The role of social support in the lives of the 16.8 million caregivers for children with special needs in the U.S. is not adequately understood. Many studies have explored seeking health information online, but failed to consider information exchanged through social networks (i.e., family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc.). Caregivers of children with special needs spend on average 30 hours per week providing such care. The burden of caregiving can negatively affect caregivers physically, mentally and emotionally, socially, and financially. Social support is one potential mediator for the effects of caregiver burden. The objective of this study was to explore the flow of four dimensions of social support within the social networks of maternal caregivers for children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A convenience sample was gathered via electronic distribution lists for Indiana parents of children with special needs. Participants could elect to complete a face-to-face interview or an anonymous online survey. The typical participant was Caucasian, married, college-educated, and located in Central Indiana. Respondent social networks are composed of multiplex relations, indicating strong ties. Significant correlations were found for participant age, child age, and the age of diagnosis, and network members for various networks. Specifically, a later age of child diagnosis is associated with fewer network members for the caregiver. Correlational analyses between dimensions of social support and network characteristics suggest options for further study. Overall, the results of this exploratory study are inconclusive, but can provide direction for future research.

Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2002. / The aim of this study was to determine the information needs and uses of the informal sector in Uganda. For this purpose, it was necessary to review literature on the informal sector and to provide an overview of the information systems and services in the country. The demographic, business and cultural characteristics of the informal sector have also been established in order to identify the information needs of the informal sector and to explore the ways in which entrepreneurs seek information and the sources that they use to access such information. The study furthermore explored the uses to which information is put and the impact that it has on the sector. In addition to this, the study identified factors that affect access to information as well as shortcomings in the information services and systems of Uganda. Solutions are suggested to fill gaps that are seen to be present in the system and, finally, an information model, which generates an agenda for further research, is proposed for the sector. The study made use of qualitative study design, the historical survey, observation, and the critical incident method to achieve its goals. The survey covered the populations residing in the various districts of Uganda, including entrepreneurs working in the informal sector. Samples were taken from six districts, of which twenty-eight persons formed the focal discussion group for the pilot district, while six-hundred-and-two entrepreneurs, twenty-three organisation representatives, and thirty-five informants represented the national population sample. Six research instruments were used in the study. The findings show that the informal sector in Uganda dates back to prehistoric times. Uganda's information systems and services vary greatly in that they range from indigenous information systems to the more formal kinds. Adults as well as children are employed in the sector and their income is generally low. While the entrepreneurs encountered in the study usually had a very basic educational background, there were also some well-educated people, including university graduates, working in the sector. Working hours were found to be flexible and depended on the type of activity that the entrepreneurs pursued. The activities of the sector were basically motivated by the need for personal survival, possible opportunities for further training, and the availability of market and specific skills. The study found that some 1,5 million people in the informal sector were employed by about 800,000 entrepreneurial business concerns spread throughout the rural and urban areas. Very little evidence of division of labour and organisation of production was found, while most of the businesses were found to be unregistered. Record keeping, however, was found to be prevalent among the businesses covered in the survey. Personal capital was mostly relied on for starting up the businesses, and products tended to be inferior. There was limited evidence to suggest that cultural beliefs had any influence on the sector's activities and/or performance. The information needs of the sector were found to be contextual. Entrepreneurs typically needed information with regard to the following areas of activity: training and skills, markets and marketing techniques, cheaper sources of raw materials/supplies, finance, tools and equipment, business management and development, information centres, knowledge of production processes, advocacy and lobbying skills, new areas of investment, record keeping, quality improvement and recognition by government. Methods of information seeking were largely found to be informal. The informal entrepreneurs made very little use of reading and libraries for accessing information, and informal sources were used more often than formal sources. However, the radio as a source of information found ubiquitous use among the entrepreneurs. It was found that information is used in marketing, the location of raw materials/supplies, pricing of products and services, improving skills, making decisions, becoming more enlightened, in order to promote self-reliance, and in understanding current affairs, including government regulations and how to deal with and relate to other people. The impact of information use was judged in terms of business improvement, improved coordination of workers and activities, the upgrading of skills and the creation of better opportunities, improved living standards, sales and increased profits, among others. Problems encountered among the informal business communities included the inability to obtain required information, lack of specific sources of information, high cost of information and the time factor involved in getting the required irrforrnation. Many entrepreneurs did not know what information facilities existed and were apathetic in this regard. It was furthermore found that language barriers and illiteracy impacted negatively on entrepreneurs in their efforts to obtain information. Entrepreneurs were furthermore found to have the habit of concealing information from one another. Problems encountered in the usage of information systems in Uganda included the following: limited use of the public library system by entrepreneurs, very few public libraries, the availability of irrelevant information in public libraries for entrepreneurs, lack of information centres for entrepreneurs, very low usage of associations for information, under-developed telecommunications infrastructure throughout the country, wrong timing of programmes on radio, low priority given to information in budgets, the publication of newspapers in a few local languages only, and poor marketing of information services. The study recommends that, in order to increase information availability to the informal sector, it is necessary to deal with the following problems: illiteracy, languages of packaging information, convenient timing of information distributed by means of radio broadcasts, redefining the role of the public library to society, increased research into the specific types of information needed by the entrepreneurs in their different trades. The study urges'government to establish an information centre for entrepreneurs and to increase publication of information in other local languages and other formats as a means of increasing channels of information dissemination. The Government is furthermore urged to work hand in hand with the private sector to increase programmes meant for the informal sector. Organisations owning radio programmes aimed at the sector are urged to plan convenient times for airing programmes for the benefit of the entrepreneurs. Individual entrepreneurs are urged to take information seriously and to use any means available to them to acquire information. Finally, the study shows that there is an urgent need for the establishment of a policy with regard to informal sector information systems and services, and that policy frameworks need to be developed for the information systems in the country. / Makerere University

