As Mathematics Educators, we want to help our students not only develop a deep, conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts and processes, but also a positive disposition towards mathematics. Despite the importance of helping students develop a positive mathematical disposition, little research has been conducted examining how students' dispositions develop as they progress through their mathematical studies. In particular, the effects of college algebra on students' mathematical dispositions is not well understood. To examine the influence of college algebra on students' dispositions, students using two different college algebra curriculums were studied at Brigham Young University. Using a mathematical disposition survey, student interviews, and open response surveys, data were gathered about changes in students' dispositions as they progressed through the course. Results suggest that college algebra, on average, does not improve students' mathematical dispositions, and can actually be harmful to students' beliefs about mathematics being sensible and useful, students' beliefs about the importance of hard work and perseverance, and students' self-efficacy beliefs. However, the Pathways college algebra course, which was context-based and conceptual in nature, was less harmful than a more traditional college algebra course. These results corroborate other college educators and researchers' perceptions that the content of college algebra needs to be reexamined and changed, in addition to how it is taught.

Researchers and health care professionals agree that living an inactive lifestyle negatively impacts individuals and communities (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018; Lee et al., 2012), and ongoing research highlights the benefits for adults achieving a recommended 150 minutes of physical activity (PA) per week (CDC, 2018; US Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2018; Warburton, Nicol, & Bredin, 2006). However, despite these benefits, only 20% of individuals comply with these recommendations (American College Health Association [ACHA], 2017; Blackwell & Clarke, 2018; HHS, 2018). A recent area of research to address this issue explores psychological non-cognitive skills in predicting exercise behavior (Orvidas et al., 2018; Walton, 2014; Wilson, 2006; Yeager & Walton, 2011). The current study explored the relationships among college student exercise behavior and non-cognitive skills: exercise self-efficacy, grit, and mindset. In Phase 1 (quantitative portion) of the study, participants (N = 366) completed a survey online assessing the above variables as well as collecting various demographic information. In Phase 2 (qualitative portion), participants (n = 10) were interviewed to further explore the variables and potentially help explain the quantitative results. Phase 1 data were analyzed through Pearson correlations, linear and multiple regressions, and MANOVAs. Results showed that Grit (Grit-S), Grit-Perseverance (Grit-P), Mindset (ITF), and Exercise Self-Efficacy (ESE) were significantly positively correlated with college student exercise behavior; however, all correlations were weak, with the exception of ESE being moderately correlated. Grit-Interest (Grit-I) was not significantly correlated. Furthermore, the results of the regression analysis showed only ESE making a significant contribution to the variance, further suggesting it as a moderately strong predictor of exercise behavior. In terms of the relationship between the variables, results showed that Grit-S was significantly strongly positively related to Grit-P and Grit-I and significantly, but weakly, positively related to ITF and ESE. In addition, ITF and ESE were significantly, but weakly, positively related. Finally, the sample was split into three groups: Insufficiently Active (IA), Active (A), and Highly Active (HA) based on adapted HHS 2018 PA Guidelines. Overall, the groups were significantly different. Specifically, the HA group reported significantly higher Grit, Grit-P, Mindset, and ESE than the IA group. The A group was only significantly different from IA and HA groups for ESE. However, the differences, again, had marginal effect with the exception of ESE. The current study reinforces the importance of ESE in exercise behavior, which seems to hold true for college students. In addition, it sheds light on the domain-specificity of non-cognitive skills, the need for continued analysis of measurement scales, the uni- or multi-dimensionality of constructs, particularly Grit, and the necessity of further research on the connection between non-cognitive skills and exercise behavior. Keywords: Grit, mindset, self-efficacy, non-cognitive skills, exercise behavior, college students, perseverance, goal-setting / Kinesiology

