[Truncated abstract] Current literature about university teaching argues that online teaching requires online social learning based on social interaction to be effective. This implies a shift in pedagogy based on engagement and collaboration, instead of trying to reproduce face-to- face teaching, in online environments. However, when a university adopts an elearning platform (or Learning Management System, LMS), most teachers tend to reproduce their traditional teaching, delivering, through the LMS, educational material. This study explored factors which influence university teachers to adopt teaching models based on online social interaction (OSI) when an e-learning platform is used to complement undergraduate classroom teaching. Online teaching model adoption was considered in the framework of technology adoption and post-adoption behavior, i.e., adoption and use by individuals after an organization has adopted an ICT-based innovation (Jasperson, Carter, & Zmud, 2005). Behaviors were investigated using a model based on Ajzen's (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). In total, 26 university teachers 15 from Australia and 11 from Italy holding undergraduate courses, were recruited. They responded to a semi-structured interview based on the TPB, built on purpose for this research. Teachers were divided into three different groups on the basis of their approach to online teaching, corresponding to three different levels of adoption of OSI. The three different online teaching models were:

Elektriskt och elektroniskt avfall (WEEE) är den snabbast växande avfallskategorin inom EU, samtidigt som det är en av de mest skadliga formerna av avfall för människors hälsa och miljön om det inte samlas in och tas om hand på rätt sätt. Sverige påbörjade insamlingen av el-avfall 2001 och samlar idag in 16,27 kg el-avfall perperson vilket är av de högsta insamlingsnivåerna inom EU, men trots det slängs fortfarande smått el-avfall så som hushållsprodukter, mobiltelefoner och lågenergilampor i andra avfallsfraktioner. För att lösa detta problem talar man om behovet av ökad tillgänglighet på insamlingsplatser och information, men undersökningar av hushållsavfallets sammansättning visar att innehållet av el-avfall i stort sett är oförändrat, trots ökad tillgänglighet och information. De studier som ligger till grund för dagens förbättringsåtgärder har antingen tittat på insamlingssystemets brister utifrån ett nationellt perspektiv eller på effektiviteten av alternativa lokala insamlingssystem. Utifrån dessa har slutsatser dragits om allmänna brister och potentiella förbättringsåtgärder. Statistik visar samtidigt att insamlingen av el-avfall skiljer sig åt markant mellan olika platser i landet, och att somliga kommuner har förvånansvärt effektiva system jämfört med andra. Med hänsyn till detta så finns en uppenbar risk att dagens förbättringsåtgärder är suboptimala. Istället för att undersöka styrkor och svagheter med specifika insamlingssystem så studeras i denna uppsats skillnaderna mellan två svenska kommuner, en med hög och en med låg insamlingsnivå av diverse elektronik ochgasurladdningslampor, med syftet att skapa en bättre förståelse för vilka faktorer som bidrar till en effektiv insamling. Skillnaderna som studeras är tillgängligheten på insamlingsplatser och informationen i anslutning till dessa, kommunernas arbetsinsatser samt invånarnas kunskap, attityder och preferenser, uppgivna beteenden och subjektiva uppfattning om insamlingssystemens tillgänglighet och funktion. Vidare studeras även om kommuninvånarna informerats i enlighet med den lagstiftning som finns på området och vad invånarna har för attityder till, och preferenser kring, ett eventuellt pantsystem för lågenergilampor och smått el-avfall. Frågeställningarna studeras genom en kombination av intervjuer med nyckelpersoner, inventering av insamlingsplatser samt en enkätundersökning. Resultaten av studien visar att det finns skillnader på samtliga undersökta områden, med undantag för invånarnas kunskap. Av skillnaderna dras slutsatsen att det finns ett antal åtgärder som sannolikt skulle kunna öka insamlingen av el-avfall i Sverige. På lokal nivå kan sannolikt ett ökat kommunalt engagemang och arbete med frågan om el-avfall, i