Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.
Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.
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- Creators: Kashiwagi, Jacob
Description
The Information Measurement Theory (IMT) states that all information exists at any time and all the time, and that it's an individual lack of ability to perceive that creates the misperception that there is an absence of information. This lack of perceived information creates subjective bias and limitations. IMT identifies decision-making and bias as the major obstacles to perfectly understanding reality. This study examines the IMT's correlation to romantic relationships and is designed to determine what factors and traits makes a romantic relationship successful. We collected data on 123 subjects: 56 individuals who were in committed romantic relationships and 67 individuals who were not. These individuals were asked fundamental questions on the IMT theory as well as their thoughts on what they define as a successful relationship. Participants in relationships were asked questions relating to their overall satisfaction level. Correlations were calculated between these satisfaction levels and an individual's perception of information. This study's overarching goal is to understand if successful relationships are determined by how much dominant information each individual involved in the relationship knows about each other, themselves, and other external factors.
ContributorsWang, Celina (Co-author) / Zeng, Carrie (Co-author) / Cao, Quynh-mi (Co-author) / Kashiwagi, Dean (Thesis director) / Kashiwagi, Jacob (Committee member) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / School of Accountancy (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Very little of modern America resembles the country that existed during the time of the Nation's founding. The country has technologically, socially, and economically advanced to the point of likely being unrecognizable to our Founding Fathers. However the American Voting system is strikingly similar to the system established over two centuries prior. The current system of First-Past-The-Post voting has numerous structural biases and inadequacies that contribute to the current level of American dissatisfaction. The system discourages compromise, prevents the formation of third parties, is vulnerable to manipulated, and contributes to the toxic American political environment. Adopting a replacement for the outdated First-Past-The-Post system would provide significant advantages to the current United States political system. In this paper both Alternative Voting and Proportional Representation systems will be evaluated as viable replacements for the current system. The ongoing nature of the American political experiment contributes to the obstacles of objective political science conclusions. In order to evaluate the current and possible replacement systems, a logical base is required. Information Measurement Theory utilizes dominant information to aid in the decision making process. Developed by Dean Kashiwagi to improve efficiency across multiple fields, this logical system simplifies complex issues down to their most basic elements. Information Measurement Theory will be used to determine: 1. Which voting system offers the clearest communication between the government and the governed 2. Which voting system best discourages strategic voting 3. Which system best promotes long term democratic stability Determining the voting system that best satisfies these three criteria will provide the American Electorate with an electoral reform goal and the means of improving the American political climate.
ContributorsBurke, Andrew Sutherland (Author) / Kashiwagi, Dean (Thesis director) / Kashiwagi, Jacob (Committee member) / Department of Economics (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12
Description
This thesis investigates the potential of life cycle analysis for more sustainable sourcing strategies in organizations. Using the example of the College of Lake County (CLC) in Illinois, I study how life-cycle analysis can help to improve the procurement of products and services in higher education. Currently, CLC's purchasing team does not understand how sourcing affects operational and environmental performance. In addition, CLC's purchasing team does not communicate effectively with other departments from a product utilization standpoint. The objective of this research is to analyze CLC's current product procurement process and to assess the feasibility of implementing life cycle analysis tools. Further, I evaluate different life cycle analysis tools and provide recommendations to CLC about the applicability of these tools so that they may be implemented into the university in the future. First, I find that both the procurement and IT department at CLC are not familiar with life-cycle analysis tools and hence, do not know about the life cycle of their processes and services. Second, I identify professional life cycle analysis tools relevant for CLC. Two software options, GaBi and SimaPro, are discussed. Finally, I suggest six steps for a successful implementation of life cycle analysis at CLC: (1) form an interdisciplinary team, (2) analyze demand and collect additional data, (3) conduct a product life cycle analysis using a software tool, (4) define which products to analyze further, (5) conduct life cycle costing analysis with the same software tool, and (6) utilize these results for decisions and delegation of responsibility.
