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The Effects Of A Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Intervention On Irrational Beliefs And Burnout Among Middle School Teachers In The State Of Iowa, Shirley Anderson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) bibliotherapy intervention on the level of burnout and irrational beliefs. This study specifically examined the impact of a REBT bibliotherapy intervention on middle school teachers' irrational beliefs and level of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment, using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey (Maslach, Jackson, & Schwab, 1986) and the Irrational Beliefs Test (Jones, 1968).

The subjects in this study consisted of 167 middle school teachers in the State of Iowa. These teachers taught sixth, seventh, or eighth grade or a combination of these …

Eating Disorders: Personal Perspectives, Suzanne D. Holmes-Bunde

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This paper explores, through case studies, the personal experiences of individuals with eating disorders and their thoughts on prevention. Chapter one includes a brief literature review and reference to a more extensive review of prevention programs, included in the appendix entitled "Primary Prevention Programs." Chapter two describes the process of this study and the women who participated. Chapter three is the exploration into the case studies of these women and their ideas on prevention. The last chapter addresses the interpretation and application of the information that these women provided me with, in regards to my ideas on prevention and how …

Assessing The Classification Accuracy Of Digitized National Aerial Photography Program Imagery: Comparison With Botanical Data, Mark Arthur Alexander

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The ability to acquire and use remotely sensed data has revolutionized large-scale ecological studies by reducing dependence on difficult and expensive field survey techniques for acquisition of land use and land cover data. Multispectral satellite imagery, typically from the Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS), Thematic Mapper (TM) and the SPOT High Resolution Visible (HRV) instruments, has proven particularly valuable in surveying and classifying vegetation cover (Frank & Thorn, 1985). Further studies have concluded that alpine vegetation communities and habitats can be mapped successfully by including the geomorphic parameters of elevation, slope, and incidence when classifying remotely sensed data.

This research analyzes …

Family Structure And Children's Academic Achievement : The Role Of Income And Parental Control, Jean M. Hoth

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this quantitative study is to examine the relationship between family structure and children's academic achievement, and to assess the roles of income and parental control in this relationship. The present study involves secondary analysis of data from the National Survey of Families and Households (Sweet & Bumpass, 1996) The National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) is a national random sample survey conducted in two waves that covers a wide variety of issues on American family life. This study examines data gathered from the second wave of this data set. The total sample for the present research …

The Prolonged Effects Of Acute Stretching On Vertical Jump, Robert R. Hammill

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Stretching has been shown to reduce maximal power in human subjects after an acute stretching protocol. Twenty-two college-aged males performed acute static stretches for the lower extremities for approximately 14 minutes (experimental group) or sat quietly for 15 minutes (control group). Subjects received both treatments in a random order on separate evenings. Following the treatment protocol (stretch or no-stretch) the subjects performed a series of vertical jumps at 5-minute time intervals. Two trials were allowed at each data collection period. The results indicate that acute stretching has no significant effect on vertical jump, F(6,126) = 0.01, p >0.92, nor is …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of A Sexual Assault Curriculum At The University Of Northern Iowa, Faith Hope Sonksen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to assess university students' attitudes toward rape and rape mythology and to measure any impact on these attitudes following exposure to a rape/sexual assault awareness curriculum unit. It was hypothesized that students attending the rape/sexual assault unit would demonstrate a statistically significant difference in their rape/sexual assault awareness attitudes and beliefs after taking a sexual assault program, and there would be a statistically significant difference according to gender.

The study sample consisted of 46 (28 male, 18 female) physical education major students enrolled in sections of 420:016, Self-Defense Class at UNI. The mean age …

Photodecomposition Of Crystal Violet Dye In Water Solution And Suspensions Of Metal Oxides, Tatiana Yurievna Zakharian

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Photodecomposition and photodecolorization of crystal violet dye were studied in water solution, hydrogen peroxide solution and suspensions of metal oxides. Spectroscopic evidence for the formation of methylated pararosanilines and demethylated derivatives of Michler's ketone as the reaction intermediates was obtained for the photodecomposition of crystal violet in water solution. The mechanism of formation of the intermediates was discussed in terms of charges of individual atoms calculated using Spartan software.

