Dissertationen: „Multi method qualitative approach“

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Devey, Robin. „An Exploration of New Nursing Graduate and Experienced Nurse Mentorship Pairing Processes: A Multi-Method Approach“. Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/41216.

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Background Mentorship is used to ease entry to practice for new nursing graduates. However, little is known about the process of pairing with experienced nurses. The aim of this dissertation is to explore mentorship pairing processes for new nursing graduates and experienced nurses. Methods 1. A quality improvement project was conducted using organizational data to describe the impact of the New Graduate Guarantee program at The Ottawa Hospital from 2013 to 2018 on new graduate nurses and organizational outcomes. 2. An interpretive descriptive study was conducted to develop an in-depth understanding of mentorship pairing practices specific to nursing occurring in a clinical setting that will ultimately inform future mentorship pairing practices. 3. A systematic review was conducted to determine the effect of mentorship pairing processes on the mentoring relationship and outcomes at the level of the new nursing graduate, mentor and organization. Findings 1. From 2013 to 2017, 66 nurses were hired directly into operational vacancies and 579 new graduate nurses were paired with a mentor in the New Graduate Guarantee program. The two-year turnover rate for new graduates who participated in the New Graduate Guarantee program (21.5%, N=92/427) was lower than new graduate turnover rates reported in the literature. 2. Interviews with 13 new graduate nurses and 12 mentors revealed a lack of awareness of current nursing mentorship pairing processes. Six nurse leaders described pairing processes using third party pairing. Participants suggested preparation, socialization and self-selection are key components to consider for future practice. 3. Of 2583 citations screened, no studies evaluated the nursing mentorship pairing process. Research is required to determine effective mentorship pairing processes in nursing. Conclusion Although 579 nurses were hired through the New Graduate Guarantee nursing mentorship program, the 13 new graduates and 12 mentors interviewed were unaware of the process used for pairing. Furthermore, no studies have evaluated mentorship pairing processes. Ninety percent of new graduates hired participated in the New Graduate Guarantee program. Future research is required to trial pairing processes proposed by nurse leaders, new graduates and experienced nurses and to develop and validate tools to evaluate the outcomes of these pairings.

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Humphrys, Elka Suzanne. „Understanding the pathways to oesophageal and stomach cancer diagnosis : a multi-methods approach“. Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2019. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/289397.

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Increasing symptom awareness, encouraging help-seeking, and facilitating timely referral are key for improving cancer outcomes, particularly for cancers such as oesophageal and gastric (stomach), where five-year survival is less than 20%. In this research, I used multiple methods to explore factors that influence timely diagnosis of these cancers from a patient's perspective, with a particular focus on health literacy (accessing, understanding and using health information, and navigating healthcare systems). I started by exploring current knowledge in this field before conducting a systematic review investigating health literacy in the timely diagnosis of symptomatic cancer. Literature was searched from January 1990-May 2017 using six bibliographic databases. I screened 2304 titles/abstracts, assessed 26 full-text papers and included three, although they were methodologically weak, therefore limiting the conclusions. To examine pathways to diagnosis for oesophageal and gastric cancer, I conducted a questionnaire study of newly diagnosed patients across two hospitals in the East and North East of England. 127 participants were recruited (39.6% recruitment rate), aged 44-96 (median 71); 102 male (80%). Most had oesophageal cancer (n=102, 80%); 64 (50%) of the total cohort were late-stage at diagnosis. Common pre-diagnostic symptoms varied between cancers (oesophageal: difficulty swallowing (n=66, 65%), painful swallowing (n=55, 54%); gastric: fatigue/tiredness (n=20, 80%), weight loss (n=13, 52%)). The questionnaire included two domains (engagement, understanding) of the Health Literacy Questionnaire with participants demonstrating high health literacy (mean 4.18 and 4.28, score 1-5). The median time from noticing the trigger symptom (prompting help-seeking) to diagnosis was 81 days (IQR 45-137.5, n=107). Twenty-six participants were purposively sampled, from questionnaire respondents, for face-to-face interviews (aged 55-88, 18 male, 15 with oesophageal cancer). I undertook thematic analysis to explore participant accounts of their pathways to diagnosis, identifying that the symptom nature was important for appraisal, while health literacy ability influenced the health system interval. Descriptions of 'heartburn', 'reflux' and 'indigestion' differed between participants, suggesting these terms may introduce uncertainty in relation to symptom experience. This is the first study to explore the role of health literacy in the timely diagnosis of symptomatic cancer, and pathways to diagnosis for oesophageal and gastric cancers, from a patient's perspective. Findings provide important insights for the development of targeted awareness campaigns and strategies enhancing GP symptom exploration.

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Almualla, Suad. „Towards a pedagogy for teaching computer ethics in universities in Bahrain“. Thesis, De Montfort University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2086/8804.

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This study presents a critical investigation into the teaching of computer ethics. A qualitative pluralistic approach (a mixture of qualitative approaches) was used to investigate case studies of teaching computer ethics to university-level students from Bahrain. The main issue was that ethics to Arabs and Muslims is a matter of religion than a matter of philosophy whereas the dominant perception in the academic literature which discussed computer ethics teaching is that computer ethics is a form of practical philosophy and hence separate from religion. In order to shed light on this, the study investigated computer ethic’s perceptions and teaching practices which were occurring in universities in Bahrain. The study found that the issue was not a matter of perception but rather a matter of confusion and a misconception. Computer ethics was being confused with morality, religion, basic computer skills to name just a few. And such confusion was causing computer ethics to gradually disappear from the curriculum and become substituted with concepts which were not necessarily capable of building students’ ethical thinking. The study recommends that computer ethics teachers and policy makers from Bahrain distinguish computer ethics from religion, morality and from any other concept and identify it as an independent field of study, also teachers need to involve their students in social and ethical analysis of various kinds so that students understand that ethics is not a set of rules on what is forbidden and allowed aimed at providing straightforward answers to a given problem but rather ethics is a ‘cognitive tool’; a mechanism through which different competing ethical theories and standards are used to reflect on a given problem.

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O'Callaghan, Katherine. „Sustainability meets eco-spirituality : using a qualitative multi-methods approach to explore the Philippine Catholic Church’s potential for watershed governance partnership in the Angat River Basin, Bulacan, Philippines“. Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/61312.

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The literature of Integrated Water Resource Management argues collaborative watershed partnerships between state agencies and civil society are crucial for water governance. They bring stakeholders together to facilitate dialogue, reduce competition and negotiate on complex water related issues. However in newly independent states, like the Philippines, local state agencies are still struggling to adopt collaborative governance approaches that offer stronger stakeholder engagement, due to poorly implemented decentralizing policies, resource constraints and a lack of political will. Thus, the need to identify and explore alternative institutional arrangements that are capable and willing to support local government is the first step towards developing culturally appropriate and feasible solutions within the Philippine context. Using the Angat River Basin, located in Bulacan, Central Luzon, Philippines, as the focal area for investigation, this research presents a shift in thinking about mainstream watershed group-agency partnerships. As such, the research suggests that the Philippine Catholic Church, a key faith-based organization possesses the necessary skills, experience and trust to facilitate and support a potential partnership for the 63,000 hectare Angat River Basin. The findings from this research, which were collected using a qualitative multi-method approach, highlight how the Diocese of Malolos and the wider Philippine Catholic Church are not only actively responding to environmental advocacy and management, but that their strengths of transformational leadership, political acuity and moral authority compensate for the deficiencies of the local government.
Applied Science, Faculty of
Arts, Faculty of
Asian Research, Institute of
Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of
Graduate

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5

Busquets, Dídac. „A multi-agent approach to qualitative navigation in robotics“. Doctoral thesis, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/6641.

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La navegació en entorns desconeguts no estructurats és encara un problema obert en el camp de la robòtica. En aquesta tesi presentem una aproximació per a la navegació de robots basada en la combinació de navegació basada en landmarks, representació fuzzy d'angles i distàncies i una coordinació multiagent basada en un mecanisme de dites. L'objectiu de la tesi ha sigut desenvolupar un sistema de navegació robust amb sentit de l'orientació per a entorns no estructurats usant informació visual.

Per tal d'assolir aquest objectiu, hem centrat els nostres esforços en dues línies d'investigació: mètodes de navegació i construcció de mapes, i arquitectures de control per a robots autònoms.

Pel que fa als mètodes de navegació i construcció de mapes, hem extès el treball presentat per Prescott per tal que es pugui utilitzar amb informació fuzzy sobre la localitazció dels landmarks. A part d'aquesta extensió, tambés hem desenvolupat mètodes per a calcular objectius alternatius, necessaris quan el robot troba el camí bloquejat.

Pel que fa a l'arquitectura de control, hem proposat una arquitectura general que utilitza un mecanisme de dites per a coordinar un grup de sistemes que controlen el robot. Aquest mecanisme pot ser usat en diferents nivells de l'arquitectura. En el nostre cas l'hem usat per a coordinar els tres sistemes del robot (Navegació, Pilot i Visió), i tambés per a coordinar els agents que composen el sistema de Navegació. Usant aquest mecanisme de dites, l'acció que executa el robot és la més ben valorada en cada instant. D'aquesta manera, i si els agents fan les dites d'una manera racional, la dinàmica de les dites porta el robot a executar les accions necessàries per tal d'arribar a l'objectiu indicat. L'avantatge d'utilitzar aquest mecanisme és que no cal imposar una jerarquia entre els sistemes, com passa en l'arquitectura de subsumpció, si no que aquesta jerarquia canvia dinàmicament, depenent de la situació en què es troba el robot i les característiques de l'entorn.

Hem obtingut resultats satisfactoris, tant en simulació com en experimentació amb un robot real, que confirmen que el sistema de navegació és capaç de construir un mapa d'un entorn desconegut i utlitzar-lo per a moure el robot d'una posició inicial a un objectiu donat. L'experimentació tambés ha mostrat que el sistema de coordinació basat en dites que hem dissenyat produeix el comportament global d'executar les accions necessàries en cada instant per tal d'arribar a l'objectiu.
Navigation in unknown unstructured environments is still a difficult open problem in the field of robotics. In this PhD thesis we present a novel approach for robot navigation based on the combination of landmark-based navigation, fuzzy distances and angles representation and multiagent coordination based on a bidding mechanism. The objective has been to have a robust navigation system with orientation sense for unstructured environments using visual information.

