Digital Commons Network^™

Factors In The Control Of Corporations: Structural And Bureaucratic Impediments, Doris Jean Cubbernuss

Dissertations

The extent to which corporate power, in and of itself, is considered a problem in U.S. society is a function of the perceived role of the corporation in social, political, and economic structures. Recognition of the inordinate powers of large corporations in the social and political, as well as economic, institutions of the society serves as an impetus for the analysis of the structures and processes designed to control corporate activities. The structural and bureaucratic impediments to these control mechanisms are illustrated in the Ford Pinto case. The activities of the Ford Motor Company, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, …

The Effects Of Pentazocine And Tripelennamine On Analgesia And Locomotion, James Philip Cleary

Dissertations

The effects of pentazocine and tripelennamine, alone and in combination, were assessed on measures of analgesia (hot plate test) and locomotion (open field) in rats and mice. In Experiment 1, the combination of pentazocine and tripelennamine was found to produce analgesia at doses which were not analgesic when the drugs were given alone. This combination also reestablished analgesia in subjects made tolerant to pentazocine's effects. In Experiment 2, development of tolerance to the analgesic effects of pentazocine was delayed by addition of tripelennamine. In Experiment 3, locomotion was decreased by pentazocine at the highest dose. A similar reduction was produced …

Teachers' Growth/Development And The Organizational Climate Of Elementary Schools, Louise Birch

Dissertations

The purposes of the study were: (a) to determine the types of professional development in which elementary teachers voluntarily participated and the extent of that participation, and (b) to investigate the relationships between school climate and teachers' participation, enrollment size and teachers' participation, and enrollment size and school climate.

The survey included all of the 356 regular elementary school teachers in two southwestern Michigan school districts who each held a tenured position and was assigned to a building with the same principal for at least the 1980-81 and 1981-82 years. The number of schools was 15 in District A and …

A Comparison Of Hutchings' Low Stress Algorithm And Three Other Methods In Multidigit Multiplication For Calculation Speed And Accuracy, John Byron Connors

Masters Theses

High achieving fifth grade students were taught three alternate multiplication algorithms: Hutchings low stress, Gelocian lattice, and partial products (distributive algorithm using indentation). The two independent variables were the four algorithms (three alternate plus traditional) and three problem array sizes (3 x 2, 3, and 4 factors). The three dependent variables were percent accuracy, rate correct, and rate incorrect. A multi-element manipulation design across phases was used varying type of calculation procedure within sessions and type of problem array across sessions. Results showed that all three alternate algorithms were superior to the traditional algorithm on most dependent variable measures. Pre …

A Model For A Self-Contained Videotape Training Program, Theodore D. Apking

Dissertations

Many organizations have a frequent need for employee training, and thus spend substantial sums of money on training. In an attempt to develop a model training program for use in such organizations, a self-contained videotape program was tested for its cost-effectiveness. It included rules describing the tasks, prerecorded videotapes showing correct and incorrect performance of those tasks, and score sheets for use by trainees while scoring the appropriateness of those performances.

The program produced significantly more task improvement than did lecture and discussion. The written and videotape components improved performance regardless of which was presented first. Once the skills were …

Micellarly Catalyzed Reaction Of Substituted Benzohydroxamic Acids, Nop Utrapiromsuk

Dissertations

The rate constants for hydrolysis of ten derivatives of benzohydroxamic acid, namely, p-H, p-CH(,3), m-CH(,3), p-CH(,3)CH(,2), p-OCH(,3), p-NO(,2), p-Cl, and m-Cl, in 0.160 and 0.158 M HCl at 67.9-68.2(DEGREES)C without and with sodium 1-dodecanesulfonate were determined. There is a good linear correlation between log k(,w) and the Hammett substituent constants, (sigma), for all para and meta derivatives where k(,w) is the rate constant in the bulk aqeous phase. In the presence of micelles all the compounds, except the meta-nitro derivative, followed the standard pseudophase model of micellar catalysis. However, correlations of log k(,m) or log K/N, where k(,m) is the …

