Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2007. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: David W. Mogk. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-93).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 208 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-142).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 197-207).

Background: There is increasing evidence supporting the potential use of physical activity as an intervention for depression. However, effective behavioural interventions which focus on encouraging physical activity in people with depression are needed. Aim: This thesis reports on the development and pilot evaluation of a web-based intervention based on behavioural activation (BA) and physical activity promotion for people with depression (eMotion). There is also a specific focus on intervention fidelity. Method: A systematic review was conducted to identify how fidelity is assessed in behavioural interventions promoting physical activity in adults. Findings from the systematic review and the Centre for eHealth and Disease Management (CeHReS) Roadmap informed the development of eMotion. A novel “design fidelity” methodology was devised, which involved using an independent coder to systematically verify the presence or absence of intended and non-intended behaviour change techniques (BCTs). A pilot RCT of eMotion was conducted to provide evidence on the feasibility and acceptability of eMotion, and exploratory data on outcomes. A mixed methods process evaluation of the understanding, feasibility and enactment of the main BCTs used in eMotion, and participant’s perceptions of eMotion was conducted. Results: The systematic review presents a critical appraisal of the wide range of methods and measures used to assess intervention fidelity. The eMotion intervention consisted of weekly modules designed to re-engage people in routine, pleasurable, necessary or physical activities. Design fidelity of the intervention was excellent with discrepancies between intervention materials and the intended design for 12 out of 221 (AC1 =0.91) and 14 out of 221 (AC1 = 0.88) BCTs relating to BA and physical activity respectively. In the pilot trial, 62 people (≥10 on the PHQ-8) were randomised, and the two-month attrition rate was 19% (95% CI: 11 to 30%). Study completers in the eMotion group (n=25) had a significantly larger reduction in depressive symptoms than the waiting list control group (n=25) (Adj Mean Diff -3.6, 95% CI: -6.1 to -1.1). Participants using eMotion also reported significantly higher levels of understanding, ability and enactment of most BCTs compared with controls. Interviews with participants revealed a number of possible mechanisms by which eMotion may have changed behaviour (e.g. increased awareness of the link between mood and activity) and reduced depression (e.g. through distraction). Conclusion: This thesis has reported on the development and pilot evaluation of a behavioural intervention promoting physical activity for depression while focussing on fidelity. Further insight into a number of methodological and clinical implications for the conduct of future RCTs in this area has also been provided.

The incorporation of best practice in e-learning environments can increase the probability of success for companies and learners alike. By identifying and understanding the barriers that potential learners may face when interacting with e-learning products, the potential for e-learning failure may be alleviated. There are a variety of benefits that may be realised by companies incorporating e-learning opportunities into their management strategies. However, certain pedagogical principles, metrics and components need to be investigated and implemented in order for a corporate e-learning environment to be successful. The aim of this research is to prototype and evaluate a practical e-learning environment for software training (eLESTP) with e-learning components consisting of interactive learning objects that can guide the development and management of online training in the corporate context. The eLESTP is based on a theoretical contribution that is conceptualised in the form of an e-learning environment for software training (eLESTT). Hence, this study followed a research methodology that is appropriate for educational technologies, namely the Design-Based Research (DBR) methodology, which was applied in iterative cycles. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected by means of a case study, interviews, a focus group and survey. The proposed eLESTP underwent several iterations of feedback and improvement and the result is a real-world solution to the problem at hand. With the purpose of determining the success of corporate e-learning, the barriers and critical success factors for e-learning as well as evaluation criteria were explored. Interviews, a focus group and a survey were conducted in order to validate the investigated literature in a real-world context. Informal interviews enabled a better understanding of the organisational context of this study. The focus group was conducted with customers who were undergoing face-to-face training using conveyancing software developed by Korbitec. Many of the issues faced by learners identified in literature regarding e-learning in developing countries were identified by the participants from the case study. An e-learning survey was used to gather information regarding the intention of Korbitec’s customers to use e-learning as well as their satisfaction with using e-learning. From the survey, it was found that respondents were positive regarding intention to use and satisfaction toward e-learning usage. DBR Cycle 1: Problem Investigation and Proposal entailed the initial problem investigation by conducting a literature review, focus group and survey. DBR Cycle 2: Design Alternative 1 of this study involved a design alternative for eLESTP, namely Prototype 1. DBR Cycle 3: Design and Evaluate Alternative 2 involved the design and prototyping of Prototype 2 for eLESTP as well as the improvement of Prototype 2 through sub-cycles of testing and refinement. The suggestions for improvement were obtained from the relevant stakeholders at Korbitec who are content developers and subject-matter experts. The criteria used to evaluate the success of eLESTP, including its e-learning components, were synthesised and adapted from literature and a new set of evaluation criteria for e-learning environments in software training contexts was proposed. The evaluated eLESTP consists of the technology basis of the Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (Moodle), design guidelines for e-learning components, certification and competency-based training, pedagogical principles and best practice. Overall, eLESTP was positively received by various evaluator groups in formative and summative evaluations. The research results indicate that the use of an e-learning environment for software training purposes was useful and necessary. In support of this Masters dissertation, the following three conference papers have been published and presented at one local conference and two international conferences. In addition, an article has been published in an accredited journal: 1. IDIA 2015, Conference Paper – Zanzibar (Tanzania); 2. Conf-IRM 2016, Conference Paper – Cape Town (South Africa); 3. MCIS 2016, Conference Paper – Cyprus (Europe); and 4. IJIKM 2016, Journal Article.

Master of Public Health / Public Health Interdepartmental Program / Emily Mailey / BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of physical inactivity in America is associated with the development of multiple chronic health conditions and a growing burden on the healthcare system, causing a public health crisis. An ineffective communication strategy regarding how and why people can be physically active may be partially to blame for this crisis. Messages coming from various sources, including physicians, the federal government, professional organizations, and the media, promote physical activity in a way that does not support the three key psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness described by the Self-Determination Theory (SDT). To address these deficiencies, the present study sought to compare the impact of brief online modules utilizing SDT-supportive strategies to promote autonomy and competence to information-based modules on participant levels of autonomous motivation, attitude, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and physical activity behavior. METHOD: Four online modules were developed for inactive adults ages 22-45 and were delivered over the course of four weeks via Qualtrics. Participants were randomized into the intervention (n=66) or control (n=66) condition, with the intervention modules including more autonomy-supportive content and recommendations to re-frame physical activity as a more feasible activity that one can benefit from immediately. Both groups completed modules relating to similar topics, including the benefits of physical activity, physical activity recommendations, barriers, and external influences. Repeated measures ANOVAs were utilized to examine changes in autonomous motivation, attitude, PBC, and physical activity behavior from pre-post intervention between groups. RESULTS: Participants from both groups reported an increase in autonomous motivation [F(1,66)=16.207, p=<.001], overall attitude towards physical activity [F(1,65)=4.726, p=.033], and PBC [F(1,66)=9.191, p=.002]. There was no significant change in physical activity behavior [F(1,68)=.122, p=.728] during the four-week pre-post assessment, and there were no significant differences detected between groups. CONCLUSION: A four-week online intervention positively impacted autonomous motivation, attitude, and perceived behavioral control regarding individual physical activity behavior. These findings suggest that implementing recommendations to re-frame physical activity through brief interactive and information-based modules could be an effective strategy to increase the psychological precursors of physical activity behavior. However, additional strategies may be necessary to translate psychological changes to physical activity behavior. Future interventions could benefit from identifying ways to increase the reach of the program and incorporating a longer follow-up to assess if the psychological changes are translated to behavior.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T15:52:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo1844_1.pdf: 1599198 bytes, checksum: 84a19c5d7769a76fba813a0cac740509 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / As organizações, com o intuito de aumentarem o seu grau de competitividade no mercado, vêm a cada instante buscando novas formas de evoluir a produtividade e a qualidade dos produtos desenvolvidos, além da diminuição de custos que está diretamente relacionada ao aumento do faturamento líquido. Para que tais objetivos possam ser alcançados é primordial explorar ao máximo o potencial de seus colaboradores e os possíveis relacionamentos que esses colaboradores têm uns com os outros, ou seja, encontrar e partilhar conhecimento tácito. Como o conhecimento tático está na mente das pessoas, é difícil de ser formalizado e documentado, por isso, o ideal seria identificar e recomendar a pessoa que detém o conhecimento. Diante disso, a presente dissertação apresenta o Sistema de Recomendação de Especialistas SWEETS e a sua implantação no ambiente a.m.i.g.o.s., uma plataforma de gestão de conhecimento baseada em conceitos voltados às redes sociais. O SWEETS foi desenvolvido em duas versões, 1.0 e 2.0. A versão 1.0, de forma pró-ativa, aproxima pessoas com especialidades em comum, ora pelos seus conhecimentos (perfil de escrita), ora pelos seus interesses (perfil de leitura). Já a versão 2.0 do SWEETS não atua de forma pró-ativa, ou seja, é necessário que haja a requisição de um usuário especialista em determinada área, e é baseada em folksonomia para extração de uma ontologia, fundamental para identificar as especialidades das pessoas de forma mais eficaz. Esta ontologia é refletida pela co-ocorrência das tags (conceitos) em relação aos itens (instâncias) e é independente de domínio principal contribuição dessa dissertação. A implantação do SWEETS no a.m.i.g.o.s. visa trazer benefícios como: minimizar o problema de comunicação na corporação, prover um incentivo ao conhecimento social e partilhar conhecimento; proporcionando, assim, à empresa, a utilização mais eficaz dos conhecimentos de seus colaboradores

D.Litt. et Phil. / This study aims at constructing a developmental model which can serve as a guide for the design and development of Web-based psychological interventions. It should be kept in mind that this study is grounded methodologically in a developmental research design but also uses this developmental research design as a basis for intervention design. Psychology has already made use of the Internet in terms of different applications but no formalised structure exists for the development of Web-based interventions. Due to this gap in knowledge the model needs to be developed by utilising existing models for intervention design and integrating them with existing models for the design of instructional and Web-based training. Due to the unique, adaptive nature of Web-based psychological interventions, it is necessary to also move beyond these models and focus on user and environmental characteristics which can be addressed during the development and design phases. In order to develop and refine the proposed model, a Web-based career guidance intervention will be developed and implemented. Users‟ feedback from their experience of this intervention will provide indications of the feasibility of the model and also suggest any modifications that should be made.

