Digital Commons Network^™

Prompts And Feedback As A Means Of Increasing A Customer Service Behavior In A Family Restaurant, David B. Lennox

Masters Theses

Although waiters and waitresses traditionally receive a gratuity based upon quality of service from customers, it may be difficult for them to interpret the amount of the gratuity as an indicator of good service or bad service. This ambiguity could be a result of different amounts of customer checks or faulty comparisons of total dollar amounts (total for the working shift) without taking into consideration the total dollar amount of the customer checks or the number of customers served. This study was conducted to provide accurate information for waitresses regarding gratuity percentage received from customers while monitoring its effects on …

Distributive Fairness: An Exploration Of Male-Female Differences In Allocation Behavior, Daryl G. Kelley

Masters Theses

Previous research has shown that males and females follow different strategies in allocating rewards for unequal performance on a team task: Males tend to utilize an exploitive allocation strategy, while females tend to be more accommodating in their, allocations. Research has also shown that allocation strategies may differ depending on whether the allocation of rewards is to be made public or is known only to the allocator. Public reward allocations of males tend to be more exploitive than females, while this difference is reversed for private allocations. The present study sought to replicate and extend previous studies, using a factorial …

A Comparison Of Reading And Listening Performances Of Braille And Print Readers, Betty P. Zook

Masters Theses

Blind and sighted subjects were tested on their capability to retain information after both reading and listening to specially prepared printed and taped materials. The sample consisted of graduate students and professional individuals. It was found that, on the average, subjects retained more after reading than listening. This effect was more pronounced in the braille reading subjects. As the level of complexity of the material increased, the difference in the points earned between the two modalities, reading and listening, increased significantly. A behavioral analysis suggested some reasons for this difference. It was suggested that further research into reading and listening …

The Hydrologic Factors That Control Carbonate Hardness In Kalamazoo County Lakes, Southwestern Michigan, Linda Brittain Fenner

Masters Theses

The range and distribution of carbonate hardness in Kalamazoo County lakes were determined and hydrologic factors thought to control hardness were evaluated. Surface-water samples were collected from thirty- five randomly selected lakes in October, 1980. Carbonate hardness ranged from 16 to 244 mg/1 with 61 percent above 120 mg/1. Ten hydrologic variables were analyzed with respect to lake hardness. Lakes with a surface-water inlet were a ll hard (greater than 180 mg/1) and lakes at least two meters higher than the approximate ground-water table were all relatively soft (less than 100 mg/1). No direct correlations were found between the other …

A Study Of The Library Knowledge Of A Sample Of Freshmen Students Enrolled At The University Of Puerto Rico For The School Year 1980-81, Sarai Rodriguez De Perez

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to collect data that could help assess the library needs of a sample of college freshman enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico for the school year 1980-81.

Data were collected by means of a 50 item library test and 8 survey type questions.

As indicated by the test scores and by the students' answers to the survey questions: library instruction is needed in six of the seven subject areas covered by the library test and in a ll the subject areas specified by the questionnaire; library instruction is needed by 75% of the …

An Analysis Of Validity Constructs In The Dichotic Listening And Hemispheric Competition Procedures, Wade Addam Kapik

Masters Theses

This investigation was designed to determine the validity of two categories of neuropsychological measures of cerebral dominance. Forty right-handed subjects were administered two dichotic listening tests and two hemispheric competition tests in a random order. The principal data showed that none of the four tests had sufficient levels of criterion-related and concurrent validity to be considered clinically useful in measuring laterality. In addition, a Baysean analysis of one of the dichotic listening tests indicated that it possessed a predictive validity of .79. Finally, the assertion that the scoring methods of each test are dynamically different was disputed, and Kinsbourne's interhemispheric …

The Effects Of Performance Appraisal On Staff Performance, Steven S. Armstrong

Masters Theses

Performance appraisals are increasing in numbers, but their effectiveness has little empirical validation. A major objective of the present study was to examine the effects of performance appraisals on the actual performance of supervisees. In addition, it assessed the effect of qualitative, rather than quantitative statements by supervisors. Five staff members participated in this study while working as teaching assistants. Ten dependent variables were observed and recorded per individual, after which the experimenter reviewed the baseline data and targeted six dependent variables for change, based on their low frequencies. The independent variable consisted of a performance appraisal which was a …

