Open Journals at the University of Georgia Libraries
Not a member yet
2372 research outputs found
Sort by
A Study of Students’ Help-Seeking Behaviors in Undergraduate Mathematics Tutoring
No full textThis observational study considers the help-seeking behaviors of students who drop in to receive free tutoring at a university’s mathematics tutoring center. It reports on how these students enter the tutoring space, act, and interact with others comparing the students in two different areas of the center. One of the areas serves students taking math classes for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students. The other area serves students taking applied mathematics classes for business, life science, and social science majors. Findings suggest that most students enter the center alone, stay for over an hour, and are industrious, no matter the area they visit. However, students in the STEM area were more social with others in the tutoring center, more focused on gaining a conceptual understanding, and less likely to be dependent on tutors than the students in the applied area. These results add to research literature on what is known about student actions and interactions in university tutoring centers and has implications for those who organize and lead tutor training that might help them provide better support to students
The Impact of the COVID-19 Income Shock on Debt Management: A Mediation Analysis
No full textThis study uses the 2021 wave of the FINRA National Financial Capability Study dataset to examine the association between large and unexpected income drops experienced by individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and an individual’s use of stimulus checks to settle debt obligations. This study also examines the mediating role of individuals’ perceived lack of financial control in the association between the large drop in income and the use of stimulus checks for debt payments. The results reveal that over one-third of households allocated their stimulus checks towards debt payments. Notably, individuals experiencing a large and unexpected drop in income had 5.5% higher odds of using pandemic stimulus checks for debt management. Moreover, this relationship was significantly mediated by an individual’s perceived lack of financial control. The findings from this study shed light on the complex associations between experiencing an unexpected and large income reduction, perception of financial control, and debt management decisions of individuals. The significant role of perceived financial control in describing individuals’ debt management decisions found in this study suggests that perceived control is not just a reflection of a household’s financial situation but also a determinant of their financial decision-making in times of crisis. Furthermore, the results underscore the critical role of stimulus checks and other financial assistance in mitigating the economic impacts of the pandemic on American households. Findings from this study contribute to a deeper understanding of financial decision-making processes during periods of economic uncertainty and offer implications for future economic policies and financial literacy programs
Consumers’ Basic Bank Account Complaints and Their Financial Hardships: A Content Analysis of Complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
No full textAlthough savings and/or checking account ownership is widespread, significant account problems occur that carry negative implications for consumer finances. This study aims to profile American consumers’ bank account experiences when they encounter challenges with the use of their basic bank account that are not resolved through initial contact with their financial institution. A systematic sample of consumer saving and checking account complaints submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 2022-2023 is used to conduct content analysis to identify prevalent themes. The resulting content analysis categories are used in a predictive model to determine the drivers of financial hardship. Results suggest that experiencing fraud issues and Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) malfunctions led to increased odds of experiencing financial issues. Also problematic were challenges relating to funds withheld by the financial institution, account transaction issues, and problems with account features. Customer service issues that led to increased odds of financial hardship were staff’s inability to solve their customer issues, weak engagement with their customers, and lack of or wrong information provided to their customers. Financial institutions can use these results to focus on the most critical issues that negatively impact customer finances. Policy changes to financial institutions, both internal and external, can focus on decreasing the rate and implications of fraud and ATM challenges on consumer finances. Internally, improving customer service in several key areas through rigorous training to standards and monitoring as well as enhanced grievance procedures, may also be impactful.
