Abstract not available

This dissertation presents the results of a study to assess the impact of a stress management, a self-development, and a relaxation technique on the quality of school life and attendance of 448 Year 5 and 6 students in 16 classes at 4 Lower Hunter Valley primary schools in New South Wales, Australia, in 2000. The importance of contextualising student quality of school life as a key indicator of school effectiveness and measure of school improvement is also argued. The Quality of School Life questionnaire (Ainley & Bourke, 1992) scales were used pre- and post- intervention as indicators of student perception of aspects of their school life including stressful and satisfying elements. Various student, teacher, and class contextual variables were also investigated. Overall, the interventions implemented in this study appeared to have had some small impact on student quality of school life, student absence, teacher stress, teacher satisfaction, and teacher absence. Of particular interest are the apparent differential effects of some of the interventions for: teachers and students, classes, schools, and, at least in part, the effectiveness of the implementation of the interventions. Possible explanations of these differences are discussed while implications including the apparent importance of positive peer relationships and an exciting and enjoyable curriculum in ensuring students have a high quality of school life are described. In the broader context of school effectiveness and school improvement, it is hoped that further investigation will be undertaken of the intervention strategies explored and refined in this study, and perhaps other strategies intended to enhance student quality of school life. In particular, interventions are needed that facilitate the establishment of classroom environments where students and teachers want to be, where educational outcomes are enhanced, and students are led to a broader life experience. / PhD Doctorate

This study shows that whilst the emergence of school climate as an educational issue of major importance is being recognised in the more recent schooling effects literature, the actual concept remains somewhat elusive and vaguely defined. A severe lack of knowledge and need for study into the area, particularly of primary school climates, is also evident. The actual concept of climate is thus discussed and analysed and evidence in support of the need for its assessment is presented. Past measures used for climate assessment are then reviewed with the aim of selecting an appropriate instrument to identify school climate perceptions of primary school students in this study. Here a new area of school climate information - the quality of school life - was introduced. The Quality of School Life Questionnaire which enabled differentiation between a number of climate dimensions, was selected as being the most appropriate instrument for minor modification and use in this study. The refined version titled School Life was administered to 587 students from 23 classes in 12 A.C.T. primary schools. Data was analysed to provide detailed information concerning students' views of the positive and negative aspects of their school climate. To determine the validity of these results and to strengthen the study as a whole students with very high/very low school climate perceptions were then interviewed. This enabled more detailed discussions of these students' perceptions of school life. Also, it enabled examination of the possibility of employing school counsellor intervention techniques at both the school and personal levels aimed at assisting such students in coping more adequately in their school systems. The results indicate that school climate assessment can provide important information which could be utilized by school counsellors. In this Study, such assessment led to actual identification of the high/low quality areas in school climates and led to identification with reasonable accuracy of individual students not coping in their existent climates. Thus the possibility and the value of school counsellors working towards 'individualizing' school climates through either modifying the actual climate or climate dimension/s to better match student needs, or through employing intervention techniques aimed at helping individual students not coping in their particular school climates is examined and emphasized.

