Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Paper preferences'

Thesis (M. Tech. (Graphic Design)) -- Central University of Technology, free State, 2010<br>Good package design entails employing appropriate yet attractive graphic attributes such as colour, typography and images with which the consumer can engage. Even the name of a colour plays a considerable part in the success of a new product or brand. Consumers use graphic attributes to associate different products with different income groups, to infer the weight of products and even use it as an indicator of the perceived change in temperature resulting from the use of certain products. Consumers develop colour preferences based on associations they have formed through experience which are influenced by factors such as age, gender, culture and demographics. Colour may also affect consumers’ respond to a product and may even have an effect on their emotional state. In order for consumers to involve themselves with store brands more readily, packaging has to be updated constantly to keep packaging fresh and exciting. A shopping bag, transformed with graphic attributes into a designer shopping bag, can, just as good packaging often does, contribute to the art and science of selling a product or promoting a brand. Consumers prefer designer paper shopping bags with attractive appearances and showed a willingness to even pay for the paper bags. This study determined if consumers will actually purchase a designer paper shopping bag as opposed to just indicate a willingness to do so. Semistructured interviews with 100 subjects provived insight into consumers’ perception of the designer paper shopping bag sold at a store selling higher priced items. Designer paper shopping bags were offered to consumers for sale. Two retail stores in Bloemfontein, South Africa, participated in the study. Consumers could choose whether to buy a designer paper shopping bag or to make use of the plastic bags provided by each of the stores. Consumers prefered to rather purchase a designer paper shopping bag sold at a well-known store, selling branded, higher priced items than purchase one from a store that sells lower priced items of which the brand names are unknown to them. Consumers are more likely to pay for a designer paper shopping bag when the amount spent by them in store is relatively high. It is recommended to introduce new packaging items via marketing strategies such as “buy one get one free” and to not test a new packaging item during a recession as consumers then tend to spend less than usual. Interviewees agree that the colour scheme of the designer paper shopping bag used in the study associate well with the clothes and accessories sold in the store. Subjects suggested a few general ideas, but agree that the illustrations used on the paper shopping bag are appropriate. The majority of the interviewees state that they can read all the typography easily and that they will feel confident when carrying the designer paper shopping bag.

In this multiple-case study, I developed cases describing three students' (Mary, Ryan and David) solution methods for algebra word problems and investigated the effect of technology on their solution methods by making inferences about their preferences for visual or nonvisual solutions. Furthermore, I examined the students' solution methods when presented with virtual physical representations of the situations described in the problems and attempted to explain the effect of those representations on students' thinking preferences. In this study, the use of technology referred to the use of the dynamic software program Geogebra. Suwarsono's (1982) Mathematical Processing Instrument (MPI) was administered to determine their preferences for visual and nonvisual thinking. During the interviews, students were presented with paper-and-pencil-based tasks (PBTs), Geogebra-based tasks (GBTs) and Geogebra-based tasks with virtual physical representations (GBT-VPRs). Each category included 10 algebra word problems, with similar problems across categories. (i.e., PBT 9, GBT 9 and GBT-VPR 9 were similar). By investigating students' methods of solution and their use of representations in solving those tasks, I compared and contrasted their preferences for visual and nonvisual methods when solving problems with and without technology. The comparison between their solutions of PBTs and GBTs revealed how dynamic software influenced their method of solution. Regardless of students' preferences for visual and nonvisual solutions, with the use of dynamic software students employed more visual methods when presented with GBTs. When visual methods were as accessible and easy to use as nonvisual methods, students preferred to use them, thus demonstrating that they possessed a more complete knowledge of problem-solving with dynamic software than their work on the PBTs.; Nowadays, we can construct virtual physical representations of the problems in technology environments that will help students explore the relationships and look for patterns that can be used to solve the problem. Unlike GBTs, GBT-VPRs did not influence students' preferences for visual or nonvisual methods. Students continued to rely on methods that they preferred since their preferences for visual or nonvisual solutions regarding GBT-PRs were similar to their solution preferences for the problems on MPI that was administered to them to determine their preferences for visual or nonvisual methods. Mary, whose MPI score suggested that she preferred to solve mathematics problems using nonvisual methods, solved GBT-VPRs with nonvisual methods. Ryan, whose MPI score suggested that he preferred to solve mathematics problems using visual methods, solved GBT-VPRs with visual methods. David, whose MPI score suggested that he preferred to solve mathematics problems using both visual and nonvisual methods, solved GBT-VPRs with both visual and nonvisual methods.<br>ID: 030422900; System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader.; Mode of access: World Wide Web.; Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2011.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 293-303).<br>Ph.D.<br>Doctorate<br>Education

A garantia de bem-estar animal é essencial para assegurar resultados científicos confiáveis, e as técnicas de enriquecimento ambiental, utilizadas nessa busca, não podem ignorar as preferências e necessidades da espécie em questão, tais como o modo de utilização do espaço disponível. Nosso objetivo foi analisar como 35 gatos domésticos (12 machos e 23 fêmeas) utilizam seu espaço e as influências do enriquecimento ambiental nessa questão, visto que tal grupo contempla características de animais de companhia e também de biotério, sendo modelo em diversas pesquisas científicas. A utilização do espaço vertical foi quantificada a partir de filmagens das camas continuamente disponíveis em 4 níveis (0,60; 0,88; 1,16 e 1,46 m) e de refúgios (enriquecimento) em 3 diferentes alturas: 0, 0,5 e 1,0 m. Os resultados indicaram predileção pelas camas mais elevadas (1,46 m); entretanto, houve diferença significativa no tempo de utilização apenas para os refúgios a 0,5m, reforçando a importância de testar e confrontar as preferências dos animais em diferentes circunstâncias. Quanto ao uso do espaço horizontal, a disponibilização de refúgios alterou a distribuição dos animais na área de teste e aumentou comportamentos ativos e passivos. Testamos a escolha entre refúgios descobertos (100%) e com 50% de cobertura e também entre refúgios com aberturas laterais de 25% e 100%. Preferências não identificadas no primeiro teste (100% e 50% descobertas) tornaram-se aparentes quando as aberturas estavam nas laterais: os refúgios com 25% de abertura lateral foram utilizados por mais tempo. Tais resultados podem estar relacionados a ansiedade dos animais confinados, podendo esse teste ser uma potencial alternativa ao labirinto em cruz elevado para estudos de ansiedade com felinos. As diferenças observadas entre machos e fêmeas podem apontar influência diferenciada entre gêneros do confinamento no comportamento de animais castrados. Nossas conclusões ressaltam a necessidade do enriquecimento ambiental bem fundamentado na manutenção do bem-estar animal e sua interferência no uso do espaço.<br>The guarantee of animal welfare is essential to ensure reliable scientific results, and the techniques of environmental enrichment, used in this quest, shall not ignore the needs and preferences of the species in question, such as how to use the available space. Our objective was to analyze how 35 cats (12 males and 23 females), use their space and the influences of environmental enrichment on this issue, since this group includes characteristics of pets and also of laboratory animals, being a model in several scientific studies. The use of vertical space was quantified through the filming of the continuously available beds in four levels (0.60, 0.88, 1.16 and 1.46 m) and the refuges (enrichment) in three different heights: 0, 0.5 and 1.0 m. Our results show that there is a preference for the higher beds (1.46 m); however, significant differences in time use was observed only for refuges in 0.5 m, reinforcing the importance of testing and comparing the preferences of animals in different circumstances. Regarding the use of horizontal space, the availability of refuges changed the distribution of animals in the test area and increased active and passive behaviors. We tested the choice between uncovered shelters (100%) and ones with 50% coverage and also shelters with lateral openings between 25% and 100%. Preferences which were not identified in the first test (100% and 50% uncovered) became apparent when the openings were on the sides: refuges with 25% side opening were used for a longer period. This finding may be related to the anxiety of confined animals, and this test may be a potential alternative to the elevated plus maze for studies of anxiety in cats. The differences observed between males and females may indicate the influence between genders of confinement on the behavior of castrated animals. Our findings highlight the need for well founded environmental enrichment in the maintenance of animal welfare and its interference with the use of space.

Cette thèse vise analyser les déterminants (objectifs et subjectifs) à l’origine de l'hétérogénéité des évaluations de projets. Dans un premier temps, j'analyserai comment les quantités (objectives) sont incorporées dans l'analyse coût-bénéfice. Le premier chapitre principal traite de la manière dont l'analyse coût-bénéfice est affectée par la distribution temporelle des impacts considérée. À travers l'exemple du changement d'affectation des terres provenant de la production de biocarburants, il ressort que les décisions concernant les projets ayant des impacts environnementaux non constants dans le temps s'appuient sur des valeurs actuelles nettes biaisées, ce qui peut entraîner la mise en œuvre de projets en réalité non souhaitables ou la non-implémentation de projets réellement souhaitables. Ce travail est à la fois théorique et numérique.Ensuite, j'étudie le rôle de la structure des préférences sur la prise de décision individuelle dans un cadre individuel puis un cadre collectif. Au niveau individuel, nous développons un modèle théorique qui permet soit de la substituabilité, soit de la complémentarité entre les biens en fonction du contexte (revenu et qualité de l'environnement). Il en résulte que l'élasticité-revenu du consentement à payer marginal peut être négative dans un contexte de substituabilité inter-biens, ce qui contraste avec les modèles habituels qui ne permettent que des élasticités positives du revenu (le bien environnemental ne peut jamais être inférieur mais est toujours normal). Notre cadre théorique affecte également la façon dont la consommation et la qualité de l'environnement sont actualisées, ce qui est d'autant plus pertinent dans un contexte de chocs sur les revenus. Au niveau collectif, j’utilise une approche expérimentale pour analyser l'effet de l'interaction entre les individus ayant des structures de préférences différentes sur les contributions au bien public. Il en résulte que la substituabilité parfaite est associée à un plus grand nombre de passagers clandestins que la complémentarité. Cependant, une aversion à l'inégalité avantageuse émerge également des individus dont les préférences sont à l'origine d'une parfaite substituabilité vis-à-vis de ceux dont les préférences sont fondées sur la complémentarité<br>This thesis aims at providing insights on the (objective and subjective) determinants of the heterogeneity of project evaluations. At first, I analyze how (objective) quantities are incorporated in the cost-benefit analysis. The first main chapter deals with the way cost-benefit analysis is affected by the time distribution of impacts considered. Through the example of land use change from biofuel production, I find that decisions regarding projects with non-constant environmental impacts rely on distorted net present values, which may result in the implementation of actually non-desirable projects or the non-implementation of actually desirable projects. This work is both theoretical and numerical.Second, I investigate the role of the structure of preferences, i.e. whether private goods and environmental goods are substitutable or complementary in providing utility, on individual decision-making in an individual framework and a collective framework. At the individual level (second main chapter), we develop a theoretical model which allows either for substitutability or complementarity depending on the context (income and environmental quality). It results that the income elasticity of willingness to pay can be negative in contexts of between-goods substitutability, which contrasts with usual frameworks which only allow for positive income elasticities (thus the environmental good can never be inferior but is always normal). Our framework also affects the way consumption and environmental quality are discounted, which is all the more relevant in the context of income shocks. At the collective level (third main chapter), we use an experimental approach to analyze the effect of the interaction between individuals with different structures of preferences on contributions to the public good. It results that perfect substitutability is associated with more free-riding than complementarity. However, an aversion to advantageous inequality also emerges from individuals whose preferences underlie perfect substitutability towards those whose preferences are based on complementarity

Submitted by TAISA ANDRADE DE SOUZA SILVA RIBEIRO null (agataaz@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-09-20T03:33:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Papel e Tela - um estudo sobre preferências das crianças, literatura infantil e narrativas televisivas.pdf: 1552963 bytes, checksum: c57006a6235cfa922209297c7abeb2fd (MD5)<br>Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-09-22T19:06:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ribeiro_tass_me_prud.pdf: 1552963 bytes, checksum: c57006a6235cfa922209297c7abeb2fd (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-22T19:06:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ribeiro_tass_me_prud.pdf: 1552963 bytes, checksum: c57006a6235cfa922209297c7abeb2fd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-02<br>Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)<br>Considerando a linha de pesquisa “Processos formativos, Ensino e Aprendizagem”, do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação da FCT/UNESP, campus de Presidente Prudente/SP, e partindo de investigações realizadas no CELLIJ (Centro de Estudos em Leitura e Literatura Infantil e Juvenil “Maria Betty Coelho Silva”) e atividades desenvolvidas junto ao projeto “Hora do Conto” sobre formação leitora, tem sido possível perceber que, diante dos avanços constatados na contemporaneidade, especificamente no cenário literário, as narrativas, os modos de ler e, consequentemente, os leitores passaram por grandes mudanças. O texto impresso em papel no formato de livro não é mais a única fonte de leitura. Com o desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias de comunicação e informação, a televisão se apresenta como um dos meios de comunicação social que veicula narrativas infantis. Nesse cenário se encontra o atual leitor em processo de formação, dividido entre o livro infantil e a televisão, que se relacionam com seu modo de ser, pensar, agir, estar no mundo e vivenciar aspectos da sua vida cotidiana. Em face do exposto, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi compreender como ocorre a formação do gosto/interesse leitor do aluno de 2º ao 5º ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola de rede pública do município de Presidente Prudente-São Paulo, no que concerne às narrativas que lhes são postas desde a infância, diante do livro literário como suporte impresso de leitura e da televisão como suporte digital. A pesquisa, de cunho quanti-qualitativo, relacionou as escolhas das narrativas quanto à diversidade de gênero e grupo etário e analisou a qualidade desse material em relação ao conteúdo. Como resultados, foi traçado um perfil do leitor que emana a partir desses textos e identificadas possíveis interferências na constituição do sujeito criança em formação.<br>This study is linked to the research line “Formative processes, Teaching and Learning” from the Graduate Program in Education from the Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, FCT – UNESP, in Presidente Prudente/SP, and it started from researches accomplished at CELLIJ (Centro de Estudos em Leitura e Literatura Infantil e Juvenil “Maria Betty Coelho Silva”) and activities developed with the project “Tale Time” about formation of readers, it has been possible to perceive that toward the ascertained advances in contemporaneity, specifically in the literary scene, the narratives, the ways to read and respectively the readers went through great changes. The text printed in paper in book format is not the only reading source anymore. With new communication and information technologies’ development, the television presents itself like a mean of social communication that conveys children’s narratives. In this scene, the current reader in process of formation is divided between the children’s book and the television, that are related to his/her way of being, thinking, acting, being in the world and experiencing aspects of his/her daily life. Based on the above, this research aimed to understand how the reader’s formation of taste/interest occurs in students from second to fifth grade of elementary school of a municipally-run public school in Presidente Prudente – São Paulo, in relation to the narratives that are made available to them since childhood, toward the literary book as printed support and the television as digital support. The research, with qualitative and quantitative nature, related the choices of narratives about the gender diversity and age group and analyzed the quality of this material in relation to the content. As results we profiled the reader that emanates from these texts and we identified possible interferences in the child’s constitution as a person in formation.

