M.A. (Health Studies) / The purpose of this study was to explore and describe communication effectiveness and communication satisfaction experienced by professional nurses in selected public health care services. Quantitative, explorative and descriptive research was conducted to determine the communication effectiveness and levels of communication satisfaction. The Downs and Adrian (2004) structured questionnaire was adapted and used to collect the data. The study population consisted of three groups of professional nurses, namely nurse managers (n=18), operational managers (n=22) and professional nurses (n=90). The study highlighted areas of effective and ineffective communication, as well as areas of communication satisfaction and dissatisfaction, among professional nurses. The findings revealed that although professional nurses are satisfied with their supervisor-subordinate communication, they are dissatisfied with personal feedback between all categories of professional nurses. Recommendations for the improvement of the communication effectiveness and communication satisfaction of professional nurses are aimed at creating an organisational atmosphere conducive to two-way communication. / Health Studies

Wong Nga Lai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-104). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter One --- An Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Foreword: Fermat's Last Theorem --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Introduction --- p.3 / Chapter Chapter Two --- Literature Review / Chapter 2.1 --- News Diffusion Theory --- p.7 / Chapter - --- Personal Importance / Chapter - --- Emotional Response and Parasocial Interaction / Chapter 2.2 --- Comparing The First Sources of News Diffusion --- p.14 / Chapter - --- Perceived Salience / Chapter - --- Credibility / Chapter - --- Other Perception Differences / Chapter - --- News Diffusion and the Use of the Internet / Chapter 2.3 --- Possible Internet Uses in News Diffusion --- p.21 / Chapter - --- The Internet As a Personal Medium / Chapter - --- The Internet As an Information Source / Chapter - --- Summary / Chapter Chapter Three --- Methodology / Chapter 3.1 --- Pre-survey Preparations --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2 --- Operationalization and Measurement of Variables --- p.36 / Chapter Chapter Four --- Results and Discussion / Chapter 4.1 --- Rate of Diffusion --- p.42 / Chapter - --- September 11: A stunning high diffusion rate / Chapter - --- Leung-Fu Engagement: A romance known to 90% of a population / Chapter 4.2 --- Results and Discussion --- p.48 / Chapter H1:- --- September 11: Television was the predominated source / Chapter - --- Leung-Fu Engagement: Newspaper was the predominant source / Chapter H2:- --- September 11: High personal importance evoked interpersonal communication / Chapter - --- Leung-Fu Engagement: Personal importance determined extent of diffusion / Chapter - --- Active early knowers were key players in diffusion / Chapter H3a:- --- September 11: Upset people were more active in telling others / Chapter H3b:- --- Leung-Fu Engagement: No indication of para-social interaction / Chapter H4:- --- September 11: Initial sources differentin perceived credibility / Chapter - --- Leung-Fu Engagement: Different media different in perceived salience / Chapter H5& H6: --- The news diffusion function of the Internet / Chapter 4.3 --- Summary of Results --- p.75 / Chapter Chapter Five --- Conclusion / Chapter 5.1 --- Discussion of Findings --- p.80 / Chapter 5.2 --- Discussion of the Use of the Internet in News --- p.86 / Diffusion / Chapter - --- The Internet as an additional information source / Chapter - --- The Internet as a mediated personal channel / Chapter - --- The Internet as an initial source / Chapter - --- Enhancement of Internet Communication by 3G technologies / Chapter 5.3 --- Final Words --- p.92 / Reference --- p.96 / "Appendix 1 Questionnaire for ""September11""" / "Appendix 2 Questionnaire for ""Leung-Fu Engagement"""

This study investigated responsibility attributions for a partner's emotional infidelity and for a partner's sexual infidelity, and the likelyhood that the victim or partner would end the relationship. This study found a significant relationship between responsibility attributions for a romantic partner's unfaithfulness and the likelihood the relationship would end: the stronger the attributions of personal responsibility the more likely the relationship would dissolve.

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe communication effectiveness and communication satisfaction experienced by professional nurses in selected public health care services. Quantitative, explorative and descriptive research was conducted to determine the communication effectiveness and levels of communication satisfaction. The Downs and Adrian (2004) structured questionnaire was adapted and used to collect the data. The study population consisted of three groups of professional nurses, namely nurse managers (n=18), operational managers (n=22) and professional nurses (n=90). The study highlighted areas of effective and ineffective communication, as well as areas of communication satisfaction and dissatisfaction, among professional nurses. The findings revealed that although professional nurses are satisfied with their supervisor-subordinate communication, they are dissatisfied with personal feedback between all categories of professional nurses. Recommendations for the improvement of the communication effectiveness and communication satisfaction of professional nurses are aimed at creating an organisational atmosphere conducive to two-way communication. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Text in Afrikaans / In hierdie studie word die rol van interpersoonlike komrnunikasie in die funksionering van die algemene inligtingsdiens van die Unisa Biblioteek aan die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika ondersoek. 'n Kwantitatiewe meetinstrument word ontwikkel om gebruikertevredenheid met die hoofkomponente van die algemene inligtingsdiens, naamlik die inligtingsassistent, die inligting wat deur die klient ontvang word en die fisiese omgewing waarin die diens gelewer word, te evalueer. Daar word bevind dat 'n beduidende assosiasie bestaan tussen gebruikertevredenheid met die inligtingsassistent en gebruikertevredenheid met die inligting wat ontvang word. 'n Verkorte vrae lys word ontwerp en aanbevee 1 as 'n meetinstrument waarmee die bestuur gebruikertevredenheid met die algemene inligtingsdiens op 'n gereelde grondslag kan meet. / This study investigates the role of interpersonal communication in the functioning of the general information service provided by the Unisa Library at the University of South Africa. A quantitative measuring instrument is developed to evaluate user satisfaction with the main components of the general information service, that is the information assistant, the information received by the client and the physical surroundings in which the service is provided. It is found that a significant association exists between user satisfaction with the information assistant and user satisfaction with the information received. A shortened questionnaire is designed and recommended as a measuring instrument with which management can on a regular basis measure user satisfaction with the general information service. / Communication Science / M.A. (Communication)

Health communication is a vital part of health care and treatment. For patients living with HIV, effective health communication is crucial. This study aimed at describing health communication from the perspective of HIV-positive patients by uncovering their experiences as they interacted with various medical staff members at Stanger Hospital. Guided by a review of various health communication models, data were collected via individual interviews and non-participant observation. The findings showed that interactive communication was favoured by all the respondents, especially communication that was patient-centred. Such communication encompassed education on how to live and cope with HIV. Obstacles to effective communication such as power differentials, lack of time and privacy at public health care clinics were identified. The study found that the different medical staff members at the clinic to various degrees addressed distinctive communication needs of HIV-positive patients. This study contributed to effectively understating the communication process as a whole. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

This study explores the challenges faced by high school science learners when they use English language as a medium of instruction in a South African context. Questionnaires were administered and focus group interviews were conducted with both science learners and science educators. Results indicated that learners are challenged in a number of ways when English is used to teach science especially if English is not their home language. Both learners and educators prefer to be taught and teach science respectively in English though ideally learners would like to be taught in their home languages. To overcome these challenges a home language scientific register should be drawn to cater for all learners’ home language, learners should also be proficient in English or language of science instruction. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

