This study is a qualitative enquiry into family therapists’ experiences of working with young people who self-harm and their families. To date, in spite of self-harm being a serious public health concern, there is relatively little exploration of the subject in family therapy literature. The study attempts to describe, understand and illuminate family therapists’ experiences: the therapeutic issues encountered, the stances adopted in response to the issues encountered, and the emotional impact on the therapist of working with this client group. A total of nine experienced family therapists participated in semi-structured interviews. The study employed a grounded theory method for data analysis. The analysis yielded a theory of therapists’ experiences that included a Core Category and three Main Categories. The Core Category that emerged was: •Cultivating the Practice of Hope – Withstanding the Pull to Hopelessness. The three Main Categories were: •Making the Situation Safe •Conversing Therapeutically – The Practice of Hope •Team and Organisational Processes: Supporting Therapists. The Core Category is the central feature of this theory. It proposes that the central concern for the therapist is how to stay engaged with the family and the young person in the context of serious risk of self-harm and in situations where change is difficult to achieve and hopelessness can pervade. The therapist has to try to understand and make sense of family members’ distress, and be touched by and open to their feelings of despair and hopelessness without becoming overwhelmed and despairing themselves. The therapist response to this dilemma is the stance of hopefulness. It is both a therapeutic stance and orientation, and is enacted in practice through finding ways to cultivate hope in the therapeutic encounter. While the Core Category is the central ‘story’ the three Main Categories are linked to the Core Category. The Main Category, Making the Situation Safe describes the initial stage of the work, with its focus on ensuring the safety of the young person. The Main Category, Conversing Therapeutically – the Practice of Hope describes how the therapists enacted the ‘practice of hope’. The Main Category, Team and Organisational Processes: Supporting Therapists describes how the context in which the therapists work, the nature of relationships, the team and organisational structures, play a critical role in supporting therapist hope, so that they can withstand the pull to hopelessness. This study aims to make a contribution towards articulating a framework for family therapy with adolescents who self-harm and introduces a new vocabulary – the language of hope and hopelessness.

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.

This thesis explored the concept of sport injury-related growth (SIRG). Specifically, the mechanisms through which growth occurs and how it may be promoted for injured athletes. Study 1 used a grounded theory methodology to develop a context-specific theory. Aligning with a Straussian approach, data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using open, axial, and selected coding. Findings revealed that the mechanisms of (a) meta-cognition, (b) positive reappraisal, (c) positive emotions, and (d) facilitative responses are what enable SIRG. These mechanisms are influenced by a combination of internal (e.g., personality) and external (e.g., received social support) factors. These factors enable injured athletes to alter their perception of their injury into an opportunity for growth, and it is by drawing upon and mobilizing a variety of these resources that athletes are able to experience SIRG. Dimensions of growth were psychosocial, physiological, and behavioral. Although this study produced a theory that explains the SIRG process, it does not propose specific techniques or therapies that encourage the development of growth. To address this issue, Study 2 aimed to investigate and identify evidence-based interventions that promote growth after experiencing adversity. To achieve this aim, a systematic review was conducted on literature pertaining to the promotion of growth for populations who have undergone a stressful experience (e.g., medical illness). In total, 34 studies were located and obtained that met the preplanned inclusion criteria. Within these 37 studies, three types of interventions were identified: emotional processing, cognitive processing, and combined techniques. The authors of the studies who successfully demonstrated the promotion of growth either identified or suggested that growth occurs through the mechanisms of cognitive restructuring and/or reappraisal. Other important considerations that were identified through this review were the duration and timing of the intervention in relation to the adverse event, and the importance of the intervention meeting the needs of the participants. Although this study offers valuable insight into how growth may be more successfully nurtured, the studies included within this review did not specifically focus on promoting growth for injured athletes. Consequently, Study 3 sought to complement this study by examining the practice-based experiential knowledge of sport psychologists who have worked with injured athletes in an applied manner. In total, 10 sport psychologists were purposively sampled and interviewed. Data was collected using a semi-structured interview guide and analysed using content analysis. Findings revealed a fluid development framework that consisted of 5 phases: (a) reactionary phase, (b) preparation phase, (c) reflection phase, (d) application phase, and (e) monitoring phase. Within each phase a set of corresponding strategies, skills, and tools were identified that the sport psychologists would utilize to match the needs of the athletes. The sport psychologists also identified a number of personal and environmental factors that either promoted or hindered the development of SIRG. Altogether, this thesis supports and extends research regarding growth and sport injury, as well as offering applied practitioners useful information for promoting SIRG.

This thesis sought to explore the phenomenon of discontinuing neuroleptic medication for psychosis. It comprises three standalone papers. Papers one and two have been prepared for submission to journals and in accordance with the journal guidelines. Paper one is a systematic literature review synthesising studies investigating the association between neuroleptic discontinuation and functional outcomes. Databases were systematically searched and thirteen studies were included in the review. Evidence regarding the association between discontinuation from neuroleptic medication and functional outcomes was mixed. Findings are limited by the scarcity of evidence, diversity in the study methods and designs used, and methodological and design quality issues. Paper two is a qualitative study exploring personal accounts of making choices about neuroleptic medication, specifically considering decisions to discontinue. Twelve participants were interviewed and a constructivist grounded theory approach was used to analyse transcripts. The findings suggest that making sense of choices relates to a continuation-discontinuation spectrum and involves three interrelated tasks. The tasks are: forming a personal theory of the need for, and acceptability of, neuroleptic medication; negotiating the challenges of forming alliances with others; and weaving a safety net to safeguard wellbeing. A theoretical model explaining the processes involved in the tasks and the mediating factors is presented and discussed. The clinical implications of the findings are discussed with reference to existing literature. Paper three is not intended for publication and is a critical review of the research process, in which the strengths and weaknesses of the systematic review and empirical study are evaluated. Personal and professional reflections on the experience of conducting a systematic review and an empirical qualitative study are discussed and the implications of the research for future clinical practice and research are considered.

Neuroscience is a relatively small and emerging clinical pharmacy specialism focusing on drug therapy for neurological disease. Against a professional momentum for specialist practice within pharmacy, there is paucity both of relevant research, and a clearly defined role for specialist pharmacy practice in neuroscience. A qualitative research study was undertaken, using constructivist grounded theory method, to explore how hospital based pharmacists practicing in neuroscience define and develop their role and specialism. Data were concurrently generated and analysed, through verbatim transcription of telephone interviews with fourteen pharmacists. Data analysis resulted in the identification of three processes: (1) Acquiring and utilising knowledge in practice; (2) Gatekeeping access to drug therapies; (3) Integrating into the neuroscience service. The key findings within each process are: (1) Pharmacists utilise different forms of knowledge and there can be barriers to gaining knowledge. Pharmacists identify strengths in their breadth of clinical knowledge and holistic consideration of patients’ drug therapy. (2) Pharmacists act as barriers to drug therapy but also act to expedite and secure access to drug therapy. (3) Pharmacists act as an organisational nexus between pharmacy and neuroscience services and identify the importance in practice of forming working relationships within neuroscience services, underpinned by trust. The study identified a basic social process: Maintaining an overview of drug therapy for patients with neurological disease. This process conceptualises the tensions experienced by the pharmacists between their role as near-patient facing clinical specialists, but also as pharmacist generalists. The study findings have implications for supporting pharmacy practice in neuroscience.

Adopting an inside out perspective to city branding, this doctoral thesis examines the significance of residents and their relationship towards cities in terms of association, identity and ownership of the physical environment, in the context of city branding. This is important because the growing interest towards city branding not only challenged the traditional understanding of branding concepts but also forced academics and practitioners to seek ways to mould and shape existing concepts to the context of city branding. This qualitative study was undertaken within a constructivist grounded theory methodology and uses Leeds, UK and Istanbul, Turkey as deliberately contrasting case studies. In accordance with grounded theory, the literature was only used to inform rather than direct the research design. The sampling design involved initial and theoretical sampling and in total of 22 residents interviewed from both cities. The emergent place brand identity mosaic comprises of four main categories of social process (SP), place attachment (PA), sense of place (SoP) and built environment (BE), and the most significant feature of the place identity mosaic is that it is processual, dynamic, and time and context specific. In terms of contribution to knowledge, the present study bridges the gap in between the subject fields of branding (brand management) and urban studies by proposing an inside out approach to branding cities. The findings indicate that the place brand identity mosaic elements provide a platform to explain how residents make sense of where they live and to begin to understand the concept of the city brand identity. Moreover, in regards to practice, it brings a new perspective to the existing city managements by highlighting a focal point of “keeping the existing customers happy” through investigating and understanding the role and significance of residents, their attachment to where they live and how this insight can be cooperated into creating and developing a sustainable city brand.

The purpose of this study was to enter the world of the parents living with a child with autism, wondering what quality of life means for them and whether their engagement with social work services makes any difference to their quality of lives. Understanding the quality of life experiences of the parents of children with autism is relevant for policy making and social work practice. Based in a Scottish context, the objectives for this research were as follows: To explore the parent carers' description of the term quality of life To describe the parent carers' views on their quality of life in the context of the services provided by social services within (departments of) local authorities. To understand the systems, processes and procedures put in place by the local authorities to support parent carers To explore the scope for changes, if any, in the present social work approach in order to enhance the quality of life of parent carers. The study adopted a grounded theory methodology informed by a symbolic interactionist theoretical framework. Data were gathered from three study local authorities in Scotland. The participants include an almost equal number of male and female parents (total parent participants = 23); and social workers and operational managers from three study local authorities (total number of social workers =12, total number of operational managers =3). This study utilised focus groups and semi structured interviews to gather data. Using the constant comparison method, three main categories emerged; namely 'new normal', 'on-going burden' and 'limited help' which contextualised the quality of life experiences of parent participants in the study. Oppression emerged as the overarching theory. Drawing on the parental perspectives on quality of life distilled in this study, the implications for further research, professional practice and education are explored.

