scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Institution

University of Bedfordshire

EducationLuton, Bedford, United Kingdom
About: University of Bedfordshire is a education organization based out in Luton, Bedford, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Social work. The organization has 3860 authors who have published 6079 publications receiving 143448 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Luton.


Papers
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
01 Apr 2011
TL;DR: The issue of the normalisation of technology in language education is revisited and normalisation in the light of a neo-Vygotskian conceptual framework is examined, with proposals for how to introduce new technologies into language education settings with maximum impact.
Abstract: This article revisits the issue of the normalisation of technology in language education, defined as the stage at which a technology is used in language education without our being consciously aware of its role as a technology, as an effective element in the language learning process Bax, 2003. It draws on the literature relating to the history of sociotechnical innovation Bijker, 1997 to develop the theoretical basis of the concept and examines normalisation in the light of a neo-Vygotskian conceptual framework, in order to establish a set of central principles by which to understand and interpret the normalisation process. It then considers the implications for the language teacher and other change agents, with proposals for how to introduce new technologies into language education settings with maximum impact.

158 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Enhanced developed developed distributed energy efficient clustering scheme (EDDEEC) for heterogeneous WSNs is proposed in this article, which is based on changing dynamically and with more efficiency the CH election prob- ability.

158 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: These findings suggest that IPCC Tier 1 methods overestimate carbon stocks in tropical forests by nearly 10%.
Abstract: Carbon stock estimates based on land cover type are critical for informing climate change assessment and landscape management, but field and theoretical evidence indicates that forest fragmentation reduces the amount of carbon stored at forest edges. Here, using remotely sensed pantropical biomass and land cover data sets, we estimate that biomass within the first 500 m of the forest edge is on average 25% lower than in forest interiors and that reductions of 10% extend to 1.5 km from the forest edge. These findings suggest that IPCC Tier 1 methods overestimate carbon stocks in tropical forests by nearly 10%. Proper accounting for degradation at forest edges will inform better landscape and forest management and policies, as well as the assessment of carbon stocks at landscape and national levels.

158 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors attempted to understand the nature and activities of growth-oriented women-owned businesses in the East of England by highlighting the problems faced by women entrepreneurs during the growth process.
Abstract: Purpose - This study attempts to understand the nature and activities of growth-oriented women-owned businesses in the East of England by highlighting the problems faced by women entrepreneurs during the growth process. Design/methodology/approach - The approach analysed the main growth factors and their influence on the adoption of different growth strategies. An online questionnaire was designed using Snap survey software™, with results exported to SPSS™ for analysis. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected via a variety of scaled, open-ended, rank order, dichotomous, multiple choice and open questions. Findings - The research indicates that most do not opt to develop growth-oriented businesses, choosing instead small, non-scalable, locally focused businesses providing services or operating in low-tech industries. Women who are growth-oriented appear to be inhibited due to a lack of access to, and control over such resources as, capital, business premises, information and technology, production inputs, appropriate childcare, qualifications, experience, training facilities and appropriate assistance from business development agencies. Non-effective accumulation and use of social capital hinders access to appropriate decision-making circles, and limits the probability of accessing critical management and financing resources, especially through the venture capital industry. Practical implications - This research has implications for government or other business development agencies seeking to understand the growth patterns and problems of women-owned enterprises in the East of England. Originality/value - There are few British studies that have focussed on growth oriented women-owned businesses. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by attempting to understand the nature and activities of such business, by analysing the main growth factors and their influence on different growth strategies.

156 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The findings reveal that despite standards agencies and academic literature offering strong support for the employment of formal human factors engineering methods within the medical device design and development process, manufacturers are still hesitant due to a range of factors.
Abstract: Background: Academic literature and international standards bodies suggest that user involvement, via the incorporation of human factors engineering methods within the medical device design and development (MDDD) process, offer many benefits that enable the development of safer and more usable medical devices that are better suited to users’ needs. However, little research has been carried out to explore medical device manufacturers’ beliefs and attitudes towards user involvement within this process, or indeed what value they believe can be added by doing so. Methods: In-depth interviews with representatives from 11 medical device manufacturers are carried out. We ask them to specify who they believe the intended users of the device to be, who they consult to inform the MDDD process, what role they believe the user plays within this process, and what value (if any) they believe users add. Thematic analysis is used to analyse the fully transcribed interview data, to gain insight into medical device manufacturers’ beliefs and attitudes towards user involvement within the MDDD process. Results: A number of high-level themes emerged, relating who the user is perceived to be, the methods used, the perceived value and barriers to user involvement, and the nature of user contributions. The findings reveal that despite standards agencies and academic literature offering strong support for the employment formal methods, manufacturers are still hesitant due to a range of factors including: perceived barriers to obtaining ethical approval; the speed at which such activity may be carried out; the belief that there is no need given the ‘all-knowing’ nature of senior health care staff and clinical champions; a belief that effective results are achievable by consulting a minimal number of champions. Furthermore, less senior health care practitioners and patients were rarely seen as being able to provide valuable input into the process. Conclusions: Medical device manufacturers often do not see the benefit of employing formal human factors engineering methods within the MDDD process. Research is required to better understand the day-to-day requirements of manufacturers within this sector. The development of new or adapted methods may be required if user involvement is to be fully realised.

155 citations


Authors

Showing all 3892 results

NameH-indexPapersCitations
Jie Zhang1784857221720
Oscar H. Franco11182266649
Timothy J. Foster9842032338
Christopher P. Denton9567542040
Ian Kimber9162028629
Michael J. Gidley8642024313
David Carling8618645066
Anthony Turner7948924734
Rhys E. Green7828530428
Vijay Kumar Thakur7437517719
Dave J. Adams7328319526
Naresh Magan7240017511
Aedin Cassidy7021817788
David A. Basketter7032516639
Richard C. Strange6724917805
Network Information
Related Institutions (5)
University of Exeter
50.6K papers, 1.7M citations

89% related

University of Nottingham
119.6K papers, 4.2M citations

89% related

University of Birmingham
115.3K papers, 4.3M citations

88% related

Lancaster University
44.5K papers, 1.6M citations

88% related

Queen's University Belfast
55.4K papers, 1.7M citations

88% related

Performance
Metrics
No. of papers from the Institution in previous years
YearPapers
20236
202248
2021345
2020363
2019323
2018329