This research survey was carried out to investigate three areas of concern which are commonly associated with the implementation of government development projects: namely: (i) cost overrun causal factors, (ii) effective remedial cost control measures and (iii) apportionment of professional responsibility for either cost overrun causal factors or costs control remedial measures’ implementation. The ultimate aim was to identify major causes of cost overruns, generate and recommend possible solutions to the problem of cost overruns in the Botswana public construction industry. The research strategy adopted, involved the circulation of questionnaires and subsequent statistical data analysis. Initially, an expert group questionnaire test survey was conducted among ten (10) professionals (expert group), in order to solicit professional opinion and contributory input on the research. The purpose of the expert group questionnaire test survey was to refine the research questionnaires, make necessary questionnaire structure amendments, eliminate possible ambiguities, and finally, to make data collection an easy exercise. Through the expert group questionnaire test survey, the research questionnaires were assessed for validity and reliability. Thus, the questionnaire content validity (Saunders et al. 2003) was established by soliciting comments from the expert group, on the representativeness and suitability of the research questionnaires. Lists of causes of cost overruns factors and effective cost control measures were, developed for each of the three major project development cycle phases; namely: the conception/planning/designing, implementation, and completion/commissioning phases. The research questionnaires which were formulated through expert group questionnaire test survey lists of cost overruns causal factors and cost control remedial measures were circulated to a wide range of practicing professionals. In addition, a representative number of case study projects, with specific reference to cost overruns and cost control, were selected for detailed investigation. Three statistical data analytical methods; the respondents ‘s cost overrun factor/cost control measures ranking order, the Kendell’s Correlation Coefficient and the case study analysis, were simultaneously (triangulation analysis), employed in order to draw conclusive results of the research findings. Hence, the result of the survey identified: i) the most frequent cost overrun causal factors; as inadequate project brief, insufficient/inadequate project design, lack of project coordination and contractual claims and ii) the most effective cost control measures; as appointment of competent project personnel, improved project monitoring, awarding contracts to reputable/competent contractors and monitoring teams and providing time and financial management facilities. The third objective, which was to identify and apportion professional personnel responsibility for causal factors and remedial cost control implementation measures; within each of the three-project development cycle phases; yielded the following results: Clients and project managers were found to play a major contributory role in activities that lead to project cost overruns at conception/planning/designing phase. The project implementation phase allocated blame to contractors, architects and quantity surveyors for cost overruns, while quantity surveyors and contractors were found to be responsible for cost overruns at the completion/commissioning phase. On the implementation of effective remedial cost control measures, the professional responsibility scenario was found to be as follows: clients and project managers play a major role at conception/planning/designing phase, whereas quantity surveyors are key players at implementation phase and project managers; at completion /commissioning phase.

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Behavioural difficulty is probably the least understood area of special education as it is very problematic to identify a specific cause. Behavioural difficulties are those behaviours that students sometimes exhibit that are inappropriate and unacceptable in the classrooms or schools, as they disrupt the smooth process of teaching and learning. This study investigated primary school teachers' perspectives of the causal factors of students' behavioural problems and what can be done to minimise this problem. The study was carried out in the Madang Province involving two primary schools. From the two schools, twelve teachers (six from each school) participated in the study. The same participants were involved in both the questionnaire and the semi structured interview. The data gathered for the questionnaire and interview were analysed and transcribed respectively. The findings discovered that the family and school factors contributed substantially towards students' inappropriate behaviours. Family factors include parental problems, abuse in the families, and the constant struggle to provide the basic necessities due to the high living cost. School factors, on the other hand, include negative teacher attitudes, teacher lack of knowledge and skills to adapt the curriculum to include social skills, lack of teacher support and encouragement, and peer influences. The findings also discovered that teachers were more bothered about externalising behaviours such as disruption and aggression than internalising behavioural problems like withdrawal and depression displayed by students. Further, teachers' limited pre-service and in-service training and lack of experience in teaching students with behavioural problems contributed significantly for teachers not attending to students who behave inappropriately. Based on the findings identified in the study, several recommendations were made on how to intervene to alleviate this problem. Of particular importance is teacher training at both the pre-service and in-service level. Also government support is needed in terms of funding for training, involving specialists and other resources to respond to student behavioural problems effectively and efficiently. The findings may have particular relevance to future studies in this area and provide teachers with effective and workable intervention strategies for students' behavioural problems in the classrooms.

Anorexi nervosa är ett globalt problem men förekommer främst i Västvärlden. Det är en komplex sjukdom som orsakas av biologiska, psykologiska och sociokulturella faktorer som många gånger samverkar med varandra. Syftet med denna fenomenologiska studie är att få en större förståelse för hur friskförklarade kvinnor fann mening i sitt insjuknande och om det finns gemensamma nämnare i deras livshistorier. Särskilt fokus har lagts vid familjemönster och kommunikationen inom familjen. Vi har utgått ifrån symbolisk interaktionism som teoretiskt perspektiv. Studien är av kvalitativt slag där vi använde oss av semistrukturerade intervjuer som sedan tolkades utifrån en hermeneutisk fenomenologisk ansats. I vårt resultat kunde vi se att meningsskapandet kring sjukdomens olika stadier var centralt och tog sig i uttryck på olika sätt hos respondenterna. Tio teman kunde urskiljas och de viktigaste fynden var att sjukdomen på olika sätt var en aktiv handling och att den är ett uttryck för ett självhat och låg självkänsla. Vi kunde även se brist på känslouttryck inom familjen och att inte bli emotionellt erkänd av sina föräldrar var en viktig faktor. Det mest vitala resultatet var respondenternas egna uppfattningar om att anorexin var en symboliserande handling och att den handlar om så mycket mer än vikt och utseende. / Anorexia is a global issue but occurs mainly in the Western world. Anorexia nervosa is a complex disease caused by biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors which often interacts with each other. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to gain a greater understanding of how recovered women created meaning in their illness and if there are mutual factors in their life-stories. We have especially focused on family patterns and the communication within the family. We have based our study on symbolic interactionism as our theoretical perspective. The study is of a qualitative nature and we used semi structured interviews which later were interpreted from a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. In our result we could see that creating meaning was central throughout the disease and was expressed in different ways by our respondents. Ten themes appeared and the most vital findings were that anorexia was an active action and that it is an expression for self-hatred and low self-esteem. We could also see that lack of expression regarding emotions within the families and not being emotionally recognized by their parents were crucial factors. The most important result was the respondents own perception of anorexia as a symbolizing action and the content of the disease is about so much more than weight and looks.

Esta tese tem como finalidade propor um método de coleta, tratamento e análise de dados de acidentes de trânsito para aplicação no Brasil. Este método tem como um de seus objetivos reconhecer os fatores que contribuem para a ocorrência dos acidentes, visto que identificar as causas dos acidentes é fundamental na busca por soluções para o problema da acidentalidade. No Brasil as bases de dados de acidentes de trânsito são, em geral, estruturadas a partir dos registros policiais e carecem de informações adequadas para a análise da segurança viária. O método proposto neste trabalho permite registrar acidentes de modo a contemplar: as características do acidente, as circunstâncias do momento, a identificação e as características dos veículos e pessoas envolvidas. Além disso, o método permite relacionar essas informações com os fatores que contribuíram para a ocorrência dos acidentes. Nesse contexto, a criação de uma base de dados de acidentes e seus fatores contribuintes, vem suprir a carência de informações essenciais para o diagnóstico e encaminhamento de soluções adequadas para os problemas motivadores dos acidentes de trânsito. A proposta desta tese está baseada em uma abordagem que combina aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos, alinhada às melhores práticas internacionais na área de segurança viária. Como resultado do desenvolvimento do método, foram elaborados instrumentos de coleta de dados contendo um formulário, um manual e procedimentos para a coleta de dados. Como resultado da aplicação prática desses instrumentos, foi criada a estrutura de uma base de dados que permitiu a definição do método proposto para a análise das causas de acidentes de trânsito. Como meio de validar o método proposto, foi realizado um estudo aplicado e são apresentadas as análises de dados dos acidentes de trânsito observados. / This thesis has the purpose of presenting a method for collecting and processing data on traffic accidents to be applied in Brazil. This method aims to acknowledge the contributor factors for the occurrence of accidents, since identifying the causes of accidents is crucial on the search for effective solutions for the road safety problem. Traffic accidents database in Brazil are generally structured based on police reports, therefore lacking adequate information for the analyses of road safety. The method proposes a registry of the accidents comprising accident characteristics, scene circumstances, vehicle as well as involved people identification and characteristics. Moreover, it allows relating that information with the accident contributory factors. In this scenery, the creation of an accident database and its contributory factors emerge to supply the lack of essential information for the diagnosis and adequate solution for traffic accidents. This thesis’ proposal has an approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative aspects, seeking to level up to the best international practice on the road safety area. As a result of the development of the method, data collection instruments were elaborated: a form, a manual, and procedures for data collection. Besides, as a result of the practical application of these instruments, a database - which allowed the definition of the method proposed for analysis of the causes of traffic accidents - was created. As a mean of validation of the method, an applied study and the data analysis of the observed traffic accidents are presented.

