Digital Commons Network^™

Inventory Management Improvement Techniques, James Lanman

Masters Theses

An inventory management system that does not ensure inventory record accuracy greatly reduces the ability of a company to control inventory levels and fulfill customer requirements. This study investigated how two principles of inventory management affected three business metrics: on-time delivery, inventory record accuracy, and inventory level management.

Eight manufacturers of aircraft parts and equipment in northeastern lllinois responded to a survey created to analyze the effects of ABC classification of inventory and cycle counting techniques on inventory management. Survey data were collected via teleconference with a representative of each manufacturer.

Half of the manufacturers reported using ABC inventory classification …

An Assessment Of Speech-Language Pathologists, ' Special Educators, ' And Elementary Teachers' Language Knowledge Related To Reading Instruction, Jessica Catto

Masters Theses

An assessment was designed from Louisa Cook Moats' (1996, 2000) research and questions to assess the knowledge of elementary education teachers (grades 1-3), special education teachers, and speech language pathologists in regard to several areas of reading instruction including phonemic awareness, phonics, and vocabulary/morphology.

Subjects consisted of a total of 57 educational professionals, 19 subjects in each group. Results revealed that speech-language pathologists scored significantly higher on the phonemic awareness portion of the assessment as well as total test score, when compared with elementary and special education teachers. Mean scores on the total test ranged from 78-89% accuracy. Mean scores …

A Formative Evaluation Of The Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority's National Recruitment Program In Its Inaugural Year, Colleen Elizabeth Coffey

Masters Theses

This study was conducted as a formative evaluation of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority's national recruitment program. The researcher sought to determine the effectiveness of all aspects of the program over the course of the last year, to discover any perceived needs among undergraduate members and chapters that were not met over the course of the last year, and to create recommendations for the program to be implemented during the 2006-2008 biennial term. Through a mixed method design the study evaluated the program using qualitative and quantitative survey data, focus groups, and existing data on membership intake from the National …

Condom Use And College Students: The Relationship Of Condom Use Between Condom Club Members And Non-Condom Club Members At A Comprehensive Midwestern University, Jerilyn Jean Reed

Masters Theses

Risky sexual behavior is prevalent on campuses across the nation. Due to an increase in sexually transmitted infections among individuals 25 and under, unsafe sex puts the college population at great risk. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether Condom Club Members demonstrated more knowledge regarding condoms, had been tested more for STIs, used condoms more frequently when engaging in sexual activity than Non-Condom Club Members, and whether Condom Club Members selfreported more, the same, or fewer sexual partners or sexual relations than did NonCondom Club Members at a comprehensive state university in the Midwest.

A posttest-only …

Perceptions Of Governance In Higher Education: Comparing Two-Year College Full-Time And Part-Time Faculty, Karissa Kay Patefield

Masters Theses

Community colleges in the United States serve many student populations and purposes. In order to be successful, these institutions of higher education have hired both full-time and part-time faculty members. Between 1970 and 1993, the number of parttime faculty members hired increased by 355 percent (Morphew, 1999). The present study examined the differences in perceptions between full-time and part-time faculty members in regards to their view on shared governance. In order to study these differential perceptions, faculty members at a Midwestern community college were surveyed. A total of 225 full-time faculty members and 395 part-time faculty members were surveyed via …

The Perceptions Of Muslim International Students On The Roles Of Muslim Women, Kevin Vicker

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study was to examine perspectives of Muslim international students on the roles of Muslim women based upon the length of the students' exposure to Western societal culture and values. Prior research explored varying Muslim perceptions and beliefs regarding Muslim women, American stereotypes of Muslims and Muslim beliefs, and general problems faced by Muslim international students studying in the United States. No research specifically analyzed Muslim international students' perceptions regarding Muslim women. The present study was conducted using in-depth life history interviews with four devout Muslim international students. The sample included two students from Pakistan, one …

Trends Of Employment-Based Health Insurance: Why Did The Coverage For Private-Sector Workers Decrease During Economic Boom, Yan Ni

Masters Theses

After a decade of erosion of employment-based health insurance coverage in the American population, the overall employment-based health insurance coverage increased beginning in the mid-1990s when the strong economy occurred. According to the previous studies, the labor market and health insurance premium are primary determinants of the coverage rate. However, in spite of the tight labor market and non-existent health care cost inflation (the growth of health insurance premiums is close to the growth of wages), the health insurance coverage of private-sector workers continued to decline. Since the private sector workers are the bulk of the population who benefit from …

