Digital Commons Network^™

Consumer Knowledge About Managed Care: A Comparison Of Lay-Consumers To Registered-Nurse Consumers, Elizabeth A. Byma

Masters Theses

Orem’s self-care and self-care deficit theories provided the framework for this pilot study that compared lay and registered nurse consumers’ problems with and knowledge about their managed care plans. A distributed questionnaire assessed commonly experienced problems, reasons for problems, and preferred methods of obtaining information about their plan.The only significant difference between the two groups was that lay consumers were more likely to go to the ER without prior authorization (corrected Chi-sq. = 3.7, p = .03). The most firequently chosen reason ofboth groups for difficulty obtaining health care services was they did not know the rules of their managed …

Architecting Design Repositories To Support Design Knowledge Storage, Reuse And Design Tool Generation, Matt R. Bohm

Masters Theses

"This collection of works describes the transformation of an existing set of heterogeneous product knowledge into a coherent design repository that supports product information archival, storage, reuse and design tool generation.

Existing product information was analyzed and compared against desired outputs to ascertain what information management structure was needed to produce design resources pertinent to the design process. Methods of incorporating non-conventional functional representations of artifacts are explored, incorporated and standardized along side conventional functional representations. A review of automatic design model generation addresses shortcomings in product representations by comparing standard hand generated design tools to computer-generated design tools. By …

Proportional Representation Electoral Systems And Indigenous Representation: Case Studies From Bolivia, Ecuador, And Peru, Arne Romanowski

Masters Theses

The central question of this analysis is how the proportional representation electoral systems in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru are linked to indigenous political representation. I argue that the electoral system and its affect on party structures and party development are part of the reason why indigenous people, who make up a great part of the population in these three countries, are chronically under-represented in their political systems. In these case studies, district and national level data from the two most recent elections for the national legislatures was analyzed in terms of indigenous party formation and success. The study concludes that …

The Individualized Education Plan: Parental Satisfaction And Involvement, Melissa Habing

Masters Theses

Little recent research has examined parents' involvement and satisfaction with their child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). For the current study, parents of children with special needs were surveyed. Out of 1,000 questionnaires mailed out by an agency that provides support to families who have a child with a disability, 348 parents completed and returned the survey. As a result of the parents' written responses, it was determined that 234 (67%) of the children they reported on were boys and 114 (33%) were girls. The age of the children whose parents completed the questionnaire ranged from two to twenty-two. All eligible …

Eating Disorder Tendencies And Pathogenic Weight Control Usage In High School Female Athletes, Natasha L. Mcdonald

Masters Theses

For many years, eating disorders have become more prevalent in American society. Researchers have recently identified a "new" at risk group, female athletes. The primary purpose of this study was to answer two questions: First, are tendencies toward eating disorders and the use of pathogenic weight control techniques different between female high school athletes and female high school nonathletes? Secondly, among high school female athletes, are tendencies toward eating disorders and the use of pathogenic weight control techniques different between performance sports and traditional sports? Each participant completed a survey packet to gather information on (1) demography including athletic participation, …

Subsemy: Using Subversion To Create Multiple Meanings In Rhetorical Texts, Kane Madison Click

Masters Theses

This thesis focuses on the use of subversion to create multiple meanings in rhetorical texts. Subversion, an element focused on by Fiske (1986, 1987) and McKerrow (1988) in their early contributions to the rhetorical study of multiple meaning texts, has been an ongoing lacunae in the study of polysemic texts. I wish to provide a correction to this problem by offering the concept of subsemy. By examining the role of strategic ambiguity and irony in the functioning of subversion, the concept of subsemy provides a missing picture of how popular cultural texts, film in particular, can function subversively.

An Analysis Of Mentorship In Michigan Police Agencies, Jeffrey G. Swanson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research is to investigate how newer police officers are familiarized into their agency with respect to the manner in which they were trained and mentored. The concept of mentoring programs has been highly successful in the private and business sectors for many years. Since the concept of formal mentoring programs in law enforcement is largely limited to date, this study incorporates research in several other disciplines, to determine if there may be a corollary regarding law enforcement and other disciplines, and if so, to what degree mentoring exists among patrol officers. A survey was distributed to …

Implications Of Personal Recovery History For Training And Development Of Addiction Treatment Workers, Bruce K. Barnard

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to identify and compare competencies perceived as most important by addiction treatment workers with, and without, a personal history of recovery. A survey was developed and administered to 94 workers in three community-based addiction treatment agencies. The study found broad support for the competencies published by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center, National Curriculum Committee (1998). There were no significant differences in perceptions of competencies by workers with a personal recovery history and those without such history. Results indicate that factors such as workplace culture may be more powerful than recovery history in influencing worker …

The Changing Identity Of Feminism In The Third Wave: A Critical Analysis, Jillian Marie Klean

Masters Theses

This thesis examines three texts: Three Black Skirts, The Vagina Monologues, and The Art and Power of Being a Lady to discover the changing identities of women in the third wave movement of feminism. A rhetorical criticism is conducted of the images of feminism put forth by the texts to discover the identities that the authors are advocating and advancing for third wave feminists. This thesis argues that the multiple identities found in these texts are essential to the feminist movement. This thesis also explores the tension between individualism and community in the third wave.

Effects Of Structured Versus Non-Structured Language Sampling Methods On The Expressive Language Output Of Children, Joy Schmitz

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Sensory Stimulation On Off-Task Behavior In Children Within The Autistic Spectrum, Erin Elizabeth Downs

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Presenting Issues, Severity Of Problems And Treatment Outcomes Of Asian College Students, Earl Anthony Evangelista

Masters Theses

The current study attempts to add to the limited body of literature on Asian American and Asian international students in counseling. Presenting issues, severity of problems, treatment outcome, and gender interactions of Asian American and Asian international college students were examined and compared to non-Asian college students. Data for this study were obtained from an existing database from an East Coast university counseling center. The overall sample consisted of 209 males and 297 females, all of whom were seeking treatment for the first time at the counseling center. The primary groups of interest were Asian American students (n = …

The Effects Of Family Functioning And Parent Structure On The Prevalence And Intensity Of Childhood Fears, Rebecca Leis Pederson

Masters Theses

The current study was designed to examine the relation between family factors, such as family functioning and parent structure, and the prevalence and intensity of childhood fears. One hundred and sixteen children in grades 3-12 were surveyed using the Fear Survey Schedule-II. Of the 116 children surveyed, 75 had parents who returned the Self Report Family Inventory and demographic survey. Results indicated that younger, female participants reported fears of greater prevalence and intensity than male participants. Contrary to predictions, neither family functioning or any of its associated factors were found to be related to the prevalence and intensity of childhood …

Narcissistic Self-Enhancement And Willingness To Seek Feedback On Weaknesses, Jessica J. Dhom

Masters Theses

In the current study, I investigated the relationship between narcissism level and feedback-seeking behavior. Using a dimensional approach to personality classification, I considered narcissism to be a component of normal personality and measured this construct with the Narcissistic Personality Inventory. I also investigated the willingness of narcissistic individuals to view feedback regarding their weaknesses, as well as the relationships between narcissism and different cognitive reactions to favorable and unfavorable feedback. Results indicated that, when given the opportunity, narcissistic people seek favorable feedback that pertains to their strengths, while passing on opportunities to receive feedback regarding their weaknesses. They also react …

Developing Diabetes Educational Materials For Gambian Clinic Staff And Type 2 Diabetics, Rachel Golin

Masters Theses

The Gambia is a small, developing country on the west coast of Africa. As with much of the world, there has been an increase in Type 2 Diabetes in the Gambia. According to the World Health Organization, the total population of the Gambia is 1.3 million (1). In 2000, there were 22,000 diabetics in the Gambia (estimated prevalence of 2%) and it is projected that the number will reach 61,000 by the year 2030 (2).

One way to help combat the increase of Type 2 Diabetes and its complications is by educating clinic staff workers and diabetics using educational materials …

A Survey Of Theories Of Change Within Philanthropy, Angela Jean Morris

Masters Theses

This paper reviews the term “theory of change” including its common usage in evaluative literature and its emerging usage in the field of philanthropy. A survey of U.S. foundations looked at their familiarity with theory of change: how they defined it, and how many theories they implemented based on a typology created by Frumkin (2002).

There was confusion about theory of change among top U.S. foundations. Only 54% indicated they were familiar with theory of change. Foundations familiar with the term had no clear consensus on the definition.

