Few studies have explored how medical ethics works in practice specifically in terms of the social processes that result in a decision regarding an ethical problem. This is particularly so in the case of children’s intensive care. More than a decade of teaching healthcare ethics to both nurses and doctors prompted a study to examine how ethical problems are resolved in a children’s intensive care unit. This qualitative study addressed this question in a single large children’s intensive care unit in England. The study was guided by grounded theory in examining via individual face to face unstructured and semi-structured interviews what ethical problems were encountered and how they were resolved. Interviews were conducted mainly with doctors and nurses working on an intensive care unit. Two admitting consultant doctors and three parents were also interviewed. The analysis of data gathered in 20 interviews was developed using Strauss and Corbin’s (1998) framework. A theory emerged from the analysis of the data that revealed the most prominent ethical problems in children’s intensive care related to end-of-life situations. Most significant among these was the decision to withdraw life-preserving interventions from a child. The theory outlines a process by which health professionals involved in the care and treatment of a child in intensive care negotiated a consensus on the point at which it was no longer appropriate to continue life-preserving interventions. This consensus was then presented to parents. Parental assent to withdrawal was facilitated, when not immediately forthcoming, by a process of persuasion.

D. Litt. et Phil. / The aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive framework for the rehabilitative needs of female offenders, through the use of Grounded Theory methodology. The framework took the form of a two-axis structure, with axis one encompassing the management of prisons and staff, and axis two dealing with the management and rehabilitation of prisoners. Axis two was conceptualised as a sequence of stages from the start of imprisonment until post-release. The framework is offered as a holistic structure for the development and integration of rehabilitative programmes. The framework is anticipated to assist in obtaining additional funding and support from the business community in order to make rehabilitative programmes available to a greater number of prisoners. The framework may also enable individuals and companies to determine where the specific resources at their disposal could be put to use with the greatest effect.

Wikis have been found to be an easy-to-use, low-cost, and Internet-based technology useful in creating and mobilizing knowledge. Wikis hosted within firms (corporate wikis) have become a popular way for employees to share information and collaborate. Preliminary research suggested that as few as 6% of wiki consumers contributed to the development of wiki pages. Conventional approaches argued that employees judged the costs of participating in wikis (e.g., authoring or changing material, reading messages, following an argument, and posting responses) to exceed the benefits of participating in wikis (e.g., recognition, reputation etc.) - thus many people "lurked" but did not post. Considering that people contemplated perceived benefits with costs of participating in wikis, research emphasized the cognitive aspects of decision-making. The emotional aspects of wiki participation in firms have received little research attention. Yet, research in other fields such as law, economics, and health showed that emotions played a critical role in human decision making, where feelings were shown to outweigh contemplated costs and benefits. For example, Kiviniemi, Voss-Humke, and Siefert (2007) found that positive feelings about exercise resulted in more physical activity whereas positive feelings about food resulted in unhealthy food choices. For Wikipedia, a public wiki, studies suggested that emotion might be an important motivator in participation. The purpose of this research was to study the role of emotion in corporate wiki participation. Since the area of research is new, the contextual details of wikis in an organizational setting made it difficult for a researcher to separate the context from the main effects. A grounded theory approach was needed. Under grounded theory, one starts with the data and builds arguments or theories from the "ground up." This study used a grounded theory methodology to reveal data through interviews, employee journals, observations, wiki statistics, and other documentation. Data were analyzed on a continuum using grounded theory coding to identify codes, categories, concepts, and properties and to recognize relationships among concepts. An exploration of emotion in an organizational context resulted in theories that provided an important beginning to understanding wiki experiences and improving wiki outcomes.

This thesis examines how knowledge management professionals use trust as a component in the creation of knowledge management systems, and what methods they use for building trust. Adopting a grounded theory approach, interviews with 8 knowledge management professionals active in different industries served as the base for an analysis that identified trust to be the single most important common factor in the data. The concept of trust used by the informants was identified as relating to the knowledge management system itself, rather than other users, employees or groups in an organisation. Building trust, the KM-professionals mainly focused on three methods: simple solutions, system superiority, and implementation security. Using these methods, the KM-professionals seek to ensure system trust by creating opportunities for users to obtain positive experiences of using the system, and thereby generate a foundation for a trust-based relationship between the user and the system.

Submitted by PPG Comunica??o Social (famecos-pg@pucrs.br) on 2018-04-03T11:10:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 CAMILA_AMORIM_DIS.pdf: 1864621 bytes, checksum: 8e8e9a4203ea314c0f7e98377441b3f3 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Tatiana Lopes (tatiana.lopes@pucrs.br) on 2018-04-13T14:20:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 CAMILA_AMORIM_DIS.pdf: 1864621 bytes, checksum: 8e8e9a4203ea314c0f7e98377441b3f3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-13T14:24:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CAMILA_AMORIM_DIS.pdf: 1864621 bytes, checksum: 8e8e9a4203ea314c0f7e98377441b3f3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-23 / With the professionalization of electronic sports (e-sports) and the exponential growth of this market, many companies are investing in create unique experiences for their spectators. This research aims to understand how a computer game, especially the League of Legends, can be designed to be played and watched by many people as a sportive manifestation, turning a local reception into a global and connected activity. Based on the Grounded Theory, a methodology that supports the qualitative and quantitative data analyzes, favoring the multidisciplinary view on a given event. This work consists in three distinct phases: data collection and analysis, coding, memoing and theory writing. Where in the first phase, bibliographical surveys on games and esports were carried out, as well as analyzes of the media related to electronic sports. In the second phase, all the data obtained were codified and separated into categories and subcategories, where it was possible to understand that e-sports are a phenomenon formed from different social perceptions, relating games, sports entertainment and media. In the third phase, the memoing presents as inferences from the research for the work, to finally be possible a writing of a platform on a construction of e-sport and how its transformations in different transmissions. / Com a profissionaliza??o dos esportes eletr?nicos (e-sports) e o crescimento exponencial desse mercado, muitas empresas t?m investido em criar experi?ncias ?nicas para seus espectadores. Com isso em mente, este trabalho tem o objetivo de entender como um jogo de computador, especialmente o League of Legends, pode ser projetado para ser jogado e assistido como uma manifesta??o esportiva por diversas pessoas, transformando a recep??o local em um ato global e conectado. Para isso, ? utilizada a Grounded Theory, uma metodologia que permite o uso de an?lises qualitativas e quantitativas, favorecendo o olhar multidisciplinar sobre um determinado evento. Assim, este trabalho ? formado por tr?s fases distintas: coleta e an?lise de dados, codifica??o, memorando e escrita da teoria. Onde, na primeira fase, foram realizados levantamentos bibliogr?ficos sobre jogos e e-sports, al?m de an?lises das m?dias relacionadas ao esporte eletr?nico. Na segunda fase, todos os dados obtidos foram codificados e separados em categorias e subcategorias, no qual foi poss?vel entender que os e-sports s?o um fen?meno formado a partir de diferentes percep??es sociais, relacionando os jogos, o entretenimento esportivo e as m?dias. Na terceira fase, o memorando apresentou as infer?ncias da pesquisadora ao longo deste trabalho, para, por fim, ser poss?vel a escrita de uma teoria sobre a constru??o do e-sport e as suas transforma??es em diferentes transmiss?es.

