Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
File Type

Articles 2371 - 2400 of 3023

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

A Case Study Of Four School Library Media Specialists' Leadership In Louisiana., Linda Jean Underwood Jan 2003

A Case Study Of Four School Library Media Specialists' Leadership In Louisiana., Linda Jean Underwood

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to understand the daily activities of effective school library media specialists in an elementary school, middle school, and high school in a Louisiana parish, non-church, public school system through qualitative research using interviews, observation field notes, and written documentation from the three schools. The importance of the study was that there is little known about the leadership role of the school library media specialist and the role of the school library media specialist. Further, the literature concerning effective schools and effective school library media specialists is separate. The study had four conclusions. First, an …

Go to article

The Journey From High School To College: Do Collaborative Connections Improve Student Transition?, Billie A. Unger Jan 2003

The Journey From High School To College: Do Collaborative Connections Improve Student Transition?, Billie A. Unger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Each year, thousands of students enter postsecondary education unprepared for the many academic, social, and emotional challenges they will face. Collaborative programs between secondary and postsecondary institutions have therefore developed as one way to address these issues. Although numerous studies have focused on quantitative evaluation of collaborative programs, few have included qualitative analysis of the opinions and ideas of those students who were involved in the efforts. The purpose of this study was to gauge the effect of student participation in pre-college collaborative experiences on students' transition from secondary to postsecondary education. Within the context of Schlossberg's Transition Theory, the …

Go to article

The Influence Of Psychological Separation And Maternal Attachment On Career Choice Commitment In College Seniors., Lasandra R. Ward Jan 2003

The Influence Of Psychological Separation And Maternal Attachment On Career Choice Commitment In College Seniors., Lasandra R. Ward

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Measures of maternal attachment, psychological separation from mother, and career choice commitment behavior (individuation markers) were taken from a sample predominantly composed of senior-level undergraduate students. Responses on the IPPA-R were used to categorize participants descriptively according to their maternal attachment style. Attachment style groups were labeled as Secure, Ambivalent, and Avoidant. Statistical procedures included MANOVA and stepwise multiple regression analyses. Differences were detected among the three maternal attachment style groups on four psychological separation variables. Some variables of psychological separation emerged as predictors of career choice commitment and tendency to foreclose. However, a large portion of the variance of …

Go to article

The Impact Of Past Dating Relationship Solidarity On Commitment, Satisfaction, Investment And Maintenance In Current Relationships., Andy J. Merolla Jan 2003

The Impact Of Past Dating Relationship Solidarity On Commitment, Satisfaction, Investment And Maintenance In Current Relationships., Andy J. Merolla

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine how previous romantic relationships impact subsequent romantic relationships. Specifically, this study examined if past relationship solidarity is related to current relationship commitment, satisfaction, investment, and maintenance behavior usage among individuals in dating relationships. Participants were 204 undergraduates at an Eastern university who were currently in a dating relationship. Results indicated that past relationship solidarity is significantly and negatively related to current relationship commitment and satisfaction, but not significantly related to current investment or maintenance behavior usage. Several mediating variables were also examined, including the nature and attribution of individuals’ breakups, the length …

Go to article

Gender, Gender Role, And Gender Role-Orientation Of Exercise Task: Effects On Cardiovascular Reactivity And Confidence., Andria Leigh Doyle Jan 2003

Gender, Gender Role, And Gender Role-Orientation Of Exercise Task: Effects On Cardiovascular Reactivity And Confidence., Andria Leigh Doyle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present study was conducted to examine gender and gender role differences in cardiovascular reactivity and confidence in relation to performing gender role-oriented exercise tasks. Sixty-four participants were selected to view videos of male and female models performing two exercise tasks [baton twirling (the feminine gender role-oriented task) and martial arts (the masculine gender role-oriented task)]. Participants then completed the exercise tasks while following along with the same video models. Heart rate (HR) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were measured during experimental conditions. Participants completed questionnaires to assess their level of confidence to perform each exercise …

Go to article

The Effects Of Science Engineering Mathematics Aerospace Academy (Semaa) Participation On Engagement Rates Of Sixth- And Seventh-Grade Students In Regular Mathematics Classes., Donna R. Carr Jan 2003

The Effects Of Science Engineering Mathematics Aerospace Academy (Semaa) Participation On Engagement Rates Of Sixth- And Seventh-Grade Students In Regular Mathematics Classes., Donna R. Carr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of participation in a short-term, co-curricular, mathematics and science program (Science Engineering Mathematics Aerospace Academy, SEMAA) on the engagement rates of sixth and seventh grade students in public school mathematics classes. The outcome variable (engagement) was measured with the Student Record of Behavior at three time intervals. A 22.3 mixed ANOVA design was utilized to investigate three main effects (participation, grade level, and time) and their primary and secondary interactions. Results reflected no discernable impact of the SEMAA program on student engagement rates. Conclusions include alignment of ancillary programs and …

