Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1985. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-161). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1986. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-111). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1978 B37 / Master of Science

The aim of this thesis is to explore differences between consumer expectations of web site functionality in the context of online banking in terms of whether the task under consideration is information seeking or account access and whether the expectation is predictive or normative. The Internet has emerged as a new and distinct information source. Statistics show that the Internet is used extensively by companies for information provision and in general by consumers for information acquisition. The context of this study is the financial services sector where online service provision is increasing to meet consumer demand. Numerous studies into online banking seek to identify the attributes of successful financial services web sites but the focus of these studies has been on account management rather than information search activity. Yet, there is limited research into whether consumer evaluative criteria differ when deciding to adopt a bank’s web site as a source of information as compared to use as a channel for account access. Regardless of task focus, the rationale behind theory of adoption models is that, if after trial, web site performance does not match expectations then the consumer will decide that the web site does not contain features of value and will not continue to use it. Expectations are conceptually close to, but not the same as, beliefs and have been defined as both the anticipation of future outcomes (predictive expectation) and the desire for the occurrence of future outcomes (normative expectation). Since the only type of evaluation a consumer may hold about an untried technology is expectation, several technology adoption models use expectations as referent states however the focus of research to date has been on contrasting expectation with postadoption perception. This thesis follows an approach developed by Sirgy (1984) that utilises different levels of expectation. Normative and predictive expectations are used not only as a referent state but also as a perceived state thus providing an understanding of the expectation “gaps” of users and non-users. A two-phase methodology was used. First a preliminary study based on a convenience sample of 253 students was used to generate a range of expectation statements relating to online information search. Second a web-survey was administered to 10,000 Internet users to explore differences in normative (should) expectations and predictive (will) expectations across a set of system quality and information quality attributes in two task scenarios: information search and online bank account access. This thesis identifies differences and points of similarity across task scenario. It shows that across task scenario there are statistically significant and practically substantive differences in terms of attributes that reduce risk, enable two-way communication and the provision of product information.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Helsinki. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-93).

Site quality, or the ability of land to grow trees, is an important component for identifying the most appropriate locations for establishing plantations of fast growing tree species to meet societys demands for timber and other environmental benefits. The goal of this thesis project was to predict site quality for poplars using soil and site information in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Quebec and to examine the effect of site quality on competition control in hybrid poplar plantations in Saskatchewan.<p>The first study examined factors affecting trembling aspen productivity in the boreal shield ecozone of Quebec on till and fluvial parent materials using general map data and measured soil and site information. Relationships with productivity were stronger using measured soil and site variables for individual parent materials (R2>0.6) than using general map data only (R2<0.25). Including biological variables, such as overstory species composition, had a major impact on site quality with conifer dominance negatively impacting the growth of trembling aspen.<p>The second study examined the factors affecting trembling aspen productivity in the boreal transition ecoregion of Saskatchewan on three different soil parent materials: fluvial, lacustrine and till. Relationships with productivity were stronger using soil and site variables for individual parent materials (R2 0.48-0.58) than using agricultural capability classes or other soil properties for all plots combined (R2<0.2). For fluvial and lacustrine sites, increasing clay content and nutrient availability (e.g. pH and total N) were positively related to productivity while tree productivity was negatively related to poor drainage for till sites. <p>The third study examined the factors affecting site quality for a single hybrid poplar clone in industrial plantations in Alberta at both the local scale (between plantations) and the microsite scale (within plantations). At the local scale, foliar P and Cu concentrations, soil water availability and drainage, and Ca and Mn in the C horizon were related to hybrid poplar productivity. There were also curved relationships with productivity and soil texture in the B horizon and pH of the A horizon, indicating an optimal range for poplar growth. At the microsite scale, soil texture was the best predictor of productivity with different relationships at each site depending on where the sites were in relation to the optimal soil texture.<p>The final study examined the response of hybrid poplar plantations in Saskatchewan to interspecific competition control on a range of site productivities. Competition control greatly increased tree growth with the greatest benefit being on the best quality sites. Both water and nutrients were highly competed for between trees and weeds. In the weed-free plots, tree growth was positively related to the amount of silt and clay in the soil and foliar P concentrations. This series of studies has demonstrated that it should be possible to predict poplar productivity reasonably well using only soil and site information within limited areas across Canada. However, the important drivers of productivity varied between the regions studied and between site groupings, such as by parent material, within local areas. This information can now be used to help land managers make better decisions regarding the establishment and management of plantations of fast growing tree species, notably hybrid poplar plantations.

Site quality, or the ability of land to grow trees, is an important component for identifying the most appropriate locations for establishing plantations of fast growing tree species to meet societys demands for timber and other environmental benefits. The goal of this thesis project was to predict site quality for poplars using soil and site information in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Quebec and to examine the effect of site quality on competition control in hybrid poplar plantations in Saskatchewan.<p>The first study examined factors affecting trembling aspen productivity in the boreal shield ecozone of Quebec on till and fluvial parent materials using general map data and measured soil and site information. Relationships with productivity were stronger using measured soil and site variables for individual parent materials (R2>0.6) than using general map data only (R2<0.25). Including biological variables, such as overstory species composition, had a major impact on site quality with conifer dominance negatively impacting the growth of trembling aspen.<p>The second study examined the factors affecting trembling aspen productivity in the boreal transition ecoregion of Saskatchewan on three different soil parent materials: fluvial, lacustrine and till. Relationships with productivity were stronger using soil and site variables for individual parent materials (R2 0.48-0.58) than using agricultural capability classes or other soil properties for all plots combined (R2<0.2). For fluvial and lacustrine sites, increasing clay content and nutrient availability (e.g. pH and total N) were positively related to productivity while tree productivity was negatively related to poor drainage for till sites. <p>The third study examined the factors affecting site quality for a single hybrid poplar clone in industrial plantations in Alberta at both the local scale (between plantations) and the microsite scale (within plantations). At the local scale, foliar P and Cu concentrations, soil water availability and drainage, and Ca and Mn in the C horizon were related to hybrid poplar productivity. There were also curved relationships with productivity and soil texture in the B horizon and pH of the A horizon, indicating an optimal range for poplar growth. At the microsite scale, soil texture was the best predictor of productivity with different relationships at each site depending on where the sites were in relation to the optimal soil texture.<p>The final study examined the response of hybrid poplar plantations in Saskatchewan to interspecific competition control on a range of site productivities. Competition control greatly increased tree growth with the greatest benefit being on the best quality sites. Both water and nutrients were highly competed for between trees and weeds. In the weed-free plots, tree growth was positively related to the amount of silt and clay in the soil and foliar P concentrations. This series of studies has demonstrated that it should be possible to predict poplar productivity reasonably well using only soil and site information within limited areas across Canada. However, the important drivers of productivity varied between the regions studied and between site groupings, such as by parent material, within local areas. This information can now be used to help land managers make better decisions regarding the establishment and management of plantations of fast growing tree species, notably hybrid poplar plantations.

Thesis (M.S.)--Auburn University, 2004. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-96). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-132). Also available via the Internet.