hong Kong the basic and non‐interactive eLearning strategies are often valued by students, while their perceptions of interactive strategies that are potentially more beneficial fluctuate. One possible explanation relates to the level of risk that teachers and students are willing to take in venturing into more innovative teaching and learning strategies

MODIFYING THE NEO-CLASSICAL APPROACH TO TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION WITH BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE MODELS

The dualistic nature of humans has been recognized for centuries. The intriguing question is the extent to which the human being with her/his display of concern for others can simultaneously act as an egoist, the latter being descriptive of the homo oeconomicus rendition of the human. Multiple utility theory suggests a way to approach research on such issues. A test case of water conserving technology adaptation behavior by Florida growers is examined. Empirical evidence supports moving toward an expanded version of the mono-utility or I-utility model to include a We-utility.Behavioral economics, Conservation technology, Meta-preferences, Multiple utility, Socioeconomics, Technology adoption, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Measuring productivity differentials – An application to milk production in Nordic countries

The aim of this paper is to analyse the regional productivity differentials on dairy farms in Denmark, Finland and Sweden. Several methods have been suggested for analysing productivity differentials in agriculture between groups of farms or countries. Hayami [5] and Hayami and Ruttan [7] suggested the meta-production function approach. This idea has been further developed by Lau and Yotopoulos [9] and Fulginity and Perrin [13]. Battese and Rao [2] suggested the meta-frontier analysis for these comparisons. One of the advantages of meta-frontiers with respect to metaproduction functions is that they are able to separate technological differences from the differences in technical efficiency. Battese et al. [5] and O’Donnell et al. [16] have extended this idea and developed both parametric and nonparametric approaches. In this paper, we extend the metafrontier analysis to the concave nonparametric least squares estimation of the production function suggested by Kuosmanen [18,19]. In addition, we compare the results with the approach where the estimation of meta-frontier can be avoided. The reference can also be the maximum output providing technology that is the one that yields the maximum estimated output, given inputs [21]. In this case the estimation can be based either on average or frontier production functions. The farm level data is obtained from the EU’s Farm Accountancy Data Network data set for Denmark, Finland and Sweden. They cover 954 dairy farms in 2003. The results suggest that different method provide slightly different results but in all approaches productivity differentials are considerable in favour of Danish farms. In addition, the Danish technology is not only dominating at the mean but also at most of the data points.productivity, technical efficiency, meta-frontier, Productivity Analysis,

Methods of synthesizing qualitative research studies for health technology assessment

OBJECTIVES Synthesizing qualitative research is an important means of ensuring the needs, preferences, and experiences of patients are taken into account by service providers and policy makers, but the range of methods available can appear confusing. This study presents the methods for synthesizing qualitative research most used in health research to-date and, specifically those with a potential role in health technology assessment. METHODS To identify reviews conducted using the eight main methods for synthesizing qualitative studies, nine electronic databases were searched using key terms including meta-ethnography and synthesis. A summary table groups the identified reviews by their use of the eight methods, highlighting the methods used most generally and specifically in relation to health technology assessment topics. RESULTS Although there is debate about how best to identify and quality appraise qualitative research for synthesis, 107 reviews were identified using one of the eight main methods. Four methods (meta-ethnography, meta-study, meta-summary, and thematic synthesis) have been most widely used and have a role within health technology assessment. Meta-ethnography is the leading method for synthesizing qualitative health research. Thematic synthesis is also useful for integrating qualitative and quantitative findings. Four other methods (critical interpretive synthesis, grounded theory synthesis, meta-interpretation, and cross-case analysis) have been under-used in health research and their potential in health technology assessments is currently under-developed. CONCLUSIONS Synthesizing individual qualitative studies has becoming increasingly common in recent years. Although this is still an emerging research discipline such an approach is one means of promoting the patient-centeredness of health technology assessments

Niche construction and empowerment through socio-political work. A meta-analysis of six low-carbon technology cases

In the sustainability transitions literature the idea of ‘protective space’ shielding niche innovations from unfriendly selection environments is a fundamental concept. Few studies pause to consider how and by whom such protective space is created, maintained or expanded. The paper develops three propositions to deepen our understanding of the ‘outward-oriented socio-political work’ performed by technology advocates. The paper conducts a meta-analysis of six low-carbon technology case studies in the UK and The Netherlands. In each case, analysis finds the cases relevant to the propositions, but requiring finer nuance and further development

Industrial Firm Technology Transfer: The role of marketing

Reliance on marketing concepts and frameworks that are out of step with practice in a new economy environment presents a particular problem for industrial marketers intent on extracting revenue from firm technology transfer effort, and is a challenge for marketing scholars seeking to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Using an interpretive methodology and the case study method, the study addresses the question what are the roles that marketing plays in industrial firm technology transfer effort by comparing and contrasting concepts and themes occurring in marketing and technology management theory with empirical data collected from four large scale industrial firms owned by the New Zealand Government. Interpretive analysis of marketing phenomena within and across the Case firms show that meta-patterns exist across marketing theory and the empirical data, and are also reflected in marketing practice. These meta-patterns reveal a role for marketing in firm technology transfer through deployment of resources that promote inter-firm and intra-firm relationships, collaboration, and cooperation, and the development of firm technological knowledge. The analysis facilitated development of a unique conceptual framework for industrial marketing that accommodates the meta-patterns identified in the study. The conceptual framework is significant because, in addition to providing a guide for industrial marketing practice, it challenges the efficacy of the traditional (4Ps) theory of marketing, which at its core relies on concepts that are not reflected in the study’s empirical findings, contemporary marketing theory, and contemporary marketing practice

Design principles for fostering pedagogical provenance through research in technology supported learning

This paper contributes new critical and theoretical approaches that build the capacity to link research and practice in the field of educational technology. Building on a recent meta-narrative review of the problematic concepts of impact and measurability of educational technologies, we explore the case for methodological design principles that could have the effect of increasing the pedagogical provenance of research into technology supported learning. We extend our previous review by exploring how the design principles we have delineated can contribute to evidence, that increases pedagogical provenance. We also extend this work through critical reflection on how meta-narrative approaches to reviews have the potential to contribute to increased pedagogical provenance in ways that systematic reviews often fall short

Design principles for fostering pedagogical provenance through research in technology supported learning

This paper contributes new critical and theoretical approaches that build the capacity to link research and practice in the field of educational technology. Building on a recent meta-narrative review of the problematic concepts of impact and measurability of educational technologies, we explore the case for methodological design principles that could have the effect of increasing the pedagogical provenance of research into technology supported learning. We extend our previous review by exploring how the design principles we have delineated can contribute to evidence, that increases pedagogical provenance. We also extend this work through critical reflection on how meta-narrative approaches to reviews have the potential to contribute to increased pedagogical provenance in ways that systematic reviews often fall short