Browsing by Author "Roger Woodard, Committee Member"

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Alternatives to the Americium-Beryllium Neutron Source for the Compensated Neutron Porosity Log
    (2007-12-07) Peeples, Cody Ryan; Robin Gardner, Committee Chair; Roger Woodard, Committee Member; Medhat Mickael, Committee Member
    Monte Carlo simulations of neutron porosity logs were performed to examine the possibility of replacing the standard Americium-Beryllium neutron source. The candidate replacement sources were the Californium-252 radioisotope and the Deuterium-Tritium fusion reaction based particle accelerator neutron source. It was found that the differences in the energy spectra of neutrons emitted by the sources made an impact on the observed response. Both candidates were found to have potential as sources for the log.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Apparel product development considerations for US Hispanic women: A study of evaluative criteria and fit preferences of 18-25 year-old females.
    (2009-11-16) Newcomb, Elizabeth Anne; Dr. Cynthia Istook, Committee Chair; Pamela Banks-Lee, Committee Member; Michelle Jone, Committee Member; Roger Woodard, Committee Member
    This research is meant to provide information to apparel companies that might help them focus their product development strategies toward Mexican-American females’ needs and preferences. Trade magazines and news media continually report “preferences†that may better be described as stereotypes, and much of the published research related to Hispanic market preferences is often conflicting. Targeted product development processes are not benefiting from much of this information and the industry desperately lacks comprehensive information about the market’s preferences for intrinsic and extrinsic attributes and the importance they play in actual apparel purchase decisions. This research particularly explored these evaluative criteria preferences through a combination of exploratory and descriptive research. Framed by four research objectives (RO), this research first focused on identifying and modeling the full range of factors that might influence preferences for apparel evaluative criteria. Using the model created as part of RO1, RO2 obtained a clear understanding of the use and importance of 20 intrinsic and extrinsic attributes in the purchase of casual pants, tops, skirts, and dresses. Given the importance of the Fit / sizing criteria in the overall aesthetic and functional performance of garments, RO3 delved further into preferences related to this attribute, to obtain an understanding of the market’s fit preferences across a range of casual garments. The effect of physical body, ethnic, and demographic factors in shaping these preferences was also evaluated. Thus, RO1 – RO3 focused on obtaining a better understanding of the apparel evaluative criteria preferences, and specifically the fit preferences, of Mexican-American women in their apparel purchases. Research Objective 4 explored the practical application of the information gathered from RO1 – RO3 to targeted product development processes for this market. An original survey instrument was designed to respond to RO2 – RO4, and was distributed online via SurveyGizmo. The sample was restricted to Mexican-American females, 18-25 years old, from the Southwestern US to confront well-documented variability in the Hispanic market and isolate the effects of the variables of interest in this study. Results from RO1 clearly demonstrated the consumer-oriented factors and external situation-oriented factors that influence consumer preferences for apparel evaluative criteria. The model developed as part of this objective was significant due to its inclusion of apparel-specific considerations that can be used to guide research into apparel evaluative criteria preferences. Research Objective 2 showed that Mexican-American females undergo complex purchase decisions when shopping for apparel, considering that the majority of intrinsic and extrinsic attributes studied were important, if not critical, in apparel purchases. Overall, intrinsic attributes inherent to the product were considered more important and determinant than extrinsic attributes. Minor differences in importance were also observed depending on garment category. However, the concentration of ratings toward the high end of the scale used to assess importance reduced the effect of the physical body, ethnic, and demographic variables on these preferences. Using an original fit preference assessment scale developed for this research, results also indicated that Mexican-American females preferred semi-fitted garments. This preference for a mid-range fit level contradicts some of the stereotypes that exist for the market. Statistical analysis demonstrated the possible effect of physical body characteristics of body shape and size, particularly on respondents’ preferences for fitted and loose garments. Respondents of a larger size were more likely to prefer loosely fitted garments, while respondents of a smaller size and narrower waists were more likely to prefer closely fitted garments. Findings from RO1 – RO3 have direct application in targeted product development processes, specifically in line planning, concept and pattern development, marketing, and sourcing and production. A consideration of the evaluative criteria the market considers important and their associated fit preferences optimizes product development efforts and enables the development of products well-matched to customer needs. Findings of this research also reveal a wide array of future research opportunities, such as further clarification of specific evaluative criteria and fit preferences, application of the research methodology developed for this study to analyze additional target markets, and the modification of sampling strategies and the survey instrument to confront limitations involved in the current research.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Changes in Middle School Students' Ability to Engage in Informal Statistical Inference: A Probabilistic Approach.
    (2010-05-20) Gonzalez, Marggie; Hollylynne Lee, Committee Chair; Allison McCulloch, Committee Member; Roger Woodard, Committee Member
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Consumer Acceptance of Nonwoven Fabrics for Apparel and Accessory End-Uses
    (2009-11-05) Dutton, Kathryn Christine; Roger Woodard, Committee Member; Cynthia Istook, Committee Chair; Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Committee Member; Michelle Jones, Committee Member
    Technological advancements have made substantial strides in the development of nonwoven fabrics. New generations of nonwoven fabrics are more durable, have better drape, are stretchable, and overall have a better hand than past generations of nonwoven fabrics. With these advancements come new product development opportunities. One possible opportunity is expansion into the apparel and accessories market, not as a support fabric, but as the shell (visible, outside) fabric. The purpose of this study was to determine the consumer’s acceptance of nonwoven fabrics for apparel and accessory end-uses through the use of subjective fabric hand evaluation. A review of the literature guided the development of an appropriate subjective fabric hand evaluation method to study the average consumer’s acceptance of traditional woven fabrics versus spunlaced (spunbond and hydroentangled) nonwoven fabrics. In the development of this study, Bishop’s (1996) six elements were considered, in addition to, three key publications: Civille and Dus (1990); Cardello, Witherhalter, and Schutz (2003); and the AATCC Evaluation Procedure 5: Guidelines for the Subjective Evaluation of Fabric Hand (2006). Prior to conducting the experiment, the fabrics were chosen and prepared for testing. Three woven fabrics were chosen based on their common and wide spread use in apparel products. Three spunlaced nonwoven fabrics were chosen, one because it was a commercial product and the other two because they represent the most recent generation of nonwoven fabrics. The experiment was comprised of two parts, a rating and a ranking section, which were conducted simultaneously. In Part I of the experiment, the subjects were asked to rate each of the six fabrics for comfort and five different attributes – cool/warm, smooth/rough, thin/thick, flexible/stiff, and tight/stretchy. The samples were presented to the subjects, one at time, in random order, and kept from their view. In Part II of the experiment, the subjects conducted a simple ranking procedure. They were shown four images, one a time, in random order. The four images included a short sleeve button-down collared shirt, a long sleeve button-down collared shirt, a pair of pleated shorts, and a bag. The six fabric samples were placed in front of the subjects in random order, on a non-textured, non-metal table. Again, the fabrics were kept from their view. The subjects were asked to rank the fabrics in order from most desirable (best) to least desirable (worst) for the image. Through the use of the statistical software JMP, nonparametric statistics were conducted to analyze the data and respond to the research questions. The sample consisted of 197 male and female subjects primarily from the central North Carolina region. Data supported the following conclusions regarding the rating and ranking of woven and nonwoven fabrics, and the influence of gender and age on those ratings and rankings. Comfort depended more on the fabric and not necessarily whether the fabric was a woven or nonwoven. Overall, woven fabrics were preferred over nonwoven fabrics for apparel products. However, nonwovens were most preferred for a tote bag along with a woven fabric. The nonwoven fabric similarities and differences varied among attributes. Overall, gender did not influence the fabric rating or ranking responses. It appears age affected only the attributes that involved the surface of the fabrics. If the fabric had a texture, the older the subject, the smoother they perceived the fabric. Age influenced the rankings for shorts and a bag, but not for the other garments. As is the case with consumer studies, other variables, including individual biases, contributed to the fabric rating and ranking responses. However, significant relationships indicate there is potential for new product opportunities for the nonwoven fabrics.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Contingent Faculty: What Impacts their Organizational Commitment?