Objectives. The empirical qualitative study explored Older People’s (over 65 years of age) perceptions of psychological change and the processes by which these occurred. It also aimed to add to understanding of the barriers to therapeutic change. Subsequently, a systematic review of the current literature pertaining to older people’s attachment styles, and how attachment is measured within this population, was conducted. This scrutinised the literature regarding role of attachment (as a trans-diagnostic construct) in old age, as this may influence their change processes. Design. As the empirical study was exploratory, it adopted a Grounded Theory methodology, influenced by the constructivist perspective as described in Charmaz (2014). Data was obtained via semi-structured interviews, with the later interview schedule grounded in emergent codes and memos of earlier interviews. Literature pertaining to older people, attachment, and how attachment is measured, was obtained from a systematic review. Method. Twelve participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview, following discharge from an Older Peoples Psychological Therapy Service, for the empirical project. Participants were aged 65 years or over and had received varying models of therapy over varying durations. Those reporting improvement, or no change, as a result of receiving psychological therapy, were approached to participate. Through detailed analysis, a tentative model of older people’s psychological change processes was constructed. This model was further checked by some participants for quality control. Subsequently the systematic review explored a key theme of attachment (as suggested by the categories highlighted in the empirical project). Literature regarding attachment, older people and how attachment is measured within this population, was obtained through a systematic search through major databases, compared against a checklist, constructed for this review, with all analysis prorated by qualified clinical psychologists supervising this study. Results. Interview transcriptions were analysed in line with a constructivist perspective of grounded theory. A non-linear model of psychological change, grounded in the data, was constructed. The main concepts of the model were Age as Context, Seeking Help and Entering the Therapeutic Environment, Building a Therapeutic Relationship, Developing a New Understanding, Therapeutic Changes and Post Therapy Reflections and Commitments of Continuation. In addition, some similar processes were highlighted across different therapeutic modalities, thus supporting trans-theoretical models of psychological change. In addition, the model highlighted a theme of models of relationships having continuity through the lifespan (as evidenced in the concepts of Seeking Help and Building a Therapeutic Relationship). This echoed the trans-therapeutic concept of attachment. Therefore, a systematic review of attachment in older people was conducted. Overall the quality of the literature pertaining to attachment, older people and how attachment is measured within this population was poor. There was a paucity of evidence of minimisation of bias reported in either design or analysis. Conclusions. The empirical project demonstrated the process of psychological change in older people is non-linear in nature. Some constructs of change were similar to those found in the adult literature, but there were also some constructs relating specifically to ageing, and the theoretical developmental stage of old age. This supports suggestions that age specific constructs should be held in mind when working therapeutically with older people. The systematic review found research exploring attachment in older people is a growing field of research, but one which is still in its infancy compared to other clinical populations. In addition, several studies had serious methodological issues and therefore readers are encouraged to interpret their results with caution.

This thesis has been prepared in a paper based format and comprises of three stand-alone papers. Paper 1, a systematic review; Paper 2, an empirical study; and Paper 3, a critical appraisal and reflection of the work. Paper 1 has been prepared for submission to Appetite. The paper presents a systematic literature review of studies measuring or reporting potential psychological mechanisms within Night Eating Syndrome (NES). Databases were systematically searched and 20 studies were included in the review. The quality of evidence was mixed and NES was identified and diagnosed in a variety of ways. Studies utilised a variety of different instruments to identify thirteen psychological mechanisms. Syntheses of the studies suggest that there are distinct overlapping features within these mechanisms and five overarching themes were identified to accommodate these overlapping features. Suggestions are made relating to the potential function of the identified psychological mechanisms within NES.Paper 2 has been prepared for submission to Appetite. The paper is a qualitative study exploring the relationship between NES and the experience of emotion specifically from the perspective of patients identified as obese. Ten participants were interviewed and a constructivist grounded theory approach was used to analyse transcripts. A key category to emerge from the analysis was termed 'Emotional Hunger'; reflecting an urge or need to satiate a set of underlying unmet emotional needs. 'Emotional hunger' was underpinned by the following six interrelated themes: (1) The development of a relationship with food; (2) Loss; (3) The significance of night time; (4) A separation of the body and mind; (5) Why I eat, not what I eat; and (6) Consequences of night eating. The clinical implications of the findings are discussed with reference to existing literature. Paper 3 is not intended for publication. The paper provides a critical review of the research process, in which the strengths and weaknesses of the systematic review and empirical study are discussed. Personal and professional reflections on the experience of conducting a systematic review and an empirical study are explored. The clinical implications of the research are also discussed.

Dementia affects around 850,000 people in the UK. Whilst there is no cure, understanding how to support people to live well with this condition is important. There are 'many faces of dementia' and delineating experiences of living with different dementias in daily life is a key step towards understanding how to support people to live well with different symptoms. Supporting eating-related practices in a socio-relational context, referred to in this thesis as 'dining' experiences, may help promote the psychological needs related to living well with dementia, including inclusion, occupation and identity. This study aimed to understand how dining experiences and interactions were affected when living with typical dementia (tAD) and posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) and the processes involved in supporting dining experiences. Data collection included in-depth interviews with 20 family dyads (9 tAD; 11 PCA) and video-based observations of four dining interactions. An 'informed' grounded theory approach was used and Goffman's (1974) Frame Analysis was identified to support understanding dining experiences in this study. Goffman's (1974) theory provides understanding around how people structure and define their social experiences and coordinate these understandings in interaction. Findings revealed how dining could become disrupted when living with tAD and PCA, relating to vulnerabilities in this experience and eating-related practices becoming more about 'management'. Interacting processes of revising frames, management strategies, optimising opportunities for continuity and engaging in supportive environments, were identified to support maintaining-meaning in dining. Video-based observations extended understanding in terms of contextual factors which shaped experiences and how people used the environment to support their dining interactions. Implications include supporting dining by using a balanced system of various processes to continue to create new meanings and experiences and using the environment to make 'dining' central, as opposed to focusing on eating-related practices as a 'care-task'.

