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Title: WOMENS PERCEPTION OF THEIR CHILDBIRTH EXPEREINCES: AN INTEGRATED LITERATURE REVIEW.
Creator: Farmer, Nancy M, Bushy, Angeline, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Pregnancy and childbirth are a unique and sacred time in many womens' lives and the process of giving birth often leaves women and families in a vulnerable position. This integrated literature review examined birthing experiences from the maternal perspective and focused on the short-term and long-term implications of negatively perceived maternal experiences. While there are several international studies, only a few have been published studies from the United States. The integrated review...
Show morePregnancy and childbirth are a unique and sacred time in many womens' lives and the process of giving birth often leaves women and families in a vulnerable position. This integrated literature review examined birthing experiences from the maternal perspective and focused on the short-term and long-term implications of negatively perceived maternal experiences. While there are several international studies, only a few have been published studies from the United States. The integrated review showed a significant impact of provider-client communication and shared decision making on a woman's overall perception of her birthing experience. Reports of excess intervention, lack of informed consent, and a perceived disregard for embodied knowledge- all contribute to negative perception of the birthing women. Implications for nursing education, practice, policy, and research are discussed in depth with a focus on improving maternal perception of the birth experience.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFH2000565, ucf:45687
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000565

Title: A Lab-Scale Experimental Framework for Studying the Phenomenon of Autorotation.
Creator: Rimkus, Sigitas, Das, Tuhin, Xu, Yunjun, Simaan, Marwan, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: While wind energy has emerged as a popular source of renewable energy, the traditional wind turbine has an inherent limitation, namely that it only generates power in the presence of sufficiently high and consistent wind speeds. As a result, wind farms are typically built in areas with a high probability of the required wind speeds, which are geographically sparse. One way of overcoming this drawback is to tap into the energy available in winds at high altitudes which are not only consistent...
Show moreWhile wind energy has emerged as a popular source of renewable energy, the traditional wind turbine has an inherent limitation, namely that it only generates power in the presence of sufficiently high and consistent wind speeds. As a result, wind farms are typically built in areas with a high probability of the required wind speeds, which are geographically sparse. One way of overcoming this drawback is to tap into the energy available in winds at high altitudes which are not only consistent and of high magnitude, but also globally pervasive. An airborne wind energy device based upon the phenomenon of autorotation could potentially be used to exploit the abundance of wind of energy present at high altitudes.The work in this thesis first presents our study of a tethered-airfoil system as a candidate airborne wind energy (AWE) system. A mathematical model was used to show the feasibility of energy capture and the stability of the device in a wind field. Subsequently, the research identified the principle of autorotation to be better suited for high altitude energy harvesting. To this end, the thesis first presents a theoretical basis of the principle of autorotation, which is developed from existing models in literature. The model was adapted to predict aerodynamic conditions when used for harvesting energy. Encouraging simulation results prompted the main emphasis of this thesis, namely design of an experimental framework to corroborate the theory. Several experiments were devised to determine basic performance characteristics of an autogyro rotor and the data from each experiment is presented. A lab-scale experimental setup was developed as part of this thesis. The setup, consisting of a flapping-blade autogyro rotor and sensors, was used to acquire preliminary aerodynamic performance data. It is envisioned that refinements to this setup will ultimately provide a means of directly comparing analytical and experimental data. In this regard, we provide conclusions and make comments on improvements for future experiments.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005239, ucf:50593
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005239

Title: ENHANCING VOCABULARY ACQUISITION THROUGH SYNTHETIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES: IMPLEMENTING VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS INTO CLASSROOMS.
Creator: Sanchez, Alicia, Cannon-Bowers, Jan, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: A Synthetic Learning Environment (SLE) the Virtual Field Trip (VFT) was designed to increase vocabulary acquisition and knowledge by utilizing simulation based technologies and leveraging sound educational findings. Vocabulary acquisition is considered a prerequisite to becoming a good reader and therefore a critical predictor of academic and lifelong success for early learners, however, teachers report that students lack the real world knowledge required for vocabulary knowledge. The VFT...
Show moreA Synthetic Learning Environment (SLE) the Virtual Field Trip (VFT) was designed to increase vocabulary acquisition and knowledge by utilizing simulation based technologies and leveraging sound educational findings. Vocabulary acquisition is considered a prerequisite to becoming a good reader and therefore a critical predictor of academic and lifelong success for early learners, however, teachers report that students lack the real world knowledge required for vocabulary knowledge. The VFT provides a meaningful context for anchored and situated instruction. Second grade students were assigned to either use the VFT or to listen to stories read aloud by a researcher on a video tape. While results did not indicate significant vocabulary acquisition on a series of 3 vocabulary tests; students who used the VFT did use significantly more words in a post exposure writing sample than students in the story group indicating an increase of words known at a level of depth sufficient to warrant their use in a writing sample. Students who used the VFT also reported increased motivation to use SLEs like the VFT for future learning objectives and that VFTs were fun. Findings related to the self-efficacy of students as measures immediately following each vocabulary test did not reveal a significant increase for VFT users. Students using the VFTs did not report learning more words than those students assigned to the story group. Limitations of the current study and directions for future research are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0001419, ucf:47059
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001419

Title: AN EXAMINATION OF CONSUMER EXPERIENCE AND RELATIVE EFFECTS ON CONSUMER VALUES.
Creator: Walls, Andrew, Wang, Youcheng, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In the ever changing business climate, the service sector has become a major focus of attention. One key aspect of this competitive environment is the effort of many businesses to differentiate themselves by creating unique customer experiences that accompany their products and services. The challenge to creating memorable consumer experiences is the proper identification of specific characteristics that influence experiences and gaining better understanding of how these impact consumers...
Show moreIn the ever changing business climate, the service sector has become a major focus of attention. One key aspect of this competitive environment is the effort of many businesses to differentiate themselves by creating unique customer experiences that accompany their products and services. The challenge to creating memorable consumer experiences is the proper identification of specific characteristics that influence experiences and gaining better understanding of how these impact consumers perceived values. To this end, this study attempted to develop a model that identifies influencing dimensions of consumer experiences and investigates the composition of consumer experiences and the relative outcome on consumer's perceived values in a hospitality setting. To facilitate this research objective, a model was presented which proposed that consumer experiences are composed of both physical and human interaction characteristics. The consumer's perspective of these characteristics, and hence the actual service experience, are affected by situational factors and individual characteristic which in return impact perceived emotive and cognitive values. A set of propositions are presented based on the model and literature review to measure the relationship between these factors. To initiate this research, an intercept survey approach was taken. Four hundred sixty-two (462) surveys were completed by hotel guests staying in one of three market segments in Orlando, FL. Participants completed the self-administered survey by answering questions concerning their current stay experience relating to physical environment, human encounters, trip-related factors, individual characteristics, and perceived values. Overall, the results found that trip-related factors and individual characteristics affect perceptions of physical environment and human interactions consumer experiences during their hotel stay. In addition, the results revealed that both physical environment and human interactions have significant and positive relationship with perceived values. These results can give lodging managers a better understanding of the composition of consumer experiences and how these events influence perceived values.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002760, ucf:48136
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002760

Title: THE ACCOMPANIED EXPERIENCE AND THE AESTHETICS OF MEMORY.
Creator: Dickerson, Allyson, Harris, Christopher, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: For me, a memory is the thought of a feeling. Feeling, in this case, is the appreciable radiation of sensory emanating from all objects and persons in a given moment of time. "All thought, like all feeling, is a relationship between one human being and another human being or certain objects which form a part of his universe" (Astruc). Be it an instance of attraction to another person, a place, a creation, an object, or purely an aesthetic pleasure, said instance will become ingrained as a...
Show moreFor me, a memory is the thought of a feeling. Feeling, in this case, is the appreciable radiation of sensory emanating from all objects and persons in a given moment of time. "All thought, like all feeling, is a relationship between one human being and another human being or certain objects which form a part of his universe" (Astruc). Be it an instance of attraction to another person, a place, a creation, an object, or purely an aesthetic pleasure, said instance will become ingrained as a part of an aggregation of moment-to-moment experiences that form an individual's universe and lifetime of perceptions. Through film, I hope to give a visual tangibility for such feelings, a re-playable, and relatively more permanent, representation. It's a process similar to the way a headstone memorializes a life. A few words in stone could never measure up to the present time of actually living, but this is because they are not comparable. In much the same way, a synthesized montage of images cannot be compared to a memory, but should be used as way to experience the memory in a new way.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004613, ucf:45277
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004613

Title: THE NUCLEAR TABOO: A REAL EFFECT ON PUBLIC PERCEPTION?.
Creator: Kennedy, Cody Marlin, Dolan, Thomas, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This research experiment investigated whether the nuclear taboo was more influential on participants when considering the use of nuclear weapons, or if the participants were influenced more by cost-benefit analysis when deciding to use nuclear weapons. In this study, we presented a fake military scenario to respondents with a total of eight different versions that either did or did not include: genocide, high casualties, and nuclear weapons. Participants could then select whether they agreed,...
Show moreThis research experiment investigated whether the nuclear taboo was more influential on participants when considering the use of nuclear weapons, or if the participants were influenced more by cost-benefit analysis when deciding to use nuclear weapons. In this study, we presented a fake military scenario to respondents with a total of eight different versions that either did or did not include: genocide, high casualties, and nuclear weapons. Participants could then select whether they agreed, disagreed, or needed more information as there answer. Breaking respondents down into these three groups, the results show that for all three respondent groups the independent variable with the strongest effect was nuclear weapons. The weakest variable was high casualty rates, while genocide had the second strongest effect on the respondents' decision-making process. These findings indicate that respondents were affected by the nuclear taboo and were less likely to cost-benefit analyze when giving their answer to the military proposal.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFH2000544, ucf:45690
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000544

Title: SACRED CHANGES ON CAMPUS: THE EFFECTS OF HIGHER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE ON RELIGIOSITY AND SPIRITUALITY, AND RESOLVING COGNITIVE DISSONANCE.
Creator: Gaulden, Shawn, Gay, David, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Changes in religious and spiritual trends over the past few decades are contradicting previously held assumptions in academia pertaining to personal religious and spiritual definitions, identities and how these religious and spiritual identities are affected by higher educational attainment. In addition, there is limited research on how students may resolve cognitive dissonance if it develops due to discrepancies between their college experiences and their personal spiritual or religious...
Show moreChanges in religious and spiritual trends over the past few decades are contradicting previously held assumptions in academia pertaining to personal religious and spiritual definitions, identities and how these religious and spiritual identities are affected by higher educational attainment. In addition, there is limited research on how students may resolve cognitive dissonance if it develops due to discrepancies between their college experiences and their personal spiritual or religious convictions. The intent of this thesis is to explore the effects of college experience and higher educational attainment on students' religious and spiritual identities; to explore the growing trend to identify as 'spiritual, but not religious;' and to explore whether any changes in their religious and spiritual identity are as a result of adjustments spurred by cognitive dissonance. This study helps fill in gaps in current literature about the effects of higher education on religious and spiritual identity and their resolutions of cognitive dissonance.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFH0004179, ucf:44820
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004179

Title: EXPERIENCES OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA.
Creator: Bainbridge, Samantha, LaManna, Jacqueline, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: People with dementia are hospitalized for a variety of reasons. The combination of dementia with additional health conditions creates a unique challenge to caregivers in acute care settings. There is a dearth of information available to provide guidance to the nursing staff caring for these patients. This integrated review of the literature examined the experiences of hospitalization from the perspective of the older adult with dementia, the family caregiver, and the patient care staff....
Show morePeople with dementia are hospitalized for a variety of reasons. The combination of dementia with additional health conditions creates a unique challenge to caregivers in acute care settings. There is a dearth of information available to provide guidance to the nursing staff caring for these patients. This integrated review of the literature examined the experiences of hospitalization from the perspective of the older adult with dementia, the family caregiver, and the patient care staff. Results showed a limited body of literature that addressed hospital experiences of people with dementia and those of family and professional caregivers. Additionally, few studies addressing this topic have been conducted in the United States. The primary finding from this study is that better communication is needed between nursing staff, patients, and their family caregivers. Nurses should carry out detailed assessments of cognition and pain in all elderly patients, and strive to provide appropriate palliative and end-of-life care. Dementia- specific training for all staff members may help to promote a better understanding of patients with dementia. Lastly, further research into the experiences of hospitalized dementia patients is needed, with a focus on acute care settings within the United States.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFH0004146, ucf:44855
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004146

