Dissertations / Theses: 'Mixed-methods approach'

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Jackson, Ben Stuart. "Efficacy Beliefs in Sporting Dyads: A Mixed-Methods Approach." Thesis, University of Leeds, 2008. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.485746.

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Guided by Lent and Lopez's (2002) theoretical model, this thesis was designed in order to explore the nature of efficacy perceptions in the context of close sporting relationships. In study one, semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of six elite athlete dyads regarding their self-efficacy, other-efficacy, and relation-inferred self-efficacy (RISE) beliefs. Content analysis revealed that efficacy beliefs stemmed from perceptions regarding oneself, one's partner, the dyad, and external factors, and in tum, results showed that self-efficacy, othe~-efficacy, and RISE were inter-related and were associated with key intra-personal and interpersonal consequences. Study Two was subsequently designed to identify the variables associated with efficacy beliefs, this time within six elite coach-athlete partnerships. Antecedents that emerged in Study Two supported as well as supplemented findings from athlete-athlete contexts. Furthermore, athletes' and coaches' efficacy beliefs were independently related to a number of desirable task-related and relatioriship-based outcomes (e.g. motivation and relationship persistence intentions, respectively). In study three, quantitative, cross-sectional data were collected from both members of 60 junior tennis dyads. Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIM; Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006) revealed that (a) other-efficacy and RISE were significantly related to self-efficacy, (b) athletes were not accurate in making RISE inferences, (c) individuals were more satisfied with their relationship when they were confident in their partners' capabilities, and (d) athletes' self-efficacy beliefs were predictive of their own and their partners' relationship commitment. Finally, in study four, prospective data were collected with 50 tennis coaches and their athletes. APIM analyses subsequently showed that self-efficacy and other-efficacy were associated with positive outcomes (e.g., relationship commitment, effort) for oneself and one's significant other; however the effects for RISE in study four were generally positive for coaches but negative for athletes. Collectively, these four studies make an important and unique contribution to the extant literature relating to efficacy beliefs and close sporting relationships. Moreover, the novel methodological and analytical approaches highlighted in this thesis (e.g., APIMs) hold significant potential for the future study of relationship dynamics in sport and beyond. Within each of the studies that constitute this thesis, limitations are considered, and findings are discussed in relation to theory advancement, future research directions, and practical implications.

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Seabe, Dineo Shirley. "Understanding volunteerism in South Africa : a mixed methods approach." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95949.

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Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The past two decades have seen a growing interest in volunteering in South Africa as the new democracy struggles with providing services while ensuring the economic and social inclusion of its populace. This interest is inspired by the desire, especially by government, to harness the benefits of volunteering to assist in dealing with the challenges of unemployment, poverty and inadequate levels of service delivery. However, because individual characteristics, needs and attitudes are linked to volunteering, it requires a careful understanding of its determinants and motivations if its potential for development is to be realised (Anheier & Salamon, 1999). This research therefore investigated which human, social and cultural capital variables best explain volunteering in South Africa. The aim was to understand how the interaction of poverty, inequality, and religious adherence in the country influence the chances of volunteering, the choice of activity and the sense people make of their participation. The understanding of this interaction is important, because as much as volunteering is “hailed as supporting democratic and participatory principles” the reality may be that it “perpetuates existing power imbalances”, and thereby serves to entrench existing inequalities (Hustinx, Cnaan & Handy, 2010, p. 426). To achieve the above aims the researcher adopted a holistic approach to the study of volunteering, with both an integrated theory and research design. Consequently, Wilson and Musick’s (1997) integrated resources theory of volunteering guided the study. Additionally, in line with the research aims and theory, a sequential mixed methods design was employed, consisting of two phases. In research Phase I, the 2001 South African wave of the World Values Survey was examined through logistic and descriptive analysis to examine the patterns and determinants of volunteering. In research Phase II, the study investigated which human, social and cultural capital factors feature in volunteers’ interpretations of their actions. The findings of Phase I revealed that most South Africans partake in formal volunteering and prefer to do so in religious, community and health and sports organisations. Additionally, they showed that, true to the findings of other studies, human capital is an important determinant of volunteering. The results indicate that human capital factors such as educational attainment and income form the basis for certain groups to be excluded from volunteer activities. Another interesting result among the human capital variables was the negative relationship between employment and volunteering. Prejudice and civic-mindedness were consistent positive predictors of volunteering among the social capital variables, while religiosity also came out as a significant predictor of volunteering. Participants’ narratives in research Phase II revealed that altruism and egoistic influences are important factors in decisions to volunteer. This is evident in how they understood volunteering as being an expression of ‘Ubuntu’, but at the same time a means to employment. Indeed, these two themes emerged as the most common themes in participants’ constructions. Most participants noted giving back to their communities as a reason, yet some also mentioned volunteering as a means to survive the harsh township life of poverty, unemployment and crime and violence. This instrumentalising of volunteering was also evident in the participants’ reasons to stay committed.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Oor die afgelope twee dekades was daar ŉ groeiende belangstelling in vrywilligheidswerk in Suid Afrika, soos die nuwe demokrasie sukkel om dienste te lewer asook ekonomiese en sosiale insluiting vir sy mense te verseker. Die belangstelling word ge-inspireër deur die begeerte, veral van die regering af, om die aktiwiteit se voordele om die probleme van werkloosheid, armoede en onvoldoende vlakke van diens- lewering te tuis. Egter, as gevolg van individuele karaktertrekke, behoeftes en houdings wat geheg is aan vrywilligheidswerk, is dit nodig vir ŉ begrip van die bepalings en motivering agter dit, as dit die potensiaal het om ontwikkeling aan te spoor (Anheier & Salamon, 1999). Met hierdie navorsing het ek ondersoek watter menselike, sosiale en kulturele veranderlikes vrywilligheidswerk in Suid Afrika die beste verduidelik. My doel is om te verstaan hoe die interaksie tussen armoede, ongelykhede en godsdienstige nakomste in die land, die kanse van vrywilligheidswerk, die keuse van aktiwiteit en die sin wat mense maak van hulle deelname impak. Dis belangrik om hierdie interaksie te verstaan, want alhoewel vrywilligheidswerk “[is] hailed as supporting democratic and participatory principles” die realiteit is dat “[it] perpetuates existing power imbalances”, en deur dit word ongelykhede vergerger (Hustinx et al., 2010, p. 426). Om die bogenoemde doelwitte te bereik, het ek ŉ holistiese benadering van die studie van vrywilligheidswerk aangeneem, met beide ŉ gëintegreerde teorie en navorsing ontwerp. Wilson en Musick’s (1997) gëintegreerde hulpbronne teorie van vrywilligheidswerk het die studie gelei. In lyn met die navorsing se doelwitte en teorie, het ek ŉ sekwensiële gemengde metodes ontwerp gebruik wat uit twee fase bestaan. In Fase I van die navorsing het ek die World Value Survey (2001) van Suid Afrika ontleed in ŉ logiese en beskrywende vorm om die patrone van die bepalings van vrywilligheids werk te ondersoek. In Fase II van die navorsing het ek die hulpbronne verwante faktore wat te vore kom in vrywilliges se interpretasies van hul aksies, ondersoek. Die resultate van Fase I wys dat meeste Suid Afrikaners deelneem aan formele vrywilligheidswerk en verkies om so te doen in ŉ godsdientige, gemeenskaplike, gesondheids of sport organisasie. Hulle wys ook dat, dieselfde soos in ander studies, menselike kapitaal ŉ baie belangrike bepaling is van vrywilligheidswerk. Die resultate bewys dat menselike kapitaal faktore soos ovoeding en inkomste die rede is hoekom sekere groepe uitgesluit is uit vrywilligheidswerk aktiwiteite. ŉ Ander interessante resultaat in die menselike faktore is dat daar ŉ negatiewe verhouding is tussen mense wat werk en vrywilligheidswerk. A Vooroordeel en burgerlike gee was die enigste twee faktore wat konstante, positiewe veranderlikes van vrywilligheidswerk in verband met menselike kapitaal was. Godsdiens het ook sterk voorgekom as ŉ rede vir vrywilligheidswerk, veral kerk bywoning. Deelnemers se beskrywings in Fase II van die navorsing wys dat altrϋisme en egoїstiese invloede belangrike faktore is in die keuse om vrywillige werk te doen. Die getuienis van hierdie is in die feit dat hulle vrywillige werk sien as ŉ uitdrukking van ‘Ubuntu’ en op dieselfde tyd ŉ manier om werk te bekom. Hierdie twee temas het na vore gekom uit verduidelikings vir hulle eerste vrywilligheidswerk. Baie deelnemers het gesê dat hulle terug gee aan hulle gemeenskappe. Dit was nog ŉ rede om vrywilligheidswerk te doen. Sommige het ook gesê dat vrywilligheidswerk een manier is om die swaar township lewe van armoede, werkloosheid, geweld en misdaad te oorleef. Dit was ook ŉ rede vir baie van die vrywilliges om getrou te bly aan vrywilligheidswerk.

