Digital Commons Network^™

Psychiatric Emergency Services In Oregon, Maren L. Hersrud, Karalee Kiser, Catherine M. Knox

Dissertations and Theses

Psychiatric emergency services are recognized as an essential component in the provision of mental health care. This study describes the delivery of psychiatric emergency services in selected Oregon comm.unities. The theoretical framework was developed to consider the problem of psychiatric emergency service delivery from the perspective of the individual experiencing the emergency, the social milieu, and the health care system. The literature describing psychiatric emergency service programs, the characteristics of those who use these services and the roles of direct service providers was reviewed. On the basis of the review a study was undertaken to describe the delivery of psychiatric …

Examiner Sex Bias And Wechsler Intelligence Scale For Children Scores, Richard H. Dana, Richard Back

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (excluding Mazes and Digit Span) was administered to 64 third-grade children, randomly selected for IQ. Eight examiners, four males and four females, each tested eight children, four boys and four girls. Female examiners elicited higher Full Scale IQ, Verbal IQ, Comprehension, Similarities, and Vocabulary scores from all children.

A Concept Acquisition Project Comparing Receptive And Expressive Programs, Carol Paulson Carpenter

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this project was to measure and compare the language concept growth of two clients who utilized different response modes; client A utilized the expressive mode and client B utilized the receptive mode. A systematic management program was administered to each client for eighteen sessions. The specific questions posed were:

1. Did both clients demonstrate the ability to verbalize concepts on the post-test of the individualized programs?

2. Did client A learn more concepts in eighteen sessions than client B as measured by the post-tests of the individualized programs and the Boehm Test of Basic Concepts?

3. …

Quality Of Life Assessment Of Chronic Hemodialysis Patients At The Artificial Kidney Unit Of Good Samaritan Hospital And Medical Center, Karen Jones Whittle, Michael Tripp, Bruce De Young

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate certain factors that affect the quality of life experienced by the chronic hemodialysis patient population served by the Artificial Kidney Unit at Good Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center, Portland, Oregon. The intent of the study was to discover if there was a significant difference in quality of life between patients who dialyzed at home and patients at the Artificial Kidney Unit (center patients).

For the purposes of this study, House, Livingston and Swinburn’s definition of quality of life was used. Their definition states that quality of life is a function of the …

Social Impact Assessment At The Neighborhood Level, William H. Triest

Dissertations and Theses

This paper originated as a result of one of the stated objectives of the Salem Primary Prevention Project. That project, operating jointly with Marion County Community Mental Health, Salem School District 24J and the City of Salem’s Community Development Department, has had as one of its stated objectives, the development of a mechanism to review the impact of planned change at the local level.

For several years both the staff and Advisory Committee for the Primary Prevention Program had wrestled with the complexity of developing such a review or assessment mechanism. Existing literature on social impact assessment appeared to deal …

Retrospective Study Of Participants In Preorgasmic Women's Groups : Looking For Life Changes, Barbara Geiger

Dissertations and Theses

It is the purpose of this research practicum to explore the self-reported changes of women who have participated in Preorgasmic Women's Groups. These groups are a type of treatment program for the problem of primary orgasmic dysfunction, and for women who want to learn to experience orgasm through manual masturbation. A Preorgasmic Group relates to a combination of physiological and psychological components of orgasm. It is distinguished from other therapy techniques in that the program involves only women in a group situation and uses a combination of techniques. It combines group discussion, education of female anatomy and sexual function, and …

A Survey Of Neighborhood Attitudes Toward The Mentally Retarded And Community Group Homes, Fred T. Cooprider

Dissertations and Theses

This paper will cover the following subject areas: a brief history of attitudes toward and treatment of the retarded, to give an historical perspective to current developments; a review of current research of attitudes toward the retarded; a statement of the research question and the research design; the results of this research; and a concluding discussion.

The Therapeutic Community: Treatment As Viewed By Former Addicts, Barbara Ward, Robert York

Dissertations and Theses

The research effort is an outgrowth of the authors exposure to the field of drug treatment in general, and therapeutic communities in particular. Both were acquainted with people who were graduates of therapeutic communities, and had been involved in m.any discussions concerning the relative merit of therapeutic communities as opposed to other methods of drug treatment.

