Thesis (B.A.(Hons.))-- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychology, 1980.

The thesis presents results of a qualitative research conducted in The Giant Mountains National Park (Czech Republic). The research objective was to assess effects of various behaviour modification strategies on rule acceptance among Park visitors. Using a particular group of visitors (i.e. skialpinists) as an example, the conflict relationship between Park authorities and the public is described, as well as its sources and consequences for conservation efforts. Moreover, effectivity of six psychological strategies (participation, modelling, feedback providing, information providing, social norms highlighting and prompts) aimed at enhancing rule acceptance is discussed, based on focus group, as well as "real life test" data.

The purpose of this thesis is to document and analyse the development of the 1985 Clyde River - Broughton Island Memorandum of Understanding on Polar Bears. Based on a population estimate of 400 to 600 polar bears on Northeast Baffin Island, the quotas for Clyde River were reduced from 45 to 15, and the quotas for Broughton Island were reduced from 22 to 10. The case study approach to the analysis is organised according to various scales of analysis (from the individual to the global level) for the political, ecological, and cultural variables in the analysis. Three chapters are dedicated to a presentation of the three variables of analysis identified in the case study. The ecological variable is concerned with evaluating the biological data that were used to calculate a reduction in quotas. The political variable evaluates the structure and proceedings of the negotiation meetings, and the cultural variable evaluates the role that cultural meaning may have played in the creation of the agreement. The major finding is that a comanagement approach to wildlife management does not guarantee that decision-making power is equally distributed amongst user groups and territorial agencies.

The purpose of this thesis is to document and analyse the development of the 1985 Clyde River - Broughton Island Memorandum of Understanding on Polar Bears. Based on a population estimate of 400 to 600 polar bears on Northeast Baffin Island, the quotas for Clyde River were reduced from 45 to 15, and the quotas for Broughton Island were reduced from 22 to 10. The case study approach to the analysis is organised according to various scales of analysis (from the individual to the global level) for the political, ecological, and cultural variables in the analysis. Three chapters are dedicated to a presentation of the three variables of analysis identified in the case study. The ecological variable is concerned with evaluating the biological data that were used to calculate a reduction in quotas. The political variable evaluates the structure and proceedings of the negotiation meetings, and the cultural variable evaluates the role that cultural meaning may have played in the creation of the agreement. The major finding is that a comanagement approach to wildlife management does not guarantee that decision-making power is equally distributed amongst user groups and territorial agencies.

The research focused on an alternative partnership as an intervention strategy with regard to addressing problematic learner behaviour within the broader system and takes into account that there are practitioners who are experts with specialized knowledge and pooling of such resources would lessen the burden on those currently involved. The current position is that when a learner is considered to be presenting with challenging behaviour, the policies and referral procedures of the Department of Education deem it necessary that the learner is referred to the Department of Social Development, which is mandated to provide statutory services to children up to age 18years. The research strategy focused on the challenges in the current partnership between the respective departments through the collection of data from educators and social workers. A review of policies and procedures that address problematic behaviour among children under the age of 18 years was also undertaken with the objective of identifying gaps and challenges posed in their implementation when addressing learner behaviour. While the research focused on the partnership between the Department of Social Development and the Department of Education in the management of learner behaviour, an alternative partnership was implemented as part of an „action research‟ project and which includes other Departments, Non Governmental Organizations and Community Based Organizations thereby adopting a holistic approach in addressing problematic learner behaviour. Critical Systems Thinking and its metamethodology of Critical Systems Practice, utilizing Soft Systems Methodology as the dominant method of data collection, influence it. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Educators from five schools and focus group discussions held with Social Services Practitioners to identify an effective partnership while engaging in continuous learning. An analysis of the responses revealed that the notion of a community of practice prevailing within the Department of Social Development can be extended to include other Social Workers who are experts in their respective fields of service, other professionals and Educators, all of whom have the common goal of uplifting humanity. The research, based on a core competence partnership approach, revealed that it is possible to implement the Integrated Service Delivery Model to the problem situation giving effect to its purposes, one of which is to develop and empower vulnerable groups in society, in this instance, learners at secondary schools as well as their parents thereby regenerating sound morals and values. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2009.