With the advancements that have taken place in technology the recent decades, it is nowpossible to work anywhere and at any time. Coworking space is the type of flexible workplacethat is currently growing the fastest and comprises a workplace shared between severalcompanies and individuals with emphasis on collaboration and knowledge sharing. Withbenefits such as cost efficiency for members, it is now questioned how the companies that offercoworking make it work financially. This thesis investigates the profitability of coworkingcompanies and whether they are persevering enough to survive an economic downturn orrecession.By examining the Stockholm market’s nine largest coworking companies' annual reports,interviewing them and experts from different areas on the market, these questions have beenanswered. In order to further assess the potential of the new market segment, the currenteconomic climate has been compared with the IT-bubble in 2001. Further, the financial positionof the coworking companies has been set against the business model of hotels. Through a datacollection that is both qualitative and quantitative, the results have been discussed thematically.From the study it was concluded that coworking operators are economically weak with low orno profitability. By developing their business model in accordance with the one of hotels,companies are expected to improve their financial position. This is done by overbookingflexible workplaces and in detail work with profit per workplace to increase the total return.The coworking companies' rental cost to their property owners one of the largest expenses andthus also decisive. For companies to be able to operate in the long run, revenue sharing rent isrecommended. Experience, strong ownership, central location and diversification of membersare recognized as success factors. Regarding the coworking companies' sustainability ineconomic downturns, they are also considered weak. Given their deficient financial statementsand balance sheets, they lack the margins and qualifications to endure an economic downturnor recession. A consolidation is expected to take place where survival of each coworkingoperator depend on new customers to leave conventional leases and prioritize flexibility.  Furthermore, the study has shown the economic climate today to resemble with what led to theIT-bubble in 2001, which in turn signals for a coworking bubble. A pattern of increased demandfor service in the office market has also been discovered. What we are seeing today is thebeginning of a change on the office market - a servicification that requires a fundamental changein the office sector's business model. / Med de framgångar som skett inom teknik de senaste decennierna är det idag möjligt att arbetavar och när som helst. Coworking space är den typ av flexibel arbetsplats som just nu växersnabbast och innebär att arbetsplatsen delas mellan flera företag och individer samtunderstryker samarbete och kunskapsdelning. Med fördelar såsom kostnadseffektivisering förmedlemmar ifrågasätts nu hur företagen som erbjuder coworking får det att gå ihop ekonomiskt.I den här uppsatsen belyses coworkingföretagens lönsamhet och om de är uthålliga nog attöverleva en ekonomisk nedgång eller lågkonjunktur.Genom att för Stockholmsmarknaden undersöka de nio största coworkingföretagensårsrapporter, intervjua dem och experter från olika områden av marknaden har dessa frågorutvisats. För att ytterligare kunna bedöma potentialen för det nya marknadssegmentet hardagens ekonomiska klimat jämförts med vad som ledde upp till IT-krisen 2001 samtcoworkingföretagens ekonomiska ställning ställts mot den affärsmodell som hotell använder.Genom en datainsamling som både är kvalitativ och kvantitativ har resultaten diskuteratstematiskt.Studien har mynnat ut i en slutsats om att coworkingoperatörer är ekonomiskt svaga företagmed låg eller ingen lönsamhet. Genom att utveckla sin affärsmodell efter den som hotellanvänder förväntas företagen kunna förbättra sin ekonomiska ställning. Detta görs genom attöverboka flexibla arbetsplatser och på detaljnivå arbeta med vinst per arbetsplats för att ökaden totala avkastningen. Coworkingföretagens hyreskostnad till sina fastighetsägare är en avde största utgifterna och därmed också avgörande. För att företagen ska kunna verka i längdenrekommenderas omsättningsbaserad hyra. Erfarenhet, starkt ägandeskap, central lokaliseringoch diversifiering av medlemmar ses som framgångsfaktorer. Gällande coworkingföretagensuthållighet i konjunkturnedgångar, bedöms dem också svaga. Med hänsyn till bristanderesultat- och balansräkningar har de inte marginaler eller förutsättningar nog att utstå enekonomisk nedgång eller lågkonjunktur. En konsolidering väntas ske där coworkingoperatörernasöverlevnad hänger på tillskott av nya kunder som väljer att lämna konventionellahyresavtal och prioritera flexibilitet.  Ytterligare har studien visat på att det ekonomiska klimatet idag också liknar det som leddefram till IT-krisen 2001, vilket i sin tur signalerar för en coworkingbubbla. Det har ocksåuppdagats ett mönster av ökad efterfrågan på service på kontorsmarknaden. Vad vi nu ser börjanpå är en förändring i kontorsmarknaden - en tjänstefiering som kräver en fundamentalförändring av kontorssektorns affärsmodell.

