Digital Commons Network^™

A Study Of The Academic Problems Encountered By Saudi Students At Western Michigan University, Ali Hajjan Mustafa

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify perceptions of Saudi students studying at Western Michigan University (WMU), faculty and administrators at WMU, and academic advisors in the Saudi Arabian Educational Mission in Chicago regarding academic problems encountered by Saudi students enrolled at WMU, and to determine any differences in perceptions of Saudi students regarding their academic problems based on age, marital status, academic level, and length of stay in the United States.

Respondents to this study included 47 Saudi students, 22 faculty, 24 administrators, and 8 academic advisors. The data for this study were obtained by means of a …

Differences In Typology Among Nurses At Different Levels Of Management In Acute Care Institutions As Measured By The Mbti, Catherine Marie Devet

Dissertations

This survey research study explored differences in personality types between staff nurses and nurse managers in acute care institutions (hospitals). The study tested a theory about expected differences which was based on an extensive literature review of nursing administration and type theory as developed by Jung and measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).

Eight acute care institutions were selected randomly from hospitals listed by the American Hospital Association (1983) as having 400-600 beds and located in the state of Michigan but outside of Wayne County. Of the eight hospitals approached, permission to conduct the study was obtained in five. …

The Wiedergeburt In The Religion Of The Zoarites, Elizabeth Siber White

Masters Theses

In 1817 a little-known group of German Separatists fled religious persecution in Wurttemberg and took up residence in America. Eventually known as the Zoarites, they founded a religious commune in the northeastern Ohio wilderness in 1819, which they called Zoar, and continued to live the common life there until 1898, at which time they voted to disband.

What sort of religious beliefs led them to endure persecution in Germany and then to establish a religious commune in Ohio? This study was undertaken in part to answer just such questions. Relying primarily on the unpublished, largely untranslated discourses of J. M. …

Applied Undergraduate Training In Psychology And Career Choice, Nancy S. Hinga-Wright

Masters Theses

The present investigation evaluated the relation between additional undergraduate practical training in psychology (other than standard course credit) and the graduate school or career choice of graduates with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Based on data from questionnaires and university student records, the results indicated a positive, significant relation between graduate school choice and subsequent career choice, although there was no significant relation between additional applied training and career choice. The results also showed no significant relation between grade point average and career choice, and sex and career choice. The conclusions suggested several outside variables that may influence students' decisions …

The Nature Of The British Fairies Of Medieval And Folk Literature An Annotated Bibliography 1900-1983, Constance Reik

Masters Theses

This thesis fills the need for a bibliography of works on the British fairies.

It is essentially an annotated bibliography with an introduction which will help illuminate the fairies of the ancient and medieval literature (through Shakespeare) and the folk literature of Britain. The annotations are extensive are both descriptive and evaluative.

The bibliography includes publications written in English, from 1900 to 1983, which describe and discuss the characteristics and origins of the British fairies. It is divided into seven chapters: Literary Fairies, British Fairies, English Fairies, Welsh and Manx Fairies, Scottish Fairies, Irish Fairies, and Origins of Fairies.

The …

A Practical Application To Data Consistency Validation Using Finite State Automata, Michael Lee Richardson

Masters Theses

The data which are input to a complex information system must often be verified for both syntactic and semantic consistency. The syntactic consistency can be enforced in a straightforward manner during the data entry process. The semantic inconsistencies can be more difficult to discover. A general approach, using finite state automata, is demonstrated here as applied to enforce consistency on client questionnaire responses in a large information system. This approach is developed using those software engineering standards are outlined and justified in this research. A discussion of semantic inconsistencies which require more sophisticated techniques is included.

Shear Induced Anisotropy In The Rheology Of Solids Dispersions, Nicholas G. Triantafillopoulos

Masters Theses

Under strong hydrodynamic forces, solids dispersions could no longer be considered isotropic fluid s but rather two-phase systems. The continuous (dispersing) phase was only sheared in side an effective gap determined in a Couette flow device by the presence of solid (dispersed) phase in to suspension. Three parameters, the effective gap, percent gap reduction and the relative shear volume, were incorporated to account for the influence of solids in the rheology of their suspension.

The objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate the role of solids volumetric concentration, particle size, nominal gap and continuous phase viscosity on Hercules Hi-Shear …

Third Century Urbanization In Northern Britain, Brent L. Coates

Masters Theses

The third century A.D. marked a period of growth on Roman urbanization in northern Britain, while in the rest of the empire towns and cities were being abandoned. Although this growth of urban centers brought peace and prosperity to a once troubled area, there is no written record that documents this success. Ancient authors considered Britain a rebellious province and unsafe to visit, thus limiting the information they recorded. The second century provides sufficient written information to describe the growing change of the north from a military province, but the archaeological information dated to the third century is needed to …

An Application Of A Heuristic Search Algorithm In Biomedical Images On The Magiscan Ii Image Analysis System, Patricia S. Humes

Masters Theses

The goal of this project was to successfully apply a heuristic search algorithm in the image analysis environment of the Magiscan II Image Analysis System. The purpose of this particular application was to enable the specific segmentation of a white blood cell image by outlining the boundary of the cell nucleus, a process not currently possible with the existing system software.

The method used involved tracing boundaries by choosing points based on a calculated cost factor. The cost factor has several input parameters that will enable it to be applied in a wide variety of applications. Several different cells' nuclei …

A Study Of Integral Equations For Computing Radial Distribution Functions, Zainuriah Hassan

Masters Theses

Integral equation T (a two parameter equation of the Ornstein-Zernike form) is studied for computing the radial distribution functions of simple classical fluids interacting pairwise according to the Lennard-Jones 6-12 potential function. Numerical calculations are done on a computer for the system in the gas and liquid phases. At a high temperature, equation T results are found to agree very well with equation C when the parameters are chosen in a similar way. At a temperature slightly above the critical temperature, results from other sources over a wide density range. In equation T, by varying two of the parameters, the …

The Relationship Between Nonsupervisory Employees' Self-Assessment Of Their Supervisory Skills And The Amount Of Satisfaction They Believe They Would Receive From Being A Supervisor, Arthur W. Hoffman

Dissertations

This descriptive study investigated the relationship between perceived supervisory effectiveness (competence) and perceived supervisory satisfaction for nonsupervisory professional-technical employees who may aspire to supervisory positions. The study participants are employees of a large industrial company engaged in the engineering and manufacturing of diversified products for the automotive industry. Specifically, the study attempted to (a) collect employee selfassessment data regarding the employee's perceived supervisory job effectiveness and perceived job satisfaction, (b) determine whether a relationship existed between perceived supervisory effectiveness and satisfaction, and (c) determine if the employee's age and educational level were influencing factors.

In order to investigate the relationship …

Training Behavioral Assessment Interviewers: A Comparison Of Two Procedures, Raymond G. Miltenberger

Dissertations

Two procedures were used to teach behavioral assessment interviewing skills; a training manual and a one-to-one training procedure consisting of instructions, modeling, rehearsal and feedback. Four subjects, two graduate students and two seniors, were trained with each procedure. Interviewing skills were recorded in simulated assessment interviews conducted by each subject across baseline and treatment conditions. Each training procedure was evaluated in a multiple baseline across subjects design. The results showed that both procedures were equally effective for training behavioral interviewing skills, with all subjects reaching a level of 90-100% correct responding. Finally, a group of experts in behavior analysis rated …

Scientific-Technological Dependency And Uneven Development: The Case Of Iran, Abdullah Mehdipour

Dissertations

With the decline of various forms of military and economic power of the more industrialized countries (MICs) as the primary control structure for maintaining the dominance/dependence relationships with the less industrialized countries (LICs) in the international political and economic system, science and technology has emerged as a significant means for sustaining international status quo.

The problem of the study was stated in two questions. First, why and how Iran (an LIC) became dependent on more industrialized countries' science and technology. Second, what effect(s) did Iran's scientific-technological dependency have on its social structure, and what is the more appropriate strategy for …

Organizational Deviance In The Direct Selling Industry: A Case Study Of The Amway Corporation, Carol Lynn Juth-Gavasso

Dissertations

Drawing upon the literatures of organizational theory, sociology, criminology, and entrepreneurship, the intent of this study was to develop a theoretical model which would explain the creation and maintenance of organizational deviance in a direct selling organization. Based upon the work of Cole, Finney and Lesieur, Hughes, Gross, and Vaughan the utility of the model is illustrated with data gathered on the Amway Corporation, a multilevel direct selling organization. The model takes into consideration (1) the environment of the organization; (2) the goals of the organization; (3) the structure of the organization; and (4) the pressures, constraints, and controls which …

To Establish The Degree Of Interest For New Technical Instructional Programs At Taif Junior College, Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Said Sulayman Derbas

Dissertations

At the present time, junior colleges do not have technical programs that would provide trained Saudis to assume responsibility in technical and middle management fields. The purpose of this study was to establish the degree of interest for new technical instructional programs at Taif Junior College to meet those needs.

