一般而言，社會事件或議題往往交織著許多複雜的因素，人們可能由不同 的觀點詮釋這些事件或議題的成因、影響、或定義，但是新聞報導所做的 詮釋卻往往只強調某些特定的意義 ( Gamson & Madigliani, 1989; Tankard et al., 1990)，形成一種新聞框架 (news frame)。新聞框架對 事件或議題意義的詮釋，可能經由新聞報導的語言結構或形式結構上的選 擇與排除，產生不同的意義。但是不同的新聞框架是否使讀者對新聞事件 或議題產生不同的認知呢？本研究以不同背景結構的新聞報導，探討不同 形式結構的新聞框架是否影響讀者對事件的推論，因而產生不同的認知。 本研究採實驗法與小組焦點訪談並行的方法，探討有、無背景的新聞報導 ，及兩則相同結構不同背景內容的新聞報導，與實驗對象的推論之間的關 聯，推論的項目包含對事件的因果推論與歸類及對新聞報導與新聞人物的 評價。研究結果發現新聞報導的背景可能影響受訪者的歸因，其它的推論 可能較無關聯，以下分別就兩次研究的結果作一說明：第一個研究受訪者 分別讀有背景或無背景的南非抗議新聞，結果有背景組大都將事件的原因 歸於政府缺失，與背景訊息的方向大致相同；而無背景組沒有人歸因於此 ，幾乎都歸因於種族問題。第二個研究受訪者分別讀不同背景內容的空難 新聞，結果指出雖然背景沒有提出空難的原因，只提供過去人員疏失導致 空難的歷史或失事飛機機型的記錄，但是受訪者大都依循背景訊息的方向 ，分別歸因於人為疏失及飛機問題。兩次研究的結果似乎說明，新聞的背 景可能影響讀者對事件歸因的方向，即使受訪者推論的原因不盡相同，例 如歸因於人為疏失者可能歸於駕駛員的疏失或塔台人員的疏失，但是歸因 的方向與背景可能具有某些的關聯，而背景結構的差異可能使受訪者對事 件因果的認知不同。由於本研究屬初探性的研究，研究對象只有廿二人， 其目的在於提供後續研究一些啟示，因此無法逕以研究結果推論文本結構 對認知的影響，這部份仍有待未來研究以更周密的方法加以探討。

Includes corrigenda inside back cover. / Bibliography: leaves 310-332. / xx, 332 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1994

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on December 14, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

This study investigates seismic response of the Moment-Resisting-Steel Frames (MRSF) with the architectural setbacks. The main objective of the study is to understand the variation of the elastic and inelastic, static and dynamic behavior with changes in the geometric dimensions of the tower portion. A second objective of the study is to determine the adequacy of the analysis procedures of various rigors, specified in current seismic design provision, in predicting those behaviors for MRSF with various size of setback. The analytical study is conducted using a regular and 16 irregular models to capture all possible combinations of configuration of setback in five-story, five-bay MRSFs. An irregular model is developed by gradually changing the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the tower portion of the regular base 2D frame-model. All models were designed for (a) equal global displacement and uniform distribution of inter-story drift under First-Mode (FM) lateral force distribution pattern at first significant yield, and (b) equal period of vibration at the first mode, using Nonlinear Static Seismic analysis procedure. Among the conclusions derived from the research is that the variation of (a) the elastic and inelastic inter-story drift, the ductility demand for the top three stories, and (b) the elastic and inelastic global displacement exhibited a pattern similar to the variation of the FM participation factor at the roof, PF1Φr,1. The square-root-of-sum-of-square (SRSS) distribution provided accurate estimates of elastic story shear and inter-story drift demand as well as the story yield strength and drift.

Selon différents théoriciens (Guénoun, Lehmann, Ryngaert, etc.), la fin du vingtième siècle se caractérise par l'émergence de nouvelles formes théâtrales, marquées par la contamination des pratiques spectaculaires. Hans-Thies Lehmann reprend la notion de "théâtre postdramatique" proposée par Richard Schechner pour qualifier ces formes métissées de spectacle vivant La thèse défendue est la suivante : le théâtre postdramatique trouve sa spécificité non seulement dans la transgression des codes dramatiques mais surtout dans des processus de réception spécifiques qu'il importe de définir, à l'aide d'outils notamment sémiotiques. Ces processus sont situés et construits par rapport à différents modèles interdisciplinaires.

