<p>Traditionally seen as a time for increasing independence and autonomy, the college experience is often the first major, long-term physical separation from parents (Chickering, 1969; Chickering & Reisser, 1993). For previous generations, living away from home provided conditions for autonomy development partially based on infrequent contact with parents. In contrast, the rapid evolution of communication technology in the recent past allows today's generation of college students to connect to their parents instantly and frequently through a variety of electronic means including cellular phone calls, text messages, emails, video chats, and social media. The current study used self-report data from 180 residential college students at a mid-sized private institution in the southeastern United States to explore parent-child communication patterns as they relate to parenting styles and the development of emotional autonomy and adjustment to college. Emotional autonomy was measured with items from the Emotional Autonomy Scale (EAS; Steinberg & Silverberg, 1986). Following Beyers, Goossens, Van Calster, & Duriez (2005), a separation scale (derived from the EAS subscales of parental deidealization, nondependence on parents, and individuation) was used as a measure of emotional autonomy. Two scales from the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (Baker & Siryk, 1989) measured students' academic and social adjustment to college.</p><p>Results indicated that, in a given week, students reported an average contact frequency (with both parents combined) of 10.92 cell phone calls, 49.88 text messages, and 6.04 email exchanges. Contact was initiated by students and parents at roughly the same rates, and females had more contact with parents than males, in general. Facebook was more popular than Twitter and Instagram for connecting with parents through social media, and the majority of students felt either neutral or positive about being "Facebook friends" with their parents. Overall, students reported high satisfaction with both the frequency and the quality of communication with their parents. Greater levels of parental closeness significantly predicted higher satisfaction with the parent-child Facebook friendship. </p><p>The relationships between the traditional parenting styles of permissive, authoritative, and authoritarian parenting (Baumrind, 1991) were investigated in relation to communication patterns, autonomy, and adjustment. Helicopter parenting was also included as a predictor variable, though it is considered separate from the traditional parenting styles (Padilla-Walker & Nelson, 2012). Results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that parents' higher scores on authoritarian parenting and helicopter parenting predicted more frequent cell phone contact with parents. Parental closeness also emerged as a significant, positive predictor of frequency of cell phone and total communication. Students who talked on their cell phones more frequently overall (not including parental contacts) tended to talk to their parents more often on the phone, and the same went for texting, as well. </p><p>Helicopter parenting also predicted lower emotional autonomy, which was in line with the only previous study of helicopter parenting in emerging adulthood (Padilla-Walker & Nelson, 2012). Surprisingly, authoritative and permissive parenting significantly predicted lower emotional autonomy, while authoritarian parenting was related to greater autonomy. Analyses investigating frequency of cell phone contact with parents as a moderator of this relationship indicated that more frequent phone conversations predicted decreased autonomy when parents were more authoritative. High levels of authoritarian parenting, on the other hand, resulted in higher levels of autonomy regardless of how often students talked on the phone with parents, while high contact with less authoritarian parents predicted decreased autonomy. Frequency of cell phone contact with parents was unrelated to academic and social adjustment to college. Findings are discussed in light of previous research and situated within a framework proposing that technological advances in communication have contributed to lengthening the path to adulthood.</p> / Dissertation

My thesis deals with netholism, i.e. the Internet addiction. In my opinion, this is an up-to-date issue, often underestimated by children´s parents. The results of my research may serve as an information material to all professions working in contact with children. Important symptoms present in the Internet addicts, as well as the principles of the Internet safety and the parents´ supervision over children's activities on the Internet are mentioned. There is also the existence of considerable health risks related to computers. A large chapter is related to communication on the Internet. I have stated two main objectives of my diploma thesis. Objective 1: To survey activities of children on the Internet sites in dependence on their age. Objective 2: To determine the awareness of children about the risks arising from an excessive Internet use. (The excessive use of the Internet means a period longer than 3 hours a day.) To achieve the intended objectives and the hypotheses testing, an anonymous questionnaire, the method of quantitative research was used. The subject of the investigation was the issue of the use of the Internet by children attending the second stage of primary schools. There was diversity in the concept of questions. I believe I have managed to meet the both chosen objectives of my diploma thesis. The stated hypotheses have been disproved by the questionnaire survey. Hypothesis H1: Children attending the second stage of primary school spend more than half of their time communicating via social networking sites on the Internet, this has not been not confirmed. The survey has shown that almost always only 23% of the total 175 respondents communicate with friends or unknown persons via social networking sites. Hypothesis H2: Children attending the second stage of primary school are not sufficiently informed about the risks arising from the use of the Internet, this has not been confirmed. Only 12% of children think there are no risks arising from the use of the Internet. As a contribution of my diploma thesis in the health and social field may be regarded the recognition of "netholism" as another form of addiction.