The objective of this dissertation study is to provide the theoretical foundation for collaborative information technology moderation on team performance and give empirical evidence to support this relationship. The model provided in this study is supported by analytical proofs for the proposed hypotheses to define relationships among constructs in this research including departure (reduction in the number of team members), collaborative information technology functionality, transactive memory strength, and team performance. This research offers a theory that utilizes transactive memory systems (TMS) to examine the departure problem. The main research question is: Can collaborative information technologies (CIT) alleviate negative effects of departure? The theory in this study is structured around the indicators of TMS: specialization, coordination, and credibility. Findings showed that CIT functionality level plays a role in enhancing the group performance. This role is not direct but instead, is a moderation effect that alleviates the negative departure impact. In absence of departure, CIT impact can be confusing as it can be either positive or negative. My analytical results explain why information systems literature has had conflicting arguments on the role of technology. I propose that particular dynamic events and incidents, such as employee departure, help us understand the impact of CIT more clearly. Moreover, I employ transactive memory theory to explain how individuals develop and exchange knowledge in a group and how skills and knowledge can be lost due to departure. I also explain why and how team performance benefits from CIT when departure occurs. / text

The goal of the current study was to investigate the social skills of a community sample of children that would vary in their level of ADHD symptomatology (e.g., inattention and hyperactivity), with a specific focus on their communication patterns and pragmatic language use (PLU). The study explored whether PLU was associated with, and perhaps accounted for, the social skills problems children with different degrees of ADHD symptomatology experience. Pragmatic language use, ADHD symptomatology, and social skills were examined with traditional standardized measures as well as a detailed investigation of communication patterns and PLU obtained from sampling behaviors from a semi-structured dyadic communication task. A community sample of 54 children between the ages of 9 and 11 years participated. Pragmatic language use partially mediated the relation between ADHD symptomatology and social skills. These results indicate that although the correlation between ADHD and social skills drops from r = -.649, p < .01 to r = -.478, p < .01, when PLU is entered in the model, the correlation between ADHD and social skills still remains significant. Further, ADHD symptomatology and PLU both predicted social skills scores, and although ADHD symptomatology and PLU were related to one another, PLU provided a unique contribution in the estimate of children’s social skills of 10.5% above and beyond the contribution of ADHD symptomatology. However, ADHD symptomatology was the most influential predictor in uniquely accounting for approximately 19% of the differences in social skills outcomes above and beyond the contribution of PLU. Possible explanations as to why PLU mediates the relation between ADHD symptomatology and social skills are discussed. Implications and future research are discussed in terms of children with ADHD and peer relations.

Mental health issues have been the primary focus of much of the health research concerning lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals over the previous decade. Studies have demonstrated that LGB individuals experience psychological distress due to prejudice and discrimination (Lewis, Derlega, Berndt, Morris, & Rose, 2002; Meyer, Schwartz, & Frost, 2008; Rostosky, Riggle, Horne, & Miller, 2009). Health researchers have not given the physical health of LGB individuals the same level of attention (Dibble, Eliason, & Christiansen, 2007). The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA; 2001) asserted that little was known about LGB physical health disparities and called for more research in this area. However, the Institute of Medicine (2011) showed that comparatively little is known about LGB physical health. There is growing evidence from population-based studies that LGB individuals may be at greater risk than heterosexuals for many physical health conditions (Cochran & Mays, 2007; Dilley, Simmons, Boysun, Pizacani, & Stark, 2010; Sandfort, Bakker, Schellevis, & Vanwesenbeeck, 2009). Many of these studies (e.g., Cochran & Mays, 2007; Sandfort et al., 2009) referred to the stigmatization of LGB individuals; however, none of these studies empirically explored the relation between stigmatization and physical health in LGB individuals. The goal of this study was to test the utility of Meyer’s (2003) minority stress model as a means of explaining the physical health of LGB individuals in the context of a heterosexist society. This study investigated empirical questions about minority stress factors, physical health, and coping self-efficacy (CSE) of LGB individuals. Five-hundred fifteen LGBidentified adult participants (n = 222 women and n = 293 men) were recruited to complete a web-based survey. Participants were primarily recruited through online forums sponsored by LGB-affirming organizations. Results indicated that higher expectations of rejection based on sexual identity, internalized homonegativity, and LGBbased victimization predicted greater reported physical symptoms severity (PSS). CSE fully mediated the relation between expectation of rejection and physical symptom severity and internalized homonegativity and PSS. CSE partially mediated the relation between victimization and PSS. The document proposed several clinical and systemic interventions that may benefit physical health in LGB individuals.

