The purpose of this study was to identify the impact the 1990 amendments to Carl D. Perkins Career and Applied Technology Act within-state allocation of federal funds had on the operational infrastructure of career and technical education (CTE) in Virginia as specifically related to the overall quality of secondary CTE programs. In the 1990 Perkins Act, Section 102 mandated that 75% of the within-state allotment go directly to local secondary and postsecondary institutions that offered CTE programs. The remaining 25% of funding was divided among the following state-administered programs and agencies: (a) state administration (5%), (b) state leadership (8.5%), (c) corrections (1%), and (d) equity programs (10%) (AVA, 1992; U.S. Congress, 1984). This change to the within-state allocation formula was significantly different from previous Perkins Acts as well as the trends in educational policy at that time (NCRVE, 1991). In the 1998 reauthorization of Perkins, the localities allotment increased to 85% of within-state funding. A three round modified Policy Delphi technique was used to identify and rate the consequences of the within-state allocation amendments from a panel of CTE local administrators, state administrators, and university researchers and/or teacher educators. These participants worked within their CTE positions in Virginia before and after the enactment of 1990 Perkins Act. A total of 54 participants began Round 1 and 30 completed Round 3 for a 56% participation rate. A total of 223 unique consequences were identified and rated for relevancy to the within-state funding formula change and effect on the operation of CTE in Virginia. One hundred sixty-one consequences were deemed relevant within and/or between all position levels (local, state, and university). All position levels deemed 42 consequences as relevant to the within-state funding formula change. Of those 42 consequences, 35 received the same effect (positive or negative) among all position levels. The findings of this study suggest that the changes to the within-state funding formula and its accompanying amendments did have a negative effect on the operation of secondary CTE in Virginia. More specifically, the changes to the Perkins Act this study examined seemed to adversely effect CTE teacher education, state-level CTE research initiatives, and state-level CTE's ability to provide localities with hands-on technical assistance, professional and leadership development, and coordination. The findings also suggest the legislative changes negatively altered the manner in which program evaluation occurred within the state by decreasing the state-level assistance for developing methods of program evaluation. In other words, the findings of this study seem to suggest there is a lack of leadership, development, and direction within Virginia's CTE program. The researcher recommends that members of Congress charged with reauthorizing the Perkins legislation should review the current within-state funding formula to determine if it is the most effective funding formula for helping local and state-level CTE carry out the purpose of the legislation. / Ph. D.

The transition to high school is a critical juncture of a student's educational career. The type of ninth grade transition program a high school has in place can be a deciding factor regarding whether students 'make it or break it' during their first year and, ultimately, have success throughout all of high school. Currently, resources are available about different aspects of the ninth grade transition, but nothing provides principals with a research-based and practitioner-endorsed comprehensive approach to designing and implementing a ninth grade transition program. A comprehensive approach starts with proper goals and objectives, includes essential specific components and ingredients needed in a ninth grade transition program, and requires data or measures to judge the effectiveness of the program. Therefore, a Delphi study was undertaken to answer the following research question: What should be the goals/objectives of a comprehensive ninth grade transition program (i.e., academic success alone or are there other things that also are important)? The secondary questions focused on the components or ingredients that are essential and how to evaluate the success of a ninth grade transition program. This Delphi study included three rounds during which data were gathered from a 20-member panel of experts that included both national leaders and education practitioners. The panel produced 21 consensus items on goals/objectives of a ninth grade transition program, 10 consensus items on essential components of a ninth grade transition program, and 15 consensus items on the data/measures to evaluate the success of a ninth grade transition program. Results indicated that transition programs need to address both academic and social/emotional needs of students. The data provided evidence that principals need to take great care in teacher quality, instructional practices, and a systematic approach to monitoring the performance of ninth grade students as well as ensuring students make a positive connection with an adult in the school. / Ed. D.

Emotional eating is a common behavioral phenomenon that involves eating in response to emotional impulses rather than physical hunger and is believed to be a form of affect regulation (Ball and Lee, 2002). While emotional eating occurs within the symptomatology of eating disorders it also occurs independently (Benett, Greene, and Schwartz-Barcott, 2012). Further, a pattern of emotional eating can lead to weight gain and the development of eating disorders (Grant and Boersma, 2005). Currently, research is limited in terms of smart practice treatment recommendations for emotional eating. In order to address this gap in research, the Delphi method was utilized in order to gain consensus from a panel of nine experts regarding treatment recommendation specific to emotional eating. These panelists identified 47 treatment interventions that will be discussed. / Master of Science

Compassion is related to the work of counselors, yet scholars have not agreed upon a standard definition of compassion beyond a superficial dictionary explanation. A Delphi study was conducted to discover the opinions of a panel of counseling experts on the subject of compassion. The purpose of the study was to identify and define compassion as it relates to the context of professional counseling, as well as identify associated skills, attributes, and behaviors. The study also explored how experienced counselors distinguish compassion as it is experienced or expressed professionally and personally. Fifteen panelists participated in three rounds of data collection via online survey. Panelists also received feedback from subsequent rounds. Themes emerged on perceptions of compassion, skills and abilities that convey compassion, situations that create compassion obstruction, and support of knowledge, training, and education on compassion. The results indicate that assumptions exist on understanding what compassion is and how to express it in a professional manner. Results further show that compassion is an understudied and unnoticed concept that needs more examination. / Doctor of Philosophy / People generally understand compassion to be an act of understanding the pain and suffering of another person with a desire to ease their pain. However, applying the concept to the work professional counselors do can be problematic because of the codes of conduct and principles needed to keep both the counselors and clients safe. Compassion is at the heart of counseling with the goal being to help individuals and families positively focus on their mental health to improve many areas of their lives. Currently, the counseling profession recognizes the importance of compassion but needs to research this concept more fully. This study used a Delphi methodology to learn from a group of expert counselors and counselor educators how they define compassion specific to the occupation of counseling. An additional purpose was to identify things counselors do and know that express or communicate compassion in counseling settings. The group of experts revealed that counselors know the healthy boundaries needed to keep the relationships between the client and themselves healthy. Counselors also know what may get in the way of showing or feeling compassion with their clients. The results of the study did define compassion in counseling, identified ways counselors show compassion, and helped set up a way to develop compassion over the occupational lifespan.

The problem for this study was to identify standards desirable for faculty when four-year hospitality management education programs are accredited. A modified Delphi technique was used to determine standards and reach agreement among a panel of hospitality professionals concerning desirable standards to be used to evaluate faculty during the self-study section of the specialized accreditation process. Nine faculty qualifications identified in the literature as being common to the self-study section of specialized accreditation constituted the framework of the study. These qualifications included academic preparation, scholarly productivity, applied professional experience, involvement in professional associations, competency in area of specialization, teaching effectiveness, interest in curricular experimentation, ability to work with students, and public service. A professional panel consisting of 15 hospitality management education administrators/faculty and 12 hospitality management industry representatives developed standards for each of the above qualifications. The panel rated the desirability of the standards using a Likert-type scale (4=very desirable, 3=desirable, 2=undesirable, l=very undesirable). All standards receiving a total of two-thirds of the responding panel members' votes in the very desirable and desirable categories were included in a proposed accreditation model of faculty standards. Unexpectedly, the panel questioned the inclusion of the qualification of public service and agreed to omit the evaluation of faculty on this qualification during specialized accreditation. It was recommended that eight of the qualifications and their corresponding standards be used by The Council on Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Education (CHRIE) to form criteria necessary for the self-study section of specialized accreditation. It was also recommended that the developed standards be used by hospitality management faculty as a means of self-evaluation. Finally, it was recommended that hospitality management education administrators use the standards as (a) guidelines when hiring and evaluating faculty and (b) a means for assessing faculty needs prior to faculty development programs. / Ed. D.

Yes / and Health and social care may affect family carers’ health and wellbeing in addition to patients’ lives. It is recommended that such impacts (carer effects) are considered in decision-making. However, the scope of carer effects and range of decisions where carer effects should be considered is uncertain. This study aimed to identify (i) how different categories of healthcare and social care were perceived to impact on family carers and (ii) whether there was consensus about when carer effects should be formally considered in decision-making contexts. Methods: A Delphi study was conducted with 65 UK-based participants with expertise in dementia, mental health, and stroke. Participants considered two broad forms of ‘interventions’ (patient treatment and replacement care) and two broad forms of ‘organisational change’ (staffing and changes in timing/location of care). Participants assessed the likely impacts of health and social care on family carers and whether impacts should be considered in decision-making. The survey was conducted remotely at two time points. Results: Participants predicted widespread impacts from interventions and organisational changes on different domains of family carers’ lives, with ‘emotional health’ the most likely outcome to be affected. Patient treatment and replacement care services (‘interventions’) were associated with positive impacts across all domains. Conversely, timing/location changes and staffing changes (‘organisational changes’) were perceived to have mixed and negative impacts. There was widespread support (80-81%) for considering carer effects in research studies, funding decisions, and patient decision-making. Conclusion: This study highlights a perception that carer effects are widespread and important to consider in economic evaluation and decision-making. It highlights the particular need to measure and value effects on carers’ emotional health and the need to use a societal perspective to avoid cost shifting to family carers when introducing interventions and making organisational changes. / This work was funded by a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Career Development Fellowship (CDF-2015-08-025) awarded to HA for this research project.

Title: The Choice of Universal Abseiling Aids for the Requirements of the Czech Armed Forces Objectives: Choosing abseiling - belaying aids in accordance with the needs of the Czech Armed Forces. Methods: A mixed empirical research was involved. In order to analyse the results, closed questionnaires created in MS Excel were produced and evaluated later on. They were split into two phases. The analysis of the relationships of the variables was carried out using methods of descriptive statistics. To collect data, the Delphi research method was used. The survey was conducted in cooperation with chief instructors of military climbing. Respondents were selected according to their qualifications. Results: It was chosen ATC Guide like the most acceptable abseiling aid for the requirements of the Czech armed forces by informant with help research method Delphi. Keywords: Research method Delphi, Special physical education, Army climbing, Descent, ATC Guide. J. STRNAD 10.4. 2011

Sistemas de Gerenciamento de Banco de Dados Não Relacionais (SGBDs NoSQL) são pacotes de software para gerenciamento de dados utilizando um modelo não relacional. Dado o atual contexto de crescimento na geração de dados e a necessidade que as organizações possuem em coletar grande quantidade de informações de clientes, pesquisas científicas, vendas e outras informações para análises futuras, é importante repensar a forma de se definir um SGBD adequado levando em consideração fatores econômicos, técnicos e estratégicos da organização. Esta é uma pesquisa relacionada com o estudo do novo modelo de gerenciamento de banco de dados, conhecido como NoSQL e traz como contribuição apresentar critérios de seleção para auxiliar consumidores de serviços de banco de dados, em organizações privadas, a selecionar um SGBD NoSQL. Para atender a este objetivo foi realizada revisão da literatura com levantamento bibliográfico sobre processo de seleção de software e de SGBDs, levantando critérios utilizados para este fim. Feito o levantamento bibliográfico, definiu-se o método de pesquisa como sendo a aplicação de um Painel Delphi, na modalidade ranking form. Por meio do painel foi possível determinar, após a realização de duas rodadas e participando um grupo de especialistas misto formado por gerentes, fornecedores de SGBD, acadêmicos, desenvolvedores e DBAs e DAs, os critérios mais relevantes para a escolha de um SGBD NoSQL, ordenados conforme pontuação obtida para cada critério. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário. A partir dos critérios identificados, foram feitas análises sobre os principais critérios de seleção de SGBDs NoSQL. Posteriormente, as conclusões e considerações finais contemplaram a análise dos resultados obtidos com o Painel Delphi. Como principal resultado alcançado, este estudo oferece uma visão realística acerca do modelo não relacional para gerenciamento de dados e apresenta os critérios mais importantes que indicam plausível a adoção de SGBDs NoSQL. / Database Management Systems Not Relational (NoSQL DBMSs) are software packages for data management using a non-relational model. Given the current context of growth in data generation and the need that organizations have to collect vast amount of customer information, scientific research, sales and other information for further analysis, it is important to rethink how to define a suitable DBMS considering economic, technical and strategic organization. This research is concerned with the study of the new management model database, known as NoSQL, and brings the present contribution selection criteria to assist service consumers Database, private organizations, to select a NoSQL DBMS. To satisfy this objective was reviewed the literature with bibliographic on software selection process and DBMSs, identifying criteria used for this purpose. After completion of the literature, was defined the search method with application of a Delphi panel, by the ranking form mode. Through the panel could be determined, after the completion of two rounds and attending a mixed group of experts formed by managers, DBMS vendors, academics, developers, DBAs and DAs, the most relevant criteria for choosing a NoSQL DBMS, ordered according score for each criteria. Data were collected through a survey. From the identified criteria, analyzes were made on the main selection criteria of NoSQL DBMSs. Subsequently, the conclusions and final considerations were made with analysis of the results obtained with the Delphi panel. The main result achieved, this study offers a realistic view about the non-relational model for managing data and presents the most important criteria that indicate plausible the adoption of NoSQL DBMSs.