Esta tese tem como finalidade propor um método de coleta, tratamento e análise de dados de acidentes de trânsito para aplicação no Brasil. Este método tem como um de seus objetivos reconhecer os fatores que contribuem para a ocorrência dos acidentes, visto que identificar as causas dos acidentes é fundamental na busca por soluções para o problema da acidentalidade. No Brasil as bases de dados de acidentes de trânsito são, em geral, estruturadas a partir dos registros policiais e carecem de informações adequadas para a análise da segurança viária. O método proposto neste trabalho permite registrar acidentes de modo a contemplar: as características do acidente, as circunstâncias do momento, a identificação e as características dos veículos e pessoas envolvidas. Além disso, o método permite relacionar essas informações com os fatores que contribuíram para a ocorrência dos acidentes. Nesse contexto, a criação de uma base de dados de acidentes e seus fatores contribuintes, vem suprir a carência de informações essenciais para o diagnóstico e encaminhamento de soluções adequadas para os problemas motivadores dos acidentes de trânsito. A proposta desta tese está baseada em uma abordagem que combina aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos, alinhada às melhores práticas internacionais na área de segurança viária. Como resultado do desenvolvimento do método, foram elaborados instrumentos de coleta de dados contendo um formulário, um manual e procedimentos para a coleta de dados. Como resultado da aplicação prática desses instrumentos, foi criada a estrutura de uma base de dados que permitiu a definição do método proposto para a análise das causas de acidentes de trânsito. Como meio de validar o método proposto, foi realizado um estudo aplicado e são apresentadas as análises de dados dos acidentes de trânsito observados. / This thesis has the purpose of presenting a method for collecting and processing data on traffic accidents to be applied in Brazil. This method aims to acknowledge the contributor factors for the occurrence of accidents, since identifying the causes of accidents is crucial on the search for effective solutions for the road safety problem. Traffic accidents database in Brazil are generally structured based on police reports, therefore lacking adequate information for the analyses of road safety. The method proposes a registry of the accidents comprising accident characteristics, scene circumstances, vehicle as well as involved people identification and characteristics. Moreover, it allows relating that information with the accident contributory factors. In this scenery, the creation of an accident database and its contributory factors emerge to supply the lack of essential information for the diagnosis and adequate solution for traffic accidents. This thesis’ proposal has an approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative aspects, seeking to level up to the best international practice on the road safety area. As a result of the development of the method, data collection instruments were elaborated: a form, a manual, and procedures for data collection. Besides, as a result of the practical application of these instruments, a database - which allowed the definition of the method proposed for analysis of the causes of traffic accidents - was created. As a mean of validation of the method, an applied study and the data analysis of the observed traffic accidents are presented.

Esta tese tem como finalidade propor um método de coleta, tratamento e análise de dados de acidentes de trânsito para aplicação no Brasil. Este método tem como um de seus objetivos reconhecer os fatores que contribuem para a ocorrência dos acidentes, visto que identificar as causas dos acidentes é fundamental na busca por soluções para o problema da acidentalidade. No Brasil as bases de dados de acidentes de trânsito são, em geral, estruturadas a partir dos registros policiais e carecem de informações adequadas para a análise da segurança viária. O método proposto neste trabalho permite registrar acidentes de modo a contemplar: as características do acidente, as circunstâncias do momento, a identificação e as características dos veículos e pessoas envolvidas. Além disso, o método permite relacionar essas informações com os fatores que contribuíram para a ocorrência dos acidentes. Nesse contexto, a criação de uma base de dados de acidentes e seus fatores contribuintes, vem suprir a carência de informações essenciais para o diagnóstico e encaminhamento de soluções adequadas para os problemas motivadores dos acidentes de trânsito. A proposta desta tese está baseada em uma abordagem que combina aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos, alinhada às melhores práticas internacionais na área de segurança viária. Como resultado do desenvolvimento do método, foram elaborados instrumentos de coleta de dados contendo um formulário, um manual e procedimentos para a coleta de dados. Como resultado da aplicação prática desses instrumentos, foi criada a estrutura de uma base de dados que permitiu a definição do método proposto para a análise das causas de acidentes de trânsito. Como meio de validar o método proposto, foi realizado um estudo aplicado e são apresentadas as análises de dados dos acidentes de trânsito observados. / This thesis has the purpose of presenting a method for collecting and processing data on traffic accidents to be applied in Brazil. This method aims to acknowledge the contributor factors for the occurrence of accidents, since identifying the causes of accidents is crucial on the search for effective solutions for the road safety problem. Traffic accidents database in Brazil are generally structured based on police reports, therefore lacking adequate information for the analyses of road safety. The method proposes a registry of the accidents comprising accident characteristics, scene circumstances, vehicle as well as involved people identification and characteristics. Moreover, it allows relating that information with the accident contributory factors. In this scenery, the creation of an accident database and its contributory factors emerge to supply the lack of essential information for the diagnosis and adequate solution for traffic accidents. This thesis’ proposal has an approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative aspects, seeking to level up to the best international practice on the road safety area. As a result of the development of the method, data collection instruments were elaborated: a form, a manual, and procedures for data collection. Besides, as a result of the practical application of these instruments, a database - which allowed the definition of the method proposed for analysis of the causes of traffic accidents - was created. As a mean of validation of the method, an applied study and the data analysis of the observed traffic accidents are presented.