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Text, Graphics, And Multimedia Materials Employed In Learning A Computer-Based Procedural Task, Kari Christine Carlson Coffindaffer Aug 2010

Text, Graphics, And Multimedia Materials Employed In Learning A Computer-Based Procedural Task, Kari Christine Carlson Coffindaffer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present research study investigated the interaction of graphic design students with different forms of software training materials. Four versions of the procedural task instructions were developed (A) Traditional Textbook with Still Images, (B) Modified Text with Integrated Still Images, (C) Onscreen Modified Text with Silent Onscreen Video and (D) Onscreen Narrated Video for four computer tasks. Two research questions guided the study: Research Question 1: Are there any significant differences in student learning of a computer-based procedural task due to the format of the training materials? Research Question 2: Do individual differences in prior knowledge and spatial abilities make …


Improving The Academic Self-Efficacy Of Middle School Girls Toward The Study Of Mathematics Through The Use Of Theatrical Infusion, Aimee L. Richards Aug 2010

Improving The Academic Self-Efficacy Of Middle School Girls Toward The Study Of Mathematics Through The Use Of Theatrical Infusion, Aimee L. Richards

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of theatrical infusion on the academic self-efficacy toward the study of mathematics in middle school girls. A group of middle school girls participated in a program entitled Starring...Math. This five session program presented mathematical concepts through the use of theatrical infusion. The group of participants was composed of twenty-one girls in sixth, seventh and eighth grades.;Part I: Everyday Math Tasks of the Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale (Betz & Hackett, 1989) was administered at three occasions: (1) prior to the start of the program, (2) at the end of the program and, …


The Influence Of Nursing Curriculum In Associate Degree Nursing Programs On The Development Of Nursing Professionalism In Graduating Nursing Students, Cristina M. Riter Aug 2010

The Influence Of Nursing Curriculum In Associate Degree Nursing Programs On The Development Of Nursing Professionalism In Graduating Nursing Students, Cristina M. Riter

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nursing professionalism is assumed to develop during the educational process, with the model of the baccalaureate degree program. There have been few studies on the development of professionalism in beginning nursing students, especially those in a two-year associate degree nursing program. This research study explored the concept of professional development in reaction to the increased number of associate degree registered nurses in this country since the inception of the associate degree nursing programs in the 1950s. The impact of the registered nursing shortage on the nursing profession and the educational preparedness of future registered nurses was also explored. The research …


Resurgence Of Temporal Patterns Of Responding, Carlos Renato Xavier Cancado Aug 2010

Resurgence Of Temporal Patterns Of Responding, Carlos Renato Xavier Cancado

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The resurgence of temporal patterns of key pecking by pigeons was studied in two experiments. In Experiment 1, positively accelerated and linear patterns of responding were established under a discrete-trial multiple fixed-interval (FI) variable-interval (VI) schedule. Subsequently, responding on a different key produced reinforcers according to a VI schedule. When extinction was in effect, resurgence of previously established temporal patterns was observed for each pigeon. That is, positively accelerated and linear patterns recurred in the presence of the stimuli previously correlated with the FI and VI components of the multiple schedule, respectively---suggesting that these temporal patterns, although not directly reinforced, …


Prediction Of Response To Escitalopram Across Multiple Outcomes In Older Adult Gad Patients, Caroline M. Ciliberti Aug 2010

Prediction Of Response To Escitalopram Across Multiple Outcomes In Older Adult Gad Patients, Caroline M. Ciliberti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Anxiety disorders are common in late-life and have detrimental effects of health and well-being (Stanley, Diefenbach, & Hopko, 2003; Wetherell et al., 2004). Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is the most common anxiety disorder in late-life (Beekman et al., 1998). Beyond the diagnostic symptoms, older adults with anxiety disorders may present with a variety of physical symptoms (Palmer, Jeste, & Sheikh, 1997). As a result, GAD is a heterogeneous disorder. Empirically-supported treatments are available for late-life GAD, but little is known about how people with different constellations of presenting symptoms respond to treatment, and whether they differ according to the way …


Escape From Stimuli Correlated With Transitions Across Lean And Rich Schedules Of Reinforcement, August F. Holtyn Aug 2010

Escape From Stimuli Correlated With Transitions Across Lean And Rich Schedules Of Reinforcement, August F. Holtyn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

