Educational hypermedia has been heralded as providing instruction that accommodates learners' individual differences, allowing them to learn in accordance with their unique needs, desires, and preferences. Advocates of hypermedia point to learner control, multimedia capability, and parallels to theories of human memory as evidence for educational hypermedia1s efficacy. While intuitively appealing, empirical research has not confirmed (or rejected) this assumption. Nor is there compelling evidence to suggest that learners who posses different cognitive styles benefit equally from educational hypermedia environments. This study reports on an examination of cognitive style field dependence/independence and learner control of presentation mode within an educational hypermedia environment. Participants were 122 high school juniors and seniors enrolled in classes whose curricula dealt with the political process. The experimental sites were three high schools located in North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Learners classified as field dependent and field independent were asked to explore a commercial hypermedia program concerning the presidential primary election process. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two versions of the program, a control group which utilized the commercially designed multimedia presentations and a treatment group that offered the choice of single-channel presentations in addition to the multiple-channel presentations. After interacting with the program participants completed a ten item post test consisting of five recall and five problem-solving questions. Their actions within the hypermedia environment were automatically tracked by the computer. Data analysis consisted of a 3 x 2 ANOVA to examine interaction between field dependency and learner control of presentation mode as measured by the post test. Field dependency was correlated with frequency of multiple-channel selections. A secondary analysis examined main effects and interactions on the recall and problem-solving questions separately utilizing a 3 x 2 ANOVA. Data analysis revealed no correlation between field dependency and frequency of multimedia selections. The study found no significant interaction between field dependency and control (program or learner) of presentation mode as measured by the ten item post test. Separate analysis of the recall and problem-solving questions also revealed no significant interaction. / Ph. D.

The use of still images in instruction has a long history in the field of education. With the widespread use of microcomputers and the development of graphic software, the ability to create and use animated images has greatly increased; today many people use animated images in their teaching and training activities. Since the use of different types of images in instruction has various influences on students'learning results, the different effects between animated images and still images have been studied widely among researchers. However, the research results are not consistent. Some research results show that animated images are more effective than still images and some show no difference or less effective results. This experimental study explores the effects of animated images and still images on college students' learning of motion-related tasks and non-motion related tasks, with the students possessing different levels of field dependence-independence. This study found that: For learning tasks involving motion and/or change, animated images were more effective than still images for college students, and field dependent students benefited more from animated images than did the field independent students. However, for learning tasks that did not involve motion or change, there was no difference in learning results from the use of still images as opposed to animated images. In addition, for such learning tasks, there was no difference in the learning benefits of still images to field dependent versus field independent learners. / Ph. D.

Advances in computer technology have made it possible for educators to develop their own multimedia instructional materials using visuals such as animation. Despite the increased use of animation in the multimedia instructional materials, there is still relatively little research regarding the way in which students benefit from the attributes of computer animation. As a result, additional studies on the instructional attributes of animation are required to confirm the animation effect in the learning process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of animation in the enhancement of the problem-solving and retention of scientific concepts in computer based modules across learners possessing different cognitive styles. In this study, 121 undergraduate and graduate students were classified as field-independent, field-neutral, or field-dependent as a result of their performance on the Group Embedded Figures Test. Participants were randomly assigned to either animation and narration treatment group (N=61) or static visual and narration treatment group (N=60). Problem-solving and recall tests were conducted immediately after the completion of each treatment. Participants receiving an animation treatment performed significantly better than those receiving a static visual treatment on problem-solving but not on recall. Field-dependent students in the animation group generated approximately 40% more correct solutions to the problem-solving test than those in the static visual group. The results of this study indicate that animation may be an effective tool in promoting problemsolving of scientific concepts, especially for field-dependent learners who have difficulty acquiring and processing visual information. / Ph. D.

A literatura acadêmica sobre o comportamento do investidor financeiro é bastante escassa. A pesquisa sobre o processo de decisão, em geral, aborda tradeoffs na aquisição de produtos e pouco se discute o processo de decisão de investimento. Esta tese pretende contribuir para a redução deste gap ao discutir fatores determinantes para a tomada de decisão do investidor pessoal em produtos financeiros. A decisão de investimento é complexa, envolve, entre outros, o tradeoff entre renunciar o consumo presente pela possibilidade de maior bem estar no futuro. Adicionalmente, em muitas situações, existe possibilidade real de perda dos recursos financeiros investidos. Para investigar os percursos desta decisão foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade com executivos ligados ao setor de fundos de investimento e ao de distribuição de produtos de investimento dos maiores bancos brasileiros atuantes no segmento de varejo. Os conhecimentos recolhidos e a revisão de literatura efetuada subsidiaram a elaboração do questionário de pesquisa aplicado em plataforma web junto a potenciais investidores. Os atributos rentabilidade, possibilidade de perda (proxy de risco), liquidez, taxa de administração e recomendação do gerente foram identificados como os mais relevantes para a decisão do investidor. Para construção dos estímulos e decomposição da utilidade da decisão foi utilizada a técnica conjoint based choice (CBC) que simula uma decisão real. Os resultados apontaram ser a recomendação do gerente o atributo mais importante para a formação da preferência por uma alternativa de investimento, resultado que, por si só, indica que fatores não racionais exercem influência na decisão. Estudou-se, então, o impacto da aversão ao risco e do estilo cognitivo do investidor. Os resultados denotam que os mais avessos e os mais intuitivos são mais suscetíveis à recomendação do gerente, mas que seus efeitos são independentes entre si. As evidências sugerem que os mais intuitivos utilizam o gerente para alcançar conforto cognitivo na decisão e que os mais avessos para mitigar a sensação de risco associada ao produto. Uma análise de cluster indicou ser possível segmentar a amostra em dois grupos, um mais propenso à recomendação do gerente e outro aos atributos do produto. A recomendação do gerente mostrou ser o atributo mais forte na distinção dos grupos. Os resultados indicam que uma segmentação de mercado baseada na propensão à recomendação do gerente pode ser efetiva para direcionar a construção de uma estratégia de relacionamento que busque incrementar os resultados de longo prazo. / The academic literature on the financial investor behavior is rather scarce. Research on decision generally discusses tradeoffs when purchasing products and little is discussed the investment decision process. This thesis aims to contribute to the reduction of this gap when discussing determining factors for decision making personnel investor in financial products. The investment decision is complex, involving, among others, the tradeoff between forgo present consumption by the possibility of greater well-being in the future. Additionally, in many situations, there is real possibility of loss of funds invested. To investigate the pathways of this decision were conducted in-depth interviews with executives linked to the investment fund industry and the distribution of investment products of the largest Brazilian banks operating in the retail segment. The collected knowledge and performed literature review supported the development of the survey questionnaire applied to web platform to potential investors. Attributes profitability, possible loss (risk proxy), liquidity, management fees and manager\'s recommendation have been identified as the most relevant for the investor\'s decision. Construction of stimuli and decomposition of the decision utility was based on the technique named conjoint based choice (CBC) that simulates a real decision. The results showed to be the manager\'s recommendation the most important attribute for the formation of preference for an alternative investment, a result which, in itself, indicates that non-rational factors influence the decision. It was studied, then the impact of risk aversion and investor cognitive style. The results show that the more averse and more intuitive are more susceptible to the manager\'s recommendation but their effects are independent of each other. Evidence suggests that the most intuitive use the manager to achieve cognitive comfort in the decision and the most averse to mitigate the feeling of risk associated with the product. A cluster analysis indicated to be possible to segment the sample into two groups, one more prone to the manager\'s recommendation and the other more prone to product attributes. The manager\'s recommendation proved to be the strongest attribute distinguishing the groups. The results indicate that a segmentation of the market based on the propensity to manager\'s recommendation can be effective to direct the building of a relationship strategy that seeks to increase the long-term results

There are three fundamentally different ideas about the nature of learning and the properties/nature of knowledge. These ideas include both a view of how learning occurs and also a view of what knowledge actually is. These three basic approaches are referred to as behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism. A basic understanding of the three theories is required to complete this tutorial. Refer to the references section in this tutorial for an overview of the differences between these theoretical approaches to learning and knowledge. In this interactive tutorial you will be presented with 25 characteristics of these three learning theories. Your goal will be to determine which of these characteristics refer to behaviourism, cognitivism and constructivism.

This study investigates the effect of methods of instruction (inquiry-based versus lecture instruction) and their interactions with students&rsquo / cognitive styles (field-dependent, field-mixed, and field-independent) and with other independent variables on 11th grade students&rsquo / physics achievement in and attitude toward electric circuits concepts in central district of Aydin. Lesson plans, instructional materials were developed for the inquiry-based instruction. Teachers&rsquo / regular classroom practices were accepted as lecture method. Physics achievement test, physics attitude scale, observation checklists, and GEFT were used as data collection instruments. Treatment was implemented to 298 11th grade students in central district of Aydin. Physics achievement test and physics attitude scale were administered to the students as pre and post tests while GEFT was administered only as pre test. MANCOVA was used as statistical analysis method to analyze data. The dependent variables of this study were the achievement (PSTACH) and attitude (PSTATT) scores of the students. The covariate and gender were used to statistically equalize the students&rsquo / characteristics. Group membership with respect to two groups (inquiry or lecture groups) was named here as &ldquo / MOI / methods of instruction&rdquo / (2 level categorical) and used as fixed factor of this study with the other group membership variables, students&rsquo / physics achievement pretest scores (PREACH), physics attitude pretest scores (PREATT), School, previous physics course grades (PPCG), cognitive style (CoS, 3 level categorical), and the interaction terms of MOI*PREACH, MOI*PPCG, PREATT*MOI*PPCG*CoS, MOI*PPCG*CoS, PREACH*School, and PREACH*PREATT. In general, inquiry instruction was effective than the lecture instruction with respect to PSTACH in electric circuits subject. However, there was not a significant difference in effectiveness of both methods in improving students&rsquo / attitudes toward electric circuits subject. In essence, each method of instruction was not effective on improving students&rsquo / attitudes toward electric circuits subject. Although, this study could not find any statistically significant interaction effect of MOI and other independent variables on students&rsquo / PSTATT scores, practical significance was investigated for the interaction terms.

Darbo problema: esant nuolatiniai būtinumui apdoroti vis didesnius informacijos kiekius, formuluojant ir sprendžiant sudėtingas problemas, žmogaus protas dažnai nebepajėgia patenkinti visų racionalumo reikalavimų, ir daug pasaulio sprendimų priimami nesilaikant racionalumo prielaidų. Visokeriopos gerovės išlaikymas ar kūrimas reikalauja objektyvumo, nešališkumo. Svarbu įvertinti, kas lemia invariantiškumo principo pažeidimus ir kitus kognityvinius poslinkius. Darbo tikslas - įvertinti racionalumo principų pažeidimų priimant sprendimus ryšį su skirtingu grupės dydžiu (užduotyje minimu žmonių skaičiumi), statusu organizacijoje ir kognityviniu (sprendimų priėmimo) stiliumi. Naudotos tyrimo metodikos: 1. Formulavimo poveikio stiprumui skirtingo dydžio grupėse įvertinti naudota modifikuota Tversky, Kahneman (1981) Azijietiškos ligos problema. 2. Siekiant nustatyti skirtingo organizacinio statuso asmenų jautrumą formulavimo poveikiui buvo naudota Tversky, Kahneman (1981) lošimų problema. 3. Dominuojančiam sprendimų priėmimo stiliui nustatyti naudotas Scott, Bruce (1995) GDMS (General Decision – Making Style) klausimynas. 4. Veidrodinio atspindžio efektui įvertinti skirta Kahneman, Tversky (1979) lošimo problema. 5. Invariantiškumo principo pažeidimų dydžiui įvertinti buvo naudota Frisch (1993) „Važiavimo į kitą parduotuvės filialą dėl nuolaidos“ situacija, Tversky, Kahneman (1981) „Bilieto pirkimo antrą kartą“ situacija, Goldstein, Einhorn (1987)... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Problem of work: given the ever-present necessity to process increasingly more information, when formulating and solving complicated problems the human mind often fails to meet all the requirements of rationality, and many decisions in the world are, therefore, made without observing the prerequisites of rationality. Maintaining or creating any kind of welfare requires objectiveness and impartiality. It is important to take into account what determines the violations of invariantability principle and other cognitive biases. The purpose of work is to assess the relationship of rationality principles’ violation, when making the decision, with the different group size (number of people specified in the problem), status in the organization and cognitive (decision-making) style. Research methodologies used: 1. For the assessment of framing effect in groups of different size, modified Asian disease problem of Tversky and Kahneman (1981) was used. 2. For the establishment of sensitivity of individuals of different organizational status to the framing effect, Tversky and Kahneman’s (1981) gamble problem was applied. 3. Scott and Bruce’s (1995) GDMS (General Decision – Making Style) questionnaire was used to determine the dominating decision-making style. 4. The reflection effect was assessed according to Kahneman and Tversky’s (1979) gamble problem. 5. Frisch’s (1993) “Going to another affiliate of the store to get the discount” situation and Tversky and... [to full text]

abstract: Traditional design education consists of three phases: perceptual, transitional, and professional. This study explored three independent variables (IVs) as predictors of success in the Transitional Phase of a visual communication design (VCD) program: (a) prior academic performance (as reported by GPA); (b) cognitive style (assessed with Peterson, Deary, and Austin's Verbal Imagery Cognitive Styles Test [VICS] and Extended Cognitive Style Analysis-Wholistic Analytic Test [E-CSA-WA]); and (c) learning style (assessed with Kolb's Learning Style Inventory [LSI] 3.1). To address the research problem and hypothesis, this study examined (a) the relationship between academic performance, cognitive style, and learning style, and visual communication design students' performance in the Transitional Phase; (b) the cognitive style and learning style preferences of visual communication design students as compared with other samples; and (c) how the resulting knowledge can be used to improve instructional design for the Transitional Phase in VCD programs. Multiple regression analysis revealed that 9% of Transitional Phase performance was predicted by studio GPA. No other variables were statistically significant predictors of Transitional Phase performance. However, ANOVA and t tests revealed statistically significant and suggested relationships among components of the independent variables, that indicate avenues for future study. The results are discussed in the context of style-based learning theory, and the cognitive apprenticeship approach to instructional design. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S.D. Design 2011

