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: Thunderbird School of Global Management
Description
Dale and Edna is a hybrid animated film and videogame experienced in virtual reality with dual storylines that increases in potential meanings through player interaction. Developed and played within Unreal Engine 4 using the HTC Vive, Oculus, or PlayStation VR, Dale and Edna allows for players to passively enjoy the film element of the project or partake in the active videogame portion. Exploration of the virtual story world yields more information about that world, which may or may not alter the audience’s perception of the world. The film portion of the project is a static narrative with a plot that cannot be altered by players within the virtual world. In the static plot, the characters Dale and Edna discover and subsequently combat an alien invasion that appears to have the objective of demolishing Dale’s prize pumpkin. However, the aliens in the film plot are merely projections created by AR headsets that are reflecting Jimmy’s gameplay on his tablet. The audience is thus invited to question their perception of reality through combined use of VR and AR. The game element is a dynamic narrative scaffold that does not unfold as a traditional narrative might. Instead, what a player observes and interacts with within the sandbox level will determine the meaning those players come away from this project with. Both elements of the project feature modular code construction so developers can return to both the film and game portions of the project and make additions. This paper will analyze the chronological development of the project along with the guiding philosophy that was revealed in the result.
Keywords: virtual reality, film, videogame, sandbox
Keywords: virtual reality, film, videogame, sandbox
ContributorsKemp, Adam Lee (Co-author) / Kemp, Bradley (Co-author) / Kemp, Claire (Co-author) / LiKamWa, Robert (Thesis director) / Gilfillan, Daniel (Committee member) / Arts, Media and Engineering Sch T (Contributor) / Thunderbird School of Global Management (Contributor) / School of Film, Dance and Theatre (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Through the advancement of technology, social media, and the ever-growing connectedness society has with the digital world, the automotive industry’s market paradigm has been uprooted and turned onto its head. There is a race globally for the first company to achieve a truly autonomous vehicle, and one of the major testing grounds is in the very state of Arizona. The technology is still under development, and there are many challenges and snags, like necessary big data, companies are encountering along the way. A smart city could share the necessary level of data with driverless vehicles, and through the back and forth communication of cars and cities could bring in that level of context and understanding needed to bring the promise of safer driving to life. Currently, companies are tight-lipped and keep to themselves on their research and development, so governments are struggling to manage the upcoming changes with such little information. The challenge is how to deal with the newly emerging inventions which managers have not figured out yet, as far as autonomous cars are concerned. This thesis covers the difficulties governments and companies will face when attempting to adopt driverless cars and smart cities into their infrastructure; public approval, legislation, infrastructure reforms, and communication between municipals and corporations. Through a survey conducted specifically for this thesis, interviews with government officials and corporate managers, and additional research, this thesis provides clearer insights on the situation and provides recommendations for managers and governments alike.
ContributorsStone, Mindi (Author) / Lynch, Patrick (Thesis director) / Nelson, Roy C. (Committee member) / Thunderbird School of Global Management (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
With a new generation entering the workforce, a strong economy, and a low unemployment rate, the factors that new graduates value when looking for a job is changing. More new graduates and companies alike are working to adapt to this new environment. One way in which they are doing this is through being socially responsible. The purpose of this study is to research the extent to which an organization's Corporate Social Responsibility Programs impact a student’s desire to work for them. I aim to answer the question: how do the social responsibility efforts of companies impact college student’s willingness to work for a given company by looking at these programs on a micro level.
I gathered research by surveying undergraduate students at Arizona State University. The questions in this survey dealt with job search values, CSR knowledge, CSR interest and more. Throughout this survey, I largely focused on the differences between business and non-business students. There is evidence in this study to suggest that all groups of students value working for a socially responsible company, but business students are more familiar with these companies and more likely to research them. There is not a consensus on what companies students view to be socially responsible, but there are common factors in what students look for in a Corporate Social Responsibility program. This study has a number of practical implications for companies looking to attract the best talent based on their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. Recommendations are based on survey findings and research from secondary sources.
I gathered research by surveying undergraduate students at Arizona State University. The questions in this survey dealt with job search values, CSR knowledge, CSR interest and more. Throughout this survey, I largely focused on the differences between business and non-business students. There is evidence in this study to suggest that all groups of students value working for a socially responsible company, but business students are more familiar with these companies and more likely to research them. There is not a consensus on what companies students view to be socially responsible, but there are common factors in what students look for in a Corporate Social Responsibility program. This study has a number of practical implications for companies looking to attract the best talent based on their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. Recommendations are based on survey findings and research from secondary sources.