The Nixon Doctrine: Its Application In The Arabian Gulf, Abdulwahed Al-Mawlawi

Masters Theses

Western Europe and Japan have been heavily dependent on Arabian Gulf oil; the United States' dependency is growing. Hence, the "security" of this region and consequently the securing of the oil flow has become a major strategic issue to the Western and particularly the U. s. policy makers. To the U. s., the British "withdrawal" from the Gulf in 1971 created a strategic "vacuum". Aggressive arms sales to the region and the "policeman" role of the Shah of Iran in the Gulf served as the main U.S. instruments of filling this vacuum. This was a direct application of the "Nixon …

Career Exploration At The Calhoun Area Vocational Center, David Johnson

Masters Theses

This project report records the internship experience as Administrative Assistant at the Calhoun Area Vocational Center in Battle Creek, Michigan. Chapter I is the background of the internship. The plan for the internship is found in the prospectus in Chapter II. The log for the internship is recorded in Appendix A which describes the leadership skills experienced in planning, organizing, controlling and evaluating. The achievement of objectives is described in Chapter III. Chapter IV are the conclusions and recommendations.

The Creation Of Holograms Utilizing Fiber Optics, Abdul Rahim Omar

Masters Theses

Holography involves the interference of two light beams, namely a reference beam and an object beam. Instead of the conventional method using beam splitters and mirrors to direct the light path, fiber optic bundles are used and high quality holograms have been produced. When fiber optic bundles are used, a spatial filter is not needed to produce a "clean" beam of light for the reference beam. Fiber optic bundles also provide greater flexibility of illumination for the object beam and/or fir the reference beam. Also, it is easier to illuminate the object from many directions. Finally, the distance from the …

Parental Involvement In Education: Issues And Procedures, Nancy Jane Nelson

Masters Theses

The topics that will be covered in this review of the literature will include parents' reactions upon discovering their sons or daughters are handicapped, needs of parents with handicapped children, the importance of parental involvement, and parent training. The sources used in this review are from published literature and from previous research bearing on the topic. The central thesis of the paper is the importance of involving parents in the education of their handicapped children. Prior to such involvement parental reactions need to be resolved and specific parental needs met. The major conclusion drawn is that parent training is a …

Formulation Of The Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Second Edition For Indonesian National Library Cataloguing: An Analytical Study, Wirawan Wirawan

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to find out the problems which would be met and their solutions if the Indonesian National Library applied the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, second edition (AACR2).

Comparison between AACR2 rules and those of its predecessor's as well as international cataloguing and cataloguing practice in Indonesia was conducted. AACR2 rules were analyzed and examples of their application were shown.

The findings indicated that the translation of the terms used in AACR2 to Indonesian language and the choice of the option rules would become the main problem. But it was predicted that the Indonesian people would easily …

A Report Of An Internship In The Buchanan Community Schools Buchanan, Michigan, Gloria M. Vanderbeck

Masters Theses

The purpose of this paper is to describe a six-week internship completed with the Buchanan Community schools during which the intern engaged in a variety of administrative activities.

Chapter I contains the rationale for the selection of the Buchanan Community Schools, a brief description of the school system, background information on the Buchanan Community Schools and the City of Buchanan, and the prospectus which structured the experience.

Chapter II describes the experiences during the internship which involve administrative tasks, budget preparation, and procedures.

Chapter III summarizes and evaluates the six weeks internship and recommendations for future internships.

A Comparison Of Overall Verb Complexity Between Aphasic Adults And Language Disordered Children, Cheri Suzanne Carrico

Masters Theses

In this investigation, no difference in the overall complexity of verbs produced in spontaneous speech existed between adults and children with primarily expressive language disorders. Six adults, four males and two females between 37;1 and 68;7 years of age, and eight children, five males and three females between 4;3 and 8;3 years of age, comprised the subjects. Each had essentially intact receptive language skills, but was deficient in expressive language abilities. None evidenced a history of hearing, mental or emotional deficits.

Spontaneous language samples elicited from each subject were scored using the Developmental Sentence Scoring (DSS) procedure (Lee, 1974). Marginal, …

A Multiple Baseline Analysis Of The Use Of A Social Skills Training Package With Shy Children, Patricia A. Haist

Masters Theses

The effects of social skills training were examined in a multiple baseline across behaviors design. Three shy children were taught four component conversational skills: expressing feelings, expressing opinions, agreeing with another's opinion, and praising others. The training package consisted of instructions, modeling, rehearsal, feedback, and reinforcement. Results indicated that treatment was highly effective for each child. The subjects' improvement remained evident at two- and four-week follow-up sessions. Generalization to novel role play situations was variable within and across subjects. Extra-laboratory measures of generalization did not yield significant pre-, posttraining results.

