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PERCEPTIONS OF YOUTH ATHLETE SAFETY PARENTS VS DIRECTORS
Get PDFThis research explores sexual abuse in youth sports by studying the perceived effectiveness of established trainings mandated for youth sport coaches. It discerns how the perceived effectiveness varies between youth sport organization directors, and the parents of the athletes. The aim was to discover if the required trainings are successfully being utilized by coaches and effectively contributing to a safe sport culture, or if more needs to be established to keep athletes safe. Finally, the parent’s knowledge of what defines sexual abuse, potential risks, and what to look out for in the realm of youth athletics was assessed to further decide if this gap in awareness and education could be a potential contributing factor. This qualitative study utilizes individual interviews with youth sport organization directors, and the parents of the athletes they train. Data was interpreted to discover overlapping trends, recurring themes and highlight contributing factors of the issue. The findings from this study highlight the significant gap in awareness, understanding and education of sexual abuse in youth sports between parents and directors. Parents and players need to be offered educational opportunities on this topic so they can have more active roles in youth athlete safety. Implications for social work include involvement and engagement of social workers in the various fields and levels of athletics so that they can advocate for, and protect children from, abuse within the sport setting
Setting Events and Their Effects Upon Students\u27 Behavior Goals
Get PDFThis study investigates the impacts that setting events have upon the behavioral outcomes of students on a Check-In, Check-Out (CICO) intervention. Research was conducted through participant interviews each day, which were then translated into quantitative graphs for data analysis. The analysis has shown that there is not a significant correlation between the setting events studied and student behavioral outcomes. Although it was not statistically significant, there appeared to be some degree of correlations. Quantitative data shows that the effects of setting events upon each individual student are varied, which allows us to conclude that the effects of setting events upon student behavior vary, and may be different from student to student. We conclude that though our research did not yield statistically significant results, setting events are an important area of research, and should continue to be investigated in relation to CICO and students’ behavioral outcomes
LEVERAGING BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY TO REVAMP THE VEHICLE ELECTRIFICATION JOURNEY: PERSPECTIVES OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC CIRCULARITY
Get PDFThe automotive industry is undergoing a significant transition accelerated by global emission regulations for a phase out of internal combustion engines (ICEs) and a transition toward the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). While regulatory measures and incentivized adoption for EVs presents opportunities for reducing emissions and promoting sustainability, it also poses complex challenges. The EV industry faces potential production challenges, particularly in the sourcing, manufacturing, and lifecycle management of critical minerals and raw materials for electric vehicle batteries (EVBs). With a heavy reliance on a steady and diversified supply of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements, the finite nature of mineral resources poses long-term challenges for EV stakeholders.
The recent measures instituted by government regulations do recognize the need for EV stakeholder accountability, requiring substantiated evidentiary proof by way of data collection and analysis mandating resource recapture and reintroduction into circularity, environmental benefits, and real-time data availability. By implementing clear end-of-life requirements such as collection targets, material recovery goals, and extended producer responsibility, EV producers are held responsible for managing the entire lifecycle of electric vehicle batteries (EVBs). Government regulations are aimed at bolstering sustainability standards, and a high degree of accountability for all battery products, showing a clear shift towards circular economic standards.
This culminating experience project explores the role of collaborative initiatives and innovative technological frameworks, particularly, blockchain, smart contracts, and Nash equilibrium game theory, in addressing sustainability challenges within the EV ecosystem. The research questions are: (RQ1) How does the strategic application of blockchain technology within a circular economic framework facilitate cooperation among stakeholders in the EV industry, leading to improved oversight, enhanced accountability, and guided decision-making? (RQ2) How can the implementation of private-permissioned blockchain technology, particularly through smart contracts, be strategically employed to enhance transparency, traceability, and sustainability throughout the lifecycle of electric vehicles, within the broader context of the EV ecosystem? (RQ3) Why should EV industry stakeholders engage in a consortium, that is driven by blockchain technology, smart contracts, Nash Equilibrium game theory, and what are the potential effects?
