Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1995. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 223-231).

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The aim of this study was to use the grounded theory method to discover the main concerns of midwives in relation to their practice with baby feeding, and to identify the processes that are involved in dealing with baby feeding in their day-to-day work. Data were generated from thirty in-depth interviews with midwives who worked in two maternity care Trusts in the North of England. Data were analysed using constant comparative techniques of the grounded theory method. A computer software program (Non-numerical Unstructured Data Indexing Searching and Theorising package) for qualitative data analysis was used to manage and store the analysis. The grounded theory that emerged suggests that baby feeding was not an easy part of these midwives’ work. These midwives were finding ways of dealing with the pressures that were around them, and which they felt, were affecting their practice. Examples of these pressures include the environment where feeding took place, the support and contributions of those around the woman and baby (particularly other midwives), and the beliefs and behaviour of the woman and baby themselves. ‘Surviving’ enabled midwives to feel that they had dealt with baby feeding in their practice and successfully managed their workload. Surviving consists of four main categories: altering proximities of baby feeding, emotionalising baby feeding, struggling with baby feeding, and directing baby feeding. Surviving is not a linear process that is sequential, but cyclical as these categories are inter-related to each other. However, these midwives’ actions created many of the problems that they experienced, therefore the process was perpetuated. The significance of this substantive theory has been explored within the literature related to baby feeding, workers’ functioning in other public service bureaucracies, and research methodology. Implications for midwifery research, practice and policy are discussed. It is suggested that this thesis could contribute to wider health service agendas such as clinical governance, multi-disciplinary working and public health.

The purpose of this research was to conduct a needs assessment for the city of Denton, Texas to learn how residents view Denton's aging-friendliness. The research design was based on the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services' Aging Texas Well Toolkit and was funded by a two year grant from that agency. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to gather data on six community indicators: demographics, housing, transportation, health care (including mental health and substance abuse services), recreation, and community supports and services. Input from city residents was gathered through focus groups, followed by a survey of the broader community in the city to validate and prioritize the needs identified. The research found gaps in Denton's aging-friendliness. Denton residents feel that although there are some services for the aging in the area, other services are lacking. The top needs identified by residents were a single point of contact for, and better communication about, resources currently available, as well as a need for increased transportation options.

Master of Science / Department of Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design / Kim Y. Hiller Connell / Purchasing fair trade products is a form of socially responsible consumption. Fair trade is founded on the idea of paying fair wages and providing safe working environments to marginalized producers, typically from developing countries. Baby Boomers, the generational cohort that is the focus of this study, were born between the years 1946 and 1964. The purpose of this thesis is to expand the knowledge base of fair trade consumption related to the Baby Boomer generation. This study makes a positive contribution towards this goal by furthering the understanding of Baby Boomers knowledge about and attitudes towards the fair trade movement, as well as assessing their current level of engagement in purchasing of fair trade products and their perceptions about barriers to purchasing fair trade products to a greater degree. An additional contribution made by this study is the comparison of differences in fair trade knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Early versus Late Baby Boomers—a new contribution to the body of knowledge on fair trade. Altogether, 168 Baby Boomers (63 Late Boomers and 105 Early Baby Boomers) participated in the study. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. Questions in the questionnaire focused on: 1) knowledge of the fair trade movement; 2) attitudes about the fair trade movement; 3) fair trade purchasing behaviors; and 4) perceived barriers to fair trade purchasing. Data analysis included a combination of both quantitative (descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and correlation analysis) and qualitative techniques. Guagnano, Stern, and Dietz’s (1995) ABC Model framed the study and Rogers (1983) diffusion theory and the prerequisites for adoption of an innovation guided conceptualization of the barriers to fair trade purchasing. Overall, findings of the study indicated that the participants were knowledgeable about the fair trade movement. They also exhibited positive attitudes towards fair trade but were not willing to compromise on certain product characteristics. The participants were somewhat engaged in a number of fair trade purchasing behaviors and they perceived numerous barriers to purchasing fair trade products. Finally, there were no identifiable differences between the Early and Late Baby Boomers in terms of knowledge, attitudes, or behaviors.