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de NÃvel Superior / Os compostos trans-[Co(cyclam)(SO3)(NCS)]Â4H2O, trans-[Ru(NH3)4(NCS)(SO4)] e trans-[(SO3)(cyclam)Co&#8722;NCS&#8722;Ru(NH3)4(NCS)](BF4), onde cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazaciclotetradecano, foram sintetizados e caracterizados por difraÃÃes de raios-X, espectroscopias vibracional na regiÃo do infravermelho e eletrÃnica nas regiÃes do ultravioleta e visÃvel (UV-Vis) e por tÃcnicas eletroquÃmicas. O grau de comunicaÃÃo eletrÃnica entre os Ãtomos de Co e Ru do complexo binuclear foi avaliado por eletroquÃmica e espectroscopia eletrÃnica na regiÃo do infravermelho prÃximo. Apenas para o complexo trans-[Co(cyclam)(SO3)(NCS)]Â4H2O foi possÃvel a obtenÃÃo de cristais que permitiram a determinaÃÃo estrutural. Os dados obtidos indicam estrutura monoclÃnica com o ligante cyclam no plano equatorial e os ligantes SO32&#8722; e NCS&#8722; ocupando posiÃÃes trans e coordenados ao Ãtomo de Co atravÃs, respectivamente, dos Ãtomos de S e N. Este resultado à reforÃado atravÃs da observaÃÃo, no espectro vibracional, de bandas tipicamente atribuÃdas ao ligante cyclam quando este se encontra em uma geometria trans. Os resultados de voltametria cÃclica deste composto indicam um mecanismo eletroquÃmico-quÃmico-eletroquÃmico. De fato, os experimentos de espectroeletroquÃmica (potencial controlado em -0,80 V vs Ag/AgCl) indicam que este composto experimenta, apÃs reduÃÃo, reaÃÃo de substituiÃÃo das molÃculas SO32&#8722; e NCS&#8722; por molÃculas do solvente (L), formando compostos do tipo [Co(cyclam)(L)2]2+. A observaÃÃo, no espectro vibracional do complexo trans-[Ru(NH3)4(NCS)(SO4)], das bandas em 2132, 887 e 478 cm-1, atribuÃdas aos modos de &#957;CN, &#957;CS e &#948;(NCS), respectivamente, do ligante NCS&#8722;, indica a coordenaÃÃo deste grupo atravÃs do Ãtomo de nitrogÃnio. Estudos eletroquÃmicos e de espectroscopia eletrÃnica deste composto em meio aquoso indicam que a reduÃÃo do centro metÃlico induz a reaÃÃo de substituiÃÃo do ligante SO42&#8722; por uma molÃcula de H2O. A reaÃÃo para formaÃÃo do composto binuclear, portanto, foi realizada em condiÃÃes redutoras a fim de induzir a formaÃÃo do aquo-complexo de rutÃnio e, em seguida, a reaÃÃo de substituiÃÃo da molÃcula de H2O por um sÃtio de coordenaÃÃo do monÃmero trans- [Co(cyclam)(SO3)(NCS)]Â4H2O. Os resultados obtidos para o material isolado indicam que hà a formaÃÃo do complexo binuclear com o ligante NCS&#8722; ocupando a posiÃÃo ponte. A curva voltamÃtrica obtida para este composto apresenta dois pares de ondas redox com potenciais formais de meia-onda (E1/2) em &#8722;0,27 e 0,13 V vs Ag|AgCl atribuÃdos, respectivamente, aos centros metÃlicos de Co e Ru. Comparativamente aos monÃmeros, hà a observaÃÃo de um deslocamento positivo de potencial o que reflete a estabilizaÃÃo do estado reduzido para o Ãtomo de rutÃnio, RuII, e desestabilizaÃÃo do estado oxidado para o Ãtomo de cobalto, CoIII. Este resultado à atribuÃdo a coordenaÃÃo a um centro oxidado, CoIII, cuja carga nuclear efetiva aumenta a deslocalizaÃÃo de densidade eletrÃnica aumentando o carÃter retirador do ligante ponte NCS&#8722;. O valor da constante de comproporcionamento, Kc = 5,78 x 106, calculada a partir da diferenÃa entre os valores de E1/2, indica um forte grau de comunicaÃÃo entre os centros metÃlicos e classifica este complexo como um sistema de valÃncia mista de classe II. / Trans-[Co(cyclam)(SO3)(NCS)]Â4H2O, trans-[Ru(NH3)4(NCS)(SO4)], and trans-[(SO3)(cyclam)Co&#8722;NCS&#8722;Ru(NH3)4(NCS)](BF4) complexes, where cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, were synthesized and characterized by X-ray difraction, vibrational and electronic (ultraviolet, visible and near infrared) spectroscopies, and electrochemical techniques. The electronic communication between Co and Ru metal centers of the binuclear complex was evaluated by electrochemistry and electronic spectrocopy in the near infrared region. Crystals suitable for X-ray studies were only isolated for the trans-[Co(cyclam)(SO3)(NCS)]Â4H2O complex. The obtained results indicate a monoclic structure with cyclam ligand at the equatorial plane and SO32&#8722; and NCS&#8722; moieties occupying the axial positions being coordinated through, respectively, sulfur and nitrogen atoms. This result is reinforced by the observation, in the vibrational spectrum, of bands typically assigned to the cyclam ligand in a trans configuration. The cyclic voltammograms obtained for this compound indicate as Electrochemical-Chemical-Electrochemical mechanism. In fact, the spectroelectrochemical experiments obtained at -0.80 V vs Ag/AgCl show that this compound, upon reduction, suffers a substitution reaction in which the SO32&#8722; and NCS&#8722; moieties are replaced by solvent molecules (L) thus forming [Co(cyclam)(L)2]2+ type complexes. The observation in the vibrational spectrum of the trans-[Ru(NH3)4(NCS)(SO4)] complex of the 2132, 887 e 478 cm-1 bands assigned, respectively, to the &#957;CN, &#957;CS e &#948;(NCS) vibrational modes of the NCS&#8722; ligand indicates that this moiety is coordinated through the nitrogen atom. Electrochemical and spectroscopic studies of this compound in aqueous medium indicate that the reduction of the metal center induces the replacement of SO42&#8722; ligand by a water molecule. The synthesis of the binuclear compound, therefore, was made under reductive conditions aiming to produce the aquo-complex and, then, replace the water molecule by a coordination site of the trans-[Co(cyclam)(SO3)(NCS)]Â4H2O complex. The results obtained for the isolated material hints that the binuclear complex is formed with the NCS&#8722; fragment as the bridge ligand. The acquired cyclic voltammogram presents two redox process with the half-wave formal potentials (E1/2) observed at &#8722;0.27 and 0.13 V vs Ag|AgCl and being assigned to the Co and Ru metal centers, respectively. In comparison to the monomers, the positive potential shift reflects the stabilization of the reduced state of the ruthenium metal atom (RuII) and the destabilization of the cobalt metal center (CoIII). This result is assigned to the coordination to an oxidated metal center, CoIII, whose effective nuclear charge increased the electronic delocalization increasing the withdrawing character of the NCS&#8722; bridge ligand. The comproportionation constant, Kc = 5.78 x 106, was calculated from the difference between the E1/2 values. The Kc value indicates a strong electronic communication between the metal atoms and classifies this binuclear complex as a mixed valence system of class II.

Postmodernism affects views and lifestyles, which in turn determine how an individual fulfils his roles, meets his needs, and grows and adjusts in his different systems. The nature of this impact on the social functioning of young adults from an ecological systems perspective is relevant for the social work profession and to social work practitioners working with young adults. Discovering more about this impact therefore formed the rationale for this study. In this study, the mixed methods research approach was utilised seeing that it comprises both a qualitative and a quantitative component which, when mixed, provided a comprehensive analysis of the research problem. Young adults’ experiences and views of postmodern society could be considered as phenomena in the ‘real world’ which necessitated a qualitative approach to this study. In order to claim scientific accuracy, the impact had to be quantified. This implied measurement within a quantitative approach in order to produce precise and generalisable statistical findings. The researcher started the empirical study with the qualitative approach. In this manner, rich data could be obtained to assist in the compilation of suitable questions to construct a questionnaire. Sequential timing, within the exploratory mixed methods design, with the qualitative data collected and analysed first, followed by the quantitative data, therefore allowed for the one dataset to build upon the other. Mixing the datasets by means of an exploratory mixed methods research design provided a better understanding of the problem than if either dataset had been used alone. Exploratory factor analysis was used to reduce the data and promote the measurement of the impact of postmodernism. From the conclusions it is apparent that global issues observed in the macrosystem affect all the ecological systems and impact the social functioning of the young adult. The reciprocal impact of people and environmental systems on the social functioning of young adults within a postmodern paradigm was evident in this research. Personal experiences were highly valued, as well as a tendency towards ‘own authority’. Postmodernism affects views and lifestyles, which in turn affects the young adult’s performance of roles and his interactions within all his different social systems. A strong attachment to family and home, as well as the importance of roles as sons/daughters were found. It was found that young adults focus on ‘the self’ and on own needs and satisfactions, with contrasting views on the significance of formal structures, image and consumerism, (electronic) communication and interaction, diversity and personal future. Views regarding an uncertain future and personal roles evolve and change constantly, depending on social and economic factors. An increase in a need for spirituality in postmodern times was found. The contemporary young adult between the ages of 18 and 25 years explores and experiments in terms of identity and lifestyle. Thinking, questioning, feeling and a strong focus on ‘self’ characterise this young adult. Views and values seem to be person-specific and based on emotions and experiences. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / hb2013 / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Background: Knowledge within organizations can play a vital role for organizational development. The role of sharing knowledge in public organizations by means of the use of information systems have not been studied to a larger extent. During 2016 the thirteen municipalities within Region Jönköping’s län adhered to a so-called digital agenda to develop the municipal organizations and service delivery. One of the goals of the digital agenda was to increase knowledge sharing by digital means between municipalities.  Purpose: The purpose of the thesis was to investigate how knowledge sharing practices taking place between municipalities in region Jönköping’s län. The authors performed a pilot case study in the educational department within three municipalities.  