A literatura acadêmica sobre o comportamento do investidor financeiro é bastante escassa. A pesquisa sobre o processo de decisão, em geral, aborda tradeoffs na aquisição de produtos e pouco se discute o processo de decisão de investimento. Esta tese pretende contribuir para a redução deste gap ao discutir fatores determinantes para a tomada de decisão do investidor pessoal em produtos financeiros. A decisão de investimento é complexa, envolve, entre outros, o tradeoff entre renunciar o consumo presente pela possibilidade de maior bem estar no futuro. Adicionalmente, em muitas situações, existe possibilidade real de perda dos recursos financeiros investidos. Para investigar os percursos desta decisão foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade com executivos ligados ao setor de fundos de investimento e ao de distribuição de produtos de investimento dos maiores bancos brasileiros atuantes no segmento de varejo. Os conhecimentos recolhidos e a revisão de literatura efetuada subsidiaram a elaboração do questionário de pesquisa aplicado em plataforma web junto a potenciais investidores. Os atributos rentabilidade, possibilidade de perda (proxy de risco), liquidez, taxa de administração e recomendação do gerente foram identificados como os mais relevantes para a decisão do investidor. Para construção dos estímulos e decomposição da utilidade da decisão foi utilizada a técnica conjoint based choice (CBC) que simula uma decisão real. Os resultados apontaram ser a recomendação do gerente o atributo mais importante para a formação da preferência por uma alternativa de investimento, resultado que, por si só, indica que fatores não racionais exercem influência na decisão. Estudou-se, então, o impacto da aversão ao risco e do estilo cognitivo do investidor. Os resultados denotam que os mais avessos e os mais intuitivos são mais suscetíveis à recomendação do gerente, mas que seus efeitos são independentes entre si. As evidências sugerem que os mais intuitivos utilizam o gerente para alcançar conforto cognitivo na decisão e que os mais avessos para mitigar a sensação de risco associada ao produto. Uma análise de cluster indicou ser possível segmentar a amostra em dois grupos, um mais propenso à recomendação do gerente e outro aos atributos do produto. A recomendação do gerente mostrou ser o atributo mais forte na distinção dos grupos. Os resultados indicam que uma segmentação de mercado baseada na propensão à recomendação do gerente pode ser efetiva para direcionar a construção de uma estratégia de relacionamento que busque incrementar os resultados de longo prazo. / The academic literature on the financial investor behavior is rather scarce. Research on decision generally discusses tradeoffs when purchasing products and little is discussed the investment decision process. This thesis aims to contribute to the reduction of this gap when discussing determining factors for decision making personnel investor in financial products. The investment decision is complex, involving, among others, the tradeoff between forgo present consumption by the possibility of greater well-being in the future. Additionally, in many situations, there is real possibility of loss of funds invested. To investigate the pathways of this decision were conducted in-depth interviews with executives linked to the investment fund industry and the distribution of investment products of the largest Brazilian banks operating in the retail segment. The collected knowledge and performed literature review supported the development of the survey questionnaire applied to web platform to potential investors. Attributes profitability, possible loss (risk proxy), liquidity, management fees and manager\'s recommendation have been identified as the most relevant for the investor\'s decision. Construction of stimuli and decomposition of the decision utility was based on the technique named conjoint based choice (CBC) that simulates a real decision. The results showed to be the manager\'s recommendation the most important attribute for the formation of preference for an alternative investment, a result which, in itself, indicates that non-rational factors influence the decision. It was studied, then the impact of risk aversion and investor cognitive style. The results show that the more averse and more intuitive are more susceptible to the manager\'s recommendation but their effects are independent of each other. Evidence suggests that the most intuitive use the manager to achieve cognitive comfort in the decision and the most averse to mitigate the feeling of risk associated with the product. A cluster analysis indicated to be possible to segment the sample into two groups, one more prone to the manager\'s recommendation and the other more prone to product attributes. The manager\'s recommendation proved to be the strongest attribute distinguishing the groups. The results indicate that a segmentation of the market based on the propensity to manager\'s recommendation can be effective to direct the building of a relationship strategy that seeks to increase the long-term results

The thesis deals with the optimization of the use of corporate structures to increase the performance of the organization and the achievement of corporate objectives. The thesis analyzes the job in a company in terms of product characteristics, activities, conditions, actions and assumptions activities. The thesis includes an analysis of skills and competencies of individual employees. The design elements are formulated descriptions of new jobs and their integration into corporate structures, proposals for re-training, training and termination of employment with the company staff. The economic evaluation of the thesis are clearly summarized the calculations of costs and benefits.