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Title: INELASTIC DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR AND DESIGN OF HYBRID COUPLED WALL SYSTEMS.
Creator: Hassan, Mohamed Ali, El-Tawil, Sherif, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: A key consideration in seismic design of buildings is to ensure that the lateral load resisting system has an appropriate combination of strength, stiffness and energy dissipation capacity. Hybrid coupled wall systems, in which steel beams are used to couple two or more reinforced concrete shear walls in series, can be designed to have these attributes and therefore have the potential to deliver good performance under severe seismic loading. This research presents an investigation of the...
Show moreA key consideration in seismic design of buildings is to ensure that the lateral load resisting system has an appropriate combination of strength, stiffness and energy dissipation capacity. Hybrid coupled wall systems, in which steel beams are used to couple two or more reinforced concrete shear walls in series, can be designed to have these attributes and therefore have the potential to deliver good performance under severe seismic loading. This research presents an investigation of the seismic behavior of this type of structural system. System response of 12- and 18-story high prototypes is studied using transient finite element analyses that accounts for the most important aspects of material nonlinear behavior including concrete cracking, tension stiffening, and compressive behavior for both confined and unconfined concrete as well as steel yielding. The developed finite element models are calibrated using more detailed models developed in previous research and are validated through numerous comparisons with test results of reinforced concrete walls and wall-beam subassemblages. Suites of transient inelastic analyses are conducted to investigate pertinent parameters including hazard level, earthquake record scaling, dynamic base shear magnification, interstory drift, shear distortion, coupling beam plastic rotation, and wall rotation. Different performance measures are proposed to judge and compare the behavior of the various systems. The analyses show that, in general, hybrid coupled walls are particularly well suited for use in regions of high seismic risk. The results of the dynamic analyses are used to judge the validity of and to refine a previously proposed design method based on the capacity design concept and the assumption of behavior dominated by the first vibration mode. The adequacy of design based on the pushover analysis procedure as promoted in FEMA-356 (2000) is also investigated using the dynamic analysis results. Substantial discrepancies between both methods are observed, especially in the case of the 18-story system. A critical assessment of dynamic base shear magnification is also conducted, and a new method for estimating its effects is suggested. The method is based on a modal combination procedure that accounts for presence of a plastic hinge at the wall base. Finally, the validity of limitations in FEMA-368 (2000) on building height, particularly for hybrid coupled wall systems, is discussed.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000047, ucf:46086
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000047

Title: MODELING AUTONOMOUS AGENTS IN MILITARY SIMULATIONS.
Creator: Kaptan, Varol, Gelenbe, Erol, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Simulation is an important tool for prediction and assessment of the behavior of complex systems and situations. The importance of simulation has increased tremendously during the last few decades, mainly because the rapid pace of development in the field of electronics has turned the computer from a costly and obscure piece of equipment to a cheap ubiquitous tool which is now an integral part of our daily lives. While such technological improvements make it easier to analyze well-understood...
Show moreSimulation is an important tool for prediction and assessment of the behavior of complex systems and situations. The importance of simulation has increased tremendously during the last few decades, mainly because the rapid pace of development in the field of electronics has turned the computer from a costly and obscure piece of equipment to a cheap ubiquitous tool which is now an integral part of our daily lives. While such technological improvements make it easier to analyze well-understood deterministic systems, increase in speed and storage capacity alone are not enough when simulating situations where human beings and their behavior are an integral part of the system being studied. The problem with simulation of intelligent entities is that intelligence is still not well understood and it seems that the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has a long way to go before we get computers to think like humans. Behavior-based agent modeling has been proposed in mid-80's as one of the alternatives to the classical AI approach. While used mainly for the control of specialized robotic vehicles with very specific sensory capabilities and limited intelligence, we believe that a behavior-based approach to modeling generic autonomous agents in complex environments can provide promising results. To this end, we are investigating a behavior-based model for controlling groups of collaborating and competing agents in a geographic terrain. In this thesis, we are focusing on scenarios of military nature, where agents can move within the environment and adversaries can eliminate each other through use of weapons. Different aspects of agent behavior like navigation to a goal or staying in group formation, are implemented by distinct behavior modules and the final observed behavior for each agent is an emergent property of the combination of simple behaviors and their interaction with the environment. Our experiments show that while such an approach is quite efficient in terms of computational power, it has some major drawbacks. One of the problems is that reactive behavior-based navigation algorithms are not well suited for environments with complex mobility constraints where they tend to perform much worse than proper path planning. This problem represents an important research question, especially when it is considered that most of the modern military conflicts and operations occur in urban environments. One of the contributions of this thesis is a novel approach to reactive navigation where goals and terrain information are fused based on the idea of transforming a terrain with obstacles into a virtual obstacle-free terrain. Experimental results show that our approach can successfully combine the low run-time computational complexity of reactive methods with the high success rates of classical path planning. Another interesting research problem is how to deal with the unpredictable nature of emergent behavior. It is not uncommon to have situations where an outcome diverges significantly from the intended behavior of the agents due to highly complex nonlinear interactions with other agents or the environment itself. Chances of devising a formal way to predict and avoid such abnormalities are slim at best, mostly because such complex systems tend to be be chaotic in nature. Instead, we focus on detection of deviations through tracking group behavior which is a key component of the total situation awareness capability required by modern technology-oriented and network-centric warfare. We have designed a simple and efficient clustering algorithm for tracking of groups of agent suitable for both spatial and behavioral domain. We also show how to detect certain events of interest based on a temporal analysis of the evolution of discovered clusters.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0001494, ucf:47099
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001494

