Theory development

delivering business capabilities, designing knowledge management systems using concepts from systems design, hypertext design and workflow management, querying complex dynamic systems, hypermedia design and development, and model management systems. Recently, he has begun to analyze the software industry to understand the logic and patterns of emergence of software architecture from two complementary perspectives-the emergent architecture as a network of connections among a set of components (modules) that interoperate across one or more platforms, and the emergent architecture as the result of moves and countermoves by different companies supplying these modules and platforms; and, as such, the architecture as dynamic and evolving. He has published papers in ABSTRACT: The existence of product complementarities is especially relevant in network-type industries, such as information technology and communications, where systems of complementary components made by different manufacturers have to be assembled. Relying on the characteristics of software markets and drawing on the economic theory of complementarities, this paper investigates how complementarities create value in mergers and acquisitions between software companies. We introduce and empirically validate the software stack as a structure to measure complementarities. In a sample of mergers and acquisitions, in which either the acquirer or the target is a software firm, we find values of abnormal returns consistent with previous results. However, when we use the concept of stack, we find an inverse curvilinear relationship between abnormal returns and the distance between acquirers and targets in various layers of the stack. 120 LUCIA SILVA GAO AND BALA IYER KEY WORDS AND PHRASES: complementarities, empirical methods, event study, mergers and acquisitions, product complementarities, software stack, technology firms, theory development, value creation.

To revise the Wilson and Cleary model of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), with suggestions for applying each of the components, and to facilitate the use of HRQoL in nursing and health care. Organizing Construct: HRQoL, based on relevant literature over the past 20 years. Methods: The original model was revised in three substantive ways: (a) indicating that biological function is influenced by characteristics of both individuals and environments; (b) deleting nonmedical factors; and (c) deleting the labels on the arrows that tend to restrict characterization of the relationships. Findings: Theoretical background is provided for each of the major components of the model, and examples of instruments to measure them, were added. Conclusions: In quality-of-life research, the current challenge is to devise models to clarify the elements of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and the causal relationships among them. This revision of Wilson and Cleary's model includes a taxonomy of the variables that often have been used to measure HRQoL. This revision should be useful in research and clinical practice.

This paper 2 extends a proposed theory on information security using pilot data to further refine and elaborate. We argue that the goal of information security is imperfectly understood and aim to bring about an altered understanding of why efforts are made to engage in information security. The goal of information security is widely recognized as the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information however we argue that the goal is actually to create business resources. This paper responds to calls for more theory in information systems and challenges our thinking. In a phenomenological grounded theory study, this paper identifies the core concepts of information security, and describes the relationships between these concepts. The paper provides the theoretical base for understanding why information is protected, in addition to theoretical and practical implications, and future research suggestions.

The emerging digital transformation in the twenty-first century is rapidly and significantly changing the business landscape. The fast-changing activities, expectations and new modes of collaboration suggest it is time to review the current theoretical insights from strategic alliance (SA) research, which are based on assumptions from a different era. We therefore aim to stimulate multidisciplinary debate and theoretical reflections to better understand emerging paradoxes and challenges that contemporary firms face in the formation, evolution and dissolution of strategic alliances. Specifically, we offer alternative visions of SA research and suggest fresh applications or supplements of existing theoretical perspectives and research methods that can better address the research questions emerging from an era of digital transformation.

Rigour and grounded theory research Background. Grounded theory methodology is a suitable qualitative research approach for clinical inquiry into nursing practice, leading to theory development in nursing. Given the variations in, and subjectivity attached to, the manner in which qualitative research is carried out, it is important for researchers to explain the process of how a theory about a nursing phenomenon was generated. Similarly, when grounded theory research reports are reviewed for clinical use, nurses need to look for researchers' explanations of their inquiry process. Aim. The focus of this article is to discuss the practical application of grounded theory procedures as they relate to rigour.

Emerald Article: Critical success factors in projects: Pinto, Slevin, and Prescott -the elucidation of project success Ralf Müller, Kam Jugdev Article information: To cite this document: Ralf Müller, Kam Jugdev, (2012),"Critical success factors in projects: Pinto, Slevin, and Prescott -the elucidation of project success"

Both information systems (IS) researchers and practitioners consider data governance as a promising approach for companies to improve and maintain the quality of corporate data, which is seen as critical for being able to meet strategic business requirements, such as compliance or integrated customer management. Both sides agree that data governance primarily is a matter of organisation. However, hardly any scientific results have been produced so far indicating what actually has to be organised by data governance, and what data governance may look like. The paper aims at closing this gap by developing a morphology of data governance organisation on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of the state of the art both in science and in practice. Epistemologically, the morphology represents an analytic theory, as it serves for structuring the research topic of data governance, which is still quite unexplored. Six mini case studies are used to evaluate the morphology by means of empirical data. Providing a foundation for further research, the morphology contributes to the advancement of the scientific body of knowledge. At the same time, it is beneficial to practitioners, as companies may use it as a guideline when organising data governance.

Emerald Article: Critical success factors in projects: Pinto, Slevin, and Prescott -the elucidation of project success Ralf Müller, Kam Jugdev Article information: To cite this document: Ralf Müller, Kam Jugdev, (2012),"Critical success factors in projects: Pinto, Slevin, and Prescott -the elucidation of project success"

Researchers and practitioners have acknowledged the need to understand causal relationships among various elements of total quality management (TQM). In this paper, we model TQM as an organizational innovation. Using the innovation diffusion perspective from the information systems and organizational innovation literature, we theorize that TQM implementation translates top management's quality intent into plant-level operational performance through a four-stage process of adoption, adaptation, acceptance, and use. The top management adopts the TQM philosophy in the first stage. This commitment influences the adaptation of the organizational members' ability and attitude to the new quality management philosophy. In the acceptance stage, the organizational members demonstrate acceptance of the new quality focus through cooperative teamwork, relationships with suppliers, and quality-related learning. The diffusion of the new philosophy is confirmed through routinization of core quality improvement through effective design, tracking, assurance, and improvement of quality. The four-stage transformation process leads to plant-level measures of product and process quality. We tested this framework on a sample of 407 plants in the automobile parts suppliers industry and found good support for the model. Our results suggest that firms should ensure appropriate technical and behavioral preparation of employees and suppliers before and concurrent to actual TQM implementation. Furthermore, the results also suggest that firms should implement TQM in an integrated fashion covering all sociotechnical elements detailed in our framework. Implications of these findings for TQM practice and research are discussed.

In this article, it is argued that the engagement of hermeneutics is common to both the creation of theory in humanistic psychology and the conduct of qualitative research. The theories of Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers serve as examples of the tacit use of hermeneutics in theory development. With respect to qualitative research, the phenomenological psychological and grounded theory methods are connected with the concept of a human science approach to the social and health sciences, and are examined critically to expose the hermeneutic involvement in them. A call is put out for a metamethodology of qualitative research based on the methodical type of hermeneutics.

To revise the Wilson and Cleary model of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), with suggestions for applying each of the components, and to facilitate the use of HRQoL in nursing and health care. Organizing Construct: HRQoL, based on relevant literature over the past 20 years. Methods: The original model was revised in three substantive ways: (a) indicating that biological function is influenced by characteristics of both individuals and environments; (b) deleting nonmedical factors; and (c) deleting the labels on the arrows that tend to restrict characterization of the relationships. Findings: Theoretical background is provided for each of the major components of the model, and examples of instruments to measure them, were added. Conclusions: In quality-of-life research, the current challenge is to devise models to clarify the elements of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and the causal relationships among them. This revision of Wilson and Cleary's model includes a taxonomy of the variables that often have been used to measure HRQoL. This revision should be useful in research and clinical practice.

T his paper discusses the value of context in theory development in information systems (IS) research. We examine how prior research has incorporated context in theorizing and develop a framework to classify existing approaches to contextualization. In addition, we expound on a decomposition approach to contextualization and put forth a set of guidelines for developing context-specific models. We illustrate the application of the guidelines by constructing and comparing various context-specific variations of the technology acceptance model (TAM)-i.e., the decomposed TAM that incorporates interaction effects between context-specific factors, the extended TAM with context-specific antecedents, and the integrated TAM that incorporates mediated moderation and moderated mediation effects of context-specific factors. We tested the models on 972 individuals in two technology usage contexts: a digital library and an agile Web portal. The results show that the decomposed TAM provides a better understanding of the contexts by revealing the direct and interaction effects of contextspecific factors on behavioral intention that are not mediated by the TAM constructs of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. This work contributes to the ongoing discussion about the importance of context in theory development and provides guidance for context-specific theorizing in IS research.

The purpose of this research is to contribute to the theorizing of ITIL. The paper provides a model that conceptualizes the scope and content of an ITIL implementation project, and it tests and validates measurements based on a literature study and data from a survey of 446 Nordic ITIL experts.

About a decade ago the fundamental operating principle of the Blockchain was introduced. It took several years before the technology gained widespread recognition in industry and academic communities outside of the computer science sphere. Since then many academic communities have taken up the topic, but so far no well-defined research agenda has emerged: research topics are scattered and rigorous approaches are scarce. More often than not, use cases implemented by industry apply a trial and error approach and there exists a dearth of theory-based academic papers on the topic following robust methodologies. Being a nascent research topic, case studies on Blockchain applications are a suitable approach to systematically transfer industry experience into research agendas which benefit both theory development and testing as well as design science research. In this paper I offer guidelines and suggestions on how to design and structure Blockchain case studies to create value for academia and the industry. More specifically, I describe Blockchain characteristics and challenges, present existing Blockchain case studies, and discuss various types of case study research and how they can be useful for industry and academic research. I conclude with a framework and a checklist for Blockchain case study research.

Abstract Garment development is an iterative process centred on patternmaking to resolve fit and production problems. Each time a sample garment is revised adds time and expense to garment development. Understanding the relationships among garment fit variables is ...

This research investigates how PhD students learn about theory. The paper offers guidance on how theory may be selected and used by students, and the steps that students may take to achieve the goal of making an original contribution with their research. The data used in this study came from an online questionnaire survey completed by 62 individuals who teach and/or supervise/ advise PhD students in business schools. The job titles of participants included Professor, Head of Department, and Director of PhD Programme. Our survey participants reported that high proportions of PhD students struggle to understand the role of theory in their research; how to create a theoretical framework/model; and how to make a theoretical contribution with their research. A majority of the survey participants agreed that students need more teaching on theory and that it is the responsibility of business schools to determine the structure, content and delivery of PhD programmes. Schools must also provide the necessary resources, including academic staff and learning materials. The paper concludes with sets of recommendations for PhD students, educators , and business schools.

Mobile information systems (IS) hold great promise to support organizational processes. Clear guidelines, however, of how to design effective mobile IS in support of organizational processes have not been developed. Based on earlier research that emphasizes the importance of fit between organizational tasks and technology and that develops fit profiles for specific task−technology combinations, this paper develops a task−technology fit (TTF) profile for mobile IS to support managerial tasks. We suggest a three−way match between dimensions of managerial tasks, mobile IS, and the mobile use context. We find that use situations characterized by high distraction and poor quality of network connection are particularly challenging for the design of mobile IS, and that the user interface requires particular attention. The proposed conceptual model of task−technology fit provides guidelines for the design of effective mobile IS and for future research studies.

