Handheld computers may hold the possibility for a one-to-one computer: student ratio. The impact of the use of Palm® (Palm, Inc.) handhelds on information acquisition and use by 5th grade students in a North Texas school during a class research project was investigated. Five research questions were examined using observation, interviews, surveys, and document analysis. Are there differences in information gathering and use with the Palm between gifted, dyslexic, and regular learners? What relevance criteria do students use to evaluate a web site to determine whether to download the site to the Palm and afterwards whether to use the downloaded site's information in the report? How do the Palms affect the writing process? Do the animations and concept maps produced on the Palm demonstrate understanding of the intended concepts? Are there significant differences in results (i.e., final products grade) between Palm users and non-Palm users? Three groups of learners in the class, gifted, dyslexic, and regular learners, participated in the study. The regular and dyslexic students reported using Web sites that had not been downloaded to the Palm. Students reported several factors used to decide whether to download Web sites, but the predominant deciding factor was the amount of information. The students used a combination of writing on paper and the Palm in the preparation of the report. Many students flipped between two programs, FreeWrite and Fling-It, finding information and then writing the facts into the report. The peer review process was more difficult with the Palm. Most students had more grammatical errors in this research report than in previous research projects. By creating animated drawings on the Palm handheld, the students demonstrated their understanding of the invention though sometimes the media or the student's drawing skills limited the quality of the final product. Creating the animations was motivational and addressed different learning styles than a written report alone. No statistically significant difference was found in the scores of the three 6+1 Traits categories, however the Palm users didn't meet the page-length requirement for the research project but the majority of the control class did.

The central research problem of this study was the challenges that occur with the United States Joint Warfighters Center's (JWFC) implementation of information systems (IS) requirements-gathering process. Thus, this study investigated the contribution of perceived security clearance (PSC), developer perceived user involvement (DPUI), and computer self-efficacy (CSE) to efficiency of the perceived requirements-gathering process (PERGP). Due to the perceived efficiency of IS development, the U.S. Department of Defense statutory document called the Joint Capability Integration and Development System (JCIDS), mandated that as an IS development requirement, the rapid development of IS was needed to sustain U.S. warfighters. As a result, the central aim of this study was to look at several variables that may predict the efficiency to the IS requirements-gathering process at JWFC. The central research question behind this study was: What are the contributions of PSC, DPUI, and CSE to the PERGP at the JWFC? This study proposed a theoretical model, and two statistical methods were used to formulate models and test predictive power: Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and Ordinal Logistic Regression (OLR). The sample size of this study included 61 IS developers from JWFC. The results of this study indicated a strong reliability for the measures of all variables (PSC, DPUI, CSE, and PERGP). Moreover, results of both models developed indicated that DPUI is a significant contributor to PEGRP, while CSE was demonstrated to be significant contributor to PEGRP only via the OLR model providing the indication that the relationships among the measured variables was non-linear. Additionally, results demonstrated that DPUI was the most significant contributor to PEGRP in both models, while PSC had little or no contribution to the dependent variable, PEGRP. This study also identified two key implications for practice and research. The first impaction of this study is the investigation of unique factors such as PSC and PEGRP in the context of military-based IS development within DOD organizations. Results of this study can help managers in government organizations that are faced with security clearance issues to identify contributors in the early phase of IS development that could possibly hinder PEGRP. The second implication of this study is the non-significant results related to PSC in this investigation. For researchers, such results may need future validation in other governmental and military-based organization. Moreover, such results may indicate to managers in government organizations that are faced with security clearance issues that security clearance, at least as indicated by the results of this study, has no major hindering on the PEGRP. These results maybe profound in their implications and, as such, needed additional validations.

Det övergripande syftet med denna uppsats har varit att genomföra en kvalitativ studie som belyser och diskuterar informationsinsamlande och konfrontativa förhörstekniker vid förhör med misstänkta gärningspersoner. En tematisk analys av förhör med misstänkta har genomförts för att identifiera uttalanden och uttryck som tyder på användandet av respektive förhörsstrategi. Resultaten har tolkats och diskuterats utifrån tidigare forskning och de kognitionspsykologiska områden som berör berättande, minnen och konfirmationsbias. Resultaten har visat att ett informationsinsamlande respektive konfrontativt förhållningssätt kan visa sig genom en mängd olika uttryck och uttalanden. Resultaten har också visat att det till viss del förekommit starkt konfrontativa inslag i några av de analyserade förhören. Utifrån tidigare forskning, de kognitionspsykologiska perspektiven och resultaten från den tematiska analysen är den huvudsakliga slutsatsen att det behövs fler och mer omfattande svenska studier av hur förhör med misstänkta genomförs i praktiken. / Information or confrontation - a theme-based analysis of police interviewing with criminal suspects The purpose of this paper has been to execute a qualitative study to highlight and discuss information-gathering and confrontational approaches in interviewing criminal suspects. A theme-based analysis was implemented to identify statements and expressions that suggests the use of either interrogation strategy. The results have been interpreted and discussed based on previous research and cognitive psychology areas affecting human storytelling, memories and confirmation bias. The results have shown that the information-gathering and confrontational approach may be shown through a variety of expressions and statements. The results have also shown that it to some extent have been highly confrontational elements in some of the analyzed interrogations. Based on previous research, the cognitive psychological perspectives and the results from the theme-based analysis the main conclusion is that quantitatively and extensively more studies of how the interrogation of criminal suspects is implemented in practice, especially in a Swedish context, is needed.

