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Affect has long been a central topic in marketing, particularly within branding. Despite the extensive research on affect, however, a significant lack of attention has been paid to the concept of wonder. This is surprising given that Adam Smith (1869), the father of modern capitalism, considered wonder to be the most important emotion, and Descartes (1649), known as the father of all passions, described wonder as the “first of all emotions.” The absence of understanding regarding the construct of wonder in marketing represents a significant gap in the literature. This research aims to address this gap by exploring the construct of brand wonder. By better understanding brand wonder, marketers may gain insights into how and why consumers connect with their brands and products. This study employs Hunt's indigenous theory development and inductive realist methodology to develop an initial theoretical framework, as this methodology is ideal for relatively new research areas. This theoretical foundation will likely accelerate future academic research on wonder and branding and facilitate the development of more effective branding strategies. This dissertation will also include an empirical analysis using a textual analytics methodology to support the theoretical framework. Finally, the dissertation concludes with directions for future research.
Supply chain disruptions have been a major concern in businesses and society. Our goal is to study these disruptions and analyze ways to mitigate their effects. To do so, we propose an agent-based model simulation. In our model, we consider the following: a supply chain that is generic in the structure; however, we will focus on three types of supply chains, customer-focused, low-cost, and dual-purpose supply chains. Disruptions will include repeatable small-scale events and non-repeatable large events. The managerial decisions considered include excess capacity, the amount of safety stock at each echelon of the supply chain, and the geographical dispersion of partners. To measure the resiliency in our simulation, we will compute the service levels, the time needed to return to normal operations, and the profit.
The growing complexity of high-performance computing (HPC) systems has led to the development of parallel programming models, such as OpenMP and OpenACC, to make it easier to utilize modern HPC architectures. These models provide a higher-level interface for specifying parallelism patterns and reducing programming effort, but performance optimization and customization are left to the compilers. Despite the availability of state-of-the-art OpenMP compilers, including LLVM, GCC, and ROSE, there remains a need for a compiler that is easily usable and extendable by researchers and students who are not in the field of compiler development, supports multiple parallel programming models, and has comparable performance to mainstream compilers.
The REX compiler has been proposed as a solution to these challenges. It is built upon the ROSE compiler and uses a unified parallel intermediate representation (UPIR), targeting the LLVM OpenMP runtime for optimal performance. REX provides essential OpenMP 5.0/5.1 constructs and preliminary support for OpenACC 3.2. Its source-to-source transformation capabilities offer flexibility and ease of use with minimal overhead. It can be installed as a Docker image or used through a cloud service. The REX compiler's performance has been evaluated using an enhanced version of the parallel benchmark, Rodinia, which compares GPU offloading performance across different parallel programming models and compilers. In conclusion, the REX compiler provides a unique solution for parallel programming research and education, balancing performance, portability, flexibility, and usability.
This dissertation examines whether there are unintended consequences that emerge from status interventions in task groups in relation to cohesion and solidarity. Past theorists have argued that inconsistent status structures produce weaker levels of cohesion and solidarity in
comparison to consistent status structures. To contextualize the issue of group processes as they relate to public policy, I first introduce the complexity framework for public policy and then outline the history of group processes and the concept of solidarity. Despite centuries noting the complexity of group processes and their implications, policymakers remain myopically focused on either individual responsibility or social structure as the root of social inequality. After providing a theoretical overview, I then proceed to discuss the procedure of the study more in-depth. Data come from an online experiment involving mixed-sex dyads interacting in one of three conditions. Participants individually completed an ambiguous problem-solving task and then worked together over Zoom audio to form a group decision. In the three conditions, participants were either given no performance feedback before the problem-solving task or were informed the male or the female participant performed better on a pre-test related to the task. The conversations were recorded and analyzed using measures related to paraverbal synchronization and accommodation. In terms of self-reported cohesion, there appeared to be a difference, albeit a weak one, in only the inconsistent-status condition, with female participants reporting higher levels of cohesion in comparison to males. However, in terms of solidarity, there was no significant difference between the conditions. Although inconsistent status structures were associated with weaker perceptions of cohesion, it did not appear to impact solidarity like theorists have suggested. Status structures do not appear to impact group solidarity. The nature of group membership in conjunction with status consistency/inconsistency may produce the significant differences in solidarity that theorists have suggested. To date, there has been little empirical examination of how status consistency affects cohesion and solidarity. Relatedly, the current study advances the research on vocal accommodation by analyzing status and solidarity simultaneously. The implications of the findings on status interventions for public policy, in particular the nature of feasibility strategies, are discussed in detail at the end.
Latinx students already constitute the largest minority group of students graduating from the United States secondary school systems and projections show the Latinx population continuing to increase between now and 2036 (WICHE, 2020). Both in the United States overall, and within the Appalachian Region, the increase in the Latinx population and continued projected increase in population, warranted a closer examination as to how these individuals engaged with higher education and ultimately the impact their participation in higher education can have on the economy. Research exists on the deficits of Latinx students and reasons which impact their lack of persistence at the four-year college level, but little literature exists focusing on the assets of these individuals, and little if any literature exists on Latinx students from the Appalachian Region. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 6 Latinx students from the Appalachian Region who utilized a two-year institution in the Appalachian Region and then transferred to an urban four-year institution. The participants had to have persisted at the institution for at least two semesters and be in good academic standing. The research study examined the lived experiences of the participants through the theoretical framework of Yosso’s (2005) community cultural wealth model, examining the various assets these students utilized to help them transition from the two-year institution and persist at the four-year institution. The purpose of this study was to provide a foundation for understanding factors that are important to Latinx students from the Appalachia Region in successfully persisting at a four-year institution after transferring from a two-year institution. The research was guided by a primary research question (RQ) and three sub questions (SQ); RQ: What are the lived experiences of first-generation Appalachian Region Latinx students who successfully transfer from a two-year institution to a four-year institution? SQ 1: How does a student’s community cultural wealth impact their transition experience? SQ 2: What are the roles of significant individuals, such as mentors, advisors, teachers, and counselors, in students' lives on their educational journeys? SQ 3: What other factors do these students identify as critical in their successful transition experience? Primary data collection was captured through two semi-structured interviews with each participant. These interviews were analyzed, revealing eight themes and sixteen sub-themes, all which demonstrate the participant’s ability to successfully navigate and persist in higher education. The findings of this study provide possible suggestions and examples of how institutions can better support Latinx students from the Appalachian Region.