To achieve such objective we have focused our efforts on two main threads: navigation and mapping methods, and control architectures for autonomous robots.

Regarding the navigation and mapping task, we have extended the work presented by Prescott, so that it can be used with fuzzy information about the locations of landmarks in the environment. Together with this extension, we have also developed methods to compute diverting targets, needed by the robot when it gets blocked.

Regarding the control architecture, we have proposed a general architecture that uses a bidding mechanism to coordinate a group of systems that control the robot. This mechanism can be used at different levels of the control architecture. In our case, we have used it to coordinate the three systems of the robot (Navigation, Pilot and Vision systems) and also to coordinate the agents that compose the Navigation system itself. Using this bidding mechanism the action actually being executed by the robot is the most valued one at each point in time, so, given that the agents bid rationally, the dynamics of the biddings would lead the robot to execute the necessary actions in order to reach a given target. The advantage of using such mechanism is that there is no need to create a hierarchy, such in the subsumption architecture, but it is dynamically changing depending on the specific situation of the robot and the characteristics of the environment.

We have obtained successful results, both on simulation and on real experimentation, showing that the mapping system is capable of building a map of an unknown environment and use this information to move the robot from a starting point to a given target. The experimentation also showed that the bidding mechanism we designed for controlling the robot produces the overall behavior of executing the proper action at each moment in order to reach the target.

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Downie, Jonathan. „Stakeholder expectations of interpreters : a multi-site, multi-method approach“. Thesis, Heriot-Watt University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10399/3086.

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This thesis uses a multi-method approach to examine the expectations of interpreting stakeholders in two different multilingual church organisations. Drawing on concepts from skopos theory and homiletics and on methodologies and findings from research on client expectations and interpreters’ perceptions of their work, it posits a four part correlational model to explain and predict how the skopos of an interpreted event will relate to stakeholders’ generic and event-specific expectations of interpreters. Results from a survey, interviews and participant observations all suggest that, contrary to existing theory, there is little evidence of a direct relationship between skopos and expectations of interpreters. On the contrary, it appears that organisational attitudes to interpreting are a much more salient factor in the conceptualisation of the work of interpreters and on the strategies they are expected to use to solve problems. The implications of these results for church interpreting research, theories of interpreting and interpreting practice are discussed, alongside the need to rethink and redesign the methods used in stakeholder expectations research, especially when this involves the use of surveys.

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Kwaśnicka, Dominika. „Novel multi-method approach investigating behaviour change maintenance“. Thesis, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10443/3010.

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Background: Behaviour change, if maintained, can lead to significant health improvements. The aim of this thesis was to advance psychological theory of behaviour change maintenance and the design of behavioural interventions to improve health. This thesis used a novel multi-method approach to explore behaviour maintenance, with a particular focus on weight loss maintenance (WLM). Methods: A three stage, multi-method approach included: (1) A systematic review of behavioural theories to identify theoretical explanations for behaviour maintenance and to examine the relationships between these explanations; (2) An N-of-1 study of WLM assessing theoretical predictors of maintained behaviour based on the systematic theory review, which employed ecologic momentary assessment, wireless body scales, and activity monitors in 12 obese people who had lost at least 5% weight in the previous year, analysed through cross-correlations of time series; (3) Data-prompted semi-structured, longitudinal interviews with individuals who participated in the N-of-1 study to explore their experiences of WLM, prompted by personal data including summaries of N-of-1 data, pictures, notes and graphs, analysed using the Framework method. Findings: (1) Systematic review: out of 117 identified behaviour theories, 100 met the inclusion criteria. The main theoretical themes identified to underpin behaviour change maintenance included maintenance motives, self-regulation, habits, psychological resources and environmental/social influences; (2) N-of-1 study: for 12 participants a range of maintenance-related theoretical variables showed differential impact on ability to maintain weight, engage in physical activity and x follow a personal WLM plan. The combination of predicting variables that had significant impact on outcome variables was unique for each individual; (3) Data-prompted interviews: most of the theoretical explanations from the systematic theory review adequately accounted for participants’ experiences. Additional emergent themes included: competing goals, prioritising, and preparatory strategies that enhanced self-regulation. Using personal data summaries proved valuable in evoking narratives regarding unique experiences of WLM. Discussion: A range of theoretical explanations were identified and proved useful in explaining behaviour maintenance in the area of WLM. The main conclusion derived from the thesis is that behavioural interventions need to tap into relevant behavioural explanations and deliver intervention components in a timely manner to support individuals to maintain behaviour change. Interventions should include elements of choice and customisation and should be adaptable to personal needs. The main study strengths included employment of novel methods and technology. The main limitation included N-of-1 analytical challenges and scalability of the applied design. Future research should develop behaviour maintenance theory further and explore which combinations of WLM strategies, in which individuals, support effective WLM.

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Terje, Anna-Kaisa Tuulikki. „Swedish-speaking Finns : a multi-method qualitative study of identity and belonging“. Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2016. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/7823/.

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The Swedish-speaking minority in Finland, often described as an ‘elite minority’, holds a special position in the country. With linguistic rights protected by the constitution of Finland, Swedish-speakers, as a minority of only 5.3%, are often described in public discourse and in academic and statistical studies as happier, healthier and more well off economically than the Finnish-speaking majority. As such, the minority is a unique example of language minorities in Europe. Knowledge derived from qualitatively grounded studies on the topic is however lacking, meaning that there is a gap in understanding of the nature and complexity of the minority. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in four different locations in Finland over a period of 12 months, this thesis provides a theoretically grounded and empirically informed rich account of the identifications and sites of belonging of this diverse minority. The thesis makes a contribution to theoretical, methodological and empirical research on the Swedish-speaking minority, debates around identity and belonging, and ethnographic methodological approaches. Making use of novel methodology in studying Swedish-speaking Finns, this thesis moves beyond generalisations and simplifications on its nature and character. Drawing on rich ethnographic empirical material, the thesis interrogates various aspects of the lived experience of Swedish-speaking Finns by combining the concepts of belonging and identification. Some of the issues explored are the way in which belonging can be regionally specific, how Swedish-speakers create Swedish-spaces, how language use is situational and variable and acts as a marker of identity, and finally how identifications and sites of belonging among the minority are extremely varied and complex. The thesis concludes that there are various sites of belonging and identification available to Swedish-speakers, and these need to be studied and considered in order to gain an accurate picture of the lived experience of the minority. It also argues that while identifications are based on collective imagery, this imagery can vary among Swedish-speakers and identifications are multiple and situational. Finally, while language is a key commonality for the minority, the meanings attached to it are not only concerned with ‘Finland Swedishness’, but connected to various other factors, such as the context a person grew up in and the region one lives in. The complex issues affecting the lived experience of Swedish-speaking Finns cannot be understood without the contribution of findings from qualitative research. This thesis therefore points towards a new kind of understanding of Swedish-speaking Finns, moving away from stereotypes and simplifications, shifting our gaze towards a richer perception of the minority.

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K, C. Manish. „Effects of Qualitative Factor and Weight Assignment In Multi-criteria Inventory Ranking Method“. Thesis, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1592388.

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This research explores two main problems encountered in multi-criterion inventory classification and ranking. The first problem is the integration of quantitative criteria with qualitative criteria. Most of the research in the field of multi-criterion inventory classification and ranking neglects qualitative criteria, as they are difficult to apply as compared with quantitative criteria. Even for the research that considers qualitative criteria for classification and ranking, the sensitivity of the qualitative criterion has not been explored. The second problem is the weight assignment to the criteria, both qualitative and quantitative, when integrated for classification and ranking of inventory items. Weight assigned to the criteria should represent relative importance of one criterion to another. Input of inventory managers are needed in assigning the weights.

An integrated inventory ranking and classification method is developed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method to rank and classify inventory items using quantitative and qualitative criteria. Classification and ranking of inventory items are industry-specific and differ from one industry to another. Classification and ranking can differ significantly between industries of the same type. Even the same type of industry can have a different philosophy and objective of inventory management, which influences the relative importance of the criteria and affects the classification and ranking. Classification and ranking are sensitive to the settings of the qualitative factor. Industries that gave higher priority to qualitative factors are affected more by change in the qualitative criterion's settings, as classification and ranking changes the most for them. Ranking is very sensitive and complex, as small change in any parameter is enough to change the rank without affecting the classification.

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Evans, David Lewis. „Emotion regulation in borderline personality disorder : a multi-method approach“. Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2012. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.610461.

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Lui, Yik-man Jodie, und 呂亦敏. „Self-perceived burden in cancer patients : a multi-method approach“. Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/206345.

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Patients’ perception of being a burden to others, termed self-perceived burden (SPB), is a phenomenon commonly reported by terminally-ill patients. SPB elicits psychological outcomes such as loss of dignity, hopelessness, anxiety, and depression (Wilson et al., 2005). To extend our knowledge on this understudied construct, this project employed a multi-method approach with three studies to examine the experience of SPB among Chinese cancer patients. Study 1 is the first longitudinal investigation on the relationship between SPB and non-terminal cancer patients’ trajectories of psychological adjustment. Results from hierarchical linear modeling showed that patients with higher levels of SPB reported higher levels of depression and anxiety, as well as lower levels of mental health over time. Results also revealed that SPB predicted cancer patients’ pattern of change in anxiety over time. As the high SPB group had a higher anxiety level at baseline, their anxiety level remained higher than that of the low SPB group despite a sharper decrease. Study 2 is the first quantitative study to scrutinize the psychological process of how cancer patients attempted to cope with SPB. A new Self-perceived Burden Coping Scale was developed. Our findings indicated that the scale displayed good content, construct, and discriminant validities, and most subscales show acceptable reliability. Results from principal components analysis showed that cancer patients adopted six coping modes in an attempt to deal with SPB: (a) positive outlook, (b) managing the needs of others, (c) resigned acceptance, (d) making preparations, (e) entitlement, and (f) concealing need. Specially, the coping modes of resigned acceptance and concealing need were related to poorer adjustment, whereas managing the needs of others and entitlement were related to better adjustment. Stress-buffering effects of managing the needs of others and making preparations were also found. Finally, Study 3 adopted a qualitative paradigm to explore perception as care-receivers, aspects of SPB, and coping with SPB among Chinese non-terminal cancer patients. Narratives from patients revealed four perspectives regarding to their perception as care-receivers: self-reliance, acceptance, overwhelming, and SPB. Results revealed that the SPB experience among Chinese non-terminal cancer patients was similar to those observed in Western terminal cancer patients, with a new aspect of financial burden. In addition to the six coping modes of SPB found in Study 2, a potential new coping mode of being compliant with others was found, which may be unique among Chinese cancer patients in the context of SPB. Findings from these studies may advance our knowledge on SPB, provide insights for future research, as well as shed lights on the development of counseling services, psychological interventions, and public policies for cancer patients.
published_or_final_version
Psychology
Doctoral
Doctor of Philosophy

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Otoo, Grace. „Understanding primary health care counselling through a multi-method approach“. Thesis, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.368882.

