Lisa Sparks
Biographic Data
| ID | 187895 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Lisa Sparks |
| GIVEN NAMES | Lisa |
| FAMILY NAME | Sparks |
| SIGNATURE | SPARKS L |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Stirling |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-9280-3219 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 34 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 83 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 34 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1986 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2022 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
Ageing consumers and e-commerce activities
Technology, and particularly the internet, has transformed consumer and business behaviours. An ageing population is impacted by these contextual and operational changes. Understanding these impacts within an ageing population is important for businesses, organisations and individuals, and their e-commerce activities. Our study increases understanding about the online behaviour of older consumers. Our research question is: what is the impact of a…
Older People, Town Centres and the Revival of the ‘High Street’
Concern for the future of town centres and their retail cores, the ‘high street’, is not new. Responses to this have often been somewhat one dimensional, focusing on their role as places of consumption, employment, leisure and heritage. We consider the potential multiple roles of older people in helping revive and rejuvenate town centres given the centrality of place for healthy supportive living, community and social participation and ‘ageing in…
Identifying behavioral differences between people with and without previous cancer diagnosis
We undertake a study to determine and assess the effects of the statistically significant predictors of the behaviors and notions that are associated with a cancer diagnosis using the 2014 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) data. We implemented a new and extensive logistic regression modeling using stepwise variable selection and jackknife parameter estimation that identified the best explanatory model. Our results show that age, a…
Extending A Letter-Writing Intervention Developed for Incarcerated Mothers to Incarcerated Fathers
The number of U.S. prisoners with minor children has increased dramatically in recent decades. Although the quality of inmate-child communication is positively associated with individual and familial outcomes, innovative programming for incarcerated parents is limited. This mixed methods study explored the initial delivery to incarcerated fathers of a letter-writing intervention developed for and previously used with incarcerated mothers. Pre- to…
Non-market strategy as a framework for exploring commercial involvement in health policy
Conversing with Cancer
Putting Towns on the Policy Map
Studies of places have been dichotomised as rural or urban. Towns, however, are neither rural nor urban. Towns have been neglected in research and policy agendas. In England the recent focus has been on high streets whereas in Scotland it has been on places and towns. Understanding Scottish Places (USP) is a web based platform that has become a key tool for evidence gathering, town comparison, knowledge exchange, regeneration planning and informe…
Letters to Children
There is a scarcity of studies exploring treatment modalities specifically designed for the incarcerated mother. This paper presents findings from a program designed to help incarcerated mothers develop their ability to communicate and subsequently bond with their children by engaging in group discussions during a letter-writing process. Using mixed research methods from 16 incarcerated mothers, the participants reported (1) gaining insight into …
Retailing Evolution
Retailing has evolved from being the passive recipient of manufacturers' production and distribution, to become the dominant and controlling influence in the supply of consumer products. Consumer‐led and retailer brand‐focused, modern retailing provides for consumer needs in a multitude of ways and places, and through retail shops (and web sites) of all sizes and shapes.
Radio Frequency Identification ( RFID )
Radio frequency identification ( RFID ) has seen increased implementation in many sectors, including retailing. Combining radio‐enabled tags/labels and readers, RFID offers the potential for item‐level ‘always‐on’ product identification, though at some cost (financial and management). For retailers, there are benefits to be gained in visibility and productivity enhancements in supply chains and stock control.
