Land Grant Application- Barker, Daniel (Bethel)

Land grant application submitted to the Maine Land Office on behalf of Daniel Barker for service in the Revolutionary War, by their widow Rachel.https://digitalmaine.com/revolutionary_war_me_land_office/1061/thumbnail.jp

A measurement scale for students’ usage of online networks

Studies suggest that students are increasingly turning to information and communication technologies as learning tools in which they can present multiple identities quite explicitly tied to context, knowledge and understanding within online networks. Hence it is imperative for educational institutions to understand how twenty-first-century learners use online networks for their identity formation and learning experiences. Through a systematic review of existing instruments, constructs and elements were identified and used to develop a new conceptual research framework which was quantitatively tested on a convenience sample of students (n=300) at Sunway University in Malaysia. Based on the results, a measurement scale was developed and analysed through structural equation modelling and confirmatory factor analysis. The responses of the students revealed they are more likely to use online networks for identity formation than for the learning experience and that there is a relationship between identity formation, the learning experience and the use of online networks

Measuring integrated internal communication: A South African case study

The multidisciplinary concept of communication as it manifests itself in organisations is becoming more and more important; hence, it is suggested that it should be measured to determine the satisfaction of employees with integrated internal communication (IIC). The purpose of this study was, therefore, to develop a measuring tool for IIC to address limitations in the existing instruments that are arguably outdated and no longer address current trends. A sequential exploratory mixed methods approach was used to explore existing communication audit instruments that were used as the basis for the development of a new integrated internal communication audit (IICA) that was tested to evaluate the communication strengths and weaknesses at the University of South Africa library. The findings revealed that the IICA tool was an adequate tool for measuring the library’s IIC systems, with a Cronbach’s alpha of .950, which is seen as excellent. The results indicated that employees preferred communication systems that provided them with timeous, transparent, and continuous communication. Employees’ preferred communication channels included email, face-toface meetings, info-web, and written communication like letters and memos. The IICA tool recognises the importance of organisational values, employment equity, customised service and ubuntu that are not evident in previous instruments; hence, the results make a unique contribution to the field of organisational communication

Predictors of Induced Abortion Among Female Youth Center Users in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti

Objective: Induced abortions occur in every country in the world. However sixty percent of the world\u27s women live in countries where abortion is illegal. 19 million pregnancies end in unsafe and/or illegal abortions. Annually, 68,000 women die from unsafe abortions. Legal or not, unsafe abortion is one of the great neglected problems of health care in developing countries like Haiti and is a serious concern to women during their reproductive lives. Methods: The data for this study was collected from youth centers (ages 15-24) and used to estimate percentage distributions of abortion ratios by selected characteristics of women, particularly age at first pregnancy, education levels, relationship status with partner and history of contraception use. Results: 23.9 abortions were reported for every 100 pregnancies. Females with higher education andlor currently students were 3 times more likely to have had an abortion than less educated or non-student females. Decreases in relationship stability, specifically single females, increased the risk for abortion. Increased number of pregnancies significantly increased the risk of ever having had an abortion (three or more pregnancies increases risk 10 fold). Only 12.7% reported use of modern contraception prior to last pregnancy with 71.4% stating that their last pregnancy was not wanted. Conclusion: Prevalence of induced abortion is relatively high in this population specifically occurring among women who are single, more educated, and students. Increased number of pregnancies dramatically increases the risk for abortions. This implies that these females are using abortion as a way to control fertility

IDENTITY IN ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS: ARTIFICIAL AND/OR REAL?

The search for and research on identity is as powerful as the technological change in the history of the globalised world. Despite this, the subject of identity, which gained importance the last few years, has not received the attention it deserves. Furthermore, limited research, especially from a communicative perspective, has been conducted on social processes and phenomena which are used to create online identities. One reason might be the social implications from the formation and use of online identities and advancement in processes of their transference into the real world, which can have far reaching implications. Based on recent recommend-dations that future research should focus on a theoretical exploration of identities in online social networks (Acun 2011; Attrill & Jalil 2011), this study sets out to investigate and address these gaps and to present a theoretical overview of the social processes and phenomena in the formation of identity in online social networks. Drawing from social constructionism, social categorization, social identity and knowledge management theoretical paradigms, as well as a consideration of the notional constructs of identity and online social networks, the main theoretical approaches to and key criteria thereof are proposed. This paper therefore aims to serve the purpose to review the theoretical perspectives used to explain the formation of identities in online social networks and to identify the characteristics and factors that impede on it

IDENTITY CREATION IN ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS: A THEORETICAL EXPLORATION

Identity and online social networks are phenomena of our time and the search for and research on it is as powerful as the technological change in the history of the globalised world. On the one hand online social networks offer individuals the opportunity to create multiple identities based on valid information, and on the other hand acknowledge the fact these identities might be false and based on misinformation. In spite of the increased use of online social networks, limited research, especially from a communicative perspective, has been conducted on social processes and phenomena which are used to create online identities. One reason might be the social implications from the formation and use of online identities and advancement in processes of their transference into the real world. Based on recommendations by Acun (2011) and Attrill & Jalil (2011) that future research should focus on a theoretical exploration of identities in online social networks, this study sets out to investigate and address these gaps and to present a theoretical overview of the social processes and phenomena in the formation of identity in online social networks through an interpretivistic paradigm to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon. Drawing from social constructionism, social categorization, identity, social identity and knowledge management theoretical paradigms, as well as a consideration of the notional constructs of identity and online social networks, the main theoretical approaches to and key criteria thereof are proposed. This article therefore aims to serve the purpose to review the theoretical perspectives used to explain the formation of identities in online social networks and to identify the characteristics and factors that impede on it

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND KNOWLEDGE LEADERS AS CHANGE AGENTS DURING TRANSFORMATION IN EMERGING KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATIONS: A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

From a postmodern perspective, the organisational environment is significantly different because of the globalised technological advances that affect communication and knowledge. The commonality of most recent research indicates an emphasised focus on knowledge management (technical, human and communication components) and knowledge leaders to implement strategic integrated communication to ensure the sustainability of knowledge organizations. Knowledge management focuses on two main theoretical perspectives, namely human capital and knowledge based theory; and the theory on strategic integrated communication emphasizes that knowledge leaders should acknowledge the premises of the strategic intent of the emerging knowledge organizations through the management of information, innovation, creativity, cultural aspects, participation and inputs from the environment based on trust, loyalty, integrity and credibility. The research problem is that in spite of the tremendous research opportunities to examine these constructs, limited research has been conducted from emerging organizational and knowledge leadership perspectives, especially during change and transformation. This study seeks to address this gap and to enhance the field’s discussion with the main aim to critically review existing literature based on an interpretivist approach predominantly from a postmodern perspective and to propose a theoretical framework to indicate the interrelatedness of these concepts. The main findings will make recommendations for future research and/or perspectives which need to be considered by knowledge organizations to ensure long-term beneficial relationships with all stakeholders. The study hence sets out to research beyond the concepts itself and actually examine the theoretical implications and relevance thereof. From a postmodern perspective, the organisational environment is significantly different because of the globalised technological advances that affect communication and knowledge. The commonality of most recent research indicates an emphasised focus on knowledge management (technical, human and communication components) and knowledge leaders to implement strategic integrated communication to ensure the sustainability of knowledge organizations. Knowledge management focuses on two main theoretical perspectives, namely human capital and knowledge based theory; and the theory on strategic integrated communication emphasizes that knowledge leaders should acknowledge the premises of the strategic intent of the emerging knowledge organizations through the management of information, innovation, creativity, cultural aspects, participation and inputs from the environment based on trust, loyalty, integrity and credibility. The research problem is that in spite of the tremendous research opportunities to examine these constructs, limited research has been conducted from emerging organizational and knowledge leadership perspectives, especially during change and transformation. This study seeks to address this gap and to enhance the field’s discussion with the main aim to critically review existing literature based on an interpretivist approach predominantly from a postmodern perspective and to propose a theoretical framework to indicate the interrelatedness of these concepts. The main findings will make recommendations for future research and/or perspectives which need to be considered by knowledge organizations to ensure long-term beneficial relationships with all stakeholders. The study hence sets out to research beyond the concepts itself and actually examine the theoretical implications and relevance thereof

Children’s Understanding of Robots: A New Ontological Category or Just Pretend?

Children attribute a unique constellation of animate and inanimate characteristics to personified robots, e.g., judging them to have emotions, thoughts, and capable of being a friend, while also being a piece of technology. Do children truly believe robots have animate characteristics or are they just engaging in pretend play? The latter is certainly plausible as children readily endow objects with personas. The present study sought to address this question by investigating children’s judgments and behavioral interactions with a robot compared to a stuffed animal (a classic object of pretense). Ninety participants (5, 7, and 9 years) engaged with each entity (counterbalanced order) during a familiarization period, free play, and an interview probing their attributions to each entity. We coded children’s judgments during the interview and their behavioral interactions with the entity (e.g., endowing animation, attempts at reciprocity). We predicted that if children are engaging in pretense, their judgments should align with pretend behaviors (e.g., saying the robot can move on its own, and then endowing it with animation). Whereas, if children’s attributions reflect their veridical beliefs, their judgments should align with reciprocal interactions (e.g., saying the robot can move on its own, and beckoning the robot to come). By using convergent measures (judgments and behaviors), we gain confidence in how children understand each entity. Our next step is to analyze the results of this study. The results will help determine whether children’s attributions to robots are a product of pretense or reflect their actual beliefs. In turn, these results will (1) have bearing on the hypothesis that robots may represent a new ontological category (i.e., straddling the boundary between animates and inanimates), and (2) inform on the potential implications of increasingly pervasive personified technologies on children’s pretense and their developing conceptions of the world

An exploration of the organisational stressors encountered by international disability footballers

Presently, disability athletes remain under-represented in organisational stressor research. Our study sought to bring novel insights to this area by determining the organisational stressors experienced by international disability footballers. Twelve current international disability footballers (10 male, 2 female) from a range of UK impairment squads took part in the study. Semi-structured interviews were completed with each participant, and data were analysed by content analysis procedures. Organisational stressors data were abstracted into Arnold, Wagstaff, Steadman, and Pratt’s (2017) concepts, and Arnold and Fletcher’s (2012) four general dimensions: leadership and personnel issues, cultural and team issues, logistical and environmental issues, and performance and personal issues, revealing a series of football specific nuances. Our study is the first exploration of the prevalence of organisational stressors within international disability football. Our study also provides practitioners with an understanding of the common and unique organisational stressors faced by international disability footballers. Finally, we suggest a series of practical recommendations for policy development within disability football organisations to aid athletes to effective manage organisational stressors.</div

Automated Vehicles

https://digitalcommons.law.uw.edu/techclinic/1000/thumbnail.jp