Testing the dimensionality of the quality management construct

© 2014 Taylor & Francis. Numerous empirical studies have conceptualised quality management (QM) as either a multidimensional or unidimensional construct. While few prior studies tested some aspects of the assumed dimensional structure of the construct, no study has been found to have tested the construct's dimensionality using alternative factor analysis models. To gain a better insight into dimensional properties of the QM construct, this paper tests its dimensionality using three confirmatory factor analysis models (oblique factor model, higher-order factor model, and one-factor model) on a subset of data collected in a larger study that investigated the effects of QM on competitive advantage using a sample of 288 hotel managers in Egypt. The results of the three tests indicate that the QM construct is multidimensional. While this study contributes to advancing the QM theory and practice, further studies are needed to investigate the dimensional properties of the construct in greater depth. The results of this study may therefore stimulate research in this area and encourage the much needed debate on the dimensionality of the QM construct

Special Issue on the Third Workshop on Biological Mentality

The Third Workshop on Biological Mentality was held from September 23, 2019 to March 2, 2020 as a series of twenty-one Monday online conferencing sessions, each consisting of a talk followed by a Q&A discussion. Like the two previous workshops [1, 2], the objective of this workshop was to seek a deeper level of understanding the physical foundations of biological mentality (whether conscious or nonconscious)

Consciousness as a factor in evolution

What I call the mind began as a non-conscious robotic biochemical process control system in the very earliest forms of life. As life evolved, problems in control became more difficult and exceeded the computational capabilities of the organisms. Nature discovered a means of transcending computable physical processes resulting in non-computational subjective mental capabilities that, while still not conscious, had a degree of genuine autonomy from the physical world. These autonomous subjective wants and goals now affected the course of (but not the mechanism of) evolution. The integrated amalgam of robotic and transrobotic unconscious capabilities eventually gave rise to consciousness, which became an even more important factor in the course of evolution. The processes responsible for transrobotic mentality are conjectured to leave evidence in the physical world in the form of violations of conservation laws, evidence that future experiments may be able to detect

Characteristics of Ice Cream With the Addition of Nutmeg Puree (Myristica fragrans Houtt).

Ice cream is one of the frozen processed products with milk-based ingredients and has various flavors, colors, and soft textures, so many enthusiasts are among the public, from children to adults. Ice cream flour is flour that is processed from various milk mixtures. This study aims to determine the appropriate concentration of nutmeg puree on the characteristics of ice cream. The experimental design used was a completely randomized design consisting of one factor, namely the addition of nutmeg puree with four treatment levels, as follows: (P0) Control without adding nutmeg puree, (P1) 50 g of nutmeg puree or 4.9%, (P2) 100 g nutmeg puree or 9.8% (P3) 150 g nutmeg puree or 14.7%. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the treatment of adding 100% nutmeg puree was the best result with a total dissolved solids value of 22.57%, vitamin C 0.03%, the fat content of 1.51% and chemical-physical tests in the form of overrun and melting rate respectively 51.38% and 15.74 minutes. Based on organoleptic tests, including color, taste, aroma, and texture, adding 100% nutmeg puree gave a liking value

Some Volatile Aroma Components of Vitis Vinifera L. cv. Sauvignon blanc

Volatile aroma components of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sauvignon blanc grapes were studied to identify the components responsible for the characteristic aroma of this grape cultivar. Thirty three volatile components were identified. Amongst these methional and trans-2, cis-6-nonadienal are reported present in Vitis for the first time. Evidence is also presented for the presence of three methoxypyrazines which are believed to be key substances responsible for the typical aroma present in grapes and wines of this cultivar

Near-infrared Single-photon-counting Detectors for Free-space Laser Receivers

We compare several photon-counting detector technologies for use as near-infrared timeresolved laser receivers in science instrument, communication and navigation systems. The key technologies are InGaAs(P) photocathode hybrid photomultiplier tubes and InGaAs(P) and HgCdTe avalanche photodiodes. We discuss recent experimental results and application

Mixed methods research in tourism: a systematic sequential approach

Purpose: This article discusses the use of mixed methods research in tourism. It provides the rationale for the use of mixed methods and discusses the context in which this was chosen and used. It outlines the major research philosophies, and their advantages and disadvantages, and discusses the systematic, sequential, step-by-step research processes that were employed. The article also analyses the potential usefulness of specific qualitative data collection techniques. Method: The context of the article was a study investigating what tourists associate with tourism destination quality (henceforth referred to as the TDQ study). The article indicates the nature of the phases of research in the TDQ study, beginning with the qualitative exploratory research involved. It discusses how questions were designed, and the pre-testing and piloting of questions and research techniques. It provides details on the main qualitative and subsequent quantitative phases of the research. Findings: The article argues that an initial systematic qualitative phase of research can be used within an overall mixed methods approach to precede a quantitative phase with a successful outcome in terms of robust and rigorous research findings. Additionally, the results of the pilot study data indicate the superiority of the in–depth interviews technique over focus group interviews and open-ended questionnaires in terms of the technique’s effectiveness, efficiency, and ability to generate in-depth, detailed and unique data. Research and conclusion limitation: The article discusses only one case study in detail. Practical implication: Although not intended to be prescriptive, this article could be used as a blueprint for those involved in research involving similar methodology. Originality: This article advances knowledge of the effectiveness of mixed method methodologies and techniques in tourism studies. By providing a detailed account of a systematic sequential mixed method approach, the paper provides insights into and a potential blueprint for researchers interested in conducting such research. Keywords: mixed methods, pragmatism, exploratory research, qualitative research, quantitative research, systematic sequential research design, tourism destination quality

Noyce Science Teacher Master of Arts with emphasis in Science Teaching Program: Meeting Challenges of 21st Century Classrooms. UNL Noyce Track I, Phase I, Final Report.

To meet the state’s and the nation’s need for more highly qualified science teachers, the 14-month Master of Arts with emphasis in science teaching (MAst) program was established in the College of Education’s Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, along with a Robert Noyce, Track I, Phase I grant from the National Science Foundation, awarded in 2010. This report presents a summary of the accomplishments of this Noyce grant, in which 60 post-baccalaureate science majors and professionals were provided with Noyce stipends to become science teachers. The MAst program is now in its sixth year, producing an average of 10 new science teachers per year. The project team, led by Dr. Elizabeth Lewis, was also awarded a second Noyce grant in 2015 to support 30 more individuals to become science teachers along with funding to continue to research the practices of beginning science teachers. The MAst program engages science professionals in a research-informed program of study that supports them in developing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to meet the challenges of the modern American secondary science classroom

Chokka squid on the Agulhas Bank: life history and ecology

Available knowledge is reviewed and new data incorporated in a synthesis of the life history and ecology of the chokka squid Loligo vulgaris reynaudii. We attempt to show that these aspects are essential to rational management of the resource. The life cycle is descriptionbed in detail from the egg to adult stage, mainly in biological terms, including a comprehensive descriptionption of maturation, migration and reproduction. Possible ecological interactions, particularly those of paralarvae and copepods, are discussed. Predator-prey relationships and the current state of knowledge on the effect of the physical environment on squid availability and abundance are summarized