Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Behavioural change models'

There is a wide variety of drivers for business process modelling initiatives, reaching from organisational redesign to the development of information systems. Consequently, a common business process is often captured in multiple models that overlap in content due to serving different purposes. Business process management aims at exible adaptation to changing business needs. Hence, changes of business processes occur frequently and have to be incorporated in the respective process models. Once a process model is changed, related process models have to be updated accordingly, despite the fact that those process models may only be loosely coupled. In this article, we introduce an approach that supports change propagation between related process models. Given a change in one process model, we leverage the behavioural abstraction of behavioural profiles for corresponding activities in order to determine a change region in another model. Our approach is able to cope with changes in pairs of models that are not related by hierarchical refinement and show behavioural inconsistencies. We evaluate the applicability of our approach with two real-world process model collections. To this end, we either deduce change operations from different model revisions or rely on synthetic change operations.

It is well accepted by now that most change initiatives are unsuccessful even though more organisations are experiencing change as they fight to retain and improve their competitiveness in the market place. It is against this background of change failure that researchers have looked for new strategies to improve change outcomes. Theoretical models conceptualising the dynamic change process advise on better change strategies, but little empirical evidence has demonstrated that these models are effective in improving change implementation outcomes. Theoretical models were also developed to counter change resistance, but little emphasis has been placed on employee change readiness. Some empirical research on employee change readiness explores employees? perception of organisational readiness, but no empirical research has explored employee readiness from a psychological perspective. That is, how to create change readiness in employees. This thesis has contributed to both the theoretical and empirical understanding of the change readiness model. Firstly, the theoretical readiness for change model Armenakis et al.?s (1993, 2002) was extended by the inclusion of the ?understanding of the change? driver. Secondly, this change readiness model was empirically tested on two distinct organisational changes: organisational restructure and IT change. The extended model is also examined for two change stages of the dynamic process to identify which readiness drivers should be prioritised by change agents. Two online questionnaires were administered eight months apart assessing the responses to three change stages (planning, implementation and post-implementation) of employees ? supervisors and subordinates - of a flat structured organisation in the human resource industry. At the two measurement points 189 and 141 employees returned completed surveys. Six employee readiness drivers were operationalised and regressed against behavioural change intention. The quantitative findings using regression models across two change types and longitudinally did not identify a specific change pattern. However, all six readiness drivers including the ?understanding of the change? driver were influential on employees? behavioural change intention. Furthermore, statistical differences between supervisors and subordinates were identified in the organisational restructure change. The quantitative findings using a triangulation approach with qualitative date including data from two unstructured interviews and employee comments further validated the quantitative findings. The thematic analysis of the employee comments enhanced the findings and identified employee specific concerns including information dissemination of the changes and a level of uncertainty. The findings supported Armenakis et al.?s (1993, 2002) theoretical contribution that change readiness drivers are an important part of the organisational change process explaining why employee do and do not change. The empirical application of readiness change driver evaluation during the dynamic change is supported as it permits change agents to directly monitor employees? readiness perception of a specific change target. This valuable information finds practical utilisation for change agents in providing targeted guidance and support for employees thus facilitating a greater likelihood of a positive change outcome. Implications of these findings and future research opportunities are discussed.

Past research indicates a causal relationship between emotional writing and health benefits (Smyth, 1998). At present, little is known about the mechanisms underlying change or if the emotional writing paradigm may be applied to a clinical setting. This present study reviewed current models of trauma and hypothesised three mechanisms of change leading to future health benefits: exposure, devaluation, and benefit-finding. Instructions for the standard writing paradigm were manipulated to isolate and increase engagement with each of these processes. It was hypothesised that if any one of these processes were to underlie health benefits, participants assigned to that condition would obtain more benefit than standard writing participants. Individual differences were also hypothesised to interact with each process to amplify or detract from their influence in leading to future benefit. A total of 201 university students were recruited from Griffith University. Participants were assigned to one of five writing conditions: Control, Standard, Exposure, Devaluation, and Benefit-Finding. Sessions were conducted once a week for three weeks. Physiological and self-report measures were taken before, during and after writing sessions. Follow-up assessments of psychological and physical health were taken at 2 and 6-months post-writing. Essay content analysis suggested that participants wrote in the instructed manner. Participants assigned to each of the groups experienced expected amounts of distress and affect changes. Overall, results failed to replicate the beneficial health effects for the standard emotional writing paradigm. There were no significant physical or psychological benefits for the standard trauma-writing participants in comparison to control. However, a trend in the appropriate direction was noted for illness visits at 6-months. Furthermore, in support of Greenberg and Stone's (1992) findings, standard writing participants who disclosed more severe and personal experiences evidenced significant illness visit reductions in comparison to control. Comparisons between standard and experimental trauma writing groups failed to support hypotheses that any one mechanism was responsible for physical health benefits. Examination of psychological self-report measures indicated exposure participants experienced the greatest reduction on the Impact of Events Scale at two months. However, these participants experienced greater reduction of positive affect and growth for the experience. They also became more anxious, depressed, and stressed at six-months follow-up. Process variables were examined within the exposure condition to explain these findings. Habituation was found to be strongly associated with the alternate outcomes. Individual differences. Including alexithymia, absorption, and negative affect, were also related to outcome. Benefit-finding participants experienced the greatest increase on a measure of post-traumatic growth at two-months and positive affect for the experience, but the finding was significant only in comparison to exposure and devaluation groups. The results of this study failed to identify the process of change, but suggest specific areas for future research. The findings demonstrate the importance of comprehensive health research to avoid blanket statements that suggest a paradigm either does or does not lead to health benefits. The results also support the manipulation of the writing paradigm to examine the role of emotion processing in trauma and health research.

This thesis is based in the research area of Design for Sustainable Behaviour (DfSB), a field which seeks to reduce the social and environmental impact of products in the use phase of their life cycle. There has been significant theoretical development in this area in recent years, leading to a proliferation of intervention strategies and design methodologies. However, there has been a recognised lack of a reliable means of selecting which intervention strategy to use in a given situation, and a lack of real world intervention case studies generating measurable medium-to-long term reductions in energy consumption. Addressing these gaps was a central focus of this research. This thesis documents four distinct research phases; an extensive literature review, an in-depth user study of existing energy consuming behaviours and motivations, the development and trialling of design interventions, and the evaluation of the generated theories as a tool for designers. Literature on domestic energy consumption, human behaviour, and approaches to changing behaviour was reviewed to establish the current level of thinking and to identify opportunities for further research. This guided the undertaking of the user study with a number of families in the East Midlands of the UK, which illuminated the relevant motivational goals, and highly routinized nature, displayed in many energy consuming behaviours. Over the course of this phase of the research journey a new conceptual model of behaviour in context was developed, and refined to create the Behavioural Intervention Selection Axis (BISA). These theoretical developments were then applied to the generation of DfSB intervention concepts, one of which was selected and developed to a functional prototype stage. These prototypes were trialled in situ in family homes for an extended period, and achieved a significant change in behaviour and related energy consumption. Further evaluation of the BISA as a tool to guide designers was performed through a series of workshops with design students, which ascertained its usefulness in this respect. Both the intervention development and trialling and the design workshops showed the conceptual model and BISA to be successful in providing designers with a reliable and useful means of selecting appropriate intervention strategies to change behaviour. In addition the intervention trial provided a wealth of qualitative insight into the way in which DfSB can effect behaviour, and the range of new motivational goals it can engender.

Jag har utforskat hur en beteendeförändring kan genomföras med hjälp av existerande teoretiska modeller och centrala metoder inom interaktionsdesign och tjänstedesign. För att specificera mig har jag samarbetat med banken SEB och inriktat mig på kvinnors ekonomiska beteende och hur man kan få dem att öka sitt intresse för det privata sparandet. Den litteratur som jag har granskat berör till största del kvinnors ekonomiska beteende och hur en förändringsprocess av ett beteende kan gå till. Mina egna empiriska undersökningar har varierat mellan olika typer av intervjuer och observationer där jag främst har granskat vad kvinnor finner motiverande, både ur ett generellt och ett ekonomiskt perspektiv. Genom en designprocess har mitt arbete resulterat i ett koncept på en banktjänst som innefattar de beståndsdelar som en sådan, enligt min undersökning, bör ha för att få kvinnor att bli motiverade till att spara pengar. Konceptet bygger på att återspegla sparmål i form av personliga visualiseringar i en online miljö.

Introduction In primary care, clinicians are engaged in trying to help patients change their behaviour in order to prevent heart disease. The risk of heart disease is increased by lack of exercise; smoking and eating a high fat diet, all of which are modifiable lifestyle behaviours. The aim of the thesis is to explore the potential for the use of the Transtheoretical Stages of Change CTIM/SOC) model in primary care and consider how the findings can be utilised by clinicians helping patients to change unhealthy behaviour. Method There are three parts to this study; the first is a structured review which examines studies using the TIM/SOC behavioural model in primary care, both when the intervention is tailored to the stage of change and/or when it is used as an outcome/predictor measure. The second part examines the secondary data from a cardiovascular disease study ('Realising the potential of the family history in risk assessment and primary prevention of coronary heart disease in primary care' - ADDFAM) which used the TIM/SOC model, to see what change predictors could be found. The third part comprises a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to identify the facilitators and barriers of behaviour change as experienced by individuals attempting to change their unhealthy behaviour to see if these could be explained in terms of the TIM/SOC model. Results • There appears to be validity in the basic premise of moving through the stages of change which spanned the three distinct sources of evidence. However, in the interview data, no-one spoke in terms of a timeframe except for a social occasion or in terms of life priorities, which throws some doubt on the time-scales imposed on change process in the TIM/SOC model. • There is mixed evidence for the TIM/SOC model either as an intervention, or an outcome/predictor measure, in particular, there is some doubt that movement through the stages of changes equates to actual behavioural change. • There was evidence to suggest that the TIM/SOC constructs are used in the process of change. However, there were identified differences to the processes as outlined in the model, in particular the helping relationships construct was found to be in use throughout the change process, rather than as the TIM/SOC suggests between the action and maintenance stage. Specific constructs for sustaining behavioural changes are not covered under the TIM/SOC model and their inclusion may be helpful for the maintenance stage of the behaviour change. Additional constructs that may be useful to consider in the model include denial/fatalism; psychological aspects and demographic data. XlI Conclusions By triangulating the structured review with the ADDFAM study database results and findings from the qualitative interviews, this study has highlighted both positive and negative aspects of the TIMjSOC model for use in primary care. Suggestions are made for changes to the model that could be evaluated in future research and these include: comparing the TIMjSOC model against the PAPM (a non-timeframe model); inclusions of additional constructs for denial/fatalism; demographic details and psychological factors. The helping relationships construct should be expanded for use across all stages of change and specific new constructs evaluated for sustaining the change. In addition the similarities and differences between the constructs of self-efficacy and control should be explored and evaluated. The findings identified in the thesis have highlighted some areas that clinicians can focus on in primary care to help patients to change their unhealthy behaviours. Xlll

Reports of Internet fraud and Internet threats have lost their element of surprise. However, various sources, such as governmental surveys, have indicated that the percentage of Internet users who regularly practice appropriate e-precaution methods is still low (e. g., Schultz 2005). Meanwhile, studies continue to show that fear of Internet fraud remains one of the major obstacles to the even wider spread of e-commerce (e. g., Niite and Parsa 2005). This thesis therefore investigates the decision making processes in adopting e-precaution methods, and studies the effects that marketing can have in accelerating these processes. The research design is based broadly on two theoretical constructs: social marketing and the Transthoeretical Model (TTM). Social marketing involves the application of commercial marketing concepts and techniques, in order to solve social problems; advertising is probably the most commonly used tool by social marketers to influence the public. The TTM model theorises the procedure of decision making and it is used to analysis consumer behaviour in social marketing. The TTM constructs, including the Stages of Change (SOC) and the Decisional Balance Scale items (DBS), are scrutinised for their applicability to the adoption of e-precaution methods. In addition, the effectiveness of two advertising tactics, fear appeal and message framing, are examined based on these constructs. Two e-precaution methods are assessed, checking for https and using antivirus software; respectively, 781 and 930 respondents were acquired through an Internet questionnaire data collection process. The web-based questionnaires and social marketing interventions were informed by earlier qualitative investigations. Messages designed to test the advertising tactics were the interventions shown to the respondents. Scales, including SOC, DBS and other TTM variables, were measured with multiple choices questions. Confirmatory factor analysis, ordinal logit regression, multinomial logit regression and odds ratio analysis were deployed to test the research data.

Australian Constitutional referendums have been part of the Australian political system since federation. Up to the year 1999 (the time of the last referendum in Australia), constitutional change in Australia does not have a good history of acceptance. Since 1901, there have been 44 proposed constitutional changes with eight gaining the required acceptance according to section 128 of the Australian Constitution. In the modern era since 1967, there have been 20 proposals over seven referendum votes for a total of four changes. Over this same period, there have been 13 federal general elections which have realised change in government just five times. This research examines the electoral behaviour of Australian voters from 1967 to 1999 for each referendum. Party identification has long been a key indicator in general election voting. This research considers whether the dominant theory of voter behaviour in general elections (the Michigan Model) provides a plausible explanation for voting in Australian referendums. In order to explain electoral behaviour in each referendum, this research has utilised available data from the Australian Electoral Commission, the 1996 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data, and the 1999 Australian Constitutional Referendum Study. This data has provided the necessary variables required to measure the impact of the Michigan Model of voter behaviour. Measurements have been conducted using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Each referendum provides an overview of the events at the time of the referendum as well as the =yes‘ and =no‘ cases at the time each referendum was initiated. Results from this research provide support for the Michigan Model of voter behaviour in Australian referendum voting. This research concludes that party identification, as a key variable of the Michigan Model, shows that voters continue to take their cues for voting from the political party they identify with in Australian referendums. However, the outcome of Australian referendums clearly shows that partisanship is only one of a number of contributory factors in constitutional referendums.

Regular physical activity is associated with improved physiological and psychological wellbeing, by reducing the risk of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and depression. There is a common perception that physical activity levels in the population are declining, and one of the biggest changes affecting this is occupational based activity. Since adults spend on average over 50% of their waking hours at work, work sites have the potential to be an important setting for health promotion initiatives. Cognitions and behaviours are key causal factors behind many of today s most widespread health problems and illnesses. The stage of change model has been highlighted as having intuitive appeal because it considers the dynamic nature of attitudes and behaviour change. This thesis is concerned with the application of the stage of change model to an occupational health intervention promoting physical activity. Several research studies were undertaken to explore the experiences of employees with workplace health initiatives and investigate the strategies and practices used by occupational health to promote healthy behaviours. These research studies highlighted the barriers and facilitators to successful health interventions and contributed towards the design, development and implementation of an activity promotion intervention. Additional research was also conducted to develop information materials based on the stage of change model. The stage approach was simplified and intervention materials were classified based on whether employees were thinking about making a change or not thinking about making a change to their activity levels. In order to test the materials, a twelve month intervention was implemented in ten work sites across the UK that were allocated to one of three groups. Two groups received information materials and one group received no information during the intervention period (control group). The difference between the two groups who received information was that one group received standard activity promotion information (standard group) and the second group received tailored information based on their stage of change construct (staged group). Participants in the staged intervention group demonstrated significant decreases in body mass index, fat percentage, waist circumference, blood pressure and resting heart rate following the twelve month intervention. In contrast, reductions were identified for the standard intervention group for waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure. Finally, there were no long-term significant improvements identified for the control group. However, group comparisons revealed there were no significant differences between the intervention conditions. The intervention also recorded self-reported psychological outcomes, which demonstrated variations throughout the intervention period for all groups. The potential reasons for these inconsistent outcomes are discussed. A process evaluation following the intervention demonstrated employees valued the health screenings and identified issues relating to knowledge, behaviour change and health implications that were important outputs of the intervention. Based on these findings, the research concludes there is scope to make physical activity interventions in the workplace more effective by applying the stage of change approach. Using the process of simplifying the stages and focusing on whether employees want to change their behaviours or not allows occupational health to deliver information that could be more meaningful and have a significant impact on behaviour change. By understanding employees readiness to change their activity behaviours and targeting information based on their beliefs, attitudes and intentions to change may produce significant improvements in health outcome measures compared to standard information. The results also suggest there is potential for this type of tailored intervention to be extended to other occupational health issues.

Adaptation is necessary to cope with, or take advantage of, the effects of climate change on socio-ecological systems. This is especially important in the forestry sector, which is sensitive to the ecological and economic impacts of climate change, and where the adaptive decisions of owners play out over long periods of time. These decisions are subject to experienced and expected impacts, and depend upon the temporal interactions of a range of individual and institutional actors. Knowledge of, and responses to, climate change are therefore very important if forestry is to cope with, or take advantage of, the effects of climate change over longer timescales. It is important to understand the role of human behaviour and decision-making processes in the study of complex socio-ecological systems and modelling is a method that can support experiments to advance this understanding. This study is based on the development of CRAFTY-Sweden; an agent-based model that allows the exploration of Swedish land-use dynamics and adaptation to climate change through scenario analysis. In CRAFTY-Sweden, forest and farmland owners make land use and management decisions according to their objectives, management preferences and capabilities. As a result of their management and location characteristics they are able to provide ecosystem services. To explore future change, quantitative scenarios were used that considered both socio-economic development pathways and climatic change. Simulations were run under the different scenarios for the period 2010-2100, for the whole of Sweden. Furthermore, because institutions (i.e. organisations) also influence socio-ecological systems through their actions and interactions between them and with land owners and the environment, a conceptual model of institutional actions applied to socio-ecological systems was developed. The application of this conceptual model was explored through a model of institutions that can act, interact and adapt to environmental change in attempting to affect ecosystem service provision within a simple forestry governance system. I found that forestry in the future will likely be unable to meet societal demands for forest services solely on the basis of autonomous adaptation. A northward expansion of agriculture and especially of forestry proved positive for both sectors to adapt to changing conditions, under several scenarios, given the substantial land availability and the improved environmental conditions for plant growth. Legacy effects of past land-use change can have a great impact on future land-use change and adaptation processes, especially in forestry. Also, greater competition for land may lead to shorter forest rotation times. Socio-economic change and land owner behavioural differences may have a larger impact on owner competitiveness, land-use change and ecosystem service provision than climate-driven changes in land productivity. Different owner objectives and behaviour resulted in different levels of ecosystem service provision. Also, particular forest types were differently suitable for adaptation depending on the sets of objectives under which they were managed. Owners implementing particular management strategies can be differently competitive under different future scenarios, and the suitability of such strategies for adaptation is not a static, inherent characteristic of a system. Instead, it evolves in response to changing contexts that include both the external global change drivers and the internal dynamics of agent interactions. Additionally, institutional conceptual models as presented here can support better understanding of the key institutional decision-making dynamics and their consequences, endogenously, flexibly across different socio-ecological systems. Finally, study limitations, future research and the policy relevance of findings are discussed.

Despite the growing need for depression prevention programming for university students, few programs exist and those that do are too resource-intensive for broad dissemination. Furthermore, limited research has been conducted on mechanisms of change in CBT-based prevention programs and similar research conducted on CBT for depression demonstrates mixed findings. Therefore, there is a need to incorporate a formal model of health-behaviour change in prevention (and intervention) programs to clarify mechanisms of change and improve outcomes, such as the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). This series of studies developed and tested a formal CBT-TPB “hybrid” model to predict intention to change thinking patterns and a brief depression prevention program for university students and to examine the program’s potential to change the hypothesized constructs in the hybrid model. Results indicated support for the hybrid model, in that TPB factors predict intention to change thinking patterns. In addition, across an open and randomized control trial, my “Start Making a Change” intervention promotes change in TPB factors, as well as improvement in relevant CBT and well-being outcomes. The implication of this work is that brief, easy-to-disseminate, programs, based on a formal model of change, can effectively, at least in the short term, target and change important risk factors for depression onset in university students.