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Adkins, Kate. "Stigmatisation, media and acne : a mixed methods interdisciplinary approach." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2018. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/22086/.

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Acne is associated with a range of psychosocial impacts, including stigmatisation. Yet little is understood about the role of sociocultural context in acne-related stigma. Media representations and consumption are likely to play a role in the nature of such impacts. This thesis adopts a novel mixed methods, interdisciplinary approach to examine how media messages relate to stigma surrounding acne. An ethnographic content analysis (Study 1) of 637 magazine advertisements (1972 – 2008), indicated that acne was framed as a cosmetic concern, with acne opposed to the ideal of perfect skin. Within advertisements, acne was associated with negative characteristics and psychosocial maladjustment. However, several advertisements normalised acne. The frequency and content of acne-related advertisements differed over time and between magazines, suggesting a shift away from acne myths, yet increased pressures to meet unrealistic ideals. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews (Study 2) investigated 15 women’s experiences of acne in the context of contemporary media culture. Participants compared themselves to the media-disseminated ideal of perfect skin, describing themselves as looking and feeling different. Participants were frustrated by stigmatising messages and the absence of acne across media. However, participants also identified benefits to digital media, cautiously using online information to inform treatment, and seeking out images and experiences of acne. Within an online survey (Study 3) of 650 individuals with acne, negative comparisons mediated the relationship between photo-function use and feelings of stigma in Facebook (but not Instagram) users, although negative comparisons continued to predict feelings of stigma. Furthermore, self-compassion was consistently associated with lower levels of negative comparisons and feelings of stigma. The findings suggest that individuals with acne are exposed to idealised images of skin and stigmatising messages about acne, which influence feelings of stigma. Cognitive processes like comparisons appear to play an important role in feelings of stigma in this population.

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Sugai, Sakae. "Cross-cultural leadership interaction : a mixed-methods approach study." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2009. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.611820.

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Nelson, J. Scott. "Online technology and counseling microskill development| A mixed-methods approach." Thesis, Northern Illinois University, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3596665.

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Emergent popularity and student consumer/educational administrator demand for online technology in counselor education is also increasing the need to research its impact and potential effectiveness/ineffectiveness as a pedagogical tool. Research shows that the trend toward online coursework is likely to increase in the future and also that the new trend is moving away from asynchronous text-based delivery toward virtual environments using video and audio (Robey, 2009).

Counselor educator led preparation programs are experiencing more pressure to join the online bandwagon and yet lag behind other professions in utilizing technologies in education (Karper, Robinson, & Casado-Kehoe, 2005). Although some studies have investigated the use of online technology in counselor education, very few studies have explored using virtual simulated clients in counselor education in order to develop counseling skills (Engen, Finken, Luschei, & Kenney, 1994; Hayes, Taub, Robinson, & Sivo, 2003; Karper et al., 2005).

Furthermore, self-efficacy is a critical component of counseling skill development for counselors-in-training (CITs; Levitt & Jacques, 2005). Therefore, the purpose of this mixed-methods dissertation was to investigate whether online learning technology using synchronous, online, video-based, computer-guided, simulated-client microskills drills in real time influenced microskills development for counselors-in-training.

Further, I used Counselingskills on Demand (COD) online virtual client microskills drills within the framework of Bandura's (1977) social cognitive theory that performance is the best indicator of self-efficacy and explored how online microskills drills influence counseling student microskills performance and developmental process.

Qualitative data analysis suggested that participants were comfortable with online learning, found virtual client microskills drills most beneficial while developing a basic understanding of the difference between microskills and how to use them, and less useful once a basic understanding and ability to use the microskills was established. Overall, study results appeared to indicate that online learning technology using synchronous, online, video-based, computer-guided, simulated-client microskills drills in real time may be beneficial, may assist counseling students in the developmental process of increasing cognitive complexity and self-efficacy, could lead to decreased anxiety when doing counseling, and might help develop microskills understanding and basic proficiency.

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Gatz, Jennifer Leigh. "WEIGHT MANAGEMENT IN POST-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN: A MIXED-METHODS APPROACH." Lexington, Ky. : [University of Kentucky Libraries], 2006. http://lib.uky.edu/ETD/ukygero2006d00452/GATZDISS.pdf.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Kentucky, 2006.
Title from document title page (August 3, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 146 p. : ill. Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 137-143).

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Ray, Joshua L., C. Allen Gorman, and Eva Lynn Cowell. "Exploring Organizational Mindfulness in Local Governments: A Mixed Methods Approach." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2015. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/422.

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This two-part study was conducted as part of a larger project exploring leadership, organizational processes, and performance in local governments. In Study 1, we conducted interviews with exemplary leaders in local governments across a medium sized southeastern state. Results of these interviews suggested leadership and organizational processes consistent with organizational mindfulness. In Study 2, we created a survey instrument based on existing work in organizational mindfulness. Responses from 96 local governments provided evidence suggesting that organizational mindfulness is related to self reports of organizational performance. We end with a discussion of these results, study limitations, and opportunities for future research.

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Murdock, Susan Jan. "Conceptualizing Hoarding Behavior Among Elderly Women: A Mixed-Methods Approach." VCU Scholars Compass, 2006. http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/1368.

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Hoarding in the community involves substantial cluttering and impaired functioning, often exposing the hoarder to extensive health and safety risks. This research, based on Functionalism social theory, explores the three elements of hoardingrelentless acquisition, intense possessiveness of objects, and a reluctance to discard possessionsas a sociocultural phenomenon. The mixed methods methodology entailed a quantitative study involving a survey completed by 134 adult protective services workers throughout Virginia and a qualitative study of five randomly-selected adult protective services workers who volunteered for in-depth interviews.Findings revealed that adult protective services workers come in contact with very severe cases of hoarding, with over two-thirds of the cases cited having extremely hazardous, unsafe, and cluttered living conditions. Similar to other research studies, hoarding was most prevalent among elderly women and the most common objects hoarded included printed materials such as newspapers, magazines, and junk mail. Factor analyses resulted in three factors with high loadings and correlations, particularly the factor that associates hoarding with a relentless need or desire to acquire more possessions. Content analyses of the qualitative data found that workers recognized several ways in which hoarding was functional, including emotional attachment to possessions, reducing stress, and providing meaning and identity. The mixed methods approach demonstrated that adult protective services workers tend to ascribe mental illness explanations to many hoarding cases, often equating hoarding to an addiction, although other published research finds only a nebulous connection between mental illness and hoarding behavior.This research corroborates other studies that find that belief systems underlie hoarding behaviors, particularly how hoarders' possessions provide comfort and security; possessions are considered functional, valuable, and irreplaceable; and that the owner is responsible for maintaining control over possessions. The findings of this study have implications for social work practice and treatment models.

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Gale, Corinne. "An exploration of compassion and eating disorders : a mixed methods approach." Thesis, University of Derby, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10545/306802.

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Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) was specifically developed for people with high levels of shame and self-criticism, who have difficulties with self-reassurance and self-compassion. It draws on evolutionary theories, particularly attachment theory, and neuroscience research of affect regulation. CFT has promising results with people with depression, psychosis and chronic mental health difficulties. However, the use of CFT has not been explored with people with eating disorders, who tend to be very self-critical and prone to experiencing shame. Therefore the aim of this research was to explore compassion in relation to eating disorders. To facilitate this, three related studies were undertaken. The aims of these studies were to: 1) Evaluate the outcomes of introducing CFT into a standard treatment programme for people with eating disorders in order to establish whether CFT can be used with this group of individuals. 2) Investigate the outcomes of a stand-alone Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) programme within a self-help setting and to explore participants' experiences of the programme. 3) Explore experiences of compassion from others in childhood, and current self- compassion, of people with eating difficulties. A mixed methodology approach was adopted, with repeated questionnaire measures used to investigate the outcomes of the interventions, and qualitative methods (specifically Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis) to explore the experiences of the CMT programme and experiences of childhood and current compassion. The results of Study 1 confirmed that CFT can be integrated into a standard treatment programme for people with eating disorders, with significant improvements in the cognitive and behavioural symptoms and psychopathological aspects of eating disorders, and more general psychological distress. This approach was particularly beneficial for people with bulimia nervosa or atypical eating disorders. Study 2 demonstrated that a CMT programme, which introduced the evolutionary model underpinning CFT and the specific training exercises included within the therapy, led to improvements on a range of questionnaire measures assessing eating difficulties, well-being, shame and self-criticism. Even though the programme did not focus specifically on eating difficulties, weight and shape concern both significantly reduced. This suggests that helping people to be more self-compassionate can impact on eating psychopathology. The qualitative data showed that the participants found the programme acceptable and benefitted from learning about the evolution of the brain and affect regulation systems. They also describe benefitting from the exercises and working as a group, which helped to develop a sense of safeness and allowed them to share their experiences. Study 3 identified six main themes, three relating to childhood experiences of compassion and three to current self-compassion. Participants recalled having difficulties in dealing with emotions from a very early age. In particular, they described how there was an interaction between their own temperament (e.g. concealment or withdrawal) and allowing their parents to be more emotionally engaged with them. Participants also experienced difficulties with current self- compassion, instead they tended to experience self-criticism and shame, and often used food to soothe themselves, either by restricting their eating or binge eating. To conclude, the research presented in this thesis provides the first evidence to support the use of GFT and GMT with people with eating disorders. It is also the first to explore experiences of the GMT programme and of people's early experiences of compassion and current self-compassion.

