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Here the Radboud University presents theses written by students affiliated with the various bachelor and master programmes offered at the Radboud University, as well as papers written by students of the Radboud Honours Academy.
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Item Mutual intelligibility between Dutch Sign Language and Flemish Sign Language: To what extent is there an effect of context, iconicity and lexical similarity?(2024-06-20)Mutual intelligibility has been widely studied for many spoken languages of different language families. For sign languages, however, there is still little research exploring this topic. It is argued that mutual intelligibility between sign languages should be considered separately from mutual intelligibility between spoken languages as additional factors are thought to play a role, an important factor being iconicity. In a study of the mutual intelligibility between Dutch Sign Language (NGT) and Flemish Sign Language (VGT), the intelligibility of NGT signs by VGT signers was tested by means of a lexical comprehension task which consisted of multiple choice items. Stimuli were selected to measure possible effects of three different variables: (1) sentence context, (2) iconicity of the signs, and (3) similarity to the VGT variants of the sign. As hypothesized, participants performed well above chance level on the test and main effects for all three independent variables were found. Based on the study’s findings, implications are discussed for Flemish deaf pupils living close to the border of the Netherlands and the question whether it is feasible for these pupils to attend classes at deaf schools in the Netherlands where NGT is use.Item On the efficacy of phonetic instruction in teaching French pronunciation: a case study of Dutch learners(2024-08-26)Diverse methods to teach phonetics to language learners have been elaborated and used throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. However, in Dutch schools, teaching pronunciation is not the main focus of French classes causing the students to experience increased language anxiety due to their foreign accent and to drop French after two years. This study aims to test the effect of specific phonetic training on the production and discrimination of French nasals and palatalized consonants. The results show that the training had a positive effects on both production and discrimination of both of the target phoentic contexts.Item EMBRACING THE FUTURE: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF GENERATIVE AI TECHNOLOGIES IN AUDITING AT PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS(2024-07-08)This thesis investigates the acceptance and utilization of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) technologies among auditors working at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the Netherlands. The study is based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). As GAI continues to evolve, it is critical to understand the factors that influence its acceptance in auditing. This study investigates the impact of auditors' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on their intentions to use GAI, as well as whether these intentions lead to actual usage. Ten semi-structured interviews with PwC auditors collected data, revealing a generally positive attitude towards GAI and their recognition of its potential to enhance efficiency and improve work processes. Nevertheless, the auditors' behavioral intentions and actual technology use were considerably affected by worries regarding the accuracy of GAI outputs and data security risks. The study also highlights the critical role of subjective norms and organizational culture, which have a considerable impact on auditors' intentions and usage patterns. Furthermore, perceived behavioral control, manifested through the availability of training and resources, emerged as a crucial factor affecting auditors’ confidence and capability to use GAI effectively. Although there is much enthusiasm, the implementation of GAI at PwC is hindered by obstacles such as regulatory challenges and a need for more structured support and training. This research contributes to a theoretical and practical understanding of technology adoption in professional settings, suggesting that improving support systems and addressing cultural and training-related barriers can promote the broader integration of innovative technologies such as GAI in auditing.Item Mapping the interplay of flexpertise and strategic renewal in a Dutch multinational software company using Group Model Building(2024-07-09)In existing literature, limited knowledge is gathered on the relationship of individual expertise renewal (flexpertise) in relation to the organizational level (Baard et al., 2014; Marand & Noe, 2017). This study combines the two research fields to visualize the relationship between flexpertise and strategic renewal of an organization. Group Model Building is used to identify the relationships, a cross-impact analysis and disconfirmatory interviews have provided a sound analysis of the constructed system dynamics model. The link between the two concepts happens through a new business loop and feeds back into the flexpertise loop. Especially, the perception of need or opportunity to adapt is recognised as an important variable in the model. Moreover, the variables expertise development and support for development were categorised as leverage points by the participants. This study implies that the two research fields are related, and with that practical implications are to develop targeted interventions towards expertise development and the support in development from an organizational standpoint. Moreover, cautiousness is required from the company as the behaviour from a company standpoint, read changing corporate vision and the gap between technology and expertise have an impact on the individual flexpertise process.Item Beyond Acquisitions: The Financial Impact of Strategic Corporate Alliance-to- Acquisitions(2024-06-28)Acquisitions are risky events and lead to high transaction costs, but they can be mitigated through establishing strategic alliances prior to the acquisition which lowers transaction costs. Acquisitions are measured by stock performance since it signals the shareholder’s expected synergies and future performance improvements due to the acquisition. This study explores the correlation of transaction value and acquisition strategy on the stock performance of the acquirer in high-tech industries. The sample consists of 252 firms and 3,121 acquisitions from 1990 to 2017. Findings indicate a negative average return per transaction. Neither transaction value nor acquisition strategy significantly affect stock performance. The study supports transaction cost theory by emphasizing the importance of minimizing transaction costs, leveraging strategic alliances, and challenging the opportunistic assumptions of alliance-to-acquisition strategies. The findings offer valuable insights for managers, researchers, and policymakers.
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