Current Search: regulation (x)
View All Items
Pages
- Title
- THE REALM OF SELF-REGULATED LEARNING (SRL): AN EXAMINATION OF SRL IN AN ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM SETTING AND ITS RELEVANCY TO TRENDS IN OUR CURRENT CURRICULA.
- Creator
-
Lutfi , Duaa, Olan, Elsie, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Teaching and instructing students is a necessity, but creating ways to challenge them is a priority. This thesis focuses on Barry Zimmerman and Timothy Clearly's Self-Regulation Empowerment Program (SREP). This model uses a problem-solving approach in establishing Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) strategies in students' learning. Stemming from interdisciplinary questions such as, "what will help students be successful in and outside the classroom?" and "how do teachers challenge students without...
Show moreTeaching and instructing students is a necessity, but creating ways to challenge them is a priority. This thesis focuses on Barry Zimmerman and Timothy Clearly's Self-Regulation Empowerment Program (SREP). This model uses a problem-solving approach in establishing Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) strategies in students' learning. Stemming from interdisciplinary questions such as, "what will help students be successful in and outside the classroom?" and "how do teachers challenge students without stifling their creativity?" this purpose of this study aims to explore the realm of Self-Regulated Learning (SRL). The present study further examines if SRL strategies and practices foster learning and are prevalent in current trends and curricula such as, Marzano and Common Core. After thorough analysis of student observations and coding of data, the findings concluded that SRL strategies fostered student learning. Students studied were more readily motivated to regulate their learning and attempt challenging tasks. Moreover these findings indicated an increase in student success and metacognitive knowledge, as the students were provided with more opportunities to engage in self-talk, self-reflection, strategic planning, and goal setting. Results suggested the flexibility of the SREP model and its application to current instructional practices. Implications and recommendations for further research into the SRL model across other disciplines are also presented and discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFH0004534, ucf:45151
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004534
- Title
- MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS REGULATION OF EFFLUX PUMP TAP BY TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVATOR WHIB7.
- Creator
-
Pollock, Aaron, Rohde, Kyle, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains a debilitating disease that affects the health of millions annually. Understanding its ability to persist within host and resist eradication by antibiotics is of utmost importance in the effort to develop new interventions. This study will focus on the transcriptional activator WhiB7 and its regulation of the multidrug Tap efflux pump encoded by Rv1258c. WhiB7 is thought to respond to redox stress induced by antibiotics and a...
Show moreTuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains a debilitating disease that affects the health of millions annually. Understanding its ability to persist within host and resist eradication by antibiotics is of utmost importance in the effort to develop new interventions. This study will focus on the transcriptional activator WhiB7 and its regulation of the multidrug Tap efflux pump encoded by Rv1258c. WhiB7 is thought to respond to redox stress induced by antibiotics and a variety of in vivo stresses by activating multiple genes including Rv1258c. Much remains to be determined regarding the role of WhiB7 and downstream genes in Mtb virulence and drug resistance. We will create a tool for studying WhiB7-mediated gene regulation by engineering a strain of the nonpathogenic bacterium Msm expressing the mCherry fluorescent protein controlled by the Rv1258c promoter. Knocking out the native WhiB7 gene in Msm via homologous recombination will allow clear introduction of wild type and mutant versions of Mtb WhiB7. Changes in the fluorescent activity of Rv1258c promoter fusion to mCherry will indicate the effects of WhiB7 mutagenesis. Secondly, we can also use this system to confirm additional genes identified by microarray analysis that are potentially regulated by WhiB7. This will be done by cloning other promoters in front of mCherry in the Msm strain containing wild-type Mtb WhiB7. Understanding WhiB7's role in Mycobacterium tuberculosis macrophage survival and antibiotic resistance may provide new strategies for developing drugs that can lead to a cure.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFH0004654, ucf:45260
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004654
- Title
- CIS-REGULATORY ANALYSIS OF THE PIGMENT CELL DIFFERENTIATION GENE POLYKETIDE SYNTHASE.
- Creator
-
Rogers, David, Calestani, Cristina, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The analysis of Gene Regulatory Networks (GRNs) is essential to understanding the complete process of embryo development. Elucidating every gene regulatory circuit from maternal regulatory inputs all the way to the activation of differentiation gene batteries is an important step in increasing our understanding of developmental biology. In this work I study the cis-regulatory architecture of a pigment cell differentiation gene, polyketide synthase (SpPks) in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus...
Show moreThe analysis of Gene Regulatory Networks (GRNs) is essential to understanding the complete process of embryo development. Elucidating every gene regulatory circuit from maternal regulatory inputs all the way to the activation of differentiation gene batteries is an important step in increasing our understanding of developmental biology. In this work I study the cis-regulatory architecture of a pigment cell differentiation gene, polyketide synthase (SpPks) in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. SpPks encodes an enzyme that is responsible for the biosynthesis of the sea urchin pigment echinochrome in larval pigment cells. The analysis of the promoter of a differentiation gene will lead to identifying the direct upstream regulators and ultimately to elucidating the structure of the upstream gene regulatory network, which is mostly uncharacterized. From previous studies the transcription factors SpGcm and SpGatae are predicted to be positive regulators of SpPks. Here, I identify a minimal 1kb promoter region containing putative DNA-binding sites for both GCM and GATAE that is able to recapitulate the expression of SpPks. I further show by mutagenesis that a putative DNA-binding site for GCM located 1,179 base pairs upstream of the start of transcription is a direct target for the positive cis-regulation of SpPks. Quantitative analysis of the transcriptional regulatory function of the GCM-mutagenized construct suggests that GCM is not necessary for the start of SpPks transcription but is required for its maintenance. Several GATA E binding sites have been identified within the minimal promoter for SpPks by means of consensus sequence. My analysis suggests that GATA E may be a direct positive regulator and could potentially be required for the onset of transcription of SpPks, though further experimentation will be necessary to characterize the exact regulatory function of GATA E.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002302, ucf:47876
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002302
- Title
- INTEGRATION OF A NANOSTRUCTURE EMBEDDED THERMORESPONSIVE POLYMER FOR MICROFLUIDIC APPLICATIONS.
- Creator
-
Londe, Ghanashyam, Cho, Hyoung Jin, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This work describes the modeling, synthesis, integration and characterization of a novel nanostructure embedded thermoresponsive material for microfluidic applications. The innumerable applications of thermoresponsive surfaces in the recent years have necessitated the development of a rigorous mathematical treatment for these surfaces to understand and improve their behavior. An analytical model is proposed to describe the transfer characteristic (variation of contact angle versus temperature...
Show moreThis work describes the modeling, synthesis, integration and characterization of a novel nanostructure embedded thermoresponsive material for microfluidic applications. The innumerable applications of thermoresponsive surfaces in the recent years have necessitated the development of a rigorous mathematical treatment for these surfaces to understand and improve their behavior. An analytical model is proposed to describe the transfer characteristic (variation of contact angle versus temperature) of a unique switchable, nanostructured, thermoresponsive surface consisting of silica nanoparticles and the thermoresponsive polymer, Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide ) (PNIPAAm) which changes its wetting angle upon heating. Important metrics such as the absolute lower critical solution temperature, threshold & saturation temperatures and gain are modeled and quantified by mathematical expressions. Based on the modeling, a heat source for the thermoresponsive surface was integrated on the glass substrate itself to create a fully functional smart surface. The design and fabrication of a smart platform consisting of the switchable, nanostructured, thermoresponsive surface with an integrated gold microheater for wettability control and its time response analysis was conducted. The insight gained into the behavior of the thermoresponsive surface by using the analytical model, aided the effort in the effective integration of the surface into a microfluidic channel for flow regulation applications. The implementations of novel microfluidic flow regulator concepts were tested. The aim is to integrate a regulator function to a channel surface utilizing the layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition technique. The characterization and pressure differential study of the microfluidic regulators was carried out on simple straight microchannels which were selectively coated with the thermoresponsive surface. Theoretical and experimental studies were performed to determine the important characteristic parameters including capillary, Weber and Reynolds numbers. The pressure differential data was used to develop critical operating specifications. This work lays out a new microfluidic device concept consisting of a channel with a built-in regulatory function.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002368, ucf:47786
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002368
- Title
- Stepping Outside of Yourself: Social Anxiety, Dissociation, Alcohol Consequences, and Relationship Satisfaction.
- Creator
-
Cook, Matthew, Newins, Amie, Beidel, Deborah, Dvorak, Robert, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
OVERVIEW: Social anxiety disorder is the third most prevalent psychiatric disorder in the United States. Dissociation can arise during acute daily social stressors in individuals with social anxiety. This study examined the relationship between social anxiety and functional outcomes (i.e., alcohol-related consequences and relationship satisfaction) as moderated by levels of dissociation (i.e., depersonalization/derealization). It was hypothesized that dissociation would moderate the...
Show moreOVERVIEW: Social anxiety disorder is the third most prevalent psychiatric disorder in the United States. Dissociation can arise during acute daily social stressors in individuals with social anxiety. This study examined the relationship between social anxiety and functional outcomes (i.e., alcohol-related consequences and relationship satisfaction) as moderated by levels of dissociation (i.e., depersonalization/derealization). It was hypothesized that dissociation would moderate the relationships between social anxiety and alcohol-related consequences and between social anxiety and relationship satisfaction. METHOD: College students who endorsed alcohol use within the past 30 days (n = 320) and college students who reported having been in a romantic relationship lasting 30 or more days (n = 364) were recruited through the Psychology Department's Sona system. All participants completed measures of social anxiety, dissociation, alcohol use motives, alcohol-related consequences, and relationship satisfaction as part of an online questionnaire. RESULTS: Findings indicated no moderation effect in either model; both social anxiety and dissociation predicted alcohol-related consequences via coping-motivated alcohol use. Additionally, there was a negative association between dissociation and relationship satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should include longitudinal research designs or ecological momentary assessment designs and should examine these relationships in clinical samples.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007445, ucf:52725
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007445
- Title
- Preservice Teachers and Perceived Stress: A Comparative Study.