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13

Boskovic, Irena. „A multi-method approach to the detection of fabricated symptoms“. Thesis, University of Portsmouth, 2018. https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/a-multimethod-approach-to-the-detection-of-fabricated-symptoms(cbcc6a02-c5fa-4a56-ad8e-4becbc9913f8).html.

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Malingering is defined as the intentional false presentation of symptoms driven by an external incentive, which can be financial (e.g., compensation), legal (e.g., diminished criminal responsibility), or for other types of personal gain (e.g., to obtain medication). Malingering occurs on a non-trivial scale in both civil and criminal contexts, and causes serious legal and social consequences. The aim of this thesis was to examine whether a multi-method assessment of symptoms might enhance the detection of malingering, and whether an assessor's cultural background impacted their perceptions of malingering. In this thesis, three different methods for detecting malingering were tested across a total of eight studies. Specifically, we tested a novel lie-detection tool, the Verifiability Approach (VA) in order to investigate whether the VA could contribute to the credibility assessment of physical symptom reports. The logic behind the VA is that people who are telling the truth should produce more verifiable details - information that can, in principle, be checked - compared to liars. Liars, in contrast, tend to avoid verifiable information and report non-verifiable details instead. Next, we critically examined the utility of a controversial task, the Modified Stroop task (MST), a reaction time measure of attentional bias among patients, in detection of malingering. The MST is comprised of disorder-related and neutral words presented in different colors. The task is to color-name the words while disregarding their semantic meaning. The idea behind the MST is that genuine patients should show prolonged reaction time (RT) when presented with disorder-related, compared to neutral, words (i.e., the MST effect). We also applied a newly developed measure of over-reporting, the Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SRSI), in order to investigate symptom endorsement among malingerers. The SRSI includes two scales of symptoms: genuine (plausible) symptoms and pseudosymptoms (unlikely complaints). The rationale behind the SRSI is that genuine patients will endorse more of genuine and fewer of the pseudosymptoms, while malingerers will overendorse both types of symptoms. Finally, we investigated whether the cross-cultural background of practitioners influenced their view of exaggerated symptoms. In the first experimental chapter (Chapter 2), we report the findings of research designed to test the VA with respect to the detection of fabricated symptom statements. We investigated the extent to which people with genuine symptoms compared to malingerers differed in the provision of checkable details. In Study 1, we examined statements of students genuinely suffering from various physical symptoms (e.g., headache, backpain), and students instructed to malinger such experiences. We found that malingerers, compared to truth tellers, produced longer statements that contained fewer verifiable details. In Study 2, we repeated the task, but participants were informed that their statements would be inspected for verifiable information. Providing this additional information to participants led to non-significant differences between malingerers and truth tellers in terms of both verifiable and non-verifiable information, and the overall length of statements. In Study 3, we experimentally induced symptoms (physical exercise) in one group of students (truth tellers), while two other groups received instructions to malinger having been engaged in physical exercise. Participants were not informed about the type of information they should provide. The results confirmed our findings from Study 1. We observed longer statements containing more non-verifiable information for both malingering groups (cf. control group). In other words, an extensive amount of non-verifiable details was indicative of fabricated symptom reports in both Study 1 and Study 3. In Chapter 3, we tested whether a reaction time task, the MST, used in combination with the SRSI, might assist in the detection of fabricated anxiety-related symptoms. In Study 4, we focused on test-anxiety using a within-subject design. Students who were not suffering from test anxiety were asked to first genuinely respond to the MST task and the SRSI, and seven days later they were instructed to feign having test-anxiety and to repeat the tasks. We found that students in the latter session produced the MST effect typically found in genuine test-anxiety patients, while the MST effect did not emerge in the first session. Participants in the second session overendorsed genuine symptoms and pseudosymptoms related to anxiety, compared with the first session, which led to the detection rate of 77% of test anxiety malingerers. In Study 5, we investigated PTSD-related symptoms, and included three groups of participants: 1) participants with current high impact aversive experiences, 2) participants with low impact aversive experiences, and 3) actors, who also had a low impact history but were asked to simulate being under the effects of a high impact of aversive experience. The MST effect did not emerge in any of the groups, however, the actors produced longer response latencies than both high and low impact groups. Actors also overendorsed items of the SRSI, thus 89% of these malingerers were successfully detected as such. Problematically, however, 27% of the honest group were also classified as malingerers. In Chapter 4, we focused on the SRSI alone, and its utility for detecting fabricated physical (pain-related) and psychological (anxiety-related) symptoms (Study 6). In a between subjects design we included an honest comparison group and two groups of simulators (pain and anxiety symptoms). The simulators of pain and simulators of anxiety endorsed more genuine symptoms and pseudosymptoms than participants in the honest group. Also, both simulators groups over-endorsed symptoms corresponding to their alleged conditions. The detection rates reached 48% for simulators of pain, and 74% for simulators of anxiety, suggesting that the SRSI has a low sensitivity to simulated physical complaints. In Chapter 5 (Study 7), using a combination of the VA and SRSI, we wanted to examine malingerers' strategies in fabricating exposure narratives and symptom reports in a PTSD-related condition. In a between subjects design, the honest comparison group was experimentally induced with PTSD-like symptoms, using a Virtual Reality (VR) paradigm. The other group was not exposed to the VR, but was instructed to simulate that experience (malingerers). We applied the VA to examine the veracity of their exposure narratives, and our findings were consistent with the general results reported in Chapter 2. Malingerers produced longer statements containing more non-verifiable details, while the honest group included a higher proportion of verifiable information. The quality of the symptom reports was investigated using the subscales of the SRSI describing genuine and pseudosymptoms pertaining to anxiety and PTSD complaints. Malingerers endorsed more of both genuine symptoms and pseudosymptoms than honest group. Finally, in Chapter 6 (Study 8), we investigated the influence of the cultural background of practitioners on their plausibility judgments concerning various symptoms. We included Western and non-Western practitioners, and presented them with a mix of atypical symptoms, dissociative symptoms, and every-day complaints. Their task was to rate the plausibility of each symptom from exaggerated to authentic. There were no significant differences between culturally diverse practitioners in their plausibility judgments. All practitioners rated atypical and dissociative items as significantly less authentic than every-day complaints, but they did not distinguish between atypical symptoms and dissociative symptoms. In sum, our results indicated that, with certain adjustments, the VA might contribute to symptom validity assessment. The MST, however, was shown to be an unreliable detection tool, the use of which should be avoided to detect symptom fabrication. The SRSI appears to be a promising method for detecting symptom over-reporting. Further research is necessary to establish the generalizability of our findings to different samples, such as patients.

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Vitacco, Michael J. „Construct Validity of Psychopathy in Mentally Disordered Offenders: A Multi-trait Multi-method Approach“. Thesis, University of North Texas, 2003. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4168/.

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Psychopathy continues to receive increased attention due to the negative outcomes, including recidivism, violence, and poor treatment amenability. Despite the vast amount of attention psychopathy has received, research on its applications to mentally disordered offenders remains sparse. The current study explored the relationship between psychopathy, depression, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. It also investigated the comparative fits of two and three-factor models of the PCL-R with mentally disordered offenders. Participants consisted of 96 inmates placed in the mental health pod at Tarrant County Jail. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with testlets found the three-factor PCL-R model had excellent fit (Robust Comparative Fit Index = 1.00). Psychopathy was found to be a construct independent of mental disorders. Two exceptions were (a) a modest correlation between anxiety and Impulsive and the Irresponsible Lifestyle factor of the PCL-R (r = 0.20) and (b) a modest negative correlation between Deficient Affective Experience of the PCL-R and mania (r = -.37). Based on the current data, treatment programs for mentally disordered offenders are suggested that focus on both behavioral and personality aspects of psychopathy.

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Kyle, Simon David. „Daytime functioning and quality of life in chronic insomnia : a multi-method, multi-level approach“. Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2010. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/1971/.

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Insomnia disorder is characterised by difficulties with initiating and/or maintaining sleep. Similar to most psychiatric and mental health conditions, insomnia is defined according to subjective complaint, and achieves disorder ‘status’ when associated daytime functioning impairment is present. Yet, ironically, it is these two cornerstones of insomnia disorder, combined, that have achieved relatively minimal attention in the literature. That is, perhaps surprisingly, the subjective experience, and impact of insomnia, at least from the patient (‘expert’) perspective, has been under-researched. Night-time symptoms and sleep parameters have typically been the target of both treatment and non-treatment (clinical, epidemiological, mechanistic) research. In this thesis, a multi-method, multi-level approach is adopted to better understand the daytime experience of those with chronically disturbed sleep. First, a brief overview (chapter one) of insomnia is provided to familiarise the reader with the ‘problem of insomnia’. A narrative review (chapter two) then sets the scene in relation to the assessment and measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and daytime functioning. This work reveals several inadequacies and limitations of existing work, and outlines a prospective research agenda. Chapter three describes the first ever phenomenological study carried out in primary insomnia patients. Here, two qualitative methodologies, focus groups and audio-diaries, are combined to help better understand the proximal and distal impairments attributed to chronic sleep disturbance. Chapter four builds on this work by describing the creation of two new clinical scales, developed to quantify, in both valid and novel ways, the impact of poor sleep on aspects of daytime functioning and insomnia-related quality of life. Chapter five combines the aforementioned qualitative and questionnaire approaches to explore the experience of an effective behavioural intervention for insomnia, sleep restriction therapy (SRT). The application of these refined methods provided insight into the effects of SRT on both sleep and daytime functioning, but also permitted exploration of treatment-related issues - such as adherence, side-effects, and mechanisms of action - that have otherwise been difficult to probe using traditional quantitative methodologies. Chapter six tackles the issue of objective daytime impairment, typically assessed using computerised reaction time tasks. Through ‘mining’ an existing brain and behavioural database, and applying an algorithm to select poor and normal sleepers, it was possible to investigate cognitive functioning at two broad stages of processing – event-related potentials generated from the scalp-recorded electroencephalogram (EEG), and performance output using neuropsychological testing. The results provide some interesting hypotheses concerning possible cognition-arousal and -effort interactions. Importantly, as a by-product of this work, a methodological template for the future standardized assessment of brain and behavioural function in insomnia is considered. Finally, chapter seven synthesises the results of each preceding experimental chapter, with particular emphasis on how this work will advance research, measurement and understanding of insomnia-related functioning. Immediate clinical implications and relevance to other areas of insomnia research are also briefly considered.

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Daly, John William. „Replication and a multi-method approach to empirical software engineering research“. Thesis, University of Strathclyde, 1996. http://oleg.lib.strath.ac.uk:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=9350.

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Ormandy, Elizabeth Mary. „Examining the behaviour of re-gifting using a multi-method approach“. Thesis, University of Canterbury. Management, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/6212.

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This study investigated the behaviour of re-gifting using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Re-gifting is the gift-giving behaviour of giving a gift that was previously given to you, to another with the pretence that you purchased the gift. The qualitative phase used semi-structured interviews to uncover an initial understanding of re-gifting behaviour from participants’ selected using purposive sampling. The main findings arising from this phase showed that re-gifters used three main factors to determine when it is appropriate to re-gift. These three factors, relationship, occasion and gift were used as the basis of the conceptual framework. This framework was then analysed using an online experiment with the use of vignette techniques which was the focus of the quantitative phase. The study focused on understanding what influences individuals decisions to re-gift. The main factors of interest were how the gift, occasion and relationships involved influenced re-gifting intentions. Re-gifting attitudes where analysed using the factors gift-giving attitudes, previous re-gifting experiences and frequency of re-gifting. A total of 211 responses were collected from Web users from around the world. The study suggests that re-gifters are influenced by the relationships involved and the type of gift, not the occasion. Re-gifting attitudes can be influenced by previous re-gifting experiences. This study has numerous practical implications, more specifically for retailers and charity organisations. This study adds major contributions to both gift-giving and disposition literature and introduces the area of re-gifting. Future research in cultural differences, gender differences and re-gifters versus non re-gifters suggested.

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Toerien, Merran. „Hair removal and the construction of gender : a multi-method approach“. Thesis, University of York, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.423684.

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Kurland, Lindsey. „Understanding the Public's Attitudes Toward Tissue Donation: A Multi-Method Approach“. VCU Scholars Compass, 2013. http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/3014.

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The impact of deceased tissue donation and transplantation is far-reaching; however, little is known about the public’s attitudes towards tissue donation. Siminoff, Traino, and Gordon (2010) found that families’ attitudes towards tissue donation were a significant predictor of consent; specifically, families that were initially favorable towards tissue donation were more likely to donate their loved ones tissues than families that were initially unfavorable towards tissue donation. Using a qualitative coding approach and the Tripartite Model of Attitude Structure (affective, behavioral, and cognitive attitude components) as a conceptual framework, families’ expressed attitudes toward tissue donation were extracted from N=240 audiorecordings of past tissue donation requests from 16 different OPOs. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with N=14 Tissue Requesters from LifeNet Health in Virginia Beach, Virginia about their perceptions of families’ attitudes. Together, 14 attitude domains and 34 subdomains were derived from the families’ expressed attitudes. Several multivariate analyses were performed. After controlling for time spent discussing tissue donation and confusion between tissues and organs, affective attitudes were significantly different among three FDM initial response groups (favorable, unsure, and unfavorable). Further, the attitude domains “donation invokes positive emotion” and “pro-donation behaviors” were the best discriminators of FDM groups. Suggestions for educational interventions were discussed.

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Löfvenius, Johanna. „The construction of happiness : a qualitative approach to happiness research“. Thesis, Stockholm University, Department of Social Work, 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-6697.

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Happiness research is advancing as an academic discipline as well as on the political agenda. An aspect, largely ignored in the field, is what impact an individual’s construction of the good life has on his or her subjective well-being. The purpose of this paper was to investigate how people in different situations in life and with different backgrounds construct the idea of a good life and the importance these constructions may have in explaining subjective well-being. Despite the differences between themselves, the respondents’ constructions of the good life were shown to have a lot in common. Some factors in the good life were shared by the respondents, such as relations to other people, access to food, water and housing, whereas in other aspects, such as money and time, the constructions of the good life differed quite a lot from one another. When evaluating their own lives the respondents used quite different criteria mostly corresponding to their idea of the good life. If this is a general pattern, possible to replicate in other studies, one may in the future be able to draw the conclusion that the construction of the good life has an effect on our subjective well-being.

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Kaur, Inder Preet. „Understanding the surface chemistry of ceria nanoparticles using a multi-method approach“. Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2015. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/6388/.

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Ceria nanoparticles (NPs), due to their widespread applications, have attracted a lot of concern about their toxic effects on both human health and environment. Cerium occurs in two oxidation states, Ce (III) and Ce (IV), and has the unique ability to readily switch between these two states. There is a lot of speculation on the redox behaviour of cerium oxide being related to its toxicity but there are large gaps in knowledge of whether Ce (III) or Ce (IV) is responsible for such toxic behaviours, their toxicological mechanism and safety assessment. The aim of this study is to accurately quantify the ratio of Ce (III) and Ce (IV) in synthesised ceria samples using a multi-method approach thus providing an insight in understanding their surface chemistry and hence biological behaviour. Ceria NPs of different shapes and sizes were produced with different strengths of interaction between core and capping agent/no capping agent and with both steric and charge stabilization. The oxidation state of the samples was determined using STEM-EELS and XPS. Later in the study, we investigated the uptake and internalisation of different shapes and sizes of ceria NPs in lung-derived A549 cell lines (Adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells, A549).

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Saleem, Jason Jamil. „Multi-Method Approach to Understand Pilot Performance in a Sociotechnical Aviation System“. Diss., Virginia Tech, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/28309.

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This research examined human-machine performance in a General Aviation (GA) environment under dynamic conditions using a combination of field study and laboratory experimentation. Using this combination of methods, the functional system of pilots performing a landing approach (both instrument and visual) with a Cessna 172 to the Roanoke Regional Airport (ROA) was described and analyzed. In the field study, data collection was guided by an integrative method based on macroergonomics (ME) and distributed cognition (DC), allowing the cognitive aspects of a sociotechnical system to be treated as equally important as the organizational components. Also of interest was how pilot performance was affected by the introduction of nighttime and deteriorating weather conditions to this GA environment. Few statistically significant differences were found between pilots who flew by visual flight rules (VFR) and those who flew by instrument flight rules (IFR) or within each of these pilot groups in terms of objective flight performance. However, there were several significant differences between VFR and IFR pilots and within each pilot group in terms of workload and especially situation awareness across conditions; situation awareness for VFR pilots was found to be significantly reduced compared to situation awareness for IFR pilots in nighttime and deteriorating weather conditions (p < 0.05). In addition to these statistical findings and the methodological contribution of a joint systems/cognitive method, contributions of this dissertation include a greater understanding of the GA pilot/cockpit system and a systems-oriented cognitive model of this aviation environment as described by the ME/DC method for both VFR and IFR pilots. Further, procedural comparisons were performed between the flight simulator and the actual Cessna 172 used in the field study to increase our understanding of how to improve the validity associated with using simulators in research. Findings from both the laboratory and field studies in this research support new designs and technologies envisioned for future aviation systems that would assist the pilot during a landing approach such as weather information systems, head-up displays, synthetic vision, three-dimensional auditory displays, increased automation, and communications filters. Potential future applications of this research are also explored.
Ph. D.

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Friesen, Anthony M. „Multi-method approach to quantifying nutrient retention in a wastewater irrigated watershed“. Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/63136.

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As water is becoming more scarce, the application of wastewater onto land is becoming increasingly common. It is of particular interest in places where the otherwise receiving water body is considered too sensitive to handle the increased load of nutrients, and other wastewater constituents. This study utilized three methods to determine the extent to which phosphorus and nitrogen are being retained within a wastewater irrigated watershed in southern B.C., Canada. The methods include; Mass Balance, an End Member Mixing Analysis (EMMA) to determine real time and seasonal retention, and a soil analysis to determine long term retention within the soil profile. Retention estimates of P and N using the mass balance method were found to be between 53-93% and 48-77% respectively. Using the End Member Mixing Analysis, retention rates of P and N were found to be between 72-91% and 64-81% respectively. Seasonally, summer and winter had the highest retention rates, while the lowest retention was found during spring freshet. The soil analysis results found a 32% increase in phosphorus storage in irrigated soil over non-irrigated soils. This increase translated to a 40% retention rate (11,300 kg) of phosphorus in the irrigated soils during the course of the 35-year irrigation program.
Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences (Okanagan)
Earth and Environmental Sciences, Department of (Okanagan)
Graduate

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Reynolds, Dorothy. „Teachers’ Responses to Using a Small-Group Delivery Method during Reading Instruction: A Qualitative Approach“. University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1282321772.

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Polifroni, Mark. „The development and testing of a multi-component emotion induction method“. Columbus, Ohio : Ohio State University, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1141669741.

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Quincey, Kerry. „Shifting masculinities amongst men diagnosed with breast cancer : a multi-method phenomenological inquiry“. Thesis, De Montfort University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2086/16683.

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Under-acknowledged both clinically and socially as a threat to men’s health, breast cancer in men continues to be a critical health issue, with complex ramifications for those affected. Research exploring men’s breast cancer experiences and their lives beyond the diagnosis remain limited. Hence, this inquiry asks ‘How do men describe breast cancer and their experiences of the illness?’ the aim, to advance understandings about men’s meaning-making of breast cancer and masculinity, and to ‘give voice’ to this under-researched population. Embedded theoretically and methodologically within a critical qualitative health framework, the research has two parts. Part one is a qualitative synthesis of nine existing international studies exploring men’s breast cancer experiences, following Noblit and Hare’s (1988) method for synthesising interpretive qualitative data. The outcomes of this synthesis were used to inform part two: a multi-method phenomenological exploration of men’s breast cancer accounts using verbal and visual data. Thirty-One British men recruited through NHS records, Breast Cancer Care, and social media platforms, used self-authored photographs to illustrate their breast cancer experiences, which they later discussed as part of extended semi-structured interviews. All data were analysed together using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith & Osborn, 2003). Integrating and triangulating the findings from the two study phases, the on-going marginalisation of men across the breast cancer trajectory, and how this influences men’s experiences of, and adjustment to the illness, are revealed. Findings from the qualitative synthesis suggest current approaches to breast cancer care and advocacy serve to isolate men, potentially alienating and emasculating them; while patient management practices and informational resources unequivocally marginalise men. Findings from the new inquiry corroborate those from earlier studies, further illuminating the difficulties men encounter and some of their coping strategies. Specifically, three superordinate masculinities were identified: ‘threatened and exposed’, ‘protected and asserted’, and ‘reconsidered and reconfigured’. A schematic representation is presented to show how these interconnected masculinities are encountered, performed and utilised by men from pre-diagnosis through treatment and beyond as they manage, make sense of, and live through breast cancer. How and why men encounter/perform these different masculinities at different points in time across the breast cancer trajectory, and how this aids men’s adjustment to illness, and life beyond the diagnosis, is considered. The findings are expected to have both academic and real-world impact through informing future research, and recommendations for advocacy and intervention for improved future breast cancer care and practices.

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Ponnusamy, Sangeeth saagar. „Simulation product fidelity : a qualitative & quantitative system engineering approach“. Thesis, Toulouse 3, 2016. http://www.theses.fr/2016TOU30398/document.

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La modélisation informatique et la simulation sont des activités de plus en plus répandues lors de la conception de systèmes complexes et critiques tels que ceux embarqués dans les avions. Une proposition pour la conception et réalisation d'abstractions compatibles avec les objectifs de simulation est présentée basés sur la théorie de l'informatique, le contrôle et le système des concepts d'ingénierie. Il adresse deux problèmes fondamentaux de fidélité dans la simulation, c'est-à-dire, pour une spécification du système et quelques propriétés d'intérêt, comment extraire des abstractions pour définir une architecture de produit de simulation et jusqu'où quel point le comportement du modèle de simulation représente la spécification du système. Une notion générale de cette fidélité de la simulation, tant architecturale et comportementale, est expliquée dans les notions du cadre expérimental et discuté dans le contexte des abstractions de modélisation et des relations d'inclusion. Une approche semi-formelle basée sur l'ontologie pour construire et définir l'architecture de produit de simulation est proposée et démontrée sur une étude d'échelle industrielle. Une approche formelle basée sur le jeu théorique et méthode formelle est proposée pour différentes classes de modèles des systèmes et des simulations avec un développement d'outils de prototype et cas des études. Les problèmes dans la recherche et implémentation de ce cadre de fidélité sont discutées particulièrement dans un contexte industriel
In using Modeling and Simulation for the system Verification & Validation activities, often the difficulty is finding and implementing consistent abstractions to model the system being simulated with respect to the simulation requirements. A proposition for the unified design and implementation of modeling abstractions consistent with the simulation objectives based on the computer science, control and system engineering concepts is presented. It addresses two fundamental problems of fidelity in simulation, namely, for a given system specification and some properties of interest, how to extract modeling abstractions to define a simulation product architecture and how far does the behaviour of the simulation model represents the system specification. A general notion of this simulation fidelity, both architectural and behavioural, in system verification and validation is explained in the established notions of the experimental frame and discussed in the context of modeling abstractions and inclusion relations. A semi-formal ontology based domain model approach to build and define the simulation product architecture is proposed with a real industrial scale study. A formal approach based on game theoretic quantitative system refinement notions is proposed for different class of system and simulation models with a prototype tool development and case studies. Challenges in research and implementation of this formal and semi-formal fidelity framework especially in an industrial context are discussed

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Lillebo, Børge. „Supporting Clinical Perception : A multi-method approach to how technology may support clinical perception“. Doctoral thesis, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Institutt for nevromedisin, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-25159.

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BACKGROUND Patient care and management in hospitals is more difficult than ever before. Not only must clinicians perceive and interpret vast amounts of medical information related to single patient management, they are also expected to coordinate their own and their patients’ activities to achieve most health benefit per value spent. The overall objective of this thesis was to explore, develop and evaluate technology that may support perception and interpretation of information related to individual patient management and care coordination. METHODS The research has been conducted within the context of perioperative care, including operating theatres, post-anaesthesia care units, trauma team management of emergency patients and assessment of individual patients’ laboratory test results. Field work with focused interviews and in-depth interviews with perioperative staff were carried out to understand what information supports perioperative staff members in managing their own and their patients’ activities, and how that information is perceived. Patient status overviews were iteratively developed and evaluated through simulated ward work scenarios to understand what information supports surgical ward nurses in managing perioperative care, and how that information can be presented on a digital whiteboard without compromising patient privacy. An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the importance of projected perception of a care activity on patient management. Finally, we did a balanced, crossover experiment with medical students as participants to explore the effects of four laboratory test result presentation formats on the quality and efficiency of perception and interpretation of such results. RESULTS Perioperative activities unfold unpredictably, and perioperative care management relies heavily on ad hoc communication. Although schedules are perceived as important collaborative artefacts, they provide limited support for timely execution of individual work. A patient management status board including a continuously updated list of recent care events as well as a list of estimated onset of expected future events was welcomed by ward nurses. Such a status board was expected to facilitate perception and improve awareness on new care information as well as reduce the workload of coordinating care. Continuously updated estimated projections of expected future events were considered to be an effective means of interdepartmental communication. There was a significant association between the efficiency of the initial intrahospital trauma patient management and the time from trauma team activation until patient arrival (i.e. the amount of temporal projection). The descriptive data suggested that 10-20 minutes pre-arrival activation of the team was optimal timing. Pre-activation trauma team notification was not associated with the efficiency of patient management. The formats with which laboratory results were presented influenced both speed and quality of the assessment. Participants preferred different presentation formats for different kinds of patients. A table sufficed for sets of laboratory results consisting of few blood samples, but line graph visualisations seemed favourable for sets of laboratory results consisting of many samples. No single presentation format was superior in all respects. CONCLUSION Presenting proper information at the right place and right time is important, and for some information presentation format also may matter. Providing clinicians with timely updates on care activities and estimated onset of expected future events seems to be a fruitful technological solution to support coordination of hospital services. Furthermore, information visualisation has a potential of enhancing the perceptual and cognitive skills of clinicians – influencing the clinical assessment of patient data both qualitatively and quantitatively.

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Sun, Ying. „A Multi-Method Approach for the Quantification of Surface Amine Groups on Silica Nanoparticles“. Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/39480.

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As nanomaterials continue to garner interest in a wide range of industries and scientific fields, commercial suppliers have met growing consumer demand by readily offering custom particles with size, shape and surface functionality made-to-order. By circumventing the challenging and complex synthesis of functionalized nanoparticles, these businesses seek to provide greater access for the experimentation and application of these nanoscale platforms. In many cases, amine functional groups are covalently attached as a surface coating on a nanoparticle to provide a starting point for chemical derivatization and commonly, conjugation of biomolecules in medical science applications. Successful conjugation can improve the compatibility, interfacing and activity of therapeutic and diagnostic nanomedicines. Amines are amongst the most popular reactive groups used in bioconjugation pathways owing to the many high-yield alkylation and acylation reaction are involved in. For the design of functionalized nanomaterials with precisely tuned surface chemical properties, it is important to develop techniques and methods which can accurately and reproducibly characterize these materials. Quantification of surface functional groups is crucial, as these groups not only allow for conjugation of chemical species, but they also influence the surface charge and therefore aggregation behavior of nanomaterials. The loss of colloidal stability of functionalized nanomaterials can often correspond to a significant if not complete loss of functionality. Thus, we sought to develop multiple characterization approaches for the quantification of surface amine groups. Silica nanoparticles were selected as a model nanomaterial as they are widely used, commercially available, and their surface chemistry has been investigated and studied for decades. Various commercial batches of silica nanoparticles were procured with sizes ranging from 20 – 120 nm. Two colorimetric assays were developed and adapted for their ease-of-use, sensitivity, and convenience. In addition, a fluorine labelling technique was developed which enabled analysis by quantitative solid-state 19F NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS provided data on surface chemical composition at a depth of ≈ 10 nm, which allowed us to determine coupling efficiencies of the fluorine labelling technique and evaluate the reactivity of the two assays. The ensemble of surface-specific quantification techniques was used to evaluate multiple commercial batches of aminated silica and investigate batch-to-batch variability and the influence of particle size with degree of functionalization. In addition, resulting measurements of surface amine content were compared and validated by an independent method based on quantitative solution 1H NMR, which was developed for total functional group content determination. This allowed for us to assess the role of accessibility and reactivity of the amine groups present in our silica particles. Overall, the objective of this study was to develop a multi-method approach for the quantification of amine functional groups on silica nanoparticles. At the same time, we hoped to set a precedent for the development and application of multiple characterization techniques with an emphasis of comparing them on the basis of reproducibility, sensitivity, and mutual validation.