Cultural And Individual Influences On Foreign Policy, Emine Sunduz Demir

Masters Theses

The principle aim of this thesis is to examine how strategic culture affects foreign policy decision-making, as contrasted to the particular decree of influence the individuals have on the foreign policy process in the concept of an immediate extended deterrence. This thesis is based on three case studies that are tested separately using both Cha's notion of strategic culture and Allison's Bureaucratic Politics Model in order to find which model (if any) best explains foreign policy decision making. Cases are: The SemiVietnamese War in 1979 and Deng Xiaoping, the Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1996 and Jiang Zemin, and the Kosovo …

Implementation Of An Open Source Enterprise Resource Planning (Erp) System, Jing Shao

Masters Theses

Characterized with free access, free distribution and high adaptability, open source ERP system provides an alternative to the high cost of adopting an ERP system in small and medium-sized business (SMB). This research explored the possibility of adopting open source ERP system in SMB, with Compiere -- a typical open source ERP system. The ERP system was designed and customized for a fictitious computer manufacturing company. Major processes including partner relations, quote to invoice, requisition to invoice, material management, and project management were implemented.

Through this research, it was realized that necessary procedures of implementing an open source ERP system …

Natal Dispersal Of Beavers In The Embarras River Watershed In Central Illinois, Erin A. Cleere

Masters Theses

Dispersal is an important mechanism influencing the dynamics, genetics, spatial distribution and size of wildlife populations (Gese and Mech 1991). Natal dispersal may afford individuals breeding opportunities and access to resources, while reducing inbreeding and competition with family members. However, dispersal also can be risky if mortality rates are high or if mates or suitable habitat are unavailable. When dispersal costs are high, subadults may be better off remaining in their natal territory.

Although a number of previous studies have investigated natal dispersal in beavers (Castor canadensis), conclusions regarding the percentage of subadults that disperse, timing of dispersal, evidence of …

Web-Driven Database For E-Manufacturing Using Unified Modeling Language, Kaihong He

Masters Theses

E-manufacturing technology is enabling manufacturing companies to provide their customers with mass customization, from traditional mass production. This thesis explored how e-manufacturing strategy can be implemented using various technology to better serve customers and to efficiently manage inventory for manufacturing operations. In this study, a virtual computer manufacturing company was used to model e-manufacturing process in terms of customer interactions and inventory management. A web-driven database of inventory management was developed with Rational Unified Process. The e-manufacturing computing architecture was modeled in Unified Modeling Language.

The project implemented the e-manufacturing architecture using Java technology and Oracle database. Java Server Page …

College Students: Vulnerable To Hiv/Aids And The Least Educated?, Regine Rochelle Rucker

Masters Theses

In the United States, women, African Americans, and youth are emerging as the face of HIV and AIDS. Since there is no cure, education and prevention is important to halting the spread of the disease. However, first, the current knowledge level of at risk populations, and others, must be revealed to appropriately address misconceptions and deficiencies in HIV awareness and ultimately change at risk behaviors. Many studies acknowledge the overall lack of HIV awareness, however, few identify and make recommendations to address the knowledge deficiencies, specifically in at risk populations. The following research statistically demonstrates that the knowledge of HIV/AIDS …

Un/Worthy: The Us Print Media's Portrayal Of The Kosovo And East Timor Massacres, Derek De Vries

Masters Theses

This study is a re-examination of Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman’s “Propaganda Model”, which hypothesizes that the market-driven, institutionalized filters determine the way in which the “agenda-setting” media in the United States cover and portray news. Further, the theory posits that these filters will reinforce the modes of control for the dominant elites in power. This evaluation concentrates on the treatment of so-called “worthy and unworthy victims” and relies on a content analysis of news coverage of the massacres occurring simultaneously in Kosovo and East Timor in 1999. In line with the “Propaganda Model,” the analysis showed that the volume …

Molecular Identification Of Anopheles Spp. (Diptera: Culicidae) In The Chapare/Carrasco Valleys, Cochabamba, Bolivia, Corey Brelsfoard

Masters Theses

Studies on malaria in our "backyard," the Neotropics, have been hampered by the lack of an accurate means of species identification for mosquito vectors of the human malaria parasite (i.e. Plasmodium spp). Mosquitoes in the genus Anopheles are the principle malaria vectors in the Neotropics and are often composed of closely related morphologically similar species complexes. This thesis describes three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols to aid in identifying four anopheline mosquitoes for any life stage, of which three have been incriminated as vectors of human malaria in several locations throughout S. America and might be potential vectors of human …

The Effects Of Service Delivery On Teacher Behavior, Miranda R. Glover Duncan

Masters Theses

The current study investigated how teacher assistance with articulation goals was affected by participation in traditional nonintegrated service delivery, consultative service delivery, and collaborative service delivery. Two kindergarten teachers participated in the single subject design comparing service delivery models. One speech-language pathologist consulted and collaborated with the teachers. During the traditional pull-out condition, the SLP informally communicated with teachers about the children in their classrooms who had speech-language deficits. Students with speech-language goals were treated in the pull-out setting, with no treatment provided in the classroom during this phase. The consultative condition involved the SLP meeting with each teacher weekly …

Combining Social Norm Prevention Efforts To Reduce High-Risk Drinking And Behaviors Within A Freshman Residence Hall, Amy M. Kuspa

Masters Theses

Social norms marketing and Small Groups Norms-challenging Model (SGNM) intervention are alcohol and other drug prevention efforts that have gained popularity on university and college campuses. The purpose of this study was to determine if the combination of social norms marketing and Small Groups Norms-challenging Model intervention programs was an effective way to reduce high-risk drinking and behaviors among rirst-year college students.

