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- Title
- THE EFFECTS ON SHAREHOLDER WEALTH FOR COMPANIES THAT INVEST IN THEIR EMPLOYEES.
- Creator
-
Threlfall, Alison, Gilkeson, James, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Companies have been known to reduce their costs by reducing their spending on employee benefits, but in the last decade there has been an increasing interest on how these decisions affect not just employee productivity and turnover, but also overall shareholder wealth and company profitability. This thesis seeks to answer whether companies that have a greater focus on their employee welfare and satisfaction are more financially stable and profitable than their competitors. The research and...
Show moreCompanies have been known to reduce their costs by reducing their spending on employee benefits, but in the last decade there has been an increasing interest on how these decisions affect not just employee productivity and turnover, but also overall shareholder wealth and company profitability. This thesis seeks to answer whether companies that have a greater focus on their employee welfare and satisfaction are more financially stable and profitable than their competitors. The research and analysis consists of 40 companies, 20 highly rated by their employees paired with 20 of the worst companies according to employee opinion and benefits. Each pair must consist of comparable companies based on their industry and size. All companies are also part of Fortune 1000 and must be publicly traded. After conducting multiple tests on the data collected for each company and industry, the results support the hypothesis of a positive correlation between employee spending and shareholder wealth.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFH0004865, ucf:45446
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004865
- Title
- THE USE OF HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS ON MINIMIZING THE CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
- Creator
-
Donohue, Delayna L, D'Amato-Kubiet, Leslee, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects over 5 million individuals in the United States annually. By the year 2050, the number of individuals living with AD is projected to triple (Latest Alzheimer's Facts and Figures, 2016). Although there is no cure for AD, there are many prescriptive pharmacologic agents used to help manage the clinical manifestations of the disease. Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and herbal supplements are also used in the treatment of AD, however indications for...
Show moreAlzheimer's disease (AD) affects over 5 million individuals in the United States annually. By the year 2050, the number of individuals living with AD is projected to triple (Latest Alzheimer's Facts and Figures, 2016). Although there is no cure for AD, there are many prescriptive pharmacologic agents used to help manage the clinical manifestations of the disease. Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and herbal supplements are also used in the treatment of AD, however indications for their use and effectiveness during the progression of AD have not been examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of herbal supplements in managing the clinical manifestations of AD. The secondary purpose was to compare a variety of herbal supplements used to treat the clinical manifestations of AD and to evaluate the most widely used and most beneficial for clinical practice. A literature review examining herbal supplements and their risks, benefits, and uses in AD was conducted from multiple online databases. Peer reviewed articles published in the English language from 1998-2016 that focused on herbal supplements used to control the clinical manifestations of mild to severe AD were included for synthesis. Results from 14 studies that used herbal supplements as a treatment for the clinical manifestations of AD were compared for effectiveness in the management of symptoms. The findings suggest Ginkgo Biloba is the most effective and widely used herbal supplement in the treatment for cognitive decline in AD. Other supplements including Saffron, Curcumin, Cistanches Herba, and Sage were found to improve memory function and activities of daily living in individuals with AD. Herbal supplements can be cost effective and easier to retrieve for many individuals in comparison with prescriptive drug therapy. Although the research demonstrated beneficial results with the use of herbal supplements, the limitations of these studies make the application of the results problematic. Therefore, further research in this area is required.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFH0000237, ucf:44670
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0000237
- Title
- THE CREATION OF TOOLS AND MODELS TO CHARACTERIZE AND QUANTIFY USER-CENTERED DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS IN PRODUCT AND SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT.
- Creator
-
Meza, Katherine, Crumpton-Young, Lesia, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Ease of use differentiates products in a highly competitive market place. It also brings an added value that culminates in a higher degree of customer satisfaction, repeated business, increased sales, and higher revenue. User-centered design is a strategic asset that companies can use to improve their customer relationships by learning more about their customers, and increase their sales. In today's economy, the measurement of intangible assets such as user experience has become a major...