ContributorsHarrell, Julianna Kara (Author) / Marcie, LePine (Thesis director) / Jessica, Hirshorn (Committee member) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor, Contributor) / Thunderbird School of Global Management (Contributor) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Nonlinear pricing is a term that looks at the relationship between price and quantity. Normally firms bundle breakfast cereals together and then sell them at least a price that is a third of the single unit price. This shows a lack of linearity between the price and the quantity. Most of the breakfast cereal brands like Kellogg’s , Post and others employ nonlinear pricing schedules as a way of motivating consumers to purchase their products. They use these methods to increase their product sales and boost profits respectively. An example of nonlinear pricing is when a consumer is given an option to buy two boxes of cereal and get and the third one for free.
According to Market Watch (10/08/2018), 85% of breakfast cereal brand companies use the nonlinear pricing model. This is a very popular and competitive market strategy used by other companies as well. The purpose of this thesis is to therefore evaluate the effectiveness of the nonlinear pricing strategy popular in the breakfast cereal industry, as well as ascertaining whether this strategy fosters loyalty amongst cereal consumers. I have always wondered if breakfast cereal companies that use nonlinear pricing models shortchange themselves by recycling their own customers instead of attracting new ones. To respond to that question, l used data from the breakfast cereal industry for the year 2017. This data received integrity research and assurance approval at Arizona State University . Moreover, the study used breakfast cereal data as the backbone of the analysis because consumption of breakfast cereals happens throughout the year and breakfast cereals have a longer shelf life. The data is based on receipt uploads from over 400,000 users of the Omni panel website. My goal with the thesis is to evaluate the effectiveness of nonlinear pricing schedules in relation to increasing sales and fostering customer loyalty. At the end of the study, l would like to have developed a strong and data-based opinion on why consumers choose the breakfast cereal they purchased and also on the relationship between nonlinear pricing and consumer loyalty. I hope to use my findings to propose a better model which, if used by these businesses, can enable them to generate more returns and cultivate customer loyalty.
According to Market Watch (10/08/2018), 85% of breakfast cereal brand companies use the nonlinear pricing model. This is a very popular and competitive market strategy used by other companies as well. The purpose of this thesis is to therefore evaluate the effectiveness of the nonlinear pricing strategy popular in the breakfast cereal industry, as well as ascertaining whether this strategy fosters loyalty amongst cereal consumers. I have always wondered if breakfast cereal companies that use nonlinear pricing models shortchange themselves by recycling their own customers instead of attracting new ones. To respond to that question, l used data from the breakfast cereal industry for the year 2017. This data received integrity research and assurance approval at Arizona State University . Moreover, the study used breakfast cereal data as the backbone of the analysis because consumption of breakfast cereals happens throughout the year and breakfast cereals have a longer shelf life. The data is based on receipt uploads from over 400,000 users of the Omni panel website. My goal with the thesis is to evaluate the effectiveness of nonlinear pricing schedules in relation to increasing sales and fostering customer loyalty. At the end of the study, l would like to have developed a strong and data-based opinion on why consumers choose the breakfast cereal they purchased and also on the relationship between nonlinear pricing and consumer loyalty. I hope to use my findings to propose a better model which, if used by these businesses, can enable them to generate more returns and cultivate customer loyalty.
ContributorsNgwenya, Alpha (Author) / Silverman, Daniel (Thesis director) / Trujillo, Rhett (Committee member) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Thunderbird School of Global Management (Contributor) / Department of Economics (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
South Sudan is the world’s newest nation, having gained its independence in 2011. Despite significant promise, South Sudan faces many serious internal issues. Among the most pressing is the treatment and status of women and, in particular, their lack of involvement in the economy and in academia.
Women’s Education (WE) is our proposed nonprofit designed to address these problems by providing business education, financial assistance, and academic services to women business owners operating in South Sudan. We believe our targeted intervention in these areas will result in improved social and economic standing for women, the natural byproduct of which is an improved country with increased stability.
In the first half of this paper, we explore the social and historical context of South Sudan to illustrate both the need for (and viability of) of our organization. We outline what we will do to achieve our goal of equality within the business and academic sectors for women, and the effects such equality will have upon society.
In the second half of the paper, we address the logistics behind our operations, including our mission and vision, client needs, budget, management strategies, and other internal and external factors that need to be considered.
KEY WORDS: South Sudan, Gender, Business Education, Academic Intervention, Economy, Societal Infrastructure
Women’s Education (WE) is our proposed nonprofit designed to address these problems by providing business education, financial assistance, and academic services to women business owners operating in South Sudan. We believe our targeted intervention in these areas will result in improved social and economic standing for women, the natural byproduct of which is an improved country with increased stability.