En France le traitement du cancer est principalement dominé par les plateaux techniques hospitaliers, mais ceux-ci sont saturés et jugés trop coûteux. Pour ces raisons, les décideurs publics souhaitent développer des structures alternatives : l’hospitalisation à domicile ou les structures de proximités (SP) comme les maisons de santé pluridisciplinaires. Objectif :-Etudier l’adéquation entre les politiques publiques de santé et les préférences des patients et de la population générale.-Tester l’acceptabilité et la validité de la méthode de l’évaluation contingente (EV) (enquête de Disposition A Payer : DAP) comme moyen d’obtenir les préférences en population générale afin de guider la décision publique.Méthode : Nous avons développé un outil d’information et d’aide à la décision informatisé qui contenait 1. L’information sur les trois options de prise en charge : hôpital, domicile, SP 2. Une enquête de mesure des préférences 3. Des questionnaires socio-démographiques et de recueil de l’expérience de soins 4. Pour la population générale uniquement : une EV.Résultats :L’enquête auprès des patients a été réalisée dans 3 établissements (n=386), celle en population générale a été conduite sur un échantillon représentatif de la Région Rhône-Alpes (n=1001). L’hôpital était l’option préférée pour les deux populations 71% des patients contre 42,6% pour la population générale, suivi du domicile avec 24% pour les patients et 38,8% pour la population générale. L’acceptabilité et la validité de l’EC en population générale semble être confirmée par le faible nombre de protestataires et d’outliers ainsi que par la corrélation entre les DAP, le revenu et les préférences<br>In France, cancer treatments are mainly provided in hospitals but they are expensive, crowded and mainly located around big cities. For these reasons, French public health decision makers wish to develop alternative strategies such as home care and proximity structures (typically GPs, nurses and physiotherapists working together in the same medical office). ObjectivesTo study the adequacy between French health policy and patients’ &amp; general population’s preferences. To test the acceptability and validity of the contingent valuation (CV) method as a mean of obtaining values in the general population to guide public decision makers. Methods: We developed a computerized decision aid composed of: 1. Information on the disease management options: hospital, home care and proximity structures; 2. A survey to measure preferences. 3. A socio demographic and an experience of care questionnaire. 4. For the general population only, a CV survey (willingness to pay: WTP) using a payment card was developed Results: The patients survey has been realized in three hospitals(n=386), whereas the general population survey has been conducted in a representative sample of the Rhône-Alps region (n=1001). Both populations preferred hospital, but the proportions are very different. Indeed, hospital is the preferred option for 71% of patients and only for 42,6% of the general population. Moreover, as compared to patients, the general population more often prefer PS, respectively 18,6% and 5 %. The acceptability and validity of the CV method in the general population seemed to be confirmed by the few rates of protesters and outliers, the correlation between preferences, income and WTP

