Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1996. / Includes vita and abstract. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-130).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009. / Title from title screen (site viewed July 22, 2010). PDF text: xvii, 307 p. : ill. ; 2 Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3386837. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Technology Sydney, 2007.

This study explores the factors that support the development of interdisciplinary research connections in a large public research university. Graduate students and faculty from 15 departments (n = 227) responded to an online survey focusing on an individual's openness toward interdisciplinary research, applied epistemological orientation, and potential interdisciplinary collaborations. The findings suggest that the formation of interdisciplinary connections is tied to two main determinants: interdisciplinary openness, which is supported by reporting a more applied epistemological orientation and being a graduate student. The diversity of interdisciplinary connections is influenced by the academic status, with tenured faculty exhibiting the most diversity in connections. Finally, research network analysis suggests that the patterns of interdisciplinary collaborations tend to orient toward collaborations between similar and familiar methodological partners, and not toward collaborations with partners that are wholly unfamiliar in terms of methodology or research focus. / Ph. D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1996. / Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-229).

<p>ADHD is a diagnosis which has had great increase among children in recent years. Research on and attention to this disorder have mostly been directed towards efforts related to the disorder in general and medication in particular. Little attention has been paid to the parents and their experiences in the course of determining the disorder from which these children are suffering.</p><p>Thus the aim of this study is to learn about the parents’ experiences from the point when they first noticed something “particular” in their child, and up to the point when a diagnosis was finally made. Nine parents have been interviewed, five women and four men. A phenomenological study has been undertaken, based on the narrative interview method, Biographic Narrative Interpretive Method (BNIM), as explained by Wengraf (2001). The parents were asked one question, known as ”single question aimed at inducing narratives”. During their analysis, the authors have relied on Giorgis’ phenomenological analysis model (1985), with some modifications. The authors developed two more steps in the analysis model that leads to the discussion.</p><p>The application of these two methods yielded a number of findings. Twenty-six themes have been grouped into five main themes. These themes and main themes have been further organised in two flow- and interaction models, in order to clarify the parents’ experience of chaos. The parents describe a turning point when everything falls into place for the family. The discussion of the findings is based on Antonovsky’s theory of sense of coherence (SOC) (1991).</p>

<p>This case study investigates change processes in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) over a 10-year period. It aims to increase the understanding of the dynamics of change processes in organizations which operate at the science-policy interface at the international level. ICES plays a key role in supplying policymakers and marine management agencies with scientific advice. The challenges facing governance of oceans and coastal areas have led these actors to embrace an ecosystem-based approach. This study takes a qualitative, transdisciplinary approach to investigate if and how ICES has responded to this shift towards a more holistic management paradigm. Resilience theory, combined with organizational change theory, is used to analyze several change processes identified. The ICES advisory program and the ICES science program have both undergone major reforms during the last 10 years. The ICES Secretariat has been reorganized, and strategic planning has given ICES new guiding documents. While the ecosystem-based approach was important as a backdrop for the reforms, it was not manifested as a dominating driver behind the changes. The major drivers were the need to improve efficiency and a striving for better integration between different components within the organization. The findings show that the international network structure of ICES gives a different dynamics of change compared to similar processes in traditional hierarchical government organizations. Implementation of change requires time to allow for broad consultations, which are important to ensure support and a sense of ownership within the ICES community. Changes are implemented incrementally to align with opportunities and constrains embedded in the complex institutional landscape within which ICES resides. These insights can contribute to the development of strategies aiming to enhance the capacity to govern marine ecosystems and build resilience of social-ecological systems.</p>

<p>This study contributes to the Common Pool Resources debate by describing and analysinginstitutions that currently structure governance of community-based forest management inSanta Mónica and Palestina, within the Monte Verde region, Bolivia. It explores theinterplay between innovative communal and central-authority institutional features, theway they work and how they enable forest conservation. The method is narratology andanalysis of institutions and documents produced by this governance system through thelens of Elinor Ostrom’s institutional framework for the ‘alternative solution’ to thecommons problem. The results reveal that local communal rules and central-authorityrules are complementary rather than competitive. The local communities and the centralauthorityshare power to devise and enforce institutions for communal forestmanagement, which enable the local communities to exclude external actors, known as‘timber pirates’, who illegally harvest timber in this region. The central-authorityestablishes guidelines that are sensitive to local cultural contexts. Local governancedevelops rules conforming to these guidelines. The main reasons behind successful forestconservation in Monte Verde lie on the fact that a healthy forest is in the interest of localcommunities due to its contribution to economic development. Ecosystem services suchas traditional forest produce, profits from timber sales and related employment are vitalcontributors to the local economy. Governmental institutions and internationalconservation principles support this local interest and, therefore, this collaborative relationis successful. This case study also explores an innovative approach for dealing with theproblem of free-riding. Collective appropriation of timber products by local communitiesprevents internal individual appropriation race and enables them to make a more effectivemonitoring over unauthorised forest users.</p>

<p>Phnom Penh’s sanitation system is a combination of the drainage system and sewage system.Storm water, household wastewater, and industrial wastewater all flow together out of the city tothe detriment of the natural environment and the humans that depend on it. This continuedpersistence of an inefficient and harmful system is explored using path dependency theory. Pathdependency constrains the system to linear development and reflects the historical context inwhich decisions were made. Phnom Penh’s sanitation system is used to exemplify components ofpath dependence and their effect on implementing change.To incorporate room for change into Phnom Penh’s sanitation system, the inherent longevity inbuilt infrastructure must be overcome. Building infrastructure is expensive and the learning andcoordination that is associated with it is not easily replaced. The social context is ultimatelyresponsible for the investments made and the type of system expressed. Phnom Penh’s sanitationsystem reflects a historical legacy of colonial rule, decades of war, political chaos, and an influxof international aid contributing to an inefficient system being developed. The presence ofunpredictability and inflexibility in the system can result in an inefficient system being sustained.</p>

<p>Important throughout the 20th century, trade unions are an influential social actor that can affect and influence various policies, public opinion, and working standards through collective agreements, social activism, and political partnerships. Both within and extending beyond the workplace, unions have at times played a role in determining solutions to environmental issues, from health and safety standards all the way to national and international policy and solidarity activity, though this subject is rarely studied or analyzed. In particular, trade union stances and action on climate and energy issues represents an under-researched, yet important topic of analysis. Using the United States and Sweden as case studies, with analysis of two blue-collar unions in each, the research analyzes the important factors affecting choices and action regarding climate and energy matters. Within the case study approach, using a neo-institutional theoretical approach, I employed qualitative methods including semi-structured interviews, complemented with primary source documentary analysis. The analysis demonstrates that two unions (one in each country) can be described as active and two as defensive on environmental issues, respectively. The United Steelworkers in the United States and Kommunal in Sweden, both affected and acting within a particular structure, have been active at combating and seeking solutions to climate change, while linking work and environmental issues at multiple levels. Key factors such as working within a social unionism paradigm; instrumental leadership combined with multilevel work; and important mergers converge to influence and define behaviour. The United Autoworkers (U.S.) and IF Metall (Sweden), both defensive, though in their own ways, are influenced by factors including historical institutional power; regional concentration of employment; and the types of employment they represent.</p>