Photooxidation of crystal violet was shown to occur faster in hydrogen peroxide solution due to the higher oxidation potential of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. A mechanism similar to photooxidation in …

Load Optimization On The Wingate Anaerobic Test With College-Aged Females, Corey Steven Crane

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study was to determine which resistance loads would elicit maximal values of peak power output (PP), mean power output (MP) and fatigue index (FI) of college-age females. A second purpose was to examine the predictability of certain anthropometric and performance variables on the optimal load used for the Wingate Anaerobic Test. Twenty-one female volunteers, aged 20-27 years, performed a 10-second maximal cranking test, an area of muscle mass assessment of the thigh as well as three 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Power Tests (WAT) using loads of 75, 90 and 105 g/kg. The variables PP (W and W …

The Relationship Between Childhood Sexual Abuse And Revictimization In Adulthood Among Uni College Students, Kristine R. Wroblewski

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between childhood sexual abuse and adult revictimization. Two hypotheses were examined. It was hypothesized that childhood victims of sexual abuse were more likely to be revictimized as adults. It was also hypothesized that there would be significant differences in demographic and psychosocial correlates between victims of childhood sexual abuse and those who did not report childhood sexual abuse.

The Health and Safety Survey was administered to 589 students at the University of Northern Iowa. There were 398 female respondents and 182 male respondents. The Health and Safety …

The Effectiveness Of Self-Monitoring For A Preschooler With Aggressive Behaviors, Nicole Fay Kimball

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The study was designed to examine the effectiveness of self-monitoring as an intervention for a preschooler with aggressive behaviors. It specifically looked at treatment effects, parent and teacher evaluations of self-monitoring as a technique, the user-friendliness of self-monitoring, and adult time required to implement the intervention. The subject was Darin, a preschool-aged boy who attended a daycare affiliated with a Midwestern laboratory school. Other subjects included Darin's mother, his two main teachers at the daycare, and multiple aides at the daycare. Darin demonstrated aggressive acts at a high frequency in both the home and school settings. A self-monitoring intervention was …

Effects Of External Rewards On Elementary Students' Intrinsic Motivation To Read And Reading Achievement : An Examination Of A Reading Incentive Program, Jennifer Deann Jacobson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study was designed to examine the effects of external rewards on students' intrinsic motivation to read and reading achievement. It specifically looked at how a reading incentive program affects students' motivational beliefs, time spent in out-of-school reading, and reading achievement. Participants included 83 fourth and fifth grade students from a rural elementary school in Midwestern Iowa. Participants were divided into three groups based on time spent in out-of-school reading before the incentive program was implemented. Specifically, the three groups were: high. middle, and low intrinsic reading groups. The dependent variables in this study included time spent in out-of school …

Hong Kong Higher Education In Transition: The Academic Community's Perception At The Time Of 1997 Retrocession, Jiyu Yang

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the perceptions of selected faculty and academic administrators of the 1997 retrocession of Hong Kong to China with respect to the dual challenge of Hong Kong higher education assisting with the modernization of socialist Mainland China while maintaining its function supporting the capitalist system in Hong Kong. Twenty-five selected faculty and academic administrators in two representative universities of Hong Kong were interviewed at the eve of the retrocession. Four related themes were investigated in the interviews: the implications of “one country, two systems,” the ability of the Hong Kong higher education system …

A Model For Production Scheduling And Sequencing Using Constraints Management And Genetic Algorithm, Ahmad Nadeem Choudhry

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Production planning and control (PP&C) are among the most critical activities in manufacturing. Proper use of PP&C methods can give organizations a competitive advantage in the global economy. The expected results of this research will allow manufacturing organizations to maximize the effectiveness of PP&C methods, thereby improving their competitive position in the global economy.

This research was an extension of a previous unpublished study, which investigated the PP&C methods being used at a midwestern manufacturer of agricultural equipment (MMAE). The current research study identified the constraints inherent in the production planning and control system and then developed and validated a …

An Analysis Of Manufacturing Facility Characteristics And Four-Year Manufacturing Engineering Technology Competencies For Abet Accredited Programs In North Carolina, Richard Eugene Temple

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of correlation between four-year ABET/MET competencies and company demographics of plant location and plant size and usage of manufacturing technologies, and to determine the overall rating per SIC classification of validated MET competencies. This purpose is reflective of the literature, which indicated that there is a need for further development of manufacturing engineering technology competencies to meet the industry needs of a region or state.

