identifier: Oakley, Sheila L  (2007) From duty to care to duty to be well : a discourse analysis of Ontario's capacity to consent law.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Principles of neo-liberalism, our current doctrine of political rationality, call for reduced state involvement and a greater reliance on autonomous, self-governing individuals who avoid risks and take initiatives to improve their well-being. However contradictions arise within these principles. In making autonomous choices, one must also adhere to the values of health and security; individual choice is thereby constrained.  Legal convention upholds the individual right to self-determination with respect to medical treatment. Patients must therefore give their informed consent before medical treatments or procedures are performed. The exception to this rule lies where a person lacks capacity to consent, such as in the case of certain psychiatric patients  In this thesis I examine Ontario's capacity to consent law specifically as it applies to the capacity to consent to psychiatric treatment. Through a discourse analysis of written legal decisions I argue that successive changes in consent and capacity law, most notably the inclusion of community treatment orders, compel psychiatric patients to align themselves with neo-liberal principles, namely the "duty to be well."  Taking a governmentality approach, I argue that dominant discourses on risk, fear, freedom, autonomy and security inform the legal governance of psychiatric subjects, compelling these subjects to engage in techniques of "responsibilization" in an effort to reduce various "risks of harm."


identifier: Godin, Vincent  (2007) Dynamic portfolio optimization across asset classes.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

type: Thesis NonPeerReviewed

abstract: This study provides evidence that a dynamic portfolio strategy, grounded on an asymmetric GARCH model and applied to investments in equities, real estate, and commodities, outperforms static strategies in terms of wealth, Sharpe ratios, and expected utility even when short selling restrictions are imposed on real estate and equities. For small investors, the benefits are subsumed by transactions costs; for large investors, the dynamic strategy remains marginally feasible.


identifier: Danielle., Saint-Onge  (2007) Soy Mexicano, I speak English : learning English in a Mexican private school.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.


identifier: LaBerge, Jonathan Michael  (2007) Canadian mutual fund flows and performance : non-linearity, frictions and diminishing returns to scale.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis investigates the nature of the relationship between mutual fund flows and fund performance in Canada. Specifically, we investigate the non-linearity (or "asymmetry") of the relationship, and how the relationship differs for equity and fixed-income funds using both excess and raw returns. We also test whether frictions prevent investors from punishing poor performers, and whether there are decreasing returns to scale in mutual fund management.  Using a sample of 119 equity and 44 fixed-income funds managed by public fund sponsors, we find that when fund performance is measured on a risk-adjusted basis versus benchmark returns, there is evidence of rational asymmetry in the flow-performance relationship for Canadian equity funds. We note that non-performance factors, especially prior flow, are significant predictors of funds flow for both equity and fixed-income funds. We also find that frictions do affect the flow-performance relationship, and that returns to scale in mutual fund management appear to be constant


identifier: Liang, Siyi  (2007) Canadian IPO share releases : lockup designs, transparency and market behavior.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Since no Canadian evidence exists on Canadian IPO lockups, this thesis examines the design, impact and market behavior of two types of lockups for Canadian IPOs listed on the TSX during the 1997-2005 period. We find that the existence of lockup information in an issuer's prospectus does not significantly reduce IPO underpricing by underwriters. We also find that IPO firms with dual-class share structures tend to have higher proportions of shares locked up and longer escrow lockup periods, and that larger firms have higher proportions of shares locked up as "escrow shares". These findings partially support the evidence reported by Brau et al. (2005) that firms with less transparency will provide a signal that the interests of their insiders are better aligned with outside investors by including lockups in their prospectuses. Significant negative (cumulative) abnormal returns are found only for high-tech firms immediately around unlock days. Lower abnormal trading volumes and relative spreads are found after unlock days for only the sample of IPOs with escrow lockups with stipulated non-zero lockup length.  Keywords: IPO, lockup, escrow, abnormal market behavior.  JEL Classification: G10, G15


identifier: Lemieux, Catherine  (2007) Coopération, partenariat et respect mutuel entre le Québec et les Cris d'Eeyou Istchee : problématique d'une entente de nation à nation.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: En février 2002, le Québec et les Cris de la Baie-James ont signé un accord nommé la Paix des Braves. Cet accord de ±nation à nation» encourage ±la coopération, le partenariat et le respect mutuel» entre les deux parties. Ce mémoire examine ces nouvelles relations. Il s'inspire des théories postcoloniales pour critiquer le colonialisme bureaucratique dans les programmes ±modernes» de ±développement communautaire et économique». Il analyse par ailleurs, selon les théories constructivistes et interprétatives, la liberté des sujets autochtones dans ces processus. Une analyse de discours a été effectuée pour comprendre les divergences fondamentales qui nuisent à la communication interculturelle entre le Québec et les Cris. Cette analyse a été faite d'une part selon les récits des Cris consultés au cours de l'enquête de terrain effectuée auprès des Cris de Chisasibi à l'été 2006. D'autre part, des documents historiques, juridiques, journalistiques et électroniques ont été analysés pour comprendre les perceptions du Québec, d'Hydro-Québec et des leaders cris sur l'entente. L'analyse est donc locale et globale, structurale et individuelle, sociétale et culturelle. La conclusion témoigne des difficultés de la coexistence négociée lorsque les ontologies distinctes entre groupes sont incomprises. La critique porte sur le système politique libéral actuel. L'égalité des minorités promue par le cosmopolitisme est un mythe et n'aide en rien la solidarité entre des nations distinctes. Les universalismes du libéralisme sont par contre remis en question par les coalitions de groupes aux intérêts communs et aux objectifs diversifiés.


identifier: Lin, Hui  (2007) Long-term valuation impact of Sarbanes-Oxley on U.S. vs. foreign firms.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study investigates the long-term impact of the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) on firm valuation. We detect a significant positive abnormal stock return during a 42-month period after the passage of the SOX. In particular, we find that small companies and U.S.-traded foreign companies experienced more a favourable post-SOX market reaction than large U.S. companies. Firms that are less compliant with the new legislation experienced higher abnormal returns than firms that are more compliant, which implies that investors anticipate low-compliant companies to have more potential to improve corporate governance and financial disclosure therefore benefit shareholders more from SOX's enactment. Results from our cross-sectional analysis indicate that variations in the observed long-term abnormal returns can be explained by certain firm-specific corporate governance characteristics. We find that the long-term abnormal returns are negatively related to board independence and CEO duality, but are positively correlated with the ownership by insiders and institutional investors. We also find evidence that SOX imposed a significant financial burden that fell disproportionately on small firms. On the whole, our results suggest that although SOX imposes a substantial compliance burden on public companies, it is value-enhancing in the long run.


identifier: Shao, Xin Kai  (2007) Do value stocks offer higher returns and lower risks than growth stocks?  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Many papers have shown evidence that suggests that value stocks outperform growth stocks. Value stocks, in general, refer to stocks with a low price-earnings ratio (P/E), a high book to market ratio (B/M), low sales growth, small size and exhibit financial distress. Growth stocks, in contrast, are larger in size, have a higher P/E, a lower B/M, have higher growth rate and are more sound financially. If markets are efficient, all stocks should offer the same risk-adjusted returns. If value stocks outperform growth stocks, where do the premium returns come from? Is this due to higher risk or from mispricing? This paper tests to see if high book to market stocks have higher risks to compensate for their higher returns. In an effort to measure risk, various metrics are employed including bankruptcy rates, standard deviations, betas, historical Value at Risk (VAR) and extreme loss statistics. Results show that although high book to market ratio portfolios offer higher returns, they appear to have lower risks. Therefore, the evidence offered in this paper tends to support the notion that mispricing is the driving force behind the observed findings.


identifier: Tang, Mingjun  (2007) The impact of corporate governance on the performance of U.S. small-cap firms.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This paper examines the interactions between governance mechanisms and performance for US small cap firms over the period from 2000 to 2004. We perform analyses accounting for both simultaneity between the variables and a sample selection bias that may be related to the venue of listing firm's stock. The results demonstrate significant interactions between board independence, firm leverage, CEO ownership, and pay-performance sensitivity. With regard to the impact of governance mechanisms on corporate performance, leverage significantly reduces firm value while strong pay-performance compensation links are beneficial to corporate performance. We also find a weak association between board independence and firm performance. The results do not show a significant relationship between CEO ownership and performance. Another finding is that the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act considerably increases the market value of small cap firms with a rate of return of around 15%, suggesting that the benefits of improved transparency outweigh their potential costs. The results are also consistent with the contention that CEOs may lack the power or will to remove insiders from the boards when firms are required to comply with independence standards.


identifier: Al-Taher, Saeed Raoof  (2007) New research on inherent CNC turning errors and its application to accurate tool path generation.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.


