By means of the experimental oral double auction markets, this thesis shows that the Hayek hypothesis might not be valid when uncertainty is introduced into the markets. More precisely , our experimental results evidence that the efficiency loss increases as the degree of uncertainty increases. Furthermore, as our convergence analyses suggests, the flat sup of the efficiency and the flat inf of the P-Q norm in Experiment 1, the experiment without uncertainty, seems to reflect the market behavior characterized by rational expectations or rational learning. On the other hand, the decreasing sup of the efficiency and the increasing inf of the P-Q norm in Experiment 2, the experiment with uncertainty, seems to reflect the market behaviour characterized by bounded rationality or animal spirits. Therefore, a phase transition from rational expectations to animal spirits might be parameterized by the degree of uncertainty. These findings have important implications for the current controversy on bounded rationality in macroeconomics. They also reflect the limitation of using the method of certainty equivalence in treating uncertainty when the market is regarded as parallel distributed processors rather than a central unit processor.

在本研究以Fodor 模組心智觀（The Modularity of Mind）為理論分析架構作研究，探討心靈哲學之符號論，界定”下棋思維”是否適用模組理論的分析解釋，並探討Fodor 模組理論與”下棋思維”現實狀況的相容性，對Fodor 理論缺失提出批判，並設立實驗方法與題目，建立實證分析，對棋手心理研究分析提出新見解。 以往「模組理論」Fodor 所要求的條件較為嚴格，認為模組有具有:”“範疇 特殊性”、”強制性操作”、”心理表徵只有有限的中樞通路”、”快速”、”資訊封裝性”、”表層輸出”、”有固定的神經結構”、”特殊的損傷模式”、”特定的發展步驟和順序”等九個特點，在模組觀點逐漸被接受的同時，Fodor 主張的模組理論亦不斷演進和被討論，其模組化條件演變為愈來愈寬鬆，最主要的四個條件為：1、信息封閉性(Information Encapsulated)，2、不可進入性（Inaccessibility），3、範 疇特殊性(Domain Specific)，4、先天論（Innate Ideaism），一旦有超過兩個條件不符合，就不能說心智或思想構成具有模組化的特性。 本研究探討心智能力，以心理學對高低能力棋手分析為例，對照Fodor 的 能力心理學與模組心智論理論框架。研究結果顯示：一、思想構成性：Fodor 將下棋歸屬為問題解決，等同於思想認知活動，由中央系統處理此類活動，經 由本研究的記憶棋子實驗等分析，結果表明無法反對Fodor 的歸類方式，Simon等心理學家的模塊理論（Chunking Theory）雖支持知覺對下棋能力的影響，但這部分並不會對Fodor 的理論產生足夠的威脅性。二、範疇特殊性：範疇特殊（異）性的定義是：每個模組只處理與其功能相符的信息。經由本研究的象棋棋手下日本將棋對奕實驗等分析，結果表明象棋能力可移轉到日本將棋，似乎表示下棋有範疇特殊性，如此可能對Fodor 中央系統處理問題解決(含下棋)、不具範疇特殊性的觀點造成威脅，本研究中，另嘗試提出一個修正方案以解決Fodor 面對範疇特殊性問題的挑戰。

自1993年起，中國從石油淨出口國成為石油淨進口國，1996年成為原油淨進口國，2003年中國超過日本成為世界第二大石油消費國，目前中國是世界第三大石油進口國。中國對於石油這項戰略物資具有高度敏感性，繼1993年撤銷能源部後，於2008年成立國家能源局由國家發展和改革委員會管理，足見中國對於能源事務的再度重視。隨著世界經濟實力與軍事勢力的變化，新的世界能源地緣政治正在逐漸形成。美國感受到中國因經濟發展帶動對石油的龐大需求後，在美國國內出現「中國石油威脅論」的說法，認為以中國的經濟發展程度而言，其石油需求量在將來可能跟一個美國一樣或是超越美國所需的量，而目前世界石油儲量及開採速度已不能承受另一個美國的出現。中國的石油安全戰略不只與中國國內事務相關，更與國際間各個石油生產國、進口國有莫大的關係。其中，因為美國早已在世界擁有許多油田並與世界主要產油國建設良好關係等因素，以美國為中心的世界形勢對中國積極推行的石油外交不利，可能成為中國「走出去」戰略的阻礙。本論文將對中國的石油安全戰略的落實問題進行檢驗，觀察中國與各國在石油方面的探勘、投資及技術合作等，其中以美國的參與作為主要研究重點，檢視中美在石油領域的競爭行為是否影響中國國家利益，並評估兩國在獲取石油或尋找替代能源上的合作可能性。

This study adopt input orientation data envelopment Analysis approaches to evaluate the operational efficiency for major international airports in terms of the top 20 ranking by total passengers handling in Asia region in 2008. Unlike the most the other airport literature researches only using the one-stage DEA to measure the efficiency, in this study, two-stage, the extension of DEA, adding the concept of the intermediates product, separate the airport operation into airport capital side and airport capability side, is applied to evaluate the two-side efficiency of each airport under the assumption of constant returns to scale, variable returns to scale, scale efficiency and super efficiency model by employing four inputs, four intermediate products and two outputs. The result of this study shows that the China Shenzhen Baoan airport is the best airport in overall technical efficiency in different stages. It indicates that the operation of small size airports (category by the passengers handling) are run more efficiency than the large one. In addition, by two-stage DEA analysis, the airport capital usage is better than in capacity utilization. It found that the China Beijing Capital airport is good in airport infrastructure usage but the capacity utilization is not enough. Finally, the number of increasing return scale airports are more than the decreasing return scale airports among Asia region (e.g. Taiwan Taoyuan airport), therefore, the expansions of facility and capacity in those increasing return scale airports are worthy to invest to promote the operational efficiency and its competitiveness.

在中華民國創建迄今的各個階段以及兩岸關係所導致的外交困境下，僑務工作成為政府整體涉外事務不可或缺的一環，透過華僑在居住國的政治及經濟影響力，可發揮「二軌外交」的功能，輔助外交工作之推動。因此僑務駐外工作人員應具備何種能力以成功地扮演好各種角色，確實發揮凝聚海外華僑的向心及爭取支持的功能，確值關注。 針對僑務駐外人員兼具管理者及執行者身分、工作地點位於海外及其業務之特殊性，本研究首先由一般角色理論及管理者角色理論進行探討，其次由一般職能理論及派外人員職能之研究成果進行探討。透過深度訪談、內容分析及參與觀察三種研究方法來分析歸納出僑務駐外人員所扮演之角色功能及應具備之能力。研究發現僑務駐外人員執行任務時需與僑務委員會、駐外館處、華僑文教服務中心、國外組織人民、中國使領館及僑團等對象接觸互動，針對不同的對象及情境分別扮演政府代表、國家主權維護、關係經營、溝通橋樑、訊息傳遞、業務執行、資源整合及管理等8種角色。並需具備社交、語文、溝通、口語表達、管理、領導統御、設計規劃及行銷及適應等8種能力，以成功的扮演各種角色。 此外，本研究亦將如何增進對各種角色之認知及取得或強化各種能力，分別向僑務委會、僑務駐外人員及未來有意成為僑務駐外人員之同仁提出建議，同時也為未來研究提出可行的方向。 / Overseas Chinese affairs has become indispensable to government foreign relating issues in every stage of Republic of China ever since it was established as well as in diplomatic dilemma caused by cross-Strait relation. “Track-Ⅱ Diplomacy” can be done through overseas Chinese’ influence in politic and in economic in the country of residence, also can assist to promote foreign affairs. Therefore, “what kind of capability the overseas affairs working abroad staff need to have and how they play all roles well, attract and win overseas Chinese’ support indeed?” is a good subject worth to pay close attention to. Overseas affairs working abroad staff are manager & executor, who are working abroad with particular mission. This research firstly made from general role theory and managing role theory, then from general function theory and expatriate function theory. Through three research methods – deep interview, information analysis and participant observation – generalize overseas affairs working abroad staff’s roles, functions & capabilities. This research discovered overseas affairs working abroad staff when executing missions need to contact with Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission, R.O.C. (Taiwan), overseas missionary offices, overseas Chinese cultural service centers, abroad organizations & people, Chinese embassy, overseas compatriot groups, act 8 roles as government representative, national sovereignty safeguard, relationship management, communication bridge, information transmission, business operation, resources integration & management to different subject & circumstance. So they need to have social skill, language, communication, oral expression, management, leadership, plan & design, marketing and accommodation 8 capabilities to play different role successfully. Besides, this research also suggests Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission, R.O.C. (Taiwan), staff working abroad and colleagues who intend to work abroad in future respectively that they need to find out how to improve recognition of each role and how to strengthen each capability. Bring out workable direction for future further research.

