University of Bedfordshire

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 & Context (language use). The organization has 3860 authors who have published 6079 publications receiving 143448 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Luton.

Settlers, vagrants and mutual indifference: unintended consequences of hot‐desking

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a sociological analysis of emergent sociospatial structures in a hot‐desking office environment, where space is used exchangeably It considers hot‐desking as part of broader societal shifts in the ownership of spaceDesign/methodology/approach – This analysis is based on an ethnographically‐oriented investigation, in which data collection methods used were participant‐observation and interviewing The analysis uses Lefebvre's conceptualisation of the social production of space and draws on the urban sociology literatureFindings – The analysis first indicates that, in hot‐desking environments, there may be an emergent social structure distinguishing employees who settle in one place, and others who have to move constantly Second, the practice of movement itself generates additional work and a sense of marginalisation for hot‐deskersResearch limitations/implications – The paper does not provide a generalisable theory, but suggests that loss of everyday o

Worldmaking Agency - Worldmaking Authority: The Sovereign Constitutive Role of Tourism

Abstract: In recent decades, Tourism Studies (and its bedfellow subjects, Tourism Management, Tourism Planning and Tourism Sciences) has blossomed as a somewhat commonplace area of tertiary education, and ha...

Work stressors, health and sense of coherence in UK academic employees

Abstract: This cross‐sectional study examined relationships between job‐specific stressors and psychological and physical health symptoms in academic employees working in UK universities. The study also tests the main and moderating role played by sense of coherence (SOC: Antonovsky, 1987 in work stress process). SOC is described as a generalised resistance resource for coping with environmental stressors and remaining healthy. Four hundred and sixty‐five academic employees (60% male) completed measures of work stressors, physical and psychological ill health and SOC. Significant inter‐relationships were found between job stressors, health outcomes and SOC. Stressors relating to time constraints, support and influence and work–home interface demands had the strongest associations with health outcomes. Employees with a weaker SOC tended to be in poorer physical and psychological health, thus supporting a main effect for SOC. Some evidence for a moderating role for SOC was found, with the strongest effect observed fo...

Tools to think with? Towards understanding the use of computer-based support tools in policy relevant research

Abstract: As environmental science has broadened to address policy concerns, there has been an effort to transfer the perceived benefits of formal modelling to these new areas through the creation of computer-based support tools. However, a number of poorly addressed issues pose barriers to the uptake of such tools. These issues are discussed to argue that the current support tool research agenda is too focussed on hard, technical concerns and that greater emphasis needs to be given to soft, contextual aspects of design and use. To counter these deficiencies we propose a framework for research based upon the concepts of innovation and receptivity. Three different sources of innovation relevant to support tools and end-user receptivity are identified. We contend that new technologies and new techniques for manipulating them have to be translated into the pre-existing knowledge and working practices of user communities before they can be effectively employed. To illustrate the proposed framework, the paper explores the impact of one innovation source on receptivity within the context of a research project developing and applying support tool technology. The need to better understand the dimensions of innovation and how they relate to the processes that determine user receptivity to support tools is emphasised.