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Brands' reward-triggering visual cues, conceptualised in this research as hedonic visual brand cues, may be regarded as conditioned stimuli that trigger consumers' approach behaviour. Increasing research suggests that exposure to proximate rewards, such as rewarding visual cues, may activate impulsive buying. Nevertheless, additional research is needed to determine the nature of the causal entities at play when Generation Z is exposed to hedonic visual brand cues. As a result, this study aims to identify and explore the causal factors and mechanisms underlying the relationship between hedonic visual brand cues exposure and Generation Z's impulsive food buying. Focusing on the food domain, this project is the first comprehensive investigation of (a) the causal influence of hedonic visual brand cues on Generation Z's impulsive food buying and (b) the causal factors and generative mechanisms underpinning this relationship. Consistent with the tenets of critical realism, the methodology adopts a triangulated multi-method qualitative approach: participant observation of purchase behaviour; semi-structured interviews aided by photo elicitation and projective techniques; and online conversations via social media. The methodology has been designed to progressively deepen the holistic understanding of the studied phenomenon. The findings of this study suggest several theoretical and practical implications. Specifically, 28 causal factors and six causal mechanisms have been found capable of facilitating Generation Z's impulsive buying when food shopping. The findings propose (a) a conceptual framework that incorporates the causal factors and mechanisms influencing Generation Z's impulsive food buying and (b) practical implications to guide practitioners to maximise the effectiveness of brand strategies targeting Generation Z's impulsive food buying. Therefore, the insights gained from this study may be of assistance to academics and practitioners interested in understanding the antecedents of Generation Z's impulsive food buying.

Teachers have to cope with two main changes. Firstly, they have experienced global technological change and the introduction of new technologies into the education system. Secondly, they have to cope with a new generation of pupils (Generation Z). This thesis argues that these changes necessitate a change in the role of the teacher. This research examines how teachers react to these changes. The main research question is “How do teachers conceive their role when they teach Generation Z pupils in a technological learning environment?”. The research focuses on a case study of a school on the northern periphery of the State of Israel. The research focused on the teachers of the “computer notebook” classes. The school supplies every pupil and every teacher a standard personal laptop while the teachers have been integrating the technology and applications into their lessons for the last twenty years. The data was collected by means of questionnaires (20); personal interviews (24); observations (8); and an analysis of relevant documents. The research compares the category of the “traditional teacher” with that of the “technological teacher”. It finds that (a) teachers view the the two roles of traditional and technological teacher as distinct; (b) they recognise a wide variety of technological changes that influence the education system; and (c) they believe that the present pupil generation (Generation Z) requires a new approach to study in contrast with previous generations of pupils. The research shows that in response to the changes described above, the teachers have changed their perspective through the use of the new technologies and define their role in three dimensions (pedagogical, interpersonal, and technological) and indicate that there are 11 skills and abilities required for the technological teacher. However, the research also found that despite the extensive experience of the teachers in using the new technologies, there is no confidence in realising the full potential inherent in these tools. In particular, the opportunity for cooperative learning which is offered by online technologies is not always exploited efficiently. Moreover, the research found that the challenges and barriers in the application of the new pedagogy in the technological learning environment. The contribution of this research is both theoretical and practical. The theoretical contribution of the research is in the characterisation of the pedagogical, interpersonal and technological dimensions that constitute the role of the “technological teacher”. The practical contribution of the research is detailed in the series of recommendations made in relation to the development of schools and the training and continuing professional development of teachers.

This thesis explores how Generation Z’s boycotting behaviors and negative word-of-mouth tendencies are affected by a service failure and recovery within the live music event ticketing industry. Using a sample collected from the Ohio University Marketing Research Pool, I administered a survey from Qualtrics with the goal of answering the research questions, “What are Generation Z’s attitudes towards and tendencies to boycott within the event ticketing industry?”, and “Does an apology from the artist or ticketing company impact Generation Z’s attitudes towards boycotting?”. I presented them with a service failure and recovery scenario in which a ticketing company’s site crashed while they were trying to buy tickets to a concert for their favorite artist and each respondent received an apology from the artist, apology from the ticketing company, or no apology. Then the respondents were presented with questions related to their satisfaction, their willingness to boycott the artist, ticketing company or both, their viewpoint on boycotting the artist ticketing company or both, and their willingness to participate in negative word-of-mouth about the artist, ticketing company or both. Through a series of independent sample t-tests to determine how receiving an apology affected the way the respondents answered, the presence of an apology increased the respondents’ level of satisfaction. Additionally, an apology from the artist rather than the ticketing company resulted in higher levels of satisfaction. The final core finding was that related to the respondents’ viewpoint and likelihood to boycotting the artist, ticketing company or both, their likelihood to participate in negative word-of-mouth about the artist, ticketing company or both was unaffected by the presence of an apology. This research just begins to explore Generation Z’s boycotting behaviors and negative word-of-mouth tendencies within the live music event ticketing industry and leaves room for future research on the topic.

This study explores the perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) among Generation Z in relation to their political views. The objective of the study was to analyze how political alignment may influence Gen Z college students’ attitudes towards CSR initiatives and to identify the potential impacts this may have on their consumer behavior. Using a survey-based quantitative methodology, the research was conducted among undergraduates at Ohio University, focusing on their reactions to hypothetical companies engaged in CSR activities that aligned with either liberal or conservative causes. Results from 183 valid responses indicated a significant correlation between the political beliefs of respondents and their CSR perceptions. Specifically, liberal students exhibited a stronger preference for CSR activities associated with liberal causes, such as climate change, while conservative students showed greater support for causes like gun rights. Conservatives showed a similar level of support for climate change and gun rights. These preferences significantly influenced their perceived morality of the companies and their anticipated consumption behaviors with the company. The study concludes that political orientation is a crucial factor in shaping Generation Z’s perceptions of CSR, especially among those identify as liberal. The findings suggest that businesses should consider the political leanings of this Gen Z to effectively tailor their CSR strategies and enhance brand loyalty among consumers.

This thesis searches to find what the most influential factors on the development of political morals and motivations are for Generation Z students at Ohio University. In 2024, there are over forty states that have legislation in the process of becoming law, or already signed into law, that aim to restrict Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives or limit academic freedoms in some way. America is sorely lacking the research and literature on what is shaping the political mindsets of today’s youths; literature that is essential in protecting academic freedom. This research study utilizes a survey and quantitative analysis to discover if students at Ohio University believe that going to college is making this generation more liberal or if outside factors such as climate change and social media are more influential than traditional education. The findings of this study indicate that study participants do not believe that traditional education is the most influential factor in the development of their political ideology. They instead look to current events, social media, and friends to shape their ideals. Further, this study proves that students at Ohio University value diversity in thought and the opportunity to have complex meaningful discussions within the classroom and therefore they are not supportive of academically limiting legislation such as Ohio’s Senate Bill 83.