The use of non-financial performance measurements (such as quality, delivery and customer satisfaction) has received a lot of attention from practitioners and academics over the last two decades in developed countries. This research project is an exploratory study in Libya to investigate the use of non-financial performance measurements (NFPMs) in a developing country's commercial banking sector. The Libyan service sector is the second contributor to the Libyan Gross Domestic Product (GDP) after the oil sector. Within the service sector, the commercial banking sector has been playing a significant role in the development of the Libyan economy. This research project aims to: 1) explore the current use of NFPMs in the Libyan commercial banking sector (LCBS); 2) determine the environmental factors influencing the use of NFPMs in the LCBS; and 3) explore the impact of NFPMs on financial performance measurements (FPMs) in the LCBSA grounded theory methodology was adopted and four case studies (two State owned banks and two private banks) were conducted. Each case study was analysed according to a structured set of coding procedures (based on the grounded theory approach of Strauss and Corbin, 1990) and substantive hypotheses emerged for each case study. A cross-case analysis of the four case studies gave rise to the following nineteen formal hypotheses which (together with the model developed from the four case studies) are the main findings of this study: H1 The limitations of FPMs are one of the major motives leading to a bank's use of NFPMs H2 A more competitive environment is one of the main motives for managers in a bank using NFPMs. H3 Management's knowledge of the relationship between NFPMs and FPMs is one of the major motives leading to the use of NFPMs in a bank. 11 H4 Demanding customers are one of the major motives leading to the use of NFPMs in a bank. H5 The nature of the banking industry as a service oriented industry is one of the major motives leading to the use of NFPMs in a bank. H6 Lower level managers in a bank tend to use NFPMs more than middle and higher level managers do. H7 Operational experience of management, competence of management, management with more authority, top management's interference, stability of management, and collective working group positively affect a bank's use of NFPMs. H8 New regulations and strategies of the Central Bank and the uncertainty of the economic environment positively affect a bank's use of NFPMs. H9 Some of the Central Bank's old regulations, over-control and interference of the Central Bank, information shortage, weakness of infrastructure, traditional educational system, State ownership and the general public's lack of banking knowledge negatively affect a bank's use of NFPMs. H10 The development of human resource strategies to be more service-oriented is associated with a bank's use of NFPMs. H11 The development of the reward system to be linked with non-financial performance and to be more service-oriented is associated with a bank's use of NFPMs. H12 The development of the banking system (operating, information and reporting system) is associated with a bank's use of NFPMs. H13 The development of a bank's management accounting information is associated with its use of NFPMs. H14 The development of a bank's organisational structure is associated with its use of NFPMs. H15 The adoption of advanced management practices is associated with a bank's use of NFPMs. H16 Use of NFPMs encourages a bank to diversify and improve its range of services. H17 Use of NFPMs encourages a bank to adopt advanced technology. H18 Use of NFPMs improves a bank's profitability, customers' deposits and other FPMs in the long-term. H19 Use of NFPMs leads to an increase in a bank's capital expenditure.

Pair programming is a software development method which describes two programmers working together on the same computer, sharing one keyboard. This approach requires programmers to communicate frequently, which can lead the pair to experience certain benefits over solo programming, such as faster problem solving and a greater enjoyment of their work (Cockburn and Williams, 2001, Bryant et al., 2006). Many programmers approach their first pairing experience with scepticism, having doubts about their partner’s working habits and programming style, and about the additional communication aspects that this programming style entails (Williams et al., 2000). Despite a significant amount of research into pair programming of over 15 years, it is not evident what communication between the pair contributes to the task of pair programming. This work presents an analytic coding scheme which was derived from the observation of the communication of expert pairs working in industry. Over 35 hours of communication across 11 different pairs was analysed. This coding scheme was further refined to produce industry-inspired pair programming guidelines that assist novice pair programmers to improve their experience of pair communication. Findings indicate that introducing these guidelines to novice student pairs can have a positive impact on their perception of intra-pair communication, and on their perception of their partner’s contribution. Feedback received from expert pairs was used to add detail to the guidelines, which have been made publically available through an online resource.