Digital Commons Network^™

A Study To The Career Aspirations Of Eighth Grade Students, Kelley O'Brien

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The following questions guided this study: 1. Are students with parents that attended college more inclined to go to college after high school? 2. Did students that attended a low socio-economic school have lower career aspirations? 3. Did activities at the schools encourage the pursuit of careers requiring college education? 4. Did the level of education of the parent correspond with the student's career aspirations?

The Importance Of Instructor-Student And Student-Student Interactions Of The Satisfaction Of Graduate Students Taking Distance Learning Courses, Donna J. Thompson

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The research goals of this study were to answer the following questions: 1. What level of interaction with the instructor do students need in order to be satisfied with their experience in the course? 2. What level of interaction with other students do students need in order to be satisfied with their experience in the course? 3. Can a student successfully complete a TELETECHNET course without being satisfied with their personal interactions in the course?

India: Training Teachers For Children With Mental Retardation, Sharon A. Raver

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

India is a country of contradictions. On one hand, India is a modern country moving toward becoming a world leader in computer technology and boasts the second most computer literate population in the world (Babington, 2000; Kumar, 1999). On the other hand, India is a developing nation with 14 constitutionally recognized languages, 25% of the world's malnourished (Babington, 2000), and a majority that practices customs in everyday life that are 5,000 year old (Kumar, 1999). India is rich in natural resources and yet, because its population grows as quickly as its economy, it has one of the world's lowest per-capita …

Putting Quality Functional Assessment Into Practice In Schools: A Research Agenda On Behalf Of E/Bd Students, Mary M. Quinn, Robert A. Gable, Jim Fox, Robert B. Rutheford Jr., Richard Van Acker, Maureen Conroy

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

The discipline provisions of the IDEA place emphasis on gaining an understanding of why the student is motivated to engage in problem behavior and to consider, when appropriate, positive behavioral interventions, strategies, and supports to address the behavior. These legislative mandates bring center stage a range of new duties and responsibilities for the IEP team. This article discusses the problems that school divisions across the country are encountering when implementing these requirements and recommends a course of research to address these issues.

Maintaining The Integrity Of Fba-Based Interventions In Schools, Robert A. Gable, Jo M. Hendrickson, Richard Van Acker

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

The best interventions and best laid plans are brought into jeopardy when they are implemented inappropriately or of insufficient duration. Six factors that affect fidelity of treatment in relationship to functional behavioral assessment (FBA) are discussed: a) understanding the function of and the contextual valuables that support target behavior, b) adult knowledge of effective interventions, c) adult acceptance of the intervention, d) selection of suitable replacement behavior, e) selection of the standard to judge behavior change, and f) utilization of procedures to enhance integrity of implementation. Examples and suggestions for improving treatment fidelity in schools are offered.

Council On Technology Teacher Education Monograph #17: The Technology Education Graduate Research Database: 1892-2000, Philip A. Reed (Editor)

STEMPS Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Study To Determine The Effectiveness Of The Leadership Development 2001 Program At Volvo Trucks North America, Inc's., New River Valley Truck Plant, Eugene C. Dillon Jr.

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The objectives of this study were to: 1. Identify the influence the "Leadership Development 2001" program had on the successful training participants' leadership behaviors; 2. Identify the difference in perception of attainment of leadership behaviors among immediate supervisors, peers and immediate subordinates and the participants; 3. Assess the ability of the "Leadership Development 2001" program to develop leadership traits as found in the Campbell Leadership Index in successful participants.

The Relationship Between Workplace Absenteeism And Alcohol Use: A Day-To-Day Examination, Susan Kay Mcfarlin

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This investigation examined the conditional day-to-day relationship between alcohol use and workplace absenteeism among participants (N = 302) employed full-time in one of three large companies located in the northeastern U.S. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather information from employees on their daily use of alcohol and other drugs during a 1-month period. Employees' absenteeism and work injury data during the same target time period were gathered from personnel files residing in the companies' human resources departments. The presence of a current alcohol use disorder also was determined. The following primary hypotheses were tested: (a) there would be a …

Effects Of Organizational Climate, Feedback-Seeking Environment And Innovation Characteristics On The Implementation Of A 360-Degree Feedback System, Simon Alan Bartle

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study examined the effects of organizational climate, feedback seeking environment and innovation characteristics on the implementation of a 360-degree feedback system within a large financial holdings company. The effect of user attitudes toward the 360-degree feedback system was also assessed. A sample of responses from 255 360-degree feedback system users was collected over a 14-month time period. LISREL was used to test the hypothesized structural model. Overall goodness of fit for the model was poor (using generalized least squares estimates: the Non-Normed Fit Index (NNFI) = .95, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = .96; Root Mean Square Error of …

Post Doi Moi Urban Higher Education In The Socialist Republic Of Vietnam: The Case Of Hong Duc University, Jeanne Beth Natali

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is experiencing unprecedented peace and prosperity. Although Vietnam's war-damaged economy continued to decline for ten years after hostilities ended in 1975, everything changed in 1986 when doi moi, a moderate economic reform program, was introduced. Doi moi put enormous stress on higher education, whose function in the past had been to train workers for the state sector. Suddenly, higher education had to respond to the changing needs of Vietnamese society.

A 1992 educational sector study found that higher education was irrelevant to the needs of the transitional Vietnamese society. Universities were too small and …

Ivr Test & Survey: A Computer Program To Collect Data Via Computerized Telephonic Applications, Louis H. Janda, Michael Janda, Eric Tedford

Psychology Faculty Publications

Several studies have demonstrated the advantages of using interactive voice response (IVR) technology to collect self-report data from research participants and recipients of psychological/medical services. IVR allows participants to phone a computer and respond to recorded questions by pressing the appropriate touch-tone keys on their telephone. Because this technology offers substantial benefits in terms of cost and efficiency, it is surprising that it has not been more widely utilized by researchers and practitioners. Along with the automation of the administration and scoring of tests or surveys, IVR provides for questioning to be adapted to the participants' responses. One possible explanation …

Developing, Marketing And Evaluating Web-Based Library And Information Skills Tutorials At Old Dominion University, Cynthia Wright Swaine

Libraries Faculty & Staff Publications

Confronted with an expanding distance learning program, a growing set of student expectations, and recent changes in general education requirements, the Library Instruction Team at Old Dominion University is addressing the related needs for new approaches to library instruction by creating a series of web-based tutorials.Confronted with an expanding distance learning program, a growing set of student expectations, and recent changes in general education requirements, the Library Instruction Team at Old Dominion University is addressing the related needs for new approaches to library instruction by creating a series of web-based tutorials.

Perceptual Cues And Subjective Organization In A Virtual Information Workspace, Todd M. Eischeid

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The key to effectively using the immense body of data on the Internet is an efficient method of organizing relevant information. Researchers and designers are beginning to promote the advantages of three-dimensional (3D) models of information storage and retrieval; however, the potential benefits of perceptual depth cues have not been systematically studied.

The present study used a computer task to examine the effectiveness of three types of virtual desktops. A two-dimensional (2D) virtual desktop display, lacking in the cues that give the illusion of depth, was compared to two different 3D virtual desktops, both of which used perceptual cues to …

A Study Of The Effects Of Constructivist Based Vs. Traditional Direct Instruction On 8th Grade Science Comprehension, Clair T. Berube

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

Studies conducted nationwide over the past several decades point consistently to the evidence that American school children lag behind several other countries in science scores. Problems arise from this dilemma, including the question of the ability of our youngsters to compete nationally and globally in the sciences as adults. Current research in this area of scores currently studies mostly mathematics. The few studies conducted concerning science mainly highlight students in other countries and neglects minorities and females regarding outcomes.

By contrast, this study investigated the effects of teacher types (also defined as teaching styles or classroom orientation) on student outcomes …

The Prayer Of The Holy Name In Eastern And Western Spiritual Traditions: A Theoretical, Cross-Cultural, And Intercultural Prayer Dialogue, E. James Baesler

Communication & Theatre Arts Faculty Publications

Investigates the Holy Name prayer from the perspectives of eastern Hindu and both eastern and western Christian spiritual traditions. Interpersonal prayer as spiritual communication; Historical and theoretical dialogue; Comparison of the method and function of Eastern and Western Holy Name prayer traditions.

