Title: A social constructionist account of police culture and its influence on the representation and progression of female officers: A repertory grid analysis in a UK police force
Authors: Penny Dick, (School of Management, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK), Devi Jankowicz, (Luton Business School, Luton, UK). Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, Vol. 24 Iss: 2, pp.181 - 199. MCB UP Ltd
Abstract: The police organisation receives much media attention regarding its record on Equal Opportunities. Research suggests that the organisational culture in police organisations plays a major role in impeding the progress of women. Using repertory grid technique, the culture of a police force, conceptualised at the level of performance value judgements or recipe knowledge was investigated. It is argued that rank, rather than gender has the greatest influence on the content of performance value judgements and that this is attributable to the way that hierarchy influences the way in which the grass-roots role is constructed. We argue that women’s progression is impeded not because of dominant constructions of the role per se, but by the way such constructions intersect with broader socio-cultural constructions of women’s domestic roles.
Link
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Work Safety
An investigation using the rep grid into how road gangs see safety
Author: Fisher J M. Paper has been accepted for presentation at the 19th International Congress on Personal Construct Psychology to be held in Boston Massachusetts in July 2011.
Abstract: As part of a wider safety reduction initiative, Repertory grids were carried out with four gangs of operational staff who dig holes to repair and replace water pipes. The aim was to identify any common themes differentiating the better performing gangs from those with a history of service strikes and safety incidences.
The resultant grids identified a key difference between the way the gangs perceived their environments. The better gangs believed they have more control over their jobs and are the catalyst that makes things happen. The poorer gangs take less ownership of their work and lay the blame for incidences on other things.
A two pronged solution is suggested. The recruitment process needs to be adapted to include competency based questions covering “ownership”. Secondly, performance management needs to be applied across the whole workforce not just the office based staff.
Link Paper freely available
Author: Fisher J M. Paper has been accepted for presentation at the 19th International Congress on Personal Construct Psychology to be held in Boston Massachusetts in July 2011.
Abstract: As part of a wider safety reduction initiative, Repertory grids were carried out with four gangs of operational staff who dig holes to repair and replace water pipes. The aim was to identify any common themes differentiating the better performing gangs from those with a history of service strikes and safety incidences.
The resultant grids identified a key difference between the way the gangs perceived their environments. The better gangs believed they have more control over their jobs and are the catalyst that makes things happen. The poorer gangs take less ownership of their work and lay the blame for incidences on other things.
A two pronged solution is suggested. The recruitment process needs to be adapted to include competency based questions covering “ownership”. Secondly, performance management needs to be applied across the whole workforce not just the office based staff.
Link Paper freely available
Monday, June 20, 2011
Are you sure you are asking the right questions?
Eliciting User Experience Comparisons in the Customer’s Voice
Author: Michael Hawley. Published: December 3, 2007
Introduction: “Your interview questions might be relevant to you and your project team, but are they the questions that will get at important issues from a user’s perspective?”
Chances are that, if you do user research, you conduct a fair number of user interviews. When conducting interviews, our training tells us to minimize bias by asking open-ended questions and choosing our words carefully. But consistently asking unbiased questions is always a challenge, especially when you’re following a participant down a line of questioning that is important, and you haven’t prepared your questions ahead of time. Also, if you do a lot of interviews, you might fall into a pattern of asking the same types of questions for different studies. This might not bias participants, but you can bias yourself if you always investigate the same types of issues. Finally, are you sure you are asking the right questions? Your interview questions might be relevant to you and your project team, but are they the questions that will get at important issues from a user’s perspective?
In an effort to address some of these considerations, I’ve experimented with the Repertory Grid method—an interview technique that originated in clinical psychology and is useful in a variety of domains, including user experience design.
Link Paper freely available
Author: Michael Hawley. Published: December 3, 2007
Introduction: “Your interview questions might be relevant to you and your project team, but are they the questions that will get at important issues from a user’s perspective?”
Chances are that, if you do user research, you conduct a fair number of user interviews. When conducting interviews, our training tells us to minimize bias by asking open-ended questions and choosing our words carefully. But consistently asking unbiased questions is always a challenge, especially when you’re following a participant down a line of questioning that is important, and you haven’t prepared your questions ahead of time. Also, if you do a lot of interviews, you might fall into a pattern of asking the same types of questions for different studies. This might not bias participants, but you can bias yourself if you always investigate the same types of issues. Finally, are you sure you are asking the right questions? Your interview questions might be relevant to you and your project team, but are they the questions that will get at important issues from a user’s perspective?
In an effort to address some of these considerations, I’ve experimented with the Repertory Grid method—an interview technique that originated in clinical psychology and is useful in a variety of domains, including user experience design.
Link Paper freely available
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Accounting for Diversity
Accounting for Diversity in Subjective Judgments
Authors: Evangelos Karapanos and Jean-Bernard Martens of Eindhoven University of Technology. Marc Hassenzahl of Folkwang University. Proceedings of the 27th international Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (Boston, MA, USA, April 04 – 09, 2009).
