Digital Commons Network^™

The Job Search Process In Michigan 1990-1991, Zhuoyan Gu

Dissertations

Two statewide general public surveys of non-retired adults conducted in March of 1990 and 1991 were analyzed to examine patterns of job search activity. Primary attention was placed on the 1991 survey. The core questions asked were about preferences for future job search media in terms of the respondents' past job seeking experiences . The general pattern observed was a movement away from the public state employment service towards "informal" contacts. There were, however, important differences in terms of the respondents' age, sex, education, occupation, and prior employment experiences.

The Effects Of Two Motivational Factors On Accuracy And Persistence For Second Graders, Jesse D. Baker

Dissertations

Promoting and maintaining motivation in elementary students is an ongoing problem. This study hypothesized that (a) feedback has a greater motivational effect on persistence and on accuracy for second graders than does no feedback, and (b) knowledge of results feedback has a greater motivational effect than does pleasant feeling tone feedback. Evidence from the study showed mixed support for the hypotheses.

The study compared two forms of feedback and the absence of feedback. One group received praise in the form of general, positive statements—classified as feeling tone—about their work while completing mathematics computational portions of the second grade 1989 Stanford …

A Comparison Of Strategic Decision Task Variable Analysis Between School And Business Executives, Peter A. Behnke

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between school and business executives when making strategic decisions through a comparison of task variable analysis skills. The hypothesis for the study was: After reading a case study describing a strategic decision- making situation, business executives will have more correct responses than school executives on an author written evaluation instrument. The evaluation instrument was designed to measure the subjects' analysis skills of 10 different decision-making task variables.

Thirty Wisconsin school district superintendents and 30 business executives were randomly selected to participate in the study. The results indicated that the difference …

The Identification And Validation Of Sociopsycholinguistic Strategies For Integrating Reading And Writing At The Postsecondary Level, Gail L. Landberg

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify a common set of strategies as determined by two panels of experts (practitioners and theorists), which reflected a sociopsycholinguistic teaching model integrating reading and writing processes on the postsecondary level.

At the present time approximately 30% of the students entering college have some type of skill need, and tertiary institutions have been compelled to admit this type of developmental student to survive financially. Higher education has responded to this crisis by providing developmental programs to assist students in improving their basic skills.

Despite the fact that recent educational research on language acquisition …

A Fracture Analysis Of Glacial Tills In Southwest Michigan, Ralph L. Freed

Masters Theses

Fractures were recorded and measured at seven southwest Michigan glacial till locations to identify geometry and spacing. Strong preferred orientations were shown at azimuths of 110° and 140° for two sites, and at azimuths of 85°, 110°, and 135°, and at 44° and 167° for two sites. Several sites had numerous oblique fractures.

Thirty-eight azimuthal Wenner arrays and four Schlumberger surveys show apparent resistivities vary widely with depth of penetration and material composition. Eleven percent of azimuthal surveys show an elliptical data array coinciding with preferred orientation of an adjacent fracture set. The relationship between azimuthal survey and fractures is …

Using American Sign Language With A Direct Instruction Mathematics Program To Affect The Mathematics Achievement Of Deaf Students, Annette J. Bass

Masters Theses

The effectiveness of supplemental instruction using a scripted direct instruction program, Connecting Math Concepts (Englemann & Carnine, 1992), with four lower elementary deaf students was compared to the effectiveness of supplemental instruction in their traditional math curriculum, Mathematics Today (Abbott, 1985). A two-phase multiple baseline design across students was used. During the first phase, the students' achievement on curricula-based math probes was assessed while using the Mathematics Today as a supplement. During the second phase, the students' achievement was assessed while using Connecting Math Concepts as a supplement. The teacher presentation scripts in this program were translated into American Sign …

Signal Processing With Neural Networks, Pero Smrzlic

Masters Theses

In this study, we introduce the Adaptive Back Propagation (ABP) learning algorithm, computationally superior to the standard Back Propagation. The ABP is based on the new activation function, with its corresponding adaptive learning parameter. By using the combination of computer simulations and analysis in the domain of activation function, the Method of One Hidden layer was developed for the effective utilization of units in one-hidden layer networks. A parallel version of the ABP was designed and implemented on a nCUBE-2 supercomputer with 128 processors.

The simulation results suggested a strong correlation between frequency of signals and the role of hidden …

Investigation Of Electron Transfer From Carbonylmetallate Anions To Electron Acceptors, Joseph Kofi Agyin

Masters Theses

This study investigated electron transfer potential of the carbonyl-metallate anions cyclopentadienylirondicarbonyl and methylcyclopentadienyliron-dicarbonyl anions to the electron acceptors 2,2-dinitropropane, 1,1-dinitrocyclohexane, $\alpha$,p-dinitrocumene, methyl cyclopentadienyl-mercury(II) chloride and iodide.

The findings from this study indicated that: (a) the expected products could not be obtained from reactions of the anions with the dinitro-substrates, and (b) the mercurials reacted with the anions but the expected products, (ferrocene and methylferrocene), was the minor product and an unexpected (methyl) cyclopentadienylirondicarbonylmercury(II)-chloride or iodide was the major product.

The Effects Of Composting Of Yard Wastes On The Ground-Water Quality: Wmu Farms Site, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Bryan Kirk Allen

Masters Theses

In the rush to find alternatives to landfilling of yard waste, federal and state agencies have identified composting as the main solution. There is therefore a need to address the possible environmental problems which could be associated with such composting operations. Compost may contain nutrients, organic acids, pesticides, and metals which could leach through soils to the ground water posing a potential contamination problem.

At the WMU Farms Site, two sites have been used for the composting of leaves by the City of Kalamazoo. The physical and chemical hydrogeology of these sites were characterized.

The results suggest that the presence …

Enhanced Retroreflection Of Light From Rough Metal Surfaces, Sivakumar Natarajan

Masters Theses

The optical constants n and k measured by Johnson and Christy (1972) for the noble metals (gold, silver and copper) are used to analyze the relationship between the surface characteristics and the peak height and half-width of the backscattering peak which is observed in the angular distribution of the intensity of diffusely reflected light at a vacuum-metal interface in a direction antiparallel to the original incident beam. Surfaces with surface roughness of heights less than 200 A to 300 A will be considered and a recently developed perturbation treatment will be used in these studies.

The backscattering of light from …

Groundwater Chemistry Analysis Of The Saginaw Formation In Delhi Township, Michigan, Sam L. Kitchin

Masters Theses

Groundwater chemistry and well data provided by the Ingham County (Michigan) Health Department were used to evaluate the distribution of inorganic chemical constituents in the groundwater flow system of the Saginaw Formation, in Delhi Township, Michigan. The data also were used to study the distribution of chemical constituents with respect to different rock types of the Saginaw Formation. The data were analyzed to examine if variations in the concentrations of the chemical constituents and the values of other chemical parameters relate to rock-water interactions, groundwater flow systems, or groundwater contamination.

The results indicate that patterns of increasing or decreasing concentrations …

Laboratory Studies Of Filter Pack Grain-Size Distributions And Hydrophobic Treatments To Enhance The Recovery Of Free-Phase Floating Hydrocarbons, Hugh Garret Heuvelhorst

Masters Theses

Experiments were conducted in laboratory sand tanks to evaluate filter pack design criteria in an effort to improve free-product hydrocarbon recovery from sand aquifers. Filter sands were prepared and installed in the test tanks to examine the relative efficiency of two different grain sizes and two different grain-size distributions to imbibe kerosene from the formation sand and release it to their respective wells. Treatments of different chemical products were applied to other filter sands to create a hydrophobic coating on the grains. The hydrophobic coatings were tested on filter sands of different grain sizes and grain-size distributions and compared to …

The Hydrogeology Of Bonnie Castle And Dustin Lakes And Its Relationship To Groundwater Contamination From The Kl Avenue Landfill, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, Joseph S. Hobin

Masters Theses

The objectives of this investigation were to explain the hydrogeology of Bonnie Castle and Dustin Lakes and to assess the water quality of the lake environments with respect to possible impact from the KL Avenue Landfill.

