Orientadora: Profa. Dra. Maria Teresa Carthery-Goulart / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociência e Cognição, 2017. / Vantagens cognitivas do bilinguismo têm sido questionadas. Variáveis confundentes (i.e., idade, nível socioeconômico, imigração, etc.) e as múltiplas variáveis da experiência bilíngue poderiam explicar os diferentes achados da literatura. Neste estudo controlamos as variáveis confundentes e caracterizamos uma amostra bilíngue quanto à proficiência, balanceamento, idade e forma de aquisição, grau de imersão, frequência e padrão de uso da segunda língua (L2). Utilizamos o Paradigma Numérico de Stroop e avaliamos sob o ponto de vista comportamental e eletrofisiológico a influência do bilinguismo tardio, proficiente, não balanceado, sem imersão e receptivo em tarefas de controle inibitório (efeitos de interferência e Stroop) e flexibilidade mental (efeito de alternância ou custo local), dois aspectos centrais do controle cognitivo/funções executivas. Não encontramos vantagens quanto ao controle inibitório ou flexibilidade mental, observando apenas que bilíngues apresentaram no teste de Stroop, menores tempos de reação que monolíngues. Quanto à eletrofisiologia analisamos as componentes N200, N400 e P300, relacionadas de modo geral ao controle inibitório, processamento de conflitos e utilização de recursos atencionais, respectivamente. Não encontramos diferenças significantes entre os grupos. Nossos achados corroboram os de estudos realizados com adultos de outras nacionalidades e falantes de outras línguas. Discutimos as peculiaridades de nossa amostra como possível fator responsável pela ausência das vantagens. Esses bilíngues, apesar de altamente proficientes, vivem em contexto no qual predomina a L1. Assim, a frequência de alternância entre as línguas é rara e o uso da L2 é dominantemente receptivo (leitura e compreensão oral), sendo diferentes da maioria dos bilíngues adultos jovens descritos nos estudos em que se encontraram vantagens no controle cognitivo. Nossos resultados apontam: (1) a necessidade de que as pesquisas caracterizem de forma mais detalhada a amostra bilíngue no sentido de determinar como diferentes populações podem produzir diferentes resultados, (2) a possível importância da frequência de alternância entre as línguas no fortalecimento das funções executivas e (3) a necessidade de novos estudos que avaliem como o uso receptivo da L2 pode afetar a experiência bilíngue. / Cognitive advantages of bilingualism have been questioned. Confounding variables (i.e., age, socioeconomic level, immigration, etc.) and the multiple variables of bilingual experience could explain the different findings in the literature. In this study we controlled the confounding variables and characterized the bilingual sample regarding proficiency, balance, age and context of acquisition, immersion degree, frequency and pattern of L2 use. We used the Numerical Stroop Paradigm for evaluating the influence of late, proficient, non balanced, without immersion and receptive bilingualism in tasks of inhibitory control (interference and Stroop effects) and mental flexibility (local switching cost), two central aspects of cognitive control / executive functions. We did not find any advantages in inhibitory control or mental flexibility,only observing that bilinguals were faster than monolinguals in the Stroop test. Regarding electrophysiology, we analyzed N200, N400 and P300 components, related generally to inhibitory control, conflict processing and use of attentional resources, respectively. We did not find significant differences between groups. Our findings corroborate those of studies conducted with adults of other nationalities and speakers of other languages. We discuss the peculiarities of our sample as a possible factor responsible for the absence of advantages. These bilinguals, although highly proficient, live in a context in which L1 predominates. Thus, the frequency of language alternation is rare and the use of L2 is predominantly receptive (reading and listening comprehension), being different from most of the young adult bilinguals described in the studies that found advantages in cognitive control. Our results point out: (1) the need for studies to characterize the bilingual sample as broadly as possible to determine how different populations can produce different results; (2) the possible importance of frequency of switching between languages and (3) the need for further studies that assess how receptive L2 use may affect bilingual experience.

The mass decline in agricultural labour in Britain since the industrial revolution has, ultimately, led to it becoming a significant ‘blind spot’ in the agricultural research agenda. Data regarding those who actively work at the ‘frontline’ of agriculture, and how they interrelate with other agents in their network to achieve multiple national and global agendas, is minimal. This thesis contributes and develops a comprehensive body of knowledge concerning the composition of labour on farms in the South West of England, as well as identifying and exploring contemporary relationships between farm labour contributors, the community; and the land, through the examination of the lived experience of different contributors to agricultural labour. These changes are considered under the lens of agriculture’s ever-encroaching challenges of productivity, labour skills shortages and sustainable intensification. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, incorporating a postal survey of 1251 farms, as well as 45 semi-structured interviews with farm labour contributors via a case study approach. Quantitative data provides a useful picture of those contributing to labour on farms in the South West of England, and brings attention to associated labour issues experienced by farmers. Qualitative data fleshes out these results with the guidance of Actor Network Theory. The concept of the lifescape is utilised to achieve this most pictorially while principles from the Human Capability Framework are applied to weaknesses in network chains that were revealed during the research process. Results reveal how new worker profiles have arisen from the increasingly flexible labour market, with contractors exposed as playing a progressively more crucial role to the survival of the industry. Due to an impending labour crisis, rapid technological development, and disparities in knowledge between farmers and other labour contributors, relationships of independence and interdependence between the various cohorts were discovered. Multiple actors within the lifescape of the farm labour contributor mean that clear distinctions cannot be made between farm, land, nature and community, with no single element more important than the other in the playing out of behaviours. Similarly, that same array of actors is seen to contribute significantly to the capacities, opportunities and freedoms available to farm labour contributors, and where a match between the two fails, substantial issues can be seen to arise. The research makes a valuable contribution to rural sociology through understanding the lifescape of the farm worker from the ground up. Overall, it addresses the importance of incorporating farm workers and contributors into the agricultural and more specifically, the sustainable intensification research agenda, particularly emphasising the importance of agricultural research and policy-making parameters being inclusive of all individuals who actively contribute to the land, rather than exclusive.

This research studied children’s educational outdoor environments in order to understand which contexts and environmental characteristics support children’s creativity in play. Creativity is an important factor in children’s cognitive development; children’s creativity can flourish in outdoor environments as they can engage in free play. Accordingly, this research had two central aims: Aim 1: To classify and assess children’s levels of creativity during play. Aim 2: To develop design principles for educational outdoor environments in order to nurture children's creativity in play. Initially, behaviour observation and the Leuven Wellbeing and Involvement Scale were used to collect data for a pilot study. Children’s play behaviours were observed and analysed, and based on the Evaluation of Potential for Creativity, the Creative Play Taxonomy was designed in relation to the first aim of the study. Then, at two study sites, experimental research was designed. At both study sites, children were observed in four different play contexts. At Study Site One, duration recording was used and the videorecorder observations were coded with the Creative Play Taxonomy using the software The Observer from Noldus. At Study Site Two, narrative recording was used in the observation sessions and focus group discussions were held with the children. The findings from both study sites achieved the second aim of this study. The current research makes two main contributions to knowledge. Firstly, it introduces the Creative Play Taxonomy, which can be used by researchers, psychologists, educationalists and related disciplines to understand, categorise and assess children’s creativity in play. Secondly, it increases the understanding of the particular play contexts that support children’s creativity in play, and the environmental characteristics that enhance these types of play. Accordingly, this research suggests that: - Outdoor play spaces should include a variety of different play contexts to encourage creative play amongst different groups of children. - The most effective play contexts for children’s creativity are those facilitated with flexible, changeable, mouldable, movable, multi-functional and open-ended play materials. - Children’s outdoor play spaces should be facilitated with loose parts, both natural and synthetic, as they are highly supportive of children’s creativity. - Natural outdoor environments and elements highly encourage creative play behaviours amongst children. The findings are intended to guide landscape architects and playground design professionals to produce informed design decisions based on the framework of creativity, in order to nurture children's creative thinking abilities.