Method: This study based on qualitative research and data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analyzed according to the conventional content analysis. Semi-structured interviews were performed based on the theoretical frameworks of Nonaka’s Model of Knowledge Management, which resulted in an interview guide with open-ended questions. Conventional content was used for qualitative data analysis.  Conclusion: According to our analysis we have found that knowledge sharing in public organization is generally seen as one of the most important elements that should be wisely managed. Collaboration in public sector basically depend on the so many things and it starts with the government initiative but ends with public awareness. It is also very important that organizations can manage knowledge resources more successfully if employees are willingly to share their knowledge with colleagues. People of organizations are quite comfortable with collaborative technologies because the advance of the internet and related technologies. In the public sector worker or employees should motivated, get more encouragement and support by the leaders.

The diploma thesis consists of two main parts. In the theoretical part, we deal with the basic terminological framework of fake news, the development of misinformation, fake news, hoaxes, propaganda and their form and the form they acquired. We will also look at misinformation, hoax and propaganda as a specific genre of false news. Furthermore, we analyze the spread of hoaxes and disinformation and the criteria by which hoaxes are recognized and labeled. An important part of the theoretical part of the thesis is also the manipulation with the content and the determination of the criteria on the basis of which false information can be recognized. We will focus primarily on the electronic and new media domains, which are mainly represented by social networks. In the research and analytical part of the thesis we look at the ways in which different sites classify misinformation and hoaxes, by what criteria they approach their classification, and whether these methods are unambiguous and consistent. The second important part of the research will analyze the attitudes of traditional and alternative media to work with false news and hoaxes. We will try to bring a glimpse of both stakeholders, that is to say, representatives of traditional media and alternative media.

<p> This dissertation deals with the problems associated with the design and construction of communication aids for children with cerebral palsy. Attention is focused on an electronic communication board developed at the Ontario Crippled Children's Centre in Toronto which displays a matrix of Bliss symbols and English words that can be selected by appropriate activation of an interface which controls the sequential illumination of the symbol blocks. A number of interfaces were constructed. Appropriate electronic switching arrangements were incorporated with the interfaces in order to achieve activation of the interface upon the initiation of a movement rather than the maintaining of a position. The communication board was interfaced to a PDP 11-10 minicomputer which was used to provide a dual output of the word and associated Bliss symbol, selected using 'interface control, on a teletype and oscilloscope screen respectively. </p> <p> Descriptions of associated communication type devices include an electronic attention getting device, page-turner interface, and programmed learning board. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

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The use of dispersed (virtual) teams is growing rapidly in the engineering profession. To help prepare students for work in this type of industry, university engineering courses are requiring students to work in teams. Industry leaders and university faculty are interested in improving and measuring the performance of these distributed teams. Surveys, interviews, and observations from the AerosPACE Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering (AerosPACE) capstone design course are examined to demonstrate how different collaboration tools can be used to best enhance a distributed design team's effectiveness. Collaboration tools to which distributed design teams should give extra consideration at different stages of the product development process are identified and presented in a model. Teams that follow this model will be more effective in their communication patterns. This study also consists of examining whether peer ratings can accurately predict team effectiveness (as defined by task and relational effectiveness) within a dispersed multidisciplinary, design team. The hypotheses predict that peer ratings will not be unidimensional over time, and will have a positive, significant relationship with team effectiveness. A longitudinal study was conducted on data gathered form the same capstone design course. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was first used to test unidimensionality of peer ratings and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to model the data and determine any predictive relationships. Model fit statistics are reported to confirm adequate fit for each model. Results showed that while peer ratings are unidimensional at individual time points, they don't behave equally over time and should be considered separately. The structural equation models yielded mixed results, with some parts of peer ratings significantly predicting relational effectiveness and with yet failing to predict task effectiveness. As such, by examining peer assessments, supervisors and faculty will be able to determine and predict relational effectiveness of teams working at different locations, but should use other methods to predict task effectiveness.