Digital Commons Network^™

A Preliminary Model Reflecting The Potential Contributions Shared By The Four Parties Within The Realm Of Sports Sponsorship, Carol L. Bruneau, Sam Fullerton

AMTP Proceedings 2018

Sports sponsorships have become an increasingly large investment for many organizations. IEG (citation) has forecast that in 2017, total global sponsorship spending will be approximately $62.8 billion, up 4.2% from 2016 expenditures. Close to 70%, or almost $44 billion, of total sponsorship spending will be directed towards the sponsoring of sports events, leagues, teams and individual sports personalities. And the bulk of these investments will be implemented by marketers such as McDonald’s and Coca-Cola in efforts to create a sports overlay so as to increase demand for nonsports products. Who benefits from this outpouring of money by companies? Of course, …

The Monstrosity Of Parental Involvement: Formation Through Reading In Shelley And Rousseau, Amy B. Shuffelton

Education: School of Education Faculty Publications and Other Works

No abstract provided.

Deciding On Classroom Composition: Factors Related To Principals' Grouping Practices, Brigid M. Nesmith

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to examine the factors that may influence elementary and middle school principals’ choice of heterogeneous, homogeneous, or within-class ability grouping in Southeast Georgia. This study employed a quantitative, methodological research design along with descriptive analyses of four research questions using a convenience sample. Data from 64 elementary and middle school principals were received during the spring of 2018 and analyzed to determine the factors that influence their grouping practices.

This study focused on one overarching research question: What factors may be related to principals’ grouping practices in utilizing heterogeneous, homogeneous, or within-class ability …

The Relationships Among Trauma History, Disordered Eating, Body Dissatisfaction, And Social Anxiety, Rebekah Mitchell

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Eating disorders are highly prevalent and cause significant psychological impairment, up to and including death (Arcelus, Mitchell, Wales, & Nielson, 2011). This research examined how trauma history in the general population explains variation in eating disorder risk. The purpose of the current study was to provide further evidence for the relationship between abuse history and eating disorder risk. Disordered eating behaviors, body dissatisfaction, and social anxiety are all known risk factors for the development of eating disorders (Brewerton, 2007). Trauma history is related to all three of these known risk factors (Brewerton, 2007) with sexual trauma being more linked to …

A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers' Emotional Responses To Tkes, A High-Stakes Evaluation System, Kristina J. Hirsch

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Teachers experience a plethora of emotions relating to being evaluated and we are losing a lot of good teachers due to some of these emotions. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate how teachers at one rural high school describe their emotional responses to evaluation and the implementation of TKES as well as if there were gender differences in their responses. This research is important because teachers need to understand that their emotions are not taboo and they are not alone in the evaluation process. Additionally, evaluators benefit from knowing how teachers respond to evaluation so that they …

The "A" Word: Women's Abortion Experiences In Georgia, Kendra J. Cooper

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Abortion is a common medical procedure, with twenty-one percent of all American pregnancies ending in induced abortion in 2011. Literature shows that abortion is highly stigmatized in the United States and even more so in the American South. The contentious discourse surrounding the moral and ethical viewpoints, “right” versus “wrong,” often overpowers women’s lived experiences. Although abortion has been studied extensively across multiple disciplines, literature on women’s lived experiences is limited. Previous research has focused on women in the Midwest, West, and Northeastern regions of the United States but the South has not been a significant focus of study. The …

Using Anthropometrics To Predict Performance In Division I Female Volleyball Athletes, Peter Chrysosferidis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The aim of this study was to examine the ability of anthropometrics (AP) to predict both performance testing (P) (n = 14) and game performance (GP) (n = 10) in female collegiate volleyball players; the relationship between AP and both P and GP. AP consisted of segment lengths and ratios, body height, weight, and fat mass. For P, sport-specific performance tests were conducted assessing power and agility. Attacking and defensive GP statistics were transcribed from Volleymetrics for analysis purposes. AP, P, and GP were normalized through the use of Z-scores by team (T), front row (FR), and back row players …

Application Of Evolutionary Network Concept In Structuring Mathematics Curriculum, Aditi Mitra

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Phylogenetic tree and in general, evolutionary network, has found its application well beyond the biological fields and has even percolated into recent high demanding areas, such as data mining and social media chain reactions. An extensive survey of its current applications are presented here. An attempt has been made to apply the very concept in the mathematics course curriculum inside a degree program. Various features of the tree structure are identified within the curriculum network. To highlight various key components and to enhance the visual effect, several diagrams are presented. The combined effect of these diagram provides a sense of …

