Mahidol University International College

About: Mahidol University International College is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Tourism & Corporate governance. The organization has 240 authors who have published 485 publications receiving 6095 citations.

The Value of Feedback and Conferencing in the Process Approach to Writing for Filipino and Thai Students in Higher Education: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract: Using two groups of university students who enrolled in English 102, one from the Philippines and one from Thailand, this study looked into the role feedback and conferencing played in the process writing approach of the respondents. This study used a descriptive-qualitative causal design, adopting Dana Ferris’ 1995 research in multiple-draft composition classrooms done at the California State University in Sacramento. To suit the specific needs of this study, Ferris’ questionnaire was modified. Survey results were tabulated and questions placed under ordinal categories were averaged using SPSS. Results were analyzed using Categorical Data Analysis (CDA).Other questions were dealt with using a qualitative survey data analysis, a process of systematically searching for and arranging the answers to open-ended questions. This study underscores four major findings. First, students both the quantitative and qualitative forms of assessment of their essays. Second, students preferred the process approach to writing, relying on the benefits the model promised them. Third, earlier drafts were found to have had positive influence on the succeeding drafts and the final copy. Lastly, this study demonstrates that revision is central in the improvement of every essay.

Halogen Bonding in (Z)-2-Iodocinnamaldehyde

Abstract: Based on the bulkiness of the iodine atom, a non-planar conformation was expected for the title compound. Instead, its molecular structure is planar, as experimentally determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction, and confirmed theoretically by DFT calculations on the single molecule and the halogen pair paired molecules, therefore ruling out crystal packing forces as a principal factor leading to planarity. Indeed, planarity is ascribed to the carbonyl double bond, as when this bond is saturated on forming the related alcohol derivative, the molecule loses planarity. The X-ray molecular structure shows an intermolecular separation between the iodine and the oxygen of the carbonyl shorter than the corresponding van der Waals distance suggesting a weak halogen bond interaction. DFT minimization of this 2-molecule arrangement shows the iodine--oxygen distance much shorter than that observed in the crystal interaction and confirming its stronger halogen bond nature. A trend between increasing I•••O(carbonyl) separation and decreasing C-I•••O(carbonyl) angle is demonstrated, further confirming the existence of a halogen bond.

Burmese sociocultural adjustment to Thai international programs: an analysis of the impact of historical revisionism

Abstract: This research explores the perception and experiences of 15 Burmese international students temporarily studying at two international colleges in suburban Bangkok, Thailand and compares their impressions of and reaction to history with 10 Thai students studying at the same international colleges. This ethnographic exploration of Burmese sociocultural adjustment to Thai international programs aims to clarify the historical causes of the present day tension through in-depth interviews of the affected student groups. An historical analysis of causation and the student response is necessary to understand the relationship between these neighboring countries.

Staggered Boards, Managerial Entrenchment, and Dividend Policy

Abstract: Motivated by agency theory, we explore the potential impact of managerial entrenchment through staggered boards on dividend policy. The evidence suggests that firms with staggered boards are more likely to pay dividends and pay them more generously than do those with unitary boards. We also show that the impact of staggered boards on dividend payouts is substantially stronger (as much as two to three times larger) than the effect of all other corporate governance provisions combined. Overall, the evidence is consistent with the notion that dividends help alleviate agency conflicts. Thus, firms more vulnerable to managerial entrenchment, i.e. firms with staggered board, rely more on dividends to mitigate agency costs. Aware of potential endogeneity, we demonstrate that staggered boards likely bring about, and are not merely associated with, larger dividend payouts. Our results are important as they show that certain governance provisions have considerably more influence than others on critical corporate activities such as dividend payout decisions.

Private-label branding and willingness to pay: evidence from an auction experiment

Abstract: The competitive pricing of private-label brands is a strategy used to gain a competitive advantage. Notwithstanding the introduction of many private-label brands – i.e. private-label brands with a name identical to that of a firm (own-name brands) and private-label brands with a name distinctive from that of a firm (other-name brands) – that compete with national brands, identifying equitable prices that reflect brand value remains difficult. This study aims to determine the appropriate price of private-label brands by measuring consumers’ willingness to pay. An experimental auction method measures ‘actual’ willingness to pay in a non-hypothetical setting. The study was conducted in Thailand, which has the lowest price discrepancy between national brands and private-label brands. The results show that the willingness of consumers to pay for both types of private-label brands is higher than that for un-branded products. However, there is no significant difference in the premium between own-name and...