Digital Commons Network^™

A Survey Of Computer Use In Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Sites, Martha E. Parks

Masters Theses

Eighty-three Western Michigan University occupational therapy fieldwork sites were surveyed to determine: (a) extent of computer use, (b) diagnostic categories with which computers are used, (c) extent of computer knowledge of registered occupational therapists (OTRs), and (d) adequacy of computer knowledge of fieldwork students. Forty-seven (56.6%) of the 83 surveys were returned. OTRs at 36 (76.6%) of the 47 sites currently use computers. Word processing is the most common way in which these OTRs use computers. The most common clinical use of computers is perceptual/motor assessment and treatment, while the most common research use of computers is for report writing. …

Algorithms For Incomplete Hypercubes, Venkata K. Prabhala

Masters Theses

Networked multiprocessing architectures for parallel com putation offer an alternative to high cost supercomputing. Recently hypercube has emerged as the most versatile architecture for parallel com putations. However, the number of nodes m in a hypercube is a power of 2, 2^d, where d is the dimension of the hypercube. In practice, it m ay not be possible to have a complete hypercube because the cost of upgradation is proportional to the num ber of nodes. Incomplete and Composite hypercubes help remove the exponential node(and hence cost) constraint.

In this thesis we establish the equality of m-node …

Hands-On Versus Verbal Occupation: Effects On Free Recall In Brain-Injured Adults, Aaron M. Eakman

Masters Theses

This study compared the effects of hands-on occupation versus verbal occupation in terms of free recall performance in brain-injured adults. Thirty males who had sustained a closed head injury with Rancho Los Amigos (Malkmus & Stenderup, 1974) cognitive levels of either VI, VII, or VIII were selected from nine midwestern brain injury rehabilitation facilities and randomly assigned to either the hands-on or verbal condition. After all subjects received preliminary verbal instructions for a food preparation occupation, verbal subjects again received the verbal information while the hands-on subjects prepared the food item. Subjects were then asked to recall the occupation's steps …

Hydrogeologic Characterization Of A Multi-Aquifer System At Station 11 In Kalamazoo, Michigan, Linda G. Jones

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the hydraulic connection between the upper and lower confined glacial drift aquifers. The results of this study are based primarily upon the geologic profiles, a comparison of the head differences within each aquifer, potentiometric surfaces and different lag times for precipitation to reach each aquifer.

Results of the aquifer test showed that the upper confining layer pinches out in the western part of the well field. This area also provided significant recharge to the well field during the aquifer test. Data collected during the aquifer test and the increases in water levels …

Cognitive Disability Theory As A Basis For Activity Analysis For Elderly Persons With Dementia, Deborah S. Kaeser

Masters Theses

Allen's (1985) Cognitive Disability approach provides a guideline for modifying the cognitive demands of an activity to match the abilities of an individual. Thirty older adults with a mean age of 78.1 years and a diagnosis indicating an irreversible dementia were selected for the study. A counterbalanced design was used to compare the performance of 15 individuals with a Level Three cognitive ability and 15 individuals with a Level Four cognitive ability on two tiling craft activities: one with Level Three cognitive demands and one with Level Four cognitive demands. Analysis of variance indicated a significant interaction between cognitive level …

Teacher Proximity As An Instructional Variable In The Use Of Interactive Video, Rosalie L. Kirsch

Masters Theses

Teacher proximity during the use of the video disc Mastering Fractions produced by Systems Impact (1984) was investigated for effects on student on-task behavior. The study used a randomized multi-element design and was implemented in two classrooms at the junior high school level. In Phase 1, the 12 subjects were enrolled in a regular education mathematics classroom. The seven students in Phase 2 were enrolled in a special education classroom in the same school. During both phases, students were observed during teacher proximity and non-proximity conditions. Results of the study indicate no observable differences in student attending behavior when comparing …

Choreography For The Camera: An Historical, Critical, And Empirical Study, Vana Patrice Carter

Masters Theses

This study investigates whether a dance choreographer's lack of knowledge of film, television, or video theory and technology, particularly the capabilities of the camera and montage, restricts choreographic communication via these media.

First, several film and television choreographers were surveyed. Second, the literature was analyzed to determine the evolution of dance on film and television (from the choreographers' perspective). Third, shooting and editing theories that maximize kinesthesis were examined.

