In economics there are two main domains of explanation for understanding unequal outcomes. The first considers differences in individual preferences, while the second concerns differences in how individuals are treated. Part I of the thesis comprises four articles pertaining to the first explanation. The main focus of these articles is gender differences in preference. The behaviors studied therein are risk preferences, competitiveness, altruism and cooperativeness. The first study finds no gender differences in performance under a competitive setting, across tasks with varying gender stereotyping. In the second study we find the gender gap in choosing to compete to be present only in the mathematical and not the verbal domain among adolescents. Moreover, its presence can largely be accounted for by other factors, such as performance beliefs. The third and fourth study compares children in Colombia and Sweden. In this sample there are no gender differences in Colombia, but in Sweden boys choose to compete more than girls. In risk-aversion however we find the gender gap to be larger in Colombia. Girls compared to boys also seem to be less cooperative in Colombia, whereas we find the opposite in Sweden. Part II comprises two articles relating to how individuals are treated by others. The first article explores how social status influences third party punishment. Punishment decisions made by male third parties in response to a norm violation are in this study found to be affected by both the social status and the gender of the judged individual. The second article investigates how transient anonymity interacts with discrimination in online markets. The results show buyer discrimination in the feedback system against male sellers with foreign-sounding names. This discrimination only occurs when sellers are anonymous; that is, if they chose not to reveal their name in their username.

Opportunities for supporting physician continuing professional development (CPD) may exist through careful instructional design and creative use of information and communication technology. The overarching goal of this study was to explore the learning experiences and outcomes of cardiologists participating in a web conference (“webinar”) series to understand the factors that can support webinars in being an appealing and satisfying CPD medium for these learners. Acknowledging that a pedagogically-based framework for program design is a cornerstone of effective CPD (Hutchinson & Estabrooks, 2009; Inan & Lowther, 2007; Casimiro, MacDonald, Thompson, & Stodel, 2009), this study used the W(e)Learn Framework (MacDonald, Stodel, Thompson, & Casimiro, 2009) as a process guide and quality standard for program design, development and delivery. Cardiologists voluntarily participated in an educational webinar series in which they shared their observations and experiences. Informed by the results of a systematic review of physician eLearning design preferences, this dissertation serves as a mechanism to learn about how webinars can be implemented to support learning and practice change within a population of highly specialized physician learners. Methodological approaches included a systematic review of literature examining physician preferences for eLearning design, a case study of webinar implementation, and interviews with cardiologists who participated in the webinars. The findings of the systematic review, the case study and the interviews aligned to characterize key considerations in webinar implementation. Webinar designers must carefully determine program structures, content, and media to create a satisfying learning experience. Cardiologists seek a webinar experience that responds to their professional reality of competing priorities, complex patients, and ambiguous clinical questions. They seek a mix of evidence-based, authentic and challenging content, delivered by credible content experts. The study found that purposefully designed webinars can be a satisfying learning experience for cardiologists with the potential to influence changes in knowledge and practice. The use of an instructional design framework may structure and enrich webinar implementation; this dissertation encourages their use.

<p>Sport participation can play a vital role in enhancing life of youth with physical disabilities. This is because of the rehabilitative influence sport can have not only on the physical body but also on rehabilitating people with disability into society. A successful sport programme in which the youth with disabilities are involved should possibly respect youth‟s wishes regarding the preference of the sport. The Review of the literature revealed that little has been documented about the status of disability sport in developing countries. Given the psychosocial and physiological benefits of sport in everyone‟s life, including those with physical disabilities, there is a need for a study to document the status of sport of this sub-population in Rwanda. This study, therefore, aimed to identify the factors associated with sport preferences among youth with physical disabilities in Rwanda. A sequential mixed model design was used to collect data, specifically the sequential explanatory strategy. Data was collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire and a total number of 204 participants voluntarily answered the questionnaire. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among four (4) NPC staff to collect data regarding the challenges experienced by youth with physical disabilities with regard to sport preferences. The Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 was used for data capturing and data analysis. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize demographic information as means, standard deviation, frequencies and percentages. Inferential statistics (chi-square and independent samples t-tests) were used to test the associations between different categorical variables (p&lt / 0.05). For the qualitative data, audiotaped interviews were transcribed and translated from Kinyarwanda into English, and the expressed ideas were coded and reduced into subthemes and categories. Thematic analysis was then done under the generated sub-themes. Permission to conduct this study was obtained from the concerned authorities. Ethical issues pertaining to informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality and the right to withdraw from the study were respected in this current study. The results of the current study revealed that the top five sports played by youth with physical disabilities were sit ball, sitting volleyball, volleyball, table tennis and wheelchair basketball. It also showed that youth with physical disabilities were committed to and enjoyed their sport experience. Additionally, they have had strong feelings about their physical abilities. Discouragingly, the results indicated that the youth with physical disabilities have had low perception that their parents were supportive of their participation in sport. The findings further showed that age, gender, use or non-use of mobility aids, and type of impairment influenced the choice of sport. However, there was no statistically significant association between demographic characteristics and some sports codes played in Rwanda. During the semi-structured interviews, the participants reported the challenges experienced by youth with physical disabilities with regard to sport preferences including physical factors (lack of accessible facilities, uneven playgrounds, transport to and from sport fields, resources and limited sporting codes available), social factors (lack of parental support and models) and financial factors (inhibit the implementation of many sport codes, high cost of adaptive equipment) which influence the youth with physical disabilities to choose a sport with sufficient facilities even if they do not like it. Factors that emerged as facilitators for sport preferences include: sport availability, perceived ability to handle a sport, friendship, facilities, improved individual competences, independence in mobility gained, and to take part in international tournaments. Based on the results of this study, and the role of sport in preventing many chronic diseases, it is apparent that there is a need to widen the spectrum of sport opportunities and to create awareness among youth with physical disabilities. Furthermore, there is a need to provide social and a local barrier-free inclusion of various stakeholders in recommending and designing sport programmes for the youth with disabilities.</p>

