Digital Commons Network^™

Councils Of Governments: A Study Focusing On Membership, Representation And Voting, Jerry Alan Matson

Dissertations and Theses

The Council of Governments is a significant new approach to metropolitan cooperation. Of the approximately 150 councils (as of January, 1970), all but 14 have been established since 1965. Councils across the country are characterized by great variety in organization and representation. This paper examines this complexity, particularly in terms of membership, representation and voting.

The first chapter is primarily a short history of the council movement and the forces which have helped to shape its development. The second examines the variety of council functions, organizational structures and financial arrangements.

Chapters III, IV and V are devoted to a detailed …

The European Powers In Africa: Can The Obstacles To National Unity Be Attributed To Them? Nigeria, A Test Case, Bassey John Ituen

Dissertations and Theses

During the latter part of the nineteenth century, European powers acquired large territorial areas in Africa. These territories ignored the boundaries of old African tribal kingdoms and the African modes of life, because the new countries were to serve as 'common market' areas supplying Europe with the wealth of the tropics. Nigeria is an example of the new superstructure which in operation fails to become a homogeneous entity after the assumption of political power by the Africans. There are problems of existing tribal kingdoms, of geographic distribution of ethnic groups and of traditional values. The British colonization of Nigeria also …

Religious Commitment And Attitudes Toward Deviant Behavior, Donald Alban Gibbs

Dissertations and Theses

Troeltsch’s distinction between the church and the sect and similar dichotomies suggest that different kinds of religious organizations affect not only members’ religious beliefs but also their more general attitudes in different ways. For example, the church-type organizations generate more receptiveness to community involvement while the sect-type organizations induce more collective self-centeredness among members. This study examines the tendency toward punitiveness—i.e. a tendency to punish rather than reforms those who break the rules—in a similar context. It was assumed that the individuals belonging to a sect-type organization would be more punitive that those belonging to a church-type organization. The results …

The Effect Of Perceptual-Motor Training On Maladaptive Behaviors Of Emotionally Disturbed Children, Julia Frances Hall

Dissertations and Theses

Twenty emotionally disturbed children between the ages of six and twelve from three agencies providing special treatment for behavioral or emotional problems were the subjects for this study. The subjects were divided into two major diagnostic categories, withdrawn and acing out, and then matched in pairs by age and diagnosis. One half of each pair was randomly assigned to the experimental condition and the remaining halves were assigned to the control condition. Both the experimental and control groups contained five withdrawn and five acting out subjects. Four experimenters were used, and each experimenter worked with two or four experimental children …

Comparison Of Amounts Of Verbal Response Elicited By A Speech Pathologist In The Clinic And A Mother In The Home, Joan Mathis

Dissertations and Theses

Language assessment of children is an essential task of the speech clinician and many studies have been concerned with the validity of the data gathered. Few studies, however, have investigated examiner variability as a possible source of deviation in language assessment. This study was designed to evaluate and compare the amount of verbal output which children with normal language use when examined by two different examiners when the examiners are in their most comfortable setting.

Six children, four years of age, were examined by a speech pathologist in the clinic and the mother in the home and the 12 fifteen-minute …

Electron Optical Study Of A Secondary Electron Multiplier, Chang Min Shen

Dissertations and Theses

Electron orbital theory was applied to the design of the geometrical structure of an electron multiplier for an image intensifier. A special structure satisfying production requirements was studied. Electron optical calculations consisted of determining the potential distribution and tracing the electron trajectories. Liebmann's procedure was used to solve Laplace's equation with constant potentials on the multiplier electrodes as boundary conditions. The trajectories were determined by solving the equation of motion in an electrostatic field using a Runge-Kutta procedure. The initial conditions for the trajectories were the initial energies, initial positions, and the initial directions of the secondary electrons. The plotted …

A Survey Of Hearing Loss In The Special Education Classrooms Of Vancouver School District 37, Richard C. Folsom

Dissertations and Theses

In order for the mentally retarded population to achieve maximum benefit from rehabilitation efforts, it is essential that a complete picture of their abilities and disabilities be obtained. Consequently, the identification of hearing loss is an integral element in any diagnostic procedure. Vancouver School District 37 has directed increased attention toward speech and language training for children in the special education classrooms for the mentally retarded; however, differential hearing diagnosis has been inadequate or totally lacking. In order to more efficiently treat this problem, it was felt that a comprehensive investigation into the incidence and types of hearing loss of …

The Influence Of Tradition On The Process Of Organizational Change; A Study Of Two Oregon Child Care Centers: Edgefield Lodge, Troutdale, And St. Mary's Home For Boys, Beaverton, Helen Paula Grant

