Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Semi-structured and structured in-depth interviews'
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Adams, Laural L. "Theorizing Mental Models in Disciplinary Writing Ecologies through Scholarship, Talk-Aloud Protocols, and Semi-Structured Interviews." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1404717469.
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Mat, Nawi Hafizah. "Determinants of capital structure in small and medium sized enterprises in Malaysia." Thesis, Brunel University, 2015. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/11054.
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This study aims to investigate the determinants of capital structure in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia and their effect on firms’ performance. The study addresses the following primary question: What are the factors that influence the capital structure of SMEs in Malaysia? The sample of this research is SMEs in the east coast region of Malaysia. Adopting a positivist paradigm, the research design includes a preliminary study comprising 25 interviews with the owner-managers of SMEs, which is analysed using thematic analysis. The results are used to finalise the conceptual framework for the main study, which takes the form of a self-completion questionnaire survey. Usable responses were received from 384 firms, giving a response rate of 75.3%. The survey data is analysed using a series of binomial logistic regression models. Results reveal that there was no indication for the impact of owner’s education and experience on capital structure decisions. Other owner-related factors, firm characteristics, management performance and environment were found to relate to all types of capital structure. Both complete and partial mediating effects are also discovered in this study. The results provide evidence to support the pecking order hypothesis (Myers, 1984; Myers and Majluf, 1984), agency theory (Jensen and Meckling, 1976) and culture model of Schwartz (1994). It appeared that owner-managers in Malaysia do not strive to adjust their capital structure towards some optimal debt ratio, which is contrary to the static trade-off theory (DeAngelo and Masulis, 1980) of capital structure. This study makes several important contributions to the existing studies of capital structure. This research led to the development of a model of capital structure determinants by integrating factors related to owner-managers, firms, culture, and environment. This study incorporates methodological triangulation that may mitigate the problem of the difficulties in accessing financial data of SMEs in Malaysia. This study also provides meaningful insight into the financing preferences of the owner-managers with relevant implementations to academics, business practitioners, financial providers and policymakers. The research findings should assist owner-managers in making optimal capital structure decisions as well as help the policymaker in making an appropriate policy on the financing.
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Gogi, Anastasia. "Insight generation in simulation studies : an empirical exploration." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2016. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/23489.
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This thesis presents an empirical research that aims to explore insight generation in discrete-event simulation (DES) studies. It is often claimed that simulation is useful for generating insights. There is, however, almost no empirical evidence to support this claim. The factors of a simulation intervention that affect the occurrence of insight are not clear. A specific claim is that watching the animated display of a simulation model is more helpful in making better decisions than relying on the statistical outcomes generated from simulation runs; but again, there is very limited evidence to support this. To address this dearth of evidence, two studies are implemented: a quantitative and a qualitative study. In the former, a laboratory-based experimental study is used, where undergraduate students were placed in three separate groups and given a task to solve using a model with only animation, a model with only statistical results, or using no model at all. In the qualitative study, semi-structured interviews with simulation consultants were carried out, where participants were requested to account examples of projects in which clients change their problem understanding and generate more effective ideas. The two separated parts of the study found different types of evidence to support that simulation generates insight. The experimental study suggests that insights are generated more rapidly from statistical results than the use of animation. Research outcomes from the interviews include descriptions of: the phase of a simulation study where insight emerges; the role of different methods applied and means used in discovering and overcoming discontinuity in thinking (for instance, the role of consultant s influence in problem understanding); how some factors of a simulation intervention are associated with the processes of uncovering and overcoming discontinuity in thinking (for example, the role of clients team in the selection of methods used to communicate results); and the role of the model and consultant in generating new ideas. This thesis contributes to the limited existing literature by providing a more in depth understanding of insight in the context of simulation and empirical evidence on the insight-enabling benefits of simulation based on an operational definition. The findings of the study provide new insights into the factors of simulation that support fast and creative problem solving.
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Yeaman, Adetoun Oludara. "Understanding Empathy in the Experiences of Undergraduate Engineering Students in Service-Learning Programs." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/99038.
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In an increasingly globalized world and with rapid advancement in technology, there is a need to grapple more intently with social implications of engineering and technology. In the engineering community, these trends direct us to more critically consider how engineering and technology affect humanity and to interact effectively in diverse populations. Empathy, an ability that is central to the process of understanding and considering others, has been recognized as a valuable competency in the education of engineers. In engineering education specifically, several studies have pursued definition of empathy in the engineering context and its importance in engineering curriculum. Studies suggest that service learning is a useful pedagogical approach for supporting students in the development of social competencies, including empathy. However, it is not clear how this development happens.
In this dissertation, I sought to understand engineering students' experiences in a service-learning context to learn the ways in which empathy emerged in their descriptions and the elements of participants' experiences that shaped their empathy development. My participants were fourteen engineering students from two institutions, a small private university and a large public university, with both groups involved in at least one-semester of a service-learning course. I describe my phenomenological approach to this investigation and share my findings. Notably, I found eight main themes in my investigation of the role of empathy within the service-learning experiences described namely: changing perspective about others, having a sense of responsibility to others, keeping an open mind, inquiring of stakeholders, seeing others' points of view, understanding others' situations, being able to adjust goals and compromise and recognizing and/or welcoming difference. Additionally, I found both elements of participants' experiences designed into the course and those that were unprecedented relevant in shaping their empathy development. I also discuss the implications of these findings for engineering education and practice.Doctor of Philosophy
In an increasingly globalized world and with rapid advancement in technology, there is a need to think more intentionally about social implications of engineering and technology. These trends make is necessary for the engineering education to incorporate critical consideration of how engineering and technology affect humanity and how to interact effectively in diverse populations. Empathy, an ability that is central to the process of understanding and considering others, has been recognized as a valuable competency in the education of engineers. Studies suggest that service learning is a useful pedagogical approach for supporting students in the development of social competencies like empathy. My aim in this dissertation was to understand engineering students' experiences in a service-learning context to learn the ways in which their descriptions reveal empathy and the elements within their context that shaped empathy development. My participants are fourteen engineering students from two institutions, a small private university and a large public university, with both groups involved in at least one-semester of a service-learning course. Having explored students' experiences, I discuss key findings about how and within which contexts empathy came to play in these experiences. There are many different ways that empathy can play a role within students' experiences in a service-learning context and many facets of an experience help draw out more empathic practices. In this dissertation, I discuss implications of these findings for engineering education and practice.
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Yu, Fangfang. "Identity Construction and Negotiation of Chinese Students in Canada." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/37949.
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Comparing to the aggressive growth of the Chinese student population on Canadian
university campuses, their lived experience and identity issues deserve more attention that it already had. Using the theoretical framework combining social identity theory (Tajfel, 1974) and Ting-Toomey’s (1999, 2005) identity negotiation theory, this thesis investigated the identity construction and negotiation process of Chinese international students in Canadian universities. The study utilized a qualitative approach combining semi-structured interviews and a thematic analysis to examine the intercultural experiences of sixteen Chinese students in the Ottawa area through their own voices. Six themes were uncovered and future implications for international education practice were further discussed.
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Lee, Joo-Seok. "Why do Asian immigrants become entrepreneurs? The case of Korean self-employed immigrants in New Zealand." Click here to access this resource online, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10292/445.
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With the number of Asian immigrants continually increasing in New Zealand society, Asian immigrant businesses have been appearing more rapidly in New Zealand, particularly in Auckland. The primary purpose of this study is to enquire into why a certain Asian immigrant group become business people after migrating to Auckland, New Zealand. In addition, it investigates the level of their business activity and the level of happiness with their new life in New Zealand. This study examines the growing phenomenon of Asian immigrants, and the entrepreneurship rate of ethnic groups through existing statistics. The study focuses on Korean immigrants. Twenty self-employed Koreans who are running a business in Auckland participated in the study. They were invited to talk about why they became self-employed business people and related matters about their business activity. The study found that Korean immigrants chose self-employment as a means of getting a job. They gave up seeking mainstream employment opportunities due to the language barrier and their inability to cope with a new society and new system. Other fundamental factors in their decision to become entrepreneurs were that firstly, they were willing to invest a considerable amount of their own money and secondly, they preferred to participate in the workforce rather than to depend on the New Zealand welfare system. Based on the information acquired through the research, the study reported that the recently increased numbers of Asian businesses are partly attributable to New Zealand business immigration policy which introduced a new business category – Long Term Business Visa (LTBV). The findings from this research pointed to commitment that immigrant businesses contribute to the New Zealand economy and New Zealand society as taxpayers and potential employers.
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Kleinschwärzer, Markus Helmut. "An exploration of the influence of sensemaking on the process and outcomes of postmerger integration : case studies in four manufacturing companies." Thesis, University of Bradford, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/14466.
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Mergers and acquisitions have become very popular in recent decades for firms seeking competitive advantage. The high failure rates of these initiatives make a closer look at the influence of the human factors and their complexity on these change activities necessary. This study traces the development of merger and acquisition activities in four companies, with a particular focus on individuals’ sensemaking over time and on the influence of human functional factors on the process and the outcomes of the mergers reviewed. A qualitative case-study approach is adopted with sixteen in-depth semistructured interviews in four post-merger organisations. The analysis of the collected primary data is done through a descriptive analysis of each individual case and a cross-case analysis of the four investigated cases. The findings show that there is a direct influence of the researched human functional elements and of the individual sensemaking on both the process and outcomes of the reviewed merger and acquisition cases. Based on the findings, a human functional merger and acquisition model – reflecting the interaction and influence of the human functional elements – and a management guideline for adopting this, are developed. This study provides a review of the influence of some significant organisational and individual human functional elements, such as leadership, communication, decision-making, relationship, and individual beliefs, values, attitudes and learning on the process and outcome of mergers and acquisitions. Such an investigation of these elements and their complexity, interaction with and influence on the process and outcome of change initiatives, and more specifically in the context of mergers and acquisitions, has not been undertaken previously.