In the first half of this paper, we explore the social and historical context of South Sudan to illustrate both the need for (and viability of) of our organization. We outline what we will do to achieve our goal of equality within the business and academic sectors for women, and the effects such equality will have upon society.
In the second half of the paper, we address the logistics behind our operations, including our mission and vision, client needs, budget, management strategies, and other internal and external factors that need to be considered.
KEY WORDS: South Sudan, Gender, Business Education, Academic Intervention, Economy, Societal Infrastructure
ContributorsPeter, Achirin (Co-author) / Castillo, Gemma (Co-author) / Goldman, Alan (Thesis director) / Samuelson, Melissa (Committee member) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / School of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies (Contributor) / Thunderbird School of Global Management (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
In June of 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum for its citizens to decide whether to remain a part of the European Union or take their leave. The vote was close but ultimately the U.K. decided to leave, triggering the two-year process of negotiations that would shape the U.K.’s departure (Brexit). The question of what will become of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is heavy with implications for the national identity of people living on either side of the border, and this makes it one of the more pressing concerns in Brexit discourse. This research analyzes how national identity is used as a rhetorical tactic in media to influence and persuade readers to vote in accordance with the author’s political goals. It does so by evaluating how borders shape national identity and analyzing newspaper articles from the two highest circulating Northern Irish daily newspapers (The Irish News and the Belfast Telegraph) during the week leading up to the June 23rd, 2016 referendum. In analyzing news articles relating to the Irish border issue of Brexit from The Irish News and the Belfast Telegraph during the time frame of June 16th-23rd, 2016, four analytical categories of how identity-related rhetoric was used were discovered: fear, self-interest, Irish Nationalism, and a negative association of the past. Further, it was hypothesized and confirmed the political leanings of the papers influenced which type of rhetorical tactic was used. In the broad realm of Brexit and media related discussion, this research could help strengthen understanding of how traditional media uses national identity to persuade readers to and influence voting behavior in the midst of such a divisive referendum.
Key Words: Brexit, Irish border, national identity, rhetoric, newspapers
Key Words: Brexit, Irish border, national identity, rhetoric, newspapers
ContributorsCaldwell, Tara (Author) / O'Flaherty, Katherine (Thesis director) / Ripley, Charles (Committee member) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor, Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
The purpose of this research paper is to examine the fundamentals of blockchain technology and how the application of blockchain could serve as a future platform for identity. An identity is used, as the name suggests, to identify who or what an entity is. Although seen as a trivial concept, defining what truly makes up an identity can become quite difficult. Is an identity the thoughts, feelings, or tendencies of a person? Are more tangible assets like a Social Security card, birth certificate, or passport a person’s identity? Can nonhuman entities like businesses or organizations possess an identity? The true definition of an identity may never be known; however, it is certain that several pieces of identifying data lay scattered across multiple databases. Often a person may not have control or even access to these third-party databases that hold their information. Moreover, what information, for how long, and in what way the data is being used may be unclear. Blockchain provides a solution to the identity problem by providing a visible, secure single source of truth. On a blockchain platform, a person would no longer have to trust the goodwill of third parties to secure their data or be uncertain about how the data is being used. Instead, a user could secure their own data and only permission those deemed necessary. The signal immutable ledger would serve to replace current tangible identities as a means to verify yourself in a digital age.
ContributorsRuggaard, Kyle Russell (Author) / Taylor, Todd (Thesis director) / Collins, Gregory (Committee member) / Thunderbird School of Global Management (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
The purpose of this thesis is to educate the reader and share the relevant areas of the United States and its ever-so unpredictable stock and real estate market. It will further detail, how investing in stocks can be beneficial or negative to one’s financial portfolio. This article explains and dissects the areas of the U.S. market and possibly dependent economy. The foundational definition and the basics of buying, selling and trading in the stock market is a very intricate process. There are various causes and concerns about how the stock market affects the economy and vice versa, how the economy affects the financial markets. As a theoretical framework, this topic will take a deep dive into the 2008 recession and the devastating effects it had on the global economy and financial markets. Furthermore, I will explain what steps the government took, the key decisions and incentives placed to pull itself out and what strategies and laws were passed to ensure that such a drastic crash would not repeat.
