Digital Commons Network^™

Adolescent Shoplifting And Situational Stimuli, James A. Chambers

Dissertations and Theses

Adolescent shoplifting has provoked limited and somewhat controversial perspectives within the sociological and psychological literature. These controversies center around the empirical variables used for analysis. A companion argument focuses on the subjective and objective measurement of these variables. This research explicated variables from the sociological literature to test their relationship, using multiple linear regression, to adolescent shoplifting behavior. These variables and situational stimuli were operationalized in a simultaneous model to demonstrate a proximate occurrence of the attitude-situation-behavior reciprocal. This reciprocal is a learning theory which suggests that direct and vicarious experiences accompanied by rewards and punishment, in one's environment, lead …

Fractional Representation Design Of Dynamic Output Controllers For Multiple Time Scale Systems, Robert Stephen Jaffe

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation addresses the design of controllers for multi variable finite-dimensional, linear, autonomous dynamical systems with distinct sets of slow and fast dynamics, which thus display multiple time scale behavior. It seeks, specifically, to compose overall controllers from lower-order dynamic output compensators, which are designed separately for slow and fast approximating models of the given plant. Reduction of the dynamic order of the design problem and the avoidance of numerically ill-conditioned interaction between modes of disparate orders of magnitude are among the patent advantages which pertain to such a design. As is well known, the explicit singularly perturbed systems, as …

The Development Of A Social Network Following Geographic Relocation, Joan E. Starker

Dissertations and Theses

The United States is a strikingly mobile nation. Every year almost 20% of its population changes residence and about 45% moves at least once every five years. Economic considerations are a major reason for relocation as persons seek new employment or are transferred by their corporations. Relocation, however, can be a stressful life experience. It removes individuals from daily routines, alters social networks, and may be accompanied by a mixture of sadness, excitement, anger and anxiety. It requires an enormous investment of physical and emotional energy to reestablish order and stability to one's life in a new city. At the …

A Case Study Of Instructional Improvement Through Peer Observation In A Suburban High School, Helen Jean Hanna

Dissertations and Theses

This two-year case study investigated the effects of a peer observation process in a high school on the six selected areas listed below. Peer observation is a process to improve instruction by having teachers observe and critique other teacher's videotapes of classroom teaching. 1. Changes in norms and expectations for sharing instructional ideas among teachers. 2. The perceived value of self-evaluation of videotapes and related peer discussions about teaching. 3. The perceived value of peer feedback exchanges for instructional improvement. 4. The use of other teachers as models for effective teaching. 5. The perceived value of peer exchanges in stimulating …

The St. Josephs-Blatt, 1896-1919, Steven Wayne Harmon

Dissertations and Theses

The St. Josephs-Blatt was a German-language newspaper published by the Benedictine monks of Mt. Angel Abbey from 1896 through 1952. The only fully extant collection of the St. Josephs-Blatt resides in the archives of Mt. Angel Abbey. The current archivist and Mt. Angel historian is Fr. Martin Pollard, who graciously allowed me to examine original copies of the newspaper and gave me the benefit of his personal historical expertise about both the paper and Br. Colestin. For my research on the newspaper I did not use the original bound copies of the Blatt, which were too sensitive and brittle to …

Pupil Mobility And Its Effect On Basic Skills Achievement Growth Rates And The Educational Program, Daniel P. Klee

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of the study was to compare the basic skills achievement scores of mobile and non-mobile students within the Portland Public Schools. The problem was to assess the effect of this mobility on basic skills achievement and the total educational program. The study was designed to test differences in reading, language usage and mathematics achievement test scores between pupils in the third through the eighth grades. The instrument that was used was the Portland Achievement Levels Tests of reading, language usage and math. These tests are administered to students in grades 3 - 8 in the fall and spring …

The Effectiveness Of A Teacher Evaluation Process As Perceived By Teachers And Building-Level Administrators, David Stewart Halstead

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions held by building administrators and teachers of the evaluation system being used in the Vancouver (Wash.) School District. Through the administration of separate questionnaires for building administrators and teachers, research was conducted to determine if significant differences existed among groups of teachers, among groups of building-level administrators, and among building-level administrators and teachers. The population of the study consisted of 235 randomly selected teachers from kindergarten through high school and 29 building-level administrators. Two different questionnaires were administered, one to teachers and one to building administrators, to determine the sample's …

Modification Of The Ca²⁺ Release System Of Skeletal Muscle Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Vesicles Via Sulfhydryl Oxidation And Tryptic Proteolysis, Jonathan Lee Trimm

Dissertations and Theses

Isotopic and spectrophotometric assays show that micromolar concentrations of heavy metal ions (particularly Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺) stimulate ATPase activity but inhibit Ca²⁺ uptake in isolated SR vesicles. Both effects are caused by increased Ca²⁺ permeability of the membrane, apparently the result of activation of the Ca²⁺ release system of the vesicles due to heavy metal binding to a critical sulfhydryl group associated with the Ca²⁺ release channels. CU²⁺catalyzed co-oxidation of this sulfhydryl with exogenous cysteine to form a mixed disulfide also results in activation of the Ca²⁺ release system. The rate and extent of Cu²⁺/cysteine-induced release is maximal at physiological …

The American Naval Nightmare: Defending The Western Pacific, 1898-1922, Carlos R. Rivera

Dissertations and Theses

The subject of this work is the strategic problems faced by the United States Navy in the Western Pacific following the acquisition of the Philippine Islands as a result of the Spanish-American War. Using primary materials from the National Archives, Naval War College, and Library of Congress Manuscript Division, some of which have only recently been declassified, the rarely publicized 'Works of the United States Navy in regards to strategic planning and national interests are detailed. Secondary accounts, along with contemporary periodical literature, supplement the previously classified documents.

The Test Of Written English : A Statistical Analysis Of Validity And Reliability, Christina E. English

Dissertations and Theses

This study examines the use of the Test of Written English (TWE), the essay portion of the TOEFL, as an indicator of academic readiness at Portland State University.

Die Rolle Der Hexe In Den MäRchen Der BrüDer Grimm Und Ludwig Bechsteins, Karin Ulrike Herrmann

Dissertations and Theses

Fairy Tales have been an important part of peoples' cultural heritage since time immemorial. From a very early age on, children hear stories about witches, giants, dwarf's, and magicians which make up their first entry into the literary world. Only recently have scholars begun to research just how much influence these stories have on children and how they might have a different impact on girls than on boys. This thesis will investigate the world of fairy tales in relation to their historical context and their differing relevance for male and female readers. I will examine the fairy tales of the …

The Study Of National Character In The Post War Era : The Work Of Erich Fromm, David Riesman, And David Potter, Adam Rittenberg

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines the study of national character through the work of the psychologist Erich Fromm, the sociologist David Riesman, and the historian David Potter. Above all Intend to provide a critical exegesis of the three thinkers will relate them to one another by discussing the Interconnections In their thought, beginning with Fromm's social psychological theory of character, turning to Riesman's theory of sociology and, finally, Potter's theory of American history. Each, I argue, must be studied in the context his time--above all the climate of horror and uncertainty at mid-century.

An Analysis Of Kindergarten Children's Use Of A Word Processor In Their Print Literacy Development, Paul Steger

Dissertations and Theses

Many young children appear to take delight in manipulating common elements of their environment, e.g., sticks, stones, and mud. Our ancestors also used these and other elements in order to play, explore,, and eventually create written language. In a print-laden society, young children are budding literates. Within a few years their abilities and skills evolve to the level it has taken the human species thousands of years to reach. Associated with the evolution of written language is related technology. Humans have evolved from cave art and literacy to computer art and literacy. Again, what has taken thousands of years to …

An Empirical Assessment Of The Center-Periphery Hypothesis In International Economic Relations, Fazlollah Bonakdar Shirazi

Dissertations and Theses

There are two leading perspectives on trade and economic development: the classical view based on the ideas of free trade and comparative advantage, which regards the international division of labor through free trade as supporting economic development; and the dependency theory view regards the international division of labor as an obstacle to the economic development of the now underdeveloped countries. The purpose of this study is to investigate hypotheses advanced by dependency theory, and, more particularly, by Galtung's Structural Theory of Imperialism. According to Galtung's theory, the world is divided into center and periphery countries, themselves divided into center and …

Simplified Framework Evaluation Of Large Water Resource Project Impacts, Brian Woodbridge Clowes

Dissertations and Theses

The document most frequently used to support a water resource project's economic feasibility is the commercial benefit-cost analysis, which quantifies tangible and direct project consequences. The objective of this type of analysis is simply to maximize net monetary benefits. This analysis assigns an arbitrary monetary value to ecological and social disruptions, if it does not ignore these effects entirely. An improvement on this method is the social benefit-cost analysis, which assesses sane intangible costs such as air and noise pollution. Unfortunately, even the social analysis usually neglects the sometimes profound effects that a large water resource project has upon quality …