Title: HOLOCAUST DIARIES: BEARING WITNESS TO EXPERIENCE IN POLAND, THE NETHERLANDS, AND FRANCE.
Creator: Oldham, Jessica, Lyons, Amelia, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Most of the Holocaust's victims were never able to tell their stories, and of the millions of victims, only a few hundred were able to write about their experiences. This makes surviving personal testimonies precious in many ways. They provide a rich resource for understanding both individual experience, as well as the ways in which the socio-historical context (i.e. region, gender, and class) greatly influenced each distinctive experience. This study examines six Holocaust diaries, of Jewish...
Show moreMost of the Holocaust's victims were never able to tell their stories, and of the millions of victims, only a few hundred were able to write about their experiences. This makes surviving personal testimonies precious in many ways. They provide a rich resource for understanding both individual experience, as well as the ways in which the socio-historical context (i.e. region, gender, and class) greatly influenced each distinctive experience. This study examines six Holocaust diaries, of Jewish victims, taken from three different parts of occupied Europe: from Poland, Janusz Korczak's Ghetto Diary and Chaim Kaplan's The Scroll of Agony; from Holland, Etty Hillesum's An Interupted Life:the Diaries, 1941-1943 and Letters from Westerbork and Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl; and lastly, from France, Helene Berr's Journal of Helene Berr and Raymond Raoul Lambert's Diary of a Witness, 1940-1943. Through an examination of these six diaries, this project analyzes how the personal experience of individuals who witnessed the period and chronicled its events helps us understand both the nature of the Holocaust experience and the specific local political, social, and economic contexts. This project argues that an examination of these texts, when studied alongside the histories of their specific local contexts, can reveal both what all victims shared, throughout Europe during the period, as well as what was localized- how the different horrors experienced, by the victims, created different versions of the same hell.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFH0003849, ucf:44693
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0003849

Title: BSN STUDENTS' OPINIONS OF MENTALLY ILL PATIENTS.
Creator: Chugh, Kavika, Dever, Kimberly, Loerzel, Victoria, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Compassionate care, or humanism, should be available to all patients, but the stigma associated with mental illness is a barrier to many people receiving the appropriate care. Views held by Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students can vary from custodial, or the belief in a traditional medical model which involved a highly controlled setting for all mentally ill patients, to humanistic, or viewing the hospital as a therapeutic community for the human needs of a patient. This study...
Show moreCompassionate care, or humanism, should be available to all patients, but the stigma associated with mental illness is a barrier to many people receiving the appropriate care. Views held by Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students can vary from custodial, or the belief in a traditional medical model which involved a highly controlled setting for all mentally ill patients, to humanistic, or viewing the hospital as a therapeutic community for the human needs of a patient. This study examines the views of BSN students before their psychiatric clinical experience through a pretest and post-test survey and analyzes for a shift in opinion following the psychiatric clinical experience. This study's aim is to identify the effect of exposure to mentally ill patients on BSN students' opinions of mental illness. A convenience sample of 56 BSN students from the University of Central Florida College of Nursing was used; recruitment happened through an announcement made during the psychiatric mental health lecture. An online survey was distributed before the psychiatric mental health clinical experience, and a post-test survey was done following the conclusion of this clinical experience. Results showed an overall shift toward humanistic views following exposure to mental illness. These results demonstrate the value of the psychiatric mental health clinical experience in developing humanistic views among BSN students. The results of this study complement past research, which has shown that people who have not had experience with mentally ill persons tend to show more negative, custodial views. However, knowledge and experience can shape one�s view in a more humanistic way, opening up nurses to provide compassionate care.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFH2000287, ucf:45759
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000287