This study took place in a majority first-year residence hall. Students on eight floors participated in a pre- and post-survey. Students on all eight floors received non-traditional social norms marketing materials. Students on four of the floors participated …

Observing, Navigating, Exploring: The Fourfold Path Of Nourishing Wrath And Others, Greg Holden

Masters Theses

A good poet to illustrate the distinction between modernism and postmodernism would be George Oppen (1908-1986). I believe Oppen's "objectivism" - coupled with a judicious use of deliberate ambiguity - nicely gets us past the postmodern insistence on the illusions of selfhood, reason, and order by insisting on the centrality of the perceiver/thinker amid the objective chaos of perceptions/ideas, while at the same time recognizing the multi-vocal construction of the perceiver/thinker. I believe the self may project its illusions onto reality, but not all reality (including the "self') is always thereby a false image. I have tried to fulfill Oppen's …

A Study Of The Language And Music In The Songs Of The Methodist Church, Robert J. Ford

Masters Theses

The focus of this study is to demonstrate that the language used to write the texts for sacred music of the Methodist Church including psalms, hymns, camp meeting songs, Negro spirituals, and gospel music has been adapted throughout history to meet the changing spiritual needs of society.

This thesis reveals details about the lyrics of sacred songs from the sixteenth through the twentieth centuries that are pertinent to historic and modern Methodist music. Furthermore, it includes comparisons of numerous song texts and Bible verses. These compositions exhibit the most eminent church leaders' and composers' works from each stage of Methodist …

The Civic Development And Political Socialization Of High School Students: An In-Depth Look At One Southern Illinois School District, Jamie Bolander Weitl

Masters Theses

Is there a difference in the way students are socialized and the amount of political knowledge they have based on location and socio-economic status? This thesis looks at one rural Illinois high school (East Richland High School, Olney, Illinois) through a 2004 school wide survey and compares results with Richard Niemi's "The Civic Development of9th through 12h-grade students in the United States," a 1996 nationwide survey of students.

To examine the political knowledge level of ERHS, student's overall political knowledge score was related to their parent's political party affiliation, grade level, gender, GPA, involvement in student council, involvement with community …

Childhood And Adolescent Depression: Association With Gender, Social-Cognitive, Behavioral, And Gender-Role Factors, Jessica Finn Hougham

Masters Theses

The current study examined the association between gender and depression in childhood and adolescence with respect to social-cognitive, behavioral, and gender-role factors. The participants for this study were 231 children and adolescents ranging in age from 8 to 17 years old. Participants completed a demographic survey and measures assessing depression, self-esteem, self and peer ratings of social standing, cognitive errors in social standing, peer rejected and aggressive behaviors, femininity, and masculinity. Results indicated that there were gender differences in depression scores, with females reporting higher levels of depression than males. Significant negative correlations were found between depression and the factors …

Small Group Social Norms Intervention With Students Involved In Greek Life, Krista A. Mazza

Masters Theses

The misuse of alcohol is often a concern on college campuses nationwide. This concern has created a need for effective alcohol interventions to reduce alcohol misuse. This study investigated college student's perceptions about peer alcohol usage and one's own actual alcohol consumption. A social norms presentation was used to with seven Greek letter organizations to attempt to correct the misperceptions students have about their peers alcohol consumption, and therefore reduce the amount of alcohol consumed. A total of 68 individuals completed all elements ofthe project relevant to this study, of which 22 were male and 46 were female. Furthermore, 17 …

Design And Implementation Of A Networked Control System, Mi Chen

Masters Theses

One of the major challenges faced by modem control systems is to integrate the computing, communication, and control into different levels of operations and information processes. The current practice to tackle these control problems focuses on distributed implementation of control systems. A Networked Control System (NCS) is one type of distributed control systems where the control loop is operated over a communication network.

