Digital Commons Network^™

Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis) Ecology And Demography In The North Dakota Badlands, Jerry J. Feist

Theses and Dissertations

The bighorn sheep (Oyis canadensis califomiana) in the North Dakota Badlands were studied in an effort to obtain baseline ecological data and examine the effects of human disturbance (primarily oil development) on their ranges, habitat use, movements and reproductive performance. The study was conducted from May and April, 1992 and 1993, respectively, through December of each year. Additionally, the summer of 1994 was used to complete habitat classification in the field.

Eight bighorn ewes were captured by helicopter and net-gun in each of 2 primary study areas (one highly impacted by oil development and the other less impacted) and fitted …

Mission Statements In Decision Making In Doctoral-Granting Universities: Views Of Administrators And State Governing Board Members, Stacie S. Varnson

Theses and Dissertations

Although most organizations have a statement of purpose, often referred to as a mission statement, little empirical research exists to demonstrate how these statements are used in the decision-making process. Also, although some have proposed lists of key elements to be included in a mission statement for optimal usefulness, very little research exists that tests specific elements for their usefulness. The purpose of this research was to examine how administrators use mission statements in decision making and the effect of content of the statement on usefulness.

The research population consisted of presidents and vice-presidents of eight upper-midwestern doctoral-granting public universities, …

Feeding Method And Maternal-Infant Bonding At One Month Postpartum, Yvonne M. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

Bonding is an important health outcome for mothers and infants during the postpartum period. The method of feeding an infant, whether by breast or bottle, provides variation in opportunities for frequency and duration of maternal-infant interaction that is thought to be necessary for the bonding to occur. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a difference in bonding at six weeks postpartum among mothers who breast-fed, combined breast and bottle-feedings or bottle-fed. Pregnant women of al ages including those who were less than 18 years and married were invited to participated during the third trimester of …

The Relation Between The Writing System And The Use Of Metaphor In English And Chinese, Kang Yuen Ma

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents evidence that there is a positive correlation between the rich visual elements in the Chinese writing system and its users' frequent use of visual imagery (specifically 'image-mappings') in composing metaphors and naming objects. In early 1997, Chinese and English questionnaires were distributed to Chine-speakers and English-speakers in the USA and Hong Kong, in which they were requested to compose twenty novel metaphors with given words and to name three rocks given the rocks' descriptions and drawings. Statistical findings from the 335 questionnaires returned show that among all participants, those who answered their questionnaires in Chinese, those who …

The Metropolitan Theatre In Grand Forks, North Dakota: The Years Of Decline, 1911-1933, John M. Bell

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Tus Gene Divergense In The Enterobacteriaceae, Andrew F. Nilles

Theses and Dissertations

The Tus protein binds to nucleotide sequences called Ter sites to form protein-DNA complexes that arrest DNA replication in the terminus region of the E. coli chromosome. To determine if other members of the family Enterobacteriaceae also contain proteins that bind Ter sites, we tested cell extracts of Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella ozaenae, Yersinia enterocolitica, Proteus mirabilis, and Serratia marcescens for Tcr-binding activity. The results indicate that all these bacteria have proteins that bind specifically to Ter sites. Using primers derived from the E. coli tus gene sequence, we amplified by PCR a DNA segment of the appropriate size from all …

Frontal Lobe Deficits In Domestic Violence Offenders, Margaret Donovan Westby

Theses and Dissertations

Functional frontal-lobe deficits were examined in 38 male batterers and 38 male non-batterers matched on age and education level. Dependent measures that examine frontal-lobe deficits including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Stroop Test, and Trails B were used. The Crossing-off Test (a reaction time measure), the Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (SMAST), and the WAIS-R vocabulary subtest were used as moderator variables. Batterers scored lower on the vocabulary subtest and higher on the SMAST than did control participants. Controlling for vocabulary ability and SMAST scores, compared to controls, batterers took significantly longer to complete Trails B. However, the groups did …

Processing Strategies And Recall Performance For Narrative Passages And Word Lists Of Negative And Neutral Affective Valence In Depression, Lora L. Sloan

