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Teachers' Growth/Development And The Organizational Climate Of Elementary Schools, Louise Birch

Dissertations

The purposes of the study were: (a) to determine the types of professional development in which elementary teachers voluntarily participated and the extent of that participation, and (b) to investigate the relationships between school climate and teachers' participation, enrollment size and teachers' participation, and enrollment size and school climate.

The survey included all of the 356 regular elementary school teachers in two southwestern Michigan school districts who each held a tenured position and was assigned to a building with the same principal for at least the 1980-81 and 1981-82 years. The number of schools was 15 in District A and …

Modification Of Staff Behavior In A Mental Health Center, Craig Wendell Knapp

Dissertations

Behavioral research which has focused on improving employee behavior in business and human service organizations has pointed to an increasing need to develop simple, effective management tools which will maintain appropriate behavior changes. The purpose of the present study was to explore the controlling relationship between behavior and variables previously cited in the literature, and to develop a procedure to increase and maintain the amount of time which employees in a mental health center spent on priority activities defined by management.

Eleven male and female employees in four programs of a mental health center were exposed to conditions in which …

A Study Of Hypnotic Age Regression Using The Rorschach Scored By The Exner Comprehensive System, Scott William Trylch

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to compare Rorschach results of hypnotically age regressed subjects with three groups of controls: deeply hypnotized, hypnotizable simulators, and minimally susceptible simulators. The study tested the null hypothesis that hypnotically age regressed subjects differ significantly from subjects in deep hypnosis, hypnotizable simulators, and minimally susceptible simulators on Rorschach scores when scored by the Exner Comprehensive System. A second null hypothesis was that there would be no difference between the age regressed subjects and the three control groups in correspondence to the Exner age norms.

The 24 volunteer subjects were screened for psychological problems, then …

A Behaviorally-Based Graduate Practicum Program In Applied Behavior Analysis, James Harper Kaye

Dissertations

Although practica are often required of psychology students at various points during their graduate training, seldom are any resulting skills described and validated. Faculty are occasionally involved in campus-based clinics which serve some practicum students; however, when practica are based off-campus, faculty are seldom directly involved. As a result, practica are frequently uncoordinated, duplicative, and non-specific in terms of their practicum student training procedures.

Although there have been some attempts reported to systematize and coordinate either off-campus or on-campus practica, no such effort has been previously reported in relation to multiple complex organizations, both on-campus and off-campus.

In the present …

Community Education, A Cooperative Effort, Mary Tracey

Masters Theses

The summer of 1981 was the period of an internship with the community education programs of Grandville, Jenison, and Hudsonville. It offered the opportunity to work closely with the directors of the three programs and to become actively involved in these programs. Special projects to work on were assigned in addition to the regular duties of the community education directors. One new program was introduced and put into operation during the internship; another was proposed but not accepted and referred back to a citizens ’ advisory committee. This paper will show how the three communities work together to share materials, …

The Importance Of, And Capability To Perform, Program Evaluation As Perceived By Wisconsin District Media Directors, Roger Leslie Hartz

Dissertations

Working from a theoretical framework developed by merging the CIPP Evaluation Model with the concepts of formative and summative evaluation, this study attempted to discover the perceptions of Wisconsin school district instructional media directors regarding the importance of, and capability to perform, various types of evaluation activity.

Two survey instruments were developed, pilot tested, and administered to Wisconsin school district media directors. One form, administered to half of the population, sought information about the importance of the evaluation activities. The second form, administered to the remainder of the population, sought information about the perceived capability to perform the evaluation activities. …

Intelligibility Of Speech Produced With An Artificial Larynx At Various Frequencies, Sandra Arlene Merritt

Masters Theses

Word intelligibility scores of 21 listeners were used to test the hypothesis that speech intelligibility will vary systematically across speakers and fundamental frequency of electrolarynx vibration.

Twenty-one listeners transcribed audio recorded lists of CVC utterances produced with an electrolarynx by 3 speakers at each of five fundamental frequencies.

Comparative analysis of scores across frequencies and speakers were discussed in terms of:

a) source transmission characteristics of "electrolaryngeal" speech, b) implications for diagnosis/therapeusis of alaryngeal speakers.

Results indicated that intelligibility scores were significantly different between speakers and between frequencies within speakers. Maximum intelligibility scores were more highly correlated with certain frequencies …

Hemispheric Perception Of Modulated Rhythmic Patterns In A Dichotic Listening Task, Belinda Sue Ford Murray

Masters Theses

This study attempted to determine ear advantage in a dichotic listening task involving perception of tempo modulation (decrease.or increase) within repeating rhythmic patterns at initial tempi of 80 mm or 160 mm. Ear advantage was measured by reaction times to and accuracy of modulation detection.

The subjects were thirty right-handed nonmusicians with normal hearing. The rhythms were pure tones generated in real time on an Apple II computer and presented through headphones. The subjects' task was to depress a designated computer key as soon as the modulation was detected. The computer recorded each subject's response and reaction time.

Reaction time …

The Effects Of Pre And Post-Performance Review Goal Setting On Subsequent Job Performance In A Human Services Setting, Christie L. Kleinhuizen

Masters Theses

Researchers investigating the effects, of performance appraisals and. goal setting techniques have focused on laboratory (rather than field) settings and/or have relied on self-report or anecdotal data to draw their conclusions. The major objectives of the present study were to examine the effects of 1) goal setting on actual job performance in a community organizational setting and 2) performance appraisals on both subsequent job performance and goals set. Two male and two female counselors in a residential treatment center served as subjects in the study which utilized a multiple baseline design. The performance of l8 repetitive administrative/custodial tasks were measured …

The Use Of Twilight Training In The Treatment Of Cigarette Smoking Behavior, John Joseph Seltenreich

Masters Theses

This study involved the application of a relatively new biofeedback training procedure known as twilight training to the treatment of cigarette smoking behavior. Twilight training is the facilitation of a state of low arousal, whereupon audio material designed to affect the health of the subject is presented. Two subjects received training, and the results showed no change in their frequency of smoking and no ability to enhance the twilight state with training. Although the amount of training received differed between the two subjects, there were no differences noted between them. Possible reasons for present results and probable changes for future …

A Report Of An Internship In The Admissions And Counseling Office At Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Constance M. Speers

Masters Theses

This paper describes an internship which was completed in the Admissions office of a community college in Michigan. A rationale for the internship is presented in Chapter I. An outline of the prospectus objectives is also included in the first chapter. Chapter II describes the experiences encountered during the internship. Administrative experiences with the associate dean of students are related, as are those involved in the accomplishment of two special projects. These projects were: To develop a career guidance program for the college, and to investigate special characteristics of applicants who never matriculated. The third chapter analyzes the internship experience …

The Relationship Of Treatment Team Interpersonal Communication To Staff To Client Relationships In A Residential Treatment Setting, Martin L. Mitchell

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the nature of the relationship between treatment team interpersonal communication and staff to client relationships in a residential treatment setting. Through the use of the Staff Environmental Survey and the Youth Environmental Survey, questions pertaining to treatment team interpersonal communication were correlated to questions pertaining to staff to client relationships.

The subjects utilized for the study were the staff and clients of The Starr Commonwealth Schools' residential treatment program located in Albion, Michigan.

