Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Focus group data'
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Briggs, Robert Owen. "The focus theory of group productivity and its application to development and testing of electronic group support systems." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/186938.
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This dissertation develops the Focus Theory of Group Productivity, describes the use of the theory to guide development of several electronic group support tools, and reports the results of experiments testing whether the tools yield the predicted productivity gains. Focus theory posits that to be productive group members must divide their attention between three cognitive processes: communication, Deliberation, and information access. Communication, Deliberation, and information access are, in turn, constrained by limited attention and fading memory. Finally group members are only willing to engage their attention resources to the extent that the group goal is congruent with their individual goals. Electronic tools can reduce the attention demand of each of the three cognitive processes, and focus participant attention on appropriate problem-solving behaviors. Electronic tools can foster goal congruence under some circumstances. This dissertation describes how Focus Theory guided the development of the several electronic tools to support the needs of real groups experiencing real productivity problems. It reports the results of several laboratory experiments to test the goal-congruence hypothesis of Focus Theory. The first experiment frames social loafing and social comparison as goal congruence issues, showing that subjects using a real-time graph to compare their own performance to that of an average group generated more unique ideas than a group with no basis for comparison. Facilitation techniques boosted the salience of the comparison, further increasing performance. The second study frames affective reward as a goal congruence issue and develops and validates a measure for the construct. The third study frames user interface design in terms of goal congruence and demonstrates the strengths (pointing, selecting, moving, fine motor control) and weaknesses (handwriting recognition) of pen-based interfaces in those terms. The fourth study frames the classroom as a group-productivity setting and demonstrates that group support systems can be used to improve classroom interactions.
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Rice, Nolte Penelope. "A Chorus of Voices: Re-Examining Focus Group Data for Evidence of Personal and Institutional Change." ScholarWorks @ UVM, 2008. http://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/193.
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Seven Vermont school districts participated in a five year professional development program sponsored jointly by the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education from 2002-2007. Using a robust mixed methods evaluation, teachers and students demonstrate pronounced organizational and academic growth. Analysis of data from focus groups held with teachers over the course of the period from fall 2004-spring 2006 provides strong supporting evidence for the growth. The purpose of this dissertation is to reanalyze the focus group data to document institutional and longitudinal change at the first person level. With focus groups as the unit of analysis, themes rising from the anonymous participants‟ I statements form the substance for this review. By revisiting an extensive pre-existing data set with a different method of analysis, this work expands on what is known about how teachers process change on the ground level. The findings reveal how complex individual feelings about one‟s experiences serve to describe degrees of institutional as well as personal change. New thematic coding confirms the original findings of the program evaluation. More importantly, the findings provide new details and understandings about organizational change and growth previously unobserved in the aggregate reports. By way of a methodological contribution, the research findings suggest and demonstrate an alternative approach to the analysis of focus group data in the aggregate.
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Blanchet, Alyssa N. "The Acceptability of a Food Purchases “Snapshot” on Making Heart Healthy Food Choices for Adults at Risk of Cardiovascular Disease." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1593266079597144.
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Parrish, Jan R. "A STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A TRUANCY REDUCTION PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS." VCU Scholars Compass, 2015. http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/3868.
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This study utilized a mixed methods design. The study was carried out in two phases. In the first phase of the study, a secondary data analysis of data were collected from a sample (n = 390) of middle and high school students who participated in a truancy pilot program launched during the 2012-2013 school year with follow-up services provided through June 2014. The sample was divided into two groups (treatment and control). The treatment group was diverted from court referral and participated in an intervention consisting of in-home counseling and case management services. The control group was referred to court and went through the traditional court process and received no treatment services. The effectiveness of the intervention was measured through the collection of pre and post intervention data consisting of the number of unexcused absences, disciplinary referrals, beginning and final grades in English, math, science, and social studies. As a final variable, retention and promotion rates were examined. The
effectiveness of the truancy reduction intervention was measured by the amount of reduction in these variables following the implementation of the treatment. Data in the first phase of the study were collected by the Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) in partnership with the school district and other agencies.
Further analysis was performed in Phase II of the study utilizing a single school case study design. Qualitative case study is an approach to research that allows the researcher to explore a phenomenon within its context using a variety of data sources. For this phase of the study, data were collected through a survey and a focus group using a sample of students from the treatment and control group of the truancy pilot program. The focus group was designed to gain insight from the voices of the students regarding their perceptions of the factors that influence truancy and the effectiveness of truancy intervention.