ContributorsGotsch, Rachel Lynne (Author) / Wiedmer, Robert (Thesis director) / Kashiwagi, Jacob (Committee member) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
A new student organization called the 942 Crew was started in 2012 as an extension of the Student Initiative to increase student attendance and the in game atmosphere at Sun Devil men's basketball games. The new organization is part of Sun Devil Athletics and is full of students of all ages and backgrounds. In being part of Sun Devil Athletics, the 942 Crew has the financial support as well as resources to achieve the goals of increasing student attendance and improving the in game atmosphere for students, fans, and players. I have been a member of the 942 Crew for four of its five years on campus, and have seen and been a part of the changes brought to Sun Devil Athletics because of the organization. Through new marketing techniques that include a peer-to-peer aspect Sun Devil Athletics did not have before, the revolutionary Curtain of Distraction, and the support of the athletic department, the 942 Crew has been able to nearly double the average student attendance from the 2012-2013 season to the 2015-2016 season. With average student attendance growing from 455.06 students a game in 2012-2013 to 881.41 in 2015-2016, a new era of Sun Devil Athletics has begun in which a student organization and administration work together to create a more consistent level of higher student attendance. Aside from men's basketball, the 942 Crew has also changed the student ticketing of football games through the emergence of Camp Fargo and broken student attendance records at both men's and women's sports across the university.
ContributorsFicker, Ryan Michael (Author) / Kashiwagi, Dean (Thesis director) / Kashiwagi, Jacob (Committee member) / School of Accountancy (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12
Description
To many people, shopping is just a chore that needs to be done in order to get groceries, household supplies and clothing. To others, shopping is a sacred time where people relieve themselves of all stress and worries by spending money. Going into the mall with a lot on ones mind can be dangerous because as soon as one become distracted with items in the stores, they can truly get whisked away in spending money. Spending money and buying luxury goods actually brings a lot of excitement to people's lives. Retail therapy is defined as method to positively improve one's mood through shopping (Yarrow 2013). About 62% of consumers have purchased something to cheer themselves up and another 28% had purchased as a form of celebration (Atalay 2011). More than half of Americans participate in some sort of retail therapy in their day-to-day lives (Yarrow 2013). Retail therapy is so prevalent in people's lives because of its basis that people are striving for self-regulation of their happiness or looking for a quick and easy happiness booster. If people are motivated to want to look good or feel better about them, they are self-regulating to where they strive for these goals, which leads them to partake in retail therapy. Shopping is a chance of finding visualization for their future lives. When people go shopping and see a certain item, they automatically picture themselves in the item and what event they will be wearing the item to. It is so easy to get mentally lost during a shopping spree due to these expectations and visualizations that it feeds into people's heads. The happiness boost, the high expectations and the escape from reality are the main factors as to why shopping does indeed make people happier. This thesis will observe the concept of Retail therapy and whether or not it actually makes people happier
ContributorsDawoud, Mariam (Contributor) / Higbee, Yasmine (Contributor) / Kashiwagi, Dean (Thesis director) / Kashiwagi, Jacob (Committee member) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Hugh Downs School of Human Communication (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Information Measurement Theory (IMT) is a concept which was devised for the purpose of understanding how information works in the universe. At its core, it states that 100% of information exists in the universe at any one time, and with enough perception, any event can be predicted based on the initial conditions preceding the event. With this idea in mind, the author of IMT developed the Kashiwagi Solution Model (KSM) which deals with how people best utilize the information present in the universe. Simply put, the ideas presented by KSM encourage people to think in a more logical manner through the utilization of relevant information. The following thesis details an autobiographical case study which focuses on the life of a college student undergoing severe depressive symptoms during the course of their academic career. The usage of concepts stemming from IMT and KSM are then used to determine the root causes of the depression in order to prevent it from ever happening again. The case study acts as a guide to others in order to better help them deal with similar situations that are happening with their lives while providing evidence that the concepts detailed by IMT and KSM are factually relevant.