identifier: Dimitrova, Lora  (2008) Family ownership, liquidity, and insider trading in new public firms.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: IPOs have long been considered as a potential way of exit for founders. Yet the existing literature has largely failed to examine founders' exit decisions and its influence on both the firm's information environment and the liquidity of its stock. In this paper, using a sample of new public firms, we examine founders' sales in the open market and relate them to the level of information asymmetry and various aspects of the liquidity of the firm's stock. We find that family ownership has a significant influence on the extent of founders' exit. In particular, founders with low (high) levels of ownership are more (less) likely to engage in sale transactions, indicating relatively faster (slower) exit. We also find that, in order to facilitate their exit, founders try to improve the market liquidity by engaging in additional information disclosure. This is reflected in the negative relation between the level of firm asymmetric information in the equity market and the extent of founders' sales. While the lower level of asymmetric information appears to translate into lower adverse selection risk, the founder trading patterns increase inventory risk for the market maker, leading to a wider bid-ask spread.


identifier: Frediani, Veronica  (2008) Early versus late start in an EFL program : factors that contribute to performance outcomes.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This cross-sectional study investigated the effects of the starting age of instruction (age of onset) and amount of instruction on the proficiency of young learners of English as a foreign language. Data were collected in Argentina in two intensive after-school language programs. Early starters (ES) began learning English at age 7-8, and late starters (LS) at age 12-13. The proficiency measures were two practice Cambridge ESOL exams: the Preliminary English Test (Level 1), and the First Certificate in English (Level 2). Comparisons were made taking into account the overall scores of both groups of participants, as well as the scores obtained on four tasks from each exam.  At the time of the Level 1 exam, ES had accumulated 1680-1960 hour of instruction, versus 840 hours for LS. Comparison of the overall scores showed an advantage for ES. The same pattern was observed with three of the four selected tasks. On the Level 2 exam, after an additional 420 hours of instruction, ES and LS participants performed similarly on the exams overall and on the selected tasks.  The findings are discussed in terms of the amount of instructional time each group had accumulated and the participants' cognitive development. It would appear that late starters' cognitive maturity enabled them to benefit from instruction that matched their abilities, thereby overcoming the disadvantage of fewer hours of instruction.  Issues related to the classification of tasks are also considered. The study has implications for second language program planners in foreign language contexts


identifier: Wang, Zhen  (2008) Industry hedging level and firm risk management.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis investigates the effect of the level of competition and the level of hedging within the industry upon individual firms' foreign exchange risk management behavior as well as firm value for a sample of 387 US firms in the S&P 1500. This is addressed by using an extensive set of hand-collected data that measures the extent of industry and firm hedging of exchange rate risk over the three year period from 2003 to 2005 and by constructing variables that capture the effect of competition and industry level hedging. The results suggest that the hedging level of the industry has no effect on firm value. However, the study verifies that a firm's competitive incentive to hedge will increase when most competitors decide to hedge.


identifier: Baca Vasquez, Juan Melchor  (2007) Optimally tuned secondary system with viscous damping for vibration supression in torsional systems.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Dynamic vibration absorbers and dampers are used to reduce the vibration responses of mechanical systems. A dynamic vibration absorber reduces vibrations of a primary system over a desired frequency range by absorbing the energy through responding with opposite phase to that of the force acting on the primary system. A damper, on the other hand, is a device used for reducing the magnitude of a shock or vibration by energy dissipation methods. The latter is extensively used in automotive engines to reduce torsional oscillations and in aircraft landing gears to damp out shimmy oscillations. This thesis aims to study and understand an optimally tuned viscous torsional vibration damper which is a combination of a dynamic vibration absorber and damper.  The primary system whose vibration is to be suppressed, along with the optimally tuned viscous torsional vibration damper, will form a two-degree-of-freedom system which will be studied for its dynamic behaviour. The analytical model includes parameters such as primary inertia, damping and stiffness and secondary inertia, damping and stiffness. Numerical determination of optimum damping and stiffness for a secondary system is carried out and simulated results are presented and discussed. Validation of some aspects of the analytical studies is carried out with experimental investigation for the optimally tuned viscous torsional vibration damper and viscous damper. The test results of the two damping devices and the analytical investigations are compared.  In addition, the study is extended, applying the optimally tuned viscous torsional vibration damper to a seven-degree-of-freedom torsional system namely to a four-stroke six-in-line cylinder internal combustion engine. This numerical study compares the engine response with and without damping. For both cases same excitation torque per cylinder was applied. The optimally tuned viscous damper reduces the vibrations.


identifier: Song, Hyo Jin  (2008) The role of the TOEFL speaking tasks in communicative pre-university EAP classes : East Asian students' and teachers' perspectives.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The oral communication demands of North American university classrooms can be challenging for non-native speaker students (Ferris & Tagg, 1996a). This is particularly true for East Asian learners who have usually had limited exposure to the type of oral interaction expected in English for academic purposes (EAP). The revised Test English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ® ) includes a speaking component designed to reflect the oral communication needs for successful university study (ETS, 2005). Accordingly, it has been predicted that the TOEFL practice would have a positive impact on EAP oral skills development (Butler, Eignor, Jones, McNamara, & Suomi, 2000). This case study investigated this claim, by examining the responses of both East Asian students and their teachers to a set of TOEFL-type speaking tasks which were integrated into an existing communicative language teaching (CLT) oriented university preparation program, alongside regular academic speaking tasks (e.g., group discussions and oral presentations).  The research site was a language institute at a Canadian university which had recently incorporated TOEFL speaking tasks as part of curriculum reform. Classroom observations conducted for seven weeks revealed the types of speaking activities typically used prior to the reform and identified similarities and differences between the TOEFL practice and regular speaking practices. Semi-guided interviews with three teachers and questionnaires administered to 24 Japanese, Korean, and Chinese students elicited their perspectives on the usefulness of TOEFL speaking tasks for developing academic speaking skills and for promoting participation. The findings revealed that East Asian students valued TOEFL-type individualized practice with its built-in structure for guiding and 'forcing' oral production. They also valued the emphasis on delivering spontaneous, coherent speech under a time limit, which was a novel activity in their program. However, the teachers found that this type of oral practice was at odds with their CLT beliefs and practices. Factors contributing to this mismatch between teachers' and students' perspectives on the usefulness of TOEFL practice for improving EAP oral skills are explored, and the implications of the findings for addressing East Asian learners' speaking needs are discussed.


identifier: Bell, Philippa  (2008) Awareness, aptitude, and French grammatical gender : an exploratory study.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study investigates the effects of awareness on the accurate assignment of French grammatical gender, and the importance of aptitude in explaining differences in awareness levels amongst second language (L2) learners. Previous awareness research using form-focused exposure tasks has found aware learners improve with the targeted linguistic feature as compared to unaware learners. In addition, research has always found some participants that are aware and some who appear to be unaware (Leow, 1997). Further research is needed on the effects of awareness with a variety of L2s and linguistic features (Rosa & Leow, 2004), and on the interaction amongst aptitude, awareness, and L2 learning (Robinson, 1997). The present study further investigated the effects of awareness on the subsequent L2 learning of French grammatical gender using a meaning-focused rather than form-focused exposure task. This research also addressed the issue of different awareness levels. Following Robinson, the role of aptitude in explaining these differences in awareness levels amongst L2 learners was explored.  To investigate the effects of awareness on L2 learning, 36 beginner-French Anglophone adults completed a crossword following Leow (1997, 2000). The crossword provided participants with input on the reliably masculine noun ending eau (le plat eau ) in French, but they were not explicitly guided to look for this rule. Think-aloud protocols collected during the exposure task and two probe questions, one after the exposure task and one after the posttest, were analysed for evidence of awareness at one of two levels: unaware or aware. Learning was operationalised as pretest to posttest differences on a multiple-choice recognition task. There were two key findings: firstly, there were no differences in learning between the unaware and aware groups, and secondly, learners from both groups significantly improved in their ability to assign masculine gender to words they had encountered during the exposure task, but not to words that they had only encountered in the pretest. These findings run contrary to previous research on the effects of awareness (e.g. Leow; Rosa & O'Neill, 1999). Two possible explanations for these findings are that as the exposure task was meaning-focused rather than form-focused, participants did not verbalise their attention to form. Alternatively, it could be that French grammatical gender is being learnt as part of the exemplar-based system rather than the rule-based system (Skehan, 1998) and, as such, awareness may not be as important for linguistic features that are part of this system.  To investigate possible reasons for awareness differences amongst participants, learners completed five aptitude tests, all used in previous research, that addressed the aptitude factors of attention control, working memory, phonological memory, grammatical sensitivity, and inductive language learning ability. Dörnyei & Skehan (2003) suggested that these five factors were important at the beginning stages of input processing, which were to be included in the exposure task. The results indicate that scores on the inductive language learning test predicted membership to the aware or unaware group accurately 72.22% of the time. No other test had a predictive value. This suggests that inductive ability may have played a role in promoting awareness of French grammatical gender during meaning-based exposure to French grammatical gender. Another finding is that the test for grammatical sensitivity (MLAT IV [Carroll & Sapon, 1957]) and the test for inductive (PLAB IV [Pimsleur, Reed, & Stansfield, 2004]) did not correlate. Aptitude research has often treated these two abilities together as analytic ability (Skehan, 1998), and used a grammatical sensitivity test to investigate the construct. The results from the present study suggest that these two tests may be tapping into different aptitude constructs and, as such, may need to be tested separately when investigating the role of individual differences to L2 learning


