Digital Commons Network^™

Do Audit Partners Exhibit Hometown Bias?, Yuzhou Chen, Timothy Seidel, Aleksandra "Ally" B. Zimmerman

Faculty Publications

We investigate whether audit partners exhibit greater leniency towards audit clients located in their childhood or pre-professional home state. While prior research has examined the audit quality effects of geographic distance between an auditor and client as well as auditors’ social ties to company management or directors, this study uniquely examines auditors’ psychological affinity to places rather than people. Using hand-collected data on audit partners, company managers, and directors, we find evidence of partners exhibiting hometown bias in the form of greater leniency towards clients’ opportunistic reporting. However, we find no evidence to suggest that these psychological biases affect audit …

Strategic Alignment, Performance, And The Moderating Effect Of Regulatory Fit, Hayden T. Gunnell, Steven D. Smith, Travis W. Steadman

Faculty Publications

We examine how the alignment of performance measurement and strategy affects performance on a multidimensional task. Our experiment varies both the strategy (speed versus accuracy) of the hypothetical firm for which participants work and the individual performance measure that is reported to them, creating two conditions of clear alignment and two of clear misalignment. We find that while workers are responsive to the performance measure regardless of its alignment, they are also sensitive to the strategy such that costly alignment effects are observed. We also predict and find that workers respond asymmetrically to misalignment in accuracy performance but not in …

Bridging The Gap: Determinants Of Consumers' Willingness To Pay For Environmentally Friendly Packages Of Leafy Greens, Carissa Dieli, Anushree Priyadarshini, Robert Ludgate, Lorraine Foley

Articles

Government and corporate policies have mandated a reduction in plastic packaging to combat issues of waste and climate change. This move towards sustainable packaging alternatives in the fresh food sector will increase costs for consumers. Much of the present research finds consumers are willing to pay more for sustainability, but their willingness to pay (WTP) does not align with real-world purchases, representing an attitude–behaviour gap. To combat this gap, it is posited that consumers' current purchasing- and sustainability-related behaviours will meaningfully correlate with their WTP and bridge the attitude–behaviour gap. This research used an online survey (n = 476) to …

Effects Of Cognitive And Social Demands On Linguistic Production For People With Moderate, Mild, Or No Aphasia, Tyson G. Harmon, Emily Mcdonald, Kyle Steele

Faculty Publications

Background: Most everyday communication occurs in situations where cognitive and social demands are present. These types of situations may compound language deficits for people with aphasia (PWA). An understanding of the language interference that may occur from cognitive and social demands is an important precursor for assessment and intervention that addresses everyday communication situations.

Aims: To determine how cognitively and socially demanding conditions affect micro- and macrolinguistic production for people with moderate, mild, or no aphasia during narrative discourse and to compare effects among groups.

Method: Thirty participants with mild (n = 9), moderate (n = 9), or no (n …

Speculative Practicescapes Of Learning Design And Dreaming, Eamon Costello, Jason K. Mcdonald, F. Macgilchrist, P. Jandrić, H. Carbonel, S. Crighton, A. Buch, M. A. Peters

Faculty Publications

This article addresses a serious issue that besets learning design: its over-reliance on frameworks that promise particular outcomes for individual learners that accord with pre-defined metrics. This is partly a function of the nature of learning design and devel- opment itself which is commonly seen as outcome-oriented activity that should ben- efit individual learners in specific ways. An alternative approach is adopted here which calls attention to other happenings at the heart of education, including positive emo- tions we experience that are made known through less measurable and more fleeting points of reference. Hence, we draw on sources such as …

3.Ethical Complexities Within The Appearance And Usage Of Social Robots: A Scoping Review, Mads Lund Anderson, Heike Felzmann

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

No abstract provided.

5.Meeting The Attachment Needs Of Nursing Home Residents With Dementia, Lucia Carragher, Gemma Jones, Ann Marron, Laura Ballantine

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

No abstract provided.

9. Book Review: Herrink, M. (2019). A Compassionate Guide For Social Robots. E3 Publishing., John Pender

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

No abstract provided.

Exploring What Is Old And What Is New About Trauma-Informed Care: Implications For Child Welfare Practice., Maria Lotty

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

Trauma-informed care is becoming increasing part of discourse in child welfare practice. This paper explores the current debates and offers some critical reflections relevant for trauma-informed care implementation in child welfare practice. Firstly, the paper discusses the lack of conceptual clarity of a shared understanding for both trauma and trauma-informed care posing challenges for implementation and assessing evidence. Then, it explores the proposed paradigm shift of trauma-informed care in a child welfare practice context. The paper then explores aspects of trauma-informed care that may support newer ways of understanding experiences and interventions. Then, explores aspects of trauma-informed care that may …

