Alfred Chandler, in Scale and Scope: The Dynamics of Industrial Capitalism (1990), suggests that the acquisition of targets is an alternative to direct investment in research and development (R&D). Chandler suggests that the failure of accounting to recognize investment in R&D as an asset may have made R&D less attractive. This study focuses on the relationship between investment in R&D and capital expenditures and a set of partitions based on Chandler's three technology types ("hightech," "stable-tech," and "low-tech") and three possible merger activity classes (acquirer next year, target next year, and neither acquirer nor target next year). Chi-square contingency tables are used to test the independence of merger class and technology type, a frequency test. Regression is used to test the relationship between R&D and sales and between capital expenditures and sales, with the sample partitioned by technology type and by merger class in a 3-by-3 research design. The sample is 23,146 firm years from 1974-1988 for 2,659 firms categorized into industry groups based on Chandler's criteria. The financial data are from COMPUSTAT data files. The frequency of being an acquirer is the same for high-tech and stable-tech firms (11.2 versus 11.5 percent of firm years) and higher for low-tech firms (13.9 percent of firm years). High-tech firms that are acquirers next year have 79% lower investment in R&D (.044 of sales versus .056 of sales) and 77% lower investment in capital expenditures (.071 of sales versus .092 of sales) than "high-tech" firms that are neither acquirers nor targets next year ("baseline" firms) as measured by the estimated slope coefficient in regression. "Stable-tech" acquirers are similar to "stable-tech" baseline firms in R&D investment (.016 of sales versus .016 of sales) and in capital expenditures investment (.072 of sales versus .080 of sales). "High-tech" targets have higher R&D investment (0.062 of sales versus 0.056 of sales) and lower capital expenditures (0.054 of sales versus 0.092 of sales) than "high-tech" baseline firms.

The specific purposes of the study were (1) to determine the effectiveness of ECRI (Exemplary Center for Reading Instruction), as compared to "traditional" (basal driven) classroom instruction based on a comparative analysis of norm-referenced test data; (2) to determine if there was a significant difference between Blacks, Hispanics and Caucasians on the Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension portions of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills among the third grade ECRI students; and (3) to provide valid information for those charged with the implementation of reading instruction in the Dallas Independent School District, Dallas, Texas.

The possibility of a relationship between Adlerian life style, as measured by the Life Style Personality Inventory (LSPI), and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) was examined by this research. The goal of this study was to clarify the relationship between these instruments to broaden the applicability of both instruments for both research and clinical endeavors. Life style is a concept which is vital to therapeutic intervention from an Adlerian frame of reference. Assessment of life style typically involves lengthy therapist interviews. Both the LSPI and the MBTI are questionnaires designed to measure personality variables. The 117 subjects for this study were solicited from individuals seeking counseling from an urban community counseling center. The individuals served by this agency are primarily those diagnosed with Adjustment Disorders. The LSPI and the MBTI were administered individually to each subject. Means and standard deviations were computed for the seven LSPI themes and the MBTI total. Due to a lack of research support for Theme 4 by the LSPI author, the data for this theme were disregarded. The same research indicated a strong bipolar relationship for Themes 7 and 8 (Displaying Inadequacy and Social Interest), which prompted the inclusion of Theme 8 in subsequent data analysis. A correlation analysis was developed. Using the correlation matrix, a factor analysis program was run using the SPSS-X statistical package. The principal components analysis extracted three factors which were refined by a factor rotation using the varimax rotation option. To clarify Factor 3, further analysis was performed with the MBTI data divided by continuum and a second factor analysis was run. Four factors emerged from the data with Factors 1 and 2 remaining unchanged. Factor 1 (Emotional Focusing) and Factor 2 (Confrontation) were loaded with the LSPI themes. Factor 3 (Temperament) and Factor 4 (External-Internal) were loaded with the MBTI scores. This study found that no apparent relationship exists between the variables measured by the LSPI and the MBTI. Questions were raised regarding the descriptive versus pathology-assessing nature of the themes on LSPI. Further research is suggested to define the focus of this instrument.

