Business Commons^™

The Effects Of Anti-Depressant Advertising On Perception Of Depression In College Students At Marshall University, Deirdre Robertson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This exploratory study was designed to determine the effects, if any, of direct-to-consumer advertising of anti-depressants on Marshall University students’ perceptions of depression and anti-depressant medication. For the purposes of the study, two versions of an advertisement were created: one including three false statements regarding depression and antidepressants, and one without false statements. A fifteen-question survey was also created as a baseline to measure whether the advertisement condition had any direct effects on the participants’ perceptions of depression and anti-depression and to provide comparison for the participants’ reactions. All three groups took the survey. There were ninety participants in the …

Grant Writing Handbook For Our Lady Of Fatima Parish School, Tracy Severson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This manual is an applied thesis written for Our Lady of Fatima Parish School, a small Catholic school located in Huntington, West Virginia. Its purpose is to introduce novice grant writers to the terms and processes associated with grant writing for this particular parochial school. The manual guides the fledgling writer through church and school history, ideas and strategies to develop the grant, grant writing and the post-submission process. Only examples from submitted church grants are referenced and all address Our Lady of Fatima needs and mission statement. The handbook is intended as a springboard for grant writing in the …

Niche Publications: Their Popularity And Profitability At Newspapers In Utah And West Virginia, Hilary Groutage Weible

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Newspapers have turned to niche, or specialty, publications as a way to boost revenue and readership since the popularity of the Internet and the rapidly changing ways of news delivery left many awash in a sea of red ink beginning in the mid 1990s. There is little empirical evidence that these publications benefit the host newspaper. This study is an attempt to add to that bank of knowledge. Editors, publishers and advertising managers in Utah and West Virginia were invited by e-mail to answer a Web-based survey about the popularity of niche publications among their readers and staffs. The study …

Intertemporal Relations Between Stock Indices-Correlation Analysis For The Stock Markets Of The United States, England, And Singapore, Michael Nabil Razzouk

Theses Digitization Project

This research study examines the relationships between various equity markets throughout the world. In this study, returns from the Chicago Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange and the Singapore Stock Exchange are compared and analyzed to see if correlations between the markets exist.

The Impact Of Stock Split Announcements On Stock Price: A Test Of Market Efficiency, Carlos Garcia De Andoain

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study is to test whether the investor can make an above normal return by relying on public information impounded in a stock split announcement. Using risk adjusted event study methodology, this study tests "how" and "when" public announcements of forward and reverse stock splits affect stock price. Stock split announcement samples include 38 two for one, 39 three for two, and 10 reverse splits. A total o f 36,714 observations for the announcement samples and the corresponding S&P 500 stock index were analyzed using standard risk adjusted event study methodology. Results suggest that the firms' public …

A Cross -Cultural Research About Advertising Practices For Self-Image Projective Products Between The United States And Thailand, Pasinee Kaewmesri

Theses Digitization Project

This study performs a content analysis of the degree of standardization in print advertisements for self-image projective products. Catagories include perfumes, cosmetics jewelry, and women's apparel and accessories.

Ethical And Faith-Based Investments: An Assessment Of Performance, Hisar Joel Munte

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this thesis will explore the risk and return characteristics of socially responsible investing by comparing three indices, the Domini 400 Social Index (DS400 Index.), the KLD Catholic Values 400 Index (CV400 Index), and the Dow Jones Islamic Market Index (DJIMI). The second objective of the thesis is to contrast the three Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Indices with the Standard and Poor's 500 index (SP500). In a bid to meet investor demands, mutual fund managers have developed un-conventional portfolios that factor in ethics, sustainability, social, religious and environmental factors that affect returns.

Trends And Effects Of Third-Party Logisitics In Global Logistics Operations, Kai-Yu Ho

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this research is to determine how third party logistics is playing an essential role in global logistics operations. The development of third party logistics has become one of the main streams in the development of the global economy.

