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C. Grebner lithographs of Niagara Falls, ca. 1850
Get PDFCharles Grebner was a lithographer and printer operating from 13 West Seneca Street, Buffalo, NYTwo hand coloured lithographs, mounted on cardboard 36x25 cm, printed by Charles Grebner of Buffalo, NY, ca. 1850
Choice, Challenge, and Consequence in Branching Narrative Games
No full textAs interactive media grows in sophistication and complexity, players increasingly seek narratives that respond to their input. However, many game design methods still prioritize mechanics, an interaction that is designed to take place within the game world, over the storytelling elements or narrative. This project introduces a revised four-pillar model built around agency, context, mechanics, and conveyance. These pillars assess three titles: As Dusk Falls, Bandersnatch, and Slay the Princess, examining each for how it handles narrative interaction and whether it supports or limits a player’s agency. The findings inform the creation of a narrative-driven prototype showcasing that even simple systems can support strong narrative design when making the correct considerations to the aforementioned pillars. When the player’s input is made visible through consistent writing and feedback, agency is preserved with or without complex mechanics. The model offers a method for structuring narrative systems that champion player interaction
Dreaming Accessibility: Disability Justice, Film Policy, and the Struggle for Inclusive Cinema in Canada
Get PDFThis Major Research Paper (MRP) offers a narrative autoethnographic exploration of cinematic accessibility through the lens of Disability Justice. Anchored in my lived experiences navigating movie theatres in the Niagara region of Ontario, I reflect on the challenges of accessing closed captioning technology as someone situated at the intersections of disability, English as a second language (ESL), transnational identity, and studenthood. Through a poetic yet critically engaged approach, I weave together personal vignettes and theoretical insights, drawing on six core principles of Disability Justice to map how access is imagined, denied, or redefined in cinematic spaces. This research situates assistive technologies like CaptiView within broader Canadian and U.S. histories of ableism, arguing that access is not merely technical but deeply relational, political, and cultural. Rather than treating access as a checklist, I advocate reimagining it as a shared, collective, and transformative practice rooted in love, care, and creative interdependence. This work is a call to action: to make cinema truly inclusive, we must centre the voices of those most impacted and reframe accessibility as an act of justice
Sports Analytics: Exploring Data and Technology in Women’s University Hockey in Canada
Get PDFThe purpose of this study is to explore stakeholder perspectives on sports analytics in
women’s inter-university hockey in Canada. The study looks at how sports analytics is being
incorporated at this level while also looking at the advantages and challenges that arise. Keeping
the concept of mediatization in mind, I completed 13 interviews between two different
participant pools, 6 athletes and 7 coaches. Three main themes arose from the data: 1) The varied
ways analytics is defined and implemented in the U Sports context; 2) the positives that come
from incorporating analytics into areas such as coaching and performance analysis; and 3)
challenges that remain for athletes and coaches in effectively incorporating analytics into
practice. Based on these findings, three key implications emerged from the research: first, the
ongoing evolution of mediatization and the application of this concept to women’s university
hockey; second, inconsistencies in defining sports analytics and between perceptions and actual
uses of analytics; and finally, the significant role of resources in realizing the potential of
analytics. This study yields both substantive and practical contributions to the sports
management field in relation to the topics of sports analytics and university sport
Examining the performance impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Online Retailing: An Empirical Analysis
No full textArtificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force reshaping industries worldwide, with retailing experiencing particularly profound change. Yet, alongside its potential, AI raises concerns about trust, ethics, and data privacy, creating uncertainty about its real-world impact. While prior research has often relied on surveys or self-reported data, limited attention has been given to objective performance outcomes in live digital environments. This thesis addresses this gap by examining how AI integration influences the performance of online retailers using the De-Lone and McLean Information Systems (IS) Success Model. The model’s constructs—system quality, information quality, service quality, user satisfaction, use, and net benefits—offer a multi-dimensional framework for evaluating the effectiveness of AI-enabled systems.
The study draws on a dataset of 500 North American online retailers. AI adoption indicators were identified through a semi-automated keyword detection method combining Google’s Programma-ble Search Engine with an AI-related terminology framework. These indicators were integrated into a structural model, with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) conducted in SmartPLS 4 to test relationships among the constructs.
