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1
Moore, Eugene R. "Staff organizational commitment as a predictor of staff perceptions of working alliances with delinquent youth." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/280315.
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The relationship between staff organizational commitment and staff perception of working alliances with youth in juvenile justice settings was investigated. Staff of the North American Family Institute (NAFI) were the subjects of this investigation. Meyer and Allen's (1991) model of organizational commitment with dimensions of affective, normative and continuance commitments was used to investigate staff organizational commitment as an independent variable impacting perceptions of working alliances between staff and youth in juvenile institutions. Horvath and Greenberg's (1994) Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) was used to measure staff perceptions of working alliance. A significant positive correlation was found between normative commitment and perceptions of working alliance using Pearson correlation statistics. Affective commitment and continuance commitment did not correlate significantly with staff perceptions of working alliance. Regression of normative, affective, and continuance commitment with the dependent variable of working alliance showed only normative commitment as significantly impacting working alliance. Age, gender and ethnicity were not found to be significantly correlated with staff perceptions of working alliances.
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Filbert, Katharine M. "Developmental Assets as a Predictor of Resilient Outcomes Among Aboriginal Young People in Out-of-Home Care." Thèse, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/23325.
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These two mixed method studies are among the first to focus on resilience among Canadian Aboriginal (i.e., First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) youth living in out-of-home care. The first study was quantitative and consisted of cross-sectional and longitudinal components. For the cross-sectional investigation, the participants consisted of 510 First Nations (237 females, 273 males aged 10-16 years), 39 Métis (15 females, 24 males aged 10-16 years), and 10 Inuit young people (2 females, 8 males aged 10-16 years) who were drawn from an ongoing study of young people in out-of-home care in Ontario collected during 2007-2008. The second Canadian adaptation of the Assessment and Action Record (AAR-C2-2006; Flynn, Ghazal, & Legault, 2006) from the ongoing Ontario Looking After Children (OnLAC) project was used to collect data. The criterion variables were the young person’s self-esteem, score on a suicidality index, educational performance, pro-social behaviour, and positive emotional and behavioural development. The predictor variables included the young person’s gender, ethnicity, age, behavioural difficulties, cognitive impairments, attainment of LAC goals, and number of developmental assets. The longitudinal investigation used the same design as study one, but examined the OnLAC data for year eight (2008-2009) in following 260 young people from the sample in study one. The second study was qualitative and involved interviewing 21 First Nations children and adolescents residing in out-of-home care in northern Ontario to obtain their views about resilience and the factors related to the presence or absence of resilient outcomes. The results provided some support for the hypothesis, in that a greater number of developmental assets were related to more positive outcomes on four of the five criterion variables. The results of the focus groups and in-depth interviews suggested that family members, members of the community (coaches), teachers, and child welfare workers, all play important roles in fostering the youths’ success.
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Hedvat, Atara Tatelman. "Family and Contextual Variables as Predictors of School Engagment and Developmental Outcomes in Adolescence." Thesis, Boston College, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/615.
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Thesis advisor: Jacqueline Lerner<br>Previous research has found higher levels of school engagement to be related to various positive outcomes such as higher academic achievement, higher levels of competence, lower depression, and better personal adjustment. Overall, there is strong evidence to suggest a broad positive association between school engagement and a variety of academic, social, and emotional outcomes. However, existing work has certain limitations and some important questions remain to be addressed. In an effort to address the limitations of previous research, this study aimed to establish the within and across time relationships between family and contextual variables and school engagement. The sample for this longitudinal study included 596 students who were part of the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development. These students were first surveyed in the fifth grade and completed subsequent questionnaires in the 6th and 7th grade (44% male; 56% female). In addition to the CES-D, several scales were constructed from the broad array of measures used in the 4-H study. The goals of this research were to identify the within and across time family and contextual predictors of school engagement, the predictors of the emotional and cognitive outcomes that result when adolescents are engaged in school, and to determine whether school engagement acts as a mediator between the variables of school climate, teacher support and parental involvement and the outcomes of grades, perceived academic competence, depression, educational aspirations, and educational expectations. The effects of gender, SES, and race were also examined. Statistical tools including regression analysis and tests of mediation were used. The findings indicated that the predictors of school engagement varied for 5th, 6th, and 7th graders in this sample. The changing predictors of school engagement and thus, the ways in which school engagement mediated the relationships between family and contextual variables and developmental outcomes demonstrated the fluidity of the adolescent and their changing needs and influences. These findings also illustrated the value of the longitudinal design of this study<br>Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2008<br>Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education<br>Discipline: Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology
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Shishane, Kwanele. "Predictors of condoms use behaviour and intentions of African migrant youth in South Africa." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22996.
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Although the prognosticators of condom use among youth in South Africa have been extensively studied, very little is known about the attitudes and subjective norms influencing sexual behaviours that could influence safe sex intentions among the population of migrant youth in South Africa. This study aims to investigate the predictors of condom use behaviour and intentions among migrant youth in South Africa and examines the influences of acculturation on the relationship between condom use intention and behaviour among this population. This was done through the exploration of the nature and extent of condom use; condom use behaviour; acculturation and condom use behaviour; association between acculturation and intentions to use condom use; association between intention and condom use behaviour; and perceived behavioural control and condom use behaviour among African migrant youth. Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and Berry's model of acculturation provided the theoretical framework for the empirical investigation of the study. The current study utilized a sexually active sample (N=91) of youth African migrants residing in Cape Town, with ages ranging 18-35 years. Age proportion by percentage was 18-25 at 46.2%, 26-3 at 30.8% and 32-35 years at 20.8%. A cross sectional quantitative research design was utilized and a time location non-probability sampling procedure was assumed in this study. Participants were recruited through a non-profit organisations working with African migrants in Cape Town. The instrument used was an anonymous semi-structured questionnaire consisting of five measures that assess the central study variables and a demographic section. Results indicate that attitudes had an insignificant relationship with condom use behaviour. Referent group norms had a .378 correlation (significant at 0.01 level) which indicate that peer norms had an influence on condom use behavior. Hierarchical multiple analyses were conducted, attitudes and subjective norms were entered in the first step explaining 15% of the variance on condom use behaviour. After entry of perceived behavioral control and intentions at step 2 the total variance explained by the model as whole was 22.7%. The two control measures explained an additional 7.7%, this means that perceived behavioral control and intentions explain an additional 7.7% (.077x100) of the variance in condom use behaviour of variance on condom use behaviour, even when the effects of attitudes and subjective norms are statistically controlled for. With respect to gender differences, females reported less condom use compared to males. This study concludes that, the central study variables did not have a highly significant correlation with condom use behaviour, with attitudes having the least significance. This study identified barriers to condom use such as culture and religion emphasize the need for future interventions to target popular opinion leaders (POL's) so as to influence cultural and religious beliefs that might have an impact on condom use.