Three primary conclusions were drawn: (1) Historically, choreographers of critically acclaimed film or television products seemed to understand major principles for shooting and montage; (2) choreographers who expanded their knowledge of …

Perceived Importance Of Selected Nonverbal Cues In An Initial Encounter, Loretta L. Richter

Masters Theses

This study attempts to identify nonverbal cues which individuals are aware of using in an initial encounter and to identify the importance of those cues. It also a d dresses possible differences between men and women in nonverbal cue importance and possible differences based on the sex of the participant’s partner. Sixty-two male and female undergraduate students enrolled in communication courses interacted with a stranger and completed questionnaires which pertained to their partner's nonverbal behaviors. Results showed that the most important nonverbal cue for all participants was the amount of eye contact; the least important was body shape. Cues found …

99 Bottles: An Exploration Of Oral Interpretation As Rhetoric, Jeffrey T. Hess

Masters Theses

This thesis attempts to combine the elements of oral interpretation and rhetoric in order to create a group performance piece that contains interesting movement and dialogue as well as persuasive rhetorical elements. This new genre of group oral interpretation is called Rhetorical Theatre and implements only non-fictional material for the manuscript. Metaphoric blocking and direction is discussed, as well as the use of other conventions currently employed in group interpretation.

Telling Grimm Tales: Rhetoric That Molds, Comforts And Remains, Constance S. E. Cooper

Masters Theses

An explanation of oral tradition and its portent for language clarifies the fairy tale genre. Its purpose, various cultural impacts, criticism and limitations are introduced. Ludwig and Wilhelm Grimm translated their personal interest into a form of speech that endures past cultural and linguistic barriers. The Grimms' scholastic credentials and lifework reveal the original storytellers and subjects in a historical/geographical framework. Part II isolates 68 tales of animal dialogue, discusses human-like character responses of help and harm, and submits a brief narrative criticism of the conglomerate rhetorical entity. Character insights and communication findings are resolved with Delphi compilations of 27 …

Training Guidelines For New Staff In A Community Integrated Living Arrangement (Cila) Program, Michael R. Finney

Masters Theses

Adequate staff training prior to working with developmentally disabled individuals in a Community Integrated Living Arrangement program is a state requirement. This study gives some background information and suggestions for such training requirements in concise blocks of time.

A training period before new staff begin working with clients is important because it enables staff to understand various facets of their job. It is important that all new staff understand the types of individuals with whom they will be working and what is expected of them in regard to working with the agency's clientele.

To ensure that staff comprehend the rationale …

Evaluation Of Puccinia Convolvuli (Pers.) Cast. As A Biological Control Of Calystegia Sepium (L.) R. Br., Jonathan C. Beener

Masters Theses

A rapid detached leaf assay technique was developed to test various pathogens for biological control of hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium). Detached leaves with complete petiole were excised, surface sterilized in 70% ethanol, washed with sterile distilled water, and placed in sterile petri plates with sterile filter paper moistened with 5ml sterile distilled water. Media, leaf size, temperature and light duration were then tested for conditions that would optimize maximal leaf longevity. The best conditions derived were: 12/12 hrs. light, dark, period, 30°C, sterile distilled water medium and leaves of any size. Twenty-five isolates recovered from bindweed lesions were grown on …

The Effects Of Beaver-Created Wetlands On Surface Water Quality Of Streams And Rivers In Dupage County, Illinois, Brian Conklin

Masters Theses

Dam construction by beavers creates wetlands which have the potential to improve water quality, especially in areas near urban centers. However, beaver dams may also cause flooding problems which can result in the removal of the beaver(s) and the destruction of their dam. A further understanding of how beaver-created wetlands affect water quality will provide additional data which can be utilized in beaver management decisions.

In this study, 41 chemical parameters were examined from water taken above and below beaver-created wetlands that existed in DuPage County, Illinois between May and September 1991. This study was designed to examine the effects …

The Critical Elements Of Collaborative Consultation, Kurt T. Kruger

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify the critical elements necessary for speech-language pathologists to implement an effective collaborative consultation model. A survey was mailed to 300 ISHA member speech-language pathologists working in Illinois schools. The survey contained elements of collaborative consultation originally identified by researchers and professionals in the field of communication disorders and sciences. Those elements identified by the survey respondents as being most critical were, (a) planning time, and (b) acceptance and support of administrators, teachers, and parents. The elements on the survey instrument ranked significantly lower than the rest were, (a) time to observe those …