A questionnaire was used to collect data. It was mailed to 440 randomly selected practicing manufacturing engineers in North Carolina. The sample size was 50. …

Intervention Selection For Students With Asperger's Disorder, Tracy Lynn Gappa

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The diagnosis of Asperger's Disorder (AsD) is a relatively recent possibility. Although first described in 1944, AsD was not recognized until its inclusion in the Fourth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1994. Due to the newness of the disorder and because of a lack of a consensual definition, there is considerable confusion among researchers in this field. For those children with characteristics of AsD, the confusion has resulted in misdiagnosis and, more importantly, inappropriate interventions. Individuals with AsD have deficits in several areas that impair their ability to function normally in the educational environment, …

Similarities In Aggression, Inattention/Hyperactivity, Depression, And Anxiety Between Friends And Nonfriends, Kristin A. Clark

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Friendship similarities on behavioral and psychopathological characteristics have been proposed as being risk factors for maladaptive development, yet these similarities have not been thoroughly examined. The purpose of the present study was to examine the similarities within children's friendships. It was expected that friends would be more similar than nonfriends on aggression, inattention/hyperactivity, depression, and anxiety. Friendship similarities should also differ across grades, with similarity decreasing as grade increases, and across gender, with boys' friendships more similar on depression and anxiety and girls' friendships more similar on aggression and inattention/hyperactivity.

Two hundred thirty-four 4th through 9th grade students completed self-report …

The Effect Of Heat On Fingertip Sensitivity Of Meat Processing Workers, Brian James Finder

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Current research indicates that acute non-freezing cold exposure elicits short-term performance problems; namely reduced upper extremity temperature, blood flow, tactile sensitivity, and dexterity. However, various animal-related studies indicate that humans are at increased risk of incurring semi-permanent upper extremity nervous system dysfunction as a result of repeated cold exposure.

The purpose of this research was to examine various factors that may contribute to hand/arm nervous system impairment of individuals who work in a refrigerated meat-processing environment. The methodology used was primarily the Experimental Method and from studies conducted by other researchers, was driven by the following questions:

(1) How would …

Examining The Impact Of Internet Electronic Commerce On Commercial Organizations In Saudi Arabia, Fahad Abdullah Alyabis

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Saudi Arabia is undergoing tremendous change in both infrastructure and economics, which is helping the Internet to flourish in the region. Although growth of electronic commerce (EC) is slow, it is becoming increasingly global. Businesses worldwide are engaging in this commercial evolution.

The purpose of this study was to provide consumers and commercial organizations in Saudi Arabia with practical information regarding electronic commerce. It attempted to explore the perspectives of Internet users, information technology (IT) professionals, business owners, and managers of online businesses in Saudi Arabia.

Two survey instruments were used to gather data for this study. The first survey …

A Structure-Model For The Hamlet-Tradition, Christopher Scott Chiron

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The "hero-as-fool" structure-model for the Hamlet-story proposed by William F. Hansen is modified into an "Amlethan" structure-model with five major elements: ( 1) the Usurpation; (2) the First Test (of the Maiden); (3) the Second Test (of the Mother); (4) the Third Test (of the Journey); and (5) the Revenge. The first and last elements emphasize the "avenging son" aspect of the story whereas the middle three elements emphasize the "hero-as-fool" aspect. The Amlethan structure-model is then re-applied to the two "essential" texts in the tradition, Saxo Grammaticus' narrative of Amleth (c. 1200) and William Shakespeare's play Hamlet (c. 1600). …

Home-School Collaboration: A Case Study, Sarah C. Ferguson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

Hone Sludge Metal As An Alternative Partial Substitute Of Sand In Concrete, Cynthia Garcia-Guillen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Many metal industries in Iowa and throughout the United States produce a hone sludge, a product of the cutting and polishing metal work process. This sludge is listed by the EPA as a hazardous waste. The disposal of this sludge has become an enormous burden to the manufacturer in terms of time, storage, transportation, and disposal costs.

The purpose of this study is to determine the performance characteristics of using hone sludge (byproduct of the metal industry) as a partial substitute of fine aggregate (sand) in concrete. This would reduce the disposal cost of the sludge and reduce hazardous releases …

An Exploration Of Social Withdrawal In Adolescence, Ryan Lee Channel

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Social withdrawal is most frequently described in the literature as a form of social maladjustment characterized by a lack of prosocial and cooperative behaviors combined with shyness, anxiety, and oversensitivity leading to withdrawal from social interactions and avoidance of the peer group. Social withdrawal can lead to rejection by the peer group, with the assumption being that peers would not necessarily reject the socially withdrawn student if the child interacted appropriately in social situations. The opposite, however, may also be true. The rejection by peers may be the cause of the social withdrawal. This study focuses on an adolescent who …

Pre-Inoculation Effect Of Sic In Production Of Thin Wall Ductile Iron Castings, Nikolay Y. Laukhin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Pre-inoculation effect of SiC additions and its effect on castability, microstructure, and magnesium recovery in thin wall ductile iron plates have been studied. Experimental results were compared with alternative FeSi75 furnace pre-inoculation additions.