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Noe, Sean R. "History of Parenting as Predictor of Delinquency, Moral Reasoning and Substance Abuse in Homeless Adolescents." The Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1211312793.
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Klostermann, Susan Joan. "Examining Predictors of Symptom Development and Successful School-Based Treatment Program Implementation for Traumatized Youth." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1426107601.
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Fullmer, Susanna. "Determining Predictors of Peer Relations: A Study on Youth inEthiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2021. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/9084.
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Across the world countries are currently striving to eliminate poverty, improve the quality of education, optimize well-being, among other areas of improvement. In an effort to help such improvements, a group called Young Lives ran a longitudinal study on youth in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam that studied the many facets of poverty. The purpose of this study is to utilize the Young Lives dataset to determine how countries can more readily improve social-emotional skills by looking at important experiences in adolescents' lives. Specifically, this study examines what factors increase a child's ability to socialize with peers, which is shown to be linked to higher academic success as well as a fuller development into adulthood. In order to measure the ability to socialize with peers, Young Lives used the relationships with Peers Scale (RPS). I examined, through implementing structural equation modeling techniques, what factors significantly predict RPS scores, as well as which time point the factors are most predictive. I also inspected the psychometric properties of the RPS on the Young Lives' population and observed measurement invariance across time and country in order to ensure this scale is a valid measure. Steps to improve relationships with peers can be taken by encouraging higher intrinsic locus of control, providing equal educational opportunities, improving safety conditions, providing nutritional education, and eliminating competition for resources.
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Fullmer, Susanna. "Determining Predictors of Peer Relations: A Study on Youth in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2021. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/9084.
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Across the world countries are currently striving to eliminate poverty, improve the quality of education, optimize well-being, among other areas of improvement. In an effort to help such improvements, a group called Young Lives ran a longitudinal study on youth in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam that studied the many facets of poverty. The purpose of this study is to utilize the Young Lives dataset to determine how countries can more readily improve social-emotional skills by looking at important experiences in adolescents' lives. Specifically, this study examines what factors increase a child's ability to socialize with peers, which is shown to be linked to higher academic success as well as a fuller development into adulthood. In order to measure the ability to socialize with peers, Young Lives used the relationships with Peers Scale (RPS). I examined, through implementing structural equation modeling techniques, what factors significantly predict RPS scores, as well as which time point the factors are most predictive. I also inspected the psychometric properties of the RPS on the Young Lives' population and observed measurement invariance across time and country in order to ensure this scale is a valid measure. Steps to improve relationships with peers can be taken by encouraging higher intrinsic locus of control, providing equal educational opportunities, improving safety conditions, providing nutritional education, and eliminating competition for resources.
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Irving, Carmen Marie. "PARENT-CHILD CONNECTEDNESS AND ITS CONTRIBUTORS AS PREDICTORS OF POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT DURING EARLY ADOLESCENCE: A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS." Kent State University / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1373587741.
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Read, Paul James. "Development and validation of a novel movement screen to predict lower extremity injury in male youth soccer players." Thesis, Cardiff Metropolitan University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10369/7918.
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Lower extremity non-contact injuries are common in male youth soccer players. Altered neuromuscular control defined as muscle strength, power or activation patterns that lead to increased joint loads has been suggested as a mechanism that underpins the occurrence of these injuries during rapid deceleration tasks. However, data pertaining to neuromuscular risk factors and screening in male youth soccer players is sparse. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the validity of a novel movement screen to predict injury risk in elite male youth soccer players. Study 1 examined the test re-test reliability of a range of field-based neuromuscular control tests reporting acceptable values for measures of single leg dynamic balance, landing force, maximal hop distance and tuck jump knee kinematics; however, other commonly used assessments were more variable. The effects of chronological age on the measures deemed reliable in study 1 were then analysed in study 2. A number of between group differences were evident but this pattern was variable across the different constructs of neuromuscular control, thus an age-specific training emphasis may be required at different stages of a young player‟s development. Also, the normative data included for a range of chronological age groups in this study may be useful for practitioners, from which fluctuations in performances can be identified. The results of study 3 showed acceptable within subject variation on the majority of the tests measured at three time points across a soccer season. However, percentage change scores in neuromuscular control were more variable and differences between test sessions were often considerably lower than the random variation, thus observed changes may not be meaningful. However, single leg countermovement jump forces increased considerably throughout the season indicating that a „real‟ change occurred and this may be associated with greater injury risk. Seasonal variation in injury occurrence was also identified in study 4, but a major finding was a three-fold increase in player incidence rate since the introduction of an early soccer specialisation model in the United Kingdom. This indicates that elite male youth players are now at a greater risk of injury. The final study examined the ability of a novel movement screen to predict non-contact lower extremity injury risk in male youth soccer players. A combination of anthropometric and neuromuscular risk factors were shown as predictors, but there was variability across the different chronological age groups. Single leg countermovement jump landing force asymmetry was the most frequently reported risk factor and univariate analysis also identified a number of significant predictors in respective chronological age groups. The results of this study provide an evidenced-based diagnostic assessment tool from which “at risk” players could be identified; the injury prevention asymmetry soccer screen (i-PASS). However, greater weightings of specific assessments may be required at different stages of a child‟s development due to variability across age groups. This thesis has made an original and significant contribution to the existing paediatric injury risk screening literature for soccer players. Furthermore, these findings can easily be applied by practitioners to more accurately screen their players and develop targeted prevention strategies to reduce injury risk.
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Bankowski, Linda Joy. "Social learning and stage development applied to resistance to treatment: Probation youth in a residential treatment facility." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2003. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2190.
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The present study focused on male incarcerated youth, ages ranging from twelve to eighteen, in a twenty-four hour care treatment facility. The study attempted to determine what historical factors such as types of crimes committed, length of criminal history, and gang involvement are behavioral indicators of the type of youth who resist treatment. For the study, run away behavior indicated the youth was resistant to treatment.
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Barmish, Andrea J. "Self-disclosure as a predictor of outcomes in cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxious youth." Diss., Temple University Libraries, 2008. http://cdm16002.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p245801coll10/id/12076.
