<p> The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between Facebook usage and self-efficacy in collegiate athletes. The data for this study was provided by St. Thomas University athletes in the United States. The variables used to represent Facebook usage, Facebook frequency of use, Facebook number of friends and Facebook frequency status updates were measured using Facebook Intensity Scale (Ellison et al., 2007). The dependent variable used in this study is self-efficacy which is measured using the General Self-efficacy (GSE) developed (Jerusalem &amp; Schwarzer, 1979). Data analyses indicated a statistically significant relationship between Facebook number of friends and self-efficacy. The data also indicated significant inverse relationship between Facebook frequency status updates and self-efficacy. The results of the correlation analysis indicated inverse relationships between frequency status updates and frequency of use, and frequency status updates and Facebook number of friends. These findings suggest that once the coaches, administrators, and professors attend to the issue of Facebook usage for collegiate athletes, it may enhance self-efficacy and psychological benefits.</p>

<p>This paper is a systematic review of scholarly studies that examines how organizations enhance their ability to generate value through social media. It explores why some organizations are able to adopt and benefit from social media while others cannot. Specifically, it examines: (i) how <i> people</i> and social networks are essential to create value at the organizational level, (ii) how <i>leadership</i> sets the vision and convinces others on the need for change, and (iii) what types of <i>strategy</i> can be implemented to enable knowledge creation through social networks. Argument is made on the vital importance of two variables in particular&mdash;leadership and strategy&mdash;and their role in moderating how the organization accepts and incorporates change to enhance overall effectiveness and efficiency. Evidence-based research is used to describe relevant theory and practice through qualitative and quantitative sources. It examines how organizations overcome the hurdles associated with change, and how individuals learn to accept new methods to connect, share knowledge, and create value through Web 2.0 technology. </p><p> Social media challenges an organization&rsquo;s ability to manage individuals and information. It requires a shift in the way people work and think; it requires a culture adjustment in how people collaborate in new, more inclusive ways other than relying on the same imbedded methods and inner core of co-workers for answers. </p><p> <i>Keywords:</i> Social Media, Social Networks, Leadership, Strategy, and Organizational Culture. </p>

<p> As e-commerce becomes an increasingly large industry, questions remain about how the isolated effects of design elements on websites influence consumer perceptions and purchasing behavior. This study used a quantitative approach to measuring the effect of a ubiquitous element of design, white space, on the perception of the monetary value of individual items. White space is a key component of design and website usability, yet it has been shown to be related to the perception of luxury. Little is known about the direct relationship between manipulation of white space and the outcomes on consumer perceptions of value in an e-commerce context. This study found no significant difference between two levels of total white space area (large vs. small) measured by participants' perceived cost of items (chairs). In contrast, while holding total white space constant, the effect of white space distance between images was significant for males but not for females. Additionally, no significant relationship between gender and frequency of online shopping behavior was found, &chi;²(1) = 3.19, <i>p</i> = .07, &phis; = .17. Gender and amount of time spent per month online were significantly related, &chi;²(1) = 6.21, <i>p</i> = .013, &phis; = .24.</p>

<p> This thesis studies the potency of place in mobilizing social categories, and its implications for both social categories and places. I use the theory of distanciation to study associations between caste identity and place. I conducted an ethnographic study of a caste-based digital group, the <i>Cyber Thiyyars of Malabar,</i> to understand the connections and disconnections between the Thiyya caste and Malabar from the perspectives of different sets of actors involved in the identification of caste, namely the nation-state and members of this caste-based network. The nation-state knows the Thiyya caste in a manner that is disconnected from Malabar, while the <i>Cyber Thiyyars of Malabar</i> seek to re-emphasize the identification of this caste through the region. Participant observation and in-depth interviews indicate that through references to Malabar, the group seeks to establish a Thiyya caste identity that is distinct from the Ezhavas, a caste group within which the nation-state subsumes them. </p><p> I demonstrate that references to Malabar serve to counter the stigma that the <i>Cyber Thiyyars of Malabar</i> experience when the spatially abstract categorization of the Thiyyas interacts with notions of caste inferiority/superiority. Further, it serves as a mobilizational tool through which they hope to negotiate with the nation-state for greater access to affirmative action. I also demonstrate that caste identification continues to be relevant to the production of place. Place-based identification of the Thiyyas influences the manner in which the group envisions the physical boundaries of Malabar and how other social groups can belong to this region. Based on this analysis, I argue that framework of distanciation should incorporate not only the experience of place and social relations, but also how they are known and represented. </p><p> This dissertation establishes that even though social categories such as caste and place are not conventionally understood to be connected to each other, it is important to study the associations between them. Although the new media and globalization may prompt to us to think that place does not matter anymore, I establish that this caste group uses the language of place to organize and mobilize itself on a stronger basis in precisely this context. </p>