Abstract: In this paper we argue against averaging as a common practice in the analysis of subjective attribute judgments, both across and within subjects. Previous work has raised awareness of the diversity between individuals’ perceptions.
In this paper it will furthermore become apparent that such diversity can also exist within a single individual, in the sense that different attribute judgments from a subject may reveal different, complementary, views. A Multi-Dimensional Scaling approach that accounts for the diverse views on a set of stimuli is proposed and its added value is illustrated using published data. We will illustrate that the averaging analysis provides insight to only 1/6th of the total number of attributes in the example dataset. The proposed approach accounts for more than double the information obtained from the average model, and provides richer and semantically diverse views on the set of stimuli.
Link
Authors: Evangelos Karapanos and Jean-Bernard Martens of Eindhoven University of Technology. Marc Hassenzahl of Folkwang University. Proceedings of the 27th international Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (Boston, MA, USA, April 04 – 09, 2009).
Abstract: In this paper we argue against averaging as a common practice in the analysis of subjective attribute judgments, both across and within subjects. Previous work has raised awareness of the diversity between individuals’ perceptions.
In this paper it will furthermore become apparent that such diversity can also exist within a single individual, in the sense that different attribute judgments from a subject may reveal different, complementary, views. A Multi-Dimensional Scaling approach that accounts for the diverse views on a set of stimuli is proposed and its added value is illustrated using published data. We will illustrate that the averaging analysis provides insight to only 1/6th of the total number of attributes in the example dataset. The proposed approach accounts for more than double the information obtained from the average model, and provides richer and semantically diverse views on the set of stimuli.
Link
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Construing Consultation
Construing Consultation: an exploration using repertory grid technique
Author: Elaine Margaret Robertson - 2008 MSc in Educational Psychology EPiT Research Thesis Conference - The British Psychological Society
Abstract: A pilot study involving the use of Kelly’s repertory grid technique to investigate the views of young people and adults about consultation. The research aimed to investigate the usefulness of RGT as a research tool and also it’s potential to address the question of researcher influence in interview situations. The study involved RGT interviews with four young people from a secondary school and three members of staff from the same school. All the participants took part in interviews which lasted fifty-five minutes and involved them in eliciting both the elements to be used in the grids and the constructs. This was achieved using the triadic elicitation method developed by Kelly. The participants then scored the elements on each of the constructs using a five-point scale. The data gathered from the interviewed was analysed using three different techniques, each of which is commonly used with grid data. These were eye-ball analysis, the use of a statistical programme to highlight correlations between the constructs and content analysis. The results indicate that RGT is an appropriate method for researching the views of young people and adults and highlighted its ability to produce rich data which incorporated the individual views of the participants. However, it was noted that, in terms of minimising researcher influence, RGT is only a technique and the skill of the researcher in conducting the interviews is more important when it comes to reducing their influence on the process. The report outlines some weaknesses in the research and methodological issues which would require to be addressed in a future piece of work. Never the less, the report concludes that RTG is a suitable technique to be explored by EPs who are concerned with listening to the views of both young people and adults.
Link
Author: Elaine Margaret Robertson - 2008 MSc in Educational Psychology EPiT Research Thesis Conference - The British Psychological Society
Abstract: A pilot study involving the use of Kelly’s repertory grid technique to investigate the views of young people and adults about consultation. The research aimed to investigate the usefulness of RGT as a research tool and also it’s potential to address the question of researcher influence in interview situations. The study involved RGT interviews with four young people from a secondary school and three members of staff from the same school. All the participants took part in interviews which lasted fifty-five minutes and involved them in eliciting both the elements to be used in the grids and the constructs. This was achieved using the triadic elicitation method developed by Kelly. The participants then scored the elements on each of the constructs using a five-point scale. The data gathered from the interviewed was analysed using three different techniques, each of which is commonly used with grid data. These were eye-ball analysis, the use of a statistical programme to highlight correlations between the constructs and content analysis. The results indicate that RGT is an appropriate method for researching the views of young people and adults and highlighted its ability to produce rich data which incorporated the individual views of the participants. However, it was noted that, in terms of minimising researcher influence, RGT is only a technique and the skill of the researcher in conducting the interviews is more important when it comes to reducing their influence on the process. The report outlines some weaknesses in the research and methodological issues which would require to be addressed in a future piece of work. Never the less, the report concludes that RTG is a suitable technique to be explored by EPs who are concerned with listening to the views of both young people and adults.
Link
Monday, May 30, 2011
Construction Project Management
Identifying Issues of Concern Early
Authors: Neil Allan, Engineering Management Group, University of Bristol and Patrick Godfrey, Business Solutions Director, Halcrow
Summary: A report commissioned by the Construction Research and Innovation Strategy Panel (CRISP) process group with the aim to better understand the nature of the issues that cause concern in the early stages of construction projects in the UK. The research programme on construction project management was based on the repertory grid interview technique to elicit and gather the data used in the analysis and is a good example of the use of repertory grid in working with soft issues.
Purpose: The aim of the research was to focus future resources where real understanding of practice and problems could be established. The objectives of the commission were:
• To identify areas of particular concern arising from the early stages of project development, common to many projects and contractual approaches.