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Medland, Louise S. "Developing standards for household latrines in Rwanda." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2014. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/16163.
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The issue of standards for household latrines is complex because discussions related to standards for latrines in literature from the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector tend to focus on the negative aspects of standards and highlights cases where the miss-application of standards in the past has caused problems. However, despite concerns about the constraints that standards can seemingly impose, there is an acknowledgement that standards can play a more positive role in supporting efforts to increase access to household latrines. The World Health Organisation has long established and widely recognised standards for water supply quality and quantity but there are no equivalent standards for sanitation services and there is currently no guidance that deals with the topic of standards for household latrines. Household latrines are a small component of the wider sanitation system in a country and by considering how standards for household latrines operate within this wider sanitation system the aim of this research is to understand what influences standards can have on household latrines and explore how the negative perceptions about standards and latrine building can be overcome. The development of guidance on how to develop well written standards is the core focus of this research. This research explores the factors that can influence the development and use of a standard for household latrines in Rwanda using three data collection methods. Document analysis using 66 documents, including policies and strategies, design manuals and training guides from 17 countries throughout Sub-Saharan Africa was used in conjunction with the Delphi Method involving an expert panel of 27 from Rwanda and 38 semi-structured interviews. The research concludes that perceptions about standards for household latrines are fragmented and confused with little consensus in Rwanda on what need a standard should meet and what role it should play. The study has found that the need for a standard must be considered in the context of the wider sanitation system otherwise it can lead to duplication of efforts and increased confusion for all stakeholders. The study also found that there is an assumed link between standards and enforcement of standards through regulation and punishments which creates the negative perceptions about standards in Rwanda. However, despite this aversion to standards, there are still intentions to promote the standardisation of latrine technologies and designs, led by national government in Rwanda and in other Sub-Saharan African countries. The contribution to knowledge of this research includes a decision process presented at the end of the study which can be used by decision makers who are interested in developing a standard for household latrines. The decision process acts as a tool for outlining how a standard can operate within the national sanitation system. This understanding provides decision makers with the basis for continuing the debate on what a well written standard looks like in the national context and supports the development of a standard that is fit for purpose and provides a positive contribution to the sector.
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Shen, Xueyi. "Understanding the Role of Culture in Health-Seeking Behaviours of Chinese International Students in Canada." Thèse, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/20127.
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In the 21st century, the mobility of world population has posed greater challenges to healthcare practitioners, since they are facing an increasingly diverse patient population from all over the world. At the same time, patients also find it difficult to access and utilize quality health care services in a culturally diverse context.
This study examines the role of culture in Chinese international students’ health-seeking behaviours in Canada. The study explores any barriers/perceived barriers that Chinese international students may confront when accessing health care which can prevent them from obtaining quality health care services in Canada. To this end, an intercultural health communication model was employed as a theoretical framework, and semi-structured interviews were used as a data collection tool.
While contributing to existing literature on health communication and culture, this study also hopes to contribute to providing Canadian universities and institutions important information regarding Chinese international students’ access to and utilization of health care services with the hope of enhancing the quality of ethnic health care and promoting better health outcomes.
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Ghergari, Kori. "Investigating Transparency in Government of Canada Citizen-focused Communications." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/22678.
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Government of Canada communications professionals work in an increasingly challenging environment, characterized by an intrusive 24/7 media cycle, a frenetic pace of evolving communication technologies, layered accountability requirements, political tension, and waning public trust. Scholars call on professional communicators to help rebuild public trust, which is intrinsic to a healthy democratic government. The Three-dimensional Model for Transparency in Government Communication developed by Fairbanks, Plowman and Rawlins (2007) serves as the theoretical framework for investigating the Government of Canada’s approach to transparent citizen-focused communications from the perspective of communications professionals. The model’s adaptability to the Government of Canada context is tested through 23 qualitative semi-structured interviews with Government of Canada senior communications advisors, managers and executives. The data is analysed using constant comparative thematic analysis. The findings demonstrate that Government of Canada communicators strongly value transparency. Furthermore, the key components of the transparency model – communications practices, organizational support and provision of resources – encapsulate the factors that influence the practice of transparent citizen-focused communications by the Government of Canada. The study concludes by offering recommendations for future research and practical applications.
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Fors, Hanna, and Axel Käll. "I Want to Show the Society That Females Also Can be Leaders : A Qualitative Study of Cambodian Women in Leadership Roles." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Pedagogiska institutionen, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-174821.
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The research was a Minor Field Study conducted in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The purpose of the study was to explore and analyze Cambodian women's experiences of leadership. A qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews was conducted with a targeted and snowball selection. Seven female leaders from different organizations and from both the private and public sector were the source of our empirical findings. We discovered in our research that the participants had both intrinsic and extrinsic sources of motivation. First, women that were unsure of what motivated them, second motivation grew out of hard work and third motivation was to demonstrate female capacity. The research found that success, challenges, and the benefit of being a female leader were essential components for positive experiences. Important factors for leadership were family background, education and self-confidence/belief in herself. These factors coincided with previous research from Cambodia. The research displayed three types of barriers for Cambodian women -traditional values, higher demands, and personal factors. Most commonly the female had either a democratic or transformational leadership style, but authoritarian and situational leadership styles were also used. The result displayed that one side saw a difference between the genders in their way of leading and the other suggested that leadership is based on personal attributes.
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Tannous, Pamela. "Rethinking Youth as Means for Political Stability A qualitative content analysis of the sociopolitical situation in Lebanon from the perspective of empowerment theory." Thesis, Malmö universitet, Fakulteten för kultur och samhälle (KS), 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-21917.
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Youth exclusion in a society is a major issue in many parts of the globe, and particularly in the Arab world. It limits the succession of social movements leading to political stability and leaves a relevant part of the society alienated from political processes. For this reason, this thesis aims to introduce and highlight youth as a source for political and social development, using Lebanon as a case study through the theoretical lens of empowerment theory. The work carried out understands empowerment theory as a useful theoretical framework in Political Science, and its contribution to the case under scrutiny will rest upon three interrelated categories: individual empowerment, collective empowerment, and social and political change as a subsequent. The research focuses on the capacity development of young Lebanese people through their participation in a UNDP program. Using content analysis of a UNDP report and semi-structured interviews conducted with youth (20-28) as well as with the youth focal point in UNDP, the thesis systemically examines and evaluates the extent to which Lebanese youth are feeling empowered by the UNDP for creating social change and reducing political instability. The results and findings of the research suggest that if organizations such as the UNDP place more attention on youth, they are likely to have a greater political and social impact on social and political development.
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Svegreus, Sandra. "Are we forgetting the gifted students? : How English teachers work with gifted students in Swedish upper secondary schools." Thesis, Mälardalens högskola, Akademin för utbildning, kultur och kommunikation, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-55230.
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The aim of this qualitative study is to investigate how upper secondary school teachers in Sweden identify and, if they do, support gifted students. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data from seven upper secondary school English teachers in Sweden. The results show that the teachers are able to identify gifted students after they perform certain tests or tasks. All teachers state that it is important to give gifted students the necessary help and attention they need. The methods that were used to support the gifted students were to have flexible assignments that could be adjusted to the individuals’ needs or to provide the gifted students with extra assignments. The teachers state that they find it difficult to meet the needs of the gifted students due to lack of time and because the needs of struggling students are prioritized by the system. In conclusion, the teachers agree that education should be adjusted to all of the students’ different needs, including the ones of the gifted students. It has been reported by the participating teachers that they try to achieve this, yet they are concerned with the availability of their resources and time.
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Lindholm, Fjeld Emilia. "“Taboo is something that the media should not engage in” : Swedish journalists’ perceived freedom when reporting on controversial topics." Thesis, Södertörns högskola, Journalistik, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-45644.
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In recent years, there has been talk of a declining confidence and growing mistrust of the news media. Swedish media have been accused of obscuring certain topics, of letting the newspapers’ political orientation guide the selection of news and of having a news evaluation process that is influenced by the journalists’ personal opinions. With this as a starting point, and the assumption that a high ranking in the press freedom index does not automatically translate to a media landscape unaffected by restraining factors, this thesis investigates the reality of the press freedom in Sweden. Through the method of triangulation, combining a quantitative survey with qualitative semi-structured interviews, the thesis explores how Swedish journalists perceive their journalistic freedom, as well as if all topics are represented in Swedish journalism. The conclusion shows that although Swedish journalists perceive their journalistic freedom to be high, there are signs of self-censorship resulting in a lacking reporting of certain news topics.
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Mfundisi, Zama. "The role of professional nurses in promoting a healthy self-esteem in hospitalised, pregnant women with HIV/AIDS in a maternity unit in a public hospital in Cape Town." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/3017.
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Thesis (Master of Nursing)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019In the fight against the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), one of the aspects to be taken into consideration is the self-esteem of pregnant women. Professional nurses in maternity settings need to support pregnant women, with a focus on providing balanced care to meet all of the women’s needs and build their self-esteem. Self-esteem reflects one’s subjective emotional evaluation of one’s worth. A decrease in the self-esteem of the individual with HIV/AIDS infections is common and professional nurses should advise patients on the appropriate ways to deal with HIV/AIDS. A supportive environment for HIV/AIDS women could enhance their self-esteem. The researcher overheard HIV/AIDS positive patients in a maternity unit express their feelings of worthlessness and wondered how he could support them to have self-worth. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the role of professional nurses in promoting a healthy self-esteem in hospitalised, pregnant women with HIV/AIDS in a maternity unit in a public hospital in Cape Town. The study was qualitative in nature, departing from assumptions of the theoretical framework of Eric Erikson. An exploratory, descriptive, contextual, qualitative design was followed when the semi-structured interviews were conducted. The accessible population comprised of 15 professional nurses working at the maternity unit. Purposive sampling was used to obtain a sample of 11 professional nurses (participants) working in a maternity unit who met the eligibility criteria. Individual interviews were conducted with eight participants as a starting point until data saturation was reached. After obtaining permission from the necessary authorities, the researcher visited the manager of the unit. Two pilot individual interviews were conducted to determine whether the research questions were understood. The researcher explained the purpose and information on the information sheet and obtained informed consent. Interviews lasted 45 minutes were conducted in a private room and recorded. The researcher used an interview schedule and made field notes while conducting the interviews. Data triangulation of the interviews and field notes ware done. Thematic analysis coding was applied to analyse data. Trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability. The following ethical principles of privacy, the right to withdraw and anonymity were followed. The findings indicated HIV/AIDS-related stigma as the main cause of a poor self-esteem among pregnant women with HIV/AIDS. Participants furthermore felt that there is a need for training and skills development of professional nurses to enable them to understand how to support HIV/AIDS pregnant women and enhance their self-esteem. It was concluded that professional nurses should support pregnant women with HIV/AIDS places a socio-economic burden on societies and has set the world into spending millions on healthcare settings in an attempt to curb the disease.
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Pratt, Justin M. "Undergraduate Students Teaching Chemistry in Informal Environments: Investigating Chemistry Outreach Practices and Conceptual Understanding." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami154203032638329.
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Cammarata, Samantha. "Generational differences in South African women’s leadership approach : a life history investigation." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/31621.
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Recent literature shows an increased interest in generational differences among the workforce, particularly in Western societies. This has coincided with a focus on the role of women as successful leaders in the workplace. Despite this, the exploration and understanding of generational differences amongst female leaders in organisations has received limited attention, particularly in the South African context. The main purpose of the study was therefore to explore whether generational differences among women have an influence on how they approach leadership roles in a South African context. The study also sought to examine whether there are differences in gender identity across the generations as a result of socialisation. The study adopted a qualitative, life histories methodological approach to address the research purposes. Semi structured interviews were conducted with nine South African women in leadership positions from both the Baby Boomer and Generation X generational cohorts. The two generational cohorts were selected as they make up the majority of the current workforce while also being more likely, due to their age, of occupying leadership positions. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and were imported into Atlas.ti for data analysis. The findings indicated that mothers played a dominant role in the socialisation of women, while fathers were significantly less present in the women’s stories. In terms of the effect of socialisation on career and leadership expectations, Baby Boomers were taught that they should be ‘stay-at-home-mothers’ and after having raised their children could then begin their careers. Generation X believed that they could be career women just as easily as ‘stay-at-home-mothers’. Despite both generations favouring a transformational approach to leadership, each generation differed in the way it practiced leadership. Baby Boomers led in a shared, structured and empowering manner, whereas Generation Xs focused on being attentive, unlocking potential, identifying talents of followers, and assisting in the growth and development of followers within their leadership approach.Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
Human Resource Management
unrestricted
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Bengtner, Therese. "The Cambodian Curse : A field study on the role of journalists in modern Cambodia." Thesis, Stockholms universitet, Institutionen för mediestudier, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-108594.
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The title enlightens the difficulties of democratic transition that Cambodia experiences post Khmer Rouge. Media in transitional democracies is often described as a forced compromise between what is ideal and what is actually possible. This thesis aims to understand how political agency and technological advances have affected journalistic agency in a transitional democracy. Three research questions were decided upon: How do journalists in Cambodia perceive their role in a democratic transition? What restrictions and limitations do journalistic practices face in Cambodia? And how do journalists in Cambodia perceive the impact of social media on democratic development? A field study was conducted in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. For ten weeks, eight editors and journalists currently active in Cambodia were interviewed and observed in their working environment. Normative media theory and developmental democracy theory have been used to analyze and understand the material that was generated through a combination of unstructured observations and semi-structured qualitative research interviews. Important findings were that the complicated structures of transitional democracies make journalists take on different roles, from very collaborative to extremely radical. Their different stand on journalistic practices is a mixture of their own choice and the force of historical, political and social constraints. Political power players treat them differently, which further separates them and has led to a segregated journalistic community. Even though they seem to share the same fundamental ideal of what journalism should be journalists are therefor unlikely to cooperate. Social media has been a catalyst for change in democratic development in Cambodia. By offering a place for uncensored conversations it has given the opposition access to media. Social media has brought along many new dilemmas though and is probably more beneficial to journalistic development than to democratic development. There is a lack of tolerance of diversity in Cambodia due to the fragile state of democratic transition. Therefor the immediate and unrestricted ways of expression in social media partially works against creating the social capital necessary for consolidation – fully completed democratization.
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Lenstierna, Elisabeth. "Motivation on Twitter : A qualitative study examining motivational factors for political participation in #svpol." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för medier och journalistik (MJ), 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-85576.
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This work takes off in earlier studies concerning motivational factors to interact in various social media in relation to societal and political discussions. The aim for this study is to garner a deeper understanding about how users on Twitter are motivated to take part in debates beneath the hashtag #svpol. Also, this work contributes with the personal experience of entering the Twittersphere as a new user without the capital of trust or knowledge prerequisite to the participation in the community of #svpol. Through semi-structured interviews six respondents shared their experiences of political dialogue on Twitter. Further, this study presents a new form of gathering data by using Twitter as a channel for textual responses through the function of Direct Messages where 3 respondents answered in text. The results presented confirms earlier theory in some respects regarding motivational factors to engage in political commentary and debate on Twitter. Also, this study presents nuances which can be recognized as pre-dispositioning motivational factors addressed in earlier research. The respondents in this work show differences in their social orientation displaying both relation orientation and antagonistic features in the community of #svpol. Their motivation and gratifications differ, and the result are discussed and concluded in the final chapter. This study does not generalize by the findings presented, rather it describes a small window of the community of #svpol and political commentary on Twitter. Rather than posing any absolute truths or widely held conceptions, this study contributes by giving some depth to the notion of nine Twitter users and their perception of the activity beneath #svpol on the Twitter platform. This work also shines light hardships which a researcher might encounter on the way to a qualitative approach to Twitter users in a general, largely anonymous, network within a national setting.
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Gass, David S. J. "Understanding circumscribed interests in individuals with autism-spectrum disorders and how they relate to families." Thesis, Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2013. https://zone.biblio.laurentian.ca/dspace/handle/10219/2098.
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Autism-spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that are becoming increasingly more prevalent. A diagnostic criterion for autism is the presence of restricted, repetitive behaviours (RRBs), one of which is the intense fascinations for virtually any topic: circumscribed interests (CIs). CIs have the potential to be used for motivational purposes. This study employed semi-structured interviews using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) with individuals with ASDs and their parents. In total, 11 families participated in this study, comprising 33 individuals (16 parents and 17 individuals with ASDs). This study found five themes: He's Very Unique; They Don't Realize that Not Everyone Lives and Thinks the Same Thing All the Time; We Couldn't even Pronounce the Names of These Dinosaurs, and Jason was Telling Us; You Can't Change Them, You Can Only Love Them; and So I Can Do My Job at the Same Time and Observe the Weather at the Same Time.
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Lilja, Fanny, and Madelene Tornerhjelm. "Cultural Competence in Care of Patients from Diverse Cultural Backgrounds : Experiences of Nursing Students in Gauteng Province, South Africa." Thesis, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Institutionen för hälsa, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:bth-16308.
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Background: The society is rapidly changing in a demographic matter. As a result of this nurses are required to be equipped with the right skills and knowledge to approach a more diverse patient group. Hence, the health care is dependent on cultural competent nurses, without them the health care is vulnerable. Previous studies show that nurses are faced with great challenges when it comes to encounters with patients from different cultural backgrounds and that they lack the essential cultural knowledge which effects the quality and standard of care. This means high demands on the nursing curricula to integrate guidelines for cultural competence and educate future nurses in order to make them more prepared for their future profession. Aim: To explore nursing students experiences of practicing cultural competence in care of patients from diverse cultural backgrounds, a qualitative study in Gauteng province, South Africa. Method: The chosen method was qualitative. Eight individual semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed with inspiration from Burnard’s (1996) four-step content analysis. Findings: The findings showed the main-category: beneficial components in cultural competent care, with three sub-categories: positive attitudes and adapting of care, gaining knowledge from cultural encounters with patients and existing contextual insights of own culture and other cultures. The beneficial components included the positive attitudes of the participants and their ability to adapt the care around cultural challenges. Gaining knowledge from cultural encounters with patients and having existing contextual insights of own culture facilitated the encounters with patients. Findings also showed the main-category: barriers in providing a cultural competent care with three sub-categories: disrupted communication, limited levels of cultural knowledge and lack of trust. Disrupted communication was mostly due to the language barrier, a huge problem as important information was left out and the system of getting interpreters faulted. The limited levels of cultural knowledge were based on limited knowledge about different cultures. Lack of trust originated from patients’ strong cultural belief while disbelieving in the westernized health care which resulted in a non-trusting relationship between health care personnel and patients. Conclusion: There were several barriers as well as facilitators, though the barriers were more dominating in character. Therefore, more education is needed so nursing students feel empowered and more secure when encountering patients from different cultures. Continuing education is also needed for registered nurses as well as prospective and further research is required in order to obtain the best resources for implementation of cultural competence.
