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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.

Professional Reading Development And The Evaluative Process: A Call To Action, Nicholas P. Criscuolo

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

The author selected two cities in each state (one small and one large) and sent a letter recently to the superintendents of schools in these cities, requesting information concerning their inservice offerings in reading and a copy of the evaluation document used in that city's school district.

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.

The Use Of Teletherapy In The Mainstreaming Era, William S. O'Bruba, Donald A. Camplese, Mary D. Sanford

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Results of research appears to indicate that peer acceptance is vital to a successful mainstreaming process. If understanding is to be fostered in children, teachers must provide class members with opportunities for building acceptance. One highly effective and inexpensive method of building empathy and increasing the probability of peer acceptance is the use of Teletherapy.

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.

Some Thoughts On Systematic Reading Readiness Instruction, J Michael Palardy

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Of the many reading readiness factors, some are known to be immune to, or at least not easily impacted by, the effects of schoolilng. These include students' socioeconomic and backgrounds of experience, their mental age and IQ, and their basic motivation and achievement orientations. Other readiness factors are recognized as being amenable to training--in other words, as being teachable and learnable. Happly, these include four of the most significant ones; auditory discrimination, auditory comprehension, visual discrimination, and visual memory. In the remarks that follow, an attempt is made to review selected instructional procedures in each of these areas.

Reading Horizons Vol. 24, No. 3.

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Complete issue of Reading Horizons volume 24, issue 3.

The Westerner Vol. 4 No. 5, Western Michigan University

The Westerner (1980-1997)

• In a few words ... • Bernhard announces retirement as president • Charter trustee Adams honored • Brinn named vice president for University relations • Goldfarb new associate dean • The alumni/development shuffle • Room and board rates increase • Honorary degrees granted at April commencement • Phillips receives service award • Greenburg, Svoboda receive honorary degrees • Noted scholar appointed to Upjohn Chair • Western Leadership 1983 • Among Alumni • Alumnotes • Sports

Rhythmicity, Rate, And Perceived Effort Level Of Fluent And Disfluent Children And Their Parents, Lorraine Destefano Proctor

Masters Theses

Finger tapping and CVC syllable repetition measures of 7 four to eight year old fluent and disfluent children and their mothers were evaluated. Perceptual ratings of speech rate and effort level were also completed by the children, their mothers, and nine graduate students. These procedures were used to test hypotheses that mean interval durations for tapping and for speech, and perceptual ratings of speech rate and effort level are individual in nature.

Results indicated that the subjects1 measures of mean interval durations for tapping and for speech as estimates of rhythmicity, and perceptual ratings of speech rate and effort level …

The Synthesis And Characterization Of Some Transition Metal Complexes Prom Mixtures Of Poly Pyrazolyl Borates, Robert Matthew Alway

Masters Theses

This is a report of the synthesis and separation of transition metal complexes of hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)- borate and hydrotris(3,5-dimethyl-l-pyrazolyl)borate. These complexes contain a central metal ion and two tridentate ligands, one hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate and one hydrotris(3,5-dimethyl-l-pyrazolyl)borate. Mass spectrometry proved to be an extremely useful technique for identifying products. Many mass spectra are included and discussed extensively.

Complexes containing hydrobis(pyrazole)(3,5-dimethyl -1-pyrazolyl)borate and hydrobis(3,5-dimethyl-l-pyrazole) (pyrazolyl)borate also were synthesised and mass spectra obtained.

The Effects Of Directive And Non-Directive Techniques And Locus Of Control On Preference For A Therapist, Perceived Therapist Effectiveness, And Attendance Rates Of Geriatrics In A Music Therapy Setting, Katrina Alison Picha

Masters Theses

It was hypothesized that external locus of control subjects would prefer directive techniques and perceive them as more effective while non-directive techniques would be preferred and perceived as more effective by internal locus of control subjects. Nineteen external and internal geriatric residents in a healthcare facility were divided by randomized matched pairing into two groups, both led by the same therapist. Subjects participated in either a directive or non-directive group and rated the therapist on bipolar semantic differential scales for perceived effectiveness and preference. No significant main or interaction effects were found for type of treatment, locus of control, or …

Enhancing Vocabulary Growth, Dixie Lee Spiegel

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

In this paper the skills of independent vocabulary expansion--use of context clues, structural analysis, and the dictionary--will not be discussed. Rather, in this paper, the focus will be on understandings and attitudes can be grouped into three categories of concerns: intellectual, practical, and affective.

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 …

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 …

Structural Geology Of The Northern Snowcrest Range, Beaverhead And Madison Counties, Montana, Mark Kenneth Sheedlo

Masters Theses

The Snowcrest Range was uplifted in Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary time as a consequence of thrusting in Precambrian basement and Phanerozoic cover rocks.

The Snowcrest-Greenhorn thrust system is associated with largescale overturned, eastward verging folds. Mean orientation of the thrust system is N.40°E., 35°N.W.. The trend of the thrust system and associated transverse faults appear to be controlled by earlier structures. Mesoscopic and microscopic analyses indicate that metamorphic basement rocks accommodated congressional strain largely by brittle faulting and cataclastic shearing. Kinematic indicators suggest that local stresses were directed east-southeastward.

Northeast-trending Neogene faults along the western flank of the range …

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 …

Progression For Chamber Orchestra, David Edward Hansen

Masters Theses

"Progression” is a musical composition in three movements written for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two violins, two violas, two cellos, double bass, and percussion. The instrumentation was chosen for the purpose of providing a balance of many timbres without employing an ensemble of large proportions.

"Progression" was composed with a concept in mind. That concept involved the interaction of mankind and nature, and was simply the creative inspiration for the piece. No attempt should be made to extract the concept from the piece upon hearing it, since it is music to be enjoyed and appreciated.

Musically, …

A Comparison Of Teacher And Student Absenteeism In Three School Districts Of Different Size, John Clifton Huffman

Masters Theses

This paper compares absentee rates for teachers and students in three Michigan school districts. The districts under investigation vary greatly in enrollment. This first chapter relates the problem of teacher and student absenteeism to maintaining an assumed level of teacher/student contact time.

The second chapter reviews literature related to student and teacher absenteeism. This includes those studies which evaluate absenteeism based on personal and organizational factors associated with absence.

The third chapter relates the procedures which were used in the comparison. The fourth chapter lists the results of the data collected from the three school districts. The data are compared …

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 …

Inland Seawalls In Southwestern- Michigan: A Limnological Approach, Jeroen Wagendorp

Masters Theses

This research retrospectively evaluates the development of inland lake seawalls in southwestern Michigan. The objective was to look at physically induced phenomena and human induced phenomena, to determine which was most responsible for the need, and large numbers of inland lake seawalls in this region. In addition, the role of the Department of Natural Resources in inland lake seawall development was evaluated.

The findings, obtained through questionnaires, were compared to data from seawalls installed along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, and showed that man's activity in the littoral zone was the fundamental rationale behind the installation on inland lake …

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 …

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 …

Two Faces Of Alienation: A Study Of The Iranian Students' Activism And Passivity In American Universities, Alireza Mohseni-Tabrizi

Dissertations

The relationship between Iranian students' alienation from the Iranian politics and society and their social and political activism is examined at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Western Michigan University. The major goals of the study are to determine if there is a significant difference in the alienation levels of students who are politically and socially active and those who are not prone to participate in social and political activities, and to compare and contrast activists and non-activists by testing several propositions about characteristics of alienated students. The analysis of the data shows strong support for all six …

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, …

A Descriptive Study Of The Leadership Styles Of School Business Officials In Selected Michigan School Districts, Daniel S. Gilmore

Dissertations

This study described the leadership style of school business officials employed by Michigan school districts with an enrollment range between 5,000 and 20,000 students. The population was comprised of 68 public school districts.

The dependent variable of leadership style and the independent variables of age, experience, professional orientation, and enrollment size were investigated. The basis for a predominant leadership style was also established.

Leadership style was defined as the extent to which the leader is concerned about (a) task or production, and (b) people or relationships. Various theories focusing on the dimensions of concern for task and concern for people …

College Impact On Religiosity Of Muslim Students Studying In The United States, Hamid Pouryoussefi

Dissertations

The major purpose of this study was to examine the religiosity of Muslim students studying in the United States. Religiosity was viewed as a four-dimensional variable: belief dimension, ritual dimension, experiential dimension, and consequential dimension. In addition, a combined index of religiosity was created.

The five hypotheses tested were: (1) The higher the academic status of the student, the lower the religiosity of the student. (2) There is an association between the religiosity of students and their major fields of study. (3) The more courses taken in social sciences by the student, the lower the religiosity of the student. (4) …

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 …

The Chromatic And Cochromatic Number Of A Graph, John Gordon Gimbel

Dissertations

Clearly, there are many ways that one can partition the vertex sets of graphs. In the first chapter of this work I examine the problem of determining, for a given graph, the minimum order of a vertex partition having specified properties. In the remaining chapters I concentrate on partitions of two types--those in which each subset induces an empty graph and those in which each subset induces an empty or a complete graph.

The chromatic number of a graph G is the minimum number of subsets into which V(G) can be partitioned so that each subset induces an empty graph. …

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 …