Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Quasi-experimental method'

The purpose of this study was to provide an initial evaluation of the effect of ‘Together for Sweden’s (TFS) storytelling method regarding anti-religious prejudice, based on a social identity perspective. Furthermore, the aim was to understand the possible self-perceived changes that the storytelling method contributes to regarding anti-religious prejudice. The study applied a mixed-method approach with a quasi-experimental design. The quantitative data collection consisted of a pre-and posttest with an experiment and control condition. The qualitative data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews with participants from the experiment condition. The quantitative results point to a positive self-perceived change in anti-religious prejudice. However, the change was small and not statistically significant in relation to the control condition. The qualitative find suggests that for some participants, the storytelling could provide an opportunity for a positive intergroup contact, counter-examples, counter-stereotypic information as well as addressing the categorization process through multiple and shared group memberships. The qualitative findings also point to a change regarding the view of religious people but not concerning the view of religion. This, together with a mixed response regarding affective shifts and a lack of intentional shifts, can help to explain the quantitative results. The findings of the study address the need to evaluate prejudice-reduction intervention in a school context as well as the need to test a social identity perspective outside a laboratory context. It also provided a first and tentative assessment of TFS’ storytelling method, which can contribute to a further adjustment of the method or future in-schools interventions.

Cette thèse est une étude expérimentale et numérique du comportement au cisaillement de milieu granulaire humide sous l’effet de la quantité de liquide introduite et la contrainte normale appliquée. Les expériences ont été faites sur une cellule de cisaillement annulaire, pour une large gamme de contraintes appliquées allant de presque 0.3 kPa à 12 kPa. Les résultats donnent la variation de la contrainte de cisaillement en régime stationnaire en fonction de la contrainte normale pour une large variation de la quantité de liquide. Le liquide dans le milieu granulaire va de ponts liquides formés au point de contact jusqu’au remplissage totale de l'espace entre les grains. L’effet de liquide sur la résistance au cisaillement et la porosité de milieu granulaire a été analysé. Différents régimes du comportement de milieu granulaire humide ont été identifiés. Afin d’acquérir une compréhension microscopique du comportement au cisaillement de milieu granulaire sec et partiellement humide, la méthode des éléments discrets (DEM) a été utilisée. Des billes de verre de grande taille (2 mm de diamètre) ont été utilisées pour réduire le temps de simulation et faciliter la caractérisation à l’échelle de particule. Une première partie a été consacrée à l’étude de l’effet des propriétés microscopiques de particule (Module de Young et la friction de glissement) sur les propriétés macroscopiques de milieu granulaire sec et humide (le nombre de coordination, la porosité, le ratio de contraintes et la vitesse de particules). Une deuxième partie a été concernée par l’étude du comportement au cisaillement de milieu granulaire humide pour différentes fractions de liquide et différentes contraintes normales appliquées. En particulier, les forces capillaires et le nombre de ponts liquide ont été quantitativement analysés
We study experimentally and numerically the shear behaviour of wet granular material. We investigate the effect of the liquid content and the applied normal stresses to this behaviour. An annular shear cell was used to carry out the experiments, for a large range of applied normal stress from about 0.3 kPa to 12 kPa. The results give the variation of the shear stress at steady-state as a function of the normal stress for a wide range of liquid fraction. The incorporated liquid goes from forming bridges at the contact point to completely filling the space between grains. The shear resistance and the voidage fraction variations with the liquid fraction were analysed. Depending on the applied normal stress and the liquid fraction, different regimes of the shear resistance were identified. The discrete element method (DEM) was used to gain a microscopic understanding of the shear behaviour of dry and partially wet granular material in the shear cell. Large size glass beads were used to speed up the computational time and to facilitate characterisation at the particle scale. First, the influence of the microscopic properties of the particle (The Young’s modulus and the sliding friction) on the macroscopic properties of dry and wet granular materials (the coordination number, the voidage fraction, the shear ratio and the velocity of particles) was investigated. Secondly, the shear behaviour of the partially wet granular material for different liquid fractions and normal stresses was studied. The capillary forces and the number of liquid bridges were quantitatively analysed

The present study attempted to measure library literacy levels of open or flexible learners at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) during the 1995 academic year, and to investigate to what extent the information skills component of TAFE open learning modules influence adult learners' library literacy levels. To address these issues, a quasi-experimental research methodology was used to measure library literacy levels at the beginning and, again, on or near course completion to ascertain whether any change had occurred, through the administration of a questionnaire. A number of participants were then interviewed to further validate the responses fiom the questionnaires. The study attempted to show that though courses claim to address key competencies in a vocational education and training environment, one component of the key competencies, the ability to collect, analyse and organise information, was not being met. That one component was the ability to locate (or collect) information. No strong correlations resulted fiom the library literacy levels measured and the degree to which the key competency was addressed within course modules. No statistical measures were possible due to the small sample population that eventuated, though it was almost half the original targeted population. No real gain was achieved in library literacy levels between the pretest and posttest stages of the research for either the Experimental or Control groups. Though a highly suitable research methodology, the quasi-experimental research design did have some limitations in this piece of research. The CIT flexible learning environment at the time of the study contributed to the limitations of the study. However, a number of recommendations were made on the basis of the research results, advocating some strategies that might be implemented to improve the library literacy levels of learners undertaking open or flexible delivery courses within CIT, and suggestions to change the research environment to avoid many of the problems experienced. The CIT pilot study was the first known formally documented study of library literacy levels in an Australian TAFE environment of its kind. The study reflects the literature published at the time of the study. At that time, the research in this field was minimal. Many publications and research have emerged since 1995 when this study was conducted, indicating this is an area of great interest.

This dissertation comprises two essays. The unifying theme is the evaluation of non-pecuniary (information or norm based messages) conservation programs. These types of policies are widely applied in developing and developed countries to promote conservation, however, their empirical evidence and their effectiveness are not well documented. Each chapter examines some methodological facets of the heterogeneity of non-pecuniary conservation programs and the reliability of non-experimental methods (program evaluation and econometric techniques) to evaluate treatment effects in the context of non-pecuniary conservation programs.

This dissertation focuses on identifying the poor in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the potential of social assistance programs to address their condition. Each essay is related to one particular key step of the poverty alleviation agenda: poverty definition and measurement in Zimbabwe; targeting poor households in Cameroon; and impact evaluation of anti-poverty interventions in Niger. The first essay explores changes in poverty across multiple dimensions in a period of dramatic economic crisis and recovery in Zimbabwe. The essay analyzes changes in household well-being between 2001, 2007 and 2011/12, using an Alkire-Foster multidimensional poverty index. Results indicate a large increase in multidimensional poverty across between 2001 and 2007, followed by a (smaller) decrease in poverty between 2007 and 2011/12 (recovery period after the hyperinflation peak in 2008). However, decomposition of the index shows significantly different trends in poverty dimensions over time, as for instance health related dimensions continued to deteriorate after 2007. The second essay contributes to the policy debate on targeting by studying the ex-post efficiency of two targeting mechanisms employed in a cash transfer project in rural Cameroon: Proxy Means Testing (PMT) and community targeting. Results show a poor performance of community targeting in selecting households with low per capita consumption, compared to PMT targeting—whose errors remain high nonetheless. Communities tend to select small, isolated households with low physical and human capital, regardless of their actual consumption level, but produce variable outcomes. Overall results suggest that a higher coverage contributes to reducing targeting errors, and that better guidance should be provided to communities if the policy objective is to select low per capita consumption individuals. The third essay investigate whether cash transfers induce investments in assets and productive activities that survive the termination of program payments using data from an unconditional cash transfer project in Niger 18 months after its termination. Based on quasi-experimental methods, results indicate that local saving/credit systems (tontines) participation and livestock ownership significantly increased among project participants. There is also evidence of improvement in private assets, micro-enterprises and agriculture. The findings imply that cash transfer programs can have long-term sustainable impacts in rural SSA.
Ph. D.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of experience staging techniques (personalization through co-creation and multisensory stimuli) on engagement level. This study also explores the possible contribution of experience staging techniques as practical tools that recreation professionals can use to better engage participants in recreation activities and events. A 2-way univariate ANOVA revealed no significant relationship between the use of co-creative and multisensory stimulating techniques and engagement levels in participants (F (3,200) = .263, p = .826, partial η2 = .004). Practical applications for recreation professionals and further research opportunities are discussed.

This dissertation consists of two empirical papers and one methods paper. The first two papers use quasi-experimental methods to evaluate the impact of universal health insurance reform in Massachusetts (MA) and Thailand and the third paper evaluates the validity of a quasi-experimental method used in comparative effectiveness research (CER).

The purpose of this study was to compare two methods of spelling instruction, the test-study method and study-test method, with the spelling achievement of selected fourth grade students. The effects of gender and spelling ability level on the spelling method were also studied. The participants were 80 fourth grade students from four intact classrooms in two elementary schools in a small suburban midwestern school district.Third grade standardized test scores were collected from students' permanent record cards and used for grouping students into spelling ability levels. A Spelling Criterion-Referenced Test was used as a pretest (covariate) and a posttest (dependent variable). An analysis of covariance was used to test three null hypotheses at the .05 level of significance. The three null hypotheses were not rejected. The following results were suggested:1. Both fourth grade boys and girls achieve equally well in spelling whether they use the test-study method or the study-test method of spelling instruction.2. Fourth grade students achieve equally well in spelling whether they use the test-study method or the study-test method of spelling instruction.3. Fourth grade girls and boys achieve equally well in spelling.Teachers should consider integrating spelling into all areas of the language arts by supplementing the spelling textbook with words the children are using in their writing.
Department of Elementary Education

Dans le cadre de la théorie de l'élasticité linéaire, la modélisation et simulation numérique du comportement mécanique des matériaux hétérogènes à microstructure aléatoire complexe soulèvent de nombreux défis scientifiques à différentes échelles. Bien qu'à l'échelle macroscopique, ces matériaux soient souvent modélisés comme des milieux homogènes et déterministes, ils sont non seulement hétérogènes et aléatoires à l'échelle microscopique, mais ils ne peuvent généralement pas non plus être explicitement décrits par les propriétés morphologiques et mécaniques locales de leurs constituants. Par conséquent, une échelle mésoscopique est introduite entre l'échelle macroscopique et l'échelle mésoscopique, pour laquelle les propriétés mécaniques d'un tel milieu élastique linéaire aléatoire sont décrites par un modèle stochastique prior non-gaussien paramétré par un nombre faible ou modéré d'hyperparamètres inconnus. Afin d'identifier ces hyperparamètres, une méthodologie innovante a été récemment proposée en résolvant un problème statistique inverse multi-échelle en utilisant uniquement des données expérimentales partielles et limitées aux deux échelles macroscopique et mésoscopique. Celui-ci a été formulé comme un problème d'optimisation multi-objectif qui consiste à minimiser une fonction-coût multi-objectif (à valeurs vectorielles) définie par trois indicateurs numériques correspondant à des fonctions-coût mono-objectif (à valeurs scalaires) permettant de quantifier et minimiser des distances entre les données expérimentales multi-échelles mesurées simultanément aux deux échelles macroscopique et mésoscopique sur un seul échantillon soumis à un essai statique, et les solutions des modèles numériques déterministe et stochastique utilisés pour simuler la configuration expérimentale multi-échelle sous incertitudes. Ce travail de recherche vise à contribuer à l'amélioration de la méthodologie d'identification inverse statistique multi-échelle en terme de coût de calcul, de précision et de robustesse en introduisant (i) une fonction-coût mono-objectif (indicateur numérique) supplémentaire à l'échelle mésoscopique quantifiant la distance entre la(les) longueur(s) de corrélation spatiale des champs expérimentaux mesurés et celle(s) des champs numériques calculés, afin que chaque hyperparamètre du modèle stochastique prior ait sa propre fonction-coût mono-objectif dédiée, permettant ainsi d'éviter d'avoir recours à l'algorithme d'optimisation global (algorithme génétique) utilisé précédemment et de le remplacer par un algorithme plus performant en terme d'efficacité numérique, tel qu'un algorithme itératif de type point fixe, pour résoudre le problème d'optimisation multi-objectif avec un coût de calcul plus faible, et (ii) une représentation stochastique ad hoc des hyperparamètres impliqués dans le modèle stochastique prior du champ d'élasticité aléatoire à l'échelle mésoscopique en les modélisant comme des variables aléatoires, pour lesquelles les distributions de probabilité peuvent être construites en utilisant le principe du maximum d'entropie sous un ensemble de contraintes définies par les informations objectives et disponibles, et dont les hyperparamètres peuvent être déterminés à l'aide de la méthode d'estimation du maximum de vraisemblance avec les données disponibles, afin d'améliorer à la fois la robustesse et la précision de la méthode d'identification inverse du modèle stochastique prior. En parallèle, nous proposons également de résoudre le problème d'optimisation multi-objectif en utilisant l’apprentissage automatique par des réseaux de neurones artificiels. Finalement, la méthodologie améliorée est tout d'abord validée sur un matériau virtuel fictif dans le cadre de l'élasticité linéaire en 2D contraintes planes et 3D, puis illustrée sur un matériau biologique hétérogène réel (os cortical de bœuf) en élasticité linéaire 2D contraintes planes
Within the framework of linear elasticity theory, the numerical modeling and simulation of the mechanical behavior of heterogeneous materials with complex random microstructure give rise to many scientific challenges at different scales. Despite that at macroscale such materials are usually modeled as homogeneous and deterministic elastic media, they are not only heterogeneous and random at microscale, but they often also cannot be properly described by the local morphological and mechanical properties of their constituents. Consequently, a mesoscale is introduced between macroscale and microscale, for which the mechanical properties of such a random linear elastic medium are represented by a prior non-Gaussian stochastic model parameterized by a small or moderate number of unknown hyperparameters. In order to identify these hyperparameters, an innovative methodology has been recently proposed by solving a multiscale statistical inverse problem using only partial and limited experimental data at both macroscale and mesoscale. It has been formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem which consists in minimizing a (vector-valued) multi-objective cost function defined by three numerical indicators corresponding to (scalar-valued) single-objective cost functions for quantifying and minimizing distances between multiscale experimental data measured simultaneously at both macroscale and mesoscale on a single specimen subjected to a static test, and the numerical solutions of deterministic and stochastic computational models used for simulating the multiscale experimental test configuration under uncertainties. This research work aims at contributing to the improvement of the multiscale statistical inverse identification method in terms of computational efficiency, accuracy and robustness by introducing (i) an additional mesoscopic numerical indicator allowing the distance between the spatial correlation length(s) of the measured experimental fields and the one(s) of the computed numerical fields to be quantified at mesoscale, so that each hyperparameter of the prior stochastic model has its own dedicated single-objective cost-function, thus allowing the time-consuming global optimization algorithm (genetic algorithm) to be avoided and replaced with a more efficient algorithm, such as the fixed-point iterative algorithm, for solving the underlying multi-objective optimization problem with a lower computational cost, and (ii) an ad hoc stochastic representation of the hyperparameters involved in the prior stochastic model of the random elasticity field at mesoscale by modeling them as random variables, for which the probability distributions can be constructed by using the maximum entropy principle under a set of constraints defined by the available and objective information, and whose hyperparameters can be determined using the maximum likelihood estimation method with the available data, in order to enhance both the robustness and accuracy of the statistical inverse identification method of the prior stochastic model. Meanwhile, we propose as well to solve the multi-objective optimization problem by using machine learning based on artificial neural networks. Finally, the improved methodology is first validated on a fictitious virtual material within the framework of 2D plane stress and 3D linear elasticity theory, and then illustrated on a real heterogenous biological material (beef cortical bone) in 2D plane stress linear elasticity

Grounded in sociocultural theory, peer feedback can help students engage in interaction and negotiation of meaning, which serve as a basis for the construction of knowledge (Vygotsky, 1978). It can also contribute to the development of self-regulation, as well as of reflection on one's own learning (Doolittle & Hicks, 2003). Its strategic incorporation into foreign language instruction can help students use the language they are in the process of acquiring to mediate language acquisition (Shrum & Glisan, 2005). Research shows that peer feedback can help students develop and advance their Zone of Proximal Development through their engagement in collaborative interaction with their peers (De Guerrero & Villamil, 1994, 2000; Donato, 2004; Lantolf, 2004; Lantolf & Thorne, 2006; Liu & Hansen, 2005). Peer feedback can also help students improve their writing proficiency, including organization of their texts and awareness of the mechanics of the language necessary for successful communication of the intended message (Kinsler, 1990; Hu, 2005; Williams, 2005). Framed within a sociocultural perspective on foreign language learning and development, and following a manuscript approach, this dissertation consists of a series of studies that aim to explore: (a) whether participation in a peer feedback experience has a positive impact on students’ foreign language writing proficiency; (b) whether guidelines plus training in how to provide meaningful feedback have a different impact on students’ foreign language writing proficiency than guidelines alone; (c) around what themes students focus the feedback they provide to their peers; and (d) what students’ perceptions of the peer feedback experience are. The results of the first the study, which consisted of a pre-test post-test quasi-experimental design, showed that students significantly improved their writing proficiency after participating in a peer feedback experience, regardless of training. Further the results of this study indicated that, on average, trained and untrained students provided written peer feedback focused mainly on global aspects rather than local aspects. The results of the second study, which consisted of a mixed methods approach, showed that, on average, students had high perceptions of the peer feedback experience and that they perceived that their partner's feedback had helped them improve the global aspects of their composition more than the local aspects. Students expressed that what they liked the most about the experience was getting a different perspective on their writing, and what they liked the least was that they felt they were not proficient enough in the foreign language to provide meaningful feedback to their peers.
Ph. D.