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Lyons, Heidi. "Casual sex in adolescence and young adulthood a mixed methods approach /." Bowling Green, Ohio : Bowling Green State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=bgsu1256749422.

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Burton, Jennifer Kirsty. "New care home admission following acute hospitalisation : a mixed methods approach." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/31501.

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Care home admission following acute hospitalisation is a lived reality across Scotland, experienced by over 8,000 people annually. The aim of this thesis was to develop an understanding of new care home admission following acute hospitalisation. Methods and findings from the mixed-methods approach are presented in three parts. Part One: Identifying relevant research - includes a review of quality assessment tools for systematic reviewing; a systematic review and meta-analysis of quantitative data from observational studies of predictors of care home admission from hospital; and a methodological chapter on developing a search filter to improve accessibility of existing research findings supported by the findings of an international survey of care home researchers. The systematic review identified 53 relevant studies from 16 countries comprising a total population of 1,457,881 participants. Quantitative synthesis of the results from 11 of the studies found that increased age (OR 1.02 per year increase; 95%CI 1.00-1.04), female sex (OR 1.41; 95%CI 1.03-1.92), dementia & cognitive impairment (OR 2.14; 95%CI 1.24-3.70) and functional dependency (OR 2.06; 95%CI 1.58-2.69) were all associated with an increased risk of care home admission after hospitalisation. Despite international variation in service provision, only two studies described the model of care provided in the care home setting. The survey identified that there is a lack of shared terminology in the published literature to describe settings for adults who are unable to live independently in their own homes and require care in a long-term institutional setting. A search filter to identify relevant research could help to overcome differences in terminology and improve synthesis of existing research evidence. Part Two: Exploring current clinical practice - reports the findings of a retrospective cohort study of new care home admissions from hospital using case-note review methodology accompanied by findings from inductive thematic analysis of a single dataset from a qualitative case study design exploring the experiences of a patient, their family, and practitioners (n=5). The cohort study (n=100) found a heterogeneous picture with long hospital admissions (range 14-231 days), frequent transfers of care (31% experienced three or more transfers), varied levels of documented assessment and a lack of documented patient involvement in the decision-making processes. The qualitative interviews allowed the patient voice to emerge, alongside the professional and family narrative which dominated case-note documentation. Inductive thematic analysis identified nine major themes exploring how decisions are made to discharge individuals directly into a care home from the acute hospital setting: biography & personality; professional role; family role; limitations in local model of care; ownership of decision; risk; realising preferences; uncertainty of care home admission process; and psychological impact of in-hospital care. Part Three: Harnessing routinely-collected data - includes the challenges of identifying care home residency at admission and discharge from hospital, presenting analysis of the accuracy of Scottish Morbidity Record 1 (SMR01) coding in NHS Fife and the Community Health Index (CHI) Institution Flag in NHS Fife and NHS Tayside. This is followed by a descriptive analysis of the Scottish Care Home Census (2013-16) as a novel social care data source to explore care home admissions from hospital and the methodology for a data linkage study using these data. Identifying care home residents in routine data sources is challenging. In 18,720 admissions to NHS Fife, SMR01 coding had a sensitivity of 86.0% and positive predictive value of 85.8% in identifying care home residents on admission. At discharge the sensitivity was 87.0% and positive predictive value was 84.5%. From a sample of 10,000 records, the CHI Institution Flag had a sensitivity of 58.6% in NHS Fife and 89.3% in NHS Tayside, with positive predictive values of 99.7% and 97.7% respectively. From 2013-16, of 21,368 admissions to care homes in Scotland, 56.7% were admitted from hospital. There was significant regional variation in rates of care home admission from hospital (35.9-64.7%) and proportion of Local Authority funded places provided to admissions from hospital (34.4-73.9%). Those admitted from hospital appeared to be more dependent and sicker than those admitted from home. This thesis has established a series of challenges in how care homes and their residents are identified. It has questioned the adequacy of the evidence to guide practitioners and sought to raise the profile of this vulnerable and complex population and how best to support them in making decisions regarding admission from the acute hospital. It has progressed our understanding of this under-explored area and proposes a programme of future mixed-methods research involving patients, families, practitioners and policy-makers.

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Lyons, Heidi Ann. "Casual Sex in Adolescence and Young Adulthood: A Mixed Methods Approach." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1256749422.

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Andorfer, Kenya. "A Mixed-Methods Problem-Based Approach to Mathematics Versus Direct Instruction." Wittenberg University / OhioLINK, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=witt1438788985.

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McKay, Mary Ana. "Understanding Refugee Women’s Contexts in Urban Ohio: A Mixed-Methods Approach." The Ohio State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1587649882006415.

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Guzman, Del Vecchio Nita Teresa. "A Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding College Student Retention and Graduation." Diss., Temple University Libraries, 2016. http://cdm16002.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p245801coll10/id/410673.

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Educational Psychology
Ph.D.
This study examined the retention and graduation patterns of a cohort of students at one baccalaureate, public, commuter campus. Quantitative and Qualitative data were analyzed to develop a campus specific retention model (risk model). The results of this study are used to inform retention initiatives on this campus. Recommendations for a specific strategy to improve the year-to-year student retention rate and improve the 6-year graduation rate are made based on the findings of this study.
Temple University--Theses

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Oliva, Kristina. "Conceptualizing Social Wealth in the Digital Age: A Mixed Methods Approach." Scholar Commons, 2017. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/6736.

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As society continues to shift into the digital age, the relationship between social exchange and economic activity is becoming increasingly homogenous. The success of digital products are largely sustained upon the leverage of social relationships and the quasi-sharing of material items, services, and digital media. Emergence of the sharing and on-demand economies is evidence of the necessity to understand social exchange as a form of economic transaction. As such, this study attempts to conceptualize and define the concept of social wealth to understand the basis of an economic synthesis. In attempt to theoretically integrate the concept, a mixed methods design utilizing a grounded theory approach serves to set precedence for a future area of study. Data is collected through a series of focus groups before analysis through a linguistic processing program. The data reveals a proposed definition for social wealth in addition to a proposed series of socioeconomic models of how social wealth is produced, accumulated, and transferred.

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Fidishin, Marianne J. "Special Education Disproportionality Through a Social Lens| A Mixed Methods Approach." Thesis, Loyola University Chicago, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10195423.

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The disproportionate nature of special education, notably with African American students, is longstanding and most pronounced in judgmental eligibility categories such as intellectual disability and emotional disturbance. Numerous studies on disproportionality conclude there is not a single causative factor, but point to the multifactorial nature of the issue and the complex interplay among different factors. Research related to the role social factors exhibited in an institution have on special education referral and eligibility determination is more limited. This is important since practices employed during the eligibility process take place within the institution?s social environment and are underpinned by the beliefs and values of those that administer the process. By employing a mixed methods study design, the author examined the following questions: 1) are minority students, particularly African American elementary school students, more likely to be disproportionately represented in special education eligibilities across school districts in the county, and if so which ones; 2) within the referral and eligibility process employed, what criteria are used to determine the eligibility emotional disturbance; and 3) do the commonly held perceptions and practices present within the school district?s culture influence the process and decision-making for eligibility? Quantitative data were obtained from appropriate Illinois State Board of Educations (ISBE) websites and through a Freedom of Information Act request to the State Board of Education for specific data and statistics related to the special education population for 116 elementary school districts in a suburban midwestern county. Data showed 11 school districts demonstrated disproportionality, a risk ratio >3.0, for years 2011-2013. Of these, eight involved the African American student, with six school districts disproportionality centered on emotional disturbance thereby qualifying as potential candidates for Phase 2. Important to note, unlike previous research on disproportionality that examined school districts with predominantly Caucasian or even more diverse student populations, this study?s school district was primarily Hispanic, 94%, with African Americans making up 2% of students. This provided a unique opportunity to study two minority populations. The second phase of the study employed a qualitative approach of in-depth, semi-structured face-to-face interviews of key professionals involved in special education eligibility determination from the selected school district. Findings revealed two broad points related to the social environment of the school district that appeared to impact the referral and eligibility process. First is the strength of administrative leadership vis-a-vis process implementation and second is the sociocultural environment of the district. In this case, leadership was passive when it came to ensuring fidelity to tiered intervention plans, a critical component of the referral process. Basically leadership allowed fidelity and accountability to the intervention process by teachers to be lackluster at best or worst case absent. Consequently, teachers more resistant to engaging in the intervention process tended have higher student referrals. The sociocultural environment of the school district studied is comprised basically of two divergent economic classes, the middle class predominately Caucasian educators/administrators and the student population who are of low to very low economic status and predominately of two racial/ethnic minorities. Comments consistently emerged from interviewees regarding differences seen between the Hispanic and African American students culturally, their perceived value structures, and observable behaviors. A key insight from this research was being a racial/ethnic minority does not per se lead to disproportionate representation in the emotional disturbance eligibility, the dominant culture of the social composition of the student population influences the perceptions and understanding of the educators and professionals who, for the most part, are Caucasian, middle class and more often than not female. Basically, there is an acclimatization of the educators to the culture, behaviors and values of the dominant group against which other racial/ethnic behaviors and values are positioned and judged. The culture, values and behaviors of, in this case, Hispanics students were perceived to be different than that of the African American student and less tolerated. The intent of this researcher was to provide data that advanced the knowledge of how the social environment of a district interplays with its? professionals? belief to shape decision-making and how, in turn, this impacted the issue of overrepresentation of African American students in special education, specifically emotionally disturbed. This study has shown primary contributors to referral and eligibility was poor school leadership over intervention implementation and differences between the social norms and cultural perspectives of the school environment stakeholders and those of African American students. It is critical from both scholarly and applied practice perspectives that an ongoing effort to implement culturally responsive pedagogy within the school environment. Similarly, research focusing on interventions designed to shape teachers? perceptions of student behavior is essential to ensure not only equitable educational opportunities, but also eradicate disproportionality.

