In this dissertation, I explain why scholars are unable to conclusively find evidence that divided government is the main determinant of legislative gridlock. I argue this unsettled debate is largely attributable to an imprecise conceptual view of inter-branch tensions, and that these conceptual limitations are exacerbated by unrefined measurement practices. I argue refined measures such as party polarization and gridlock intervals better explain institutional behavior than divided government. Using unique datasets estimating legislator preferences on domestic and foreign policy, findings show that when compared to more refined measures, split-party government is not the sole or even the most important source of partisan conflict. In addition, compared to other studies on divided government, I argue the reason the distinction between unified and divided government is often blurred is that a number of underlying political and institutional pressures make sweeping policy change difficult even for most unified governments. These factors contribute to the public’s growing dissatisfaction with government’s inability to solve many economic and social problems. / text

ALMEIDA JÚNIOR, Antenor Teixeira. Espaços e atratores: estratégias de categorização na emergência de interferências sobre a conceitualização de violência. 2013. 184f. – Tese (Doutorado) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Letras Vernáculas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Linguística, Fortaleza (CE), 2013. / Submitted by Márcia Araújo (marcia_m_bezerra@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-01-19T18:35:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2013_tese_atajunior.pdf: 2885641 bytes, checksum: 4f0fc10c7ba0f795d9a6a874f8c74b94 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Márcia Araújo(marcia_m_bezerra@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-01-20T10:53:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2013_tese_atajunior.pdf: 2885641 bytes, checksum: 4f0fc10c7ba0f795d9a6a874f8c74b94 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-20T10:53:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2013_tese_atajunior.pdf: 2885641 bytes, checksum: 4f0fc10c7ba0f795d9a6a874f8c74b94 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / In this research, I analyzed the characteristics and mechanisms that make categorization, as a cognitive process, a Complex Adaptive System and the strategies of categorization that work in the emergency of inferences for the conceptualization of the category VIOLENCE and subcategory URBAN VIOLENCE. The theoretical support for the investigation of the research aims are the assumptions of the paradigm of chaos, complexity and complex systems, as outlined by Bertalanffy (1977), Morin (2005), Holland (1995, 1998) and Larsen-Freeman and Cameron ( 2008; 2012), who propose the concepts of systems, complexity, attractors, phase space and characteristics and mechanisms of a Complex Adaptive System. In the case of inferential process, I sought theoretical support in Relevance Theory, as proposed by Sperber and Wilson (1995, 2001), Feltes (1999, 2007), Alves and Gonçalves (2006) and Yus (2008, 2013). To get to the characterization of categorization as a Complex Adaptive System, I considered the properties presented by Holland (1995) and Larsen-Freeman and Cameron (2008), seeking to expand the concept and explain the instability of the categorical system based on the complexity theory (Morin, 1977). For this investigation, based on the complexity theory, it was also necessary to include the concept of system, phase space and attractors so relevant to the methodological approach used in this research. Such a procedure resulted in a typology of categorization strategies for the analysis and explanation of how the various feasible spaces for the conceptualizing of VIOLENCE are triggered. The category "VIOLENCE" was chosen for analysis in view of its update status in the last twenty years and the various researches on the subject carried out by Larsen-Freeman and Cameron, Macedo and Feltes, scholars whose studies served as basis for the methodological proposal of this thesis. In order to verify the research hypotheses, a methodological design which involved intensive direct observation of 33 categorizers was used. The participants answered questionnaires about the categorization of VIOLENCE and participated of verbal protocols to verify the inference mechanisms involved in the process. The analyses result allow for the following conclusions: VIOLENCE categorization has the properties and mechanisms of Complex Adaptive Systems because the systems present, in whole and in parts, variation within a stable range. The categorizers use the inferential process to trigger the attractors that lead to the phase space in which diverse knowledge about violence is available for its conceptualization in a strategic way. / Nesta pesquisa, analisamos as características e mecanismos que tornam a categorização, como processo cognitivo, um Sistema Adaptativo Complexo e as estratégias de categorização que atuam na emergência de inferências para a conceitualização da categoria VIOLÊNCIA e a subcategoria VIOLÊNCIA URBANA. Nosso suporte teórico para a investigação dos nossos objetivos são os pressupostos do paradigma do caos, da complexidade e dos sistemas complexos, conforme delineados por Bertalanffy (1977), Morin (2005), Holland (1995; 1998) e Larsen- Freeman e Cameron (2008; 2012), que propõem os conceitos de sistemas, complexidade, atratores, espaço fase e características e mecanismos de um Sistema Adaptativo Complexo. No caso do processo inferencial, buscamos amparo teórico na Teoria da Relevância, conforme proposta por Sperber e Wilson (1995; 2001), Feltes (1999; 2007), Alves e Gonçalves (2006) e Yus (2008; 2013). Para chegarmos à caracterização da categorização como Sistema Adaptativo Complexo, levamos em consideração as propriedades apresentadas por Holland (1995) e Larsen- Freeman e Cameron (2008), buscando ampliar o conceito e explicar a instabilidade do sistema categorizacional à luz da complexidade (MORIN, 1977). Para essa investigação com base na complexidade foi necessário ainda incluir o conceito de sistema, espaço fase e atratores tão caros à abordagem metodológica utilizada. Esse procedimento resultou em uma tipologia de estratégias de categorização para análise e explicitação de como se aciona os diversos espaços possíveis para conceitualização de VIOLÊNCIA. Escolhemos a categoria VIOLÊNCIA para investigar nosso objetivo tendo em vista a atualização do assunto nos últimos vinte anos e pelos trabalhos com essa categoria realizados por Larsen-Freeman e Cameron, Macedo e Feltes, cujos estudos serviram de base para nossa proposta metodológica. Para verificarmos nossas hipóteses, utilizamos como desenho metodológico uma pesquisa com observação direta e intensiva de 33 categorizadores que responderam a questionários sobre a categorização de VIOLÊNCIA e participaram de protocolos verbais para verificação dos mecanismos de inferenciação. Os resultados das análises permitem as seguintes conclusões: a categorização de VIOLÊNCIA possui propriedades e mecanismos dos Sistemas Adaptativos Complexos, pois os sistemas apresentam no todo e nas partes, variedade dentro de uma estabilidade. Os categorizadores utilizam o processo inferencial para acionar os atratores que levam ao espaço fase em que se encontram diversos conhecimentos sobre violência para sua conceitualização de forma estratégica.

Daniela Foltinová: Constantly Think: A Philosophical Interpretation of Thinking in Thomas Bernhard and Friedrich Nietzsche The thesis presents a philosophical interpretation on the problem of thinking acquired through the thorough analysis of Thomas Bernhards' novels Gehen, Verstörung and Alte Meister and an interpretation of knowledge, fallacy and thinking in the works of Friedrich Nietzsches' Menschliches, Allzumenschliches and Fröhliche Wissenschaft. The focal question of the thesis is: What does it mean to think? Interpretations of Bernhard held in three lines are always connected with the character in the novel. The fourth interpretation focuses solely on Nietzsches' thinking. There are four interpretations of thinking then. The first one characterizes thinking as a state of chaos taking place in the madmans' mind. The second one leads to the conception of reflective thinking of an observer. Both of them present a negative way of treating thinking as non-thinking. The third one with a storyteller taking thinkers' position shows procesual part of thinking: it is necessarily an activity with no further need for reflecttion or conceptualization. Therefore, it is to be found in the literary form of the novels. The analysis of Nietzsches' thinking emphasizes the need to dispute over the conceptual...

Despite extensive research on the effects of climate change on the displacement of populations, there is a lack of clarity in how environmentally displaced people should be conceptualized. As yet, there is no legal international definition agreed upon. There is however a broad debate on conceptualization, scholars whom argue that these people can be defined as environmental refugee whereas other scholars criticize the definition of a direct link between environment and displacement. This research explores this debate through a comparative case study that examines the implications of climate related displacement for two countries: (i) Bangladesh and (ii) Tuvalu. The case draws on the theoretical debate around displacement, together with a theoretically derived model of environmental displacement.   The findings consider how climate change will affect Bangladesh and Tuvalu and focuses on the countries’ national efforts to respond - efforts that call out for the international community to help and take responsibility. An analysis of the conceptualization of environmentally displaced people shows the difficulty of defining this status, due to the lack of an established international definition. In particular it means a lack in knowing who has the responsibility to protect these people now, and in the future. In a world where climate change will continue to affect both people and nature it is of importance to clarify these areas. By contributing to the topic of climate related displacement this study therefore brings forward the importance of the need for conceptualizing environmentally displaced people to give them the protection needed.