A presente pesquisa se propõe a modelar uma ferramenta que auxilie os tomadores de decisão, no setor de laboratórios de análises clínicas, frente aos contratos de prestação de serviços. Visa proporcionar avaliação e conhecimento na elaboração de cláusulas contratuais. Realça-se a idéia de flexibilidade, mostrando como cláusulas mais flexíveis em contratos podem aumentar o valor de um contrato tanto para contratados quanto para contratantes. O uso da ferramenta aqui apresentada facilitará que administradores apreciem o valor da sensibilidade de contratos a variações no preço, quantidade, custos variáveis, custos fixos e lucro esperado, ponderando riscos do negócio e incertezas. A pesquisa descrita permite a verificação da aplicabilidade da ferramenta para exame da validade da simulação de flexibilidade na relação contratual. / The purpose of this research is to model a tool to help decision-makers, while facing supplying contracts, in the clinical analysis industry. This tool aims to improve the analysis and evaluation processes to support the elaboration of contractual clauses. It is here emphasized the idea of flexibility, showing how flexible contractual clauses can improve the value of a contract to both suppliers and contractors. Using the tool shall allow managers to appreciate the value of the sensitivity of contracts to variations in price, quantity, variable costs and expected profits, pondering business risks and uncertainty. The here described case study allows to check the usefulness of the tool in order to verify the validity of simulation of flexibility conditions to enhance contractual relationships.

Introdução: O Método Pilates apesar de prática difundida, apresenta escassez de evidências que demosntrem sua eficácia. Objetivos: Verificar a adaptação cardiorrespiratória, antropométrica e parâmetros da aptidão física ao treinamento proporcionado pela prática do Método Pilates Clássico. Métodos: Participaram deste estudo quinze mulheres saudáveis (GP) as quais realizaram o treinamento no Método Pilates Clássico, durante 12 semanas, 3 vezes por semana e 13 controles saudáveis (GC) que mantiveram sua rotina de atividades. Foi avaliado consumo máximo de oxigênio, pressão arterial, peso, percentual de gordura, massa gorda, massa corporal magra, amplitude de movimento articular, flexibilidade, resistência muscular localizada (abdominais, membros superiores e membros inferiores) e equilíbrio dinâmico antes e após o treinamento para o GP e antes e após 12 semanas para GC. Ocorreu monitoramento da frequência cardíaca em cada sessão do treinamento para o GP. Resultados: O presente estudo demonstrou que houve redução no percentual de gordura (p < 0,001) e aumento da massa corporal magra (p < 0,001). A amplitude de movimento articular e a flexibilidade, avaliadas em todas as articulações, tiveram melhora (p < 0,001), assim como a ressitência msucular localizada (p < 0,001) e o equilíbrio dinâmico ( p = 0,001). Além disso, este é o primeiro ensaio clínico que demonstra melhora da capacidade funcional, avaliada pela medida do VO2 pico (p < 0,001). Conclusão: Os resultados apresentados sugerem que mulheres, previamente sedentárias, se beneficiaram com a melhora significativa da aptidão física, tanto parâmetros motores, quanto físicos, apresentando alterações significativas na composição corporal, na amplitude de movimento articular, na flexibilidade, na resistência muscular localizada e no equilíbrio dinâmico. Além disso, o incremento da capacidade funcional atavés do VO2 pico. / Introduction: Despite it widespread practice, the Pilates Method presents scarcity of relevant scientific evidence of justify its efficacy. Objectives: To present a comprehensive evaluation of the adaptations to cardiorespiratory parameters, anthropometric and physical fitness provided by the practice of the Pilates Method. Methods: Fifteen healthy participants (PG) who underwent training in the Classical Pilates Method for 12 weeks, 3 times a week were evaluated against 13 healthy controls (CG) who maintained their routine activities. Measurements of VO2 peak, blood pressure, weight, fat percentage, fat mass, lean body mass, range of movement, flexibility, muscular endurance (abdominal, upper and lower limbs) and dynamic balance before and after training for the PG, and before and after 12 weeks for CG were taken. Heart rate was monitoring at each training session for the PG. Results: The study showed that the exercises practiced resulted in a reduction in body fat percentage (p <0.001) and increased lean body mass (p <0.001). The range of motion and flexibility in all joints evaluated, reported improvement (p <0.001), as well muscle endurance (p <0.001) and dynamic balance (p = 0.001). Moreover, this is the first clinical trial that demonstrates improved functional capacity, assessed by measurement of VO2 peak (p <0.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that sedentary women obtain significant changes in body composition, joint range of movement, flexibility, muscular endurance and dynamic balance from practicing Classical Pilates Method 3 times a week. Furthermore, they increased the functional capacity through the VO2 peak.