This thesis is an extension of recent research into the relationships between non-homothetic preferences and patterns of trade. The analysis focuses on the observed shift in consumption towards income-elastic services and, relative to agricultural goods, income-elastic manufactures associated with rising per capita incomes. In turn, the conjecture that we should witness a shift in global production and consequently a shift in trade away from primaries towards manufactured goods as the global economy develops is explored. This hypothesized change in the sectoral composition of global trade implies a change in individual country trade patterns. Specifically, the notion that a countrys exports must respond to a changing global market may help to clarify one of the principle causes of the shift towards manufacturing production among most small, trading economies.

This thesis is an extension of recent research into the relationships between non-homothetic preferences and patterns of trade. The analysis focuses on the observed shift in consumption towards income-elastic services and, relative to agricultural goods, income-elastic manufactures associated with rising per capita incomes. In turn, the conjecture that we should witness a shift in global production and consequently a shift in trade away from primaries towards manufactured goods as the global economy develops is explored. This hypothesized change in the sectoral composition of global trade implies a change in individual country trade patterns. Specifically, the notion that a countrys exports must respond to a changing global market may help to clarify one of the principle causes of the shift towards manufacturing production among most small, trading economies.

My Ph.D. research has examined the evolution of mating preferences and their role in speciation. I have addressed these topics empirically, using sympatric species pairs of limnetic and benthic threespine sticklebacks, and theoretically, with multilocus population genetics. Sticklebacks are small fish that occur in lakes, streams and estuaries throughout British Columbia. Most lakes contain one type of stickleback, however, several lakes support two differentially adapted sympatric species: a large benthic form (benthic), and a smaller zooplanktivorous form (limnetic). Chapter 2 examines the role of species interactions in shaping male mating preferences. I determined that the mate preferences of the small species have shifted from preferring large females (the ancestral state) to preferring small females due either to selection against hybrids (reinforcement), or to egg predation by the larger benthic species. Chapter 3 explores the idea that sexual imprinting may facilitate assortative mating between benthic and limnetic sticklebacks. Sexual imprinting occurs when individuals imprint on the phenotype of their parents, and subsequently prefer mates that resemble their parents. The results suggested that sexual imprinting does not contribute to assortative mating between the sympatric species pairs, implying that genetics are more important than early learning for the formation of mate preferences. Chapter 4 focuses on differences in male breeding colour between benthics and limnetics. The results reveal that limnetic males have more intense red and blue coloration than benthic and solitary males. These differences in colour could be due to reinforcement, to differences in visual sensitivity of females, or to territorial interactions between males. Chapter 5 examines the evolution of female mating preferences under different scenarios of sex-linkage, when the male display trait is sexually antagonistic. Theoretical analysis suggests that sexually antagonistic traits on the X chromosome (males XY, females XX), females will evolve to prefer mates carrying alleles beneficial to their daughters. In contrast, with a Z-linked trait (males ZZ, females ZW), females more often evolve preferences for mates carrying alleles beneficial to their sons (e.g., flashy displays). This provides an explanation for why males in ZW species have more elaborate sexual displays than males in XY species.