Food waste is an arguably increasing problem in society, with consumers being responsible for as much as half of all combined food waste. The problem needs to be tackled from all angles, but there is no all encompassing solution for all situations. One context consumers find themselves in is the kitchen at their place of work, where the shared nature of the refrigerator creates situations and problems not found in the home environment. It is for these shared kitchens that this study is focused on providing a physical solution based on The Behavioural Change Wheel (BCW), book providing methods and tools for designing with the goal of behavioural change. The intention of this study was to develop, test and later evaluate a prototype on its behavioural change capacity and potential, using the tools presented in the BCW. The developed prototype took form as an RFID activated labelling system, providing users with the current date and their name on a label to be adhered on the articles they place in the shared refrigerator. After the testing period, an online questionnaire was sent out and was answered by fourteen out of seventeen participants. The two week testing period and subsequent questionnaire provided no conclusive answers regarding detected behavioural change capacity, but the potential is considered high based on participants qualitative comments and attitudes, and their quantitative usage. No measurements of change in food waste is conducted, but the target behavioural changes would provide a positive development resulting in less food waste in the workplace kitchen, if not only a more orderly refrigerator.
Matavfall är ett påtagligt ökande problem i samhället, där konsumenter ansvarar för så mycket som hälften av allt kombinerat matavfall. Problemet bör hanteras från alla möjliga håll, men det finns ingen allmän lösning för alla situationer. Ett sammanhang som konsumenterna befinner sig i är köket på deras arbetsplats, där kylskåpets gemensamma natur skapar situationer och problem som inte återfinns i hemmiljön. Det är för dessa delade kök som denna studie riktar sig på att tillhandahålla en fysisk lösning baserad på The Behavioural Change Wheel (BCW). Den innehåller metoder och verktyg för att designa med beteendeförändring som mål. Syftet med denna studie var att utveckla, testa och senare utvärdera en prototyp angående dess beteendeförändringsförmåga och potential, med hjälp av de verktyg som presenteras i BCW. Den färdigställda prototypen tog form som ett RFID-aktiverat etikettsystem, som gav användarna det aktuella datumet och deras namn på en etikett som ska sättas på artiklarna som de placerar i det delade kylskåpet. Efter testperioden skickades ett frågeformulär ut och fjorton av sjutton deltagare svarade. En testperiod på två veckor och efterföljande frågeformulär gav inga avgörande svar angående påvisad beteendeförändringsförmåga, men potentialen anses vara hög baserad på deltagarnas kvalitativa kommentarer och attityder, och deras kvantitativa användning. Inga mätningar kring mängd matavfall utfördes, men målbeteendeförändringarna skulle ge en positiv utveckling som resulterar i mindre matavfall i arbetsplatsens kök, om inte bara ett mer ordnat kylskåp.
Smart storage solutions in the fridge of the future to reduce food waste

Syfte: Att kartlägga patientgruppen som förskrevs Fysisk aktivitet på Recept, FaR® och hänvisades till friskvårdslots i Uppsala läns landsting under perioden 090701-091231 samt att undersöka eventuell skillnad i fördelningen av kön beträffande förändringsbenägenhet för fysisk aktivitet vid första kontakt med friskvårdslots. Vidare var syftet att se om de patienter som avslutade kontakten med friskvårdslots visade ökad förändringsbenägenhet för fysisk aktivitet. Metod: Patientdata tillhörande patientgruppen (n = 193) sammanställdes och kartlades efter insamling av friskvårdslotsar i Uppsala läns landsting. Patienternas förändringsbenägenhet för fysisk aktivitet bedömdes av friskvårdslotsen, enligt Stages of change-modellen, i samband med telefonkontakt. Förändringsbenägenheten för fysisk aktivitet vid första och avslutande telefonkontakt undersöktes hos de patienter (n = 39) som inom tidsramen för detta uppsatsarbete hann avsluta sin kontakt med friskvårdslotsen. Resultat: Majoriteten av patienterna i gruppen (n = 193) var kvinnor (75,6 %). De flesta var hemmahörande i Uppsala kommun (75,6 %) och primärvården var den enhet som i störst utsträckning hänvisade patienter (63,7 %) till friskvårdslots via FaR®. Träning på gym var den träningsform som flest patienter (30,6 %) föredrog. Av patienterna vars förändringsbenägenhet för fysisk aktivitet bedömdes (n = 167) befann sig störst andel i förberedelsestadiet (46,7 %) följt av begrundandestadiet (39,5 %) vid första kontakt med friskvårdslots. Det förelåg ingen statistiskt signifikant skillnad beträffande könsfördelningen i de olika stadierna vid första kontakten. De patienter (n = 39) som avslutades av friskvårdslotsen visade ökad förändringsbenägenhet för fysisk aktivitet (P = 0,004). Konklusion: Patienter som hänvisades till friskvårdslots via FaR® var till största delen kvinnor och flest patienter förskrevs från primärvården. Förskrivning av FaR® med hänvisning till friskvårdlots ökade förändringsbenägenheten för fysisk aktivitet.

As organisations operate in a globalised, competitive and ever-changing environment, the process of making strategic decisions, the introduction and implementation of organisational changes, and employees’ responses towards these changes are typical challenges in organisational life. In this content, the recent financial crisis of 2007-2008 had a profound impact on the Greek economy, as the Greek banking sector had undergone a series of profound organisational changes that were met with a mixed response from employees. The aim of this study is to investigate and propose an integrated theoretical model on the relationship among strategic decision-making process (SDMP), organisational change and employees’ responses to change in Greek banks. To achieve this aim, the SDMP by which organisational changes were introduced in Greek banks, and employees’ EVLN behavioural responses towards these changes are examined. Two questionnaire surveys were conducted and data were collected from 11 CEOs and 78 members of top management teams, and 1,259 Greek bank employees. The study adopted the positivistic approach and data were quantitatively analysed by using the statistical software of SPSS version 2.1 and AMOS version 22.0. The findings suggest that top management teams used their Rationality, Intuition and Political behaviour during SDMP, and different contextual factors had a different impact on this process. Moreover, employees’ EVLN behavioural responses varied depending on the type of organisational change and the level of impact of organisational commitment, job satisfaction and psychological contract breach on their responses. Also, significant differences were found on employees’ responses in terms of their age, gender, educational level, length of service at the bank, position at the bank, and the bank they worked for before the changes. The key contribution to knowledge is that this is the first study that develops an integrated theoretical model that examines the relationship among SDMP, organisational change and employees’ EVLN behavioural responses. It also enhances our knowledge and extends the literature on a number of relationships such as the impact of the antecedents of SDMP on SDMP dimensions, the effect of SDMP dimensions on organisational change, and the impact of different types of organisational change on employees’ EVLN responses. Such contribution has significant implications on making strategic decisions and managing change in times of crises.

This study investigates how students choose their walking routes to a university. Their observed walking routes were compared against the shortest path routes and against the least directional change routes. The urban design features (e.g. streets, benches, fountains, buildings) of these routes were also examined through physical and virtual (e.g. Google Earth image) surveys. The study reveals that students' route choice decision is highly influenced by street configuration – less directional changes are preferred over the shortest path distance – highlighting the need to design urban streets straighter to promote walking.

This aim of this thesis is to contribute to the debate about the best approach to engage citizens with sustainable behaviour. It is generally agreed that „bottom-up‟ approaches, where individuals are actively involved, are more effective than „top-down‟ authority-led projects where they have a more passive role. There is, however, a dearth of evidence from comparative evaluations. This thesis examines six distinct communication activities aimed at encouraging individuals to adopt more sustainable behaviours. Each used a different approach, some participative and others more top-down informational. Two questionnaires were used to gather data. The first was conducted at the time of the activity; the second between four and five weeks later and included questions about behaviour change. Variables from Petty and Cacioppo‟s Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), such as perceptions about a message and its source, and variables which Ajzen‟s Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) proposes as being key to behaviour change, such as subjective norms and attitudes, were used to see if these identified any difference in outcome. Findings indicate support for the added value of a bottom-up approach compared to other mechanisms and identify that this may be partly explained by the extent to which such activities offer a more supportive environment for behaviour change to take place. The measures used in this study may be useful to others seeking to evaluate behaviour change communication campaigns or those comparing different communicative approaches.

This research explored help-seeking behaviours associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) among women in Bhutan. Results showed that increased awareness and positive supportive responses facilitated changes in women's cognitive and behavioural response to IPV. This study led to development of a public health intervention addressing the important role of knowledge and support sources in promoting women's help-seeking behaviours.

Adventure sport participation numbers have significantly increased over the period of the past ten years; it has been suggested that the emergence of an experience economy, where experiences have more value than possessions, could be a key factor for this increase. Motivations for taking part in an adventure sport activity varies between participants, and perhaps even more so than those motivations that were expressed by participants’ pre-experience economy. There are a number of theories about increased participant numbers; for example, the type of demographic, how they approach participation, and approximate suggestions of how the trend for experiences rather than possessions will evolve in the future. However, there is little that explores the experiences of these newer participants, how they behave, and how they are being received by the adventure sport industry. Additionally, there is no evidence to suggest a definite understanding of the needs and requirements of these participants, nor has an investigation been conducted to measure how well the industry is meeting these. Likewise, the potential to adapt existing provision, to expose untapped opportunities, appears unconsidered, and therefore may have benefit for both providers and participants. This study took its lead from using a process of problematization, whereby the problem is explored, identified and defined by the designer(s), rather than presented to them to solve. Using this approach, a hybrid methodologies model was designed and tested to explore the perceptions and experiences of adventure sport participants, to identify any changes that may be occurring as a result of the experience economy and increased numbers of participants taking up an adventure sport activity. Immersive ethnographic and qualitative methods were implemented to better understand identified changes and issues, and quantitative methods were used to elaborate on, confirm and validate the findings. By doing this it was also possible to establish the efficacy of taking a lived experience approach to identifying and exploring emergent and currently unaddressed issues. The study identified three key themes of interest to adventure sport participants: provision of information, ability to accurately assess skill level and participate safely, and being a part of the adventure sport community. These emerging themes were problematizated, validated, and a process of co-design and ideation was used to establish and suggest a solution that could be implemented by the industry to solve the identified issues. This study highlights the potential of using lived experiences to identify a problem, and employs new mixed methodologies to develop a better understanding of critical factors occurring within a specific industry and its associated communities. The study uses this knowledge to generate a designed solution. The theories and methods discussed by the study have transferable values, and could be used within a wide range of other subject areas, being especially useful when a hypothesis proves difficult to identify and define at the outset of a study.