    (2009-04-23) Murphy, Maura J.; Audrey J. Jaeger, Committee Member; Paul D. Umbach, Committee Member; James E. Bartlett, Committee Member; Alyssa N. Bryant, Committee Chair; Roger Woodard, Committee Member; Joy Gaston Gayles, Committee Member
    Since the 1980s, the percentage of non-tenured faculty has increased on college campuses. However, while contingent faculty are often hired to address short-term staffing issues, the long-term impacts are not assessed. Institutions need a better understanding of how institutional practices impact the job performance of contingent faculty. The purpose of this study is to examine what institutional practices predict organizational commitment among contingent faculty, compared to tenured/tenure-track faculty. While several studies conclude that contingent faculty are less committed than tenured/tenure-track faculty, there is little data to suggest how institutional practices may be impacting the organizational commitment of contingent faculty. Using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Ordinary Least Squared (OLS) regression, this study seeks to understand how part-time contingent faculty and full-time contingent faculty each compare to tenured/tenure-track faculty in their level of organizational commitment at four-year institutions. Additionally, what institutional practices, particularly relating to recognition, support, compensation, and shared governance, predict organizational commitment among full- and part-time contingent faculty? While the findings are somewhat mixed, there is evidence to support the hypothesis of the study that institutional practices relating to recognition, support, and compensation build the organizational commitment of contingent faculty.  
  • No Thumbnail Available
    The Educational Purposes of Geometric Proof in the High School Curriculum
    (2005-11-09) Fussell, Karen; Karen Hollebrands, Committee Chair; Hollylynne Stohl Lee, Committee Member; Roger Woodard, Committee Member
    The purpose of this literature review is two fold. The first is to examine the types of geometric proof and their purpose within the classroom setting and secondly to examine the factors that influence students' understanding of proofs and their proof construction. The research focuses on three main types of proof 1) Proof for the development of proficiency, 2) proof for understanding, and 3) proof for exploration. In addition to these proof types the research focuses on three components that influence students' development and understanding of proof: 1) the role of technology in students' mastery of proof, 2) the role of curricula and teachers in students' mastery of proof, and 3) the role of the student in their own mastery of proof. Through an investigation into the types of proof and the beliefs and misconceptions of individuals who teacher, learn and write proofs, the author attempts to highlight the reasons for teaching geometric proof and the responsibilities of both teachers and students in the developing understanding in and through geometric proof.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Empirical Collision Model for Four-Lane Median Divided and Five-Lane with TWLTL Segments
    (2004-04-08) Phillips, Stacie Leigh; Joseph E. Hummer, Committee Chair; Roger Woodard, Committee Member; Nagui M. Rouphail, Committee Member
    There is a great debate between the use of raised median and two-way left turn lane (TWLTL) treatments on arterial roads. The raised median is generally believed to be the safer of the two treatments for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, while the TWLTL is considered more beneficial to businesses since it allows direct access to left-turning traffic from an arterial. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has been using studies conducted in other states as well as collision rates from case studies in North Carolina to make decisions in such matters. Studies conducted in other states, however, are generally not considered relevant to North Carolina drivers and the use of collision rates is criticized because they do not account for driveway densities or land use. This research was conducted to definitively determine which of these cross-sections is safer on North Carolina's highways and under what conditions. A random sample of 200 four-lane roads with raised median and five-lane roads with a TWLTL was visited and data were collected on the geometric, volume, land use, and collision characteristics of each site. Of these 200 sites, 143 were found to meet all necessary criteria and were used to calibrate and validate a collision model for each cross-section using Poisson regression procedures. The form of the collision models developed by Bonneson and McCoy were used since they were judged to give logical and consistent results. The final regression equations showed that the factors contributing to collisions on these two segment types were average daily traffic (ADT), length, predominant land use, and approach density. For predominantly residential and industrial land uses, the raised median design was found to be associated with fewer collisions than the TWLTL across all values of traffic volume and approach densities. The raised median design also has a safety advantage over the TWLTL for predominantly business or office land uses with low to medium approach densities (0-25 approaches per mile). For business and office land uses with medium to high approach densities (25-90 approaches per mile), the TWLTL appears to be safer at low traffic volumes and the raised median appears to be safer at high traffic volumes.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Teachers' Uses of a Learning Trajectory for Equipartitioning
