Why problem structuring is a crucial activity in policy analysis is discussed making references to literature. The shortcomings of the rational model of decision making and problem solving are pointed out. A theoretical perspective with its ontological and epistemological assumptions are elaborated and developed as an alternative to the rational model. Problem structuring is defined as a cognitive process, and George Kelly's personal construct psychology is adopted as the theoretical basis to develop a problem structuring method. The method developed uses Kelly's repertory grid technique in a particular form that is modified for the specific needs of problem structuring in groups. A computer software developed particularly for this method is used interactively in elicitation of personal constructs and their analyses. The applications of the method are illustrated in two group cases, and the implications for theory and further applications are discussed. / Ph. D.

Yes / Entrepreneurs need to be more resilient. As economic disruptions are inevitable, organizations need to have resilient leaders. Resilient organizations possess the capacity to sustain favorable transformations and successfully navigate numerous hurdles during periods of crisis or adversity. The purpose of this research is to develop a new measurement tool for resilient leadership within the context of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Despite vast empirical evidence on the topic of leadership toward sustainable performance, validated assessments of resilient leadership are still underexplored. Therefore, the researchers initiated a quantitative research approach by gathering data from 100 SME leaders across various industries. The newly developed resilient leadership questionnaires were electronically distributed to the respondents. The data was analyzed using SPSS 26.0. The data analysis comprised descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, and exploratory factor analysis. The results revealed and verified six- dimensions of resilient leadership, which include adaptability, emotional intelligence, visionary, spiritual intelligence, growth mindset, and internal ecosystem. The measurement scale developed, and the factor structure produced can be used to assess and develop more resilient leaders that could help to sustain business performance among SMEs. The inclusion of a spiritual element into the model adds value and provides a holistic view of a resilient leadership model that is not only applicable to the context of SMEs in Malaysia but also across borders.

Le dialecte syrien de Tartous ne dispose pas d’adverbes dérivés d’un adjectif, comme c’est le cas en français, pouvant fonctionner comme adverbes de manière. Par contre,Les deux langues utilisent deux moyens similaires pour exprimer la manière. Le premier concerne la construction introduite par la préposition avec en français et parla préposition bə (‘associatif’) en syrien de Tartous, et le second, l’objet interne en français et l’objet dit absolu en syrien de Tartous. Compte tenu de la différence entre les systèmes linguistiques des deux langues, nous pourrons faire l’hypothèse que même dans les cas des deux moyens comparables dont disposent les deux langues pour exprimer la manière, ils ne sont pas soumis aux mêmes types de contraintes syntaxiques et sémantiques en français et en syrien de Tartous. Cette étude comparative nous permettra de comprendre le fonctionnement de chacun des moyens utilisés dans les deux langues pour exprimer la manière, et par là de faire ressortir les différences syntaxique et sémantique qui séparent les compléments de manière dans les deux langues. / The Syrian dialect of Tartous does not have adverbs derived from adjectives that work as adverbs of manner, like in French. On the other hand, both languages use two similar ways of expressing condition ; the first one is construct introduced by thepreposition ‘with’ (‘avec’ in French, ‘bi’ in Syrian). The second way is the cognate object, or what is known in Syrian as ‘absolute effect’.With the differences between the two language systems in mind, we can assume that even if we have similar ways of expressing manner, yet they are controlled by different grammatical and semantic rules.Comparing the two languages allows us to understand the method of expressing manner in each language, and then identify the semantic and grammatical distinctions between the adverbs of manner in the two languages.

by Wong Kit Yi, Angel. / Thesis (M.A.Ed.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1987. / Bibliography: leaves 220-235.

The construct validity of six hypothesized dimensions was explored for an Accountancy majorgraduation examination, in order to understand the underlying process of responding. Using answers from 313 examinees to an intentional sample of 17 objective items administered on large scale, a confirmatory factorial analysis was carried out, with a Multi-Trait Multi-Method matrix (MTMM): Traits represented three cognitive operations required to solve the items and the methods represented three knowledge fields of the content. Each item was linked to a cog- nitive operation and to a knowledge field. The resulting model showed convergent validity in two constructs and its manifest variables and divergent only between technical and combined knowledge. Thus, the answering process was explained, simultaneously by the Understanding operation influenced by Theoretical knowledge. Implications to understanding the answering process in this type of examination through construct validation are discussed. / Se investiga la validación de constructo de seis dimensiones que están en la base del examende egreso de una licenciatura en contabilidad, con el fin de entender el proceso de respuesta subyacente. A partir de las respuestas a 17 ítems objetivos aplicados de manera grupal a 313 participantes seleccionados según muestreo intencional, se realizó un análisis factorial confirmatorio MRMM, en el que se representaron tres operaciones cognitivas demandadas para resolver los ítems y los métodos, así como los tres campos de conocimiento del contenido que se evalúa en ellos. El modelo resultante muestra bondad de ajuste, validez convergente entre dos constructos y sus variables manifiestas, además de validez divergente solo entre el conocimiento técnico y el combinado. El proceso de respuesta fue explicado, simultáneamente, por la operación comprender, influida por el conocimiento teórico. Se discuten las implicancias para comprender el proceso de respuesta en este tipo de examen a partir de la validación de constructo realizada.

Studiens syfte var att avtäcka de element som upplevs betydelsefulla för den enskilda individen i en återhämtningsprocess från beroende, i relation till deltagandet av NA-möten. Som bakgrund till studien presenteras en redogörelse för olika definitioner av beroendeproblematiken samt återhämtning, tillfrisknande, tolvstegsprogrammet och Anonyma Narkomaner. Datainsamlingsmetoden som har används är av kvalitativ art med semistrukturerade intervjuer med fyra informanter. Bearbetning av data har skett genom tematisering som har resulterat i tre olika teman, som visar korrelation mellan det informanterna uttryckt. Temana sammanfattar fynden av verksamma mekanismer i deltagandet av NA-möten för en återhämtningsprocess mot tillfrisknande. Resultatet har analyserats utifrån ovan nämnd bakgrund, tidigare forskning samt två teoribildningar som ämnat att komplettera varandra. Studien visar att verksamma mekanismer i en återhämtningsprocess från beroende mot tillfrisknande är “gemenskap”, “unik förståelse” och “självutveckling” som kan återfinnas i deltagandet av NA-möten. / The aim of the study was to uncover the elements that are perceived as important for the individual in a recovery process from addiction, in relation to the participation of NA meetings. An introduction to the study is presented including a summary of various definitions of the addiction problem as well as recovery, the twelve-step program and Narcotics Anonymous. The data collection method used in the study was qualitative, through semi-structured interviews with four informants. Data processing was done through theme classification, which resulted in the identification of three themes based on common perceptions between the four informants. These themes summarize the findings of effective mechanisms in the participation in NA meetings for a recovery process. The result were analyzed on the basis of the aforementioned introduction, previous research and two theories that are intended to complement each other. The study shows that effective mechanisms in a recovery process from addiction are "community", "unique understanding" and "self-development" that can be found in the participation of NA meetings.

The focus of this dissertation was to gain a better understanding of how families construct autism. Studies have overwhelmingly used the medical model or the institutional narrative to interpret how autism is understood in families. More recently, a counter-narrative has emerged resisting this medical model. Both narratives, however, simplify the intricate nature of the disability construct within families. Additionally, the term “family” has been used euphemistically to refer to mothers, fathers or siblings of children who have autism. This study explored the constructs of the whole family through shared stories of their day-to-day lives. Through a narrative inquiry, this study used semi-structured interviews and participant observational data collected in homes and communities of three families who have elementary school-aged children diagnosed with autism. Selection criteria consisted of English-speaking families who completed a university-based early intervention program. Attempts were made to select multidimensional or diverse families. Resulting data were analyzed using NVivo software. Five findings emerged. First, contexts and the interactions held within them played a significant role in the type of narrative that was used to construct disability. Second, constructs of disability were in process and fluid. Third, families held competing constructs of disability at both the group and individual levels. Fourth, the dominant cultural narrative of disability founded upon the medical model was used by families; however, its use was predicated on the desire to protect family members (i.e., child with disability as well as siblings) from perceived and directly-experienced exclusions from mainstream society. Fifth, a dominant construct of disability existed within families and was contingent upon the strength of that construct within various contexts with which the family engaged. Knowledge was added to the current literature on the complexity and fluid nature of the disability construct at the group and individual levels. In addition, these constructs were argued to be influenced by the interactive contexts and the embedded narratives of disability. Knowledge generated by this study can be used to integrate different lenses within professional training programs, and help to re-imagine the methods and aims of research that explore families who have children with disabilities.

