Education Commons^™

Internet-Based Behavior Of It Professionals: Implications For Online Ergonomic Education To Prevent Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Priyadarshini Pattath

Theses and Dissertations

INTERNET-BASED BEHAVIOR OF IT PROFESSIONALS: IMPLICATIONS FOR ONLINE ERGONOMIC EDUCATION TO PREVENT WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS

By Priyadarshini Pattath, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2017 Director: Dr. Robin Hurst, Assistant Professor of Adult Learning, Teaching and Learning,

School of Education

The purpose of this study was to explore the preferences of medium of ergonomic education and views about self-directed online training modules to prevent musculoskeletal disorders in computer professionals and understand their perspectives and experiences about online health information seeking using a …

A‌ ‌Study‌ ‌Of‌ ‌The‌ ‌Factors‌ ‌That‌ ‌Lead‌ ‌To‌ Burnout‌ ‌In‌ ‌The‌ ‌Accounting‌ ‌Profession‌, Stephen N. Kervin

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide information on the causes of burnout to employees in the accounting profession. A review of the literature revealed research on many different industries, but a lack on research within the accounting profession. The purpose of this research study was to examine what demographic variables increase the likelihood of an employee suffering from burnout.

In order to identify the causes of burnout for accountants, this study used a descriptive research design. The research utilized the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey and a demographic questionnaire.

Quantitative analysis was applied to the interpretation of the descriptive data …

Examining The Application Of Experiential Learning Techniques Across Sport Management Programs, Elizabeth Sattler

Theses and Dissertations

The Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) has identified experiential learning projects as an integral element to be included in sport management curriculum (COSMA, 2016). However, often the experiential learning opportunities offered by sport management programs are limited to a required internship experience (Foster & Dollar, 2010). While internship programs have been widely accepted and implemented by sport management programs (Eagleman & McNary, 2010), there is little evidence of the implementation of other experiential learning practices within sport management programs. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to investigate the widespread application of experiential learning practices of sport management faculty. …

Hunting For Financial Literacy, Georgia Sozou

Theses and Dissertations

This paper summarizes and explores the results of a survey conducted at Hunter College of the City University of New York that surveys 211 students. It examines the relationships between the students’ individual characteristics, previous personal finance education and the levels of financial literacy of the Hunter College population.

Veteran As Leader: The Lived Experience With Army Leader Development, Michael James Kirchner

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined the lived leader development experience of Post 9/11 Army veterans while serving in the armed forces. At least $10-$15 billion is spent annually on leadership development in the United States and human resource executives claim developing leaders is their number one priority over the next five years. Simultaneously, companies actively hiring veterans claim the former service member's leadership abilities are their most desired quality. Inspection of the Army’s leader development program offers an opportunity for employers to integrate revised approaches in their own leadership development initiatives.

A purposive sample of ten Army veterans—six males and four …

Organizational Development And Learning Technology In The Workplace: The Migration Of University Reporting Tools, Anne C. Pinder

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation study focused on organizational development (OD) as it related to implementing a new technology, the Cognos reporting tool, within working groups at a mid-sized University, in southern New Jersey. In this study, I intended to understand how these two work groups accomplished this change on an individual, team, and organizational level, while they achieved success through dealing with stressors associated with the software implementation. I was especially interested in how individuals in the two workgroups dealt with a major change within their organization. I was also interested in evaluating my personal leadership skills as a contributor to the …

Examining Social Desirability Bias In Measures Of Financial Behavior, Nicole L. Kelly

Theses and Dissertations

Surveys that investigate the financial lives of consumers consist of direct questions about financial behavior, with college students being a heavily surveyed and convenient sample (Gutter 2013). However, the subjective nature of survey data is not bias-free, indicated by the presence of disparities between the respondents' reported and actual behavior. Due to the fact that many students begin to acquire loans, establish credit, and initiate saving behaviors in college, it is important that we have a complete understanding the financial behavior of college students.

The goal of this study was to investigate the role of socially desirable responding (SDR) in …

Pioneers Of Asynchronous Online Education At Religion-Based Institutions Of Higher Education: A Multiple Case Study Exploring The Process Of Adoption Of Online Education At Three Private Catholic Colleges, Alan D. Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the process of adopting online education at three private colleges. All three institutions participating in the study were private Catholic colleges that offered their first online courses in the late 1990s. The research question posed for this study was: Within the participating institutions, how did online education get started and what was the process for its development?

Findings from this research indicated that, for an institution to successfully implement online education, four elements emerged: (a) some form of infrastructure needed to be in place that could support online education, (b) a latent force, referred to as …

Examining Generational Differences In The Workplace: Work Centrality, Narcissism, And Their Relation To Employee Work Engagement, Judith L. Fenzel

Theses and Dissertations

In the workplace of today, an unprecedented four generations of workers work side by side. While this blend of generations adds valuable diversity to the workforce, it also adds complexity.

