The current study examines the roles of expectancy disconfirmation and pseudo-altruistic behaviors as communication strategies to increase receiver compliance, and their effects on perceptions of the source, including credibility and likeability ratings. While adding to the previous research, this investigation examines the effects on compliance when pseudo-altruistic practices are employed in a sales situation. Additionally, subjects’ compliance responses in the treatment groups are analyzed for relationships between compliance and several possible mediators, including participant’s evaluations of the source, and feelings of obligation and guilt. A focus group was held to discuss the face validity of the scenarios. Additionally, a pilot study was conducted to verify the operationalization of the independent variable, and to reveal any items that needed to be modified before the actual study was conducted. 141 undergraduate students were assigned to one of six treatment groups, and responded to the scenario and questionnaire. Five-point Likert type scales were used for the source factor and compliance items, and seven-point semantic differential scales were used for the items which measured source perceptions. Additionally, an optional open-ended item was employed for subjects to explain the motives behind their decisions. Analysis of the data showed that participants in the pseudo-altruistic treatment conditions were more likely to return to Store or Dealership A, or tipped the server more than usual. They also rated the source as more expert and of higher character in the treatment groups that the neutral, control groups. This increase in compliance was consistent across all three scenarios. Regression analyses also revealed that source factors including concern, helpfulness, unexpected behavior, expertise, character, honesty, and likeability predicted 26% of the compliance variance. In conclusion, subjects were more likely to comply in the pseudo-altruistic treatment condition, regardless of the scenario. Their compliance is attributed to feelings of liking and higher ratings of the source, which facilitated reciprocal altruism and benefited the salesperson or server for their selfless behavior.

One hundred thirty-five undergraduate students were queried at North Texas State University. Perceptions of self-disclosure as a compliance-gaining tactic were surveyed. A fifteen item questionnaire was utilized. Fourteen questions were tested by an analysis of variance. One question was tested by chi-square. Data indicated that self-disclosure was viewed as an effective compliance-gaining tactic for both males and females; but females were perceived as more effective than males utilizing the tactic. Self-disclosure utilized as a compliance-gaining tactic was perceived as appropriate by both males and females. Results indicated females and males have similar perceptions regarding the appropriateness of utilizing the self-disclosure tactic. Male and female raters did not differ significantly from each other.

Cognitive behavioral violence prevention (CB-VP) parenting groups are commonly used for the primary and secondary prevention of violence. These groups use persuasive messages that target violence-related attitudes and cognitions, with the expectation that this will result in behavior change. Despite their frequent use as family violence prevention strategies, little is known about the actual messages being exchanged in CB-VP groups and how participants perceive and recall these messages. This study analyzes messages aimed at changing behaviors as recalled by Hispanic participants in federally funded Fatherhood groups in Miami, Florida. Applying concepts from violence prevention, behavior change messages were classified by topic, type of behavior targeted, compliance gaining strategies (Marwell & Schmitt, 1967), and sources of influence Wheeless, Baraclough & Stewart, 1983). The most common topics reported by participants included parenting role, discipline, communication content and spending time with children. Over a third of the appeals targeted behaviors that were not observable actions, but rather cognitive acts such as thinking, reflecting, and paying attention. Reward and punishment were the most frequently used compliance gaining strategies, followed by moral and expertise strategies. Most appeals were based on the expected outcomes of the proposed behaviors as the main source of influence. The results of this study provide a greater understanding of the motivations used to support behavior change messages in violence prevention parenting groups.

This thesis deals with adolescence of individual in the context of a family milieu of step family. It is focused on perceiving of contentment of an adolescent with his life in a step family as a determinant in relation to the start of independent life. The thesis consists of theoretical and empirical character. The introduction deals with the theoretical anchoring of each key concept. Individual chapters are dedicated to the step family concept definition. This is done from point of view of terminology, meaning of content, typology and related problems, theoretical framework of adolescence process and definition of basic theoretical life-satisfaction concept. The empirical part is devoted to the quantitative survey which was carried out through a questionnaire survey. The aim of this research was to find out whether the satisfaction/dissatisfaction of adolescent with the life in a step family influences the tendency to start an independent life. Key words: Stepfamily, adolescent, well - being, become independent

The thesis deals with the analysis of tourism in the region Pardubický which has permanent problems with low attendace. The thesis researches causes of the problems and tries to find an adequate solution. The first part comes with the information about the development of tourism in the European Union and possibility to gain money from funds. Then the supply and the demand in tourism in the region Pardubický is analyzed. Suggestions how to solve problems and increase attendance come from the analysis.

The aim of this thesis is to discuss the concepts of public diplomacy and nation branding, find the link between them, and examine their effect on the economic development in Estonia. This thesis provides a thorough overview of relevant liter- ature on NB and PD. To dive into the practical part of nation branding it discusses the case of globally accepted, effective NB initiatives of Singapore. Moreover, it discusses Estonian's NB campaigns and four main instruments of PD and con- ducts economic analysis to examine the effects of NB and PD in Estonian economy from building credibility and international awareness points of view. To make the economic analysis more valuable and visually comprehensible, all discussed mi- croeconomic and macroeconomic indicators are captured for all three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania). Both qualitative and quantitative methodolo- gies are used to answer the research question and hypotheses. The study found that NB and PD in Estonia positively affect the reaffirmation of national identity, facilitate business development, and increase international visibility which in turn ensures economic development in the country. Even though various other play- ers and factors are involved in the process of economic development, effectively designed NP and PD could...

No description available.

My dissertation is focused on description of characteristics which are connected with competences. The main aim of my work has been to set up the manager competences. After the analysis among the students of Faculty of Management we found which competences were obtained during our studies and which ones we had already had when we came to faculty. In my theoretical part I described the manager as a personality including all his competences, their development and the methods of developing. Practical part deals with analysis among the students of Faculty of Management, evaluation and presentation of the results in the form of the charts and graphs.

No description available.

This research investigated banner ads on the World Wide Web, specifically the types of messages used in those ads and the effectiveness of the ads as seen by their intended audience. The focus was on health-related banner advertisements targeting senior citizens. The study first sought to determine the frequency of appearance of those ads when classified into categories of compliance-gaining tactics provided by research scholars. Second, the study explored the relative perceived effectiveness among those categories. Two graduate students from a Central Texas university sorted text messages into predetermined compliance-gaining categories. Chi square tests looked for significant differences in the frequencies of banner ads in each category. Forty-five senior citizens from the Central Texas area completed surveys regarding the perceived effectiveness of a randomly ordered, randomly selected set of categorized banner ads. A repeated measures test attempted to determine whether some compliance-gaining strategies used in health-related banner ads were perceived as more effective than others. The hypothesis stated that there would be differences in frequencies of compliance-gaining strategies used among the compliance-gaining categories in health-related banner ads for senior citizens. The hypothesis was supported. The research question asked if some categories of compliance-gaining strategies used in health-related banner ads were perceived as more effective than others by senior citizens. There was no evidence that senior citizens perceived any compliance-gaining category as being more effective than any other. However, post hoc analyses revealed trends in the types of compliance-gaining messages senior citizens perceived as more effective. These trends provide a basis for directional predictions in future studies.