A Study Of Successful Management Teams In Oregon Public School Systems, James R. Carnes

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the current status of successful management teams in Oregon public schools as they exist in 1988, after more than fifteen years of evolution as the preferred management practice. Study Questions asked were: (1) Why was the team management concept implemented? (2) How has the management team evolved? (3) How is the management team organized? (4) How does the management team operate? (5) How are management team members involved in developing, recommending, implementing, and monitoring school district policies and administrative regulations? (6) What are the most important characteristics or elements found …

The People's Soul Engineers: A Study Of Secondary Teachers In The People's Republic Of China, Nancy Benson

Dissertations and Theses

This study was designed to explore the beliefs of teachers in the People's Republic in China regarding education policy, work conditions in the schools, teacher education, student discipline, curriculum, and the teaching profession. Subjects were 60 secondary teachers in the Beijing area, from both "keypoint" and "ordinary" schools. The teachers completed a 60-item questionnaire, designed to assess multiple educational belief dimensions. The results revealed that, as a group, teachers perceived themselves as having poor social status, inadequate pay, limiting work conditions, and a lack of opportunities for advancement. Teachers also reported a high degree of stress and health problems. There …

A Comparative Study Of The Characteristics Of High Technology Start-Up Firms, Sandra J. Kiehl

Dissertations and Theses

A sample of two hundred and twenty-five high technology start-up firms located nationwide provided a base for the analysis of characteristics of start-up success. The analysis provides insights into management capabilities which may be generalized to a larger population. For comparison purposes, the sample was divided into two groups: (1) those firms which have not received a venture capital infusion from a formal venture capital company and (2) those firms which have received one or more infusions of venture capital. Aspects of organizational climate, top management team approach, marketing strategy and focus, business planning and the intent to go public …

An Assessment Of The Current Practice Of Teacher Evaluation In Saudi Arabian Universities And The Development Of A Teacher Evaluation Program Based On This Study, Sana Ahmed Mansour

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the current requirements of teacher evaluation at Saudi Arabian universities and to develop a teacher evaluation program that would fit the current need and support Saudi social and religious values. The site of the study was Ring Abdulaziz University (R.A.U.) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Population of the study included a random sample of senior students and faculty from the Women's Section of the university. Of 350 surveyed students, 224 responded, and 55 out of 150 surveyed faculty responded. The Dean and the Vice Deans of the Colleges of Science, …

Population Determinants Of Social Change: An Analysis Of The Age Composition Of The United States From 1920 To 1983, Guy Norman Burkhardt

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study is to explain the consequences of a changing age structure on social change in the urban industrialized environment. This analysis determines the impact of the younger to the older labor force aged population on both negative and positive forms of social change behavior. The indices of social behavior to be examined are the deviant behaviors of homicide, suicide and certain innovative behavior associated with patent activity. The specific age composition of the population to be examined is the ratio of young male adults aged 15-34 to those aged 35-64. The analysis of main effects of …

A Study Of Principals' Leadership Behavior In One Suburban School District, Darleen Huber-Dilbeck

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the leadership behavior of principals as perceived by the teachers and principals of one suburban school district. Research questions asked were: (1) Are there significant differences between the perceptions of principals and teachers concerning principals' leadership behavior on the twelve subscales of the LBDQ-XII? (2) Are there significant differences in viewing the leadership role when teachers' age, gender, teaching experience, level of training, or teaching assignment is considered?

This descriptive study invited 350 randomly selected teachers and all of the principals from 35 elementary, intermediate, and high schools in one suburban school …

The Tensile Strength Of Liquid Helium Four, Joel Alan Nissen

Dissertations and Theses

It is well known that most liquids exhibit a tensile strength which is much smaller in magnitude than the tensile strength predicted by homogeneous nucleation theory. This lack of agreement is usually attributed to the difficulty of preparing liquid samples free from foreign gases which act as heterogeneous nucleation sites. Liquid helium occupies a unique place among liquids for tensile strength measurements because all foreign gases are frozen out at liquid helium temperatures. Furthermore, superfluid 4He should fill all crevices on solid surfaces, eliminating the chance of heterogeneous nucleation on helium vapor pockets. Despite the quantum mechanical nature of liquid …

Career Satisfaction, Adult Development, Academic Preparation, And Other Demographic Characteristics Of Pastors Of Churches Affiliated With Western Evangelical Seminary, James Allen Field

Dissertations and Theses

Purpose. This study was designed to explore possible relationships between the levels of job satisfaction, the stages of adult development, especially as defined by Levinson, and the type and extent of formal educational preparation for pastoral ministry. The primary assumption was that higher levels of education enable the pastor to move through the progressive stages of adult development with a higher level of career satisfaction. Procedure.The data were obtained through a survey of the pastors of the western judicatories of the seven denominations which are in trustee relationship with Western Evangelical Seminary. A three-part questionnaire was developed, including the Ministerial …

The Socialization Of Cpep Teachers: Implications For Administration, Jim L. Kuhlmann

Dissertations and Theses

The competencies and needs of those entering the teaching profession have become the subject of public debate since the release of A Nation at Risk. Subsequently many comprehensive and comparative reviews have documented the socialization of those entering the teaching profession especially student teachers and first-year teachers. The problems of beginning teachers have produced survival and self-oriented concerns. Internships and induction programs have been developed to ease the socialization of beginning teachers and mediate these concerns. As internships are developed and induction programs implemented, descriptive field studies which examine the processes of beginning teacher socialization are needed. Particularly, studies which …

Direct And Indirect Costs Of Tinnitus: Factors For Decisionmaking, Gloria E. Reich

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates the psychological, social and economic costs of tinnitus to affected individuals. A conceptual framework for tinnitus is presented which includes the possible causes of tinnitus, the perception of severity of tinnitus, mediators or agents that can change the perception of tinnitus, tinnitus treatments, and the social and economic effects of tinnitus. Three main factors were studied: 1) whether tinnitus costs can be predicted from perceived severity and other characteristics of tinnitus, 2) whether a scale can be developed to provide information about the subjective measurement of tinnitus severity, and 3) how many people have severe tinnitus. Information …

The Trunk A Network In Nigeria: The Issues Of Connectivity And Accessibility, Owen Richard Owen

Dissertations and Theses

This study concentrated primarily on how the changes in the trunk A transportation network configuration in Nigeria alter both the hierarchy of the network system and the connectivity of the network itself. Using the graph theory, the study looked at the network development in Nigeria in 1949, 1961, 1976, and 1982. The period covered in the study spanned from the colonial to the post-colonial eras. Road maps of each of these years were the primary sources of data. The maps were translated into abstracted networks and subsequently converted into square matrices, and analyzed. The analysis resulted in the establishment of …

A Critical Study Of Communications In Land Use Hearings, Douglas J. Warren

Dissertations and Theses

This study addresses a major theoretical issue posed in the literature: can alienation in modern urban society be conceptualized in terms of the communicative competence of speakers taking part in social interaction. Specifically, this study explores the relationship between communicative competence and two observable indications of success in land use hearings: 1) ability to influence the final decision of the Variance Committee and 2) expression of feelings of dissatisfaction with the hearings process, as expressed by the participants. On a broader scale, the study tests Jurgen Habermas's classification of speech acts and the notion that public hearings are a free …

Script Effects And Reading Strategies : Ideographic Language Readers Vs. Alphabetic Language Readers In Esl, Minglang Zhou

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine script effects of the Chinese Language on Chinese ESL/EFL students· reading strategies, in comparison to those employed by ESL students from alphabetic orthographic backgrounds.

A Study Of The Capability Of The Computerized Visi-Pitch When Investigating Prosodic Features Of Motherese, Denise Leslie Clemens

Dissertations and Theses

With commercial availability of non-real and real-time spectrum analyzers, the speech-language pathologist has the means to objectively extract and measure pitch taken from speech samples. Though both types of spectrum analyzers provide the clinician with viable methods of measuring fundamental frequency and frequency range values, pitch extraction using real time allows for greater efficiency in acoustic measurements. The Kay Elemetrics Visi-Pitch is one such real-time spectrum analyzer that is less expensive and more accessible than other real time speech science hardware. The purpose of this study was to investigate the capability of a computerized Visi-Pitch to reflect elevation of fundamental …

A New General Purpose Systolic Array For Matrix Computations, Hai Van Dinh Le

Dissertations and Theses

In this thesis, we propose a new systolic architecture which is based on the Faddeev's algorithm. Because Faddeev's algorithm is inherently general purpose, our architecture is able to perform a wide class of matrix computations. And since the architecture is systolic based, it brings massive parallelism to all of its computations. As a result, many matrix operations including addition, multiplication, inversion, LU-decomposition, transpose, and solutions to linear systems of equations can now be performed extremely fast. In addition, our design introduces several concepts which are new to systolic architectures:

- It can be re-configured during run time to perform different …