kombination med ökad tillgänglighet på insamlingsplatser samt god och välanpassad information i anslutning till dessa, öka insamlingen av el-avfall. På nationell nivå kan sannolikt en skärpt tillsyn som tvingar kommunerna att följa informationskravet i aktuell lagstiftning leda till en ökad medvetenhet bland svenska medborgare, vilket i sin tur sannolikt kan bidra till minskade mängder felsorterade lågenergilampor och smått el-avfall. Slutligen tycks ett eventuellt pantsystem för lågenergilampor och annat smått el-avfall vara ytterligare ett sätt att öka insamlingen. Studien tyder på att ett pantsystem skulle kunna öka människors benägenhet att lämna in dessa produkter till återvinning, minska mängden upplagrad elektronik i hemmen, erbjuda nya möjligheter vad gäller märkning och uppföljning av produkter samt potentiellt kunna minska insamlingskostnaderna. / Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is the fastest growing waste stream within the EU, and at the same time of the most hazardous forms of waste, threatening both human health and the environment if not properly collected and treated. Sweden started a separate collection of WEEE in 2001, and with 16,27 kg of WEEE collected per person in 2011 it has one of the highest collection rates within the EU. Despite this, small WEEE is still ending up in all types of household waste. To solve this issue, the need for increased availability of collections points and information is frequently discussed, but despite improvements in these areas the content of WEEE in household waste remains relatively stable. The studies that make up the basis of today’s improvement work, have either been looking at shortcomings of the collection system from a national point of view, or on the effectiveness of alternative local collection systems. Based on these studies, conclusions about the general shortcomings of the system and potential ways of improvement have been drawn. At the same time, statistics show that the collection of WEEE differs substantially between different parts of Sweden, and that some municipalities have surprisingly efficient collection systems compared to others. With regard to his, current improvement strategies may not be optimal. Instead of looking at the strengths and weaknesses of specific collection systems, this study looks at the differences between two Swedish municipalities, one with a high and one with a low collection rate of small WEEE and compact fluorescent lamps, with the aim of creating a better understanding of factors that may contribute to high collection rates. The differences that are studied are the availability of collection points and the information in connection to these, the municipalities’ work and the resident’s knowledge, attitudes, preferences, subjective behavior and subjective perception of the collection system’s availability and functionality. Furthermore, the thesis examines whether the residents have been informed in accordance with European and national WEEE-legislation and what their attitudes and preferences are regarding a potential deposit system for small WEEE and compact fluorescent lamps. The results show that differences can be seen in all areas but the residents’ knowledge. From the observed differences, conclusions about possible ways of improving the collection of WEEE in Sweden are drawn. On a local level, increased municipal engagement and work efforts, in combination with increased access to collection points along with appropriate and well customized information in connection to these, is likely to increase the collection of WEEE. On a national level, increased supervision that forces municipalities to comply with the information requirements in European and national legislation, may lead to an increased awareness among Swedish citizens, which may in turn lead to a decrease in wrongly sorted small WEEE and compact fluorescent lamps. Finally, a potential deposit system for small WEEE and compact fluorescent lamps may be yet another way of increasing collection rates. The results suggest that a deposit system may in fact increase the motivation of citizens to recycle these products, decrease the amount of old electrical and electronic equipment currently stockpiled in private households, offer new possibilities to mark and track products and potentially lower the costs of collection. / <p>Granskare:</p><p>Lisa Dahlén, Universitetslektor vid Institutionen för samhällsbyggnad och naturresurser, avdelningen för Geovetenskap och miljöteknik, Luleå tekniska universitet*Lisa.Dahlen@ltu.se</p><p></p><p>Thesis evaluator:</p><p>Dahlén, Lisa, University Lector (Luleå University of Technology, Division of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering)*Lisa.Dahlen@ltu.se</p>

