Background: The concept of value perception is widely discussed in scientific literature and it is well-known, that channels deliver value to the customer. However, so far there has been no research about the efficiency of channels, especially the consumer´s perception of channel efficiency. Therefore, this study contributes to the current literature in channel management and it fills an existing research gap. The authors establish a definition of the term 'channel efficiency' and they develop a measuring instrument. For this thesis, the three criteria (1) shopping enjoyment, (2) interpersonal service quality and (3) price level are taken into consideration for the efficiency calculation. The two channels of interest are physical retail stores and the Internet. The target group is university students. Purpose: To measure and compare the efficiency of the channels 'physical retail store' and 'Internet' from the consumer´s view and thus, to find general patterns of rated channel efficiency. This will be achieved by investigating the individual channel value perception of certain channel specific criteria and by exploring the respective relevance of these criteria.   Research Questions: 1. What is the general channel efficiency of the channel physical retail store? 2. What is the general channel efficiency of the channel Internet? Method: A quantitative study in form of an online questionnaire has been conducted with German and Swedish students. 1 995 persons participated in the survey. The analysis has been carried out by using the computer software SPSS. Thus, the collected data could be edited with respect to the verification of the proposed hypotheses, the calculation and comparison of the respective channel efficiencies and additionally, the identification of patterns for gender and age groups. Research findings: The analysis of the collected data has shown that the three regarded criteria are of diverse importance and they are perceived differently for the channels physical retail stores and the Internet. Hence, the efficiency of those two channels is also unequal; physical retail stores reach a mean value of 46.8% and the Internet in turn achieves an average of 43.1%. This shows that both channels hold potential for improvement. When looking at patterns between gender and age groups, the authors could also identify interesting differentiations.

Many telecommunication companies are making considerable investments to take advantage of the new business possibilities offered by 3G mobile services. Previous research on mobile network, suggests potential consumers may not adopt these 3G services provided by telecommunication companies. Given that not all new mobile telecommunication technologies are accepted by the mass market in Taiwan. Thus, there is a need for research to identify the factors that affect consumer intention to subscribe third-generation (3G) mobile services. Based on the theoretical framework of Purchase Intention Model (PIM), network effects, perceived enjoyment and optimum stimulation level, an empirical study of the mass adoption of 3G mobile services in Taiwan was conducted. Data collected from 322 users in Taiwan confirmed our hypotheses and tested against the research model. The results support the proposed model in predicting consumer intention to subscribe 3G service. This study demonstrated that perceived over performance, relative advantage, network effects, perceived enjoyment and optimum stimulation level were key factors that resulted in individuals¡¦ subscription of 3G services. Lastly, several implications for innovation technology acceptance research and 3G service management practices are discussed.

This research regards internet users with hearing-impairment as the target. The purpose is to investigate the factors which will influence hearing-impaired people use internet. This research is theoretically based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). According to the literatures, join subject norm, media richness, internet self-efficacy and perceived enjoyment. A total of 255 effective samples were collected via internet questionnaire. Through the survey and analysis, we could prove that subject norm, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use will influence the behavioral intention directly. Subject norm, media richness, perceived enjoyment and perceived ease of use will influence the perceived usefulness directly. And media richness, internet self-efficacy and perceived enjoyment will influence the perceived ease of use. According to the findings of research, there are the following suggestions. (1) Hearing-impaired communities should offer information courses of computer and internet. (2)The government should offer more services through internet, and social welfare organizations should update information as instant as possible. (3)Implement the execution of the regulations of web accessibility.

Pediatric overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) for age of 85th-95th percentile, and occurs in approximately 33.6% of adolescents 12-19 years of age. Hispanic adolescents are disproportionately at risk for overweight. Excess weight can predispose adolescents to develop diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary artery disease, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, sleep apnea, osteoporosis, asthma, and certain types of cancer, whereas physical activity can help prevent and treat these diseases. Little is known about the factors that contribute to physical activity in Hispanic adolescent girls. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the influence of personal characteristics, perceptual influences, interpersonal influences and sociocultural influences on physical activity in White and Hispanic adolescent girls. The theoretical framework for this study was self-designed--the Physical Activity Lifestyle Model. Data for this cross-sectional study was collected from girls age 11-14 who presented to the Children's Wellness Center in Del Valle, TX (N = 121) in the summers of 2011 and 2012. Most participants self-identified as Hispanic (n = 106). Participants completed a survey consisting of a 1-day physical activity recall, a demographic questionnaire, and several validated (primarily Likert-type) questionnaires. Height and weight were measured in the clinic. Data analysis began with descriptive analysis (mean, standard deviation and percentage) of demographic characteristics, dependent and independent variables, then Pearson correlations, and finally multiple linear regression to determine the influence of the independent variables on physical activity. No significant differences were found between ethnic groups on age, grade or school (p > .05). Physical activity was significantly related to body image (r = .189, p < .05), friend social support (r = .279, p < .01), and family social support (r = .401, p < .01). In addition, physical activity significantly predicted BMI percentile (B = -.043, SE = .019, t = -2.249, p = .027), appearance-related media messages (B = .259, SE = .127, t = 2.038, p = .044), pressures to be thin (B = .311, SE = .149, t = 2.082, p = .040), family social support for physical activity (B = .089, SE = .042, t = 2.139, p = .035), body image (B = .367, SE = .123, t = 2.987, p = .004), and physical activity enjoyment (B = .083, SE = .040, t = 2.089, p = .040). When designing an intervention to promote physical activity, health care providers and educators should consider that multiple external factors influence physical activity participation in Hispanic adolescent girls. Healthcare providers should involve parents and siblings in physical activity interventions for overweight adolescent girls. Interventions should be tailored to work with the adolescent girls' physical and social environment. Public health nurses should work with schools and communities to increase physical activity opportunities for adolescent girls in physical education classes, girls' sports, and after-school programs. / text

[Truncated abstract] Enjoyable physical education (PE) has the potential to promote adolescent involvement in healthy activities outside the school setting. Disturbingly, evidence exists that many students do not enjoy PE and do not believe that it meets their needs. Indeed, a number of studies have documented an age-related decline in PE enjoyment among students. The research reported here is based on the assumption that a deeper understanding of the enjoyment processes could guide researchers and assist teachers in making PE classes more enjoyable for students. Given the fact that enjoyment is a product of multiple processes, a model of enjoyment developed by Scanlan and Lewthwaite (1986) was viewed as a potentially useful framework to guide this research. The validity of this model has been established in youth sport settings. However, further studies are needed to examine the utility of this framework in PE settings. In STUDY 1 (Chapter 3), a measurement instrument was constructed based on the Scanlan and Lewthwaite (1986) model. Content validity of the instrument was established by obtaining feedback from eight experts in psychology and four highly experienced secondary school teachers. ... Moreover, the results of correlation analyses again revealed significant positive relationships between PE teaching processes and enjoyment of PE. Unique findings in this study centered on the specific aspects of PA that were positively related to PE enjoyment. More v specifically, significant positive relationships were also obtained between PE enjoyment and self-reports of exercise duration (min-per-week: r = .30, p <.001), exercise intensity (r = .28, p < .001), exercise habit strength (r = .29, p < .001), and exercise stage-of-change (rho = .23, p < .001). Together, the findings from these studies provide support for the Scanlan and Lewthwaite (1986) model within the PE context. In addition, the findings provide guidance about how PA programs can be structured to maximize student enjoyment of PE. In terms of program structure, student enjoyment may be fostered by considering six processes. These processes are: self-referent competency, other-referent competency, teacher-generated excitement, activity-generated excitement, peer interaction, and parental encouragement. By emphasizing these processes, teachers will not only increase student enjoyment of PE but also increase the likelihood of involvement in PA outside of the school setting. Given global trends toward decreases in PA and increases in obesity, these outcomes could have important benefits for reducing public health costs in future.

À travers l’analyse et l’interpretation de films du panorama italien et international des années cinquante jusqu’à aujourd’hui, ce travail vise à éclairer le fonctionnement et les modalités esthétiques et perceptives d’activation de la jouissance dans le dispositif cinématographique sur la base du tout dernier enseignement de Jacques Lacan.Après un étude soigné du concept de jouissance dans la psychanalyse lacanienne – un concept qu’il faut entendre en opposition à celui de plaisir, et en conflit permanent avec celui de désir, deux fondements de la théorie psychanalythique du cinéma – on relèvera l’insuffisance du régime scopique dans la situation de jouissance cinématographique, où grâce à l’entrée en jeu du corps, la dimension d’absence, de perte et d’inaccessibilité caractérisant le cinéma et son signifiant, se fait remplacer par une condition très marquée de materialité et de surplus de presence. Ça nous oblige à une révision partielle voire à une relecture generale des théories psychanalythiques classiques du cinéma, en remettant en question les processus mȇmes d’identification, croyance, voyeurisme et plaisir vecus par le spectateur , dont le corps ne peut plus être pensé uniquement dans sa composante imaginaire, mais aussi dans sa dimension organique et physiologique, qui est néanmoins présente dans la conception lacanienne de la jouissance. Ce travail est composé par une première partie théorique, où on analysera la genèse et le déroulement général de la notion de jouissance dans la pensée lacanienne et dans le dispositif cinématographique, et par une deuxième partie plus analytique, où on présentera des exemples de films particulièrement interessés par l’action de la jouissance. / Through an indepth analysis and interpretation of selected Italian and International films from of the 1950s to the present, this thesis intends to shed light on the possible mechanism of lacanian jouissance activated and enabled by cinematographic devices.Taking into consideration the teachings of Lacan, we will explore if it is possible to formulate a “theory of jouissance” in cinema. Starting with a detailed study of the concept of jouissance in lacanian psychoanalysis, followed by an examination of cinematic dispositif, we will highlight the inadequacies of the scopic regime in the cinematographic situation of jouissance. According to Lacan, when jouissance appears, body comes into play in its organic, physiological and clinical component, so that an excess of materiality and presence replace the state of absence, stillness and inaccessibility generally associated to the cinema and its signifier. It is therefore crucial to think about jouissance as a concept in complete opposition to that of pleasure and in permanent conflict with that of desire, the two cornerstones of psychoanalytical theory of the cinema. This calls for a thorough revision of classical studies in cinema and psychoanalysis. / Attraverso l’interpretazione e l’analisi di alcuni film del panorama italiano ed internazionale dagli anni Cinquanta ad oggi, la mia tesi si propone di mettere in luce il funzionamento dei possibili meccanismi di godimento (jouissance) attivati e attivabili dal dispositivo cinematografico sulla base dell’insegnamento dell’ultimo Jacques Lacan.Partendo da uno studio accurato di tale concetto nella psicoanalisi lacaniana – concetto da intendersi fondamentalmente in opposizione a quello di piacere e in conflitto permanente con quello di desiderio: due capisaldi della teoria psicoanalitica del cinema – sarà evidenziata l’insufficienza del regime scopico nella situazione di godimento cinematografico dal momento che, quando c’è jouissance, subentra il corpo, e il regime dell'eccesso di presenza viene a sostituire quello (tradizionalmente connesso al cinema e al suo significante) della mancanza e dell'inaccessibilità. Ne conseguirà una parziale revisione e un generale ripensamento delle teorie psicoanalitiche classiche del cinema, accompagnata da una rilettura dei procedimenti stessi di identificazione, credenza, voyeurismo e piacere, prendendo in considerazione lo stato percettivo di uno spettatore il cui corpo non è più limitato alla sua (pur fondamentale) componente immaginaria, ma va inteso anche nella sua dimensione organico-fisiologica. Ad una prima parte teorica, incentrata sulle dinamiche generali del godimento nella teoria lacaniana e nel dispositivo cinematografico, seguirà una parte più analitica in cui le meccaniche della jouissance verranno analizzate in rapporto ad alcuni film particolarmente debitori alle forme e a ai luoghi principali del godimento.

Consumer experience plays an increasingly significant role in influencing the success of most businesses. The concept of ‘consumer experience’ has become an important area of study within the disciplines of marketing and consumer behavior. Regardless of its positive attention, this phenomenon has received in recent years; the clarification of consumer experience quality in online communities has remained unclear and needs a detailed theoretical base. In addition, it has been assumed that there is a relation between consumer experience quality and brand loyalty, nevertheless, there is limited research to confirm this theoretical proposition. The purpose of this study is to gain an in-depth perspective on the concept of consumer experience quality and its dimensions in the online community. The Internet has changed the behavior of consumers significantly where individuals have used online communities to interact with one another. These online communities enable individuals to connect globally in order to communicate effectively since inappropriate communication activities can affect the image consumers have formed with a particular organization from online social networks. As a result, the traditional way of communication is changed using interactive platforms. Data was collected through qualitative and quantitative research using an online blog where consumers shared ideas, experiences and interacted with each other about their experiences of Weightwatchers and Slimming World in the United Kingdom. The qualitative research was done by applying Netnography technique that uses content analysis of consumer reviews of their experiences in the Health and Diet online communities. Using the PLS-SEM, the structural model proposed in this study revealed a significant positive relationship between pragmatic experience and overall quality experience. Thus, the current study maintains the notion that pragmatic experience is a key determinant of overall quality experience. In addition, finding of this study suggests that consumers assess their online experience when participating in “health and diet online communities”. These pragmatic components are reflected in the consumers’ benefits gained during interacting with the online community. Furthermore, it was evident that consumers view the online community as important in relation to their feelings and enjoyment because the forum provides them with the opportunities and preferences to share health and diet information with other community members. Consequently, the participants in the “health and diet online communities” will eventually generate moods, feelings and emotional experiences after interacting with each other in order to develop an affective relationship with a company’s brand and products.