Go to article

The Associations Of Recreation And Leisure With Community Satisfaction., Abraham Goldberg Jan 2003

The Associations Of Recreation And Leisure With Community Satisfaction., Abraham Goldberg

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study is to determine the associations of recreation and leisure with community satisfaction. The quantity, quality, and social context of participation in recreation and leisure activities are examined as potential predictors of community satisfaction. Questionnaires were distributed to a systematic random sample of residents in Montgomery, West Virginia. Following a multiple stepwise regression analysis, findings indicate that quantity (frequency) of leisure participation and quality (satisfaction) with recreation and leisure are predictors of community satisfaction. Pearsonís Correlation Coefficients indicate that frequency of volunteering and working in the yard are most strongly related with community satisfaction. The results …

Go to article

A Content Analysis Of The Effects Of Media Framing Of Naming Rights On Corporate Sponsorship., Douglas Scott Lovell Jan 2003

A Content Analysis Of The Effects Of Media Framing Of Naming Rights On Corporate Sponsorship., Douglas Scott Lovell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This paper addresses the relationship between corporate sponsorship and naming rights concerning sporting venues. It is hypothesized that corporations are more positively framed in the media when granted naming rights of major sporting venues. The literature review establishes the history of corporate sponsorship (as related to sports), naming rights, reviews the effects of advertising, and cites examples of previous and current examples of this type of relationship. Manifest content analysis was utilized to examine media coverage in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette newspaper of articles concerning naming rights of Heinz Field and PNC Park. Results indicated more intense as well as …

Go to article

Prediction Of Treatment Dropouts From Outpatient Substance Abuse Rehabilitation: A Discriminant Analysis., Phyllis J. Harner-Neer Jan 2003

Prediction Of Treatment Dropouts From Outpatient Substance Abuse Rehabilitation: A Discriminant Analysis., Phyllis J. Harner-Neer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Significant research literature supports the need for programs better designed to meet the needs of adolescent substance treatment. There is little research, however, that addresses the identification of characteristics of those adolescents who do not complete treatment. Consequently, this study seeks to identify those characteristics of adolescents by segueing off of another study that proved successful in identifying characteristics among inpatient adult male substance abusers. This study looks at the archival data of 38 adolescents who attended outpatient substance abuse treatment at an experientially-based, substance abuse program designed for adolescents. Methodological processes included the use of demographic variables collected through …

Go to article

The Effect Of Background Music On The Mathematics Test Anxiety Of College Algebra Students., Stephanie E. Haynes Jan 2003

The Effect Of Background Music On The Mathematics Test Anxiety Of College Algebra Students., Stephanie E. Haynes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated the effect of background music, played prior to an exam, on the mathematics test anxiety and academic achievement of college algebra students. Two research questions were posed. The first question inquired if the use of background music played while students study 10 minutes prior to an exam, as opposed to the students studying in silence 10 minutes prior to an exam, reduced the level of mathematics test anxiety. The second question inquired if there would be a significant difference in the achievement scores of the students exposed to background music while studying to background music. The participants …

Go to article

The Use Of Cooperative Grouping In Inclusive Elementary Classrooms., Stephanie G. Pack Jan 2003

The Use Of Cooperative Grouping In Inclusive Elementary Classrooms., Stephanie G. Pack

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With the advent of inclusion students with disabilities have been placed in settings that can maximize their opportunities to interact with their nondisabled peers. However, the inappropriate social behaviors of students with disabilities often prevented them from acceptance or classroom membership. Cooperative learning has been seen as one means of teaching all students in an inclusive classroom. Teacher support in the form of management systems and reward structures used in cooperative groupings are examined in this study. The use of qualitative research methods (observations, interviews, document analysis) in combination with a quantitative element (simple count) helped to determine the effectiveness …

Go to article

Impact Of Early Childhood Perceptions And Experiences On Oral Health Practices In Later Life, Johnna Marie Guzzi Dec 2002

Impact Of Early Childhood Perceptions And Experiences On Oral Health Practices In Later Life, Johnna Marie Guzzi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Older adults are at a higher risk for numerous oral and systemic diseases. Oral conditions experienced by the elderly are believed to be cumulative. The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between early childhood dental care practices/experiences and perceived oral health needs of persons 60 years of age and older who are participants of three West Virginia facilities for the elderly (N = 90). Individuals were interviewed utilizing a two-part 21-item survey. Data analyses, including analysis of variance and tests of chi square, were conducted using the JMP program. Although individuals felt dental health was …

