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Title: ETHNOGRAPHIC REFLECTION ON GROUP FORMATION IN BLIZZARDÃ‚Â'S Ã‚Â"WORLD OF WARCRAFTÃ‚Â".
Creator: Spottke, John, Matejowsky, Ty, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Cyberanthropology or the anthropology of cyber space/culture is an emerging subfield of cultural anthropology that deals with the varied integration of human beings and technology. This specialized area of study focuses on topics ranging from new technologies used in ethnographic research to information and communication technologies utilized by specific societal groups. Communication technology encompasses the World Wide Web, email, and online multiperson interactive spaces such as chatrooms...
Show moreCyberanthropology or the anthropology of cyber space/culture is an emerging subfield of cultural anthropology that deals with the varied integration of human beings and technology. This specialized area of study focuses on topics ranging from new technologies used in ethnographic research to information and communication technologies utilized by specific societal groups. Communication technology encompasses the World Wide Web, email, and online multiperson interactive spaces such as chatrooms and video games. In this work, I ethnographically investigate human social interactions in the online gaming realm of World of Warcraft. On the whole, the expanding numbers of virtual communities in existence today offer new and exciting realms for social scientists in general, and anthropologists in particular, to expand their knowledge of social interaction. During the period between August 2007 and May 2009 I Ã‚Â"livedÃ‚Â" with the players of WoW as a participant observer. The culmination of this research spotlights virtual group formation and dynamics from an anthropological perspective and is intended to pave the way for future research.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003462, ucf:48393
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003462

Title: UNDERSTANDING THE SUBJECTIVITIES OF PASTORS AND BELIEFS ABOUT THE CURRENT AMERICAN CHURCH CULTURE.
Creator: Anderson, Michael, Mishtal, Joanna, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study investigates the spiritual subjectivities of pastors in the Mainstream White Middle Class Evangelical Church in the context of American capitalism. The Evangelical church carries extreme amounts of power and influence in shaping the beliefs of individuals in American society. However, very little pointed research of pastors' spiritual subjectivities that guide their teachings and views in this sub-sect of church culture is present in academia. Anthropology, along with other...
Show moreThis study investigates the spiritual subjectivities of pastors in the Mainstream White Middle Class Evangelical Church in the context of American capitalism. The Evangelical church carries extreme amounts of power and influence in shaping the beliefs of individuals in American society. However, very little pointed research of pastors' spiritual subjectivities that guide their teachings and views in this sub-sect of church culture is present in academia. Anthropology, along with other disciplines, often focuses on dominant churches from an etic perspective of politics and power relations without fully considering the spiritual beliefs of pastors. This etic perspective can miss the deeply interwoven factors, including understanding of the Scriptures and pastors' roles in their congregations, challenges associated with religious consumerist competition, and conceptualizations of church "success" that shape pastors subjectivities, and in turn help shape American Christian culture. Pastors navigate the tension between the broader capitalistic social forces and their spiritual and Biblical beliefs as many pastors of the church aim to change the unquestioned adherence to these ideals. Building on my seven years of experience as a pastor in the Orlando area and drawing on current research with a group of Evangelical pastors, I demonstrate in this study that although capitalistic social forces shape many ideals of individuals in the American Evangelical church culture, understanding pastors' spiritual subjectivities is crucial when investigating the influence of the church in America.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003732, ucf:48771
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003732

Title: "Sealing the Bond": A Qualitative Study of African American Funeral Rituals.
Creator: Grant, Danielle, Hastings, Sally, Sandoval, Jennifer, Musambira, George, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Death is a universal phenomenon; yet, reactions to death are uniquely diverse. Handling the loss of a loved one has the potential to completely change how an individual sees their world, and their response to death can vary by race, religion, gender, and culture. The bereavement process in many ways is culturally guided, and understanding how culture guides the bereavement process through rituals is imperative. Despite cultural difference, responses to death within the academic community are...
Show moreDeath is a universal phenomenon; yet, reactions to death are uniquely diverse. Handling the loss of a loved one has the potential to completely change how an individual sees their world, and their response to death can vary by race, religion, gender, and culture. The bereavement process in many ways is culturally guided, and understanding how culture guides the bereavement process through rituals is imperative. Despite cultural difference, responses to death within the academic community are only representative of one group of people. This study looks at funeral rituals seen within the African American community, and addresses possible meanings behind the rituals discussed. Through the use of focus groups participants were asked about their experiences while attending African American funerals the meaning behind specific rituals. It was found that within African American funerals there are certain acts that hold special significance for the community and work to strengthen the community. Funerals have a larger symbolic meaning to the African American community and those symbols and meanings are discussed within this study.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006312, ucf:51579
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006312

Title: An Ethnographic Study Examining the Effect of Teachers' Socio-Political Bias on Latinx Students and School Culture.
Creator: McMaster, Jessica, Olan, Elsie, Jeanpierre, Bobby, Grissom, Donita, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Academics such as Geneva Gay, Christine Sleeter, Samy Alim, and Django Paris have conducted research that illustrates the importance of educators being not only aware of the culture of their students but implementing curriculum that supports the diverse cultures of their students. A common finding among this research is that a culturally sustaining pedagogy is essential to the inclusion of all students in the classroom and the level of academic success they have in schools. This study aims to...
Show moreAcademics such as Geneva Gay, Christine Sleeter, Samy Alim, and Django Paris have conducted research that illustrates the importance of educators being not only aware of the culture of their students but implementing curriculum that supports the diverse cultures of their students. A common finding among this research is that a culturally sustaining pedagogy is essential to the inclusion of all students in the classroom and the level of academic success they have in schools. This study aims to investigate the effect of teacher beliefs on the academic performance of Latinx students and on the culture and atmosphere of the school. The purpose of conducting this research is to show the necessity for implementing a culturally sustaining pedagogy and curriculum in schools. My research requires teachers and administrators to answer survey questions concerning their teaching practice, student population, and beliefs about teaching students, specifically Latinx students. I hope to discover how teacher attitudes, both positive and negative, can affect the academic performance of Latinx student and the culture of the school. Lastly, with such an emphasis I would like to use this information to help educators embrace the differences of their students and see the value in incorporating students lived experiences in the class curriculum. Using a survey modeled after Bandura's Survey for Teaching Self-Efficacy this thesis explores the following questions: Research Question One (RQ1): What effect does teachers' attitudes have on the culture of their school?, Research Question Two (RQ2): What effect does teachers' socio-political views have on Latinx student performance?
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007684, ucf:52506
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007684

Title: Soviet and Eastern European Reactions to American Exhibitions: Cultural Exchange and the Cold War, 1961-1976.
Creator: Miller, Jennie, Solonari, Vladimir, Lester, Connie, Walker, Ezekiel, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: After the signing of the Cultural Exchange Agreement in 1958, exhibitions of culture and technology were exchanged between the Soviet Union and the United States. These exhibitions continued to be exchanged well into the 1980s. This paper focuses on comment books from seven of these cultural exchange exhibitions, five in the Soviet Union and two in Eastern Europe, in the years between 1961 and 1976. The public nature of the comment books and the way they were treated by visitors made them a...
Show moreAfter the signing of the Cultural Exchange Agreement in 1958, exhibitions of culture and technology were exchanged between the Soviet Union and the United States. These exhibitions continued to be exchanged well into the 1980s. This paper focuses on comment books from seven of these cultural exchange exhibitions, five in the Soviet Union and two in Eastern Europe, in the years between 1961 and 1976. The public nature of the comment books and the way they were treated by visitors made them a space for expressions of popular opinions over the issues of public policy and ideology. As such, they provide contemporary historians with a unique glimpse into the mindset of ordinary Soviet and Eastern European citizens during the Cold War. Based on the evidence from the comment books, and using methods elaborated by cultural anthropologists, this study shows that challenged by the display of apparent American superiority, most Soviet visitors preferred to fall back on the official ideology which claimed the moral superiority of their system. In the 1960s and early 1970s, the Soviet citizens experienced an upswing in communist morale, expressed a desire to compete with America and a conviction that their system will ultimately prevail over capitalism. However, to what extent such declarations should be accepted at their face value as sincere expressions of Soviet citizens' deep-seated convictions and to what extent they should be seen as situational responses to the perceived humiliation at the hands of foreigners remains unclear.While most Soviet visitors were defensive, invested in their ideology, and competitive with America, their reactions were not monolithic. Some of them were clearly fascinated by American consumer products and expressed an envious yearning to get possession of them; others stressed their openness to cultural exchange. There were apparently sincere expressions of support to the policy of d(&)#233;tente, and of outrage over the Vietnam War. The Soviet visitors were aware of the unrest in American society caused by the civil rights movement, but were uninformed of the profound changes effected by this movement. Members of non-Russian minorities were interested in American ethnic diversity and sometimes implied their dislike of Moscow treatment of non-Russian nationalities. Eastern Europeans were less defensive and more open to American society and culture than the Soviets. Still, some of them also expressed pro-communist sentiments and national pride. There was one issue, however, on which the Soviets and Eastern were clearly more in tune with American popular culture than with their own governments: consumerism and the sentiment of entitlement to the high quality goods that Americans had access to while they did not. It was on this issue that the eastern bloc regimes were facing the greatest threat.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004414, ucf:49384
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004414

