1,427 research outputs found
An examination of the professional judgement and decision-making of strength and conditioning coaches
Athletic coaching is a complex profession, and coaches must perform a wide range of tasks in a variety of environments. In high-performance sporting environments, strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) must fulfil a variety of roles that are growing in importance. Despite a recent broadening of the scope of SCC research beyond their knowledge, practical skills, experiences, and training preferences, a lack of attention continues to be paid to the professional judgement and decision-making (PJDM) of SCCs. First, in recognition of this lacuna in research, this thesis examined the thought processes of SCCs who possessed varying levels of experience and analysed the rationales that informed their approaches. Second, this thesis constructed and tested an intervention using the empirical findings of earlier investigations to enhance the PJDM of SCCs. This qualitative study employed a constructivist paradigm and was based on relativist ontology and interpretivist epistemology. The initial research used applied cognitive task analysis (ACTA) to examine the respective decision-making processes of participants who were engaged in training programme design and difficult common tasks. These studies, together with a focus group approach, used reflective thematic analysis (RTA) to engage with data sets and identify new patterns of meaning. The results indicated that the roles of SCCs require them to apply their theoretical knowledge and practical experiences to a wide range of tasks. An indication of the cognitive demands associated with these tasks were also generated as a consequence of the ACTA.
Furthermore, clear contrasts in the PJDM of high-level and early-career SCCs were discussed. The analysis of the focus group results was used to construct a revised model of thinking processes regarding training programme design. Crucially, this stage of the analysis identified the variables of context, collaboration, and communication as providing depth and breadth to the perceived impact of each proposed stage of the training programme design process. Considering the difficult situations that must be managed within strength and
conditioning (S&C) environments, the following three themes were identified as having the strongest impact on SCCs’ decision-making processes: situational awareness, improvisation, and metacognition. Both the ACTA and cognitive apprenticeship (CA) research enabled this study to make a unique contribution to the literature, as it provided empirical findings on the PJDM of SCCs with both high and low levels of experience. The application of a constructivist philosophy to the design and implementation of online S&C learning materials constitutes a novel contribution to existing traditional strategies for SCC preparation in the workplace. This CA study provides valuable preliminary findings that can be used by educators in the field to produce authentic, relevant materials for those aspiring to work in the S&C sector. Throughout this thesis, a case was developed that demonstrates the importance of experience for SCCs of all levels to be able to evaluate their thought processes and overall S&C coaching performance. Lastly, a platform for future research to build on was constructed
Gabriel Harvey and the History of Reading: Essays by Lisa Jardine and others
Few articles in the humanities have had the impact of Lisa Jardine and Anthony Grafton’s seminal ‘Studied for Action’ (1990), a study of the reading practices of Elizabethan polymath and prolific annotator Gabriel Harvey. Their excavation of the setting, methods and ambitions of Harvey’s encounters with his books ignited the History of Reading, an interdisciplinary field which quickly became one of the most exciting corners of the scholarly cosmos. A generation inspired by the model of Harvey fanned out across the world’s libraries and archives, seeking to reveal the many creative, unexpected and curious ways that individuals throughout history responded to texts, and how these interpretations in turn illuminate past worlds.
Three decades on, Harvey’s example and Jardine’s work remain central to cutting-edge scholarship in the History of Reading. By uniting ‘Studied for Action’ with published and unpublished studies on Harvey by Jardine, Grafton and the scholars they have influenced, this collection provides a unique lens on the place of marginalia in textual, intellectual and cultural history. The chapters capture subsequent work on Harvey and map the fields opened by Jardine and Grafton’s original article, collectively offering a posthumous tribute to Lisa Jardine and an authoritative overview of the History of Reading
Posthuman Creative Styling can a creative writer’s style of writing be described as procedural?
This thesis is about creative styling — the styling a creative writer might use to make their writing
unique. It addresses the question as to whether such styling can be described as procedural. Creative
styling is part of the technique a creative writer uses when writing. It is how they make the text more
‘lively’ by use of tips and tricks they have either learned or discovered. In essence these are rules, ones
the writer accrues over time by their practice. The thesis argues that the use and invention of these
rules can be set as procedures. and so describe creative styling as procedural.
The thesis follows from questioning why it is that machines or algorithms have, so far, been
incapable of producing creative writing which has value. Machine-written novels do not abound on
the bookshelves and writing styled by computers is, on the whole, dull in comparison to human-crafted
literature. It came about by thinking how it would be possible to reach a point where writing by people
and procedural writing are considered to have equal value. For this reason the thesis is set in a
posthuman context, where the differences between machines and people are erased.