Head position signal is crucial for preparing reaching movements because it contributes to specifying the position of body and target in space and relative to each other. However, it is unclear whether sensory information pertaining head position is used to control the movement after movement onset. In this study, nineteen participants performed discrete reaches towards a virtual target while neck vibration was randomly applied before and/or during the movement or not at all. The main dependent variable was the directional bias of the reaching finger. Neck vibration induced early leftward or late rightward trajectory biases. It appears that participants interpreted the sensed head shift as a target or an eye-in-head motion, which can be explained by individual differences in the use of reference frames. Nevertheless, body-centered and head-centered frames of reference appear to be important for the early and late stages of a goal-directed movement, respectively.

Head position signal is crucial for preparing reaching movements because it contributes to specifying the position of body and target in space and relative to each other. However, it is unclear whether sensory information pertaining head position is used to control the movement after movement onset. In this study, nineteen participants performed discrete reaches towards a virtual target while neck vibration was randomly applied before and/or during the movement or not at all. The main dependent variable was the directional bias of the reaching finger. Neck vibration induced early leftward or late rightward trajectory biases. It appears that participants interpreted the sensed head shift as a target or an eye-in-head motion, which can be explained by individual differences in the use of reference frames. Nevertheless, body-centered and head-centered frames of reference appear to be important for the early and late stages of a goal-directed movement, respectively.

The literature emphasizes the important role played by stakeholder perceptions in explaining success and failure of IT-enabled change efforts. However, our knowledge of how stakeholder perceptions evolve and interact with outcomes during change processes is still limited. Consequently, this study adapts technological frames of reference (TFR) to explore the dynamics of stakeholder perceptions based on action research into an IT-enabled sales process innovation project at VoiceTech. The study attempts to answer the following research questions: How can TFR be adapted and applied to support action research into IT-enabled change efforts? What was the role of stakeholder perceptions during IT-enabled sales process innovation at VoiceTech? How do stakeholder perceptions evolve and interact with outcomes during IT-enabled change efforts? The study develops TFR as a theory for investigating stakeholder perceptions during IT-enabled change and it offers a process model of how frame interactions, incongruencies, and inconsistencies contribute to frame shifts and change outcomes over time. In addition, the study provides detailed insights into how the IT-enabled sales process innovation at VoiceTech shaped and was shaped by shifts in stakeholder perceptions over time.

The Rideout trial in 1978 was the first case in the United States in which a wife charged her husband with rape while the couple was still living together. This thesis furthers research in the area of marital rape by examining the press coverage through textual analysis. The scope of the research is limited to newspaper coverage (local and national) and the subsequent made-for-television movie based on the trial. As a case study, the Rideout trial illustrates how the press has covered sexual assault in the United States—especially during the height of the 1970s women’s movement. The findings indicate that through the execution of various rape-centered scripts, traditional rape stereotypes were perpetuated and only a few were challenged. This perpetuation led to an initial invalidation of marital rape, including Greta Rideout’s claim of rape.

In order to determine how female athletes and women’s sports are framed in sports magazines, a textual analysis was conducted on three popular sports magazines (ESPN Magazine, Sporting News, and Sports Illustrated). The researcher analyzed the texts within these three magazines and found four emergent themes commonly applied to women in sports: mental weakness, male reference, motherhood and sisterhood, and celebrity. The research found both consistencies and inconsistencies in the thematic framing utilized among the three publications. The textual analysis also revealed a tendency for the sports media to reference individual sports more than team sports. Knowing the exact frames utilized in these magazines, allows the researcher to suggest solutions that may alleviate the negative portrayals of female athletes and women's sports in sports magazines. The results from this study also provide a foundation for those who wish to further explore and raise awareness on this issue.