The study aims to see whether there are differences in the nature and patterns of computer usage for communicating research between disciplines in the social sciences in Brazil and, if so, whether they can be related to factors which can affect the process of communication. The theory embedded in the research model states that pressures that accompany the introduction of information technologies into a university environment are significant factors in the use of such technologies. These pressures produce differences in the communication process itself. Furthermore, there may also be a relationship between individual factors and the use of IT for communication. The research data were collected via a survey using two instruments. Firstly, mailed questionnaires were sent to 760 academic researchers in sociology and economics in Brazil, working in post-graduate programmes. A response rate of 64.1 percent was achieved. Secondly, 36 interviews were carried out with a sample of the most productive researchers in the two subjects studied. The interview sample included both respondents and non-respondents to the questionnaire. A small sample of 1I British academic researchers was included in the interview survey, in order to allow comparisons and see whether Brazilian academics lag behind IT front-runners. Data collected revealed that there is an impact of computer usage on the scholarly communication process, especially in terms of informal communication. Such an impact can be related to changes in the social interactions that underlie knowledge creation among researchers, and also relates to differences in patterns and processes of computer usage between the chosen disciplines. Formal communication has experienced a gradually growing impact by electronic media on the well-established print environment, with the likely co-existence of the two media for some time to come. The results obtained showed that Brazilian researchers do not lag behind the British ones. Not many differences, but most similarities were found between economists and sociologists in both Brazil and the UK.

This diploma thesis deals with electronic form of the language of young people on social networks. Based on a more than three-year monitoring of events on social networks, the typical and specific features of communication of the youth in new media are examined and analyzed in the thesis. The first part introduces the reader especially the issues of application and changes of the language under the impact of new media; the second part focuses more on problems of social networks - it brings their definitions, deals about their origin and importance. The third and most extensive part consists of an analysis of the language of the youth on social networks, substantiated with concrete selections. The final chapter is made up by a questionnaire proving how the language on social networks is reflected by its users among young people.

Consumer protection is an issue affecting a very broad group of citizens of the European Union. EU reflects customer protection in all its policies. I have focused on electronic communication because of my work experience in that field. In my thesis I am trying to compare my experience with valid legislation. In addition, electronic communication services are used by European consumers every day widespread through society. I have tried to follow the development of EU legislation in electronic communication sector focusing on consumer protection. This topic is very closely connected with price regulation and the whole situation on the electronic communication market. My goal is to define main problems of legislation by using case law and my knowledge from practice. In the first chapter of my thesis, I focus on general consumer protection in EU, which is applicable to all contracts concluded by consumers (unfair terms, contracts negotiated away from business premises etc.). I am pointing out issues I encountered in practice. I also compare implementation of EU legislation by EU member states. Second chapter of my work is concerned with EU regulatory framework of electronic communication valid from 2003 to 2009. I aimed at legislation related to consumer protection. I focused on main problems of the...

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<p>Traditionally seen as a time for increasing independence and autonomy, the college experience is often the first major, long-term physical separation from parents (Chickering, 1969; Chickering & Reisser, 1993). For previous generations, living away from home provided conditions for autonomy development partially based on infrequent contact with parents. In contrast, the rapid evolution of communication technology in the recent past allows today's generation of college students to connect to their parents instantly and frequently through a variety of electronic means including cellular phone calls, text messages, emails, video chats, and social media. The current study used self-report data from 180 residential college students at a mid-sized private institution in the southeastern United States to explore parent-child communication patterns as they relate to parenting styles and the development of emotional autonomy and adjustment to college. Emotional autonomy was measured with items from the Emotional Autonomy Scale (EAS; Steinberg & Silverberg, 1986). Following Beyers, Goossens, Van Calster, & Duriez (2005), a separation scale (derived from the EAS subscales of parental deidealization, nondependence on parents, and individuation) was used as a measure of emotional autonomy. Two scales from the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (Baker & Siryk, 1989) measured students' academic and social adjustment to college.</p><p>Results indicated that, in a given week, students reported an average contact frequency (with both parents combined) of 10.92 cell phone calls, 49.88 text messages, and 6.04 email exchanges. Contact was initiated by students and parents at roughly the same rates, and females had more contact with parents than males, in general. Facebook was more popular than Twitter and Instagram for connecting with parents through social media, and the majority of students felt either neutral or positive about being "Facebook friends" with their parents. Overall, students reported high satisfaction with both the frequency and the quality of communication with their parents. Greater levels of parental closeness significantly predicted higher satisfaction with the parent-child Facebook friendship. </p><p>The relationships between the traditional parenting styles of permissive, authoritative, and authoritarian parenting (Baumrind, 1991) were investigated in relation to communication patterns, autonomy, and adjustment. Helicopter parenting was also included as a predictor variable, though it is considered separate from the traditional parenting styles (Padilla-Walker & Nelson, 2012). Results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that parents' higher scores on authoritarian parenting and helicopter parenting predicted more frequent cell phone contact with parents. Parental closeness also emerged as a significant, positive predictor of frequency of cell phone and total communication. Students who talked on their cell phones more frequently overall (not including parental contacts) tended to talk to their parents more often on the phone, and the same went for texting, as well. </p><p>Helicopter parenting also predicted lower emotional autonomy, which was in line with the only previous study of helicopter parenting in emerging adulthood (Padilla-Walker & Nelson, 2012). Surprisingly, authoritative and permissive parenting significantly predicted lower emotional autonomy, while authoritarian parenting was related to greater autonomy. Analyses investigating frequency of cell phone contact with parents as a moderator of this relationship indicated that more frequent phone conversations predicted decreased autonomy when parents were more authoritative. High levels of authoritarian parenting, on the other hand, resulted in higher levels of autonomy regardless of how often students talked on the phone with parents, while high contact with less authoritarian parents predicted decreased autonomy. Frequency of cell phone contact with parents was unrelated to academic and social adjustment to college. Findings are discussed in light of previous research and situated within a framework proposing that technological advances in communication have contributed to lengthening the path to adulthood.</p> / Dissertation

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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a large concern for many companies with the rise of globalization. Oftentimes, companies are encouraged to communicate CSR externally, but not internally. This research focuses upon the internal communication of CSR, specifically how Human Resource (HR) professionals use electronic channels to communicate to employees. The scope of this research is focused solely upon HR professionals within Solvay’s French industrial sites, which produce chemicals. This research utilizes a case study to answer the research questions, which are how HR professionals electronically communicate CSR to employees, and what limitations may arise from this. Five HR Managers were interviewed from different French industrial sites. This research found that electronic channels are used as a complementary method of communication within industrial sites. HR professionals communicate to employees in two ways: directly or indirectly through an intermediary. To provide more clarity to the research problem, an electronic communication model was developed specifically for industrial sites. This model provides a framework for how HR professionals communicate CSR to employees, along with the limitations of this form of communication within industrial sites.

My thesis deals with netholism, i.e. the Internet addiction. In my opinion, this is an up-to-date issue, often underestimated by children´s parents. The results of my research may serve as an information material to all professions working in contact with children. Important symptoms present in the Internet addicts, as well as the principles of the Internet safety and the parents´ supervision over children's activities on the Internet are mentioned. There is also the existence of considerable health risks related to computers. A large chapter is related to communication on the Internet. I have stated two main objectives of my diploma thesis. Objective 1: To survey activities of children on the Internet sites in dependence on their age. Objective 2: To determine the awareness of children about the risks arising from an excessive Internet use. (The excessive use of the Internet means a period longer than 3 hours a day.) To achieve the intended objectives and the hypotheses testing, an anonymous questionnaire, the method of quantitative research was used. The subject of the investigation was the issue of the use of the Internet by children attending the second stage of primary schools. There was diversity in the concept of questions. I believe I have managed to meet the both chosen objectives of my diploma thesis. The stated hypotheses have been disproved by the questionnaire survey. Hypothesis H1: Children attending the second stage of primary school spend more than half of their time communicating via social networking sites on the Internet, this has not been not confirmed. The survey has shown that almost always only 23% of the total 175 respondents communicate with friends or unknown persons via social networking sites. Hypothesis H2: Children attending the second stage of primary school are not sufficiently informed about the risks arising from the use of the Internet, this has not been confirmed. Only 12% of children think there are no risks arising from the use of the Internet. As a contribution of my diploma thesis in the health and social field may be regarded the recognition of "netholism" as another form of addiction.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de NÃvel Superior / Os compostos trans-[Co(cyclam)(SO3)(NCS)]Â4H2O, trans-[Ru(NH3)4(NCS)(SO4)] e trans-[(SO3)(cyclam)Co&#8722;NCS&#8722;Ru(NH3)4(NCS)](BF4), onde cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazaciclotetradecano, foram sintetizados e caracterizados por difraÃÃes de raios-X, espectroscopias vibracional na regiÃo do infravermelho e eletrÃnica nas regiÃes do ultravioleta e visÃvel (UV-Vis) e por tÃcnicas eletroquÃmicas. O grau de comunicaÃÃo eletrÃnica entre os Ãtomos de Co e Ru do complexo binuclear foi avaliado por eletroquÃmica e espectroscopia eletrÃnica na regiÃo do infravermelho prÃximo. Apenas para o complexo trans-[Co(cyclam)(SO3)(NCS)]Â4H2O foi possÃvel a obtenÃÃo de cristais que permitiram a determinaÃÃo estrutural. Os dados obtidos indicam estrutura monoclÃnica com o ligante cyclam no plano equatorial e os ligantes SO32&#8722; e NCS&#8722; ocupando posiÃÃes trans e coordenados ao Ãtomo de Co atravÃs, respectivamente, dos Ãtomos de S e N. Este resultado à reforÃado atravÃs da observaÃÃo, no espectro vibracional, de bandas tipicamente atribuÃdas ao ligante cyclam quando este se encontra em uma geometria trans. Os resultados de voltametria cÃclica deste composto indicam um mecanismo eletroquÃmico-quÃmico-eletroquÃmico. De fato, os experimentos de espectroeletroquÃmica (potencial controlado em -0,80 V vs Ag/AgCl) indicam que este composto experimenta, apÃs reduÃÃo, reaÃÃo de substituiÃÃo das molÃculas SO32&#8722; e NCS&#8722; por molÃculas do solvente (L), formando compostos do tipo [Co(cyclam)(L)2]2+. A observaÃÃo, no espectro vibracional do complexo trans-[Ru(NH3)4(NCS)(SO4)], das bandas em 2132, 887 e 478 cm-1, atribuÃdas aos modos de &#957;CN, &#957;CS e &#948;(NCS), respectivamente, do ligante NCS&#8722;, indica a coordenaÃÃo deste grupo atravÃs do Ãtomo de nitrogÃnio. Estudos eletroquÃmicos e de espectroscopia eletrÃnica deste composto em meio aquoso indicam que a reduÃÃo do centro metÃlico induz a reaÃÃo de substituiÃÃo do ligante SO42&#8722; por uma molÃcula de H2O. A reaÃÃo para formaÃÃo do composto binuclear, portanto, foi realizada em condiÃÃes redutoras a fim de induzir a formaÃÃo do aquo-complexo de rutÃnio e, em seguida, a reaÃÃo de substituiÃÃo da molÃcula de H2O por um sÃtio de coordenaÃÃo do monÃmero trans- [Co(cyclam)(SO3)(NCS)]Â4H2O. Os resultados obtidos para o material isolado indicam que hà a formaÃÃo do complexo binuclear com o ligante NCS&#8722; ocupando a posiÃÃo ponte. A curva voltamÃtrica obtida para este composto apresenta dois pares de ondas redox com potenciais formais de meia-onda (E1/2) em &#8722;0,27 e 0,13 V vs Ag|AgCl atribuÃdos, respectivamente, aos centros metÃlicos de Co e Ru. Comparativamente aos monÃmeros, hà a observaÃÃo de um deslocamento positivo de potencial o que reflete a estabilizaÃÃo do estado reduzido para o Ãtomo de rutÃnio, RuII, e desestabilizaÃÃo do estado oxidado para o Ãtomo de cobalto, CoIII. Este resultado à atribuÃdo a coordenaÃÃo a um centro oxidado, CoIII, cuja carga nuclear efetiva aumenta a deslocalizaÃÃo de densidade eletrÃnica aumentando o carÃter retirador do ligante ponte NCS&#8722;. O valor da constante de comproporcionamento, Kc = 5,78 x 106, calculada a partir da diferenÃa entre os valores de E1/2, indica um forte grau de comunicaÃÃo entre os centros metÃlicos e classifica este complexo como um sistema de valÃncia mista de classe II. / Trans-[Co(cyclam)(SO3)(NCS)]Â4H2O, trans-[Ru(NH3)4(NCS)(SO4)], and trans-[(SO3)(cyclam)Co&#8722;NCS&#8722;Ru(NH3)4(NCS)](BF4) complexes, where cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, were synthesized and characterized by X-ray difraction, vibrational and electronic (ultraviolet, visible and near infrared) spectroscopies, and electrochemical techniques. The electronic communication between Co and Ru metal centers of the binuclear complex was evaluated by electrochemistry and electronic spectrocopy in the near infrared region. Crystals suitable for X-ray studies were only isolated for the trans-[Co(cyclam)(SO3)(NCS)]Â4H2O complex. The obtained results indicate a monoclic structure with cyclam ligand at the equatorial plane and SO32&#8722; and NCS&#8722; moieties occupying the axial positions being coordinated through, respectively, sulfur and nitrogen atoms. This result is reinforced by the observation, in the vibrational spectrum, of bands typically assigned to the cyclam ligand in a trans configuration. The cyclic voltammograms obtained for this compound indicate as Electrochemical-Chemical-Electrochemical mechanism. In fact, the spectroelectrochemical experiments obtained at -0.80 V vs Ag/AgCl show that this compound, upon reduction, suffers a substitution reaction in which the SO32&#8722; and NCS&#8722; moieties are replaced by solvent molecules (L) thus forming [Co(cyclam)(L)2]2+ type complexes. The observation in the vibrational spectrum of the trans-[Ru(NH3)4(NCS)(SO4)] complex of the 2132, 887 e 478 cm-1 bands assigned, respectively, to the &#957;CN, &#957;CS e &#948;(NCS) vibrational modes of the NCS&#8722; ligand indicates that this moiety is coordinated through the nitrogen atom. Electrochemical and spectroscopic studies of this compound in aqueous medium indicate that the reduction of the metal center induces the replacement of SO42&#8722; ligand by a water molecule. The synthesis of the binuclear compound, therefore, was made under reductive conditions aiming to produce the aquo-complex and, then, replace the water molecule by a coordination site of the trans-[Co(cyclam)(SO3)(NCS)]Â4H2O complex. The results obtained for the isolated material hints that the binuclear complex is formed with the NCS&#8722; fragment as the bridge ligand. The acquired cyclic voltammogram presents two redox process with the half-wave formal potentials (E1/2) observed at &#8722;0.27 and 0.13 V vs Ag|AgCl and being assigned to the Co and Ru metal centers, respectively. In comparison to the monomers, the positive potential shift reflects the stabilization of the reduced state of the ruthenium metal atom (RuII) and the destabilization of the cobalt metal center (CoIII). This result is assigned to the coordination to an oxidated metal center, CoIII, whose effective nuclear charge increased the electronic delocalization increasing the withdrawing character of the NCS&#8722; bridge ligand. The comproportionation constant, Kc = 5.78 x 106, was calculated from the difference between the E1/2 values. The Kc value indicates a strong electronic communication between the metal atoms and classifies this binuclear complex as a mixed valence system of class II.

Postmodernism affects views and lifestyles, which in turn determine how an individual fulfils his roles, meets his needs, and grows and adjusts in his different systems. The nature of this impact on the social functioning of young adults from an ecological systems perspective is relevant for the social work profession and to social work practitioners working with young adults. Discovering more about this impact therefore formed the rationale for this study. In this study, the mixed methods research approach was utilised seeing that it comprises both a qualitative and a quantitative component which, when mixed, provided a comprehensive analysis of the research problem. Young adults’ experiences and views of postmodern society could be considered as phenomena in the ‘real world’ which necessitated a qualitative approach to this study. In order to claim scientific accuracy, the impact had to be quantified. This implied measurement within a quantitative approach in order to produce precise and generalisable statistical findings. The researcher started the empirical study with the qualitative approach. In this manner, rich data could be obtained to assist in the compilation of suitable questions to construct a questionnaire. Sequential timing, within the exploratory mixed methods design, with the qualitative data collected and analysed first, followed by the quantitative data, therefore allowed for the one dataset to build upon the other. Mixing the datasets by means of an exploratory mixed methods research design provided a better understanding of the problem than if either dataset had been used alone. Exploratory factor analysis was used to reduce the data and promote the measurement of the impact of postmodernism. From the conclusions it is apparent that global issues observed in the macrosystem affect all the ecological systems and impact the social functioning of the young adult. The reciprocal impact of people and environmental systems on the social functioning of young adults within a postmodern paradigm was evident in this research. Personal experiences were highly valued, as well as a tendency towards ‘own authority’. Postmodernism affects views and lifestyles, which in turn affects the young adult’s performance of roles and his interactions within all his different social systems. A strong attachment to family and home, as well as the importance of roles as sons/daughters were found. It was found that young adults focus on ‘the self’ and on own needs and satisfactions, with contrasting views on the significance of formal structures, image and consumerism, (electronic) communication and interaction, diversity and personal future. Views regarding an uncertain future and personal roles evolve and change constantly, depending on social and economic factors. An increase in a need for spirituality in postmodern times was found. The contemporary young adult between the ages of 18 and 25 years explores and experiments in terms of identity and lifestyle. Thinking, questioning, feeling and a strong focus on ‘self’ characterise this young adult. Views and values seem to be person-specific and based on emotions and experiences. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / hb2013 / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted