Digital Commons Network^™

An Analysis Of The Transactional Distance In Asynchronous Telecourses At A Community College Using The Group Embedded Figures Test, Roger J. Brenner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Asynchronous distance education telecourses are the technological version of traditional correspondence courses. Students in asynchronous telecourses receive videos and printed material but they may not have any contact with the instructor or other students. This study analyzed the academic performance of 154 Southwest Virginia Community College students enrolled in 27 different telecourses during one semester. The purpose of this study was to determine if students' cognitive styles impacted their achievement in distance education courses. Students were given the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT) which categorized the students as field dependent or field independent. A field dependent's cognitive style is one …

Public School Teachers’ And Principals’ Knowledge Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Judy Blevins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge level (general, etiology, assessment, treatment) of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD/ADD) of principles, regular education teachers, and special education teachers in the First Educational District in Northeast Tennessee. The study further the amount of instruction on ADHD/ADD that educators received as part of their teacher training and after they began teaching, the number of books and articles they read on ADHD/ADD, the number of students with ADHD/ADD they worked with, and the number of students they worked with who were on medication. The study also revealed teacher beliefs about ADHD/ADD …

Institutional Climate And Institutional Effectiveness At Three Community Colleges, Connie S. Buckner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to explore the impact of employee morale, as manifested in institutional climate data, upon institutional effectiveness; and (2) to determine the extent to which information generated by climate survey data was used in developing and implementing change initiatives at each of the institutions studied. Three institutions were selected for this multiple site case study. Four sources of data from each institution were used to provide a "picture" of institutional climate. These sources of data were (a) the Personal Assessment of the College Environment (PACE) climate survey, (b) institutional self-study reports, (c) reaffirmation …

Articulation Practices Of Two- And Four-Year Public Colleges In Tennessee, Amy L. Freeman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study had two purposes. The first was to identify present articulation practices within Tennessee public colleges. The second was to select recommendations for ideal articulation practice that might lead to improved transfer/articulation among two- and four-year public colleges in Tennessee. A survey instrument was sent to persons identified as chief articulation officers within Tennessee public colleges. They were asked to evaluate identified articulation practices according to present practice and according to ideal practice. Results were used to determine which transfer and articulation practices were currently used in Tennessee public colleges, which transfer and articulation practices ideally should be used …

Synthesis And Characterization Of 1,1'-Diorganosulfur Substituted Ferrocenes For The Formation Of Self-Assembled Monolayers On Gold Surfaces, Dawei Wen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Pedagogy Of Rhythmic Concepts And Techniques Of The Common Practice Period, Martha Prewitt Hitch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Administrators And Teachers Regarding The Relevancy And Frequency Of Occurrence Of Program Characteristics Of Alternative High School Programs In North Carolina, Deborah D. Wiseman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to (1) determine which characteristics of alternative schools exist in North Carolina public alternative high schools for at-risk/potential dropouts, (2) determine the degree to which North Carolina alternative school administrators and teachers perceive each characteristic as important, (3) determine if there was a significant difference between administrators' and teachers' perceptions regarding the frequency of occurrence of program characteristics to alternative high school's, (4) determine if there was a significant difference between administrators' and teachers' perceptions regarding the relevancy of program characteristics to alternative high schools, and (5) determine if there was a significant …

The Cowboy Way: A Study Of Leadership As Portrayed In Western Film, Ralph L. Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to examine leadership through the medium of film, specifically the genre of the western. The western is iconographic; representative of the American ethos, the western embodied the "frontier myth." The purposes of this study were to examine how leadership was portrayed in a selected sample of western films dating from 1945 to 1995, and to categorize and characterize the leadership methods exhibited in each film. Qualitative in design, the study was concerned with broad description and discovery. Using observation as the data collection technique and content analysis as the research method, the study examined a sample of …

Implementing Total Quality Management In Business And Academe: A Case Study, Nancy O. Bartell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Total quality management (TQM) is a philosophy and process that has been successfully implemented in many business firms. Other organizations, including institutions of higher education, have become increasingly interested in adopting it. It is likely that facilitators need to be cognizant of organizational differences and adjust facilitation methods and strategies accordingly. This dissertation is an exploratory study designed to examine the role of the TQM facilitator in diverse settings. Specifically, the study is an in-depth two-case research study of TQM implementation in an international manufacturing firm and a regional institution of higher education. The primary foci of this dissertation are …

Case Study Of The Kingsport Regional Education Alliance, D. L. Reed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the origin and evolution of the Kingsport Regional Education Alliance (KREA 2000). A total of 18 individuals, representing three categories, business, education, and community, were selected by purposeful sampling techniques to participate. Data were collected through qualitative methods. The analysis revealed attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of those involved in the KREA 2000 activities. Through data analysis the investigator identified a core group of influencers who were primarily responsible for the creation of KREA 2000. The investigator identified four major categories that were critical to the evolution of KREA 2000. The four …

