Towards Understanding the Positive Effect of Playing Violent Video Games on Children's Development

AbstractProblem Statement: In the literature, playing the violent games still considers as double-edged sword (Agina & Kommers, 2008). On one edge, the focus was on the aspect of using video games in teaching, social settings, and improving human- computer interfaces (e.g., Malone, 1981; .). On the other edge, the focus was on the negative outcomes and later effects (e.g., Griffiths & Hunt, 1998; ..). However, the literature clearly lacks investigating the positive effect of playing violent games on children's development processes when children act and react alone and without human's external regulation.Purpose of Study: Given the fact that the world is clearly unable to stop the production of the violent games as avoiding children to play violent games is almost impossible, the present study aimed towards understanding the positive effect of playing violent games on children's development to clarify what the future research should highly take into account. Stated differently, the present study was an attempt towards clarifying the importance of embedding violent arousal as a process of learning.Research Methods: Hundred children (50 boys, 50 girls) who, almost, daily played violent games were specifically selected. Each child was given one hour to play with “CAR-RACING” and “THE-PUNISHER”. After the session, a Friendly-Chat-Questionnaire, through nonhumn's external regulator, was achieved with each child where all children's utterances were recorded and tabulated. An extra meeting with children was achieved after the entire session.Findings: Children's self-regulation and thinking-aloud verbalization were affected by the game hero's gender; both were fluctuated even among the same gender where boys showed higher level of violent arousal. Children also showed high level of self-regulation when engaging them as deign-partners that confirmed Agina and Kommers (2008).Conclusions: Despite the negative effect of playing violent games, violent arousal has positive effect on children's development especially self-regulation and thinking aloud to express their mind's content. Thus, the most significant question for the future research on children's developmet is that: How can the violent arousal be safely transferred into children's learning settings to enable children to be “Violent-Arousal-Learners” through “Violent-Arousal-Learning”?

Investigating self-regulated learning in preschoolers

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is defined as the ability to learn through the autonomous and self-directed application of learning strategies. This interdisciplinary ability is evidentially linked to school and academic success. SRL should be fostered as early as possible to prevent disadvantageous learning habits. Preschool, as the first stage in the educational system, marks a sensitive time period in a person’s life during which SRLrelevant abilities develop. These include progress in the general self-regulation ability (gSR), executive functions (EF), as well as speech competence, as a means to accompany learning actions. To date, only a limited number of research studies have explicitly dealt with SRL in preschool-age children. Therefore, the overarching goal of this thesis is to make a scientific contribution to the investigation of SRL in preschoolers. The development of valid measurement tools is a precondition for evaluating SRL interventions. There is, however, a lack of SRL measurement tools for preschoolers. Therefore, the first study for this thesis aimed to take the first steps to develop and evaluate a direct measurement tool to assess SRL “online” on the preschooler level. An adapted version of a process model of self-regulation served as the theoretical basis for the development of this tool. To examine its validity, cross-validation was realized with the aid of an external SRL rating of kindergarten teachers, as well as an established EF measurement tool. The statistical analysis indicated satisfactory reliability for the measurement tool as a whole. Validity was supported by (small) significant overall correlations with both selected comparative measures. Nevertheless, there is still a need to optimize the direct SRL measurement tool. There is empirical support for the effectiveness of SRL interventions across different age groups, such as pupils from elementary and secondary school and university students. However, only a few studies have considered fostering SRL in preschool children. The second study aimed to make a contribution to the research on SRL interventions by constructing and evaluating an SRL intervention for preschoolers and their kindergarten teachers. Similar to the first study, the intervention is based theoretically on an adapted version of a process model of self-regulation. The intervention aimed to foster particular learning strategies of the three phases of SRL (the forethought phase, the performance phase, and the self-reflection phase). The efficacy of the intervention was examined by a longitudinal control group design for preschoolers and kindergarten teachers. The intervention took place in two different learning environments, namely a) an autonomous learning environment with no special focus on the stimulation of speech while practicing SRL learning strategies and b) a social-interactive learning environment where the SRL learning strategies were fostered with a focus on the stimulation of speech. In general, the results revealed an increase in SRL and gSR for preschoolers in all experimental conditions. Contrary to the assumption, preschoolers in the active control group showed a relatively higher increase in SRL (assessed by the external SRL rating) compared to the preschoolers in the intervention groups. Since SRL-relevant abilities develop further during the preschool years, interindividual differences between children should arise. Nevertheless, all children attending preschool have the transition to elementary school ahead of them. That is why the third study a) examined heterogeneity in the SRL-relevant abilities by identifying homogeneous subgroups (= profiles) of preschoolers and b) examined the impact of the profiles found on the benefits of an SRL intervention. The results revealed four clearly defined profiles. Due to deficits in the SRL intervention, no statements about the intervention’s differential benefits were possible. Instead, an exploratory analysis of the (intervention-boosted) developmental time course of the four profiles was conducted. This revealed that high gSR and speech competence resulted in a larger increase in SRL. This result indicates the interrelationships between the three constructs. In conclusion, the present thesis makes a contribution to the assessment and fostering of SRL in preschool children and considers heterogeneity in SRL-relevant abilities among this special age cohort.Selbstreguliertes Lernen (SRL) wird definiert als Lernen durch die selbstständige und selbstgesteuerte Anwendung von Lernstrategien. Diese fächerübergreifende Fähigkeit steht nachweislich mit schulischem sowie akademischem Erfolg in Verbindung. SRL sollte so früh wie möglich gefördert werden, um die Etablierung von ungünstigem Lernverhalten zu verhindern. Die Vorschule, als erste Etappe des Bildungssystems, stellt dabei eine sensible Phase im Leben eines Individuums dar, in welcher sich für SRL relevante Fähigkeiten entwickeln. Zu diesen gehören die allgemeine Fähigkeit zur Selbstregulation (gSR), exekutive Funktionen (EF) sowie Sprachkompetenz als Mittel zur Begleitung von Lernhandlungen. Aktuell existiert eine begrenzte Anzahl von wissenschaftlichen Studien, die sich explizit mit SRL im Vorschulalter beschäftigen. Deshalb besteht das übergeordnete Ziel dieser Dissertation darin, einen wissenschaftlichen Beitrag zur Untersuchung von SRL bei Vorschulkindern zu leisten. Die Entwicklung valider Messinstrumente ist Voraussetzung, um SRL-Interventionen evaluieren zu können. Im Bereich von VorschülerInnen fehlt es an Messinstrumenten zur Erfassung von SRL. Deshalb zielt die erste Studie dieser Dissertation darauf ab, erste Schritte in Richtung der Entwicklung und Evaluation eines direkten Messinstruments zur 'online' Erfassung von SRL bei VorschülerInnen zu unternehmen. Eine adaptierte Version eines Prozessmodells der Selbstregulation diente dabei als theoretische Basis. Um die Validität zu untersuchen, wurde eine Kreuzvalidierung mithilfe eines externalen SRL-Ratings (ausgefüllt durch die ErzieherInnen) sowie eines etablierten EFMessinstruments vorgenommen. Die statistischen Analysen ergaben eine zufriedenstellende Reliabilität des gesamten direkten SRL Messinstruments. Die Validität wurde durch (kleine) signifikante Korrelationen mit beiden Vergleichs-Messungen gestützt. Trotzdem sind Optimierungen des direkten SRL Messinstruments für VorschülerInnen notwendig. Es existieren empirische Belege für die Effektivität von SRL-Interventionen für verschiedene Altersgruppen wie SchülerInnen der Primar- und Sekundarstufe sowie StudentInnen. Aber nur wenige Studien haben die Förderung von SRL bei VorschülerInnen untersucht. Die zweite Studie leistet einen Beitrag zur SRLInterventionsforschung und zielt darauf ab, eine SRL-Intervention für VorschülerInnen und deren ErzieherInnen zu entwickeln und zu evaluieren. Ähnlich wie in der ersten Studie bildet eine adaptierte Version des Prozessmodells der Selbstregulation die theoretische Basis für die Intervention. Die Intervention beinhaltete die Förderung verschiedener Lernstrategien innerhalb der drei Phasen des SRL (Vorbereitungsphase, Handlungsphase, Selbst-Reflexionsphase). Die Effektivität der Intervention wurde mithilfe eines längsschnittlichen Kontrollgruppen-Designs für VorschülerInnen und deren ErzieherInnen untersucht. Die Intervention fand in zwei verschiedenen Lernumgebungen statt, nämlich a) einer autonomen Lernumgebung ohne spezifischen Fokus auf der Anregung von Sprache während der Lernstrategie-Einübung und b) einer sozial- interaktiven Lernumgebung, in welcher SRL-Lernstrategien mit Fokus auf der Anregung von Sprache gefördert wurden. Allgemein zeigten die Ergebnisse der Studie eine Verbesserung von SRL und gSR bei allen VorschülerInnen der drei Experimentalgruppen. Entgegen der Annahmen zeigten VorschülerInnen der aktiven Kontrollgruppe eine größere Verbesserung in SRL (erfasst über die externalen SRL-Ratings) im Vergleich zu VorschülerInnen der beiden Interventionsgruppen. Da SRL-relevante Fähigkeiten sich während des Vorschulalters weiterentwickeln, sollten sich interindividuelle Unterschiede zwischen den Kindern zeigen. Dennoch haben alle Kinder der Vorschule den Übergang zur Grundschule vor sich. Deshalb untersuchte die dritte Studie a) die Heterogenität in SRL-relevanten Fähigkeiten durch die Bildung homogener Untergruppen (= Profile) und b) den Einfluss der gefundenen Profile auf den Nutzen einer SRL-Intervention. Die Ergebnisse ergaben vier gut definierte Profile. Aufgrund von Defiziten der SRL-Intervention konnten keine Aussagen bezüglich des differentiellen Interventionsnutzens getroffen werden. Stattdessen wurde der zeitliche Entwicklungsverlauf der vier Profile (angestoßen durch eine Intervention) explorativ untersucht. Es zeigte sich, dass hohe Ausprägungen in gSR und Sprachkompetenz in einem größeren Zuwachs von SRL resultieren. Dieses Ergebnis betont die Beziehungen zwischen den drei Konstrukten. Schlussfolgernd lässt sich festhalten, dass die vorliegende Dissertation einen Beitrag zur Erfassung und Förderung von SRL bei VorschülerInnen leistet und dabei die Heterogenität in SRL-relevanten Fähigkeiten dieser besonderen Altersgruppe berücksichtigt.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG

Private sector participation in water provision : a reform policy to meet rapid growth and development, with reference to Arriyadh City, Saudi Arabia

PhD ThesisConstant increase in water demand, scarcity of resources, insufficient public finance, and the country's geographical position in one of the most and regions of the world have combined to create considerable problems in the provision of water to Saudi Arabia. This is in addition to the enormous and rapid increase in population growth, which is the main driver of demand and which was accompanied in the past by an increase in urbanisation, placing the country among the most highly urbanised countries. These conditions have instigated new patterns of demand that undermine the principle of sustainability. The high per capita consumption of water coupled with the low tariff levied by the government all represents a challenge for efficient management of water services around the country. As water provision in Saudi Arabia relies greatly upon government financing, any reduction of spending on the sector by the government is likely to mean shortage of supply and under-provision of services. The objective of this study is to increase the understanding of how the initial course of action might be explored, when seeking reform in order to promote private sector investment in the process of water services delivery. This entails potential, practicable reforms in the operation of the urban water system so as to put forward a model for such participation by the private sector, showing alternative long-term policies and institutional frameworks for the water industry and drawing key inferences concerning a new structure that will most benefit the country. Saudi Arabia is the case study, and its capital city Arriyadh is used as an example to show the impact of rapid growth upon water resources and services, and the associated implications. Basically, the case study is an intensive strategy used to access detailed knowledge in certain areas of science. To achieve the aims and objectives of this research, and to address its issues and questions a combination of primary and secondary procedures were employed to obtain the required knowledge, collection, analysis and interpretation of data. These include a literature survey, analysis of relevant documents, and focused interviews, as the objective was related to existing circumstances with a view to proposing new policies. This study finds that in the light of existing conditions, water demand will continue to increase due to projected population growth. This must mean the growing importance of seawater desalination in the future. Meeting demand with desalinated water entails new and significant expansion for the industry, and this will require vast investments which the government might not be able to provide. Given that, private sector involvement appears to offer a viable option for developing and running large-scale projects for water production. This study also indicates the importance of synchronised fundamental changes, with such participation including water tariff restructuring and effective control of network leakage, among others. Not surprisingly such changes in the water sector are both possible and expected, given the trend for this and other governments to increase the private sector's contribution to economic activities. The study offers a range of guiding principles that should be considered in line with the prospective changes in the country's water services. Finally, recommendations are made to support policy-makers in reaching appropriate decisions with respect to this vital resource, together with the intention of achieving greater sustainability in water development and management programmes

