Recentemente, várias tarefas tem sido delegadas a sistemas computacionais, principalmente quando sistemas computacionais são mais confiáveis ou quando as tarefas não são adequadas para seres humanos. O uso de extração de preferências ajuda a realizar a delegação, permitindo que mesmo pessoas leigas possam programar facilmente um sistema computacional com suas preferências. As preferências de uma pessoa são obtidas por meio de respostas para questões específicas, que são formuladas pelo próprio sistema computacional. A pessoa age como um usuário do sistema computacional, enquanto este é visto como um agente que age no lugar da pessoa. A estrutura e contexto das questões são apontadas como fonte de variações das respostas do usuário, e tais variações podem impossibilitar a factibilidade da extração de preferências. Uma forma de evitar tais variações é questionar um usuário sobre a sua preferência entre dois comportamentos observados por ele. A questão de avaliar relativamente comportamentos observados é mais simples e transparente ao usuário, diminuindo as possíveis variações, mas pode não ser fácil para o agente interpretar tais avaliações. Se existem divergências entre as percepções do agente e do usuário, o agente pode ficar impossibilitado de aprender as preferências do usuário. As avaliações são geradas com base nas percepções do usuário, mas tudo que um agente pode fazer é relacionar tais avaliações às suas próprias percepções. Um outro problema é que questões, que são expostas ao usuário por meio de comportamentos demonstrados, são agora restritas pela dinâmica do ambiente e um comportamento não pode ser escolhido arbitrariamente. O comportamento deve ser factível e uma política de ação deve ser executada no ambiente para que um comportamento seja demonstrado. Enquanto o primeiro problema influencia a inferência de como o usuário avalia comportamentos, o segundo problema influencia quão rápido e acurado o processo de aprendizado pode ser feito. Esta tese propõe o problema de Extração de Preferências com base em Comportamentos Observados utilizando o arcabouço de Processos Markovianos de Decisão, desenvolvendo propriedades teóricas em tal arcabouço que viabilizam computacionalmente tal problema. O problema de diferentes percepções é analisado e soluções restritas são desenvolvidas. O problema de demonstração de comportamentos é analisado utilizando formulação de questões com base em políticas estacionárias e replanejamento de políticas, sendo implementados algoritmos com ambas soluções para resolver a extração de preferências em um cenário sob condições restritas. / Recently, computer systems have been delegated to accomplish a variety of tasks, when the computer system can be more reliable or when the task is not suitable or not recommended for a human being. The use of preference elicitation in computational systems helps to improve such delegation, enabling lay people to program easily a computer system with their own preference. The preference of a person is elicited through his answers to specific questions, that the computer system formulates by itself. The person acts as an user of the computer system, whereas the computer system can be seen as an agent that acts in place of the person. The structure and context of the questions have been pointed as sources of variance regarding the users answers, and such variance can jeopardize the feasibility of preference elicitation. An attempt to avoid such variance is asking an user to choose between two behaviours that were observed by himself. Evaluating relatively observed behaviours turn questions more transparent and simpler for the user, decreasing the variance effect, but it might not be easier interpreting such evaluations. If divergences between agents and users perceptions occur, the agent may not be able to learn the users preference. Evaluations are generated regarding users perception, but all an agent can do is to relate such evaluation to his own perception. Another issue is that questions, which are exposed to the user through behaviours, are now constrained by the environment dynamics and a behaviour cannot be chosen arbitrarily, but the behaviour must be feasible and a policy must be executed in order to achieve a behaviour. Whereas the first issue influences the inference regarding users evaluation, the second problem influences how fast and accurate the learning process can be made. This thesis proposes the problem of Preference Elicitation under Evaluations over Observed Behaviours using the Markov Decision Process framework and theoretic properties in such framework are developed in order to turn such problem computationally feasible. The problem o different perceptions is analysed and constraint solutions are developed. The problem of demonstrating a behaviour is considered under the formulation of question based on stationary policies and non-stationary policies. Both type of questions was implemented and tested to solve the preference elicitation in a scenario with constraint conditions.