Information diffusion, Facebook clusters, and the simplicial model of social aggregation
By integrating the simplicial model of social aggregation with existing research on opinion leadership and diffusion networks, this article introduces the constructs of simplicial diffusers (mathematically defined as nodes embedded in simplexes; a simplex is a socially bonded cluster) and simplicial diffusing sets (mathematically defined as minimal covers of a simplicial complex; a simplicial complex is a social aggregation in which socially bond…
Social Groups, Social Media, and Higher Dimensional Social Structures
By building on classical communication network literature, we present a computational approach to modeling tightly bound groups and social aggregations as higher dimensional social structures. Using the mathematical theory of simplicial complexes, these groups can be represented by geometric spatial elements (or simplexes) and a social aggregation a collection of simplexes (i.e., a simplicial complex). We discuss the uniting conditions that defin…
Topic Avoidance and Negative Health Perceptions in the Distant Family Caregiving Context
This study examines topic avoidance motivations and frequency from a multiple goals perspective in relation to self-reported negative health perceptions in the distant family caregiving context. A sample of 130 self-identified distant family caregivers completed an online survey about their communication with their care recipient. Overall topic avoidance and the self-protection and partner unresponsiveness motivations were significant, positive p…
Variations in fresh fruit and vegetable quality by store type, urban–rural setting and neighbourhood deprivation in Scotland
Objective Neighbourhood differences in access to fresh fruit and vegetables may explain social inequalities in diet. Investigations have focused on variations in cost and availability as barriers to the purchase and consumption of fresh produce; investigations of quality have been neglected. Here we investigate whether produce quality systematically varies by food store type, rural–urban location and neighbourhood deprivation in a selection of co…
Meeting the health literacy needs of immigrant populations
When Tony Met Bobby
In June 1999, Wal-Mart intervened spectacularly in an agreed merger between Asda and Kingfisher by paying £6.7bn to takeover Asda outright. Reactions ranged dramatically; this was the death-knell of British retailing or the redemption of British consumers. Whatever the view, Wal-Mart buying a major retailer such as Asda, and in such a significant European market, was a landmark in the globalisation of retailing. One issue around this takeover att…
Reducing Inequalities in Health and Diet
The health and diet impacts of a large-scale food retail development within a deprived area of Glasgow (Springburn) are reported. The study used a prospective quasi-experimental design which compared changes in diet and psychological health in an area where a new hypermarket was built (the intervention area) with a similarly deprived comparison area in Glasgow (Shettleston). A postal survey was undertaken both before and one year after the hyperm…
The development of a healthy eating indicator shopping basket tool (Heisb) for use in food access studies—identification of key food items
Objectives To develop an objective, nutrient-based, healthy eating indicator shopping basket (HEISB) tool for use in studies of access to healthy food. Design Tool development used a literature search to identify previous practice, web information on current definition of healthy foods by the UK Food Standards Agency, and population-based dietary surveys to identify culturally acceptable foods. These findings were then appraised with respect to p…
Weaving new retail and consumer landscapes in the Scottish Borders
Validating health impact assessment
Interdisciplinary (Retail) Research
Natural experiments
To Know or Not to Know
The Implications of Wal-Mart's Takeover of Asda
Wal-Mart is the world's largest retailer. Within the United Kingdom, retailing has generally been considered as a local or national activity. Wal-Mart's purchase of ASDA in 1999 illustrates the global scale of much modern retailing. In this paper we consider the implications of Wal-Mart's takeover of ASDA. First, the key drivers of Wal-Mart's business success are analysed. Second, the impact of Wal-Mart in Canada and Germany is considered. Third,…
The independent small shop in Scotland
Small shops are a curious paradox. When small shops are mentioned, the independent retailer is often brought to mind. Yet, many small shops are operated by multiple retailers. Given the multiple expansion, there is a need to understand the roles and problems of the independent small shop in Scotland. Whilst Scotland may be no different in this regard to other parts of the UK and the world, its geography and new Parliament might suggest new soluti…
The Development of Superstore Retailing in Great Britain 1960-1986
Superstore retailing has been the focus of much study. Most research has been based solely on trading superstores. A complete analysis of the development of the format however, has also to include refused or withdrawn applications. A database for planning applications for superstores is used here to provide an analysis of superstore development processes in Britain, disaggregated by phases of development, location and company
The Implications of Wal-Mart's Takeover of Asda
