Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/10
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Item Restricted DESIGNING THROUGH THE BRAIN: An Interdisciplinary Exploration Between Architecture and Neuroscience(Politecnico di Milano, 2024) Alaithan, Ali; Croset, Pierre-AlainThroughout the course of architecture history, architects have consistently engaged with various disciplines to expand their understanding of how people interact with the surrounding milieu. Since the 20th century, some prominent architects have collaborated with psychologists to gain insights into how design influences behavior and actions, striving to create spaces that truly resonate with people. In modern times, we spend most of our time in indoor spaces, making it progressively evident that architecture affects our brain and body. Recently, there has been growing attention between architecture and neuroscience. This is a complex field, requiring insights from psychology and cognitive science to understand the indirect connections between brain processes and spatial experience. This conversation starts from a theoretical framework encompassing brain, mind and body. The brain is an engine for behavior and action within a space. Thus the primary objective here is to understand the human brain within the built environment. A deeper awareness of the brain’s intricate processes enhances our comprehension of how we interact with our surroundings. To fully grasp the complexity of this discussion, it is crucial to comprehend the underpinnings of understating the brain. Three essential theories —EvoDevoSocio, Darwin’s theory, and embodied perception— shapes our theoretical and scientific understanding of the brain. This ongoing conversation covers multiple themes, including: sensation and perception, learning and memory, decision making, emotions and affect, movement and more. This thesis explores the intricate theoretical and scientific connection between architecture and neuroscience, specifically focusing on aspects relevant to architects. Three central themes will be thoroughly studied — emotions, movement, learning and memory — covering both their theoretical foundations and recent scientific discoveries. These findings will be applied in an interdisciplinary design exploration of a community center. These scientific findings will act as “generators” that either evoke emotions, facilitate movement, or foster learning and memory. Thus, the objective of the research is not to develop a theoretical program for architecture, but to apply an interdisciplinary design methodology. Unlike traditional practices, which often rely on architects’ personal experience, this approach is rooted in a scientific understanding of the human brain, allowing architects to design spaces that meaningfully respond to human cognition and behavior.4 0Item Restricted Measuring the Effectiveness of Popular Communication Platforms in Phishing Education(Newcastle University, 2024-09) Jari, Mousa; Ibrahim, RashaThe widespread occurrence of phishing threats in the digital realm emphasises the necessity of understanding how end-users perceive these risks and how to effectively deliver anti-phishing education. This research focuses on the comparative analysis of communication platforms as training mediums and explores the emotional impact of phishing on end-users. The thesis examines the effectiveness of anti-phishing training delivered through widely used communication channels: WhatsApp, SMS, and emails. It explores how various training methods impact end-users’ perception, detection capabilities, phishing knowledge, and emotions when dealing with phishing attempts. The thesis presents a study capturing expert opinions on end-user security behaviours and perceptions. Subsequently, it investigates end-users’ perspectives on security threats and coping strategies. The core of the thesis lies in a comparative study investigating the effectiveness of anti-phishing training delivered through different communication platforms (SMS, email, and WhatsApp) and a control group. The analysis reveals that WhatsApp-based training significantly improves phishing detection capabilities compared to other platforms, enhancing knowledge about phishing and improving the detection of both phishing and non-phishing attempts across various mediums. The thesis further explores perceptual, behavioural, and emotional changes experienced by participants, highlighting differences between the WhatsApp group and the other groups in adopting protective technologies, spotting techniques, and emotional responses. Furthermore, the research uncovered the influence of demographic factors on training outcomes. Specifically, it was found that individuals over the age of 24, females, and non-native English speakers exhibited the most significant improvements in phishing detection abilities after receiving the training. This systematic analysis of phishing training approaches bridges the gap between theoretical insights and practical applications, providing valuable insights for both academia and industry. The findings emphasise WhatsApp’s potential as an effective channel for anti-phishing training and underscore the importance of considering the emotional impact of phishing on end-users. The insights gleaned from this work can inform the development of more targeted and effective strategies for combating phishing threats, ultimately contributing to a safer digital environment.17 0Item Restricted Isolation and Its Impact: Understanding Patient–Caregiver Experiences During Isolation for Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation(Queen's University Belfast, 2024-06-24) Mayan, Soumaya; Martin, DaphneBackground: Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a complex procedure requiring long-term preparation. Patients undergoing the procedure have increased risks of developing infections and life-threatening complications, so the standard practice has been to isolate them before and after the procedure. Although isolation in a separate ward helps increase the chances of successful transplantation and survival, it has an immense negative effect on patients’ psychological state. Aim: This study aimed to examine the effects of isolation on patients and their caregivers. Specifically, it focused on the psychological/emotional state, health related quality of life, and coping skills of patients and their families. Methodology: An integrative literature review methodology was used to draw the data for this study. The search was limited to articles published in English in the past decade (September 5, 2013, until present), which focused on the experiences of adult patients/caregivers in the context of HTSC isolation. A thorough literature search helped extract 19 studies which were included in the sample. This approach helped obtain qualitative and quantitative data from different locations. Results: The review showed that isolation has a severe effect on patients and caregivers, leading to stress, anxiety, and depression. It is also associated with extreme uncertainty and the loss of control, which, coupled with a plethora of unpleasant and taxing symptoms, negatively impact health related quality of life. Patients and caregivers were found to demonstrate various coping behaviours, such as communication with friends and family, spending time on hobbies, engaging in religious/ spiritual activities, and others. However, maladaptive coping was also found to be common, which points to the importance of teaching patients and families how to overcome stress. Conclusions: Given the adverse effects of isolation on patients and their families, it is extremely important to provide them with relevant psychological support and resource22 0