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State-of-the-art models for the perception of grouping structure in music do not attempt to account for disagreements among listeners. But understanding these disagreements, sometimes regarded as noise in psychological studies, may be essential to fully understanding how listeners perceive grouping structure. Over the course of four studies in different disciplines, this thesis develops and presents evidence to support the hypothesis that attention is a key factor in accounting for listeners' perceptions of boundaries and groupings, and hence a key to explaining their disagreements. First, we conduct a case study of the disagreements between two listeners. By studying the justi cations each listener gave for their analyses, we argue that the disagreements arose directly from differences in attention, and indirectly from differences in information, expectation, and ontological commitments made in the opening moments. Second, in a large-scale corpus study, we study the extent to which acoustic novelty can account for the boundary perceptions of listeners. The results indicate that novelty is correlated with boundary salience, but that novelty is a necessary but not su cient condition for being perceived as a boundary. Third, we develop an algorithm that optimally reconstructs a listener's analysis in terms of the patterns of similarity within a piece of music. We demonstrate how the output can identify good justifications for an analysis and account for disagreements between two analyses. Finally, having introduced and developed the hypothesis that disagreements between listeners may be attributable to differences in attention, we test the hypothesis in a sequence of experiments. We find that by manipulating the attention of participants, we are able to influence the groupings and boundaries they find most salient. From the sum of this research, we conclude that a listener's attention is a crucial factor affecting how listeners perceive the grouping structure of music.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Homiletics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Most of the international broadcast stations in the world have their historic background and tasks. International broadcasting prevails in the period of the World War ¢º and Capitalism against Communism. Its tasks include politics, military, religion and so on. But with time, along with the development of communication, Internet and media, global village gradually forms. The spread of international broadcasting in politics, military, culture and entertainment faces multiplication. Therefore, to take the listeners¡¦ acceptation becomes the essential condition of the international broadcast stations¡¦ existence. Besides tone quality and the signal¡¦s stability, broadcasting¡¦s quality should take the most consideration in the acceptation of the listeners in destination areas. The followings are three elements of broadcasting¡¦s quality: 1. Condition of psycho-acoustic quality. 2. Satisfaction among the listeners. 3. Motivation which can attract more listeners. In the research, it describes the outline and evolution of broadcast's engineering, international broadcasting's history and the course of change and development in Central Broadcasting System(CBS) and further studies and discusses the factors to affect broadcasting quality's engineering, listeners¡¦ listening behavior and listeners¡¦ figure in midland China. To study the relevance between international broadcasting 's quality and listeners¡¦ behavior in listening. It analyzes 632 letters from China¡¦s listeners and results as follow¡G A, The quality of international radio's broadcasting is related to the frequency of listeners who listen to the radio. There is acoustic difference among the regions, and it affects the listeners¡¦ willing to turn on the radio. B, The quality of international radio's broadcasting is related to " Use with satisfy " of radio listeners. " Program type " and " Host factor " show obvious otherness in listeners¡¦ sex and their living areas. C, The quality of international radio's broadcasting is related to the listeners¡¦ motivation in listening. People who are different sex and come from different areas have different motivation in " Takes interest in project " , " Problem discuss " , " Requirement " , " Take action¡¨ According to the result of this research, I brings up some suggestions after discussion: A, suggestions about the broadcastings quality of CBS to midland China, such as psycho-acoustic improvement, satisfaction with the listeners¡¦ usage requirement and enhancing listeners¡¦ motivation in receiving broadcasts. Two, suggestions about the development of CBS.

The aim of this study was to determine how preaching can stimulate spiritual growth and intensify the spirituality of Listeners. The working method for the study has been based on the mode[ formulated by Zerfass (1974) for Practical Theology and follows a Reformatory angle. • In the first place, basis-theoretical principles regarding preaching, spirituality and spiritual growth have been researched, as well as the relationship between preaching and spiritual growth. To do this, exegetical hermeneutical studies about a series of Bible texts, as well as some literary studies regarding these topics have been conducted. • In the second place, meta-theoretical principles regarding studies in Communication and the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality have been researched by means of Literary studies. • In the third place, a qualitative empirical study has been done to test the basis and meta-theoretical principles in practice. Interviews have been conducted with 21 participants from seven Reformatory churches. • In the fourth place, the results of the empirical study have been put in hermeneutical interaction with the basis- and meta-theoretical principles in order to formulate readjusted basis- and meta-theoretical principles. The readjusted basis- and meta-theoretical principles have been used to formulate a readjusted practice theory which gives guidelines on how preaching can contribute to spiritual growth and intensified spirituality. Out of this, a model has been formulated which can help preachers to promote spiritual growth among their listeners by means of their preaching. The result of this study is as follows: A preacher can promote spiritual growth and contribute to intensified spirituality among their Listeners by means of: • Identifying voids and problems in their listeners' spirituality • The context • Taking into account the level of spiritual growth of the listeners while preaching. These matters must be addressed in sermons which communicate effectively. In preaching, effective communication can be obtained by: • Having clarity regarding the tone to be used during the sermon (proclaiming, teaching, consoling or admonishing) • Having clarity regarding the exact goal of the sermon • Ensuring that the sermon possesses a strong structure • Thorough exegesis of Scripture • Effectively addressing all kinds of noise • Using techniques to make people actively listen to the sermon • Using techniques to make it easier for listeners to follow the sermon • Ensuring that the preacher is credible. Although preaching is a monologue in nature, feedback i s of the utmost importance to the preacher. Feedback can help in clearing up obscurities, identifying problems and other voids. These problems and voids can be addressed in follow-up sermons and over time preaching can encourage and accompany listeners in a congregation lo grow spiritually and deepen their spirituality. In this way, preaching contributes to Listeners having an ever growing fervent relationship with the Lord. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Homiletics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

