Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Hypothetical case'

One of the primary modes for pollutants to reach the human body is through their release into the atmosphere and dispersion in the nearby areas. This makes air emissions one of the important components of an environmental assessment. They are frequently of interest to the people living in the vicinity of the site. The analysis carried out in this research provides a framework for atmospheric dispersion modeling of air pollutants using AERMOD, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) approved regulatory model, for modeling port related emissions. There are various sources of emissions from the ports, however for this study, emissions from roadways, small equipment, and marine related sources are considered. AERMOD was used to estimate ambient pollutant concentrations of selective criteria pollutants such as NOx, SO2, CO and PM10 from a hypothetical port.

Case formulation within psychology and psychotherapy has often centred on this being the skill and task of the clinician. However, research into lay theories has identified that lay perceptions of mental illness are as varied as psychological theories and similar to mental health professionals. This study adopted a mixed methods approach to explore whether lay perceptions can be considered a formulation. Participants were shown a hypothetical vignette and asked to write a short statement as to what they believed was going on for the actress in the video. This was supplemented with suggestions asking participants to consider what the main issues were, how they may have developed and what may be keeping the problems going. Information was initially coded using template analysis which drew 'a priori codes' from the Case Formulation Content Coding Method (CFCCM). This helped to identify the relevant categories deemed important in case formulation and allowed for an 'overall quality' and 'comprehensiveness' score to be compared with previous research. Thematically analysing participants' responses within template analysis also allowed for the identification of new themes which aimed to offer the reader further context of the formulation ability of lay people. The results indicated that participants who have no prior experience or training in psychology or formulation appear to formulate. Participants' 'overall quality' and 'comprehensiveness' scores were comparable to mental health professionals from a previous study who had received formal training in formulation and significantly different to mental health professionals who had not. However participant formulations appeared to lack the depth of mental health professionals and further investigations are recommended. The findings are also discussed in terms of how this information can be used within clinical practice and the wider implications regarding lay psychological mindedness. 0809, RES, UofL: 08127478, UofN: 4092609, Thesis_resubmission 1

Economists are still searching for methods to reduce/eliminate Hypothetical Bias (HB). Different methods have been previously applied some with success and others without. In this study, we aimed to further test the cognitive dissonance approach (CD) through a learning design method to estimate the WTP for five beef attributes: Non-quality, Kentucky Proud, Appalachian, Grass Fed and a mix of 25% Non-quality and 75% Kentucky Proud, using a one and one half bounded model. To test the CD, 881 participants from the University of Kentucky, were randomly assigned to a real/hypothetical market for a battery recycling project at first and afterwards to a hypothetical market for beef. For the battery recycling, participants were asked to donate $1, $2 or $3. For the beef market, participants were randomly assigned to a $4 or $6 for the non-quality attribute patty. Participants assigned to a $4 were afterwards randomly assigned to a $4.5, $5, $5.5 or $6 and the ones assigned to a $6 were afterwards assigned to a $6.5, $7, $7.5 and $8 for the other attribute patties. From this study, we found that the learning design was effective in reducing the cognitive dissonance or conflicts between what consumers say and their actions.

Bibliography: pages 78-81.
In the late 1930s, the Great Depression and its consequences led to the U.S federal government's intervention in credit assistance and insurance programmes. The main reason for this intervention was that there was a general desire to rescue individuals and businesses which were unable to repay their debts when due. Considerable debate has focused on the determination of the magnitude of the government liabilities resulting from guaranteed loan re-payments. Today, most nations, including South Africa, employ such government guarantees, but they are often improperly valued; that is, one has no idea whether such guarantees are 'good ' or 'bad' policy tools. This paper illustrates how Put option pricing models may be used to estimate the 'real' cost to the South African government of a loan guarantee to Eskom, which is investing a large hydroelectric project in Mozambique, hypothetically assuming that Eskom has been privatized. While the paper recognises the importance of the insurance premium which could be charged by the government for its loan guarantee, the results under the hypothetical case show that the Eskom is able to readily repay the promised payment and, thus, the loan guarantee provides value to Eskom's owners. In this regard, one can argue that parties involved in such a project, such as the South African government, Eskom and the European agencies may benefit from the loan guarantee programme. Thus, a loan guarantee programme may be seen as a 'good' policy tool to resolve conflicts between lenders and borrowers, to encourage investment and to meet a broader public interest.