The statistical procedures used to examine the quantitative data included Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Chi Square. Analysis of data collected in Phase I of the study revealed that there was no difference in the effect of treatment for students who were diverted from court to treatment services and those who went through the traditional court process and received no treatment. This finding was supported by results of the analysis of data from the survey and focus group. Results indicated that students did not perceive either invention as being more effective than the other in reducing their truancy. Further, results of the survey and focus group indicated that school factors, not family factors, had the greatest impact on the students’ nonattendance. School factors such as safety, teacher and student relationships, and teacher expectations were identified as primary themes. The findings suggest that the truancy pilot intervention’s focus on family factors as a means of reducing chronic truancy may have been focused in the wrong direction. .
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Rajab, Aziza A. "A methodology for developing a nursing education minimum dataset." [Tampa, Fla.] : University of South Florida, 2005. http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/SFE0001412.
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Flores, Giovana Shai’anne da Silva. "Análise da relação entre investimentos ambientais e desempenho econômico." Universidade do Vale do Rio do Sinos, 2009. http://www.repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/2848.
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Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar a relação entre os investimentos ambientais e o desempenho econômico das empresas. Para tanto, foram construídos arquétipos a partir de um grupo de foco, visando a definir as variáveis utilizadas nos modelos de regressão múltipla testados. Desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa aplicada, com abordagens qualitativa e quantitativa, documental e descritiva, contando com uma amostra de 353 empresas, compreendendo as informações contidas nos balanços sociais modelo IBASE, publicados no período de 1996 a 2007. No tratamento dos dados, aplicou-se um modelo econométrico cujos resultados indicam que os Investimentos Ambientais Internos (IAI) e os Investimentos Ambientais Externos (IAE) impactam, de modo significante, tanto a Receita Líquida (RL) das empresas quanto o Resultado Operacional (RO), sendo o único setor significativo o de petróleo e gás. Ao serem relacionadas às variáveis definidas pelo grupo de foco com a RL, constata-se que os IAI não apresentam correlação. Esta somente ocorre
This study investigates the relationship between environmental investment and economic performance of firms that published in the social balance through the Brazilian Institute of Social and Economic Analysis (IBASE) in the period between 1996 to 2007. Using archetypes built from a focus group through system dynamics, there was defined the variables used on the regression analyses with panel data. The results indicate that the Internal Environmental Investments (IEI) and the External Environmental Investments (EEI) impact significantly the Liquid Revenue (LR) of the firms and the Operational Result (OR). When the variables defined by the focus group were related to the LR there is no co-relation among the IEI. However, the EEI are highly co-related and the variables Investment on Immobilized and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) also present a positive co-relation with LR. On the use of rates to observe that both IEI and Investment on Immobilized present a negative co-relation with LR, while EEI and GDP present a
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Cyr, J. "The Pitfalls and Promise of Focus Groups as a Data Collection Method." SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/615820.
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Despite their long trajectory in the social sciences, few systematic works
analyze how often and for what purposes focus groups appear in published
works. This study fills this gap by undertaking a meta-analysis of focus group
use over the last 10 years. It makes several contributions to our understanding
of when and why focus groups are used in the social sciences. First, the study
explains that focus groups generate data at three units of analysis, namely, the
individual, the group, and the interaction. Although most researchers rely
upon the individual unit of analysis, the method’s comparative advantage lies in
the group and interactive units. Second, it reveals strong affinities between
each unit of analysis and the primary motivation for using focus groups as a data
collection method. The individual unit of analysis is appropriate for triangulation;
the group unit is appropriate as a pretest; and the interactive unit is
appropriate for exploration. Finally, it offers a set of guidelines that researchers
should adopt when presenting focus groups as part of their research design.
Researchers should, first, state the main purpose of the focus group in a
research design; second, identify the primary unit of analysis exploited; and
finally, list the questions used to collect data in the focus group.
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Giesbert, Lena-Anna. "Microinsurance and risk management." Doctoral thesis, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Landwirtschaftlich-Gärtnerische Fakultät, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.18452/16900.
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Im Zuge der rasanten Verbreitung von Mikrokrediten und Mikrosparprodukten werden seit etwa einem Jahrzehnt auch Mikroversicherungen an einkommensschwache Haushalte in Entwicklungsländern verkauft. Sie stellen für diese Haushalte eine Möglichkeit dar, mit den Folgen von Risiken besser umzugehen und somit ihren Wohlstand zu steigern. Diese Arbeit verwendet quantitative und qualitative Analysemethoden – basierend auf eigenen Haushaltsumfragen und Fokusgruppendiskussionen –, um die Aufnahmebedingungen von Mikroversicherung in Ghana zu untersuchen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen erstens, dass über Standarddeterminanten der Versicherungsnachfrage hinaus Faktoren informeller Vertrauensbildung und die subjektive Risikoeinschätzung eine entscheidende Rolle spielen. Dies begründet sich in bestehenden Informationsasymmetrien und einer geringen Erfahrung mit dem Versicherungsprodukt und dem Versicherer. Ferner steht die Nutzung von Mikrolebensversicherung in einer sich verstärkenden Beziehung zu der Nutzung anderer formaler Finanzdienstleistungen. Zweitens wird deutlich, dass der Wert (Client Value), den die Zielgruppe in Mikroversicherung sieht, nicht allein auf Kosten- und Nutzenerwägungen basiert. Vielmehr spielen auch emotionale- und soziale Aspekte eine Rolle. Der Kundenwert wird dabei von Faktoren wie (geringen) Finanz- und Versicherungskenntnissen, der Beeinflussung durch die soziale Gruppe und dem Vergleich mit alternativen Risikomanagementstrategien beeinflusst. Drittens bestehen genderspezifische Muster in der Aufnahme von Mikrolebensversicherung, die mit dem Haushaltstyp und regional unterschiedlichen soziokulturellen Bedingungen zusammenhängen. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass Präferenzen bezüglich Lebensversicherung innerhalb von Haushalten variieren und die Wahrscheinlichkeit eines Versicherungskaufs mit wachsender Verhandlungsstärke der Frau zunimmt. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass Frauen eine besonders wichtige Zielgruppe für Mikrolebensversicherungen sind.Microinsurance has been the third financial service – following microcredit and microsavings - to enter emerging financial markets in the developing world. It is widely regarded as a promising innovation that could provide high welfare gains, given that low-income people often lack efficient strategies to manage and cope with risks. This thesis applies quantitative econometric and qualitative methods – based on own household and individual survey data and focus group discussions – to investigate participation patterns and perceived value in micro life insurance in Ghana. The results of this thesis show that household, first, uptake of micro life insurance does not entirely follow the predictions made by standard insurance theories. Informal trust-building mechanisms and subjective risk perceptions turn out to play an important role in the context of information asymmetries and limited experience with formal insurance. Furthermore, there is a mutually reinforcing relationship between micro life insurance and other formal financial services available in the rural and semi-urban study areas in Ghana. Second, the perceived value of microinsurance consists not only of the expected or experienced benefits and costs, but also of quality, emotional and social dimensions. Perceptions of high or low value are driven by large discrepancies between expectations and experiences, clients’ knowledge about insurance, their interaction with peers, and the availability and effectiveness of alternative risk management options. Third, there are gender-specific patterns of market participation between and within households that are intertwined with the household type and regionally varying sociocultural conditions. Spousal preferences on insurance differ and women with a higher bargaining power are more likely to purchase insurance on their own. The results suggest that women are an important target group for the provision of micro life insurance.
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Rankin, Lela Antoinette. "Ideal Dating Styles and Meanings of Romantic Relationships Among White and Latino High School Students: A Multi-Method Approach." Diss., Tucson, Arizona : University of Arizona, 2006. http://etd.library.arizona.edu/etd/GetFileServlet?file=file:///data1/pdf/etd/azu%5Fetd%5F1554%5F1%5Fm.pdf&type=application/pdf.
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Lauer, David. "Let's Make a Deal: Consumers, Negotiation and Telecommunications Pricing in Canada." Thèse, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/22693.
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The aim of this study is to re-contextualize prior negotiation theory emanating from the field of communications in a unique contemporary setting. The research focuses on the Canadian residential telecommunications sector, where the dominant business model involves the use of a rather peculiar variable pricing strategy, which has compelled a proportion of consumers to adopt competitive negotiation strategies. Through a series of three focus groups, the project gleans insight into the participants’ experiences and perceptions of the telecommunications procurement process. Based on prior theoretical assumptions and on this original research, the study tests the appropriateness of descriptive phase models of negotiation in the Canadian telecommunications industry, providing a new dimension to the nascent body of academic research in this area.
