Rural Tourism is increasingly being used as a development strategy to improve the social and economic well being of rural areas. Rural Tourism encompasses a huge range of activities, natural or manmade attractions, amenities and facilities, transportation, marketing and information systems (Sharpley & Sharpley, 1997). Rural tourism is very diverse and fragmented in terms of operational structures, activities, markets and operating environments (Roberts & Hall, 2001, citing Pearce, 1989). Benefits of rural tourism have been expressed as employment growth and broadening a region’s economic base, repopulation, social improvement, and revitalization of local craft (Sharpley, 2000). Governments can play active roles in tourism. In short the literature suggests rural tourism development policy approaches require: regeneration/revitalization, horizontal and vertical integration, interdependence, stewardship/sustainability, mediation, cataclysm, service and welfare provisions, spatiality – awareness, intra and inter regional complementariness, opportunism, realism and quality (Roberts & Hall, 2001). Murphy (1985) proposed a community approach to tourism development which included formation of businesses networks, and the sharing of resources and information. For rural tourism to be successful, collaboration needs to exist amongst entrepreneurs (Wilson et al., 2001). Useful integrated approaches to rural studies include acknowledging the importance of locally controlled agendas to reach centralization, awareness of the benefits for shared ideas and funding developments, and creating appropriate tourism plans for rural areas (MacDonald & Jolliffe, 2003). There are numerous challenges when attempting rural tourism development: the total product package must be sufficient; significant investment may be required; there is the adaption to a service role; the quality of products and services and the availability of skills and resources for effective marketing (Sharpley, 2000). Tourism development requires attractions, promotion, infrastructure and services and hospitality (Wilson et al., 2001, citing Gunn, 1988). The remote Eastern Hokianga area is situated in the Far North (Northland) region of New Zealand. The area has a low population and is sparsely populated presenting an ideal place to relax with an unhurried atmosphere, flourishing fauna and flora, rich in New Zealand history and culture. This is an economically depressed area that is situated in the centre of Northland’s three key tourism icons - The Bay of Islands, the Waipoua Forest, and the top of the North Island. The location of the Eastern Hokianga presents an opportunity to create a tourism destination that will attract travellers frequenting the key tourism icons. To date there has been no research on rural tourism development conducted in the Eastern Hokianga. Although comprehensive research was conducted previously in the Hokianga by the James Henare Maori Research Centre (1999) it was concentrated specifically to the “Maori culture”. This research aims to examine and identify the key challenges of rural tourism development for the Eastern Hokianga through an analysis of rural tourism development approaches, and identifying the social and economic impacts of tourism. Key findings show that the Eastern Hokianga is an undeveloped area and does not fit with the majority of the rural tourism definitions as described in the literature. The area is displaying positive impacts of rural tourism development. The negative impacts are minimal as the Eastern Hokianga is still in the initial development stage of rural tourism. There are many integrated approaches to rural tourism development currently. A strategic approach is occurring with a tourism policy and community involvement in decision making. There is an integration approach with one RTO actively involved in the communities’ tourism association with the local businesses. Two key clustering approaches are being utilized – the Twin Coast Discovery Route and total product packaging. Regeneration is not occurring but was not an issue raised by the community, whereas a financing approach was an identified challenge by Eastern Hokianga businesses. The need to improve accessibility through infrastructure was the second key challenge to rural tourism development. The area was not restricted by the other challenges of government’s role, education / experience and marketing.

Wetlands cover a broad of areas, including aquatic and terrestrial ecological systems. Many people and agencies are attracted the natural resources value and begin the action to protect it. In 2007, the Construction and Planning Agency Ministry of the Interior¡]CPAMI¡^in Taiwan announced 75 sites as ¡§National Wetlands of Importance¡¨. Currently the Wetland Conservation Law draft completed of 2010. In the future the wetlands conservation and mitigation mechanism will be definite. Wetland conservation is not only a government duty but also the resporsibility of the Private Sector and Citizen. Sometimes non-government organization and community often face private land ownership, lack of income and problems with Taiwan¡¦s current laws and regulation. Many wildlife habitats and critical wetlands are not owned by government, such as Aogu Wetland, therefore many researchers begin to promote the idea of "public trust" as one of the models for wetland sustainable management. In this study use public trust management model to combine wetland conservation maintain wetland ¡§no net loss¡¨. The common consensus and co-management mechanism between public and private sectors become crucial issues. Major research methods used Depth-Interview with different field experts to find the solution and feasibility of the proposed framework. Wetland public trust is a tool advocating the collaboration and cooperation among public, non-profit organizations, enterprise, government to improve the outcomes of environmental conservation, which can be oversee by particular authorities This study proposes wetland public trust as an appropriate framework and integrates tax system to improve the wetland conservation models in Taiwan.

Following the development of new technologies, more and more users can access online mobile content now. Reading news is the most used service in Taiwan. Because of the potential profits of valued-added services in telecommunications, many traditional media are joining this market by providing news content. The author tries to find out the motivations, reasons of partner selection, and the measures of performance of the strategic alliances between telecommunication operators and news content providers by in-depth interviewing managers of telecommunication and media in news mobile content service strategic alliance. This research analyzes the different strategies taken by both parties and evaluates the outcome of strategic alliance. This research indicates that the different managerial culture between alliances would influence the sustainability. Besides, Strategic alliances have the risk of profit-sharing and stray from seeking short-term profit.

Collective case study (Creswell, 2014; Stake, 1995) was used to explore the journey of coach-athlete dyads who were able to successfully maintain their training and interpersonal relationships throughout the course of the athlete enduring a mental block. Three coach-athlete dyads, plus one additional athlete, completed in-depth one-on-one interviews, discussing their coach-athlete relationship before, during, and after the mental block. All dyads were same sex, nationally ranked coach-athlete pairs, from sports involving mandatory elements that include both twisting and flipping components. Categorical aggregation of participant statements lead to the formation of five main themes associated with dyads successfully overcoming a mental block (where success was defined as the athlete regaining the ability to perform the skill that they had previously been unable to do on account of the mental block and the dyad maintaining their training and interpersonal relationship): 1) Get to Know Your Athlete: The Need for High Quality Communication; 2) Be a United Front; 3) Mistakes and Miscommunications Happen: Recovery is Key; 4) Seek Outside Resources; 5) Be Patient. Results suggest that an environment for success can flourish when each party is open, honest, and self-aware of their own limitations. It is suggested that future research utilize the 3 + 1Cs Model of the coach-athlete relationship in exploring how dyads can successfully overcome a mental block.

Tribal traditions and practices are integral to iwi identity. From the past to the present, the biggest impact on iwi identity was colonisation and subsequent urbanisation. Urbanisation changed the foundation of identity largely due to the demographic rural-urban shift, effectively creating a distance physically and spiritually for Māori between their place of residence and their traditional tribal turangawaewae. Today a larger proportion of tribal members reside in the main urban centres of New Zealand and Australia. This phenomenon provides an ideal opportunity to explore how iwi identity is maintained in an urban setting – away from the traditional sites of cultural practice. The study, which focuses on Ngāti Awa members residing in Auckland, provided evidence that the foundation of an iwi identity is still heavily reliant on strong iwi-based whānau. The corollary is that, strengthening the tribal knowledge base of whānau residing in urban centres may require new or increased active participation in the customs and practices of their iwi. Regrettably, only three of the ten research participants had an in-depth knowledge of their whakapapa, histories and traditions. However, all the participants indicated the need to become more pro-active in creating and expanding on their knowledge base of iwitanga (including te reo). There was also acknowledgement that urban-based iwi marae and whānau wānanga can provide individuals with the opportunities to learn more about their iwi traditions (and thereby reinforce their sense of tribal identity). Encouragingly, each participant confirmed that identifying as Ngāti Awa was important to them, largely due to the sense of belonging and identity. The study concluded that the sustainability of iwi is reliant on iwi members supporting their iwi regardless of the location of their upbringing.

Rural Tourism is increasingly being used as a development strategy to improve the social and economic well being of rural areas. Rural Tourism encompasses a huge range of activities, natural or manmade attractions, amenities and facilities, transportation, marketing and information systems (Sharpley & Sharpley, 1997). Rural tourism is very diverse and fragmented in terms of operational structures, activities, markets and operating environments (Roberts & Hall, 2001, citing Pearce, 1989). Benefits of rural tourism have been expressed as employment growth and broadening a region’s economic base, repopulation, social improvement, and revitalization of local craft (Sharpley, 2000). Governments can play active roles in tourism. In short the literature suggests rural tourism development policy approaches require: regeneration/revitalization, horizontal and vertical integration, interdependence, stewardship/sustainability, mediation, cataclysm, service and welfare provisions, spatiality – awareness, intra and inter regional complementariness, opportunism, realism and quality (Roberts & Hall, 2001). Murphy (1985) proposed a community approach to tourism development which included formation of businesses networks, and the sharing of resources and information. For rural tourism to be successful, collaboration needs to exist amongst entrepreneurs (Wilson et al., 2001). Useful integrated approaches to rural studies include acknowledging the importance of locally controlled agendas to reach centralization, awareness of the benefits for shared ideas and funding developments, and creating appropriate tourism plans for rural areas (MacDonald & Jolliffe, 2003). There are numerous challenges when attempting rural tourism development: the total product package must be sufficient; significant investment may be required; there is the adaption to a service role; the quality of products and services and the availability of skills and resources for effective marketing (Sharpley, 2000). Tourism development requires attractions, promotion, infrastructure and services and hospitality (Wilson et al., 2001, citing Gunn, 1988). The remote Eastern Hokianga area is situated in the Far North (Northland) region of New Zealand. The area has a low population and is sparsely populated presenting an ideal place to relax with an unhurried atmosphere, flourishing fauna and flora, rich in New Zealand history and culture. This is an economically depressed area that is situated in the centre of Northland’s three key tourism icons - The Bay of Islands, the Waipoua Forest, and the top of the North Island. The location of the Eastern Hokianga presents an opportunity to create a tourism destination that will attract travellers frequenting the key tourism icons. To date there has been no research on rural tourism development conducted in the Eastern Hokianga. Although comprehensive research was conducted previously in the Hokianga by the James Henare Maori Research Centre (1999) it was concentrated specifically to the “Maori culture”. This research aims to examine and identify the key challenges of rural tourism development for the Eastern Hokianga through an analysis of rural tourism development approaches, and identifying the social and economic impacts of tourism. Key findings show that the Eastern Hokianga is an undeveloped area and does not fit with the majority of the rural tourism definitions as described in the literature. The area is displaying positive impacts of rural tourism development. The negative impacts are minimal as the Eastern Hokianga is still in the initial development stage of rural tourism. There are many integrated approaches to rural tourism development currently. A strategic approach is occurring with a tourism policy and community involvement in decision making. There is an integration approach with one RTO actively involved in the communities’ tourism association with the local businesses. Two key clustering approaches are being utilized – the Twin Coast Discovery Route and total product packaging. Regeneration is not occurring but was not an issue raised by the community, whereas a financing approach was an identified challenge by Eastern Hokianga businesses. The need to improve accessibility through infrastructure was the second key challenge to rural tourism development. The area was not restricted by the other challenges of government’s role, education / experience and marketing.

Master's Thesis "Improvement Theory 'Brand Engagement in Self-Concept' through Qualitative Research" explains consumer-brand relationship view of new theory, which extends existing knowledge of incorporation brands into the self-concept. The main objective is to determine profiles of low and high BESC consumers by using in-depth interviews. In the theoretical part the explanation of brand identity, self-concept and the connection between them is done. It is followed by description of quantitative studies including the basic knowledge about the theory BESC. Consequently, in the practical part the analysis in-depth interviews, descriptions of low and high BESC consumers and intergroup comparisons are presented. Finally, the general outcome compares results of qualitative and quantitative research, and concurrently suggests managerial implications of using the theory BESC in marketing practice.

Retaining quality teachers is critical to the success of America's schools. How to retain quality teachers, especially in high needs schools, is a question of fervent debate among educational researchers, policy makers, administrators, parents, and students. This study examines the issue of teacher retention from an emic perspective, focused on understanding the perspective of those closest to the retention decision, teachers in hard-to-staff schools. This study examines the lived experiences of four teachers at a hard-to-staff, urban, secondary school as these experiences impact their decisions to remain in teaching and at their current campus. Research methods adopted an existential phenomenological perspective and focused on understanding deeply the perspective of participants and how participants make meaning of their lived experiences as they relate to the retention decision. Three hour-long interviews were conducted with each of the four participants utilizing methodology laid out by Seidman (1991). Data were analyzed using NVIVO 10 to apply a series of coding and recoding procedures to interview transcripts. Conclusions suggest four factors motivated these teachers to teach and remain in their current hard-to-staff, urban, secondary school. These factors include: belief in the power of education, relationships with students, mentoring and professional partnering, and remaining professionally challenged. Findings suggest factors that drive teachers out of teaching and out of hard-to-staff schools include: inconsistent administrative support, low student motivation, and lack of resources.

本研究主要是從現階段台日國會交流，探討台灣的國會外交。由於台灣外交受到中國全方位無理的打壓，國際社會的處境十分艱難。因此在許多無邦交國家，傳統外交工作及駐外單位與外國行政機關的接洽聯繫經常受到限制，然而經由國會交流管道，卻往往可以達到一定的成效。另外就邦交國而言，由於國會代表民意，國會議員間的互訪、交流、聯繫也更能加強雙邊互動。選定日本為研究個案的原因，主要是日本為內閣制國家，國會外交的影響較為直接，且近期台日交流有重大發展，如美日安保諮商「二加二會談」首度納入台海問題、日本支持台灣成為WHA觀察員、台灣觀光客赴日免簽證等；另外，台日雙方國會議員往來密切，且有運作成熟之跨黨派國會聯誼組織，進行有系統的交流，如台日交流聯誼會、日華議員懇談會等。 本研究係採用深度訪談法，選擇的訪談對象為參與外交事務的國會議員、立法院行政人員、外交部官員、日本國會議員，以及國際關係學者。經由訪談分析，所獲致的研究成果有：一、了解台灣目前國會外交現況、困境以及未來可能的發展策略。二、評估國會外交的功能，並探討其運作方式對台灣外交與其他方面之影響。三、借重台日國會交流經驗，提供政府國會外交政策建議，藉以協助台灣突破目前所面臨的外交困境。 / It is mainly to explore the implications of congressional diplomacy of Taiwan in this study, by reviewing the exchanges of the Congress between Taiwan and Japan at current stage. Undoubtedly, China is doing its best to keep Taiwan out of the diplomatic arena at all levels in the world, so as to worsen the situation of national identity of Taiwan in the international community. Under such circumstances, the restrictions are constantly imposed upon the routine works and contacts for the Taiwan Representative Offices abroad with government authorities or agencies in the undiplomatic countries. As for the congress represents the general public will in the democratic countries, it is surely helpful for the interactions of bilateral relations among congressmen of Taiwan and other countries through visits, exchanges and contacts. Furthermore, it is achieved in the goal of the promotion on the substantial relations with other countries. Japan is a cabinet-oriented country, its members of the Cabinet come from the Congress. It therefore produces direct influence on diplomacy of congress. Besides, there are some enormous breakthroughs on the exchanges between Taiwan and Japan at current stage, such as: the Taiwan issue has been put on the agenda of ”2 plus 2” US-Japan security consultation meeting for the first time, Japan supports Taiwan as an observer in the WHA, free visa entry treatment for Taiwanese tourists, and so on. Based on this, it is primary to take the exchanges of the Congresses between Taiwan and Japan as the subject of this study. Moreover, there are maturely operating and multiparty members’ amity groups conducted in both country’s congress, which are keeping close contacts, such as Taiwan-Japan Exchanges Amity Group, Sino-Japanese Diet Members Conference. It is going to be reviewed on this part in the study. The method of in-depth interview will be exercising in the research. The selected interviewees are ranging from those legislators who are actively participating in foreign affairs, senior administrators of the Legislative Yuan, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japanese Congressmen and heavy-weighted scholars who are familiar with international relations. Through the analysis of interviews, it will be expected to produce some outcomes in this study, such as following: 1. To realize the situation, hardship and future possible development strategy of the congressional diplomacy of Taiwan at current stage. 2. To evaluate the achievement of the congressional diplomacy of Taiwan, and to explore what influence its operation will be on Taiwan’s diplomacy and other aspects. 3. To advise the Government about the feasible policy of the congressional diplomacy and assist in breaking through hardship of Taiwan’s diplomacy right at the moment by borrowing the experiences of the exchanges of the Congress between Taiwan and Japan.

過去消費價值觀相關的研究，多從個人對「物」的消費價值感受來區分消費者，而少以「人」為研究主體，探討個人所持有的消費價值觀展現。與消費價值理論相關的文獻，雖也對消費價值觀作部份的敘述，但少有討論消費價值觀本質的相關研究。 因此，本研究回顧個人價值觀相關的文獻論述，確立個人價值觀的根本定義，仔細探查個人價值觀與消費價值觀之作用關係，據以重新定義消費價值觀為「個人從事消費相關活動時，所持有之可觀察或不自覺之持久性信念或概念，是個體對特定消費目標的偏好傾向，並作為個人在消費行動或面對多樣的消費客體時，據以選擇之準則」，並提出消費價值觀的特性。本階段所完成之消費價值觀本質性探討結果，正是本研究觀察年輕人消費價值觀內涵之依據。 本研究深度訪談12位年齡為20-25歲之年輕人，其中包含全職學生、兼職學生、以及上班族各四位，所描述的消費事件共計116件。研究發現，三大消費價值觀構面，各自包含兩相對概念。第一個構面為消費關注層次，具有功能導向和經驗導向；第二個構面為外在影響程度，具有他人導向與自我導向；第三個構面為行動力，具有現在導向與未來導向。個人消費價值觀可由上述三構面的傾向予以具體描繪。 本研究結果顯示，年輕人消費價值觀具有普遍性地偏向，明顯傾向於經驗導向、自我導向、和現在導向的消費偏好，表現出追求自我主觀感受滿足之立即性的消費行為。 整體而言，本研究不僅對消費價值觀的本質做了根本性的探究，讓消費價值觀之定義更加明確的同時，也釐清消費價值觀與消費價值概念上的混淆。本研究也解構出消費價值觀的三大構面與特性，以為未來消費價值觀相關研究，發展量化衡量工具的依據。 / Consumption values, the criteria employed by the individual for developing of the preference judgment in terms of shopping behaviors, are both a powerful explanation of and influence in consumer behavior. Due to limited empirical attention relative to its features and nature, the concept of consumption values is easily confused with consumption value which is the outcome of evaluative judgment of a object and has been acquired more research focus. Therefore, this study focuses on the construct of consumption values and intends to propose a conceptual framework as a basis for future research. The study presences a quick review of the existing literature on the concept of values and value systems in order to recognize the fundamental elements of consumption values. Based on the review, the study refers to consumption values as an enduring belief and a preference concept that guides consumption behavior and as a general plan for consumption relative decision making. This redefinition is applied as the principle for analyzing young people’s consumption values. Twelve depth interviews were conducted. The interviewees are aged from 20 to 25 and with full-time students, part-time students, and full-time employee evenly. 116 shopping behavior were collected in total. The results reveal three key dimensions of consumption values: (1) Functional-oriented versus experiential-oriented consumption values on the consumption focus dimension; (2) Other-oriented versus self-oriented consumption values on the external influence dimension; and (3) Current-oriented versus future-oriented on action-directed dimension. This framework serves as the basis for the structure of consumption values. According to the findings, young people’s consumption values represent a consistent direction to be experiential-oriented, self-oriented, and current-oriented. Consequently, young people generally take immediate purchase action to fulfill self-emotional needs and wants. As a result of this study, a conceptualization definition intended to capture the nature of consumption values is determined to be clearly distinct from consumption value. Also, the three key dimensions of consumption values are charactered as a framework for developing the measurement method in future research.