A narrative exploration of meaning in the public sector

My thesis is a narrative exploration of making meaning in the public sector, drawing on my own lived experience of a radical 'reformation' of the British welfare state over the past two decades. This has been characterised by contested theoretical and political views about the commercialisation of public services, by the experience of turbulent social movements and public sector management, and by a profound sense of loss. The thesis is structured around an alternating weave of story and theory, which contributes to an iterative movement of different forms of reflection. As a researcher, I take up the role of a first-person narrator. This narrative approach is shaped by two discourses, which both emphasise awareness of the social and group dimension. Firstly, complex responsive processes of relating (Stacey et al, 2000; Stacey and Griffin, 2005) introduces a new and different dimension into use of narrative: one in which meaning making and ethical insight (Griffin, 2002,2005) are seen as emerging through social interaction. Secondly, the narrative work draws on psychosocial insights into the emotional life and politics of public services, particularly by Hoggett (1992,2000), Cooper (2003) and Cooper and Lousada (2005). Thirdly, it draws on a body of critical social theory about the new public management particularly by Newman (2000,2005), Du Gay (2000), Hall (2003) and Finlayson (2003). The thesis captures the lived experience of a social history and social movements around local government and addresses the question whether it matters if we now send public services 'off to the market'? I conclude that the idea of a 'public sector' is still critically important to our social well-being and that a public service ethos is to be rethought in terms of a capacity for human relating and intimacy, in contrast to the present orientation towards the utilitarian and pragmatic emphasis on efficiency and performance management. I identify the absence of 'a place to think' as an increasingly important phenomenon and advocate a new kind of conversation: one which draws on story and oral history to reflect on the emotional and moral capacities of a public service ethic confronted by intensive commercialisation and the rapid growth of a private public service sector and new monopolies

Critical linkages: Transnational living and prospects for private senders of money from Britain to Ghana and Nigeria

The discourse on remittance flows has been predominantly financialised, focusing on their development impacts, securitisation in financial markets, and as risks to global financial systems through money laundering, terrorist financing and tax evasion. This has resulted in neglect of senders' perspectives and voices, even though senders bear the financial and human costs of remittances. This is a complex social phenomenon. Adopting bricolage using a mixed methods approach, based on the experiences of Ghanaian and Nigerian senders living in Britain, this study draws on conceptual frameworks of transnationalism, financialisation and wellbeing, and critical theory, to examine the financialisation of remittances, senders' transnational living and livelihoods, and well-being. The research findings are based on reviews of academic and policy literature from transnationalism, social policy and behavioural finance, synthesised with empirical data gathered from a group interview, quantitative survey and in-depth interviews of Ghanaian and Nigerian senders based in Britain. There are five main research findings: participating senders are not only migrant workers, but include British citizens; remittances constitute transnational social protection finance; efforts made by senders through transnational living strategies, sacrifice, and efforts to make recipients feel cared about, are understood as emotional labour; the policy and regulatory environment represents financialisation from 'above'. By highlighting senders' perspectives on remittance sending as a practice that has socio-cultural meanings, where money plays a role in mediating and shaping the dynamic family relationships underpinning the 'surface' financial transaction, the study additionally illuminates ways in which transnational family relationships can become financialised. Through understanding remittances as transnational social protection, and its sending practices as emotional labour and emotion in finance, the study contributes new data, methods, and concepts, drawing together multiple subject disciplines including social policy, international development, and behavioural finance that have traditionally been studied separately, demonstrating areas where they intersect and enrich each other

