During late adolescence and the transition to college, students often experience weight increases and significant lifestyle changes including the adoption of unhealthy eating habits and decreased physical activity levels. To address this concern, a science-based, interactive course, designed from a framework of behavioral theories was developed to target improvements in energy balance knowledge and determinants of dietary and physical activity behaviors. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of this course using a comparison group pre-test/post-test design. Thirty-three undergraduate students, ages 18-25, participated in the course, while twenty-six students served as controls. Paired samples t-tests compared pre- to post- responses to knowledge assessments and self-perception surveys. Independent samples t-tests compared mean changes between the intervention and control group. Course evaluations were reviewed to determine to what degree behavioral strategies were perceived to influence student motivation to eat a healthy diet and engage in the recommended amount of physical activity. Significant increases were observed in energy balance knowledge (P < .001) and perceived behavioral control (P = .004) towards eating a healthy diet in the intervention group when compared to the control group. Diet and physical activity recalls and analyses were perceived by students to have the greatest influence on their motivation/ability to engage in the targeted behaviors. We conclude that an online, interactive, science-based energy balance course developed from behavioral theories can be effective at improving energy balance knowledge and dietary perceived behavioral control in a college population.

This study first proposes a conceptual structure from Ajzen's planned behavior theory; next conducts paper review, then does practice study of waste disposal treatment; finally uses three dimensional factors and six sub-dimensional factors to examine their relationship and interaction with tendency attitude of environmental behavior. The three dimensional factors are tendency attitude, subjective norms and behavioral control perception of environmental behavior, and six sub-dimensional factors are moral perception development, environmental ethic concept, internal and exterior stakeholders' influences, self-efficacy, and instrumental ethical climate. This study conducts the empirical research by questionnaire survey and statistic analysis. The results are as follows: 1. There is significant correlation between moral perception development and business managers' decision intention on environmental ethics. 2. There is no significant correlation between environmental ethic concept and business managers' decision intention on environmental ethics. 3. There is significant correlation between internal stakeholders' influences and business managers' decision intention on environmental ethics. 4. There is significant correlation between exterior stakeholders' influences and business managers' decision intention on environmental ethics. 5. There is significant correlation between self-efficacy and business managers' decision intention on environmental ethics. 6. There is significant correlation between instrumental ethical climate and business managers' decision intention on environmental ethics. 7. There is no significant difference on demographic variables for business managers' decision intention on environmental ethics. 8. There is significant difference on some demographic variables for each dimension that influences business managers' decision intention on environmental ethics. 9. There is significant difference on some dimensions that influence business managers' decision intention on environmental ethics for different business manager groups of environmental ethic decision intention.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Medication non-adherence is a major healthcare problem that negatively impacts the health and productivity of individuals and society as a whole. Reasons for medication non-adherence are multi-faced, with no clear-cut solution. Adherence to medication remains a difficult area to study, due to inconsistencies in representing medicationadherence behavior data that poses a challenge to humans and today’s computer technology related to interpreting and synthesizing such complex information. Developing a consistent conceptual framework to medication adherence is needed to facilitate domain understanding, sharing, and communicating, as well as enabling researchers to formally compare the findings of studies in systematic reviews. The goal of this research is to create a common language that bridges human and computer technology by developing a controlled structured vocabulary of medication adherence behavior—“Medication Adherence Behavior Ontology” (MAB-Ontology) using breast cancer as a case study to inform and evaluate the proposed ontology and demonstrating its application to real-world situation. The intention is for MAB-Ontology to be developed against the background of a philosophical analysis of terms, such as belief, and desire to be human, computer-understandable, and interoperable with other systems that support scientific research. The design process for MAB-Ontology carried out using the METHONTOLOGY method incorporated with the Basic Formal Ontology (BFO) principles of best practice. This approach introduces a novel knowledge acquisition step that guides capturing medication-adherence-related data from different knowledge sources, including adherence assessment, adherence determinants, adherence theories, adherence taxonomies, and tacit knowledge source types. These sources were analyzed using a systematic approach that involved some questions applied to all source types to guide data extraction and inform domain conceptualization. A set of intermediate representations involving tables and graphs was used to allow for domain evaluation before implementation. The resulting ontology included 629 classes, 529 individuals, 51 object property, and 2 data property. The intermediate representation was formalized into OWL using Protégé. The MAB-Ontology was evaluated through competency questions, use-case scenario, face validity and was found to satisfy the requirement specification. This study provides a unified method for developing a computerized-based adherence model that can be applied among various disease groups and different drug categories.

