Abstract To Cope with the aggressive competition and under the encouragement of the government, several domestic financial institutions have combined as financial holding companies in recent years. Through the function of cross selling, they expect the maximized synergy could be created; however, banking industry plays an important role here. Financial goods sold via banks could be easily imitated by others, thus, the capability of innovation is the key to victory. Past researches show lack of attention on the relationship between organizational innovative climate and individual innovative behavior, furthermore, most researches about organizational innovation were taking technology industry as examples. Thus, this research tries to proceed an empirical study of domestic banking industry and find out the effect of organizational innovative climate on individual innovative behavior. Besides, it comprehends the exploration of the mediating effect of the perceived self-efficacy and the moderating effect of problem solving styles. After statistical analyses, the results are summarized as the following. 1. Different personal backgrounds perform differently in the perception of organizational innovative climate, individual innovative behavior, perceived self-efficacy, and problem solving style 2. Organizational support and the autonomy during work have positive effects on the implementation of innovative ideas. Organizational support, autonomy in work, and team work also have positive effects on the generation of innovative ideas. 3. Intuitive problem solving style has positive effect on individual innovative behavior. 4. Systematic problem solving style has no effect on individual innovative behavior. 5. The autonomy during work has positive effect on perceived self-efficacy. 6. Perceived self-efficacy has positive effect on individual innovative behavior. 7. The intuitive problem solving style has moderating effect among the relationship between the autonomy during work and the generation of innovative ideas. 8. Perceived self-efficacy has mediating effect among the relationship between the autonomy during work and individual innovative behavior.

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The present study investigates how teacher candidates in social studies describe their perceived self-efficacy to teach the subject of economics at Secondary School level. The study also explores what economic concepts the teacher candidates perceived as particularly significant during their university education and intend to teach to future students. To address the study's purpose and research questions, Bandura's (1997) theoretical concept of perceived self-efficacy and Meyer & Land's (2003) term threshold concepts serve as the theoretical framework. In total, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with different teacher candidates, all of whom participated in the teacher education course in economics worth 15 credits at Linnaeus University in Växjö. Their statements were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The main conclusions of the study are that half of the teacher candidates described a low perceived self-efficacy to teach economics, while the other half described a high perceived self-efficacy. The differences can primarily be explained by whether the teacher candidates had taught economics during their internship (VFU) or not. The high proportion of teacher candidates with low perceived self-efficacy aligns with previous research findings and poses a risk of this knowledge area being neglected in future teaching careers. Regarding economic concepts, the concepts of supply and demand, inflation, GDP, and the economic cycle emerge as particularly significant for the teacher candidates. The results also indicate that teacher candidates perceive economics as concept-heavy and abstract. The uncertainty among teacher candidates regarding the subject of economics can be seen as a democratic problem, and increasing confidence requires further research in this area.

The purpose of this study is developing valid and reliable scales in order to measure beliefs and perceived self-efficacy beliefs towards using origami in mathematics education and then, investigating beliefs and perceived self-efficacy beliefs of Turkish prospective elementary mathematics teachers in using origami in mathematics education. Furthermore, gender differences in prospective teachers&#039 / beliefs and perceived self-efficacy beliefs in using origami in mathematics education were investigated. Data for the current study was collected in the spring term of 2011-2012 academic year from 299 prospective elementary mathematics teachers. These teacher candidates are from three universities located in three different regions of Turkey and all the participants have elective origami course experience. Origami in Mathematics Education Belief Scale (OMEBS) and Origami in Mathematics Education Self-Efficacy Scale (OMESS) were used as data collection instruments. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis results showed that OMEBS and OMESS are valid and reliable instruments in order to measure beliefs and perceived self-efficacy beliefs in using origami in mathematics education. Descriptive analysis results indicated that, Turkish prospective elementary mathematics teachers strongly believe that origami is beneficial and suitable to be used in mathematics education. However, their perceived self-efficacy belief level is at little higher than moderate level. Lastly, independent sample t-test results revealed that female teacher candidates have significantly higher belief and perceived self-efficacy beliefs in using origami in mathematics education when compared with male teacher candidates.

Efter avtjänat fängelsestraff kan individen befinna sig i ett socialt och ekonomiskt utanförskap, vilket gör att risken för återfall ökar. Trots att dessa individer förväntas försörja sig själva efter avtjänat fängelsestraff, visar forskning att de möts av flera hinder. Syftet med denna studie var att försöka förstå och förklara hur individers upplevda självförmåga påverkar deras möjligheter att skaffa sig en laglig sysselsättning efter avtjänat fängelsestraff för narkotikabrott. Ett socialpsykologiskt perspektiv valdes, som studerades med hjälp av Albert Banduras teori om den upplevda självförmågan. Studien är kvalitativ och bygger på semistrukturerade intervjuer med åtta personer som avtjänat fängelsestraff för narkotikabrottoch som lyckats hitta laglig sysselsättning. Den insamlade empiriska datan bearbetades med tematisk analys. Resultatet visade att individens upplevda självförmåga hade både en positiv och en negativ inverkan på deras möjlighet att skaffa sig en laglig sysselsättning efter avtjänat fängelsestraff. Samtliga respondenter berättade att den motivation som stödet från deras familj, bekanta och/eller partner gav dem var nyckeln till den lyckade omställningen. Samhällets antistöd i form av krav på utdrag ur belastningsregister samt deras avsaknad av arbetslivserfarenhet och körkort minskade deras möjlighet att hitta en laglig sysselsättning. / After serving a prison sentence, an individual may experience social and economic exclusion, which further increases the risk of recidivism. Although it is expected that such individuals should be able to support themselves after serving a prison sentence, the study highlights the fact that they may encounter several obstacles in their attempt to obtain legal employment. The research questions concerned the sources of information that contribute to the individual's perceived self-efficacy. The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of how an individual’s perceived self-efficacy affects her/his opportunities to obtain legal employment after serving a prison sentence for drug offenses. A social psychological perspective was chosen, which was studied with the help of Albert Bandura's theory. This qualitative study is based on semi-structured interviews with eight individuals who served prison sentences for drug offenses and managed to find legal employment afterwards. The collected empirical data were processed by means of thematic analysis. The results showed that perceived self-efficacy had both a positive and a negative effect on the possibility of obtaining legal employment after serving a prison sentence. All respondents stated that the motivation derived from family, acquaintance or partner support was the key to a successful transition. Society's anti-support/ in the form of criminal record as well as lack of work experience and a driving license reduced the possibility of obtaining legal employment

Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur transformativt ledarskap påverkar svenska fastighetsmäklares säljprestationer genom dess effekt på attitydsvariablerna psykologiskt bemyndigande, upplevd själveffektivitet och medarbetarkraft samt beteendevariabeln prestationssträvan. Metod: Denna studie är grundad i en kvantitativ forskningsmetod med deduktiv ansats. En enkätundersökning har genomförts där fastighetsmäklare besvarat frågor om sig själva och sina chefer för att möjliggöra en undersökning av hur transformativt ledarskap påverkar deras säljprestationer. Resultat & slutsats: Resultatet av denna studie visar att transformativt ledarskap påverkar svenska fastighetsmäklares säljprestationer positivt genom dess effekt på attitydsvariabler och prestationssträvan. Det transformativa ledarskapets positiva påverkan är dock relativt låg och resultatet indikerade på att attitydsvariablerna hos fastighetsmäklare har större positiv påverkan på varandra än vad transformativt ledarskap har på dessa. Resultatet visade även att attitydsvariablerna, specifikt medarbetarkraft, direkt påverkar säljprestationer hos fastighetsmäklare starkare än den effekt transformativt ledarskap har på säljprestation genom dess indirekta påverkan på fastighetsmäklares attityder och prestationssträvan. Examensarbetets bidrag: Denna studie bidrar med kunskap om hur transformativt ledarskap påverkar svenska fastighetsmäklares säljprestationer. Studien bidrar med resultat som visar att ledarskapet har betydelse och påverkar fastighetsmäklares säljprestationer positivt. Studien visar vidare att attitydsvariablerna själva har större betydelse för fastighetsmäklares säljprestationer, framför allt medarbetarkraft. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Vidare forskning kan göras för att utreda om det finns andra variabler än transformativt ledarskap som påverkar fastighetsmäklares säljprestationer positivt. / Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate how transformational leadership affects swedish real estate agents' sales performance through its effects on the attitude variables psychological empowerment, perceived self-efficacy and employee vigor and lastly the behavior variable accomplishment-striving. Method: This study is based on a quantitative research method with a deductive approach. A survey has been carried out where real estate agents responded to questions about themselves and their managers to enable an examination on how transformational leadership affects their sales performance. Result & Conclusions: The results of this study show that transformational leadership has a positive effect on Swedish real estate agents' sales performance through its effect on attitude variables and accomplishment striving. However, the positive impact of transformational leadership is relatively low and the results indicate that the attitude variables of real estate agents have a greater positive impact on each other than transformational leadership has on them. The results also showed that the attitude variables, specifically employee vigor, directly affect sales performance of real estate agents more strongly than the effect transformational leadership has on sales performance through its indirect impact on real estate agents' attitudes and accomplishment striving. Contribution of the thesis: This study contributes knowledge about how transformational leadership affects Swedish real estate agents' sales performance. The study contributes with results that show that leadership is important and has a positive effect on real estate agents' sales performance. The study also shows that the attitude variables themselves are more important for real estate agents' sales performance, especially employee vigor. Suggestions for future research: Further research can be done to see if there are other variables than transformational leadership that affect real estate agents' sales performance positively.

A quantitative, descriptive, explorative survey was conducted to explore and describe factors contributing to underutilisation of HIV testing services among tuberculosis patients and clients in Malawi. Sampled were 282 participants attending an outpatient clinic. A self administered questionnaire was used. The findings revealed that 80.5% of the respondents perceived themselves susceptible to HIV infection, 55% believed there were negative consequences of HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC), 87.6% perceived HTC had benefits, most of the respondents (76.8%) mentioned the benefit of knowing the HIV status helping one to plan life, 65% believed in themselves, that they could accept and undergo HIV testing with ease. The study recommends that all HTC providers be thoroughly trained in knowledge and skills to offer services with confidentiality and avoid stigma and discrimination of those found HIV positive. The importance and benefits of HTC should be emphasised in all behaviour communication messages / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

A quantitative, descriptive, explorative survey was conducted to explore and describe factors contributing to underutilisation of HIV testing services among tuberculosis patients and clients in Malawi. Sampled were 282 participants attending an outpatient clinic. A self administered questionnaire was used. The findings revealed that 80.5% of the respondents perceived themselves susceptible to HIV infection, 55% believed there were negative consequences of HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC), 87.6% perceived HTC had benefits, most of the respondents (76.8%) mentioned the benefit of knowing the HIV status helping one to plan life, 65% believed in themselves, that they could accept and undergo HIV testing with ease. The study recommends that all HTC providers be thoroughly trained in knowledge and skills to offer services with confidentiality and avoid stigma and discrimination of those found HIV positive. The importance and benefits of HTC should be emphasised in all behaviour communication messages / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)