Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University.

The problem was to develop a model of thought within the basic structure provided by general or "point-set" topology. To do this, it was necessary to make four basic assumptions. It was assumed that each individual possesses more than the classical five senses and that for each of these there exists a category of sensory data. Also, it was assumed that the Cartesian product of these categories formed a set M of thought elements for each individual, and that certain subsets of M provide support for cogitation. The relation, function, continuous function, and homeomorphism, which are used to relate sets in topology, are discussed as a possible ramification of the model for communication. The global properties of the homeomorphism and continuous function present each as a viable support for strong and meaningful communication between thought spaces of individuals.

Thought suppression is the attempted removal of unwanted thoughts. A plethora of previous research suggests that thought suppression is ineffective and possibly even counterproductive. However, the psychological processes involved in suppression are still underspecified. The current thesis aimed to examine the processes involved in thought suppression and to provide alternative techniques that may be more effective in the management of unwanted thoughts. To that end, Chapters 2 and 3 of the current thesis investigated the two key phenomena in the thought suppression literature, the immediate enhancement and rebound effects. Results from Experiments 1-4 indicated that participants, for the most part, found it difficult to suppress their thoughts during a five minute suppression phase, and also tended to have the unwanted thought re-emerge in a five minute phase following suppression, providing evidence for both the immediate enhancement and rebound effects. Chapter 4 (Experiment 5) provided a model of the immediate enhancement and rebound effects in terms of derived stimulus relations. The findings suggested that thought suppression attempts are ineffective due to the large number of intended and unintended environmental reminders. Experiments 6(a) and 6(b) extended on Experiment 5 by demonstrating how those relations might affect overt behaviour. Finally, Chapter 5 aimed to compare thought suppression with alternative strategies for dealing with unwanted thoughts. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) was designed to undermine the negative behavioural consequences of derived stimulus relations. Experiments 7, 8 and 9 compared thought suppression with two components of the ACT model (i.e., mindfulness and defusion). The findings indicated, across both self report and behavioural measures, that the ACT techniques provided useful alternatives to thought suppression. In conclusion, the current thesis provides a behavioural model of the counterproductive nature of thought suppression whilst providing favourable evidence of alternative methods in the management of unwanted thoughts.

The aim of this study was to suggest ways to effectively utilise Activity-Based Costing and Activity-Based Managment within Eskom Transmission Southern Grid to improve decision making towards improved business and financial performance. The ultimate purpose was to assist managers and staff to implement ABC and ABM effectively for improved business and financial performance. The focus was on the following objective: To suggest ways to effectively utilise ABC & ABM within Eskom Transmission Southern Grid as to improve decision making and business financial performance. Given the selection of management tools available, instruments such as ABC and ABM are usually not implemented alone, but may be supported by one or more approaches. For this reason ABC and ABM are contrasted with several other popular instruments mentioned in the literature. The instruments are: • The value chain; • Continuous improvement; • The theory of constraints; and • Total quality management. Insight will be given to provide managers with more accurate information regarding maintenance for the Grid and tools in identifying critical bottlenecks. By applying the TOC, TQM and continuous improvement strategies, managers will be able to make improved decisions, leading to improved financial performance in the Eskom Transmission Southern Grid. iii The literature study revealed that ABC and ABM prove to be the cornerstone for informed decision making. Since organisations are highly dependent on quality information to make these informed decisions, ABC and ABM reorientate the organisation towards understanding and managing work processes thus impacting financial performance positively. ABC and ABM trace the cost of activities such as engineering and procurement to how maintenance benefits from these activities. The empirical study consisted of a structured questionnaire distributed to a sample population of engineers and managers in Eskom Transmission Southern Grid in Port Elizabeth. It was aimed at gathering information about the use of ABC and ABM within the Grid. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with financial staff in the Grid and a focus group interview with engineering staff was done. The main findings of the empirical investigation revealed that management and staff lack insight into the use of ABC and ABM and how it can be integrated with existing improvement systems within the organisation. This study is concluded with a number of recommendations. These recommendations address the shortcomings and improvements that can be made to improve the utilisation of ABC and ABM within the organisation. The recommendations address the following: • Ensuring full commitment towards organisational goals and broadening the endorsement of ABC within the organisation; • Highlighting the importance of financial performance throughout the Grid; • Training of Managers, finance staff and engineers is required for proper execution of the ABC system; • Implementers need skills and know-how of the ABC and ABM system ensuring full utilisation; • The main cost drivers are identified, prioritised and efforts channelled into these activities; • Tools such as the Theory Of Constraints and Total Quality Management from the proposed model would assist the Grid in identifying the bottlenecks of a system correctly, thus know explicitly the amount of slack capacity of each activity available during a specific time period.

How can an experiment which occurs only in thought lead to new and accurate conclusions about the world beyond thought? What makes thought experiments relevant to the domains they are designed to explore? One answer is that successful thought experiments are grounded. Explaining the nature of this grounding relationship, especially as it applies to ethics, is the main task of this dissertation. A thought experiment is an experiment that occurs in thought. The "thought" label distinguishes it from an ordinary physical experiment, while the "experiment" label distinguishes it from other types of merely analogical, conjectural, or hypothetical reasoning. Many of the components that are necessary for a successful physical experiment are also necessary for a successful thought experiment. A thought experiment, like a physical experiment, must isolate and vary variables in order to answer a question within a given theoretical context. The result of the experiment has repercussions for its theoretical context. The grounding relationship holds between the components of the thought experiment and the theoretical context of the thought experiment. In order for the thought experiment to be successful, both the experimental set-up and our responses to it need to be grounded in the thought experiment's theoretical context. An experimental set-up will be grounded whenever it meets the following conditions. The concepts used must be defined normally, dependent and independent variables must be isolated and relevantly related, and the propositions of the thought experiment (excepting those describing extraneous particulars) must be relevantly related to the given theoretical context and the question under examination. Grounding responses to thought experiments will then be largely a matter of anticipating and disarming distorting influences. Factors influencing responses include the individual's knowledge of the theoretical context, the state of development of that context, the nature of the presentation of the thought experiment, and subjective filters. It is sometimes difficult to ascertain whether a thought experiment in ethics is grounded. This is largely due to the nature of the theoretical context of thought experiments in ethics. In order to assess the relationship of thought experiments in ethics to their theoretical context, I advocate employing a contextualist methodology involving the process of wide reflective equilibrium. While contextualists use this approach to arrive at considered judgements relating to specific ethical problems, I show that wide reflective equilibrium can also be used to examine the grounding of thought experiments. I conclude the dissertation with an examination of the relationship of thought experiments to computer simulations, a study of various common thought experiment distortions, and some tests and methods designed to aid constructing successful thought experiments. / Arts, Faculty of / Philosophy, Department of / Graduate

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The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the facilitation with language and imagery as a function of deafness and age. It is argued that imagery and language are two independent, although interacting aspects of thought (Bovier 1970, Paivio I969, Furth I966, Piaget I962) , and that imagery is a potent factor in learning and memory (Bower 1970, Paivio I969). Subject populations may differ in absolute terms, i.e. one population may be more or less proficient with language or imagery or both when compared with another population. And populations may differ in their relative facilitation with one code as compared, to another code. It is hypothesized that the variables of deafness and age do affect the absolute as well as the relative proficiencies with imagery and language.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University.

No description available.