Parent Involvement And Vocabulary Development In Kindergarten, Carolyn Eckerty

Masters Theses

A kindergarten teacher used action research to determine if the vocabulary growth of kindergarten students was influenced by parents being involved in the Tasks For Talented Parents (TFTP) program. A correlational study was conducted to determine the relationship between parent involvement and student's vocabulary development. Kindergarten students (N=58) were administered the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test in August and November. Also in August and November each child's parent completed the parent questionnaire from the Tasks For Talented Parents program. The results indicated a moderate correlation between the answers on the parent questionnaire and the results of the PPVT-R. Results of the …

Developing A Code Of Conduct Policy For Hoopeston-East Lynn High School, Mark C. Conolly

Masters Theses

The purpose of this field study was to develop a model code of conduct policy for Hoopeston-East Lynn High School in Hoopeston, Illinois. A survey instrument on school discipline was completed by teachers and students. Results of the survey helped identify discipline problems in the school. Information was obtained pertaining to types of discipline codes used in other schools. These included other school codes as well as prepared codes such as Assertive Discipline, Reality Therapy, and Teacher Effectiveness Training. A committee of faculty members and parents was established to review and discuss types of discipline codes. It was decided that …

The Incidence Of Word Retrieval In Children With Language And/Or Learning Disabilities, Kathleen Nordmann-Ochs

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to determine the percentage of incidence of word-retrieval deficits in three diagnostic groups: language disabled, learning disabled, and language-learning disabled children. Forty-five children between the ages 9 and 12.9 years were chosen from elementary schools in central Illinois, including ten language disabled, fifteen learning disabled and fifteen language-learning disabled subjects. The Test of Word-Finding was administered to determine the presence or absence of a word retrieval deficit. Testing revealed that 90% of the language disordered subjects demonstrated a word-retrieval deficit; 94% of the learning disabled population displayed a word-retrieval deficit; and 100% of the language-learning disabled …

The Effects Of Closed Head Injury On The Learnability Of Blissymbols, Andrea J. Rabish

Masters Theses

This study attempted to determine the effects of cognitive-communicative functioning in individuals who have sustained closed head injury on learnability of Blissymbols. Two features of Blissymbols, translucency and complexity, were examined to find their effects on Blissymbol learnability. Another focus of the study was to determine the effects of translucency and complexity interaction on learnability. The final research question concerned the relationship of cognitive-communicative functioning and Blissymbol learnability. Nine Subject, each rated with the Ranch Los Amigo Scale of Cognitive Functioning, participated in a task that required learning forty Blissymbols in a paired-associative learning task. The subjects were divided into …

Assessment Of Sex Equity In Athletics In Illinois Educational Service Center #13 Schools, Wayne C. Scarlett

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine sex equity compliance and sex equity achievement in athletic programs in grades 5-8 and 9-12 attendance centers in the eight county area served by Illinois Educational Service Center #13. Champaign, Douglas, Ford, Iroquois, Kankakee, Livingston, Piatt, and Vermilion Counties were included in the study. An 18 question survey instrument, keyed to the 1990 Illinois Sex Equity Rules, was sent to building administrators in all attendance centers in the eight county area that contained grades 5-8 and/or 9-12. The survey asked administrators to provide, by grade and gender, numerical information on student …

Administrative Field Experience Internship In Educational Administration, Gary Zum Mallen

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Development Of A Comprehensive Plan For Gifted Education For Windsor Community Unit #1, Sharon Keck

Masters Theses

One of the responsibilities of educators is to meet the needs of all students. Since these needs vary according to the student, the opportunities afforded to each student must also be varied. Gifted/talented students need special educational opportunities; otherwise, they may not reach their potential. This study developed a plan to meet the needs of gifted/talented students in a small rural setting. This study encompassed a comprehensive plan for differentiated education in grades K-12 involving the six fundamental learning areas for Windsor Community Unit School District Windsor, Illinois. This comprehensive plan includes a needs assessment, a philosophy statement, an identification …

An Analysis Of Writing Across The Curriculum, M. Katherine Haight

Masters Theses

Between 1900 and 1925 several changes took place which modernized American universities. One of the most significant involved a different curriculum. The new program was, in part, geared toward preparing students for specialized careers. This approach, however, made it possible for teachers outside of English to eliminate writing from their courses and, more generally, to develop distorted and limited views of the uses of writing. Today, Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) programs are being incorporated into many colleges and universities across the country in an attempt to correct misperceptions and to bring writing back into non-English courses.

WAC stresses the …

School Consolidation In Perry County, Illinois, Ronald L. O'Daniell

Masters Theses

This is a study of factors relating to school consolidation in Perry County, Illinois. The factors explored in this study are student achievement, student information, per pupil expenditure, and community attitude. An assessment of the perceptions of school board members and superintendents regarding consolidation was conducted through a survey sent to each board member and superintendent in Perry County.

A thorough review of recent literature on consolidation was conducted. Administrators involved in previous consolidation efforts were interviewed. Analysis of the research identifies five specific concerns pertaining to consolidation in Perry County. The concerns are as follows: (a) the maintenance of …

Letters To Mother: A One-Act Play, Susan R. Brock

Masters Theses

Few graduate students in English elect to write a creative thesis to complete their degrees, their tendency perhaps to believe that a thesis based on research seems a more scholarly endeavor. I do not think one could successfully argue the superiority of one type over the other, simply because the two are quite different. While a research thesis can require the reading and analysis of another author's work, a creative thesis requires the writing, reading, and analysis of one's own work. For that reason, the main body of this thesis consists of an introductory essay in addition to the creative …

An Evaluation Of Educational Indicators In Illinois' New Illinois Accountability Law, Leon Francis Gobczynski

Masters Theses

In the fall of 1992, P.L. 87-559 will change the way schools and districts in Illinois are evaluated for the purpose of recognition. This is commonly known as Illinois' new accountability law. This law shifts recognition from solely legal compliance to include school performance and school improvement.

Five educational indicators were chosen for Illinois' new accountability law by the State Legislature in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education. This research study measured administrators perceptions about the five educational indicators used in Illinois' new accountability law. In addition, ten national educational indicators were selected and administrators were requested to …

Organization Of A K-3 Guidance Program, Gwyneth James Snider

Masters Theses

The field study project was undertaken to study the role of the elementary guidance counselor and to develop a workable K-3 guidance program. Results would show the importance of guidance at the elementary level and the counselor's role within the total program.

The role of the elementary counselor was studied through a review of available literature. In addition, a survey of some central Illinois elementary guidance counselors was conducted to study elementary guidance programs already in existence and the role of the counselor within that program. Goals and a job description for an elementary guidance program were developed and the …

Perceptions Of Patients, Nurses, And Physicians Regarding Nursing As A Profession, Ann R. Robach

Masters Theses

The United States is facing a critical shortage of nurses. A prevailing societal perception of nursing having a subservient role in health care prevents many recruits from choosing this career, despite efforts by nursing leaders to change this perception (Styles, 1988). The purpose of this study was to determine the current perceptions of patients, nurses, and physicians regarding nursing as a profession.; A 20 item modified version of Valiga's View of Nursing Questionnaire was implemented for this study. The subjects included 102 patients, 126 nurses, and 68 physicians who completed the questionnaire in the fall of 1991.; Statistical analysis revealed …

Evaluating Family Caregivers' Ability To Select Appropriate Care Techniques Following Discharge Instructions On Post Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms, Connie J. Pardee

Masters Theses

Post traumatic brain injury symptoms can be very stressful to family caregivers. This study evaluated family caregivers' ability to select appropriate caregiver actions following discharge instructions on post traumatic brain injury symptoms. Subjects in the control group viewed videotaped discharge instructions on physical symptoms post traumatic brain injury. The experimental group viewed videotaped discharge instructions on physical symptoms, cognitive dysfunction and behavioral changes post traumatic brain injury. Both groups were given a written post test after viewing the videotape. Those who received information on physical symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, and behavioral changes had a higher mean score than those who received …

Predictors Of Success On The Nclex-Rn Examination, Kathleen S. Pangle

Masters Theses

This ex post facto study was designed to determine if the scores of advanced standing LPNs' NCLEX-RN scores were significantly different from those of generic students and to identify predictors of success of NCLEX-RN performance. Based on Bandura's theory of self efficacy it was hypothesized that LPNs would score higher on the NCLEX-RN than generic students. The independent variables were final grades in nursing theory courses (Medical-Surgical, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, and Psychiatric Nursing), and NLN Achievement Tests and the Comprehensive Nursing Achievement Test. The study group included 195 graduates from a small, rural Associate Degree in Nursing program between the years …

Aids: Knowledge And Attitudes Among Nurses, Jeanette J. Lochan

Masters Theses

Reports have indicated that nurses have negative and preconceived attitudes concerning persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and that these biases may interfere with quality care. The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to identify the relationship between nurses' knowledge about AIDS and their attitudes toward caring for patients who are diagnosed with AIDS and/or who test positive for HIV. Data was gathered by questionnaires from a convenient sample of nurses employed at an area hospital in West Michigan. Of the 500 nurses who received the questionnaire, 208 (41.6%) participated in the study. Knowledge about AIDS was correlated with …