- Creator
-
Evans, Kelsey, Russell, William, Hewitt, Randall, Hynes, Mike, Jahani, Shiva, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Teachers are being pushed to the brink of burnout and leaving the profession, placing teachers' health and wellness in jeopardy (Daniels (&) Strauss, 2009; Maslach (&) Leiter, 2008; Stephenson, 2012; Vladut (&) Kallay, 2010; Wilkerson, 2009). Yet, it has become increasingly clear teacher stress may start prior to entering the profession (Brown (&) Ryan, 2003, Darling-Hammond, 2006). The researcher used a non-experimental design to evaluate the perceived stress among pre-service teachers...
Show moreTeachers are being pushed to the brink of burnout and leaving the profession, placing teachers' health and wellness in jeopardy (Daniels (&) Strauss, 2009; Maslach (&) Leiter, 2008; Stephenson, 2012; Vladut (&) Kallay, 2010; Wilkerson, 2009). Yet, it has become increasingly clear teacher stress may start prior to entering the profession (Brown (&) Ryan, 2003, Darling-Hammond, 2006). The researcher used a non-experimental design to evaluate the perceived stress among pre-service teachers enrolled in internship, and if the coping style of mindfulness had any correlation on self-reported stress levels. The quantitative study surveyed 332 student interns using the Perceived Stress Survey (Cohen (&) Williams, 1988) to depict perceived stress levels of pre-service teachers. A demographic questionnaire was also administered. The results indicated an increase in perceived stress, suggesting that stress may vary across the demographic variables of gender. Mindfulness was researched as a potential solution, however, there was no correlation between mindfulness and stress levels. education is necessary in the discussion and implementation of mindfulness as a potential intervention tool for stress. Further research is needed for a deeper understanding of gender, and how mindfulness may be a positive intervention to perceived stress.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007628, ucf:52546
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007628
- Title
- IMPACT OF LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT ON HOUSE MICE (MUS MUSCULUS) AND RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS (SOLENOPSIS INVICTA).
- Creator
-
Abelson, Jesse, Jenkins, David, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Understanding of mechanisms that limit the abundance and distribution of species is central to ecology. The failure of mechanisms to regulate populations can result in population outbreaks. There have been two outbreaks of house mice in the past decade in central Florida. In my study, I examine the efficacy of landscape management in the form of mowing and plowed soil barriers to limit or prevent outbreaks of house mice in a former agricultural area. House mouse populations were highly...
Show moreUnderstanding of mechanisms that limit the abundance and distribution of species is central to ecology. The failure of mechanisms to regulate populations can result in population outbreaks. There have been two outbreaks of house mice in the past decade in central Florida. In my study, I examine the efficacy of landscape management in the form of mowing and plowed soil barriers to limit or prevent outbreaks of house mice in a former agricultural area. House mouse populations were highly variable, but were unaffected by mowing or plowed soil barriers. Red imported fire ants were ubiquitous in the study area regardless of land management treatments. Control of fire ants did not result in more house mice on treated plots.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0003590, ucf:48899
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003590
- Title
- Is Selective Mutism an Emotion Regulation Strategy for Children with Social Phobia? A Single Case Design Investigation.
- Creator
-
Scott, Samantha, Beidel, Deborah, Rapport, Mark, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Hundley, Gulnora, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
To determine whether children with selective mutism (SM) withhold speech to regulate their emotional arousal and decrease automatic distress, the current study examines the behavioral and physiological responses of children with SM in comparison to children with social phobia (SP) and children with no psychiatric disorder (TD) as they participate in two social situations. A single case design strategy is used to compare behavioral and physiological responses both within and across groups....
Show moreTo determine whether children with selective mutism (SM) withhold speech to regulate their emotional arousal and decrease automatic distress, the current study examines the behavioral and physiological responses of children with SM in comparison to children with social phobia (SP) and children with no psychiatric disorder (TD) as they participate in two social situations. A single case design strategy is used to compare behavioral and physiological responses both within and across groups. Examining the temporal sequencing of behaviors and physiology provides a direct test of the utility of emotion regulation theory as it pertains to children with social phobia/selective mutism. The results indicate that children with SM show elevated arousal and emotional reactivity across all interaction segments relative to other children. Unique affective, behavioral and physiological responses occur between and within groups in relation to situational demands. The temporal sequencing of behavioral and physiological responses suggests that behavioral deficits may be related to underutilized and/or deficient physiological response systems and that not speaking represents a primitive avoidance strategy by children with SM to regulate extreme physiological arousal.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004438, ucf:49348
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004438
- Title
- The Influence of Components of Positive Psychology on Student Development.
- Creator
-
Ha, Yo-Sang, Robinson, Edward, Van Horn, Stacy, Young, Mark, Lee, Ji-Eun, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Considering a wide range of student's delinquencies and problems, preventive intervention in school is strongly required for healthy student development. American School counselor Association (ASCA) has focused on three areas, academic development, career development, and personal/social development to provide various skills and learning opportunities for the successful life of students. During the past 50 years, psychologists have concentrated on the disease treatment model. However, unlike...