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Psychology<br>Ph.D.<br>Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an empirically supported treatment for anxious youth; however, approximately 30% of youths continue to meet diagnostic criteria for their primary anxiety disorder at posttreatment. Efforts to identify predictors and moderators of outcome in CBT are encouraged in order to enhance treatment efficacy. One potential predictor is youth pretreatment self-disclosure (e.g. Panichelli-Mindel, Flannery-Schroeder, Kendall, & Angelosante, 2005). Using a sample of 101 Anxiety Disordered (AD) youths meeting criteria for a primary diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD), or Social Phobia (SOP) who were treated with 16-weeks of CBT (individual or family), this study examined (a) youth self-disclosure as a predictor of CBT outcomes, (b) pre- to post-treatment change in disclosure and distress during disclosure task, for responders relative to nonresponders, (c) disclosure and distress while disclosing in anxious youth relative to community volunteers (N=74); and (d) disclosure and distress while disclosing in treatment responders and nonresponders (posttreatment), and community volunteers. Videotaped recordings of a four-minute Youth Speech Sample (YSS) in which the youth was instructed to talk about him/herself were coded by reliable coders who were blind to diagnostic status, using the Youth Self-Disclosure Rating Scale (YSDRS) for each of the variables of interest (Feared Situations, Personal Content, Global Rating of Disclosure, and Distress while Disclosing). Text analysis software was used to measure Disclosure Language. Treatment outcome was measured using posttreatment diagnostic status and severity, youth self-report, and mother- and father-reports. Findings of the present study indicate that pretreatment disclosure does not predict CBT outcomes for anxious youth. Additionally, there were no differences in the pre- to post-treatment change in disclosure and distress for responders and nonresponders; however, a main effect of treatment on disclosure of personal content was observed, such that youths disclosed more at posttreatment relative to pretreatment. Anxious youths appear more distressed in the disclosure task relative to community volunteers, but groups do not differ in their level of disclosure. Similarly, treatment responders and nonresponder at posttreatment were rated as more distressed while disclosing relative to community volunteers, but do not differ in their level of disclosure. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.<br>Temple University--Theses
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Henderson, Craig Everett. "Grandparent-Grandchild Attachment as a Predictor of Psychological Adjustment among Youth from Divorced Families." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2001. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2895/.
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Merrill, Brett M. "Youth Motivation as a Predictor of Treatment Outcomes in a Community Mental Health System." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2014. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4187.
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The role of motivation in relation to youth symptoms and psychotherapy outcomes is not well understood. Some cross-sectional research suggests that motivation predicts youth treatment outcome in low-motivation populations. The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of change in youth motivation over the course of treatment and to elucidate the relation between motivation, youth symptoms, and psychotherapy outcomes in a routine community mental health setting. Participants and their caregivers were from three community mental health outpatient clinics and completed youth or parent forms of the Youth Outcome Questionnaire (Y-OQ) and Treatment Support Measure (TSM) at frequent intervals throughout treatment. Data were collected over a period of about 2 years. On average, youth motivation significantly increased over the course of therapy according to self- (p < .001) and parent-report (p < .001). This change followed a square root function better than linear and quadratic models. Initial motivation was not predictive of overall change in symptoms or rate of change at the p <.05 level after accounting for initial levels of youth symptoms. Individual rates of change for youth motivation varied significantly over the course of treatment (p < .001), which might suggest unique trajectories of motivation for different subsets of youth based on presenting concerns or other variables.
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Roane, Brandy Michelle. "Adolescent Insomnia as a Predictor of Early Adulthood Outcomes." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2006. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5399/.
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Recent research found insomnia is a risk factor for psychiatric disorders in adults. To see if the same would be true in adolescents, the current study re-analyzed data from a national longitudinal study collected by ADDHealth that evaluated health behaviors in 4552 adolescents (mean age 14.9 years [SD 1.7]) at baseline and again 7-8 years later (n = 3489) during young adulthood. Insomnia was reported by 9.2% of the adolescents. Cross-sectionally, adolescent insomnia was associated with alcohol, cannabis, non-cannabis drugs, and tobacco use, and depression after controlling for gender and ethnicity. Prospectively, adolescent insomnia was a significant risk factor for depression diagnosis, suicidal ideation, and the use of depression and stress prescription medications in young adulthood after controlling for gender, ethnicity, and significant baseline variable. In addition, a trend was noted for suicidal attempts.
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Ruth, Corinne Elizabeth. "Parenting Skills as a Predictor of Youth Externalizing Outcomes in Routine Community Mental Health Services." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2017. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/6760.
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This study examined the relationship between perceived parenting skills and youth externalizing symptoms throughout the course of routine treatment of youth receiving services in a community mental health setting. Specifically, this study investigated whether changes in parenting skills were associated with changes in three dimensions of youth externalizing behaviors (behavioral dysfunction, interpersonal relations, social problems). Participants were 401 youth (aged 4-17, mean aged 10.7, 48% female) and their parents/guardians. At regular intervals throughout treatment, parents completed the Treatment Support Measure (TSM) to assess perceived parenting skills along with the Youth Outcome Questionnaire (Y-OQ) to assess youth externalizing symptoms. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses revealed that changes in perceived parenting skills were not significantly related to changes youth behavioral dysfunction, interpersonal relations, or social problems. However, parenting skills and all facets of externalizing significantly changed throughout the course of therapy and higher parenting skills were associated with lower levels of youth externalizing throughout therapy. Parenting skill appears to require further study as a key factor involved in youth psychotherapy outcomes in real world settings, especially in relation to youth externalizing symptoms.
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Cheng, Chi-Cheng 1959. "Predictor displays--theory development and application to towed submersibles." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/13256.
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Delk, Lauren Annabel. "Assessment of Criminal Thinking as a Predictor and Mediator of Behavior Problems in a Community Youth Sample." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/98398.
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Criminal behavior results in negative, costly consequences for both individuals and society at large. Therefore, researchers have worked to identify variables that predict recidivism, or recurrence of crime. The variables with the strongest predictive power include criminal thinking, personality traits, antisocial peers, and family difficulties, among others. In addition, policy makers and stakeholders are creating interventions which target criminal thinking, to reduce criminal thinking and hopefully reduce future crime.
However, little is known about measuring criminal thinking in community youth for the purposes of early intervention and prevention of future behavior problems. Therefore, this study examined a measure of criminal thinking in community youth to examine item-level and measure validity. It also sought to examine if criminal thinking acts as a mediator between other risk factors and subsequent behavior problems.
Although some items may need to be revised, results suggested generally good validity for the total score. This study also supports the stability of criminal thinking in community youth, and thus could be used as a measure of change. Finally, results suggest that criminal thinking mediates the relationships between antisocial friends and parenting styles in predicting reactive aggression.
The results of the item-level analysis of this study highlight the similarities between psychopathy and criminal thinking. Questions also arise about the relationship between criminal thinking in community youth and more transdiagnostic concepts, such as emotion regulation problems. Overall, criminal thinking appears to be a viable target for assessment and intervention in community youth.<br>Doctor of Philosophy<br>Researchers seeking to reduce crime, because of its negative effects on society, have identified some features of a person and situations that are closely related to a person committing future crimes. Specifically, criminals tend to think in certain ways that promote crime, called criminal thinking styles. If those thinking styles are changed, then people may be less likely to commit future crimes. However, the field does not know if these criminal thinking styles are the same for youth in the community. Therefore, this study examined a measure of criminal thinking in community youth.