No description available.

Background: The literature suggests a consensus that individuals can become traumatised through listening to another’s trauma. Much of this research, however, has focused on individuals who have had direct, face-to-face contact with the primary victims of trauma. It therefore appears that there is a paucity of research looking at contact which is less direct, such as telephone contact. Aims: The current research aimed to explore the levels of secondary traumatic stress and posttraumatic stress disorder in a sample of Samaritan telephone volunteers, with a view to understanding some of the correlates of trauma. It also aimed to explore the personal construct systems of a sub-sample of Samaritan telephone volunteers, and explore any relationships between personal construct systems and trauma. Method: A cross-sectional design was employed. Questionnaires were used to assess levels of secondary traumatic stress and posttraumatic stress in Samaritan telephone volunteers spread across the United Kingdom. Repertory grid technique was used with a sub-sample of Samaritan telephone volunteers to elicit bipolar constructs comparing themselves and others. Results: 299 Samaritan telephone volunteers completed or partially completed the questionnaires, and of these 50 volunteers completed the repertory grids. Levels of secondary trauma (as determined by the Modified Secondary Trauma Scale) correlated with discrepancy in construing of the current and ideal self, levels of posttraumatic stress and exposure to potentially traumatic events. The Samaritans were not found to be suffering with secondary trauma. Degree of elaboration of self-construing reduced after the named traumatic event, and there was a significant difference in degree of elaboration for ‘self after traumatic event’ on the emergent poles of constructs. Conclusions: This research appears to be the first dedicated to assessing secondary trauma in telephone crisis line volunteers, lending some support to Sewell and Cromwell’s (1990) personal construct model of posttraumatic stress. The findings of this study challenge crisis lines to think about secondary trauma, and to implement some teaching and training around this area. Additionally, it reinforces that further research in the area is needed, and highlights the relative merits of employing a repertory grid methodology alongside questionnaires in understanding trauma.

Hearing voices is a well researched experience, found in both schizophrenia and the general population. Previous research investigating the unusual experience has reinforced cognitive psychology concepts such as beliefs, power, core beliefs about the self, intent and identity. It has been suggested that these factors all mediate individual coping with the experience. Coping with voices is a clinically significant area of research pioneered by Romme and Escher and requires careful consideration. Kelly‘s Personal Construct Psychology and the repertory grid technique were used in the study to compare two ways of coping with voices: engaging and resisting coping. The groups were compared on the repertory grid measures of construed distance between the self and the voice, salience of the self and voice, and tightness of the overall construct system. In a sample of 18 voice hearers, the Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire- Revised (BAVQ-R), a measure of psychological distress (OQ45.2) and Kelly‘s repertory grid were administered. The study also used three case examples and content analysis of construct poles applied to the dominant voice and the self as coper to supplement the quantitative analysis with a more in-depth exploration. Resisting coping was found to be associated with a greater construed distance between the self and the voice, a more salient view of the voice, and a tighter construct system. However, neither resisting nor engaging coping was associated with psychological distress. In addition, voice malevolence was associated with distancing oneself from the voice, suggesting that distancing was an adaptive coping strategy used, possibly as a way to preserve selfhood. The study therefore added to the list of mediating factors between the voice hearing experience and the coping strategy adopted. As a result, the repertory grid showed some scope in assessing the three areas of interest. The findings suggest that clinically, voice hearers can best be supported by adopting the appropriate relational approach with the voice (closeness or distance), reducing the salience of the voice and moving through Kelly‘s Creativity and Experience Cycle.