Memoria para optar al título de Ingeniería Civil Industrial / Los experimentos de elección discreta, tales como análisis conjunto, son ampliamente utilizados para estimar las preferencias de los consumidores sobre ciertos productos o servicios y a través de los años han sido capaces de entregas valiosa información a los investigadores. Sin embargo, durante los últimos años ha crecido de forma considerable el interés sobre el impacto que genera el fenómeno de non-attendance o la ignorancia de atributos en la toma de decisiones de las personas. Se ha encontrado evidencia que no considerar este fenómeno genera sesgos en las estimaciones y/o bajo desempeño de los modelos. Investigadores han buscado incorporar este fenómeno, ya sea a través de preguntas directas o mediante inferencia a partir de sus respuestas. En base a revisión bibliográfica, hasta el momento no se ha visto que los estudios realicen validaciones sobre los modelos que presentan como solución al problema y, por ende, no es posible afirmar que estos enfoques logren capturar el fenómeno de non-attendance. Debido a esto, la investigación se enfoca en estudiar el fenómeno de non-attendance mediante inferencia en los datos, proponiendo un Modelo Logit con Clase Latente y validando su desempeño contra el Modelo Logit utilizado tradicionalmente. Mediante escenarios simulados se mide la capacidad de predicción que posee el modelo sobre las probabilidades de atender los atributos. Se calculan métricas de ajuste y analizan las diferencias entre ambos modelos. Por último, se aplican ambos modelos en un set de datos reales. Los resultados muestran que el Modelo Logit con Clase Latente es capaz de recuperar los parámetros de las simulaciones con alta precisión, así también la probabilidad de non-attendance, obteniéndose para el 92% de los casos un error bajo el 1%. Destaca un BIC y AIC bastante inferior que el Modelo Logit para casos con alta probabilidad de ignorar atributos. Resultados para datos in-sample y out-of-sample son consistentes. Además, se aplica el Modelo Logit con Clase Latente sobre datos reales obteniéndose un desempeño, según hit rate, y ajuste, según BIC y AIC, superior que el Modelo Logit. Se concluye que siempre que se posean datos de una muestra representativa, el Modelo Logit con Clase Latente entrega ventajas sobre el Modelo Logit en las estimaciones de las preferencias de los consumidores, presentando un mejor ajuste y desempeño, tanto para casos con presencia de non-attendance como para casos donde los participantes atienden todos los atributos.

A sexualidade é uma condição humana presente em todas as fases de vida das pessoas. Neste estudo, objetivei compreender de que forma o tema sexualidade, condicionado culturalmente, é vivenciado na prática da assistência de enfermagem, pelas enfermeiras. Para tanto, adotei como opção conceitual a Antropologia Cultural, uma vez que ela apresenta uma concepção de sexualidade como construção histórica-social-cultural progressiva, singular, dinâmica, flexível e contextualizada, vale dizer, como uma elaboração prória de cada pessoa. A abordagem qualitativa adotada foi o método etnográfico e os dados foram obtidos por intermédio das técnicas do grupo focal e da entrevista semi-estruturada. Emergiram da análise dos dados os descritores culturais, que permitiram a identificação dos sub-temas: construções singulares, tornando-se enfermeira, vivenciando a sexualidade na assistência de enfermagem e descontruções e reconstruções. Acrescentei, nessa análise o capítulo emergindo analogias, que contém um confronto entre a representação do eu-enfermeira e a simbolização das deusas gregas, refletindo a forma como as colaboradoras experenciam o tema da sexualidade no fazer enfermagem. Este estudo viabilizou a expressão dos significados particulares acerca da sexualidade, junto com cada colaboradora; possibilitou perceber que tais significados foram condicionados ao longo da socialização específica de cada uma delas; e mostrou que vivência da sexualideade, na prática da assistência de enfermagem, tem sido singular a cada enfermeira. Isso tem oportunizado semelhanças e diferenças nas experiências, nas emoções e nas expressões vivenciadas no fazer enfermagem em relação a esta temática. Conclui-se ao final, que a interpretação cultural da sexualidade possibilita entender seus significados singulares e a que se relacionam; oportuniza a expressão das diferentes visões de mundo, no complexo contexto cultural da enfermagem; e permite aceitar o sincretismo, concorrendo para uma experiência qualitativamente mais significativa nessa prática e em relação a esse tema, tanto para a enfermeira, quanto para o sujeito do seu cuidado. / Sexuality is a human condition present in all phases of people's life. In this study, I aimed at understanding how the theme sexuality, culturally conditioned, is experienced in the practice of nursing attendance by the nurses. For such, I have adopted as a conceptual option Cultural Anthropology, once it represents a conception of sexuality as historical-social-cultural construction, progressive, singular, dynamic, flexible and contextualized. It is still worth mentioning that is a person's own elaboration. The qualitative approach adopted was the ethnographic method and the data was obtained via techniques of focal group and semi-structured interview. From the data analysis, emerged the cultural reporters, that permitted the identification of the sub-themes: singular constructions, becoming a nurse and experiencing sexuality in nursing attendance, I added, in this analysis the chapter emerging analogies, which contains a confrontation between the representations of the I-nurse and the symbolization of the greek-goddesses, reflecting the way how the collaborators experience the theme of sexuality in performing nursing. This study made viable the expression of the private meanings about sexuality, together with each collaborator; it made possible to perceive that such meanings were conditioned along the specific socialization of each of them and, it showed that the experience of sexuality in the practice of nursing attendance has been particular to each nurse. This has allowed the existence of similarities and differences in the experiences, in the emotions and in the expressions experienced in performing nursing concerning this theme. It is concluded that the cultural interpretation of sexuality makes possible the understanding of its singular meaninigs and what they relate to; it provides an opportunity for the expression of the different views of the world in the complex cultural context of nursing and, it allows for the acceptance of syncretism, running for a qualitatively more significant experience in this practice and, in relation to this theme, both for the nurse and for the person under his/her care.

by Chiu Mo Chi. / Includes questionaire in Chinese. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-80). / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.ii / LIST OF FIGURE --- p.v / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter A --- BACKGROUND --- p.1 / Chapter B --- RESEARCH QUESTION --- p.11 / Chapter C --- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY --- p.12 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK / Chapter A --- THEORIES OF MOTIVATION FOR ADULT LEARNING --- p.14 / Chapter B --- THEORIES OF PARTICIPATION --- p.24 / Chapter C --- THEORIES OF ADULT STUDENT'S RETENTION --- p.33 / Chapter D --- CONTEXTUAL VARIABLES --- p.36 / Chapter E --- CONCEPTION OF THE STUDY --- p.38 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY / Chapter A --- DEFINITIONS --- p.42 / Chapter B --- HYPOTHESES --- p.45 / Chapter C --- INSTRUMENTATION --- p.46 / Chapter D --- SAMPLING --- p.49 / Chapter E --- DATA ANALYSES --- p.52 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- FINDINGS / Chapter A --- CONTEXTUAL VARIABLES --- p.53 / Chapter B --- "RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUDENT SELF-ESTEEM, STUDENT EXPECTATION, CLASSROOM ENVIRON- MENT AND RATE OF CLASS ATTENDANCE" --- p.56 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS --- p.63 / REFERENCES --- p.73 / APPENDICES --- p.81

Over one third of students in the U.S. who started college in 2012 did not enroll in the fall immediately following their high school graduation. Despite the prevalence of delayed college enrollment, however, little is known about the reasons for the delay and the consequences for academic and labor markets outcomes. Conventional human capital theory suggests that formal education should precede work in order to maximize the period of benefiting from the returns of investment in education. As such, the reasons for students delaying their college enrollment are still unclear. Usually, it has been perceived either as an irrational behavior, or a constrained behavior caused by the imperfect market. The first chapter of this dissertation provides an overview of the studies that explain the phenomenon of delay, and I conclude that financial constraint is not the only explanation. Students might rationally adjust the timing of enrollment to maximize their welfare, based on their personal capabilities, preferences, and economic conditions. Factors such as behavioral bias and sociological constraints also influence students’ educational decisions. Based on the theoretical framework proposed in the first chapter, it is predominantly believed that college enrollment could be countercyclical, especially for students who are financially constrained. The second chapter takes advantage of a natural experiment and discovers one of the factors that causes college enrollment delay: the housing market boom. I use the Education Longitudinal Survey: 2002 and the Building Permit Survey to estimate the effect of local housing market booms on college enrollment timing. I find that an additional 100 increase in the annual change of building permits leads to 0.24 percentage-point increase in enrollment delay for male high school graduates. However, the temporary delay in transition to college that is caused by a housing boom does not necessarily decrease the college enrollment rate eight years, but it makes returners less likely to enroll in four-year colleges. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, the third chapter of this dissertation examines the characteristics and earnings trajectories of delayers and the effects of this choice on academic and labor market outcomes. Propensity score matching results show that delaying college enrollment decreases individuals’ likelihood of enrolling in college, and increases their tendency to enroll in two-year colleges if they return to school. The results also demonstrate that, consistent with the study’s descriptive results, the early earnings benefits that are experienced by delayers diminish after their mid-20s and turn to significant losses over time. Oaxaca decomposition results indicate that differences in student characteristics only explain one third of the pay gap between the two groups; 60% of the pay gap is explained by delayers’ reduced likelihood of attending and obtaining a degree at a four-year college.