Findings demonstrate that AI-driven system quality is the strongest driver of satisfaction and use. System use emerged as the most powerful predictor of net benefits, emphasizing that value de-pends on active engagement with AI features. User satisfaction also functioned as an important mediator linking technical capabilities to performance outcomes. In contrast, AI-enabled service quality showed no significant effect, while information quality produced mixed results, moderated by organizational maturity and contextual complexity.
The study contributes theoretically by validating and extending the DeLone and McLean model in the context of AI-integrated retailing and highlighting conditional effects of service and information quality. Practically, it underscores the need for retailers to prioritize usability, customer experience, and adoption strategies alongside technical deployment. Overall, the research advances understand-ing of how AI shapes digital commerce, offering an evidence-based view of its impact on system success, customer trust, and organizational performance
Attentional Breadth Measurement: A Latent Variable Approach
Get PDFAttentional breadth refers to the scope of information individuals attend to, which can be biased toward the overall global picture (e.g., the forest) or the local elements within it (e.g., the trees). Laboratory tasks measuring global/local bias often show good reliability over time, but researchers have struggled to identify meaningful relationships between tasks, raising concerns about whether attentional breadth reflects a unified construct. This study addressed this issue using structural equation modeling (SEM) to model shared variance across tasks and sessions, while accounting for measurement error, stimulus-specific processes, and task-specific variance. A two-session design was used, incorporating three hierarchical stimulus tasks: (1) target detection, measuring RTs to find targets at global or local levels; (2) forced-choice, where participants chose whether an item that matched the target at a local level or an item that matched the target at a global level better represented the hierarchical target (3) Navon interference, assessing interference from the irrelevant global or local level. An embedded figures task, where participants located a smaller shape within a larger display, was also included. Each task was presented in two stimulus variants, with participants completing both versions in each session. Two conceptual breadth tasks (Remote Associates Test and Object Categorization Task) were also administered. Data were analyzed from 105 Brock University undergraduates who had complete task data across testing sessions. Results showed moderate to strong test-retest reliability for all tasks except both Navon interference versions, which lacked stability and within-session convergence. Navon Tasks were subsequently excluded from SEM analyses. Conversely, latent factors for detection, forced choice, and dis-embedding (response time and accuracy) showed acceptable fit and were retained in the final SEM. Notably, a significant positive relationship was observed between the detection and forced choice latent factors, demonstrating – for the first time – a shared attentional breadth construct across distinct paradigms. A second significant positive relationship emerged between forced choice and dis-embedding accuracy, but in a counterintuitive direction. Beyond these associations, traditional bivariate correlations failed to detect relationships among attentional breadth tasks, underscoring the value of latent variable modeling and multi-session designs in isolating stable, trait-like constructs from task-specific noise
Champions for Life InterACTIVE Stories, Little Champions: An Acceptability Study
Get PDFPhysical activity is important for developing children’s skills and supporting overall well-being (Lee et al., 2020). However, Canada’s ParticipACTION found only 62% of young children meet the national physical activity recommendations, and 38% of children do not (Chaput et al., 2017). Based on the premise that children directly observe behaviours of others (Bandura, 1977), this convergent case study-mixed methods design, this study investigated the acceptability of the Little Champions interACTIVE storytelling resource on preschoolers’ physical literacy and inquired:
1. How does Little Champions interACTIVE storytelling impact Early Childhood Educators’ (ECEs) knowledge of and self-efficacy with physical literacy (PL), and how effective is the Little Champions resource from an educators’ perspective?
2. What are ECEs’ experiences with and perspectives of the Little Champions resource, including their satisfaction with and perceived usefulness of the resource?
