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.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 30
Filtering by
- Creators: School of Accountancy
Description
Limited researches have studied on the dissonance of the representations of a destination by using difference induced agents such as government, trade media tourism articles, and visual representations. This study examines the United Kingdom's image, and determines whether the dissonance exist pre- and post- referendum in the internal imagery of the United Kingdom and imagery portrayed aboard. Leading newspapers from the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe are analyzed to determine the predominant themes. Semi-structured interviews are conducted with the U.S. tour operators and Arizona's travel agents. Tour brochures and user-generated content on TripAdvisor are analyzed to study tourists' responses to Brexit. Skift is analyzed to project future growth in tourism industry. Results show that the leadings newspapers projects similar concerns negatively and positively pre- and post- referendum. Uncertainty in policy changes leads to other themes that are identified such as investment, employment, trade, independence, market growth, etc. It projects the international trade, domestic market growth and global market growth will be significantly impact by Brexit due to higher tariff and regulations on migrants in the United Kingdom. In contrast, travel brochures are marketing UK from heritage, historical attractions, and special events, but they do not reflect the influence of Brexit on how tour operators market UK pre- and post- referendum. Further data is conducted on the semi-structured interviews with travel agents across Arizona, but travel agents responded with Brexit has no influences on US tourists. Additional content analysis on VisitBritain/VisitEngland shows the growth in tourism industry by an increasing provided data collection on tourism performance that reflect there is an increasing departure rate of US tourists in UK after the referendum. User-generated content on TripAdvisor and Skift align with the identified themes in leading newspapers from US, UK, and Europe such as uncertainty in policy change. The present study further outlines preferable method to advance future studies on the destination image of U.K. during and after the Brexit.
ContributorsLuo, Shiyu (Author) / Chhabra, Deepak (Thesis director) / Timothy, Dallen (Committee member) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / WPC Graduate Programs (Contributor) / School of Accountancy (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
In January 2016, Chinese regulators announced the use of circuit breakers to stabilize the stock market but suspended this mechanism after two weeks. Researchers want to further understand the unique characteristics of Chinese stock market and measure the feasibility of implementing a circuit breaker in China once again. The thesis provides an overview of China's attempted implementation and its related consequences, followed by possible problems and tentative recommendations. It outlines key characteristics among different nations that are implementing circuit breakers and price limit systems. Circuit breaker policies in the United States and Japan are explained in detail, while policies in other nations are presented as an overall trend.
ContributorsLiu, Luyao (Co-author) / Zhang, Zihan (Co-author) / Simonson, Mark (Thesis director) / Aragon, George (Committee member) / School of Accountancy (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Camp Carey is an annual freshman orientation program that takes place before the beginning of the semester in late July and early August. As the incoming W. P. Carey classes continue to grow each year, so to does the size of Camp. Beginning this project, we looked at potential that we could directly impact the quality of the camp experience, and ensure that Camp remains a memorable and quality experience for all involved. Camp is directed and facilitated every year by W. P. Carey staff members and a group upperclassmen, the camp directors and facilitators. Due to the direct impact that these upperclassmen have on the camp experience, we decided to focus our attention on improving the training provided to these individuals, and to emphasize a process of continuous data collection and improvement. The director training is broken into three modules that focus on risk management, facilitator selection, and facilitator training. Each of the seven exercises in the director training is based on a tool or practice used by modern companies in project management and human resources management. They were designed with three goals in mind: to immediately increase the directors' level of preparedness for Camp, to produce a written record to be used by directors in subsequent Camp seasons, and to provide directors with an introductory level of experience with concepts and tools that will benefit them in their professional careers. The facilitator training portion centers around the creation of a 1 credit, repeatable hybrid course to both reward facilitators, train them in proper conduct and materials for camp, as well as collect valuable feedback from the facilitators. The creation of a larger spring training session, designed to prepare the facilitators for activity facilitation, emergency preparedness, and representing W. P. Carey and ASU, and the implementation of a summer review training session are designed to prepare facilitators to lead the best camp possible. Further, the essays and surveys involved in the class are set up to gather valuable information and feedback from the facilitators for further improving the program year-over-year.
