This thesis examined whether it is possible to enhance core elements of the information processing system with specific forms of environmental stimulation. The first series of experiments demonstrated that a preweaning environmental enrichment procedure that provided 60 minutes of daily multisensory stimulation accelerated the development of long-term contextual memory and enhanced inhibitory processing in young rats. That is, whilst stimulated and non-stimulated rats exhibited long-term memory of a context at 26 days of age, only stimulated rats showed this ability at 18 days of age. In addition, stimulated rats showed a faster rate of extinction of long-term contextual memory at 21 days of age, which was taken as evidence of enhanced inhibitory learning (i.e., context ??? no US) in these rats. Subsequent experiments with adult rats demonstrated that a combination of preweaning multisensory stimulation and postweaning rearing in an enriched environment improved the (1) specificity of long-term contextual memory, (2) speed of contextual information processing, and (3) availability of attentional resources. More specifically, enriched-reared rats demonstrated superior ability to discriminate between two similar contexts in comparison to standard-reared rats. In addition, enriched-reared rats showed superior memory of a context when there was limited time available to form a memory of that context. This finding was taken to indicate that rats that receive environmental enrichment are able to process contextual information more rapidly. Finally, standard-, but not enriched-, reared rats showed less conditioning to a discrete stimulus when it was presented in combination with a stronger stimulus during training compared to when it was presented by itself. The finding that enriched-reared rats did not show this overshadowing effect suggests that these rats have greater availability of attentional resources to divide between two stimuli that are competing for attention. The experiments with rats were followed by two experiments with children that investigated the effects of a computerised cognitive training procedure on information-processing speed. These experiments demonstrated that 30-minutes per weekday of training in rapid decision-making for three to five weeks improved children???s performance on two tests of processing speed (i.e., a choice reaction time and odd-man-out task). In addition, the speeded training improved children???s ability to sustain their attention and inhibit impulsive responses on a continuous performance test (Test of Variables of Attention). The cognitive training procedure had no effect on children???s performance on a measure of fluid intelligence (Raven???s Standard Progressive Matrices). The results of the experiments reported in this thesis suggest that a number of fundamental cognitive processes can be modified by environmental conditions that place increasing demands on the information-processing system. A neurobiological model, focusing on myelin, axon diameter, and the glutamatergic, glucocorticoid, noradrenergic, and cholinergic systems, was proposed in order to explain the observed effects of environmental stimulation on cognition in children and rats. The rationale for attempting to enhance fundamental cognitive processes was that improving these processes should ultimately improve general intellectual functioning. With respect to this aim, the correlational data from the present experiments with children revealed promising trends towards greater improvements on the tests of fundamental cognitive processes in those children in the training group with slower processing speed at the start of the intervention. This finding suggests that cognitive training may be even more effective at enhancing processing speed and other fundamental cognitive processes in children with intellectual impairments???who reportedly have slower processing speed than normal children. However, the extent to which training-related improvements in fundamental cognitive processes generalise to improvements in general cognitive functioning is unclear. That is, there is insufficient evidence that processing speed and other fundamental cognitive processes are causally related to intelligence. It is therefore essential that future cognitive training research is mindful of related developments within the intelligence and information processing literature.

Doctor of Philosophy / Zoological gardens, or zoos, keep and display wild animals, mainly for the purposes of education, conservation and biological research. However, it is evident that a significant component of zoos is the vast number of people who visit them, since without the support of visitors, zoos would not be financially viable and would cease to exist. This research investigates the behaviours of these visitors and develops an understanding of their awareness relating to what they see and do while they are in the zoo, along with their motivations for visiting. The study focuses on two major metropolitan zoos in Australia: Adelaide (in South Australia) and Taronga (in Sydney, New South Wales). A brief historical account contextualises changes, raising awareness of the significance of visitors to the livelihood of zoos. More and more zoos are integrating into their management routines different programmes that relate to the care and welfare of the animals. Despite recent growth in scientific attention, which has focused on human-animal relationships, little research has been conducted relating to the human visitor in the zoo. To date, decisions made by administrators have been based upon assumptions of the visitors’ understanding of the work of zoos rather than on actual quantitative findings. This empirical research is significant in that it uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to appraise factual data and information. The data from unobtrusive tracking observations at different exhibits, combined with the results of questionnaire surveys, are used to explore and assess the perceptions of visitors. In developing a demographic profile of the people who visit zoos, this work considers the motivations and the frequency of visitors. Various factors that influence the viewing patterns of visitors are explored to assess the popularity of exhibits, and the perceptions of visitors relating to animals and enclosures are investigated, to assess the diverse levels of satisfaction. Case studies explore the perceptions and understandings of visitors towards the use of enrichment items, the use of signs and labels, and a hypothetical approach to the feeding of carnivores in zoos. The results are important in that they contribute essential knowledge that describes the perceptions of a wide range of people who visit zoos, along with their expectations, since it is crucial for these institutions to maintain their popularity with the public.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 1996. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-133).

Diss. (sammanfattning) Alnarp : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.Ed.(Curriculum and Instructional Design and Development))-Universiteit van Pretoria, 2007. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Logos Evangelical Seminary, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 427-442).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 1994. / Title from title page screen, viewed April 5, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Pamela H. Wheeler, Ming-Gon John Lian (co-chairs), Carol A. Thornton, Kenneth H. Strand, Maribeth N. Lartz. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-127) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 2000. / Title from title page screen, viewed May 9, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Dent M. Rhodes (chair), Paul J. Baker, Wayne Benenson, Susan Lenski. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-132) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the modern world of work, there has been growing concern regarding the adequacy of traditional job redesign approaches in serving the changing nature of work. It has specifically been argued by Frese and Fay (2001) that in the modern world of work, jobs require a higher degree of initiative due to factors such as global competition, faster rate of innovation, new production concepts, and changes in the job concept. The modern world of work poses a number of challenges which include increased levels of initiative by employees in order to develop their knowledge and skills in order to remain ‘current’, creative ideas, and an increased need for employees to make more and more decisions on their own. In order to survive in today’s challenging market place, employees thus should show high levels of proactivity and initiative. Job crafting is the process by which individuals make physical and cognitive changes to the task or relational boundaries of their work (Wrzesniewski & Dutton, 2001). It is proactive behaviour requiring adaptation to challenges and constraints presented by the working environment. It thus would be useful to be aware of the most important factors that contribute to the occurrence of such proactive behaviours. The objective of this research study therefore was to test whether salient job and personal resources, and job demands as depicted by the Job Demands-Resources model account for the variance in job crafting for a sample of employees working within the financial services industry. A literature review was conducted and hypotheses were formulated, and tested by means of an ex post facto correlation design. Data was collected from a sample of 236 employees employed by a company within the financial services industry. A self-administered web-based survey was used for the purpose of collecting the data and participation in the study was voluntary. The data collected was strictly confidential and anonymous. A number of separate measurement instruments to measure the specific latent variables were carefully selected for inclusion in the survey based on their reliability and validity. The research findings specifically illustrate that employees who receive feedback on their performance as well as those who are engaged in their jobs, are more likely to craft their jobs. The results also show that engagement mediates the relationship between autonomy and job crafting, as well as the relationship between feedback and job crafting (the latter being mediated only partially by engagement). Finally, it was found that proactive personality was positively related to job crafting. The research findings therefore illustrate the importance of specific job- and personal resources in fostering job crafting behaviours. The results, together with the managerial implications and practical interventions suggested, provide South African managers and industrial psychologists with valuable insight into managing and encouraging job crafting within the workplace. This research study commenced only once ethical clearance was received from the Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University. / AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: In die moderne wêreld van werk is daar toenemende kommer oor die geskiktheid van die tradisionele herontwerp van werk en hoe dit gepaard gaan met die veranderende aard van werk. Frese en Fay (2001) het spesifiek aangedui dat in die moderne wêreld van werk, 'n hoër mate van inisiatief vereis word as gevolg van faktore soos wêreldwye mededinging, vinniger tempo van innovering, nuwe produksie konsepte, en veranderinge in die konsep van werk. Die moderne wêreld van werk verg baie meer van individue, wat onder andere insluit hoër vlakke van inisiatief deur werknemers om hul kennis en vaardighede te ontwikkel om sodoende op datum te bly met tegnologiese veranderinge, kreatiewe idees, en 'n verhoogde behoefte vir werknemers om meer en meer besluite op hul eie te neem. Om dus in vandag se uitdagende wereld van werk te oorleef, word dit van werknemers verwag om hoë vlakke van pro-aktiwiteit en inisiatief te toon. ‘Job crafting’ is die proses waardeur individue fisiese en kognitiewe veranderinge in hul werks take en -verhoudinge aanbring (Wrzesniewski & Dutton, 2001). Dit is pro-aktiewe gedrag wat werknemers help om aan te pas by die uitdagings wat deur die moderne werksomgewing daargestel word. Dit sal dus voordelig wees om bewus te wees van die belangrikste faktore wat bydra tot hierdie pro-aktiewe gedrag in die werksplek. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was dus om te toets of belangrike werks- en persoonlike hulpbronne, en werks-vereistes soos deur die ‘Job Demands-Resources’ model voorgestel, ‘n waardevolle verduideliking is vir verskillende vlakke van ‘job crafting’ vir 'n groep in die finansiele bedryf. 'n Literatuuroorsig is uitgevoer en hipoteses geformuleer wat deur middel van 'n ex post facto-korrelasie-ontwerp getoets is. Data is ingesamel vanuit 'n streekproef van 236 werknemers van 'n maatskappy in die finansiële bedryf. 'n Self-toegepaste web-gebaseerde vraelys is vir die versameling van data gebruik en deelname aan die studie was vrywillig. Die dataversameling was streng vertroulik and anoniem. 'n Aantal afsonderlike metingsinstrumente om die spesifieke latente veranderlikes te meet, is noukeurig op grond van geldigheid en betroubaarheid gekies en ingesluit in die opname ingesluit. Die navorsings resultate illustreer dat wanneer werknemers terugvoering ontvang oor hul prestasie sowel as diegene wat betrokke is in hul werk, meer geneig is om hul werk te ‘craft’. Die resultate toon ook dat betrokkenheid die verhouding tussen outonomie en ‘job crafting’ bemiddel, sowel as die verhouding tussen terugvoering en job crafting (laasgenoemde word net gedeeltelik deur betrokkenheid bemiddel). Ten slotte, is daar gevind dat ‘n pro-aktiewe persoonlikheid n positiewe verwantskap met ‘job crafting’ het. Die navorsing illustreer dus die belangrikheid van spesifieke werks- en persoonlike hulpbronne in die bevordering van ‘job crafting’. Die resultate, tesame met die bestuurs-implikasies en praktiese ingrypings wat voorgestel word, bied Suid-Afrikaanse bestuurders en bedryfsielkundiges met waardevolle insigte in die bestuur en aanmoediging van ‘job crafting’ binne die werkplek. Hierdie navorsingstudie was voortgesit toe etiese klaring ontvang is van die Etiekkomitee van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch.