Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 53 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 37-44).

This case study aimed to gain a holistic understanding of career guidance as implemented in a university in Guangdong province. The purpose of the research was to investigate (a) the identifiable content and approaches used in career guidance, (b) contextual factors inside and outside the university that influence career guidance, (c) how the people involved perceive the effect of career guidance on enhancing students' career competencies, (d) problems in delivering and receiving career guidance, and (e) how career guidance can be strengthened and improved. Qualitative data were collected between 2010 and 2012, using multiple methods including individual interviews, focus groups, observations, and documentary study. A total of 13 individual interviews and 5 focus group sessions were completed. The researcher collected information related to perceptions of university students, graduates, administrators, career practitioners, student tutors and teachers involved in the career guidance service. Evidence was also obtained from curriculum designs, reports, surveys, web pages, and documents produced by the school, faculties and student association. The researcher also conducted 17 participant and non-participant observations during relevant career activities. The data analysis involved coding, categorization, concept mapping, and theme generation. The themes that emerged were triangulated using data from the various sources. The findings reveal that a system has been built to provide career guidance through three separate channels. The Career Center is formally in charge of all career affairs; but currently ‘employment management’ is its main duty. Various career activities (conducted by students) are provided by the Students' Career Development Association (SCDA), which is supported by the Career Center. Also, in each faculty, career guidance related to specific majors is implemented. Contextual factors that influence career guidance can be summarized under four aspects: national policies and university support; management systems; political tradition of a centralization system; and various resources. The findings suggest that career guidance does enhance students’ career competencies, particularly in areas of self-understanding, career-related knowledge and skills, and in career-relevant networking. A variety of problems have existed in the university in relation to career guidance, including the lack of a comprehensive service, insufficient resources, a lack of credibility, uneven quality of career guidance, and a lack of professional training for the personnel involved. Many suggestions have been put forward by students and teachers for strategies to improve career guidance. In particular, it is believed that the Career Center, the faculties, and SCDA have to increase their coordination and cooperation at all levels, by a better integration of resources. The data analyzed in this study provide a unique picture of the implementation and content of career guidance with Chinese characteristics. In addition, factors influencing career guidance and its service delivery are identified and discussed within a Chinese context, taking socio-political factors into account. While the results provide evidence for an operational model of career guidance in a university, they also expand current theories of career guidance in China as a whole. Implications for practical solution of problems and for improvement of existing services are discussed in detail. / published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

This study used a questionnaire designed to identify Adlerian birth order characteristics in twins. One hundred and ninety (n = 190) mothers of twins completed surveys requesting general demographic information as well as descriptive accounts of each sibling within the family constellation. An adjective checklist of birth order descriptors was completed for each twin. The resulting data were statistically analyzed using Friedman and Nemenyi's tests to compare the number of characteristics associated with birth order categories for each ordinal position. Results seemed to indicate that twins display Adlerian birth order characteristics indicative of their ordinal placement though this was not the case for every position. The largest number of characteristics for three out of five ordinal positions were those of "youngest." In contrast, twins uniformly scored lowest on "middle" characteristics.

Understanding the complex linkage between obesity and food choice is pivotal to establishing effective dietary guidance that resonates with consumers. The aims of this thesis were to evaluate: (1) serving size (SS) guidance schemes and their effectiveness; (2) consumer estimations of portion size (PS) and energy density (ED), and anticipated consumption guilt (ACG) for perceived 'healthier' vs. 'standard' foods; (3) consumer opinions, perceptions of efficacy and the precision of a range of portion size estimation aids (PSEA); and (4) the nutritional quality (NQ) and energy cost (EC) of own brand (OB) vs. market brand (MB) foods. A literature review and three studies were undertaken. In the first study, three pairs of isoenergy dense (kJIlOOg) foods - 'healthier' vs. 'standard' cereals, drinks and coleslaws - were selected. For each food, subjects (n186) served an appropriate PS for themselves, estimated its ED and rated their ACG. Subjects estimated larger portions of the ' healthier' (reduced fat) coleslaw than the 'standard' version, and perceived all 'healthier' foods to be lower in ED than their 'standard' alternatives, despite being isoenergy dense. Higher ACG was associated with the 'standard' foods . In the second study, a range of PSEA were evaluated using both qualitative (six focus groups, each of three to eight participants) and quantitative (practical use of PSEA; n 120) methods. Consumers indicated preference for "visual" PSEA (reference objects, household measures e.g. cup, and indicators on food packaging) for amorphous cereal products such as rice. In the third study, a basket of commonly consumed foods (n 32) were compared in terms of NQ and EC at two time points using two methods of nutritional profiling. Despite OB foods being significantly lower in EC (£/MJ) than the MB, there were no differences in the overall NQ. In conclusion, consumer understanding of PS, perceptions of ED and preferences for PSEA should be considered in future dietary guidance. OB foods should be promoted as nutritionally comparable to their more expensive MB counterparts where appropriate.

Thesis (MTech. degree in Contact Centre Management) - Tshwane University of Technology, 2007. / The purpose of this study is to assess the experience of contact centre agents who have been trained according to the current Tshwane University of Technology curriculum for the Contact Centre Management qualification. The aim is to develop a more effective outcomes-based curriculum for contact centre agents.

In response to the increase in anned robberies to banks and building societies during the 1980s and 1990s, a training programme was developed within one building society to buttress employees against the potentially hannful psychological consequences of being involved in an anned raid. The 'Coping With Robberies' training programme consisted of a package of practical, procedural and psychological coping techniques based on Meichenbaum's (1985) 'Stress Inoculation Training' principles utilising video, workbook and discussion formats. It was delivered over four months to 4,000 employees of the Society via monthly, branch-based training sessions. The programme was evaluated using a mixed qualitative and quantitative methodology to determine whether the training would improve employees' predicted confidence that they would cope in a raid and reduce their symptoms of post -traumatic stress should they be raided. In addition, aspects of both the individual and the training were assessed to investigate which of these aspects were related to confidence and post-traumatic stress symptoms. The training improved confidence, employees felt empowered by the training and viewed it almost entirely positively. However, for those employees subsequently raided, there was no evidence that the training reduced symptoms of psychological distress in either the immediate or longer term. Other personal and environmental factors were related to confidence and post-traumatic stress symptoms, most notably degree of involvement in the raid, job position/role in the Society, social support and coping style. Although levels of initial distress post-raid were high, the majority of those involved recovered quickly.The implications for training employees exposed to the potential for criminal assault are that the majority will appreciate and benefit from both procedural and simple psychological techniques for use during a raid but will be less appreciative of attempts to be taught anxiety management techniques for post-raid stress. Although the majority of those involved in raids will recover from their initial distress, a small minority of employees are very vulnerable to psychological ill health as a consequence of being involved in a raid. This group should be given the opportunity for specialised one-to-one training and therapy to enable them to cope should they be raided.

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