Social Work Intervention And Patients' Utilization Of The Kaiser Health Care System, Pegi Sten, Liz Swint Young

Dissertations and Theses

This study was an analysis of social work practice in a medical setting: analyzing the work of a medical social worker in an outpatient clinic located in a metropolitan area. The primary purpose of this descriptive study was to evaluate the performance of a medical social worker in a Kaiser-Permanente outpatient clinic and to determine if there were possible associations between social work intervention and patient utilization of existing services offered by the Kaiser Health Care system, also referred to herein as Kaiser. Specifically, the study attempted to determine if there were quantitative changes in patient contacts, and utilization of …

Motivational Factors Behind Repetitive Abortions, Kelly Osmont, Ellen Wolfford

Dissertations and Theses

This practicum intends to explore the motivational factors behind repeat abortions. The underlying assumptions of this study include: (1) women have abortions; (2) women have repeat abortions. Based on these assumptions, the two research questions are (1) are there significant factors in the causation of repeat abortions, and (2) what are the implications regarding the lack of information and service to women which have a direct relationship to repeat abortions.

An Investigation Of The Combined Effect Of Agency Support And Professional Social Workers' Training On The Type Of Family Therapy Practiced By Agency-Based Social Workers, Betsy Marsh Mccartor, Margaret Labby

Dissertations and Theses

All persons are born into some form of family unit. The traditional family is a unit of people who live together over periods of time and have ties of marriage and kinship. Even if that unit is separated, as in death or adoption, qualities of one's personhood are closely connected with forebears and parents. Whether for good or bad, the family profoundly affects the individual.

The family is an important unit. Many stresses impinge upon it. The church and extended family are less influential on the family today. The school is less influential. Where does the family turn for support? …

The Attitudes Of Youth Workers On Delinquency And Delinquency Programs, Gary Lee Dominick, Carol Swartz, Michael Orval Taylor

Dissertations and Theses

This research developed from our interest in juvenile delinquency. We wished to examine how youth workers think about the causes of delinquency, the structure of delinquency programs, and their own role as workers. These perceptions will be examined by looking at workers' responses to statements dealing with 1) juvenile delinquency causation, 2) programs for treatment and prevention, and 3) the role of the worker. The responses will be examined in the light of a theoretical framework reflecting the continuum between theories and programs based on individual causation and those emphasizing societal factors.

Service Delivery To Deaf Persons : A Survey And Proposal, Patrick F. Walsh

Dissertations and Theses

This paper will identify the problems faced by deaf people in terms of social and emotional, and then discuss the research on factors which contribute to the problems. The first section will define deafness, investigate the psychological characteristics of the deaf, and then identify the incidence of mental or emotional problems. The second section will review the literature on factors which contribute to the emotional problems of the deaf. The final section will review the literature on the service system available to the deaf. Throughout this presentation, the writer will summarize with personal conclusions. These summaries will both capsulize the …

Women In Menopause: A Study Of Gynecologist's Perceptions, Zadell Cogan, Sharon Kennedy

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the needs of women experiencing menopause. Since women at this time experience physical, social and emotional changes, they may have a special need for services. Doctors were selected as the population for study because they treat so many women at this age and because they are powerful transmitters of our culture. This exploratory study was designed to provide descriptive information about the doctors' perceptions.

Results are reported from interviews with seventeen gynecologists from the Portland metropolitan area in Oregon. Attempts were made to interview all female gynecologists in the area. Male gynecologists …

An Evaluation System For Alcohol And Drug Programs, Michael J. Schrunk

Dissertations and Theses

The Office of Programs for Alcohol and Drug Problems is the designated "Single State Authority" for the planning and development of alcohol and drug programs. It is within the State Mental Health Division, and is the interface between the Division, the counties, and the federal government with regard to alcohol and drug programs. The Division's Office of Management Support Services (MSS) is charged with the responsibility of developing an evaluation system for programs. This is being done in regard to the needs of programs and decision-makers concerned with programs. The Program Office is now providing input to MSS largely through …

Self-Esteem And The Elderly : An Exploratory Study Of A Residential Population In A Home For The Aged, Vernon E. Hoffer

Dissertations and Theses

The two primary purposes of this exploratory study were (1) to establish the theoretical tenability of focusing on the maintenance of self-esteem as a means for enhancing the quality of life in the institutionalized elderly, and (2) to identify factors related to self-esteem in a home for the aged sample.

