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.

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This dissertation examined the differences in group mean scores of traditional and pilot groups on the students' motivational beliefs and their intention to pursue majors and careers in engineering. The difference between the two groups was in terms of instruction techniques used. The instructional techniques used for the traditional group was that of traditional engineering design (TED), while the technique used for the pilot group had more features of an active learning approach. Further, it tested the tenability of the domain identification model. The domain identification model was used to understand students' decision-making processes in committing to engineering majors and engineering careers. The data for this study was collected via online survey from first-year engineering students enrolled in an introductory engineering course at a research-intensive university located in southeastern US. The sample sizes of the traditional group and pilot group at the beginning of the semester were 875 and 188, respectively. The sample sizes of the traditional group and pilot group at the end of the semester were 812 and 242, respectively. The mean differences between the two groups were computed using t-tests via SPSS version 22.0. The causality hypothesized among variables in the domain identification model were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques. The measurement and structural models were estimated using LISREL version 9.1. This study followed the two-step SEM approach that Anderson and Gerbing (1988) suggested. A measurement model with an acceptable fit to the data was obtained followed by an estimation and evaluation of structural models. All the independent sample t-tests were not statistically significant indicating that the mean scores of students in the two groups did not differ significantly on any of the motivational and intention variables. The hypothesized measurement and structural models provided a good fit to the data. A few post-hoc revisions were made to the models. This study brought empirical evidence that the domain identification model can be used to understand students' major-and career-decision making processes. Engineering identification was a better predictor of major intention and career intention compared to engineering program utility, engineering program belonging, and engineering program expectancy. / Ph. D.

The streaming of audiobooks is a new and fast-growing phenomenon amongst Swedish consumers. There exists a lack of knowledge on this topic as it is previously unexplored within academia. As the audiobook streaming services are growing it is important for providers and competitors to understand the key factors determining usage intention from an end-user’s perspective. This thesis therefore examines what factors influence end-user’s adoption of audiobook streaming-services, the examination extends both for consumers intention to begin using as well as continue using the service. Factors related to the end-user’s usage intention were explored and identified in a Swedish context. A theoretical model consisting of eight hypotheses was constructed to examine the relationships between five variables. The model is based on previous literature of technology adoption and in particular the technology acceptance model (TAM). Additional theory was gathered on previous research on similar technologies such consumers adoption of E-books and E-readers. To achieve the research purpose of the thesis, a quantitative method was used and data was gathered through an online questionnaire with 935 (769 valid) responses. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used with RStudio to test the collected data on our theoretical model. The results showcased that our model was successful in explaining key factors influencing usage intention. The findings indicate that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use influence usage intention positively, while end-user’s attachment to paper books and reading impact usage intention negatively. Further results and the implications of these results are discussed.

There are four major aims of this study: Firstly, factors regarding university students&rsquo / approaches to studying, self-efficacy in mathematics, problem solving strategies, demographic profile, mathematical thinking and reasoning competencies were identified through the adopted survey and the competency test which was designed by the researcher. These scales were administered to 431 undergraduate students of mathematics, elementary and secondary mathematics education in Ankara and in Northern Cyprus and to prospective teachers of classroom teacher and early childhood education of teacher training academy in Northern Cyprus. Secondly, three structural models were proposed to explore the interrelationships among idenitified factors. Thirdly, among three models, the model yielding best fit to data was selected to evaluate the equality of the factor structure across Ankara and Northern Cyprus regions. Lastly, differences regarding pre-identified factors with respect to gender, region and grade level separately and dual, triple interaction effects were investigated through two two-way MANOVA and a three-way ANOVA analyses. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to determine the factors / meaning orientation, mathematics self-efficacy, motivation, disorganized study methods and surface approach for the survey and &lsquo / expressing, extracting and computing mathematically&rsquo / (fundamental skills) and &lsquo / logical inferencing and evaluating conditional statements in real life situations&rsquo / (elaborate skills) for the test. The three models commonly revealed that while mathematics self-efficacy has a significant positive effect on both fundamental and elaborate skills, motivation which is a combination of intrinsic, extrinsic and achievement motivational items was found to have a negative direct impact on fundamental skills and has a negative indirect contribution upon elaborate skills. The results generally support the invariance of the tested factor structure across two regions with some evidence of differences. Ankara region sample yielded similar factor structure to that of the entire sample&rsquo / s results whereas / no significant relationships were observed for Northern Cyprus region sample. Results of gender, grade level and region related differences in the factors of the survey and the test and on the total test indicated that, females are more meaning oriented than males. &lsquo / Fourth and fifth (senior)&rsquo / and third year university students use disorganized study methods more often than second year undergraduate students. In addition, senior students are more competent than second and third year undergraduate students in terms of both skills. Freshmen students outscored sophomore students in the elaborate skills. Students from Ankara region are more competent in terms of both skills than students from Northern Cyprus region. This last inference is also valid on the total test score for both regions. Males performed better on the total test than females. Moreover, there exist region and grade level interaction effect upon both skills. Additionally, significant interaction effects of &lsquo / region and gender&rsquo / , &lsquo / region and grade level&rsquo / , &lsquo / gender and grade level&rsquo / and &lsquo / region and gender and grade level&rsquo / were detected upon the total test score.

The present paper develops a procedure based on multivariate copulas for simulating multivariate non-normal data that satisfies a pre-specified covariance matrix. The covariance matrix used, can comply with a specific moment structure form (e.g., a factor analysis or a general SEM model). So the method is particularly useful for Monte Carlo evaluation of SEM models in the context of non-normal data. The new procedure for non-normal data simulation is theoretically described and also implemented on the widely used R environment. The quality of the method is assessed by performing Monte Carlo simulations. Within this context a one-sample test on the observed VC-matrix is involved. This test is robust against normality violations. This test is defined through a particular SEM setting. Finally, an example for Monte Carlo evaluation of SEM modeling of non-normal data using this method is presented. (author's abstract) / Series: Research Report Series / Department of Statistics and Mathematics

To date, police organizations have not been rigorously analyzed by organizational scholars and most analysis of these organizations has been captured through a single construct. The purpose of this study is to develop confirmatory police organizational analysis by validating a multi-dimensional conceptual framework that explains the relationships among three constructs: environmental constraints, the design structures of police organizations, and organizational performance indicators. The modeling is deeply rooted in contingency theory, and the influence of isomorphism and institutional theory on the covariance structure model are investigated. One hundred and thirteen local police organizations from the State of Florida are included in this non-experimental, cross-sectional study to determine the direct effect of the environmental constraints on the performance of police organizations, the indirect effect of environmental constraints on the performance of police organizations via the organizational design structure of police organizations, and the direct affect of organizational design structure on performance of police organizations. For the first time, structural equation modeling and data envelopment analysis are used together to confirm the effects of the environment on police organization structure and performance. The results indicate that environmental social economic disparity indicators have a large positive effect on police resources and a medium effect on police efficiency. Propensity of crime indicators has a large negative effect on police resources, and population density has a small to medium negative effect on crime clearance. Structure has a much smaller effect on performance than the environment. The results of the efficiency analysis revealed unexpected findings. Three of the top five largest police organizations in the study scored maximum efficiency. The cause of this unexpected result is explained and confirmed in the covariance model. The study methodology and results enhances the understanding of the relationship among the constructs while subjecting environmental and police organizational data to two comprehensive analytical techniques. The policy implications and practical contributions of the study provide new knowledge and information to organizational management of police organizations. Furthermore, the study establishes a new approach to police organizational analysis and police services management research called Police Services Management Research (PSMR) that encompasses a variety of disciplines with a primary responsibility of theory building and the selection of theoretical framework.

本研究旨在挑戰常見的內外向性單向度思維。首先，提出一個替代性假設：內外向性為雙向度之構念 ; 再者，發展出內外向性雙向度量表，並以全台北、中、南三區共1,011位大學生為施測對象。最後，透過試題分析刪減題目，並以結構方程模式（SEM）進行假設模式之驗證。 結果發現：（1）內外向性乃多向度之構念，共分為正面外向性、負面外向性、正面內向性、負面內向性四個向度。（2）「自我導向性」乃為正面內向性因素之核心構念，「活躍性」則為正面外向性因素之核心構念，有別於傳統認為「社交性」為外向性因素之核心構念。此外，本量表乃具可接受之信效度，唯效標關連效度尚待進一步驗證。 / The purpose of the study was contesting the prevailing view of the one-dimensional construct of Introversion-Extraversion ( I-E ). The researcher first proposed an alternative hypothesis that I-E is a bi-dimensional construct and developed a new type of I-E inventory treating I-E as independent dimensions. The inventory was administered to 1,011 college students form Taiwan’s 3 geographical regions and then refined by item analysis. Finally, the data was analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to verify the hypothetic model. The major findings are: (1) I-E is a Multi-dimensional construct including Positive Extraversion (PE), Negative Extraversion (NE), Positive Introversion (PI), and Negative Introversion (NI) as four facets. (2) The core construct of PI is “Self-orientation” and that of PE is “Activeness” which is in contrast to the conventional view of “Sociability” as the core construct of extraversion. Besides, the Multi-dimensional Inventory of Introversion-Extraversion has acceptable reliability and validity; however, the criterion-related validity remains to be verified.

