Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) has become an integral part of the software supply chain in the past decade. Various entities (automated tools and humans) are involved at different stages of the software supply chain. Some actions that occur in the chain may result in vulnerabilities or malicious code injected in a published artifact distributed in a package repository. At the end of the software supply chain, developers or end-users may consume the resulting artifacts altered in transit, including benign and malicious injection. This dissertation starts from the first link in the software supply chain, ‘developers’. Since many developers do not update their vulnerable software libraries, thus exposing the user of their code to security risks. To understand how they choose, manage and update the libraries, packages, and other Open-Source Software (OSS) that become the building blocks of companies’ completed products consumed by end-users, twenty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with developers of both large and small-medium enterprises in nine countries. All interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed according to applied thematic analysis. Although there are many observations about developers’ attitudes on selecting dependencies for their projects, additional quantitative work is needed to validate whether behavior matches or whether there is a gap. Therefore, we provide an extensive empirical analysis of twelve quality and popularity factors that should explain the corresponding popularity (adoption) of PyPI packages was conducted using our tool called py2src. At the end of the software supply chain, software libraries (or packages) are usually downloaded directly from the package registries via package dependency management systems under the comfortable assumption that no discrepancies are introduced in the last mile between the source code and their respective packages. However, such discrepancies might be introduced by manual or automated build tools (e.g., metadata, Python bytecode files) or for evil purposes (malicious code injects). To identify differences between the published Python packages in PyPI and the source code stored on Github, we developed a new approach called LastPyMile . Our approach has been shown to be promising to integrate within the current package dependency management systems or company workflow for vetting packages at a minimal cost. With the ever-increasing numbers of software bugs and security vulnerabilities, the burden of secure software supply chain management on developers and project owners increases. Although automated program repair approaches promise to reduce the burden of bug-fixing tasks by suggesting likely correct patches for software bugs, little is known about the practical aspects of using APR tools, such as how long one should wait for a tool to generate a bug fix. To provide a realistic evaluation of five state-of-the-art APR tools, 221 bugs from 44 open-source Java projects were run within a reasonable developers’ time and effort.

The intent of this thesis is to research the anti-terror legislation of 15 countries and the history of terrorist incidents within those countries. Both the anti-terror legislation and the history of terrorist incidents will be researched within the time period of 1980 to 2009, a 30 year span. This thesis will seek to establish a relationship between the occurrence of terrorist events and when states change their anti-terror legislation. Legislation enacted can vary greatly. Common changes in legislation seek to undercut the financing of terrorist organizations, criminalize behaviors, or empower state surveillance capabilities. A quantitative analysis will be performed to establish a relationship between terrorist attacks and legislative changes. A qualitative discussion will follow to analyze specific anti-terror legislation passed by states in response to terrorist events.

At some point during a creative action something clicks, suddenly the prospective problem solver just knows the solution to a problem, and a feeling of joy and relief arises. This phenomenon, called Eureka experience, insight, Aha moment, hunch, epiphany, illumination, or serendipity, has been part of human narrations for thousands of years. It is the moment of a subjective experience, a surprising, and sometimes a life-changing event. In this thesis, I narrow down this moment 1. conceptually, 2. experientially, and 3. temporally. The concept of emerging solutions has a multidisciplinary background in Cognitive Science, Arts, Design, and Engineering. Through the discussion of previous terminology and comparative reviews of historical literature, I identify sources of ambiguity surrounding this phenomenon and suggest unifying terms as the basis for interdisciplinary exploration. Tracking the experience based on qualitative data from 11 creative practitioners, I identify conflicting aspects of existing models of creative production. To bridge this theoretical and disciplinary divide between iterative design thinking and sequential models of creativity, I suggest a novel multi-layered model. Empirical support for this proposal comes from Dira, a computer-based open-ended experimental paradigm. As part of this thesis I developed the task and 40 unique sets of stimuli and response items to collect dynamic measures of the creative process and evade known problems of insightful tasks. Using Dira, I identify the moment when solutions emerge from the number and duration of mouse-interactions with the on-screen elements and the 124 participants' self-reports. I provide an argument for the multi-layered model to explain a discrepancy between the timing observed in Dira and existing sequential models. Furthermore, I suggest that Eureka moments can be assessed on more than a dichotomous scale, as the empirical data from interviews and Dira demonstrates for this rich human experience. I conclude that the research on insight benefits from an interdisciplinary approach and suggest Dira as an instrument for future studies.

O sistema de pagamento por serviços ambientais de uma bacia hidrográfica pode ser economicamente atrativo e ecologicamente importante. Programas como o Produtor de Água compensam economicamente proprietários a montante da bacia que utilizam de manejo adequado do uso do solo, e do reflorestamento, para evitar a erosão hídrica, o aumento de cargas poluidoras difusas, e aumentar a disponibilidade e qualidade de água. Por conseqüência usuários de água, a jusante da bacia, são beneficiados, por exemplo, as estações de tratamento de água. Este trabalho tem como objetivo, a partir de metodologias de pagamentos de serviços ambientais, regionalizar hidrologicamente a quantidade e qualidade de água do rio Benevente para dar subsídios ao programa de produtores de água de sua bacia hidrográfica. O trabalho foi desenvolvido na parte média e alta da bacia hidrográfica do Benevente, localizada ao sul do Estado do Espírito Santo, com área de drenagem de aproximadamente 1260 \'KM POT.2\'. Á área de drenagem do local do estudo é de 825,24 \'KM POT.2\'. Parte da metodologia consistiu no levantamento de dados quantitativos e qualitativos de água ao longo do rio Benevente, nos últimos anos. De posse dos dados de vazão, concentração de SST e da área de drenagem, foram calculadas as cargas específicas difusas de SST, em termos de Kg/ha.ano e as cargas totais difusas em termos de ton/ano. A carga específica média de SST para a bacia foi de 194 Kg/ha.ano, a carga total média de SST foi de 11.238 ton/ano. A metodologia de regionalização hidrológica de cargas de SST por meio de curvas de permanência mostrou que há uma ampla variação de cargas produzidas na bacia sobre diferentes condições hidrológicas. Por exemplo, para uma faixa de permanências de 40% a 60% a variação de produção específica regional de SST foi de 58,54 a 825,14 Kg/ha.ano. A utilização da metodologia das curvas de permanência quali-quantitativas para a proposição de cenários ambientais em vista das mudanças de uso e ocupação do solo, propostos pelos programas de PSA, permitiu estimar o Percentual de Abatimento de Sedimentação (P.A.S) e consequentemente o Percentual de Abatimento de Erosão (P.A.E), na bacia. Encontrou-se um P.A.E de 36,9% entre o cenário atual e o cenário com amento de 20% da área florestal da bacia. Com este resultado estimou-se um total arrecadado na bacia pelo P.S.A de 825.195 R$/ano. Com as metodologias propostas também foi calculada a perda de solo atual da bacia, em relação à estação de amostragem mais a jusante. A taxa estimada foi de 200.123 ton/ano. / Systems of payment for environmental services of a catchment area can be economically attractive and ecologically important. Programs such as Producers of Water economically compensate owners upstream of the basin using the proper management of land use, and reforestation to prevent erosion, increased pollution loads diffuse and increase the availability and quality of water. Consequently water users downstream of the basin, are benefited, for example, sewage water treatment. This paper aims, methodologies from payments for environmental services, regionalization of hydrologically the quantity and quality of water from the river Benevente to aid the program producer of water from its watershed. The study was conducted in the middle and upper catchment of the Benevente, located south of Espírito Santo, with drainage area of approximately 1260 \'KM POT.2\'. The drainage area of the study is 825.24 \'KM POT.2\'. Part of the survey methodology consisted of qualitative and quantitative data of water along the river Benevente in recent years. With these data we calculated the diffuse specific loads of TSS, in terms of Kg/ha.year. The specific load average TSS for the basin was 194 Kg/ha.year, the total load average SST was 11,238 Ton/year. The methodology of regionalization of hydrological loads of TSS through curves of duration showed that there remain a wide range of loads in the basin produced on different hydrological conditions. For example, for a range of stays of 40% to 60% of the variation of specific regional production of TSS was 58.54 to 825.14 Kg/ha.year . Using the methodology of the curves remain qualitative and quantitative for the proposition environmental scenarios in view of land use change and land use, proposed by the PSA program, estimated the rate of reduction on Sedimentation (PAS) and consequently the rate Abatement of Erosion (PAE) in the basin. Found a PAE of 36.9% from the current scenario and the scenario with budget of 20% of the forest area of the basin. With this estimated result a total collected in the basin by the PSA for R$ 825,195/year. With the proposed methodology was also calculated the soil loss on the basin in relation to the sampling station further downstream. The rate was estimated at 200,123 ton/year.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:06:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5247.pdf: 4506683 bytes, checksum: c96faa985ac336ef47e06d250cb3dc14 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-09-25 / The distributed interactive simulations can be used to train human actions and behaviors in dangerous situations, which way reduce the risks to life and/or patrimony. As part of the training in virtual environments, is important that learners are assessed not only after exercise virtual training, but also during this period that there may be occasional interventions by the coach in the learning process. However, the development of training simulations is complex and not always the human evaluation, post and share in real time, is offered to the learner as a learning resource and training support as coach. A computer systemis being developed in the WINDIS Laboratory at UFSCar s Computer Department, to support the modeling, construction, execution, management and control of complex training simulations, using emergency preparedness and response as application areas. This work is part of that system and aims to create an individual and/or group performance evaluation sub system in distributed interactive simulations in order to better train apprentices in emergency management processes. It had been used theories, methods and best practices for evaluating human performance to create this sub system. During the preparation of simulations and human performance evaluations, it had been used preparedness and response to emergencies standards and protocols for conducting drills accordingly to São Paulo State, as well as the support of professional experts (São Carlos Fire Department). The modeling, simulations and ontologies used in this project were developed by the students in an integrated manner at WINDIS laboratory. As an individual part of this paper, it has been developed three modules that enable, respectively, the training assessments configuration, the monitoring and evaluation at runtime (with proper measurement for the proposed scenario, the instructor interaction in the simulation and analysis of competences Individual and team), and the analysis and after-action orientation. Two scenarios were developed a concept proof, one for fire department truck s control panel and other to conduct fire-fighting with indirect attack. / As simulações interativas distribuídas podem ser utilizadas para treinar ações e comportamentos humanos em situações de emergência, podendo reduzir os riscos à vida e/ou ao patrimônio. Como parte do treinamento em ambientes virtuais, é importante que os aprendizes sejam avaliados não só após os exercícios virtuais de treinamento, mas também durante este período para que possa haver intervenções pontuais do treinador no processo de aprendizagem. Entretanto, o desenvolvimento de simulações de treinamentos é complexo e nem sempre a avaliação humana, pós-ação e em tempo real, é oferecida ao aprendiz como recurso de aprendizagem e ao treinador como apoio ao treinamento. Um sistema está sendo desenvolvido no Laboratório WINDIS do Departamento de Computação da UFSCar, para apoiar a modelagem, construção, execução, gerenciamento e controle de simulações complexas de treinamento, tendo a preparação e resposta à emergência como uma das áreas de aplicação. O presente trabalho é parte desse sistema e tem como objetivo criar um subsistema de avaliação de desempenho individual e/ou em equipe em simulações interativas distribuídas, com a finalidade de melhor treinar aprendizes nos processos de gerenciamento da emergência. Para a criação desse subsistema foram utilizados teorias, métodos e boas práticas de avaliação de desempenho humano. Na elaboração das simulações e avaliações de desempenho humano foram utilizadas normas de preparação e resposta a emergências e protocolos para realização de exercícios simulados, vigentes no Estado de São Paulo, além do apoio de profissionais especialistas (Corpo de Bombeiros de São Carlos). A modelagem, as simulações e as ontologias utilizadas neste projeto foram desenvolvidas de maneira integrada pelos alunos do laboratório WINDIS. Como parte individual deste trabalho, foram desenvolvidos três módulos que possibilitam, respectivamente, a configuração de avaliações de treinamentos, o monitoramento e avaliação de treinamentos em tempo de execução (com medição adequada para o cenário proposto, interação do instrutor com a simulação e análise de competências individuais e em equipe) e a análise e orientação pós-ação. Dois cenários foram desenvolvidos como prova de conceito, um para o treinamento do painel de controle do caminhão do corpo de bombeiros e outro de combate a incêndio com ataque indireto.

O sistema de pagamento por serviços ambientais de uma bacia hidrográfica pode ser economicamente atrativo e ecologicamente importante. Programas como o Produtor de Água compensam economicamente proprietários a montante da bacia que utilizam de manejo adequado do uso do solo, e do reflorestamento, para evitar a erosão hídrica, o aumento de cargas poluidoras difusas, e aumentar a disponibilidade e qualidade de água. Por conseqüência usuários de água, a jusante da bacia, são beneficiados, por exemplo, as estações de tratamento de água. Este trabalho tem como objetivo, a partir de metodologias de pagamentos de serviços ambientais, regionalizar hidrologicamente a quantidade e qualidade de água do rio Benevente para dar subsídios ao programa de produtores de água de sua bacia hidrográfica. O trabalho foi desenvolvido na parte média e alta da bacia hidrográfica do Benevente, localizada ao sul do Estado do Espírito Santo, com área de drenagem de aproximadamente 1260 \'KM POT.2\'. Á área de drenagem do local do estudo é de 825,24 \'KM POT.2\'. Parte da metodologia consistiu no levantamento de dados quantitativos e qualitativos de água ao longo do rio Benevente, nos últimos anos. De posse dos dados de vazão, concentração de SST e da área de drenagem, foram calculadas as cargas específicas difusas de SST, em termos de Kg/ha.ano e as cargas totais difusas em termos de ton/ano. A carga específica média de SST para a bacia foi de 194 Kg/ha.ano, a carga total média de SST foi de 11.238 ton/ano. A metodologia de regionalização hidrológica de cargas de SST por meio de curvas de permanência mostrou que há uma ampla variação de cargas produzidas na bacia sobre diferentes condições hidrológicas. Por exemplo, para uma faixa de permanências de 40% a 60% a variação de produção específica regional de SST foi de 58,54 a 825,14 Kg/ha.ano. A utilização da metodologia das curvas de permanência quali-quantitativas para a proposição de cenários ambientais em vista das mudanças de uso e ocupação do solo, propostos pelos programas de PSA, permitiu estimar o Percentual de Abatimento de Sedimentação (P.A.S) e consequentemente o Percentual de Abatimento de Erosão (P.A.E), na bacia. Encontrou-se um P.A.E de 36,9% entre o cenário atual e o cenário com amento de 20% da área florestal da bacia. Com este resultado estimou-se um total arrecadado na bacia pelo P.S.A de 825.195 R$/ano. Com as metodologias propostas também foi calculada a perda de solo atual da bacia, em relação à estação de amostragem mais a jusante. A taxa estimada foi de 200.123 ton/ano. / Systems of payment for environmental services of a catchment area can be economically attractive and ecologically important. Programs such as Producers of Water economically compensate owners upstream of the basin using the proper management of land use, and reforestation to prevent erosion, increased pollution loads diffuse and increase the availability and quality of water. Consequently water users downstream of the basin, are benefited, for example, sewage water treatment. This paper aims, methodologies from payments for environmental services, regionalization of hydrologically the quantity and quality of water from the river Benevente to aid the program producer of water from its watershed. The study was conducted in the middle and upper catchment of the Benevente, located south of Espírito Santo, with drainage area of approximately 1260 \'KM POT.2\'. The drainage area of the study is 825.24 \'KM POT.2\'. Part of the survey methodology consisted of qualitative and quantitative data of water along the river Benevente in recent years. With these data we calculated the diffuse specific loads of TSS, in terms of Kg/ha.year. The specific load average TSS for the basin was 194 Kg/ha.year, the total load average SST was 11,238 Ton/year. The methodology of regionalization of hydrological loads of TSS through curves of duration showed that there remain a wide range of loads in the basin produced on different hydrological conditions. For example, for a range of stays of 40% to 60% of the variation of specific regional production of TSS was 58.54 to 825.14 Kg/ha.year . Using the methodology of the curves remain qualitative and quantitative for the proposition environmental scenarios in view of land use change and land use, proposed by the PSA program, estimated the rate of reduction on Sedimentation (PAS) and consequently the rate Abatement of Erosion (PAE) in the basin. Found a PAE of 36.9% from the current scenario and the scenario with budget of 20% of the forest area of the basin. With this estimated result a total collected in the basin by the PSA for R$ 825,195/year. With the proposed methodology was also calculated the soil loss on the basin in relation to the sampling station further downstream. The rate was estimated at 200,123 ton/year.

L’objectif de ce projet doctoral a été de coupler la chromatographie en phase supercritique (SFC) avec un spectromètre de masse haute résolution pour l’analyse de substances naturelles apolaires. La SFC est une technique dite « verte » contrairement à la chromatographie liquide en phase normale (NPLC), très consommatrice de solvants organiques toxiques pour l’environnement, puisque la phase mobile est principalement constituée de CO2. Le CO2 ayant une faible viscosité, cela implique une diffusivité, des débits élevés et des temps d’analyse courts. Notre attention a été focalisée sur des molécules apolaires : les lipides. Le but était de mettre au point des dosages dans des matrices alimentaires et biologiques et de débuter une approche lipidomique d’étude de la maladie de Parkinson. La première partie a été dédiée au développement du système SFC avec une détection UV, prêté par le constructeur Agilent Technologies. La première étude s’est portée sur 6 composés de la famille des vitamines A. Une phase d’optimisation a été réalisée afin d’obtenir une séparation satisfaisante des composés, en testant différents paramètres chromatographiques comme le type de phase stationnaire ou encore la composition de la phase mobile, afin d’obtenir une résolution optimale. Ensuite, des études de linéarité et de répétabilité ont été réalisées et des limites de détection et de quantification ont été déterminées afin d’obtenir une méthode fiable et robuste. Une deuxième partie a concerné la mise en place du couplage entre la SFC et un spectromètre de masse de type quadripôle-temps de vol (Q-TOF), afin d’améliorer la spécificité et la sensibilité des analyses. Différentes sources d’ionisation ont été utilisées : ESI, APCI et APPI. Chacune des sources présente des modes d’ionisation différents, qui permettent de pouvoir balayer une large gamme de polarité des analytes. Nous avons choisi 8 dérivés de la vitamine E, composés apolaires pour lesquels la SFC paraît être la technique d’analyse idéale. La séparation de ces composés a été optimisée de façon à obtenir une bonne résolution chromatographique et un temps d’analyse minimal. L’ionisation des composés est réalisée avec les 3 sources disponibles en faisant varier les paramètres de sources ou encore le solvant « make-up », de façon à obtenir une sensibilité optimale. La source APPI a été finalement choisie après une étude sur les performances de la méthode. Cette source présente une bonne répétabilité, linéarité et des limites de détection de l’ordre de celles retrouvées dans la littérature par HPLC-MS. Nous avons ensuite réalisé la quantification des ces composés dans 2 types de matrices alimentaire et biologique : l’huile de soja et le plasma de rat. Une troisième partie a été débutée sur le profilage de lipides à polarités variées par SFC-MS. Cette technique se révèle idéale de par la faible polarité de ces composés et leur absence d’absorbance dans le domaine UV. En effet, l’intégrité des lipides peut être altérée suite aux dommages causés par les radicaux libres, qui sont potentiellement impliqués dans de nombreuses maladies neurodégénératives. Il parait primordial de développer des outils analytiques présentant une haute sensibilité et résolution et la possibilité d’accéder aux informations structurales. La source d’ionisation ESI nous a permis de détecter 12 lipides sur les 20 sous-classes analysées en mode positif et 8 lipides en mode négatif. Une application a été réalisée sur un échantillon de plasma humain. Il serait intéressant à l’avenir d’effectuer cette étude en utilisant la source APPI, source propice à l’analyse structurale de lipides et présentant une bonne sensibilité et répétabilité. Ce couplage SFC-MS, présentant une bonne sensibilité et répétabilité, sera par la suite étendu à l’analyse de lipides dans diverses matrices biologiques et pourra à l’avenir être appliqué à l’étude de nouveaux biomarqueurs et au screening rapide d’un grand nombre d’échantillons / The aim of this PhD project was to couple supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with a high resolution mass spectrometer for apolar natural compounds analysis. Because mobile phase is principally constituted of CO2, SFC is called “green technic” contrary to normal phase liquid chromatography (NPLC), which uses lot of organic solvents toxic for environment. The CO2 presents a low viscosity, in this way high diffusivity and flow rate, and lower analysis times are obtained. Our work was focused on apolar molecules: the lipids. The aim was to quantify molecules in alimentary and biological matrices and to a lipidomic approach to study Parkinson disease. The first part was to develop the system SFC with a UV detection on a system on loan by Agilent Technologies. This first study was carried out on 6 vitamin A compounds. An optimization of chromatographic parameters has been realized in order to obtain a good separation of the compounds. Then, linearity, repeatability, detection and quantification limits have been determined in order to have a reliable and robust method. A second part concerned the coupling of SFC and a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Q-TOF), in order to improve specificity and sensitivity of analysis. Different ionization sources have been tested: ESI, APCI and APPI. Each ion source presents different ionization mode, which permits to analyze a wide range of polarities of compounds. We have chosen 8 vitamin E derivatives, which are apolar compounds for which SFC seems to be well suited. Separation compounds have been optimized in order to have a good chromatographic resolution and a short analysis time. This compounds ionization is realized with the 3 sources, varying ionization parameters and make-up solvent, to have an optimal sensitivity. The APPI source