Title: THE ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE.
Creator: Merkley, Melissa J, Renk, Kimberly, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Although previous research identified exposure to significant adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as harmful to individuals in several psychological and physiological health domains, research examining the mechanisms of action driving this relationship has been lacking. As a result, the current study examined the role that psychological symptoms serve in the relationship between ACEs and substance misuse behaviors. The current study included a sample of 183 participants (i.e., 82 men and 101...
Show moreAlthough previous research identified exposure to significant adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as harmful to individuals in several psychological and physiological health domains, research examining the mechanisms of action driving this relationship has been lacking. As a result, the current study examined the role that psychological symptoms serve in the relationship between ACEs and substance misuse behaviors. The current study included a sample of 183 participants (i.e., 82 men and 101 women) who completed five questionnaires assessing exposure to ACEs; psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and substance misuse behaviors. Correlational analyses indicated significant associations among the variables of interest. Exposure to ACEs was a significant predictor of substance misuse behaviors in both men and women. Additionally, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and PTSD symptoms were significant predictors of men's substance misuse behaviors, whereas only PTSD symptoms were a significant predictor of women's substance misuse behaviors. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD each contributed unique and significant variance to the relationship between ACEs and substance misuse behaviors in men, consistent with partial mediations. A different pattern of prediction was evident for women. Such findings suggested that psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD may serve as a risk factor for substance misuse behaviors in men later in life, especially when they have had a history of ACEs. These results demonstrated the importance of promoting trauma-informed mental health care to remediate negative substance outcomes, particularly in those who have had significant ACEs. The importance of studying the relationships among these variables is discussed further.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFH2000557, ucf:45609
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000557

Title: SENSORY EXPERIENCES OF CHILDREN WITH AN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR OVER STIMULATION.
Creator: Ballentine, Felicia, Waldrop, Julee, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neuro-developmental disorders that are characterized by impaired social interaction, communication, and restricted or repetitive behavior. Children with an ASD also display significant sensory experiences due to sensory disintegration. This integrative review of literature examines the sensory experiences of children with an ASD and determines nursing interventions that will enable them to better cope within the hospital setting....
Show moreBackground: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neuro-developmental disorders that are characterized by impaired social interaction, communication, and restricted or repetitive behavior. Children with an ASD also display significant sensory experiences due to sensory disintegration. This integrative review of literature examines the sensory experiences of children with an ASD and determines nursing interventions that will enable them to better cope within the hospital setting. Method: an extensive search of databases and current literature on sensory experiences of children with an ASD and interventions that facilitate coping. Results: Children with an ASD experience a wide range of sensitivity and defensiveness toward stimuli that differs on an individual basis. There is no current research that reflects nursing interventions for children with an ASD, therefore interventions from other heath care occupations were examined and applied to nursing. Conclusion: Further research is needed to better understand sensory defensiveness and research is needed in the area of nursing interventions to enable the best nursing care of children with an ASD.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFH0004063, ucf:44795
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004063

Title: ADULT ATTACHMENT PATTERNS, ETHNIC EXPERIENCE, AND SOCIAL COMPETENCE: COMPARING AFRICAN AMERICAN AND CAUCASIAN COLLEGE STUDENTS.
Creator: Robin, Melissa, Chin, Matthew, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of this thesis was to examine adult attachment patterns and ethnic experience and the relationship on social competence. There are limited studies that have examined the differences among racially and ethnically diverse populations. A total of 60 university undergraduate students completed the Relationship Questionnaire, Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire, Measure of Adolescent Hetersocial Competence, and the Scale of Ethnic Experience. Results showed that some differences...
Show moreThe purpose of this thesis was to examine adult attachment patterns and ethnic experience and the relationship on social competence. There are limited studies that have examined the differences among racially and ethnically diverse populations. A total of 60 university undergraduate students completed the Relationship Questionnaire, Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire, Measure of Adolescent Hetersocial Competence, and the Scale of Ethnic Experience. Results showed that some differences existed between the two groups in terms of attachment patterns. Ethnic identity was related to social competence with both groups. It is suggested that ethnic experience may be useful for studying social competence.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFH0004403, ucf:45135
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004403

Title: SOCIAL EXPERIENCE, DEPRESSION, AND ALCOHOL ABUSE IN COLLEGE AGE FEMALES.
Creator: Cooper, Ann, Mottarella, Karen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Past research has explored social experience in relation to depression among college females. Other studies have investigated the relationship between social experience and alcohol use among college students. However, there is a lack of research on the relationship among all the three variables, social experience, depression, and alcohol use, in female college students. In the present study, 132 traditional age female college students completed a Brief Social Experience Rating Scale, the Beck...
Show morePast research has explored social experience in relation to depression among college females. Other studies have investigated the relationship between social experience and alcohol use among college students. However, there is a lack of research on the relationship among all the three variables, social experience, depression, and alcohol use, in female college students. In the present study, 132 traditional age female college students completed a Brief Social Experience Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). The results did not show a relationship between AUDIT scores and social experience ratings, but individuals who provided dissatisfied ratings of their social experience had higher depression scores falling into the clinical depression range on the BDI.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFH0004279, ucf:44943
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004279

