Digital Commons Network^™

A Content Comparison Of Nontechnical Curricula For Engineers, Bryan Lynn Lundgren

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to compare and critique the nontechnical curricula content of three Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree program model curricula. Curricula content areas that are similar were critiqued by employers of engineers. Model curricula importance and first year BSE nontechnical skill performance were rated by engineering supervisors. The main postulate is that differences among actual, model, and employer-desired nontechnical curricula are factors that may influence curricula change in engineering education. A secondary purpose was to investigate whether the proportion of nontechnical courses to total required courses in BSE college degree programs changed between 1975 …

Gender Differences And Training Effects On Empathy, Carol S. Jones

Dissertations

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the gender of aspiring therapists and empathy as well as the relationship between training and empathy. Four bodies of literature were reviewed: (1) feminine psychological development with a particular focus on how it differs from masculine development, (2) the relationship between empathy and gender, (3) the role of empathy in psychotherapy, and (4) the relationship between training and empathy.

An empirical study was conducted to test the proposed hypotheses that (a) there is a relationship between a student's gender and his or her self-report of empathy on cognitive and …

The Predictive Validity Of The Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory To Assess Borderline Conditions In Adolescents, Juan Mario Herakovic

Dissertations

This study examined the predictive validity of the Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory (MAPI) (Millon, Green & Meagher, 1982) to evaluate Borderline Personality Disorder in adolescents. The hypothesis is that the MAPI tends to overdiagnose Borderline Personality Disorders. The origin of the term is placed first within the framework of psychoanalysis and its evolution through other theoretical constructs is then discussed. The concept of Borderline is surrounded by imprecise terminology which contributes to the confusion of a clinical diagnosis. While there is a movement in mental health to provide a more precise and behaviorally oriented description of this disorder, current explanations …

The Effects Of School Size And Leadership Style On Teacher Job Satisfaction, Jon C. Haezebrouck

Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of school size and the principal's leadership style on teacher job satisfaction. Also studied was the relationship between leadership style and school size. Three standard control variables-sex, age, and ethnicity-were investigated to see if the sample showed any significant differences in satisfaction levels. A random sample was taken from 525 Michigan public high schools and their principals. The objectives of this study were to provide schools or school districts with criteria that could be used to make changes that maximize the achievement of both organizational and individual goals and to provide principals with information about …

Depression In Alcohol And Other Drug Abusers: Prevalence, Nature, Assessment, And Relationship To Short-Term Relapse, Patricia Moulton Guilford

Dissertations

The prevalence of depression was evaluated in 168 inpatients being treated for alcohol and other drug abuse. Patients were divided into three groups according to their pattern of substance use: alcohol only, alcohol and other drugs, and other drugs only. After two weeks of sobriety, 35% of these patients met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition, Revised (DSM-III-R) (American Psychiatric Association (APA), 1987) criteria for one of the Depressive Disorders based upon information from a structured interview using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Change Version (SADS-C) (Endicott & Spitzer, 1978). Prevalence rates did not vary …

Competencies Needed By The Chief Executive Officer Of A Local Affiliate Of The National Urban League, Inc., Walter Melvyn Brame

Dissertations

This study, using a modified Delphi method, generated and measured the perception of importance for twenty-three competencies needed for the effective leadership of a local affiliate of the National Urban League. Second, the study sought to determine which of the competencies were performed, shared, delegated or not performed at the respective affiliates. Third, the study sought to determine the extent to which selected demographic factors were related to the perception of importance. Last, the study sought to build a consensus as to the importance of the competencies.

The perceptions of the importance of the twenty-three competencies on a four point …

The Effectiveness Of Three Study Aids As Measured By Immediate Examinations And Delayed Examinations, Yousef Abdulwahab Abuhmaidan

Dissertations

Two experiments were performed to examine the effectiveness of three study aids: (1) information maps, (2) behavioral objectives, and (3) the students' own strategies in reorganizing written material. A training workshop was given prior to the first experiment to teach the students appropriate skills to use to read research articles (e.g., generating and answering questions, filling out and generating information maps). Eighteen undergraduate students participated in the study. In the first experiment, students were randomly assigned to three groups. The researcher provided students with a research article every week for three weeks, together with either an information map, a set …

Community College Student Success: The Relationship Of Basic Skills, Study Habits, Age, And Gender To Academic Achievement, Margaret Lynn Hills Wonnacott

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine if a relationship existed between reading ability, writing ability, math ability, study skills, age and gender and first semester grade point average of Glen Oaks Community College students. A secondary purpose was to determine if these variables acting together could predict student academic success.

