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- Title
- X: THE RISE AND FALL OF AN ASYLUM STAR (A JOURNEY OF TWO ACTRESSES).
- Creator
-
Wilhite, Erika, Niess, Christopher, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The performance of X: The Rise and Fall of an Asylum Star, in conjunction with my thesis document, investigates the dichotomy of fantasy and reality for a performer. I compare the creative and emotional journey of Augustine, a young woman hospitalized for hysteria, to my own journey as an actress. Augustine was also performer, for her doctors led her in public demonstrations of the symptoms of hysteria. Her "talent" for hysteria earned her notoriety and celebrity. She was coached and directed...
Show moreThe performance of X: The Rise and Fall of an Asylum Star, in conjunction with my thesis document, investigates the dichotomy of fantasy and reality for a performer. I compare the creative and emotional journey of Augustine, a young woman hospitalized for hysteria, to my own journey as an actress. Augustine was also performer, for her doctors led her in public demonstrations of the symptoms of hysteria. Her "talent" for hysteria earned her notoriety and celebrity. She was coached and directed from her doctors to enhance her demonstrations. As a result, the validity and authenticity of her state was questionable. I compare the performative qualities of hysteria with my own states of drama as a performer and draw parallels between us, looking specifically at states of experience, both imagined and real.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002679, ucf:48240
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002679
- Title
- WALKING BACKWARDS INTO THE FUTURE.
- Creator
-
Norman, Camille, Wood, Vandy, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Recent artists like Norwegian Recycling and E-603 have created a new genre of art within music: digital recycling. These artists take many different well-known and less-known lyrics, music, and spoken word and combine them together. This meshing of multiple pieces of art has new historical roots. The different images, auditory and visual, that these creations produce and often enhance meaning and connections through popular media. These connections interest me most. Through the lenses of post...
Show moreRecent artists like Norwegian Recycling and E-603 have created a new genre of art within music: digital recycling. These artists take many different well-known and less-known lyrics, music, and spoken word and combine them together. This meshing of multiple pieces of art has new historical roots. The different images, auditory and visual, that these creations produce and often enhance meaning and connections through popular media. These connections interest me most. Through the lenses of post-colonial, gender, and queer theories, I examine Witi Ihimaera's creative work. I splice in different theorists' words, my own thoughts, and images to enhance and accent Ihimaera's "Singing Word" (Juniper Ellis 170). According to Ihimaera, the written word and the "novel is alien to the indigenous form, and that where Maori are going now is probably where it's most natural, and that is into theatre or into poetry and oral storytelling" (Ihimaera 170). As the first published playwright in New Zealand and as an English professor at the University of Auckland, Witi Ihimaera is a role model and leader to many other Maori and New Zealand playwrights and writers. I am most interested in understanding what and how he has been influenced as an artist. I craft a document that extends the idea of a written word in a Maori context, in which I explore the major influences on Ihimaera as a theatrical creator and influencer of other Maori artists. Chapter one introduces Witi Ihimaera and my methods. Chapter two includes my research on the Maori culture with the following subsections: the people, their traditions, and their paternal systems of power. Chapter three is my research on the influx of Pakeha authority highlighting the Mormon take over and how that affected author and playwright Witi Ihimaera. Chapter four is my research on how Ihimaera's homosexuality has influenced his creations and the contemporary Maori Performance. Chapter five contains my conclusions of the connections I find. In addition, I use examples from Witi Ihimaera's fictional novel The Uncles Story, as well as many other of his plays and novels, to show examples of influences from Maori culture, Mormonism, and his homosexuality on Ihimaera's work.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0003598, ucf:48868
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003598
- Title
- VALUING VOLUNTEERS:THE IMPACT OF VOLUNTEERISM ON HOSPITAL PERFORMANCE.
- Creator
-
Hotchkiss, Renee, Fottler, Myron, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Volunteers have been present in healthcare settings for centuries, however there is little empirical evidence supporting the impact that volunteers make on hospital performance. Since the 1990s, hospitals in the United States have had a great deal of pressure to produce high quality care at minimum expense. With the pressures of managed care and accrediting agencies, the benefits of using volunteers in a hospital setting are multiplied. Furthermore, as the population of the United States...
Show moreVolunteers have been present in healthcare settings for centuries, however there is little empirical evidence supporting the impact that volunteers make on hospital performance. Since the 1990s, hospitals in the United States have had a great deal of pressure to produce high quality care at minimum expense. With the pressures of managed care and accrediting agencies, the benefits of using volunteers in a hospital setting are multiplied. Furthermore, as the population of the United States grows and the aging population creates more healthcare needs, the need for volunteers in hospitals may increase. This study utilized multiple regression analysis to explore the belief that the volunteer workforce is cost effective and can greatly enhance quality in a hospital setting. Hospitals throughout the state of Florida were invited to participate in the study by completing a brief questionnaire about their volunteer programs. Performance indicators of profit margin, volunteer cost savings, and patient satisfaction scores were analyzed using American Hospital Association and Agency for Health Care Administration data sets along with data obtained from the questionnaire. Results indicate that the use of volunteers offer significant cost savings to hospitals. Furthermore, the assignment of volunteers in patient settings can enhance a hospital's patient satisfaction scores. It also suggests that there is a need to further explore the impact of volunteers on other performance measures. Future research opportunities and policy recommendations are suggested.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- Identifier
- CFE0001846, ucf:47359
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001846
- Title
- USING STUDENT MOOD AND TASK PERFORMANCE TO TRAIN CLASSIFIER ALGORITHMS TO SELECT EFFECTIVE COACHING STRATEGIES WITHIN INTELLIGENT TUTORING SYSTEMS (ITS).
- Creator
-
Sottilare, Robert, Proctor, Michael, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The ultimate goal of this research was to improve student performance by adjusting an Intelligent Tutoring System's (ITS) coaching strategy based on the student's mood. As a step toward this goal, this study evaluated the relationships between each student's mood variables (pleasure, arousal, dominance and mood intensity), the coaching strategy selected by the ITS and the student's performance. Outcomes included methods to increase the perception of the intelligent tutor to...
Show moreThe ultimate goal of this research was to improve student performance by adjusting an Intelligent Tutoring System's (ITS) coaching strategy based on the student's mood. As a step toward this goal, this study evaluated the relationships between each student's mood variables (pleasure, arousal, dominance and mood intensity), the coaching strategy selected by the ITS and the student's performance. Outcomes included methods to increase the perception of the intelligent tutor to allow it to adapt coaching strategies (methods of instruction) to the student's affective needs to mitigate barriers to performance (e.g. negative affect) during the one-to-one tutoring process. The study evaluated whether the affective state (specifically mood) of the student moderated the student's interaction with the tutor and influenced performance. This research examined the relationships, interactions and influences of student mood in the selection of ITS coaching strategies to determine which strategies were more effective in terms of student performance given the student's mood, state (recent sleep time, previous knowledge and training, and interest level) and actions (e.g. mouse movement rate). Two coaching strategies were used in this study: Student-Requested Feedback (SRF) and Tutor-Initiated Feedback (TIF). The SRF coaching strategy provided feedback in the form of hints, questions, direction and support only when the student requested help. The TIF coaching strategy provided feedback (hints, questions, direction or support) at key junctures in the learning process when the student either made progress or failed to make progress in a timely fashion. The relationships between the coaching strategies, mood, performance and other variables of interest were considered in light of five hypotheses. At alpha = .05 and beta at least as great as .80, significant effects were limited in predicting performance. Highlighted findings include no significant differences in the mean performance due to coaching strategies, and only small effect sizes in predicting performance making the regression models developed not of practical significance. However, several variables including performance, energy level and mouse movement rates were significant, unobtrusive predictors of mood. Regression algorithms were developed using Arbuckle's (2008) Analysis of MOment Structures (AMOS) tool to compare the predicted performance for each strategy and then to choose the optimal strategy. A set of production rules were also developed to train a machine learning classifier using Witten & Frank's (2005) Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis (WEKA) toolset. The classifier was tested to determine its ability to recognize critical relationships and adjust coaching strategies to improve performance. This study found that the ability of the intelligent tutor to recognize key affective relationships contributes to improved performance. Study assumptions include a normal distribution of student mood variables, student state variables and student action variables and the equal mean performance of the two coaching strategy groups (student-requested feedback and tutor-initiated feedback ). These assumptions were substantiated in the study. Potential applications of this research are broad since its approach is application independent and could be used within ill-defined or very complex domains where judgment might be influenced by affect (e.g. study of the law, decisions involving risk of injury or death, negotiations or investment decisions). Recommendations for future research include evaluation of the temporal, as well as numerical, relationships of student mood, performance, actions and state variables.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002528, ucf:47644
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002528
- Title
- The Wonder Women: Understanding Feminism in Cosplay Performance.
- Creator
-
Grissom, Amber, Mishtal, Joanna, Reyes-Foster, Beatriz, Harris, Shana, Tollefson, Kristina, Falu, Nessette, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Feminism conjures divisive and at times conflicting thoughts and feelings in the current political climate in the United States. For some, Wonder Woman is a feminist icon, for her devotion to truth, justice, and equality. In recent years, Wonder Woman has become successful in the film industry, and this is reflected by the growing community of cosplayers at comic book conventions. In this study, I examine gender performativity, gender identity, and feminism from the perspective of cosplayers...
Show moreFeminism conjures divisive and at times conflicting thoughts and feelings in the current political climate in the United States. For some, Wonder Woman is a feminist icon, for her devotion to truth, justice, and equality. In recent years, Wonder Woman has become successful in the film industry, and this is reflected by the growing community of cosplayers at comic book conventions. In this study, I examine gender performativity, gender identity, and feminism from the perspective of cosplayers of Wonder Woman. I collected ethnographic data using participant observation and semi-structured interviews with cosplayers at comic book conventions in Florida, Georgia, and Washington, about their experiences in their Wonder Woman costumes. I found that many cosplayers identified with Wonder Woman both in their own personalities and as a feminist icon, and many view Wonder Woman as a larger role model to all people, not just women and girls. The narratives in this study also show cosplay as a form of escapism. Finally, I found that Wonder Woman empowers cosplayers at the individual level but can be envisioned as a force at a wider social level. I conclude that Wonder Woman is an important and iconic figure for understanding the dynamics of culture in the United States. In the era of #MeToo and TimesUp, Wonder Woman is a character that defies normative boundaries of gendered expectations.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007641, ucf:52515
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007641
- Title
- The use of video game achievements to enhance player performance, self-efficacy, and motivation.
- Creator
-
Blair, Lucas, Bowers, Clint, Cannon-Bowers, Janis, McDaniel, Rudy, Kincaid, John, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
A taxonomy of achievement design features that exist currently in video game systems was created in order to evaluate the current the state of the art in achievement design. From the taxonomy of design features multiple mechanisms of action that influence player behavior were identified. These mechanisms lead to a predictive model that can guide the designs of achievements in order to improve performance, self-efficacy and motivation in players.Expected, unexpected, and incremental...
Show moreA taxonomy of achievement design features that exist currently in video game systems was created in order to evaluate the current the state of the art in achievement design. From the taxonomy of design features multiple mechanisms of action that influence player behavior were identified. These mechanisms lead to a predictive model that can guide the designs of achievements in order to improve performance, self-efficacy and motivation in players.Expected, unexpected, and incremental achievements were tested. Notifications occurring before and after earning an achievement were also tested. In addition to testing individual mechanisms of action a (")combined achievement(") was created with multiple mechanisms added that were hand-picked. For testing purposes the model was applied to achievements that were inserted into an instructional game. The results of the study revealed that individual mechanisms of action had little effect on players while multiple mechanisms in a combined achievement caused significant improvements in several categories. The limitations of the current study, as well as, plans for future study are also discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0004471, ucf:49297
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004471
- Title
- THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH IN THE DIGITAL CINEMATIC SPACE AND GREEN SCREEN PERFORMANCES.
- Creator
-
Dalton, Kade, Shults, Kate, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
With the advent of the blockbuster and its visual effects, film has grown to accept these effects and the technology behind them, namely green screen mattes, as cornerstones to the post-production process. The propensity of green screen in all types of productions, especially those involving actors and their performances, raises questions about the methodology and workflow behind its common practice. Using real-life environments and people to create narrative scenes, this project explores the...
Show moreWith the advent of the blockbuster and its visual effects, film has grown to accept these effects and the technology behind them, namely green screen mattes, as cornerstones to the post-production process. The propensity of green screen in all types of productions, especially those involving actors and their performances, raises questions about the methodology and workflow behind its common practice. Using real-life environments and people to create narrative scenes, this project explores the utilization of matte backgrounds to inform the rehearsal and performance aspects of cinematic story-telling.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFH0004714, ucf:45409
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004714
- Title
- THE RELATION BETWEEN OPTIMISM AND JOB PERFORMANCE: AN APPLIED SETTING.
- Creator
-
Davis, Mary, Wooten, William, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Research on cognitive ability measures consistently concludes that they are predictive of employee performance. While accounting for only about 9% of the variance in performance, however, cognitive ability measures are not sufficient. Alternative measures, such as measures of personality constructs, must be included to fully predict employee performance. The research on personality measures suggests that they are marginally predictive of employee performance. Research also suggests that...
Show moreResearch on cognitive ability measures consistently concludes that they are predictive of employee performance. While accounting for only about 9% of the variance in performance, however, cognitive ability measures are not sufficient. Alternative measures, such as measures of personality constructs, must be included to fully predict employee performance. The research on personality measures suggests that they are marginally predictive of employee performance. Research also suggests that predicative accuracy of personality measures can be enhanced when the measure is specific to the situation (i.e., stress measure are more predictive of performance in high stress situations compared to moderate or low stress situations). The current study compares a specific measure of a personality construct, the Seligman Attributional Style Questionnaire (a measure of optimism), with a broad, general measure of personality, the Gordon Personal Profile-Inventory, comparing jobs specifically requiring higher levels of optimism versus jobs that do not require high levels of optimism. The results suggest that the use of the SASQ under situationally specific conditions does not result in greater predictive accuracy that the more generic GPPI. In addition, neither measure resulted in significant correlations with employee performance. The study generally confirmed the literature on the limited utility of personality measures in predicting performance. It also raised questions about how situational specificity is operationized.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001262, ucf:46930
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001262
- Title
- THE MEDIATING ROLE OF MOTIVATION AND JOB SATISFACTION IN WORK ENVIRONMENT-OUTCOME RELATIONSHIPS.
- Creator
-
Guzman, Melissa, Pritchard, Robert, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Research that links various aspects of the work environment to important work outcomes can be traced back almost seventy years. Despite the history and proliferation of these studies, firm conclusions have not been reached regarding the ways through which the work environment impacts these outcomes. For example, mediating variables such as motivation and job satisfaction have been proposed as affective and cognitive states that could impact the environment-outcome relationships but have...
Show moreResearch that links various aspects of the work environment to important work outcomes can be traced back almost seventy years. Despite the history and proliferation of these studies, firm conclusions have not been reached regarding the ways through which the work environment impacts these outcomes. For example, mediating variables such as motivation and job satisfaction have been proposed as affective and cognitive states that could impact the environment-outcome relationships but have received little attention. Additionally, organizational and contextual moderators such as group size and demographics that could impact the relationships have been called for but have yet to be studied. Consequently, much remains to be examined in the environment-outcome relationships beyond the basic links. Therefore, the primary objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of motivation and job satisfaction as mediators, and group size, group tenure, and group gender composition as moderators, of work environment-work outcome relationships. Specifically, it was proposed that motivation and job satisfaction mediate the relationships between the feedback environment, learning environment, and reward and recognition environment and job performance and turnover intentions. Finally, it was expected that group size, group tenure, and group gender composition moderate these same environment-outcome relationships. It is suggested that findings gleaned from this study can provide a clearer picture of how certain work environment variables impact specific work outcomes, which can provide researchers and practitioners with information to improve the organizational setting and individual and organizational outcomes of interest. Support was found for several hypotheses and future research directions are noted.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- Identifier
- CFE0001724, ucf:47299
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001724
- Title
- THE IMPACT OF HIGHER EDUCATION ON THE JOB PREPAREDNESS AND JOB PERFORMANCE OF TURKISH NATIONAL POLICE OFFICERS.
- Creator
-
BEYHAN, ERHAN, Martin, Lawrence, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The Turkish National Police converted its 9-month Police Training Schools to 2-year college degree programs in 2001 in their pursuit to improve the quality of police officers' job performance, police job preparedness levels, and the police service as a whole. The purpose of this study is to investigate the actual benefits of this higher education policy by empirically measuring and comparing the job preparedness and job performance of police officers with higher education and police...
Show moreThe Turkish National Police converted its 9-month Police Training Schools to 2-year college degree programs in 2001 in their pursuit to improve the quality of police officers' job performance, police job preparedness levels, and the police service as a whole. The purpose of this study is to investigate the actual benefits of this higher education policy by empirically measuring and comparing the job preparedness and job performance of police officers with higher education and police officers without higher education. This study consists of two quantitative parts. The first part measured the job performance construct with multiple indicators, including performance evaluation scores, numbers of received official awards, and appreciation letters. The second part of the study measured the perception of officer's job preparedness levels through a self-report survey. The structural equation modeling technique was utilized to evaluate the latent constructs. A response rate of 55.5% was attained--500 out of 900. The study found that there were statistically significant positive relationships between police officers' level of education and job preparedness, as well as between police officers' level of education and job performance. Statistically significant relationships between jurisdiction sizes, assignment type, and perception of job performance with job performance and preparedness were also found. However, no significant relationships between gender, age, and marital status were identified with job performance and preparedness. Among the variables, education had the strongest influence on officers' job performance and preparedness. In addition, a negative relationship exists between officers' perception of self-performance ratings and observed job performance ratings, suggesting that officers that rated their job performance levels higher were actually the ones with lower observed job performance ratings. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on criminal justice and public policy not only in Turkey, but also internationally.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002237, ucf:47892
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002237
- Title
- THE EFFECTS OF SCREEN SIZE ON PERFORMANCE OF A MODIFIED CODE SUBSTITUTION TASK.
- Creator
-
Stafford, Shawn, Hancock, Peter, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Understanding the effects of the visual display size of a task on human performance has long been a goal of research in the United States Military. The present work is a series of three studies which focus on distinguishing which specific aspects of display size each affect performance response capacity. The three sequential studies represented here manipulated viewing conditions and task type. These studies were derived from a code substitution cognitive battery using four display sizes and...
Show moreUnderstanding the effects of the visual display size of a task on human performance has long been a goal of research in the United States Military. The present work is a series of three studies which focus on distinguishing which specific aspects of display size each affect performance response capacity. The three sequential studies represented here manipulated viewing conditions and task type. These studies were derived from a code substitution cognitive battery using four display sizes and three viewing conditions. The first viewing condition is controlled distance to the display. The second viewing condition allowed the participants to choose their own viewing distance. The second condition, Free movement, provided the data for the third viewing condition where the participant was held to a constant visual angle and changing distance. In summary the three sequential experiments are free movement to and from the display, controlled distance to the display, and controlled visual angle while changing display distance. The four display sizes were in part selected in association with SME's from UCF and the United States Army (PDA – 320x280, Tablet – 800x600, Small - LCD 1280x1024, Large LCD – 1600x1200). These four displays are representative of the four display sizes widely used by our armed forces. Three workload levels were manipulated by restricting the viewing time to 300ms on target at the shortest interval through 700ms on target, to finally 3000ms on target. The 3000ms represents the standard amount of time used in a code substitution task, while 700ms and 300ms are present as a result of the pilot studies and thus representing higher workloads. Results indicate all displays sizes suffered performance diminution in the 700 ms and 300 ms condition. The three largest displays had indistinguishable performance results. The smallest display while indistinguishable from the larger three displays in the 3000 ms condition has significant accuracy diminution in the 700 ms and 300 ms conditions when compared to the three larger displays.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002946, ucf:47967
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002946
- Title
- THE EFFECTS OF ETHNIC DIVERSITY, PERCEIVED SIMILARITY, AND TRUST ON COLLABORATIVE BEHAVIOR AND PERFORMANCE.
- Creator
-
Wildman, Jessica, Salas, Eduardo, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Recent issues such as global economic crises, terrorism, and conservation efforts are making international collaboration a critical topic. While cultural diversity often brings with it new perspectives and innovative solutions, diversity in collaborative settings can also lead to misunderstandings and interaction problems. Therefore, there is a pressing need to understand the processes and influences of intercultural collaboration and how to manage the collaborative process to result in the...
Show moreRecent issues such as global economic crises, terrorism, and conservation efforts are making international collaboration a critical topic. While cultural diversity often brings with it new perspectives and innovative solutions, diversity in collaborative settings can also lead to misunderstandings and interaction problems. Therefore, there is a pressing need to understand the processes and influences of intercultural collaboration and how to manage the collaborative process to result in the most effective outcomes possible. In order to address this need, the current study examines the effect of ethnic diversity, perceived deep-level similarity, trust, and distrust on collaborative behavior and performance in decision-making dyads. Participants were assigned to either same-ethnicity or different-ethnicity dyads and worked together on a political simulation game in which they had to make complex decisions to solve societal problems and increase their popularity. The results of this study indicate that ethnically similar dyads reported higher levels of perceived deep-level similarity than ethnically dissimilar dyads, and that this perceived deep-level similarity served as the mediating mechanism between objective differences in ethnic diversity and trust and distrust, respectively. The findings also suggest that trust and distrust attitudes, when considered together as a multiple mediation model, mediate the positive relationship between perceived deep-level similarity and collaborative behavior. Finally, results show that collaborative behavior significantly predicts objective performance on the political decision-making simulation. The implications of this study for theory and practice are discussed along with the study limitations and several suggestions for future research.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- Identifier
- CFE0003102, ucf:48299
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003102
- Title
- The effects of dynamic versus isometric postactivation potentiation on collegiate female rowers.
- Creator
-
Harat, Idan, Fukuda, David, Stout, Jeffrey, Wells, Adam, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Post-activation potentiation (PAP) has been shown to improve acute power-based performance, and the potential to enhance rowing performance. To examine PAP effects with rowing performance, 40 collegiate female rowers performed isometric potentiating (ISO), dynamic potentiating (DYN) and typical control (CON) warm-up protocols, after which they completed a three-minute all-out test (3MT) to evaluate their total distance, peak power, mean power, critical power, anaerobic working capacity (W')...
Show morePost-activation potentiation (PAP) has been shown to improve acute power-based performance, and the potential to enhance rowing performance. To examine PAP effects with rowing performance, 40 collegiate female rowers performed isometric potentiating (ISO), dynamic potentiating (DYN) and typical control (CON) warm-up protocols, after which they completed a three-minute all-out test (3MT) to evaluate their total distance, peak power, mean power, critical power, anaerobic working capacity (W') and stroke rate. Fifteen-second splits for distance and mean power were also analyzed. The PAP protocols were performed on a rowing ergometer, in a movement pattern that simulated rowing. ISO consisted of 5 (&)#215; 5-second static muscle actions with the ergometer handle rendered immovable with a nylon boat-strap, while DYN consisted of 2 (&)#215; 10-second all-out rowing bouts, separated by a 2-minute rest interval. A two-way (condition by experience level) interaction was found for distance, mean power and W' with significant differences (DYN (>) CON; 5.6 m, 5.9W and 1561.6 J) for more experienced rowers ((>)3.75 years; n=19) and no differences for less experienced rowers (n=18). A main effect for stroke rate was found with DYN(>)CON (1 s/min). Split analysis of mean power output revealed a two-way (condition by 15s split) interaction independent from experience level. Mean power in DYN was significantly greater than CON and ISO in the 15-30, 30-45, 45-60 and 60-75 second intervals. These results suggest that dynamic PAP may be beneficial for experienced rowers and that these strategies might benefit a greater power output over shorter distances regardless of experience. Future studies should investigate potential benefits of this protocol over a full race distance and identify the difference between experienced and less experienced rowers.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007465, ucf:52665
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007465
- Title
- The Effect of Visualized Student's Self-Set Learning Progress Goals on East Asian Chinese Student's Motivation and Self confidence In Learning.
- Creator
-
Ao, Yu, Sivo, Stephen, Gunter, Glenda, Beverly, Monifa, Martin, Suzanne, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study was conducted to determine if visualized goal achievement can help enhance East Asian Chinese students' motivation in learning and elevate their confidence in reaching their goals thus improving their performance. The goal achievement was visualized on a goal achievement progress chart that was self-created and self-managed by the East Asian Chinese students and the goal creating was under the supervision of their instructor. In this study, literature reviews on the theories,...
Show moreThis study was conducted to determine if visualized goal achievement can help enhance East Asian Chinese students' motivation in learning and elevate their confidence in reaching their goals thus improving their performance. The goal achievement was visualized on a goal achievement progress chart that was self-created and self-managed by the East Asian Chinese students and the goal creating was under the supervision of their instructor. In this study, literature reviews on the theories, previous research studies in the perspectives of East Asian students' motivation in learning, goal setting on motivation, self-determination, self-efficacy, and expectancy theories are conducted to provide theoretical ground and legitimate evidence for this particular research. The researcher conducted an experiment in which students were given a learning task and required to set their own learning goals for that learning task under the supervision of their instructors. In this specific experiment, a total of 106 students from a university that was funded by American Educators in a central province in China agreed to participate in stages one, and two of the study, but some students withdrew from this research and some did not participate in both research stages therefore their data were take out from the data to make research result more consistent. Therefore eventually 72 students were considered eligible to go through the whole process of turning in the questionnaires and participating in the performance test. In this particular goal setting research study, the students were given the freedom of setting their own learning pace and managing their own progress on a visualized progress chart. The progress chart was visualized as a climbing/progressing line, which goes from bottom to top (see appendix C) once students achieved their learning goals. At the same time, the instructor provided feedback concerning the students' progress. Although some of the research results displayed no statistical significance for motivation and self-confidence during the pre and post session of the research, there is a positive correlation among motivation, self-confidence, and performance outcome. One research result did corroborate the previous research study that goal setting strategy would improve learning outcome.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004512, ucf:49270
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004512
- Title
- STRESS AND PERFORMANCE IN UNCERTAINTY-AVOIDING INDIVIDUALS: AN INTRODUCTORY LITERATURE REVIEW.
- Creator
-
Stowers, Kimberly, Salas, Eduardo, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Uncertainty avoidance as a cultural construct has been known to affect worker stress and performance in organizations, but a review of these findings has not been done up until this point. In effort to clarify the relationship between uncertainty avoidance and stress and performance, a comprehensive literature search was performed. Findings from articles on this topic have been presented. In addition, organizational practices for accommodating uncertainty avoidance and other cultural...
Show moreUncertainty avoidance as a cultural construct has been known to affect worker stress and performance in organizations, but a review of these findings has not been done up until this point. In effort to clarify the relationship between uncertainty avoidance and stress and performance, a comprehensive literature search was performed. Findings from articles on this topic have been presented. In addition, organizational practices for accommodating uncertainty avoidance and other cultural dimensions have been explored. This review shows that uncertainty avoidance appears to be linked to higher stress, while its relationship to performance appears to depend on other factors. Best practices for accommodating uncertainty avoidance tend to include enhanced communication and structure. Ideas for future research on this topic are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFH0004450, ucf:45125
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004450
- Title
- Standing Up Comedy: Analyzing Rhetorical Approaches to Identity in Stand-up Comedy.
- Creator
-
Grabert, Christopher, Holic, Nathan, Wheeler, Stephanie, Brenckle, Martha, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
My thesis addresses contemporary conversations about stand-up comedy and the art-form's capacity for facilitating complex rhetorical decision-making. I examine how stand-up comedians have positioned themselves on-stage through choices pertaining revealing personal behaviors, personas, and beliefs in public settings. Ultimately, I argue that the art of stand-up does not require truth-telling on-stage, and that there exists an implicit contract between performers and audiences which details...
Show moreMy thesis addresses contemporary conversations about stand-up comedy and the art-form's capacity for facilitating complex rhetorical decision-making. I examine how stand-up comedians have positioned themselves on-stage through choices pertaining revealing personal behaviors, personas, and beliefs in public settings. Ultimately, I argue that the art of stand-up does not require truth-telling on-stage, and that there exists an implicit contract between performers and audiences which details comedians' license to share falsehoods, exaggerations, and embellishments on-stage without the repercussions that accompany these actions in other discourse settings. Finally, I evaluate how comics have handled this rhetorical (")license,(") with some performers delivering easily identifiable falsehoods on stage through characters and caricatures, and others choosing to deliver autobiographical material in spite of the license. My research offers a framework through which audiences may digest the speech utterances in standup comedy performances as the product of purely rhetorical, calculated choices. I will propose that audiences treat each stand-up performance, no matter how seemingly intimate or personal, as artifice. I then offer case studies of three comedians who approach the notion of crafting anon-stage persona in different fashions and evaluate how each of these comedians utilize the implicit license of stand-up comedy. My research contributes to conversations in rhetoric and composition related to the performance of public and private (")selves.(")
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007889, ucf:52773
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007889
- Title
- SHOULD ATHLETES RECEIVE SLEEP HYGIENE EDUCATION? A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW.
- Creator
-
Contreras, Ines L, Fisher, Thomas J., Valdes, Anna, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Previous studies show the need to find a solution to improve the athlete's recovery and help overcome their sleep disorders. Sleep hygiene is a list of habits and recommendation that enhance sleep quality. Sleep hygiene education has been used in some research to fill the need of the athletes. Still, a lack of information exists on the development of sleep hygiene programs and related impacts. This thesis aims to perform a systematic review of the literature of scholarly journals articles...
Show morePrevious studies show the need to find a solution to improve the athlete's recovery and help overcome their sleep disorders. Sleep hygiene is a list of habits and recommendation that enhance sleep quality. Sleep hygiene education has been used in some research to fill the need of the athletes. Still, a lack of information exists on the development of sleep hygiene programs and related impacts. This thesis aims to perform a systematic review of the literature of scholarly journals articles from 2007 to 2018, focusing on the relationship between sleep hygiene education and athletes sleep quality and quantity. The investigation concluded with 16 qualifying articles. A synthesis of recommendations from all studies offered sleep hygiene suggestions for athletes; all the results are provided in table 12. The further overall conclusion of the selected articles settled that sleep hygiene is recommended for athletes, yet the methods and strategies are vague and not precise. A strong recommendation from this systematic literature review is the creation of a standardized list of sleep hygiene habits focused on athletes to improve their sleep quality and quantity.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFH2000477, ucf:45839
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000477
- Title
- Same Fight, Different Player: An Insight into Culture, Information Sharing, and Team Performance.
- Creator
-
McCoy, Cecily, Fritzsche, Barbara, Salas, Eduardo, Mouloua, Mustapha, Mangos, Phillip, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The purpose of this study was to examine the relations among culture, information sharing, and performance among culturally-homogeneous NATO Officer teams. Forty-eight teams participated from five countries, namely, Bulgaria, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and USA. Teams of four participants were randomly assigned to a role and the task was an interdependent computer-based mission using an adapted version of Neverwinter Nights(TM) (Bioware, 2003), where they had to communicate among teammates...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to examine the relations among culture, information sharing, and performance among culturally-homogeneous NATO Officer teams. Forty-eight teams participated from five countries, namely, Bulgaria, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and USA. Teams of four participants were randomly assigned to a role and the task was an interdependent computer-based mission using an adapted version of Neverwinter Nights(TM) (Bioware, 2003), where they had to communicate among teammates and with non-human players to find weapons caches and other mission objectives. Not one individual had all of the information needed to perform the tasks; thus, they needed to share information with each other. The results of the study suggested that total information sharing was related to both team performance and cultural values (Power Distance, Individualism, and Uncertainty Avoidance). Specifically, Situation Update was the information sharing dimension that was significantly related to team performance. In addition, culture moderated the relations between information sharing and team performance. Specifically, there were hypotheses regarding Individualism moderating the relations between (a) Supporting Behavior, (b) Information Exchange, and (c) Reinforcement / Punishment and team performance. The results were that for high Individualists, the more supporting behavior, the better the teams performed. For low Individualists, the more supporting behavior, the worse the teams performed (-)a finding that was in the opposite direction than hypothesized. In support of the hypotheses, for high Individualists, as Information Exchange and Reinforcement / Punishment increased, team performance also increased. Conversely, for low Individualists, as Information Exchange and Reinforcement / Punishment increased, team performance decreased. A Task Direction x Power Distance interaction was also hypothesized and supported. Task Direction was positively related to team performance for high-Power Distance teams. For low-Power Distance teams, an increase in task direction was associated with a decrease in team performance. In addition, the effective teams exchanged more information and communicated similarly during the beginning, middle, and end of the missions. Moreover, high-Individualist teams were more successful and spent more time communicating about Planning in the beginning, and Situation Update for both the middle and end of the task. In contrast, teams low on Individualism spent more time communicating about Planning for all three phases of the task. There were also interesting rank differences in Information Sharing between senior and junior Norwegian Officers that are noteworthy. Study limitations, contributions, and practical implications for military teams and similar career fields were discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0004716, ucf:49806
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004716
- Title
- Peak Performance Training.
