The purpose of this study was to utilize the graded unfolding model (GUM) (Roberts, 1995; Roberts & Laughlin, 1996) to examine the interaction between the stages of change (SOC) and the processes of change (POC) for smoking cessation (SC). Although an abundance of research has examined the transtheoretical model (TTM) and SC, the POC remains one of the least investigated dimensions of the TTM. Only one study has applied an item response theory model, the GUM, to the examination of the SOC and POC (Noel, 1999). This study attempted to replicate and extend the findings of Noel (1999) and provides additional external validity evidence for the SOC and the POC for SC.<p>The TTM posits that people undergoing change will use different processes and strategies as they proceed through the SOC and that each POC appears to reach peak use at different stages. Thus, the POC appear to follow an inverse-U-shaped pattern (Noel, 1999).<p>Responses to the SOC and 40-item POC for SC were collected from young adults. Analysis of the data using the GGUM (Roberts, 2000) demonstrated the applicability of the GUM and provides additional external validity of the POC for SC. More specifically, six POC were ordered as expected according to results of longitudinal studies. Four POC were found to be out of order, however, this could be due to sample characteristics or reduced validity of items (due to smoking law changes, some items may no longer be valid). Helping Relationships and Stimulus Control appeared together out of order. This finding replicates Noel (1999) and further research is needed to examine the ordering of these POC. The GUM was also found to fit the POC data better than other item response theory models.

The purpose of this study was to utilize the graded unfolding model (GUM) (Roberts, 1995; Roberts & Laughlin, 1996) to examine the interaction between the stages of change (SOC) and the processes of change (POC) for smoking cessation (SC). Although an abundance of research has examined the transtheoretical model (TTM) and SC, the POC remains one of the least investigated dimensions of the TTM. Only one study has applied an item response theory model, the GUM, to the examination of the SOC and POC (Noel, 1999). This study attempted to replicate and extend the findings of Noel (1999) and provides additional external validity evidence for the SOC and the POC for SC.<p>The TTM posits that people undergoing change will use different processes and strategies as they proceed through the SOC and that each POC appears to reach peak use at different stages. Thus, the POC appear to follow an inverse-U-shaped pattern (Noel, 1999).<p>Responses to the SOC and 40-item POC for SC were collected from young adults. Analysis of the data using the GGUM (Roberts, 2000) demonstrated the applicability of the GUM and provides additional external validity of the POC for SC. More specifically, six POC were ordered as expected according to results of longitudinal studies. Four POC were found to be out of order, however, this could be due to sample characteristics or reduced validity of items (due to smoking law changes, some items may no longer be valid). Helping Relationships and Stimulus Control appeared together out of order. This finding replicates Noel (1999) and further research is needed to examine the ordering of these POC. The GUM was also found to fit the POC data better than other item response theory models.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [153]-164).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2005. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (July 19, 2006) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Retaining IT employees help them finding a path to entrepreneurship or even investing in spin-offs created by their employees (i.e. future entrepreneurs) is essential for the vitality of the economy. The objective of this thesis is to answer the following research question: “why and how do IT professionals3 decide to quit their salaried employment to start a business?” We do so by proposing a theory related to the under researched area of IT entrepreneurial turnover. The first chapter clarifies the unfolding model (Lee et al., 1999), so that it could be used with confidence (e.g. shock and image violation). The second chapter proposes one new core category, i.e. the Readiness to Quit (RTQ) which is divided into two types, the current RTQ and the Necessary Configuration to Quit (NCQ). We integrate them in a conceptual framework including the context, a chronology and the compatibility test between the current RTQ and the NCQs indicating that the IT professional is ready to quit. The last chapter proposes a second core category, IT Entrepreneurial Epiphany, which connect the shock and the image violations with the current RTQ. The IT Entrepreneurial Epiphany is composed of five lower-level concepts: Business, playing the game; Risk reduction; Timing; Context and opportunity; and finally long-term reason for becoming an entrepreneur. Finally, we discuss the enrichment of the conceptual framework resulting from these new core categories. In sum, we contribute to the research by proposing two core categories embedded in a rich conceptual framework.

No description available.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:48:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 127069.pdf.jpg: 11605 bytes, checksum: f442e466112923acefc8517744135e8d (MD5) 127069.pdf: 1363751 bytes, checksum: 38a2699d587f65ea30682f3fbfee2b05 (MD5) 127069.pdf.txt: 230496 bytes, checksum: 731125dd5ec8de957061ab9be44d7e96 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-02-17T00:00:00Z / Pesquisas de opinião freqüentemente utilizam questionários com muitos itens para avaliar um serviço ou produto. Nestas pesquisas, cada respondente, além de avaliar os itens segundo seu grau de satisfação ou concordância, deve também atribuir um grau de importância ao item. Com estas duas informações disponíveis para cada item, é possível criar uma medida resumo, na forma de um escore total composto pela avaliação dos itens ponderada pela sua importância. O objetivo desta tese é modelar a importância dos itens por meio de um modelo de Desdobramento Graduado Generalizado, pertencente à família de modelos da Teoria de Resposta ao Item. Resultados de uma pesquisa sobre academia de ginástica mostram que o modelo tem bom ajuste neste caso, e simulações mostram que é possível, com a utilização do modelo, montar desenhos experimentais para diminuir o número de itens ou categorias de resposta a serem perguntados aos respondentes sem perda de informação. / Many surveys use multi-items questionnaires to make an assessment of a service or product. In these surveys, each respondent, besides having to evaluate each item (attribute) according to the degree of satisfaction or agreement, must also evaluate its importance. It is possible, with these two informations, to create a global score of the product or service weighted by the importance of the items. The goal of this thesis is to model the importance through a Generalized Graded Unfolding Model, which is an Item Response Theory model. Results of a survey showed a good fit of the model, and simulations showed that it is possible to design experiments to reduce the number of items or response categories asked to the respondents without loss of information if this model is used.

消費者環保行為研究中，多以理性行為模式解釋影響消費者綠購買行為之前因，但實證研究對於綠購買態度影響綠購買行為之假設，仍然無法獲得一致的支持。此外，根據現況效應的論點，消費者會傾向於保留原始行為，除非存在放棄原始決策的合理理由。然而，理性行為模式缺乏對於消費者可能放棄原本購買行為的決策因素探討。因此，本研究之主要目的為整合理性行為模式與拓展模式觀點，提出同時具備正向展現因素與負向放棄因素的雙重路徑模型，使消費者綠購買行為之解釋模型更為完整。本研究認為影響消費者綠購買行為展現的正向因素，除環保知覺效能、環保知識、綠購買態度與綠購買意圖之外，消費者環保行為鑲嵌度是另一個重要的正向影響前因。綠購買行為的負向因素，包括拓展模式中的相關因素，如知覺環保衝擊事件、環保心像違背與非環保產品的評估與搜尋。拓展模式相關因素會提升消費者放棄環保行為意圖，間接降低綠購買行為之展現。問卷調查結果顯示，本研究所提出之雙重路徑觀點獲得支持，該模式與理性行為模式相容並包含更完整的解釋因素。模式比較之結果顯示，本研究所提出的雙重路徑整合模式，相較於獨立的理性行為模式或拓展模式，整合模式之表現皆較為優良。 / Most studies of consumer environmental protection behavior apply the theory of reasoned action to predict consumer green purchase behavior. However, the assumed relationship between green purchase attitude and green purchase behavior has not received consistent support in the previous research. Besides, according to the view of status quo effect, consumers tend to repeat the current behaviors unless justifiable quit reason is existence. However, the theory of reasoned action does not offer explanation of why consumers might quit green purchase behavior. The purpose of this study is to integrate the theory of reasoned action and unfolding model then provide a dual-route model which has positive and negative antecedents of green purchase behavior simultaneously and makes the explanation model more complete. In this study, the positive antecedents of consumer green purchasing include environmental perceived effectiveness, environmental knowledge, green purchase attitude, and green purchase intention. In addition, embeddedness of environmental protection behavior is another critical positive factor to influence consumer green purchase behavior. The negative antecedents of consumer green purchase behavior include the factors of unfolding model, i.e., perceived environmental shocks, environmental image violation, and alternative product searching and evaluation. The factors of unfolding model will increase the quit intention of green purchasing and decrease green purchase behavior indirectly. The result of a two-waved survey and SEM analysis shows that the dual-route model has satisfactory measurement performance and explanation capability. The result of model comparison analysis shows that the explanatory capability of the dual-route model is better than all other single theoretical models, including the reasoned action model and unfolding model.

The internationalization of distance learning in special education is at a pivotal point in expansion. Even with concerted efforts through traditional means to increase the supply of special educators, shortages persist; therefore, teacher preparation programs are turning to online education. This dissertation study was a formative program evaluation of a bilingual, two-course sequence within a web-based special education master's program offered at the University of North Texas (UNT), in Denton, Texas, and at the Universidad Casa Grande (UCG) in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The research design was based on the unfolding model of program evaluation, and it included mixed-methods of data collection. The model focused attention on (1) scientific evidence, (2) cost-benefit differential, (3) underlying values, and, (4) unintended consequences. Data came from archived documents as well as six semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and survey data from 23 student participants. The findings for the general-orientation course, Special Education Programs and Practices, revealed mixed results concerning multicultural awareness on the part of student participants. However, it seemed to have influenced their lesson design and made a difference in other areas. Some multicultural awareness concepts frequented the discussion board. The specialized course, Assistive Technology, which had more frequent communication between UNT and UCG on the discussion board, suggested larger increases in students' multicultural awareness. With respect to both courses, the stakeholders recommended that the structure be strengthened for non-bilingual instructors and students to be able to communicate more freely. Translation issues were a top priority in both courses. The study has implications for other international distance education programs.