The notion of affective commitment has become important in the organizational sciences. This study focused on the antecedents and the consequences of affective commitment. The antecedents include organizational commitment to employees, perceived organizational support, employee empowerment, and job satisfaction; the consequence is represented by employee perceived service quality. Previous studies suggest that affective commitment has positive effects on employees' organizational behaviors, for instance, intention to quit and job performance. In today's competitive environment, retaining committed employees is not impossible but challenging, especially in the service industry. The objective of this study was to develop a theoretical model of affective commitment and to test the relationships between affective commitment and its antecedents and consequence. The data set for this study contained related research information from more than 4000 employees at a U.S. resort organization. To minimize the effect of large sample size, the opinions on the scope of affective commitment from 400 randomly selected hourly employees were analyzed. Using structural equation modeling technique in a two-stage approach, the theoretical model was evaluated and the hypotheses were tested. Multiple regression analysis was carried out to further identify whether employee empowerment could be used as an indicator to predict affective commitment. Additionally, 400 randomly selected cases were used to validate the model. The validation process confirmed that the initial theoretical model could be used to generalize to the population. Results from the statistical analysis indicated that affective commitment was positively related to its antecedents and consequence: organizational commitment to employees, perceived organizational support, job satisfaction, and employee perceived service quality. In addition, organizational support to employees was found to have a positive effect on employee perceived service quality. Surprisingly, the expected relationship between employee empowerment and affective commitment was not statistically significant, neither was the expected relationship between employee empowerment and employee perceived service quality. The findings brought some insight into the study of affective commitment. The managerial implications were explored. Additionally, limitations and future research suggestions were discussed. / Ph. D.

The main purposes of this study were to investigate the causality, congruence, and relationships among the constructs in the strategic management process. Perceived environmental certainty, organizational structure, types of strategy, types of strategy implementation, and satisfaction level with performance were selected as relevant constructs for this study. A total of 184 responses to a survey given to top management in the hospitality industry, including restaurant and lodging firms, were analyzed. The various relationships among the constructs were hypothesized and tested by utilizing exploratory factor, confirmatory factor, and structural equation modeling analyses. The exploratory factor analysis revealed several dimensions of both strategy and strategy implementation constructs. The reliabilities, validities, and model fits of each construct and of all constructs together were assessed by utilizing confirmatory factor analysis. Finally, the various structural relationships among the constructs were tested by structural equation modeling. Results revealed the existence of causality in the model. Results also indicated a positive relationship between perceived environmental certainty and the defender type of strategy. A negative effect of the defender type of strategy and a positive effect of the prospector type of strategy on organic organizational structure were revealed. Perceived environmental certainty had a positive effect on the collaborator type of strategy implementation. An organic organizational structure had a positive effect on the commander type of strategy implementation. A positive effect of the defender type of strategy on the commander type of strategy implementation, and the positive effect of the prospector type of strategy on the collaborator type of strategy implementation were identified. There were positive effects of the prospector type of strategy and the collaborator type of strategy implementation on the satisfaction level with performance. Finally, a positive effect of the congruence between the prospector type of strategy and the collaborator type of strategy implementation on the satisfaction level with performance was revealed. Several hypothesized relationships were not supported: a negative effect of perceived environmental certainty on the prospector type of strategy, a negative effect of perceived environmental certainty on organic organizational structure, a positive effect of perceived environmental certainty on the commander type of strategy implementation, a positive effect of an organic organizational structure on the collaborator type of strategy implementation, a positive effect of the defender type of strategy on the satisfaction level with performance, and a positive effect of the commander type of strategy implementation on the satisfaction level with performance. The results of statistical analysis implied that top management in the hospitality industry did not perceive the environment as an important factor contributing to a firm's performance. In addition, top management was reluctant to change organizational structure. Also, many firms in the industry still practice a defensive strategy and strategy implementation with the traditional pyramid type of organizational structure, which does not contribute positively to a satisfaction level with performance. Finally, the prospector type of strategy and the collaborator type of strategy implementation were important contributors to the satisfaction level with performance. In spite of some limitations, including the problems associated with generalizability, the advantages that could have been gained by a longitudinal study, the lack of some relevant variables, and subjective nature of the data, the findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the strategic management process in the hospitality industry by revealing various relationships among the constructs in the strategic management process. / Ph. D.

This study was conducted to theoretically develop and empirically test a structural equation model of tourism destination competitiveness from the tourism stakeholders'perspective. The proposed hypotheses that attempted to identify the structural relationships among the five constructs in the model were examined through a series of analyses in LISREL: 1) perceived tourism development impacts, 2) environmental attitudes, 3) place attachment, 4) development preferences about destination attractions/resources, and 5) support for destination competitive strategies The principle guideline of this study was that the support of tourism stakeholders for tourism planning and development is a key element for the successful operation, management, and long-term sustainability of tourism destinations. Tourism stakeholders' solid knowledge and experiences in tourism management and industry, professional involvement and participation in tourism planning and development, and long-term community observation and interactions have played an important role in tourism destination management. A total of 646 usable questionnaires were collected from randomly selected tourism stakeholders in the state of Virginia. From the results of hypotheses tests, tourism stakeholders' preferences about tourism attractions/ resources development are a function of perceived tourism development impacts as well as place attachment. The more stakeholders' preference for developing tourism attractions/resources, the more likely they were to support destination competitive strategies such as marketing efforts and activities, and destination management organizations' role. An additional finding that was not hypothesized indicated that tourism stakeholders, who have perceived benefits from tourism development, particularly in its economic and cultural aspects, are likely to support enhancement strategies for destination competitiveness. The implications of these findings can be applied to the enhancement of tourism destination competitiveness. / Ph. D.

This study provides an integrated approach to understanding the relationship between destination branding and tourist behavior, and attempts to extend the theoretical and empirical evidence about the structural relationships among the following constructs: destination image, perceived quality, destination awareness (elements of destination branding), tourist satisfaction, and tourist loyalty (elements of tourist behavior) in the leisure tourism market. This study develops and empirically tests a destination branding model and its relevant components from the perspectives of tourists, so that it will help destination marketers to build more competitive tourism destinations. The destination brand model is based on relationship marketing theory, signaling theory, and brand equity theory. The model proposed four major hypotheses: 1) destination branding has a direct positive influence on tourist loyalty; 2) destination branding has an indirect positive influence on tourist loyalty through tourist satisfaction; 3) tourist satisfaction has a positive influence on tourist loyalty; and 4) the relationship between destination branding and tourist satisfaction is moderated by trip types. A sample population consisting of residents of Virginia was surveyed. A stratified sampling method and a random sampling method were used to select the sample. A total of 304 usable questionnaires out of 2,000 questionnaires were collected. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test hypotheses in this study. The results revealed that: 1) cognitive destination image and destination familiarity had a direct influence on tourist loyalty as well as an indirect influence on tourist loyalty through tourist satisfaction; 2) affective destination image had only an indirect impact on tourist loyalty through tourist satisfaction; 3) tourist satisfaction had a significant relationship with tourist loyalty; and 4) cognitive destination image, affective destination image, and destination recognition were moderated by trip types. This study can initiate the development of theoretical foundations for destination branding. Also, the implications of these findings can help destination managers and marketers build competitive strategies for destination branding in order to ensure long-term relationships between tourists and their destinations. / Ph. D.

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology)) --University of Limpopo,2019 / Sociocultural pressures, including the thin-ideal internalization, and other aspects of self-objectification, are associated with body dissatisfaction. However, there is limited research regarding the association between self-objectification and engagement in health related behaviours among African females. A quantitative study was conducted with a sample of 411 female African university students from the University of Limpopo, South Africa to investigate the relationship between internalisation of sociocultural beauty standards and body dissatisfaction and engagement in health related behaviours. The study further explored whether cultural identity would moderate the relationship between internalisation of socio-cultural beauty standards and both body dissatisfaction and engagement in health related behaviours. Structural equation modelling (SEM) suggested that internalization of socio-cultural beauty standards significantly predicted students’ body satisfaction. No statistically significant relationship was found between internalization of socio-cultural beauty standards and engagement in health related behaviours. Also, cultural identity did not moderate the relationship between self-objectification and both body dissatisfaction and engagement in health related behaviours. This being a single study, further research is required to determine the relationship between the variables.

Telecommunicators (e.g., dispatchers and 911 operators) experience firsthand the death and suffering of friends, family, peers, and strangers in a chaotic work environment characterized by chronic stress and lack of support. Previous research has demonstrated telecommunicators are at increased risk for negative health outcomes; however, existing research does not identify predictive pathways to posttrauma symptoms in telecommunicators. In an application of the transactional theory of stress and coping, I used structural equation modeling to examine occupational antecedents, work-family conflict, negative appraising, and coping as predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms in telecommunicators. A convenience sample of 103 telecommunicators, recruited through agencies across the United States, completed a series of PTSD, stress, and coping surveys. Results supported three theorems from the transactional theory of stress and coping: (a) Chronic antecedents are correlated with work-family conflict (r = .54, p < .01), (b) work-family conflict predicted negative appraising ( β = .64, p < .01), and (c) coping predicted posttraumatic stress symptoms in telecommunicators ( β = .30, p = .01). These findings contribute to the current body of occupational health literature by expanding understanding of telecommunicators'€™ occupational experiences and appraisals and provide insights into modifiable processes and policies that can enhance and protect telecommunicator long term health. Specifically, employee-focused policies directed at preserving work-home balance and reducing chronic stressors in the workplace are recommended. Additionally, further research can be initiated to evaluate effectiveness of policy changes in telecommunicator appraising, health, and wellbeing.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(エネルギー科学) / 甲第21188号 / エネ博第362号 / 新制||エネ||71(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院エネルギー科学研究科エネルギー社会・環境科学専攻 / (主査)教授 石原 慶一, 教授 東野 達, 教授 吉田 純 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Energy Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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Thesis advisor: Lillie L. Albert / Increasing students' intentions to pursue mathematics-intensive careers is an urgent priority in the United States. To foster these intentions among marginalized student groups, such as immigrant students, and achieve equity in their career options, a critical question is whether we should allocate a greater proportion of school resources to mathematics over other subjects. The aims of this dissertation study were, first, to conceptually model and statistically evaluate how a school environment that prioritizes mathematics over other subjects might influence students' intentions to pursue mathematics over other academic subjects in the long term, and second, how this relationship is mediated by students’ mathematics pursuit attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavior (Ajzen, 1991), and moderated by their immigrant standing. The data for this study stemmed from the U.S. 2012 Programme For International Student Assessment Academic & Science (PISA) Student Questionnaire and School Questionnaire. A predictive mean matching technique was used to impute missing data that would resemble observed data. A 2-1-1 multilevel mediation Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was implemented to accurately measure a school-level effect and student-level effect of the relationship of the examined constructs and to test the hypothesized model for the total sample. In order to compare immigrant student group and non-immigrant student group in the path model, multiple group path analysis was conducted. The results of the multilevel SEM model for the total sample presented that, at the school level (level 2), the school’s mathematics resources had no statistically significant direct and indirect effects on aggregated students’ intentions to pursue mathematics over other subjects. However, at the student level (level 1), students’ experiential and instrumental attitudes toward the pursuit of mathematics were positively related to students’ intentions to pursue mathematics over other subjects. The results of the multiple group path analysis comparing immigrant and non-immigrant student groups also found that the school’s mathematics resources had no statistically significant direct and indirect effects on students’ intentions to pursue mathematics over other subjects. However, a statistical difference in the overall path model of these two groups was found. The implications of this study for researchers, educators, and policymakers were discussed. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2021. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Teacher Education, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction.

Law enforcement administrators are concerned about the levels of public satisfaction with the police as a key to successful policing. Citizens who are satisfied with the police are more willing to provide cooperation with the police that is essential for the organization to reduce crime and serve the community effectively. Existing empirical studies have shown that citizen demographic characteristics and police performance are predictors of satisfaction with the police. The limitation of the previous studies, however, is that they did not consider what police agencies can do, specifically how they change or determine police performance. Without the organizational-level consideration, we may falsely blame individual police officers and their policing activities for the current elevated tension between the public and the police. This research attempts to address the void in the existing literature by introducing an extended theoretical framework that is structured with organizational-level predictors built upon already identified individual-level relationships with public satisfaction with the police.Using the Law Enforcement Organizations (LEO) survey A and Police-Community Interaction (PCI) survey of the National Police Research Platform Phase II, 2013–2015, at the organizational level, the current research examines the indirect associations between organizational characteristics (i.e., transformational leadership and organizational justice) of police agencies and public satisfaction with the police. Police job satisfaction and the proxy measures of police job performance (i.e., satisfaction with the specific police contact and perception of neighborhood safety) are the intervening variables in the relationship. In the current research, the merged data, including 16,547 citizens from 52 police agencies, are used for the analyses. The primary statistical approaches for the examination include factor analyses for the measurement model, bivariate analyses, and Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling (MSEM). The major finding of this research is that organizational justice, which is about the fairness of organizational behaviors, has an indirect association with public satisfaction with the police through police job satisfaction and citizen perceptions of neighborhood safety. This finding indicates that not only are individual police officers who encounter citizens and provide services able to shape citizen perceptions of the police, but police agencies and their administrators are able to actively improve the levels of satisfaction with the police overall.