Show moreEase of use differentiates products in a highly competitive market place. It also brings an added value that culminates in a higher degree of customer satisfaction, repeated business, increased sales, and higher revenue. User-centered design is a strategic asset that companies can use to improve their customer relationships by learning more about their customers, and increase their sales. In today's economy, the measurement of intangible assets such as user experience has become a major need for industries because of the relationship between user-centered design and organizational benefits such as customer loyalty. As companies realize that the inclusion of user-centered design concepts in product or system design are a key component of attracting and maintaining customers, as well as increasing revenue, the need for quantitative methods to describe these benefits has become more urgent. The goal of this research is to develop a methodology to characterize user-centered design features, customer benefits and organizational benefits resulting from developing products using user-centered design principles through the use of an integrated framework of critical factors. Therefore, this research focuses on the identification of the most significant variables required to assess and measure the degree of user-centered design (UCD) characteristics included in the various aspects of product development such as physical design features, cognitive design attributes, industrial design aspects and user experience design considerations. Also this research focuses on the development of assessment tools for developers to use when evaluating the incorporation of user-centered design features in the creation of products and systems. In addition, a mathematical model to quantify the inclusion of UCD factors considered in the design of a product and systems is presented in this research. The results obtained using the assessment tools and the mathematical model can be employed to assess the customer benefits and organizational benefits resulting from including user-centered design features in the creation of products and systems. Overall, organizational benefits such as customer loyalty, company image, and profitability are expected to be impacted by the company's capability to meet or exceed stated design claims and performance consistency while maintaining aesthetic appeal, long product life, and product usefulness. The successful completion of this research has produced many beneficial research findings. For example, it has helped characterize and develop descriptors for estimating critical quantitative and qualitative components, sub-components, and factors influencing user-centered design that are related to customer and organizational benefits through the use of fuzzy set modeling. In addition, the development of specific tools, methods, and techniques for evaluating and quantifying UCD components resulted from this study.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002178, ucf:47524
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002178
- Title
- CROSS-MODAL EFFECTS IN TACTILE AND VISUAL SIGNALING.
- Creator
-
Merlo, James, Hancock, Peter, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Using a wearable tactile display three experiments were conducted in which tactile messages were created emulating five standard US Army and Marine arm and hand signals for the military commands, namely: "Attention", "Halt", "Rally", "Move Out", and "Nuclear Biological or Chemical event (NBC)". Response times and accuracy rates were collected for novices responding to visual and tactile representations of these messages, which were displayed either alone or together in congruent or...
Show moreUsing a wearable tactile display three experiments were conducted in which tactile messages were created emulating five standard US Army and Marine arm and hand signals for the military commands, namely: "Attention", "Halt", "Rally", "Move Out", and "Nuclear Biological or Chemical event (NBC)". Response times and accuracy rates were collected for novices responding to visual and tactile representations of these messages, which were displayed either alone or together in congruent or incongruent combinations. Results indicated synergistic effects for concurrent, congruent message presentations showing superior response times when compared to individual presentations in either modality alone. This effect was mediated by participant strategy. Accuracy similarly improved when both the tactile and visual presentation were concurrently displayed as opposed to separately. In a low workload condition, participants could largely attend to a particular modality, with little interference from competing signals. If participants were not given instructions as to which modality to attend to, participants chose that modality which was received first. Lastly, initial learning and subsequent training of intuitive tactile signals occurred rapidly with large gains in performance in short training periods. These results confirm the promise for tactile messages to augment visual messaging in challenging and stressful environments particularly when visual messaging is maybe preferred but is not always feasible or possible.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002035, ucf:47598
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002035
- Title
- The effect of Building Information Modeling on Design and Construction Industry.
- Creator
-
Alassaf, Yahya, Oloufa, Amr, Tatari, Omer, Uddin, Nizam, Mouloua, Mustapha, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Construction industry's evolution is, historically, in the lowest level, if compared to other industries, such as auto manufacturing. Construction is a multidisciplinary industry, considering that designers, contractors, and owners are all involved in the same project, each one seeking their own interests. The complex environment surrounding design and construction makes the decision-makers hesitate about adopting new methodology. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a new method and...
