Patricia Short

History and Habit in the Mobilization of ICT Resources

Evidence demonstrates that the digital divide is deepening despite strategies mobilized worldwide to reduce it. In disadvantaged communities, beyond training and infrastructural issues, there often lies a range of cultural and historically formed relationships that affect peoples adoption of ICTs. This article presents an analysis of local residents engagement with their councils pilot project to develop a computer facility in their community center. We ask, to what extent can people in poor urban communities, once trained, be expected to volunteer to work on furthering community education and development in ICTs in their local area? Findings indicate four patterns of individual engagement with the computer project: reflexive, utilitarian, distributive, and nonparticipatory. It is argued that local people engaged with the intervention in historically patterned and locally distinctive ways that served immediate personal and pragmatic ends. They did not adopt the long-term strategic goals of the council or university.

Integrating Technology to Improve the Efficiency of Qualitative Data Analysis—A Note on Methods

Qualitative data analysis (QDA) is often a time-consuming and laborious process usually involving the management of large quantities of textual data. Recently developed computer programs offer great advances in the efficiency of the processes of QDA. In this paper we report on an innovative use of a combination of extant computer software technologies to further enhance and simplify QDA. Used in appropriate circumstances, we believe that this innovation greatly enhances the speed with which theoretical and descriptive ideas can be abstracted from rich, complex, and chaotic qualitative data.

Integrating health planning and social planning: a case study in community-based partnerships for better health

This paper reports the findings of a study that investigated the processes through which health planning and social planning were integrated in practice, at the community level, through the active engagement of childcare centres in health promotion and community capacity building. A small-scale, retrospective study of Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds, a community-based health promotion project for early childhood environments, was conducted. Focusing on links between health and social planning, the study revealed crucial factors that led to integrated planning and action at the community level: opportunities for professional development, the strengthening of partnerships through interpersonal networks, reduced isolation of childcare staff in community contexts, and genuine engagement of childcare centre staff in a planning process. It also demonstrated how momentum for planning and action at the community level was created, and how a shift towards integrated health and social planning, stemming from an attitudinal shift by childcare staff towards planning and partnerships, emerged. Insights are gained on ways to build upon the social component of health promotion programs, so as to establish sustainable partnerships for integrating health and social planning in communities.

Migration of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia: emerging lessons of economic and social costs and benefits at the migrant, migrant household and community levels

This path-breaking book investigates the challenges of realizing the Asian century. Prosperity in Asia does not only mean economic growth; the issues of public health, sanitation, income equality, the social safety net and efficient use of natural resources are also important. It argues for new policy initiatives in social, environmental and natural resource areas of South, Southeast and East Asia.

South-South Migration: Emerging Patterns, Opportunities and Risks

South-South migration contributes significantly to the development of the emerging economies, the migration of receiving countries and, at the same time, generates a major share of remittance income flowing into the sending countries. By capturing field experience and observations from a number of research studies, this book provides a robust catalogue of data, practical experience and analysis focused on the significant issues, risks and challenges that are associated with this evolving phenomenon in international migration. The book also critically explores new theoretical perspectives by highlighting new policy directions for both sending and receiving countries relevant to making South-South migration more efficient, attractive and mutually beneficial.

An overview of south-south migration: Opportunities, risks and policies

South-South migration contributes significantly to the development of the emerging economies, the migration of receiving countries and, at the same time, generates a major share of remittance income flowing into the sending countries. By capturing field experience and observations from a number of research studies, this book provides a robust catalogue of data, practical experience and analysis focused on the significant issues, risks and challenges that are associated with this evolving phenomenon in international migration. The book also critically explores new theoretical perspectives by highlighting new policy directions for both sending and receiving countries relevant to making South-South migration more efficient, attractive and mutually beneficial.

Migration and changing dynamics of migrant households at the village level: experience of Bangladeshi migration to Malaysia

South-South migration contributes significantly to the development of the emerging economies, the migration of receiving countries and, at the same time, generates a major share of remittance income flowing into the sending countries. By capturing field experience and observations from a number of research studies, this book provides a robust catalogue of data, practical experience and analysis focused on the significant issues, risks and challenges that are associated with this evolving phenomenon in international migration. The book also critically explores new theoretical perspectives by highlighting new policy directions for both sending and receiving countries relevant to making South-South migration more efficient, attractive and mutually beneficial.