Essay 1: The Determinants of the Convexity in the Flow-Performance Relationship There is substantial evidence that the flow-performance relationship of mutual funds is convex. In this work, I empirically investigate the determinants of such convexity. In particular, I study the impact that fund fees (marketing and non-marketing fees) and the uncertainty related to the replacement option of fund production factors (managerial ability and investment strategy) have on the convexity of the flow-performance relationship. I also analyze the impact of the priors about managerial ability and idiosyncratic risk on such convexity. The evidence suggests that marketing fees are positively related to the convexity of the flow-performance relationship. In addition, non-marketing fees do not have a negative impact on this convexity. The evidence associated with the value of the managerial and investment replacement option is mixed. Consistent with investment restrictions being relevant in explaining investors’ allocation decisions, sector, index, and hedge funds exhibit lower convexity in their flow-performance relationship than respectively diversified, non-index, and mutual funds. Finally, the dispersion of the priors about managerial ability and idiosyncratic risk are positively related to the convexity in the flow-performance relationship. Essay 2: Implicit Incentives and Tournament Behavior in the Mutual Fund Industry The convexity of the flow-performance relationship in the mutual fund industry produces implicit incentives for mutual fund managers to modify risk-taking behavior as a function of their prior performance (Brown, Harlow, and Starks (1996)). Rather than focusing only on tournament behavior, I investigate the link between the determinants of the convexity in the flow-performance relationship and the inter-temporal risk-shifting behavior of a fund’s manager. Hence, I examine how the sources of implicit compensation incentives shape tournament behavior. The evidence indicates that the relationship between changes in managers’ relative risk choices and mid-year performance is non-monotonic (U-shaped). Higher convexity in the flow-performance relationship increases the convexity of the U-shaped tournament behavior. For extreme performers, an increase in the convexity of the flow-performance relationship directly translates into higher risk-taking incentives. For average performers, the incentive to increase risk produced by the convexity in the compensation schedule is counterbalanced by an increase in the risk of termination. I find that the uncertainty about managerial ability, marketing efforts, and the size of family complexes affect the convexity of the U-shaped tournament behavior. These results are robust to the consideration of termination risks due to funds’ organizational form, investment objectives, or past performance. My results suggest that the risk strategies of younger funds, funds spending more on marketing, funds belonging to smaller families, sector funds, funds that are team-managed, or funds that have experienced consistent poor performance are more sensitive to intermediate performance.

The goals of sexual health programming in youth populations frequently focus on reducing sexual risk taking, as these behaviours can lead to sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies. A focus on enhancing distal factors such as social support is starting to be considered of greater importance in adolescent sexual health programming. The purpose of this thesis was to examine the relationship between social support and sexual risk taking behaviours in school age youth in Northern Nova Scotia in 2000. Social support was found to be a factor in some sexual risk taking behaviours, with different relationships seen for males and females. Depression and self-esteem also influence the relationship between social support and some sexual risk taking behaviours. Health programming with a wholistic approach, including a focus the role of support and psycho-social variables, may be a positive way to reduce sexual risk taking behaviours and support healthy adolescent sexuality.

Falls from playground equipment are a leading cause of injury for children, hence, there is a need for intervention programs to reduce the risky behaviours associated with falls. The Cool 2 Be Safe program was developed based on the results of several research studies that identified effective strategies for reducing risk behaviours on playgrounds among individually tested school-age children. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of delivering this program in a group format within Boys and Girls Clubs. Baseline data assessing children’s attitudes and injury beliefs was collected with a questionnaire. Children then participated in four structured activity sessions in small groups, designed to increase risk awareness and reduce the frequency of risky play in playground settings. Children were then re-administered the initial questionnaire. Comparing pre- and post- data revealed positive changes in risk attitudes. Implications of these findings for preventing playground injuries and directions for future research are discussed. / Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Joseph-Bombardier Master’s Graduate Scholarship

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death and injury among teenagers. The crash risk is highest for young male drivers with young male passengers. The goal of this study is to find out why young males are at such high risk. One possible explanation could be the Sexual Selection Theory (Darwin, 1871), which emphasizes the competitive nature of young males that may determine their behaviour for future benefits. I tested if there was competition between males that made them take more risks while driving in the simulator. Various driving performance variables (speed, car following distance, standard deviation of the lateral position, hazard response times, number of vehicles passed) and individual differences variables (risky driving, risk perception, sensation seeking, competitiveness) were measured. Results provided little support for the effect of interpersonal competition and an opportunity for discussion arose. / AUTO21, Ontario Innovation Trust (OIT), Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

Crime rates dropped unexpectedly and dramatically in the 1990s. Chapter One describes this drop, and evaluates previous explanations for the decline. A theoretical and empirical link between crime and risk taking at the individual level is discussed, as is the methodology of a study to test whether such a link is observed at the aggregate level. Chapter Two describes the results of the study investigating the relationship of crime and risk taking at the aggregate level. Results indicate, for most measures, that a decline in non-criminal risky activities occurred in the 1990s, paralleling the decline in crime, and various cross-correlational analyses suggest rates of criminal and non-criminal risky activities tend of co-vary over time. Chapter Three describes a theoretical framework based on life history theory that can help to explain the causes of the crime and risk taking drop in the 1990s, and suggests future avenues of research. / viii, 82 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm

Adolescent refugees struggle to find an identity among conflicts between traditional values and beliefs that are taught at home and those of the new, larger society. Engaging in risk-taking behaviours that are not traditionally done in their country of origin is a possible consequence of the refugees' process of acculturation. The type and amount of risk-taking behaviours and level of acculturation among adolescent refugees from Southeast Asia (N = 76), Central America (N = 82), and their Quebec peers (N = 67) in grades 7 and 8, were examined. The Quebec group displayed the highest rates of alcohol and drug use, stealing, and violence. Central Americans had the highest rates of gang membership. Southeast Asians displayed the lowest total amount of risk-taking behaviours. Distinct profiles of the adolescents in each group emerged. Acculturation had no effect on the refugees' risk-taking activities. Family environment was a key determinant of risk-taking activities among Central American and Quebec adolescents. Socioeconomic status had a minor effect on risk-taking behaviours. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.

The study examined the effect of feedback and gender on confidence, risk taking and decision making. Surveys were administered to 88 male and 110 female college students (N=198). Males were shown to be higher in risk taking than females. Individuals who received positive feedback were highest in both risk taking and confidence. Among individuals who received positive feedback, men were especially higher in risk taking and confidence than women. Regarding decision making, the study showed that there was no significant difference between males and females. Although, males had an advantage in the positive feedback condition and a disadvantage in the negative feedback condition, the results were not significant. Decision making was shown to be positively correlated with confidence but not with risk taking. The applications of the findings to entrepreneurship are discussed.

The risky behavior of males has been proposed to be a strategy to display the relative quality of men’s genes and increase their competitiveness in gaining access to a mate. Low mood, a constellation of depression symptoms with less severity than to warrant a Major Depressive Disorder diagnosis, has been proposed to be an adaptive strategy to reduce harm and conserve energy in the face of competition. It is hypothesized in this study that males’ strategy of gaining access to a mate through displaying risky behavior will result in higher perceptions of their own value as a mate and the value of their short-term and long-term mates. It is also hypothesized that men who engage in risky behavior to increase their competitiveness will display fewer low mood symptoms than those who do not engage in risky behavior. Two hundred forty men between the ages of 18-36 years completed decision problems assessing risk preference and aversion, the Mate Value Inventory, and the Depression-Dejection subscale of the Profile of Mood States-Short Form. The results of a MANOVA analysis suggest that there were no significant differences between risky and non-risky males on their perception of their own mate value, the value of their short-term or long-term mates, and on low mood. The discussion focuses on the possible reasons for the pattern of responses displayed by the participants and methodological concerns. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Denna studie undersöker problematiken kring attacker mot humanitära biståndsarbetare i konfliktområden. Studien ämnar bidra till detta forskningsfält med ett nytt perspektiv rörande risktagande på individuell så väl som organisatorisk nivå. Studien undersöker ifall detta risktagande kan äventyra biståndsarbetarnas säkerhet. Vidare problematiserar studien det dikotomiska tänkandet om huruvida organisationer bör dra sig ut eller stanna kvar i högriskområden. Detta görs genom att diskutera problematiken utifrån begreppet mänsklig säkerhet i relation till det humanitära uppdraget. Informationen samlades in genom att läsa tidigare litteratur, genomföra intervjuer och genom att  distribuera ett frågeformulär. Studien finner flera olika orsaker och incitament till högt risktagande och kategoriserar dessa som avsiktligt och oavsiktligt risktagande. Vidare uppmanar studien organisationer att beakta risktagandeperspektivet och att de bör hantera det oavsiktliga risktagandet eftersom det påverkar humanitära biståndsarbetares säkerhet negativt.

Observations of consistency in behavioural responses in animals suggest that animals have personality, a term previously mainly used when describing humans. The expression of differences in personality, similar to expression of variation in behaviour, is in principle dependent on genetic background, environmental factors and experiences. Therefore, by estimating heritability one can determine to which extent the genes affect the phenotypic expression of behaviour. This has rarely been done for variation in animal personality. The aim of the present study was therefore to estimate the consistency and heritability of personality traits in red junglefowl chicks (Gallus gallus). Consistency of behaviours within individuals (n=100) was determined from their responses to repeated novel arena tests, novel object tests and tonic immobility tests. A comparison between the offspring and the parent generation, both with known personalities, through a linear regression enabled me to estimate heritability of behavioural responses in these birds. The results showed a consistency in exploratory, boldness, risk-taking behaviour, and fearfulness in red junglefowl. Additionally, heritability estimates for exploratory, risk-taking and foraging behaviours were found. Taken together, this shows that in the red junglefowl, similar to in other species, personality have both a heritable and an environmental component. An important aim in biology education is the scientific approach, where hypothesis, experimentation, processing results and discussing the results are in focus. Learning and gaining knowledge through the process is a key factor, and will hopefully increase the interest in science among Swedish pupils.