Show moreConstruction industry's evolution is, historically, in the lowest level, if compared to other industries, such as auto manufacturing. Construction is a multidisciplinary industry, considering that designers, contractors, and owners are all involved in the same project, each one seeking their own interests. The complex environment surrounding design and construction makes the decision-makers hesitate about adopting new methodology. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a new method and technology, which can improve both the design and the construction processes. The adoption of BIM is increasing significantly over the last years, and its effects can be seen on real life projects. In order to understand the effect of BIM on the design and construction industry, we have created a comprehensive survey, consisting of a general questionnaire and experts' interviews. The general questionnaire concentrated on most of BIM issues, while the interviews focused on specific points arisen from the general questionnaire. Most of the published papers in this area justify BIM adoption by focusing on BIM ROI, and the comparison between project with and without BIM. In this research, however, we tried first to understand BIM status at the AEC market, and then to measure its effects. Therefore, we have targeted all the players in the BIM field: engineers, architects, contractors, and owners. Through the general questionnaire, we have measured the relationship between the independent variables and outcome variables. The independent variables are: motivations, concerns, investment needed, software, valuable benefits, success measures, and BIM uses. The outcome variables include: companies' role, sector, specialty, market level, level of implementation, years of implementation, and experience. In the second part of the research, we have conducted a series of subject matter interviews to measure the effect of BIM uses and its intangible benefits. For the experts' interviews, we designed a structured interview which covers two major areas: BIM uses, and intangible benefits. Both areas derived from the general questionnaire, and we aimed to measure their effects on real life projects. After analyzing the general questionnaire by using Person Chi-Square test, the results shown a significant relationship between independent variables and outcome variables. Participants' responses shown that they share common objectives when establishing BIM such as: increasing communication, reducing rework, increasing coordination and collaboration between parties, improving quality, and increasing productivity. We have found that the use of BIM is varied, and the large companies are taking advantage of BIM technology. In addition, the majority of the participants indicate that BIM has a positive ROI, and its adoption generates more business. The experts' interviews uncovered the fact that AEC parties have common understanding about the intangible benefits, even though they perceive the benefits differently. The diverse views of intangibles' benefits were influenced by the distinct role of each party. Moreover, experts share information about BIM project, and the project outcomes are successful on the following metrics: cost, schedule, number of RFI, number of change orders, and quality.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFE0006432, ucf:51486
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006432
- Title
- THE PLIGHT OF BEING UNRECOGNIZED IN THE UNITED STATES: SHOULD UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS BE LICENSED TO DRIVE IN FLORIDA?.
- Creator
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Wilford, Jennifer, Cook, Kathy, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The United States of America is facing an important decision. Should illegal immigrants be allowed to obtain driver's licenses? Thus far ten states and the District of Columbia as well as Puerto Rico have passed laws permitting this to come into fruition. The purpose of this thesis is to gain an understanding of the significance that licensing laws have on this country. This thesis will compare the views and beliefs of both the proponents and opponents to this law. This thesis also discusses...
Show moreThe United States of America is facing an important decision. Should illegal immigrants be allowed to obtain driver's licenses? Thus far ten states and the District of Columbia as well as Puerto Rico have passed laws permitting this to come into fruition. The purpose of this thesis is to gain an understanding of the significance that licensing laws have on this country. This thesis will compare the views and beliefs of both the proponents and opponents to this law. This thesis also discusses how Florida is deeply affected due to its large Hispanic immigrant population. This issue is laden with passion and emotion due to the desire of many to see this group of people that are currently undocumented, have the ability to lead a more normal life and conversely the fear that allowing licenses will give undocumented aliens privileges of citizens and encourage illegal immigration. The views on these laws are divided throughout the nation. The lawfulness is examined in reference to rewarding and promoting illegal immigration and the cumulative negative effects that this can have on this country. The driver's license requirements were analyzed for each individual state. News articles were researched and used to enrich the pros and cons on this topic. This research was then used to give a recommendation for Florida law.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFH0004759, ucf:45377
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004759
- Title
- EXAMINING EMPLOYEE USE OF FAMILY-FRIENDLY BENEFITS WITH THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR.
- Creator
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Seiser, Heather, Fritzsche, Barbara, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the factors that may be related to employees' decisions to use the family-friendly benefits (e.g., maternity/paternity leave, flexible work schedule) that are offered to them by their employers. Research has shown that both employees and organizations benefit when employees use family-friendly benefits. However, research has also shown that many employees do not take advantage of such benefits. Studies examining this issue are limited,...
Show moreThe purpose of the present study was to investigate the factors that may be related to employees' decisions to use the family-friendly benefits (e.g., maternity/paternity leave, flexible work schedule) that are offered to them by their employers. Research has shown that both employees and organizations benefit when employees use family-friendly benefits. However, research has also shown that many employees do not take advantage of such benefits. Studies examining this issue are limited, and much of the research that has been conducted is anecdotal and atheoretical. The present study overcame this problem by empirically examining the use of family-friendly benefits within the theoretical context of Ajzen's (1991) theory of planned behavior. The results of this study support the theory of planned behavior. Specifically, the results indicated that whether an individual perceived he/she had control over the use of family-friendly benefits was the most predictive of whether he/she intended to use them. Whether the individual perceived that others would approve of these behaviors was also predictive of intention to perform the behaviors. In addition, an individual's intention to take leave or use a flexible work schedule was the most predictive of whether he or she actually engaged in the behaviors. Implications for practice as well as future research directions are also discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001399, ucf:46959
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001399
- Title
- PREDICTING COMPENSATION AND RECIPROCITY OF BIDS FOR SEXUAL AND/OR ROMANTIC ESCALATION IN CROSS-SEX FRIENDSHIPS.
- Creator
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Akbulut, Valerie, Weger, Harry, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
With more opportunities available to men and women to interact, both professionally and personally (i.e., the workplace, educational setting, community), friendships with members of the opposite sex are becoming more common. Increasingly, researchers have noted that one facet that makes cross-sex friendships unique compared to other types of relationships (i.e. romantic love, same-sex friendships, familial relationships), is that there is the possibility and opportunity for a romantic or...
Show moreWith more opportunities available to men and women to interact, both professionally and personally (i.e., the workplace, educational setting, community), friendships with members of the opposite sex are becoming more common. Increasingly, researchers have noted that one facet that makes cross-sex friendships unique compared to other types of relationships (i.e. romantic love, same-sex friendships, familial relationships), is that there is the possibility and opportunity for a romantic or sexual relationship to manifest. Communication research has yet to investigate how one decides whether to begin a romantic or sexual relationship or choose to remain platonic with their cross-sex friend. Given that cross-sex friendships deal with a lot of ambiguity regarding the nature of the friendship, this researcher sought to uncover what factors determine whether parties reciprocate romantic or sexual interest or opt to remain platonic through the theoretical lens of interaction adaptation theory. Specifically, the researcher sought to determine what expectations and desires predict compensation or reciprocity of romantic or sexual desires. At a large Southeastern university, quantitative data were collected from 307 participants. The results indicated that of the variables, Not Attracted, Incompatibility, and closeness were significant predictors of romantic reciprocation. In the case of 'friends with benefit' relationships, the results indicated that of the variables, Not Attracted, Sexual/Romantic Potential, sex, and sexual attitudes were significant predictors of sexual reciprocity. Further explanations of results, limitations, and future directions for research are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002531, ucf:47668
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002531
- Title
- THE RISKS AND BENEFITS OF RUNNING BAREFOOT OR IN MINIMALIST SHOES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.
- Creator
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Perkins, Kyle, Rothschild, Carey, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The popularity of running barefoot or in minimalist shoes has notably increased in the last decade due to claims of injury prevention, enhanced running efficiency, and improved performance when compared to running in shoes (shod). A systematic review of the literature was performed using the Downs and Black checklist to assess the methodological quality of studies proposing risks or benefits between running barefoot, shod, or in minimalist shoes. The databases Ovid MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and...
Show moreThe popularity of running barefoot or in minimalist shoes has notably increased in the last decade due to claims of injury prevention, enhanced running efficiency, and improved performance when compared to running in shoes (shod). A systematic review of the literature was performed using the Downs and Black checklist to assess the methodological quality of studies proposing risks or benefits between running barefoot, shod, or in minimalist shoes. The databases Ovid MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and CINAHL were searched using keywords or "Booleans" including: "Barefoot", "Running" and "Minimalist," exclusively. All included articles were obtained from peer reviewed journals in the English language with a link to full text and no limit for year of publication. The final selection was made based on inclusion of at least one of the following outcome variables: pain, injury rate, running economy, joint forces, running velocity, electromyography, muscle performance, or edema. Significant results were gathered from identified articles and compared using "Levels of Evidence" by Furlan et al. Twenty-three publications were identified and rated for quality assessment in September 2013. Out of 27 possible points on the Downs and Black checklist, all articles scored between 13 and 19 points with a mean of 17.4. Evidence from the articles ranged from very limited to moderate. Moderate evidence suggested overall less maximum vertical ground reaction forces, less extension moment and power absorption at the knee, less foot and ankle dorsiflexion at ground contact, less ground contact time, shorter stride length, increased stride frequency (cadence), as well as increased knee flexion at ground contact in barefoot running compared to shod. The low scores from the quality assessment using the Downs and Black checklist indicates that improved methodological quality is necessary to provide strong evidence comparing the risks and benefits of running barefoot, shod, and in minimalist shoes. The literature between shod, minimalist, and barefoot running is inconclusive. There is limited evidence showing differences in kinematics, kinetics, electromyography, and economy results in minimalist shoes. Thus, an alternative and suitable method to effectively replicate barefoot running has not yet been determined.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFH0004532, ucf:45194
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004532
- Title
- WHEN PEOPLE WORKING IN AN OFFICE DON'T WANT TO WORKOUT: AN EXPLORATION OF CORPORATE BENEFIT USE AND CORRELATES TO THE BIG FIVE MODEL OF PERSONALITY.
- Creator
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Harris, Dominique T, Fritzsche, Barbara, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Many corporate offices now offer fitness benefits to their employees. Evidence shows that corporate fitness programs are linked to decreased tardiness, absenteeism, and reduced healthcare costs. These programs also help address the growing obesity crisis threatening one in every three American adults. However, many employees do not participate in corporate fitness plans in spite of the convenience many programs offer. Thus, I wished to explore the personality and lifestyle factors that...