Literature reviewed relative to the importance of self-esteem, its development, and its maintenance or change indicated that (1) self-esteem is related to personal satisfaction and effective social functioning: (2) self-esteem develops and is maintained or changed as a function of factors in an individual’s immediate interpersonal environment; and (3) institutionalization …

Approaches To Composition In Selected Directing Texts: A Structural Analysis And Assessment, Kathryn C. Dodele

Dissertations and Theses

Directing texts are inadequate in their various approaches to teaching the concepts of stage-composition. The goal of this thesis was to show that, for an approach to stage composition to be judged adequate, it must systematically provide the student of directing with a firm grounding in design and compositional principles as they relate to the total stage picture.

Nineteen texts were studied and their presentations of compositional principles were analyzed. Eight texts are included in an in-depth structural analysis. The texts analyzed are Fundamentals of Play Directing by Alexander Dean, The Art of Play Production by John Dolman, Play Direction …

H. S. Chamberlain And The Bayreuth Kulturkreis: A Study In Ideology, David George Otness

Dissertations and Theses

Houston Stewart Chamberlain (1855-1927) was born an Englishman but adopted Germany as his home. Chamberlain was a publicist for fin de siècle ideas about art and politics which were tempered by both late nineteenth century Imperialism and by World War One. As an old man he endorsed Adolf Hitler and has been credited as an important synthesizer for the ideology of National Socialism.

This study examines Chamberlain's life in terms of his involvement with art and politics. It utilizes his work as a popularizer and his conversion into an exponent of Deutschtum to discuss broad social questions. While it is …

Exploring Collaboration: A Program Evaluation Of A Mental Health Intervention In A Public Elementary School, Joy Rhodes

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this evaluative study was to develop and implement a program evaluation design for a model of early mental health intervention to primary grade level classrooms in a public elementary school. The design reflects a formative evaluation study, providing information for current and future programming and is manageable to implement, thus facilitating longitudinal data collection.

This therapeutic model of classroom intervention stresses the integration of children’s social, emotional and intellectual development and proposes a collaborative approach between therapist and educator. Levels of intervention for collaborators include (1) children identified as requiring therapeutic approaches to social-emotional difficulties experienced in …

Volunteers In Portland Schools: Initial Planning And Early Development, Mary B. Norville

Dissertations and Theses

The subject of this thesis focuses on the early development of Volunteers in Portland Schools. Commonly referred to as VIPS, this program was designed to coordinate and optimize the use of volunteers throughout the school district. VIPS is jointly sponsored by the Portland Public Schools and the Portland Council, P.T.A . and is funded by the Portland Public Schools.

The VIPS concept was conceived by the author of this thesis in August 1968. A proposal for a cooperative school volunteer progrcnn was written in the fall of that year with the endorsement of the School Board and the assistance of …

Theoretical Differences In Kissinger And Schlesinger's Models Of The International System, Wayne Alan Schroeder

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is a study of national security decision making in the Ford Administration. The subject for study is the Kissinger- Schlesinger controversy in the Ford Administration. The thesis will attempt to prove that the differences that emerged over issues of national policy were due to deep theoretical disagreements as to the nature of the international system, the utility of power in the nuclear age and the means by which to preserve detente.

An examination of the substantive policy differences will be preceded by an examination of the conceptual disagreements between the Secretaries on topics that are fundamental to any …

The Effect Of Visual Feedback On Vocal Pitch Matching, Anita R. Herron

Dissertations and Theses

A review of the literature on the inaccurate singer provided strong evidence that improvement in pitch matching skill was possible. Visual feedback was found to be an effective aid in earlier studies, but none of the previous studies provided both a comparison group which had identical practice without the visual cues and a control group which received no form of practice. Such a design was used in the present study.

