The central argument of this project is that meaningful and intelligible experience is conditioned by the determinate relationship between realms of reality, and that our humanity is grounded on the semiotic process of symbolic references, which is manifest in Charles S. Peirce’s and Robert C. Neville’s theories of determination. However they are contained by the past such processes of determination can be extended to the future through transformative effort. My investigation ranges over multiple paths that lead toward determinate processes, by suggesting that the problem of interpretation and of the intelligibility of experience can be solved only in reference to the full purview of determinate features of experience. In his theory of determination, Peirce considered two processes of determination, the semiotic process and epistemology. The semiotic process is an extensional process from object to interpretant that consists of an infinite chain of references that can be spatially reversible. The epistemological process of determination is temporal and irreversible, where the idea grows into the individual mind, as the universe is unfolded by the agency of mind. Peirce’s study of the logic of individuals of Duns Scotus is to find answers for the problem of individuality. For Peirce, God is individualized in the course of determination and at the same time determines all possible determinations. Due to his adopting the Scotian sense of necessity, Neville also adopts Duns Scotus’s logic of individuals to his theory of determination and valuation. As revealed in his theory of determination, in the ontological act of creation God becomes individual as a creator, an individual as the determiner of all possible determinations. In his theory of determination, Neville proposes modes of determination at the ontological level, as well as a collection of cosmological determinations. Neville works “inter-cosmologically” in order to account for the fundamental conditions of our knowing that brings ontological and cosmological determinations together. In their theory of interpretation, Peirce and Neville suggest a triadic system of semiotic network. Among other things, Neville provides a more sophisticated version of theory of interpretation, which involves realms of intelligibility. Both Peirce and Neville symbolism allows for the pragmatic semiotics based upon a brokenness of signs, which opens for further interpretation.

Orientador: Celio Pasquini / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T16:03:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cortez_Juliana_M.pdf: 4343113 bytes, checksum: d1746c525a8d51ede4e8432a525eecf2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Neste trabalho um instrumento LIBS com resolução temporal (TRELIBS) foi construído e seu desempenho foi avaliado para análise qualitativa e quantitativa. Além disso, este trabalho apresenta estudos exploratórios acerca da influência de parâmetros que afetam as análises em LIBS. O instrumento foi montado empregando-se óptica e sistema de detecção de última geração: um detector ICCD, um policromador echelle e um laser Q-switched de Nd:YAG. Três configurações do sistema LIBS foram avaliadas. No último arranjo do sistema, o pulso de laser era refletido por um espelho dicróico à 45º para uma lente de distância focal de 25 cm que focava o pulso de laser na superfície da amostra. A radiação foi coletada por uma lente de curta distância focal e depois enviada para o echelle, por uma fibra óptica, e posteriormente para o ICCD. Na análise qualitativa foram avaliados os espectros de uma placa de cobre e zinco, obtendo-se espectros condizentes com a literatura, de acordo com a resolução do echelle. Na avaliação quantitativa, determinou-se manganês em aços acalmados. O sistema apresentou resposta às diferentes concentrações de manganês em 293,30 nm e curvas analíticas foram obtidas. A energia do pulso de laser mostrou ser um fator determinante no desempenho da análise quantitativa. Outros parâmetros como tempo de integração do sinal, tempo de atraso, ganho do MCP, co-adição de pulsos e distância foco-amostra também mostraram ter influência na análise quantitativa. Imagens de MEV e mapeamentos de EDS das crateras formadas pelo laser foram ferramentas importantes para o entendimento do processo de interação laser-amostra-atmosfera / Abstract: In this work a time resolved LIBS instrument (TRELIBS) was built and its performance evaluated in qualitative and quantitative analysis. Additionally, exploratory studies are presented on the influence of parameters that affect the LIBS analysis. The instrument was built employing optical systems and devices of modern technology: an ICCD device, an echelle polychromator and an Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Three configurations of LIBS system were evaluated. In the last configuration, the laser pulse was reflected by a dicroic mirror at 45º to a lens of 25 cm focal distance that focused the laser pulse on the sample surface. The plasma emission was collected by a lens of short focal distance and sent to the echelle, through of an optical fiber, and later to the ICCD. In qualitative analysis, spectra of copper and zinc foils were evaluated and the spectral lines were found in agreement with literature, considering the echelle resolution. In quantitative analysis, manganese was determined in killed steel. The system presented signals at 293,30 nm whose intensities changes in function of manganese concentration and analytical curves were obtained. The laser pulse energy showed to be an important factor for the success of quantitative analysis. Others parameters such as width, delay time, MCP gain, accumulated laser pulses and distance sample-focusing lens also showed have influence in quantitative analysis. MEV images and surface scanner by EDS of the craters formed by laser were important tools to understanding laser-sample-atmosphere interaction processes / Mestrado / Quimica Analitica / Mestre em Química

