Digital Commons Network^™

Variables Related To Faculty Attitudes Towards Computing At Western Michigan University, Marianne P. Vakalis

Dissertations

The purpose of this study were: (a) to describe characteristics of faculty at Western Michigan University who hold favorable or unfavorable attitudes towards computing with respect to the 13 variables used in previous research; (b) to investigate other selected variables which could be used to describe faculty who are likely to have favorable attitudes towards computing at Western on which little, if any, research has been reported in the literature; and (c) to develop implications of findings for identifying possible interventions with faculty who hold unfavorable attitudes towards computing at Western Michigan University.

A Computing Favorability Scale (Shields, 1984), used …

A Woman For All Seasons: A Biography Of Julia Catherine Stimson (1881-1948), Mary T. Weber Sarnecky Dnsc, Mn, Bsn

Dissertations

Little is known or written about one of nursing's most enduring and productive leaders, Julia Catherine Stimson. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the life and character of Miss Stimson and to identify the many, diverse contributions which she made to the profession of nursing and to humanity. Additionally through an analysis of her leadership qualities, a profile of an effective nursing leader evolved. The historical method was used in this investigation. Data was collected for the study from the National Archives, the Center of Military History, the New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center Archives, the New York Historical …

A Theoretical Integration Of Robert Kegan's Developmental Psychology And Heinz Kohut's Self Psychology, Wilmar Vanderpol

Dissertations

Theory and research about psychological development tends to be dichotomized into two broad approaches that have never been integrated. The one is Piagetian-based cognitive-developmentalism, and the other is Freudian-based psychoanalytic developmentalism. The first predominates in academic research and application and the second in clinical research and therapy. This dissertation is a theoretical integration of the Piagetian-based theory of Robert Kegan with the Freudian-based theory of Heinz Kohut known as self psychology. A rationale for the integration of these two theories is given, along with an overview of each theory with respect to their developmental aspects. Analysis of their respective basic …

The Effects Of Anabolic Steroids On Measured Personality Traits Of Male Weight Trainers, Kraig Libstag

Dissertations

This research was undertaken to explore the effects of anabolic steroid use on the measured personality traits of male weight trainers. The use of these drugs by competitive and non-competitive athletes worldwide has grown to enormous proportions. Anecdotal case reports that discuss various psychological manifestations associated with the use of anabolic steroids by athletes have been presented in professional journals and in the popular press in recent years. However, there have been few studies that systematically examine the psychological consequences of steroid utilization.

The underlying assumption of this study was that anabolic steroids would affect the measured personality characteristics of …

Causes Of Juvenile Delinquency In Jordan, Ayed A. Irfaifeh

Dissertations

This dissertation sought to examine the extent to which a set of social bonding factors were helpful in preventing delinquency in the Jordanian society. A sample of 147 juveniles (male eleventh-graders) from seven public high schools in the Tafielah Covernate and its localities completed a self-reported survey. Their answers were useful in ascertaining whether or not Hirschi's (1969) social control theory was indeed applicable cross-culturally, especially in a society dissimilar to the United States. Within the theoretical confines of Hirschi's theory, the descriptive data suggest that Jordanian youth have similar cultural beliefs, values, attitudes, and affiliation to the convention order …

Demographic Characteristics, Rehabilitation Outcomes, And Family Concerns Of Individuals Who Are Older And Blind, John E. Crews

Dissertations

This study was conducted to create a description of the demographic characteristics, rehabilitation outcomes, and concerns of the family members of a group of people who are older and blind. The sample for this study included 112 people who were blind and over the age of 55. In addition, the study included a description of the concerns of 40 family members who had a spouse or parent who was older and blind.

Five instruments were used to gather data for this study. A survey instrument provided demographic data and reported levels of productivity for each client. A functional assessment form …

Effects Of Performance Feedback And Goal Setting On The Productivity And Satisfaction Of Clerical Workers, Leslie Ann Wilk

Dissertations

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Performance Management (PM) intervention designed to improve the productivity and job satisfaction of clerical employees in a university admissions department. During the first phase of the intervention, supervisors applied a PM program which included an individualized daily goal setting and verbal feedback program. During phase two, graphic display of individual performance levels was added to the goals and verbal feedback program. Productivity was measured via daily self reports of tasks completed. Job satisfaction was assessed by taking measures prior to and following the intervention using the Work …

A Comparison Of The Effects Of A Linear And An Exponential Performance-Pay Function On Work Productivity, Shezeen Oah

Dissertations

This study examined how work productivity was affected by the way in which individual monetary incentives were related to performance. Two types of relationships, or performance-pay functions, were compared: a linear function in which a specific per piece incentive was provided for each piece completed in excess of a performance standard and an exponential function in which the amount of the per piece incentive accelerated as productivity increased. Forty college subjects were randomly assigned to one of the two pay conditions. Each subject participated in 15 forty-five minute sessions. Subjects performed a computerized work task that simulated the job of …

Members Of Minority Student Organizations And Their Perceptions Of Their Academic And Social Integration, Oris Tamaria Griffin

Dissertations

Hundreds of studies of student retention have been conducted at colleges and universities over the years, and invariably they have focused on identifying student characteristics and other factors related to retention, as well as on causes of attrition which can help us identify ways to improve this situation.

Importantly the literature on student retention has identified academic and social integration as playing key roles in student retention, although admittedly some studies have shown more promise on these variables than others.

The purpose of this study was to determine if members of any one of three organizational types (social, professional, ethnic) …

The Relationship Between Private And Commercial Vehicle Driver Records And Accidents In Michigan, Robert E. Maki

Dissertations

The primary objective of this study was to determine whether previous accidents and citations are reliable predictors of future tractor-trailer heavy truck accidents in Michigan. In addition, the background material on accident trends shows how heavy truck safety policy was formed at the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Historically, accident prediction models have been able to explain only small portions of the accident experience. More recent studies have tended to show that previous citation and accident experience were good predictors of commercial vehicle accidents. Most studies have suffered from an admitted lack of exposure data and incomplete accident statistics.

Through the …

A Study Management Course For High-Risk Black College Freshmen, Mark Andrew Jackson

Dissertations

Attrition of high-risk, black college students has been a perpetual problem faced by colleges and universities. The importance of not only attending college, but actually receiving a degree has substantially greater cultural, educational, societal, and financial implications for black people than for whites. Also, because of shifting demographics, the relatively high attrition rates of black students will have an even greater impact on colleges and universities in upcoming years.

A review of the literature indicates that the origins of this problem are most directly related to academic deficiencies, poor motivation, and inadequate time management and self-management. While there exist numerous …

The Effects Of Combining Behavioral Counselling With Nicotine Fading And Smoke Holding In Medically At-Risk Adult Smokers, Terry Steven Bradford

Dissertations

The present study examined the effects of nicotine fading and a taste aversion procedure during behavioral treatment for smoking cessation. Nine subjects were initially assigned to one of two groups. Informed consent and physician waivers were obtained. Behavioral counseling was provided with the objective of subjects becoming self-control agents. After baseline, patients were taught to apply nicotine fading techniques. Subjects also received instruction and practice in goal setting and in using alternative responses, relaxation, and so forth. Three consecutive daily sessions of smoke holding were then done, during which subjects were instructed to stop smoking, followed by maintenance sessions. Results …

Perceptions Of Leadership Styles Of Principals In The Archdiocese Of Detroit, Denise Seymour

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the congruence of perceptions of ideal and real leadership behavior of principals in Catholic elementary and high schools located in the Archdiocese of Detroit. The Leadership Behavior Description Questionnaire (Halpin, 1957a), (LBDQ) developed through the College of Administrative Sciences at Ohio State University, was used. An instrument developed by the researcher was used to collect data on age, gender, experience and religious or lay status of principals and teachers.

The data were analyzed using the SAS Package for the IBM 4341 utilizing the CMS operating system at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo) Statistical …

Computer Aided Localization Of Neurological Diseases, Yusuf Parlar

Dissertations

Computers in medicine has brought new dimensions and better understanding of uncertainties in the field of medical sciences in the last decade. This thesis is focused upon the localization of neurological lesions in the human nervous system. It relates clinical neurological test outcomes to pathways of function or malfunction. Certain methods are proposed-empirical. stochastic. Deterministic-to estimate the spatial distributions of lesion probabilities.

First. a Bayesian model is presented to estimate the posterior probability of lesion from a priori information, based on the test outcomes. Due to unavailable data alternative methods and models are presented: Regression Analysis. Monte Carlo simulation, and …

Mass Transfer Of Hazardous Organic Compounds In Soil Matrices Relevant To Thermal Desorption/Incineration, Jong-In Dong

Dissertations

Soils contaminated with hazardous organic compounds have been known to threaten human health both directly through various contact mechanisms and indirectly through leaching or transfer to the food chain. Thermal desorption of contaminated soil matrices with secondary treatment of the effluent gases (collection, incineration, etc) is one of most feasible and developing technologies for cleaning of contaminated soils. There is, however, little known about the mass transfer principles of organic contaminants through the heated soil matrices. The objectives of this study is, therefore, to learn and understand details of the mass transfer processes of organic compounds in these soil matrices. …

An Interpretive Study Of The Professional Socialization Of Neophyte Nurses Into The Nursing Subculture, Elisabeth J. Hamel Edd, Rn

Dissertations

Making the transition from nursing student to practicing nurse requires the novice to master an array of complex nursing skills in order to care for acutely ill patients. In an era of cost containment, today's hospitals are demanding efficient and effective delivery of nursing services. Nurse administrators are expecting competent, efficient graduates nurses upon entry into the organization. The transition from school to the work world is characterized by the loss of one familiar social setting and its replacement by a distinctly new culture. The disparity the neophyte experiences between the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of school and work divides …

Autonomy In Practice: Conceptualization, Construction, And Psychometric Evaluation Of An Empirical Instrument, Judith Smith Dempster Dnsc, Msn, Rnc, Fnp

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to conceptualize, construct and establish psychometric properties of an instrument to examine unmeasured dimensions of autonomy in practice through a process of retroduction and triangulation. In the context of ongoing rapid change and increasing competition in the health care delivery arena there is valid reason for nursing and other health professions to be concerned with their autonomous practice status. However, research and instrumentation activities have been hindered by the abstract nature of autonomy with only limited theoretical dimensions empirically measured. There is need to develop new, original, useful, and generalizable tools with a wide …

The Nurse Manager: An Ethnography Of Hospital-Based First-Line Nurse Managers Practicing In An Expanded Role, Sally Everson-Bates Dnsc, Ma, Rn

Dissertations

The behaviors, beliefs and values that characterize everyday practice of first-line nurse managers role were analyzed. Ethnographic field research techniques were used including nine months of observation and in-depth interviews with practicing nurse managers. After reviewing historical events that shaped the role of the nurse manager, the role was then placed within the economic, social and health care context of the 1970's and 80's. Research and anecdotal descriptions of the manager role of the past twenty years were also explored. Research was conducted in two voluntary acute care, multi-service hospitals. One manager was observed intensively for two months to develop …

Education For Christian Leadership, James H. Ford Edd

Dissertations

There is an increasing number of nonordained catholic men and women trained for leadership and ministry in the United States. What are the perspectives of these women and men on leadership in the church, the nature and purpose of leadership, and education for leadership? This qualitative study compared transforming leadership with the perspectives on leadership discovered among the 17 participants in the study. The respondents expect to exercise leadership in a church that faces a challenging future. The researcher also outlined those future challenges facing leaders and participants who practice the process of leadership. The author makes prescriptive suggestions on …

Clients' Self-Reports Of Counselor Style And Personal Change: A Comparison Of Inexperienced And Experienced Counselors, Ronald M. Crafton

Dissertations

Research suggests clients' perceptions of counselor style are important factors in successful counseling outcome (Strong, 1968). With the widespread acceptance and emphasis on practica courses in counselor education, it follows that counselor educators and clinical supervisors need empirical indicators of the level of service provided by inexperienced student counselors. Information provided by clients pertaining to specific dimensions of counselor style and personal change is rare, and until now, has been limited to experienced counselors.

When 181 clients of inexperienced counselors were compared with 363 clients of experienced counselors it was found that the inexperienced counselors were percieved similarly on 12 …

Parent, Student, And Teacher Perceptions Of Discipline Problems In The Middle School, Marilyn J. Giannangeli

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of parents, students, and teachers relative to specific, documented behavioral problems which occur in the middle school environment. Of particular interest were the perceptions of the frequency with which these behaviors occurred, whether these perceptions correlated with the actual frequencies as documented by formal dismissal referrals, and the perceptions of appropriateness of referral to a school administrator of these behaviors.

The sample group consisted of 230 students, 25 teachers, and 230 parents from a selected middle school in Macomb County, located in southeastern Michigan. The instrument used for data collection …

A Study Of Leadership Styles Of The County Sheriffs In The State Of Michigan, David A. Miramonti

Dissertations

This study sought to determine if there was an identifiable preferred leadership style used by law enforcement administrators, as represented by the county sheriffs in the state of Michigan. The study also sought to determine whether there was any relationship between certain previously identified variables and leadership style preference. Finally, the study gathered information about the background of county sheriffs.