A Noninvasive Test For Vesico-Ureteric Reflux In Children, R. A. Mevorach, B. Cilento, S. Zahorian, C. Badgett, R. Walker, A. Atala, S. Iannello, M. Meyer

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Objective To report the development and testing of a device for the noninvasive diagnosis of vesico‐ureteric reflux (VUR) which avoids the need for urethral catheterization (currently required to reliably determine the presence of VUR), and which thus avoids the anxiety of parents and patients that causes many families to refuse such evaluation.

Patients and methods Fifty‐four children (49 girls and five boys, mean age 7.2 years, range 4–14) previously evaluated as having VUR volunteered to participate; no child was symptomatic at the time of the study. Refluxing units were known to be present by voiding cysto‐urethrography (within 1 year, mean …

The Relationship Between Academic Self-Concept And The Achievement Expectancies On The Academic Achievement And Persistence Rate Of African-American Freshmen Students, Ira Falls Iii

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

This study addressed the use of certain noncognitive variables and their relationship to the academic achievement and persistence rate of African-American freshmen students attending a large, predominately white institution. Academic achievement was defined as a student's cumulative college grade point average and cumulative credits earned at the end of the freshmen year of study. Persistence rate was defined as the number of freshmen who enrolled compared to the percentage of those who re-enrolled for the Fall semester of their sophomore year. Moreover, the purpose of this study was to identify selected variables that are associated with increased African-American academic achievement …

Delinquency And Victimization Among Adolescents: An Examination Of The Relationship And Lifestyle Influences, Joy Eileen Livergood

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

This research examines the correlation between delinquency and victimization. Consideration is given to the lifestyle influences including the routine activities and demographic factors. Data from the 1997 Monitoring the Future data set are analyzed in an attempt to understand the extent of the relationship as well as the impact of various lifestyle activities and demographic factors. The study was guided by previous research examining the correlation between delinquency and victimization as well as the impact of lifestyle elements. SPSS 9.0 for Windows was used to analyze the data. Overall, the findings suggest that there is a correlation between delinquency and …

Victims Confront Offenders: An Exploratory Study Of Victim Satisfaction During Mediation, Krystal C. Walton

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if age, race, and gender were related to victim satisfaction during mediation while controlling for the type of offense. Satisfaction with the mediator's attitude, the session itself, the mediator, and the outcome were assessed to measure the victim's level of satisfaction with the various components of the mediation process. Data was collected from questionnaires mailed to crime victims' who had completed the mediation process through the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in Norfolk, Virginia. This thesis looks at the relationship of age, race, and gender to victim satisfaction with mediation. Cross-tabulations were …

Political Culture And Women's Political Activity In Post Communist Ukraine A Case Study Of The 1994 Elections, Tonja M. Wilt

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

This research identifies and examines two distinct political cultures in post-communist Ukraine, characterized by the presence of Soviet and non-Soviet influences. Soviet political culture is associated with East Ukrainian regions where Soviet policies of Russification, collectivization and urbanization were deeply entrenched. The non-Soviet political culture is present in Western Ukraine where said policies were least successful and the Ukrainian culture is more established.

The question posed in this thesis is: To what extent, if any, do regional political cultures influence women's political activity in Ukraine? This study focuses on the Soviet practice of appointing hundreds of women to the Supreme …

Abstracts Of Papers Presented At The Seventy-Eight Annual Meeting, Virginia Academy Of Science, May 23-26, 2000, Radford University, Radford, Va

Virginia Journal of Science

This document is a list of the abstracts of papers presented at the seventy-eighth meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science that took place at Radford University on May 23 through the 26th, 2000.

Virginia Junior Academy Of Science Awards Presented At Radford University May 2000

Virginia Journal of Science

Awards presented by the Virginia Academy of Science in May 2000.

An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Language Attitudes And Academic Performance In Northampton County, Virginia, Public Schools, Glenda L. Rose

English Theses & Dissertations

This language attitude study targets third grade, fifth grade, eighth grade and high school students in the Northampton County, Virginia, Public School System. Two hypotheses were proposed. First, students exhibiting negative attitudes toward their own dialect have a lower performance level in language arts classes than students expressing positive attitudes. Second, factors such as sex, race, grade level, and level of exposure to other dialects are reflected in language attitudes. In order to determine the validity of these hypotheses, school officials were asked to identify five students performing well and five students having difficulty in the language arts. Ten third …

Victimless Crime: A Comparison Of Public Offense Ratings Of Misdemeanor Offenses And Virginia Sentencing Guidelines, Theresa M. Dutton

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

This study was designed to explore the hypothesized gap between what state guidelines on criminal sanctioning recommend for misdemeanor offenses, and what the public perceives· as just punishment for these offenses. The research also addresses the issue of victimless crime. In this regard it was additionally hypothesized that there exists a significant difference in public opinion towards sentencing those crimes that specifically do not have a victim, with those that do.