La thèse comporte sept chapitres. Nous présentons, dans le premier chapitre, une étude qui montre les traits particuliers des pauvres et la façon dont ils perçoivent leur propre pauvreté. Le second chapitre est consacré à une revue de la littérature sur l'utilisation d'agenda de gestion du temps comme outil de collecte de données en recherche qualitative. Le troisième chapitre propose une version modifiée du "modèle de portefeuille économique du ménage” (HEP) de Chen et Dunn (1996). Le modèle modifié (M-HEP) permet une évaluation non expérimentale de 1’impact de la microfinance. Nous l’avons mis en place via la collecte d’informations simples auto-déclarées sur 1’utilisation quotidienne du temps et de l’argent auprès d'un échantillon de femmes pauvres du Caire (Egypte). Le quatrième chapitre propose une étude testant ce modèle (M-HEP) auprès de personnes en situation de handicap. Le cinquième chapitre s'attache à une étude qui souligne une limite des journaux combinés "non stylisés" ou "non-directifs". Le sixième chapitre expose l’utilisation de jeux expérimentaux sur un échantillon de population du Caire en comparant le comportement des clients de la microfinance à celui de non-clients. Le dernier chapitre expose une étude d’évaluation d’impact de la microfinance sur le genre au Mali, utilisant une méthode quasi-expérimentale. Enfin, en guise de conclusion, nous préconisons 1’utilisation du modèle M-HEP dans l’étude de l’évaluation de I’impact de la microfinance. Nous avons effectué’ une étude comparative des trois méthodes utilisées dans la thèse à savoir la méthode qualitative non-expérimentale et les méthodes quantitatives expérimentales et quasi-expérimentales
The thesis is built on seven chapters. In chapter 1, we explore the views on poverty of a sample of poor women. In chapter 2, we review the literature on the use of time-diary in research. Chapter 3 develops and investigates the diary method as a qualitative non-experimental impact evaluation tool. For this objective, we study "the household economic portfolio model (HEP)“ a comprehensive impact evaluation model designed by Chen and Dunn (1996) that overcomes the obstacle of fungibility of money. We propose a modified version (M-HEP), a simplified framework for non- experimental evaluation of impact with clear assessment units and efficient measurement tools. The collection of simple self-reported information on the daily use of time and money is suggested for implementing the model. We test our proposition with a case study from Cairo. In chapter 4, we provide another test of the combined diaries through a case study on two poor single mothers one of whom is handicapped. In chapter 5, we present a fina1 example on the combined diary of a poor woman. The study highlights one limitation in the non-stylized combined diary approach. In chapter 6, we use experimental games in Cairo to study two aspects of behavioral microfinance by comparing microfinance clients to non-clients. In chapter 7, we present an impact evaluation study on microfinance in Mali, using the quasi-experimental statistical technique. Finally, we conclude the thesis suggesting applications of the M-HEP, and comparing the three methods used in the thesis. This comparisons aims to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each of the methods when used for evaluating microfinance impact

This master thesis has been conducted at Uppsala University and was performed in collaboration with the company Alten Sverige AB during a time period of twenty weeks.The purpose of the study was to enhance the creative and innovational output of agile project teams within the organization by revising and improving an existing management system. The thesis was divided into two main phases. The first phase had a theoretical focus and included a literature study with the objective to create a knowledge baseline from academia, compare it with the existing system, and to revise and improve the management system. The second phase had an empirical and consisted of a quasi-experimental case study of a scrum team and implementation of the management system with the objective to get information of how the studied team perceived the improved system.The literature study looked into three main topics; creativity, innovation, and agility. The topics was studied to see the connections between them and to find common barriers and enablers for creative and innovational output. The case study observed and interacted with the scrum team to gather information about their current work process. Their work process later altered during the quasi-experimental implementation stage based on the new requirements within the updated management system. To see if the team’s perception of the work process had changed a questionnaire was answered before and after the work process was altered. The questionnaire was answered by the studied team and a reference group to increase the studies validity.The results from the literature study showed that there were several characteristics of creativity, innovation and agility that was considered to be either enablers or barriers and a few characteristics which saw contradictions in the literature. The findings from the study was compared, analyzed and mapped out into topics, sub-topics, and requirements within the management system, which was simultaneously updated. The results from the implementation stage and the documentation of the team’s changed perceptions showed that eleven characteristics identified as enabler was strengthened by the empirical findings, one enabler was weakened (deadlines), and one new enabler emerged (direct contact with external expertise or customer). Regarding the barriers, four of them was strengthened, one was weakened (diversity), and one new barrier was discovered (insufficient documentation).