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Recentemente, várias tarefas tem sido delegadas a sistemas computacionais, principalmente quando sistemas computacionais são mais confiáveis ou quando as tarefas não são adequadas para seres humanos. O uso de extração de preferências ajuda a realizar a delegação, permitindo que mesmo pessoas leigas possam programar facilmente um sistema computacional com suas preferências. As preferências de uma pessoa são obtidas por meio de respostas para questões específicas, que são formuladas pelo próprio sistema computacional. A pessoa age como um usuário do sistema computacional, enquanto este é visto como um agente que age no lugar da pessoa. A estrutura e contexto das questões são apontadas como fonte de variações das respostas do usuário, e tais variações podem impossibilitar a factibilidade da extração de preferências. Uma forma de evitar tais variações é questionar um usuário sobre a sua preferência entre dois comportamentos observados por ele. A questão de avaliar relativamente comportamentos observados é mais simples e transparente ao usuário, diminuindo as possíveis variações, mas pode não ser fácil para o agente interpretar tais avaliações. Se existem divergências entre as percepções do agente e do usuário, o agente pode ficar impossibilitado de aprender as preferências do usuário. As avaliações são geradas com base nas percepções do usuário, mas tudo que um agente pode fazer é relacionar tais avaliações às suas próprias percepções. Um outro problema é que questões, que são expostas ao usuário por meio de comportamentos demonstrados, são agora restritas pela dinâmica do ambiente e um comportamento não pode ser escolhido arbitrariamente. O comportamento deve ser factível e uma política de ação deve ser executada no ambiente para que um comportamento seja demonstrado. Enquanto o primeiro problema influencia a inferência de como o usuário avalia comportamentos, o segundo problema influencia quão rápido e acurado o processo de aprendizado pode ser feito. Esta tese propõe o problema de Extração de Preferências com base em Comportamentos Observados utilizando o arcabouço de Processos Markovianos de Decisão, desenvolvendo propriedades teóricas em tal arcabouço que viabilizam computacionalmente tal problema. O problema de diferentes percepções é analisado e soluções restritas são desenvolvidas. O problema de demonstração de comportamentos é analisado utilizando formulação de questões com base em políticas estacionárias e replanejamento de políticas, sendo implementados algoritmos com ambas soluções para resolver a extração de preferências em um cenário sob condições restritas. / Recently, computer systems have been delegated to accomplish a variety of tasks, when the computer system can be more reliable or when the task is not suitable or not recommended for a human being. The use of preference elicitation in computational systems helps to improve such delegation, enabling lay people to program easily a computer system with their own preference. The preference of a person is elicited through his answers to specific questions, that the computer system formulates by itself. The person acts as an user of the computer system, whereas the computer system can be seen as an agent that acts in place of the person. The structure and context of the questions have been pointed as sources of variance regarding the users answers, and such variance can jeopardize the feasibility of preference elicitation. An attempt to avoid such variance is asking an user to choose between two behaviours that were observed by himself. Evaluating relatively observed behaviours turn questions more transparent and simpler for the user, decreasing the variance effect, but it might not be easier interpreting such evaluations. If divergences between agents and users perceptions occur, the agent may not be able to learn the users preference. Evaluations are generated regarding users perception, but all an agent can do is to relate such evaluation to his own perception. Another issue is that questions, which are exposed to the user through behaviours, are now constrained by the environment dynamics and a behaviour cannot be chosen arbitrarily, but the behaviour must be feasible and a policy must be executed in order to achieve a behaviour. Whereas the first issue influences the inference regarding users evaluation, the second problem influences how fast and accurate the learning process can be made. This thesis proposes the problem of Preference Elicitation under Evaluations over Observed Behaviours using the Markov Decision Process framework and theoretic properties in such framework are developed in order to turn such problem computationally feasible. The problem o different perceptions is analysed and constraint solutions are developed. The problem of demonstrating a behaviour is considered under the formulation of question based on stationary policies and non-stationary policies. Both type of questions was implemented and tested to solve the preference elicitation in a scenario with constraint conditions.