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Clark, Marian Cherie. "The effect of age of analyst and reform of data on the results of focus groups with older persons." FIU Digital Commons, 1995. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2373.
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Focus groups, a typical market research method used with young consumers, are currently being used with older consumers to identify the needs and desires of this potential market segment. Research suggests, however, that social interaction and risk taking behaviors may be different for older and younger persons. The current practice of using young persons to analyze and interpret the discussions of older focus group members may be a serious methodological error. To test this, twenty young men and women (age range 17-35), and twenty old men and women (age range 65-89) analyzed either videotapes or typed transcripts of focus group discussions held with older persons. It was hypothesized that older adults would analyze and interpret discussions of other older adults differently than would young persons and that videotapes would provide more information, most notably nonverbal cues, than would transcripts. However, results indicate that older and younger analysts did not categorize discussion components differently. Participants did not see, hear, or read different information based on age or form of discussion data used. For ratings of emotions expressed by focus group members and selecting quotes representing group discussions, videotaped discussions appeared to interfere with these tasks. Finally, significant age differences were found for recommendations for marketing the bath system discussed in the focus groups. Older persons were more likely than young persons to choose the two extremes of either marketing the bath with no changes or not putting it on the market at all. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for the conduct of focus groups with older adults, guidelines for the use of videotapes versus typed transcripts in focus group analysis, and the importance of hiring older persons to serve as both moderators and analysts of focus groups held with older adults.
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Wibäck, Jenny. "Ökat kompetensutnyttjande - en nyckel till att öka det ideella engagemanget i en brukshundklubb?" Thesis, Halmstad University, School of Social and Health Sciences (HOS), 2007. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-561.
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The basic intention of this study is founded on an ambition to make
change within the competing activity at “Svenska Brukshundklubbens Halmstadavdelning” (SBK Halmstad). This is a local association for owners of working dogs, where I am one of the members. A problem in engage a larger number of voluntarily working members in the association has been established and discussed over several years. My premier aim was to make the members award of different perspectives of the problem. This was made by a presentation of made up assertions in focus groups. The interpretations that have been made from the result of the study are influenced from my former experiences from my membership of the association. From these interpretations I have made an analysis which mainly illustrates a need of reorganizing in tasks and improved communication among groups of the members. Eventually I have framed a plan of actions, which expresses my understanding of how the problem can be solved by an increased use of competence. Since I have learned a lot from my friends in SBK Halmstad, I hope this study will be significant in the future development of this association and others.
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Tremblay, Monica Chiarini. "Uncertainty in the information supply chain : integrating multiple health care data sources." [Tampa, Fla.] : University of South Florida, 2007. http://purl.fcla.edu/usf/dc/et/SFE0002086.
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Reis, Catarina Isabel Ferreira Viveiros Tavares dos. "Monitor and visualize schizophrenic patients' performance in e-therapy contexts." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/32222.
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This work was partially supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the National Strategic Reference Program and the PROTEC program with the PhD scholarship.A e-Terapia surge no contexto da e-Saúde Mental como uma nova forma de conduzir sessões de terapia através da utilização das Tecnologias da Informação e da Comunicação (TIC). A e-Terapia tem como principal objectivo melhorar a qualidade dos serviços fornecidos e o bem-estar das pessoas, oferecendo serviços e informação através da Internet e de outras TIC. Esta nova forma de ajuda permite melhorar a qualidade de vida das pessoas no seu dia-a-dia e, eventualmente, os seus relacionamentos interpessoais. O trabalho aqui descrito está integrado num projecto de e-Terapia com uma equipa multidisciplinar de profissionais de saúde, engenheiros de software e designers gráficos. O intuito deste projecto consiste na concepção, criação e entrega de uma ferramenta de e-Terapia especialmente dedicada à população dos utentes diagnosticados com esquizofrenia do Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, em Barcelona, Espanha. eSchi é o sistema de e-Terapia que desenvolvemos. Surge como solução que fornece um portal web com um conjunto integrado de ferramentas multimédia que ajudam no processo de reabilitação cognitiva dos utentes com dia- gnóstico de esquizofrenia. Esta aplicação, feita à medida, fornece um ambiente de