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Adebayo, Stephen. "Perceived impacts of Cloud Computing adoption on the role of an IT department of a higher institution in a developing country." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för informatik (IK), 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-87294.
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Cloud computing popularity has continued to be on the increase side, and it has been significant contributory factor to the of 24/7 365 days business culture of the digital 21st century where data and data centers are accessed via the internet through any connected device, anytime and from anywhere. Higher Education Institutions (HEI) or Tertiary Education Institution (TEI) are also among organisations, medium and large, that are tapping into this trend by gradually adopting this technology to reduce their high budgets in the prevailing face of financial shortage. This has particularly made the technology attractive to TEI in developing countries, and more of them are adopting the services being offered by cloud computing. The adoption of this technology however, affects the way and manner by which IT services are being delivered traditionally by the TEI IT or ICT departments. The objective of this study therefore, is to explore the adoption of this phenomenal technology and its impact on the role of traditional IT department in one of the tertiary education institution in the South Western part of Nigeria. The TOE framework adoption model was used to explore the adoption factors, and interviews conducted within the ICT department of the institution as part of the empirical findings process. In contrary to popular belief, no member of the IT staff has lost his or her job yet based on the adoption despite the impact on the skills and culture in service delivery of the department. IT staffs were encouraged to adapt to the change as quickly as possible with trainings given, and the ICT, thus the HEI have value added as most of the services are now available on a 24-hour basis to users, even while off campus and far remote, a dream very difficult and near impossible in the days of full traditional IT services delivery.
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Barberio, Vitaliano, Ines Kuric, Edoardo Mollona, and Luca Pareschi. "D 3.1 'Qualitative report on the impact and effectiveness of communication strategies from the semi structured interviews with cohesion policy practitioners (including third-party partners in the consortium), written by each partner'." WU University of Economics and Business; Università di Bologna, 2017. http://epub.wu.ac.at/6340/1/Deliverable_3_1_PERCEIVE.pdf.
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This document is a comparative synthesis of the reports on regional case studies written by PERCEIVE's partners. Each report is based both on an original data collection and on the analysis of the focus group's section that addresses communication issues. Each partner collected national and/or regional communication plans, which were mostly used for the first chapter of this report: "Communication strategy at different levels and LMAs' organization."
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Buwule, Robert Stalone. "Exploratory Study on the Drivers and Barriers to Adoption of an Integrated Library System in Kyambogo University Library Service." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/43904.
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The adoption of Integrated Library Systems (ILS) helps library staff to automate libraries’ routine operations. While some libraries are coping well with automation, others most especially in Sub Saharan Africa face challenges and setbacks. The purpose of the study is to explore the adoption of an open source ILS, Koha, at Kyambogo University Library Service (KyULS). The study employs a qualitative approach where data is gathered using semi-structured interviews. Collected data was analysed using content analysis. The results of the study indicate that the drivers for adopting an ILS in KyULS are: qualified staff members, Koha being an open source software, training, and library automation trends in sister university libraries. The barriers to ILS adoption on the other hand included: lack of infrastructure, internet instability, insufficient funding, bureaucracy and the ILS’s unsuitability to persons with visual impairment. This report further provides recommendations to alleviate or resolve the difficulties that are hampering KyULS specifically and potentially other libraries when adopting ILSs. They include having a well-planned process of adopting the ILS, provision of a centralised and stable campus-wide inter/intranet network, establishment of required ILS infrastructure, sourcing of external funding, carrying out wide spread sensitisation of the ILS, continuously training the library staff members in the use of the ILS and collaboration with ILS adoption champions in other academic libraries. This study may be of value to academic librarians, LIS schools and ILS vendors globally as it helps them better understand the unique challenges faced by libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa.Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
Information Science
MIT
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Kaati, Patrik. "Small-Scale Farmers Land Use and Socioeconomic Situation in the Mount Elgon District in Northwestern Kenya : A Minor Field Study - Combined Field Mapping and Interview." Thesis, Högskolan Dalarna, Geografi, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:du-10161.
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This Minor Field Study was carried out during November and December in 2011 in the Mount Elgon District in Western Kenya. The objective was to examine nine small-scale farming household´s land use and socioeconomic situation when they have joined a non-governmental organization (NGO) project, which specifically targets small-scale farming households to improve land use system and socioeconomic situation by the extension of soil and water conservation measures. The survey has worked along three integral examinations methods which are mapping and processing data using GIS, semi structured interviews and literature studies. This study has adopted a theoretical approach referred to as political ecology, in which landesque capital is a central concept. The result shows that all farmers, except one, have issues with land degradation. However, the extent of the problem and also implemented sustainable soil and water conservation measures were diverse among the farmers. The main causes of this can both be linked to how the farmers themselves utilized their farmland and how impacts from the climate change have modified the terms of the farmers working conditions. These factors have consequently resulted in impacts on the informants’ socioeconomic conditions. Furthermore it was also registered that social and economic elements, in some cases, were the causes of how the farmers manage their farmland. The farmer who had no significant problem with soil erosion had invested in trees and opportunities to irrigate the farmland. In addition, it was also recorded that certain farmers had invested in particular soil and water conservation measures without any significant result. This was probably due to the time span these land measures cover before they start to generate revenue. The outcome of this study has traced how global, national and local elements exist in a context when it comes to the conditions of the farmers´ land use and their socioeconomic situation. The farmers atMt.Elgon are thereby a component of a wider context when they are both contributory to their socioeconomic situation, mainly due to their land management, and also exposed to core-periphery relationships on which the farmers themselves have no influence.
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Meyer, Julia. ""The owl hugs me in the forest" : Children's Experiences and Educators' Perceptions of Learning in a Swedish Mini-Forest Garden." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Institutionen för beteendevetenskap och lärande, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-158203.
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In recent years, there has been converging evidence on the relation between nature experiences and learning. Although outdoor experiences are not just seen as leisurely activities anymore, barriers, such as lack of resources or travel time can hinder the propagation of more outdoor educational programs. This study explores a relatively new outdoor educational setting that can help overcome these difficulties by decreasing the amount of resources, input and energy necessary to set up such measures: the educational forest garden. With lower maintenance in creating an environment that resembles an authentic ecosystem, the question remains if forest gardening can foster similar learning outcomes than those reported in other educational settings. A qualitative study in a Swedish mini-forest garden was employed to explore what types of learning are possible in this new type of setting. Interviews with two educators and eight children were conducted to find out what perceptions and experiences they communicate after spending time in the mini-forest garden. The educator’s ideas were compared with children’s accounts and observational notes on their behavior to see if there was a difference in perception and experience. Examples for learning were found in three different dimensions: cognitive, emotional and social. The explored categories were ecological literacy, language learning, attention; being comfortable outdoors, respect and care, awareness of surroundings, co-creation, teacher-student interaction, gender differences and free play and imagination. The findings indicate an overlap between teacher’s and children’s experiences and perceptions in almost all categories and similar beneficial learning outcomes with forest gardening to other outdoor educational endeavors. Along with the potential for self-development, forest gardening may be a new way to successfully teach in the outdoors with less input or resources. Although a small scale study that should not be generalized, the study gives insight to educators’ and children’s voices in a new outdoor educational setting and can help overcome the lack of children’s voices in research in general. At the same time, it adds to the limited amount of research on forest gardening and potentially helps to increase the popularity of forest gardening as a new outdoor educational method.
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Al-Saleh, Mohammed. "When Anti-Corruption Initiatives Meet the Culture of Wasta: The Case of Public Sector Reforms in Jordan." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/34318.
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Jordan has strived to manage a large-scale anti-corruption initiative for the public sector since 2006. Despite the implementation of laws and bodies mandated to address corruption, public trust of government remains low and the country’s position on international corruption rankings has not improved. This study seeks to investigate how the implementation of a large-scale anti-corruption initiative impacts the organizational culture of the country’s public sector. It proposes that wasta, a unique Arab phenomenon that promotes the values of loyalty, represents the most significant barrier to penetrating what is essentially a normalized culture of corruption in the Government of Jordan. The organizational culture theory model was adopted as the theoretical framework because of its ability to account for differences in culture where promoted values do not necessarily correspond with employee actions. Because literature in this area is rare, a qualitative exploratory methodology was chosen. Based on data saturation, a total of 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted on-site in Jordan with mid-level managers identified using snowball sampling. The results prove the theoretical proposal to be accurate and show that wasta has evolved to the deepest level of organizational culture. The results are sub-divided into two major themes: culture and leadership. The results show that wasta is a deeply held and engrained part of organizational culture and that it is difficult for anti-corruption efforts to change this culture in the Jordanian public sector. The thesis also demonstrate how leadership can be both something negative or something positive in the fight against wasta depending on how it is used.. The findings carry implications for public administration, foreign policy, and society as a whole especially with regard to the development of more effective anti-corruption strategies in Jordan and abroad. The specific contribution to knowledge of this thesis is the examination of how organizational cultural reforms impact public-sector organizations in the
Middle Eastern context given the influence of wasta, which is not discussed in the literature but remains important for the field. Future research should consider the views of a wider variety of stakeholders, as well as the impact of wasta on organizational characteristics including performance and delivery of public services.