A Central de Material e Esterilização é uma unidade que concentra grande parte do arsenal de material médico-hospitalar das instituições de saúde. Tem a responsabilidade de oferecer todos os itens destinados ao cuidado do paciente, com qualidade e segurança, seja para procedimentos diagnósticos, clínicos e cirúrgicos. Para tal, entretanto são necessários investimentos em tecnologia específica e sofisticação no processamento dos materiais de acordo com sua conformidade, demandando dos profissionais que ali atuam o desenvolvimento de competências e habilidades para um desempenho profissional condizente com as necessidades institucionais. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo identificar o perfil e analisar as atividades realizadas pelos enfermeiros de CME de instituições hospitalares brasileiras, bem como a freqüência de realização das mesmas em diferentes realidades institucionais. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, de abordagem quantitativa, de corte transversal, que teve como sujeitos da pesquisa, enfermeiros assistenciais ou docentes de unidades de CME de instituições hospitalares públicas, privadas ou filantrópicas. Para seleção dos enfermeiros foi utilizada a técnica de bola de neve. Para coleta de dados foram criados formulários eletrônicos com recurso da planilha Google Docs e enviados eletronicamente aos participantes. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram em relação ao perfil dos respondentes, enfermeiros na sua maioria do sexo feminino (93,5%), na faixa etária entre 21 a 30 anos, com tempo de formação na Enfermagem, menor que cinco anos - 35,5%%, entre 6 a 10 anos 6,5% e com mais de 15 anos, 38,7%. Em relação ao tempo de atuação em CME, todos trabalhavam a mais de 12 meses na unidade e 58,08% possuíam entre um e cinco anos de experiência no setor. Quanto à formação complementar, 80,6% dos enfermeiros haviam concluído algum curso de especialização, porém destes, apenas 33,4% relacionavam-se à área de CME. Das 25 atividades relacionadas no instrumento de coleta de dados e que se referiam a atividades validadas que retratavam o trabalho do enfermeiro de CMEs, 15 atividades apresentaram frequência de realização diária, 09 atividades registradas com realização mensal e 14 atividades aparecem baixos percentuais e algumas como nunca sendo realizadas. Houve ainda a sugestão dos participantes de inclusão de quatro itens que não foram identificados na relação analisada pelos mesmos. Esta pesquisa permitiu conhecer a frequência das atividades do enfermeiro de CME, e evidenciou a necessidade de incorporar novas questões sobre o futuro do trabalho na CME, que poderão determinar uma reformatação na estrutura e nas atividades desta unidade especializada, sugerindo então o desenvolvimento de novas pesquisas na área. / The Materials and Sterilization Center is a unit that concentrates a large part of the set of materials used by a hospital institution. The Center has the responsibility to offer all items for patient/client care with quality and safety, be it for a diagnostic procedure, surgery or in health care. However, this demands investments in specific technology and sophistication in the processing of materials according to their conformity, requiring the professionals who work there to development professional skills and abilities consistent with institutional needs. This study aims at identifying the profile and analyzing the tasks performed by nurses of the Materials and Sterilization Center in Brazilian hospital institutions, as well as the frequency of accomplishment in different institutional realities. This study is descriptive in nature, quantitative and cross-sectional in approach. The population comprises nurses or teachers of the Materials and Sterilization Centers of public, private or philanthropic hospital institutions. The snowball technique was used for the selection of the subjects. Electronic forms were created with Google Docs spreadsheets for data collection and sent electronically to the participants. The results showed that in relation to the profile of the respondents, most of the nurses were female (93.5%), ranging in age from 21 to 30 years, 35.5% with less than five years after nursing graduation, 6.5% 6 to 10 years after graduation, and 38.7%. over 15 years. In relation to work time in the MSC, all had worked for more than 12 months in the unit and 58.08% had one to five years of experience in the sector. As to supplementary training, 80.6% of the nurses had completed some specialization course, though only 33.4% of these were related to the area of MSC. Out of the 25 activities listed in the data collection instrument, which referred to validated activities that portray the nurses work in MSCs, 15 activities presented a daily frequency, 09 activities monthly and 14 activities registered low percentages, some of which were never performed. The participants also suggested the inclusion of four activities that were not listed. This research has allowed us to know the frequency of nursing activities in the MSC and highlighted the need to incorporate new issues on future work in the MSC, which may determine a reformatting of the structure and activities of this specialized unit, thus suggesting further research in the area.

