Given the complexity and functionality of todays software, task-specific, system-suggested help could be beneficial for users. Although system-suggested help assists users in completing their tasks quickly, user response to unsolicited advice from their applications has been lukewarm. One such problem is lack of knowledge of system-suggested help about the users expertise with the task they are currently doing. This thesis examines the possibility of improving system-suggested help by adding knowledge about user expertise into the help system and eventually designing an expertise-sensitive help system. An expertise-sensitive help system would detect user expertise dynamically and regularly so that systems could recommend help overtly to novices, subtly to average and poor users, and not at all to experts.<p> This thesis makes several advances in this area through a series of four experiments. In the first experiment, we show that users respond differently to help interruptions depending on their expertise with a task. Having established that user response to helpful interruptions varies with expertise level, in the second experiment we create a four-level classifier of task expertise with an accuracy of 90%. To present helpful interruptions differently to novice, poor, and average users, we need to design three interrupting notifications that vary in their attentional draw. In experiment three, we investigate a number of options and choose three icons. Finally, in experiment four, we integrate the expertise model and three interrupting notifications into an expertise-sensitive system-suggested help program, and investigate the user response. Together, these four experiments show that users value helpful interruptions when their expertise with a task is low, and that an expertise-sensitive help system that presents helpful interruptions with attentional draw that matches user expertise is effective and valuable.

Given the complexity and functionality of todays software, task-specific, system-suggested help could be beneficial for users. Although system-suggested help assists users in completing their tasks quickly, user response to unsolicited advice from their applications has been lukewarm. One such problem is lack of knowledge of system-suggested help about the users expertise with the task they are currently doing. This thesis examines the possibility of improving system-suggested help by adding knowledge about user expertise into the help system and eventually designing an expertise-sensitive help system. An expertise-sensitive help system would detect user expertise dynamically and regularly so that systems could recommend help overtly to novices, subtly to average and poor users, and not at all to experts.<p> This thesis makes several advances in this area through a series of four experiments. In the first experiment, we show that users respond differently to help interruptions depending on their expertise with a task. Having established that user response to helpful interruptions varies with expertise level, in the second experiment we create a four-level classifier of task expertise with an accuracy of 90%. To present helpful interruptions differently to novice, poor, and average users, we need to design three interrupting notifications that vary in their attentional draw. In experiment three, we investigate a number of options and choose three icons. Finally, in experiment four, we integrate the expertise model and three interrupting notifications into an expertise-sensitive system-suggested help program, and investigate the user response. Together, these four experiments show that users value helpful interruptions when their expertise with a task is low, and that an expertise-sensitive help system that presents helpful interruptions with attentional draw that matches user expertise is effective and valuable.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-93). Also available in print.

Epidemiologic studies have found that approximately one third of individuals will experience either alcohol abuse or dependence during their lifetime. However, only a minority will seek help or perceive a need for help. The purpose of this thesis is to provide a longitudinal investigation of the predictors of new onset perceived need for care and help-seeking in individuals with a lifetime alcohol use disorder who have no prior history of perceived need or help-seeking. Methods: Data were drawn from Waves 1 and 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC; n=34,653), a 3-year longitudinal nationally representative survey of the United States population. Results: Respondents with an incidence of perceived need and help-seeking were more likely to be male, younger, less educated, and black. Those who sought help and perceived a need for help were more likely to have a concurrent Axis I or II disorder after controlling for sociodemographic differences and social, legal, economic problems. They also had very high odds of having a persistent alcohol use disorder (OR=4.68) and experiencing social or legal problems related to their alcohol use after controlling for sociodemographics and psychiatric comorbidity (AOR’s from 5.59-38.42). Conclusion: Individuals with a history of having no perceived need for care or help-seeking may represent a unique group among those with an alcohol use disorder. Psychiatric comorbidity and social or legal problems related to alcohol use were both independent predictors of perceived need and help-seeking.

"Verslawingsparadigmas en die Implikasies vir Hulpverlening - 'n Pastorale Studie" is a doctoral dissertation which looks at different addiction paradigms and how each of these paradigms have implications for the type of care that will be given to people with addictions. The study was done in line with classical Reformed theology. Biblical perspectives were formulated as. a measuring tool for judging addiction paradigms and methods of caring for people with additions. A few texts on drunkenness in the Bible were researched exegetically and according to the revelation history. Literature study as well as a study of Scriptures were done on Biblical and non-Biblical addiction paradigms and methods of care. The information gathered in previous chapters, the literature study as well as the study of Scriptures were consolidated to develop a method of care to ensure that people with addictions and their loved ones are helped in a profound, Scripture-based way. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Researchers have found that youths react in a variety of ways when faced with a bullying incident in their schools (Kochenderfer-Ladd, 2004). Despite being aware of the negative consequences of being victimized and holding generally negative attitudes towards bullying, youths tend to show reluctance to seek help from an adult or to intervene in defense of their victimized peer (Hawkins, Pepler, & Craig, 2001; Newman, Murray, & Lussier, 2001). Given the importance of the aforementioned behaviours in reducing bullying in schools, two studies were designed to examine the determinants of victim help seeking and bystander intervening behaviours in young people using Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB: Ajzen, 1991). In Study 1, I examined the full TPB model using short-term longitudinal data collected from a sample of 609 secondary school students. To further examine the utility of the TPB model and to determine the impact of school climate on the model, in Study 2 I examined cross-sectional data collected from 113 middle school students. In Study 1, multiple regression analyses and path analyses indicated that the TPB model significantly predicted student’s intentions to intervene on behalf a bullied peer and their actual self-reported intervention behaviour. The results for help seeking intentions and behaviours were mixed, with the TPB variables significantly predicting victim help seeking intentions but not self-reported behaviour. In Study 2, the TPB model significantly predicted both help seeking and intervention intentions. Additionally, the TPB variables of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control significantly mediated the relationship between school climate and victim help seeking and bystander intervention intentions. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for methodology, theory, and policy.

Epidemiologic studies have found that approximately one third of individuals will experience either alcohol abuse or dependence during their lifetime. However, only a minority will seek help or perceive a need for help. The purpose of this thesis is to provide a longitudinal investigation of the predictors of new onset perceived need for care and help-seeking in individuals with a lifetime alcohol use disorder who have no prior history of perceived need or help-seeking. Methods: Data were drawn from Waves 1 and 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC; n=34,653), a 3-year longitudinal nationally representative survey of the United States population. Results: Respondents with an incidence of perceived need and help-seeking were more likely to be male, younger, less educated, and black. Those who sought help and perceived a need for help were more likely to have a concurrent Axis I or II disorder after controlling for sociodemographic differences and social, legal, economic problems. They also had very high odds of having a persistent alcohol use disorder (OR=4.68) and experiencing social or legal problems related to their alcohol use after controlling for sociodemographics and psychiatric comorbidity (AOR’s from 5.59-38.42). Conclusion: Individuals with a history of having no perceived need for care or help-seeking may represent a unique group among those with an alcohol use disorder. Psychiatric comorbidity and social or legal problems related to alcohol use were both independent predictors of perceived need and help-seeking.

"Verslawingsparadigmas en die Implikasies vir Hulpverlening - 'n Pastorale Studie" is a doctoral dissertation which looks at different addiction paradigms and how each of these paradigms have implications for the type of care that will be given to people with addictions. The study was done in line with classical Reformed theology. Biblical perspectives were formulated as. a measuring tool for judging addiction paradigms and methods of caring for people with additions. A few texts on drunkenness in the Bible were researched exegetically and according to the revelation history. Literature study as well as a study of Scriptures were done on Biblical and non-Biblical addiction paradigms and methods of care. The information gathered in previous chapters, the literature study as well as the study of Scriptures were consolidated to develop a method of care to ensure that people with addictions and their loved ones are helped in a profound, Scripture-based way. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.