Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) / At an upper level of education, especially Forms 5, 6 and 7 of secondary school and in tertiary institutions, Indo-Fijian students often perform better than their ethnic Fijian counterparts. This pattern of ethnic difference in academic performance is a long standing one, lasting over 70 years. However, both ethnic groups have been participants in the same educational system in Fiji. Educational policies have been implemented to reduce this difference. This present case study argues that there are cultural differences of values, beliefs and practices with respect to educational achievement among Indo-Fijians and ethnic Fijians. The achievement ethic of the two ethnic groups differs. Indo-Fijian culture respects and values education highly. Generally speaking, educating children has been always the top priority of Indo-Fijian culture. They believe that education changes people for the better, and the only way to “success” is through education. Thus, Indo- Fijian parents believe that helping children to strive for academic excellence is one of the most important tasks for them. The priority attached by such parents to educational success is one of the strongest forces behind academic success. By contrast, ethnic Fijian culture encourages children to have a strong sense of loyalty to their community and of becoming good members of their koro (i.e., village). Indeed, one’s total commitment to communal activities and cultural requirements is of vital importance. Although ethnic Fijian parents generally understand the importance of their children’s education and wish to support their education, ethnic Fijian communal demands are enormous in terms of time and labour. The pressure to maintain their moral and social obligations within the community tends to make ethnic Fijians spend a large amount of time, energy and money on functions such as ceremonial events and church activities, at the possible expense of providing for the formal education of their children. These demands mean that parents are often absent from home, and unable to supervise children’s homework. Ethnic Fijian children, upper secondary schoolers, feel strong pressure from their peers within their koro to conform to social activities, such as attending church, playing sports such as rugby and volleyball, and hanging around in the koro and town. Besides, the layout of the typical ethnic Fijian home is a more difficult environment than Indo-Fijian households for children’s study, largely due to the limited space to study independently. The socio-cultural background of ethnic Fijians, especially their home environment including family values and priorities, is one of the major barriers to their children’s educational progress. In addition, school leadership, teachers’ expectations, colonial policies and legacies, e.g., land tenure issues, play important roles in affecting differences in the academic performance of these two ethnic groups. Consequently, the educational achievement differences between ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians are revealed substantially during the secondary and tertiary educational institutions.

North West Nigeria has the lowest vaccination rate of the geopolitical regions of the country. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine associations between the parents'/caregivers' biological, cultural, and socioeconomic factors and the completion or noncompletion of routine immunization schedules. Andersen's behavioral model provided the framework for the study. Data were obtained from the 2013 National Demographic Health Survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables. Chi-square tests were used for categorical predictor variables, simple logistic regression models were used for the age variable, and multiple linear regression models were used for the biological, cultural, and socioeconomic variables to assess the relative importance of factors within each category. Findings indicated a statistically significant association between 4 factors (education, wealth index, religious affiliation, and cost of healthcare) and completion of immunization schedules. Findings may be used to improve the likelihood of immunization of children in North West Nigeria and reduce the levels of childhood morbidity and mortality. Policy makers and immunization programmers can strengthen social services such as women's education, income generation, especially in the agricultural sector and other culturally sensitive interventions with community collaboration to bring the required social change.