Con el fin de generar evidencia sobre la efectividad de la política social implementada por el Gobierno peruano en los últimos diez años, que tiene como objetivos mejorar la nutrición en la primera infancia, así como el acceso a educación superior e inserción laboral de los jóvenes pobres, la tesis evalúa los efectos de dos programas de ayudas públicas implementados en el marco de dichos objetivos. El documento, además, profundiza en las posibles causas de los resultados encontrados y brinda recomendaciones para mejorar el diseño de dichos programas o de aquellos que empleen esquemas similares. El primer capítulo evalúa un esquema de pagos por desempeño a los Gobiernos subnacionales para mejorar el estado nutricional infantil, mediante los cuales, el Gobierno Central transfería recursos a los presupuestos de los gobiernos regionales condicionados al cumplimiento de compromisos de gestión y metas de cobertura de los servicios entregados en los establecimientos de salud para mejorar el estado nutricional infantil sobre indicadores que miden la cobertura de servicios de cuidado infantil (vacunación, controles de crecimiento y entrega de suplementos de hierro a niños y gestantes) y en indicadores que miden el estado de salud infantil (diarrea, desnutrición y anemia). En los capítulos 2 y 3 de la tesis, se estiman los efectos de un programa de becas subvencionadas por el Gobierno para estudios superiores en universidades e institutos a jóvenes en situación de pobreza. El Capítulo 2 explora los efectos de dichas ayudas sobre indicadores que miden el desempeño académico en el corto plazo de los estudiantes (matrícula oportuna, permanencia y promedio ponderado) después de un año y medio del otorgamiento de la beca. El tercer capítulo examina la relación entre las becas y la inserción laboral; además, permite ver la sostenibilidad de los efectos en el mediano plazo, tres años después del otorgamiento de la beca. Para reducir los posibles sesgos en la estimación de los impactos de ambos programas se emplean diferentes estrategias metodológicas. En el primer caso, a partir de los datos de la Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar de los años 2008 a 2014, se compara la evolución de una muestra de niños que residen en los ámbitos donde estuvo vigente el esquema vs una muestra de niños que residían en otras regiones para reportar el estimador de diferencias en diferencias de su impacto promedio. Se encuentra que el esquema habría sido efectivo en activar la cadena mayor de cobertura de vacunas y menor desnutrición, pero no la cobertura de otras prestaciones, como las atenciones de desarrollo del niño, y la entrega de suplementos de hierro al niño y gestante. En el segundo caso, dado que uno de los criterios de elegibilidad para la beca es ser pobre de acuerdo a un índice oficial, la estrategia para estimar el efecto del segundo programa explota la variación exógena proporcionada por el umbral que determina el cumplimiento de la condición de pobreza, a partir de la metodología de variables instrumentales. Se consideran análisis independientes entre universidades e institutos y dos mediciones de seguimiento. Los resultados muestran efectos significativos de la beca en matrícula oportuna y nivel de avance de los estudios (ciclos matriculados y completos), y en la permanencia de los estudios. Se reportaron efectos positivos iniciales en el promedio ponderado de los universitarios. Asimismo, aunque no se encuentran efectos significativos en la tasa de egreso ni en la tasa de empleo de estudiantes de institutos, sí parece haber un efecto en la calidad del tipo de ocupación, medido a través de la realización de prácticas profesionales y en la afinidad de los estudios con la ocupación desempeñada.
In order to generate evidence on the effectiveness of the social policy implemented by the Peruvian Government in the last ten years, which aims to improve nutrition in early childhood, as well as to provide access to higher education and integration of poor young people into the labor market, the thesis evaluates the effects of two public aid programs implemented within the framework of these objectives. The document also explores the possible causes of the results obtained and provides recommendations to improve the design of such programs or those that use similar schemes. The first chapter analyzes the impact of pay for performance schemes with subnational governments to improve child nutrition on indicators that measure the coverage of child care services (vaccination, monitoring child growth and development, and distribution of iron supplements to children and pregnant women) and on indicators that measure child health status (diarrhea, malnutrition and anemia). Through these contracts, the central government offered monetary incentives to regional governments based on the achievement of administrative and child healthcare service-delivery targets. Chapters 2 and 3 of the thesis estimate the effects of a scholarship program subsidized by the government for young people in poverty to pursue higher education in universities and institutes. Chapter 2 explores the effects of these grants on indicators that measure students' short-term academic performance (timely enrollment, permanence and weighted average) one year and a half after the scholarships were granted. The third chapter examines the relationship between scholarships and job placement and describes the sustainability of the effects in the medium term three years after the scholarships were granted. Different methodological strategies are used to reduce potential bias in estimating both programs impacts. In the first case, the analysis uses the data from the 2008-2014 Demographic and Family Health Survey to compare the evolution of a sample of children residing in the areas where the scheme was in force with a sample of children who resided in other regions to report the difference-in-differences estimator of their average impact. It is found that the scheme would have been effective in increasing vaccination coverage and reducing malnutrition, but not in improving the coverage of other health services, such as monitoring child growth and development, and the distribution of iron supplements to children and pregnant women. In the second case, since one of the eligibility criteria for a scholarship is meeting the requirement of living in poverty according to an official score, the impact identification strategy uses the exogenous variation, provided by the poverty status threshold, to estimate the local average treatment effect of the scholarship based on the method of instrumental variables. The evaluation includes independent analyses between universities and institutes and two follow-up measurements of cohorts of scholarship recipients and their respective control groups. The results show the significant effects of scholarships on timely enrollment and the level of progress of the studies (enrolled and complete cycles), and on the permanence in university. Initial positive effects were reported on the weighted average of university students. Although there are no significant effects on the graduation rate or the employment rate of institute students, there seems to be an effect on the quality of the type of occupation measured through internships, and on the affinity of the studies with the occupation carried out.

Ma thèse en automatique s’inscrit dans la thématique de recherche «Transport» du LAMIH. L’objectif est d’améliorer le fonctionnement des moteurs thermiques (essence), notamment en réduisant la consommation et la pollution. Face à cet enjeu écologique et économique, et compte tenu des nouvelles normes et des stratégies court-termistes de l’industrie (scandale Volkswagen...), de nouveaux contrôleurs doivent être conçus pour piloter l’arrivée d’air et d’essence au sein du moteur. En considérant l’aspect hautement non-linéaire du système, la représentation Takagi-Sugeno et le background théorique du LAMIH sont utilisés. Un premier contrôleur est synthétisé pour régler le problème de la vitesse de ralenti du moteur. Cependant, la complexité du système impose l’utilisation d’un contrôleur très coûteux d’un point de vue computationnel. Un contrôleur alternatif est donc synthétisé afin d’être implémenté dans l’ordinateur embarqué du moteur. Un second contrôleur est obtenu pour maintenir la richesse en proportions stoechiométriques afin de réduire la pollution. Ce système étant sujet à un retard de transport variable, un changement de domaine est réalisé afin de rendre ce retard constant, et de concevoir un contrôleur simple et efficace. Des essais réels sur le banc d’essai moteur du LAMIH sont réalisés afin de valider la méthodologie présentée
My PhD in Automatic Control is part of the research theme “Transport” of the LAMIH. The objective is to improve the functioning of the gasoline engines, mainly by reducing the fuel consumption and the pollution. With this ecologic and economic challenge, and taking into account the new norms and the short-term strategies of the industry (scandal of Volkswagen...), new controllers have to be designed to control the air valve and the fuel injection inside the engine. Considering the highly nonlinear aspect of the system, the Takagi-Sugeno representation and the theoretical background of the LAMIH have been used. A first controller is designed to solve the problem of idle engine speed. However, the complexity of the system forces the use of a controller that is very costly from a computational point of view. An alternative controller is then designed in order to be implemented inside the embedded computer of the engine. A second controller is obtained to maintain the air-fuel ratio in stoichiometric proportions in order to reduce the pollution. This system being subject to a variable transport delay, a change of domain is realized to make this delay constant, and to design a simple and efficient controller. Real-time experiments have been realized on the engine test bench of the LAMIH in order to validate the presented methodology