Inicialmente foi investigada a possibilidade de separar o germânio, contido em baixas concentrações em solução aquosa, por meio de extração com solventes orgânicos, empregando técnica simples que permitisse trabalhar com pequenos volumes de amostra. Extração eficiente foi obtida com metil-isobutil-cetona, a partir de soluções contendo acido clorídrico em teor correspondente a 7,5 N. O coeficiente de extração, determinado para uma faixa de concentração de 0,25 a 200 µg de Ge/ml, foi de, aproximadamente, 96% tendo sido ainda comprovado que, por meio de três extrações sucessivas, é possível conseguir a recuperação completa do germânio existente no meio aquoso, mesmo quando em grande diluição. Com o objetivo de promover, no próprio extrato orgânico, uma reação quantitativa do germânio que se prestasse à determinação colorimétrica, foi estudada, nesse meio, a reação com molibdato e elaborado um método em que, após a formação do ácido germanomolibdico e sua separação na camada cetônica, é feita a redução do mesmo com ácido ascórbico dissolvido em etilenoglicol, sendo o meio homogenizado com álcool etílico. As soluções azuis assim obtidas, com máximo de absorção em 785 mµ, são extremamente estáveis, em contraste com soluções aquosas análogas, obtidas com o mesmo reagente. A região mais favorável para a determinação corresponde ao intervalo de 1,0 a 2,5µg Ge/ml (concentração considerada na solução submetida à medida espectrofotométrica). Foi feito estudo minucioso das interferências, tendo-se conseguido eliminar a maioria das mesmas por meio de tratamento preliminar com cupferron e extração com a própria metil-isobutil-cetona. A interferência devida a ions fosfato é removida pela precipitação prévia com nitrato de zirconila. As(V) que também interfere é reduzido a As(III) com hidrogenossulfito na presença de iôdo e a interferência indireta de fluoreto e evitada pela adição de cloreto de alumínio. Um segundo método, mais sensível, foi também elaborado, baseado na reação do germânio com fenilfluorona diretamente na fase orgânica, após a extração com metil-isobutil-cetona de solução 7,5 N em HCl. O produto da reação, perfeitamente solúvel no meio orgânico empregado, proporciona soluções com máximo de absorção em 504 mµ e muito estáveis. A reação é instantânea e, nas condições estudadas, permite alcançar uma sensibilidade analítica duas vêzes maior do que quando é realizada em meio aquoso. A região de concentração mais favorável para a determinação, referida à solução utilizada na medida espectrofotométrica corresponde ao intervalo compreendido entre 0,08 e 0,30 µg Ge/ml. A eliminação da maioria das interferências é feita, também neste caso, por tratamento prévio com cupferron e extração com metilisobutil-cetona. As interferências devidas a W(VI) e Nb(V) são evitadas por extração preliminar com o mesmo sol vente, na presença de excesso de tiocianato, em meio redutor. Foi também estudada a possibilidade de aplicar ambos os métodos elaborados à determinação de baixos teores de germânio, contidos em materiais complexos. O primeiro método foi empregado com bons resultados na determinação do elemento em fuligens, do tipo das provenientes de chaminés de usinas termoelétricas, contendo teor de aproximadamente 0,04% Ge. O segundo método, por ser cêrca de dez vezes mais sensível, foi usado também na determinação em carvões, com teor de cêrca de 0,001% Ge. Em todos os casos o material foi desagregado por fusão alcalina. Foi verificado que os métodos são aplicáveis sem prévia eliminação de sílica, desde que o material não contenha mais do que 50% de SiO2. A técnica usada permite empregar, na grande maioria dos casos, amostras de apenas 50 a 100 mg. / Abstract not available.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Sex determination of human remains is often a dilemma for forensic experts due to the decomposing factor, or, if only part of a body is found. The analysis of DNA is thought to be the most accurate method for sex determination, but the cost and time involvement usually causes a delay in the identification process and in some cases, DNA is not obtainable due to the state of decomposition or contamination. Sexual dimorphism refers to the difference in shape, form or appearance between male and females in the same species. It can also be described as the systematic difference between individuals of different sex in the same species. Dimorphism in the human skeletal system and dentition is well establish. It is generally assumed that the male dentition is larger than the female dentition. In this study, the mesio-distal width of the maxillary incisors and canines, as well as the mandibular canines were measured. Orthodontic study models were used in this study, 50 males and 50 females, in which the sizes of the maxillary central incisors, maxillary lateral incisors, and maxillary and mandibular canines were measured. The results showed that the sizes of the maxillary and the mandibular canines were significantly more accurate in determining sexual dimorphism than the incisors. The logistic regression model, using tooth 13 and 33, provides prediction accuracy of 52% for males and 74% for females.

When it comes to discussing the concept of self-determination as a principle of international law, there is little that is self-evident or on which everyone can agree. Great difficulties are encountered when an attempt is made to apply the principle consistently. Some international lawyers see the concept as ius cogens and as erga omnes and some as both. On the other hand there are international lawyers who consider it too broad and ill-defined to constitute a general rule of international law. It lends itself thus to applications in a variety of particular cases. The principle can be easily formulated and gives the impression of being of universal applicability. In practice however, a lot of problems arise. The obvious questions that arise are: Who may claim to exercise the right of self-determination? When, and under what circumstances, may the claim be made? What are the rights and obligations of others states in relation to the claim to self-determination? What is the status of the principle of self-determination in international law? The roots of the modern concept of self-determination can be found at the Versailles Peace Conference. Although not referred to as self-determination, the roots of the principle are as old as the existence of nations on the earth. President Woodrow Wilson can be considered to be the person that popularized the term, although the term owes as much to the Bolsheviks as to Wilson. The fact that self-determination as a general principle did not form part of the Covenant of the League of Nations made it a political rather than a legal concept during the time of the League. After World War Two, self-determination was listed among the purposes of the United Nations as set out in article I of the Charter of the United Nations. The Charter however contain no special application of the principle of self-determination. At this stage the concept was seen to be too vague to entail specific rights and obligations. A powerful and sustained international organisational effort got under way to make self-determination work. Self-determination consequently became a dynamic concept in international affairs. The principle of self-determination made a major breakthrough with Resolution 1514(XV) on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples in 1960. In 1966 the principle of self-determination rose in status as a result of Article I of the International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and on Civil and Political Rights. The principle is also embodied in the 1970 Declaration Concerning Friendly Relations. Self-determination as a right was thus first granted to peoples living in colonial countries and thereafter extended to ethnic and religious groups. The right of self-determination in many instances has become an essential precondition for the effective recognition of the rights and freedoms of individuals. Thus, self-determination was not only seen to be effected on an external basis, but also on an internal basis. The 1970 Declaration Concerning Friendly Relations is seen to be the most important single statement representing what the members of the United Nations agree to be the law on the fundamental principles of inter state relationships. One of these principles was equal rights and self-determination of peoples. A large proportion of states appeared to hold that entitlement of self-determination applies not only to colonial peoples, but to peoples anywhere, whether in a political independent state or a dependent territory. A distinction is thus made between each state’s legal position and rights of minorities within each state in conformity with Article 27 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights declaring that ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities shall not be denied the right in community with other members of the group to enjoy their own culture to profess and practice their own religion or to use their own language. Self-determination as a legal principle and as a right of all peoples is not exhausted by the achievement of independence. The continuation of self-determination beyond the colonial area is a fundamental pre-supposition of contemporary international law. Self-determination is thus seen as a continuing right and not a right exercised once and for all at the time of independence. As long as multi- ethnic states respect the individual and collective rights of ethnic groups and their members, these group can find their protection within the state in accordance with present day international law. As soon as that state constantly violates these rights, a situation arises in which the suppressed people or ethnic group may evoke its right of self-determination in order to bring about constitutional changes within a state or to find an international solution by seceding. The doctrine of uti possidetis assumes as a governing principle that boundaries must be as they were at the declaration of independence. The doctrine is of great importance as it obviously is most relevant when boundary treaties have to be interpreted. It leads to the stability of state boundaries. It would appear that the principle is of universal application which especially in Africa encompasses the principle of territorial integrity. The principle seeks to qualify the right of self-determination. If however, self-determination is a universal right and of general application and appears to be ius cogens, then the two principles are mutually incompatible. The CSCE, the United Nations and the European Community have recently recognised that states emerging out of the dissolution of the USSR and Yugoslav Federation keep the borders they had prior to dissolution of the federation. It cannot thus be denied that the application of the principle of uti possidetis in practise can lead to inequitable situations for many peoples where extraordinary boundary lines remain. The modern post-colonial interpretation of self-determination, the right of all to participate in a democratic process of government, is illustrated in the Helsinki Declaration. Situations existed in Europe which came under the purview of a broader concept of self-determination than that embodied in the limited United Nations instruments. This declaration applies to both external and internal self-determination