This thesis discusses the structure and hierarchical model of a typical NCS, The prototype combines both network and control theory, addresses the detailed procedures on design, configuration, integration and implementation of a process control via communication network. …

Gender And Ethnic Biases In Personality Disorder Diagnostic Criteria, Christopher Lootens

Masters Theses

The present study examined bias within the diagnostic criteria for personality disorders, a category for diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. Specifically, gender biases, ethnic biases, and interaction effects between the two were examined for the three Cluster C PD diagnoses. One of the more heated controversies concerning the DSM-IV involves the diagnosis of PD's, especially with regard to the notion of diagnostic bias. For the present study, 60 female and 60 male participants were recruited from the introductory psychology subject pool and given course credit for their participation.

Participants …

Teens Talk With Parents About Sex, Alcohol, Drugs, And Suicide... Or Do They?, Vanessa Sneed

Masters Theses

This study is a comparison of students from two high schools in Illinois. It examines adolescents' perceptions of communication with their parents related to the topics of alcohol, drugs, sex, and suicide. Historically, School 1 is located in a county that has above average teen pregnancy rates. Traditionally, School 2 is located in a county with lower pregnancy rates than School 1. In addition to providing the groundwork for more detailed analysis of alcohol, drugs, sex, and suicide related to specific family communication styles and strategies, this study provides support for intervention programs that promote family communication. The decisions adolescents …

Incremental Validity Of The Learning Behaviors Scale, Jessica Willenborg

Masters Theses

Previous research on the incremental validity of the Learning Behaviors Scale (LBS; McDermott, Green, Francis, & Stott, 1999) has shown that good learning behaviors were associated with good academic achievement (Schaefer & McDermott, 1999; Yen, Konold, & McDermott, 2004). Additionally, research has indicated that learning behaviors account for appreciable variation in student grades and academic achievement test scores above and beyond the contribution of intelligence (Schaefer, 1996). The present study investigated the influence of cognitive ability and learning behaviors in the prediction of scores from standardized academic achievement tests. Learning behaviors were assessed with the LBS (McDermott et al., 1999) …

Searching For What Was Lost: An Autoethnography On Disclosure, Identity, And Social Construction From A Rape Victim And Survivor's Perspective, Sarah R. Moll

Masters Theses

Research has indicated that rape victims perceive their environment differently, or with a "new reality" after their rape, and their recovery process can be lengthy and traumatic. This auto-ethnography focuses on the recovery process that the author journals, and her transformation from victim to survivor. How are the labels of "victim" and "survivor" important to the rape recovery process? How is the decision to disclose the rape a trust issue? What drives the phases of disclosure development at different communication levels (intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, and public communication)? Once a person has accepted that they were raped and a healing process …

Computer Security Perceptions Of Students Attending The School Of Technology At Eastern Illinois University, David C. Fulton

Masters Theses

Computer security is a major concern that demands attention. Computer viruses and other security risks proliferate on a daily basis. In the academic environment several disciplines of learning may share a common network or computer environment. This situation presents a number of challenges for a university. Allowing access to the Internet yet protecting the interests of the school can be a difficult undertaking. Data protection and the liabilities associated with protecting data is a major undertaking for a university.

This thesis examines the perceptions of students attending the School of Technology at Eastern Illinois University in the area of computer …

Childhood Predictive And Protective Factors Of Adult Substance Abuse, Melissa A. Grossman

Masters Theses

Psychological abuse in childhood is believed to have an affect on psychological wellbeing in adulthood, specifically in the area of substance abuse. Following the lead of studies in psychological abuse, substance abuse and protective factors, the present study examined the relationship between childhood psychological abuse and adult substance use, along with the role of protective factors in that relationship. Participants, consisting of college undergraduates, completed a series of measures of family cohesion, bonding, substance use, and psychological maltreatment. Although results did not show a relationship between childhood psychological abuse and adult substance abuse, family cohesion was shown to be related …

Chinese And English Discourse In Business Communication: A Case Study Of A U.S. Executive Of A Multinational Corporation In China, Jinghui Liu

Masters Theses

This case study is an examination of business communication forms both in Chinese and English discourse from the perspective of a U.S. executive of multinational corporation in one business working day in China. Forms of oral communication and written communication provide a basis for understanding the executive's business activities in real business practice, as opposed to only written communication. The theoretical framework for this study is provided by Louhiala-Salminen (2002), focusing on the investigation of discourse activities in business communication. The data were collected through use of a business daily activity protocol questionnaire and a longdistance interview. The participant is …

Cultural Competency In Healthcare: How Effective Are Cultural Diversity Training Modules Developed By The University Of Illinois, College Of Nursing,, Linda M. Moore

Masters Theses

Cultural diversity is a core part of our country and its impact has significant implications for quality health care delivery throughout the United States. The need for culturally competent health care services for diverse populations is gaining attention from health providers and educators. Cultural competency is about delivering quality patient care while demonstrating cultural awareness, respect, and concern for other cultures and social groups. Generally there has been a lack of research in the area of cultural competency in health care and the effectiveness of cultural competency training programs on health care providers. The purpose of this study was to …