The aim of this study was to determine how preaching can stimulate spiritual growth and intensify the spirituality of Listeners. The working method for the study has been based on the mode[ formulated by Zerfass (1974) for Practical Theology and follows a Reformatory angle. • In the first place, basis-theoretical principles regarding preaching, spirituality and spiritual growth have been researched, as well as the relationship between preaching and spiritual growth. To do this, exegetical hermeneutical studies about a series of Bible texts, as well as some literary studies regarding these topics have been conducted. • In the second place, meta-theoretical principles regarding studies in Communication and the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality have been researched by means of Literary studies. • In the third place, a qualitative empirical study has been done to test the basis and meta-theoretical principles in practice. Interviews have been conducted with 21 participants from seven Reformatory churches. • In the fourth place, the results of the empirical study have been put in hermeneutical interaction with the basis- and meta-theoretical principles in order to formulate readjusted basis- and meta-theoretical principles. The readjusted basis- and meta-theoretical principles have been used to formulate a readjusted practice theory which gives guidelines on how preaching can contribute to spiritual growth and intensified spirituality. Out of this, a model has been formulated which can help preachers to promote spiritual growth among their listeners by means of their preaching. The result of this study is as follows: A preacher can promote spiritual growth and contribute to intensified spirituality among their Listeners by means of: • Identifying voids and problems in their listeners' spirituality • The context • Taking into account the level of spiritual growth of the listeners while preaching. These matters must be addressed in sermons which communicate effectively. In preaching, effective communication can be obtained by: • Having clarity regarding the tone to be used during the sermon (proclaiming, teaching, consoling or admonishing) • Having clarity regarding the exact goal of the sermon • Ensuring that the sermon possesses a strong structure • Thorough exegesis of Scripture • Effectively addressing all kinds of noise • Using techniques to make people actively listen to the sermon • Using techniques to make it easier for listeners to follow the sermon • Ensuring that the preacher is credible. Although preaching is a monologue in nature, feedback i s of the utmost importance to the preacher. Feedback can help in clearing up obscurities, identifying problems and other voids. These problems and voids can be addressed in follow-up sermons and over time preaching can encourage and accompany listeners in a congregation lo grow spiritually and deepen their spirituality. In this way, preaching contributes to Listeners having an ever growing fervent relationship with the Lord. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Homiletics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify employers’ perceptions of young women using glottal fry and the impact on hirability. Methods: A survey was created using the online survey tool, REDCapÒ, and sent to employers across the southern United States. The survey contained three voice samples consisting of a non-glottal fry voice, a glottal fry at the end of sentences voice, and a continuous glottal fry voice, fourteen semantic differential scales derived from hiring constructs, and open-ended questions on hirability. Results: Employers perceived individuals using glottal fry as more negative than the individual who used no glottal fry. Employers indicated they were less likely to hire individuals who use glottal fry compared to individuals who do not use glottal fry. Conclusion: The presence of glottal fry negatively impacts employers’ perceptions of young women and her perceived hirability. The results of this study demonstrate the relationship between vocal quality and listener perceptions.

The thesis on The Specifies of Alternative Radio Formats Targeted Towards Young Adult Listeners reflects radio broadcasting which is mainly targeted on young listeners. It focuses on the current image of this broadcasting in terms of Czech media environment. At first, the thesis familiarises its readers with basic terms that are used in connection with the issue of radio formats. Then it continues with the overview of music and journalism genres, which are crucial for the distinction between various radio formats. The closing chapter of the theoretical part introduces two radio stations which were chosen to represent the cathegory of alternative radio format; these are Radio 1 and Radio Wave. In the following empirical part, a one-week broadcasting of these particular stations is being analyzed. Afterwards, a summary of the main similarities and differences between the stations is presented. The main attributes of alternative radio format as such are summed up then. In the final chapter, the thesis presents an additional public opinion research, which explores the image of alternative radio held by young audience. For the sake of clarity, the findings of this thesis are presented from the most general facts to the most concrete ones.

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