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John, Cornelia. "FGM in Swedish press : A dissertation examining the journalistic coverage of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Swedish press." Thesis, Stockholms universitet, JMK, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-144056.
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What topics are discussed within the female genital mutilation debate? And who gets to speak out? Are there any prominent patterns able to detect? This thesis tries to elaborate these thoughts examining the journalistic coverage of FGM in Swedish newspapers during the year of 2016. A content analysis of all published newspapers during the year of interest sets the empirical basis, and is supported by interviews with journalists covering the issue. The dissertation holds a constructionist approach meaning that the perception of reality is constructed, and thereof differs. This approach also clarifies that there is no constant truth, but several. Findings within the empirical data are mainly discussed connected to feminist theory as well as the concept of agenda-setting, eventually involving discussions about human rights issue as a value for journalism. What is clear here is that women are overrepresented within the debate, and are depicted as strong individuals, are seldom victimized or depicted in stereotyped gender roles as opposed by scholars. Meanwhile, participating journalists are somewhat semi-aware about their own portrayals since they opine that they are focusing on representing female characters in their articles. This might indicate that the FGM debate is unilaterally represented in some ways. The result also shows a clear pattern in representing FGM in media as a global issue treating the prevalence of FGM around the world, even when a domestic perspective is used. The issue of interest is also perceived as a procedure aiming to control women and/or their sexuality in a quite vast extent, scholarly as well as empirically
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Pentarchou, Konstantina. "Web 2.0 tools integration in Online Public AccessCatalogue (OPAC) : users desires and motivation." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för informatik (IK), 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-36326.
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This research aimed to investigate the desires of the users of the Greek public Library on Gender and Equality (LGE) about a future Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) containing Web2.0 functionalities. The concepts of participation, information pluralism and community building in relation with Web 2.0 tools in libraries’ catalogues were introduced under the theoretical approach provided by Social Critical Theory of Jürgen Habermas. Aqualitative research based on semi-structured interviews with users of the LGE wasconducted and the collected data that were analysed with the thematic analysis method,revealed positive users’ impressions regarding the introduction of Web 2.0 tools in theLGE’s OPAC. The research also disclosed users’ desires and suggestions regarding specific Web 2.0 features and their common motivation to participate and contribute to be the opportunity of communicating with like-minded people.
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NAKAMURA, Yuko. "Emergence of conversation in a semi-structured L2 English interview." 名古屋大学大学院国際言語文化研究科, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/2237/19729.
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Crispin, Vivianne. "Information exchange between patients and nurses during routine nursing care in ward settings : a qualitative multiple case study." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/21158.
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Aim: This study explores what type of information patients and nurses share with, or provide to, each other, and whether or not the information received was relevant and sufficient for their needs. Background: Information exchange, as part of shared decision-making, is advocated in policy and practice throughout the healthcare sector. Much of the literature on information exchange relates to one-to-one consultations with consultants or GPs. To date, no studies have explored information exchange between patients and nurses in ward settings. Nursing literature on patients’ information needs focuses on one-way information provision from nurses to patients, rather than on two-way information exchange between patients and nurses. Methods: Interactions between patients and nurses were observed and audio-recorded using a remotely controlled audio-recording system. Semi-structured individual face-to-face interviews were then conducted to clarify and add to the observation data. A multiple case study design was used for this study: each case comprised one patient, the nurses caring for that patient, and the interactions between them. A pilot study was undertaken to inform the methods for recruitment and data collection for the main study. Results: The pilot study comprised five cases (patients n=5, nurses n=3). Changes to the recruitment strategy for the main study included surgical patients being invited to participate in the same way as medical patients. There were no difficulties with the data collection methods. The main study comprised nineteen cases (patients n=19, nurses n=22). Information exchange seemed unfamiliar to ward-based nurses. The findings show that information exchange may not be a one-off event but a complex series of interactions. Patients did not distinguish between clinical and non-clinical information in the same way as nurses. Primary reasons for patients’ hospital admission were not discussed and nurses did not share information about nursing interventions. The relevance for patients and nurses differed; patients generally wanted information for reducing anxiety and socialization; nurses wanted information for assessment and care planning. In terms of sufficiency, observation sessions highlighted that insufficient information was provided, often due to lost opportunities and paternalistic practice. However, the majority of patients and nurses perceived that they had exchanged sufficient information. Conclusion: This multiple case study provides insights into the type, relevance and sufficiency of information for patients and nurses in ward settings. In ward settings, information exchange as conceptualised by Charles et al. (1997 and 1999) may be difficult to achieve due to the complexity of patient/nurse interactions. Therefore, there are implications for policy makers as policies are not context specific. However, information exchange may be helpful for reducing patients’ anxieties. The concepts of shared decision-making and information exchange are not part of ward-based cultures and philosophies, which suggests implications for patient and nurse education. Research on information exchange between patients and nurses in other ward contexts may contribute to further understanding of information exchange in ward settings.
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McPhee, Iain. "The intentionally unseen : exploring the illicit drug use of non-treatment seeking drug users in Scotland." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/9921.
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There is a perception that drug use is a serious and growing problem to be solved by medicine, social work and drug enforcement agencies. This thesis takes a critical standpoint again such populist views and interprets drug use as one of any number of normal activities that people engage. This qualitative research utilising a bricoleur ethnographic methodology focuses on the drug taking of non-treatment seeking illegal drug users. The data reveals that they manage several social identities and the potential stigma of being discovered as an illicit user of illegal drugs utilising several strategies to remain intentionally unseen. The thesis explores how and in what way socially competent drug users differ from visible treatment seeking drug users. In order to develop this understanding, several gatekeepers were identified and within their social networks the participants were recruited into this research. The participants (n=24) were recruited from a wide range of age groups (21-52) and geographical locations within Scotland. One to one interviews, a focus group, and several pair bonded partners were interviewed together providing rich sources of data. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically from a social constructionist perspective. The findings illuminate the ways in which the intentionally unseen identify and manage risks from drugs, drugs policy and the potential shame and stigma were their hidden social worlds revealed. The practical implications of the results of this thesis are explored and recommendations for future research are discussed.
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Zafar, Ali, and Oscar Svensson. "Synergizing Systems : Using SSM in prototypical system development." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för informatik (IK), 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-98713.
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This thesis is concerned with a research project conducted with a Swedish company to provide recommendations for developing a prototypical information system for the company. The system’s goal was to consolidate data regarding the company’s supply chain and packaging conditions in order to find improvements in packaging development. The thesis employed the use of Soft Systems Methodology to aid with the system development process. A qualitative explorative study was designed for this purpose. Soft Systems Methodology was used after exploring alternative methodologies. This was chosen as the researchers found it important to engage the case company in the system development process. Four semi-structured interviews and two workshops with the relevant officials were the main methods of collecting data. Models such as a rich picture, CATWOE and PQR formula were utilized during the research to visualize important aspects of the system development process. As a result of the research, the researchers were able to provide the company with recommendations for how to further proceed with the development process. Another result of the study was that Soft Systems Methodology was able to unlock tacit information. The methodology also allowed for a consideration of the implementation of an iterative process to support the development. The results of this research suggest that introducing and making use of Soft Systems Methodology is very stimulating in an environment not already using it. The research provided insights needed for progress towards a successful implementation of a new information system, and contributes a real-world SSM case in a corporate environment. The researchers also suggest future opportunities for research that could further build on the work presented in the thesis.
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Olsson, Linnea. "Human-elephant conflicts : A qualitative case study of farmers’ attitudes toward elephants in Babati, Tanzania." Thesis, Södertörns högskola, Institutionen för naturvetenskap, miljö och teknik, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-24091.