Despite popular interest in the subject of generations in the workplace, systematic research of the specific generational differences of work centrality, narcissism, and their relation to employee engagement is limited. It is vital to examine the possibility of significant generational differences in order for HRD practitioners and scholars to understand the focus and direction of strategies intended to improve individual and organizational performance. Using a quantitative research methodology, an online …

Compelled To Be Connected: An Ethnographic Exploration Of Organizational Culture, Work-Life Balance, And The Use Of Mobile Workplace Technologies, Kristopher J. Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an ethnographic exploration of organizational culture, work-life balance, and the use of information and communication technology ("ICT") in the work and home settings. The researcher was embedded for nine weeks within the Information Technology ("IT") department at the corporate headquarters of a mid-sized manufacturing firm in the upper Midwest. The espoused values of the organization proved contradictory, one favoring work-life balance and the other requiring that employees be available to work anytime and from anywhere. The behaviors observed provided insight as to why employee actually used ICT after hours--because it was required of their role and/or because …

Developing Advanced Academic Degree Educational Profiles For Career Fields, Katherine J. Gentil

Theses and Dissertations

This research develops a career field's educational profile through use of the decision analysis approach of value-focused thinking (VFT). VFT is used to solicit the capabilities that the career field manager (CFM) desires its officers obtain from an advanced academic program. This process generates a value hierarchy and a focused set of alternatives (degree programs). The academic programs' content are evaluated against the hierarchy to determine how well it meets the values of the functional area. A rankordered list of degrees is produced and a portfolio of degrees is selected through the use of CFM-approved goal-setting criteria. The specific breakdown …

The Effect Of Major Organizational Policy On Employee Attitudes Toward Graduate Degrees, Frank R. Hughes

Theses and Dissertations

Leaders initiate policies not only to improve the success of their organizations, but to influence employee performance, whereby employee attitudes toward a policy objective can influence their resulting behaviors. One group of employees, Air Force officers, experienced a policy change in 2005 that discontinued the use of academic degrees as criteria for officer promotions. With this change, there is a concern that the number of Air Force officers with graduate degrees might decrease. In particular, senior leaders in the Civil Engineer (CE) officer career field are concerned that this policy change might reduce the number of officers available to fill …

Moderating Effects Of Perceived Organizational Support On The Relationship Between Job Satisfaction And Turnover Intentions For Recently Retrained Usaf Enlisted Members, Jennifer A. Phelps

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Air Force uses a variety of human resource practices to manage nearly 350,000 personnel worldwide. Programs already in place, such as enlistment bonuses, base of preference selection, and voluntary retraining, are some of the methods currently utilized to retain Air Force personnel. One program, the Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program (NCORP), allows for the movement of mid- to senior-level enlisted members to critically manned career fields. In recent years, this program has not met its quota of volunteers and has relied on involuntary retrainees to fill training slots. This study assessed the attitudinal variables of job satisfaction, perceived organizational …

Evaluating Support Services For African American Females At A Historically Black College, Sabrina Ferguson Edwards

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effectiveness of the Women’s Resources Assistance Program (WRAP), a support service for African American females attending a historically black college or university (HBCU). The study included 230 participants. The purpose of the study was to gauge, through the use of surveys, each participant’s knowledge and level of participation in the WRAP.

The participants were issued questionnaires and interview forms to complete during the study. The questionnaires contained 11 closed-ended questions that were designed to determine the participating students’ attitude towards WRAP as well as their level of participation. Similarly, oral interviews were conducted to ascertain the …

Study On The Air Force's Ability To Field Senior Logistics Readiness Officers Experienced In Fuels Management, Keith A. Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

A major initiative resulting from the 1999 Chief of Staff of the Air Force Logistics Review (CLR) was the development of the logistics readiness officer (LRO) career field, which combined three previous logistics fields; supply, transportation, and logistics plans. As a result, the training for a LRO promotes logistics function familiarity rather than expertise. This is of particular concern in the critical area of fuels management. Fuel is an absolute necessity in all military operations and its proper management is vital to mission success. The objective of this research is to determine the impact due to the LRO career field …

Assessing Influences On Perceived Training Transfer: An Investigation Of Perceptions Of Air Force Logistics Readiness Officer Technical School Graduates, Sarah E. Hobbs

Theses and Dissertations

Training transfer, which is the ability to utilize training back on the job, is an important issue for all organizations. Training transfer is also a concern within the Air Force, and specifically within the Logistics Readiness (LR) domain as the new LR career field and Logistics Readiness Officer (LRO) technical school mature. This research specifically investigates how influences/attitudes/beliefs of LRO technical school graduates regarding their training influence their perceptions about the transfer of such training back to the job. This study employs a survey-based methodology and the use of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) for data analysis. The results of the …