Theses and Dissertations

Depressed individuals have been found to exhibit memory deficits on tasks that require effortful processing. They have also been found to remember negative materials better than their nondepressed cohorts. While these findings are well-documented, there have been few studies designed to examine how and why these differences in recall occur. The present study examined prose passage and word list recall in depressed and nondepressed college students. Processing times and structure of recall were also examined to assist in determining how material was processed and remembered. Half of the passages and word lists utilized were of negative affective valence and half …

An Interview Study Of Native American Philosophical Foundations In Education, Vivian Delgado

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to focus on oral Native American world views or philosophies. Native world views and philosophies and epistemology deal with the foundation of knowledge of and about aboriginal peoples. In most cases oral traditions are thousands of years old and have maintained their philosophical value. Prior to the establishment of Western education, narratives among indigenous people were used to teach and educate in the most formal sense. Today it serves as a credible and authentic source in Native American education and is weighted with the same importance that it has always had. The re-discovery of …

The Effects Of Attraction To Sexual Aggression: History Of Self-Reported Sexually Aggressive Behavior And Social Disinhibition On The Expression Of Sexually Aggressive Behavior In The Laboratory, Margo R. Norton

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual aggression, defined as an attempt, successful or unsuccessful, to coerce another into sexual acts (Malamuth, Sockloskic, Koss & Tanaka, 1991) may be thought of as a continuum of behaviors, which, at one extreme, is forcible rape. The importance of examining this entire set of related behaviors, and their “cultural normality”, according to feminist and sociocultural theorists has, in recent years, been highlighted in the literature (Burt, 1980; Malamuth, 1986; Malamuth & Dean, 1991). It has also been considered vital to examine the role that situational disinhibitors (i.c., alcohol/drug intoxication, aggressive pornography, momentary anger, the observed behavior of others) play …

Political Culture On The Northern Plains : North Dakota And The Nonpartisan Experience, Thomas P. Shilts

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the history of North Dakota during the era of the Nonpartisan League (roughly 1915 through 1921). A significant body of research on the League exists, but no study has yet specifically addressed itself to exploring the political culture of the League and of its opponents in such a way that the full nature of the Nonpartisan "revolt" is made clear. The League was indeed the result of farmers’ perception of economic exploitation at the hands of big business, yet it was more basically a proactive struggle for inclusion. While employing elements of agrarian ideology, the League was …

Costume Designes For Hamlet: A High School Production, Ardith Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

This Thesis is an exploration of the costume design approach to the Red River High School production of Hamlet. presented February 8-11, 1996. Chapter one discusses the differences in production procedures experienced between the author's prior involvement with college and community theatres and those encountered for this high school theatre production, the author's understanding of the director's concept, the author's script analysis, and the development of the costume design concept.

Chapter two examines the author's costume design philosophy, theory behind costume choices as well as costume descriptions and their execution, and technical problems encountered.

Chapter three is an evaluation of …

Effects Of Expert Statement Validity Assessment Testimony On Lay Evaluations Of Children's Statements, Marcus Choi Tye

Theses and Dissertations

Research on memory and suggestibility in children continues to demonstrate circumstances under which children may not give accurate accounts of important events. In investigating and treating child sexual abuse, it is important to determine what has happened. Statement Validity Assessment is a witness credibility assessment technique developed by Udo Undeutsch which focuses on the reality of individual statements. It involves a special open-ended investigative interview, Criteria-Based Content Analysis, which searches for the presence of characteristics which indicate that a statement is based on an experienced event, and a Validity Checklist which examines alternate hypotheses. This technique has been widely used …

Four Girls Respond To Young Adult Horror Fiction, Betty Silliman

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study provides insight into the separate reading experience of four adolescent girls as each engaged in the reading and discussion of a popular, self-selected young adult horror novel. The analysis and interpretation of data focused on the appeal of texts and the sociological implications of the reading experience. While questions regarding the appeal of young adult horror fiction grew from work with adolescent female horror readers, the social dimension of the inquiry stemmed from concerns of critical literacy theorists with regard to the ideological content of texts and its potential to shape readers into accepting dominant views.