This programme of research was concerned with an examination of the exercise behaviour change of a sample of Malay students living in five different cities in Northern England (Bradford, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sheffield). The research methods used were a cross-sectional study (Study 1), an in-depth interview (Study 2) and a longitudinal study, divided into two parts - quantitative (Study 3A) and qualitative (Study 3B). These three studies were conducted in order to answer four main Research Questions: I. To what extent is Prochaska and DiClemente's (1983)Transtheoretical Model usefuli n examiningt he exerciseb ehaviouro f the students? A cross-sectional study (Study 1) was employed to answer the first research question. The respondents (N = 123) were drawn from two annual meetings of the Malaysian Students Societies at Leeds Metropolitan University and Leeds University. The results showed that there was a relationship between the stages of change and the processes of change, self-efficacy and decisional balance. On the basis of the findings of this initial study (Study 1), two new contributions to the field of exercise behaviour were made: a culture-specific exercise intervention programme was devised, and evidence was provided that the Transtheoretical Model is a wholly suitable vehicle for explaining the exercise behaviour of the students. 2. What factors influenced the exercise behaviour of the students? To answer the second research question, Study 2 (an in-depth interview) was employed, using 20 of the students from Study 1. Study 2 identified the factors that inhibit and those that enhance exercise participation. The nine inhibiting factors were: time constraints, attitude-related factors, lack of guidance, lack of exercise partner, lack of interest, poor weather, lack of child-care facilities, unhealthy physical condition and lack of experience. The five enhancing factors were: health and fitness, sociological factors, psychological benefits, good facilities and a history of exercise. The study also enabled the researcher to make three more contributions in the area of exercise behaviour. These were: the discovery of the "Proselytizing" stage, the fact that the Processes of Change Instrument fails to take into account "involuntary" factors and a proposal for revising the Stages of Change Instrument. 3. Is there any identifiable pattern of change in their exercise behaviour, over a period of time? Study 3A, which employeda longitudinals tudy,o ver an eight-monthp eriodw as able to provide an answer to the third research question. The respondents (N=110), Malay students newly-arrived in England, were contacted through the Malaysian Students' Societies in five different cities in Northern England (Bradford. Leeds. Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sheffield). There were three data collection during the eight-month period of investigation (baseline, follow-up and third data collections). The results revealed that the processes of change scores increased in the Adopters groups, decreased in the Relapsers group, and remained substantially the same in the Stable Inactive and Stable Active groups. Study 3A highlighted the limitations of the Processes of Change Instruments used in earlier studies and revealed that the Marcus et al., (1996c) method of identifying Adopters and Relapsers was inadequate. It also suggested that "Stable Preparers" group should be identified as an additional group, apart from Stable Active and Stable Inactives groups. 4. What are the factors that caused the newly-arrived Malay students to relapse from exercise the over four-month period? Thirty students who were found to have relapsed, in the follow-up data collection (Study 3A) were invited to participate in this study. Of the thirty students, nineteen agreed to participate in the qualitative, longitudinal study. Study 3B revealed that weather conditions, lack of time and lack of exercise partner were among the most prominent reasons why recently-arrived students relapsed from exercising. Furthermore, the study also demonstrated that cultural and religious differences contributed to their relapse from exercise. Recommendations for future research, in this area also, are advanced.

Climate change is an enormous challenge which, if not addressed will have detrimental impacts across the globe. This problem is largely produced by human behaviour. Therefore, strategies aimed at influencing behaviour are necessary in addressing this issue. Governments are currently utilising informational campaigns, rewards, penalties, nudging and structural changes to influence pro-environmental behaviour. Although these methods are creating change, it is far from sufficient to address the massive and urgent issue of climate change. Therefore, alternative strategies should be considered. As such, this thesis aims to explore the effectiveness and the extent to which the Social Credit System, as it is being developed in China, can be considered an alternative strategy for producing pro-environmental behaviour. A framework to analyse and describe the SCS was developed by executing a literature review of key environmental behaviour models and intervention strategies aimed at producing pro-environmental behaviour. It concludes that the Social Credit System utilises a variety of methods similar to the behaviour models and interventions reviewed in this thesis, especially as far as rewards and punishments are concerned. However, surveillance stands out as a distinct means of intervention that is not utilised outside China to produce pro-environmental behaviour. The discussion suggests that this aspect of the system might be effective in contributing to address the challenge of climate change due to its coercive nature.

Landmark diabetes prevention trials have shown that lifestyle modification is effective in preventing type 2 diabetes (T2D). In general, information technology with short message service (SMS) and interventions based on behavioral theories of individualized motivation are more effective than non-tailored intervention. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) is a combination of behavioral theory and stage-based theory. We used TTM-tailored healthy lifestyle and motivating SMS messages as an intervention strategy in a 2-year prospective randomized controlled diabetes prevention trial with two groups (control n=266: intervention n=271) of men with impaired glucose tolerance. The main objectives were: 1. To study the utility and acceptability of TTM-based SMS in reducing the incidence of T2D. 2. To analyse the change in TTM stages in the study groups in lifestyle factors (diet and physical activity practices) with respect to incidence of diabetes at the end of the study. 3. To analyse the effects of TTM tailored SMS intervention on quality of life and general health and diabetes awareness. Evaluation tools included: 1.TTM stages of change inventory for diet and physical activity practices. 2. SMS acceptability questionnaire. 3. WHOQOL-BREF (quality of life) questionnaire. 4. General health and diabetes awareness questionnaire. Questionnaires 1 and 2 were study-specific and developed by the candidate whereas 3 and 4 were standardized. Dietary and physical activity questionnaires had been used in previous diabetes prevention studies in India. The TTM-based SMS intervention reduced the incidence of T2D (50 [18%] intervention group; 73 [27%], control group (absolute risk reduction 9%)). Significant differences in TTM stage were observed in the intervention group (p<0.05) at six and twenty-four months for dietary practices. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in physical activity practices only at six months. SMS helped improve quality of life. Significant improvement (p<0.001) was observed in general health awareness and diabetes awareness in the intervention group at the end of the study. The TTM-based SMS intervention was associated with reduced incidence of T2D. The intervention helped improve dietary habits. It also helped improve QOL and general health and diabetes awareness level.

Government, non-profit and commercial sectors all engage in social advertising, while an increasing cross-pollination of their marketing styles has resulted in a reliance on heuristics over informational claims to encourage behaviour change. Consumer scepticism and cynicism are also rising, but their impact on social advertising effectiveness is unknown. This experimental study found the Australian Government was a less credible social advertiser than commercial and non-profit organisations, while informational claims improved social advertising outcomes for all sectors. Consumer scepticism and consumer cynicism both moderated this relationship, reducing the effectiveness of perceived source credibility and informational claims on social advertising.

While maternal obesity, excess pregnancy weight gain and lifestyle behaviours are associated with future overweight for both mothers and babies, there is limited research on how best to intervene. An evidence base that identifies behavioural influences is crucial to the development of effective interventions. This thesis aims to gain an understanding of maternal behavioural outcomes of healthy eating, physical activity and gestational weight gain (GWG), the psychosocial influences on these and to examine differences according to pre-pregnancy weight status. The New Beginnings Healthy Mothers and Babies Study was a prospective observational study using the PRECEDE-PROCEED model of health promotion planning as a framework. A consecutive sample of 715 women was recruited. Height and weight were measured and women completed questionnaires at approximately 16 and 36 weeks gestation. This thesis presents three chapters of original research across four study domains. While healthy eating was widely regarded as important during pregnancy and had become more so, there was more variability in attitudes towards physical activity. Ninety-two percent of participants achieved the maximum knowledge score relating to the influence of nutrition on pregnancy. However, 8% and 36% respectively knew how many serves of fruit and vegetables should be consumed daily. Six percent of participants met the recommendations for fruit consumption, 4% achieved the recommended vegetable intake and 44% achieved sufficient physical activity. There were few differences between healthy and overweight women for measures of physical activity and healthy eating. Many predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors with a positive influence on health behaviours were lower in women commencing pregnancy overweight and those factors with a negative influence on health behaviours were higher when compared to healthy weight women. Some of these antecedents to health behaviours that were different according to prepregnancy weight status were associated with diet quality and physical activity. While self efficacy was consistently associated with diet quality and physical activity for both weight groups, other associations between specific predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors differed with behaviour and weight status group. These results highlight the complexity of supporting behaviour change in a one-size-fits-all approach. Sixty-four percent of participants gained weight outside of recommendations. Compared to healthy weight women, those women who were already overweight at the beginning of pregnancy were more likely to gain too much weight (30% vs 56%, p<0.001). Only 35% of participants reported their correct recommended weight gain. Excess GWG was associated with few predisposing factors, however, these were not consistent between prepregnancy weight status groups. Less than 50% of women reported sometimes/usually/always receiving advice from health professionals relating to healthy eating, physical activity or GWG. These results indicate that there are opportunities to improve the advice and support provided by health care professionals in the antenatal period. Evidence from this PhD research suggests that there is a need for effective prevention and management of excess weight in pregnancy. Effective management of this problem is likely to require a multidisciplinary approach with multi-level strategies. Importantly, the strategies may need to be tailored according to pre-pregnancy weight status. Collectively, the evidence derived from this thesis suggests that opportunities to support healthy lifestyles and prevent future overweight are being missed during pregnancy.

This thesis examines the factors that underpin the delivery of medicinal cannabis by Australian health professionals. While this pursuit is not particularly novel, this thesis utilises behavioural theory to present a fresh perspective of these factors. In doing so, this thesis recognises behaviour to be the beginning of the question, not the answer. Ultimately, it is only with a thorough understanding of human behaviour that one can ever hope to change human behaviour. This thesis represents a first step towards developing effective strategies to change the delivery of medicinal cannabis, the likes of which are grounded in evidence.

The study examined the health-related behaviours of Saudi people following a recent cardiac event and identified the factors that influence these behaviours using McLeroy et al.'s (1988) Ecological Model of Health Behaviours as a guiding framework. The study was one of the first in Saudi Arabia to examine the health-related behaviours of Saudi people following a recent cardiac event. The study findings emphasise the importance of a program that integrates secondary prevention practices, educational approaches and targeted supportive services in cardiac care in Saudi Arabia.

