Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Ohio University, 2016, Business Administration

This thesis examines the effects of one's familial structure and financial standing on the pursuit and attainment of collegiate leadership roles in a grounded theory structure. It expands on prior studies by evaluating current collegiate leaders and their perceptions of the effects their familial structure and financial standing had on their pursuit and attainment of leadership roles within recognized student organizations.

Committee: Tim Reynolds (Advisor) Subjects: Business Administration

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2022, Statistics

This dissertation is concerned with the nonparametric density estimation problem in a kernel exponential family, which is an exponential family induced by a reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS). The corresponding density estimation problem can be formulated as a convex minimization problem over a RKHS or a subset of it. The loss functionals we focus on are the negative log-likelihood (NLL) loss functional and the score matching (SM) loss functional. We propose a new density estimator called the early stopping SM density estimator, which is obtained by applying the gradient descent algorithm to minimizing the SM loss functional and terminating the algorithm early to regularize. We investigate various statistical properties of this density estimator. We also compare this early stopping SM density estimator with the penalized SM density estimator that has been studied in the literature and address their similarities and differences. In addition, we propose an algorithm to compute the penalized maximum likelihood (ML) density estimator that is obtained by minimizing the penalized NLL loss functional. We empirically compare the penalized and early stopping SM density estimators with the penalized ML density estimator and find out that when there is a small amount of regularization (corresponding to small values of the penalty parameter or large values of the number of iterations), the regularized SM density estimates contain a bump or become a spike at the isolated observation, but the penalized ML density estimates do not. Moreover, if we remove the isolated observation, the resulting regularized SM density estimates do not contain a bump or a spike when the regularization is small. We attempt to explain why this happens. Observations above motivate us to study the sensitivities of different density estimators to the presence of an additional observation. We extend the definition of the influence function by allowing its input to be function-valued statis (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Vincent Vu (Advisor); Sebastian Kurtek (Committee Member); Yoonkyung Lee (Committee Member) Subjects: Statistics

Doctor of Management, Case Western Reserve University, 2014, Weatherhead School of Management

This integration paper provides the amalgamation for three research studies completed over three years in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Management Program's dissertation requirement for Case Western Reserve University. These studies all incorporated the underlying theme, dealing with career maintenance and development during times of severe U.S. and global macro-economic disruption. Our first study developed a conceptual framework enabling us to model a cohesive theoretical structure and study design dealing with emergent phenomenon, the consequences related to the 2008 U.S. and global economic crisis. We then conducted a qualitative study that provided insights via grounded theory interviews of 42 participants; this resulted in our Promethean Life Engagement Practices Framework. This framework provided a mapping of mental models, skills sets and practices that resulted in better outcomes throughout the five years following 2008. In our final quantitative study we conducted research via a specifically designed instrument utilizing 510 survey participants, this research tested components of the Promethean Life and Career Measurement Instrument. This integration paper evolved our research program by identifying six fundamental modifications / shifts that we believe happened in the social, workplace and economic landscape in the past five years (post 2008). The paper also highlighted nine mental frameworks and practices that we feel will help individual's better position themselves for the tumultuous and convulsive decades to come.

Committee: Peter Whitehouse, M.D., Ph.D., (Advisor); James Gaskin, Ph.D., (Advisor); Eugene Pierce, D.M., (Advisor); Paul Hedlund, Ed.D., (Advisor) Subjects: Economics

Master of Arts, University of Toledo, 2017, Economics

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015 data shows that five high-performing East and Southeast Asian countries are not only maintaining their 20 years dominance in international educational assessment surveys, rather widening the gap. It has received incredible academic and policy attention as to what factors facilitate these Asian countries to continuously outpace their Western counterparts. This study employs a set of cluster robust linear regression model weighted by appropriate sampling probabilities to estimate the education production function for these high-performing Asian countries along with Thailand from the same region. Furthermore, a school fixed effect model is used to estimate the effect of student and family background variables under an alternative specification. Our result indicates individual and family background variables have stronger and consistent impact on student performance in against school resources, and teacher characteristics. The number of books at home, student's self-influence factors, and school emphasis on academic success are found to have a consistent positive impact; whereas school discipline problem and computer usage are found to have a consistent negative impact on student performance across the countries. The paper concludes with some policy implications with regards to the empirical findings.