In their native habitat of Central and South America, capuchin monkeys (Cebus) spend 45% to 55% of their day foraging and a further 20% travelling. Once these monkeys are introduced into captive environments their diets are selective, seasonal and presented to them by their keepers. The captive environment often leads to various behavioural abnormalities and compensatory behaviours or stereotypies. To address this issue, environmental enrichment can be employed to reduce, cure or prevent such an occurrence. Enrichment can reduce stress, while increasing animal well-being and health in captivity. Despite previous work a better understanding of enrichment, for most neo-tropical primate species, is necessary, in order to improve their captive lifestyles. Feeding of captive primates is more complex than providing a balanced nutritional diet as it must also meet their ethological needs. The manipulation of the presentation of the diet has been shown to significantly decrease the incidence of resting, while significantly increasing the incidence of playing, grooming, foraging and manual manipulation of dietary items. Eleven capuchin monkeys were presented with four different feeding treatments (i.e. cut food presented in bowls, cut food presented around the enclosure, uncut food presented around the enclosure and novel feeding devices presented around the enclosure) from December 2007 until May 2008. At the start of every month one of three feeding treatments was introduced with the cut food in bowls feeding treatment interleaved between the treatments. The different feeding treatments required the monkeys to search for their food, break-up their food into manageable sizes, and obtain food in touch-, tool- and manipulative-dependent methods in order to allow the monkeys an opportunity to display increased activity more in line with their wild conspecifics. The capuchins displayed a period of intense foraging directly following feeding. This period significantly increased (from 44 to 121 min.), along with foraging events and the proportion of time spent foraging, which was more in line with their wild conspecifics. In addition, the frequency of occurrence and the proportion of time spent on locomotion and resting was shown to decrease. Also, abnormal behaviours ceased to occur during the study. Environmental enrichment is a useful tool for providing stimulation, redistributing activity levels more in line with wild conspecifics and to combat abnormal and compensatory behaviours.

La question des infections sexuellement transmissibles (IST) en Afrique a longtemps été négligée par des chercheurs africains spécialistes en sciences sociales, en raison notamment du tabou qui entoure la sexualité dans ce continent. Toutefois, les dernières décennies ont donné lieu à plusieurs recherches menées principalement par les Européens africanistes sur ces pathologies grâce à l’émergence de la pandémie actuelle du Sida. La plupart des travaux réalisés sont axés sur les facteurs de risque, les mécanismes de diffusion, les croyances et les attitudes populaires face à ces maladies, les politiques de lutte, etc. Mais les études historiques consacrées aux IST sont très rares. Celles qui existent ont surtout mis en évidence la dimension démographique axée sur le problème de la dénatalité en laissant dans l’ombre le contexte socio-historique et les conditions socio-épidémiologiques de propagation de ces affections. Au moment où le Sida fait des ravages dans le monde et tout particulièrement en Afrique subsaharienne, l’intérêt d’une réflexion historique sur les IST au Congo n’est plus à démontrer. Contrairement à une affirmation classiquement admise dans la littérature, selon laquelle la lutte contre les IST au sein de la population congolaise fut un franc succès pour les autorités coloniales surtout après la Deuxième Guerre mondiale, cette thèse montre plutôt l’augmentation de la prévalence des IST dans le temps. Les archives inédites et l’analyse des données révèlent que cette progression continue est la conséquence de l'urbanisation accélerée et de la monétarisation de la société et de la sexualité entraînant des modes de vie propres à la société coloniale urbaine. Les villes issues de ce processus deviendront non seulement des espaces d’acculturation et de modernité, mais aussi des lieux d’expansion de ces maladies. Le développement de la prostitution et la multiplicité des partenaires sexuels, à travers les unions plus libres et momentanées, sont les principaux facteurs explicatifs de cette observation. On présente généralement de manière panégyrique l’oeuvre sanitaire coloniale de la Belgique au Congo comme ‘‘modèle’’. Pourtant, aucune étude n’a déjà été menée pour examiner, de manière chiffrée, les aspets liés aux différences de santé entre les Congolais et les Blancs. Cette dissertation vient combler les lacunes existantes dans ce domaine. De ce point de vue, il en résulte de fortes inégalités et des déséquilibres persistants de santé entre ces deux types de populations. Les Congolais beaucoup plus nombreux, socialement défavorisés, ne bénéficient que d’une situation peu ou moins favorable ; tandis que les Blancs, socialement plus favorisés, bénéficient en général d’une meilleure situation sanitaire. Plusieurs indicateurs élaborés dans ce travail sont révélateurs de cette réalité coloniale, en termes d’équipements sanitaires, d’accès et d’utilisation de soins et d’état de santé différencié./ The issue of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in Africa has long been neglected by researchers African social scientists, particularly because of the taboo surrounding sexuality in Africa. However, recent