Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Santa Cruz, 1998. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 336-343).

Thesis (Ph.D. (Public affairs))-University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes summary. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 383-404). Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Irvine--Social Ecology. / Abstract: leaves xii-xiv. Vita: leaf xi. Facsimile reproduction by Microfilm-xerography. Ann Arbor, Mich., University Microfilms International, 1979.-- 21 cm. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-162).

Thesis (M.A.)--Georgia State University, 2005. / Kathryn A. Kozaitis, committee chair; Susan McCombie, Emanuela Guano, committee members. Electronic text (141 p. : col. ill.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed July 10, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 94-98).

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Communication and Culture. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-106). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url%5Fver=Z39.88-2004&res%5Fdat=xri:pqdiss &rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR11924

Globalization has increased the interconnectivity in all aspect of life worldwide. The role of local state and local politics are questioned due to the increasing influences of variety of global forces. Social policies have been passed from place to place through different networks and actors. Policy transfer is one of the concepts used to study this complicated social reality by scholars from different disciplines. Existing researches of policy transfer tend to focus on state actors and international organizations. However, some scholars call for attention to local forces including action of the non-state actors that influence the policy transfer process in the bottom level. It is argued that researches should problematize actions that different actors adopted to compete for alternative policy meaning. Moreover, existing researches tend to focus on successful cases of policy transfer. There is lack of comparison of factors that facilitate or constraint non-state actors to transfer foreign policy ideas. The aim of this thesis is to contribute to the discussion of policy transfer by the exploration on the various actions of non-state from the local NGOs, to transfer foreign policy ideas to compete for alternative policy meaning. In Hong Kong, committing to policy advocacy is a convention of the field of community social workers. Introduction of foreign policy ideas is one of the ways that social workers adopted to challenge existing policy. However, the neoliberal restructuring of welfare services had limited capacity for policy advocacy. This contradictory situation is met by community social workers who are involved in the policy process of urban regeneration. Community social workers have been traditionally assigned by the government to serve neighborhood affected by urban regeneration. It is found that they do not only advocate for policy changes, but also strengthen the policy ideas promoted by the government. Comparison of different actions of them can demonstrate factors that influence whether the non-state actors of local NGOs to transfer foreign policy ideas to compete for alternative policy meaning. This research is designed as a qualitative research. With the use of the Agency, Structure, Institution, and Discourse Approach, semi-structured interviews with 21 community social workers and key informants sampled by theory-guided sampling, secondary data analysis of 678 official documents, and participant observation to a major advocacy coalition were conducted. Data were coded and analyzed by using the qualitative data analysis software program-MAXQDA. Through initial coding, focused coding and theoretical coding, 27 and 7 codes and 6 themes were generated. This research suggests that action by non-state actors of local NGOs is a way of policy transfer. Comparison of the various actions between them can illustrate the dynamic of complicated meaning making process of policy transfer. It demonstrates different kinds of institutions may have different impact to the actors. They may facilitate the actors to compete for alternative policy meaning by the transfer of policy ideas, or constraint them to follow the dominant policy ideas.

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No description available.

The purpose of this study was to analyze, present and interpret data that have implications for policy making in the evaluation of vocational education in North Carolina. Existing follow-up study databases were merged for the 1985-86 community college and secondary school systems. Characteristics of completers and the relationship of outcome and demographic variables to levels of preparation were analyzed. The degree of similarities and differences in programs was determined through document analysis of curriculum guides and policy manuals. Findings suggested that completers from selected vocational programs exhibited similar characteristics in demographics, motivation, educational and employment variables. Age was the major difference found in completer characteristics. The analysis of program content from selected programs revealed striking similarities. Industry/trades programs were found to exhibit more similarities between levels than business programs. Several of the six programs were similar in content, instructional hours, and job preparation between levels. Both levels emphasized employability and the development of occupationally specific skills. Levels of preparation were associated with several outcome and demographic variables. Gender, reasons for entering, employment status and completer satisfaction were found to be associated with levels of preparation. Conclusions led to the recommendation that articulation policies within North Carolina need to be evaluated to reduce unnecessary duplication. Better efforts at counseling students into vocational programs as well as assessment of local labor market needs are necessary. Clarification of the purpose of vocational education within program categories was recommended. Future research comparing characteristics of students and program similarities on a national basis was recommended. The importance of follow-up studies in research related to vocational education was recognized during the course of the study. Educational systems should conduct their follow-up studies with this fact in mind. / Ed. D.

Qin, Shuang. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese.