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Brainstorming is a critical part of the engineering design process and can have a significant impact on the outcomes of the overall project. While research has studied the outcomes of brainstorming and the ideas that teams generate, the role that language and conversation play in these activities is still relatively underexplored. Observing the different ways people use specific types of discourse can reveal how conversations can affect brainstorming itself. To that end, this research aims to answer the following questions: 1) What are the different kinds of discursive moves that students make during engineering brainstorming activities? 2) What patterns or themes emerge among these discursive moves? We collected data by recording conversations that took place during team brainstorming activities with engineering students. These conversations were transcribed, and we used discourse analysis to code our data according to the speaker's intent. We combined quantitative and qualitative analysis to identify and explore correlation patterns within these conversations. Three prominent themes emerged from our analyses: Active Engagement, Group Rapport, and Exploring the Problem. These themes highlight the range of different conversational elements that work together to support effective brainstorming discussions. Engineers and engineering educators can be mindful of the way that they frame their brainstorming activities so that the team’s discourse encourages more active engagement, stronger group rapport, and deeper exploration of the problem at hand.

Introduction: More than half a million Canadians are living with dementia and 260,000 of these individuals live at home. As dementia progresses, persons with dementia require more assistance from caregivers to meet their daily needs including stimulation and emotional support. However, caregivers receive little training in this role. Namaste Care is a program originally developed for use in long-term care homes promoting a structured routine, a slow pace of care, and multisensorial activities for persons with advanced dementia. The program has not yet been adapted or evaluated for use by caregivers of community-dwelling older adults with moderate to advanced dementia. The objective of this study is to explore the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of a version of Namaste Care adapted by caregivers. Methods: A multiphase mixed methods design was used. In the adaptation phase, six caregivers participated in workshop sessions to adapt Namaste Care for home use. In the evaluation phase, 12 caregivers received training to use the adapted program. Surveys were used to collect data on caregiver quality of life, perceptions of caregiving, self-efficacy, and burden at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Qualitative interviews at 3-month follow-up were also completed to assess the acceptability of the program and implementation facilitators and barriers. Findings: All caregivers used the program for a minimum of twice a week as planned and used a variety of program activities. The retention rate was 83%. Caregivers perceived that the program improved their relationships with persons with dementia. Implementation facilitators were receiving a Namaste Care Toolbox and written resources about Namaste Care. No statistically significant effects were found with regards to the outcome measures listed above. Conclusions: The adapted Namaste Care program was feasible and acceptable for use by caregivers. There is a need to conduct a larger trial to determine the extent of its effects. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / With the growing numbers of family and friend caregivers across Canada supporting people living with dementia at home, there is a need to better prepare caregivers for their role. The aim of this study is to adapt, implement and evaluate a sense-based, skill-building program called Namaste Care delivered by caregivers of older adults living with moderate to advanced dementia. First, workshops for caregivers were held to adapt the Namaste Care program for home use. Afterwards, 12 caregivers received training in using the adapted program and delivered the program for three months. Caregivers used the program at least twice a week as intended and delivered a variety of activities. The program improved relationships with persons with dementia. No significant changes for caregiver quality of life, positive beliefs of caregiving, burden, and confidence were found. Next steps are to further test the effects of the program in a larger trial.

Hosting major sport events is a large and complex endeavour entangled with various stakeholders, investments, outcomes, resources, and exchanges. Hosting major sport events has often relied on residents’ public funding, with the promise that hosting will create a positive social return on investment (SROI) for residents. However, not only has no empirical research to date determined residents’ SROI from hosting a major sport event, SROI sport research often fails to apply necessary monetary valuation methods and follow an appropriate framework underpinned by relevant economic and social concepts. Thus, the purpose of this dissertation was to understand residents’ SROI from hosting a publicly-funded major sport event. To address this purpose, four research questions were presented, each answered through one of four articles: (1) what theoretical concepts have been used to underscore residents’ socio-economic exchanges when hosting a publicly-funded major sport event?; (2) which monetary valuation method(s) is(are) best to examine residents’ SROI from hosting a publicly-funded major sport event?; (3) what factors predict residents’ SROI from hosting a publicly-funded major sport event?; and (4) why did residents evaluate their SROI the way they did? To answer these questions, this dissertation first conducted a systematic review of relevant sport management literature and then followed a three-phase sequential mixed methods design which included pre-questionnaire semi-structured interviews with Metro Vancouver Regional District residents (n = 14), a self-administered online questionnaire with Canadian residents (n = 1901), and post-questionnaire semi-structured interviews with Canadian residents (n = 21). In the first article, the systematic review revealed the importance of transparency, economic indicators, and affinity with sport factors when understanding residents’ SROI, but also revealed the lack of research focused on understanding residents’ SROI or the factors concepts associated