Measuring Tutoring Effectiveness By Program Delivery Model: Small Group Tutoring Compared To Tutoring In Labs In Mathematics, Physics, And Accounting, Mary A. Quinn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the effectiveness of two common tutoring program delivery models by analyzing tutored and nontutored students' grades and semester grade point averages in three subject areas. The effects of gender, age (if 25 years or older), course, duration of tutoring, tutoring contacts, and contacts per week are also measured. The approach to the ex post facto study is quantitative and utilizes data from the Student Information System at Appalachian State University and from tutoring contact sheets. Areas of data presentation include analysis of covariance results for experimental group, gender, age (if 25 years or older), and course; and …

The Jackson Advocate : 1938-1995 A Historical Overview, Colleen R. White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Publishing a black newspaper can be difficult; many black newspapers stop publication within a few years. However, there are some black newspapers that continue publication for many years in spite of the odds. One such newspaper that continues to be published is the Jackson Advocate, an historically black-owned newspaper in Jackson, Mississippi. The Jackson Advocate is the subject of this study. Books, interviews, newspaper files, magazine articles, journals, and dissertations were used in this study to give an overview of the Jackson Advocate and to show the longevity of the newspaper.

This study sought to understand the way in which …

The Factors Of Urban Development : Cotton Brokers And Merchants In Antebellum Memphis, 1850-1860, Joe Wojak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Public Journalism: Attitudes And Practices, Poonkulali Thangavelu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

[No abstract provided.]

From Emerson To Faulkner : Affinities Of Nature Symbiosis, Justin Robert Wert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a study of the affinities amongst Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Nature, Mary Murfree’s "Driftin’ Down Lost Creek" and "The Mystery of Witch-Face Mountain" and William Faulkner’s "The Bear." The linkages of Emerson’s Nature with the three stories are explored in terms of Emerson’s “symbiosis theory": the symbiotic relationship between Man and Nature.

Through a careful analysis of Nature, in which the "Language" section of Emerson’s essay is of primary focus, Emerson’s "theory" that “every natural fact is a symbol of some spiritual fact" (32) is thoroughly examined. When the philosophic and literary influences upon Emerson’s symbiotic analogies and …

Synchronization For Narrowband Personal Communication Systems, Min Zhu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Shades Of White : Party Politics In Mississippi, 1870-1896, William Bland Whitley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis seeks to uncover some of the cultural motivations behind white Mississippians’ acceptance of one party rule. Previous scholars of southern political life have focused mainly on the institutional means by which the Democratic party forged its hegemony over Mississippi and the rest of the South. Other factors, however, also contributed to the emergence of white political unity.

I have placed the Redemption campaign of 1875 at the center of the political and racial identities of most white Mississippians. During this campaign whites dissolved whatever differences existed between them to overthrow, by any means necessary, a Republican regime that …

The Cultural Context Of Elective Voice Study At Colleges And Universities, Karen Maiers Sudduth

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

University of Mississippi. Department of Music -- Doctoral essays

A Survey Of Sophomore Students' Impressions Of Academic Advising Services At East Tennessee State University, Ronald D. Gross

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study of sophomore students' at East Tennessee State University was conducted to determine students' impressions of the institutional academic advising program, to assess students' level of satisfaction with the academic advisor's assistance with those topics discussed in academic advising sessions, and to determine students' impressions of their academic advisor. The data collected in this study revealed that the sophomore students at ETSU were slightly dissatisfied with their advisor's assistance. Data derived from comparative analyses for differences in impressions of academic advising services found that specific demographic groups were basically neutral in their satisfaction with advising. Few statistically significant differences …

The Woman High School Principal In Tennessee: A Qualitative Study, Doris W. Vanhuss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to give an indepth and insightful description of the personal and professional worlds of the women high school principals of grades 9-12 in Tennessee in 1993. Specific areas which were addressed in the study included: (1) personal background information, (2) career paths and goals, (3) personal influences upon the women (4) possible barriers, (5) the role(s) of the woman high school principal, and (6) job demands. The data were gathered through a demographic questionnaire and the process of the long interview with open-ended questions with all seventeen of the women high school principals …

Impact Of Tennessee's Value-Added Assessment System On School Superintendents' Decision-Making, Kay M. Goode

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The problem related to this study was to develop a clearer understanding of the impact of Tennessee's Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) on school superintendents' decision-making responsibilities in view of school reform efforts at both the national and state levels during the last decade. The purpose of this study was to identify relationships between three independent variables (superintendents' years of experience, superintendents' perceived degree of personnel acceptance, and superintendents' perceived technical assistance availability for data analysis and interpretation of results) and superintendents perceptions of the system on eight aspects (student learning; teacher performance; school system success; educational accountability; educational equality; assessment …

Participation In Extracurricular Activities And The Relationship To Academic Achievement And School Attendance Among High School Seniors, Lyle C. Ailshie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between participation in extracurricular activities and the variables of school attendance and academic achievement. The population for the study was the 1994-95 graduating class in the First Tennessee Development District high schools. The definition of extracurricular activities was expanded to include the employment of students. The relationships were examined through Pearson Product Moment correlations and by way of multiple regression. A total of 575 students from thirteen high schools made up the sample for this study. Schools were classified into three size categories and proportionally selected in order to accurately represent the population. Selected students …

