• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.5-19
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to observe and analyze information searching behaviors of various user groups in different access modes for designing user-centered query interface of content-based Music Information Retrieval System(MIRS). Two expert groups and two non-expert groups were recruited for this research. The data gathering techniques employed in this study were in-depth interviewing, participant observation, searching task experiments, think-aloud protocols, and post-search surveys. Expert users, especially majoring in music theory, preferred to input exact notes one by one using the devices such as keyboard and musical score. On the other hand, non-expert users preferred to input melodic contours by humming.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.14-28
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze consumer experience with Digestive Enzymes, a digestive enzyme product that includes medicinal herbs (Multi-Zyme^®). The goal was to provide basic data on improvements and marketability of future digestive enzyme products containing medicinal herbs. Methods: Qualitative research was conducted to explore the current participants' experience. In-depth interviews with a semi-structured interview guide were conducted to investigate the experience and perception of the participants. The participants were recruited using snowball sampling and purposive sampling, and a qualitative content analysis method was adopted. Credibility was ensured by adopting a member check, triangulation, and peer debriefing method. Results: In-depth interviews were completed with a total of 8 participants. The collected data were classified into 16 codes and then further divided into the following seven categories: direct buying, indirect buying, effects, questions, recommendations, positive perception, and negative perception. The categories were grouped into three themes: 'Experience of purchasing existing health foods', 'Experience of taking Multi-Zyme', and 'Opinions on selling Multi-Zyme at Korean medicine clinics'. Conclusion: The participants experienced effect of the Multi-Zyme^® and were willing to recommend it around. However, the Korean medicine doctors need to inform consumers about the dose and duration when taking Multi-Zyme^® to prevent abuse. Some consumers may trust Multi-Zyme^® sales from Korean medicine clinics, but some held opinions that those sales were not trustworthy, so promotion and improvement are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.33-50
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• 2019

This study investigates the decision-making processes of Iranian women in their twenties who purchased Hallyu beauty and fashion products. We conducted ten in-depth interviews of Hallyu enthusiasts who previously purchased Hallyu products. Interviewees were recruited using a snowball sampling technique based on nonprobability sampling. Interviews were conducted in the 1:1 in-depth interview format for one hour of each interview from April 11, 2017, to May 14, 2017, using semi-structured questionnaires, and recorded with consent. Our analysis of the characteristics of consumption behaviors of the women used seven steps of the purchase decision-making process. This study used interviews to analyze the following questions. Research Question 1. What is the decision process for Iranian women's consumer products purchase? Research Question 2. What are the characteristics and meaning of each stage of Iranian women's consumer decision-making process? Data collection in this study was limited to participants in their twenties; however, this research will be helpful for future Hallyu and Iranian consumer analysis. A follow-up study should examine the purchasing decisions of women in additional age groups in order to generalize the results.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.303-317
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to conceptualize the process of formation by the exploration of the lives of professional golfers who grow to excellent sports leaders, categorize the concept and suggest models between categories. In order to reveal in depth the change process of the job formation, the 'grounded approach' as a qualitative study was used as a the methodological frame of this study, and snow sampling, one of nonrandom sampling was used for the selection method of the study participants. 10 study participants who are able to make positive self-expression and talk with the researcher were selected. Through grounded approach appropriate for this process research, this study could acquire following results. First, through the casual condition that is the exploration of the lives of professional golfers growing to excellent sports leaders, it connected to the central phenomena of professional instruction methods and education belief as golf leaders. In this process, the changes as new experiences for the charm of the new job and relationship formation influence as the function of a contextual condition. In addition, golf leaders tried to become a more completed golf leader through self-efforts for development and expertise attainment according to the their own situations as well as belief, and they have established the lives of firm golf leaders through the process. Second, as a result of the changes of their lives as professional golfers growing to excellent sports leaders, the paradigm of grounded approach which is abstracted as total 141 concepts, 17 subcategories, and 11 superordinate categories were composed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4733-4738
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• 2012