This study is an exploration of a change management intervention tool described here as the Hypothetical'. This tool is not described in organisation literature, but many of its functions and features can be found in theories relating to, for example, organisational communication, change management, leadership and team dynamics. The Hypothetical does, however, appear as a discussion forum in the popular media. In the 1980s and 1990s, the high profile television program, Hypotheticals, hosted by Geoffrey Robertson QC, dramatised decision making processes, and teased out some of the moral dilemmas inherent in social and political problems, utilising high profile panelists from the social, political and business elites. In the 1990s, the Hypothetical made a transition from the television screen to the management meeting room and the executive suite. The researcher of this study has similarly used the Hypothetical in his capacity as a communications consultant for a number of public and private client organisations. With this background, this study was undertaken to explore the Hypothetical and to identify those functions and features that define its appropriateness as an intervention for organisational communication and change. The findings from this study are founded on two aspects a review of relevant organisation literature, and data from the presentation of a specific Hypothetical intervention to the public organisation Centrelink Queensland. The Hypothetical tool, as identified in this study, is a one-off, 90 minute performance involving a facilitator, audience, and members of a panel who represent the organisation in which semi-fictitious storylines are meant to symbolise elements in the cultural life of the organisation. The study also identifies a Hypothetical process in which research methods that are applied, before and after the intervention performance, help to identify the functions and features of the intervention. The features of the Hypothetical, as an intervention are viewed through the lens of Goffman's 1959) classic theoretical framework of symbolic interactionism, where the organisation is conceptualised as 'theatre', and the motivations and actions of its members are interpreted through the symbolism of theatrical performance and interaction. The study also draws on symbolic convergence theory to explain what happens inside an organisation through the language, conflicts and shared cultural experiences of its members. The Centrelink Hypothetical in this study reflects aspects of the shared organisational culture, and presents its fictitious storylines in the context of dialogues between its panelists. The panelists are representatives of their organisation and are heard reflecting the values of that organisation's culture. Consequently, the analysis of text through the Hypothetical transcript the deciphering of shared narratives, mindsets, motivations and visions of the future, and so forth forms a significant aspect of the study for conceptualising Centrelink organisational culture, and for identifying how problems of communication and change have become embedded in that culture. More specifically, it is through the Centrelink Hypothetical that this study seeks to identify the functions of the Hypothetical and to determine how they may contribute solutions to Centrelink's management problems. The literature consulted for this study reveals that the Hypothetical is closely allied, as an intervention process, with the relatively new management practice of scenario planning. It scenario planning that attempts to build a generative learning capability within organisations a continuously looping process of deep learning that takes place within each organisation's unique strategic conversation. This study draws on scenario planing to identify similar performance features within the Hypothetical process stimulating the organisation to be responsive to, and to embrace, change; finding appropriate methods of communication; identifying and modifying mental models. This study also highlights a significant difference between the scenario planning process and the Hypothetical. Emerging literature in management psychology asserts the importance of the emotionally intelligent team, which demonstrates its social skills and empathy. However, the driving force behind scenario planning is 'the business idea', or the organisation's mental model and what drives it, and there is little or no attention paid to the importance of emotional capabilities in the scenario planning literature. Findings from the Centrelink case demonstrate that a significant dimension of the Hypothetical experience is the impact of symbolically convergent scripted roles and the related capacity to utilise emotional intelligence. Consequently, this study recommends that suitable emotional frameworks be employed throughout the Hypothetical process to help discern appropriate members' behaviours and suggest how the combination of such behaviours may be used to enhance the organisation's future generative learning process.

This study is an exploration of a change management intervention tool described here as the Hypothetical'. This tool is not described in organisation literature, but many of its functions and features can be found in theories relating to, for example, organisational communication, change management, leadership and team dynamics. The Hypothetical does, however, appear as a discussion forum in the popular media. In the 1980s and 1990s, the high profile television program, Hypotheticals, hosted by Geoffrey Robertson QC, dramatised decision making processes, and teased out some of the moral dilemmas inherent in social and political problems, utilising high profile panelists from the social, political and business elites. In the 1990s, the Hypothetical made a transition from the television screen to the management meeting room and the executive suite. The researcher of this study has similarly used the Hypothetical in his capacity as a communications consultant for a number of public and private client organisations. With this background, this study was undertaken to explore the Hypothetical and to identify those functions and features that define its appropriateness as an intervention for organisational communication and change. The findings from this study are founded on two aspects a review of relevant organisation literature, and data from the presentation of a specific Hypothetical intervention to the public organisation Centrelink Queensland. The Hypothetical tool, as identified in this study, is a one-off, 90 minute performance involving a facilitator, audience, and members of a panel who represent the organisation in which semi-fictitious storylines are meant to symbolise elements in the cultural life of the organisation. The study also identifies a Hypothetical process in which research methods that are applied, before and after the intervention performance, help to identify the functions and features of the intervention. The features of the Hypothetical, as an intervention are viewed through the lens of Goffman's 1959) classic theoretical framework of symbolic interactionism, where the organisation is conceptualised as 'theatre', and the motivations and actions of its members are interpreted through the symbolism of theatrical performance and interaction. The study also draws on symbolic convergence theory to explain what happens inside an organisation through the language, conflicts and shared cultural experiences of its members. The Centrelink Hypothetical in this study reflects aspects of the shared organisational culture, and presents its fictitious storylines in the context of dialogues between its panelists. The panelists are representatives of their organisation and are heard reflecting the values of that organisation's culture. Consequently, the analysis of text through the Hypothetical transcript the deciphering of shared narratives, mindsets, motivations and visions of the future, and so forth forms a significant aspect of the study for conceptualising Centrelink organisational culture, and for identifying how problems of communication and change have become embedded in that culture. More specifically, it is through the Centrelink Hypothetical that this study seeks to identify the functions of the Hypothetical and to determine how they may contribute solutions to Centrelink's management problems. The literature consulted for this study reveals that the Hypothetical is closely allied, as an intervention process, with the relatively new management practice of scenario planning. It scenario planning that attempts to build a generative learning capability within organisations a continuously looping process of deep learning that takes place within each organisation's unique strategic conversation. This study draws on scenario planing to identify similar performance features within the Hypothetical process stimulating the organisation to be responsive to, and to embrace, change; finding appropriate methods of communication; identifying and modifying mental models. This study also highlights a significant difference between the scenario planning process and the Hypothetical. Emerging literature in management psychology asserts the importance of the emotionally intelligent team, which demonstrates its social skills and empathy. However, the driving force behind scenario planning is 'the business idea', or the organisation's mental model and what drives it, and there is little or no attention paid to the importance of emotional capabilities in the scenario planning literature. Findings from the Centrelink case demonstrate that a significant dimension of the Hypothetical experience is the impact of symbolically convergent scripted roles and the related capacity to utilise emotional intelligence. Consequently, this study recommends that suitable emotional frameworks be employed throughout the Hypothetical process to help discern appropriate members' behaviours and suggest how the combination of such behaviours may be used to enhance the organisation's future generative learning process.

