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A Comparison Of An Ideal And A Real Quality Of Work Life Program, Noreen Goldschmidt

Masters Theses

The purposes of this study were to examine the differences between: (a) a real and idealized Quality of Work Life program; (b) individual groups and the idealized Quality of Work Life program, and (c) groups surveyed.

Two departments were surveyed to obtain perceptions of a Quality of Work Life program existing within a utility company located in the state of Michigan.

Percentages were calculated on the Agree and Strongly Agree response alternatives for all items included on the survey. For the three comparisons made the difference in percent was tested at the.05 level of significance. The results indicated that the …

Academic-Point Incentives And College-Student Use Of Study Skills, Afnan Ma'rouf Almasri

Masters Theses

This was a study of the effects of academic-point incentives on the use of study skills by thirty high-risk undergraduate students. The students completed a four-session study-skills training program consisting of time management, concentration and memory, note taking, and test taking. They contracted to accomplish tasks specified weekly according to their class syllabus using special forms that specified the targeted study skills. The mean use of the study skills was 95.8% when points were given and decreased to 38% when points were withdrawn; but the use of study skills increased to 98.9% when points were again given.

Ratio Pausing And The Determination Of Discriminative Operant Latencies, Thomas M. Bell

Dissertations

The latency between discriminative stimulus onset and initiation of a corresponding ratio requirement (RR) was studied in pigeons using a two-key discrete-trial procedure with three-component multiple schedules. The two-key procedure allowed measurement of response-reinforcer relations on a "constant" key, and stimulus-reinforcer relations on a "stimulus" key. The first experiment showed regular between-session effects as equivalent fixed-ratio (FR) components were raised over several phases and then lowered. A direct relation was observed between latency and RR for each of ten subjects. Initial stimulus-key pecking showed several trends, the most prevalent being an inverse relation to RR.

Experiment 2 demonstrated within-session separations …

A Graphic Implementation Of Blocks World As An Example Of Artificial Intelligence, Shigenori Ochiai

Masters Theses

The objective of this study is to implement blocks world as a classic example of artificial intelligence both visually and realistically.

The visual representation is implemented by using a graphic system in a microcomputer. Real world constraints are implemented as rules concerning centers of gravity.

These goals are significant in realizing principles of artificial intelligence. Visual data help a human being to quickly understand the state of a system. Also, bringing a situation closer to the real world is a step toward to the final goal of artificial intelligence.

A Proposed Procedure For A Secondary School Teacher To Gain Entry Level Knowledge And Skills To Become A High School Principal, Wayne E. Mason

Masters Theses

The proposed procedure for a secondary teacher to gain entry level knowledge and skills required to assume a high school principalship was to examine the scope of the duties of a high school principal and to acquire knowledge, skills and administrative experience by assisting a high school principal as he performs his daily responsibilities.

The experience focused on procedures used to close and reopen a high school, practices used in handling student discipline, office duties needed to meet student needs, practices used to monitor facility maintenance, the practices used to maintain and improve community relations.

The experience brought to light …

An Analysis Of The Use Of Special Masters For Assuring Compliance With Judicial Decrees In Corrections Litigation, Richard J. Liles

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the recent practice of judges appointing remedial special masters to oversee the implementation of consent decrees and court orders. These orders are a response to the spate of inmate suits demanding compliance with the constitutional guarantees provided in the Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments. As more courts have become involved in adjudging the constitutionality of conditions in correctional institutions, there has been a trend toward the judge becoming a quasi-manager in assuring compliance with the court's orders. To conduct this oversight, they have turned more and more to the practice of hiring …

The Effects Of Altruism On Activity Productivity In Elderly Women In Skilled-Care Nursing Facilities, Carol J. Getz

Masters Theses

This study investigated altruism as a factor in productivity in elderly women. Eight groups of institutionalized elderly women (n = 33) stenciled personalized (initials) stationery. Groups were randomly assigned to either the non-altruistic condition or the altruistic condition; there was control for time of day and location of the activity. Subjects in the non-altruistic condition made stationery for themselves, while subjects in the altruistic condition made stationery for abused children living in an innercity. The number of pieces of stationery produced and the duration of time engaged in activity were recorded for each subject. Mann-Whitney U tests revealed that subjects …

Hypernuclear Photoproduction Via (Γ,K*), Kimberly Ann Hodgkinson

Masters Theses

The nuclear (γ,K^*) reaction is studied using plane wave impulse approximation (PWIA) and a distorted wave impulse approximation (DWIA), which includes full Coulomb and optical distortions. The model and calculations for each model are presented. For ¹²C(γ K^*)¹²B, the two approximation methods are compared at 2 energies: 1.47 Gev/c and 1.84GeV/c. ²⁰⁸Pb(γ, K^*)²⁰⁸ i s a lso examined. Distortion effects are found to greatly alter the magnitude of the cross sections, but the shape of the angular distributions remains. the same. Conclusions suggest further study.

