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Dispelling The Mystery About Comprehension: Kintsch's Model And Implications For Instruction, Donald J. Richgels

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Reading comprehension can be described as the result of a successful interaction of a reader with a text. Schema theory and linguistic theory are valuable for what they have to say about the parties to that interaction. Both bodies of theory have influenced cognitive psychologists' descriptions of the mental processes involved in comprehension (cf. Richgels, 1982). A brief description of each will provide some "prior knowledge" to make understanding of Kintsch's model of comprehension easier.

Children's Linguistic Insight: What We Think We Know, Camille Blachowicz

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Our first goal in this paper is to deal with the title. A second goal will be to highlight some of the research in this area which speaks to the teacher of reading.

Reading Gains Of Students In A College Reading Laboratory, Charles E. Heerman

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

In this study, non-content related reading instruction was provided in a laboratory setting through a semester-long course which met for three hours per week. Students receive grade points for the course, but the course does not count for graduation credit.

Reading Horizons Vol. 24, No. 3.

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Complete issue of Reading Horizons volume 24, issue 3.

Community Mental Health Attitudes, Fenimore William Johnson

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare community mental health attitudes of the past and the present, and between mental health workers and the public. The results indicate that the public is better informed and more favorably disposed toward the mentally ill today than was true several decades ago. Some stereotypes persist, however, and the mentally ill are still regarded less favorably than are other disability groups. Mental health workers and the public appear to be similar in their endorsement of a medical approach to treatment, although the former endorse more strongly a community-based treatment orientation. There was no …

Public Universities And Societal Development – Application Of The Ideal Type Methodology In The Case Studies Of Addis Ababa University And Michigan State University, Solomon Wako

Dissertations

The role of higher education in societal development has been addressed by a number of scholars in various fields including sociology. Though these scholars virtually agree on the importance of university education, they have not identified the type of the university that facilitates the kind of societal development they advocate. Therefore, this study is concerned with the construction of a theoretical model of the ideal type university that will facilitate the conceptualization of societal development for Ethiopia and the USA. The study employs Weber's ideal type methodology which simply refers to the construction of certain elements of reality into logically …

The Problem Of Reductionism In Theories Of Hemispheric Specialization And Recovery Of Functions, Grant Jackson Butterbaugh

Masters Theses

A selective review of functional and anatomical hemispheric asymmetries in humans confirms the doctrine of hemispheric specialization. However, the post-insult phenomenon of recovery of functions challenges theories that posit too strict a correspondence between anatomical structures and functions. Follow-up studies on hemispherectomized and hemidecorticated patients, who later recovered language, support a hypothesis of hemispheric redundancy, rather than "invariant" hemispheric specialization for language. Thus, through an evolutionary selection process, the brain may have developed as two potentially similar organs. Neuropsychological research on recovery phenomena is criticized as neglecting environmental contributions to recovery. Several models of hemispheric specialization are compared with recovery …

The Training Of A Few Response Forms Under Multiple Controlling Variables, Mary-Ann Wiermanski

Masters Theses

This study investigated the acquisition of a few response forms under different controlling variables using both a topography based language (TB) (i.e., signing) and a stimulus selection based language (SSB) (i.e., touching symbols) with three language deficient developmentally disabled individuals. The subjects were taught to name, to ask for, and to touch keys that opened boxes that contained some form of reinforcement. Most of the keys' names were trained across more than one set of controlling variables per session. Before training began for a given key under a new condition, a transfer test was conducted, investigating the possibility of stimulus …

A Quantitative Study Of The Copper Content In Granite Rocks, Samir F. Al-Mandwee

Masters Theses

A spectrographic analysis was conducted on ten granite samples of different geological origin from the Pioneer Mountains in Central Idaho. A qualitative analysis was performed first and then a quantitative analysis to determine the presence and relative amounts of copper in the various samples. This spectrographic analysis employed a direct current arc source of 340 volts and 4 amperes to excite the samples which were dissolved in acid and dried on the ends of high purity carbon electrodes. The emitted light passed through a step sector and a medium quartz spectrograph to a photographic plate. The optical density of the …