The Impact Of Diversification On Bank Holding Company Performance, Chinpiao Liu

ETD Archive

Bank holding companies (BHCs) are hypothesized to achieve potential portfolio and synergistic benefits through various forms of diversification. On the other hand, diversification can generate new managerial problems or agency costs. This dissertation examines five issues. 1) Do all the various forms of diversification have the same favorable/unfavorable effects on BHCs' performance?, 2) Are there any interaction effects among the various types of diversification?, 3) Since the business strategies of large BHCs are different from those of small BHCs, do the diversification effects vary by size?, 4) How did diversification impact BHC performance during the 2007-2008 financial crisis?, and 5) …

Determinants Of Debt And Dividend Decisions: Trade-Off Vs Pecking Order, Caitlin A. Farrell

Theses & Honors Papers

This study tests the trade-off and pecking order theories about the dividend and debt decisions for stock firms. The decision of a firm to use debt to finance investment opportunities is important since the firm's choice between debt or equity determines the optimal capital structure. Under the trade-off theory, there is some optimal balance between debt and equity, and the firm will use debt until the cost of taking on more debt is more expensive than the cost of issuing equity. The firm uses internal fonds first under the pecking order theory, and then if more financing is needed, the …

Internet Marketing Strategy And The Cognitive Response Approach: Achieving Online Fundraising Success With Targeted Donor Outreach, Carrie Dawn Cornwall

Theses Digitization Project

The goal of this study was provide a theory-based framework for Olive Crest, a charity that serves abused children, to successfully and strategically use e-mail marketing to achieve fundraising goals. A survey of Olive Crest's donors, utilizing the cognitive response approach as its foundation, was designed to assess attitudes and demographic trends that could help advance online marketing initiatives. A sample of 81 respondents completed the survey which evaluated Olive Crest's supporters' product/message, source, and ad execution thoughts.

Strategic Price Competition And Price Disperion In The Airline Industry;A Conceptual Framework And Empirical Analysis, Edward D. Gailey

ETD Archive

It is a generally accepted belief in marketing literature that variation in prices, i.e. price dispersion, is a critical, strategic factor that influences product demand, profitability, and social welfare. While there is a substantial amount of research on price dispersion, prior research has mainly studied price dispersion in the context of consumer heterogeneity, and not comprehensively studied the effects of competition on price dispersion. According to the structure-conduct-performance (SCP) paradigm, market structure and firm conduct are important indicators of firm performance and long-term sustainable competitive advantage. A greater understanding of the influences of market structure and competition on price dispersion …

The Role Of Emotional Relational Behaviors On Interpersonal Consumer Service Loyalty, Bernadette P. Njoku

ETD Archive

This study seeks to examine factors that enhance the development of interpersonal service relationships between consumers and service employees. It focuses on interpersonal service relationships that are extended in duration, affective or emotionally charged, and intimate in distance (EAI), or those which appear to be boundary open (Price and Arnould 1999 Price et al. 1995a, 1995b). It thus emphasizes relationships that are similar to personal acquaintances and friendships, rather than ones that are non-affective, and consist of little or no emotional content, such as professional relationships and casual acquaintances (Johnson and Selnes 2004 Coulter and Ligas 2004). Based on a …

An Empirical Analysis Of The Dimensions Of Consumer Value For An Experiential Offering In Marketing, Glenna Carolyn Mack Pendleton

ETD Archive

An experiential offering is as an activity, product, or service that provides valuable subjective experiences during consumption. Marketers can capitalize on this consumer value if they know which dimensions are most important to consumers. Based on a review of the literature, this study developed a framework that represents three major components of customer value in an experiential offering: social value, utilitarian value, and emotional or hedonic value. After, analyzing the data from 373 respondents, the results of this study showed that social identification with peers, utilitarian attitude toward the consumption process itself, and hedonic experiences during consumption were all dimensions …

Default Risk In Equity Returns; An Industrial And Cross-Industrial Study, Yi Wang

ETD Archive

The relationship between default risk and equity returns is investigated in this study from an industrial and economic cycle decomposition point of view. The portfolio approach and Fama-MacBeth regression are used in the analysis. This dissertation provides evidence that investors charged a premium for stocks with both lower and higher credit risks. However, the specific relationship is different across industries and economic cycles. This study also notices two unique patterns of the banking industry when it comes to default risk. First, higher default risks are more likely to be compensated by higher returns. Second, as compared to other industries, the …

Price Discovery Of Credit Risk, Yibing Du

Finance and Real Estate Dissertations - Archive

This study investigates financial markets' price discovery for credit risk across the stock, bond, and credit derivatives markets. This study also examined what factors affect financial market's price discovery for credit risk. Four factors are studied: liquidity, transaction cost, credit ratings and maturities. Using weekly equity, bond and credit default swap market data from January 2000 to October 2007, it is found that stock market and bond market, credit derivative market and bond market are cointegrated for long term credit risk price discovery. In short term, both stock market and credit derivatives market lead the bond market for credit risk …

Is There Predictive Value In The Words Managers Use? A Key Word Analysis Of The Annual Report's Management Discussion And Analysis., Gene Brooks Elrod

Accounting Dissertations - Archive

This study examines whether managers use linguistic style (i.e. optimistic and pessimistic tone) in the Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) section of the annual report to the SEC, Form 10-K, to provide information about expected future firm performance to the investors and whether market prices (investors) respond to these disclosures. Textual analysis software, Diction 5.0, is used to measure optimistic and pessimistic tone of MD&A for the year 2002 for 423 manufacturing firms. Previous research similar to this study found evidence that managers use linguistic style or tone to reveal information to financial statement users through their textual releases in …

Empirical Evidences On Risk-Taking And Performance Of Mutual Fund, Jingchang Lu

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This paper examines the relationship between performance and risk exposure for mutual funds. The preliminary analysis fails to support the tournament hypothesis, which predicts that poorly performing managers will increase risk exposure while outperforming managers will decrease risk exposure. Instead, we find evidence of risk reduction for extreme losers and risk increase for winning managers. Besides, the risk-taking fails to align manager interest with shareholder interest since the returns from the risk enhancement by winners and the risk reduction by losers is relatively worse than those with contradictory strategies. Overall, the competition among fund managers appears to affect management risk …

Assessing The Collaborative Knowledge Management Of The Market Dominant Organization, Jacob Olusola Ogunlade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Dominant firms enjoy economic strengths which enable them to compete effectively in relevant markets through the use of collaborative knowledge management (CKM). While the literature is replete with general guiding principles for companies to adopt successful business strategies, there is very limited empirical research on effectively using CKM to improve company performance and market domination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate strategies for information sharing by companies to achieve better operations management and control, a wider range of customers, and stronger competitive edge in the global economy. Epistemological foundation for the study was provided by the literature on …

The Responses Of Bamenda Disability Organizations To Hiv And Aids: A Multiple Case Study, Lynn Cockburn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Cameroon, many disabled people (an estimated 10-20% of the population) have inadequate access to education and health care, and disabled people's organizations (DPOs) are advocating for social change. Yet, there is a scarcity of information regarding how African DPOs address HIV and AIDS. The purpose of this study was to assess how DPOs in Cameroon have responded to AIDS in the disabled population and to identify strategies to enable DPOs to manage AIDS issues. This study was guided by the complex adaptive systems theory as the theoretical framework. The research questions focused on what DPOs have done to develop …

An Analysis Of The Impact Of Information Systems On The Level Of Trust In The Construction Industry, Michael Wayne Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Even though the current level of communication and information sharing is greater than it has ever been throughout the history of the construction industry, the problem under investigation stems from the results of current research that indicate that many major projects have difficulty in achieving client expectations, resulting in a negative image of the construction industry. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact on the level of trust in the use of information systems between construction firms and their clients. The theoretical foundations of this research were based in interdependence and coordination theories. While information systems enable …

Perceptions Of Leadership Effectiveness In The Management Of Intergenerational Work-Values Conflict: An Antecedent Of Organizational Citizenship Behavior Of Perioperative Registered Nurses, Patricia G. Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Studies reveal a progressive net decrease in the nursing profession across four generations, creating a shortage that poses a critical threat to the health care delivery system and to the health and safety of patients within that system. Research also suggests that generational cohorts reflect social change in attitudes toward work-life balance, organizational commitment, personal-professional relationships, autonomy, focus on career advancement, and actions that represent organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Previous research grounded in theoretical frameworks of organizational behavior, leadership, and social capital indicates that leadership support of workforce diversity and effectiveness in conflict management influence OCB. However, little research explores …