Cette thèse a pour but d'étudier les méthodes d'évaluation des ressources environnementales : la méthode des Coûts de Transport (CT) à préférences révélées et la méthode d'évaluation contingente (EC) à préférences déclarées afin de proposer les contributions suivantes. Dans le chapitre 1, nous montrons qu'il est possible si les données sur les deux méthodes sont disponibles pour les mêmes observations, d'obtenir une meilleure mesure de la disposition à payer (DAP) par la combinaison des deux méthodes en utilisant la technique du maximum de vraisemblance simulé. Dans le chapitre 2, nous montrons qu'une nouvelle approche: le "special regressor" pourrait être une solution pour traiter les problèmes d'endogénéité en EC. En utilisant des données sur la DAP pour réduire les risques subjectifs de mortalité due à la présence d' Arsenic dans l'eau potable , nous montrons que le problème d'endogénéité du niveau subjectif de risque de mortalité peut être réglé efficacement. Enfin dans le chapitre 3, en utilisant une nouvelle enquête sur l'électrification rurale au Rwanda, nous proposons un nouveau design de la méthode d'EC en permettant aux personnes interrogées de choisir entre une contribution en temps ou en argent. Ainsi, en plus de mesurer une DAP classique, nous obtenons aussi une disposition à contribuer du temps mesurée en jours, qui est une mesure aussi voire même plus pertinente que la DAP dans le contexte d'un pays en développement<br>This dissertation aims at investigating the methods of the environmental resources valuation: revealed preferences Travel Cost (TC) method and stated preferences Contingent Valuation (CV) method in order to propose the following contributions. In chapter 1, we show that it is possible if both CV and TC data are available for the same observations, to obtain a better measure of willingness to pay (WTP) by combining the two methods using Simulated maximum Likelihood technique. In chapter 2, we show that the new special regressor approach could be a solution to treat endogeneity issues in CV. Using data on WTP for reducing subjective mortality risks due to arsenic in drinking water, we show that the endogeneity of the subjective mortality risk level can be treated effectively. Finally in chapter 3, using a new survey about rural electrification in Rwanda, we propose a new design for the CV method by allowing people to choose between a contribution in time or in money. Thus, in addition to measure a conventional WTP, we also obtain a willingness to contribute time measure which is as or even more relevant than WTP in the context of a developing country

La Valeur statistique de la vie humaine (VSVH) est un outil d’analyse économique, qui est définie comme la valeur qu’une personne est prête à payer (CAP) pour réduire le risque de mortalité ou de morbidité. L’intérêt d’un tel outil est d’estimer monétairement le bénéfice social d’un projet d’investissement destiné à réduire le risque, mais aussi d’établir un arbitrage entre plusieurs alternatives. Répondre à l’aléa moral dans un contexte de rareté des ressources est parfaitement adéquat avec la VSVH. Avec l’estimation des personnes de leurs capacités de paiement en fonction de leurs perceptions du risque et de leur niveau de revenu, les personnes sont positionnées comme les seules juges de la valeur de leurs vies. Parce que, les personnes déterminent librement les CAPs en fonction de leurs préférences personnelles et que ces préférences sont intégrées dans la détermination d’un choix social, la VSVH ne contredit pas le cadre normatif d’établissement d’une décision. Néanmoins, le welfarisme comme une source des méthodes d’estimation de la VSVH est en relation directe avec l’utilitarisme. Au final, la valeur estimée par la VSVH est de nature subjective. Dans le domaine de la santé, la VSVH doit dépasser le cadre subjectif d’une estimation pour répondre à l’éthique normative qui décrit la pratique médicale, notamment la prise en considération de l’autonomie personnelle, la notion personnelle de la bonne vie et la notion universelle de la personne. L’objectif de notre travail est de rechercher les arguments d’établissement d’une valeur de référence de la VSVH qui endosse un cadre normatif. Cela nécessite une analyse approfondie au sein de la théorie économique du bien-être<br>The value of statistical life (VSL) is an economic analytical tool, which is defined as the value that a person is ready to pay (WTP) in order to reduce the risk mortality or morbidity. The advantage of such a tool is to monetarily estimate the social benefit of an investment project which is made to reduce the risk, but also to establish an arbitrage between several alternatives. Respond to the moral hazard in a context pertaining to the scarcity of resources, which is perfectly in keeping with VSL. With people’s estimation on their willingness to pay, depending on how they perceive risks and their income level, people are positioned as the sole judges as for the value of their lives. Because people freely determine the WTP depending on their personal preferences and these preferences are included in order to determine a social choice. The value of statistical life doesn’t contradict the normative framework of establishing a decision. Nonetheless, welfarism which is a source of estimating methods of VSL is directly related to utilitarianism. Eventually, the estimated value by VSL is subjective nature. In the health sector, the VSL needs to surpass the subjective framework of an estimation in order to answer the normative ethic which describes the medical practice, especially by taking personal self-sufficiency into account but also the personal notion of a good life and the universal notion of the person. Researching establishing arguments of reference value pertaining to VSL which takes on a normative framework and this is objective when it comes to our work. This theoretically requires an in-depth analysis within the economic theory of well-being

