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A Phenomenological Investigation Of Women And Depression, Denise Twohey

Dissertations

There is increasing evidence that new conceptualizations of women's development are leading to important revisions in current psychological theories and practices. In this study, these theories were examined to enhance the treatment of depressed women. Toward this end, a phenomenological laboratory was established consisting of an 11-week psychotherapy group for depressed women which was videotaped and observed by six trained evaluators.

The primary outcome was the development of a conceptual framework for understanding women and their experience of depression. The framework was created from the identification of five content themes which emerged as a synthesis of the observations made by …

Transient Analysis Of Macromolecular Blood-Tissue Exchange In Microvascular Bed, Alex Yefim Bekker

Dissertations

Movement of macromolecules across microvascular walls was studied in the hamster cheek pouch with intravital fluorescence microscopy. A graded series of Fluorescein Isothiocyanate labeled Dextrans(FITC) of 20,000 -70,000 molecular weight were used as representative macromolecular tracers. The time dependent extravasation of FITC-Dextrans was video taped for approximately two and a half hours. Permeation of macromolecules from individual microvessels was quantified by digital video image processing. Histograms of the light intensity distributions for selected fields at various times have been measured and used to construct integral optical density - time profiles of the extravasated fluorochromes for particular leaky sites. An integrated …

Recidivism Of 17-21 Year-Old Misdemeanants Participating In A Prosecution Diversion Program, Gerald D. Snodgrass

Dissertations

Criminal activity involving the youthful offender is a serious problem in law enforcement. The monetary considerations of processing a criminal case in the established criminal justice system are not declining. Youthful crime, like all forms of criminal activity, is a considerable drain on the resources of this country. The personal costs to the 17-21 year-old offender may include curtailment of employment opportunities, limited educational prospects, and the establishment of adverse life patterns, leading to further criminal involvement. The youthful offender who resorts to crime again and is arrested because of such criminal activity adds additional costs to the criminal justice …

The Perception Of Single-Parented And Dual-Parented Children By Married And Divorced Teachers, Larry A. Blackmer

Dissertations

The single-parented child has become a focal point of attention for many educators. Concomitant to the increase in the number of children coming from families that have experienced divorce of parents is an increase in the number of professional persons who have experienced divorce as adults. The nation's schools are becoming more populated with single-parented children, and are being taught by teachers who are divorced or have experienced divorce.

The problem presented in this study questions if the interaction of the marital status of the teacher (divorced or married) and the status of the child (single-parented or dual-parented) will affect …

The Identification And Assessment Of Interaction In Educational Microcomputer Software, Pamela J. Zeller

Dissertations

Many professionals involved with the educational use of microcomputers have indicated that criteria for evaluating software are often based on speculation and intuition and that there is a need to establish valid evaluative criteria. Among the elements comprising most evaluation schemes is interaction. The literature suggests that both an operational definition for the term interaction as applied to educational microcomputer software and a means to validly assess such interaction are necessary. The purpose of the study was to systematically develop such an operational definition and to develop and validate an instrument and a procedure to assess this interaction. Using a …

An Analysis Of The Effects Of A Low Glycemic Diet On The Antisocial Behavior Of Juvenile Offenders, James Edward Longhurst

Dissertations

The objective of this study was to determine if a low glycemic diet contributes to a reduction in the incidence of antisocial behavior among male juvenile offenders.

One hundred forty juvenile offenders at a residential treatment center were randomly divided into treatment and nontreatment groups. The treatment group ate from a diet which contained foods low in glycemic characteristics. There was no dietary alteration for the control group.

Three instruments were used to measure differences between groups in antisocial behavior following a 5-week experimental period. These instruments include: (1) the Unusual Incident Report--a systematic and objective observer report form, (2) …

The Certification Of Training And Development Professionals: Employers' Perception Of Problem Prevalence And Certification's Efficacy, Susan Lynn Atchison-Day

Dissertations

The certification of training and development (HRD) professionals is under consideration by professional training associations. Certification programs can be advantageous; however, they are also costly and present potentially undesirable side effects. Therefore, verifying the worth of a certification program is a logical prerequisite to design and implementation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the problems for which intervention, through a certification program, might be needed and the ability of certification to meet the need.

This study gathered data to determine whether companies: (a) had experienced common problems for which certification might be a solution; (b) viewed certification as …

A Study Of Stress Factors Related To The Attrition Of Christian Reformed Church Missionary Personnel In A West African Work Environment, Dirk W. Vander Steen

Dissertations

Missionary attrition is a costly experience for North American mission boards. Debilitating stress, related to resignations and early withdrawal of missionaries has led to human suffering on the part of missionaries and financial losses for those who sponsor the mission overseas.