組織行為的經營管理，主要包含有三個部分，即瞭解個體、團體與組織的行為模式，預測不同的管理活動可以導引出怎麼樣的行為反應，以及運用這些瞭解與預測來達到控制的目的。但是，無論是瞭解行為、預測反應抑或達到控制的目的，最基礎的工作是瞭解員工的主觀認知與工作生活經驗為何，亦即何者是員工所重視的，員工的需求為何，瞭解員工心理的認知，方能成就後續的管理作為，此就支薪員工是如此，即便對象是不支薪的志願服務人員，亦復如此。基此，本論文乃藉由相關文獻的蒐集整合，透過實證調查，決定志工之工作生活品質核心構面，並探討人口統計變項及志工參與類型對志工工作生活品質的態度。 從研究發現，志工工作生活品質計有八項核心構面，它們是「組織認同」、「福利獎酬」、「人際關係」、「督導狀況」、「工作內容」、「個人成長」、「學習機會」與「工作影響」等。其次，在人口統計變項對工作生活品質的態度，發現女性志工對於「督導狀況」的重視程度高於男性志工；中年志工對整體工作生活品質的重視程度低於非中年志工，對「個人成長」與「學習機會」的重視程度，中年志工亦顯著的低於非中年志工；未婚的志工對於「學習機會」的重視程度高於已婚的志工；退休人員對於「督導狀況」的重視程度低於家庭主婦，對於「學習機會」的重視程度則低於學生與其他職業者；在本機構擔任志工的年資未滿一年者，較任職為一年以上志工不重視「人際關係」；擔任志工的總年資較為資深的志工，對「工作影響」的重視程度高於較資淺的志工。此外，在志工參與類型對工作生活品質的態度，猶豫型、積極型、責任型與奉獻型等四種參與類型，對「個人成長」的重視程度有顯著差異存在，且積極型高於猶豫型與奉獻型。而在人口統計變項與志工參與類型交互作用下對整體工作生活品質的態度，則發現達顯著差異水準的有職業一項，其餘的性別、年齡、教育程度、婚姻狀況、宗教信仰、在本機構擔任志工的年資及擔任志工總年資等，則未有顯著差異。 在探討志工工作生活品質相關內涵後，本論文建議志願服務機構：1瞭解志工的工作生活品質需求，是有效志工管理的前提。2提昇志工工作生活品質，充分運用志工人力。3考量志工的人口特性與參與類型，分別提供適當的管理作為。4對志工及志願服務應有正確的認知，俾以發展專業的志工管理作為。建議志工：1、主動瞭解機構的宗旨與運作狀況，並勇於提供建言。2、尊重志工督導人員的職責，正確認知志工的角色。3、積極的參與，快樂的學習。4、珍惜志願工作的機會，開拓自己的人際關係。5、體驗志願工作的樂趣，不斷的自我成長。並對後續的研究，建議從研究方法、研究工具、研究廣度以及研究深度等方面，加以改善、發展與努力。

'Corporate warriors' and 'company animals' are common terms used to describe Japanese sarariman ( salarymen ), the former referring to salarymen as the samurai of Japan's post - war economic miracle and the latter suggesting servile creatures of Japanese corporations. This thesis explores Japanese salaryman masculinity, that is, the 'hegemonic masculinity' in Japan. The study collects the life - histories of 39 men across three generations of salarymen, so that the oldest men in my sample were in their 70s and the youngest in their 20s. While research on Japanese masculinities has expanded rapidly in recent years, no other study, to the author's knowledge, explores generational changes. This generational approach allows exploration of maintenance of and changes in hegemonic masculinity over time. This thesis pays attention to the phases of salarymen's lives. In the period of growing up, participants were continually confirmed in their self - worth through a hierarchy grounded on age and gender in the settings of the family, school and neighbourhood. Across the three generations, participants grew up in a homosocial and heterosexual world, barely mixing with the opposite sex and focusing on educational outcomes for successful careers after their schooling. Despite their immersion in comradeship, most participants ensconced themselves comfortably in the institution of marriage. While a few unconventional families emerged in the sons' generation, the traditional gendered division of labour is reproduced across the three generations. Many participants rejected equal opportunities for women in the workforce and participated very little in housework and childcare, claiming that providing the family income was their 'childcare'. Participants understood themselves as corporate warriors, or elite male workers, rather than company animals. Nevertheless, some young respondents evinced a tinge of jealousy for increasing number of ' freeters ' ( part - time workers ). Moreover, several men in the grandfathers' generation regretted their current minimal contact with their children and grandchildren as a result of their absence from home while children were growing up. Thus Japanese salarymen in this study expressed aspects of both the corporate warrior and the company animal in reflecting on their experiences. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Social Sciences, 2006.