Psychological Readiness Of Athletes To Return To Play Following Injury, Alyssa C. Monahan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Returning an injured athlete to sport before they are both physically and psychologically ready can lead to increased psychological concerns. Traditionally, return to play decisions are based on physical outcomes and it is rare if an athlete is held back from returning to sport if he or she is not psychologically ready to return. Therefore, athletes may be returning to play before they are psychologically ready. Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the psychological readiness of the athlete to return to play following injury, and the degree to which psychological readiness was considered by the …

An Investigation Into The Physiological Impacts Of Ocean Acidification On Recruits Of The Temperate Coral, Oculina Arbuscula, Brianne Varnerin

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Ocean acidification is well-researched with respect to adult scleractinian corals, however information on whether adults and recruits of the same species respond similarly to this environmental stress is lacking. I investigated the responses to increased pCO₂ of recruits of the temperate coral, Oculina arbuscula, whose adults are known to withstand high levels of pCO₂ with no depression in calcification (up to 1000 ppm CO₂). I addressed the hypothesis that O. arbuscula recruit health is not affected by increased pCO₂ by exposing small colonies (5-12mm diameter) to 475, 711, and 1270 ppm CO₂ for …

Baseline Postural Control Measures: An Indicator For Increased Injury Frequency Following Sports Related Concussion, Emily Belson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: An increase in acute lower extremity (LE) injuries have been observed in athletes following sports-related concussion.^{1, 2, 3} It has been suggested that lingering postural control deficits as a result of concussive injury, may play a role in the increased prevalence of injury.¹ PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between baseline postural control metrics (Root Mean Square; Peak Excursion Velocity; Sample Entropy) and acute LE injury frequency in NCAA Division I student athletes (SA) with a previous history of concussion. METHODS: Eighty-four NCAA Division I SA were selected from a single university, 42 SA with a previous history …

An Objective Measure Of Sleep In Division I College Soccer Players Compared To The General College Population, Natalie Brown

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Sleep is necessary for proper recovery from daily life for both college athletes and students.

Purpose: To objectively evaluate the sleep quality of college athletes across gender, comparing them to a normal college student population.

Methods: A convenience sample of 104 subjects (19.39 ± 1.28 years), 42 Division college athletes and 62 comparison college students completed one week of data collection using the ActiGraph GT3X device. Wear time, sleep time, and wake time were recorded by each participant. Independent variables were athlete status and gender. Dependent variables were Total Sleep Time (TST), Wake After Sleep Onset (WASO), Latency, and …

Factors Associated With Iron-Folic Acid Supplement Use Among Pregnant Women In Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria - A Cross Sectional Study Using Theory Of Planned Behavior, Toyin O. Akomolafe

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Iron-folic acid supplementation is one of the key interventions provided during antenatal care (ANC) services to reduce iron deficiency, maternal anemia, low birthweight and other pregnancy-related complications responsible for maternal and neonatal mortality. However, use of iron-folic acid supplements and adherence with recommended dosage in Nigeria is low. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine factors associated with iron-folic acid supplements use among pregnant women in Karu local government area (LGA), Nasarawa, Nigeria. Methods: Questionnaires were administered in face-to-face interviews with 64 pregnant women (18 – 49 years old) and 19 healthcare providers in selected …

Emotionally Connected: The Role Of Emotional Intelligence In The Work Of School Leaders, Tanzy Lewis Mason

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

During this era of accountability and standardized testing, school leaders have been inundated with reform models that seek to increase student achievement. However, without effective leadership at the school level, most of these reform efforts will likely fail. The purpose of this study was to examine the practices of school leaders and the role of emotional intelligence in their work in establishing a school culture. Qualitative methods were used to gain insight into the events, processes, and structures that school leaders encountered as they enacted leadership practices. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with four school leaders. Teachers who worked with …

How Anxiety In Adolescent Athletes May Affect Baseline Neuropsychological Test Scores, Christopher P. Tomczyk

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Anxiety is highly prevalent in the adolescent population and can affect performance on cognitive tasks. As part of a concussion protocol, measuring cognitive ability through the use of baseline neuropsychological testing is recommended in the high school setting. Because of the cognitive nature of baseline testing, there is potential for anxiety to influence scores. Purpose: To examine the effects of varying levels of state and trait anxiety on a baseline computerized neurocognitive assessment in the adolescent population. Methods: 75 adolescent athletes (age:15.91±1.33, height (cm): 168.72±9.07, weight (kg): 62.97±12.04) participated in the study. Cognitive ability was measured …

Functional Analysis Of Tattoos From An Evolutionary Perspective, Elise V. Neville

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Recently, rates of tattooing in the U.S. have surged despite evidence of negative perceptions of individuals with tattoos. Additionally, perceptions appear to vary by target gender, with tattooed women being perceived more negatively than their male counterparts. The purpose of the current research was to examine (a) if perceptions of those with tattoos indeed vary by gender, (b) if tattoos conceivably serve an evolutionary function and (c) if so, do tattoos serve different functions for women and men. An evolutionary approach takes into consideration the purpose an observed behavior may serve for the individual in terms of how it solves …

The Formation And Promulgation Of Institutional Ethos By New University Presidents, Charles F. Ziglar

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

New university presidents face many challenges when leading an institution, and it seems a daunting professional effort to prepare for the contextual problems they will face (Alexander, 2014; Siegel, 2011). Recent episodes dealing with presidential tensions at universities illustrate the difficult issues new presidents face when entering an institution. Birnbaum (1992) stated that new university presidents are most effective when they seek to offer an interpretation of institutional life using language, symbolism, and ritual. Research by Trachtenberg, Kauvar, and Bogue (2013) and Vyas (2013) noted that understanding the ethos of an institution is essential for effective presidential leadership. This research …

Reduced Exhaust Emissions Through Blending N-Butanol With Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel And Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene In Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition Combustion, Remi Gaubert

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Increasing restrictions on the emitted exhaust emissions in diesel engines are becoming a more challenging task than in previous years. An electronic common rail fuel injection system and a port fuel injection (PFI) system were developed for an experimental engine to research dual fuel combustion. The experimental research was conducted at 1500 rpm and 4, 5, and 6 bar indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP). n-Butanol was port fuel injected at a 60% by mass fraction coupled with direct injection (DI) of three fuels, including ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD RCCI), a 50-50 wt-% blend of ULSD and butanol (ULSD-Bu RCCI), and …

Lowcountry Identities, Labor, And Material Culture: An Archaeological Survey Of 38ja1138, Zachary W. Dirnberger

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Archaeologists have long struggled with understanding the relationship between material culture and actual, emic identity. Early practitioners assumed that there was a one-to-one correspondence between the two and that a suite of artifacts recovered archaeologically could be matched with a specific ethnic affiliation or peoples that produced and utilized those artifacts. Later generations of archaeologists challenged this view by demonstrating how mutable and historically situated identity is, and how often material culture crosscuts ethnic boundaries. Historical archaeologists have played a central role in this debate. In this thesis, I examine 38JA1138, a largely undocumented late eighteenth-century site in Jasper County, …

Utilizing The Icf-Cy As A Conceptual Framework To Examine Physical Activity And Dietary Behaviors Among Adolescents With Down Syndrome, Anne O. Odusanya

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Research has shown that obesity among children and adolescents is disconcerting in the Southeast United States. Additionally, children and adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities especially those with DS have an exacerbated risk of obesity. Despite the elevated risk of obesity for this population, very few studies have investigated factors that influence healthy eating and engagement in physical activity among children and adolescents with DS. The purpose of this study was to identify facilitators and barriers concerning healthy eating and physical activity for adolescents with DS. Methods: Adolescents with DS along with their parents were recruited from a local …

Self-Efficacy, Implicit Theories Of Ability, And 2 X 2 Achievement Goal Orientation: A Mediation Analysis In Collegiate Athletics, Cory Cottrell

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Achievement goal theory encompasses the adaptive and maladaptive responses to achievement situations and has a strong background in sport research. (Dweck, 1986; Nicholls, 1984; Senko, Hulleman, & Harackiewicz, 2011). A 2007 meta-analysis established self-efficacy and implicit theories of ability as antecedents of achievement goal orientation (Payne, Youngcourt, Beaubien, 2007). Using the 2 x 2 achievement goal paradigm the purpose of the study looks to evaluate antecedents of self-efficacy and implicit theories of ability on achievement goal endorsement in collegiate student athletes. The current study examined implicit theories of ability as a mediator between self-efficacy and each of the 2 x …

The Mediation Of Perfectionism And Rumination On Mindfulness And Burnout In Collegiate Athletes, Nicholas S. Mcmillen

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Several positive and negative sport-related experiences can occur throughout an athlete’s career, which can affect the continuation or termination of said career. Although research has associated sport participation with positive outcomes (e.g., increases in motivation, autonomy), there are also negative sport-related outcomes such as burnout (Akhrem & Gazdowska, 2016; Garcia, 2015). Specifically, burnout has been identified as a multidimensional construct that includes three dimensions. Furthermore, mindfulness has been studied to minimize the risk of experiencing burnout (Kabat-Zinn, 2003). While several studies have examined mediators between mindfulness and burnout, there has been a dearth of research on perfectionism and rumination as …

The United States Container Security Initiative And European Union Container Seaport Competition, Xufan Zhang

Plymouth Business School Theses

The increasing volume of container trade poses formidable security challenges. As a result of terrorist attacks, a variety of compulsory and voluntary security measures have been introduced to enhance and secure maritime container trade. The United States (US) Container Security Initiative (CSI) was claimed to impose serious problems in European Union (EU) ports, and in particular it was claimed to affect EU container port competitiveness due to compliance cost and operational inefficiency. This research aimed to analyse the impact of the CSI on EU container seaport competition. Following an abductive approach, a conceptual model was developed based on the literature …

