In this study, the most prominent goodness-of-fit tests for censored samples are reviewed. Power properties of goodness-of-fit statistics of the null hypothesis that a sample which is censored from right, left and both right and left which comes from uniform, normal and exponential distributions are investigated. Then, by a similar argument extreme value, student t with 6 degrees of freedom and generalized logistic distributions are discussed in detail through a comprehensive simulation study. A variety of real life applications are given. Suitable test statistics for testing the above distributions for censored samples are also suggested in the conclusion.

Bei einer wissenschaftlichen Betrachtung des Eventmarketing wird deutlich, dass es sich um eine recht junge Form der Marktkommunikation handelt, die sich inhaltlich noch nicht voll und ganz etabliert hat. Im Gegensatz dazu ist das große Interesse der Marketingpraxis unverkennbar. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird deutlich, dass ein umfassender wissenschaftlicher Handlungsbedarf besteht. Denn ein erfolgsversprechender Einsatz dieses Instrumentes wird langfristig nur durch wissenschaftlich fundierte Kenntnisse möglich sein. Zu vertiefen sind die Bemühungen der Wissenschaft, Wirkungspotenziale und die damit verbundenen Wirkungsvoraussetzungen für das Eventmarketing aufzuzeigen, um somit zweckdienliche Entscheidungen im Rahmen des Event-Managementprozesses treffen zu können. In diesem Kontext ist darauf hinzuweisen, dass sowohl Wissenschaft als auch Praxis zu der Erkenntnis gelangt sind, dass eine Imagebeeinflussung die zentrale Wirkungsgröße im Eventmarketing darstellt. Denn auf der Basis geeigneter Eventinhalte gilt es das Marken- bzw. Unternehmensimage dahingehend zu modifizieren, dass eine unverwechselbare und sich im Wettbewerb differenzierende Positionierung möglich erscheint. Folgt man den vorliegenden wissenschaftlichen Überlegungen zum Imagetransfer so fällt auf, dass dabei die Affinität (Passfähigkeit) zwischen den Eventinhalten und der Marke/Unternehmen von entscheidender Bedeutung ist. Bei einer praxisorientierten Betrachtung von inszenierten Marketing-Events liegt allerdings die Vermutung nahe, dass der strategische Planungsprozess im Allgemeinen und eine Affinitätsprüfung im Besonderen unterschätzt wird. So ist oftmals zu beobachten, dass Unternehmen Marketing-Events veranstalten, die zwar unterhaltsam sind aber einen Zusammenhang auf Grundlage gleicher sachlicher und/oder emotionaler Merkmale vermissen lassen. Vor diesem Hintergrund stellt sich die Frage nach möglichen Gründen und Einflussfaktoren. Es ist also zu prüfen, welchen Stellenwert die Affinität in der Eventpraxis einnimmt und wie eine solche Affinität durch strategische Eventplanung, exemplarisch im Rahmen sportbezogener Marketing-Events, hergestellt werden kann. Zur relevanten Thematik wurden Experten aus verschieden Eventagenturen mittels qualitativer Interviews befragt. Zunächst konnte empirisch bestätigt werden, dass die Affinität zwischen Eventinhalten und Marke/Unternehmen eine notwendige Bedingung darstellt, um den angestrebten Imagetransfer durch Marketing-Events zu realisieren. Weiterhin wurden eine Vielzahl möglicher Einflussfaktoren auf den strategischen Eventplanungsprozess generiert, welche die Herstellung von Affinität zwischen Eventinhalt und Marke/Unternehmen durchaus negativ beeinträchtigen können. Die gewonnen Ergebnisse ergänzen somit nicht nur die vorliegenden Imagetransfermodelle für das Eventmarketing, sondern stellen zugleich eine wichtige Grundlage zur Optimierung der praxisnahen Arbeit von Eventagenturen bzw. eventveranstaltenden Unternehmen bei der Realisierung eines Imagetransfers dar.

The graphical modelling of processes is of growing popularity and high relevance to organisations that seek to document, analyse and improve their business operations. This research investigates the phenomenon of continued user acceptance of the grammars that are used to build process models. It develops and tests a theory that can be used to explain and predict why users would opt to continue working with certain grammars in their process modelling efforts. This study builds on established theories, including the Technology Acceptance Model, Expectation-Confirmation Theory, Task-Technology Fit Theory and Representation Theory. These theories suggest that end users typically strive for tools that are useful and easy to use, which confirm their expectations through firsthand utility, and which match task requirements and individual abilities. Representation theory suggests that modelling grammars should be complete and clear in their capabilities to represent real-world domains. The research model has been designed by combining conceptual studies of acceptance and continuance theories with a representational analysis of the BPMN grammar, which is a recently ratified industry standard for process modelling and thereby of high practical relevance to process modelling practice. It further incorporates findings from nineteen semi-structured interviews with process modellers in Australia. The research model has been tested and validated by means of a web-based survey with 590 process modellers world-wide. This thesis contributes to the body of knowledge in a number of ways: First, it presents an empirically validated model of the factors determining a user's intention to continue using a process modelling grammar. Second, it measures the impact that grammar characteristics as well as user and task characteristics have on user evaluations of a process modelling grammar. Third, it presents empirical evidence on the consequences that perceived representational deficiencies entail on user perceptions of a process modelling grammar.

This thesis has two distinct research threads. One thread examines the effectiveness of technology support on the performance of focus groups. Unlike previous research, the work described in this thesis addresses the fundamental issue that groups are social systems, and that comprehensive measurement of the effectiveness of group activities requires assessment of both the task-oriented and social aspects of the group activity. In this research, four different communication modes are used to compare group effectiveness. The second research thread in this thesis is the use of Systems Thinking, and specifically Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), as the framework for inquiring into the effects of technology support on group effectiveness. The strategy in this thesis for developing and evaluating hypotheses extends the general descriptions and guidance in the literature on using SSM for hypothesis testing. Systems thinking also provides the basis for examining the prevailing ???profile deviation??? view that the better the fit between the group task and the technology support the greater the group performance. Using the six perspectives of fit developed by Venkatraman (1989), the most common GSS models and other models developed to examine Task-Technology Fit (TTF) are analysed. The results show that group performance models are most often tested from a ???profile deviation??? perspective and TTF models developed from a profile deviation perspective claim to have predictive and descriptive validity for assessing the level of group performance. To assess whether an SSM based approach can improve the predictive and/or descriptive analysis of the impact of technology support on group work, a field experiment was conducted at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Twenty focus groups of officer cadets assessed their military training program using a GSS in one of four communication modes. The results showed little predictive or descriptive support for the profile deviation perspective of TTF when measuring the group???s overall effectiveness, task effectiveness, participant satisfaction or group relations. The alternative ???gestalt??? perspective, operationalised in this research by using SSM, provided a more comprehensive approach to examining the effectiveness of technology support for group work.

The public image of nurses has been of great concern to the nursing profession. This image views nursing as a female occupation with nurses having little power over their practice. Researchers claim that the stereotypical public image of nursing could constrain nursing practice. For instance, nursing skills may be under- utilised and the health care environment may not adequately reward nurses for their performance. There has also been a concern that the constraints arising from the stereotypical public image of nursing may adversely affect nurses’ work behaviour. Based on the Person-Environment-Occupation Model of Occupational Performance, the thesis examined how the public image of nurses could impact on nursing practice. The thesis also explored the person-environment (mis)fit in nursing, which is characterised as (in)congruence between nurses’ professional orientation (i.e., nurses’ self-image, role expectations and work values) and their actual practice (i.e., nurses’ perception of the image of nurses held by the public, and nurses’ perceptions of their actual roles and the rewards available to them in practice). In addition, the thesis investigated the factors that could moderate nurses’ perception of the person-environment fit, and how this fit could impact on their job performance and turnover intention. (For complete abstract open document)

Abstract This study examines the relationship between perceived brand fit, perceived risk, perceived value and intention to purchase in the context of co-branded hotels and restaurants. Today’s market contains many products and services that can look very similar, and companies use co-branding of their products to make them distinctive from other products on the market. A better understanding of consumer behaviour and attitude to co-branding may improve restaurant profitability and hotel occupancy. One important question to be considered is what determines consumers’ willingness to purchase in co-branded hotel and restaurants? In spite of a number of research papers on hotel-restaurant co-branding written in recent years, previous academic studies have not addressed the relationship between co-branding of hotels and restaurants and intention to purchase. The aim of this research is to examine how the relationship of brand fit, risk and value relate to intention to purchase, and to do this three research questions and eleven hypotheses are proposed. A previous study by Boo and Matilla (2002) has proposed a conceptual model of hotel-restaurant brand alliance strategies, relating management strategy characteristics and consumer characteristics with the consequences of perceived brand fit. The present study develops this existing model by examining the components of brand fit that determine consumer intention to purchase. The study investigates three main areas: firstly, it examines the relationship between perceived brand fit and intention to purchase in terms of perceived fit (overall), complementary fit based on product usage and product goal, and transferability fit based on service quality. Secondly, it examines the relationship between perceived risk and intention to purchase in terms of personal characteristics including risk-taking behaviour and self-confidence; uncertainty of loss including financial loss, time loss and physical loss, and, performance risk. Thirdly, it examines the relationship between perceived value and intention to purchase in terms of perceived brand image, perceived quality and perceived sacrifice, based on monetary and non-monetary price. A quantitative approach involving survey of hotel guests has been employed with data collected in four and five star hotels in Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand from August to September 2008. A survey questionnaire was administered to guests and a total of 511 completed responses were collected. The data analyses performed using a standard multiple regression method, a paired sample T-test, a chi-square test and a multiple response technique. The results indicate that the model of perceived brand fit in this study has two key components which positively influence a consumer’s intention to purchase. Firstly, the perceived fit (overall), and, secondly, complement fit based on product usage and product goal. Furthermore, for the perceived risk model the finding also indicates two key components which positively influence a consumer’s intention to purchase. The first component is uncertainty of loss in terms of financial, time and physical loss. The second component is performance risk in terms of product and service performance. Lastly, the results indicate that the perceived value model revealed three components which are positively related to consumer’s intention to purchase. The first component is perceived brand image, the second component is perceived quality, and the last component is perceived sacrifice in terms of both monetary and non-monetary price. The conceptual framework developed and tested in this study can be used as a guideline to enable an appropriate co-branding marketing strategy to be developed.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, August, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-120).

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, August, 2004. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-120)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 263-266).

Este estudo avaliou próteses implantossuportadas obtidas por 2 técnicas (cilindro cimentado ou soldado a laser) e seus comportamentos no que tange à passividade e afrouxamento de parafusos. Foram confeccionadas PPFs de 3 elementos sobre 2 implantes: G1, técnica do cilindro cimentado; G2, técnica do cilindro soldado a laser (n=10). Avaliados níveis de desajuste vertical e passividade antes e após aplicação de cerâmica prensada e após ciclagem mecânica, e a perda de torque inicial dos parafusos de retenção protética antes e após fadiga. Ciclagem mecânica simulando 1 ano de função mastigatória normal (50N, 300.000 ciclos). Análises de desajuste vertical e passividade realizadas pelo método de Sheffield. Calculada % de perda de torque de inserção. Os dados de desajuste e perda de torque foram comparados estatisticamente pelo Modelo Linear de Efeitos Mistos. De modo geral, G1 apresentou níveis de desajuste vertical estatisticamente inferiores a G2 (p<0,05) nas três condições analisadas pelo teste de Sheffield, tanto antes quanto após ciclagem mecânica, atingindo valores máximos de desajuste correspondentes a: 11,94 ± 3,17&mu;m (G1) e 48,63 ± 39,68 &mu;m (G2), antes da ciclagem, 12,42 ± 6,19&mu;m (G1) e 47,62 ± 35,16&mu;m (G2), após a ciclagem, estando os parafusos parafusados. Adicionalmente, em todas as condições experimentais, a ciclagem mecânica não influenciou no desajuste de ambos os grupos (p<0,05), com exceção do molar em G1 quando analisado apertado (p<0,0001). Quando analisado G2, verificamos aumento estatisticamente significante do desajuste vertical após prensagem cerâmica para todos os elementos (p<0,0001) nos diferentes momentos avaliados, com exceção do molar quando avaliado solto, o qual apresentou desajustes semelhantes antes e após prensagem (p=0,052). Na análise de perda de torque, valores expressos em % de perda são apresentados: Pré-molar - G1- antes ciclagem: 31,04 ± 13,22%; G2- antes ciclagem: 33,97 ± 13,41% (G1 x G2 antes ciclagem: p=0,662); G1- após ciclagem: 42,36 ± 14,99%; G2- após ciclagem: 37,92 ± 9,32% (G1 x G2 após ciclagem: p=0,461). Quando analisado o pré-molar, não foram verificadas diferenças estatísticas antes e após ciclagem mecânica para ambos os grupos (G1: p=0,067; G2: p=0,423); Molar - G1- antes ciclagem: 30,77 ± 12,37%; G2- antes ciclagem: 44,37 ± 11,14% (G1 x G2 antes ciclagem: p=0,032); G1- após ciclagem: 39,28 ± 13,96%; G2- após ciclagem: 54,40 ± 26,39% (G1 x G2 após ciclagem: p=0,189). Quando analisado o molar, diferenças estatísticas também não foram identificadas antes e após ciclagem, para ambos os grupos (G1: p=0,392; G2: p=0,233). Diante dos resultados, é possível concluir que: G1 apresentou índices de desajuste vertical e passividade menores que G2, porém para ambos os grupos os desajustes estão dentro dos padrões aceitáveis pela literatura; ciclagem mecânica não promoveu alterações nos níveis de desajuste vertical e perda de torque (%) para ambos os grupos; ambas as técnicas não foram capazes de promover passividade absoluta, tendo em vista os maiores valores de desadaptação do lado solto quando comparados ao lado parafusado. / This study evaluated implant supported prostheses obtained by two techniques (cemented cylinder or laser welded cylinder) and their behavior regarding passivity and screw loosening. Three-element FPPs were made over 2 implants: G1, cemented cylinder technique, G2, laser welded cylinder technique (n=10). The levels of vertical misfit and passivity were evaluated before and after ceramic pressing, and after mechanical cycling; while loss of initial torque of prosthetic retaining screws, before and after mechanical cycling. The mechanical cycling simulated one year of normal masticatory function (50N, 300,000 cycles). Vertical misfit and passivity were analyzed by Sheffield\'s test. The percentage of torque loss was calculated. The misfit and torque loss data were statistically compared by Mixed Linear Model . Overall, G1 showed vertical misfit statistically lower than G2 (p<0.05) in the three conditions analyzed by Sheffield\'s test, before and after mechanical cycling, reaching maximum values of misfit corresponding to: 11.94 ± 3.17&mu;m (G1) and 48.63 ± 39.68 &mu;m (G2) before cycling; 12.42 ± 6.19&mu;m (G1) and 47.62 ± 35.16&mu;m (G2), after cycling, when screws were tightened. Additionally, in all experimental conditions, the mechanical cycling did not influence the misfit in both groups (p<0.05), except for the molar G1 when analyzed in the tightened condition (p<0.0001). When was analyzed G2, statistically significant increase in the vertical misfit was found after ceramic pressing for all elements (p<0.0001) for different moments, except when the molar was not tightened, which showed similar misfit before and after pressing (p=0.052). In the analysis of torque loss, values expressed as percentage of loss are presented: Pre-molar - G1- before cycling: 31.04 ± 13.22%, G2- before cycling: 33.97 ± 13.41% (G1 x G2 before cycling: p=0.662), G1- after cycling: 42.36 ± 14.99%, G2- after cycling: 37.92 ± 9.32% (G1 x G2 after cycling: p=0.461). When the pre-molar was analyzed, statistical differences before and after cycling were not found for both groups (G1: p=0.067; G2: p=0.423); Molar - G1- before cycling: 30.77 ± 12.37%; G2- before cycling: 44.37 ± 11.14% (G1 x G2 before cycling: p=0.032); G1- after cycling: 39.28 ± 13.96%; G2- after cycling: 54.40 ± 26 , 39% (G1 x G2 after cycling: p=0.189). When the molar was analyzed, statistical differences were not found before and after cycling for both groups (G1: p=0.392; G2: p=0.233). Based on these results, it is possible to conclude that: G1 showed vertical misfit and passivity smaller than G2, but for both groups, the misfits are within acceptable standards for the literature; mechanical cycling did not change the vertical misfit and torque loss (%) for both groups; both techniques were not able to promote absolute passivity, in view of the higher values of misfit when compared to the side no tightened.