• Place them in order of importance.
• Consider research that will address them.
Key Recommendations:
• The industry needs to move, as quickly as possible, towards a much more outward looking, customer-focused, high added-value position. The critical point to initiate this change is at the pre-project and project development stages.
• Research should focus on the priority concerns in the client-defined processes, which are team selection and development of the whole team to have excellent co-operation and communication capability.
• Other Constructors and Suppliers need to be involved much earlier in the project process, as it appears this group can help the team to understand better the needs of End Users.
• Mechanisms and processes need to be developed to effectively and efficiently engage End Users, Financiers and Owners in the whole process, but particularly at the early stages.
• There needs to be improved communication, commitment and shared values between the construction players. Research should focus on where blocks to co-operation and misconceptions exist and how these can be eroded.
Link - Report freely downloadable.
Authors: Neil Allan, Engineering Management Group, University of Bristol and Patrick Godfrey, Business Solutions Director, Halcrow
Summary: A report commissioned by the Construction Research and Innovation Strategy Panel (CRISP) process group with the aim to better understand the nature of the issues that cause concern in the early stages of construction projects in the UK. The research programme on construction project management was based on the repertory grid interview technique to elicit and gather the data used in the analysis and is a good example of the use of repertory grid in working with soft issues.
Purpose: The aim of the research was to focus future resources where real understanding of practice and problems could be established. The objectives of the commission were:
• To identify areas of particular concern arising from the early stages of project development, common to many projects and contractual approaches.
• Place them in order of importance.
• Consider research that will address them.
Key Recommendations:
• The industry needs to move, as quickly as possible, towards a much more outward looking, customer-focused, high added-value position. The critical point to initiate this change is at the pre-project and project development stages.
• Research should focus on the priority concerns in the client-defined processes, which are team selection and development of the whole team to have excellent co-operation and communication capability.
• Other Constructors and Suppliers need to be involved much earlier in the project process, as it appears this group can help the team to understand better the needs of End Users.
• Mechanisms and processes need to be developed to effectively and efficiently engage End Users, Financiers and Owners in the whole process, but particularly at the early stages.
• There needs to be improved communication, commitment and shared values between the construction players. Research should focus on where blocks to co-operation and misconceptions exist and how these can be eroded.
Link - Report freely downloadable.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Fiction Reader Characteristics
Investigating fiction reader characteristics using personal construct theory
Author: Briony Birdi - Information School, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK - Aslib Proceedings Vol. 63 Iss: 2/3, pp.275 - 294
Abstract
Purpose – Using the public library context, this paper seeks to present research identifying perceived characteristics of fiction readers and their associated genres, with a particular emphasis on the reader of Black British and Asian fiction in the English language. Design/methodology/approach – The paper applies personal construct theory and the associated repertory grid to a mixed method study involving 15 repertory grid interviews, conducted with librarianship Master's students at a UK university.
Findings – The findings regarding the perceived profile of the reader were similar to those reported in previous sociological research, but new constructs emerged regarding certain perceived characteristics of both readers and genres.
Research limitations/implications – The method and findings provide a starting-point for future research in materials portraying, and originating from, minority ethnic communities. With more repeated constructs and a larger sample size, future research could statistically investigate the significance of potential trends and apparent relationships between data. Practical implications – The paper provides new data regarding the nature and readership of minority ethnic fiction, informing the improvement of its provision and promotion by public libraries. Social implications – It is hoped that longer-term effects will be to increase both public and professional understanding of fiction written by members of minority ethnic communities, and of its potential contribution to the wider body of literature in the English language.
Originality/value – The paper applies personal construct theory and the associated repertory grid technique to a new area of research and practice, with new data having been generated concerning the perceived characteristics of fiction genres, and of their readers.
Link
Author: Briony Birdi - Information School, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK - Aslib Proceedings Vol. 63 Iss: 2/3, pp.275 - 294
Abstract
Purpose – Using the public library context, this paper seeks to present research identifying perceived characteristics of fiction readers and their associated genres, with a particular emphasis on the reader of Black British and Asian fiction in the English language. Design/methodology/approach – The paper applies personal construct theory and the associated repertory grid to a mixed method study involving 15 repertory grid interviews, conducted with librarianship Master's students at a UK university.
Findings – The findings regarding the perceived profile of the reader were similar to those reported in previous sociological research, but new constructs emerged regarding certain perceived characteristics of both readers and genres.
Research limitations/implications – The method and findings provide a starting-point for future research in materials portraying, and originating from, minority ethnic communities. With more repeated constructs and a larger sample size, future research could statistically investigate the significance of potential trends and apparent relationships between data. Practical implications – The paper provides new data regarding the nature and readership of minority ethnic fiction, informing the improvement of its provision and promotion by public libraries. Social implications – It is hoped that longer-term effects will be to increase both public and professional understanding of fiction written by members of minority ethnic communities, and of its potential contribution to the wider body of literature in the English language.
Originality/value – The paper applies personal construct theory and the associated repertory grid technique to a new area of research and practice, with new data having been generated concerning the perceived characteristics of fiction genres, and of their readers.
Link
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