On a multiple-schedule of reinforcement, when a rich component is followed by a relatively lean component, responding is interrupted by extended pausing. The present experiment examined whether the discriminative stimulus correlated with this rich to lean transition acquired aversive properties. Four pigeons were exposed to a compound schedule with two fixed-ratio components programmed on the center key. One component ended with the delivery of a rich reinforcer (7-s access to grain) and the second with a lean reinforcer (1-s access). Each component was correlated with a distinctive key color. At the beginning of some components, a side key was activated. …


A Proposed Method For Evaluation Of Morphological Changes In The Condyle And Glenoid Fossa By Cone Beam Computed Tomography, Michael R. Munn May 2010

A Proposed Method For Evaluation Of Morphological Changes In The Condyle And Glenoid Fossa By Cone Beam Computed Tomography, Michael R. Munn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The difficulty with three-dimensional analyses remains with the myriad of data that is possible to derive from a volume. The goal of this study is to report 3D changes in the temporomandibular joint in a reliable and quantifiable way. The approach included plotting specific referents on the mandibular condyle and tracking them in magnitude (mm) and direction (°) on a reference plane after superimposing the cone beams three-dimensionally on the inferior alveolar nerve canal and the lower contour of the third molar tooth germ. Two sets of measurements were compared for reliability and each measurement showed varied correlation. Linear measurements …


Do Parental Monitoring Strategies, Parental Knowledge, And Adolescent Risk -Taking Differ Based On Family Income And Parental Marital Status? The Role Of Resiliency, Shawn M. Golden-Llewellyn May 2010

Do Parental Monitoring Strategies, Parental Knowledge, And Adolescent Risk -Taking Differ Based On Family Income And Parental Marital Status? The Role Of Resiliency, Shawn M. Golden-Llewellyn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Adolescents living in low socioeconomic status (SES) are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors, such as alcohol and other drug use, sexual behavior, and vandalism. Resiliency theory suggests that protective factors could reduce adolescent risk-taking in low SES families. Parental monitoring, parent behaviors involved in tracking their adolescents' whereabouts and activities, tends to be less evident in low SES families. However, it has also been identified as a protective factor in fostering resiliency in adolescents living in high-risk situations. The current study examined group differences in parental knowledge, parental monitoring strategies, and adolescent risk-taking based on two socioeconomic factors, …


Pe Followed Me Home From School Today: Effects Of The Activity Challenge On Youth Summer Physical Activity, Kacey Digiacinto May 2010

Pe Followed Me Home From School Today: Effects Of The Activity Challenge On Youth Summer Physical Activity, Kacey Digiacinto

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The prevalence of overweight and obese youth in the nation is growing at an alarming pace (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008; West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, 2007). Currently, 3.8% of elementary schools, 7.9% of middle schools, and 2.1% of high schools provide daily physical education (Jones, Axelrad, & Wattigney, 2007). That means that a majority of America's youth are not provided with the opportunity to accumulate the recommended daily amounts of physical activity. With formal physical education in mind schools should be focusing on increasing youth out-of-school physical activity. Teacher assigned, out-of-school, physical activity, self-management …


A Leap Of Faith: *Scale, Critical Realism And *Emergence In The Geography Of Religion, Michael P. Ferber May 2010

A Leap Of Faith: *Scale, Critical Realism And *Emergence In The Geography Of Religion, Michael P. Ferber

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the role of scale in human geography through a study involving a critical realist investigation of the geography of religious adherence. Using the contributions of a critical realist framework of stratification, emergence, and pluralistic methodologies, religious adherence is studied at the scales of the individual adherent, the church, and within local associations of churches. Analysis was performed through a study of two denominational congregations and an independent congregation in Harrison County, West Virginia and used a combination of surveys and in-depth interviews with religious adherents, pastors and local denominational leaders. The conceptual framework of this dissertation stands …


Constraints To Participation In An Outdoor Orientation Program, Madeleine Hoden May 2010

Constraints To Participation In An Outdoor Orientation Program, Madeleine Hoden

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Outdoor orientation programs have shown success in helping students transition to college life. Research has shown that outcomes for students participating in a first year seminar include achieving higher grade point averages, higher persistence, measured by completion of a degree, and taking less time to complete a degree program. This study used Crawford, Godbey, and Jackson's hierarchical model of structural, interpersonal and intrapersonal constraints to leisure. An online survey was used to measure constraints to participation in Adventure WV. Students tended to perceive structural constraints as the most common constraints. Results indicated that female students tended to perceive intrapersonal constraints …


Differences In Learning Styles And Satisfaction Between Traditional Face-To-Face And Online Web-Based Sport Management Studies Students, Ellen Jo West May 2010

