Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Previous performance'

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2001.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 93 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-76).

This paper examines the performance and performance persistence of South African bond mutual funds. To my knowledge, this paper is among the first research papers to focus on South African bond mutual funds. I utilize the Sharpe Ratio, the modified Sharpe ratio, Jensen's alpha and the multi-index models to examine whether peformance is influenced by the performance measure used. In addition, I examine the impact of conditioning information variables on performance by further measuring performance using the conditional single-index and conditional multi-index models. To test for persistence, I use the contigency tables and crosssectional regressions. I find empirical evidence to suggest that South African bond funds are not able to outperform the market. These findings are consistent across the Sharpe ratio, the unconditional single-index alphas and the unconditional multi-index alphas. When I consider the modified and conditional versions of these models, I conclude that the modified Sharpe ratio improves fund performance when compared to the original Sharpe ratio. Additionally, I conclude that incorporating conditional information variables does not offer significant improvements on the results. However, despite the observed underperformance, I note the improvement on alphas when these conditioning variables are considered. In examining performance persistence, I find evidence to suggest that, in the short-term, persistence is not sensitive to the persistence methodology used. However, I observe that persistence is rather sensitive to the performance model used. Over the longer-term, I find evidence to conclude that persistence is greatly sensitive to both the performance model used as well as the methodology used to test such persistence. My results suggest that the South African bond market is efficient and thereby in support of a passive management investment strategy. Nonetheless, my results urge for a need for bond funds to pay special attention to their trading costs in order to maximise returns for their investmens

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find out which personal-related factors are influencing on the task performance and the contextual performance of expatriate managers.

Design/Methodology/Approach

This research adopts a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews with key-information from the managers taking international assignments.

Findings

The findings indicate that there is a series of significant associations between personal-related factors (personality traits, competences/skills, self-willingness and previous experience) and the performance of expatriates’ assignments.

Research limitations/implications

One suggestion for further research is to explore deeper and more comprehensive on other less important factors or the important factors which we are overlooking; it also could be more comprehensive on the factors that relate to the performance of expatriates.

Practical implications

We present a table of the relationship between personality traits, competences/skills, self-willingness, previous experience and the job performance of expatriates’ assignments. Thus, HR departments can follow this guidance when selecting expatriates to manage overseas assignments. Furthermore, individuals can take this model as a reference when making decisions for their career lives.

Keywords

Expatriate assignments, personality traits, self-willingness, competences/skills, previous experience, job performance, task performance, contexture performance

Paper type

Master Thesis

Practitioners are obligated to identify cost-effective, worthwhile practices for improving student learning. With the current climate of pressure to quickly improve student performance on the Virginia Standards of Learning assessments, the use of Brain Gym® is an idea that has begun to pique the interest of teachers as an innovative instructional strategy. The value in conducting this research was to attempt to objectively analyze whether the use of this specific activity-based intervention in an educational setting affects children's skill acquisition. Intact kindergarten classes from two relatively matched schools within the same southeastern Virginia school division were randomly assigned to the treatment and control groups. A total of 126 kindergarten students in eight classes were involved. All of the classes were administered the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening test in October as part of the system-wide pre-assessment of kindergarten students. In addition to regular instruction, the treatment group then followed a prescribed set of six Brain Gym® exercises for 8-10 minutes twice each school day until the PALS posttest was given in late spring. The classroom teachers received in-service training from the researcher to enable them to lead the treatment group in the daily performance of the Brain Gym® exercises. The treatment began after the completion of PALS pre-testing. The control group received regular instruction and did not participate in any Brain Gym® exercises. Following a t-test for differences in previous performance, a four-way analysis of variance was performed on the total PALS scores. Using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and a predetermined alpha level of .05, the four-way ANOVA yielded a significant main effect for previous performance and non-significant main effects for Brain Gym® participation, socioeconomic status, and gender. A significant interaction effect was found only among Brain Gym® participation, socioeconomic status, and gender. The data were examined another way using a three-way analysis of covariance. After adjusting for previous performance, no significant main effects or interaction effects were found across the variables.
Ed. D.