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Pantalone, David W. "A mixed methods approach to investigate partner violence in HIV-positive outpatients /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/9156.

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van, den Broek Karlijn Lisette. "Antecedents of energy literacy and energy saving behaviour : a mixed methods approach." Thesis, University of Bath, 2016. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.707576.

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Energy conservation can mitigate significant issues such as climate change and fuel poverty, yet the determinants of this behaviour are poorly understood. It is important to understand the antecedents of energy conservation in order to effectively stimulate this behaviour in society. Traditional models have focused on normative and intentional processes to explain environmental behaviour, but have proven largely unsuccessful for predicting energy use. Considering that day-to-day energy behaviour is likely to be habitual and context dependent, models such as the Comprehensive Action Determination Model (CADM, Klöckner & Blöbaum, 2010), which have integrated these factors with more traditional antecedents of behaviour, may better account for people’s actions. The early research in this thesis tests the application of this model to energy saving behaviour using a mixed-methods approach. Findings show that such a model is suitable to account for the drivers of energy behaviour, particularly because of the important role of habits and situational influences on this behaviour. Although this model can successfully predict daily energy behaviours that involve the routine curtailment of household energy use, one-off energy efficiency investment behaviours are unlikely to be determined by the variables considered by the CADM. That is, these behaviours may be more dependent on people’s understanding of the energy consumption in their household, or their energy literacy. Therefore, the second part of this thesis investigates the cognitive processes that inform conscious energy judgements to explore the antecedents of this energy literacy. The studies in this thesis uncover an unprecedented variety of energy judgement heuristics in this decision-making process, and these heuristics are further investigated, again using various methods. This thesis concludes that, to maximally facilitate energy conservation, the habitual and situational antecedents of energy saving behaviour, as captured in such frameworks as the CADM, need to be considered alongside the cognitive processes that shape people’s energy literacy when designing effective energy conservation interventions that target both routine and non-routine actions.

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Joubert, Marelize. "Social work students' perceptions of readiness to practice : a mixed methods approach." Thesis, Sheffield Hallam University, 2017. http://shura.shu.ac.uk/18146/.

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The purpose of this study was to explore how social work students perceive they become ready for the workplace during their three year undergraduate course. The study involved two Higher Education Institutions sites in England and was conducted from September 2013 until June 2016. The work provides a unique contribution in that to date little is known from the perspective of students themselves, about how they perceive they become ready for the workplace This work used an integrated mixed methods methodology that included a mixed methods research synthesis of literature and data that was gathered from a combination of pre- and post- test questionnaires (N=74 participants) and eight semi-structured interviews including the use of pictorial images and drawings. Four meta themes were generated from the integrated data: (i) social worker attributes; (ii) social work development; (iii) critical reflection for theory to practice and finally; (iv) placement learning. The participants described their becoming ready for practice as a developmental journey in which they become more resilient, confident and reflective. The findings reveal the impact of placement settings and key social work practice skills on becoming ready for the workplace. The findings illuminate the perspective of students and reveal they consider becoming resilient an important factor in being able to ‘do’ social work and ‘being’ a social worker depended on having or developing certain attributes. They described resilience as being supported by these attributes and its development challenged and shaped by placement culture. Being supported to become critically reflective was seen as important in being able to ‘fit together’ theory and practice. The students' responses reveal the importance of the role of emotion management and development of self as they engage with their development as a social worker in the changing and complex social work environment. Overall, the findings suggest satisfaction with the social work course although for some they perceived themselves less prepared for most statutory social work positions. A strong wish for tailored support for advice and support during placement was identified and students found peer support useful. The findings raise issues that may be used by academic staff in the preparation of students and practice educators who support social work students on placement by facilitating a supported learning environment that may enhance the social work curriculum. The findings from this study can be used to inform a creative curriculum to enhance student confidence and competence prior to graduation.

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Johnson, Hannah E. "Knowledge and Perceptions of a Gluten-Free Diet: A Mixed-Methods Approach." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1493628697433863.

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Neuser, Hannah. "Source Language of Lexical Transfer in Multilingual Learners : A Mixed Methods Approach." Doctoral thesis, Stockholms universitet, Engelska institutionen, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-142050.

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The study reported in this thesis investigates the source language of lexical transfer in multilingual learners using a mixed methods approach. Previous research has shown that the source language of crosslinguistic influence can be related to factors such as proficiency, recency/exposure, psychotypology, the L2 status, and item-specific transferability. The present study employed a mixed methods approach in order to best serve the particularities of each of the five factors under investigation. Multinomial logistic regression was emloyed to test the predictive power of the first four factors, thereby addressing the issue of confounding variables found in previous studies. A more exploratory qualitative analysis was used to investigate item-specific transferability due to the lack of prior empirical studies focusing on this aspect. Both oral and written data were collected, offering an analysis of modal differences in direct comparison. The results show a significant effect of proficiency and exposure, but inconsistent patterns for psychotypology. Most importantly, in this study of lexical transfer, a significant L1 status effect was found, rather than an L2 status effect. In addition, the statistical model predicted the source language of transfer better in the spoken than in the written mode. Finally, learners were found to assess, as well as actively improve, an item’s transferability in relation to target language norms and constraints. All of these findings contribute to our understanding of lexical organization, activation, and access in the multilingual mind.

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Kroon, Kim. "An investigation of absenteeism amongst blue-collar workers: a mixed methods approach." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021248.

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Absenteeism affects organisations in many different ways, therefore it is essential to investigate absenteeism with the aim of minimising absence levels. The focus of the research was to investigate absenteeism amongst blue-collar workers at a Global Logistics Supplier. The objectives of this research were to identify the main types of absenteeism, to compare the views of blue-collar workers and management on the causes attributed to absenteeism, to describe how absenteeism has been measured and managed, and to make recommendations to the company on ways to minimize absenteeism based on the findings. Quantitative data in the form of monthly absenteeism statistics relating to each leave type, was examined for trends relating to absenteeism levels amongst blue-collar workers at the company. Semi-structured interviews were then carried out with management and blue-collar workers to examine the causes of absenteeism and its management. The results showed that there was a discrepancy between the views of management and blue-collar workers at the company on the perceived causes of absenteeism. On the other hand, both management and the blue-collar workers identified Monday and Friday as the most prevalent days on which employees are absent from the workplace. This finding suggests that more research should be conducted on this trend in blue-collar workers. In exploring how absenteeism is dealt with, management within the company stated that discipline was the most effective way of keeping absenteeism levels low amongst employees. The limitations and delimitations of the research were recognised and further research ideas were given. It was also recommended that managers and supervisors address the workplace issues and identify when a worker’s performance and interpersonal relationships are strained in order to effectively minimise absenteeism. It is also recommended they implement a wellness programme.

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Irani, Farzan A. "A Mixed Methods Approach to Evaluating Treatment Outcomes for an Eclectic Approach to Intensive Stuttering Therapy." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1275501979.

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Ward, Michelle R. "Clients' Perceptions of the Therapeutic Process: A Common Factors Approach." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/34395.

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The purpose of this study was to explore the aspects of therapy as proposed by "common factors" literature (e.g., extratherapeutic change, hope and expectancy, therapy technique, and therapeutic relationship) by surveying the clients of a university based family therapy clinic. Data were used to provide information about what factors are therapeutically helpful according to the client's perspective. Surveys provided a quantitative and qualitative description of the client's therapeutic experience and were compared with those aspects of therapy found in the research. Quantitative results indicate that therapeutic relationship, client motivation, factors outside of therapy, and hope and expectancy accounted for around 49% of the variance of clients' perception of change and about 73% of the variance of clients' perceptions of therapy helpfulness. Findings further suggest that the clients' level of hopefulness and expectancy for positive change is the most significant predictor for both client change and therapy helpfulness. Qualitative results indicate that the therapeutic relationship is considered by clients to be the most helpful aspect of their therapeutic experience.
Master of Science

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Self, Dennis R. "Assessing the management of readiness an empirical examination using a mixed-methods approach/." Auburn, Ala., 2005. http://repo.lib.auburn.edu/2005%20Summer/doctoral/SELF_DENNIS_21.pdf.

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Lloyd, F. "An evaluation of pharmacist prescribing in Northern Ireland using a mixed methods approach." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.517099.

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Paul, Simone. "Bullying and cyberbullying in a secondary school : a mixed methods approach to investigation." Thesis, Goldsmiths College (University of London), 2012. http://research.gold.ac.uk/8033/.

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A longitudinal case study of a Central London coeducational secondary school is presented, as an investigation into traditional bullying and cyberbullying problems across three age groups of the student population (Year 7 aged 11 to 12; Year 8 aged 12 to 13; Year 9 aged 13 to 14), collectively entitled Key Stage Three of the National Curriculum. Using repeated measures over a period of four years a total of 983 students aged 11 to 14 (537 male and 434 female) participated in a series of activities taking place during the academic years of 2008/2009 to 2011/2012. Four approaches to mixed methods were applied: a school bullying survey, student worksheets, Quality Circles, and focus groups. Each assessed the nature and extent of the problem in part; the school survey identified the number of bullies, victims, and bully victims, as well as the type of bullying behaviour occurring most often; as part of the school survey, themed worksheets further examined student opinion on legal aspects of cyberbullying, coping skills and school interventions. Quality Circles were introduced as a method of investigating the bullying problems specific to each year group and class. Focus group discussions held as part of Quality Circles work assessed the problems occurring in school. The knowledge gained from this work with students was collated to provide a meaningful interpretation of the survey data (which established the extent of the problem) and the informative materials produced as part of student worksheets, Quality Circles and group discussion (which explained the nature of the problem). This information was used to construct a model of bullying behaviour in the school and establish the most suitable approach to anti-bullying intervention, relevant to the unique needs of this setting and other schools with similar bullying problems.

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Nicotera, Nicole. "Children and their neighborhoods : a mixed methods approach to understanding the construct neighborhood /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/8129.

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Watson-Miller, Sonia. "Student nurses' perceptions of their hospital placement in Barbados : a mixed methods approach." Thesis, University of Bath, 2015. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.675740.

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Background: Practical training on hospital wards is a major component of basic nurse training. With this in mind, there were concerns with respect to the ability to provide nursing students with the quality of clinical experience that is required as a result of changes in the Barbados nursing policy to increase the number of students. Aim: The overall aim of this research was to understand student nurses’ clinical placement learning experience at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados, based on their current and desired clinical experiences. Research objectives: (1) to examine the student nurses’ current learning experiences at the hospital; (2) to determine the student nurses’ desired experiences at the hospital; and, (3) to compare and contrast their current clinical experience with their desired experience by integrating the data across the quantitative and qualitative studies. Design: A sequential explanatory mixed methods research. Methods: First study: The Clinical Learning Environment Inventory (CLEI) (current and desired form) and the Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher (CLES+T) questionnaires were distributed to second and third year student nurses (n = 191) at the Barbados Community College. Descriptive and inferential analysis performed. Second study: Qualitative semi-structured interviews (n = 10) among second and third year student nurses analysed thematically. Results: Quantitative survey (First study): ‘Student satisfaction’ (mean 25.74 of 35), ‘Task orientation’ (mean 25.62 of 35), the ‘Leadership style of the ward sister’ (mean 4.02 of 5) and ‘Premises of nursing care on the ward’ (mean 4.01 of 5) greatly informed students’ actual hospital experience. The current and desired hospital experiences were statistically significant different (z = 6.68 to 8.07, p = 0.000). Qualitative interviews (Second study): Four overarching themes were generated: ‘Engaged, proactive and communicative team’; ‘No cohesion among team’; ‘Students – willing to learn and motivated’; and, ‘Consequences – positive and negative’. Overarching findings from both studies: Four major topics describe the student nurses’ experiences: ‘Engagement of the ward nursing team’, ‘The nature of nursing care delivery’, ‘Clinical supervision and teaching of nursing students on the ward’, and ‘Nursing student satisfaction’. Conclusion: The ward sister influences the ward team spirit and students’ clinical learning, negatively or positively. Nurse educators should acknowledge the value of clear, well organised ward activities on students’ learning. Clinical nursing curricula should be based on a blended educational learning perspective.

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Madari, Sheethal. "Shorter time interval treatments for early medical abortions : a mixed methods research approach." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2017. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/7445/.

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Purpose This dissertation focuses at assessing the efficacy of shorter time intervals in the treatment of medical abortions along with the use of various follow up methods. Methods This initial part of dissertation was carried out as an extensive study of literature, followed by observational study on shorter time intervals and follow up methods for the feasibility of the study. The main dissertation met its research aims through an RCT of 121 women comparing shorter to standard time intervals and assessing the various follow up methods at the end of 2 weeks. The qualitative component of the study was achieved by conducting in-depth interviews of women undergoing medical abortion on various aspects of medical abortions with emphasis on shorter time intervals and follow up. Findings This research produced a number of key findings: the RCT showed that both treatments have equal efficacy and acceptability with minor differences in their side effects however the sample size was small to generalise the findings; the follow up methods showed varied responses with preference to confirmatory investigations at 2 weeks follow up. Conclusions The main conclusions drawn from this research were that shorter time intervals can be offered as an alternative to standard treatment intervals in well informed women, however a larger RCT is needed. In order to provide these treatments as outpatient robust follow up methods will need to be incorporated into the abortion services.

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Flynn, Melanie. "Reconceptualising risky facilities : exploring identification, patterns and features using a mixed-methods approach." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2018. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/10053296/.

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This research concerns the spatial concentration of crimes at the micro-level, with a particular focus on the concept of risky facilities. This is done through an exploration and reconceptualization of crime associated with facilities and attributable to specific premises, or addresses. I utilise a mixed-methods approach that draws heavily on quantitative, secondary analysis of police recorded crime data, but also makes use of interviews with serving police officers, annotated maps and observations that are analysed qualitatively. Mixed methods research is underused in this field of study, thus this provides an additional, methodological contribution. The research aims to fill a gap that was formed after the initial conceptualisation of risky facilities and the subsequent research that has tended to focus on how to explain the existence of these ‘problematic’ premises and, therefore, what to do about them. Thus the research is predicated on my contention that the concept of risky facilities has not been sufficiently empirically tested, nor defined. As such, the broad original contribution of this research is that it provides an empirical and conceptual exploration of the existence, nature and definition of risky facilities. The aims of the study, therefore, are to consider whether crime concentrates in facilities, and how; to consider how this concentration manifests and can be identified; to explore key features associated with risky facilities; to critically discuss the concept of facility concentrations and consider the appropriateness of definitions and terminology within this field; to add to, and where necessary challenge, existing knowledge and its application in the field of spatial crime concentrations, particularly with respect to crime in facilities; and to make recommendations for policy, practice and further academic research.

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Alateeq, Ziyad. "Understanding the factors influencing Saudi primary students' reading engagement : a mixed methods approach." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2016. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/13796/.

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This thesis presents research on Saudi primary students’ reading engagement. It is an exploration of the factors influencing Saudi primary students’ reading engagement, concentrating on reading for pleasure. The reading for pleasure literature argues that the significance of engagement with reading or reading for pleasure in children’s lives in terms of their educational and personal development is unarguably immense. Different studies indicate the important role that reading for pleasure plays in promoting children’s literacy skills. However, some Saudi authors claim that most Saudi children are reluctant to read for pleasure, with the few studies that have investigated this issue suggesting that most children in Saudi Arabia are motivated to read but do not necessarily enjoy reading. This research aims to understand the factors influencing Saudi primary children’s engagement with reading. A mixed methods approach was applied in an exploratory, sequential mixed methods design. Semi- structured interviews were conducted with 12 boys from grades four, five and six (aged nine, ten and eleven). Q methodology and a ‘reading materials’ questionnaire (RMQ) were also used with a total of 37 primary students from the same age group as the interview participants but from different schools. All the participants were from a mid-sized city in the north of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The results indicate that students’ reading engagement is strongly influenced by different factors and that their religion, Islam, plays a major role. The study also suggests that while Saudi children do get pleasure from reading, this pleasure differs substantially from the Western concept of ‘reading for pleasure’, as their enjoyment is related to ‘doing well’ in reading, rather than gaining pleasure from accessing the content of reading material. Given that there is evidence to suggest that parents and teachers in Saudi want their children to benefit from greater engagement with reading, the research’s findings have significant implications for both Saudi children’s in-school and out of school reading experience and literacy education. It is argued that in order to promote engagement with reading in Saudi it is necessary to build on children’s existing construction of reading for enjoyment that is shaped by cultural and religious factors.

