Related scientific information: a study on user-defined relevance.

This dissertation presents an investigation into the manifestations of relevance observed in the context of related scientific information. The main motivation is to observe if researchers, in the context of knowledge discovery, use different criteria to judge the relevance of the information presented. Additionally, the effects that discipline and research experience background may have on these manifestations are investigated. The scenario selected to carry out the observation is that of Literature Based Discovery (LBD). LBD is a trial-error interactive search strategy, developed by Swanson (1986a), which supports the finding and retrieving of complementary bodies of literature “ sets of articles that are bibliographically non-interactive yet logically connected. Research scientists from three different disciplines and research experience backgrounds are observed while they interact with an LBD system built for the purposes of this study. Their cognitive processes and interactions are recorded and analysed. To aid in the analysis of the data, the concept of relevance criteria profiles is developed. Relevance criteria profiles are a technique to count and group the expressions of relevance criteria as observed during the search sessions. These offer the possibility of aggregating the observations into group profiles as well as the ability to measure the (dis)similarities that may arise in between profiles. As relevance criteria profiles provide a global view of the criteria used to judge relevance, a complementary visualisation technique is also developed. This technique displays the relevance judgement processes, as well as the interactions, in a sequential fashion allowing the researcher to perform temporal analyses on the session data. The results show that researchers do use a variety of criteria when judging the relevance of information in the context of LBD. Moreover, individuals use these criteria in different frequencies; both discipline and research experience background seem to influence these frequencies however they may not be the only intervening factors. The observed interaction patterns suggest that researchers approach the problem in two stages: i) an initial more exploratory stage followed by ii) a more focused and engaged stage. The main contribution of this thesis is the observation of these manifestations of relevance together with the interaction patterns. The final recommendation offered is that the multi-dimensional nature of relevance in this context should be addressed when evaluating LBD systems. Additionally, it is acknowledged that certain interaction behaviours may also be used during the design and testing of such systems

Knowledge synthesis in the biomedical literature: Nordihydroguaiaretic acid and breast cancer.

This dissertation refines knowledge synthesis from publicly accessible databases, based on the model of D.R. Swanson. Knowledge synthesis endeavors bring together two or more non-interactive literatures to create combinatorial research data on a specific topic. In this endeavor the biomedical literature was searched on the anti-neoplastic agent nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) for its potential role as a functional food in the chemoprevention of breast cancer. Bibliometric cocitation was utilized to identify complementary but non-interactive literatures in the disciplines of biomedicine and dietary science. The continuing specialization and fragmentation of the cancer literature degenerates the potential usefulness of cross-disciplinary research and information. As the biomedical sciences become more specialized the potential increases for isolation of discoveries and for failures to connect science to the needs of the people. Within the information science discipline several techniques are available to bridge the isolation between discoveries recorded in different sets of literatures. Electronic database searching with combinatorial keyword entries, syllogistic modeling and bibliometric author cocitation analysis are the principle techniques applied in this endeavor. The research questions are addressed to the absence or presence of human in vivo research on breast cancer with the potentially chemopreventative functional food NDGA. Utilizing a syllogistic model the literatures of functional foods, nordihydroguaiaretic acid and breast cancer were searched with designated combinatorial keywords. The documents retrieved were subjected to author cocitation analysis to demonstrate disjointness or connectivity of the two complementary literatures. The results demonstrated a possible preventative relationship between breast cancer in women and nordihydroguaiaretic acid, a phytochemical antioxidant and potential functional food. The results of this study are consistent with D.R. Swanson's pioneering work in knowledge synthesis. Swanson's methods can be used to identify non-interactive, disjoint literatures. Continuing support for his techniques has been demonstrated

Effects of Imagery-Eliciting Strategies on Imagery Processing, Memory, Beliefs, Attitudes, and Intentions From Print Advertisements.

