Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 56 p. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 36-46).

The most striking feature of hornbills (Bucerotiformes) is their unusual nesting behaviour. Before laying, a female hornbill enters the nest in a tree cavity. Uniquely among birds, she then seals the nest entrance using her faeces and locally available materials, leaving a narrow gap only 1 cm wide. Through this tiny slit, the female is totally dependent on her mate for between 40 days in the smallest hornbills and up to 130 days in the largest. Once walled in the nest, the female will lay her eggs and shed all of her wing and tail feathers. The male then becomes completely responsible for provisioning his mate and a few weeks later, the chicks. When her feathers have regrown, the female breaks out of the nest, often before the chicks are fully grown. The chicks then reseal the entrance until they too are ready to fledge. This thesis describes attempts to better understand the nesting behaviour of hornbills. The first chapter introduces hornbill ecology and behaviour and highlights their potential as model systems for studying conflict and communication. Chapter 2 describes the methods used to set up a study population of Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) consisting of 47 occupied nest boxes, over 35km2 in the Southern Kalahari Desert, South Africa. Chapter 3 summarises behaviour over three breeding seasons from October 2008 to April 2011. Female feather moult followed a precise staggered pattern, unlike other populations. Widespread filial cannibalism by females of both eggs and chicks was observed for the first time. The possible proximate causes of cannibalism are explored. Egg cannibalism allowed females to recoup some of their energetic investment, while cannibalism of chicks served as an efficient mechanism of brood reduction for nests with low paternal feeding rate. Chapter 4 investigates how females communicate need for nesting materials to males. Females altered the rate and structure of their begging calls when experimentally deprived of nest lining and males in turn delivered more nest materials. Chapter 5 examines the factors that determine how long females remain in the nest. Females with larger broods stayed in the nest longer, irrespective of their own or their chicks’ condition or male feeding rates. This raises questions about the role of mothers in the nest. Chapter 6 addresses this issue, demonstrating that females controlled sibling competition in the nest. Experimental temporary removal of mothers led to increased intrabrood aggression and more uneven food distribution in the brood, with larger chicks taking a greater share. The final chapter draws these findings together and the potential for future research is discussed.

This study provided an in-depth and immersive field study of the process of protective order hearings. The goal of this study was to examine the communication taking place in the courtroom on Protective Order (PO) day to provide a foundation for uncovering discourse dynamics that affect the experiences of applicants and respondents, as well as the role that legal decision makers play in the process of issuing protective orders for cases of family violence. There are numerous ways in which communication defines and affects the protective order process in the courtroom on PO Day. For the purpose of this study, the focus consisted of communication surrounding 1.) The institutionalized process (role of gatekeepers, access to representation by respondents, and the physical structure/environment of the courtroom---open, public, and fast-paced nature of the docket process), and 2.) Communication as the primary means of evidence (how communication constitutes credibility and the fact that applicants must face their alleged batterer in order to obtain an order of protection). This study focused on viewing institutional discourse in protective order hearings that extends beyond the official legal record in order to broaden our understanding of legal behavior, family violence, and discursive characteristics of the Protective Order courtroom culture. The analysis consisted of macro (immersive ethnographic fieldwork and detailed observations) and micro approaches (Action-Implicative Discourse Analysis). The findings uncovered multiple layers of communication challenges that manifested themselves in all steps of the PO process. Environmental communication challenges were present from the moment applicants initiated the application process and continued through their respective hearings. The physical space presented challenges to access and representation, and the gatekeepers provided differing (and sometimes unequal) levels of support for the applicants and respondents. The functional communication challenges stemmed from the constraints of the legal language to meet the necessary burden of proof for cases of family violence. Implications for future research by communication scholars, as well as for practitioners who work with victims and alleged batterers of family violence, are discussed. / text

This thesis explores how fear is used as a communication strategy to create and enhance power in conflict setting. I drew the data from six in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted in northern Uganda, a region that was ravaged by war for over two decades, as well as from my own experiences of fear in the field, because terror shaped the very nature of my interactions in Uganda. Building on symbolic interaction theory, the analysis explores how the participants created the meaning of "fear" through symbols, culture, language and experiences during and after the war and how fear was used as an agent of control externally and as a dis-enabler internally. The findings support the idea that fear, perceived or otherwise, is strategically important because of its influence on conflict outcomes.

A number of factors can disrupt cooperation between members of nursing and medical teams that can lead to conflicts. Interpersonal conflicts can manifest themselves as decreased cohesion among work teams and decreased performance of their members, which can impact the quality of nursing care. The theoretical section of the thesis contains expert knowledge in the sphere of conflicts. The objective of the research section of the thesis was to chart the sources of interpersonal conflicts at the workplace, their possible impact on the work of nurses, and nurses{\crq} stances regarding the resolution of conflicts. Quantitative research was carried out utilizing the anonymous questionnaire method to gather data. The research was carried out at the Na Homolce Hospital in four inpatient wards and one outpatient ward. Ninety-three nurses took part. We ascertained that conflicts have a negative impact on the activities of nurses, reduce their ability to concentrate on their work, decrease their attentiveness, are a source of psychosocial stress, and affect teamwork. The most frequent source of conflicts is faulty interpersonal communication. An essential finding was that nurses would like to resolve conflicts. If we resolve a conflict at its inception, this could be a source of new ideas, thinking, and issues that strengthen effective cooperation within the scope of the nursing process. The thesis has comprehensive information on the current situation in individual wards, which will have the opportunity to become acquainted with this information. It provides a summary of interrelationships, stances regarding conflicts, and the causes of conflicts from the viewpoint of nurses. The knowledge contained in the thesis should be taken into consideration and utilized when creating a new successful management of interpersonal conflicts concept.