Show moreMany corporate offices now offer fitness benefits to their employees. Evidence shows that corporate fitness programs are linked to decreased tardiness, absenteeism, and reduced healthcare costs. These programs also help address the growing obesity crisis threatening one in every three American adults. However, many employees do not participate in corporate fitness plans in spite of the convenience many programs offer. Thus, I wished to explore the personality and lifestyle factors that contribute to older (age 25+) employees' exercise habits, their use of corporate benefits and correlates to the Big Five model of Personality along with other personality measures. I gathered 94 participants aged 25 and above, who work full-time (at least 32+ hours per week).I had my participants report their demographic information and take a survey through Qualtrics and Amazon Mechanical Turk analyzing their exercise habits and use of corporate benefits. Based on my findings, the Big 5 facet that correlated with corporate benefit use the most was immoderation. Other factors that correlated included Externally Controlled Motivation, Autonomous Motivation, and Perceived Competence. Furthermore, participants were able to share tips for how to improve corporate benefit use. The study could have benefitted from a larger sample size and observation-based reporting, however overall it serves as a good indicator of traits that make a person more inclined to participate in exercise programs and poses suggestions for the improvement of said programs.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFH2000101, ucf:45518
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000101
- Title
- THE RISKS AND BENEFITS OF SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS AND THE EFFECT OF PARENT-CHILD COMPLIANCE ON MEDICATION TEACHING IN PEDIATRIC ANXIETY DISORDERS.
- Creator
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Nizam, Sabiha, Dever, Kimberly, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Pediatric anxiety disorders characterized as Generalized, Separation, and Social Anxiety Disorders, are chronic debilitating conditions that leave children feeling tense and isolated, both physically and emotionally. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a classification of antidepressants that can be prescribed to children diagnosed with these disorders. SSRIs have been shown to be effective in treating anxiety disorders in children. The purpose of this literature review was to...
Show morePediatric anxiety disorders characterized as Generalized, Separation, and Social Anxiety Disorders, are chronic debilitating conditions that leave children feeling tense and isolated, both physically and emotionally. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a classification of antidepressants that can be prescribed to children diagnosed with these disorders. SSRIs have been shown to be effective in treating anxiety disorders in children. The purpose of this literature review was to examine and determine if there are more risks or benefits associated with SSRIs, as well as evaluate teaching and education regarding anxiety disorder medication compliance in both children and parents. A secondary purpose of this research was to provide recommendations in nursing practice to allow children to feel more involved in their medical regimen. The following databases were used for the search: CINAHL, Academic Search Premier, and Web of Science. Key terms used in the search include but are not limited to: child* and anxiety, not autism, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, OR SSRI*, OR adolsecen*, not med*, pediatric*, OR side effects. The results suggest that the benefits of SSRI therapy in children with anxiety disorder, when taken on a regularly scheduled basis, outweigh the risks, however more research aimed at compliance with SSRI therapy in children and parents is necessary. Further research analyzing children with anxiety disorders is needed to assess SSRI usage based specifically on their developmental age, and the inclusion of appropriate teaching and explanation related to their diagnoses to identifying stressors that can include behavioral therapy as well.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFH2000020, ucf:45574
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000020
- Title
- VICTIMS OF MORE THAN JUST BIAS: GENDER'S INFLUENCE ON JURY AWARDS AND OTHER MONETARY BENEFITS IN WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS.
- Creator
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Ferraro, Anthony, Cronon, Christopher, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The main objective in this research was to examine the extent to which gender and gender biases influence monetary benefits received, including jury award amounts, in workplace sexual harassment claims. Two methods were utilized to explore the discrepancies in monetary benefits received based on gender differences. The first method used was a survey to test various gender attitudes, attitudes on sexual harassment, and how influential a victim's gender was on determinations of damage award...
Show moreThe main objective in this research was to examine the extent to which gender and gender biases influence monetary benefits received, including jury award amounts, in workplace sexual harassment claims. Two methods were utilized to explore the discrepancies in monetary benefits received based on gender differences. The first method used was a survey to test various gender attitudes, attitudes on sexual harassment, and how influential a victim's gender was on determinations of damage award amounts in sexual harassment cases. 6 two-way factorial univariate between-subject analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to analyze the survey data. The second method in this project consisted of an examination of claims filed by victims of sexual harassment. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission statistics were broken down by gender with respect to resolution type. This provided a means to assess the actual monetary benefits received by both men and women across all possible forms of claim resolutions. In conjunction, these two methods provide a more balanced approach to the assessment of gender discrepancies in sexual harassment claims. Using a combination of actual claims of sexual harassment and survey data, rather than just one or the other, allows for direct comparison between perception and reality. The comparison of perception and reality allows for a more complete assessment of the state of sexual harassment claims as they relate to victim's gender. With a more complete assessment of sexual harassment claims and perceptions of sexual harassment it may be possible to bring to light potential injustices caused by gender or gender stereotyping, and correct any imbalances that may be present.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFH0004247, ucf:44967
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004247
- Title
- RIGHTS OF OWNERSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES AS IDENTIFIED THROUGH DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN CONVERSION.