The purpose of this study was to address TikTok’s role in the comparative behaviors among Generation Z females. This study specifically evaluated the communication of society’s perception of beauty standards and how it resonates with and influences TikTok users. A qualitative approach was taken to gain a better understanding of the lived experiences of participants and fill the gap in qualitative media effects research. The research question being addressed was: How has TikTok influenced society's idea of physical beauty and body image concerns among Generation Z females? Through the lens of social comparison theory, the research found that the application TikTok itself plays a reinforcement role in communicating physical beauty standards and creates more opportunities for upward comparisons and therefore negative body image concerns among Generation Z females. Findings also show that content surrounding the physicality of an individual, like fitness and fashion content, leads to more upward comparisons and therefore negative body image concerns. Additional findings also include the positive mental health effects of TikTok and user lifestyle comparisons.

After the 2023 U. S. Supreme Court ruling that diluted President John F. Kennedy’s Executive Order Number 10925, commonly known as Affirmative Action, this research proposes viable strategies that could afford African American society solutions to re-educate its youth to advance future generations toward an educational and cultural evolution. Evolution suggests a systematic process toward improvement that takes time, strategy, effort, and resources. America’s founding fathers brought Africans to the United States to build an economic empire. While Florida Governor Ron DeSantis puts forth that enslavement was a form of apprenticeship where enslaved persons trained for lucrative careers, a more critical review of American history dictates otherwise. Enslavement stripped Africans of everything –their identity, dignity, the ability to make decisions concerning their lives and families, and the ability to profit from their brain power, business acumen, and labor. Enslaved persons worked for centuries, often from sunrise to sunset, without compensation. Owners of enslaved persons profited from that labor, enriching their families, their posterity, and the nation. Since efforts for reparations are stalled, evaluating the proficiency of African American society to mitigate centuries of oppression independently becomes the focus of this study. The researcher seeks to identify, enumerate, and validate the intelligence of African Americans in recovering their divine, social, and intellectual authority. Adopting the philosophy that “no one is coming to save us” can promote self-sufficiency, self-respect, and a re-directed focus toward mental, emotional, and economic empowerment. Today, African Americans have educated citizens and contextual intellect concerning the inner workings of America’s systems. This research reimagines how African Americans can defeat racism and overcome generational poverty.

Generation Z personnel are entering the workplace in monumental numbers. As this understudied population enters the work domain, the business environment will continuously struggle to adapt to their new perceptions, motifs, and thought processes. When these new workers enter the workforce, many will inevitably enter the leisure and hospitality industry. This specific industry has the highest turnover rate in America (Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2022). To further the understanding of retention, this study was structured to explore the predictive weight of perceived organizational support (POS) and job embeddedness (JE) on turnover intention, to assess which construct was the stronger predictor. Answering a call for future research, the sample was derived from Generation Z employees (participants aged 18 to 25) who have worked or are working in the leisure and hospitality sector for at least 6 months and did not hold a supervisory role. 68 participants filled out an online survey containing three psychological measurements (POS, JE, turnover intention scale) that were posted in preapproved social media groups. A multiple linear regression analysis was employed and revealed that POS is the only predictor of turnover intention among Generation Z employees working in the American leisure and hospitality industry. Implications and direction for future research are discussed.

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to illuminate, understand, and describe the meaning of the lived experiences of Gen Z new graduate registered nurses (NGRNs) transitioning directly into the ICU in their first position as registered nurses. Duchscher’s stages of transitional theory and the Strauss-Howe generational theory provided this study’s theoretical framework, focusing on the Gen Z NGRN transition into practice. This study answered the following central research question: What is the lived experience of Gen Z NGRNs transitioning into the ICU work environment employed in their first position as registered nurses? Data were collected for this study through one-on-one interviews with Gen Z NGRNs describing their experiences transitioning into the ICU. The data were analyzed and coded, and themes were generated following Moustakas’s modified phenomenological data analysis method to reveal the essence of the participants’ lived experiences. Incorporating Moustakas’ data analysis method, seven themes were revealed from the participants’ interviews. The seven themes from the data analysis included mental health, team support, new graduate strengths, obstacles, academic preparation, building a foundation, and desire to work in the ICU. Findings from this study may provide healthcare organizations with new information on designing and adapting onboarding and orientation practices explicitly tailored to the Gen Z NGRN transitioning into practice, improving satisfaction and retention and positively impacting staff shortages.

Generation Z, also known as “Gen Z”, has grown up with a negative viewpoint on Christian apparel due to outdated and overused designs. As a result, today’s youth do not express their faith through their clothes, causing a lack of potential evangelism. Generation Z makes up nearly half of the global population, and their unique qualities are vital to furthering the kingdom of God. Self-image is an integral part of this generation, and by giving them the means to express themselves through trendy Christian streetwear, they will not only take pride in representing Jesus but also evangelize to their Generation Z peers in an unexpected way. This thesis will analyze how Generation Z youth react to Christian apparel and how attractive designs will pique the interest of both Christian and non-Christian individuals. It will also examine how to better market to this unique demographic and encourage self-expression and representation in Christian youth circles, ultimately sharing the gospel. This problem will be solved by researching effective business models with similar clothing brands. Research has also been done on Generation Z consumers, apparel design, garments, modeling, and more to collect accurate information to help with this thesis project. With the completion of the research, a literature review was written, and three case studies and visual analyses were conducted to collect vital information that fits within this concept. A content analysis was also performed in addition to apparel prototypes to better understand and display this topic. Because of this research, an effective Christian streetwear brand was created that piques the interest of Gen Z youth, enabling them to use it as a means of evangelism and representation. As for deliverables, a brand identity was created for the apparel company, a social media marketing campaign was launched, and a photoshoot was held with models to display the products created. Through these deliverables, Christian Gen Z youth will be able to express themselves and share their faith through apparel that they are proud to wear.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is one of the top fast casual restaurant chains in the United States. The brand is popular among a growing base of Gen Z consumers. One of Chipotle’s defining characteristics throughout its marketing materials is an emphasis on sustainable ingredients and responsibly-raised meat. However, Chipotle has also drawn criticism from the agricultural community for its depictions of conventional agriculture. As a result, it is of interest to understand how Chipotle’s use of visual storytelling may shape its corporate reputation among a Gen Z audience with both agricultural and non-agricultural backgrounds. The study focused on two examples of Chipotle’s visual storytelling: the 2011 short film A Future Begins and the 2021 short film Back to the Start. A conceptual lens was implemented to illustrate the effect of visual storytelling on the three facets of corporate reputation—personality, identity, and image. Gen Z college students at The Ohio State University were recruited to participate in focus groups where they watched both short films and discussed their perceptions of Chipotle as a corporation. A total of 13 students participated in the focus groups, with two focus groups comprising agricultural majors and two focus groups comprising non-agricultural majors. Focus group transcripts were analyzed with the assistance of MAXQDA 2022, and emergent themes about participants’ perceptions of both short film and impacts and Chipotle’s corporate reputation were recorded. The study found that neither agriculturaliiinor non-agricultural participants were particularly moved by Chipotle’s visual storytelling in either short film. However, non-agricultural participants had more positive views of Chipotle sustainability and animal welfare messaging, while agricultural participants had negative views of Chipotle’s depiction of conventional agriculture. All participants felt that the short films could have been improved by the use of real visuals/stories, statistics, and/or shorter form content. These results indicate that corporate communicators should be mindful of the content they are creating for Gen Z audiences with both agricultural and non-agricultural backgrounds. Future research should focus on illustrating the differences between agricultural and non-agricultural Gen Z consumers, as well as what content is most effective for building relationships with both groups.