Other things being equal, a theory with fewer constructs is preferable over others. In exploratory factor analysis, a common method used in theory development, the most popular factor retention criterion used in marketing is the eigenvalue greater than one rule. Its use often results in over extraction, which leads to the development of less than parsimonious theories. Even the use of confirmatory factor analysis fails to detect the presence of these superfluous constructs. Although several more accurate criteria exist, they are not discussed in major marketing research texts, journals, and popular statistical software packages. In this paper, we appraise popular factor retention practices in marketing, demonstrate how they may lead to the development of inefficient theories, draw attention to a number of resources for choosing appropriate retention criteria, and develop an easy-to-use Web-based engine to effortlessly implement one such method, parallel analysis.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study to identify nurse reported determinants of intention to remain employed and to develop a model explaining determinants of hospital nurse intention to remain employed. Background: A worsening shortage of nurses suggests that efforts must be made to promote retention of nurses across all generations in the workplace. However, effective retention promotion strategies depend on understanding of the factors influencing nurse retention. The purpose of this study was to identify hospital nurse reported determinants of intent to remain employed to develop a comprehensive model of determinants of hospital nurse intent to remain employed. Methods: A descriptive study using focus group methodology was implemented. Thirteen focus groups including 78 hospital nurses were carried out in 2 Canadian provinces. Thematic analysis strategies were incorporated to analyze focus group data. Findings: Eight thematic categories reflecting factors nurses described as influencing their intentions to remain employed emerged from focus group data: 1.) relationships with co-workers, 2.) condition of the work environment, 3.) relationship with and support from one's manager, 4.) work rewards, 5.) organizational support and practices, 6.) physical and psychological responses to work, 7.) patient relationships and other job content, and 8.) external factors. A model of determinants of hospital nurse intention to remain employed is hypothesized. Conclusions: Findings were both similar to and different from previous research. The overriding concept of job satisfaction was not found. Rather, nurse assessments of satisfaction within eight thematic categories were found to influence intentions to remain employed. Further testing of the hypothesized model is required to determine its global utility. Understanding determinants of intention to remain employed can lead to development of strategies that strengthen nurse retention. Incorporation of this knowledge in nurse education programmes is essential.

The concept of the vanishing mediator is basically a theory concentrating on a mediation that ceases when its task is complete. However fundamental its function is, it still has nuances that are, when juxtaposed altogether, quite differing. What I intend to do in this paper is to develop the concept to be utilized as a theoretical framework for further researches. To do that, I will: 1) succinctly clarify theory both in its essence and its being a concept through symbolic logic; 2) review related literature and tabulate the recently cited related works on the vanishing mediator; 3) frame a structure or methodology and discuss its nuances based on the common references strategically extracted; 4) attempt to develop a refined version of it and its process through synthesis; and later, 5) present areas or topics in some selected disciplines where the concept can be applied as conclusion.

People within and outside the information visualization community are motivated to create new tools to address their own unique problems of understanding data. However, the techniques which visualizations use to enhance cognition of data are not widely known outside the field. Also, there are currently few resources which comprehensively describe methods for designing novel visualizations. Consequently, people who seek to build new information visualization tools are left to consult design examples, guidelines, and ...

Advances in treatment technology and the importance of obtaining normoglycemia in order to prevent or delay complications associated with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) has shifted much of the emphasis of diabetes self-management (SM) onto the adolescent and his or her family. The primary responsibility for managing T1DM in childhood is with the parent whereas during adolescence, increasing levels of responsibility for SM are transferred to the adolescent. This study examined the relationships of key context and process variables on proximal (self-management behaviors [SMB]) and distal outcomes (metabolic control and diabetes-specific healthrelated quality of life [DQOL]) from the Individual and Family Self-management Theory (IFSMT) in a cohort of adolescents with T1DM. The aims in this correlational, crosssectional study included testing components of the IFMST by examining relationships among select context, process, and outcome variables thought to contribute to effective SMB in adolescents with T1DM and determining whether SMB mediated the relationship iii of IFSMT process variables on metabolic control and DQOL. Families were recruited from an ambulatory diabetes clinic in a Midwestern children's hospital. Participants included 103 adolescent-parent dyads (adolescents aged 12-17 years with T1DM) from an outpatient diabetes clinic. The dyads each completed a self-report survey including instruments intended to measure study variables from the IFSMT. Using hierarchical multiple regression, context (depressive symptoms) and process (communication) variables explained 37% of the variance in SMB. Regimen complexity and depressive symptoms explained 11% of the variance in metabolic control. Only regimen complexity was significant at Step 1. Neither of the regression steps adding process variables or SMB were significant. For DQOL, context (depressive symptoms) variables explained 26% of the variance at Step 1, 36% of the variance when process (self-efficacy and communication) variables were added at Step 2 and 52% of the total variance was explained when SM behaviors were added at Step 3. In the final model, three variables were significant: depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and SMB. The criteria for mediation of SMB by the process variables were not met. IFSMT served as a cogent model for understanding key concepts, processes, and outcomes essential to SM in adolescents and families dealing with the complex disease, T1DM.