O misticismo na Idade Média pode ser entendido como uma prática de espiritualidade que confirma a legitimidade da experiência íntima do ser humano com a divindade e desempenha uma função importante neste período histórico: ser um modo para se alcançar a relação direta e individual com Deus, num momento em que a instituição religiosa buscava a uniformização da fé, extirpando muitas práticas heterodoxas (heresias). Todavia, a mística se impõe como uma evolução natural da espiritualidade cristã no medievo ocidental, que estava submergida na razão (teologia), possibilitando ao indivíduo uma expressão mais livre e sensível da fé. O Boosco Deleitoso, classificado por estudiosos como uma obra mística, expressa esta condição emotiva da fé. O objetivo deste estudo, portanto, concentra-se em observar a mística na referente obra portuguesa. Para isso, foi preciso sustentar este trabalho em dois alicerces: a história e a psicanálise. No primeiro momento, far-se-á um estudo da espiritualidade medieval e a evolução da mística neste ambiente sociopolítico; em seguida, será traçado pontos de identificação entre o Boosco Deleitoso e os autores e autoras da mística medieval. No segundo momento, a partir de um estudo sobre a mística sob o olhar da psicanálise, buscar-se-á fazer uma abordagem literária dos discursos místicos tendo em consideração as contribuições teóricas de Freud e Lacan sobre o assunto. O corpus desta pesquisa se encontra entre os capítulos 118 e 153 do Boosco Deleitoso, parcela da obra que perceptivelmente foi influenciada pela mística medieval / The mysticism in the Middle Age can be understood as a spirituality that confirms the legitimacy of the close experience of the human being with the deity and plays an important function in this historical period: to be a way to reach the direct and individual relation with God, at a moment where the religious institution searched the standardization of the faith, excising many practical heterodox (heresies). However, the mystique if imposes as a natural evolution of the Christian spirituality in medieval occidental person, who was submerged in the reason (theology), making possible to the individual a freer and sensible expression of the faith. The Boosco Deleitoso, classified for studious as a mystique, express workmanship this emotional condition of the faith. The objective of this study, therefore, is concentrated in observing the mystique in the referring Portuguese workmanship. For this, she was necessary to support this work in two foundations: history and the psychoanalysis. At the first moment, a study of the medieval spirituality and the evolution of the mystique in this sociopolitical environment will become; after that, it will be traced points of identification between the Boosco Deleitoso and the authors and authors of the medieval mystique. At as the moment, from a study on the mystique under the look of the psychoanalysis, one will search to make a literary boarding of the mystics speeches having in consideration the theoretical contributions of Freud and Lacan on the subject. The corpus of this research if finds between chapters 118 and 153 of the Boosco Deleitoso, parcel out of the workmanship that perceivably was influenced by the medieval mystique