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Library and Information Science) in the Department of Information Studies at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2013. / Agriculture is the dominant sector in Zimbabwe’s economy, contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and providing an income to over 75% of the population. Agricultural research and extension is undertaken in both public and private sector institutions across the five agro-ecological regions of the country. The aim of this study was to investigate the information needs and challenges of agricultural researchers and extension workers in the public sector in Zimbabwe. The government is responsible for agriculture in Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development (MoAMID). The study focused on researchers falling under the Department of Research and Specialist Services (DR&SS) and extension workers under the Department of Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX). The study utilized both quantitative and qualitative methods; a questionnaire was distributed to researchers and extension workers, and interviews were conducted with key informants and librarians. An observation schedule on the state of agricultural libraries in Zimbabwe was also used. The respondents were drawn from eight provinces and research institutes as defined in the target population. Mashonaland Central Province produced the highest number of respondents because the population for the province included ward and village extension workers in addition to the district and provincial extension officers and supervisors targeted in each province. Forty four (44) districts participated from the projected sixty (60), while sixteen (16) out of seventeen (17) research institutes responded, although there were variations in responses per institute. The findings of the study indicated that the respondents held qualifications ranging from certificates (for extension workers at ward level) to doctorates for senior researchers in their respective areas of work. The study also showed that the agricultural researchers were generally younger than extension workers, and on average the majority of both categories of respondents had less than 10 years working experience. The majority of the respondents also had less than five years working experience in their current positions. In terms of gender, there were more males than females in both categories of respondents. The study revealed that the information needs of the researchers and extension workers aligned with the major agricultural disciplines of crop science, animal science, agricultural engineering, although agricultural economics did not attract prominence. v The respondents were using various sources of information in fulfilling their information needs, ranging from libraries to internet sources (including databases and other electronic sources), consulting colleagues, workshops and seminars, and personal collections. The level of usage and preferences differed, but overall agricultural researchers showed a preference for electronic sources while extension workers preferred print sources. Departmental collections were especially prominent among the extension workers, and these were mentioned as their first point of call when they were in need of information. Library usage was low, and it was observed that the Ministry of Agriculture’s libraries were not adequately equipped to meet the information needs of the researchers and extension workers. The materials were dated, and the libraries had no budget for the acquisition of new resources. Internet access was limited to institutions with access to internet connections and requisite technologies like computers; the TEEAL database, for example, was only available on standalone access at the Central Library. The different available resources were considered to be important sources of agricultural information. The use of indigenous knowledge by both researchers and extension workers in agriculture was also evident in the study. The study revealed that agricultural research prioritisation was determined by the government, national needs, and the availability of funds in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including farmers. The research extension model that is used suggests a communication pattern where researchers reach the farmers through the extension system and also through direct contact with the farmers. The reverse – farmer to researcher - also shows communication in the opposite (upward) direction. Overall, the researchers and extension workers appear to play a pivotal role in disseminating agricultural information to the farmers. Various channels also appear to be used to communicate agricultural information, including the media, pamphlets and posters, and public gatherings like field days and agricultural shows. Lack of material in local languages was identified as a major challenge in the communication process, although some translation was being done. This challenge was exacerbated by the land reform programme, which has seen a massive increase in the number of people directly involved in farming. The Ministry of Agriculture was seen to lack a clear policy on the management of information generated by its departments, including research and extension. This was vi despite mention by the respondents that the information was adequately captured. The study showed that ICTs were used to generate information which was subsequently distributed as hard copies. The distribution of such material was hampered by lack of resources like printers and toners. ICTs such as the radio, television, the internet, databases, and telephones were also being used to disseminate agricultural information, although databases were hampered by the lack of computers. Mobile phones, although not readily available as office equipment, were highly utilised in the communication process. The study revealed that there is collaboration between agricultural researchers and extension workers and with other stakeholders at both local and international level in the areas of material production, research facilities, and training. Linkages were also evident with farmer organisations in the areas of funding, farm research, and materials production. The study concluded that funding was one of the main challenges facing research and extension in Zimbabwe, with donor funding having dried up in recent years. Although privatisation and charging for services have been considered as alternatives for income generation, they face criticism for discriminating against poor farmers. The study recommends that the Central Library should be empowered in terms of personnel and other resources in order to address the information needs of researchers and extension workers. It also recommends the strengthening of the delivery of research and extension services by capacitating research and extension institutions through adequate ICTs, funding and enhanced collaboration with relevant stakeholders among other issues. / University of Zululand

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Training Needs Analysis (TNA) is often considered the most important step among the stages in the training cycle and, therefore, should precede any training intervention. However, in spite of the importance of TNA, the literature contains little empirical work on the topic. This study investigates the current practice of TNA within the Abu Dhabi Police (ADP), in order to identify the different barriers to its effective implementation, and to develop a suitable framework that can not only be applied to the Abu Dhabi Police, but also has wide applicability to other public sector organisations. Four areas are examined, these being: current practices of TNA, training decisions, effectiveness of TNA, and the barriers to its implementation. The study adopts a phenomenological approach, using inductive qualitative data in the main. The research population is categorised into three groups: a) policy-makers, top management, and academics, b) trainers, and c) trainees. In total, 51 individuals from the ADP are interviewed. The results show that TNA in the ADP is generally conducted formally on a regular basis. To a certain extent, all the methods are in use by the ADP in identifying its training needs, and the overall perceptions of the respondents regarding TNA practices are high. However, the study has identified some barriers to the implementation of effective TNA practices in the ADP. It is to be noted here that lack of expertise of the trainers; nepotism, kinship and personal relations between the supervisors and the employees, disrupt the training selection process in the ADP. Based on the findings this study has suggested some recommendations. This study hopes to contribute to, and extend, the body of knowledge on TNA by developing a novel, holistic conceptual framework, which provides general guidelines for TNA practitioners in the public sector of the UAE to ensure the successful and effective implementation of TNA. Additionally, it will contribute to the body of knowledge of TNA in the Middle East generally, and TNA in the Middle Eastern public sector, being the first exploratory empirical study conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as far as the author believes.

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4 pp. / discontinued 3/4/11 / Carbohydrate is the main fuel for the body's muscles and brain. Adequate carbohydrate intake is important for supplying fuel in an athlete's diet.

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