Title: PERCEPTIONS OF THE EMOTIONAL/BEHAVIORAL DISABILITY LABEL ON EDUCATORS' REFERRAL AND PLACEMENT DECISIONS TO GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAMS.
Creator: Marrah, Charissa, Little, Mary, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Socio-culturally diverse students with disabilities are underrepresented in gifted and talented programs. This study investigated the differences in educators' referral and placement decisions based on a students' disability label, socio-economic status (SES), and ethnicity. Two hundred and eighty five educators' (classroom teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers) across a Florida school district participated in the study. Educators' were...
Show moreSocio-culturally diverse students with disabilities are underrepresented in gifted and talented programs. This study investigated the differences in educators' referral and placement decisions based on a students' disability label, socio-economic status (SES), and ethnicity. Two hundred and eighty five educators' (classroom teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers) across a Florida school district participated in the study. Educators' were randomly assigned to treatment and control case vignettes that described a student with emotional/behavioral disabled (EBD) and gifted characteristics. Treatment case vignettes explicitly stated the students' disability label, socio-economic status, and ethnicity. Control case vignettes described of the student examined and did not mention the disability label, ethnicity, or socio-economic status of the student. After reading the case vignette, participants responded to a two-item questionnaire that explained their referral and placement decisions of the student described in the vignette. Participants responses to the two item questionnaire were indicated by selecting one of six choices: strongly agree, slightly agree, agree, disagree, slightly disagree, and strongly disagree. Reponses were the dependent variables being measured. A three-way factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to measure the differences in educators' referral and placement decisions based on a student's disability label, socio-economic status, and ethnicity. Results indicate educators' awareness of a students' disability label, socio-economic status, and ethnicity influence referral decisions. Implications are discussed and recommendations for future research are made.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001777, ucf:47260
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001777

Title: COHORT STUDY OF PAIN BEHAVIORS IN THE ELDERLY RESIDING IN SKILLED NURSING CARE.
Creator: Burfield, Allison, Sole, Mary Lou, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: An integral concern across care settings is the prompt intervention for patients suffering with pain. Long-term care (LTC) settings present with unique challenges to assess and manage pain in resident populations. Pain assessment is especially challenging, because residents have varying degrees of cognition to communicate their pain, and clinician/staff knowledge of pain symptoms may be lacking. The purpose of this research was to improve the measurement of pain and outcomes of care for the...
Show moreAn integral concern across care settings is the prompt intervention for patients suffering with pain. Long-term care (LTC) settings present with unique challenges to assess and manage pain in resident populations. Pain assessment is especially challenging, because residents have varying degrees of cognition to communicate their pain, and clinician/staff knowledge of pain symptoms may be lacking. The purpose of this research was to improve the measurement of pain and outcomes of care for the elderly residing in skilled nursing care, especially those with cognitive-impairment. The specific aims of this study were to: 1) Determine the magnitude of the relationship between pain behaviors and a measurement model hypothesized for pain; 2) Test the construct validity of a pain measurement model; 3) Examine the concomitance of pain and cognition in a three-year longitudinal analysis. The research questions answered: 1) Is there a difference in the prevalence of pain in cognitively intact versus cognitively-impaired residents; 2) Can a theoretically derived model of pain aid in detecting pain across all cognitive levels; and 3) Do pain and cognitive status concomitantly correlate? The goal was to examine the covariance model of concomitance of pain and cognition to more accurately construct theoretical models of pain to then include additional resident care factors in future research. Traditional self-reports of pain are often under-assessed and under-treated in the cognitively-impaired (CI) elderly resident. Having additional measures to detect pain beyond self-reports of pain intensity and frequency increases the likelihood of detecting pain in populations with complex symptom presentation. Data collected from skilled nursing facilities offer exceptional opportunities to study resident demographics, characteristics, symptoms, medication use, quality indicators, and care outcomes. The Minimum Data Set-Resident Assessment Instrument (MDS-RAI) 2.0, a nationally required resident assessment tool, must be completed on every resident in a Medicare LTC facility within 14 days of admission, quarterly, annually and with significant changes in resident status. Because the MDS is widely used and recognized in LTC settings, core items from MDS [i.e., pain frequency (J2a) and pain intensity (J2b)] along with additional MDS items hypothesized to signify pain were analyzed in the pilot measurement model. Ten core items from MDS were used: 1) Inappropriate behavior frequency (E4da); 2) Repetitive physical movements; 3) Repetitive verbalizations (E1c); 4) Sad facial expressions (E1l); 5) Crying (E1m); 6) Change in mood (E3); 7) Negative statements (E1a); 8) Pain frequency (J2a); 9) Pain intensity (J2b); and 10) Cumulative pain sites scores. All indicators of pain were significant at the p<.01 level. A longitudinal cohort design was used to answer if a concomitance exists between pain and cognition. Data were collected from MDS annual assessments from 2001, 2002 and 2003 for residents across the United States. The sample consisted of 56,494 residents age 65 years and older with an average age of 83 ±8.2 years. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and a covariance model were used to evaluate cognition and pain at the three time intervals. ANOVA indicated a significant effect (p<.01) for pain and cognition with protected t-tests indicating scores decreased significantly over time with resident measures of pain and cognition. Results from this study suggest that: 1) Using only pain intensity and frequency, pain prevalence was found in 30% of the pilot population, while 47.7% of cognitively intact residents had documented pain and only 18.2% of the severely CI had documented pain, supporting previous research that pain is potentially under-reported in the CI; 2) Parsimonious measurements models of pain should include dimensions beyond self-reports of pain (i.e., cognitive, affective, behavioral and inferred pain indicators); 3) Model fit was improved by using specific MDS items in the pain construct; 4) Longitudinal analysis revealed relative stability for pain and cognition measures over time (e.g., larger stability or consistency was found in cognitive measures than the measures of pain over the three-year period); 5) Crossed-legged effects between pain and cognition were not consistent; 6) A concomitant relationship was not found between pain and cognition. The relationship was significant (p<.01), but associations were weak (r=0.03 to 0. 08). Pain or cognition should not be used as a predictor of the other in theoretical models for similar populations. The MDS is a reliable instrument to follow resident attributes, quality of care, and patient outcomes over time. The development of more accurate assessments of pain may improve resident care outcomes. Ineffectively intervening on the pain cycle is posited to cause secondary unmet needs that affect the resident's quality of life. Findings support the importance of improving clinical outcomes in the management of pain in the elderly residing in long-term care. Deficits in the treatment of pain highlight the impetus to support health policy change that includes pain treatment as a top health priority and a quality indicator for federally funded programs supporting eldercare.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002533, ucf:47660
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002533

