Only 1% of students scored in the exceeding range on the Eighth Grade Writing Assessment in a rural Southeastern school district. The purpose of this program evaluation was to explore the effectiveness of the Document-Based Question (DBQ) project in improving student writing. Using interview protocols, work artifacts, and archival student data, a decision-based program evaluation of the DBQ project was conducted using the CIPP model. Administrators and teachers from elementary and middle schools who attended district DBQ project training were invited to participate in this study. One elementary and 1 middle school administrator, 5 elementary teachers, and 7 middle school teachers were selected to participate to create a balanced representation across grade levels. Using the Coding Analysis Toolkit (CAT), interview responses about context, input, process, and product evaluation were analyzed. Analysis of patterns in the data identified 10 strengths and 10 opportunities for improvement of the DBQ project, and led to 6 suggested recommendations to create a more customized fit for its implementation in the school system under study. Overall, it was determined that the DBQ project is an effective program for improving student-constructed responses in writing; it was also determined that expository writing skills of students in Grades 3 through 8 can be improved with explicit instruction in thesis development and text citation supporting ideas. Impacts on social change include students' improvements in formulation, justification, and communication of opinions and the ability to revise positions or demonstrate tolerance for ideas opposing their own. School officials and teachers will benefit from the study results as they continue seeking and refining ways to improve student writing through the use of the DBQ project.

Neste trabalho foram estabelecidos os fundamentos metodológicos baseados na identificação dos fatores de risco, fatores de risco identificados, necessários na elaboração de campanhas de segurança viária, orientados pelas diretrizes estabelecidas no projeto CAST (Campaigns and Awareness-raising Strategies in Traffic Safety), o qual define a identificação do comportamento-problema gerador de acidentes como elemento essencial na definição do objetivo de cada campanha. Não havendo dados estatísticos consistentes e confiáveis dos quais seja possível extrair esta informação, foi necessário identificar os fatores comportamentais que estão na origem de atos inseguros e que devem ser prioritários na elaboração de campanhas de segurança viária. Para o efeito, foi necessário estabelecer uma metodologia que envolveu a utilização de diferentes instrumentos de coleta de dados com o objetivo de identificar os comportamentos-problema, assim como outros fatores relacionados à infraestrutura e ao meio ambiente que poderiam induzir esses comportamentos. Esta metodologia envolveu a aplicação de Grupos Focais que orientaram a elaboração de um questionário voltado para a identificação dos fatores de risco do sistema viário, comportamentos de risco e opiniões relacionados com os tipos de mensagens de campanhas. Este questionário foi posteriormente aplicado a uma amostra de condutores, juntamente com o DBQ – Driver Behaviour Questionnaire, este orientado para a identificação de comportamentos de risco de cada inquirido. A associação desses dois instrumentos permitiu a identificação de fatores de risco no sistema viário, assim como comportamentais de risco habituais e as preferências dos inquiridos sobre tipos e mensagens de campanhas, bem como meios de mídia. A análise estatística dos dados coletados permitiu identificar os seguintes fatores de risco relacionados à via: (1) más condições da infraestrutura da via, (2) más condições de sinalização, (3) más condições dos veículos que trafegam pelas vias, e (4) interação principalmente com pedestres. Foram ainda identificadas as suas opiniões relativamente a comportamentos-problema dos demais usuários do sistema viário, destacando-se os seguintes fatores: (1) sono, (2) bebidas, (3) drogas e (4) mensagens de texto. Quanto à importância das campanhas, os inquiridos consideram que elas devem: (1) ser dirigidas aos fatores de risco identificados, (2) estar associadas a outras ações como fiscalização e (3) seus resultados devem ser divulgados pelos órgãos de governo. Finalmente, acerca das mensagens das campanhas e tipos de mídia utilizados, os inquiridos consideraram que as mensagens devem: (1) utilizar laços afetivos, (2) ser mais impactantes, (3) conter cenas reais, (4) ter finalidade educativa; e as mídias mais adequadas seriam: (1) televisão, (2) internet (com ênfase às redes sociais) e (3) painéis de mensagens variáveis. Quanto ao questionário DBQ, foram identificados sete fatores comportamentais dos próprios inquiridos com maior peso e relação com atos inseguros: (1) Baixo nível de aptidão, (2) Infração, (3) Distração/Inatenção, (4) Condução agressiva, (5) Baixa consciência da situação, (6) Estresse e (7) Adaptação Comportamental. Esses fatores representam os tópicos prioritários que devem ser trabalhados em futuras campanhas. / This research established the methodological principles based on the identification of risk factors necessary for elaboration road safety campaigns, following the guidelines recommended by the CAST (Campaigns and Awareness-raising Strategies in Traffic Safety) project, which defines the identification of main problem behaviors generating accidents as an essential element in the definition of each campaign goal. Since there is no consistent and reliable statistical data proveding this information, it was necessary to identify the behavioral factors that originate unsafe acts and that should be priority in road safety campaigns. In order to achieve this result, it was necessary to establish a methodology involving the use of different data collection tools with the intention of identifying the problem behaviors, as well as other factors related to the infrastructure and environment capable to induce these behaviors. This methodology involved Focus Groups application that directed the elaboration of a questionnaire aiming at a identifing road system risk factors, risky behaviors and opinions regarding the types of campaigns messages. This questionnaire was further applied to a drivers\' sample, together with the DBQ Driver Behavior Questionnaire, which was directed to the identification of risky behaviors of each respondent. The association between these two instruments enabled the identification of road system risk factors, as well as common risky behaviors and the respondents\' preferences about the types of campaign messages and media means. The statistical analysis of the collected data enabled the identification of the following risk factors related to the road system: (1) poor road infrastructure conditions, (2) poor signing conditions, (3) poor vehicle conditions, and (4) interaction mainly with pedestrians. Opinions about problem-behaviors were also identified, stressing the following factors: (1) drowsiness, (2) drink and drive, (3) drugs and medication effects (4) texting driving. Concerning the campaigns importance, the respondents considered that they should: (1) be directed to identified risk factors, (2) be associated to other actions such as enforcement and (3) have its results published by the government entities. Finally, regarding the campaign messages and the used media types, the respondents considered that the messages should: (1) use affective anchors, (2) be more impactful, (3) contain real scenes, (4) have educative purpose; and the most adequate media would be: (1) television, (2) internet (with emphasis to the social networks) and (3) variable message panels. With respect to the DBQ questionnaire, seven behavioral factors based on the respondents own experience were identified as more important and related to unsafe attitudes: (1) poor fitness to drive, (2) violations, (3) distraction/inattention, (4) aggressive driving, (5) poor situation awareness, (6) stress and (7) behavioural adaptation. These factors represented the priority topics that should be handled in future campaigns.

Neste trabalho foram estabelecidos os fundamentos metodológicos baseados na identificação dos fatores de risco, fatores de risco identificados, necessários na elaboração de campanhas de segurança viária, orientados pelas diretrizes estabelecidas no projeto CAST (Campaigns and Awareness-raising Strategies in Traffic Safety), o qual define a identificação do comportamento-problema gerador de acidentes como elemento essencial na definição do objetivo de cada campanha. Não havendo dados estatísticos consistentes e confiáveis dos quais seja possível extrair esta informação, foi necessário identificar os fatores comportamentais que estão na origem de atos inseguros e que devem ser prioritários na elaboração de campanhas de segurança viária. Para o efeito, foi necessário estabelecer uma metodologia que envolveu a utilização de diferentes instrumentos de coleta de dados com o objetivo de identificar os comportamentos-problema, assim como outros fatores relacionados à infraestrutura e ao meio ambiente que poderiam induzir esses comportamentos. Esta metodologia envolveu a aplicação de Grupos Focais que orientaram a elaboração de um questionário voltado para a identificação dos fatores de risco do sistema viário, comportamentos de risco e opiniões relacionados com os tipos de mensagens de campanhas. Este questionário foi posteriormente aplicado a uma amostra de condutores, juntamente com o DBQ – Driver Behaviour Questionnaire, este orientado para a identificação de comportamentos de risco de cada inquirido. A associação desses dois instrumentos permitiu a identificação de fatores de risco no sistema viário, assim como comportamentais de risco habituais e as preferências dos inquiridos sobre tipos e mensagens de campanhas, bem como meios de mídia. A análise estatística dos dados coletados permitiu identificar os seguintes fatores de risco relacionados à via: (1) más condições da infraestrutura da via, (2) más condições de sinalização, (3) más condições dos veículos que trafegam pelas vias, e (4) interação principalmente com pedestres. Foram ainda identificadas as suas opiniões relativamente a comportamentos-problema dos demais usuários do sistema viário, destacando-se os seguintes fatores: (1) sono, (2) bebidas, (3) drogas e (4) mensagens de texto. Quanto à importância das campanhas, os inquiridos consideram que elas devem: (1) ser dirigidas aos fatores de risco identificados, (2) estar associadas a outras ações como fiscalização e (3) seus resultados devem ser divulgados pelos órgãos de governo. Finalmente, acerca das mensagens das campanhas e tipos de mídia utilizados, os inquiridos consideraram que as mensagens devem: (1) utilizar laços afetivos, (2) ser mais impactantes, (3) conter cenas reais, (4) ter finalidade educativa; e as mídias mais adequadas seriam: (1) televisão, (2) internet (com ênfase às redes sociais) e (3) painéis de mensagens variáveis. Quanto ao questionário DBQ, foram identificados sete fatores comportamentais dos próprios inquiridos com maior peso e relação com atos inseguros: (1) Baixo nível de aptidão, (2) Infração, (3) Distração/Inatenção, (4) Condução