The surface water/groundwater relationship was determined by the installation of mini-piezometer nests and seepage meters at selected study stations along the shoreline of each lake. Field data were augmented with groundwater and surface water chemical analyses, lake depth profiles and geologic cross-sections.

The result of this research was the characterization of Bonnie Castle Lake as a perched recharge lake and Dustin Lake as a …

Western News, May 20,1993, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Haenicke urges employees to learn about ballot initiative, Byle; Kundel selected for Distinguished Service Awards, Three departments in student affairs renamed; Bryan chosen for position in Career Services, Capozzi on research council, Bernhard Center to become smoke free Tuesday, June 1.

Western News, May 6,1993, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Miller remembered for leadership during great growth, Haenicke testifies before House subcommittee; legislators concerned about tuition, compensation, 2,500 expected here for 28th Medieval Congress, New Mathematics Education Center previewed, Gary Fund moves to WMU Foundation offices.

28th International Congress On Medieval Studies, Medieval Institute, Western Michigan University

International Congress on Medieval Studies Archive

The printed program of the 28th International Congress on Medieval Studies (May 6-9, 1993).

The Investigation Of Object-Oriented Methodology As An Enabling Technique For End-User Application Development, Eng Chong Lim

Honors Theses

This research studies the value of object-oriented methods to design information systems that can then be developed and implemented by end-users.

Western News, April 15, 1993, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Reish chosen as dean of Lee Honors College, WMU program putting first-grade readers back on track, Smith earns highest tribute from state organization, Stenesh book offers new approach to biochemistry, Maier directing project to compile oral history recorded by prominent Kalamazoo physician, Castel book on Civil War wins prestigious prize.

Wobbling Gear Drivetrain For Cordless Screwdriver, David K. Kedrowski, Scott P. Slimak

Honors Theses

Manufacturers of cordless screwdrivers use two planetary gear trains in series to reduce speed and multiply torque from a small electric motor. Alternately, a nutating gear drivetrain has the potential to create comparable speed reductions and torque multiplications. To apply nutating gear theory to a cordless screwdriver drivetrain, a study of spur gears, planetary gear reducers, bevel gears, and the theory of nutation was undertaken. Finally, a nutating design was proposed. The advantages of a nutating gear drivetrain over a conventional planetary gear train include: a decreased number of drivetrain parts, an ability to use lower-strength gear materials, a higher …

Western News, April 8, 1993, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Founding director and new graduates will share the limelight in Lee Honors College observance, From two to 276 students - Department of Occupational Therapy has come a long way, Noted Australian entomologist will lead sessions as part of Visiting Scholars and Artists Program, Race relations institute works to ease tensions with seminars for city of Kalamazoo employees.

Western News, April 1, 1993, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Senate approves lion's share of proposal for revised general education policy, WMU 'committed to proper zoning' for most of research and business park land, official says, Undergraduate researchers to showcase work, Sharma, Ellin to lead Faculty Senate in 1993-94.

Point-Counterpoint: Value Of School Textbooks, Alan M. Frager, Maureen Vanterpool

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Educators frequently are involved in textbook adoptions in various content areas, an important activity because textbook programs may define school curricula by dictating what is taught, in what sequence, and for how long. Recently, education groups have criticized school textbooks for being boring, incoherent, and "dumbed-down." Viewed from one perspective the selection of new textbooks offers little hope for improving the school reading program because by their nature textbooks can inhibit the teaching of thinking. Viewed from a different perspective, textbooks offer the potential for much improvement in the reading program, if features of the text are used to the …

Reading Horizons Vol. 33, No. 4

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Complete Issue of Reading Horizons, volume 33, issue 4.