A Study Of Course Design Factors That Influence E-Learning Course Completion Rates, Edward A. Mathews

Theses and Dissertations

E-learning has been defined as "the use of network technologies to create, foster, deliver, and facilitate learning, anytime and anywhere" (Linezine, 2000). E-learning is one of the fastest growing services on the Internet today with revenues between 6 billion and 7 billion dollars (Bizreport, 2003). This growth comes with a peculiar problem - many students never complete their e-learning courses. Although there is significant variation among institutions - with some reporting course-completion rates of more than 80 percent and others finding that fewer than 50 percent of distance-education students finish their course...course-completion rates are often 10 to 20 percentage points …

An Analysis Of The Air Force Basic Communications Officer Training Course: The Impact Of Trainee And Organization Characteristics On Training Effectiveness, Grace M. Beck

Theses and Dissertations

In 1998, the Aerospace Communications and Information Expertise (ACE) program was implemented to provide a common operational foundation for new Air Force Communications and Information officers. Training's crucial role in providing Air Force effectiveness and efficiency in the officer corps is demonstrated by the formal training courses new officers are required to attend for instruction in their jobs. The importance of training, and subsequent training evaluation, is evident for two significant reasons: the skills required by Air Force Communications and Information officers and the amount of investment in training. Investment in training includes money, time, equipment, and any other significant …

An Analysis Of Information Referenced Testing As An Air Force Assessment Tool, Eric D. Larson

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DOD) has placed a great deal of importance on training and education, throughout all areas of infrastructure development and force implementation. A more knowledgeable operating unit, in any situation, is consistently the deciding factor for success. The United States Air Force, too, has emphasized this ideal and sought to employ those persons most qualified for the required task. Yet, problems within the classroom and various training venues are always present and should be continually marked for improvement. Existing assessment techniques should provide an accurate account of the quality of information learned by DOD personnel. This is …

The Effect Of Interactivity And Instructional Exposure On Learning Effectiveness And Knowledge Retention: A Comparative Study Of Two U.S. Air Force Computer-Based Training (Cbt) Courses For Network User Licensing, Matthew J. Imperial

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force (USAF) currently employs the use of computer-based training (CET) across a host of requirements. One such requirement is in the Information Assurance (IA) arena and involves the training/licensing of over one-million computer network end-users. USAF use of CETs has been shown to possess a potential for substantial fiscal savings. However, studies investigating the learning outcomes of learning effectiveness (initial learning) and knowledge retention (sustained learning) associated with USAF CETs are lacking.

Service Learning In Business Schools: What The H.E.L.P. Honduras Story Teaches About Building, Sustaining, And Replicating International Initiatives In Graduate Programs, Lisa Mali Jones

Theses and Dissertations

This document outlines the foundation and first year results of the H.E.L.P. Honduras organization, which was formed as a student-based, student-governed international outreach initiative at the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University. Specifically, in its first year the organization focused on providing microcredit and service relief to victims of Hurricane Mitch in Honduras.

After studying the case of H.E.L.P. Honduras, readers should conclude that educators interested in sponsoring sustainable student-run service learning organizations at private universities must address three primary issues: the problem of student selection and turnover, the need for administrative and faculty endorsement, and the need …

Student Assessment Selection Behavior Analysis Of Institutions Conducting Distance Education, Clayton W. Sammons

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis discovers issues universities use when deciding what types of exams will be used for distance education students. Many universities conduct distance education courses electronically but do not conduct the evaluation instruments electronically. Universities across the country, diversified by academic rankings, tuition, and student population were interviewed. Results generally revealed security concerns as the most prevalent reason for universities avoiding electronic exams. However, some universities have created evaluation methods to mitigate the security risks and perform electronic assessments such as projects or exams that are tailored to reduce the possibility of cheating. Examples of the tailored exam questions include …

A Follow-On Study Of University Efforts To Provide Students With The Ability To Comprehend And Apply Total-Quality Principles In Their Fields Of Study, Joseph J. Koizen, Michael D. Allen

Theses and Dissertations

This follow-on research investigated the educational processes employed by universities to enable their students to comprehend and apply Total Quality principles. The results of this research are intended to be used by Department of Defense institutions of higher education as a current guide to help them adopt practices which will enable their students to comprehend and apply Total Quality in their future assignments. Using a source list of schools from Quality Progress (Sept. 1995), contact individuals were interviewed at several civilian and military universities across the United States. Investigative questions were developed and asked concerning the specific educational processes of …

The Comparative Effectiveness Of Computer-Mediated Communication Supplemented Satellite Distance Education And Traditional Face-To-Face Education, Megan C. Block