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O presente trabalho é fruto de uma pesquisa de natureza teórica que teve como objetivo investigar a possível relação entre o que chamamos de demissão paterna e certos sintomas corporais que se tornaram frequentes na contemporaneidade. Para a realização do trabalho, partimos das considerações freudianas a respeito do pai e, avançando pelas proposições de Lacan a respeito da missão paterna, pudemos chegar ao sentido a ser dado ao que designamos com o termo demissão. Este designa o declínio das possibilidades operativas de exercício da função simbólica do pai como o resultado das características do laço social da atualidade. Por implicação, falar em demissão paterna não é rigorosamente a mesma coisa que falar em declínio da função paterna. Trata-se antes de perceber que o trabalho do pai como terceiro singular não se faz sem o respaldo do social, que em nossa época é tecido por um discurso que não pode senão contradizer este trabalho, no entanto indispensável à constituição subjetiva. Pretendemos demonstrar de que modo a demissão paterna põe em evidência novas formas de constituição subjetiva que, por sua vez, resultam na primazia do corpo e em determinados tipos de fenômenos corporais. Com o intuito de fomentar uma discussão proveitosa a respeito destes novos sintomas, resgatamos das obras de Freud e Lacan a concepção sustentada pelos autores a respeito dos sintomas corporais, ou pelo menos dos sintomas passíveis de inscrição no corpo. Por fim, tecemos nossas considerações a respeito do vínculo tácito e causal que, no nosso entendimento, une a demissão paterna a certos sintomas da atualidade onde o corpo aparece em primeiro plano. Abordamos ainda a grafia (de)missão paterna, que nos permitiu transmitir a ideia segundo a qual a função paterna se mantém operante, ainda que as condições já não sejam tão favoráveis / This work is the result of a theoretical research which aimedat investigating possible relations between what we call father demission and certain body symptoms that have become frequent in contemporaneity. In order to carry out the study, we have started from Freudian considerations regarding the father, proceeding to Lacans propositions on the fathers mission and arriving to the meaning of what we have designated with the term demission.It stands for the decline of operational possibilities to exercise the symbolic paternal function, as a result of nowadays social bond characteristics. Therefore, talking about father demission is not rigorously the same as talking about the decline of paternal function. It actually is about realizing that the fathers role as athird cannot be done without social support, which in our time is crossed by a discourse that cannot but to contradict such role, being, however, indispensible to subjective constitution.We intend to demonstrate how does father demission put in evidencenew forms of subjective constitution that, thus, result in the primacy of the body in certain types of embodied phenomena.Aiming to promote a productive discussion on these new symptoms, we haveused Freuds and Lacans conceptions of body symptoms, or at least symptoms subject to be inscribed in the body.Finally, we have built our considerations towardsthe tacit and causal linkage that, in our comprehension, unites father demission and some contemporary symptomsin which the body is highlighted. We have also brought attention to the structure of the term father (de)mission, which have allowed us to maintain the idea of an operational paternal function, even when the conditions for it are not so favorable

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T16:52:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 123971.pdf: 3207612 bytes, checksum: 14deff484d9b72aa5a74a4ee043990d2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-05-15 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The study articulates reflections between imaginary aspects and the state of pleasure present in the relationship between stage and audience in a contemporary aesthetic point of view. Authors like Durant, Bachelard, Castoriadis and Maffesoli are revisited in order to collaborate in the imaginary conception of the formulation developed here from primarily a dialogical design and game between the productive dimensions (artists) and receptive (viewer). We propose an investigation and a strain on imaging concepts, imagination and imagination in order to view them as fundamental artistic aesthetic principles to reconfigure the theatrical event. Thus, it is necessary to investigate the relationships created around the pleasure of the viewer as an extension of the creative possibilities and subject s interpersonal relations. To restore the receiver as the work towards the propellant, the theatrical aesthetics are discussed in the dimension of imaginary play, creative and poetic, which takes place in the presence of character, enhancing the speech and the immanent sense of the theatrical discourse. Such principles are developed through the study of two shows produced by recognized and active groups in Brazil, as follows: "A marca da água" Armazém Cia de Theatre / active in RJ and "Os Bem-Intencionados" LUME Theatre group Campinas / SP. / O estudo articula reflexões entre aspectos do imaginário e o estado de prazer presentes nas relações entre cena e público, segundo um ponto de vista estético contemporâneo. Autores como Bachelard, Durand, e Castoriadis são revisitados a fim de colaborarem na formulação da concepção de imaginário aqui desenvolvido a partir, sobretudo, de uma concepção dialógica e de jogo entre as dimensões produtivas (artistas) e receptivas (espectador). Para tanto, propõe uma investigação e uma distensão nos conceitos de imagem, imaginação e imaginário, a fim de perspectivá-los como princípios estéticos artísticos fundamentais para elaborar novas possibilidades de relações no acontecimento teatral. Assim, torna-se necessário investigar as diretrizes criadas em torno do prazer do espectador enquanto extensão das possibilidades criativas e relações intersubjetivas do sujeito. Ao restituir o receptor como propulsor do sentido da obra, a estética teatral é discutida na dimensão de jogo imaginário, criativo e poético, que se efetua em caráter de presença, potencializando o sentido imanente do discurso teatral. Tais preceitos desembocam na investigação analítica de dois espetáculos produzidos por grupos reconhecidos e atuantes no Brasil, sendo eles: A marca da Água do Armazém Cia de Teatro de Londrina/ atuante no RJ e Os Bem-intencionados do grupo LUME Teatro de Campinas/SP.