identifier: Alexandre., Béland-Bernard  (2007) Narration ludique ou ludologie narrative : réconciliation de la ludologie et de la narratologie dans le discours universitaire sur le jeu vidéo, particulièrement en ce qui concerne le jeu de rôle.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Le discours universitaire sur le jeu vidéo comporte actuellement deux mouvements bien distincts. La ludologie cherche à étudier le jeu vidéo selon ses aspects ± uniques », soit le gameplay et l'interactivité; la narratologie, elle, cherche à étudier le jeu vidéo selon le potentiel narratif émergent qu'on trouve dans ce nouveau média.  Le jeu vidéo étant un champ très vaste, la recherche de ce mémoire se limite à un seul type de jeu : le jeu de rôle. L'intérêt de ce type de jeu vient du fait que la liberté d'interaction et la narration y jouent un rôle tout aussi important dans l'expérience du joueur. Ce mémoire cherche à trouver un terrain d'entente entre ces deux théories, dans le champ du jeu de rôle, en s'appuyant sur des notions théoriques du domaine du jeu vidéo, et du champ de la littérature et des médias traditionnels.  Le corpus comporte uniquement des jeux considérés comme des ± jeux de rôle », autant selon une définition du jeu de rôle que je propose que selon les classifications des critiques et des médias. Trois jeux ont été retenus : The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Bethesda Softworks, 2006), Jade Empire: Special Edition (BioWare/2K Games, 2007), et Deus Ex (Eidos Interactive/Ion Storm, 2000). Chacun de ces jeux est étudié autant du point de vue de la ludologie que celui de la narratologie, afin de trouver le terrain d'entente entre ces deux théories.


identifier: Bruno, Andrea  (2008) Associations between maternal involvement and sibling dramatic play, narrative, and creativity.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The present study examined the associations between maternal involvement, sibling dramatic play, narrative, and creativity in two play sessions (mother present and mother not present). Twenty-four sibling dyads ranging in age from 5 to 8 years (older sibling M age = 8.2 yrs., younger sibling M = 5.2yrs.) and mothers from 2-parent, middle class backgrounds participated in the study. The dyads were observed for two 5-minute play sessions (mother present and mother not present) playing with a 50 piece farm set however they wished. The participants were observed for the frequency of descriptive language (total number of adjectives and total number of different adjectives), maternal language, (e.g., guidance), object use, and object transformations. Ratings on 5-point Likert scales were also conducted for degree of sibling collaboration, pretense, and maternal interaction. Finally, the themes of the play were coded (set-up, typical, creative). Sibling dyads engaged in more creative narrative themes, pretense, and object transformations in the mother not present session than in the mother present session. Also, older siblings used more adjectives overall and a greater number of different adjectives in the mother present session. A significant difference was also found in the frequency of the narrative theme regarding set-up, specifically siblings engaged in more set-up in the mother present session. The findings are discussed for implications for theory and practice.


identifier: Hickey, Amelia  (2008) The relationship between caregiver training and global quality, sensitivity, and language strategies.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study was conducted to examine two specific types of caregiver training in terms of the global quality provided by the caregivers, the level of sensitivity of the caregivers, and the language strategies used by the caregivers during structured story readings. A total of 18 female caregivers, working in day care centers located throughout the Montreal metropolitan area, participated in the study, and were between the ages of 25 and 52. Nine caregivers had previously completed a 3-year Early Childhood Education Program at a small Montreal college, while nine had previously completed a 14-month Attestation program at the same college. The researcher, as well as a research assistant, conducted observations over two half days in each classroom, as well as conducting an interview with each caregiver to obtain demographic data. Global quality was measured using the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised (Research Version) (Cassidy et al., 2005), sensitivity was measured using the Caregiver Interaction Scale (Arnett, 1989), and language strategies were measured using the Teacher Interaction and Language Rating Scale (Girolametto et al., 2000). Results revealed that caregivers who had completed the three-year ECE were rated significantly higher on all measures (global quality, sensitivity, and language strategies), highlighting the importance of experiencing an intense training program with more coursework and more fieldwork.


identifier: Reda, Barbara  (2007) Hiring practices and employment relationships within the small business.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This research studies the effects of personality on hiring practices and the relationships between employers and their employees within a small business context. In particular, we examine the small business owner's personality, and how it influences the type and number of recruitment and selection methods used in the hiring process. In addition, we propose that the selection methods used influences the relationship that forms between employers and their employees. These relationships create expectations of what employees feel is owed to them by their organization. Any violation of these perceived expectations may lead to a decrease in employee commitment and firm performance.  Participants in the study were owners and employees of small businesses within the food industry. Owners and employees were surveyed using questionnaires which were distributed and collected at a later date. The thirty-one owner participants answered questions which would measure the big five factors of personality of the owners using existing scales and their hiring practices using a tailor made measure. The ninety-six employee participants answered questions which would measure employee commitment, psychological contracts and psychological contract breach.  The results indicate that personality affects the types of methods used for recruitment, but not for selection. In addition, it was found that the type of selection methods used influenced the type of relationships developed between employers and employees. The results suggested that perceptions of violation in the relationships between owners and employees were less prevalent when owners used recruitment methods with a less social interactional component in it. In addition, it would seem that owners who are too high in extraversion actually reported lower net profits


identifier: Saffie-Robertson, Maria Carolina  (2008) The impact of Rater's individualism/collectivism on discomfort with peer performance evaluation.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: A study was conducted to determine the relationship between rater's individualism/collectivism, discomfort with a peer evaluation system, and rater leniency. It was hypothesized that collectivism would be positively related to discomfort with evaluating a peer, while the relationship would be negative in the case of individualism and discomfort. This study also attempted to corroborate previous findings establishing a positive relationship between discomfort and rater leniency. In order to test the hypotheses, the Discomfort with Peer Evaluation scale (DPE) was developed. One hundred and five undergraduate students participated in this research. The data supported a positive relationship between collectivism and discomfort. Contrary to what was expected, data supported a positive relationship between individualism and discomfort. The data collected confirmed the existence of a positive relationship between discomfort and rater leniency. These results highlight the impact of cultural background on performance appraisals. Further research is needed to determine why both collectivism and individualism are positively related to discomfort.


identifier: Li, Hai Hong  (2007) Impact of price promotions on customer-based brand equity with a proxy measure.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: In today's market place, customers tend to rely more on the established brands to simplify their brand selection and reduce their purchase risk. Creating and maintaining a strong brand brings companies many competitive advantages and long term profitability. Although price promotions have become a common marketing practice, little research has been done on their effects on brand equity and profitability in the long run.  This study examines the potential negative impact of price promotions from the perspective of customer-based brand equity by assessing how different levels of frequency and depth of sale promotions influence consumers in terms of acquiring knowledge about a brand, establishing price-related associations, and changing their response to the brand as a result. We hypothesize that overuse of temporary sale promotions might create some 'discount' associations with the brand in customers' minds and influence a company's brand equity and future benefits.  The results reveal that exposure to previous discount information induced customers to expect the retail price to be the sale price for the next period as well as to anticipate brand promotion before purchasing. Consequently, they become more reluctant to pay the regular price for the brand. Furthermore, the findings show that the expected price that customers are willing to pay for the brand has a sigmoid relation with the frequency of price promotions while it also has a concave relation with the depth of price discounts. These findings are particularly useful in guiding marketers to design optimal price promotion programs


identifier: Vongas, John G  (2007) Conspicuous consumption and testosterone.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis applies evolutionary theory to investigate physiological outcomes of male-based conspicuous consumption. In sexually reproducing species, including humans, males employ ostentatious signals to attract females. Such signals convey their relative social status compared with other suitors and, therefore, their superior reproductive fitness. Hence, signals act as important cues to prospective females who wish to select the most desirable mate. In addition, males who experience changes in their social status demonstrate changes in their androgen levels: elevations in their status trigger testosterone (T) level rises, whereas demotions in their status induce T level drops. The predictions made herein are that T levels should rise in men who engage in sexual signaling via conspicuous consumption (Experiment 1), whereas they should drop in men who witness the conspicuousness of other men (Experiment 2). Experiment 1 had 43 males drive an exotic sports car and an old sedan on isolated highways and on busy downtown streets. As expected, T levels were significantly higher when driving the exotic car, with the lowest levels occurring with the sedan in the downtown condition. In experiment 2, 40 males were each paired with a higher-status male confederate in a focus group whose moderator, either male or female, questioned them on specific consumption activities. Contrary to expectations, T levels significantly increased in the female condition only, suggesting that an interaction with the female overrode any perceived intra-sexual "defeats". This thesis constitutes a pioneering study in consumer behavior because it is the first one to unite marketing with biology.


