Digital Commons Network^™

Speechreading Ability In Elementary School-Age Children With And Without Functional Articulation Disorders, Barbara L. Habermann

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the speechreading abilities of elementary school-age children with mild to severe articulation disorders with those of children with normal articulation. Speechreading ability, as determined by a speechreading test, indicates how well a person recognizes the visual cues of speech. Speech sounds that have similar visual characteristics have been defined as visemes by Jackson in 1988 and can be categorized into distinct groups based on their place of articulation. A relationship between recognition of these visemes and correct articulation was first proposed by Woodward and Barber in 1960. Dodd, in 1983, noted that …

The Relationship Between A Private Voluntary Organization And The Government Of A Developing Country In The Delivery Of Public Education: A Case Study In Rural Guatemala, Timothy John Peterson

Dissertations and Theses

As government agencies face a complexity of economic and political issues the availability and utilization of resources through private voluntary organizations (PVOs) have become increasingly important. A review of the literature covering the role of PVOs in developing countries indicates the significant contribution these agencies can have in the development process. There are only a handful of situations where small organizations are working directly with a government agency in the provision of a public service. Theoretically, PVOs are adaptable to a variety of settings, are effective conduits for delivering aid to the grassroots level, and are able to initiate long …

Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Their Instructional Styles In The Teaching Of Conflict Resolution, Marcia Gregor Garrick

Dissertations and Theses

In order to assess current practices in the teaching of conflict resolution, this study examined (through survey methods) the perceptions of teachers in three Oregon school districts of similar size regarding the techniques they use to teach conflict resolution skills to their students, teachers' perceptions of the frequency of the use of those techniques, and teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of those techniques. This study also compared the responses of teachers in school districts which provided teachers with staff development for the teaching of conflict resolution with the responses of those teachers from districts without that staff development. In addition, …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Training In Cooperative Learning And Teacher Job Satisfaction, Margaret Maloy Dutton

Dissertations and Theses

The research on cooperative learning has been conducted in terms of student achievement but little is known of how training in and use of cooperative learning affects teachers. The central purpose of this study was to examine the association between training in cooperative learning and teacher job satisfaction, with special attention to the subsets of collegiality and efficacy. A second purpose was to examine how levels of job satisfaction, efficacy, and collegiality vary as a function of the following training variables: (a) setting, (b) amount of use, (c) kind of training, (d) preparation for implementation, and (e) opportunity for skill …

A Study Of Washington Secondary Principals' Perceptions Of Effective Dropout Prevention Policies And Programs, Susan Lindsley Greenwood

Dissertations and Theses

This study examined what Washington high school principals perceive to be the most effective dropout prevention policies and programs. The population included all public high schools in the State of Washington. Five questions were posed: 1. (a) What preventative measures, intervention programs or student services designed to enhance environmental and personal factors are perceived to have reduced dropout rates? (b) Does the availability of those services and programs account for a significant difference in the actual dropout rates? 2. (a) What personal/psychological factors characterize potential dropouts? (b) Do these identifying characteristics account for a significant variance in the actual dropout …

Exurban Commuting Patterns: A Case Study Of The Portland Oregon Region, Judy Seppanen Davis

Dissertations and Theses

Many North Americans have been moving to exurbia --low density, rural housing within the commuting range of urban areas. It has been assumed that employment is a major link. of exurban households with urban areas. It has been assumed that employment is a major link. of exurban households with urban areas. This analysis of exurban commuting patterns is based on a mail survey of 1408 households who bought homes in 1987 near Portland, Oregon. The bid-rent model of urban form predicts that exurbanites will trade-off long commutes for lower housing prices. But previous research suggests that exurban living may not …

The Overage Student: Candidate For School Failure, Virginia Homeier Anderson

Dissertations and Theses

This study, conducted in a suburban school district, examined academic achievement and demographic considerations for a group of students overage for their respective grades. Records of 127 subjects were examined and data collected with respect to student performance on academic indicators of at risk behavior. Indicators were scores on criterion referenced tests in reading and mathematics as well as school absence figures for all subjects. These data were subjected to ANOVA and Chi Square Tests of significance to ascertain if there were differences between the students who were overage due to in-grade retention and those overage for other reasons. Research …

Job Satisfaction Of Classified Employees In A Public Suburban School District, Jeradean Emma Rehm Masciocchi

Dissertations and Theses

This study examined the sources of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction for classified employees in a large public suburban school district. The population included randomly-selected bus drivers, custodians, school and non-school secretarial employees, instructional assistants, maintenance workers, food service personnel and technical employees. Three research questions were posed: (a) What are the primary sources of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction for classified employees? (b) Is there a significant difference in job satisfaction among the specific categories of classified employees? (c) Are demographic/personal variables of classified employees related to overall job satisfaction? The study incorporated both qualitative and quantitative methodology. Focus groups were …

Measuring Dynamic Patterns In The Structure Of Substate Economies, Richard Mchugh, Ronald Cooper, Sheila A. Martin, Daniel Otto, Stanley R. Johnson

Institute of Metropolitan Studies Publications

The objective of this study was to explore a new method of analyzing the performance of substate economies. A major limitation of conventional analyses of economic diversity and growth is the reliance on static measures of economic structure. Such measures do not capture the patterns of growth dynamics or structural change the region may be experiencing.

This paper discusses a new measure of dynamic economic diversity and explores its relationship to economic performance. The measure is a statistical index that reflects the degree to which employment in a county's industries move together over time. The more the industries' employment levels …

Written Narratives Of Language Disordered And Normal Adolescents On Two Tasks, Antigone Howick Brown

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to describe written narratives of language disordered adolescents by comparing their written narratives via story grammar analysis with those of normal adolescents. The written narratives were obtained by administering two tasks as required assignments within the English or communications classes of the two groups. Task A was to write about a personal experience and Task B was about an imaginary experience. This study used Merritt and Liles' adaptations (1987) of Stein and Glenn's procedures (1979) for story grammar analysis to describe the content of the narratives.

A Comparison Of An Acoustic Stethoscope And An Amplified Stethoscope In White Noise And Cafeteria Noise During Cardiac Auscultation, Lynda Lynell Gigstad

Dissertations and Theses

A basic relationship between stethoscopic auscultation and background noise interference was reviewed and examined in this study. The principle experimental design of the study questioned whether hospital background noise levels are capable of masking the threshold of detection for auscultated heart sounds. Several cited studies monitoring background noise levels in various hospital locations have reported averages exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1974) and World Health Organization (WHO) (1980) recommendations of "quiet", namely 35 to 40 dBA (Falk & Woods, 1973; Hilton, 1985, 1987; Shapiro & Berland, 1972; Turner, et al., 1975; Woods & Falk, 1974) by as much …

On A Women's Language, Tamara Brown

Dissertations and Theses

Assessing the feminist belief that women have a perspective dramatically differing from the patriarchal perspective, and that this viewpoint is, or could be, couched in a language differing from the norm, this researcher addressed the following three questions: (1) is there a definition of a women's language? (2) does a women's language exist? and (3) if a women's language does exist, in what form does it exist? These questions engendered feminist rhetorical criticism on the work of two radical feminists well known for their interest in, and attention to, the issue of a women's language.

Audiological In-Service Regarding Hearing Impairment And Its Impact On Communication In The Geriatric Population, Marie Barlow Lassell

Dissertations and Theses

At least two studies have been found conducted in the area of audiological in-services and their impact on the people to whom they were presented. In 1981, Dancer and Keiser studied the effects of empathy training on geriatric-care nurses and in 1985, Dampier, Dancer, and Keiser studied changing attitudes of college students toward older persons with hearing loss. Both of the studies investigated the effect of in-service training on empathy, rather than using the traditional academicallyoriented in-service program approach. Both studies found statistical results indicating a significant positive change in the subjects' feelings toward hearing impaired geriatrics. Additionally, Dancer et …

Reading Comprehension Of Literal, Translational, And High Inference Level Questions In Aphasic And Right Hemisphere Damaged Adults, Ute Kongsbak

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine and compare inferential abilities on a reading comprehension task in two groups of adults who had suffered cerebrovascular accidents (CVA). Sixteen subjects with a CVA to the right hemisphere of the brain were compared to an equal number of left hemisphere damaged subjects. Subjects were selected after they had demonstrated an adequate level of functioning on the Short Porch Index of Communicative Ability (SPICA), a test which measures communicative efficiency, to perform the tasks required in this study. All subjects were administered the revised version of the Nelson Reading Skills Test (NRST). …

A Study In The Language Acquisition Styles Of Language Delayed Toddlers, Shelly Saunders

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of the present study was to determine if language delayed toddlers, 18 to 30 months of age, were at one end of the referential/expressive continuum. It was this researcher's hypothesis that due to the restricted vocabulary of children who use an expressive language style, that the delayed toddlers would tend to be more expressive speakers.

