Sustainable innovations are observed as a major way by which the ill-effects of the built environment can be avoided or offset. The adoption of innovations are critical to the society, as they pave the way for further incremental or radical innovations, depending on the feedback from their users. In this process, the attributes of an innovation play an important role in its adoption. The objective of this study was to determine whether observability, one of many attributes of innovations identified in the literature as affecting their adoption, plays a critical role in the adoption of sustainable innovations, specifically Rainwater Harvesting Technologies and Strategies (RwHTS). Further, the study aimed to determine whether the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) resulted in frequent adoption RwHTS. Last but not least, the study also sought to understand how designers used BIM to enhance the acceptance of RwHTS in capital projects. The stakeholders identified for this study were architectural firms that are geographically located in the southeastern states of the United States, and the study was conducted from their perspective. This study was segregated into two major phases. The first phase involved a survey of 2,200 designers/architects located in seven southeastern states, including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, and District of Columbia. The survey questions targeted experiences associated with the implementation of RwHTS and the use of BIM for designing and constructing facilities over the last decade by the architectural firms. Based on the responses received, six firms were purposively selected for Phase II, which involved a case study approach that included meeting with the designers, conducting interviews, understanding general firm policies for capital projects, identifying factors that result in the adoption of RwHTS, and developing a process-based profile undertaken by the firm to understand how key decisions were made. By the end of this phase the researcher identified the factors that result in the adoption of RwHTS. In addition, the researcher also found that observability did not emerge as an attribute that played a critical role in the adoption of RwHTS, in comparison to the other attributes. The study also found that the current use of BIM did not result in the frequent adoption of RwHTS. Finally, the study was able to produce a generalized process map that depicted the steps undertaken during the design process for the adoption of RwHTS in capital projects. This study encompassed the basic principles of sustainability in the built environment, adoption of innovation, and Building Information Modeling use within the design industry. / Ph. D.

[EN] Phenomenology in recent years has gained throttle in the philosophical domain; more specifically, the phenomenological methodology had its most significant impact on architectural interpretation and understanding. It is unusual how the phenomenological discourse appeared in the architectural prospect on the decays of structuralism and semiotics. On the other hand, in humanities and philosophy, the growth of structuralism happened only after the decline of phenomenology. These paradoxical conditions are explained due to the translation delay of philosophical ideas and their implementation in architecture. In this research, we dig into the essential question of architectural experience by studying architecture through its phenomenological significance as a dwelling attitude to its inhabitants. The study is on dwellings in the eastern Bekaa region -Lebanon, on houses built between two significant eras, a time frame that shows the essential difference between two construction methods and the transitional phase in-between. Showing case the different typologies that generated in the same area, comparing the area's vernacular architecture and sustainable designs, addressing whether these typologies had any effect on the dweller's socio-cultural and socio-economical dynamics. The area of study is still virgin to different phenomenological interpretation, as the drastic change of typologies occurred in the past 50 years. Dwellers just recently overcame the transitional phase, from applying vernacular construction means, to applying new construction technologies with globalized materials. The area permits us to question the primary existential question of being-in-world, and how citizens coped with their environment in order to sustain their existential being through architectural means. We examine the following phenomenon by learning from dwelling theorists and phenomenologists, focusing on phenomenologists such as Martin Heidegger, Merleau-ponty, and Christian Norberg-Schulz in an attempt to correlate phenomenology with sustainability. Additionally, interpreting architecture hermeneutically through the Arabic parables to comprehend it better in concern with its cultural context. / [ES] El papel de la fenomenología ha sido clave en el terreno filosófico. La metodología fenomenológica ha tenido un impacto significativo en la interpretación y comprensión arquitectónica. Puede parecer absurdo cómo el discurso fenomenológico aterriza en la arquitectura a partir de la desintegración del estructuralismo y la semiótica, mientras que en el campo de las humanidades, y concretamente en el ámbito filosófico, el estructuralismo se desarrolla, precisamente, a partir del declive de la fenomenología. Esta situación paradójica se explica a raíz de la demora en la traducción de las ideas filosóficas y su implementación en la arquitectura. En esta investigación se pretende profundizar en la cuestión esencial de la experiencia arquitectónica a partir de la comprensión de los modos de habitar. El estudio se desarrolla en el conjunto de viviendas de la región oriental de Bekaa (Líbano), a partir de casas construidas en dos periodos significativos, periodos que permiten distinguir entre dos modos de construir contrastados, con una fase de transición intermedia. Se muestran las diferentes tipologías que proliferaron en una misma área, permitiendo comparar las arquitecturas vernáculas y los diseños sostenibles, planteando a su vez si estas tipologías tuvieron algún efecto en la dinámica sociocultural y socioeconómica de sus habitantes. El interés del área de estudio radica en considerarse un terreno virgen para abordar diferentes interpretaciones fenomenológicas, ya que el cambio drástico de tipologías ocurrió en los últimos 50 años. Los habitantes superaron la fase de transición recientemente, partiendo de la aplicación de medios de construcción vernáculos hasta la aplicación de nuevas tecnologías de construcción con materiales globalizados. El área nos permite cuestionar la cuestión existencial primaria del ser-en-el mundo, y cómo los ciudadanos cooperaron con su entorno para mantener su ser existencial a través de medios arquitectónicos. Examinamos el siguiente fenómeno aprendiendo de los teóricos de la vivienda y los fenomenólogos, centrándonos en fenomenólogos como Martin Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty y Christian Norberg-Schulz. Además, interpretando la arquitectura hermenéuticamente a través de las parábolas árabes para comprenderla mejor en relación con su contexto cultural. / [CA] El paper de la fenomenologia ha sigut clau al terreny filosòfic. La metodologia fenomenològica ha tingut un impacte significatiu a la interpretació i comprensió arquitectònica. Pot semblar absurd com el discurs fenomenològic aterra a l'arquitectura arran la desintegració de l'estructuralisme i la semiòtica, mentre que al camp de les humanitats, i concretament a l'àmbit filosòfic, l'estructuralisme es desenvolupa precisament partint del declivi de la fenomenologia. Aquesta situació paradoxal s'explica arran el retard a la traducció de les idees filosòfiques i la seua implementació a l'arquitectura. A aquesta investigació es pretén aprofundir a la qüestió essencial de l'experiència arquitectònica partint de la comprensió de les maneres d'habitar. L'estudi es desenvolupa al conjunt d'habitatges de la regió oriental de Bekaa (Líban), partint de cases construïdes a dos períodes significatius, períodes que permeten distingir entre dos maneres de construir contrastades, amb una fase de transició intermèdia. Es mostren les diferents tipologies que van proliferar a una mateixa àrea, permetent comparar les arquitectures vernacles i els dissenys sostenibles, plantejant a l'hora si aquestes tipologies van tindre cap efecte a la dinàmica sociocultural i socioeconòmica dels seus habitants. L'interès de l'àrea d'estudi radica en considerar-se un terreny verge per enllestir diferents interpretacions fenomenològiques, ja que el canvi dràstic de tipologies va ocórrer als darrers 50 anys. Els habitants van superar la fase de transició recentment, partint de l'aplicació de mitjans de construcció amb materials globalitzats. L'àrea ens permet qüestionar la qüestió essencial primària de l'ésser-al-món i cóm els ciutadans van cooperar amb el seu entorn per mantenir el seu esser existencial per mitjan de mitjans arquitectònics. Examinem el següent fenomen aprenent dels teòrics de l'habitatge i els fenomenòlegs, centrant-nos en fenomenòlegs com Martin Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty y Christian Norberg- Schulz. A més, interpretant l'arquitectura hermenèuticament mitjançant les paràboles àrabs per comprendre-la millor en relació amb el seu context cultural. / Elmoussaoui, M. (2020). The phenomenological significance of dwelling in architecture. The case of Eastern Beka’a Valley - Lebanon [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/152487

Yes / Using the UK Citizenship Survey for the years 2007–2010, this paper investigates how immigrants view immigration and how these views compare to the views of natives. Immigrants who have been in the UK longer are similar to natives in being opposed to further immigration, while recent immigrants are more in favour of further immigration. Labour market concerns do not play a large role for either immigrants or natives. However, there is some evidence that financial and economic shocks can increase anti-immigration sentiments. / The Peter and Norah Lomas PhD Scholarship in Economics.