and stresses the fact that the principle of self-determination applies to all peoples regardless of whether or not they live in a sovereign or independent state. It also conveys the idea that the right of self-determination is a continuing right, a right that keeps its validity even after statehood is achieved. Problems of definition of the concept “people” who are entitled to self-determination is a complex matter hedged by limitations and caveats. The United Nations, although stating on many occasions that this right indeed exist, did not define the entity or the group, but purported to be the forum endowed with the power to decide when self-determination is justified and when not. Many definitions are offered. No completely objective criteria can be found to identify what is meant by “peoples”. There is a subjective approach and an objective approach. The Permanent Court of International Justice referred to a group as persons living in a given country, having a race, religion, language and traditions in a sentiment of solidarity, with a view to preserving their traditions, maintaining their form of worship, and instructing their children in accordance with the spirit and conditions of the group. A combination of the subjective and objective criteria should lead to a set of relatively verifiable criteria for determining what constitutes a people entitled to self-determination. The fact is that a simple definition remains absent and the door is to a large extent still left open as to precisely who is entitled to self-determination. If one maintains that minorities as separate entities may in modern times also claim self-determination as a “people” in the sense of Article 1 of the two UN Human Rights Covenants, the issue of secession raises its head. States have in the main categorically rejected the right of ethnic or other population groups to secede from an independent state. It is open to debate whether there is a pre-emptory norm prohibiting the fragmentation of a self-determination unit. While both Resolutions 1514(XV) and 2625(XXV) reaffirm the principle of territorial integrity as a component of self-determination, it is also true that the United Nations gave its approval to the territorial partition of British Cameroon and Ruanda Urundi. It can thus be stated the principle of self-determination does not include a general prohibition of secession from an independent state, as is evidenced by the secession of Bangladesh from Pakistan and of several states from Yugoslavia and the former USSR and Eritrea from Ethiopia. The view has grown that absolute adherence to territorial integrity is no virtue - rather it is self-defeating when the people who demand self-determination are subject to systematic deprivations on a vast scale. It is so that territorial integrity ensures order and stability among nations but it must not become a shield for governments. Secession still remains a logical extension of self-determination. A further group that claims to have the right of self-determination, is minorities. The first problem however that arises is to obtain a clear perception of what constitutes a minority. The answer to this question is extremely complex and it appears that ethnic, religious and linguistic groups are covered, while so-called indigenous groups may as a category overlap with minorities. Article 27 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is one of the few, if not only, substantial general statements on minorities in modern international law. It states that in those states in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist those people must not be denied the right to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language. Some commentators maintain that minorities as separate entities by being just that may claim the right of self-determination as a “people” in terms of article 1 of the United Nations Human Rights Covenants. Self-determination as a concept of international law has unfolded in a world which has seen an astounding transformation of geo-politics. Ethnic diversity and diverging political and moral ambitions have kept the concept of self-determination alive. The question is how far does the principle go? It is all a matter of interpretation. A popular interpretation would be that a state possessing a representative government of all peoples within its territory, is satisfying the self-determination of all the people, including minorities. The distinct minority themselves may of course hold a different view. Self-determination now entitles peoples in all states to free, fair and open participation in the democratic process of governance. When such participation is denied, where a people that is geographically separate and is distinct ethnically and/or culturally has been placed in a position or status of subordination, a secession option may re-emerge as an international legal entitlement. Self-determination remains a collective right. It is vested in the people in question as a group. For the right of self-determination to be applied the people concerned must be accepted by the international community as a people who can assert the right. Self-determination in South Africa is seen by many to have been achieved by the 1994 election in which all the citizens of South Africa, without any distinction as to race, for the first time had the chance to participate in a general election. Internal self-determination is also recognised by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. There are however many Afrikaners who feel that the only form of self-determination that can really safeguard their future, is a form of external self-determination, i.e. in a territory where the Afrikaner is in the majority and which lawfully can secede from the rest of the country. The Afrikaner has a history indicative of a struggle, mainly through Afrikaner-nationalism, where Afrikaners seeked independence from outside interference in the form of a republic. The problem is however that no distinct territory can be identified where Afrikaners are clearly in a majority. Therefore, no territory exists which can secede from the rest of South Africa. Although the Constitution does nor recognize secession as a method for realization of self-determination, international law does not ban secession as a method to achieve external self-determination. It is clear that state practice has re-formulated the principle of self-determintion to adapt to the post-colonial situation. A balance must be found between the protection of the rights of groups (and individuals within that group) and the basic framework of the international community, namely independent states. Self-determination must promote both. As stated by Dixon: The task of the international lawyer in all of this is to search for a legal rule - founded in customary or treaty law - and not to postulate a political, moral or philosophical principle that simply will not work in practice. / Prof. G.N. Barrie

Master of Science / Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources / Jeffrey Skibins / Citizen science is a method of carrying out scientific research with the help of untrained citizens. Citizen science carries multiple potential benefits for scientific inquiry, but in order to be effective must facilitate mutually beneficial settings. The most prevalent use of citizen science has been in ornithology. Bird based citizen science projects have been highly successful and have facilitated mutually beneficial projects. The field of citizen science is changing with the onset of new technologies. These technologies may expand the opportunities of citizen science, but it is important that a mutual benefit is maintained. This study uses self-determination theory, a theory of human psychological needs and motivations, to address motivational factors of bird based citizen science participation to provide a framework by which to maintain the necessary mutual benefit. This study consists of responses from an online survey administered to subscribers of birding listservs across the country. Analysis of the responses found that the need for relatedness is most consistently related to participants’ motivations. The suggestion is made that future citizen science efforts focus on the community building aspects of participation. Other nuances of the data and ideas for further research are discussed.

To help protect the environment people need to change current non-environmental behaviours into more sustainable behaviours. By understanding habits for pro-environmental behaviours, people can strive toward building a more sustainable future. The goal of this thesis was to identify different types of repeated pro-environmental behaviours and how to best foster strong habits for pro-environmental behaviours. To achieve this purpose we combined the theoretical framework of habits (Bargh, 1994; Verplanken, 2006) with the theoretical framework of self-determination theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985; 2000) to address current gaps in the habit literature. The present thesis is comprised of two articles. The first article determined if the proposed indicators of habits (i.e., behaviour frequency, habit strength, and behaviour interference) could identify different patterns of repeated pro-environmental behaviours predicted by habit and self-determination theory using cluster analysis. The three studies provided support for the three proposed types of repeated behaviours: weak habits, repeated behaviours with interference, and strong habits. These results were very robust since the same pattern was found across three studies, three samples, and three different target behaviours. The second article used the groups (i.e., weak habit, repeated behaviour with interference, and strong habit) in exploratory multinomial logistic regression analyses to identify factors related to pro-environmental behaviours which distinguished between the different types of repeated behaviours. Once again, the same three types of repeated behaviours were found across these three studies, with three new samples and two different target behaviours. Three predictors fairly consistently identified differences between the groups: autonomous motivation toward the environment, perceived importance of the environment, and the frequency of other pro-environmental behaviours. The implications of the thesis findings are discussed in relation to self-determination theory and the study of habits.

Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000), the purpose of this thesis was to investigate the role of global/dispositional autonomous and controlled motivation orientations in facilitating posttraumatic growth (PTG; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996, 2004) following the experience of various significant negative life events (Manuscript 1), relationship dissolution (Manuscript 2), and bereavement (Manuscript 3) in two university student samples. The objectives were to investigate the contribution of dispositional autonomous and controlled motivation in statistically predicting PTG above and beyond previously researched correlates; and explore the mediating role of cognitive appraisals and coping strategies in explaining the relationship between dispositional motivation orientations and PTG. Consistent with the overall hypotheses of the thesis, dispositional autonomous motivation was positively associated with PTG across all three manuscripts. Across all three manuscripts, we found that dispositional autonomous motivation explained a unique portion of the variance in explaining PTG, above and beyond previously researched correlates of PTG and dispositional controlled motivation. Mediation results indicated an indirect effect of dispositional autonomous motivation on PTG through primary cognitive appraisal (Manuscript 1). Dispositional autonomous motivation was positively associated with task-oriented coping strategies across all three manuscripts. Moreover, task-oriented coping strategies were the strongest indirect effect in Manuscript 1, and the only significant indirect effect in Manuscript 2 and Manuscript 3 between dispositional autonomous motivation and PTG. Dispositional controlled motivation was positively related to disengagement-oriented coping strategies in Manuscript 1 and 2, but unrelated in Manuscript 3. Collectively, these findings highlight the importance of incorporating motivation orientations into theoretical models of PTG and aiding practitioners in better recognizing the significance of motivational factors in facilitating posttraumatic growth.

Piano teachers believe that dropping out before reaching a moderate mastery of the piano is a common problem among students. This study uses Self-Determination Theory to examine three issues related to the high dropout rate from private piano lessons: whether there are predictors associated with dropout, whether low levels of motivation correlate with dropping out, and the primary reasons invoked for stopping lessons. Using the Survey of Musical Interests, 55 former piano students who quit lessons completed a questionnaire with Likert-scale, multiple choice, and open-ended questions, and their parents also filled out a complementary questionnaire. These participants were compared to 153 students and parents who were still involved with piano lessons. Results showed important predictor differences in parental backgrounds, musical ability, and practice habits, and significant differences between the groups’ autonomous motivation. The main reasons invoked for stopping lessons included lack of practice, preferring other instruments, and loss of interest.

Based in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the overall objective of this thesis was to explore how the coaching context, coach psychological needs, and coach motivation influenced coaches’ interpersonal behaviours when they interacted with their athletes, and how these interpersonal behaviours impacted athletes’ psychological needs and motivation in sport. This objective was achieved through a series of 10 studies, looking at different samples of coaches and athletes, divided into four manuscripts. First, there was a need to create a measure that captured both perceptions of others’, as well as self-reports of the six interpersonal behaviours according to SDT (autonomy-support, competence-support, relatedness-support, autonomy-thwarting, competence-thwarting, and relatedness-thwarting). As such, in Manuscript #1, the Interpersonal Behaviours Questionnaire (IBQ) was created and validated as a general measure of perceptions of other people’s interpersonal behaviours (Study 1 N = 534 students; Study 2 N = 351 students) and as a self-report of interpersonal behaviours used in general (Study 3 N = 607 students). In Manuscript #2, the validity of the measure was extended to include the sport context by testing the scale with coaches and athletes. Specifically, Study 1 (N = 239 athletes) validated the measure with a sample of athletes reporting on their coaches’ behaviours, and Study 2 (N = 240 coaches) looked at coaches’ reports of their own behaviours in their interactions with their athletes. Overall, the results of these five studies provided support for the factor structure and validity of the IBQ as a measure of perceived and self-reported interpersonal behaviours in both the general context, as well as sport. Next, Manuscript #3 explored the antecedents of coaches’ reported interpersonal behaviours. Specifically, Study 1 (N = 56 coaches) looked at the coaching context in order to identify the factors that had the largest impact on coaches’ experiences. In Study 2 (N = 310 coaches), the relationship between coaches’ psychological needs, motivation for coaching, and interpersonal behaviours was explored to confirm the sequence occurred as would be expected according to SDT. Finally, in Study 3 (N = 225 coaches), the influence of the contextual factors on coaches’ psychological needs, motivation, and interpersonal behaviours was examined. Overall, the results supported that coaches in a supportive context experienced increased need satisfaction, higher autonomous motivation for coaching, and were more likely to engage in supportive interpersonal behaviours with their athletes; while coaches in a thwarting context experienced increased need frustration, higher controlled motivation, and were more likely to engage in thwarting interpersonal behaviours. Finally, Manuscript #4 explored the outcomes of coaches’ interpersonal behaviours. First, Study 1 (N = 180 athletes) looked at athletes’ perceptions of their coaches’ behaviours and how their perceptions impacted psychological needs and motivation in sport. Lastly, Study 2 (N = 278 athletes; N = 53 coaches) explored whether coaches’ self-reports of their interpersonal behaviours were in line with their athletes’ same perceptions of these behaviours, and explored the factors that were related to whether coaches and athletes were in agreement. These last two studies found that supportive interpersonal behaviours promoted need satisfaction and autonomous motivation for athletes; while thwarting interpersonal behaviours promoted need frustration and controlled motivation for athletes. Overall, this thesis helped extend the existing research in motivational psychology and helped address some important limitations.