Research on emerging technologies in accounting has often proven difficult to conduct while maintaining the meaningfulness of a new technology-driven phenomena and the rigor expected for accounting research. Grounded theory is proposed in this paper as a method that has not been oft used in the discipline, but may be highly applicable in such an emergent domain. Grounded theory was first put forth by Glaser and Strauss (1967); but in subsequent years, each of the authors has diverged from the other in their perspectives on how “good” grounded research should be conducted. We explore and compare the two approaches to grounded theory as an introduction for researchers who may find the research method desirable in their research. We also overview a program of research in the area of B2B e-commerce risk and assurance that applies grounded theory in an emerging technology area of accounting, providing both an overview and critique of its implementation. We conclude with some perspectives...

The purpose of this research is to contribute to the theorizing of ITIL. The paper provides a model that conceptualizes the scope and content of an ITIL implementation project, and it tests and validates measurements based on a literature study and data from a survey of 446 Nordic ITIL experts.

Working across knowledge-based research programmes, rather than institutional structures, should be central to interdisciplinary research. In this paper, a novel framework is proposed to facilitate interdisciplinary research, with the goals of promoting communication, understanding and collaborative work. Three core elements need to be addressed to improve interdisciplinary research: the types (forms and functions) of theories, the underlying philosophies of knowledge and the combination of research styles; these three elements combine to form the research programme. Case studies from sustainability science and environmental security illustrate the application of this research programmebased framework. This framework may be helpful in overcoming often oversimplified distinctions, such as qualitative/quantitative, deductive/inductive, normative/descriptive, subjective/objective and theory/practice. Applying this conceptual framework to interdisciplinary research should foster theoretical advances, more effective communication and better problem-solving in increasingly interdisciplinary environmental fields.

Organizational downsizing research indicates that downsizing does not always realize its strategic intent and may, in fact, have a detrimental impact on organizational performance. In this paper, we extend the notion that downsizing negatively impacts performance and argue that organizational downsizing can potentially be detrimental to software quality performance. Using social cognitive theory (SCT), we primarily interpret the negative impacts of downsizing on software quality performance by arguing that downsizing results in a realignment of social networks (environmental factors), thereby affecting the self-efficacy and outcome expectations of a software professional (personal factors), which, in turn, affect software quality performance (outcome of behaviour undertaken). We synthesize relevant literature from the software quality, SCT and downsizing research streams and develop a conceptual model. Two major impacts of downsizing are hypothesized in the conceptual model. First, downsizing destroys formal and informal social networks in organizations, which, in turn, negatively impacts software developers' self-efficacy and outcome expectations through their antecedents, with consequent negative impacts on software development process efficiency and software product quality, the two major components of software quality performance. Second, downsizing negatively affects antecedents of software development process efficiency, namely top management leadership, management infrastructure sophistication, process management efficacy and stakeholder participation with consequent negative impacts on software quality performance. This theoretically grounded discourse can help demonstrate how organizational downsizing can potentially impact software quality performance through key intervening constructs. We also discuss how downsizing and other intervening constructs can be managed to mitigate the negative impacts of downsizing on software quality performance.

This paper provides an assessment of ambient theory for smart cities, based on a review of the research literature focusing on key criteria for “good theory.” The literature review is interdisciplinary in nature and a brief overview of ambient theory is provided across several domains including rhetoric, architecture, and smart cities. Ambient theory, as applied to date in the context of smart cities and environments, is evaluated in relation to criteria identified, described, and employed by other researchers. A mix of “good theory” elements, drawn from a variety of researchers, forms the basis for consideration and evaluation of ambient theory for smart cities. Findings provide a promising assessment and a rich and vibrant space for research and practice is identified in this paper, available now for inquiry, debate, evaluation, further testing and validation, contestation, development, refinement, and expansion.

Information Systems researchers have embraced a number of qualitative research approaches and methodologies, including interviews, observations, and even action research. One research method gaining visibility in IS research is the focus group research method. Focus groups have the potential to provide great insights into phenomena of interest to IS researchers as they allow researchers to get deeper into the topic of interest by providing more background information about the circumstances of the subject's answers or opinions. This paper presents a review of focus group research in the information systems literature, and provides a discussion of how and when the focus group research method can be the most appropriate method to use for IS theorizing. The discussion highlights the idea that the focus group research method is particularly useful for exploratory research on topics where concepts normally emerge through interactions among individuals or where concepts are initially unclear to participants, and as part of a multi-method research program for theory development. Examples of focus groups used in theory development are provided, together with a discussion of the limitations of the research method.

This paper proposes a theory on information security. We argue that information security is imperfectly understood and aim to bring about an altered understanding of why efforts are made to engage in information security. The goal of information security is widely recognised as the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information however we argue that the goal is actually to simply create resources. This paper responds to calls for more theory in information systems, places the discussion in philosophical context and compares various definitions. It then identifies the key concepts of information security, describes the relationships between these concepts, as well as scope and causal explanations. The paper provides the theoretical base for understanding why information is protected, in addition to theoretical and practical implications and suggestions for future research.

This paper 2 extends a proposed theory on information security using pilot data to further refine and elaborate. We argue that the goal of information security is imperfectly understood and aim to bring about an altered understanding of why efforts are made to engage in information security. The goal of information security is widely recognized as the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information however we argue that the goal is actually to create business resources. This paper responds to calls for more theory in information systems and challenges our thinking. In a phenomenological grounded theory study, this paper identifies the core concepts of information security, and describes the relationships between these concepts. The paper provides the theoretical base for understanding why information is protected, in addition to theoretical and practical implications, and future research suggestions.

HoW to traNsForm Qualitative data iNto meaNiNgFul QuaNtitative results ** abstract in proposing a procedure for transforming qualitative data into quantitative results, we address the manifold requests for discovery-oriented research in the business disciplines. We present a systematic classification of combined qualitative-quantitative research designs and argue in favor of the generalization model. We give guidelines for its implementation and provide a blueprint for systematically converting respondents' words into numbers that can be used for further (statistical) analyses. We delimit and discuss the stages of unitization, categorization, and coding. We also raise quality issues and propose relevant quality criteria in the transformation process. in particular, we suggest the intercoder consistency-matrix for determining the incisiveness of categories developed through content analysis. Finally, we demonstrate in an exemplary study how the blueprint can be applied and highlight the benefits of the proposed research design.

Mental health day treatment (MHDT) programs provide intensive group psychotherapy for patients with psychiatric pathology complicated by personality disorder. Recently, researchers have begun to examine specific components of these programs. Of importance is the theoretical rationale, which may be challenging to understand given the complexity of the treatment. The purpose of this project was to investigate the theory of one MHDT program. Communitybased participatory research was chosen and accordingly, all stages of the project were collaborative with the MHDT clinical team. We engaged in a sixmonth, iterative process of weekly action-reflection cycles wherein material was discussed, analyzed for themes, and the findings presented back to the team to further the conversation. Results summarize this program's Theories of Dysfunction and Therapeutic Change, which were primarily psychodynamic, but also integrative through assimilation of elements from other paradigms. Usefulness of the research process is discussed and recommendations are provided for others wishing to undergo a similar process.

Charles RAGIN's work, especially his development of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), offers social scientists a way of bringing together the strengths of the qualitative and quantitative traditions. QCA takes a case-based rather than a variable-based analytic approach to cross-case analysis. One problem that arises in attempting to use QCA to explore causation in larger datasets, especially survey datasets, is that the detailed case knowledge available to those working in the qualitative tradition is usually unavailable. In the same way therefore that it can be difficult to establish causation from correlational analyses, the derivation of causal claims from QCA analyses can also be problematic. We discuss these problems in detail and then argue that they can be addressed by using QCA to identify particular types of cases for detailed within-case analysis focusing on causal processes. More specifically, we show how such in-depth, within-case analysis can identify factors that can be used to improve QCA models, including those used to select these cases for analysis. We illustrate this particular mode of combining methods by drawing on our work on educational transitions in Germany, drawing on both the German SocioEconomic Panel (SOEP) dataset and 43 individual interviews with German 17-year olds.

