This project explores the idea of visual absence in relation to the notion of Chinese classical aesthetics of emptiness. The approaches is located in between representation and abstraction by combining the painting skills and expressions of Chinese Gong Bi [工笔] and Xie Yi [写意] with focuses on complementing visual clarity and obscurity. The aim of the research is to explore visual absence as a painting strategy in contemporary art practice, referring to the painting method of reduction, incompleteness and metaphor that extends the painting space and meaning through visual presence, thus unfurling an extended art form and creative strategy from Chinese classical aesthetics. The outcome is a series of paintings as an exploration in extending the Chinese painting aesthetics. This project is constituted of 80% practice-based work, accompanied by 20% exegesis in approximately 11,600 words as a complement.

According to prior studies, female researchers in Austria exhibit a very high level of childlessness and, consequentially, a low mean number of children. Following up on these studies, we analyse childlessness intentions of young female researchers and compare them to those of other highly educated women in other occupations. We examine factors that are related to female researchers' intent to stay childless. The analysis is based on a survey of 196 female researchers between the ages of 25 and 45 (with the majority being between age 25 and 34). Results indicate that few young, childless researchers plan a life without children: Only 7% intend to stay childless and most of them want to have two children (66%). Their intentions are strikingly close to those of their highly educated peers in other occupations. We discuss three factors that play a role for childlessness intentions of female researchers: work-related conditions (employment uncertainty and work-family reconciliation), personal career orientation, and partnership context.

The purpose of this study was to assess attitudes toward sexting, subjective norms toward sexting, self-esteem levels, sexting behavioral intentions, and sexting behaviors (i.e. sending, posting, or sharing/forwarding sexually suggestive messages, nude/semi-nude pictures/videos, or both) among selected undergraduate students and also to determine relationships among attitudes toward sexting, subjective norms toward sexting, self-esteem levels, sexting behavioral intentions, and sexting behaviors. Results of this study showed statistically significant differences in sexting behaviors among demographic variables gender, current relationship status, lifetime sexual partners and current sexual partners. Nearly 700 (n=697) surveys were completed from selected undergraduate students during the spring semester of 2011. According to the findings, there was statistically significant positive relationship between attitudes toward sexting, subjective norms toward sexting, sexting behavioral intentions, and sexting behaviors. Also, attitudes toward sexting, subjective norms toward sexting, and sexting behavioral intentions were found to predict lifetime sexting behaviors, with behavioral intentions as the strongest predictor sexting behaviors. For non-sexters, there was statistically significant positive relationship between attitudes toward sexting, subjective norms toward sexting, and sexting behavioral intentions. Attitudes and subjective norms toward sexting are both found to be predictors of behavioral intentions to sext for lifetime and current non-sexters, with attitudes toward sexting being the strongest predictor of sexting behavioral intentions. Future research on sexting should go even further in depth to help explain reasons for sexting as well as reasons for not sexting. Also, future research should explore the benefits of sexting among consensual adults, paying particular attention to how sexting is used for sexual communication and sexual assertiveness. Recommendations for the profession of health education and health educators focused on preventing negative consequences of underage sexting, and promoting the benefits of sexting among consenting adults in relationships with mutual respect for each other.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (School of Business and Finance) / Entrepreneurial firms, entrepreneurial capital, entrepreneurial ecosystem and entrepreneurial economy are a few terminologies that have emerged since the resurgence of entrepreneurship, arising from the 1990's entrepreneurial revolution in the United States of America. Entrepreneurship education, a paradigm shift from the conventional, has been identifies as being critical to fostering entrepreneurship, building entrepreneurial capital, growing entrepreneurial economy and ultimately delivering sustainable economic growth and developmend for any nation - emerging or developed. From America to Africa, entrepreneurship modules with varies objectives and designs have multiplied in the last decade.

Only a small percentage of people with mental health issues utilize mental health services. This would seem contradictory given the increasing understanding of mental disorders, their high prevalence, and associated disability and distress. Research shows that individual level factors, such as perceptions of need, mental health knowledge, mental health attitudes, and mental health literacy, are related to individuals’ decisions to seek mental health services. The Health Belief Model (HBM) posits four types of health beliefs that affect an individual’s health behavior, in this case, the decision to seek mental health services. To date, researchers and clinicians have no assessment tool to empirically identify the factors affecting a particular individual’s decision making about using mental health services. Therefore, the goal of this study was to develop and validate a self-report instrument, called the Mental Health Belief Model Assessment (MHBMA), designed to assess readiness to seek formal mental health services. Based on the HBM, the MHBMA includes 76 items grouped into five scales: Perceived Susceptibility and Fears, Perceived Severity, Perceived Benefits, Perceived Barriers, and Self-efficacy. A 20-item short form was also developed. The responses of a validation sample of 192 adults provided the initial evidence for reliability and validity of the MHBMA. In terms of reliability, internal consistency reliability was high for each scale, with Cronbach’s alphas ranging from .90 to .97, and test-retest correlation coefficients for each scale were strong, ranging from .82 to .92. Evidence for validity was examined via test content, internal structure, and relations to other variables. Specifically, moderate to high correlations in the expected directions were found between the MHBMA and Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form and the Barriers to Help Seeking Scale. The scale scores on the MHBMA were also examined in relation to a number of demographic and service use variables. Guidelines for use and interpretation on the MHBMA, delimitations and limitations of the current study, and implications for research and practice are discussed.

Esta dissertação, construída a partir da teoria multidimensional da confiança com dimensões cognitivas, afetivas e comportamentais (ROSENBERG & HOVLAND, 1960; CUMMINGS & BROMILEY, 1996; MCALLISTER 1995; JOHNSON & GRAYSON, 2000) tem como objetivo desenvolver e validar uma escala que mensure os componentes afetivos, cognitivos e comportamentais da confiança. Aplicou-se a escala em uma amostra de 480 estudantes. O desenvolvimento da escala utilizou Churchill (1979) como base teórica seguindo os seguintes passos: a) Geração dos itens - através de escalas existentes e entrevistas em profundidade; b) purificação - utilizando análise fatorial exploratória e c) validação - através da análise fatorial confirmatória. Para fins de análise, a primeira metade dos respondentes foi utilizada na etapa exploratória e a outra metade, na etapa confirmatória. Para o teste do impacto das confianças cognitiva, afetiva e comportamental nas intenções de lealdade, foi utilizada a amostra completa. Os resultados mostraram que as confianças afetiva, cognitiva e comportamental são empiricamente distintas e podem ser mensuradas. Conforme esperado, as confianças afetiva e cognitiva tiveram um impacto positivo nas intenções de lealdade, contudo a confiança comportamental não teve impacto significativo. A análise multigrupos mostrou que, em relacionamentos mais longos, as confianças afetiva e cognitiva possuem um impacto maior quando comparadas com relacionamentos menos longos. / This dissertation, based on multidimensional trust theory, aims to develop and test a trust scale that considers affective, cognitive and behavioral aspects. In order to do that, the scale was applied in 480 students. The scale development was based on Churchill (1979) steps: a) Items Generation - using the literature and in-depth interview, b) Purification - using Factorial Exploratory Analysis and c) Validation - using Factorial Confirmatory Analysis. For the development and test of the scale, the sample was divided in two parts: one for the exploratory analysis and the other for confirmatory analysis. For the investigation of the impact of trust dimensions on loyalty intentions the whole sample was used. The results show that cognitive, affective and behavioral dimensions of trust can be empirically distinguished and measured. As expected, the cognitive and affective trusts have significant and positive impact on loyalty intentions, while behavioral trust does not have impact on that. The multigroup analyses show that when the relationship between client and company is longer, the affective and cognitive trusts have higher impact than when the relationship is sorter.

This thesis is primarily a descriptive exploration of the related moral philosophies of Wilfrid Sellars and Richard Rorty. While Rorty is clear that his normative thinking descends from Sellars's positions, there are numerous differences between their two positions. For instance, though Rorty is a self-identified Sellarsian, he rejects the explicitly formal character of his predecessor's work. Further, Sellars's normative upshot may be seen as philanthropic whereas Rorty's is best understood as solidaristic. Chapter 1 works through Sellars's metaethical position, which gives an intentional account to experientially-imperative normative judgments. This description pays particular attention to the necessity of community and the action-motivating character of practical reasoning. Chapter 2 turns to Rorty's deployment of Sellars's insights, beginning with a brief account of the commonalities between their metaphysical and epistemological positions. The most significant extensions Rorty makes to Sellars's position are in limiting justificatory schemas to only one's own community and shifting the focus of this community from "we reasoners" to "we sufferers." The third and final chapter briefly compliments one of the benefits of Rorty's claims over Sellars's before turning to critique, arguing that unfortunately neither of their positions have much in the way of content to offer. Beyond this, it seems difficult to understand trans-traditional conversation or deliberation on their accounts, especially Rorty's. Nonetheless, by tracing the impact of Wilfrid Sellars's thought in the work of Richard Rorty, an important connection may be made and explored.

The purpose of this study was to discover how to efficiently use tailored messaging to increase recreational water users' behavioral intentions to perform specific behaviors that prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) and Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS). The objectives were to identify the most effective message structure and message order for signs targeting seven behaviors that reduce the spread of AIS and VHS, and to examine the moderating effect of AIS and VHS knowledge and awareness on behavioral intentions. The population of this study consisted of students 31 years of age and younger attending Southern Illinois University Carbondale (μ = 21.06; n = 680). The study design tested messages according to the Optimal Arousal Theory. The respondents completed an 11-item questionnaire that measured knowledge, awareness, and behavioral intentions, and included one of 34 sign treatments. When asked how knowledgeable respondents were about AIS and VHS, 48% of respondents indicated that they were not knowledgeable. Respondents were also asked the extent to which they believed AIS is a problem in Illinois; 43% reported AIS to be a "moderate" problem. Seven (7) items on the questionnaire measured intention to perform specific behaviors that may reduce the spread of AIS and fish disease between water bodies. Knowledge and awareness (only when interacting with knowledge) were found to be covariates of behavioral intentions. Complex results were revealed regarding the most effective tailored message, as no one sign significantly increased all seven behavioral intentions and the number of treatments significantly increasing behavioral intentions varied by behavior (i.e., 11 treatments had a significant influence on the behavioral intention for "visual inspections;" 4 treatments had a significant influence on the behavioral intention for "drain water;" 8 treatments had a significant influence on the behavioral intention for "avoid bait release;" 6 treatments had a significant influence on the behavioral intention for "remove plants and animals;" 4 treatments had a significant influence on the behavioral intention for "flush motor;" and, 11 treatments had a significant influence on the behavioral intention for "rinse boat". Results suggest mainly positively phrased messages works best when trying to stimulate environmentally responsible behavior (ERB). The recommendations from this study encourage strategic use of communication to enhance natural resource management as this study yielded gains in predicted behaviors of respondents to reduce the spread of AIS and VHS. The study also demonstrates the need to increase recreational water users' AIS and VHS knowledge improve the likelihood that they will perform desired behaviors.