The population of this study consisted of all students attending the college for the academic school year 1984-85. A sample of 255 was selected by using a simple random method. Data were collected utilizing a two-section questionnaire which has been developed by the researcher. The first section focused on demographic …

The Effect Of Medicaid Billing On Service To Developmentally Disabled Adults, Kambiz Alavi

Dissertations

This study provides a detailed analysis of the daily service delivery records before and after the introduction of a Medicaid Billing Form at a day-activity center for developmentally disabled adults. The form required therapists to record daily service delivery (in 15-minute units) to Medicaid eligible clients. There were 38 clients, 23 Medicaid and 15 non-Medicaid, and four therapists. The data showed, for three of the four therapists, a clear and large increase in reported service delivery to Medicaid clients and a smaller increase to non-Medicaid clients. Six months after the introduction of the Medicaid Billing Form the therapists were required …

The Development And Evaluation Of An Educational Therapeutic Group Procedure To Assist Preadolescent Children To Process Parental Divorce, Donna K. Prins

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate an educational therapeutic group procedure to assist preadolescent children to understand and assimilate the process of parental divorce.

The group procedure is a short term therapeutic approach which focused on general problems experienced by children processing parental divorce. A prestructured format was developed, and the entire procedure was designed to occur in a small group setting.

The major goal of the study, developing the group procedure Things Have Changed At My House, was accomplished. The complete text of the procedure is contained in the appendix of the dissertation.

Both process …

The Rorschach As A Diagnostic Aid In Differentiating The Bipolar Affective Disorder From The Schizophrenic Disorder, Stephen James Newman

Dissertations

Misdiagnosis of the bipolar affective disorder (manic type) has profound consequences Including prescription of counterproductive medication, non-aggressive treatment approaches, extended hospitalizations, and poor prognosis (Fleve, 1975). Misdiagnosis Is extensive and has resulted from the tendency to over diagnose schizophrenia (Fleve, 1975), the tendency to equate psychotic symptomatology with schizophrenia (Garvey & Tuason, 1980), the similarity of psychotic symptomatology of the bipolar affective and schizophrenic disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 1980), past confusion regarding diagnostic criteria of the bipolar affective disorder (Spltzer, Williams, & Wynne, 1983), and the absence of psychometric tools to differentiate the bipolar affective and schizophrenic disorders.

The purposes …

Personality Predictors Of Academic Success In Underachieving First Year College Students, Carolyn Wilson-Garrison

Dissertations

In this study, the role of nonintellective variables as predictors of academic success in underachieving first year college students was explored. Traditional predictors of college grades, high school grade point average and standardized scores on the American College Testing examination (ACT), were also examined.

The purpose of this study was to assess whether college grades at the end of the first year would differ according to underachieving students' personality styles, expressed concerns, and behavioral correlates thereby offering the possibility that such nonintellective factors may be useful in the prediction of grades.

The sample was a randomly selected group of eighty-seven …

Beyond Contingency Theory: Environment, Structure, And Administrator's Coping Ability In The Public Sector, Shyu-Tu Lee

Dissertations

In the last two decades, organizational-environment contingency theory has attracted much attention. A great deal of research has been done on investigating the impact of environment on organizations, suggesting the appropriate design of organizational structure. In recent years, organizational theorists have moved to investigate proactive approaches to organizational environments.

Most empirical studies, however, have been conducted in the private sector. In order to transfer the knowledge to the public sector, it is necessary to investigate whether public organizations are also subjected to environmental influence and how public administrators interact with the environment.

This study investigated the following three questions: (1) …

The Effects Of Symbolic Modeling And Parent Training On Noncompliance In Hyperactive Children, George Kahle Henry

Dissertations

This study examined the interactions of mothers with their hyperactive children during a structured-task period to determine the effects of a symbolic modeling and parent training intervention on child noncompliance. Analysis of videotaped sequences across all phases of the study indicated that symbolic modeling was not a very effective technique for improving compliance in hyperactive children. Phase one of parent training, which taught mothers appropriate attending, ignoring, and rewarding behaviors, was more effective than symbolic modeling. Phase two of parent training, which introduced a time-out contingency for noncompliance, was the most effective intervention as it resulted in significant reductions in …

Reducing Emg And Cardiovascular Reactivity With Cue-Controlled Relaxation, Janel Kay Harris

Dissertations

The present study compared cue-controlled relaxation (CCR) to progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) as possible methods of reducing reactivity to active stressors (math and anagram tasks). The CCR training entailed practicing relaxation during exposure to the active stressors, while the PMR training did not. Ten cardiac rehabilitation patients served in an experiment which used a repeated-measures ANOVA to assess changes in frontal EMG, skin conductance level (SCL), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, and pulse-rate reactivity across three experimental conditions. These were: baseline, progressive muscle relaxation, and cue-controlled relaxation. The results indicated that CCR led to reduced EMG, SBP, and …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Premorbid Personality And Depression, William Essenburg

Dissertations

Depression is a significant mental health problem and has been studied extensively for decades. However, there is still disagreement among clinicians and researchers regarding the causes and psychodynamic processes of depression.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between premorbid personality and depression. Using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) and the Beck Depression Inventory, personality and depression measures were obtained from a sample of adult psychiatric inpatients during acute and remission phases of their hospitalization.