This paper proposes a theory on information security. We argue that information security is imperfectly understood and aim to bring about an altered understanding of why efforts are made to engage in information security. The goal of information security is widely recognised as the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information however we argue that the goal is actually to simply create resources. This paper responds to calls for more theory in information systems, places the discussion in philosophical context and compares various definitions. It then identifies the key concepts of information security, describes the relationships between these concepts, as well as scope and causal explanations. The paper provides the theoretical base for understanding why information is protected, in addition to theoretical and practical implications and suggestions for future research.

Concerns have been growing about the veracity of psychological findings. Many findings in psychological science are based on studies with insufficient statistical power and non-representative samples, or may otherwise be limited to specific, ungeneralizable settings or populations. Large-scale collaboration, in which one or more research projects are conducted across multiple lab sites, offers a pragmatic solution to these and other current methodological challenges. The Psychological Science Accelerator (PSA) is a distributed network of laboratories designed to enable and support crowdsourced research projects. The PSA’s mission is to accelerate the accumulation of reliable and generalizable evidence in psychological science. Here, we describe the background, structure, principles, procedures, benefits, and challenges of the PSA. In contrast to other crowdsourced research networks, the PSA is ongoing (as opposed to time-limited), efficient (in terms of re-using structures and princ...

Conceptual Model of Health-Related Quality of Life ... Carol Estwing Ferrans, Julie Johnson Zerwic, Jo Ellen Wilbur, Janet L. Larson ... Purpose: To revise the Wilson and Cleary model of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), with suggestions for applying each of the ...

Objective-To illuminate and synthesize what is known about the underlying decision making processes surrounding couples' preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) use or disuse and to formulate an initial conceptual framework that can guide future research and practice. Methods-This systematic review targeted empirical studies published in English from 1990 to 2008 that examined the decision making process of couples or individual partners that had used, were eligible for, or had contemplated PGD. Sixteen studies met the eligibility requirements. To provide a more comprehensive review, empirical studies that examined healthcare professionals' perceptions of couples' decision making surrounding PGD use and key publications from a variety of disciplines supplemented the analysis. Results-The conceptual framework formulated from the review demonstrates that couples' PGD decision making is composed of three iterative and dynamic dimensions: cognitive appraisals, emotional responses, and moral judgments. Conclusion-Couples think critically about uncertain and probabilistic information, grapple with conflicting emotions and incorporate moral perspectives into their decision making about whether or not to use PGD. Practice Implications-The quality of care and decisional support for couples who are contemplating PGD use can be improved by incorporating focused questions and discussion from each of the dimensions into counseling sessions.

Abstract Garment development is an iterative process centred on patternmaking to resolve fit and production problems. Each time a sample garment is revised adds time and expense to garment development. Understanding the relationships among garment fit variables is ...

About a decade ago the fundamental operating principle of the Blockchain was introduced. It took several years before the technology gained widespread recognition in industry and academic communities outside of the computer science sphere. Since then many academic communities have taken up the topic, but so far no well-defined research agenda has emerged: research topics are scattered and rigorous approaches are scarce. More often than not, use cases implemented by industry apply a trial and error approach and there exists a dearth of theory-based academic papers on the topic following robust methodologies. Being a nascent research topic, case studies on Blockchain applications are a suitable approach to systematically transfer industry experience into research agendas which benefit both theory development and testing as well as design science research. In this paper I offer guidelines and suggestions on how to design and structure Blockchain case studies to create value for academia and the industry. More specifically, I describe Blockchain characteristics and challenges, present existing Blockchain case studies, and discuss various types of case study research and how they can be useful for industry and academic research. I conclude with a framework and a checklist for Blockchain case study research.