identifier: Zhang, Wei  (2007) A cross cultural study of symbolic meanings of products : perception of Chinese and North American consumers.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: It has been long recognized in consumer research that consumers buy products and services not only for their utilitarian values and problem solving characteristics, but also for their symbolic meanings. Since culture plays a crucial role in the formation, transfer and communication of symbolic meanings, it is hypothesized that cultural differences may lead to differences in the symbolic meanings that are ascribed to a sample of products/services. A survey of Chinese and Canadian consumers confirms this hypothesis for a list of symbolic meanings that are associated with a sample of products and services that were selected in pilot studies. Averaging across a sample of products/services for a given symbolic meaning, hypothesis tests suggest that more Chinese ascribe utilitarian, interpersonal tie related, financial, and status related symbolic meanings whereas more Canadians ascribe enjoyment, self identity, appearance related, and social responsibility related symbolic meanings with the selected sample of products. However, the differences in the sample proportions are practically very small for symbolic meanings associated with financial value, interpersonal ties and utilitarian value. When the hypotheses are tested at the individual product/service level relatively stronger support is observed with regard to symbolic meanings associated with enjoyment, self expression, self achievement, appearance, status, and social responsibility. In general, the results confirm that the proportion of the population that ascribe a particular symbolic meaning to a product may depend on the culture. Implications of the findings, limitations of the research, and future research directions are discussed.


identifier: Sischy, Paul  (2007) Two visions of the nation-state : a comparative analysis of Heinrich von Treitschke and Ernest Renan's conceptions of the nation-state and nationality.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: In the late nineteenth century, the German historian Heinrich von Treitschke and the French historian Ernest Renan proposed competing conceptions of the nation-state and nationality. Treitschke's organicist conception saw nation-states as primordial entities that have permanent characteristics and whose interests stood above those of the individual. Renan's voluntarist conception saw nation-states as modern entities entered into on an individual basis, which were not defined according to an ethno-linguistic criterion. This thesis analyzes these conceptions as they were put forth in Treitschke's and Renan's primary works on the subject, as well as in their responses to the Franco-Prussian war (1870-71) and Germany's annexation of Alsace-Lorraine, which Treitschke supported and Renan opposed. Lastly, it examines the relationship of Treitschke's and Renan's conceptions of the nation-state to the dominant historical discourses of each historian's respective country. In doing so, it demonstrates that Treitschke's thought was consistently guided by his belief that humanity is unequal and that the interests of the nation-state exist as the highest ideal. For Treitschke the essence of the nation-state lay in its ability to express its will either through the submission of its members or in its interaction with other nation-states. In contrast, Renan's thought is guided by his belief that humanity is the highest ideal and that international relations should be guided according to this ideal. Whereas Treitschke's conception of the nation-state was reflective of nineteenth century German historiography, Renan's was less so with respect to French historiography of the period.


identifier: Zhao, Yikun  (2007) Nostalgic marketing and its working mechanism in three cultural groups : Canadians, Chinese, and Chinese immigrants to Canada.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Although the existing marketing research on nostalgia has provided an understanding of nostalgia from different perspectives, it remains scattered. The confusion on the nature of nostalgia and a lack of theoretical framework on nostalgic marketing greatly restrains our understanding of nostalgic marketing. To contribute to the gaps in the marketing literature on nostalgia, this research aims to clarify the nature of nostalgia through combined effort of literature review and exploratory interviews with participants of different cultural backgrounds. Five major dimensions of nostalgia in the general sense are identified, namely emotional, attitudinal, cognitive, behavioural, and symbolic dimensions. Based on the five major dimensions that emerged for nostalgia in the general sense, nostalgia in marketing is distinguished for its unique characteristics of its separation from direct personal experiences, the dominantly positive emotion imbued, and the promotion of the imagined past. Nostalgic marketing is then defined, as well as its classification and major forms. In reference to the interviews conducted, the underlying working mechanisms of different forms of nostalgic marketing are proposed. Some pitfalls related to the application of nostalgic marketing disclosed by our interviews are also presented.  The scope of this research project is extended by examining the theoretical framework empirically on three cultural groups: Canadians, Chinese, and Chinese immigrants to Canada. The findings indicate that (1) nostalgic marketing is overall more positively evaluated by Chinese and Chinese immigrants to Canada than by Canadians; (2) different cultural groups have varied preference for certain nostalgic marketing forms; and (3) a same nostalgic marketing form can be equally effective for different cultural groups but for different reasons. In explaining the findings, nostalgia proneness and individuals' general attitude toward advertising and marketing are identified as the two major influential variables. However, while nostalgia proneness should be examined within a particular cultural group, the general attitude toward advertising and marketing should be investigated across cultures


identifier: Murray, Sharon  (2007) Missionizing photography : Miss Amanda Jefferson's photograph album, 1892-1898.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Missionary history is a recent topic of scholarly interest although foreign mission photographs have not been afforded the same attention. The lack of scholarship on missionary photography as a category (although arguably a subset of colonial and ethnographic photographies) means that little can be said definitively about the role of photography in overseas missions.  This thesis looks at a late-nineteenth century photograph album compiled by Miss Amanda Jefferson (1860-1947)--a Canadian missionary to Western India. Jefferson's album serves as a case study in unpacking the meaning of photographs generated by foreign missionaries. As her 1892 letter indicates, Jefferson intended to send the album home to her friends and Christian community in New York so they could see something of the mission field and her new surroundings. Through an analysis of Jefferson's selection, organization and captioning of the album's fifty-one photographs, this thesis examines the use of photography for this single woman missionary: how photography itself was missionized and used as a tool for visualizing the harsh realities and everyday experiences of mission work, the missionaries's goals and biases, and the contradictions and ambiguities of this kind of cultural imperialism. This thesis considers both the pubic and private functions of this album as well as Jefferson's desire for the album to speak for itself despite the cultural and physical distance that divided the viewers from Jefferson and the people and places pictured.


identifier: Cools, Valérie  (2007) Les nekketsu shonen mangas : une littérature hypermoderne.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: French translations of Japanese comic books have now become an important part of the French-speaking literary world. Through an analysis of the reception of nekketsu shonen manga inside the European French territory, this thesis aims to analyze and explain manga's literary integration in France.  The first step consists in characterizing the epistemic context of contemporary France. This thesis considers that the latter context is that of hypermodernity, which is characterized here by four main elements: speed, fragmentation, anxiety and individualism. Based on this premise, this thesis attempts to demonstrate the existence of several correspondences between the act of reading shonen manga and the hypermodern reader, by using theories of literary reception (Fish, Jauss, Jouve), comics theory (Groensteen, McCloud, Morgan) and media theory (McLuhan, Ong, Vandendorpe). Hence, first of all, manga correspond to hypermodern frenzy by encouraging an accelerated reading. Secondly, they correspond to the hypermodern being's accentuated individualism by emphasizing the characters' intimate quests; at the same time, they provide the contemporary French reader with an unsettling reading experience, in which the reader finds both a crystallization of his own identity-related instability, and a way to counter the latter. Thirdly, manga are representative of secondary orality, a hybridization of orality and literacy which is a part of hypermodernity. Finally, manga evoke resonances which correspond to the new media-related habits of the 21 st century reader.


identifier: Stenstrom, Eric Pierre  (2007) Changes in women's consumption preferences and behaviors across the menstrual cycle.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Recently, a multitude of psychology studies have discovered menstrual cycle changes in a variety of preferences and behaviors in women. However, no study to date has investigated whether or not the menstrual cycle influences consumer behavior. Based on evolutionary theory and behavioral physiology findings, it was hypothesized that women would (1) engage in more consumption associated with food, cleaning, home, health, and gift-giving during the luteal phase when progesterone and immunosuppression levels are elevated, and (2) engage in more appearance-related consumption during the follicular phase when estrogen and fertility levels are highest. Thirty-five normally cycling women were asked to track their purchases and complete online surveys every evening for 35 days. Analyses revealed significant differences between consumption levels reported on luteal days and on fertile days. On luteal days, women exhibited increases in various food consumption measures and amount of money spent on food. Results also show that women spend more money on health-related products, and have a greater desire to spend money on home-related products and on gift-giving during the luteal phase. Regarding appearance-related consumption, results suggest a stronger desire to spend money on clothes, shoes and/or accessories on fertile days in partnered women. This paper contributes to the marketing literature in four key ways. First, managerial implications are discussed, including potential product placement and data mining strategies. Second, the results constitute the first evidence of a hormonal driver of shopping behavior. Third, the findings contribute to the growing research stream focused on consumer welfare. Finally, this thesis promotes a novel research stream that unites the fields of biology and consumer behavior.