Results obtained indicated that the MCMI scales intended to measure premorbid personality during periods of acute psychiatric illness were sensitive to …

The Effects Of Reward And Reinforcement On Intrinsic Interest, Alyce Muzette Dickinson

Dissertations

Under certain circumstances, rewarding individuals for performing a task that they enjoy may decrease their subsequent interest in that activity when rewards are no longer available. Decreased task interest is not, however, an inevitable outcome of reward and the subsequent termination of reward. This study investigated one variable that may influence whether task interest will increase or decrease following reward termination: the degree to which the reward is reinforcing. The study also examined how long post-reward performance changes persisted when they occurred.

A multiple-trial, within-subject comparison design was employed in which three reward phases were alternated with post-reward phases. Two …

An Internship In A Public School System, Joann Mulder

Masters Theses

The internship project is a requirement for the Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership. The intern chose to fulfill this requirement in a particular school district. The intern centered her project around the role of an elementary principal.

The school district is located just north of a city with a population of 50,000 on the shores of Lake Michigan. It is approximately 150 miles west of Detroit, Michigan, and 170 miles northeast of Chicago, Illinois. The school system serves students K-12 with a total enrollment of 3,600 students. In addition, the system serves as fiscal agent for a community education program …

Group Structure And Humor, Effects On Group Cohesion And Affective Meaning, Mary Ellen Rus

Masters Theses

The ability to identify therapeutic components of an activity is an important skill of occupational therapists trained in activity analysis. This study examined potentially significant factors in activity analysis: the use of humor and group structure. Four groups (two with a parallel structure and two with a project structure) participated in a hat making activity designed to elicit humor. Four groups (two with a parallel structure and two with a project structure) participated in a bookmark making activity. Subjects' affective responses were measured by Osgood's short-form semantic differential, and the cohesion among group members was assessed by the Group Environmental …

A Summary Of Experiences In An Administrative Internship With The West Ottawa Public School System, Randal E. Busscher

Masters Theses

The objective of my internship was to become familiar with the role and duties of a K-12 school principal. I was exposed to a wide variety of experiences. Those experiences, through readings, personal interviews, and group meetings are the focus of my internship. My experiences included working with the Challenge Program, which is for the gifted and talented students, and helping to re-word some of the present job descriptions. I also assisted with the realignment of boundary lines and research on teacher evaluations. Absence policies and junior high level programs were also investigated.

A Report Of An Internship With Kalamazoo Adult Education Kalamazoo, Michigan, Charmane Walker

Masters Theses

This report summarizes a 23 week internship with the Community Education program of the Kalamazoo Public School System. It presented the opportunity to work closely with the director o f the center and to play an active role in the programs that were offered. Particular projects to work on were given in addition to the regular obligations of the Community Education Director. This paper will provide the reader with a knowledgeable awareness of how the director and supervisors of the program work hand in hand to prepare materials and resources to furnish the students with a worthwhile program. There are …

The Use Of An Incentive System To Increase Worker Performance In A Financial Setting, Steven S. Armstrong

Dissertations

The use of merchandise as a consequence in a performance based incentive system was assessed in a financial setting. Points were earned by each subject based on individual daily performance. These points were collected by each subject and used toward the purchase of merchandise. A multiple baseline across two groups of bank tellers showed substantial increases in worker behavior after the onset of contingent points. Differences between groups existed and an analysis is provided. Follow-up data revealed sustained performance and a cost-benefit analysis demonstrated substantial savings.

The Trend In Canopy Composition In A Young Mesic Forest, Zhenchang Li

Masters Theses

Brewer Woods, a young disturbed mesic sugar maple-beech (Acer saccharum-Fagus grandifolia) forest in Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, was investigated by point-quarter and transition matrix methods. The results indicate that this forest is dominated by sugar maple in both canopy and understory composition. Beech is the second most important species. Fourteen species were found as canopy trees or replacements. The hypothesis that a young forest is more diverse than comparable climax forests such as Warren Woods and Hueston Woods was supported. Its successional trend is that sugar maple will become more abundant at the expense of the other species. Beech is a …