Background Research is of great value to make advancements within the medical field and, ultimately, offer the best possible patient care. Physician-scientists are key in contributing to the... Show moreBackground Research is of great value to make advancements within the medical field and, ultimately, offer the best possible patient care. Physician-scientists are key in contributing to the development of medicine, as they can bridge the gap between research and practice. However, medicine currently faces a physician-scientist shortage. A possible solution to cultivate physician-scientists is to engage medical students in research in early phases of medical school. Evidence-based strategies to stimulate positive perceptions of and motivation for research among students could help to enhance research engagement. Consequently, understanding of students' perceptions of and motivation for research is needed. Therefore, this study aimed to identify conditions under which students develop positive perceptions of and motivation for research by answering the following sub-questions: 1) how do first-year medical students perceive research? and 2) which factors contribute to motivation or demotivation for conducting research? Methods We conducted a qualitative study with individual interviews using a grounded theory approach, involving 13 purposively sampled first-year medical students at Leiden University Medical Center. Results Our results suggest that first-year students are already able to identify many aspects of research. Students elaborated on the relevance of research for professional practice and personal development. Furthermore, our results suggest a relationship between perceptions of and motivation for research. Some perceptions were identical to motivating or demotivating factors to conduct research, like the relevance of research for practice and performing statistics respectively. Other motivating factors were, among others, acknowledgment, autonomy, and inspiring role models. Demotivating factors were, among others, lack of autonomy and relevance, and inadequate collaboration. Conclusions Our results contribute to the idea that perceptions of research are related to motivation for research, which offers possibilities for interventions to promote motivation for research by making use of student perceptions of research. Consequently, practical implications to stimulate research engagement in early phases of medical school are provided. Moreover, the results contribute to existing motivational theories like Theory of Planned Behavior and Self-Determination Theory within this specific domain. Show less
The rise of ISIS and the recent terrorist attacks in Europe have raised a collective alertness for a potential terrorist attack. The presence of jihadist networks in the Netherlands, and the... Show moreThe rise of ISIS and the recent terrorist attacks in Europe have raised a collective alertness for a potential terrorist attack. The presence of jihadist networks in the Netherlands, and the significant outflow of young people to conflict areas in the Middle East to join the jihad, have greatly enhanced this anxiety. But how are these networks organized and how do they prepare their jihad? How do people get involved in jihadist networks and how important is ideology in that regard? Answering such questions will help to understand how jihadist networks operate, which can be useful knowledge for policy makers and practitioners who aim to counter terrorist threats. Using unique data from police files, interviews, and trial observations, while utilizing different analytical methods, this study provides an in-depth insight into the modus operandi of jihadist networks in the Netherlands. The findings show how jihadist networks have changed over the years and how this development has affected the way jihadists operate. Show less
After four decades of M&A experience most M&A still fail to deliver on their promise. The reasons often lie in the social, psychological and cultural challenges of the post merger process.... Show moreAfter four decades of M&A experience most M&A still fail to deliver on their promise. The reasons often lie in the social, psychological and cultural challenges of the post merger process. Why is it that corporations so often do not seem to get the grasp of this important and popular company strategy? And what is the part of the Chief Executive (CEO) in such projects? In a seven-year empirical research project in Germany and Switzerland on CEOs in international post-merger situations, this thesis uncovered some of the powerful learning inhibitors these executives face in their complex and challenging global integration endeavours. The author identifies three generic types of executive behavioural patterns – the Cartel, the Aesthetic and the Videogame Executive – and proposes a taxonomy of leadership behaviours that seem particularly propitious to post-merger performance. Seven impressionist tales of typical post-merger situations – a bank, an airline company, a car manufacturer, an IT company, an industrial conglomerate, a life sciences group and a large public event – are described and discussed in a first ethnographic research loop. In the second part of the study the actors themselves, 20 CEOs and top executives of global companies speak up and candidly share with the reader how they go about solving problems, how they struggle between art and science in their thought processes. Their rich insights are a valuable contribution to the academic and practical discussion of the Chief Executives' role in the management of international combinations. Show less