Differences In Learning Styles And Satisfaction Between Traditional Face-To-Face And Online Web-Based Sport Management Studies Students, Ellen Jo West

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Each student has a unique learning style or individual way of perceiving, interacting, and responding to a learning environment. The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the prevalence of learning styles among undergraduate Sport Management Studies (SMS) students at California University of Pennsylvania (Cal U). Learning style prevalence was determined for traditional face-to-face students and online web-based students and differences in learning style prevalence between these two groups were explored. Finally, differences in student satisfaction between program delivery methods were examined by using an online questionnaire designed by the researcher.;The population for this study included 247 Cal …


Effects Of Diadochokinetic Rate On Vocal Fundamental Frequency And Intensity In Normally Speaking Young Adults, Oya Topbas May 2010

Effects Of Diadochokinetic Rate On Vocal Fundamental Frequency And Intensity In Normally Speaking Young Adults, Oya Topbas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

It has been commonly assumed that as people speak faster, they speak in higher vocal fundamental frequencies. Since the frequency and intensity often vary together, vocal intensity is expected to increase with speaking rate as well. The purpose of this study was to explore how speaking rate affects vocal fundamental frequency and intensity during diadochokinetic speaking tasks in normal speaking adults. Twenty-four normal young adults, 12 male and 12 female, were asked to repeat the syllables "/pLambda/, /pLambda-t[schwa]/, and /pLambda-t[schwa]-k[schwa]/" at a self-selected comfortable rate, then at a slow rate modeled about one syllable per second, and finally at their …


Freedom Road: Black Refugee Settlements In Northwestern Pennsylvania, 1820-1870, Timothy P. Konhaus May 2010

Freedom Road: Black Refugee Settlements In Northwestern Pennsylvania, 1820-1870, Timothy P. Konhaus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the first half of the nineteenth century many blacks fled from slave states looking to escape the oppression of bondage. These people largely fell into two categories; the first group fled the oppression of bondage, and readily sought freedom by taking flight, while the latter group already free, sought to avoid the possibility of legal codes forcing them back into bondage. Between 1820 and 1870, two groups of black settlers arrived in Mercer County, Pennsylvania looking for a refuge from chattel slavery. Although each group arrived under different circumstances, they shared a common refugee experience. The historiography of black …


Observing Responses Of Chain-Schedule Stimuli And Effects Of D-Amphetamine And Morphine, Jonathan M. Slezak May 2010

Observing Responses Of Chain-Schedule Stimuli And Effects Of D-Amphetamine And Morphine, Jonathan M. Slezak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There is an inherent confound when utilizing response-dependent chain schedules to examine conditioned reinforcement effects because the same response is required for the production of both conditioned and primary reinforcers. The present study utilized an observing response to examine the conditioned-reinforcing value of stimuli in a three-link chain variable-time schedule, which allows for the removal of the response-reinforcer contingency of typical chain schedules. In Experiment 1, observing was maintained by the production of stimuli correlated with links of a chain VT schedule, indicating conditioned reinforcing properties of all or some of the chain stimuli. To test if performance under chain …


Predicting Restoration Of Competence To Stand Trial: Demographic, Clinical, And Legal Variables, Tracy A. Thomas May 2010

Predicting Restoration Of Competence To Stand Trial: Demographic, Clinical, And Legal Variables, Tracy A. Thomas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction. Each year, a considerable number of defendants are referred for competency to stand trial evaluation. Of those judged incompetent to stand trial, a majority are regarded as having a significant likelihood of being restored to competency. While a majority of individuals are restored to competency after restoration treatment, others are deemed incompetent to stand trial and non-restorable. For individuals deemed non-restorable, a protracted stay in a forensic-psychiatric hospital or less-restrictive placement is the norm. This often lengthy period of inpatient commitment expends a great amount of staff and monetary resources. Rationale. In order that scarce monetary and staff resources …


Motivations, Factors And Issues Concerning Students At West Virginia University, Jeremy L. Kelly May 2010

Motivations, Factors And Issues Concerning Students At West Virginia University, Jeremy L. Kelly

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Motivations take on different forms and strengths. There are many goals that students reach for, especially graduating with a degree. Throughout the years many individuals lose interest or get side tracked. The purpose of this study was to look at the many factors that motivate students to begin their education at West Virginia University, and the reasons that they stay. The study was limited to 320 students enrolled in the Agricultural and Extension Education courses 101, 110 and 220 for the 2010 spring semester. The final set of useable surveys numbered 281 (90.9%). The students were presented an online survey, …