Title: 'I AM A CRITICAL THINKER': EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-CONCEPT AND CRITICAL THINKING ABILITY.
Creator: Antler, Melissa, Whitten, Shannon, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Critical thinking is an academically coveted skill important to all areas of education (Halpern, 1998). The ability to think critically requires an individual to question and possibly reject accepted ideals and authorities. A strong self-concept may play an important role in this process. The present study hypothesized a positive relationship between total self-concept and critical thinking ability. An additional purpose of this study was to explore whether self-concept accounted for more of...
Show moreCritical thinking is an academically coveted skill important to all areas of education (Halpern, 1998). The ability to think critically requires an individual to question and possibly reject accepted ideals and authorities. A strong self-concept may play an important role in this process. The present study hypothesized a positive relationship between total self-concept and critical thinking ability. An additional purpose of this study was to explore whether self-concept accounted for more of the variance in critical thinking than other correlates of the ability, such as metacognition (Halpern, 1998; Magno, 2010) and openness to experience (Clifford, Boufal, & Kurtz, 2004). The hypothesis was supported; total self-concept significantly and positively correlated with the total score of critical thinking. Regression analyses revealed self-concept was a better predictor of critical thinking, accounting for 19.2% more variance in critical thinking than metacognition and openness to experience. Overall, the results suggest that nourishing students' self-concept may support their ability to think critically.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFH0004378, ucf:45027
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004378

Title: Virtual Reality Technology and Customer Delight in Theme Parks: The Role of Experience Quality.
Creator: Jia, Chenge, Okumus, Fevzi, Fu, Xiaoxiao, Milman, Ady, Van Niekerk, Mathilda, Ozturk, Ahmet, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: With the rapid development of Virtual Reality (VR) technology, theme park companies are eager to apply VR technology to their attractions. Operating as highly hedonic consumption businesses, theme parks need to make sure that they offer unique and memorable experiences to customers in order to enhance their competitive advantages. However, empirical data is needed to understand whether and how VR technology will enhance visitors' experiences, including the quality of their experience,...
Show moreWith the rapid development of Virtual Reality (VR) technology, theme park companies are eager to apply VR technology to their attractions. Operating as highly hedonic consumption businesses, theme parks need to make sure that they offer unique and memorable experiences to customers in order to enhance their competitive advantages. However, empirical data is needed to understand whether and how VR technology will enhance visitors' experiences, including the quality of their experience, customer delight, and customer loyalty. Therefore, this study aims to examine how VR influences visitor's theme park experience quality, customer delight, and customer loyalty. Based on an in-depth literature review, a research model and hypotheses were developed. Through a self-administered questionnaire, empirical data was collected from theme park visitors who have experienced VR attractions during the past three months. According to the results of the study, the hedonism factor is the most important antecedent of customer delight, which in turn stimulates customer loyalty. Additionally, customer loyalty toward the VR attraction shows positively and partially mediated effects between customer delight and customer loyalty toward the theme park that contains the VR attraction. The study contributes to the empirical study of VR technology application and the concept of customer delight in the entertainment sector of the tourism industry. This study also suggests that theme park operators should emphasize offering a hedonic experience to customers. Suggestions for future research are also provided.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007404, ucf:52071
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007404

Title: Two Studies Analyzing The Effects of Business Case and Paradoxical Cognitive Framing on Sustainability Decision Making.
Creator: Pencle, Nadra, Roberts, Robin, Libby, Theresa, Baudot, Lisa, Cho, Charles, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: These two companion studies theoretically and empirically examine managers' use of different cognitive frames in decision-making related to corporate sustainability. Study I is a theoretical undertaking aimed at highlighting potential zones of investigation arising from the introduction of paradox theory into managerial accounting. First, I examine extant literature on paradoxes to garner an understanding of its evolution and application in the management and psychology domains. Second, I use...
Show moreThese two companion studies theoretically and empirically examine managers' use of different cognitive frames in decision-making related to corporate sustainability. Study I is a theoretical undertaking aimed at highlighting potential zones of investigation arising from the introduction of paradox theory into managerial accounting. First, I examine extant literature on paradoxes to garner an understanding of its evolution and application in the management and psychology domains. Second, I use current constructs and typologies to identify multiple sustainability and managerial accounting tensions as paradoxical. Third, I make recommendations on how to apply paradox theory more effectively to the corporate sustainability tensions I identified. I conclude the first paper with research questions pertaining to managerial accounting in corporate sustainability. Study II is a behavioral experiment. In this study I examine the effects of business case and paradoxical case cognition on managers and seek to uncover which organizational performance measures better support each cognition. Scholars suggest that the tensions in corporate sustainability arise from the complicated and interdependent relationship among its dimensions. and oftentimes progress towards any single dimension, might have unintended consequences on the other dimensions Hence, the empirical question becomes, amid such tensions, how do managers make decisions that are not solely driven by the financial dimension of corporate sustainability? Applying paradox theory, with its emphasis on acknowledging and working through tensions, holds the potential to elucidate how managers can further explore the tensions inherent in management accounting and sustainability. Study II results show that managers operating in a paradoxical case cognition with broad performance measures made more sustainable decisions relative to their counterparts operating in a business case cognition with narrow performance measures. Together these companion studies generally support the use of paradox theory in studying sustainability decision-making and its use in moving beyond short-term economically focused organizational processes.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007703, ucf:52440
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007703

Title: Protective Behavioral Strategies and Alcohol-Related Sex Among College Students.
Creator: Peterson, Roselyn, Dvorak, Robert, Newins, Amie, Dunn, Michael, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Adverse sexual outcomes (e.g., sexual regret, sexual risk, and sexual assault) are a common experience among college students. In particular, regretted sex is reported by a third of college students and may result in psychological harm. Previous literature has found that alcohol is involved in approximately one third of regretted sex experienced by college students. A gap exists in the literature identifying who is more susceptible to experiencing a regretted sexual experience. Previous...
Show moreAdverse sexual outcomes (e.g., sexual regret, sexual risk, and sexual assault) are a common experience among college students. In particular, regretted sex is reported by a third of college students and may result in psychological harm. Previous literature has found that alcohol is involved in approximately one third of regretted sex experienced by college students. A gap exists in the literature identifying who is more susceptible to experiencing a regretted sexual experience. Previous research has shown that students who implement protective behavioral strategies (PBS) while drinking are able to reduce alcohol-related negative consequences, including regretted sexual experiences. Three sub-types of PBS exist: Stopping/Limiting Drinking (SLD), Manner of Drinking (MD), and Serious Harm Reduction (SHR). The current study examines associations between regretted sexual experiences, alcohol use, and PBS. Participants were a sample of college students (n = 349) who completed a series of online surveys that assessed drinking habits, alcohol-related negative consequences (e.g., regretted sex), and PBS use. A multi-group path analysis (grouped by gender) found that alcohol use was positively associated with regretted sexual experiences. One of the three PBS sub-types, MD, was negatively associated with regretted sexual experiences. This association was mediated by alcohol use. A different PBS subtype, SHR, yielded a direct negative relationship with regretted sexual experiences for women, but not for men. Lastly, the interaction of SHR and alcohol use was significantly associated with regretted sexual experiences and varied by biological sex. Among women, low SHR potentiated the positive association between alcohol and regretted sex; in contrast, high SHR attenuated this association. In order to inform future interventions and subsequently decrease the number of alcohol-related negative consequences, further examination of differences in relationships between PBS subtypes, alcohol use, and regretted sex for men and women is warranted.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007706, ucf:52448
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007706

