Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, December 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 142-151).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2009. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

The purpose of this study was to explore how the therapist-provided conditions of congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding were experienced and conveyed in child-centered play therapy (CCPT). Although the therapist-provided conditions are considered essential to the therapeutic process in CCPT, a gap exists between child-centered theory and empirical exploration of the process and dynamics of these relational variables in CCPT. Due to the limited research in this area, a grounded theory approach was utilized to explore how the three variables emerge in CCPT. Participants included four advanced doctoral students, all Caucasian females with extensive training in CCPT, and 12 children ranging from 4 to 8 years of age receiving weekly, individual CCPT. One individual CCPT session was observed and video-recorded for each therapist-child dyad (n = 12). Following each observation, play therapists were interviewed regarding the observed play session (n = 12). During each interview, the researcher and therapist watched the recorded play session in its entirety and discussed noteworthy interactions between the child and therapist. The video-recorded play therapy sessions and therapist interviews were analyzed using a multiphasic, constant comparative method. Results of the analysis included a process-model of the therapist-provided conditions in CCPT, examples of play therapists’ internal experiences and external behaviors associated with the presence and absence of the therapist-provided conditions, and a model of the process play therapists utilize to respond to breaks and barriers to congruence, unconditional positive regard, empathic understanding, and unconditional positive self-regard in CCPT. Implications for clinical practice, training, supervision, and research are discussed.

Family-Centered Care has been recognized as the best current model for delivering care to all patients, particularly pediatric patients and their families. Although the concepts of family-centered care are accepted in theory, studies show barriers in implementing the model in clinical practice. The major problems reported during pediatric hospitalizations include lack of communication, lack of information and guidance, lack of clearly defined roles and expectations, lack of support for parents' psychosocial needs, disregard for parents' prior experience and concerns, stereotyping of parents by nurses, unfair expectations placed on parents, and the use of parents as unpaid caregivers. This thesis provides a comprehensive review of research literature regarding the barriers associated with implementing family-centered care. Studies included perspectives of parents, nurses, and health care professionals and the themes identified were used to make recommendations for clinical practice, nursing education, and future research

Local tobacco industry has developed for a hundred years since Taiwan under Japanese governed, it was once the main fiscal income source of the state. Coming after the facts of the formation of the global tobacco market, the affiliation to the World Trade Organization of Taiwan and the change of Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Monopoly Bureau to Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation, the statement of globalists which claims that the role of state declined becomes overwhelming. But according to this research, the tobacco industry in Taiwan actually has been nurtured by the state. From farmers growing tobacco leaf to consumers using the tobacco product, the state has the related norms and institutions to rule. Especially the period of Japanese government and the early retrocession of Taiwan, governments sought to pursue the fiscal income. For the reason of fiscal income, they controlled the whole tobacco industry from growing, harvest, marketing and consumption of tobacco. After the Sino-US agreement on tobacco and alcohol, the social anti-tobacco consciousness was awakened. The state also recognized the importance of the health of people. On the one hand, the state has to look after the rights of people who don't smoke, on the other, to consolidate the righteousness and the legitimacy of governing. In other words, the role of state doesn't decline for the part of tobacco industry in Taiwan, on the contrary, the state intervenes because of different goals. This thesis applies the theory of state-centered as the main research approach, to investigate the development of the tobacco industry in Taiwan, and compares the different focal points of interventions of the state. Otherwise, this thesis also emphasizes the interaction of the state, the domestic society and the international system, the interaction of the foregoing actos will shape the goals of the state.

Thesis (M.S. Science in Education)--Shenandoah University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study was to assess parental and medical staff perceptions of the implementation of family-centered care during the surgical process at a pediatric hospital. Both children and parents experience hospitalization as a stressful process often characterized by painful, frightening medical procedures, interactions with strangers, and a loss of control and decision-making abilities. Medical staff members can play a vital role in alleviating parental distress by providing clear and consistent communication, support, and collaboration with parents throughout their child’s hospital care and recovery. Therefore, this study specifically sought to examine parental and medical staff members’ perceptions of the provision and importance of three types of social support: informational, emotional, and instrumental. This study also sought to examine the relationship between parental perceived provision and importance of social support and parental perceived stress. Qualitative questions were utilized to gather additional information regarding parents’ and medical staff members’ experiences throughout the surgical process. The sample for this study included 117 parents of surgical patients and 51 medical staff members (nurses, surgeons, and anesthesiologists) at a pediatric hospital in the southwestern United States. The quantitative data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U Tests, Kruskal-Wallis Tests, and correlational analysis. Qualitative data were examined to identify major themes that have supported and contrasted with the quantitative results. The findings of this study revealed statistically significant differences between the perceived provision and importance of social support types among participant groups. Results also indicated statistically significant associations between parental perceptions of the provision and importance of social support type and parental perceived stress. These significant findings serve to inform care for families during the surgical process and guide future research in this area. / text

