Thesis (Ph.D. (Applied English Language)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Refer to document

Financial literacy is a growing problem in the United States. While research has approached the formation of financial skills from a variety of angles, little is known about the influence of religiosity. Using the College Student Financial Literacy Survey (CSFLS) and Duke University Religiosity Index (DUREL), data was analyzed for correlations between religiosity and financial knowledge, financial attitudes, and financial behaviors. Data was collected from 938 undergraduates at Mississippi State University via an online survey using Qualtrics survey software in the spring of 2015. Items measured on the DUREL (i.e., religiosity) were not significantly related to financial attitudes, financial knowledge, or financial behavior. These findings are important for churches and faith-based organizations as well as financial educators as populations in need seek financial education. Faith leaders and institutions could incorporate financial lessons to improve the financial skills of all members.

Personalized normative feedback (PNF) has shown promise as a stand-alone intervention for reducing alcohol use among college students. PNF uses norms clarification to correct drinking norms misperceptions by highlighting discrepancies between personal alcohol use, perceived peer alcohol use, and actual peer alcohol use. Previous reviews of personalized feedback interventions have identified norms clarification as key a component, prompting researchers to study PNF as a single-component intervention for college drinking. As the number of publications focused on PNF effectiveness has increased in recent years, an empirical review of these studies is warranted to assess the potential impact of PNF as a stand-alone program. The purpose of the present study was to summarize available research and to perform a meta-analytic review of personalized normative feedback as a stand-alone intervention for college student drinking. Studies were included if they examined a stand-alone PNF drinking intervention, used a college student sample, reported alcohol use outcomes, and used a pre-post experimental design with follow-up at least 28 days post-intervention. Eight studies (13 interventions) completed between 2004 and 2014 were included. Effect size estimates (ESs) were calculated as the standardized mean difference in change scores between treatment and control groups. Compared to control participants, students who received PNF reported a greater reduction in drinking and harms from baseline to follow-up. Results were similar for both gender-neutral and gender-specific PNF. Overall, intervention effects for drinking were small but reliable. This study offers an empirical summary of stand-alone PNF for reducing college student drinking and provides a foundation for future research.

This study explored interdisciplinary studies students‟ academic and social engagement. As the review of literature demonstrated, student engagement and satisfaction are important to retention and institutions can adopt policies and practices to foster student engagement. Because interdisciplinary studies programs often struggle to maintain relevance, fostering student engagement is one way to ensure maximum student satisfaction and retention. This study identified factors of student engagement that were positively related to satisfaction and confirmed that requiring core interdisciplinary studies courses had a positive impact on engagement. A quantitative instrument, the Interdisciplinary Studies Student Engagement Survey, was adapted from the National Survey of Student Engagement questionnaire to collect self-reported responses. The following eight factors of student engagement were found to be relevant: (a) diversity-related activities, (b) shared understanding and experiences, (c) interaction with peers, (d) interaction with faculty members, (e) active and collaborative learning, (f) integrated learning, (g) out-of-class experiences, and (h) academic challenge. Respondents reported the most frequent participation in integrated learning and the least frequent participation in out-of-class experiences. It was determined that students with nontraditional characteristics tended to participate more frequently in academic engagement, whereas students with traditional characteristics tended to participate more in social engagement. In addition, enrollment in mandatory interdisciplinary core courses was found to positively influence engagement in seven of the eight identified factors. Enrollment in core courses was also positively iv related to satisfaction. Finally, all eight engagement factors positively correlated with satisfaction to some degree.

There is a long-standing debate on whether high-achieving students experience a better or worse psychological well-being than their peers. This retrospective cohort study adds to the current literature by examining the differences in rates of psychological disorders, social anxiety, and perfectionism between high-achieving and typical undergraduate students. A convenience sample of 357 students was gathered from the University of Central Florida (UCF). Participants were asked to fill out a brief survey which included questions about demographics, grade point average (GPA), social anxiety, perfectionism, enrollment in The Burnett Honors College, inclusion in any childhood gifted programs, and diagnosis of psychological disorders. Two groups (a High-Achieving group and a Comparison group) were formed based on GPA scores and enrollment in The Burnett Honors College at UCF. Relative risk and chi-squared analyses were conducted to see if there was a significant relationship between group classification and the incidence of psychological disorders, self-injury, and social anxiety. T-tests were used to compare group means of social anxiety and perfectionism. A statistically significant relationship was found between group classification and the incidence of psychological disorders, self-injury, and social anxiety (p = .033, p = .028, and p < .001). The High-Achieving group scored significantly higher on the SPAI-23 SP Subscale (p = .032), the SPAI-23 Difference Score (p < .001), and the APS-R Standards Subscale (p < 0.001). Altogether, the findings of this study indicate that High-Achieving undergraduate students experience a worse psychological well-being than their typical undergraduate student peers.

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Pan, Lin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-180). / Abstract also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.I / 中文摘要 --- p.III / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.V / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.VI / LIST OF TABLES --- p.IX / Chapter 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2 --- Research-driven Theories of Language Learning Beliefs --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Definition of Beliefs about Language Learning --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Characteristics of Beliefs about Language Learning --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Structure of Language Learning Beliefs --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- The Role of Language Learning Beliefs in L2 Learning --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Summary --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3 --- Approaches to the Investigations of Language Learning Beliefs --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- The Normative Approach --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- The Metacognitive Approach --- p.17 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- The Contextual Approach --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Summary --- p.20 / Chapter 2.4 --- Research in Second/Foreign Language Learning Contexts --- p.21 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- The Impact of Culture on Learning Beliefs --- p.22 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Sources of Beliefs about Language Learning --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Mismatches between Teachers´ة and Students´ة Learning Beliefs --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- The Association between Individual Learning Beliefs and Learning Outcomes --- p.31 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Summary --- p.33 / Chapter 2.5 --- Rationale for Present Study --- p.33 / Chapter 2.6 --- Summary --- p.34 / Chapter 3 --- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY --- p.36 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2 --- Context of the Study --- p.36 / Chapter 3.3 --- Research Design --- p.38 / Chapter 3.4 --- The Pilot Study --- p.40 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Pilot Testing Survey --- p.40 / Chapter 3.4.1.1 --- Participants --- p.40 / Chapter 3.4.1.2 --- Construction of the Survey --- p.41 / Chapter 3.4.1.3 --- Procedures --- p.43 / Chapter 3.4.1.4 --- Results --- p.43 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Pilot Study of Semi-structured Interviews --- p.45 / Chapter 3.4.2.1 --- Participants --- p.45 / Chapter 3.4.2.2 --- Design of Interview Protocols --- p.45 / Chapter 3.4.2.3 --- Procedures --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4.2.4 --- Results --- p.47 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Implications of Pilot Study --- p.48 / Chapter 3.5 --- The Main Study --- p.48 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Participants --- p.49 / Chapter 3.5.1.1 --- Survey Participants --- p.49 / Chapter 3.5.1.2 --- Selection Criteria for Student Interviewees --- p.49 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Instrumentation --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5.2.1 --- Survey --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5.2.2 --- Semi-structured Interviews --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Data Collection --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5.3.1 --- Survey --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.3.2 --- Semi-structured Interviews --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Data Analysis --- p.55 / Chapter 3.5.4.1 --- Survey --- p.55 / Chapter 3.5.4.2 --- Semi-structured Interviews --- p.55 / Chapter 3.5.4.3 --- Triangulation of Data --- p.56 / Chapter 3.6 --- Summary --- p.57 / Chapter 4 --- SURVEY FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2 --- General Picture of Student Learning Beliefs --- p.59 / Chapter 4.3 --- General Picture of Teacher Learning Beliefs --- p.70 / Chapter 4.4 --- Mismatch between Teachers´ة and Students´ة Learning Beliefs --- p.77 / Chapter 4.5 --- The Relationship between Individual Learning Beliefs and Proficiency Levels --- p.81 / Chapter 4.6 --- Summary --- p.85 / Chapter 5 --- INTERVIEW FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION --- p.86 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.86 / Chapter 5.2 --- Participants´ة Learning Beliefs --- p.87 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Beliefs about Foreign Language Aptitude --- p.87 / Chapter 5.2.1.1 --- The general existence of specialized abilities for language learning --- p.88 / Chapter 5.2.1.2 --- Beliefs about the characteristics of successful and less successful language learners --- p.91 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Beliefs about the Difficulty of Language Learning --- p.102 / Chapter 5.2.2.1 --- Difficulty of learning English as a foreign language --- p.103 / Chapter 5.2.2.2 --- Relative difficulty of different language skills --- p.106 / Chapter 5.2.2.3 --- Expectation for success --- p.110 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Beliefs about the Nature of Language Learning --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2.3.1 --- Role of culture contact and language immersion in language learning --- p.113 / Chapter 5.2.3.2 --- Language learning and learning of other school subjects --- p.117 / Chapter 5.2.3.3 --- Focus of the language learning task --- p.110 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Beliefs about Learning and Communication Strategies --- p.121 / Chapter 5.2.4.1 --- Pronunciation --- p.123 / Chapter 5.2.4.2 --- Grammar --- p.130 / Chapter 5.2.4.3 --- Vocabulary --- p.132 / Chapter 5.2.4.4 --- Reading --- p.135 / Chapter 5.2.4.5 --- Writing --- p.138 / Chapter S.2.4.6 --- Speaking --- p.140 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Beliefs about Motivation --- p.145 / Chapter 5.3 --- Discussion --- p.150 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Sources of Learning Beliefs --- p.150 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Beliefs Specific to the Hong Kong Learning Context --- p.154 / Chapter 5.4 --- Summary --- p.156 / Chapter 6 --- CONCLUSION --- p.157 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.157 / Chapter 6.2 --- Summary of the Significant Findings --- p.157 / Chapter 6.3 --- Implications of the Research --- p.162 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Eliminating Learners´ة Inappropriate Learning Beliefs --- p.162 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- "Improving Learners, Perceptions of Foreign Language Aptitude" --- p.164 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Changing Learners´ة Views about the Difficulty of Foreign Language Learning --- p.165 / Chapter 6.3.4 --- Increasing Learners´ة Knowledge of Accents in Varieties of English --- p.166 / Chapter 6.3.5 --- Providing More Opportunities for Practicing English with Native Speakers --- p.167 / Chapter 6.3.6 --- Adjusting Teachers´ة English Learning Beliefs --- p.167 / Chapter 6.4 --- Limitations of the Present Study --- p.169 / Chapter 6.5 --- Suggestions for Further Studies --- p.170 / Chapter 6.6 --- Summary --- p.172 / REFERENCES --- p.173 / APPENDICES --- p.181 / Appendix A: Sample Questionnaire for Beliefs about Language Learning --- p.181 / Appendix B: Sample Questionnaire on Teachers´ة Beliefs about Language Learning --- p.185 / Appendix C: Sample Semi-structured Interview Protocol --- p.187 / Appendix D: Sample Content Form --- p.192 / Appendix E: Full result of Students' Beliefs about Language Learning Inventory (As Percentage) --- p.194 / Appendix F: Full result of Teachers´ة Beliefs about Language Learning Inventory (As Percentage) --- p.196 / Appendix G: Comparison between Teachers and Students on Language Learning Beliefs (As Percentage) --- p.198