decades have resulted in several research conducted mainly by the European Africanists on these diseases through the emergence of the current pandemic of AIDS. Most of studies are focused on risk factors, distribution mechanisms, the popular attitudes about these infections, control policies... But historical studies on STI are seldom examined. Those that exist are mainly concerning the demographic dimension focuses on the problem of declining birth, leaving the socio-historical and socio-epidemiological spread of such diseases. While AIDS is ravaging the world and especially in sub-Saharan Africa, one thing to mention is that the interest of historical reflection on STI in the Congo is obvious. Contrary to an assertion conventionally accepted in the literature, that the fight against gonorrhea and syphilis among the Congolese population was a success for the colonial authorities, especially after the Second World War, our thesis shows rather the increasing prevalence of STI. The archives and analysis of data indicates this continued progress is the result of special conditions of industrialization and urbanization colonial that make people vulnerable. Cities from this historical process will not only areas of acculturation and modernity, but also places for expansion of these diseases. The development of prostitution and multiple sexual partners through free and temporary unions are the main factors explaining this observation. It has generally praises how the actions of Belgian colonial health in the Congo as 'model'. However, no study has been conducted to establish or to compare quantitatively the health status between Blacks (Congolese) and Withes (Europeans in majority). This essay shows the social health inequalities among these two populations. The Congolese many in number, but more socially disadvantaged have only less favorable conditions to health. While the white people, socially privileged, generally have better health status. Several indicators developed in this study are revealing of the colonial reality in terms of sanitation, access and use of care and health status differential.

The research was aimed at addressing the challenge of evaluating a large scale change intervention in a large organisation and in a complex environment. Finding robust, meaningful yet realistic methodologies from among the array of possible approaches, methods and techniques has proved problematic, for both organisational practitioners and academics alike. The research explored this issue of choice from the perspective of ¿fit for purpose¿ and suggests a multi-faceted approach, using a range of evaluation methods and techniques, which were applied to an ongoing example at the BBC. It was also planned to use structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques to examine the relationships between variables critical to the study. The approach described represents a ¿pilot¿ evaluation exercise, which drew on data collected from early cohorts going through the BBC Leadership Programme, a key element of the ¿Making it Happen¿ change strategy initiated by the then Director General, Mr. Greg Dyke. As a second level of research, an evaluation of the primary evaluation itself, i.e. of the BBC Leadership Programme, was also undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the primary evaluation strategy and its implementation. Three hypotheses were examined in terms of programme impact: It was proposed that participation in the programme would bring about collective improvements in individual leadership behaviour (Ho1), leading to improved departmental performance across the business (Ho2), in turn, resulting in improved organisational performance (Ho3). Due to limitations in the application of the methodology it was not possible to use SEM analyses on the data collected. Alternative analyses failed to demonstrate conclusive support for all three hypotheses and, while other factors besides programme attendance appear to influence leadership performance the afore-mentioned limitations restrict the ability to draw firm conclusions. Following evaluation of the primary evaluation it was evident that, as a pilot exercise, important outcomes from the programme evaluation give rise to ¿lessons learned¿ and changes are suggested for any future evaluation exercise of this kind.

Obiettivo di questo lavoro è definire il processo di interazione con la televisione digitale terrestre secondo una prospettiva psicosociale, che tenga conto delle e modalità di rappresentazione e fruizione della stessa da parte degli utenti e degli esperti del settore. Dal materiale prodotto (interviste agli utenti e analisi della Prima Conferenza Nazionale sulla DTT) emerge una diversità tra i due punti di vista: i telespettatori mostrano di essere ancora legati ad una fruizione tradizionale del medium televisivo, mentre gli esperti ritengono che il digitale sia un prodotto per la massa, in grado di rispondere al bisogno di ascolto e di partecipazione che gli spettatori manifestano. / Aim of this work is to define the process of interaction with the DTT according to a psychosocial perspective, taking into account its representation and fruition, from part of the users and the experts of the field. From the data collected (interviews to DTT users and analysis of the First National Conference on DTT) a difference rises between the comparison of the two points of view: the televiewers seem to be still bound to a traditional fruition of the medium; but regarding the experts' representations the digital is thought as a product for the mass that at the same time can answer to that need of participation the televiewers show.