Data collection occurred from February to March 2025 using educator journals, one semi-structured focus group, and a Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) questionnaire. Educators reported improvements in children’s physical, psychological, social, and cognitive domains and perceived the Little Champions resource to be effective in promoting preschool children’s PL. Significant results were found when constructs associated with the TFA of the resource were scored highly. Thematic analysis of focus group scripts found that educators’ knowledge and self-efficacy increased after Little Champions was implemented
The Impact Of Trust And Distrust On The Willingness To Pay Of Bioremediation Projects
Get PDFThis study investigates how trust and distrust in institutional actors influence public willingness to pay (WTP) for bioremediation projects in Canada. Using data from two pilot surveys conducted across provinces, the analysis integrates contingent valuation (CVM), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and probit modeling to jointly assess economic and attitudinal determinants of support for environmental remediation. Results show that price sensitivity (measured by the tax bid) is consistently negative and statistically significant, underscoring the central role of fiscal burden in shaping WTP. Trust in government is positively associated with WTP, while distrust—particularly concern—exerts a significant negative effect. Other dimensions, such as corporate trust and watchfulness, are not statistically significant. An unexpected finding is the negative income coefficient, suggesting that higher-income individuals may express lower WTP, potentially reflecting skepticism toward government-led initiatives. Methodologically, the study introduces an innovative payment vehicle that combines tax increases with spending reallocations, highlighting how framing affects valuation outcomes. The findings demonstrate that beyond economic capacity, institutional credibility and governance transparency are critical for securing public support for environmental remediation policies
Breaking Barriers, Building Biceps: Examining the Feasibility of a Culturally-Tailored Strength Training Program for South Asian Women and its Preliminary Effects on Positive Body Image
Get PDFSouth Asian women have been underrepresented in body image literature. Research has shown
that South Asian women in Western countries have poorer body image compared to women of
other ethnicities (e.g., White, Black, Hispanic). South Asian beauty appearance ideals (e.g., “fair”
or pale skin, slim figure), racial teasing during childhood, the enforcement of thin ideals by older
South Asian women, and the negative impact of White-centric media contribute to poor body
image in South Asian women. Physical activity can improve body image. However, South Asian
women have lower levels of physical activity compared to other ethnicities potentially due to
several sociocultural factors including stigma against women participating in physical activity.
Strength training specifically is associated with improved body image but is not a popular form
of exercise for women as it is also connected with masculinity in many cultures, including South
Asian culture.
The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of a culturally-tailored strength
training program for young South Asian women. The secondary objective was to examine
preliminary changes in positive body image measures following the program. Of the 22 women
who contacted the researchers to express interest in the study, seven women attended a 6-week
strength training program and completed measures of positive body image pre- and postprogram. Given the low recruitment rates and poor adherence, it is not feasible to run the study
in its present form. However, the exercise program itself was perceived as acceptable by those
who did attend and adhere. Regarding preliminary efficacy, there were increases in body
appreciation and embodiment, with medium and small effect sizes post-program, respectively.
There is a need for further feasibility assessment of the program with an adequate sample size,
which may be achieved through a recruitment period that conforms with student schedules, more
targeted recruitment strategies (e.g., recruiting at South Asian events), and building relationships
with South Asian organizations. Researchers should continue exploring culturally-tailored
programs for promoting various forms of exercise, including strength training, and examining
how they affect positive body image in South Asian women.
Keywords: Feasibility, acceptability, South Asian, women, strength training, body appreciation,
cultural-tailoring, exercise
Fostering Inclusion and Belonging in the Early Years: A Practical Guide for Early Learning Professionals
No full textInclusion and belonging are vital to the holistic development of young children within the early years, as it allows for positive social relationships, active engagement, healthy social and emotional behaviours, the development of self-confidence and so much more (National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2009). However, early learning professionals struggle to implement these concepts within their programs, as the definitions and method of implementation shifts across pedagogical and curriculum documents, from infancy to elementary school. It raises the important question: How do early years professionals overcome these barriers? Educators may wonder: What is inclusion? What is belonging? To explore this, the following study analyzed empirical literature, educational documents, and social media content through an inductive, general qualitative research design, to define the barriers, determine the factors to overcome them, to understand the role of identity and intersectionality within inclusion and belonging, and to gain practical strategies for their daily practice. By using Middleton and Kay’s Inclusive Approach (2019) and Crenshaw’s Intersectionality (1989) theoretical frameworks as a lens for this study, a guide was created with background information and practical strategies to support early learning professionals in fostering inclusion and belonging in the early years, including strategies for supporting the learning environment, identity affirmation, relationships, advocacy and developmentally appropriate practice. The results suggested that fostering inclusion and belonging varies across different early learning environments and the unique needs, backgrounds, experiences, and abilities of the children, families, educators and community partners within the program must be truly inclusive for all. The variety of practical strategies and information within this study and guide will inform future implications for theory and practice. Future avenues for research related to inclusion and belonging were suggested