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a wealthy country but faces multiple economic and social challenges. Economically, the country depends almost entirely on a single natural resource i.e. oil, which will be eventually exhausted. About sixty seven percent of Saudi’s native population is under 30 years of age and about 30 percent of 15-29 years old Saudis are unemployed. The country thus needs to diversify its economy and create job opportunities for its young unemployed population. A way forward in this regard could be supporting and promoting young people to engage in economic and entrepreneur activities, which could be facilitated by entrepreneurship education. Entrepreneurship has long been considered as a driver of innovation, a generator of employment opportunities and a potential wealth creator for both individuals and organisations. Academic literature supports the belief that with appropriate entrepreneurship education the number of would-be entrepreneurs can be increased. This study investigated the impact of entrepreneurship education programmes (EEPs) on entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions amongst university students in the KSA. The conceptual model tested in this research was based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Based on a quantitative approach, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to two groups: participants studying entrepreneurship courses as part of their degrees (to be known as EEPs Group) and participants not undertaking any entrepreneurship studies as part of their courses (Control Group). The data collection took place at the beginning of the semester (Pre-test/t1) in April 2010 and at the end of the semester (Post-test/t2) in July 2010. After screening, a final matched sample of 491 completed questionnaires for the EEPs Group and 184 for the Control Group was used for data analysis. The results of this empirical study revealed that the intention to become self-employed was positively and significantly correlated to attitudes regarding self-employment, to subjective norms and to perceived behavioural control. However, for entrepreneurial education, the intention to become self-employed was neither positively nor significantly correlated with new business start-up activities. For policy-makers in KSA, the study provides useful insights into the situation of entrepreneurship education, will aid planners in universities and the KSA government to address unemployment of young by creating greater entrepreneurial awareness, and thus, hopefully, jobs through entrepreneurship activities. This study has confirmed that EEPs has a significant contribution in developing entrepreneurial attitudes among university students. Thus, entrepreneurial skills could be inculcated in the younger Saudi generation early on in their lives by institutionalising enterprising and entrepreneurship knowledge, skills and culture through education and learning starting from the high school level to the university level. In addition, there is a need for changing behaviour and intentions towards, and creating awareness about, entrepreneurship and self-employment among Saudis using different channels of communications such as the electronic media including the social media.

Personality prototypes have gained more attention as a unit of personality analysis in the past decade. However, relatively few studies have looked at the personality structure of ethnic minorities in general and Black/African Americans specifically using this method of analysis. The current study utilized a large sample (n = 951) of Black/African American undergraduates. The scale scores and relevant work behaviors of the Workplace Personality Inventory (WPI) were analyzed via k-means to develop a prototypic outline of the three personality prototypes (i.e., resilient, undercontrolled, and overcontrolled.) Further, research relating to high achieving Black/African American undergraduates is also sparse. Thus, this study analyzed the cumulative grade point averages (CGPA) of the participants by gender and cluster type. The results show the replicability of the sample into the three personality prototypes as well as the statistical significance of gender and CGPA. The practical implications and limitations of the current study are discussed.