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The Effects Of Fading And Rule-Stating On The Instructed Reacquisition Of A Five-Link Behavioral Chain, Okechukwu S. Ozuzu

Dissertations

Although instructions tend to generate rapid and near errorless responding during acquisition, this efficiency in performance is not necessarily maintained in reacquisition. The present study addressed this issue of performance maintenance by utilizing procedures designed to strengthen the control function of instruction stimuli.

Five 6 to 10 year-old children, two females and three males, were trained in the repeated acquisition of a behavioral chain using monetary reinforcement. The operanda for the five-component behavioral chain consisted of fifteen plastic discs displayed on an intelligence pad. For each session the subjects’ task was to leam or relearn a new sequential order by …

The Behavioral And Resource Needs Assessment Of The Hispanic Community In Kalamazoo County, Roberto Flachier

Dissertations

This research was set out to assess in depth the behavioral and resource needs of the Hispanic Community in order to create a data base from which tactics of action could be developed and responsive and necessary services could be planned and initiated. Following are four of the basic assumptions that guided this research. One, Behavioral Health (BH) is directly related to the behavioral and resource base in areas necessary for living. Two, in order to plan responsive and necessary services, it is necessary to know the target community's behavioral and resource base and needs; e.g., in economics, employment, education, …

Exercise As Antecedent Control Of Various Inappropriate Behaviors, Jan E. Bachman

Masters Theses

The effects of several levels of exercise on inappropriate behaviors of four trainable mentally impaired subjects were observed in a school setting. Treatment conditions, which occurred as the first daily activity, included (a) Phase I, daily alternating conditions of warm-up exercises and jogging at a moderate rate for a short distance; (b) Phase II, daily alternating conditions of no exercise and jogging at a vigorous rate for a moderate distance; and (c) Phase III, jogging at a vigorous rate for a moderate distance on consecutive days. For one subject two additional conditions, (a) Phase IV, jogging on consecutive days at …

The Effects Of Self-Recording On The Generality Of Parenting Behaviors, Sonia Beatriz Meyer

Masters Theses

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of parental self-recording from audiotapes of family interactions on effective parenting skills and on the generality of their application to three different times of the day in which different child behaviors occurred.

Two single parents were instructed to deliver correct commands and differential reinforcement and to code and graph their verbalizations from audiotapes. Self-recording was introduced in one situation at a time, while audiotaped assessments were made by the parent in all three situations throughout the day. Both positive and cost incentive systems were used for the delivery of tapes …

The Management Of Blood Pressure Using Progressive Muscle Relaxation Under Nonstressful And Stressful Conditions, A. Janelle Maldonado

Masters Theses

Progressive muscle relaxation was assessed as a method, for controlling "blood pressure under stressful and nonstressful conditions using a multiple Baseline across subjects design* Three borderline hypertensive subjects were trained in two experimental conditions, progressive muscle relaxation under resting conditions (PMR) and progressive muscle relaxation while performing time-limited tasks known to produce temporary increments in blood pressure (PMR + Math). Generalization of training effects to nontraining conditions was assess ed in post-training, task only, sessions and in the home environment. Measures of changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as frontalis EMG were recorded once per minute for …

A Component Analysis Of Hutchings' Low-Stress Subtraction Algorithm With Third Grade Students, Karen J. Lascurettes

Masters Theses

This study measured the effects of what was hypothesized to be the major functional component difference between the Hutchings' low-stress subtraction algorithm and the traditional algorithm: the non-alternation of regrouping and subtraction steps. A multiple baseline design was used with two groups of third grade students. Dependent measures included rate correct, rate incorrect, percent accuracy, and types of errors made. Statistical analysis of the data failed to support the position that the non-alternation of regrouping and subtracting steps in subtraction yielded superior performances with these students. Future research in this area might investigate the inclusion of zeroes in the minuends …

The Effect Of Heroin On The Sexual Behavior Of Males: A Comparison Of Addicts, Their Cohorts, And Other Drug Abusers, Kimberley A. Decker

Masters Theses

The association of heroin use with the sexual behavior of addicts was investigated in the present study. Thirty male heroin addicts at an outpatient drug abuse clinic completed a confidential questionnaire concerning their sexual behavior. Their responses during drug-free and addiction periods were compared to 30 drug-free cohorts and 30 drug-free clients who were admitted to the program for a drug abuse problem other than narcotics or cannabis. A comparison of sexual behavior during addicts' drug-free periods with their cohorts and other drug abusers revealed no significant differences in responses. However, during their addiction periods, ejaculation and erection difficulties increased, …

