This research focuses on teaching–learning behavior in the online environment under crisis conditions, such as those caused by COVID-19. Data were collected from 427 participants from Central and Eastern Europe and North and Central Asia. An integrative mixed method design was used, combining components of both qualitative and quantitative research. The research method used was the inquiry based on a semi-structured questionnaire, which combined closed items with open-ended and semi-structured interviews. The quantitative results revealed significant differences between professors and students regarding the self-reported adaptability level, creativity, need for help in online teaching–learning, and collaboration with colleagues for solving problems in the online teaching–learning medium. The opinions of professors do not differ from those of students regarding the advantages, disadvantages, vulnerable areas, and aspects of online education. Thematic analysis, used to analyze the qualitative data, emphasized the participants’ perceptions of online teaching–learning efficiency in crises. Based on the results, it was concluded that the aspects that need to become a priority in online education concern mainly the didactic quality of the learning experience.

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Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to define the scientific production and productivity, and to present the main indicators for the measurement of the scientific activity. The impact of the research is to be measured and analyzed through citation analysis. Design/methodology-This is an exploratory study made at the Transilvania University of Brasov to evaluate the research output of the faculty. The author analyzed the 2008 research performance as documented in its annual evaluation that states the number of papers, books, and research contracts. Using Publish or Perish, the author calculated the H-index, G-index, HC-index and HI norm, of the 60 more-productive professors. Correlation indicators are presented and the importance of open access tools and repositories for increasing the impact of scientific research is discussed. Findings-The Publish or Perish software is an easy to use instrument for analyzing the impact of research. It calculates the impact of the researchers using the very visible resource, Google Scholar. Google Scholar has better indexing of proceedings and non-English language material than ISI Web of Science but does not perform so well tracking citations from books and chapters of books. Research limitations/implications-Authors' impact analysis and citations are not an assessment tool in Romanian universities, but it is commonly accepted that increasing research impact through more citations is one qualitative indicator. Practical implications-It was suggested to the faculty that all professors have to be analysed with the same indicator. Further, Google Scholar and the H-index obtained using Publish or Perish offer tools for assessing scientific research in a university and for evaluating professors. Social implications-The results showed that an open access institutional repository would significantly add to the visibility of the university's scientific production. Originality/value-The paper presents the methodology and the results of an exploratory study made at the Transilvania University of Brasov regarding the H-Index of the academic staff. It analyzes the research performances achieved by Brasov academic community in 2008, as realised in its annual evaluation-number of papers, books, research contracts, etc.-by comparing the four indexes of those 60 professors with the best results.

An online survey instrument was developed in order to collect data from professionals regarding their familiarity with, knowledge and awareness of, and opinions on copyright-related issues. Findings-Findings of this study highlight gaps in existing knowledge and information about the level of copyright literacy competencies of LIS and cultural sector professionals and attitudes towards copyright learning content in academic education and continuing professional development training programs. Originality/value-This study aimed to address a gap in the literature by encompassing specialists from the cultural institutions in an international comparative context. The article furthers understanding of copyright in a wider framework of digital and information literacy; and offers guidance for the implementation of copyright policy, and the establishment of copyright advisor positions in cultural institutions. The recommendations support a revision of academic and continuing education programs learning curriculum and methods.

BackgroundThe main objective of this cross sectional study was to assess the psychometric properties of a new research instrument. The secondary aim was to analyze patients’ levels of dissatisfaction with the professionalism of medical staff.MethodsA social survey questionnaire was created and administered online. The instrument consisted of two scales: the 30-item patient dissatisfaction scale and the 10 items institutional scale. In this article, we assessed only the patient dissatisfaction scale. The research population includes 1838 subjects. The statistical procedures used were descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and factorial analyses with the SPSS.19 software. The internal consistency of the instrument was determined using the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. We used a principal component analysis to investigate the factorial validity of the scale.ResultsThe patients’ scale of dissatisfaction obtained an alpha Cronbach score of 0.81. Three latent factors corresponding to three dimensions of dissatisfaction emerged from the data: medical staff’s ability to communicate, medical staff’s hygiene, as well as sanitary and privacy conditions within the hospital. The first factor explained 43.47% of the variance in patient dissatisfaction, the second factor explained 10.24%, and the third factor explained 7.59%; overall, the three factors explained 61.30% of the total variance.ConclusionThe Romanian healthcare system has an organization and management structure which has shown few changes since the communist period. Our study indicates that although more than 25 years have passed since the political regime changed in Romania and the introduction of a different system of social care, there have been no corresponding changes in the medical staff’s mentality or in the way that patients are approached. The present assessment of patient dissatisfaction is not a strictly theoretical exercise; it also represents a valuable instrument for healthcare system management.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12913-017-2412-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.