This dissertation examines the “buffer effect,” an important but understudied feature of computer-mediated communication (CMC). Research on the buffer effect posits that CMC venues provide a buffering “screen” that users can literally and figuratively hide behind. The buffer can make people feel more comfortable during interactions, and is theorized to be especially relevant in contexts where self-presentation is threatened. This study employs transgressions as ideal sites for examining the buffer effect because of the high level of threatened self-presentation involved therein. The current project tests whether people perceive different levels of a buffer in different channels of communication, and how the buffer effect is related to other widely studied features of CMC, such as interactivity, synchronicity, and social presence. It also tests outcomes of the buffer effect for both senders and receivers of transgressive messages. Specifically, it posits that the buffer effect is beneficial to senders of transgressive messages, and is detrimental to receivers of those messages. Furthermore, in the context of transgressions, the amount of responsibility that a person takes for the transgression is a factor that influences how others perceive the situation. Therefore, the current study also considers receivers' perceptions of the level of responsibility the sender accepts, and specifically posits that senders' higher levels of responsibility are associated with positive outcomes for receivers. The dissertation is comprised of two studies. In Study One, participants responded to a survey to test their perceptions of the buffer effect and of other features of CMC in various channels. Participants also responded to a hypothetical situation to indicate how the buffer effect influences outcomes when sending a transgressive message. Study Two employed an experimental procedure to test how senders and receivers perceive the buffer effect in actual interactions, as well as how senders' acceptance of responsibility affects outcomes for receivers. Half of the participants were assigned the role of sender and were trained to provide a transgressive message to the receiver. Specifically, senders were trained to say that they had to leave the experiment early without completing the study, rendering the receiver ineligible for course credit. Both the channel (i.e., face-to-face, instant messaging, text messaging) and the senders' level of responsibility (i.e., low/high) were manipulated. Results suggested that the buffer effect manifests in different levels for various channels of communication, such that face-to-face environments provide the lowest buffer, followed by video chat, social networking sites, instant messaging, and email. Text messaging provides the highest buffer. The buffer effect is negatively related to other features of CMC (i.e., synchronicity, interactivity, and social presence) for low-buffer channels, and is either positively or not significantly related to these features in high-buffer channels. Results also suggest that the buffer effect is associated with benefits for senders in both hypothetical and actual interactions, but does not affect receivers' outcomes. Receivers' perceptions of the level of responsibility that senders accept affects receivers' outcomes, but only within environments with a low and moderate buffer. These results extend research on CMC and on transgressive communication. Results also offer practical implications for how people might elect to use channels and modify the content of their message when communicating a transgression to a friend.

This dissertation examines the “buffer effect,” an important but understudied feature of computer-mediated communication (CMC). Research on the buffer effect posits that CMC venues provide a buffering “screen” that users can literally and figuratively hide behind. The buffer can make people feel more comfortable during interactions, and is theorized to be especially relevant in contexts where self-presentation is threatened. This study employs transgressions as ideal sites for examining the buffer effect because of the high level of threatened self-presentation involved therein. The current project tests whether people perceive different levels of a buffer in different channels of communication, and how the buffer effect is related to other widely studied features of CMC, such as interactivity, synchronicity, and social presence. It also tests outcomes of the buffer effect for both senders and receivers of transgressive messages. Specifically, it posits that the buffer effect is beneficial to senders of transgressive messages, and is detrimental to receivers of those messages. Furthermore, in the context of transgressions, the amount of responsibility that a person takes for the transgression is a factor that influences how others perceive the situation. Therefore, the current study also considers receivers' perceptions of the level of responsibility the sender accepts, and specifically posits that senders' higher levels of responsibility are associated with positive outcomes for receivers. The dissertation is comprised of two studies. In Study One, participants responded to a survey to test their perceptions of the buffer effect and of other features of CMC in various channels. Participants also responded to a hypothetical situation to indicate how the buffer effect influences outcomes when sending a transgressive message. Study Two employed an experimental procedure to test how senders and receivers perceive the buffer effect in actual interactions, as well as how senders' acceptance of responsibility affects outcomes for receivers. Half of the participants were assigned the role of sender and were trained to provide a transgressive message to the receiver. Specifically, senders were trained to say that they had to leave the experiment early without completing the study, rendering the receiver ineligible for course credit. Both the channel (i.e., face-to-face, instant messaging, text messaging) and the senders' level of responsibility (i.e., low/high) were manipulated. Results suggested that the buffer effect manifests in different levels for various channels of communication, such that face-to-face environments provide the lowest buffer, followed by video chat, social networking sites, instant messaging, and email. Text messaging provides the highest buffer. The buffer effect is negatively related to other features of CMC (i.e., synchronicity, interactivity, and social presence) for low-buffer channels, and is either positively or not significantly related to these features in high-buffer channels. Results also suggest that the buffer effect is associated with benefits for senders in both hypothetical and actual interactions, but does not affect receivers' outcomes. Receivers' perceptions of the level of responsibility that senders accept affects receivers' outcomes, but only within environments with a low and moderate buffer. These results extend research on CMC and on transgressive communication. Results also offer practical implications for how people might elect to use channels and modify the content of their message when communicating a transgression to a friend.