Self-Efficacy For The Self-Regulation Of Learning: An Examination Of A College Success Strategies Course, Brandon M. Agostini May 2010

Self-Efficacy For The Self-Regulation Of Learning: An Examination Of A College Success Strategies Course, Brandon M. Agostini

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Self-efficacy has been shown to be a good predictor of task performance. An area identified as needing further research is the influences of self-efficacy. The objective of this research project was to assess efficacy beliefs related to the regulation of learning for students enrolled in a semester long college success strategies course. This was done to determine if learning about the learning process and skills and behaviors that promote learning would positively influence efficacy beliefs related to the regulation of learning. The college success strategies course was designed to teach students various learning and time management skills. Efficacy beliefs were …


Vibrant Amusement, Bretton J. Kern May 2010

Vibrant Amusement, Bretton J. Kern

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis is a description and analysis of the ceramic work of Bretton J. Kern. This thesis includes a description and images of the work as well as a discussion of the technical and conceptual content of the work.


School Improvement From The Central Office: A View Of The Five Year School System Strategic Planning Process In Selected West Virginia Counties, Victor V. Fisher May 2010

School Improvement From The Central Office: A View Of The Five Year School System Strategic Planning Process In Selected West Virginia Counties, Victor V. Fisher

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study's purpose was to describe and develop understandings of the West Virginia Five Year School System Strategic Plan development process in selected counties. A qualitative design of a multiple site case study was chosen because of its ability to interpret and understand process. Strategic planning is intended to be a state mandated process for school districts that results in improved student, school, and school system performance. These four nominated districts used a common style and process of consensus building and decision-making. Facilitators and barriers to the process were identified. Facilitators are described in a context of teaming and consensual …


The Effects Of Preschoolers' Goal Setting, Decision Making, And Self-Recording On Academic Achievement, Keri Smith May 2010

The Effects Of Preschoolers' Goal Setting, Decision Making, And Self-Recording On Academic Achievement, Keri Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated to see if preschool children could determine their own achievable goal and use self-recording of the step by step instruction to achieve the goal. In addition, children presented their goals to their peers. To investigate the effect of self-recording of step by step instruction, two individual case studies were completed in experiment one. A multiple baseline across participants was used in experiment two to measure three separate children's achievement during baseline and intervention of self-recording and step by step instruction. It was found that over 50% of the children could state their own achievable goal. It was …


The Great American Debate: A Constructionist Approach On The Media's Coverage Of Government Bailouts, Meghan Danielle Hvizdos May 2010

The Great American Debate: A Constructionist Approach On The Media's Coverage Of Government Bailouts, Meghan Danielle Hvizdos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Historically, the term "bailout" has been used to define the rescuing of an organization in financial distress. A rescue implies that a bailout is voluntary. However, by all accounts, the bailouts in the past nine months have not been voluntary. Media outlets are using the words 'bailout' and 'rescue' interchangeably. Through claims-making and by using the words rescue and bailout interchangeably, the media has socially constructed the word rescue as synonymous with the word bailout and has implied that the bailouts were voluntary and necessary to avert economic disaster and have constructed a social problem. This paper will examine the …


Effects Of Prenatal Stress On Lever-Press Acquisition, Delay Discounting, And Ethanol Self -Administration In Rats, Natalie R. Bruner May 2010

Effects Of Prenatal Stress On Lever-Press Acquisition, Delay Discounting, And Ethanol Self -Administration In Rats, Natalie R. Bruner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

It is well established in animal research that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays a central mediating role in the detrimental effects of prenatal stress in mother and offspring. The prenatally stressed (PS) rat exhibits a number of behaviors indicative of increased HPA activity relative to control (CON) rats. Because of these behaviors, PS rats may learn novel responses more quickly than CON rats. However, there are mixed findings in the literature as to whether prenatal stress facilitates or impedes learning. Experiment 1 was designed to examine effects of prenatal stress on lever-press acquisition using 10-s delays to food pellet delivery …


Learned Resourcefulness In Working Women Who Are Poor And Uninsured, Denise Demaria Lucas May 2010

Learned Resourcefulness In Working Women Who Are Poor And Uninsured, Denise Demaria Lucas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Statement of problem. Women with limited resources lack basic health coverage. More women than men are poor. The majority of working women remain in low wage, insecure jobs with little prestige and stability, and no benefits. Low wage earners are at the greatest risk for being uninsured. Being the working poor and without medical insurance is a barrier to health care. The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study was to describe the interrelationships between learned resourcefulness (LR), health status, and well-being (WB) in working women who are poor and uninsured.;Procedure. A convenience sample of 132 working women who were at …