Theses and Dissertations

Satellite distance education delivery typically has one main drawback -- limited student-to-student and student-to-instructor interaction. Telecommunications technology, more specifically computer-mediated communication (CMC), has made it possible for educational institutions to overcome this drawback. This research examines the comparative effectiveness of CMC supplemented satellite distance education delivery and traditional face-to-face education delivery. The three dependent variables that were measured to compare the two educational delivery methods included: performance, interaction, and attitude outcomes. Pre- and post-course instruments were administered in a non-equivalent quasi-experimental design to students enrolled in an Air Force Institute of Technology's School of Systems and Logistics software engineering Professional …

The Certification Program, Training, And Competencies--An Examination Of The Air Force Contracting Work Force's Response To The Sufficiency Of Professional Training, Patty L. Jones, Suzanne Staugler

Theses and Dissertations

This study determined to what extent AF contracting personnel training needs are sufficiently being satisfied by the current DoD training as outlined in DoD 5000,52M. A convenience sample was employed. 499 surveys were administered to Professional Continuing Education students for various level I through III courses. 320 surveys were used for the data base, achieving a 64.1 response rate. The results of this study show that the training requirements were viewed as sufficiently ensuring that the AF has a mission ready professional work force by slightly more than half of the respondents. However, the training component was ranked as the …

An Assessment Of Factors That Affect The Employment Of Alternative Dispute Resolution Techniques To Resolve Contract Disputes, Jeffrey T. Journey, Bradley T. Riddle

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the factors which potentially influence contracting and legal professionals’ decisions to employ Alternative Dispute Resolution ADR techniques to resolve contract disputes. A literature review revealed that unawareness, excessive oversight, lack of management support, over-regulation, and interdisciplinary conflict on acquisition teams are or have been the most prominent factors discouraging the use of ADR. An additional background investigation determined that the United States Army, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Navy had extensive experience and expertise regarding ADR use. Therefore, surveys over 250 were administered to various contracting and legal offices throughout these agencies, of which 57 …

The Projected Effects Of A Paperless Information System On The Productivity Of The Air Force Institute Of Technology Evaluations And Admissions Division, Richard A. Bihary, Roy C. Shrader

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force Institute of Technology Admissions/Registrar Directorate (AFIT/RR) has a need to improve and expand services using a smaller operating budget. One promising solution is to eliminate the paperwork required to perform the AFIT/RR functions. To assist AFIT/RR managers in evaluating alternatives, this thesis determines the nature and extent to which a paperless information system affects the productivity of the Air Force Institute of Technology Evaluations and Admissions Division (AFIT/RRE). The DoD definitions of productivity are used in this thesis. Based on these definitions, the hours per unit of work (HPU) is chosen as the measure of productivity. Baseline …

Demonstration Of A Benchmarking Technique To Compare Graduate Education Level Of Air Force Project Managers And Selected Benchmarking Partners, William D. Beatty, David H. Kelley

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis demonstrated a benchmarking technique to support determining graduate education requirements for officers in the Acquisition Program Management utilization field. The technique is also applicable to other Air Force career fields. The USAF currently uses the Graduate Education Management System GEMS to quantify officer graduate education requirements. Weaknesses in the GEMS-based process include the inability to address future technologies, vulnerability to inconsistency and change, and confusion of training with education. AFIT developed and recommended an alternative requirements determination approach that relies on benchmarking. This thesis reviewed literature on benchmarking principles. The research methodology developed and implemented benchmarking procedures to …

An Evaluation Of The Educational Effectiveness Of A Relational Course Compared To Single Topic Courses Offered By The Management Department Of The United States Air Force, Kevin M. Kosefeski

Theses and Dissertations

This study compares the educational effectiveness of two different methods of teaching three senior-level management courses at the United States Air Force Academy. The first method, known as relational instruction, combined Management Information Systems MIS, Marketing, and Strategic Management into one three hour course worth nine credits. The team of instructors used a variety of delivery methods to present material. The second method of instruction employed single topic courses covering the same three topics as the relational course, taught by single instructors in one hour blocks using mostly lecture to deliver material. The literature review covered Blooms taxonomy of educational …

Information Requirements For The Air Force Institute Of Technology Under A Fee-For-Service Concept, Jerry A. Cole, Patricia C. Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the current shift in national defense strategy, the DoD is going to have to perform new roles and missions with major reductions in resources. One of the major initiatives committed to achieving savings is Corporate Information Management, a broad program designed to help the DoD operate more efficiently by application of successful private sector business practices and better application of information technology. To meet the challenge of operating in a business-like environment AFIT must be able to maximize its competitiveness to provide customers with the quality and types of services they desire. To accomplish this task, information technology …