Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1988.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1988. / Also available in print.

No description available.

The parallel between e-government and e-Inclusion research are critically important. It helps to understand how policies, society, organizations, and information technologies come together and it also helps to understand how the e-Inclusion factors impact e-government use and vice versa. This study attempts to explore the theoretical and practical intersections of e-Inclusion and e-adoption (Particularly e-government) and to show how they complement and possibly enrich the potential of e-Inclusion research. The rationale for this approach is that combining research on e-Inclusion and e-government has the potential to better understand the factors influencing e-Inclusion since they both share a common theme of Inclusive e-government. The aim of this research is to examine the factors that influence e-Inclusion in the context of e-government in the UK, through combining the decomposed theory of planned behaviour with Use and Gratification Theory (U&G). These two theories are used to develop a conceptual model for studying the multi-facetted dimensions of e-Inclusion. The two theories are chosen because of their appropriateness for e-Inclusion research; the critical factors that influence e-inclusion can be covered by (DTPB) constructs while the individual’s gratifications that determine using specific Internet activities is covered by (U&G) To fulfil the research aim and objectives, a quantitative research method was employed. The research subjects were citizens who are Internet users. Their views were sought through a survey that included 510 self-administered and group-administrated questionnaires. The conceptualisations of e-Inclusion and e-government have important implications for both researchers and policymakers. For researchers, this study delineates the complex and recursive relationships between e-Inclusion and e-government contributing towards the exiting limited body of knowledge in the field. For practice, it offers directions to help create a more comprehensive strategy that takes into consideration the alignment of e-government initiatives and e-inclusion policies.

abstract: Research on psychological help seeking has continued to grow as the field of psychology has expanded. Much of the research is often variable driven and assumes this construct is a global construct. The current study used the Theory of Planned Behavior to provide a theory based approach to understanding psychological help seeking intention. Also, the theory was tested for three common presenting concerns: Anxiety or Depression, Career Choice Concerns, and Alcohol or Substance Use. Two samples of over 400 university students completed surveys for all three concerns. Results produced invariance across path loadings for the concerns being compared. When thinking about seeking psychological help, university students do not appear to consider the type of concern but do rely on attitude, stigma, and how much control and efficacy they have to address their problems on their own. Mean differences emerged for some variables in the model, but no meaningful mean differences were noted for gender. Overall, the variables used in the decision making process do not appear to consider concern when seeking help, but the beliefs about seeking help differ some. These results extend the Theory of Planned Behavior to consider the importance of an individual's ability to address their problem on their own. When considering psychological help seeking, college students have similar attitudes and beliefs about their ability to access mental health resources, their beliefs about stigma, ability to address their problems on their own, and their intention to seek help vary more by concern. The specific concerns being addressed does not appear to impact the weight each variable is given in the decision making process; attitude, stigma, and ability to solve the problem on their own appear to be the variables given greatest consideration. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Counseling Psychology 2011

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Hospitality Management / Kevin R. Roberts / In 2015, 902 foodborne illness outbreaks were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, resulting in 15,202 illnesses, 950 hospitalizations, and 15 deaths. Previous literature from both survey and observational studies have reported low conformity with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code guidelines. To effectively reduce foodborne illnesses, foodservice managers and food handlers must perform proper food safety behaviors. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to identify and explain the unobserved cognitive processes within food safety behavioral intention. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was utilized. First, a systematic review and meta-analyses of the existing literature were conducted to quantify statistical power better and summarize the effect sizes with conflicting studies. Then, an in-depth qualitative study was conducted to help explain the statistical results. Using existing observed cognitive variables grounded by the Theory of Planned Behavior, the key idea is that the qualitative inquiry was built on the quantitative results. Thus, the syntheses of both studies help explained the unobserved heterogeneity information. Study 1 included a total of 1,550 studies for screening with 46 records meeting the inclusion criteria for analyses. The overall random effect size (r) was 0.282 (p < 0.001) providing collective evidence that the TPB constructs predict food safety behavioral intention. Subjective norms were noted as the most influencial variable to food safety behavioral intention. Studies with employee motivational constructs tend to show the most positive effect on food safety intention relationships. However, the Theory of Planned Behavior model only explained a combined 22% of total true effect variance. Thus, a considerable amount of the variance (78%) within food safety behavioral intention is still unexplained. Study 2 used an online questionnaire to measure individual-level norms. Open-ended questions (14) helped create qualitative narrative texts for analyses and establishing a demographic profile of the participants. A total of 104 responses from foodservice and restaurant employees were documented for coding. Most participants were female, with a mean age of 36 with an average of about 11 years of foodservice industry experiences. The results indicated that employees are usually not influenced of other managers or coworker’s approval or disapproval of their behavior. Rather, their behavior is guided by an innate motivation for moral consideration and ethical reasoning. The data further indicated that participants experience injunctive (subjective) norms, but more from a retrospective formation, rather than a forward-looking expectance regarding food safety practices. Intrinsic motivation should be an important antecedent to form normative beliefs of food safety-related behaviors. The findings of the study results challenge the previous understanding of path directions regarding normative pressure. Limitations and future studies related to maximize food safety behavioral intentions were discussed.