An Evaluation Of The Effects Of An Infant-Care Skills Training Program On Fathering Behaviors, G. Joseph Vrazo

Masters Theses

This study replicated the findings and expanded the assessment procedures of a previous study that had established the effectiveness of a multi-component infant-care skills training program for first-time fathers. A multiple probe design was used in this study to demonstrate that the training program produced criterion performance of the infant-care skills by four experimental fathers; also, an increase in the frequency of infant stimulation activities initiated by these fathers was observed. A pre/post training evaluation of the effects of the training program on the fathers' performance of play and affectional behaviors and daily infant-care activities yielded negative results. Four control …

Theoretical Thermodynamic Properties Of Low Temperature Fluids, Zul Azhar Zahid Jamal

Masters Theses

The thermodynamic functions for low temperature fluids are computed using parametric integral equations and perturbation theory. Parametric integral equation N is applied to a low temperature Lennard-Jones gas. It is found that there is no significant improvement over the better known parametric integral equation C. The two parameter integral equation T is applied to a low temperature square-well potential and is found to be unsatisfactory at reduced temperatures of T*= 1.4 and 1.6, but quite accurate at T* = 2.2. The equation T results for T* = 2.2 are used as the reference system in perturbation theory computations. Tables of …

A Comparison Of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, Relaxation Therapy And Cognitive Restructuring On State And Trait Anxiety In Speech Anxious Adults, Bernard C. Sefchick

Masters Theses

This study tested the following hypotheses: (a) Cognitive-Behavior Therapy would be more effective than either Relaxation Therapy in reducing speech A-state anxiety or Cognitive Restructuring in reducing speech A-trait anxiety; (b) Relaxation Therapy would be more effective than Cognitive Restructuring in reducing speech A-state anxiety; and (c) Cognitive Restructuring would be more effective than Relaxation Therapy in reducing speech A-trait anxiety.

Fifteen volunteers from a speakers organization were screened and randomly assigned to one of three treatments. The Speech Anxiety Inventory was administered before and after treatments to assess subjects' levels of speech A-state and A-trait anxiety.

Results indicated that …

Hemispheric Brain Laterality Of Perception Of Tachistoscopically Presented Erotic Stimuli By Male And Female College Students, Randall Warne Stewart

Masters Theses

The effects of hemispheric asymmetry on the perception of erotic stimuli presented in either of the two visual fields was investigated. Freshmen and Sophomore college students, 20 males and 27 females, were used as subjects in the study. Subjects were bilaterally presented with combinations of erotic, neutral, and blank visual field stimuli using a "split visual field" procedure for a total of 96 200 msec. presentations. Subjects were asked to rate the presentations on a scale of 1 to 5; 1 was equal to neutral and 5 was equal to very erotic. Males and females rated erotic stimuli presented in …

A Trace Element Geochemical Analysis Of The Lake Ellen Kimberlite, Crystal Falls, Michigan, U.S.A., Michelle Ellen Fults

Masters Theses

The Lake Ellen kimberlite located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan represents a possible bedrock source for the diamonds found in the glacial deposits around the Great Lakes. The purpose of this research was to undertake a geochemical analysis in order to better understand the evolution of the kimberlite body and to elucidate on the garnet xenolith paragenesis.

Both instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and scanning electron microscope analysis (SEM) were utilized in this research. The INAA revealed that with respect to other types of upper mantle rocks, the Lake Ellen kimberlite is enriched in both the light rare earth …

Drug Use And Abuse: A Survey Of Mentally Retarded Citizens In Kalamazoo County, Michigan, Sandra Ann Burdick

Masters Theses

An abundant array of research in the area of drug use and abuse among various populations has been conducted in recent years. These studies have determined that although several demographic variables affect the prevalence of drug use, all segments of society who have access to drugs are at some risk. Whether relative risk is influenced by subaverage intelligence is unclear, however, for very little has been done to determine the prevalence of drug use and abuse among the mentally retarded.