Individuals are exposed to viral fashion trends daily on social media channels like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram. This study focuses specifically on Generation Z (Gen Z) and their purchase intentions regarding viral fashion trends on the popular social media channel TikTok. This study aims to better understand how the virality of a video on TikTok impacts the purchase intention of Generation Z(Gen Z) through examining parasocial interaction, perceived expertise, and trustworthiness of the content creator. A viral and nonviral video posted by two different influencers of the same gender/ethnicity was delivered to participants, followed by a survey regarding the participants' purchase intention guided by the influencer's trustworthiness, perceived expertise, and parasocial interaction with the audience. Approximately 421 Gen Z students at a large Midwest university were given a 26-question survey through the online platform, Qualtrics. The results are expected to not only identify the current questions surrounding Gen Z's purchase intentions based on trustworthiness, perceived expertise, and parasocial interaction with viral fashion trends viewed on TikTok but The results will also suggest a possible strategy or strategies to create viral marketing content that is critical for marketers to reach large audiences and build brand awareness.

In 1972, the Jesus movement’s proliferation brought on the professionalization of student ministry into Southern Baptist churches. Over the last 50 years, the U.S. population has increased by 110 million, yet student ministry baptisms in the Southern Baptist Convention continue to decline. Despite recent efforts by The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee to reverse the downward trend of student ministry baptisms (ages 12–17), the phenomenon persists. The public profession of baptism remains as a strong indicator that an individual has been effectively reached with the Gospel. Operating under this premise that increased baptisms indicate effectiveness in student ministry, the researcher used the 2019 – 2020 Annual Church Profile to interview Thriving student ministries in the Southeast Region of the Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia. Thriving was identified as a student ministry with a top ten baptizing ratio. The researcher conducted nine in depth semistructured interviews with other thriving student ministers in the Southeast Region of the SBCV and discovered perceived best practices thriving student ministries are implementing to reach students more effectively. Common obstacles for connecting with Generation Z included: biblical illiteracy, technological distraction, and inauthentic examples. Effective strategies for reaching Generation Z included: teaching biblical truth, authentic connection, discipleship groups, and family partnership. Best practices for increasing Generation Z student baptisms included: gospel clarity, creating opportunities, intentional environments, diligent follow-up, and public celebration.

Gratitude has been associated with religious traditions and studied among several scholars over time. It has gained recognition among organizations due to its associations with positive work outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to see if gratitude had a positive relationship with employee well-being and organization citizenship behavior (OCB) and to look for differences in the constructs among three generational cohorts: Generation Z, millennials, and Generation X. Data collected through an online survey using self-reported measures (n=731) were analyzed using the Pearson’s correlation and Kruskal-Wallis Tests. Completed surveys by cohort were Generation X (239), millennials (298), and Generation Z (194). The Pearson’s correlation test did show a positive relationship between gratitude and OCB and gratitude and employee well-being. The Kruskal-Wallis Test showed differences among the generational cohorts for gratitude and OCB but did not show differences among the generational cohorts and employee well-being. Organizations can benefit from practical implications of this study such as awareness of gratitude intervention programs that may positively impact gratitude among employees.

The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to equip students within The Next Generation Ministry at Christ Community Church Pinehurst with social media as a tool for discipleship. The academic literature reviewed reveals that social media introduces significant levels of influence, causes addictive habits, and often results in overconsumption of content. To determine if these aspects could be overcome, an intervention was developed to train and equip a group of thirteen participants to avoid those traits and instead use social media as a tool for discipleship. The research shows that it is possible for social media to be used to create inspiring faith-based content, practice godly influence, develop personally, evangelize, and mentor other Christians. This research admonishes the church to utilize the gift of content creation that Generation Z holds to be utilized to advance the church’s mission. The boundaries developed in this project also allowed members of Generation Z to break free from the addictive stronghold that social media holds in their lives. This project shows how essential it is that the church empower, equip, and train Generation Z to live as authentic digital disciples online.

This study aimed to investigate the news consumption habits of Gen-Z college students and how social media affects their news consumption. The research employed quantitative methods to analyze data gathered from a survey of 499 college students. The study found that trustworthiness significantly impacted news sharing. Women trusted national and global news sources more than men. Social media was a popular source for news consumption among participants, but those who do not trust the news were more likely to fact-check news seen on social media. Trust in news sources was found to influence the platforms used for news sharing. The study's mixed-methods approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the research topic and highlights the importance of trustworthiness in news sources and its impact on news sharing. The results of this study can contribute to improving news and media literacy among college students and promote informed and engaged citizenship in society.

The entrance of Millennials into the workforce has sparked the interest of many researchers in understanding what this generation values within the workplace, how to attract them to jobs and organizations, and how to retain their employment. This unique generation, who has been characterized as one of the most high-maintenance within the workforce, prone to job-hopping, and highly educated, has made it clear that their perspective on work is much different from generations before them. Work-life balance, specifically, has been a determining factor for Millennials when choosing a job and deciding how long to stay there. This study seeks to better understand how Millennials experience, perceive, and are affected by issues of work-life balance, compared to other generations. Using a sample of 421 participants from four generations (Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z) in a survey study, comparisons were made for the levels of work-life balance and the perceived importance of work-life balance. Additionally, the relationship between work-life balance and the psychological well-being of Millennials was explored. A Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman's Correlation were used to analyze the data. Findings suggest that there is a statistically significant difference in work-life balance and the perceived importance of work-life balance of Millennials, compared to other generations. It was also found that work-life balance and psychological well-being are positively correlated for the millennial generation. This study contributes in deepening the theoretical understanding of Millennials’ experience and perception of work-life balance, and what that means for the workforce as a whole. Implications for practice and recommendations are also provided in order to help organizations better support not only millennial employees but other generations of employees as well.

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceived influence that Generation Z had upon the revitalization of a church following its in-person decline as a result of the coronavirus in 2020 (Barna, 2020; Braddy, 2021; Earls, 2020). The theory that guided this study was based on research conducted by Lifeway Research, Pew Research, and Barna Group Research concerning Generation Z and based upon the book, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church…And Rethinking Faith, by David Kinnaman of Barna Research. The theories proposed within the books, Essential Church? Reclaiming a Generation of Dropouts by Rainer and Rainer and Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches That Reach Them by Stetzer, Stanley, and Hayes were also used as a basis for this study. These resources adhered to the belief that the church has continued to lose a vital resource as it has continued to lose Generation Z, its young adults, especially ages between 18 and 22. The methodology used to conduct this study was in-depth interviews (Wengraf, 2006) with the participants within their natural church setting (Creswell & Creswell, 2018) or through the use of Zoom. The information obtained from these interviews was analyzed and coded (Saldana, 2021; Vanover, et al., 2022) to search for themes and commonalities among the participants in the study. Because the leadership within a church setting usually determined the direction that the organization would go (Bredfeldt, 2006; DePree, 2004), the pastors and/or the youth pastors within each of the churches used in the study were also interviewed as to their perceptions of the influence that Generation Z had upon the revitalization of the church.

