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The Study Of Political And Economic Reforms In Ghana, John L. Adedeji

Masters Theses

The dual transition program of Ghanaian political economy was put in place as a result of Ghana's huge external debts, its balance of payments problems, and the critical shortage of foreign exchange resulting from years of financial management by seven regimes (civilian and military) that ruled the West African nation since its independence in 1957. Taken together, these problems tilted the balance of power in favor of external actors, including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

The study focuses on the dual strategy of macroeconomic measures and structural adjustments. The study then evaluates: (a) the policy components of the …

A Comparison Of Rhythmical Abilities And Behaviors Between Typical Children And Children With Williams Syndrome, Laura Grafton Pawuk

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the rhythmical abilities and testing behaviors of children with Williams syndrome (Ws) to typical children. Forty-three children took part in the study, including 9 children with W s and 34 children of the typical population.

The MRL Test of Kinesthetic Response to Music and a Behavioral Checklist identified rhythmical ability and testing behaviors respectively. The former indicated that typical children scored significantly better than Ws children in 9 of 11 exercises at the .05 alpha level. Two Ws children were tested in optimum environments. Compared to their typical peers, there were no …

The Effects Of Water Or Sports Drink Ingestion Prior To Exercise On The Performance Of Middle Distance, Amateur Runners In A Thermoneutral Environment, Julie A. Barnes, Scott G. Devries

Masters Theses

Sports drinks have been shown to influence running performance, however, the best methods of hydration are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of water versus sports drink (6% carbohydrate/electrolyte) hydration prior to an exercise bout on the performance of middle distance, amateur runners. Ten subjects were randomly assigned to run two trials and began with either ingestion of water or sports drink. They then completed a maximal treadmill test to volitional exhaustion and returned two days later and drank the opposite drink. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂ max), time of run, heart rate, respiratory …

Can A Multidisciplinary Team Decrease Hospital Length Of Stay For Elderly Trauma Patients?, Beth A. Ramsey

Masters Theses

Elderly trauma patients often experience prolonged hospital stays. This study was done to determine if a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care would decrease hospital length of stay (LOS) for elderly trauma patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Using a descriptive, correlational design, a convenience sample of 74 elderly patients aged 65 to 99 years was obtained from a trauma registry. The hypothesis that hospital LOS decreases for elderly trauma patients in the ICU who have a team approach to care was not supported using the t-test for independent means (t=1.6, df=72, p=.114). A second hypothesis proposed that the …

Toys As Language Stimuli For Individuals With Alzheimer’S Disease, Cassandra M. Baer

Masters Theses

The study of the use of toys with institutionalized adults began in the field of gerontological nursing (Bailey, Gilbert, & Herweyer, 1992; Francis & Baly, 1986; Mayers & Griffin, 1990; Milton & MacPhail, 1985). Hopper, Bayles, and Tomoeda (1998) described the comforting qualities of plush animals for people with dementia and began to explore the effects of these toys on the language production of women with Alzheimer's Disease. Women were found to produce more information in fewer words when the toys were present.

This study builds on the work of Hopper et al. (1998), comparing language productions of two men …

The Machtpolitik Doctrine From Antiquity To Present, Brian Abendshein

Masters Theses

The thesis is an archival study of international relations. This thesis will analyze the Machtpolitik, or power politics, doctrine from its beginnings in Plato's Republic to the present day. In considering this evolution the thesis will seek to address the following three main questions. First, does traditional machtpolitik doctrine still exist today? Second, has the rise of democratic systems of government limited the effectiveness of diplomacy? Third, what are the causes of international instability? The debate over these questions in modern times is framed by three main factions: Idealists, Descriptive Realists, and Normative Realists. Each of these positions will be …

Efficiency Of Distributed Priority Queues In Parallel Adaptive Integration, Rodger Zanny

Masters Theses

The adaptive integration algorithm is· effective in numerically solving integration problems. It is able to focus the application of integration rules on the portion of the integration region where the integrand is the least well-behaved. Parallel implementations must use dynamic load balancing or performance suffers.

Dynamic local load-balancing techniques allow each processor to maintain its own pool of work in a local priority queue and balance the workload based on local criteria. However, the use of locally controlled priority queues is known to be inefficient (in terms of the number of integration rule applications needed to reach an answer) as …

Repeatability Of Kinematic And Kinetic Data In The Analysis Of Normal Human Gait, Jennifer M. Piotter, Peter A. Post, Kristi J. Vanden Berg

Masters Theses

Computerized gait analysis (CGA) is a powerful tool used to study the intricacies of human walking. The CGA tool is being used to make objective observations of human movement patterns. It is essential that acceptable repeatability of kinematic and kinetic data be established so that clinicians can detect actual changes between successive tests. This study assessed the repeatability of kinematic and kinetic waveform data from test and re-test trials on 15 subjects. Intra-tester and inter-tester data were examined to determine how much error existed due to marker placement between trials and testers. Part II of this study assessed the repeatability …

Effects Of Temperature Control On Gravure Packaging Inks, Rodrigo Sosa

Masters Theses

It is well known that variations in ink temperature cause a variation in color density and viscosity. The viscosity of almost all liquids decreases with increasing temperature. In this research project, three different ink temperatures were selected to measure the effects of temperature control on solvent and ink consumption and on printability. Two colors were selected (magenta and cyan) and two heat exchangers were constructed to cool and/or heat the ink.

It was found that variations in ink temperature cause variation in solvent and ink consumption. As the temperature of the ink increases, solvent consumption and ink consumption increase, but …

Barriers To Freedom: Exploring The Influence Of Patriarchy On Risk Preference In Battered Women, Cathy Gordon

Masters Theses

Because contemporary families represent an increasingly diverse and complicated range of relationships and values, individuals engaged in traditional gender roles may find it difficult to challenge gender biased institutions or abandon abusive relationships. While family violence continues to be linked with economic and social power, interpersonal relationships based on traditional gender roles, which require conformity to social expectations, can also be a contributing factor. Feminist theory, which links patriarchal ideology with family violence, is used to explore culturally defined gender roles and the influence of social forces or social institutions that produce conflict, strain or violent behaviors. The influences of …

Political Violence In The United States: Apocalyptic Typologies Of Left And Right Wing Political Groups And Their Violence Through The Period 1990-1997, Gordon Daniel Green

Masters Theses

Historically the study of apocalyptic groups has occupied the "exotic fringe" of political science (Flanagan 1996). With the use of textual analysis, historical description, and participant observation as its main research methods, there has been little progress made in the study of these groups. By using data analysis of incidents of violence to compare the violent actions of apocalyptic groups, a better understanding of reasons for the use of violence by these groups can be found.

Six apocalyptic groups are studied and categorized into a typology of apocalypticism. The Rescue Movement and End-Times Religious occupy the Supernatural type, Militia/Patriot and …

Conditional Discrimination And Generalization Of Facial Cues As A Function Of Training Multiple Exemplars With Autistic Preschoolers, Sebastien Bosch

Masters Theses

Individuals with diagnosed autism typically show deficiencies in discrimination of facial cues. The ability to respond to facial expressions was assessed and trained with 3 four-year-old subjects diagnosed with autism. Stimulus presentations involved four different stimulus sets ( cards with stick figure, cards with cartoon figures, and cards with photographs of a man and a woman displaying the emotional expression).

Training consisted of differential reinforcement of correct responses. The experimental design was a multiple baseline across stimulus sets, with generalization probes conducted after mastery level of performance was reached on each stimulus set. Some evidence of generalization was observed on …

Factors In Pediatrician Medication Administration, Kathleen Elaine Campbell

Masters Theses

King’s conceptual framework was used to examine the relationship between nurses’ stated beliefs of goals of pain management, their personal experience of pain, and their educational levels when choosing to intervene in the management of pain for pediatric patients. A descriptive correlational design was used with a convenience sample of 51 registered nurses in a West Michigan children’s hospital.

No significance was found between the goal of pain management and the level of stated intentions to intervene, the education level of the nurse and stated intentions to intervene, and nurses who have had a personal pain experience and their stated …

Demonstrating Loss Of Control Over Technology: A Narrative Criticism, David P. Farlow

Masters Theses

This study focuses on how individuals through their talk about computer mediated technology demonstrate a loss of control over that technology. Three separate computer mediated communication classes were involved in this study through the use of autoethnographies. The students in all three classes were asked at the beginning of the semester to keep field notes on their experiences with the technology. At the end of the semester the students were to summarize and report their experiences.

Because of the qualitative nature of the data, a narrative criticism of the stories students told about their experiences seemed to provide the most …

Attachment Styles And Childhood Trauma In Batterer Subtypes, Eric S. Davidson

Masters Theses

Eighty-three men seeking treatment for domestic violence and 28 non-violent control subjects completed self-report questionnaires on conflict resolution, attachment styles, and childhood trauma. Those seeking treatment were divided into three batterer subtypes in order to determine if there were differences between the three groups and the control group in attachment styles, and childhood trauma (overall trauma, sexual assault, punishment, and neglect). There were no significant relationships found between batterer subtype or subject status (batterer vs. non-batterer) concerning attachment style. Significant results were found concerning trauma and batterer status, as well as some significant differences between batterer subtype and trauma. Limitations …