    (2009-12-02) Wilson, Peter Holt II; Jere Confrey, Committee Chair; Karen Hollebrands, Committee Member; Allison McCulloch, Committee Member; Roger Woodard, Committee Member
    Recent work by some researchers has focused on synthesizing what is known about students' thinking of particular concepts. These syntheses elaborate core progressions called learning trajectories that articulate how thinking matures from informal ideas to increasingly complex understandings. Though useful at the level of curriculum, assessment, and standards development, it remains to be shown that learning trajectories can be incorporated into teachers’ practice and become a tool to understand students’ thinking, for planning instructional activities, for interacting with students during instruction, and for assessing students’ understandings. Further, the impact of such incorporation in the classroom on students’ learning is unknown. This design study investigated K-2 teachers’ uses of a learning trajectory for equipartitioning in instruction. Thirty-three teachers participated in 20 hours of professional development focused on a learning trajectory for equipartitioning and key instructional practices including clinical interviewing, task selection and adaptation, analysis of student work, and classroom interactions. A subset of the participants was observed teaching a lesson on equipartitioning and gains in students' learning were measured with pilot items for a diagnostic assessment system. Findings from the study indicate that the introduction of the learning trajectory assisted teachers to varying degrees in building more precise and adequate models of students’ thinking, identifying specifically what students need to learn next, deepening their own understandings of equipartitioning, and facilitating coherent instruction. These findings suggest that learning trajectories can act as a tool for coordinating (1) a student’s behaviors and verbalizations with cognition, (2) various models of thinking among groups of students, and (3) these models with instructional practices.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Value Analysis of Wi-Fi Agent Functions In Construction
    (2005-09-06) Lee, Jaeseok; Leonhard E. Bernold, Committee Chair; William J. Rasdorf, Committee Member; Roger Woodard, Committee Member; Robert E. Young, Committee Member
    By nature, construction is an information intensive industry. However, effective communication between process units, such as laborers, equipment, tools, and management is presently hampered as each is an 'island of information.' The goal of this research project was to investigate the effectiveness of Wi-Fi agent-mediated communication in construction. In order to test and validate key components of this concept, a prototype Wi-Fi agent network was installed and tested during the construction of a new Chilled Water Plant (hereafter called 'Cates') at NC State University campus. In a preliminary study, key elements of a multi-media Wi-Fi communication network were tested to learn about functionality and interoperability. With the knowledge gained, six Wi-Fi agent systems were designed and installed. They included: 1) Two 802.11b backbones, 2) weather sensing, 3) weather warning, 4) three video monitoring, 5) interpersonal audio/video, and 6) Web/FTP. All systems functioned in time for tests during the steel erection phase of the Cates Project. While a questionnaire survey was organized to gain insights into the industry's state-of-practice, five interdependent Wi-Fi enabled agent functions were selected for experimental testing and value assessment: 1) Crane alert, 2) ubiquitous site inspection, 3) ubiquitous problem solving, 4) ubiquitous sensing and data access, and 5) e-Document management. The successful field experiment demonstrated that Wi-Fi ubiquitous networks are technically feasible and able to link the 'islands of information' selected for this study. With the data collected during the field study phase, the value of the five Wi-Fi functions was evaluated. Valuable benefits were found to include: 1) lowered crane accident risks by employing the autonomous alert agent function, 2) reduction in cost/time for travel and on-site inspection enabled by the ubiquitous site inspection function, 3) increased worker safety due to 24/7 remote monitoring, 4) decreased work interruptions and RFI processing costs through the ubiquitous problem solving function, 5) automated equipment monitoring, data logging, and documentation with the ubiquitous sensing and data access function, and 6) elimination of cost and time associated with printing and distribution of blue print drawings and specification facilitated by the e-Document management function. The presented research project validates the functionality of Wi-Fi agent communication in construction. Field study results support the overarching premise that this information technology creates a multitude of opportunities to gain significant value through improved means of communication.