Perceptual Accuracy Of Affect Identification And The Relationship To Representational System And Personality Type, Richard Andrew O'Leary

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate accuracy of response to affectively laden stimuli across visual, auditory, and kinesthetic representational systems. This research was undertaken to assess subjects' individual response patterns and to distinguish possible differences in accuracy of response which subjects reported across representational systems. Subjects' response accuracy was correlated with their response frequency in subjects' representational systems. Subjects most accurate representational system was, in turn, compared to subjects' personality type. Subjects were assessed by two instruments, a modified version of the Affective Sensitivity Scale and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

Relevant literature was reviewed related to human information …

Improving Interpersonal Perceptual Accuracy And Psychological Adjustment Through Brief Perception Therapy With A Substance Abuse Population, B. Gerald Hartman

Dissertations

This study's purpose was to determine if a type of cognitive therapy, Brief Perception Therapy, (Bullmer, 1980) could improve interpersonal perceptual accuracy and psychological adjustment in a substance abuse population. Thirty-five patients seeking inpatient treatment were randomly assigned to a treatment and a comparison group. Twenty-five patients completed the three week program, 13 in the treatment group and 12 in the comparison group. The treatment group received Group Brief Perception Therapy (GBPT) and the comparison group received Regular Group Therapy (RP). Therapists were experienced master's level psychologists and social workers trained in group treatment. GBPT groups used a programmed text, …

The Relationship Between Thought Disorder And The Diagnosis Of Schizophrenia, David Frank Fatzinger

Dissertations

The diagnosis of schizophrenia has been considered unreliable, especially when derived by psychiatric interview. Thought disorder is one symptom that has been accepted by most clinicians as a major indicator of schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between thought disorder and the diagnosis of schizophrenia in a state hospital setting.

The sample consisted of 88 patients, 58 males (mean age = 32.0) and 30 females (mean age = 38.6) and was gathered from newly admitted patients in a large state hospital. Thought disorder was measured by the Whitaker Index of Schizophrenic Thinking (WIST) Form A, …

The Effects Of Meditation On Counselor Candidates' Self-Actualization, Clifton H. Burrows

Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to (1) determine the effectiveness of meditation in promoting healthy adjustment or self-actualization in counselor candidates; and (2) ascertain whether a meditation group generates a more positive change in self-actualization than do a treatment control and a control group.

The sample consisted of 39 volunteer graduate students in counselor education courses at two major universities. Three intact classes were used, with members of each group made up from the same class. Classroom groups were randomly assigned to two treatment conditions, meditation (M) and relaxation (TC), and to a third no-treatment condition (C).

Treatment was …

Effects Of Anticonvulsant Drugs On Learning And Memory, Mitchell Jon Picker

Dissertations

The effects of phenobarbital, clonazepam, valproic acid, phenytoin, and ethosuximide were examined in pigeons performing under repeated acquisition of response chains and delayed matching-to-sample procedures. In experiment I, clonazepam, valproic acid, ethosuximide, and phenytoin produced generally dose-dependent increases in rate of responding, while phenobarbital had little consistent effect on response rate across the dose range studied. Phenobarbital and clonazepam produced dose-dependent increases in error rates (i.e., learning impairment). Although valproic acid and phenytoin generally increased error rates relative to control values, this effect was not directly dose-dependent or consistent across subjects. In contrast to the other anticonvulsants examined, ethosuximide had …

The Effects Of Quantitative Information Content On Selection Strategies In A Complex Concept Formation Design, Tony B. Croke

Masters Theses

Thirty adult undergraduates and graduate students were placed in one of three quantitative information content groups. The Ss received either High, Medium or Low Information Content (IC) in a concept formation paradigm designed to study the types of problem solving strategies used by Ss under varying amounts of information content. High IC Ss produced the optimal strategy— focusing— sooner and more often than Medium or Low IC Ss. Medium IC Ss did better than low IC Ss. High IC Ss increased their use of focusing over trials, while Medium and Low IC Ss only used focusing intermittently. Medium and Low …

