The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of temperament to childrenâ??s behaviors in the classroom and their school readiness. Data was collected on 60 preschool children enrolled in Head Start. Teachers rated temperament using the Preschool Temperament Classification System. Trained coders observed childrenâ??s engagement and play during circle time and free play, respectively. School readiness was directly assessed using the Learning Express. Three main findings emerged: (1) Temperamentally-extreme children performed lower than resilient children on the school readiness assessment, suggesting that temperamentally-extreme children begin to lag behind their resilient peers as early as the preschool years. (2) Off-task behavior in the classroom affects undercontrolled childrenâ??s school readiness; however, the degree of influence appears to depend on the complexity of learning specific domains. That is, off-task behavior in the classroom may have a larger influence on more complex subject matter than simpler ones. Classroom behaviors were not related to overcontrolled childrenâ??s school readiness scores. (3) Behavioral differences were found between temperament groups during circle time, however no differences were found during free play. This suggests that classroom context may play a role in temperamentally-extreme childrenâ??s classroom behaviors.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are a growing phenomenon in the business world as companies are expanding their market share to compete globally. At some point, 1 out of 3 workers will be involved in an M&A. Guided by the social exchange theory, the purpose of this descriptive case study was to explore the satisfaction and engagement strategies of 8 health care leaders who had successfully implemented an M&A. The study population consisted of 4 leader and 4 nonleader employees employed at a healthcare facility in the North Central United States. All employees had been employed at the facility prior to and after the M&A and were current employees at the time of the study. Data were collected though audio-recorded, semistructured interviews as well as document review of company materials such as the employee handbook, mission, and vision. Once data were transcribed, the transcript review was completed by the participants to ensure accuracy. Data were coded and analyzed to reveal 5 themes or strategies: more frequent and transparent communication, intentional and structured leadership, increased trust and emotional engagement, increased focus on human resources, and positive corporate culture. Postmerger, these leaders had implemented changes regarding the corporate belief structure, advocated increased communication and teamwork, and promoted open and direct communication among staff and leadership. These findings may promote positive social change by increasing satisfaction and engagement in the healthcare employees at this facility, who may in turn provide better care to patients.

In this thesis I undertake a study of Canadian municipal open data initiatives in order to assess the current state of the programs and to gauge the role(s) that these initiatives may play in regards to improving public engagement in local government issues. After an initial literature review, I adopt two separate approaches. The first approach involves the creation of an inventory and evaluation of the contents of all twenty three (23) Canadian municipal open data catalogues in existence during the summer of 2012. The second approach involves asking questions of key informants in the field through the execution of nineteen (19) semi-structured interviews with open data experts from both government and civic realms in ten (10) case study cities across the country. The results of the research illustrate the major differences and similarities between the structure, output, and roles of open data initiatives in various Canadian cities. The data provided by these programs mostly consists of politically neutral geographic data, though there are a few exceptions. I find two major program structures in Canadian cities: (1) The first type of open data program is created and operates within a specific municipal department and the (2) second type of program operates across a number of departments. Each approach has its own benefits and challenges. The open data initiatives across Canadian cities also appear to have different approaches to public engagement. Several cities have developed strong collaborative relationships with local open data advocates which are explored in some detail. Larger themes about the current state of open data, its current and future role, and the challenges faced by operators and users, are also described in this thesis. I conclude with some recommendations for improving municipal open data initiatives in the future. / Thesis (Master, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-12 11:27:50.037

Through studying the poetry and its context, the lives of the poets and composers, and the musical choices which emerged from these combined influences, students of the "Millennial" generation may experience a deeper connection to art song and its role in defining and reflecting national character. Not yet a part of the traditional canon of American art song, the songs of African-American composers are of particular value in this regard, offering teachers, students, and recitalists less frequently-performed repertoire to explore. Representing a broad spectrum of literary and cultural influences, these songs are just as diverse, multi-faceted, and full of variety as any other body of art song repertoire and richly contribute to the past and present life of the genre. Going beyond the music and the words can only reinforce the study of technique and enrich the studio experience, while at the same time providing a multicultural learning environment which more accurately reflects the America in which these same students will become the singers and voice teachers of tomorrow.

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of controllable service quality factors as firm-based antecedents to two dimensions of customer engagement behavior among Formula One racing spectators. This study uses the theory of customer engagement (van Doorn et al., 2010) as a guiding framework and applies Bettencourt’s (1997) model of customer voluntary performance (CVP) to examine how perceptions of ancillary services and value can prompt management cooperation and prosocial behavior among spectators of a recurring mega sport event. Findings suggest that spectator interactions with event personnel and the physical environment can positively impact consumer perceptions of value and lead to greater fan engagement. Event organizers should focus management and marketing efforts on the utilitarian value (price/value for money) associated with attending a mega event and promote physical environment factors that can enhance the overall event experience.

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The panel laid the foundation for topics discussed during the Summit by noting the historical and current landscape of the opioid epidemic, opportunities for engagement, and why collective partnerships and collaboration are critical to resolving the crisis.

August 2016 Management of metabolic syndrome (MetS) may be enhanced by promoting patient engagement. Training health care providers in the conceptual and practical application of integrative patient centered care tools may promote patient lifestyle behaviors for better management of MetS. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study was to assess the impact of training providers in integrative patient centered care for patients with MetS. The biopsychosocial construct provided the conceptual framework for the study. Two groups of physicians were included; one received training in an integrative model (IM) while the second received no training and provided usual care (UC). Following training, patient disease biometrics and medication adherence were monitored for approximately four months. Due to a diminished sample size in the completer data set, an intention to treat (ITT) data set was created with baseline values brought forward. In the ITT set, BMI decreased significantly (p=0.005, d=0.18) with each group over time: (IM: 32.9 -± 7.3 Kg/m2 to 31.6 -± 6.8 Kg/m2) and (UC: 32.1 -± 6.7 to 31.5 -± 6.3 Kg/m2). However, there were no statistically significant differences between these two groups' measures. In the completer set, BMI decreased significantly (p < 0.05, d=0.18) over time with the IM group, but not the UC group: (IM: 35.14 -± 7.9 Kg/m2 to 33.65* -± 7.62 Kg/m2) and (UC: 32.4 -± 6.62 Kg/m2 and (32.4 -± 6.5 Kg/m2); indicating a possible relationship between the intervention training (IM) and improved health outcomes. Thus, providers are assisting patients with important lifestyle choices to better manage MetS, potentially leading to social change around improved patient health care behaviors and advancement in providers' patient centered practices.

With evidence that arts engagement and nonlinear thinking style both utilize insight, intuition, and emotion in the decision making process, the literature has driven an investigation of the relationship between levels of arts engagement and thinking style preference. This nonexperimental correlational study (N = 101) explored (a) the prevalence of linear, nonlinear, or balanced linear/nonlinear thinking style of professionals working in museums. (b) Whether thinking style has a relationship with (i) age; (ii) sex; (iii) academic major; (iv) occupation; (v) levels of arts engagement. Two theoretical frameworks underpinned this study: (a) new literacies and (b) cognitive styles. A Web-based self-report survey instrument was used to investigate the relation among the variables of interest. Existing literature was used to provide a foundation for the study and guide the research. Correlational, means, and hierarchical regression analysis were used to test the hypothesized model and examine the hypotheses. The means analyses at the descriptive level revealed that females, those in the 60 or older age group, Humanities majors, and those who worked in education demonstrated more balanced linear/nonlinear thinking styles. The correlations results indicated that there was a statistically significant relationship between thinking style and sex and thinking styles and academic major. The hierarchical regression results suggested that after controlling for select demographic variables, only being a Humanities major uniquely predicted significant variance in thinking style. The lack of significant findings of a relationship between thinking style and age did not correspond to existing research that supports a correlation. Additionally, a significant relationship between thinking style and levels of arts engagement was not found during correlational and hierarchical regression analysis. A limitation of this research study was that the Web-based self-report survey version of the Linear/Nonlinear Thinking Style Profile (LNTSP) instrument did not transfer well to online use because the participants had some problem understanding how to score their answers properly. This issue could be handled readily and recommendations are made to revise the Web-base self-report version of the survey for future research use.

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