Numerous theories of motivation have been formulated over decades, but only in the last 25 years has the field of motivation research been dominated by powerful and more sophisticated theories organised around personal agency beliefs and goal-related processes. Goal setting is a motivational technique that is routinely recommended for enhancing task performance. If goals for performance are established that are specific and challenging, substantial increases in performance have been reported. The basic assumption of goal-setting research is that goals are immediate regulators of human action. If goal setting is viewed primarily as a motivational mechanism, it is relevant to ask how it affects performance. Similarly, are there ways to enhance the processes of goal setting and goal attainment, and are there strategies that can be implemented to prolong and maintain motivational levels until the desired outcome has been reached? First and foremost, can theories of goal setting be applied successfully in a psychological therapeutic setting? In psychotherapy, goal setting is usually used to give direction to a treatment plan, and emphasis is seldom placed on the goal-setting process as such. A goal-setting model, with the emphasis on strategies to enhance the goal-setting process, as a motivational mechanism, seems to have application relevancy in therapeutic settings. The application and incorporation of the goal-setting process into the therapeutic process represents a symbiotic relationship, where the two processes function on a parallel level, but are also intertwined. The present study endeavours to apply such a model, as a motivational technique, in the context of therapeutic intervention. The method of research is a qualitative investigation, using a case study strategy of inquiry. / Dissertation (MA (Counselling Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Psychology / unrestricted

No / . Challenging behaviours (behaviour difficulties) represent a problem of considerable clinical significance for learning disability nurses, and a source of much human distress. Gentle teaching is a relatively new approach to dealing with behavioural difficulties, and has been received with enthusiasm by clinicians, but has so far received little empirical support. The current study attempted to compare gentle teaching with a well-established alternative (behaviour modification) and a control group. Objectives. To examine the comparative effectiveness of gentle teaching, behaviour modification and control interventions for challenging behaviour amongst children with learning disabilities. Design. Nonrandomized controlled trial. Setting. Service users¿ homes in East Yorkshire. Participants. Seventy-seven children who presented with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour (behaviour difficulties) and their parents. Procedure. One-day workshops in were offered by recognized authorities in either behaviour modification or gentle teaching that were not otherwise involved with the research project. Forty-one participants were recruited to the gentle teaching condition; 36 to behaviour modification; 26 to the control group. Random allocation was not possible, because of the slow uptake by interested parents. Measures was preintervention, and at assessment points up until 12 months following intervention. Analysis. Quantitative analysis of pre¿post differences between the groups, using t-test. Results. In general, no significant differences were found between the treatment groups and controls. Significant improvements were found for both gentle teaching and behaviour modification children over controls on the AAMR ABS XVII (social engagement) subscale. Controls had more contact with medical practitioner (GP) services than behaviour modification children and less than gentle teaching children. Conclusion. Although very few differences were found between the three groups, those that did exist generally favoured behaviour modification. Implications for service provision and learning disability nursing practice are described.

