China currently produces the largest quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the world at 190, 000, 000 metric tones (World Bank 2005). China faces the continuing challenge of increased waste generation due to population growth, increased income, and increased urbanization. As part of environmental protection initiatives, the central government has issued many policy commitments at the national level to address waste management. In concurrence with the national objectives of addressing the problem of waste management, Hainan province has developed an integrated waste management plan that it hopes to implement by 2020 (The Hainan City Environment and Sanitary Association, in association with Hua Zhong University of Science and Technology of Environmental Science and Engineering, 2005). Organic waste, which accounts for a significant proportion of the waste stream in China, poses both challenges and opportunities in terms of disposal and recovery. While the final disposal of organics may present significant challenges, recovery of organic waste through composting is one alternative. Composting is widely recognized as an effective method of turning organic waste into a useful product. Nevertheless, the implementation of composting as part of a Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) strategy faces challenges. Broadly, these challenges include administrative/policy, human acceptance and participation, management, technological and logistical, and marketing as well as composting process, source separation, contamination, quality of the final product, appropriate composting technologies and final demand and distribution of the final product (Schubeler et al. 1996, Hoornweg et al. 1999). This thesis uses a case study approach in implementing a composting pilot project in cooperation with the local and provincial government in Baisha Hainan China. Labor intensive, low technological, windrow composting is used so as to assess the challenges and potential of implementing composting as part of a municipal solid waste management strategy in Baisha Hainan China. The research uses a participatory action research approach incorporating research methods such as participant observation, key informant interviews (n=122), and rapid rural appraisals. The research objectives are to understand the current waste management system, understand how implementing composting affects the waste management system entails, understand the barriers to implementation, understand the implications: impact of implementation, potential, and finally to propose recommendations on how to implement composting. The research identified seven necessary key factors that if not given sufficient attention could potentially jeopardize the successful implementation and operation of composting: governmental support must be present, funds must be made available since operating cost of the waste management system will increase, best practices for composting must be established, training for waste workers must be provided, a market (or end use) for the final product must be established, NIMBY needs to be addressed, source separation should be applied.

China currently produces the largest quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the world at 190, 000, 000 metric tones (World Bank 2005). China faces the continuing challenge of increased waste generation due to population growth, increased income, and increased urbanization. As part of environmental protection initiatives, the central government has issued many policy commitments at the national level to address waste management. In concurrence with the national objectives of addressing the problem of waste management, Hainan province has developed an integrated waste management plan that it hopes to implement by 2020 (The Hainan City Environment and Sanitary Association, in association with Hua Zhong University of Science and Technology of Environmental Science and Engineering, 2005). Organic waste, which accounts for a significant proportion of the waste stream in China, poses both challenges and opportunities in terms of disposal and recovery. While the final disposal of organics may present significant challenges, recovery of organic waste through composting is one alternative. Composting is widely recognized as an effective method of turning organic waste into a useful product. Nevertheless, the implementation of composting as part of a Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) strategy faces challenges. Broadly, these challenges include administrative/policy, human acceptance and participation, management, technological and logistical, and marketing as well as composting process, source separation, contamination, quality of the final product, appropriate composting technologies and final demand and distribution of the final product (Schubeler et al. 1996, Hoornweg et al. 1999). This thesis uses a case study approach in implementing a composting pilot project in cooperation with the local and provincial government in Baisha Hainan China. Labor intensive, low technological, windrow composting is used so as to assess the challenges and potential of implementing composting as part of a municipal solid waste management strategy in Baisha Hainan China. The research uses a participatory action research approach incorporating research methods such as participant observation, key informant interviews (n=122), and rapid rural appraisals. The research objectives are to understand the current waste management system, understand how implementing composting affects the waste management system entails, understand the barriers to implementation, understand the implications: impact of implementation, potential, and finally to propose recommendations on how to implement composting. The research identified seven necessary key factors that if not given sufficient attention could potentially jeopardize the successful implementation and operation of composting: governmental support must be present, funds must be made available since operating cost of the waste management system will increase, best practices for composting must be established, training for waste workers must be provided, a market (or end use) for the final product must be established, NIMBY needs to be addressed, source separation should be applied.

Over the past several years, both government and the profession of pharmacy have acknowledged that pharmacists are not being used to their full potential in our health care system. In order to advance the profession of pharmacy in this area, guidance on how pharmacists can be integrated need to be investigated.<p>The purpose of this study was to identify how to integrate a pharmacist into an already established primary health care team, at the Student Health Centre at the University of Saskatchewan. The project was divided into three phases: defining the role of the pharmacist, implementing the proposed role and then evaluating and prioritizing the role. Using action research, an expert panel consisting of established primary health/ambulatory care pharmacists from across Canada helped to identify possible clinical activities for a Student Health Centre pharmacist. The results were presented to the primary health care team, who then collaborated with the pharmacist and researchers to define the role of the pharmacist. Once an agreement was reached, a pharmacist provided eight weeks of full-time clinical services. Upon completion, focus groups with the primary health care team members were used to evaluate the pharmacists clinical services.<p>The role of the pharmacist was tailored specifically for the student health care centre selected for the study. However, the process of integrating and evaluating the role of the pharmacist, will serve as a template for other pharmacists desiring to be involved in any primary health care team interested in expanding their multidisciplinary service.