Southern Appalachian Settlement Schools As Early Initiators Of Integrated Services, Eloise H. Jurgens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This historical-descriptive study examined Southern Appalachian settlement schools as early initiators of integrated health and social services with education from the 1900s through the 1970s. Three schools were studied: Hindman Settlement School (KY), Pine Mountain Settlement School (KY) and Crossnore School, Inc. (NC). The purpose of the study was to determine the type and extent of services provided, the relationship of the settlement schools with their respective county public school system, and the transfer, if any, of integrated services from the settlement schools to public schools as the public schools took over educational responsibilities once offered by the settlement schools. …

Common Transitional And First-Year Experiences Of Newly Appointed Community College Deans: A Qualitative Analysis, Joseph B. Olson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to identify common transitional and first year experiences of newly appointed community college deans. A population of deans from the states of North Carolina, Virginia, and Texas was identified. Through the use of qualitative research techniques, personalized accounts were collected from a sample of eleven deans. Through a qualitative analysis of these personalized accounts, thirteen themes were developed. These themes identified common issues and backgrounds encountered and shared by the eleven deans. These themes reveal that: (1) prior community college administrative experience was a prerequisite to the deanship, (2) there were no …

Perceptions And Hiring Practices Of Tennessee Superintendents And Directors Of Schools Relating To The Desired Technological Skills Of High School Principals, J. M. Reed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to reveal what technological skills are inquired about by superintendents/directors of schools in the state of Tennessee when hiring high school principals. The study further reveals perceptions that superintendents/directors of schools have for the desirability of high school principals to possess technological skills and their perceptions of how capable current high school principals are for possessing those skills. The study was based on a total population of 139 school superintendents in the state of Tennessee. Surveys were mailed in early Nov, 1995. One hundred-two surveys were completed and returned. Findings were divided into two …

Factors Related To Enrollment Decisions Of Accepted Traditional-Age Students At Milligan College, John L. Derry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined an aspect of enrollment management at a private liberal arts college. Factors related to enrollment decisions of students accepted for admission to Milligan College were analyzed by comparing two groups: matriculants and nonmatriculants. The population consisted of 438 traditional-age applicants for the 1995 fall semester. Data were collected from the application for admission, financial aid application, and a survey instrument designed to obtain information relative to influences on the enrollment decision. The Purposes of the research were to determine if significant differences existed between the two groups and to identify the characteristics of the students most likely …

Parent Involvement Typologies And Student Achievement: A Correlational Study Of The Overlapping Spheres Of Influence, Phillip J. Elliott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between six types of parent involvement and student achievement. These typologies included parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision making, and collaborating with community. Four research questions guided the study and nine null hypotheses were formulated and tested at the level of significance. The degree of relationship between the independent variables, parent involvement typologies, and student achievement were analyzed by utilizing Spearman's rho correlation coefficient, Pearson's product-moment correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The study sample consisted of 627 elementary and middle school parents in Mitchell County, North Carolina. The results …

Exploring The Congruency Between Student Satisfaction And Institutional Effectiveness In Higher Education, Kathryn K. Franklin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Because of the increasing emphasis on the accountability of higher education, constituents of the academy have searched for reliable and valid measures of institutional effectiveness. One measure of institutional effectiveness, gaining in popularity with accountability proponents, has been the assessment of overall student satisfaction. To build a link between student satisfaction and institutional effectiveness, past researchers have made the assumption that a relationship exists between these two constructs. This assumption has been grounded in a further supposition that a congruency exists between the criteria used by students to determine satisfaction and the criteria used by higher education administrators to evaluate …

A Survey Of Sophomore Students' Impressions Of Academic Advising Services At East Tennessee State University, Ronald D. Gross

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study of sophomore students' at East Tennessee State University was conducted to determine students' impressions of the institutional academic advising program, to assess students' level of satisfaction with the academic advisor's assistance with those topics discussed in academic advising sessions, and to determine students' impressions of their academic advisor. The data collected in this study revealed that the sophomore students at ETSU were slightly dissatisfied with their advisor's assistance. Data derived from comparative analyses for differences in impressions of academic advising services found that specific demographic groups were basically neutral in their satisfaction with advising. Few statistically significant differences …

A Case Study Of An Elementary School-Based Health Clinic, Sheila K. Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to perform a qualitative analysis of an elementary school-based health clinic (SBHC). This situational analysis was performed to further understand the impact of accessible primary health care on an elementary school population. Data were collected through 30 participant interviews of parents, educators and medical personnel. Additional data were collected through the clinic files, and a t-test was used to compare the attendance and achievement data of clinic consumers for the clinic year against records from the previous year. The researcher presented information on the steps of SBHC development to include community campaign procedures. The …