Assimilation Of Korean College Students, Jei Hyun Yoo

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine four of Gordon's seven types of assimilation (cultural, structural, marital and identificational) among Korean college students.

Data were gathered from a combination of 23 interviews (14 males and 9 females) at Western Michigan University and 104 mail questionnaires (63 males and 41 females) from the University of Michigan.

The degree of assimilation was positively related to the length of residence in the United States, SES of parents and age. No evidence was found to suggest that one sex was more highly assimilated into American society than the other. By utilizing path analysis, …

Intimacy In Context: A Theory Of Interpersonal Relationships, Sara Mirjam Terian

Masters Theses

To define intimacy, interpersonal relationships are divided into four major categories that encompass the whole range of interpersonal behavior: strangers, acquaintances, friends, and intimates. These are seen as progressive stages, defined by the individual's subjective, affective orientation, and discernable by behavioral indicators. Strangers are divided into total, encountered, and familiar strangers, acquaintances into mere and friendly acquaintances, and friends into Just friends, casual friends, and close friends. The process culminates in intimacy which is divided into three aspects: psychological, the necessary aspect, biological, and ideological. Total intimacy is the presence of all three. This framework has explanatory and predictive value, …

Reduction Of Aggressive Behavior Of A Preschool Child Using Extinction And Teacher Attention Procedures, Greg Randle

Masters Theses

The subject was a 2 and a half-year-old male who engaged in a high rate of aggressive behavior that appeared to be maintained by teacher reprimands and physical contact. An extinction procedure in which all aggressive behavior directed toward peers was ignored was used in conjunction with teacher attention directed to the victim. Teacher attention was also used to positively reinforce the subject for interaction with peers. These procedures reduced the subject's aggressive behavior to a much lower rate. Although the subject's undesirable behavior was modified, a questionnaire responded to by the teachers indicated the need for open communication between …

Detector Geometry For Cascade Photon Experiments, Roger Minoru Munechika

Masters Theses

An observation of cascading optical photons can be used to determine an absolute excitation cross section for the intermediate state without the need of standard lamp calibration. In order to reduce the data an angular correlation function and an angular distribution function must be known. These functions depend on the alignment of the upper excited state and the polarization of the light emitted in the lower part of the cascade. However, at certain angles of observation the values of the required functions are known regardless of the alignment or polarization. A computer search is done to find these angles for …

A Social Impact Assessment Study Of The Barrier Sand Dune Controversy In Bridgman, Michigan, Linda Lee Sweigart

Masters Theses

This analytical anthropological study examined the interrelationships among the population, environment, and modes of technology of a small community in southwestern Michigan. The researcher assumed a participant-observer role and engaged in a social impact assessment by (1) conducting a survey among the residents in the community of Bridgman, Michigan; (2 ) analyzing the data and making recommendations concerning the impact of a proposed sand mining operation in the community; and (3) providing detailed records of the assessment process.

Increasing Job Performance By Training Employees How To Request Instructions And Feedback, Laverne Talley Alebiosu

Masters Theses

This study investigated the effectiveness of a procedure to increase the job performance, defined as task completion, of four black adolescents serving as child care aides in a day care center. The trainees were taught to request instructions and feedback from their supervisor. They were also taught to self-record the number of requests for instructions and feedback and the tasks they completed. Training procedures therefore involved a method to increase task performance without any direct intervention on increasing tasks and incorporated these direct instruction techniques: Small group instruction; active responding; the model, lead, and test format; and the use of …

An Experiential Project Examining The Realm Of The School Business Function, Robert J. Gabel

Masters Theses

The objective of this experiential project was to examine the role and functions of the school business manager and the school business office.

Major areas that were examined were budgeting procedures, investigation of school district insurance coverage, investigation of developing alternative revenue sources such as a preschool and day care center, and shared time programs.

Through the investigation of these areas it was found that budgeting is an ongoing, year around process. It was observed that the South Haven Public Schools use a form of the Planning Programming Budgeting System (PPBS) and zero-base budgeting as management tools. Further it was …

Addressing Community Awareness Of Self-Help Groups, David Glenn Anderson

Masters Theses

A directory of self-help organizations in Vermilion County, Illinois, was developed as a project to complete the requirements of the Specialist in Education degree through the Department of Education Leadership at Western Michigan University. The intern's training placement was with the Vermilion County Community 708 Mental Health Board, a mental health funding agency.

