Education Commons^™

Development Of A Questionnaire To Identify Barriers And Facilitators To Academic Careers For Women In Stem, Charles Leonard Bolton Iii

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this research was to develop a questionnaire to be used to identify barriers and facilitators to women faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) academics. The phenomenon known as the leaky pipeline, a theoretical model describing why women are underrepresented in STEM disciplines, was examined. Women have long been underrepresented in STEM professions despite an increase in the number of women earning STEM degrees, suggesting women are faced with barriers that prevent them from achieving equal representation with men. The literature has identified several potential barriers, both historical and new, such as biological inequalities, family responsibilities, …

Reading Intervention Using Interactive Metronome Treatment, Denise Lewis

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this research study was to examine the effects of Interactive Metronome (IM), a non-academic treatment, when integrated with reading intervention. The intention was to analyze the degree to which IM affected fluency when introduced alongside reading intervention. The research questions that guided this study focused on how internal timekeeping affects reading fluency. This study used a multiple baseline across participant’s single-subject design. Three participants were monitored to determine a baseline using Curriculum Based Measures and Correct Word Per Minute data, and then each received a total of 15 hours of Interactive Metronome treatment. Progress was documented with …

Validity Of The Clinical Assessment Of Depression With The Brief Symptom Inventory, Carlie West

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Depression is a disorder frequently noted in college students that can affect multiple aspects of one's life, ranging from physical health issues to interpersonal relationship difficulties. Therefore, it is imperative that the depressive symptoms of college students be identified, evaluated, and treated. This investigation explored the validity of a newly published self-report narrow-band measure of depression, the Clinical Assessment of Depression (CAD; Bracken & Howell, 2004) with an existing broad-band measure, the Brief Symptom Inventory (Derogatis, 1993). College students 18 to 52 years of age (n = 280) enrolled in undergraduate courses in psychology at a south central Kentucky university …

A Comparison Of Perceptions Of Students, Parents And School Personnel Regarding Bullying Behavior, Joan Buchar

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A COMPARISON OF PERCEPTIONS OF STUDENTS, PARENTS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL REGARDING BULLYING BEHAVIOR Joan Buchar July 2, 2004 52 Pages Directed by: Richard W. Wilson, J. David Dunn, Lisa L. Lindley Department of Public Health Western Kentucky University Bullying in America's schools is a problem that is, at best, a nuisance and at worst, the suspected cause of school shootings. Bullying is a persistent, physical or psychological abuse of power. It takes many forms from physical assault and name calling to shunning, ridicule or exclusion. The victims are usually powerless to change conditions and often bullying is ignored or dismissed …

An Evaluation Of The Recreation Interest Of Hopkins County Middle School Students, Tricia Jordan

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study is to identify potential recreational activity interests of Hopkins County middle school students, thereby assisting the Hopkins County Family YMCA in teen program development. In addition, the study investigates potential constraints these students encounter. One hundred and twenty-five students from four public middle schools participated in the recreation needs assessment. The recreation needs assessment instrument consisted of five activity categories (arts and crafts activities; dance, drama, and music activities; literary activities; nature activities; and sports and games). Category activity selections were limited to those activities the Hopkins County Family YMCA was willing and/or capable of …

Prematriculation Immunization Policies: A Survey Of Kentucky Colleges And Universities, Deborah Foushee

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Immunizations for vaccine preventable diseases are ordinarily completed by young adulthood, and the school system is typically the institution required to determine compliance with state immunization requirements prior to enrollment. In recent years, outbreaks of measles on college campuses across the United States have led to the implementation of immunization requirements. Kentucky fouryear postsecondary institutions are not required by state law to request proof of immunization. The purpose of this study was to assess prematriculation immunization policies of Kentucky four-year colleges and universities. Participants completed a survey which appraised the existence of a university prematriculation policy, the diseases covered by …

A Study Of Student Health Services In Four-Year Post-Secondary Institutions, Timothy Laugh

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to address any changes in select organizational and director or CEO attributes between 1989 and 1994, as well as, to determine whether or not college student health services are systematically evaluating their programs and incorporating efficiency measures used in other health care settings. The population of study was student health services at four-year institutions of post-secondary education in the United States. This researcher resurveyed the sample used by Kevin E. Charles in 1989 in order to allow the evaluation of temporal trends. The sample was a stratified, random sample of 400 institutions. Data were …

An Analysis Of Substance Abusers' Field Dependence & Time Spent In Rehabilitative Therapy, Robert Fane

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This project was designed to determine if significant differences existed between the level of psychological differentiation, as determined by the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT), of individuals entering a treatment center for chemical dependency and the length of stay at the facility.