The subjects were 374 full and part time students matriculating at Glen Oaks for the fall semester, 1988. The ASSET instrument was used to measure basic skills and study skills. It was administered at orientation sessions in August and September prior to enrollment. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients …

Design Of A Program Of Instruction To Teach State Notation, Esther Hannah Shafer

Dissertations

The process of programming instruction involves a series of steps which include determining the need for programming instruction on a particular topic, choosing the appropriate programming method, and a series of approximations toward the final program through testing and revision. State notation (Michael, 1986), a notation system which is used to visually represent procedures such as those used in an operant laboratory setting, was deemed an appropriate topic for programmed instruction since the complex decisions that learners must make when diagramming are difficult to teach using conventional methods. Mathetics (Gilbert, 1962) was chosen as an appropriate programming method for state …

Industrial Applicability Of The Joint Committee's Personnel Evaluation Standards, Michael Jay Orris

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine the degree to which The Personnel Evaluation Standards developed by the Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation (1988) were applicable and could be applied in a specific industrial setting. Strengths and weaknesses of a specific corporate evaluation process were examined by using the Standards and guidelines within the Standards as a benchmark. The Standards were also used to recommend possible improvements in the design and development of the system.

The method used to apply the standards was patterned from the five steps outlined in "A General Approach to Applying the Standards" …

Biodegradation Of Benzene And A Btx Mixture Using Immobilized Activated Sludge, Mayur Padamshi Lodaya

Dissertations

Aerobic biodegradation of benzene was studied using activated sludge immobilized in calcium alginate (immobilization by entrapment), and also attached to a silica based catalyst.support (immobilization by attachment). Hydrogen peroxide was used as a source of dissolved oxygen to eliminate physical removal of benzene due to aeration. Abiotic losses of benzene were accounted for.

A recirculation reactor, run in both batch and continuous feed mode, was used to determine the kinetic parameters. The system response was examined by tollowing changes in benzene concentration, flow rate, and biomass loading. The system was modeled mathematically and the kinetic parameters were determined.

Biological removal …

Bond And Fatigue Characteristics Of High-Strength Cement-Based Composites, Somboon Chimaphant

Dissertations

The results of a series of tests on a variety of high strength cementitious composites yield a model from which an empirical equation of general normalized pull-out stress vs. pull-out displacement relationship is developed. A new variable named the "Brittleness Index" is defined and used in the proposed equation. Additionally, the concept of maximum strain is used to predict the fatigue life of high strength concrete.

Three sizes of deformed bars and two types of steel fibers with four different volume fractions were used to observe bond-slip and pull-out characteristics of high strength concrete. The results indicate that the maximum …

Kinematic Synthesis Of Mechanisms For Multiply Separated Positions, Hyoung Jun Kim

Dissertations

The rigid body motion is studied in a combination of finitely and infinitesimally separated positions in planar, spherical, and spatial kinematics. A general new method for determining the locations of points and/or lines in a rigid body moving through finitely and infinitesimally separated positions is developed. These points and/or lines would satisfy the constraints of various types of binary links for planar, spherical, and spatial mechanisms.

A unified form of circle-point curve equation is derived for finitely and multiply separated position problems in planar and spherical motions. A graphical method to construct the circle-point and center-point curves and Ball point …

Anaerobic Biodegradation Of Trichloroethylene With The Addition Of Sugar Using Activated Carbon-Fluidized Beds, Suxan Huang

Dissertations

Anaerobic biodegradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) was carried out in a two-stage granular activated carbon fluidized bed bioreactor. The intermediate products were identified as: dichloroethylene (DCE), vinyl chloride (VC), 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA) and chloroethane (CA). Of the three geometric isomers of DCE, the trans-1,2 dichloroethylene (TDCE) was found to be the most predominant species, The production of DCA suggested a diverted reaction sequence from the conventional sequential reductive dechlorination pathway postulated in the past literature. CA was believed to be a product of VC and/or DCA. The co-substrate glucose was implicated for this reaction specificity. Based on our data and on other's …

Fault-Tolerant Interconnection Networks For Multiprocessor Systems, Hamed Mohamed Nassar

Dissertations

Interconnection networks represent the backbone of multiprocessor systems. A failure in the network, therefore, could seriously degrade the system performance. For this reason, fault tolerance has been regarded as a major consideration in interconnection network design. This thesis presents two novel techniques to provide fault tolerance capabilities to three major networks: the Baseline network, the Benes network and the Clos network.

First, the Simple Fault Tolerance Technique (SFT) is presented. The SFT technique is in fact the result of merging two widely known interconnection mechanisms: a normal interconnection network and a shared bus. This technique is most suitable for networks …

Air Stripping Of Volatile Organic Contaminants Using Rotating Disc Contactor, Kai-Ping Hsueh

Dissertations

Previous studies have suggested that the transfer of VOCs to the atmosphere by air stripping may be a convenient and potentially cost-effective method to remove these compounds from the water. A Rotating Disk Contactor (RDC), similarly to other aeration devices, can provide intimate contact between the VOC-bearing water and air. It is believed that under carefully selected operating conditions, the RDC system are more competitive with packed tower than other aeration methods. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of using the RDC to strip VOCs from the contaminated water and to develop a mathematical model to …

Close-Range, Noncontact Distance Measurement By Controlled Image Irradiance, Jaeho Kim

Dissertations

Dimensional measurement or check is a major part of the inspection and quality control in manufacturing. Most of the measurement applications are based on contact methods. While a number of non-contact methods are available, they are limited in accuracy, in flexibility, or in the range of application areas. An optical, close-range, non-contact distance measurement method has been developed for manufacturing and other applications. Based on a simple imaging principle, the method derives the distance information from the power response of a small axial image area, the irradiance of which is controlled by an active controlled illumination of the corresponding object …

Isoparametric Finite Elements For Linear Isotropic Micropolar Plate Bending, Vallanore K. Suresh

Dissertations

Finite element analysis programs for bending of linear isotropic micropolar elasticity are developed in this thesis. Isoparametric two-dimensional and three-dimensional elements are used to solve plate bending problems. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional finite element formulations are developed. Corresponding finite element programs are then developed. Patch tests are performed on the two-dimensional elements. Convergence studies are undertaken for the elements. Several plates are considered to evaluate the finite element scheme. The effects of the coupling factor N and characteristic length 1 are studied. A post processor with graphical display of displacements is developed.

Numerical results obtained for various plates are in good …

Permeability And Volume Change Characeristics Of Bentonite-Sand Mixes In A Contaminant Environment, Yuan-Hsun Wu

Dissertations

This research was conducted to study the characteristics of permeability and volume change of bentonite-sand mixes due to contaminants. The soil specimens consisted of clean sand, bentonite, and fly ash. Test liquids included seven diluted organic and inorganic chemicals and a landfill leachate.

Index tests included liquid limit, expansion, cracking, and sedimentation tests. Expansion tests proved to be the most useful for permeability evaluation in a contaminant environment.

The conventional consolidometer permeameter and flexible wall permeameter proved to be not completely satisfactory for testing soft bentonite mixes. A triple ring permeameter was developed to compensate for the limitations of these …

Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polyesters Based On The Monomer Of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate), Satish Baliga

Dissertations

A series of thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters were synthesized, based on Bis-hydroxyethyl terephthalate (BHET), para-acetoxybenzoic acid (PAB) and terephthalic acid (TA). Structural studies of these aromatic polyesters using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) and X-ray diffraction techniques indicated the existence of substantial amounts of rigid -PAB-PAB- linkages within the mesogenic backbone. Optical study of their melts using Polarizing Microscopy indicated a "threaded" microstructure typical of a nematic mesophase. Morphological rearrangements were found to occur at higher temperatures as was evident from a two-phase structure, one phase speculated to be rich in flexible Poly(ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) segments and the …

Kinetic Study On Pyrolysis Of C6h5cl And M-C6h4cl2 Diluted In H2 : Detailed Reaction Kinetics And Thermodynamic Property Estimation Techniques, Edward Robert Ritter

Dissertations

Thermal reaction studies of dilute mixtures (0.37%) of C6H5Cl in hydrogen and m-C6H4C12 (0.4%) in hydrogen have been performed in tubular flow reactors at various surface to volume ratios, and 1 atm total pressure. Residence times range from 0.02 to 2.5 seconds,with temperatures between 1050 to 1275 K. HCl, C₆H₅Cl, C₆H₆, and carbon solids (C(s)) are observed as the major products; minor products include methane, cyclopentadiene, toluene, naphthalene and biphenyls. Pyrolysis in helium yields significantly less conversion, but more C(s) for similar residence times.