Dissertations and Theses

This paper traces over time changes in concepts of child care using two care centers in Oregon as examples. Early in the twentieth century, the ideas of the time stressed the need to institutionalize dependent , neglected, and retarded children in a setting which focused on simple custodial care. The lack of environmental stimulation was evident. With the advances in the nation’s social, economic, and medical services in midcentury, besides the advances in technology, attitudes started to change which stressed the importance of care-giving institutions such as foster homes, child clinics and mental health facilities as well as specialized residential …

Attitudes Toward Supervision, Job Satisfaction, And Risk-Taking Behavior And The Relationship To Accident Frequency Ratios, Richard Everett Boggs

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates the efficacy of Kerr's (1957) "Goals-Freedom-Alertness" (GFA) theory of accident causation and Likert’s (1961) theory of dissimilar attitudes between supervisory levels as applied to the U.S. Forest Service. There are two types of ranger districts, those rated high and low on the basis of accident frequency ratios. From each district four subjects from each of two supervisory levels were administered a battery of ten scales. The overall results indicate that neither GFA theory was supported on the district variable, nor Likert's theory on the supervisor variable. The results independent of theory do indicate that the manner in …

Die Gestalt Der Frau In Ausgewählten Dramen George Kaisers, Wolfgang H. Justen

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis' focuses on the characterization of the "woman", who occupies a very prominent part in the dramatic works of playwright Georg Kaiser (1878-1945). The purpose of this study is twofold: the first part re-examines the early plays Die judische Witwe (1910) and Europa (1910) and basically re-affirms the findings that Judith and Europa are "elementary beings", driven by only one force, their overpowering sexual desire. It can be pointed out, though, that already in these plays Kaiser turned toward mythology - which includes Old and New Testament for him - in the choice of his protagonists.

The examination of …

Die Gestaltung Des Raumes In Den Dramen Ernst Barlachs, Dieter Helmut Engelhardt

Dissertations and Theses

The importance of spatial spheres in dramas has only slightly been researched. On the whole this problem has been considered relatively unimportant. Ever since the publication of Lessing's Laokoon the distinguishing characteristic of a literary work was considered to be the element of "time", in contradistinction to works of the visual arts (painting and sculpture) where "space" was primary. It will be demonstrated that in Barlach's plays space assumes considerable importance. Although the dramatic concern is primarily expressed through successive dialogues and monologues, Barlach's language nevertheless can imaginatively create spatial spheres different from those visible on stage. Both spheres of …

A Demographic Study Based Upon Income, Age And Education Variables As Related To The Willingness Or Unwillingness To Accept Foster Children, John Hughes, Linda A. Kaeser, Susan E. Norman, Lillian Rinderknecht, John Wills

Dissertations and Theses

The research problem in this thesis can be briefly stated as a study of a general population to test certain demographic variables, in particular those of income, age and education, which may or may not have a significant relationship to an expressed willingness to care for foster children; and to further examine whether certain special characteristics of a child, in particular those of increased age, physical handicap, minor emotional problems or mental retardation, further increase unwillingness to care for foster children.

The sample was selected by a two- stage cluster sampling taken from the Southeast catchment area of metropolitan Portland, …

Distribution Of The Sum Of Independent Unity-Truncated Logarithmic Series Variables, Russell James Wayland

Dissertations and Theses

Let X₁, X₂, ..., X_n be n independent and identically distributed random variables having the unity-truncated logarithmic series distribution with probability function given by f(x;θ) = αθ^X/x x ε T where α = [-log(1-θ) - θ]^-1, 0 < θ < 1, and T = {2,3,...,∞}. Define their sum as Z = X₁ + X₂ + ... + X_n.

We derive here the distribution of Z, denoted by p(z;n,θ), using the inversion formula for characteristic functions, in an explicit form in terms of a linear combination of Stirling numbers of the first kind. A recurrence relation for the probability function p(z;n,θ) is obtained …

The Chemistry Of Trifluorothiolacetic Acid, Patricia Diane Weeks

Dissertations and Theses

Addition reactions of perfluorothiolacetic acid (TFTAA) with organic and inorganic substrates were studied and six new compounds containing the trifluoroacetyl group have been prepared. Two types of reactions were observed, free radical and nucleophilic addition. Under the influence of ultraviolet light, TFTAA (CF₃COSH) adds to olefins to form 1:1 adducts. The CF₃COS• radical appears to be the adding species. Three new olefin adducts were prepared: CF₃COSCFHCF₂H, CF₃COSCH₂CF₂H, and CF₃COSCH₂CFH₂. In addition, this was found to be a new way to prepare CF₃COSCH₂CH₃, which had been previously prepared by another route. Physical constants, analytical data, infrared, ultraviolet, nmr and mass spectra …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Untrained Lip Reading Ability Of Mothers Of Young Hard Of Hearing Children Versus Mothers Of Young Normal Hearing Children, Janet Andrews Boileau

Dissertations and Theses

This paper provides a brief history of attitudes toward the deaf and the evolution of teaching and instruction of the deaf. It then discusses a pilot study that probed the acquisition of lip reading skills and the influence of mothers in the process.

