There is a noticeable decline in physical activity participation during transitions, including moving between levels of education (Bray & Born, 2004; Gyursick, Bray & Brittain, 2004; Bray & Kwan, 2007). Despite its importance, little is known about the process of successful transitions and how it impacts physical activity behaviour for university students. A way to further understand the transition process is to explore the leisure constraints and the constraints negotiation process for these young adults. The purpose of this study was to examine physically active leisure for young adults, who were successful at continuing their participation in physical activity during their transition into university. Students were recruited from randomly selected 2nd and 3rd year general courses and invited to participate in a semi-structured, one on one interview with the researcher. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with second to fourth year university students at a mid-size western Canadian university. Their narratives explored students’ beliefs, constraints, and constraint negotiation strategies they used to stay physically active, in a variety of individual and team sport physical activities. The participants were categorized into four categories, based on their participation level, and an in-depth analysis of narratives was done for each participant category. These profiles are rated on a continuum that determined whether they were more or less active than before, and on the types of the activities they pursued. The comparison and the placement into the particular categories were determined by what type of activities they are doing at university. The students reported having both positive orientation and an identity that was associated with their active behaviour. Physical activity was noted as a higher priority in their lives. Their current student environment and student lifestyle was an enabler for physically active behaviours. Students described feeling constrained, in some aspects of their behaviour, but because physical activity was a higher priority, they were able to successfully negotiate those constraints. A key theme that emerged from these stories was enjoyment, but for two separate reasons; the social aspect and a challenge aspect. These aspects were found in the same activity or different activity, depending on the interests of the participant. However, it is important that the individual understand why they participate in physical activity and the outcome(s) they seek. This will help the student continue their physical activity behaviour during transitions, into post-secondary education and through other life course stages. / Graduate

The Law of the Sea negotiation, which was instigated as a response to increased human activities at sea, was an international law making process. The negotiation has been described as the longest, most techncally complex, continuous negotiation attempted in modem times. It was attended by almost all states in the world and contained a series of complex and overlapping issues. It was a remarkably successful process in that it concluded with an agreement, which protagonists with different interests and objectives succeeded in producing after 27 years. This thesis analyses international relations and negotiation theories that relate to the Law of the Sea negotiation, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each body of theory. The work goes on to examine the most importnt aspets of the Law of the Sea negotiation, including why the negotiation started, the core issues and principal actors of the negotiation, the process up until 1980 when the draft Treaty was devised, the American rejection of the Treaty and the process which led to the final agreement of 1994. The work then looks at these individual aspects of the negotiation in the context of the examination of international relations theory and negotiation theory that relates to the Law of the Sea. The thesis concludes by proposing a model that explains the Law of the Sea negotiation. The model questions existing theory on the meaning of the state and states' status in international society.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-122). / ix, 122 leaves, bound ill., maps 29 cm

In this thesis, a framework for the specification and execution of composite trading activities is presented. We begin by introducing the basic concepts and characteristics of elementary and composite trading activities. Based on these characteristics, we identify the issues associated with composite trading activities and argue the requirements of a frame- work for the specification and execution of those trading activities. In the second chapter, the most relevant work on negotiation protocols, software specification approaches, and recent work on trading activity specification is reviewed. In the third chapter, we analyse the characteristics of negotiation protocols and the information required to adequately represent composite trading activities. In the next two chapters, we introduce two alternative approaches (myopic and forward- looking) for specifying composite trading activities by means of constraints, such as the number of required successful negotiations, the limit price for the items to be traded, and the temporal constraints imposed by all trading parties. A special interface is also defined in each framework to homogenise trading activities with differing negotiation protocols. In myopic trading, composite activities are synchronised according to the information available on the constituent negotiation processes at any point in time. Myopic trading supports iterative negotiation in which trading activities can be renegotiated with new constraints. Myopic trading is suitable for situations in which finer control over the negotiation process is preferred by the trader, and information on previous negotiations as well as future negotiation opportunities are unavailable. Forward-looking trading is based on the generation of negotiation plans detailing the exact time and duration for which trading activities are going to be executed. These plans are generated based on the histories of previous negotiations and future negotiation opportunities. In forward-looking trading, a planning and execution model is designed to maximise the expected utility of the trader. Forward-looking trading is suitable for situations in which a well-planned negotiation process is possible. In the following chapter, two case studies are given to illustrate the applicability of the proposed framework. In the final chapter, we review our framework based on the set of requirements defined for the specification and execution of composite trading activities. In conclusion, we believe that composite trading activities can be effectively specified and executed based on the homogenisation of the various negotiation protocols involved and systematic planning of how these activities are going to be executed.

Thesis (MEd)--University of South Australia, 1997

Software systems involving autonomous interacting software entities (or agents) present new challenges in computer science and software engineering. A particularly challenging problem is the engineering of various forms of interaction among agents. Interaction may be aimed at enabling agents to coordinate their activities, cooperate to reach common objectives, or exchange resources to better achieve their individual objectives. This thesis is concerned with negotiation: a process through which multiple self-interested agents can reach agreement over the exchange of scarce resources. In particular, I focus on settings where agents have limited or uncertain information, precluding them from making optimal individual decisions. I demonstrate that this form of bounded-rationality may lead agents to sub-optimal negotiation agreements. I argue that rational dialogue based on the exchange of arguments can enable agents to overcome this problem. Since agents make decisions based on particular underlying reasons, namely their interests, beliefs and planning knowledge, then rational dialogue over these reasons can enable agents to refine their individual decisions and consequently reach better agreements. I refer to this form of interaction as “interested-based negotiation.” (For complete abstract open document)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 526-540).

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Carleton University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 108-116). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.