Magister Curationis - MCur / Nursing unit managers from different generations of nurses are expected to manage their units effectively, in order to achieve the healthcare goals for their clients. Directing a unit can be affected by the generational differences among nursing unit managers. It has been stated that generational differences are associated with different perceptions on directing a nursing unit. However, in Namibia, no similar evidence exists to support this theory; therefore, a contextual understanding of the nursing unit managers’ perceptions was necessary to inform future measures of improving the management of a nursing unit. Aim: The purpose of this study was to understand and explore the perceptions of nursing unit managers, from different generation cohorts, on directing a unit. Methods: An exploratory - descriptive qualitative research approach was employed. The data were collected from ten participants, using semi-structured interviews. The data analysis was done through thematic content analysis. Results The nursing unit managers had positive perceptions about their role of directing a nursing unit. The managers’ perceptions of communication, motivation, coaching, and leadership were similar. The differences in the managers’ perceptions were not directly related to generational differences between the nursing unit managers. In general, the nursing unit managers valued communication, and considered it the most significant skill required in directing a nursing unit. Discussion: Nursing unit managers from different generation cohorts view their role of directing a unit positively, and share similar perceptions, regardless of the differences in their generations. The little differences noted were not directly related to the nursing unit managers’ generations. Therefore, nursing unit managers need to be well skilled in communication, motivation, coaching, and leadership, to manage a nursing unit/ward.

Extensive research and literature exists emphasising that the quality of the early infant attachment style and psychic structure developments are dependent on the quality of maternal care received by an infant. Infants’ who experience consistent, sensitive, and reliable care are more likely to develop secure attachments and healthy psychic structures which will positively influence their future abilities to function healthily in their environments and to experience healthy interpersonal relationships. The importance, therefore, for the development and assessment of parent-infant interventions focused on improving the quality of maternal care available to infants, is clear. The Ububele Baby Mat Project, implemented at the Alexandra Health Care Clinic in Johannesburg, is one such intervention and no evaluation of this intervention has been conducted. It was deemed necessary by the team providing the service for them to gain some idea of the way in which their service is being received in the community it is serving as well as to assist them in developing their intervention further. The current research aimed to get insight into the mothers’ experiences and perceptions of the Baby mat. The form of data included 8 semi-structured in-depth interviews of women who had accessed the Baby mat and thematic content analysis was used to interpret the results. The findings indicated that overall the mothers received the Baby mat very positively and spoke of the service being invaluable to them, especially in the face of the adverse conditions in which they live. Suggestions for the Ububele Baby Mat Project team are also provided.

This thesis is a study of a young woman coming to terms with her grief. It unpacks how an invitation to film an unusual and life-changing event developed into an opportunity to question the ethics of the interview. It examines how the intricacies of a trust relationship influence the very threads and textures of the resulting documentary. This paper is a partnership between a practical documentary project and a more traditional written discussion. The documentary Five Hours with Raja is weighted at eighty per cent of the final thesis and the written exegesis makes up the remaining twenty per cent. Together these two elements investigate the developing relationship between Claudia – the documentary’s key protagonist, and the filmmaker, investigating how their relationship has affected the style, method, content and even the fundamental story line of a documentary. It also discusses the consequential ethical considerations and dilemmas behind creative and practical decisions, investigating ways that a filmmaker can draw the participant into the process to allow a greater degree of ownership, a stronger voice and a more immediate sense of intimacy with the final audience.

The oldest members of the huge baby boom cohort (born 1946-1964) will be facing retirement in the next 10 years. Because of its large size, particularly in relation to the cohorts that preceded it, the baby boom cohort has distended every social institution that it has come in contact with including the housing market. Will the baby boomers also have a disproportionate impact on the retirement housing landscape? There has been a great deal of discussion and speculation about this group of pre-retirees, yet little empirical research has been conducted on the plans of aging baby boomers. The research described in the two articles that comprise Chapters III and IV addressed this need by examining the housing and locational preferences and plans of early baby boomer pre-retirees (born 1946-1954) for the first 10 years of retirement. The concept of cohort uniqueness was integral to the model tested in the two articles. The data were collected as part of a telephone survey of metropolitan and non-metropolitan Oregon and Utah residents conducted by the Western Regional Agricultural Experiment Station Committee (W-176). Statistical analyses included Chi-square tests of significance and logistic regression. Weighted data were used so that the results would be representative of the populations of the two states. In Chapter IV, "Retirement Housing and Locational Preferences of the Depression and Early Baby Boom Age Cohorts," the early baby boomers were compared with another cohort of pre-retirees, the Depression cohort (born 1930-1939). Although some significant differences were found there were also many similarities between the two cohorts (N=836). Intra-cohort differences based on gender and marital category of early baby boomers (N=476) were examined in Chapter IV, "Retirement Housing and Locational Preferences: Differences Within the Early Baby Boom Age Cohort." Planners, policy makers, developers, and builders will need to understand these inter-cohort and intra-cohort differences and similarities in order to produce acceptable retirement housing alternatives for aging baby boomers. / Graduation date: 2001

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.