Assessing Member's Satisfaction in Virtual and Face-to-Face Learning Teams
Abstract Due to the challenges that arise when learning and working in electronic settings, the satisfaction of the members tends to be lower compared to face-to-face teams ( Furumo & Pearson, 2007 ). 10 learning teams, 5 virtual and 5 face-to-face, each composed of 8 students from a master degree program, were monitored throughout the accomplishment of an academic project. Reining's scale (2003) for measuring individual satisfaction with the team's work-output and work-process was applied at the end of the semester. The levels of global satisfaction and work-process satisfaction were lower in the case of virtual teams, no significant differences being obtained between the two types of teams, in the case of work-output satisfaction.
The Association of Directors of Social Services, in response to the Burgner review, has called for joint health and local-authority inspection of residential homes (Community Care, 8.1.97, p. 1). Yet there is little agreement about what constitutes good residential care (Gibbs and Sinclair, 1992). Without such information, we cannot make valid comparisons between homes or set meaningful standards. The study described below tested a wide range of possible measures of quality of care. It adopted an eclectic approach, including the perspectives of residents, health and social care professionals, home staff, managers, and relatives. Full details of the instruments used are given in the final report, which is available from the Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent at Canterbury, CT2 7NF, as Discussion Paper 1245.