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Gramling, Carolyn M. „A radiocarbon method and multi-tracer approach to quantifying groundwater discharge to coastal waters“. Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/69769.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Joint Program in Marine Geology and Geophysics (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences; and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), September 2003.
Includes bibliographical references.
Groundwater discharge into estuaries and the coastal ocean is an important mechanism for the transport of dissolved chemical species to coastal waters. Because many dissolved species are present in groundwater in concentrations that are orders of magnitude higher than typical river concentrations, groundwater-borne nutrients and pollutants can have a substantial impact on the chemistry and biology of estuaries and the coastal ocean. However, direct fluxes of groundwater into the coastal ocean (submarine groundwater discharge, or SGD) can be difficult to quantify. Geochemical tracers of groundwater discharge can reflect the cumulative SGD flux from numerous small, widely dispersed, and perhaps ephemeral sources such as springs, seeps, and diffuse discharge. The natural radiocarbon content (A14C) of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) was developed as a tracer of fresh, terrestrially driven fluxes from confined aquifers. This A14C method was tested during five sampling periods from November 1999 to April 2002 in two small estuaries in southeastern North Carolina. In coastal North Carolina, fresh water artesian discharge is characterized by a low A14C signature acquired from the carbonate aquifer rock. Mixing models were used to evaluate the inputs from potential sources of DIC-A'4C to each estuary, including seawater, springs, fresh water stream inputs, and salt marsh respiration DIC additions. These calculations showed that artesian discharge dominated the total fresh water input to these estuaries during nearly all sampling periods.
(cont.) These new A14C-based SGD estimates were compared with groundwater flux estimates derived from radium isotopes and from radon-222. It is clear that these tracers reflect different components of the total SGD. The fluxes of low-A14C and of 222Rn were dominated by artesian discharge. Estuarine 226Ra showed strong artesian influence, but also reflected the salt water SGD processes that controlled the other three radium isotopes. The flux of 228Ra seemed to reflect seepage from the terrestrial surficial aquifer as well as salt water recirculation through estuarine sediments. The fluxes of 224Ra and 223Ra were dominated by salt water recirculation through salt marsh sediments. This multi-tracer approach provides a comprehensive assessment of the various components contributing to the total SGD.
by Carolyn M. Gramling.
Ph.D.

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Durón, Kelly M. „A Multi-method Approach to Examining Stress and Anxiety Among Mexican American College Students“. Thesis, University of North Texas, 2013. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc500090/.

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United States post-secondary education continues to see an increase in Hispanic enrollment, particularly those of Mexican heritage. The present study was designed to examine this population’s experience of stress, anxiety and academic approach-avoidance conflict. Data were collected at North Texas postsecondary institutions. Participants (N = 197) completed an online survey including a Picture Story Exercise (PSE), open-ended responses to hypothetical scenarios, and self-report measures. The current study utilized a mixed-method approach integrating content analysis measures and self-reports. Results indicated that anxiety symptoms expressed to academic, familial, and minority social situations differed, partial η2=.39; with the academic scenario including the highest and minority social scenario the lowest anxiety. Results suggested that Mexican-American college students may express cognitive and affective symptoms of anxiety more frequently than physical symptoms on scenarios but not on self-report scales (Personality Assessment Inventory Anxiety; PAI Anxiety). PSE responses suggested that Conflict and Drive for Goal Orientation were frequent among this sample. Academic Total Anxiety and Academic Physical Anxiety related positively to PSE Conflict, while Academic Cognitive Anxiety related negatively to PSE Positive Outcomes. Exploratory models predicting PSE variables from Academic Anxiety and PAI Anxiety were inconclusive but suggested that gender accounted for significant variance in PSE scores.

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Lösche, Frank. „Investigating the moment when solutions emerge in problem solving“. Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/12838.

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At some point during a creative action something clicks, suddenly the prospective problem solver just knows the solution to a problem, and a feeling of joy and relief arises. This phenomenon, called Eureka experience, insight, Aha moment, hunch, epiphany, illumination, or serendipity, has been part of human narrations for thousands of years. It is the moment of a subjective experience, a surprising, and sometimes a life-changing event. In this thesis, I narrow down this moment 1. conceptually, 2. experientially, and 3. temporally. The concept of emerging solutions has a multidisciplinary background in Cognitive Science, Arts, Design, and Engineering. Through the discussion of previous terminology and comparative reviews of historical literature, I identify sources of ambiguity surrounding this phenomenon and suggest unifying terms as the basis for interdisciplinary exploration. Tracking the experience based on qualitative data from 11 creative practitioners, I identify conflicting aspects of existing models of creative production. To bridge this theoretical and disciplinary divide between iterative design thinking and sequential models of creativity, I suggest a novel multi-layered model. Empirical support for this proposal comes from Dira, a computer-based open-ended experimental paradigm. As part of this thesis I developed the task and 40 unique sets of stimuli and response items to collect dynamic measures of the creative process and evade known problems of insightful tasks. Using Dira, I identify the moment when solutions emerge from the number and duration of mouse-interactions with the on-screen elements and the 124 participants' self-reports. I provide an argument for the multi-layered model to explain a discrepancy between the timing observed in Dira and existing sequential models. Furthermore, I suggest that Eureka moments can be assessed on more than a dichotomous scale, as the empirical data from interviews and Dira demonstrates for this rich human experience. I conclude that the research on insight benefits from an interdisciplinary approach and suggest Dira as an instrument for future studies.

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Frappier, Stéfanie Angèle. „Exploring Young Women with Disabilities’ Knowledge of and Experiences with Contraception: A Multi-method Qualitative Study in Ontario“. Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/42404.

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In Canada, women with disabilities are an understudied group when it comes to sexual and reproductive health. Specifically, there is no clarity about women living with disabilities’ knowledge of and experience with contraception in Canada. Contraception refers to methods used to prevent pregnancy. Research has shown that the rate of adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes is higher among youth with disabilities, a group comprising approximately 1 in 7 Canadian over 15 years of age. This study aimed to understand better adolescent and young adult women (13-26 years of age) with disabilities’ knowledge of and experiences with contraception in Ontario by launching an online survey and conducting semi-structured interviews. The findings show that revisions to service models and healthcare attitudes towards sexually active women with disabilities are necessary. This study recommends that sexual education be revised to include people with disabilities, people of different sexual orientations, and equality between men and women’s reproductive responsibility

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VALE, Tassio Ferreira. „Using a Multi-Method Approach for Evaluating Service Identification Methods in Service-Oriented Product Lines“. reponame:Repositório Institucional da UFPE, 2012. https://repositorio.ufpe.br/handle/123456789/11360.

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Submitted by Daniella Sodre (daniella.sodre@ufpe.br) on 2015-03-09T12:32:57Z No. of bitstreams: 2 MSc Dissertation -Tassio Ferreira Vale.pdf: 3047313 bytes, checksum: 266f36d93884380708ea06bafe535341 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5)
Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-09T12:32:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 MSc Dissertation -Tassio Ferreira Vale.pdf: 3047313 bytes, checksum: 266f36d93884380708ea06bafe535341 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03
A combinação de Linhas de Produto de Software (LPS) e Computação Orientada a Serviços (COS) tem recebido atenção de pesquisadores e praticantes, já que uma área é capaz de solucionar determinados problemas da outra. A junção dessas duas áreas é chamada de Linha de Produto Orientada a Serviços (LPOS), e tem se mostrado uma área de pesquisa emergente nos últimos anos. No contexto da Computação Orientada a Serviços, identificação de serviços é uma das primeiras atividades para modelagem de uma solução COS, e consiste na determinação de serviços candidatos. Essa não é uma tarefa trivial, e os erros adquiridos durante a identificação de um serviço pode propagar-se para as atividades subsequentes do processo de desenvolvimento orientado a serviços. Existem diversas propostas para identificação de serviços. Apesar da diversidade, não existe um método de identificação de serviços capaz de adequar-se a diversos contextos e necessidades. Considerando a heterogeneidade desses métodos, esta dissertação tem o objetivo de verificar quais métodos podem ser aplicados em linhas de produto de software, bem como as vantagens, desvantages e desafios existentes neste campo. Esta pesquisa utilizou uma abordagem multi-métodos, que combina estudos primários e secundários a fim de incrementar o corpo de conhecimento em determinada área baseada nos achados de tal investigação. Desta forma, este trabalho utilizou um método secundário (revisão sistemática) e dois métodos primários com o intuito de aumentar a confiabilidade dessa pesquisa. Além disso, foi realizada uma revisão da literatura a fim de coletar as abordagens de identificação de serviços existentes, visando propor uma recomendação dos métodos mais adequados considerando três cenários de LPS: top-down, bottom-up e hybrid. Esta recomendação foi avaliada através de um estudo de caso com uma linha de produto de sistemas médicos, usando dois metodos classificados no cenário o qual os sistemas médicos encontram-se, top-down. A principal contribuição dessa pesquisa é prover um instrumento que auxilie os interessados em identificar serviços a escolher um método apropriado, levando em consideração o cenário SPL a ser aplicado. Os resultados do estudo de caso mostram que as abordagens de identificação de serviços podem ser aplicadas num contexto de LPS. Além disso, este métodos facilitam a realização da atividade de identificação.
The combination of Software Product Line (SPL) and Service-Oriented Computing (SOC) have started to receive attention by researchers and practitioners, since they can address issues of each other. Putting these two areas together is called Service-Oriented Product Lines Enginering (SOPLE), presenting itself as an emerging area in the last years. In the Service-Oriented Computing, service identification is one of the first activities in the modeling of a SOC solution, that consists of determining candidate services. This is not a trivial task, and the errors made during the identification can propagate mistakes to the next activities of the service-oriented development process. There are several proposals addressing service identification for several contexts. However, an unified method for identifying services has not yet been reached. Regarding the heterogeneity of these methods, this dissertation aims to verify which methods can be applied in the SPL context, the advantages, disadvantages and the existing challenges of this field. This research used a multi-method approach that combines primary and secondary studies in order to increase the availability of empirical knowledge based on the findings of the investigation. Thus, this work used one secondary method (systematic review) and two primary methods (survey and case study) to address it. Furthermore, it was performed a literature review in order to collect all existing approaches of service identification, aiming to propose a set of decision models that recommend the most suitable methods according to three SPL scenarios: bottom-up, topdown and hybrid, onde decision model for each scenario. One of the decision models was evaluated through a case study in a medical applications domain, using two approaches classified in the decision model of the top-down scenario. The main contribution of this research is to provide an instrument that can help the service identification stakeholders to choose a suitable method, taking consideration of their SPL scenarios. In addition, these systematic methods facilitate the application of the identification activity. The case study results evaluated some service identification approaches and presented evidence that the methods can be applied in SPL.