Eighty-six percent used at least one out of the five theories of …

Discerning Attributes Which Stimulate Performance In Quality Improvement Teams, Dwan Lamar Prude

Masters Theses

"Total quality management (TQM) can be summed up as people and the way they work. One key element of the philosophies of TQM is the heavy emphasis on utilizing quality improvement teams (QITs) and quality tools to effectively create high performance organizations. Specifically, this investigation asks the following questions: 1) What are the key attributes that contribute to performance in QITs? 2) What is the relationship between team communication and QIT performance? 3) What is the relationship between the number of quality tools utilized in a team and QIT performance? Participants for this study were 101 students from the University …

Investigation Of Electrical Properties And Structure Of Vacuum Evaporated C60 Films, Angiras D. Pandya

Masters Theses

C₆₀ is an important electronic material and its properties can be tuned by thermal annealing process and solid phase crystallization process. These properties were investigated as a function of thermal annealing temperature and solid phase crystallization. However there is no systematical study on annealing effect and Solid Phase Crystallization of C₆₀ films. In this study, the effect of thermal annealing on formation of nanocrystalline C₆₀ thin films were investigated for annealed samples and solid phase crystallized samples. The C₆₀ films described here were prepared by vacuum thermal evaporation method. The structural properties of C₆₀ films …

Innovative Contracting Prequalification/Selection Model Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (Ahp), Saad J. Zidan

Masters Theses

Design-Build, Cost-Plus-Time, and warranty are the three innovative contracting methods that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) decided to fund. FHWA allowed the usage of these methods in federally funded projects if this will result in reducing time, improving quality, and saving tax payers' money. Prequalification is recognized as the best way of assuring that contractors do have the required qualifications to deliver projects successfully. Prequalification is even more critical when low-bid selection method is used with any of the innovative contracting, since incompetent contractors may get awarded for low-bids that are not based on valid assumptions.

This study presents a …

The Effects Of Feedback, Goals, And Consequences On Response Time For Medical Staff In A Medical-Surgical Hospital Setting, Don K. Nielsen

Masters Theses

Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) has developed procedures useful in addressing a variety of organizational challenges. Frequently used components of OBM interventions include feedback, goal setting, and consequences. Literature on various combinations of these components is abundant but there are few reports of their use in the hospital setting. Specifically, no published studies were found that focus on response time of answering patient calls. The present study was an attempt to evaluate the effects of feedback, goals, and consequences on the latency of responses to patient calls. A multiple-baseline design across individuals was used in a hospital setting to evaluate the …

Development Of A Method For Determining Antioxidant Efficacy Against Hydroxyl Radicals, Cherie Hacker

Masters Theses

Hydroxyl free radicals are biologically important molecules in that they attack proteins, lipids and DNA to obtain an electron to fill their outer valence shell. The consequences of such attacks include protein degradation, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, which leads to many diseases and cancer. While there are many antioxidant assays available to predict anti-radical properties of compounds against different free radicals, the assessment of hydroxyl radical damage has been challenging. This is due to the extremely high reaction rate of hydroxyl radicals. The present study defines an in vitro assay that quantitatively detects antioxidant efficacy against hydroxyl free radicals, …

Classifying Forest Composition Using Fractal Dimension As An Index Of Image Texture, Fitria Latifah Wahid

Masters Theses

In this study, Landsat imagery from June (summer) and October (autumn senescence) 2000 of the area of Fort Custer Training Center in Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties, Michigan, were analyzed for forest classification accuracies. The use of fractal analysis to improve forest classification, particularly to distinguish among northern hardwood species, was examined. Using moving windows with different sizes, measurement of local fractal dimension and spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I) were performed on the NDVIs and the panchromatic images. The measurement products were combined with Landsat TM bands as additional layers in supervised maximum- Iikelihood multispectral classifications. The accuracy for multispectral classification of …

Color Management Of Desktop Input Devices: Quantitative Analysis Of Profile Quality, Xiaoying Rong

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates the color management principle and input device profiling. The input devices discussed in this thesis are flatbed scanners.

In this thesis, the human visual system, CIE L*a*b* color space, ICC profiles are reviewed, and the evaluation of profile quality is discussed. Grayscale and standard color targets of three primary suppliers are used to create profiles for a scanner. The quantitative analyses of the quality of different profiles, created by two primary commercial profiling software, are conducted according to the Delta-E of the CIE L*a*b* color space. Finally, the relationship of different color targets and profiles for desktop …

Evicting A Neighbor: Health, Power And Discourse In Vieques, Puerto Rico, Nelson Class-Meléndez

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the two years that followed the death of a civilian, David Sanes on April 1999, when a Marine Corps F-18 pilot accidentally dropped two 500- pound bombs on an observation post on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques. Following the death of Sanes and for the first time in contemporary history, all competing political parties, the Viequenses, and religious leaders apparently reached an initial consensus that resulted in a series of efforts to evict the Navy from Vieques.