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Tripathi, Kartikeya. "Study of deviation from security procedures by train drivers : a mixed-methods approach." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2018. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/10041786/.

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Metro rail systems (MRS’s) face a serious threat from terrorist attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Rail operators rely on civilian staff to implement security procedures in response to reports of suspicious items on the network. Studies in the safety domain suggest that employees at the sharp end deviate from implementing procedures when they are under pressure to meet production goals. Using a mixed methods approach, this research was conducted to study whether same was true of security procedures in MRS’s, and if yes then what were the nuances of the process. The focus of research was a security standard operating procedure (SOP) implemented by train drivers of a MRS. Qualitative methods were used to identify the multiple goals drivers sought to meet in their work environment, their perception of the security procedure, and its impact on their goals in different driving conditions. Quantitative methods were then used to validate the qualitative findings by testing hypotheses on whether the drivers made the same trade-offs between security and other goals in actual train driving conditions of the MRS and a simulator. Results showed that there was a relationship between deviation from the procedure, the conditions in which it was performed and the drivers’ perception of the impact of the procedure and its constituent tasks on organisational and individual goals. Human error research served as the theoretical framework of this thesis and both the positivist approach of counting error and complex systems approach of appreciating the subjective viewpoint of workers were used to bring an in-depth understanding of deviation from a security SOP by metro rail drivers.

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Brooks, Byron D. "Healthy Identity Development Among Black Same-Gender Loving Men: A Mixed Methods Approach." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2008. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3798.

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Black Same-Gender Loving Men (BSGLM) are a population at the juncture of multiple marginalized identities, which may make it difficult to successfully form their identity due to experienced racism and heterosexism from communities to which they belong. Current paradigms of racial/ethnic and sexual identity do not fully capture the complexities of identity development among BSGLM. Moreover, there is scant literature available detailing what the process of identity development looks like among this population and which factors influence identity development among BSGLM. As such, the current study used an exploratory sequential mixed methods design to first discover what healthy identity looks like among BSGLM and which factors influence the process of developing a healthy identity. The study then empirically tested the elucidated factors in order to understand which of them influence identity development among BSGLM. First, a sample of BSGLM living in the U.S. (n = 19) were recruited via online and interviewed for the qualitative phase of the study about their identity development process. Using a Grounded Theory approach, the qualitative data revealed three unique components of healthy identity among BSGLM (e.g., self-affirmation, freedom from social conventions, having unconditional acceptance) and 13 factors that either inhibited or facilitated their identity development process. Qualitative findings were subsequently used to create a survey battery to quantitatively explore the relationships between the identified factors and components of healthy identity among another sample of BSGLM. The generated survey battery was administered to another sample of BSGLM living in the U.S. (n = 54) recruited from social media and organizations that service BSGLM. Bivariate correlations and multiple regression analyses examined inhibiting and facilitating factors as predictors of healthy identity. Findings revealed that minority stress-related factors were robust predictors of healthy identity. Specifically, rejection sensitivity from one’s family negatively predicted self-affirmation, frustration with concealing one’s sexual identity positively predicted freedom from social conventions, and experiencing threats/violence positively predicted unconditional acceptance. Results from the study may contribute to the refinement of identity development models among BSGLM and inform clinical interventions that bolster identity development among BSGLM such as transdiagnostic interventions that target minority stress and identity-related concerns.

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Chen, Susan. "Exploring Food Waste at a Residential Youth Summer Camp: A Mixed-Methods Approach." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/83779.

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Up to 40% of all edible food is wasted in the United States (U.S.) and a large proportion represents consumer waste. Research on food waste is in its infancy, particularly as it relates to youth. Summer camps offer a unique setting for food-based education, with the opportunity to reach large numbers of youth. This MS thesis describes a study that used a mixed-methods research approach to explore three objectives: 1) assess food waste in a residential 4-H youth summer camp setting; 2) determine if an educational program delivered to youth ages 9-13 years, would reduce food waste; and 3) understand stakeholders' views about the benefits and barriers to food waste reduction programs in the camp setting. The research team and camp staff developed and adapted food waste activities based on the Experiential Learning Model. Participants attended one of four weekly sessions to raise their awareness about food waste. Consumer and production food waste from three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) was collected over a 24-hour cycle and weighed before and after each weekly program to determine total amount of food wasted (pounds) during each week, average waste/child (pounds), and waste/meal (percentage). Waste was collected using the direct weighing method. Paired t-tests were used to assess differences. Stakeholder interviews (n=6) were conducted with Extension Agents, camp program directors, and camp staffers involved with the program. Inductive thematic analysis was used to determine themes and subthemes. This cross-sectional study included 864 residential campers. Over the course of the four weeks, the cafeteria produced a total amount of 3,182 lbs of food of which, 996.6 lb (30.4%) was wasted. Total consumer waste for all four weeks before and after the intervention was 76.5 lbs and 57.3 lbs, respectively. Although a decrease in consumer food waste was observed, results were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Total production waste decreased from 441.5 lbs before to 390.6 lb after the intervention. Production waste, in relation to the number of servings prepared, also decreased throughout the course of the four weeks. The main themes from the stakeholder interviews emphasized the need for a food waste curriculum and adequate resources to build and sustain the capacity of the education program.The limitations of this study included different menu items served throughout the four weeks, lack of randomization, and limited sample size of camps (n=4). This was the first food waste study conducted at a youth summer camp, which showed that food waste reduction and behavior change among campers are possible within a short time period. Further research is warranted to minimize food waste in broader contexts and in other camp settings.
Master of Science

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Root, Briana L. "Bereaved Individuals' Feelings of Anger Toward Deceased Family Members: A Mixed Methods Approach." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1308574262.

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Serna, Claudia A. "Exploring Oral Health Problems in Adult Hispanic Migrant Farmworkers: A Mixed-Methods Approach." FIU Digital Commons, 2014. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1593.

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This mixed-methods study examined patterns of dental health care utilization in adult Hispanic migrant farmworkers (AHMFW) with special emphasis on non-compliance with the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA) recommendation of visiting the dentist at least once a year; while also exploring the group’s social and cultural construction of oral health. A total of 278 farmworkers responded to a close ended survey. Binary and hierarchical logistic regression analysis were employed in identifying predisposing, enabling, and needs factors associated with non-compliance. Following the survey, fourteen ethnographic interviews were conducted with respondents who volunteered to participate in this phase of the study. Most participants (79.5%) were non-compliant with the ADA and the ADHA recommendation. Binary logistic regression results indicated that AHFW reporting need for dental treatment were compliant with the recommendation. In contrast, those who brushed their teeth more often, experienced oral health impact, and reported poor perception of their mouth condition were non-compliant. Hierarchical logistic regression results pointed to those who used floss and reported need for dental treatment as compliant with the recommendation. Participants reporting poor perception of their mouth condition were non-compliant. Eight themes emerged from the qualitative analysis (understanding of the mouth, meaning of oral health, history of dental care; dental problems, barriers to dental care, caring of the teeth/mouth, medications, oral health quality of life). Farmworkers were knowledgeable of oral health, however, this knowledge, particularly the practice of brushing twice a day, made them less likely to seek regular dental care. Ultimately, a dental visit hinged on their limited finances, lack of dental insurance, and family responsibilities. Together, these decreased access to preventive dental services and increased risk of experiencing oral health problems.

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Wadongo, Billy Indeche. "Performance management and evaluation in non-profit organisations : an embedded mixed methods approach." Thesis, University of Bedfordshire, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10547/333444.