A detailed chemical mechanism is developed to describe …

Choice In The Classroom: Human Impulsivity And Self-Control, John W. Esch

Dissertations

Eight high school students' choice behavior was studied in an applied educational setting. Students were divided into two groups based on choice patterns for immediate grade points and academic on-task performance. Students were classified as dependent-impulsive when they chose immediate points and their on-task performance was good. Students were classified as avoidance-impulsive when they chose delayed points (avoidance) and their on-task performance was poor. Dependent-impulsive choice patterns were considered maladaptive because constant information on good performance promotes dependence on support from others. Avoidance-impulsive choice patterns were considered maladaptive because they allowed students to avoid immediate aversive information on performance that …

The Impact Of Self-Esteem And Locus Of Control On Expectancy Theory Predictions Of Work Effort, Michael Kuan Tsai

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Personality Factors And Music Preference, Involvement, And Use Among Youth, Sheila Ann Smith

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between the music preferences, level of music involvement, and music uses among young people and the personality dimensions of internality (introversion), norm-acceptance, and sense of self-realization and psychological integration as measured by the Structural scales of the California Psychological Inventory.

An investigator-developed instrument was used to assess subjects' music preferences, level of music involvement, and uses of music. One hundred and sixty-three females and 137 males attending various southwestern Michigan colleges volunteered to complete both instruments. Subjects ranged in age from 18 to 20 years.

A one-way MANOVA …

Administrative Commitment To Public Service Programs In Institutions Of Higher Education, Mary Ellen Brandell

Dissertations

Higher education has a history of preparing young people for responsible leadership. The interest of college students in their obligations to society may have diminished in the 1980's as college students become preoccupied with personal goals and career aspirations rather than participation in public service programs (Gardner, 1984; Astin, 1985). If students enrolled in institutions of higher education are to develop skills and competencies to equip them for living in the world beyond the university, they must learn to cope with the social, political and economic problems that will confront their generation (Williams, 1980).

On April 23, 1985, the Project …

The Medicalization Of Senile Dementia: From "Normality" To “Pathology”, Rosamond Robbert

Dissertations

Once considered an uncommon presenile condition, Alzheimer's disease is today claimed to be one of the major causes of death in older persons. This study examines the process of changing definitions that led to this reconstruction. The method employs both unstructured non-quantitative and structured quantitative content analysis. The data base includes journal articles, media reports, government documents, professional manuals and conference proceedings. Alzheimer's disease is treated as a putative condition and all statements concerning the condition are treated as claims. Focusing specifically on the years 1970 to 1985, we show that cognitive impairment in older persons, once claimed to be …

A Comparison Of Minimal-Therapist-Contact Programs In The Treatment Of Chronic Headaches, John Kesselring

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to compare the relative efficacy and cost-efficiency of two reduced-therapist-contact formats for delivery of a behavioral package to treat chronic headaches. The 8-week treatment was delivered in a group-administered format to one treatment group and in a self-administered format to a second. A waiting-list control group was also included. Treatment components included education about headaches and their precipitants, relaxation training, and cognitive-behavioral stress management techniques. The participants in the study suffered from migraine, mixed, or tension headaches. Eleven subjects were assigned to each of the 3 treatment conditions. At posttreatment subjects in the group-administered …

The Concept Of Foreseeability As It Relates To Personal Injury Litigation In College And University Residence Halls, F. Bruce Johnston Jr.

Dissertations

The study of the concept of foreseeability as it relates to personal injury litigation for assaults in college and university residence halls reveals three significant implications for higher education. Duarte v. State of California (1978), Mullins v. Pine Manor College (1983), and Miller v. State of New York (1984) are three important cases reviewed. Each case is analyzed using foreseeability, the student/institutional relationship, the various duties owed to the student, the breach of the duty, the presence of negligence, and the imposition of liability.

The implication involves the student/institutional relationship. This implication demonstrates the incongruity of the legal duty to …

Specified Subgraphs And Subgraph-Defined Parameters In Graphs, Karen S. Holbert

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effectiveness Of Correspondence Training In Controlling Aggressive Behavior Between Children In Play Settings, Naiel Albkower

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of say/do correspondence training in controlling aggressive behavior between children in play settings. Two experiments assessed the effects of children's verbal statements, to play in a friendly manner with others, on the incidence of aggressive behavior during actual play. The results of the first experiment indicated that, in most instances, the number of aggressive incidents decreased as a result of the correspondence training in all subjects except one where the effects of treatment are not clear.

In the second experiment, the incidents of aggressive behavior decreased during the intervention to …