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Title: A NEW THEORY AND MEASURE OF ETHICAL WORK CLIMATE: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESS MODEL (PPM) AND THE ETHICAL CLIMATE INDEX (ECI).
Creator: Arnaud, Anke, Schminke, Marshall, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: ABSTRACT With this dissertation I developed a new theory and measure of ethical work climate (EWC). Currently, there exists one dominant theory and measure of EWC developed by Victor and Cullen (1988, 1987). Even though researchers have identified problems with this theory, such as inconsistencies with regard to its limited theoretical scope and troubling psychometric properties, it is the most widely utilized framework for conceptualizing and testing EWC. Therefore, I propose to develop an...
Show moreABSTRACT With this dissertation I developed a new theory and measure of ethical work climate (EWC). Currently, there exists one dominant theory and measure of EWC developed by Victor and Cullen (1988, 1987). Even though researchers have identified problems with this theory, such as inconsistencies with regard to its limited theoretical scope and troubling psychometric properties, it is the most widely utilized framework for conceptualizing and testing EWC. Therefore, I propose to develop an improved theory and measure of EWC, one capable of addressing some of the principle shortcomings of earlier efforts. Building on Rest's (1986, 1979) "Four-Component" model of individual-level ethical decision-making and behavior, I specify four dimensions of EWC necessary for the emergence of ethical behavior: collective moral sensitivity, collective moral judgment, collective moral motivation, and collective moral character. I developed a multidimensional instrument capable of capturing each of these dimensions at the climate level. I anticipate that this theory and instrument will allow researchers to understand EWCs and their impact on attitudes and behaviors more effectively than previous approaches. Chapter 1 reviews the organizational climate and culture literatures, so as to gain a comprehensive understanding of the organizational climate construct in general and how it differs from organizational culture in particular. Chapter 2 includes a review and evaluation the EWC literature. This helped to identify opportunities and suggestions for a new theory and measure of EWC. Chapter 3 describes the development of the new theory of EWCs, the Psychological Process Model, with propositions for future research. Chapter 4 informs about the development of the Ethical Climate Index, the measure used to assess the new theory of EWCs. It describes 3 studies that were used to construct the Ethical Climate Index to measure the ethical work climate dimensions of collective moral sensitivity (12-items), collective moral judgment (10-items), collective moral motivation (8-items), and collective moral character (6-items). Study 1 and 2 resulted in parsimonious and reliable scales for each one of the four dimensions. Results of the 3rd study support convergent and discriminant validity for each one of the scales and suggest that the ECI is a valid and reliable predictor of ethical and unethical behavior. Implications and suggestions for the use of this measure in future research is discussed.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0000918, ucf:46740
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000918

Title: A STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF INVOLVEMENT AND SEQUENCE IN NARRATIVE PERSUASION.
Creator: Lane, Rebekah, Miller, Ann, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of this research was to look more closely at the relationships between narrative and non-narrative persuasive messages, and to begin to determine how and why these message formats might work together. I situated this study within Rogers' roadmap for future theoretical work on entertainment education (E-E), and specifically addressed Slater and Rouner's call for more research on the impact of epilogues in E-E. Synthesizing components of the elaboration likelihood model with recent...
Show moreThe purpose of this research was to look more closely at the relationships between narrative and non-narrative persuasive messages, and to begin to determine how and why these message formats might work together. I situated this study within Rogers' roadmap for future theoretical work on entertainment education (E-E), and specifically addressed Slater and Rouner's call for more research on the impact of epilogues in E-E. Synthesizing components of the elaboration likelihood model with recent theorizing regarding persuasion through narrative, I made predictions regarding the effect of transportation and character identification on perceived salience, attitudes, behavioral intention, and behavior in narrative, argument, and narrative + argument conditions. Undergraduate students were asked to watch one of seven videos. After watching the videos participants were asked to respond to questions reflecting their views of the subject matter in the videos, their experience while watching the videos, and their opinion of the video quality. The questionnaire included scales measuring transportation into the narrative and character development, measures of perceived issue relevance, and persuasion toward the topic of mandatory H1N1 vaccinations. Findings showed no relationship between the narrative format and transportation or perceived salience, however, transportation did predict perceived salience in messages combining both argument and narrative + argument formats. Recommendations were made for modification and future applications of the instruments used in the study and for continued research in the various stages of persuasion through narrative, argumentative, and combined format messaging.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0004044, ucf:49149
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004044

Title: NARRATIVE BASED FEAR APPEALS: MANIPULATING GRAMMATICAL PERSON AND MESSAGE FRAME TO PROMOTE HPV AWARENESS AND RESPONSIBLE SEXUAL CONDUCT.
Creator: Spear, Jennifer, Miller, Ann, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The utility of narrative as a persuasive mechanism has been increasingly investigated in recent years especially within the context of health behaviors. Although many studies have noted the effectiveness of narrative-based persuasive appeals, conceptual inconsistencies have made it difficult to determine what specific aspects of narrative messages lead to the most effective persuasive outcomes. In the present study, 145 female college students were randomly assigned to read one of four...
Show moreThe utility of narrative as a persuasive mechanism has been increasingly investigated in recent years especially within the context of health behaviors. Although many studies have noted the effectiveness of narrative-based persuasive appeals, conceptual inconsistencies have made it difficult to determine what specific aspects of narrative messages lead to the most effective persuasive outcomes. In the present study, 145 female college students were randomly assigned to read one of four narrative health messages about a female freshman college students experiences with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Two elements of the narrative message structure were manipulated: the message frame (gain framed vs. loss framed), and the grammatical person of the text (first-person vs. third-person).The messages were presented via the medium of an online blog. After reading a narrative participants responded to a brief questionnaire designed to measure perceptions of threat regarding HPV contraction, perceptions of efficacy regarding HPV prevention, and intentions to get the Gardasil vaccine. Participants exposed to loss framed messages reported higher levels of perceived threat (susceptibility and severity) than participants exposed to gain framed messages although participants in the gain framed message conditions reported higher levels of perceived self-efficacy. Significant correlations were also found between levels of reported character identification and the two threat variables. No effects were found for grammatical person.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003997, ucf:48673
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003997

Title: THE ESTATE OF MENDACITY: AN INTERPRETATION OF WILLIAMS'S MOST AMBIGUOUS CHARACTER.
Creator: Bowlen, Daniel, Shafer, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: ABSTRACT I performed the role of Brick Pollitt at Lake Mirror Theatre in Lakeland, Florida from April 20- April 30 2006. The role of Brick Pollitt provided me with several acting challenges as well as multiple subjects to research. The most challenging aspects of portraying the character of Brick Pollitt are his alcoholism, issues of sexuality, and tormented familial relationships. Brick Pollitt journeys in the period of one day through major challenges in two key relationships. He moves from...
Show moreABSTRACT I performed the role of Brick Pollitt at Lake Mirror Theatre in Lakeland, Florida from April 20- April 30 2006. The role of Brick Pollitt provided me with several acting challenges as well as multiple subjects to research. The most challenging aspects of portraying the character of Brick Pollitt are his alcoholism, issues of sexuality, and tormented familial relationships. Brick Pollitt journeys in the period of one day through major challenges in two key relationships. He moves from dominance in his relationship with Maggie to capitulation and from isolation in his relationship with Big Daddy to mutual understanding. BrickÃ‚Â's relationships are further complicated by questions surrounding his recently deceased best friend Skipper and drives (alcoholism) that may be perceived as self destructive. My preliminary work has led me to believe Brick is in search of peace (Ã‚Â'the clickÃ‚Â') in a tormented life (Williams, Cat 2.47). The nature of the torment needs further research for definition. Some critics argue Brick's sexuality is ambivalent, and he is repressing homosexual drives. Equally possible is arguing the homosexuality was restricted to Skipper. Making a decision about the definition of this relationship is key to making choices within the play because the friendship was so important to BrickÃ‚Â's perception of himself. Brick believed his relationship was the Ã‚Â"one true and pure thingÃ‚Â" in a life filled with Ã‚Â"mendacityÃ‚Â" (Williams, Cat 2.50). Ã‚Â'MendacityÃ‚Â' is Bricks reference to his disgust with Ã‚Â"lyinÃ‚Â' anÃ‚Â' liarsÃ‚Â" (Williams, Cat 2.50-51). He is lost without this anchor for his life and it has impacted his ability to interact with the world around him. Determining BrickÃ‚Â's sexuality in my portrayal will be central to my process while I also embrace research into related areas of behavior. To supplement my research of alcoholism and BrickÃ‚Â's sexuality, the following topics: Ã‚Â• A Psycho-Analytical study of the character Brick Pollitt and his Ã‚Â"archetypalÃ‚Â" relationships with Maggie, Big Daddy, Skipper, Gooper, and his place in society. Ã‚Â• The evolution of the character Brick Pollitt through various scripts and screenplays. From WilliamsÃ‚Â's first script through to dealing with the Hays Code. A study of Tennessee Williams life history and the influence on the play. Ã‚Â• The history of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof from its Morosco Theatre Broadway debut in New York City on March 24, 1955, followed by its film release in 1955 starring Paul Newman, Burl Ives, and Elizabeth Taylor. Any successful portrayal of Brick Pollitt in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof demands intense focus to individual relationships within the ensemble. The central theme of the play is Ã‚Â'mendacityÃ‚Â' (deceit) (Williams, Cat 2.50). Brick uses this word to describe his disgust, but the Ã‚Â'mendacityÃ‚Â' of his human relations in the aging and decaying Southern society is what troubles him (Williams, Cat 2.50). Discovering the ties between family, Ã‚Â'mendacityÃ‚Â', and society are relevant to the execution of the play (Williams, Cat 2.50). I believe depiction of Brick Pollitt in this Pulitzer Prize winning American Classic will best present my abilities achieved in the Master of Fine Arts Program
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0002981, ucf:47981
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002981

Title: Avatar and Self: A Rhetoric of Identity Mediated Through Collaborative Role-Play.
Creator: Andrews, Pamela, Pigg, Stacey, McDaniel, Thomas, Bowdon, Melody, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This project responds to a problem in scholarship describing the relationship between virtual avatars and their physical users. In Life on the Screen, Sherry Turkle identifies points of slippage wherein the persona of the avatar becomes conflated with the user's sense of self to create an authentic self predicated on both real and virtual experiences (Turkle 184-5). Although the conflation of the authentic self with the virtual has provided various affordances for serious games or other...
Show moreThis project responds to a problem in scholarship describing the relationship between virtual avatars and their physical users. In Life on the Screen, Sherry Turkle identifies points of slippage wherein the persona of the avatar becomes conflated with the user's sense of self to create an authentic self predicated on both real and virtual experiences (Turkle 184-5). Although the conflation of the authentic self with the virtual has provided various affordances for serious games or other pedagogical projects such as classrooms hosted through the game Second Life, the processes enabling identification with an avatar have been largely overlooked. This project examines several layers of influence that affect how users play with identity to create successful social performances within an online community connected to a work of fiction. In doing so, the user must consider his or her own motivations for creating a persona, how these motivations will allow the avatar to achieve social acceptance, and how these social performances connect to the scene created by the work of fiction. Using an online role-playing forum based on a work of fiction as a site of analysis, this project will borrow from game studies, dramatism, and identity theory to create a framework for discussing processes through which users identify with their virtual avatars.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004807, ucf:49735
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004807

Title: Connections Between Voice and Design in Puppetry: A Case-Study.
Creator: Skiles, Ryan, Chicurel, Steven, Wood, Vandy, Snyder, Tara, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Puppets have been entertaining, educating, and mesmerizing American audiences since the birth of our nation. Both in live theatrical events and TV/film, audiences have watched puppeteers bring their puppet characters to life with clever voice quality choices, unique characterizations, and vivid visual designs. This thesis is a case study that first borrows insight from cartoon character designers, animators, and voiceover actors to provide considerations for voice quality choices,...
Show morePuppets have been entertaining, educating, and mesmerizing American audiences since the birth of our nation. Both in live theatrical events and TV/film, audiences have watched puppeteers bring their puppet characters to life with clever voice quality choices, unique characterizations, and vivid visual designs. This thesis is a case study that first borrows insight from cartoon character designers, animators, and voiceover actors to provide considerations for voice quality choices, characterizations, and design elements when creating a new puppet character. It then investigates the connections that exist between those three elements once a puppet is fully realized. In order to identify these connections, a test was developed in which participants were asked to use a set of blank puppet heads/bodies and a variety of facial features to each build a unique character and then provide their puppets with a unique character voice. The data collected from the test was then deconstructed and analyzed by comparing each included design element to specific Estill Voice Training System(TM) vocal attributes identified within each individual puppet character's voice to find where connections occurred. The goal of this thesis is to provide a systematic method for creating vibrant and rich original puppet characters.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005714, ucf:50153
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005714

Title: THE BELLE OF AMHERST: DEVELOPING A SOLO PERFORMANCE.
Creator: Raskin, Janet, Brotherton, Mark, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This thesis will document the process of rehearsing and performing a one-woman show based on the life of the poet Emily Dickinson. The script is a cutting of the full-length play, The Belle of Amherst, written in 1976 by William Luce. This self-directed project will document the process that all actors use when developing a role. The first part of developing a role includes historical research, character analysis, and script analysis. The second phase is the rehearsal process. This includes...
Show moreThis thesis will document the process of rehearsing and performing a one-woman show based on the life of the poet Emily Dickinson. The script is a cutting of the full-length play, The Belle of Amherst, written in 1976 by William Luce. This self-directed project will document the process that all actors use when developing a role. The first part of developing a role includes historical research, character analysis, and script analysis. The second phase is the rehearsal process. This includes developing the physical and vocal qualities of the character and staging the action of the play. Because this performance is self-directed and self-produced, this thesis will also discuss production aspects that a director or producer usually addresses: set design, lighting, sound design, costuming, publicity, and dramaturgy. A portion of the thesis is also devoted to analyzing the cuts made to the script, a task normally reserved for a playwright. A one-person show has some unique challenges for a performer. These challenges involve making choices about how to interact with the audience, how to transition from scene to scene, and how to incorporate imaginary characters into a one-sided conversation. The question of how to portray an historical figure in an accurate and entertaining way will also be discussed.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001835, ucf:47362
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001835

Title: TRUE WILL VS. CONSCIOUS WILL: AN EXPLORATION OF ALEISTER CROWLEY'SCONCEPTS OF TRUE WILL AND CONSCIOUS WILL AND ITS POSSIBLEAPPLICATIONS TO A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, MARISOL, AND WICKED.
Creator: Payne, John, Listengarten, Julia, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In our lives we will have to make hundreds upon thousands of choices. The effects of these choices will follow us with varying intervals; some effects may be brief while others may literally last a lifetime. In these moments that we are forced to chose, it ultimately comes down to two options, what we should do, and what we want to do. Essentially, it is a choice between the head and the heart. Playwrights depend on these moments of choice, for it is the basis of almost all plays. At some...
Show moreIn our lives we will have to make hundreds upon thousands of choices. The effects of these choices will follow us with varying intervals; some effects may be brief while others may literally last a lifetime. In these moments that we are forced to chose, it ultimately comes down to two options, what we should do, and what we want to do. Essentially, it is a choice between the head and the heart. Playwrights depend on these moments of choice, for it is the basis of almost all plays. At some point, the protagonist must make a choice, even if the choice is not to choose. In the early part of the 20th Century, a religious philosopher by the name of Aleister Crowley helped to define these choices, or as he referred to them, Wills. In essence, he stated that everyone has a True Will and a conscious will, and the path that you will ultimately follow is contingent on the choices you make in your life. Following your True Will, the path of 'the heart' will lead you to a sense of Nirvana, while following your conscious will, the path of 'the head' leads to a life unfulfilled. While some called him demonic (he occasionally referred to himself as 'The Beast With Two Backs) others saw him as a sage – someone to esoterically explain the chaotic and industrial world of the early 1900's. Aleister Crowley seemed to be one of those few men that you either loved, or hated, or hated to love. At the dawn of the 20th Century, he was an English philosopher and religious guru that made a call to arms to the general populous to start living a better life. His theories will be explained fully in Chapter One, but ultimately he wanted everyone to achieve their True Will and leave their conscious wills by the wayside. He felt that this process could be achieved through what he referred to as his 'theorems' on magick. It is unknown exactly how the idea came to him to add the 'k' to the original magic; however speculation reveals he might have taken from the original Greek word magikE. Contrary to the modern definition of magic (the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand), Crowley felt that his magick was significantly more complex. Pulling on philosophies from the Egyptians and the Celts along with basic Buddhist principles, he defined his magick within his twenty-eight 'theorems'. Ultimately, he philosophized that magick was a way to enlighten a person, or, for the purposes of this thesis a character's True Will4 and to avoid following their conscious will. In layman's terms, Crowley saw it as an argument between the head (conscious will) and the heart (True Will). While the main focus of this thesis is on the tension and outcome of the decision of a character to follow their True Will or their conscious will, it is impossible to talk about these two concepts without discussing, at least in part, magick. Crowley saw magick as the practice and process to achieve True Will. This study, therefore, involves both homonyms, magic and magick. By applying this process as defined by Crowley in his self-named theorems to plays and musicals that have been defined as strictly 'magic,' I am looking for not only the exact moment in which the main protagonists in each play define and execute their decision to follow their True or conscious Wills, but also to critically examine their journey to that fatal decision. I describe it as such because I feel that a characters fate may truly depend on the choice that they make. These philosophies are not new to the philosophical world. Other theorists such as Schopenhauer and Nietzsche and their relation to Crowley's theories will be discussed later; however I felt that because Crowley is the one who his responsible for rejuvenating the word 'magick' from the Greeks in the 20th Century, I should be able to use his theories as a modern lens to examine A Midsummer Nights Dream, Marisol, and Wicked. I plan to take plays that cross both genre and era and consider not only (1) what can be illuminated using this 'Crowlean lens', but I also to highlight (2) any universal truths, by which I mean any ideological or philosophical ideas that appear in all three plays, that can be found in works as diverse as the ones that I have chosen. While their connection to True Will may be tangential in nature, if there are things in common in these plays that are brought to light using Crowley's lens, then I feel it is worth noting. By examining these two factors I will be able to see if critics have accurately defined these plays. My goal is to add the 'Crowlean lens' to the already existing approaches to critically examining a theatrical piece. This lens, as defined before, is simply taking Crowley's concepts of True Will and conscious will and their link to the progression of magick within a character to illuminate the characters choices leading up to their breaking point in which they must ask themselves "Do I chose what I should do, or what I want to do?" The three plays I chose were done for specific reasons. The basic criterion was to choose on a basis of (1) chronology, (2) genre, (3) and magical reference5. I took three plays that entertained the religious, philosophical, and fantastical nature of what I felt best applied to Crowley's theories. Keeping in mind that Crowley interpreted his magick as a philosophy, a religion, and a way of life to ultimately achieving True Will, I felt it pertinent to explore these aspects of each play as well. In the musical Wicked, the philosophical nature of the piece asks the question 'Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?' This question can be answered through a variety of subjects. By exploring these issues within the context of its main character, Elphaba, (pronounced EL-fa-ba), and a variety of themes throughout this musical (including behavior, appearance, deception, honesty, courage and labeling) we find that True Will and conscious will in the land of Oz are flowering. Defining our True Will, according to Crowley, takes constant affirmations and diligent calculations of our feelings and utilizing those to aid in making the right choice for that specific moment6. In this fashion, Marisol marries the idea of what the author calls 'magical realism' in a post-apocalyptic New York City with a fervent religiosity all while underscoring the political nature of the 1980s indigent cleanup initiated by then mayor Ed Koch. Through the character of Marisol Perez, we find that not only is the choice between True Will and conscious confusing, but it can be potentially lethal. Within the structure of this play is also where Crowley's spiritual views on True Will and conscious will become highlighted. The Lovers (Helena, Demetrius, Hermia, and Lysander) in Shakespeare's fantastical A Midsummer Night's Dream is the perfect backdrop to explore Crowley's more eccentric philosophies on magick and how these philosophies relate to True and conscious will. In essence, I plan to not only explore the choices that these four individuals make due to acts of both types of magic(k), but their ultimate consequences as well. It also must be noted that during the process of this thesis, the one overarching theme throughout all three plays dealt with Crowley's theory of self-preservation. I feel that this is innately tied into the idea of True Will. By achieving True Will, we are inherently attempting to make the best choices for ourselves. This inherently keeps alive the innate human instinct of survival. At the end of this thesis, I hope to defend that Crowley's concepts of True Will and conscious will, when applied in tandem with Crowley's concepts of magick, can be a valid lens to examine theatrical works, old and new alike.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002456, ucf:47712
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002456

Title: Touching the Unreal: The Definition, Narrative Strategies, and Aesthetics of 3D Cartoon Narratives.
Creator: Snow, Nathan, Mauer, Barry, Applen, JD, Grajeda, Anthony, Larsen, Darl, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: (")Touching the Unreal(") follows the structure set out by Scott McCloudin Understanding Comics to argue that understanding cartoons is serious business and requires that we define the art form, outline its basic tenets, and theorize how the mind understands it. The dissertation argues for a new definition of 3D computer generated cartoons, beginning with the most basic definition applicable to all forms of animation and taking into account new technological developments before arriving at...
Show more(")Touching the Unreal(") follows the structure set out by Scott McCloudin Understanding Comics to argue that understanding cartoons is serious business and requires that we define the art form, outline its basic tenets, and theorize how the mind understands it. The dissertation argues for a new definition of 3D computer generated cartoons, beginning with the most basic definition applicable to all forms of animation and taking into account new technological developments before arriving at the 3D cartoon narratives of today. The dissertation outlines the basic facets of 3D cartoon narratives in terms of narrative and aesthetics, arguing that, in spite of the technological changes required to produce the art form, narrative strategies have not changed significantly from 2D to 3D cartoon narratives. Rather, the 3D cartoon narrative aesthetic is focused primarily on synthetic, sculptural materiality to create a tactile, haptic viewing experience unavailable in any other form of animation. The dissertation advances theories of how the mind understands 3D cartoon narratives, starting with how these films guide the spectator to pre-determined conclusions based on character identification, flow theory, and mirror-neuron cognition. As a result of their narrative, aesthetics, and reception, these films constitute a new form of posthumanism and operate as a node in the modern viewer's web of distributed cognition, enchanting viewers through the ability to touch the unreal, synthetic images common to the modern world. (")Touching the Unreal(") contributes to the media field by providing a definition for 3D computer animation in all of its facets as genre, narrative, aesthetics, and ideology.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007101, ucf:51962
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007101

Title: Emergent Narrative: Stories of Play, Playing with Stories.
Creator: Murnane, Eric, Salter, Anastasia, McDaniel, Rudy, Fanfarelli, Joseph, Costello, Rita, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Emergent narrative, a phenomenon of unexpected contextual stories arising through play, has been researched in the field of game studies since 1999. However, that discussion largely lies in the realm of theoretical stories which are generated by either the system or the player. The purpose of this dissertation is to deepen our understanding of emergent narrative by examining real-world examples of the phenomenon. Four hundred player posts were gathered from forums relating to the video game...
Show moreEmergent narrative, a phenomenon of unexpected contextual stories arising through play, has been researched in the field of game studies since 1999. However, that discussion largely lies in the realm of theoretical stories which are generated by either the system or the player. The purpose of this dissertation is to deepen our understanding of emergent narrative by examining real-world examples of the phenomenon. Four hundred player posts were gathered from forums relating to the video game Skyrim (a large, open world fantasy roleplaying game) and analyzed using a mixed-method framework which is informed by digital ethnography, fan studies, and game studies. Using a cluster sampling method, the posts were divided into categories based on theme. This work outlines the historical trajectory of the term emergent narrative and proposes that player created emergent narratives are novel as they capitalize on random events during play in order to create stories which are both contextual and surprising. Each chapter explores a different kind of storytelling in one hundred of the posts, showcasing the diverse subjects that players explore. This work demonstrates that upon reflection, players are not passive recipients of information from games. By participating in these online activities, players become cocreators of their own stories. This work expands our understanding of players, interactive systems, and narrative by arguing that the act of play is collaborative rather than receptive.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007061, ucf:52011
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007061

Title: PRE-SERVICE SECONDARY SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS' EFFICACY TOWARDSCHARACTER EDUCATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY.
Creator: Waters, Kevin, Russell, William, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Character education is one of the most controversial aspects of academic institutions in the United States. The responsibility of educating children about democratic principles and moral values is something many states and schools are taking very seriously as a vital part of a teacher's role in the classroom. This study investigated the personal teaching efficacy and general teaching efficacy beliefs of pre-service secondary teachers at a large university in the state of Florida. This study...
Show moreCharacter education is one of the most controversial aspects of academic institutions in the United States. The responsibility of educating children about democratic principles and moral values is something many states and schools are taking very seriously as a vital part of a teacher's role in the classroom. This study investigated the personal teaching efficacy and general teaching efficacy beliefs of pre-service secondary teachers at a large university in the state of Florida. This study investigated the responses of 130 pre-service secondary teachers in language arts, science, social studies, and mathematics within one teacher education program. The questionnaire utilized in this quantitative research study was the Character Education Efficacy Belief Instrument (CEEBI), which was designed by Milson and Mehlig (2002). This instrument is composed of 24 items designed to understand personal teaching efficacy (PTE) and general teaching efficacy (GTE) beliefs. This study examined if there was a statistically significant difference in PTE and GTE scores between secondary pre-service teachers based on the independent variables of a) program/major, b) gender, c) race/ethnicity, and d) coursework in character education. The results of this survey adds to a rich field of research and literature on character education and teacher education by taking a closer look at the specific beliefs of secondary preservice teachers regarding their PTE and GTE for character education. This study was an attempt to better understand the teaching efficacy beliefs for secondary pre-service teachers graduating from a teacher preparation program within a state that mandates character education.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003686, ucf:48839
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003686