The effect of genotype on the occurrence of ovulation and estrus during the interval from lambing to ovulation accompanied by estrus (postpartum interval) was measured in White-Face and Black-Face ewes that lambed during the breeding season in 1986 and 1987. A group of St. Croix ewes was added to the study in 1987. The influence of lactation on the events of the postpartum interval was measured by comparing intact and mastectomized White-Face and Black-Face ewes. The effect of prolactin on postpartum interval was measured in these two genotypes and in a group of bromocriptine-treated Black-Face ewes that lambed in 1986. 1. The interval between parturition and first ovulation was not influenced by genotype or lactation but differed between years (P<.05). 2. The number of ovarian cycles (estimated by progesterone levels) and the interval between parturition and ovulation accompanied by estrus was not different among treatment groups, but the bromocriptine-treated ewes had a shorter postpartum interval (P<.05). 3. The interval from lambing to conception, conception rate and number of estrous cycles to conception (not measured in St. Croix ewes) did not differ among treatments or years. The results of this experiment suggest that the events of the postpartum interval and time from lambing to conception are not influenced by genotype or lactation and that the earlier occurrence of estrus does not reduce the time of conception. The results of hormone profiles suggest that the low LH levels present during early postpartum (around day 10) are sufficient to induce ovulation and estrus. Prolactin secretion on the day of lambing is independent of the presence of the mammary gland and decreases within a week in nonlactating ewes. Concentration of prolactin apparently does not contribute to the length of the postpartum interval.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to get an increased insight on a governmental regulator's view on independence in a Swedish context, with the aim to contribute to the research regarding auditor independence. Design/methodology/approach – The research is in the form of a quantitative study examining the Swedish Supervisory Board of Public Accountant’s disciplinary rulings from the years 2004-2010. Findings – The study concludes that the SSBPA view independence in fact as one, if not the most, important attribute for an auditor, while independence in appearance is on the other side of the spectrum, being one of the least vital. Originality/Value – The findings of this paper show that the SSBPA’s view on auditor independence is in stark contrast to the propositions made by the European Commission and SOX, as they are more focused on mitigating issues related to independence in appearance. Keywords – Auditor independence; Independence in Appearance; Independence in Fact; Practical Definition; Quality affecting Issues; Non-Quality affecting Issues; Regulatory Oversight; Disciplinary RulingsPaper Type – Research paper

Even with advanced technology and new project management methodologies, construction company leaders continue to face challenges to improve labor productivity. This multiple case study was an exploration of the strategies that construction company leaders use to improve labor productivity in Doha, Qatar. The case population consisted of 6 construction company leaders operating in Doha, Qatar, who successfully identified and implemented strategies to improve labor productivity. The conceptual framework for this study was the expectancy theory. The data collection process included semistructured interviews and company documentation. Data were compiled and organized, disassembled into fragments, reassembled into a sequence of groups, and interpreted for meaning. Methodological triangulation and member checking bolstered the trustworthiness of those interpretations. Five themes emerged from these 6 construction company leaders: exploring, identifying, and evaluating issues affecting labor productivity; applying an appropriate leadership style; motivating the workforce; providing training and development; and implementing effective project management processes. By improving labor productivity, similar construction companies can complete construction projects faster and with lower construction costs. The implications for positive social change include the potential to lower construction costs and enable individuals with lower incomes in Doha, Qatar, to afford houses that they could not previously afford.