This dissertation consists of two essays on housing, the first on estimation strategies for the valuation of a local disamenity and the second on the structure of the market for the services of real estate brokers. The purpose of the first essay is to apply hedonic and quasi-experimental methods to measure the value of any disamenity caused by communication antennas. Crucial to unbiased estimates is accounting for both endogenous antenna location and changes in unobservable housing and neighborhood characteristics. Spatial fixed effects are used to control for unobservable characteristics that can influence the location decisions of residents and the location of antennas. Panel data techniques are used to address both time invariant and time varying unobservables and to account for possible changes in the hedonic price function after construction of a nearby antenna. The estimates indicate that houses near communication antennas sell less than comparable houses not located near a communication antenna, and also highlight a shortcoming of applying the difference-in-differences technique to value a local disamenity when houses are affected by the presence of multiple sites. The second essay compares the performance of brand name franchised and independent real estate brokers with respect to list price, sales price, time on the market, and prevalence in areas with more out-of-state buyers using techniques that control for the different types of agents that choose to affiliate with franchised real estate brokerage firms. The results indicate that most of the difference in the sales price and the time it takes to locate a buyer can be explained by the types of agents that choose to affiliate with franchised brokerage firms, and that on average weaker agents choose to affiliate with franchised real estate firms. In addition, there is an indication that properties in areas with larger shares of out-of-state residents are more likely to be sold by a franchised broker. This result is consistent with the industrial organization literature on franchising that says franchising should be more prevalent in areas where consumers are less familiar with the local market.

Urban renewal interventions aim to improve physical infrastrucutres, promote social integration and increase economic gains. However, they also have the potential to improve the wellbeing of residents. The objective of this dissertation was to better understand how an urban renewal policy, the Neighbourhoods Law, could affect health and health inequality in Barcelona, Spain. Using a mixed-methods approach, three studies were produced to better understand this connection. The first study used Concept Mapping techniques to study the perception of neighbours towards changes that had occurred in their intervened neighbourhoods in recent years and their importance for their wellbeing. The second study used the Barcelona Health Survey to analyse poor self-rated health and mental health status in women and men, before and after the intervention in participating neighbourhoods while comparing them to a group of non-intervened neighbourhood but with similar socio-demographic characteristics. The analysis was repeated to introduce the dimension of health inequality using social (occupational) class as a stratifying indicator. The third study used the results attained from previous studies and the existing literature to propose possible mechanisms linking urban renewal to health. The results from these studies indicate that the Neighbourhoods Law had a positive effect on residents’ health and health inequality.
Les intervencions de renovació urbana tenen com a objectiu millorar les infraestructures físiques, promoure la integració social i augmentar els guanys econòmics. A més, també tenen el potencial de millorar el benestar dels residents. L'objectiu d'aquesta tesi és poder comprendre com una política de renovació urbana, la Llei de Barris, pot afectar a la salut i a les desigualtats en salut a la ciutat de Barcelona. Per respondre a aquest objectiu s’han realitzat tres articles usant un enfocament de mètodes mixtos. El primer estudi utilitza la metodologia de “Concept Mapping” per analitzar la percepció dels veïns en relació als canvis que s’han produït en el barri en els últims anys i la seva importància per al seu benestar. El segon estudi utilitza l'Enquesta de Salut de Barcelona per analitzar la mala salut autopercebuda i l'estat de salut mental, abans i després de la Llei de Barris en els barris participants utilitzant com a grup de comparació un grup de barris no participants de característiques socio-demogràfiques similars. Les anàlisis es van repetir per introduir la dimensió de la desigualtat en salut utilitzant la classe social (ocupacional) com a indicador. El tercer estudi utilitza els resultats obtinguts dels dos estudis anteriors i de la bibliografia existent per proposar possibles mecanismes que vinculin la renovació urbana en la salut. Els resultats d'aquests estudis indiquen que la Llei de Barris té un efecte positiu en la salut i en la desigualtat en salut dels veïns.

The gap that exists between English language learners and English speaking students’ achievement in mathematics continues to grow. Moreover, students are now required to show evidence of their mathematics knowledge through writing in standardized assessments and class assignments. The purpose of this study was to analyze students’ writing in mathematics and the metacognitive behaviors they portrayed through their writing as they solved mathematics problems. The instruments included a pretest, two biweekly tests, and a posttest. The writing instruction encompassed students learning to solve problems by using Polya’s four phases of problem solving which was completed in 12 sessions over a period of 6 weeks. Garofalo and Lester’s framework which renamed Polya’s phases into orientation, organization, execution, and verification, was used to look at the metacognitive behaviors students used. The participants included 67 students enrolled in four third grade classes, who were English language learners and English speakers. This research followed a quasi-experimental design, with a treatment group and a control group. A one-way repeated ANOVA was used to analyze the data. The findings showed no significant difference between the mathematics achievement scores of treatment and control. However, growth trends in achievement scores revealed that the treatment group scores were increasing faster than the control group scores across the four tests during the 6-week study. Moreover, significant differences were found between the treatment and the control groups when the problem solving with metacognitive behaviors scores were analyzed. Descriptive statistics showed the frequency of occurrence of each of the problem solving phases increased steadily across the four tests for the students in the treatment group. During the posttest, 100% of treatment group students wrote about metacognitive behaviors they used during the orientation and organization phases, 91.4% wrote about their metacognition for executing the solution, and 80% wrote about the verification process they followed. These findings are useful to education professionals who are interested in creating programs for teaching mathematics at the elementary level that include effective problem solving practices. This evidence-based method may be adopted in school districts with large populations of ELLs in order to assist these students when solving problems in mathematics.