This project was a step forward in developing the scientific basis for a method to investigate mode choice/change in natural disasters using the 2011 Brisbane floods as a case study. Statistical models were developed on characteristics affecting traveller’s behavioural changes in times of natural disasters. Understating travellers' modal change is key when identifying methods to efficiently and effectively manage transport networks in times of disaster, specially during a flood event. The proposed framework adopted within this research represents a significant innovation and contribution to knowledge to subject of transport mode choice during disasters and lay ground work for future policy focused studies.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar barreiras, motivações e estratégias que apresentam potencial para promover a mobilidade sustentável de alunos de graduação, pós-graduação, servidores técnico- administrativos e servidores docentes no campus da Universidade de São Paulo em São Carlos. O método utilizado para atingir o objetivo foi dividido em três etapas: i. desenvolvimento de ferramenta para coleta de dados; ii. análise dos dados por meio do modelo transteórico de mudança comportamental; iii. análise de estratégias visando a mobilidade sustentável. O questionário on-line desenvolvido e aplicado para o estudo forneceu uma taxa de resposta robusta e bem distribuída dos principais usuários do campus (25,5% da população do campus total). Percentagens consideráveis de usuários em todos os grupos investigados manifestaram a intenção de mudar para outro modo de transporte. Entre aqueles que mudariam para modos de transporte sustentáveis, 27,1% mudariam para o modo a pé, enquanto que 46,2% mudariam para o modo bicicleta. No entanto, 13,6% dos entrevistados declararam que mudariam para o automóvel, o que representa uma demanda adicional de cerca de 300 lugares de estacionamento no campus. Em relação às barreiras para a adoção de modos de transporte sustentáveis, a posse de um veículo motorizado foi o principal obstáculo identificado (independentemente do modo a ser adotado como uma alternativa). Duas alternativas foram classificadas como as melhores estratégias para promoção da mobilidade sustentável no contexto estudado: a construção de ciclovias que ligam o campus com a rede viária urbana e estacionamento para bicicletas dentro do campus. Uma avaliação adicional da primeira alternativa demonstrou significativo potencial para servir a usuários de vários modos de transporte, com grande impacto positivo sobre o modo a pé. Outra estratégia também testada foi a abertura de novos pontos de acesso para pedestres no campus. Estimou-se que sua implantação resultaria em uma redução de 20% nas distâncias de viagem a pé dos alunos.
The objective of this study was to investigate barriers, motivators and strategies with potential to promote sustainable mobility for graduate and undergraduate students, staff and faculty at the campus of the University of São Paulo at São Carlos. The method used to reach the objective had three steps: i. development of a data collection tool; ii. analysis of the data with the transtheoretical model of behavior change; iii. analysis of strategies aiming at sustainable mobility. The online questionnaire developed and applied for the study provided a robust and well-distributed response rate of the main users (25.5% of the total campus population). Considerable percentages of users in all groups investigated have declared that would eventually change to another travel mode. Among those who would change to sustainable modes, 27.1% would change to the walking mode, whereas 46.2% would change to the cycling mode. However, 13.6% of the respondents declared they would change to the automobile, what represents an additional demand of approximately 300 parking spaces in the campus. Regarding the barriers to the adoption of sustainable modes, owning a motorized vehicle was identified as the main obstacle (regardless of the mode to be adopted as an alternative). Two alternatives have been rated as the best strategies for promoting sustainable mobility in the studied context: the construction of cycling paths connecting the campus with the urban street network and parking facilities for bicycles within the campus. An additional evaluation of the first alternative has shown a significant potential to serve users of several transport modes, with a large positive impact on pedestrians. Another strategy also tested was the opening of new access points to pedestrians in the campus. This strategy could reduce the total walking distance travelled by the students in 20%.

Life Cycle Assessment method need factors, called, Characterization Factors (CF), to transform consumptions and emissions into environmental impacts. LANCA model is recommended by European Commission to calculate CFs for the environmental impact category "Land Use" of 5 soil quality indicators: erosion potential, filtration reduction potential, physical-chemical filtration reduction potential, groundwater regeneration reduction potential and biotic production reduction potential. Default CFs, according to the model, are provided on national base and land use type. LANCA model permits the CFs calculation also by site-specific parameters. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate which of three grouping methods (national base, FAO GEZ (Global Ecological Zones) classification, clay percentage) gives more significant CFs groups. This means maximising difference among groups and minimizing difference within a group. To do this, 48 sampling sites were randomly selected so that the sites belonged to two countries, Spain and France, and fall in 3 FAO GEZ (subtropical dry forest, temperate mountain system, temperate oceanic forest). Then, CFs were calculated, ANOVA analysis was carried out and the variance within each group and between the different groups, for various grouping methods (country, FAO GEZ and clay percentage), was studied. From the study it emerged that the FAO GEZ grouping is the one that gives more significant groups for four out of five soil quality indicators. Concluding, although nationality is the LANCA default method to define generic CFs for “Land Use”, this thesis results show that FAO GEZ could offer a more suitable classification method. The larger significance of the FAO GEZ grouping is probably due to the fact that it already classifies climate, vegetation and it also linked with soil characteristics while nationality can bring together zones very different in term of climate, vegetation and soil.

This social marketing thesis examined the help-seeking behaviour of young Australian men aged 18-25 years old towards overcoming problematic online gaming. The thesis utilised a three-part mixed methodology that builds upon the Model of Goal-directed Behaviour to develop a revised conceptual model that was tested through a web-based survey. Critical Incident Technique and in-depth interviews were also used to explore the key triggers of problem recognition and the competing coping behaviours of help-seeking, providing fresh insights into help-seeking and social marketing.

The purposes of this study were to examine how the use of Hellison's personal and social responsibility model (RM) within a physical education (PE) programme changed children's attitudes and behaviour, within PE and outside their PE classes. Also to determine to what extent the children were able to explain and give examples of (a) any changes that took place and (b) the concepts relating to RM. A fifteen week PE programme based on Hellison's personal and social responsibility model (RM) was carried out with a Year 3 class in a private city school. Four children from this class took part in five individual interviews. These were carried out before, during and after the programme. The results showed that the children were able to identify and describe a number of changes, in both their own and their classes attitudes/behaviour during the PE programme. They were able to describe and give examples of a number of changes that had occurred in their attitudes and behaviour outside PE. The interview data also indicated a strong link between each child's self-efficacy level and their ability to understand and act upon the virtues/skills that relate to personal and social responsibility. The children's responses during the interviews showed that they had enjoyed that PE programme and they understood the principles of RM.

In both developed and emerging-economies, major cities continue to experience increasing traffic congestion. To address this issue, complex Traffic Management Systems (TMS) are employed in recent years to help manage traffic. These systems fuse traffic-surveillance-related information from a variety of sensors deployed across traffic networks. A TMS requires real-time information to make effective control decisions and to deliver trustworthy information to users, such as travel time, congestion level, etc. There are three fundamental inputs required by TMS, namely, traffic volume, vehicular speed, and traffic density. Using conventional traffic loop detectors one can directly measure flow and velocity. However, traffic density is more difficult to measure. The situation becomes more difficult for multi-lane motorways due to drivers lane-change behaviour. This research investigates statistical modelling and analysis of traffic flow. It contributes to the literature of transportation and traffic management and research in several aspects. First, it takes into account lane-changes in traffic modelling through incorporating a Markov chain model to describe the drivers lane-change behaviour. Secondly, the lane change probabilities between two adjacent lanes are not assumed to be fixed but rather they depend on the current traffic condition. A discrete choice model is used to capture drivers lane choice behaviour. The drivers choice probabilities are modelled by several traffic-condition related attributes such as vehicle time headway, traffic density and speed. This results in a highly nonlinear state equation for traffic density. To address the issue of high nonlinearity of the state space model, the EKF and UKF is used to estimate the traffic density recursively. In addition, a new transformation approach has been proposed to transform the observation equation from a nonlinear form to a linear one so that the potential approximation in the EKF & UKF can be avoided. Numerical studies have been conducted to investigate the performance of the developed method. The proposed method outperformed the existing methods for traffic density estimation in simulation studies. Furthermore, it is shown that the computational cost for updating the estimate of traffic densities for a multi-lane motorway is kept at a minimum so that online applications are feasible in practice. Consequently the traffic densities can be monitored and the relevant information can be fed into the traffic management system of interest.

Physical activity is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Levels of physical activity decrease across the lifespan, and findings suggest only between 13-32% of University students are physically active at the recommended level. Research has found that ca. 50% of motivated individuals fail to enact on their intentions to be physically active. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) was described, limitations and additions identified and its use outlined in three areas of investigation predicting physical activity: motivation, volition and intervention. Method: Student Activity and Lifestyle Study at Aberdeen (SALSA), a web-based survey, invited all students at the University of Aberdeen to respond to three questionnaires across the 2005/06 and 2006/07 academic years. SALSA received responses from 1418 and 1273 participants at the start of each academic year, respectively. Social cognitions (e.g. intention, perceived control), self-reported physical activity levels and attendance to the University’s sport facilities were measured. A double-blind randomised controlled trial investigated the efficacy two planning interventions, delivered via the internet, aiming to increase PA. Results and Summary: Findings suggest that students who are motivated benefit from making plans when, where and how to take part in physical activity, and plan how to cope with potential barriers and obstacles. Participants who are more certain of their intentions, aware of effort, the standards required and monitor themselves are more likely to be physically active, even though they are equally motivated and perceive themselves to be in control. Participant who were active in the past were more likely to attend the University’s sport facilities. However, the planning interventions did not increase students’ activity levels or attendance to the University’s sport facilities. Adherence to intervention protocol was low (between 58.8% to 76.7%) and participants dropping out of SALSA were large across both academic years.

Peak electricity demand requires substantial investment to update transmission, distribution and generation infrastructure. A successful community peak demand reduction project was examined to identify residential consumer motivational and contextual factors involved in their decision to adopt/not adopt interventions. Energy professionals actively worked to achieve community 'peer' membership and by becoming a trusted information source, facilitated voluntary home energy assessment requests from over 80% of the residential community. By combining and tailoring interventions to the specific needs and motivations of individual householders and the community, interventions promoting energy conservation and efficiency can be effective in achieving sustained reduction in peak demand.

Background: Cigarette smoking is a leading preventable factor associated with complications in pregnancy including preterm birth and low birthweight. Past interventions have raised cessation rates by approximately 6% overall (Lumley et al. 2009). Methods: A three-part literature review, two qualitative studies with a total of 36 participants, and the development of an intervention to promote smoking cessation during pregnancy were completed. Central to the design of the research was the creation of the theoretical basis which was developed in line with recommendations from the MRC Framework for Complex Interventions (Craig et al. 2008, Campbell et al. 2000). For part one of the literature review, 24 qualitative and 44 quantitative studies were re-analysed to complete a mixed-methods secondary analysis of the active ingredients in interventions to promote smoking cessation during pregnancy. Part two consisted of an exploration of psychological models and constructs which are likely to predict or influence smoking behaviour during pregnancy. The final part was a discussion regarding the modes of delivery by which an intervention could feasibly be delivered. Qualitative interviews were carried out with participants from stakeholder groups to fill in gaps in literature and determine the acceptability and feasibility of the proposed intervention. The intervention was created using the theoretical basis developed from the findings. Further qualitative interviews, a focus group, and heuristic evaluation were used to determine the acceptability and usability of the intervention for the target group of pregnant smokers. Results and Conclusions: Findings from this work are potentially relevant for a wide range of behaviours and behavioural interventions. An intervention which has a strong grounding in theory and evidence, and is acceptable and feasible for the target group and in clinical practice was developed using evidence gathered in this thesis.