Five years ago a Canadian Community College School of Business program undertook the task of redesigning its curriculum using feedback from focus groups with local leaders from a wide variety of businesses. The feedback indicated a perceived need to create a better way of teaching the college learner. The college began to look for a more effective way to address the needs of the college learner, and learner-centered theory became a starting point in the process. One approach, learner-centered reform, has become a part of a larger process involving curriculum, institutional, and pedagogical reform in undergraduate education (Barr & Tagg, 1995; O’Banion, 1999; Parekh, 2007). A learner-centered curriculum takes time, collective energy of all involved, and resources (Hubball, Gold, Mighty, & Britnell, 2007). This redesign took place over an 18-month period with faculty from each of the programs along with a facilitator for the process. The approach of “What do learners need to be able to do when they graduate?” was at the forefront of the planning process. It was critical that the outcomes that were created have meaning and be relevant to the learner in a professional and individual context (Hubball & Burt, 2004). The work of this thesis is to map the curriculum looking for any gaps or areas of concern prior to conducting online surveys with faculty and learners. The questions addressed in this study are: (1) Was this curriculum change learner-centered? (2) Did the faculty feel the curriculum was effective? (3) Did the curriculum change serve the needs of the learners? These questions are addressed through a curriculum mapping exercise and two online surveys, one for faculty and one for learners. The results of the surveys were supportive of learner-centered theory occurring in this college curriculum. The results did show some differences among the three School of Business programs. It is these results that are discussed in this thesis. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2011-04-29 11:59:54.393

Jabu Ngcobo Public Adult Learning Centre is a learning centre of the Department of Education and Culture where Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) is provided. Its operations are expected to reflect the provisions and norms of the Policy for Adult Basic Education and Training (1997) and the Adult Basic Education and Training Act (2000). The aim of this study was to investigate the provision and delivery of ABET programmes offered by the Jabu Ngcobo PALC, which is situated in Imbali Township, Pietermaritzburg. This study focused specific attention on how the programmes offered at this centre addressed the learning needs of the learners and the community of the Imbali Township and its immediate surrounding areas. The literature reviewed covered numerous sources that informed and supported this study. Both qualitative and quantitative tools were used as part of the data collection process. Data was collected from the different stakeholders and role-players involved with the PALC. These include the Centre Manager, practitioners, current and ex-learners, community leaders and Departmental officials. The results of this study indicated the extent to which the learning needs of adult learners and those of the community are inadequately addressed by the PALC. Some suggestions are made on how Jabu Ngcobo PALC should adjust its programming in order to accommodate the learning needs of the community of Imbali Township where the PALC is situated. The results further provided baseline information that could be used by other PALCs and by the Department of Education and Culture in KwaZulu-Natal. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, [2007].

This investigative study was on the effects psychotherapy had on client-perceived latent power as a dimension of personality. Additionally, the effects of increased perceived latent power upon the fulfillment of client expectation in psychotherapy was examined.The subjects for the research were selected from among persons presenting themselves for personal counseling at the Counseling and Psychological Services Center at Ball State University. The sample of this population consisted of 30 individuals who had completed a minimum of four therapy sessions but not more than eight sessions.Each subject was given the Rotter I-E Scale during the intake interview at the Counseling Center at Ball State University. After receiving psychotherapeutic treatment, the subjects were readministered the Rotter I-E Scale and were administered the Inventory of Fulfillment of Client Expectancy (IFCE).A summary of the subject demographic data was reported to the Director of the Counseling and Psychological Services Center. He concluded that subjects participatingin the study were typical of clients receiving personal counseling at the Counseling and Psychological Services Center at Ball State University.A pretest-posttest no control group research design was selected to treat the data. A t-test for repeated measures was performed and yielded a significant increase in client-perceived power as a result of psychotherapy (.02 level). Spearman Rank-Order Correlation Coefficient (Rho) statistical procedures were applied to determine if a rank-order relationship existed between the amount of change in the internal direction on the Rotter I-E Scale and the amount of fulfillment of client expectations in psychotherapy as measured by the IFCE. The fulfillment of client expectations was subdivided into Mean Value scores, Affective Domain scores, and Cognitive Domain scores. In each case a t-test for the significance of Rho indicated that the rank-order relationship was not statistically significant.Based upon the analysis of the data, the following conclusions were made:1. As a result of psychotherapy, client-perceived latent power significantly increased. Subjects were found to possess a significantly greater degree of internal locus of control as a result of the therapeutic experience.2. No significant rank-order correlation existed between the amount of client change in the internal direction on the locus of control and the total fulfillment of client expectations in psychotherapy.3. No significant rank-order correlation existed between the amount of client change in the internal direction on locus of control and the fulfillment of client affective expectations in psychotherapy.4. No significant rank-order correlation existed between the amount of client change in the internal direction of locus of control and the fulfillment of client cognitive expectations in psychotherapy.5. The subjects who received psychotherapeutic treatment at the Counseling and Psychological Services Center at Ball State University were satisfied with the treatment they received and considered the therapy successful.