Background: Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases. The objectives of the study were to determine the percentage of annual income used to purchase tobacco-related products and treat tobacco-related illnesses, and assess the characteristics of smokers and their awareness of the health-related risks of smoking. Method: Stratified and snowball sampling methods were used to obtain information (via a 17-item, close-ended questionnaire) from 85 adult respondents (49 males and 36 females). The instrument comprised of demographic characteristics, smoking behavioural/lifestyle, health, and micro socio-economics. Results: There were no significant differences between individuals who were affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) (14.1%) and cardiovascular disease (18.8%). It was found that respondents spend 30-39% of their annual income on tobacco-related products. Forty percent (40.0%) and 41.7% of respondents with lung cancer and COPD respectively spend more than 50% of their annual income to treat these diseases. The majority (80%) of those who continues to consume tobacco-related products were uncertain as to why they were doing it. Not all the smokers were aware of the dangers of tobacco consumption despite their level of education. Conclusion: The majority of the respondents who had tobacco-related illnesses such as lung cancer and COPD spend a significant amount of their income on their health care. Not all the smokers were aware of the dangers of tobacco consumption despite their level of education. This suggests the need for increase public awareness where both smokers and non smokers are being fully or adequately informed about the dangers or health risks of tobacco consumption.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.753-765
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of women problem gamblers, focusing on the meaning of gambling to them, how and why these women continue to gamble or stop gambling, and their needs and concerns. In order to effectively help women problem gamblers, practical in-depth knowledge is necessary to develop intervention programs for prevention, treatment, and recovery among women problem gamblers. Methods: The hermeneutic phenomenology approach was used to guide in-depth interviews and team interpretation of data. Sixteen women gamblers who chose to live in the casino area were recruited through snowball sampling with help from a counseling center. Participants were individually interviewed from February to April 2013 and asked to tell their stories of gambling. Transcribed interviews provided data for interpretive analysis. Results: In the study analysis one constitutive pattern was identified: moving beyond addiction by recognizing the two faces of gambling in their life. Four related themes emerged in the analysis-gambling as alluring; gambling as 'ugly'; living in contradictions; and moving beyond. Conclusion: Loneliness and isolation play a critical role in gambling experiences of women gamblers in Korea. In other words, they are motivated to gamble in order to escape from loneliness, to stop gambling for fear of being lonely as they get older, and to stay in the casnio area so as not to be alone. The need for acceptance is one fo the important factors that should be considered in developing intervention program for women.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.401-411
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• 2018

This study includes three students' whose country origin is of a political and economic success, therefore the pursuit to learn English is important. The participants evaluated in this study are two students of Korean descent and one Chinese student. The purpose was to evaluate their overall language learning experiences outside of their home country. While the participants in this study share similar cultures and learning styles their process towards second language readiness is different. The internal factors (readiness) that motivated them to study abroad were synonymous. However, the classroom situations (assessment), social settings (environment), and strategies used were disparate. The methodology of this paper used a holistic approach with a snowball sampling technique. The responses were collected by a prepared questionnaire and unstructured interviews, then later analyzed by the inductive reasoning process. The 3 specific categories identified were despondency, culture and communication conflict. The present study revealed that the participants' earlier preparation from their home country plays a significant contribution to their success abroad.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.622-631
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify health knowledge, health promoting behavior and factors influencing health promoting behavior of North Korean defectors in South Korea. Methods: Participants in this study were 410 North Korean defectors, over 20 years of age residing in Seoul. They were recruited by snowball sampling. Data were collected from April to June, 2010. Health knowledge, health promoting behavior, self-efficacy, perceived barriers to health promoting behavior and social support were measured by structured questionnaires, and perceived physical and mental health status were measured by one item with 10-point numeric rating scale. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression. Results: Health knowledge, health promoting behavior, and perceived barriers to health promoting behavior were moderate while self-efficacy and social support were high. Factors influencing health promoting behavior of the participants were found to be self-efficacy, social support and perceived barrier to health promoting behavior. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that nursing intervention programs enhancing self-efficacy, social support and reducing perceived barriers to health promoting behavior need to be developed for North Korean defectors in South Korea.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.290-306
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the experiences of health-care providers about advanced practice nurses (APNs) focusing on the perspectives of physicians and APNs in Korea. Methods: Qualitative data were collected with snowball sampling. Six physicians and 13 APNs participated in this study through in-depth interviews or a focus-group interview. Qualitative content analysis was employed. Results: Three themes and seven categories were emerged. Three themes were 1) challenging start and attempts to settle down on unfamiliar system, 2) being positioned as an APN at clinical settings, 3) long journey for social recognition and legal institutionalization of APNs' role. Seven categories were 1) challenges to new area, 2) introduction and conflict of APN system, 3) driving force for stepping toward becoming APNs, 4) dedication and commitment to role development, 5) efforts to prove APNs' competency, 6) approaches to guarantee legal APNs' activities, and 7) filling the gap in health-care service. Conclusion: The findings suggest that health-care providers who have collaborated with APNs are aware of the needs to operate APN system more stably through the legislation of APNs' scope of practices. Further research is needed to provide the evidences of APNs' practice outcomes such as health care quality, patient safety, reduction of medical expenses, etc.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.143-174
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• 2018

A cultural exchange program widens the horizons of students. It gives them the opportunity to associate with other societies and learn their cultures at the same time. This program also serves as a training ground where students enhance their skills, acquire learnings, and gain experiences that will help them in their future careers and make them more competitive than others. Hence, the objective of this study is to come up with an output from a set of guidelines established and gathered from the different "work and travel" experiences of the participants. This study adopted the phenomenological and was conducted in places that are relatively quiet for recording, and suitable and convenient for both the researchers and participants. The researchers gathered data through in-depth interviews of samples gathered through snowball sampling. Cellphones were used to record interviews. At the end of the thematic analysis of information, the researchers came up with three major categories which included: (1) 'having the opportunity to know the industry well and improve one's capability', 'undergoing different cultural exchange experiences for better development', and 'being able to practice intercultural immersion'. Some of the researchers' recommendations would be to institute a feedback mechanism such as personal interviews, monitoring visits, etc. and use the output, a set of guidelines, that would help the future 'work and travel' participants to prepare and anticipate the program they would undergo.