No abstract<br>Coastal and marine ecosystems are some of the most heavily exploited with increasing degradation. This alarming situation appeals for urgent and effective actions. The optimal balance between use and conservation of ecosystems theoretically requires all costs and benefits to be considered in decision-making, including intangible costs and benefits such as non-market use and non-use values. The broad aim of this PhD is to examine how these economic values associated with coastal and marine ecosystem services can be measured, and how the economic valuation exercise may be considered and influence management decision- making.The first analytical part of the thesis focuses on assessing non-market use and non-use values, through econometric methods. The characterization and estimation of non-use values are complex and controversial, especially when the valuation exercise is focusing on individuals who are users of the ecosystem services being considered. An original approach based on a stated preference method, namely choice experiments, is developed then empirically applied in quantifying non-market values for marine and coastal ecosystems in two areas in New Caledonia. It allows the estimation of non-use values for populations of users in an implicit way. An in-depth analysis of the individuals’ choice heuristics during the valuation exercise is also conducted, with a focus on payment non-attendance. This issue is dealt with by comparing multiple modelling approaches in terms of: (1) inferred attendance, in relation to stated attendance; (2) attendance distribution according to several socio-economic variables; and (3) welfare estimates.After noting that the potential influence of economic valuation in decision making is unclear and largely unexplored in the literature, the second major component of this PhD aims to examine if, how and to what extent the economic valuation of ecosystem services, including measures of non-market values, influence decision-making regarding coastal and marine ecosystems management in Australia. Based on two nation-wide surveys, the perceived usefulness of the economic valuation of ecosystem services by the general public and decision-makers is studied, and the reasons why decision-makers may or may not fully consider economic values are elicited. Using a multi-criteria analysis, a part of the surveys also aims at examining the relative importance of different evaluation criteria (ecological, social and economic) when assessing the consequences of a hypothetical coastal development project on commercial activities, recreational activities and marine biodiversity

“The Purloined Letter,” Edgar Allan Poe's third and final tale featuring the detective Dupin, has evoked a long history of critical response. Criticism has tended to read the text for its role in the development of detective fiction and as illustrative of various theoretical positions. However, the implications of the “The Purloined Letter,” as a tale of ratiocination, has largely been left unexplored. “The Purloined Letter” explores logical processes of value and exchange, particularly economic exchange, in a manner very similar to what Charles Sanders Peirce will call pragmatism several decades later. Dupin's deductive methods and Peirce's abductive logic express the nature of objects in terms of social systems of preference and perception rather metaphysics. Peirce's classification of signs as icon, index, or symbol provides a framework of signification which can be read in conjunction with “The Purloined Letter” to flesh out the role of materiality and value in the theory of economic criticism. Reading value and exchange as part of a social system of signs, perceptions, and representations of value will serve to expose a penchant for material fetishism in economic criticism and provide a theory of currency, value, and exchange that contextualizes representational and material notions of value within the social and economic system that provides the processes and mechanisms of value determination. The way that the Prefect, the Minister D___, and Dupin each conceptualize the purloined letter as having a different representational relationship with value can be used to demonstrate Poe's abductive framework for economy.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifies forests that have been grown in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. It attempts to increase market share for certified paper via a Business Development Plan (BDP). This thesis provides analysis of the FSCs marketing using a survey and case study approach. The survey of institutional paper buyers reveals trends that suggest that the market for FSC and other certified papers is gaining popularity with institutional buyers, even though final consumers remain price sensitive. Components of institutional behavior that might cause an organization to adopt FSC are analyzed. This analysis reveals that adoption is more likely if it is important to an institution’s stakeholders and if reputation can be increased, even given increased costs. However, much of the growth in market share of FSC remains unexplained by the BDP. Hence the market for FSC and certified paper may be expanding independent of FSC and BDP.<br>Agricultural and Resource Eonomics