Unsatisfactory working conditions and job stress may be indicative of working in a society where work-life balance is a desired, but often elusive, goal (Duxbury & Higgins, 2001; Smola & Sutton, 2002; Sturges & Guest, 2004). Working conditions in the healthcare sector are reported to be particularly problematic and stress inducing compared to other work sectors (Yassi, Ostry, Spiegel, Walsh, & de Boer, 2002). In fact, quality of work life (QOWL) among healthcare workers is believed to have deteriorated to the point where it is impeding the capacity of the system to recruit and retain staff needed to provide effective patient care (Koehoorn, Lowe, Rondeau, Schellenberg, & Wager, 2002). The purpose of the study was to examine the experiences of healthcare staff who participate in QOWL initiatives aimed to provide employees with creative, educational, and fun activities designed to address feelings of stress. This study included thirteen staff members from disciplines that comprise the Health Care Team at a facility specializing in aging and veteran's care. Data were collected through conversational interviews with staff from each of the following disciplines: nursing, recreation therapy, physiotherapy, creative arts, clinical nutrition, social work, audiology, occupational therapy, and pastoral care. The data were deconstructed into common themes through an open-ended process, which lead to the identification of common experiences across the data provided by the staff. Upon further comparison of the themes, it was identified that work demands were believed to detract from care provision and strained manager relations were believed to minimize quality of care. However, a strong professional identity was evident as staff described being able to rise above adversity and use their skills and competencies to provide quality care to residents. The data also suggested QOWL initiatives seem to be valuable because they provide opportunities for staff to interact socially. This interaction helps foster and strengthen connections amongst staff, which they feel transfers to the work place through improved working relationships. Participants described feelings of personal gratification that can be derived from team cohesiveness. They also acknowledged the carry over value that team work brings to residents by way of improved care provision. Furthermore, the relationships that staff members develop with one another were viewed as sources of strength, particularly in times of increased stress. In addition to the social element associated with the QOWL initiatives, these initiatives also seem to address a need for restoration, humour, and balance within the work day. Without planned opportunities for rejuvenation and humour appreciation, participants admitted that they would seldom take the time to incorporate these into their work day. Therefore, QOWL initiatives can provide staff with a reason to take a break and find their balance. The findings indicate the factors affecting QOWL are varied and complex. The findings also indicate that there can be a paradoxical nature to work within a health care setting. Paradoxes exist in relation to the provision of professional care and the provision of minimized care. Paradoxes also exist in relation to the expressed need for restoration, humour, and balance and the low priority staff will place on taking time to fulfill these needs.

The managing concept of improving quality of work life has attracted attention of the researchers and practical managers gradually. The purpose of this study is to apply this concept on disposal of real estates by public and private sectors. Through discussion of relevant literature and experimental surveys, we used registrars of land administration authorities and land administration clerks of Land Administration Personnel¡¦s Association as subjects. The variables are quality of work life (including measurement perspectives such as learning development, dignity in work, nature of job, evaluation on promotion, working environment, salary and bonus, family leisure, and interpersonal interaction), attribute of individuals, city and county, and job satisfaction (including internal satisfaction, external satisfaction and overall satisfaction). In this study, the real estate operators¡¦ quality of work life, job satisfaction and the correlation between them were discussed. The return rate of questionnaires was 93% in this study. We carried out our study based on the 374 valid questionnaires with the descriptive statistical analysis, reliability analysis, independent sample T-test, one-way ANOVA analysis and Pearson¡¦s product moment correlation analysis. The important results of our research are as the following: 1.The average of quality of work life and job satisfaction is higher than the median value. This indicates that the real estate operators in both the public and private sectors recognized their perceptual experience in quality of work life and were quite satisfied with their jobs. While marriage, age and educational degree of the real estate operators in the public sector might create appreciable differences in their perceptual experience in quality of work life. 2.Differences between public and private sectors and between city and county and analysis on such differences: With respect to the perceptual experience in quality of work life and the overall job satisfaction, both the public and private sectors and the city and county have a degree of satisfaction above average. However, in terms of the degree of satisfaction, the private sector is higher than the public sector; Kaohsiung County is higher than Kaohsiung City. The parts that got the highest points and had the same perspective are nature of job and learning development. The part getting the lower points and having consistent perspective is family leisure. However, evaluation on promotion is the part in which the public sector had the lowest perceptual experience. In private sector, the lowest perceptual experience fell in salary and bonus. 3.Correlation between quality of work life and job satisfaction: In the public sector, the highest positive correlation exists between interpersonal interaction and the overall job satisfaction. In the private sector, the highest positive correlation is between family leisure and the overall job satisfaction. Based on the study results and the review of literature, we submit some suggestions on policies to public and private real estate dealers and their competent authorities, real estate operators at the basic level, and subsequent researchers for their reference in practical management.

Research has established that workplace aggression leads to a multitude of negative outcomes for individuals and organizations. This study aimed to determine if certain coping strategies could assuage the negative impact of workplace aggression on two outcomes: job satisfaction and psychological well-being. A study of nurses explored their experiences with being the target of verbal, passive, and physical workplace aggression, their job satisfaction, psychological well-being, and their coping strategies. Results indicate that coping style does indeed moderate the relationship between being the target of workplace aggression and negative outcomes. Implications for the workplace are discussed.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Saint Mary's University, 2009. / Running head: Factors affecting applicant attraction Includes abstract. Supervisor: Victor Catano. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-46).

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Münster (Westfalen), 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 441-486).