Introduction. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be highly prevalent among young women, and STIs continue to be a challenging health issue on college campuses. Studies have shown that the highest prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) is among young adult women, ages 20 to 24, including female college students. While the HPV vaccine has proven to be highly effective in preventing certain high-risk types of HPV, it is not effective in preventing all types of HPV or other STIs. Practicing other safer sex behaviors, in addition to condom use, also can help individuals protect themselves and their partners from acquiring HPV and other STIs. Purpose. Relationships between knowledge about HPV and the HPV vaccine, beliefs about HPV, acceptance of the HPV vaccine, and intentions to practice safer sex behaviors were assessed to determine if female college students who had a high acceptance of the HPV vaccine were also more likely to practice safer sex behaviors. Methods. A convenience sample of 2,706 undergraduate female college students, ages 18 to 24, from three U.S. public universities, completed an online survey that measured the following study variables: knowledge about HPV; knowledge about the HPV vaccine; acceptance of the HPV vaccine, specifically influential factors and barriers to vaccination; as well as attitudes, normative beliefs, control beliefs and intentions for practicing safer sex behaviors. Results. The majority of participants had a high level of knowledge of HPV (70.4%) and the HPV vaccine (73.7%). Over one-third of the participants (37.3%) received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. Most participants thought they had a low susceptibility to HPV, as 54% thought they were unlikely to contract HPV; however, most (53.6%) thought that HPV would be a serious problem for them. The safer sex behavior that participants thought was the easiest was refusing to have sex with a partner that would not use a condom (51.8% “Strongly agree”) and the safer sex behavior that participants thought to be the most difficult was asking a partner to get tested for STIs (54.5% “Disagree”). Attitudes, normative beliefs, and control beliefs combined to strongly predict intentions (R = .730, p < .001), and attitudes was the strongest predictor for intentions to practice safer sex behaviors (β = .666), 95% CI [.649, .711]. There was a significant positive correlation between vaccine acceptance and intentions to practice safer sex behaviors (r = .087, p < .001), including likelihood of getting vaccinated against HPV (r = .098, p < .001). Conclusions. Findings from this study demonstrate the need for university student health centers to provide information about the HPV vaccine as part of broader STI prevention and social marketing campaigns, targeting female college students who are single, as well as those in monogamous relationships. Furthermore, because young men can be carriers of HPV and the HPV vaccine is now available to them, follow-up studies are needed to determine acceptance of the HPV vaccine among male college students as it relates to HPV knowledge, knowledge of the vaccine, and intentions to practice safer sex behaviors.

