This study focuses on the problems of international students as perceived by both international students and faculty in a public university. The major purposes of the study are to determine if there are significant differences in perceptions of the problems of international students between international students and faculty members, between groups of international students, and between groups of faculty members. A modification of an international student problem inventory instrument was used to collect data from 371 international students and 316 faculty members. Thirteen hypotheses were tested using frequency and percentages, analysis of variance, multivariate analysis of variance, and univariate analysis of variance, as required according to the data collected and the hypothesis being tested.

Research with geriatric populations suggests high levels of clinical depression and greater financial and psychological costs of treatment in long-term care facilities with more restrictive care. Research on learned helplessness, a construct separate from depression, suggests learned helplessness and perceived control are useful theories for the study of elder depression, but the relationship between depression and learned helplessness in this population is not clear. This cross-sectional quantitative study examined the relationship between depression and learned helplessness by comparing residents over age 65 in less restrictive assisted living (n =42) versus those in more restrictive skilled nursing facilities (n =63). Data were collected using the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Helplessness subscale of the Cognitive Distortion Scales, and the Learned Helplessness and Instrumental Helplessness subscales of the Multi-Score Depression Inventory. Between-group ANOVA results confirmed a higher level of depression and state learned helplessness, but not trait learned helplessness, in restrictive skilled nursing residents when compared to those in less restrictive assisted living residents. There were positive correlations between learned helplessness, instrumental helplessness, and depression regardless of level of nursing care, and a positive correlation between perceived control and depression regardless of level of facility care. Identifying state learned helplessness and depression in long-term, restrictive care facilities can promote positive social change through increased awareness, intervention, and treatment to improve individual quality of life and maximize internalization of perceived control of the decision making process for elders.

This dissertation investigates the role of organizational purpose as a driver in attracting employees to employers. The dissertation consists of two related studies both anchored in the literature on employer attraction, defined as the favorable interaction between potential applicants and the images, values, and information about an organization (Coldwell et al., 2008), and perceived fit, defined as the employee’s suitability with the culture and values of the organization (Hinkle, R. K., & Choi, N., 2009). In the first study, semi-structured interviews were performed on 23 prospective job seekers to explore the alignment between personal and organizational purpose in making an employer more attractive. The participants identified the opportunity for professional growth and development, the people with whom one works, and alignment with organizational purpose as key drivers of employer attraction over and above the usual concerns of compensation and job requirements. Interviewees invested in organizational purpose alignment with more emotional intensity; noted that alignment with organizational purpose was sometimes more important than compensation and stability; and suggested that the “pursuit of purpose is privilege” and, as such, influenced by an individual’s economic security. Reconciling these findings with extant theory, a new concept of Purpose-fit is proposed as an additional and important driver of employer attraction. Purpose-fit is defined as the perceived alignment of individual and organizational purpose assessed by job seekers through evaluation of image and reputation, mission and values, social contribution, and meaningful work. The second study utilized a choice-based conjoint survey to investigate the importance and tradeoffs between key drivers of employer attraction, including Purpose-fit, basic salary, opportunities for professional growth and development, and opportunities to work with similar people. The conjoint survey explored the effects of an employee’s generation, individual economic security, and reaction to respondent’s employer response to the social crisis of COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement on the relative importance of Purpose-fit. There were four important findings: 1) Opportunity for professional growth and development was the dominant driver of employer attraction across all demographic segments; 2) Job seekers will trade off some level of salary for Purpose-fit, even if they experience economic insecurity; 3) Contrary to the extant literature, older generations placed more relative importance on Purpose-fit than younger generations; and 4) Prospective job seekers with positive employer experience in response to COVID-19 or Black Lives Matter placed higher relative importance of Purpose-fit, were more willingness to accept less pay, and reported lower levels of active job search. In summary, Purpose-fit emerged as an important driver of employer attraction among prospective job seekers, differentiated by generation, economic security, and positive experience of employers’ response to social crisis, resulting in reported willingness to accept less pay. / Business Administration/Strategic Management

On April 16, 2007, 32 students and faculty were killed on the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University campus, making this incident the deadliest mass school shooting in United States history. Other school shootings, such as the infamous Columbine High School shootings and the more recent Northern Illinois State shootings, have become popular topics in today's social media (Kaminski et al, 2010; Reese 2009). Due to these events, schools and universities have become interested in the safety of their students as well as the students overall feelings towards crime while on their campus. New research studies have taken an interest in students' overall fear of crime and how this fear is impacted by variables including sex of the student and the time of day (Kaminski et al. 2010; Murray 2001). Though these studies have found who is more fearful of crime and which types of crime are feared most among their samples, these studies and others do not take into account whether the student is aware of shooting incidents that have occurred on college campuses around the country. The current study addresses this gap. The purpose of this study is to measure whether a University of Central Florida student's knowledge of mass school shootings influences their own levels of fear regarding crime and criminal victimization. Using an anonymous online survey, data from students at the University of Central Florida was collected and analyzed. The survey used quiz style questioning to gauge a students' overall knowledge on mass school shootings. Other questions such as demographics fear of various types of crime, and fear of different locations on campus were also asked.; This research addresses which areas of the University of Central Florida that students fear most (such as the Parking Garages), whether a student who lives in off campus housing is more fearful then a student who lives on campus, and whether having more knowledge of mass school shootings cause more fear of crime in students then those with less knowledge, and do students with more knowledge feel that they will be victimized more. This research hopes to help the University of Central Florida's Counseling center and well as the UCF Police Department to help understand students fears and needs to help create a safer learning environment and help those students in need in addition to adding to the overall literature on fear of crime.

