No description available.

No description available.

This study examines the overall effect of downsizing during the past five years on Extension Home Economists. Its objectives are to identify the downsizing strategies used in Extension organizations, and to determine the professional and personal effect of downsizing upon these respondents. The role of resilient behaviors, coping strategies, social support and life events in helping these professionals deal with downsizing is also examined. Data were collected and analyzed from 429 surveys sent to a random sample of Extension Home Economists, active members in their professional organization. The results show that the most prominent strategies used to downsize include attrition, changing traditional services and functions, financial incentives for workforce reduction, and transferring staff. Major work changes include an increased workload, loss of colleagues and involvement in more team efforts. These Extension Home Economists experienced downsizing more from a personal than a professional level. The majority rated the overall personal impact of downsizing as moderate to profound. Personal impact was alleviated by the use of resilient behaviors, the experience of a limited number of notable life events, and the quality of social support. The only variable which influenced the professional impact of downsizing was life events. While the use of coping strategies did not affect the professional and personal impact of downsizing, the use of these strategies influenced the overall ability to cope. Maintaining contact and communication with their colleagues was the most utilized coping strategy by these professionals. While those who felt satisfied with the current downsized organization indicated lower personal impact, having an accepting attitude towards downsizing did not affect these respondents personally or professionally. Of the demographic variables, only years of employment influenced the personal impact of downsizing. Neither age, relationship status nor years of employment affected the professional impact of downsizing. Downsizing will continue to provide challenges and opportunities for organizations now and well into the future. Although there is not one prescription for surviving it, there is evidence that those who exercise resilient behaviors, have a varied repertoire of coping strategies and a quality support system will have a greater capacity for reducing its side effects.

The subject of leadership in education has been addressed in a vast amount of research and literature, including the leadership styles and needs of women administrators and faculty. However, there has been limited attention paid to the leadership styles of women students and none that deals with women students in traditional women's programs of study. This study used an exploratory, descriptive qualitative research design to identify women students' attitudes and perceptions of leadership and to identify the leadership skills, abilities and positions held by students. All the students interviewed were traditional aged college women who were majoring in a predominantly female area of study--Home Economics. The research was undertaken to answer several research questions, including: How do students define leadership and what leadership traits do they feel effective leaders need to possess? What leadership skills do students possess or need help in developing? What types of organizations do students belong to and are leadership positions held? Are students aware of leadership opportunities within academic programs and at the institution? Do students perceive differences or similarities in the leadership styles of men and women? The findings show that the majority of women students interviewed in the study do not possess adequate leadership skills and abilities, do not actively participate in organizations within their academic department or at the institution, perceive differences in the leadership styles of men and women and feel at a disadvantage at being part of a traditional women's program. The conclusions of the study indicate that institutions of higher education need to address the issue of women students and leadership. Institutions and academic programs need to review and revise leadership development programs in an attempt to insure that women students are acquiring the leadership skills necessary to succeed in college and in a career.

No description available.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Karen S. Myers-Bowman / This qualitative research study was conducted in order to understand more about the phenomenon of adolescent cigarette smoking and to contribute to the body of knowledge on youth substance abuse prevention. The exploratory study incorporated the personality types associated with True Colors, Inc. (2008), as a tool to use when gathering information from non-smoking adolescents and parents. Adolescent-parent dyads were interviewed about how personality characteristics influenced several factors regarding the adolescents’ choice to not smoke cigarettes. The participants indicated that they were comfortable with the True Colors model for identifying their personality types. Furthermore, the participants tended to provide information that reflected their personality. The “gold” personalities exhibited a strong sense of right and wrong, and it was important for them to be responsible, follow rules and respect authority. The adolescents identified as having “orange” personalities tended to put themselves at the center of conversations and reported that they made many of their own decisions. They were also spontaneous and witty. Personalities that were “blue” types demonstrated the most compassion and empathy. They valued relationships and they did not want to disappoint others when making decisions. The fourth color was the “green” personality. These individuals were visionaries, and were analytical and logical with their responses. They valued knowledge and were apt to get their information from books and television when making decisions. Implications for research include that, rather than studying why adolescents do smoke cigarettes, it may be wise to also study why adolescents choose to not smoke cigarettes in order to more fully understand the phenomenon. The study also provided implications for practitioners regarding adolescent cigarette smoking prevention programs. Because the current study found differences in how the personality types of adolescents received information, youth prevention programs should utilize a variety of strategies to address the unique differences in adolescent personalities in order to be most effective.

Thesis (PH.D.) -- Syracuse University, 2006 / "Publication number AAT 3251823."

<p> Today&rsquo;s high school students will face a host of economic problems such as the demise of the social safety net, mounting college student debt, and costly health care plans, as stated in the rationale for financial literacy provided by the Council for Economic Education&rsquo;s <i>National Standards for Financial Literacy</i>. These problems are compounded by growing income and wealth inequality and the widespread influence of neoliberal ideology. Although one of the major goals of economics education is to teach students to make reasoned economic choices in their public and private lives and provide the skills to solve personal and social economic problems, little empirical research has been conducted on how these goals are addressed. Secondary economics education research has primarily focused on measuring students&rsquo; grasp of neoclassical economics while a separate body of literature provides theoretical critiques of that approach. This study responds to the gap presented by these separate camps by capturing the economics discourse of a high school economics and personal finance course in relation to the role of economic decision-making in a democracy, and the space to hold values discussions. Using case study methodology that included analysis of student and teacher interviews, classroom observations, the standards and official curriculum, lesson plans, and student-produced documents, the study provides deep, context-dependent knowledge about how the official curriculum is manifest in the classroom. </p><p> Findings reveal that the role of economic decision-making and values discussions were given very little space. The discourse was heavily focused on the acceptance of the science and mastery of technical knowledge about personal finance for the dual purposes of preparing students to succeed on the W!SE Financial Literacy Certification Test and preparing students to navigate and succeed in a fixed economic reality firmly committed to neoclassical economics. The role of economic decision-making was diminished by the foregrounding of financial literacy over economics, which served as a mechanism of power to send the silent message that economic circumstances (such as wealth inequality) change through individual choices and that economic and social phenomena can be understood and addressed through the application of technical approaches. </p><p>

No description available.

No description available.