Marketers often extend product lines by introducing slight variations of existing products (e.g., there are 53 varieties of Crest toothpaste, 15 varieties of Cheerios). As a result, consumers select from assortments containing relatively similar options. Unfortunately, consumers sometimes fail to differentiate among options, and instead consider the different options as similar and choose. Consequently, prior research shows that selecting from choice sets containing relatively similar options can sometimes lead to negative consequences such as decreased satisfaction. In light of these negative consequences, and given the frequency with which consumers choose from sets of similar options, it becomes important to identify interventions that can be used to optimize option differentiation (i.e., to optimize the perceived difference between two similar options or the perceived variety in an assortment). This dissertation proposes that incidental muscular sensations that consumers encounter while performing regular marketplace activities can serve as one such sensory based intervention. Drawing on theories related to learned associations and classical conditioning, it is proposed that because individuals experience high intensity muscular contractions concurrently with threat/danger, these muscular contractions and the responses they facilitate (i.e., self-protective reflexes) become linked. Through classical conditioning, high (vs. low) intensity incidental muscular sensations eventually activate self-protective reflexes in the absence of any threat or danger. Once activated, self-protective reflexes lead to increased perceptual sensitivity and discriminatory ability, and a sense of unconscious vigilance. Six studies show that the enhanced perceptual sensitivity and unconscious vigilance that result from high (vs. low) intensity muscular sensations optimize option differentiation, and can help to offset the decreased satisfaction that is sometimes associated with choosing from relatively similar options. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

This thesis explores the search for the sublime in a contemporary context. The 'Wilderness' can be viewed as a metaphysical space which can only be circumscribed. The dust storms of the Australian continent provides the space where in this experience is located, metaphorically. If the perceptions of reality are to be seen as filtered through the experiences and conditions of the human spirit, the sites or 'Stations' as the author has called them layer and reveal a personal reflection on the timelessness and commonality of the human condition. Space and time seem to collapse folding over and into itself, with a layering of memories and senses. Growing up in the Mallee in Victoria the author's formative years were shaped particularly by the land and the elements. In these works, the sense of identity is enveloped into a rather cosmic sense of being, when the author became inseparable from the red earth, its duststorms, the sense of space and the feeling of isolation. The most constant experience is that of the sense of interconnectedness and of being able to reach down and stroke the land from a distant vantage point. Consequently, the spiritual found in nature has been a re-occurring motif in the author's artistic practice. The location of the duststorm entitled 'God's Breath', is in flying over Adelaide, towards the Mallee. The grid indicates the impositions of perception which is projected on the land by the viewer, often from a cultural or political viewpoint. In this case the author's perception is influenced by the auto-biographical gaze and the duststorm itself becomes a metaphor for memory and interiority. The medium of wax as a preserving substance is used in the artworks, however this can be seen as being an agent of change, able to re-define it's form according to environmental conditions. The land as 'Self' or 'Mother' is not a constant location, but as in the 'Wilderness' can be seen as a spiritual and/or psychological space, a multi-dimensional filter for the senses and the mind, wherein the spirit can be expanded and be still in it's receptiveness. The four wax rectangles are representative of a duststorm, as seen from the interior perspective of the sensory. These works suggest a multitudinal level of experiences, not necessarily definable but open ended in concept. The void as a creative fullness nurtures the more transient moments of the sensory and temporal. From scarification and pain, through breath and loss, the journey through the wilderness results in a melodic tonal experience, indicative of memory, place and identity / Master of Arts (Hons) (Visual Arts)

The focus of this thesis is to emphasise the lived experience of being a migrant, and of living in a multicultural society, and to acknowledge the multi-dimensionality of these experiences. The author conducted interviews with people from ethno-specific community groups in the Sydney suburb of Auburn. These interviews explored the physical, emotional and spiritual aspect of coming to terms with a changing sense of what is home and what is foreign. The tenor of the thesis is strongly optimistic and explores the social ecology of multiculturalism in Australia in the late 1990's, using Auburn, with its strong immigrant population and large Turkish community, as a case study. The contributions by the people of Auburn are woven through the thesis as voices in their own right, rather than as quotations for a line of argument. Social ecology, as a project, works to open up dimensions of awareness and to acknowledge complexity by addressing the physical and sensory levels of individual experience as well as the broader political and social contexts which frame people's lives. The thesis acknowledges that the success of contemporary Australian multiculturalism has something to do with the broad based policies that implement this social phenomenon. More importantly, multiculturalism succeeds because it has become the culture scape in which the soul of the community wanders. This thesis acknowledges that there is something intellectually difficult about the word soul, but there is an ecological value in James Hillman's idea of the soul as not an elevated idea but rather one 'down in the earth'; soul in this sense is about place, finding and taking root in a new place. / Doctor of Philosophy(PhD)

Public view removed at the authors request. 16/07/2006 / The daily experience of anorexia nervosa sufferers has not previously been studied and yet it is fundamental to understanding anorexia nervosa. This study examined and compared the daily experiences of anorexia nervosa patients and control participants in terms of sense of self, mood states and flow states. Flow is characterised by undivided concentration and interest in an activity for intrinsic benefits. Flow is not always desirable, as some ways of experiencing it may be harmful to the individual and society. Anorexia nervosa participants were recruited from hospitals and private practices of clinicians specialising in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Exclusion criteria included male gender, chronic anorexia nervosa, drug abuse, and current participation in an inpatient program. Anorexia nervosa participants completed a series of questionnaires at baseline, 3-6 month follow-up and 7-12 month follow-up (stage one, two and three respectively). The questionnaires were designed to measure the severity of their eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa and control group participants completed Experience Sampling Forms (ESF) and a Repertory Grid at baseline and 3-6 months. The ESFs were completed each time a pager was activated. The pager was activated seven times a day, for four days at random times between 8.00am and 10.00pm. The pager signals were a minimum of two hours apart. The Repertory Grid consisted of 23 constructs and 13 elements provided to the participant. Thirty-one anorexia nervosa sufferers and thirty-two control participants completed stage one and eighteen anorexia nervosa sufferers and twenty-seven control group participants completed stage two of the study. Eighteen anorexia nervosa sufferers completed stage three of the study. Control participants were not required to participate in stage three. There was no difference in the severity of anorexia nervosa between completers and drop-outs The analysis of the ESFs at stage one indicated that the anorexia nervosa group participants did not spend more time alone at home or more time alone in any situation than the control group. For both groups, being alone had a negative influence on mood state, but had no effect on sense of self. The anorexia nervosa group felt lonelier and less sociable than the control group. The mood state and sense of self for the anorexia nervosa group was significantly lower over all the ESFs when compared to the control group. They were also more self-critical, experienced higher levels of guilt, were less able to live up to their own expectations, and were less satisfied with their performance in the activity they were doing. The anorexia nervosa group experienced less flow states than the control group at stage one. There was an improvement in mood state, sense of self and self-criticism for the anorexia nervosa group when they were in a flow state compared to when they were not in a flow state. There was an improvement in mood state, sense of self, guilt and self-criticism for the control group when they experienced flow, however these differences were not significant. The anorexia nervosa group had a more positive mood state and sense of self at stage two when compared to stage one. Correspondingly, there was a trend towards a reduced severity of the disorder indicated by a significant improvement on some of the psychological tests (EAT, REDS, BDI, DT). There was also a significant improvement in BMI. However, there was a significant decline in the amount of flow of anorexia nervosa participants experienced at stage two when compared to stage one. This result may be attributed to the significant decline in the response rate on ESFs in the second stage of the study for both the anorexia nervosa and control groups. Anorexia nervosa non-responders at stage two reported more severe symptoms of anorexia nervosa than anorexia nervosa responders, although this was a trend and reached significance only on minor indicators of eating disorder severity. The identification of a factor that predicted severity over a six-month period was not possible. The repertory grid analysis showed that the construct system of the anorexia nervosa participants was tighter and less complex than that of the control group. The anorexia nervosa group construed themselves as dissimilar from the way they would like to be in any context. The control group construed themselves as similar to the way they would like to be when they were alone, but as dissimilar from the way they would like to be when they were with other people. While the most salient element for both the anorexia nervosa and control groups was 'alone at home', it appears that the controls use this time for goal-directed activities. In contrast, this time was dominated by fear of losing control for the anorexia nervosa group. Although there was a trend towards a decrease in the amount of variance accounted for by the first component for the anorexia nervosa group at stage two compared to stage one, the interpretation of this result was complicated by mixed result of the control group. The anorexia nervosa groups' daily experience of life was bleak when compared to the daily experience of the control group, except for periods when the anorexia nervosa participants experienced a flow state. DeVries (1992) has documented the success of therapeutic interventions that involve the identification and replication of activities that resulted in a flow state. This investigation suggests that a similar result may be possible in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.