Title: From Dude to Dad: A Study on Prenatal Fatherhood and its Representation in Theatre.
Creator: Nilsson, Michael, Thomas, Aaron, Horn, Elizabeth, Reed, David, Niess, Christopher, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: A man in the preparatory phase for parenthood with his first child can go through a lot of extreme emotional highs and lows, depending upon the man's economic, relationship, and physical status, as well as community pressures and support. In preparation to portray an array of prenatal fathers in a showcase of scenes, I have read an assortment of plays and scholarly sources. In reading a large sample of prenatal plays, I have extracted several possible emotional changes within a man's psyche....
Show moreA man in the preparatory phase for parenthood with his first child can go through a lot of extreme emotional highs and lows, depending upon the man's economic, relationship, and physical status, as well as community pressures and support. In preparation to portray an array of prenatal fathers in a showcase of scenes, I have read an assortment of plays and scholarly sources. In reading a large sample of prenatal plays, I have extracted several possible emotional changes within a man's psyche. I also analyzed the social rationale behind these changes through the writings of sociologists and other scholarly sources. In addition to this research, I was going through my journey toward parenthood at the initiation of this research, as my child was born half way into the project. With the exploration of theatrical literature and sociological research paired with my personal experience of going through the prenatal phase, I have documented the changes a man may experience in his emotional growth. This time is full of differing anxieties that spring from the anticipation of change, while a man is preparing for parenthood. Through the medium of a showcase of theatrical scenes that are representations of the prenatal father, I explore the emotional journeys of several of these men and document my findings. As actors in theatre, we use the emotional life of characters to enlighten our choices in actions and tactics. These tactics are in service to the selfish goals we have as characters. The emotions the character has may act as either a driving force or an obstacle in obtaining our goals. When exploring the emotions of a pre-paternal man, one must consider all the variables in the creation of these emotions. In this project, I extract the emotions that a prenatal father may be vulnerable to and document for personal use as an actor presenting pre-paternal characters.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006771, ucf:51835
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006771

Title: NOT QUITE THE INGéNUE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MIDDLE-AGED FEMALE CHARACTER IN MUSICAL THEATRE.
Creator: Snyder, Tara, Chicurel, Steven, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Not Quite the Ingénue: The Development of the Middle-Aged Female Character in Musical Theatre is an exploration of the influences which have defined the function of middle-aged female characters within the musical theatre genre. This author was cast in the role of Arlene MacNalley, a forty-three year old woman, in the University of Central Florida's fall 2006 production of the musical Baby. Preparation for performance of this thesis role required identification of the traits and...
Show moreNot Quite the Ingénue: The Development of the Middle-Aged Female Character in Musical Theatre is an exploration of the influences which have defined the function of middle-aged female characters within the musical theatre genre. This author was cast in the role of Arlene MacNalley, a forty-three year old woman, in the University of Central Florida's fall 2006 production of the musical Baby. Preparation for performance of this thesis role required identification of the traits and factors which would be vital for a realistic and relevant portrayal of Arlene. This document provides the reader with a working definition of middle age. It also furnishes a sampling of types, or stereotypes, of middle age female characters in musicals. The major thrust of the document emphasizes researching and understanding the importance of key socio-economic events' influence on the creation, direction, or depiction of middle-aged female characters. Three distinct characters are used to develop this theory, Aunt Eller in Oklahoma!, Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! and Arlene MacNalley in Baby. Further analysis within the thesis details essential differences between the original version of Arlene and the updated 2006 version of Arlene portrayed in the University of Central Florida's production of Baby. Conclusions drawn from the research, performance and writing processes indicate an increasing significance for the middle age female character as the genre of musical theatre continues to develop.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001714, ucf:47300
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001714

Title: DEFINING A CHARACTER THROUGH VOICE QUALITY: AN ANALYSIS OF THE CHARACTER "GEORGE" IN SONDHEIM AND LAPINE'S "SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE" USING THE ESTILL VOICE MODEL.
Creator: Swickard, Michael, Chicurel, Steven, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This thesis explores the use of the Estill Voice Model, in particular six voice qualities (Speech, Twang, Falsetto, Cry/Sob, Belt and Opera) and their permutations, to define character, character traits and emotions. Traits and emotions that specific voice qualities can influence are, but are not limited to, location, age, background, socioeconomic status, genre, intelligence, nationality, class, culture, gender, promiscuity, disposition, pain and revelations. In particular, this thesis...
Show moreThis thesis explores the use of the Estill Voice Model, in particular six voice qualities (Speech, Twang, Falsetto, Cry/Sob, Belt and Opera) and their permutations, to define character, character traits and emotions. Traits and emotions that specific voice qualities can influence are, but are not limited to, location, age, background, socioeconomic status, genre, intelligence, nationality, class, culture, gender, promiscuity, disposition, pain and revelations. In particular, this thesis explores the use of voice qualities to show specific human qualities of the character "George" from Sondheim and Lapine's "Sunday in the Park with George" and the people he imitates in his painting by letting the characters' given circumstances (textual and subtextual), the way other actors portray the characters and the director's and musical director's input inform the choices in voice quality. By using the specific technical aspects of the Estill Voice Training System™ and combining them with the limitless aesthetic aspects of theatrical character, this thesis shows that this new structural analysis does not pigeonhole an actor, but rather it makes one more aware, accessible, adept and flexible to the needs of the character and the spontaneity of each new performance. This thesis provides a new paradigm of character analysis through voice.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001570, ucf:47133
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001570

Title: The Impact of Degraded Speech and Stimulus Familiarity in a Dichotic Listening Task.
Creator: Sinatra, Anne, Sims, Valerie, Hancock, Peter, Szalma, James, Chin, Matthew, Renk, Kimberly, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: It has been previously established that when engaged in a difficult attention intensive task, which involves repeating information while blocking out other information (the dichotic listening task), participants are often able to report hearing their own names in an unattended audio channel (Moray, 1959). This phenomenon, called the cocktail party effect is a result of words that are important to oneself having a lower threshold, resulting in less attention being necessary to process them ...
Show moreIt has been previously established that when engaged in a difficult attention intensive task, which involves repeating information while blocking out other information (the dichotic listening task), participants are often able to report hearing their own names in an unattended audio channel (Moray, 1959). This phenomenon, called the cocktail party effect is a result of words that are important to oneself having a lower threshold, resulting in less attention being necessary to process them (Treisman, 1960). The current studies examined the ability of a person who was engaged in an attention demanding task to hear and recall low-threshold words from a fictional story. These low-threshold words included a traditional alert word, (")fire(") and fictional character names from a popular franchise(-)Harry Potter. Further, the role of stimulus degradation was examined by including synthetic and accented speech in the task to determine how it would impact attention and performance.In Study 1 participants repeated passages from a novel that was largely unfamiliar to them, The Secret Garden while blocking out a passage from a much more familiar source, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Each unattended Harry Potter passage was edited so that it would include 4 names from the series, and the word (")fire(") twice. The type of speech present in the attended and unattended ears (Natural or Synthetic) was varied to examine the impact that processing a degraded speech would have on performance. The speech that the participant shadowed did not impact unattended recall, however it did impact shadowing accuracy. The speech type that was present in the unattended ear did impact the ability to recall low-threshold, Harry Potter information. When the unattended speech type was synthetic, significantly less Harry Potter information was recalled. Interestingly, while Harry Potter information was recalled by participants with both high and low Harry Potter experience, the traditional low-threshold word, (")fire(") was not noticed by participants. In order to determine if synthetic speech impeded the ability to report low-threshold Harry Potter names due to being degraded or simply being different than natural speech, Study 2 was designed. In Study 2 the attended (shadowed) speech was held constant as American Natural speech, and the unattended ear was manipulated. An accent which was different than the native accent of the participants was included as a mild form of degradation. There were four experimental stimuli which contained one of the following in the unattended ear: American Natural, British Natural, American Synthetic and British Synthetic. Overall, more unattended information was reported when the unattended channel was Natural than Synthetic. This implies that synthetic speech does take more working memory processing power than even an accented natural speech. Further, it was found that experience with the Harry Potter franchise played a role in the ability to report unattended Harry Potter information. Those who had high levels of Harry Potter experience, particularly with audiobooks, were able to process and report Harry Potter information from the unattended stimulus when it was British Natural. While, those with low Harry Potter experience were not able to report unattended Harry Potter information from this slightly degraded stimulus. Therefore, it is believed that the previous audiobook experience of those in the high Harry Potter experience group acted as training and resulted in less working memory being necessary to encode the unattended Harry Potter information. A pilot study was designed in order to examine the impact of story familiarity in the attended and unattended channels of a dichotic listening task. In the pilot study, participants shadowed a Harry Potter passage (familiar) in one condition with a passage from The Secret Garden (unfamiliar) playing in the unattended ear. A second condition had participants shadowing The Secret Garden (unfamiliar) with a passage from Harry Potter (familiar) present in the unattended ear. There was no significant difference in the number of unattended names recalled. Those with low Harry Potter experience reported significantly less attended information when they shadowed Harry Potter than when they shadowed The Secret Garden. Further, there appeared to be a trend such that those with high Harry Potter experience were reporting more attended information when they shadowed Harry Potter than The Secret Garden. This implies that experience with a franchise and characters may make it easier to recall information about a passage, while lack of experience provides no assistance. Overall, the results of the studies indicate that we do treat fictional characters in a way similarly to ourselves. Names and information about fictional characters were able to break through into attention during a task that required a great deal of attention. The experience one had with the characters also served to assist the working memory in processing the information in degraded circumstances. These results have important implications for training, design of alerts, and the use of popular media in the classroom.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004256, ucf:49535
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004256

Title: Exploring Interactions between Adult English Learners and Their TeachLivE Digital Character Peers.
Creator: Yan, Ting, Nutta, Joyce, Zygouris-Coe, Vassiliki, Bai, Haiyan, Mihai, Florin, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Peer interaction is an important part of language learning. The results of previous studies showed advantages and disadvantages of peer interaction between native speakers and English learners. Using the educational simulation platform TeachLivE as the interaction platform, this qualitative descriptive case study explored the possibilities of bridging the gap between classroom language practice and real-life second language communication. The study recruited eight participants for a task...
Show morePeer interaction is an important part of language learning. The results of previous studies showed advantages and disadvantages of peer interaction between native speakers and English learners. Using the educational simulation platform TeachLivE as the interaction platform, this qualitative descriptive case study explored the possibilities of bridging the gap between classroom language practice and real-life second language communication. The study recruited eight participants for a task-based interaction project. Using conversation analysis, the study revealed details in communication between adult English learners and their digital character peers. During the interactions, the participants were actively involved and the most frequent communication patterns were collaborative and cooperative. The analysis of interviews of participants and the interactor explored the factors that influenced the communication patterns between the young adult English learners and their digital peers. The results showed that the communication experience with digital characters was authentic and the virtual platform was critical to build the confidence of English learners' language use. Moreover, the multiple digital characters manipulated by interaction protocols were also helpful to create a scaffolding effect for practicing oral communication for the English learners.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006823, ucf:51761
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006823

Title: Reproductive life history and signal evolution in a multi-species assemblage of electric fish.
Creator: Waddell, Joseph, Crampton, William, Fedorka, Kenneth, Quintana-Ascencio, Pedro, Stoddard, Philip, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Animals that co-occur in sympatry with multiple closely-related species use reproductive mate attraction signals not only to assess the quality of a potential conspecific mate (sexual selection), but also to discriminate conspecifics from heterospecifics (species recognition). However, the extent to which sexual selection and species recognition may interact, or even conflict, is poorly known. Neotropical electric fish offer unrivaled opportunities for understanding this problem. They...
Show moreAnimals that co-occur in sympatry with multiple closely-related species use reproductive mate attraction signals not only to assess the quality of a potential conspecific mate (sexual selection), but also to discriminate conspecifics from heterospecifics (species recognition). However, the extent to which sexual selection and species recognition may interact, or even conflict, is poorly known. Neotropical electric fish offer unrivaled opportunities for understanding this problem. They generate simple, stereotyped mate attraction signals that are easy to record and quantify, and that are well-understood from the neurobiological perspective. Additionally, they live in electrically-crowded environments, where multiple congeners live and reproduce in close proximity. This dissertation reports an investigation of electric signal diversity and reproductive life history in a nine-species assemblage of the electric fish genus Brachyhypopomus from the upper Amazon. A year-long quantitative sampling program yielded a library of electric signal recordings from (>)3,000 individuals and an accompanying collection of preserved specimens from which suites of informative life history traits were measured. These data were used to understand basic reproductive biology, and to describe sexually dimorphic and interspecific diversity in electric signals. By integrating approaches from ecology, physiology, and evolutionary biology, novel perspectives are provided on: 1. how sexual selection and species recognition interact to shape signal diversity and the occupation of signal space in multi-species animal communities; 2. how extreme seasonal variation in Amazonian ecosystems influences trade-offs in the allocation of reproductive resources (-) including mate attraction signals, and; 3. how environmental variation shapes general life-history traits in a diverse tropical animal assemblage.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006925, ucf:51689
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006925

Title: Shylock and anti-semitism: Evidence that the backbone of the play is anti-Semitic.
Creator: Schappes, Morris U. (Morris Urman)
Date Issued: 1962
Identifier: 359832, CFDT359832, ucf:5227
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/359832

Title: PERCEPTION OF CUTENESS AND BEAUTY.
Creator: Jones, Danielle, Poindexter, Carla, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Upbringing and psychological make-up inspire individual norms for beauty and cuteness. The mannerist approach in my work is a product of the figural liberties found in cartooning, illustration and art history. By altering facial and bodily features, I relate the proportions of an infant to cuteness and innocence. However, I tailor the photographs to empower the subjects all the while mirroring trends in contemporary pop culture. I'm interested in themes of everyday life, vitality and...
Show moreUpbringing and psychological make-up inspire individual norms for beauty and cuteness. The mannerist approach in my work is a product of the figural liberties found in cartooning, illustration and art history. By altering facial and bodily features, I relate the proportions of an infant to cuteness and innocence. However, I tailor the photographs to empower the subjects all the while mirroring trends in contemporary pop culture. I'm interested in themes of everyday life, vitality and emotion placed in obscure, imaginary or exaggerated venues. I fictionalize subjects of my reality to compel viewers to identify with and fancy emotions, circumstances, moods and relationships. The intent is to amplify, yet be truer to their existence and idiosyncrasies through figural adaptations.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002538, ucf:47637
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002538

character (7)	+ -
theatre (5)	+ -
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acting (3)	+ -
character education (3)	+ -

Characters (2)	+ -
Musical Theatre (2)	+ -
OCR (2)	+ -
Shakespeare (2)	+ -
improvisation (2)	+ -
role (2)	+ -
theater (2)	+ -
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ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (1)	+ -
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ASCII (1)	+ -
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Antisemitism (1)	+ -
Antisemitism in literature (1)	+ -
Arlene MacNalley (1)	+ -
Aunt Eller (1)	+ -
Belle of Amherst (1)	+ -
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PRISM: Political & Rights Issues & Social Movements (1)	+ -

Merchant of Venice. (1)	+ -
Shylock. (1)	+ -

English (38)	+ -
Engilsh (1)	+ -

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