Firms have to think creatively and strategically to inform corporate social responsibility that benefits essential stakeholders. Not only is doing good vital for business, but it has become the responsibility of firms to create initiatives that incorporate different stakeholders. Prior research has shown a relationship between CEO leadership styles and CSR initiatives to determine their impact on stakeholders. However, more literature needs to look at different types of leadership styles and different types of CSR focus. This dissertation explores the relationship between executive leadership styles and firm corporate social responsibility engagement with different focuses on philanthropic, operational effectiveness, and business model transformation. It also incorporates the potential moderating effect of CEO narcissism to determine if it amplifies the relationship between a particular leadership style and CSR focus. Stakeholder and Upper echelon theory provide the framework for this study as it explores leadership style and decision-making when leaders consider CSR engagement. This study empirically investigates three leadership styles: servant, transactional, and transformational. The data was collected using a quantitative survey, and the findings provide theoretical and practical insight.
Facilitating productive mathematical discussions is considered a core practice of mathematics education. The complexity of this teaching practice presents the need for pedagogical tools to provide structure for preservice teachers (PST) developing their practice, yet little is known about how PSTs use these tools. This multiple case study sought to understand what pedagogical tools PSTs use to plan and enact mathematical discussions with elementary students and how they use these tools to support their practice. In particular, this study focused on capturing the experiences of three elementary PSTs as they transitioned from university-based methods course instructions into early clinical teaching experiences in elementary classrooms. These experiences were captured through multiple one-on-one interviews, observations of teaching in clinical classroom settings, and analysis of artifacts of teaching and learning. This study has implications for mathematics teacher education, practice-based teacher education, and the refinement of tools to support teachers’ practice facilitating mathematical discussions with students.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated unmet mental health needs among adults in the U.S and resulted in significant strains on the U.S. healthcare system. This descriptive, quantitative study aims to investigate reports of unmet mental health needs among adults in the U.S. prior to, and after the onset of the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. The purpose of this study is to critically examine state level characteristics and public health response approaches to better understand the contributing factors to mental illness and unmet mental health needs in the U.S. The specific objectives of this study include 1) To create a comprehensive national, longitudinal dataset; 2) To investigate state level variability in regards to mental health outcomes, contrasting states with better and worse mental health indicators; 3) To examine COVID-19 response legislation on mental illness (depression), contrasting states with more restrictive and less restrictive COVID-19 response measures, and 4) To provide an in-depth comparison of the best and worst ranked states.
A major component of this dissertation is the development of a comprehensive state-level dataset that links key state characteristics related to mental illness and COVID-19 response measures to aggregate individual self-report mental health data. The dataset (n=50) consists of 206 total variables sourced from 8 data sources. Descriptive statistics, frequencies, and bivariate analyses were run in SPSS Statistics 28 to determine if there were any correlations among state level characteristics, COVID-19 response measures, and unmet mental health needs. Findings suggest slight correlations among meso- and macrosystem level variables which could be indicative of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic and mental health outcomes. Economic characteristics at the macro-system level, such as household income and healthcare spending, look to be associated with better mental health rankings.
This dissertation research provides an original contribution to the field of public health as there is minimal existing literature pertaining to the influence of state level variability on mental illness and unmet mental health needs. This research also provides the groundwork for future studies to build upon the data collected on state level factors which influence mental health outcomes, and to explore the inter-relationships between the U.S. healthcare and economic systems. In terms of health policy, this data and subsequent research will provide guidance for improvements regarding mental health advocacy and reform efforts.
AMY BIANG. Examining The Lived Experiences Of Counselors Of Color In The Eating Disorder Field: A Post-Intentional Phenomenological Study. (Under the direction of DR. CLARE MERLIN-KNOBLICH)
Though eating disorders (EDs) affect a diverse population, among professionals who treat EDs, Counselors of Color (COC) are under-represented (Jennings- Mathis et al., 2020). Because the ED field is predominately comprised of White professionals (AED, 2022; Jennings-Mathis et al., 2020), a danger exists that White invisibility hinders counselors and researchers from recognizing oppression and injustices that occur in the ED field. The purpose of this Post-Intentional Phenomenological study was to bring awareness of the experiences of COC in the ED field and create a dialogue for systemic and social change related to their experiences. Eleven participants were interviewed, and the interview material was analyzed using a post-intentional phenomenological design. Tentative manifestations, provocations, and productions emerged through a whole-part-whole analysis. Five tentative manifestations; unprepared, belonging, unspoken knowing, exhaustion, and microaggressions; seven provocations; vulnerability, race as an asset, complexity, sense of duty, nonmaleficence, double bind, and credibility, and two productions; cultural inclusion and fulfillment, offer valuable knowledge about the experiences of COCs in the eating disorder field. Implications for counselor education and the ED profession are discussed, along with limitations and future research considerations.
