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Job Satisfaction Of West Michigan Certified Nurse-Midwives: A Qualitative Study Of Autonomy And Empowerment In The Provision Of Health Care, Martha M. Shafer-Thyen

Masters Theses

Certified Nurse-Midwifery provides optimal health care service to women through all stages of the reproductive cycle. In order to ensure continued growth of this field of health care, prospective students must see it as an occupation which can offer them high levels of job satisfaction, and certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) must be satisfied in their job or they will not continue to practice. In this qualitative study of West Michigan CNMs, two main factors are identified that determine high levels of job satisfaction: (1) The ability to autonomously care for a woman, with recourse to supportive comanagement of the woman's care …

The Effects Of Specific Teacher Training Program Components On The Self-Assessment Skills Of Western Michigan University Physical Education Interns, Jerry G. Bergsma

Masters Theses

The effects of an undergraduate self-assessment training program on the accuracy of self-assessment during physical education intern teaching was the focus of this study. Fourteen subjects enrolled in Intern Teaching at Western Michigan University and a university in central Michigan were studied.

The groups were compared on accuracy of self-assessment in selected teacher behaviors, teacher feedback rates, and student behaviors. Subjects were video-taped during intern teaching sessions and asked to complete the Self-Assessment Form (Hawkins & Wiegand, 1989). Estimates of percent time spent engaged in selected behaviors and feedback rates were compared to actual times and rates collected from the …

Validation Of The Original And Modified Ymca Cycle Ergometer Tests, Joel V. Blakeman

Masters Theses

The problem of the study was to determine if a 3-point estimation procedure for the YMCA cycle ergometer submaximal test (YMOD) provided a more valid predictor of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) than the recommended 2-point estimation YMCA procedure for male and female college students ages 18 to 25 years. Apparently healthy subjects (n = 21 females; n = 25 males) completed the ACSM maximal cycle ergometer test, the YMCA test, and the YMOD test. The reliability estimates of modified YMCA max scores, R = .39, was higher than the reliability estimate from the YMCA, R = -.80. ANOVA results …

A Comparison Of The Physical Activity, Body Composition And Self-Esteem Levels Of 5th And 6th Grade Students In Southwest Michigan, Rebevva C. Coady

Masters Theses

The problem of this study was to compare the physical activity levels, body fat percentage and self-esteem levels for children 1 O to 12 years of age. Subjects were 5th and 6th grade students who attended Schoolcraft or Lawton Middleschools in Southwest Michigan. The instruments used for this study consisted of the Lohman 2-site skinfold test, the Harter "What I am Like" self-esteem questionnaire, and a physical activity checklist. Subjects were grouped according to body fat percentage and physical activity level. Significant differences were found for males body fat groups for 4 of the 6 subscales of self-esteem: (1) . …

A Study Of The Chemical And Physical Interactions Between A Wetland And A Shallow Aquifer In Cass County, Michigan, Lisa Marie Anderson

Masters Theses

A study of the ground-water chemistry and flow direction adjacent to a wetland was performed in a major hog producing area. Nested piezometers, consisting of wells 7 to 18 feet deep, were installed around the wetland to determine the vertical distribution of hydraulic head and water-quality parameters. Piezometer elevations were surveyed to determine precise ground-water elevations to delineate the ground-water flow regime around the wetland. Water samples were taken at three different times to analyze water quality and seasonal variations. Analytical parameters included major ions, redox sensitive parameters (DO, nitrate-N, ammonia, iron, and sulfate), and total organic carbon.

Water level …

The Effects Of Chromium Picolinate Supplementation On Body Fat, Lean Body Mass, And Respiratory Exchange Ratio, Matthew K. Beaty

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects, on college-age males, of ingesting chromium picolinate over a 6-week period when administered as a supplement to their diet. Fifty males, ages 18 to 25 years, had their respiratory exchange ratio (R), body fat percentage, and lean body mass measured prior to and following a 6-week supplementation period. Subjects were randomly placed into a chromium, placebo, or control group. All subjects were instructed to maintain daily activities. Analysis of variance revealed no significant differences in R values, body fat percentage, or lean body mass among the chromium, placebo, or control …

An Emg Comparison Of Muscle Recruitment Associated With The Wide Grip Pull-Up And The Lat Pull-Down Exercise, Marla S. Bauermeister

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the prime mover muscles used in the wide grip pull-up and lat pull-down exercises. Ten Western Michigan University students performed the 2 exercises, using a resistance equal to their body weight for 3 sets of 3 repetitions, with 2 min rest between sets. The 2nd repetition of each set was analyzed for each exercise. Research variables included phases (concentric, coupling, and eccentric), exercises, trials, and muscles. The dependent variables were relative time to peak recruitment, peak recruitment, and phase time. Findings revealed that the concentric and eccentric phases were slower …

The Effectiveness Of A Call-In Number In Telephone Surveys, Robert J. Moore

Masters Theses

Answering machines are now more frequently encountered in telephone studies than just a few years ago. Researchers must devise new techniques to compensate for the increased use of answering machines. The main point of the Michigan Higher Education Institute (MHEI) 800 number study was to establish if leaving an 800 call-in number on an answering machine would increase response rates and lower the number of interviewer initiated call-backs for call attempts resulting in an answering machine disposition. The MHEI study provided a chance to look at how an 800 number could improve response rates in a panel telephone study. The …

A Validation Of Target Heartrate Formulas Used In Swimming, Tasha Kay Litwinski

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore whether procedures used to establish target heart rates (THRs) for running are applicable to front crawl swimming. Eight male and 22 female fitness swimmers from Western Michigan University participated in this study. Their exercise durations under three experimental conditions were compared. The conditions were: (a) Condition 1, a treadmill run at an intensity equal to a THR of 85% of heart rate reserve (HRR); (b) Condition 2, a front crawl swim at an intensity equal to 85% of HRR; and (c) Condition 3, a front crawl swim at an intensity equal to …

Volunteer Fire Departments: A Neglected American Voluntary Association, Michelle C. Akers

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the social and cultural dimensions of volunteer fire departments (VFDs) in West Michigan. Through interviews and observations of four VFDs, important dimensions of social cohesion and variability within and between the departments and communities are revealed. An emphasis is placed upon the gender relations within the departments and their effect upon the relations in the larger community. From these companies, a sketch of a small West Michigan community is derived. If used as a companion with other research of Midwestern communities of a greater scope and sample size, an understanding of social organization and social structure may …

Experiences Of Bidialectism In College-Educated African Americans: An Exploratory Study, Ina N. Owens

Masters Theses

This study was undertaken to explore experiences of bidialectism in college-educated African Americans. The major questions in this study attempted to answer the following: 1) How do college-educated African Americans perceive and negotiate differences between Black and Standard English? 2) Does negotiating two language systems impact their sense of cultural identity? If so, in what ways? and, 3) Is there a conflict involved in negotiating two language systems? If so, what is the nature of the conflict?

Eight interviews were conducted with graduate students who were both Black and Standard English speakers. Subjects ranged in age from 22 to 50. …

Pre- And Post-Operative Comparison Of Kinematic Data In Ambulatory Patients With Cerebral Palsy, Douglas A. Miller, Matthew J. Vanderkooi

Masters Theses

Computerized three-dimensional gait analysis effectively supplements clinical examination by objectively assessing dynamic gait abnormalities and surgical outcomes. The purpose of this research was to assess the ambulatory outcomes of corrective surgery performed on children with spastic cerebral palsy by comparing pre- and post-operative kinematic data. It was hypothesized that post-operative data would be significantly improved compared to pre-operative values. Clinical examination and computerized gait analysis were performed pre-operatively and six to eighteen months following corrective surgery. Gait analysis included video taping of gait and recording of three-dimensional joint motion, synchronized force plate, and dynamic EMG data. The three patients (average …

The Effects Of Family Planning On Malnutrition In Bangladesh, Ridwan Al-Rahman

Masters Theses

Some of the best historical and archeological evidence has claimed that about a million years was required for the human race to reach the 250 million mark by the beginning of the Christian era. Pestilence, famine and war had then reduced the population increase to a tiny fraction of 1% per year, requiring 16 centuries for the world population to double to 500 million. However, by 1850, 250 years later, the population doubled to the one billion mark. As of 1993, approximately one and a half centuries later, the world population stood at about 5.5 billion. According to United Nations …

Assessment And Development Of A Plan For Handling Allegations Of Sexual Harassment, James I. Smith

Masters Theses

Sexual harassment exists not only in the workplace but also in the nation's schools. School districts and administrators have a legal responsibility and liability to deal with allegations of sexual harassment.

The purpose of this study was to develop a step-by-step grievance procedure to resolve complaints of student-student and student-employee sexual harassment in which students are the alleged victims for Centralia High School District 200 in Centralia, Illinois. To obtain data for the development of this plan, a survey was taken of the student population at Centralia High School to determine student perceptions of the following:

1. Have they been …

A Student Survey Of The Effectiveness Of Alternative Schools In Hamilton-Jefferson Counties, Illinois, Bryan Cross

Masters Theses

The main purpose of this study was to survey students who were enrolled in the Hamilton-Jefferson Counties Alternative Schools in Mt. Vernon and McLeansboro, Illinois, to determine the effectiveness of the alternative schools from the students' perspectives. This information should serve as an aid to decision makers in determining if changes were needed in the alternative schools.

The 78 students in the survey were asked to respond to survey questions designed to provide information regarding what effect enrollment in an alternative school had on their attendance, behavior, academic success, citizenship, and self-esteem.

An analysis of the survey results indicated that …

Poverty And Rural Policy In South Africa, Malose Hilton Ledwaba

Masters Theses

Poverty in South Africa is a rural and urban problem. It is endemic to the rural environment where the majority of the people live. It is transferred to the urban areas through labor migration.

Rural people depend on agriculture for subsistence. Apart from subsistence farming there are no employment opportunities. The choice for a rural young man is to be a subsistence farmer or a migrant laborer. The industrial sector is unable to offer a job for everyone. Thus, the rural migrant’s dream of a city job often becomes an unemployment nightmare.

I argue, therefore, that poverty can best be …

Parental Knowledge Of Effective Parent-Infant Communication, Jana J. Sweeney

Masters Theses

Parental knowledge of parent-infant interaction and effective communication techniques was investigated to determine what parents know about parent-infant interaction and communication, to determine who provided them with the information, to determine if more information should be available, and to determine who should serve source of information to parents regarding as the primary parent/child communication. The study also examined the potentially crucial role of the speech-language pathologist in providing education. A questionnaire and survey was developed and completed by 27 parents in two-parent homes to provide a data base for the study. Results of the survey indicated that parents are not …

The Effectiveness Of Peer Mediation In Westville C.U.S.D. #2, Dennis A. Watson

Masters Theses

During the past several years concerns about student behavior and school discipline have figured prominently in various public opinion polls. Many approaches and methodologies have been used in an unsuccessful effort to remedy the problem. These methodologies include "zero tolerance", codes of conduct, contracts and assertive discipline. Peer mediation is a relatively new concept that has not been significantly researched in rural areas.

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of peer mediation programs at McMillan Grade School and Westville Junior High School in Westville, Illinois. A survey of twenty-six certified teachers at both of the schools …

The Influence Of Higher Education And The Perceived Effects On Women And Their Interpersonal Relationships With Significant Others, Tracy L. Conn

Masters Theses

This study of professional women holding advanced degrees examined the influence of doctoral education and the perceived effects on women and their interpersonal relationships with significant others. It was found that half of the women believed that their level of education affected their relationship status. Though there were a group of women who reported that their level of education limited them in their interpersonal relationships, the majority of the women reported being in gratifying relationships with supportive significant others. Therefore, it is not surprising that the majority of the women reported that their significant other was one of the greatest …

Models Of Excellence For African American Males At Richland Community College: A Field Study, Luegeanes Mcgee

Masters Theses

Purpose

The purpose of this field study was to investigate the problems that African American males encounter at Richland Community College, Decatur, Illinois. This investigator interviewed thirteen graduates, person-to-person, who graduated from Richland Community College between the years of 1993 through 1995. Twelve themes emerged from this study: academic counselor/communication/ involvement, prejudice/isolation, teacher/student reaction, student seating location, support group(s), role models, mentors, student involvement in college life, educational purpose, programs, and college requirements. Respondents also made recommendations for the success of African American males attending Richland Community College.

Methodology

Person-to-person interviews were utilized in studying this phenomenon because it is …

The Effects Of Daytime Sleepiness On School Performance In Late Adolescence, Lisa R. Ballinger

Masters Theses

Daytime sleepiness and grade point average were examined to assess the strength and direction of the relationship. Other variables measured included depression, test anxiety, and stress. Sixty-one participants completed the study, 15 males and 46 females. Average age of the participants was 20.89 (SD = 1.18). Participants were given a series of five brief questionnaires. Participants volunteered for the study and completed the survey in a group, classroom setting. Measures included a demographic questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Test Attitude Inventory and the Perceived Stress Scale. It was found that while an inverse relationship exists between daytime …

A Study Of School Personnel's Knowledge Regarding Traumatic Brain Injury, Kelly Kay Richardson

Masters Theses

This study attempted to determine if school psychologists are more knowledgeable regarding traumatic brain injury (TBI) today than in a study conducted years ago (Mira, Meck, & Tyler, 1988). Since the Mira, et al. study a federal category has been added to special education legislation, and it was hypothesized that school psychologists would be receiving more training in this area as a result of the addition of the special education category. This study also attempted to determine if regular education teachers, special education teachers, and school psychologists differ in their knowledge of (TBI). A survey from the Mira, et al. …

A Comparison Of Personality Correlates Of Self-Identified And Nonidentified Adult Children Of Alcoholics, Patti K. Hampsten

Masters Theses

This study compared personality traits of adult children of alcoholics with adults who did not come from alcoholic home environments, for the purpose of developing treatment protocols. It was hypothesized that 1) there would be differences between clinical ACOA's and non-clinical ACOA's, 2) clinical ACOA's would differ from non-ACOA's, 3) non-clinical ACOA's would differ from non-ACOA's. Four groups were used in the comparison, adult children of alcoholics in treatment, adult children of alcoholics with no treatment history, non-adult children of alcoholics in treatment, and non-adult children of alcoholics with no treatment history. The fifty-two female participants were administered the Children …

Minority College Students' Attitudes Toward Psychological Help Seeking, Kiesha Ford

Masters Theses

The present study examined two major variables: a comparison of Minority and White student's attitudes toward psychological help seeking and the influence of ethnicity on student's preference of counselor ethnic characteristics. It was expected that 1) Minority students would have a more negative attitude toward seeking psychological help than Whites students; 2) Minority college students would prefer to see a counselor who is older, belong to a minority group, the same race, the same gender, the same socioeconomic status and have an university degree; 3) female students would have a more positive attitude toward seeking psychological help than male students, …

The Effects Of Local Enforcement Of The Legal Minimum Drinking Age On The Students Of Eastern Illinois University, Timmy D. Tritsch

Masters Theses

This study investigated the perceived effect of increased community enforcement of the legal minimum alcohol drinking age on the attitudes and behavior of university students as reported by the community. The results indicated increased local alcohol enforcement efforts, changed student drinking behavior, which in turn created a positive change in community attitude toward enforcement efforts. Increased enforcement efforts between the years 1993 and 1995 targeted underage drinking and alcohol related crime as demonstrated by university students. Enforcement efforts were initiated by community officials in the form of a beer keg registration ordinance, minimum age bar compliance checks, raising the bar …

Undergraduate Knowledge Of School Psychology And The Effects Of Presentation On Graduate And Career Pursuit, Robert J. Bolin

Masters Theses

With the increasing national demand for credentialed school psychologists, it is essential that every effort be made to recruit qualified individuals into the field of school psychology. This paper describes the important role and function of the school psychologist. Research demonstrating the present and future need for school psychological services is presented. Literature investigating several factors that contribute to the gap between supply and demand is reviewed. An intervention is presented based on the recommendations of the reviewed research. A brief informational presentation on school psychology, in conjunction with distributed materials about the profession, was assessed with a retrospective pretest-posttest …

Academic Achievement Of High School Students As It Relates To Locus Of Control, Family Life Changes, And Perceived Level Of Stress, Marla M. Mcdaneld

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between family life changes, perceived stress, locus of control, gender, and the achievement of grade eleven students. A literature review revealed that adolescents report a high level of stress in a variety of situations. Changes in family life and factors at school are two of the major stressors. The research suggests that an individual with an external locus of control is more likely to experience stress than an individual with an internal locus of control. The research also suggests that a higher level of stress combined with an external locus …

The Role Of Information And Voting Cues In The Decision Making Process Of The Illinois Legislators 89th General Assembly, Farida H. Kapasi

Masters Theses

The most important variable in a decision making situation is the role of information. On the strength of information received, choice between competing alternatives is made. One decision making situation that receives intense scrutiny, and is a subject of much debate is the passage of bills into laws. Legislative decisions are arrived at in a highly charged political environment. This paper explores the role of information and informants in the legislators' institutional and environmental arena, and the personal characteristics of the legislators that influence the decision making process.

The proceedings of the 89th Illinois General Assembly was observed and the …

The Effects Of Group Selection On The Characteristics And Use Of Cavity Trees And Snags, Mary Lynn Lambert

Masters Theses

I studied the effects of group selection tree harvest on the availability, composition, and use of cavity trees, snags and cavities in the Ozark Mountains of northwestern Arkansas. Sixteen plots dominated by oaks and hickories that were 70-102 years old were surveyed prior to harvest. Tree species, diameter, height and number of visible cavities were recorded. In addition, 192 cavity trees were marked for wildlife observations during the summer and winter. Subsequently, plots were harvested by commercial contractors to either 15 or 19 m²/ha basal area, using either free or structural control thinning methods. A complete survey of …

An Approach To Just-In-Time Implementation In Discrete Parts Manufacturing, Phillip Gregory Shirey

Masters Theses

"Just-In-Time manufacturing is a philosophy that encourages waste reduction and the elimination of non-value-added activities. The processes affected include office and shop personnel. When successfully implemented, JIT accounts for improved production lead time cycles, reduced inventories, improved employee morale, reduced cost of goods, and continuous improvements of the total business process.

This thesis identifies real world problems many medium size U.S. manufacturing companies now face, and an approach to JIT implementation in discrete parts manufacturing. The approach includes developing strategies to motivate the employees and to implement the tools and techniques of JIT, Total Quality Management, ISO 9001, and MRP …