碩士
國立東華大學
課程設計與潛能開發學系
101
The Application of Interactive Whiteboard in Primary Science Classrooms An Action Research with Quasi-experimental Method Abstract This study aims to probe into the application of interactive whiteboard into scientific quasi-experimental method and to analyze this teaching method. The process developed through club activities and enforced improvement before the next activity. The subjects were 5th to 6th grade students from one of the elementary schools in Hualien. The duration was a semester. There were six steps developed within the quasi-experimental method: looking for problem, pointing out variables, proposing hypothesis; experiment design, experiment execution, proving hypothesis. With the application of interactive whiteboard, this study discusses the potential benefit for teachers and students. There were three workshops during the research duration, topics including water rocket, the strength of paper, bubble blowing. With students’ feedback, teaching notes, reflection, peers observation track and assessment and teaching videos, we conducted a qualitative research method to analyze. The conclusions are as follows: 1.The simultaneous feedback of interactive whiteboard can help with the discussion and make it more efficient with the quasi-experimental method. 2.Interactive whiteboard improves the interaction between teachers and students during the experiment designing process. 3.In place of the actual objects, the images on interactive whiteboard can be enlarged and the movement of an object can be stopped for the students to take a close look. It also helps the students to observe slight changes of objects. According to the above conclusions, we provide advices for teaching practices and for future references. Keyword: Interactive Whiteboard, Quasi-experimental Method, Natural Science and Life Technology, Action Research

South Africa has the largest HIV-infected population in the world, with 2015 estimates of 7 million people living with HIV and 180,000 AIDS-related deaths. The South African government began scale-up of a public-sector HIV care and treatment program in 2004, and by the end of 2015, 3.4 million HIV-infected individuals were on antiretroviral therapy (ART). When scale-up began in South Africa, ART was only available to HIV-infected individuals with CD4 counts ≤200 cells/µL or WHO clinical stage 4 disease. In 2010, treatment was extended to patients who were pregnant or who had tuberculosis and a CD4 ≤350 cells/µL, and in 2011, eligibility was extended to all patients with CD4 ≤350 cells/µL. In 2013 patients with WHO clinical stage 3 disease became eligible. In 2015, the eligibility threshold was increased to CD4 ≤500 cells/µL, and in 2016, the South African National Department of Health announced that the country would implement a “test and treat” strategy, offering free ART to all HIV-infected individuals, regardless of CD4 count. This dissertation examines the effectiveness of several expansions and modifications to South Africa’s treatment program. In study 1, we investigated whether the 2011 extension of HIV treatment to patients with CD4 counts ≤350 cells/µL successfully increased the number of newly-eligible patients on treatment (those with CD4 counts between 201–350 cells/µL) without crowding out previously-eligible patients with more severe disease (CD4 counts ≤200 cells/µL), focusing on a network of rural clinics in KwaZulu-Natal. We found encouraging results, with newly-eligible patients (CD4 201–350) initiating treatment at a greater frequency (73.0 additional patients per month; 95% CI: 42.1; 103.9) and 47% faster than before (95% CI: 19%; 82%), while previously eligible patients (CD4 ≤200) experienced no decline in the number of patients initiating treatment or the speed of treatment uptake. In study 2, we evaluated whether the introduction of a single-pill fixed-dose combination (FDC) treatment for ART initiators in South Africa had an impact on attrition from care compared to the previously-recommended multiple-pill regimen. We focused on an urban clinic in Johannesburg, using four different clinic attendance measures to define attrition (generally a combined measure of loss to follow-up and mortality). An intention-to-treat analysis revealed an estimated 11.3 percentage point decrease in attrition (95% CI: -22.0; -0.6) associated with the policy change, while a regression discontinuity analysis estimated an 18.0 percentage point drop in attrition (95% CI: -33.6; -2.4) associated with single-pill FDC treatment relative to multiple pills, controlling for unmeasured confounding. In study 3, we used stratified instrumental variable analysis to examine whether the effect of FDCs on attrition varied across subsets of the patient population in the same Johannesburg clinic we evaluated in study 2. We saw larger effects among women (RD -0.25; 95% CI: -0.42; -0.09), non-anemic patients (RD -0.24; 95% CI: -0.41; -0.08), patients with early-stage (as opposed to advanced) clinical disease (RD -0.20; 95% CI: -0.32; -0.07), and those with high CD4 counts (for CD4 ≥350 cells/µL, RD -0.58; 95% CI: -1.58; 0.42). These results suggest that healthier patients saw the greatest improvement in retention in care following the switch from multiple-pill to single-pill regimens. In an era where the healthiest HIV-infected patients are now being targeted for ART treatment, FDCs can play a large role in preventing attrition from care. These three studies depict an HIV program that has successfully grown to treat increasing numbers of patients using up-to-date strategies of care. Given the immense scale and cost of South Africa’s HIV treatment program, it is important to continue to monitor its effectiveness, especially as it introduces new treatments and strategies and adapts to the changing epidemic.

