This study endeavoured to uncover the trust experiences of individuals involved in business alliances between traditional companies (TCs) and historically disadvantaged institutions (HDIs) with a view to constructing a model that would facilitate a better understanding of organisational trust within these institutions. The theoretical study proposed a theoretical model of trust in the alliances between TCs and HDIs within an economic empowerment domain. The empirical study employed Q methodology to investigate the trust experiences of the participants. The 25 individuals who participated in the study were selected by means of both non-probability purposive and snowball sampling The participants were presented with the Q sample containing 50 items which they had to sort in accordance with the instruction given. The post-Q sorting interview was conducted to give the participants a chance to expound on their reasoning for the sorting of the Q sample. Data were analysed using Pearson product-moment correlation and factor analysis. Six factors revealed participants’ experiences of trust in the alliances: Factor A (Sincerity trust alliances), Factor B (Values trust alliances), Factor C (Duped trust alliances), Factor D (Vigilant trust alliances), Factor E (Deceitful trust alliances) and Factor F (Inclination to trust alliances). The trust experiences of the six groups were used to theorise about the association between the participants’ trust experiences and their performance on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). In the main, the study found that groups that had pleasant trust experiences with their partner organisations exhibited have high positive affect (PA) and low negative affect (NA). Although exploratory in nature, the study contributed an empirically derived theoretical framework of cognitive and affective trust within business alliances that may be further investigated in future research endeavours. In this was it identified and proposed a modus operandi for closing the trust gap. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The main goal of this study is to investigate and analyze the cognition of pre-service teachers and also of the teacher researcher of this study about the use and possible contributions of drama workshop to the teaching and learning process and to the education of English language teachers. I understand that by analyzing the points of view and opinions of those involved, I can get a better understanding of the teaching and learning process and of the education of pre-service teachers. In a qualitative approach, four different tools were used: focus groups, "Q" Distribution (Q Methodology), reflective sessions and questionnaire. The focus group was used as a secondary instrument to collect data for further development of the Q sample, which is the primary tool in the use of the Q methodology research approach. This Q sample was used in the Q Distribution of pre-service teachers of the third term of a Letras course of a private institution of a higher education Institute in Alto Paranaíba. These participants distributed the sample items throughout a scale ranging from "more likely my point of view" (+5) to "least likely my point of view" (-5) and the results were initially submitted to a factor analysis via a statistical package called PQmethod. From the triangulation of data obtained through the above mentioned instruments and through the qualitative and interpretive analysis, the groups that emerged from the factor analysis were defined, characterized and interpreted by the teacher researcher. The participants share points of view in the perspective of Language Learners (group A), Language Teachers (groups B and C) and Critics (group D). The teacher researcher was also investigated and revealed her cognitions in line with the Language Learners and with the Language Teachers, which may indicate a perspective tending towards the dichotomy: linguistic development and professional education in Letras Course. / O principal objetivo deste estudo é levantar e analisar as cognições dos professores pré-serviço e da professora-pesquisadora deste estudo sobre o uso e possíveis contribuições das Oficinas de Teatro no processo de ensino e aprendizagem e na formação de professores de Língua Inglesa. Entendo que, por meio da análise das visões e pontos de vista dos envolvidos, posso obter uma melhor compreensão do processo de ensino e aprendizagem e da formação dos professores pré-serviço. Em uma abordagem qualitativa, quatro ferramentas distintas foram utilizadas: grupos focais, distribuição Q (Metodologia Q), sessões reflexivas e questionário. O grupo focal foi aplicado como instrumento secundário na coleta de dados para posterior elaboração da amostra Q, a qual constitui instrumento primário no uso da Metodologia Q de pesquisa. Essa amostra Q foi utilizada na distribuição Q pelos professores pré-serviço do III período de Letras de uma instituição particular de ensino superior do Alto Paranaíba. Esses participantes distribuíram os itens da amostra ao longo de uma escala, variando de mais semelhante ao meu ponto de vista (+5) a menos semelhante ao meu ponto de vista (-5) e os resultados foram submetidos, inicialmente, a uma análise fatorial por meio de um pacote estatístico denominado PQmethod. A partir da triangulação dos dados obtidos por meio dos instrumentos supracitados e da análise qualitativa e interpretativista, os grupos que emergiram da análise fatorial foram definidos, caracterizados e interpretados pela professora-pesquisadora. Os participantes compartilham pontos de vista na perspectiva de Aprendizes de língua (grupo A), Professores de língua (grupos B e C) e de Críticos (grupo D). A professora-pesquisadora também foi investigada e revelou suas cognições em consonância com os Aprendizes de língua e com Professores de língua, o que pode significar uma postura enraizada na dicotomia: desenvolvimento linguístico e formação profissional presentes nos cursos de Letras. / Mestre em Estudos Linguísticos

Orientador: Linda Gentry El-Dash / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Estudos da Linguagem / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-25T20:12:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CastellanosTrujillo_JaimeAlexander_M.pdf: 1186244 bytes, checksum: b1ab38fb96d6b88868141e755da530e1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Este trabalho apresenta uma investigação acerca das opiniões de alunos brasileiros, adultos, profissionais, que fazem aula particular de inglês sobre o que os motiva a aprender a língua inglesa como LE. Apresentamos inicialmente a trajetória da pesquisa, seguida de uma revisão teórico-metodológica. Valemos-nos da Metodologia "Q", que usa instrumentos de pesquisa de cunho qualitativo e quantitativo, realizando três grupos focais e seis entrevistas individuais, com alunos adultos profissionais que fazem aula particular de inglês na cidade de Campinas, SP. Da discussão de tais grupos focais e da literatura relacionados a esta área de pesquisa obtivemos 183 opiniões (assertivas), das quais selecionamos 52, que conformaram a nossa Amostra "Q". Posteriormente, 29 alunos participaram da Distribuição "Q", comunicando seu grau de concordância e/ou discordância com as assertivas, através da hierarquização das mesmas no programa FLASHQ Offline v.1.0. Uma vez feito isto, fizemos uma análise estatística e fatorial, usando o software PQ Method v.2.3.1, que gerou quatro perfis altamente correlacionados; no entanto, cada um deles com um foco diferente e, em consequência, motivado por diferentes aspectos. Os resultados mostram que os doze alunos do perfil 1, focados no conteúdo linguístico, valorizam o conteúdo das aulas, a leitura e a reescrita, mas especialmente a precisão. Sentem-se motivados para continuar com o seu aprendizado uma vez que conseguem se expressar apropriadamente. Os cinco alunos do perfil 2, focados nas dificuldades do aprendizado, reconhecem a importância de produzir e usar a LE corretamente, mas percebem muitos problemas para fazê-lo e, com frequência, sentem-se frustrados porque usualmente não o conseguem, mostrando-se inseguros para produzir na LE. Os quatro alunos do perfil 3, focados no uso da LE, veem-na como uma ferramenta que deve ser usada, seja para a obtenção de um emprego melhor ou para comunicação de ideias no mundo real; porém, não se preocupam com a precisão. Finalmente, os quatro alunos do perfil 4, focados nas condições de aprendizado, centralizam sua atenção em um ambiente agradável, livre de pressões, que ofereça atividades e dinâmicas relevantes para a sua vida / Abstract: This study, situated within the field of applied linguistics, presents our investigation of some professional, adult, Brazilian learners¿ who study English, about what motivates them to learn English as a foreign language. We present first the development of our research, followed by a theoretical and methodological review. We use Q methodology, which uses both qualitative and quantitative research tools. We conducted three focus groups and six individual interviews with professional adult learners who have private English lessons in Campinas, SP. We gathered a total of 183 statements (opinions) out of such focus groups as well as the literature, from which we selected 52 to form the Q Sample. Then, 29 students were invited to take part of the Q distribution, by showing their level of agreement and/or disagreement to the statements using the software FLASHQ Offline v.1.0. After that, the results were submitted to factor analysis through the software PQ Method v.2.3.1, which generated 4 different factors highly correlated, each one of them with a different focus, though, and, consequently, driven by different aspects. We found that the twelve learners who belong to factor 1, focused on linguistic content, value greatly the grammar contents, as well as reading and rewriting, but above all accuracy. They feel motivated to continue to learn the language once they can convey appropriately. We also noticed that although the five learners who belong to factor 2, focused on learning difficulties, recognize the importance of producing and using the L2 adequately, they perceive many problems to do so and, frequently, feel frustrated since they usually can't do it, showing themselves quite self-doubting to produce the L2. On the other hand, the four learners who belong to factor 3, focused on L2 use, see the language as a tool that must be used, either to obtain a better job or to communicate their ideas in their real world; they don't seem to care about accuracy, however. Finally the four learners who belong to factor 4, focused on learning conditions, value a pleasant environment, with no pressure that offers tasks which are relevant for their lives / Mestrado / Linguagem e Educação / Mestre em Linguística Aplicada

This study explored parent perspectives about their participation in a federal TRIO pre-college program. Specifically, parents were asked to identify the program elements that encouraged and supported their participation in the college-going process of their child in a TRIO pre-college program. Forty parents of low-income, first generation TRIO students were purposefully selected for this study because they had participated in the parent component and because their child had enrolled in college within a year of high school graduation. Q methodology was used for this study because it is designed to address the subjective first person viewpoint. In this Q study, the forty parents were asked to sort 33 value statements according to what was most like their perspective and least like their perspective, with regard to the program elements that encouraged and supported their participation. The 33 statements were derived from the current research on parental involvement and a parent survey to produce the Q-sort. Parents were also asked to explain why they sorted the statements holding the highest and lowest positions, as they did. Subsequently, the parents identified five particular program elements that encouraged and supported their involvement in the college-going process. These factors were named: (a) A sense of community ”village”, (b) A sense of shared accountability and increased parental self-efficacy (c) A sense of the parent and student increasing social capital, (d) A sense of program relevance and (e) A sense of having highly committed program staff. The research findings have implications for program development, program practices, and staff training. Recommendations for future research have been included.

This Q methodology study focused on the perspectives of diverse community leaders concerning how their perceptions of leadership behaviors and practices were used to influence K-12 public education. The leaders’ perspectives were identified, described, analyzed, and compared with others who shared similar views through the use of Q methodology. Through purposeful and snowball sampling, a diverse group of community leader participants first responded to an open-ended questionnaire, inviting them to provide the leadership behaviors and practices they use to influence K-12 public education. This process of concourse development resulted in a total of 263 statements. These statements were then systematically reduced to 42 statements to be used in the Q sample, or research instrument. The Q sample represented the broad perspectives of the opinion domain and specifically addressed the content of the research question: How do community leaders perceive that their leadership behaviors and practices are used to influence K-12 public education? In the second stage of this Q methodology study, 45 community leader participants sorted these 42 statements to best reflect how they believed they most influenced public education. Following each sort, participants provided a rationale for their ± 4 statements which were used to further inform the data interpretation. These 45 Q sorts were then correlated to one another, and these intercorrelations were factor analyzed. Four factors were then rotated and extracted for this study. These four factors were analyzed abductively through examining the holistic placement of statements within their respective factor arrays, the descriptive comments provided following the Q sorts, and the demographic characteristics of the participants who comprised each factor. As a result of this analysis, the four factors were named: (a) Voice the Story and the Needs of My Underserved Community, (b) Provide Resources, Advocacy, and Grassroots Mobility, (c) Learn About Educational Issues to Lobby and to Serve, and (d) Build Supportive and Personal Relationships with Key School Stakeholders to Stay Informed.

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This study identifies, tests and modifies factors for effective corporate online communication using a marketing public relations (MPR) perspective. An MPR perspective entails an integrated cross-disciplinary approach with a strong product and/or service focus. The need for the study is underscored by the fact that there is undoubtedly a lack of a theoretical framework in which to practise corporate online communication in the context of selling the organisation's products or services. In order to test the identified factors for effective corporate online communication, namely credibility, trust and long-term relationships, this study uses Q methodology as a research method and applies Q sorting as a means of data collection. Participants are asked to sort statements about corporate online communication in their preferred order of importance on a large board in the presence of the researcher. This is known as the Q sorting process. The identified factors are tested among 20 communicators and 20 receivers of corporate online communication. The participants' sortings of statements are compared by means of Q factor analysis and then analysed. The results of the study indicate that only one factor is perceived as an absolute significant factor for effective corporate online communication and that two of the factors necessitate modification. Consequently, based on the results, four factors are identified for effective corporate online communication, using an MPR perspective. These four factors are derived from the perspectives of both the communicators and receivers of corporate online communication and are included in a proposed theoretical framework of corporate online communication using an MPR perspective. / Communication / D. Litt et Phil.