- Creator
-
Burke, Richard, Klintworth, Nancy, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Employer provided Qualified Plans ("Qualified Plans") are the most efficient supplement to Social Security savings and benefits. Given the significance of the benefits provided as well as the short-term Revenue constraints upon the Federal government in the form of substantially protracted tax deferrals, Qualified Plan legislation should maintain a conservative disposition. Incremental legislative action in the right direction will steadily graduate ERISA to its intended purpose....
Show moreEmployer provided Qualified Plans ("Qualified Plans") are the most efficient supplement to Social Security savings and benefits. Given the significance of the benefits provided as well as the short-term Revenue constraints upon the Federal government in the form of substantially protracted tax deferrals, Qualified Plan legislation should maintain a conservative disposition. Incremental legislative action in the right direction will steadily graduate ERISA to its intended purpose. Unfortunately ERISA is a convoluted maze of formalities, definitions, and regulation that are only substantially understood by an expert and have yet to be adequately explained to the public at large. Recent publications such as Retirement Heist rouse the public's consciousness of retirement Plans by enumerating perceived abuses by large corporations. These alleged abuses certainly reflect innovative manipulations within the constraints of Qualified Plans. However, my thesis will prove that these "abuses" reflect the United States' disposition toward the rights of proprietorship regarding the Qualified Plan. The intent of the thesis is to illustrate this disposition through a study of the Amara v. Cigna Corp. case as well as a review of an actual LLC's defined benefit plan conversion to a cash balance plan. I will compare and contrast the different approaches taken by these two employers and justify the varied success they each experienced in converting their plans. Through this process, the thesis shall draw conclusions on the United States' dispositions toward ownership of the qualified plan.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFH0004164, ucf:44852
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004164
- Title
- Development and Application of an Optimization Approach for Cost-Effective Deployment of Advanced Wrong-Way Driving Countermeasures.
- Creator
-
Sandt, Adrian, Al-Deek, Haitham, Eluru, Naveen, Hasan, Samiul, Zheng, Qipeng, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Wrong-way driving (WWD) is a dangerous behavior, especially on high-speed divided highways. The nature of WWD crashes makes it difficult for agencies to combat them effectively. Advanced WWD countermeasures equipped with flashing lights, detection devices, and cameras can significantly reduce WWD. However, these countermeasures' high costs mean that agencies often cannot deploy them at all exit ramps. To help agencies identify the most cost-effective deployment locations for advanced WWD...
Show moreWrong-way driving (WWD) is a dangerous behavior, especially on high-speed divided highways. The nature of WWD crashes makes it difficult for agencies to combat them effectively. Advanced WWD countermeasures equipped with flashing lights, detection devices, and cameras can significantly reduce WWD. However, these countermeasures' high costs mean that agencies often cannot deploy them at all exit ramps. To help agencies identify the most cost-effective deployment locations for advanced WWD countermeasures, an innovative WWD countermeasure optimization approach was developed. This approach consists of a WWD hotspots model and a WWD countermeasures optimization algorithm. The WWD hotspots model uses non-crash WWD events, interchange designs, and traffic volumes to predict the number of WWD crashes on multi-exit roadway segments and identify hotspot segments with high WWD crash risk (WWCR). Then, the optimization algorithm uses these WWCR values to identify the optimal exits for advanced WWD countermeasure deployment based on available resources and other applicable constraints. This approach was applied to the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) and Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) toll road networks. In both applications, the optimization algorithm provided significant WWCR reduction while meeting investment and other constraints and better allocated the agencies' resources compared to only deploying advanced WWD countermeasures in WWD hotspots. The optimization algorithm was also used to identify mainline sections on the CFX network with high WWCR. Additionally, the optimization algorithm was used to evaluate existing Rectangular Flashing Beacon (RFB) and Light-Emitting Diode (LED) advanced WWD countermeasures on the CFX (RFBs) and FTE (RFBs and LEDs) networks. These evaluations showed that the crash reduction and injury reduction benefits of these advanced WWD countermeasures have exceeded their costs since these countermeasures have been deployed. By using this WWD countermeasures optimization approach, agencies throughout the United States could proactively and cost-effectively deploy advanced WWD countermeasures to reduce WWD.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007364, ucf:52093
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007364
- Title
- YOU SCRATCH MY BACK AND I'LL SCRATCH YOURS: MENTOR-PERCEIVED COSTS AND BENEFITS AND THE FUNCTIONS THEY PROVIDE THEIR PROTéGéS.