Η πρόθεση για ανάπτυξη της επιχειρηματικότητας αποτελεί το αντικείμενο του ενδιαφέροντος της παρούσας μελέτης. Ο Bird (1988) και οι Souitaris et al. (2007) ορίζουν την εν λόγω έννοια ως μια κατάσταση που κατευθύνει την προσοχή και τις δράσεις ενός ατόμου προς την αυτό-απασχόληση, έναντι της απασχόλησης από κάποιον άλλο. Σκοπός της μελέτης είναι η μέτρηση της «πρόθεσης για ανάπτυξη επιχειρηματικότητας (entrepreneurial intention)» των φοιτητών του 1ου και του 4ου έτους του τμήματος Διοίκησης Επιχειρήσεων του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών, ο προσδιορισμός των παραγόντων που τη διαμορφώνουν, αλλά και οι διαφορές μεταξύ των δύο ετών. Το μοντέλο που σχεδιάστηκε βασίζεται στη Θεωρία της Προ-Σχεδιασμένης Συμπεριφοράς (Theory of Planned Behavior), ένα καθιερωμένο μοντέλο της βιβλιογραφίας που συνδέει την πρόθεση με τις επακόλουθες ενέργειες (Ajzen, 1987, 1991). Ο Ajzen (1991) προτείνει ότι η «στάση ενός ατόμου απέναντι στη συμπεριφορά (attitude towards behavior)», στους «υποκειμενικούς κανόνες (subjective norm)», και στον «αντιλαμβανόμενο έλεγχο της συμπεριφοράς (perceived behavioral control)» είναι οι παράγοντες που καθορίζουν τις προθέσεις του. Για το σκοπό της παρούσας μελέτης, προστέθηκαν μεταβλητές δανεισμένες από τη διεθνή βιβλιογραφία οι οποίες αναμένεται ότι επιδρούν στο σχηματισμό της «πρόθεσης για ανάπτυξη επιχειρηματικότητας (entrepreneurial intention)». Αυτές είναι το «αρμονικό πάθος (harmonious passion)», το «υπερβολικό πάθος (obsessive passion)», το «πρόγραμμα σπουδών του τμήματος και το περιεχόμενο των μαθημάτων (entrepreneurial curriculum and content)» (μόνο στο 4ο έτος), καθώς και κάποιες μεταβλητές σχετικές με το προφίλ των φοιτητών του τμήματος. Η μεθοδολογική προσέγγιση που επιλέχθηκε στην παρούσα μελέτη είναι η ποσοτική έρευνα με την μορφή ερωτηματολογίου. Ο πληθυσμός της έρευνας αποτελείται από το σύνολο των 413 προπτυχιακών φοιτητών που φοιτούν στο 1ο (264 φοιτητές) και στο 4ο (149 φοιτητές) έτος του τμήματος Διοίκησης Επιχειρήσεων του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών, το ακαδημαϊκό έτος 2013-2014, εκ των οποίων 186 ανταποκρίθηκαν (108 φοιτητές από το 1ο έτος και 78 από το 4ο), οι οποίοι αποτελούν το δείγμα της έρευνας. Αρχικά, χρησιμοποιήθηκε η ηλεκτρονική, ενώ στη συνέχεια η προσωπική μέθοδος συλλογής δεδομένων. Η έρευνα διεξήχθη από τις 28/03/2014 έως 14/05/2014. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν πως το δείγμα χαρακτηρίζεται από ουδέτερη «πρόθεση για ανάπτυξη επιχειρηματικότητας (entrepreneurial intention)», με τους τεταρτοετείς να εκφράζουν μειωμένη πρόθεση σε σχέση με τους πρωτοετείς. Τα τρία συστατικά της Θεωρία της Προ-Σχεδιασμένης Συμπεριφοράς (Theory of Planned Behavior) συσχετίζονται θετικά με τη «πρόθεση για ανάπτυξη επιχειρηματικότητας (entrepreneurial intention)» του δείγματος. Όμοια είναι και τα ευρήματα του «αρμονικού πάθους (harmonious passion)» και για τα δύο έτη, καθώς και του «προγράμματος σπουδών και του περιεχομένου των μαθημάτων για την ενίσχυση της επιχειρηματικότητας (entrepreneurial curriculum and content)» των τεταρτοετών. Οι μεταβλητές που προβλέπουν την «πρόθεση για ανάπτυξη επιχειρηματικότητας (entrepreneurial intention)» και για τα δύο έτη είναι κατά σειρά σημαντικότητας η «στάση απέναντι στην αυτό-απασχόληση (attitude towards behavior)» και ο «αντιλαμβανόμενος έλεγχος της συμπεριφοράς (perceived behavioral control)», ενώ είναι εμφανής η συμβολή του «αρμονικού πάθους (harmonious passion)» στην «πρόθεση για ανάπτυξη επιχειρηματικότητας (entrepreneurial intention)» των πρωτοετών και των «υποκειμενικών κανόνων (subjective norm)» στους τεταρτοετείς. Η μεταβλητή «πρόγραμμα σπουδών και το περιεχόμενο των μαθημάτων για την ενίσχυση της επιχειρηματικότητας (entrepreneurial curriculum and content)» συμβάλλει στο ποσοστό που ερμηνεύει τη μεταβλητότητα της «πρόθεσης για ανάπτυξη επιχειρηματικότητας (entrepreneurial intention)» των τεταρτοετών, αλλά δεν έχει στατιστικά σημαντική επίδραση. Τέλος, οι τεταρτοετείς με γονείς που δραστηριοποιούνται στην επιχειρηματικότητα, παρουσίασαν υψηλότερη «πρόθεση για ανάπτυξη επιχειρηματικότητας (entrepreneurial intention)». / The entrepreneurial intention is the subject of interest of the present study. Bird (1988) and Souitaris et al. (2007) define this concept as a condition that directs the attention and actions of an individual towards self-employment, against employment by someone else. The purpose of the study is to measure the “entrepreneurial intention” of the 1st and 4th year students of the Business Administration Department, University of Patras, the definitions of the factors that shape it, as well as the differences between the two years. The model which has been designed is based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), an established model of literature linking the intention with the subsequent actions (Ajzen, 1987, 1991). Ajzen (1991) suggests that "a person's attitude towards behavior”, the “subjective norm”, and the “perceived behavioral control” are the factors that determine his intentions. For the purpose of this study, variables have been added, borrowed from the international literature which are expected to affect the formation of the "entrepreneurial intention”. These are the “harmonious passion”, the “obsessive passion”, the "entrepreneurial curriculum and content” (only in the 4th year), and some variables related to the profile of the students of the department. The methodological approach that has been chosen in this study is the quantitative research in the form of a questionnaire. The survey population consists of all 413 undergraduate students enrolled in the 1st (264 students) and 4th (149 students) year of the Business Administration Department, University of Patras, in the academic year 2013-2014, of which 186 have responded (108 students from the first year and 78 in the fourth), who constitute the sample of the study. Originally, the electronics method of data collection was used, while later on the personal one. The survey was conducted from 03.28.2014 to 05.14.2014. The results have shown that the sample is characterized by a neutral “entrepreneurial intention”, with the fourth-year students expressing a reduced intention, compared with the first-year ones. The three components of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) are positively related to the "entrepreneurial intention” of the sample. Similar are the findings of the “harmonious passion” for both years, and the “entrepreneurial curriculum and content” of the fourth-year students. The variables which provide the “entrepreneurial intention” for both years are, in order of importance, the “(attitude towards behavior” and the “perceived behavioral control”, while there is a clear contribution of the “harmonious passion” in the “entrepreneurial intention” of freshmen and the “subjective norm” of the fourth-year students. The variable “entrepreneurial curriculum and content” contributes to the percentage which reflects the variability of “entrepreneurial intention” of the fourth-year students, but it has no statistically significant effect. Finally, the fourth-year students with parents involved in entrepreneurship have shown a higher “entrepreneurial intention”.

CORRELATES OF SEAT BELT USE AMONG TURKISH FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS SimSekoglu, &Ouml / zlem M.S., Department of Psychology Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Timo Lajunen June, 2005, 79 pages This thesis included three separate studies, which were observational, interview and survey studies, on seat belt use among Turkish front seat occupants. The observation study investigated occupant characteristics and environmental factors affecting seat belt use. Seat belts were used significantly more among females and older occupants than among males and younger occupants / and on intercity roads, at weekends and in the afternoons than on city roads, at weekdays and in the evenings. The interview study investigated the common reasons for using and not using a seat belt in different trip types, qualitatively. Safety, situational conditions, habit and avoiding punishment were the commonly reported reasons for using a seat belt, while situational conditions, not believing the effectiveness of seat belt use, discomfort and no habit of using a seat belt were the commonly reported reasons for not using a seat belt, for most of the trip types. In the third study, seat belt use both on urban and rural roads were explained with the basic and extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) models and Health Belief Model (HBM), using Structural Equation Modeling. Basic TPB model showed a good fit to the data, while extended TPB model and HBM showed a low fit to the data. Within TPB constructs, attitudes and the subjective norm had a positive and significant relation to intentions to use a seat belt. Results were discussed for their implications to traffic safety in Turkey, along with limitations of the study and suggestions for further studies.

研究目的：失眠盛行率高，且容易發展為慢性化的問題，目前多以助眠藥物作為失眠的治療，短期使用雖可幫助緩解失眠症狀，但長期使用的有效性及安全仍有較大爭議，且容易發展出依賴性及耐受性的問題。然而失眠患者中仍有相當高的比例在對藥物療效不滿意的情況下，使用遠超過臨床指引建議的期間，許多失眠患者亦表達出對助眠藥物使用的矛盾心態，顯示助眠藥物的使用仍受其他心理因素影響。過去研究指出計劃行為理論能有效預測及幫助探討物質使用相關行為的認知因素，但助眠藥物的使用除了認知因素的影響外，也會出現較為衝動及難以控制的渴想狀態。因此本研究目的是在於了解長期助眠藥物使用的心理因素，探討助眠藥物使用行為的認知因素，以及在計劃行為理論的架構下，失眠患者對於助眠藥物使用的認知因素是否會受到渴想的影響。 研究方法與結果：本研究以21名失眠患者進行開放式訪談後編制助眠藥物使用之計劃行為理論問卷，招募失眠且有助眠藥物使用經驗的受試者填寫助眠藥物使用計劃行為理論問卷以及助眠藥物渴想量表，並於施測後一個月及三個月的時間點，以電話追蹤其助眠藥物使用狀況，一個月及三個月有效問卷分別為143及139份。結果顯示知覺行為控制為行為意圖的主要預測因子，行為意圖及知覺行為控制能預測一個月及三個月時的藥物使用行為，且行為意圖為使用行為的最佳預測因子；助眠藥物使用行為意圖對一個月及三個月時的助眠藥物使用情況的預測力會受到渴想的負向調節。 結論：本研究結果顯示助眠藥物使用的行為意圖是行為出現與否的主要決定因素，說明失眠患者的確會在認知決策後選擇使用助眠藥物，也會在知覺到較多促進助眠藥物使用之情境或因素時產生助眠藥物使用的行為意圖或直接出現助眠藥物的使用行為，顯示助眠藥物使用行為上外在情境及因素的重要性。此外，本研究結果也顯示助眠藥物使用的行為意圖會受到渴想的干擾，當渴想程度愈高時行為意圖對於實際行為的預測力愈低，而渴想程度愈低時行為意圖對實際行為的預測愈高。此研究結果幫助了解長期助眠藥物使用的心理因素，亦可將其用於幫協助擬定助眠藥物減藥策略。 / Insomnia has high prevalence and is prone to develop into a chronic problem. Hypnotics are the most common choice of treatment for insomnia. Although short-term usage is effective in relieving insomnia, the safety and efficacy of long-term usage are still in controversy. Long-term usage has also been reported to increase risks of tolerance and dependence. Even though the efficacy of hypnotics is not always satisfying, the duration of hypnotics use in insomnia patients is often longer than clinical recommendation. This may be influenced by some psychological factors. The theory of planned behavior has been demonstrated to be able to predict cognitive factors of substance use behaviors. It can therefore possibly be used to model hypnotic use behavior. In addition to cognitive factors, craving that is associated with losing control over drug use may also play a role in the use of hypnotics. The purpose of current study is to 1) explore the cognitive factors of long-term hypnotics use based on the theory of planned behavior, and 2) understand whether the cognitive factors would be influenced by the craving state. Method and result: We first conducted a semi-structured interview with 21 insomnia patients to develop the questionnaire of the theory of planned behavior of hypnotics use and a hypnotic craving scale. The insomnia patients who had used or are currently using hypnotics were recruited to complete the questionnaires. They were contacted by telephone at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups. Total number of valid questionnaires of 1-month and 3-month follow-ups were 143 and 139, respectively. We found that behavior intention could be predicted by perceived behavior control, but not attitude and subjective norms. Frequency of hypnotics use at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups could be predicted by behavior intention and perceived behavior control, and behavior intention was the best predictor. Craving has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between behavior intention and the hypnotics use behavior at both 1-month and 3-month follow-ups. Conclusion: The findings of current study show that behavior intention is the most crucial cognitive factor to predict hypnotics use behavior. It indicates that insomnia patients may have higher behavior intention and are more likely to use hypnotics when they perceive more situational factors that lead to drug use. In addition, our study indicates the association between behavior intention and actual hypnotic use behavior can be moderated by craving. The higher the craving state the lower the predictability of hypnotic use by behavior intention, and vice versa. Our study helps understand the psychological factors of long-term hypnotics use, and assists in developing the tapering interventions.

