• Refine Query
  • Source
  • Publication year
  • to
  • Language
  • 117
  • 105
  • 65
  • 31
  • 11
  • 1
  • Tagged with
  • 743
  • 253
  • 125
  • 124
  • 116
  • 89
  • 89
  • 88
  • 88
  • 59
  • 51
  • 51
  • 49
  • 40
  • 35
  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
251

Conservation and ecotourism in Kibale National Park, Uganda

Obua, Joseph January 1996 (has links)
The aim of this study was to assess the potential of ecotourism in Kibale National Park, the environmental impact of visitor activities, the characteristics of visitors and visits, the perception and attitudes of local communities towards conservation and development of ecotourism, and the status of environmental interpretation in Uganda. The environmental evaluation was attempted using a combination of methods developed in the USA. Selfcompletion questionnaires were used to obtain information on visitors and the characteristics of visits, and direct household interviews were used for the survey of local communities' perception and attitudes. Information on the status of environmental interpretation was sought using the postal-survey method. It was found that Kibale National Park has the potential for development of ecotourism. The number of visitors has been rising annually since ecotourism was introduced in 1992 and was estimated to reach 5 000 in 1995. As a result of the continuing increase in visitor numbers, the camping sites and the nature trails are already being degraded. More than 90 per cent of the visitors come from overseas and only a small proportion are Ugandans. The visitors come on pre-planned tour packages mainly to view the chimpanzees. The common feeling among the visitors is that the facilities and services currently offered in Kibale are of low standard. Several proposals have been put forward for improvement of services and provision of additional facilities. The need to control visitor numbers and to maintain a sound environment in the Park has been discussed and immediate management measures required to reduce further deterioration of the camping sites and the nature trails have been recommended. The study has also revealed that local communities in Kibale still obtain most of their forest products from the Park. Although the majority (about 80%) support conservation and development of ecotourism, they have a poor perception of the Park's existence and value. Eviction of some families from the Park a few years ago and the gradual loss of traditional rights of access and use of resources following the establishment of Kibale as a National Park, has resulted in negative attitudes among some sections of the local communities. It is recommended that local communities should be educated about the value of the Park and the importance of conserving its resources. Moreover, there is a need to involve them directly in all the stages of future planning and management of conservation programmes and ecotourism development in Uganda's protected areas. It has also become clear that the concept of environmental interpretation is little understood in Uganda and the practice is generally poor. It was found that Kibale and other national parks lack facilities for proper interpretation. The Park ranger-guides are often employed and assigned to interpretive work without prior training on interpretation. It is recommended that all national parks and other protected areas where ecotourism is being promoted alongside conservation should set up proper environmental interpretation systems. In addition, there is a need for establishing a national programme of environmental interpretation to facilitate environmental education and development of ecotourism in Uganda.
Read more
252

A theorised history of skateboarding : with particular reference to the ideas of Henri Lefebvre

Borden, Iain January 1998 (has links)
This thesis is a theonsed history of skateboarding. It aims to make a contribution to the methodology of architectural and urban history, positing a general conception that architecture and the city are best understood neither as objects nor as the sole province of architects and urban managers, but better as flows of time and space produced through particular social activities. The first part is theoretical, and investigates the need for a re-consideration of space, principally through an investigation of the writings of Edward Soja (Chapter 2) and Henri Lefebvre (Chapter 3). Time, space and social being are found to be interdependent constituents of social processes, and - together with ideas concerning the political objectives of the author, the body, everyday life, architecture and activities - necessary subjects for historical writing about architecture and the city. The second part undertakes a detailed study of a specific urban practice - that of skateboarding - with particular reference to the usA and UK. The ideas of Henri Lefebvre in particular are used to provide methodological direction and interpretive tools. Chapter 4, focused mainly on the late 1950s through to the mid 1 970s, explores themes of technology, emulation of surfing and initial appropnations and colonisations of space by skateboarding. Chapter 5 explores the constructed spabe of the purpose built skateparks of the 1970s and the ramps of the 1980s, and also the body space of skateboarders and their engagement with these terrains. Considerations of representation and the lived nature of images are also introduced. Chapter 6 explores the subculture of skateboarding. Themes of gender, race, class, age, sexuality and the family are investigated with reference to the clothes, board design, music, language and other cultural aspects of skateboarding. Chapter 7, focusing on the streetstyle skateboarding of the 1980s and 1990s, explores skateboarding as a critique of architecture. the city, capitalism and socio-spatial censorship. The performative nature of skateboarding as an urban activity is found to be an essential part of its historical importance. Chaper 8 provides a summary conclusion of the thesis, and also suggests some tentative directions of future work regarding the further development of a materialist history of the experience of architecture.
Read more
253