Buildings affect people both physically and psychologically, this study analyses this impact which the built environment has on people's lives. This interrelationship between people and the built environment is based on human perception. The study explores this relationship further in order to develop an understanding of the ways in which architecture influences peoples' moods, behaviours and experiences. By determining the importance of this interrelationship and developing a better understanding of it, a deeper analysis of the specialized needs of individuals with altered or impaired perceptions is developed. Focus is placed on individuals with autism spectrum disorders, who are known for their difficulties with perception. In addition, despite its overwhelming prevalence, they have a history of being inadequately catered for within the built environment because their wide range of complex needs are poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to establish an understanding of the unique needs of this particular user group, to interpret the implications of these needs with regards to the built environment, to assess existing facilities in regards to these findings and to provide information which can be used to develop guidelines for creating positive environments which can enhance the daily lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The research was carried out by way of a review of existing relevant literature on the subject of perception, experience and autism spectrum disorders, a review of relevant precedent studies, a critical analysis of relevant case studies and interviews with parents, teachers and principals who have had first-hand experience with individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The built environment, which plays a large role in people's lives, must be carefully considered and designed to ensure that the needs of its users are met and their overall wellbeing is maintained. In contemporary society, where human needs are often ignored, built environments have become ego-driven objects of visual seduction (Pallasmaa, 2005). This study calls for re-humanising architecture, considering human aspects in design and catering for all human needs. By focusing on responding to users particular needs, throughout the design process, buildings which make significant, positive contributions to the lives of individuals can be made. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Die Neue Rückenschule ist ein standardisiertes Rückenschulkonzept der Konföderation der deutschen Rückenschulen, dessen Hauptanliegen in der Förderung der Rückengesundheit und der Verhinderung der Chronifizierung von Rückenschmerzen besteht. Die Zielsetzungen und Inhalte der Neuen Rückenschule richten sich in erster Linie nach den aktuellen Europäischen Leitlinien zur Prävention von Rückenschmerzen und den für die Prävention formulierten Kernzielen für Gesundheitssport. Diese Festlegungen basieren auf dem biopsychosozialen Modell, dem Salutogenesemodell und der Internationalen Klassifikation der Funktionsfähigkeit, Behinderung und Gesundheit (ICF). Mit ihrem multimodalen Programm zielt die Neue Rückenschule darauf ab, dass Menschen ein eigenverantwortliches, gesundheitsorientiertes und Risikofaktoren vermeidendes Handeln aufbauen, ihr individuelles Gesundheitspotential fördern und damit das eigene Wohlbefinden und ihre Lebensqualität verbessern. Das Konzept integriert sowohl bewegungsbezogene praktische als auch informations- und verhaltensbezogene theoretische Anteile. Dennoch steht bis dato eine Wirksamkeitsprüfung der Neuen Rückenschule, insbesondere zur Vermittlungsstrategie der Neuen Rückenschule aus. So liegt das Erkenntnisinteresse der vorliegenden Dissertationsschrift in der Beantwortung der Frage, inwieweit die Intervention Neue Rückenschule im präventiven Kontext günstige Effekte bezüglich der Parameter gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität, Rückenschmerzen, körperliche Aktivität, (rücken-)gesundheitsbezogenes Wissen, Selbstwirksamkeit und Kontrollüberzeugung hervorruft. Eine Analyse, ob der nachhaltige Mehrwert der Neuen Rückenschule darin besteht, theoretische Wissensvermittlung und praktische Übungsanteile miteinander zu vernetzen, stellt ein weiteres zentrales Ziel der Arbeit dar. So lässt der momentane Stand der Evaluation noch offen, ob nicht bereits die kognitiv-theoretischen Module die Effekte der Neuen Rückenschule zu einem sehr hohen Anteil erklären. Zur Beantwortung dieser Fragen wurde eine Längsschnittstudie mit Versuchs-Kontrollgruppen-Design durchgeführt, die eine dreimonatige Intervention mit zwei unterschiedlichen Vermittlungsstrategien vorsah. Die empirischen Analysen konzentrierten sich auf die Beschreibung von unmittelbaren Effekten der Intervention sowie Nachhaltigkeits-Effekten sechs Monate nach Interventionsende. Zusammenfassend wird ersichtlich, dass insbesondere für eine Verhaltensänderung im Sinne der Implementierung von körperlicher Aktivität und einer langfristigen Bindung an diese, spezifisches Wissen allein offenbar nicht ausreicht, sondern Handlungserfahrungen und Körperwahrnehmungen in Verbindung mit erlebter Selbstkompetenz den Erfolg einer Intervention maßgeblich bedingen.

The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity worldwide is viewed as a global epidemic (World Health Organization, 2010). It is associated with a variety of health problems as well as physical– (cardio–respiratory endurance, flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and body composition), and motor proficiency (fine manual control, manual coordination, body coordination, and strength–and–agility) (Asayama et al., 2003:644; Okely et al., 2004:242; Tokmakidis et al., 2006:870). As far as the South African context is concerned, there is little research examining these relationships and the effect of physical intervention there upon, in nine– to 12–year old children. The first and second objectives of this study were to determine whether obesity would influence the physical– and/or the motor proficiency of nine– to 12–year–old South African children. The third and fourth objectives of this study were to determine the effect of a multidisciplinary intervention on the physical– and the motor proficiency of nine– to 12–year–old obese children. For objectives one and two, a cross–sectional study was performed on 280 children (128 boys and 152 girls), with an average age of 10.6 years (±1.05). Anthropometric–, physical– and motor measurements were obtained by the 'Fitnessgram' (Meredith & Welk, 1999) and the 'Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency–II' (Bruininks & Bruininks, 2005). Body mass index (BMI) cut–off points were used to classify the children as normal, overweight, or obese (Cole et al., 2000). The data was analysed with regard to the above–mentioned objectives with the Statistica computer program, by means of descriptive statistics, Spearman rank correlations, and variance analyses. The results show that the physical fitness variables, cardio–respiratory endurance and muscular strength, particularly leg muscular strength, showed significant decreases with an increase in BMI. A progressive, but insignificant, decrease was found in muscular endurance with an increase in BMI, while flexibility showed the weakest relationship to BMI. The motor variables strength–and–agility weakened significantly with an increase in BMI, while fine manual control, manual coordination, and body coordination showed the weakest relationships to BMI. Variance analysis showed further significant relationships among BMI, cardio–respiratory endurance, muscular strength, and running speed–and–agility (p<0.05). It can be concluded that health–promoting physical fitness and the motor proficiency of young South African children are negatively influenced by obesity and intervention strategies are recommended to promote the quality of life of such children. For objectives three and four, an availability random sample of 37 experimental subjects, with an average age of 11 years (±0.99) was taken, where 20 subjects (seven boys and 13 girls) took part in a multidisciplinary intervention programme, and 17 subjects (six boys and 11 girls) formed part of a control group. Body composition, physical–, and motor proficiency were analysed by the 'Fitnessgram' (Meredith & Welk, 1999) and the 'Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency–II' (Bruininks & Bruininks, 2005) during baseline measurements, on completion of the intervention programme, and after a follow–up period of three months. The results, which were analysed with a repeated–measures analysis, Bonferroni–post–hoc analysis, and dependent and independent t–tests, show that the intervention programme brought about a significant change in all the body composition variables, excluding body height. Flexibility, muscular strength, and abdominal muscular endurance, as well as one of the four fine manual control test items (folding paper), two of the 12 body coordination test items (tapping feet and fingers - opposite sides synchronised, and standing on one leg on a line - eyes closed), and six of the seven strength and agility test items (shuttle run, stepping sideways over a balance beam, one–legged stationary hops, one–legged side hops, two–legged side hops, and sit–ups), showed significant differences from the control group on completion of the intervention programme. The results indicate that the intervention brought about differences in body composition and physical– and motor proficiency and also showed a sustainable effect over a period of three months on body fat percentage, subscapular skinfold and leg muscular strength. From this, it can be deduced that young obese children need sustained guidance to be able to maintain the lifestyle adaptations that are required by obesity interventions. It can be concluded that the physical– and motor proficiency of children is negatively influenced by obesity, that a multidisciplinary intervention programme improves the body composition profile of obese children and has a positive effect on the physical– and the motor proficiency of obese nine– to 12–year old South African children, although the effect is not sustainable without ongoing, controlled intervention. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Kinderkinetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.