The Use Of Bonus Pay To Produce Cost Effective Behavior Change In The Direct Care Staff Of A Residential Mental Health Program, William F. Uhlman

Dissertations

The literature on the design of mental health service systems and techniques to generate performance in the workplace was reviewed and synthesised to create guidelines for developing cost effective behavior change in mental health systems. The present study was an examination of the cost effective application of monetary bonuses to the completion of training objectives by professional and paraprofessional staff in a residential service setting. Training objectives consisted of the teaching of specific survival skills to adult mentally retarded clients that were designed to enable clients to move to more independent settings.

Two experiments were performed. Experiment 1 examined the …

Modification Of Staff Behavior In A Mental Health Center, Craig Wendell Knapp

Dissertations

Behavioral research which has focused on improving employee behavior in business and human service organizations has pointed to an increasing need to develop simple, effective management tools which will maintain appropriate behavior changes. The purpose of the present study was to explore the controlling relationship between behavior and variables previously cited in the literature, and to develop a procedure to increase and maintain the amount of time which employees in a mental health center spent on priority activities defined by management.

Eleven male and female employees in four programs of a mental health center were exposed to conditions in which …

A Study Of Hypnotic Age Regression Using The Rorschach Scored By The Exner Comprehensive System, Scott William Trylch

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to compare Rorschach results of hypnotically age regressed subjects with three groups of controls: deeply hypnotized, hypnotizable simulators, and minimally susceptible simulators. The study tested the null hypothesis that hypnotically age regressed subjects differ significantly from subjects in deep hypnosis, hypnotizable simulators, and minimally susceptible simulators on Rorschach scores when scored by the Exner Comprehensive System. A second null hypothesis was that there would be no difference between the age regressed subjects and the three control groups in correspondence to the Exner age norms.

The 24 volunteer subjects were screened for psychological problems, then …

Occupational-Educational Maturity: A Measure Of Career Awareness, Ralph George O'Sullivan

Dissertations

This study was an attempt to develop the research concept of occupational-educational maturity, and then test it within a population of ninth-grade, public school students from Grand Rapids, Michigan. This research concept was a composite variable which consisted of the alignment, or goodness of fit, between students' occupational aspirations and their educational expectations. The focus of the study was to determine whether or not students' expected levels of educational attainment or vocational training were appropriate prerequisites for entry into the students' desired occupations. No previous studies have directly addressed this idea, nor have they attempted to measure students' occupational-educational maturity …

A Component Analysis Of Behavioral Procedures For Increasing Work Rate In Mentally Retarded Adults, Stephen Emory Wong

Dissertations

This study was a component analysis of several procedures commonly employed in behavioral vocational rehabilitation programs. The work rate of retarded subjects was assessed under four conditions: (1) baseline; (2) verbal prompts; (3) verbal prompts and social reinforcement; and (4) verbal prompts, social reinforcement, and monetary reinforcement. Subjects were four, moderately retarded, male clients of a sheltered workshop. The experimental task involved assembly of a metal knife composed of four separate pieces. Treatment effects were analyzed within a mixed multielement reversal design where each subject served as his own control. Results showed that baseline sessions, all started with the simple …

A Behaviorally-Based Graduate Practicum Program In Applied Behavior Analysis, James Harper Kaye

Dissertations

Although practica are often required of psychology students at various points during their graduate training, seldom are any resulting skills described and validated. Faculty are occasionally involved in campus-based clinics which serve some practicum students; however, when practica are based off-campus, faculty are seldom directly involved. As a result, practica are frequently uncoordinated, duplicative, and non-specific in terms of their practicum student training procedures.

Although there have been some attempts reported to systematize and coordinate either off-campus or on-campus practica, no such effort has been previously reported in relation to multiple complex organizations, both on-campus and off-campus.