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It is widely recognized that human-wildlife conflicts can reduce farmers’ support for long-term species conservation. The subject of human-elephant conflicts is highly relevant in villages around Babati District in North Central Tanzania because of the closeness to Tarangire National Park. The purpose of this study is therefore to examine local farmers’ attitudes toward elephants and the attitudes’ effects on conservation efforts. Primary data was collected through a qualitative approach of semi-structured interviews with twelve farmers in four villages around Babati, with Wildlife Officer Nashon Macokesha at Babati District Council and with Allan Carlson, Nature Conservation Expert at WWF. A thematic analysis was done to make comparisons between the answers from farmers, Macokesha and Carlson. The Theory of Planned Behavior and the Value-Belief-Norm theory were also used to analyze the underlying factors of the farmers’ attitudes. The results of this study show that around half of the farmers have positive attitudes toward elephants, while the other half think negatively of them. Elephants were identified as the most problematic species and crop-raiding as the most problematic type of human-elephant conflict. The problems that farmers experience do to crop-raiding and other types of human-elephant conflicts include the direct effects of lost livelihood and income and indirect effects like health impacts and security issues. The result also indicates that factors affecting farmers’ attitudes toward elephants include: 1) the proportion of available land affected by elephants, 2) the closeness of farmers’ fields to Tarangire National Park, 3) the lack of compensation, 4) the ability to affect the decision-making concerning the human-elephant conflicts and 5) the information about and knowledge of elephants and their importance. The underlying cause of the human-elephant conflicts is identified to be the spatial overlap of the two species. To prevent human-elephant encounters in the first place, thereby reducing the risk of human-elephants conflicts, better land use planning can be used to avoid settlement and cultivation close to protected areas. Buffer zones can be established around national parks and reserves to reduce the overlap between humans and wildlife. Mitigation through preventive and deterrent methods like lighting fires, making noises, using chili-dung or chili-grease to scare elephants off farmers’ fields can also be used. Another alternative is to switch from growing high-risk crops that elephants prefer to crops like chili or sesame which rarely gets eaten by elephants.Att konflikter mellan människor och djurliv kan minska bönders stöd för artbevarande åtgärder är välkänt bland forskare. Konflikter mellan människor och elefanter är vitt förekommande i byar i Babati-distriktet i norra Tanzania på grund av närheten till nationalparken Tarangire. Syftet med denna studie är därför att undersöka bönders attityder till elefanter och attitydernas effekter för bevarandeåtgärder. Primärdata samlades in genom ett kvalitativt upplägg med semistrukturerade intervjuer med tolv bönder i fyra byar i Babati, med Wildlife Officer Nashon Macokesha på Babati District Council samt med Allan Carlson, naturvårdsexpert på WWF. En tematisk analys utfördes för att jämföra svaren mellan bönderna, Macokesha och Carlson och the Theory of Planned Behavior samt the Value-Belief-Norm theory användes för att analysera de underliggande orsakerna bakom böndernas attityder. Resultatet från denna studie visar att ungefär hälften av bönderna har positiva attityder till elefanter, medan den andra hälften har negativa åsikter om dem. Elefanter identifierades som den mest problematiska arten för bönderna och förstörandet av grödor som den mest problematiska typen av konflikt mellan människor och elefanter. Problemen som bönderna upplever till följd av dessa konflikter inkluderar direkta effekter som förlorad inkomst och försämrade försörjningsmöjligheter, men också indirekta effekter som hälso- och säkerhetsproblem. Faktorer som enligt resultaten i denna studie kan påverka böndernas attityder till elefanter innefattar: 1) andelen tillgänglig mark som påverkas av elefanter, 2) närheten från böndernas mark till nationalparken Tarangire, 3) bristen på kompensation, 4) möjligheten att påverka beslutsprocessen gällande konflikten mellan människor och elefanter samt 5) information och kunskap om elefanter och deras betydelse. Den underliggande orsaken till konflikterna mellan människor och elefanter identifieras vara överlappet i användningsområden mellan de båda arterna. För att förhindra möten mellan människor och elefanter, och därmed minska risken för konflikter, behövs bättre markanvändningsplanering så att bosättning och jordbruk undviks i närheten av skyddade områden. Buffertzoner kan också anläggas runt nationalparker och reservat för att minska överlappet mellan människor och djur. Avskräckande åtgärder, som att tända eldar, göra oväsen, tända chilibriketter eller sätta upp chili-rep, för att hålla elefanter borta från böndernas åkrar kan också användas. Ett annat alternativ är att bönderna byter från att odla högriskgrödor som elefanter föredrar till att odla grödor som chili eller sesam, vilka sällan eller aldrig äts av elefanter.
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Kager, Elisabeth. "Effects of Participation in a STEM Camp on STEM Attitudes and Anticipated Career Choices of Middle School Girls: A Mixed Methods Study." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1427812431.
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Clemens, Julie Lynn. "Making Peace in Peace Studies: A Foucauldian Revisioning of a Contested Field." Columbus, Ohio : Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1228179006.
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Acharya, Bhanu Bhakta. "Status of Accountability in Online News Media: A Case Study of Nepal." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/31810.
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Scholars contend that media accountability to the public and professional stakeholders has been improving in recent years because of the increased use of digital platforms. Since most studies related to online news media accountability have focused on developed countries, this research study examines the state of accountability in online news media in Nepal, where access to online media is very limited and audiences are barely aware of media's journalistic responsibilities. By employing case study research method with three data sources, this research
study assesses the state of online media accountability in Nepal, key challenges for ensuring accountability in journalism created using digital platforms, and the role of audiences in making online news media accountable. The study finds that Internet accessibility, media literacy, and availability of resources are the primary challenges to making media accountable in Nepal. The study concludes by offering recommendations for future research and practical applications.
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McKenna, Odessa. "An Integrative Exploration of Psychological Resilience in Informal Caregivers of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/42667.
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Informal caregiving is growing in demand and is far from a uniform experience. Some caregivers report burdensome effects, while others attest to a wide range of benefits associated with their role. In the context of informal caregivers of persons affected by chronic neurological conditions (CNCs), psychological resilience is increasingly being explored as a protective factor that may account for variability in the caregiver experience; however, multiple sclerosis (MS) caregivers are noticeably absent from this body of work. To synthesize current evidence concerning resilience conceptualizations, assessments, and health correlates within this population, this thesis included a systematic review of resilience in CNC informal caregivers in which MS caregivers were unrepresented. Following this review, a qualitative study was conducted in informal MS caregivers to ascertain MS caregivers’ conceptualizations and unique lived experiences of resilience. Twenty-four semi-structured interviews of Canadian MS informal caregivers were conducted. Informed by the socioecological model of resilience in caring relationships, transcripts were analyzed using flexible thematic analysis. In support of the conceptual ambiguity of resilience, caregivers did not concur on a single resilience conceptualization. Emergent themes contributed to the creation of a cyclical model of resilience that incorporates adversity in the form of continuous loss and obstructed health-related self-care, individual and community resources, and multilevel adaptive pathways. We use our model to prompt future research directions and inform the development of effective resilience-enhancing interventions for MS caregivers.
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Pennock, Ryan Pahl. "Fakability in structured interviews: Comparison of situational and past behavior formats." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 1998. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/1477.
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Ahmed, Rabie Abdelmaguid Wael. "Professionnalisation des enseignants égyptiens du FLE et formation continue à la compétence orale." Thesis, Normandie, 2019. http://www.theses.fr/2019NORMR037.
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Notre recherche en thèse de doctorat vise à mettre en éclairage la situation de la professionnalisation des professeurs de français en Égypte autour de la formation continue de la compétence de l’oral. Nous avons pour objectif de comprendre leurs difficultés, leurs besoins voire leurs attentes lorsqu’il s’agit de suivre un stage de formation continue à la compétence orale. Nous tentons également de mettre en évidence les difficultés auxquelles ils font face lors de la mise en œuvre des compétences communicatives avec leurs élèves en classe au sein des lycées publics. Nous avons pour but de les professionnaliser aux compétences communicationnelles en vue de transmettre, par la suite, les acquis des programmes de formation continue à leurs élèves en classe. On ne forme pas pour former mais pour les aider à transférer les connaissances, les savoirs et les expériences de la formation en classe de FLE. Cette recherche est construite sur des bases originales et empiriques. Elle part de l'analyse des difficultés, des besoins et des attentes reconnus des enseignants égyptiens de FLE et tend à modéliser une démarche scientifique de remédiation. L’idée de cette recherche est d’aider les professeurs égyptiens de FLE à développer leurs compétences communicationnelles de manière professionnelle en fonction des nouveaux critères du Cadre Européen Commun de Références pour les Langues, de la didactique de FLE, des nouvelles théories de la formation continue et de la professionnalisation de la profession enseignante. L’objectif est de stimuler la pratique linguistique réelle des compétences communicatives par un maximum de situations d’échanges et création verbale chez les enseignants égyptiens du FLE. Il faut "remplir" la parole souvent incertaine de professionnels du français, le plus souvent amplement informés des réalités de la langue et de certaines théories, mais qui, privés de pratique et soumis aux conditions générales d'enseignement (nombres, non-motivation, manuel, examen), voient leur rôle réduit à celui de répétiteurs. Cette remise à niveau ne prétend pas palier la formation initiale universitaire inadaptée. Elle vise à mettre les professeurs en confiance, de les rendre autonomes et capables de s’exprimer aisément et porteurs d’une image renforcée de leur discipline et de les mettre ainsi en meilleure posture dans les scénarios souhaitables de réforme de l'enseignement pré-universitaire égyptien, surtout s’ils apportaient un abaissement de l’âge de début d’apprentissage de la deuxième langue, un allongement et une diversification des programmes d’enseignementOur philosophy Doctorate "PhD" research aims at highlighting the conditions of the French language teachers in Egypt in terms of the continuing training for oral competency. We aim to understand their difficulties, their needs or even their expectations when it comes to undertaking a training course in oral efficiency. We also try to high light the difficulties teachers face in exercising communication skills with their students in class in public high schools. Our goal is to professionalize their communication skills in order to pass on the results of continuing education programs to their students in classrooms. We do not train just for training but rather to help teachers transfer and pass on their knowledge, cognisance and experiences of French Language Education "FLE" classroom training. This research is built on original and fundamental bases. It starts with the analysis of the difficulties, needs and expectations recognized by Egyptian teachers of FLE then it goes on to set a scientific approach for remedy. The idea of this research is to help the Egyptian teachers of FLE to develop their communication skills professionally according to the new criteria of the Common European Framework of References for Languages, the didactics of FLE, training and teaching profession new theories. The aim is to stimulate the actual linguistic practice of communicative skills through exchange of situations and verbal creation among Egyptian FLE teachers. It is necessary to "realize" the often uncertain promise of French language teachers, most often fully informed of the realities of the language and certain theories, but who, deprived of practice and subject to the general conditions of teaching (student numbers, no motivation, material content, examination), see their role reduced to that of just repeaters. this reform doe snot claim to compensate for the inadequate basic and initial academic training. It aims to build up teachers' confidence, to achieve their autonomy, become able to express themselves easily and perform their mission efficiently giving reinforced image of their study discipline. As such, it places them in a better position to achieve the desirable scenarios of Egyptian pre-university education reform. The age for second language learning should start earlier thus giving the opportunity for extention and diversification of the teaching programs
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Huang, Li Ting. "Teaching Buddhism in New Zealand universities." Click here to access this resource online, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10292/779.