Yes / This study was conducted to conceptualise advertising value and consumer attitudes towards advertisements. The research was developed to reveal the effect of the source of advertisements on credibility perception through the theoretical framework of Ducoffe's (1995) advertising value model. The research objective is to identify source derogation in terms of credibility to create advertising value and a positive attitude towards advertisements launched through the Facebook social network. In this regard, the study used three distinct sources to generate and introduce product promotional messages: an associative reference group, an aspirational reference group and marketers themselves. This research revealed significant differences in developing advertisement value and forming a favourable attitude towards advertisements when the product-related message was developed by these three distinct groups, who have different source derogations.

The emergence of the positive psychology movement has brought the attention to individuals’ strengths and their deficits. Specifically of interest within an organisational context is the extent to which employees’ strengths are used and their deficits are improved. Specifically, organisations may provide their support for employees’ strengths use and deficit improvement, and individuals themselves can also proactively seek opportunities to use their strengths and improve their deficits. However, little attention has been paid to strengths use and deficit improvement in empirical research. One reason for this may be a lack of a clear conceptualisation of organisational support for strengths use and deficit improvement and individuals’ proactive strengths use and deficit improvement. Furthermore, this lacking conceptualisation hinders research to empirically measure these constructs, since no measuring instrument exists to measure strengths use and deficit improvement by the organisation and the individual. In addition, no empirical research has been conducted to determine whether strengths use or deficit improvement, or possibly a combined approach focusing on both, may be more beneficial for the organisation in terms of work-related outcomes such as work engagement, learning, job satisfaction and turnover intention. Moreover, the relationship between work engagement (a well-established positive psychology construct) with organisational support for strengths use and deficit improvement and specifically individuals’ proactive strengths use and deficit improvement is unexplored. In light of the above gaps in the literature, the primary objectives of this study were: (a) To conceptualise a taxonomy of strengths use and deficit improvement and to develop and validate the Strengths Use and Deficit Improvement Questionnaire (SUDIQ) that measures four constructs, namely perceived organisational support for strengths use (POSSU), perceived organisational support for deficit improvement (POSDI), proactive behaviour towards strengths use (PBSU) and proactive behaviour towards deficit improvement (PBDI); (b) to examine the item bias, structural equivalence, measurement unit equivalence and scalar equivalence of the SUDIQ among South African ethnic groups; (c) to examine whether POSSU, POSDI or a combination of these two will lead to the best organisational outcomes (i.e. work engagement, learning, job satisfaction and turnover intention); and (d) to determine whether (1) work engagement mediates the relationship between POSSU and PBSU and between POSDI and PBDI, or (2) whether proactive behaviour (PBSU and PBDI) mediates the relationship between POSSU and POSDI with work engagement. The above research objectives were addressed in four empirical, quantitative research articles. For the purpose of research article 1, the Strengths Use and Deficit Improvement Scale (SUDIQ) was developed by following the guidelines of DeVellis (2003). A pilot study was conducted among a heterogeneous sample (N = 241). The validation study was conducted among a heterogeneous sample (N = 699) in various industries in South Africa. For research article 2, the item bias, construct equivalence, measurement unit equivalence and scalar equivalence of the SUDIQ were assessed among a heterogeneous sample (N = 858) in various South African industries. For the purpose of article 3, the relationships between POSSU, POSDI and a combined approach with the outcomes, work engagement, learning, job satisfaction and turnover intention were examined among a sample of 266 public school teachers in the Western Cape. Finally, to determine the relationships between work engagement and PBSU and PBDI and also the mediation effect in a structural model, a sample of 378 employees in the financial industry was investigated. For the pilot study in article 1, an initial item pool of 33 items was generated. In the exploratory factor analysis of this pilot study, four distinct factors were extracted and were labelled perceived organisational support for strengths use (POSSU; eight items), perceived organisational support for deficit improvement (POSDI; eight items), proactive behaviour towards strengths use (PBSU; nine items) and proactive behaviour towards deficit improvement (PBDI; eight items). The factorial validity was confirmed with a confirmatory factor analysis that confirmed the hypothesised four-factor structure of the SUDIQ. The POSSU and POSDI dimensions were positively related to autonomy and participation in decision-making, two job