No description available.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Technology: Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / This thesis integrates social capital and ‘reasoned action’ theory to construct a theoretical model for investigating the factors which predict an individual’s intention to share tacit knowledge in a University of Technology. It utilizes Nahapiet and Ghoshal (1998: 243) definition and conception of social capital. They define social capital as “the sum of the actual and potential resources embedded within, available through, and derived from the network of relationships possessed by an individual or social unit”. This study examined tacit knowledge sharing behaviour (i.e., knowledge that is shared between individuals) within the context of social capital. The specific type of tacit knowledge that is being studied relates to work experience ‘know-what’ and ‘know-how’. ‘Know-what’ refers to the basic mastery of a discipline that professionals achieve through education and training. ‘Know-how’ refers to procedural knowledge about a business process and the individual’s capability to perform an action with an understanding of why the action is appropriate in the particular context, (i.e., action skill or applied competence). Specifically, this study examines the relationship between the structural, relational and cognitive dimensions of social capital and the individual’s attitude towards the sharing of tacit knowledge. It further examines the relationship between the individual’s attitude towards tacit knowledge sharing, their perceived norms and perceived behavioural control over the sharing of tacit knowledge (mediating variables) and their intention to share tacit knowledge. It is a case study which consists of a mixed methods research design, incorporating nine research interviews and five hundred and fifty four self administered questionnaires. The theoretical model is examined using structural equation modeling (SEM) and as a result of the findings, the initial model is revised into a set of theoretical models, which are tested using SEM and found to be consistent with the data (i.e., a good fit). The direct, indirect and total effects of the identified predictor (social capital) and mediating variables (‘reasoned action’) on the individual’s intention to share tacit knowledge, in each model, is examined and the results are presented. Each dimension of social capital is found to be significant for predicting the criterion variable ‘attitude towards tacit knowledge sharing’. The individual’s attitude towards tacit knowledge sharing is found to be highly significant for predicting the individual’s intention to share tacit knowledge but the ‘reasoned action’ variables are found to be not as significant, particularly perceived behavioural control over the sharing of tacit knowledge. The results of this study enrich our collective understanding regarding social capital and tacit knowledge sharing behaviour. / Academy of Management, National Research Foundation, Durban University of Technology

Bakgrund och problem: Revisionens funktion är dels att vara en extern kontroll för företagens intressenter och dels att generera intern nytta för företagen. Förutsättningarna inom revisionsbranschen har förändrats på senare tid varför revisionens nytta kan ha förändrats. Då företagsledares uppfattningar om revision påverkar revisionen och efterfrågan av revision är det av intresse att studera detta från företagsledares perspektiv. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att utforska vilka nyttor och värden företagsledare upplever att revisionen bidrar med till företaget och dess ledning. Metod: Semistrukturerade intervjuer med 18 företagsledare genomfördes. 13 av företagsledarna var ekonomichefer och 5 var verkställande direktörer. Slutsats: Från företagsledares perspektiv uppfattas revision till stor del som bidragande till intern nytta. Den kontrollerande funktionen som revisionen haft för företagets intressenter, det vill säga mer extern nytta, verkar idag istället till stor del bidra till intern nytta. Företagsledarna uppfattade även att en stor del av revisionens kärnuppdrag innebär rådgivning vilket betyder att revisorn används som bollplank och rådgivare. Det kan vara ett resultat av den hårdnande konkurrensen vilket kan göra att revisorer fokuserar på att generera nytta för de reviderade företagen och göra deras representanter nöjda. Företagsledare verkar uppleva revisionens värde olika och studien indikerar att skillnader i företagsledarnas karakteristikor såsom befattning påverkar det upplevda värdet. / Background and problem: The value of the audit of today is not only to be a control of the companies financial reports for external stakeholders, it also adds internal benefits for the audited company. Since the conditions for the audit has changed lately the role of the audit may also have changed. It is interesting to study the audit from company managers perspectives because their view of the audit affects the audit itself and the demand of the audit. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore which utilities and values managers percieve from audit. Method: Semistructured interviews with 18 managers out of which 5 had the position of CEO and 13 had the position of CFO or equivalent. Conclusion: From the perspecitve of company managers the audit is percieved mainly as a contributor to internal benefit. The focus of the audit has shifted from the external stakeholders to the internal benefit for the audited company. Company managers also percieved that a big part of the core mission within the audit was to give guidance which means that the auditor is used as an advisor. This could be the result of toughened competition which may have led to a stronger focus on generating benefits for the audited companies and pleasing their representatives. Company managers seem to percieve the vaule of the audit differentelly and this may be affected by differences in managers characteristics such as their position within the company.