Este documento apresenta e descreve o trabalho de pesquisa realizado com vistas a estabelecer recomendações destinadas a auxiliar consumidores de serviços de computação em nuvem a tratar a questão dos riscos inerentes a este ambiente, de modo tal a poder contratar serviços desta natureza com grau aceitável de risco. Para atender a este objetivo e aos demais objetivos secundários definidos, o estudo foi conduzido em cinco fases: revisão da literatura relativa à computação em nuvem, escolha e estruturação do método de pesquisa, aplicação do método de pesquisa, proposição das recomendações para o tratamento dos riscos e elaboração das conclusões. A revisão da literatura compreendeu um amplo levantamento bibliográfico sobre computação em nuvem, com ênfase na sua definição, nos modelos de referência e nos tópicos barreiras, benefícios e riscos. A escolha do método de pesquisa envolveu o processo de seleção do Delphi, acompanhado por outro extenso levantamento bibliográfico, desta feita sobre este método, e foi seguida da definição da sistemática a ser adotada para aplicá-lo especificamente nesta pesquisa; para aplicar o Delphi, foi escolhida a modalidade ranking form, por meio da qual se tornou possível determinar, após a realização de cinco rodadas do painel e contando com a participação de um grupo de especialistas formado por acadêmicos e profissionais de tecnologia da informação, rankings para as barreiras, os benefícios e os riscos associados à computação em nuvem. A partir do ranking dos riscos, foram estabelecidas as recomendações destinadas a satisfazer ao objetivo principal da pesquisa, que se traduzem, em linhas gerais, na indicação de quais riscos potenciais devem ser observados e tratados com maior grau de atenção pelas instituições, organizações e executivos de tecnologia da informação que pretendam dar seus primeiros passos no universo da computação em nuvem, bem como por aqueles que, já devidamente inseridos neste ambiente, queiram ou tenham a necessidade de rever conceitos e posições assumidos. Por fim, as conclusões e considerações finais contemplaram a análise dos resultados obtidos no painel Delphi relativamente às barreiras e aos benefícios. Como contribuição maior, este estudo oferece, acima de tudo, uma visão realista acerca da computação em nuvem e coloca à disposição daqueles que efetivamente por ela se interessam, por vontade própria ou dever de ofício, um rol de observações e recomendações úteis e oportunas. / This report presents and depicts the research carried out in order to find out recommendations that may possibly assist consumers of cloud computing services to deal with risks intrinsic to that architecture, so that consumers can be able to contract those kinds of services within an acceptable level of risk. The research comprised five phases to satisfy this main objective and also the secondary ones set up for it: review the literature related to cloud computing, choose and configure the research method, run the research method, find out the recommendations and make conclusions. The review of the literature consisted of an extensive bibliography research about cloud computing, putting emphasis on its definitions and reference models and on three other connected topics: barriers, benefits and risks. The choice of the research method encompassed the selection of the Delphi method seconded by another wide bibliography research, this time focused on the method itself, and was followed by the configuration of the Delphi method in order to get a script to be adopted to make properly use of the method in this research; to apply the Delphi method, it was chosen its \"ranking form\", that made possible, after five rounds and counting with the involvement of a group comprising academic people and information technology professionals, to establish rankings for barriers, benefits and risks, all related to cloud computing. Based on the ranking of risks, the recommendations destined to satisfy the research\'s main objective were thought up; in general, these recommendations can be viewed as indicatives of which potentials risks must be observed and treated in an upper attention level by institutions, organizations and information technology executives that intend to take their first steps toward cloud computing universe, as long as by those companies and people that, despite by now inserted in that architecture, want to or must review concepts and positions already took on. At last, conclusions and final considerations were written, both derived from the analysis of the results regarding barriers and benefits extracted from the Delphi panel. Above all, this study, as its major contribution, offers a realistic view on the subject of cloud computing and puts a list of useful and timely reflections and recommendations within reach of those who are effectively interested in them, by proper will or due to duties.