The Oral Self-Administration Of Nicotine In Two Groups Of Rats, Jay D. Hansor

Masters Theses

Six, adult male, Spraque-Dawley rats served as subjects in this experiment which examined whether they would self-administer a 32 microgram per milliliter or a 64- microgram per milliliter (32 ug/ml and 64 ug/ml) nicotine tartrate solution when presented concurrently with distilled water. Subjects in Group I had access to a 32 ug/ml nicotine solution and Group II subjects had access to a 64 ug/ml nicotine solution during both phases. During Phase II an "AB" reversal was implemented to ascertain whether the subjects had a side preference or if they preferred to injest nicotine. It was found that each subject in …

The Patterns Of Cultural Behavior Which Promote And Disrupt The Transmission Of Malaria In Haiti, Janet Jenks Sloan

Masters Theses

Malaria is in epidemic resurgence in the Limbe region of Haiti as a consequence of the termination of internationally-sponsored eradication programs. The presence of endemic disease cannot be considered an exclusively biophysical phenomenon; it is also an aspect of human adaptation within a particular environment. The biocultural ecology of Haiti the biocultural context must be understood and the complexity of the interaction of these factors appreciated. Any ameliorative intervention program must be based on a multiple strategy approach that is compatible with the realities of the cultural context of the human ecology of Haiti.

A Program To Teach Multiple Verbal Relations Involving A Small Number Of Response Forms, Kimberly Lou Richter

Masters Theses

As a consequence of reviewing the results of non-behavioral and behavioral approaches to language training for the language deficient, further development of an alternative approach seemed warranted. This study attempted to develop a procedure for training a functional verbal repertoire involving a new language system which consisted of originally meaningless words and symbols. Young "normal" children participated as a first step in developing this procedure. Two preschoolers were taught a few verbal responses, each controlled by several different variables. A new verbal response was then taught under the control of a few variables. Transfer of the new verbal responses under …

Feature-Value Effect, Nedra N. Zerbel

Masters Theses

Feature-value effect concerns the asymmetry obtained in the discrimination learning of pigeons and young children, based on the presence (feature-positive) versus the absence (feature-negative) of a single distinctive feature. Subjects master the discrimination problem when the distinctive feature appears on the positively-reinforced (S+) display but not necessarily when the distinctive feature appears on the non-reinforced (S-) display. This thesis replicates and examines the first (three) extensions of traditionally experimental research to human preschool populations. Six 3-5 year old children attending the Child Development Center preschool served as subjects in the experiment. The feature-positive discrimination training conditions consisted of the presentation …

The Propensity Toward Juvenile Delinquency And The Social Rehabilitation Needs Of Alternative Education Students In Western Michigan, Joseph Steven Miller

Dissertations

This study investigated the propensity toward juvenile delinquency and the social rehabilitation needs of 238 Section 48 alternative education students. The study population was comprised of students from ten Section 48 alternative education programs in Allegan, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Ottawa Counties in Michigan. The study also investigated the differences between groups of students within these programs when the independent variables of age, sex, and grade level were compared. The data were collected during one-day visits to each program. The Jesness Inventory was used to measure propensity towards juvenile delinquency and social rehabilitation needs. A t-test that compared a sample …

Geographic Place Location Knowledge: An Empirical Investigation Into The Performance Of University Undergraduate Students As A Result Of Cognitive Theory Based Instruction, Sharafat Khan

Dissertations

The major purpose of the study was to determine the effects of cognitive based Atlas Exercises and cognate materials (films, data sheets, readings from a geography book, regional examinations and map tests, book reviews, transparencies, a map module, wall maps, and slides) on the geographic place location knowledge of undergraduate university and/or college students. The research sample (n = 371) consisted of students enrolled in introductory geography courses located in three institutions of higher education in Michigan. Three researcher designed survey instruments were utilized for data collection: Background Data Questionnaire, Map Location Test I, and Map Location Test II. These …

A Geophysical Investigation Of A Possible Astrobleme In Southwestern Michigan, Suhas L. Ghatge

Masters Theses

A circular pattern to the oil production in Calvin Township, Cass County, Michigan, absence of about 1200 feet of Ordovician sediments and uplift indicated by a deep drill hole in the center of the productive area and absence of anomalies on the regional gravity and magnetic maps led to detailed gravity and magnetic surveys over this structure to delineate it and provide information regarding its genesis.