Oregon's land use planning system is often recognized as having been successful in its goals of limiting urban sprawl and protecting resource lands from development. However, it is difficult to quantify the impact of these regulations, because we cannot observe what would have happened in the absence of land use planning. The three essays in this dissertation explore the effects of Oregon's land use planning regulations on development patterns in the state, and also examine how the land use regulations are administered at the local level. The first essay in this dissertation asks if Oregon’s land use regulations have successfully restricted sprawl outside of urban areas. Urban containment policies, including Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs), are a common tool used by city planners to promote compact development. We analyze how well UGBs do in containing development using fine-scale GIS data on cities in Oregon. Earlier studies on UGBs yield mixed results, with some authors finding no effects of UGBs on housing market variables and urbanization rates and others finding significant effects. A challenge in measuring these effects is that the location of the UGB is unlikely to be an exogenous determinant of a land parcel's value for development. The panel structure of our dataset allows us to estimate the UGB's effect on the probability of development using a difference-in-difference estimator. This estimator controls for time-invariant unobservable variables and common temporal effects among parcels, thereby mitigating the potential for biased estimates due to the endogeneity of the UGB's location. We also pursue a novel approach to controlling for time-varying factors inspired by regression discontinuity design. We find that UGBs are effective in containing development in many of the Oregon cities we examine, although there are some cities in which development rates are the same inside and outside of the UGB. Our results show that we would greatly overstate the effects of the UGBs were we to evaluate cross-sectional differences in development rates, as is common in previous studies. Besides the creation of UGBs, another goal of Oregon's land use regulations is to encourage citizen involvement in the planning process. The second essay in this dissertation examines the use of voter annexation as a form of citizen involvement. More specifically, this paper addresses the following two questions. First, does voter annexation cause changes in city demographics and characteristics? Second, assuming that a city votes for amendments and annexations to the UGB and city limits, what factors impact the outcome of the vote? We analyze the first question using the method of propensity score matching, which has not previously been used to explore this topic. This allows us to account for the endogeneity that stems from the fact that cities with certain characteristics may be more likely to use voter annexation in the first place. The second question, which is only evaluated for cities that employ voter annexation, is analyzed with the use of the logit model. Oregon's land use regulations must be approved at the state level, but are administered locally. Therefore, unlike past studies, we are able to isolate specific differences in the way the program is administered, and are not evaluating the stringency of the program itself. Previous studies have found that voter-approved annexation causes developers to provide more public goods and increase the scale of development, thereby shifting community demographics. Once a land use decision is on the ballot, it is also noted that cities that are whiter, wealthier, and more liberal are more likely to pass referenda that promote preservation and restrict development. For the first question, we compare specific demographic indicators between the two groups of cities. Contrary to the results of previous studies, we find no effect of voter annexation on these indicators. Our results for the second question indicate that the characteristics of the voting process itself impact the outcome more than community characteristics, which also differs from the results of previous analyses. The third essay in this dissertation is an extension of the first essay, and focuses on the impact of Oregon's land use regulations on the protection of land in riparian corridors and land that has been designated for exclusive farm use (EFU). Riparian corridors are protected with the use of Oregon Goal 5, which focuses on development of natural resource lands inside of UGBs, while EFU land is protected with the use of Oregon Goal 3, which focuses on protection of agricultural land at the county level. The LCT dataset that was used in the first essay is also used in this essay. EFU land by definition has no probability of development in the initial period. Land located in riparian corridors may also face different initial levels of protection than other land. We deal with this endogeneity, and also account for location inside or outside of a UGB, with the use of the difference -in-difference-in-differences estimator. This is an approach that has not been used to explore the effect of Oregon's land use regulations on these land categories. Most of the past studies that have examined the impact of land use planning on development of agricultural land in Oregon have relied on analysis of general trends and indicators, and have concluded that land use regulations have been successful in protecting this land. Previous research on riparian zone protection has focused on protection of aquatic wildlife, and for the most part has not examined the protection of riparian corridors inside of UGBs. The limited studies that have studied the effect of these regulations in UGBs have determined them to be effective in slowing, but not stopping, development in these areas. Overall, we find that Oregon's land use regulations have been successful in protecting both county level agricultural land and riparian corridors located inside of UGBs from development. It is less clear whether these regulations have protected riparian corridors located inside of UGBs from other anthropogenic uses.
Graduation date: 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of using animated computer 3-D figures illustration (ACTDFI) in the learning of polyhedron in geometry. By random sampling, intact group of four grade 9 classes in four different schools from a cluster of four educational district schools of Limpopo province in South Africa were selected. The study involved quasi-experimental and inquiry research approaches, the quasi-experimental approach involved pre and posttest design while the inquiry research approach involve classroom observation. There were three experimental groups and a control group with a total of 174 study participants. ACTDFI was used as an intervention for two weeks in the three experimental groups while in the control group, chalk-talk traditional teaching approach was used. Pre-test and post-test was used to collect quantitative data while classroom observation was used to collect qualitative data. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of using animated computer 3-D figures illustration (ACTDFI) in the learning of polyhedron in geometry. By random sampling, intact group of four grade 9 classes in four different schools from a cluster of four educational district schools of Limpopo province in South Africa were selected. The study involved quasi-experimental and inquiry research approaches, the quasi-experimental approach involved pre and posttest design while the inquiry research approach involve classroom observation. There were three experimental groups and a control group with a total of 174 study participants. ACTDFI was used as an intervention for two weeks in the three experimental groups while in the control group, chalk-talk traditional teaching approach was used. Pre-test and post-test was used to collect quantitative data while classroom observation was used to collect qualitative data. The findings from the quantitative Classroom observations were carried out to collect relevant data on how the study participants were taught stationary points in differential calculus, especially with the use of the constructivist pedagogical approach. A suitable observation checklist was developed for this purpose (Appendix 6 refers). Classroom observation checklist is a list of factors to be considered while observing a class. It gives a structure and framework for the observation. suggested that the use of ACTDFI might have improved academic achievement in learning of polyhedron during the intervention, while the qualitative data analysis indicated that the use of ACTDFI in the experimental groups might have facilitated the learning of the concepts of polyhedron. It is therefore recommended that further research is necessary on the application of ACTDFI in the teaching of 3-dimensional shapes at the primary schools
Mathematics Education
M. Sc. (Mathematics Education)