Behavioral Science In The Design Of Cultures, Robert G. Brown

Masters Theses

In order the alleviate some of the problems that confront modern society, it has been suggested that we implement a science of cultural design based on the analysis of behavior. A first step in redesigning the entire culture would be the establishment of a pilot experimental community, or behavioral utopia. While Skinner (1969) has suggested that the creation of such a behavioral utopia is currently feasible, to date none has emerged in spite of some noteworthy attempts. The reasons for this are discussed in terms of current behavioral principles, and the early history of one such attempt is described. It …

The Detection Of Behavioral Effects In The F(Sub)1(/Sub) Generation Of Mice Treated During Spermatogenesis With Cyclophosphamide, Procarbazine Or Mitomycin C, Anthony Michael Podraza

Masters Theses

Five CF₁ male mice were injected with 300 mg Procarbazine, 2 mg of Mitomycin C, 40 mg of Cyclophosphamide per kg body weight or saline control. Each male was mated to two untreated females 1-2 and 8-9 weeks after treatment, allowing for the evaluation of treatment upon spermatooza and spermatogonium, respectively. Offspring were evaluated through observations of reproduction. Dominant lethal effect was seen in the 8-9 week Cyclophosphamide, 1-2 and 8-9 week Procarbazine groups. Decreased weights were seen in all three treatment groups from the two mating times. In the water escape test, the 1-2 week Mitomycin C, 8-9 …

Enuresis: A Case Study, Elaine Lee Phillips

Masters Theses

A 15-year-old male with a history of high rates of nocturnal enuresis was trained using the method of Azrin and Thienes (1978) and Azrin, Thienes, Hontos, and Besatel (1979). The method consisted of a 1 and 1/2-hour in-office training of the child and parents. The parents then conducted an intensive training day and subsequent procedures in the home. The procedures included reinforcement for increased urine retention and dryness, training for increased alertness to bladder cues and sensations of dryness, an over-correction procedure for wetness, and behavior rehearsals of correct toileting sequences. Using this method, the child ceased bedwetting. The Azrin …

The Effects Of Contracting And Self-Monitoring On The Academic Performance Of Middle School Students, Carol Elaine Parker

Masters Theses

The Guided Study Center (GSC), a contractual study center for middle school students, was described as a potential cost-effective method of individualizing education. The effects of attending the GSC, self-monitoring, and GSC attendance in conjunction with self-monitoring were examined in a multiple baseline design across seven fifth and sixth grade students. Of five subjects who participated in the contracting and self-monitoring phases of the study, three showed increases in average percent correct performance of 10 to 15 percent during contracting, one showed an increase of 8 percent during contracting in conjunction with self-monitoring, and one showed no changes in performance. …

Training Self-Control In Food Selection Through Verbal Self-Instruction, Thomas Vincent O'Melia

Masters Theses

This project was designed to teach children self-control through verbal self-instruction and self-reinforcement procedures prior to snack time in order to determine if they would learn to choose more nutritious foods during that period. Food facts and related health information were taught by the use of fictitious stories. In the experimental classroom the children heard stories, approximately 3 to 5 minutes long, that emphasized food facts and related health effects. After the stories, the children were allowed to go to a snack bar to select from "good and bad" foods. A set of questions and information was rehearsed prior to …

A Comparison Of Personality Self-Descriptions Using A Structured Personality Inventory And Open-Ended Personality Questionnaire And Critical Incident Survey, Birda Lee Walker

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine whether individuals presented with a well defined list of adjectives demonstrate suggestibility, i.e., would rate themselves differently on the Adjective Check List (ACL), versus the open-ended test such as the Clinical Analysis Questionnaire (CAQ) or Critical Incident Survey (CIS).

The participants in this study were 36 adult volunteers drawn from three different populations: 12 prison inmates, 12 undergraduates from a university, and 12 outpatients of a mental health clinic. The participants were administered the three tests in individual and group sessions.

