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Title: POSITIVE INDIVIDUALISM.
Creator: Perdomo, Rebecca, Jones, Donald, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: I will present and defend the notion of what I call Positive Individualism. Its purpose is to set forth a standard by which people are to treat others and themselves. I consider a common conception of individualism, its flaws, and a process of refining it. I formulate Positive Individualism, an idea in which every individual is valuable and therefore ought to be treated with respect and dignity by others. If this conception and the standards set forth were to be applied, communities would be...
Show moreI will present and defend the notion of what I call Positive Individualism. Its purpose is to set forth a standard by which people are to treat others and themselves. I consider a common conception of individualism, its flaws, and a process of refining it. I formulate Positive Individualism, an idea in which every individual is valuable and therefore ought to be treated with respect and dignity by others. If this conception and the standards set forth were to be applied, communities would be able to function successfully and without compromising the individual since, as I argue, the individual is the root of decision and action.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004642, ucf:45324
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004642

Title: INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES OF DIRECTED FORGETTING.
Creator: Alavez, Griselda, Sims, Valerie, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The present study set out to evaluate the relationship between list-method directed forgetting and one's individual differences. Previous research has found personality and emotion as having an influence in how well participants were able to intentionally forget stimuli. Participants were split into a remember group and a forget group of 22 each and tasked to memorize a list of 10 words. They were then given a free recall test and the results for individual differences such as Need for...
Show moreThe present study set out to evaluate the relationship between list-method directed forgetting and one's individual differences. Previous research has found personality and emotion as having an influence in how well participants were able to intentionally forget stimuli. Participants were split into a remember group and a forget group of 22 each and tasked to memorize a list of 10 words. They were then given a free recall test and the results for individual differences such as Need for Cognition, Mini-IPIP personality test, and Beck's Depression Inventory were analyzed. Our first hypothesis presumes that participants in the forget group will have impaired recall of words. The second hypothesis predicts that individual differences have an effect with how many words participants recall. Results in this study indicated that while individual measures proved not significant between both groups, overall recall for the first list was lower than recall for the second list. There were also indications of an interaction between amount recalled from lists and whether they were in the remember group or in the forget group. Analyses showed that remember group had a recall mean similar in lists 1 and list 2, while the forget group had a higher recall mean in list 2 and a lower recall mean in the list 1, indicating that directed forgetting had taken place in the forget group.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFH2000148, ucf:45959
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000148

Title: THE ROLE OF CULTURAL VALUES IN ORGANIZATIONAL ATTRACTION.
Creator: Muniz, Elizabeth, Dipboye, Robert, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The United States' (U.S.) workforce is more diverse than in previous decades in terms of race, gender, and native language (Fay, 2001). Such demographic shifts have changed how organizations attract applicants and how they motivate, reward, and retain employees (McAdams, 2001). Furthermore, organizations benefit from diversity by: (a) attracting the best talent available in the workforce (Cox, 1993), (b) increasing their product marketability to customers (Deshpande, Hoyer, & Donthu, 1986...
Show moreThe United States' (U.S.) workforce is more diverse than in previous decades in terms of race, gender, and native language (Fay, 2001). Such demographic shifts have changed how organizations attract applicants and how they motivate, reward, and retain employees (McAdams, 2001). Furthermore, organizations benefit from diversity by: (a) attracting the best talent available in the workforce (Cox, 1993), (b) increasing their product marketability to customers (Deshpande, Hoyer, & Donthu, 1986; Redding, 1982), and (c) fostering creativity, innovation, problem solving, and decision making in employees (Thomas, 1999; Thomas, Ravlin, & Wallace, 1996; Watson, Kumar, & Michaelsen, 1993). Given such benefits, organizations should attend to initiatives that facilitate the attraction of applicants from diverse backgrounds. Research has demonstrated that applicants use information about human resource systems, such as rewards, to form judgments about the perceived fit between them and the organization (Bretz & Judge, 1994; Schneider, 1987). For instance, organizations with policies accommodating work and family issues attract applicants preferring such benefits. Because reward systems influence applicants' opinions about the relative attractiveness of organizations (Lawler, 2000), it is important to determine the factors that influence such preferences. Motivation theories, such as the Theory of Reasoned Action, suggest that preferences toward reward systems are guided by individuals' values (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975; Vroom, 1964). Such values, in turn, cause differences in reward preferences and organizational attraction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation of individuals' cultural values to the attraction of organizations offering different kinds of reward systems. More specifically, it sought to test three hypotheses. Hypothesis 1 predicted that there would be a two-way interaction between collectivism and the type of organization on organizational attraction. Hypothesis 2 predicted that there would be a two-way interaction between individualism and the type of organization on organizational attraction. Hypothesis 3 predicted that there would be a positive relation between collectivism and subjective norms used in organizational attraction. To test the three hypotheses, data from 228 participants were analyzed to evaluate their level of attractiveness to two different types of organizations (i.e., career-oriented vs. family-oriented). Findings for the test of Hypothesis 1 indicated that there was a joint effect between collectivism and the type of organization on organizational attraction. The slopes of the regression lines for each type of organization (i.e., family-oriented and career-oriented) differed as a function of collectivism. The slope of the regression line for the family-oriented organization was steeper than the slope of the regression line for the career-oriented organization. Results for the test of Hypothesis 2 indicated a joint effect between individualism and the type of organization on organizational attraction. The slopes of the regression lines for each type of organization (i.e., family-oriented and career-oriented) differed as a function of individualism. The slope of the regression line for the career-oriented organization was steeper than the slope of the regression line for the family-oriented organization. Findings for the test of Hypothesis 3 showed that collectivism was related to subjective norms. Results indicated that the more collective the individual, the higher the subjective norms. In addition, supplementary analysis showed that individualism was not related to subjective norms. Taken together, results from the tests of the three hypotheses support components of the Theory of Reasoned Action, and the premise that values are a factor related to an individual's attraction to a particular organization. The current study showed that the cross-cultural values of individualism and collectivism help predict organizational attraction. Based on these results, practical implications, contributions to theory, study limitations, and future research are discussed for designing organizational attraction strategies for a culturally diverse workforce.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001859, ucf:47395
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001859