The function concept is one of the most important concepts in the learning of mathematics (Dubinsky & Harel, 1992), yet it is considered by many researchers to be one of the least understood and most difficult concepts to master in the learning of high school mathematics (Eisenberg, 1992, Sfard, 1992). To this end, problems concerning its teaching and learning are often confronted (Mann, 2000) and few teachers know how learners come to understand functions (Yoon, 2007). As a result, most teachers teach functions using the conventional approach which starts by stating definitions followed by examples and then a few applications. The nature of this approach has not encouraged teachers to engage learners and their ways of reasoning in knowledge construction and adequately addressing their difficulties. The purpose of this study was to use design research to improve the teaching and learning of functions at grade 11 level. This was achieved by adapting design cycles of Wademan’s (2005) Generic Design Research model in which each cycle comprised different iterative APOS (Action, Process, Object, Schema) analysis, design, development and implementation of hypothetical learning trajectories (HLTs). I started by interrogating twelve grade 11 learners of a particular rural high school on the June 2011 mathematics paper 1 examination they had written to determine the APOS theory conception level each learner was operating at, and their difficulties. Learners’ difficulties from initial interviews and literature were grouped under the function definition and representation. I then designed instruction based on HLTs embedded with Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) activities and two separate tasks on the definition and representation as a form of intervention to help learners move up from their initial conception levels to the next and to overcome their difficulties. After each design cycle I interviewed learners based on the task for a particular concept and learners’ responses were analysed using APOS theory and used to design further instruction to help learners approximate the schema level of understanding concepts related to functions. The major findings of this study were that the use of learners’ conceptions and RME activities in designing instruction helped learners to progress smoothly through APOS theory conception levels though they did not fully reach the intended schema level. In addition, design research cycles and their HLTs implemented in a constructivist environment enabled learners to collectively derive working definitions of the function concept and to improve their conceptual understanding of the process of switching from a graph to an equation. Another contribution of this study has been a deeper understanding of the extent to which design research can be used to improve learners’ understanding of functions and an addition of some insights to the teaching and learning of functions.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
gm2014
Science, Mathematics and Technology Education
unrestricted

Ce travail de recherche propose une nouvelle approche de modélisation des connaissances humaines et machines dans le processus d’identification des pannes (IP). Trois contributions majeures sont apportées : (1) la structuration de la base de cas hypothétiques (H-CB), qui reflète le raisonnement séquentiel des experts et permet une meilleure organisation des observations pour optimiser l’IP ; (2) l’extraction des connaissances, intégrant un raisonnement possibiliste pour traiter l’hétérogénéité des primitives observées, introduire un vecteur de connaissance possibiliste (PSK) et améliorer la précision du diagnostic grâce à une similarité possibiliste ; et (3) un apprentissage incrémental qui favorise l’intégration continue des nouvelles connaissances, garantissant ainsi l’évolution du système en fonction des nouveaux cas rencontrés et une amélioration constante des décisions. L’approche développée, Possibilistic Hypothetical Case-Based Reasoning (PH-CBR), a été validée expérimentalement. Les résultats démontrent une amélioration significative par rapport aux approches classiques de raisonnement à base de cas, réduisant le nombre de primitives nécessaires pour l’IP et optimisant l’efficacité des machines industrielles en minimisant le temps de diagnostic
This research introduces a novel approach to modeling human and machine knowledge in the fault identification (FI). It makes three key contributions:(1) the structuring of the Hypothetical Case Base (H-CB), which captures the sequential reasoning of experts and organizes observations to enhance FI; (2) knowledge extraction, incorporating possibilistic reasoning to manage the heterogeneity of observed primitives, introduce a Possibilistic Knowledge Vector (PSK), and improve diagnostic accuracy through possibilistic similarity; and (3) an incremental learning mechanism that enables the continuous integration of new knowledge, allowing the system to evolve with newly encountered cases and refine decision-making. The proposed approach, Possibilistic Hypothetical Case-Based Reasoning (PH-CBR), has been experimentally validated. Results show significant improvements over traditional case-based reasoning methods, reducing the number of primitives required for FI and enhancing industrial machine efficiency by minimizing diagnostic time

by Fong Kwan-ting, Ronald, Koo Cheuk-wah, Anthony.
Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1994.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-58).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.i
ABSTRACT --- p.ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii
LIST OF FIGURES --- p.v
LIST OF EXHIBITS --- p.vi
Chapter
Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1
Objective of this Project --- p.2
Planning and Allocating Resources --- p.2
Controliing Operations --- p.3
Evaluating the Performance of Segment Managers --- p.3
Background of C&P Company -- a Hypothetical Case --- p.3
Chapter II. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.5
Marketing Performance Assessment --- p.5
Marketing Efficiency --- p.6
Marketing Effectiveness --- p.7
Marketing audit --- p.7
Marketing effectiveness --- p.9
Recent Developments of Marketing Performance Assessment --- p.10
Concluding Remarks --- p.13
Segmental Contribution Analysis --- p.14
Terminologies Used in Segmental Contribution Analysis --- p.14
Direct fixed costs --- p.14
Common fixed costs- --- p.15
Contribution margin --- p.15
Performance margin --- p.15
Segment margin --- p.15
Residual income analysis --- p.16
Net income --- p.16
Segmental Contribution Accounting System --- p.16
Application of the Proposed Segmental Contribution Accounting System --- p.18
Contribution margin --- p.18
Segment margin --- p.18
Evaluating segment manager's performance --- p.19
Concluding Remarks --- p.19
Chapter III. --- SYSTEM DESIGN FOR THE C&P COMPANY --- p.21
Prototype --- p.21
Input Formats --- p.21
Output Formats --- p.22
Structure Analysis --- p.22
Data Flow Diagram --- p.22
System Dictionary --- p.23
Transform Descriptions --- p.23
Chapter IV. --- CONCLUSION & DIRECTION FOR FUTURE RESEARCH --- p.24
EXHIBITS --- p.25
BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.56

碩士
聖約翰科技大學
電機工程系碩士班
97
It is a challenge research issue to analysis and measure the student’s learning achievement in E-learning. How to provide an automatic assessment system in distance learning wasn’t only become more and more popular but more and more important in educational world. This paper was addressed how to provide a simulation testing system and to provide a diagnosing model and then to understand the student’s learning achievement. In this paper, we applied the ID3-like algorithm to build up decision tree by analysis the best information gain of the student’s SCJP testing attributes as the root of the decision tree and then to help the learners to regulate their learning topic/chapter to get the SCJP certification in near future. We used the rule-space model to diagnose the cognitive skills for assessment evaluation in SCJP (Sun Certified Java Programmer) course. The rule-space approach supports cognitive analysis of student’s Java programming skill. And then to comprehensive what learning tops are weaknesses or strengths by individuals. We implemented a web testing application for SCJP testing simulation. The primarily result showed that not only providing the self-regulation suggestion for testers but also helping the lecturer to adapt the priorities of their teaching topics/chapters. This approach is a helpful guidance in vocational education that could help the learner to get the professional certification in near future. We believed this approach can apply to more online professional certifications.

碩士
國立交通大學
土木工程系所
101
This study proposes a framework to evaluate the water supply system reliability through life cycle assessment and system reliability theorems. Water supply systems in Taiwan mainly consist of three major subsystems: (1) raw water from reservoirs, (2) treatment plants, and (3) distribution networks. Reservoirs provide raw water, and water treatment plants convert raw water into drinking water that is later distributed to consumers through distribution networks. Reliability of water supply systems is composed of water quantity and quality. Mechanical failures occurring in the water treatment and distribution sections potentially lead to water supply system failures in terms of water quantity and quality; therefore, this study takes into account the mechanical failures that affect water supply system reliability. Life cycle assessment and system reliability theorems are employed to evaluate the water supply system. Shihmen Reservoir water supply system is hypothetically taken as a case study.

The collapse in oil prices in the summer of 2014 marked a structural shift in the energy landscape and gave promise to intensified activity in terms of oil and gas consolidation. In light of this environment, the press was often referencing the cash-rich energy giant Chevron Corporation as likely to pursue lucrative acquisition opportunities. Similarly, the poorly diversified upstream company Laredo Petroleum, Inc. was perceived as a probable target for the larger players. In exploring the justifications for a potential Chevron-Laredo deal from the perspective of year-end 2014, the following findings have been obtained. Firstly, there exists sound strategic rationale: Laredo’s Permian Basin assets and core competencies seem like a good fit for Chevron’s operations. Secondly, the depressed oil price climate has opened a “window of opportunity” for Chevron to acquire Laredo “cheaply”: given a base-case oil price scenario of $60 per barrel, Laredo’s standalone value per share is estimated at $14,48, marking a 40% upside potential to the $10,35 market price. Thirdly, given its generous cash pile of $12,8 billion, Chevron has the means to finance the acquisition entirely with cash. Most importantly, however, minimal synergies are expected to be reaped due to the combined entity’s inability to significantly slash costs, with the per-share value estimated at only $0,71. Lastly, the vast uncertainty surrounding future oil prices poses difficulties in estimating a fair value and therefore in establishing an appropriate purchase price. With the risks outweighing the rewards, the final recommendation is for Chevron to not pursue the deal.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1990.
Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-110).