All Outputs (75)

Disruptive learning and optimal flow: Game jams in heterotopic affinity space (2022)
Thesis

Game jams are intensive, time-bound videogame-development events where students, professionals, and hobbyists form teams to create games against the clock. Jams are popular, offering accessible, informal learning environments which promote teamwork,... Read More about Disruptive learning and optimal flow: Game jams in heterotopic affinity space.

Experiences, attitudes, barriers and facilitators of physical activity among first-generation Somali migrants aged 40+ years in Bristol, United Kingdom (2022)
Thesis

Physical inactivity is a significant public health issue among adults and older adults from Black African and other racially minoritised groups, including the Somali community. Lack of physical activity is an important contributor to high levels of i... Read More about Experiences, attitudes, barriers and facilitators of physical activity among first-generation Somali migrants aged 40+ years in Bristol, United Kingdom.

eHealth and the delivery of person-centred care for children with life-limiting conditions: A realist evaluation (2022)
Thesis

Background: Children with life-limiting conditions have complex healthcare needs, creating associated “patient work” for their families and requiring multiple interactions with healthcare professionals (HCPs). Ehealth provides opportunities to enhanc... Read More about eHealth and the delivery of person-centred care for children with life-limiting conditions: A realist evaluation.

The effect of infant feeding methods and non-nutritive sucking behaviours on speech sound development at age five years (2022)
Thesis

Children with speech sound disorders (SSD) constitute the largest population of referrals to speech and language therapy (SLT) services (Broomfield & Dodd, 2004). This study aims to identify potential early risk factors for SSD at the critical ages o... Read More about The effect of infant feeding methods and non-nutritive sucking behaviours on speech sound development at age five years.

Investigating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and the role of mindfulness, in the context of stress management (2022)
Thesis

This PhD initially set out with a view to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention for healthcare staff, a highly stressed population. The results of this initial study found that mindfulnes... Read More about Investigating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and the role of mindfulness, in the context of stress management.

Exploring the experiences of electronic cigarette users and their previous attempts to quit smoking (2022)
Thesis

The aim of this research was to explore the experiences of EC users; their reasons for using an EC and how their most recent attempt to quit compared to any previous attempts they had made that were unsuccessful. These previous attempts included goi... Read More about Exploring the experiences of electronic cigarette users and their previous attempts to quit smoking.

An exploratory qualitative study with post-operative bariatric patients around the psychosocial support required for sustaining long-term weight loss and psychological well-being (2022)
Thesis

Background: Bariatric surgery is considered an effective obesity management intervention for people with a BMI greater than 40 or 35 with comorbidities. However, studies show that weight regain is observed from 18-months post-operative, and pre-exist... Read More about An exploratory qualitative study with post-operative bariatric patients around the psychosocial support required for sustaining long-term weight loss and psychological well-being.

From traffic in towns to people in streets: Exploring the relationships between behaviour, design, and regulation (2022)
Thesis

This research investigates how street environments and culture are shaped by behaviour, design, and regulation, and explores the implications of this shaping for street users who walk and cycle. The work of Buchanan and Smeed in the 1960s helped crea... Read More about From traffic in towns to people in streets: Exploring the relationships between behaviour, design, and regulation.

Towards a rapid diagnostic method to identify bacteria associated with AOD (2022)
Thesis

British oaks, Quercus robur and Q. petraea are threatened by Acute Oak Decline (AOD). Severe cases are lethal within five years. Symptoms include bleeding, longitudinal, necrotic cracks in the bark, from which a dark fluid emanates. AOD is caused by... Read More about Towards a rapid diagnostic method to identify bacteria associated with AOD.

The effect of odours and synthetic pheromones on reducing stress-related behaviour in the confined domestic dog (2022)
Thesis

Confinement can be a stressor for dogs and can be inherently stressful if it occurs in unpredictable and novel environments, such as kennels or laboratories. Stress can have deleterious psychological and physiological effects on canine health and, t... Read More about The effect of odours and synthetic pheromones on reducing stress-related behaviour in the confined domestic dog.

Changing the narrative of mental health in FE - Whose role is it anyway? (2022)
Thesis

This is a small-scale action research project, conducted between 2019-2022, undertaken at a College of Further Education. The college is in the Southwest of England and has undergone a significant transformation to include four campuses, spanning a l... Read More about Changing the narrative of mental health in FE - Whose role is it anyway?.

A phenomenological inquiry into the therapeutic aspects of tabletop roleplaying games (2022)
Thesis

Table-top Role Playing Games (RPGs) have risen in popularity since their conception in the 1970’s. While some literature has explored their emergent psychological processes, very few studies have explicitly reflected on the therapeutic potential of t... Read More about A phenomenological inquiry into the therapeutic aspects of tabletop roleplaying games.

Control of friction by imposing vibration between sliding surfaces and its influence on the efficiency of gears (2022)
Thesis

The worm and wheel type gear arrangement is the usual choice for heavy duty applications requiring large operating torques. However, it is dominated by the sliding action of gear teeth which causes high frictional losses that significantly impact eff... Read More about Control of friction by imposing vibration between sliding surfaces and its influence on the efficiency of gears.

Gaining prescription rights: A qualitative survey mapping the views of UK counselling and clinical psychologists (2022)
Thesis

Background: Over the last 5 years the British Psychological Society (BPS)has been exploring whether its practitioner members are interested in gaining prescription rights for psychiatric drugs and what such a ‘privilege’ might look like.

Aims: Thi... Read More about Gaining prescription rights: A qualitative survey mapping the views of UK counselling and clinical psychologists.

Survey tools to predict and monitor the presence of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Greece: A case study integrating spatial analysis and invertebrate-derived DNA (2022)
Thesis

Increasing populations of brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Greece have resulted in recolonisation of areas previously unoccupied for decades. Large carnivore recolonisation often threatens hard-established human-wildlife coexistence efforts, therefore th... Read More about Survey tools to predict and monitor the presence of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Greece: A case study integrating spatial analysis and invertebrate-derived DNA.

A critical assessment of foreign direct investment and inclusive development in the context of Sino-African relations (2022)
Thesis

All States want to achieve a higher state of ‘being’ and this is particularly true of developing States. Development is often seen as the end-goal for States, which is considered to be synonymous with progress and positive change. In pursuit of this... Read More about A critical assessment of foreign direct investment and inclusive development in the context of Sino-African relations.

Primary school teaching: A classed and gendered profession - Poetically exploring the narratives of female trainee primary school teachers (2022)
Thesis

This thesis explores the narratives of middle-class and working-class undergraduate women in their first year as student teachers on the three-year Primary Initial Teacher Education degree at a post-92 university. It simultaneously explores my own cl... Read More about Primary school teaching: A classed and gendered profession - Poetically exploring the narratives of female trainee primary school teachers.

Combat narratology - Strategies for the resolution of narrative crisis in participatory fiction (2022)
Thesis

In this thesis I investigate the structure and system of emergent narratives in multiplayer participatory fiction with a view to resolving the perceived tension between the vision of the writer and the agency of the players to perform actions that ar... Read More about Combat narratology - Strategies for the resolution of narrative crisis in participatory fiction.

Through the Wardrobe: Exploring the potential of headset augmented reality to provide a Thirdspace immersive media experience (2022)
Thesis

This research investigates the potential in employing headset augmented reality (AR) for interactive documentary when the contributors are collaboratively involved in the production process. This research has grown out of the intersection of interact... Read More about Through the Wardrobe: Exploring the potential of headset augmented reality to provide a Thirdspace immersive media experience.

Scaling up evidence-based body-image interventions for adolescents: Studies from the UK, India, and Indonesia (2022)
Thesis

The field of adolescent body image research is well established and has been burgeoning since the mid-1990s. Body image concerns are prevalent among adolescents globally, and the extensive psychological and physical health consequences are widely rec... Read More about Scaling up evidence-based body-image interventions for adolescents: Studies from the UK, India, and Indonesia.