The prisoners did not fake “bad" or "good" more so on …

The Effects Of In-School And Out-Of-School Contracting On Academic Performance, Kelly Lynn Kent

Masters Theses

While in-school contracting has repeatedly been shown to be useful in improving academic achievement and social conduct, out-of-school contracting also holds promise in the area of student behavior change. The purpose of the present study was to transfer the control of an in-school contracting procedure outside the school and into the home with low achieving middle school students. The experimenter added an out-of-school contracting procedure to an in-school contracting program already in operation. The effect of the intervention was assessed in terms of weekly grades, six-week grades, the percent of weekly assignments completed, and the percent of contracts completed per …

Rational-Emotive Therapy: A Literature Review, William T. Castell

Masters Theses

This paper reviews the literature cm rational-emotive therapy (RET). The focus was on literature published from 1975 to the present, with emphasis on literature reviews and theoretical studies. Background material by Albert Ellis was included. A historical perspective is given of RET's origin and development. Its philosophy,, theory, and techniques are surveyed. Articular attention was given to RET's application to emotional education and undisturbed populations, especially those who exhibit creativity, high productivity, and above-average capabilities.

Most writers confirm the validity of RET’s theoretical base and conclude that it is effective as a preventive and curative method of psychotherapy. Others criticize …

Relationships In Organizations Between Leaders' Personality Characteristics And Their Hierarchical Levels And Role Foci, Loretta Church

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether leaders' personality characteristics were related to the hierarchical level and the focus of their roles in organizations. Leaders from two industrial plants of two Fortune 500 corporations were selected for the investigation. They comprised a total population of persons responsible for making decisions concerning the use of data, people, or things within the organizations.

Data were collected employing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Functional Job Analysis Self-Report (FJASR). The MBTI instrument identified personality characteristics in terms of two paired and opposite preferences for (1) sensing or intuition, and (2) …

The Facilitative Teacher-Student Relationship And Selected Educational Outcomes, Richard Roy Benedict

Dissertations

It has been proposed that there are three "facilitative" characteristics of the helpful relationship--genuineness, empathy, and positive regard--which, if offered to students by teachers, would result in desirable educational outcomes. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between teacher facilitative functioning and desirable outcomes of the educational process in secondary schools. Four desirable outcomes were identified: (a) enhanced student self-concepts, (b) student course achievements, (c) more "in-depth" involvement with course content, and (d) more frequent class attendance.

Sixty-eight classrooms (containing over 1,500 senior high school students from four school districts) qualified for study because required subjects were taught within …

A Study Of Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister Of Singapore, And Tengku Abdul Rahman, Former Prime Minister Of Malaysia, Utilizing A Personality Theory Approach, Joan Alice Lim

Masters Theses

James David Barber's typology for categorizing political leaders forms the foundation for this study.

Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister of Singapore, and Tengku Abdul Rahman, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, are categorized vis-a-vis the active-positive, active-negative, passive-positive, and passive-negative continuua as defined by Barber. The classification is made by utilizing biographical data.

The classifications are then validated by survey data Utilizing the semantic differential, questionnaires were sent to 377 prospective respondents to determine their perceptions of Lee Kuan Yew and Tengku Abdul Rahman. Half of the survey items (21) measured the active-passive spectrum and half (21) measured the positive-negative.

The …

An Analysis Of The Validity Of Albert Ellis's A-B-C Paradigm Of Psychopathology, Alan M. Hill

Masters Theses

The objective of the study was to evaluate the validity of Albert Ellis 's A-B-C paradigm of psychopathology. The A (negative life change), B (irrational thinking and negative self-statements), and C (maladaptive arousal: depression, anxiety, and anger) components of Ellis's paradigm were assessed of 40 disturbed outpatients. The resultant data were subjected to a correlational analysis. The analysis indicated negative life change (A) and irrational thinking (B) are additive in their relation to maladaptive arousal (C), and negative self-statements are more strongly associated with maladaptive arousal than irrational thinking. Problem Avoidance, Frustration Reactivity, and High Self-Expectations characterized the irrational beliefs …

Effects Of The Serotonin Depletor Parachlorophenylalanine Upon Shock-Induced Aggression And Pressing Responses In Rats, Robert G. Sewell

Masters Theses

The literature concerning the effects of d, l-parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA) upon shock-induced aggression (SIA) is reviewed and found to be inconsistent. PCPA, a known serotonin depletor, has behavioral effects in a variety of other procedures which collectively suggest that PCPA should produce SIA enhancement. The present study was designed to analyze PCPA (300 mg/kg) effects upon SIA in rats restrained spatially close to an inanimate target and panel operandum. The results showed marked increases in both aggressive biting and panel pressing for several days following each PCPA treatment for each subject tested. These data were interpreted to indicate that serotonin depletion …