Go to article

Opportunities And Occupations In Animal And Veterinary Sciences Based On The Current Careers Of West Virginia University Alumni, Stacey Michelle Hawkins Dec 2002

Opportunities And Occupations In Animal And Veterinary Sciences Based On The Current Careers Of West Virginia University Alumni, Stacey Michelle Hawkins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the career opportunities for graduates completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Veterinary Sciences at West Virginia University as measured by the first and current careers of alumni. The target population consisted of all alumni that graduated between the years 1991 and 2001. Over 61.6% of the West Virginia University Animal and Veterinary Science graduates were satisfied with both their first career selection as well as their current career. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree two-thirds of the graduates decided to pursue a post-graduate degree. Professional careers, …

Go to article

Variables Affecting Compliance Of Pigeons, Adam H. Doughty Dec 2002

Variables Affecting Compliance Of Pigeons, Adam H. Doughty

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pigeons served in experiments modeling compliance techniques studied by applied behavior analysts and social psychologists. A discrete-trial procedure operated in each experiment. In baseline, each trial consisted of a single key color, and in test conditions, each trial consisted of a sequence of key colors. Across experiments, there were either two or three trial types in baseline. When there were two, one color was correlated with a low fixed ratio (FR) on half the trials, and on the other trials a second color was correlated with another schedule that differed across experiments. Food was delivered on most of the low-FR …

Go to article

Impulsivity And Friends Who Smoke As Predictors Of Adolescent Smoking, Brady Reynolds Dec 2002

Impulsivity And Friends Who Smoke As Predictors Of Adolescent Smoking, Brady Reynolds

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present study sought to examine relations between different stages of adolescent cigarette smoking and the variables of impulsivity (delay and probability discounting) and peer friend smoking behavior. Participants were 75 adolescents (40 females) between 14 and 16 years of age. Participants were categorized according to the following patterns of smoking behavior: "never smokers" (n = 19; 10 females) were those who had not tried even one cigarette; "triers" (n = 17; 9 females) were those who had recently tried cigarettes (M = 3.76 cigarettes) for the first time; "past experimenters" (n = 20; 12 females) were those who had …

Go to article

Assessing The Return On Investment For Various Types Of Break-In Training, Kim L. Trenbath Dec 2002

Assessing The Return On Investment For Various Types Of Break-In Training, Kim L. Trenbath

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis presents a Return on Investment, or ROI, model for various types of break-in training by utilizing employee learning curves as a factor of the cost. The model captures the additional profit earned when a company makes an investment in break-in training, training employees receive at the beginning of their employment. Research involves developing employee learning curves for break-in training vs. traditional training through experimentation. The thesis utilizes the improvement in the learning curve as the driving factor behind the profits. The ROI model is a comparison between the profits, or benefits minus cost, of a traditional and break-in …

Go to article

Esl Students' Perceptions Of Role-Play Activities, Flavia Bonella Ribeiro Ramos Dec 2002

Esl Students' Perceptions Of Role-Play Activities, Flavia Bonella Ribeiro Ramos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There has been significant discussion on the use of role-play activities. Proponents of role-play believe that the activity provides learners with opportunities to communicate freely and spontaneously in different situations. However, researchers have also identified issues that may jeopardize the effectiveness of role-plays. Despite the debate, few studies have focused on the students' point of view. The current qualitative study investigated ESL students' perceptions of role-play activities drawing on observations, questionnaires, and interviews. The results showed that the participants recognized several benefits (e.g., improving oral proficiency, acquiring vocabulary, and rehearsing for real-life communication) while also acknowledging some limitations such as …

Go to article

Off-Line Thai Handwriting Recognition In Legal Amount, Watchara Chatwiriya Dec 2002

Off-Line Thai Handwriting Recognition In Legal Amount, Watchara Chatwiriya

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Thai handwriting in legal amounts is a challenging problem and a new field in the area of handwriting recognition research. The focus of this thesis is to implement Thai handwriting recognition system. A preliminary data set of Thai handwriting in legal amounts is designed. The samples in the data set are characters and words of the Thai legal amounts and a set of legal amounts phrases collected from a number of native Thai volunteers. At the preprocessing and recognition process, techniques are introduced to improve the characters recognition rates. The characters are divided into two smaller subgroups by their writing …

Go to article

Effects Of Response-Independent Stimulus Delivery And Functional Communication Training, Shannon S. Haag Dec 2002

