Automated planning is a branch of AI that addresses the problem of generating a course of action to achieve a specified objective, given an initial state of the world. It is an area that is central to the development of intelligent agents and autonomous robots. In the last decade, automated planning has seen significant progress in terms of scalability, much of it achieved by the development of heuristic search approaches. Many of these advances, are only immediately applicable to so-called classical planning tasks. However, there are compelling applications of planning that are non-classical. An example is the problem of web service composition, in which the objective is to automatically compose web artifacts to achieve the objective of a human user. In doing so, not only the hard goals but also the \emph{preferences} of the user---which are usually not considered in the classical model---must be considered. % Also, the automated composition %should deal with abstract representations of the web %artifacts---which may also not adjust to the classical model. In this thesis we show that many of the most successful advances in classical planning can be leveraged for solving compelling non-classical problems. In particular, we focus on the following non-classical planning problems: planning with temporally extended goals; planning with rich, temporally extended preferences; planning with procedural control, and planning with procedural programs that can sense the environment. We show that to efficiently solve these problems we can use a common approach: reformulation. For each of these planning tasks, we propose a reformulation algorithm that generates another, arguably simpler instance. Then, if necessary, we adapt existing techniques to make the reformulated instance solvable efficiently. In particular, we show that both the problems of planning with temporally extended goals and with procedural control can be mapped into classical planning. Planning with rich user preferences, even after reformulation, cannot be mapped into classical planning and thus we develop specialized heuristics, based on existing heuristics, together with a branch-and-bound algorithm. Finally, for the problem of planning with programs that sense, we show that under certain conditions programs can be reduced to simple operators, enabling the use of a variety of existing planners. In all cases, we show experimentally that the reformulated problems can be solved effectively by either existing planners or by our adapted planners, outperforming previous approaches.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationships between preferences of multiple intelligences, perceptual and social learning styles, and English as foreign language proficiency. Two self-report questionnaires were administered to a total of 123 participants. The results showed that dominant intelligence preference was inter-personal and major learning-style preference was kinesthetic. Pearson correlation results revealed statistically significant positive relations between interpersonal intelligence and group learning style / linguistic intelligence and individual learning style / logical-mathematical intelligence and individual learning style / intra-personal intelligence and individual learning style / inter-personal intelligence and kinesthetic learning style in addition to negative relations between interpersonal intelligence and individual learning style / musical intelligence and individual learning style, and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence and tactile learning style. This indicates that pedagogical implications should consider individuals&rsquo / intelligences and learning style preferences, and further studies are needed to investigate the interactions among preferences of styles and intelligences. Finally, multiple regression results showed that logical-mathematical intelligence preference and visual learning style preference were the primary contributors to the English proficiency. Since no previous research was found comparing preferences of multiple intelligences and perceptual and social learning styles of foreign language learners, this study provided data-driven evidence for the interrelations between them. Those relationships as well as factorial structure for preferences for multiple intelligences and learning styles were discussed. Moreover, the need for further development of the questionnaires and the need for mixed method data collection were emphasized. Implications for interactions among learning styles and multiple intelligences were discussed.

Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 286-300). / Microfiche. / xviii, 300 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

It is a common market practice to offer two products in a package, so called bundling. While much research investigate how companies can use bundling to increase sales and profit, less is known about how bundling can be beneficial for consumers. There are many advantages with bundling for consumers, as bundles often are offered at a reduced price and provide convenience and reduced risk. But there are also major drawbacks, for example reduced freedom of choice and increased risk of over-consumption. In the present study, the general aim is to increase the understanding of how consumers’ perceive bundle value. To achieve this, focus is turned to bundle composition, more specifically the complementarity between bundle products, as a source of value for consumers. By exploring what complementarity is, how it influences consumer preferences for and satisfaction with bundles and how it interacts with bundle discount insights about the overall value of bundles for consumers is gained. In five scenario-based experiments, the influence of different kinds and different degrees of complementarity on consumers’ perceptions of bundle value is studied and compared to evaluations of separate products. The results show that bundles generally are not preferred over separate products and that they only exceptionally provide more satisfaction. However, the results also highlight the influence of bundle composition on consumer evaluations. Generally, bundle complementarity has a positive effect on preferences and satisfaction, especially when combined with a discount. The results also illustrates that complementarity is a multifaceted concept. Many kinds of relations between bundle products are considered complementary and the degree of complementarity may vary within and between different types of complementarity. Based on the results it is suggested that the notion of complementarity is closely related to consumers’ everyday practices and the value bundles provides in use. When consumers understand the value that bundle products provide in use, the perceived complementarity increases and preferences and satisfaction is positively influenced. It is suggested that bundling can be used as a strategic tool by companies to increase value for customers. By considering their customers’ needs and practices companies can compose bundles that are perceived as complementary and offer value-in-use.

