Digital Commons Network^™

Calibration Of Clinical Instruction In A Dental Hygiene Program, Barbara L. Bennett

Masters Theses

Continuous quality improvement training was used to improve intrarater and interrater reliability in subgingival calculus detection among the faculty of Parkland College Dental Hygiene program. Clinical trials compared the experimental group to the control group in detection of subgingival calculus on dental mannequins and patients before and after training using group standards, consensus, and feedback. Intrarater reliability was improved to a significant level and interrater reliability improved although not at a statistically significant level. Surveys distributed at the onset and end of the training examined faculty attitudes about clinical evaluation, consistency, and instruction.

Perceptual Ratings Regarding Individuals With High Functioning Autism, Melanie A. Manhart

Masters Theses

A perceptual rating scale evaluating appropriateness/inappropriateness of eight communicative behaviors was designed to determine if the general population perceives adult individuals with high functioning autism as different. In addition, the rating scale results were examined to determine which of the eight communicative characteristics were perceived as most different. The results were also evaluated to determine if a rating difference between genders existed.

The subjects consisted of 453 college students who viewed videotaped interviews with five individuals, two considered "normal" and three diagnosed with high functioning autism who had received varying levels of remediation. After viewing each interview, subjects rated the …

Development Of A Physical Ability Test For Screening Mental Health Technician Trainee Candidates, Brett Andrew Dolezal

Masters Theses

This study was designed to establish a valid physical ability test for use by the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities to screen job applicants for the position of Mental Health Technician Trainee. Physical ability tests to determine physical qualifications for jobs requiring substantial physical effort are permitted under current Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines if the required physical standards are job related and consistent with business necessity. In order to determine the physical demands encountered by Mental Health Technicians, a job analysis was conducted. The job analysis phase included: (i) …

The Use And Effectiveness Of Facilitated Communication For A Child With Autism, Danielle Gayton

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Division I And Division Ii Student-Athletes' Backgrounds, Time Demands And Perceptions Of Academics And Athletics, Denise Reifel

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Information And Physical Positioning On Attitudes Toward An Individual Who Is Nonspeaking And Physically Disabled, Paige M. Lepak

Masters Theses

This study investigated the effects of printed information and four physical positions in space on attitudes of individuals who are nondisabled toward a person who is nonspeaking with severe physical disabilities. Employing a 4 (positions in space) X 2 (presence/absence of information) factorial design, subjects were presented with four photographs depicting a male who is both physically disabled and nonspeaking having a communicative interaction with a male who is nondisabled. Subjects in Condition 1 viewed 4 photographs depicting the individual who is nonspeaking sitting in a chair; Condition 2 subjects viewed photographs of the individual sitting in a wheelchair; Condition …

Good Grief! Coping With Death And Dying In A Hospice Situation, Pegg Warnick

Masters Theses

The purpose of this qualitative study is to discover and examine the coping strategies concerning death and dying from the perspectives of hospice patients and hospice volunteers. A review of applicable literature, informal but structured interviews and participant observation are procedures for the study. The focus of the study lies in three areas: what are the internal attributes used to cope?; what are the external support systems used to cope? and, what are the adjustments in personal goals? Research for this study was patterned after Hegge's study (1991) who surveyed the coping strategies of the recently widowed elderly. The instruments …

The Effects Of Partner Training On Request Behaviors With An Aac User, Amy J. Fiala

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to examine the effects of partner training on request behaviors with an AAC user. A review of literature indicated that AAC users are often placed in respondent roles rather than initiator roles. Additionally, speaking individuals tend to dominate conversations over individuals who are nonspeaking. Such domination puts AAC users at risk for a loss of independence in communication of the basic communication interactions. Thus, inadequate social interaction skills are a common problem among AAC users. Utilizing communication partner training as an intervention target may serve to increase active participation in all areas of communication. The purpose …

A Review Of Alcoholism Typology And A Study Of Type I And Type Ii Alcoholism In A Treatment Sample, Kevin L. Elliott

Masters Theses

Matching alcoholics to appropriate intervention methods increases the likelihood of successful treatment. In order to better accomplish this, researchers have sought to identify distinct types of alcoholism. One promising approach is the Type I/Type II model of alcoholism. Type I alcoholism is characterized by a later onset and less severe social complications. It seems to be inherited from either natural parent and can affect children of either sex; it seldom occurs without the presence of a stressful environment. Type II alcoholism is distinguished by early onset and greater severity of consequences. It appears to be inherited only from father to …