This study investigated the factors that were stressful for missionaries of the Christian Reformed Church that worked in West Africa and attempted to identify those stress factors that are primarily responsible for missionary attrition. Previous research, with other missions on other continents provided the basis for identifying factors related to missionary stress. A Likert-like scale was used to measure …

A Study Of A Prekindergarten Screening Test: The Project Intercept Inventory, Francis J. Rutowski

Dissertations

The emphasis on the importance of early childhood education has brought attention to techniques used in determining the readiness of young children to successfully undertake kindergarten programs.

The Project Intercept Inventory is a criterion-referenced prekindergarten screening test that has been used in the Grand Rapids, Michigan public schools for 12 years. The test consists of 21 items distributed among seven developmental areas. The test was locally developed and no previous analyses had been done to determine the reliability and validity of the test.

The information gained from the use of this test has been used in making educational programming recommendations …

Leadership In A Juvenile Detention Facility: Portrait Of An Effective Youth Management Program, D. John Morris Jr.

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to expose administrators and teachers to an institutional system of leadership and youth management that emphasizes the positive: a system that is founded on consistency and based on solid research.

The program, known as the Intensive Learning Program (ILP), is presently used in the Calhoun County Juvenile Home in Marshall, Michigan. It was established as a result of a philosophy of developing community based treatment for juvenile offenders.

Through the use of portraiture the researcher presents a detailed description of the program and a description of the leadership style of the program's director. Also …

The Evaluation Of Factors Affecting Adherence To An Exercise Program Among College Students, Mark Robert Dean

Dissertations

Though investigative studies have identified the many benefits of aerobic exercise for both biological and behavioral health, only a small percentage of individuals maintain regular exercise. Team or group exercise programs report higher participation rates, but studies of individually prescribed exercise programs typically report problems of compliance and attrition. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of various interventions--including the provision of course bonus points, cash lottery, and partner assignment--designed to increase exercise compliance among college students. Thirty-two student volunteers reporting "no current exercise" were randomly assigned to either the "partner" or the "individual" exercise group. …

Investigation Of The Relationship Between Occupation, Learning Style, And Productivity Preference, Charlotte Wenham

Dissertations

Businesses spend millions of dollars each year on selection and placement of personnel, on training, and on organizational development activities. Each one involves the learning processes of the individual; the effectiveness of these activities is dependent upon the receptiveness of the individual learner or worker to the specific activity. The purpose of this study was to verify if certain occupational groups demonstrated particular learning styles and productivity preferences and to determine if there were systematic differences among the occupational groups and the magnitude of those differences. Members of nine different occupational groups working in a branch facility of a Fortune …

The Impact Of A Middle Management Union On The Function Of The Management Team Concept As Perceived By Selected School Administrators, Samuel L. Barresi

Dissertations

This study investigated the impact that a middle management bargaining union had on the function of the management team concept as perceived by selected elementary school principals and selected superintendents of schools in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties in the state of Michigan. Perceptions were solicited from school superintendents employed in school districts where a middle management bargaining unit exists and elementary principals in the same school districts who held membership in the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association. The objective of the study was to provide insights as to the impact that a middle management bargaining union had …

From Manpower To Mindfulness: The High Tech Culture Of Emergence And Its Implications For Education, Gordon F. Dveirin

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Preventing The "All But Thesis" Phenomenon, Maria Emma Garcia

Dissertations

Twenty-three to 54% of the students who enter graduate programs never obtain their degrees. A high percentage of those students drop out after the completion of all the academic requirements except their master's theses or doctoral dissertations. The literature makes reference to the "all but thesis" (ABT) and the "all but dissertation" (ABD) phenomenon.

The present study involved the implementation of a research supervisory system designed to help students complete their theses and dissertations, therefore preventing the ABT and ABD problems. Twenty-nine graduate students in psychology formed the research supervisory group and 53 graduate students from several departments formed a …

An Assessment Of The Counseling Services Provided To Juvenile Delinquents In Jordan Through The Perceptions Of Juvenile Probation Officers And Administrators, Ahmad Suleiman Zaghalil

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the present status of counseling services provided to juvenile delinquents in Jordan. More specifically, this study focused on the characteristics, priorities, major strengths and weaknesses, problems of counseling services provided to juvenile delinquents, portion of time spent in counseling juvenile delinquents individually and in groups, as perceived by juvenile probation officers and administrators in Jordan, and the academic courses studied by both groups which helped them to practice the profession of counseling with juvenile delinquents.