Robust Rank-Based Inference Procedures In The Heteroscedastic Linear Model, Sherry L. Dixon

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Topology Based Routing Algorithms For Multilayer Ic Layout Design, Moazzem Hossain

Masters Theses

In this thesis, we consider the multilayer topological routing problem and also the geometric routing problem based on topological routing solution. We show that the problem of multilayer topological planar routing for any arbitrary routing region can be modeled as a problem in a simple closed routing region. We also show that the solution to the multilayer planar routing leads to a better result of the topological via minimization problem. We present a provably-good approximation algorithm for the multilayer topological planar routing problem for different routing regions.

We also propose a graph theoretic algorithm to find 2-layer topological solutions that …

Middle Terminal Cell Models For Efficient Over-The-Cell Routing, Siddharth Bhingarde

Masters Theses

In this thesis, we introduce a new class of cell models called Middle Terminal Models (MTM) which combines the advantages of existing cell models: BTM and CTM. This class contains the models 2MTM, 3MTM-V, and 3MTM+V depending on the number of metal layers and the permissibility of vias in over-the-cell areas. In MTM, two rows of terminals are located in the middle of the cell. This partitions over-the-cell area into three regions and allows allocation of more nets to over-the-cell area in congested channels. We prove that when vias are allowed over-the-cell, in "almost all" cases the MTM based layouts …

Story Writing By Students With Hearing Impairments, Lois A. Ketchum

Masters Theses

Students with hearing impairments (N = 21) wrote a personal narrative each academic year from 1990 to 1992. These narratives were rated on maturity of the story as a whole and maturity of the language used in the story by senior undergraduate students in the education department at Western Michigan University. The method used for rating was a holistic magnitude estimation technique.

Significant change over time was found for story scores, but not language scores. Grade level was found to have no significant effect on change from first to last ratings for either story scores or language scores. Degree of …

The Impact Of Test Sophistication On Tenth Grade Students’ Michigan Educational Assessment Program (Meap) Scores, Iris Williams

Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether test sophistication training would result in more tenth grade students achieving performance levels on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) subtests in mathematics and reading which would entitle them to receive the state endorsed diploma.

Two groups of English II students (grade 10) from the same school participated in the study. One group received test sophistication instruction, and the other received no treatment. During the test sophistication training, students were instructed using the Ace That Test Preparation for Success Student Guide (Yarosz & Yarosz, 1991a) which was based on the …

A Comparison Of The Hutchings’ Low-Stress, Factor Analysis, Hand-Held Calculator, And Conventional Addition Algorithms For Speed, Accuracy, And Preference With Regular Education Students, John C. Hampel

Masters Theses

Three repeated measures experiments were conducted to determine the efficiency with which medium and low math-achieving, fourth- and fifth-grade students computed two sizes of addition problems using each of four different algorithms. The experimenter selected the conventional algorithm and the hand-held calculator because they are currently in popular use. The experimenter selected the Hutchings' low-stress and factor analysis algorithms because of their demonstrated performance enhancing characteristics and unique design features. The three written algorithms represented a design continuum that facilitated a powerful deductive analysis.

In all conditions the Hutchings' low-stress algorithm produced incrementally superior performance consistent with its unique features. …

Impurity Modes In Photonic Band Structures, Yi-Fen Chang

Masters Theses

In this thesis I study a theoretical model of one-dimensional dielectric array (a layered system of dielectric slabs) which forms a periodic dielectric system in which band gaps are opened in the frequency spectrum. Specifically, we study such a one-dimensional array with linear impurities introduced in the periodic dielectric system. In these impurity structures narrow resonant modes are found in the band gaps as impurity modes and these impurity modes change with the dielectric constant. This impurity problem is similar to the donor and acceptor state problem in electronic semiconductors. The calculations presented in this thesis are based on numerically …