code: private boolean getBooleanValue(String strVal, boolean defaultValue) {
  
  		boolean result = defaultValue;
  		if (strVal != null) {
  			result = Boolean.parseBoolean(strVal);
  		}
  
  		return result;
  	}
docs: Returns the boolean value of the string passed in parameter or the
  default value if the string is null
  
  @param strVal
  the string value
  @param defaultValue
  the default value
  @return the boolean value of the string passed in parameter or the
  default value if the string is null