The subjects for this study consisted of 28 juvenile probation officers and 10 administrators. A questionnaire developed …

Treatment Of Spasticity Via Transcranial Electrical Stimulation In Persons With Cerebral Palsy And Severe Mental Retardation, George A. Thompson Jr.

Dissertations

Although the clinical manifestations of cerebral palsy are many and varied, spasticity is a common aspect of the disorder, observed in as many as 75% of all cases (Paneth & Kiely, 1984). A double-blind and placebo-controlled and counter balanced reversal design was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of transcranial electrical stimulation (TCS) in the treatment of spastic cerebral palsy in six severely mentally impaired individuals. Although there appeared to be some improvement from pre to post measures, a comparison of the placebo and treatment conditions yielded results indicating that transcranial electrical stimulation did not increase the passive range of motion …

Alcoholism Treatment And Its Effect On Subsequent Health Care Costs: A Medicaid Study Of Cost Differences By Treatment Setting, Edmund Paul Kemp

Dissertations

In an attempt to slow and reduce this nation's costs for alcoholism services under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the Health Care Financing Administration and the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse in 1981 collaborated and jointly developed the Alcoholism Services Demonstration (ASD). The major project goal of the Alcoholism Services Demonstration was to demonstrate that cost savings could be derived by providing alcoholism services to Medicare- and Medicaid-eligible recipients in freestanding alcohol treatment centers.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate Michigan's experience under the national demonstration project with a major focus on the following questions: (a) …

The Effects Of Rational Emotive Education On The Rationality, Neuroticism And Defense Mechanisms Of Adolescents, Daniel John Kachman

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of Rational Emotive Education (REE) as a mental health prevention program for adolescents. The subjects included 109 eleventh and twelfth grade students who were enrolled in four introductory psychology courses. A nonequivalent control group design was used with experimental subjects receiving 12 biweekly sessions of REE. Subjects were pre and posttested on three measures of psychosocial adaptation: the Rational Behavior Inventory (RBI), the Defense Mechanism Inventory (DMI), and the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). The effects of REE upon behavior were also examined by comparing academic effort grades, number of detentions …

Ideal And Real Performance Expectations Of Baccalaureate Nursing Graduates As Perceived By Graduates, Nurse Educators, And Nurse Administrators, Maureen Martin Fochtman

Dissertations

Nurse educators and nursing service administrators have different expectations for the baccalaureate graduate nurse. The difference in expectations has made the transition from student to practitioner difficult for the new graduate.

The purpose of this study was to identify the ideal and real expectations regarding entry level performance as perceived by nurses who graduated in 1985 from 17 of 31 baccalaureate programs represented in the Consensus on Entry project. The ideal and real expectations of the graduates were compared to the nurse educators' and the nursing service administrators' results from the consensus on Entry project.

One hundred fifty-four baccalaureate graduates …

An Experimental Study Of The Effects Of A Prescriptive Mental Health Consultation Approach On The Adjustment Of Children Enrolled In The Blue Water Head Start Program St. Clair County, Michigan, Michael J. Duffy Jr.

Dissertations

Head Start mental health services have the goal of primary prevention. The principal vehicles for achieving primary prevention are education and consultation. In St. Clair County, Michigan, the Blue Water Clinic's Early Intervention Program provides Blue Water Head Start participants with mental health services.

This study was concerned with mental health consultation as a service delivery vehicle for achieving the goal of primary prevention. More precisely, aspects of primary prevention were investigated particularly as they relate to the Blue Water Clinic's Early Intervention Program and the Blue Water Head Start Program and specifically, to two mental health consultation approaches used …

Perceptions Of Western Michigan University International Students Regarding Seeking Personal Counseling, Nader F. Al-Qasem

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of the international students at Western Michigan University toward seeking personal counseling and to answer the following questions: (1) Is there a relationship between international students' duration of stay in the United States and their perceptions toward seeking personal counseling? (2) Is there a relationship between international students' previous contact with counselors and their perceptions toward seeking personal counseling? (3) Are the perceptions of international students toward seeking personal counseling affected by their sex? (4) Is there a relationship between the academic level of international students and their perceptions toward …

Robust Rank Analysis For Multivariate Linear Models, James Buddy Davis

Dissertations

Three robust rank procedures are considered to test the multivariate linear hypothesis HBK = 0. In the least squares setting, the Lawley-Hotelling trace criterion provides a UMP when the covariance structure is known. Our work reflects the theoretical structure of the Lawley-Hotelling test with robust rank analogues.

