College’s revenue sports, football and men’s basketball, fuel the billion dollar intercollegiate athletics industry. Historically, those same two sports have maintained the lowest grade point average among all student-athletes. This inverse relationship begs the question, “what academic sacrifices are being made at the expense of college’s revenue sports?” Student engagement into educationally purposeful activities has been widely acknowledged as having influence on desirable college outcomes. The full extent of student engagement’s effect has yet to be determined. The purpose of this study was to conduct exploratory, qualitative research into the role of student engagement in educationally purposeful activities on the career transition of football student-athletes in the Southeastern Conference by answering the following research questions: how do SEC football players perceive their educationally purposeful engagement activities during college? To what extent do their perceptions of purposeful engagement activities influence career transitions? Results of this qualitative research uncovered the following four major themes: (a) Limited Purposeful Engagement Activities; (b) Desire for Internship Opportunities; (c) Undefined Career Path; and (d) Career Transition Regret. Results showed that former SEC football players in this study did not have enough experience with educationally purposeful engagement activities during college to make a determination. Additionally, student-athlete participants did not have the guidance or time required to participate in the only activity they perceived to be beneficial such as internships. Last, the former SEC football players did not perceive a positive relationship between their purposeful engagement activities and career transition. Creating a distinct set of student engagement criteria for student-athletes should be considered based on the study’s findings. Moreover, all stakeholders in student-athletes should collaborate effectively and share responsibility for their outcome.

The aim: to examine the alternation of physical preparedness of the cadets aged 23-25 of the Great Lithuanian etmon Jonusas Radvila training company, while purposely training the least trained physical feature. The object of the study: the physical preparedness of the cadets. Hypothesis: The results of the physical preparedness of the cadets will improve after 8 weeks of emphasized training of the least trained physical feature. Methods used in the work: theoretical analysis and generalization, anthropometry, physical fitness test, pedagogical experiment, mathematical statistics. Subjects: 54 healthy cadets, aged 23-25, of the Great Lithuanian etmon Jonusas Radvila training company. Anthropometrical measurements (height and weight) were performed using standard methods. The body mass index was calculated according to formula (kg/m2). The physical preparedness of the cadets was examined with the tests corresponding to the NATO standards: press-ups (t/2 min), sit-ups (t/2 min), and 3000 m running. Physical preparedness was assessed according to the table of points in the system of 5 points. After analyzing the results of physical preparedness it was observed that for those cadets who failed or performed weakly, the hardest exercise was sit-ups in 2 minutes. The experimental group of the cadets was made of volunteers, who failed or performed this normative of physical preparedness weakly. The program for training the dynamic endurance strength of abdominal muscles was applied... [to full text]

This qualitative study examined African-American student athletes' perceptions of engagement at a Division One Predominately White Institution. Bronfenbrenner's social ecological theory was used as a framework to explore the following research questions: How do African-American student-athletes make meaning of campus engagement? How do African-American student-athletes engage with their university? Four themes emerged from the data: (a) Unfulfilled Expectations; (b) Feelings of Isolation; (c) Commitment to Sport and (d) Social Involvement. The findings suggested that home, school community and societal factors may be linked to the differential experiences African-American student-athletes reported, and, as a result, may be worthy of additional exploration. Implications for African-American student-athletes and their families, as well as K-16 administrators were reported.

The sociological implications of studying campus communities can lead to breakthroughs not only in teaching and improving learning environments, but provide unique and helpful programs to aid diversity, promote unity, and decrease social inequality on campus and in American society. This study applied Boyer's campus community model to assess the campus communities of a private liberal arts college and a public state research university in the Mid-Atlantic. Using a modified version of the College and University Community Inventory (CUCI) administered through a web-based survey software, data on student perceptions of the different aspects of campus community identified by Boyer were collected and analyzed using factor analysis and regression analysis. The factor analysis led the researcher to propose modifications to the survey instrument. The regression analysis found several significant characteristics of undergraduate students and their institutions that can influence their perceptions of the campus community. A discussion of the findings and the implications of the study are presented. The results reported in this study have lead to several recommendations to be developed to enhance and improve the study of the campus community and environment in higher education using the CUCI. / Master of Science

Thesis Purposeful Categorization of Land as an Interference with the Right to Property presents an analysis of the institute of purposeful categorization of land and its specifics on a background of a theoretical thought about the right to property, the right to favorable environment and the collision of two constitutionally guaranteed rights. The purpose of this thesis is to assess current legislation of purposeful categorization of land, including the instruments that are used in relation to it, and to, based on the assessment, identify problematic issues of the legislation and asses the limitation of right to property that the individual instruments related to the institute create. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

With millions of people telecommuting each day, business leaders need to understand the factors contributing to job satisfaction among telecommuters. Drawing from the theory of purposeful work behavior, the purpose of this correlational study was to provide decision makers with information about the factors associated with job satisfaction among telecommuters. The research question addressed the relationship between gender, age, and level of telecommuting and job satisfaction. Using multiple linear regression analysis of 65 telecommuter survey respondents, the results (F(3,61) = 2.4, p > .05) indicated that no statistical significant relationships were found between job satisfaction and the predictor variables; however, the results indicated that job satisfaction among telecommuters was high, regardless of demographic variables. Additionally, a correlational analysis determined that a correlation exists between age and job satisfaction as well as age and level of telecommuting. Knowing that job satisfaction is ubiquitous among telecommuters and that correlations exist around age contributes to the knowledge base on the impacts of telecommuting. Business leaders could benefit from these findings when implementing telecommuting policies or procedures. Implications for social change are that satisfaction may increase when employees have the option to telecommute, which can affect business profitability. In addition, fewer people commuting to work decreases emissions and improves the environment.

This essay focuses on two cases studies that include two game designers’ views of meaning-making construction in games and an analysis of their corresponding games. This isplaced in relation to the late modern Sweden context. The study examines how the designersconceive purposeful play by employing a multi-disciplinary approach consistingof Pruyser’s three-world model, Bell’s ritualization framework, and, Howard’s quest theory.Such a study is relevant due to the new ways meaning-making is actively producedwithin games and contributes to the understanding of meaning-making in late modernSweden. The two designers work at DICE and Starbreeze Studios and were interviewedusing a semi-structured methodology. The data is analyzed with a qualitative narrativetechnique applying an inductive theoretical lens to analyze the data thematically. Bothrespondents illustrate patterns of meaning-making in their construction of games wherefunctionality is central and vital to produce purposeful play. The construction of illusionisticgame worlds encloses on feelings of authenticity to the world’s structure. Realistic,autistic, and, object symbolism operate to mold the world structure and are connected tothe designers’ genre. The designer from DICE promotes realistic worlds and the designerfrom Starbreeze Studios autistic representations. Ritualized practice within the worldfocuses on combat differentiation techniques to legitimize violent practice. The designers’realistic world construction makes combat plausible within its border and autistic worldsare empowered by back-stories. Opposition is seen as essential in both cases. The correspondinggame shows similar tendencies except that many of the quest themes are intactalthough the designers themselves consider the games to use less of the mythologicalformulae. Characters, themes, and, allegorical imagery was used to amplify the sense ofdialectic oppositions and logical opposition where the enemy is always darker. However,the hero and heroes are considerably grimmer compared to the stereotypical hero. Meaningis maintained through non-allegorical quests where the player and hero are motivatedby functionality linked to opposition or emotional elements. An anti-heroic concept isemployed to construct a practical and credible hero-character that has ambivalent attributesand convincing behavior. An alteration to dark-light symbolism can also be seen inone of the cases. In relation to other studies, this essay has broaden the spectrum of thepsychology of religion in terms of fields for meaning strategies; confirming ritualizedstrategies in video games; displayed altered ways of using mythological symbols in theSwedish context; presented cultural differences in hero structures that might be based onthe Swedish context.