面對劇烈變遷與複雜不確定性高的大環境，人們有可能感到茫然無助不知何去何從，此時需要領導者提供方向帶領追隨者前進。 　　領導者的主要功能之一，便是提供方向，指導追隨者前進，然而在此種動態複雜大環境之下，對未來的變遷無法預測的情境下，領導者不免也同樣感到無所適從，不知正確的方向為何，甚至本來就沒有所謂正確的方向可言。 　　領導者過去為提供方向所仰賴的知識，在今日有可能無法繼續適用，甚至某些知識會造成領導者思維上的障礙，必須予以揚棄；此外，領導者可能必須為當下的情境立即產生所需的知識。因此領導者知識創造的能力也日益受到重視。 　　領導者除了要有創造力，能提出不同的解決方式之外，更必須要有開放的心胸，因應環境的變化，不拘泥於過去既有的方式，進而必須要有兼顧知情意的智慧與通情達理的默會知識，對於衝突的知識知道如何判斷，對於人際的互動也能處置得宜，在適當的場合做出適當的回應。 　　本論文首先針對領導者在領導過程中所進行的知識創造活動進行討論，進而對於如何提升領導者知識創造能力提出建議，進而對不同情境下領導者如何運用知識創造能力作探討。在提升領導者知識創造能力上，除了強調技術能力的學習之外，更強調必須「由技入道」，進一步從領導者思維能力的修練與智慧的精進著手，促使領導者有足夠的智慧產生合適的知識，以因應變遷，進而駕馭變遷。

透過知識管理幫助智慧資本之衡量、管理已成為企業不容忽略的管理議題。學者專家建議良好的企業文化是成功推行知識管理的關鍵要素，而企業文化也顯著影響組織效能。因此，企業文化、知識管理、智慧資本與企業績效之關係即為重要的實證議題。本論文主要以國內上市櫃公司為研究對象，採用問卷調查方式，以較完整的架構探討企業文化類型、知識管理類型、智慧資本與財務績效相互間的關聯性。 　　本研究發現企業文化與知識管理間存在顯著的關聯性，且企業文化類型與知識管理類型，分別對智慧資本各構面及其組成要素的重要程度有顯著的影響。主要實證結果顯示企業文化類型越強烈鮮明，越重視人力資源發展、創新與市場競爭的企業，則知識管理程度相對的越高，且同時重視資訊科技運用與鼓勵組織內成員間知識的交流和衝擊。高效率支持型企業文化相較於低創新官僚型企業文化，更重視人力資本、創新資本以及流程資本組成要素。 　　彈性式高度知識管理類型相較於其他知識管理類型，在員工專業與自主、創新管理、流程成果以及顧客滿意與忠誠等資本智慧資本組成要素上的重視程度上明顯較高。彈性式高度知識管理類型相較於控制式低度知識管理類型，在人力資本、創新資本、流程資本之各項組成要素以及顧客投資與成果等顧客資本組成要素等的重視程度上明顯較高。人性化中度知識管理類型相較於控制式低度知識管理類型，在員工專業與自主等人力資本組成要素與創新資本各項組成要素的重視程度上明顯較高。 　　研究結果亦顯示企業文化及人力資本、創新資本均與財務績效有顯著的關聯性。本研究結果所發現企業文化、知識管理、智慧資本以及財務績效四者間的關係，隱喻企業文化是企業推行知識管理及提昇經營效能的關鍵，亦即企業在推行知識管理前應先檢視本身的企業文化。此外，揭露具認知重要性之智慧資本各構面衡量指標似有助於傳遞企業隱藏價值給投資人。 / Measuring and managing intellectual capital through knowledge management (KM) has been perceived the most important issue in knowledge-intensive companies. It has been suggested that a supportive corporate culture cornerstones not only a successful implementation of KM system but also the effectiveness of an organization. It is essential therefore to enhance our knowledge in interrelationships among corporate culture, KM, intellectual capital and operating performance. Using a sample of firms listed in TSE and OTC and a questionnaire as research tool, this thesis explores the typologies of corporate culture and KM, and their impacts on intellectual capital and financial performance. 　　The empirical evidence indicates that the attributes of corporate culture are significantly associated with the attributes of KM activities. Both corporate culture and KM shed significant impacts on cognitive importance of intellectual capitals. Firms with distinct corporate culture, placing more foci on human resource development, innovation and market competition tend to have more intensive knowledge management activities, information technology utilization, and exchange and lash of knowledge between the members of the organization. Compared to firms with low innovative-bureaucratic culture, firms with high effective-supportive culture concentrate more on all aspects related to human capital and innovation capital. 　　