In recent years, the application of Information Technologies has fostered a tremendous growth in e-learning courses at colleges and universities in the United States. Subsequently, some colleges and universities have reported dropout rates of over 60% in e-learning courses. Therefore, the persistence of identifiable groups of students enrolled in e-learning courses has garnered increased attention and research. Information Systems researchers suggested that studies of persistence e-learning courses identify and investigate specific constructs as well as identifiable target populations. Furthermore, as a separate and identifiable group, the college student athlete has received extensive coverage in the research literature, however, limited attention for their dropout in e-learning courses. Therefore, this research investigated persistence in e-learning courses of an identified population of college student athletes. In order to predict the persistence of college student athletes enrolled in e-learning courses, this research an empirically assessed a conceptual model, e-Learning Persistence Model (e-LPM). e-LPM was based on selected constructs that have previously shown tendencies to persistence in e-learning courses. This research, therefore, empirically assessed the constructs of e-LPM in the predication of persistence in a population of 187 college student athletes enrolled in e-learning courses. The constructs of e-LPM includes, student's attitude toward computers, student's intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, student's perceived satisfaction from the e-learning system, and student's previous academic performance measures (high school GPA and SAT score). The e-LPM constructs were empirically assessed and weighted in order to evaluate their contribution to persistence in e-learning courses. Survey response data from college student athletes at the beginning and at the end of e-learning courses were quantitatively analyzed using Ordinal Logistic Regression, ANOVA, chi-square, and t-test statistical techniques. Results of this research showed that e-LPM was able to predict persistence in e-learning course 81.4% of the time. The previous academic performance measure of GPA was shown to significantly predict e-learning course persistence in the research population. In the analysis of gender, female college student athletes exhibited higher intrinsic and extrinsic motivation than their male counterparts.

The lack of the visible and practical involvement of parents in schools that are in previously disadvantaged communities is not only depriving the present learners and their parents of their democratic right to participate in shaping their future, but that of the coming generation and leaders of tomorrow as well. South Africa as a country is about twenty years into democracy and already the education system has been chopped and changed about four times but with no success. The schooling system in previously black communities is deteriorating. The government of the day has been prioritising education for about fifteen years now, the budget for education is equal to the budget for the whole country in some of the neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe but the quality and standard are far worse than in those countries. The cost of the current problems in education mostly in previously black township schools is far too much to imagine. The main challenge seems to be the nature, character, skills and capabilities of parents serving in school governing bodies. This study is so important because of the situation that exists in schools that are situated in historically disadvantaged communities where the parents who get elected to school governing bodies are still, despite workshops and training offered by the Department of Education, unable to manage and govern schools and thus render the school governing body ineffective. The Department of Education through its programmes does conduct governance, financial management and policy formulation workshops. These efforts from the government side do not seem to bear any fruit because parents, after attending the training and workshops are still unable to create well-managed and properly governed schools. The primary objective of this study is to improve the organisational performance of schools in previously disadvantaged communities in the Uitenhage District of the Department of Education situated in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality by investigating how effective school governing body governance could contribute to such performance. More specifically, the study investigates the relationship between effective school governing body management, as a dependent variable, and parental/community involvement, finance and resource management, school governance, learner discipline/conduct, and quality education as independent variables. The population of the study was high school principals and school management team (SMT) members in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality focusing mainly on historically or previously disadvantaged schools in the Uitenhage district of the Department of Education. The study used convenience sampling where seventeen (17) high schools were selected. In each school, school management team members and a principal were requested to fill in a questionnaire. In total 105 questionnaires were distributed and 85 were fully completed and returned. Questionnaires were collected, data captured and analysed and a report was written. The empirical results revealed the following weaknesses in the SGBs of high schools in the Uitenhage District of the Department of Education in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality: the SGBs do not effectively formulate school policies; the SGBs do not effectively provide support to educators in performing their professional duties; the SGBs are not fully involved in supplementing resources supplied by the state in order to improve quality of teaching and learning; and the schools are weak on community engagement. On the other hand, the following positive elements of SGBs were highlighted in the empirical results; the schools are rated good regarding the following variables/issues: quality of teaching and learning, utilisation of school resources, school governance, professionalism of staff and extra-mural activities; the SGBs know and participate in the academic and extra-mural programmes of the schools; the SGBs successfully prepare the annual budget for the schools; the SGBs are effectively governing the schools; the SGBs do appoint auditors to audit the school's books and financial statements; the schools have achieved audited financial statements without a disclaimer; the schools have a disciplinary committee that deals with the learner code of conduct and attends to disciplinary problems. The study highlights areas in school governance that should be improved, as well as recommendations on how to improve them. Recommendations for future research are also provided.

Research has shown conflicting results involving interference of strength development with combined resistance and endurance training. Purpose: To examine if endurance training and resistance training performed concurrently would produce different performance and physiological results when compared to each type of training alone. Methods: Forty-five untrained males were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three 12 wk training groups. An endurance training (ET, N=12) group trained by running (2-3 days/week, 20-40 min, 65- 80% HRR), a resistance training (RT, N=13) group performed a resistance training program (2-3 days/week, 3 sets/8 exercises, 6-10 reps, 75-85% 1RM), and a concurrent training (CT, N=16) group performed both the endurance and resistance training programs (5 days/week, even # week 3 endurance/2 resistance workouts, odd # week 3 resistance/2 endurance workouts). All groups were tested for all the following variables prior to and following training: percent body fat, VO2max, isokinetic-maximal torque and avg. power at two speeds, 1RM leg press, 1 RM bench press, vertical jump, lower body power (as calculated by the Lewis formula) and 40-yard dash time. Results: Percent body fat was significantly (p≤.05) decreased in both the ET and CT groups. Only the ET group significantly improved VO2max (+8.24%). Minimal changes were found for any of the isokinetic measurements. The ET, RT, and CT groups demonstrated significant improvements in leg press (20.4, 40.8, and 39.4%) and bench press (7.5, 30.5 and 21.2%) 1 RM. RT and CT 1 RM improvements were similar and significantly greater than the ET group. Only the RT group significantly increased power. No group showed a significant change in vertical jump or 40-yard dash time. Conclusions: Findings indicate that endurance training does not interfere with strength development, but resistance training appears to hinder development of maximal aerobic capacity.

Sistemas de Aprendizagem Adaptativos e Inteligentes, tema de pesquisa recente no mundo, são ambientes com arquitetura e algoritmos específicos, que consideram as características individuais de cada estudante para selecionar o objeto de aprendizagem mais adequado a ser oferecido ao aluno. O rápido desenvolvimento da infraestrutura sem fio e o amplo uso de dispositivos móveis na vida diária das pessoas motivam as pesquisas relativas ao uso desses dispositivos na educação, proporcionando o m-learning. Assim, relacionado a essas linhas de pesquisa, este trabalho propõe a arquitetura AdaptMLearning, elaborada para prover a aprendizagem em plataformas móveis e não móveis, considerando a seleção de objetos de aprendizagem que melhor se adaptam a diversos aspectos, tais como: dados sobre a tecnologia utilizada para acesso; informações sobre o estilo de aprendizagem de um estudante; desempenho e tempo associados à interação do estudante com o objeto de aprendizagem; conhecimentos adquiridos pelo estudante em consonância ao conteúdo do curso; e a garantia de que não só o professor possa configurar as adaptações a serem oferecidas ao seu curso, como também o aluno tenha a possibilidade de informar sua preferência pelos tipos de mídia. Essa arquitetura é baseada no modelo de referência AHAM para sistemas adaptativos AEHS, contemplando a quádrupla: espaço do conhecimento, modelo do usuário, observações e modelo de adaptação, referente à definição lógica desses sistemas. Na AdaptMLearning, foram desenvolvidos alguns algoritmos, utilizando-se o modelo FSLSM, relacionado aos estilos de aprendizagem de um estudante e o padrão IEEE 1484 para catalogação dos objetos de aprendizagem e uso de alguns atributos de suas categorias, associados às dimensões dos estilos de aprendizagem do modelo FSLSM. O algoritmo calcula um peso para um objeto catalogado em cada dimensão e permite uma busca pelo objeto mais adequado ao estilo do estudante, além de usar a computação fuzzy, para avaliar se o estudante pode sofrer mudanças no seu estilo, deve receber reforço ou necessita de um reestudo em determinado assunto de um curso, por meio de resultados obtidos com o tempo de estudo e desempenho. Também, este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento e a avaliação de um simulador para a arquitetura AdaptMLearning e seus algoritmos, realizada utilizando diversos cenários de simulação, envolvendo estudantes, cursos e tecnologias com diferentes configurações. Assim sendo, com base nos resultados obtidos por meio da avaliação, foi possível discutir, analisar e identificar o potencial de uso da AdaptMLearning e de seus algoritmos em uma situação real para elaboração de um ambiente de aprendizagem ou agregação a um ambiente existente.
Intelligent and Adaptive Learning Systems, subject of recent research in the world, are environments with specific architectures and algorithms, designed considering the individual characteristics of each student. The rapid development of wireless infrastructures and wide use of mobile devices in people\'s everyday life encourage research about the use of these devices in education, providing the mlearning. In the context of such research, this work proposes the AdaptMLearning architecture that was designed to be a learning infrastructure for mobile and nonmobile platforms. This architecture provides a selection of learning objects that takes into account as adaptation criteria the following data: the mobile device\'s technological specification; the student\'s learning style information, his/her performance and spent time associated to the student\'s interaction with the learning object; previously acquired knowledge by the student related to the course\'s content. In addition, it also allows the teacher to interfere in the adaptation criteria used during the study simulation, and allows the student to indicate his/her preferences for media types. This architecture is based on AHAM reference model for adaptive systems AEHS and uses the quadruple: the knowledge space, the user model, the observations and the model adaptation, referring to the logical definition of these systems. To implement the AdaptMLearning architecture some algorithms using the FSLSM model related to the student\'s learning styles were developed. The algorithms use the IEEE 1484 for cataloging learning objects and some of its categories and attributes associated with dimensions of learning styles FSLSM model, are used to compute a weight of an object in each dimension allowing a search of the most appropriate object according to the student\'s learning styles; and the use of fuzzy computing, considering that the student\'s learning style can change, determines if the student has to receive reinforcement or need a new study in a particular subject of a course, when the student gets unsatisfactory results in terms of timing and performance in a course\'s subject. Also, this work also presents the development and evaluation of a simulator for the AdaptMLearning architecture and their algorithms. The evaluation of the simulator was done by means of many simulations scenarios, considering students, courses and technologies with different settings. Based on the results obtained from the evaluation it was possible to discuss, analyze and identify the potential use of AdaptMLearning architecture and their algorithms in a real situation for developing a learning environment or its aggregation to an existing environment.

碩士
國立成功大學
國際企業研究所碩博士班
94
In the past decades, acquisition is a frequently used strategy. Researchers are interested in the post-acquisition performance. But most of the empirical results are disappointing. We try to propose an approach to bring bidders the better performance. Previous studies indicated that the alliances provide an opportunity for company to learn from partners. Therefore, we propose that the previous bidder and target’s alliances could cut down the information asymmetry and positively influence the acquisition performance. Whether the acquisition is non-horizontal or not is adopted as the moderator in the analysis. Non-horizontal acquisitions usually involve more information asymmetry, thus we expect prior alliances experiences are more influential in non-horizontal acquisition. Since we expect the alliances experiences with target could reduce the risk from information asymmetry, we suggest that the acquirers which face high level of information asymmetry are more likely to make alliances with target before acquisition. In this paper, we collect the US domestic acquisitions events between 1993 and 2000, and alliances events are between 1989 and 2000 from SDC. We use the post-acquisition 3-year buy-and-hold return in stock to measure the bidders’ performance, and to test our arguments. Our results support that the bidder-target alliances experiences let the bidders get better performance. The bidders possibly have prior bidder-target alliance when acquiring a nonpublic target firm. In contrast, we find the different industry background doesn’t have obvious moderating effect, and the bidders don’t tend to make alliances prior acquisitions as acquiring high technology or service target firms.

This research is an attempt at understanding the value of higher education with respect to police officer performance. This study used a sample of 331 Canadian Forces Military Police (CFMP) recruits who attended the Canadian Forces Military Police Academy (CFMPA) from January 2012 to April 2013 for the six month Military Police Qualification Level 3 (MP QL3) course. It examines between group differences in performance, among MP recruits with higher education – a college diploma or higher – and those with previous work experience – five years experience in another branch of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) or another police agency. The study used demographic and performance data obtained from the recruits’ CFMPA files. Descriptive statistics described central tendencies, standard deviation, kurtosis and skewness. This was used to assist in the description of recruits between groups and in order to determine distribution characteristics. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted on 34 tests – 14 percentage and 20 pass/fail – administered during the course to determine their factor structure. Chi-squared was used to explore between group differences in course completion. Finally Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) analyses were used to explore between group differences in performance based on the factor structure determined during EFA and the recruits overall course average. No significant between group difference with respect to performance were discovered, however, it is hoped that the results of this study will be used to inform the debate of the requirement for higher education in the field of policing and what factors contribute to police professionalization.
Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2014-03-22 16:42:11.736

碩士
中原大學
企業管理研究所
96
The study tried to discuss the overconfident investor influence the market under the earnings announcement event by the DHS static model, and discussed the investor whether has biased self-attribution for information follow the investment attention by the dynamic model. Then, whether to change original convictions follow the previous financial performance when they got the newly earning announcement information. Take the studying from 2001 to 2006 for example, The sample from listed company’s stock in the course of study. In evaluating the each stage returns, the abnormal return and cumulative abnormal return of Event Study are measured. In diagnose the abnormal return different form zero significantly, T-test is measured. Which are found in this result of study, D0D1 stage and D2D3 stage are significant consistent with DHS static model by the overall industry. Electric Machinery, Electron and Trading and Consumers’ Goods Industry are significant consistent with DHS static model which are represented the Taiwan Stock Exchange. In addition, investment attention has to influence the overall industrial stock price. The market presents the news to initiate the investor to pay attention after the date of board being issued, that lead to the private information are strengthened, and investor’s overconfident level increase, then reward rice ceaselessly. Finally, under the static model or dynamic model in each stages cumulative abnormal return, the companies’ previous financial performance is part of good are significant smaller than the companies are part of not good.

碩士
中原大學
會計研究所
97
The study adopts the DHS model that developed by Daniel,Hirshleifer and Subrahmanyam to study the effect causing by the return’s volatility and previous financial performance the overconfident investor influence the market under the earnings announcement event .This study takes whole listed companies’ stocks for studying samples during 2001 to 2008. Using the abnormal returns (AR) of each stage in the DHS model to analysis the previous financial performance of the company was good (bad) react to the positive (negative) events whether there is a significant positive (negative) effect and amplification. Furthermore, T-test is adopted to diagnose the abnormal return different form zero significantly. Which are found in the results of this study, D0D1 stage and D2D3 stage are approximately consistent with DHS model by the overall industries. Electron, Cement, Car, Food, Rubber, Consumers’ Goods and Glass industries are significant consistent with DHS model which are represented the Taiwan Stock Exchange. In addition, the company previous financial performance was good consistent with the degree of 51.50% by the overall industry in the positive events of earning announcement. There are 18 industries, 10 industries in line with the extent of more than 50%.The company previous financial performance was bad consistent with the degree of 56.39% by the overall industry in the negative events of earning announcement. There are 18 industries, 13 industries in line with the extent of more than 50%.Previous financial performance moderate affects DHS model, the influence of negative events are greater than positive events. It corresponds to the uncertain information hypothesis. Finally, the company return’s volatility is great consistent with the degree of 35.9% by the overall industry in the positive events of earning announcement. There are 18 industries, 2 industries in line with the extent of more than 50%.The company return’s volatility is great consistent with the degree of 56.68% by the overall industry in the negative events of earning announcement. There are 18 industries, 13 industries in line with the extent of more than 50%.Return’s volatility of the company is obviously negative amplification on the DHS model that only in the negative events of earning announcement.

碩士
義守大學
管理科學研究所
92
ABSTRACT This study examines the direct and interactive impact of spokespeople’s types, way of message appeals and audience’s previous attitude on performance of idea communication in social marketing of non-profit organizations. Spokespeople’s types are classified into the positive spokespeople and the negative one. Message appeals compose of rational and emotional message appeal. Audience’s previous attitude involves attitude towards idea and attitude towards spokespeople. Performance of idea communication is measured by advertisement attitude, and idea acceptance. This study is a 2 ×2 experimental design was conducted under conditions which varied spokespeople’s types (positive spokespeople vs. negative spokespeople ) and Message appeals (rational appeal vs. emotional appeal). Regarding the direct effects, the results indicate that spokespeople’s types have positive impact on idea acceptance; additionally, the effect of the positive spokespeople is better than that of the negative spokespeople. Message appeals have positive impact on advertisement attitude, especially, rational appeal functions better than emotional message appeal. Regarding the interactive impact, this study finds that the interaction of positive spokespeople and audiences’ previous positive attitude of spokespeople has more favorable effect on performance of idea communication. The interaction of rational appeal and audiences’ previous positive attitude of idea has more favorable impact on idea acceptance. The interaction of rational appeal and audiences’ previous positive attitude of spokespeople has more favorable impacts on advertisement attitude. On idea acceptance, the interaction of emotional appeal and audiences’ previous positive attitude of spokespeople has more favorable impact.