A sexualidade é uma condição humana presente em todas as fases de vida das pessoas. Neste estudo, objetivei compreender de que forma o tema sexualidade, condicionado culturalmente, é vivenciado na prática da assistência de enfermagem, pelas enfermeiras. Para tanto, adotei como opção conceitual a Antropologia Cultural, uma vez que ela apresenta uma concepção de sexualidade como construção histórica-social-cultural progressiva, singular, dinâmica, flexível e contextualizada, vale dizer, como uma elaboração prória de cada pessoa. A abordagem qualitativa adotada foi o método etnográfico e os dados foram obtidos por intermédio das técnicas do grupo focal e da entrevista semi-estruturada. Emergiram da análise dos dados os descritores culturais, que permitiram a identificação dos sub-temas: construções singulares, tornando-se enfermeira, vivenciando a sexualidade na assistência de enfermagem e descontruções e reconstruções. Acrescentei, nessa análise o capítulo emergindo analogias, que contém um confronto entre a representação do eu-enfermeira e a simbolização das deusas gregas, refletindo a forma como as colaboradoras experenciam o tema da sexualidade no fazer enfermagem. Este estudo viabilizou a expressão dos significados particulares acerca da sexualidade, junto com cada colaboradora; possibilitou perceber que tais significados foram condicionados ao longo da socialização específica de cada uma delas; e mostrou que vivência da sexualideade, na prática da assistência de enfermagem, tem sido singular a cada enfermeira. Isso tem oportunizado semelhanças e diferenças nas experiências, nas emoções e nas expressões vivenciadas no fazer enfermagem em relação a esta temática. Conclui-se ao final, que a interpretação cultural da sexualidade possibilita entender seus significados singulares e a que se relacionam; oportuniza a expressão das diferentes visões de mundo, no complexo contexto cultural da enfermagem; e permite aceitar o sincretismo, concorrendo para uma experiência qualitativamente mais significativa nessa prática e em relação a esse tema, tanto para a enfermeira, quanto para o sujeito do seu cuidado. / Sexuality is a human condition present in all phases of people's life. In this study, I aimed at understanding how the theme sexuality, culturally conditioned, is experienced in the practice of nursing attendance by the nurses. For such, I have adopted as a conceptual option Cultural Anthropology, once it represents a conception of sexuality as historical-social-cultural construction, progressive, singular, dynamic, flexible and contextualized. It is still worth mentioning that is a person's own elaboration. The qualitative approach adopted was the ethnographic method and the data was obtained via techniques of focal group and semi-structured interview. From the data analysis, emerged the cultural reporters, that permitted the identification of the sub-themes: singular constructions, becoming a nurse and experiencing sexuality in nursing attendance, I added, in this analysis the chapter emerging analogies, which contains a confrontation between the representations of the I-nurse and the symbolization of the greek-goddesses, reflecting the way how the collaborators experience the theme of sexuality in performing nursing. This study made viable the expression of the private meanings about sexuality, together with each collaborator; it made possible to perceive that such meanings were conditioned along the specific socialization of each of them and, it showed that the experience of sexuality in the practice of nursing attendance has been particular to each nurse. This has allowed the existence of similarities and differences in the experiences, in the emotions and in the expressions experienced in performing nursing concerning this theme. It is concluded that the cultural interpretation of sexuality makes possible the understanding of its singular meaninigs and what they relate to; it provides an opportunity for the expression of the different views of the world in the complex cultural context of nursing and, it allows for the acceptance of syncretism, running for a qualitatively more significant experience in this practice and, in relation to this theme, both for the nurse and for the person under his/her care.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the perceptions of high school students' reasons for truancy. Findings of the study revealed the perceptions of 916 high school students enrolled in an East Tennessee high school. The review of literature concerning attendance revealed absenteeism as a problem that either directly or indirectly affects all educational stakeholders. Data gathered from the student surveys indicated students are absent from school for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, peer pressure, poor relationships with teachers and administrators, a disconnectedness from their schools, not being interested in the curriculum, bullying, and low self-esteem, substance abuse, language barriers, lack of appropriate social skills, and sexual activity or consequences thereof (pregnancy, teen parenting).

The implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS, 2013), No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and the Race to the Top initiative of 2009 has placed a greater emphasis on high stakes testing. A renewed emphasis on math education for all students and their ability to succeed in high school mathematics place new challenges on today’s classroom teachers. Although the belief is that with new standards and best teaching strategies students will improve their test scores, there are multiple factors that can serve as deterrents to the success in mathematics for at-risk high school students (Balfanz, 2009). The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship of at-risk indicators attendance, family composition, socioeconomic status (as measured by free and reduced priced meals), grade retention, special education status, number of discipline referrals, students who are English language learners (ELL), and gender with student performance in high school mathematics. Using archived data from the student management system of a rural county school in Northeast Tennessee, data were gathered for 412 high school freshmen attending the county’s 4 high schools. There were 8 research questions with corresponding null hypotheses. Each research question was analyzed with a series of independent t-tests or Pearson correlation coefficient tests. All data were analyzed at the .05 level of significance. Findings from the data indicated a significant difference in the mean scores on the algebra I end of course (EOC) assessment with 5 at-risk factors. Mean scores for students from two-parent families were higher than students from single-parent families. Mean scores for students not from low socioeconomic status were higher than students from low socioeconomic status. Mean scores for students that had not been retained where higher than students that had been retained. Mean scores for students that did not receive special education services were higher than students that did receive special education services. Mean scores for female students were higher than male students. Findings for the data also indicated negative relationships between the students’ score on the end of course assessment and the number of days absent from school and the number of discipline referrals received.

The purpose of this study was to explore spectators’ level of satisfaction toward atmospherics in the sport environment—facility—and to show the influence atmospherics has on spectators’ intention to attend sporting events. A group of undergraduate students (N = 145) attending men’s basketball games at a typical NCAA Division I mid-major university responded to a survey. The respondents indicated that they were satisfied with event security and ticket pricing and close to satisfied with all other variables, but they were dissatisfied with parking and merchandise price. A principal component analysis and a discriminant analysis were conducted to identify which constructs better differentiate respondents attending fewer games (one to five) from those attending more games (six and more). Results show that entertainment and facility atmosphere contribute to attracting spectators to the games, but facility services contribute to avoidance behavior. In addition, implications and future research options are given.

The current study sought to examine the factors that influence the decisions of lll Appalachian high school students regarding college attendance. Using Bronfenbrenner' s ecological systems theory of human development (1986) as a theoretical basis, direct and indirect influences of environmental factors upon the academic aspirations of Appalachian youth were examined using survey methodology. Results indicated that predictors of college attendance for Appalachian students are not significantly different from those of students elsewhere. Variables reflective of individual academic preparation were most salient in predicting college aspirations for both males and females. Other important predictors included parent education, parent occupation, and socioeconomic status. Several analyses suggested that family and peer influences may be more salient for male students than female students. Implications of the results for educators and clinicians working with Appalachian youth were discussed.

This study investigated the relationship between marital status, network density, and loneliness for women in the church. Participants were 144 women from several churches of the same Protestant denomination. They responded to a questionnaire which included the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale and measures of the importance of the church as a social support to the individual. A one-way analysis of variance revealed that the married women who worship alone reported significantly higher levels of loneliness than did single women (R