2007 Dissertations (MU)
https://hdl.handle.net/10355/4073
2024-03-28T16:42:29ZThe 2004 presidential election between George W. Bush and John F. Kerry : an analysis of visually comparative televised advertisements
https://hdl.handle.net/10355/4696
The 2004 presidential election between George W. Bush and John F. Kerry : an analysis of visually comparative televised advertisements
Verser, Rebecca Mae, 1974-
This study used impression management theory and framing to explore how George W. Bush and John F. Kerry used nonverbal behavior cues (body movement, eye gaze, facial expression, posture, gestures, and dress/clothing) and production techniques (camera angle, camera shot, light angle, color, motion, production style, setting (formality), setting (location), symbols, others in shot, and shot length) in their respective visually comparative televised advertisements in the general election in 2004. This study sought to determine the differences and similarities between the two candidates in how they portrayed themselves as candidate and how they portrayed each other as opponent. Several differences were found and expected, since one of the goals of political advertising is to set the candidates apart from one another. However, there were also quite a few similarities in how Bush and Kerry used visual imagery in their respective ads. Both candidates appear to have used visual imagery to create impressions or frame themselves in a manner that emphasizes specific characteristics. It seems that both men wanted to appear serious about the campaign, issues, and being President; that both candidates wanted to appear in control of themselves and their surroundings; and that both men wanted to appear strong/powerful. Additionally, Kerry, it seems, also wanted to appear approachable and average, "of the people". Regarding how the candidates portrayed each other, it seems that Bush sent mixed visual messages (e.g., leader-like, but also laidback) about Kerry to the viewers of the ads, but that Kerry was more uniform in how he presented Bush (e.g., inferior, deceitful, and threatening) to audiences. Neither candidate, however, used visual imagery in their shots to conclusively create specific impressions of their opponent.
The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.; Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on October 10, 2007); Vita.; Thesis (Ph. D.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.
2007-01-01T00:00:00ZAccrual persistence and accrual anomaly
https://hdl.handle.net/10355/4824
Accrual persistence and accrual anomaly
Martin, Xiumin, 1972-
The first essay, "Inter-temporal accrual persistence and accrual anomaly" investigates whether accrual persistence and accrual anomaly vary with the state of economy. Prior accounting research argues that diminishing marginal returns on new investments drive lower persistence of accruals relative to cash flows. Macroeconomic research documents that marginal profitability is counter-cyclical, which implies that diminishing marginal returns on new investments are more pronounced during periods of expansions than recessions. Linking the cyclicality of diminishing returns on investments with the argument that diminishing returns to investments contribute to lower persistence of accruals relative to cash flows, this paper predicts that the differential persistence of accruals is greater during expansionary periods than recessionary periods. Using a U.S. sample from 1972 to 2003, I find that the differential persistence of accruals is greater during economic expansions than recessions. When I focus on the components of accruals, I find that depreciation, change in accounts receivable, change in raw materials,and change in finished goods are the main drivers of cyclical differential accrual persistence. These findings are robust to alternative conditioning sets, estimation procedures, and measures of the business cycle. I also find that investors are unable to assess the cyclical differential persistence of accruals, leading to higher returns (both raw and abnormal returns) from an accrual-based trading strategy during expansionary periods. The second essay "Can cyclical property of accrual persistence explain the accrual anomaly?" examines whether cyclical accrual persistence documented in the first essay can provide an explanation to accrual anomaly based on consumption based assets pricing theory. Specifically, I posit that accruals decrease in consumption risk because of cyclical property of accrual persistence (i.e., accruals are less persistent during economic expansions than during recessions). The implication is that the observed abnormal returns from accrual-trading strategy represent compensation for the underlying consumption risk. Using a U.S. sample from 1972 to 2003, I find that consumption risk decreases in the level of accruals. I also show that after controlling for other known risk factors, pricing kernel (a proxy for the state of economy) can explain about 11 percent of abnormal returns from accrual-based trading strategy. These findings are robust to alternative conditioning set and estimation procedures.
The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.; Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on September 28, 2007); Vita.; Thesis (Ph. D.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.
2007-01-01T00:00:00ZAction research investigation into teaming in one school district
https://hdl.handle.net/10355/4769
Action research investigation into teaming in one school district
Kindwall, Kristina, 1963-
Working as an insider in collaboration with other insiders, this participatory action research study, through two action research cycles of diagnosing, planning, taking action, and evaluating, explored the implementation of preK-12 vertical teaming in school district with a traditional culture. This study was guided by two research questions: (a) To what extent, if at all, have the preK-12 vertical teams understood the principles and characteristics of teaming?; and (b) What is the experience of the vertical teams in the organization learning to function from a radical transition during a top-down leadership to teaming? Cycle One was the implementation of district teaming focusing on district teaming structures and administrator professional development. Cycle Two was the implementation of preK-12 vertical teams led by teacher leaders and a new district evaluative team comprised of teacher leaders over the preK-12 vertical teams with a focus on teacher leader and team professional development. Data were analyzed through the context of sustained school district reform, culture, distributed leadership and teaming. Through embedded professional development and team experiences, participants valued teaming but had difficulty applying team processes without support due to extreme discomfort and distrust. Implications for this research document the difficulty of implementing teaming in traditional school district culture.
The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.; Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on February 14, 2008); Vita.; Thesis (Ed. D.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.
2007-01-01T00:00:00ZAdjustable speed drive bearing fault detection via support vector machine incorporating feature selection using genetic algorithm
https://hdl.handle.net/10355/4845
Adjustable speed drive bearing fault detection via support vector machine incorporating feature selection using genetic algorithm
Teotrakool, Kaptan, 1974-
This dissertation presents a novel method to detect bearing defects in Adjustable Speed Drives (ASD's), which are increasingly used in many commercial and industrial applications. The harmonics in pulse-width-modulation (PWM) input voltage waveforms and EMI noise in ASD systems complicate the detection of bearing-fault-induced frequency components in the current signals. The proposed method accomplishes bearing fault detection in ASD's by combining Motor Current Signature Analysis (MCSA), Wavelet Packet Decomposition (WPD), a Genetic Algorithm (GA), and a Support Vector Machine (SVM). The SVM in conjunction with the GA is applied to the rms values of the wavelet packet coefficients to obtain significant wavelet packet nodes which produce optimal classifiers for classifying both healthy and defective bearings in ASD syste.
The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.; Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on March 3, 2008); Includes bibliographical references.; Vita.; Thesis (Ph. D.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.
2007-01-01T00:00:00Z