Uncertainty is a well-known phenomenon that is recurring in biographies, imaginative literature and science, but is less studied in nursing science. The aim of this participatory action research project was to, in collaboration with nursing students; explore nursing activities for relieving patients’ uncertainty. A qualitative approach was chosen with focus groups and the text was content analyzed. The students studied their third semester on a nursing program. The findings showed two different kinds of uncertainty, existential uncertainty and care evoked uncertainty. Relieving uncertainty showed to be a process in three steps. The first step is to reach deeper understanding of what uncertainty is and how it affects patients. The second step is to develop sensibility for how to discover uncertainty and the third step is to use uncertainty relieving strategies. To do this requires courage and a wish to share power with the patient. The strategies for relieving existential and care evoked uncertainty differed.

This is an Action Research. The purpose is to understand that if there is any change within the student¡¦s reading comprehension and how the condition of using the Reading comprehension strategy is by accepting the methods of Reciprocal Teaching. This research does the survey on the class of 32 students in one elementary school in Kaohsiung City through the instructions of Reciprocal Teaching on Reading comprehension strategy within 20 weeks. Before teaching, the researcher used ¡§ Reading Comprehension Screening Test ¡¨, ¡¨ Chinese Reading Comprehension test for Elementary school students ¡¨ and ¡§ Reading Comprehension Strategy Scale for Senior Students of Elementary School ¡¨ to confirm the students¡¦ performance on reading comprehension. After teaching for 20 weeks, the researcher used two copies of tests designed by the teacher herself and ¡§Reading Comprehension Strategy Scale for Senior Students of Elementary School¡¨ to understand the students¡¦ different performances after using the reading comprehension strategy. The conclusion is as below. First, after accepting the Reciprocal Teaching instruction, the most significant influence is inferential comprehension and text base comprehension. The ability of questioning is less effective. The effect of summarization and the literal comprehension are much weaker. Second, after accepting the Reciprocal Teaching instruction, the students use the variety of prediction strategies most frequently. The second is the usage of clarification. The last is the application of the summarization and questioning strategies.

The main purpose of the study is to design the Character Education Course through action research methodology, which is composed of four ethic education methods such as Modeling, Conversation, Exercise and Affirmation advocated by Ethics of Care from three core value ¡§Concern¡¨, ¡§Respect¡¨ and ¡§Responsibility¡¨ deficient in practice research class. One class is carried out in each week and three classes are carried out for a core value curriculum. There are nine classes for three core concepts. Class No.10 is reviewed in the final stage. The concrete goal for this research is stated as follows. 1. Discussion the effect of the Character Education Course based on Ethics of Care on the student¡¦s ethic behavior change. 2. Discussion the effect of the Character Education Course on the interaction between teacher and student. 3. Discussion the effect of the Character Education Course on the feasibility in practice. Several conclusions derived from this research are as follows. 1. Student¡¦s ethic behavior i. It¡¦s helpful to build the harmony atmosphere is class through the Character Education Course in Ethics of Care. Also the relationship between classmates is partly improved. ii. It¡¦s different for each student¡¦s ethic behavior change. But the positive restraint force is formed between the same generation. 2. Interaction between teacher and student i. Teacher is key person to affect student¡¦s behavior. Modeling may be imitated by student naturally. ii. Teacher like to dialogue with student such that student wish to develop character naturally. iii. Give the practice chances to students by modifying taking care of every single thing personally. It is expected to be helpful to the interaction between teacher and student. iv. Teacher must learn to think over positively in student¡¦s viewpoint to confirm the growing trajectory of student. 3. Feasibility in practice i. Students affirm the Character Education Course in Ethics of Care. ii. It¡¦s still necessary to continually track record the change of student¡¦s ethic behavior.

This study is an action research on the application of concept mapping to improve English reading comprehension ability. It was assessed the effectiveness by utilizing the reading curriculum infusing concept mapping. The purposes of this study is promote junior high school students in educational priority area project who implemented concept mapping into the English reading instruction, also took an action research on curriculum development and did some reflection through action research. The object of the study is 21 students in the first grade of junior high school through the instructions of Concept Mapping Teaching on reading curriculum within 20 weeks. The origin of textbook is the fifteen units of Han Lin Publishing Co., Ltd and Festivals around the world of Oxford University Press. Conclusions¡G 1. Concept mapping teaching model should be processed in proper sequences including the readability level and students¡¦familiarization of the topics and fifty words text that is good for learning motivation in junior high school students in educational priority area project. 2. Students¡¦ difficulties in Concept mapping were their insufficient vocabulary and weren¡¦t identify the lower level of the text structure. They were lack of cultural stimulation that made a great impact on reading comprehension. Vocabularies mastery training was needed. Concept changing of the students with low achievement was notably influences by their classmates.This study show that small-group discussion can be a good way to find out their wrong concept in the light of others and then amend their thought in the small group discussion. 3. Concept mapping is helpful for students on getting key points, summary and detailed exposition.It can also improve students¡¦ ability on literal comprehension and inferential comprehension. 4. Teaching skills continusously improve through the action research. Concept mapping strategy could continuously embed in the regular reading classes for a long-term effect.Teachers can expand the scope of the research to other grades to study students¡¦ performance with different instructors.