The design of this study is based on one conducted by Peter Rossi and Richard Berk (Rossi and Berk 1997). For this study, a sample of students attending college …

"The Contagion Of Liberty": Mercy Otis Warren And The Beginnings Of Feminist Sensibility, Donnamaria Gerych

History Theses & Dissertations

This thesis will examine the life and writings of Mercy Otis Warren. The first section of the essay will examine the current historiography concerning Warren. Historically, her place has been somewhat ambiguous, particularly in view of what constituted feminism for early American women. By focusing on "republican motherhood," modern historical interpretations have overlooked Warren's contribution to feminist ideology. In effect, these interpretations have confined Warren to this one identity, diluting and disregarding the impact of a published female writer, not just of poetry and plays, but of a bona fide history of the Revolutionary War and the early Republic.

In …

Spousal Violence Levels Among Substance-Abusing Couples After Behavioral Couples Therapy Versus Individual-Based Treatment, Shannon O'Neill Arehart

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Domestic violence and substance abuse are two of the most prevalent and detrimental social ills plaguing American society today. Additionally, domestic violence and substance abuse are inter-related, and are often found within the same family or relationship. Understanding the relationship between these two problems is essential, especially in the context of therapy or treatment.

Previous studies have shown that behavioral couples therapy (BCT), a treatment for substance abuse problems in which couples participate in conjoint therapy sessions, can be effective in reducing the levels of spousal violence in alcoholic couples (O'Farrell & Murphy, 1995). Additionally, BCT has been effective in …

Identity, Conflict And Cooperation In International River Basins, Jack V. Kalpakian

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation tests the hypothesis that water disputes cause serious conflict within and between states. It uses a structured case study approach to see whether there is a link between the independent and dependent variables. It also considers the effect of other variables on serious conflict. Specifically it addresses the effects of national identity and the othering process on conflict. The three case studies are built around rivers in the drier parts of the world. This biases the dissertation towards affirming the established mainstream hypothesis which states that water disputes cause serious conflict. In all three cases, historical animosities and …

The Effects Of Education And Exposure On College Students' Perceptions Of Dating Violence, Kristian Moore

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between previous exposure to violent situation and an individual's tolerance level of dating violence. In addition, the effect that intervention, in this case a film, can have on one's perception is also examined. This research is quasi-experimental in design and uses a pre-test/post-test design. A baseline sample of 137 Old Dominion University undergraduate students was surveyed at time one at which previous exposure to conflict situations as well as tolerance levels to dating violence were assessed. The film was presented between times one and two. The post-test was given …

An Exploratory Study Of Domestic Violence Attitudes Among Virginia Magistrates, Elaine M. Phillips

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Currently, 43 states utilize magistrates in the criminal justice response to domestic violence. In Virginia, magistrates have the power to grant emergency protective orders and arrest warrants in domestic violence cases. In 1996, Virginia instituted a new mandatory arrest law. This study explores magistrates' attitudes toward the new law. It also examines their attitudes toward victims and offenders involved in domestic violence cases. The study utilizes data from Crossland's 1998 survey of Virginia magistrates (n=239). Hypotheses based on conflict theory and feminist theory lead to hypotheses that predict that magistrates' attitudes will vary depending on the race, educational level and …

Factors Associated With The Occurrence And Cessation Of Relational Intrusion, Leila Baldwin Dutton-Greene

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated factors associated with the occurrence and cessation of pursuit after the termination of a romantic relationship. Participants were 384 undergraduate and graduate students at Old Dominion University and the University of Rhode Island. Questionnaires were completed by 219 female students (110 who had difficulty letting go of a relationship, 109 whose partner had difficulty letting go) and 161 male students (94 who had difficulty letting go, 67 whose partner had difficulty). Participants completed measures assessing attachment style, emotional distress at the time of break up, alternatives to the relationship, and relationship satisfaction. Those who had pursued a …