1,718 research outputs found

    Emerging viral infections in vulnerable populations:Epidemiology and mathematical modeling

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    Emerging viral infections in vulnerable populations:Epidemiology and mathematical modeling

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    The Impact of Human Attachment to a Pet Bird on Psychological Well-Being

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    Few studies have addressed human attachment to a pet bird and psychological well-being, and the research that has been conducted is largely anecdotal and anthropomorphic perspectives on human relationships with birds. In this quantitative study, the relationships between humans and their birds were explored using Bowlby\u27s attachment theory and Fredrickson and Losada\u27s broaden and build theory. The study consisted of a randomized experiment, in which individuals were randomly assigned to either an attachment (n = 81) or detachment (n = 88) group. The security priming manipulation was used to prime the groups. The attachment group was asked to list things that made them feel attached to their bird, and the detachment group was asked to list things that made them feel detached from their bird. The dependent variables evaluated included perceived meaning in life and loneliness. The Meaning in Life Questionnaire, the UCLA Loneliness Measure Version 3, and the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale were used to assess the variables. Two multilinear regression equations were calculated to investigate if the manipulation predicted the dependent variables and the findings were not significant. More attachment was related to increased loneliness, which was an unexpected finding inconsistent with the hypotheses. The findings of this research may enhance positive social change by demonstrating that strong attachment to pet birds likely is not necessary for birds to provide companionship and for owners to connect with other bird owners. Healthcare providers and institutions may find that birds provide a soothing environment, group participation, and social engagement

    Customers’ Continued Adoption of Mobile Apps and Their Satisfaction with Restaurants: The Case of McDonald’s

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    Background: The major purpose of this research is to examine Contactless Technology (CT) users’ post-adoption phenomena in the context of mobile apps (MA) run by a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR). It applies the Post-Adoption Model of Information System Continuance (PAMISC) to examine how QSR customers’ technology anxiety (TA), confirmation of initial expectations, perceived usefulness (PU), and satisfaction with CT relate to their continued intention of use. Furthermore, the study investigates the relationship between customers’ satisfaction with CT and their overall satisfaction with QSR. Methods: To test the research model, we collected survey data from 245 users of MA provided by McDonald’s restaurants in the US, which are analyzed through Partial Least Square analysis using SmartPLS 4.0. Results: The theoretical relationships in the PAMISC hold true in the context of QSR’s MA. Current QSR customers’ TA is negatively associated with their perceived usefulness, but is not related to the degree of confirmation of using MA. Customers’ continued intention of use and satisfaction with MA are positively related to overall satisfaction with QSR. Conclusion: Our study is among the first to provide empirical/practical evidence of the PAMISC in the context of IT-enabled hospitality services. It also extends the model in two important ways. First, the study examines the role of TA, an important personal trait relevant to individuals’ use of QSR technology. Second, it highlights customers’ satisfaction with firm-provided technology to improve their overall satisfaction with the firm in the context of QSRs. For practitioners, it is important for QSR managers to understand the impact of TA on customers’ adoption of MA, so that they can design their MA with simpler interfaces and more human aspects. Managers should also make sure that MA is well-designed to satisfy customers’ needs, which will then lead to those customers’ overall satisfaction with the QSR

    Microcredentials to support PBL

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    Digital Pasts Analog Futures [védés előtt]

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    The Digital Pasts Analog Futures PhD thesis focuses on the future, exploring whether analogue values will continue to be needed in human existence, communication, learning and development in the age of digitization and beyond. The subject of the research is handwriting, a human activity that is not only a simple recording of information, but also a multifaceted process of coordination that enables the acquisition and maintenance of additional skills. The main research question of the dissertation is how humanity today relates to digital and analogue solutions, how the inevitability of analogue solutions can be identified in our everyday thinking and actions. The research can be divided into four main phases. (1) The first phase was a literature analysis and systematic literature review, which examined the past and present of handwriting across disciplines. The primary aim was to explore the status of handwriting as an analogue value and human activity. (2) In the second exploratory phase, we examined essays written by young adults (also CUB students) (typed and handwritten) detailing their analogue and digital experiences. This aims to explore and validate the problem and the issues raised in detail. (3) The third phase is a design interaction in the form of a collaborative netnographic analysis. (4) The fourth phase was a design action, which resulted in a crowd funding project around a real product (a writing instrument) created in the framework of the research. The research is based on a combination of different paradigms. The interplay of the above phases has contributed greatly to the results of the research. The first and second research phases have shown that analogue values such as handwriting have a place, relevance and future in the digital world. The third, netnographic analysis phase led to a real-world connection, whereby the resulting data was coded and the results interpreted to formulate all the characteristics of the product created during the design action, and contributed to the marketing, economic, scheduling, production and management plans for the crowd funding project. The success of the design and sales phase of the design action not only financed it economically, but also validated all the phases and results of the researc

    The important role of the DTPB in the development of Islamic P2P lending in Indonesia

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    Purpose − the purpose of this study is the determinants of factors influencing to the intention in Islamic Peer to Peer (P2P) financing platform. Methodology − Quantitateve approach with distributing questionnare accross Islamic P2P financing platforms consisting of ethis.co.id, ammana.id, alamisharia.id, danasyariah.id and qazwa.id employed. 121 usable sample is analsyed with using PLS-SEM and Smart PLS 3.2 opreated as analysis tools. Findings − The results show that normative influence affects positively and significantly the subjective norm. In terms of attitude control, only perceived uselfulness has insiginificant influence on attitude. Moreover, self-efficacy and facilitating condition has a positive and significant impact on perceived behaviour control. Attitude and perceived berhaviour control affect intention to participate. However, subjective norm has insignificant impact on intention to participate in P2P financing platform. Implications − The study suggests that islamic P2P should focus on relative advantage and perceived ease of use, perceived behavioral control in order to maintain their customers. Originality − Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior model (DTPB) used in the study as the first study in Islamic P2P lending in Indonesi

    Reducing Library Anxiety in the Information Seeking Behavior Of First Year College Students

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    This study explored the use of interactive technology to reduce library anxiety in the information seeking behavior of first year students enrolled in a historically Black college or university. Based on the research focus, the following questions were formulated: What are the determinants for reducing library anxiety in first year college students’ information seeking behavior? Related questions were formatted to test the hypotheses and for data collection: (1) Can interactive applications included as part of the information retrieval process decrease library anxiety? (2) Can familiarity, as measured by a pre and post survey, decrease library anxiety? Interactive applications may include virtual and augmented reality, online chat, games and artificial intelligence technology. These are relatively new forms of technology used in education, and research indicates that these technologies promote immersive experiences that can contribute to learning. The research hypothesized that these technologies may also increase familiarity of the library and the related resources, which may reduce library anxiety. This research may provide vital information to higher education administrators and librarians to ensure that all students receive adequate resources to find information needed for their classes and that barriers that prevent progress in student’s education are removed. Keywords: information seeking behavior, library anxiety, virtual reality, augmented realit

    Are They Good Enough for Student-Centered And Constructivist Class? Investigation into Teachers’ and Students’ Perception towards Mathematics Textbooks for Junior High Schools in Ghana

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    This study aims to investigate into the perception both students and teachers hold towards the mathematics textbook in the public Basic Schools in Ghana and explore whether the textbooks are good enough to help teachers to implement learner-centered and constructivist approach in teaching of mathematics. Specifically, it examines both students and teachers' points of view on the problems of the current mathematics textbooks and whether the textbook had contributed to abysmal performance of the students in the basic schools as stated in the TIMSS report and the data available from West African Examination Council on Basic Education certificate Examination from 2010-2014 or whether the textbooks had not helped teachers to deliver the right kind of instruction: student-centered and constructivist teaching and learning in the classroom. A close examination of the current literature also inform us the problems existing in the math textbooks of Ghana and its negative impacts on educational reform in high schools. Previous studies on textbooks and the use of textbooks in teaching and learning mathematics raise important questions about textbooks as representations of the curriculum. One important question concerns their role as a link between curriculum and activities in classrooms. Some findings from the thesis on textbooks showed that the objectives of mathematics textbook, formulated in the national curriculum, are only partially realized.  This study followed a mixed method design to gather quantitative and qualitative data through questionnaire and interviews from both students and teachers. The number of participants who took part in this survey was about 216 in total The findings suggested that the textbooks may have contributed negatively to the performance of students in mathematics and thus our textbooks need to be reexamined. More specifically, most teachers and students don't trust the textbook to deliver concepts effectively. The study revealed that, the manner in which mathematical concepts are outlined in the mathematics textbook contributed negatively to student performance in mathematics: it does not succeed in promoting student-centered teaching and learning and facilitating understanding, and that teachers and students know the contribution of mathematics textbook to teaching and learning because it basically the first call of point when it comes to the implemented curriculum which students comes into contact with. The implication of this research is for the actors in the education sector to be up and doing in putting the right contents that allow students to interact with themselves and the world at large that would translate into economic growth in the future.Keywords:  Textbook; Constructivism; Curriculum; Teachers' and Students' perception on textbook, pedagogy. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-17-05 Publication date:June 30th 202
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