The first series of experiments aimed to set the baseline of iron quality, when using FeSi75 pre-inoculant

In the second series of experiment, different methods of introduction of Sic into liquid iron were studied. It was established that Sic added into the stream during the tapping into the flow-through chamber or added directly into the flow-through chamber produced lower Si recovery. The most effective method of introduction …

A Leadership Model And Supervisory Skills Perceived By Production Employees, Supervisors, And Managers As Important To The Improvement Of Employee Performance In Manufacturing, Douglas R. Hotek

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this research was to provide to industry and education a better understanding of what makes a supervisor a good supervisor of today's educated and technically skilled work force. Manufacturing firms that depend on advanced technologies and employee-technology relationships have made an impact on the role of supervision. The modern supervisor has a new role in managing production operations. The role has changed from that of directing and controlling employees to that of effectively leading the improvement of employee performance. This study builds upon previous research in an effort to further identify and authenticate a leadership model with …

A Comparison Of Web-Based And Conventional-Based Training Methods In A Leading Midwestern Company, Hani Aljadaani

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The primary purpose of this study was to compare trainees' perceptions of learning in a web-based delivery and conventional-based delivery in a leading Midwestern Electronics Company. This study examined trainees' perceptions of learning environment differences and related demographic and attitudinal perception variables. Due to the nature of human beings, interactivity is a key element in the learning process.

Two training programs were selected, one of which was Web-Based Training (WBT) and the other one was classroom based. The two have been chosen with the respect to the achievement of concepts and skills. The training programs were beginning Microsoft Word 97 …

An Analysis Of Current Instructional Practices At Selected Universities Utilizing Interactive Television Technology, Richard Shengmao Chang

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The problem approached in this study was to compare the teaching methods, classroom management, attitudes, and demographics toward Interactive Television (ITV) classes, which were developed in the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and National Kaohsiung Normal University (NKNU) ITV programs.

The data were collected from UNI and NKNU ITV teachers and remote site students. Two-way ANOVA and Chi-Square tests were used to identify the differences between the two programs. The significant results are noted.

Both schools' ITV teachers clearly identified the objectives of the courses, presented materials in an organized way; and, effectively employed visual teaching aids, summarizing techniques, overhead …

The Double Edged Sword Of Depersonalization: An Examination Of Depersonalization's Role In The Police Profession, Michael J. O'Connor

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The role of depersonalization is the central focus of this study. A major issue in examining the role of depersonalization is whether the present concept of burnout is an appropriate indicator of bumout for police officers. The commonly accepted conception of burnout is a process of emotional exhaustion that leads to depersonalization, followed by a reduction in work accomplishment. Depersonalization, by this conception, is a symptom of burnout. By definition,depersonalization is the psychological distancing of emotional and psychological trauma in stressful situations—a coping technique.

For police officers, depersonalization acts as a shield of emotional armor to maintain a sense of …

Principal Succession: Realities Encountered By Successor Principals During The Succession Process, Kenneth Lester Rigdon

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In order to better understand the realities of principal succession (an interactive sequencing process for changing school administrators) it was the purpose of this study to examine the relationship between four organizational frames (structural, human resource, political, and symbolic) delineated by Bolman and Deal (1997) and three traits noted in the literature as evident during school principal succession (predecessor leave-taking, succession source, and experience). There is little research regarding school principal succession, and concern exists regarding the adequacy of transition practices within organizations. A questionnaire was employed to survey all school principals in the state of Kansas who succeeded during …

The Factors That Affect The Implementation Of Enterprise Resource Planning (Erp) In The International Arab Gulf States And United States Companies With Special Emphasis On Sap Software, Saud Al-Sehali

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate and determine the factors affecting the implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) in companies in the Arab Gulf States and the United States, using SAP software as an example.

A random sample was selected of 150 companies in the Arab Gulf States and in the United States that had implemented an ERP system using SAP software. Of the 150 respondents, 30 were companies from the Arab Gulf States and 120 from the United States. A total of 67 questionnaires were returned, a return rate of 44.7%.

The Statistical Package for the …

Comparison Of Health Practices Of International Students At The University Of Northern Iowa Before And After Coming To The United States, Joseph Kwesi Ogah

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The primary purpose of this study was to compare the health practices of international students at the University of Northern Iowa before and after coming to the United States (US). Also included in the study was a description of differences in the selected health behaviors by gender, age, marital status, residence type, place of origin, and length of stay in the US. A random sample of 81 international students from about 60 different countries (35% male, 65% female) responded to a 50-item health behavior survey in the Fall semester of 1999.

The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was …