D. Litt. et Phil. (Theology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Several studies have reported various challenges ballet dancers experience in their performance careers. However, to date, very little research has been done to understand how professional ballet dancers persevere in their performance careers in the face of the demanding nature and various challenges associated with their career. The purpose of this study was to explore perseverance of professional ballet dancers in their performance career from the perspectives of retired professional ballet dancers. Using a social constructivist lens, the research question addressed in this study was: How can professional ballet dancers persevere in a performance career? Narrative interviews were conducted with participants (N = 9) who had danced at one or more professional ballet companies for at least one year and had been involved in the ballet world since their retirement from their performance careers. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the data and 4 themes were identified about persevering as a professional ballet dancer in a performance career: (a) Building and Looking After Your Healthy Sense of Self and Mental Attitude; (b) Navigating Your Career Journey With Intelligence and Courage Within and Beyond One Ballet Company; (c) Growing as an Artist to Have More Than Technique and Raw Physicality to Capture an Audience; and (d) Balancing Your Performance Career by Having a Life Outside the Dance World. Implications of the findings for research, practice, and counselling are discussed. / Graduate / 2020-04-26

Virtual reality (VR), an emergent technology, affords experiential content delivery in education by evoking emotive responses in users, which can be prohibitive via traditional media. This thesis explores VR for the development of grit – passion and perseverance, which are essential characteristics in education and long-term success. The research proposes design strategies to stimulate senses for emotional engagement and a physiological response. In the project, two interactive environments position the user in emotional states to build passion and perseverance. To develop passion, the virtual world is designed to engage in creativity using 3D-spatial audio and visual effects. In contrast, to build perseverance users are exposed to a challenging environment that requires them to overcome and positively associate frustration with growth. This thesis demonstrates the potential of design for higher sense-stimulation applied through VR in education.

The primary goal of this project has been to research and create aesthetic visual environments in distance-learning media through the application of expert criteria and to explore the effects of those environments on student satisfaction and motivation. To accomplish this three instructors with distinct courses were selected to apply aesthetic criteria within the process of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. Courses selected were Art Appreciation -- ARTS 1100, Advanced Surveying -- ENGR 2502, and Introduction to Sociology -- SOCI 1101. The project goal was subdivided into four objectives. 1) Develop criteria for the inclusion of visual aesthetics in the online environment. 2) Design and develop online courses using guidelines for the inclusion of aesthetics. 3) Collect and compare data from students about the level of satisfaction with the aesthetic appearance of the online environment. 4) Explore the effect of an aesthetic environment on student motivation. This project has demonstrated the environments of distance learning courses can be improved through the application of aesthetic principles. The selected criteria were useful to this Instructional Designer and could prove successful in improving the appearance of other online courses.

While being physically active is an important and valued goal for many individuals, family, work, school, and friends are also valued aspects of their lives. Many social cognitive theories examine health behaviours in isolation, without taking into consideration the context, or life circumstances, in which people seek to achieve such health behaviours. Examining a single goal-directed behaviour without acknowledging the possible influence of other concurrent goals managed by an individual may oversimplify the self-regulation needed in daily life. The overarching purpose of this dissertation was to examine exercise behaviour in the context of concurrently held, valued non-exercise activities (e.g., academics, family). Relationships between valued non-exercise goals, concurrent self-regulatory efficacy, and physical activity behaviour were explored. Social cognitive theory provided the theoretical framework for the three studies conducted. Study 1 sought to discriminate university students whose physical activity level was either commensurate or not with achieving health benefits using social-cognitive predictors. These predictors took into account participants beliefs about the concurrent management of physical activity with other valued non-exercise goals. Results indicated that concurrent self-regulatory efficacy (belief in abilities to self-regulate the management of multiple goals including exercise) discriminated those active enough to achieve health benefits from those who were not active enough. Study 2 used a prospective design to explore potential mechanisms that allow individuals to successfully self-regulate exercise behaviour with other goals during hectic times. Undergraduate students were observed during a 4-week examination period where they faced greater than usual challenges to exercising regularly. Concurrent self-regulatory efficacy was identified as a partial mediator of the relationship between value of an exercise goal and future exercise behaviour, and this effect was stable during this challenging period of time. Study 3 used a randomized experimental design to test the social cognitive theory hypothesis that individuals with greater concurrent self-regulatory efficacy would persevere with exercise to a greater extent when facing numerous exercise barriers than their lower efficacy counterparts. Forty-nine busy working mothers with young children who were exercisers or wanted to exercise comprised the study sample. Participants either high or low in concurrent self-regulatory efficacy were exposed to numerous or minimal exercise barrier scenarios. Consistent with social cognitive theory, when exercise barriers were numerous, mothers with higher concurrent self-regulatory efficacy demonstrated greater perseverance towards achieving their exercise goals, and perceived the concurrent management of exercise along with their other valued life goals as more positively challenging, than did mothers with lower concurrent self-regulatory efficacy. Taken together, these results provide preliminary support for the utility of using social cognitive theory to examine beliefs about concurrent self-regulation of exercise along with other valued non-exercise goals when studying exercise behaviour. Future directions and applications to theory are discussed.

While being physically active is an important and valued goal for many individuals, family, work, school, and friends are also valued aspects of their lives. Many social cognitive theories examine health behaviours in isolation, without taking into consideration the context, or life circumstances, in which people seek to achieve such health behaviours. Examining a single goal-directed behaviour without acknowledging the possible influence of other concurrent goals managed by an individual may oversimplify the self-regulation needed in daily life. The overarching purpose of this dissertation was to examine exercise behaviour in the context of concurrently held, valued non-exercise activities (e.g., academics, family). Relationships between valued non-exercise goals, concurrent self-regulatory efficacy, and physical activity behaviour were explored. Social cognitive theory provided the theoretical framework for the three studies conducted. Study 1 sought to discriminate university students whose physical activity level was either commensurate or not with achieving health benefits using social-cognitive predictors. These predictors took into account participants beliefs about the concurrent management of physical activity with other valued non-exercise goals. Results indicated that concurrent self-regulatory efficacy (belief in abilities to self-regulate the management of multiple goals including exercise) discriminated those active enough to achieve health benefits from those who were not active enough. Study 2 used a prospective design to explore potential mechanisms that allow individuals to successfully self-regulate exercise behaviour with other goals during hectic times. Undergraduate students were observed during a 4-week examination period where they faced greater than usual challenges to exercising regularly. Concurrent self-regulatory efficacy was identified as a partial mediator of the relationship between value of an exercise goal and future exercise behaviour, and this effect was stable during this challenging period of time. Study 3 used a randomized experimental design to test the social cognitive theory hypothesis that individuals with greater concurrent self-regulatory efficacy would persevere with exercise to a greater extent when facing numerous exercise barriers than their lower efficacy counterparts. Forty-nine busy working mothers with young children who were exercisers or wanted to exercise comprised the study sample. Participants either high or low in concurrent self-regulatory efficacy were exposed to numerous or minimal exercise barrier scenarios. Consistent with social cognitive theory, when exercise barriers were numerous, mothers with higher concurrent self-regulatory efficacy demonstrated greater perseverance towards achieving their exercise goals, and perceived the concurrent management of exercise along with their other valued life goals as more positively challenging, than did mothers with lower concurrent self-regulatory efficacy. Taken together, these results provide preliminary support for the utility of using social cognitive theory to examine beliefs about concurrent self-regulation of exercise along with other valued non-exercise goals when studying exercise behaviour. Future directions and applications to theory are discussed.

The Book of Job was extremely popular in the Middle Ages, especially in England, because of its role in liturgy as well as lay religious devotion. I argue that the Book of Job was heavily influential in the writing of the medieval morality plays Castle of Perseverance, Mankind, Wisdom, and Everyman. In the plays, the dramatists mirrored many of Job's structural and artistic elements, creating direct parallels between the Biblical text and the morality plays. The authors also relied on Job's ideological framework to establish their own arguments, forming not only a textual but ideological linkage. Yet the most intriguing connection between Job and the morality plays is their function within the medieval religious context; the Hebrew Book of Job is used as a model for the Christian morality plays. By examining the role of Job in medieval England, I demonstrate how the figure of Job can be used as a Christian rather Jewish model. The influence of the Book of Job is central to the morality plays' structures, artistic techniques, and ideological arguments. I argue that, as other Scriptural books acted as patterns for the medieval cycle and mystery plays, the Book of Job stood as a pattern for the medieval morality plays.