ContributorsJansma, Bradley (Co-author) / Cogell, Grant (Co-author) / Pfund, Michele (Thesis director) / Reali, David (Committee member) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / School of Accountancy (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Early in the development of American's interest in athletics there has been a conditioning of the mind toward promoting and rewarding male athletes, while ignoring and undercutting female athletes. There is substantial evidence of the existence of monetary and promotional time given to male athletes and very little support given to their female counterparts. The gender pay gap in professional sports is a culmination of gender discrimination within the entire sports realm. It appears to start at the high school level, continue on into the collegiate sector, and is finally magnified in the professional arena. In high school, male sport's programs are given preference to game and practice times, locations, as well as promotions. In college, male athletic programs are advertised and highlighted as being the premier events to go to. This is also seen in college bookstores with the dominating male event merchandise for sale. In the professional arena, the astronomical value of male athletes' salaries, which go into the multi-millions, makes the gender pay gap glaring. These discrepancies between men and women at each level of sport are in part caused by the underlying informal systems or societal norms and values currently present and encouraged in American culture and communities. These informal systems are often countered by formal systems, such as Title IX. Change cannot truly take place until the two systems are aligned. Thankfully, society today seems to be headed in a more equitable direction; therefore, promoting hope and promise for a more equal future between male and female athletes and their programs.
ContributorsBaldwin, Macy Jeanette (Author) / Goegan, Brian (Thesis director) / Eaton, John (Committee member) / School of Accountancy (Contributor) / WPC Graduate Programs (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
The Performance Based Studies Research Group (PBSRG) at Arizona State University has provided a new approach to improve efficiency within industry called Best Value (BV). The core idea of BV is simplicity, which trains people to improve efficiency and understand things better with minimum information provided. The tool developed based on BV, the Kashiwagi Solution Model (KSM), is widely tested and used across a variety of industries. It has successfully helped many companies to cut their costs and improve the efficiency when running the company. With the help of BV and KSM, the authors of this paper are able to identify some problems experienced by a number of international companies. With the growth of global economy, globalization becomes popular, many companies try to enter more markets in order to earn bigger profits. However, many companies fail at achieving same level of performance in foreign markets. The authors adopts the idea from BV, KSM as well as the concepts from the Information Measurement Theory (IMT), which tries to dissolve complicated questions to the simplest concepts, and are able to explain the core reason why many international companies face the dissatisfying performance abroad. With numerous research, IMT helps to identify the characteristics of companies doing well domestically as well as companies doing poorly abroad. This paper demonstrates the possible solutions in order to help companies expand globally and achieve success in different markets.
ContributorsYang, Di (Co-author) / Liu, Weikang (Co-author) / Kashiwagi, Dean (Thesis director) / Kashiwagi, Jacob (Committee member) / WPC Graduate Programs (Contributor) / School of Accountancy (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Social media has evolved so quickly in the past two decades and continues to grow and change at a rapid pace. This way of connecting and communicating with others has become so ingrained in daily life and can have a major influence on people's actions. Social media and social networking look vastly different today than it did in the past, and will continue to change for the future. The sports and travel industries are no exception to the integration of social media. Both entities understand the importance of being prominent in the online domain and connecting to the Millennial generation. It is crucial for young people to learn how to positively use social media in the classroom and in the workplace as their lives become consumed by this digital world. The emphasis on social media in different facets of society can bring both positive and negative connotations along with it, depending on how, when, and why people decide to use it. Social media is not meant to replace all interactions and forms of contact, but rather enhance these relationships. By analyzing the history of social media, current trends and effects, this project seeks to forecast the impact that social media will continue to have in the future. In the fast paced world today, social media and other forms of electronic communication will only continue to increase and be intensified. This project explores how social media has impacted society, most importantly, the travel industry and the sports industry. Social media will continue to expand knowledge, connect people all over the world, and enhance experiences as it inevitably becomes even more integrated into everyday life.
