Factors affecting phone engagement whilst driving- are they transferable from outside the vehicle?

Mobile phone use whilst driving can be considered to have a negative impact on driving performance; yet mobile phones have become an integrated, useful and often important part of people’s everyday lives. This study therefore investigates whether phone engagement habits and behaviours transfer from outside of the car to when behind the wheel also. It uses a semi-structured interview methodology, with Thematic Analysis, to find if there is anything unique to driving which inhibits drivers from mobile phone usage or is the car considered just another environment in which to use the phone to communicate and be entertained

Factors affecting drivers willingness to engage with a mobile phone while driving

This thesis investigates drivers willingness to engage with a mobile phone while driving. Many studies have looked into the effects on driving performance that can result from phone usage, but few studies have directly considered what can encourage or inhibit phone engagement behaviours in the first place. An initial exploratory study (Study 1) was conducted, for which a photo elicitation interview (N=20) was designed and implemented. This aimed to find the extent to which factors influencing phone use transferred from out of the car to the driving environment. In particular, the study aimed to explore whether the driving environment could be considered unique. The results indicated that the high demands placed on the driver by the road environment clearly distinguished it from the other environments and the reported propensity to use a phone seemed to reflect this. Only factors which either changed the level of attention required by the task, such as a change in task demand as a result of changes in the traffic environment, had any substantial influence on willingness to engage. Driving may not be unique in terms of the overall factors influencing phone use but it is unique in the extent to which this particular factor seems to have such a strong bearing on interaction. Building on findings from Study 1, that the demand and attention required seemed to influence willingness to engage, it was noted that Fuller s (2005) Task Capability Interface model would serve as a useful framework for the remainder of the thesis. This model suggests that driver behaviour is dictated by the level of task difficulty perceived; an interaction between task demand and capability. Therefore, the effects these two elements might have on willingness to engage with mobile phones while driving were tested separately in the two remaining studies. Previous research suggested that task demand should comprise a combination of roadway demand and the intended phoning task. Study 2, therefore, experimentally tested the extent to which road demand and phone function intended to be used influenced drivers decisions to engage with their phone. Participants (N=20) viewed video clips of real road environments of varying demand. Rating scales were used by participants to rate their willingness to engage with various phone functions according to the scenario they had just viewed. It was found both roadway demand and phone functionality affected willingness to engage with a mobile phone whilst driving. There was a higher propensity to engage in phone use in road environments perceived to have a lower demand and lower propensity to engage in phone use in the highest demand scenarios. Answering a call was the most likely function to be engaged with by the participants and sending a text message was the least likely. The final study investigated how capability (comprising both phone and driving capability) influenced willingness to engage. Participants (N=40) were required to drive in a simulator under two conditions, simulated low and high road demand. Their willingness to interact with their phones, when faced with a number of phone tasks, was then observed. It was found that driving capability had an effect on willingness to engage in high demand scenarios with the less capable, novice, drivers having a higher propensity to engage with placing a call, sending a text message and reading a text message than the more experienced drivers. Novice drivers were willing to engage with some functions on their phone at possibly inappropriate times. It was further found that, in the simulated low demand road environment, phone capability influenced willingness to engage, with those who were more capable at placing a call and sending a text message found to be more willing to engage with these functions. The research reported in this thesis represents the first attempt in the literature to study, in depth, the factors which can influence phone engagement behaviour while driving. Novel contributions include investigating if factors influencing phone use transferred from out of the car to the driving environment. Further novel contributions included whether the phone function and road demand interact to influence willingness to engage and whether capability can affect phone engagement behaviour while driving. Extending the model developed by Fuller, the thesis offers an original model that describes the factors affecting phone engagement behaviour while driving. Suggestions are proposed for how the findings presented in this thesis can effectively be used and how future work should build on these initial foundations

A qualitative enquiry into the threshold of acceptable behaviour on the internet: perceptions of police officers and prosecutors on the barriers to successful investigation and prosecution of cyberstalkers

