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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 …

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.

Peer Influence: A Method To Help Manage Stress, Ronald Cameron Zurcher

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to find a difference between middle managers’ and blue-collar workers’ episodic non-work related and work related stress events. The information that was found was to be developed into a “peer influence” program to help prevent the workers from experiencing chronic stress symptoms.

Method: From research it was determined that there is a significant difference between middle managers’ and blue-collar workers’ episodic non-work and work related stress events. The material that was reviewed showed a difference in five areas: threat of job loss, lack of authority, new social values (sociability), personal life (satisfaction), and …

Contributions To The Career And Managerial Development Of Women: The Importance Of Selected Components As Perceived By A Group Of Community College Female Educators, Daniel A. Jaksen

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine the perceived importance of factors which comprised the major components of a leadership training program developed exclusively for female community college managerial aspirants. The study was undertaken to determine if any differences existed among six components, perceived by the participants as contributing to their career development. Comparisons were also made to ascertain if a difference existed in the importance of each of the components between those who have advanced in their careers since participating in the leadership program and those who have not advanced.

Data were collected from 251 (82%) female participants …

Effects Of Reinforcement Duration And Reinforcement On Response Latency: Stimulus-Reinforcer And Probability Response-Reinforcer Relationships, Henry David Schlinger Jr.

Dissertations

The purpose of the present experiment was to evaluate the stimulus-reinforcer and response-reinforcer relationships in a two-key procedure in which the key that the stimuli appeared on (stimulus key) was separated spatially from the key on which responding was required (constant key) (Hesse, 1984; Keller, 1974). Using pigeons and multiple fixed ratio schedules, the effects of differences in reinforcement duration and reinforcement probability on response latencies to the constant key were compared. Since responding to the stimulus key was not effective in producing reinforcement, any responding that developed to that key was assumed to be due to the stimulus-reinforcer relationships. …

The Familial Interrelationship Patterns, Socialization, And Juvenile Delinquency: An Integrated Theory And Research, Alan J. Pearl

Dissertations

Delinquency is widespread within American society. Americans are publicly and privately faced with high costs from delinquency. The theoretical development and research are now beginning to shed light upon the dynamics underlying delinquency. To understand and effectively deal with delinquency, more knowledge is necessary on its root causes. This dissertation is intended to provide more etiological knowledge.

Delinquent behavior is seen to be embedded within the interpersonal dynamics of the family at the level of socialization between parents and children. Essentially, the quality of the marital and parent-child dyads can facilitate or impede the socialization of youth. Socialization ineffectiveness leaves …

A Study Of The Feasibility Of Developing A Training Model To Incorporate Management By Objectives In Higher Education In Iraq, Nadhim J. Bakri

Dissertations

The initial decision to undertake this developmental study was an insight to the need of a more humanized administrative system that would replace a stagnant and obsolescent system. This understanding dictates a need for a systematic, comprehensive, and task-oriented training model for professional development of educational administration within the present system.

The purpose of the study was two-fold. The primary purpose was to develop a training model to incorporate MBO for professional development of educational administrators. The second purpose was to establish the task descriptions appropriate and necessary to operationalize the model.

An investigation of current management systems was utilized …

A Comparative Study Of Alcoholic And Nonalcoholic Women's Perception Of Their Relationship With Their Father, Judith A. Hinga

Dissertations

The literature review outlined the historical perspectives impacting current thinking about the role fathers play in child development. Theories of child development saw the mother as the important parent and all but ignored the father. Later researchers studied the father-daughter relationship and found that the paternal relationship is also an important factor in a female's personality development.

Theories of female alcoholism reviewed in this study indicate that there is a relationship between sex-role conflict and female alcoholism. Existing data show that the family of origin of female alcoholics is characterized by a cold, rejecting mother and a warm, accepting father. …

A Descriptive Study Of Six Career Developmental Tasks As A Function Of The Performance Ratings Of Supervisory Personnel Of The Financial Department Within One Division Of A Multi-National, Fortune 500 Manufacturing Corporation, Claudia Mettler Duranceau

Dissertations

This descriptive study investigated financial supervisory population within one division of a multi-national, Fortune 500 manufacturing corporation. Specifically, the study tested for the existence of a relationship between the level of six career developmental tasks on the predicted continuum of career development and the level of performance.

The Career Adjustment and Development Inventory (CAREER ADI) with a demographic cover sheet including performance data was used to collect data from the target population of ninety-two financial supervisors. The data reported the general characteristics: (a) survey response and performance rating, (b) age of the supervisor, (c) years with the corporation, (d) years …

An Integrative Model Of Marital Therapy Based On The Psychoanalytic Behavioral And Systems Approaches, Dennis L. Mulder

Dissertations

The Integrative Model of marital therapy is a synthesis of the theoretical constructs of the psychoanalytic, behavioral and systems approaches. Relevant literature of the selected approaches is reviewed. The concepts of marriage, marital conflict and marital therapy of each approach are described. The Integrative Model is based on three assumptions and six propositions. The Integrative Model attempts to interpret the intrapsychic dynamics of intimate relationships in a data language suitable for empirical study. It attempts to define the relationship between internal and external determinants of behavior. It proposes a method of intervention consistent with the cognitive/behavioral conceptual model and procedures …

The Use Of Guided Imagery And Progressive Relaxation In Treating Hemodialysis Patients For Dietary Compliance, James B. Morrissey

Dissertations

Studies have confirmed that many hemodialysis patients experience numerous psychological difficulties as a result of their physical illness. One behavioral manifestation of these psychological states is noncompliance to imposed dietary restrictions. In spite of life threatening implications, many hemodialysis patients find it very difficult to maintain dietary compliance.