- Creator
-
Fullick, Julia, Smith-Jentsch, Kimberly, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Mentoring relationships can have both costs and benefits for mentors and their protégés. The present research examined the degree to which mentors' perceived costs and benefits affect the functional and dysfunctional mentoring they provide to their protégés. Additionally, I investigated whether mentor-perceived costs and benefits were associated with the mentors' own goal orientation and the goal orientation of their protégés. Data were...
Show moreMentoring relationships can have both costs and benefits for mentors and their protégés. The present research examined the degree to which mentors' perceived costs and benefits affect the functional and dysfunctional mentoring they provide to their protégés. Additionally, I investigated whether mentor-perceived costs and benefits were associated with the mentors' own goal orientation and the goal orientation of their protégés. Data were collected from 86 protégés and their current supervisory mentors. Consistent with expectations, when mentors reported greater costs of embarrassment associated with their relationship, the protégé reported receiving greater dysfunctional mentoring. Protégés who reported receiving greater functional mentoring tended to have mentors who perceived greater benefits of mentoring them. Both protégé and mentor goal orientations demonstrated significant correlations with mentor-perceived costs and benefits of their relationships. Implications for training and reinforcing functional mentoring will be discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002404, ucf:47766
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002404
- Title
- A Survey of Investing and Retirement Knowledge and Preferences of Florida Preservice Teachers.
- Creator
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Thripp, Richard, Hartshorne, Richard, Hahs-Vaughn, Debbie, Hoffman, Bobby, Jahani, Shiva, Mottola, Gary, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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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.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007868, ucf:52793
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007868
- Title
- Hope and Low Level Literacy of Haitians in Petit-Go(&)#226;ve: Implications for Hope Theory and Adult Literacy Education.
- Creator
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Grissom, Donita, Nutta, Joyce, Crevecoeur, Edwidge, Clark, M. H., Ana M. Leon, Ana, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This cross-sectional study extended Snyder's Hope Theory (1991) by analyzing the difference in trait hope levels, pathway thinking, and agency thinking of pre-literate (no prior access to literacy) and non-literate (access to literacy, but little or no prior literacy education) Haitian adults. The data were derived from archival records of 135 students enrolled in Haitian-Krey(&)#242;l adult literacy classes in Petit-Go(&)#226;ve, Haiti. Mann-Whitney U results indicated that there were no...
Show moreThis cross-sectional study extended Snyder's Hope Theory (1991) by analyzing the difference in trait hope levels, pathway thinking, and agency thinking of pre-literate (no prior access to literacy) and non-literate (access to literacy, but little or no prior literacy education) Haitian adults. The data were derived from archival records of 135 students enrolled in Haitian-Krey(&)#242;l adult literacy classes in Petit-Go(&)#226;ve, Haiti. Mann-Whitney U results indicated that there were no significant differences in trait hope, pathway thinking, or agency thinking between the pre-literate and non-literate Haitian adults. Both groups reported average trait hope, average pathway thinking, and low agency thinking. Potential implications for adult literacy program and curriculum developers, evaluators, and teachers are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFE0005341, ucf:50480
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005341
- Title
- Determinants of Satisfaction and EWOM in Collaborative Consumption and the Sharing Economy: Timeshare Stays Versus Peer-to-Peer Accommodations.
- Creator
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Redditt, Jennifer, Fyall, Alan, Gregory, Amy, Ro, Heejung, Orlowski, Marissa, Altinay, Levent, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Considered a disrupter in the lodging industry, sharing economy accommodations have become an emergent field in hospitality literature. While this literature predominantly addresses peer-to-peer accommodations such as Airbnb, it has not considered timeshares, one of the sharing economy pioneers. However, consumer behavior literature has integrated timeshares into the sharing economy due to the shared resource of accommodations between consumers. This study examined the determinants of...