The Bouguer gravity and magnetic anomaly maps show no anomaly associated with the structure. The 28-mile wavelength second harmonic residual gravity and magnetic maps show linear features in the area. Two dimensional gravity modeling …

An Improvement In The Performance Of A Learning System For Finite State Machines, Lea F. Fuller

Masters Theses

A learning system is examined which is capable of learning a finite state machine from a class of finite state machines based on the observed behavior of the machine. The size of the search space becomes very large as the number of states in the machine increases. The size of the search space quickly becomes the limiting factor in the size of the class of machines which may be learned. An investigation is made of methods to improve the performance of the learning system. The application of a depth first approach to the development of the search space is shown …

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Student-Generated Versus Instructor-Generated Questions On The Comprehension Of Written Material, Helen Diann Pratt

Masters Theses

Twelve college students volunteered to participate in a special section of an introductory psychology course at Western Michigan University. A multiple baseline design across groups was used to assess differences in reading comprehension between students who received study objectives written by the instructor and students trained to write their own study objectives. Quizzes and examinations were used to assess students' reading comprehension of course materials. A comparison of pre- and post-test scores on the Nelson-Denny Reading Comprehension Test was used to determine whether students had acquired skills which aided their comprehension of other materials. Results indicated no statistically significant differences …

Interview Training For College Students: A Behavioral Approach Versus A Self-Help Approach, Toni Yvette Woolfork

Masters Theses

This study was designed to train college students to interview effectively for a job. Ten upper-level students were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group participated in a 16-hour training program consisting of modeling coaching, behavior rehearsal, peer and trainer feedback and instructional training. The techniques were used to train students to interview effectively, using the appropriate verbal behavior and nonverbal behavior. The control group's training consisted of a videotape and reading materials. There were significant differences between groups on the verbal behavior, but not on the nonverbal behaviors.

Western News, March 15,1984, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Engineering; Applied Sciences to host TECH EXPO, Designer and art critic to receive honorary degrees, Accounting expert to be visiting scholar, Theatrical design conference hosted by WMU, Student to travel to China next month to teach; study, Greene to direct holistic health care, Whitney Young Scholars Program set for Saturday

Improving The Mental Health Care Delivery System For Elderly Nursing Home Patients, Richard J. Caston, Sharon Kohls, Susanna Bozinovski

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

It is well known that the mental health care delivery system for aged nursing home patients is inadequate. Based on information gained from face to face interviews and from a mail survey of nursing home personnel, the range and usefulness of the resources and services available for mental health care in nursing homes are identified. This information is then used to derive recommendations for the development of a more effective mental health care delivery package for nursing homes.

Child Abuse And Mental Health: An Examination Of Some Long Term Effects For Prison Inmates, Michael J. Belyea, Matthew T. Zingraff

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study examines the effects of childhood abuse on future adult mental health. A statistically significant relationship was found between abuse and mental health problems. This relationship remained even after controlling for parental characteristics and the effects of an abusive environment. These findings suggest that one way to deal with the consequences of abuse would be to develop long term intervention strategies.

Empathy/Role Taking: A Theoretical Model For Feminist Therapy, Michele Wilson, Gayle Twilbeck Wykle

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Feminist therapy is directed not only at individual, but also at social change. Because of this dual aim of feminist therapy, the symbolic interactionist perspective, which describes individual initiative as a source of social change, is suggested as a theoretical orientation which can provide a useful model for feminist therapy. More specifically, the empathy/role-taking model for the clienttherapist relationship is outlined here.

Western News, February 9, 1984, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Student Retention Committee to focus on freshmen, Roseboom reception to be 2 to 4 p.m. next Tuesday, Natanson fund established, Applications due for management associates, Nobel Prize-winning poet in residence Feb. 20-21, Bafna receives $35,075 grant, Curtis Curtis-Smith receives ASCAP award