Effects Of Response-Independent Stimulus Delivery And Functional Communication Training, Shannon S. Haag

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Two individuals with developmental delays with a history of problem behavior participated in this study. Its purpose was to examine the efficacy of combining two treatments demonstrated to reduce problem behavior: response-independent stimulus delivery and differential reinforcement of an alternative behavior. This study examined whether the response-independent delivery of an alternative preferred stimulus and differential reinforcement of manding resulted in increases in manding and suppression of problem behavior prior to and during the fading of the schedule of response-independent stimulus delivery. The study also examined the necessity of extinction to obtain suppression of problem behavior. The response-independent delivery of an …

Go to article

Relationships Among Spirituality, Cognitive Processing, And Personal Control, Karri Bonner Dec 2002

Relationships Among Spirituality, Cognitive Processing, And Personal Control, Karri Bonner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The current study was a cross-sectional investigation of how spirituality as a positive life theme might be related to a unique style of cognitive processing. Of secondary interest were the relationships among spirituality and other personal control variables. Using memory recall and recognition tasks, the current study sought to determine whether or not participants would attend more to positive, negative, neutral, or religious words. The results of the current study indicate that (1) older adults are more spiritual than younger adults, (2) higher spirituality is related to higher levels of optimism, (3) spirituality is related to an external locus of …

Go to article

Effects Of Maternal Sleep Deprivation On Maternal Sensitivity And Contingent Responsiveness, Cheryl Wiedman Dec 2002

Effects Of Maternal Sleep Deprivation On Maternal Sensitivity And Contingent Responsiveness, Cheryl Wiedman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research has revealed that sleep deprivation deleteriously affects several aspects of adults' behavior, such as mood, cognition, and motor performance. One population that is subject to sleep deprivation and the accompanying consequences are parents of young infants. The present study explored how sleep deprivation, resulting from infant night awakening, affects the face-to-face interaction between mothers and their 3- to 4-month-old infants. Contrary to the proposed hypotheses the groups did not differ in sensitivity or contingent responsiveness. However, regression analyses revealed that depression and sleep deprivation together significantly predicted contingent responsiveness during the interaction. Mothers who were more depressed and sleep …

Go to article

Social Contagion Of Eating Attitudes And Behaviors Among First Year College Women Living In Residence Hall Communities, Jeffrey S. Vanlone Aug 2002

Social Contagion Of Eating Attitudes And Behaviors Among First Year College Women Living In Residence Hall Communities, Jeffrey S. Vanlone

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present investigation was designed to examine the development of disturbed eating patterns among college women. More specifically, this researcher investigated the social contagion of eating attitudes and behaviors among first year college women living in residence hall communities. The results demonstrated that college women developed eating attitudes and behaviors similar to those of other women in their small friendship clusters. Similarities in eating attitudes and behaviors were not found among participants in the study when residence hall floor membership was used as the independent variable. This study also found significant relationships between student adjustment to college and disturbed eating …

Go to article

Monitoring Process And Assessing Uncertainty For Anfis Time Series Forecasting, Yan K. Cathey Deng Aug 2002

Monitoring Process And Assessing Uncertainty For Anfis Time Series Forecasting, Yan K. Cathey Deng

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Although intelligent tools such as neural network, fuzzy logic and neuro-fuzzy methods have been applied in time series forecasting for some time, problems of monitoring forecasting processes and assessing uncertainty for the forecasts represent a major challenge that need to be fully investigated. In this research, we use statistical methods to analyze nonstationary time series forecasting where forecasts are accrued from a neuro-fuzzy ANFIS model. The main focus is to monitor the process and assess the uncertainty of the forecasts.;Single-step-ahead forecasts and multiple-step-ahead forecasts have been investigated by using three nonstationary time series data sets. It is shown that the …

Go to article

Students' Attitudes, Knowledge, And Commitment To Implementation Of Multicultural Education In A Teacher Education Program, Pei Jian Zhou Aug 2002

Students' Attitudes, Knowledge, And Commitment To Implementation Of Multicultural Education In A Teacher Education Program, Pei Jian Zhou

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In recent years, there are more research studies in the field of teacher education. These research studies examine the effects of multicultural education initiatives on the change of students' attitudes and perspectives on multicultural education in teacher education programs. The results of there research studies have revealed that further studies are called for in this area of study, because the results of the previous studies are not always positive and clear. The purpose of this study is to see if there is any attitude change during the program, how the five-year teacher education program enhances the pre-service teacher education experience …

Go to article

Psychometric Evaluation Of The Sport Disengagement Questionnaire, Heather Renee Deaner Aug 2002