It is an alarming but indisputable fact that the vast majority of Generation Z, specifically those between ages 18 and 25, are not attending and/or not interested in the faith or beliefs of the American Protestant Church today. Studies show that the Western Christian church is losing touch with an entire generation and that reality is the driving force behind this research project. We know from research conducted for this Doctoral Project, as well as from multiple academic and sociological studies that members of Generation Z are often interested in spirituality but are either ignorant or highly skeptical of organized religion. Along with the culturally preconceived idea that the Christian Church is narrow-minded, outdated, and intolerant, this poses a significant problem for faith leaders attempting to reach Generation Z. While formulating this Doctoral Project, I asked: “How can faith leaders connect with this generation in a relevant, viable, and appealing way, which could result in healthy relationships and, ultimately, point young adults to Jesus?" "Could the Church model Jesus in such a way that young adults become curious about faith and relationship in Jesus?” “If so, how and where?” I will present the idea, proven by data and testing, that the creation of a third space model (named “The Loft”) in which entertaining, interactive, and enlightening activities that appeal to Generation Z are regularly hosted in a neutral, non-threatening environment with a focus on building relationships could be a place where the Holy Spirit could use these authentic relationships to change lives and lead participants to Jesus ultimately.

Changes to the way work is performed over the past several decades due to economic recessions, unstable job markets, and global turmoil facilitated by COVID-19 call for research into the way today’s young adults idealize, evaluate, and select careers. Informed by the theory of vocational anticipatory socialization, this study surveyed university students through a series of open- and closed-ended questions to investigate how they think about “making a living”. This project also explores the career frameworks young adults use to evaluate potential careers, compares them to the ability, enjoyment, and goal frameworks identified by Jahn and Myers (2014), and takes a step towards validating a career frameworks scale. Content analysis of open-ended responses indicate that compensation, work-life balance, making a difference in society, company or workplace culture, stability, and continuous learning opportunity are common motivating factors in career or job selection. Content analysis also identified ability, enjoyment, goal-identity, and goal-lifestyle frameworks informing young adults’ career pursuits, which differed in form and frequency from Jahn and Myers (2014) original work. Confirmatory factor analysis did not confirm predicted components, but exploratory factor analysis revealed emergent factors. Several theoretical and practical implications are discussed as well as limitations and suggestions for future research.

As Generation Z becomes the newest generation to enter adulthood, it is valuable to understand their thought processes and communication patterns. Individuals of Generation Z are known to be digital natives, as they were born into a world of technology with the internet at their fingertips. Understanding Generation Z's use of memes is an area where little research has been done so far. The purpose of this study was to determine how Generation Z interprets and communicates with memes on the internet and social media platforms. Unlike previous research, this study analyzed the participants' perceptions, which further contributes to an understanding of this generation. This study used the Speech Act Theory to analyze how Generation Z interprets the visual portion of a meme and what Generation Z communicates through memes. This qualitative research study interviewed 16 members of Generation Z in which they created three memes from a provided template and explained their creative process. Findings indicate that Generation Z views memes as symbolic images and uses them to share concepts about themselves, recent experiences, or relatable events that occur in everyday life in a humorous way.

Echo’s Calling is a screenplay written with the intention to relate to modern teenagers and young adults (Generation Z) and teach them the Christian values of forgiveness, love, and acceptance. According to research, Generation Z relates to post-apocalyptic narratives because they feel as if they are currently living in the apocalypse. Their dismal worldview is perpetuated by negative news, “cancel culture,” and the media. Despite all this, Generation Z strives for a better future free from hate. In order to produce such a future, the Christian values of forgiveness, love, and acceptance need to be relatable and teachable to Generation Z. Therefore, through cultural artifacts like the post-apocalyptic screenplays, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Warm Bodies, and A Quiet Place, teenagers and young adults can relate to and learn from their inherent Christian values. Artifacts and stories like the aforementioned screenplays are vital models and guidebooks for young generations to create a successful positive future.

This research quantifies the mediating effects of consumer satisfaction on the social responsibility dimensions of philanthropy, economics, environmental, ethical, and legal regarding the behavioral outcomes of consumer loyalty while developing a new model (small business social responsibility, SBSR) to measure these effects. The purpose of current study is to provide a contemporary perspective of the influence of organizational social responsibility strategy on consumer behavior regarding three specific characteristics: enterprise size (small business), population demographic (Generation Z), and type of industry (restaurant industry). The questionnaire was developed, modified, and designed to measure the mediating effects of consumer satisfaction on SBSR initiatives and the behavioral outcomes of consumer loyalty. Data were collected from January 15 to March 15, 2022. The sample for this study consisted of 233 students from a large public university in the southwestern United States. The study found social responsibility initiatives do impact consumer behaviors, although not all the initiatives studied had a significant effect on consumer satisfaction and ultimately on consume loyalty. Environmental initiatives had the strongest significance levels on both consumer satisfaction and consumer loyalty. Conversely, the initiatives of economics and legal had no significant influence of both consumer satisfaction and consumer loyalty. The study gave evidence that managers should expect higher consumer behavior levels if they invest in social responsibility intiatives, especially environmental initiatives. As well, the study developed a model for future research which can measure and identify the social responsibility initiatives which small businesses can utilize to influence consumer behaviors.

"Motivating Generation Z: A Study of the Unique Learning Styles of a Generation" explores what it means to be a student in today's K-12 classroom. The study dives into the research around Gen Z's particular learning styles. Their lives have been uniquely shaped by technology. They're Digital Natives in the truest sense of the title. This study looks at how society and culture have affected those learning styles, and in what ways teachers can present material to meet those needs. They're immersed in technology in a way that changes how they view and interact with the world around them. It's only natural that their education experience would be affected as well. Using a case study format, the study follows John and his experience and interest with three different assignment types, amid the unprecedented COVID distance learning period designed with my research about Gen Z in mind. The findings provide some resolution and open the door for future analysis. Each pedagogical choice created room for an interesting discussion.

Generation Z has grown up in a digital environment where their physical world is often merged with their digital world. Research has found that students often blindly accept social media terms and agreements because they feel they have no choice. Therefore, many students are often lacking in knowledge regarding privacy protection behavior on social media platforms. Some scholars argue that this creates a privacy paradox, while others argue it elicits privacy fatigue. In addition, there is little centralized regulation for online privacy, and privacy agreements vary by social media platform. The purpose of this study was to explore the variables of privacy fatigue, privacy concern, privacy control, and privacy management and their impact on Generation Z college students’ behavior within the framework of communication privacy management theory. A quantitative research method with a 7-point Likert-type survey was used to assess the attitudes of Generation Z college students between the ages of 18-25. The results found that privacy control and privacy concern were predictors of privacy fatigue. When students feel less control over their personal information online, their level of privacy fatigue increases. This study has theoretical implications within communication privacy management theory. The study also has practical implications for organizations and social media platforms that seek to encourage communication and interaction within their websites and apps.