Wal-Mart is the world's largest retailer. Within the United Kingdom, retailing has generally been considered as a local or national activity. Wal-Mart's purchase of ASDA in 1999 illustrates the global scale of much modern retailing. In this paper we consider the implications of Wal-Mart's takeover of ASDA. First, the key drivers of Wal-Mart's business success are analysed. Second, the impact of Wal-Mart in Canada and Germany is considered. Third,…
The Changing Structure of Distribution in Retail Companies
The rise of superstores and hypermarkets and the associated changes in distribution patterns have attracted substantial comment. Less well understood, however, is the way in which major retailers organize physical distribution and how their rationalization of retail outlets and increased efficiency are changing the geography of the physical distribution
Weaving new retail and consumer landscapes in the Scottish Borders
Talking about Generation X
In response to a recent explosion of media attention to so-called Generation X, the authors investigated youngpeoples'responses to media constructions of this generational category label. Twenty-six volunteers aged 19-23 participated in six audiotaped focus group discussions A discourse analytic perspective enables the authors to explore how these young participants worked together to negotiate their generational identity and their position in th…
Space Wars
Food retailers in the United Kingdom in recent years have waged a battle for market share through their expansion plans. Their capital 'grounding' has (re)structured space in a real sense. Much discussion of this has been either at the micro level in terms of catchment areas and local competitive effects or at the national or supranational level through consideration of business strategies and investment and, in particular, internationalisation s…
When Tony Met Bobby
In June 1999, Wal-Mart intervened spectacularly in an agreed merger between Asda and Kingfisher by paying £6.7bn to takeover Asda outright. Reactions ranged dramatically; this was the death-knell of British retailing or the redemption of British consumers. Whatever the view, Wal-Mart buying a major retailer such as Asda, and in such a significant European market, was a landmark in the globalisation of retailing. One issue around this takeover att…
Validating health impact assessment
Interdisciplinary (Retail) Research
Information diffusion, Facebook clusters, and the simplicial model of social aggregation
By integrating the simplicial model of social aggregation with existing research on opinion leadership and diffusion networks, this article introduces the constructs of simplicial diffusers (mathematically defined as nodes embedded in simplexes; a simplex is a socially bonded cluster) and simplicial diffusing sets (mathematically defined as minimal covers of a simplicial complex; a simplicial complex is a social aggregation in which socially bond…
Social Groups, Social Media, and Higher Dimensional Social Structures
By building on classical communication network literature, we present a computational approach to modeling tightly bound groups and social aggregations as higher dimensional social structures. Using the mathematical theory of simplicial complexes, these groups can be represented by geometric spatial elements (or simplexes) and a social aggregation a collection of simplexes (i.e., a simplicial complex). We discuss the uniting conditions that defin…
Topic Avoidance and Negative Health Perceptions in the Distant Family Caregiving Context
This study examines topic avoidance motivations and frequency from a multiple goals perspective in relation to self-reported negative health perceptions in the distant family caregiving context. A sample of 130 self-identified distant family caregivers completed an online survey about their communication with their care recipient. Overall topic avoidance and the self-protection and partner unresponsiveness motivations were significant, positive p…
Reducing Inequalities in Health and Diet
The health and diet impacts of a large-scale food retail development within a deprived area of Glasgow (Springburn) are reported. The study used a prospective quasi-experimental design which compared changes in diet and psychological health in an area where a new hypermarket was built (the intervention area) with a similarly deprived comparison area in Glasgow (Shettleston). A postal survey was undertaken both before and one year after the hyperm…
Challenge and Change
Commentators have made much of the end of the so-called 'golden age' of grocery retailing. The debate has focused on the approach of grocery superstore saturation and the influx of new competitive forms such as discount stores and warehouse clubs. As with any market challenge and change, there are corporate and spatial aspects and consequences of sector restructuring. In this paper attention is focused on the introduction of Shoprite into Scotlan…
Food Superstore Retailing in Great Britain 1960-1986
Gwyn Rowley (1990) has levelled a number of charges against our earlier article (Davies and Sparks, 1989). These criticisms stem basically from a lack of understanding of the scope and focus of the original article, a misrepresentation of aspects of our work, and an apparent desire on Rowley's part to campaign for a particular source of data on retailing. These criticisms are refuted and Gwyn Rowley's recognition and acceptance of the importance …
Ageing consumers and e-commerce activities
Technology, and particularly the internet, has transformed consumer and business behaviours. An ageing population is impacted by these contextual and operational changes. Understanding these impacts within an ageing population is important for businesses, organisations and individuals, and their e-commerce activities. Our study increases understanding about the online behaviour of older consumers. Our research question is: what is the impact of a…
Non-market strategy as a framework for exploring commercial involvement in health policy
The Employment Structure of the Sunday Labour Market in Retailing
Sunday trading in Scotland is an established feature integral to the retail operations of many companies. This requires that a considerable number of people take up paid employment on Sunday. Illegal Sunday trading in England and Wales, particularly since Christmas 1991, has made similar demands on retail staff. In this paper Sunday employment in superstores in Scotland with its more established and legal Sunday working, is compared with England …
Retailing in Enterprise Zones
SPARKS L. (1987) Retailing in Enterprise Zones: the example of Swansea, Reg. Studies 21, 37–42. Enterprise Zones have attracted considerable discussion. One aspect has however been neglected, that of retailing developments. This paper points to the importance of the retail developments that have taken place within the Swansea Enterprise Zone, placing the analysis within the context of the control of retailing in Enterprise Zones nationally, and t…
Defining the Local Labour Market
This study is an attempt to identify key factors which interact with journey-to-work characteristics to determine the delimitation of local labour markets. A case study of superstores is used. The results are useful in formulating expectations for the extent of different labour markets for superstores. This type of information may be of value in assessing the spatial employment impact of a new superstore and thus has important implications for pl…
The Changing Structure of Distribution in Retail Companies
The rise of superstores and hypermarkets and the associated changes in distribution patterns have attracted substantial comment. Less well understood, however, is the way in which major retailers organize physical distribution and how their rationalization of retail outlets and increased efficiency are changing the geography of the physical distribution
Defining the Local Labour Market
This study is an attempt to identify key factors which interact with journey-to-work characteristics to determine the delimitation of local labour markets. A case study of superstores is used. The results are useful in formulating expectations for the extent of different labour markets for superstores. This type of information may be of value in assessing the spatial employment impact of a new superstore and thus has important implications for pl…
Retailing in Enterprise Zones
SPARKS L. (1987) Retailing in Enterprise Zones: the example of Swansea, Reg. Studies 21, 37–42. Enterprise Zones have attracted considerable discussion. One aspect has however been neglected, that of retailing developments. This paper points to the importance of the retail developments that have taken place within the Swansea Enterprise Zone, placing the analysis within the context of the control of retailing in Enterprise Zones nationally, and t…
The Development of Superstore Retailing in Great Britain 1960-1986
Superstore retailing has been the focus of much study. Most research has been based solely on trading superstores. A complete analysis of the development of the format however, has also to include refused or withdrawn applications. A database for planning applications for superstores is used here to provide an analysis of superstore development processes in Britain, disaggregated by phases of development, location and company
Food Superstore Retailing in Great Britain 1960-1986
Gwyn Rowley (1990) has levelled a number of charges against our earlier article (Davies and Sparks, 1989). These criticisms stem basically from a lack of understanding of the scope and focus of the original article, a misrepresentation of aspects of our work, and an apparent desire on Rowley's part to campaign for a particular source of data on retailing. These criticisms are refuted and Gwyn Rowley's recognition and acceptance of the importance …
The Employment Structure of the Sunday Labour Market in Retailing
Sunday trading in Scotland is an established feature integral to the retail operations of many companies. This requires that a considerable number of people take up paid employment on Sunday. Illegal Sunday trading in England and Wales, particularly since Christmas 1991, has made similar demands on retail staff. In this paper Sunday employment in superstores in Scotland with its more established and legal Sunday working, is compared with England …
Challenge and Change
Commentators have made much of the end of the so-called 'golden age' of grocery retailing. The debate has focused on the approach of grocery superstore saturation and the influx of new competitive forms such as discount stores and warehouse clubs. As with any market challenge and change, there are corporate and spatial aspects and consequences of sector restructuring. In this paper attention is focused on the introduction of Shoprite into Scotlan…
Space Wars
Food retailers in the United Kingdom in recent years have waged a battle for market share through their expansion plans. Their capital 'grounding' has (re)structured space in a real sense. Much discussion of this has been either at the micro level in terms of catchment areas and local competitive effects or at the national or supranational level through consideration of business strategies and investment and, in particular, internationalisation s…
Talking about Generation X
In response to a recent explosion of media attention to so-called Generation X, the authors investigated youngpeoples'responses to media constructions of this generational category label. Twenty-six volunteers aged 19-23 participated in six audiotaped focus group discussions A discourse analytic perspective enables the authors to explore how these young participants worked together to negotiate their generational identity and their position in th…