The goal of this thesis is to further educate the reader about the realities of the U.S stock market. Whether that be the risks or the benefits, it is important for every young adult and those that have invested in the past, to have extensive knowledge about how our stock market. It is true that the stock market affects the overall economy, however, it can be said that the economy has a significant effect on the stock market as well. Investing in the stock market is not something that Americans are forced to learn about, and many millennials have the, “Why should I care about that?” mindset when it comes to learning about the pros and cons of the Financial markets. This trend is very alarming because when done right, investing in the stock market can truly pay dividends. A cultural shift towards learning financial nuances should be incorporated in all education and more of the next generation should be educated and given this awareness. This article will not address the newer entrants such as crypto-currency, because that is more of a fad rather than a largescale market that would affect the overall economy.
The second goal with this thesis is to explain how the stock market affects the overall economy, as it is one of many significant factors. This goal may be slightly more difficult as there are so many variables in the US economy, such as changes in the global economy. One can also argue that the stock market is a supplement of the current economy. Addressing the financial markets and behavior, this conclusion will eventually address different variables and focus on the markets and how they affect the United States economy.
The goal of this thesis is to further educate the reader about the realities of the U.S stock market. Whether that be the risks or the benefits, it is important for every young adult and those that have invested in the past, to have extensive knowledge about how our stock market. It is true that the stock market affects the overall economy, however, it can be said that the economy has a significant effect on the stock market as well. Investing in the stock market is not something that Americans are forced to learn about, and many millennials have the, “Why should I care about that?” mindset when it comes to learning about the pros and cons of the Financial markets. This trend is very alarming because when done right, investing in the stock market can truly pay dividends. A cultural shift towards learning financial nuances should be incorporated in all education and more of the next generation should be educated and given this awareness. This article will not address the newer entrants such as crypto-currency, because that is more of a fad rather than a largescale market that would affect the overall economy.
The second goal with this thesis is to explain how the stock market affects the overall economy, as it is one of many significant factors. This goal may be slightly more difficult as there are so many variables in the US economy, such as changes in the global economy. One can also argue that the stock market is a supplement of the current economy. Addressing the financial markets and behavior, this conclusion will eventually address different variables and focus on the markets and how they affect the United States economy.
ContributorsPandya, Raveer (Author) / Sadusky, Brian (Thesis director) / Hoffman, David (Committee member) / Thunderbird School of Global Management (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Today’s electric vehicle market is growing at high rates but unaware consumers present a risk to the future success of electric vehicles (EVs). Over the coming years electric vehicles will take over the automotive industry. Consumers will need to become more educated in order to keep up with the rise and adoption of electric vehicles. Automotive companies will play a large part in this future of education for electric vehicles.
This paper uses various studies and my own personal study from my summer internship with Ford Motor Company to determine the biggest consumer fears, challenging them and how automotive companies can combat them. In my opinion, the biggest consumer fears for electric vehicles are range anxiety, lack of a charging network, high initial purchase prices, battery replacement costs and lack of appealing options. Consumers who are not interested in EVs, are interested or just looking have fears that can come from opinions or others opinions. These fears can easily change through factual points.
I have included numerous studies that combat these fears and show the truth of each category. In each category I have used studies that point out reasons why these fears are nothing to worry about. Consumers need to learn these fears can be easily changed and that is what this section aims to do.
Automotive companies will have to play a large part in this educational piece. My paper outlines what they need to do in order to succeed in the future. A major part will be dealer engagement. Dealerships represent the face of the company and if they are unwilling or cannot sell EVs, then electric vehicles will not succeed.
Finally, I provide my personal thoughts on the future of the electric vehicle market and what is holding high adoption rates of EVs back.
This paper uses various studies and my own personal study from my summer internship with Ford Motor Company to determine the biggest consumer fears, challenging them and how automotive companies can combat them. In my opinion, the biggest consumer fears for electric vehicles are range anxiety, lack of a charging network, high initial purchase prices, battery replacement costs and lack of appealing options. Consumers who are not interested in EVs, are interested or just looking have fears that can come from opinions or others opinions. These fears can easily change through factual points.
I have included numerous studies that combat these fears and show the truth of each category. In each category I have used studies that point out reasons why these fears are nothing to worry about. Consumers need to learn these fears can be easily changed and that is what this section aims to do.
Automotive companies will have to play a large part in this educational piece. My paper outlines what they need to do in order to succeed in the future. A major part will be dealer engagement. Dealerships represent the face of the company and if they are unwilling or cannot sell EVs, then electric vehicles will not succeed.
Finally, I provide my personal thoughts on the future of the electric vehicle market and what is holding high adoption rates of EVs back.
ContributorsTisch, Zachary Daniel (Author) / Sully de Luque, Mary (Thesis director) / Tuzzolino, Frank (Committee member) / Thunderbird School of Global Management (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05