Multimarket competition has become a substantial part of the modern economy. As such, it has drawn the attention of academics in both economics and strategy fields. Many studies have found empirical evidence of mutual forbearance in several industries, but despite its importance, its behavioral roots have not been explored. In my dissertation I integrate the reality of boundedly-rational decision makers into the mutual forbearance hypothesis. I apply an outgrowth of the behavioral theory of the firm – the shifting focus model of risk taking – to the study of competitive behavior. I propose a behavioral model of multimarket competition that focuses on corporate strategic decisions - market entry and exit decisions, regardless of entry mode (e.g. acquisitions) or exit mode (e.g. divestitures). This approach provides a granular view of changes in the business scope of the firms in terms of product and geographic markets served. I test my hypotheses in the U.S. property liability insurance industry over a 12-year period (1998-2008). I argue that firms follow the mutual forbearance logic as long as their performance goals are satisfied. However, under conditions of adversity, firms shift attention to recovering from the performance shortfall and their actions deviate from the mutual forbearance predictions. This dissertation shows that underperforming firms with abundant slack take longer to forbear, and underperforming firms with limited slack start forbearing sooner, as predicted. By bridging behavioral and competitive perspectives to the study of market entry and exit decisions, I underscore the value of cross-fertilization in strategy research.

Test anxiety involves a variety of physiological, cognitive, and emotional components. Those suffering from high test anxiety seem to perform poorly on examinations because test anxiety can contribute to information processing challenges both while studying for tests and during evaluative situations. Current research indicates that when a training program is applied that incorporates cognitive behavioral techniques as well as study skills training, highly test anxious individuals can overcome information processing challenges, increase their academic performance, and earn higher scores on tests. In this study, a training program (Counseling Exam Test Anxiety Intervention) combining cognitive behavioral techniques and study skills training was applied to highly test anxious counselors and counselors in training preparing to retake the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) after failing it at least once. This study makes the first known attempt to examine test anxiety specifically associated with the NCMHCE. The research questions guiding this study related to exploring the nature of test anxiety, any changes that occurred during administration of the Counseling Exam Test Anxiety Intervention (CETAI), and whether or not the CETAI was effective in terms of decreasing test anxiety and increasing academic performance. The findings revealed that when participants in this study applied the skills they learned from the CETAI, they improved their scores on practice tests, experienced an increase in confidence, and the majority of them successfully passed the NCMHCE when they retook it.

Multimarket competition has become a substantial part of the modern economy. As such, it has drawn the attention of academics in both economics and strategy fields. Many studies have found empirical evidence of mutual forbearance in several industries, but despite its importance, its behavioral roots have not been explored. In my dissertation I integrate the reality of boundedly-rational decision makers into the mutual forbearance hypothesis. I apply an outgrowth of the behavioral theory of the firm – the shifting focus model of risk taking – to the study of competitive behavior. I propose a behavioral model of multimarket competition that focuses on corporate strategic decisions - market entry and exit decisions, regardless of entry mode (e.g. acquisitions) or exit mode (e.g. divestitures). This approach provides a granular view of changes in the business scope of the firms in terms of product and geographic markets served. I test my hypotheses in the U.S. property liability insurance industry over a 12-year period (1998-2008). I argue that firms follow the mutual forbearance logic as long as their performance goals are satisfied. However, under conditions of adversity, firms shift attention to recovering from the performance shortfall and their actions deviate from the mutual forbearance predictions. This dissertation shows that underperforming firms with abundant slack take longer to forbear, and underperforming firms with limited slack start forbearing sooner, as predicted. By bridging behavioral and competitive perspectives to the study of market entry and exit decisions, I underscore the value of cross-fertilization in strategy research.

In this diplom thesis I will deal with relation between consumer and his aversion to loss. Expression of the potential risks that can describe using behavioral theories and psychological approach. The practical part will focus on the description of risk in consumers behavior as an investor. The relationship of these consumers lose due to amount of their income and practical recommendations on how to take into account the potential risks and minimize loss.

This essay is firstly a methodological pilot study. We have investigated if qualitative methods, in this case semi-structured interviews and focus group interviews, can be used to complement existing empirical findings about food consumption. The study’s approach has also been to map out what variables that affects individuals choices regarding food consumption and how their choices are affected by governmental information. Through a historical overview of food consumption in Sweden, we can show how the governmental and individual roles have changed due to increased globalization and urbanization. We have also used a social-psychological theoretical framework and previous empirical findings to analyze why individuals not always act as themselves and others wish. The results from this study shows that students generally are more aware than other individuals regarding sustainable choices. Still, they find it difficult to specify why one choice is more sustainable than another, for example between conventional, organic and locally produced food. The majority of the respondents claimed that high pricing was the main obstacle for them to consistently go for the more sustainable choice. When talking about price, some of the respondents expressed that, both the external and the self-perceived image of what the life of a student includes further contributes to the idea of a ‘poor student with limited choices’. There is still an ongoing need to study social phenomena in the everyday live. We can, in line with this study’s litterature, note that several aspects of everyday life are corrected by the government. Regarding food consumption, that is characterized by individualism and act in the grey area between governmental ideals and the practice of everyday life, the need for knowledge is even bigger. Increased knowledge is crucial to make a sustainable urban development possible and we claim that qualitative methods can act as an important tool to illustrate and affect attitudes and norms.

Combining Cyert and March's (1963) model of search with foundational concepts from evolutionary theory (Nelson & Winter, 1982), this dissertation scrutinizes the expansion of search and develops a refined framework for organizational search behavior.  Special emphasis is put on the aspect of search in organizationally vulnerable areas (Cyert & March, 1963).  Considering pressure to innovate as a potential driver, the dissertation develops a conceptual model based on open innovation (Chesbrough, 2003a).  Three pre-studies and two main studies illuminate broadcast search in the pharmaceutical industry and test the theoretical model. The pre-studies elucidate the use of broadcast search in the pharmaceutical industry from various angles.  One investigation uses public data from an intermediary to test for the uniqueness of pharma-related broadcast search.  Findings indicate that pharma-related challenges are frequented less by solvers.  Another pre-study administered surveys to managers from pharmaceutical firms interested in open innovation for R&D.  Results indicate alignment between the academic literature and practice.  The tenor of the pre-studies is that broadcast search in the pharmaceutical industry deserves legitimate consideration.  Also, anecdotal evidence supports the notion that broadcast search, at current, is used after other attempts have failed"as a search mechanism at the margin. The two main studies test the theoretically developed ideas.  Building on prior work, study 1 singles out the breadth of the knowledge base as the defining factor for forming strategic knowledge groups.  Study 2 supports the notion that innovation pressure is associated with changes in organizational search behavior.  Since study 2 does not find a direct link between innovation pressure and broadcast search engagement, a post-hoc analysis follows which combines study 1 findings with study 2 data.  Results support the idea that a broad knowledge base precedes broadcast search. Theory development benefits from this dissertation by emphasizing on a better understanding of organizational search processes and setting a foundation for future investigations.  For practitioners the dissertation cautions of blind adoption of broadcast search while at the same time pointing to its potential.  Having supplemental capabilities becomes crucial.  The nature of these capabilities requires further scientific investigation. / Ph. D.

There is currently a gap in performance among Swedish schools. Statistics show some schools demonstrating great results, while others are facing significant challenges. This study focuses on schools that have been underperforming and managed to turn this negative trend around. This is what is known as a turnaround, which occurs when an organization manages to improve negative results to positive through various measures. Turning an organization around requires extensive efforts, time and resources from its leadership and employees. Breaking down existing routines and practices to impose new ones may create discomfort and uncertainty among those that these changes are exerted upon. This especially when the organization in question does not view itself as in need of change. Calling for turnarounds to be enacted requires the organization to be aware of its shortcomings or even crises that they face. Awareness of underperformance is the main contention this thesis explores and its relation to a turnaround process. This study delves into schools that have demonstrated awareness of underperformance and acted upon it.