In 2020, technology is generally accepted, and we can see many people using their digital devices such as smartphones everywhere. It is easy to see how dependent we are on technology, anytime and anywhere. Mobile apps are one of the time-effective tools for our daily lives. College students in the United States are always busy with their classes and assignments, and for them, apps are not only for having fun but are also convenient, reliable, and essential supporting tools for their academic and daily lives. This paper examines the students’ preferences in learning the Japanese writing system “Hiragana” with mobile apps and paper worksheets. The study had 14 participants who joined a 4-day-a-week class. The participants were asked to use both the app “Ganbatte kana” and copies of the worksheet “Purinto Kizzu” to practice Hiragana in and out of class. After all four classes over 1 week, the participants answered a questionnaire about the class and what they thought of using the paper and the app to study Hiragana based on their experience. The results of this study showed that most students preferred the paper to the app. While most of them use their smartphones every day, they have an attachment to paper. Some of them preferred physical experiences more than digital experiences for writing. However, most of them appreciate the app’s multifunctionality and convenience, and half of them want to use both apps and paper for their future learning. If we can use both in each strong area effectively, we can expect new technology and traditional materials to become more satisfying and useful learning tools.

碩士<br>國立新竹教育大學<br>特殊教育學系碩士班<br>94<br>Abstract The major purposes of this research are to study the reading comprehension, behavior, interface and preferences of reading comprehension strategies in web-reading and paper-reading of students with learning disabilities at elementary level. The data and information of this research were gathered by using posttest-only control group design. The 100 students with learning disabilities are lamination sampled in north, middle, and south area of Taiwan. According to these students’ gender, grade, intelligence, and word-recognition amount, they were randomly assigned into two groups. The researcher experimented with the subject of the experiment group (web-reading) and the control group (paper-reading) one by one. The main results drawn from this study were as follows: (1)The students with learning disabilities who did web-reading scored significant higher than those who did paper-reading only in the phonetic spelling test. (2)For students with learning disabilities, web-reading brings about better reading motive, feedback and more independent reading. However, it hinders reading aloud and running imagination. Paper-reading, for students with learning disabilities, on the other hand, can assist the behavior of taking notes and drawing, while it can not improve reading motive. (3)The students with learning disabilities in both of the web-reading and paper-reading groups agree that the interface design (words, colors, pictures, animation and sounds) can improve their reading comprehension. (4)The students with learning disabilities in both of the web-reading and paper-reading groups all prefer the strategies of inference combined with story grammar, images and prompt to those of explanation combined with pictures. (5)The scores of students with learning disabilities in the web-reading and paper-reading groups, who have different background variables (gender, grade, intelligence, and word-recognition amount), show that grade, word-recognition amount and gender, instead of intelligence, have significant influences on their reading comprehension. (6)The preferences reading comprehension strategies in Web-reading of students with learning disabilities appear that male third and fourth graders with IQ70-85 and low word-recognition amount have significant influences. The preferences of reading comprehension strategies in paper-reading for students with learning disabilities appear that gender, grade, intelligence, and low word-recognition amount have significant influences. The students with learning disabilities who have high and low word-recognition amount all like the reading comprehension strategies of story grammar and images. In accordance with the major results from this research, suggestions for teachers, schools, parents, website design, and follow-up studies are put forward.

碩士<br>中原大學<br>商業設計研究所<br>100<br>Nowadays, consumers have increasingly higher demands for products. A product’s price or brand is no longer the foremost concern; it is now style, taste, and image. In order to acquire a precise knowledge of consumer opinions and preferences so as to develop suitable products, a questionnaire survey was conducted in this study to obtain data on the image texture perceptions of and preferences for various types of handmade paper from females living different lifestyles. The research purposes are as follows: 1) to review the lifestyles of female consumers; 2) to explore females’ image texture perception of handmade paper; and 3) to discover the degree of influence that lifestyle has on female consumers’ image texture perceptions of and preferences for handmade paper. There are a number of research results. 1) The lifestyles of females between the ages of 18 to 35 could be differentiated into the six types of practical rational, subjective idealist, reserved traditional, open and foreign servility, carpe diem, and natural lohas. 2) Handmade paper can be divided into eleven categories according to the visual perception: pulpous, smooth, diffused dotting, concentrated dotting, concentrated long fibres, diffused long fibres, concentrated short fibres, concentrated short fibres, diffused flakes, concentrated flakes, and organic shapes. 3) Regarding the visual sense of the texture of the handmade paper, the visual sense that contained the strongest sense of natural harmony and retro vintage was diffused long fibers, that contained the strongest sense of cool-toned modern and refined elegance was organic shapes; that contained the strongest sense of fun liveliness was diffused dotting. 4) The lifestyles of female consumers were found to have positive effects on their preferences for handmade paper. The practical rational type preferred pulpous handmade paper; the reserved traditional type preferred smooth paper; the open and foreign servility type preferred organic shapes; the natural lohas type preferred diffused flakes, diffused dotting, and concentrated short fibres; and neither the subjective idealist nor the carpe diem types had any special preferences for handmade paper. 5) Lastly, the preferences for all groups were positively influenced by the image vocabularies of natural harmony, refined elegance, and fun liveliness; however, different degrees of nfluence resulted in different preferences.

碩士<br>義守大學<br>管理碩博士班<br>105<br>Since the rise of online news in the 1990s, a large portion of the traditional paper media market has been replaced by the electronic media gradually. The practical experiences from many journalists show that most lost readers belong to Net Generation. To investigate reasons by which Netswitch from paper to electronic media motivated this study. The news media have been deeply involved everywhere in human life owing to the rapid development of technology and played as an important role in cultural spreading, keeping public mental health, and delivering true news. Modern people spend huge amount of time to explore the mirage world on internet because of the propelling and attraction of cutting-edge technology, especially the Net Generation devote long period of time on using electronic media for their everyday life. However, few people concern above phenomenon that are bringing positive or negative impact on human being. This is another drive of this research. This study applied the focus group interview to collect and record opinions from eight online interviewees. The content discussion during interviewing was recorded and typed as text transcripts by which researcher identified and classified data related to this research. Then the triangulation of data sources was adopted to cross verify variant perspectives from interviewees and literatures. The data analysis resulted conclusions presented by a radar graph to illustrate the integrated capability of media and compare the advantages and disadvantages between electronic and paper media. The research result show that 70% of the interviewees choose electronic media because of the tempting advantages while 71% out of the 30% interviewees who prefer paper media are Net Generation. This perhaps imply that several Net Generation people still expect something unique to paper media. From the long-term development of both types of media, the paper media may regain competitive advantage because of its irreplaceable value if it can find solution for current predicament by amplifying strengths and compensating weaknesses though the possibility is low for Net Generation switching to paper media now.

碩士<br>崑山科技大學<br>視覺傳達設計研究所<br>93<br>Package design is an important tool for the marketing of commodities. With the improvement of the quality of our life, package becomes more and more important. The functions of package are no longer limited to the protection and sales promotion of commodities. It can be used for the promotion of human relationships as people are accustomed to giving gifts on festivities to extend their best wishes. In the field of marketing, the design properties, including the sense of color, texture, shape, are often used in package to present the sensible image of commodities. It is essential to the sale of the commodity whether its image can cater to the likings of consumers. The methods of document investigation, focus group, and cluster analysis and questionnaire investigation are adopted in this study. The study is carried out in two stages and mainly discusses the application of design properties in the Mid-autumn moon cake gift box in the market. It makes analysis of the visual and structural level of the gift box, and further discusses the different likings of Mid-autumn gift box package from different consumers with various backgrounds. Aiming at the purchasing conduct of the consumers, the study finds that consumers attach the greatest importance to the aesthetic feeling of the gift box, especially female and young consumers. They think a delicate and beautiful package may arouse their desire to buy the product, and they are willing to spend more money on beautiful gift box package. According to the investigation done by the “Cheer” magazine, young consumers tend to choose commodities which are more delicate, with better materials, with a more creative design and with uniqueness. It can be seen that gift package with aesthetic creativity and multiplicity has become the trend of consumer purchase preference. From the study on the relationship between consumer preference and design attribute for paper gift box of moon cake festival package, we can draw the following conclusions: (1)On the level of vision, the moon cake gift box package sold on the market is to the likings of consumers; the study finds that mid-autumn gift packages with a concise aesthetic feeling, a modern style and the color series of red and orange are consumers’ favorite. (2)On the level of structure, the moon cake gift box package sold on the market is to the likings of consumers; Consumers like concise quadrilateral and monolayer gift cases with collection value, especially the aged consumers above 51 years old. The percentage of young consumers between the ages of 20 to 30 accepting the polygon or irregular case shape is higher than the aged consumers, and it is considered that more layers of package can add to the sense of value. (3)As for other factors, the moon cake gift box package sold on the market is to the likings of consumers; consumers like a multiple combination and customized package of gift cases. Consumers with a high monthly income above 75, 000 TWD obviously do not like big package with more than 5 boxes. In the future, the image aesthetic sense shall be strengthened on the package design of Mid-autumn gift boxes, so as to promote its sense of value and its presentation of modernity and creativity. The brand image should also be applied, together with suitable paper materials, box cover paper, supplementary materials, and printing, so as to add to the interests and novelty of the gift case packages. In the modern society with fierce competition and abundant materials, the likings of consumers are also diversified. Only through creations on image presentation, box design, or combination of contents and modes, can we satisfy the requirements of consumers, so as to further improve the overall profits.