Western News, March 25, 1982, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Arthur Goldberg will speak here Monday, 500 voice opposition to proposed student-aid cuts, Zupko to; receive award on May 19; 500 voice opposition to proposed student-aid cuts, MASAL to meet Friday; Saturday at Student Center, Applied Science open house will begin Friday, Mildred Johnson resigns from Board, Training offers series on labor relations

Western News, March 18, 1982, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Milliken seeks support for recovery plans, 'Reaganomics' theme of Whitney Young conference, Applied Sciences open house to feature historic fashion show; other events, Griffeth named counseling; personnel chair, Panel discussion on Poland next Thursday, 10 from WMU to visit Ball State next week, January gifts; grants total is $328,000

Western News, March 11, 1982, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: WSA to sponsor rally on aid next Wednesday, Proposed federal cuts in student aid 'devastating', Harkenrider to be in USC to answer aid questions, Board approves three administrative appointments, International Travel Night is Tuesday, Report is published on University layoff policies, WMU has programs better than IRAs-Kelley, Employees named to Evaluation Committee

Solving The Effectiveness Dilemma: How Can An Informal Network Create Change?, Robert W. Colman, Mark Barton

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Interagency networks seem to be good vehicles for informal communication and coordination. However, if they are to be effective in bringing about innovation, networks must develop some of the boundaries and structure of a group and thereby lose their informality. Examination of a case history of a network in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, suggests one alternative: A network can remain informal and operate by consensus but give rise to subgroups which take potentially controversial action in their own names. This possibility is explored and related to the emerging theory of social networks.

Program In Social Work With Groups: A Jungian Perspective, Herman Borenzweig

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

In their text Social Group Work Practice, published in 1949 and affectionately called, "The Green Bible," by many social workers trained within its tradition, Wilson and RylandI portray program as, "the use of activities for attaining and maintaining mental health." By deemphasizing recreational modalities, social group workers have sacrificed their holistic practice, allowing other professionals to fill this vacuum. Recently, for example, "Sing your way back to health," is a "new" therapy in Los Angeles. Also, many Gestalt therapy exercises owe a debt to J.L. Moreno's psychodrama. Singing, drama, are but two of the many program tools taught as practice …

Meaning In Work: Toward A Clinical Approach To Work Dissatisfaction, Shimshon M. Neikrug

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper deals with issues relating to the meaning of work for the worker and clinical implications for the social worker intervening in the field of industrial and occupational social work. The problems of work dissatisfaction and alienation in work are analyzed. The author presents two concepts, work as play and logotherapy, as being useful in the clinical intervention in work related problems. It is concluded that the absence of work dissatisfaction need not be the goal of intervention, rather the clinical encounter can strive for meaningfulness, growth, and self-discovery.

In Judgment Of Victims: The Social Context Of Rape, Joyce E. Williams, Karen A. Holmes

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study examines some of the linkages between the rape victims' experience and community attitudes about rape, focusing on differences among three racial-ethnic groups. Public attitude data were collected from a stratified sample of 1,011 respondents; personal interviews were conducted with 335 Anglos, 336 Blacks and 340 Mexican Americans. Victim data were collected from in depth interviews with 61 female rape victims: 32 Anglos, 11 Blacks and 18 Mexican Americans. While the victim data suggest some degree of negative impact resulting from the rape experience for all victims, significant differences were found among the three racial-ethnic groups. Public attitude data …

Western News, February 25, 1982, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Board notes WMU's 25th anniversary as university, U libraries hours for spring recess are set, Board names Fine Arts Building for Dorothy Dalton, OCR finds Western in Title IX compliance in non-athletics areas; Bernhard reports, Susan Hannah promoted to associate dean, Board grants emeriti status to four staff members, Kenneth F. Simon dies Monday at 58, Student Center schedule for break announced

Western News, February 18, 1982, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: University has major role in unique Milwood Project, Faculty Senate opposes cuts in student-aid programs, Improvements in fringe-benefits package are announced; to be effective Monday; March 1, WMUK has 'Black History Month' programs, Grant to help U stimulate music interest

Western News, February 11, 1982, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Remaining Black History Month schedule set, Three employees die in unrelated events, 19 appeal meetings scheduled in University Priorities Project, First showing of DIC 'future city' film is Feb. 18, Continue Black History Month film schedules, Premiere of Curtis-Smith music is Tuesday, WMUK schedules Black History Month shows, Valentines galore will be available this weekend