This research sought to find if a significant relationship existed between a factor of personality, authoritarianism, as measured on the Rokeach Dogmatism Scale, and perceived effectiveness of teaching as measured by ratings on the Purdue Rating Scale for Instruction.

This paper examines the impact of credit rating migration in determining optimal capital structure. The models we propose capture empirical behavior in two ways; the behavior of linking firm¡¦s rating to the promised coupons and the behavior of targeting minimum rating. We find that as long as the rating at issuing time is not too low, tax shields of the rating-linked coupon debt are larger than those of standard debt with the same par, and hence, optimal leverage usage of the firm with the rating- linked coupon scheme is greater. Further, we also show that the behavior of targeting a minimum rating causes mean-reverting leverage dynamics. Managers are appeared to make over-repurchase choices for adjusting the current rating back to the initial target following a downgrade from target minimum rating.

We inquire into the possibilities to improve the stability of the firms by better managing risk. We propose to directly link risk management to rating, i.e. the ability to meet future financial obligations. Principal elements of rating methodology are discussed against the background of risk management. Next to the rating mark the riskrelated requirements for equity become the central measure for risk. Firms must balance the costs of improving their rating against the gains of an improved rating. Risk management is a major driver to improve shareholder value. Risk aggregation is the dominant method that uses information from risk management and synthesizes unique measure of value. / Wir untersuchen, wie Unternehmer durch den besseren Umgang mit Risiken die Stabilität ihres Unternehmens verbessern können. Dies gelingt durch eine direkte Verzahnung der Risikobewältigung mit dem Rating, also der Bewertung der Fähigkeit, künftige Zahlungsverpflichtungen zu erfüllen. Dabei werden zentrale Elemente des Ratings vor dem Hintergrund des Risikomanagements vorgetragen. Neben der Ratingnote wird damit der risikobedingte Eigenkapitalbedarf zum zentralen Risikomaß. Unternehmer müssen vor diesem Hintergrund abwägen zwischen der kostentreibenden Verbesserung des Ratings und den dafür winkenden Erträgen. Die Risikobewältigung stellt eine Möglichkeit der Unternehmenswertsteigerung durch Risikomanagement dar. Die Risikoaggregation ist dabei das Mittel, das Informationen des Risikomanagements nutzt und zu einem zentralen, aussagefähigen Wertmaßstab verdichtet.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

The purpose of the study was to establish diagnostic validity for a modified version of the Classroom Adjustment Rating Scale (CARS). To do this, two a priori multivariate contrasts were specified in order to detect differences on the three CARS scales between three groups of pupils. Subjects were 170 normal (NORM), 125 Learning Disabled (LD), and 48 Emotionally Handicapped (EH) elementary age boys who were rated by their classroom teachers. The original CARS was modified by maintaining and adding items that had high correlations with the original three scales of Acting-Out, Shy-Anxious, and Learning Problems. Results with both the CARS and modified CARS (MCARS) indicated a significant multivariate contrast between the NORM group and a weighted combination of the LD and EH groups. Also, a significant multivariate contrast between the LD and EH group resulted for the CARS and MCARS. Follow-up with discriminant analysis found 71.4% of all boys correctly classified by the original CARS scales. However, the MCARS scales resulted in only a slight improvement in overall correct classification, with 72.3% of boys correctly classified. Teacher-judged intelligence, social class, and prosocial classroom behavior were included as possible biasing variables. It was found that the set of prosocial items had considerable impact on the ratings of EH boys, thus demonstrating the importance of including positive behaviors on a rating scale.

Diss. Staatswiss. Basel, 1998 (kein Austausch). / Im Buchh.: Berlin ; Heidelberg ; New York etc. : Springer. Literaturverz.

This thesis examines an impact of Greek membership in eurozone on a trustworthiness of Greek economy. In order to do that, it uses a methodology of rating agency Moody´s, on which it applies macroeconomic data. The goal is to identify key factor, which caused the discrepancy between awarded rating and real economic stability. The text itself is divided into two thematic parts. The first introduces an institution of rating Agency and explains the Sovereign Rating Methodology 2013. The second than analyze Greek economy using this methodology and applies findings on the causes of Greek debt crisis. Even though Greek membership in eurozone indeed lowered the interest rates of their bonds, direct impact of this membership on country rating wasn´t proved. Therefore one of the reasons of Greek crisis was also a moral hazard, when the financial markets relied on the fact, that eurozone will not let a member state go bankrupt.

We inquire into the possibilities to improve the stability of the firms by better managing risk. We propose to directly link risk management to rating, i.e. the ability to meet future financial obligations. Principal elements of rating methodology are discussed against the background of risk management. Next to the rating mark the riskrelated requirements for equity become the central measure for risk. Firms must balance the costs of improving their rating against the gains of an improved rating. Risk management is a major driver to improve shareholder value. Risk aggregation is the dominant method that uses information from risk management and synthesizes unique measure of value. / Wir untersuchen, wie Unternehmer durch den besseren Umgang mit Risiken die Stabilität ihres Unternehmens verbessern können. Dies gelingt durch eine direkte Verzahnung der Risikobewältigung mit dem Rating, also der Bewertung der Fähigkeit, künftige Zahlungsverpflichtungen zu erfüllen. Dabei werden zentrale Elemente des Ratings vor dem Hintergrund des Risikomanagements vorgetragen. Neben der Ratingnote wird damit der risikobedingte Eigenkapitalbedarf zum zentralen Risikomaß. Unternehmer müssen vor diesem Hintergrund abwägen zwischen der kostentreibenden Verbesserung des Ratings und den dafür winkenden Erträgen. Die Risikobewältigung stellt eine Möglichkeit der Unternehmenswertsteigerung durch Risikomanagement dar. Die Risikoaggregation ist dabei das Mittel, das Informationen des Risikomanagements nutzt und zu einem zentralen, aussagefähigen Wertmaßstab verdichtet.

This study is an effort to review and compare the qualities of service ratings currently being used in the manufacturing plants of Dallas County, Texas, with the recommended qualities for service ratings as set forth in the sources available in the North Texas State Teachers College Library. Also, individual service ratings selected from the group under study will be compared to each other and discussed in detail.

The thesis examines whether the role of credit rating prior to the announcement of credit rating change is the neglected factor explaining in large extent the paradox investigated in prior papers that downgrades influence the stock prices of company but upgrades not. It is motivated by the notion that credit rating changes from low credit rating classes influence the stock price of company more distinctively than changes from higher credit rating classes and there is proportionally more downgrades from low credit rating classes than upgrades. The large sample of credit rating changes including proportionally more upgrades from low credit rating classes than downgrades is collected and the results suggesting the influence of downgrades on stock prices of company and any influence of upgrades persist. Furthermore when controlled for credit rating prior to the announcement of credit rating change, magnitude of credit rating change, crossing the investment-speculative barrier, credit rating changes within and across credit rating categories, consecutive credit rating changes in the same direction and industry sector of issuer all the results are consistent with the original conclusions proposing significant stock price reaction to announcements of credit rating downgrades and no stock price response to...