碩士
國立高雄大學
運動健康與休閒學系碩士班
108
Sergeants and officers in the military in Taiwan are required to take physical fitness tests at physical fitness assessment stations nationwide each year. The passing rates of the military personnel are used to evaluate each troop’s physical conditions. In the evolution of the physical fitness assessment system, the Ministry of National Defense adopted two different sets of criteria used for general test takers in 2009-2016 and 2017-2018 respectively (hereafter old standard and new standard). The new standard is relatively low. The purpose of this study is to compare the passing rates between two standards and investigate military personnel’s physical fitness conditions as different standards applied. This study was conducted between January 2nd, 2015 and December 21st, 2018. The participants included 64,342 test takers who were the national military volunteer sergeants and officers taking three physical fitness tests in a physical fitness assessment station in southern Taiwan. The data consisted of the participants’ gender, military force, unit, and test score. The passing rates were then be calculated unerd new and old standards and were analyzed by one-way repeated ANOVA and Scheffe’s Method. The results showed that the passing rates of overall and individual assessment significantly improved after the new standard was adopted. However, as the old standard is applied to the new records, which mean the standards are consistent for each year, the passing rates of overall and each individual test significantly decrease, regardless gender, military force, or unit. Under the assumption that all test takers have tried their best to complete the physical fitness tests, the decline of the passing rates suggests that the overall physical fitness conditions of the sergeants and officers in the military was not improved after the new standard adopted.

碩士
中山醫學大學
醫學資訊學系碩士班
105
In the field of searching the optimal solutions of objective functions, particle swarm optimization (PSO) can be said to be a simple but effective algorithm. Its advantages include simplicity and ease to understand and implement, but it easily leads to getting stuck in local optima. In order to maintain the original benefit and promote its performance, we propose a novel idea in this paper, which selects the best setting model of PSO based on the previous performance through a switch of PSO with multiple setting models. Experimental results show that the PSO through the scheme is better than any with its individual setting alone. In the future, PSO algorithms with a switch of multiple models will be a promising research field. In addition, the idea can be easily extended to a scheme of selecting the best from multiple optimization methods.

碩士
義守大學
管理科學研究所
91
This study examines the direct and interactive effects of advertising message appeals, message framings, product classification, and pre-attitude of the brand of consumers on advertising performance. Message appeals(rational and emotional appeal), product classification(high involvement-rational, high involvement- emotional, low involvement-rational, and low involvement-emotional product), message framings(one-sided and two-sided message), and pre-attitude of the brand of consumers(positive and negative pre-attitude of the brand of consumers) were manipulated in a 2x2x4x2 factorial experiment. Advertising performance was measured by advertising attitude, product attitude, and consumers’ purchase intention. Considering the direct effects, the result of this study indicates that rational appeals result in more advertising attitude, product attitude, and purchase intention than emotional ones. There are significantly different advertising performance between one-sided and two-sided messages. Regarding the interactive effects, this study finds that facing to consumers who have positive pre-attitude of the brand, we will gain better advertising performance by advertising with one-sided messages. And advertising with two-sided messages only have significantly better effect to consumers who have negative pre-attitude of the brand on advertising attitude and product attitude. However, when high involvement-rational product with two-sided messages doesn’t have significantly better effect on advertising performance. And high involvement-emotional product with two-sided messages only has significantly better effect on advertising attitude and product attitude. As to low involvement-rational and low involvement-emotional product with one-sided messages have significantly better effect on advertising attitude, product attitude and purchase intention. Besides, high involvement-emotional product with emotional appeals and two-sided messages has significantly better effect on advertising attitude, product attitude, and purchase intention. And high involvement-rational product with rational appeals and two-sided messages only has significantly better effect on advertising attitude and product attitude. As regards, low involvement-rational product with rational appeals and one-sided messages has significantly better effect on advertising performance, and low involvement-emotional product does, too. Finally, we makes some suggestions about advertising communication according to the empirical result of this study.

