A large number of organizations that offer products today are experiencing returns; whether it is the return of a book from an online book store, the return of a television to the electronic retailer or a garment to a fashion retailer. How organizations handle product returns (reverse logistics) differs and also how much focuses each organization places on it, be-cause after all; it is extremely difficult to actually make revenue on reverse logistics. Why spend time and money on it? This study focuses on comparing an electronic and a fashion organization, how they both are conducting reverse logistics in regards to e-commerce. This is of interest to examine and add to the literature based on research focusing on a comparison between two organizations of a different nature in terms of their reverse logistics. Furthermore, it was of interest to study how each organization operates internally. For example, what are the barriers and drivers of reverse logistics, do they work proactively or reactively and what is the focus in regards to recycling of products? A case study research strategy was applied with an inductive approach. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with each organization where qualitative data was gathered. Secondary data was collected from literature sources such as academic journals and books. Data was analysed in order to structure the large amount of data to be able to compare the two organizations and draw conclusions. From analysing the data it is concluded that both the electronic and the fashion retailer are experiencing a great amount of returns, which generally follows the sales trend. Furthermore, the two organizations are similar in several aspects regarding reverse logistics although they are selling different products. One of the main drivers for both organizations in regards to reverse logistics is satisfying their customers. Finally, one of the main barriers for each organization was the costs that play a major role in reverse logistics. Overall, the study shows that it greatly depends on the nature of the products how reverse logistics processes are handled in the organization.

Road traffic accidents have become ‘hidden epidemics’ across the world and have posed a substantial health and economic burden to many developing nations. In 2006, Ghana spent US$ 165 million (1.6% of GDP) on accident management. On average, five (5) people die and several others are injured on the country’s roads daily. In about 95% of road traffic crashes in the country, human factors have been implicated. Available evidence indicates that the casualty rate is on the rise in many parts of the country. However, little attempts have been made to understand the individual and situational determinants of road traffic crashes among drivers and pedestrians. Employing a qualitative research methodology, this research investigated drivers and pedestrians’ opinions about their traffic risk perception, attitudes and behaviour and their relationship with motor vehicle crashes with the overall goal of identifying and describing the proximal and distal factors of accident causation in the Manya Krobo area. Two sub-studies make up the content of the present research: The first study explored the individual and situational determinants of aberrant driving and traffic crashes among commercial drivers of passenger-carrying minibuses. Challenging working conditions, road rage behaviours, inadequate driver training, bad road infrastructure and equipment, and passenger distractions were among the reasons described for dangerous driving. Other motivations were risk-taking propensity, fatalism, and ineffective traffic law enforcement. In the second study, pedestrian road use attitudes and behaviour as well as their travel experiences in relation to pedestrian-vehicular crash involvements were investigated. The major behaviours reported to be influencing pedestrian-vehicle crashes included pedestrian-unfriendly road infrastructure, nearness of stores and supermarkets to major roads, risky pedestrian road use behaviour, aberrant driving, street hawking, parental negligence, and general disinterest in pedestrian law enforcement. Given the importance these findings may have for central government, road planners, and safety officials; discussions have been made and recommendations for accident countermeasures have been put forward. Keywords: Ghana; Pedestrians; Commercial drivers; Risk perception; Attitude; Behaviour; Streethawking; Driving apprenticeship

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Helsinki University of Technology, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-55). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (doctoral)--Göteborgs universitet, 2001. / Extra t.p. with thesis statement and English abstract inserted. Includes bibliographical references (p. 234-244).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 302-310).