The subjects consisted of 43 white males who were seeking treatment for addiction to mood altering chemicals at a regional treatment facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Each subject was interviewed to collect pertinent background information pertaining to past substance abuse and was evaluated to determine psychological differentiation, utilizing the GEFT.

It was determined through an analysis of variance …

Six Volleyball Skill Tests As A Predictor Of Game Performance, Donetta J. Cothran

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of six selected volleyball skill tests to actual volleyball game performance. The six skill test items were administered to 64 subjects, who were all members of a college level introductory volleyball course. Based on the ratings of a panel of experts, subjects were rated during game play as good, average, or poor performers.

The stepwise discriminant analysis was used to analyze the relationship between skill tests and game performance. Four of the six skill tests were identified as significantly contributing to group membership. These tests, in order of the magnitude …

Communication Barriers Between Teenagers & Parents About Sex & Sex-Related Topics: A Survey Of Teenagers In Sex Education Class, Karen Bonnell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Public concern about teenage pregnancy and the threat of sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS make sex education information vital for today's teenagers. A 1986 Harris survey of 1,000 teenagers cited parents as their primary source of sex education information, but 42% said they would be too nervous or afraid to bring up the subject of contraception or birth control with their parents. States like Kentucky have mandated sex education courses for all public schools to provide necessary instruction for teenagers.

This study identifies communication barriers which teenagers say prevent communication with their parents about sex and sex-related topics. Questionnaires were …

Indicators Of Academic Success In A Medical Record Technology Program & Their Relationship To Attainment Of A Passing Score On The Accreditation Examination, Karen Sansom

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

During the selection and retention process in a medical record technology program, it is advantageous to identify those students who will fulfill the program's course requirements, as well as subsequently pass the accreditation examination. Graduates of such a program at Wbstern Kentucky University were studied to identify these demoaraphic and academic indicators. Using a stepwise multiple regression analysis, the variables of high school grade point average (GPA), college GPA, and composite ACT score were found to be significantly related to medical record GPA. Using the maximum Rsquare improvement technique, the variables of high school GPA, college GPA, age entering the …

A Comparison Of Traditional Grass-Twist Backstops To One Of Corrugated Cardboard Design Use On Indoor Ranges, Charles T. Crume Jr.

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study presents the results of a comparison of traditional grass-twist backstops frequently used on indoor ranges with one of corrugated cardboard design. The findings indicate that the corrugated cardboard design is substantially superior.

The four factors selected for testing were:

1. Arrow pass-through levels and subsequent arrow repair costs
2. Arrow penetration levels, tested over several distances and using several bow weights
3. Arrow-stopping potential with beginning and inexperienced archers
4. Storage

Testing showed the first three factors supporting the corrugated cardboard design. The last factor, storage, was found to be about equally supportive of both designs.

Several recommendations are made. These recommendations …

A Comparison Of Two Instructional Methods In Teaching An Introductory Course In Health, Charlotte Mitchell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of the independent study method of instruction in promoting health knowledge and health attitude change. The experimental method was compared to the traditional classroom model of instruction.

A random sample of ten subjects was taken for the experimental group and matched control subjects were then selected. Control subjects were chosen based on the demographic variables of age, race, sex, academic classification and grade point average.

A pretest-posttest design using two standardized instruments was employed to measure the health knowledge gain and health attitude change. Data was statistically analyzed by use …

Effects Of Different Levels Of Precision Of Knowledge Of Results On The Acquisition Of A Motor Skill, Wenda D. Johnson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Students enrolled in two beginning bowling classes received the same basic instruction on bowling techniques, but practiced under two different levels of precision of knowledge of results (KOR). The experimental group practiced by rolling at a full set of ten bowling pins with each ball (precise KOR). The control group practiced by shadow bowling (general KOR). There were no significant differences between groups in the effects of the two practice conditions upon the acquisition skills. There were no significant groups by tests interaction either. There was, however, a significant trials effect across groups. It was concluded that although both practice …

The Effects Of Weight Of Projectile & Arm Segment Lengths On The Accuracy Of The Overarm Throw, Michael Hickey

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study was undertaken for the purpose of investigating whether there was (1) a significant relationship between the length of the segments of the throwing arm and the accuracy of the overarm throw, and (2) a significant difference in the accuracy of the overarm throw when the weight of the ball was varied.

Physical Working Capacity Of Adult Men Resulting From A Progressive Aerobics Program, Gary Kaye

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study was designed to determine the effects of a progressive aerobics training program on the physical working capacity of adults as measured on the bicycle ergometer.

The following hypotheses were tested:

1. A progressive aerobics training program does not increase physical working capacity (PWC).
2. A progressive aerobics training program has no effect on resting, exercise or recovery heart rate.
3. A progressive aerobics training program does not increase predicted maximum oxygen consumption (VO₂).