Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-07-28T12:26:15Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) VERSAO_DEFINITIVA_TESE_MARIANA_OLIVEIRA_DA_SILVEIRA_ENG_CIVIL.pdf: 5294359 bytes, checksum: 5329bacd52996926c4c8c81038df732a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-28T12:26:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) VERSAO_DEFINITIVA_TESE_MARIANA_OLIVEIRA_DA_SILVEIRA_ENG_CIVIL.pdf: 5294359 bytes, checksum: 5329bacd52996926c4c8c81038df732a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-21 / CAPEs / Baseada em fundamentos comportamentais, esta tese apresenta variáveis que influenciam na intenção de uso frequente da bicicleta. Entende-se como uso frequente o relacionado a viagens cotidianas ao trabalho e/ou escola. A abordagem na linha comportamental se deve a relevância desta categoria de pesquisa mediante levantamento bibliográfico sobre motivadores e empecilhos ao uso frequente da bicicleta. A Teoria do Comportamento Planejado (TCP) junto à técnica estatística de regressão logística é adotada para definição de variáveis que influenciam no uso frequente da bicicleta entre 500 não ciclistas e potenciais ciclistas de duas instituições do Recife, do CESAR (empresa de inovação tecnológica) e da UFPE. As variáveis „infraestrutura cicloviária‟, „andar de bicicleta é bom para a saúde‟, „custo para se ter e/ou usar a bicicleta‟, „tempo de deslocamento com o uso da bicicleta‟ e „volume do tráfego motorizado‟ foram as que obtiveram significância estatística na influência de uso frequente da bicicleta entre as duas amostras analisadas. Quando essas variáveis são relacionadas com os fundamentos da Teoria do Comportamento Planejado tem-se que crenças de Atitude e de Controle Comportamental Percebido determinaram o resultado da pesquisa, o que indica que são as variáveis dessas crenças que devem ser trabalhadas nas políticas públicas de incentivo ao uso frequente da bicicleta. / Based on behavioral elements, this thesis introduces variables that influence the intention of frequent use of bicycle. The frequent use is related to daily trips to work and / or school. The approach in behavioral line is due to the relevance of this research category by literature on motivators and obstacles to the frequent use of bicycles. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with the logistic regression statistical technique is adopted to define variables that influence the frequent use of bicycles among 500 non cyclists and potential cyclists of two institutions of Recife, CESAR (technological innovation company) and UFPE. The variables 'cycling infrastructure', 'cycling is good for health', 'cost to own and / or to use the bicycle', 'travel time using the bicycle' and 'volume of motorized traffic' were which achieved statistical significance in influence of the frequent use of bicycle between the two samples. When these variables are related to the elements of the Theory of Planned Behavior we have that beliefs Attitude and Perception of Behavioral Control determined the research result, which indicates that these variables should be dealt with in the public policies which intends to influence the use of bicycles.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Human Ecology-Personal Financial Planning / Maurice M. MacDonald / Crimes are committed for a vast and varying number of reasons. Many of those who commit crime are found guilty and serve their sentences. In most situations, the offenders will complete their sentences and subsequently be released back into society. The question then arises, is the offender prepared to return to society? There are numerous factors associated with successful reentry, but one that has not yet been addressed is financial behavior after release. This dissertation takes a first step toward understanding potential post-release financial behavior. The purpose of this primary data study was to use the theory of planned behavior as a context to examine how aspects of incarceration history—the type of crime committed (financial and non-financial), total years incarcerated, and total number of convictions—may influence financial attitude, financial subjective norms, perceptions of behavioral control, and post-release financial intentions. Use of the theory of planned behavior in this special, vulnerable population is needed to assist educators and professionals to determine what training offenders may need to succeed once back in society. This study focuses on Georgia Transitional Center participants’ post-release financial intentions. There is not much research regarding men and women who have experienced incarceration and their relationships with financial resources. Understanding the nature of Americans’ financial resources is challenging. Adding incarceration to the equation further complicates the investigation, but it is a worthwhile for a more comprehensive understanding of factors that may later affect success in society. This dissertation is the first study to investigate post-release financial intentions of men and women in a work release program.

Master of Science / Department of Journalism and Mass Communications / Sam Mwangi / Consumption philanthropy (CP) provides consumers with an opportunity to support charities through consumption of charity-linked products promoted by corporations. Although research on consumers’ response to corporate philanthropy continues to grow, little is known about contextual factors that influence young donors’ willingness to participate in CP. Moreover, CP, also known as cause marketing (CM), has received little attention in public relations research. This study attempts to reduce the gap in the literature. Drawing from the theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this research is to examine beliefs about altruistic goals, perceptions, perceived support, and external control beliefs related to CP participation among Millennials. Findings indicate that the primary factors influencing the participation willingness of the Millennial consumer group are the portion of the proceeds that benefits the cause, the beneficiary, and a high social pressure. Also, Millennials have expectations from their participation in consumption philanthropy programs. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications for research and practices regarding messaging strategies for consumer advertising campaigns.

The objective of this research is to ground the reputation construct in theory and to explore the formation of reputation through beliefs about the university and attitude toward the university. Additionally, it will allow for analysis of the consequences of reputation, specifically behavioral intentions, which has received limited attention in the extant literature. This study seeks a better understanding of the construct of reputation. Much of the existing literature on reputation has focused on measuring reputation. Earlier work identified reputation from a strategic perspective and more recently, studies have identified the importance of also understanding reputation from the stakeholder perspective. However, very few of either types of research have identified the theoretical foundation for the formation of reputation (Caruana, Cohen, & Krentler, 2006). There is also a paucity of research that examines the consequences or outcomes of reputation. This study will specifically examine the impact of university reputation on the behavioral consequences of prospective students. This study utilizes the theory of planned behavior (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975) to identify how reputation is formed through beliefs about and attitude toward the organization that results in behavioral intentions. The proposed model for this study is an adaptation of the Fishbein and Ajzen (1975) model and the model presented by Money and Hillenbrand (2006). Respondents to the survey were prospective students at two universities in the southeastern United States. Results support the hypothesis that beliefs about the organization and attitude toward the organization are related. Multiple regression identified that emotional appeal, social and environmental responsibility and financial performance of the university were significant predictors for a student‟s likelihood of enrolling in the university.

The primary objective of this study was to examine the association between the theory of planned behavior (TBP) and adherence to a multidisciplinary pain center (MPC) treatment program for chronic pain. While the results of several studies have provided support for the efficacy of MPC treatment in chronic pain, the problems of adherence and attrition are important. TPB is a cognitive/social model of behavior that has been used to predict a variety of behaviors, although it has never been used to predict adherence to a multidisciplinary chronic pain treatment program. It was predicted that Adherence would be predicted by Intentions and that Intentions would be predicted by 1) Perceived Social Norms, 2) Perceived Behavioral Control, 3) Attitudes Toward New Behavior (completing the treatment program), and 4) Attitude Toward Current Behavior (maintaining current treatment and coping strategies). It was found that the total Intentions scores did not predict the total Adherence scores. However, Intentions was predicted by 1) Perceived Behavioral Control, 2) Attitudes Toward New Behavior (completing the treatment program), and 3) Attitude Toward Current Behavior (maintaining current treatment and coping strategies). The finding that Perceived Social Norms did not predict Intentions was consistent with results of previous studies with the TBP. The secondary objective was to examine the extent to which MPC treatment affects patients' attitudes towards behaviors that are associated with successful pain management. The majority of the patients (82%) developed a more favorable attitude toward the program and their average report of the importance of the program was 6.78 on a 10-point scale. The majority of patients (74%) reported experiencing a greater decrease in pain than expected, and the average amount of pain decrease was 5.39 on a 10-point scale.

The transition to college is marked by poorer eating behaviors. The Theory of planned behavior (TPB) represents a promising tool for predicting eating behaviors through the examination of attitudes (ATT), subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), and intention (INT). Despite prior application of the TPB, there exist several key methodological issues in the literature addressing eating behaviors. The present study utilized an enhanced dietary assessment methodology, the ASA24 dietary recall, and a short-term prospective design to assess the healthy eating behaviors of emerging adults in college. Dietary recalls of 68 participants (average age = 20.76 years; 70.6% female; 70.6% non-Hispanic, 48.5% White, 22.10% Black/African American, 13.20% Asian) were analyzed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010 scoring system. Results revealed that very few college students are meeting recommended dietary guidelines. Linear regression indicated that the indirect TPB variables (ATT, SN, and PBC) were related to INT (F[3,64] = 19.67, p < .001), although SN did not account for unique variance. Further, the direct TPB variables (INT and PBC) were related to HEI-2010 scores (F[2,65] = 4.00, p = .023); however, only PBC accounted for significant variance. Overall, findings suggest that more favorable attitudes relate to intention, but only perceived behavioral control consistently relates to actual healthy eating behavior.

Ajzen's (1988) theory of planned behavior (TOPB) was used to examine psychological determinants of high-risk UV radiation exposure-related behaviors (sunbathing, tanning salon use, and sunscreen use). Undergraduates at a midsized southeastern university were assessed on their psychological and behavioral tendencies toward high-risk UV radiation exposure-related behaviors. The results generally supported the utility of the TOPB as an explanatory model for high-risk behavior. Attitudes were strongly associated with high-risk intentions (e.g., not utilize sunscreen, use salons), whereas subjective norms were less so. Perceived behavioral control was found to moderate the relationship among attitudes, norms, and intentions to sunbathe and tan at a salon. Implications for intervention strategies and future model building in this area are discussed.

Objective. To examine the extent to which theory of planned behavior (TPB) constructs and demographic characteristics explain pharmacy students’ dispensing intentions in ethically or legally gray areas involving potential substance misuse or abuse. Methods. Two cohorts of third-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students (n5159) were provided with five written cases describing common “gray area” dispensing scenarios in community practice involving medications and devices with potential for misuse or abuse (eg, long-term buprenorphine maintenance prescription without evidence of tapering, early refill of a narcotic for an out-of-town patient, non-prescription sale of pseudoephedrine). Students completed a 12-item survey instrument for each case. Items assessed whether the student would dispense the medication or device in the given scenario, how many times in 10 similar scenarios the student would dispense the medication or device, attitudes regarding dispensing, and subjective norm and perceived behavioral control beliefs. Results. Wide variation in the percentages of students who would dispense the medications or devices was noted across the five scenarios (14% in the buprenorphine scenario to 61% in the pseudoephedrine scenario). Attitude scores significantly predicted dispensing decisions in all scenarios (p,.001), whereas subjective norm and perceived behavioral control beliefs were significant predictors of dispensing only in select case scenarios. Gender and community pharmacy work experience did not consistently predict dispensing intentions. Conclusion. Student attitudes consistently predicted intent to dispense across five gray practice scenarios. These findings can be used to inform development of educational interventions that influence students’ attitudes and self-awareness in community practice decision-making scenarios involving potential substance misuse or abuse.

No description available.

Chemical and biological agents can cause serious adverse occupational health effects, and can adversely impact environmental health. Adverse incidents occur in laboratories using chemical, biological and radiologic agents, and laboratories pose a number of dangers to workers. Adverse incidents occur more frequently in teaching and research institutions when compared to industrial laboratories. Good laboratory safety practices, including the use of personal protective equipment, can reduce the number and severity of laboratory accidents, thus reducing the risk of chemical, biological and radiologic exposure for workers and for the public. Improving laboratory safety training should also result in fewer lab accidents. This study was conducted at a mid-sized Midwestern research university. The study population consisted of people who had attended a laboratory safety training session in 2010, 2011 or 2012. Following administration of a pilot survey and development of additional items, a sample (N=451) of the total population (N=936) received a survey inquiring about the use of personal protective equipment, and about laboratory safety training. 143 completed surveys were returned. The survey was based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991). Theoretical constructs investigated included personal protective equipment attitude, subjective norm, behavioral control, behavioral intention, past self-reported behavior, and safety training attitude. Multiple regression showed that the overall model accounted for 56% of the variability in the study population. Subjective norm was the theoretical construct most strongly predictive of behavioral intention (B=.653, p=.001). Attitude was next most strongly predictive of intention (B=.343, p=.001). Behavioral control was not significantly correlated with behavioral intention. There was a positive significant correlation between training attitude and behavioral intention (Pearson's r = 0.233, p=.006, 2-tailed). There was also a positive significant correlation between attitude toward personal protective equipment, and attitude toward training (Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.332, p=.001, 2-tailed). Self-reported behavior was regressed on the three theoretical constructs. Subjective norm was most significantly predictive of self-reported behavior (B = .523, p= .001), followed by attitude (B = .281, p= .034). Behavioral control was not significantly predictive of self-reported behavior. The study determined that about 80% of respondents felt that their lab was usually or always a safe place to work, although 40% reported having been injured in a lab. Training can be improved by emphasizing the importance of subjective norm, by clarifying the responsibilities of lab supervisors, and by providing additional information regarding how to obtain, use, and care for personal protective equipment. Use of personal protective equipment may be increased by emphasizing the importance of subjective norm during training.