Veritati

Institutional Repository of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa

The Institutional Repository (Veritati) is a reference platform for those who want to access scientific production, as well as master's dissertations and doctoral theses, developed within the scope of the teaching and research activities of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP).

As part of the RCAAP project (Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal), it aims to preserve and disseminate scientific production, thus increasing its visibility and impact.

The Institutional Repository is also integrated into the UCP science management ecosystem, which includes, namely, the Ciência-UCP platform and the Scientific Journals of Universidade Católica Portuguesa portal

Universidade Católica Portuguesa Resources

Email repositorio@ucp.pt

Recent Submissions

The digitalized triathlon : how tech is transforming a popular sport

Publication . Fritsch, Melissa Maria; Rajsingh, Peter

This thesis examines how technology adoption is transforming digital triathlon experiences, focusing on behavioral drivers, adoption barriers, commercialization dynamics, and future expectations. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining 13 expert interviews with a survey of 257 triathletes. The Digital Sports Technology Adoption Model (D-STAM) was developed and empirically validated, integrating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2), and the Expectation-Confirmation Model (ECM). Adoption patterns varied across user segments: Performance Expectancy was a primary driver for both elite and recreational athletes, while Effort Expectancy and Facilitating Conditions significantly influenced only recreational users. Among coaches, Social Influence demonstrated a marginal effect. Across all segments, prior experience with digital tools predicted habitual usage. In the post-adoption phase, habitual use significantly influenced satisfaction, continued usage, and perceived return on investment, which subsequently increased openness to commercial platforms. However, satisfaction and continued engagement were negatively affected by technostress, data overload, and perceived misalignment between digital feedback and personal intuition. Recreational athletes reported greater sensitivity to these factors. While complexity and cost inhibited adoption, privacy concerns were minimal. Freemium access was broadly expected, and commercial receptiveness was more strongly associated with perceived value than with sponsorship appeal. Participants expressed demand for more intuitive, integrated, and actionable digital solutions, while expressing skepticism toward virtual racing as a credible competitive format. This research advances sport-specific technology adoption theory and offers practical insights for platform developers, endurance brands, and coaches aiming to foster sustainable digital engagement in triathlon.

2025-06-30Master thesis

Open access

Platform business models in motion : leveraging data network effects to balance international expansion and user retention

Publication . Triantafyllou, Artemios; Bohnsack, René; Marante, Cláudia

The rapid international growth of digital platforms has transformed how companies scale and retain users, yet it remains unclear how these businesses adapt across markets while maintaining user engagement. Existing research emphasizes platform internationalization and data strategies, but little is known about how business model adjustments and retention mechanisms interact globally. This thesis explores how platform business models evolve during international expansion and how data network effects support user retention. It draws on a qualitative approach combining nine expert interviews and 111 user survey responses, capturing both company and user perspectives. The findings reveal three key insights. First, successful internationalization combines modular technical infrastructure with local adaptation and partnerships. Second, data enables platforms to personalize experiences and anticipate user behavior, strengthening engagement and reducing churn. Third, business model-specific advantages (BMSAs), such as modularity, centralized analytics, and unified data systems, support growth that is scalable and responsive to local needs. The study proposes a cyclical framework that links internationalization strategies, data-driven personalization, and retention mechanisms as mutually reinforcing processes. This challenges traditional linear models of expansion and contributes to emerging theories of digital scalability and adaptation. In practical terms, this thesis offers platform managers actionable guidance on building adaptive business models and leveraging user data for sustained global competitiveness.