e- Terapia para os utentes esquizofrénicos e permite aos profissionais de saúde conduzirem sessões de terapia relacionadas com a cognição usando ferramentas multimédia. Este sistema também irá permitir aos seus utilizadores, tanto aos utentes como aos profissionais de saúde, monitorizar e visualizar os resultados obtidos nas diversas sessões. É importante fornecer feedback aos utilizadores finais e dar-lhes a conhecer o seu desempenho e, em que medida, atingiram os objectivos pretendidos para cada sessão. Como resultado, o sistema usa um modelo de monitorização para registar o desempenho dos utentes e um modelo de visualização para apresentar o feedback gráfico e visual adequado para os utilizadores. Resumindo, o principal objectivo é estudar o que se pode aprender quando se registam e visualizam os resultados de utentes diagnosticados com esquizofrenia envolvidos em sessões de e-Terapia. De forma a obter uma resposta para a questão de investigação, adoptámos uma metodologia eficiente para conduzir o trabalho empírico. Elegemos o caso de estudo como meio de abordagem e, mais especificamente, optámos por múltiplos casos de estudo exploratórios. Só depois de obter os dados será possível analisar e explorar a informação. Os resultados destes casos de estudo não são previsíveis. Perante a selecção do método de caso de estudo foi tido em especial consideração o facto de se obter os dados recorrendo a uma grande diversidade de técnicas (entrevistas, observação participatória, trabalho de campo e fontes de dados escritas tais como memos, cartas, relatórios e mensagens de correio electrónico).
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Aldag, Laura Jeanne 1962. "Comparison of focus groups to in-depth interviews in terms of factor generation, time requirements, and ease of data collection with Hispanic and Anglo college women." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/278099.
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This study compared focus groups and in-depth interviews in terms of number of factors generated, time and cost requirements, and ease of data collection. Participants were 18 to 24 year old Hispanic and Anglo college women. The discussion topic was factors influencing food choices. Eight focus groups were conducted, four Anglo (n = 13) and four Hispanic (n = 12). Thirty-eight Anglo (n = 16) and Hispanic (n = 12) in-depth interviews were completed. A total of 83 unique factors were identified. Focus groups and in-depth interviews yielded 79 and 73 factors, respectively. The mean number of factors for focus groups was 33.8 compared to 37.0 for randomly selected in-depth interviews grouped to form "nominal groups". However, this was not a significant difference. Focus groups required 66.8 hours and cost $292.40 to yield 79 factors while in-depth interviews required 147.0 hours and cost $624.75 for 73. Focus groups were more difficult to arrange but easier to conduct.
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Capp, Stan, and kimg@deakin edu au. "The Geelong Community's Priorities and Expectations of Public Health Care." Deakin University. School of Health Sciences, 2001. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20040505.114253.
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Abstract
This thesis set out to achieve the following objectives:
(1) To identify the priorities and expectations that the Geelong community has of its public health care system.
(2) To determine if there is a common view on the attributes of a just health system.
(3) To consider a method of utilising the data in the determination of health care priority setting in Barwon Health.
(4) To determine a model of community participation which enables ongoing input into the decision making processes of Barwon Health.
The methodology involved a combination of qualitative and quantitative research. The qualitative work involved the use of focus groups that were conducted with 64 members of the Geelong community. The issues raised informed the development of the interview schedule that was the basis of the quantitative study, which surveyed a representative sample of 400 members of the Geelong community. Prior to reporting on this work, the areas of distributive justice, scarcity and community participation in health care were considered. The research found that timely access to public hospitals, emergency care and aged care services were the major priorities; for many people, the cost was less relevant than a quality service. Shorter waiting times and increased staffing levels were strongly supported. Increased taxes were nominated as the best means of financing the health system they sought. Community based services were less relevant than hospital services but health education was supported. An egalitarian approach to resource distribution was favoured although the community was prepared to discriminate in favour of younger people and against older people. There was strong support for the community to be involved in decision making in the public health care system through surveys or focus groups but very little support was given to priorities being determined by politicians, administrators and to a lesser extent, medical professionals.
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Risimati, Hasani Pius. "The principal's role in the management of parent involvement in secondary schools in rural areas in Northern Province." Diss., 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/806.
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Risimati, Hasani Pius. "Whole school evaluation in rural primary schools in Limpopo Province." Thesis, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/2224.
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School evaluation has increased in importance in recent years, particularly at the level of the whole school. It is the process which assesses the worth and merits of the institution. Due to the fact that, in most cases, evaluation is judgemental, the notion of Whole School Evaluation (WSE) was introduced into the South African education system by the national Department of Education after the 1994 democratic election. WSE has since then became the official evaluation system in South Africa. In WSE schools undergo internal as well as external evaluation. The results of the evaluation are then used by schools to draw the School Improvement Plans which are aimed at school improvement. This study explores the implementation of WSE in rural primary schools in Limpopo Province. A literature study investigated school evaluation within the international and the South African context, the provision of education in Limpopo Province and existing models of WSE. Against the background of the conceptual framework provided by the literature, a qualitative investigation was done in four primary schools in the Vhembe district in Limpopo Province. Data were gathered by means of in-depth interviews with principals of schools and supervisors. The researcher also conducted focus group interviews with School Management Team (SMT) members from participating schools. Data was analysed, discussed and synthesized. Analysed data revealed the following findings: schools experience difficulties in conducting self-evaluation, educator development in rural primary schools in Limpopo is a problem and the district and the Department of Education do not assist schools concerning development after WSE has been conducted. As a result of these findings, there is a need to assist schools in their development endeavours after WSE. The district officials as well as supervisors should find ways and means of assisting schools in the route to development. Areas for further investigation that would enhance WSE in rural primary schools have been identified. Finally, the conclusion is drawn that schools need to be rehabilitated after WSE. This will assist in developing the whole institution and improving the level of education in South African schools.Educational Studies
D. Ed. (Education Management)
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Risimati, Hasani Pius. "The principal's role in the management of parent involvement in secondary schools in rural areas in Northern Province." 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/17621.
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DissertationThis study explores the role of the principal in the management of parent involvement in secondary schools in Northern Province. A literature study investigated existing theories and models of parent involvement; parent involvement in the South African context and the provision of education in South Africa in historical perspective. It also investigated the managerial role of the principal in parent involvement. A qualitative investigation in three secondary schools in Northern Province was done. Data were gathered by means of participant observation in-depth interviews with principals and focus-group interviews with teachers and three parents on the school governing bodies. Analysed data revealed the following findings: principals lack knowledge on parent involvement and schools lack policies and organisational structures dealing with parent involvement as well as home-school relations. As a result of these findings, there is a need to equip principals with ways in which they can involve parents in their schools.
Educational Leadership and Management
M. Ed. (Educational Management)
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Louw, Cecilia Jacomina. "Die aard, doel en effektiwiteit van assessering in tersiêre wiskunde (Afrikaans)." Thesis, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/25657.
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Mathematics, as a subject, is used in various scientific careers as a selection tool. It is regarded as the cornerstone of scientific literacy. However, since learners in South Africa do not perform optimally in mathematics they do not enjoy international recognition. Education renewal is ongoing, and South Africa currently follows an outcomes-based (OBE) approach. The teaching of mathematics cannot be renewed successfully if assessment methods are not regularly adapted to meet new developments in the field. The incorporation of an OBE approach at school level made it necessary to facilitate assessment renewal in tertiary mathematics at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). TUT is engaged in a merger of three institutions, which has made the development of new curricula and teaching material essential. Hence this a perfect time to introduce assessment renewal. The primary purpose of this thesis is to report on the research study and its results, and to make recommendations for improving the practice. The overarching research hypothesis in this study is that a suitable assessment would probably enhance the effectiveness of a student’s learning. The research focused on the following questions: -- To what extent are outcomes-based strategies effectively and regularly introduced in the teaching of mathematics at TUT? -- Will tertiary mathematics facilitators be prepared to implement outcomes-based strategies at TUT? -- To what extent are outcomes-based strategies strategies in subjects supported by mathematics implemented at TUT? -- How does the ecology of TUT affect the implementation of outcomes-based strategies? -- What other factors could influence the level of implementation of OBS at TUT? -- Have any of the mathematics facilitators at TUT received suitable and adequate training in the implementation of outcomes-based strategies? -- What are the possible implications of the study for TUT’s assessment policy? Action research was chosen as the research design because it is ideally suited to improving practice. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through questionnaires, personal interviews, interviews with focus groups, observations, documentation and a reflective diary. The main findings are as follows:– -- OBE strategies are not being introduced throughout TUT in the teaching of mathematics. -- Group work and peer assessments are rare occurences. -- Some lecturers are convinced that new assessment methods would lower the standard of their teaching. -- Uncertainty about the merger and the varying teaching conditions at the different campuses tend to inhibit lecturers, making them less willing to undertake assessment renewals. -- TUT should review its admission criteria. -- The lecturers cited large class groups, a lack of marking assistance and ignorance about OBE as reasons for failing to undertake assessment renewal. The study prepared respondents for assessment renewal. In the interim, however, TUT has introduced a Policy on Teaching, Learning and Technology, whereby OBE has been selected as the teaching model for TUT. In future, respondents will receive training and guidance in the implementation of OBE. This study has hopefully made a significant contribution to this positive development.Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
Curriculum Studies
unrestricted
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Stewart-Knox, Barbara, S. Kuznesof, J. Robinson, A. Rankin, K. Orr, M. Duffy, R. Poinhos, et al. "Factors influencing European consumer uptake of personalised nutrition. Results of a qualitative analysis." 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/6205.