Title: EVALUATION OF THE ANTECEDENTS OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE.
Creator: Harper, Mary, Byers, Jacqueline, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Purpose: The threefold purpose of this research is to identify the essential antecedents of cultural competence as identified by international nurse researchers, to compare the content of the extant cultural competence instruments to these antecedents and to potentially identify gaps in their conceptualization. A secondary aim of this research is to initiate validation of Harper's model of ethical multiculturalism. Conceptual Basis: The model of ethical multiculturalism depicts the...
Show morePurpose: The threefold purpose of this research is to identify the essential antecedents of cultural competence as identified by international nurse researchers, to compare the content of the extant cultural competence instruments to these antecedents and to potentially identify gaps in their conceptualization. A secondary aim of this research is to initiate validation of Harper's model of ethical multiculturalism. Conceptual Basis: The model of ethical multiculturalism depicts the attributes of ethical multiculturalism as the fulcrum of a balance between two ethical philosophies of fundamentalism and relativism. The attributes of moral reasoning, beneficence/nonmaleficence, respect for persons and communities, and cultural competence form the pyramidal fulcrum. The antecedents form the base of the pyramid and include cultural awareness, culture knowledge, cultural sensitivity, cultural encounters, cultural skill and understanding of ethical principles. Methodology: An on-line Delphi method was conducted with 35 international nurse researchers identified through published research, university directories, and professional organizations. Consensus was reached after two rounds. Following the Delphi rounds, sixteen members of the expert panel participated in an on-line focus group to validate results of the Delphi and discuss cultural competence in the international arena. Findings: Eighty antecedents of cultural competence were identified. Focus group discussion validated findings of the Delphi. Consensual thematic analysis of the focus group transcripts resulted in six themes: chimerical, contact, contextual, collaboration, connections, and considering impact. The Transcultural Self-Efficacy Tool (TSET) contained the most antecedents identified by the expert panel. Conclusions: Cultural competence is a process, not an outcome, and must be considered from the perspective of the recipient of care or research participant. Nurses must strive to deliver culturally acceptable care. The model of ethical multiculturalism is revised to include cultural desire as an antecedent. Nurses must understand the impact of globalization on individual health and care delivery. Implications for Nursing: Further testing of cultural competence instruments is needed to determine the correlation of self-efficacy with behavior, self-assessment with client assessment, and cultural competence with client outcomes. In education, research is needed to determine the most effective methods of teaching cultural competence. Increased recruitment of minorities into nursing programs is warranted. In practice, nurses must be prepared to provide language assistance as needed, recruitment and hiring of minorities must be increased, and minority thresholds must be used to determine cultural knowledge content for organizations.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002046, ucf:47600
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002046

Title: THE ROLE OF CULTURAL VALUES IN ORGANIZATIONAL ATTRACTION.
Creator: Muniz, Elizabeth, Dipboye, Robert, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The United States' (U.S.) workforce is more diverse than in previous decades in terms of race, gender, and native language (Fay, 2001). Such demographic shifts have changed how organizations attract applicants and how they motivate, reward, and retain employees (McAdams, 2001). Furthermore, organizations benefit from diversity by: (a) attracting the best talent available in the workforce (Cox, 1993), (b) increasing their product marketability to customers (Deshpande, Hoyer, & Donthu, 1986...
Show moreThe United States' (U.S.) workforce is more diverse than in previous decades in terms of race, gender, and native language (Fay, 2001). Such demographic shifts have changed how organizations attract applicants and how they motivate, reward, and retain employees (McAdams, 2001). Furthermore, organizations benefit from diversity by: (a) attracting the best talent available in the workforce (Cox, 1993), (b) increasing their product marketability to customers (Deshpande, Hoyer, & Donthu, 1986; Redding, 1982), and (c) fostering creativity, innovation, problem solving, and decision making in employees (Thomas, 1999; Thomas, Ravlin, & Wallace, 1996; Watson, Kumar, & Michaelsen, 1993). Given such benefits, organizations should attend to initiatives that facilitate the attraction of applicants from diverse backgrounds. Research has demonstrated that applicants use information about human resource systems, such as rewards, to form judgments about the perceived fit between them and the organization (Bretz & Judge, 1994; Schneider, 1987). For instance, organizations with policies accommodating work and family issues attract applicants preferring such benefits. Because reward systems influence applicants' opinions about the relative attractiveness of organizations (Lawler, 2000), it is important to determine the factors that influence such preferences. Motivation theories, such as the Theory of Reasoned Action, suggest that preferences toward reward systems are guided by individuals' values (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975; Vroom, 1964). Such values, in turn, cause differences in reward preferences and organizational attraction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation of individuals' cultural values to the attraction of organizations offering different kinds of reward systems. More specifically, it sought to test three hypotheses. Hypothesis 1 predicted that there would be a two-way interaction between collectivism and the type of organization on organizational attraction. Hypothesis 2 predicted that there would be a two-way interaction between individualism and the type of organization on organizational attraction. Hypothesis 3 predicted that there would be a positive relation between collectivism and subjective norms used in organizational attraction. To test the three hypotheses, data from 228 participants were analyzed to evaluate their level of attractiveness to two different types of organizations (i.e., career-oriented vs. family-oriented). Findings for the test of Hypothesis 1 indicated that there was a joint effect between collectivism and the type of organization on organizational attraction. The slopes of the regression lines for each type of organization (i.e., family-oriented and career-oriented) differed as a function of collectivism. The slope of the regression line for the family-oriented organization was steeper than the slope of the regression line for the career-oriented organization. Results for the test of Hypothesis 2 indicated a joint effect between individualism and the type of organization on organizational attraction. The slopes of the regression lines for each type of organization (i.e., family-oriented and career-oriented) differed as a function of individualism. The slope of the regression line for the career-oriented organization was steeper than the slope of the regression line for the family-oriented organization. Findings for the test of Hypothesis 3 showed that collectivism was related to subjective norms. Results indicated that the more collective the individual, the higher the subjective norms. In addition, supplementary analysis showed that individualism was not related to subjective norms. Taken together, results from the tests of the three hypotheses support components of the Theory of Reasoned Action, and the premise that values are a factor related to an individual's attraction to a particular organization. The current study showed that the cross-cultural values of individualism and collectivism help predict organizational attraction. Based on these results, practical implications, contributions to theory, study limitations, and future research are discussed for designing organizational attraction strategies for a culturally diverse workforce.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001859, ucf:47395
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001859

Title: THE PUBLIC SPECTACLE OF ITALIAN MASCULINITY: NONVERBAL DISPLAY OF GENDER IDENTITY.
Creator: Perrotte, Gino, Hastings, Sally, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Italian masculine identity is examined by looking at the following influences: history and structure of Italian society, the public places used for the performance and the culture surrounding the display of masculinity. This research uses an approach similar to an ethnography of communication. Initial data and ideas were gathered through observational fieldwork and interviews that took take place in Italy during July 2006 and July 2007. A methods section describes interviews that later took...
Show moreItalian masculine identity is examined by looking at the following influences: history and structure of Italian society, the public places used for the performance and the culture surrounding the display of masculinity. This research uses an approach similar to an ethnography of communication. Initial data and ideas were gathered through observational fieldwork and interviews that took take place in Italy during July 2006 and July 2007. A methods section describes interviews that later took place with Americans in order to compare and contrast responses with ones previously collected from Italians. The data gathered from these interviews will be used to highlight and substantiate the components of cultural identity that are unique to Italian masculinity. In analyzing the research data, the social meaning model is applied to elaborate a culturally shared set of meanings for a particular nonverbal act in an Italian piazza. Finally, findings are organized using four aspects of cultural identity to understand an Italian definition of masculinity. Two contributions emerged from the research: cultural sense making and cultural change. Cultural sense making provides a context for Italian masculine behavior, and cultural change describes the transformation of Italian ideology between the generations in regards to gender roles.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001988, ucf:47424
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001988

Title: ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF MOVIES UPON AN INDIVIDUAL'S IMAGE FORMATION CONCERNING A GIVEN DESTINATION.
Creator: Hahm, Jeeyeon, Upchurch, Randall, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The process of watching a movie is a common way to be entertained in this day and age. There are multiple ways in which people can enjoy a movie ranging from the big screen at a commercial theater, on their home's television, or even in a car while driving. One outcome associated with watching a destination movie might be that the viewer will be compelled to visit or not the location portrayed in the movie. It is a primary assumption of this thesis that movies have the ability to create or...
Show moreThe process of watching a movie is a common way to be entertained in this day and age. There are multiple ways in which people can enjoy a movie ranging from the big screen at a commercial theater, on their home's television, or even in a car while driving. One outcome associated with watching a destination movie might be that the viewer will be compelled to visit or not the location portrayed in the movie. It is a primary assumption of this thesis that movies have the ability to create or change an individual's image of a destination by its portrayal within the motion picture. This study was conducted in an effort to examine this global phenomenon called movie tourism and contribute to the tourism literature. This study focused on determining the differences between pre and post measures resulting from watching a destination specific movie. The research method was a pretest-posttest experimental design conducted to a convenience sample of 247 hospitality management students enrolled in a major metropolitan university located in the southeastern portion of the United States. The research instrument was a pre and posttest questionnaire that included structured and unstructured questions in order to capture the complex destination image. The treatment between the pre and posttest was a destination specific movie. A 100% response rate was obtained from the pretest group and a 99.2% response rate from the posttest group. Results of the study revealed that: 1) certain perceived destination images were different before and after the movie; 2) level of interest in visiting the destination was not different before and after the movie; 3) destination image had a positive relationship with the level of interest in visiting the destination; and 4) certain audience characteristics had an impact on destination image and interest in visiting the location. Implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed in the final chapter.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000117, ucf:46196
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000117

Title: AN ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON OF SCHOOL CULTURE WITH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITIES.
Creator: Quiambao, Joan, Magann, Douglas, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study was developed to generate data about the overall culture of selected central Florida middle schools in Osceola County. It was designed to enhance the existing body of knowledge on collaboration, collegiality and self-efficacy, as related to the academic achievement of students with specific learning disabilities. This study focused on two research questions: (a) to determine how well the three key areas of school culture (collaboration, collegiality and teacher efficacy) predict...
Show moreThis study was developed to generate data about the overall culture of selected central Florida middle schools in Osceola County. It was designed to enhance the existing body of knowledge on collaboration, collegiality and self-efficacy, as related to the academic achievement of students with specific learning disabilities. This study focused on two research questions: (a) to determine how well the three key areas of school culture (collaboration, collegiality and teacher efficacy) predict the placement of middle school students with specific learning disabilities in general education or special education (resource and separate class)settings and (b) to determine what relationships (if any) exist between the three key areas of school culture (collaboration, collegiality and teacher efficacy) and FCAT Reading and Mathematics scores of middle school students with specific learning disabilities. Secondary analyses consisted of (a) analyzing and comparing the three areas of school culture across the selected schools and (b) analyzing and comparing FCAT Reading and Mathematics scores of middle school students with learning disabilities across general education, resource and separate class educational settings. The population of this study consisted of seventh and eighth grade middle school students with specific learning disabilities during the 2003 - 2004 school year in the selected middle schools in Osceola County Public Schools, Kissimmee, Florida. To control for the high mobility rate, only those students who attended the same middle school since grade 6 were selected. Twenty-five general education and five exceptional education teachers were randomly selected from each of the four selected middle schools. FCAT Reading comprehension and Mathematics problem solving percentile rank scores for all selected students with specific learning disabilities over a four-year period (2001 through 2004). According to a review of professional literature research findings, the researcher concluded that (a) none of the three key areas of school culture (collaboration, collegilaity or teacher efficacy) predicted the placement of middle school students with specific learning disabilities in general education or special education (resource or separate class) educational settings and (b) there were no relationships between any of the three key areas of school culture and FCAT Reading and Mathematics scores for middle school students with specific learning disabilities in the sample population. Secondary analyses revealed (a) strong overall cultures in the selected middle schools, as overall culture scores in collaboration, collegiality and teacher efficacy ranged from the mid 2nd quartile to mid 3rd quartile; (b) statistically significant differences between Reading and Mathematics FCAT scores for students in general education as opposed to those in resource or separate class placements. (No statistically significant differences were found between FCAT Reading and Mathematics scores of students in resource room or separate class placements.)
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000194, ucf:46154
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000194

Title: THE MAINTENANCE OF ETHNIC CULTURE AND MANIFESTATIONS OF ETHNIC IDENTITY IN THE LIFE STORIES OF FINNISH IMMIGRANTS.
Creator: Grantham, Minna, Dietz, Tracy, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study examined whether Finnish immigrants show evidence of assimilation or if they have maintained their ethnic culture in the United States. More specifically, the purpose was to examine how the ethnic culture has been maintained and the ways that ethnic identity manifests itself in their life stories. Ten qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Finnish immigrants and children of Finnish immigrants, and emerging themes were identified in the data. The results...
Show moreThis study examined whether Finnish immigrants show evidence of assimilation or if they have maintained their ethnic culture in the United States. More specifically, the purpose was to examine how the ethnic culture has been maintained and the ways that ethnic identity manifests itself in their life stories. Ten qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Finnish immigrants and children of Finnish immigrants, and emerging themes were identified in the data. The results indicate a strong ethnic identity among Finnish immigrants, yet it appears to be a very much taken for granted experience for them. The immigrants' lives were influenced by their ethnicity in that they lived in predominantly Finnish areas, preferred Finnish as their daily language, participated in Finnish activities, especially the Lutheran church, followed customs, and kept regular contact with friends and family in Finland. One of the major differences between the immigrants and children of immigrants was their language use. The norms and policies have been that ethnic groups will assimilate; yet this cohort of Finnish immigrants demonstrates a high level of maintenance of their ancestral culture, thus providing support for Cultural Pluralism. Future studies should address the specific organizations, mainly the Lutheran church, and its influence on the maintenance of Finnish culture, and future studies should address the meaning of language in more detail.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000767, ucf:46579
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000767

