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The title of the thesis is Children in children´s homes ? perception of residential stays and their assessment. The first chapter provides the paper´s theoretical groundwork and consists of five sections that define the basic terminology and outline the key issues related to the thesis´ topic. The first section describes the development of social services and children´s homes as well as the current situation regarding shelter homes for parents and single mothers with children in the Czech Republic. The second section provides an insight into the phases of childhood corresponding to the age structure of the group of children that participated in the questionnaire survey described in the practical part of the thesis. The description of the individual phases focuses primarily on psychological development, the phases´ key moments and objectives and on the relationships with family, friends and peers. The third section looks into the influence of the environment on an individual´s development and life quality, focusing on home, family, the understanding of home and the influence of colours. The fourth section narrows its focus onto children in children´s homes. The second chapter is practical-oriented. It starts with a definition of the paper´s objective and its four hypotheses. The objective of the thesis is to identify variable factors influencing how children perceive their residential stays in children´s homes. The following chapter provides an insight into the research methods and the techniques used to collect the data. It also defines the target group and describes the actual research process. The research was carried out on the basis of a quantitative method, using data collected by means of a questionnaire survey. The target group consisted of 132 children aged 8 to 14living in shelter homes for mothers with children in the Czech Republic. The survey was conducted from 30th October to 29th November 2012. The fourth chapter presents the results of the research. It is divided into two sections. The first provides descriptive statistics of the questionnaire survey results, giving an overview of the answers to individual questions. The second sectionuses the SPSS 16.0 software to test the individual hypotheses and determine the dependent variables. Hypothesis H1: The presence of friends in a children´s home has a positive influence on a child´s impression of the children´s home. The influence of friends on the child´s impression of the children´s home is analysed in the following aspects: the building of the children´s home, the room in the children´s home and the interior of the children´s home. It has been proven that having friends in the children´s home positively influences only the impression of the child´s room. Hypothesis H2: The more often children stay in children´s homes, the more they like their stay. This hypothesis has not been confirmed. Hypothesis H3: The younger the children, the more they like their stay in the children´s homes. A statistically significant relation between the age and the positive acceptance of the stay in the children´s homes has been established. Hypothesis H4: The presence of friends has a positive influence on the feeling the children get from the home. Also in this case a statistically significant relation has been confirmed. Chapter five presents a discussion of the results, comparing the hypotheses and the findings of the questionnaire survey. The conclusion of the thesis summarizes the research results and discusses the general situation of children in homes and the handicap connected with their stay there. At the very end, the paper reflects on the situation and possible recommendations for practical work.

The thesis topic ?Social exclusion among the homeless and its subsequent impact on health" provides the deeper understanding of the problematic regarding homeless people who are without family/social connections and often suffer from lack of social and health care. The theoretical part of the thesis called ?Current Status? elaborates on the study of the fundamental ideas and concepts In addition the thesis defines the objective and subjective factors of homelessness, health problematic and its determinants, trying to provide an insight into somatic and psychological complications, which are linked to the system of health care provided towards the homeless people. The aim was to detect and define the elements of social exclusion among the homeless and find their conditionality in relation to subjective health perception Basic data for the research were based on the following research questions: V1: What causes played a significant role in respondents becoming homeless? V2: How homeless people evaluate their current health? V3: How the homeless people perceive assistance to improve their situation? The subject of research part is the link between environmental (social) situation of selected group of people and their subjectively perceived health status. To determine the necessary data the qualitative method, semi-controlled interview technique supplemented by observation were used. The research was conducted in the St. Pauls shelter in České Budejovice. The interviews were done with 10 respondents and the results of the research are summarized in form of case studies divided into categories and presented according to the similarities/differences in the respondent?s claims. This work can be used as a basis for further research to quantify the social determinants of health associated with homelessness. I, together with the social worker of the St. Paul shelter, perceive lack of linking health and social services for the homeless. This issue should be further strengthened, so that eventually could be used to influence public policy in shaping the environment affecting our health.

Because of the competitive market and high product failure, product development and quality is moving towards a merging of functionality and usability with psychological needs. The interaction with the products creates a need, which can be a decisive aspect for the user when choosing a product. The Kansei approach, also known as Kansei Engineering, aims at converting the psychological needs that influence the subjective perception of the user, into actual design specification, with eight types developed so far. Furthermore, the method implies that, the competitiveness of the product can be enhanced by attaching users’ feelings and aesthetic impressions in term of product attributes, to the product features.This thesis describes how the methodology can be used by implementing Kansei Engineering Type I as a tool to evaluate and map the subjective perceptions of dining tables. The research shows that it was possible to map correlations between the users’ subjective perception and design features. E.g. a dining table that is perceived as solid, has the feature rail/frame and is heavy (>35kg). This can be used as input in user-centred product development. Even if no correlation was possible in some cases, valuable information was gathered that can be used for further analysis. As a continuation of the research, will be to focus on which surface textures is better perceived as natural feeling of wood.

Personal preference to darkmospheres , light corners & generally high contrasted views and spaces, as well as a curiosity of investigating other opinions & responses, were the driving force for conducting this survey. Regarding my subjective perception and since, after all,  the matter of taste and subjectivity is quite strong in this kind of investigations, I’ve always found solace in environments that were staged with different segments of light and darkness; whenever I was in a room, I would immediately turn off the general lighting and turn on different and multiple other light sources, trying to combine atmospheres and, of course, keep some intact dark corners. And that was always a matter of arguing between myself and most of my acquaintances. Also, as an art lover, the absolute drawing technique of contrast, chiaroscuro, is also my favorite one. These characteristics of sharp shadows-strong contrasts and the theatrical, spotlight effect, can dramatically provoke feelings, but of which kind? What  is  the general perception and emotional response to high  contrasted environments & views? My belief, despite my personal taste, is that the effect of high contrast lighting environments is mainly associated with feelings that have a negative aesthetic tone, and thus, this significant design value is not used as much; Based on these assumptions, the purpose of this research is to investigate whether perceptions of contrasts in the lighting design of space are related to subjective preference ratings deriving from negative or uneasy feelings. A mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative findings, combining background research along with a survey was held, and, in general, it demonstrates a distinct correlation between levels of contrast as stimuli and feelings aroused. Although contrast does play a significant role in arousing strong feelings, by increasing and stimulating our perception, albeit we are probably negatively attracted to it. Given images of high contrasted –in terms of lighting quality- environments were associated mostly with feelings of anxiety and tension by the participants of the survey; thus, a  balance between coherence and valence factors and complexity/arousal feelings is a prerequisite, in order to positively approve a new environment. Contrast as a design value, is characterized by contrasting feelings and, that is its most powerful value;  it's an influential design tool and the essential force within the articulation of both style and communication. It, therefore, deserves a wider use and appreciation.

<p>This study is located within the theoretical framework of construct validation theory. Data for this Secondary Data Analysis study was drawn from the &ldquo / Impact of Hope and Exposure to Community Violence on children&rsquo / s perception of Well-being&rdquo / study. The primary study employed stratified interval criterion sampling to select 565 grade 9 learners, aged 14-18 from six public schools. The dataset for the current study comprised all participants (N=565) of the broader study. As the initial step in validation of the KIDSCREEN-52 within South Africa, the current study examined the factor structure of the KIDSCREEN-52 within this context by means of exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis with oblimin rotations. It also assessed the internal consistency reliability of each of the scales using Cronbach&rsquo / s alpha. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the same 10 factors as identified by previous European studies with some deviation in the last two factors, which warrants further examination. Internal consistency of the measure was shown to be acceptable, with Cronbach&rsquo / s alpha values ranging from 0.76 to 0.81 for the 10 scales.</p>