Title: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTING STYLES, ACCULTURATION, INDIVIDUATION, AND MENTAL HEALTH IN ARAB AMERICANS ADULTS.
Creator: Atia, Mira, Jensen, Bernard, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Parents are among the important socialization agents that influence the persons we become. Previous research (Baumrind, 1967; 1972; 1991; 1987) has identified three primary parenting styles: permissive, authoritative, and authoritarian, and a large amount of research has investigated the long term implications of these styles. The current study aimed to investigate the universality of these parenting styles, in particular, among Arab American Adults (N =22). The study examined the...
Show moreParents are among the important socialization agents that influence the persons we become. Previous research (Baumrind, 1967; 1972; 1991; 1987) has identified three primary parenting styles: permissive, authoritative, and authoritarian, and a large amount of research has investigated the long term implications of these styles. The current study aimed to investigate the universality of these parenting styles, in particular, among Arab American Adults (N =22). The study examined the relationships between overall mental health, parenting styles, individuation, and acculturation in this population. Unfortunately, a small sample size limited the analyses performed, and the findings did not show any significant correlations between parenting styles, individuation, or acculturation and overall mental health. Implications of findings are discussed as well as suggestions for implementing more culturally sensitive methods and measures.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004662, ucf:45272
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004662

Title: DEINDIVIDUATION OF DRIVERS: IS EVERYONE ELSE A BAD DRIVER?.
Creator: MacArthur, Keith, Hancock, Peter, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Deindividuation is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a given environment reduces the "individuality" or identifiability of a person. These environments may cause a psychological reduction in self-consciousness, potentially leading to violations of sociocultural norms (Festinger, Pepitone, & Newcomb, 1952; Singer, Brush, & Lublin, 1965). The present research sought to empirically test deindividuation theory among automobile drivers utilizing the anonymizing factor of observation....
Show moreDeindividuation is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a given environment reduces the "individuality" or identifiability of a person. These environments may cause a psychological reduction in self-consciousness, potentially leading to violations of sociocultural norms (Festinger, Pepitone, & Newcomb, 1952; Singer, Brush, & Lublin, 1965). The present research sought to empirically test deindividuation theory among automobile drivers utilizing the anonymizing factor of observation. Participants (N = 31) used a driving simulator and were either in the observed condition or an unobserved condition. Analysis of driving data did not reveal significant results, however self-report data had some interesting trends. Though limited in scope, this research begins to shed light on deindividuation of drivers and may provide a foundation for future research.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004644, ucf:45325
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004644