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This thesis is an investigation into the university-level teaching of Buddhism in New Zealand, which has developed as part of the international spread of education about Buddhism for both Buddhists and non-Buddhists. The study was based on Interpretivism and accordingly sought to understand and interpret university teachers’ perceptions and experiences about their teaching of Buddhism; as they engage with the students' learning in this field. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were employed as the primary research method. All seven university teachers who teach Buddhism in New Zealand were invited to be the participants. Six university teachers participated in this research-study. Five of them were academic teachers, respectively teaching at Religious Studies of Massey, Victoria and Otago. Another one was a New Zealand-born Zen teacher who had been teaching a Zen meditation workshop at Auckland University of Technology for several years, and taught two Buddhism-related courses at the University of Auckland. These participants were chosen according to the information provided on official websites of New Zealand universities. The findings from the study showed that the university-level teaching of Buddhism in New Zealand, though growing, had been limited by the number of teachers and students. As fewer students were primarily interested in Buddhism, outward funding support appeared to be a very important factor for its future development. In terms of teachers’ role, objective-outsider remained the main position for scholars and scholar-practitioners in teaching Buddhism in university classroom. In addition to the pursuit of knowledge, there were also alternative educational opportunities, such as Zen workshop, for university staffs and students to learn Buddhism, outside university classroom. This thesis is significant in that it provided a bibliography and a set of data for the university-level teaching of Buddhism in the West, particularly New Zealand It established a space for future educational research into for the university-level teaching of Buddhism in the West, as part of the field of’ Buddhism and Education.’ In future studies, the limited approaches to teaching Buddhism in universities could be investigated on the basis of the literatures and findings of this study.
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Exley, Beryl Elizabeth. "Teachers' Professional Knowledge Bases for Offshore Education:Two Case Studies of Western Teachers Working in Indonesia." Queensland University of Technology, 2005. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/16021/.
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This research thesis set out to better understand the professional knowledge bases of Western teachers working in offshore education in Indonesia. This research explored what two groups of Western teachers said about the students they taught, their own role, professional and social identity, the knowledge transmitted, and their pedagogical strategies whilst teaching offshore. Such an investigation is significant on a number of levels. Firstly, these teachers were working within a period of rapid economic, political, cultural and educational change described as 'New Times' (Hall, 1996a). Secondly, the experiences of teachers working in offshore education have rarely been reported in the literature (see Johnston, 1999). A review of the literature on teachers' professional knowledge bases (Shulman, 1986a, 1986b, 1987; Turner-Bisset, 1997, 1999) concluded that, in general terms, teachers draw on three main interrelated and changing knowledge bases: knowledge of content, knowledge of teaching processes and knowledge of their students. This review also explored the notion that teachers had an additional knowledge base that was in a continual state of negotiation and closely related to the aforementioned knowledge bases: teachers' knowledge of their own and students' pedagogic identities (Bernstein, 2000). A theoretical framework appropriate to exploring the overarching research problem was developed. This framework drew on models of teachers' knowledge bases (Elbaz, 1983; Shulman, 1986a, 1986b, 1987; Nias, 1989; Turner-Bisset, 1997, 1999), the sociology of knowledge (Bernstein, 1975, 1990, 1996, 1999, 2000), and notions of pedagogic identity (Bernstein, 2000). This framework theorised the types of knowledges taught, categories of teaching process knowledge, and the range of pedagogic identities made available to teachers and students in new times. More specifically, this research examined two case studies (see Stake, 1988, 2000; Yin, 1994) of Western teachers employed by Australian educational institutions who worked in Central Java, Indonesia, in the mid-to-late 1990s. The teacher participants from both case studies taught a range of subjects and used English as the medium of instruction. Data for both case studies were generated via semistructured interviews (see Kvale, 1996; Silverman, 1985, 1997). The interviews focused on the teachers' descriptions of the learner characteristics of Indonesian students, their professional roles whilst teaching offshore, and curriculum and pedagogic design. The analyses produced four major findings. The first major finding of the analyses confirmed that the teacher participants in this study drew on all proposed professional knowledge bases and that these knowledge bases were interrelated. This suggests that teachers must have all knowledge bases present for them to do their work successfully. The second major finding was that teachers' professional knowledge bases were constantly being negotiated in response to their beliefs about their work and the past, present and future demands of the local context. For example, the content and teaching processes of English lessons may have varied as their own and their students' pedagogic identities were re-negotiated in different contexts of teaching and learning. Another major finding was that it was only when the teachers entered into dialogue with the Indonesian students and community members and/or reflective dialogue amongst themselves, that they started to question the stereotypical views of Indonesian learners as passive, shy and quiet. The final major finding was that the teachers were positioned in multiple ways by contradictory and conflicting discourses. The analyses suggested that teachers' pedagogic identities were a site of struggle between dominant market orientations and the criteria that the teachers thought should determine who was a legitimate teacher of offshore Indonesian students. The accounts from one of the case studies suggested that dominant market orientations centred on experience and qualifications in unison with prescribed and proscribed cultural, gender and age relations. Competent teachers who were perceived to be white, Western, male and senior in terms of age relations seemed to be the most easily accepted as offshore teachers of foundation programs for Indonesian students. The analyses suggested that the teachers thought that their legitimacy to be an offshore teacher of Indonesian students should be based on their teaching expertise alone. However, managers of Australian offshore educational institutions conceded that it was very difficult to bring about change in terms of teacher legitimisation. These findings have three implications for the work of offshore teachers and program administrators. Firstly, offshore programs that favour the pre-packaging of curricula content with little emphasis on the professional development and support needs of teachers do not foster work conditions which encourage teachers to re-design or modify curricula in response to the specific needs of learners. Secondly, pre-packaged programs do not support teachers to enter into negotiations concerning students' or their own pedagogic identities or the past, present and future demands of local contexts. These are important implications because they affect the way that teachers work, and hence how responsive teachers can be to learners' needs and how active they can be in the negotiation process as it relates to pedagogic identities. Finally, the findings point to the importance of establishing a learning community or learning network to assist Western teachers engaged in offshore educational work in Asian countries such as Indonesia. Such a community or network would enable teachers to engage and modify the complexity of knowledge bases required for effective localised offshore teaching. Given the burgeoning increase in the availability and use of electronic technology in new times, such as internet, emails and web cameras, these learning networks could be set up to have maximum benefit with minimal on-going costs.
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Bici, Herolinda. "Perceived Reality vs Taught Reality in Compulsory School." Thesis, Malmö universitet, Fakulteten för lärande och samhälle (LS), 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-36157.
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This paper examines how we discuss social issues in the L2 classroom under the guidelines of Lgr11. To answer this, I ask the following sub-questions; How are the overall goals of education and parts (see Appendix B) of the Curriculum for English currently perceived by English teachers? How are the social subjects in the L2 classroom currently handled? Thirdly, what kind of lesson plan can be implemented in the classroom context under the guidelines of Lgr11? Looking at past research and relevant documents along with the qualitative data and through a triangulation of evidence carried out consisting of semi-structured interviews, supported by netnography research I propose a lesson plan using the collaborative action research model. All data was collected through technical means such as Zoom, phone calls and Facebook groups. The results of the interviews with teachers have shown that there is a unity in some respects with similar interpretations of Lgr11 and the curriculum. As well as differences of views and approaches concerning social issues in the L2 classroom. Based on the netnography research findings, most tasks given consisted of receptive skills while productive skills were used less. The netnography also supported the interview findings in the claim that popular topics were used more, whereas unpopular topics were neglected significantly. CLIL as a method was found to be absent in most of the collected data with some exceptions.
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Samim, Ghulam Farouq. "Communication for Conflict Resolution: the Pashtun Tribal Rhetoric for Peace Building in Afghanistan." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/20306.
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Focusing on communication as an important means besides other efforts for conflict resolution in an asymmetric armed conflict in Afghanistan, this study looked for a rhetorical communication approach appropriate to Pashtun tribal setting in South-eastern (Loya Paktya region) Afghanistan. The study explored and found some perceived essentials of such persuasive communication by conducting face-to-face semi-structured in depth interviews with 17 participants. Thematic analysis was used to code and categorize data. Aristotle’s rhetorical theory provided a framework for this qualitative study by narrowing down the focus to exploring credibility of the communicator (ethos), the rationality of the message (logos), and the emotional appeals (pathos), particular for the south-eastern Pashtun tribal setting, during communication. In addition, considering the relation between rhetorical and soft power theories in influencing the choice of an audience, this project also asked participants if and how communication in their tribal setting could be framed as an influencing power by attraction rather than by coercion. Therefore, soft power of which persuasive communication is a crucial part was also used as a theoretical framework for this study. The findings show the significance of persuasive communication in future conflict resolution efforts in Afghanistan.
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Charles, Faith, and Martin Wiberg. "Coping strategies among international students who transition to university in Sweden : Experiences and perceptions of loneliness as an international student in Sweden." Thesis, Högskolan i Gävle, Avdelningen för socialt arbete och kriminologi, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-35857.