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The aim of this research was to explore consumer perceptions of personalised nutrition and to compare these across three different levels of "medicalization": lifestyle assessment (no blood sampling); phenotypic assessment (blood sampling); genomic assessment (blood and buccal sampling). The protocol was developed from two pilot focus groups conducted in the UK. Two focus groups (one comprising only "older" individuals between 30 and 60 years old, the other of adults 18-65 yrs of age) were run in the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Germany (N=16). The analysis (guided using grounded theory) suggested that personalised nutrition was perceived in terms of benefit to health and fitness and that convenience was an important driver of uptake. Negative attitudes were associated with internet delivery but not with personalised nutrition per se. Barriers to uptake were linked to broader technological issues associated with data protection, trust in regulator and service providers. Services that required a fee were expected to be of better quality and more secure. An efficacious, transparent and trustworthy regulatory framework for personalised nutrition is required to alleviate consumer concern. In addition, developing trust in service providers is important if such services to be successful.
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Horne, Maria, G. McCracken, A. Walls, P. J. Tyrrell, and C. J. Smith. "Organisation, practice and experiences of mouth hygiene in stroke unit care: a mixed methods study." 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/7373.
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noAims and objectives To (1) investigate the organisation, provision and practice of oral care in typical UK stroke units; (2) explore stroke survivors', carers' and healthcare professionals' experiences and perceptions about the barriers and facilitators to receiving and undertaking oral care in stroke units. Background Cerebrovascular disease and oral health are major global health concerns. Little is known about the provision, challenges and practice of oral care in the stroke unit setting, and there are currently no evidence-based practice guidelines. Design Cross-sectional survey of 11 stroke units across Greater Manchester and descriptive qualitative study using focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Methods A self-report questionnaire was used to survey 11 stroke units in Greater Manchester. Data were then collected through two focus groups (n = 10) with healthcare professionals and five semi-structured interviews with stroke survivors and carers. Focus group and interview data were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework approach. Results Eleven stroke units in Greater Manchester responded to the survey. Stroke survivors and carers identified a lack of oral care practice and enablement by healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals identified a lack of formal training to conduct oral care for stroke patients, inconsistency in the delivery of oral care and no set protocols or use of formal oral assessment tools. Conclusion Oral care post-stroke could be improved by increasing healthcare professionals' awareness, understanding and knowledge of the potential health benefits of oral care post-stroke. Further research is required to develop and evaluate the provision of oral care in stroke care to inform evidence-based education and practice.
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ODEHNALOVÁ, Barbora. "Filosofie pro děti jako koncepce výuky náboženství a katecheze." Master's thesis, 2016. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-254093.
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This thesis considers two questions, "How children aged 12 to 15 years rethinking of biblical texts? And how can using the Philosophy for Children stimulate thinking about faith of children aged 12 to 15 years?" To answer these questions, I chose the qualitative research, which consisted in various discussions in selected focus groups. This dialogue was guided by the principles of philosophy for children. The theoretical part of my thesis deals with the definition of important concepts, such as religious education, catechesis from the perspective of various documents of the Church and other educational programs, and specifying the key differences between these two concepts, define the structure and principles of philosophy for children, but also the historical development of this program. The practical part deals with the qualitative research in focus groups. This research includes discussion of selected focus groups, where individual statements are encoded and then included in the table of frequencies. According to these tables discussions is evaluated in terms of statements frequencies. Subsequently the content of discussions is also evaluated. The codes are divided into categories from which discussions are evaluated in the final summary with answers to the key questions.