Data …

Reversing Language Shift: Can Kwak'wala Be Revived?, Stan J. Anonby

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis deals with the subject of reversing language shift, which comes under the rubric of language rivival. The particular situation and problems encountered by the endangered Kwak'wala language will be described in chapter one. Each community in which the language is spoken will be examined and individual language revival efforts will be discussed. The second chapter will look at different methods and procedures used in various language projects thoughout the world. In particular, it will examine some language projects which are (or were ) in a similar situation to Kwak'wala. It will also come to some conclusions regarding what …

An Ac Susceptometer Design And Magnetic Susceptibility Measurements On Nickel Wire, Kazuaki Kamimura

Theses and Dissertations

It is found from the literature that magnetic susceptibility data on nickel (Ni) do not come from direct measurements. Most of the magnetic susceptibility data of Ni come from the calculation of the slope of magnetic moment vs. temperature curves, and the magnetic moment data are measured in air. In modem research, film samples are used very often. Many of metal films are easily oxidized. Oxidation may change the magnetic properties of the magnetic films. To avoid oxidation, magnetic susceptibility measurements should be carried out in high vacuum For this reason we have designed an ac susceptometer which can be …

Literacy Development: Teacher/Student Interaction In A Whole Language Classroom, Nadine C. Tepper

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study on literacy development within a whole language classroom focuses on the reading and writing experiences of five second grade students. The classroom teacher was also a participant in the study and practiced various whole language teaching methods in the teaching of reading and writing. The data gathered for this study were descriptive fieldnotes developed from the observations, in-depth interviews of the participants, documents from the site, and writing samples.

The portraits of the students described specific learning behaviors and styles that came forth as they read books and wrote stories in journals. The portraits also defined the …

A Showcase Of Sanford Meisner's Acting Theory: An Experimentation, Marcie K. Gallagher

Theses and Dissertations

Sanford Meisner's theories of acting are based upon his belief thaf good acting is defined by "living truthfully under imaginary' circumstances" (Meisner 15). However, it seems that his theories are more appropriately applied to realistic texts. In my project I explored the use of Meisner's acting techniques in a non-realistic text, Fickv Stingers, written by Eve Lewis, which 1 directed in a rehearsal process with an ensemble of four actors. This work resulted in a showcase of our work together on February 23, and 24, 1997. In Lewis' play she examines the power relations which encompass the issue of rape. …

A Comparison Of Cognitive Moral Reasoning Among Selected Ncaa Division Ii Intercollegiate Coaches And Athletes, Richard Allan Goeb

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the cognitive moral reasoning of NCAv5 Division II coaches and athletes. The Hahm-Beller Values Choice Inventory (HBVCI) (Hahm, Beller, & Stoll, 1989) was used to assess the perceived responses of collegiate coaches and athletes in moral situations using sport scenarios. Specific comparisons included athletes and coaches, female and male athletes, coaches of female and male sports, individual and team sports among athletes, and individual and team sports among coaches. Secondary research was conducted to compare differences among women’s basketball, women's track, men’s basketball, and men's wrestling.

Twenty-eight sport teams consisting of 56 …

Effects Of A Visual-Gestural Cuing System On The Reduction Of Phonological Processes In Children With Down Syndrome And Low Speech Intelligibility, Jennifer Barthel

Theses and Dissertations

Down syndrome, or Trisomy 21, is an autosomal dominant chromosomal aberration associated with an extra twenty-first chromosome. Down syndrome causes a variety of physical and cognitive characteristics that make speech and language problems probable Phonology is one such area in which disorders commonly occur for this population As young children acquire the adult sound system, they commonly simplify their productions through the use of phonological processes. Children with Down syndrome use phonological processes for a longer period of time than the typically developing child, often rendering their speech unintelligible.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy …

Anatomy Of A Gang Suppression Unit: The Social Construction Of An Organizational Response To Gang Problems, Carol A. Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the institutional response of a mid-sized, Midwestern police department, to a perceived growing problem with youth gang activity. More specifically, this thesis analyzes both individual and organizational level variables which provide justification for the creation and existence of a Gang Suppression Unit. The evolution of the Gang Suppression Unit is traced from both formal and informal constructions of a gang problem, from the perspective of the police.

Data collection consisted of 250 hours of participant observation with both uniformed patrol officers and members of the Gang Suppression Unit, from the Cedar Springs Police Department, as well as …

Children's Choice In An Elementary School Classroom: Ownership In The Making, Marci Miller Glessner

Theses and Dissertations

Current educational theory and practice emphasize the importance of children's ownership in the learning process. Ownership evolves from a combination of authentic classroom experiences and student-made choices. Providing students with choices in learning may appear to be a simple task; yet, many educators find it to be daunting. This qualitative study describes one elementary literacy environment and the perception of choice as experienced by the students and the classroom teacher.