Recently, guided imagery and progressive relaxation have been used as methods to assist clients to overcome negative psychological states. In most cases, the treatments are adjunctive to on-going counseling or psychotherapy. The purpose of this investigation was to test the idea that guided imagery and progressive relaxation alone can be successfully used …

Mmpi Characteristics Of Vietnam Combat Veterans Diagnosed As Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Requesting Outpatient Mental Health Counseling, Thomas M. Spahn

Dissertations

Throughout the history of warfare, the most difficult casualty to identify has been the emotionally wounded. Although policy changes were made to reduce the effects of psychiatric casualties, a number of Vietnam combat veterans continue to experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The purpose of this research was to survey the emotional conflicts of Vietnam combat veterans who were diagnosed as experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Subjects (n = 28) were voluntary outpatient clients of a V.A. Mental Health clinic who were free of psychiatric, substance abuse, or organic problems. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was used, and analyses included the …

An Ecological Study Of Coaching Behaviors And Corresponding Player Performance And Perception And Performance For The Sport Of Collegiate Ice Hockey, Joseph M. Kalinowski

Dissertations

This study examined the methodological feasibility of administering a behavioral assessment system on coaching behaviors under actual collegiate hockey game conditions. The observation system was found to be feasible and accurate with a .866 percentage of inter-rater agreement across all 10 behavior categories coded over 300 reliability observation minutes. The predominant coaching behaviors observed over 11 complete games were found to be general technical instruction (44.3%), general encouragement (21.4%), and organization (14.2%). Reinforcement (4.51%) and punishment (3.56%) coaching behavior rates were found to be unexpectedly low. Reinforcement was found to be inversely related to punishment but positively related to encouragement. …

Determinant Factors In The Utilization Process Of Social Services In Saudi Arabia, Fahd Abdullah Ali Dileym

Dissertations

The Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and the Deputy Ministry of Social Security provide a spectrum of social service programs and activities. However, utilization of the designated services is incapacitated by the existing gap between the potential clients and the social service providers. Certain barriers have contributed significantly to the clients' underutilization behavior of the assigned services.

Accordingly, this study had two purposes: (a) to determine whether social services provided by the Deputy Ministries of Social Welfare and Social Security are perceived by administrators, social workers, and college students to be underutilized; and (b) to compare the perceptions of the …

A Study Of Effects Of Persistence And Nonpersistence In Mastery Learning Psi Remedial English In A Two-Year College, John H. Corbin

Dissertations

This study examines students with diagnosed writing deficiencies who persisted (Group II, n = 350) and provided evidence of mastery of the subject matter in a "Mastery Learning" remedial English course designed after the Keller plan of Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Their subsequent achievement on three criterion variables--Grade in Freshman Writing, Total Credit Hours Earned over a Two Year Period, and Overall Grade Point Average--is compared with achievement of three other groups. Group I (Placed Out, n = 84) consists of students with superior placement test scores who enrolled in Freshman Writing without remedial …

Premarital Preparation : An Educational Content Design For Seventh-Day Adventists In The United States, Roger H. Ferris

Dissertations

Problem. The church participates in the marriage process by providing its facilities, performing the ceremony, and establishing marriage supportive norms. Increasing divorce rates produce calls for premarital preparationefforts by the church. It was the purpose of the present study to develop a validated educational content design for Seventh-day Adventists useful to the church in preparing couples for marriage.

Method. An analysis of the relevant literature from religious and secular authorities was made to isolate factors deemed important to adequate premarital preparation. These factors were then rank-ordered.

A random sample of seven hundred presently married Seventh-day Adventists from the northwestern, midwestern, …

The Impact Of Desegregation On The Curricula Of The Secondary Schools Of Nashville Tennessee, Ada Willoughby

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Configurational Analysis With The Missouri Children's Picture Series: Assessment Of Personality Style, Elida Cristina Cox

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Employed Versus The Nonemployed Mother: The Effects On The Seventh-Day Adventist Family In Southwestern Michigan, A. Melville Lawson

Dissertations

Previous research indicates that researchers are not always agreed as to the negative or positive effects that the employed mother has on the family. The purpose of this study was to research the effects that the nonemployed and employed Seventh-day Adventist mother, in southwestern Michigan, has on the family.

The broad hypothesis for this study is that nonemployed mothers have a more positive effect on families, in general, as opposed to mothers who were employed outside of the home.

Two hundred Seventh-day Adventist mothers, after completing a specially designed instrument, were placed in various categories depending on the numbers of …

Study Of The Attitudes Concerning Church Standards Expressed By Seventh-Day Adventists In Relation To Selected Personality Traits, Hampton Eugene Walker

Dissertations

Problem. This study attempted to explore whether or not traits of personality accounted for differences among Seventh-day Adventists, predicting attitudinal tendencies of either strict or lenient adherence toward traditional church standards.

Methodology. This study utilized the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire, Form C for measuring personality variables, and a Likert-type scale which was developed to measure attitudes of adherence to six Adventist church standards within a sample of 447 Seventh-day Adventists. The relationship between the sixteen personality variables and each of the six attitudinal variables toward selected church standards (i.e., diet, dress, entertainment, Sabbath keeping, sexual activities, and divorce and remarriage) …

An Investigation Of Teacher Voice Signal Amplification Treatment For Mediating Speech Communication Interference From Jet Aircraft Noise Intrusion And From Minimal Hearing Loss In First And Second Grade Classrooms, Kenneth L. Kaufman

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Historical Study Of Mental Health Programming In Commercial And Public Television From 1975 To 1980, Jan Jones Sarpa

Dissertations

No abstract provided.