The Lawley-Hotelling test has an asymptotic chi-square distribution when the covariance structure is estimated. The trace criterion can be written in three algebraically equivalent forms: a quadratic test based on full model estimates, a quadratic test based on reduced model residuals and a test based on the drop in the least squares dispersion …

Depression And Anxiety In Postmenopausal Women: A Study Of Black, White, And Hispanic Women, Patricia Groessl

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate depression and anxiety in postmenopausal women. The study examined four areas: race, hormone state, number of menopause symptoms, and demographic data.

The sample consisted of 90 women between the ages of 45 and 65. All subjects had completed either natural or surgical menopause by a minimum of one year. The subjects were volunteers from the West Michigan area.

There were 30 subjects from each of the following race categories: black, white, and Hispanic. On the basis of self reports, the subjects were assigned to one of the following hormone state groups: (a) …

School District Current Operating Expenditures: A Comparative Analysis Of Michigan School Districts Having A Student Population Of 10,000 To 50,000 For 1984-85, James Ross Constandt

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare line item current operating expenses among school districts in Michigan having a student population of 10,000 but less than 50,000 and to present a budget model which establishes minimum and maximum line item current operating expenses for such school districts. Line item expenditures were compared and analyzed among those school districts within the same student population grouping.

Local school districts in Michigan are categorized by the State Board of Education into 14 groupings based on pupil membership. School districts in Groups B and C were studied. Group B included four school districts …

Production Of Thymine Dimer In Dna From Mesophilic And Thermophilic Bacteria By Uv Irradiation, F Redrick Shu-Chung Yein

Dissertations

The in vitro production of thymine dimer (TT) in DNA, isolated from the mesophile (B. licheniformis) and the thermophile (B. stearothermophilus), was carried out by UV irradiation (254 nm) at three different temperatures (35, 45, and 55(DEGREES)C). The production of TT from the thermophilic DNA was significantly higher than that from the mesophilic DNA. This was the case at all three irradiation temperatures. The increase in TT production per 10(DEGREES)C increase in irradiation temperature was four times higher for the thermophile than that for the mesophile. It was concluded that the DNA from the thermophile was photochemically less stable than …

Prescriptive Supervisor Verbal Responding And Its Effect Upon Trainee Satisfaction In Counseling Supervision, Douglas A. Riley

Dissertations

An experimental strategy of supervisor verbal responding was compared to two other strategies. Termed "direct responding," it involved answering trainee requests for information, opinion, or suggestion, by giving information, opinion, or suggestion. Trainee statements of fact or opinion were answered by a request for elaboration. This strategy was compared with a reflective-type response, modeled on base-rate studies of supervisor verbalizations, and with a random-type of response in which supervisor responses were not necessarily related to trainee statements.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a direct strategy of responding to trainee verbalizations would be perceived as superior to …

Differential Response Latencies Using Auditory Stimuli, Albert Edward Neal

Dissertations

Previous research has identified and isolated the elicited (autoshaped) control of pigeons' response latencies. The present research, using auditory frequencies as discriminative stimuli, was designed to eliminate the intrusion of this elicited control.

Two experiments are presented, both using a discrete-trial, two-component multiple schedule. In Experiment 1, in which a two-key arrangement was used, pigeons were required to peck a continuously-illuminated left key when one of two different frequencies, each correlated with a different amount of reinforcement, was presented behind the illuminated right key. In Experiment 2, in which a three-key arrangement was used, pigeons were required to peck either …

A Comparative Study Of Three Alternative Procedures For Identifying Severe Discrepancy In Learning Disabled Students, Carol Tully Uhlman

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare Hessler's (1985) procedure for determining a severe discrepancy between ability and achievement with two alternate procedures: (a) the "expert opinion" of learning disability teachers, and (b) the results of the multidisciplinary evaluation team report (MET). An ex post facto design was used. Hessler's procedure was applied using WISC-R full scale scores as the ability measure and reading, mathematics, and written language scores from Part 2 of the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery as measures of achievement.

Subjects were 27 fourth and fifth grade students legally identified as learning disabled and receiving special education services …

A Study Of Variables Related To Teacher Absenteeism In A K-12 School District, Dale F. Martin

Dissertations

Teacher absenteeism is a serious problem in school administration. The costs of teach absenteeism were estimated at two billion dollars per annum, according to a report published in 1981. Teacher absenteeism, like all forms of employee absenteeism, is a source of reduced productivity. Despite the seriousness and costs of teacher absenteeism, few studies of this problem have been completed.

In this study, reasons for teacher absenteeism in a K-12 school district were studied. Data from this study were compared to selective data from five medium sized school districts, with student population ranging from 3,350 to 22,845 students, located in Michigan. …