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published_or_final_version / abstract / Computer Science / Master / Master of Philosophy

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Existing literature on consumer behavior has argued that an individual’s regulatory orientation interacts with message framing. If there is a match between regulatory orientation (promotion versus prevention) and message framing, this results in positive attitudes toward a given advertisement. Conversely, if there is a mismatch, the effect is opposite, i.e., attitudes toward that advertisement are less positive and less favorable. This research extends the term of compatibility by examining how regulatory focus moderates the impact of two aspects of message framing (attribute framing and risky choice framing) on customer perceptions. It also examines whether regulatory fit is created when there are interactions between individuals’ regulatory orientation and message framing and how the fit changes customer perceptions about a message. Specifically, this dissertation provides answers to the following questions: (1) does regulatory fit take place when regulatory focus is compatible with two aspects of message framing (attribute and risky choice)?; (2) does regulatory fit take place when one aspect of message framing (attribute) is compatible with the other (risky choice)?; and (3) how do customer perceptions change if customers experience regulatory fit? The results show that the effects of utilitarian attributes and national brands are dominating and that both promotion- and prevention-oriented customers have higher perceptions of these attributes and brands. The findings of this study have both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, this study should enhance our understanding of regulatory focus theory. Practically, the results should provide marketers with more insights into the correlation between message framing and regulatory orientation and the effect of fit on message persuasion, enabling them to develop more effective marketing strategies.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Statistics / James Neill / The problem of testing for lack of fit in exponential family regression models is considered. Such nonlinear models are the natural extension of Normal nonlinear regression models and generalized linear models. As is usually the case, inadequately specified models have an adverse impact on statistical inference and scientific discovery. Models of interest are curved exponential families determined by a sequence of predictor settings and mean regression function, considered as a sub-manifold of the full exponential family. Constructed general alternative models are based on clusterings in the mean parameter components and allow likelihood ratio testing for lack of fit associated with the mean, equivalently natural parameter, for a proposed null model. A maximin clustering methodology is defined in this context to determine suitable clusterings for assessing lack of fit. In addition, a geometrically motivated goodness of fit test statistic for exponential family regression based on the information metric is introduced. This statistic is applied to the cases of logistic regression and Poisson regression, and in both cases it can be seen to be equal to a form of the Pearson chi[superscript]2 statistic. This same statement is true for multinomial regression. In addition, the problem of testing for equal means in a heteroscedastic Normal model is discussed. In particular, a saturated 3 parameter exponential family model is developed which allows for equal means testing with unequal variances. A simulation study was carried out for the logistic and Poisson regression models to investigate comparative performance of the likelihood ratio test, the deviance test and the goodness of fit test based on the information metric. For logistic regression, the Hosmer-Lemeshow test was also included in the simulations. Notably, the likelihood ratio test had comparable power with that of the Hosmer-Lemeshow test under both m- and n-asymptotics, with superior power for constructed alternatives. A distance function defined between densities and based on the information metric is also given. For logistic models, as the natural parameters go to plus or minus infinity, the densities become more and more deterministic and limits of this distance function are shown to play an important role in the lack of fit analysis. A further simulation study investigated the power of a likelihood ratio test and a geometrically derived test based on the information metric for testing equal means in heteroscedastic Normal models.