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Celik, Hasan. „Implications of Performance-Based Contracting on Logistics and Supply Chain Management: A Multi-Method Approach“. Thesis, University of North Texas, 2020. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1707410/.

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Performance-based contracting (PBC) redefines the relationships between suppliers and buyers and differs from traditional contracting approaches with its reward/payment scheme, emphasis on the performance outcomes, increased supplier autonomy, and transfer of risk and responsibilities to suppliers. Given the 70% of life cycle costs of products/systems reside in sustainment, PBC has led to substantial improvements in availability, maintainability, reliability, and thus total cost of ownership of systems/products. Though PBC has changed the way of doing business and its presence has increased across multiple industry, private and public sectors, for profit and not-for-profit, its implications on various aspects of logistics and supply chain management have been understudied. It is important to explore and establish evidence regarding these implications through academic rigor. Therefore, this three-essay dissertation aims to give some insight regarding structural and behavioral implications of PBC using a multi-method approach. Specifically, it (1) explores the relationship between PBC and supply chain resilience (SCRES), (2) examines the supplier goal commitment (i.e., motivation) in PBC, (3) proposes a mathematical model to find optimal contract length, periodic contract price and investment that concurrently maximizing supplier profit and satisfying buyer requirements. This dissertation offers theoretical and managerial contributions as well.

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Susi, K. „Examing the evidence for a pitch centre in human auditory cortex : a multi method approach“. Thesis, Nottingham Trent University, 2016. http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28322/.

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This PhD used a combination of psychophysical, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) methods to evaluate the evidence for a pitch centre within auditory cortex according to the four pitch criteria: 1) pitch selectivity, 2) pitch constancy, 3) covariation with pitch salience, and 4) accounting for confounding factors, that were described in an article by Hall and Plack (2009). An fMRI study re-examined pitch criteria 1, 3 and 4 using stimuli and a subtractive study design informed by Penagos et al. (2004), but extended this work by addressing some of their limitations. Results indicated that the representation of pitch compared to noise is widely distributed across auditory cortex, while the evidence for an effect of pitch salience was questionable given that the weak pitch salience condition was not significantly different from matched noise at a group level. These findings raise concerns regarding fMRI‟s sensitivity to pitch salience effects in the context of high individual variability. An ERP „adaptation‟ study evaluated pitch criteria 1, 2 and 4 using pitch and timbre stimulus parameters that had been previously matched for discriminability, and sequences either varied in pitch, timbre or both across listeners. Findings from both sensor and source-based analyses suggested that pitch responses may be influenced by timbre (i.e., non-invariant); although further research is required. Thus, evidence failed to support the notion of pitch constancy at the level of the auditory cortex. Further studies using psychophysical listening paradigms continued this work, and again seemed to confirm a lack of evidence for pitch constancy. Reaction times and accuracy data demonstrated that timbre changes (non-target stimulus) interfered with listener‟s ability to discriminate pitch (target stimulus), and vice versa. Overall, these convergent results suggest that there is no modular representation of pitch (pitch centre), but rather pitch processing sites are distributed throughout multiple areas of primary and non-primary auditory cortex and are seemingly non-invariant to other stimulus parameters related to its perception (e.g., timbre). Under this assumption, the spatio-temporal model of pitch perception may best describe the neural mechanism underpinning pitch perception. Several recommendations are made to address challenges to interpretation identified throughout this PhD, which are likely to guide further research in this area.

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Patel, Chirag B. „A multi-objective stochastic approach to combinatorial technology space exploration“. Diss., Atlanta, Ga. : Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/29647.

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Thesis (Ph.D)--Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009.
Committee Chair: Dr. Dimitri N. Mavris; Committee Member: Dr. Brian J. German; Committee Member: Dr. Daniel P. Schrage; Committee Member: Dr. Frederic Villeneuve; Committee Member: Dr. Michelle R. Kirby; Committee Member: Ms. Antje Lembcke. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

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Damodaran, Dinesh, und Fanni Helminen. „The Impact of Strategy to Real Time Chat Process : A Qualitative Multi-Method Study in the E-commerce Context“. Thesis, Umeå universitet, Företagsekonomi, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-124384.

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While retail e-commerce keeps on clicking the examination of its strategic business and operations requirements for success emerges as crucial. In terms of achieving competitive advantage, no longer is it sustainable for e-retailers to solely focus on traditional dimensions of providing high quality and low cost for their target customers. As a substitute, they must adapt to the ever-changing competitive environment by endowing customers novel ways to interact with the website before, during and after the purchasing decision. One such way is real time chat, which is quickly becoming one of the most desired methods of contact between customers and websites. Although many e-retailers acknowledge the relevance of real time human-to-human contact, and the utilization of the real time chat in enriching the websites and consumers’ shopping experiences, the strategic and operational value that chat generates to the business itself it is still not explored by academic scholars.This forms the basis for our study.Purpose –This thesis aims to describe and explain the main business and operations strategies that determine the design of real time chat in B2C e-commerce companies. The paper used models and theories from strategic management namely strategic orientation, and strategic typologies. CSFs were derived from combining concepts from strategy, operations management, information systems and e-commerce disciplines while service delivery systems literature from service operations management literature. Design/methodology/approach–Using anabductive approach a cross-sectional study was conducted using a qualitative multi-methodology. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with four B2C e-commerce firms from the Nordic and Western European regions. Further, the data collection was enriched through observation and document analysis using real time chat logs. The data was then analyzed using the theoretical frame of reference to provide a strong theoretical base for our findings.Findings–The study established links between strategy, operations and service delivery systems with respect to real time chat. Particularly the combination of orientation with the Miles & Snow model (1978) informed the various strategic options a firm has. Furthermore, when combined with the perspectives on operationsstrategy informed how real time chat can be used while also taking into consideration the resources, product category and industry of the firm. The derived e-commerce service operations strategy CSFs despite being unique for each of the studied firms showed three recurring factors that were common to them. These were service provision, customer acceptance/focus and flexibility. Synthesizing all perspectives helped in developing a model that provides an overview of B2C e-commerce firms can align strategy, operations and service delivery systems with respect to real time chat. Originality/value–The thesis contributes to adding knowledge to the under researched area of real time chat in B2C e-commerce settings. It also synthesizes disparate concepts of strategy, operations and service delivery systems and develops a guideline in helping firms using real time chat to improve their existing service process efficiencies. Concurrently the paper also serves as an evaluative tool for firms that are considering real time chat implementation to understand the various aspects that influence it and help them to better plan and design the service process.

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Warraich, Muhammad Akib. „Social franchising in emerging markets : a multi-perspective approach in the education sector of Pakistan“. Thesis, Rennes 1, 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017REN1G015/document.

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Cette thèse étudie les principales caractéristiques, le développement, les dimensions sociales, les avantages ainsi que les défis de la franchise dans le secteur de l'éducation au Pakistan. En outre, les résultats de notre étude montrent que la franchise de l'éducation au Pakistan fonctionne essentiellement comme une forme de franchise sociale. L'étude illustre également comment la dimension sociale de la franchise, dans le paysage éducatif pakistanais, est contrebalancée avec le côté commercial de cette pratique. Une approche qualitative multi-perspective a été adoptée. Cela a consisté à mener et à enregistrer 44 entretiens approfondis avec les franchiseurs, les franchisés, les enseignants, les employés du réseau, les parents, les étudiants et les représentants du gouvernement. Les données secondaires ont été collectées sur les sites Web des franchiseurs. Les données ont été transcrites et analysées par NVivo. Nos résultats mettent en évidence un lien entre l'émergence de la franchise sociale et la performance des établissements d'enseignement du secteur public. Nos résultats montrent également que les réseaux de franchises d'éducation au Pakistan ont eu une contribution significative sur le plan social, dans la mesure où, les taux d'alphabétisation ont augmenté et que les inégalités entre les sexes ont été réduites. Cela peut, par conséquent, être considéré comme une forme de franchise sociale. Certaines caractéristiques des réseaux de franchises éducatives au Pakistan sont les mêmes que celles de la franchise dans des secteurs plus traditionnels tels que les hôtels et les restaurants. Il est intéressant de noter que la fourniture de la marque, du transfert de savoir-faire, de l'assistance et de la formation, ainsi que l'uniformité du réseau, ont été aussi importants que dans les secteurs traditionnels de franchise. Les résultats suggèrent par ailleurs que les utilisateurs et le public ont une perception positive de la franchise dans le secteur de l'éducation et cela est considéré comme une meilleure alternative par rapport aux autres options disponibles
This study investigates the main characteristics, development, social dimensions, benefits and the challenges of franchising in the education sector of Pakistan. Furthermore, it highlights that education franchising in Pakistan is mainly operating as a form of social franchising. The study also discusses how the social dimension of education franchising in Pakistan is counterbalanced with the commercial side of this business. A multi-perspective qualitative approach was adopted. This involved conducting and recording 44 in-depth interviews with franchisors, franchisees, school teachers, network employees, parents, students and government officials. Secondary data was collected from franchisor websites. Data was transcribed and analyzed by NVivo. The findings suggest a link between the emergence of social franchising and the performance of public sector educational institutions. Moreover, findings elaborate that education franchising networks in Pakistan have made a significant social contribution by increasing literacy rates and reducing gender inequalities. Therefore, it can be considered as a form of social franchising. Some characteristics of educational franchise networks in Pakistan are the same as those of franchising in more traditional sectors such as hotels and restaurants. Interestingly, the provision of brand name, transfer of know-how, assistance and training, as well as network uniformity, were found to be just as important as they are in traditional franchising sectors. The findings also suggest that users and public have a positive perception of franchising in the education sector and it is regarded as a better alternative as compared to other available options

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Kaya, Deniz. „Pricing a Multi-Asset American Option in a Parallel Environment by a Finite Element Method Approach“. Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Matematiska institutionen, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-155546.