Results show that the measure seems to work appropriately in community youth. Although not all items are the best for these youth, overall, the measure works well in predicting behavior problems, as expected. The measure also shows that criminal thinking in youth generally stays the same over time. Finally, this study shows that some features of youth which predict behavior problems are related to behavior problems because of the presence of criminal thinking.
This study shows that a measure of criminal thinking, originally created for use in a justice-involved adult population, can also be used with community youth. It may then be used to assess youth who are on the verge of getting into trouble for criminal thinking styles. Interventions could use this measure to see if the criminal thinking styles are being reduced. Finally, because criminal thinking explains the relationship between other personal factors and behavior problems, interventions can focus on just criminal thinking, and not all the other factors, as a way to reduce future behavior problems.
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Kommaraju, Mallik. "Predictor development for controlling real-time applications over the Internet." Texas A&M University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/4813.
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Over the past decade there has been a growing demand for interactive multimedia
applications deployed over public IP networks. To achieve acceptable Quality of Ser-
vice (QoS) without significantly modifying the existing infrastructure, the end-to-end
applications need to optimize their behavior and adapt according to network char-
acteristics. Most existing application optimization techniques are based on reactive
strategies, i.e. reacting to occurrences of congestion. We propose the use of predic-
tive control to address the problem in an anticipatory manner. This research deals
with developing models to predict end-to-end single flow characteristics of Wide Area
Networks (WANs).
A novel signal, in the form of single flow packet accumulation, is proposed for
feedback purposes. This thesis presents a variety of effective predictors for the above
signal using Auto-Regressive (AR) models, Radial Basis Functions (RBF) and Sparse
Basis Functions (SBF). The study consists of three sections. We first develop time-
series models to predict the accumulation signal. Since encoder bit-rate is the most
logical and generic control input, a statistical analysis is conducted to analyze the
effect of input bit-rate on end-to-end delay and the accumulation signal. Finally,
models are developed using this bit-rate as an input to predict the resulting accu-
mulation signal. The predictors are evaluated based on Noise-to-Signal Ratio (NSR)
along with their accuracy with increasing accumulation levels. In time-series models, RBF gave the best NSR closely followed by AR models. Analysis based on accu-
racy with increasing accumulation levels showed AR to be better in some cases. The
study on effect of bit-rate revealed that bit-rate may not be a good control input on
all paths. Models such as Auto-Regressive with Exogenous input (ARX) and RBF
were used to develop models to predict the accumulation signal using bit-rate as a
modeling input. ARX and RBF models were found to give comparable accuracy, with
RBF being slightly better.
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Lauxman, Lisa, Marta Elva Stuart, Darcy Tessman, et al. "Identifying High Quality Youth Programs: Information for Youth Development Professionals." College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/156904.
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4 pp.<br>This is a series of 6 fact sheets related to identifying high quality youth programs from several perspectives:
middle/high school youth, parents, youth development professionals and identifying resources in the community. It also includes a check list that will be included with each of the fact sheets.
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Ryan, Jeanne A. M. "Predicting positive youth development outcomes using the social development model /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/8141.
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Gxubane, Eric Thulane. "Recidivism among male trial-awaiting youth detained at Dyambu Youth Centre." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15419.
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Bibliography: leaves 108-113.<br>The study investigates the problem of recidivism amongst male trial-awaiting youth detained at Bosasa's Dyambu Youth Centre (DYC), to determine whether their experiences with the variables under investigation have in any way influenced them to consider changes in their attitudes towards criminal behaviour. The research design in this study followed both quantitative and qualitative methodological orientations .An interview schedule was constructed in advance and applied in a standardised manner and was administered by the researcher, face to face with each respondent. Data were analysed and presented both quantitatively and qualitatively. Findings in this study revealed that financial gain, drug addiction and peer pressure were the major driving forces and motivating factors that influenced the respondents to become repeatedly involved in criminal behaviour. Lack of a stable source of income, denial of re-admission at school, rejection by family and friends and lack of stable home and accommodation were some of the major factors that made reintegration into the community difficult for the respondents during the period after their previous release. The findings in this study point to inadequacy of services with regard to prevention of crime and recidivism amongst juvenile offenders. Re-integration and after-care services were identified as an area that is grossly neglected in the field of probation and in social work services generally. Nearly all the respondents reported that they would like to abandon their criminal lifestyle but the situations that they face and various other factors highlighted in the study drive them to crime. The predominant factors identified by the respondents as influential in encouraging abandonment of criminal activities include: a fear of heavy criminal record, disgracing the family, the acquisition of various skills and knowledge from DYC workshops and classes; and their own individual thinking.
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Shaikh, Majidullah. "Youth Leadership in a Physical Activity-Based Positive Youth Development Program for At-Risk Youth." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/36591.
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Physical activity-based positive youth development (PA-PYD) programs can serve to empower and alleviate barriers to development for at-risk youth. Youth leaders may play an important role in these programs to foster the development of their younger peers, while mutually benefiting from the program as they foster and apply skills such as leadership, communication, and self-direction. Currently, there is a gap in literature as very few studies have examined youth leadership within PA-PYD programming. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to explore the perspectives and experiences of youth leaders and their fellow program participants in relation to youth leadership within the context of a PA-PYD program for at-risk youth. Data were gathered from 16 youth leaders (Mage= 13.37, SD = 1.36) and 15 program participants (Mage= 10.53, SD = 1.12) across four different program locations, using semi-structured, one-on-one interviews. This thesis is composed of two articles. The first article used a deductive-inductive thematic analysis to better understand the experiences that youth leaders had in the program. Three themes were identified: (a) building youth leaders is a process, (b) mentorship is perceived as critical for one’s leadership development, (c) trust is important for enhancing youth leader engagement. The second article also used a deductive-inductive thematic analysis to examine how youth leaders perceive the influence they have on younger peers who participate in the physical activity-based youth development program, as well as how these program participants perceive the role and impact of the youth leaders. Five themes emerged from the analysis, which were: (a) learning and building skills, (b) receiving support, (c) enjoyment, (d) relatability, and (e) lack of maturity. This research contributes to current gaps in the literature on youth leadership within physical activity-based youth programming and provides practical recommendations to improve such programming.
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Armstrong, Michael Neal. "Organizational characteristics and adolescent political development exploring the experience of youth activists in youth development organizations /." unrestricted, 2007. http://etd.gsu.edu/theses/available/etd-08152007-142917/.
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Thesis (M.A.)--Georgia State University, 2007.<br>Roderick J. Watts, committee chair; James Emshoff, Gabriel Kuperminc, committee members. Electronic text (117 p.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed Nov. 8, 2007; title from file title page. Includes bibliographical references (p. 102-111).
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Armstrong, Michael N. "Organizational Characteristics and Adolescent Political Development: Exploring the Experience of Youth Activists in Youth Development Organizations." Digital Archive @ GSU, 2007. http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/psych_theses/41.
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Interest in youth civic engagement continues to increase and a small but growing group of organizations are seeking to get young people involved in political activism. At the same time, researchers are giving more attention to the features of adolescent settings and how they relate to the overall development of young people. What remains to be absent is a contextual understanding of how the characteristics of adolescent settings contribute specifically to political development. The purpose of this study is to identify organizational level characteristics of youth organizations that promote the political development of adolescents. Semi-structured interviews and grounded theory analysis with 15 young activists revealed a “Big Six” of organizational characteristics and properties that influence participation in societal involvement behaviors. Post hoc analyses also revealed potential relationships between political development and the Big Six. Implications for both theory and practice are discussed and directions for future research are delineated.
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Lloyd, R., Jon L. Oliver, J. Moody, R. W. Myers, and Michael H. Stone. "Long-term Development of Youth Weightlifting." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2012. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/4671.
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Strachan, Leischa Augusta Teresa. "An ecological approach to examining positive youth development in competitive youth sport." Thesis, Kingston, Ont. : [s.n.], 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1974/1261.
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Bellanova, Tatiana. "Case study of a faith-based youth development program serving Latino youth." Diss., Restricted to subscribing institutions, 2008. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1610113261&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=1564&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Arubayi, Dereck. "Youth in development : understanding the contributions of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to Nigeria's national development." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2015. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/youth-in-development-understanding-the-contributions-of-the-national-youth-service-corps-nysc-to-nigerias-national-development(8c2a9be9-bc3f-4f38-bf4d-42f54b1d2d5d).html.
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Despite theoretical and policy advancements in global human and gendered approaches to development, youth in mainstream development policy discourse remains subsumed. The ratification of global best practice models of human development in Nigeria, without contextualizing the probable dividends of youth capability strength in shaping national development realities, will present challenges that are likely to threaten the sustainable future of country. Perhaps if this is sustained, this thesis argues that the capabilities of Nigerian youths will continue to remain trapped or mismatched in areas that they fail to contribute positively to Nigeria's national development. In this regard, this thesis evaluated the extent to which youth capabilities are enhanced in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for national development in Nigeria. Firstly, this thesis contributes conceptually to understanding, broadly, the social constructions of youth in mainstream policy discourse and their positioning in both global and national development practice in Nigeria. It also critically examines through literature how western epistemological interpretations of development theorizing are reproduced in youth discourse. Succinctly, the theoretical contribution of youth in development explains how development-underdevelopment dualism in mainstream development reproduces similar youth-adult dualisms in conceptualizing how youths are recognized, represented and constituted within policy discourses. Based on this, the theoretical gaps that this thesis bridges, operationalizes the Sen's capability approach (SCA) through the utilization of Narayan-Parker's empowerment framework in order to contextualize how the intersections of youth agency and structural contributions of the NYSC could aid the effective utilization of youth capabilities for national development in Nigeria. Secondly, this thesis contributes methodologically to development practice as it adapts a mixed-method approach (MMA) to researching youth lives, especially from a developing country's context. The application of a qualitative dominant mixed method approach (qual-MMA), suggests how through social constructivist ontology and through poststructuralist epistemology, the understanding of how youths socially construct their identity and the roles they play in national development becomes clearer. Thirdly, the germane and empirical contribution of this thesis especially to mainstream development theorizing is that, youth voices captured through narratives and quantitative data helped explore the experiences of Nigerian youth's transition pathways from education to the NYSC pathway. This further allowed for critical examination of how youths are: absorbed through mobilization into the NYSC; developed through the activities in the scheme; deployed and utilized in addressing national development challenges in Nigeria. This thesis suggests that dominant social constructions based on age and transition patterns, undermine the impact/effective functioning of youth capabilities for addressing national development challenges. It concludes that limited support structures during the youth educational pathways and lack of opportunity structures while youths are in the NYSC pathways continue to limit the functioning of their capabilities in sectors of national development needs. It recommends a need to rethink the current deployment strategy of the NYSC so that youth capabilities fit the national development narrative.
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Boober, Becky Hayes. "Spirited Youth/Thriving Youth: Adolescents' Perspectives on Nurturing Thriving Outcomes Through Faith Development." Fogler Library, University of Maine, 2005. http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/BooberBH2005.pdf.
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Newman, Tarkington J. "Exploring Life Skill Development and Transfer: Experiences of Youth in a Community Sport-Based Positive Youth Development Program." The Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1553692981574171.
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Ady, Janet Carrier. "Dissertation Title| Framing Youth Citizen Science for Education, Youth Development, andPublic Land Conservation." Thesis, Prescott College, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10252184.
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<p> This study explored how citizen science programs can connect young people with nature while providing needed scientific data. The premise was that, with attention to proper design, modification of current programming might increase citizen science outcomes for conservation. Furthermore, combining sound scientific protocols with effective education and positive youth development strategies can lead to consequential benefits for youth and society. An embedded single-case study explored a set of 20 citizen science programs relevant to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine how the programs intended to educate and develop youth and to understand the programs’ designs. A theoretical framework based upon science education, environmental education, and positive youth development guided the inquiry. The study also explored how environmental educators, youth group leaders, scientists, and public land managers might work together to design and implement youth community and citizen science programs on federal lands. Study findings informed development of a prototype planning framework to guide planning and implementation of youth-focused community and citizen science programs on federal lands. Using the framework to design robust citizen science programs can assist scientists monitoring environmental conditions to inform land management decisions; and assist environmental education program coordinators to design meaningful service–learning activities for youth.</p><p>
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Garcia, Arlen Judith. "Investigating Group Processes in a Positive Youth Development Program For Multi-Problem Youth." FIU Digital Commons, 2007. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3837.
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This study investigated group processes as potential mediators or moderators of positive development outcome and negative reduction intervention response by evaluating the utility of a group measure modified from a widely known measure of group impact found in the group therapy research literature. Four group processes were of primary interest, (1) Group Impact (2) Facilitator Impact (3) Skills Impact and (4) Exploration Impact as assessed by the Session Evaluation Form (SEF). Outcome measures included the Personally Expressive Activities Questionnaire (PEAQ), Erikson Psycho-Social Index (EPSI) and the Zill Behavior Items, Behavior Problem Index (ZBI (BPI)). The sample consisted of 121 multi-ethnic participants drawn from four alternative high schools from the Miami-Dade County Public School system. Utilizing a Latent Growth Curve Modeling approach with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) statistics, preliminary analyses were conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the SEF and Its role in the mediation or moderation of intervention outcome. Preliminary results revealed evidence of a single higher order factor representing a “General” global reaction, which was hypothesized to be a “Positive Group Climate” construct to the program as opposed, to the four distinct group processes that were initially hypothesized to affect outcomes. The results of the evaluation of the mediation or moderation role of intervention outcome of the single “General” global latent factor (“Positive Group Climate” construct) did not significantly predict treatment response on any of the outcome variables. Nevertheless, the evidence of an underlying “General” global latent factor (“Positive Group Climate” construct) has important future directions for research on positive youth development programs as well as in group therapy research.