<p>In Sweden, there are considerable health differences between social groups and between women and men. Regardless of social position, women often report more symptoms than men. The aim of this study was to investigate how education is related to job satisfaction and to different aspects of well-being and symptoms in a nationally representative cohort of middle-aged women and men with children. Moreover, the study aimed to investigate the associations between education, job satisfaction, working-hours, partner status, number of children and various aspects of health. Regardless of gender, a long education was associated with significantly higher levels of general job satisfaction, sense of coherence, self-acceptance, purpose in life, personal growth and fewer physical and mental symptoms. General job satisfaction was a significant predictor of all health-related measures, apart from purpose in life. On the whole, men reported a better health compared to women who reported significantly more physical as well as psychological symptoms.</p>

<p>Dagens konsumenter är skickliga på att analysera och blockera stora delar av de reklammeddelanden de utsätts för dagligen. Marknadsförare och företag måste ideligen komma på nya metoder att tackla problemet med. Som svar på dessa svårigheter och den kontinuerligt ökande konkurrensnivån utvecklas ständigt nya metoder och strategier för detta. Metoderna avlöser sina föregångare i syftet att dessa skall förmedla företagens meddelanden mer verkningsfullt.</p><p>Den nyaste trenden på marknaden är Sense marketing som kombinerar det visuella intrycket med exempelvis musik eller doftintryck. Att marknadsföra varor och varumärken med doft kallas doftmarknadsföring och syftar till att ge kunden ökad upplevelse med köpeprocessen samt med produkten och varumärket i sig.</p><p>Metoden utnyttjar luktsinnets oförmåga att stänga av sig själv samt den undermedvetna processen som ständigt pågår i våra hjärnor i att vi analyserar alla doftintryck vi kommer i kontakt med. Till detta hör att forskning visar på att lukter är starkt sammankopplat med vårt minne och lukter kan återkalla minnen från långt bak i tiden. Att utnyttja denna styrka i marknadsföringssyfte är poängen med doftmarknadsföring.</p><p>I att doftmarkandsföring är nytt i Sverige som marknadsföringsmetod vill vi se på faktorer som driver den framåt mot att bli en trend, vilket leder till problemformuleringen.</p><p> Vi vill undersöka doftmarknadsföring som fenomen och utifrån fenomenet utveckling förstå hur trender kan utvecklas i Sverige.</p><p>Trendutvecklings teori inom markandsföring är svag, därför undersöker vi även om trendutvecklings teorier från management området är överförbara på marknadsföring. Vi har valt att utföra intervjuer med konsulter på ämnet samt konsumenter av dessa tjänster. Att vi valt just intervjuer som datainsamlingsform beror på att vi är explorativa och söker meningen bakom som endast kommer fram i intervjuform.</p><p>Faktorer till användandet av doftmarkandsföring för konsumenter samt konsulter är i huvudsak varumärkesstärkande samt omsättningsökande som resultat av ökad upplevelse. Management teorin är överförbar i att marknadsförings nycker och trender föregås av samma faktorer som management trender. Exempel på detta är miljöfaktorer, flockbeteende, Gurun samt organisatoriska karaktärer.</p><p>Metoden ligger i startfållan men har under senaste tiden fått mer uppmärksamhet från dagspress samt högskolor som nu forskar på ämnet. Den drivs på av konsulterna samt talas varm om av konsumenterna som ser detta som en konkurrensfördel i att de kan differentierar sig på ett unikt sätt samt ge mervärde åt sina kunder.</p>