The responses of subjects from 14 treatment teams were correlated to the responses of subjects from 14 groups of …

The Relationship Between Organizational Structure And Support For Employee Communication Skill Improvement, Roberta M. Supnick

Dissertations

In order to examine the relationship, if any, between an organization's structure and the propensity of that organization to support communication training for its employees, 16 small manufacturing firms located in southwestern Michigan were selected for study. Firms were determined to exhibit organic, mechanistic or mixed structures based on managers' perceptions of centralization, formalization, impersonalization and task specialization within the company. Each firm was also judged to exist in either an uncertain or stable environment. Support for communication training in each company was assessed from personnel directors' responses to questions concerning programs offered, employees involved, frequency of offerings and percentage …

The Power Of The School Business Official In The Decision-Making Processes Of The Boards Of Education In Selected Michigan School Districts, Robert Del Fein

Dissertations

The literature demonstrates that the dramatic growth in school district size and the increased technical complexity within which school systems must now operate have forced local boards of education into dependence relationships with their key administrative personnel. Consequently, school business officials were thought to be in a position to exercise considerable influence in the decision-making processes of their boards of education because of the technical aspects and uncertainties associated with the responsibilities of that particular role function. It is the nature and extent of this potential for influence which was the focal point of this investigation.

The methodology used for …

An Exploration Of The Relationship Among Rhetorical Sensitivity, Communication Apprehension, And Nonverbal Decoding Ability, Mary Aileen Palanca

Masters Theses

This study explored the potential relationship which might exist among rhetorical sensitivity, communication apprehension, and nonverbal decoding ability. Three measuring instruments, the Rhetorical Sensitivity Scale, the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension, and the Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity, were administered to 109 participants, 68 females and 41 males. Gender and age were examined to see what effect they might have on the potential relationship. No relationship was found among rhetorical sensitivity, communication apprehension, and nonverbal decoding ability. In addition, no relationship was found between gender and the three variables or between age and the three variables. However, it is important to …

Effects Of Contingency Contracting On The Academic Performance Of Special Education Students, Carolyn Marie Nock

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of contingency contracting between parent and child on improving the academic performance of three special education students, ages 14-16, enrolled in a mainstream English class. Two of the subjects had been certified as emotionally impaired, the third as learning disabled. A multiple baseline across-subjects experimental design was employed. The completion of three academic contracts per week entitled the subjects to receive a contract consequence which the parents delivered. The parents determined contract completion based on specified criteria. Academic performance was measured by grades the subjects received on homework, tests, and …

Pastoral Production Systems In Eastern Africa: A Comparative Analysis, Stephen Speranza

Masters Theses

This thesis aims at examining variations in pastoral production systems of some Eastern African pastoral societies. It explores interactive models for such variations which focus on specific ecological, socioeconomic and social-structural factors of pastoral production per se. These models highlight some of the factors which create differing degrees of homogeneity or heterogeneity among Eastern African pastoral societies in general.

This problem is of intrinsic interest in anthropology because of the general lack of consensus as to the major factors related to pastoral variations in Eastern Africa or more importantly, in determining which factors are directly responsible for influencing modes of …

Western News, July 15, 1982, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: USSC appeals deadline is extended, Former Campus School faculty member dies, Over $450,000 in gifts and grants announced at June meeting of Board of Trustees, Annual Bronco golf outing will be July 26, Dalton Center is site for vocal jazz concert

Western News, July 8, 1982, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: UCCS evaluation phase completed, Future Board of Trustees meetings listed, Warning! File cabinets may pose a hazard, Mission statement is approved by Trustees, Emeritus writes 'Easiest to Read' textbook, McIntosh beats out Russian runners, Computer Center will offer free DPL workshop

Reading Horizons Vol. 22, No. 4

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Complete issue of Reading Horizons volume 22, issue 4.

Helping Children Construct Meaning: Comprehension Strategies That Work!, Barbara Johnson

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

There has been widespread concern that students in today' s educational system are not comprehending what they read. Reading comprehension can be taught (Durkin, 1978-79; Pearson & Johnson, 1978); however, Durkin reports that almost no comprehension instruction was found in grades three through six. Less than 1% of classroom time was spent on direct instruction in reading comprehension. Durkin further reports that an adequate definition of reading comprehension instruction could not be found in research reports or other educational publications. Lack of comprehension instruction may be due to the fact that teachers have not acquired an adequate understanding of reading …

A Comparison Of Syntactic Structures In First-Graders' Oral And Written Language, Linda Lehnert

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

If an elementary program included writing activities from the beginning of first grade, migpt students' written language be as syntactically complex as their oral language? A review of the literature found no study in which a comparison of syntactic features had been made between first-graders' oral and written utterances. The purpose of the present study, therefore, was to compare the same subjects' oral and written language samples. Using T-unit analysis, 19 first-graders' oral and written language samples were compared to determine similarities and differences in specific syntactic structures.