Den teknologiska utvecklingen har lett till en strukturomvandling i dagens samhälle, vilket har resulterat i nya vanor och ett förändrat konsumentbeteende då allt fler börjar handla online. Företag har svårt att hänga med i denna utveckling och det har blivit en allt större utmaning för dem att lyckas möta kundernas behov. Att handla livsmedel är en aktivitet som tar upp en stor del av vardagssysslorna och innebär ett invant och traditionellt beteendemönster hos konsumenterna. I den digitala övergången till att köpa livsmedel online är det svårt att avgöra vad konsumenterna har för förväntningar och preferenser. Utifrån en kvalitativ ansats har 12 stycken semi-strukturerade intervjuer genomförts för att erhålla en djupare förståelse för hur konsumenter förhåller sig till köp av livsmedel online. Dessutom har faktorer utifrån tidigare forskning setts över, för att ta reda på vad som påverkar de faktiska köpbesluten. Resultatet visar att konsumenter väljer att köpa livsmedel online främst på grund av den bekvämlighet det erbjuder. Att konsumenter inte väljer att handla online beror på att de förlorar kontrollen och den sociala kontexten av livsmedelsinköp. Priset visade sig inte ha stor betydelse vid köpen och produktinnehållet var det viktigaste vid val av produkter.

Background: A significant increase in the global food demand is expected to occur in the near future. Since the currently implied food system will not be able to meet this demand without impacting the environment negatively, it is crucial to consider alternative ways of producing food. Entomophagy thereby presents an approach that could be deployed to meet the future demand in an environmental and sustainable way. However, whereas multiple studies investigate consumers’ acceptance of insect-based products, little is known about their purchase intentions. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the underlying factors affecting Swedish university-attending Generation Y consumers’ purchase intentions towards insect-based products. In order to fulfill the purpose of this study, two research questions have been developed. Thereby, the Theory of Planned Behavior was chosen as a theoretical framework. Method: The research philosophy of this study adopted elements of both constructionism and interpretivism. Further, this study applied an abductive approach and a qualitative research design with an exploratory purpose. A total of three focus groups were conducted in order to explore purchase intentions towards insect-based products. In addition, a taste test was incorporated in each focus group to explore the participants’ reactions when given the opportunity to try an insect-based product. To adequately reach the selected target population, a combination of a self-selection sampling technique and a convenience sampling technique was employed. Lastly, a content analysis following a directed approach was applied in order to properly analyze the collected data. Conclusion: The empirical findings of this study suggest that eleven factors are contributing to the target populations’ purchase intentions towards insect-based products. Thereby, ten of these factors are connected to the components of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control of the theoretical framework whereas the remaining factor was not categorized within these components. Regarding the conducted taste test, it was found that the large majority of the participants were willing to try. Further, the taste test showed that all participants followed their initial intentions.

Submitted by Tatiana Lima (tatianasl@ufba.br) on 2016-08-30T20:23:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Gonzalez, Ricardo Alonso.pdf: 5177905 bytes, checksum: 91c4cc381c6ddcf64875d3a8df5a94af (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Angela Dortas (dortas@ufba.br) on 2016-08-30T21:12:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Gonzalez, Ricardo Alonso.pdf: 5177905 bytes, checksum: 91c4cc381c6ddcf64875d3a8df5a94af (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-30T21:12:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gonzalez, Ricardo Alonso.pdf: 5177905 bytes, checksum: 91c4cc381c6ddcf64875d3a8df5a94af (MD5) / Esta tese, fundamentada na Teoria da Ação Planejada, tem o objetivo de desenvolver um modelo que explicasse a influência das atitudes individuais, das normas sociais subjetivas e do controle comportamental percebido na intenção do indivíduo em empregar esforço discricionário no trabalho. O esforço discricionário no trabalho pode ser entendido como aquele nível de esforço que se encontra sob o domínio do indivíduo, que excede ao mínimo necessário para se evitar uma repreensão ou mesmo uma demissão, cabendo unicamente ao indivíduo a decisão de exercê-lo. Esse nível de esforço, sob total controle do indivíduo, pode ser motivado por diversos fatores, que possuem como base as crenças. Como fundamento teórico para se determinar esses fatores, buscou-se na Teoria da Ação Planejada os seus antecedentes. Foram desenvolvidos dois estudos empíricos como forma de se alcançar ao objetivo pretendido. O primeiro estudo, de natureza qualitativa, evidenciou as crenças salientes relacionadas ao esforço discricionário no trabalho associadas às atitudes individuais, às normas sociais subjetivas e ao controle comportamental percebido referente a tal esforço, evidenciando em ambos os grupos estudados contribuições favoráveis das atitudes, da norma social subjetiva e do controle comportamental percebido sobre a intenção de empregar