The data for this study were collected from a sixth-grade classroom using a fourtiered approach including: classroom observations, student interviews, formal and informal teacher interviews, and the collection of classroom …

A Comparison Of Scores For Adults With Aphasia On The Western Aphasia Battery And Ratings On The Functional Assessment Of Communcation Skills For Adults, Sarah Ranum-Ravnaas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine for adults with aphasia the relationship between scores on the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) and ratings on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skids for Adults (ASHA FACS).

Sixteen subjects who had previously incurred a left cerebral vascular accident participated in this study including seven adults with nonfluent aphasia and nine adults with fluent aphasia. Each subject was administered the WAB and rated on the ASHA FACS within a two week period in 1997. Subjects ranged in jage from 60 to 91 years with a mean age of 78.44 years. …

Effect Of Altitude On Short Term Memory, Cathy J. Bartholomew

Theses and Dissertations

Previous work has documented that cognitive deficits were observed in subjects tested at high altitudes (15,000 ft to 25,000 ft). Controversy remains as to whether cognitive deficits are observed at altitudes below 15,000 ft. The present study focused on this controversy, looking at the effects of moderate altitudes, 12,500 ft and 15,000 ft, on short term memory and compared them to a control altitude of 2,000 ft. Subjects were 72 students and instructors from the Department of Aviation Sciences at the University of North Dakota. After a series of pretests, including the Vocabulary Subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised, …

Breastfeeding Beliefs, Attitiudes, And Experiences Of Rural Native American Women, Joanne Blue

Theses and Dissertations

Breastfeeding has long been recognized as the preferred method of feeding. There is an increasing awareness of the need to return to traditions and values such as breastfeeding, which has been part of the Indian culture in the past. The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study was to determine the attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of breastfeeding among rural Native American women. Ajzen and Fishbein's (1080) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Leininger’s theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality (1991) guided this study.

This study addressed the following questions: 1) What are the attitudes, beliefs and experiences of native American …

Student Teaching From A Unique Perspective: Portraits Of Three Student Teachers With Learning Disabilities, Linda M. Holdman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of student teachers with learning disabilities to ascertain if they felt an effect of that disability on their teaching performance. Three student teachers with documented learning disabilities were studied for the duration of a one-semester teaching assignment. The participants, one male and two females, were from different state universities within a two-state region. A profile of each participant was developed from the data and included: descriptive background information; experiences through elementary and secondary school years, college years, and student teaching; and their future plans.

Qualitative research methodology was used in …

Sexual Coercion: Factors Associated With Women's Reported Experience Of Verbal Coercion, Sandra Jean Caraway

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Distribution And Success Of Galling Insects On Upland Willow (Salix Humilis) In Itasca State Park, Minnesota, Erik J. Harris

Theses and Dissertations

A comparison was made of the distribution of six galling insects on varying-sized shoots and different ages of their host plant, Salix humilis. Survivorship of the most numerous galler, Iteyomia salicifolia, was used to determine if host use patterns were correlated with galler success. In northern Minnesota, all six gallers were non-randomly distributed among shoots of different length; each occurred at greater numbers than expected on the longest shoots. Two of the six gallers were at higher densities on juvenile ramets of S. humilis, than on mature ones. Densities did not vary between juvenile and mature clones.

A comparison was …

Burned Sugar Pie: Women's Cultures In The Literature Of Food, Traci Marie Kelly

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Differences In Reading Comprehension Between Learning Disabled And Non-Learning Disabled College Students On The Nelson-Denny Reading Test As Related To Question And Length Of Test, Heidi K. Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the effects of unlimited time on the ability of college students with learning disabilities (LD) and without learning disabilities (NLD) to complete the comprehension subtest of the Nelson-Denny Reading Test (NDRT), which under standard instructions is timed. Time effects were examined with relationship to question type (literal vs. implicit), total number correct, and reading time. The subjects were 12 NLD and 10 LD college, all attending the University of North Dakota. Computerized versions of the NDRT, Forms G and H recorded subjects’ reading rates, response times to questions, and question answers. The two tests were randomized …