Generation Z is the newest cohort to be introduced in the generational cycle and has earned the attention of marketers, researchers, and the general public alike. While individuals and members of other generations have been quick to stereotype and assign labels to members of Generation Z, little research has been done to see if such labels are accurate. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to discover whether generational labels can accurately communicate the characteristics of individuals within Generation Z. This study used Henri Tajfel's and John Turner’s Social Identity Theory to examine how group membership defines self-identity in terms of a generation and its members. In order to assess the accuracy of stereotypes for Generation Z, 14 members of Gen Z, ages 16–24, from across the United States were interviewed. Using a survey of existing literature and results from the 14 interviews conducted, the researcher concluded that prevailing stereotypes for Generation Z are accurate, yet members of Gen Z still question the effectiveness of such generational labels.

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explore the leadership preparedness and biblical worldview of Generation Z (Gen Z) Christian ministry leaders to inform the formation of a theoretical model for ongoing leadership development. Participants (N=7) were paid senior ministry leaders of Assembly of God churches in the Midwest region who were involved in the hiring process and ongoing development of paid Gen Z ministry leaders. Additional participants included ministry leaders who fell within the defined years of the Generation Z cohort (1995-2010) and who had been employed by the church for a minimum of six months (N=10). Data were collected through observations and both structured and unstructured interviews. Data analysis was conducted by using the Strauss and Corbin (2015) data analysis protocol. The model generated from this study utilized the Hrivnak, Jr. et al. (2009) theoretical framework for leadership development as a starting point for targeting key development needs specific to Gen Z ministry leaders. The model reflects the important components of ongoing leadership development that were expressed by participants as needing additional growth. These areas included spiritual formation, leadership skills, interpersonal skills, and organizational skills. Research showed that Gen Z leaders primarily manifested unpreparedness for leadership through spiritual stagnation, struggles in navigating the human aspects of the job, and failure to capture the big picture of the church as an interconnected and living organism. This new model for ongoing Gen Z leadership development suggests important implications and applications for stakeholders committed to investing in their ongoing development.

The continent of Europe, once a center of spiritual renewal and missionary mobilization, has now become a gospel desert. The need for church planting is acute. The means to address this need is partly through the deployment of church planting teams, yet there is a dearth of both European and expatriate missionary young adults ready to take up this charge. Generation Z entrepreneurs must be successfully engaged and recruited to meet the need for pioneering career church planters among the least reached peoples of Europe. The key insights discovered regarding recruitment of Generation Z to missionary careers come from the field of social psychology, and research related to group identity theory. Analyzing Generation Z group characteristics gives insight into the role of in-group affiliation to reinforce individual identity and self-esteem, which in turn erects barriers against effective recruitment. The challenge for mission-sending organizations will be to improve their ability to adequately address the values, felt needs, and fears of emerging generations that sufficiently helps them mitigate the risk associated with a commitment to engage in full-time missionary work. This project was crafted as a prototype tool to help address this challenge. The 835 Weekend is designed as a highly relational, invitation-only, and reproduceable recruiting weekend for thirty entrepreneurially spirited Generation Z young adults at a time, to interact with key mission agency leaders. It is structured to help orient participants toward a career in European missions through quality time spent in a relationally warm and aesthetically pleasing venue, engaging in mutual and authentic storytelling, while giving space for young adults to explore key questions, address fears, and experience impactful moments of engagement with the Holy Spirit.

The need that is addressed through this project portfolio is the recognition that there is a lack of space for intergenerational relationships and conversations around spirituality and the Christian faith to occur between older generations and Generation Z specifically. As we look at the church today, we are seeing many different gaps occurring between generations, these two in particular. The focus of this project portfolio is to address this problem of the generational gaps within the church in hopes of creating long-lasting intergenerational relationships. The problem is addressed by gathering individuals from different generations and taking them through a sixmonth program in which they will study about different aspects of the Christian faith and where we see these generational gaps occurring. The goal is to gather these individuals together to have conversations with one another so they might have a deeper understanding and appreciation for one another. The program will include online, in-person, and retreat aspects. The purpose of each of these aspects is for the individuals from Generation Z as well as older generations to feel comfortable within different platforms. With each of the portions, the individuals will have the chance to interact with one another on a weekly basis to help foster deeper connections with one another. The program will culminate in a final, day-long retreat. This program will be run through a coffee shop ministry as well as a church setting. Individuals need to have a desire to develop relationships with Generation Z/older generations and have a relationship with Christ.

This thesis studies the effects of greenwashing in the fashion industry on the Generation Z cohort. It aims to understand the behaviors, motivations, attitudes, and processes behind their clothing shopping habits, including external and internal factors. It seeks to broaden the discussion around greenwashing in the 21st century, especially in the current age where firms are being evaluated on their Environmental, Social, and Governance practices. Therefore, it includes an extensive research background, including a brief history of greenwashing as a marketing tactic, the fashion industry, a study of clothing supply chains, and finally background information on Generation Z and their generational characteristics.This, as well as the small research study conducted at Boston College, all inform the conclusions of this study.

Work values influence job choice and satisfaction (Pataki-Bittó & Kapusy, 2021). Workplace hazards can lead to physical or mental harm (Cabeças, 2015). This study investigated generation Z’s perception of workplace hazards and how safety relates to intrinsic, extrinsic, social, and career work values. The effects of past workplace accidents and safety training were investigated. This study was done through a survey distributed to Ohio University students through Qualtrics. It targeted generation Z students who have recently or will soon graduate and intend to work in an office environment. Each work value was rated as “very important” or “extremely important” overall. When forced to rank, extrinsic values ranked most important, while safety ranked least important. Ergonomic hazards were believed to be the most encountered. Protection from environmental hazards was seen as mostly the employer’s responsibility, while the responsibility of hazard protection was expected to be shared equally between employee and employer for all other hazards. Prior safety training did not seem to affect any responses, while workplace accident history affected the responses for some work values, and how responsible employers should be for ergonomic hazards. Limitations of this research include the sample size (32), skewed gender populations, and focus on a single occupation. Further research in this field will be important to understanding the wants and needs of this generation in any workplace.

Twenty first century youth have never known a world without the Internet. From childhood they are increasingly reliant on the Internet for their sense of connectivity, play, communication, and socialization. These habits that are formed at a young age are rewiring children’s brains in a negative light. Psychological effects such as narcissism, escapism, instant gratification, and social comparison have become common issues that the current generation faces every day. This thesis will examine how increased dependency on social media and the Internet affects Generation Z and beyond. To better understand how media is affecting childhood and beyond, research was conducted through a series of research questions: 1. How has the digital age impacted childhood? 2. What is internet addiction? 3. What are the psychological effects of internet addiction? 4. What is narcissism? 5. What is escapism? 6. What is instant gratification? 7. How is social comparison becoming a problem? 8. How has Gen Z been affected? After completing this research, a literature review was conducted in addition to a visual analyses and content analyses. Based off of the research conducted, a visual solution was created in order to educate Generation Z about the dangers of media usage from a young age. The thesis visual deliverable created was a multifaceted brand campaign including posters, environmental graphics, narrative literature, website, and social media graphics. Through these outlets, Generation Z will have a greater understanding of the dangers of relying on media while also equipping them with new ways to create change and better habits with the screen.