resources, and confirming the convergent validity of these two scales. The PBSU and PBDI scales were found to be positively related to self-efficacy, establishing the convergent validity of these two scales. The criterion-related validity was established through the positive correlation of the four SUDIQ dimensions with work engagement and the negative correlation with burnout. According to the results of the bias and equivalence analysis in article 2, the uniformly biased items included one POSSU item, two POSDI items, two PBSU items and three PBDI items. Three POSSU items were found to be non-uniformly biased. These items that were identified as having either uniform or non-uniform bias for black, white or coloured participants were discarded from further analyses. The results confirmed the SUDIQ to be equivalent across the three ethnic groups in terms of construct equivalence, measurement unit equivalence and scalar equivalence. The results of research article 3 indicate that both strengths use and deficit improvement are important predictors of work engagement, learning, job satisfaction and turnover intention. Learning was higher and turnover intention lower for individuals experiencing a combined approach compared to those believing that their school does not support them to either use their strengths or improve their deficits. Furthermore, a combined approach was associated with higher job satisfaction than a strengths-based approach, and a deficit-based approach was shown to be associated with higher levels of work engagement and turnover intentions compared to an environment where neither employees’ strengths nor deficits are addressed. Finally, in article 4, two competing models were tested where in model 1 work engagement was specified as a mediator in the relationship between POSSU and PBSU and between POSDI and PBDI. In model 2, proactive behaviour (PBSU and PBDI) was specified as a mediator in the relationship between POSSU and POSDI with work engagement. The results indicated that model 1 fitted the data better compared to model 2. Therefore, it was found that work engagement mediates the relationship between POSSU and PBSU and also between POSDI and PBDI. Recommendations were made for organisations and for future research. / PhD (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The emergence of the positive psychology movement has brought the attention to individuals’ strengths and their deficits. Specifically of interest within an organisational context is the extent to which employees’ strengths are used and their deficits are improved. Specifically, organisations may provide their support for employees’ strengths use and deficit improvement, and individuals themselves can also proactively seek opportunities to use their strengths and improve their deficits. However, little attention has been paid to strengths use and deficit improvement in empirical research. One reason for this may be a lack of a clear conceptualisation of organisational support for strengths use and deficit improvement and individuals’ proactive strengths use and deficit improvement. Furthermore, this lacking conceptualisation hinders research to empirically measure these constructs, since no measuring instrument exists to measure strengths use and deficit improvement by the organisation and the individual. In addition, no empirical research has been conducted to determine whether strengths use or deficit improvement, or possibly a combined approach focusing on both, may be more beneficial for the organisation in terms of work-related outcomes such as work engagement, learning, job satisfaction and turnover intention. Moreover, the relationship between work engagement (a well-established positive psychology construct) with organisational support for strengths use and deficit improvement and specifically individuals’ proactive strengths use and deficit improvement is unexplored. In light of the above gaps in the literature, the primary objectives of this study were: (a) To conceptualise a taxonomy of strengths use and deficit improvement and to develop and validate the Strengths Use and Deficit Improvement Questionnaire (SUDIQ) that measures four constructs, namely perceived organisational support for strengths use (POSSU), perceived organisational support for deficit improvement (POSDI), proactive behaviour towards strengths use (PBSU) and proactive behaviour towards deficit improvement (PBDI); (b) to examine the item bias, structural equivalence, measurement unit equivalence and scalar equivalence of the SUDIQ among South African ethnic groups; (c) to examine whether POSSU, POSDI or a combination of these two will lead to the best organisational outcomes (i.e. work engagement, learning, job satisfaction and turnover intention); and (d) to determine whether (1) work engagement mediates the relationship between POSSU and PBSU and between POSDI and PBDI, or (2) whether proactive behaviour (PBSU and PBDI) mediates the relationship between POSSU and POSDI with work engagement. The above research objectives were addressed in four empirical, quantitative research articles. For the purpose of research article 1, the Strengths Use and Deficit Improvement Scale (SUDIQ) was developed by following the guidelines of DeVellis (2003). A pilot study was conducted among a heterogeneous sample (N = 241). The validation study was conducted among a heterogeneous sample (N = 699) in various industries in South Africa. For research article 2, the item bias, construct