Title: DETERMINING THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE KUELAP OSSUARY IN CHACHAPOYAS, PERU.
Creator: Tran, Vu, Toyne, J. Marla, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The pre-Hispanic archaeological site of Kuelap in Chachapoyas, Peru, is representative of the variation in mortuary practices observed throughout the Chachapoya region. The goal of this study was to analyze the human skeletal remains excavated in the center of the Circular Platform between residential structures at Kuelap by creating an inventory of the remains (n=2,573) and determine the minimum number of individuals originally interred in the mortuary context. This study observed a total of...
Show moreThe pre-Hispanic archaeological site of Kuelap in Chachapoyas, Peru, is representative of the variation in mortuary practices observed throughout the Chachapoya region. The goal of this study was to analyze the human skeletal remains excavated in the center of the Circular Platform between residential structures at Kuelap by creating an inventory of the remains (n=2,573) and determine the minimum number of individuals originally interred in the mortuary context. This study observed a total of 171 femora, 159 humeri, 74 calcanei, 110 ilium bones, 86 temporal bones, and 74 maxillae. Results show that this mortuary context was an ossuary of secondarily, commingled remains of at least 75 individuals and it is a previously undescribed type of tomb at Kuelap. There were significant statistical differences between the expected adult MNI (n=47) and the actual MNI counts of the ilium and cranial bones. Based on its location and the large number of individuals, I argue that this secondary ossuary had special ritual meaning to the people at Kuelap. This research is anthropologically significant because Kuelap is a major archaeological site and the variability of mortuary practices demonstrates the complex ways that people in the past treated the dead.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004669, ucf:45275
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004669

Title: WORKING HARD AND BARELY MAKING IT: IDEOLOGICAL CONTRADICTIONS AND THE WORKING POOR.
Creator: Kane, Wendi, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The existence of large, relatively comfortable, middle and working classes is what has set the advanced capitalist societies apart from most societies throughout history. These classes, while not quite "privileged," offer the hope of opportunity and upward social mobility for those who work hard. Yet in the last 30 years a growing class of "working poor" has emerged who invest many hours working but at wages that keep upward social mobility beyond their grasp. The existence of the working...
Show moreThe existence of large, relatively comfortable, middle and working classes is what has set the advanced capitalist societies apart from most societies throughout history. These classes, while not quite "privileged," offer the hope of opportunity and upward social mobility for those who work hard. Yet in the last 30 years a growing class of "working poor" has emerged who invest many hours working but at wages that keep upward social mobility beyond their grasp. The existence of the working poor, it seems, dispels a key element in the ideology of individualism; they work hard yet do not "get ahead." This study addresses the contradiction presented by the working poor; specifically, do the working poor support the ideology of individualism? Prior research finds that the disadvantaged justify the system that inhibits them from having a better quality of life (Jost, et al. 2003). This study, however, suggests that the working poor are more conscious of the ideology's failure to explain their lack of mobility in a system that promises opportunity to those who work hard. Research data were generated through the use of telephone surveys in five counties in Central Florida with approximately 1571 respondents. Several measures of "working poor" were created; moreover, respondents within these categories tended to disagree with the "work hard, get ahead" ideology. Respondents who viewed their financial situation as getting worse, unable to grasp the "upward mobility" promise of the American Dream, also significantly disagreed with the ideology.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002518, ucf:47665
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002518

Title: INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCES IN THE USE OF AUTOMATION.
Creator: Thropp, Jennifer, Hancock, Peter, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: As system automation increases and evolves, the intervention of the supervising operator becomes ever less frequent but ever more crucial. The adaptive automation approach is one in which control of tasks dynamically shifts between humans and machines, being an alternative to traditional static allocation in which task control is assigned during system design and subsequently remains unchanged during operations. It is proposed that adaptive allocation should adjust to the individual operators...
Show moreAs system automation increases and evolves, the intervention of the supervising operator becomes ever less frequent but ever more crucial. The adaptive automation approach is one in which control of tasks dynamically shifts between humans and machines, being an alternative to traditional static allocation in which task control is assigned during system design and subsequently remains unchanged during operations. It is proposed that adaptive allocation should adjust to the individual operators' characteristics in order to improve performance, avoid errors, and enhance safety. The roles of three individual difference variables relevant to adaptive automation are described: attentional control, desirability of control, and trait anxiety. It was hypothesized that these traits contribute to the level of performance for target detection tasks for different levels of difficulty as well as preferences for different levels of automation. The operators' level of attentional control was inversely proportional to automation level preferences, although few objective performance changes were observed. The effects of sensory modality were also assessed, and auditory signal detection was superior to visual signal detection. As a result, the following implications have been proposed: operators generally preferred either low or high automation while neglecting the intermediary level; preferences and needs for automation may not be congruent; and there may be a conservative response bias associated with high attentional control, notably in the auditory modality.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0001096, ucf:46771
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001096