The independent small shop in Scotland
Small shops are a curious paradox. When small shops are mentioned, the independent retailer is often brought to mind. Yet, many small shops are operated by multiple retailers. Given the multiple expansion, there is a need to understand the roles and problems of the independent small shop in Scotland. Whilst Scotland may be no different in this regard to other parts of the UK and the world, its geography and new Parliament might suggest new soluti…
The Implications of Wal-Mart's Takeover of Asda
Wal-Mart is the world's largest retailer. Within the United Kingdom, retailing has generally been considered as a local or national activity. Wal-Mart's purchase of ASDA in 1999 illustrates the global scale of much modern retailing. In this paper we consider the implications of Wal-Mart's takeover of ASDA. First, the key drivers of Wal-Mart's business success are analysed. Second, the impact of Wal-Mart in Canada and Germany is considered. Third,…
To Know or Not to Know
Natural experiments
Interdisciplinary (Retail) Research
The development of a healthy eating indicator shopping basket tool (Heisb) for use in food access studies—identification of key food items
Objectives To develop an objective, nutrient-based, healthy eating indicator shopping basket (HEISB) tool for use in studies of access to healthy food. Design Tool development used a literature search to identify previous practice, web information on current definition of healthy foods by the UK Food Standards Agency, and population-based dietary surveys to identify culturally acceptable foods. These findings were then appraised with respect to p…
Weaving new retail and consumer landscapes in the Scottish Borders
Validating health impact assessment
Meeting the health literacy needs of immigrant populations
When Tony Met Bobby
In June 1999, Wal-Mart intervened spectacularly in an agreed merger between Asda and Kingfisher by paying £6.7bn to takeover Asda outright. Reactions ranged dramatically; this was the death-knell of British retailing or the redemption of British consumers. Whatever the view, Wal-Mart buying a major retailer such as Asda, and in such a significant European market, was a landmark in the globalisation of retailing. One issue around this takeover att…
Reducing Inequalities in Health and Diet
The health and diet impacts of a large-scale food retail development within a deprived area of Glasgow (Springburn) are reported. The study used a prospective quasi-experimental design which compared changes in diet and psychological health in an area where a new hypermarket was built (the intervention area) with a similarly deprived comparison area in Glasgow (Shettleston). A postal survey was undertaken both before and one year after the hyperm…
Variations in fresh fruit and vegetable quality by store type, urban–rural setting and neighbourhood deprivation in Scotland
Objective Neighbourhood differences in access to fresh fruit and vegetables may explain social inequalities in diet. Investigations have focused on variations in cost and availability as barriers to the purchase and consumption of fresh produce; investigations of quality have been neglected. Here we investigate whether produce quality systematically varies by food store type, rural–urban location and neighbourhood deprivation in a selection of co…
Topic Avoidance and Negative Health Perceptions in the Distant Family Caregiving Context
This study examines topic avoidance motivations and frequency from a multiple goals perspective in relation to self-reported negative health perceptions in the distant family caregiving context. A sample of 130 self-identified distant family caregivers completed an online survey about their communication with their care recipient. Overall topic avoidance and the self-protection and partner unresponsiveness motivations were significant, positive p…
Social Groups, Social Media, and Higher Dimensional Social Structures
By building on classical communication network literature, we present a computational approach to modeling tightly bound groups and social aggregations as higher dimensional social structures. Using the mathematical theory of simplicial complexes, these groups can be represented by geometric spatial elements (or simplexes) and a social aggregation a collection of simplexes (i.e., a simplicial complex). We discuss the uniting conditions that defin…
Retailing Evolution
Retailing has evolved from being the passive recipient of manufacturers' production and distribution, to become the dominant and controlling influence in the supply of consumer products. Consumer‐led and retailer brand‐focused, modern retailing provides for consumer needs in a multitude of ways and places, and through retail shops (and web sites) of all sizes and shapes.
Radio Frequency Identification ( RFID )
Radio frequency identification ( RFID ) has seen increased implementation in many sectors, including retailing. Combining radio‐enabled tags/labels and readers, RFID offers the potential for item‐level ‘always‐on’ product identification, though at some cost (financial and management). For retailers, there are benefits to be gained in visibility and productivity enhancements in supply chains and stock control.
Business (17 works) · Geography (15 works) · Political science (14 works) · Economics (11 works) · Medicine (11 works) · Sociology (10 works) · Computer Science (9 works) · Psychology (9 works) · Consumer Retail Behavior Studies (8 works) · Marketing (8 works)