Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Reading Comprehension And Self-Esteem In Low Level Reading Adults, Judy Rosen Heumann

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation existed between reading comprehension and self-esteem in adults with no reading ability to adults reading at the fifth grade level. Reading comprehension was measured by the comprehension section of the Brigance Diagnostic Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills in half year increments after primer level, from lower first to upper third grade. Full year increments were indicated from fourth through ninth grade. Self-esteem was self-reported through use of the Counseling form of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale. Data were collected during Fall term, 1989 (September through December) at Portland Community …

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, …

The Relationship Between School Integration And Student Attitude Toward Residential Racial Integration, David Allen Johnson

Dissertations and Theses

This study examined factors related to the teaching effectiveness of adjunct faculty in higher education. Specifically, it explored the relationship between personality, as defined by the Five-Factor Model, occupation, and student ratings of teaching effectiveness. Results indicate that personality is correlated to an instructor's classroom behavior and education goals, which in turn are related to teaching effectiveness. In addition, instructors with occupations in social services and education had significantly higher mean teaching effectiveness scores than those from other occupations. Finally, there was an inverse relationship between age and teaching effectiveness in this study, and a positive relationship between teaching experience …

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 …

The Object-Oriented Design Of A Hardware Description Language Analyser For The Diades Silicon Compiler System, Lian Yang

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is one of the first to introduce a systematic and general Source Language Analysis System (called SLA) for a high -level synthesis system.

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 …

Dynamic Behavior Of Co₂ Lasers, Li Zhang

Dissertations and Theses

Spontaneous pulsations have been observed in the output of a CO₂ laser. The temporal waveforms, transverse mode patterns, and laser lines are simultaneously measured under various operation conditions. The experimental data show that these pulsations have a direct connection with the transverse modes. We interpret the oscillations as being caused by mode beating, and the frequency shift of the oscillation as resulting from mode pulling. The theoretical explanations for these effects are in good agreement with the experimental results.

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.

An Approach To Pattern Recognition Of Multifont Printed Alphabet Using Conceptual Graph Theory And Neural Networks, Ihab A. Harb

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis describes an approach for accomplishing a pattern recognition task using conceptual graph theory and neural networks (NNs). The set of patterns to be recognized are the capital letters of six different fonts of the English alphabet, plus two shifted and six rotated versions of each. The letters are represented to the neural network on a 16x16 input grid (256 "sensor lines"). A standard classification encoding for such patterns is to use a 26-bit vector (26 lines at the NN's output), one bit corresponding to each letter. Experiments with such an encoding yielded results with poor generalization capability. A …

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.

Intercultural Adjustment Problems Of Costa Rican Students In The United States, Patricia Gonzalez

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the adjustment problems Costa Ricans face while living and studying in the United States. The main concern of this thesis is to identify the intercultural communication problems that arise fundamentally from differences in value systems.

Cultural Value Differences In Arguments Between Presidents Ronald Reagan And Oscar Arias, Juan Carlos Flores

Dissertations and Theses

Costa Rica embodies many of the characteristics which the United States would like to foster in Central America and elsewhere. In recent years, however, misunderstandings have often been present in the development of relations between both nations, and leaders. These differences have been particularly visible between Presidents Reagan and Arias when carrying out their foreign policies towards Central America.

Recent developments in warfare, social and political unrest and economic crises in the region added to the emergence of a Central American political leadership--independent of U.S. decision making-have increased international misunderstandings between both political speakers. These misunderstandings are shown by Reagan …

Every Man Crying Out: Elizabethan Anti-Catholic Pamphlets And The Birth Of English Anti-Papism, Carol Ellen Wheeler

Dissertations and Theses

To the Englishmen of the sixteenth century the structure of the universe seemed clear and logical. God had created and ordered it in such a way that everyone and everything had a specific, permanent place which carried with it appropriate duties and responsibilities. Primary among these requirements was obedience to one's betters, up the Chain of Being, to God. Unity demanded uniformity; obedience held the universe together. Within this context, the excommunication of Elizabeth Tudor in 1570 both redefined and intensified the strain between the crown and the various religious groups in the realm. Catholics had become traitors, or at …

Energy Cost Of Resistive Exercise, Jan A. Polychronis

Dissertations and Theses

The energy cost of performing 1 and 3 sets of strength-type (6-8 RM) and endurance-type (30-35 RM) bench press exercise was estimated by indirect calorimetry in 10 male college students.

