Concordia University

About: Concordia University is a education organization based out in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Control theory & Population. The organization has 13565 authors who have published 31084 publications receiving 783525 citations. The organization is also known as: Sir George Williams University & Loyola College, Montreal.

Internal Control Weakness and Bank Loan Contracting: Evidence from SOX Section 404 Disclosures

Abstract: Using a sample of borrowing firms that disclosed internal control weaknesses (ICW) under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, this study compares various features of loan contracts between firms with ICW and those without ICW. Our results show the following. First, the loan spread is higher for ICW firms than for non-ICW firms by about 28 basis points, after controlling for other known determinants of loan contract terms. Second, firms with more severe, company-level ICW pay significantly higher loan rates than those with less severe, account-level ICW. Third, lenders impose tighter nonprice terms on firms with ICW than on those without ICW. Fourth, fewer lenders are attracted to loan contracts involving firms with ICW. Finally, our within-firm analyses show that banks increase loan rates charged to ICW firms after their disclosure of internal control problems and that banks reduce loan rates after firms remediate previously reported ICW.

Computer Anxiety in E-Learning: The Effect of Computer Self-Efficacy.

Abstract: It has been reported that as many as fifty percent of adults, including first-year University students, have some sort of computer-related phobia This report demonstrates that the use of computers still has some unpleasant side effects despite the Internet boom in the past decade Past research shows that computer anxiety influences how users perceive ease of use of an information system However, few have investigated the role of computer self-efficacy in mediating computer anxieties on perceived ease of use Therefore, in this study we base our contribution on the variables of computer self-efficacy and computer anxieties These two variables are believed to impact an individual’s use of computers and performance for computer-based tasks Anxiety has been argued to impact computer-based learning by affecting levels of self-efficacy anchored in social learning and outcome expectation theories Self-efficacy is determined by levels of anxiety such that reduced anxiety and increased experience improves performance indirectly by increasing levels of self-efficacy In this study, we investigate the influence of computer anxiety on perceived ease of use and the mediating effect of computer self-efficacy on this relationship, within an e-learning context A survey methodology approach was used in this study using 18 items for 3 constructs (perceived ease of use, anxiety, and self-efficacy) Survey data from 645 university students were analyzed The psychometric properties of the items and constructs were validated followed by the assessment of mediation of computer self efficacy Results from the use of a learning management system indicate that computer self-efficacy plays a significant role in mediating the impact of anxiety on perceived ease of use This role is observed by computer selfefficacy (1) reducing the strength and significance of the impact of anxiety on perceived ease of use and (2) having a strong and significant relationship with computer anxiety The findings demonstrate the importance of self-efficacy as a mediator between computer anxiety and perceived ease of use of a learning management system (LMS) With the continuous development of richer and more integrated interfaces, anxieties about learning to use the new interface and executing tasks effectively becomes of primary importance Limitations and suggestions for future research are elaborated

The Mediation Myth

Abstract: The mediation myth is the false belief that mediation is actually estimated in the typical mediation analysis. This myth is based on a trifecta of shortcomings: (1) the typical mediation study reli...