Compared to other firms in the sample, firms with high flexibility-high degree of knowledge management activities focus more on human capital, innovation capital, and process capital. Compared to firms with high control-low degree knowledge management activities, companies characterized with humanistic-medium degree knowledge management activities emphasize more on innovation capital. 　　The findings also show that both corporate culture attributes and components of human capital and innovation capital are significantly associated with financial performance. The results thus suggest that corporate culture is important to company success in implementing knowledge management system and business performance. It implies that companies may need to nurture a more supportive corporate culture prior to implementing a knowledge management system. The intellectual capital indicators suggested in the study may also be helpful in disclosing the hidden value of the firm to their investors.

本研究係探析保險業在監理管制下，若有違監理標準之虞時，其經理人是否興起盈餘管理的動機，以避免不必要的監理成本。蓋保險監理最重要的目的為預防保險公司失卻清償能力，以保障被保險人的權益，並維持金融安定。在實施風險基礎資本制前，邊際清償能力的標準仍以保險法第143條第一項之規定為依歸，即保險業認許資產減除負債之餘額，未達實收資本之45%時，主管機關應命其於限期內，以現金增資補足之。若保險業不依第143條規定限期增資補足者，保險法第149條第二項授權主管機關應依情節輕重，分別處以派員監理、撤換負責人或有關人員、限期改組、甚至命其停業或解散。故本研究預期清償能力不佳的保險公司，其經理人會動用裁量性應計項目調整財務狀況，以跨過清償能力標竿，避免受到監理機關的注意與查核。另外，保險法對於保險業資金運用管道有所縮限，以驅使保險公司穩健地運用資金，預防保險公司因巨額投資損失致使清償能力敗壞。但隨著產業競爭度增強與低利率時代的來臨，保險公司在經營績效與保單預定利率的壓力下，是否會安於目前的投資限制，而放棄賺取投資報酬的機會。據此，本研究預期年度中持有短期有價證券總額超過或可能超過35%資金門檻的保險公司，其經理人會選擇處分位於利得部位的短期有價證券，以規避超過保險法第146條之1第一項第二款的門檻限制。同理，年度中持有合格的公司股票及公司債超過或可能超過35%資金門檻的保險公司，其經理人可能會選擇出售位於利得部位的股票或公司債，以規避超過146條之1第一項第三款的門檻限制。 　　在研究設計上，為捕捉各類操縱財務報表的淨影響，本研究採用總裁量性應計項目作為代理變數。在所有可用的裁量性應計項目估計模型中，研究指出Modified Jones模型顯示了相對較強的檢定力(Dechow et al. 1995)。因此本研究援引Modified Jones模型估計裁量性應計數字。其次，將該模型析出的裁量性應計數字與各類監理門檻距離組成一迴歸模型，以測試其關聯性強弱。實證結果如下：一、在產險業，保單持有人盈餘與實收資本之45%的距離愈小者，其盈餘管理幅度愈大。二、壽險業比較沒有利用裁量性應計項目來達到監理標準的動機。但依公司規模來看，大小公司行為仍有所差異，即相較於大公司，小公司利用裁量性應計項目來達到監理標準的動機較為強烈。根據本文實證研究結論，建議監理機關與被保險人應特別注意產險業及小壽險公司的財務狀況，並確認其清償能力之品質。 / This paper examined whether insurance companies have incentives to manipulate accounting accruals to appear more solvent and less risky. In Taiwan, virtually all industries are regulated to some degree, but insurance industry faces regulatory monitoring that is explicitly tied to accounting data. Insurance regulators required that insurers meet conditions for minimum financial health. It is frequency asserted that such regulations create incentives to manipulate financial statement to avoid regulatory intervention The primary hypothesis of this paper is that the incentive to manipulate financial statement is a decreasing function of the insurers’ difference between policyholders’ surplus and 45% of capital. This paper assumes that insurance managers use their reporting discretion to achieve solvency goal and