<p>This study is located within the theoretical framework of construct validation theory. Data for this Secondary Data Analysis study was drawn from the &ldquo / Impact of Hope and Exposure to Community Violence on children&rsquo / s perception of Well-being&rdquo / study. The primary study employed stratified interval criterion sampling to select 565 grade 9 learners, aged 14-18 from six public schools. The dataset for the current study comprised all participants (N=565) of the broader study. As the initial step in validation of the KIDSCREEN-52 within South Africa, the current study examined the factor structure of the KIDSCREEN-52 within this context by means of exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis with oblimin rotations. It also assessed the internal consistency reliability of each of the scales using Cronbach&rsquo / s alpha. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the same 10 factors as identified by previous European studies with some deviation in the last two factors, which warrants further examination. Internal consistency of the measure was shown to be acceptable, with Cronbach&rsquo / s alpha values ranging from 0.76 to 0.81 for the 10 scales.</p>

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No. of bitstreams: 1 victorhugodefreitas.pdf: 1041704 bytes, checksum: 5dd391fff68063cedd3bcac2d195b278 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-23 / A intensificação da carga de treinamento é uma estratégia utilizada em momentos da periodização, entretanto, poucos estudos fazem essa abordagem no voleibol, modalidade esportiva de característica peculiar, com um calendário esportivo também peculiar, necessitado assim conhecer o comportamento da carga de treinamento durante um período de treinamento nessa modalidade utilizando variáveis de simples e fácil aplicação. Desse modo, essa dissertação objetivou: Analisar o comportamento de marcadores da carga de treinamento em um grupo com atletas de voleibol submetidos a cargas de treinamento intensificadas e em um grupo submetido a cargas de treinamento sem intensificação; e Analisar e descrever o comportamento da carga de treinamento e da recuperação ao longo de um período de treinamento no voleibol. A princípio, atletas de voleibol do sexo masculino, foram divididos em 2 grupos, um submetido a treinamento intensificado (IT) com 8 atletas (23,37 ± 2,94 anos) e um, à treinamento com cargas normais (NT) com 8 atletas (19,75 ± 1,48 anos). O Questionário de Estresse e Recuperação para atletas (RESTQ-Sport), Creatina quinase (CK) o teste de Impulsão vertical (IV) foram avaliados, no primeiro, no 12º e no 26º dias de treinamento. A TQR (escala de qualidade total de recuperação) foi aplicada no primeiro e ultimo dia de treinamento de cada microciclo. A carga de treinamento quantificada através do método PSE da sessão mostrou que no grupo IT a carga de treinamento esteve aumentada nos dois primeiros microciclos, diminuiu nos 2 microciclos posteriores, foi maior no primeiro período de treinamento e foi maior que a carga de treinamento apresentada pelo grupo NT, grupo em que a carga não apresentou modificações. A IV e o RESTQ-Sport não se modificaram. A CK esteve aumentada no 12º dia em ambos os grupos, sendo maior no grupo IT, com retorno de seus valores ao estado inicial após o segundo período no grupo IT. A TQR no grupo IT, apresentou valores mais baixos que o grupo NT, bem como nos dois primeiros microciclos. Posteriormente, 12 atletas de voleibol do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 23,50 ± 3,39 anos, foram monitorados durante 22 semanas de treinamento através do método PSE da sessão e da escala TQR. Foram calculadas a carga de treinamento semanal total, monotonia e strain. A carga de treinamento semanal total (p<0,01), a monotonia (p<0,01) e o strain (p<0,01), foram significativamente diferentes ao longo das 22 semanas analisadas, mostrando um comportamento oscilatório. A recuperação não 6 se modificou ao longo das 22 semanas. Conclui-se que, o grupo submetido à intensificação da carga de treinamento não modificou o desempenho, entretanto apresentou maior dano muscular, maior estresse e menor estado de recuperação que o grupo que não sofreu intensificação, no qual, também não modificou o desempenho. Também, que a carga de treinamento apresentou um caráter oscilatório ao longo das semanas, com progressão de seus valores, intercalando períodos de altas e baixas cargas de treinamento e a recuperação mostrou-se regular ao longo desse mesmo período. / The intensification of the training load is a strategy used in moments of periodization, however, few studies make use of this approach in volleyball, a peculiar kind of sports, with an also peculiar schedule, which makes it necessary to know the behavior of the training load during a training period of this kind of sport by means of simple and easy to apply variables. Due to that, this dissertation aimed to: analyze the behavior of training load markers in a group of volleyball athletes submitted to intensified training loads compared to another group submitted to training loads without intensification; analyze and describe the behavior of the training load and that of recuperation along the training period in volleyball. At first, the male volleyball players were divided into 2 groups: the intensified training group (IT) with 8 athletes (23.37 ± 2.94 years old) and the training group with normal training (NT), also with 8 athletes (19.75 ± 1.48 years old). The Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for athletes (RESTQ-Sport), Creatine kinase (CK) and the vertical jump test (IV) were assessed on the 1st, 12th ans 26th days of training. The TQR (Total Quality Recovery) was applied on the first and last training days of each microcycle. The training load, quantified through the PSE method of the session, showed that in the IT group the load was higher in the first two microcycles, decreased in the two subsequent ones, was highest in the first training period and was also higher than that of the NT group, whose loads remained constant. The IV and the RESTQ-Sport did not present changes. The CK was higher on the 12th day in both groups, but higher in the IT group, while the values returned to the initial state after the second period in the IT group. The TQR in the IT presented lower values than those of the NT group, and the same happened in the two first microcycles. Later, 12 male volleyball athletes, with average age of 23.50 ± 3.39 years old, were monitored for 22 training weeks with the use of the session RPE method and the TQR scale. The total weekly training load, monotony and strain were calculated. The total weekly training load (p<0.01), monotony (p<0.01) and strain (p<0.01) were significantly different along the 22 weeks analyzed, showing an oscillatory behavior. The recovery remained constant along the 22 weeks. It can be concluded that the group submitted to the intensification of the training load did not present changes in performance. Nevertheless, it had more muscular damage, more stress and less recovery than the group which did not had intensification (and whose performance also remained 8 steady). The training load presented an oscillatory character along the weeks studied, with a progression in the values, alternating periods of high and low training loads, and recovery showed to be regular along the same period.