has been chosen after a performance evaluation method. This source presents a good repeatability, linearity and detection limit in the same order of magnitude than those found in the literature by HPLC-MS. Then we have quantified these compounds in alimentary and biological matrices: a soya oil and plasma rat. A third study has been started on lipid profiling with various polarities by SFC-MS. This technic is well suited because of the low polarity of this molecules and their lack of absorbance in the UV range. The integrity of lipids can be altered with damages caused by free radicals, and are potentially involved in neurodegenerative diseases. It is essential to develop analytical systems with a high sensitivity and resolution and the possibility to access to structural information. The ESI source permits to detect 12 lipids on the 20 sub-classes analyzed in positive ion mode and 8 lipids in negative mode. An application has been realized on human plasma. In the future, it will be interesting to analyze these lipids with the APPI source, which is good choice for structural analysis of lipids, with good sensitivity and repeatability. Studies with this SFC-MS system, presenting good sensitivity and repeatability, will be extended to lipid analysis in biological matrices and could be applied to new biomarkers study and for fast screening of a large number of samples

Diploma thesis entitled "Application of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods into Marketing Strategy of Print Medias" discusses employment of output research data accumulated on eye-tracking, in-depth interviewing and CAWI method of research. These research outcomes are further analyzed and implemented in the development process of the EURO Business Weekly strategy in the Czech publishing market. The final evaluation is based on a mutual comparison of results which were recorded by the EURO Business Weekly in the years 2005 and 2006.

Job insecurity in the workplace has become an increasingly important trend in organisational research. The appraisal of job insecurity by individuals plays a significant part in how reactions manifest in the experiences of workplace stressors, job satisfaction, positive and negative work attributes and social support. However, there is a lack of research regarding specific workplace stressors at work leading to certain outcomes like safety behaviour, turnover intention and mental health, especially within a South African working context. Job insecurity has also been classified as a workplace stressor. The existence of other stressors tends to increase the ultimate effect of insecurity for the individual. The attempts from organisational management to manage this phenomenon are therefore crucial in decreasing the negative effects of job insecurity and increasing the productivity of the organisation. In order to measure the job insecurity levels of employees, it is important to make use of valid and reliable job insecurity measures. An absence of empirical research on validity and reliability studies in terms of job insecurity in South African is evident. The main objectives of this research were: 1) to establish the psychometric properties of a measure of job insecurity in a selected gold mining company in South Africa; 2) to determine the influence of job insecurity and work stress (i.e. role conflict, clarity and overload) on worker safety performance and if coping could moderate this; 3) to investigate the theoretical and empirical relationships between job stressors (task completion ambiguity and task quality ambiguity), competency demands, employability perceptions, job satisfaction and turnover intention over time, and 4) to investigate if social support has a mediating effect between positive interpersonal attributes, negative interpersonal attributes, job insecurity and subsequent health. To achieve the first objective, a cross-sectional design was used (N = 566), including various business units of a South African-based gold mining company. The assessment of the psychometric properties of a measure of quantitative and qualitative job insecurity for employees was determined through construct (structural) equivalence, exploratory factor analysis and multivariate analysis of variance to calculate the comparison of the factor structure for the different cultural groups. For qualitative job insecurity, the scale shows low equivalence for the African languages group. Statistically significant differences were found between the levels of job insecurity of employees in terms of gender. The second objective, concerning the investigation into the relationship of work stress and job insecurity with unsafe behaviour at work, was achieved with across-sectional survey design (N = 771). The hypothesised model included the influence of role conflict, role ambiguity, role overload, and job insecurity on unsafe work behaviour. Coping was introduced as a moderator in this relationship. The results indicated that when employees experience work stress and job insecurity, their safety compliance is low. This relationship was also moderated by a coping strategy of Avoidance. To achieve the third objective, a longitudinal study was conducted and data was gathered by means of an electronic survey, with 771 employees participating at Time 1, and 345 participating at Time 2. Results for predicting employees’ turnover intentions, experience of task completion and quality ambiguity, external employability and job satisfaction made a direct contribution in predicting their turnover intention. No mediating role of job satisfaction between job stressors, competency demands and employability perceptions on the one hand and turnover intentions on the other hand, were found. Addressing the fourth objective in investigating the moderating role of social support between the relationship of experiencing positive interpersonal (communication with the manager and feedback), negative interpersonal experiences (powerlessness and interpersonal conflict), job insecurity (quantitative and qualitative) and health, was met with a longitudinal random sample of employees in different business units in one selected multi-national mining company based in South Africa (N = 771). Results for these employees indicated that all the proposed variables, except feedback from the manager, were statistically significantly related to health. No moderating effect for social support could be found over time, but it was shown that interpersonal conflict at work is a longitudinal predictor of employee health. By way of conclusion, the implications of the research were discussed and recommendations for managers and for future research were made. / Thesis (PhD (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Job insecurity in the workplace has become an increasingly important trend in organisational research. The appraisal of job insecurity by individuals plays a significant part in how reactions manifest in the experiences of workplace stressors, job satisfaction, positive and negative work attributes and social support. However, there is a lack of research regarding specific workplace stressors at work leading to certain outcomes like safety behaviour, turnover intention and mental health, especially within a South African working context. Job insecurity has also been classified as a workplace stressor. The existence of other stressors tends to increase the ultimate effect of insecurity for the individual. The attempts from organisational management to manage this phenomenon are therefore crucial in decreasing the negative effects of job insecurity and increasing the productivity of the organisation. In order to measure the job insecurity levels of employees, it is important to make use of valid and reliable job insecurity measures. An absence of empirical research on validity and reliability studies in terms of job insecurity in South African is evident. The main objectives of this research were: 1) to establish the psychometric properties of a measure of job insecurity in a selected gold mining company in South Africa; 2) to determine the influence of job insecurity and work stress (i.e. role conflict, clarity and overload) on worker safety performance and if coping could moderate this; 3) to investigate the theoretical and empirical relationships between job stressors (task completion ambiguity and task quality ambiguity), competency demands, employability perceptions, job satisfaction and turnover intention over time, and 4) to investigate if social support has a mediating effect between positive interpersonal attributes, negative interpersonal attributes, job insecurity and subsequent health. To achieve the first objective, a cross-sectional design was used (N = 566), including various business units of a South African-based gold mining company. The assessment of the psychometric properties of a measure of quantitative and qualitative job insecurity for employees was determined through construct (structural) equivalence, exploratory factor analysis and multivariate analysis of variance to calculate the comparison of the factor structure for the different cultural groups. For qualitative job insecurity, the scale shows low equivalence for the African languages group. Statistically significant differences were found between the levels of job insecurity of employees in terms of gender. The second objective, concerning the investigation into the relationship of work stress and job insecurity with unsafe behaviour at work, was achieved with across-sectional survey design (N = 771). The hypothesised model included the influence of role conflict, role ambiguity, role overload, and job insecurity on unsafe work behaviour. Coping was introduced as a moderator in this relationship. The results indicated that when employees experience work stress and job insecurity, their safety compliance is low. This relationship was also moderated by a coping strategy of Avoidance. To achieve the third objective, a longitudinal study was conducted and data was gathered by means of an electronic survey, with 771 employees participating at Time 1, and 345 participating at Time 2. Results for predicting employees’ turnover intentions, experience of task completion and quality ambiguity, external employability and job satisfaction made a direct contribution in predicting their turnover intention. No mediating role of job satisfaction between job stressors, competency demands and employability perceptions on the one hand and turnover intentions on the other hand, were found. Addressing the fourth objective in investigating the moderating role of social support between the relationship of experiencing positive interpersonal (communication with the manager and feedback), negative interpersonal experiences (powerlessness and interpersonal conflict), job insecurity (quantitative and qualitative) and health, was met with a longitudinal random sample of employees in different business units in one selected multi-national mining company based in South Africa (N = 771). Results for these employees indicated that all the proposed variables, except feedback from the manager, were statistically significantly related to health. No moderating effect for social support could be found over time, but it was shown that interpersonal conflict at work is a longitudinal predictor of employee health. By way of conclusion, the implications of the research were discussed and recommendations for managers and for future research were made. / Thesis (PhD (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.