Effective team working across disciplines is essential to solve the technological and managerial problems associated with construction projects. However, while it is widely accepted that this method of working is critical to the achievement organisational goals, it is a poorly understood process. Generic best practice recipes on how to improve team work in collaborative projects appears to have had limited impact on performance. Unless the realities of implementing and managing such joint endeavours are conceptualised and articulated in a manner that reflects the actual processes and patterns of behaviour, multi-disciplinary team working will remain a poorly understood working model. The goal of this work was to develop a conceptual framework that visualises the real success factors of multi-disciplinary working so that practitioners can apply a new understanding of predictable processes and patterns of behaviours to improve collaborative project outcomes. To achieve this, the project started with an exploration of critical success factors in multi-disciplinary design projects, encompassing extensive interviewing, workshops and a survey followed by a grounded theory (GT) study of collaborative working in six multi-disciplinary design projects. The switch to GT methodology offered possibilities to further probe into the dynamics of multi-disciplinary team working from the perspective of the team members. The findings show that team working in multi-disciplinary design projects can be explained through the social process of informalising. Informalising refers to the strategies practitioners use to cope with the multiple pressures and unforeseen demands that pervade the collaborative design environments. It portrays the relevance of managing of expectations and value-judging to remain effective and efficient in the face of change and uncertainty. These are critical factors that influence the project trajectory and experience of those involved. Alongside these results the work also demonstrates the importance of so called super soft factors such as shared values, creativity and innovation and passion and enthusiasm to achieve positive project outcomes. Overall, recognising that the process of informalising forms an essential part of cultivating collaboration, and hence getting the work done, more attention should be given to understand such activity in today s turbulent and transient project organisations. Knowledge and understanding of this form of emergent and improvisational strategy may enable managers to predict and control patterns of behaviour inherent in the management of collaborative design projects, and positively influence project outcomes in terms of perceived value and profit.

<p>Osnovni cilj istraživanja predstavlja ispitivanje procesa uvođenja agilnih metoda u preduzeća. Tradicionalne organizacije uvode agilne metode u poslovanje i cilj istraživanja je bio istraživanje situacionih faktora koji utiču na uvođenje agilnih metoda u preduzeće, tranzicija organizacionih uloga u tom procesu, identifikovanje alata i tehnika koji podstiču uvođenje agilnih metoda u agilne timove i definisanje okvira za uvođenje agilnih metoda. Predstavljeni okvir je dobijen kroz istraživanje sprovedeno u tri preduzeća i pruža odgovor na osnovni cilj istraživanja &ndash; definisanje procesa, aktivnosti i pomoćnog alata za uvođenja agilnih metoda koji je identifikovan kao primer najbolje prakse u industriji.</p> / <p>The main objective of this study was to investigate agile method adoption in enterprises. Traditional organizations integrate agile methods in their business processes and specific research objectives were to identify: situational factors influencing the agile adoption process, transition of organizational roles, tools and techniques used to integrate agile methods in teams and to define framework for agile method adoption process. The proposed framework is obtained through the research conducted in three organisations and it provides a result to main research objective, which was designed to offer processes, activities and guidelines for agile method adoption process, designed based on best practice identified in the industry.</p>

Thesis (MTech (Information Technology)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / Active Video Games (AVGs) are a form of video games that rely on gamer motion as the main source of interaction between the AVG and the player. These AVGs serve a number of purposes, such as medical rehabilitation, education, social development, and motor skill development, among others. Prolonged play of AVGs is not sustainable as gamers lose interest in playing AVGs after the initial period of acquiring them. Therefore, the following research question was posed: “What design factors contribute to an engaged and immersed AVG experience?” The aim was to explore the inhibiting and enhancing factors influencing engagement and immersion among AVG gamers, as well as to develop a theory of AVG design. Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT) was used as the methodology to carry out this study, which adopted an inductive approach towards the research to construct a theory firmly grounded in the data. Play Active Theory (PAT) is the outcome of this process, which explores the engagement and immersion factors related to AVG design as well as the abandonment and replayability of AVGs. PAT was compared to existing engagement and motivation theories as part of the CGT process, and further refined. In closing, the research question was answered and the aims of the study were met. A reflection account of the research journey concludes the thesis.