In the present …

Fidelity Of Dna Polymerase In Vitro, Yannacos C. Philopoulos

Dissertations

The fidelity of DNA Polymerase I, isolated from B. licheniformis and B. stearothermophilus, was tested in the presence of carcinogens and anticancer compounds. All of these compounds inhibited (62.4-99.2%) the synthesis of DNA using Poly(dA-dT) as a template. The compounds were inhibitory at all concentration levels tested, 0.01, 1.0 and 100 mM. The fidelity of the enzyme appeared to be enhanced by the presence of these compounds, as indicated by misincorporation (50-70%), that is, the incorporation of incorrect nucleotide. Misincorporation in the presence of either carcinogens or anticancer compounds was less than that of control. The results from both organisms …

The Online Subject/Title Catalog Of Western Michigan University, James N. Sleep

Masters Theses

An online subject searchable catalog has been developed to allow public access to the OCLC-MARC subscription tapes of the Western Michigan University Libraries. The system has been implemented on the Western Michigan University Academic Computer Center DECsystem-10 computer and is currently running with access to nearly one hundred thousand citations. During the design of the Online Subject/Title Catalog, statistical analysis of the source data was performed. Paper products based on the OCLC-MARC subscription tapes, such as KWOC indexes, were also developed. A novel feature of this project was the use of SN0B0L4 as the main computer language used.

Community Education, A Cooperative Effort, Mary Tracey

Masters Theses

The summer of 1981 was the period of an internship with the community education programs of Grandville, Jenison, and Hudsonville. It offered the opportunity to work closely with the directors of the three programs and to become actively involved in these programs. Special projects to work on were assigned in addition to the regular duties of the community education directors. One new program was introduced and put into operation during the internship; another was proposed but not accepted and referred back to a citizens ’ advisory committee. This paper will show how the three communities work together to share materials, …

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Two Different Respiratory Valves On Maximal Oxygen Uptake And Heart Rate Response Of Selected Distance Runners, Jeffry Phillip Morgan

Masters Theses

This study compared selected cardiorespiratory responses obtained from two different respiratory valves, the Modified Otis-McKerrow and the Speak Easy, a mask-type valve, during maximal graded exercise testing of eleven distance runners. The results indicated that both maximal oxygen uptake and minute ventilation were significantly different. Values for maximal VO₂ and V_E were lower with the Speak Easy by 24 and 19 percent, respectively. Further analysis revealed that those differences were significant at submaximal levels as well. The trends in those responses show that the differences increase with increasing workload. However, maximal and submaximal heart rates were not significantly …

Nitrate Levels In The Groundwater Of Kalamazoo County, Michigan, William Robert Norman

Masters Theses

Nitrate levels from 1,978 wells were compiled and analyzed to identify areas having levels above the Federal and State Drinking Water Standards of 10 ppm, identify possible sources of nitrate in each area and determine factors that produce high concentrations of nitrate in groundwater.

Eighteen areas in which nitrate concentrations exceeded 10 ppm were identified. County-wide, 465 (23 percent) of the wells for which data were available produced water with nitrate concentrations above drinking water standards.

Septic tank effluent is thought to be the most common source of nitrate in the problem areas. Agricultural practices are also likely nitrate contrbutors; …

Path-Goal Theory Of Leader Behavior And Its Relation To Job Satisfaction As Moderated By The Intrinsic Motivation Of The Task, Diane Lloyd Gillo

Dissertations

The path-goal theory of leadership, based on an expectancy formulation of motivation, provides a potent schema for the investigation of the relationship between leader behavior and subordinates' satisfactions in the workplace. The inclusion of task related satisfactions has been dealt with as a contingency factor, but this study included the measurement of task design variables consistent with the task design literature.

According to the path-goal theory, leaders are effective because of their impact on subordinates' motivation, ability to perform effectively, and satisfactions. The study was designed to analyze the relationship between the independent variable of leader behavior and the dependent …

The Importance Of, And Capability To Perform, Program Evaluation As Perceived By Wisconsin District Media Directors, Roger Leslie Hartz

Dissertations

Working from a theoretical framework developed by merging the CIPP Evaluation Model with the concepts of formative and summative evaluation, this study attempted to discover the perceptions of Wisconsin school district instructional media directors regarding the importance of, and capability to perform, various types of evaluation activity.

Two survey instruments were developed, pilot tested, and administered to Wisconsin school district media directors. One form, administered to half of the population, sought information about the importance of the evaluation activities. The second form, administered to the remainder of the population, sought information about the perceived capability to perform the evaluation activities. …

An Investigation Of A Procedure To Assess Aggregated Item Bias In A Minimum-Competency Test, Laurence E. Rudolph

Dissertations

This study described and evaluated a new procedure to assess item bias in a minimum-competency test (MCT). This procedure was thought to be capable of estimating the degree of bias contained in a given test item. This is in contrast to traditional item bias detection procedures which focus on the presence or absence of bias in an item. Furthermore, the procedure was thought to be capable of estimating item bias in such a way that the aggregate of item bias (AIB) could be obtained.

The chi-square was found to be the most practical of the item bias procedures and the …

Intelligibility Of Speech Produced With An Artificial Larynx At Various Frequencies, Sandra Arlene Merritt

Masters Theses

Word intelligibility scores of 21 listeners were used to test the hypothesis that speech intelligibility will vary systematically across speakers and fundamental frequency of electrolarynx vibration.

Twenty-one listeners transcribed audio recorded lists of CVC utterances produced with an electrolarynx by 3 speakers at each of five fundamental frequencies.

Comparative analysis of scores across frequencies and speakers were discussed in terms of:

a) source transmission characteristics of "electrolaryngeal" speech, b) implications for diagnosis/therapeusis of alaryngeal speakers.

Results indicated that intelligibility scores were significantly different between speakers and between frequencies within speakers. Maximum intelligibility scores were more highly correlated with certain frequencies …

Acquisition And Transfer Of Behavior Management Skills: An Empirical Functional Analysis Of Staff And Client Gains, Elaine Bellis

Masters Theses

A multiple baseline design across instructional conditions was used to assess the effects of a s ta ff training package consisting of written rules, daily monitoring, public posting of performance data, and allotments of contingent break-time privileges on the behavior management skills of tutors in suppressing the stereotypic behavior of retarded individuals. The intervention package was sequentially introduced in three different instructional conditions in the following order: a group session, a one-to-one session, and a transition period. Following baseline, three tutors were trained to apply consistent and accurate consequences to varying rates of self-stimulatory behavior exhibited by three impaired subjects. …

The Effects Of Contingent Shock On Cigarette Smoking Behavior: An Attempt To Replicate, Marianne M. Narick

Masters Theses

This experiment attempted to replicate previously reported research (DeRicco, Brigham, and Garlington, 1977) which demonstrated smoking suppression using contingent shock. A multiple-baseline across subjects design was employed to assess experimental control. A heterogeneous group of five males and two females ranging in age from 19 to 61 years, participated in the experiment. Subjects attended 30 minute treatment sessions conducted 5 days per week, Monday thru Friday, where 25 shocks were delivered on an unpredictable, variable interval schedule contingent upon the subject lighting a cigarette, holding a burning cigarette and/or smoking a cigarette. Treatment continued for a minimum of 3 weeks …

Hemispheric Perception Of Modulated Rhythmic Patterns In A Dichotic Listening Task, Belinda Sue Ford Murray

Masters Theses

This study attempted to determine ear advantage in a dichotic listening task involving perception of tempo modulation (decrease.or increase) within repeating rhythmic patterns at initial tempi of 80 mm or 160 mm. Ear advantage was measured by reaction times to and accuracy of modulation detection.

The subjects were thirty right-handed nonmusicians with normal hearing. The rhythms were pure tones generated in real time on an Apple II computer and presented through headphones. The subjects' task was to depress a designated computer key as soon as the modulation was detected. The computer recorded each subject's response and reaction time.