Cyberstalking is a cyber-enabled crime which can be difficult to investigate and prosecute because offenders engage in the conduct in cyber space. The purpose of this study is to highlight the difficulties which police officers and prosecutors perceive hinder them in the investigation and prosecution of cyberstalkers. The study identifies solutions to the perceived difficulties and makes recommendations. The research participants consisted of 50 London prosecutors and 25 police officers. Participants provided data on the topic under investigation in their roles as the primary law enforcement officials who investigate and prosecute cyberstalkers. A Member of Parliament, probation official and Northern Ireland government policy adviser were also interviewed because they provided data from the perspectives of government and probation officials. The qualitative research method of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was considered most appropriate because the study investigated the lived human experiences of the participants and their perceptions of the topic under investigation. Emergent themes were identified from the numerous interview transcripts and analysed to explore the experiences of the participants in relation to the research questions. The research identified various perceived thresholds for distinguishing rudeness, abuse and unpleasant comments on the internet from cyberstalking. Additionally, the study 6 perceived law enforcement issues which frustrate police officers and prosecutors in the investigation and prosecution of cyberstalkers were identified. The research further revealed that lack of resources, lack of knowledge and evidential difficulties are perceived to impede the investigation and prosecution of cyberstalkers. Importantly, the study found that factors such as shortage of manpower, heavy caseloads, anonymity of cyberstalkers and victim behaviour can prevent police officers from risk assessing victims. The thesis therefore makes recommendations for the recruitment of additional staff, the regular training of police officers and prosecutors on cyberstalking and the education of victims by police officers of the risks posed by cyberstalkers and the implications of not supporting the prosecution of offenders. Importantly, the thesis recommends that police officers should be trained on how to identify, monitor and manage the risks posed by anonymous and mentally ill cyberstalkers. The recommendation for the CPS is based on the researcher’s personal view of the research. The researcher concedes that the research was conducted at a specific time and that a limited number of prosecutors were interviewed for the research. The researcher acknowledges that there has been a lot of training of prosecutors by both the prosecution college and the central training team subsequent to the conclusion of this research. The researcher also recognises that the department is in the process of actively recruiting more prosecutors

Young peoples’ lived experiences of shifts between face-to-face and smartphone interactions: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Users of smartphones are finding new ways to shift between the online and the physical world, due to increases in the number of people who go online while ‘out and about’. This study focuses on youths’ lived experiences of using and managing their smartphones and how they navigate their shifts between face to face and digital interactions. Semi-structured interviews with seven smartphone users were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The overarching theme was how participants establish and experience presence through their shifts between face to face and digital interactions. Three themes were developed; constant availability vs be present with me; projection and protection of self; dystopian world: disconnection and separation. The study’s findings highlight that to be ‘present’ while physically with others is socially desirable. Participants depicted a dystopian world when others fail to manage their phone use. The study also highlights the complex identity work that participants engaged in as they navigate social norms around presence

Problematic smartphone use: investigating contemporary experiences using a convergent design

Internet-enabled smartphones are increasingly ubiquitous in the Western world. Research suggests a number of problems can result from mobile phone overuse, including dependence, dangerous and prohibited use. For over a decade, this has been measured by the Problematic Mobile Phone Use Questionnaire (PMPU-Q). Given the rapid developments in mobile technologies, changes of use patterns and possible problematic and addictive use, the aim of the present study was to investigate and validate an updated contemporary version of the PMPU-Q (PMPU-Q-R). A mixed methods convergent design was employed, including a psychometric survey (N = 512) alongside qualitative focus groups (N = 21), to elicit experiences and perceptions of problematic smartphone use. The results suggest the PMPU-Q-R factor structure can be updated to include smartphone dependence, dangerous driving, and antisocial smartphone use factors. Theories of problematic mobile phone use require consideration of the ubiquity and indispensability of smartphones in the present day and age, particularly regarding use whilst driving and in social interactions

Clinical Instructors' Strategies for Preventing Nursing Student Incivility during their Preparatory Training: A Qualitative Exploration

Background: Incivility during the learning process has consequences for instructors and learners. The purpose of this study was to explore the strategies clinical instructors use in the prevention of nursing students’ incivility during their preparatory nursing training.Method: This study was conducted using qualitative methods involving semi-structured interviews of clinical instructors who were selected by purposive sampling. 10 interviews were conducted and data saturation was achieved. The text of the interviews was transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic content analysis (Graneheim and Lundman 2004).Results: In order to prevent incivility, strategies included restating the rules and boundaries, culture shaping through group work, reenergizing the students, and coordinating instruction. Incivility requires a range of active management approaches and pre-planning to reduce incidence.Conclusion: Clinical instructors and educational managers should continually monitor incivility within their educational systems and seek innovative and effective approaches to address issues as they arise. Incidence of incivility is an increasing likelihood and planning is necessary to raise awareness for students and instructors of these behaviors, in order to establish a closer working relationship and become familiar with each others’ perspectives. This will help foster a culture conducive to learning rather than conflict

Disrespect in Consumer Markets: An analysis of causes and effects using the Critical Incident Technique

As consumer reportings of disrespect become more frequent, it is important to gain an in-depth understanding of potential causes and consequences of disrespectful behaviour. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to examine behaviours that define disrespect in the marketplace, the effects on customers and implications on organisations. The findings revealed six main themes representing causes or influencers of disrespect. These are rude responses, perceptions of discrimination, the presence of an audience, a sale-focussed atmosphere, personal conversations and process-related problems. Two important concepts emerged through analysis of behaviours that cause disrespect. The first considers that disrespectful behaviour can be categorised as being either person-related or process-related. An important finding was that switching behaviour dominantly resulted from process-related disrespect. The second emergent concept was based on the idea that some causes of disrespect may be specific to market environments. In such cases, perceptions of disrespect were influenced by the high standards of service that customers expect in the marketplace. Analysing the effects of disrespect on customers also revealed new findings. It was interesting to find that victims considered the offender‟s perspective following a disrespectful encounter. Evidence of this transpired through empathy towards the disrespectful party and concern for the organisation. Two distinct coping mechanisms used by victims were also uncovered. These were decisions to change future behaviour and mutual disrespect. In regards to implications of disrespect on organisations, many disrespected customers continued patronising organisations responsible; however, this was accompanied by a decrease in relationship strength

Impoliteness in Children’s Fiction: Linguistic and Cross-Cultural Aspects

The concept of linguistic impoliteness has gained importance in recent research (see e.g. Culpeper 2011). While research interest has focused on diverse aspects and areas of application, such as impoliteness in the media (e.g. Culpeper 2005; Dynel 2016; Lorenzo-Dus 2009), or impoliteness in dramatic texts (e.g. Culpeper 1998; Rudanko 2006), the question of how and in which ways impoliteness is expressed and conceptualised in fiction for young readers has so far remained a research desideratum. This analysis aims at closing this gap in research and addresses the importance of understanding the use of impoliteness in fiction from an interdisciplinary perspective, drawing together methodologies and results from diverse disciplines, such as linguistic pragmatics, translation studies, and literary science. The data for this study consists of four contemporary English-language children’s books and book series for readers aged 9 to 12 years of age. The analysis begins on an impoliteness2-level, applying a third-wave sociological impoliteness model (Culpeper 2011) to the data that was adapted to children’s fiction. This analytical step shows how and in which ways, i.e. with the usage of which strategies, impoliteness is expressed by characters in contemporary children’s fiction. The focus of the analysis then shifts to an impoltieness1-level, and to an analysis of the metalanguage surrounding impoliteness events, on the level of the characters as well as the narrator. As young readers are yet to be socialised into their cultures and the preferred usage of impoliteness, metalanguage helps the reader conceptualise impoliteness events. Finally, what is understood as impolite differs in various speech communities and cultures. Thus, it opens the question as to how impoliteness is translated in popular children’s fiction. In a final analytical step, then, a case study of the translation of impoliteness events in the Harry Potter series is presented. This answers the question whether German pragmatic preferences such as greater directness (e.g. House 2010) are accommodated, i.e. whether the translation follows the translation strategies of domestication (Oittinen 1993) or foreignization (Klingberg 1986). In all, the analysis gives a concise overview over how impoliteness is expressed, commented on and translated in contemporary children’s fiction