Show moreConsidering a wide range of student's delinquencies and problems, preventive intervention in school is strongly required for healthy student development. American School counselor Association (ASCA) has focused on three areas, academic development, career development, and personal/social development to provide various skills and learning opportunities for the successful life of students. During the past 50 years, psychologists have concentrated on the disease treatment model. However, unlike this psychological trend, positive psychology has paid attention to prevent school violence and delinquency. Further, Positive psychologists have discovered not only to prevent problems but also to facilitate human strengths and virtues to live successful and happy life. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the causal relationship between components of positive psychology and student development. More specifically this research examined the influence of hope, optimism, and self-regulation on student's academic achievement, career development, and social development. This quantitative study included 507 6th grade elementary school students and their parents living in Seoul, South Korea. Four conceptual models were developed to investigate the best fit model to examine the causal relationship between hope, optimism, and self-regulation and student's academic achievement, career development, and social development. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the data. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to explore measurement model and Path Analysis was engaged in to discover structure model. The results of SEM analysis provided major findings. There was a causal relationship between hope and student's academic achievement, career development, and social development. However, it was not confirmed the causal relationship between optimism and student's academic achievement, career development, and social development and between self-regulation and student's academic achievement, career development, and social development. Further, a structural model on the causal relationship between hope, optimism, self-regulation and student's academic achievement, career development, and social development was not statistically significant. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004380, ucf:49381
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004380
- Title
- DETERMINANTS OF CHLOROPLAST GENE EXPRESSION AND APPLICATIONS OF CHLOROPLAST TRANSFORMATION IN LACTUCA SATIVA AND NICOTIANA TABACUM.
- Creator
-
Ruhlman, Tracey, Daniell, Henry, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Genetic modification of plastids in the model plant tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) has demonstrated that numerous foreign gene products can accumulate to high levels in this setting. Plastid biotechnology is maturing to encompass the improvement of food and feed species and the production of biopharmaceutical proteins for oral delivery necessitating development of stable transplastomic edible plants. In the interest of establishing an edible platform we have investigated the use of native and...
Show moreGenetic modification of plastids in the model plant tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) has demonstrated that numerous foreign gene products can accumulate to high levels in this setting. Plastid biotechnology is maturing to encompass the improvement of food and feed species and the production of biopharmaceutical proteins for oral delivery necessitating development of stable transplastomic edible plants. In the interest of establishing an edible platform we have investigated the use of native and foreign regulatory elements in relation to foreign gene expression in plastids. Multiple sequence alignments of intergenic regions for 20 species of angiosperm showed that despite 95% identity in the coding region, identity in the psbA upstream region is 59% across all taxa examined, other gene coding regions displayed sequence identity of 80-97%, whereas the non-coding regions were 45-79% suggesting that our physical data can be extrapolated beyond the model presented. We found that by exchanging psbA untranslated regions (UTRs) between N. tabacum and lettuce (Lactuca sativa), the expression of the CTB-proinsulin (CTB-Pins) monocistronic transcript declined by 84% and foreign protein accumulation was reduced by as much as 97% in mature leaves. Polyribosome association assays suggest that ribosome-free transgenic transcripts are stabilized where the native UTR is employed. RNA EMSA revealed that binding proteins interacted with psbA 5' UTRs in a species specific manner and the half life of the L. sativa 5'UTR-CTB-Pins mRNA was reduced by 3.7 fold in N. tabacum stromal extracts. Our data indicate that the use of species-specific regulatory elements could lead to establishment of reproducible plastid transformation in desirable target species such as L. sativa. Using transplastomic L. sativa for oral delivery of bioencapsulated CTB-Pins we delayed the onset of diabetes in NOD mice when retinyl acetate supplement was provided compared to untouched mice. In this 30 week study we monitored blood glucose levels and evaluated the in vitro suppressive capacity of regulatory T cells isolated from diabetic mice. Whether delay or prevention was achieved appeared to be a function of antigen dose as high dose resulted in a nine week delay of onset while low dose reduced the incidence of diabetes by 36%. In addition we have evaluated metabolic engineering in the N. tabacum model where we generated cis-genic lines expressing nucleus-encoded methionine pathway enzymes in plastids. Transplastomic expression of Cystathionine gamma-Synthase led to a three-fold increase in enzyme activity and a doubling of methionine content in leaves without a deleterious phenotype. In exploring molecular mechanisms supporting gene expression in plastids and applying transplastomic technology to real human problems this work seeks address the potential of plastid biotechnology for improvement of commodity crops and production of biopharmaceuticals.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002687, ucf:48236
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002687
- Title
- Under-Researched Areas of Audit Quality: Inputs, Firms, and Institutions.
- Creator
-
Eutsler, Jared, Trompeter, Gregory, Roberts, Robin, Robb, Sean, Krishnamoorthy, Ganesh, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Francis (2011) lists three under-researched units of analysis that affect audit quality: inputs, firms, and institutions. This dissertation analyzes how each of these units of analysis contributes to audit quality. Study 1 examines audit inputs, specifically, characteristics of the individual auditor that affect professional skepticism. Study 2 examines how firm staffing decisions affect audit quality. Study 3 examines how the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ((")PCAOB(")), as a...
Show moreFrancis (2011) lists three under-researched units of analysis that affect audit quality: inputs, firms, and institutions. This dissertation analyzes how each of these units of analysis contributes to audit quality. Study 1 examines audit inputs, specifically, characteristics of the individual auditor that affect professional skepticism. Study 2 examines how firm staffing decisions affect audit quality. Study 3 examines how the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ((")PCAOB(")), as a regulatory institution, promotes audit quality through their risk-based inspection program. The first study reports the results of two experiments that examine professional skepticism as a function of moral agency. Consistent with the theory of moral disengagement (through moral agency), the results suggest that common audit firm human resource practices used to promote audit quality (i.e. hiring creative individuals, and advertising public accounting's role as protecting the capital markets) may unintentionally decrease professional skepticism through increasing moral disengagement. Results of Experiment 1 demonstrate creative auditors are more skeptical. However, they are also more prone to engage in less skeptical behavior as they fabricate more creative moral justifications (a specific method of moral disengagement) when working under time pressure. Further, Experiment 2 suggests that moral disengagement is increased when firms frame their public interest responsibilities as protecting the 'capital markets.' The use of this label unintentionally dehumanizes the individuals that make up the public, and as a result, it decreases professional skepticism. Alternatively, altering the frame of the public interest responsibilities to protecting individuals (such as more familiar individual investors) increases humanization and increases professional skepticism. The second study examines how firms affect audit quality. Audit regulators view audit firm staffing as key input affecting audit quality and have suggested that it has value as a potential indicator of audit quality. Further, regulators (such as the IAASB) have called for audit firms to avoid cutting staff (including in periods of economic contraction), as reductions in staff could have a negative impact on audit quality. However, little empirical evidence exists to support how firm-level staffing maps into engagement-level audit quality. This study evaluates the extent to which firm-level staffing affects audit quality. Audit firm employment is obtained from the 1991-2014 rankings of the top 100 U.S. public accounting firms and analyzed across multiple measures of audit quality. In multivariate tests, firm staffing (such as number of partners) and firm leverage (as measured by total partners divided by total professional staff) are associated with audit quality. This analysis provides support for claims made by regulators, about the value of potential labor related audit quality indicators proposed by the PCAOB. Further, decreases in partners or staff (from year to year) are negatively associated with audit quality supporting regulatory claims that audit firm staff cuts have a detrimental impact on audit quality. The third study examines the relationship between the PCAOB, as an institution, and audit quality. The PCAOB uses a risk-based selection process to identify engagements for inspection and states that their inspection findings are an indicator of audit quality. However, critics argue that the risk-based selection program produces reports that are not representative of the overall audit quality for the firm. This study creates a selection model, investigates the extent to which inspection findings are representative of overall firm audit quality, and examines the extent to which the inspection process may improve audit quality. Inspection reports of annually inspected firms from 2004 to 2012 are analyzed in combination with the financials of their issuer clients. Results suggest that inspection report findings can be generalized to the audit quality of those deficient accounts for the issuer client base exhibiting the highest levels of selection risk. Specifically, when audit firms have increased levels of revenue related to inspection deficiencies, their high selection risk clients have higher average discretionary revenues for the year inspected. Further, the analysis suggests that the PCAOB risk-based inspection process is effective in improving audit quality of deficient accounts for clients exhibiting the highest levels of selection risk in the subsequent year. The results indicate a negative association between prior levels of revenue specific inspection deficiencies and future levels of discretionary revenues for high selection risk clients.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFE0006297, ucf:51590
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006297
- Title
- Effects of Metacognitive Monitoring on Academic Achievement in an Ill-Structured Problem-Solving Environment.
- Creator
-
Malone, Naomi, Hirumi, Atsusi, Thompson, Brenda, Bai, Haiyan, Vogel-Walcutt, Jennifer, Sadri, Houman, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Higher education courses are increasingly moving online while educational approaches are concurrently shifting their focus toward student-centered approaches to learning. These approaches promote critical thinking by asking students to solve a range of ill-structured problems that exist in the real world. Researchers have found that student-centered online learning environments require students to have self-regulated learning skills, including metacognitive skills to regulate their own...
Show moreHigher education courses are increasingly moving online while educational approaches are concurrently shifting their focus toward student-centered approaches to learning. These approaches promote critical thinking by asking students to solve a range of ill-structured problems that exist in the real world. Researchers have found that student-centered online learning environments require students to have self-regulated learning skills, including metacognitive skills to regulate their own learning processes. Much of the research suggests that externally supporting students while they are learning online, either directly or indirectly, helps them to succeed academically. However, few empirical studies have investigated what levels of support are most effective for promoting students' self-regulated learning behaviors. Additionally, these studies reported conflicting results (-) some found maximum support to be most effective while others found no significant difference.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of different levels of support for self-regulated learning during a complex learning activity to solve an ill-structured problem-solving situation in an online learning environment. In addition, the role of students' self-efficacy on their academic achievement was examined. A total of 101 undergraduate students from three international studies courses offered at a large urban Southeastern public university in the United States participated in the study. The students were randomly assigned to treatment (minimum support, maximum support) and control groups. Students' academic achievement scores were measured using a conceptual knowledge test created by the professor teaching the courses. O'Neil's (1997) Trait Self-Regulation Questionnaire measured students' self-efficacy. Analysis of Co-Variance (ANCOVA) was conducted to analyze the data. The ANCOVA results indicated significant improvement of the academic achievement of the minimum support group versus both the maximum support and control groups. Additionally, self-efficacy as a co-variable did not significantly impact students' achievement scores in any of the groups.The overall results indicated that it is important to consider the level of self-regulated learning support when designing online learning environments promoting students' critical thinking skills. Promoting students' self-regulated learning skills is vital when designing online higher education courses.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFE0006762, ucf:51833
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006762
- Title
- ADAPTIVE SELF-REGULATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS: INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS IN THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION.
- Creator
-
Howell, Sharon, Peggy D. Dwyer, Robin W. Roberts, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate whether or not perceptions of organizational politics mediate the relationships between accountants' personality and interpersonal traits and their perceptions of a superior's leadership ability and performance. An accountant who has a higher degree of confidence in his or her superior's abilities is more likely to be committed to a given project, resulting in a better project outcome. This benefits the client and ultimately society as a...
Show moreThe purpose of this dissertation is to investigate whether or not perceptions of organizational politics mediate the relationships between accountants' personality and interpersonal traits and their perceptions of a superior's leadership ability and performance. An accountant who has a higher degree of confidence in his or her superior's abilities is more likely to be committed to a given project, resulting in a better project outcome. This benefits the client and ultimately society as a whole. This study contributes to the accounting and psychology literatures because extant research views perceptions of leadership ability and performance from the perspective of the individual agent, with little or no recognition that social action and interaction shape and mold both the individual agent's actions and perceptions of those actions. Perceived leadership and perceived performance are important in accounting for several reasons. First, individuals act in part in relation and response to the expectations of others. Thus, the perception of effective leadership and performance is gained by meeting the expectations of others. Secondly, accountants with reputations for effectiveness have been found to be more successful in their careers. Finally, the reputation for effectiveness in performance and leadership ability has been shown to increase those abilities. This study draws on the adaptive self-regulation framework as well as other theoretical models of perceived performance. The study results indicate that certain manageable personality, interpersonal, and contextual variables affect how accountants view the level of organizational politics within the workplace. In turn, the accountant's view of the organizations' politics is shown to very strongly affect how the accountant perceives his or her superiors' performance and leadership ability.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000507, ucf:46458
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000507
- Title
- A DEVIANCE REGULATION THEORY INTERVENTION TO REDUCE ALCOHOL PROBLEMS AMONG FIRST-YEAR COLLEGE STUDENTS.
- Creator
-
Leary, Angelina V, Dvorak, Robert, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
OBJECTIVE: An alcohol-drinking culture exists among first-time-in-college students, where many of these students come to their university relatively inexperienced with alcohol, which may increase alcohol-related consequences. Several interventions exist to combat this campus problem. The current study investigates the use of a Deviance Regulation Theory (DRT) intervention, presented in a web-based manner, to increase alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS), such as monitoring drinks,...
Show moreOBJECTIVE: An alcohol-drinking culture exists among first-time-in-college students, where many of these students come to their university relatively inexperienced with alcohol, which may increase alcohol-related consequences. Several interventions exist to combat this campus problem. The current study investigates the use of a Deviance Regulation Theory (DRT) intervention, presented in a web-based manner, to increase alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS), such as monitoring drinks, using a designated driver, and drinking water in between alcoholic beverages, among college freshmen. METHOD: College freshmen participants (N = 157) completed web-based surveys examining alcohol behaviors once a week for six weeks. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a positive frame about individuals who used PBS, a negative frame about individuals who did not use PBS, or a control group that did not receive a DRT intervention. Participants also reported their perception of PBS use among UCF students and friend. Data was analyzed in each PBS subtype: Manner of Drinking, Stop/Limiting Drinking, and Serious Harm Reduction. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Results indicate a negatively framed message with high perceived norm levels results in increased PBS use, which may suggest college freshmen have a strong drive to "fit in", or avoid standing out in negative ways. Further, there seems to be little desire to standout in positive ways among first-year students. This may be indicative of individuals who modify their behavior in order to assimilate to a new and unfamiliar environment. Furthermore, some PBS strategies were associated with decreases in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. Results suggest a DRT intervention may be beneficial to first-time-in-college students.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFH2000427, ucf:45715
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000427
- Title
- Evaluating Pedagogical Methods that Influence Homework Assignment Completion.
- Creator
-
Sawyer, Kirk, Hartshorne, Richard, Bush, Sarah, Boote, David, Ortiz, Enrique, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
College students enrolled in an online introductory engineering course are not completing their homework assignments at an acceptable rate which impacts them, the instructor, and the college. This research study employed a quasi-experimental evaluation model to assess the effectiveness of two pedagogical methods designed to positively influence student homework completion rates and student attitudes toward homework. Despite evidence that grading penalties encourage students to submit their...
Show moreCollege students enrolled in an online introductory engineering course are not completing their homework assignments at an acceptable rate which impacts them, the instructor, and the college. This research study employed a quasi-experimental evaluation model to assess the effectiveness of two pedagogical methods designed to positively influence student homework completion rates and student attitudes toward homework. Despite evidence that grading penalties encourage students to submit their homework assignments, such strategies have historically been unsuccessful for the course used in this study. The researcher designed two pedagogical interventions, along with a survey instrument, to measure the impact of the interventions on completion rates and student attitudes toward homework, using a combination of inferential and descriptive statistics. Ideally, the findings of this study would be generalizable to subsequent offerings of the course used in this study, as well as other courses taught by the investigator, and potentially other faculty at the college. Although both interventions did not produce statistically significant results on impacting student homework completion rates, or improve student attitudes toward homework, the results of the study did indicate a positive correlation between student self-assessed knowledge gains attributed to the course and its homework. One intervention did improve homework completion rates, but the results only marginally improved final course grades, which does not fully align with prior research studies. In addition, this study provided the researcher an opportunity to study their own practice and the importance of homework and its effectiveness for student learning.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007858, ucf:52764
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007858
- Title
- The Effects of Synchronous Online Cognitive Strategy Instruction in Writing for Students with Learning Disabilities.
- Creator
-
Straub, Carrie, Vasquez, Eleazar, Wienke, Wilfred, Dieker, Lisa, Kaplan, Jeffrey, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study investigates the effects of self-regulated strategy development (Harris, Graham, (&) Mason, 2009) for cognitive strategy instruction in persuasive writing (POW+TREE) using a synchronous online learning environment for special education students. Participants are four adolescent students with learning disabilities (LD) with low achievement in writing. One undergraduate research assistant delivered instruction using a synchronous online platform (e.g., Adobe Connect) in conjunction...
Show moreThis study investigates the effects of self-regulated strategy development (Harris, Graham, (&) Mason, 2009) for cognitive strategy instruction in persuasive writing (POW+TREE) using a synchronous online learning environment for special education students. Participants are four adolescent students with learning disabilities (LD) with low achievement in writing. One undergraduate research assistant delivered instruction using a synchronous online platform (e.g., Adobe Connect) in conjunction with collaborative writing software (e.g., Google Docs word processing). A multiple probe across participants design was used to demonstrate a functional relationship between instruction and number of essay elements (EE). Number of correct minus incorrect word sequences (CIWS) was used as a secondary dependent measure. A non-experimental pre-post design was used to compare the mean performance of holistic writing quality scores and standard scores from the TOWL-3. All four participants gained EE and CIWS from baseline to treatment and demonstrated standard score changes from pre to post-test on the TOWL-3. Implications for writing instruction for students with LD using online learning environments are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004606, ucf:49937
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004606
- Title
- Temperament, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance as related correlates of psychological symptoms.
- Creator
-
Pearte, Catherine, Negy, Charles, Renk, Kimberly, Bedwell, Jeffrey, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Researchers have postulated that those with difficult temperament are at risk for difficulties with regulating emotions, are less tolerant of distressing stimuli, have characteristic difficulty coping with distress, and are (at some periods of development) more apt to experience clinically significant psychological symptoms. This study used exploratory factor analyses and structural equation modeling to compose and test a model that explained how emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and...
Show moreResearchers have postulated that those with difficult temperament are at risk for difficulties with regulating emotions, are less tolerant of distressing stimuli, have characteristic difficulty coping with distress, and are (at some periods of development) more apt to experience clinically significant psychological symptoms. This study used exploratory factor analyses and structural equation modeling to compose and test a model that explained how emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and coping skills interact to explain how certain temperament features translate into psychological symptoms. Because those with difficult temperament were thought to be at a unique risk for psychological maladjustment, mean-based criterion were used to identify those with relatively difficult, typical, or easy temperament and then test whether the degree of between-group differences on study variables was statistically significant. Results of correlational and EFA analyses suggested that there were statistically significant differences between constructs that were correlated highly (i.e., distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and emotion dysregulation). Results of SEM analyses indicated that the relationship between difficult temperament and psychological maladjustment was explained partially by the way in which emotion regulation, emotion dysregulation, distress tolerance, and coping skills interact, with the strength of each mediating variable differing considerably. There were also differences in the power of the relationship between variables when correlational power was considered alone rather than in the context of the larger measurement and structural models. Future directions and implications are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0005686, ucf:50120
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005686
- Title
- A Value Sensitive Design Approach to Adolescent Mobile Online Safety.
- Creator
-
Ghosh, Arup Kumar, ,, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
With the rise of adolescent smartphone use, concerns about teen online safety are also on the rise. A number of parental control apps are available for mobile devices, but adoption of these apps has been markedly low. To better understand these apps, their users, and design opportunities in the space of mobile online safety for adolescents, we have conducted four studies informed by the principles of Value Sensitive Design (VSD). In Study 1 (Chapter 2), we conducted a web-based survey of 215...