Importantly, this coalition adopted an environmental discourse that is essentially anti-Navy. This thesis draws upon this anti-Navy discourse to …

Technology And Time, Jon Vanwieren

Masters Theses

This thesis sets out to further reveal the technology and time interrelationship in human society. It is through an investigation of an array of sociological, theoretical, philosophical, historical and artistic responses to modernity that this relationship is explored. Primary analytic focus is placed on two contemporary authors who have addressed the technology and time relationship. These authors are Manuel Castells and Paul Virilio. Castells and Virilio offer two distinct portraits of the modem-technological world. By contrasting these authors' projects, methods and intellectual heritage, the question of technology and time is further scrutinized. Advanced here is an argument that time is …

Effects Of Computer Troubleshooting On Elementary Students' Problem Solving Skills, Anne Todd Ottenbreit

Masters Theses

The lack problem solving skills exhibited by students has generated concerns at national and state levels of education (Coleman, King, and Ruth, 2001). If the educational technology curriculum involved computer troubleshooting, students could possibly increase their problem solving abilities. Because computer troubleshooting follows similar procedures to problem solving, there is possibility of an educational transfer and could be easily included into the educational technology curriculum. The purpose of the research study was to discover if the computer troubleshooting curriculum designed by the researcher affected the elementary students' problem solving abilities. Technology education at the elementary level includes keyboarding and 'practice …

Evaluation Of The Distribution Of Taguchi's Signal-To-Noise Ratio And The Effectiveness Of The Signal-To-Noise Ratio For Detecting Changes In The Mean And/Or Variance, Jinsuk Lee

Masters Theses

The concept of parameter design developed by Taguchi to achieve robust engineering is widely promoted in industry as a means to design a product whose output is largely immune to noise in the system. Taguchi has used the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio to summarize measures over the noise factor settings at the parameter design and to allow control of the experiment.

The objectives of this investigation are: 1) to infer distributions of S/N ratios (lower-the-better S/N, higher-the-better S/N, and nominal-the-best SIN), and 2) to determine the effectiveness of the S/N ratio as a means for identifying changes in the mean and …

The Contribution Of Education And The Role Of The Media In Creating And Promoting Justice, Lavinia A. Baxter

Masters Theses

The issue of creating and promoting justice is becoming more and more significant in our era of democratization. Thus it is important to understand how countries as diverse as South Africa, Germany and the United States have managed to address the issue of providing justice to groups that suffered under previous regimes in these countries. I examine victims’ groups as diverse as former Japanese American internees, ex-German slave and forced laborers, and black South Africans. My hypothesis in this study is that two factors, the media and public education through quasi-legal commissions are critical for redress campaigns to be visible, …

Application Of Geochemical Fingerprinting And Isotopes To Identity Landfill Gas Impacts To Groundwater, Eric E. Wallis

Masters Theses

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are detected in two groundwater monitoring wells (MW-60 and MW-62S) located along the northern, downgradient property line of the McGill Road Landfill (MRL) in Jackson, Michigan. Potential on-site sources for groundwater impact are two distinct landfill units at the MRL. Leachate chemistry suggested that landfill leachate was not the source of VOCs detected in groundwater. A potential source for VOCs was landfill gas. Sources of landfill gas in the vicinity of the impacted wells included the distinct MRL landfill units as well as the old Jackson County Landfill (JCL), located hydraulically downgradient from the impacted wells. …

Mindful Communication In A Crisis: Communication Behaviors Of Shared Mindfulness And Effective Pilot Decision Outcomes In Crisis Situations, Janice L. Krieger

Masters Theses

Despite the high reliability of current aeronautical technology and safety improvements, human error continues to be a factor in 60-80% of all aviation mishaps. Training to diminish potential errors is often based on analysis of faulty procedures, or lack of procedures without a systemic view including human factors such as communication, decision-making and interaction dynamics. This research explores the existence of the psychological construct of shared mindfulness and examines how it is communicatively constructed and enacted in a high reliability environment such as the aviation industry. The present qualitative study examines shared mindfulness in 10 aviation student dyads in a …