Essays On The Public Economics Of Health, Rachel L. Mathers May 2010

Essays On The Public Economics Of Health, Rachel L. Mathers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores three important health issues, utilizing the tools provided by economics to provide new insight into areas of research typically the parlance of those in medical fields of study. The integration of economic theory into existing literature on health issues provides a more detail-rich explanation of health policy and corresponding health outcomes. This dissertation applies economic theory to the health topics of skin cancer, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and AIDS. There are five chapters included in this dissertation, beginning with an introduction in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 addresses the skin cancer paradox, specifically analyzing the relationship between National …


History, Philosophy, And Sociology Of Sport Recommendations For Physical Education Teacher Education, Amanda A. Metcalf May 2010

History, Philosophy, And Sociology Of Sport Recommendations For Physical Education Teacher Education, Amanda A. Metcalf

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine the essential history, philosophy, and sociology of sport competencies to be used to inform the physical education teacher education undergraduate curriculum. A two-round modified Delphi procedure involved the repeated circulation of a questionnaire to a panel of content experts. The study sample included specialists in history of sport, philosophy of sport, and sociology of sport, experts in the field of physical education teacher education, and school-based physical education practitioners. The Delphi panel members rated each questionnaire item in terms of its theoretical importance and pedagogical relevance using a five-point Likert scale. The …


Effects Of The Emphasis On Achieving Adequate Yearly Progress On Teachers And Administrators At Schools Under The Constraints Of No Child Left Behind, Cathy Ann Burnett Fisher May 2010

Effects Of The Emphasis On Achieving Adequate Yearly Progress On Teachers And Administrators At Schools Under The Constraints Of No Child Left Behind, Cathy Ann Burnett Fisher

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this research was to study the effects of the emphasis on achieving Adequate Yearly Progress at elementary schools under the regulations of the No Child Left Behind legislation. Qualitative data were gathered through interviews with fifty educators: forty-three teachers and seven administrators. All of the educators worked at six schools that had not achieved Adequate Yearly Progress for one or more years. All of the schools had consultants working with the faculty on the implementation of various new teaching strategies and new mandated curricular programs. Some of the findings included the following: (1) All of the teachers …


Utilization Of The Seven Principles For Good Practice In Undergraduate Education In General Chemistry By Community College Instructors, Jennifer Panther Bishoff May 2010

Utilization Of The Seven Principles For Good Practice In Undergraduate Education In General Chemistry By Community College Instructors, Jennifer Panther Bishoff

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In recent years, higher education has undergone many changes. The advent of assessment, accountability, and a newfound focus on teaching have required faculty to examine how they are teaching. Administrators and faculty are beginning to recognize that learning is not a "one size fits all" enterprise. To this end, Chickering and Gamson developed an inventory that examined faculty utilization of the Seven Principles of Good Practice in Undergraduate Education. The seven principles included by the authors included faculty-student interaction, cooperative learning, active learning, giving prompt feedback, emphasizing time on task, communicating high expectations, and respecting diverse talents and ways of …


The Evaluation Of A Practice Change To Reduce The Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes In A Rural Primary Care Practice, Lisa J. Straight May 2010

The Evaluation Of A Practice Change To Reduce The Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes In A Rural Primary Care Practice, Lisa J. Straight

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Diabetes mellitus is a growing problem in the United States as well as worldwide. Research has shown that the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus can be delayed or prevented with lifestyle modifications. One primary care clinic initiated and evaluated a practice change to provide an educational program to at-risk patients to reduce the risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Three educational sessions followed by bi-weekly telephone contact was provided to participants. The aim was to reduce parameters placing participants at risk including weight and fasting blood glucose as well as increasing the self efficacy of participants to make …


Language Learning In Three Early Childhood Programs In Austria, Germany And The United States, Sandra Schoder May 2010

Language Learning In Three Early Childhood Programs In Austria, Germany And The United States, Sandra Schoder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In 2002 the European Union declared multilingualism and life-long language learning to be two goals that it will pursue for its citizens. As a result, member states have introduced language learning at the elementary school level, and have shown an ever increasing interest in implementing second language programs designed specifically for children under the age of seven. This is a welcome change for European educators who are already working in early childhood language programs or who plan to establish new programs and have been looking for support for their endeavors. Yet despite recent progress, scholarly research into this arena remains …