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No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

A common approach for evaluating complex multiattributed choice alternatives is judgment decomposition: the alternatives are decomposed into a number of value-relevant attributes, the decision maker evaluates each alternative with respect to each attribute, and those single-attribute evaluations are aggregated across the attributes by a formal composition rule. One primary assumption behind decomposition is that it would produce a more reliable outcome than direct holistic evaluations. Although there is some empirical evidence that decomposed procedures can improve the reliability of evaluations, the extent of decomposition can have a considerable effect on the resulting evaluations. This research investigated, theoretically and experimentally, the effects of decomposition level on intrarater reliability in multiattribute alternative evaluation. In a theoretical study, using an additive value composition model with random variables, the composite variance of alternative evaluation was analyzed with respect to the level of decomposition. The composite variance of decomposed evaluation was derived from the variances in the components recomposed using a Statistical method of error propagation. By analyzing the composite variance as a function of the number of attributes used, possible effects of decomposition level were predicted and explained. The analysis showed that the variance of an alternative evaluation is a decreasing function with respect to the level of decomposition, in most cases, and that the marginal reduction of variance diminishes as decomposition level increases. In an experimental study, intrarater test-retest Convergence was examined for a job evaluation with different levels of decomposition. Subjects evaluated six hypothetical job alternatives using four levels of decomposition that ranged from a single overall evaluation to evaluations on twelve highly specific attributes. Intrarater convergence was measured by mean absolute deviations and Pearson correlations between the evaluation scores in two identical sessions separated by two weeks. The mean absolute deviations decreased significantly with respect to the decomposition levels while the Pearson correlations were not significant. Further analyses indicated that the mean absolute deviations decreased with a diminishing rate of reduction, as the decomposition level increased. The research results suggest that decomposition reduces the variability of each alternative evaluation, in most situations. The results, however, also suggest that decomposition may not improve the consistency of preference order of the alternatives that is often important in practical choice decisions. / Ph. D.

This dissertation presents a quantitative study of the effects of multiple aspects of working conditions on teacher effectiveness as measured by value-added scores and student perceptions of teaching. The data were derived from the 2009-2010 Teacher Working Condition Survey and Student Perception Survey in Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) Project. Using the structural equation modeling and other related methods, several models of teacher effectiveness were estimated. The results supported that instruction and classroom related working conditions at school played important role in effective teaching and student achievement gains in English language arts and mathematics. It was found that, after controlling for teachers' education degree and experience, instructional practice support had significant effect on teachers' value-added scores. Moreover, Classroom autonomy and support for student conduct management were found to have indirect effect on teacher value-added score mediated through the students' perceptions of teaching. In addition, student perceptions of teaching was found to be significantly worse in high-need schools than schools serving fewer minority students or students from low-incoming families, but teacher value-added score was not significantly different between the high versus low needs schools. The findings of the study significantly contributed to a better understanding of the effects of working environment and how these are related to teacher performance. The study has both theoretical and practical significance; it provided critical evidence that can be used by policy makers to promote teachers' performance, especially in high-needs schools. / Ph. D.

The U.S. hardwood industry has traditionally depended on the domestic demand to sustain levels of production above 14 billion board feet per year. Because of the collapse of the U.S. housing market in 2009 and the economic recession that followed, the industry moved its sight to the international markets, as an opportunity to replace some lost demand, and pursue long term growth. Previous research on international marketing of hardwood products indicates that, there is a growing concern among U.S. companies to understand the main competitiveness factors in key markets such as Asia and Europe. Finding opportunities to add value to U.S. hardwood exports has been the goal of this research project. A case study and survey research were carried out among importers and exporters, whereby it was found that aspects related to price, quality and service, are critical in achieving competitive advantage. This motivated a study in demand and pricing management, which found that these tasks may be subject to innovation through optimization approaches. / Ph. D.

As the federal deficit rises in the United States, interest in a consumption tax system or the value added tax (VAT) also increases. This investigation attempts to determine the short-run impacts of a value added tax upon private forest management. A literature review investigates the theoretical economic impacts of a VAT and experience with the tax in other countries. Then supply and demand functions in both the southern pine sawtimber stumpage and new single-facility housing sector are empirically derived. These functions are used to determine the short-run housing price elasticities of the quantity of houses sold and the price and quantity of stumpage sold. From this, the impact of a VAT-induced housing price change is determined, and simulation with different VAT rates are performed. Based on housing markets alone, it is found that a VAT is likely to cause a short-run reduction in sawtimber stumpage price and quantity demanded which is less than 1/10 percent of the VAT rate. / M.S.

The aim of this study was to examine how manure-derived value-added products via anaerobic digestion impact the environment and economics of dairy farming. An on-farm anaerobic digester (AD) at Virginia dairy was used in this study. The AD performance evaluated for: (i) biogas production (ii) waste stabilization; and (iii) production of organic fertilizer. Locally available organic waste streams were evaluated for co-digestion with dairy manure to increase biomethane production at the on-farm AD. The effective pasteurization temperature and duration to reduce fecal coliform, E. coli, and Salmonella concentrations in the AD effluent to acceptable levels for use as an organic fertilizer were determined. A partial environmental and economic analysis was conducted on the AD system to determine its effects on the environmental-economic sustainability of dairy farming. The results showed that the manure-derived value-added products from the AD improved environmental health and had the potential to improve the economic sustainability of the dairy farm. The AD stabilized the manure adequately and produced 400 KW of electricity, enough to power 230 US homes. Blending manure with locally available organic materials increased volatile fatty acid production, suggesting the potential to increase biomethane yields. Pasteurization at 70°C is sufficient to reduce pathogen indicating organisms to acceptable levels for the manure to be used as an organic fertilizer. The payback periods range from 4.6 to 11.8 years for the AD investment costs and reductions in direct manure methane emissions of 2,436 tonnes CO2e per year. / Master of Science