Essays on Improving the Regulation and Supervision of Insurance in PR China

PhDThis thesis consists of six chapters dealing with several issues related to the common theme of improving the insurance regulation and supervision in China based on China's realities and experience drawn from some selected regimes. Chapter I provides an overview of China! s insurance industry and its regulatory framework with an aim at providing a platform for deeper discussions in the following chapters. In particular, it reviews the 2002 revision of PRC Insurance Law. Chapter 2 critically examines the liberalisation process, competition issues and relevant legal framework in China's insurance sector in the context of the WTO accession and the international convergence of regulatory standards and practices. Chapter 3 examines how China's insurance regulation and supervision can be effectively and efficiently improved by the implementation of market-based approaches, shifling some of responsibilities for supervision onto insurance firms and the insurance industry through greater corporate governance, active self-rcgulation by the industry, and reinforced insurers' transparency. Chapter 4 addresses issues on the restructuring of China's insurance prudential regulation and supervision from four sides: the inefficiency of solvency management existing in the insurance industry, the framework of prudential regulation, the upgrade of early warning system, and the need to establish policyholder protection funds. Chapter 5 demonstrates the urgent needs for both relaxing restrictions on insurers' investment and improving investment regulation, and discusses a set of regulatory measures that would both facilitate insurers' effective portfolio management and safeguard the soundness of the insurance sector. Chapter 6 examines rate regulation and impacts of rate deregulation in China's nonlife insurance markets, focusing on auto insurance as a typical case. By drawing experience from the rate regulation in the US property and casualty insurance, it shows that China needs certain legal environment to escort a gradual liberalisation of rate control

Identifying and enabling core management competencies and compliance factors in high reliability organisations : a study in organisational risk management psychology and training: A small n modified grounded theory qualitative analysis

High reliability entities governed by statutory regulations are required to comply with safety guidelines and specifications. When fatalities or serious injuries occur in otherwise preventable accidents these entities are routinely exonerated from any responsibility by claiming to have ‘systemic management problems’ and their managing coalitions have been able to hide behind the ‘corporate veil’. This thesis maintains that the core managerial competencies needed to prevent preventable accidents, can be acquired through training, particularly if their mastery is mandated by a strong regulatory and compliance regime. The cases chosen for analysis revealed ten core managerial and organisational competencies and compliance as issues of concern, in a small n study Commission of Inquiry and Coronial reports. Other than ‘acts of God’, most accidents resulting in fatalities and serious injury, occur in organisations where prior knowledge of a potential accident existed and this knowledge was not utilised. Most accidents in high reliability organisations might have been prevented if the cascade of events leading to the accidents could have been interrupted. The competencies, revealed by the research as necessary to intervene in the unfolding of preventable accidents, are generally not taught in orthodox management studies programs in higher education institutions. However, when these competencies are inadequate they not only result in accidents but also cause orthodox management problems such as production delays and losses, costly litigation, increasing indemnity insurance and erosion of an organisation’s credibility in the marketplace

Ethical issues for the management and accountability of Christian charities in facing change

This thesis explores issues, ethical demands and appropriate responses relevant to those managing and accountable for change in charities founded with Christian inspiration. While Business Ethics and motivational factors within profit-orientated corporate entities have received increasing attention, ethics relating to the operations of the 'notfor-loss' voluntary sector and of ecclesiastical bodies remain relatively less investigated.The purpose of the research is to discern, then formulate, pragmatic guidance which is both theologically based and managerially useful to those responsible not only for charities but also for many other institutions. It focuses on aspects of religious endeavour where, although often perceived separately, sacred and secular are inextricably entwined. Charitable and income-generating activities of churches ought to be prime proving grounds, for wider potential application within other and diverse organisations, of ethical principles put into practiceThe methodology concentrates on observation of three case-studies, one literary/historical and two contemporary, with active participation in the latter two so that the sharpness of the dilemmas and attempts at solutions reflect in-depth experience. Correspondence is used as a significant source for understanding the factors, criteria and opinions influencing those closely involved.The literary/historical study describes the experience of St Basil and fellow bishops in Fourth century Cappadocia in defining functions and boundaries for senior clergy as churches developed into major religious and social institutions adopting many state responsibilities. To clarify both context and ramifications, concurrent and consequent legal statutes relevant to ecclesiastical management are described and discussed. Important findings are both Basil's awareness of constant tension between "Liberality" and "Fairness" and also the significant limitations of regulations, except where complementary to the essential application of personal qualities