Title: THE GREAT DIVIDE: CITIZENSHIP AND STATELESSNESS.
Creator: Belton, Kristy, Jungblut, Bernadette, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This thesis investigates the implications of State control of citizenship upon the individual's ability to choose membership in a given State polity. It briefly examines how States gained absolute control over the granting, denying and revoking of citizenship and demonstrates how the acquisition of citizenship and statelessness are both State-determined statuses. The repercussions of statelessness at the individual, regional and global levels are presented to demonstrate the severity of being...
Show moreThis thesis investigates the implications of State control of citizenship upon the individual's ability to choose membership in a given State polity. It briefly examines how States gained absolute control over the granting, denying and revoking of citizenship and demonstrates how the acquisition of citizenship and statelessness are both State-determined statuses. The repercussions of statelessness at the individual, regional and global levels are presented to demonstrate the severity of being unable to choose a citizenship. Efforts made by States and the international community to prevent and reduce statelessness are examined in order to illustrate the lack of prioritization given to the subject of statelessness, and possible courses of action for States and the United Nations to undertake in order to better address this topic are introduced. The thesis concludes that citizenship is a human right and that States need to consider individual choice concerning citizenship matters. If such choice is not taken into account with regard to State membership, States will be performing a disservice to citizens, the stateless, and the system of States.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000851, ucf:46671
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000851

Title: LEVIATHAN: ONTOGENY OF SALVATION.
Creator: LeJeune, Faren L., Burrell, Jason, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Wrought from clay and hardened by fire, the narrative sculptures which comprise this body of work are dualistic symbols of life's brutality and nobility. The philosophical import of the opus is manifested through the convergence of material, process, and form - to instantiate truth and initiate analysis. In my interdisciplinary research, I have come to understand leviathan as an exceptional, universalizing symbol of life's duality and the locus of Man's potential for honorable distinction. I...
Show moreWrought from clay and hardened by fire, the narrative sculptures which comprise this body of work are dualistic symbols of life's brutality and nobility. The philosophical import of the opus is manifested through the convergence of material, process, and form - to instantiate truth and initiate analysis. In my interdisciplinary research, I have come to understand leviathan as an exceptional, universalizing symbol of life's duality and the locus of Man's potential for honorable distinction. I invoke the name in order to instigate reflection upon the concept of the world serpent as a symbolic representation of existential nuance.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFH2000350, ucf:45754
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000350

Title: A COMPARISON STUDY OF FLORIDA MIDDLE SCHOOLS WITH ADVANCEMENT VIA INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION (AVID)AND NON-AVID MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
Creator: Lifvendahl, Scott Lifvendahl, Doherty, Walter, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: With the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, schools and school districts have come under increased pressure to demonstrate student proficiency and success at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Each state is required to use standardized test data as evidence of student proficiency. The data is collected by each state and reported to the federal government to demonstrate progress. In Florida, the exam used to record proficiency is the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test ...
Show moreWith the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, schools and school districts have come under increased pressure to demonstrate student proficiency and success at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Each state is required to use standardized test data as evidence of student proficiency. The data is collected by each state and reported to the federal government to demonstrate progress. In Florida, the exam used to record proficiency is the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). At all three levels, the FCAT is administered annually and the results are used to create school grades ranging from A-F. Florida high schools fall in the lowest 10% in the nation for graduation rates, graduating less than 60% of high school students. The pressure created by these high stakes tests have led to a growth in Florida secondary schools implementing the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program. AVID seeks to offer a rigorous curriculum with additional support to underserved students. However, some literature demonstrates that schools with AVID improve the success of not only AVID students, but the overall population as well. This is commonly referred to as the "AVIDization" of a school. This study used an independent t-test to compare middle schools in eleven Florida county school districts with AVID to non-AVID schools in the 2007-2008 school year in six main areas; a) FCAT Math scores, b) FCAT Reading scores, C) overall FCAT scores, d) frequency of disciplinary incidences, e) attendance rates, and f) overall FCAT scores with controlled data. In this study, 85 middle schools had AVID and 179 middle schools were non-AVID. In comparing AVID to non-AVID students in the six areas, the t-test demonstrated that schools with the AVID program did not outperform non-AVID schools in the three FCAT tested areas. Also, the data shows that AVID schools were more likely to have higher reported rates of disciplinary incidences then non-AVID schools.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002905, ucf:48010
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002905