The total net energy cost of performing 3 sets of endurance-type resistive exercise (20.57 ± 1.86 kcal) was significantly (p <.05) greater than strength-type resistive exercise (15.24 ± 1.51 kcal) (mean ± SEM). Results were similar when energy cost was expressed relative to lean body mass. However, when expressed relative to the amount of work performed (kcal•kgm^-1) the strength-type exercise (2.35 ± 0.19) resulted in a significantly (p <.05) greater expenditure of energy than did endurance-type exercise (1.64 ± 0.30). The energy cost relative to work performed was found to be significantly greater for 1 set of strength-type exercise than for any other condition (p <.05). The relationship between the energy cost of 1 set, multiplied by 3, and 3 sets was r=0.64 for endurance-type exercise and r=0.27 for strength-type exercise.

It was concluded that compared to strength-type resistive exercise, endurance-type resistive exercise requires a greater net energy expenditure. The results suggest that endurance-type exercise be performed by individuals who wish to expend the greatest amount of energy …

The Effect Of Media On The Listening Comprehension Scores Of Intermediate Esl Students, Marian Tyson

Dissertations and Theses

The use of videotapes has become widespread in ESL classes in recent years. The decline in cost of tapes and VCR equipment has assisted in the spread of this technology. These tapes are often used in listening comprehension classes and may replace or supplement the use of audiotapes. However, research has not established that the addition of the visual element, especially in the movie or TV type context of many videos, is an advantage to the language learner.

A total of seventy-six students participated in a listening comprehension recall exercise. Thirty-nine students viewed a videotape segment, and the remaining thirty-seven …

An Analysis Of Us/Soviet Arms Control: Adding A Subsystem Perspective, Peter Millard Olson

Dissertations and Theses

Analyses of US/Soviet arms control have usually focused on domestic variables to explain US/Soviet arms control behavior. Partly because the number of negotiating parties is only two, there is a propensity to focus on the bilateral relationship of the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective domestic political situations. Only superficial attention has usually been given to international systems variables that may well influence the domestic political situation and arms control policy.

This thesis broadens the explanatory scope of US/Soviet arms control by showing how the political environment of a trilateral relationship (a subsystem that includes the West …

Hourly Fluctuation Of Middle Ear Pressure As A Function Of Age In School-Age Children, Susan Hogue Henry

Dissertations and Theses

Tympanometry is a useful means of evaluating the status of the middle ear. For the pediatric population, tympanometry is particularly valuable for determining the presence of middle ear effusion. The test has been incorporated in many school hearing conservation programs because of its ease of administration, objectivity, and diagnostic value.

In a study by deJonge and Cummings (1985), the hourly fluctuation of middle ear pressure was reported in a group of kindergarten-age children. The variability of middle ear pressure for that group of children averaged 150 daPa. In the present study, a maturational effect of this hourly fluctuation was observed …

Where Do Ideophones Come From?, George Tucker Childs

Applied Linguistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper begins with an analysis of ideophones in Kisi (West Atlantic, Guinea). This examination leads to consideration of the diachrony of ideophones, but because of the lack of data with any real time depth, we are limited to finding clues in the synchronic data. This study looks first at verbs, the class of words which Kisi ideophones resemble most closely. Such is also the case in other African languages, where ideophones can often be analyzed as verbs, as has been done for several Southern Bantu languages. I then demonstrate how Kisi ideophones can be derived from verbs, illustrating several …

Faculty Senate Monthly Packet October 1989, Portland State University Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Monthly Packets

The October 1989 Monthly packet includes the October agenda and appendices and the Faculty Senate minutes and attachments from the meeting held June 1989.