<p>Tidigare forskning har visat att pengar som incitament positivt korrelerar med medarbetares prestationer men ur ett hälsoperspektiv framstår forskningen som bristfällig. Studiens syfte var att undersöka arbetsklimatet på arbetsplatser där lagermedarbetare arbetar för ackordslöner. Forskningsfrågan var vilken inverkan KASAM, organisationsengagemang och inställning till ackordslönesystemet har på psykosomatisk stress hos lagermedarbetare. Detta har empiriskt undersökts genom att medarbetarna (n = 99) har fått besvara enkäter i en av Sveriges största distributionsenheter för detaljhandel. Genom en multipel regressionsanalys påvisades en signifikant modell för psykosomatisk stress där KASAM och ackordsinställning tillsammans förklarade upp till hälften av den totala variansen.</p>

<p>Tidigare studier har visat att faktorerna KASAM, flow samt prestationsbehov har betydelse för hög upplevd arbetstillfredsställelse. I denna studie undersöks om dessa faktorer även är aktuella under svenska förhållanden. En enkätundersökning genomfördes på 137 anställda på tre olika företag för att mäta om de tre faktorerna kan predicera arbetstillfredsställelse. Resultatet visade att KASAM, och särskilt komponenten meningsfullhet, var en stark prediktor av arbets-tillfredsställelse. Även flow, och särskilt dimensionen inomboende arbetsmotivation, hade ett signifikant prediktionsvärde medan det visade sig att prestationsbehov inte predicerade arbetstillfredsställelse. Ökad arbetstillfredsställelse borde kunna uppnås om företagen kan se till att de anställdas arbetsuppgifter innebär en lagom stor utmaning. Likaså att deras inställning till och förståelse för arbetsuppgifterna gör att arbetet känns meningsfullt.</p>

<p>Forskning visar att ungdomar verkar må allt sämre. Undersökningen testade eventuella samband mellan ungdomars stödnätverk och deras känsla av sammanhang (KASAM), språk/kulturs påverkan på dessa faktorer, samt vad som är viktigt hos en stödperson. Enkätfrågor om det sociala nätverket, för att fastställa KASAM samt om vem man vänder sig till i olika situationer besvarades av 147 gymnasieungdomar från Mälardalen. Positivt samband mellan KASAM och ungdomarnas stödnätverk påvisades. Ungdomarna vände sig främst till familjen vid behov av stöd, men kompisar var också viktiga, speciellt för tjejer. Det viktigaste hos en stödperson var att lyssna, vara förstående, finna lösningar, att den känner individen, samt att den är snäll. Tidigare forskning verkar kunna befästas - att ungdomar med ett starkt stödnätverk mår bättre.</p>

<p>I detta examensarbete har jag studerat hur elever i år 6 tänker vid decimalform inom taluppfattningens område. Begreppet taluppfattning är ett mycket brett område där det dessutom finns många olika uppfattningar om vad som ingår i begreppet. Därför har jag fokuserat mitt arbete på övergången från heltal till decimaltal. Syftet med undersökningen är att belysa vikten av att lärare har goda matematiska och metodiska kunskaper, hur elever utvecklar sin taluppfattning och förhoppningsvis ge lite tips och idéer som kan användas i undervisningen med elever. Studien omfattar en litteraturgenomgång som behandlar begreppet taluppfattning där jag delat upp kapitlet i tre underrubriker: Vad innebär det att elever har en grundläggande taluppfattning? Hur utvecklar elever en god taluppfattning? Vilka speciella svårigheter finns vid övergången från heltal till decimaltal? Under metoddelen skriver jag om hur pilot- och huvudundersökningen gjordes innan läsaren får ta del av undersökningarnas resultat. Resultatet av undersökningen är att många elever har svårt för övergången från heltal till decimaltal. Det finns tre moment i förståelsen av positionssystemet som tycks orsaka större svårigheter och det är platssiffrans värde, multiplikation med tal mindre än ett och uppskattning av rimligheten av svaret i en beräkning. Uppsatsen innehåller också ett avsnitt om vad vi lärare kan göra för att underlätta elevers förståelse för övergången från heltal till decimaltal.</p>