This study provides a re-evaluation of the physical condition of, as well as past and current restoration and conservation work at Ahi Elvan Camii, &Ouml / rtmeli Mesjidi, Sabun&icirc / Mesjidi and Poyraji Mesjidi&amp / #8212 / i.e., one Friday mosque, or camii, and three mesjids, or small neighborhood mosques, located in Ulus, today the historic center of Ankara. All four structures, now registered as historic monuments, have survived intact, preserving most of their original architectural elements. Each structure also represents a different example of a building type which became prevalent in Ankara during the 14th can 15th centuries which have stone foundations, mud brick bearings walls with timber tie-beams, as well as timber ceilings supported by freestanding timber posts. These structures, registered and restored during different periods since the 1920s, were intervened upon in various ways and clad and/or plastered with differing materials (e.g., cement-based or clay-based materials). Although at times past conservation interventions and/or signs of decay may be clearly visible, the effects of these on each structure as a whole&amp / #8212 / whether positive or negative&amp / #8212 / may be more difficult to detect. A micro-climatic investigation program thus provided the primary, non-destructive diagnostic technique for this study. In addition to this, published as well as unpublished documents within the archives of Vakiflar Genel M&uuml / d&uuml / rl&uuml / g&uuml / , or the General-Directorate of Endowments in Ankara, provided visual as well as written information on the history of each structure. Their building materials, as well as past and present restoration and conservation work were also analyzed in situ. Based on long-term meteorological records for Ankara, data were collected at each structure for one year during January, April, July and October using Tiny tag&reg / Plus data loggers on interior and exterior temperatures and relative humidity, as well as surface temperatures at their timber ceilings for one week per season. In addition to this, the distribution of temperature and relative humidity at each structure was measured every m2 within the main prayer hall and women&amp / #8217 / s section, or kadinlar mahfeli at each structure per season, and surface temperature measurements taken of their timber ceilings and interior wall surfaces. Data collected were subsequently analyzed with respect to various relevant factors such as / the physical characteristics of their load-bearing walls and the buffer capacity of materials within these structures and their effects on indoor microclimatic conditions, the risk of surface condensation at the exterior wall surfaces and the timber ceilings of each structure, suggested parameters required for the conservation of their interior timber elements, and materials conservation vis &agrave / vis existing comfort conditions. Past measures taken in the restoration and conservation of the four structures and their present physical condition were thus re-evaluated, and recommendations provided for possible approaches to their sustainable conservation in the long-term.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal. / De nos jours, l'emploi et la famille renferment la majorité des rôles qu'un travailleur est amené à jouer au cours de sa vie. Par conséquent, les hommes et les femmes employés éprouvent de plus en plus un conflit dans leur tentative quotidienne à gérer la dualité de ces rôles. Toutefois, si la prise en conscience du conflit travail-famille date du 19e, l'émergence de l'intérêt pratique et académique que ce conflit a suscité demeure lié à un flot de changements et de mutations survenus dans le marché du travail et dans la famille depuis la mondialisation. Ces changements et ces mutations font que l'interface travail-famille cristallise de plus en plus un ensemble de défis pour le travailleur, pour l'organisation et pour la société. Dans ce contexte, l'on reconnaît toute l'importance du soutien social pour les travailleurs afin de concilier vie professionnelle et vie de famille. L'objet de notre recherche porte sur l'examen de l'efficacité du soutien du conjoint, de l'organisation et du supérieur à travers quatre types de soutien susceptibles d'être prodigués par chacune de ces sources : émotionnel, évaluatif/approbatif, informatif et instrumental. Deux modes d'influence dudit soutien sont examinés dans cette recherche : le modèle de l'effet additif (« Main Effect Model ») et celui de l'effet interactif (« Buffer Effect Model »). Notre question de recherche est la suivante : le soutien social, agit-il plus efficacement à l'égard du conflit travail-famille de manière additive ou interactive ? Deux hypothèses de recherche sont testées dans cette étude : a) le soutien social aura des effets réducteurs sur l'intensité du conflit travail-famille comme le précise le modèle de l'effet additif (« Main Effect AIodel ») et b) le soutien social aura des effets modérateurs sur la relation entre les stresseurs (inhérents à la vie professionnelle et à celle de famille) et le conflit travail-famille, conformément au modèle de l'effet interactif (« Buffer Effect Model »). Le modèle de recherche testé s'articule sur une batterie de variables qu'on peut préfigurer comme suit : l) les variables indépendantes représentées par les stresseurs inhérents aussi bien à la vie professionnelle qu'à la vie de famille; 2) la variable dépendante concrétisée par le conflit travail-famille; 3) les types de soutien social tantôt utilisés comme des variables indépendantes, tantôt, comme des variables modératrices. Enfin, un ensemble de variables psychodémographiques ont été considérées ici, à titre de variables de contrôle, afin de bien vérifier la validité interne de notre modèle de recherche. Notre méthode de recherche repose sur une stratégie non-expérimentale avec un devis transversal (« cross-sectional design »). Les données ont été collectées par voie d'un questionnaire écrit et auto-administré, auprès d'un échantillon d'individus susceptibles de vivre le conflit travail-famille : les professionnels et les cadres. L'échantillon définitif de cette étude est constitué de 490 enquêtes sur une population cible de 3713 (soit un taux de réponse de 13.2 %). La majorité des enquêtes est constituée de femmes (62.4%). L'âge moyen des répondants est de 39.1 ans. De même, 87.4 % des répondants dispose au moins d'un premier cycle universitaire. Parmi nos répondants, 57.1 % ont au moins un enfant de 6 ans et moins. Enfin, l'écrasante majorité de enquêtes est constituée de cadre (51.2 %) et de professionnels (33.1 %). Au ternie des différents tests (corrélation simple et partielle) et analyses (factorielles et de régression hiérarchique multivariée), ayant été effectués sur nos données, nous avons fait les constats généraux suivants : l) s'agissant de l'hypothèse de l'effet additif (« Main Effect Model »), force est de constater l'effet du soutien s'avère un mécanisme beaucoup moins lié audit conflit (une fois contrôlé l'effet des variables psychodémographiques et des stresseurs familiaux et professionnels). En témoigne aussi bien le nombre limité des effets additifs significativement lié au conflit travail-famille après lesdits contrôles (9 effets sur 32 testés, soit 29 %) que le fait que parmi ces 9 effets additifs significatifs enregistrés, 3 sont dans un sens contre-intuitif aux hypothèses. 2) les mêmes remarques sont réitérées à l'endroit de l'hypothèse de l'effet interactif («Buffer Effect Model ») : l'effet interactif du soutien du conjoint, de l'organisation et du supérieur s'avère peu efficace à l'égard du conflit travail-famille et ce, une fois les variables psychodémographiques et les stresseurs contrôlés. Ce fait a été relevé aussi bien au niveau du modèle général de nos répondants, des enquêtes ayant un conjoint qu'à celui des répondants dont le conjoint travaille. Témoigne de ce constat, la quantité faible des termes interactifs (14 seulement sur les 432 testés) qui sont demeurés d'un effet significatif sur l'intensité dudit conflit (soit 3.2 %) que celle, encore plus faible (0.46 %), des termes interactifs qui se sont avérés efficacement modérateurs de ce conflit (2 seulement et à 5 % sur les 432 testés). Cela dit, plusieurs perspectives demeurent à emprunter par la recherche future afin d'éviter les sentiers battus et partant pouvoir cerner davantage la problématique des modes d'influence du soutien social dans un contexte de conflit travail-famille (ex. le modèle antécédent et le modèle intermédiaire). ' En conclusion, et bien que les résultats de la présente recherche, ne confirment que partiellement les hypothèses de départ, il n'en est pas moins vrai qu'ils constituent d'abord, une contribution aux champs de connaissances respectives au modèle des déterminants du conflit travail-famille et à l'étude des modes d'influence du soutien social; ensuite, ces résultats cristallisent une portée pratique car plusieurs implications managériales peuvent en être déduites afin d'aider le milieu organisationnel à ajuster ses stratégies d'équilibre travail-famille.

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