Submitted by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2016-06-20T12:25:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivo total.pdf: 937413 bytes, checksum: e26481374c45fb855ad72178d9093a1d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-20T12:25:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivo total.pdf: 937413 bytes, checksum: e26481374c45fb855ad72178d9093a1d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This paper aims to analyze Machado de Assis‘s novel ―Quincas Borba through the theory from Jacques Rancière about ―strategic – or Napoleonic – action model‖. We presented the analysis of the novel by relating it to a short tale from the same author entitled ―O Espelho‖ (The mirror), by establishing a relationship between the characters (specially Rubião, main character of the novel) and Napoleonic personas – Napoleon I/Napoleon III. We tried to demonstrate the character in contraposition to heroic accomplishments of the French emperor such as the critic and parodic inversion of the Napoleonic model, negatively based on Napoleon‘s saga, but also on reflections from Machado de Assis about the gaps and contradictions on Brazilian bourgeoisie society from the second half of 19th century, which tried to inspire themselves on ideas and ideologies originated, mostly, on France, as discussed by Roberto Schwarz. / A presente pesquisa tem a finalidade de analisar o romance Quincas Borba, de Machado de Assis, à luz da teoria de Jacques Rancière sobre o ―modelo estratégico – ou napoleônico de ação‖. Apresentamos a análise do romance relacionando-o com o conto machadiano ―O espelho‖, buscando caracterizar os personagens, principalmente Rubião, protagonista do romance, confrontando-o às figuras napoleônicas – Napoleão I / Napoleão III. Tentamos demonstrar o personagem em contraponto ao marco heroico do imperador francês, como a inversão crítica e paródica do modelo napoleônico, inspirado negativamente na saga de Napoleão, mas também as reflexões de Machado de Assis sobre as lacunas e contradições da sociedade burguesa brasileira oitocentista, da segunda metade do século XIX, que buscava se inspirar nas ideias e ideologias provenientes principalmente da França, discutidas por Roberto Schwarz.

The reflective game design theory outlined by Rilla Khaled (2018) argues for designing disruptive experiences to promote reflection within the player. We decided to design and produce a game based on her theory to then engage with Khaled’s theory critically. We define the act of making a game as a three-step process consisting of ideation (influenced by Khaled’s theory), articulation of the design based on a framework (SGDA Framework by Mitgutsch & Alvarado, 2012), and finally the implementation of it (based on principles outlined by Swink, 2009 and Boyer, 2010). We make a theoretical argument for our design decisions, test the game in a user study, and then discuss the successes and shortcomings of our design. To conclude we tie our discoveries to the steps taken in the application of theory into practice. We discover that the best design intentions often cannot reach the player because their interaction with the game is hindered by un-polished implementation. We identify further gaps between theory and practice and are stating what designers should watch out for when making reflective games. / I Rilla Khaled´s (2018) teori Reflective game design theory, argumenterar hon för fördelen med att skapa omvälvande upplevelser i syfte att uppmana spelaren till reflektion. Vi beslöt oss för att designa och utveckla ett spel baserat på hennes teori, för att sedan undersöka och utvärdera teorin. Vi definierar spelutvecklande som en process i tre steg, bestående av ”ideation” (grundat ur Khaleds teori), artikulering av designen baserat på ett ramverk s.k. ”SGDA Framework” ( Mitgutsch & Alvarado, 2012), och slutligen realisering (grundat på principer framtagna av Boyer, 2010 och Swink, 2009). Vi argumenterar för besluten som ligger bakom vår design, utför praktiska test av spelet i en användarstudie och diskuterar sedan framgångar samt eventuell tillkortakommanden med vår design. Slutsatsen består av en redogörelse för hur våra upptäckter står i förhållande till applikationen av teori till praktik. Vi upptäckte att genomtänkta och välmotiverade beslut inom spelutveckling inte alltid når spelaren, då interaktionen mellan spelare och spel hindras av tillkortakommanden i hur dessa beslut tillämpats. Vi identifierade ytterligare klyftor mellan teori och realisering, och konstaterar vad spelutvecklare bör vara uppmärksamma på under utveckling av s.k. ”reflective games”.

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