Vascular Flora Of The Allison Prairie, Lawrence County, Illinois, Brian R. Garrard

Masters Theses

Allison Prairie in Lawrence County, Illinois is a five acre recreation of a gravel prairie. The Allison Prairie Restoration is the largest and best remaining example of a sand and gravel prairie in the Wabash Border Natural Division of Illinois. A total of 112 species of vascular plants representing 35 families are known to exist at the Allison Prairie Restoration (Table 1). Heterotheca camporum (Greene) Shinners (golden aster), Melilotus alba Medic. (white sweet clover), and Sporobolus asper (Michx.) Kunth (dropseed) are dominants (Table 2 and 3). There is 1 gymnosperm species, Juniperus virginiana L. (red cedar), 30 monocot species and …

Perceptions Of The Effects Of Vocal Hygiene Training On College Professors, Kimberly D. Wait

Masters Theses

This study investigated the efficacy of vocal hygiene training by studying changes in the self- and listener-rated vocal characteristics of college professors before and after vocal hygiene training. Eight college professors served as experimental subjects and received three half-hour sessions of vocal hygiene training. Nine college professors served as control subjects and received no vocal hygiene training. Subgroups of professors with self-reported vocal difficulties were further identified within each group. An original vocal characteristic scale based on the literature was used to measure self-rated vocal characteristics. Results indicated no significant difference in self-rated voice characteristics between subjects who received vocal …

Lnservice Educational Activity Needs And Preferred Delivery Methods Of Bement Community Unit School District #5 Teachers, Nyle G. Waters

Masters Theses

A study of the Bement Community Unit School District #5 faculty was conducted in the spring of 1999. The purposes were to determine the inservice educational activity needs of the faculty and to determine which inservice educational activity delivery methods the faculty considers most effective. Bement C.U.S.D. #5 is a small rural district in central Illinois with 38 prekindergarten through 12th grade teachers. A needs assessment questionnaire was constructed and administered to all district teachers. Each item on the questionnaire was designed to collect data on the following questions:

1. What are the perceived inservice educational activity needs of the …

Teacher Feedback Regarding Principal Performance, Dee A. Scott

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to address the need for teacher feedback regarding principal performance at Casey-Westfield Community Unit School District C-4. It examined current uses of critical elements and determined which elements should be used to compose a model program utilizing teacher feedback regarding principal performance. A program which could be used in District C-4 to provide teacher feedback to principals regarding their performance was developed. The program was developed by determining (a) applicable critical elements, (b) type of feedback to be obtained, (c) procedures for administration of the program, (d) procedures for assessment of data, (e) selection of facilitator, …

Regional Safe Schools Programs In The State Of Illinois, Michael R. Metzen

Masters Theses

Alternative educational programs have been in existence for decades in the public school community. They were designed to meet the special needs of students, either for the benefit of the student or the educational atmosphere of their previous program. Many of these programs have been a component of the local district, serving students within that particular district. In 1995, the Illinois General Assembly created a program for disruptive youth. The intent of that program was two-fold in nature. That program, called the Regional Safe Schools Program, was created to serve disruptive youth for their educational benefit, as well as voiding …

An Investigation Of The Construct Validity Of The Children's Skills Test, Cynthia D. L. Ladd

Masters Theses

The Children's Skills Test (CST) is an aptitude and achievement test for children in grades Kindergarten through Nine, developed from the American School Psycho-Educational Assessment Battery (ASPAB). It is designed for home administration via the computer, and no examiner is present. At this time, no technical information has been released regarding the CST, nor has any research been published.

The Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT) is a brief measure of general intelligence with sound technical properties. It is administered by an examiner. The K-BIT has been correlated with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition (WISC-III), the most commonly …

Struggle, Aspiration, And Obsession: The Discourse Of Diet, Emily K. L. Jahn

Masters Theses

Research has shown that members of society are generally dissatisfied with their current weight. This study examines how individuals socially construct meanings of the word diet and the dieting process. Participants (n=443) were males and females who ranged in age from 7 to 68. Each were given a diet questionnaire to complete. The older groups were given the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scale in addition to the survey. The text for analysis was obtained by the surveys and four focus groups. The resulting data indicated that both males and females perceive the word diet means "to lose weight." …

Effectiveness Of The "Baby Think It Over" Program On Adolescents' Contraceptive And Child-Rearing Attitudes, Stephanie Ann Johnson

Masters Theses

An increasing number of high schools in the United States have begun to use the "Baby Think It Over" doll as part of their curriculum in certain classes. This study examined the effectiveness of this doll on influencing 46 male and female adolescents' attitudes and behaviors regarding pregnancy, sexual activity, and contraceptives. Five specific subscales were developed to measure the teens' contraceptive attitudes and behaviors before and after using the doll regarding their feelings about becoming pregnant, understanding/comprehension of the responsibilities of child-rearing, appreciation of the impact of child-bearing on their lives/future, and attitudes toward premarital sex. Also, a qualitative …

