Digital Commons Network^™

"A Conflict Of Truth With Error": Southern Preachers, Their Worldview, And Sectional Tensions, 1830-1865, Timothy A. Ehrhardt

Masters Theses

White evangelical preachers of the antebellum era presented the American South with a cosmology that was rooted in the Bible as God's revelation to all humans, with God as sovereign over a strict social hierarchy that placed the white male as household head, and women, children, and black slaves (in that order) as subordinates. This cosmology contributed to sectional tensions, as southern pastors were at the forefront of advocating a proslavery worldview, and supported secession from the Union and war as an act of purification from northern infidels who did not endorse the ministers' brand of biblical literalism.

Southern clergymen …

The Motivational Effects Of 3, 4-Methylendioxymethamphetamine On Responding Maintained By A Progressive-Ratio Schedule Of Water Delivery, Sean P. Laraway

Masters Theses

Relative to their reinforcing and discriminative functions, the establishing operation (EO) function of drugs has received little attention from behavioral pharmacologists. This study investigated in rats the EO function of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy) using a progressive-ratio (PR) 2 schedule of water delivery. Relative to vehicle control levels, Lower doses (1.0 and 1.8 mg/kp ip) had no effects, whereas the higher doses (3.2, 5.6 mg/kg ip) significantly decreased breaking points. In contrast to previous research, this study found no evidence that MDMA functioned as an EO for water. These results, along with findings from other studies using PR schedules, emphasize the …

Learning In The Prairie, Meredith L. Beilfuss

Masters Theses

This research focused on fieldwork in geography and science education relative to the high school curriculum. First, the literature was reviewed to analyze the pedagogical and cognitive benefits of using fieldwork and how fieldwork might enrich the high school social studies and science curriculum in Michigan. Second, prairie curriculum resources were evaluated for suitability using the Michigan Education Standards and the National Standards for Geography. Finally, two groups of high school students engaged in fieldwork, using two different methods, photography and sketching, and were compared for their pre and post fieldwork knowledge of prairie ecological concepts. The pre and post …

“Drop And Give Me Twenty!”: The Social Production Of A Marine, Martha E. Frohlich

Masters Theses

This study is an attempt to understand the transformation of an individual that takes place during Marine Corps basic training. Primarily, it is an inquiry into how United States Marines talk about how they became Marines.

To assist in this inquiry, I turn to the field of military sociology, general role socialization literature and the notion of social identity. I conclude that while themes do emerge in the transformation of individual to Marine, it is still quite a personal experience -- one that could only be understood by positioning myself close to the experience via those who have lived it. …

Prevalence And Characteristics Of Bullying Behaviors In Middle And High School From The Students ' And Teachers' Perspectives, Scott W. Gardner

Masters Theses

To assess bullying behaviors, two questionnaires were administered to 239 students and 33 school professionals from two midwestern schools. Results showed that 78% of participants reported being bullied. Further, they identified the classroom and the bathroom to be the safest and the least safe locations, respectively. More females than males also indicated that they did not always feel safe in school. Rates of reported bullying interactions were higher for verbal bullying than physical bullying with significant gender differences. In addition, most participants were not likely to report bullying instances either to teachers or parents. The implication of these results and …

The Relationship Between State-Trait Anxiety And The Use Of Superstitious And/Or Ritualistic Behaviors In Athletics: An Exploratory Study, Jodie S. Hood

Masters Theses

There is limited published research in the area of superstition in sports as it relates to an athlete's anxiety and performance. This study was designed to examine this relationship through the administration of a demographic questionnaire, a list of ritualistic and superstitious behavior and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Participants were members of 5 Eastern Illinois University Varsity athletic teams. Results indicate several differences across gender when comparing five athletic teams (men's baseball, basketball, and track and women's track and softball) with their anxiety and superstitious behavior levels. Several significant correlations were found between: reported religious persuasion and frequency of religious …

Low Self-Esteem: An Invitation For Victimization, Tommi Devore

Masters Theses

The focus of this study was to assess the relationship between self-esteem and victimization. A modified self-esteem questionnaire, entitled "What I am Like," originally developed by Egan and Perry (1998), and a modified bully survey, originally developed by Garrity, Jens, Porter, Sager, & Short-Camille (1994), were administered to students. A total of 32 students from first grade participated in the research project and completed the questionnaires; data were collected in the fall and the spring of the school year. Most students reported some sort of victimization. A Pearsons R was conducted to assess the relationship between self-esteem and victimization. Results …

Acts Of Misconduct And Perception Of Internal, Powerful Others, And Chance Locus Of Control, Jodi L. Henry

Masters Theses

With the growing numbers of acts of misconduct that are committed in our country each year, it is important to find possible predictors of these behaviors. Because locus of control is a stable characteristic that is central to how an individual perceives causes of action, it is one construct that shows promise for predicting acts of misconduct. One hundred and forty college students answered two questionnaires: a locus of control scale called the Internality, Powerful Others, and Chance Scales and a Self Report Acts of Misconduct Index which was created for this study. A Pearson's Correlation was conducted comparing scores …

The Relationship Of Religiosity With Self-Esteem And Personality, Melissa A. Shea

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to look for meaningful relationships between religiosity, defined as both past religious involvement and present religious involvement, and see if there are significant relationships with self-esteem and personality. Participants were from a denominational university and a secular university, to determine if the type of school one attends has any difference with their self-esteem and personality in terms of religiosity. Participants were administered the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Spiritual Transcendence Scale and Bi-Polar Adjective Ratings Scale. Results support only the initial hypotheses that personality has a significant relationship with religiosity and that school of attendance does …

Anger: In Black & White: A Meta Analysis, James Hazlewood

Masters Theses

The following research investigates whether black and white populations have divergent perceptions of anger and anger expressions in black and white males. A great deal of the research to follow concerns itself with exploring what anger is and how it is delineated. What becomes readily apparent is that anger is a complex component of human experience. There is general agreement that culture and environment are important components in anger expression. The purpose of this research is three fold: 1. Investigate the definition of anger. 2. Investigate whether black and white populations view anger differently and if so how, and 3. …

The Internet And Traditional Media Displacement, Jessica Cartledge

Masters Theses

This study consists of a survey that measures how much of the Internet college students are using and why they are using it. Using the uses and gratifications perspective and an adapted version of Rubin's 1984 Television Motives Scale this study analyzes what gratifications media consumers are actively seeking to satisfy their communication needs. 217 students were surveyed and results showed that high Internet users were using traditional media less. The study also concluded that high and low Internet users have similar reasons for using the Internet.

A Comparison Of Goal Orientation By Gender And Level Of Competition Among High School And Collegiate Basketball Players And Its Relationship To The Motivational Climate, April Frost

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a difference in goal orientation among athletes across gender and levels of competition. A second purpose was to determine if perceived motivational climate was correlated with the type of goal orientation that basketball players of both gender and different levels of competition developed. The subjects in this study consisted of 191 basketball players. Specifically, (n)= 25 male collegiate athletes, (n)= 55 high school males, (n)= 47 female collegiate athletes, and (n)= 64 high school females. The Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ) was used to assess the …

Changes In Female Athletes' Physical Self-Esteem Across A Competitive Cycle And As A Function Of Athletic Identity, Michelle C. Reed

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine if female athletes' physical self-perceptions are different when comparing their Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP) scores within their competitive season with their scores during the off-season. The second purpose was to determine if physical self-perception varied as a function of their athletic identity. A secondary objective was to evaluate female athletes' physical self-esteem in an individual sport setting compared to a team sport setting. Eastern Illinois University female collegiate athletes in six different sports, track (n=15), softball (n=16), soccer (n=11), tennis (n=3), volleyball (n=5), and rugby (n=19) were given the Athletic Identity Measurement …

Effects Of Choice Versus Task Preference On Students With Behavioral Problems, Jean A. Mcgrath

Masters Theses

This study compared the effects of choice and assignment of preferred academic tasks on disruptive behaviors and task engagement within the regular education classroom. Two first grade students, identified by their teacher for frequent off-task and disruptive behaviors, participated in this study. After formally assessing academic task preferences, a multielement design was used to evaluate three conditions: (a) assigning a non-preferred academic task, (b) assigning a preferred academic task, (c) providing a choice of academic tasks. Results indicated that both assignment of a preferred task and provision of a choice in tasks had minimal effects on disruptive behavior and task …

Pheidippides Revisited, James C. Stockwell

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Convergent, Discriminant, And Construct Validity Of The Acters And Asca, Katie Sprouls

Masters Theses

The present study examined the convergent, discriminant, and construct validity of the ADD-H Comprehensive Teacher's Rating Scale, Second Edition (ACTeRS) and Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents (ASCA). Participants included 106 children between in first through sixth grade for the ACTeRS and ASCA comparison of teacher ratings. The children assessed were 53 children meeting DSM-4 criteria for ADHD and 53 randomly matched control group children. Results of this study indicated moderate correlations between similar scales of the ACTeRS and ASCA. Discriminant function analysis and diagnostic efficiency estimates revealed significantly high capabilities for both instruments in accurately differentiating between known groups. …