It was determined that the majority of self-help groups in Vermilion County were not listed in any existing directory and that a directory of self-help groups was needed. A self-help group directory was completed and a spring conference co-sponsored by his Vermilion County Council of Social Agencies …

Business Office Internship, Kathryn S. Weeden

Masters Theses

Successful operation of a school district depends upon the functions of the business office. This internship at Grand Rapids Public Schools under the supervision of Dr. James Gallagher, Executive Deputy Superintendent of Business Affairs, involved experiences in the school business areas of accounting, data processing, investments, funding, payroll, and purchasing. Knowledge of school business functions will provide the author with the awareness she needs when she attains her career goal working in central office administration, preferably as a curriculum and instruction specialist.

In addition to an introduction this report is divided into four sections which discuss the site and the …

A Confusion Matrix Intelligibility Testing Procedure For Preschool Children, Jane C. Coe-Kruse

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to develop and examine a procedure for testing and analyzing the speech intelligibility of preschool children through the use of a phonetically balanced pictured word list, confusion matrices, and computer analysis. Four subjects and 15 listeners were used to obtain data on perception of sound production. The results indicate that use of this procedure differentiates varying speech intelligibilities and allows for effective analysis of sound production parameters as they pertain to speech intelligibility.

Elite Perspectives And Predictive Potential: Park In Korea 1963-1972, Brian Borlas

Masters Theses

This study is concerned with the analysis of suppressive control policies in a centralized and monocratic political system. As the central elite figure in the Republic of Korea from 1961 until 1979, Park Chung-hee directed the growth of a political system which continually reinforced his own personal power. Park's reactions to challenges and crises led him to a policy of systemic manipulation and increased suppression of personal freedoms.

The existence of a large body of writing and speeches by Park makes it possible to examine the development of his personal philosophy as well as providing the basis for a directional …

A Peer-Managed Contract Study Program For High School Students, Jane F. Stinson

Masters Theses

A contract study center was implemented in a high school setting. The center employed peer-tutoring and behavioral contracting procedures. The program was designed to assist students with assigned tasks and to increase the efficiency with which in-school study periods were used. Students either were referred by teachers or volunteered to use the center. The project was implemented for ten weeks on a pilot basis. The results indicated that students used the center extensively and adequately adhered to behavior management requirements. A large proportion of contracts were completed demonstrating that the center procedures were effective in facilitating productivity. Staff evaluations showed …

The Paleoethnobotany Of The Upper Mississippi Component At The Elam Site, A Seasonal Encampment On The Lower Kalamazoo River, Kathryn E. Parachini

Masters Theses

Carbonized floral remains from the Elam site (20AE195) located on the Kalamazoo River in Allegan County, Michigan are identified and analyzed in terms of the local Upper Mississippian subsistence system. The function of Elam as a specialized activity locus in the seasonal round of a late prehistoric people is examined. Interpretations of the botanical data permit hypothetical reconstruction of vegetation and natural ecosystems in the site vicinity as they were prior to Euro-American contact. A warm weather seasonal re-occupation of several months duration is indicated, with intensive exploitation of several plant and animal resources abundant in the riverine and marsh …

Internship With The Public Affairs Office, Illinois Arts Council, Ann Adele Dunn

Masters Theses

This paper reports on anticipated and actual experiences of an internship with the Public Affairs Office of the Illinois Arts Council. The internship, accompanied by this paper, was chosen in lieu of the traditional thesis to culminate the Master of Arts in Related Arts degree. In addition to the description, the paper includes a proposal for the internship, a daily log of internship activities, an appendix of the writings accomplished during the internship, and recommendations. The paper is 70 pages in length.

Being the first Related Arts graduate student to serve such an internship, it was inevitable that certain discrepancies …

The Public School Superintendent In The Administration Of Schools, Chuka J. Ezekigbo

Masters Theses

The title of this thesis which is, "The Public School Superintendent in the Administration of Schools," deals with the roles of the superintendent in the selection and evaluation of school personnel, administration of schools, budgeting, physical plant and maintenance. It also deals with the problems which a superintendent encounters in the running of schools.

This thesis makes it clear that the superintendent's power to manage is derived from the school board, so his power in the exercise of duties is the perogative of the school board. As a chief executive of the school administration, he has some aides which are …