Ilgai trunkantis konfliktas tarp Izraelio ir kaimyninių arabų valstybių yra procesas, įtraukiantis vis naujus tarptautinius veikėjus, kurie mėgina pritaikyti įvairias strategijas ir metodus, galinčius nulemti šalių sutarimą tokiu būdu, kad jis būtų naudingas ne tik konfliktuojančioms šalims, bet ir tarptautiniu mastu, sukuriant taikią aplinką regione. Tarptautinis tarpininkavimas yra vienas iš dažniausiai naudojamų derybų metodų, kaip priemonė skirta spręsti tarptautinius konfliktus. Tačiau tai nėra vien tik empatija ir gerų norų grindžiamas procesas, tai iš esmės yra užsienio politikos instrumentas, naudojamas valstybių, norint pasiekti savo tikslų. Šiuo darbu mėginama analitiškai pažvelgti į tris realius tarpininkavimo atvejus Vidurio Rytų regione (Jungtinės Tautos, JAV Prezidentas J. Carteris, JAV kaip valstybė) ir pateikti jų išsamią analizę, remiantis tikrais įvykiais, oficialiais dokumentais ir įvairiomis monografijomis, kurios sudaro teorinį darbo pagrindą. Tokiu būdu atskleidžiama, kad tarpininkavimas visų pirma siejasi su trečiosios šalies intervencija į konfliktą, kai ši siekia palengvinti ar išspręsti nesutarimus derybų metu. Taip pat šiame darbe įrodoma, kad tarpininkavimas dar gali būti naudojamas kaip priemonė, skirta plėsti savo įtakos zonas. Pagrindinė darbo išvada - tokie veiksniai kaip konflikto šalys, jų tarpusavio santykiai, tarptautiniai veikėjai, suinteresuoti konfliktu, jų galios šaltiniai, bei tų šaltinių panaudojimo priemonės, konfliktuojančių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Conflict between Israel and its neighboring Arab states is the process of increasing involvement of new international actors who are trying to adapt different strategies and methods that might lead parties to the consensus, which would be useful not only for themselves but also to international politics, creating a peaceful environment for the region. International mediation is the method of negotiations that is one of the most commonly used means of international conflict resolution. However, it is important to highlight that there is no independent international mediation theory that can justify the behavior of actors in world politics so the main problem which enforced to make this study is the lack of integral international mediation theory and its analysis. Thus, the main objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of different mediation models and its efficiency regarding the mediation type and time perspectives. The following tasks were set to achieve the main objective of this study: • To discuss the aspects of the selection of effective solutions to conflict resolution; • Review the diversity of mediation factors; • Analyze the most important theoretical foundations of the international mediation studies, including the essential role of mediation and its types; • Find and assess the effectiveness concept of the international mediation; • Perform a comparative analysis of the types of international mediation; The study was to discuss three real... [to full text]

Šiame darbe nagrinėjamas civilinio proceso ir taikinamojo tarpininkavimo procedūros civiliniuose ginčuose santykis Lietuvoje. Pagrindinis dėmesys sutelkiamas į civilinio proceso ir taikinamojo tarpininkavimo tarpusavio santykio modelius tokius kaip: teisminio taikinamojo tarpininkavimo modelis, neteisminio taikinamojo tarpininkavimo modelis, nukreipiamojo taikinamojo tarpininkavimo modelis. Taip pat darbe lyginami civilinio proceso bei taikinamojo tarpininkavimo procedūros civiliniuose ginčuose pagrindiniai principai, ieškoma jų panašumų skirtumų, tiriama kaip principai lemia nagrinėjamų ginčų sprendimo procesų veikimą. Darbe taip pat siekiama nustatyti ar tam tikros ginčo savybės turi įtakos tam, kuris ginčo sprendimo būdas gali būti labiau tinkamas jo išsprendimui. / This thesis is analyzing relation between civil process and mediation in Lithuania. The main focus is on models of relation between civil process and mediation such as: in court mediation, out of court mediation, diverted mediation. The thesis also puts main principles of civil process and mediation in comparison, analyses similarities, differences and how the principles influence the way process works. Also this thesis researches if some particular forms of conflicts can be more suitable to specific dispute resolution methods.

Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a prevalent, refractory pelvic pain condition characterized by pain in the pelvic area and urinary frequency, largely unresponsive to medical interventions. This study used multiple mediations to test the associations of validated pain appraisal and behavioural coping strategies between pain and quality of life. Patients (N = 175) were recruited from tertiary care urology clinics and completed questionnaires. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted on four individual measures (Chronic Pain Coping Inventory, Survey of Pain Attitudes – Control subscale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Pain Catastrophizing Scale), then on the empirically derived factors that produced four factors to be used in regression and multiple mediation models: illness-focused behavioural coping, catastrophizing, wellness-focused behavioural coping, and depression. In regressions, CP/CPPS patient symptoms (p < .01), illness-focused behavioural coping (p < .01) and wellness-focused behavioural coping (p < .05) predicted physical quality of life, while catastrophizing (p < .01) and illness-focused behavioural coping (p < .05) predicted mental quality of life. Mediation analyses showed that illness-focused behavioural coping strategies partially mediated the relationship between pain and physical quality of life, whereas catastrophizing and illness-focused behavioural coping strategies both fully mediated the relationship between pain and mental quality of life. These results identify catastrophizing and illness-focused coping as key psychosocial targets for interventions for patient quality of life in CP/CPPS. / Thesis (Master, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-27 17:07:11.853

Education in South Africa plays an important role in the economy and in the future of the people of our country. There is a major shortage of suitably qualified teachers, not only in South Africa but worldwide. Other problems that exist within the teaching profession are teacher strikes, large number of learners in classes, violence, depression, anxiety, to name a few. Many teachers leave the profession as they are faced with all these different problems. It is therefore necessary to recruit and retain qualified teachers. Some teachers find pleasure from all these stressors and they can be described as engaged in their work. Hence, a shift towards a positive psychology mind-set is needed for teachers to stay in the teaching profession. Social support can be regarded as a positive mechanism between co-workers to show concern for each other's fee lings and to encourage good work performance. Social support is therefore a key factor in retaining teachers. The psychological conditions (psychological meaningfulness, psychological safety and psychological availability) are included in this study to examine how teachers experience themselves at the school and how psychological conditions influence their work engagement. The more social support colleagues receive, and the more engaged they are in their work, the more likely they are to stay in the profession. The general objective of this study was to investigate teachers' intention to stay in the teaching profession. A cross-sectional survey design was used in this study. A quantitative approach was followed by selecting a convenience sample of participants (N=233) in the Gauteng East di strict. The measuring instruments that were administered include the Work Experiences Scale and the Work Engagement Scale (May, Gilson & Harter, 2004), and the Intention to Stay Scale (Mayfield & Mayfield, 2007). The statistical analysis was carried out by using the SPSS programme (SPSS, 2009). Statistically significant relationships were found between social support, psychological conditions, work engagement and intention to stay. The results confirmed that social support and work engagement were significant predictors of intention to stay. The relationship between social support and work engagement was mediated by psychological conditions. Some of the recommendations include that schools should implement formal or informal support groups to maintain productivity as well as to create an environment that is safe. These support groups will make teachers more available to each other in order to discuss different challenges and initiatives. Regarding the recommendations for future research it came about that qualitative research would show the potential to identify vital factors that have not been recognised by this study where only certain questionnaires were used to find data amongst teachers. To conclude, this study suggests that social support and work engagement are vital constructs to consider when conducting research on the intention to stay of employees, and that psychological conditions plays a role in the relationship between social support and work engagement. Therefore, these dimensions also seem to have an influence on teachers' work and their intention to stay in the teaching profession. / M.Com, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