Psychometric Evaluation Of The Sport Disengagement Questionnaire, Heather Renee Deaner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present study assessed the construct validity of the Sport Disengagement Questionnaire (SDQ) through a series of factor analyses and examined demographic variables in relation to total SDQ scores. The overall sample was comprised of 400 collegiate athletes representing five National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I universities and one NCAA Division II university across a total of 17 varsity sports. The participants completed either a pencil/paper (n = 253) or an online (n = 147) version of the 36-item SDQ and a demographic sheet. Three separate reliability analyses, interfactor correlation analyses, and factor analyses were conducted: one for the …

Go to article

Emotion-Based Personality Traits And Associations With Conflict Tactics And Relationship Satisfaction In Romantic Relationships, Christine A. Rudnicki Aug 2002

Emotion-Based Personality Traits And Associations With Conflict Tactics And Relationship Satisfaction In Romantic Relationships, Christine A. Rudnicki

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to assess the role that emotion based personality traits play in conflict tactic choice and relationship satisfaction in romantic relationships. The researchers proposed that emotional intelligence and affective orientation influenced the choice of verbally aggressive or reasoning tactics use and their subsequent affects on overall relationship satisfaction. 159 participants, 84 men and 75 women, from a large Mid-Atlantic university participated in this study. Results showed that emotional intelligence and affective orientation were significantly correlated (r = .58), and that affective orientation in combination of the participants' perceptions of their partner's use of verbally aggressive, …

Go to article

Problem Solving And Personality Factors Of Two At -Risk *College Populations, Cory John Clark Aug 2002

Problem Solving And Personality Factors Of Two At -Risk *College Populations, Cory John Clark

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation describes and compares three university populations: (a) students at-risk of alcohol related problems, (b) students academically-at-risk, and (c) non-at-risk students. These populations were given two self-report measures, the Problem Solving Inventory (Heppner, 1988) and the 16PF (Cattell, et al., 1993), to gather information on their problem solving abilities and their personality factors. The intent of the study is to find out what aspects of problem solving and personality differentiates these populations. This information will then be utilized to design and refine interventions for working with these struggling populations. One hundred and thirty-five students from a mid-eastern land-grant university …

Go to article

Effects Of D -Amphetamine And Morphine On Behavior Maintained By Fixed -Interval Schedules, Jennifer L. Johnson May 2002

Effects Of D -Amphetamine And Morphine On Behavior Maintained By Fixed -Interval Schedules, Jennifer L. Johnson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present experiments tested the effects of d-amphetamine and morphine on pigeons' responding during conventional and clocked FI schedules of food reinforcement. The first experiment compared performance between FI 5-min and continuously clocked FI 5-min components of a multiple schedule in which the rate of the houselight flashing increased in a continuous manner. The second experiment examined the differences between keypecking maintained by FI 5-min, response-dependent clocked FI 5-min, and response-independent clocked FI 5-min components of a multiple schedule. In the response-dependent clocked FI component, each peck produced a stimulus change that was correlated with the passage of time, while …

Go to article

Evaluation Of Marketing Methods Used To Promote Extension Programs As Perceived By Master Gardeners In West Virginia, Tiffany Dale Rexroad May 2002

Evaluation Of Marketing Methods Used To Promote Extension Programs As Perceived By Master Gardeners In West Virginia, Tiffany Dale Rexroad

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to provide information to Extension professionals regarding effectiveness of the methods of advertising and marketing that may help them choose methods to encourage participation in Extension programs. The objective was to evaluate effectiveness of methods of promoting the WVU-ES based on experiences of current adult Master Gardeners in WV.;A major finding of the study was that for WV Master Gardeners referrals from friends is an effective method of creating awareness of Extension programs. Newspaper articles were the most effective mass media method. The preferred method of receiving Extension information was via Extension newsletter followed …

Go to article

In Vitro Genotoxicity Investigations Of Jet Fuel, Shawna M. Jackman May 2002

In Vitro Genotoxicity Investigations Of Jet Fuel, Shawna M. Jackman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The 60 billion gallons of jet propulsion fuels consumed worldwide create an exposure situation to over two million military and civilian personnel per year. The potential mutagenic, genotoxic and cytotoxic potency of military jet fuel was investigated in this study through in vitro systems such as human peripheral lymphocytes and metabolically competent hepatic cell lines. A battery of genotoxicological evaluations is employed, focusing on the comet assay to examine the induction of DNA damage. Cellular exposures to fuel were carried out directly and indirectly with an ethanol (EtOH) carrier. The fuel was found to be nonmutagenic with and without metabolic …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last