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This study explores the coping strategies amongst international students who moved to a medium sized city in Sweden to study. The aim is to explore how international students cope with loneliness and their perceptions and experiences related to loneliness. The method is qualitative and inductive, with deductive properties such as the topics related to loneliness, coping, resources and technology. We conducted semi structured interviews with six participants. The theory used is a strength-based perspective focusing on the resources and coping of the participants. The results show the participants express various accounts of experienced loneliness and coping strategies. The themes found were a New university and country, Social life, Society and culture, Self-agency, and Coping strategies. International students cope with loneliness by talking to family and friends, often using ICT. Other sources of support come from within the university environment. Most of the support utilized comes from the students acting themselves.
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Charles, Franklyn W. "Disruptive Technology in Sound Clash Culture: Narratives of Technological Adoptions and Performance in Competition." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1565706604776981.
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Vaughn, Aaron. "The Incremental Utility of Behavioral Rating Scales and a Structured Diagnostic Interview in the Assessment of ADHD." ScholarWorks @ UVM, 2009. http://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/235.
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Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Currently, clinicians typically utilize a multi-method assessment battery focusing on identifying the core symptoms of ADHD. Further, current recommendations for a comprehensive assessment of ADHD require a lengthy and costly evaluation protocol despite a lack of evidence supporting the incremental utility of each method. Assessment strategies exhibiting the strongest evidence of reliability and validity include symptom-based rating scales, empirically-derived rating scales, and structured diagnostic interviews (Pelham, Fabiano, & Massetti, 2005), yet, their review provided limited empirical support for this conclusion. Nonetheless, other reviews have noted the lack of research examining whether each procedure and/or method adds unique information to a diagnosis of ADHD (Johnston & Murray, 2003). In order to fill this gap in the literature, the current study examined the independent and incremental utility of multiple methods and informants in a comprehensive, “gold standard” assessment of ADHD. The sample include 185 children with ADHD (Mage =9.22, SD=.95) and 82 children without ADHD (Mage =9.24, SD=.88). Logistic regressions were used to examine the incremental contribution of each method in the prediction of consensus diagnoses derived by two Ph.D. level experts in the field of ADHD following a review of comprehensive assessment data. This study also examined the clinical utility and efficiency of diagnostic algorithms using the methods demonstrating the greatest statistical association with a diagnosis of ADHD. Finding provided an empirical support for arguments espousing the redundancy of information in a comprehensive assessment. Namely, information collected from a structured diagnostic interview was unable to significantly improve a prediction model including parent and teacher ratings (Block X2-= .91 = .64). Importantly, parent and teacher ratings on a symptom-based scale alone were able to correctly classify 265 of 267 participants. Based on these results, a diagnostic algorithm that was derived utilizing only behavioral rating scales was able to classify correctly all 267 participants. Clinical implications are highlighted and future research directions are discussed.
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Smith, David Peter. "An exploration, using a SENCo questionnaire and a senior management semi-structured interview schedule, of the continuing professional development (CPD) arrangements in place in primary schools in one local authority cluster." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2011. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/3020/.
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This thesis describes a practitioner led exploration carried out in two phases: Phase 1. A scoping (Delphi) study that explored the school-based provision in place to meet the needs of pupils experiencing special educational needs, the outcome of which guided the choice of focus of the second phase. The scoping (Delphi) study findings highlighted the importance of continuing professional development (CPD) suggesting that it will have an increasingly significant role to play in preparing schools for a future in which they will become increasingly responsible for identifying, assessing, meeting, monitoring and reviewing the needs of their pupils. Phase 2. An exploration (using a SENCo questionnaire and a senior management semi-structured interview schedule) of the CPD arrangements in place in primary schools in one local authority cluster. The thesis describes, in as much detail as the available resources and goodwill allowed, the CPD practices that existed within one local authority cluster and compares these with best CPD practices as described in the literature In addition to presenting a summary of best CPD practices, conclusions are drawn, and recommendations made, regarding: actions that schools in the sample cluster might wish to take to improve the efficacy of their CPD practices, actions that I can take to improve the efficacy of my own CPD practices, and actions that I can take to inform the CPD practices of those organisations, agencies and professionals with or for whom I work.
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Nielsen, Sigurd Solhaug. "Negotiating nature on display– Discourse and ideology in naturalhistory museums." Thesis, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Geografisk institutt, 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-25472.
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This thesis considers exhibitions in natural history museums as a process of negotiation between three parties: the museum as an institution, the museum staff, and the visitors. These represent different interests that shape exhibitions relating to nature. The thesis asks the following main question: In what way do discourses play a role in the staff’s work within natural history museums? The empirical sources are based on interviews conducted with staffmembers from eight different natural history museums: six in Austria and two in Norway. The interviews are analysed based on the principles of discourse psychology and critical discourse analysis. The theoretical framework is based on postmodernism as a reaction and countermovement to modernism. Kant’s theory of knowledge, the concept of representation and discourse theory are considered in relation to one another and form an ontological departure for the epistemology. The methodology combines critical discourse analysis and discourse psychology as applied to conversational text. The discourse analysis reveals different discourses concerning the museum as institution, professional museum staff, and the visitors. The thesis concludes that the museum as institution is characterised by a knowledge culture/tradition that was particularly substantiated during the Enlightenment. In turn, the knowledge tradition is characterised by discourse that places expectations regarding the procedures of the employee, but also through the visitors’ expectations as to what a museumis and what the exhibitions provide them with. The employees meet the museum understood as discourse through mainly three different strategies for how exhibitions should function. I call these strategies ‘action promotion’, ‘communication focus’ and ‘political context’. In this way, the identities and actions of the employees depend considerably on their personal relationship to the museum as a concept and discourse, as well as to the visitors’ presumptions, expectations and experiences concerning museums.Diese Master-Arbeit betrachtet die Ausstellung eines naturgeschichtlichen Museums als Ergebnis eines Verhandlungsprozesses zwischen drei Parteien mit unterschiedlichen Interessen: dem Museumspersonal, dem Museum als Institution sowie dem Publikum. Die Hauptfragestellung der Arbeit lautet: In welcher Weise spielen Diskurse in der Arbeit derwissenschaftlichen Angestellten naturgeschichtlicher Museen eine Rolle? Der theoretische Rahmen der Arbeit basiert auf dem Postmodernismus als einer Reaktion auf und Gegenbewegung zum Modernismus. Kants Erkenntnistheorie, das Konzept der Repräsentation sowie die Diskurstheorie bilden zusammen die ontologische Grundlage der Epistemologie. Die Methodologie kombiniert gesprächsbezogene kritische Diskursanalyse und Diskurspsychologie. Das empirische Material besteht aus Interviews mit wissenschaftlichen Angestellten acht naturgeschichtlicher Museen, davon sechs in Österreich und zwei in Norwegen. Die Diskursanalyse deckt unterschiedliche Diskurse hinsichtlich des Museums als Institution, der wissenschaftlichen Angestellten sowie des Publikums auf. Die Arbeit schlussfolgert, dass das Museum als Institution von einer Wissenskultur gekennzeichnet ist, die insbesondere in der Zeit der Aufklärung begründet ist. Diese Kultur ist insofern diskursgeprägt, als dass sie bestimmte Erwartungen an die Arbeit des Museumspersonals beinhaltet, aber auch durch die Erwartungen des Publikums an ein Museum und seine Ausstellungen. Die Angestellten nähern sich dem Museum als Diskurs, in dem sie hauptsächlich drei verschiedene Strategien im Hinblick auf die Funktion von Ausstellungen verfolgen: Inspiration zu eigenständigem Handeln (”Handlungspromotion”),auf das Publikum zugeschnittene Kommunikation (”Kommunikationsfokus”) sowie Einbeziehung politischen Kontexts. Insofern hängen Identität und Handeln der Angestellten stark von ihrer persönlichen Beziehung zum Museum als Konzept und Diskurs ab, ebenso wie von ihren Annahmen bezüglich der Erwartungen des Publikums und dessen Erfahrungen mit Museen.
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Al, Smadi Duha. "Information Sharing and Storage Behavior via Cloud Computing: Security and Privacy in Research and Practice and Users' Trust." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2019. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1505164/.
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This research contributes to the cloud computing (CC) literature and information science research by addressing the reality of information sharing and storage behavior (ISSB) of the users' personal information via CC. Gathering information about usage also allows this research to address the paradox between the research and practice. Additionally, this research explores the concept of trust and its role in the behavioral change relative to CC. The findings help reconcile the paradox between the two realms.
Essay1 develops and tests cloud computing usage model (CCUM) that assesses ISSB. This model considers the main adoption determinants and the main drawbacks of CC. The study measures the main concerns of users found in the literature, perceived security and perceived privacy. The findings prove surprising on these concerns. Using multiple regression to analyze 129 valid survey responses, the results find that CC users are less concerned about the major issues of security and privacy and will use the technology based on peer usage. Essay 2 examines why users ignore the technology issues and elect to replace the traditional mechanisms for handling their personal information. The results of an interview-based study conducted on 11 normal users and 11 IT professionals clarify their perceptions about CC and examine its readiness to handle their information from an end-user perspective. Essay 3 explores the CC literature to identify the major factors associated with the users' trust beliefs. The research conducted in this essay groups these factors into three categories. The posited and tested model examines the effect of perceived trust on ISSB. A structural equation modeling approach is used to analyze 1228 valid responses and tests the developed cloud computing trust model. The results provide multiple implications for CC researchers, managers, and service providers.