equivalence, measurement unit equivalence and scalar equivalence of the SUDIQ were assessed among a heterogeneous sample (N = 858) in various South African industries. For the purpose of article 3, the relationships between POSSU, POSDI and a combined approach with the outcomes, work engagement, learning, job satisfaction and turnover intention were examined among a sample of 266 public school teachers in the Western Cape. Finally, to determine the relationships between work engagement and PBSU and PBDI and also the mediation effect in a structural model, a sample of 378 employees in the financial industry was investigated. For the pilot study in article 1, an initial item pool of 33 items was generated. In the exploratory factor analysis of this pilot study, four distinct factors were extracted and were labelled perceived organisational support for strengths use (POSSU; eight items), perceived organisational support for deficit improvement (POSDI; eight items), proactive behaviour towards strengths use (PBSU; nine items) and proactive behaviour towards deficit improvement (PBDI; eight items). The factorial validity was confirmed with a confirmatory factor analysis that confirmed the hypothesised four-factor structure of the SUDIQ. The POSSU and POSDI dimensions were positively related to autonomy and participation in decision-making, two job resources, and confirming the convergent validity of these two scales. The PBSU and PBDI scales were found to be positively related to self-efficacy, establishing the convergent validity of these two scales. The criterion-related validity was established through the positive correlation of the four SUDIQ dimensions with work engagement and the negative correlation with burnout. According to the results of the bias and equivalence analysis in article 2, the uniformly biased items included one POSSU item, two POSDI items, two PBSU items and three PBDI items. Three POSSU items were found to be non-uniformly biased. These items that were identified as having either uniform or non-uniform bias for black, white or coloured participants were discarded from further analyses. The results confirmed the SUDIQ to be equivalent across the three ethnic groups in terms of construct equivalence, measurement unit equivalence and scalar equivalence. The results of research article 3 indicate that both strengths use and deficit improvement are important predictors of work engagement, learning, job satisfaction and turnover intention. Learning was higher and turnover intention lower for individuals experiencing a combined approach compared to those believing that their school does not support them to either use their strengths or improve their deficits. Furthermore, a combined approach was associated with higher job satisfaction than a strengths-based approach, and a deficit-based approach was shown to be associated with higher levels of work engagement and turnover intentions compared to an environment where neither employees’ strengths nor deficits are addressed. Finally, in article 4, two competing models were tested where in model 1 work engagement was specified as a mediator in the relationship between POSSU and PBSU and between POSDI and PBDI. In model 2, proactive behaviour (PBSU and PBDI) was specified as a mediator in the relationship between POSSU and POSDI with work engagement. The results indicated that model 1 fitted the data better compared to model 2. Therefore, it was found that work engagement mediates the relationship between POSSU and PBSU and also between POSDI and PBDI. Recommendations were made for organisations and for future research. / PhD (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

[Abstract]: Research has suggested that, despite support through policy and resource provision,information and communications technologies (ICTs) have made little impact on the practiceof education and that limited teacher preparation for the use of ICTs represents a partialexplanation. The purpose of this study was to investigate what form of professionaleducation might be effective in preparing pre-service teachers to integrate ICTs into theirteaching. Self-efficacy beliefs about teaching with computers were identified as a potentiallysignificant source of influence on teachers' use of ICTs for teaching. It was proposed thatinteractive multimedia using a problem-based learning design (IMM-PBL) should be aneffective tool for increasing self-efficacy. Principles for the design of IMM-PBL were derivedfrom the relevant literature.An IMM-PBL package was designed and developed for delivery in a web browser formatusing content relevant to the integration of ICTs into teaching. Interviews with and sampleresponses prepared by computer-using teachers provided the basis for ensuring therelevance of content.The completed materials were evaluated in use with a group of 24 final year pre-serviceteachers in a Queensland university. Participants in the trials reported that the materialswere engaging and assisted their learning about integrating computers in their teaching. Astatistically significant increase in self-efficacy for teaching with computers was found forusers who had initially low self-efficacy for teaching with computers.The principles proposed for IMM-PBL design were found to offer a practical basis for thedevelopment of effective learning materials. With further development, IMM-PBL promisesto be a powerful and flexible approach to supporting learning for teachers and otherprofessionals.