ContributorsChauhan, Amit (Author) / Kashiwagi, Dean (Thesis director) / Kashiwagi, Jacob (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
Teeth are an important part of people's lives. A scrutiny of the teeth structure and function is necessary for the public, as well as for pre-dental students going into dentistry. This paper contains the information necessary, in simplest terms, for understanding teeth structure, function, occlusion, and development patterns. The paper also depicts dental problems faced in today's society, such as tooth decay. Treatment options including root canal, crown, implant, dentures, orthodontics, and orthognathic surgery are also described. Having a basic understanding of how dental professionals treat dental problems will allow the general public to identify problems such as decay, teeth loss and malocclusion, and participate in the decision-making process regarding their dental health. It will also allow them to have a realistic expectation for the outcomes of these types of procedures.
ContributorsPark, Steven (Author) / Kashiwagi, Dean (Thesis director) / Kashiwagi, Jacob (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Information Measurement Theory (IMT) is a system created by Dr. Dean Kashiwagi to minimize subjective decision-making, the amount of data needed to understand situations, and optimize processes by removing risk. IMT uses the ideas of Kashiwagi Solution Models to identify high performing and low performing characteristics. IMT proposes the usage of Best Value Approaches to achieve high performance while minimizing risk through quality control. For my project, I prove how IMT can be applied to a long-term project to reduce stress, create a quality product, and minimize opportunities for failure. My project focuses on the creation and release of a vinyl record. IMT was developed for use with construction projects, so my goal is to apply IMT ideals to an industry where it has not been used whatsoever and show how IMT can be applied to any project that is either difficult, requires careful analysis of options, or is completed on a long-term basis. Since I am not an expert in music production or releasing physical copies of music, I also prove that IMT helps provide guidelines and measures of how to complete a project where not all information is known at the beginning. With the usage of dominant information and the alignment of expert assistance, a high quality product was produced and a successful release followed.
ContributorsPfisthner, Jess (Author) / Kashiwagi, Dean (Thesis director) / Kashiwagi, Jacob (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
The deductive logic and leadership techniques presented in Dr. Dean Kashiwagi's Information Measurement Theory (IMT) and the Kashiwagi Solution Model (KSM) provide the tools to implement positive change within one's life and environment. By altering the way that I perceive the world, I have made progress in self-improvement through action. This project utilizes self-evaluation as a method to learn from dominant information and experience. In establishing that natural laws govern the world, there is no randomness; events and decisions are all cause-and-effect. When seen through this lens, life becomes simpler and manageable. Through my own implementation of IMT and KSM, I live a more productive lifestyle and feel that I have a meaningful plan for my future.
ContributorsRoot, Shawn Michael (Author) / Kashiwagi, Dean (Thesis director) / Kashiwagi, Jacob (Committee member) / Industrial, Systems (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
The purpose of this work is to set up a dichotomy between trends of Nationalism and Assimilation, using the post Diaspora Armenian population as a sample. Armenian-American youth is the focus of study, as they are said to be in the unique position of having one foot in each door as far as cultures are concerned. The paper uses micro level survey data on young Armenians combined with macro level social trends in densely Armenian diaspora areas such as the San Fernando Valley, to find trends in recent rates of cultural integration. One of the major distinctions made is between the ‘traditional’ and the ‘symbolic’. The first is a more authentic grasp of one’s heritage, but is argued to be nearly impossible to maintain when moving to a dominant culture. The second is inheritable and teachable to children by rote, but only provides a shell of cultural artifacts. Dr. Bakalian summarizes the sentiment in the contrast of ‘being’ vs. ‘feeling’. Nationalism in moderation can contribute to maintaining ancestry and contribute to worldwide diversity. Nationalism in excess can lead to xenophobia and isolationism. Assimilation in moderation can allow for a certain group to learn and borrow the best parts from another nation. Assimilation in excess can breed resentment and the eventual loss or total symbolization of a once rich culture. In a country like the U.S. which assimilates through benign osmosis rather than oppression, it is difficult to make any conclusive recommendation which would teach something that arguably cannot be taught. Perhaps the best we can do is to push for teaching symbolic culture to inspire travel back to a ‘motherland’ to spark traditional values.
ContributorsKaprelian, Armen Girair (Author) / Kashiwagi, Dean (Thesis director) / Kashiwagi, Jacob (Committee member) / Department of Economics (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05