The aim of this thesis is to develop a greater understanding of consumers' brand repertoires. This research is part of the brand choice literature, which involves the analysis of all parts of the brand choice process. While there is clearly a need for research on the size of consumers' repertoites, little research has been conducted on this topic to date. This thesis provides much needed descriptive knowledge in relation to repertoire size, as well as providing information about the potential influence of a selection of consumer characteristics on this measure. / Repertoire size is defined as the number of brands a consumer purchases over a specified period of time. It is not only seen as a measure of loyalty (the smaller the repertoire, the higher the loyalty), but also a measure of competitiveness in a market (the bigger the repertoire, the greater the competition). Although these areas are of considerable interest to marketing managers and researchers alike, this measure has rarely been emphasised in previous research (Colombo and Jiang 2002). / Thesis (BA(Hons)IndustrialandAppliedMaths)--University of South Australia, 2008.

Public utility services have been plagued with problems of low tariff and low willingness-to-pay by consumers. In many countries, tariff setting has been a political decision with governments reluctant to antagonise the electorate. Low pricing leads to inadequate revenue streams and further deterioration in service levels which in turn aggravates the revenue collection problem. Even with the already low tariffs, many consumers are not willing to pay the charges. / Maintaining tariffs at a low level sets a low reference price in the minds of consumers further dampening their willingness-to-pay. Low tariffs also create a perception that public service provision is not a serious problem which can be solved rather easily and relatively cheaply. This perception has a negative effect on consumers when tariffs are raised resulting in them resisting upward tariff revisions. This research project seeks to model consumer willingness-to-pay behavioural intentions by identifying the factors that affect their perception of price and service. The objective of this model is to enable service providers to recognise these factors and plan their strategies to focus on positively influencing them. By such strategic planning and action, service providers and governments could attempt to change the perception of consumers and increase their willingness-to pay a fair price for public goods. / Setting prices for public goods using contingent valuation and willingness-to-pay surveys have little practical use as they inevitably result in low prices due to strategic manipulation and bias by respondents. There has been very little research focussed on modelling such behavioural intentions for public goods. Due to this, a literature review on the psychological aspects of the pricing and willingness-to-purchase of private goods is thus conducted to develop the conceptual model for public goods. / The literature review indicated that the key factors affecting consumers' price perception were reference price, information and justification of pricing practices, and information on service provision and service performance. It is proposed that these key factors could also be applicable in price and service perception formation and in moderating reactions to current and future price increases of public goods. / Several existing conceptual models for private and public goods were reviewed in developing the research model. Although none of them could be used fully, they formed the basis for formulating a new conceptual model and item development for the survey instrument. This conceptual model was built by defining the relationships of the key factors underpinning price and service perception and willingness-to-pay for public goods. / A field survey using a personally administered questionnaire on sewerage services was conducted. The data collected was used to validate the conceptual model using structural equation modelling (SEM). / The results indicate that reference price plays an important role in consumers' price perception of the public good. The consumer's reference price can be shifted by providing adequate justification of the price and disseminating information on service provision and performance. Greater emphasis is thus needed by service providers on communication strategies to justify prices and present service performance information in a manner readily understood by consumers. / Thesis (DBA(DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2006.

Thesis (DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2004.

Thesis (MBus) -- University of South Australia, 1991

Our research proposes a new, multi-attribute, parameterisation of Tversky’s Elimination- By-Aspects (EBA) model. The EBA model conceptualises choice as a covert sequential elimination process with choice probabilities formulated over all consideration sets of the choice set. This specification attempts to capture the effect of context on choice behaviour. However, the EBA model has seen limited usage due to the large number of required parameters given the set of items under study. For a set of items T, it has 2|T| - 3 free parameters, which is infeasible for all but the simplest of contexts. To provide a practical operationalisation, we impose a set of a priori constraints on the parameter space. We define a generic multi-attribute structure to the set of aspects. This restricts the cardinality of the set of unknown scale values while retaining the functional (recursive) form of the model. The EBA hypothesis of a population of lexicographic decision-makers can therefore be tested in more market-realistic contexts, and inferences made over a large universal set of items described by the complete factorial. We call this model the Multi-attribute Elimination-By-Aspects (MEBA) model. The MEBA model reduces the set of unknown free parameters to a maximum of |T|-1. We develop a general algebraic expression for the MEBA choice probabilities as a function of the attributes of the options in the choice set. This enables the derivation of a likelihood function, and consequently maximum likelihood estimation. We also consider the form of optimal MEBA paired comparison designs. Using Monte Carlo simulation and a discrete choice experiment with consumers, we conduct an initial empirical test of the model against the special case of the MNL model (that assumes no context effects) and find the MEBA model to be a better approximation of observed choice behaviour. This is achieved on a common set of parameters, and so it is due solely to the difference in functional form of the two models. We conclude with a discussion on future research directions, in particular the introduction of heterogeneity into the model, and the description of optimal choice experiments for larger choice set sizes.

Thesis (DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2004.