This thesis presents a Constructivist Grounded Theory study that explores the impact that life science specific intermediaries have on knowledge exchange and commercialisation. Many of the life science intermediaries (LSIs) that operate to bridge the divide between industry and academia receive public funding, and many have come and gone. It is important for us to better understand the reasons behind this turnover and how we can develop LSIs that have staying power. The research explores what LSIs are and the different ways they can impact on knowledge exchange and commercialisation. The study engaged 22 different LSIs sites from the UK, Holland and France. These 22 different LSIs have been placed into five different Case intermediary models, moreover, 30 interviews were conducted, informal observations were collected and field notes also known as memos were taken throughout the research process. Through the use of Constructivist Grounded Theory five theoretical concepts emerged, these included the following: that a LSI needed to have commercialisation targets, those with KEC objectives embedded had more chance of gaining further funding, and they require sufficient time and that funding resources are adequate and they should employ staff from both academia and industry within the LSI. A theoretical framework model that can be used to help design and develop a high functioning LSI is presented. Discussions with policy decision makers and the expectations from a range of stakeholders feed into this framework model. The theory development adds to the knowledge on innovation intermediaries and in particular the sectoral systems of innovation (SSI) which allows for a more focused approach on innovation intermediaries from a single sector viewpoint. Furthermore, the study feeds into more recent research on the reason why intermediaries fail.

Esta Dissertação analisa de que forma as necessidades e expectativas dos servidores públicos estatutários da Secretaria Municipal de Obras e Viação da cidade de Porto Alegre (SMOV) se manifestam no seu ambiente de trabalho, e de que forma elas contribuem para a motivação dos funcionários que atuam nesta secretaria. Esta pesquisa qualitativa, um estudo de caso de caráter exploratório, teve como base teórica para análise dos dados a Teoria da Hierarquia das Necessidades, de Maslow, e a Teoria da Expectância, de Vroom. Vinte e uma entrevistas estruturadas foram feitas na própria SMOV, e os resultados analisados através do método de análise de conteúdo, com a utilização de dez categorias, que permitiram a compreensão de como se manifestam as necessidades e expectativas dos funcionários da SMOV, e de que forma suas necessidades e expectativas afetam a sua motivação para trabalhar diariamente Os resultados demonstram pouca motivação para trabalhar fruto das necessidades por parte dos entrevistados, em abordagem da Teoria da Hierarquia das Necessidades, de Maslow, assim como demonstram a percepção da falta de recompensas desejáveis pela realização de tarefas não rotineiras, e a percepção de não serem recompensados pelas tarefas rotineiras, em abordagem da Teoria da Expectância, de Vroom. A falta de política de Recursos Humanos que valorize o desempenho dos funcionários foi um problema percebido, e que deve ser corrigido a fim de elevar a produtividade da secretaria de forma geral, reduzindo seus altos índices de funcionários afastados e de reclamações de usuários. / This thesis examines in which ways the needs and expectations of the statutory civil servants from Secretaria Municipal de Obras e Viação (SMOV) from Porto Alegre’s city, are manifested in their work environment and in which ways this contributes to the motivation of the servants who works in this Secretaria. This qualitative survey, a exploratory case study, had the theoretical basis for data analysis, the Theory of Hierarchy of Needs, from Meslow, and the Theory of Expectancy, of Vroom. Twentyone structured interviews were carried out in SMOV, and the results analized through the content analysis method, utilizing tem categories. This allows the understanding to how the spectations and needs of the SMOV employees manifest, and the way their needs and expectations affect their motivation to work daily The results show little motivation to work, due the needs of the interviewed, according the Theory of Hierarchy, from Maslow. Also they show the perception of the lack of fair rewards for the non usual tasks, and de perception of not be rewarded for the usual tasks, according the Theory of Expectancy, of Vroom. The lack of Human Resources Policies that valorize the performance of the clerks was a problem noticed, and shall be corrected in order to increase the productivity of the SMOV in a general form, improving its high levels of employees away and the complaints of its users.

INTRODUÇÃO: As Estratégias de Diagnóstico e Intervenções Breves (EDIB) propostas pela Organização Mundial de Saúde são consideradas efetivas para o diagnóstico e prevenção dos agravos decorrentes do uso do álcool. Atitudes, crenças e expectativas dos profissionais de saúde em relação ao uso de álcool influenciam o efeito destas novas propostas. OBJETIVO: Este trabalho propõe a avaliação do efeito do treinamento em EDIB sobre as crenças e expectativas a respeito do uso de álcool. MÉTODOS: O estudo é do tipo observacional, transversal, comparativo, sobre uma amostra de 88 profissionais da atenção primária à saúde, provenientes de Ribeirão Preto e região, que concordaram em participar da pesquisa conforme os procedimentos éticos recomendados, treinados pelo Programa de Ações Integradas para Prevenção e Atenção ao Uso de Álcool e Drogas na Comunidade (PAIPAD) no período de 2003 a 2006. Os dados foram coletados através de questionários individuais aplicados antes do treinamento e no período de 4 a 6 meses depois. Os questionários incluíram um formulário sócio-demográfico, o Teste de Conhecimento sobre álcool e Intervenções Breves (IB), o Inventário de Expectativas e Crenças Pessoais acerca do Álcool (IECPA) e um formulário de estimativas sobre o uso do AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test) e das IB. A amostra foi caracterizada quanto à prática e preparação profissional na atenção primária, papel, atitudes e crenças dos profissionais em relação aos problemas relacionados ao uso de álcool ou outras drogas pelos seus pacientes. RESULTADOS: No Teste de Conhecimento sobre álcool e Intervenções Breves, a pontuação média foi maior após o treinamento, passando de 4,1 para 5,57(Wilcoxon Test: z= -4,936; p 0,001). Os resultados médios do IECPA passaram de 93,45 pontos na fase pré para 78,74 pontos na fase pós-treinamento (Wilcoxon, z=-4,138; p 0,001). Através do teste de Spearman observou-se tendência à correlação positiva entre a aquisição de conhecimento e as variações no IECPA (p=0,095); o nível de conhecimento pré-treinamento e as estimativas de realização de EDIB(p=0,082); as estimativas de aplicação de AUDITS e o intervalo de tempo(p=0,009). As variações do IECPA se correlacionaram positivamente com as expectativas de aplicação de EDIB (Nonparametric Chi-Square: p=0,053). No Teste de Conhecimento, o nível médio (incompleto e completo) apresentou menor nível de aproveitamento que os outros níveis de escolaridade. As maiores variações no IECPA foram observadas entre os profissionais de nível de escolaridade superior (incompleto e completo). Os profissionais com ocupações de nível superior apresentaram maiores variações positivas quanto ao conhecimento que os de nível técnico, e maior redução na pontuação do IECPA. CONCLUSÕES: A estratégia de formação oferecida pelo PAIPAD foi efetiva, promovendo mudanças nas crenças e expectativas da equipe sobre uso de álcool, interferindo positivamente na conduta preventiva dos profissionais treinados junto aos pacientes. / BACKGROUND: The Strategies of Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) are considered effective to perform the diagnosis and the prevention of damage caused by alcohol. Attitudes, beliefs and expectations of health professionals in relation to alcohol use have influence over the effect of these new proposals. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at evaluating the effect of training in SBIRTs on the beliefs and expectations of professionals about the alcohol use. METHODS: The study is observational, cross-sectional and comparative, with a sample of 88 professionals of primary care, from Ribeirão Preto and region, who agreed to participate following ethical procedures, trained by Program of Integrated Action for Prevention and Attention to Alcohol and Drug Use in the Community (PAIPAD), in period from 2003 to 2006. Data were collected through individual questionnaires applied before the training and in the period from 4 to 6 months later. The questionnaires included a socio-demographic inventory, the Test of Knowledge about alcohol and brief interventions (IB), the Inventory of Positive Expectations and Beliefs about Alcohol (IECPA) and an inventory of estimates on the use of the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test) and brief interventions. The sample was characterized in relation to the practice and professional preparation in primary care, the professional role in primary care and attitudes and beliefs of professionals about problems related to alcohol or other drugs for their patients. RESULTS: In the Test of Knowledge about alcohol and brief interventions, the average score was higher after the training, increasing from 4.1 to 5.57 (Wilcoxon test: z =- 4.936, p0001). The IECPA average changed from 93.45 points to 78.74 points after intervention, in the post-training (Wilcoxon, z =- 4.138, p0001). A trend toward positive correlation between the acquisition of knowledge and changes in IECPA (p = 0,095) was found (Spearman test), as well the level of pre-training knowledge and estimates of conducting SBIRTs (p = 0,082), estimates of implementing AUDIT and the time (p = 0,009). In the Test of Knowledge, the intermediate level of schooling (complete and incomplete) showed lower score than the others. Variations of IECPA correlated positively with the expectations of applying SBIRTs (Nonparametric Chi-Square: p = 0,053). The highest changes in IECPA were seen among higher level professionals (complete and incomplete). The professionals of higher-level occupations showed bigger positive changes in knowledge than workers of technical level and higher reduction in scores of IECPA. CONCLUSIONS: The strategy of training offered by PAIPAD was effective, promoting changes in beliefs and expectations of the team about alcohol use, interfering positively in the preventive attitudes of trained professionals with the patients.

Universidade Federal do Cearà / Desde o ano de 2000 que as cooperativas de crÃdito brasileiras tÃm experimentado um crescimento contÃnuo no nÃmero de novas unidades. De outro modo os bancos brasileiros tem diminuÃdo em quantidade pelo processo de aquisiÃÃo e concentraÃÃo. Este crescimento das cooperativas pode estar associado com um maior risco para os associados. Este trabalho investiga as causas de falÃncias das cooperativas de crÃdito dos profissionais de saÃde no Brasil. Para tanto busca fornecer um modelo de alerta precoce que informe aos gestores e supervisores do risco de insolvÃncia, fazendo uso de uma anÃlise de regressÃo logÃstica de Ãndices financeiros. Foi estimado um modelo de prediÃÃo de insolvÃncia que fosse parcimonioso e acurado. Este trabalho provà informaÃÃes adicionais a outros estudos brasileiros sobre falÃncia em cooperativas de crÃdito, de trÃs modos: à um estudo de abrangÃncia nacional, trata com cooperativa de crÃdito mÃtuo urbano, usa uma moderna tÃcnica estatÃstica com dados em painel, o que permite capturar as diferenÃas entre as cooperativas. O presente estudo tambÃm fornece uma maneira racional para a escolha do cut-off. Os resultados sugerem que provisÃo para emprÃstimo em atraso para total do ativo, Total de emprÃstimo para Total de ativo, Total de emprÃstimo para Total de depÃsitos e PatrimÃnio LÃquido Passivo total, sÃo os preditores mais significativos da insolvÃncias das cooperativas. De modo contrÃrio as Despesas Operacionais para Receitas Operacionais e Despesas Operacionais para ativo total nÃo indicam ser significativas em prever a insolvÃncia. / Since the year of 2000 Brazilians credit cooperatives has experienced a increasing growth in number of units. On the other hand Brazilians banks decreased their number, by the process of acquisition and concentration. This growth may imply increasing risk for the associates. This paper empirically investigates the causes of failures of credit cooperatives of heath professionals in Brazil. A goal of this paper is provide a early warning model that inform managers and supervisors of a risks of default, by using logistic regression analysis of financial ratios. It was estimate a default prediction model that was parsimonious and accurate. This work provided additional information over other Brazilian studies of credit cooperatives failure by three ways: it is a national wide study, deals with urban mutual credit cooperative, uses modern statistic technique panel data which can capture the differences across cooperatives. It also provided a reasonable for the choosing of cut-off. The results suggest that provision for bad debts over total assets, total loans over total assets, total loans over total deposits are the most significant predictors of credit cooperative failure. Operational expenses over operational incomes and operational expenses over total assets, contrary, do not seem to be significant indicators of failure

O efeito placebo tem sua origem atrelada aos estudos ligados às ciências médicas e farmacológicas e, basicamente, consiste na capacidade de produtos inertes produzirem efeitos por meio do seu uso ou consumo. Esse efeito passou a fazer parte do escopo do Marketing em 2005, quando estudos mostraram a capacidade do preço gerar modificações sobre o desempenho de um produto. A ideia do efeito placebo desencadeado pelo preço dos produtos está ancorada no fato das crenças globais, que associam preço baixo a produtos de má qualidade, anteciparem as expectativas do consumidor acerca da resposta do produto e, a partir disso, alterarem o seu desempenho. Nessa mesma linha, o estereótipo do país de origem também se apresenta como uma crença global, em que produtos oriundos de países com estereótipo negativo são associados a produtos inferiores e de má qualidade. Sendo assim, esta pesquisa analisou a ocorrência do efeito placebo desencadeado pelo país de origem do produto, analisando, ainda, a interação da força das expectativas e do preço do produto na geração deste efeito. Para tanto, três estudos experimentais foram operacionalizados. O primeiro estudo apresentou as testagens iniciais sobre o efeito placebo gerado pelo país de origem e mostrou que o país de origem com estereótipo negativo é capaz de gerar um efeito placebo negativo sobre o desempenho do produto. Não foi identificado, no entanto, a ocorrência de efeito placebo gerado pelo estereótipo positivo do país de origem. No segundo estudo, analisou-se o efeito placebo do país de origem em cenário de alta e baixa expectativa. Como resultado, obteve-se, em cenário de baixa expectativa, a ocorrência de efeito placebo negativo gerado pelo estereótipo negativo do país de origem. Já em cenário de alta expectativa, os resultados indicam que o fortalecimento das expectativas eliminou o efeito placebo negativo e, além disso, promoveu a ocorrência de um efeito placebo positivo gerado pelo estereótipo positivo do país de origem. O último estudo observou a interação do país de origem e do preço do produto sobre a geração de efeito placebo. Os resultados mostram que, em cenário de preço baixo, há efeito placebo negativo gerado pelo país de origem com estereótipo negativo, mas não foi observada a ocorrência de efeito placebo positivo gerado pelo estereótipo positivo do país de origem. Já, em cenário de preço alto, não se observou a ocorrência de nenhum efeito placebo, nem positivo, nem negativo. Ou seja, o preço elevado do produto foi capaz de anular o efeito placebo negativo gerado pelo estereótipo negativo do produto, mostrando a capacidade do preço em compensar os efeitos negativos causados pelo país de origem com imagem desfavorável. Com base nisso, os achados desta tese contribuem para o avanço teórico dos estudos sobre efeito placebo em Marketing, uma vez que adicionam o país de origem como um elemento gerador deste tipo de efeito e, ao analisar a interação do país de origem com o fortalecimento das expectativas e o preço do produto, confirmam as bases conceituais sobre a relação entre esses elementos. Além disso, seus achados, em termos gerenciais, podem promover reflexões por parte das organizações que compõem o seu mix de produtos com bens importados e também que operaram no exterior e fazem investimentos externos diretos em diversas partes do mundo. / The placebo effect has its origin linked to studies related to medical and pharmacological sciences and basically consists in the ability of inert products to produce effects through its use or consumption. This effect became part of the Marketing scope in 2005 when studies showed the ability of pricing to generate changes on the performance of a product. The idea of the placebo effect triggered by product price is anchored on the fact that global beliefs, which associate low price to low quality products, anticipate consumer expectations about the response of the product and, from there, change its performance. Along the same line, the stereotype of the country of origin also presents itself as a global belief in that products from countries with negative stereotypes are associated with inferior and bad quality products. Thus, this research analyzed the occurrence of the placebo effect triggered by the country of origin of the product, also analyzing the interaction of the strength of expectations and of product price in the generation of this effect. For this purpose, three experimental studies were operationalized. The first study presented initial testings on the placebo effect generated by the country of origin and showed that the country of origin with negative stereotypes is able to generate a negative placebo effect on product performance. However, the occurrence of the placebo effect generated by positive stereotypes in the country of origin was not identified. In the second study, the placebo effect of the country of origin in a scenario of high and low expectations was analyzed. As a result, in a scenario of low expectations, the occurrence of a negative placebo effect generated by the negative stereotype of the country of origin was obtained. However, in a scenario of high expectations, results indicate that the strengthening of the expectations eliminated a negative placebo effect and in addition, promoted the occurrence of a positive placebo effect generated by the positive stereotype of the country of origin. The last study observed the interaction of the country of origin and the price of the