The role of a psychologist within bariatric services is predominately focussed on the completion of preoperative psychological assessments (NICE, 2006; Ratcliffe et al, 2014). This role requires the psychologist to determine the suitability of the patient for surgery (Bauchowitz et al., 2005; Fabricatore et al., 2006; Sogg & Mori, 2004; UK Faculty of clinical health psychology; Psychologists in weight management network meeting, 2013), however no research to date has been able to reliably determine which variables could be associated with sub optimal weight loss (Sarwer, Wadden, & Fabricatore, 2005; Van Hout, Verschure, and van Heck, 2005; Wadden, Sarwer, Fabricatore, 2007). The first part of this study examines the empirical evidence for a range of variables considered by professionals to be clear contraindications to surgery. The variables were collated from surveys conducted in America (Bauchowitz et al., 2005; Fabricatore et al., 2006). Due to conflicting evidence and various problems with the studies it is difficult for a clinician to draw any firm conclusions from the review. Therefore, an ideographic approach is suggested, which leads onto the second part of the researcher dossier. The empirical chapter presents an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) of interviews with 14 bariatric participants who were 12 months to three years post-operative to explore their experience of - 21 surgery. This time frame was chosen to capture the participants after the ‘honeymoon phase’ when the participants have hit their weight plateau (Yale & Weiler, 1991; Brolin, 1992). The themes from the study were ‘pre op’ ‘phases’ weight maintenance’ ‘impact of the operation’ and an overall psychological theme of ‘locus of control’. Support was a key area for the participants, they described the lack of support they felt from professionals and means of seeking support elsewhere. The themes also highlighted the psychological struggle the participants go through post operatively with eating, however, this is balanced with the positive changes in identity and their ability to engage with life, no longer impeded by their weight. Recommendations from the study suggest the importance of psychologists being available to bariatric patients, in accordance with NICE guidance, and that all bariatric patients start their journey to surgery in a level three service (which is a weight management service with consists of a multi-disciplinary team) before being referred to the tier four surgical team. Finally weight loss prior to surgery is recommended, with an alternative method of achieving this than that presented in the recent British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (2014) publication.

Submitted by Letícia Coelho Rosa (letticiacoelho@gmail.com) on 2018-01-04T03:19:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 LCR_Trabalho Criativo Freelance.pdf: 1098340 bytes, checksum: c49c1887f2d9879df0b3ee7bd2c7b053 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Pamela Beltran Tonsa (pamela.tonsa@fgv.br) on 2018-01-05T13:16:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 LCR_Trabalho Criativo Freelance.pdf: 1098340 bytes, checksum: c49c1887f2d9879df0b3ee7bd2c7b053 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-05T15:00:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LCR_Trabalho Criativo Freelance.pdf: 1098340 bytes, checksum: c49c1887f2d9879df0b3ee7bd2c7b053 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-12-04 / Neste estudo, se investiga a criatividade de compositores musicais em suas atuações como freelancer. O trabalho criativo freelance origina uma experiência subjetiva em que recompensas financeiras, êxtases criativos, reconhecimento social e paixão convivem com ansiedade, risco, fracasso e insegurança. Considerando esse contexto, tem-se como objetivo compreender como músico compositor faz sentido da relação entre atividade criativa e trabalho freelance. Utilizou-se a análise fenomenológica interpretativa e literatura de atividade criativa para obtenção e interpretação das essências contidas nas experiências relatadas pelos trabalhadores. As entrevistas em profundidade foram realizadas com 15 músicos de São Paulo. Como resultado, este estudo identifica temas relevantes para compreensão da interação do músico com o contexto: sobreviver de música, ser artista ou autoempreendedor. / In this study, one investigates the creativity of musical composers in their performances as a freelancer. Freelance creative work creates a subjective experience in which financial rewards, creative ecstasies, social recognition, and passion coexist with anxiety, risk, failure, and insecurity. Considering this context, we aim to understand how musician composer makes sense of the relationship between creative activity and freelance work. We used the interpretative phenomenological analysis and creative activity literature to obtain and interpret the essences contained in the experiences reported by the workers. The in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 musicians from São Paulo. As a result, this study identifies themes relevant to understanding the musician's interaction with the context: surviving music, being an artist or self-employed.

The existing curriculum for piano lessons in West Malaysia is over-reliant on the syllabi of foreign examination boards resulting in a fragmentary curriculum which denies the student access to a wider range of musical experiences. The aim of the study was to identify and suggest solutions to problems by analysing the teaching approaches of piano teachers and to determine if there are elements which are lacking in the lessons. It also aimed to provide solutions by establishing a theoretical framework for effective piano teaching with optimal lesson plans. This study made use of mixed methods research design. A cross-sectional survey was conducted and data collection was by self-structured questionnaires. In addition, interviews were conducted for the qualitative component of this study. Twenty-five piano teachers with between one to twenty years of teaching experience were randomly selected to participate in the survey. A further fifteen interviews were conducted with teachers who were selected from the participants of the survey by purposive sampling. Interpretative phenomenology analysis was used to analyse the interviews in an effort to gain a better understanding of the nature and quality of the piano teaching in West Malaysia. The study finds that having piano examinations with regularity, usually on a yearly basis, has largely dominated the curriculum with examination requirements and has resulted in several elements being missing or absent in a typical lesson. Hence the situation is clearly not ideal as lessons are too examination oriented. Furthermore, students are generally not exposed to sufficient opportunities to display their skills and musical achievements. These findings suggest that Western classical piano music can be taught more effectively in West Malaysia if teachers re-think their approach to teaching in terms of planning for an optimal lesson. This would involve having both long-term and short–term goals in which a variety of strategies and important elements are incorporated seamlessly using the “simultaneous learning” approach advocated by Harris, Crozier and Ley. / Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Music / unrestricted

In 2016's global business landscape, the increase in workers moving across borders to find employment accentuates the language and cultural challenges for both employees and organizations. Employees working in a multinational environment need to have an understanding of language and culture to handle the complex nature of professional work in a multinational corporation (MNC). The purpose of this study was to explore what communication competencies employees in a small MNC needed to communicate across multicultural environments in the workplace. A dialectic approach of intercultural communication was used to explore these needs in one small MNC located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using English as the corporate language. Data were collected from 9 employees of one data security firm using semistructured interviewing, the data was then coded into NVivo. Using interpretative phenomenology analysis, the themes of understanding, cultural sensitivity, pace, and fitting in emerged. Results of the study indicated a disconnect in the cultural mentality of Americanness versus Arabness in the business environment where societal factors and national identity reflected in how the employees think and act in the workplace. Lack of cultural knowledge in an MNC can impact the financial health of an organization in lost opportunities, reduced productivity, and long-term relationship damage with clients and partners. The results of this study could contribute to positive social change by providing small MNCs with the insight to enhance intercultural communication and intercultural awareness among employees in building a global workforce.