The Development Of A Knowledge Network Framework To Support Knowledge Mobilisation In It Project Oriented Change Management, Ali Ibraheem Alkhuraiji

Plymouth Business School Theses

Although there has been rich research conducted into the interrelated issues and factors among change management (ChM), knowledge management (KM) and project management (PM), most existing studies attempt to understand the role of KM in ChM and PM in general. Given the fundamental role played by KM in supporting IT project-oriented change management, the topics of knowledge networks and mobilisation across knowledge boundaries are relatively unexplored. Recent developments in KM have heightened the need for more understanding on four main issues: 1) insufficient knowledge traceability based on the relationships between knowledge elements and key factors; 2) most decision issues in …

From Entrepreneurial Intention To Action: The Role Of Self-Regulation And Cultural Values The Case Of Saudi Arabia, Khalid Alammari

Plymouth Business School Theses

Scholarship has recognised the importance of entrepreneurship for economic development. Increasingly, policy makers promote entrepreneurship as one of the solutions for unemployment concerns. However, although many people formulate entrepreneurial intention they fail to convert their intention into action; this problem is called the intention-action gap. The problem of intention-action gap is particularly salient in Saudi Arabia. Although people have positive perceptions about entrepreneurship and high entrepreneurial intention, the country’s entrepreneurial activity is low. This presents a barrier in achieving the country’s national strategy to create more entrepreneurs through the promotion of entrepreneurship. Here, raising an intention to become an entrepreneur …

Corporate Governance In The Nonprofit Sector: A Grounded Theory Approach To Studying The Trustee Board, George Dexter

Plymouth Business School Theses

This thesis uses a constructivist grounded theory approach to investigate nonprofit corporate governance in the UK; using data obtained from participatory observations of board and associated meetings, workshops, and unstructured elite interviews. Open codes are generated and brought together as concepts, which are then iteratively compared and grouped in open categories. These categories are then reassembled using the paradigm model into five axial codes: the clash of orthodoxies; clash of motivations; regulator versus board power; clash of rationalities; and effective board duality. A dialectical approach is then used to create the core category of the ‘clash of neoliberal and public …

Building Resistance To Brand Switching During Disruptions In A Competitive Market: An Identity Theory Perspective, Dominic Appiah

Plymouth Business School Theses

The impact of identity on brand loyalty has taken precedence as an area of focus in recent marketing research. This has taken place in an era defined by technological revolution, which has created market disruptions and there are implications for customer–brand relationships. Nonetheless, the extant literature on brand loyalty does not extensively acknowledge the impact of socio-psychological attributes but rather functional utility maximisation. The brand loyalty literature has the notion that the perceived value of a brand is conceptualised and operationalised as a functional utilitarian value. Knowledge that illuminates how firms can reposition themselves to sustain brand loyalty when disruptions …

The Potential For Water Freight In The South West Uk, Sapna Chacko

Plymouth Business School Theses

The role of water freight as a sustainable mode of transportation often receives special attention in logistics and transportation. Due to rising environmental concerns UK national policy supports an increase in the amount of freight movements on commercial waterways. Within this context this research investigates the potential for water freight in the South West (SW) UK especially in Cornwall and Devon (CAD). This study is exploratory and following literature searches Delphi methods were selected with which to gather primary data. The research required three rounds of Delphi surveys. Following this, a focus group with the members of the ‘Maritime and …

Making Sense Of Leadership-In-Government, Megan Jane Mathias

Plymouth Business School Theses

This thesis explores the phenomenon of leadership by senior public servants in Westminster system governments. Despite the important constitutional position held by senior public servants (SPS), we know relatively little about what they do day-to-day – in particular what their ‘leadership’ looks like, or how and why it occurs. To address this gap in knowledge, I use an inductive lens to study individual SPS leadership practices in response to strategic challenges they face, and the sensemaking pathways that lead them to engage in those practices. My approach in this study draws upon a critical realist application of the Gioia Methodology, …

Reverse Logistics In Micro Businesses : An Exploratory Study, Mamata Dhakal

Plymouth Business School Theses

There has been growth in managing supply chain processes for enhancing both economic and environmental benefits. Consequently, new dimensions in the supply chain have been added, with one of them being reverse logistics. Reverse logistics deals with the backward flow of goods which help firms to recover and reinstate discarded products, helping firms to realise their economic and environmental initiatives. Reverse logistics has now become a matter of strategic importance, helping to bring sustainable competitive advantage to the firm. This study recognises the inclination of the current research in reverse logistics to focus on larger firms. Hence, this research explores …