This dissertation examined students‘ experience with school assessment infused with Therapeutic Assessment (TA) techniques. Nine assessors from the school district were assigned to one of two groups, TA-infused group and the assessment-as-usual group. Those in the TA-infused group were trained in collaborative assessment practices based on Finn‘s model of TA with children (TA-C), specifically collaborative interviews, extended inquiries, and collaborative oral and written feedback (Finn, 2007). Thirty-three students from a medium sized public school district in central Texas completed the study in its entirety. It was hypothesized that those in the TA-infused group, compared with the assessment-as-usual group, would report learning more about themselves, experiencing a more positive relationship with the assessor, feeling more positive about the assessment process, feeling more collaborated with, and having greater perceptions of parental understanding. It was also hypothesized that those in the TA-infused group would report an increase in positive feelings and a decrease negative in feelings about themselves and their challenge when compared with the assessment-as-usual group. Additionally, it was hypothesized that those in the TA-infused group would report an increase in positive attitudes toward school after the intervention when compared with the assessment-as-usual group. Outcomes were measured by the Child‘s Experience of Assessment Survey (CEAS), the Children‘s Positive and Negative Affect Scale (CPNE-S), and the Attitude to School (ATS) subtest of the BASC-2-SRP. A descriptive discriminate analysis was conducted using the five subscales of the CEAS to measure the first hypotheses. RM ANOVAs were run on the CPNE-S and the ATS to analyze the second and third hypotheses. Additionally, a qualitative interview was conducted with participants. Analyses yielded no statistically significant results between the groups. Qualitative interviews indicated that both groups were satisfied with the assessment process. Additionally, those in the TA-infused group all reported positive reactions to the collaborative written feedback. Specifically, those that received a fable reported liking the fable and feeling that it related to their lives. Those that received a letter reported learning more about themselves, appreciating a written record of the feedback, and feeling positively about their relationship with the assessor. Further research is needed to understand the effects of collaborative techniques within school assessments, particularly the effects of the different forms of written feedback. / text

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of individual differences on Sexual Harassment (SH) perceptions at the workplace. Specifically, the effects of attitudes toward women&amp / #8217 / s gender roles and personality attributes (i.e., self-esteem and emotional affectivity) on SH perceptions were examined. Another purpose of the study was to explore the stereotype domains of sexual harassers and to compare it with those of managers. A preliminary study was conducted by interviewing 56 Turkish working women. Based on the content analyses of the responses, a measure of social-sexual behavior manifestations relevant to the Turkish culture and a measure of harasser stereotypes were developed. In the main study, the social-sexual behavior measure was used to assess harassment perceptions and experiences of women, the stereotype measure was used to explore the nature of harasser and manager stereotypes. A total of 353 women employed in various organizations participated in the main study. Social-sexual behavior items based on sexual harassment perceptions yielded six factors (i.e., unwanted personal attention, verbal sexual attention, sexist hostility, physical sexual assault, insinuation of interest, and sexual bribery and sexual coercion). Each factor was regressed on the individual differences variables. Negative affectivity predicted perceptions of unwanted personal attention, verbal sexual attention, and sexist hostility type of behaviors. Attitudes toward women&amp / #8217 / s gender roles predicted physical sexual assault and sexual bribery-sexual coercion type of behaviors. Self-esteem was found to predict all sexual harassment factors, except sexist hostility. Women&amp / #8217 / s stereotypes towards harassers were found to be significantly different from their stereotypes towards managers, except one domain, which was dominancy. Cluster analysis suggested three different profiles of stereotypes towards harassers, and three different profiles of stereotypes towards managers. Women having stereotypes of negative or negative and powerful harassers perceived significantly more sexual harassment than those with ambivalent stereotypes towards harassers.

No description available.