avoid exceeding investment limits. Following Healy (1985), accruals-based measures are wide employed in test of earnings management hypothesis. In the past, the most frequency used techniques for estimating discretionary accruals are the cross-sectional versions of the modified Jones model. In this paper, the magnitude of earnings management is proxied by the discretionary accruals which are estimated by using a cross-sectional version of the modified Jones model and regressed by three differences of regulatory requirements which measure the insurers’ behavior under the regulation. The evidence indicates that when policyholders’ surplus of property-casualty insurers is closer to 45% of capital, the incentive to manipulate financial statement is stronger. On the other hand, life insurers have less incentive to manipulate financial statement, but relative to big size insurers, small size insurers have stronger incentive to meet regulatory requirements.

金融自由化、國際化與大型化潮流，使金融的傳統分工經營觀念逐漸被排除，政府為改善金融機構之經營績效，積極推動金融改革，引進金融控股公司制度，期促成金融機構大型化，以經濟規模改善金融機構之經營績效，鼓勵跨業經營，讓金融機構具業務多樣化，以達範疇經濟之利益。 　　我國金融控股公司法傚法美、日兩國制度，共同的重點乃在朝股權集中化，組織大型化，經營多角化，監理透明化發展。但因各地有各自不同之金融體制，歷史背景及金融體系淵源，各國對金融控股公司規範及意義也各有不同內涵。美國金控公司源自銀行控股公司，而以銀行業等存款機構為必要條件。日本以鬆綁證券，銀行及保險之隔離及控股公司之解禁為主軸，因此並未規定銀行為設立金控之必要條件，但金融機構仍以銀行為重心，因其業務廣泛，對消費者影響大，因此實際運作上仍以銀行為主要核心。美、日兩國以修改既有法令配套因應社會需求，而成立金融控股公司制度。台灣則單獨立法，檢視美、日法令適合國情者，一次立法以因應申請者需求，因此在法令適用上沒有時差，例如日本引進會社分割法及租稅優惠法，於2001年及2002年才分別立法，法令適用即有時間落差。 　　比較美、日、台三地相關金融控股公司，找出各自優缺點，作為他山之石，台灣金融機構特性為，規模小，家數多，競爭激烈，關係人交易，利益衝突盛行，產生高逾放。金控法規定之最低資本為200億元，因此金控法實施後申請者眾，造成金控公司林立。就個別金控公司之成立，提昇了其公司競爭力，與國外金融機構比較，台灣金融控股公司之競爭力，不論在資本額，可運用資產或產品設計，IT使用效率及交叉銷售的綜合效果，仍有相當大的努力空間。 　　因此，第二波金控公司的合併勢必進行，國內金控公司之跨業經營項目極需齊備，國外金控公司的架構大都具備保險、銀行、證券及資產管理等四項主要產品。國內金控公司的國際化，有迫切性需求，以應付國人理財及資產組合國際化趨勢。金控公司欲快速狀大規模，加強市場行銷，建立風險控管，取得良好信評，應尋求海外大型金控的合併或結盟，以提昇競爭力。 / Liberalization, globalization and expansion trend of the finance industry has gradually expelled traditional division of labor business model. In order to enhance financial institutions' business efficiency and advocate financial reform, the Government has introduced financial holding company system with an aim to enlarge financial institutions, improve business efficiency, encourage cross-industry business, and diversify operation so as to achieve the scale and scope economic benefits. 　　Taiwanese Financial Holding Company Act takes reference of American and Japanese systems. Although the common focus is on shareholding control, organizational enlargement, business diversification and crystal-clear compliance, each country has its own economy system, historical/financial background and resources, and therefore each country has different regulations and definitions for financial holding companies. American financial holding companies are derived from bank holding