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Callingham, Christina. "Youth Engagement in Northern Communities: A Narrative Exploration of Aboriginal Youth Participation in a Positive Youth Development Program." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/32869.
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This qualitative study aimed to enhance our understanding of youth engagement experiences from the perspective of Aboriginal youth living in the Canadian North, as positive youth development programs can foster community engagement among youth and may have implications for Aboriginal youth involvement in community healing. With an asset-based orientation that recognizes that youths’ strengths co-exist with, and are understood in relation to, environmental challenges, narrative inquiry was used to explore the experiences of six Aboriginal youth who participated in a program that promotes community engagement. Rich participant accounts resulted in better understanding youth engagement as a profound culture-bound process rather than simple participation in a program, and illuminates the importance of positive relationships, adult support, and pre-program community involvement to building subsequent engagement. This study has implications specific to Aboriginal youth as having a role in promoting health and healing in their communities through their engagement.
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Halsall, Tanya. "Evaluation of a Sports-Based Positive Youth Development Program for First Nations Youth: Experiences of Community, Growth and Youth Engagement." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/35598.
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In contrast with mainstream Canadian youth, First Nations youth experience many health disparities. Researchers recommended that interventions designed to promote First Nations youth development use a strengths-based lens that recognizes contextual challenges. Furthermore, leadership programming for First Nations youth has begun to show promising outcomes. The overall purpose of this research was to examine the Youth Leadership Program (YLP) program to gain an understanding of program implementation and perceived outcomes related to both individual and community development. Two studies were conducted to fulfil the research purpose. The first study applied a qualitative approach that examined contextual dynamics, implementation issues (Article 1) and perceived impacts (Article 2). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Overall, 12 program staff (5 females), one Elder (male) and 10 youth (8 females) participated in semi-structured interviews. In addition, 11 youth (7 females) participated in two focus groups. The data from the youth and staff were included in the first study. The focus group data was included in the second study. In Article 1, findings were categorized into strategies for success and challenges. The following six themes were identified within the strategies for success: (a) designing youth engagement strategies, (b) being creative and adaptable, (c) being a positive presence, (d) applying experiential learning techniques, (e) balancing the integration of culture with youth voice and (f) identifying partnerships and developing relationships with the community. The three themes relating to challenges were (a) community diversity, (b) social issues and (c) staff burn-out. In Article 2, data analysis resulted in three themes that describe the perceived program effects at the participant, staff and community levels. The three major themes include: a) progressive leadership development, b) enhanced relationships and c) increased community participation. Within the second study (Article 3), methods were based on youth participatory evaluation and Photovoice and the design included capacity building, stakeholder analysis, photo exploration and utilization-focused activities. Using a thematic analysis, five themes were identified: (a) fun and fulfilling to engage the children, (b) positive outcomes for youth leaders, (c) community impacts, (d) challenges and (e) opportunities for improvement. Findings for each study are discussed in relation to current theory and practice, and recommendations are provided for future research and programming. This research makes contributions to applied positive youth development programming, community-based research with First Nations youth, youth-led participatory research and developmental systems theory.
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Mullins, Jessica Lynn. "CHARACTER EDUCATION AND 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT." UKnowledge, 2011. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_theses/85.
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Character education assumes responsibility for influencing and educating youth on morals, values, beliefs and positive character attributes in order to influence them into being positive and contributing members of society. Character education is most often taught in the home, schools and community. One community organization that integrates character education into its programming is 4-H Youth Development. The purpose of this research is to view the relationships between character education and 4-H, and more so whether Kentucky 4-H programs influence the knowledge, attitudes and practices of positive character among youth leaders. This study also looked at length of 4-H involvement and gender in order to determine influence. It was found that Kentucky 4-H programs do influence positive character among youth leaders, as youth indicated that they had gained character knowledge from 4-H involvement, as well as the program had made them a better person. It was also found that the gender of youth or their length of involvement in 4-H programs does not affect the character knowledge, attitudes and practices gained from involvement. The author recommends using these positive findings to continue to expand Kentucky programs and recruit adults and youth.
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Gana, Adel. "The role of youth in sustainable development." Thesis, Видавництво СумДУ, 2011. http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/10003.
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Skirda, T. S., and Katya Doctorova. "International education, prospects and youth development strategies." Thesis, Національний авіаційний університет, 2020. http://er.nau.edu.ua/handle/NAU/42983.
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Schools, private colleges and universities around the world have gained such popularity among those who want to study abroad thanks to the level of education provided there. Higher-level teachers guarantee a significant increase in student knowledge. The main secret of success is that each educational institution has developed a special methodology for presenting information, taking into account the individual capabilities of each student or student. Regardless of the level of preparation and luggage knowledge, the program is interesting, accessible and understandable to everyone.<br>Школи, приватні коледжі та університети у всьому світі здобули таку популярність серед тих, хто хоче вчитися за кордоном завдяки рівню освіти, що надається там. Викладачі вищого рівня гарантують значне зростання знань студентів. Основний секрет успіху полягає в тому, що кожен навчальний заклад розробив спеціальну методику подання інформації з урахуванням індивідуальних можливостей кожного учня чи студента. Незалежно від рівня підготовки та багажних знань, програма цікава, доступна та зрозуміла кожному.
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Iglesias, Adam. "Ethnic Identity Development among Rural Adolescent Youth." VCU Scholars Compass, 2010. http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/2308.
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The current study evaluated the factor analytic structure and developmental trajectory of ethnic identity, as measured by the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure, (MEIM) among early rural adolescents. The convergent validity of the measure for rural youth was also examined. The sample for this study was drawn from a larger longitudinal study focusing on violence prevention efforts with an early adolescent sample residing in rural Florida. The final sample size for these secondary analyses was 5,695 participants. The sample was 53 % Caucasian, 24% Latino, 15% African American, and 8% Other. The mean age of the students was 11.3 years. Data were collected at seven time points. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted with the entire sample to determine whether a two-factor model was a satisfactory fit for the entire sample at Times 1-7. Individual growth curve modeling was used to determine ethnic identity trajectories. This study demonstrated that the MEIM taps into two factors (Exploration and Commitment) for rural adolescents. Moreover, the findings demonstrated multigroup equivalence across waves 1-7 of data collection for the Caucasian, African American, and Latino groups. Further, results from the growth curve modeling procedures indicated that Caucasian participants demonstrated a greater increase in Exploration relative to Latino and African American participants. Lastly, results from the convergent validity analyses indicated that Commitment was negatively related to attitudes towards violence and positively related towards attitudes towards nonviolence. Implications for future research and prevention programs that incorporate ethnic identity constructs are discussed.