This study was undertaken in an attempt to determine the degree to which second year Mathematics education students consider critical thinking dispositions and attitudes to be important and to develop a curriculum-based mediational approach based on the data, to encourage the critical thinking dispositions and attitudes that appeared to be in need of encouragement. A literature study was undertaken to determine the positive critical thinking dispositions and attitudes students should possess. In addition it was also determined which teaching learning approaches will benefit the development of critical thinking dispositions and attitudes the most. The advantages as well as the processes and components that should form part of the mediational approach for the development of critical thinking dispositions were examined. A two-phase, sequential, explanatory mixed method study was subsequently undertaken with second-year Mathematics students at a South African university. The quantitative study made use of a self-developed questionnaire to determine the degree to which students consider critical thinking dispositions and attitudes important. Data emanating from the questionnaires were analysed and questions that had to be answered in narrative format were set for each student according to their own responses on the questionnaire. Narratives formed part of the qualitative component of the study in which students had to indicate factors that influence their critical thinking dispositions and attitudes, what could be done to improve the apparent unimportant critical thinking dispositions and attitudes and whether they regard the critical thinking dispositions and attitudes as important. Narratives were analysed and the results were used to explain the quantitative data. Results revealed that second year Mathematics education students do not consider critical thinking dispositions and attitudes, in particular inquisitiveness but also judiciousness, open-mindedness, systematicity, truth-seeking, analyticity and confidence in critical thinking to be very important and therefore these critical thinking dispositions and attitudes appeared to require encouragement. A curriculum-based mediational approach based on a section in the existing Mathematics module for second year education students was developed in order to encourage critical thinking dispositions in Mathematics. The study concluded with recommendations to encourage critical thinking dispositions and attitudes as well as proposals for future studies. / PhD, Education, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

Language is the most common and crucial element newspapers apply to express meaning. Language is a system of linguistic signs combined by rules to create meaning. Newspapers use language, among other or sign systems (e.g. photographs, graphics, content and layout) to communicate. These systems support each other and perform as a unit to reflect a newspaper's character and function. South Africa has a diversity in language, culture, background and literacy levels and the media's target audiences differ significantly. The ways in which these systems are thus applied, diverge to satisfy the various needs of audiences. These needs include being informed, entertained, aesthetically pleased, emotionally involved and mobilized (persuaded). Audiences also seek a reflection of their values, views and cultures in the media. / Thesis (M.A. (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

This thesis presents a narrative-based Requirements Engineering (RE) mediation model (NREMM) to help RE practitioners to effectively identify, define, and resolve conflicts of interests, goals, and requirements in the RE process. Conflict has received increasing attention in the Software Engineering (SE) literature. However, in the current RE literature, conflict has received fairly superficial attention. Previous research views conflict as an issue causing &quot;inconsistency&quot; in a requirements specification. As a result, current research has proposed a wide range of inconsistency checking and modelling tools, which address the result of conflict rather than fundamental causes and roots of the conflict. Little attention is given to the socio-psychological aspect of conflict. Furthermore, previous work views the resolution of conflict in RE as a negotiation-based process, in which a requirements engineer acts as a representative of a developer site and negotiates with users. This thesis differentiates itself from previous work by recognising conflict is more than an issue of inconsistency. This thesis argues that conflict is a social and organisational phenomenon. This thesis also argues that the process of resolving conflict in RE can be viewed as a socially mediated process, in which a requirements engineer can act as a mediator rather than a representative of the developer/user site. The fundamental difference between negotiation and mediation is that, negotiations often only involve parties themselves reaching an agreement. Mediation then involves a mediator to lead the process and help parties to reach an agreement. However, there is a distinct gap in the RE literature, in which the role of a requirements engineer as a mediator has not been explicitly explored. To address the socio-psychological aspect of conflict, Wins lade and Monk (2000)'s narrative mediation model is introduced, justified and translated into the context of RE by following a systematic and transparent methodological approach. This leads to a new RE specialised mediation model (NREMM), which includes three phases: conflict identification, conflict definition and conflict resolution. The new model aims to be not only theoretically robust but also practically useful. It builds on the storytelling metaphor advocated by narrative mediation theory and also integrates well-established and practical RE specialised techniques. The NREMM was empirically assessed and evaluated. I used an expert panel interview survey to empirically assess whether the NREMM is theoretically robust. The experts' feedback indicated that the NREMM is capable of helping RE practitioners to resolve conflict in the RE process. The experts also indicated that the use of story-telling as a theoretical underpinning is a strength, and matches well with current state of the RE practice. I also used a quasi-experiment to empirically evaluate whether the NREMM is practically useful in a simplified real-world scenario (University of Hertfordshire's StudyNet) by using real users of a real system. The experimental results indicated that the NREMM is a useful model to help RE practitioners to identify, define and resolve conflict in practice. This is evidenced by significantly higher satisfaction results and a better perception of the mediator's performance obtained from workshops where the mediator implemented the NREMM. The key contribution of this thesis is the NREMM, which is a useful model to not only help RE practitioners resolve conflicts among different stakeholders but also improve stakeholders' cooperativeness and satisfaction.