companies with primary conditions on deposits institutions of banks whereas Japanese systems focus on liberating securities brokers, separation between banks and insurance companies, and lifting of holding companies,. As such, Japanese financial holding companies system do not regulate that banks are the necessary component for forming financial holding companies. Neverthetless, banks are still the center of financial institutions as their broad business scope has immense impact on consumers and therefore banks are still the core of actual operation. U.S. and Japan's systems are derived from revising existing regulations to meet the actual demand of the society. Taiwan examine the American and Japanese systems and take whatever suitable for the Taiwanese society and legislate the financial holding companies system at one time and therefore there is no time difference. in regulation implementation Japan introduced Companies Separation Act and Preferential Tariff Act and legislated these two acts separately in 2000 and 2001 and as such, there is time difference in regulation adoption. 　　We try to identify pros and cons of each individual system comparing U.S., Japanese and Taiwanese bank holding companies. The characteristics of Taiwanese financial institutions are: small in size, large in numbers, tough in competition,, transaction of connection party, and conflict of interest which lead to high no-performance loan. The minimum capital requirement for Taiwanese financial holding companies is NT$20 billion at present. Ever since the opening of financial holding companies act, numerous applications were submitted and several holding companies have been established. In terms of each individual financial holding companies, the formation sharpens its competition. Nevertheless, in comparison with overseas financial institutions, there is still room for improvement on capital amount, effective asset or product design, IT application and combined effect of cross selling. 　　I therefore view that second merge of financial holding companies will be in place. Taiwanese holding companies are required to increase cross-industry products well in time. The structure of overseas financial holding companies mostly consist of four major components, i.e. insurance companies, banks, securities brokers and asset management companies. It is imperative for Taiwanese financial holding companies to globalize as soon as possible to meet the increasing international portfolio demand of local investors. In order to further increase its competition, financial holding companies are required to enlarge its size quickly, strengthen marketing ability, establish risk management system, receive good credit rating and seek strategy alliance of large overseas holding companies.