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Nambiar, Divya. "Skill development and youth aspirations in India." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2014. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:10b8396b-9101-46e4-ac7f-b720562fdec3.
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This doctoral thesis features two kinds of skill-training programmes implemented in Tamil Nadu (India) drawing on 18 months of fieldwork. The first explores how Nokia recruits and trains semi-skilled youth to work as Operators, in the Nokia SEZ, in Sriperumbudur. I contrast this with the case of Project SEAM: a state-funded skill-training programme, implemented by a private firm through a public-private partnership (PPP). SEAM trains rural, below-poverty-line youth, to work as sewing machine operators in India’s burgeoning garment clusters. I argue that contemporary India’s development trajectory is characterised by the confluence between an increasingly pluralised network state and rapidly proliferating network enterprises, which work together to establish new workplaces and design and implement skill-training programmes for India’s rural poor. Skill-training is used as a lens to examine the complex, symbiotic relationship between these two actors, who drive these new initiatives. Skill development programmes are predicated on the idea that aspiration is a positive, transformative force – a view that is echoed by social scientists like Appadurai (2004; 2013). I demonstrate how the network state and network enterprise, shape and mould youth aspirations, across the skill-training cycle: transforming (within mere weeks) unemployed, unskilled rural youth – into semi skilled workers, ready to work in the manufacturing sector. Youth aspirations are consciously heightened as a marketing strategy, to maximize enrollments into skill-training programmes. Aspiration is also actively taught as a valuable soft-skill, that young people must possess, to become a part of India’s new workplaces. Through an exploration of how young people encounter such initiatives, I question the idea that aspirations are positively transformational. I highlight the tension in youth experience - between aspirations elevated by the training program, and factory work’s harder realities - to illustrate the dark side of aspiration: characterized by disillusionment, disappointment and personal failure.
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Grealish, Annmarie. "The development of the Youth Empowerment Scale." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2014. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/the-development-of-the-youth-empowerment-scale(89eacd8b-691f-4f28-aca8-068c5882595f).html.
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This study developed and validated the Youth Empowerment Scale (YES) for young people with psychosis. This PhD thesis consisted of four phases. Phase 1 conceptualised empowerment from the perspective of young people with psychosis. Phase 1 qualitative findings informed the development of the measurement of empowerment; the Youth empowerment Scale (YES). Phase 2 developed and validated the YES in a non-clinical population. Phase 3 explored the relationship between psychological processes (self-efficacy, control, coping, thinking style, and social support), empowerment, mental health wellbeing and recovery. The YES was then validated again in phase 4 on a clinical population, young people within Child and Adolescents Mental Health Services (CAMHS). This study confirmed that the YES is a valid and reliable measure of empowerment which can be used in future work identifying and supporting empowerment for young people with psychosis.
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Conley, Kathryn. "Youth Leadership Development and Peer-Led Initiatives." VCU Scholars Compass, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10156/2395.
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Stuart, Marta, Darcy Tessman, Juanita O'Campo Waits, et al. "Identifying High Quality Youth Programs: Information for High School Youth Professionals." College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/156906.
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4 pp.<br>This is a series of 6 fact sheets related to identifying high quality youth programs from several perspectives:
middle/high school youth, parents, youth development professionals and identifying resources in the community. It also includes a check list that will be included with each of the fact sheets.
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Tessman, Darcy, Marta Elva Stuart, Juanita O'Campo Waits, et al. "Identifying High Quality Youth Programs: Information for Middle School Youth Professionals." College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/158287.
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2 pp.<br>This is a series of 6 fact sheets related to identifying high quality youth programs from several perspectives:
middle/high school youth, parents, youth development professionals and identifying resources in the community. It also includes a check list that will be included with each of the fact sheets.
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Choux, Mathieu. "Development of new predictor climate variables for statistical downscaling of daily precipitation process." Thesis, McGill University, 2005. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=98951.
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Statistical downscaling (SD) procedures have been frequently used for assessing the potential impacts of climate change and variability on hydrological regime. These procedures are based on the empirical relationships between large-scale atmospheric variables (predictors) and surface environment parameters (e.g., precipitation and temperature). The present research work is hence concerned with the development of new predictor climate variables that could be used for improving the accuracy of downscaling of daily precipitation process at a local site. The new predictors should be able to provide a more accurate simulation of the local variable since they could describe more accurately the physical characteristics of the precipitation process. In particular, a better reproduction of summer rainfall event is expected through an improved inclusion of main thermodynamic forcings from humidity and stability parameters.<br>The first part of this study focuses on the re-computation of the geostrophic circulation predictor variables developed by Wilby and Wigley (2000), reconstructed from mean sea level pressure or geopotential heights. The same circulation variables are re-computed from prognostic winds of the National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) re-analysis data set (Kalnay et al., 1996). Assessment of the performance of the re-computed predictors is carried out using the Statistical DownScaling Model (SDSM), developed by Wilby et al. (2002), and based on a number of climate indices characterizing the frequency, intensity and extremes of daily precipitation process. Two different predictor sets are considered, the first consisting of circulation-only variables, the second including a raw specific humidity predictor. For each predictor set, results obtained from the two computation techniques are compared. Daily precipitation data available at Montreal-Dorval Airport station for the 1961-1990 period were used in this assessment. Results indicated that the re-computation of geostrophic variables for both sets could yield significant improvements in the reproduction of local precipitation characteristics for the validation 1976-1990 period. The most striking improvement can be achieved for winter, as expected from the greater influence of large-scale circulation forcings on precipitation in this season. In the second part, new advection variables are developed based on a generalized omega equation. It is found that the Laplacian of temperature advection and the differential vorticity advection appear as direct forcings of the vertical velocity, strongly correlated with the precipitation process. Precipitable water and atmospheric instability indices are also included in the predictor range, mainly to reach a better simulation of convective precipitation. Next, a new statistical downscaling scheme is developed, combining a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the new predictors and the SDSM model. Analysis of the different computed principal components confirms the major role of the two identified advection terms and the humidity/instability predictors. Assessment of the new PCA+SDSM scheme shows significant improvements of the simulation of precipitation intensity, although results are less conclusive regarding the precipitation occurrence.<br>Finally, the influence of the calibration period length on the new downscaling scheme performance was carried out by comparing the simulation results obtained from two calibration runs of 15 and 30 years of length: for the 1961-1975 period and for the 1961-1990 one. It was found that doubling the calibration period length could lead to significant improvements in the reproduction of the local precipitation characteristics.