The development of judo in Britain : a sociological study

Goodger, Brian Christopher January 1981 (has links)
Judo has developed in Britain over a period of approximately sixty years, during which time the scale of activity, the organisational form, the nature of pedagogic processes and the content of rules have changed considerably. The study initially locates Kodokan Judo in its original social context, Japan, relating its specific initial form to forces within Japanese society in the late nineteenth century. Chapter 2 gives an account of early Judo activity in Britain, before World War Two, giving detailed attention to the social composition of the practising group at the time. The central empirical focus of the study, in Chapters 3 to 6, is on Judo activity in Britain since 1945, examining authority and organisation, relations with Japan, approaches to training and contest participation, approaches to teaching, rules and refereeing activity. The material presented here indicates that Judo has become more bureaucratic, contestoriented and concerned with spectator-appeal, losing elements of 'moral/philosophical' orientation which were important in Judo's original conception and which remained so in British Judo up to the early 1960s. The final chapter provides a sociological explanation of the changes previously detailed, analysing them in the light of certain themes In the original conception of Kodokan Judo, the changing social composition of the Judo population In Britain, the nature of Judo leadership at different times and the focus of Judo activity in different periods. The overall conclusion on changes in British Judo is that Judo has moved into the 'field of sport', becoming an Olympic sport, with certain of its 'star' exponents achieving high sporting status. It is concluded that these developments are In line with certain possibilities inherent In the original formulation of Kodokan Judo, which combined traditional Japanese and modern Western elements, reflecting tensions in Japanese society in the Meiji period.
Read more
254

Long term impact of interactive science exhibits

Stevenson, John Benjamin January 1994 (has links)
In this study, the long-term impact on family groups of the interactive science exhibits in Launch Pad (Science Museum, London) has been investigated and described both qualitatively and quantitatively. Having reviewed the literature, and sought the views of professionals working in interactive science centres, a series of research questions was evolved. It is argued that it is reasonable to use visitors' recollections of their visits in order to assess this long-term impact. Altogether, 20 subjects were observed in Launch Pad, 396 were given an interview immediately after their visit, 208 responded to a follow-up questionnaire, and 79 were given an in-depth interview about 6 months later. Various indicators have been defined in order to quantify the differences that exist between interactive exhibits, and the concept of exhibit profiles has been introduced as a way of graphically representing these differences. The exhibits were found to hold the attention of visitors, and there was little evidence of museum fatigue. Subjects reported almost unanimously that they had enjoyed their visit and that Launch Pad had made a large positive impact the effects of which lasted for at least six months. Visitors were able to recall in vivid and clear detail their experiences in Launch Pad six months later. A new method of analysing their diverse and scattered recollections was evolved by the development of a network and coding strategies. Although 59% of the elaborated memory comments were found to be descriptive, there were nearly twice as many thoughts as feelings. Also, the data showed that visitors had reflected on their experiences and related them to existing knowledge or, for example, to programmes they saw on television. Evidence of subsequent cognitive processing suggests that a visitor embarks on a process of learning and understanding following an enjoyable, inspiring and thought-provoking visit.
Read more
255

The kinematics and kinetics of jumping for distance with particular reference to the long and triple jumps