Title: MEASURING AND IMPROVING INTERNET VIDEO QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE.
Creator: Iyengar, Mukundan, Chatterjee, Mainak, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Streaming multimedia content over the IP-network is poised to be the dominant Internet traffic for the coming decade, predicted to account for more than 91% of all consumer traffic in the coming years. Streaming multimedia content ranges from Internet television (IPTV), video on demand (VoD), peer-to-peer streaming, and 3D television over IP to name a few. Widespread acceptance, growth, and subscriber retention are contingent upon network providers assuring superior Quality of Experience (QoE...
Show moreStreaming multimedia content over the IP-network is poised to be the dominant Internet traffic for the coming decade, predicted to account for more than 91% of all consumer traffic in the coming years. Streaming multimedia content ranges from Internet television (IPTV), video on demand (VoD), peer-to-peer streaming, and 3D television over IP to name a few. Widespread acceptance, growth, and subscriber retention are contingent upon network providers assuring superior Quality of Experience (QoE) on top of todays Internet. This work presents the first empirical understanding of Internet's video-QoE capabilities, and tools and protocols to efficiently infer and improve them. To infer video-QoE at arbitrary nodes in the Internet, we design and implement MintMOS: a lightweight, real-time, no-reference framework for capturing perceptual quality. We demonstrate that MintMOS's projections closely match with subjective surveys in accessing perceptual quality. We use MintMOS to characterize Internet video-QoE both at the link level and end-to-end path level. As an input to our study, we use extensive measurements from a large number of Internet paths obtained from various measurement overlays deployed using PlanetLab. Link level degradations of intra-- and inter--ISP Internet links are studied to create an empirical understanding of their shortcomings and ways to overcome them. Our studies show that intra--ISP links are often poorly engineered compared to peering links, and that degradations are induced due to transient network load imbalance within an ISP. Initial results also indicate that overlay networks could be a promising way to avoid such ISPs in times of degradations. A large number of end-to-end Internet paths are probed and we measure delay, jitter, and loss rates. The measurement data is analyzed offline to identify ways to enable a source to select alternate paths in an overlay network to improve video-QoE, without the need for background monitoring or apriori knowledge of path characteristics. We establish that for any unstructured overlay of N nodes, it is sufficient to reroute key frames using a random subset of k nodes in the overlay, where k is bounded by O(lnN). We analyze various properties of such random subsets to derive simple, scalable, and an efficient path selection strategy that results in a k-fold increase in path options for any source-destination pair; options that consistently outperform Internet path selection. Finally, we design a prototype called source initiated frame restoration (SIFR) that employs random subsets to derive alternate paths and demonstrate its effectiveness in improving Internet video-QoE.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0004012, ucf:49168
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004012

Title: EVALUATING THE BENEFITS OF 3D STEREO IN MODERN VIDEO GAMES.
Creator: Litwiller, Tad, LaViola, Joseph, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: We present a study that investigates user performance benefits of 3D stereo in modern video games. Based on an analysis of several video games that are best suited for use with commercial 3D stereo drivers and vision systems, we chose five modern titles focusing on racing, first person shooter, third person shooter, and sports game genres. For each game, quantitative and qualitative measures were taken to determine if users performed better and learned faster in the experimental group (3D...
Show moreWe present a study that investigates user performance benefits of 3D stereo in modern video games. Based on an analysis of several video games that are best suited for use with commercial 3D stereo drivers and vision systems, we chose five modern titles focusing on racing, first person shooter, third person shooter, and sports game genres. For each game, quantitative and qualitative measures were taken to determine if users performed better and learned faster in the experimental group (3D stereo display) than in the control group (2D display). A game experience pre-questionnaire was used to classify participants into beginner, intermediate, and advanced gameplay categories to ensure prior game experience did not bias the experiment. Our results indicate that even though participants preferred playing in 3D stereo, for the games we tested, it does not provide any significant advantage in overall user performance. In addition, users‟ learning rates were comparable in the 3D stereo display and 2D display cases.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003493, ucf:48983
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003493

experience (6)	+ -
experiment (4)	+ -
experiments (4)	+ -
Flow (3)	+ -
Perception (3)	+ -

education (3)	+ -
memory (3)	+ -
nursing (3)	+ -
College (2)	+ -
ESOL (2)	+ -
Experience (2)	+ -
Preservice Teachers (2)	+ -
Quality of Experience (2)	+ -
User Experience (2)	+ -
cognition (2)	+ -
design of experiments (2)	+ -
experiences (2)	+ -
human-computer interaction (2)	+ -
identification (2)	+ -
immersion (2)	+ -
lived experiences (2)	+ -
mentor (2)	+ -
phenomenology (2)	+ -
religion (2)	+ -
religiosity (2)	+ -
spirituality (2)	+ -
usability (2)	+ -
user experience (2)	+ -
3D User Interface (1)	+ -
3D stereo (1)	+ -

ETD Collection (60)	+ -
Honors Collection (18)	+ -

University of Central Florida (78)	+ -
Boote, David (4)	+ -
Cintron Delgado, Rosa (3)	+ -
Cox, Thomas (3)	+ -
Karwowski, Waldemar (3)	+ -

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