Many functions that at one time could only be performed by humans can nowadays be carried out by machines. Automation impacts many areas of life including work, home, communication and mobility. In the driving context, in-vehicle automation is considered to provide solutions for environmental, economic, safety and societal challenges. However, automation changes the driving task and the human-machine interaction. Thus, the expected benefit of in-vehicle automation can be undermined by changes in drivers’ behaviour, i.e. behavioural adaptation. This PhD project focuses on motivational as well as higher cognitive processes underlying behavioural adaptation when interacting with in-vehicle automation. Motivational processes include the development of trust and acceptance, whereas higher cognitive processes comprise the learning process as well as the development of mental models and Situation Awareness (SA). As an example for in-vehicle automation, the advanced driver assistance system Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) was investigated. ACC automates speed and distance control by maintaining a constant set cruising speed and automatically adjusting vehicle’s velocity in order to provide a specified distance to the preceding vehicle. However, due to sensor limitations, not every situation can be handled by the system and therefore driver intervention is required. Trust, acceptance and an appropriate mental model of the system functionality are considered key variables for adequate use and appropriate SA. To systematically investigate changes in motivational and higher cognitive processes, a driving simulator as well as an on-road study were carried out. Both of the studies were conducted using a repeated-measures design, taking into account the process character, i.e. changes over time. The main focus was on the development of trust, acceptance and the mental model of novice users when interacting with ACC. By now, only few studies have attempted to assess changes in higher level cognitive processes, due to methodological difficulties posed by the dynamic task of driving. Therefore, this PhD project aimed at the elaboration and validation of innovative methods for assessing higher cognitive processes, with an emphasis on SA and mental models. In addition, a new approach for analyzing big and heterogeneous data in social science was developed, based on the use of relational databases. The driving simulator study investigated the effect of divergent initial mental models of ACC (i.e., varying according to correctness) on trust, acceptance and mental model evolvement. A longitudinal study design was applied, using a two-way (3×3) repeated measures mixed design with a matched sample of 51 subjects. Three experimental groups received (1) a correct ACC description, (2) an incomplete and idealised account omitting potential problems, and (3) an incorrect description including non-occurring problems. All subjects drove a 56-km track of highway with an identical ACC system, three times, and within a period of 6 weeks. Results showed that after using the system, participants’ mental model of ACC converged towards the profile of the correct group. Non-experienced problems tended to disappear from the mental model network when they were not activated by experience. Trust and acceptance grew steadily for the correct condition. The same trend was observed for the group with non-occurring problems, starting from a lower initial level. Omitted problems in the incomplete group led to a constant decrease in trust and acceptance without recovery. This indicates that automation failures do not negatively affect trust and acceptance if they are known beforehand. During each drive, participants continuously completed a visual secondary task, the Surrogate Reference Task (SURT). The frequency of task completion was used as objective online-measure for SA, based on the principle that situationally aware driver would reduce the engagement in the secondary task if they expect potentially critical situations. Results showed that correctly informed drivers were aware of potential system limitations and reduced their engagement in the secondary task when such situations arose. Participants with no information about limitations became only aware after first encounter and reduced secondary task engagement in corresponding situations during subsequent trials. However, trust and acceptance in the system declined over time due to the unexpected failures. Non occurring limitations tended to drop from the mental model and resulted in reduced SA already in the second trial. The on-road study investigated the learning process, as well as the development of trust, acceptance and the mental model for interacting with ACC in real conditions. Research questions aimed to model the learning process in mathematical/statistical terms, examine moments and conditions when these processes stabilize, and assess how experience changes the mental model of the system. A sample of fifteen drivers without ACC experience drove a test vehicle with ACC ten consecutive times on the same route within a 2-month period. In contrast to the driving simulator study, all participants were fully trained in ACC functionality by reading the owner’s manual in the beginning. Results showed that learning, as well as the development of acceptance and trust in ACC follows the power law of learning, in case of comprehensive prior information on system limitations. Thus, the major part of the learning process occurred during the first interaction with the system and support in explaining the systems abilities (e.g. by tutoring systems) should therefore primarily be given during this first stage. All processes stabilized at a relatively high level after the fifth session, which corresponds to 185 km or 3.5 hours of driving. No decline was observable with ongoing system experience. However, in line with the findings from the simulator study, limitations that are not experienced tended to disappear from the mental model if they were not activated by experience. With regard to the validation of the developed methods for assessing mental models and SA, results are encouraging. The studies show that the mental model questionnaire is able to provide insights into the construction of mental models and the development over time. Likewise, the implicit measurement approach to assess SA online in the driving simulator is sensitive to user’s awareness of potentially critical situations. In terms of content, the results of the studies prove the enduring relevance of the initial mental model for the learning process, SA, as well as the development of trust, acceptance and a realistic mental model about automation capabilities and limitations. Given the importance of the initial mental model it is recommended that studies on system trust and acceptance should include, and attempt to control, users’ initial mental model of system functionality. Although the results showed that also incorrect and incomplete initial mental models converged by experience towards a realistic appreciation of system functionality, the more cognitive effort needed to update the mental model, the lower trust and acceptance. Providing an idealised description, which omits potential problems, only leads to temporarily higher trust and acceptance in the beginning. The experience of unexpected limitations results in a steady decrease in trust and acceptance over time. A trial-and-error strategy for in-vehicle automation use, without accompanying information, is therefore considered insufficient for developing stable trust and acceptance. If the mental model matches experience, trust and acceptance grow steadily following the power law of learning – regardless of the experience of system limitations. Provided that such events are known in advance, they will not cause a decrease in trust and acceptance over time. Even over-information about potential problems lowers trust and acceptance only in the beginning, and not in the long run. Potential problems should therefore not be concealed in over-idealised system descriptions; the more information given, the better, in the long run. However, limitations that are not experienced tend to disappear from the mental model. Therefore, it is recommended that users be periodically reminded of system limitations to make sure that corresponding knowledge becomes re-activated. Intelligent tutoring systems incorporated in automated systems could provide a solution. In the driving context, periodic reminders about system limitations could be shown via the multifunction displays integrated in most modern cars. Tutoring systems could also be used to remind the driver of the presence of specific in-vehicle automation systems and reveal their benefits
Viele Aufgaben, die ehemals von Menschen ausgeführt wurden, werden heute von Maschinen übernommen. Dieser Prozess der Automatisierung betrifft viele Lebensbereiche von Arbeit, Wohnen, Kommunikation bis hin zur Mobilität. Im Bereich des Individualverkehrs wird die Automatisierung von Fahrzeugen als Möglichkeit gesehen, zukünftigen Herausforderungen wirtschaftlicher, gesellschaftlicher und umweltpolitischer Art zu begegnen. Allerdings verändert Automatisierung die Fahraufgabe und die Mensch-Technik Interaktion im Fahrzeug. Daher können beispielsweise erwartete Sicherheitsgewinne automatisch agierender Assistenzsysteme durch Veränderungen im Verhalten des Fahrers geschmälert werden, was als Verhaltensanpassung (behavioural adaptation) bezeichnet wird. Dieses Dissertationsprojekt untersucht motivationale und höhere kognitive Prozesse, die Verhaltensanpassungen im Umgang mit automatisierten Fahrerassistenzsystemen zugrunde liegen. Motivationale Prozesse beinhalten die Entwicklung von Akzeptanz und Vertrauen in das System, unter höheren kognitiven Prozessen werden Lernprozesse sowie die Entwicklung von mentalen Modellen des Systems und Situationsbewusstsein (Situation Awareness) verstanden. Im Fokus der Untersuchungen steht das Fahrerassistenzsystem Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) als ein Beispiel für Automatisierung im Fahrzeug. ACC regelt automatisch die Geschwindigkeit des Fahrzeugs, indem bei freier Fahrbahn eine eingestellte Wunschgeschwindigkeit und bei einem Vorausfahrer automatisch ein eingestellter Abstand eingehalten wird. Allerdings kann ACC aufgrund von Einschränkungen der Sensorik nicht jede Situation bewältigen, weshalb der Fahrer übernehmen muss. Für diesen Interaktionsprozess spielen Vertrauen, Akzeptanz und das mentale Modell der Systemfunktionalität eine Schlüsselrolle, um einen sicheren Umgang mit dem System und ein adäquates Situationsbewusstsein zu entwickeln. Zur systematischen Erforschung dieser motivationalen und kognitiven Prozesse wurden eine Fahrsimulatorstudie und ein Versuch im Realverkehr durchgeführt. Beide Studien wurden im Messwiederholungsdesign angelegt, um dem Prozesscharakter gerecht werden und Veränderungen über die Zeit erfassen zu können. Die Entwicklung von Vertrauen, Akzeptanz und mentalem Modell in der Interaktion mit ACC war zentraler Forschungsgegenstand beider Studien. Bislang gibt es wenige Studien, die kognitive Prozesse im Kontext der Fahrzeugführung untersucht haben, unter anderem auch wegen methodischer Schwierigkeiten in diesem dynamischen Umfeld. Daher war es ebenfalls Teil dieses Dissertationsprojekts, neue Methoden zur Erfassung höherer kognitiver Prozesse in dieser Domäne zu entwickeln, mit Fokus auf mentalen Modellen und Situationsbewusstsein. Darüber hinaus wurde auch ein neuer Ansatz für die Analyse großer und heterogener Datenmengen im sozialwissenschaftlichen Bereich entwickelt, basierend auf dem Einsatz relationaler Datenbanken. Ziel der der Fahrsimulatorstudie war die systematische Erforschung des Effekts von unterschiedlich korrekten initialen mentalen Modellen von ACC auf die weitere Entwicklung des mentalen Modells, Vertrauen und Akzeptanz des Systems. Eine Stichprobe von insgesamt 51 Probanden nahm an der Studie teil; der Versuch wurde als zweifaktorielles (3x3) gemischtes Messwiederholungsdesign konzipiert. Die 3 parallelisierten Versuchsgruppen zu je 17 Personen erhielten (1) eine korrekte Beschreibung des ACC, (2) eine idealisierte Beschreibung unter Auslassung auftretender Systemprobleme und (3) eine überkritische Beschreibung mit zusätzlichen Hinweisen auf Systemprobleme, die nie auftraten. Alle Teilnehmer befuhren insgesamt dreimal im Zeitraum von sechs Wochen dieselbe 56 km lange Autobahnstrecke im Fahrsimulator mit identischem ACC-System. Mit zunehmendem Einsatz des ACC zeigte sich im anfänglich divergierenden mentalen Modell zwischen den Gruppen eine Entwicklung hin zum mentalen Modell der korrekt informierten Gruppe. Nicht erfahrene Systemprobleme tendierten dazu, im mentalen Modell zu verblassen, wenn sie nicht durch Erfahrung reaktiviert wurden. Vertrauen und Akzeptanz stiegen stetig in der korrekt informierten Gruppe. Dieselbe Entwicklung zeigte sich auch in der überkritisch informierten Gruppe, wobei Vertrauen und Akzeptanz anfänglich niedriger waren als in der Bedingung mit korrekter Information. Verschwiegene Systemprobleme führten zu einer konstanten Abnahme von Akzeptanz und Vertrauen ohne Erholung in der Gruppe mit idealisierter Beschreibung. Diese Resultate lassen darauf schließen, dass Probleme automatisierter Systeme sich nicht zwingend negativ auf Vertrauen und Akzeptanz auswirken, sofern sie vorab bekannt sind. Bei jeder Fahrt führten die Versuchsteilnehmer zudem kontinuierlich eine visuell beanspruchende Zweitaufgabe aus, die Surrogate Reference Task (SURT). Die Frequenz der Zweitaufgabenbearbeitung diente als objektives Echtzeitmaß für das Situationsbewusstsein, basierend auf dem Ansatz, dass situationsbewusste Fahrer die Zuwendung zur Zweitaufgabe reduzieren wenn sie potentiell kritische Situationen erwarten. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass die korrekt informierten Fahrer sich potentiell kritischer Situationen mit möglichen Systemproblemen bewusst waren und schon im Vorfeld der Entstehung die Zweitaufgabenbearbeitung reduzierten. Teilnehmer ohne Informationen zu auftretenden Systemproblemen wurden sich solcher Situationen erst nach dem ersten Auftreten bewusst und reduzierten in entsprechenden Szenarien der Folgefahrten die Zweitaufgabenbearbeitung. Allerdings sanken Vertrauen und Akzeptanz des Systems aufgrund der unerwarteten Probleme. Erwartete, aber nicht auftretende Systemprobleme tendierten dazu, im mentalen Modell des Systems zu verblassen und resultierten in vermindertem Situationsbewusstsein bereits in der zweiten Fahrt. Im Versuch unter Realbedingungen wurden der Lernprozesses sowie die Entwicklung des mentalen Modells, Vertrauen und Akzeptanz von ACC im Realverkehr erforscht. Ziele waren die statistisch/mathematische Modellierung des Lernprozesses, die Bestimmung von Zeitpunkten der Stabilisierung dieser Prozesse und wie sich reale Systemerfahrung auf das mentale Modell von ACC auswirkt. 15 Versuchsteilnehmer ohne ACC-Erfahrung fuhren ein Serienfahrzeug mit ACC insgesamt 10-mal auf der gleichen Strecke in einem Zeitraum von 2 Monaten. Im Unterschied zur Fahrsimulatorstudie waren alle Teilnehmer korrekt über die ACC-Funktionen und Funktionsgrenzen informiert durch Lesen der entsprechenden Abschnitte im Fahrzeughandbuch am Beginn der Studie. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass der Lernprozess sowie die Entwicklung von Akzeptanz und Vertrauen einer klassischen Lernkurve folgen – unter der Bedingung umfassender vorheriger Information zu Systemgrenzen. Der größte Lernfortschritt ist am Beginn der Interaktion mit dem System sichtbar und daher sollten Hilfen (z.B. durch intelligente Tutorsysteme) in erster Linie zu diesem Zeitpunkt gegeben werden. Eine Stabilisierung aller Prozesse zeigte sich nach der fünften Fahrt, was einer Fahrstrecke von rund 185 km oder 3,5 Stunden Fahrzeit entspricht. Es zeigten sich keine Einbrüche in Akzeptanz, Vertrauen bzw. dem Lernprozess durch die gemachten Erfahrungen im Straßenverkehr. Allerdings zeigte sich – analog zur Fahrsimulatorstudie – auch in der Realfahrstudie ein Verblassen von nicht erfahrenen Systemgrenzen im mentalen Modell, wenn diese nicht durch Erfahrungen aktiviert wurden. Im Hinblick auf die Validierung der neu entwickelten Methoden zur Erfassung von mentalen Modellen und Situationsbewusstsein sind die Resultate vielversprechend. Die Studien zeigen, dass mit dem entwickelten Fragebogenansatz zur Quantifizierung des mentalen Modells Einblicke in Aufbau und Entwicklung mentaler Modelle gegeben werden können. Der implizite Echtzeit-Messansatz für Situationsbewusstsein im Fahrsimulator zeigt sich ebenfalls sensitiv in der Erfassung des Bewusstseins von Fahrern für potentiell kritische Situationen. Inhaltlich zeigen die Studien die nachhaltige Relevanz des initialen mentalen Modells für den Lernprozess sowie die Entwicklung von Situationsbewusstsein, Akzeptanz, Vertrauen und die weitere Ausformung eines realistischen mentalen Modells der Möglichkeiten und Grenzen automatisierter Systeme. Aufgrund dieser Relevanz wird die Einbindung und Kontrolle des initialen mentalen Modells in Studien zu automatisierten Systemen unbedingt empfohlen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen zwar, dass sich auch unvollständige bzw. falsche mentale Modelle durch Erfahrungslernen hin zu einer realistischen Einschätzung der Systemmöglichkeiten und -grenzen verändern, allerdings um den Preis sinkenden Vertrauens und abnehmender Akzeptanz. Idealisierte Systembeschreibungen ohne Hinweise auf mögliche Systemprobleme bringen nur anfänglich etwas höheres Vertrauen und Akzeptanz. Das Erleben unerwarteter Probleme führt zu einem stetigen Abfall dieser motivationalen Faktoren über die Zeit. Ein alleiniges Versuchs-Irrtums-Lernen für den Umgang mit automatisierter Assistenz im Fahrzeug ohne zusätzliche Information wird daher als nicht ausreichend für die Entwicklung stabilen Vertrauens und stabiler Akzeptanz betrachtet. Wenn das initiale mentale Modell den Erfahrungen entspricht, entwickeln sich Akzeptanz und Vertrauen gemäß einer klassischen Lernkurve – trotz erlebter Systemgrenzen. Sind diese potentiellen Probleme vorher bekannt, führen sie nicht zwingend zu einer Reduktion von Vertrauen und Akzeptanz. Auch zusätzliche überkritische Information vermindert Vertrauen und Akzeptanz nur am Beginn, aber nicht langfristig. Daher sollen potentielle Probleme in automatisierten Systemen nicht in idealisierten Beschreibungen verschwiegen werden – je präzisere Information gegeben wird, desto besser im langfristigen Verlauf. Allerdings tendieren nicht erfahrene Systemgrenzen zum Verblassen im mentalen Modell. Daher wird empfohlen, Nutzer regelmäßig an diese Systemgrenzen zu erinnern um die entsprechenden Facetten des mentalen Modells zu reaktivieren. In automatisierten Systemen integrierte intelligente Tutorsysteme könnten dafür eine Lösung bieten. Im Fahrzeugbereich könnten solche periodischen Erinnerungen an Systemgrenzen in Multifunktionsdisplays angezeigt werden, die mittlerweile in vielen modernen Fahrzeugen integriert sind. Diese Tutorsysteme können darüber hinaus auch auf die Präsenz eingebauter automatisierter Systeme hinweisen und deren Vorteile aufzeigen