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There is the need for applying numerical methods to problems that cannot be solved analytically and as the spatial dimension of the problem is increased the need for computational recourses increase exponentially, a phenomenon known as the “curse of dimensionality”. In the Black-Scholes-Merton framework the American option pricing problem has no closed form solution and a numerical procedure has to be employed for solving a PDE. The multi-asset American option introduces challenging computational problems, since for every added asset the dimension of the PDE is increased by one. One way to deal with the curse of dimensionality is threw parallelism. Here the finite element method-of-lines is used for pricing a multi-asset American option dependent on up to four assets in a parallel environment. The problem is also solved with the PSOR method giving a accurate benchmark used for comparison. In finance the put option is one of the most fundamental derivatives since it is basically asset-value insurance and a lot of research is done in the field of quantitative finance on accurate and fast pricing techniques for the multi-dimensional case. “What most experimenters take for granted before they begin their experiments is infinitely more interesting than any results to which their experiments lead.” Norbert Wiener “As soon as an Analytical Engine exists, it will necessarily guide the future course of the science. Whenever any result is sought by its aid, the question will then arise – by what course of calculation can these results be arrived at by the machine in the shortest time?” Charles Babbage

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Worthington, Cathy. „Being tested, an investigation of recipient perspectives on HIV testing services using a multi-method approach“. Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2001. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/NQ59084.pdf.

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Dombrowski, John Thomas. „A Multi-Method Investigation of Approach and Avoidance Temperaments: Self-Report, Physiological, and Daily Diary Measures“. W&M ScholarWorks, 2014. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1539626773.

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Foster, Richard. „A multi method approach towards the study and characterisation of simulated Enhanced Actinide Removal Plant particulates“. Thesis, University of Manchester, 2017. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/a-multi-method-approach-towards-the-study-and-characterisation-of-simulated-enhanced-actinide-removal-plant-particulates(31138956-ee33-4ba9-98a4-07b319611f54).html.

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The introduction of the Enhanced Actinide Removal Plant (EARP) at Sellafield in 1994 was designed to decontaminate radioactive effluents produced during nuclear fuel reprocessing. Through the action of flocculation with iron, followed by filtration, the effluents are decontaminated before being discharging to sea. The plant has been in successful operation for the past 20 years, and has made a significant difference to the level of radioactivity of the waste. However, little is known about the formed flocs. Particular concern focuses around future changes to the effluent compositions to be processed through EARP. These future feeds will potentially contain significantly less iron, thus potentially impacting upon the flocculation process and the efficiency of the decontamination process. The effluents currently treated contain significant concentrations of iron, stemming from the Magnox fuel reprocessing plant, along with actinides, fission and corrosion products. The flocculation of these acidic radioactive ferric feeds results in the formation of solid iron hydroxide flocs with encapsulated radioactivity. The flocs are then filtered, encapsulated and stored. It is envisioned that by characterising the floc properties, both physically and chemically a greater understanding of EARP can be obtained, ultimately leading to a maintained process efficiency with alternative feed compositions. The effect of a reduction in iron concentration on the chemical and physical properties of the flocs has been studied. The presence of any iron in the mock effluents was found to beneficially increase the contaminant decontamination factors (DF). However, the efficacy of this increase varied between contaminates. The DFs of group I and II metals ranged from 7.10 to 1.19 while lead ranged from 4x105 to 1.60, dependent upon iron concentration. Transition metal and lanthanide contaminants were marginally affected. With the use of agar embedding, the 'liquid form' of the flocs has been retained for two and three dimensional observations. SEM/EDX analysis has allowed for the inspection and chemical characterisation of the flocs while 2D microscope image analysis has allowed for the study of floc size and shape. A range of diameters, 300 - 1500 micro metre were found. Three dimensional X-ray Computer Tomography (3D X-ray CT) conducted at the Manchester X-ray Imaging Facility (MXIF) has led to the physical characterisation and classification of the flocs. Further, by studying the 3D shape it has been possible to classify a floc as a granule, fibre, chip or blade according to the Zingg classification with the majority of formed flocs being classified as granules.

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Bredikova, Hana. „Are third-party interventions in civil wars desirable? A multi-method approach to ending intrastate conflicts“. Doctoral thesis, Università degli studi di Trento, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11572/242976.

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This dissertation examines the effectiveness and political support surrounding third-party interventions in civil wars, which have increased in frequency, type, and number of actors since the collapse of Cold War bipolarity. The existing literature has mainly examined the individual effects of third-party strategies, though the growing presence of concurrently occurring types of third-party interventions necessitates exploration of their interactive effects. Thus, this thesis seeks to understand different actions from multiple actors dependently rather than independently. Understanding the effectiveness of these strategies is only one step towards realizing whether third-party interventions are desirable. The motivation and the will of the actors responsible for the policy execution are crucial in realizing the full picture. The ubiquitous problem arising from the third-party interventions requires a multipronged methodological approach. This thesis, therefore, combines both observational and experimental data to explore this issue. While the primary results show that peacekeeping and mediation are the most effective and supported strategies of engagement, both effectiveness and support appear to be highly context-dependent. Further, this thesis surveys American public and political elites to delve into the determinants of support for third-party interventions. It nds that both the public and the political elite are sensitive to civilian casualties, yet in the face of a political rivalry these humanitarian concerns dissipate. Additionally, political elites are interested in ending hostilities only as long as their national security interests are at stake. By filling a gap in the literature, generating original data, and utilizing novel methodological approach, these results have underlined the need for improvement of policy decisions in the area of international confict management and, at the same time, build upon the new direction of research in the eld of confict dynamics.

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Borazjani, Ehsan. „Inverse Heat Conduction Approach for Infrared Non-destructive Testing of Single and Multi-layer Materials“. Thèse, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/22919.

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The focus of this thesis is to derive analytical tools for the design of infrared nondestructive tests in single and multi layer material bodies. This requires the predetermination of the parameters of the experiment such that the infrared image has the required resolution for defect detection. Inverse heat conduction in single and multi-layer materials is investigated to determine the required frequency of excitation in order to obtain a desired temperature at the observation point. We use analytical quadrupole representation to derive a polynomial relation to estimate the frequency of the periodic excitation as a function of the temperature amplitude at a given observation point within the body. The formula includes characteristic geometric and material parameters of the system. The polynomial formula can be an e ective design tool for quick frequency predetermination in the design of non-destructive testing experiments with infrared thermography. The convergence and accuracy of the formula is assessed by comparison with the analytical thermal quadrupole solution and experimental results. We also investigate the e ect of the nite length of the material domain in order to establish the range of applicability of a simpli ed formula based on semi-in nite domain assumption. The e ect of nite length is investigated analytically by using (i) Fourier series which accounts for transients and (ii) Time varying solution associated to the steady state solution when a purely periodic excitation is applied. These results are also compared with numerical solution obtained with commercial nite element software ANSYSTM.

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Heilmann, Arndt [Verfasser], Stella [Akademischer Betreuer] Neumann und Fabio [Akademischer Betreuer] Alves. „Profiling effects of syntactic complexity in translation : a multi-method approach / Arndt Heilmann ; Stella Neumann, Fabio Alves“. Aachen : Universitätsbibliothek der RWTH Aachen, 2020. http://d-nb.info/123098545X/34.

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Haus, Mirjam [Verfasser], und Markos [Akademischer Betreuer] Maragkos. „Stress and stress management in European crisis managers : a multi-method approach / Mirjam Haus ; Betreuer: Markos Maragkos“. München : Universitätsbibliothek der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 2018. http://d-nb.info/1150856343/34.

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Haus, Mirjam [Verfasser], und Markos [Akademischer Betreuer] Maragkos. „Stress and stress management in European crisis managers : a multi-method approach / Mirjam Haus. Betreuer: Markos Maragkos“. München : Universitätsbibliothek der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 2016. http://d-nb.info/1112465782/34.

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Shellman, Amy. „Empowerment and resilience a multi-method approach to understanding processes and outcomes of adventure education program experiences /“. [Bloomington, Ind.] : Indiana University, 2009. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3354905.

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, 2009.
Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Feb. 4, 2010). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-04, Section: A, page: 1425. Adviser: Alan W. Ewert.

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Arendsen, Laura Janine. „A multi-method approach to understanding pain experience using non-pharmacological interventions that target alpha brain activity“. Thesis, University of Leeds, 2017. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/19837/.

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This thesis aimed to examine the relationship between pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity and pain experience. Four studies were included to assess: 1) if, and how pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity might affect pain experience; and 2) if the relationship between pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity and pain experience is influenced by uncertainty about pain intensity, fear of pain and pain catastrophising. Study 1 was designed to replicate the negative correlation between pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity and pain. Studies 2-4 each investigated the potential of a different intervention to reduce pain by increasing alpha: binaural beats, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), and mindfulness meditation. Study 1 confirmed the correlation between pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity and pain experience, but it was the findings of Studies 3 and 4 that were crucial in advancing the understanding of the relationship between somatosensory alpha activity and pain. They provided novel findings suggesting that modulation of somatosensory alpha (to increase alpha) results in reduced pain experience, thus demonstrating that pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity and pain experience might be causally related. This thesis also provided evidence for an influence of uncertainty about pain intensity on the relationship between alpha activity and pain experience. Study 1 showed an influence of uncertainty on pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity. Moreover, the application of tACS (to increase alpha) only resulted in a significant reduction of pain experience when pain intensity was uncertain. Finally, Study 3 demonstrated a relationship between pain catastrophising and the reduction of pain by tACS, higher pain catastrophising was associated with a larger reduction of pain experience. Together, the studies of this thesis not only provided a first indication of a causal relationship between pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity and pain, but also initial evidence for the effectiveness of interventions targeting alpha activity in the management of pain.

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