Zugl.: Konstanz, Univ., Diss., 2008

Thesis (M.E.S)--York University, 1998. Graduate Programme in Enironmental Studies. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL:http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ27352.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

In Hong Kong, there are so many different types of community disputes relate to housing management. Sometimes the complaints could be as trivial as casing nuisance to the premises nearby or serious as breach of covenant or legislation. Since dispute may easily rise between owners in the multi-storey building, especially in the high density of living environment in Hong Kong, dispute resolution becomes a “day-to-day” work of housing managers. However, housing managers should not only aim to resolve the dispute effectively, but also to keep maintaining the long-term relationship between the residents and the housing managers themselves, where good and long-term relationship between the disputing parties is one of the important tasks for mediators. Thus, there is a prima facie interrelated relationship between mediation and housing management, and this relationship is relatively important. Through empirical study, literature review and in-depth interviews, this dissertation has evaluated the applicability of mediation concepts and skills to housing management by comparing their similarities and dissimilarities. The findings suggested that the objectives of dispute resolution for housing managers and mediators are similar, however, the ultimate goals, approaches or skills are not the same. During the study on the applicability of mediation concepts and skills to housing management, we found that some legal and practical constraints could apply most of the key mediation concepts. For example, the doctrine of confidentiality is found as inapplicable to housing management during the dispute resolution process. The mediation concepts are therefore considered not applicable to housing management. Nevertheless, the skills possessed by the mediators, especially the communication skills and negotiation skills are considered applicable to housing management in the course of dispute resolution. To achieve the best outcome of dispute resolution, housing managers should act as conciliator as what they are doing but the improvements on communication and negotiation skills are required. Therefore, recommendations are made to the management companies, academic institutions and trade institutes for provision of relevant trainings to the practitioners in order to resolve the disputes in the estates effectively, so that the goal of improving the living conditions in order to turn house into home can be achieved and the harmony between neighbourhoods can be maintained. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

Handling of clustered or nested data structures requires the use of multilevel modeling techniques. One such multilevel modeling technique is multilevel structural equation modeling (MLSEM). While estimation of indirect effect parameters and standard errors based on the conventional multilevel model (MMM) has been assessed, this is not the case for the use of the MLSEM model for estimating indirect effects. This simulation study was designed to investigate the use of the MLSEM for estimating mediated effects for the “upper-level” mediation model as compared with the MMM. The following conditions were manipulated: number of clusters (G), within-cluster sample size (nj ), intra-class correlation, measurement error in the mediator, and the true value of the mediated effect derived from various patterns of true values for a and b. The generating model entailed an upper-level mediation model for a cluster-randomized trial that included a dichotomous level two independent variable, a cluster-level latent mediator and an individual-level latent dependent variable both with four indicators. Relative parameter and standard error bias, obtained using the MLSEM and the MMM were evaluated and compared. Percent coverage was calculated and compared when PRODCLIN was used to calculate the confidence interval estimates of the ab effect. Finally, Type I error rates for conditions when ab = 0 were assessed and compared. In addition, statistical power for detecting a truly non-zero mediated effect was tallied and compared across models. Results showed that use of the MMM provided inaccurate and misleading parameter and standard error estimates for the estimates of the mediated effect, especially when the true values of a, b and ab were not zero and the measurement error for M was large. However, the MLSEM estimates were also unacceptable in some of the conditions with small values for G and nj. Researchers are encouraged to use the MLSEM for assessing the multilevel mediated effects when either or both paths a and b are expected to be non-zero, if G is at least 40 and nj is also greater than 40. Results are presented and discussed along with implications for applied researchers intending to assess mediated effect with clustered data. / text

Mediational analysis quantifies proposed causal mechanisms through which treatments act on outcomes. In the presence of clustered data, conventional multiple regression mediational methods break down, requiring the use of hierarchical linear modeling techniques. As an additional consideration, nonlinear relationships in multilevel mediation models require unique specifications that are ignored if modeled linearly. Improper specification of nonlinear relationships can lead to a consistently overestimated mediated effect. This has direct implications for inferences regarding intervention causality and efficacy. The current investigation proposes a nonlinear multilevel mediation model to account for nonlinear relationships in clustered data. A simulation study is proposed to compare the statistical performance of the proposed nonlinear multilevel mediation model with that of conventional methods. / text

Thesis (Ph. D.)--George Mason University, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Jan. 18, 2008). Thesis director: Daniel Druckman Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Vita: p. 242. Includes bibliographical references (p. 231-241). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--George Mason University, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Jan. 21, 2008). Thesis director: Agnieszka Paczynska Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Vita: p. 375. Includes bibliographical references (p. 350-374). Also available in print.

Zugl.: Hagen, FernUniversity, Masterarbeit.

Zugl.: Konstanz, Univ., Diss., 2006