ContributorsHomes, Taylor (Co-author) / Larkin, Anna (Co-author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / McIntosh, Daniel (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / WPC Graduate Programs (Contributor) / School of Accountancy (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
The Value-Added Tax (VAT) is a broad based consumption tax on goods and services. Similar to a Retail Sales Tax, the VAT has the final burden of the tax fall on the end consumer. However, the tax is collected throughout stages of production, which means the government collects it sooner and the retailer is not the only company remitting tax to the government. As of this writing, the VAT is used in over 150 countries around the world. The United States is the only developed nation that does not have a federal VAT. While there are several plans for VAT implementation in the U.S., one of the more promising is the Competitive Tax Plan by Michael Graetz. In it, Graetz suggests a 10 to 14 percent VAT in order to pay for reduction in corporate income tax and an increase of the individual tax filing thresholds to $50,000 for single taxpayers and $100,000 for married taxpayers. As the nation goes further into debt, it is important that the United States looks for alternative sources of revenue. A VAT could prove to be the best option, as it is a proven solution used by many other nations.
ContributorsBlodgett, Laura Ann (Author) / Frost, Donald (Thesis director) / Dallmus, John (Committee member) / WPC Graduate Programs (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / School of Accountancy (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
This study aims to identify the presence and impact of gender stereotypes for the business and construction industries and how women are hindered by these stereotypes. Through a two part study including a survey and one-on-one interviews with male and female participants, qualitative and quantitative data was collected to identify trends in stereotypes. The analysis identified the existence of gender stereotypes in four general categories: Education, Occupational Advancement, Work-Life Balance, and Glass Ceiling. In the subsequent passages, testimonials from study participants and additional research elaborate on how these categories of gender stereotypes impact women at specific companies and women in the business and construction industries as a whole. These testimonials allowed us to form conclusions on gender stereotyping in business and construction revealing the overall impact of many "unwritten" blockades against women's occupational success including the Glass Ceiling, Good Ol' Boys Club, and "Think Manager \u2014 Think Male". Although many of these stereotypes have impacted the business and construction industries for decades, many individuals currently in the workforce believe the new entrants into the workforce, the Millennial Generation, will likely cause gender stereotypes in the workforce to diminish.
ContributorsTroupe, Katherine (Co-author) / Evans, Nicole (Co-author) / Dove-Viebahn, Aviva (Thesis director) / Cassidy, Nancy (Committee member) / Weaver, Edwin (Committee member) / School of Accountancy (Contributor) / WPC Graduate Programs (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
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
Zimbabwe's economic crisis has spun over decades since the late 90s. The ordeal began with hyperinflation between 1999 and 2008. During this time, the country was in debt and the government kept printing money to pay off the debt and take care of fiscal obligations. As a result, the economy has undergone some unstable phases which have made it difficult for citizens to comprehend how money works around the world. This project identifies the key events leading to Zimbabwe's economic struggles; describes the challenges of inadequate financial education; analyzes the role of financial literacy in alleviating Zimbabwe's economic crisis; acknowledges that financial literacy is a necessary foundation for creating financial independence amongst citizens, but is ineffective in the absence of financial inclusion; suggests blockchain technology as a sustainable means to mobilize both financial education and inclusion; provides recommendations for successful development of financial education and inclusion and introduces our plan to start an initiative that promotes financial independence amongst young Zimbabweans. It is without a doubt that public financial education and inclusion programs become a top priority for Zimbabweans in order to revive the economy. The conclusion is drawn from the idea that when individuals are empowered to be self-sufficient, they can intentionally or unintentionally contribute to economic growth by improving their standards of living and that of those around them.
ContributorsNyanhete, Yolanda (Co-author) / Vheremu, Gloria (Co-author) / Taylor, Todd (Thesis director) / Lin, Elva (Committee member) / School of Accountancy (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05