abstract: A commonly held belief among educators, researchers, and students is that high-quality texts are easier to read than low-quality texts, as they contain more engaging narrative and story-like elements. Interestingly, these assumptions have typically failed to be supported by the writing literature. Research suggests that higher quality writing is typically associated with decreased levels of text narrativity and readability. Although narrative elements may sometimes be associated with high-quality writing, the majority of research suggests that higher quality writing is associated with decreased levels of text narrativity, and measures of readability in general. One potential explanation for this conflicting evidence lies in the situational influence of text elements on writing quality. In other words, it is possible that the frequency of specific linguistic or rhetorical text elements alone is not consistently indicative of essay quality. Rather, these effects may be largely driven by individual differences in students' ability to leverage the benefits of these elements in appropriate contexts. This dissertation presents the hypothesis that writing proficiency is associated with an individual's flexible use of text properties, rather than simply the consistent use of a particular set of properties. Across three experiments, this dissertation relies on a combination of natural language processing and dynamic methodologies to examine the role of linguistic flexibility in the text production process. Overall, the studies included in this dissertation provide important insights into the role of flexibility in writing skill and develop a strong foundation on which to conduct future research and educational interventions. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2017

abstract: Emotion regulation repertoire, or the number of emotion regulation strategies one is able to employ when needed, is an important element of emotion regulation flexibility. Emotion regulation flexibility, the ability to regulate in accordance with changing situational contexts and demands, is predictive of emotion regulation success. Currently, little is known about emotion regulation repertoire and its association with emotional health and well-being. In particular, more can be learned about how the different strategies in one’s repertoire interact, and which strategies show stronger relationships with mental health. The current study aimed to assess the relationship of different emotion regulation strategies to mental health, including their individual and combined influence. In addition, the interaction between the use of specific emotion regulation strategies and emotion regulation flexibility with respect to mental health was examined. I hypothesized (1a) reappraisal and (1b) acceptance, two strategies previously associated with positive psychological outcomes, would be significant predictors of mental health, and (2) better flexibility would predict better mental health. In addition, I hypothesized that (3) strategies often found to be maladaptive (suppression, distraction, rumination, and experiential avoidance) would have an inverse relationship with mental health. Finally, (4) maladaptive strategies would be associated with worse mental health for those lower in flexibility. These hypotheses were tested through a questionnaire as part of a larger in-lab study. Results revealed that reappraisal and rumination were the strongest predictors of mental health. Emotion regulation flexibility did not predict mental health or moderate the relationship between individual emotion regulation strategies and mental health. Results from this study suggest some emotion regulation strategies are stronger predictors of mental health than others. This will guide future research on specific emotion regulation strategies in a repertoire as well as their combined effect on mental health. Creating a clearer picture of how different strategies interact and influence mental health will also be vital for clinical interventions. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Psychology 2018