Title: CRYSTAL HEALING PRACTICES IN THE WESTERN WORLD AND BEYOND.
Creator: Carlos, Kristine D, Matejowsky, Ty, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Humans have been using crystals for various healing and ritual reasons for centuries. Both geographically and culturally, a diverse range of groups have turned to crystals and gemstones to address diverse needs over the millennia. While the oldest legends of crystal magic date back to the mythical ancient continent of Atlantis whose people allegedly used crystals for telepathic communication (Raphael 1985), it is believed that the crystal customs continued to perpetuate in Egypt, South...
Show moreHumans have been using crystals for various healing and ritual reasons for centuries. Both geographically and culturally, a diverse range of groups have turned to crystals and gemstones to address diverse needs over the millennia. While the oldest legends of crystal magic date back to the mythical ancient continent of Atlantis whose people allegedly used crystals for telepathic communication (Raphael 1985), it is believed that the crystal customs continued to perpetuate in Egypt, South America, and Tibet over subsequent centuries. Over recent decades, a renewed interest in crystals and gemstones has emerged in various New Age and mainstream contexts. In this thesis, I consider the 'explanations' for crystal and spiritual healing in the following interest areas: Great Britain, Indian Hinduism, and among various Native American groups.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFH2000283, ucf:45883
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000283

Title: ARTS TARGETED LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: FLORIDA CITIES WITH FLAIR.
Creator: Ghersetich, Jessica, Hawkins, Chrisopher, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Promoting economic development is important for many local governments. Economic development plans provide guidance for how local governments can nurture existing businesses as well as attract new industries. Arts and culture can represent a significant component of local economic development efforts. An "arts development strategy" can focus on human capital, the development of local public spaces, and the promotion of culture. Based on a literature review of the concepts of traditional local...
Show morePromoting economic development is important for many local governments. Economic development plans provide guidance for how local governments can nurture existing businesses as well as attract new industries. Arts and culture can represent a significant component of local economic development efforts. An "arts development strategy" can focus on human capital, the development of local public spaces, and the promotion of culture. Based on a literature review of the concepts of traditional local economic development, this research provide a framework for analyzing local arts strategies and presents the results of in-depth case studies of how a sample of cities in Florida are integrating arts and culture into their economic development plans.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFH0004314, ucf:45034
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004314

Title: ATTITUDES TOWARDS CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AS A FUNCTION OF ETHNICITY AND GENDER.
Creator: Richardson, Nadine, Negy, Charles, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study explores the topic of corporal punishment and examines the degree to which young adults have been subjected to corporal punishment, their attitudes about corporal punishment, the likelihood of them using corporal punishment on their children, and their propensity towards violence. Among African American participants, I also examine the correlation between their attitudes toward corporal punishment and their levels of acculturation toward the dominant culture. I predict that African...
Show moreThis study explores the topic of corporal punishment and examines the degree to which young adults have been subjected to corporal punishment, their attitudes about corporal punishment, the likelihood of them using corporal punishment on their children, and their propensity towards violence. Among African American participants, I also examine the correlation between their attitudes toward corporal punishment and their levels of acculturation toward the dominant culture. I predict that African Americans will have been subject to Corporal Punishment more than White Americans. I hypothesized that participants who have been subjected to corporal punishment will have a higher propensity towards violence and will continue to use corporal punishment on their children. I also hypothesized that African Americans who are relatively highly acculturated will be less likely to use Corporal punishment. Participants were asked to fill out a series of scales that tested for all of the research questions. Results for this study did support the hypothesis that African Americans did report receiving more Corporal Punishment than White Americans. Results did show that there is a negative correlation between levels of acculturation and likelihood to use Corporal Punishment for African Americans. . However, the direction of the correlation was consistent with the hypothesis, in that higher acculturation scores correlating with less desire to use corporal punishment on children. The results also did not support the hypothesis of a positive correlation between being subjected to Corporal Punishment and propensity towards violence. Finally the results did not support the hypothesis of a positive correlation between being subjected to Corporal Punishment and the likely to use Corporal Punishment on their own children.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFH0004135, ucf:44888
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004135