The research was aimed at addressing the challenge of evaluating a large scale change intervention in a large organisation and in a complex environment. Finding robust, meaningful yet realistic methodologies from among the array of possible approaches, methods and techniques has proved problematic, for both organisational practitioners and academics alike. The research explored this issue of choice from the perspective of 'fit for purpose' and suggests a multi-faceted approach, using a range of evaluation methods and techniques, which were applied to an ongoing example at the BBC. It was also planned to use structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques to examine the relationships between variables critical to the study. The approach described represents a 'pilot' evaluation exercise, which drew on data collected from early cohorts going through the BBC Leadership Programme, a key element of the 'Making it Happen' change strategy initiated by the then Director General, Mr. Greg Dyke. As a second level of research, an evaluation of the primary evaluation itself, i.e. of the BBC Leadership Programme, was also undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the primary evaluation strategy and its implementation. Three hypotheses were examined in terms of programme impact: It was proposed that participation in the programme would bring about collective improvements in individual leadership behaviour (Ho1), leading to improved departmental performance across the business (Ho2), in turn, resulting in improved organisational performance (Ho3). Due to limitations in the application of the methodology it was not possible to use SEM analyses on the data collected. Alternative analyses failed to demonstrate conclusive support for all three hypotheses and, while other factors besides programme attendance appear to influence leadership performance the afore-mentioned limitations restrict the ability to draw firm conclusions. Following evaluation of the primary evaluation it was evident that, as a pilot exercise, important outcomes from the programme evaluation give rise to 'lessons learned' and changes are suggested for any future evaluation exercise of this kind.

This thesis is a case study that investigates the attitudes and behaviours of learners of a Preparatory English distance learning course (BEL 100 e-PJJ) offered at the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, and whether those attitudes and behaviours are influenced by their prior educational experiences and whether cultural factors may also have influence in the attitudes and behaviours of these learners. The research adopts a mixed-method case study design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to the data collection and analysis. Thematic analysis has been adopted as a tool to analyse the interview data qualitatively. The thematic analyses constructed thematic networks which Attride-Stirling (2001) stressed served as an organizing principle and an illustrative tool in interpreting the analysed interview data. Another major source of data collected for this study was the asynchronous forum discussion transcripts. To match the needs of this study, several categories and examples of Henri’s (1992) framework combined with elements from Garrison, Anderson and Archer (2000) CoI model and Hofstede’s (1991) cultural values tool were adapted in analysing the asynchronous forum discussion transcripts. This was to identify the factors which contributed to the attitude and behaviour of the BEL 100 e-PJJ learners. This study has highlighted that the process of learning and teaching of the UiTM Malay/Bumiputera learners depend on the support and training given to the distance learners and facilitators. Learners’ attitudes, behaviours, facilitators’ intervention and purposeful tasks were found to be important in supporting active participation and effective interaction within the course.

L’étude utilise la méthode des différences entre jumeaux monozygotes pour analyser le lien entre les pratiques parentales positives ou hostiles-réactives de la mère à 29 mois et la qualité des relations d’amitié des enfants à 6 ans, tout en contrôlant une série de facteurs confondants tels le sexe, le revenu familial, le tempérament et le poids à la naissance. Un effet modérateur du sexe est aussi testé. La méthodologie nouvelle et particulière de cette recherche permet de contrôler de possibles corrélations gènes-environnement. Les résultats ne concordent pas tous avec les hypothèses et démontrent que 1) le jumeau ayant reçu le plus de pratiques parentales positives de la mère est celui dont l’ami évalue le plus négativement sa relation d’amitié à 6 ans et 2) le jumeau ayant reçu le plus de pratiques parentales hostiles-réactives de la mère est celui dont l’ami évalue le moins positivement sa relation d’amitié à la maternelle. Différentes pistes d’explications sont proposées pour comprendre les résultats et pour guider les études futures. / This study used the monozygote twin differences method to analyze the links between positive or hostile maternal practices by the mother at 29 months and children’s friendship quality at 6 years of age. This new methodology can control for any possible genes-environment correlations. We also controlled for temperament, weight at birth, gender and socioeconomic status and we tested whether gender moderated the link between variables. Results are unexpected: 1) the twin who received the most positive maternal practices had the friend who evaluated the most negatively their friendship, 2) the twin who received the most hostile practices from his mother had the friend who evaluated the less positively their friendship. We propose different explanations to understand the results and we make suggestions for future studies.