The available literature in the field established the main hypothesis: that a humanistic style of leadership is preferred. Eight other hypotheses were developed to analyze the relationship between the variables of age, educational level, education major, years in law enforcement, …

The Relationship Between Attitude Toward The Elderly And Intergenerational Contact Among Social Workers, William D. Vickers

Dissertations

The relationship between social workers' attitudes toward the elderly and personal contact with older persons was investigated utilizing a sample survey research design. The assessment instrument included The Aging Semantic Differential (Rosencranz & McNevin, 1969) to measure attitude and an intergenerational contact measure developed and field tested for the study. The instrument was mailed to a random sample of 538 members of the Michigan Chapter, National Association of Social Workers. The research questions addressed were: (1) What are the attitudes of social workers toward the elderly? (2) What intergenerational contact has been experienced by social workers? (3) Is there a …

Effect Of Inorganic Salts On Adsorption Process, Pai-Yuan Horng

Dissertations

`Small amounts (0.0 M-0.01 M) of inorganic salts (sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and aluminum chloride) added to bituminous coal fly ash and granular activated carbon in batch adsorption treatment experiments indicates the possibility of enhancing the extent and rate of adsorption process.

Experiments were conducted on aqueous solutions of highly toxic and hazardous chemicals, those include : phenol, benzene, toluene, isopropyl alcohol, and methyl-isobutyl ketone. Single and multiple solute systems were examined separately. Removal of organic pollutants was measured using a Flame Ionization Detector Gas Chromatograph.

This study investigated the role of inorganic salts during the sorption process. The results …

The Effects Of Collaboration, Organizational Climate, And Job Stress On Job Satisfaction And Anticipated Turnover In Nursing, Jaynelle F. Stichler Dnsc

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of collaborative behavior, organizational climate, and job stress on job satisfaction and anticipated turnover in nursing. The path analytic model of anticipated turnover was temporally ordered with all exogenous variables proposed to directly affect job satisfaction and anticipated turnover and indirectly affect anticipated turnover through job satisfaction. Subjects (N = 188) were female Registered Nurses from six hospitals in Southern California. The majority of the respondents were clinical nurses who worked full time on the day shift, although a significant percentage of the sample also worked part-time or perdiem and …

Diverse Voices Of Leadership: Different Rhythms And Emerging Harmonies, Kathleen E. Allen Edd

Dissertations

In our current research literature leaders have been identified through traditional sampling techniques; techniques in which individuals are selected by positions, reputation, and organizational success. The background assumptions for these techniques include that of leadership as a top-down phenomenon, under the purview of CEOs and presidents. Articulated by these sampling techniques is a voice of leadership that is based within the American individualistic culture, a voice from leaders who are white, older, and men. The purpose of this study was to explore whether there are different voices of leadership which are not presently reflected in the leadership literature. Fifteen individuals …

A Study Of Planned Organizational Change At General Dynamics, Richard A. Barker Edd

Dissertations

A case study approach was used to evaluate organizational change that occurred between 1986 and 1989 at General Dynamics Corporation. The purpose of the study was to determine how persons in leading positions can realistically expect to plan and implement significant, planned organizational changes. The changes specifically studied were those which resulted from the planning and implementation of the Ethics Program. The Ethics Program at General Dynamics was examined not only as a case example of a planned, intended change, but as a vehicle for broad strategic goals pertaining to human resources management. Historic data from corporate documents and surveys, …

The Impact Of Federal Regulation On Time To Equivalence And Compliance Within The Orthopaedic Medical Device Industry, John J. Carlow Edd

Dissertations

The Medical Device Amendments of 1976 (Public Law 94-295) consolidated and expanded existing federal authority over manufacturers of medical devices. This meant that any medical device manufactured after the Medical Device Amendment of 1976 needed to establish that it is substantially equivalent in terms of content, composition, intended use and related risk. This study was designed to investigate the influences on the process of notifying the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of an orthopaedic medical device manufacturer's intent to market a product. The study's primary objectives were twofold: 1) determine the relationships of three independent variables (i.e., the company's size …

A Study Of Factors Contributing To Achieving And Sustaining School Effectiveness In Elementary Schools, Janet A. Hageman Chrispeels Edd

Dissertations

An effective school is one in which there are overall high levels of achievement sustained over time and in which students from the lower socioeconomic (SES) subgroups are performing at levels comparable to higher SES groups. Through a case study methodology, the author analyzed the degree of effectiveness in eight elementary schools and factors that contributed to attaining this level of effectiveness. Over a five year period, data were collected at each school through interviews, effective schools surveys, CAP test results, and other school records. The effectiveness of each school was determined by applying three criteria that evaluated the overall …

The Impact Of Feeding Methods On Exclusion From Child Care For Infants Under Six Months Of Age, Elizabeth G. Jones Edd, Mph, Rd

Dissertations

The increasing numbers of women entering the work force have created a greater need for accessible, quality, and affordable child care. Concurrently there is rising concern about the transmission of infection in child care settings. There is evidence, but no consensus, that breastfeeding may offer protection from infection, especially during the first months of life. However, employed/student mothers report that efforts to maintain breastfeeding are not well supported at the work/school site. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the impact of infant feeding methods on the exclusion rate due to illness among infants less than six months of …