Redundancy And Readability, Alice S. Horning

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Redundancy is, in itself something of an unknown quantity, and a number of researchers have been experimenting on it (Horning, 1979). Several years ago, H. J. Hsia, a Texas Tech communications theorist, clarified several different types of redundancy, providing important insights into the ways in which these different types of redundancy contribute to readability (Hsia, 1977). Hsia's research helps to isolate some of the unknown elements in readability, and these elements look as if they have the potential to bond neatly to the textual analysis system proposed in great detail by Walter Kintsch of the University of Colorado (Kintsch, 1974). …

Beginning Readers' Perceptions Of Reading And Reading Instruction, Beverly Swanson

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

The purpose of this paper is to briefly review relevant research concerned with the child's perception of reading, and to examine possible reasons for the confusion.

Getting Started In The Fall: Organized Reading Instruction, James F. Baumann

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Based upon data from the preceding year, the teachers form reading groups, hand out the basals, and jump right into reading instruction. There are several disadvantages, however, in initiating a reading program in this manner. First, records indicating prior placements may not be accurate predictors of current placements: past reading group assignments themselves may have been inaccurate, and/or children may have regressed ( or possibly progressed) in reading ability over the summer. Second, teachers need time to get to know each individual child and his/her reading strengths and weaknesses before determining an instructional level and assigning him/her to a reading …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Regular Meeting June 25, 1982, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

• Acceptance of the Agenda
• Minutes
• Correspondence
• President's Remarks
• Academic Personnel Report
• Non-Academic Personnel Report
• Gift and Grant Report
• Western Michigan University Board of Trustees Meeting Dates for 1982/83
• Revision of 1981/82 General Fund Operating Budget
• Resolution re Building Maintenance and Repair Projects
• Continuation of Budget for 1982/83
• Recommendation re Fall Semester 1982 Tuition Schedule
• Recommendation re Student Health Maintenance Fee
• Recommendation re Purchase of Bond
• Recommendation re Signing of Contract for John E. Fetzer Business Development Center
• Mission Statement
• Board Committee Reports
• Public Comments
• Adjournment

Western News, June 17, 1982, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: First phase of Intellectual Skills Development Program approved, McCaslin is successful candidate, Libraries announce special 'break' hours, Radio program is on 'Women and College', Computer Center workshops are scheduled, Cooley writes study of black portraits

Western News, June 3, 1982, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Dinner honoring retirees will be Friday, Saturday is Emeriti Council public auction, Cultural fund-raising group is renamed, Board of Trustees gives approval to promotions for 57 faculty members, Budget Reductions in Academic Affairs: Trimming curricular sails, Trader is Distinguished Marketing Educator

The Westerner Vol. 2 No. 6, Western Michigan University

The Westerner (1980-1997)

• Students urged to seek loons quickly • Automotive sleuths assist police with accident probes • Board expresses concern over proposed federal aid cuts • MAGS honors students, faculty members • Atlas of state's groundwater resources published • Among Alumni • Alumnotes • Sports

Bulletin - Western Michigan University: The Graduate Catalog 1982-1984 , Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University Course Catalogs (1904-present)

• Section I: General Policies and Procedures • Section II: Master's Degree Programs and Requirements • Section III: Specialist Degree Programs and Requirements • Section IV: Doctoral Degree Programs and Requirements • Section V: Description of Graduate Courses • Section VI: The Graduate Faculty