Title: The Impact of Automation and Stress on Human Performance in UAV Operation.
Creator: Lin, Jinchao, Matthews, Gerald, Reinerman, Lauren, Szalma, James, Funke, Gregory, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The United States Air Force (USAF) has increasing needs for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators. Automation may enable a single operator to manage multiple UAVs at the same time. Multi-UAV operation may require a unique set of skills and the need for new operators calls for targeting new populations for recruitment. The objective of this research is to develop a simulation environment for studying the role of individual differences in UAV operation under different task configurations and...
Show moreThe United States Air Force (USAF) has increasing needs for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators. Automation may enable a single operator to manage multiple UAVs at the same time. Multi-UAV operation may require a unique set of skills and the need for new operators calls for targeting new populations for recruitment. The objective of this research is to develop a simulation environment for studying the role of individual differences in UAV operation under different task configurations and investigate predictors of performance and stress. Primarily, the study examined the impact of levels of automation (LOAs), as well as task demands, on task performance, stress and operator reliance on automation. Two intermediate LOAs were employed for two surveillance tasks included in the simulation of UAV operation. Task demand was manipulated via the high and low frequency of events associated with additional tasks included in the simulation. The task demand and LOA manipulations influenced task performance generally as expected. The task demand manipulations elicited higher subjective distress and workload. LOAs did not affect operator workload but affected reliance behavior. Also, this study examined the role of individual differences in simulated UAV operation. A variety of individual difference factors were associated with task performance and with subjective stress response. Video gaming experience was linked to lower distress and better performance, suggesting possible transfer of skills. Some gender differences were revealed in stress response, task performance, but all the gender effects became insignificant with gaming experience controlled. Generally, the effects of personality were consistent with previous studies, except some novel findings with the performance metrics. Additionally, task demand was found to moderate the influence of personality factors on stress response and performance metrics. Specifically, conscientiousness was associated with higher subjective engagement and performance when demands were higher. This study supports future research which aims to improve the dynamic interfaces in UAV operation, optimize operator reliance on automation, and identify individuals with the highest aptitude for multi-UAV control.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006951, ucf:51630
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006951

Title: Modeling Risk for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women in a Court-Ordered Substance Treatment Program.
Creator: Deavers, Frances, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Bowers, Clint, Eldridge, Gloria, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Developing a comprehensive model of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) risk factors and their inter-relationships is vital to improving methods of risk identification and treatment delivery. The CDC posed three general categories that may serve as a framework for such a model: sexual network, individual behavior, and social/ structural risk. None of the extant risk models incorporate measures from all three categories. Additionally, none of these models, generally focused on individual...
Show moreDeveloping a comprehensive model of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) risk factors and their inter-relationships is vital to improving methods of risk identification and treatment delivery. The CDC posed three general categories that may serve as a framework for such a model: sexual network, individual behavior, and social/ structural risk. None of the extant risk models incorporate measures from all three categories. Additionally, none of these models, generally focused on individual behavior, use medical data on infection as their outcome variable. This is problematic because the ultimate outcome of infection is also influenced by sexual network and social/ structural variables, in addition to individual behaviors. Therefore the current study aimed to develop a comprehensive model of risk incorporating sexual network, individual behavior, and social/ structural risk variables, using medical data on infection status as the outcome variable. The sample consisted of 506 women in a court-ordered substance treatment program. An Exploratory Factor Analysis provided preliminary evidence for a three factor model corresponding to the CDC framework. However, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis failed to confirm this model. Additionally, a logistic regression suggested that this model has limited clinical utility for this sample. Future studies may more conclusively determine the importance of various STI risk variables, the relationships between them, and whether they mirror the CDC theoretical framework. With rates of infection still high in the United States, and even increasing among women for certain STIs, this is a critical public health issue that should continue to be examined.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005323, ucf:50502
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005323

Title: Training for Decision Making in Complex Environments: Instructional Methods and Individual Differences.
Creator: Ray, Jessica, Mouloua, Mustapha, Sims, Valerie, Hancock, Peter, Spain, Randall, Durlach, Paula, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Increased technology reliance along with today's global fast paced society has produced increasingly complex, dynamic operating environments in disciplines as diverse as the military, healthcare, and transportation. These complex human machine systems often place additional cognitive and metacognitive demands on the operator. Thus, there is a crucial need to develop training tools for all levels of operators in these dynamic systems. The current study was designed to empirically test the...
Show moreIncreased technology reliance along with today's global fast paced society has produced increasingly complex, dynamic operating environments in disciplines as diverse as the military, healthcare, and transportation. These complex human machine systems often place additional cognitive and metacognitive demands on the operator. Thus, there is a crucial need to develop training tools for all levels of operators in these dynamic systems. The current study was designed to empirically test the effects of four training methods on performance and mental model accuracy in a microworld simulation game. It was hypothesized that process-focused guidance targeting metacognitive level processes as well as combined process and problem focused guidance would result in better performance and mental model accuracy than problem- focused guidance alone or unguided training approaches. Additionally, it was expected that individual differences in prior decision making ability, metacognitive awareness, working memory span, and fluid intelligence would moderate the relationship between the type of instructional guidance and outcomes. Results supported the development of decision-making skills through process-focused instructional guidance, particularly for initially low performing or more novice individuals. Results highlight the importance of individual learner experience prior to training. Similarly, this research aims to expand the literature by providing support for process-focused training as a method to support non-expert decision making skills. While further research needs are outlined, the current research represents an important step forward in both the theoretical literature providing support for instruction designed to support domain general decision making skills in non-experts. Practical implications regarding improved guidance for future instructional and training systems design, personnel selection, operator and system performance evaluation, and safety are also discussed.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004738, ucf:49836
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004738

Title: GRAPH-THEORETIC APPROACH TO MODELING PROPAGATION AND CONTROL OF NETWORK WORMS.
Creator: Nikoloski, Zoran, Deo, Narsingh, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In today's network-dependent society, cyber attacks with network worms have become the predominant threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of network computing resources. Despite ongoing research efforts, there is still no comprehensive network-security solution aimed at controling large-scale worm propagation. The aim of this work is fivefold: (1) Developing an accurate combinatorial model of worm propagation that can facilitate the analysis of worm control strategies, (2)...
Show moreIn today's network-dependent society, cyber attacks with network worms have become the predominant threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of network computing resources. Despite ongoing research efforts, there is still no comprehensive network-security solution aimed at controling large-scale worm propagation. The aim of this work is fivefold: (1) Developing an accurate combinatorial model of worm propagation that can facilitate the analysis of worm control strategies, (2) Building an accurate epidemiological model for the propagation of a worm employing local strategies, (3) Devising distributed architecture and algorithms for detection of worm scanning activities, (4) Designing effective control strategies against the worm, and (5) Simulation of the developed models and strategies on large, scale-free graphs representing real-world communication networks. The proposed pair-approximation model uses the information about the network structure--order, size, degree distribution, and transitivity. The empirical study of propagation on large scale-free graphs is in agreement with the theoretical analysis of the proposed pair-approximation model. We, then, describe a natural generalization of the classical cops-and-robbers game--a combinatorial model of worm propagation and control. With the help of this game on graphs, we show that the problem of containing the worm is NP-hard. Six novel near-optimal control strategies are devised: combination of static and dynamic immunization, reactive dynamic and invariant dynamic immunization, soft quarantining, predictive traffic-blocking, and contact-tracing. The analysis of the predictive dynamic traffic-blocking, employing only local information, shows that the worm can be contained so that 40\% of the network nodes are not affected. Finally, we develop the Detection via Distributed Blackholes architecture and algorithm which reflect the propagation strategy used by the worm and the salient properties of the network. Our distributed detection algorithm can detect the worm scanning activity when only 1.5% of the network has been affected by the propagation. The proposed models and algorithms are analyzed with an individual-based simulation of worm propagation on realistic scale-free topologies.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000640, ucf:46521
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000640

Title: TRAIT AROUSABILITYAND ITS IMPACT ON ADAPTIVE MULTIMEDIA TRAINING.
Creator: Schatz, Sae, Bowers, Clint, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Today's best intelligent, adaptive, multimedia trainers have shown excellent performance; however, their results still fall far-short of what good human tutors can achieve. The overarching thesis of this paper is that future intelligent, adaptive systems will be improved by taking into account relevant, consistent, and meaningful individual differences. Specifically, responding to individual differences among trainees will (a) form more accurate individual baselines within a training...
Show moreToday's best intelligent, adaptive, multimedia trainers have shown excellent performance; however, their results still fall far-short of what good human tutors can achieve. The overarching thesis of this paper is that future intelligent, adaptive systems will be improved by taking into account relevant, consistent, and meaningful individual differences. Specifically, responding to individual differences among trainees will (a) form more accurate individual baselines within a training system, and (b) better inform system responses (so that they interpret and respond to observable data more appropriately). One variable to consider is trait arousability, which describes individual differences in sensitivity to stimuli. Individuals' arousability interacts with the arousal inherent to a task/environment to create a person's arousal state. An individual's arousal state affects his/her attentional capacity, working memory function, and depth of processing. In this paper, two studies are presented. The purpose of the first study was to evaluate existing subjective measures of trait arousability and then develop a new measure by factor analyzing existing apparatus. From this well-populated (N = 622) study, a new reliable (α = .91) 35-item scale was developed. This scale includes two factors, negative emotionality and orienting sensitivity, which have been previously theorized but not yet so reliably measured. The purposes of the second study were to (a) validate the measure developed in the first investigation and (b) demonstrate the applied value of the arousability construct in the context of training. Results from the second study (N=45) demonstrated significant main effects, but the interaction effects were inconclusive. They neither clearly confirm nor invalidate the hypotheses, but they do raise further questions.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002351, ucf:47815
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002351

Title: Working Memory Capacity and Executive Attention as Predictors of Distracted Driving.
Creator: Louie, Jennifer, Mouloua, Mustapha, Szalma, James, Smither, Janan, Matthews, Gerald, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The present study empirically examined the effects of working memory capacity (WMC) and executive attention on distracted driving. Study 1 examined whether a Grocery List Task (GLT) distractor would load onto WMC. Forty-three participants completed a series of WMC tasks followed by the GLT. They then completed two driving trials: driving without the GLT and driving while completing the GLT. It was hypothesized that WMC would positively correlate with GLT performance. A bivariate correlation...
Show moreThe present study empirically examined the effects of working memory capacity (WMC) and executive attention on distracted driving. Study 1 examined whether a Grocery List Task (GLT) distractor would load onto WMC. Forty-three participants completed a series of WMC tasks followed by the GLT. They then completed two driving trials: driving without the GLT and driving while completing the GLT. It was hypothesized that WMC would positively correlate with GLT performance. A bivariate correlation indicated that WMC was positively associated with performance on the GLT. Study 2 tested a series of distractor tasks (GLT, Tone Monitoring, and Stop Signal) to examine whether these three distractor tasks were also related to WMC, and if each of the distractor tasks would result in poor driving performance. Eighty-four participants were randomly assigned to the distractor conditions. Results indicated that GLT was related to WMC, but Tone Monitoring was not related to WMC. Also, engaging in each of the three distractor tasks led to significantly poorer driving performance. Study 3 evaluated whether rainy or clear weather conditions would affect the relationship between WMC and distracted driving using the same three distractor tasks (GLT, Tone Monitoring, and Stop Signal) as used in Study 2. Ninety-six participants were randomly assigned to the distractor conditions. Results showed that engaging in GLT while driving led to slower braking response times compared to not engaging in GLT driving while driving. Furthermore, WMC moderated the degree to which distraction impaired performance. The present findings clearly indicate that all three distractor tasks had a deleterious effect on driving performance. Furthermore, this effect of distraction on driving depends on many factors, including the type of distraction, the driving performance measure, and the individual's cognitive capabilities. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed and directions for future research are presented.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007042, ucf:51981
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007042

Title: THE PAY EQUITY DILEMMA WOMEN FACE AROUND THE WORLD.
Creator: McMurray, Lana D, Yayla-Kullu, Muge, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In this research, I examine the pay equity dilemma women face around the world and how it is different in various regions of the world. My research question focuses on "how a nation's cultural characteristics affect pay equity?" It is already documented that men are paid more than women. The goal of this study is to explain how individual characteristics of national culture (such as masculinity, individualism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance) impacts this inequality. By increasing...
Show moreIn this research, I examine the pay equity dilemma women face around the world and how it is different in various regions of the world. My research question focuses on "how a nation's cultural characteristics affect pay equity?" It is already documented that men are paid more than women. The goal of this study is to explain how individual characteristics of national culture (such as masculinity, individualism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance) impacts this inequality. By increasing the understanding of pay inequality, changes can be made that will improve the lives of not just women but the families of those women and the world overall. We use data from Geert Hofstede's national culture dimensions and the Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum. Our results suggest that gender gap reduces in low power distance cultures, in high individualistic cultures, in low masculine cultures, and in low uncertainty avoidance cultures. Our results provide evidence that the economic prosperity of women around the world is significantly impacted by cultural dimensions.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFH2000372, ucf:52906
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000372

Title: Threatening Instructions During a Hurricane Influence Risk Perceptions: The Case of Fear Appeals and Changing Hurricane Projections.
Creator: Whitmer, Daphne, Sims, Valerie, Chin, Matthew, Bowers, Clint, Kapucu, Naim, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The goal of this research was to examine the effectiveness of persuasive language in the protective action recommendation of an emergency warning, which instructs people how to prepare and stay safe. Study 1 was a pilot study, which suggested that participants were able to make distinctions between hurricane categories. In study 2, the presence of fear language and second-person personal pronouns (i.e., (")you(")) in a recommendation was manipulated. Overall, fear language was more...
Show moreThe goal of this research was to examine the effectiveness of persuasive language in the protective action recommendation of an emergency warning, which instructs people how to prepare and stay safe. Study 1 was a pilot study, which suggested that participants were able to make distinctions between hurricane categories. In study 2, the presence of fear language and second-person personal pronouns (i.e., (")you(")) in a recommendation was manipulated. Overall, fear language was more influential than a pronoun on risk perceptions. To understand how context influences risk perceptions, participants in study 3 made decisions after each piece of information received. The severity of the hurricane increased, decreased, or stayed the same before decision point 2 and a recommendation containing fear or neutral language was presented before decision point 3. Those who read the fear message were more likely to be in the danger control process than those in the neutral language condition, which suggested that the fear message emphasized threat but did not diminish participants' perception of efficacy. Behavioral compliance with the warning was high in all conditions. In terms of change in perceived threat from decision point 2 to 3, participants in the decrease condition who read the fear appeal had the largest increase in perceived threat. In contrast, the hurricane increasing in intensity may be fear provoking enough that a fear appeal does not enhance risk perceptions. When examining individual differences, high Need for Cognition women had the largest increase in perceived message persuasiveness in the decrease and increase conditions.Phrasing guidelines for emergency management are discussed, along with the theoretical contributions of using social psychological methodology to examine emergency warnings. While individual differences are important predictors of warning interpretation, future research needs to reconcile the conundrum of emergency management's current limitations regarding individualized warnings.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007554, ucf:52611
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007554

Title: Predictors of Territorial Work Behavior: An Investigation of Individual Differences in Personality Using the HEXACO Model.
Creator: White, Andrew, Jex, Steve, Pace, Victoria, Ehrhart, Mark, Horan, Kristin, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: To date, little research has examined the relationship between territorial work behavior and individual differences in personality. Using hierarchical multiple regression, dimension-level and facet-level personality traits of the HEXACO model of personality were examined to determine whether personality traits predict territorial work behaviors. Based on a sample of 160 workers from Amazon's Mechanical Turk, it was observed that the dimensions of Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Openness to...
Show moreTo date, little research has examined the relationship between territorial work behavior and individual differences in personality. Using hierarchical multiple regression, dimension-level and facet-level personality traits of the HEXACO model of personality were examined to determine whether personality traits predict territorial work behaviors. Based on a sample of 160 workers from Amazon's Mechanical Turk, it was observed that the dimensions of Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Openness to Experience, and Altruism predicted territorial work behaviors. In addition, facet-level traits from these dimensions, in addition to facets from the Extraversion and Agreeableness dimension, explained variance in each of the territorial behaviors. Furthermore, quantile regression was utilized to examine differences between ordinary least squares regression and quantile regression in order to investigate the utility of quantile regression methods to predict territorial work behaviors and similar constructs. Results from quantile regression analyses provided a more detailed conceptualization compared to OLS regression and found additional regions of significance differing from OLS regression results. These findings, implications, and future research directions are discussed in detail.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007742, ucf:52400
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007742

individual differences (7)	+ -
Individual Differences (4)	+ -
decision making (3)	+ -
human-robot interaction (3)	+ -
AVID (2)	+ -

Acculturation (2)	+ -
Advancement Via Individual Determination (2)	+ -
Automation (2)	+ -
HEXACO (2)	+ -
Individualism (2)	+ -
Individuation (2)	+ -
individualism (2)	+ -
training (2)	+ -
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Alytus (1)	+ -
American Dream (1)	+ -
Arab American (1)	+ -
Attention (1)	+ -
CGI (1)	+ -
Chachapoya (1)	+ -
Cognition (1)	+ -
Collectivism (1)	+ -
Conscientiousness (1)	+ -
Consumer Experience (1)	+ -
Crime Scene Investigation (1)	+ -
Criminal Investigators (1)	+ -
Criminalistics (1)	+ -
Cultural Values (1)	+ -
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ETD Collection (27)	+ -
Honors Collection (8)	+ -

University of Central Florida (35)	+ -
Hancock, Peter (6)	+ -
Szalma, James (5)	+ -
Mouloua, Mustapha (4)	+ -
Sims, Valerie (4)	+ -

Bowers, Clint (3)	+ -
Chin, Matthew (3)	+ -
Daire, Andrew (2)	+ -
Doherty, Walter (2)	+ -
Jones, Donald (2)	+ -
Kapucu, Naim (2)	+ -
Matthews, Gerald (2)	+ -
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