The Creation Of A Core Vacabulary For Initial Lexicon Selection For Nonspeaking Preschool Children, Lillian May More

Dissertations and Theses

The selection of the initial lexicon is one of the most important decisions made in the implementation of augmentative communication systems with preliterate, nonspeaking preschool children. If a communication aid is to be adopted by a child, the words available on the device must be interesting to the child and encourage communication. The vocabulary must allow for cognitive growth and foster language development. Ideally, a lexicon would be customized for each nonspeaking child's particular interests, vocabulary needs and developmental level. The reality is that vocabulary selection is a difficult and time consuming process. Parents and clinicians do not always have …

Pragmatic Conversational Skills Of Children Identified As Emotionally Disturbed, Deidre Winder

Dissertations and Theses

Communication refers to the conveyance of intended messages so that the listeners' attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors are changed. Communication through a language system may be thought of as the integration of the three components of content (semantics), form (syntax), and use (language in context or pragmatics). The corning together of content, form, and use in signs, words, phrases, and discourse is the essence of language development. The synergism of content/form/use makes up language competence, or knowledge. When children speak and understand a message, they have a plan that is knowledge of language and they use that plan for the behavior …

Subsurface And Geochemical Stratigraphy Of Northwestern Oregon, Olga Berenice Lira

Dissertations and Theses

Lithological, geophysical, paleontological and geochemical methods were used in order to define the contact relationship between the Keasey and the Cowlitz formations in northwestern Oregon. Drill cuttings from six wells located in Columbia County were analyzed by the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) method. The concentrations of K, Th, Rb and Sc/Co ratio in the samples established four different groups: 1) High K, Rb, and TH, with low Sc/Co ratio typical of Cowlitz sediments. 2) Low K, Th and Rb and high Sc/Co ratio, more characteristics of the Keasey Formation. 3) Very low concentrations of Rb and high Sc, which …

A 'Meta-Constructive' Reading Of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Hand Of Darkness, Annette M. Matthews

Anthós Journal (1990-1996)

Ursula K. le Guin’s fascinating and controversial novel, The Left Hand of Darkness, constructs meaning in multiple ways and at multiple levels. Using Todorov’s theory of “Reading as Construction,” this paper posits that le Guin’s novel requires the reader to be aware of their own reading in order to understand the text. The paper traces the idea of construction throughout the novel and ultimately suggests that the novel uses its differing points of view to force the reader to construct for themselves in order to understand the construction of the novel and its characters.

Creative Suffering: The Theme Of Mediation In Pascal's Pensées, Kathleen Merrow

Anthós Journal (1990-1996)

The idea of mediation runs through Pascal’s Pensées and is an important part of his contribution to western thought. This paper traces the concept of mediation through the theme of creative suffering and the figure of Christ in Pensées. In addition, Pascal’s particular concept of mediation can be found as a supporting concept to the philosophies of such diverse early 20th century figures as Poincare, Blondel, and Bergson. In the end this paper traces a complicated and complex problem for Pascal, that of Mediation, and suggests that it ultimately had tragic consequences for him.

The Orchestration Of Nature's Writing Surfaces, Laurie M. O'Reilly

Anthós Journal (1990-1996)

This articles stretches Derrida’s notion of writing by positing that writing itself might be thought of as "that which can be read or interpreted." This breaks the absolute bond between writing and human handicraft and suggests new ways of understanding the way we interpret natural phenomena. This paper traces this concept through numerous natural phenomena and suggests that perhaps the limits of meaning might have more to do with the interpreter’s range of understanding when it comes to natural gestures and "writings." In the end writing comes to be understood as durative, or has having duration. In this interpretation comes …

The Knowledge Systems Transfer Project: A Multiple Perspective Investigation Into The Integration Of A New Technology Within A Business Unit, Steven Craig Tarr

Dissertations and Theses

Many organizations have been attempting to build a conceptual framework for managing technology, with varying degrees of success. Most begin by consulting leading technology authorities, borrowing elements of their thinking, and adapting these elements to their organizational and personal situations. This dissertation extends this process by using the formal research methodology of multiple perspectives (technical, organizational, personal, and cross-cuing) to build a case-based model of the technology integration process. The research and the model construction benefits from a solid foundation established through a review of technology management and knowledge systems literature. The significant aspects of the research are tied to …

The Effectiveness Of An Educational Service District's Programs And Services As Perceived By Various Educator Groups, Thomas Joseph Rockefeller

Dissertations and Theses

This study examined the effectiveness of an educational service district's programs and services as perceived by various educator groups. The population of the study included certificated public school employees and school board members.