- Creator
-
Hallett, Matthew, Hoffman, Bobby, Rockmore, Benjamin, Clark, Margaret, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Peak performance is defined as an (")episode of superior functioning(") where an individual performs up to (and sometimes exceeds) their full potential (Privette, 1983, p. 1361). Most individuals do not consistently experience episodes of peak performance. After accounting for biological factors, motivation, and external constraints, the inability to achieve peak performance consistently is due to the challenge of successfully selecting and accessing knowledge and skills on demand while under...
Show morePeak performance is defined as an (")episode of superior functioning(") where an individual performs up to (and sometimes exceeds) their full potential (Privette, 1983, p. 1361). Most individuals do not consistently experience episodes of peak performance. After accounting for biological factors, motivation, and external constraints, the inability to achieve peak performance consistently is due to the challenge of successfully selecting and accessing knowledge and skills on demand while under pressure (Brown, 2009). This thesis describes the psychology of peak performance and skill training for peak performance. A peak performance training program is designed specifically for business professionals. The program was delivered to business professionals and a focus group was conducted to gather data on how to improve the training program. Grounded theory was used as the method of inquiry during data analysis. Results indicated that participants reacted favorably to the training content, training design, variety of training activities, and the training's applicability, but had unfavorable reactions to the training duration, comprehension of concepts, training materials, utility, and training conclusions.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0004116, ucf:49105
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004116
- Title
- OPTIMIZING DYNAMIC LOGIC REALIZATIONS FOR PARTIAL RECONFIGURATION OF FIELD PROGRAMMABLE GATE ARRAYS.
- Creator
-
Parris, Matthew, DeMara, Ronald, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Many digital logic applications can take advantage of the reconfiguration capability of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to dynamically patch design flaws, recover from faults, or time-multiplex between functions. Partial reconfiguration is the process by which a user modifies one or more modules residing on the FPGA device independently of the others. Partial Reconfiguration reduces the granularity of reconfiguration to be a set of columns or rectangular region of the device....
Show moreMany digital logic applications can take advantage of the reconfiguration capability of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to dynamically patch design flaws, recover from faults, or time-multiplex between functions. Partial reconfiguration is the process by which a user modifies one or more modules residing on the FPGA device independently of the others. Partial Reconfiguration reduces the granularity of reconfiguration to be a set of columns or rectangular region of the device. Decreasing the granularity of reconfiguration results in reduced configuration filesizes and, thus, reduced configuration times. When compared to one bitstream of a non-partial reconfiguration implementation, smaller modules resulting in smaller bitstream filesizes allow an FPGA to implement many more hardware configurations with greater speed under similar storage requirements. To realize the benefits of partial reconfiguration in a wider range of applications, this thesis begins with a survey of FPGA fault-handling methods, which are compared using performance-based metrics. Performance analysis of the Genetic Algorithm (GA) Offline Recovery method is investigated and candidate solutions provided by the GA are partitioned by age to improve its efficiency. Parameters of this aging technique are optimized to increase the occurrence rate of complete repairs. Continuing the discussion of partial reconfiguration, the thesis develops a case-study application that implements one partial reconfiguration module to demonstrate the functionality and benefits of time multiplexing and reveal the improved efficiencies of the latest large-capacity FPGA architectures. The number of active partial reconfiguration modules implemented on a single FPGA device is increased from one to eight to implement a dynamic video-processing architecture for Discrete Cosine Transform and Motion Estimation functions to demonstrate a 55-fold reduction in bitstream storage requirements thus improving partial reconfiguration capability.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002323, ucf:47793
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002323