A Correlational Study Of Cognitive Style Measured By The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator And The Witkin Group Embedded Figure, Leith Wood Muessle

Dissertations and Theses

A review of the literature suggests a coincidence of personality characteristics among the cognitive styles defined by Field Dependence-Independence and the Myers-Briggs type preferences. This thesis proposed these independent measures of cognitive style tap common cognitive processes and hypothesized the Myers-Briggs dimensions of Extraversion-Introversion (EI), Sensing-Intuition (SN), and Judgement-Perception (JP) would correlate positively and Thinking-Feeling (TF) would correlate negatively with the dimension Field Dependence-Independence (FD-FI) as measured by the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT). The relationships of gender, age, and intelligence to the prediction of field-dependence-independence were also tested.

A Comparative Study Of The Performance Of Various Image Analysis Methods For Dimensional Inspection With Vision Systems, Ralf Heinrich Koeppe

Dissertations and Theses

Dimensional inspection with Vision Systems requires a careful selection of image analysis methods in order to obtain accurate information about the geometry of the parts to be measured.

The purpose of this project is to study, implement and compare different image evaluation methods and to show their strengths and weaknesses with respect to dimensional inspection. Emphasis is made on the inspection of circular features. The criteria of comparison for these methods are discussed. Using synthetically generated images, various analysis methods are compared and conclusions for their use are drawn. Results of the comparison show that the selection of a method …

Blockmodeling Network Data From Six Small Towns: An Assessment Of Organizational Typologies, Peter J. Collier

Dissertations and Theses

A major question in the study of complex organizations is whether it is possible to develop a useful taxonomy which identifies the crucial aspects of organizations and classifies them in a significant manner. One group of typologies of complex organizations focuses on the relationship between the organization and its environment. The purpose of this thesis is to test the validity of three existing typologies of complex organizations, each of which focuses on one aspect of the relationship between organizations and their environment. The major innovation in this research is the use of block modeling, a form of network methodology, to …

Portland State Magazine, Portland State University. Office Of University Communications

Portland State Magazine

PSU’s alumni magazine, published quarterly. In this issue: PSU’s Environmental Sciences and Resources program addresses problems of our ever-changing planet; a student travels to Japan in an unprecedented business exchange; questions outnumber answers in the complex world of child custody; and more.

Chinese Politics In Malaysia: A History Of The Malaysian Chinese Association, By Heng Pek Koon, Sharon A. Carstens

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Book review of Chinese Politics in Malaysia: A History of the Malaysian Chinese Association, by Heng Pek Koon, published by Oxford University Press in 1988.

John Humphrey Noyes, 1811-1840: A Social Biography, Susan Adams Dubay

Dissertations and Theses

John Humphrey Noyes was the founder of the Oneida Community, one of the most successful utopian ventures in nineteenth-century America. Early in his life, Noyes was a deep religious thinker, but he founded Oneida as an ideal society based on extending the family unit, and not as a church. Noyes's social theories eventually overwhelmed his former religious concentration.

The purpose of this thesis is to locate in Noyes's religiously-oriented youth the sources of his social interests. Few scholars have studied in depth the childhood and young manhood of John Humphrey Noyes, but that is where the roots of his social …

The Degree Of Assimilation Of The Second And Third Generation Of Japanese Americans In The Portland Area, Hisako Matsuo

Dissertations and Theses

Japanese Americans have been identified as one of the most successful minority groups in the United States of America because of their achievement of high socioeconomic status. This study focuses on the degree and process of assimilation of Japanese Americans in this country in order to reconsider multiple assimilation theories of minority groups. Three questions were raised: 1) the extent to which both the second and third generation of Japanese Americans are assimilated into American society; 2) how far the third generation is assimilated compared to the second generation; and 3) what the identity of the second and third generation …