La diversité des dispositifs et les exigences des utilisateurs en termes de disponibilité et de continuité de service complexifient l'ingénierie de l'interaction homme-machine : il devient nécessaire de créer des IHM douées d'adaptation dynamique à leur contexte d'usage. L'ingénierie de ces IHM, dites plastiques, peut suivre une approche dirigée par les modèles mais ces approches sont encore peu pratiquées et souffrent d'un coût d'apprentissage important. Il est donc impératif d'accompagner les concepteurs et développeurs par un guidage, mais ce guidage doit être suffisamment flexible pour intégrer des compétences variées et des pratiques diverses en constante évolution.L'ingénierie des méthodes de développement logiciel s'est depuis longtemps préoccupée de la flexibilité des modèles de processus pendant leur conception, mais très peu de travaux se sont préoccupés de la flexibilité à l'exécution. Pourtant, plusieurs études montrent que les concepteurs et les développeurs, qui sont les principaux utilisateurs des méthodes, en expriment le besoin. Ils souhaitent par exemple disposer de modèles de processus exprimés dans les langages qu'ils maîtrisent, qui les laissent maîtres des choix de conception ou de réalisation et les aident dans l'apprentissage de la démarche. La flexibilité des modèles de processus à l'exécution, telle que nous la proposons, permet de répondre à ces attentes et ouvre donc la possibilité de fournir un guidage adéquat pour le développement d'IHM plastiques.Nous nous sommes focalisés dans un premier temps sur la conceptualisation de la propriété de flexibilité. Cette étude nous a conduits à proposer une taxonomie des modèles de processus, Promote, qui définit et gradue la flexibilité selon six dimensions. Nous avons ensuite transcrit cette définition de la flexibilité dans un métamodèle de processus flexible, M2Flex, et l'avons implémenté dans deux outils : D2Flex (D pour Design time), un outil collaboratif de conception de modèles de processus, et R2Flex (R pour Runtime), un environnement d'exécution des modèles définis dans D2Flex. Nous avons appliqué notre approche aux modèles de processus de développement d'IHM plastiques en rendant flexible la méthode UsiXML. L'environnement logiciel est en maturation technologique pour un transfert vers l'industrie. Ces différentes contributions ont fait l'objet de validations, en particulier auprès de concepteurs novices, en ingénierie de l'interaction homme-machine et des systèmes d'information. / The increasing diversity of devices and services makes the engineering of user interfaces (UI) more complex: in particular, the UIs need to be capable of dynamic adaptation to the user's context of use. This property is named plasticity and so far addressed by model-based approaches. However, these approaches suffer from a high threshold of use. Therefore there is a need to support designers and developers with a flexible guidance, i.e. a guidance capable of adaptation to the evolving variety of skills and practices.Software development methods engineering has long been concerned with flexibility of process models at design time, but very few work has been done about enactment-time although several studies show that designers and developers, who are the primary users of methods, call for such a flexibility. For instance, they expect process models to be expressed in languages they master, to let them make decisions about design choices, and to help them in learning the approach.Our proposition of process models flexibility at both design time and runtime meets these expectations and thus opens the possibility of providing adequate guidance for the development of plastic UIs.We first focused on the conceptualization of flexibility. Thanks to this study, we elaborated Promote, a taxonomy of process models, which defines and graduates six kinds of flexibility. Then we transcribed this definition of flexibility into M2Flex, a flexible process metamodel, and implemented it in two tools: D2Flex (with a D as "Design time"), a collaborative tool for the Design of process models, and R2Flex (with a R as "Runtime") , a tool for enacting the process models defined in D2Flex. We applyed our approach to the development of plastic UIs by making the UsiXML methodology flexible. FlexiLab, our software environment, is actually under technological maturation for being transferred to companies. These contributions have been validated, especially with novice designers, in the fields of the engineering of plastic UIs and Information Systems.

Många arbetsplatser på dagens arbetsmarknad präglas alltmer av ett flexibelt arbete. Detta har inom sociologin beskrivits som ett gränslöst arbete där individens gränsdragning mellan arbete och fritid blir svårare att hantera. Friheten inom det flexibla arbetssättet innebär också att det blir upp till individen att sätta gränser mellan till exempel arbete och fritid. Det faktum att arbetsbeskrivningar inom vissa branscher har blivit allt flexiblare bidrar också till att ett större ansvar åläggs individen att organisera och strukturera det egna arbetet. Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur det flexibla arbetet upplevs av anställda inom tjänstemannasektorn samt hur de hanterar sin situation. Den tidigare forskningen fokuserar på innebörden av det flexibla arbetet och hur det upplevs och hanteras av individen. Studien undersöker individernas upplevelser med hjälp av kvalitativa intervjuer i en organisation inom energibranschen. Denna studie visar på att upplevelsen av det flexibla arbete är övervägande positivt men att det också finns baksidor som individen själv förväntas lära sig hantera. Det konstateras även att det är en viktig förutsättning för att kunna bedriva sitt arbete. Följaktligen visar studien att upplevelsen och graden av flexibilitet i arbetet verkar variera beroende på vilket yrke vederbörande har. / Many workplaces today on the labor market is characterized by a flexible work. This have been theorized in sociology as a situation of boundaryless work for the individual were the limit between work and leisure becomes difficult to handle. The freedom that flexible work makes possible moves the responsible to the individual to set limits between work and leisure. The fact that the terms of employment has become vaguer has led to that the responsibility to organize and structure work more and more lies on the individual. The aim of this study is to investigate how the flexible work is perceived by white color workers and how they handle their situation. Previous research focus on the meaning of flexible work and how the individual perceive and handle it. This study focus on the meaning of flexible work by using qualitative interviews with white color employee in an organization in the energy-industry. The result of the study shows that the flexible work is percieved as predominant positive but that it also can consist of negative aspects that the individual needs to handle. It is also found that the flexibility is important in order to do this kind of work. The result also shows that the percieved degree of flexibility seems to differ depending on occupational status.

The way people work today is shaped by the constant changes in society. The development within informative and communication technology is rapidly evolving, which can be seen as a contributory factor to the way society is shaping. Smartphones and computers lessens the need for physical availability at work, which increases the demands on workers to create an accessibility through their technical devices instead. The changed ways of working can be challenging due to the fact that people, as a result, get bigger influence to arrange their own workday. That leads us to a boundless kind of labor, which comes with both opportunities and risks. This thesis attempts to examine the experience of female managers of two age groups, connected to the boundless conditions that has relevance for their working environment. The purpose of this essay is to look at the female managers own experiences of boundless work conditions and what kind of meaning it has for their wellbeing. In order to provide with knowledge that goes in line with our purpose, theories revolving flexibility, accessibility, the job demand-control model and separation of the two spheres work and leisure have been used in combination with previous research. Previous research within the field has shown that clear boundaries between work and leisure is of importance for one's wellbeing and overall satisfaction with life. The satisfaction can be forsaken when for example working from home. Our conclusions demonstrate that a high workload often results in difficulties within boundary control. The respondents appreciate work flexibility since it enables them to achieve a higher level of concentration. No differences between the age groups were found. / Dagens samhälle präglas av arbetssätt som är under ständig förändring. Utveckling av informations- och kommunikationstekniska medel går framåt med rasande fart vilket bidrar till förändringen. Mobiler och datorer minskar behovet att befinna sig på arbetsplatsen i fysisk bemärkelse, vilket kan kompenseras med att vara nåbar på andra vis både på jobbet och utanför. De förändrade arbetssätten skapar utmaningar för människor där individen har fått ökat inflytande att styra över arbetsdagen. Att ett gränslöst arbete har skapats bär med sig både möjligheter och risker. Den här uppsatsen har författats i ett försök att belysa kvinnliga chefers upplevelse av det gränslösa arbetet som präglar deras arbetsplats samt om detta skiljer sig ur en åldersaspekt. Syftet med uppsatsen är att bidra med kunskap om chefernas egna upplevelse av gränslöst arbete och vad det har för betydelse för deras välmående. För att kunna bidra med denna kunskap har teorier om tillgänglighet och flexibilitet, krav- och kontrollmodellen och teori om de två sfärerna arbete och fritid använts i kombination med tidigare forskning och empiri. Tidigare forskning inom området tyder på att en tydlig gränsdragning mellan arbete och fritid är av vikt för ett fungerande liv präglat av balans mellan sfärerna, vilket lätt försakas till följd av arbete i hemmet. Uppsatsen har resulterat i slutsatser som pekar på att arbetet följer med hem vid hög arbetsbelastning vilket försvårar gränsdragningen. Cheferna uppskattar flexibiliteten i deras arbete då det ger möjlighet till koncentrerad arbetstid. Vi har inte observerat några skillnader ur en åldersaspekt.