Show moreWith the rise of adolescent smartphone use, concerns about teen online safety are also on the rise. A number of parental control apps are available for mobile devices, but adoption of these apps has been markedly low. To better understand these apps, their users, and design opportunities in the space of mobile online safety for adolescents, we have conducted four studies informed by the principles of Value Sensitive Design (VSD). In Study 1 (Chapter 2), we conducted a web-based survey of 215 parents and their teens (ages 13-17) using two separate logistic regression models (parent and teen) to examine the factors that predicted parental use of technical monitoring apps on their teens' mobile devices. Both parent and teen models confirmed that low autonomy granting (e.g., authoritarian) parents were the most likely to use parental control apps. The teen model revealed additional nuances, indicating that teens who were victimized online and had peer problems were more likely to be monitored by their parents. Overall, increased parental control was associated with more (not fewer) online risks. In Study 2 (Chapter 3), we conducted a structured, qualitative feature analysis of 75 Android mobile apps designed for promoting adolescent online safety. We found that the available apps overwhelmingly supported parental control through restriction and monitoring over teen self-regulation or parental active mediation. In Study 3 (Chapter 4), we conducted a qualitative analysis of 736 reviews of 37 mobile online safety apps from Google Play that were publicly posted and written by teens. Our results indicate that teen ratings were significantly lower than that of parents with 76% of the teen reviews giving apps a single star. Teens felt that the apps were overly restrictive and invasive of their personal privacy, negatively impacting their relationships with their parents. For our final study (Chapter 5), we developed a mobile app prototype suggesting alternative designs for keeping teens safe online and conducted a user study which showed that parents and children (ages 10-17) both significantly preferred our new app design over existing parental control apps. Both parents and children reported that our VSD informed design is less privacy-invasive for children and would improve communication and trust relationship between them. Yet, more work needs to be done to improve approaches for risk detection and mediation that support online safety. In summary, this research will enable researchers and designers to create more effective solutions for teen online safety that will help promote more positive parent-teen relationships.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007181, ucf:52256
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007181
- Title
- Examining the Effects of Self-Regulated Strategy Development in Combination with Video Self-Modeling on Writing by Third Grade Students with Learning Disabilities.
- Creator
-
Miller, Katie, Little, Mary, Dieker, Lisa, Pearl, Cynthia, Roberts, Sherron, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This research examined the effects of self-regulated strategy development (SRSD), a cognitive strategy instructional method, on opinion writing by third grade students with learning disabilities. A video self-modeling (VSM) component was added to the SRSD method. A multiple probe across participants, single-subject design was used to determine the effectiveness of the SRSD instructional strategy, (POW + TREE), in combination with video self-modeling. Data from various components of writing,...
Show moreThis research examined the effects of self-regulated strategy development (SRSD), a cognitive strategy instructional method, on opinion writing by third grade students with learning disabilities. A video self-modeling (VSM) component was added to the SRSD method. A multiple probe across participants, single-subject design was used to determine the effectiveness of the SRSD instructional strategy, (POW + TREE), in combination with video self-modeling. Data from various components of writing, including essay elements, length of responses, time spent writing, and overall writing quality, were collected and assessed to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. All students who received the intervention improved their overall writing performance on opinion essays as measured by the number of opinion essay elements, including topic sentence, reasons, examples, and ending. During the maintenance phase of the intervention, students who received a VSM booster session increased their total number of opinion essay elements back to mastery levels.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0004893, ucf:49674
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004893
- Title
- General Vector Explicit - Impact Time and Angle Control Guidance.
- Creator
-
Robinson, Loren, Qu, Zhihua, Behal, Aman, Xu, Yunjun, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This thesis proposes and evaluates a new cooperative guidance law called General Vector Explicit -Impact Time and Angle Control Guidance (GENEX-ITACG). The motivation for GENEX-ITACGcame from an explicit trajectory shaping guidance law called General Vector Explicit Guidance(GENEX). GENEX simultaneously achieves design specifications on miss distance and terminalmissile approach angle while also providing a design parameter that adjusts the aggressiveness ofthis approach angle. Encouraged by...
Show moreThis thesis proposes and evaluates a new cooperative guidance law called General Vector Explicit -Impact Time and Angle Control Guidance (GENEX-ITACG). The motivation for GENEX-ITACGcame from an explicit trajectory shaping guidance law called General Vector Explicit Guidance(GENEX). GENEX simultaneously achieves design specifications on miss distance and terminalmissile approach angle while also providing a design parameter that adjusts the aggressiveness ofthis approach angle. Encouraged by the applicability of this user parameter, GENEX-ITACG is anextension that allows a salvo of missiles to cooperatively achieve the same objectives of GENEXagainst a stationary target through the incorporation of a cooperative trajectory shaping guidancelaw called Impact Time and Angle Control Guidance (ITACG).ITACG allows a salvo of missile to simultaneously hit a stationary target at a prescribed impactangle and impact time. This predetermined impact time is what allows each missile involvedin the salvo attack to simultaneously arrived at the target with unique approach angles, whichgreatly increases the probability of success against well defended targets. GENEX-ITACG furtherincreases this probability of kill by allowing each missile to approach the target with a uniqueapproach angle rate through the use of a user design parameter.The incorporation of ITACG into GENEX is accomplished through the use of linear optimal controlby casting the cost function of GENEX into the formulation of ITACG. The feasibility GENEXITACGis demonstrated across three scenarios that demonstrate the ITACG portion of the guidancelaw, the GENEX portion of the guidance law, and finally the entirety of the guidance law. Theresults indicate that GENEX-ITACG is able to successfully guide a salvo of missiles to simultaneouslyhit a stationary target at a predefined terminal impact angle and impact time, while alsoallowing the user to adjust the aggressiveness of approach.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0005876, ucf:50868
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005876