My Ph.D. research has examined the evolution of mating preferences and their role in speciation. I have addressed these topics empirically, using sympatric species pairs of limnetic and benthic threespine sticklebacks, and theoretically, with multilocus population genetics. Sticklebacks are small fish that occur in lakes, streams and estuaries throughout British Columbia. Most lakes contain one type of stickleback, however, several lakes support two differentially adapted sympatric species: a large benthic form (benthic), and a smaller zooplanktivorous form (limnetic). Chapter 2 examines the role of species interactions in shaping male mating preferences. I determined that the mate preferences of the small species have shifted from preferring large females (the ancestral state) to preferring small females due either to selection against hybrids (reinforcement), or to egg predation by the larger benthic species. Chapter 3 explores the idea that sexual imprinting may facilitate assortative mating between benthic and limnetic sticklebacks. Sexual imprinting occurs when individuals imprint on the phenotype of their parents, and subsequently prefer mates that resemble their parents. The results suggested that sexual imprinting does not contribute to assortative mating between the sympatric species pairs, implying that genetics are more important than early learning for the formation of mate preferences. Chapter 4 focuses on differences in male breeding colour between benthics and limnetics. The results reveal that limnetic males have more intense red and blue coloration than benthic and solitary males. These differences in colour could be due to reinforcement, to differences in visual sensitivity of females, or to territorial interactions between males. Chapter 5 examines the evolution of female mating preferences under different scenarios of sex-linkage, when the male display trait is sexually antagonistic. Theoretical analysis suggests that sexually antagonistic traits on the X chromosome (males XY, females XX), females will evolve to prefer mates carrying alleles beneficial to their daughters. In contrast, with a Z-linked trait (males ZZ, females ZW), females more often evolve preferences for mates carrying alleles beneficial to their sons (e.g., flashy displays). This provides an explanation for why males in ZW species have more elaborate sexual displays than males in XY species.

Numerous studies emphasize that climate, particularly temperature, is one of the most important resources of a tourist destination. With the onset of climate change, this climatic parameter of tourist destinations may change, leading some scientists and the media to claim that some destinations, including the Mediterranean, will become “too hot” for tourist comfort by as early as 2020 or 2030. This study examines tourists’ perceived and stated ideal and unacceptable conditions for multiple climate variables (temperature, rain, wind and sky conditions) for two popular Mediterranean tourism segments; beach/3S and urban sightseeing holidays. A survey instrument was administered to university students (n=866) in five countries that represent source markets for the Mediterranean (Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland). The survey results were applied to a baseline climate (1961-1990) and a minimum and maximum climate change scenario (A1B emission scenario for 2080-2099). With the exception of Athens, Greece, the results suggest that the media’s claims are erroneous, with only one urban destination incurring “unacceptably hot” conditions by mid-century and only a few destinations becoming “unacceptably hot” by the end of the 21st century. A more imminent threat could be the influence the media claims may have on tourists’ perception of the climate in the Mediterranean region. It is anticipated that these findings will hold important implications for critically assessing the potential impact of climate change in the study area and other destinations more broadly, and can be used to refine models intended to predict tourism demand and international tourism flows under climate change.

ABSTRACTTitle: The Effect of Customer Preferences Dynamism on Incumbent Firms:The Case of Nokia in the Mobile Phone industry.Authors: Adnan Kandeel kandeeladnan@gmail.comDinsel Sali dinsel08@yahoo.comFaculty: Department of Management and EngineeringDate: 27th of May 2013Background: The study of the dynamism of customer preferences’ effect onincumbent firms offers in-depth understanding of the active roleof customers in affecting the position of incumbent firmswhich has been neglected in the vast majority of literaturethat examined the declining position of incumbent firms.Aim: The aim of this thesis is to examine the dynamism of customerpreferences’ effect on incumbent firms.Definitions: Incumbent firm: the dominant firm in an industry.Customer preferences: the collection of attributes including explicitand implicit attributes of a certain product.Preference stereotypes: the implicit prejudgement by customers about a certain product that can not be ascribed to an explicit attribute.Methodology: A qualitative approach where online historical data from 1100 NokiaMobile phone user reviews for 11 years were collected, profiled, andthen analyzed.Completion and results: Incumbent firms are affected by the dynamism of explicit andimplicit preferences through their effect on radical and incrementalinnovation. Furthermore, preference stereotypes can affect incumbentfirms’ ability to impact the change of product meanings throughradical innovation and investment in technology.Keywords: Incumbent firms, Customer preferences dynamism, Radical innovation

Numerous studies emphasize that climate, particularly temperature, is one of the most important resources of a tourist destination. With the onset of climate change, this climatic parameter of tourist destinations may change, leading some scientists and the media to claim that some destinations, including the Mediterranean, will become “too hot” for tourist comfort by as early as 2020 or 2030. This study examines tourists’ perceived and stated ideal and unacceptable conditions for multiple climate variables (temperature, rain, wind and sky conditions) for two popular Mediterranean tourism segments; beach/3S and urban sightseeing holidays. A survey instrument was administered to university students (n=866) in five countries that represent source markets for the Mediterranean (Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland). The survey results were applied to a baseline climate (1961-1990) and a minimum and maximum climate change scenario (A1B emission scenario for 2080-2099). With the exception of Athens, Greece, the results suggest that the media’s claims are erroneous, with only one urban destination incurring “unacceptably hot” conditions by mid-century and only a few destinations becoming “unacceptably hot” by the end of the 21st century. A more imminent threat could be the influence the media claims may have on tourists’ perception of the climate in the Mediterranean region. It is anticipated that these findings will hold important implications for critically assessing the potential impact of climate change in the study area and other destinations more broadly, and can be used to refine models intended to predict tourism demand and international tourism flows under climate change.