Student Number : 9603059A - MA research report - School of Speech Pathology - Faculty of Humanities / Rationale: Infant feeding practices are cur rently under the spotlight due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the awareness that the virus may be transmitted through breast milk . Aim: This study examined the beliefs and practices of mothers living with HIV/AIDS regarding infant feeding. Method: An exploratory-descriptive cross -sectional survey research design was employed which incorporated both qualitative and quantitative dimensions, and involved the use of individual interviews . Participants: Forty-two mothers living with HIV who had infants under 6 months of age and attended Coronation Hospital were interviewed . Results: The majority of mothers living with HIV, reported that they fed their infants formula milk. However, they felt that breastfeeding was still best for their babies. Most of the mothers fed their infants formula milk out of fear of them contracting HIV/AIDS. They appeared to be influenced in their infant feeding decisions by their community, culture and family members . Conclusions: The findings have implications for enhancing theoretical knowledge and understanding of infant feeding practices and cultural beliefs ; early intervention and the clinical practice of speech-language pathologists; the formulation of feeding policies of provincial hospitals ; and future research.

Thesis advisor: Michael G. Barnett / Elementary science instruction and teacher preparation need improvement for various reasons: 1) preservice teachers lack opportunities to experience (Windschitl, 2003) or observe (Smith, 1999) inquiry science, 2) pre-service teachers have even fewer opportunities to practice teaching science in a classroom settings (Hewson, Tabachnick, Zeichner, & Lemberger, 1999); and 3) methods courses and field experiences fail to provide proper scaffolding and support for science teaching (Crawford, 1999). One way to improve preservice teacher growth and understanding in teaching inquiry science is through supported field based teaching experiences (Eick, Ware, & Williams, 2003). However, research is necessary to examine how innovative field-based science methods courses compare to traditional, university-based science methods course. This mixed methods study compares the experiences of thirty-two preservice teachers with a specific focus on four preservice teachers involved in either a field-based science methods course or a university-based science methods course. It examines the impact of the two courses on preservice teachers' confidence in teaching science content and beliefs regarding the role of inquiry-based science instruction with culturally and linguistically diverse students. Data sources included a pre/post survey that was distributed to preservice teachers in both courses, with additional interviews and final unit reviews for each of the four preservice teacher case studies. Themes were identified and re-examined through an analysis of the data which informed the development of four case studies, two from each class, to investigate specific trends between the two methods courses. Findings indicate that both field- and university-based instruction have strengths and weaknesses. This research suggests that field-based methods have a stronger impact on improving preservice teachers' beliefs and skills in regard to designing inquiry-based instruction for diverse students, while university-based course promotes greater confidence in preservice teachers' ability to teach different science content areas. However, preservice teachers in both courses struggled to create inquiry-based science lessons where students used evidence to support claims or construct explanations. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Teacher Education, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction.

Qualitatively and quantitatively, this thesis investigates student engagement and success in post-secondary teacher education. The research is a case study conducted in Rwanda using the Classroom Survey of Student Engagement (CLASSE), interviews, and document analysis techniques. It aims at comparing two groups of teacher education students in terms of how different factors of student engagement affect their performance. The study provides a sound contribution in understanding how students with a professional background effectively engage and succeed in modules/courses of the teacher education programme that are shared with students without such background. The study claims that student teachers’ beliefs brought to teacher education play a vital role in determining the level of student engagement and performance in both professional and non-professional courses rather than their academic background. Findings indicate that these courses were taught and learnt in inappropriate teaching and learning environments. Despite unfavourable conditions, results also indicate that students with professional preparation prior to the post-secondary teacher education programme have positive beliefs about the career, interact with lecturers and peers more frequently, devote much time and effort on educationally purposeful activities, and participate more frequently in engaging activities than students who have just started teacher training. In addition, the study indicates that these factors of student engagement influence performance. The study also reveals that the former have developed their professional teacher identity which facilitates their social and academic integration and their intrinsic motivation to learning for the career while the latter are struggling learning for the profession in which they are not motivated and interested. Therefore, students with teacher identity perform significantly better than those who are new in teacher training even in non-professional courses in which they have fewer prerequisites.

La première partie de cette thèse défend l’hypothèse selon laquelle les croyances des personnes touchées par le cancer à propos de l’activité physique reflètent l’internalisation de stéréotypes, affectant leurs comportements vis-à-vis de l’activité physique. Les deux premières études de la thèse ont permis d’identifier cinq catégories de croyances liées à l’activité physique dont quatre constituent des barrières psychologiques, ainsi que de développer et valider une échelle mesurant les stéréotypes relatifs au cancer et à l’activité physique. L’étude 3 a montré que les stéréotypes relatifs au cancer et à l’activité physique des patients atteints de cancer sont reliés à leur niveau d’activité physique. Enfin, l’étude 4 a mis en évidence l’influence positive du statut d’individu « physiquement actif » dans la formation d’impressions de la population générale à l’égard des individus atteints de cancer. L’objectif secondaire de cette thèse était d’identifier des conditions de changement des croyances et de la motivation à l’égard de l’activité physique chez les personnes touchées par le cancer. Deux études ont examiné les effets de messages de promotion de l’activité physique auprès de patients sédentaires. L’étude 5 a montré que les messages informatifs génèrent les scores de croyances les plus favorables, tandis que les messages narratifs seraient plus appropriés pour augmenter leur motivation. L’étude 6 a confirmé l’hypothèse selon laquelle un message narratif porté par un pair intrinsèquement motivé est plus efficace pour améliorer la motivation à faire de l’exercice chez des patients sédentaires, qu'un message narratif porté par un pair extrinsèquement motivé. / The main objective of this thesis was to investigate the role and impact of stereotypes on the physical activity levels of individuals with cancer. The first section defends the hypothesis that the beliefs of people with cancer about physical activity reflect the internalisation of stereotypes, which affect their behaviors regarding physical exercise. The first two studies of this thesis identify five categories of beliefs about physical activity and show that four of them are psychological barriers to activity, and develop and validate a scale to measure the stereotypes about cancer and physical activity. The results of the third study indicate that these stereotypes are related to the level of physical activity of cancer patients. The fourth study presents evidence of the positive impact of the exerciser status in shaping impressions in the general population about people with cancer. The secondary objective of this dissertation was to identify the conditions needed to change the beliefs about and the motivation for physical activity in the cancer population. Two experimental studies examined the effects of messages promoting physical activity on sedentary patients. Study 5 showed that informational messages resulted in more favorable beliefs, whereas narrative messages were more appropriate to stimulate motivation. Study 6 confirmed the hypothesis that a narrative message from an intrinsically motivated peer was more efficient in improving the motivation to exercise in sedentary patients than the same type of message from an extrinsically motivated peer.

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare health beliefs among employees. The study looked at the African Traditional Model and the Medical Model in relation to HIV risk among employees in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study sample was made up of 96 participants, all African, and predominately female. The study established employees` health beliefs by asking them to indicate their health beliefs on the Biographical Questionnaire provided in the study. HIV risk among employees was assessed through the use of HIV Risk-Taking Behaviour Scale (HRBS), Attitude to Condom Use, a sub-scale of the Sexual Risks Scale (SRSA) and Sexual Risk Cognitions Questionnaire (SRCQ). A comparison of HIV risk between the two groups of employees was achieved by performing ANOVA. In addition, the study conducted secondary analyses using correlations to establish relationships between variables. The results obtained in this study showed a statistically significant difference in HIV risk between employees who believed in the African Traditional Model and those who believed in the Medical Model in HIV prevention. Secondary correlational analyses between variables showed a significant, negative relationship between participants` attitude toward condom use and their sexual risk cognitions. The results indicated that employees who had a positive attitude towards condom use reported low sexual risk cognitions towards unsafe behaviour. In contrast, employees who had a negative attitude towards condom use showed high sexual cognitions towards unsafe sexual behaviours. Directions for future studies could focus on education and training strategies to reduce negative health beliefs among employees in the fight against HIV and AIDS in South Africa.