Le changement climatique et les invasions biologiques sont parmi les plus grandes menaces de la biodiversité et leurs impacts pourraient augmenter jusqu’à la fin du siècle. Parmi les espèces envahissantes, les fourmis sont un groupe particulièrement néfaste dû à leurs impacts sur les espèces natives, les processus écosystémique, la santé, l’agriculture et l’économie. L’objectif de cette thèse était de prédire les invasions de fourmis – en particulier avec le changement climatique qui pourrait favoriser les invasions en éliminant des barrières thermiques. J’ai utilisé trois approches complémentaires afin d’étudier le potentiel de différentes espèces à envahir : des modèles de distribution, des expériences comportementales et l’analyses d’une base de données de traits écologiques. J’ai modélisé l’aire favorable pour 15 espèces de fourmis parmi les pires, à la fois globalement, par continents, et dans les 34 hotspots de biodiversité. La distribution potentielle de seulement cinq espèce est prédite de diminuer (jusqu’à 35.8%) avec le changement climatique et l’aire potentielle diminue pour la plupart des espèces jusqu’à 63.2%. Les hotspots d’invasions de fourmis se situaient surtout dans des régions tropicales et subtropicales et ils correspondent particulièrement aux hotspots de biodiversité. Contrairement à ce qui est généralement admis, le changement climatique et les invasions biologiques n’agiront pas de manière synergique pour les fourmis. Par contre, les invasions de fourmis resteront probablement un problème global majeur, en particuliers dans les zones où les hotspots de biodiversité et les hotspots d’invasion se superposent. Les modèles de distribution ont identifié de larges zones de recouvrement entre aires favorables de plusieurs espèces de fourmis envahissantes. Dans le futur, ces espèces pourraient arriver simultanément dans les mêmes régions et entrer en compétition. Dans une série d’expériences, j’ai testé les différences comportementales entre 7 espèces de fourmis envahissantes (Anoplolepis gracilipes, Paratrechina longicornis, Myrmica rubra, Linepithema humile, Lasius neglectus, Wasmannia auropunctata et Pheidole megacephala). J’ai découvert deux stratégies comportementales différentes. Les interactions au niveau de la colonie ont suivi des processus démographiques plus complexes. De plus, j’ai mis au point deux expériences pour tester la capacité des fourmis envahissantes à explorer un nouvel espace et à exploiter des ressources. J’ai trouvé des différences significatives entre espèces et leur capacité à dominer par interférence comportementale était négativement corrélée à leurs capacités à découvrir et exploiter des ressources. Cette série d’expériences suggère que les ‘mécanismes’ d’invasion sont plus complexes que ce qui est généralement suggéré et que différentes espèces pourraient utiliser des stratégies comportementales différentes. Étant donné qu’il existe plus de 250 espèces de fourmis exotiques, il serait intéressant de pouvoir identifier à l’avance des futurs envahisseurs potentiels. Afin d’identifier des traits associés au caractère envahissant des fourmis, j’ai mis en place une base de données qui contient 2193 espèces de fourmis et 24 traits écologiques. J’ai effectué une analyse préliminaire de différences de traits entre fourmis natives et envahissantes qui a montré qu’il existe clairement des groupement distincts de natives et envahissantes, avec les espèces exotiques au milieu. Ces résultats pourraient servir de base pour construire un modèle prédictif des invasions de fourmis. Ces différentes approches (modèles, expériences, base de données) sont complémentaires car elles s’intéressent à des aspects différents du futur des invasions de fourmis qui sera vraisemblablement fortement influencé par le changement climatique. Le pires envahisseurs de demain ne seront probablement pas les même qu’aujourd’hui et les zones les plus à risque pourraient changer également
Climate change and biological invasions are both among the greatest threats to biodiversity and their impacts might increase by the end of the century. Among invasive species, ants are a prominent group due to their negative impacts on native species, ecosystem processes, human and animal health, agro-ecosystems and the economy. The objective of this thesis was to forecast future ant invasions – especially in the light of on-going climate change, which is generally thought to favour invasive species by removing thermal barriers. I used three complementary approaches to study the potential of different ant species to invade in the future: species distribution modelling, behavioural experiments and the analysis of a database of ecological traits. I modelled suitable area for 15 of the worst invasive ant species, both currently and with predicted climate change, globally, regionally and within the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots. Surprisingly, the potential distribution of only five species was predicted to increase (up to 35.8%) with climate change, with most declining by up to 63.3%. The ant invasion hotspots are predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Africa, Asia and Oceanic islands, and particularly correspond with biodiversity hotspots. Contrary to general expectations, climate change and biological invasions will not systematically act synergistically for ants. In addition, I found that the impacts of climate change can change over time and even reverse the trend of the impact (i.e., an increase instead of a decrease or vice versa). However, ant invasions will likely remain as a major global problem, especially where invasion hotspots coincide with biodiversity hotspots. The species distribution models have identified large potentially overlapping distributions of several invasive ants. In the future, these species may arrive simultaneously in the same regions and compete with each other. In a series of experiments, I tested behavioural differences among 7 highly invasive ant species (Anoplolepis gracilipes, Paratrechina longicornis, Myrmica rubra, Linepithema humile, Lasius neglectus, Wasmannia auropunctata and Pheidole megacephala). I discovered two different behavioural strategies among invasive ants. Interactions at the colony level, exhibited more complex demographic processes and more variability. Further, I investigated resource competition and differences in resource exploitation. I found significant differences among species, with competitive abilities that were negatively correlated with behavioural dominance. This series of experiments suggests that the ‘mechanisms’ of invasiveness are more complex than previously thought and that different invasive ant species may use different behavioural strategies. Since there are more than 250 exotic species of ants, it would be interesting to identify potential future invaders. In order to identify traits associated with invasiveness in ants, I set up a database with 2193 ant species and 24 ecological characteristics. I performed a preliminary analysis of trait differences between native and invasive ants that shows clearly different clusters of invasive and native species, with exotic species in between. These results could be used as a basis to construct a predictive model of future ant invasions. The different methods used (models, experiments, database) are complementary in that they explore different aspects of the future ant invasions which are likely to be influenced by on-going climate change. The worst invaders of tomorrow may not be the same as today and similarly, areas most at risk are likely to change