Going Green - Impact On Residential Property Values, Ramya Rajajagadeesan Aroul

Finance and Real Estate Theses - Archive

Hedonic pricing model is generally used to empirically understand the relationship between various housing characteristics and the housing values. In the past hedonic studies have looked at the relationship between the housing prices and structural features, environmental amenities, neighborhood characteristics, time variables and even financing. But real estate researchers have greatly overlooked to study the impact of greenness on residential properties though there has been a huge interest among the researchers and practitioners on green buildings. This study poses the primary question of if any potential relationship exists between greenness and property values. This study further extends the research question …

Managers' Forecast Guidance In Earnings Surprises Around Employee Stock Option Reissues, Jin Dong Park

Accounting Dissertations - Archive

Option repricing, the practice of canceling underwater options and reissuing options with a lower exercise price, has often been considered an effective mechanism to restore the incentive effects of stock options. Since December 15, 1998, the effective date of FIN No.44, firms have initiated option exchange program as a new form of repricing. Under the new option exchange program, most firms cancel underwater options on a specified date and then reissue options at the first business day that is six months and one day later in order to avoid variable accounting for option repricing. I conjecture that this feature of …

Is Sfas 142 A Good Opportunity For Firms To Manage Earnings?, Fu-Jen Hsiao

Accounting Dissertations - Archive

SFAS 142 eliminates the goodwill amortization and replaces it with an annual impairment test. This new accounting rule also provides the guidelines for firms to report their transition goodwill write-offs through a one-time below-the-line special item. After the one year transition period, any goodwill write-offs would be reported as operating expenses. This study analyzes the goodwill reporting behaviors in firms with in-process research and development (IPR&D firms) and examines whether IPR&D restated firms take advantage of this one-time below-the-line earnings management opportunity during the SFAS 142 transition period. In addition, this study examines the association between IPR&D firms' transition goodwill …

Critical Success Factors In Florida's Bed And Breakfast Industry, Catherine I. Rash

HIM 1990-2015

Florida bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) were surveyed for the purpose of discovering the attitudes, beliefs, and actual behaviors of B&B owners and operators that contribute to an operation’s success. This study had several objectives: 1) to provide an analysis of attitudes and beliefs perceived to be necessary for success and the actual behaviors exhibited by operators based upon their self-definition of success, 2) to collect demographic information from various bed and breakfasts in Florida, and 3) to expand the limited amount of research that has addressed issues in the bed and breakfast industry. Between July 2009 and August 2009, data …

An Investigation Into Hotel Employees' Perception Of Green Practices, Sun-Hwa Kim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how employees of the hotel industry perceived green practices. Data was collected from 220 employees working in eight green certified hotels in Orlando. Research results revealed that performance levels of green practices implemented by hotels were lower than the importance levels of those same green practices as perceived by hotel employees. The results of the study illustrated that (1) the employees' perception regarding green practices was not different than one of hoteliers in terms of importance and performance, and (2) employees weighted the green practices that were beneficial to them as more important than green practices that …

Aspects Of Goals And Rewards Systems As Antecedents Of Abusive Supervision: The Mediating Effect Of Hinderance Stress, Mary Bardes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I draw on research on goal setting, stress, and aggression to examine contextual antecedents of abusive supervision. I suggest that a characteristic of the supervisors' goals (viz., goal difficulty) can contribute to abusive supervisory behaviors through the effect it has on the supervisors' level of hindrance stress. I also propose that this mediating process is moderated by two characteristics of the supervisors' rewards (viz., goal-contingent reward and reward interdependence). Thus, I suggest a moderated mediation model predicting supervisors' hindrance stress acts as a mediator of the relationship between supervisors' difficult goals and abusive supervision. Moreover, I also …

Organizational Leadership : A Study Of The Perceptions Of Servant Leadership Practices And Beliefs, And Its Implications For A Private Christian Institution Of Higher Education In Brazil, Jose Iran Miguel

Dissertations

Purpose. This study verified the perceptions of the workers of Brazil Adventist University (UNASP) regarding the beliefs and practices of servant leadership by using data collected online through the instrument called the Organizational Leadership Assessment (OLA), focusing on six key areas of organizational health, according to three independent variables, which are leadership categories, campus, and gender.

Method. As a quantitative comparative study, the relationship between dependent and independent variables was determined by means of a one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and a 2 by 3 factorial design in order to observe significant differences and interactions between variables. …

Key Performance Indicators In Business, Dedë Hiseni

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.