<p> Each year, over 300 billion dollars of print coupons are distributed, yet the redemption rate is less than one percent. As of 2010, 93% of the U.S. population has one or more cell phones providing anytime, anywhere access. Despite the 2009 economic downturn, Americans still spend 41% of their food budget outside of the home. The specific problem to be studied is the behavioral intention of young adults, 18 to 24 years of age, attending private, non-profit universities to use mobile coupons for casual restaurant dining. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional correlation study was determining the relationship between five independent variables: (a) performance expectancy, (b) effort expectancy, (c) social influence, (d) fear of spam, and (e) opting-in; and one dependent variable: participants' behavioral intention to use mobile coupons for casual restaurant dining. The results demonstrated a strong positive correlation between all of the variables except fear of spam and the dependent variable: the behavioral intention to use mobile coupons for casual dining restaurants. There was no relationship between the fear of spam and the behavioral intention to use mobile coupons. This, in itself, was an important finding. Recommendations for using mobile coupons include coupon promotion as a component of the marketing mix, mobile coupons as a unique way of encouraging new menu items, creating an easy path to opt-in, and creative ideas for coupon face-value promotions. Mobile coupons have the potential to exceed the redemption rates of printed coupons.</p>

<p> The current qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to explore small and medium enterprise (SME) business leaders&rsquo; lived experiences with e-commerce practices. The central research question for the current study was as follows: What is the lived experience of SME leaders who have used e-commerce practices within their business with regard to the effect and critical success factors (CSFs) of e-commerce in the SMEs&rsquo; success? The findings of this study offer insights into how the adoption of e-commerce practices might help SMEs in Puerto Rico to achieve competitive advantage and contribute to their success or survival. The study served to define the knowledge and skills required for leaders to manage e-commerce operations. Research findings indicated that e-commerce helps to generate revenue and profitability for a business. A key negative aspect of e-commerce that leaders must consider is distrust in terms of security risks and identity fraud, among others. The study findings indicate that SME leaders in Puerto Rico are using e-commerce practices such as media advertising and promotion based on electronic marketing media, and cutting-edge technology through more interactive websites, among others. Other key factors for e-commerce success were the knowledge and skills that the SME leaders possessed, which included knowledge of technology like Web programming, and know how to create and use different tools based on computer systems, among others. The findings of the current study can serve as a roadmap to those considering adopting e-commerce, and lead future research related to the use e-commerce practices in SMEs.</p>

<p> In 2000, President Bill Clinton enacted the <i>Children's Internet Protection Act</i> (CIPA) which requires all K-12 schools and publicly funded libraries to use Internet filters to protect children from pornography and other obscene or potentially harmful online content as a stipulation for receiving E-Rate funding. The varying interpretations of CIPA and E-Rate guidelines may impact the learning opportunities of secondary students. </p><p> The purpose of this study was to examine the interpretations of federal policy (CIPA), state policy (La. Rev. Stat. Ann. &sect;17:100.7), and district policy on E-Rate funding as related to Internet filtering and secondary student learning opportunities in Region III school districts in Louisiana. The works of Heins (2001, 2003, 2006), Cho (2001, 2003, 2006), Feldman (2006), and Willard (2000, 2003), leading researchers in the fields of Internet safety and Internet filtering, were reviewed so that the issues surrounding Internet filtering and opportunities for student learning could be better understood. </p><p> Using a mixed methods research approach, the researcher explored state interpretations of the<i>Children's Internet Protection Act</i> through examining Louisiana's PreK-12 Educational Technology Standards. Through interviews and administration of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) survey on Internet filtering, district interpretations were solicited. Following survey administration, the researcher led two focus groups to solicit perceptions of district technology personnel and secondary teachers on the impact of Internet filtering on student learning opportunities at the secondary level. Follow-up interviews were also conducted to garner further information on policy interpretations and perceptions. Findings from this study shall serve as a resource for participating districts to ensure maximum opportunities for all students to learn in the 21^st century. </p>

<p> Thoughts drift in everyday life and in the classroom. The goal of this study was to investigate how often students reported off-task thinking while watching online lectures. These findings were related to working memory capacity, topic interest, and achievement goal orientations. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate how all of these factors were related and predicted performance in the course. </p><p> In the presented findings, 126 participants completed three complex span tasks, answered a 2x2 goal orientation questionnaire, responded to eight mind-wandering probes while watching two online lectures, and rated interest in the lecture topics. </p><p> In the reported models, higher levels of mind wandering predicted lower levels of academic performance. Lower levels of working memory capacity predicted higher levels of mind wandering and lower levels of academic performance. Higher levels of topic interest predicted lower levels of mind wandering. Higher levels of mastery approach orientations (those who learn to master content) predicted higher levels of task-related interference. A novel mind wandering probe, <i>thinking about or using another technology, </i> accounted for 29% of off-task thinking. Implications of these findings and considerations for future research are discussed.</p>

<p> This research examined the effectiveness of the use of two different type of electronic dictionary: monolingual and bilingual dictionaries in the reading comprehension, production, and vocabulary acquisition by Chinese international students. A total of 141 Chinese international students with different English levels were involved in the study, and 139 of them finally completed the experiment. Sixty eight ofthem were assigned to use a monolingual dictionary during the test while the rest to use a bilingual dictionary. The exact same exam which was called verbal reasoning, measured in three times, contained 25 questions that examined participants' ability to analyze vocabulary and evaluate information from written material. Thirteen of the participants were interviewed twice about their perceptions of vocabulary acquisition, their view about using electronic dictionaries in reading comprehension. In spite of that most researchers tend to believe that the use the monolingual electronic dictionary would lead better outcomes and promote incidental vocabulary acquisition, the result of the experiment showed there was no significant difference among Chinese international students who used the monolingual or bilingual dictionary in verbal reasoning exams.</p>

<p> This thesis investigates how Generation iY students perceive that social media and / or texting technology has influenced their ability to track and comprehend the subtleties of face-to-face communication within an academic setting. Generation iY is defined as those born between the years 1982 to 2004. Also involved in this study are members of the faculty and staff that teach Generation iY. The theories being applied and examined in this study include, Postman's Technology Ecology, McLuhan's Media Ecology, and Ong's Orality and Literacy. These theories while addressing different aspects of technological change, all agree that the change is all encompassing with every advancement in technology. The study consisted of four focus groups. Two groups consist of Generation iY, and two groups of faculty and staff. Comparative analysis was utilized to point out the similarities and differences between the focus groups. This study has revealed that while Generation iY said that they prefer face to face communication; they are intimidated, fearful of judgment, overwhelmed, and lack the sense of responsibility that is inherent with face-to-face communication. They find social media and texting a more comfortable means of communication because it requires less effort and minimizes consequences. The quotes given by the Generation iYers in this study are in accord with what Elmore (2010), writes about them, Generation iY is isolated yet connected. Generation iY has an overdeveloped attachment to their peer group via social media. The faculty of Generation iY cites this as a major reason why Generation iY struggle with critical thinking. Weiler (2004), supports these concerns as she indicates that they gather information for the wrong reasons. They use critical thinking in order to prove their beliefs right to their peer group instead of trying to find answers to problems.</p>