This thesis details the development and testing of a new scale for measuring human attachment to dogs which allows for the measurement of weaker attachment levels as well as stronger ones (the CDA scale). The correlation between dog-owner’s scores on the CDA scale and their dog’s actual attachment behaviour is assessed and discussed, as well as the dog-owners limited ability to predict the behaviour of their dog in a controlled situation (the Strange Situation Test (SST)) whereby the dogs meet a previously unknown person. The CDA scale was formed by utilising items from pre-existing scales (the Comfort from Companion Animals scale and the Lexington Attachment to Pets scale), trialed on the internet with a large self-selected sample of dog-owners and analysed and reduced using factor analysis. The CDA was completed with the addition of some negative items derived from a small sample of dog-owners who expressed drawbacks to keeping a dog. In addition 100 people living with dogs they did not consider themselves to be the primary carer of, and 100 people with dogs they considered to have behavioural problems also completed the CDA to allow for the assessment of reliability and validity, and for consideration of the possible links between human perceptions of attachment/dog behavioural problems and actual scores on the CDA. Dogs’ attachment behaviour was assessed by cluster analysis of behaviours observed in the SSD: 51 dog-owner pairs took part in the study which revealed a number of secure-base behavioural categories analogous to those typically observed in human mother-infant interactions in Ainsworth’s original (1969) SST. In addition five captive wolves were also observed in a modified version of the SST. Data from these observations is discussed in a case-wise manner and it is clear that captive wolves do not exhibit the suite of attachment behaviours (to their familiar handler) as previously observed in the dog study. However, the wolves’ familiar handler was very adept at predicting the behaviour of his wolves in this situation. These findings are important in furthering our understanding of human-canine attachments in general, but especially given the number of dog-owner pairings which appear to fail due to poor or misunderstood attachments. An effective attachment scale for people, and a valid measure and analysis of attachment behaviour in dogs is a further development in ensuring successful pairings of people with dogs in a variety of contexts such as pet dogs and service dogs.

1.Many studies have investigated why males and females segregate spatially in sexually dimorphic species. These studies have focused primarily on temperate zone ungulates in areas lacking intact predator communities, and few have directly assessed predation rates in different social environments. 2.Data on the movement, social affiliation, mortality and foraging of radio-collared African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) were collected from 2001–06 in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. 3.The vast majority of mortality events were due to lion (Panthera leo) predation, and the mortality hazard associated with being an adult male buffalo in a male-only ‘bachelor’ group was almost four times higher than for adult females in mixed herds. The mortality rates of adult males and females within mixed herds were not statistically different. Mortality sites of male and female buffalo were in areas of low visibility similar to those used by bachelor groups, while mixed herds tended to use more open habitats. 4.Males in bachelor groups ate similar or higher quality food (as indexed by percentage faecal nitrogen), and moved almost a third less distance per day compared with mixed herds. As a result, males in bachelor groups gained more body condition than did males in breeding herds. 5.Recent comparative analyses suggest the activity-budget hypothesis as a common underlying cause of social segregation. However, our intensive study, in an area with an intact predator community showed that male and female buffalo segregated by habitat and supported the predation-risk hypothesis. Male African buffalo appear to trade increased predation risk for additional energy gains in bachelor groups, which presumably leads to increased reproductive success.

This study is a classroom observational study in primary schools in one Local Education Authority in England The study, which was begun in 1990, was concerned to identify the range and nature of academic classroom behaviours of academically able underachievers, and in comparison with children of average ability, to identify the effects and implications of those behaviours for teachers arid classroom management. The research sample consisted of a total of seven matched Year 3 pupils aged 7-8 years old drawn from five primary schools. The identification of the more able (the target group) and their 'normal' counterparts (the control group) was carried out using a small number of objective tests and triangulated by teacher and pupil perceptions of abilities and relative class positions. The data was collected by the observation of English and Mathematics lessons for one session per Week over a period of one month. A continuous observation schedule was used containing fOurteen different categories of cl~sroom behaviours. The research demonstrates that academically able underachievers are undetected in classrooms; consequently are not given work commensurate with their undetected abilities; are rarely required to participate in lessons; and who subsequently become bored' in a relatively unchallenging environment. Even though they were bored they did not disrupt lessons, but quiet1Yacquiesced to the mores of the peer group. The thesis discusses the implications of these findings for primary education for academically able children as well as reflecting upon the findings in the light of subsequent reading and updating of the bibliography.

This thesis attempted to provide a detailed theoretical understanding of the effects of task-induced fatigue on simulated driving performance. Previous research has shown that duration of driving has only a weak effect on driving performance. A series of studies were conducted to examine how fatigue effects interact with task demands, and to explore the psychological changes associated with fatigue. The research also explored links between fatigue and stress in terms of their affective reactions and the coping mechanisms which are central to them. The first phase of the research consisted of a series of simulated studies of fatigue. The first study developed an experimental paradigm to examine both task-specific and aftereffects of fatigue on driving performance. The findings showed that fatigue effects interacted with task demands such that drivers' lateral control of the vehicle and trajectory were impaired during low demand rather than in high demand driving episodes. The study also showed that the fatigue state is a multidimensional state which is principally characterised by a reduction in motivation. The second and third studies attempted to explore the role of motivational mechanisms in fatigue-related impairments. This phase of the research showed that impairments in low demand driving conditions may be reduced by enhancing the driver's motivational state. The fourth study explored the development of subjective fatigue in two types of task-induced fatigue. The study showed that there is a dissociation between subjective and objective fatigue. The second phase of the research examined the links between stress and fatigue in simulated and real-life driving environments. The studies showed that stress and fatigue are similar states but there are particular features which make them distinct states. The results from simulated and real-life driving environments showed a high degree of consistency.

No description available.

Designers draw on a significant volume and range of information throughout the design process. This could include information on people, materials, markets, processes, etc. However, not all this information is effectively communicated to and used by designers. In order to provide designers with information that is useful, useable and engaging for them, it is important to understand why designers use information, what information they use and when and how they use it. This will be collectively referred to as ‘information behaviour’ in this thesis. There is currently a lack of a holistic understanding of designers’ information behaviour. Through developing a framework for investigation, analysis and reflection on designers’ use and requirements of information, this research aims to provide a better understanding of information behaviour in design, leading to a systematic way to address the key dimensions of information used in a design process. For this purpose, the research focuses on ‘practicing designers’ as key users of information in the real-world practice of design and ‘people information’ as a major type of information used during the design process. An initial framework for addressing key dimensions of information used in the design process is outlined through the analysis and synthesis of relevant literature. The framework is then evaluated and refined through four complementary studies: an interview and questionnaire administered to nine design companies; observation of a design team in a real-world design project; observation of three teams through a design competition; and a survey of designers and design researchers. The outcomes of the studies lead to a refined version of the information framework that includes seven key dimensions and details designers’ behaviour in regard to ‘purpose’, ‘source’, ‘format’, ‘type’, ‘at tributes’, ‘stage’ and ‘intensity’ of people information they use. The research conducted with designers leads to an enhanced understanding of their information behaviour with respect to the seven key dimensions. A new information framework has been created and evaluated; and it is argued that it can be used as a research and education tool to investigate and analyse information used during core stages of a design process. The framework can also assist developers of information tools to make informed decisions on what, how and when to communicate information to designers, ensuring that this information is delivered in a way which has maximum impact on the design process.

Annual poster session where NEXUS investigators and trainees share their research on the social contexts of health behaviour.

Annual poster session where NEXUS investigators and trainees share their research on the social contexts of health behaviour.

Annual poster session where NEXUS investigators and trainees share their research on the social contexts of health behaviour.

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