Relationship Between Professionalization And Impact Research – Effects Of Knowledge And Orientation Stocks Of Youth Social Workers On Their Acting, André Epp

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

Despite a shortage of skilled workers in Germany, adolescents can still experience difficulties transiting into vocational training. Although fundamental examinations of influences which hinder this transition process exist, little is known about how pedagogical workers who support adolescents perceive and construct the transition process. Therefore, this article deals with perspectives and views – the practical theories (Subjektive Theorien) – of youth social workers whose main task is to support adolescents during this transition process. Using empirical data, I outline two different theory orientations. Furthermore, I argue as to what extent the practical theories of youth social workers affect their acting. …

Risk Factors As Indicators For Online Child Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review, Lesley Lally, Isobel Webb, Ethel Quayle

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

Abstract

Introduction: Online child sexual abuse has been described as a serious public health issue worldwide in today’s society. The long-term consequences of such abuse have been well-reported, and the risks in which youth are made more vulnerable to this abuse must be better understood.

Objective: To synthesise and evaluate the literature regarding risk factors of online sexual exploitation by focusing on the following question: What are the risk factors that make children vulnerable to online child sexual abuse and solicitation?

Method: A systematic review was completed using search strings within several databases, a hand search was conducted, and …

The Cost Of Caring – Understanding Psychological Distress In Support Staff Who Work With Adults With An Intellectual Disability In Ireland., Deirdre Mullins Ms, Dr. Christopher Mccusker

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

Background: Evidence suggests that levels of psychological distress are elevated in staff who support people with challenging behaviour (CB) and intellectual disability (ID) in residential care. However, in Ireland, there has been little research examining the extent of this and determinants thereof. Specific Aims: This study explored psychological functioning and workplace related quality of life, and factors associated with such, in support staff in Ireland. Method: 109 participants were recruited through a social media platform. Levels of stress, depression, anxiety and work-related quality of life were assessed using standardised measures. A bespoke questionnaire assessed key work-related factors such as …

Happy To Zoom: A New Frontier In Online Delivery Of Day-Care For Older People During Covid-19, Suzanne C. Smith Msc, Holly O'Brien, Darragh Mccashin Phd

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

From early in the COVID-19 pandemic, community day-care centres sought to find ways to deliver services remotely using digital tools, but older people are often presumed resistant to using digital technologies. This study sought to examine the delivery of community day-care services at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the willingness of older service users to participate in day-care activities remotely while in-person services were unavailable. Community day-care services are essential to ensuring social participation and overall wellbeing for many older people who remain living at home. On March 16^th, 2020, like many other services, …

Does Leaving Faith Mean Leaving Family? Longitudinal Associations Between Religious Identification And Parent-Child Relationships Across Adolescence And Emerging Adulthood, Justin J. Hendricks, Sam A. Hardy, Emily M. Taylor, David C. Dollahite

Faculty Publications

The present study investigated the parent-child relational repercussions of converting to religion, switching, or de-converting from religion. Qualitative research indicates that these religious changes may negatively affect parent-child relationship quality, however, few quantitative studies investigate this issue. Subsequently, we utilized structural equation modeling to test if changes in religious identification during adolescence and emerging adulthood predicted worse parent-child relationship quality using three waves of the National Study of Youth and Religion (N = 2,352). We found that deconversion between Waves 1–2 significantly predicted poorer parent-child relationship quality at Wave 2 and father-child relationship quality at Wave 3. Further, deconversion between …

Learning From Secondary Blended Teaching Practitioners: Selecting Activities And Connecting In-Person And Online Learning, Michelle Jensen, Charles R. Graham, Cecil R. Short

Faculty Publications

Implementation of blended teaching (BT) practices is increasing rapidly in K-12 classrooms. This trend creates an urgent need for professional development to support BT. An understanding of how experienced teachers implement BT can inform teacher educators and professional development leaders as they develop training to support this practice. We interviewed 24 secondary educators implementing BT strategies to determine what activities they include in the online space and how they connect them to in-person learning. Qualitative thematic analysis of the interviews revealed that experienced blended teachers used a variety of online activities, providing opportunities for learners to interact with content, other …

Academic Communities Of Engagement: Exploring The Impact Of Online And In‑Person Support Communities On The Academic Engagement Of Online Learners, Kristian J. Spring, Charles R. Graham, Courtney N. Hanny, Sara Tuiloma, Kamal Badar

Faculty Publications

Institutions of higher education are interested in supporting the academic success of their students in the most effective ways possible. Increasingly, this means engaging students in a blend of both online and in-person learning activities as well as connecting students with supportive communities in both modalities. This research explores the efforts of an institution that is trying to create positive post-secondary learning experiences for thousands of adults who have experienced significant barriers to accessing higher education through traditional routes. Students around the world are supported through both online and local, in-person communities created to support their academic engagement. In this …

Development Of A Framework Of Key Internal Control And Governance Principles For Robotic Process Automation (Rpa), Marc Eulerich, Nathan Waddoups, Martin Wagener, David A. Wood

Faculty Publications

Although robotic process automation (RPA) usage is growing rapidly in accounting, concerns are emerging regarding the internal controls and overall governance structure surrounding RPA. To help address these concerns, we use a design science research approach and work with a Fortune 500 company to develop an RPA governance framework. The framework consists of 4 governance areas and 14 control requirements, which help maximize the benefits and minimize the risks associated with the use of RPA. We validate that the framework is useful and generalizable to many organizations by presenting the framework to and subsequently interviewing and surveying 84 professionals at …

Chatbots Mitigate Help-Seeking Avoidance, James Gaskin, Eva Blondeel, Ryan Schuetzler, Rachel Serre, Jacob Steffen, David A. Wood

Faculty Publications

This research explores the transformative role of large language model (LLM) chatbots in fostering help-seeking behaviors among introverted and underrepresented students in educational settings. Despite the importance of help-seeking for academic success, certain groups exhibit avoidance behaviors due to self-presentation concerns and stereotype threats. By integrating LLM chatbots as non-judgmental, anonymous teaching assistants in an introductory information systems course, the study demonstrates how technology can mitigate these behaviors and promote inclusivity. The chatbots provided real-time, unbiased support, significantly enhancing the students' willingness to engage in help-seeking behaviors without fear of judgment. This practical application of chatbots not only supports academic …

Assessing Virtual Reality’S Influence On Honesty In Reporting, Jeffrey Pickerd, Nathan Waddoups, David A. Wood, Xiaomei (Grazia) Xiong

Faculty Publications

Organizations, businesses, and society are exploring and adopting virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). VR is expected to boost the global economy by $1.5 trillion by 2030. In this study, we focus on the effect of VR on an important accounting variable—reporting honesty. We examine reporting honesty across two tasks, various measures, and various populations, that are commonly used in existing research. In our initial experiment, participants misreported more in a dice rolling task when performing it in a VR setting than in a non-VR setting. However, in a second and third experiment attempting to replicate and extend our …

An Exploration Into How Print And Online News Journalists Manage Political Fake News In Ireland, John William Hogan

Conference papers

This paper examines how a number of Irish political journalists, working for both traditional newspapers and an online news website, deal with the problem of fake news. The aim is to gain an understanding of what the journalists’ perception of political fake news is and the methods they employ to manage it - a sorely under researched topic. Our findings show that the journalists we spoke with feel there are a range of forms that fake news assumes, many of them insidious and challenging to overcome with facts. The paper highlights the important role journalists play in confronting political fake …

Development Of Realistic Hazard Scenarios In A Malaysian Driving Simulator For Education, Cheng Yun Quan, Sarina Mansor, Chin Ji Jian, Hezerul Abdul Karim, Ban Kar Weng

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

In this paper, we present the development of a driving education prototype simulator, aiming to address dangerous traffic situations frequently encountered in daily life, particularly in urban areas like Klang Valley, Malaysia. Our initial driving simulator version focused on track-based training tailored to Malaysian driving exams, but we recognized its limitations in preparing learner drivers for real-world challenges due to the lack of risk. To add the value of study to our project, we designed three scenarios based on common dangerous situations observed in dashboard camera (dashcam) footage from Malaysian drivers. Due to the lack of reliable openly discussed methods …

Safer Keyham Community Survey: Phase Two Final Report 2024, Caroline Watson, Rebekah Southern, Zoe James, Katie Mcbride

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This report sets out the findings of the autumn 2023 community survey that was conducted in Keyham and the surrounding neighbourhoods of Ford, North Prospect, and Morice Town in Plymouth, Devon. The survey served as a comparison to the survey completed 12 months earlier for the Safer Keyham evaluation (Watson et al., 2023), which was an independent evaluation of the Home Office funded community policing and community safety activities and the Ministry of Justice funded victim support activities in Keyham and the surrounding areas following the shooting incident of 12 August 2021.The aims of the autumn 2023 survey were:• To …

Climate Change And Sustainability Literacy: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Attitudes To Climate Education In Secondary Schools, Alison Anderson

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

Climate change and sustainability are inherently socio-political issues and education plays a key role in mobilising action on climate change and environment. This study builds on interdisciplinary work on youth and climate change education including science communication, environmental education, environmental psychology, and sociology. It reports on novel mixed-methods research on attitudes to climate change and sustainability education in secondary schools in the UK. The study was undertaken in conjunction with the British Science Association (BSA) Future Forums. Drawing on the findings of a national cross-sectional survey of young people aged 14-18 (n= 1000) and two follow up in-depth workshops (n= …

