Marketers frequently use autobiographical memories ads to induce persuasion. However, the few existing studies of autobiographical memories ads have produced inconsistent results regarding their persuasive impact. Moreover, there is little empirical support for the presumed process by which autobiographical memories ads work (i.e., episodic self-referencing). Similar to previous studies, the current study found scant evidence of episodic self-referencing. This study recharacterized self-referencing using the more general term "self-focus". In addition, this study suggested that a schema-based process can better explain the persuasive process in autobiographical memories ads rather than priming a specific episode from one's life. To test these competing explanations (episodic self-referencing vs. schema-based), an experiment was conducted that exposed participants to a Florida vacation package ad either for a spring (schema-consistent) or a Thanksgiving (schema-inconsistent) break. The ad either made no explicit reference to the self (product-focus-ad) or made a reference to a past break experience (self- focus-ad). There were three different versions of the self-focus-ad. Participants in the Self-focus-ad condition simply viewed the ad. Participants in the Self-focus-ad Pre-essay condition wrote an essay on a past break experience prior to viewing the ad. Participants in the Self-focus-ad Post-essay wrote the essay after viewing the ad. The presentation order of two primary dependent measures (product evaluation and cognitive response) was also manipulated. Participants provided product evaluation ratings on the Florida college vacation package. The cognitive response measure was a thought listing task on the advertised product. A computer presented all stimuli and recorded participants' responses. In general, the results support a schema-based process rather than episodic self-referencing in explaining the persuasive impact of autobiographical memories ads when the product evaluation measure preceded the cognitive response measure. A consistent schema-match produced a higher product evaluation than an inconsistent schema-match. Additionally, increasing self-focus after viewing the ad forced participants to contrast their past experience with the ad, resulting in a lower product evaluation. The results suggest that the persuasive mechanism underlying autobiographical memories ads can be better characterized by self-focus and self-relevance rather than by self-referencing of a past event. Implications for persuasion and advertising are discussed. / Ph. D.

Winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) production in the mid-Atlantic region occupies a substantial amount of arable land. Variable levels of winter and spring precipitation can result in N loss. The objectives of this study were to determine the optimum rate and timing of N fertilization and develop predictors of optimum N rates. An uptake study was conducted to determine N uptake of winter barley with respect to growth stage. Various N rate combinations at growth stages (GS) 25 and GS 30 were evaluated over twenty locations and three cropping seasons, to determine the application regime required to optimize grain yields at each site. Predictor variables at GS 25 and GS 30 were evaluated to predict optimum N rates. The N uptake study indicated an increased N uptake at GS 25 and GS 30. Yields from plots receiving no spring N varied from 1400 to 7530 kg ha⁻¹, at various sites, indicating a yield response of barley to residual N. Optimum N rates over locations varied from 0 to 136 kg N ha⁻¹, suggesting a need to diagnose site-specific N requirements. Plant tissue tests at GS 30 were the best predictor of GS 30 optimum N rates with a critical level of 3.5% N in plant tissue above which no economic response to applied N would be expected. GS 25 tiller density was the best predictor of optimum GS 25 N rates in 1994-1995. This season was climatically atypical thus this method must be evaluated further. / Master of Science

Poly(arylene ether)s containing phosphorus, sulfur, and heterocyclic pendant moieties were synthesized and their properties investigated. The preparation of monomers containing phosphorus as well as monomers derived from phenolphthalein were synthesized in high purity. These monomers were then successfully polymerized by a nucleophilic displacement reaction to prepare poly(arylene ether)s of both high and controlled molecular weight. The novel poly(arylene ether)s based on phenolphthalein had glass transition temperatures ranging from 265 to 312 °C. Furthermore, the modulus of these macromolecules was significantly higher than that of typical poly(arylene ether)s (e.g. bisphenol A based systems), probably as a result of enhanced intermolecular forces. Phenolphthalein in poly(arylene ether)s has been shown not only to improve the thermal and mechanical properties, but also it provides a pendant functional group for chemical modification of the polymer. As a result, a base polymer can be customized to a variety of new materials using derivatization techniques. The possibility of metal complexing in phenolphthalein poly(arylene ether)s was also investigated. A variety of reactive and non-reactive end-capped poly(arylene ether)s of controlled molecular weight were synthesized for use in reactive toughening modified epoxy and cyanate ester networks and these results are briefly summarized. Model studies using HPLC were also conducted to determine reaction kinetics in nucleophilic poly(arylene ether) formation. The results demonstrate that potassium carbonate mediated step polymerizations likely proceed with etherification of one of the phenolic groups, prior to difunctional coupling, which can achieve high molecular weight. The formation of cyclic oligomers in the step-growth polymerization of poly(arylene ether)s was also studied. / Ph. D.

No description available.

[no abstract provided by author] / M. Arch.

M.S.

Individuals have personal and occupational needs that are satisfied to some degree by attending professional meetings. The primary purpose of this study was to identify the attributes of professional society meetings that have value for attendees. Three meeting attributes were identified from a review of the literature: education, networking and leadership. The second purpose was to explain why individuals preferred certain meeting attributes. Career theories were used to provide an explanatory schema for interpreting individual differences. The findings of this study support four meeting attributes; the three hypothesized-education, networking and leadership, plus a fourth, named professional savvy. Based on the means education was the most frequently recognized attribute, networking the second, professional savvy was third, and leadership the least recognized. Career stages were shown to predict the attribute that would be valued most highly by an individual attendee. The three career stages and respective survey items shown to it be significant were {1) biological or life-span theories represented by the survey item age; (2) social class theories represented by salary, and (3) transition-based theories represented by the number of years a person has been in their profession, the number of years with the current employer and the individuals perception of changes in their job responsibilities. The data show that education is the most important attribute to three fourths of the sample and for these individuals career stages are normally distributed. For those who prefer leadership, savvy and networking more descriptive profiles can be drawn from the career stage variables. The results of this study are particularly useful to individuals who plan meetings. The data show that meeting organizers and planners can identify critical items that link the individuals to a particular career stage, and because meeting attributes are linked to career stages, programs can be designed to provide the selected or range of attributes depending on the particular make-up of the audience. / Ph. D.

Québec Université Laval, Bibliothèque 2016

Tableau d'honneur de la Faculté des études supérieures et postdoctorales, 2005-2006 / Sur un loam argileux supportant une rotation maïs-soya, nous avons évalué les effets du travail du sol et de la fertilisation N et P sur le contenu en C du sol (0-60 cm) et la quantité de C apportée par les cultures. Alors que l'absence de labour augmente la teneur en C à la surface du sol, la présence du labour accroît la teneur en C des horizons inférieurs. Il en résulte des stocks de C statistiquement équivalents pour les deux modes de travail du sol lorsque l'ensemble du profil est considéré. Le labour et la fertilisation N et P ont entraîné une augmentation des apports de C par les cultures, mais n'ont pas eu d'incidence sur les stocks de C du profil entier. La fertilisation N influence toutefois de façon différentielle la teneur en C des sols labourés et non labourés dans le premier tiers du profil de sol.

Québec Université Laval, Bibliothèque 2014