with it. In the second article, semi-structured interviews were used to understand Vancouver residents’ experiences and desires with hosting the Games. Then 13 monetary valuation methods were evaluated with two monetary valuation methods (i.e., reverse contingent valuation method and opportunity cost approach) considered to be most appropriate to determine SROI based on specific selection criteria and used to examine Vancouver residents’ SROI. Quantitative analyses from the questionnaire findings indicated the reverse contingent valuation method to be best for studying this phenomenon. Through a regression analysis, the third article stressed the importance of financial investments and event outcomes to determine SROI, and predicted SROI based on social experience outcomes, affinity with sport factors, and economic factors. Finally, the fourth article investigated Canadian residents’ post-exchange SROI evaluation through semi-structured interviews and elicited how residents’ perspectives were formulated. Interviewees highlighted the importance of social norms, residents’ identity, and time, and the benefits of having a reflective opportunity to evaluate the exchange itself. Consequently, this dissertation offers four concepts (i.e., structure, norms, time, experience) which collectively creates a comprehensive understanding of residents’ SROI from hosting a major sport event. This collection of concepts is presented in a conceptual framework with insight into its development, presentation, and potential construct relationships. The conceptual framework presents how and why residents who publicly fund major sport events evaluate their SROI. Specifically, this framework outlines the importance of the temporal effects of social outcomes while considering the power and control of government representatives, the alignment of pre-event desires and post-event outcomes, residents’ societal and hosting identities, their positive and negative experiences from hosting, and their affinity with sport and income. These findings highlight that hosting publicly-funded major sport events can produce positive SROI from residents. To do so, scholars, practitioners, and residents need to work harmoniously and transparently. Concurrently, the findings offer a path for scholars to explain this SROI phenomenon and produce better desired positive exchanges for residents and practitioners in the context of publicly-funded sport events.

<p>The Canadian prevalence for all food allergies is estimated to be 7.5%. The only management strategy for an allergic individual is a strict avoidance diet, which is heavily reliant on the effectiveness of food labels used on commercial food products. This thesis explores the effects of food allergen labels on the well-being of affected Canadians, using a social constructionist framework and a mixed methods approach.</p> <p>The quantitative portion of this study drew upon primary survey data. Respondents were asked to self-report household allergic status, as well as purchasing behavior and attitudes towards precautionary statements (n=1380). Results from the quantitative analysis were used to inform and develop the qualitative interview schedule for the second phase of this thesis. Qualitative interviews in a grocery store setting were conducted with 12 anaphylactic individuals, or parents of anaphylactic children.Respondents were observed during the course of product selection and questioned about their shopping habits, perceptions of and preferences for allergen labels.</p> <p>Results indicate that current Canadian allergen labels are not as effective as expected, since affected consumers reported not heeding precautionary statements. Allergic families were found to be less diligent than indirectly affected families, and also less likely to find precautionary statements helpful. Through qualitative interviews, it was found that prior experience, not allergen information, is the primary factor guiding purchasing decisions. Even though precautionary statements were found to be easy to understand, terminology, font sizes, and contrast issues on labels were reported to be key areas of improvement. Results from the two phases reflect differences in individuals‟ social constructions of risk, which ultimately shape purchasing and consumption behaviors. This research is the first to explore the effects of allergen labels on affected Canadians, using a social constructionist approach. Ultimately, results will help effective policy change in Canada and help affected consumers make safe consumption choices.</p> <p>This research contributes to the number of health studies that utilized a mixed methods approach, which is an emerging paradigm. The use of mixed methods allowed for extension and refinement of results. Future research directions identified in this research include the need for pharmaceutical labeling in Canada, as well as the need to explore purchasing behaviors of indirectly affected families, as they also utilize allergen labels to guide consumption choices when shopping for allergy-controlled environments.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>This dissertation explores the assertion that social capital has migrated from the neighbourhood to the workplace, and if so, investigates how this relocation may influence health. Data from a large survey of residents of four neighbourhoods (n=1,504) demonstrated that the more time participants spent in the workplace, the less likely they were to report social capital in their neighbourhoods. Furthermore, participants who were employed reported better physical health than participants who were not employed. Even when significant, employment status, neighbourhood of residence, and social capital did were unable to explain much of the variance in health between the neighbourhoods.</p> <p>In-depth interviews (n=24) of residents in two of the four neighbourhoods provided information on social capital in both the neighbourhood and the workplace simultaneously to determine if this migration took place. Residents reported access to social capital in both their neighbourhood and workplace demonstrating that social capital is not a restricted resource that can only be accessed in one community at a time, but is a fluid resource that can be accessed in multiple communities simultaneously. Further investigation found that residents accessed social capital in multiple communities as well as their neighbourhood and workplace. There was considerable intersection between these communities reinforcing the contention that social capital should not be measured in insolation. Until all the sources of social capital can be considered, the association between social capital and health would not be fully realized.