Esta dissertação, construída a partir da teoria multidimensional da confiança com dimensões cognitivas, afetivas e comportamentais (ROSENBERG & HOVLAND, 1960; CUMMINGS & BROMILEY, 1996; MCALLISTER 1995; JOHNSON & GRAYSON, 2000) tem como objetivo desenvolver e validar uma escala que mensure os componentes afetivos, cognitivos e comportamentais da confiança. Aplicou-se a escala em uma amostra de 480 estudantes. O desenvolvimento da escala utilizou Churchill (1979) como base teórica seguindo os seguintes passos: a) Geração dos itens - através de escalas existentes e entrevistas em profundidade; b) purificação - utilizando análise fatorial exploratória e c) validação - através da análise fatorial confirmatória. Para fins de análise, a primeira metade dos respondentes foi utilizada na etapa exploratória e a outra metade, na etapa confirmatória. Para o teste do impacto das confianças cognitiva, afetiva e comportamental nas intenções de lealdade, foi utilizada a amostra completa. Os resultados mostraram que as confianças afetiva, cognitiva e comportamental são empiricamente distintas e podem ser mensuradas. Conforme esperado, as confianças afetiva e cognitiva tiveram um impacto positivo nas intenções de lealdade, contudo a confiança comportamental não teve impacto significativo. A análise multigrupos mostrou que, em relacionamentos mais longos, as confianças afetiva e cognitiva possuem um impacto maior quando comparadas com relacionamentos menos longos. / This dissertation, based on multidimensional trust theory, aims to develop and test a trust scale that considers affective, cognitive and behavioral aspects. In order to do that, the scale was applied in 480 students. The scale development was based on Churchill (1979) steps: a) Items Generation - using the literature and in-depth interview, b) Purification - using Factorial Exploratory Analysis and c) Validation - using Factorial Confirmatory Analysis. For the development and test of the scale, the sample was divided in two parts: one for the exploratory analysis and the other for confirmatory analysis. For the investigation of the impact of trust dimensions on loyalty intentions the whole sample was used. The results show that cognitive, affective and behavioral dimensions of trust can be empirically distinguished and measured. As expected, the cognitive and affective trusts have significant and positive impact on loyalty intentions, while behavioral trust does not have impact on that. The multigroup analyses show that when the relationship between client and company is longer, the affective and cognitive trusts have higher impact than when the relationship is sorter.

The text is the result of the master survey conducted in the city of Portel, in thearchipelago of Marajó. It ims to discuss the intentions of forming educators ofthe field from the Bachelor,s Degree in Rural Education. Methodologically it is acase study of one type of qualitative approach, which collected the data using thefollowing techniques: semi-structured interviews, non-participant observation,closed questionnaire and document analysis. The data analyzed in the light ofthe content analysis technique in dialogue with theorists, like Arroyo (2011),Caldart (2010), Molina (2010) and others, made it possible to consider that oneof the forming intentions is the conquest of new schools not in the sense of a newphysical structure, but an open space for dialogue and debate. / El texto es el resultado de la encuesta de la muestra realizada en la ciudad dePortel, del archipiélago Marajó. Tiene como objetivo discutir las intenciones de la formación de educadores del campo de la Licenciatura en Educación Rural. Metodológicamente se trata de un estudio de caso de un tipo de enfoquecualitativo, que recoge los datos mediante las siguientes técnicas: entrevistassemiestructuradas, observación no participante, cuestionario cerrado y análisis dedocumentos. Los datos analizados a la luz de la técnica de análisis de contenido enel diálogo con los teóricos, como Arroyo (2011), Caldart (2010), Molina (2010)y otros, hicieron posible considerar que una de las intenciones de formación es laconquista de nuevas escuelas no en el sentido de una nueva estructura física, sinoun espacio abierto para el diálogo y el debate. / O texto resulta da pesquisa de mestrado realizada no município de Portel, noarquipélago do Marajó. Objetiva discutir as intencionalidades da formação de educadores do campo a partir do curso de Licenciatura em Educação do Campo. Metodologicamente trata-se de um estudo de caso do tipo único de abordagem qualitativa, que coletou os dados por meio das seguintes técnicas: entrevista semiestruturada, observação não-participante, questionário fechado eanálise documental. Os dados analisados à luz da técnica da análise de conteúdoem diálogo com teóricos, a exemplo de Arroyo (2011), Caldart (2010), Molina(2011) e outros, possibilitaram considerar que uma das intenções da formação éa conquista de novas escolas, não no sentido de uma nova estrutura física, mas deum espaço aberto ao diálogo e ao debate.