agressiva, (5) Baixa consciência da situação, (6) Estresse e (7) Adaptação Comportamental. Esses fatores representam os tópicos prioritários que devem ser trabalhados em futuras campanhas. / This research established the methodological principles based on the identification of risk factors necessary for elaboration road safety campaigns, following the guidelines recommended by the CAST (Campaigns and Awareness-raising Strategies in Traffic Safety) project, which defines the identification of main problem behaviors generating accidents as an essential element in the definition of each campaign goal. Since there is no consistent and reliable statistical data proveding this information, it was necessary to identify the behavioral factors that originate unsafe acts and that should be priority in road safety campaigns. In order to achieve this result, it was necessary to establish a methodology involving the use of different data collection tools with the intention of identifying the problem behaviors, as well as other factors related to the infrastructure and environment capable to induce these behaviors. This methodology involved Focus Groups application that directed the elaboration of a questionnaire aiming at a identifing road system risk factors, risky behaviors and opinions regarding the types of campaigns messages. This questionnaire was further applied to a drivers\' sample, together with the DBQ Driver Behavior Questionnaire, which was directed to the identification of risky behaviors of each respondent. The association between these two instruments enabled the identification of road system risk factors, as well as common risky behaviors and the respondents\' preferences about the types of campaign messages and media means. The statistical analysis of the collected data enabled the identification of the following risk factors related to the road system: (1) poor road infrastructure conditions, (2) poor signing conditions, (3) poor vehicle conditions, and (4) interaction mainly with pedestrians. Opinions about problem-behaviors were also identified, stressing the following factors: (1) drowsiness, (2) drink and drive, (3) drugs and medication effects (4) texting driving. Concerning the campaigns importance, the respondents considered that they should: (1) be directed to identified risk factors, (2) be associated to other actions such as enforcement and (3) have its results published by the government entities. Finally, regarding the campaign messages and the used media types, the respondents considered that the messages should: (1) use affective anchors, (2) be more impactful, (3) contain real scenes, (4) have educative purpose; and the most adequate media would be: (1) television, (2) internet (with emphasis to the social networks) and (3) variable message panels. With respect to the DBQ questionnaire, seven behavioral factors based on the respondents own experience were identified as more important and related to unsafe attitudes: (1) poor fitness to drive, (2) violations, (3) distraction/inattention, (4) aggressive driving, (5) poor situation awareness, (6) stress and (7) behavioural adaptation. These factors represented the priority topics that should be handled in future campaigns.

Driverless cars are a hot topic in today’s industry where several vehicle manufacturers try to create a reliable system for automated driving. The advantages of highly automated vehicles are many, safer roads and a lower environmental impact are some of the arguments for this technology. However, the notion of highly automated cars give rise to a large number of human factor issues regarding the safety and reliability of the automated system as well as concern about the driver’s role in the system. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of systematic variations in traffic complexity and external time pressure on decision-making time in a simulated situation using a web-based testing platform. A secondary focus was to examine whether measures of cognitive performance and driver attitudes have an effect on decision-making time.  The results show that systematic variations in both time pressure and traffic complexity have an effect on decision-making time. This indicates that drivers are able to adapt their decision-making to facilitate the requirements of a certain situation. The results also indicate that intelligence; speed of processing and driver attitudes has an effect on decision-making time.

5 Abstract The dissertation thesis in the first part is focused on psychological causes of accidents and the possibilities of psychological prevention. The advantages of various theories and the importance of intervention programs are emphasized. Author bring the overview of knowledge for two focus group, about changes of abilities of older driver and knowledge about risky driving, which can lead to negative effects during driving. In the second empirical part attitudes and behavior of 655 drivers using three questionnaires were explored. Czech version of Driver Anger Scale Questionnaire, used for discovering frustration and type with frequency of anger in traffic situations, Driver Behaviour Questionnaire, used for discovering different kinds of errors of behavior and their frequency, and Brief Inventory of Small Errors, which is concerned on smaller errors and their frequency. The purpose of present study was also to test DBQ and DAS through correlations with the SPARO Personality Inventory and WRBTV test for risky behavior. The results show that these methods can be recommended for risky driving assessment and intervention programs.