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What constitutes a stable democracy has consistently changed over time, with varying thresholds of democratic achievement being utilized. The definitions of a liberal democracy have remained rather broad. This allows for states to be deemed democratic rather easily through weak characteristics. However, while some states clearly begin to exhibit illiberal democratic policies, therefore missing the democratic threshold, they are able to maintain stability. What the precise causal factors to democratic backslide are, have yet to be fully realized. Academics pose a multitude of characteristics contributing to backslide. This thesis seeks to examine two of those factors: ethnic heterogeneity and state “newness.” New approaches to measuring democracy and fostering democratic development are needed, however, they may also prove to be unsuccessful in analyzing democratic transitions. Not all states are alike, therefore what works for one state may not work for another, be the policies of the state liberal or illiberal.

Relationships between spirituality and health outcomes are well supported in research; however, measurement of spirituality often reflects a Judeo-Christian framework and is predominantly theocentric, neglecting the increasing religious pluralism and non-traditional expressions of spirituality in the United States. A new measure of spirituality was based on a conceptualization of nontheistic spirituality that is understood to be a relatively stable motivational process entailing a search for sacred connection, with “sacred” being defined by individual perceptions and not necessitating divine association. Item development for the current instrument included an initial pool of 65 items and two phases of revision and content validation. The resulting 45-item pool was examined for content validity via two review phases in which expert reviewers rated quality of item form and item congruence with the present spirituality conceptualization. This research addresses current measurement limitations and provides a foundation for continued revision and validation of a nontheistic-based spirituality measure.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a severe psychiatric disorder affecting approximately 12% of men and 25% of women nationally in the nonclinical population. The aim of this research was to determine if lay individuals could differentiate between MDD and normal sadness. To evaluate the lay understanding of MDD and normal sadness, students at a large Southeastern university read four vignettes describing varying severity levels of MDD and normal sadness and then answered a variety of questions relating to the vignettes. Additionally, the lay conceptualizations of MDD were compared and contrasted to the professional conceptualizations of MDD. The principal hypothesis was that lay individuals could not differentiate between clinical depression and normal sadness because the two concepts have become synonymous in today’s society. In fact, results showed that lay individuals could not differentiate between threshold MDD and subthreshold MDD.

Clients rarely present with prototypical presentations for which an “off the shelf” cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) approach can be used, and the most frequently cited rationale for case conceptualisation is matching clients’ unique presentations and therapy goals with available theory and research. In this, it is argued that case conceptualisation guides therapy by ensuring that individual cognitive and behavioural processes are targeted, thereby maximising therapy efficacy. Therefore, therapists who are competent in case conceptualisation should achieve better outcomes. However, little is known about the relationship between competency in case conceptualisation and general CBT competence, or how competency in case conceptualisation is linked to therapy outcome. Forty audiotapes selected from an ongoing study (CoBalT: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as an adjunct to Pharmacotherapy for Treatment Resistant Depression in Primary Care: a randomised controlled trial) were rated for competency in case conceptualisation and competence in CBT using the Collaborative Case Conceptualisation – Rating Scale (CCC-RS) and Cognitive Therapy Scale – Revised (CTS-R) respectively. The assessment of competence was carried out by independent groups of researchers with expertise in these assessments, blind to treatment outcome. Therapy outcome was measured using The Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). The results showed that 1) competence in case conceptualisation shared a strong and positive relationship with general CBT competence and, 2) that competence (in case conceptualisation and general CBT competence) was associated with better treatment outcome for depression. The results highlight competence in case conceptualisation as an important facet of therapist CBT competence, and indicate that investing in the training and selection of therapists competent in case conceptualisation as well as CBT competence has the potential to enhance treatment outcomes.

The objective of this study was to investigate the spatial relationship between the most likely distribution of saturated hydraulic conductivity (K-s) and the observed pressure head (P) distribution within a hillslope. The cross-correlation analysis method was used to investigate the effects of the variance of lnK(s), spatial structure anisotropy of lnK(s), and vertical infiltration flux (q) on P at some selected locations within the hillslope. The cross-correlation analysis shows that, in the unsaturated region with a uniform flux boundary, the dominant correlation between P and Ks is negative and mainly occurs around the observation location of P. A relatively high P value is located in a relatively low Ks zone, while a relatively low P value is located in a relatively high Ks zone. Generally speaking, P is positively correlated with q/Ks at the same location in the unsaturated region. In the saturated region, the spatial distribution of K-s can significantly affect the position and shape of the phreatic surface. We therefore conclude that heterogeneity can cause some parts of the hillslope to be sensitive to external hydraulic stimuli (e.g., rainfall and reservoir level change), and other parts of the hillslope to be insensitive. This is crucial to explaining why slopes with similar geometries would show different responses to the same hydraulic stimuli, which is significant to hillslope stability analysis. (C) 2016 Hohai University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.