I Sverige äter vi ca 11 g salt per dag, vilket är dubbelt så mycket som rekommenderat. Eftersom ett för högt saltintag innebär risker för hälsan, har livsmedelsföretag i ett Vinnovafinansierat projekt, på uppdrag av Regeringskansliet, gått ihop för att ta fram metoder för saltreduktion, bland annat en så kallat multisensorisk verktygslåda. Syftet med studien var att i ett sensoriskt hemtest undersöka om gillandet och upplevelsen av sälta skiljde sig mellan saltreducerade tomatsoppor med tillsatta kryddor eller aromer och en referenssoppa med ursprunglig salthalt. Ett andra syfte var att undersöka konsumenters upplevelse av sälta i livsmedelsprodukter som är vanligt förekommande i svensk matkultur, genom en enkätundersökning. I det sensoriska hemtestet visade det sig att två av de saltreducerade sopporna, en med chili och en med kryddblandning av basilika, vitlök och chili, upplevdes som mer salta än referenssoppan. Det fanns ingen statistisk signifikant skillnad i gillandet mellan sopporna, vilket betydde att de saltreducerade sopporna gillades lika mycket som referensen. I enkätundersökningen visade resultatet att de livsmedel som upplevdes saltast var bordssalt, sojasås, örtsalt samt rostade och saltade jordnötter. Flertalet livsmedel som innehöll en låg mängd eller inget salt alls, upplevdes ändå som salta. Studien visade att saltreduktion genom multisensorisk påverkan av en tomatsoppa var möjlig. I framtiden kan aromer eller toppings från livsmedel som associeras med salt användas i saltreducerade produkter. / In Sweden we eat about 11 g of salt per day, which is twice as much as recommended. Since too high salt intake poses risks to health, food companies in a project funded by Vinnova, on behalf of the Government Offices, have joined forces to develop methods for salt reduction, including a so-called multisensory toolbox. The aim of the study was to investigate in a sensory home use test, whether the acceptance and perception of salt differed between a salt reduced tomato soup compared to a reference soup. A second aim was to investigate consumers' perception of saltiness in food products that are commonly found in Swedish food culture, through a survey. In the sensory home use test, it turned out that two of the salt reduced soups, one with chili and one with spice blend, were perceived as most salty even though the reference soup had a higher salinity. There was no significant difference in the liking between the soups, which meant that the salt reduced soups were liked as much as the reference soup. In the survey, the results showed that the foods that were most salty were table salt, soy sauce, herb salt and roasted and salted peanuts. Most foods that contain a low or no salinity at all, were still perceived as salty. The study showed that salt reduction of a tomato soup, by multisensory influence, was possible. In the future, aromas or toppings from foods that are associated with salt can be used in salt reduced products.

Med utgångspunkt i hypotesen att förskollärare känner en osäkerhet i att möta barn i behov av anpassningar utifrån skrivelsen i förskolans läroplan var syftet med studien att synliggöra hur förskollärare ser på sin egen kompetens när det gäller att möta och anpassa för barn i behov av anpassningar i enlighet med förskolans läroplan (Skolverket, 2018) samt hur de önskar att kompetensen på området kan utökas. Empiriska data har samlats in med hjälp av semistrukturerade enkäter vilka konstruerades och sammanställdes i enkätverktyget Survey and Report. I Survey and Report skapades även de diagram som använts för att presentera resultatet. Enkäten genererade 69 svar från förskollärare vilka var medlemmar i en större facebookgrupp för personer verksamma inom förskolan. Resultatet visade att en majoritet av de som besvarat enkäten har arbetat mer än 6 år som förskollärare samt att en majoritet av respondenterna upplevde en ganska hög eller hög kompetens när det gäller att möta barns behov av anpassningar inom samtliga av de områden som studien belyser. / Based on the hypothesis that preschool teachers feel insecure in meeting children in need of adjustments based on the demands in the preschool corriculum, the purpose of the study was to make visible how preschool teachers view their own competence when it comes to meeting and adjustingfor children in need of adjustments in accordance with the preschool corriculum (Skolverket, 2018) and how they wish the competence in the area can be expanded. Empirical data have been collected using semi-structured surveys which were constructed and compiled in the survey tool Survey and Report. The Survey and Report also created the diagrams used to present the results. The survey generated 69 responses from preschool teachers who were members of a larger Facebook group for people active in the preschool. The results showed that a majority of those who answered the questionaire had worked more than 6 years as preschool teachers and that a majority of the respondents experienced a fairly high or high level of competence in meeting children´s needs for adjustments in all of the areas covered by the study.

No description available.