The findings for each question are: (Q1) The partnership among RCS, IBM, Ford, exemplified how integrating blockchain into a circular economic framework can establish oversight, ensure accountability, and enable informed decision-making with traceable and transparent data circularity. Ford notably improved its cobalt due diligent management system, marked by a notable forty-six percentage point within one year, demonstrating its commitment to responsible sourcing and regulatory compliance. (Q2) Private-permissioned blockchain networks, especially with smart contracts, automate performance obligations, without an intermediary interaction, strengthening self-governance within a decentralized network. The consensus mechanism, integral to blockchain architecture, enhances accountability among EV stakeholders by validating and authenticating transactions. Opting for a consensus algorithm, emphasizing participant reputation over computational power, reduces reliance on resources while maintaining network integrity. (Q3) EV stakeholders and their tier-1 suppliers, in a consortium, are incentivized to uphold their reputation and branding through adherence to ethical and sustainable practices facilitated in a blockchain network. By doing so, they contribute to the overall stability of the industry and the circular economic framework, as mutual benefits are maximized, unilateral deviations are discouraged, and collaborative dynamics are fostered.
The conclusions are: (Q1) EV producers involved in circular economic initiatives can be perceived as collaborative partners that prioritize collective success over individual gain, fostering positive brand associations with teamwork and partnership. (Q2) By aligning incentives, fostering collaboration, and leveraging data-driven insights, EV producers and their suppliers can optimize resource use, minimize waste, and contribute to the transition towards a more sustainable economic model. (Q3) By adhering to ethical and sustainable practices the equilibrium ensures that EV stakeholders maintain trust and credibility, promoting a sustainable ecosystem for the EV industry within the circular economy
STANDARDIZATION OF BLOCKCHAIN IN FINANCE - COMPARING COMMON STANDARDS
Get PDFBlockchain technology, originating from Bitcoin\u27s inception in 2008, has garnered significant interest across various industries, particularly finance. With the global blockchain market projected to reach $39.7 billion by 2025, the imperative for standardization to ensure trust, security, and compatibility across diverse blockchain implementations is evident. This culminating experience project focused on answering the following question: How can standardization be effectively navigated to facilitate the adoption and implementation of blockchain technology in financial institutions?
The key findings are as follows: (a) there is a need to explore the many challenges encountered in standardization efforts, including (i) regulatory compliance, (ii) consensus building, and (iii) the dynamic technological landscape. Efforts to tackle these challenges include: (i) aligning strategically with regulations, (ii) employing consensus-building mechanisms, and (iii) implementing dynamic standardization processes. The conclusion is that it is important to build consensus among the key standardization players including bodies like ISO/TC 307, ISO/TC 68 Financial Services, and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) in shaping blockchain adoption within the financial sector. Areas for further study include using a case study research approach to examine successful blockchain implementations, performing longitudinal studies tracking the progression of blockchain standards, and the exploration of stakeholder perspectives to inform more comprehensive and effective standardization strategies
COVID-19, SOCIAL ISOLATION, AND MSW STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH
Get PDFNew literature has found that the COVID-19 pandemic has grown the prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst college students (University Communications, 2021). The purpose of this research study was to further explore how the sudden restrictions and isolation protocols enforced and caused by the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health symptoms amongst MSW students. The study sample consisted of social work students who were 18 years old or older and who were enrolled in a Master of Social Work Program at some point in time during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
This study was conducted using a post-positivism approach and by obtaining qualitative data from interviews to determine whether the mental health of MSW students was affected during the pandemic. The data were analyzed using a bottom-up approach and axial coding to reveal common themes regarding the mental health of MSW students. Common overall characteristics that were found in this study included increased anxiety and increased depression symptoms. The study also highlights a theme of isolation, which led to the increase in mental health symptoms. This research study gives professionals further understanding of how Master of Social Work students were affected by a modern pandemic and gives a better understanding of how to support social work students experiencing similar circumstances
How can Researchers be Influenced to Comply with Guidelines of Research Data Management?
Get PDFHow come Open Science is a well-shared vision among research communities, while the prerequisite practice of research data management (RDM) is lagging? This research sheds light on RDM adoption in the Dutch context of universities of applied sciences, by studying influencing technological, organizational, and environmental factors using the TOE-framework. A survey was sent out to researchers of universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. The analyses thereof showed no significant relation between the influencing factors and the intention to comply with the RDM guidelines (p-value of ≤ .10 and a 90% confidence level). Results did show a significant influence of the factor Management Support towards compliance with a p-value of 0.078. This research contributes towards the knowledge on RDM adoption with the new insight that the factors used in this research do not seem to significantly influence RDM adoption in the Dutch context of universities of applied sciences. The research does show that the respondents have a positive attitude in their intention to change, increase or invest time and effort towards RDM compliance. More research is advised to uncover factors that do significantly influence RDM adoption among universities of applied sciences in the Netherland for stakeholders in Open Science and RDM to enhance their strategies