Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Kinesiology / David Dzewaltowski / Emily Mailey / Despite health benefits of physical activity (PA) in youth, worldwide estimates indicate that only 10% of children meet recommended PA guidelines of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day.¹,² The places where children go to live, learn, and play influence the amount of PA children accrue,³,⁴ therefore, purpose of this dissertation was to examine social contexts of youth settings and describe contextual influences on youth PA. Chapters one and two address the methods of direct observation (DO) used to characterize contextual influences on youth PA. Chapter 1 serves as a review of the methods of current DO systems, and Chapter 2 describes the implications of using different methods to characterize contexts and PA in youth settings. Using youth sport (YS) as an example, we examined the distinct types of data that resulted from two DO systems, and discussed implications for describing influences of children’s PA. Little is known about the distribution of PA among children within setting time, such as whether social contexts promote inequalities in PA where some children are very active and others are inactive. Therefore, the purpose of the study in Chapter 3 was to describe the distribution of PA during time segmented YS practices and identify whether inequalities in PA exist. We hypothesized that inequality would vary between time segments of different contexts, specifically, that segments that fostered inclusion (i.e., optimal demand) would have lower inequality than segments that fostered exclusion (i.e., disadvantaged demand). We found that inequality in PA was varied between segment types and that social contexts of task (i.e., purpose of the segment time) and demand influenced inequality in PA. To create improvements in child population PA, we propose researchers and practitioners should focus not only on the mean PA of setting time, but also on the distribution of PA within setting time. Chapter 4 focuses on the social structure of relationships within a school district that may influence implementation of wellness policies within school systems. The study described a method and investigated the social structure between school district wellness committees and their associated elementary schools. Results of the study showed variability in the pattern of social structure between and within school districts, with some districts having a social structure with representation of schools on the district wellness committee, and other districts with no representation. As social structure characteristics influence the implementation of policies and practices within social systems, these characteristics should be investigated by researchers, and should be used to enhance implementation, rather than be disregarded. In conclusion, this dissertation provided recommendations for describing the social contexts of youth settings, provided preliminary evidence that social contexts influence the amount and distribution of PA within youth settings, and that social contexts are highly variable within and between settings. Further research is needed to find the combination of social contexts most conducive to youth PA, and future researchers should consider social contexts when designing and implementing interventions for improving youth PA within settings.

Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

In this dissertation 9 social workers working in Pretoria, Gauteng Province were interviewed. The focus of these interviews was regarding the use of direct observation as a measuring instrument for the purpose of assessing attachment of the caregiver-and-child's relationship. This information jointly with a two-fold literature study served as the foundation for a proposed preliminary practise framework. The completed research is described in the article format in two articles. Article 1 contains the literature study on attachment theory and its application to direct observation of attachment of the caregiver and child's relationship. Article 2 contains the literature study on direct observation measuring instruments for the purpose of assessing attachment of the caregiver-and-child's relationship. Direct observation measuring instruments used by experienced social workers were also examined by means of an empirical investigation. The practise framework acts as preliminary guidelines giving direction into the usage of direct observation as a structured measuring instrument in assessing the caregiver-and-child's attachment relationship. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

In this dissertation 9 social workers working in Pretoria, Gauteng Province were interviewed. The focus of these interviews was regarding the use of direct observation as a measuring instrument for the purpose of assessing attachment of the caregiver-and-child's relationship. This information jointly with a two-fold literature study served as the foundation for a proposed preliminary practise framework. The completed research is described in the article format in two articles. Article 1 contains the literature study on attachment theory and its application to direct observation of attachment of the caregiver and child's relationship. Article 2 contains the literature study on direct observation measuring instruments for the purpose of assessing attachment of the caregiver-and-child's relationship. Direct observation measuring instruments used by experienced social workers were also examined by means of an empirical investigation. The practise framework acts as preliminary guidelines giving direction into the usage of direct observation as a structured measuring instrument in assessing the caregiver-and-child's attachment relationship. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The quality of care of residents in nursing homes receive is an important issue facing our society, and reliable methods to assess and measure important indicators of quality of care are necessary to ensure that nursing homes are providing adequate services. Previous researchers have developed methodologies to evaluate indicators of quality of care, including environmental conditions, resident conditions, resident activities, and staff activities using momentary-time sampling procedures across a variety of settings and populations. The purpose of the present study was to replicate and extend the time-sampling methodology used in previous research in two units in a nursing home.