In this survey methods were utilized to gather such information in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. A survey return rate of 73% …

An Attendance Incentive Procedure Using Group Contingencies, Norman Kevin Brown

Masters Theses

This study used a multiple baseline design to examine the effect of a lottery-based group contingency on unscheduled sick leave (USL) use by residential treatment workers. Sixty direct-care workers participated in this study. Researchers employed a group contingency that required workers to meet 2-week absence criterion levels in order to participate in a subsequent reinforcement lottery. The workers who won the lottery chose one of four rewards including 20 dollars, 4 hours paid time-off, lunch with a supervisor, and four movie tickets. The mean number of USL hours used in each of five work units was reduced significantly during intervention. …

Kinetics Of The Metal-Exchange Reaction Between N-(2-Pyridylmethyl)Iminodiacetatonickel(N) And Copper(Ii), Kassahun W. Beyene

Masters Theses

The reaction between N-(2-pyridylmethyl)iminodiacetatonickel(II) and copper(II) was studied spectrophotometrically between pH 2.30 and 3.30 over a 10-fold variation in copper concentration at an ionic strength of 1.25M, and a temperature of 25.0+0.1^oC. The reaction is first order in both NiPyIDA and copper(II). Terms involving proton attack and a copper dependent dissociation of the nickel complex were resolved from the data. Evidence is given for a stepwise unwrapping mechanism PyIDA from the nickel complex, followed by copper attack to give a dinuclear intermediate. A general mechanism is presented which is consistent with the kinetic data.

Comparisons to analogous nickel-aliphatic …

A Study Of Ion Implanted Silicon Using Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy With Ion Channeling, Thomas J. Pollock

Masters Theses

Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy with channeling is the only nondestructive method for analyzing crystals which have been ion implanted. An RBS with channeling procedure has been established at the Accelerator Lab of Western Michigan University. It utilizes a tandem Van de Graaff accelerator for an incident helium beam, a goniometer for crystal alignment, and a computer for experimental control and data aquisition. State of the art measurements can be made with accuracies comparable to other labs. Specifically, ion implanted silicon was studied wherein crystal damage due to implanting was found to vary directly with implanting energy and fluence and was also …

Modernization In West Africa: How Women's Lives Have Been Marginalized, Patricia S. Peterman

Masters Theses

Social scientists have documented the effects of colonialism and independence in West Africa, but have focused on male roles in economic institutions. Recent research reveals not only the importance of women as agricultural producers but also the marginalization of women in contemporary national society. Development projects have not eased economic hardship, rather emphasis on industrialization has led to agricultural underdevelopment, borne more heavily by women and children than by men.

This paper looks at the micro-level issues of the division of labor, the structure of the household, the status of women, and issues concerning fertility and reproduction. In doing so, …

Deposition, Diagenesis, And Porosity Development Of The Middle Devonian, Lucas Formation In The West Branch Oil Field, Ogemaw County, Michigan, Scott Gregory Park

Masters Theses

The Lucas Formation in the West Branch Oil Field contains over 1000 feet of carbonates and evaporites deposited in restricted marine environments. Deposition ranged from a tidal flat environment (Richfield Member) to subaqueous basin central type deposition (Iutzi and Horner Members).

Early diagenesis of the Lucas Formation carbonates included dolomitization and related porosity development in certain depositional facies where physiochemical conditions were favorable. Significant porosity and permeability reduction occurred during burial resulting from anhydrite, celestite, and halite cementation. Calcite pseudopar and microspar (a neomorphic product) also reduced porosity.

Hydrocarbon production from the Lucas Formation in the West Branch Field is …

Shape Recognition By Curvature Changing Points And Fourier Transform, Jianzhong Li

Masters Theses

Computer vision is a relatively new and fast-growing field. Shape representation and recognition is a very important but difficult branch in this field.

One method of using curvature changing points and Fourier transform to recognize the shape is described in this thesis. Also an important feature in computer vision, multiscaling, is achieved by this method.

Effects Of A Magnetic Field On The Thermodynamics Of Dilute Classical Spin Chains, Guoqing Hu

Masters Theses

The thermodynamics of a diluted chain of ferromagnetic classical spin in the presence of an external magnetic field is determined in the limit of the continuum model. The magnetization, susceptibility, specific heat are determined for both the isotropic Heisenberg and the classical XY models as functions of temperature, magnetic field and magnetic concentration. Scaling law for the behavior of the thermodynamic quantities in field, temperature, and magnetic concentration are obtained.

The calculations will be based on the continuum model of classical spin which was solved for the infinite chain system by McGurn and Scalapino.

A Study Of The Relationship Between Local Superintendents' Expectations And Perceptions Of Actual Performance Of Michigan Intermediate School Districts, Ted J. Culver

Dissertations

The changing concepts of the role and function of education as well as the economic and social developments in our society have placed new and increased demands on our educational system. The concept of a regional education service agency as an approach to providing improved services to K-12 school districts is a method adopted in Michigan. This agency is called an intermediate school district (ISD).

The purpose of the study was to discover the difference between what K-12 superintendents expect from an ISD and their perceptions of the value of the services received. The data gathered could provide decision makers …

The Efficacy Of Relaxation Training On The Affective Behavior Of Early Elementary Minority Students, Mary L. Veele

Dissertations

The relationship between affective behavior and academic achievement has been addressed by a community based education program for minority student achievement in a southwestern Michigan school district. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to investigate the effectiveness of selected components of the intervention program whose design or goal was to change the affective behavior of early elementary Black students enrolled in the community based education program. It was hypothesized that there would be a difference in affective behavior between groups of children who received regular training or intensive relaxation training; between boys and girls; and among Grades 1, 2, …

The Relationship Between Leadership Behavior And The Awareness Of Organizational Culture In American And Japanese Corporations, Ikuko Torimoto

Dissertations

Literature has revealed that the leadership behavior of executives and upper level managers had a significant effect on organizational culture which offered members of the organization meaningful goals and purposes. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the awareness of organizational culture and leadership behavior of executives and upper level managers in American and Japanese multinational corporations.

The investigation was conducted using two instruments, Cultural Awareness Checklist and Leader Behavior Descriptive Questionnaire. The sample consisted of 256 employees: 117 executives and upper level managers and 139 middle and lower level managers and other employees not holding …

Policy Gambit: Conservative Think Tanks Take On The Welfare State, David Stoesz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Conservative policy institutes have reevaluated their position regarding welfare and begun to present proposals to change social welfare policy. Instrumental in this development are the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation, conservative think tanks which have developed projects for the purpose of making social policy more consonant with conservative philosophy. If progressive organizations are to reassert their role in the policy process, they will have to use some of the aggressive techniques pioneered by the conservative think tanks.

Reconsidering Drug Involvement Among Youth And Young Adults: Implications For Targeted Primary Prevention, Mark W. Fraser

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The purpose of this; paper is to review two dominant social perspectives on the etiology of substance abuse among youths and young adults-the stage and risk factor outlooks-and to discuss them in light of recent demographic and ecological research. The differential demography of drug abuse strongly suggests that the environmental context influences the use and abuse of substances. In an era of great public concern about substance abuse, the use of individually-focused perspectives appears to have resulted in person-centered skills training programs and "say no" media campaigns. Consideration of community-level factors in the etiology of drug abuse permits the identification …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 14, No. 4 (December 1987)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

CONTENTS

• Policy Gambit: Conservative Think Tanks Take on the Welfare State - DAVID STOESZ
• Reconsidering Drug Involvement Among Youth and Young Adults: Implications for Targeted Primary Intervention - MARK W. FRASER
• Reforming the Juvenile Correctional Institution: Efforts of the U.S. Children's Bureau in the 1930s - MARGUERITE G. ROSENTHAL
• Historical Perspectives on the Care and Treatment of the Mentally Ill - ALBERT R. ROBERTS AND LINDA FARRIS KURTZ
• Sexual Abuse at Charity House: A Case Study of Social Policies in Action - MAUREEN KELLEHER
• Predictors of Job Satisfaction Among Three Racial/Ethnic Groups of Professional Female Human Service Workers - R.L. …

Historical Perspectives On The Care And Treatment Of The Mentally Ill, Albert R. Roberts, Linda Farms Kurtz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

An examination of the history of mental illness and its treatment over the centuries reveals that the mentally ill have few advocates except each other and that their treatment has consisted of confinement and neglect. Reformers have pioneered for change, experienced brief success, but ultimately conditions for the mentally ill regress. Society continues to abhor mental illness as though its collective consciousness still believes in possession by evil spirits. Discussion of the early history moves from banishment to ships of fools, to European asylums, and to institutions run by the states in America. More recent history focuses on the National …

Sexual Abuse At Charity House: A Case Study Of Social Policies In Action, Maureen Kelleher

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper explores Wiseman's theory of policy intervention using a case study of institutional abuse for illustration. Social policy intervention is an ongoing process. In this case, a single policy agenda, deinstitutionalization, was modified by a variety of stakeholders and compounded by a series of other child specific policy agenda including child abuse reporting procedures

Predictors Of Job Satisfaction Among Three Racial/Ethnic Groups Of Professional Female Human Service Workers, R. L. Mcneely

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Three hundred and thirty-six female human service workers were studied to determine whether or not racial/ethnic status was related to job satisfaction among managerial, supervisory and professional employees. Both overall and intrinsic satisfaction were assessed. Two groups were similar in the patterns predictive of their satisfaction but the third group appeared to be influenced by concerns peculiar to those achieving recent professional status.