Institutional Representation Of Student Presentations At Psychology Research Conferences: Trends And Implications, Cathy D. Schoonover

Masters Theses

Student participation in psychology undergraduate research conferences has pedagogical benefits encompassing experiential and collaborative learning, and enhancement of critical thinking skills. This project was designed to determine whether more conference participants originate from baccalaureate colleges than from research universities and what topics they present. Archival data were gathered from five geographically diverse undergraduate conferences and information extracted to determine institutions of origin. Institutions were categorized according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, then compared using chi-square tests. Information concerning topics presented were categorized according to six content domains of psychology and also analyzed with chi-square tests. The …

Relating The Concepts Of Personality, Temperament And Self-Esteem, Julie Anne Koetters

Masters Theses

Investigating the relationships between personality and temperament was the primary focus of this study. Personality was measured using the NEO-Pl-R, a 240-item measure, based on the five-factor model of personality. The Dimensions of Temperament Survey-Revised (DOTS-R), a 54-item survey exploring temperament across ten dimensions was also administered in this study. A secondary focus of this study was to identify how the concept of self-esteem is related to the differing dimensions of both personality and temperament. The short form of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, a 25-item survey, was used to measure this construct. Eighty adults participated in this study and completed …

Correlations Between The Wide Range Intelligence Test (Writ) And The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale Of Intelligence (Wasi): Global And Subtest Comparisons, Jason M. Collins

Masters Theses

To assess the convergent validity of the Wide Range Intelligence Test (WRIT) and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), two new brief IQ measures, 66 participants from five rural Illinois public schools were administered both measures in counterbalanced order. All correlations between the WRIT and the WASI were significant. Correlations between the WRIT and the WASI were moderate to high, ranging from .50 (r² = .25) to .85 (r² = .72). The WRIT and the WASI appear to be measuring very similar constructs, indicating strong evidence of convergent validity.

A Descriptive Comparative Study Of Student Learning Styles From Selected Medical Education Programs, Dennis C. Gregory, Steven K. Huisman

Masters Theses

The authors’ hypothesis was to determine whether comparable variation coexisted among the individual learning styles of health professional students and the general population. Our purpose was to demonstrate learning style variability, as well as justification for the utilization of different teaching modalities throughout education. We administered David Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory IIa to sample populations of Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic students (n = 53), third and fourth year Medical students (n = 28), undergraduate Nursing students (n = 65), second and third year Physician Assistant students (n = 49), and a General student population (n = 70). The results were analyzed …

Alcohol Use And Perceptions Of Alcohol Use Among Biology, Criminal Justice, Health Science, And Psychology Capstone Students At Grand Valley State University, Rebecca Postma

Masters Theses

This study brought the widely used Rutgers PRSP survey to upper level students in biology, criminal justice, health science and psychology capstone classes in the academic year of 2000/2001. The survey explores student perceptions of their own alcohol use, of their friends’ use, and that of other students. Data from 291 participants reveals gender differences in perception, differences in self-reported drinking habits among the four capstone groups, and differences between this group of participants and their expectations of other students’ drinking. These areas of information along with other interesting findings give important insight into the upper level students of Grand …

The Effect Of Supportive Education, As A Tertiary Nursing Intervention, On The Quality Of Life Of Patients With Heart Failure, Julie A. Switek

Masters Theses

Quality of life in patients with heart failure is poor. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a supportive educational nursing intervention on quality of life. The quality of life of two groups of patients with heart failure were compared, the control group that received placebo interventions and the experimental group that received a supportive educational intervention. The instrument utilized in this study was the Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index; Cardiac Version III. Betty Neuman’s systems model was the theoretical framework that guided this research. Independent and paired T-tests were utilized to analyze the …

Comparison Of Maternal Perception Of Birth: Labor Induced By Misoprostol Vs Spontaneous Labor, Kristine E. Barber

Masters Theses

This study was a comparison of the maternal perception of birth with spontaneous labor vs. labor induced by misoprostol. Perception of control, a primary factor linked with satisfaction in childbirth, was also evaluated.

Levine’s Conservation Principles guided this study. Many studies have evaluated misoprostol’s effectiveness and safety, but none have evaluated patients’ perception of their birth experience when receiving the drug. An awareness of this aspect is essential to evaluate the drug’s effect on the integrity of the whole individual.

A convenience sample of women who delivered at one regional hospital were given two questionnaires to complete before discharge. There …

The Relationship Between Exercise Knowledge And Exercise Self-Efficacy For The Prevention Of Osteoporosis, Suzanne M. Leclaire

Masters Theses

The conceptual framework for this study was Self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977), based on Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986). The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between exercise knowledge and exercise self-efficacy for the prevention of osteoporosis in young adults. Population selection was based on clinical research findings that bone health is affected by habits early in life, such as calcium intake and establishing regular exercise, which affect bone health in later years. The study was a secondary data analysis of 353 females and males 18 to 35 years of age, primarily Caucasian (92.9%). Results from …

The Effects Of Perceived Leadership Behaviors And Goal Orientation On Female Collegiate Athletes' Level Of Motivation, Melanie L. Krynski

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived coaching behaviors, goal orientation, and motivation among female collegiate athletes. Female athletes from Eastern Illinois University (n = 66) and Valparaiso University (n = 25), took part in the study. Specifically, the purposes of the study were; a) to examine if athletes who perceived their coaches to exhibit more democratic behavior, praise and encouragement, and training and instruction behaviors would demonstrate higher levels of intrinsic motivation, and b) to examine if athletes with a positive goal profile (high task/high ego) would have significantly greater motivation levels compared to …

The Effects Of Parents, Teachers, And Peers On Academic Motivation, Amanda R. Holden

Masters Theses

The focus of this study was to assess the relationship between perceived support of parents, teachers, and peers and academic motivation. The second focus was to assess which variable was more predictive of academic motivation. The Children's Academic Intrinsic Motivation Inventory by Gottfried, 1986, the Peer Social Support, Peer Academic Support, Teacher Social Support, and Teacher Academic Support subscales of the Classroom Life Measure by Johnson, Johnson, Buckman, and Richards, 1985, and the Family Cohesion subscale of the Family Environment Scale by Moos and Moos, 1994 were administered to the students. A total of 72 students from 3rd, 4th, and …

Convergent And Discriminant Validity Of The Self-Report Of Personality (Srp) And The Youth Self-Report (Ysr), Jodi Buehnerkemper

Masters Theses

The present study examined the convergent and discriminant validity of the Behavior Assessment System for Children-Self-Report of Personality (BASC-SRP) and the Youth Self-Report (YSR). One purpose of this study was to examine the degree of relationship between the SRP and the YSR. This study also examined the degree to which each of these measures could successfully distinguish among samples of students who had been identified as LD or ED, or had not been referred. Participants included a total of 109 students between 12 and 18 years of age. Results of this study indicated that correlations between similar scales and composites …

Factors Influencing Teachers' Decisions To Refer Students For Special Education Evaluation, Amanda R. Perry

Masters Theses

This study examined the factors that influence teachers to refer students for psycho-educational evaluation. Fifty seven teachers from Midwest and Southwest suburban and rural school districts completed a questionnaire designed to gather information about the factors teachers consider when referring students for evaluation, as well as their opinion of the etiology of Learning Disability and their preferences for services. Results indicated that the most influential factors in participants' referral decisions were low achievement and behavioral problems. The majority of teachers agreed that eligibility decisions should be based on the child's needs. However, there was no agreement that an ability-achievement discrepancy …

Marty On The Edge, Bill Feltt

Masters Theses

Marty Kaden can fly. A champion Taekwondoist with serious hopes and a good chance of making the United States team, propelling him all the way to the Olympic Games one day, he takes his chosen martial art seriously. Trouble looms on the horizon, however, and soon brings Marty down to Earth. After suffering defeat at the hands of an arch-rival, Marty spins out of control. Worse, his master instructor disappears under what Marty believes are mysterious circumstances. Yet no one will take him seriously—the police, his mother, his master's assistant. None of them shares his concern. Marty's despair sends him …

An Investigation Of Motivations Influencing Participation In Marathons, Courtney Hague

Masters Theses

This study examined the varying motivations of runners participating in marathon races. Several variables were explored including age, gender, marathons attempted, marathons completed, and best personal performance time. Five hypotheses were considered: 1) Younger runners will most likely be motivated by Achievement Motives (competition and personal goal achievement) than the older runners. 2) Females will be more motivated by Physical Health Motives (weight concern and general health) than males. 3) Males will participate in marathons more for Achievement Motives (competition and personal goal achievement) than females. 4) Females and males will be similar along Psychological Motives (self-esteem and psychological coping) …