Reaction time …

The Political Philosophy Of John Rawls: An Examination Of His View Of Man And Social Stability In The Just Society, Calvin Jay Mouw

Masters Theses

The thesis constitutes a critical examination of Rawl's psychological assumptions in A Theory of Justice. Rawl's psychological theory, derived from Rousseau and Kohlberg and characterized by his "Sense of Justice", depends upon overly altruistic assumptions about man's nature. These assumptions, along with resultant high levels of public motivation, lead to a high degree of social instability. Rawls fails to address this instability adequately.

The alternative model developed in this thesis takes as given the demonstrated ability of human beings to cooperate with one another and bases this capacity, in the tradition of Hume, on a mechanism of sympathy which brings …

Political Leadership And National Development In The Republic Of Korea, Woo-Sung Koh

Masters Theses

This thesis has attempted quantitatively to establish a positive relationship between political leadership and national development in South Korea during the period from 1948 to 1982.

The major concepts used in this study are political leader (President or Prime Minister), task elite (Cabinet Minister), and national development (political stability and socio-economic development). The social background data of the South Korean cabinet ministers were obtained from newspapers, journal articles, and biographical dictionaries.

Since the inception of the Republic of Korea in 19^8, the various regimes have contributed to bring about South Korea's success with national development. However, their records have varied. …

The Effects Of Pre And Post-Performance Review Goal Setting On Subsequent Job Performance In A Human Services Setting, Christie L. Kleinhuizen

Masters Theses

Researchers investigating the effects, of performance appraisals and. goal setting techniques have focused on laboratory (rather than field) settings and/or have relied on self-report or anecdotal data to draw their conclusions. The major objectives of the present study were to examine the effects of 1) goal setting on actual job performance in a community organizational setting and 2) performance appraisals on both subsequent job performance and goals set. Two male and two female counselors in a residential treatment center served as subjects in the study which utilized a multiple baseline design. The performance of l8 repetitive administrative/custodial tasks were measured …

Sex Differential Responding In Preschool Teachers: A Foundation For A Functional Analysis, Joanne Kimak

Masters Theses

This observational study investigated whether there was consistent sex differential treatment of children by preschool teachers. It measured the antecedents and consequences of responses made by children to certain problematic situations often present in free-play situations. The subjects were five paraprofessional teachers in a university affiliated preschool. In five classrooms, observers recorded the occurrence of aggression, accident, and object problems, the Various children's responses to these problems, and the teacher response to the children. The data were analyzed to determine if the teachers were responding differentially on the basis of the sex of the child and if there were sex …

The Detection Of Behavioral Effects In The F1 Generation Of Mice Treated During Spermatogenesis With Mitcmycin C And Ethyl-Nitrosourea, Bethel Elizabeth Imel

Masters Theses

Groups of 10, 8 and 6 HA(1CR) adult male mice were injected by a single intraperitoneal injection with 100 mg Ethyl-Nitrosourea, 2.5 mg Mitomcyin C or a saline Control. Treatment was administered in milligram per kilogram of body weight. Each male was mated to two untreated females during the fifth week after treatment. Progeny were evaluated by observations of reproduction, development, motor reflex, motor coordination and locomotor activity. Decreased weights were seen during the preweaning period among offspring from Mitomycin C treated males. The Mitomycin C group demonstrated consistent deficits in water escape performance. Mitomycin C progeny also exhibited one …

The Effects Of Intermittent Schedules Of Reinforcement On The Generation Of Adjunctive Behavior In Humans, Kenneth L. Hearn

Masters Theses

The primary goals of this study were: (1) to determine if interim behaviors occur with humans responding under intermittent schedules of reinforcement; -and, (2) if interim behaviors do occur, to compare the characteristics of those behaviors with the characteristics of adjunctive behavior in nonhumans. Two developmentally disabled males, ages 15 and 19, served as subjects. The subjects pressed a white panel for food, tokens and plastic objects under several schedules of reinforcement. The response rate on the white panel and the duration of interim behaviors that occurred during the inter-reinforcement intervals was measured using standard electro-mechanical equipment. All behaviors were …