Title: A DEVIANCE REGULATION THEORY INTERVENTION TO REDUCE ALCOHOL PROBLEMS AMONG FIRST-YEAR COLLEGE STUDENTS.
Creator: Leary, Angelina V, Dvorak, Robert, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: OBJECTIVE: An alcohol-drinking culture exists among first-time-in-college students, where many of these students come to their university relatively inexperienced with alcohol, which may increase alcohol-related consequences. Several interventions exist to combat this campus problem. The current study investigates the use of a Deviance Regulation Theory (DRT) intervention, presented in a web-based manner, to increase alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS), such as monitoring drinks,...
Show moreOBJECTIVE: An alcohol-drinking culture exists among first-time-in-college students, where many of these students come to their university relatively inexperienced with alcohol, which may increase alcohol-related consequences. Several interventions exist to combat this campus problem. The current study investigates the use of a Deviance Regulation Theory (DRT) intervention, presented in a web-based manner, to increase alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS), such as monitoring drinks, using a designated driver, and drinking water in between alcoholic beverages, among college freshmen. METHOD: College freshmen participants (N = 157) completed web-based surveys examining alcohol behaviors once a week for six weeks. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a positive frame about individuals who used PBS, a negative frame about individuals who did not use PBS, or a control group that did not receive a DRT intervention. Participants also reported their perception of PBS use among UCF students and friend. Data was analyzed in each PBS subtype: Manner of Drinking, Stop/Limiting Drinking, and Serious Harm Reduction. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Results indicate a negatively framed message with high perceived norm levels results in increased PBS use, which may suggest college freshmen have a strong drive to "fit in", or avoid standing out in negative ways. Further, there seems to be little desire to standout in positive ways among first-year students. This may be indicative of individuals who modify their behavior in order to assimilate to a new and unfamiliar environment. Furthermore, some PBS strategies were associated with decreases in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. Results suggest a DRT intervention may be beneficial to first-time-in-college students.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFH2000427, ucf:45715
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000427

Title: TRAUMA-FOCUSED MODELS FOR CAREGIVERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH.
Creator: Paul, Wesley, Lawrence, Shawn, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Child and Adolescent caregivers are rarely the focus of research and/or trauma-focused or informed models when working with traumatized children (Baynard, Englund, & Rozelle, 2001; Chapman, Dube, & Anda, 2007). It has been shown that use of caregivers in the treatment of children who have suffered trauma can have a significant impact on not only the child, but also reduce the trauma symptoms of the caregivers themselves (Cohen, Mannarino, & Staron, 2006). The purpose of this study is to...
Show moreChild and Adolescent caregivers are rarely the focus of research and/or trauma-focused or informed models when working with traumatized children (Baynard, Englund, & Rozelle, 2001; Chapman, Dube, & Anda, 2007). It has been shown that use of caregivers in the treatment of children who have suffered trauma can have a significant impact on not only the child, but also reduce the trauma symptoms of the caregivers themselves (Cohen, Mannarino, & Staron, 2006). The purpose of this study is to critically review the empirical research of trauma-focused and trauma-informed trainings and treatment models for children who have suffered some form of trauma and whose caregiver is included in the treatment. The outcomes of trauma-focused models will be examined in terms of its purpose, intervention, facilitation, adaptability and modification. Implications for further research and application are drawn.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFH0004369, ucf:45026
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004369

Title: Faculty Perceptions and Use of Web 2.0 Tools in Saudi Arabian Higher Education.
Creator: Alashwal, May, Campbell, Laurie, Hartshorne, Richard, Bai, Haiyan, Cox, Thomas, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study investigated factors that predict Saudi Arabian faculty members' intentions to adopt and use Web 2.0 tools and to assess faculty's awareness of the educational benefits of Web 2.0 tools to supplement classroom instructions in higher education. One hundred and three faculty members (34 male and 69 female) from a large university in the Western region of Saudi Arabia participated in the web survey. The framework and model for explaining and predicting the contributing factors towards...
Show moreThis study investigated factors that predict Saudi Arabian faculty members' intentions to adopt and use Web 2.0 tools and to assess faculty's awareness of the educational benefits of Web 2.0 tools to supplement classroom instructions in higher education. One hundred and three faculty members (34 male and 69 female) from a large university in the Western region of Saudi Arabia participated in the web survey. The framework and model for explaining and predicting the contributing factors towards the decision to adopt and use of Web 2.0 tools was the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior (DTPB). The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was utilized to analyze data collected from the web survey. Results indicate that positive attitudes and perceived usefulness are significant predictors of Saudi Arabian faculty members' intentions to use Web 2.0 tools. Moreover, findings indicate that Saudi Arabian faculty members intend to use Web 2.0 tools such as blogs, wikis, and social networking in their future classrooms to improve students' learning, student-student interaction, student-faculty interaction, and students' writing ability. Research implications for administrators and higher educational institutions indicate that professional development programs could be designed based on the significant predictors in the DTPB to support a successful integration of Web 2.0 tools in higher education.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007424, ucf:52695
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007424