Treatment-seeking for tuberculosis-suggestive symptoms: a reflection on the role of human agency in the context of universal health coverage in Malawi

Tuberculosis (TB) is highly infectious and one of the leading killers globally. Several studies from sub-Saharan Africa highlight health systems challenges that affect ability to cope with existing disease burden, including TB, although most of these employ survey-type approaches. Consequently, few address community or patient perspectives and experiences. At the same time, understanding of the mechanisms by which the health systems challenges translate into seeking or avoidance of formal health care remains limited. This paper applies the notion of human agency to examine the ways people who have symptoms suggestive of TB respond to and deal with the symptoms vis-à-vis major challenges inherent within health delivery systems. Empirical data were drawn from a qualitative study exploring the ways in which notions of masculinity affect engagement with care, including men's well-documented tendency to delay in seeking care for TB symptoms. The study was carried out in three high-density locales of urban Blantyre, Malawi. Data were collected in March 2011 -March 2012 using focus group discussions, of which eight (mixed sex = two; female only = three; male only = three) were with 74 ordinary community members, and two (both mixed sex) were with 20 health workers; and in-depth interviews with 20 TB patients (female = 14) and 20 un-investigated chronic coughers (female = eight). The research process employed a modified version of grounded theory. Data were coded using a coding scheme that was initially generated from the study aims and subsequently progressively amended to incorporate concepts emerging during the analysis. Coded data were retrieved, re-read, and broken down and reconnected iteratively to generate themes. A myriad of problems were described for health systems at the primary health care level, centring largely on shortages of resources (human, equipment, and drugs) and unprofessional conduct by health care providers. Participants consistently pointed out how the problems could drive patients from promptly reporting symptoms at primary healthcare centres. The accounts suggest that in responding to illness symptoms including those suggestive of TB, patients navigate their options taking into cognisance past and current experiences with formal health systems. Understanding and factoring in the mediating role of such 'agency' is critical when implementing efforts to promote timely response to TB-suggestive symptoms

Notions of impoliteness at the Argentinian workplace. Representations and evaluations from users and learners of EFL for business purposes

Treball Final de Màster Universitari en Ensenyament i Adquisició de la Llengua Anglesa en Contextos Multilingües. Codi: SAY531. Curs acadèmic: 2011-2012Despite some attention given to the teaching of politeness phenomena from a non-universalistic view (Brown, 2010; Cashman, 2006; Meier, 1997; Nurmukhamedov & Kim, 2010; Sharifian, 2008; Uso-Juan & Martinez-Flor, 2007), impoliteness has largely been ignored by both teachers and researchers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) (Mugford, 2008, 2009). This is particularly true in the area of English for Business Purposes (BP), where the understanding of cross-cultural variation in the perception of impoliteness is but starting (Culpeper, Crawshaw, & Harrison, 2008; Culpeper, Marti, Mei, Nevala, & Schauer, 2010). Given such state-of-the-art, I contribute to this area by researching first-order notions of impoliteness (Watts, 2003) as it emerges from Argentinian users and learners of EFL-BP when exchanging emails with U.S. American employees in workplace contexts. From a natural corpus of emails, I select two syndicated conflictive email sequences (words=939) as the basis for the design of research instruments. These involve a questionnaire and a discourse completion test to Argentinian participants (n=22), as well as a semi-structured interview to U.S. American interviewees (n=10). Argentinian participants characterize impoliteness through features referring to aggressiveness, imperativeness, inappropriateness, inconsiderateness, heedlessness, unfairness, and evasiveness, while U.S. Americans referred to interrupting, tardiness, and uncooperativeness. Initial pedagogic implications for the teaching of impoliteness are derived from these results