DePaul University

About: DePaul University is a education organization based out in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 5658 authors who have published 11562 publications receiving 295257 citations.

A confirmation perspective on perceived service quality

Abstract: Purpose – The paper seeks to provide a theoretical and empirical investigation of the relationship between consumer expectations and consumer perceptions of service quality.Design/methodology/approach – The theory of cognitive reference points, adaptation‐level theory, and assimilation‐contrast theory are used to formulate hypotheses concerning the relationships between perceived service quality, consumer expectations, and perceptions. These hypotheses were empirically investigated through an experiment that manipulated expectations and perceptions while measuring perceived service quality.Findings – The principal finding is that consumer expectations are positive predictors of perceived service quality (i.e. higher expectations lead to higher perceptions of quality). Another finding is that the relationship between expectations and perceived service quality is much stronger than prior literature suggests.Practical implications – The practical implication of this study is that practitioners should seek to...

Coping patterns of African American adolescents: a confirmatory factor analysis and cluster analysis of the Children's Coping Strategies Checklist.

Abstract: The current study examined patterns of coping strategies in a sample of 497 low-income urban African American adolescents (mean age = 12.61 years). Results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the 4-factor structure of the Children's Coping Strategies Checklist (T. S. Ayers, I. N. Sandler, S. G. West, & M. W. Roosa, 1996) was not replicated in the current sample. The final model was a 3-factor model that was invariant across gender. The Active Coping factor and Revised Avoidant Coping factor were highly correlated in the present sample. Results of cluster analyses identified 2 coping groups differing on the frequency of coping use and preferred coping methods. The 1st group was more likely to use avoidant coping and less likely to use social support-seeking coping than the 2nd group, which showed more consistent use across coping strategies. There were no significant differences in the association between stressors and symptoms across the 2 groups. The results highlight the importance of examining factor structures of coping measures with underrepresented groups.

Urban Elementary School Teachers' Perspectives Regarding Collaborative Teaching Practices

Abstract: Collaborative teaching has grown in popularity as students with disabilities have been increasingly moved to general education classrooms. Despite the growth of these models, little empirical evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of these practices. In this investigation, general and special education teachers (N = 118) from 20 urban elementary schools were surveyed regarding their perceptions of collaborative teaching. The survey instrument elicited teacher perceptions about collaboration, their views regarding inclusion, and what is needed to ensure effective collaborative teaching. Findings indicate that 92% of respondents thought that collaboration was occurring in their school but that only 57% reported use of the practices in their own classrooms. Respondents valued inclusive practices, although special educators had more positive perceptions than did general educators. The interpersonal and structural factors valued by these teachers included team processes, positive attitudes, resources, pro...

Towards Automated Requirements Triage

Abstract: Budgetary restrictions and time-to-market deadlines often require stakeholders to prioritize requirements and decide which ones to include in a given product release. Lack of an effective prioritization and triage process can lead to problems such as missed deadlines, disorganized development efforts, and late discovery of architecturally significant requirements. Existing prioritization techniques do not provide sufficient automation for large projects with hundreds of stakeholders and thousands of potentially conflicting requests and requirements. This paper therefore proposes an approach for automating a significant part of the prioritization process. The proposed method utilizes a probabilistic traceability model combined with a standard hierarchical clustering algorithm to cluster incoming stakeholder requests into hierarchical feature sets. Additional cross-cutting clusters are then generated to represent factors such as architecturally significant requirements or impacted business goals. Prioritization decisions are initially made at the feature level and then more critical requirements are promoted according to their relationships with the identified cross-cutting concerns. The approach is illustrated and evaluated through a case study applied to the requirements of the ice breaker system.

On the Nature of Self-Monitoring Relationships with Adjustment and Identity

Abstract: In this article we attempt to ascertain the nature of the relationship between self-monitoring and each of two constructs of central importance to personality psychology: identity and adjustment. Previous empirical and theoretical work leaves the relationship between internal and external sources of identity and self-monitoring unclear. Snyder (1979) suggests no correlation exists between self-monitoring and neuroticism (a leading index of maladjustment). Yet, by building on previous work by Block (1961), we argue that adjustment should be related to self-monitoring in an inverted-U fashion. In a study of 268 under graduates, personal sources of identity did not discriminate between high and low self-monitors. On the other hand, social sources of identity were significantly associated with self-monitoring scores. Also found, as predicted, was a curvilinear relationship between self-monitoring and adjustment. A three-way interaction between identity sources and self-monitoring was also significantly associ...