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The Development And Validation Of A Sentence-Completion Method: A Semi-Structured Projective Technique Designed For Personality Study, Esdon N. Bacchus

Dissertations

Problem. There are very few objective instruments available for use in the psychological diagnosis of emotional impairment at the elementary-school level. The determination of emotional impairment has often been based on clinical judgment and subjectivity. In addition, psychological instruments have been attacked from the standpoint of reliability and validity. Major concerns relate to the seriousness of misclassification and the limited success-rate of rehabilitation efforts. The sentence-completion method is popularly used by clinicians. However, the available incomplete-sentence blanks used at the elementary-school level rely almost entirely on face validity. Public Legislation 94-142 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 specifically require that …

Effects Of Electromagnetic Fields On The Visually Evoked Response In The Visual Cortex, Arni Holm

Dissertations

Problem. This study sought to determine if electromagnetic fields affect the visually evoked response of the visual cortex. From the fact that nerve impulses are propagated by the motions of electrically charged ions, the question arose whether the presence of an external electromagnetic field might affect either the propagation of nerve impulses traveling through the optical nerve pathway or the functioning of the visual cortex itself.

Method. Evoked responses were produced in the visual cortex of cats by visual stimulation (light flashes). Surface electrodes, located at the visual cortex (and connected to a preamplifier and an oscilloscope) detectedthe evoked responses …

A Comparative Study Of Critical Thinking Skills, Dogmatism And American College Testing Program Scores Of Seventh-Day Adventist College Freshmen Graduated From Church Related And Public Secondary Schools, Elizabeth May Wilkins

Dissertations

Problem. Development of critical thinking skills is commonly accepted as a desirable outcome of secondary education. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has also accepted this as one of the goals for its educational system. It was the purpose of the present study to compare critical thinking skills developed in Seventh-day Adventist young people in Seventh-day Adventist boarding academies, Seventh-day Adventist day academies, and public high schools. Since earlier studies have shown critical thinking to be negatively correlated with dogmatism and positively correlated with intelligence, both dogmatism and intelligence were included as variables in the study.

Method. Three hundred and twelve …

Assessing The Social-Psychological Interior Of The Family : An Empirical Basis For The Study Of Family Functions, John Edward Rodgers

Dissertations

Problem. Although the family has been the subject of continued research over the years, recently interest in family theory and family therapy has increased. According to contemporary studies, there is a lack of scientific information about family life relevant to the needs of those working in the area of helping people relate to one another as a family. The purpose of this study was to give an empirical test to the eight hypothesized family functions as identified by Reichert (1978).

Method. An instrument, the Family Functions Scale (FFS), was developed to assess some of the activities and services in which …

Albert Bandura And Ellen G. White: A Comparative Study Of Their Concepts Of Behavior Modification Through Modeling, Miriam S. Tumangday

Dissertations

Problem. One of the major concerns in education today is the improvement of behavior. Over the years various strategies have been proposed to modify human conduct. A careful review of these theories shows many similarities and divergences. Albert Bandura and Ellen G. White, two proponents from different eras and with widely disparate cultural and intellectual heritage, have strongly recommended modeling or example as the major factor in shaping human behavior. The present study sought to determine what, if any, similarities or differences exist in their modeling concepts.

Procedure. This investigation is a descriptive analytical study concerned with concepts …

Selected Characteristics Of Children Referred For Psychiatric Evaluation, Rebecca Louise Pigott

Dissertations

Problem

Behavior-problem children constitute a main concern in the field of education today. The ability to recognize when the needs of the individual student call for procedures beyond the scope of the school is a professional necessity. The purpose of this research was to investigate whether students with school-related problems referred for psychiatric evaluation can be distinguished by a set of selected characteristics.

Method

Using multiple-discriminant analysis, students who had been referred for psychiatric evaluation were compared with students not referred for psychiatric evaluation on such criteria as teacher-pupil rating, as measured by Burks' Behavior Rating Scales; self-concept as …

A Structural-Functional Approach To Attitudes : Development And Application Of A Theoretical Framework, Alberto Mario Dos Santos

Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to present a theoretical framework for the concept of attitude and to examine the attitudes of selected subjects within this frame of reference. It was hoped that the results would clarify the concept of "attitude” and that they would provide solutions for problems in education.

Method. A theoretical framework which consisted of sixteen propositions dealing with organization, structure, function, and change of attitudes was presented as the frame of reference. The 180 subjects who responded to the questionnaire that was prepared for this study were selected f±om the student body of Andrews University, …

A Psychological Profile Analysis Of Selected Employees Of The Indiana Department Of Correction, Stanley Kent Showalter

Dissertations

Problem. The personality of employees is a vital key to understanding and improving the present correctional system. It was the purpose of the present study to assess, describe, and analyze a selected group of state correctional employees.

Method. The Bipolar Psychological Inventory and several demographic questions were used in assessing the personality of correctional employees and inmates. Cattell's Coefficient of Pattern Similarity (r_p) was employed to measure and analyze several characteristics of correctional employee sub-groups. Three hundred sixty-three employees and four hundred forty-eight inmates were studied.

Results. Among the most important results obtained were indications of significant relationships …