Les géosynthétiques sont utilisés depuis les années 70 dans le renforcement des plateformes granulaires reposant sur des sols de faible portance pour des applications de routes non revêtues. La complexité des mécanismes développés et la diversité des produits de renforcement nécessitent encore d’étudier ces plateformes renforcées. Un essai au laboratoire permettant de tester des plateformes à échelle réelle a été développé. Une plateforme granulaire non revêtue reposant sur un sol de faible portance a été reproduite. Un protocole de mise en place de ce sol a été élaboré pour assurer son homogénéité et la répétabilité des essais. Une instrumentation spécifique a été développée pour collecter le maximum de mesures utiles pour l’interprétation du transfert de charge et du comportement des géogrilles utilisées. Trois types de géogrille ont été testées : une géogrille extrudée et deux géogrilles tricotées de rigidité différente. Après de nombreux essais de faisabilité, dix essais ont été effectués sous un chargement cyclique sur plaque circulaire, la plateforme testée a été placée dans un banc d’essai de 1,8 m de large, 1,9 m de long et 1,1 m de haut. Sur la base du même protocole de mise en œuvre, des essais de circulation avec un Simulateur Accélérateur de Traffic (SAT) ont été effectués. Ce simulateur a été spécifiquement conçu et construit pour cette application. Pour ces essais, la plateforme testée a été placée dans le banc d’essai allongé à 5 m. La plateforme a été soumise à deux types de sollicitations : un chargement cyclique sur plaque et un chargement de circulation. Des essais de répétabilité ont permis de vérifier le protocole mis en place. A partir des essais, plusieurs observations ont pu être faites sur le comportement des plateformes granulaires, le sol peu porteur, et sur l’efficacité du renforcement. De plus, ces essais ont permis de montrer que le chargement de circulation est beaucoup plus endommageant que le chargement sur plaque. Parallèlement à ces essais, un modèle numérique a été développé en se basant sur la méthode des différences finies avec le logiciel FLAC 3D. Cette modélisation a permis de prédire le comportement de la plateforme sous le premier chargement de plaque
Geosynthetics were used since 1970 in the base course reinforcement supported by soft subgrade in unpaved road application. The various factors and parameters influencing the dominant mechanism and its relative contribution on the platform improvement explain the need of more investigations in this topic. In this research work, large-scale laboratory test was developed to study the reinforcement contribution in the unpaved road improvement. Therefore, an unpaved platform was built of 600 mm of artificial subgrade supporting a base course layer. A detailed experimental Protocol was established regarding the soil preparation, the installation and the soils compaction procedure to reproduce the site conditions and insure the platform repeatability for each test. Three geosynthetics were tested first under a cyclic plate load test. Cyclic load was performed on the prepared platform, with a maximum load of 40 kN resulting in a maximum applied pressure of 560 kPa. The platform was subjected to 10,000 cycles with a frequency of 0.77 Hz. An advanced and complete soil instrumentation was provided in order to collect the maximum data needed for thorough analysis. Quality control tests were performed before each test to verify the soil layers homogeneity and properties. Two base course thicknesses were tested under this test condition, 350 and 220 mm. Once the developed protocol was confirmed under the circular plate load tests, further tests using the Simulator Accelerator of Traffic (SAT) were performed. Indeed, the laboratory prepared platform was placed in a larger box of 1.8 m in large, 5 m in length and 1.1 m in height. The prepared platform was subjected to two solicitations: a particular plate and traffic load. The Simulator Accelerator of Traffic was developed specially for this application. A machine that simulates the traffic load under an effective length of 2 m and a velocity of 4 km/h. The two areas were instrumented: the area under the circulation load, and the area under the plat load, located aside. In addition, a numerical model based on the differential element method using FLAC 3D was developed. The model simulated the circular plate load test with the same platform configuration under monotonic load. The results were compared to the first monotonic load applied on the rigid plate experimentally

The research was aimed at addressing the challenge of evaluating a large scale change intervention in a large organisation and in a complex environment. Finding robust, meaningful yet realistic methodologies from among the array of possible approaches, methods and techniques has proved problematic, for both organisational practitioners and academics alike. The research explored this issue of choice from the perspective of ¿fit for purpose¿ and suggests a multi-faceted approach, using a range of evaluation methods and techniques, which were applied to an ongoing example at the BBC. It was also planned to use structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques to examine the relationships between variables critical to the study. The approach described represents a ¿pilot¿ evaluation exercise, which drew on data collected from early cohorts going through the BBC Leadership Programme, a key element of the ¿Making it Happen¿ change strategy initiated by the then Director General, Mr. Greg Dyke. As a second level of research, an evaluation of the primary evaluation itself, i.e. of the BBC Leadership Programme, was also undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the primary evaluation strategy and its implementation. Three hypotheses were examined in terms of programme impact: It was proposed that participation in the programme would bring about collective improvements in individual leadership behaviour (Ho1), leading to improved departmental performance across the business (Ho2), in turn, resulting in improved organisational performance (Ho3). Due to limitations in the application of the methodology it was not possible to use SEM analyses on the data collected. Alternative analyses failed to demonstrate conclusive support for all three hypotheses and, while other factors besides programme attendance appear to influence leadership performance the afore-mentioned limitations restrict the ability to draw firm conclusions. Following evaluation of the primary evaluation it was evident that, as a pilot exercise, important outcomes from the programme evaluation give rise to ¿lessons learned¿ and changes are suggested for any future evaluation exercise of this kind.

The primary aim of the study was to design a model for changing teachers' attitudes towards the value of teaching critical thinking skills. Currently, information regarding the conceptualisation of this topic is inadequate and vague. In this study the nature of the complexities involved in the management and implementation of the teaching of critical thinking skills were researched through a literature study and an empirical investigation. A model was then designed for the effective management of the implementation thereof. The findings from the research indicated that teachers' attitudes towards the value of teaching critical thinking skills to learners are negative. It also became evident that the school principal should manage the implementation of the teaching of critical thinking skills to learners. The focus of the proposed model is on how teachers' attitudes towards the value of teaching critical thinking skills can be changed to ensure quality educative teaching and learning in and outside of the classroom. The study therefore serves to present a useable model for the management of the implementation of teaching critical thinking skills to learners. The study is further based on a well balanced opinion as experiences of teachers in the senior phase (grades 7, 8, & 9) were investigated by means of structured questionnaires. Recommendations regarding research findings were made for stakeholders and education departmental officials to note.
Thesis (Ph.D. (Education Management))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.