VOL. 07, NO. 2; MARCH

Articles

Information supply and sharing between service providers and refugees

Madeleine Rice, Victoria Power , Rosie Harding


Abstract:

Introduction. The purpose of this study is to understand the provision and sharing of information between service providers and settling refugees while refugees transit to new living environments. Efforts of service providers are investigated to understand if community participation is enabled, social exclusion reduced, and barriers to information access and use minimized. Method. A qualitative approach was employed to explore in-depth the information practices of service agencies that care and provide for refugee resettlement in regional Australia. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews and focus groups with refugees and service providers from community and public sector organizations were conducted. Analysis. The interviews and focus group narratives were thematically re-analysed with a focus on the role of service providers. Results. Refugees find the information context complex and difficult to navigate and suffer from information overload during settlement. This complexity produces information barriers, which constrains information acquisition and thus participation. Service providers work hard to support the refugees but more supported coordination among themselves and with commercial entities would assist in reducing this complexity and overload and enable more tailored information provision. Conclusions. Government funded initiatives are recommended based on these findings to strengthen information sharing and coordination among refugee service providers.

The experience of young adults looking for news online

Harry Warner, Joshua Vincent


Abstract:

Introduction. Based on the premise that news of all kinds is a form of information, the purpose of this study was to understand use of news sources by young adults in fast-paced and dynamic online media environments. Method. A qualitative (interpretivist) framework and broadly ethnographic approach was used. Fourteen students undertook six online tasks (of which five are reported here), while describing their thoughts and actions. All online interactions were recorded and interview questions were asked immediately after each task in order to gain further insight. Analysis. Concurrent and retrospective verbal protocols from the tasks were analysed to develop themes and categories. Results. Most participants preferred to seek local news via traditional print media, but comfortably used and trusted online media (except blogs) for national and international news. The majority of participants were more likely to use a Google search to find everyday life information than to check a newspaper, either in print or online, thus confirming the salience of search engines in the online world. Conclusions. The results have implications for information research and provision more broadly as news providers struggle with information needs and social networking preferences of readers in these ever-evolving environments.

Collaboration in emergency health situations: cooperation between paramedics and 3D telepresence technology

Jake Cole , Noah Baxter, Lucy Harper


Abstract:

Introduction: This paper focuses on paramedics’ perspectives regarding paramedic-physician collaboration today, and their perspectives regarding the potential of 3D telepresence technology in the future. Method:  Interviews were conducted with forty practicing paramedics. Analysis:  The interview data were analysed using open and axial coding. An agreement of 0.82 using Cohen’s kappa inter-coder reliability measure was reached. After coding was completed themes and relationships among codes were synthesised using topic memos. Results:  Paramedics expressed concern about the lack of respect and trust exhibited towards them by other medical professionals. They discussed how they paint the picture for physicians and the importance of the physician trusting the paramedic. They further reported 3D telepresence technology would make their work visible in ways not previously possible. They also reported the technology would require additional training, changes to existing financial models used in emergency health care, and increased access to physicians. Conclusions: Teaching collaboration skills and strategies to physicians and paramedics could benefit their collaboration today, and increase their readiness to effectively use collaboration technologies in the future.

The speech about books printed and electronically: analogies, oppositions and views

Elliot Savage, Billy Morgan


Abstract:

Introduction. The point of departure for this paper is the twofold analogy (analogy of content, analogy of medium) between printed and electronic books, the aim being to draw attention to the usual perception of their capacities and relationships, to provide a rather detailed analysis of the outcome and sustainability of such analogies and ultimately to indicate the drawbacks involved. Method. The contextual analysis of contents of the key themes is employed; in the articulation of the conclusions, analytic and synthetic approaches are used. Results. The definitions of the e-book are not consensual or sustainable, rather reflect the current developmental phase of the phenomenon. The emphasis is placed upon changes, and continuity is ignored, and it is not seen that the possibility of analogies derives from a long historical development. While the analogy of content is sustainable, for it implies the reproduction of the same discourses in different media, analogy of medium is not, for the interactive capacities permitted by the printed and the electronic medium are different. Conclusions. The e-book discourse has to be expanded by understandings drawn from cognate areas such as book history, publishing studies and in general by those from the extremely useful insights employed in the cultural-historical approach, for all the media functioning in any given period coexist and affect each other.