This chapter discusses the concept of sensitive environments. Sensitive environments are essentially spatial and public areas like streets or school that are provided with an intelligent infrastructure that collects sensory information of users while they move and interact. Such sensitive environments …

Conducting research as part of a PhD study offers students a unique opportunity to explore new methods and methodologies. Although we each based our PhD studies on a more traditional participatory action research (PAR) methodology, we also took the opportunity to experiment with a new data analysis method. …

To examine to what extent the concept and the domains of participation as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) are represented in general cancer-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments. Using the ICF linking rules, two coders independently …

Within the Netherlands gay emancipation is almost fully legalised. In April 2001, Article 1:30 of the Dutch Civil Code regarding the legalisation of same-sex marriages entered into force. Moreover, according to Article 1:227 of the Dutch Civil Code gay couples have the right to adopt children. In theory …

The airline industry is a subject that is often reported in the media these days. Especially in the last years, a lot of mergers and accessions to alliance have taken place. What is more, a strong competition of low-cost carriers is going on in which cheaper fares are offered with less service on board. …

Chapter of a report that presents a case study of the City of Heerlen, Netherlands, a shrinking city that identifies cultural policy as an important factor in vitalising the city. Heerlen has made significant investments into culture and is experiencing a “cultural spring”. This promotes a positive climate …

Within social sciences, ranging from education to psychology, sociology and anthropology, we see theories emerging that are based on the concept that our social world is existentially dialogical. According to Valsiner and Van der Veer (2000), dialogical theories referring to the work of Hermans (1994, …

This research report describes which legal instruments play a role in cases concerning international child abduction with a focus on, the most important legal text, the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, hereinafter the Hague Convention or HCCA. The purpose of this …

The strengths of design-based research (DBR from now on) is that it teststheories in the real word of practice and in doing so generates newknowledge and artifacts useful to both the scientist and the practitioner.However, DBR’s strength might also be considered its weakness; becausethe research takes …

Chapter 11 in The Project as a Social System: Asia-Pacific Perspectives on Project Management. Sustainability is one of the most important challenges of our time. How can we develop prosperity without compromising the life of future generations? Companies are integrating ideas of sustainability in their …