The purpose of this study was three-fold / to determine the personality and financial risk-taking attitude differences between sports gambling students and non-gambling students, to specify gambling motivations of the sport gambling students and to identify the relationship among personality traits, financial risk-taking attitude and gambling motivations of the students who gamble on sport events. The subject group of this research was composed of 1109 Middle East Technical University students who were participating in sport gambling activities (n=435) and who had never participated in sport gambling activities (n=674). While males were composing the 63.1% (n=700), females composed 36.9% (n=409) of the total research group. The mean age of the subject group was 21.77 &plusmn / 2.12. Big Five Personality Inventory (John, Donahue, &amp / Kentle, 1991), Investment Risk Attitude Scale (Nyhus, 1995) and Gambling Motivation Scales (Chantal, Vallerand and Vallieres, 1994) were used in the data collection process of the research. Results indicated that sport gambling students and non-gambling students showed significant differences in personality (p&lt / .01). There was significant differences between sport gambling students and non-gamblers in extraversion , conscientiousness and in openness trait (p&lt / .002). Also, results demonstrated that sport gambling students and non-gambling students showed significant differences in financial risk-taking attitudes (p&lt / .01). Personality and gender variables accounted for a significant amount on the financial risk-taking attitude of the non-gambling subjects. Personality, gambling motivations and gender accounted for a significant amount on the financial risk-taking attitude of sport gambling subjects. Sport gambling students showed no significant difference in their gambling motivations according to their gender (p&gt / .01). Sport gambling students were primarily motivated with intrinsic motivating factors of gambling. Personality, financial risk-taking attitude and gambling experience accounted for a significant amount on the gambling motivations of sport gambling students. Finally, this study pointed that university students who were more extraverted and more open were more prone to gambling on sport events and were more permissive towards financial risk-taking. Additionally, results revealed that enjoyment, amusement and learning were the primary motivating factors that lead university students towards sport gambling.

The aims of the current study are to examine the relation of risk taking behaviors (RTBs) with perceived risk, perceived benefit, and impulsivity and also to investigate the moderator role of impulsivity on the relationships between engagement in RTBs and the predictors of the engagement in RTBs (i.e. perceived risk and benefit) after controlling the effects of age, gender, and self esteem. In order to measure engagement in RTBs, perceived risk, and perceived benefit, Modified Risk Involvement and Perception Scale (&Ouml / zmen, 2006) was adapted to Turkish culture in Study 1 by using Middle East Technical University (METU) students. The sample of Study 2 was composed of 234 METU students and a questionnaire set including demographic information sheet, Modified Risk Involvement and Perception Scale (M-RIPS) (&Ouml / zmen, 2006), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale version 11 (BIS-11) (G&uuml / le&ccedil / et al., 2008), and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES) (Rosenberg, 1965) was administered. Multiple hierarchical regression analysis was conducted with perceived risk, perceived benefit, and impulsivity as independent variables and engagement in RTBs as the dependent variable. The findings suggested that perceived risk was negatively whereas perceived benefit and impulsivity was positively related to risk taking behaviors. Moreover, as compared to perceived risk, perceived benefit was a more powerful predictor of RTB. However, it was not found any moderator role of impulsivity on the relationships between engagement in RTBs and its predictors. The strengths and limitations, as well as implications of the findings were discussed.

Creative people are most valuable treasures of a nation. In order to cope with the complicated problems of the rapidly changing and developing modern life and to ensure that the society makes progress via new breakthroughs and inventions, we need creative individuals. Thus, the research on creativity in the school environment where creativity takes its roots from is crucial. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the extent to which personality traits, motivation, academic risk-taking and metacognition explain the mathematical creative ability of high school students. The study was carried out during the fall semester of 2011-2012 academic year at two science high schools and a private high school. A total of 217 preparatory and ninth grade students were involved in the study. The participants completed a set of measures about personality traits, motivation, academic risk-taking, metacognition and creative ability in mathematics. Standard multiple regression analysis was conducted to evaluate how well the independent variables predicted creative ability in mathematics. The results revealed that openness to experience and consciousness were significantly correlated with creative ability in mathematics. However, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism were not correlated with creativity scores. Moreover, intrinsic goal orientation followed by openness to experience was the most significant predictor of mathematical creative ability. Yet, academic risk-taking was not significantly correlated with creative ability. Although knowledge of cognition and regulation of cognition showed moderate correlations with creative ability in mathematics, they failed to predict creative ability in multiple regression equation.

A central bank is usually assigned two functions: the control of inflation and the maintenance of a safetybanking sector. What are the precise conditions under which trigger strategies from the private sector can solve the time inconsistency problem and induce the central bank to choose zero inflation under a nonstationary natural rate? Can an optimal contract be used together with reputation forces to implement a desired socially optimal monetary policy rule? How to design a truthtelling contract to control the risk taking behaviors of the bank? My dissertation attempts to deal with these issues using three primary methodologies: monetary economics, game theory and optimal stochastic control theory.

Most of previous word of mouth studies focused on marketing and consumer behavior issues. However, for job applicants, word of mouth could be a significant reference when applicants are looking for jobs. The present study tried to find out if word of mouth will influence organizational attractiveness perceived by potential applicants and under what situations related to word of mouth have the stronger effect. Hence, the study examined if the impact of word of mouth and if these impacts are moderated by the situational variables of tie strength with presenters and expertise of presenters and moderated by individual-difference variables of self-monitoring, self-esteem, and risk-taking. Results indicated that word of mouth has significant impact on organizational attractiveness. The moderation effects of potential applicants¡¦ tie strength with presenters, expertise of presenters, and self-esteem are also supported.

Previous literature has shown that risk factors for delinquency include individual characteristics of impulsivity and risk-taking as well as contextual influences such as neighborhoods, parenting and engagement in physical activity (e.g., exercise, sports). Theory suggests that individual characteristics interact with contextual factors to influence child development, however evidence is limited. The current study examined the interaction between these individual and contextual risks to influence childhood delinquency in a community sample of 89 children ranging from 9 to 12 years of age (M = 10.4, SD = 1.1). Questionnaire measures showed that both caregiver report of impulsivity and self-reported risk-taking were positively associated with self-reported delinquency, yet no interactions with contextual factors were found. When using computer tasks, neither impulsivity nor risk-taking were significantly associated with delinquency. However, a risk-taking by physical activity interaction was found, such that at low levels of physical activity risk-taking was positively related to delinquency, yet at high levels of physical activity, risk-taking and delinquency were unrelated. Thus, programs that involve physical activity may be useful prevention and intervention strategies for risk-taking children.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-136).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, Aug., 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-166). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-166). Also available on the Internet.