An Electromyographic Comparison Of Muscle Action Potentials Of Listeners Presented Time-Compressed And Normal Speech Stimuli, Barbara S. Moon

Dissertations and Theses

Speech compression is a method of electromyographically reducing the speech signal, resulting in a decrease in the time required for presentation of a message by increasing the number of words per minute. Research in the area of speech compression has to this time been focused on determining the listener response by means of comprehension testing. While comprehension testing uncovers the individual's ability to resolve, organize, and recall a message at accelerated rates, it gives no information about the listener's psychophysical response to compression. Does the individual find listening to compression to be tension-provoking or stressful? Or can a listener accommodate …

The Correlation Of Factors Relating To The Selection And Retention Of Student Teachers At Portland State University, Michael E. Carl

Dissertations and Theses

Over the past five years, increased enrollment in student teaching at Portland State University has forced the School of Education to consider its current guidelines and policies for admitting student teachers. School of Education funding and faculty time are being taxed to meet the demands placed on them by increasing enrollment. This study was undertaken to provide data to determine if and how enrollment in student teaching could be limited. To do this, the study examined the existing guidelines for screening and selecting student teachers. The aim of the design was to determine if any of the existing criteria used …

Automated Information Retrieval Systems For Legal Research, Robert G. Baylor

Dissertations and Theses

Purpose. This study of automated information retrieval systems was undertaken to attempt to ascertain the extent and development of a total legal information system.

Overview. Historically, lawyers have searched the statutes and case law in the traditionally manual method. Given consistent high standards of editing, not too complex materials, and a collection of manageable size, this manual method will work to reasonable satisfaction, so long as a document never changes in meaning or significance. Lawyers point out that the present manual system is inadequate because with 30,000 new judicial decisions and 15,000 new statutes being promulgated each year …

Changing The Custody Of Children Whose Parents Have Been Divorced: A General View Of The Process, Dorothy E. Bateman, Michael A. Comte, Kathryn S. Curry, Robert M. Fry, Patricia J. Sims, Elva J. Terry

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this project was to obtain a preliminary description, through study of the legal files, of that group of persons who appear before the Court of Domestic Relations for a reconsideration of the custody decision made initially, at the time of divorce. A sample of 92 cases heard in Multnomah County in 1965 was obtained.

A survey of the literature revealed that much of what has been written on the subject of divorce and custody is primarily from a statistical or legalistic standpoint and very little bears directly on the granting or obtaining of custody or the problems …

Post-Divorce Visitation Of Minor Children; An Exploratory Study, Barbara Griffith, Gladys Hack, Eileen Murphy, Allison Wieman, Adam Williams, Earl Vanlydegraf, Vincent Glaudin

Dissertations and Theses

ORS 107.100 gives the court broad powers to secure the "best interests" of minor children as third parties to a divorce. Further, the Oregon Supreme Court has ruled in Tingen vs. Tingen that the best interests of a minor child involve a complex constellation of factors pertaining to the parents, the environment, and the adjustment of the child. It has been assumed in case law that "reasonable visitation" of the minor child by the non-custodial parent is usually in the best interests of the child and is a right" of the non-custodial parent.

Most judges order reasonable visitation as part …

Factors In Evaluation Of Student Performance In A Graduate School Of Social Work, Sharon J. Copeland, Gerald E. Warner

Dissertations and Theses

This study refined the criteria for the measurement of graduate student performance in a school of social work.

By using present criteria from other studies and general student performance criteria from school brochures a questionnaire was constructed. This questionnaire was administered to a. sample of students, faculty and field instructors from Portland State University School of Social Work. The data from the completed questionnaires were then processed by computer to determine the means, standard deviations of the items, and the correlations between items and between raters.

Through the computed correlations, means, and standard deviations the acceptability and reliability of the …

Cubist Painting Related To The Culture From Which It Came And Its Validity Today In The High School Curriculum, Virginia K. Fenton

Dissertations and Theses

Cubism has often been referred to as "a dead art." It is the objective of this thesis to present evidence gained through working with high school art students that the study of Cubism, at the secondary level, can result in greater creativity and a genuine appreciation of the abstract. In addition to the study of Cubist artists and their techniques, a correlation was made between art of the early 1900's and other areas such as Social Science, Music and Literature of this time. By this method, the students were given a broader insight into the motives of the Cubist artists. …

An Empirical Study Of The Effect Of Systematic Relaxation Training Of Chronically-Anxious Subjects On The Communication Variable Of Closed-Mindedness, La Ray M. Barna

Dissertations and Theses

This is a study of whether an attempt to reduce the trait of high tension-anxiety by means of systematic neuro-musculature relaxation training will result in a decrease of the communication variable of closed-mindedness.

A general review of the literature showed that the problem of tension-anxiety is complex, pervasive, and detrimental to effective communication. First, an attempt is made to bring relevant information to the field of general speech by citing a few findings from the research of other disciplines concerning the nature and effects of tension-anxiety. Currently-used methods of anxiety reduction are mentioned, and one, neuro-musculature relaxation training, discussed as …

An Analysis Of Geographical Concepts And Characteristics Of Maps In Selected Textbooks, Helen Elizabeth Wittke

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of the thesis was to examine the extent to which geography is integrated into history courses. This was done through analyses of the maps in eighth and tenth grade history books. Every map in each book was tabulated according to its purpose, characteristics, and cartographic techniques. The statistics which were gathered from these tabulations were then used as a basis for percentages of the maps devoted to various purposes. In addition to this, twenty-five maps were analyzed in detail, with an examination not only of the map, but of the accompanying text, and the method in which the …

Donation Of Organs For Transplantation: An Investigation Of Attitudes And Behavior, Courtney Weldon Goodmonson

Dissertations and Theses

While technological advances in immunology and surgery have permitted rapid increases in the number of homotransplantations now performed, little is known about layman’s attitudes toward donation of organs. Implicit in such progress has been the medical field's assumption that enough donor organs will be forthcoming to meet the increasing demand. In order to research this area a dual emphasis on practical and theoretical issues was employed. The purpose of the present study then, was to investigate this medical assumption by sampling the attitudes and behavior of college students toward donation of organs for transplant purposes, and at the same time, …

A Study An Analysis Of Stochastic Linear Programming, Chamberlain Lambros Foes

Dissertations and Theses

This essay investigates the concept of linear programming in general and linear stochastic programming in particular. Linear stochastic programming is described as the model where the parameters of the linear programming admit random variability. The first three chapters present through a set-geometric approach the foundations of linear programming. Chapter one describes the evolution of the concepts which resulted in the adoption of the model. Chapter two describes the constructs in n-dimensional euclidian space which constitute the mathematical basis of linear programs, and chapter three defines the linear programming model and develops the computational basis of the simplex algorithm. The second …

The Propagation Of Light In A Turbulent Atmosphere, Karl-Hans Gunther Engert

Dissertations and Theses

This report describes the instrumentation which is currently being utilized at the Oregon Graduate Center in a study of atmospheric turbulence effects on the long-range propagation of visible and infrared laser beams, with independent measurements of the turbulence parameters. The specially designed instrumentation includes portions of an Analog Computer; a special Differential Thermometer; a Laser Modulator; and auxiliary meteorological instruments; which were developed by the author. Sample experimental results are given in the report.

A Study Of The Role Of Acrylic Paints In The Secondary And Junior High School Art Curriculum, Alice Atkinson Benski

Dissertations and Theses

It was my purpose to study the role of acrylic paints and other products in the secondary high school and junior high school art curriculum in the area of painting, and related activities and to make a realistic evaluation of this medium. Because of its comparative newness and because of a general lack of knowledge of and experience with it, I felt such a study would fill a need relative to the utilization of acrylic products in the classroom. In preparation I read the material which was available on painting with acrylics'. The number of books published on the subject …

Life Drawing In The Secondary Classroom, Marilyn Jean Anderson

Dissertations and Theses

Life drawing presents some of the most difficult problems in the school art program: the difficulty of securing models, the necessity of using only the clothed model, and the resistance of many students to this particular discipline. The students’ confidence in their own drawing abilities is at its nadir during early adolescence, and they become easily discouraged when faced with a live model as a subject. This thesis represents an effort to deal with these problems in a manner suited to the age and maturity level of the students. In order to build their self confidence, basic drawing skills and …

A Study Of The Effects Of Professional Authority On The Attitude Change Of High School Sophomores, Sandra Lee Kelley, Lane Alan Myers

Dissertations and Theses

This research project was designed to test, directly, the effects of perceived professional authority on producing attitude change among high school sophomores. The study utilized a social psychological theoretical orientation to examine a specific aspect of socially mediated information, namely, persuasive communication as it is influenced by the source or communicator of the persuasive message, “Authority, as it has been defined in this study, includes two factors: (1) the prestige and (2) the credibility of the source. The two professions selected were that of a physician and a social worker. It was expected that the physician, by virtue of his …