Recent advancements in the general child disaster literature underscore the important role of coping in children's postdisaster adjustment. Religious coping in children, a potentially important category of coping strategies, has received little attention until recent years. Moreover, its role in the context of post fire adjustment has not been studied. The present study examined the psychometric soundness of the Religious Coping Activities Scale (RCAS; Pargament et al., 1990) in children and adolescents and explored its utility in predicting children's religious coping over time: moreover, the study evaluated its role in predicting PTSD symptomatology over an extended period of time. This investigation included 140 children and adolescents (ages 8-18). Factor analyses of the RCAS revealed a 6-factor solution very similar to the factor structure in the original study. This finding suggests that the RCAS is a promising instrument to measure children's religious coping efforts. Hypotheses concerning the prediction of children's religious coping were only partially supported. Regression analyses indicated mixed findings in terms of the contributions of selected variables to the prediction of children's Spiritually Based Coping and Religious Discontent. Overall, the regression model predicted Religious Discontent better than Spiritually Based Coping. A mixed-effects regression model and hierarchical regression analyses were both employed to examine the role of children's religious coping in predicting short-term and long-term PTSD symptomatology following the residential fires. Results from the mixed-effects regression indicated that loss, time since the fire, child's age, race, and race by age interaction significantly predicted children's PTSD symptoms over time. However, time specific regression analyses revealed different predictive power of the variables across the three assessment waves. Specifically, analyses with Time 1 data revealed the same findings as did the mixed-effects model, except that time since the fire was not a significant predictor in this analysis. General coping strategies appeared to be the only salient predictors for PTSD at Time 2. Finally, Religious Discontent appeared to be negatively related to PTSD at a later time. / Ph. D.

Reducing inefficiencies without compromising quality is a major challenge facing college and university leaders. Measuring efficiency and quality is often addressed through various statistical analyses (Archibald & Feldman, 2008; Flegg, Allen, & Thurlow, 2004). Researchers have also applied cost benefit analysis to measure efficiency. Collaboration is one mechanism used by university personnel to enhance efficiency and quality (Wiley, 2008). The literature on collaboration includes collaboration in research (Rigby & Elder, 2005), teaching (Kezar, 2005; Letterman & Dugan, 2004), and cross-divisional collaboration, learning communities (O’Connor & Associates, 2003). Residential colleges (where faculty live and work in residence halls) are another form of collaboration emerging across college campuses. A thorough review of the literature reveals no studies exploring the costs and benefits of residential colleges. The purpose of this study was to understand and describe the costs and benefits of residential colleges. The theoretical framework for this study was based on Nas’ (1996) cost benefit analysis framework. Data were collected through 60-90 minute telephone interviews with live-in faculty leaders of residential colleges and chief housing officers on campuses that offer residential colleges. Participants came from 11 different campus and included 12 chief housing officers and 11 faculty members. There are substantial institutional and individual costs associated with starting and maintaining a residential college. Institutional costs include departmental financial implications for facility renovations, staffing, and faculty incentives. Faculty principals and students bear individual costs. Impact on research, intensive time requirements for the position, and lack of recognition are costs affecting faculty. Residential college (RC) students incur additional fees and non-RC students are impacted by a diminished residential experience (as compared to their RC peers). Conversely, there are significant benefits resulting from residential colleges that may mitigate these costs. Institutions benefit from improved faculty pedagogy, expanded learning opportunities for students, and increased faculty connection to the institution. Individual benefits include positive faculty and student relationships (for faculty and students), increased understanding of students (for faculty), and faculty housing and other related incentives. / Ph. D.