Background: Due to the fashion industry being one of the most polluting industries in the world with more clothing than ever being thrown away, attention has been brought to the need for more sustainable clothing behaviours. Therefore, the in-store recycling boxes have been introduced as an alternative for recycling. Previous literature has focused mainly on companies’ perspectives or consumers purchasing behaviours, hence there is a gap for literature on consumers’ disposal and recycling behaviours. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine what factors influence consumers’ intentions to use in-store recycling boxes. This will be done by applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour by Ajzen (1991). Method: A qualitative approach in terms of two focus groups and two individual interviews was applied. The study was made on the consumers’ perspectives, and therefore the participants were 11 Swedish female students. Conclusion: The empirical findings and analysis toward previous literature and theoretical framework revealed that the main factors influencing consumers’ intentions to use in-store recycling boxes are lack of information about the recycling process, the possibility to drop off damaged clothing, and the developing possibility to make new clothing out of recycled materials. The lack of information had the greatest impact, which was unfavourable toward the intention to perform the behaviour and hence obstructed the participants from using in-store recycling boxes.

Syftet med denna studie har varit att öka kunskapen om hur förskollärare arbetar med fysisk aktivitet och rörelse samt synliggöra huruvida det arbetet kräver planerade rörelseaktiviteter eller inte. Problemområdet omfattar olika perspektiv. Dessa i sin tur kan påverka arbetet med fysisk aktivitet och rörelse ifall de betraktas som viktiga i förskolan dvs. dess betydelse i arbetet med barnens motoriska, kognitiva och sociala utveckling. Tidigare forskning i studien är baserad i utvecklingspsykologin men även i ett socialiserings- och inlärningsperspektiv, där det betonas att fysisk aktivitet och rörelse ska vara organiserad inom förskoleverksamheten. Sju förskollärare med minst fem års yrkeserfarenhet på tre olika förskolor har intervjuats om sitt arbete med fysisk aktivitet och rörelse i förskolan. I analysarbetet har svaren från intervjupersonerna jämförts och därefter kategoriserats utifrån innehåll. Resultatet påvisar att fysisk aktivitet och rörelse kan se olika ut i förskolan. Samtliga av de intervjuade förskollärarna påtalar vikten av planerade rörelseaktiviteter. Samtidigt framställs den spontana rörelsen som en viktig del i verksamheten. De intervjuade lyfte fram behov av planerade rörelseaktiviteter med det specifika målet att främja barns motoriska utveckling. De intervjuade framhåller att de planerade rörelseaktiviteterna gav barnen bättre möjligheter till att träna sin motorik. Detta genom att förskollärare då såg barnens behov och utifrån dessa gav barnen lagom stora utmaningar. Studiens slutsats blev att förskollärarens eget intresse och kunskap om ämnet fysisk aktivitet och rörelse utgjorde en betydelsefull faktor som underlättade och förbättrade arbetet med fysisk aktivitet och rörelse i förskolan. / <p><strong>Fastställt via akademichefsbeslut HIG-STYR 2019/7 den 2019-01-07</strong></p><p><strong> </strong>Daniel Petterson, fil dr, univ. lekt Pedagogik och Erika Björklund, fil dr, univ. lekt Pedagogik går in som examinatorer på PEG700 under veckorna 1 till och med 3, 2019 då Peter Gill, prof. Pedagogik, gått i pension från och med 2019-01-01.</p>