The state of a social movement is characterized by the stages through which it progresses. The environmentalism movement began hundreds of years ago when humans first noticed how significantly their actions influenced the nature around them. The movement advanced with the arrival of the industrial era and modern society. According to Stewart et al. (2012), there are five main stages through which a social movement proceeds: genesis, social unrest, enthusiastic mobilization, maintenance, and termination. Today, environmentalism is in the maintenance stage, as determined by the current organizational structure of the movement. The objective of this study was to determine how environmental organizations such as the Natural Resources Defense Council can target the values of Generation Z. By doing so, the organization can recruit Gen Z supporters to keep the movement in the maintenance stage long-term, avoiding termination. The researcher distributed a survey to a group of students at a large private university on the east coast. Participants were asked to answer nine multiple-choice questions and one open-ended question. These responses gave the researcher insight into the values of Gen Z and how the NRDC can focus on these to effectively recruit Gen Z supporters through social media tactics and organizational changes. These findings can be practically applied to other organizations and groups hoping to capture the attention and loyalty of Gen Z.

The youth of today, especially Generation Z, lack the ability to think critically. An area that seems to be especially difficult for Generation Z to critically evaluate is visual media. This is an issue because visual media has an influential hold (both emotionally and mentally) over this generation and is a key factor in swaying the opinions and behaviors of these young minds. Visual media is a powerful tool that. should continue to be used by future generations, but with the knowledge that there will always be potentially negative influences, and more importantly, ways to identify and defend against them. This thesis is designed to explore a possible method to combat this lack of critical thinking in a visual manner by creating a beginner’s guide to evaluating visual media. The most important question to answer was how exactly visual media is used to mentally and emotionally influence people. Initial research investigated four areas of influence that exist in nearly all visual media: color theory, symbolism, literature influence, and emotion. Literature reviews explored each of these areas in greater detail. Next, case studies reviewed other similar projects and how they tackled similar issues in a visual way. Then, content analysis was used to dig deeper into the four areas of interest: color theory, symbolism, literature influence, and emotions. Finally, concept mapping and image boards were used to begin testing and establishing the best ways to tackle the visual deliverables. In light of this research, it was determined that the deliverables would consist of five illustrations infused with color theory, symbolism, literature influence, and emotion, as well as four illustrated charts explaining the basics of each influential category, so the viewer can engage with the project.

Scholars have attributed gains in gender equality in society to the growing liberalization of gender role attitudes and increased support for gender equality among adults and youth. Very little is known about the youngest generation of adolescents and young adults, or Generation Z. This paper examines the links between adolescents’ individual characteristics such as gender, age, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, parental and household characteristics, and their attitudes about gender equality. I analyzed data from a nationally representative survey of 10- to 19-year-olds. I develop scales to operationalize two dimensions of gender attitudes: (1) a normative dimension (i.e., should women and men be treated equally?), and (2) an empirical dimension (i.e., to what extent are women and men treated equally?). I then used multiple regression techniques to estimate the relationships between these attitudes and adolescents’ gender identities, age, racial/ethnic identities, sexual orientation, characteristics of the respondents’ parents or guardians, and household gender climate indicators. Overall, the most important finding is that there are very few strong predictors for the normative scale compared to the empirical scale. This means that while the respondents don’t significantly vary on beliefs about whether there should be gender equality, respondents who are cisgender girls, transgender or non-binary (other gender), Black, or older tend to perceive more gender inequality. To a lesser extent, this is true of Hispanic respondents and LGBQ respondents. Future research should focus on the empirical component of gender attitudes that were included in the present analysis as well as continue to observe the patterns that this unique generation exhibits in the future.

In a time of unprecedented ecological turmoil, the need to recycle more materials is ever-present. Recycling is a misunderstood activity, therefore, an underutilized opportunity due to confusion among its users. However, it is a proven tool that aids residents and consumers by reducing their negative environmental impact.This research aims to understand why and where Generation Z residents living in the City of Cincinnati & Hamilton County, Ohio have difficulty in correctly recycling materials. The research also investigates ways to support and empower proper residential recycling habits through education by creating campaigns and tools exclusively for the adult Generation Z's preferred learning methods. This investigation provides a comprehensive analysis of existing recycling problems and solutions as well as proposes educational tools to further develop residential recycling within the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio. Employing user-centered design methodologies, this research focuses on the needs of the user by involving them throughout the design processes. This is done by using a mixture of iterative and generative methods to create a highly and accessible product. It explores novel approaches for specifically designing for the Generation Z demographic within waste management and recycling.

This research study sought to explore and provide deeper understanding of how Generation Z, the newest, youngest workforce generation, is influencing intergenerational project team dynamics and is best engaged toward successful performance. To provide insight to this inquiry and fill an existing gap in the academic and professional literature surrounding Generation Z, a qualitative, single-site case study research method and design was selected. Accordingly, the researcher conducted interviews containing semi-structured, open-ended questions based on the literature’s prevailing components of team dynamics and engagement with seven Generation Z project professionals and ten project professionals representing older generations who currently serve on teams with Generation Z members at a global technology organization located in the southeastern United States. Together these 17 project team professionals provided a holistic, insightful account of how this youngest generation of professionals is impacting intergenerational project team dynamics and is best motivated and engaged. Accordingly, participant interview responses revealed 11 salient themes that provided deeper understanding of the business problem guiding this inquiry. Findings are particularly applicable to the field of project management, which is heavily comprised of project teams working together to accomplish strategic deliverables for business organizations and their customers. Furthermore, these findings help provide insight to strategic business organizations and leaders to effectively develop this next generation of professionals as they increasingly represent their employee population.

Rates of anxiety are at its highest point in the late Millennial and early Gen-Z population, prompting a rise in mental health awareness. For those practicing the Christian faith, it can be difficult to follow Apostle Paul’s simple command to “not be anxious” (Philippians 4:6). This thesis will conduct a targeted literature review of music and group-counseling-based therapy, as both have proven to positively affect anxiety and stress symptoms. Combining these two methodologies with worship lifestyle principles and counseling exercises, a church-modeled devotional study will be created to encourage believers to cling to faith in God despite rising anxiety. The objective is to provide local churches with materials that can guide individuals through practical steps to worship God amidst anxiety.

Today, North American churches have great opportunities and face unique challenges in fulfilling their mandate to make disciples. This DMIN thesis discusses the issue of how to more effectively evangelize the Millennial generation and Generation Z in a postmodern context. The purpose of this thesis is to address the need for church leaders to utilize a specialized evangelism training program to equip Christians to evangelize to non-believers across generational lines. The focus of this project is to implement the Cross-generational Evangelism Training (C-GET) Program at a ministry that has a low representation of Millennials and Generation Z. This Program will endeavor to refine the members’ theological vision — the lens through which they see and engage with the world — by increasing their generational intelligence. The Program is comprised of three phases. In the first phase, Get Ready, participants will self-administer an entrance questionnaire assessing evangelistic views and practices. In the second stage, Get Set, participants attend eight evangelism teaching sessions. In the third stage, Go, participants firstly self-administer an exit questionnaire; secondly, engage in a four-week fieldwork assignment; and thirdly, self-administer a reflection questionnaire. Data collected from the questionnaires and the participant discussions is analyzed with the four-step process to increase generational intelligence outlined by Biggs and Lowenstein. Findings are presented, along with a discussion of the changes made and sustained during the three-month process. The analysis shows that the C-GET Program has successfully increased the participants’ level of generational intelligence, with participants reporting more confidence in cross-generational evangelism.