The dissertation research examined four research questions. First, the question of whether or not imagery processing could be measured was addressed. It was assumed that mental imagery does exist and can be measured in three dimensions: quality, quantity, and elaboration. Support for this assumption is provided by the psychometric properties of the scale developed to measure imagery processing in concert with the support toward nomological validity of the construct that was provided by applying the scale in an experiment. Second, antecedents to mental imagery were examined, namely, the imagery-eliciting strategies of pictures and instructions to imagine, and their effects on consequence variables of memory, beliefs, attitudes, and intentions. A range of pictures was examined instead of simple pictures versus words. Also, it was shown that including instructions to imagine within message stimuli was more effective than not including instructions to imagine within message stimuli for several consequence variables studied. Pictures included in a print advertisement enhanced brand attitudes; more specifically, concrete pictures resulted in greater brand attitudes than either abstract or no pictures. More positive attitudes toward the advertisement were evident from concrete pictures as opposed to abstract pictures. Instructions to imagine enhanced inferred beliefs and attitudes. Third, the moderating role of processing preference on relationships between imagery-eliciting strategies and consequence variables and between imagery-eliciting strategies and dimensions of imagery processing was examined. This hypothesis was not supported. Fourth, the mediating role of imagery processing on relationships found between imagery-eliciting strategies and consequence variables was examined. When the mediating role of imagery processing, specifically elaboration and quality, was examined, relationships between imagery-eliciting strategies and consequence variables were completely or partially explained by those dimensions. Thus, further understanding of the effects of imagery-eliciting strategies in a print advertising context is provided

Theoretical analysis of the philosophy and practice of disciplined inquiry

2015 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.This dissertation theoretically examined the process of disciplined inquiry in the social sciences from its philosophical foundations to its extensions into practice. Key to conceptualization of disciplined inquiry were two regulative ideals: the commitment to the concepts that define the possibility of experience and the commitment to processes for combining the concepts of experience. The paradigm theory of Lincoln, Lynham, and Guba (e.g., Lincoln & Lynham, 2011; Lincoln, Lynham, & Guba, 2011) provided a sophisticated explanation of the possibility of experience that inquirers can commit to when engaging in disciplined inquires. Review of literature revealed an inadequacy in the state of theoretical understanding of processes for combining the concepts of experience. To develop a theoretical agenda of research for disciplined inquiry, the literature on paradigm theory and theory building was analyzed. A historical analysis of paradigm theory revealed milestones in more than 40 years of inquiry focused on conceptualization of the theory. A reverse engineering analysis theoretically examined paradigm theory and its milestones identified from the historical analysis for key features of the theoretical process. A revised conceptualization of disciplined inquiry was presented and a theoretical agenda for developing the underlying theoretical framework for the processes of combining the concepts of experience was outlined

Handbook of Positive Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality

This handbook aims to bridge the gap between the fields of positive psychology and the psychology of religion and spirituality. It is the authoritative guide to the intersections among religion, spirituality, and positive psychology and includes the following sections: (1) historical and theoretical considerations, (2) methodological considerations, (3) cultural considerations, (4) developmental considerations, (5) empirical research on happiness and well-being in relation to religion and spirituality, (6) empirical research on character strengths and virtues in relation to religion and spirituality, (7) clinical and applied considerations, and (8) field unification and advancement. Leading positive psychologists and psychologists of religion/spirituality have coauthored the chapters, drawing on expertise from their respective fields. The handbook is useful for social and clinical scientists, practitioners in helping professions, practitioners in religious and spiritual fields, and students of psychology and religion/spirituality. This is an open access book

Handbook of Positive Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality

This handbook aims to bridge the gap between the fields of positive psychology and the psychology of religion and spirituality. It is the authoritative guide to the intersections among religion, spirituality, and positive psychology and includes the following sections: (1) historical and theoretical considerations, (2) methodological considerations, (3) cultural considerations, (4) developmental considerations, (5) empirical research on happiness and well-being in relation to religion and spirituality, (6) empirical research on character strengths and virtues in relation to religion and spirituality, (7) clinical and applied considerations, and (8) field unification and advancement. Leading positive psychologists and psychologists of religion/spirituality have coauthored the chapters, drawing on expertise from their respective fields. The handbook is useful for social and clinical scientists, practitioners in helping professions, practitioners in religious and spiritual fields, and students of psychology and religion/spirituality. This is an open access book

URI Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Catalog 1995-1997

This is a digitized, downloadable version of the 1995-97 Bulletin of the University of Rhode Island: Undergraduate and Graduate Studies.https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/course-catalogs/1048/thumbnail.jp

URI Undergraduate Course Catalog 1992-1993

This is a digitized, downloadable version of the University of Rhode Island Undergraduate Course Catalog.https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/course-catalogs/1042/thumbnail.jp