Insights From Co-Design Of Underwater Telepresence And Extended Reality Technologies With Digitally Excluded Older Adults, Oksana Hagen, Marius Varga, Rory Baxter, Ray Jones, Amir Aly, Dena Bazazian, Swen Gaudl, Alejandro Veliz Reyes

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

The Intergenerational Co-design of Novel Technologies In Coastal Communities (ICONIC) project is running co-design workshops with older (50+) and younger people (16-30) to design technologies suitable for older people’s wellbeing. We aim to design four novel technologies in extended reality (XR), underwater telepresence (UT), social games and voice interaction. This late breaking report focuses on workshop results for the first two technologies. Ten workshops were held (August 23 - February 24) involving 24 older people and 12 younger people. Our co-design methods were demonstrably feasible although recruiting younger people is difficult. Nevertheless, the thematic and content analysis showed the importance …

Understanding Cyber-Risks In Complex Next-Generation Maritime Technologies: Autonomy And Offshore Wind Energy Operations, Kimberly Tam, Avanthika Vineetha Harish, Kevin Jones

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

When developing maritime technology, each new technology is often developed and assessed separately. However, it is likely with the convergence of systems, and greater interconnectivity between systems in the sector, that new technologies will be inter-connected digitally or operationally. Understanding the cyber risks of the larger systems of systems is important. This paper looks at the potential cyber-physical risk of future autonomy and offshore renewable energy solutions co-existing together. A threat scenario is presented using real cyber-vulnerabilities in autonomy and offshore wind systems. This paper discusses potential overall vulnerabilities when combining these two emerging technologies. It concludes with suggested mitigations …

Privacy-Preserving Pedestrian Movement Analysis In Complex Public Spaces, Kunchala Anil

Doctoral

Every journey starts and ends with a walking phase. As a fundamental mode of transportation, it plays a crucial role in the functioning of urban societies. Cities should strive to create public spaces that promote walking by designing pedestrian-friendly infrastructure that is accessible, safe, and convenient for all. An essential step in designing pedestrian-friendly infrastructure is understanding pedestrian usage patterns and behaviour in existing public spaces and infrastructure.

The Lived Experience Of Acculturation And Transnationalism Of The First And Second Generation Of Post-2004 Polish Migrants In Ireland. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Joanna Kossykowska

Doctoral

This thesis intersects the theoretical fields of migrant acculturation and transnationalism. The key research question guiding this study is: How do the first and second-generation Polish migrants in Ireland make sense of the experience of acculturation and transnationalism? Despite much research on immigrants in Ireland, qualitative studies still need to be done on Ireland's 'new' communities. Psychological research is scarce on the lived experience of acculturation and transnational connections with the home country of first and secondgeneration Polish migrants. Thus, this thesis considers migration at a micro level, and the focus is to explore the phenomenon of psychological acculturation at …

Meeting The Sustainability Challenges: An Assessment Of Entrepreneurial Education, Anna Zherdeva, Intesar Madi, Abrar Alzankawi, Lucia Morales Dr, L. Pop, A. Soler-Dominguez, J.C. Saez

Conference papers

The importance of sustainability and entrepreneurship education is highlighted in this study. The world economies are facing significant challenges as they try to enable the transition towards more sustainable economic and business models. Therefore, at the centre of the transition process, it is critical to consider the role that business education can play and, more specifically, the role of business schools in integrating and supporting the development of skills and competencies that align with our contemporary society's needs. In this paper, we initially assess the need to connect entrepreneurial and sustainability education by exploring the educational offerings at Technological University …

Collaborative Publishing And Multivalent Research: Writing Center Journal Scholarship From 2001 To 2020, Joseph Cheatle

The Writing Center Journal

This work examines articles published in the Writing Center Journal between 2001 and 2020 in order to understand more about the publishing, scholarship, and research practices of the field of writing center studies. Through analyzing articles published in the Writing Center Journal between 2001 and 2020, this work makes three contributions to the field. The first contribution of this work is an overview of the shift from scholarship to research in the field of writing center studies. The second contribution of this work is to highlight the growth of collaborative scholarship and research during this time. As is demonstrated in …

Slouching Towards Causality: Does Our Writing Center Tutoring Work?, Dennis Paoli, Jack Kenigsberg

The Writing Center Journal

Replicable, aggregable, data-supported (RAD) research has become standard in writing center studies. Choice of research question is determined by local conditions and exigencies, often influenced by institutional assessment policy and national mandates. The methodology of choice in most writing center research is qualitative inquiry, though quasi-experimental quantitative studies, with their inherently difficult protocols and ethical problems, persist in their effort to address the question fundamental to writing center labor: Does writing center tutoring improve student writing? In a quasi-experiment applying propensity score matching to a sample of student users of the Rockowitz Writing Center at Hunter College of the City …