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the academic experiences of 11 male Generation Z born between 1995-2012 and describe their undergraduate collegiate experiences by exploring their thoughts and perceptions. The central question is: What are the academic experiences of male undergraduate Generation Z college students? Intrinsic and extrinsic factors are sinuous in the lives of Generation Z males; therefore, sub-questions investigated the views of participants regarding the implications of generational shifts, motivations, societal trends, and technology within higher education. Purposive, criterion, and snowball sampling were used to select 11 participants. The educational theories of constructivism, sociocultural, and self-determination guided this study in understanding current generations in the college environment. A qualitative phenomenology model was used in data collection through the compilation of interviews, focus groups, and writing prompts to gain depth of understanding of perspectives. Data analysis was conducted using transcendental phenomenological approach through epoche', reduction, imaginative variation, and meaning synthesizing. Systematic coding, triangulation, and description were employed. The study attempted to discover psychological phenomenology which is focused on the description of the essence of Northern Virginia male college experience. Effective examination was required to extract the data essential to create curriculum to meet this evolving need.

This dissertation seeks to provide a solution to the declining Evangelical influence in the United States, particularly among Generation Z. The rise in number of those who do not subscribe to a particular religion (“nones”) has doubled in the last five years even amidst a steady church attendance and participation in religious activities. The popular Evangelical evaluation of this problem includes the idea that the cause is a lack or an insufficient amount of theology taught and learned. The popular response has been to increase theological knowledge churches and other places of learning. I am proposing, however, given the post-modern structures and commitments in our culture, that exclusive cognitivist solutions no longer work and something else must take its place. Research shows that theory and practice are both essential pedagogical tools for learning. This general principle is true and applicable, not only in secular settings, but in sacred settings as well. So, to inculcate a strong, flourishing, and God-honoring faith, Christian leaders must commit to deploying this theory-practice pedagogy aimed at Generation Z who happen to already be predisposed to accepting it.

This study looks at Stark County, Ohio—a national political bellwether—through the conduction of a survey at all six of its institutions of higher education, enabling the study of the gender gap and women’s generational gap in a college-educated atmosphere. A total of 864 respondents among students, staff, and faculty gave responses that were used to analyze political party affiliation, political ideology, and attitudes toward public policies. While women were far more likely to identify as Democrats, chi-square and independent samples t-tests indicate that women only support more liberal pro-women policies and government program expansion; men and women has similar attitudes toward both economic and social inclusion policies. Women over 25 held more liberal attitudes toward pro-women and social inclusive policies than college-age women, but the two groups answered similarly on government programs and economic inclusion.

Student affairs is a field compromised of employees representing several generations, each of which has different experiences, preferences, and expectations for the workplace. With these differences comes the potential for misaligned expectations between colleagues and supervisors. Employers need to consider how to understand these differing workplace expectations in order to reasonably manage expectations while balancing the needs of all employees, regardless of generational status. The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics and expectations of Generation Z student affairs employees, understand their experiences as student affairs employees, and examine how those characteristics, expectations, and experiences compare with those of their non-Generation Z colleagues. Generation Z includes individuals born between 1995 and 2010. This general inductive qualitative study was situated at a mid-sized, public university and participants were student affairs professionals currently employed at the institution. Ten participants completed two semi-structured interviews intended to better understand the individual experiences of employees of different generations in the workplace. Participants ranged in age from 23 to 66 years old and represented Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers. The following themes emerged from the study: Generation Z employees are seeking to balance their individualism with clear expectations. Generation Z, Millennial, and Generation X employees would all prefer to see increased opportunities for professional development throughout their career. Employees of all four represented generations are willing to learn from employees of other generations and to share their own experiences and expertise with their colleagues. There are several implications for practice, including the need for supervisors within student affairs to be prepared to explain the reasoning for policies and expectations as younger employees seek to be individuals in the workplace. Comprehensive onboarding and tailored professional development plans will also become necessary for all staff. Finally, allowing staff to share and learn from one another can help to create a cohesive workplace that is inclusive of all generations.

RESEARCH QUESTION: How can motion graphic design communicate ethical messages to raise the awareness of plastic waste pollution among Generation Z in Vietnam? ABSTRACT: Motion Graphic practice has since the early 1970’s been harnessed to relate pressing and complex environmental issues to regional populations to effect positive change within communities. Since then, as the need for this type of visual communication is ongoing, motion graphics has been increasing in the acceleration of understanding of humancentered environmental impacts. However, recently the impact of mass communication has become less predictable as the mechanisms of Motion Graphic broadcast have shifted away from large screens and synchronous consumption. The need for new ways to engage with younger audiences is clear and potential is evident in the recent implementation of viewer-as-broadcaster as enabled by web 2.0 and social media mechanisms in general. These formats are seen as the new wave of mass communication as these mechanisms have established a new definition of the term ‘viral’ and created significant and disruptive communication impacts with the introduction of the concept of the influencer as a (comparatively) new market-to and communicationfor connoisseur. What ethical motion design now requires is to understand, harness, and apply these social media-centric mechanisms to enable an aspect of social innovation to further social action for the environmental common good. This reserach project focuses on how Motion graphics’ in creative practice can produce “viral” motion videos to deliver an ethical message to the young generation.

King David declared that one generation should proclaim the goodness of the Lord to another, yet what David writes of cannot take place in an age-segregated setting. Multiple generations must be present. Much progress has been made regarding the church’s acknowledgment of the significance of an intergenerational worship (IGW) model. Though each generation is precious to God and created in His image, IGW holds considerable benefits for churched youth, as it is one of the few places in society where youth can intentionally connect with older generations. Despite the importance of youth engagement in IGW, there is a limited amount of research concerning the benefits of an IGW model for the youth of the church, and even less literature pertaining to the specific factors that may contribute to a lack of youth buy-in regarding an IGW paradigm. Therefore, this qualitative historical study will show that the benefits for youth related to a practice of IGW involve opportunities for mentorship, meaningful relationships, intentional training in worship and liturgical leadership, and connection with the entire church body. Additionally, this project will demonstrate that youth who consistently engage in IGW are more likely to stay in church as young adults because they understand the benefits of intergenerationality. Finally, this study will examine factors that may contribute to lack of buy-in among youth toward an IGW model, including an unbalanced approach in planning liturgical elements, as well as youth being denied a place of service and being underrepresented in the planning and leadership process.