¡§Youtube¡¨ has been published for seven years, and along with the growth of Youtube, various types of online video have also been growing exponentially. Video marketing has become a popular propagation method in business. And also, video marketing is not only used in enterprises, but also used by lots of user to promote themselves successfully. Nowadays, video marketing is becoming one of the most influential propagation media. To make a good video in today¡¦s environment that emphasizing on innovation and speed, we need a systematic video making process. The concept of this research is based on the video toolbox method which includes ¡§tools¡¨, ¡§materials¡¨, and ¡§video making process¡¨. The research method used by this thesis is action research, by making and analyzing videos; we can explore and revise the content of the video toolbox. On the part of ¡§tools¡¨, suitable tools in the appropriate conditions should be organized. On the part of the ¡§materials¡¨, by the process of action research, the materials has been recreated and accumulated. These materials will be the basis of video making in the future. On the part of the¡¨ video making process¡¨, the processes have been improved after every video making, and apply appropriate process for different conditions. The efficiency of the video making is the focal point in this research, but we are also interested in the effect of video propagating. So after every attempt in video making, some tools have been used to analyze the effect of video propagating. The experience would be utilize in the next video making process, and also examine how the video toolbox help to improve the effect of video propagating.

The introduction of a new appraisal system has been seen as a common practice for firms to map its strategic goals and organizational objectives. Such a practice can be seen as a kind of organizational change. Previous studies on the introduction of new appraisal system tend to adopt a cross-sectional approach to examine the effect of the new appraisal system from various dimensions. In the mean time, how the new appraisal system is forming and how the member of organizations affect the shaping of the appraisal system are basically neglected. In order to fill this gap, this research adopted a longitudinal perspective to examine how a sub-business unit (SBU) of L Company introduced a new appraisal system. We particularly concerns how this new appraisal system is shaping, why the leader of this SBU introduced a new appraisal system, how employees react to the introduction of this new system, how leaders and employees perceive the change of the appraisal system. A grounded approach was implemented to explore the introduction process of this new appraisal system. Action research was used as the main research method. Information was collected from the participation of the introduction of the new appraisal system based on interview, observation, field log, and internal data of the firm. In this study, we find that the introduction of new appraisal system was driven by the change of external environment and the motivation of the leader of the SBU. Additionally, employees would resist the change of the new appraisal system. Such a resistance was caused by the change of routine, the perception of the reasonability and the sense of equities. The new appraisal system, in essence, was the outcome of the communication between the leader and the employees of this SBU. At last, leader and employees viewed appraisal system differently. The leader saw the new appraisal system as a means to realize strategies, while employees tended to perceive the change of appraisal system as a punishment.

In recently years, the online short films has become the most popular activity among the netizens of Taiwan. It was due to the improvement of online streaming technology, the increasing of network bandwidth, and the widespread of mobile device. Besides, the video recording and editing equipment have getting cheaper, and also more user-friendly. All these transformations have turned one-way passive audience into two-way positive ¡§Prosumer¡¨. The rising of online short films is the breakthrough of the traditional movie production, which empowered ordinary people to create their own videos. And, YouTube is the most popular ¡§stage¡¨ for amateur videos. Both the ¡§Cathedral style¡¨ videos of specialists and ¡§Bazaar style¡¨ videos of amateurs coexist and prosperous on the video-sharing website. The researcher, as a video amateur, was very curious about the ¡§carnivalization¡¨ of the online short films, and hope to investigate this effect through practice. This research takes the action research as the main research approach, and the content analysis as the supplement. The research process is divided into two stages. At the first stage, researcher analyzed the video content of ¡§YouTube¡¦s most viewed video¡¨ in order to find out what elements do these high click-through rate videos have in common. At the Second stage, the researcher implemented the action research base on the results of previous content analysis. The videos made by the researcher categorize as business-oriented and non-commercial oriented, in order to discover how these online short films constructed the carnivalization of the audience. The findings of this research could summarize into three main points. First, there are four important elements of YouTube¡¦s most viewed videos, which are ¡§music¡¨, ¡§love affair¡¨, ¡§joy¡¨ and ¡§story¡¨. Second, the business-oriented online short films construct the carnivalization of audience by ¡§culture identity¡¨, ¡§anti-normal performance¡¨, and ¡§sex appeal¡¨. Third, the non-commercial oriented online short films construct the carnivalization of audience by ¡§phonetic difference" game, ¡§nationalism¡¨, and ¡§cussing¡¨. Both of the carnival factors can be used in business-oriented or non-commercial oriented films, but the operating skills and strategy are quite different.