A current trend in residential construction is the use of prefabricated wall panels. It is important to carefully establish how panels will be stacked, because an optimal sequence will improve productivity and reduce the possibility of worker injury. Mathematical models and heuristics are proposed for solving the panel stacking problem without consideration of interference. Dissertation work includes a mathematical model of the corresponding panel stacking problems in which the goal is to minimize total weighted panel move distance concurrent with certain construction assumptions. The heuristic method was provided to establish how each panel would be stacked and gave the drop-off location of each stack. The heuristic method was found to be able to reduce the total weighted panel move distance and ensure connectivity was always maintained, meanwhile, interference could also be avoided. In terms of solution speed, the heuristic method can solve real size problems in less than one second. Solutions to such problems can increase productivity. Three improvements to the only known existing panel stacking algorithm with consideration of interference were proposed. The computational results indicate the proposed algorithm performed better than existing algorithm in all experimental cases. Improvement on panel move distance ranged from 1.35-47.93%, and improvement on interfering panels ranged from 20-100%. The proposed algorithm can solve non-rectangular cases (not possible with existing algorithm) and was compared with an experienced panel designer and commercial software. When compared to the proposed algorithm, total weighted panel move distance increased 0.10-85.52% and 0.77-136.23%, respectively, for the panel designer and software. While connectivity was 100% for all cases with the proposed algorithm (the algorithm ensures connectivity is always maintained), it ranged from 69.56-86.95% and 73.33-90.91%, however, for the panel designer and software respectively. Finally, the proposed algorithm can solve the interfering panels in the last stack: this cannot be done with the existing algorithm. Because prefabricated wall panels are typically large and cumbersome to work with, there is a significant probability of worker injury. It is important to carefully establish how each panel will be handled by workers. This is typically the responsibility of field construction foreman, but such personnel are often ill-equipped to make such decisions. An alternative, proactive approach is to establish how each panel will be handled in advance, such that overall ergonomic consequences can be properly considered. This dissertation presents mathematical models of the corresponding construction task scheduling and worker assignment problems, where the goal is to minimize total project completion time (subject to worker quantity constraints) and assign tasks to workers as evenly as possible. The solution of such problems can help residential construction managers better plan construction by establishing the ergonomic impact associated with a given construction plan. A heuristic was also developed to solve large problems by balancing workload between workers. The heuristic was found to be able to provide near-optimal solutions, and can solve large problems in less than one second. / Ph. D.

Reducing inefficiencies without compromising quality is a major challenge facing college and university leaders. Measuring efficiency and quality is often addressed through various statistical analyses (Archibald and Feldman, 2008; Flegg, Allen, and Thurlow, 2004). Researchers have also applied cost benefit analysis to measure efficiency. Collaboration is one mechanism used by university personnel to enhance efficiency and quality (Wiley, 2008). The literature on collaboration includes collaboration in research (Rigby and Elder, 2005), teaching (Kezar, 2005; Letterman and Dugan, 2004), and cross-divisional collaboration, learning communities (O'Connor and Associates, 2003). Residential colleges (where faculty live and work in residence halls) are another form of collaboration emerging across college campuses. A thorough review of the literature reveals no studies exploring the costs and benefits of residential colleges. The purpose of this study was to understand and describe the costs and benefits of residential colleges. The theoretical framework for this study was based on Nas' (1996) cost benefit analysis framework. Data were collected through 60-90 minute telephone interviews with live-in faculty leaders of residential colleges and chief housing officers on campuses that offer residential colleges. Participants came from 11 different campus and included 12 chief housing officers and 11 faculty members. There are substantial institutional and individual costs associated with starting and maintaining a residential college. Institutional costs include departmental financial implications for facility renovations, staffing, and faculty incentives. Faculty principals and students bear individual costs. Impact on research, intensive time requirements for the position, and lack of recognition are costs affecting faculty. Residential college (RC) students incur additional fees and non-RC students are impacted by a diminished residential experience (as compared to their RC peers). Conversely, there are significant benefits resulting from residential colleges that may mitigate these costs. Institutions benefit from improved faculty pedagogy, expanded learning opportunities for students, and increased faculty connection to the institution. Individual benefits include positive faculty and student relationships (for faculty and students), increased understanding of students (for faculty), and faculty housing and other related incentives. / Ph. D.

This research proposes to simplify the energy consumption assessment for residential homes while building the foundation towards the development of prediction tools that can achieve a credible level of accuracy for confident decision making. The energy consumption assessment is based on simplified energy consumption models. The energy consumption analysis uses a reduced number of energy model equations utilizing a critical, limited set of parameters. The results of the analysis are used to develop the minimum set of consumption influence parameters with predicted effects for each energy consumption domain. During this research study, multiple modeling approaches and occupancy scenarios were utilized according to climate conditions in Blacksburg, Virginia. As a part of the analysis process, a parameter study was conducted to: develop a comprehensive set of energy consumption influence parameters, identify the inter-relationships among parameters, determine the impact of energy consumption influence parameters in energy consumption models, and classify energy consumption influence parameters under identified energy consumption domains. Based on the results of the parameter study, a minimum set of parameters and energy consumption influence matrices were developed. This research suggests the minimum set of parameters with predicted effects to be used during the development of the simplified baseline energy consumption model. / Ph. D.

Suburban sprawl fuels the need for automobiles and is preventing cities in the United States from providing adequate places for pedestrians. Tysons Corner, Virginia is one of these sprawling cities that is a metropolitan suburb of Washington D.C. The way these cities have sprawled prevents them from being as accessible to pedestrians as they should be. Building dense housing near access to multiple modes of transportation can start to reduce the dependance on personal vehicles. By living near a bike route, bus route, or metro station, a pedestrian can break their reliance on cars and utilize more sustainable modes of transportation. Tysons Corner began as a business hub full of commuters and continues to be today. The city has no place for pedestrians because of all the high rises and parking garages. By designing a place for people to live and pedestrians to interact, a new place can emerge for Tysons that will give access to multiple modes of transportation that combat the car. / Master of Architecture

The aim of this design thesis was to carefully examine the condition of an American small town, and through an understanding of that exploration; offer the design of a residential community that draws its energy from the place and aspires to extend the life of the town through an intensification of Main Street America. / Master of Architecture

Research shows residential students have varying perceptions of satisfaction with their residential environments. It has also been shown that levels of satisfaction may differ between students based on variables such as hall size, organization, gender, or class standing. This study examined residence hall satisfaction levels for students living in the halls at Virginia Tech. The research question was: what are the differences in levels of satisfaction as measured by the Student Residence Environment Scales among residential students based upon hall size, hall type, and gender. The SRES was administered to approximately 1050 students, divided equally between six halls chosen to represent the variables of size, gender, and type. There was a 53% return rate with 55% female responses and 45% male responses. The data were analyzed using the SAS system and three-way ANOVAs were run on all 17 subscales. The results supported the research question in that there were significant differences between scores on the 17 subscales based upon hall size, hall type, and gender. Main effects and significant interactions between independent variables were found for all 17 subscales, indicating that hall size, hall type, and gender affect student satisfaction levels in the residence halls. The number of subscales and interactions do not allow for an abbreviated summary to be made; however, in general students were satisfied with the residence halls at Virginia Tech. The results of the study indicate that there are areas in which residence life personnel could make changes in policies and procedures which would increase levels of satisfaction in the residence halls. / Master of Arts

While there is extensive research on attachment and the role attachment relationships play in human development, little to no research has applied the concept of alternative attachment figures to the role counselors play in a residential setting with adolescents. Furthermore, little research has explored the impact a counselor's own attachment style may have on his or her ability to foster secure attachment behaviors in clients. In order to explore each of these topics, the current study examined the relationship between female residents of a treatment facility and their counselors. Eight residents and three counselors were selected to participate in the study based on how long the residents had been in treatment. Each completed measure of attachment security as well as in depth qualitative interviews. Profiles were created for each of the counselor/resident dyads and relationship dynamics were compared to previous research in order to explore the therapeutic relationship in light of attachment. Therapeutic implications and areas of future research are also discussed. / Master of Science

Throughout the world, innovation is viewed as a critical factor in the future health of the construction industry. There is universal interest in successful commercialization of innovative construction products. This thesis focuses on the US construction industry's ability to successfully commercialize innovative products. US small, limited-resource innovators will be key players in this success. Recent failures of entrepreneurial business ventures in the commercialization of such products would benefit from a unique model for construction industry commercialization. The general approach is through an identification of accelerators for previously commercialized products, which are incorporated into a generic commercialization model. This process consists of five stages that are presented in this work: defining commercialization and innovation through literature for the residential construction industry; reviewing literature from other-industry commercialization models; establishing a new generic model (or framework) for innovative construction products from such literature; capturing qualitative and quantitative construction data from industry experts regarding actions that facilitate commercialization; populating specific cells of the generic model deemed relevant through this industry data, resulting in the accumulation of important cells, actions, and sequences. This work uses industry cases to present challenges specific to the construction industry and its products. It is limited to five such cases and their important data for residential construction innovation commercialization success. / Master of Science