研究背景與目的：2008年美國睡眠醫學會(American Academy of Sleep Medicine)對於失眠患者在助眠劑的臨床使用原則中(clinical guideline)，建議初次藥物治療的時間以2至4週較為適宜，後續是否繼續用藥則須專業醫師的重新評估，以降低身體對於藥物的依賴性及副作用的風險，但實際上許多失眠患者因擔心停用助眠劑就無法入眠，因此仍長期使用助眠劑。目前臨床上大都採用逐步減藥的方式協助患者降低助眠劑的使用，除了藥物因素會影響減藥成效之外，從心理因素來看，在過去研究指出自我效能會影響健康行為的改變，因此本研究將比較逐步減藥計畫加上提升減藥自我效能策略與單獨逐步減藥計畫對於原發性失眠患者在減藥上的成效。 研究方法：本研究的原發型失眠患者共48人(男17人，女31人，平均年齡46.8歲，平均使用助眠劑66.7個月)，被分為兩組進行10週的減藥介入計畫，一組為自我效能提升組(n=24)，受試者減藥前先接受為期兩週的提升減藥自我效能策略，再進行8週的逐步減藥計畫，另一組為單純減藥組(n=24)，受試者只進行8週的逐步減藥計畫。受試者每週均需填寫睡眠日誌、單題減藥自我效能量尺，以瞭解睡眠參數、減藥自我效能及助眠劑使用之情況。 研究結果：減藥成效方面，自我效能提升組在減少劑量的百分比顯著高於單純減藥組(自我效能提升組=78.62%；單純減藥組=64.10%)，且自我效能提升組在減藥前後劑量的改變也顯著高於單純減藥組(自我效能提升組=4.35顆/週；單純減藥組=3.22顆/週)，自我效能提升組在停藥人數的百分比上雖未顯著高於單純停藥組(自我效能提升組=29.2%；單純減藥組=16.7%)，但就整體結果來看均較為支持自我效能提升組在減藥的成效上是優於單純減藥組。減藥自我效能方面，在控制住第1週的減藥自我效能後，提升減藥自我效能策略造成的減藥自我效能改變量仍可以有效解釋21.9%的減藥百分比。 研究結論：自我效能提升組增加的提升減藥自我效能策略能有助於個案在執行逐步減藥計畫的成效，另外，提升減藥自我效能策略造成的減藥自我效能改變量是減藥百分比有效的預測因子。因此，減藥自我效能對於減藥成效來說，確實是一個可以著力的部分。 / Introduction：According to the 2008 clinical guidelines for insomnia by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine proposed, hypnotic use is recommended for short-term use for 2 to 4 weeks. However, many insomnia patients have difficulty to stop hypnotic use. In clinic practices, gradual tapering is usually applied in helping patients to reduce the hypnotic use. Previous studies have shown that self-efficacy of the patients are associated with medication tapering. The present study examine the effect of the institution of a self-efficacy enhancement strategy prior to gradual tapering plan on hypnotic tapering in patients with primary insomnia. Methods：Forty-eight patients with primary insomnia (17 men, 31 women；mean age of 46.8 years；mean duration of hypnotics use of 66.7 months) were assigned to two groups: a self-efficacy enhancement group and a tapering group. Patients in the self-efficacy enhancement group (n=24) underwent a two-week self-efficacy enhancement strategy prior to an eight-week gradual tapering plan. Patients in the tapering group (n=24) participated in the eight-week gradual tapering plan only. The main outcome measures were sleep parameters from sleep diary, a single-item tapering self-efficacy rating scale, number of pills taken per week, and percentage of dosage reduction. Results：The percentage of dosage reduction of patients in the self-efficacy enhancement group was significantly more than those in the tapering group (the self-efficacy enhancement group = 78.62%；the tapering group = 64.10%). The number of pills taken per week also showed significantly more reduction for patients in the self-efficacy enhancement group than those in the tapering group (the self-efficacy enhancement group = 4.35 pills per week；the tapering group = 3.22 pills per week). However, the percentage of drug-free patients at the end of the programs in the self-efficacy enhancement group was not significant different from those in the tapering group (the self-efficacy enhancement group = 29.2%；the tapering group = 16.7%). Overall, the effect of hypnotic tapering in the self-efficacy enhancement group was better than those in the tapering group. In addition, linear regression showed that the tapering self-efficacy data showed that, after controlling baseline tapering self-efficacy, the change of tapering self-efficacy following the first two weeks of self-efficacy enhancement strategy can explain the variation of percentage of dosage reduction up to 21.9%. Conclusions：The institution of self-efficacy enhancement strategy can increase the efficacy of gradual tapering plan for hypnotics. In addition, the level of tapering self-efficacy enhanced by the self-efficacy enhancement strategy is a good predictor for dosage reduction. This is a useful strategy that can be applied in clinical settings.