Title: Implementing Gameplay Skills to Increase Eye Contact and Communication for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorder and Comorbid Disabilities.
Creator: Wills-Jackson, Celestial, Hines, Rebecca, Dieker, Lisa, Lue, Martha, Wilkins, Ilene, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of gameplay activities using a structured social skills program to increase both eye contact responses and the number of verbal responses during peer relationships for students with comorbid disabilities in a clinical setting.This SEL intervention was modified for children with comorbid autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and emotional and behavioral disorder (EBD). A single-subject, multiple-baseline, across-participants design was used....
Show moreThis study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of gameplay activities using a structured social skills program to increase both eye contact responses and the number of verbal responses during peer relationships for students with comorbid disabilities in a clinical setting.This SEL intervention was modified for children with comorbid autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and emotional and behavioral disorder (EBD). A single-subject, multiple-baseline, across-participants design was used. Participants included adolescents (n = 6) with comorbid disabilities, predominantly ASD and EBD, their board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA), and six behavior technicians. The researcher established and maintained face-to-face reciprocal peer social engagements (communication) and direct eye gaze (contact) with participants in dyad groups. Each session included a 60-minute video of peer social interactions. Direct observations, differential reinforcement of other behaviors (DRO), and pre- and post-Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales (SSIS-RS) were examined. Evidence of SEL intervention effectiveness was measured by percentage of nonoverlapping data points (PND). Social validity was measured using the multiple-rater SSIS-RS and intervention fidelity checklists evaluating the Sanford Harmony intervention. Results from data and visual analysis revealed all participants significantly increased their direct eye contact, verbal reciprocity, and social engagements after implementing the Harmony program. In addition, a PND value of 100% was calculated for each dependent variable indicating the Harmony program was a highly effective intervention increasing eye contact, verbal reciprocity, and social engagements for students with EBD and comorbid disabilities.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007266, ucf:52196
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007266

Title: A Survey of Investing and Retirement Knowledge and Preferences of Florida Preservice Teachers.
Creator: Thripp, Richard, Hartshorne, Richard, Hahs-Vaughn, Debbie, Hoffman, Bobby, Jahani, Shiva, Mottola, Gary, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: New teachers are facing lower pay and less generous retirement benefits than the prior generation, yet their financial and retirement knowledge, concerns, and preferences have received little attention. To investigate these areas, the author developed a 39-item survey instrument and administered it to 314 preservice teachers in undergraduate teacher education courses at the University of Central Florida, who were primarily female elementary and early childhood education juniors and seniors...
Show moreNew teachers are facing lower pay and less generous retirement benefits than the prior generation, yet their financial and retirement knowledge, concerns, and preferences have received little attention. To investigate these areas, the author developed a 39-item survey instrument and administered it to 314 preservice teachers in undergraduate teacher education courses at the University of Central Florida, who were primarily female elementary and early childhood education juniors and seniors ages 18(-)25. Florida public employees are offered an unusual choice between a traditional pension plan and a defined-contribution plan similar to a 401(k) in which they can select their own investments, and 54% of surveyed preservice teachers preferred the 401(k)-like plan structure. However, their preferences may be ill-advised, given that in a mock portfolio allocation exercise intended to assess retirement investing sophistication, preservice teachers directed more than half their retirement money to low-risk money market and bond funds, which will likely underperform stocks over several decades. Furthermore, they anticipated that low salaries will impede their ability to save for retirement. For comparison, the survey was also administered to 205 U.S. college students or graduates ages 18(-)25 on the Amazon Mechanical Turk platform for $1.00 each. Worrisomely, preservice teachers had significantly lower financial knowledge and retirement investing sophistication. These findings suggest a need for financial education targeting Florida preservice teachers, particularly given that the Florida Retirement System substantially cut its benefits in 2011.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007868, ucf:52793
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007868

Title: Data-Driven Modeling and Optimization of Building Energy Consumption.
Creator: Grover, Divas, Pourmohammadi Fallah, Yaser, Vosoughi, Azadeh, Zhou, Qun, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Sustainability and reducing energy consumption are targets for building operations. The installation of smart sensors and Building Automation Systems (BAS) makes it possible to study facility operations under different circumstances. These technologies generate large amounts of data. That data can be scrapped and used for the analysis. In this thesis, we focus on the process of data-driven modeling and decision making from scraping the data to simulate the building and optimizing the...
Show moreSustainability and reducing energy consumption are targets for building operations. The installation of smart sensors and Building Automation Systems (BAS) makes it possible to study facility operations under different circumstances. These technologies generate large amounts of data. That data can be scrapped and used for the analysis. In this thesis, we focus on the process of data-driven modeling and decision making from scraping the data to simulate the building and optimizing the operation. The City of Orlando has similar goals of sustainability and reduction of energy consumption so, they provided us access to their BAS for the data and study the operation of its facilities. The data scraped from the City's BAS serves can be used to develop statistical/machine learning methods for decision making. We selected a mid-size pilot building to apply these techniques. The process begins with the collection of data from BAS. An Application Programming Interface (API) is developed to login to the servers and scrape data for all data points and store it on the local machine. Then data is cleaned to analyze and model. The dataset contains various data points ranging from indoor and outdoor temperature to fan speed inside the Air Handling Unit (AHU) which are operated by Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). This whole dataset is a time series and is handled accordingly. The cleaned dataset is analyzed to find different patterns and investigate relations between different data points. The analysis helps us in choosing parameters for models that are developed in the next step. Different statistical models are developed to simulate building and equipment behavior. Finally, the models along with the data are used to optimize the building Operation with the equipment constraints to make decisions for building operation which leads to a reduction in energy consumption while maintaining temperature and pressure inside the building.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007810, ucf:52335
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007810

Title: Using Bug in Ear Feedback to Increase the Accuracy of Discrete Trial Teaching Implementation.
Creator: McKinney, Tracy, Vasquez, Eleazar, Dieker, Lisa, Martin, Suzanne, Rock, Marcia, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Many professionals have successfully implemented discrete trial teaching in the past. However, there have not been extensive studies examining the accuracy of discrete trial teaching implementation. This study investigated the use of Bug in Ear feedback on the accuracy of discrete trial teaching implementation among two pre-service teachers majoring in elementary education and one pre-service teacher majoring in exceptional education. An adult confederate was used to receive discrete trial...
Show moreMany professionals have successfully implemented discrete trial teaching in the past. However, there have not been extensive studies examining the accuracy of discrete trial teaching implementation. This study investigated the use of Bug in Ear feedback on the accuracy of discrete trial teaching implementation among two pre-service teachers majoring in elementary education and one pre-service teacher majoring in exceptional education. An adult confederate was used to receive discrete trial teaching. Implementing a multiple baseline across participants design, this study examined whether there was a functional relationship between receiving Bug in Ear feedback and the accuracy of discrete trial teaching implementation. The discrete trial teaching evaluation form was utilized to measure the accuracy of discrete trial teaching implementation. The findings demonstrated an increase in the discrete trial teaching implementation accuracy after Bug in Ear feedback was introduced. Participants agreed that using a self-instruction manual combined with receiving Bug in Ear feedback was beneficial in learning to implement discrete trial teaching.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004576, ucf:49203
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004576

Title: Issues of Crime and School Safety: Zero Tolerance Policies and Children with Disabilities.
Creator: Henson, Melissa, Cook, Ida, Grauerholz, Elizabeth, Gay, David, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In the aftermath of school shootings, safety in educational institutions became a national concern. The Zero Tolerance policy was designed to remove students who posed serious and or imminent threat to the school environment. It was hoped that the institution of this policy would allow schools to better police student behaviors through the use of tough disciplinary actions, and to ensure a safer learning environment for all. However, one of the latent consequences of establishing a broad set...
Show moreIn the aftermath of school shootings, safety in educational institutions became a national concern. The Zero Tolerance policy was designed to remove students who posed serious and or imminent threat to the school environment. It was hoped that the institution of this policy would allow schools to better police student behaviors through the use of tough disciplinary actions, and to ensure a safer learning environment for all. However, one of the latent consequences of establishing a broad set of directives was to result in the differential treatment of some minority groups such as special education students. To date, there exists little research that tests the efficacy of the zero tolerance approach in reducing school violence or its effect upon special education students who exhibit unique and separate characteristics from the general student body. Some of the behaviors that are beyond their control can impede their learning, but are even more often seen as falling under the guidelines of the zero tolerance policy, which in turn subjects this group to a number of disciplinary actions previously not utilized to address their specific needs.To address the potential impact this policy has on students with learning and emotional behavioral disorders this study analyzes data from a sample comprising of 2,736 total schools, reported over 4 different time periods, 1999-2008 originally collected by the School Survey on Crime and Safety. This study examines the relationship between various school characteristics, the proportion of special education students in a school, and the use of the disciplinary actions as a means of controlling behaviors that could be undesired but may not pose a serious threat to the educational institution. The results indicate that presence of students identified as (")special education students(") was strongly related to the number of disruptive behaviors reported. The increased frequency of those reported behaviors was also found to be significantly related to the use of suspension and expulsions as disciplinary actions in a school. Further multiple regression analysis yielded data demonstrating the nature of the relationships between the presence of special education students in a school, the frequency of disruptive behaviors reported, and the increased use of disciplinary actions.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004190, ucf:49031
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004190

Title: Factors Influencing Hypoglycemia Care Utilization and Outcomes Among Adult Diabetic Patients Admitted to Hospitals: A Predictive Model.
Creator: Kattan, Waleed, Wan, Thomas, Ramirez, Bernardo, Gurupur, Varadraj, Stevenson, Robyne, Pratley, Richard, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Diabetes Miletus (DM) is one of the major health problems in the United States. Despite all efforts made to combat this disease, its incidence and prevalence are steadily increasing. One of the common and serious side effects of treatment among people with diabetes is hypoglycemia (HG), where the level of blood glucose falls below the optimum level. Episodes of HG vary in their severity. Nevertheless, many require medical assistance and are usually associated with higher utilization of...
Show moreDiabetes Miletus (DM) is one of the major health problems in the United States. Despite all efforts made to combat this disease, its incidence and prevalence are steadily increasing. One of the common and serious side effects of treatment among people with diabetes is hypoglycemia (HG), where the level of blood glucose falls below the optimum level. Episodes of HG vary in their severity. Nevertheless, many require medical assistance and are usually associated with higher utilization of healthcare resources such as frequent emergency department visits and physician visits. Additionally, patients who experience HG frequently have poor outcomes such as higher rates for morbidities and mortality.Although many studies have been conducted to explore the risk factors associated with HG as well as others that looked into the level of healthcare utilization and outcomes among patients with HG, most of these studies failed to establish a theoretical foundation and integrate a comprehensive list of personal risk factors. Therefore, this study aimed to employ Andersen's health Behavior Model of health care utilization (BM) as a framework to examine the problems of HG. This holistic approach facilitates enumerating predictors and examining differential risks of the predisposing (P), enabling (E) and need-for-care (N) factors influencing HG and their effects on utilization (U) and outcomes (O). The population derived from the national inpatient sample of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) database and included all non-pregnant adult diabetic patients admitted to hospitals' Emergency Departments (EDs) with a diagnosis of HG from 2012-2014. Based on the BM framework, different factors influencing HG utilization and outcome were grouped under the P, E, or N component. Utilization was measured by patients' length of stay (LoS) in the hospital and the total charges incurred for the stay. Outcome was assessed based on the severity ranging from mortality (the worst), severe complications, mild complications, to no complications (the best). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) followed by Decision Tree Regression (DTREG) were performed. SEM helped in testing multiple hypotheses developed in the study as well as exploring the direct and indirect impact of different risk factors on utilization and outcome. The results of the analysis show that N is the most influential component of predictors of U and O. This is parallel to what was repeatedly found in different studies that employed the BM. Regarding the other two components, P was found to have some effect on O, while E influences the total charge. Interaction effects of predictors were noted between some components, which indicate the indirect effect of these components on U and O. Subsequently, DTREG analysis was conducted to further explore the probability of the different predictor variables on LoS, total charge, and outcome. Results of this study revealed that the presence of renal disease and DM complications among HG patients play a key role in predicting U and O. Furthermore, age, socio-economic status (SES), and the geographical location of the patients were also found to be vital factors in determining the variability in U and O among HG patients.In conclusion, findings of this study lend support to the use of the BM approach to health services use and outcomes and provide some practical applications for healthcare providers in terms of using the predictive model for targeting patient subgroups (HG patients) for interventions among diabetic patients. Moreover, policy implications, particularly related to the Central Florida area, for decision makers regarding how to approach the growing problem of DM can be drawn from the study results.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006611, ucf:51304
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006611

Title: Transparency in human-agent teaming and its effect on complacent behavior.
Creator: Wright, Julia, Hancock, Peter, Szalma, James, Jentsch, Florian, Chen, Jessie, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study examined how transparency of an intelligent agent's reasoning affected complacent behavior in a route selection task in a simulated environment. Also examined was how the information available to the operator affected those results.In two experiments, participants supervised a three-vehicle convoy as it traversed a simulated environment and re-routed the convoy when needed with the assistance of an intelligent agent, RoboLeader. Participants were randomly assigned to an Agent...
Show moreThis study examined how transparency of an intelligent agent's reasoning affected complacent behavior in a route selection task in a simulated environment. Also examined was how the information available to the operator affected those results.In two experiments, participants supervised a three-vehicle convoy as it traversed a simulated environment and re-routed the convoy when needed with the assistance of an intelligent agent, RoboLeader. Participants were randomly assigned to an Agent Reasoning Transparency condition. Participants received communications from a commander confirming either the presence or absence of activity in the area. They also received information regarding potential events along their route via icons that appeared on a map displaying the convoy route and surrounding area. Participants in Experiment 1 (low information setting) received information about their current route only; they did not receive any information about the suggested alternate route. Participants in Experiment 2 (high information setting) received information about both their current route and the agent recommended an alternative route. In the first experiment, access to agent reasoning was found to be an effective deterrent to complacent behavior when the operator has limited information about their task environment. However, the addition of information that created ambiguity for the operator encouraged complacency, resulting in reduced performance and poorer trust calibration. Agent reasoning did not increase response time or workload and appeared to have improved performance on the secondary task. These findings align with studies that have shown ambiguous information can increase workload and encourage complacency, as such, caution should be exercised when considering how transparent to make agent reasoning and what information should be included.In the second experiment, access to agent reasoning was found to have little effect on complacent behavior when the operator had complete information about the task environment. However, the addition of information that created ambiguity for the operator appeared to encourage complacency, as indicated by reduced performance and shorter decision times. Agent reasoning transparency did not increase overall workload, and operators reported higher satisfaction with their performance and reduced mental demand. Access to agent reasoning did not improve operators' secondary task performance, situation awareness, or operator trust. However, when agent reasoning transparency included ambiguous information complacent behavior was again encouraged. Unlike the first experiment, there were notable differences in complacent behavior, performance, operator trust, and situation awareness due to individual difference factors. As such, these findings would suggest that when the operator has complete information regarding their task environment, access to agent reasoning may be beneficial, but not dramatically so. However, individual difference factors will greatly influence performance outcomes. The amount of information the operator has regarding the task environment has a profound effect on the proper use of the agent. Increased environmental information resulted in more rejections of the agent recommendation regardless of the transparency of agent reasoning. The addition of agent reasoning transparency appeared to be effective at keeping the operator engaged, while complacent behavior appeared to be encouraged both when agent reasoning was either not transparent or so transparent as to become ambiguous. Even so, operators reported lower trust and usability for the agent than when environmental information was limited. Situation awareness (SA2) scores were also higher in the high information environment when agent reasoning was either not transparent or so transparent as to become ambiguous, compared to the low information environment. However, when a moderate amount of agent reasoning was available to the operator, the amount of information available to the operator had no effect on the operators' complacent behavior, subjective trust, or SA. These findings indicate that some negative outcomes resulting from the incongruous transparency of agent reasoning may be mitigated by increasing the information the operator has regarding the task environment.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006422, ucf:51469
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006422