Consumer Margin Use: Understanding the Role of Peer Influence, Investment Literacy, and Age
No full textVery little has been observed regarding household decisions around margin use. Using the 2021 wave of the National Financial Capability Study (NFCS), this study investigates margin use as both a debt and an investment decision. Using probit analysis and observing correlations, relationships between peer influence, investment literacy, age, and margin use are explored. Results indicate a positive peer influence on the decision to buy on margin. Also, younger individuals and individuals with higher degrees of investment literacy have a higher probability of buying on margin. Finally, feelings of over indebtedness are positively related to margin use. These findings have implications for policy makers as well as those who provide financial advice
A Study of Time Value of Money Educational Interventions
No full textTime Value of Money (TVM) concepts are foundational to learning in personal financial planning and finance courses. This study applied Connectivism Learning Theory (CLT) to create educational interventions meant to increase student understanding of TVM using Excel and a financial calculator as learning tools. Results show students exposed to the learning intervention using a financial calculator performed better than those exposed to Excel alone or a combination of Excel and a financial calculator. These findings point to the structural entrenchment of the financial calculator in the teaching of TVM, and the challenges an instructor might face when introducing other methods to supplant it
Exploring factors affecting young adults\u27 financial management behavior: A hybrid PLS-SEM and fsQCA approach
No full textThis study investigates the factors influencing financial management behaviors (FMB) among young adults in Poland, drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Specifically, it examines the roles of financial attitude, family financial socialization, peer influence, financial self-efficacy, and subjective financial knowledge. Data were collected from 340 university students using convenience sampling. A hybrid analytical approach combining partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was employed. PLS-SEM results indicate that financial attitude, subjective financial knowledge, and financial self-efficacy are significantly associated with FMB. Contrary to expectations, family financial socialization had no significant effect, while peer influence was significant but negative effect. FsQCA revealed two distinct pathways leading to positive FMB, highlighting the importance of financial attitude and knowledge, even in the absence of strong peer or family support. The findings underscore the complexity of financial behavior and suggest that educational interventions should focus on improving financial attitudes and self-efficacy, while also acknowledging the important roles of family and peer influences. This study contributes novel insights into financial behavior research in Eastern Europe and demonstrates the value of combining SEM and fsQCA in behavioral finance studies
Psychophysiological Finance and Intelligent Wellness: A New Financial Planning Practice Model
No full textThe Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. requires CFP® professionals to identify and respond to a client\u27s attitudes, behaviors, and situations that impact decision-making, the client-planner relationship, and a client’s financial well-being. This practice requirement acknowledges the importance of identifying and analyzing psychological reactions, physiological responses, and financial triggers, which interact to influence client intentions, actions, and outcomes. The paper provides an overview of the way financial stressors and acute and chronic stress can impact the well-being of clients. Building on this background, the paper describes a vision for a new advice-delivery model based on the emerging fields of psychophysiological finance and intelligent wellness. The practice model described in this paper shows how advances in mobile health, psychophysiology, and psychology can be blended with a traditional financial planning practice approach to provide clients with comprehensive advice and guidance, attempting to reduce the effects of stress and improve client well-being
A Promising Practice to Move from Charity to Solidarity: Community-Engaged Experiential Learning in International Development Studies
No full textCommunity-engaged experiential learning (CEEL) has emerged as a model of teaching and learning that provides postsecondary institutions with a framework for meaningfully connecting with their wider communities in ways that ensure mutual benefits. This study explores CEEL, including the challenges and value of CEEL, in the context of international development studies (IDS), using evidence from multiyear research with a 3rd-year undergraduate course offered at the University of Guelph. Using a multistakeholder approach, we examine experiences and perspectives of students, community partners, and university stakeholders to provide a comprehensive understanding of the course impacts and CEEL more broadly. Each stakeholder group identified numerous shared benefits of CEEL. This work indicates that actualizing community-engaged experiential learning that is grounded in justice and committed to critical reflection and reciprocity has the potential to dismantle knowledge hierarchies, promote solidarity, expand worldviews and project reach, and act as a catalyst for transformative change
CARE-ing for Rural West Texas: Conducting a Needs Assessment to Support a Community-Engaged K-12 Education–University Partnership
No full textThe success of outreach hinges on whether programs are authentically rooted in the needs and strengths of a particular community. Here, we describe the process of conducting a needs assessment intended to provide this foundational information. This needs assessment, conducted by boundary spanners from a large public university, focuses on the needs of rural K-12 educational settings in West Texas. The article describes how the needs assessment shifted as we reflected on our initial attempts. It also highlights how the use of an assets-based framework enabled the team, as boundary spanners, to highlight community resources that can be leveraged for the design of future outreach and engagement efforts