Indigenous knowledge systems are ―a body or bodies of knowledge‖ which Africans have survived on for a very long time (Mapara, 2010). This study intends to examine the various communicative and indigenous strategies that are employed by the Zimbabwean Ndebeles in issues of peace and conflict management. It is necessitated by the realisation that there is an increase in conflict in the region and country as a result of political and socio-economic challenges. The study adopts a bottom-up approach where conflict management becomes a process that starts from the grassroots going outward. This should also provide an opportunity to demonstrate that indigenous people are as sophisticated as every other society in dealing with their challenges (Warren, 1991). At the same time, it seeks to examine effectiveness of the indigenous and communicative conflict management strategies used by the Ndebele people. The study makes use of research questionnaires and interviews as well as descriptive and content analysis for data gathering and analysis respectively. The main theoretical concept guiding this study is ubuntu because it is considered best for Afrocentric approach to African studies. This is emphasised by Moyo and Lantern (2015:103) who state that ―... the philosophy of ubuntu should be the guiding philosophy in a Zimbabwe poisoned by ill-understood and often ill-digested ontological philosophies of individual rights that give rise to selfishness, violence, fragmentation and the sterile, barren philosophy of each man for himself‖ which continues to tear our society apart. The study focuses mainly on the Ndebele speaking communities in Silobela District of Zimbabwe. The study helps the nation in combating and addressing cases of conflict by ushering in the cultural dimension which is albeit not foreign in the worldview of the local people. This compliments all other efforts being made by the government to address socio-political challenges. By documenting (indigenous knowledge systems) that which has been otherwise ignored and side-lined for a long time, the study is part of an on-going process of mental decolonisation of the African people at the same time empowering them to face a globalising world with confidence and pride. / African Languages

Orientador: Mariangela Braga Norte / Banca: Cleide Antonia Rapucci / Banca: Dagoberto Buim Arena / Resumo: A presente pesquisa, de natureza qualitativa, teve por objetivo observar nas relações que graduandos e professores estabelecem com as Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TICs), suas crenças em relação ao uso das TICs durante o processo de formação de professores de língua estrangeira. Para tanto, buscamos no curso de Letras a disciplina Laboratório de Línguas como ambiente para levantamento das crenças dos graduandos e da professora em relação ao discurso e ao uso das TICs. Buscou-se, também, propiciar à professora e aos alunos participantes atividades práticas com propósito de observar possíveis mudanças das crenças dos envolvidos em relação ao discurso e ao uso das TICs. Assim, adotamos uma abordagem contextual (Barcelos, 2001) para o estudo das crenças e, para tal, o contexto histórico, político, ideológico, cultural e social dos envolvidos. A coleta de dados ocorreu durante a disciplina Laboratório de Línguas ministradas no curso de Letras durante dois semestres de trinta e seis horas aulas cada. Os participantes desta pesquisa foram 16 alunos da disciplina e a professora que ministrou as aulas. Como instrumento para coleta de dados recorrermos à aplicação de questionários, autobiografias, entrevistas semi-estruturadas realizada com os alunos e com a professora todas gravadas em áudio, observação de aulas, sessão de visionamento, diário do pesquisador, gravação de aulas em vídeo e áudio. Os dados revelam que os graduandos e a professora possuem crenças em comum relação à disciplina Laboratório de Línguas, pois ora reconhecem a importância das TICs numa sociedade altamente tecnológica, ora apresentam contradições entre discurso e prática em relação e ao uso das TICs. No entanto, é possível notar mudanças positivas nos discurso que apontam mudanças nas relações dos graduandos e da professora frente às TICs / Abstract: The present research by qualitative nature had the aim to observe the relations of the pupils and professors establish with the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), their beliefs regarding to the use of ICTs during the graduation process as a Foreign Language Teachers. Therefore, we searched in the Language Degree course the Language Laboratory discipline as environment to raising the pupils and professor beliefs in relation to the speech and use of ICTs. We searched as well, provide to the professor and pupils practice activities with the purpose to observe possible changes in the students‟ beliefs regarding to the speech and use of ICTs. Thus, we adopted a contextual approach (Barcelos, 2001) to the study of beliefs and the historical, political, ideological, cultural and social context of the students. The data were collected during the Language Laboratory disciplines taught in the Language Degree course during two semesters of thirty six hours each. The participants of this research were sixteen students of this discipline and the teacher that taught them. The data were collected through questionnaires, autobiography, semi-structured interviews realized with the pupils and professor all recorded in audio, observation in class, viewing sessions, researcher diary, and audiovisual classes recordings. Data reveals that the pupils and professor have their own beliefs in common relation to the Language Laboratory discipline; therefore they know the importance of ICTs in a highly technological society, and however they present contradictions between speech and practice in relation and use of ICTs. Nevertheless, it is possible to notice positive changes in the speech that points to changes in the student and professor‟s relation front ICTs / Mestre

Orientador: Ana Mariza Benedetti / Banca: Ana Maria Barcelos / Banca: Maria Helena Vieira Abrahão / Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar os resultados de uma pesquisa qualitativa, de natureza etnográfica e intervencionista (VAN LIER, 1988), realizada com alunos de uma 1ª. série do Ensino Médio de uma escola pública, cujo propósito é investigar como se caracteriza a relação entre as crenças desses alunos sobre leitura em língua estrangeira (LE) e o uso das estratégias de aprendizagem (EA) voltadas para a habilidade em questão. No primeiro momento, o foco de investigação deste estudo voltou-se para a identificação das crenças (BARCELOS, 1995, 2000; HORWITZ, 1998, 1999; PAJARES, 1992) que os alunos têm sobre leitura em LE (BRAGA E BUSNARDO, 1993; CARRELL et. alii, 1995; FAIRCLOUGH, 1989; KATO, 1995; KLEIMAN, 1989), bem como das estratégias de leitura por eles utilizadas (COHEN, 1998; O'MALLEY E CHAMOT, 1990, 1994; OXFORD, 1990). No segundo momento do percurso investigativo, durante o qual foi realizado um trabalho de conscientização sobre o uso das EA, a atenção centrou-se na análise de dois aspectos principais: a) o desempenho dos alunos como leitores em LE ao utilizarem as EA de maneira consciente e b) a relação entre suas crenças sobre leitura e as EA das quais eles se utilizam. Para o desenvolvimento desta investigação, os seguintes procedimentos e instrumentos foram utilizados para a coleta dos dados: observação direta das aulas, gravações em áudio, questionário semi-estruturado, entrevista semi-estruturada, sessões de protocolo verbal e logs. Esses dois últimos, em especial, possibilitaram o acompanhamento contínuo do desempenho dos alunos durante leituras em inglês. A análise dos dados sugere que há uma estreita relação entre as crenças que os alunos têm sobre leitura em LE e o uso das EA, sendo que estas são influenciadas por aquelas. / Abstract: The purpose of this dissertation is to present the results of a qualitative research of an etnographic and interventionist nature (VAN LIER, 1988), which was carried out with high school students from a 1st grade in a state school. The study focuses on the relation between the learners' beliefs concerning reading in a foreign language - English (FL) and the learning strategies (LS) used by them. In the first stage, the investigation turned to the identification of the beliefs (BARCELOS, 1995, 2000; HORWITZ, 1998, 1999; PAJARES, 1992) that students have about FL reading (BRAGA E BUSNARDO, 1993; CARRELL et. alii, 1995; FAIRCLOUGH, 1989; KATO, 1995; KLEIMAN, 1989), as well as the LS (COHEN, 1998; O'MALLEY E CHAMOT, 1990, 1994; OXFORD, 1990) they used during the reading act. In the second stage of the investigative route, throughout which students went through an awareness process about the existence and the use of LS, the analysis focused on two main aspects: a) the students' performance as FL readers when they made conscious use of the LS and b) the relation between their beliefs and the LS which they used. In order to develop this study, the following research procedures and instruments were used to collect data: classroom observation, audio recording, semi-structured questionnaires, a semi-structured interview, verbal protocols and logs. These two last ones, specifically, allowed a close monitoring of the students' performance during the reading process. The data analysis suggests that there is a close relation between the learners' beliefs concerning FL reading and the use of LS in that the former influences the latter. / Mestre

Orientador:Maria Helena Vieira Abrahão / Banca: Sandra Regina Buttros Gattolin de Paula / Banca: Douglas Altamiro Consolo / Resumo: Esta dissertação é parte do projeto temático "TELETANDEM BRASIL - Línguas Estrangeiras para todos", desenvolvido pela UNESP (Campus de São José do Rio Preto) em parceria com várias instituições superiores internacionais e com o objetivo de colocar pares de alunos universitários estrangeiros em contato com alunos universitários brasileiros para aprenderem as línguas um do outro por meio dos recursos de leitura, escrita, áudio e vídeo do MSN Live Messenger, OOVO e Skype - um TELETANDEM. Assim, esta dissertação tem o objetivo de investigar as crenças sobre avaliação trazidas por uma interagente brasileira e uma mediadora ( aluna de doutorado) ao teletandem, e como essas interagem na construção do processo de ensino e aprendizagem no tandem a distância. Como fundamentação teórica, esta pesquisa apresenta estudos sobre: (a) crenças de ensino e aprendizagem e avaliação; (b) avaliação no processo de ensino e aprendizagem; (c) concepções e visões do erro no ensino de línguas; e (d) tecnologia aplicada ao ensino. Este trabalho é um estudo de caso de caráter qualitativo e de natureza etnográfica e para a coleta de dados, utilizaram-se os seguintes instrumentos: a) questionário, b) gravações em chats das interações, c) gravações em áudio das mediações, d) autobiografia dos participantes, e e) diários das interações e das mediações. Para a análise dos dados foi feita uma triangulação dos registros coletados. Por meio da análise dos dados foi possível inferir que a interagente, quando no papel de professora, predominantemente preocupava-se com a comunicação e não com a correção dos erros, apresentando assim, uma concepção de avaliação mais próxima dos princípios da avaliação mediadora. Porém, como aluna, apesar de a mediadora ter tentado demonstrar que cometer erros era algo natural no processo de ensino e aprendizagem... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This work is part of the project TELETANDEM BRASIL - Foreign Languages for all, developed by UNESP (Campus of São José do Rio Preto) in partnership with many international institutions and with the purpose of putting pairs of foreign university students in touch with Brazilian university students to learn the languages of each other through the resources of reading, writing, audio and video of the MSN Live Messenger, Skype and OOVO - a TELETANDEM. Therefore, this dissertation has the purpose of investigating the beliefs on evaluation brought by a mediator and one Brazilian Teletandem partner, and how they interact in the construction of the process of teaching and learning in the distance tandem. The theoretical underpinnings for this research are studies about: (a) beliefs of teaching and learning and assessment, (b) evaluation in the process of teaching and learning, (c) concepts and visions of error in language teaching, and (d) technology applied to education. For the data collection, the following instruments were used: a) questionnaires, b) chat recordings of the interactions, c) audio recordings of mediations, d) autobiography of the participants, e) diaries of the interactions and mediations. For the analysis of the data, a triangulation was made from the collected data, interactions were considered the primary data, and from them, all the other data were used for the confirmation or not of the points found. Through the data analysis, it was inferred that the Brazilian partner, when in the role of the teacher, was mainly concerned with communication and not with correction of errors, showing therefore, signs of an evaluation close to the principles of the mediator evaluation. However, as student, although the mediator tried to show her that there was no problem about making mistakes, she remained concerned about not making them. This behavior is a sign of traditional evaluation... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

A obesidade na infância é atualmente um grave problema de saúde pública tanto em países desenvolvidos como em países em desenvolvimento. Os dados referentes ás crianças brasileiras apontam que cerca de um milhão e meio de crianças são obesas com maior prevalência nas meninas e nas áreas de maior desenvolvimento. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar as atitudes, crenças e práticas das mães em relação à alimentação e propensão à obesidade em crianças de 2 a 11 anos. Foram avaliados o peso, a altura e o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) das mães e crianças, além da classificação social das famílias. A pesquisa foi realizada com 120 mães e crianças de ambos os sexos, e faixa etária entre 2 e 11 anos. O Questionário de Alimentação da Criança (QAC) apresentou uma correlação positiva e significante entre o teste e o reteste, fato que confirma a fidedignidade do instrumento. Com relação à condição econômica (ABEP) a maioria das famílias estava na classe denominada A2 (36,7%), indicando uma classe de alta renda, boas condições sócio-culturais e econômicas, revelando ainda, alto nível de escolaridade. Os resultados indicam, para o Fator Percepção de Responsabilidade, que as mães da amostra consideram-se, na maior parte do tempo, responsáveis pela alimentação de seus filhos. Para o Fator Percepção do Peso dos Pais, estas relatam terem peso normal desde a infância até atualmente. Para o Fator Percepção do Peso da Criança, também afirmam que os filhos sempre tiveram peso normal desde a infância. Para o Fator Preocupação com o Peso da Criança, as mães consideram-se um pouco preocupadas. Para o Fator Restrição, as mães consideram-se neutras em relação à prática de restringir que sua criança coma determinados tipos de alimentos. No Fator Pressão para Comer, as mães consideram-se neutras em relação à pressão para que sua criança coma determinada quantidade ou determinado tipo de comida. No Fator Monitoramento, as mães relatam que, às vezes, devem monitorar o que sua criança come. O QAC mostrou-se, portanto, útil para o estudo das atitudes, crenças e práticas das mães em relação à alimentação e propensão à obesidade de seus filhos. / The childhood obesity is a serious health public problem both in developed as well as in developing countries. The referring data ace Brazilian children point that about a million and way of children they are obesity with bigger prevalence in the girls and the areas of bigger development. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate the attitudes, beliefs and practices of the mothers about child feeding and obesity proneness in children from 2 to 11 years of age. There were evaluated the weight, the height and calculated the Body Mass Index (BMI) of the mothers and of their children. It was also recorded the socio-economic conditions of the families. The investigation was carried out utilizing 120 mothers and children of both sexes, and age group between 2 and 11 years. The Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) presented a positive and significant correlation between the test and the retest, confirming the reliability of the instrument. Regarding the socio-economic conditions it was observed that the great majority of the families was in the so-called class A2 (36.7%), indicating high income and good cultural and economic conditions, as well as higher educational level. The results indicate that, for the Perceived Responsibility Factor, the mothers considered, most of the time, responsible for feeding your child. For the Perceived Parent Weight Factor, they reported to have normal weight from the childhood to the present moment. For the Perceived Child Weight Factor, they also affirmed that their children always had normal weight from the childhood to the present moment. For the Concern about Child Weight Factor, the mothers are considered a little worried. For the Restriction Factor, the mothers are considered neutral regarding the practice of restricting the ingestion of some type of food by their children. For the Pressure to Eat Factor, the mothers are considered neutral regarding the pressure to regulate the quantity of determined type of food consumed by the children. Finally, for the Monitoring Factor, the mothers reported that, sometimes, must monitor what his child eats. The present results suggest that CFQ is a useful tool to measure parental attitudes, beliefs and practices about child feeding and obesity proneness.