identifier: Goldstein, Martin  (2008) 'A direction of thought' : speech, reversibility and the world in Merleau-Ponty's Late Philosophy of Language.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The central question of this thesis is: what is the relationship between speech and the world?  I address this question through Merleau-Ponty's late philosophy of language, specifically as it is elaborated in his posthumously published work The Visible and the Invisible. I draw upon his notions of invariance, the visible and the invisible, and reversibility. Using these notions, I posit that the sense of the situation in which we speak, both precedes and makes sense of what is said.  In responding to this central question, I draw upon the interpretations of both Martin C. Dillon and Renaud Barbaras. I employ the work of Dillon in order to make sense of the notion of reversibility and, in order to give weight to the idea that the relationship between speech and the world is characterized by reversibility, I consider Merleau-Ponty's view of metaphor, as it is interpreted by Barbaras. This exploration illustrates that reversibility is operative even in our mundane use of metaphoric language.  In sum, in this work, I consider the relationship between speech and the world. I argue that speech cannot be properly understood in absence of its worldly situation. In that, it is the situation in which one speaks that makes the sense of an expression intelligible and I demonstrate that this understanding of sense is articulated by Merleau-Ponty through his notion of reversibility.


identifier: Newland, Matthew Allen  (2008) God is human : understanding human uniqueness in an evolving world.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This work defends the understanding that Homo sapiens is a unique species, bearing an ontological distinction that makes it different from other species of animal life. However, challenges from contemporary biology and evolutionary theory may offer us reasons to either abandon the idea of human uniqueness entirely, or else revise our understanding of what human beings are in light of the presence of intelligent behavior in other animal species. Over the course of five chapters, I attempt to understand human nature through a multidisciplinary investigation. I do this by considering theological understandings and ethical theories in addition to scientific facts, recognizing that the scope of each is up to a point limited to its own universe of discourse. Overlaps between each discipline, however, allow for a broader and more comprehensive understanding of human nature than employing only one discipline will allow. My goal is to provide an understanding of human nature that is limited by neither scientific materialist nor religious fundamentalist perspectives.


identifier: Reeve, Rebecca D  (2007) Constant connectivity in a wireless age : the discursive promotional strategies of the blackberry.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.


identifier: Hogan, Mél  (2007) Archiving absence : a queer feminist framework.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Using a queer feminist framework, this research combines interviews with archivists and activists, theoretical texts and artists' intervention to explore the paradoxical nature of archiving absence. Specifically, the first chapter surveys and documents three Canadian archives mandated in part to collect, record and preserve lesbians' and queer women's histories: The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives in Toronto, The Canadian Women's Movement Archives in Ottawa, and the Archives gaies du Québec in Montréal. Focusing on the absence of women within archival holdings and as community archivists, the second chapter proposes a philosophical "queering of the archive" which both expands and complicates the pervading critiques about the totality and neutrality of archives and exposes the theoretical (if not utopian) potential of challenging the archive, operationally and conceptually, to answer this absence. Ultimately, this queering puts into question the very foundation of community that privileges gender and sexuality within its identity politics, while reinforcing their presence and position within gay and lesbian history and queer discourse.


identifier: Angela., Asomba-Tarer  (2007) Analyse sociologique de la traduction française par Béatrice Commengé de Delta of Venus d'Anaïs Nin.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: In this thesis, we examine the sociological analysis of the French translation of Delta of Venus by Anaïs Nin. We attempt to underline the social trajectory ( habitus ) of the translator, Béatrice Commengé and of the author. We analyze how the author. Anaïs Nin is situated with regard to the American erotic tradition and especially how the translation is situated with regard to the French tradition.  We use Pierre Bourdieu's sociological theory to determine the structural factors at the core of the translated text. We start from the hypothesis that this theory is based on the structure and the history of the field, the habitus of the agents (in particular the translators) and the illusio of a genre of text, the erotic text. Pierre Bourdieu's method will allow us to understand various features of the social reality of the literary field in the field of power, the structure of the literary field and the formation of the habitus of the author and the translator.


identifier: Chu, Vanessa  (2007) Black ills, black pills : post-colonial analysis of the discursive making of BiDil and African American heart disease.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.


identifier: Winton, Ezra  (2007) The spaces between grassroots documentary distribution and exhibition as counterpublics.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Documentary cinema has emerged as an important focus for research into popular culture, marginalized narratives, and democratic media. However, academic work on the genre has been narrowly focused on audience consumption habits, aesthetic or textual analyses of individual works, and cultural analyses of the intersection of documentary and mainstream commercial cinema sites and practices. This thesis is an attempt to bridge a research gap by interrogating extra-textual elements around the grassroots distribution and exhibition of documentary cinema in Canada. By linking the concepts of cultural hegemony, counterpublics and agonostic pluralism with community-oriented practices around documentary distribution and exhibition, this thesis urges a closer look at the spaces between box office numbers, high profile documentaries, and megaplexes.  Springboarding from disparate literature, the thesis builds a conceptual framework around power and community, and uses firsthand interviews with filmmakers, promoters, exhibitors and distributors to tease out the relationship between documentary cinema and counterpublics in Canada.


identifier: Stewart, Craig  (2007) "What the hell do we do now, Sir?: : combat films and spectacle in 1990s Hollywood.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis examines a period of Hollywood filmmaking between the December 1989 release of Oliver Stone's Vietnam veteran film Born on the Fourth of July, and the July 1998 release of Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan in which very few films were made about combat in the Second World War. This thesis deploys genre theory and analysis, as well as a political economic exploration of the decade to examine the status of spectacle in combat films in the 1990s and explore some of the factors involved in making this period a relative low point in the U.S. combat film genre. Only a handful of specifically World War II combat films were made and released about American soldiers fighting overseas in those eight years before Spielberg's lauded film, despite that the Second World War offers narratives of American heroics and moral certainty (with notable exceptions such as the Japanese internment and the dropping of the atomic bomb). This work uncovers aspects of the relationship of the U.S. film industry to popular ideas about war in light of an arguably triumphalist stage of American history following successes in the first Gulf War and the forty-five year Cold War. Notably, this period also marks the 50 th anniversary of the entirety of World War II.


identifier: McKinnon, Amy  (2007) More than just a phase : the discursive constructions of childhood as a transitional identity.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis identifies the concept of transition as central to the construction of girlhood identity and examines this through three key discourses on girlhood: academic discourses, market discourses, and discourses of the self. By providing a discourse analysis of the construction of transitional girlhood identity through the lenses of the social world, consumer culture, and personal narrative, this research outlines the ways in which girls have been constructed as transitional, fluid, unfixed identities in need of surveillance, guidance and control--neither children nor adults, two identifications that encompass fixed points in the social world. A discussion of the fashion doll as a technology of gender that codes normative identity in girls' play provides an opportunity to discuss this discursive formation in the context of everyday social practices and acknowledges the ways in which these codes are negotiated in girls' interpretations and readings. While this element of identity construction is central to the ways in which girls interact in a variety of social territories, girls are able to actively engage with elements of the social world and carve out their own identities to become multidimensional, relational social subjects.


identifier: Lameed, Nurudeen  (2008) Implementing concurrency in a process-based language.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Object-oriented programming has been very successful for general purpose programming tasks for almost two decades. It is hard to imagine another paradigm replacing it. But software systems are becoming ever more complex and hard to maintain. Adapting to new hardware will create further problems. The current combination of complex scope rules, inheritance, aspects, genericity, and multithreading cannot provide the flexibility needed for the effective implementation, maintenance, and refactoring of parallel and distributed systems. We believe it is time for a change of approach to software development.  Software must be modified to match today's needs but must not place even greater strain on software developers. The prevailing software development practice makes management and maintenance of software unnecessarily difficult. We describe an approach that we believe will reduce the difficulties of software development and maintenance.  The programming language Erasmus is being developed by Peter Grogono at Concordia University, Canada and Brian Shearing at The Software Factory, UK. Erasmus is based on communicating processes organized within cells that communicate through message passing.  This thesis describes issues related to the implementation of concurrency in Erasmus. In particular, it explains how the meaning of a program can be separated from its deployment onto multiprocessor/distributed systems. Through this approach, software investment may be preserved when new features are added or when functionality does not change but the environment does


identifier: Shoumarova, Lina  (2007) Publishing in the contact zone : linguistic properties of the book publishing field in Montreal.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: In this thesis I explore an understudied area of communications--the practice of book publishing. Through an in-depth look at the Montreal book publishing field, I examine the relation between publishing and language arguing that language represents a system of power and social relations and that as such, it is one of the major structuring forces of the field of book production, defining possibilities or constraints for agents active in the field. Focusing my analysis on Montreal's peculiar geographic location as a "contact zone" of French and English languages, I explore how the interplay between the two tongues has contributed to shaping and defining the book publishing field in the city. I argue that this process of structuration through language takes place on three levels: first, on a political level, through the formation of the power dynamics and the set of rules that orient the functioning of the field and affect the positioning of Montreal publishers in it; second, on an economic level, through the expansion of markets abroad based on publishing strategies, among which translation is one of the most viable methods for market extension as well as inter-cultural communication; and third, on a cultural level, through the possibility of inter-cultural contact specifically between anglophone and francophone publishers in the city. My focus throughout this thesis is mainly on small literary presses and I use the findings from the interviews that I conducted with six publishers working on both sides of the linguistic divide in Montreal in order to provide a more thorough and engaging study.  Keywords. book publishing, English/French, linguistic minorities, linguistic markets, translation, inter-cultural communication, Quebec.


identifier: Fadden, Robyn  (2007) Roving scopes, flickering screens, and abnormal gastric bodies : digesting the endoscopic gaze.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The inner body is simultaneously familiar and foreign to most people--we experience its continuous workings every day, though are not always conscious of them. Medical technologies such as the endoscope have allowed physicians to extend their eye into this territory of the closed inner body, alive and in motion. More recent technological advances have been made in the production of high-quality digital images via a camera-like device integrated into the endoscope. This evolution in the technology moves it beyond medical exploration and technique and into being a technology of mediated representation, where images of the inner body represent not only a medical perspective, but the more complex world of the body as a system within broader, diverse cultural contexts. "The body," and medically accepted representation of a common, homogenous physiology, becomes many bodies that present in many different ways. The digestive or gastroenterological system in particular is as an example of universality and bodily centrality while at the same time has qualities specific to each individual. It is a tangible way of bringing the world into our bodies and our bodies into the world. Much like the study of how information relates to knowledge and power, we can gather surface information (images), collate that with other known data, and come to conclusions. These images and their contexts connect to a continuum of knowledge and information about not only human biology and medical science, but to how specialized discourses are communicated within wider discourses, specifically within popular culture.


identifier: Chen, Bo  (2007) Environment-based design (EBD) approach to enterprise application integration (EAI).  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: In the past decades, along with the rapid updating of computer technology and extremely expanded business competition, enterprises have begun relying more and more on different applications. However, the short life cycle of these applications and high updating cost make the integration of these applications and their business process a top priority for many enterprises. In such a context, Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) has become a popular research field. EAI is the unrestricted sharing of data and business processes among any connected applications and data source in the enterprise. The goal of EAI is to integrate different applications and let them freely share the same business data and process. The benefits of EAI include cycle time reduction, cost reduction, and cost containment. EAI has attracted many developers and institutes to activity in this field. Many different enterprise application integration methods, tools, and technologies have been developed and introduced to the market; however, there is still no easy and straightforward way to solve EAI problems. The tasks of enterprise application integration are still very challenging.  This thesis uses a different and effective approach, which takes the Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) problem as a design problem, and uses the Environment-Based Design (EBD) theory to formulate this problem as well as to generate the final solutions. The advantage of EBD is that it ensures that most defective and imperfect concepts and solutions can be eliminated during the very first stage.  The notion of Environment-Based Design methodology was first proposed by Dr. Yong Zeng, based on his Axiomatic theory of design modeling. EBD methodology includes three main stages: environment analysis, conflict identification, and concept generation. These three stages work together to generate and refine, progressively and simultaneously, the design requirements and design solutions.  The EBD-EAI approach can help EAI developers to design a successful EAI application in functions with lower costs, and a shorter development time. A real EBD-EAI problem-solving process is described in this thesis to support this new and innovative EAI problem-solving approach


identifier: Philip, Mayjee  (2007) "Someone has said somewhere" : a 'transtexual' analysis of the tabernacle theme in the Letter to the Hebrews.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Although the Letter to the Hebrews has merited immense amounts of scholarly attention regarding its use of Hebrew Scriptures, Hebrews scholarship is lacking a critical accounting of the dependence of Hebrews on the Hebrew Scriptures, especially Leviticus, to construct a meaningful text. My dissertation, which addresses this lacuna, is interested in how the author of Hebrews uses the textual levitical Tabernacle theme to construct the central motif of the heavenly Tabernacle in Hebrews. In analysing the ways in which Hebrews relates to Hebrew Scriptures, I make use of literary theorist Gerard Genette's model of "transtextuality," which classifies different kinds of textual relations between antecedent and successor texts. This model sets in relief the variegated relationships Hebrews has with Hebrew Scriptures in general and Leviticus in particular. Using Genette's model, I identify various types of transtextual relationships that exist between Hebrews and Hebrew Scriptures. Based on the results of this mapping, I argue that the author's selective use of symbolism associated with the levitical Tabernacle and priesthood gives the author the scope to present Jesus as the High Priest at the heavenly Tabernacle.


identifier: Hu, Xiao Xia  (2007) Numerical analysis of near-surface flow beneath small-scale wind driven water waves.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Previous studies have shown that microscale wave breaking plays a significant role in the process of heat, gas, and energy exchange between water and air. In this research, the numerical analysis of near-surface flow beneath small-scale wind driven water waves were studied using the model which was validated by the experiment.  A gas model was developed in present study to estimate the effect of wind on the water waves. An experiment was conducted at a wind speed of 4.4 m·s -1 to validate the numerical model used in the simulations. The results showed excellent agreement between numerical and experimental studies at the interface and greater water depths. The model also captured the logarithmic behavior of the mean streamwise velocity, which is consistent with previous studies.  The two-dimensional simulating results for both clean water surface and contaminated water surface are presented in terms of mean streamwise velocity, wave characteristic including RMS wave amplitude and dominate wavelength, and the structure of vorticity new water surface. Also, some preliminary results of three-dimensional numerical simulations are presented for both clean and contaminated water surface.


identifier: Dubroy, Tim  (2007) They can't do that on television... can they? : an analysis of the replication of ideology through capitalist industry treatments of contentious music videos.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis provides an analysis of music videos and music television in an effort to elucidate one way that ideological (in this case, Western capitalism) values and ideas are replicated through the media. To accomplish this, I examine the way in which contentious music videos are treated by music and television broadcast institutions in order to maintain control of audience expectations.  Control over audience expectations creates a stable marketplace as well as a sales channel to market not only music, but also a plethora of related merchandise within ancillary industries. Contentious music videos disrupt this stable marketplace by defying or changing audience expectations, and thereby creating instability in the form of controversy, defiance of community standards, or challenging proven and profitable formats used by broadcasters to integrate music videos into a corporate product line. I argue that contentious videos are subject to control mechanisms in the form of content editing or the cultivation a preexisting set of values that often defines what can be broadcast. In cases where a contentious video proves profitable, it is then integrated into the broadcast system that absorbs the controversy, using it to change the boundaries of contentiousness and regain a control over a stable market. This represents the maintenance of hegemonic power through the media, or--to put it another way--the control of meaning in the service of power


identifier: Aboud, Geneviève  (2008) Social capital and rural development : the case of Huntingdon, Quebec.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis examines the efforts at rural economic restructuring in Huntingdon, a town recently devastated by closure of two major textile mills. More specifically, by analyzing this case through the lens of ABCD and social capital theory, it evaluates the extent to which current initiatives on the part of the municipal govt. and non-governmental organizations integrate local assets and contribute to the development of positive forms of social capital. The research draws on semi-structured interviews with members of the government, members of non-governmental organisations and community members and finds that there are three main challenges impeding the prospects for sustainable rural economic initiatives: the misuse of power by the Mayor, the underdevelopment of bridging networks between government and community groups and the linguistic divide within the community. The thesis concludes with some reflections on the lessons of the Huntingdon case for economic development theory and policy.


identifier: Landau-Chark, Susan J  (2008) Community, identity, and religious leadership as expressed through the role of the Rabbi's wife.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study analyzes the role of the Canadian rabbinical wife married to a rabbi who can be hired and fired from his position. While archival sources and secondary historical sources were utilized to some extent, the substantive work of the research is to be found in the interviews conducted over a period of three years. Interviews took place in areas where major Jewish populations reside such as Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver; and in the smaller Jewish communities throughout Canada, such as the Maritimes, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and Winnipeg.  The interviews were sorted according to the year of birth of the interviewees. This provided a contemporary perspective on how these women function in the role today, as well as demonstrating the consistency of the position from the early 1950s to the present. Fifty-nine women, either currently or previously married to congregational rabbis, met with the researcher. They were asked to respond to a series of questions addressing aspects of their lives as rabbinical wives. The initial interview was tape-recorded and transcribed. The transcripts were then used in a follow-up email and/or phone interview to clarify issues that arose during the initial interview.  These interviews allow us to hear from the women themselves. Many of the women were wholly involved in their communities, despite the fact the role has no official status within the Jewish community. The rabbinical wife is required to be gracious and attentive to the needs of the community and will frequently have people in her home for religious and social events. At the same time, her position inhibits deep relationships with the people around her.  This research provides detail on the role of the rabbinical wife, and contributes to a rereading of the history of religious leadership in the Jewish community.


identifier: Angela., Brkich-Sutherland  (2007) The relationship between Apocalypticism and the status of women in early Christian communities.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Feminist biblical scholarship has re-evaluated the status and influence that women held within early Christian communities. Recent studies of the participation of women in early Christianity have come to include texts that appear to provide women with roles of leadership and the opportunity to participate in activities that were previously restricted to men. An examination beyond the texts that reinforce traditional Greco-Roman roles permits an individual to examine the actual or incidental status, participation and influence of women within early Christian communities as opposed to their prescribed participation found in later, potentially misogynistic texts that uphold traditional Greco-Roman values (Kraemer 1992).  In a continuation of this methodology, this thesis will examine the nature of eschatology and its impact on early Christian communities. Through the examination of primary and secondary documents, the research in this study will reveal that women in different early Christian communities were not treated in the same manner. An examination of the Pauline and Pastoral epistles demonstrates that a change in eschatological beliefs played a changing role in the status accorded Christian women during the first century. This thesis demonstrates that women who lived in early Christian communities which held imminent eschatological expectations were granted greater participation within their communities than those women that lived in communities that established permanent long-term structures.


identifier: Boudreau, Kelly  (2007) Pixels, parts & pieces : constructing digital identity.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: How do patterns of digital gameplay influence the functional and social roles, personal identity, and the relationship between a player and their avatar?  From Turkle to today, existing theories of online identity seem to suggest that these identities are fragmented bits of the self, cycled through and discarded with ease. In Game Studies, focus has often been on the creation of the digital persona and its representation, the avatar. Through auto-ethnographic research and informed by the literature culled from Game Studies, Sociology (Symbolic Interactionism, Stuctural Functionalism) and Social Psychology, I explicate the way actions, tasks and goals create interwoven patterns of play that structure multi-layered digital identities within social and functional roles of the game. Within the construct of character creation, gameplay, and role identities, relationships between the player, avatar, physical environment and other players develop and redefine perceptions and meanings, which shape and harmonize identities.  Far from being fixed internally in the player, these identities are interwoven through internal and external interactions, creating perceptions and performances of play that emerge as complex negotiated selves, interacting between spaces in the self and the social.


identifier: Evans, Emily  (2008) Lengthen and realign.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

title: Lengthen and realign

abstract: The poems contained in this series constitute meditations on family and inherited family stories. The speaker of these pieces is often ambivalent about the possibility of obtaining any access to the past, given her family's revisionist tendency to tell only partial stories. In light of this intentional inaccessibility, the speaker begins to piece together those shreds of narrative that she does know. Through a process of projection, imagination, and often repudiation, the speaker weaves new life into old 'acceptable' stories. In this process, the speaker seeks understanding of, and integration into, the world that forms her.


identifier: Jervis, James  (2007) The enneagram : symbolism and community in the age of aquarius.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The subject of this dissertation is the 'Enneagram' or 'Enneagon,' a multivalent symbol depicted as a circle enclosing an equilateral triangle and a peculiar hexagram. The Enneagram has become a wisdom symbol for the art of living.  This thesis establishes the following arguments:  1. The Enneagram symbol is, in itself, symbolic of the New Age. The Enneagram phenomena are representative of history, thought, practice, figures, and institutions characteristic of the 'New Age.' Those concerns are primarily the following: human potential, self-help application, independent, charismatic teachers who freely interpret antecendent theory and practice, and who establish their own 'schools;' students who freely learn a variety of methods from divers teachers with egalitarian access to that material; assertions of legitimacy supported by claims to objectivity and descent from venerable, ancient sources of transmission; an eclectic range of ideas creatively interpreted by individuals.  2. There is no such thing as 'the Enneagram.' Rather there are three paradigmatic sets of Enneagram-significant knowledge and practice, each of which comprises multiple interpretations of the Enneagram. Sometimes several Enneagram-centric or -relevant systems coexist under the rubric of the same Enneagram template. I have determined that there are three such templates of Enneagram lore and practice and three paradigmatic understandings of the Enneagram. I call these: the 'Enneagrams of Cosmic Laws,' the 'Enneagrams of Saints and Centres,' and the 'Enneagrams of Personality Types.'  The respective principal originators of each template are the following: G. I. Gurdjieff, a heterodox mystic from the Caucasus (c. 1872/1877-1949); the H[dotbelow]aqqani branch of the Naqshbandi order of S[dotbelow]ufism, led by Shaykh (mystical mentor) Naz[dotbelow]im al-H[dotbelow]aqqani (b. 1922), represented in North America by Shaykh Hisham al-Qabbani (b. 1945); and Oscar Ichazo (b. 1931), an eclectic Bolivian mystic. The Enneagrams of Personality Types paradigm was further elaborated by the Chilean mystic, psychiatrist, psychologist, and psychotherapist Claudio Naranjo, followed by several others.  The first public appearance of the Enneagrams of the unique circle-triangle-hexagram is due to Gurdjieff, and the Enneagram plays a significant role in his thought. Therefore, this thesis will employ the person, life, and teachings of Gurdjieff as a ground of comparison with those of other Enneagram proponents.  3. This thesis demonstrates that there are (only) three traits shared by the above-mentioned templates and their subgroups. They are the nomenclature 'Enneagrams'/'Enneagons', the geometrical configuration of circle--triangle-hexagram, and various ideas concerning 'centres.'  4. The different traditions of the Enneagrams are expressions of creativity and innovation which respond to certain needs and possibilities of their times and places. The traditions are presented typically as 'wisdom for the art of living.'  5. The Enneagram traditions tend to claim authentically ancient esoteric pedigrees; but in reality, they creatively integrate different esoteric teachings. Those reconstructed teachings have become an integral aspect of New Age psycho-spirituality. The New Age Enneagrams phenomena are thus an instance of 'old wine in new bottles.'  The thesis will analyse the roles played by the various Enneagrams within, and across, those three templates. I am interested in the drift of Enneagram-significant ideas, rituals, and social interactions from the restricted, initiatory wisdom lore of the originators of our three paradigms to the New Age public sphere. We see that ideas of exclusive religious affiliation, secrecy, and tradition-bound mystical association have become entangled with the vague and fleeting commitments of the supermarket of customised pop-psych. Contemporary consumers of wisdom for the art of living generate an on-going process of 'natural selection,' in which popular demand results in re-working of Ennegrammic material and blending with other contemporary elements.  The Enneagrams thus represent a creative series of interpretations, by inventive minds in tune with their times, of transcendent 'wisdom for the art of living' in the Age of Aquarius.


identifier: Czyzewska, Izabella  (2007) A letter from Puduhepa Queen of Hatti to Ramses II Pharaoh of Egypt (KUB 21.38 = CTH 176).  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis is a new edition of the Hittite letter CTH 176 dealing with a royal wedding. Although the names of the author and the addressee are not mentioned, the palaeographical, philological and historical evidence will be presented to support the generally accepted view that the letter was composed by Puduhepa, the Hittite Queen and was intended for Ramses II, the pharaoh of Egypt.  Of particular interest are aspects of the manuscript which have been omitted from previous editions, including the physical features of the clay tablet on which the text is inscribed such as size, shape, the type of clay, etc., and the detailed diachronic and synchronic palaeographical analysis of the manuscript. The main objective of such a study is to date the tablet, establish the writing habits of the scribe responsible for writing down the text and assess Goetze's remark that the hand of more than one scribe can be detected in the text.  Since certain inaccuracies have been detected on the copy of the tablet done in 1928 by Professor A. Goetze, this edition also amends and updates this autograph and provides a new and more accurate transliteration of the text that includes as many palaeographical details of the original cuneiform as possible.  The last part of the thesis is devoted to an interpretation of the letter and a discussion of the words and expressions that are essential for the understanding of the text but whose exact meaning is either unknown or not encountered in other Hittite texts.


identifier: Ning, Min  (2008) Neural network based optimal control of HVAC&R systems.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems have wide applications in providing a desired indoor environment for different types of buildings. It is well acknowledged that 30%-40% of the total energy generated is consumed by buildings and HVAC&R systems alone account for more than 50% of the building energy consumption. Low operational efficiency especially under partial load conditions and poor control are part of reasons for such high energy consumption. To improve energy efficiency, HVAC&R systems should be properly operated to maintain a comfortable and healthy indoor environment under dynamic ambient and indoor conditions with the least energy consumption.  This research focuses on the optimal operation of HVAC&R systems. The optimization problem is formulated and solved to find the optimal set points for the chilled water supply temperature, discharge air temperature and AHU (air handling unit) fan static pressure such that the indoor environment is maintained with the least chiller and fan energy consumption. To achieve this objective, a dynamic system model is developed first to simulate the system behavior under different control schemes and operating conditions. The system model is modular in structure, which includes a water-cooled vapor compression chiller model and a two-zone VAV system model. A fuzzy-set based extended transformation approach is then applied to investigate the uncertainties of this model caused by uncertain parameters and the sensitivities of the control inputs with respect to the interested model outputs. A multi-layer feed forward neural network is constructed and trained in unsupervised mode to minimize the cost function which is comprised of overall energy cost and penalty cost when one or more constraints are violated. After training, the network is implemented as a supervisory controller to compute the optimal settings for the system. In order to implement the optimal set points predicted by the supervisory controller, a set of five adaptive PI (proportional-integral) controllers are designed for each of the five local control loops of the HVAC&R system. The five controllers are used to track optimal set points and zone air temperature set points. Parameters of these PI controllers are tuned online to reduce tracking errors. The updating rules are derived from Lyapunov stability analysis.  Simulation results show that compared to the conventional night reset operation scheme, the optimal operation scheme saves around 10% energy under full load condition and 19% energy under partial load conditions.