Title: The Source and Impact of Student Engagement for Black Students in an Urban High School.
Creator: Sims, Deshawn, Hopp, Carolyn, Butler, S. Kent, Puig, Enrique, Butler, Malcolm, Waddell, Jennifer, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The achievement of Black students has repeatedly met only the lowest standards of performance on standardized assessments, which begs the question; do American schools have the capacity to educate Black children? The purpose of this action research manuscript dissertation was to explore the teacher behaviors and instructional strategies that developed a culture of high achievement among Black students as measured by student engagement and discourse, immediately before and after desegregation,...
Show moreThe achievement of Black students has repeatedly met only the lowest standards of performance on standardized assessments, which begs the question; do American schools have the capacity to educate Black children? The purpose of this action research manuscript dissertation was to explore the teacher behaviors and instructional strategies that developed a culture of high achievement among Black students as measured by student engagement and discourse, immediately before and after desegregation, and in classrooms today. The examination of popular theories concerning the education of Black people in the early 1900's and narratives of individuals who attended segregated schools, provided a historical description of the state of Black education. In addition, the connection between student engagement and teacher dispositions was recognized. A review of relevant literature informed this study by providing a conceptual understanding and operational definition of student engagement, teacher dispositions, and discourse. Last, a case study was conducted to bring a local, practical focus to the research. The purpose of this case study was to examine the impact of student engagement on student learning in an urban school with a majority Black student population, as evidenced by student actions and discourse. Data were collected through meetings and classroom observations using the Student Action Coding Sheet. This research found student engagement to be highest in classrooms that balanced certain teacher dispositions and discourse.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006396, ucf:51518
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006396

Title: A Snapchat Marketing Perspective: Examining the Personality Traits and Motives that Predict Attitudes Toward and Engagement with Non-Sponsored and Sponsored Content in Snapchat.
Creator: Sousa Garnica, Tiany, Kinnally, William, Rubenking, Bridget, Sellnow, Deanna, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Social networking sites (SNS) have revolutionized the communication between consumers and brands, publishers, and marketers. These platforms have become a way for advertisers to communicate directly and engage users with content that is innovative and less intrusive. The aim of this research is to examine the personality traits and motives (based on the uses and gratifications theory) that predict attitudes toward and engagement with non-sponsored and sponsored content in Snapchat. An online...
Show moreSocial networking sites (SNS) have revolutionized the communication between consumers and brands, publishers, and marketers. These platforms have become a way for advertisers to communicate directly and engage users with content that is innovative and less intrusive. The aim of this research is to examine the personality traits and motives (based on the uses and gratifications theory) that predict attitudes toward and engagement with non-sponsored and sponsored content in Snapchat. An online survey with 606 participants showed that the main motives of using Snapchat were social information seeking, entertainment, and impression management. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine what personality traits predict the motives for using Snapchat. Finally, hierarchical multiple regressions were used to examine the models that predict attitudes toward the non-sponsored and sponsored features in Snapchat as well as the engagement with them. Recommendations for practitioners were given to help them develop marketing strategies in Snapchat.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006799, ucf:51825
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006799

Title: Investigating the Influence of the Built Environment on Energy-Saving Behaviors.
Creator: Sellers, Brittany, Jentsch, Florian, Smither, Janan, Sims, Valerie, Fiore, Stephen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation addresses a gap in the existing sustainability behavior research, by integrating research from the social sciences about environmental attitudes and knowledge with approaches from engineering regarding the characteristics of the built environment. Specifically, this dissertation explores the role of both environmental knowledge and design features within the built environment on building occupants' energy behaviors throughout the course of an environmental conservation...
Show moreThis dissertation addresses a gap in the existing sustainability behavior research, by integrating research from the social sciences about environmental attitudes and knowledge with approaches from engineering regarding the characteristics of the built environment. Specifically, this dissertation explores the role of both environmental knowledge and design features within the built environment on building occupants' energy behaviors throughout the course of an environmental conservation campaign. Data were collected from 240 dormitory residents using a multi-phase questionnaire approach to study these factors and their combined impact within the context of environmental sustainability practices on UCF's campus. The results from a series of correlational and multiple regression analyses indicate that both the design components of the built environment and the attitudes held by individuals within that environment have a significant positive influence on behaviors. Furthermore, these findings indicated that this effect increases significantly when the two factors work together. Finally, the results show that pro- environmental attitudes and behaviors can be successfully targeted through a cue-based energy conservation campaign. By addressing a gap in the extant Human Factors research about the relationship between attitudinal factors and the built environment, this dissertation provides a unique contribution to the field and points the way towards development of promising solutions for encouraging sustainable behaviors.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006500, ucf:51387
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006500

Title: An Investigation of the Help-Seeking Behaviors of Women Student Veterans.
Creator: Armstrong, Tanya, Cox, Dr. Thomas, Whiteman, JoAnn, Hopp, Carolyn, Grauerholz, Liz, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Women with military experience are attending colleges and universities across the United States. It is important to understand how they describe their experiences as students and how their help-seeking behaviors impact their success (DiRamio (&) Jarvis, 2011; Baechtold (&) Da Sawal, 2009). Using Schlossberg's Adult Transition Theory (1981, 1984) as a framework, this qualitative phenomenological study explored the help-seeking behaviors of women student veterans. In addition, the events that...
Show moreWomen with military experience are attending colleges and universities across the United States. It is important to understand how they describe their experiences as students and how their help-seeking behaviors impact their success (DiRamio (&) Jarvis, 2011; Baechtold (&) Da Sawal, 2009). Using Schlossberg's Adult Transition Theory (1981, 1984) as a framework, this qualitative phenomenological study explored the help-seeking behaviors of women student veterans. In addition, the events that caused them to seek help and the resources they utilized are described. The research questions were: (1) Does the prior military experience of women student veterans influence their willingness to seek help? (2) What are the events that cause women student veterans to seek help? And (3) What are the resources that women student veterans utilize? Using Smith, Flowers and Larkin's (2009) Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this two-phase mixed method design employed a sequential descriptive strategy employing a profile questionnaire and individual semi-structured interviews (N=9). The research identified six themes using Schlossberg's framework (1981, 1984). These six themes were: military influence, transitions, times of distress, tailored support, traditional support and support 'from my own'. The findings of this study provide researchers, student personnel professionals, and military educational constituencies with a foundation for policy and programming that account for the help seeking behaviors women student veterans' exhibit as they transition from the military to college.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006560, ucf:51313
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006560

Title: Examining the Role of Music Streaming Motives, Social Identification, and Technological Engagement in Digital Music Streaming Service Use.
Creator: Bolduc, Heidi, Kinnally, William, Neuberger, Lindsay, Rubenking, Bridget, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: According to the Nielsen Music 360 Research Report, 67% of all music consumers in the United States used digital music streaming services to listen, discover, and share music online in 2014 (The Nielsen Company, 2014). As such, communications scholars and music industry professionals are beginning to recognize the importance of understanding the factors that influence digital music listener behavior. Therefore, this study proposes an expanded theory of planned behavior model (TPB) by...
Show moreAccording to the Nielsen Music 360 Research Report, 67% of all music consumers in the United States used digital music streaming services to listen, discover, and share music online in 2014 (The Nielsen Company, 2014). As such, communications scholars and music industry professionals are beginning to recognize the importance of understanding the factors that influence digital music listener behavior. Therefore, this study proposes an expanded theory of planned behavior model (TPB) by incorporating music streaming motives, social identification, and technological engagement into the original TPB model framework in an effort to gain a better understanding of people's intentions to use digital music streaming services as well as the amount of time spent listening to them. Results suggest that both the original TPB and expanded TPB models can be successfully applied within the context of digital music streaming service use. Specifically, attitudes as well as convenience emerged as positive contributors to intention to use digital music streaming services, while entertainment along with social identification, technological engagement, and behavioral intention emerged as positive contributors to streaming behavior. Additionally, information seeking and pass time emerged as negative contributors to these two behavioral outcomes. However, adding these additional components only improved the overall ability of the expanded model to predict streaming behavior. Both models also explained a larger percentage of intention to use digital music streaming services as compared to total time spent listening. As a result, this study implies the practical importance of understanding the fundamental differences between what drives listener intentions to use digital music streaming services as compared to what drives the actual amount of time listeners spend using digital music streaming services.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006266, ucf:51037
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006266

Title: Supporting Middle School Students with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders in Blended Learning: A Fraction Intervention using Virtual Manipulatives.
Creator: Serianni, Barbara, Dieker, Lisa, Marino, Matthew, Vasquez, Eleazar, Basham, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Students with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD) are more likely than other students with disabilities to drop out of school (Blackorby (&) Wagner, 1996) and suffer societal consequences that include higher probabilities and rates of incarceration, poverty, drug abuse, homelessness, low wages, and unemployment (Bradley, Doolittle, (&) Bartolotta, 2008; Wagner, 1995). High school graduation is a critical factor to improve post-secondary outcomes for students with EBD; yet it is often...
Show moreStudents with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD) are more likely than other students with disabilities to drop out of school (Blackorby (&) Wagner, 1996) and suffer societal consequences that include higher probabilities and rates of incarceration, poverty, drug abuse, homelessness, low wages, and unemployment (Bradley, Doolittle, (&) Bartolotta, 2008; Wagner, 1995). High school graduation is a critical factor to improve post-secondary outcomes for students with EBD; yet it is often mathematics, specifically algebra, that stands in the way of graduation (Blackorby (&) Wagner). Students with EBD often enter middle school lacking foundational mathematics skills, such as fractions, which sets them up to struggle with pre-algebra and ultimately fail algebra (U.S. Department of Education, 2008). The purpose of this study was to improve the ability of middle school students with EBD to access online grade-level mathematics content by providing fraction remediation to improve conceptual fraction knowledge and procedural fluency. The intervention consisted of Initial Fraction Ideas, an intervention curriculum from the Rational Number Project (RNP; Cramer, Behr, Post, (&) Lesh, 2009), in conjunction with three online virtual manipulatives (VM). The unique blended learning environment of this study provided the opportunity to evaluate the use of an evidence-based fraction intervention, in conjunction with VMs, in a single subject, multiple baseline across subjects design. Fluency data was gathered from daily fraction addition assessments (FAA) administered after each intervention session. A second component of the study featured a non-experimental repeated measures design that assessed student conceptual understanding of fraction equivalency through the administration of pre, post, and delayed-post Equivalent Fraction Tests (EFT). The intervention was effective in producing increases in median group fluency with high effect sizes, across three replications, establishing a functional relationship between the intervention and the dependent variable for these groups of students with EBD. In addition, all groups posted mean gains in equivalent fraction knowledge from pre to post-EFT, and maintained those gains for at least 15 days after the intervention concluded.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005415, ucf:50435
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005415

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