This research examined how web-based services influence the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty. There have been numerous studies that have examined service quality based on SERVQUAL in traditional service industries. Some studies investigated customer loyalty based on Zeithmal, Parasuraman, and Malhotra's (2000) behavioral intentions (e.g. Mattila, 2004; Mattila & Patterson, 2004). Constrained by changing market conditions and Internet infrastructures, service quality has become more complicated. Customer loyalty management for web-based services may be different from the traditional practice. The primary purpose of this study was to test the SERVQUAL (Parasuraman, Zeithaml, & Berry, 1988) and Zeithmal, Berry, and Parasuraman's (1996) theoretical framework of behavioral intentions on the web-based services using the e-Servqual instrument. The results indicate that there was a statistical difference between the perceptions of service quality between the organizational employees and customers surveyed on all four dimensions of service quality as measured by the e-SERVQUAL instrument. The perception scores of service quality according to employees were higher than the perception scores according to the customers. The results also indicate that there is a relationship between service quality and consumer loyalty. However, the results indicate that there is no relationship between quality perception and consumer satisfaction. In addition, the research found gender plays a role in the privacy and fulfillment aspects of service quality, with men placing particular emphasis on these two components. Moreover, the research found that there is support for the four factors of service quality, efficiency, service availability, fulfillment and privacy based on all of the groups surveyed. However, the factor analysis results suggest that the factors as measured by the e-SERVQUAL instrument may not be as clearly defined when used in a Chinese population. The results of this study should help organizations in making decisions on marketing activities based on service quality perception, customer loyalty and customer satisfaction in Taiwan's online service industry. Future studies on service quality and the value of the e-SERVQUAL instrument in non-American cultures should be considered in order to expand on the research findings from this study.

Microarray technology makes it possible to identify changes in gene expression of an organism, under various conditions. The challenge to researchers that employ microarray expression profiling is that once pre-processing is completed, and a cluster of co-expressed genes obtained, is to derive biological meaning from this data. Data mining is thus essential for deducing significant biological information such as the identification of new biological mechanisms or putative drug targets. While many algorithms and software have been developed for analysing gene expression, the extraction of relevant information from experimental data is still a substantial challenge, requiring significant time and skill. MADIBA (MicroArray Data Interface for Biological Annotation) facilitates the assignment of biological meaning to gene expression clusters by automating the post-processing stage. A relational database has been designed to store the data from gene to pathway for Plasmodium falciparum, Oryza sativa (rice), Arabidopsis thaliana, and Pectobacterium atrosepticum (Pba) As input, the user submits a cluster of genes, either the gene identifiers or the gene sequences. Tools within the web interface allow rapid analyses for the identification of the Gene Ontology terms relevant to each cluster; visualising the metabolic pathways where the gene products are implicated, their genomic localisations, putative common transcriptional regulatory elements in the upstream sequences, and an analysis specific to the organism being studied. The user has the option of outputting selected results of the analyses, either in PDF or plain text formats. MADIBA is an integrated, online tool that will assist researchers in interpreting their results and understand the meaning of the co-expression of a cluster of genes. Functionality of MADIBA was used to analyse a number of gene clusters from several experiments – expression profiling of the Plasmodium falciparum life cycle, a Ralstonia solanacearum infection ofArabidopsis thaliana, a rice treatment with BTH, a millet SA- and MeJ-treatment experiment, and an expI mutant experiment in Pectobacterium atrosepticum. Data from the Plasmodium falciparum and rice were used to illustrate MADIBA’s functionality. For the A. thaliana analyses, the DRASTIC database was implemented to identify how genes respond to various treatments. In addition, a method named PCA Experiment Comparer was developed, which compares the expression values of the numerous experiments in NASCArrays. Using the A. thaliana-R. solanacearum interaction data several related experiments matched in both the susceptible and resistant interactions. In the millet analyses, besides defence related genes being identified, several genes also involved in photosynthesis were found, possibly suggesting a relation between light and defence signalling. The Pba data identified genes involved in quorum sensing, as well as some associated genes with no known function that may also be related to this regulatory process. With the advent of whole genome microarray chips and an increasing number of organisms being sequenced, tools such as MADIBA will become even more significant in understanding the underlying biology. MADIBA provides access to several genomic data sources and analyses, allowing users to quickly annotate and visualise the results. MADIBA is freely available and can be accessed at http://www.bi.up.ac.za/MADIBA/. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Biochemistry / unrestricted