Middle Tennessee State University: Journals@MTSU
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Teaching Graduate Economics: Online Vs. Traditional Classroom Instruction
Get PDFThe use of online course offerings in college, including graduate business courses, has grown sharply in recent years (Eastman, Swift, Bocchi, Jordan and McCabe, 2003). Results of previous research comparing student performance in lecture versus online classes are mixed. This paper focuses specifically on student performance in MBA managerial economics classes, analyzing learning differences between those in online and traditional lecture classes. In addition to comparing overall performances, we tested further to determine if gender, ethnicity, and levels of achievement and aptitude are factors in explaining differences in performance between, as well as within, lecture and online classes. Our empirical results demonstrate that the grade difference between stronger and weaker students, as defined by aptitude and effort, is significantly larger for online students
Entrepreneurial strategy: The relationship between firm size and levels of innovation and risk in small businesses
Get PDFThe expression that “Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity” (Michael Porter), encapsulates the importance of entrepreneurial strategy, which has been linked to firm growth, particularly through its dimensions of innovation and risk. Firm growth will increase its size, which in turn may affect the entrepreneurial strategy; a research area that has been under-studied. This research contributes to the literature by exploring the relationship between firm size and the entrepreneurial strategy. Findings support the hypothesis that in larger firms the owners pursue a strategy that tends to be higher in innovation but with reduced risk, while in smaller firms the owners pursue a strategy that is higher in risk but lower in innovation. Additionally, it was found that the firms’ Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) is moderated by the organizational size; which supports the notion of bi-directional relationship between EO and organization attribute
Investigating Quantum Computation
Get PDFAdvancements in computer science and technology make quantum computation increasingly possible, which would result in unprecedented computational efficiency and allow quantum physicists and chemists to completely model complex quantum mechanical systems. Quantum algorithms have already shown significant advantages over classical algorithms in terms of both runtime and power. Quantum computation opens up new research opportunities in areas such as machine learning, mathematics, and cryptography. However, quantum computation could also pose a danger to online data security
Dating Violence in Adolescent Relationships
Get PDFDuring the adolescent developmental stage, an individual begins to experience various physical, social, and emotional changes. At times, the effect of these various changes can cause an adolescent to become more vulnerable to risk taking behaviors and exposure to violence. Additionally, adolescents also begin to explore relationships outside of their family of origin including developing relationships with peers and pursuing dating relationships. According to Sutherland (2011), one in five adolescents reported having a boyfriend or girlfriend in the fifth grade and more than half of a group of sixth graders surveyed reported having a girlfriend or boyfriend within the last three months. These data reveal a significant number of adolescents become involved in dating relationships. With such a high number of adolescents in dating relationships, it is important to understand how these early dating experiences may influence shaping their views of intimate relationships and their behavior in future adult intimate relationships (Sutherland, 2011). 
AN ANALYSIS OF MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PHD PROGRAMS IN ECONOMICS IN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES
Get PDFThis paper collects the data on mathematics requirements and recommendations for admission to Ph.D. programs in economics. There are several differences between this paper and Milkman and Marjadi (2017). This paper includes Ph.D. programs in Canada and compares them with the programs in the United States. Then, we split our sample based on whether we had obtained the mathematics course requirements directly from the programs through the questionnaire or phone interview or from the programs’ websites. We then analyzed the data to find that there are differences in those requirements and recommendations between programs in Canada and the United States. We also found that there are differences in those requirements and recommendations among different quality tiers
Pictures for Reflection: I am 10 Years Old: Watch me Grow
Get PDFAs boys and girls grow beyond early childhood and prepare to become adolescents, they experience a wide range of emotional, social, cognitive, and physical transitions. Frequently, for the 10 year old, these rapid changes leave them critically questioning, reflectively wondering, and deeply feeling. They navigate different affiliations, test their competencies, and assume a variety of roles.  
Childhood Remembered: Reflections on the Role of Play for Holistic Education in Armenia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the USA, and Wales
Get PDFPlay remains a topic for discussion, debate, and research within the education community. Zigler and Bishop-Josef (2004) provide an historical overview of early childhood; one of their main findings is play is under siege in many educational circles. The authors indicate, through time, there is a move away from play-oriented learning activities to a narrow focus on academics. Outside of the United States, and in many other countries, shifts occurred toward education focusing on academic skills that “deepen the damage and [make] more permanent the ‘achievement’ gap” between many children (Meier, 2009, p. 12). In opposition to this trend, advocates continue to call for more play-oriented and holistic approaches to learning, arguing the play vs. academics debate with academic support for and against the role of play in early childhood (Miller, 2008). Although this work provides important contributions to the field, prior research often gives little voice to teachers’ perceptions about play, especially from varied and diverse cultural backgrounds.
In this article, we argue for a broader view of education in line with Plato’s observation (gender not withstanding) that “The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life” (Jowett, 1874, p. 249). The current approach draws on the recommendation that we move beyond the typical developmental research view to use an interpretivist analysis that considers history, culture, and context (Swadener & Kessler, 1991). We begin with a short overview of the potential and traditional developmental and academic benefits of play. Our argument then focuses on a less common consideration of the holistic benefit of play: We explore teachers’ cultural reflections about the nature and worth of play through the authors’ personal accounts of playful childhood in Armenia, Great Britain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United States of America. Finally, we provide recommendations for the value of play as part of a whole child education
Entrepreneurial leadership: An experimental approach investigating the influence of eye contact on motivation
Get PDFSmall, new firms lack the resources of most larger, established firms, which makes effectively motivating employees challenging. Charismatic leadership is effective in increasing the performance of both groups and entire organizations. Specifically, the impact of charismatic leadership practices on followers stems from nonverbal communication and construed immediacy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of an entrepreneurial leader’s eye contact and smiling on followers’ objective motivation in an experimental leadership situation. A sample of 129 young adults was tested in a 2×2 (nonverbal tactics: high eye contact/low eye contact × high smile/low smile) experimental design. Motivation was measured by objective performance in a motoric reaction time task. The conditions were operationalized by manipulating gaze behavior and facial expressions of the leader in a staged instructional video, showing a start-up entrepreneur attempting to enhance the performance of his employees as part of a competitive comparison. Regardless of whether the leader smiled or not, participants showed faster responses and therefore performed more effectively when the leader maintained high eye contact.These findings support the hypothesis that increased eye contact is a strong nonverbal signal, which in the immediate context of leader-follower interactions, stimulates an increase in performance. In fact, eye contact could induce an increased level of motivational arousal in followers, resulting in improved confidence and self-reference when taking instructions. This study advances the existing research on learnable skills that can be used to appear more charismatic and thus potentially increasing follower performance by adopting simple nonverbal rules in communication behavior. This offers an invaluable and low-cost tool for leaders founding a start-up business
The interplay of strategic orientations and their influence on SME performance
Get PDFThis paper examines the role that learning orientation plays with respect to entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation, and, ultimately, the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs. Previous research indicated mixed findings in regards to the relationship of these strategic orientations and firm performance. Instead of just direct influences to performance, we examine if learning orientation is an antecedent to market and entrepreneurial orientation. We suggest that in this way, their influence to SME performance would be more accurately predicted. We argue that learning orientation reflects the overall values of the organization, whereas entrepreneurial and market orientations are more action-oriented firm behaviors. Learning orientation would likely set the stage for the requisite actions implied in market and entrepreneurial orientation. Direct effect and mediated effects hypotheses between these strategic orientations are tested on a sample of SME manufacturing firms and their performance. Findings indicate that learning and entrepreneurial orientation directly influence SME performance. However, when learning orientation and its effects are mediated by market and entrepreneurial orientation, direct effects disappear when testing this model. The study offers insight into relationships between various strategic orientations, as to how and when they might influence SME performance