A sixty-two item survey instrument was used to obtain information from the study population. Of the 1507 survey instruments distributed, 769 instruments were returned for a response rate of 51%.

Four main research questions were posed: (a) Is Educational Service District 112 perceived as an effective educational component of the Southwest Washington public education system? (b) Are the programs and services provided by Educational Service District 112 …

Historic Resources And The Albina Community Plan, Will Harper, Clyde Dixon, Jean M. Hester, Mary Jane Melink, Kimberly S. Moreland, Jinxiang Ren, Dan Riordan, Damian Syrnyk, Dave Wadley

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The Comprehensive Planning Workshop is the capstone of the Portland State University's Master of Urban Planning program. The workshop projects are planning studies that have a practical use long after the school term is over.

Originally, the workshop intended to research Albina's history as a background piece to our main research efforts. It became clear to us that there was a rich, fascinating story to be told about Albina, one that we wished to develop and make accessible to more people. Therefore, we produced two documents, this history as a separate document, designed to stand alone, and a companion document …

Annual Faculty Senate Minutes October 1990 - June 1991, Portland State University Faculty Senate

Annual Compilations of the Faculty Senate Minutes (Minutes Only)

Minutes of the Faculty Senate for October 1990 to June 1991.

The Use Of The California Consonant Test And The Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 In Hearing Aid Evaluations For Individuals With Precipitous Losses Above 1 Khz, Bradley James Allard

Dissertations and Theses

These two joint-studies used recorded versions of the Northwestern University Auditory Test Number 6 (NU-6) and the California Consonant Test (CCT) in the hearing aid evaluations (HAEs) of 12 male and one female subjects, aged 41 to 87 years. They exhibited precipitous high frequency losses beyond 1 kHz in at least one ear. All subjects were evaluated without amplification and while monaurally aided with two conventional high pass hearing aids. Ten of the subjects were evaluated in multi-talker noise and 11 were tested in quiet. Since the CCT was more heavily weighted than the NU-6 with target phonemes sensitive to …

The Use Of Phonological Process Assessment For Differentiating Developmental Apraxia Of Speech From Functional Articulation Disorders, Kathryn Dearmond

Dissertations and Theses

Focus has turned from emphasis on phonetic sound errors to phonologic rule systems in the study of articulation disorders. The current theory proposes that the phonological disorders which children experience are controlled by higher levels in the brain than those that control the motor functioning of the brain. The purpose of the present study was to compare the use of phonological processes by a group of school-age children with moderate to severe multiple articulation disorders (MAD) with developmental apraxia of speech (DAS) to the phonological processes used by those without developmental apraxia of speech. For the purposes of this study, …

Benchmarking Parallel Machines Via A Software Architecture, Srikanth Kambhatla, Jon Inouye, Jonathan Walpole

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The diversity in parallel architectures and the programming styles induced thereof, make benchmarking of parallel machines a hard problem. Current benchmarking techniques are limited in applicability due to the issues of portability. We present a different approach to benchmarking parallel machines, which would make the resulting benchmarks portable, easy to use and widely applicable. The approach involves the use of a software architecture to mask the diversities of the underlying architectures. The benchmarks are based on the Linda Tuple Space, and is called BeLinda. In this report, we motivate the use of a software architecture, give a specification of the …

Endless State-Of-Polarization Control For Coherent Optical Communication Systems Using Nematic Liquid Crystal, Scott H. Rumbaugh

Dissertations and Theses

One of the obstacles to coherent fiber-optic communications is the unpredictable polarization drift which necessitates the use of an active polarization controlling system to match the polarizations of the signal and local oscillator. The polarization match must be maintained during the reset of any of the finite range components to prevent loss of data. We present a novel and practical system which uses three liquid crystal devices for the polarization matching process. Also, the required reset control algorithm and its derivation are described in detail.

Making Sense Of America: A Phenomenological Analysis Of Chinese Nationals' Interactions In The U.S., Donna Marie Ecelroy

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis systematically explores the interactive experiences of Chinese students and scholars in the U.S. Specifically, the research asks: How do Chinese students and scholars (from the People's Republic of China) interpret their interactions in the U.S., and how do their interpretations change over their tenure in the U.S.?

Research on general issues of cultural experience and adjustment is reviewed. Further, meta-theoretical issues in the study of cultural experience and adaptation are addressed. These issues provide a background for both the phenomenological grounding of this study and the qualitative approach used for data collection and analysis.