Digital Commons Network^™

Soap Opera Viewers' Perceptions Of The Real World, Gayle Seese

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The frequency of occurrence on typical soap operas of incidents such as homicide, infidelity, and mental breakdown is much greater than is the case in real life. Also, various occupations (e.g., medical profession, legal profession) are overrepresented in these programs. The present study investigated the extent to which heavy soap opera viewers are influenced by these representations. Specifically, the differences between long term soap opera viewers’ and non-soap opera viewers’ perceptions about people and events in the real world were investigated. The subjects’ perceptions of the frequency of occurrences in the general population of such events as divorce, extramarital affairs, …

Death Anxiety Among Older Adults As A Function Of The Christian Faith With Specific Reference To The Experience Of Being "Born Again", Wendy E. Holland

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Sixty male and female subjects between the ages of 60 to 84 years were administered three questionnaires concerning death anxiety, religiosity, and life satisfaction. Data were collected and analyzed by Pearson r correlation as well as by multiple regression analysis.

Findings included those subjects considering themselves to be "born again" Christians scored significantly lower on the death anxiety scale than did those respondents considering themselves Christian, but not "born again." Subjects considering themselves to be non-Christian/Other did not correlate significantly with death anxiety. Life satisfaction was not a significant predictor of death anxiety. Subjects indicating more conservative/fundamentalist denominational affiliations indicated …

Rollins College Catalogue, 1987-1988, Rollins College

Text Materials of Central Florida

Rollins College catalogue 1987-1988 with list of faculty and students and courses by department.

Rollins College Winter Term 1987, Rollins College

Text Materials of Central Florida

Rollins College catalogue with list of faculty and students and courses by department.

Person Perception And The Employment Interview: The Impact Of Facial Features In The Employee Selection Process, Susan C. Muller

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has found that the structural makeup of the face influences the manner by which individuals perceive others and attribute characteristics to them. In addition, support has been provided for the hypothesis that nonverbal cues significantly influence an interviewer's perception of a job candidate and the pending hiring decision. Taken together, this study hypothesized that the nonverbal cues emitted from the structural makeup of the face would impact the decision to hire and the perceptions of the job applicant's personality. It was also expected that variations in facial structure would influence an employer's decision in hiring the applicant for …

Job Characteristics Model: Test Of A Modified Four-Trait Model At The University Of Central Florida, Gena L. Cox-Jones

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The study examined the number of significant factors in the Hackman and Oldham (1980) job characteristics model. The original factors were: Skill Variety, Task Significance, Task Identity, Autonomy, and Feedback. Scores on these dimensions for 84 employees of the University of Central Florida (21 supervisory and 63 non-supervisory subjects) were used as the basis for this study through a mail administration of the Hackman and Oldham Job Diagnostic Survey (JDS) and their Job Rating Form (JRF). It was hypothesized that: (a) only four significant job dimensions would emerge from factor analysis of the data; (b) that the motivating potential ratings …

Marksmanship Performance With The M16a1 Rifle As A Function Of Physical Fitness, Heart Rate, And Exercise Intensity, Jeffrey B. Cuddeback

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Fifty-two rifle naïve navy personnel underwent four days of simulated M16A1 live fire training in an artificial intelligent test bed trainer, followed by one day of live fire record qualification in the field. Prior to test bed training, subjects were administered the Army Physical Readiness Test (APRT) and assessed on their current level of physical fitness. At the end of test bed training the subjects participated in one of four exercise conditions (control, walk, job, or run) designed to elevate their hart rates. Immediately following exercise they shot a 10 round self-paced task at a scaled 250 meter target. Analysis …

The Effects Of Locus Control Upon Pay Satisfaction, Richard A. Curle

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The issue of pay satisfaction is of increasing concern to management because of today's high cost of recruiting and training employees. Also of concern to management is the impact that a high employee turnover rate, due to pay dissatisfaction, can have on organizational effectiveness. Therefore, identifying the causes of, and reducing the probability of, employee pay dissatisfaction is desirable.

Applications Of Artificial Intelligence In Military Training Simulation, Igor V. Golovcsenko

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This report is a survey of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology contributions to military training. It provides an overview of military training simulation and a review of instructional problems and challenges which can be addressed by AI. The survey includes current as well as potential applications of AI, with particular emphasis on design and system integration issues. Applications include knowledge and skills training in strategic planning and decision making, tactical warfare operations, electronics maintenance and repair, as well as computer-aided design of training systems. The report describes research contributions in the application of AI technology to the training world, and it …

Selling The Stereotype: Sexist, Ageist, And Racist Typecasting In Network Television Advertising In 1986, Helen S. Becker

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Beginning Teacher Program: How Administrative Or Peer Teacher Attitude And Peer Teacher Assignment Affect Its Success, Elaine C. Henris

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Florida's Beginning Teacher Program was evaluated to determine if there were significant differences in administrative attitude and perception of success between Orange County and Seminole County. Further evaluation was conducted to determine if the four possible gender-pairings of beginning teachers and peer teachers/mentors resulted in differing success rates. Finally, the program was examined to determine if administrative or peer teacher/mentor attitude was related to the success of the program. Beginning teachers, their peer teachers/mentors and administrators in Orange County and Seminole County were surveyed to accomplish these evaluations, using the Administrative Attitude Scale and the Beginning Teacher Success Scale developed …

An Evaluation Of The Orientation And Training Programs Of A Fast Food Franchise, Cheryl M. Donahey

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Very few attempts have been made to adequately evaluate training programs. The research reported here is an attempt to evaluate the effects of the revised orientation and training programs of a fast food franchise. Subjects consisted of 676 hourly employees of a Central Florida fast food franchise who completed questionnaires soliciting measures of the following perceptions: managements' consideration and structure levels and the effectiveness of the revised orientation and training programs. Modest support was found for the prediction that the revised programs would increase the employees' perception of managements' consideration. No evidence was found to support the hypotheses that employees …

Validity Of Student Evaluations: A Comparison Of Student Ratings To Instructor Self-Evaluations, Rebecca A. Hopson

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The State Of Mass Communication, Ellen Wartella

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article evaluates the state of mass communication as an academic field, examining its organizational, educational, and theoretical conditions in the mid-1980s. The discussion situates mass communication within a context of growing public, institutional, and industrial interest in media and communication technologies. Three major areas are identified. Organizationally, the field is experiencing departmental consolidation and debate over nomenclature as traditional speech and journalism programs merge into unified communication units. Educationally, enrollments are expanding rapidly, yet faculty shortages and an industrial hiring model threaten academic rigor. Theoretically, the discipline faces tensions between professional training and liberal arts orientations, as well as …

Suggestions For Stimulating Research, J. David Johnson

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article outlines specific strategies department chairs can use to promote and sustain faculty research within academic communication programs. Recognizing research as a cornerstone of departmental credibility, faculty advancement, and institutional growth, the paper categorizes thirty-two initiatives into three levels of administrative commitment—minimal, moderate, and maximum effort. Minimal strategies include public recognition of research, promotion of internal grants, and mentoring partnerships between experienced and inexperienced faculty. Moderate proposals expand to include research colloquia, merit-based incentives, clerical and travel support, and formal structures such as a departmental research committee. Maximum-effort initiatives involve establishing research centers, securing computing and clerical resources, and …

A Prognosis For The Field Of Communication, Erwin P. Bettinghaus

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay presents an optimistic evaluation of the communication discipline, arguing that the field’s institutional growth, intellectual diversification, and expanding public visibility signal long-term vitality. Evidence of strength includes increased student enrollment across subfields, greater institutional funding, steady employment opportunities, growing recognition by industry and government, and a maturing research culture that has moved beyond foundational definitional debates. Nonetheless, the analysis identifies several risks: declining graduate student recruitment due to market competition, internal fragmentation following departmental reorganization, and ideological polarization between professional and theoretical approaches. The forecast anticipates continued growth driven by technological innovation, heightened demand for communication teachers, and …

Ideas In Education, Volume 4 Number 1, Spring 1987, University Of Central Florida. College Of Education

Research Activities & Annual Reports

Volume 4 Number 1, Spring 1987 issue of Ideas in Education. It covers articles and abstracts of dissertations by faculty members and graduate students of the UCF College of Education.

College Of Education Annual Report And Summary Of Research And Creative Activities, July 1, 1986 - June 30, 1987, University Of Central Florida. College Of Education

Research Activities & Annual Reports

University of Central Florida College of Education annual report and summary of research and creative activities, July 1, 1986 - June 30, 1987. Covers annual reports, grants and contracts, publications, creative works, and services.

Treatment Of Chronic Nightmares Using Progressive Relaxation Training, Jennifer R. Trefonas

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of progressive muscle relatxation on the frequency of, and the anxiety associated with, chronic nightmares. Three females diagnosed as suffering from an anxiety disorder and who experienced at least two nightmares per week served as subjects. Treatments consisted of practicing progressive relaxation trainig twice daily with the assistance of a tape-recorded exercise. The first practice occurred prior to 3:00 p.m. and the second practice occurred before retiring at night. Subjects recorded nightmare frequency, intensity, and theme on the Daily Nightmare Questionnaire (DNQ). In addition, nightmare-associated anxiety was measured daily with the State Trait Anxiety Inventory …

Life Satisfaction And Death Concern In The Elderly, Gary S. Kain

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between life satisfaction and death concern in the elderly as a function of age, self-reported health status, and religious involvement in order to examine the concept of ego integrity as porposed by Erikson (1963). Eighty-one subjects were recruited from the Good Samaritan Retirement Village in Kissimmee, Florida, and were divided into two groups: (1) the younger-old group which consisted of 42 individuals between the ages of 65 and 75, and (2) the older-old group which consisted of 39 individuals over the age of 75 years old. All subjects were administered the Life Satisfaction Index A …

Changes Towards Internal Locus Of Control As A Function Of Improving Time Management Skills, Linda Brockmeyer

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Locus of Control (LOC) refers to the generalized expectancy that one controls the events in his/her life (internal orientation) or that events are controlled by other forces, such as luck (external orientation). According to many reviews of the extensive LOC literature, it is beneficial to have an internal rather than an external orientation. For example, desirable characteristics such as personal adjustment, high self-esteem, good job performance and job satisfaction are associated with internal LOC. This study was undertaken to identify and test a model which could be of use in an organizational setting for promoting the belief in internal control. …

Children's Attributional Style And Length Of Stay In An Alternative Education Program, William E. Pinnell

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has linked attributional style in children to self-esteem, loneliness, depression, general distress, and reading persistence to the learning disabled. The current study sough to determine if specific attributional styles in children were correlated with their length of stay in a behaviorally based Alternative Education program. Sixty-two first-grade through sixth-grade children were recruited from two Alternative Education campuses in Polk County, Florida. They each completed two administrations of the Children's Attributional Style Questionnaire (CASQ), separated by a two-week interval, and one administration of the performance Expectation Questionnaire, (PEQ), which assessed the children's expectation of their ability to perform tasks …

Behavioral Problems Among Sexually Abused And Nonabused Children, Kelli B. Mills

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the level of social competency and presence of behavioral problems associated with young sexually abused children ages 4 to 8, as compared to those among a comparable sample of nonabused young children. Thirty-two parents or guardians, 16 in each group, completed the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist for each child. Characteristics of the abuse were addressed on an additional questionnaire. Data was collected on 12 female and 4 male children in each group. The results indicated that the amount and severity of behavior problems was greater and social competency levels were lower among the sexually abused children than …

Cognitive And Social Desirability Factors In Marital Adjustment For A Sample Of Retired Older Adults, Priscilla B. Wilson

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated cognitive components of marital adjustment and the role of social desirability response sets in a sample of retired older adults. It was hypothesized that higher marital adjustment scores would correlate negatively with dysfunctional beliefs concerning marriage. The objectives of the study were to identify which irrational beliefs are related to higher and lower levels of marital adjustment, and to determine the extent to which higher adjustment scores reflect the tendency to respond in a socially desirable manner. The sample consisted of 45 married couples, each partner of which was retired and aged 65 years or older. Assessment …

An Evaluation Of A Parent Sex Education Program, Janice Devlin

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Sex education during childhood and adolescence is much more than a "birds and bees" discussion between a mother and a daughter or a seventh-grade science unit on human reproduction. It is, rather, a pervasive experience involving children's everyday interactions with friends, family, and their wider social environments. Elizabeth Roberts (1980) has developed a framework for understanding sexuality that emphasizes the broad-based nature of sexual learning. She focuses on six dimensions of sexuality which are socially learned: gender role, affection and intimacy, family roles and social life styles, body image, erotic experiences, and reproduction. The role of the family in each …

Psychological Effects Of Divorce On Children: A Developmental Approach, Arlene Iasimone

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of The Extent Of Agreement On The Implementation Of Instructional Design Principles Among Corporate Training And Development Experts, Elba C. Grovdahl

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A sample of corporate instructional designers and professors of instructional design completed the "Corporate Instructional Design Scale." The data yielded information on the extent of agreement that descriptive statements identified conventionally and systematically designed instruction.

Descriptive and asymmetric log linear (statistical) analyses were conducted. In the asymmetric log linear analyses, the extent of agreement was used as the dependent variable. The three independent variables with three levels each were Program type (conventionally designed instruction, both conventionally and systematically designed instruction, and systematically designed instruction), Instructional component (instructional intents, instructional strategies, and instructional assessments), and Trainer type (professional trainers in manufacturing, …

Development Of A Prototype Auditory Training Computer Program For Hearing Impaired Preschoolers, Leslie R. Doster

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A computer program which pairs auditory stimuli with visual stimuli was developed for the purpose of providing auditory training for the hearing impaired. It utilizes a Texas Instruments 99 /4A computer and Extended BASIC programming language which allows considerable graphics and sound capability. The lessons make full use of the sixteen colors available and the sound is provided three ways: Texas Instruments speech synthesizer, the computer itself (musical tones and noise), and by tape recorder which is controlled by the computer.

Focus of the lessons, which are designed for children ages three to five, is awareness of sound, environmental sounds, …

Self Confrontation Versus The Cosby Show's Effect On Young And Old Adolescent's Value Systems, Cathy A. Sauer

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Volunteer Activity On Psychosocial Adjustment Among The Elderly, William R. Criss

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This research was carried out to determine if psychosocial adjustment improves for elderly persons engaged in volunteer activity. Questionnaires were completed by 27 persons aged 60 or over before and two months after beginning volunteer activity at one of 33 Florida community hospitals. A control group of 37 persons without hospital volunteer experience also completed these two questionnaires, which covered several aspects of psychosocial adjustment, including self-esteem, life satisfaction, sense of control, optimism, anxiety, depression and somatization. An analysis of covariance with repeated measures indicated that there was no significant improvement in subjective well-being associated with volunteer activity after accounting …