product upon the generation of the placebo effect. The results show that in a scenario of low price, there is a negative placebo effect generated by the country of origin with a negative stereotype, but the occurrence of a positive placebo effect generated by the positive stereotype of the country of origin was not observed. However, in a scenario of high prices, there was no occurrence of a placebo effect, whether positive or negative. In other words, the high price of the product was able to cancel the negative placebo effect generated by the negative stereotype of the product, showing the capacity of the price to compensate for the negative effects caused by the country of origin with an unfavorable image. Based on this, this thesis’ findings contribute to the theoretical progress on the studies about the placebo effect in Marketing, once the country of origin is added as a generating element of this type of effect, and when analyzing the interaction of the country of origin with the strengthening of expectations and the price of the product, the conceptual foundations about the relationship between these elements are confirmed. Moreover, its findings in management terms can promote reflections by organizations that compose the product mix with imported goods and also that operate overseas and make foreign direct investments in various parts of the world.

There has been much advancement in the field of data and information quality (DIQ) since two decades ago. However, despite a large number of the theoretical and empirical studies in this field, there is a lack of understanding about the mechanisms and dynamics of forming, adjusting and changing organisational users’ (information consumers) assumptions and expectations based on which they perceive the quality of information required for making decision in order to perform a task within an organisational environment. Although it is already known that information consumers perceive the quality of information according to the requirements of the organisational task and the context of use, how the task requirements affect information consumers’ expectations of information quality has been a black-box in the body of literature. The main objective of this research is to contribute to the literature of DIQ by exploring the role of the setting of a task within an organisational context in the formation, development and change of information consumers’ underlying expectations of information quality. Information consumers’ assumptions and expectations are called information quality (IQ) frames by this research. Moreover, this research examines the role of IT artefacts, which are used to support performing the task, in these dynamics. As an organisational task is usually performed by a group, the role of the task group of which information consumers are members is investigated by this research. Having adopted a multi-case study design, this thesis has targeted seven different task groups in seven different organisations from multiple industries. This in-depth qualitative research also employs interviews as the main source of data and documents as the secondary source of data. The collected data and empirical evidence is analysed using the thematic analysis and pattern coding. This study’s theoretical contributions to the body of literature are as follows. Firstly, the findings indicate that information consumers should not be simply categorised into domain-specific experts or novices for understanding the mechanisms that affect their IQ frames. Regarding the domain of the task, an information consumer might have domain-related experience that differentiates him from both an expert and a novice. Moreover, this study found that the organisational-specific experience plays a significant role in these dynamics. Secondly, four different settings of a task within an organisational context have been recognised and the insights have been provided into the likely impact of each setting on IQ frames. The findings show that the setting of a task that affects IQ frames is enforced by the interplay between the degree of situatedness of the task and the degree of its explicitness. Thirdly, this research contends that the role of other members of a task group contributes directly to the setting of a task rather than directly influencing their colleague’s IQ frames. Fourthly, this thesis confirms that the organisational resource limitations and the time pressure, which were already mentioned in the literature, affect how information consumers perceive the quality of information but the empirical evidence reveals that other types of pressure such as the pressure of a competitive market has a similar role, therefore, it is argued that in general the organisational pressure impacts the way information consumers perceive information quality. However, this thesis argues that this influence is mediated by the setting of a task. In other words, the organisational pressure can increase the degree of situatedness of a task within an organisational context. Finally, the findings of this study indicate that information consumers’ interpretation of how an IT artefact enables a task within an organisational context is the key mechanism through which the IT artefact can participate in forming, adjusting or changing their IQ frames. The interpreted type of an IT artefact, its interpreted capabilities, the organisational intervention and the IT support by IT technicians of an organisations are the main four factors that govern the influence of the IT artefact on information consumers’ IQ frames. In addition, the computing environment in which the IT artefact operates in, information consumers’ level of IT knowledge and prior experience of using the IT artefact can be involved indirectly in these dynamics. The theoretical contributions of this research have led to the development of a framework for IQ frames and the underlying dynamics have been explained in detail. In addition to the theoretical contributions, this study has a number of practical implications for organisations and management regarding the importance of the organisational settings in how information quality is judged by organisational users (information consumers).

Embora a juventude possua papel fundamental no processo de desenvolvimento rural, sua posição é subalterna, deixando de receber o devido reconhecimento. Neste sentido, estudar as percepções e os projetos dos jovens, filhos de produtores rurais, é pertinente, em especial aqueles inseridos no cultivo de tabaco, uma vez que esta produção agrícola está presente em diversos municípios do estado do Rio Grande do Sul e em muitos destes, com significativa relevância econômica. Neste sentido, o presente estudo busca responder a seguinte questão: Como os jovens percebem o cultivo de tabaco e de que forma eles tem projetado suas vidas no meio rural? O recorte empírico limita-se ao município de Arroio do Tigre, no Vale do Rio Pardo, estado do Rio Grande do Sul, em função da importância que o cultivo de tabaco representa para economia local. O objetivo principal do estudo é investigar as percepções dos jovens acerca do cultivo de tabaco, buscando analisar a relação desta atividade com os seus projetos de vida no meio rural, e os objetivos específicos são: a) identificar quem são os atores, na arena de Arroio do Tigre, que participam do debate em relação à juventude rural, produção de tabaco e à diversificação produtiva; b) caracterizar os jovens, a partir do perfil social e econômico; c) analisar as percepções dos jovens acerca do cultivo de tabaco; d) desvelar os principais projetos dos jovens e verificar a influência das relações sociais locais na sua constituição; e, e) identificar as principais políticas públicas dirigidas aos jovens e averiguar a contribuição delas às percepções e projetos. Tendo em vista a heterogeneidade do meio rural e a capacidade de agência dos jovens, o aporte teórico-analítico utilizado no estudo foi à perspectiva orientada ao ator (POA), que surgiu na década de 1970, criticando as perspectivas estruturalistas e a falta de reconhecimento do papel dos atores sociais A pesquisa utilizou metodologia qualitativa, a partir de algumas técnicas etnográficas. As técnicas escolhidas para a coleta e obtenção de dados foram: estudo documental, bibliográfico e coleta de dados primários e secundários. Realizou-se uma dinâmica grupal com 14 jovens rurais e 18 entrevistas com jovens, filhos de produtores de tabaco que estão projetando as suas vidas no meio rural. Também se realizou 14 entrevistas e conversas informais com agentes de desenvolvimento e líderes locais. Fez-se ainda o uso da observação participantes sendo as informações anotadas num caderno de campo. Como principais resultados visualizaram-se que as problemáticas do universo jovens são pouco discutidas na arena local, o cultivo de tabaco não é predominante nos projetos de vida dos jovens e percebe-se a falta de ações e políticas específicas para os jovens rurais seja na esfera municipal, estadual e federal. / Beside that the youth has vital role in shaping the rural development, their importance is neglected and lacks due recognition. Consequently, studying the perceptions and projects related to youth, rural farmer’s children, particularly those who are tobacco producers. This agricultural activity is present in several municipalities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and has a key important in rural economic. In this background, this study focus to address the following questions; how youth relies on the tobacco cultivation and how it had shaped their life style in rural areas? The study was carried out in the municipality of Arroio doTigre, in the Vale do Rio Pardo, Rio Grande do Sul. Keeping in view the importance of the tobacco cultivation to the local economy, the main objective of the study was to investigate the youth perceptions about tobacco farming and to monitor the relationship of this farming activity to frame their life standards in rural areas. The specific objectives include: a) to investigate who are the key stakeholder in the arena Arroio do Tigre, participating in debate focusing on rural youth and tobacco production and it’s production diversification; b) to characterize the youth from the social and economic point of view; c) to analyze the perceptions of youth about tobacco farming; d) to explore the principal projects of the youth and verify the influence of local social relations on its formation and e) to analyze the major public policies addressing the youth issues and to monitor its importance to fulfill their expectations and goals. Keeping in view the heterogeneity of rural areas and the capacity of the youth agency, the theoretical-analytical approach was used in the study and was oriented to the actor (POA), which emerged in the 1970s perspective, criticizing the structuralism perspective and neglecting the role of social stakeholders. The research used qualitative methodology beside from some ethnographic techniques. To acquire and collect data the techniques include, documentary study, bibliography, and collection of primary and secondary data. We made a dynamic group by choosing 14 young rural representatives, 18 interviews with rural youth and children of tobacco growers who are sustaining their lives in rural areas. We also conducted 14 interviews and informal discussions with development agents and local leadership, yet we also used the information which was recorded from public participation during field visits. The results suggested that the youth problems are seldom discussed at the local scale, the tobacco cultivation did not uplifted the rural life standards and do not fulfill the rural youth ambitions. Our findings further highlighted that there were no specific actions plans and policies are set for improvement of rural youth on the municipality, state and national scale.

Approximately 30 million graduate students enrolled in programs in Fall 2016 (National Center for Educational Statistics, NCES, 2017). Based on current trends this number is expected to continue to rise due to many reasons (NCES, 2017). Simultaneously, the supply of postsecondary graduates continues to rise to meet the labor demand. Furthermore, employment in the U.S. has drastically shifted from a manufacturing economy to a service and technology economy, both of which call for postsecondary education. Parents influence the future of their children’s lives. Parents’ involvement in their child’s education often reflects their expectations. Although, much of the parent expectation research pertains to parent-child relationships this research may also contextual the parent-adult child/ parent-graduate student relationship. What is less clear is an understanding of why graduate students are up to the challenge of pursuing a postsecondary education (i.e. graduate school). It would be helpful to know if parental influence can also help children to continue their education into graduate studies. Thus, providing the supply of highly educated professionals in the workplace that will meet our economy’s demand. Therefore, the purpose of this practitioner research study (using qualitative methods) was to explore the meaning of the relationship between parent expectations and graduate student educational attainment with graduate students at a research-intensive university in the U.S. Undergirded by the Family Systems Theory (Broderick, 1993) and Self-Efficacy Theory (Bandura, 1997), I conducted a small pilot focus group which fits the nature of my research objective. Participants included (N = 1; 2 African Americans, 1 European American; 100% female; age range 26-29 years old) 2nd year graduate students enrolled in a Marriage and Family Therapy doctoral program at a Southeastern university in the U.S. The data collection site was my university office because the layout worked well for group discussion and required key access. Data collection instruments included informed consent, basic information survey, and a focus group interview guide. An example question from the interview guided included, “How did you come to understand your parent expectations?”. Participants were solicited using purposive sampling via. Data instruments and confidentiality were reviewed before audio-recording. The 30-minute pilot focus group interview was recorded on a protected device. I utilized Microsoft Word and a play-back device for transcription (see Figure 1). Using a phenomenological and thematic approach to code the interview, codes were compared back to my research purpose to ensure a recursive data reduction process. Member checks improved study validity. I found three main themes and two sub-themes (see Figure 2). Themes included: 1) Parent used direct communication, 2) Parent used indirect communication, 3) Parent used blend of communication, s1) Communication can be verbal or non-verbal, and s2) Graduate students interpreted their experience. Overall, findings provide insight into the meaning-making process that graduate students use to understand their parents’ expectations. Implications include far-reaching impact parent expectations have on influencing their children to pursue postsecondary education. Family researchers and educators should remind parents they are vital in shaping the future of their children’s academic future and the families of tomorrow.

With increasing life expectancy and global population of older adults, preserving cog- nitive function throughout life represents a growing priority. Numerous approaches to cognitive enhancement exist, but few have scientific merit. Among the most preva- lent – and commercialized – approaches are cognitive training (“brain training”) and non-invasive brain stimulation through electric currents applied at the surface of the scalp. The present dissertation describes a collection of work contextualizing the appeal of these cognitive enhancement methods and addressing some of the most pervasive limitations of research in this field thus far. One largely ignored issue in cognitive intervention research pertains to people’s expectations of programs and their relationship with intervention outcomes. In a series of initial studies, we developed and validated the Expectation Assessment Scale (EAS), a tool created to measure as well as prime expectations of outcomes in the context of cognitive enhancement interventions. In our first two studies, we probed expectations of cognitive training or non-invasive brain stimulation in over 1,000 young, middle-aged, and older adults. Ratings on the EAS suggested that older adults may have particularly high expectations of cognitive training, but that expectations can be primed to increase or decrease – at least in hypothetical scenarios. We used these data to assess the psychometric properties of the EAS with item-response theory, and confirmed its internal consistency. Next, we incorporated the EAS into two cognitive enhancement trials, one in- vestigating a computerized cognitive training intervention in nearly 100 older adults and another examining non-invasive brain stimulation in nearly 100 young adults. Both trials had a double-blind balanced-placebo design in which participants were assigned to the intervention or control condition, and then subdivided to receive ei- ther high or low expectation priming (i.e., primed to have high or low expectations of the program’s effectiveness). Although expectation ratings replicated our previous findings, results from these trials suggest little, if any, effect of either expectations or the intervention on performance outcomes. We nevertheless found that participants enjoyed their assigned program and that those who received high expectation prim- ing tended to report a more positive experience. Our findings put into question the effectiveness of such interventions and support the need for more rigorous trials of cognitive enhancement.

The goals of this research study were to determine if clergy members were prone to experiencing compassion fatigue and to identify the self-care methods they currently employ. Compassion fatigue can affect anyone in a helping profession and is considered to be a component of burnout. With the use of qualitative interviews, the views of pastors will be used to explain their understanding of compassion fatigue and their implementation of self-care. Data will also be collected to describe the methods of self-care the clergy members utilize when their levels of compassion fatigue presentation are prominent. Audio information gathered from the interviews, and demographic, compassion satisfaction and self-care surveys will be used, and a thematic and phenomena analysis will be created to analyze the data collected. This research will contribute to the collaborative efforts of churches and social workers to increase public awareness of compassion fatigue and self-care deficits that pastors are experiencing and that churches are observing within their faith communities. This can be beneficial in helping communities to effect positive change within the community.