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Constructive management of relationship conflicts, which may be conditioned by the interaction of both romantic partners, is a key factor for mutual satisfaction. Therefore, the main aim of this thesis was to find out a mediating role of conflict communication styles in long-term heterosexual couples. For the Practical part of the thesis was chosen a quantitative research, including data from 76 long-term heterosexual couples between 18 - 40 years of age. Attachment dimensions were measured by The Close Relationship Experience - Revised (ECR-R-16), relationship adjustment by The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), and six conflict communication styles (compromising, dominant, separating, submissive, avoidant and reactive) by The Romantic Partner Conflict Scale (RPCS). The effect of conflict communication styles as mediators seems to be predicted by attachment and gender. In men, the mediating function of communication styles between attachment and relationship adjustment was confirmed for reactive and avoidant style, in women for reactive and compromising. The mediating effect of communication styles was not significant for partners' relationship adjustment. Key words: attachment, romantic relationships, communication styles, conflict communication

In this paper theater is understood as a tool to communicate social transformation and the purpose of this study is to investigate the use of Theater for Development in relation to preventing violence and explore if, how and why the use differ in relation to preventing direct or structural violence. By analyzing the narrated experiences of Kenyan theaterpractitioners work through the theoretical perspectives presented by Homi K. Bhabha and John Paul Lederach this paper then argues that theater can create an elicitive Third Space where the passive spectators in the audience can be turned into empathetic, conscientized spect-actors and where conflicting communication can occur without violence. It then goes on to theorize on how the explanation to the differences exists in what the performance need to achieve in the elicitive Third space.

Šios disertacijos tyrimo objektas – kalbinės politinės konfliktinės komunikacijos išraiškos priemonės, būdingos Lietuvos ir Didžiosios Britanijos vadovų politiniame diskurse (1998–2008). Šis tyrimas atskleidžia faktą, jog kalbinės priemonės yra glaudžiai susijusios su kalbančiojo ideologija bei kultūros nulemtomis kalbinėmis praktikomis. Disertacijoje tiriamos tokios kognityvinės lingvistikos sąvokos, kaip konceptualiosios metaforos, domenas, prasmės sritis bei kalbinės priemonės – nominacijos. Žvelgiant iš siauros lingvistikos metodologijos perspektyvos, komparatyvinė analizė ir aprašomasis analitinis metodas naudojami Lietuvos ir Didžiosios Britanijos vadovų konfliktinės komunikacijos diskurso tyrime. Didžiosios Britanijos ir Lietuvos politiniame diskurse isreikštas konfliktas turi bendrų ir skirtingų bruožų. Bendrumą nulemia bendra konfliktinės komunikacijos esmė – politinių jėgų pozicijų ir interesų nesutapimai. Skirtumai remiasi įvairių politinių kultūrų ypatumais. Politinė konkurencija tiek Lietuvoje, tiek Didžiojoje Britanijoje remiasi domenais pokyčiai ir nauda. Tos pačios POLITIKA – TAI KARAS, POLITIKA – TAI KELIONĖ ir VALSTYBĖ – TAI PASTATAS metaforos Šios yra būdingos abiejų šalių politinei komunikacijai. Tačiau Didžiosios Britanijos politiniame gyvenime konfliktinė komunikacija turi ideologinį pobūdį, o Lietuvos vadovų konfliktinės komunikacijos diskurse politinis konfliktas išreikštas ne kaip ideologinis konfliktas. / The object of this research is the linguistic means of political conflict communication that are characteristic of the political discourse of the political leaders of Great Britain and Lithuania (1998–¬2008). This dissertation discloses the fact that linguistic means are closely related to the ideology of the speaker and linguistic practices are conditioned by culture. Such cognitive linguistic concepts as conceptual metaphors, domain, meaning field and such linguistic means as nominations are analysed in this dissertation. Looking from the narrow perspective of linguistic methodology, comparative analysis and descriptive-analytical methods are applied in the conflict communication discourse research of the political leaders of Lithuania and Great Britain. The conflict which is expressed in the political discourse of these countries has both similarities and differences. Resemblance is determined by the general essence of conflict communication, i.e., the discrepancy between positions taken by political forces and interests. Differences are based on the peculiarities of the two political cultures. Political competition in both Lithuania and Great Britain is based on the domains change and benefit. The same POLITICS IS WAR, POLITICS IS A JOURNEY and THE STATE IS A BUILDING conceptual metaphors are characteristic of political communication of both countries. However, conflict communication has an ideological nature in the political life of Great Britain while in the discourse... [to full text]

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed February 11, 2010). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 681-712).