The thesis describes and assess the functioning of the take-back of electrical equipment in Czech Republic. The take-back system is evaluated from a general perspective, it is also used my experience in employment and in society ELEKTROWIN and materials provided to me by the collective system. The theoretical part focuses on the legislative framework of take-back concept, on description of ELEKTROWIN and on financing the system. This part also deals with the main sphere of collective bargaining systems, which are gathering, manipulation, transport and information and educational activities. The application part is focused on the quantity of take-bake of electrical equipment through collective and ELEKTROWIN from the year 2005 to present in a particular years. It also work evaluates observance the requirements from EU directives. The educational activity is evaluated on the basis of a questionnaire as information campaigns to raise public awareness.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2016. / ABSTRACT Sibudu rock shelter was occupied by hunter gatherer groups of modern humans during the Middle Stone Age between 77 and 38 000 (38 ka) years ago. Sibudu is in the summer rainfall region and is situated about 15 km inland of the eastern coast of South Africa. The site includes technological industries such as Still Bay and Howiesons Poort that are distinguished by specific stone tool types. Woody taxa identified from archaeological charcoal in this site, indicate changes in vegetation and wood use. Archaeological charcoal specimens, specifically from hearths on three putative occupation floors, were analysed for behavioural information about wood selection and use. Two of the stratigraphic layers, BYA2 (i) and SPCA, are approximately 58 ka old and the MOD layer is approximately 49 ka old. All three layers contain tools from the post-Howiesons Poort industry. Identifications of woody taxa were made by means of a comparative charcoal reference collection and the InsideWood database. Charcoal was studied under stereo and reflective light microscopes. Woody taxa identified confirmed that the coldest, driest phase of occupation was at approximately 58 ka. Bushveld woods, including five Acacia types, have been identified in charcoal from MOD layer, ~49 ka. The vegetation mosaic was different from today’s coastal forest and savanna near Sibudu. The availability of natural wood around Sibudu, visible in the type of wood burnt in hearths, has changed since 58 ka and 49 ka for either climatic or anthropogenic reasons or for a combination of these. In all three layers, the wood bundles include tinder, fuel, and a selection of woody plants that today are known to have medicinal bark, leaves and wood. People may have selected wood for burning properties (for example, temperature, light and coal production) and for medicine. Woods suitable for making firesticks for starting fires by means of friction are present. Wood from Spirostachys africana (tambotie) occurs in one hearth in each of the three layers. Since Spirostachys africana is normally avoided in cooking fires as it is poisonous, this suggests that the wood was selected deliberately and burnt for insecticidal smoke or other medicinal purposes. Tarchonanthus parvicapitulatus (syn. T. camphoratus) charcoal occurred in layer SPCA. This adds to the previous evidence of the use of aromatic plants at Sibudu, where sedge bedding was topped with aromatic, insecticidal Cryptocarya woodii (river-quince) leaves (Wadley et al. 2011. Science 334 (6061): 1388-1391). Wood use is different between hearths and surrounding sediments and between occupations dating 58 ka and 49 ka. Keywords: phytomedicine, Sibudu, Spirostachys africana, Acacia, charcoal analysis, wood anatomy / LG2017

A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Archaeology of the University of Witwatersrand in 2017. / Over the past decade a new method of statistical shape analysis, geometric morphometrics, has been applied to the study of artefact shapes. Later Stone Age (LSA) tanged stone arrowheads, hypothesized to act as stylistic markers among prehistoric southern African hunter-gatherer groups, have been analysed with geometric morphometrics and reveal spatially coherent variations in their shape. After being tested against several variables that may have had an effect on arrowhead shape, these stylistic spatial variations could very well indicate large scale linguistic or other kinds of boundaries between different elements of prehistoric San populations. Understanding them can shed light on the social and economic organization of southern African hunter-gatherers during the later Holocene. / LG2017

Este projeto pretende analisar os impactos socioespaciais do movimento da cultura periférica no distrito de Campo Limpo e Capão Redondo no município de São Paulo, através de iniciativas do Sarau do Binho. O Sarau do Binho é um movimento cultural desenvolvido na região desde 1993 de forma dispersa, mas, em 2004 passou a ser sistematizado, com a prática do sarau semanalmente. Também será analisado o fortalecimento da discussão de cultura periférica como forma de reconhecimento e pertencimento territorial. Em 2012 passa a ser praticado em especial no Espaço Clariô de Teatro, todavia ser itinerante pela cidade. Serão proposta análises nas relações cotidianas de grupos e pessoas que fazem parte e acompanham o Sarau do Binho. Considerando-se tal panorama, propomos interpretar a realidade e singularidades do movimento cultural, impactando diretamente na constituição e ressignificação da territorialidade dos frequentadores por meio dos conceitos de segregação socioespacial, territorialidade, lugar e do cotidiano, auxiliados por entrevista sob a ótica da pesquisa participante. / This project aims to analyze OS socio-spatial impacts of the Peripheral Culture Movement no Campo Limpo district and Capão Redondo any city of São Paulo, through initiatives that Sarau the Binho. The Sarau the Binho and a cultural movement developed in the region since 1993 in a dispersed form, but in 2004 passed a systematized be with a soiree From Practice weekly. It will also analyze the strengthening DISCUSSION Peripheral culture As a way of recognition and territorial belonging. In 2012 it passes to be practiced especially in the Theatre Space Clario nevertheless be traveling by the City. Proposal will be analyzes NAS everyday relations groups and people who are part and follow the Sarau the Binho. Considering panorama such, we propose to play a Reality and singularities of cultural movement, impacting directly on the Constitution and redefinition of territoriality of the regulars through the socio-spatial segregation Concepts, territoriality, place and do everyday, aided by interview sobbing the perspective of participant Search.

本論文以政治學及心理學的理論為基礎，探討社會人士的集體行動及政治參與行為及其背後的心理因素，以及網上新聞的普及對這些行為、意向是否具催化作用。根據政治學及社會心理學文獻，團體在社會得到的社會認定「social identity」）及個人對自身的政治功效意識 （「political efficacy」）往往是影響人們集體行動及政治參與（稱「團體參與行動」「intergroup participatory actions」）程度的決定因素。不過，個人/團體對集體行動的參與意向跟媒體使用及社會人士的實際參與之間的關係在文獻中似乎從未提到。然而，這方面的研究在現今數碼時代十分重要。 / 關於網上新聞的影響，主要的文獻論述有二：工具性論述指出網上資訊澎湃、隨手可得，且成本極低，網上新聞的使用對社會人士參與政治有直接影響（本論文將驗證此觀點，是為假設一）；心理學論述指出網上新聞對人們的影響視乎個人既有的心理素質。本文主張個人參與集體行動及參與政治的意向在於人們是否能從這些行動中得到高度的「社會認定」及「政治功效意識」；而這兩方面又可隨著個人接觸的網上資訊增加而得以提昇，因為人們傾向選擇接收那些肯定他們既有看法及態度的資訊（即「選擇性暴露理論」），以及那些提昇他們對某社群歸屬感的資訊（即「使用與滿足理論」）。本文提出下列觀點，並加以驗證：網上新聞的普及提昇「個人功效意識」（假設二）、提昇「集體功效意識」（假設三）、提昇參與團體行動人士得到的「社會認定」（假設四），而個人/團體從社會認定中得到的滿足對他們實際參與團體行動有驅動作用（假設五）。 / 本文對在美國及香港具代表性的民意調查作出分析，分析結果跟上列的假設吻合。然後進行了一項實驗，其結果指出「個人功效意識」或可作為「政治功效意識」內一有效的獨立準則。本人在美國及香港進行民意調查（各地兩項；所涉及的調查相隔一年），並作迴歸分析，以驗證上述有關社會人士參與集體行動及政治意向的假設，研究重點包括人們的投票意向、示威意向、議題參與意向及公民參與意向。研究結果支持假設一（即工具性論述）及假設三（即有關「集體功效意識」的心理學論述）的有效性。假設二（有關「個人功效意識」）及假設四（有關「社會認定」）可作進一步驗證。研究中所有具統計學顯著意義的結果卻否定了假設五（有關「社會認定」對個人/團體帶來的滿足程度）的有效信度。 / 最後，研究局限、結果應用等亦會在文中細述。 / Applying an interdisciplinary and integrative theoretical perspective and framework, this thesis is concerned with the role of Internet news on collective action and political participation, and the important moderating role of certain psychological antecedents on the relationship. The literature shows that identification with a group (social identity) and the feeling that one could make a substantive difference (political efficacy) are two important predictors of such actions (termed “intergroup participatory actions in this thesis). However, the processes that link the antecedents of participatory behaviors to media use and then to actual participation have been neglected. Such an examination is important in the digital age where the Internet provides citizens a media environment where access to information about politics and social causes is easy, cheap and abundant. / Two views of the impact of Internet are prevalent in the literature. The “instrumental“ view argues that Internet use has a direct effect on political participation and typically emphasizes the reduced costs and the relative “informational richness“ associated with Internet news use (Hypothesis 1). The “psychological“ view argues that the effects of the Internet depend to an extent on individual’s preexisting psychological dispositions. It is further hypothesized that two dimensions of political efficacy are important antecedents of participatory actions: ‘individual efficacy’ and ‘collective efficacy’. / The thesis argues that individuals’ willingness to participate in a collective action and participate in politics depends on high levels of social identity and political efficacy, which can be heightened by exposure to Internet news because individuals are likely to consume media content that reinforces their existing attitudes and opinions (as put forward by Selective Exposure Theory) and reinforces their psychological need to feel like a member of a social group (as put forward by Uses and Gratifications Theory). Conceptually, this means that individual efficacy (Hypothesis 2), collective efficacy (Hypothesis 3), and social identity (Hypothesis 4) will accentuate the effects of Internet news use on intergroup participatory actions. Moreover, social identity gratifications will accentuate the effects of social identity on intergroup participatory actions (Hypothesis 5). / Secondary data analyses of national data in the United States and Hong Kong provide initial support for the hypotheses. Moreover, an embedded quasi-experiment provides support for the validity of ‘individual efficacy’ as a unique dimension of political efficacy. Subsequent exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses also showed that both individual and collective efficacy to be unique dimensions of political efficacy, along with internal and external efficacy. / Regression analyses using two Hong Kong and two American samples collected a year apart test the hypotheses for a variety of participatory behaviors, including voting intention, protest intention, issue participation and civic participation. In general, the findings were supportive of the ‘instrumental’ view of Internet effects (H1) and the ‘psychological view’ with respect to collective efficacy (H3). There was less evidence for the effects of individual efficacy (H2) and social identity (H4). All significant interactions for social identity gratifications (H5) were in the opposite direction as hypothesized. / Implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions for further research are specified. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Chan, Che Ming. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 232-247). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.iv / Contents --- p.v / List of Tables --- p.vii / List of Figures --- p.ix / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Overview of the Thesis Structure --- p.6 / Contributions to the Literature --- p.9 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Antecedents of Collective Action and Political Participation --- p.11 / Collective Action and Political Participation as Forms of Intergroup Participatory Actions --- p.12 / Perceived Injustice --- p.15 / Efficacy --- p.19 / Identification --- p.27 / Summary and Way Forward --- p.34 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- The Role of the Internet in Intergroup Participatory Actions --- p.37 / The Mobilizing Potential of the Internet --- p.37 / The Role of Internet News in Political Participation --- p.39 / The Role of Internet News in Protests and Demonstrations --- p.43 / The Internet and Participatory Actions in the Hong Kong Context --- p.45 / Summary and Hypothesis --- p.46 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- The Contingent Effects of Efficacy and Social Identity --- p.48 / Efficacy, Selective Exposure, and Participatory Behaviors --- p.50 / Social Identity, Selective Exposure, and Participatory Behaviors --- p.56 / Social Identity, Uses and Gratifications, and Participatory Behaviors --- p.61 / Summary of Hypotheses --- p.65 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Secondary Data Analyses of National Survey Data --- p.68 / Theoretical Approach to Analyses --- p.68 / American National Election Studies Survey (2004-2008) --- p.70 / The National Annenberg Election Survey (2008) --- p.97 / The PEW 2009 Values Survey --- p.110 / Hong Kong Survey 2009 --- p.114 / Summary and Way Forward --- p.118 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Measurement and Validation of Political Efficacy Dimensions --- p.124 / Question Item Selection and Analytic Strategy --- p.125 / Sampling and Operationalization --- p.129 / Results --- p.131 / Summary and recommendations --- p.153 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Predicting Intergroup Participatory Actions Among Young Adults --- p.156 / Young Adults, the Internet, and Participation --- p.157 / Sampling --- p.166 / Operationalization --- p.166 / Results --- p.174 / Discussion --- p.187 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- Discussion and Future Research --- p.200 / Interdisciplinary Perspective of Intergroup Participatory Actions --- p.201 / Complementary Explanations of Internet News Effects --- p.205 / Expansion and Validation of Political Efficacy Dimensions --- p.212 / Extension of Uses and Gratifications Theory --- p.213 / Contributions to the Hong Kong Literature --- p.214 / Appendices --- p.215 / Chapter Appendix A --- Social Identity Studies in Hong Kong --- p.216 / Chapter Appendix B --- Mass Media and Collective Action in the Hong Kong Context --- p.219 / Chapter Appendix C --- Theoretical Basis for Group-Based Perspective of Uses and Gratifications --- p.222 / Chapter Appendix D --- Questions Items in 2010 Surveys --- p.226 / Chapter Appendix E --- Questions Items in 2011 Surveys --- p.229 / References --- p.232

Focusing on the relationship between demography and sedentary behavior, this thesis explores changes to mobility strategies on the Northern Northwest Coast of North America between 11,000 and 5,000 cal BP. Drawing on a regional database of radiocarbon dates, it uses summed probability distributions (SPDs) of calibrated dates as a proxy for population change, in combination with syntheses of previously published technological, paleo environmental and settlement pattern data to test three hypotheses derived from the literature about the development of logistic mobility among maritime hunter-gatherers on the Northern Coast. In all, each of the hypotheses proposes that early peoples on the coast were foragers that utilized high levels of residential mobility, who later adopted collector (logistic) strategies. Two of the hypotheses emphasize the role of population growth and/or packing and resource distribution in this transformation, while the third emphasizes population replacement. Other issues addressed within this thesis are whether or not the forager-collector continuum, as it is used for terrestrial hunter-gatherers, can be applied to those in aquatic settings. Also explored, is the question of whether the available data is sufficient for making and/or testing claims about early mobility patterns in the region. The results of the demographic models suggest that while population levels were volatile, volatility declined through time and that there is no significant trend in either growth or decline of overall population levels throughout the region. This thesis also confirmed that significant changes to mobility, as evidenced by the emergence of semi-sedentary to sedentary living, begin to appear by ~7,000 cal BP. However, there appears to be little, if any correlation between the advent of more sedentary and logistic behavior and any of the variables tested here. Thus this author suggests, in agreement with Ames (1985; 2004) and Binford (2001) that the distribution of resources and labor organization needs within aquatic environments are sufficient without any other drivers for the development and intensification of logistic mobility. The principle analytic contribution of this research comes from the demographic modeling that relied on the construction of summed probability distributions. Though these methods have become commonplace in other settings (namely Europe), this thesis presents the first application of these methods within the time period and region covered. Moreover, this research is one of the only of its kind to address demographic histories within coastal landscapes that utilizes both marine and terrestrial 14C samples. In order to explore possible biases within the database, comparisons of marine and terrestrial SPDs were made between sub-sections of the region (i.e. Haida Gwaii, Southeast Alaska and the Dundas Islands). Though patterning between each of these areas was consistent, these comparative methods revealed an unexpected finding; a massive population crash throughout the region that began between ~9,000-8,800 cal BP and lasted till around 8,400 cal BP. Importantly, this crash was witnessed within all of the individual sub-areas and within SPDs made from both the marine and terrestrial 14C samples, though the reasons behind this collapse and verification of its existence require future research. However, finding this collapse at all further highlighted the need for use of correctly calibrated 14C dates, as the gap in 14C dates effectively disappears when using uncalibrated dates, which has been a longstanding tradition within Northwest archaeology.

The purpose of this thesis is to specifically address the religious dimensions of the Rainbow Gatherings. The fundamental question directing this analysis is: "Are the Rainbow Gatherings religious in character?" This thesis specifically asks whether or not the Rainbow Gatherings satisfy certain identifiable features of religion, and if doing so, do they qualify as a form of religion? I engage this question by analyzing the Rainbow Gatherings in terms of two particular definitions of religion: Clifford Geertz's "functional" definition and Bryan R. Wilson's "substantive" definition. This allows me to analyze the Rainbow Gatherings from the perspective of the two major approaches to defining religion. This thesis also explores the broader differences and implications of these two types of definitions in academia, as well as the significance this has for future studies of this sort. Conclusive results indicate that the Gatherings conform to both definitions in some ways, but not in others. The results also designate which of the two definitions the Gatherings satisfy more inclusively. Thus, this analysis not only examines whether or not these gatherings qualify as a form of religion, but also examines how these definitions of religion illuminate features of the Rainbow Gathering, and how this relates to the scholarly distinction of these two types of definitions.