The thesis uses practice to inform an original conceptual space model, based on quality dimensions
and dynamic-inter operation of spaces. This model gives an example of the procedures which a
posthuman creative writer uses when engaged in creative styling. It suggests an original formulation
for the conceptual blending of conceptual spaces, based on the casting of qualities from one space to
another. In support of and informing its arguments are ninety-nine examples of creative writing
practice which show the procedures by which style has been applied, created and assessed. It provides
a route forward for further joint research into both computational and human-coded creative writing
Energy Research Governance in the European Union
A major share of Europe’s knowledge about its incumbent energy cultures is pre-defined in closed spaces of negotiations. One such space are the negotiations surrounding the European Union´s research and innovation Framework Programmes, which are the focus of this thesis. With these programmes, the European Union not only funds energy research across Europe, but likewise produces guiding energy research narratives that act beyond their scope into the research agendas of its Member States. Energy research governance, considered as the wider scope surrounding the Framework Programmes negotiations in the European Union, takes place in hybrid spaces, were science and politics meet and are influencing each other, inheriting limiting, and enabling effects on both sides. This study aims to determine how these spaces are organised, who is participating under which conditions, and how decisions on energy research agendas and research funding conditions are taken. Therefore, this thesis enfolds the emergence history of energy policy, research policy and the governance of its overlap, namely energy research. It then examines in depth the negotiations that took place during the reform process of the Frame-work Programmes between its seventh and eighth repetition. The perspective of scientific, political and hybrid social worlds is taken to draw an encompassing picture of the situation of energy research governance of the European Union. The methodological background of this study is a situational analysis, which was conducted based on narrative expert interviews, participant observations and documents, drawing on sensitizing concepts from the fields of Science and Technology Studies, sociology, and political sciences. The investigated hybrid spaces revealed the importance of historical rooted (energy) re-search narratives, that are combined with a set of standards and standardized governance practices making the Framework Programmes a robust governance tool, despite changing political climates. Moreover, the role of so far largely overlooked boundary social worlds became apparent. Whereas strategies of narrative governance were found to be a structuring element across all social worlds and hybrid spaces. The newly developed continuum of implicatedness disclosed movements of visibility and agency among the participating negotiators of energy research governance. These results have in common that they bear diverse forms of ambivalences a collective, an individual or a group of collectives is confronted with. The author concludes that these the ambivalences must be met with strategies of disclosure and debate, rather than with vain attempts to resolve irresolvable contradictions
Regional water balance analysis of glacierised river basins in the north-eastern Himalaya applying the J2000 hydrological model
The glacierised basins of the Northeast Himalayan region are highly vulnerable to climate-change impacts. The spatio-temporal hydroclimatic and physiographic variability impact the water balance of these glacierised basins across the region. This study assesses the glaciohydrological processes and dynamics in the data scarce region for the present as well future climate change scenarios by regional water balance analysis. The J2000 hydrological model was adapted to incorporate the frozen ground as well as glacier dynamics in a stepwise, nested basin calibration approach. The modelled ERA-Interim precipitation data cannot capture the high amplitude orographic and convective events. Therefore, Orographic correction factors were used to inversely correct the ERA-Interim precipitation data to account for the orographic as well as cyclonic precipitation in the region from reported glacier mass balance and evapotranspiration estimates. Monthly temperature lapse rate was adopted for correcting the ERA-Interim temperature dataset. The Beki basin was selected as the donor basin for model development and evaluation. The parameters from the Beki basin were regionalised to the receptor Lohit and the Noadihing basins by the Proxy-basin method. Multi-objective optimization criteria such as the Kling-Gupta efficiency (KGE) for temporal dynamics and flow distribution and Bias for overall water balance showed high to moderate conformity between measured and simulated discharge at the corresponding basin outlets. The variability in the water balance and runoff components among the three basins was primarily related to the spatio-temporal variation in the mean annual precipitation, runoff and evapotranspiration estimates. The impact of climate-change scenarios on the study basins indicated that water availability would sustain until the end of the century due to higher projected precipitation even though after the depletion of glaciers in the region
The Swimming Start: Measurement, Importance and Enhancement through Pre-Race Interventions
The swimming start is underpinned by horizontal velocity, which is determined by power output on the block and can be enhanced through pre-race interventions. This thesis aimed to determine the accuracy of start times measured using a single panning camera analysis system, to quantify start times to total race time and investigate pre-race interventions to enhance start and countermovement jump performance. Study one determined the accuracy and reliability of a single panning camera analysis system to measure start time and within the context of a predetermined smallest worthwhile change (≥ 0.187 s). Systematic error and 95% limits of agreement were lower than the smallest worthwhile change for all start times. Study two quantified start time as a percentage of total race time. Start time was found to contribute up to 26.07% of total race time, with males having a lower start contribution than females, and differences between nationalities also identified. Study three assessed how isometric and ballistic postactivation potentiation conditioning activities impact start and countermovement jump performance. Ballistic postactivation potentiation elicited significantly higher countermovement jump height (p = 0.045) and peak power output (p = 0.004) values compared to the control. No significant differences were found for isometric postactivation potentiation compared to the control. Study four investigated the differences between an insulated, foil lined heat garment and trousers with heat elements across the thighs and calves. No significant changes in performance were found (p > 0.050) despite significantly higher muscle temperatures following active heat maintenance. Peak power output was significantly different following passive heat maintenance compared to the control (p = 0.047). This thesis suggests that coaches with sprint athletes should seek opportunities to enhance start performance, which can contribute a large proportion of total race time. Ballistic postactivation potentiation and passive heat maintenance can significantly increase peak power output and potentially start time, although this is on an individual basis. Pre-race interventions should be trialled within training and can be accurately monitored using a single panning camera analysis system to identify significant changes
Methodische Ansätze zur Analyse biomechanischer Zeitreihendaten
Die vorliegende Dissertation beschäftigt sich mit der Frage inwiefern der Einsatz von Zeitreihenmethoden - also Methoden, die den kontinuierlichen Charakter biomechanischer Zeitreihendaten berücksichtigen - einen aus methodischer Sicht günstigeren Auswertungsansatz darstellt als herkömmliche, diskrete Methoden. Damit liefert die Arbeit einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Überwindung der postulierten Konfidenzkrise biomechanisch-bewegungswissenschaftlicher Forschung, nach der sich die Ergebnisse vieler Studien aufgrund u. a. methodischer Defizite nicht oder nur eingeschränkt reproduzieren lassen. Dabei konnte in drei Teilstudien für verschiedene methodische Bereiche (Inferenzstatistik, Klassifikation, Trenderkennung) gezeigt werden, dass der Einsatz von Zeitreihenmethoden bekannte Probleme diskreter Methoden erfolgreich addressieren kann. Die vorgestellte Arbeit regt über das spezifische Thema hinaus zu einem kritischeren Umgang mit methodischen Aspekten an und zeigt mögliche Lösungsansätze auf
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