Text in Afrikaans, summary in English
The object of the study was to determine if the use of different types of music would have an influence on the study effectiveness of the high school pupils. The music was used by the educational psychologist together with study methods. An empirical study was done in which three groups of students were used. The first group had no music, the second group had pop music and the last group had baroque music in their study session. The empirical study showed that music and then specifically baroque music had an influence on the study effectiveness of pupils. A program was compiled in which guidelines were given for study, the program is now used in a study program for high school students. Recommendations were made for the use of music with study methods for the Educational Psychologist, teachers and pupils
Educational Studies
M. Ed. (Voorligting)

碩士
輔仁大學
會計學系碩士班
107
The study uses data collected from publicly traded companies in Taiwan between 2012 and 2017 to investigate the impacts of previous performances and enterprise life cycle on managerial turnovers and subsequent performances of the firms that experience a managerial turnover. The empirical results show that the probability of a managerial turnover is decreasing with a firm’s previous performance. Moreover, the influence of previous performances on a managerial turnover differs for firms in the different stage of the enterprise life cycle. Previous performances exhibit the largest influence on the managerial turnovers of mature firms and the lowest impact on the managerial turnovers of growing firms. The effect of previous performances on the managerial turnovers of declining firms ranges between that effect on mature firms and that effect on growing firms. Finally, the results suggest that the performances after a managerial turnover are significantly improved, supporting the prediction of the common sense theory.

The thesis proposes solutions for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Newcastle area to perform Christ’s mission work effectively. It examines how mission could be meaningful in contemporary society, which is challenging mission so gravely. The study challenges all churches, including youth, women, men and clergy towards mission. An analysis of a mission perspective is delineated, aware of the social contexts for mission in Newcastle. The context of culture has been dealt with, encouraging the Church to be culturally sensitive, and to use cultural means to reach people. God uses cultural means to reveal himself. Evil cultural practices, for example, ancestral ‘worship’ and ‘talking to the dead’ are exposed and denounced. Bible readings promote mission in the Adventist Church. The teacher of the Bible is to study it thoroughly, ensuring that he/she is able to proclaim the gospel. Creative teaching of the Bible includes different levels of understanding, namely, a rote level, a recognition level, a repetition level, an interactive and a realisation level. The gospel is to be applied in life. Different hermeneutical approaches to the Bible are summarised, for example, a postmodern approach. Strategic planning regarding evangelism is vital. ‘Gift-based’ ministry would inspire all believers to perform mission work according to people’s ability. All Christians should be able to evangelise others, leading people as acknowledged sinners to accept Christ as Saviour and Lord, and to establish the reign of God in society according to his justice. The heart of the thesis is as follows:- The gospel of Christ is a missionary message to reach all people with the gospel of salvation and societal renewal - The church of Christ is a missional church, which stands and falls by its missionary task to proclaim Christ as Saviour and his reign and justice as ultimate in society
Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology
M. Th. (Missiology)