Thirty students at Portland State University who claimed to have considerable difficulty carrying a tune were given the opportunity to try to match Individual pitches under one of three conditions …

An Examination Of The Interrelationship Between Caregiver Behaviors, Infant Temperament And Perceptual-Cognitive Development, Anita E. Stauffer

Dissertations and Theses

The present study extended the Lewis and Goldberg (1968) study and included the parameter of infant temperament as defined by Thomas, Chess, Birch, Hertzig and Korn (1963). As in the Goldberg study, the index of response decrement was used as a measure of the infant’s development. It was hypothesized that response decrement would be positively correlated with high frequency of caregiver stimulation and negatively correlated with high infant intensity and activity ratings. Response decrement is the measured decrease in the amount of time an infant looks at a novel stimulus after several trials. It was computed by observing the infant’s …

Depression And The Perception Of Reinforcement: A Modified Replication, Adele Gillis

Dissertations and Theses

The present study was a modified replication of Miller and Seligman’s (1973) study. Expectancy ratings under skill and chance tasks were examined in 51 college students in four groups: depressed high-external, depressed low-external, nondepressed high-external, and nondepressed low-external. The major hypothesis predicted that there would be greater association (1) between both magnitude and direction of expectancy change and outcome of the previous trial (success/non-success) with nondepression than with depression, under the skill task, (2) between both magnitude and direction of expectancy change and outcome of the previous trial (success/non-success) with low-externality than with high-externality, under the skill task, and (3) …

Does Urban Noise Represent A Hazard To Health?, Frances J. Storlie

Dissertations and Theses

The problem of noise as a potential health hazard to urban man has been raised. The literature was used to establish two premises: that cities are noisy environments, and that noise-free societies have less coronary artery disease (CAD) than do industrialized sections of the world. These differences also hold for rural and urban areas of the United States.

Geographical questions concerning rate differentials for CAD have been addressed by numerous disciplines. Subsequently, social, psychological, and physical explanations have been put forth. Throughout this paper the emphasis has been placed on the physical aspects of noise exposure. The conceptual frame utilizes …

Portland State Perspective; October 1976, Portland State University

Portland State Perspective

A quarterly alumni newsletter. In this issue: debut of Portland Ballet Company; senior citizens' lifelong learning at PSU; Project Outreach launched by Department of Art and Architecture.

Homosexuality Among Women: Historical And Current Views In Psychology, Craig Bracy

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this review is to evaluate the methodology of past and present research with female homosexuals and then to summarize the current state of knowledge in psychology and psychiatry. The data presented in this review have been derived predominantly from material abstracted in the Medicus Index (1900-1976) and Psychology Abstracts (1927-1976).

This reviewer has established specific criteria by which all studies throughout this literature review will be examined. These are: sample size, sampling of experimental control groups, variable controlled (age, education, etc), how sexual orientation was determined, and tests and questionnaires employed, their reliability, validity, administration, and interpretation. …

Verbal Strategies In Small Group Communication, Christine Marie Bunsick

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study is to investigate certain types of verbal communications people use in small task-oriented groups. The verbal communications analyzed are certain phrases a speaker may use prior to the central idea of the statement uttered. These verbal communications are referred to as "language tactics".

Language tactics are defined here as specific phrases a speaker may use to excuse, justify, rationalize, or interpret for the listener(s) what the speaker is about to say before saying it. The purpose of this study is to look at language tactics as they are used by members of small task-oriented groups …

A Comparative Study Of Aristotle's Poetics And Ezra Pound's Abc Of Reading, Michael P. Hagensick

Dissertations and Theses

This paper is a comparative study of Aristotle's Poetics and Ezra Pound's ABC of Reading to discover and determine values in literature, especially poetry, which reflect on the nature and the manifestations of human communication. I feel that scholars in the field of communication can benefit personally and academically from exposure to those poets who have expressed themselves on the reasons or the manners in which people communicate. To pursue this question requires the use of a guide to poetry, a method by which I can learn to recognize a poem on sight; so that when it comes to discourse …

Der Verfremdungseffekt Von Brecht Bis Handke, Brigitte Patrick

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis intends to show how the application of the Verfremdungseffekt (alienation effect), originally formulated by Brecht, serves to express different Weltanschauungen in the works of Dürrenmatt, Frisch and Handke. The main emphasis is on the works of Peter Handke however, in order to demonstrate the changes in the interpretation of the alienation effect, some of the plays by Dürrenmatt and Frisch are analysed.