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This thesis is an inquiry into the position of architecture both as a cultural product and as an autonomous discipline. The purpose to search for architectural autonomy is to discover architecture&rsquo / s internal values that can make architects become more aware of their tools and potentials. That kind of research is to discover the boundaries of the discipline of architecture, which interrelates with many other disciplines. In order to explore architectural autonomy, this thesis explores the internal qualities of architecture with relation to the external ones. The scrutiny of these internal qualities is to direct architecture through its own realm and to discover its significant values and internal potentials. Architectural autonomy is explored in this thesis in the framework of Modern Movement. The technological inventions and the social and cultural developments are considered as influential forces in the discipline and practice of architecture. This study attempts to identify the concept autonomy, not as a property indicating to an architecture that is completely independent from its cultural environment, but as a value implying to architecture&rsquo / s interior qualities that are significant in the discipline&rsquo / s boundaries. Architecture is examined with relation to its cultural circumstances / by arguing that architecture is not only a part of culture but also one of the constituents of it. Besides fulfilling cultural values, architecture has the ability to transform culture, with its own internal values. In this regard, the issue of autonomy gains importance in maintaining architecture a cultural value.

国立情報学研究所で電子化したコンテンツを使用している。

This project outlines the existence of neoliberal multiculturalism and identifies the implications and limitations of its practice. Neoliberal multiculturalism involves the institutionalization of group autonomy by the state to download responsibility to jurisdictions that have historically lacked sufficient fiscal capacity and have been hampered by colonialism in the development of the political capacity necessary to fully meet the requirements entailed by the devolution. At the same time, this practice releases the formerly responsible jurisdiction from the political burden of the policy area(s) despite its continued influence and effect. As demonstrated by my analysis of the Indigenous child welfare devolution that has occurred recently in Manitoba, neoliberal multiculturalism therefore involves a certain kind of “privatization”—that is, it involves the appearance of state distance from said policy area. This practice problematizes the traceability of power and decision making while at the same time it co-opts and in many ways neutralizes demands from critics of the state by giving the appearance of state concession to these demands. In response to the dangers of neoliberal multiculturalism, I situate multiculturalism in a robustly political model of democratic multi-nationalism (characterized by both agonism and deliberation) in order to combat multiculturalism’s tendency simply to rationalize “privatization” and to enhance democratic accountability. My approach goes beyond dominant constructions of group autonomy through group rights by emphasizing that autonomy is a relational political practice rather than a resource distributed by a benevolent state. Building on my analysis of Indigenous autonomy and the unique challenges that it presents for traditional democratic practices, I outline a contextually sensitive, case-specific employment of what I term “democratic multi-nationalism”. This approach conceives of Indigenous issues as inherently political in nature, as opposed to culturally defined and constituted, and therefore better meets the challenges of the colonial legacy and context of deep difference in which Indigenous-state relations take place today.

Autonomy is the most enabling and the least developed robot capability. A mobile robot is autonomous if capable of independently attaining its objectives in unpredictable environment. This requires interaction with the environment by sensing, assessing, and responding to events. Such interaction has not been achieved. The core problem consists in limited understanding of robot autonomy and its aspects, and is exacerbated by the limited resources available in a small autonomous mobile robot such as energy, information, and space. This thesis describes an efficient biomorphic visual capability that can provide purposeful interaction with environment for a small autonomous mobile robot. The method used for achieving this capability comprises synthesis of an integral paradigm of a purposeful autonomous mobile robot, formulation of requirements for the visual capability, and development of efficient algorithmic and technological solutions. The paradigm is a product of analysis of fundamental aspects of the problem, and the insights found in inherently autonomous biological organisms. Based on this paradigm, analysis of the biological vision and the available technological basis, and the state-of-the-art in vision algorithms, the requirements were formulated for a biomorphic visual capability that provides the situation awareness capability for a small autonomous mobile robot. The developed visual capability is comprised of a sensory and processing architecture, an integral set of motion vision algorithms, and a method for visual ranging of still objects that is based on them. These vision algorithms provide motion detection, fixation, and tracking functionality with low latency and computational complexity. High temporal resolution of CMOS imagers is exploited for reducing the logical complexity of image analysis, and consequently the computational complexity of the algorithms. The structure of the developed algorithms conforms to the arithmetic and memory resources available in a system on a programmable chip (SoPC), which allows complete confinement of the high-bandwidth datapath within a SoPC device and therefore high-speed operation by design. The algorithms proved to be functional, which validates the developed visual capability. The experiments confirm that high temporal resolution imaging simplifies image motion structure, and ultimately the design of the robot vision system.

Research into learner autonomy has confirmed the importance of learner competencies such as effective strategy use, goal setting and planning, maintaining motivation, and the ability to reflect and self-evaluate to the development of autonomy. The introduction of key competency frameworks to develop learner autonomy has been a focus of recent curriculum development from primary through to tertiary levels in the New Zealand education system. However, facilitating and managing the development of these learning competencies in a programme of study that has a number of different papers and staff, can be problematic. The learning portfolio is emerging as a possible medium to provide the required framework. This study investigated the effectiveness of an ePortolio in enhancing learner autonomy in the context of a language learning programme. The aim of this study was to gain insight from a student perspective into the usfulness of ePortfolios as a tool to enhance student learning. Investigating learner autonomy and the development of self-reflection resulting from the use of ePortfolios was the main focus of the study. It also examined some of the practicalities of using an ePortfolio to develop the desired learner competencies, and discussed whether an ePortfolio provides an effective framework to record, monitor and provide feedback to students. The results of the study reinforce the findings of previous studies in that there are benefits of ePortfolios as they encourage reflection. ePortfolios also have the potential to support the reflective process by making learning outcomes visible and they promote goal-setting. However, despite these apparent benefits, the findings suggest that there are many challenges, which have the potential to negatively influence its effectiveness. The ePortfolio in this study was used with varying degrees of success. The findings have raised several issues regarding the introduction of an ePortfolio. The time it takes for teachers to give individual feedback and maintain an adequate level of feedback throughout the semester was one major challenge. The extent to which learners need to be trained in the purpose of the ePortfolio and its link to reflection and developing autonomy was another issue that was raised. In addition, getting students to reflect on their learning holistically also proved to be problematic. Overall however, findings as to the effectiveness of the ePortfolio in promoting autonomous learning appear promising, but they have highlighted the need to make changes to the ePortfolio itself. Its integration into the curriculum needs to be reconsidered to maximize its use and gain maximum benefit.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Registered nurses, while carrying out their professional roles, regularly encounter situations with ethical components. While there are research findings reporting the types of ethical challenges nurses face, their level of involvement in ethical decision-making, and reasoning processes used, how nurses actually deal with situations that challenge them personally has not been specifically explored. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychosocial processes that can explain how registered nurses reason and make decisions when faced with ethical situations that challenge their personal values and belief systems. A grounded theory approach was used to conduct the study, allowing a substantive theory to be developed. Twenty-three nurses, currently working in metropolitan or regional areas in New South Wales, volunteered to participate in the study. Two methods of data collection were utilised, the first being semi-structured, in-depth interviews which were audio taped then transcribed. The second method used hypothetical vignettes with associated questions to which the participants were invited to anonymously return written responses. Data were managed by means of the computer program NVivo 2, while constant comparative analysis using open, axial and selective coding, as outlined by Strauss and Corbin (1998), was performed. The substantive theory which emerged from the data explains the processes used by nurses when they have to deal with ethical challenges to their personal values and beliefs. The basic psychosocial process (core category) of protecting client autonomy reveals a pattern of moral reasoning that gives priority to the client’s self-determined choices. This subsumes the key processes (subcategories) of: (1) being self-aware, (2) determining duties to other/s versus self, (3) engaging self as protector, and (4) restoring self from tension or anguish, which link to each other and to the core category to explain the various sub-processes used when protecting client autonomy is considered a priority. Findings in the study revealed that nurses who give primacy to client autonomy believe they should not impose their own preferred choices on to clients. Yet the emphasis on client autonomy is also paradoxical, since it may come at the cost of compromise and even denial of the nurses’ own autonomy and their deeply held values and beliefs. When they become aware that their personal values and beliefs are being challenged, they are at times prepared to compromise their own values or beliefs, yield to constraints, or put themselves at risk in order to protect the autonomy of clients. Such actions can leave nurses experiencing ethical tension or anguish for which they need to seek support. Opportunities to find appropriate support are not always available to them in the work environment. The findings in this study have important implications for both nurses and the nursing profession. The pattern of moral reasoning shows generosity and nurses’ commitment to their caring and advocacy roles. However, when nurses are regularly prepared to compromise their own values or beliefs because they give priority to protecting client autonomy, there is a risk they may be left with a sense of loss to their personal worth and in their ability to be moral agents. Further, in some situations it may occur out of complacency because they simply accept that it is the client’s choice, absolving the nurse of further moral responsibility. Appropriate support systems need to be available to nurses to help them deal with the consequences which may occur as a result of giving preference to clients’ choices, over their own.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Toronto, 2005. / CD has title: Appendix B, the song self. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-138).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Washington State University, May 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 101-109).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 2007. / Title from title page screen, viewed on April 8, 2008. Dissertation Committee: Maureen E. Angell (chair), John K. Rugutt, Debra L. Shelden, Julia B. Stoner. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-111) and abstract. Also available in print.