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Riley, Allison Boester. "Staff Practices and Youth Outcomes in a Summer Sport-Based Positive Youth Development Program." The Ohio State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1373998025.
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Stinson, Jill D., Carrie C. LeMay, Kelcey L. Hall, and S. Mersch. "Developmental and Clinical Predictors of the Onset of Offending and Behavioral Problems: A Comparison Between Adult Offenders in a Secure Psychiatric Hospital and Youth Offenders in Residential Treatment." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2016. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7957.
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Camiré, Martin. "Facilitating Positive Youth Development Through High School Sport." Thèse, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/22903.
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The purpose of this doctoral dissertation was to examine how high school sport can be framed as a context that facilitates positive youth development. Data were collected in two phases. In phase one, a case study of a high school ice hockey program recognised for focusing on youth development was conducted. One article was written, documenting the design of the program and its impact on student development. Results indicate that participants believed students were learning a wide range of life skills and values but that administrators and coaches faced many challenges in sustaining the program. In phase two, interviews were conducted with model high school coaches and their athletes and three articles were written (articles two, three, and four). The second article examines how model high school coaches teach students life skills and how to transfer these skills to other life domains. Results demonstrate that the model coaches prioritised development and had specifically designed strategies to help students learn and transfer life skills. The third article investigates how model high school coaches learn to facilitate positive youth development through sport. Results indicate that these coaches were lifelong learners who took advantage of learning situations in order to refine their skills and use sport as a tool for development. The fourth article examines the characteristics athletes prefer in high school coaches. Results indicate that most athletes prefer coaches who are supportive, knowledgeable, good motivators, and prioritise athlete development. Based on the results of the two phases of data collection, an article was written with the objective of providing coaches with strategies on how to facilitate positive youth development through sport. Strategies consist of: (a) developing a coaching philosophy, (b) developing relationships with athletes, (c) having developmental strategies, (d) making athletes practice life skills, and (e) teaching athletes about the transferability of life skills.
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Jones, Martin I. "Positive youth development through sport : teaching life skills." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2007. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/8030.
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This thesis aimed to develop an intervention to improve the life skills of British adolescent competitive sport participants, who are in full time education. Study one investigated the life skills needs of adolescent competitive sport participants and provided a participant-centred definition of life skills. The problem exists that it is unclear which life skills are needed by adolescent competitive sport participants and which life skills should be included in life skills programmes. As such, existing programmes may not reflect the needs of adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine the life skills needs of competitive adolescent sports participants from the perspective of youth sport participants, coaches, and experts in sport psychology and youth sport. Eighteen adolescent sports participants, fourteen coaches, and four experts in sport psychology and youth sport participated in a series of focus group interviews. An inductive analysis revealed how participants defined life skills and which life skills adolescent sports participants need. Life skills were defined as ranges of transferable skills needed for everyday life by everybody, that help people thrive above and beyond the normal requirements of everyday existence. Participants described the need for interpersonal skills including social skills, respect, leadership, family interactions, and communication. Personal skills including organisation, discipline, self-reliance, goal setting, managing performance outcomes, motivation, and identity were also reported. Participants described communication skills and organisation as the most important life skills for British adolescent competitive sport participants to acquire. Study two presents an in-depth, idiographic study illustrating how life skills were learnt through the experience of sport. The aim of the current study was to investigate how life skills could be learnt and improved through experiences in sport. (Continues...).
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Arnolds, Lionel. "Guidelines for the development of youth mentor programmes." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/49979.
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Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Close, personal relationships with adults are seen to contribute positively to the
development of young people. Whilst mentoring has been established in other
parts of the world, it is a relatively new concept in South Africa. The purpose of
this study is to establish guidelines for the development of youth mentoring
programmes.
The literature study deals with the human development of youth during
adolescence. Those factors, both within the family as well as in the environment,
that affect the development of young people, are discussed. The phases of the
mentoring process is also described. The Hearts of Men mentoring programme is
used as an example of a youth mentoring programme that is based in the
community.
An exploratory and descriptive study was undertaken in order to describe the
development of youth during adolescence. An empirical study was undertaken
based on the literature review. A sample comprised of 18 young people
participating in the Hearts of Men mentoring programme in the Strand was
involved in the study. With the help of the empirical study the perception of the
young people with regard to the mentor and mentee roles was examined.
The findings of the study reveal that the young people in the Hearts of Men
programme have a positive experience of the mentoring process and have an
understanding of the mentor and mentee roles.
In order to establish youth mentoring programmes, organisations must possess
the knowledge of and skills in the mentoring process and must have an
understanding of the human development of young people as well as of theories
relating to their development.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Persoonlike verhoudings met volwasse persone word beskou as 'n positiewe
bydraende faktor tot die ontwikkeling van jongmense. Terwyl mentorprogramme
redelik gevestig is in ander dele van die wêreld, is dit 'n relatiewe nuwe konsep in
Suid Afrika. Die doel van hierdie studie is om riglyne daar te stel vir die ontwikkeling
van jeug mentorprogramme.
Die literatuurstudie het gehandel oor die menslike ontwikkeling van jongmense
gedurende adolessensie. Faktore binne die gesin, sowel as die omgewing, wat 'n
invloed het op die ontwikkeling van die adolessent is bespreek. Die fases van die
mentorproses is ook beskryf. Die Hearts of Men program is gebruik as 'n voorbeeld
van 'n gemeenskapsgebaseerde jeug mentorprogram.
'n Verkennende-beskrywende studie is onderneem om die ontwikkeling van die
adolessent gedurende adolessensie te beskryf. 'n Empiriese studie gegrond op die
literatuurstudie is gedoen. 'n Steekproef, bestaande uit agtien jong deelnemers aan
die Hearts of Men mentorprogram in die Strand, is by die ondersoek betrek. Met
behulp van die empiriese ondersoek is die persepsies van die jong persone rakende
die rol van die mentor en mentee in die mentorprogram ondersoek.
Die bevindinge van die ondersoek toon dat die deelnemers aan die Hearts of Men
mentorprogram 'n positiewe ervaring van die mentorproses ondervind, en dat hulle
begrip toon ten opsigte van die rol van die mentor en mentee in die mentorprogram.
Ten einde jeug mentorprogramme te implementeer, moet organisasies oor die
kennis en vaardighede beskik rakende die mentorproses. Organisasies moet ook
begrip toon rakende menslike ontwikkeling van jongmense, en kennis hê oor teorieë
wat op hulle ontwikkeling betrekking het.