</p> <p>This study highlighted many methodological limitations. The lack of a clear definition and the resulting measurement challenges need to be addressed. Given the complexities of measuring social capital in multiple communities, restrictive research methods may prove inadequate. Future studies should look in the direction of qualitative research methods to manage these complexities successfully.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Computer Assisted Patient Decision Aids (CAPtDA) are important tools to address informed decision making. This parallel mixed methods study described patterns of use of a CAPtDA among men with early stage prostate cancer and explored their perceptions of a CAPtDA and its role in their decision-making process. Men (N=56) with early stage prostate cancer, seeking consultations for surgery and/or radiation therapy at Fox Chase Cancer Center, were recruited by telephone. Those who consented completed a background questionnaire prior to their initial treatment consult. Variables included demographics, decisional factors (such as decision-making style, treatment preference, stage of decision making, Ottawa decisional conflict) and health communication factors (health literacy and computer facility). The CAPtDA had embedded web log tracking capabilities. Men were also asked to participate in an in-depth qualitative interview within 2-4 weeks of their consult visit to explore their perceptions of the software. Twenty five men participated (14 surgical consult patients and 11 radiation consult patients). Specific CAPtDA components were more highly utilized while other components were rarely used. The Men's Stories, with actual men's stories about their diagnosis, treatment decision and challenges, was viewed by 77% of the men and they spent almost half of their time (46%) here. In contrast, the Notebook, which is the values clarification tool, was viewed by only 4 men and they spent about one minute in this section. Men with lower levels of health literacy spent more time in the Men's Stories than men with higher levels of literacy. However, literacy level was not associated with multiple uses and men reported that the content was easy to understand regardless of health literacy level. Those with higher decisional conflict spent more time overall and those who were less confident in their treatment choice were less likely to use it again. Fifteen percent of the sample was minority, but the drop-off rate in participation in the in-depth interviews among minorities and those with limited literacy was dramatic. Opening this "black box" showed different patterns of use and confirmed that not everyone uses it in the same way, or as we intend. / Public Health

Public health officials have declared the widespread use and misuse of prescription opioid medications an epidemic in the United States. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Tom Frieden, has stated, “We know of no other medication routinely used for a nonfatal condition that kills patients so frequently” (Frieden & Houry, 2016, p. 1503). The present study was prompted by the concern that there is no empirical data on how law enforcement officers have been affected by the use of opioids. It is the first empirical examination of how the epidemic has impacted police officers' resilience and fitness for duty. The President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing identified officer health, wellness, and fitness for duty as one of the six pillars to support policing in the 21st century. The Task Force also affirmed the long-standing belief that the same character strengths that impel officers to confront danger may also be barriers to their resilience. Recognizing this "double-edged" sword, this mixed-methods study analyzed medical and prescription claims over a four year period (2011 to 2014) to examine the prevalence of opioid use by officers in a large urban police department. Using the qualitative, interview-based methodology of Appreciative Inquiry (AI), it examined individual, organizational and systems-level factors explaining officers’ help-seeking for use of prescription medications, as well as help-seeking for substance abuse in general. The interviews also revealed what is needed to replace the existing cultural and organizational arrangements—which can lead to isolation, depression, pathology, and stigma—with a culture that has the necessary processes and commitment to promote physical, behavioral and mental resiliency. The quantitative analyses revealed that law enforcement officers are not immune from the opioid epidemic. Moreover, there is evidence of specific prescription drug use behaviors that indicate sub-groups of officers at heightened risk for developing an opioid use disorder. Approximately 40% of the officers in the sample filled an opioid prescription. Within this group, 27% of the officers filled a prescription for 90 days or longer and 34% filled prescriptions for benzodiazepines. The data also indicates that approximately 1 out of 7 officers in the sample received medical treatment for a mental illness each year. The qualitative data revealed that officers’ help-seeking behaviors for opioid dependence and abuse were shaped by the psychological process of surrendering and acknowledging their vulnerability. Seeking help, therefore, can run contrary to officers’ training and character traits. Additionally, the social supports of the police subculture and effective supervisory leadership contributed to officers’ recovery and resilience from opioid use disorder. Having access to trustworthy and culturally competent treatment services further enhanced officers’ recovery. The research also illuminates broader health care policies and commitments to wellness that can enhance the capacity of police agencies to hire, develop, and maintain resiliency in their officers. This dissertation extends Bronfenbrenner’s theory of resilience to the field of law enforcement. This theory adopts a social ecological perspective, capturing pathways and protective factors at micro, meso and macro levels that bolster officers’ personal growth and development. From a policy perspective, the findings support an asset-based approach to wellness, which stresses the need to access and enlist resources across the micro-, meso- and macro-level spheres. Future research in this area should extend knowledge into the unique cultural context of police work and its implications for the promotion of wellness and resiliency. / Criminal Justice