Title: THE RISE OF INTERACTIVE CINEMA AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR FILMMAKERS, AUDIENCES, AND THE EXHIBITION INDUSTRY.
Creator: Vazquez, Rebecca, Cook, Lisa, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Traditionally, movie theater audience members are passive participants. The role of the traditional spectator is to sit down in a dark theater and watch as the film unfolds. As images flash across the screen, the audience member has no obligations. All they have to do is react. However a new, more actively engaged audience member is now emerging. The new role of the active audience member can be defined as putting a conscious effort into affecting one's own movie-watching experience. The...
Show moreTraditionally, movie theater audience members are passive participants. The role of the traditional spectator is to sit down in a dark theater and watch as the film unfolds. As images flash across the screen, the audience member has no obligations. All they have to do is react. However a new, more actively engaged audience member is now emerging. The new role of the active audience member can be defined as putting a conscious effort into affecting one's own movie-watching experience. The trend we are now seeing in cinema is that of an interactive experience in motion picture creation and exhibition, and it utilizes this updated spectator role to great effect. Whether the audience member has a role in actually making the film, as is the case with crowdsourced cinema, or if they are actively involved after the film is created, as is the case with shadow casts and "choose your own ending" movies, going to the movies has become a much more active experience. The fascinating implications of this interactive cinematic movement for artists, audiences, and the exhibition industry cannot be understated. This thesis will explore some of the biggest interactive trends in filmmaking and exhibition today, and then delve into the implications of these trends.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFH0003858, ucf:44711
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0003858

Title: UNTIL THE MEAT FALLS OFF THE BONE.
Creator: Kapherr, Holly, Roney, Lisa, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Though this work started as a formal academic cultural study, it stretched and squirmed and became not only an examination of the cultures themselves, but how I came to fit within those cultures. By combining my experiences travelling as a child and young adult as well as learning the craft of professional cooking, the essays in this work are highly centered around food and what food means both to me and to cultures throughout the world. The structure and tone of these essays varies greatly...
Show moreThough this work started as a formal academic cultural study, it stretched and squirmed and became not only an examination of the cultures themselves, but how I came to fit within those cultures. By combining my experiences travelling as a child and young adult as well as learning the craft of professional cooking, the essays in this work are highly centered around food and what food means both to me and to cultures throughout the world. The structure and tone of these essays varies greatly from one to the other, all at once casual, almost conversational in one, and pedantic and formal in another. This thesis was designed to grant readers a broad scope of my ability as a writer and cook. The six recipes contained in the collection are meant to move the work along as a meal would, leisurely and savoring moments, but at the same time, there should always be a sense of anticipation about what will appear next. The characters in this thesis came from near and far – from France to Lima – and each carries a cultural and culinary significance in the work. Each essay ties food to emotion – love, distress, bewilderment, intrigue and zeal. The main themes in this work stem from the ingrained nature of values taught at childhood – whether we like them or not, the role of food in shaping the cultural clash of peoples and the inherent connective nature of food as common ground.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002935, ucf:47957
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002935

Title: Assessment of Information Security Culture in Higher Education.
Creator: Glaspie, Henry, Karwowski, Waldemar, Wan, Thomas, Hancock, Peter, Caulkins, Bruce, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Information security programs are instituted by organizations to provide guidance to their users who handle their data and systems. The main goal of these programs is to protect the organization's information assets through the creation and cultivation of a positive information security culture within the organization. As the collection and use of data expands in all economic sectors, the threat of data breach due to human error increases. Employee's behavior towards information security is...
Show moreInformation security programs are instituted by organizations to provide guidance to their users who handle their data and systems. The main goal of these programs is to protect the organization's information assets through the creation and cultivation of a positive information security culture within the organization. As the collection and use of data expands in all economic sectors, the threat of data breach due to human error increases. Employee's behavior towards information security is influenced by the organizations information security programs and the overall information security culture. This study examines the human factors of an information security program and their effect on the information security culture. These human factors consist of stringency of organizational policies, behavior deterrence, employee attitudes towards information security, training and awareness, and management support of the information security programs. A survey questionnaire was given to employees in the Florida College System to measure the human aspects of the information security programs. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were used to investigate the relationships between the variables in the study using IBM(&)#174; SPSS(&)#174; Amos 24 software. The study results show that management support and behavior deterrence have a significant positive relationship with information security. Additionally, the results show no significant association between information security culture and organization policies, employee commitment and employee awareness. This suggests a need for further refinement of the model and the survey tool design to properly assess human factors of information security programs and their effects on the organizational security culture.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007184, ucf:52272
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007184

Title: My Plate, Your Food: Foodways of International Students in US(&)#191; Colleges and Universities.
Creator: Noyongoyo, Boniface, Mustaine, Elizabeth, Hinojosa, Melanie, Rivera, Fernando, Corra, Mamadi, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Research shows that the world is now more globalized than ever. In the education sector, students' movements have increased from the global South to the North as they look for a better tomorrow. Hence, international students in the US are from almost all countries around the world. The current study examines the changes in the foodways of international students since their arrival in the US The analysis is based on more than 260 surveys and 17 interviews of international students enrolled in...
Show moreResearch shows that the world is now more globalized than ever. In the education sector, students' movements have increased from the global South to the North as they look for a better tomorrow. Hence, international students in the US are from almost all countries around the world. The current study examines the changes in the foodways of international students since their arrival in the US The analysis is based on more than 260 surveys and 17 interviews of international students enrolled in US colleges and universities. The results from online self-administered surveys showed that international students' eating habit changes are mostly related to their continent of origin, gender, religious affiliation, and religious preference. Interviews conducted with students from different countries confirmed that the aforementioned characteristics are important in explaining these changes in eating habits.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007231, ucf:52225
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007231

Title: The Relationship Between Social Phobia, Peer Attachment, and Identity Within Different Cultural Contexts.
Creator: Li, Shengnan, Berman, Steven, Fouty, Homer, Compson, Jane, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study investigated the relationship between social phobia, peer attachment, and identity development, within three different countries: China, India, and the USA. It was hypothesized that social phobia interferes with peer attachment, and that poor peer attachment interferes with identity development among late adolescents and emerging adults, thus peer attachment mediates the relationship between social phobia and identity. It was further hypothesized that this relationship between...
Show moreThis study investigated the relationship between social phobia, peer attachment, and identity development, within three different countries: China, India, and the USA. It was hypothesized that social phobia interferes with peer attachment, and that poor peer attachment interferes with identity development among late adolescents and emerging adults, thus peer attachment mediates the relationship between social phobia and identity. It was further hypothesized that this relationship between variables is moderated by culture such that in collectivistic cultures, where identity is more dependent upon group affiliation and identification, the interference of social phobia (through peer attachment) on identity would be much greater than in individualistic cultures where identity may be based more on unique characteristics. Participants were 422 undergraduate students from three locations: China (n = 180), India (n = 96), and the USA (n = 146). Results varied by country. For the combined sample collectivism, social phobia, and peer attachment each independently predicted identity. Collectivism also negatively predicted social phobia and positively predicted peer attachment. None of the variables served as a mediator or moderator between the other variables. In the USA sample, collectivism predicted identity but was mediated by peer attachment. Social phobia negatively predicted peer attachment and identity, but was not related to collectivism. In the Chinese sample, peer attachment predicted identity, but was mediated by social phobia. Collectivism predicted identity, but was not related to the other two variables. Among the Indian sample none of the variables predicted identity. A number of possible reasons for these complex results are explored.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004399, ucf:49389
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004399

Title: POST-APARTHEID POLITICAL CULTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA, 1994-2004.
Creator: Kinsell, Andrew, Walker, Ezekiel, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Between 1994 and 2004 the African National Congress (ANC) dominated government at every level of every branch. As a result, the checks and balances that are a necessary part of any democracy were non-existent. Understanding the powerful position they occupied, the ANC increasingly acted on its own accordance without any regard for the wishes of the South African populace. This lack of public consideration, coupled with the failure to economically redistribute wealth among the vast unemployed...
Show moreBetween 1994 and 2004 the African National Congress (ANC) dominated government at every level of every branch. As a result, the checks and balances that are a necessary part of any democracy were non-existent. Understanding the powerful position they occupied, the ANC increasingly acted on its own accordance without any regard for the wishes of the South African populace. This lack of public consideration, coupled with the failure to economically redistribute wealth among the vast unemployed majority, turned an optimistic political culture with mass participation in 1994 into a disillusioned political culture with reduced political participation in 2004. These economic failures, along with the rise in crime and political corruption that dominated South African politics, eroded the optimism and trust that for a short time was prevalent in South Africa. Instead, the post-apartheid political culture of South Africa resembled what it did for all of those decades under apartheid: one of disillusionment and non-participation. The following thesis will argue that during the decade following 1994, South Africans became increasingly frustrated and disillusioned with government as the divide between the small-upper class and the large-proletariat continually expanded. The various explanations for the expansion of this divide will be presented along with survey information, which will attempt to garner what the South African public perceives to be; 1) the primary threat to the long-term stability of democracy, 2) the effectiveness of government between 1994 and 2004. Most importantly, the surveys will ask South Africans who voted in 1994 but not in 2004 the reason for not voting in order to fully understand the specific cause for the decline in political participation.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002787, ucf:48124
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002787

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