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Performance management research in the private and public sector has received much attention in management accounting research; however, empirical studies on performance management in the non-profit sector remain scarce. This study proposes and validates a model that explains the relationships between contingency variables, performance management practices, and organisational effectiveness in the non-profit sector. The study employed a mixed methods research approach, which entailed a field study and a cross-sectional survey in the Kenyan non-profit sector. The field study was undertaken to understand the perceptions of NPO leaders on non-profit sector characteristics, organisational effectiveness, determinants, challenges, and benefits of implementation of performance management systems in the Kenyan non-profit sector. Thereafter, a cross-sectional survey (using mailed questionnaires and an online survey) was used to collect quantitative primary data. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the quantitative data. The structural equation modelling approach was adopted to test the hypothesised relationships among the contingency factors, performance management practices and organisational effectiveness. The findings indicate that performance management in NPOs can be categorised into three groups: performance planning, performance measurement and performance context. The NPOs emphasise mission statements and core values within the formal PM system. Although a number of private sector measurement frameworks are utilised, the NPOs mostly use logical framework, with emphasis on output and financial measures and team based targets with no clear rewards. The PM systems are resource intensive and they lead to goal displacement and narrow definition and measurement of organisational effectiveness. The results further reveal that among the contingency variables, strategic orientation significantly predicted performance management practices and organisational effectiveness in non-profits. Among the performance management variables, performance planning, performance targets, and performance rewards significantly predict organisational effectiveness domains. Furthermore, performance management practices mediate the relationship between strategic orientations, technology, information technology, leadership and external environment and organisational effectiveness domains. However, organisational size was not significantly related to performance management practices or organisational effectiveness. To successfully implement and benefit from the PM system, non-profit organisations need to address the fit between contextual factors and the performance management system. By employing a pragmatic, embedded, mixed methods approach this study provides empirical evidence of performance management practices that influence organisational effectiveness beyond the rhetoric of performance management theory. At the practice level, the findings will benefit Kenya government, non-profit organisations, donor agencies and performance evaluation practitioners.

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Gonçalves, Tiago Emanuel Rodrigues. "Psychosocial antecedents of knowledge sharing in healthcare research centers : a mixed methods approach." Master's thesis, Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/16263.

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Mestrado em Gestão de Recursos Humanos
A partilha de conhecimento está relacionada com fenómenos psicossociais complexos. Este estudo analisa o impacto de factores psicossociais como antecedentes do comportamento de partilha de conhecimento (KSB). O estudo segue um desenho assente numa metologia híbrida utilizando uma amostra de 150 investigadores na área da saúde para estudar a ligação entre perceções de rede social, objetivos partilhados, confiança social e comportamento de partilha de conhecimento. Em primeiro lugar, uma análise quantitativa foi utilizada para verificar esta relação e os efeitos de moderação da intenção de partilha de conhecimento (KSI) no KSB. Em segundo lugar, uma análise qualitativa comparativa utlizando conjuntos fuzzy (fsQCA) foi utilizada para identificar configurações alternativas que levam a presença de KSI e respetiva ausência e de presença de KSB e sua ausência. Os resultados demonstram evidências na relação dos antecedentes propostos de KSI e seu impacto em KSB. Configurações alternativas de condições que levam a presença ou ausência de KSI e KSB são igualmente discutidas (considerando diferenças entre conhecimento tácito e explícito).
Knowledge sharing is related to complex psychosocial phenomena. Prediction and control of knowledge usage is useful for Human Resources Management due to its nature as a resource and link with human capital in organizations - especially those that rely on knowledge intensively. By following previous studies focused on identifying and measuring the impact of psychosocial factors as antecedents of knowledge sharing behavior (KSB), a mixed methods approach was used on a sample of 150 healthcare researchers to verify the link between perceptions of social network, shared goals, social trust and knowledge sharing behavior. Firstly, a quantitative approach was used to verify this link and the effects of moderation of knowledge sharing intention (KSI) on KBS. Secondly, a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was used to identify alternative configurations that lead to KSI or its absence; KSB and its absence. Findings show evidences of the proposed antecedents of KSI and affecting the KSB. Alternative configurations are discussed regarding conditions that lead to the presence or absence of KSI and KSB (considering tacit and explicit knowledge apart).
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Brooks, Byron D. "Healthy Identity Development Among Black Same-Gender Loving Men: A Mixed Methods Approach." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2020. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3798.

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Black Same-Gender Loving Men (BSGLM) are a population at the juncture of multiple marginalized identities, which may make it difficult to successfully form their identity due to experienced racism and heterosexism from communities to which they belong. Current paradigms of racial/ethnic and sexual identity do not fully capture the complexities of identity development among BSGLM. Moreover, there is scant literature available detailing what the process of identity development looks like among this population and which factors influence identity development among BSGLM. As such, the current study used an exploratory sequential mixed methods design to first discover what healthy identity looks like among BSGLM and which factors influence the process of developing a healthy identity. The study then empirically tested the elucidated factors in order to understand which of them influence identity development among BSGLM. First, a sample of BSGLM living in the U.S. (n = 19) were recruited via online and interviewed for the qualitative phase of the study about their identity development process. Using a Grounded Theory approach, the qualitative data revealed three unique components of healthy identity among BSGLM (e.g., self-affirmation, freedom from social conventions, having unconditional acceptance) and 13 factors that either inhibited or facilitated their identity development process. Qualitative findings were subsequently used to create a survey battery to quantitatively explore the relationships between the identified factors and components of healthy identity among another sample of BSGLM. The generated survey battery was administered to another sample of BSGLM living in the U.S. (n = 54) recruited from social media and organizations that service BSGLM. Bivariate correlations and multiple regression analyses examined inhibiting and facilitating factors as predictors of healthy identity. Findings revealed that minority stress-related factors were robust predictors of healthy identity. Specifically, rejection sensitivity from one’s family negatively predicted self-affirmation, frustration with concealing one’s sexual identity positively predicted freedom from social conventions, and experiencing threats/violence positively predicted unconditional acceptance. Results from the study may contribute to the refinement of identity development models among BSGLM and inform clinical interventions that bolster identity development among BSGLM such as transdiagnostic interventions that target minority stress and identity-related concerns.

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Keranen, Nancy Susan. "A multi-theoretical mixed-methods approach to investigating research engagement by university ELT staff." Thesis, Lancaster University, 2008. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.527158.

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Rigaki, Anastasia. "Teachers of Greek Model Experimental High : Schools and Lifelong Learning: a mixed methods approach." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Institutionen för beteendevetenskap och lärande, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-113294.

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Lifelong Learning is a key concept in modern ‘knowledge-based’ society and it is viewed as a commodity, a personal drive or a social necessity. This thesis aims to unravel its many dimensions and the values that are ascribed to it by the teachers of Greek Model Experimental High Schools. A Model Experimental High School is a relatively new type of state school in Greece, which is highly differentiated from other schools in terms of curriculum, inter-school activities, staff and students and emerged in the Greek education system in 2011. For this reason, research on the effects of this differentiation in the aspects of Lifelong Learning is scarce. The mixed methods strategy was used in order to form a complete picture of the Lifelong Learning dimensions and the research was conducted in two parts. The first part was quantitative and aimed to categorize the elements that constitute Lifelong Learning for the teachers, the factors that encourage or discourage it and its positive and negative dimensions on a macro level as, through a questionnaire, and as a result responses were collected from the thirty-six Model Experimental High Schools in urban and semi-urban areas of Greece. The second part was qualitative and through semi-structured interviews, it explored more in-depth the issue of Lifelong Learning and the concept of vocational vitality which is related both to Lifelong Learning and a teacher’s professional life. Following the propositions of the Theory of Work Adjustment, the research revealed that through the various non-formal and informal activities that the demanding context of Model Experimental High Schools promotes, Lifelong Learning acts as a reinforcer and a means of sustaining the balance between the school and the teachers by increasing their satisfaction. Moreover, both the quantitative and the qualitative methods revealed that teachers consider Lifelong Learning firstly as a means of personal development and secondly as continuous professional development. Lifelong Learning as investment in the human capital was not found as important as the previous two. Furthermore, the vocational vitality of teachers was found to be thriving due to the importance that Lifelong Learning plays in their life a and despite the difficulties which arise from the work demands or the difficult socioeconomic context in Greece due to the economic crisis of the recent years.

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Winsnes, Øystein Margido. "The aftermath of the tsunami disaster : a mixed methods approach exploring youths' fundamental assumptions /." Oslo : Psykologisk Institutt, Universitetet i Oslo, 2007. http://www.duo.uio.no/publ/psykologi/2007/66748/assumptions.pdf.

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Emm-Collison, Lydia. "A mixed methods investigation of exercise motivation in adolescence : a self-determination theory approach." Thesis, University of Bath, 2017. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.715268.

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The purpose of this thesis was to explore the motivational processes that underpin adolescent exercise and sedentary behaviour. Grounded in Self-determination theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985), a series of four studies sought to address key methodological pitfalls within the extant SDT literature and utilise these developments to explore how motivation and its related cognitive processes relate to adolescent exercise and sedentary behaviour. In Chapter 2, through focus groups with 39 adolescents, the participants’ conceptualisation of exercise was explored to inform the interpretation of responses to exercise-related measures and the measurement of exercise behaviour. In Chapter 3, to facilitate the holistic measurement of need support, the Adolescent Psychological Need Support in Exercise Scale (APNSEQ) was developed and validated in two samples of adolescents (N=806). In Chapter 4, applying the new APNSEQ measure and the conceptual insight gained in Chapter 2, cross-sectional data from 388 adolescents supported the nomological network of variables proposed within SDT. However, the SDT model only explained a small amount of variance in behaviour. Thus, in Chapter 5 (N=257), a mediation model, where action planning, self-monitoring and habit mediate the relationship between autonomous motivation and behaviour was explored. Habit was a significant mediator of the relationship between autonomous motivation and exercise and sedentary behaviour, and need support was indirectly associated with self-regulation. Collectively, the four studies address some key conceptual and methodological issues present in the extant SDT literature, and apply these developments to offer a comprehensive exploration of the motivational processes that underpin adolescent exercise and sedentary behaviour. Through holistically considering the antecedents of motivation (i.e., need support, need thwarting, need satisfaction, and need frustration), as well as exploring the processes through which motivation influences behaviour, this thesis offers exciting routes for theoretically robust future research, as well as potential insights for intervention.

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Addis, Nicholas James. "A mixed methods approach to understanding the target selection criteria of burglars within Leeds." Thesis, University of Leeds, 2017. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/18092/.

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Over the last decade, levels of domestic burglary in Leeds have been amongst the highest in the UK. This has led to substantial investment into reducing burglary in the city; for example, with the implementation of the Burglary Reduction Programme in 2011. Though burglary levels in Leeds have subsequently fallen, reducing property crime (particularly burglary) and enhancing community safety remain key priorities for the city. This is particularly pertinent in the existing climate of policing cuts and austerity measures, which have contributed to a clear focus towards more accurately targeted resources and an evidence-based approach. This project takes a localised approach to exploring the nature of burglary and burglars. The aims are to understand the nuances and patterns of target selection amongst burglars, which will help support targeted operational policing, and enable the provision of targeted crime prevention advice. To achieve these aims, a mixed-methods approach has been used; namely, the analysis of burglary offence data collected by the police, as well as interviews undertaken with a sample of incarcerated offenders who have current or previous convictions for burglary. The analysis of offence data helped to derive offence-based MOs; these centred around features such as opportunism, ‘sneak-in’ offences, the use of force, and the age of offenders. This revealed five offence-based MO groupings; “Sneak Offences”; “Smash and Grab”; “Local Youthful Opportunism”; “Confident Opportunism” and “Local Juvenile Poverty Predation.” Offender-based MOs were subsequently derived through the interviews undertaken; these resulted in the identification of ‘professional’, ‘opportunist’, and ‘sneak-in’ offender-based MOs. Offence and offender-based MOs are contrasted and compared in the discussion. The nature, value and extent to which offenders and offences were characterised by these groupings is subsequently discussed. This project also revealed a number of findings with clear utility in supporting crime prevention and operational policing efforts. These include the importance of cover in target selection, understanding the ‘mindset’ of a property’s residents, the nature of journeys to and from crime, the process of ‘offloading’ stolen goods, the ability of offenders to ‘blend in’ to their surroundings, serial targets, and the importance of police-linked alarms as a deterrent. The research concludes by highlighting potential avenues for future work in this field.

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Burdock, Matthew. "Burnout in secure forensic mental health services for young people : a mixed methods approach." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2016. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/402565/.

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Occupational burnout is highly prevalent in mental health services and has a deleterious effect upon the psychological wellbeing of staff. Few studies have explored burnout in inpatient settings; those that have do not address the possible systemic impact. This study aimed to explore burnout and emotional reactions to behaviour that challenges in a secure forensic mental health service for young people; a specialised environment in which severe and frequent incidences of aggression and violence occur. Following a systematic review of burnout literature pertaining to inpatient mental health services, an empirical study was conducted using a convergent parallel mixed method design. Forty three staff members were recruited to the quantitative strand and ten were recruited to the qualitative strand. Emotional Reactions to Challenging Behaviour Scale (ERCBS) and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) instruments were used. A significant moderate positive correlation was found between emotional exhaustion and negative emotional reactions to behaviour that challenges. This relationship was mediated by general self-efficacy, which buffered the effect of emotional exhaustion on negative responses to behaviour that challenges; responses found to be detrimental to the relational environment. ‘Young People Blame Themselves’ was explored as a relational barrier and maintaining factor in occupational burnout. In ‘You Want Someone You Recognise’ and ‘We Lack That Consistency’ a high ratio of agency staff and a lack of operational consistency were identified as occupational stressors. Emotional exhaustion is associated with negative emotional reaction to challenging behaviour. Interventions should be targeted towards developing staff self-efficacy, through the use of reflective practice and ecological changes that enhance team-working and feelings of safety on the ward. When on the ward, staff should be mindful of young people’s predisposition towards attribution bias. Future studies need to give greater consideration to systemic outcomes associated with burnout.

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Phethean, Christopher. "Exploring the value of social media services for charitable organisations : a mixed methods approach." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2014. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/376944/.

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This thesis explores various factors that may influence the production of value for charities on social media websites. A mixed methods triangulation-based approach is used in order to improve understanding around why charities use social media and what they want to achieve by doing so, why supporters interact with charities on social media, and how this behaviour actually occurs on two popular social media sites: Facebook and Twitter. Qualitative sources of data are utilised in order to establish the reasons behind why social media are used, while quantitative sources provide evidence of interaction on these sites to establish whether or not the motivations of the charities are portrayed through their actual behaviour. An argument is made that because there are so many influencing factors on the resulting value, it is extremely difficult to measure this—and to distinguish success on these sites—through the use of automated tools that do not take into account the context of the organisation involved and what they are actually trying to achieve in the first place. Furthermore, this thesis suggests that analysing what the charity does in relation to their strategy can help to indicate whether or not a social media strategy has the potential to create the desired levels of value, and a classification system of communication styles is presented in order to assist with this process. This thesis therefore provides contributions that help to understand the value of social media for charities, and as such has implications for future social media research, charitable strategy planning and Web Science as a wider discipline.

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Keating, Jacqueline M. "The Inevitable Fusion: A Mixed-Methods Sociological Approach to Comprehensive Kodiak Bear Viewing Management." DigitalCommons@USU, 2017. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/5659.

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The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge is home to one of the highest concentrations of brown bears in Alaska. As the public demand for bear viewing opportunities continues to increase, managers are faced with the challenge of accommodating this new kind of visitor use on a refuge that was traditionally managed for the sustainable hunting of bears. To inform the public use management planning process, the Kodiak Refuge allocated funding to support social science research that objectively assessed the current nature of bear viewing opportunities and the factors that influence the quality of those opportunities. Ecologist Aldo Leopold claimed that the outstanding advance of modern ecology would be the “inevitable fusion” of the social and natural sciences. Therefore, a conjoint constitution framework inspired by Freudenburg, Frickel, and Gramling (1995) enabled this study to examine the active interplay of social and environmental factors in a bear viewing experience. Two seasons of research were conducted in partnership with Utah State University. The first season employed qualitative research methods to conduct detailed interviews with a wide variety of bear viewing stakeholders in Kodiak. This process informed the creation of a survey measurement tool that was administered to bear viewers the following summer. Survey results suggest that seeing a larger number of bears and seeing big bears are trip characteristics associated with higher satisfaction among visitors, while closer proximity to bears is associated with learning more about bear behavior. The environmental sociology principle of “conjoint constitution” guided both phases of research by helping to examine how social and physical factors interact with one another to create trip outcomes. Just as there are ongoing biological inventory and monitoring processes that inform refuge management, there should be inventory and monitoring of human activity and the fluent sociological factors influencing the nature of that activity. As the Kodiak Refuge continues its public use planning process, the ongoing integration of both biological and social science data will be critical.

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Longpre', Sheila M. "Occupational Therapy Services and Clinical Decision Making in Oncology Care: A Mixed Methods Approach." Diss., NSUWorks, 2016. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_ot_student_dissertations/52.

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The purpose of this study was to explore the types and patterns of occupational therapy services implemented with clients who are cancer survivors, which utilized a mixed methods approach, specifically an explanatory sequential design. The Occupational Therapy Practice Inventory (OTPI) was used to gather information regarding the type and patterns of occupational therapy services provided for clients receiving oncology care. The results of the OTPI were analyzed and used to further develop semi-structured questions for exploring the perspectives of occupational therapy practitioners who practice in the area of oncology in the United States. The data were analyzed to generate a portrayal of occupational therapy practice in oncology settings and examine factors that may be predictors for certain practice approaches. Frequency data indicated that interventions related to activities of daily living were performed most frequently. Phi coefficient indicated strong positive relationships with multiple components of the OTPI. Analysis of the qualitative results were completed by following the principles of grounded theory The data yielded one central phenomenon identified as wanting to provide the best care. Providing the best care was influenced by internal aspects and the external aspects of therapist. The integration of both qualitative and quantitative data supported the findings that interventions, most specifically activities of daily, were the most frequently indicated and discussed services provided by occupational therapy practitioners for cancer survivors in the Northeast, Midwest, and South. The practice of client-centered care and an occupation-based intervention strategy across the continuum of care for individuals who are cancer survivors was supported by the results.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Mixed-methods approach'

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