Traditional lecture models follow a heavily teacher-centric approach where professors talk for a lengthy duration of time and students only listen. This methodology is not as effective anymore. The current Generation Z have grown up with a dependence of technology, who have a distinctive learning style and manner of perceiving information. This is because K-12 education has evolved and is using a more interactive approach. Gamification has become popular in the education sector due to the conviction that it provides enhanced learning outcomes and builds motivation for students. This case study investigates gamification principles applied in an undergraduate lecture environment to increase learning retention, participation and enjoyment. There is an argument for the use of gamification teaching methods that transform traditional lecture structures from passive learning environments into active, engaging experiences. A user-centered design course offered at a large Midwestern university follows a traditional lecture format and, for the purpose of this study, gamification strategies were introduced and evaluated for their impact on student engagement in the course. 150 students were part of the study and data was collected through surveys and group interviews. The results suggest that gamification is an essential part of improving the education system, especially in the lecture environment. It is important to create an environment where students are included in the teaching and learning process. However, since gamification is new and emerging, professors are still unclear on how to implement this system and need guidance. As much as gamification is about improving students’ learning experience, it is important to consider the professor’s perspective and knowledge of the theory since learning is a two-way communication. The professor should be provided with a gamification toolkit which has guidelines on how and when to effectively use gamified tools. The researcher has designed a toolkit which can be used by professors. More research is needed to provide a clearer picture of how and when engagement occurs in the gamified activities and if the engagement varies by subject matter, depth of students’ previous knowledge, or other factors.

The fashion industry is driven by the consumer. The introduction of Generation Z to the retail marketplace brings a unique set of consumer preferences and expectations that must be met to ensure a brand’s success with this soon-to-be largest living generation. Retail is undergoing a major evolution and research is essential to determine the “how”; how retail is changing and how retailers can adapt for the future. Learning the customer is an essential part of this process.Very few studies have directly asked Generation Z shoppers what they want from the retail environment. Moreover, none were identified that specifically asked fashion students—our future industry professionals—what they want to see from fashion retailers. To address this gap, these representatives of the cohort were specifically chosen for this study because of their curricular focus and first-hand experience in the retail and fashion industry. The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive view of what these educated consumers value most in the customer experience, the advantages and drawbacks of brick-and-mortar retail shopping today and changes they wish to see in the future. Findings of this research will inform initiatives related to technology, products, services and the customer experience that fashion retailers should adopt to meet evolving customer needs and ensure success long-term. Overall, the results supported the literature and added to understanding that Generation Z is not a homogeneous group when it comes to shopping behavior and preferences. The entire fate of retail is based on how well brands can adapt to the changing face of its customer.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the preferred learning styles among undergraduate interior design students of Generation Z. The Gregorc Style Delineator, a self-report instrument to determine learning style, was administered to 500 undergraduate interior design students enrolled in 14 Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) programs located across the United States. This wide range of data collection will help identify key demographic characteristics of the current interior design students in the United States. The findings indicated that interior design students have diverse learning styles. It is also particularly notable that a majority of the participants were bimodal 55% (n=258; 55%). The most common learning styles found among interior design students was the combination Concrete Random/Abstract Random second-most-common learning style was the unimodal Concrete Sequential. This study further investigated the relationship between the learning styles of interior design students and their gender identities. Interestingly the analysis did not find any dependent relationships between unimodal style and bimodal style however there was a marginally significant relationship between the participants’ AR/CR and CS dominant learning styles and their gender identities. Additionally, the study investigated the relationship between the learning styles of interior design students and their academic performance as measured by GPA, lecture and studio course grades. The findings provide relatively weak evidence of a link between learning styles and academic performance. Overall the results from this study can be used to help evaluate and design the best methods to facilitating instruction that supports students learning preferences and the appropriate types of technology to enhance learning outcomes.

This study examines the impact that the rebranding of Dunkin' Donuts to Dunkin' has on brand perception, specifically in Generation Z and Millennials through the lens of social identity theory. Factors studied include visual brand identification, brand loyalty, purchasing habits, and perception of brand equity. Forty-four (N=44) students participated in four focus groups looking at these variables. The findings showed that social identification with Dunkin' is formed through personal brand experience, although participants were resistant to self-categorization with Dunkin'. The findings also demonstrated that social identification decreased slightly through the visual rebranding, but did not create any reported impact on purchasing habits. It was also reported that the level of social identification was based off of perception of brand value and quality. Finally, participants demonstrated that there was an impact on social comparison through participants questioning Dunkin's values as an organization. Given that the sample was all Millennial and Generation Z consumers, this study also determined that company values are important to these cohorts. It also suggested that perceived modernization of a brand can positively impact brand equity, and that communication of rebranding changes to the public are an important step of a successful rebrand. Practical implications of this research are also discussed.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS: As per the identified aim and objectives of this research study, the following research questions are formulated:  What is the profile of Generation Z based on an Auckland, New Zealand sample population?  What is the level of work engagement of Generation Z and Generation Y based on an Auckland, New Zealand sample population?  What is the level of vigor, dedication and absorption of Generation Z and Generation Y based on an Auckland, New Zealand sample population?  Are some of the known profile characteristics of Generation Z true or false in an Auckland, New Zealand context? ABSTRACT: A new workforce (Generation Z born between 1995 and after) has started to enter the workforce which is going to increase their presence in the workplace with each passing year. There is a need to know what this generation prefers, needs and expects from their workplace. Their outlook towards the work-related aspects is also very important. An individual’s characteristics can influence his/her approach towards his/her work and the workplace. This can get reflected in their levels of work engagement. Though it is not always possible to delve deeper into the characteristics of each employee in the workplace on a regular basis, a need is to at least determine these aspects at the generational cohort level. This can help organizations and HR practitioners in formulating new workplace policies and in reviewing the current ones. This research study is attempting to identify the profile characteristics of Generation Z and their work engagement levels in Auckland, New Zealand. Though this research study is predominantly focusing on Generation Z, it is considered to compare work engagement of Generation Z (new generation) with work engagement of Generation Y (previous generation born between 1980 and 1994) as the latter is going to be in the workplace for many more years, they are relatively experienced and are not very far away from Generation Z in terms of age gap. A quantitative methodology approach is adopted to embark on a scientific enquiry. Both parametric and non-parametric statistical methods are used in understanding the data and for the hypothesis testing. Help is taken from descriptive and inferential statistical methods to analyse the data. Two separate questionnaires are used for the data collection. One questionnaire is used to determine the profile of Generation Z in Auckland and the other one i.e. Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) is used to determine the levels of work engagement of both generations. The data is collected by using self-reported questionnaires. The effect sizes and the confidence interval levels have also been computed to obtain practical relevance of the findings. Further, the analysis is extended to the gender level to find any significant statistical difference between the gender groups of both generations. The result findings allowed a deeper discussion by reviewing these findings in light of the literature. This deeper investigation and discussion further provided an opportunity to make far-reaching recommendations which can help organizations, HR practitioners, managers, the community, individuals and the government. It is recommended that job security, autonomy, person-job fit and situational leadership style or path-goal leadership theory be adopted as availability of these can help in improving employee motivation, competence, commitment and satisfaction levels and thereby employee’s work engagement levels. In addition to matching of an individual’s skills, knowledge and abilities, matching an individual’s values with the values of a job is very important. Match development levels (competence and commitment) of employees and corresponding style of leadership behaviour (directive and/or supportive). Alternatively, select directive, supportive, participative and achievement oriented leadership behaviours that are best suited to employees’ needs, characteristics and the work setting. This research study highlighted Generation Z characteristics and work engagement levels of Generation Z and Generation Y and thereby assists organizations and managers to favourably adjust to the changing age structure of the workforce.