Previous constructivist research was integrated with a field study to investigate the hypothesis that the subjective perceptions of the current social, security and economic situation of the high and low-income groups in South Africa differ to the extent that they could be said to be living in totally different worlds of phenomenological experience. The data demonstrated clear differences when coded in terms of worldviews along an Optimism-Pessimism Continuum. A number of additional processing phenomena and social dynamics able to influence these perceptions were also identified from an interpretative analysis of the data. The results were explained in terms of the cueing and activation of specific schemata constructed from income-related prior experiences associated with each group and led to the conclusion that income and living conditions could well be factors contributing to the ongoing confrontations between government and impoverished communities. A number of recommendations to improve inter-group relations were included. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The thesis concerns with the quality of life of the individuals with hearing impairment. The thesis is divided into four major parts consisting of subchapters. First major part focuses on general description of the sense of hearing, auditory analyser and difference between these two terms as well as on the classification of the individual auditory impairment types. The next part provides general description of life quality according to various criteria. The last theoretic part focuses on everyday life of aurally impaired individuals. This chapter specifically refers to education and employment of individuals with hearing impairment. A chapter relating to social environment and leisure time is also included. Theoretic part of my thesis is followed by the results of my survey. Two different questionnaires were used aiming at two different groups of survey respondents. Partial conclusions were drawn from each questionnaire survey. The questionnaires mentioned were elaborated in accordance with interdisciplinary division of life quality as well as with subjective perception of quality of life. Key Words: Quality of life Hearing impairment Subjective perception of one's life quality. Employment and education Social environment