Committee: Olugbenga Ajilore (Advisor); Aliaksandr Amialchuk (Committee Member); James Bland (Committee Member) Subjects: Economics

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2014, Medicine: Genetic Counseling

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is expected to affect 1 in 3 adults by 2050. This study aimed to learn more about risk perception and communication about T2D between family members, particularly unaffected first degree relatives of an individual with diabetes. Identifying ways to improve communication and reduce T2D risk among those with a family history of T2D can inform family-based risk-reduction interventions. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative telephone interviews were conducted with 33 unaffected individuals, who had a first degree relative with T2D, to gain perspectives on ways to facilitate familial T2D communication and risk reduction. Participants were recruited from the community and from a T2D pharmacogenetic study. Themes were developed using deductive and inductive codes and were applied to the transcripts. Results: Many participants expressed worry or fear about T2D. The most common topic of conversation regarding T2D was diet, including diet as management for affected individuals and diet as prevention for unaffected individuals. Many participants felt that the biggest barrier to communication was that T2D was not relevant to people who didn't have it. Recommendations to increase communication included becoming more educated about T2D and then sharing that education with others or appointing role models within the family who will facilitate communication. Conclusion: Educational efforts are needed to inform family members at-risk of T2D of their own risk based on family history, as well as ways to reduce risk in addition to dietary changes. Family members with and without T2D should be encouraged to communicate with their relatives about T2D and the risk to family members. Such efforts may help increase awareness about risk and motivate at-risk individuals to modify their lifestyle to reduce their risk.

Committee: Melanie Myers Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Lora Arduser M.F.A. (Committee Member) Subjects: Public Health

MA, University of Cincinnati, 2001, Arts and Sciences : Psychology

Recent figures from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (1997) report that 54.3% of high school seniors reported using an illicit drug at least once in their lives. A larger percentage of adolescent males (22.1%) than females (20.5%) engage in illicit drugs (National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1998). Previous research has suggested that one of the strongest predictors of adolescent drug abuse is peer influence (Hawkins, Catalano, & Miller, 1992). Recently, Mears et al. (1998) suggested that delinquent peers have a greater effect on the drug use of males than females. In addition, research has implicated the role of the family in the drug behaviors of adolescents (Baumrind, 1985). Concerning gender differences within the family, Cernkovich & Giordano (1987) suggest that girls who have a close and positive family relationship have a lower incidence of delinquent behavior than boys who have the same relationship. Although this finding was based on delinquent behavior rather than drug use, it suggests that the relationship between the quality of family relationships and drug use may be stronger among females than males. The primary aims of this study were to 1) examine the relationships of peer influence and family bonding to drug use and 2) examine gender as a moderator of those relationships. Participants were 131 male and female teenagers who participated in a demonstration program for high-risk youth in Bloomington, Indiana. This project was a secondary analysis of the baseline data collected from a sample about to participate in a national study of high-risk youth. Participants were recruited from juvenile courts in the Bloomington, Indiana area. Most students were recruited because they were facing probation due to delinquent behavior. Results reveal there were no evidence of a relationship of family bonding to adolescent drug use and no differences between male and female participants in the relationships of either peer influence or family bonding to adoles (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Dr. A. Kathlelen Burlew (Advisor) Subjects: Psychology, General

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 1994, Nursing

The main focus of community health nursing is promotion of health of individuals, families, subgroups and communities. One of the major objectives of community health nursing to facilitate engagement in contraceptive practice to prevent repeated pregnancies among unmarried teenage primiparas. Studies document association of prematurity, low birth weight, perinatal mortality, infant mortality, and child abuse with repeated pregnancies in that subgroup. Evidence indicates that unmarried teenage primiparas do not engage in contraceptive practice leading to repeated pregnancies within a year or two. There is lack, and inconsistency of information about factors that explain unmarried teenage primiparas' engagement in contraceptive practice. A health promotion model derived from Orem's self-care deficit theory suggests important concepts, and potential linkages of factors that may influence the unmarried teenage primiparas' engagement in contraceptive practice. The self-care deficit theory states that basic conditioning factors influence self-care agency, and self-care, and that self-care agency is necessary for self-care. The purpose of this study was to determ ine the relationship among emotional support from family and friends' basic conditioning factors, self-care agency, and engagement in contraceptive practice. A cross-sectional survey design using a random sample of 75 unmarried primiparas 18 years and younger was used to examine the factors that might influence engagement in contraceptive practice. Instruments were: Perceived Social Support from Family scale (Procidano & Heller, 1983); Perceived Social Support from Friends scale (Procidano & Heller, 1983); Exercise of Self-care Agency scale (Kearney & Fleischer, 1979); Contraceptive Practice Questionnaire developed by the investigator, and based on previous studies (Galavotti, 1987; Galavotti & Lovick, 1989). Using multiple regression analysis, both emotional support from family, and emotional support from friends (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Claire Andrews (Advisor) Subjects: