Appraiser behaviour and appraisal smoothing: some qualitative and quantitative evidence

There is a substantial literature which suggests that appraisals are smoothed and lag the true level of prices. This study combines a qualitative interview survey of the leading fund manager/owners in the UK and their appraisers with a empirical study of the number of appraisals which change each month within the IPD Monthly Index. The paper concentrates on how the appraisal process operates for commercial real estate performance measurement purposes. The survey interviews suggest that periodic appraisal services are consolidating in fewer firms and, within these major firms, appraisers adopt different approaches to changing appraisals on a period by period basis, with some wanting hard transaction evidence while others act on ‘softer’ signals. The survey also indicates a seasonal effect with greater effort and information being applied to annual and quarterly appraisals than monthly. The analysis of the appraisals within the IPD Monthly Index confirms this effect with around 5% more appraisals being moved at each quarter day than the other months. More November appraisals change than expected and this suggests that the increased information flows for the December end year appraisals are flowing through into earlier appraisals, especially as client/appraiser draft appraisal meetings for the December appraisals, a regular occurrence in the UK, can occur in November. January illustrates significantly less activity than other months, a seasonal effect after the exertions of the December appraisals.

Reflections on Beckett: a centenary celebration

The essays in this collection were originally delivered as part of the Samuel Beckett lecture series at Trinity College Dublin, Samuel Beckett's alma mater. The contributors include eminent Beckett scholars such as Linda Ben-Zvi, Enoch Brater, Ruby Cohn and Stan Gontarski, theatre scholars such as Herbert Blau and Joseph Roach, practitioners such as the Irish actor, Barry McGovern, and cultural critics such as Marina Warner and Terry Eagleton. The collection sheds new light on Beckett's enigmatic theater, offering new perspectives on Beckett's use of language and silence, on his attitudes toward the body, on those who influenced him and on those he has influenced (including Suzan-Lori Parks and Femi Osofisan), and on Beckett and the art of self-collaboration. Each contributor places the playwright into a network of genealogies and legacies and his work into important historical, cultural, and aesthetic contexts. Together, the essays demonstrate Beckett's impact on theater, performance, and visual arts during the latter half of the twentieth century and serve to open up new directions for Beckett studies.

Consumer perceptions of poultry meat: a qualitative analysis

Consumer studies of meat have tended to use quantitative methodologies providing a wealth of statistically malleable information, but little in-depth insight into consumer perceptions of meat. The aim of the present study was therefore, to understand factors perceived important in the selection of chicken meat, using qualitative methodology. Focus group discussions were tape recorded, transcribed verbatim and content analysed for major themes. Themes arising implied that “appearance” and “convenience” were the most important determinants of choice of chicken meat and these factors appeared to be associated with perceptions of freshness, healthiness, product versatility and concepts of value. A descriptive model has been developed to illustrate the interrelationship between factors affecting chicken meat choice. This study indicates that those involved in the production and retailing of chicken products should concentrate upon product appearance and convenience as market drivers for their products.

Emotional well-being and adjustment to vision loss in later life: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

Purpose: To review perceived emotional well-being in older people with visual impairment and perceived factors that inhibit/facilitate psychosocial adjustment to vision loss. Method: The databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched for studies published from January 1980 to December 2010, which recruited older people with irreversible vision loss, and used qualitative methods for both data collection and analysis. Results sections of the papers were synthesised using a thematic-style analysis to identify the emergent and dominant themes. Results: Seventeen qualitative papers were included in the review, and five main themes emerged from the synthesis: 1) the trauma of an ophthalmic diagnosis, 2) impact of vision loss on daily life, 3) negative impact of visual impairment on psychosocial well-being, 4) factors that inhibit social well-being, and 5) factors that facilitate psychological well-being. We found the response shift model useful for explaining our synthesis. Conclusions: Acquired visual impairment can have a significant impact on older people's well-being and make psychosocial adjustment to the condition a major challenge. Acceptance of the condition and a positive attitude facilitate successful psychosocial adjustment to vision loss as well as social support from family, friends and peers who have successfully adjusted to the condition. [Box: see text].