Show moreConsidered a disrupter in the lodging industry, sharing economy accommodations have become an emergent field in hospitality literature. While this literature predominantly addresses peer-to-peer accommodations such as Airbnb, it has not considered timeshares, one of the sharing economy pioneers. However, consumer behavior literature has integrated timeshares into the sharing economy due to the shared resource of accommodations between consumers. This study examined the determinants of Satisfaction (Amenities, Community Belonging, Economic Benefits, Trust, and Vacation Counselor/Host) for consumers of two different types of sharing economy lodging products, timeshares and peer-to-peer accommodations, and their electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) behavior. Considered a critical travel information source, eWOM has been attributed to affecting purchase decisions in hospitality literature. Current research has revealed a gap in peer-to-peer accommodation studies related to eWOM. This study extended eWOM research by exploring the role of Satisfaction as a mediator between the determinants and eWOM. In addition, accommodation type (timeshare vs. peer-to-peer accommodation) was investigated as a moderator to the relationship between the determinants and Satisfaction, and to the relationship between Satisfaction and eWOM. The study employed the two-step approach of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM). The results indicated that Amenities, Community Belonging, Economic Benefits, Trust, and Vacation Counselor/Host had a positive impact on sharing economy lodging Satisfaction. Amenities, Economic Benefits, and Trust demonstrated an indirect effect on eWOM behavior through sharing economy lodging satisfaction. The model also revealed that Community Belonging had a direct effect on eWOM. Multiple group SEM revealed that accommodation type moderated the effect of Community Belonging's impact on sharing economy lodging Satisfaction, as well as the effect of sharing economy lodging Satisfaction on eWOM behavior. Satisfaction did not mediate any relationships for peer-to-peer accommodations. This study extends eWOM literature and provides competitive advantage insights between two sharing economy accommodation types.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007854, ucf:52785
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007854
- Title
- Live Versus Virtual: Cost Benefit Analysis for Applying Simulation Towards Army Aviator Flight Minimums.
- Creator
-
Morelle, Dylan, Kincaid, John, Stevens, Jonathan, Proctor, Michael, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The Longbow Crew Trainer (LCT) is a cost effective, safe alternative to live training in the AH-64D/E Apache helicopter. Current Army doctrine and regulations have provisions for the limited use of simulator in lieu of aircraft hours toward semiannual minimum flight hour requirements. With the defense budget in decline, the Army must find innovative, cost effective methods to conduct realistic, relevant training to sustain proficiency in their warfighting capabilities. The LCT fully...
Show moreThe Longbow Crew Trainer (LCT) is a cost effective, safe alternative to live training in the AH-64D/E Apache helicopter. Current Army doctrine and regulations have provisions for the limited use of simulator in lieu of aircraft hours toward semiannual minimum flight hour requirements. With the defense budget in decline, the Army must find innovative, cost effective methods to conduct realistic, relevant training to sustain proficiency in their warfighting capabilities. The LCT fully replicates the cockpit environment through training scenarios for requisite crew tasks and missions in a realistic, modular, and transportable solution. An attack helicopter crew can safely train in customizable scenarios ranging from basic aviation tasks to crew-level missions and gunneries. The Army is currently aligning one LCT per attack battalion under the Aviation Restructure Initiative. There are 20 Armed Reconnaissance Battalions/Squadrons in the active component with approximately 35 aircrews per battalion. The premise of this study was to review cost benefits of training in a virtual environment over a live environment while exploring the effects on proficiency. The difference in cost per hour between an AH-64D and the LCT is approximately $3,998. Using this figure and the semiannual flight hour requirements from the current Aircrew Training Manual in a weighted average between Flight Activity Category (FAC) 1 and FAC 2 pilot's flight minimum requirements formed the basis for four models: Low, Status Quo (baseline), Moderate, and High Virtual Simulation Models. This study found that while the High Virtual Simulation Model resulted in the greatest cost savings, the current budget and previous literature does not require such drastic measures. The Low Virtual Simulation Model resulted in higher costs. Therefore, the Moderate Virtual Simulation Model, proved most relevant to budget analysts, aviation unit commanders, and pilots by decreasing annual costs by an estimated $76.2 million without degrading proficiency.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFE0006539, ucf:51341
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006539
- Title
- SYNTHESIZING THE MUSIC INTEGRATION RESEARCH TO EXPLORE FIVE COMMON THEMES IN INTERMEDIATE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS.
- Creator
-
Harkins, Alexandria, Roberts, Sherron, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Much scientific research has been conducted to examine the effects of music on the brain and abilities of people. The results have shown a positive correlation between music used in various ways and the abilities and skills of people, especially children. However, the use of music in the general intermediate classroom is lacking. After reviewing scientific research to provide a foundation for the study and synthesizing the five Music Integration Practices, two teachers were interviewed and...
Show moreMuch scientific research has been conducted to examine the effects of music on the brain and abilities of people. The results have shown a positive correlation between music used in various ways and the abilities and skills of people, especially children. However, the use of music in the general intermediate classroom is lacking. After reviewing scientific research to provide a foundation for the study and synthesizing the five Music Integration Practices, two teachers were interviewed and observed on their use of music in their general intermediate classrooms. The interviews, observation checklists, and anecdotal notes taken by the researcher provide music activities and rationales for the use of music in the classroom, as explained by the participating teachers.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFH0004695, ucf:45244
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004695