Having valid and reliable methods for assessing physical activity levels is critical to understanding physical activity patterns. Direct observation is a widely used technique for obtaining contextually rich data on physical activity levels in physical education classes. One major limitation of direct observation is that it is time intensive. The use of digital video editing software programs may lessen the amount of time needed to gather the data. The purpose of this study was to compare the amount of time needed to obtain SOFIT (System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time) physical activity data using the traditional paper and pencil method and using SOFIT with Studio Code digital video editing software (Studio Code, Sportstec International, Camarillo, CA). Six second-grade classes (N = 23) were video taped and observed using both methods to gather SOFIT data. A stop watch was used to determine how long it took to gather the data and it was found that Studio Code took significantly less time (t = 4.91, p < .004) to gather SOFIT activity data than using the traditional paper and pencil method. Researchers who use direct observation may decrease the amount of time needed to gather data by using digital video software.

No description available.

A comprehensive measurement system was developed to monitor play in children with autism and typically developing children. The study was conducted in a preschool operated in conjunction with a center-based program for children with autism. The development of the measurement system was based on observations of four children with autism and three typically developing children during social and play activites. Data were collected on material use and several dimensions of play: Simple Manipulation, Functional Manipulation, Symbolic Toy Play, Symbolic Role Play and Play Themes. The results indicated that the measurement system consistently measured a wide range of play behaviors across children and materials. Significance of the information gathered from the measurement system in assessing play and designing interventions is discussed.

The aim of this thesis is to create an educational programme for teaching ethology at grammar schools, in which theoretical knowledge will be directly linked with practical activities. To fulfil the goals of this ethological educational programme there is used the creation of ethograms.The whole educational programme is divided into three parts. In the first part pupils are acquainted with the theory of ethology and individual types of animal behaviour and also with the principles of direct observation of animals, the creation of ethological records and their evaluation. In the second part pupils observe directly a chosen animal in zoological gardens or similar institutions and on the basis of their obtained theoretical knowledge they describe its behaviour to previously prepared forms. In the third part pupils create ethograms of vertebrates based on the gained data, which are part of an expert seminar paper in a form of an expert text, a power-point presentation or a poster. In these papers pupils keep the basic format and content rules for ethogram creation.To determine the suitability, adequacy and benefits of this educational programme there is used the evaluation of the output papers created by pupils, a questionnaire and the findings acquired from the realization of the whole programme. The...

Nanoparticles are increasingly incorporated into consumer products because of their unique, size-dependent properties. Although these properties are commercially appealing, data are lacking regarding the fate and reactivity of nanoparticles once incorporated into materials. This information gap prevents accurate assessment of hazards that these materials potentially present to consumers and the environment. To address this concern, new research is needed to investigate the reactivity and transformations of nanoparticles. This dissertation describes the use of an electron transparent characterization platform to observe nanoparticle transformations. Nanoparticles were tethered to the surface of an analysis platform, exposed to a variety of conditions, and evaluated for reactivity and response. The characterization of silver nanoparticles revealed the generation of new daughter nanoparticles on surfaces in ambient humid conditions. Our observations showed that the transport of material is highly dependent on relative humidity and that pH equilibria drives the deposition of new particles and degradation. We discovered, by applying these findings to macro-silver objects, that bulk silver generates new nanoparticles on surfaces. This illuminated the possibility of other, yet undiscovered, naturally occurring nanoparticles. In the second model system, 1.5 nm gold nanoparticles were tethered by a robust metal oxide bond from the terminal group of the stabilizing ligand. This strategy facilitated precise control over thiol ligand removal using a dilute ozone oxidation. Tracking particle oxidation over time allowed us to gain unprecedented control over core exposure, size maintenance, and surface tethering. This platform was also utilized as a proof-of-concept for direct observation of transformations in complex media. Ligand and core transformations were monitored in a variety of biologically relevant conditions using tethered nanoparticles. Morphological and chemical transformations were characterized and correlated to results from solution monitoring. The use of a platform based approach to evaluating the reactivity of nanoparticles in the environment holds promise for evaluations of nanoparticles and their transformation products. The demonstration of monitoring reactivity in systems equilibria, carefully controlled transformations, or complex media shows the versatility of this strategy. Only through the use of this analysis platform was the direct observation of nanoparticle transformations possible. This dissertation includes previously published, unpublished, and co-authored materials. / 10000-01-01