即時通訊（Instant Messaging）盛行之今已十年，新聞產製也因引進新科技逐漸產生質變。鑑於即時通訊相關研究目前尚未觸及「新聞產製」領域，本研究嘗試初步探討即時通訊對新聞產製工作的影響，並希望藉此研究發現，提供新聞產業未來改進與檢討的參考。本研究描繪新聞記者於新聞產製過程中，如何運用即時通訊彼此溝通，以及如何對新聞產製過程造成影響，與出現哪些利益與弊端。 本研究採質化深度訪談，輔以圈內人記者身份，透過參與觀察，融入研究對象群時間一共四年，研究發現：(一)記者使用即時通訊的動機是基於完成新聞採訪任務、（二）記者新聞採訪工作仰賴即時通訊、(三)新聞室控制藉由新科技工具延伸、(四) 記者與消息來源之間的訊息傳遞，仍傾向使用傳統的「面訪、電訪」管道、尚未積極運用即時通訊、（五）用於新聞職場的即時通訊工具，仍具有個人私密領域的特性、(六) 新聞記者使用即時通訊交換訊息，出現新聞觀點同質化現象、（七）新聞產業精簡人力下，新聞圈默認同業間複製新聞與改寫現象。 本研究建議：(一)重新定位即時通訊工具於新聞產製過程的價值、(二)新聞界須正視新聞複製與觀點同質化現象、(三) 即時通訊納入新聞正規作業體系將成趨勢。 / Instant Messaging (IM) has been popular for a decade, and news production has changed due to IM. Since the research of IM does not reach out to the area of news production, this thesis is going to explore the influence of IM toward news production. The thesis will describe how journalists communicate with each other by IM through the news production process, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using IM. This study is a qualitative research methods with deep views. Through participant observation of a inside journalist, it took 4 years to discover the results, which are (1) Journalists use IM is based on the motivation of complete news covering task, (2) Journalists rely on IM to complete the task of newsgathering, (3) "Social control in the news room" extends control by IM, (4) The communications and interactions between Journalists and the news sources is still traditional, which are interviewing, or by telephone, not IM, (5) Using IM in newsgathering is still has personal and private, (6) Journalists use IM to exchange information, news reporting appears the same point of view, (7) under the condition of downsizing manpower in the news industry, the press tacitly agreed to the phenomenon of “news copy and news rewrite”. The thesis recommended: (1) re-positioning IM in the process of news production value, (2) the Press must face up to the phenomenon of “news copy and the news viewpoint homogenization”,(3) IM into the news operating system will become a trend.

The widely used mobile phone, as well as its related technologies had opened opportunities for a complete change on how people interact and build relationship across geographic and time considerations. The convenience of instant communication by mobile phones that broke the barrier of space and time is evidently the key motivational point on why such technologies so important in people's life and daily activities. Mobile phones have become the most popular communication tools. Mobile phone technology is apparently changing our relationship to each other in our work and lives. The impact of new technologies on people's lives in social spaces gives us the chance to rethink the possibilities of technologies in social interaction. Accordingly, mobile phones are basically changing social relations in ways that are intricate to measure with any precision. In this dissertation I propose a socioscope model for social network, relationship and human behavior analysis based on mobile phone call detail records. Because of the diversities and complexities of human social behavior, one technique cannot detect different features of human social behaviors. Therefore I use multiple probability and statistical methods for quantifying social groups, relationships and communication patterns, for predicting social tie strengths and for detecting human behavior changes and unusual consumption events. I propose a new reciprocity index to measure the level of reciprocity between users and their communication partners. The experimental results show that this approach is effective. Among other applications, this work is useful for homeland security, detection of unwanted calls (e.g., spam), telecommunication presence, and marketing. In my future work I plan to analyze and study the social network dynamics and evolution.

Today’s military encompasses a wide variety of families who are affected by deployments in multiple and complex ways. Following deployments, families must reconnect in their relationships and reestablish their way of life. Appropriate and effective communication during this time is critical, yet many military couples struggle with this process. Moreover, student service members/veterans and their families are in a unique position. In addition to coping with changes in their marital relationship, student veterans may feel isolated or unsupported on college campuses, often experiencing anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, or suicidality. The current study seeks to bridge the gap between the military family literature and the student service member/veteran literature by examining how deployment experiences, mental health issues, and communication patterns influence post-deployment relationship adjustment among student veterans. Analyses tested whether communication style and/or current mental health concerns mediate associations between combat experiences and couples’ relationship adjustment, as well as between experiences in the aftermath of battle and relationship adjustment. Results suggest that although posttraumatic stress is significantly related to deployment experiences among student veterans, participants report no significant negative effects of deployment on relationship adjustment. Communication style, however, was significantly associated with relationship adjustment, and a lack of positive communication was found to correlate with PTSD diagnosis. Research and clinical implications are discussed.