Surfplattan är ett verktyg som ligger i tiden, både i hemmet och i skolan, ett verktyg som dominerar i de lägre årskurserna. Forskning visar att digitala verktyg i matematikundervisningen kan påverka lärandet positivt. Därför är det intressant att surfplattan får minst utrymme som pedagogiskt verktyg i ämnet matematik jämfört med resterande skolämnen. Utifrån denna problematik tar studien avstamp, i syfte att undersöka lärares erfarenheter och uppfattningar angående surfplattan som pedagogiskt verktyg i matematikundervisningen. Urvalet består av verksamma lärare i åk 1–3 eftersom de använder surfplattor kontinuerligt i matematikundervisningen. Genom kvalitativ metod och semistrukturerad intervjuteknik har åtta lärare berättat på vilket sätt de använder surfplattor, vilket matematiskt innehåll som behandlas samt några för- och nackdelar de erfarit i samband med surfplattan som digitalt verktyg i ämnet matematik. Empirin är analyserad utifrån en fenomenografisk ansats utifrån ett sociokulturellt perspektiv. Surfplattan som pedagogiskt verktyg förknippas med begreppet mediering inom sociokulturell teori för att vidare tolka och diskutera studiens resultat. Resultatet belyser att surfplattan används som ett extra stöd, kompletterande verktyg och redskap för dokumentation i matematikundervisningen. I resultatet framkommer även att surfplattan används som ett individuellt verktyg av elever. Lärarna upplever att surfplattan har möjlighet att motivera elever, effektivisera och variera undervisningen. Samtidigt beskrivs att surfplattan har begränsade möjligheter och innebär tidskrävande förarbete för läraren. / Tablets are tools which are used recently both at home and at school, and they have become dominating tools in teaching mathematics in primary schools. Researches show that digital tools are influencing mathematical teaching and learning processes positively. However, digital tools are the least used when it comes assisting mathematical teachings as we compare them with other subjects. That is why this study surfaced to investigate teachers' experiences and perceptions of the tablet as an educational tool in mathematical teachings. Hence, the data selection was made based on how frequently the tablets are used in teaching mathematics. Eight teachers who continuously use tablets as a tool in teaching mathematics from grade 1 to 3 have been interviewed. Through the qualitative method and semi- structured interviewing techniques the following data were gathered: what the eight teachers explained, how they used tablets, which mathematical content was being processed, what possibilities and limitations they experienced in connection with the tablets.Empirics is analyzed based on a phenomenological approach from a socio-cultural perspective. As an educational tool is the tablet associated with the concept of mediation in sociocultural theory to further interpret and discuss the results of the study. The result illustrates that tablets, in educating mathematics, have become additional supports, supplementary tools and even they have become tools for documentation. The result also portrays that the tablets are becoming an individuals’ tools.

Criança é presente. Pistas para uma hermenêutica bíblica na perspectiva de crianças. A primeira parte desta dissertação traz diversos referenciais teóricos das ciências sociais com ênfase especial na antropologia da criança, nas discussões de gênero e nas discussões sobre o protagonismo das crianças. Mostra o quanto as concepções universalizantes de infância estão longe da realidade concreta da vida das crianças, pois esta sempre vem marcada pelo contexto e pela época na qual está inserida. A segunda parte apresenta o texto bíblico de João 6,1-15, onde uma criança é a portadora dos pães e dos peixes partilhados. São destacados alguns aspectos sobre lugar, tempo, interrelacionalidade entre adultos e crianças e são traçados paralelos com os evangelhos sinóticos. O texto é localizado em seu contexto literário e são mostradas especificidades teológicas do Evangelho de João. O terceiro e último capítulo aborda a hermenêutica simbólica, pergunta pela realidade das crianças na época de Jesus e mostra o comprometimento das primeiras comunidades cristãs com as crianças. Por fim, aponta alguns pressupostos que poderão orientar tanto a leitura bíblica como a práxis pastoral comprometidas com as crianças: não é possível falar de uma geração sem considerar a outra; crianças são seres completos e respondem aos estímulos que recebem de quem se relaciona com elas desde o início de sua vida; é possível desenvolver uma teologia com as crianças se, como adultos, nos dispormos a aprender com elas e, principalmente, buscarmos espaços e tempos de convivência. Estes devem possibilitar as brincadeiras, os jogos, a troca de afetos, a valorização do simbólico e das metáforas; crianças e adultos estão sempre interrealcionados. Só descobrimos o protagonismo das crianças no movimento cristão em suas origens se perguntarmos explicitamente por ele e se estivermos de fato comprometidos com projetos que valorizem as crianças pelo que elas são no presente. / A child is a present : Clues for a biblical hermeneutic on the perspective of children. The first part of this dissertation brings some theoretical references from the social sciences with special emphasis on child anthropology, on gender matters and on the matters of children agency. It shows how far universal concepts of childhood are from the concrete life of children, since they always come with the marks of time on which they are insert. The second part shows the biblical text of John 6,1-15, where a child is the one who brings bread and fish to be shared. Highlighted are some aspects related to place, time interconnections among adults and children and parallels are drawn with the sinoptical gospels. The text is brought in his literary context and some specific theological issues of Johns Gospel are showed. The third and last chapter approaches the symbolic hermeneutics, asking about the reality of children on Jesus time and shows the commitment of the early Christian Communities with the children. Finally, it indicates some assumptions that will orient the reading of the Bible as well as the pastoral work with children: it isn't possible to speak about one generation without considering another; children are completed beings and they answer to the stimulus they receive from those who are related to them since the beginning of their lives; it is possible to develop a theology with children if we, as adults, are willing to learn with them and, above all, if we seek for places and time for acquaintanceship. This will allow the entertainment, friendship , the valorization of the symbolic and of the metaphors ; children and adults are all the time interconnected. We will only discover the agency of children in the origins of Christian movement if we ask for it explicitly and if we really commit ourselves with projects that valorize the children for what they are in the present.

This study utilized ethnomethodology to provide a description of the process and the effect of training counselors to incorporate the concepts and techniques of Individual Psychology into play therapy. Transcripts of the training program and of three individual interviews with the nine counselors who participated in the training were made. These transcripts and the journals in which the subjects were asked to chronicle their personal experiences and reactions to the training were qualitatively analyzed. This analysis indicated that most of the subjects reported that their attitudes toward play therapy, toward themselves as play therapists, and toward their play therapy clients had changed after their participation in the Adlerian play therapy training. The majority of subjects also reported that they perceived that their behavior in their play therapy sessions had changed, frequently in the direction of including more creative and active techniques. Qualitative analysis of the transcripts made from videotaped play therapy sessions by the researcher and an outside evaluator indicated that, while some of the counselors' behaviors seemed to have changed after the training, many of the counselors' behaviors did not appear to have been affected by their participation in the training. Possible explanations of the discrepancy between the counselors' perceptions of their behavior and the researcher's and outside evaluator's perceptions of the counselors' behaviors were discussed. Other areas considered as worthy of in-depth examination were: (a) possible influences on the changes in the counselors' attitudes toward play therapy, toward themselves as play therapists, and toward their play therapy clients; (b) several factors involved in training counselor education students; (c) elements which may have affected the counselors' receptivity to learning a new method of conducting play therapy; (d) implications for the future adaptation of the Adlerian play therapy training program; and (f) potential avenues for future research.

MEDCS / Department of Curriculum Studies and Education Management

This study was designed to determine whether participation in an eight hour training program based on Adlerian theoretical principles would influence managerial attitudes. The effects of the training curriculum on three attitudinal dimensions were investigated: leadership style, acceptance of self and others and level of dogmatism. It was hypothesized that Adlerian training would increase the development of managerial human relations competence. Eighty-one managers participated in the study. The experimental group, comprised of 40 line managers, received eight hours of Adlerian training conducted in two one-half day sessions. The training was both didactic and experiential in content and contained modules on lifestyles/management styles, conflict resolution, effective communication strategies and understanding personality dynamics. The control group, comprised of 41 managers, did not receive training but participated in the pre-testing and post-testing process. Managers completed The Leadership Opinion Questionnaire, The Acceptance of Self and Others Questionnaire, and The Rokeach Dogmatism Scale, prior to the first training session and again two weeks after the final training session. A one-way analysis of covariance revealed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups on both the Consideration and Structure dimensions of the Leadership Opinion Questionnaire. This suggests that managers in the experimental group demonstrated a more participative and less authoritarian management style two weeks after training was completed. No significant differences were found between the two groups on managers' level of dogmatism or acceptance of self and others.

The effects of an Adlerian-based parent education program on parents' attitudes toward their children's behavior and techniques used in child rearing were examined in this study. Parents in one primary elementary school were invited by letter to participate in a parent education program.

My diploma thesis mainly deals with monitoring Ayurveda and description of this phenomena in specific situations and contexts. Ayurveda is understood as an entity based on the actor network theory and the symmetrical anthropology which has been constructed in a process of mutual relationships of actors alleging of various natures (material, social, discursive). The main focus is on the ways of setting and redefining of boundaries of Ayurveda as such which have been realized through identification of significant parts related to this process. It was decided to define the key actors as the Teacher, the Doctrine, the Ayurveda Institution, approaches to human body by alimentation, yoga and breath exercise and Ayurvedic medicines. Each chapter is dedicated to both elements and practices influencing these key actors and different ways of their realization. Ayurveda in its entirety is intervened by members of the community, canonical Ayurvedic texts, biomedicine, national and EUs legislative, climate, politics of Institution, individual daily routines and collective scope of interpretation. 1