Graham-Smith, Philip January 1999 (has links)
The common aim of the long and triple jumps is to attain maximum horizontal distance from the front of the take-off board. This is achieved by converting some of the horizontal velocity developed in the approach run into vertical velocity at take-off. The aim of this thesis was to examine a theoretical model and to identify kinematic and kinetic factors that facilitate the generation of vertical velocity in the long and triple jump take-offs. A pivot mechanism was defined to act between touch-down and the instant the centre of mass was directly above the toe of the support foot. This mechanism was found to be the largest contributor to the gain in vertical velocity in all take-offs, accounting for 83.0% in the long jump and 63.7%, 69.8% and 70.7% in the hop, step and jump take-offs. The contribution of the pivot to the gain in vertical velocity at take-off in the long jump was significantly greater than in each of the triple jump take-offs, (all P<0.002). A relative momentum approach was used to determine the contribution of the free limbs to the generation of vertical velocity. In the long jump, the free limbs made a 10.8% contribution to the gain in vertical velocity, compared to 12.2%, 19.0% and 19.0% in the triple jump take-offs. Multiple regressiona nalysesw ere used to identify factors relating to the generationo f vertical velocity in the long jump (n=14). The greatestg ains in vertical velocity were associatedw ith techniquest hat emphasiseda low centre of mass and extended knee joint at touch-down and the ability to resist knee flexion in the compression phase, R2=72.7%. The greatest losses in horizontal velocity were associated with excessiveh ip adduction, less hip extensiona nd greater increasesin height from touchdown to take-ofll R2=84.5%. Ground reaction forces and net joint moments were measured during short approach running jump tests. Peak vertical impact forces were greater in simulated 'drop' take-offs, 5080 N, compared to those experienced in 'flat' approach take-offs, 3250 N, (P=O. 002). Peak horizontal braking forces were 1800 N in both types of take-off. However, the peak net joint moments about the ankle, (403 N. m and 387 N. m), knee (233 N. m and 296 N. m) and hip (292 N. m and 249 N. m) were similar between the 'flat' and 'drop' take-offs. This suggests that athletes adapt their technique in the 'drop' take-off to distribute the larger forces effectively and to keep the net joint moments within controllable limits. Results indicated that strength about the ankle joint was particularly important in both types of take-off, but depending on the athlete's technique strength about the knee and hip are also vital. Greater flexion of the knee joint at touch-down and maximum knee flexion were found to be associated with greater average knee moments, R2=30.8% and 75.5% respectively, and greater angles of leg placement were moderately associated with greater average hip moments, R2=23.5%. In conclusion, this thesis has provided a greater insight into the kinetics and kinematics of jumping for distance. It has quantified the contribution made by the pivot mechanism and the free limbs to the generation of vertical velocity, and has assessetdh e demandso n the musculoskeletal system in terms of ground reaction forces and net joint moments. The results indicate that elite performers cannot rely on speed alone, and that strength and technique are major factors of successful performance.
Read more
256

Experiencing heritage : making sense of industrial heritage tourism

Baldwin, Deborah January 1999 (has links)
No description available.
257

The management of Antarctic tourism : environmental issues, the adequacy of current regulations and policy options within the Antarctic Treaty system

Enzenbacher, Debra Jean January 1995 (has links)
No description available.
258

The mechanics of the curved approach in high jumping

Tan, John Cher Chay January 1997 (has links)
In high jumping, the Fosbury Flop technique is currently used by all elite high jumpers throughout the world. The technique involves an acrobatic bar clearance at the end of a curved approach run. Initially the curved approach was considered to be no more than an idiosyncrasy of Dick Fosbury. However, the curved approach remains the preferred approach among elite jumpers, and therefore can be expected to be advantageous in high jumping. Speculations on the possible advantages of the curved approach have been made, but most are not based on experimental data and all lack convincing mechanical explanations. In order to understand the contribution of the curved approach to high jumping technique, the characteristics of the approach needed to be examined. Analysis of the 15 m approach phase of the high jump posed a. challenge in terms of obtaining the appropriate size of image and field of view. A number of image analysis systems were evaluated before one with the appropriate accuracy was selected. A total of 15 jumps performed by two elite high jumpers in two competitions were analysed. It was found that the curve through the foot placements tightened towards the end of the approach. Concurrently the inward body tilt towards the centre of the curve decreased resulting in an angular velocity about the frontal axis of the body. This suggested that the curved approach was used to provide the somersault rotation over the bar. In order to test this hypothesis a computer simulation model of the approach phase was developed and evaluated using the data from the image analyses. The model was used to explain the mechanics underlying the curved approach in the Fosbury Flop. It was found that tightening of the foot placement curve towards the end of the approach generated somersault rotation and also contributed to twist rotation at takeoff.
Read more
259

The measurement of the natural potential of sites in the eastern Highlands of Scotland for downhill skiing

Davison, Richard William January 1985 (has links)
No description available.
260

Lifestyles and leisure participation

McInnes, Hamish Alan January 1989 (has links)
The objectives of this research are twofold; firstly, to provide a more complete appraisal of leisure participation than hitherto available, and secondly, to see whether or not leisure lifestyles can be identified on the basis of people's behaviour. Leisure life styles of individuals are poorly understood. Research to date has concentrated on specific activities or the use of facilities. It has been almost wholly descriptive in nature. This thesis aims to examine individual leisure behaviour with particular reference to the neglected sphere of informal and home based leisure.

Page generated in 0.0386 seconds