O assentamento passivo tem sido considerado um dos mais importantes requisitos para o sucesso de próteses implanto-suportada. Este estudo in vitro investigou a deformação do intermediário de prótese implantosuportada após o aperto do parafuso tanto do cilindro de Paládio-Prata como de Cobalto-Cromo. Um modelo mestre foi usado para simular uma mandíbula humana com cinco implantes. Extensômetros foram colados nas faces mesial e distal de cada intermediário para registrar as deformações causadas pelos cilindros após o aperto dos parafusos. Os intermediários foram montados sobre as réplicas dos implantes e os parafusos foram apertados com um torque de 20 Ncm e as leituras foram gravadas. Após este passo, os parafusos tanto dos cilindros de Paládio-Prata como de Cobalto-Cromo foram apertados com um torque de 10 Ncm e as leituras também foram gravadas. Estas medições foram repetidas por cinco vezes. O teste estatístico de Mann-Whitney foi aplicado aos resultados. Nenhuma diferença estatística foi encontrada entre as tensões geradas tanto pelos cilindros de Paládio-Prata como os de Cobalto-Cromo. No entanto, existiram diferenças com relação à qualidade da tensão. A deformação gerada pelo aperto dos parafusos dos cilindros de Cobalto-Cromo foi de compressão e o aperto dos parafusos dos cilindros de Paládio-Prata gerou forças de compressão e tração. / Passive fit has been considered one of the most important requirements for the success of implant supported prostheses. This in vitro study investigated the abutment deformation of an implant-supported prosthesis after screw tightening of palladium-silver and cobalt-chromium prosthetic cylinder. A master model was used to simulate a human mandible with five implants. The Strain gauges were attached on the sides of each abutment to capture deformations because of the cylinders screws after was tightened. The abutments were mounted onto implant replicas and the screws were tightened to a 20 Ncm torque, and the readings were recorded. After this step, palladiumsilver and cobalt-chromium prosthetic cylinders were tightened to a 10 Ncm torque and the readings were recorded. The measurements were repeated five times. Mann-Whitney statistical test was applied to the results. No statistical differences were found between the deformation generated by palladium-silver and cobalt-chromium prosthetic cylinders. However, there were differences relative to the quality of the strain. The deformation generated by screw tightness of the cobalt-chromium prosthetic cylinders was compressive while palladium-silver prosthetic cylinders generated compressive and tensile strain.

Researchers at Utah State University created a school intervention called the FIT Game that has successfully increased children’s vegetable intake during lunchtime. The aim of this project was to create a home aspect to the FIT Game for parents that would increase the availability of vegetables within the home. Studies within this thesis discuss the development and revision of parent newsletters for the FIT Game program, as well as the implementation and assessment of the revised newsletters. Results from the assessments indicate that providing parent newsletters is not enough to change the vegetable availability at home. This home component was unsuccessful in provoking the desired change, and future FIT Game studies that choose to include a home component should consider multiple components for higher changes of likelihood of participation and increasing vegetable availability at home.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1981. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-73). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Organizational behavior literature has not typically viewed person-environment (PE) fit as an outcome of organizational change. Although organizations consider PE fit of their employees to be important to the success of both parties, the study of antecedents to individuals fit with their work environment has largely been restricted to the selection and socialization of newcomers. This study investigates effects of several change factors (e.g., the extent of change and how it was managed), as well as the cross-level interaction between the change factors and individual differences (e.g., motivational orientations) on PE fit of individuals who participated in various organizational changes. PE fit was evaluated along three dimensions (Person-Job, Person-Group, Person-Organization). Results show that change is a complex phenomenon and is best understood by interactions between the extent of change, characteristics of the change process, and differences in individuals motivational tendencies. Specifically, the study showed that the fairness of the change process was typically associated with PJ and PO fit, whereas management support for the change generally related to PJ and PG fit. In addition, limited support was found for hypothesized effects of motivational orientations. As expected, Mastery related positively with PE fit, while positive effects of Competitiveness (an externally cued Approach orientation) on PE fit depended on high levels of management support. Surprisingly, it was low Avoid individuals (not high) where the extent of change related negatively with aspects of PE fit. A discussion of the results, as well as limitations and implications of this study, is provided for consideration on future research in this area.

The outsourcing of elements of supply chain processes is now an integral component of the operationalization of a firm s competitive business strategy. While the purported goal of outsourcing is usually to derive a competitive advantage in the marketplace, it is not clear whether the outsourcing decisions made by firms are always strategically aligned with their overall competitive strategy. To shed light on this important issue, this research study empirically examines the performance impact of the alignment (congruence) between a firm s competitive priorities (cost, flexibility, innovativeness, quality, and time) and the drivers of its outsourcing decisions. First, we develop and validate a survey instrument used to collect data for this study from manufacturing firms operating in the United States. Next, we use structural equation modeling to examine the impact of alignment between individual competitive priorities and related groups of outsourcing drivers. This analysis finds a significant positive relationship between outsourcing alignment and performance for a number of competitive priorities. Finally, we use cluster analysis to develop a taxonomy of manufacturing strategies which are tested to determine the relationship between the alignment of outsourcing decisions and performance. The taxonomic investigation identifies three unique clusters of firms based on their competitive priorities and then determines alignment between each cluster strategy and outsourcing to be significantly associated with better performance. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies in the literature that address the issue of strategic congruence between the outsourcing drivers and competitive priorities of a firm, and the impact of such congruence on firm performance.