Masters Dissertations

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The Masters Dissertations collection contains digital copies of AUT University masters dissertations deposited with the Library since 2007 and made available open access. From 2007 onwards, all dissertations for masters degrees awarded are required to be deposited in Tuwhera Open Theses & Dissertations unless subject to an embargo.

Dissertations submitted prior to 2007 are usually recorded in the AUT Library catalogue where the full text, if available, may be accessed with an AUT password. Other people should request an Interlibrary Loan through their library.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 1138
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    The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Initiatives on Employee Engagement: An Integrative Review
    (Auckland University of Technology, 2024) Desai, Foram
    This review synthesises and evaluates two decades of empirical research on mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) and general mindfulness in the workplace environment to reveal key insights into its relationship with employee engagement. To offer an understanding of MBIs and how they impact employee engagement to inform research and practice, 25 peer-reviewed empirical journal articles are reviewed. The results are organised into an integrated framework showing direct relationships between MBI, general mindfulness, and employee engagement, and indirect relationships through mediator variables. The findings reveal that existing research on MBI and mindfulness is disproportionally focused on employee well-being-related outcomes and performance-related outcomes other than employee engagement – despite evidence that MBI and mindfulness could crucially impact how engaged employees are with their work tasks. Overall, MBI and mindfulness have direct and indirect relationships with employee engagement. Although developed for the workplace context, the proposed integrated framework can be applied to a range of industries and professions.
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    Current Practice and Future Directions for Menstrual Health Education in Menstruating Adolescents
    (Auckland University of Technology, 2024) Scott, Nicole
    There is a growing concern that menstrual health education is not comprehensively addressed in New Zealand schools. The implementation of health education programmes is greatly varied across schools, and this makes it challenging to bring about changes or improvements in the education on menstrual health issues. Recent studies (Armento et al., 2022; Ciccia, Doyle, Huseth-Zosel & Seco-Turner, 2022; Zonjić et al., 2021) have shown that there is a need for new strategies and guidance for adolescent menstruators to better understand their bodies. By providing more comprehensive and holistic menstrual health education, menstruating adolescents can be well-informed about their health and seek guidance whenever necessary. This study aimed to identify what adolescents need to learn about menstrual health and the gaps in providing effective menstrual health education (MHE). Using a qualitative case study design, data was collected using individual semi-structured interviews with three Health and PE teachers (HPE) and one semi-structured focus group with five senior students. Critical theory was employed to understand power imbalances and oppressive structures within education. Additionally, the theory, mana wāhine, was used as a lens to shine a light on the students’ voices to whakamana (empower) their menstruating bodies and their shared experiences. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, which generated two major themes and ten sub-themes. The findings have demonstrated that menstrual cycles continue to be a subject of shame and stigma in modern society. The problem is rooted in the social and cultural influences that shape the way adolescents and society perceive bodies. In their quest to conform to societal pressures, adolescents make choices that can harm their menstrual health. However, there is a significant opportunity to educate menstruating adolescents about the power and importance of good menstrual health. Specifically, incorporating te ao Māori understandings of menstruation could help to eliminate the shame and stigma associated with menstruation. Further research on menstrual health education in schools has the potential to provide a deeper understanding of the current state of menstrual health education and how it could be improved.
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    Analysis of Credit Default Swaps Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Crisis
    (Auckland University of Technology, 2024) Dave, Jagat
    In this dissertation, we studied the movement of CDS sector indices due to variables like commodity index and economic policy uncertainty index. We also tested the impact of structural model variables like equity and interest rates on CDS sector indices. The data sample spans seven years, from January 2017 to December 2023, including before, during, and after the COVID-19 period. Panel data regressions were analysed across 10 CDS sector indices sourced from Refinitiv. The regressions of banking, non-bank financials, manufacturing, service, and sovereign CDS sector indices had positive and statistically significant EPU coefficients for the whole sample period. The commodity index (CRB index) had no statistically significant relationship with CDS sector indices except for the energy, power, and transportation sectors. Crude oil predicts banking, energy, and sovereign CDS sectors better than the CRB index. VIX coefficients were positive with considerable magnitude during COVID-19, and overall, VIX had a statistically significant positive association with CDS for the whole sample period. An exception is a negative association between VIX and CDS before and after COVID-19. VIX is a dominant uncertainty parameter during COVID-19. At the same time, EPU is a more stable indicator of uncertainty’s impact on CDS since EPU positively impacts CDS for the entire sample period and sub-periods. The findings of our study confirm that CDS sector indices are negatively associated with the European equity index for the whole sample period and sub-periods. The impact of the US equity index on CDS sector indices differs for sub-periods; there is a positive relationship during the COVID-19 period. In contrast, there is a negative relationship before and after the COVID-19 period. The US 5-year treasury yield positively impacted CDS sector indices, an aberration from a theoretical understanding of structural models. Our research substantiates previous research reports findings that an increase in EPU increases CDS spread, and we can investigate the relationship between EPU subindices and credit markets. We have used the oil ETF and CRB index to analyze commodity markets’ impact on CDS at the global level and all ten sectors of the economy, while in the past, researchers have analyzed specific sectors only.
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    Vanity Sizing and Gen Z Chinese Female Consumers
    (Auckland University of Technology, 2024) Liu, Xinyao
    Over an extended period, females across different nations have faced significant aesthetic pressures regarding weight reduction. In recent years, discussions surrounding petite-sized attire have gained popularity among Chinese young women, consequently prompting increased concern amongst females regarding alignment between their body image and garment size for showcasing an ideal physique. Vanity sizing refers to by increasing clothing sizes but keeping label sizes the same. Clothing retailers and manufacturers in China intentionally exploit the non-standardization of clothing sizes prevalent in the industry to create vanity sizes that cater to consumers' psychological needs. This research sought answers to four research questions. Are young Chinese females buying smaller clothes sizes instead of clothes they like because of their self-image? How much have social media and advertising contributed to young Chinese women's consumption of small-size clothing and shaped fashion trends? Do males dictate fashion trends targeted at young Chinese women? And does the emphasis on smaller clothing size have adverse effects on the well-being of young Chinese women? An online survey of 120 Chinese women aged 18-29 years, was undertaken with the sample gathered by the Dynata research company. Rating scale questions were employed to cover issues of vanity sizing, body image and social expectations. One quarter of respondents deliberately choose a smaller clothing size than their preferred garment. More than one-quarter associated smaller size garments with feminine attractiveness. 40% believe the thinness aesthetic in society influences their choice of clothing size. 30% believe they are influenced by social media and advertising to buy small sizes of clothing, and 37% compared their body image with celebrities and influencers. A notable proportion of respondents (22.5%) reported often experiencing instances of receiving comments on their attire from male leaders, colleagues, or classmates in their daily lives. One-quarter of respondents have experienced judgements or criticism of the body image and one-quarter have felt significant pressure regarding body image. 40% felt the pressure to wear small size clothes impacted their happiness and self-esteem significantly or extremely. Hence, this dissertation explored the implications of these findings for the well-being of Chinese female consumers and explained the academic implications in depth.
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    Towards a Model of Customer Satisfaction in the Digital Era: A Systematic Literature Review of the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Customer Satisfaction
    (Auckland University of Technology, 2024) Ha Ngoc, Khuong
    My research explores the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities on customer satisfaction. A systematic literature review methodology was conducted to achieve this research's objective by analysing 70 carefully selected journal articles in the marketing domain. By synthesising the findings from relevant, qualified peer-reviewed journal articles, the study synthesises a comprehensive understanding of AI's impact on service interactions and customer experience. My data analysis reveals five themes associated with AI and customer satisfaction: AI system quality, AI anthropomorphism, AI communication quality, AI competency, and customer trust. Following the themes of AI and customer satisfaction identified from the data analysis, I propose a conceptual framework integrating AI and customer satisfaction themes with AI business value (automation and augmentation) and AI customer experiences (data capture, classification, delegation, and social experience). The framework provides a foundation for understanding the relationship between customer satisfaction factors and the interplay of current AI capability. My research makes a notable theoretical contribution by addressing the need for a holistic view of AI and customer satisfaction, establishing clear definitions of AI functions, and integrating insights from diverse fields. Practical implications include providing managers with a multi-dimensional understanding of AI-driven customer satisfaction and a roadmap for aligning AI initiatives with customer experience priorities. Future research directions involve empirically validating the proposed framework, exploring human-AI collaboration effects, and refining the AI-customer-experience (AI-CX) model proposed herein. The study's limitations include potential omissions of relevant research and the need for further validation of the AI-CX components.
Dissertations are protected by the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). The dissertation may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use:
  • Any use you make of these documents or images must be for research or private study purposes only, and you may not make them available to any other person.
  • Authors control the copyright of their dissertation. You will recognise the author’s right to be identified as the author of the dissertation, and due acknowledgement will be made to the author where appropriate.
  • You will obtain the author’s permission before publishing any material from the dissertation.