esforço discricionário no trabalho. O segundo estudo, de natureza quantitativa, buscou evidenciar o efeito das atitudes individuais, das normas sociais subjetivas e do controle comportamental percebido sobre a intenção do indivíduo em empregar esforço discricionário no trabalho. Utilizaram-se duas amostras, uma composta por servidores públicos estaduais e outra por professores de Instituições de Ensino Superior públicas e privadas. Os resultados obtidos por meio de modelagem de equações estruturais apontaram em ambas as amostras significância estatística na relação entre as atitudes, a norma social subjetiva e o controle comportamental percebido sobre a intenção, confirmando a tese de que a intenção pode ser determinada por esses constructos. Dentre outros, indicaram, também, que crenças de natureza social influenciam mais na intenção do que crenças de natureza financeira. Os resultados apontaram que os indivíduos empregam esforço discricionário no trabalho motivados mais por satisfação pessoal, reconhecimento, influência de superiores e colegas, suporte organizacional e outras crenças de natureza social do que por uma expectativa de remuneração financeira ou por estarem sendo monitorados. Tais resultados contribuem com o campo da Administração na medida em que trazem ao debate o esforço discricionário no trabalho e abre espaço para várias possibilidades de pesquisa envolvendo o tema. / This thesis, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, aims to develop a model to explain the influence of individual attitudes, subjective social norms and perceived behavioral control on the individual's intention to employ discretionary work effort. The discretionary work effort can be understood as a level of effort that is under the domain of the individual, which exceeds the minimum necessary to avoid a reprimand or even dismissal, it depends only on the individual's decision to exercise it. This level of effort under full control of the individual, may be motivated by several factors, which are based on the beliefs. As a theoretical basis for determining these factors, it sought the Theory of Planned Behavior. Two empirical studies were developed as a way to achieve the desired goal. The first study, qualitative, highlighted the salient beliefs related to the discretionary work effort associated with individual attitudes, subjective social norms and perceived behavioral control. The results showed in both studied groups favorable to contributions of attitudes, subjective social norms and perceived behavioral control on the intention to employ discretionary work effort. The second study, quantitative, sought to highlight the effect of individual attitudes, subjective social norms and perceived behavioral control on the intention of the individual to employ discretionary work effort using two samples, one composed of state civil servants and another for teachers of higher public and private education institutions. The results obtained by structural equation modeling showed in both samples statistically significant relationship between attitudes, social subjective norm and perceived behavioral control on the intention, confirming the thesis that the intention may be determined by these constructs. Among others results, it indicates that social beliefs are stronger than finance ones. The results showed that individuals employ discretionary work effort motivated more by personal satisfaction, recognition, influence of superiors and colleagues, organizational support and other social beliefs than by an expectation of financial remuneration or because they are being monitored. These results contribute to the field of management as they bring to the debate the discretionary work effort and opens space to various research possibilities involving the theme.

In our interconnected world, social media is a vital tool for communication in the everyday life of individuals. The importance of social media in society has increased not only in times of peace, but social media has grown to be instrument of influencing crisis. In recent years, social media’s role in crisis and crisis response was observed by many scholars for different crisis. One of the most recent ones is the water crisis in Cape Town, South Africa, which was chosen as a case study due to its current relevance in the social media landscape. The obviously high use of social in this crisis is what this qualitative desk study investigates. This study does, however, not aim to analyse social media as a solution for a crisis, but sheds light on the patterns of social media behaviour. This research thus aims to understand Why people turn to social media in a crisis? Subsequent to this, this research analyses whether different types of users resort to social media during a crisis for different reasons. The results were obtained through applying a frameworks: As the main tool of analysis, the Different Users and Usage Framework by Houston et al. (2015). Assisting on explaining some specific part of the findings, the Theory of Planned Behavior (Icek Ajzen, 1991) was applied. Three main findings were analysed for the case study: (1) People turn to social media during a crisis for different reasons and in the case of the water crisis in South Africa, fifteen usage areas were observed. (2) According to the analytical results, different users tend to dominate different usage areas and (3) During the Cape Town crisis, it was common practice for businesses and corporations to raise awareness and combine it with promoting their business.