O objetivo principal desta tese foi testar um modelo teórico que pudesse relacionar os construtos atitude, norma subjetiva, hábito e intenção de comportamento no consumo de carne bovina. Também se propôs uma análise do impacto das emoções antecipadas (positivas e negativas), do grau de envolvimento e de diferenças culturais como variáveis moderadoras no modelo. Buscou-se ainda contribuir com a Teoria do Comportamento Planejado (Theory of Planned Bahviour – TPB, AJZEN, 1985, 1988, 1991) em estudos sobre o consumo de alimentos pela inclusão do construto hábito como um regressor independente no modelo (VERPLANKEN, 1998) e pela exclusão do construto controle percebido de comportamento (BREDAHL; GRUNERT, 1997; TOWLER; SHEPHERD, 1991/1992). Até recentemente os alimentos eram considerados simplesmente commodities, e seu estudo na área de marketing foi negligenciado por muitos anos. A abertura global dos mercados e o surgimento de novos padrões de consumo mudaram esta realidade, trazendo para a área do comportamento do consumidor tão importante discussão. No entanto, apesar da importância do agronegócio, estudos relacionando hábitos, emoções antecipadas, nível de envolvimento, cultura, atitudes, intenção e comportamento de consumo de produtos alimentares ainda são escassos no Brasil, e, portanto, totalmente abertos à exploração. Os construtos foram analisados como um modelo teórico quantitativo e a Modelagem em Equações Estruturais (MEE) foi utilizada para o cálculo dos parâmetros e teste das hipóteses (ARBUCKLE, 1999). O pré-teste foi realizado na Escócia e coleta de dados ocorreu no Brasil, na Holanda e na Austrália em 2005 e 2006. Foram obtidos 816 questionários válidos nas surveys realizadas, sendo que 400 casos foram usados para a análise cross-cultural multivariada dos dados. Os resultados obtidos confirmaram a relação existente, direta e estatisticamente significante entre os construtos atitude, hábito e norma subjetiva com o comportamento de consumo de carne bovina. No entanto, o papel mediador da intenção de comportamento entre a atitude e a norma subjetiva com o comportamento, postulado pela TPB, não foi confirmado. Uma relação direta, do hábito para atitude também foi um achado teórico relevante. A inclusão de hábito como uma extensão à TPB foi considerada apropriada, pois ajudou a explicar o comportamento de consumo de carne bovina. Os consumidores de Porto Alegre e da Austrália apresentaram a relação entre a atitude e comportamento mais positiva e níveis de envolvimento mais altos com carne bovina do que os consumidores de São Paulo e Holanda. As emoções antecipadas também foram consideradas variáveis moderadoras satisfatórias, tendo em vista que os grupos com expectativas emocionais (positivas e negativas) mais altas mostraram relações mais fortes e significativas no modelo. Os grupos que sofreram menor impacto das variáveis moderadoras emoções antecipadas (positivas e negativas) demonstraram um padrão de consumo menos cognitivo, mais habitual, e mais influenciável pelas normas subjetivas. Sob o ponto de vista gerencial, as cadeias produtivas de carne bovina no Brasil, Holanda e Austrália se beneficiarão dos resultados, pois campanhas e esforços de marketing poderão ser direcionados a grupos específicos de consumidores, com base no seu comportamento de consumo. Vantagens competitivas poderão ser alcançadas por todos os elos da cadeia pela orientação para o mercado e satisfação das demandas dos consumidores a partir do conhecimento gerado. / The main objective of this thesis was to test a theoretical model relating attitude, subjective norm, habit and behaviour intention in beef consumption. We also proposed to analyze the impact of anticipated emotions (positive and negative), degree of involvement and cultural differences as moderator variables in the model. The author aimed to contribute to the Theory of Planned Behaviour - TPB (AJZEN, 1985, 1988, 1991) in food consumption through the inclusion of habit as an independent regressor in that model (Verplanken, 1998) and exclusion of perceived behaviour control (BREDAHL; GRUNERT, 1997; TOWLER;SHEPHERD, 1991/1992). Until recently food was regarded as a commodity and marketing scholars neglected its study for many years. Although, with the global opening of markets and new consumption patterns, this reality changed, bringing up to the study of consumer behaviour such important discussion. Amazingly, in spite of the importance of the agribusiness sector, studies relating food consumption, habits, anticipated emotions, involvement, culture, attitudes and behaviour intention are scarce in Brazil, and therefore, totally open to exploration. The constructs were presented as a theoretical quantitative model and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to estimate parameters and test the hypotheses (ARBUCKLE, 1999). A pre-test was held in Scotland and data collection took place in Brazil, in The Netherlands and in Australia during 2005 and 2006. 816 valid questionnaires were obtained from the surveys and 400 cases were used on the cross-cultural multivariate analysis. Results obtained from this study confirmed most of the hypothesized relations. The authors confirmed the direct, statiscally significant effect of attitude, habit and subjective norm on consumption behaviour. The mediating role of behavioral intention from attitude and subjective norm to consumption behaviour, by contrast, was not confirmed, as postulated by the TPB. A direct relation, from habit to attitude was also found significant. The inclusion of habit as a TPB extension was considered appropriated, helping to explain beef consumption behavior. Consumers from Porto Alegre and Australia confirmed to have stronger relation from attitude to behavior and to have higher degrees of involvement with beef than consumers from São Paulo and The Netherlands. Anticipated emotions were also considered satisfactory moderator variables based on the findings that groups with higher emotional expectations showed stronger relationships in the model. Groups presenting a lower moderating impact were found to show a less cognitive, more habitual consumption pattern, and yet more susceptible to subjective norms influence. From a managerial perspective, Brazilian, European and Australian beef sector will benefit from the results, since marketing campaigns and sales efforts can be addressed to specific groups of consumers, based on their behaviour trends. The entire beef productive chain can improve its competitive advantage via consumer-driven or market-oriented actions.

A área de marketing tem sido cada vez mais demanda a prestar contas de suas ações, na forma de avaliação dos investimentos realizados. No marketing social não é diferente. A presente tese examinou propostas de avaliação de programas de marketing social, em busca do que seria uma estrutura conceitual ideal para esse tipo de avaliação, a partir da literatura, prática de mercado, opinião de experts e exame empírico da proposta em dois diferentes estudos de caso, o programa Novo Sinal, da Prefeitura Municipal de Porto Alegre e os programas de imunização do Centro Estadual de Vigilância em Saúde do Governo do Rio Grande do Sul. A metodologia, qualitativa em sua essência, fez uso da técnica Delphi, entrevistas em profundidade e estudo de casos. A estrutura conceitual desenvolvida engloba as dimensões de avaliação de Input, Processo e Resultados, com respectivas variáveis e indicadores para cada dimensão, e ao longo de cujas dimensões a avaliação ética se faz presente, mas ainda de difícil avaliação na prática. / Marketing, as a whole, has been demanded on its accountability to give evidence of good practice in return of investments. The same situation challenges social marketing. This doctoral thesis examined evaluation structural frameworks brought by marketing literature, in quest of the “ideal” framework of evaluation, based on academic articles review, market actual practice, experts opinion, and an empirical examination of the proposal in two real cases, the “pedestrian crossing new signal case” of Porto Alegre City Hall, and the Immunological Programme of the Public Health State Center (CESV/RS) of the Government of Rio Grande do Sul. The essentially qualitative methodology involved Delphi research, in-depth interviews and case studies. The structural framework eventually developed integrates Input, Process and Outcomes dimensions of evaluation, each one with its due variables, indicators and forms or measurement. The ethical issue is pervasive in all dimensions, but not with a easy way of assessment.