2025-06-30Master thesis

Open access

Reframing prevention : how influencers drive engagement among younger adults : an exploratory qualitative study on the strategic role of influencers in Germany’s §20 SGB V digital health programs

Publication . Kamm, Lars Johannes Paul; Almeida, Sílvia

This thesis investigates how social media influencers (SMIs) can be strategically embedded into certified digital preventive health courses under Germany’s §20 SGB V framework to increase adoption among younger adults aged 20 to 40. Despite a robust reimbursement infrastructure and the recent expansion to digital formats, participation within this demographic remains low4mainly due to persistent psychosocial barriers such as emotional disengagement and perceived irrelevance. Grounded in the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), source credibility theory, and parasocial interaction research, the study develops a conceptual framework that contrasts health-oriented influencers (who convey topical authority) with peer influencers (who foster relatability through co-learning). Each type activates distinct motivational mechanisms. To explore these dynamics empirically, four focus groups (N = 26) were conducted, using stimulus materials that systematically presented expert-only, health influencer, and peer influencer course formats. Thematic data were analyzed using structured qualitative content analysis (Mayring, 2015), combining deductive and inductive category development. Findings suggest that influencer-supported formats enhance perceived relevance, emotional accessibility, and motivational engagement4yet their effectiveness varies depending on participants’ level of involvement. Health influencers were more persuasive under conditions of high involvement, leveraging perceived expertise and credibility. Peer influencers proved particularly effective in low-involvement contexts, reducing psychological entry barriers through emotional resonance and co-learning dynamics. These results support an involvement-contingent interpretation of the ELM. This study contributes to the literature on influencer communication in behavioral interventions and provides practical guidance for public health actors and course providers seeking to modernize preventive health offerings for younger, digitally native audiences.

2025-07-10Master thesis

Open access

The impact of political, moral and commercial sponsorship controversies on fan trust, willingness to pay and word of mouth communication in German football clubs

Publication . Danne, Nico; Tavares, Pedro

This study examines how moral, political, and commercial sponsorship controversies influence important behavioral responses of fans in German professional football: fan trust, willingness to pay (WTP), and word-of-mouth communication (WOM). While sponsorship is an important tool for brand positioning and financial stability in modern sports, inappropriate or ethically questionable partnerships can trigger controversies, especially in a value-oriented environment such as German football. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines qualitative insights from 21 in-depth interviews with a scenario-based survey of 137 football fans of different age groups and fan levels. This study aims to close the gap in behavior-based fan reactions and present a way of differentiating between sponsorship controversies. The results show that political and commercial controversies have a significantly stronger negative impact on fan trust than moral controversies. Willingness to pay (WTP) was generally unaffected, but fans clearly rejected the purchase of fan merchandise when the sponsor's logo was prominently displayed. Word-of-mouth (WOM) was also most negatively affected by commercial controversies, especially among highly engaged and older fans. Furthermore, the effects varied depending on age and fan loyalty, highlighting different influences across fan segments.

2025-07-03Master thesis

Open access

From venture to market : financial performance of sustainable VC-backed firms in the U.S.

Publication . Brescia, Giulia; Shuwaikh, Fátima

Sustainable investment has seen a sharp increase in popularity in recent years, prompting concerns about its true financial viability. The performance of portfolios made up of sustainable (green) vs non-sustainable (non-green) firms is examined in this thesis, with an emphasis on young and innovative firms that are backed by VC. The study estimates alpha, or risk-adjusted performance, for both synthetic green and non-green portfolio built from publicly traded, former VC-backed companies using both unconditional and conditional versions of the Carhart (1997) four-factor model and the Fama-French (2015) five-factor model. According to the results, greens portfolios do not beat non-green portfolios statistically significantly, however they do somewhat exceed them in more complete models with simpler simplifications. Overall, sustainability does not appear to be either penalized or rewarded by financial markets over the observed period (202032024). However, it does affect the profile and characteristics of the target firms4an aspect that may be relevant to investors who consider not only financial returns but also the environmental and social impact of their investment decisions. Main contributions: • Focus on how VC-backed green and non-green companies performed after their IPO. • Application of both unconditional and conditional asset pricing models (Carhart, Fama-French) to estimate risk-adjusted performance. • Evidence of no significant green premium, which adds to the discussion of sustainable investing’s financial performance.

2025-06-25Master thesis

Embargoed access