This quantitative research study investigated the impact of organisational context on the process and success of strategic IS planning (SISP) in post-implementation information systems in Libyan organisations. A set of direct and indirect relationships were investigated in the research model. The organisational context presented as a contingent situational variable mediated by SISP process and predicted by SISP success (the criterion variable). The causality of the relationship set was developed from the contingency theory of information systems and supported by fit models in strategic management research. The study deployed multivariate analysis represented in the structural equation modelling (SEM) to develop robust construct measurements and analyse data collected from executives responsible for information systems planning in both public and private Libyan organisations. Multi-dimensional multi-items constructs were used in the path analysis model after they were extensively validated. The path analysis model represented as mediation model, where hypothesise suggest that SISP context has an impact SISP success, through the influence of the SISP process. In the model, four dimensions of the SISP context construct were found to have a significant impact on SISP success directly and indirectly through the SISP process. Two of these dimensions are components of the leadership orientation construct, namely “Creative and Controlling” leadership. The other two dimensions are “Organisation centralisation structure and the Riskiness of organisation strategies”. The environmental uncertainty and planning resource constructs were found to have no impact on SISP success in Libyan organisations. Furthermore, this study validated six out of seven dimensions of SISP process construct measurement; only five exhibited acceptable fit level in the path analysis model and all were affected by the SISP context. However, just three out of five SISP process constructs had an impact on SISP success namely “Comprehensiveness, Focus and Intuition planning process”. Different SISP processes were associated with different levels of SISP success, “Intuition” was the most effective SISP process approach. The second most effective SISP process approach was the “Focus on innovation”, followed by “Limited comprehensiveness”. The SISP success measured by the fulfilment of key objectives that has three measurements constructs namely “Analysis, Alignment, and Cooperation”. The research suggest that under the effect of organisation context the most successful SISP produced by (CIO, CEO, or top executives) who rely less on personal judgment, focus more on innovation rather than control and limit their comprehensiveness of information systems planning process.

本研究旨在探討大學生的生活壓力、心理資本及憂鬱之關係。受試者為國立政治大學與國立交通大學的大學生，有效樣本為631人。本研究採問卷調查法施以生活壓力量表、心理資本量表及臺灣憂鬱症量表，使用的資料分析方法包括：t考驗、單因子變異數分析、因素分析、及結構方程式模型。本研究主要發現如下： 一、在背景變項方面： （一）不同性別大學生在「生活壓力」與「憂鬱」上有顯著差異。 （二）不同年齡大學生在「生活壓力」上有顯著差異。 （三）不同年級在各背景變項上皆無顯著差異。 （四）不同學院在各背景變項上皆無顯著差異。 二、在結構模式方面： （一）生活壓力對心理資本有直接負向效果。 （二）生活壓力對憂鬱有直接正向效果。 （三）心理資本對憂鬱有直接負向效果。 （四）生活壓力能直接影響憂鬱，也能透過心理資本間接影響憂鬱。 / The main purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among life stress, psychological capital, and depression of College students. The participants included 631 college students sampled from National Chengchi University and National Chiao Tung University. The data was collected by questionnaires, including the Stress Scale, the Psychological Capital Scale, and the Taiwan Depression Scale. Moreover, the data were analyzed by t-test, one-way ANOVA, factor analysis, and SEM. The main results were summarized as follows: About the background variables: 1.Students with different gender were significantly different in the scores of life stress and depression. 2.Students with different grade were significantly different in the scores of depression. 3.Students with different age were not significantly different in the scores of background variables. 4.Students with different faculty were not significantly different in the scores of background variables. About the structural model: 1.Life stress had negative influence on psychological capital directly. 2.Life stress had positive influence on depression directly. 3.Psychological capital had negative influence on depression directly. 4.Life stress had influence on depression directly, and it also affected depression through psychological capital.