identifier: Othman, Mohammed  (2007) Development of a dynamic seating system for high-tone extensor thrust phenomenon using the design structure matrix method.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: With new technologies and advances in the medical field, much effort is spent on improving medical devices. One such assistive device is a wheelchair. Many of the existing wheelchairs do not address all the needs of disabled people. Developing a dynamic wheelchair that helps disabled people who have extensor thrust is a challenging problem. Because of strong competition between different mobility device manufacturing companies, developing a dynamic wheelchair using product development tools becomes an effective technique for reducing development time, which can be a competitive weapon. One development tool that can be used to manage and analyze product development activities is the Design Structure Matrix (DSM). The DSM is an information exchange model that can help to find the relationship between activities, parameters, or tasks in order to minimize product development time. The goal of this research is to develop an instrumented, active seating system for people with extensor thrust using the DSM method to provide an efficient execution sequence of the design tasks for three subsystems of the seat: the seat back, seat bottom, and footrest. Furthermore, some numerical evaluation methods are presented to provide the optimal ordering of groups of design activities, in the DSM so that the total design time is minimized. This thesis provides a detailed application of the use of the DSM in developing a dynamic wheelchair for people with extensor thrust.


identifier: Angeli, Johanne  (2008) "Mi no whiteman, I mean" : language ideologies and attitudes toward English and Pijin among Solomon students, between social mobility and national consciousness.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis explores the attitudes of university students toward Pijin, a Melanesian Creole that is the de facto national language, and English, the official language of the country, in Honiara, the capital city of Solomon Islands. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the summer of 2007 on the Solomon Island Campus of the University of the South Pacific (USP), it draws on the concepts of language ideologies and creolization to show that students' linguistic attitudes and behaviours are informed by different ideological influences, which coexist, compete and combine in complex ways.  The research argues that, in a post-colonial context where national consciousness is growing, the residual but pervasive effect of the colonial ideology which disparages Pijin as "broken English" is in fact detrimental to the practice of English, a language of high instrumental value for social mobility in Solomon Islands. The tensions that students experience in classrooms with regard to their language practices reveal larger contradictions, related to current processes of nation building and class differentiation, in which Solomon students, as the future elite of a young nation-state, are enmeshed.


identifier: Pruncut, Andreea  (2007) A study of students' theorectical thinking in a technology-assisted environment.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis analyzes students' theoretical thinking in a technology-assisted environment. The impact of such environment on students' thinking was studied on the sample of written solutions in a final examination in a Linear Algebra with Maple course. For analyzing students' solution a model of theoretical thinking proposed by Sierpinska in the context of her research on students' difficulties in linear algebra was used as a tool.  The motivation for undertaking this study was grounded in my belief that the use of technology in the teaching and learning of mathematics may turn students away from theoretical thinking towards a more action-oriented practical way of thinking. My study neither confirmed nor refuted this belief, but allowed me to refine my understanding of the nature of the influence technology may have on students' learning. It appears that whether the student's use of technology is effective or not depends also on the features of his/ her thinking (which may have been developed in previous study of mathematics). Students in my sample who approached the problems with a theoretical mind also knew how to make use of the computer in an effective way. On the other hand, students who demonstrated poor theoretical behavior could not control the software so as to arrive at a correct and complete solution. For these students, the computer acted as an obstacle (called an "instrument-generated" obstacle here) that hindered the accomplishment of the task.  This study acknowledges the existence of certain phenomena that may arise in the process of working with the computer. Some of the findings reinforce or illustrate in the specific context of linear algebra various phenomena that mathematics educators had previously discovered in other mathematical subjects taught with other technology


identifier: Tariku, Fitsum  (2008) Whole building heat and moisture analysis.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The current indoor, building envelope and energy analysis tools are in the form of stand-alone packages, where there is no direct link among them but rather simplifying assumptions are made on the indoor conditions or building envelope when designing for one. For example, indoor models attempt to predict the indoor condition with a simplified approach or no coupling with the building components, which in fact could have a moisture buffering effect. Building envelope models use predefined simple indoor environmental conditions in assessing the hygrothermal performance of a particular building component. Energy models usually ignore the moisture effect on the thermal transport and storage properties of materials. Incorrect prediction of indoor humidity condition and ignoring moisture effect in the energy calculation may lead to over or under sizing of HVAC equipments and the associated effects on building enclosure moisture performance and occupants' comfort and health. In reality, the indoor environmental conditions, more specifically, temperature and relative humidity, are unknown quantities, and have to be determined from the heat and mass balance in the zone considering the heat and mass transfer across the building enclosure, the internal heat and moisture generated by occupants and their activities, and the heat and moisture supply from mechanical systems depending on the mode of operation of the building. In this research work, a whole building hygrothermal model, which considers the building as a system and deals with the dynamic heat, air and moisture (HAM) interactions among building envelope components, indoor environment and mechanical systems, is developed. The model takes into account the three interrelated and coupled components and evaluates the indoor temperature and relative humidity, building enclosure moisture performance and energy efficiency of the building in an integrated manner on a single platform. The model along with two primary models, namely building envelope and indoor models, are benchmarked against internationally published analytical, numerical and experimental test cases. After successful benchmarking, its usefulness in practical applications are demonstrated through indoor humidity modeling of an existing building, and evaluation of the subsequent retrofit options to attain indoor humidity that is favorable to occupants' comfort and health and at the same time high energy efficiency and durable building. The whole building heat and moisture analysis that are carried out in this research work underlines the importance of an integrated design approach in designing new buildings or retrofitting existing buildings in order to attain an optimized building performance.


identifier: Haddad, Sami M  (2008) Economic impacts of building materials on the environment.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.


identifier: Smart, Angela  (2008) Introducing angles in grade four : a realistic approach based on the van Hiele Model.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis is a study of teaching and learning Geometry, and, in particular, angles. The theoretical framework used in the research is a combination of a teaching theory called Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) and a learning theory called the can Hiele Model of Geometric Thinking. These frameworks, backed up by a historical study of geometry, were used in the design, experimentation and evaluation of a lesson where fourth grade students were introduced, for the first time, to the idea of angle and relations between angles of different sizes. The in-class experiment was conducted in two different fourth grade classrooms. The lessons were taught by teachers of the respective classrooms, based on a detailed script and materials prepared by the researcher. At the end of the lesson the students answered, in writing, questions on what they had learned during the lesson. These answers, combined with the classroom observations, provided a basis for the evaluation of the experiment. The written answers were categorized into analytical and narrative statements. The analytical statements were divided into the different levels of the van Hiele Model. The narrative statements were divided into whether or not they mentioned angles. The research findings suggest the usefulness of using lesson plans based on the two theoretical frameworks in helping students develop an analytical conceptualization of mathematics.


identifier: Karava, Panagiota  (2008) Airflow prediction in buildings for natural ventilation design : wind tunnel measurements and simulation.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Natural/hybrid ventilation systems with motorized operable windows, designed and controlled to utilize the potential for cross-ventilation, represent an area of significant interest in sustainable building design as they can substantially reduce energy consumption for cooling and ventilation. Presently, there is a need for accurate prediction models that can contribute to the improvement of indoor environmental quality and energy performance of buildings, and the increased use of low energy, naturally driven cooling systems. In this regard, the present research aims to enhance airflow prediction accuracy for natural ventilation design of buildings considering advanced experimental and simulation methods.  The study considers a Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel (BLWT) approach to investigate the wind-induced driving forces and ventilation flow rates in various building models subject to cross-ventilation. The Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique was used for the first time to evaluate accurately the air velocity field for various cross-ventilation configurations. Detailed measurements were performed to determine mean and fluctuating internal pressures since they affect airflow prediction, occupants' thermal comfort, as well as cladding and structural wind load design of buildings with operable windows. PIV data for the inflow velocity were compared with those by using conventional techniques (e.g., hot-film anemometry) and results show differences, between the two methods, up to a factor of 2.7. This clearly indicates that accuracy can be enhanced with carefully conducted PIV experiments. The study provides guidelines for implementation of cross-ventilation in design practice. These guidelines were developed on the basis of parametric experimental investigations, which quantify the impact of relative inlet-to-outlet size and location on ventilation airflow rates and thermal comfort of building occupants.  The study develops a novel simulation methodology combined with a sensitivity analysis focused on modelling issues, such as the impact of zoning assumptions, to predict the envelope pressures and related air-exchange rates in buildings due to wind, stack, and mechanical system effects. An integrated simulation tool (ESP-r) was used to model the airflow/energy interactions in an existing high-rise residential building, and simulation results agree well with monitoring data.


identifier: Alturkistani, Arslan Z. M. Abed  (2007) Large scale experimental investigation of the relative drying capacity of building envelope panels of various configurations.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Building envelope performance can be predicted through field investigation, laboratory investigation, modeling, or a combination of these. Large scale testing in the laboratory has been limited because of cost, but it is important in validating mathematical or empirical models since the impact of different variables on the envelope performance can be studied as other variables can be readily and reliably kept constant. In the context of a research project in collaboration with nine companies, three universities and the government, a two-story test hut, with overall dimensions of 16 ft 8 inches in length, 12 ft 5 inches in width, and 19 ft 11�$1