Patient Compliance-Gaining: A Look At Care Facility Vs. Home Health, Merideth Mayberry

Masters Theses

The patient compliance-gaining strategies employed by health care providers in the care facility and home health environments were investigated. Each participant completed a two-page, open-ended survey. A content analysis, and more specifically a thematic analysis of the research, allowed for similarities and differences between the two settings to be compared to current literature. Results indicated that participants used similar strategies to those suggested by researchers in the field. The results showed that strategies applied by health care providers in this particular study are effective for gaining patient compliance.

An Investigation Of Convergent And Divergent Validity Between Asca And Basc Trs, Jennifer L. Ingles

Masters Theses

The Behavior Assessment Scale for Children - Teacher Rating Scale (BASC - TRS) and the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents (ASCA) are both teacher rating scales which may be used by school psychologists to assess psychopathology. To date, these scales have not been compared in professional literature, although they assess similar social, emotional, and behavioral constructs. According to research, both scales appear to be technically superior teacher report rating scales. The current study analyzed ASCA and BASC TRS ratings which were completed on randomly selected students between the ages of 6 and 11 (n = 124). Convergent validity was …

The Construct Validity Of The Adjustment Scales For Children And Adolescents (Asca) And The Preschool And Kindergarten Behavior Scales (Pkbs), Jamie D. Rich

Masters Theses

The Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents (ASCA) and the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS) are two relatively new behavior assessment scales that measure youth problem behavior. The ASCA is designed to be completed by the child's classroom teacher. The PKBS is designed to be completed by the child's teacher, parent, or day care provider. Both scales are unique and are considered to be technically adequate. Many of their syndromes/subscales and global scales/composites are similar in nature and description according to their respective manuals. No research, however, has been conducted establishing convergent evidence of construct validity between these two …

Do Women Adapt More? The Gender Effects Of The Speaker On Classroom Speech Evaluations, Alethea Ann Bodden

Masters Theses

The presentational style of females and the connection with the audience members was examined. 95 male and female subjects gathered the results from five different sections of speech communication classes. The rating scale that was completed by the subjects contained traits such as, organization, language, material, delivery, analysis and voice. The results have indicated that the female presentational style does have more of a connection and adaptation with the audience than do males.

Collaborative Versus Prescriptive School-Based Behavioral Consultation: An Analysis Of Verbal Resistance, Brandon M. Royer

Masters Theses

Audiotaped problem analysis interviews involving actual referrals from 25 elementary school teachers were examined. A Teacher Resistance Code (TRC) was developed from Patterson's (1985) Client Noncompliance Code and used to evaluate verbal resistance in both "collaborative" and "prescriptive" problem analysis interviews. The relationship between resistance, interview condition, and treatment acceptability was assessed. Results indicated no significant differences in resistance between the collaborative and prescriptive conditions. Analysis of Intervention Rating Profile-15 (IRP-15) (Martens, Witt, Elliott, & Darveaux, 1985) scores between collaborative and prescriptive cases also revealed no significant differences. Analysis of the association between resistance on the Teacher Resistance Code and …

Symbol Of Youth, Savior From Aging: Dialectical Relationship Between American Attitudes On Vitamin E And Toward Aging, Thalia Rios

Masters Theses

This study explores the dialectical relationship between American attitudes about Vitamin E and American attitudes toward aging. Through an examination of this dialectic, I will demonstrate that Vitamin E's history has contributed greatly to current American discourses on aging. For many Americans, the vitamin symbolizes youth and health because they perceive that its use can prevent or slow the aging process. During the 1990s, many Americans' early negative perceptions of Vitamin E as a quack substance have changed, partly due to recent research advances and studies that have further elucidated its powerful antioxidant function against harmful free radicals. Meanwhile, many …

Advisors' Knowledge Of Requirements For Admission To The Physical Therapy Program At Grand Valley State University, Laura Irrer, Elizabeth Knight, Joel Vander Wall

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to identify the accuracy and extent of knowledge among G.V.S.U. academic advisors and the sources used to obtain information regarding the physical therapy (P.T.) admission process. Surveys were distributed to 45 advisors of pre-P.T. students. Nineteen surveys were returned and six respondents were chosen for an interview. Interpretations of the data were made using a qualitative coding system.

The authors found the advisors were inaccurate in their knowledge of the weighting of G.P.A . and interview and the role that physical appearance and leadership plays in the admission process. Advisors were accurate in the …