The importance of secondary school education in moulding learners into responsible citizens of tomorrow cannot be ignored or undermined. Secondary school education is the stepping stone for unlimited opportunities for learners to explore the career choices that they have to pursue further in their lives. Every year the performance of secondary schools in the matric examination come under spotlight as soon as the results are published. Many schools in the previously disadvantaged communities perform poorly in the matric examination each year. This research aims at drawing up management strategies that could be used to improve the performance of learners in the matric examination in the poorly performing schools. The literature study reveals that effective management and leadership is an essential characteristic of a successful school. Managers of schools that are poorly performing in the matric examination have to set up proper systems in place to ensure effective teaching and learning. Effective participation of all stakeholders in the management of the education of the learners is essential to improve the academic performance of learners in the matric examination. Quality subject delivery by educators in the classroom is the most important and indispensable factor that can improve the academic performance of learners in the secondary schools. Active participation of parents in the education of their children is essential to improve the discipline of the school as well as the academic performance of the learners. The literature study also reveals that poor socio-economic conditions can negatively influence the academic performance of learners. Schools that are poorly performing require visionary and innovative managers to turn them around into centres of excellence. Managers of schools have to seek the assistance and cooperation of the community and the business people to improve the quality of education provided in schools. Availability of necessary physical facilities enhance the quality of teaching and learning and the academic performance of learners in the various subjects. A questionnaire was used to collect the data required for this research. Forty schools that are poorly performing and forty schools that are well performing in the matric examinations were selected for this research. All these schools exist in the previously disadvantaged communities. Based on the information gathered using the questionnaire, each item in the questionnaire is analysed and discussed. After the factor analysis, the significance of the difference between the factor means of the various groups for each of the factors were analysed and explained. The data obtained suggests that in many schools (66,5% of schools surveyed), there is a lack of effective management structures that are essential for the implementation of quality teaching and learning. Lack of support and active participation of the parents in the education of the learners can be noticed from the information gathered. Poor management of school resources for effective teaching and learning can be also observed from the data collected. Lack of physical facilities is still a major problem in many (54,5% of the schools surveyed) schools. Lack of shared vision and cooperation among the stakeholders of education for the provision of quality education is evident in many schools. Ill-disciplined and non-committed learner bodies are a major challenge to many schools in the previously disadvantaged communities. The research shows that, organisational support and individual support are crucial to the success and the improvement of the academic performance of a school. The management strategies to improve the academic performance of previously disadvantaged schools in the grade 12 examination has two components namely: organisational support and individual support. The SMTs of schools have to set up management systems in place to ensure effective teaching and learning at schools. It is the responsibility of the SMTs to provide a suitable atmosphere needed for effective curriculum delivery at schools. The human, physical and financial resources of a school should be managed most effectively for quality education for all. Management strategies that will provide opportunities for all stakeholders to participate effectively in the school development programmes should be organised by the SMTs of schools. Schools have to introduce and implement strategies to improve the learner attendance and discipline for quality education and to improve the academic performance. The SMTs of schools have to introduce programmes that will increase the participation and support of parents in the education of learners. The academic performance of schools cannot be improved without providing sufficient individual support to the learners and educators. Based on the needs of the educators and learners, schools have to organise various programmes to support them to improve the academic performance in the grade 12 examination. Workshops and in-house training for educators are some of the ways to support the educators to enhance the quality of curriculum delivery at schools. Additional academic support programmes like extra lessons during afternoons and holidays can assist learners to improve their performance. Schools should have necessary systems in place to address the socio-economic needs of learners. In chapter 6, the findings of the research as well as the recommendations of management strategies to improve the academic performance of previously disadvantaged schools in the grade 12 examination are also given.
Prof. T.C. Bisschoff

The purpose of this study is to formulate guidelines upon which Technology Education can be put into operation in the South African schools with specific reference to standard eight students. The objective is to formulate Technology Education guidelines suitable for and within the broad framework of the South African curricula. In attempting to translate Technology Education curriculum to South Africa, the author explores the state of advancement in Technology Education in various developed and developing countries. The status, principles and theoretical assumptions of Technology Education are also explored. The role of the teacher in the Technology Education programme is also discussed. Guidelines for Technology Education, including Technology Education teaching strategies, guidelines for Technology Education assessment standards and guidelines for integrating Technology Education, Science and Mathematics are also formulated. The author qualifies the significance of Technology Education in South Africa through a pilot study over a year. The subjects of this (pilot) empirical study consisted of a total of 175 standard eight students, 77 of who were in a control group, who had received no tuition in Technology Education. A group of 98 received tuition in Technology Education for a year. The normal end of the year examination in 1994 measured academic performance of the two groups. Performance in 1993 is also used in the statistical analysis. The Univariate Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is applied in the analysis of data. Statistically significant differences are found between the academic performance of these two groups in relation to the overall Examination marks, English, Science and Mathematics marks. Statistically significant differences are also found between the 1993 and 1994 performance of the experimental group after receiving Technology Education tuition in standard eight in terms of the overall Examination, marks, English, Science and Mathematics marks. In the control group, no statistically significant differences were evidenced in Mathematics, English and Science when comparing marks in 1993 and in 1994. It is only applicable in the average Examination mark. These results confirm the role that Technology Education plays in enhancing performance in Science and Mathematics including English.
Curriculum and Institutional Studies
D. Ed. (Didactics)