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The overall aim of this thesis was to develop and validate a self-report instrument for perceived driver competence. The thesis includes six papers and a summary. All papers focus on perceived driver competence from a measurement perspective; that is, how to develop an instrument for perceived driver competence and how to use and interpret the scores from the instrument in a reliable and valid manner. Study I reviews how perceived driver competence has been measured in other studies and discusses these methods from a measurement perspective. Most studies have examined perceived driver competence by asking drivers to compare their own skill to that of the average driver. That method is problematic, since it is not possible to determine if drivers are overconfident or not, when empirical information of their own skills is missing. In order to examine if drivers overestimate their skills or not, perceived driver competence should be compared with actual driving performance. Study II reports on the development and psychometric evaluation of a self-report instrument for perceived driver competence - the Self-Efficacy Scale for Driver Competence (SSDC). The findings provides support for construct validity, as the SSDC demonstrated sound psychometric properties and as the internal structure of the SSDC corresponded to the theoretical model used as a basis for instrument development. In study III, the psychometric properties of the SSDC were further examined using an item response theory (IRT) model. The findings confirmed the results indicated by the classical analyses in Study II. Additional information was provided by the IRT analyses, as it was indicated that the scale would benefit from fewer scale points or by putting labels on each scale point. In study IV, Swedish and Finnish candidates’ self-assessment accuracy was examined by comparing candidates’ scores on the SSDC and a similar instrument for self-assessment of driving skill used in Finland, with driving test performance. Unlike previous studies, in which drivers compared their perceived skills to that of the average driver, a relatively large proportion made a realistic assessment of their own skills. In addition, in contrast to previous studies, no gender differences were found. These results were also confirmed in study V, where the results from the Finnish instrument for self-assessment of driving skill were compared with the results from a similar instrument used in the Netherlands. Study VI further examined the construct validity of a revised version of the SSDC, combining qualitative and quantitative sources of evidence. There was a strong relationship between the SSDC and an instrument for self-assessment of driving skills, providing support for convergent validity. No relationship was found between the SSDC and driving test performance. Explanations of the lack of relationship were provided from semi-structured interviews, as they indicated that confidence in performing different tasks in the test are different from being confident of passing the test, and that the candidates are familiar neither with assessing their own skills nor with the requirements for passing the test. In conclusion, the results from this thesis indicated that the choice of methods for assessing perceived driver competence as well as the quality of these methods affect the validity. The results provided support for different aspects of construct validity of the SSDC. Moreover, the findings illustrated the benefits of combining different methods in test validation, as each method contributed information about the validity of the SSDC. The studies in this thesis mainly examined internal and external aspects of construct validity. Future studies should examine procedural validity of the SSDC.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death and injury among teenagers. The crash risk is highest for young male drivers with young male passengers. The goal of this study is to find out why young males are at such high risk. One possible explanation could be the Sexual Selection Theory (Darwin, 1871), which emphasizes the competitive nature of young males that may determine their behaviour for future benefits. I tested if there was competition between males that made them take more risks while driving in the simulator. Various driving performance variables (speed, car following distance, standard deviation of the lateral position, hazard response times, number of vehicles passed) and individual differences variables (risky driving, risk perception, sensation seeking, competitiveness) were measured. Results provided little support for the effect of interpersonal competition and an opportunity for discussion arose. / AUTO21, Ontario Innovation Trust (OIT), Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

No description available.

Bakalauro darbe analizuojamas vairuotojų požiūris į privalomąjį pirmos pagalbos mokymą. Iškelti tyrimo uždaviniai: 1) atskleisti traumų ir pirmosios pagalbos teikimo aspektus mokslinėje literatūroje; 2) ištirti vairuotojų informuotumą apie pirmosios pagalbos svarbą; 3) išsiaiškinti vairuotojų gebėjimus teikti pirmąją pagalbą. Empirinėje dalyje analizuojami traumų keliuose statistiniai duomenys Lietuvos bei Europos sąjungos šalyse, pirmos pagalbos mokymo organizavimo tvarka, reglamentuojama Lietuvos įstatymų, psichikos reiškiniai, lemiantys žmogaus elgesį įvairiose kritinėse situacijose. Anketinės apklausos metodu buvo atliktas tyrimas, kuriame apklausta 100 Radviliškio rajono vairuotojų, dalyvavusių privalomuosiuose pirmos pagalbos mokymuose. Bakalauro darbe siekta atskleisti pirmosios pagalbos sampratą – tai tikslingi veiksmai, kurie užtikrina gyvybės išsaugojimą, nukentėjusiojo būklės gerėjimą, sumažina traumų sukeliamas komplikacijas bei nedarbingumą. Statistinė traumų analizė daro prielaidas privalomajam pirmosios pagalbos mokymui, siekiant traumatizmui mažinti. Atlikus anketavimą išsiaiškinta, kad vairuotojai supranta pirmosios pagalbos svarbą, akcentuojant tai, kad visi privalo mokėti teikti pagalbą kelyje. Didžioji dauguma vairuotojų mano, kad pagalbą suteikti sugebėtų, dauguma jų patys vežtų savo automobiliu nukentėjusįjį į gydymo įstaigą, nors dalis jų bijo kraujo ir sužeidimų. Taigi išsiaiškinus vairuotojų informuotumą apie traumatizmo situaciją... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The bachelor’s thesis analyses drivers’ views on compulsory first aid training. The main objectives of the research were to: 1) study the aspects of traumas and the provision of first aid in the scientific literature 2) conduct research on how drivers are informed about the importance of first aid 3) identify drivers’ ability to give first aid. The empirical part of the thesis analyses statistics of injuries in road accidents in Lithuania and other EU countries, the order of organization of first aid training, which is regulated by the Lithuanian laws, psychological phenomena effecting person’s behaviour in various extreme situations. Quantitative research methodology was utilized in this study. A questionnaire was given to one hundred drivers, who attended compulsory first aid training courses. This bachelor thesis seeks to reveal the conception of first aid: it generally consists of a series of simple and in some cases, potentially life-saving techniques which prevent the condition from worsening, reduce complications caused by traumas as well as incapacity for work. Statistical analysis of injuries made assumptions about how significant is compulsory first aid training in seeking reduction of traumas. The results of the questionnaire revealed that drivers understand the importance of first aid training, emphasizing that; everybody must know how to provide medical help in case of emergency. The vast majority of drivers believe that most of them... [to full text]