The study seeks to identify factors affecting compliance to TB treatment and determine those that make some patients complete TB treatment in Andara district, Kavango region in Namibia. The self-efficacy model by Shortridge-Baggett and Van der Bijl (1996) was the conceptual framework which guided this study. A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive and comparative study design was used. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire administered by a registered nurse. A total of 49 respondents were interviewed: (23 compliant and 26 non-compliant). Informed consent was obtained from each respondent prior to data collection. SPSS and MS Excel were used to analyse data and describe differences between the two groups. Respondents (N=26) gave „feeling better‟ 7 (27%), „distance‟ 8 (31%), „lack of family support‟ 4 (15%), no food 2 (8%), side effects 2 (8%), other reasons 2 (8%) and medicines not working 1 (4%), as their reasons for not completing treatment. However, long waiting times at the clinic, non availability of food and lack of knowledge of TB or treatment are the significant factors contributing to non-compliance. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Aliteracy defines those who can read adequately but who choose not to read for their own interest and pleasure. Adolescent aliteracy is an international issue (OECD, 2000, 2010a). Dissonance between what schools and students consider as ‘engaging reading’ is widening (Ivey & Broadhuss, 2001; Wilheilm & Smith, 2002). Recent evidence of poor literature knowledge amongst teachers and pre-service teachers (Cremin, Mottram, Bearne, & Goodwin, 2008; Nathanson, Pruslow, & Levit, 2008) highlights the need for pragmatic ways to empower adolescent students to address aliteracy for themselves. The aim of this thesis was to explore the conceptual basis for adolescent aliteracy in the 11-13 year old age groups alongside pedagogy to support currently aliterate adolescents. A mixed methods approach used 8 sets of data to explore reading preferences, reading motivations and self-selection behaviours in a mixed and stratifed sample of currently aliterate students over 6 months. The tools were: a reading preference survey, a Title Recognition Test (Cunningham & Stanovich, 1991), the Motivations for Reading Questionnaire, (Wigfield, Guthrie, & McGough, 1996), library observations, student and teacher interviews, library borrowing records and summative reading scores. Data analysis included thematic analysis, multiple regressions, Chi squared, Wilcoxon signed-ranked tests and Spearman’s correlations. Media based titles, magazines and SMS texting were cited as the most popular reading choices. Avid, poor and currently aliterate adolescent readers had significantly distinct motivational and cognitive reading profiles. Exploratory results with a stratified sample of currently aliterate students suggest that taught self-selection strategies significantly increased motivation to read for challenge and for curiosity and decreased motivation to read for reasons of compliance. Amongst currently aliterate adolescents, results suggest significant interaction between reading identity, reading challenge, reading stamina and reading interest.

Tyrimo objektas: vidiniai ir išoriniai veiksniai lemiantys NVO verslumą Tyrimo tikslas: sudaryti veiksnių, lemiančių NVO verslumą, vertinimo sistemą ir įvertinti jų poveikį NVO verslumui. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1) išnagrinėti verslumo sampratos teorinius aspektus; 2) atlikti literatūros šaltinių analizę ir sintezę verslumą lemiančių veiksnių klausimu; 3) sudaryti NVO verslumą lemiančių veiksnių bei jų vertinimo sistemą ir nustatyti veiksnių reikšmingumą bei poveikį; 4) praktiškai įvertinti sudarytą vertinimo sistemą tiriant vietos veiklos grupių verslumą ir nustatyti vertinimo sistemos tobulinimo kryptis. Tyrimo metodai: mokslinės literatūros analizė ir sintezė, loginė analizė, ekspertinė apklausa, dokumentų analizė, duomenų susisteminimo, matematiniai statistiniai analizės metodai, grafinio vaizdavimas. Pirmojoje darbo dalyje pateikta įvairių Lietuvos ir užsienio autorių nuomonė apie verslumą ir jį lemiančius veiksnius bei NVO verslumo samprata. Antrojoje magistrinio darbo dalyje nustatyti vidiniai ir išoriniai NVO verslumą lemiantys veiksniai ir pateikta veiksnių vertinimo sistema bei vertinimo metodai. Trečiojoje dalyje nustatytas verslumą lemiančių veiksnių reikšmingumas, pateikiama verslumą lemiančių veiksnių vertinimo Kalvarijos, Sūduvos, Alytaus ir Ukmergės rajonų Vietos veiklos grupėse tyrimo metodika ir pristatomi empirinio tyrimo rezultatai. Praktiškai pritaikius sudarytą NVO verslumą lemiančių veiksnių vertinimo sistemą, pateikiamos jos tobulinimo kryptys... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Research object – internal and external factors affecting entrepreneurship in non-governmental organization. Research aim – to develop evaluation system of factors affecting entrepreneurship in non- governmental organizations. Objectives: 1) to analyze the theoretical aspects of the concept of entrepreneurship; 2) to perform an analysis and synthesis of literary sources on factors affecting entrepreneurship issues; 3) to make evaluation system of factors affecting entrepreneurship in non-governmental organizations and to identify their significance and influence for entrepreneurship; 4) to apply researched evaluation system of factors affecting entrepreneurship in practical analysis of entrepreneurship of local action groups and to determine the system development direction. Research methods – analysis and synthesis of literature and documents, logical analysis, expert survey, mathematical statistical analysis methods, graphical representation techniques. The first part presents opinions of Lithuanian and foreign scientists about entrepreneurship, factors affecting entrepreneurship and conception of entrepreneurship in non-governmental organizations. The second part establishes internal and external factors affecting entrepreneurship in non-governmental organizations, their evaluation system and methods. The third part investigates significance and influence of factors affecting entrepreneurship, presents methodology and results of empirical research in Kalvarija, Sūduva... [to full text]

A significant amount of work has been done over last one decade on identifying factors that influence adoption of e-banking among consumers. Despite a decade of research the same issues have been highlighted as influencing factors of adoption of e-banking and this is because the existing research has provided little practical guidance on how to address the issues highlighted in the researches in order to increase adoption of e-banking. This research aims to investigate one of the key factors identified as influencing factor of adoption of e-banking, perception of risk. This research looks at perception of risk in Saudi e-banking sector in detail, identifying the factors that affect the perception of risk and how to resolve this so as to reduce the perception of risk and increase adoption of e-banking. This research also considers the influence of cultural factors on perception of risk and adoption of e-banking. This research adopts a pragmatist philosophy and mixed method design in order to provide sufficient depth and understanding of the findings to be of practical use. Data was collected using questionnaire surveys and focus groups in two stages. Based on the findings of the questionnaire survey the conceptual framework was validated. Then focus group interviews were conducted to obtain more insight into the responses and findings of the research. One of the contributions of the focus groups was identification of solutions to the problems that related to perception of risk. This research finds security and financial risks are the key risks affecting perception of risk in Saudi e-banking sector. But in addition other risks such as transaction risk, time risk, and performance risks also influence perception of risk. In addition, this research finds that e-banking should be implemented considering the cultural dimensions in mind because cultural factors also have a significant influence on the perception of risk in Saudi e-banking sector. Based on the findings, this research proposes several solutions to reduce perception of risk in Saudi e-banking sector. The key recommendation is that e-banking channel should preserve some of the attributes of the brick and mortar channel which are valued high by Saudi customers such as one-to-one interaction.

This study was designed to examine the factors that affect the implementation of computer technology in Imo State, Nigeria, secondary schools' instructional programs. The intent of the study was to determine the relationship between funding, availability of relevant infrastructures, trained personnel, job security, government support and market demand for computer trained personnel and the implementation of computer technology in Imo State school instructional program. A total of three hundred and twelve (312) educators comprising of two hundred and fifty-five (255) teachers, twenty (20) school principals and thirty-seven (37) administrators were randomly selected to respond to questionnaire items about their perceptions of the factors affecting the implementation of computer technology in instructional programs in secondary schools. Twelve research hypotheses were developed to determine the relationships between the factors affecting the implementation of computer technology in the secondary schools' instructional programs. Pearson product moment linear correlation coefficient was used to analyze the data about the relationship between the factors affecting the implementation of computer technology in instructional programs. Also, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze data on the differences in perceptions of the respondents to the questionnaire. The findings showed that school-teachers believed that there were significant relationships between availability of funding, relevant infrastructure, and job security and the implementation of computer technology in secondary schools' instructional programs. Principals and administrators, on the other hand, found no significant relationships between the variables. However, all sampled groups believed that there were significant relationships between job security, government support and market demand for computer trained personnel and the implementation of computer technology in instructional programs in the secondary schools. This study revealed that adequate funding is the key to effective implementation of computer technology in instructional programs in Imo State, Nigeria's secondary schools. This means that, if the Nigerian students from Imo state are to compete effectively in this modem technological age, there is need for the state and national governments to invest more financial resources in the development, production and distribution of technological know-how in the education sector.