Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2008. / 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 June 18, 2009) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Understanding the effects of quality metrics on the user behavior is important for the increasing number of content providers in order to maintain a competitive edge. The two data sets used are gathered from a provider of live streaming and a provider of video on demand streaming. The important quality and non quality features are determined by using both correlation metrics and relative importance determined by machine learning methods. A model that can predict and simulate the user behavior is developed and tested. A time series model, machine learning model and a combination of both are compared. Results indicate that both quality features and non quality features are important in understanding user behavior, and the importance of quality features are reduced over time. For short prediction times the model using quality features is performing slightly better than the model not using quality features.

The master's thesis "The Social Responsibility of Media in the Example of Edward R.Murrow" describes the development of social responsibility of media in the American radio and television broadcasting in the 20's - 50's of the 19th century and it demonstrates that in the examples of a CBS's reporter and anchorman, Edward R. Murrow. The thesis inquires the historical context in which the responsibilities of broadcasters came about describing the key events, regulatory authorities and the inception of the socially responsible media concept and its development trends. Firstly, the text focuses on the development of radio broadcasting, new demand for some level of control, and on the gaining dominance of commercial broadcasting media on the broadcasting market of the late 30's. Furthermore, the thesis analyzes the origins of television broadcasting of the late 40's and its progress in the 50's. The instances of social responsibility are demonstrated in the examples of Murrow's London radio broadcasts during the WWII and his latter TV show 'See It Now' in the McCarthyism era of the early 50's. Moreover, the thesis scrutinizes some of Murrow's TV and radio shows and looks at his activities in CBS from the late 30's up to his retirement in the early 60's.