“We aren’t idlers”: Using subjective group dynamics to promote prosocial driver behavior at long‐wait stops

Idling engines are a substantial air pollutant which contribute to many health and environmental problems. In this field experiment (N = 419) we use the subjective group dynamics framework to test ways of motivating car drivers to turn off idle engines at a long wait stop where the majority leave their engines idling. One of three normative messages (descriptive norm, in‐group prescriptive deviance, outgroup prescriptive deviance) was displayed when barriers were down at a busy railway level‐crossing. Compared to the baseline, normative messages increased the proportion of drivers that turned off their engines. Consistent with subjective group dynamics theory, the most effective approach was to highlight instances of in‐group prescriptive deviance (47% stopped idling, compared with 28% in the baseline). Implications for health and environmental outcomes and future research are discussed

Arts practice and research: locating alterity and expertise.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Grennan, S. (2015). Arts Practice and Research: Locating Alterity and Expertise. International Journal of Art & Design Education, 34(2), 249-259. doi: 10.1111/jade.1776 , which has been published in final form athttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jade.1776/epdf. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-ArchivingThere is still no agreed pedagogic definition of practice-based research. However, there is not a dearth of definitions, but rather a wide variety, predicated upon the developing programmes of individual places of study. This article will examine these definitions in terms of underlying concepts of intentionality and alterity and the ways in which instrumental use of them affects study. The article will discuss a number of existing models for the theorising and adjudication of practice as research, and the questions that underpin their development. First, are non-text outputs, and the methods of their production, able to communicate knowledge rather than simply constituting knowledge? Second, by what criteria can this knowledge be adjudicated within an academic environment? Third, what is the status of these outputs and methods relative to the production of text? It will propose that interrogation of these models will advance little in discussions that focus on media. Text or nottext is beside the point. Rather, the relationship between research and practice can be explored as a relationship between intentionality and alterity, based in an essentially social conception of communities of expertise, including academic communities of expertise. Finally, the article will describe an attempt by the author to undertake a drawing activity in response to a research question, in order to assess the possibilities of articulating practice specifically in order to demonstrate expert knowledge of the field in which a research question occurs

Nouvelle donne pour l’innovation dans les petites entreprises: processus et outils [Innovation in small businesses: processes and tools]

Executive Summary Recommendations for the development of the innovator’s toolkit. The report summarises the key difficulties small businesses face regarding innovation. Small businesses face some pertinent problems such as lack of strategic thinking time and limited access to resources. On the other hand, increased flexibility and responsiveness to market are usually defined as the advantages of innovating small businesses (Keizer et al., 2002; Boldrini et al., 2011). The development of the toolkit should build on these identified strengths and weaknesses. In particular, the suggested tools should take into account the limited time small businesses managers have to engage in strategic thinking about innovation: tools should be packaged in forms needing minimal support and preparation. Most NDI project partners are organisations engaged in business support that will be active in the delivery of the toolkit. There is some evidence that relations between business support organisations and small businesses are complex and difficult for many firms to navigate. One implication for the toolkit design is that the method of delivery and the role of the support agencies may be equally important to the tools themselves. A suggestion may be that businesses are provided with a sole point of contact to ensure continuity in the business-support agency relationship. The survey will test whether particular tools suit different modes of delivery. The literature review conducted for this report has helped define the themes that should be further explored in the survey. There are sufficient data regarding the type of innovation small businesses engage in and the obstacles they face but less regarding the “black-boxed” innovation process. A particular challenge for NDI is that the project focuses on sectors that are not traditionally considered innovative: the “artisanal” sectors have attracted less interest than high-technology firms. The survey will aim to cover this gap by collecting data on innovation processes in small businesses (origins and realisation of innovative ideas). Collaborative or more broadly open innovation was a further theme emerging in the literature. Collaboration allows small businesses to draw on resources that are not available and cannot be developed in-house. One of the roles of support agencies is to promote inter-firm linkages. The questionnaire survey will consider the role of collaborative relations and experience with support programmes in fostering innovation. The aim of the NDI project is to develop a toolkit that small businesses can use in developing their innovation projects. The research for this report has resulted in the following implications for the design of the toolkit: 1. Need to develop diagnostic tools / “innovation audits” to evaluate the needs and potential of SMEs. Widely used innovation indicators such as investment in R&D are not as suitable for measuring innovation in small businesses. Alternative indicators such as investment in skills and staff development may be more suited to small businesses. 2. How to aid small businesses develop the “absorptive capacity” to benefit from collaboration while at the same time building on the benefits of existing small business expertise. 3. Consider the potential of mentoring schemes and SME-university collaboration in achieving knowledge transfer to small businesses. 4. Consider how businesses can build beneficial contacts with potential partners (other small firms or larger firms, business support organisations and research/training institutes). Some evidence in support of these programmes is already available from the partners. Firms can benefit from a wider variety of links with diverse organisations. 5. Identify what role the partner organisations will have in the delivery of the tools: in particular, distinguish between the roles of general business support organisations and sector specific agencies. Alignment between tools and delivery methods should be considered

Litter, gender and brand: The anticipation of incivilities and perceptions of crime prevalence

This paper isolates litter as a physical incivility in a film-based experiment, demonstrating the impact of litter on participants' anticipation of a wide range of both physical and social incivilities, and on their perceptions of crime prevalence. Such relationships have not previously been examined, partly because litter has rarely been the focus of earlier studies on incivilities. This paper also tests for possible interaction effects in these relationships involving gender (finding no significant interaction), as well as examining whether there is a difference in the anticipation of incivilities and perceptions of crime prevalence between participants exposed to branded as opposed to unbranded litter (finding no difference between the two groups). Litter is often viewed as a tolerable nuisance and not always treated as a priority. This study suggests prioritising funds towards more targeted interventions to reduce litter might result in some ‘quick wins’ – most notably, reducing perceptions of crime prevalenc

Playing on common ground: Spaces of sport, education and corporate connectivity, contestation and creativity

In this article we examine connectivities within the ‘messy’ organizational commons of sport, education and corporate partnerships. As scholars forewarn, there are currently key stakeholders within the commons that that have set agendas, occupied ideological and physical terrain, and legitimized a presence and authority. The intertwining of organizations here is an evident function of an increased symbiosis between sport, education and governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to carve out significant sector spaces, and exert authority and power over the creation, implementation and ownership ‘collaborative’ and intersectional work. Drawing on spatial theorists, Henri Lefebvre and Yi Fu Tuan, and examples from FIFA and the IOC, we present a conceptual framework of global stakeholder relations. Focusing of processes of thought, production and action, we offer an intersectional critique of the nuances of Sport–Corporate–Education nexus and consider possibilities and potential for sport education spaces to be reconfigured ane

Medway Sonic Hand-Washing Experience

Public Sound Art installation in 150 public-access bathrooms across Medway. The piece is presented on a series of 8 hand-hygiene posters, displaying QR codes. When these are scanned with a mobile device, they link the viewer to one of 15 music tracks - each lasting 20 seconds (the required time for soap to break down the coronavirus membrane). The music consists of songs and compositions thematically related to soap, bubbles, washing, sinks

Medway towns local plan Project report

Available from British Library Lending Division - LD:OP-LG/12 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Chatham The historic dockyard in context

Incl. 2 folded mapsAvailable from British Library Lending Division - LD:OP-LG/37 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo