Digital Commons Network^™

A Report Of An Internship In The Admissions And Counseling Office At Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Constance M. Speers

Masters Theses

This paper describes an internship which was completed in the Admissions office of a community college in Michigan. A rationale for the internship is presented in Chapter I. An outline of the prospectus objectives is also included in the first chapter. Chapter II describes the experiences encountered during the internship. Administrative experiences with the associate dean of students are related, as are those involved in the accomplishment of two special projects. These projects were: To develop a career guidance program for the college, and to investigate special characteristics of applicants who never matriculated. The third chapter analyzes the internship experience …

A Comparison Of Hutchings' Low Stress Algorithm And Three Other Methods In Multidigit Multiplication For Calculation Speed And Accuracy, John Byron Connors

Masters Theses

High achieving fifth grade students were taught three alternate multiplication algorithms: Hutchings low stress, Gelocian lattice, and partial products (distributive algorithm using indentation). The two independent variables were the four algorithms (three alternate plus traditional) and three problem array sizes (3 x 2, 3, and 4 factors). The three dependent variables were percent accuracy, rate correct, and rate incorrect. A multi-element manipulation design across phases was used varying type of calculation procedure within sessions and type of problem array across sessions. Results showed that all three alternate algorithms were superior to the traditional algorithm on most dependent variable measures. Pre …

Intelligibility Of Speech Produced With An Artificial Larynx At Various Frequencies, Sandra Arlene Merritt

Masters Theses

Word intelligibility scores of 21 listeners were used to test the hypothesis that speech intelligibility will vary systematically across speakers and fundamental frequency of electrolarynx vibration.

Twenty-one listeners transcribed audio recorded lists of CVC utterances produced with an electrolarynx by 3 speakers at each of five fundamental frequencies.

Comparative analysis of scores across frequencies and speakers were discussed in terms of:

a) source transmission characteristics of "electrolaryngeal" speech, b) implications for diagnosis/therapeusis of alaryngeal speakers.

Results indicated that intelligibility scores were significantly different between speakers and between frequencies within speakers. Maximum intelligibility scores were more highly correlated with certain frequencies …

Acquisition And Transfer Of Behavior Management Skills: An Empirical Functional Analysis Of Staff And Client Gains, Elaine Bellis

Masters Theses

A multiple baseline design across instructional conditions was used to assess the effects of a s ta ff training package consisting of written rules, daily monitoring, public posting of performance data, and allotments of contingent break-time privileges on the behavior management skills of tutors in suppressing the stereotypic behavior of retarded individuals. The intervention package was sequentially introduced in three different instructional conditions in the following order: a group session, a one-to-one session, and a transition period. Following baseline, three tutors were trained to apply consistent and accurate consequences to varying rates of self-stimulatory behavior exhibited by three impaired subjects. …

The Effects Of Contingent Shock On Cigarette Smoking Behavior: An Attempt To Replicate, Marianne M. Narick

Masters Theses

This experiment attempted to replicate previously reported research (DeRicco, Brigham, and Garlington, 1977) which demonstrated smoking suppression using contingent shock. A multiple-baseline across subjects design was employed to assess experimental control. A heterogeneous group of five males and two females ranging in age from 19 to 61 years, participated in the experiment. Subjects attended 30 minute treatment sessions conducted 5 days per week, Monday thru Friday, where 25 shocks were delivered on an unpredictable, variable interval schedule contingent upon the subject lighting a cigarette, holding a burning cigarette and/or smoking a cigarette. Treatment continued for a minimum of 3 weeks …

The Political Philosophy Of John Rawls: An Examination Of His View Of Man And Social Stability In The Just Society, Calvin Jay Mouw

Masters Theses

The thesis constitutes a critical examination of Rawl's psychological assumptions in A Theory of Justice. Rawl's psychological theory, derived from Rousseau and Kohlberg and characterized by his "Sense of Justice", depends upon overly altruistic assumptions about man's nature. These assumptions, along with resultant high levels of public motivation, lead to a high degree of social instability. Rawls fails to address this instability adequately.

The alternative model developed in this thesis takes as given the demonstrated ability of human beings to cooperate with one another and bases this capacity, in the tradition of Hume, on a mechanism of sympathy which brings …

The Effects Of Pre And Post-Performance Review Goal Setting On Subsequent Job Performance In A Human Services Setting, Christie L. Kleinhuizen

Masters Theses

Researchers investigating the effects, of performance appraisals and. goal setting techniques have focused on laboratory (rather than field) settings and/or have relied on self-report or anecdotal data to draw their conclusions. The major objectives of the present study were to examine the effects of 1) goal setting on actual job performance in a community organizational setting and 2) performance appraisals on both subsequent job performance and goals set. Two male and two female counselors in a residential treatment center served as subjects in the study which utilized a multiple baseline design. The performance of l8 repetitive administrative/custodial tasks were measured …

Sex Differential Responding In Preschool Teachers: A Foundation For A Functional Analysis, Joanne Kimak

Masters Theses

This observational study investigated whether there was consistent sex differential treatment of children by preschool teachers. It measured the antecedents and consequences of responses made by children to certain problematic situations often present in free-play situations. The subjects were five paraprofessional teachers in a university affiliated preschool. In five classrooms, observers recorded the occurrence of aggression, accident, and object problems, the Various children's responses to these problems, and the teacher response to the children. The data were analyzed to determine if the teachers were responding differentially on the basis of the sex of the child and if there were sex …

The Detection Of Behavioral Effects In The F1 Generation Of Mice Treated During Spermatogenesis With Mitcmycin C And Ethyl-Nitrosourea, Bethel Elizabeth Imel

Masters Theses

Groups of 10, 8 and 6 HA(1CR) adult male mice were injected by a single intraperitoneal injection with 100 mg Ethyl-Nitrosourea, 2.5 mg Mitomcyin C or a saline Control. Treatment was administered in milligram per kilogram of body weight. Each male was mated to two untreated females during the fifth week after treatment. Progeny were evaluated by observations of reproduction, development, motor reflex, motor coordination and locomotor activity. Decreased weights were seen during the preweaning period among offspring from Mitomycin C treated males. The Mitomycin C group demonstrated consistent deficits in water escape performance. Mitomycin C progeny also exhibited one …

The Effects Of Intermittent Schedules Of Reinforcement On The Generation Of Adjunctive Behavior In Humans, Kenneth L. Hearn

Masters Theses

The primary goals of this study were: (1) to determine if interim behaviors occur with humans responding under intermittent schedules of reinforcement; -and, (2) if interim behaviors do occur, to compare the characteristics of those behaviors with the characteristics of adjunctive behavior in nonhumans. Two developmentally disabled males, ages 15 and 19, served as subjects. The subjects pressed a white panel for food, tokens and plastic objects under several schedules of reinforcement. The response rate on the white panel and the duration of interim behaviors that occurred during the inter-reinforcement intervals was measured using standard electro-mechanical equipment. All behaviors were …

The Hyperactive Child And The Family: A Procedural Approach To Evaluation And Treatment, Marian Maria Sofia Van Dooijeweert

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present thesis is to evaluate the hyperactive child in a manner that true hyperactivity will not be confused with hyperactive behaviors which are caused by illnesses, stress at school, stress at home, and with normal childhood energy.

No two hyperactive children are alike. They vary in personality, problems, strengths, weaknesses, and environment. In general, hyperactive children are said to have several common characteristics such as poor performance in school, short attention spans, impulsiveness, poor motor control, low frustration levels, and an inability to delay gratification of needs and demands.

Clinical experience reveals that most hyperactive children …

Cardio-Vascular Conditioning In Pre-School Children, Patricia Anne Cole

Masters Theses

The effects of a changing criteria token economy system and a self-recording procedure on the duration and accuracy of pre-school children's distance running behavior are examined. In the first study, the use of tokens contingent on gradually longer duration of running times increased the length of time children would run, to twelve minutes, a clinically significant duration. In the second study, the use of package intervention that included a self-recording device and contingent tokens increased the accuracy with which preschoolers followed directions to run a specified number of laps. Tokens alone also increased the accuracy of lap running, but not …

The Effects Of Three Instructional Strategies On The Food Group Labeling Responses In Preschool Children, Jon Jeffery Boes

Masters Theses

This study compared three Direct Instruction procedures for teaching the labeling of food in terms of the five basic food groups (fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, and dairy products). Eighteen preschoolers served as subjects. They were randomly assigned to three experimental groups and a control group. The experimental group was assigned to one of the following instructional procedures: (1) Generative I, (2) Generative II, (3) Generative III. The sets of exercises in the procedures were taught as one track in a Direct Instruction program designed to teach nutrition knowledge. All other exercises in the program were identical for the three experimental …

A Study Of The Differences In And The Interrelationships Between Self-Concept, Personality Constructs, Irrationality And Social Anxiety In Two Different Populations Of Alcoholics, David D. Smith

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in self-concept, physical self-concept, personality constructs, irrationality and social anxiety in two populations of alcoholics differing in length of sobriety. The interrelationships between the aforementioned variables were also examined. Multivariate analysis of individual test means was unable to demonstrate a difference between groups. Discriminative analysis found Identity and Physical Self subscales from the Tennessee Self Concept Scale were able to discriminate between groups. The Hysteria scale from the MMPI was found to have discriminative value. Scales from the Irrational Belief Test, Body Characteristic Scale, and the social anxiety tests were …

The Use Of Twilight Training In The Treatment Of Cigarette Smoking Behavior, John Joseph Seltenreich

Masters Theses

This study involved the application of a relatively new biofeedback training procedure known as twilight training to the treatment of cigarette smoking behavior. Twilight training is the facilitation of a state of low arousal, whereupon audio material designed to affect the health of the subject is presented. Two subjects received training, and the results showed no change in their frequency of smoking and no ability to enhance the twilight state with training. Although the amount of training received differed between the two subjects, there were no differences noted between them. Possible reasons for present results and probable changes for future …

Teaching Behavior Management Skills And Assessing Generalization To The Classroom Setting, Kathleen A. Ratchford

Masters Theses

The present study investigated the effects of written rules and videotape discrimination training on the acquisition, generalization and maintenance of behavior management skills. Three classroom aides and one special education teacher in a classroom for severely mentally impaired students were required to attain 90% mastery on a set of written rules and videotape training episodes. Data on percent correct application of behavior management techniques in the classroom setting were collected prior to and immediately following videotape discrimination training. Results indicated an increase over pretraining levels in all subjects' correct application of behavior management techniques immediately following videotape discrimination training. A …

On The Effects Of Mixed Fi-Dro And Mixed Ri-Rdro Schedules On Rats' Lever Pressing, Marcelo Jose Villareal

Masters Theses

Rats' lever pressing was studied in two experiments involving mixed schedules with equivalent interval and differential-reinforcementof- other-behavior components. It was observed that temporal stimuli controlled latency times when fixed temporal criteria were used, that this control weakened as temporal criteria were increased from 3 to 7 to 15 seconds, and that it was usually weak regarding interresponse times. The mean number of lever presses per trial was likely to increase in the process, although ulterior decreases were apparent for two of the seven subjects. When random temporal criteria (approximately averaging 8 seconds) replaced fixed ones, the response rate increased. Rapid …

Counseling And Support Program For Retarded Adults: A Grant Proposal, Claudia Jo Unruh-Degood

Masters Theses

A grant is proposed to develop a consumer based counseling and support program to provide rehabilitation/ rehabilitation services in the areas of emotional, interpersonal and behavioral functioning for mentally retarded adults. A variety of therapeutic groups and a peer counseling program will be designed to utilize known principles of behavior. Provisions will be made for maximum client-consumer participation in all decision making processes of the program. Pre and post-treatment assessment measures will be employed to evaluate individual progress. It is expected that this treatment program will reduce emotional disturbance and maladaptive behaviors in the target population of mentally retarded adults. …

Open Marriage And Intimacy: A Perspective For Biblical Marriage Counseling, Alton R. Melton

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Death Anxiety: The Need For Death Education In The Christian Community, Steven C. Sitter

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Enuresis: A Case Study, Elaine Lee Phillips

Masters Theses

A 15-year-old male with a history of high rates of nocturnal enuresis was trained using the method of Azrin and Thienes (1978) and Azrin, Thienes, Hontos, and Besatel (1979). The method consisted of a 1 and 1/2-hour in-office training of the child and parents. The parents then conducted an intensive training day and subsequent procedures in the home. The procedures included reinforcement for increased urine retention and dryness, training for increased alertness to bladder cues and sensations of dryness, an over-correction procedure for wetness, and behavior rehearsals of correct toileting sequences. Using this method, the child ceased bedwetting. The Azrin …

The Management Of Blood Pressure Using Progressive Muscle Relaxation Under Nonstressful And Stressful Conditions, A. Janelle Maldonado

Masters Theses

Progressive muscle relaxation was assessed as a method, for controlling "blood pressure under stressful and nonstressful conditions using a multiple Baseline across subjects design* Three borderline hypertensive subjects were trained in two experimental conditions, progressive muscle relaxation under resting conditions (PMR) and progressive muscle relaxation while performing time-limited tasks known to produce temporary increments in blood pressure (PMR + Math). Generalization of training effects to nontraining conditions was assess ed in post-training, task only, sessions and in the home environment. Measures of changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as frontalis EMG were recorded once per minute for …

A Component Analysis Of Hutchings' Low-Stress Subtraction Algorithm With Third Grade Students, Karen J. Lascurettes

Masters Theses

This study measured the effects of what was hypothesized to be the major functional component difference between the Hutchings' low-stress subtraction algorithm and the traditional algorithm: the non-alternation of regrouping and subtraction steps. A multiple baseline design was used with two groups of third grade students. Dependent measures included rate correct, rate incorrect, percent accuracy, and types of errors made. Statistical analysis of the data failed to support the position that the non-alternation of regrouping and subtracting steps in subtraction yielded superior performances with these students. Future research in this area might investigate the inclusion of zeroes in the minuends …

The Effect Of Heroin On The Sexual Behavior Of Males: A Comparison Of Addicts, Their Cohorts, And Other Drug Abusers, Kimberley A. Decker

Masters Theses

The association of heroin use with the sexual behavior of addicts was investigated in the present study. Thirty male heroin addicts at an outpatient drug abuse clinic completed a confidential questionnaire concerning their sexual behavior. Their responses during drug-free and addiction periods were compared to 30 drug-free cohorts and 30 drug-free clients who were admitted to the program for a drug abuse problem other than narcotics or cannabis. A comparison of sexual behavior during addicts' drug-free periods with their cohorts and other drug abusers revealed no significant differences in responses. However, during their addiction periods, ejaculation and erection difficulties increased, …

A Comparison Of Personality Self-Descriptions Using A Structured Personality Inventory And Open-Ended Personality Questionnaire And Critical Incident Survey, Birda Lee Walker

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine whether individuals presented with a well defined list of adjectives demonstrate suggestibility, i.e., would rate themselves differently on the Adjective Check List (ACL), versus the open-ended test such as the Clinical Analysis Questionnaire (CAQ) or Critical Incident Survey (CIS).

The participants in this study were 36 adult volunteers drawn from three different populations: 12 prison inmates, 12 undergraduates from a university, and 12 outpatients of a mental health clinic. The participants were administered the three tests in individual and group sessions.

The prisoners did not fake “bad" or "good" more so on …

Training Self-Control In Food Selection Through Verbal Self-Instruction, Thomas Vincent O'Melia

Masters Theses

This project was designed to teach children self-control through verbal self-instruction and self-reinforcement procedures prior to snack time in order to determine if they would learn to choose more nutritious foods during that period. Food facts and related health information were taught by the use of fictitious stories. In the experimental classroom the children heard stories, approximately 3 to 5 minutes long, that emphasized food facts and related health effects. After the stories, the children were allowed to go to a snack bar to select from "good and bad" foods. A set of questions and information was rehearsed prior to …

Effects Of The Serotonin Depletor Parachlorophenylalanine Upon Shock-Induced Aggression And Pressing Responses In Rats, Robert G. Sewell

Masters Theses

The literature concerning the effects of d, l-parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA) upon shock-induced aggression (SIA) is reviewed and found to be inconsistent. PCPA, a known serotonin depletor, has behavioral effects in a variety of other procedures which collectively suggest that PCPA should produce SIA enhancement. The present study was designed to analyze PCPA (300 mg/kg) effects upon SIA in rats restrained spatially close to an inanimate target and panel operandum. The results showed marked increases in both aggressive biting and panel pressing for several days following each PCPA treatment for each subject tested. These data were interpreted to indicate that serotonin depletion …

Exercise As Antecedent Control Of Various Inappropriate Behaviors, Jan E. Bachman

Masters Theses

The effects of several levels of exercise on inappropriate behaviors of four trainable mentally impaired subjects were observed in a school setting. Treatment conditions, which occurred as the first daily activity, included (a) Phase I, daily alternating conditions of warm-up exercises and jogging at a moderate rate for a short distance; (b) Phase II, daily alternating conditions of no exercise and jogging at a vigorous rate for a moderate distance; and (c) Phase III, jogging at a vigorous rate for a moderate distance on consecutive days. For one subject two additional conditions, (a) Phase IV, jogging on consecutive days at …

Autocorrelation In Behavioral Time-Series Data: The Search Goes On, Robert James Anderson

Masters Theses

Many methodologists have asserted that serial dependency is a common data characteristic of research employing single subject responses measured over time. This dependency, when present, invalidates usage of most conventional data analysis techniques and may necessitate use of Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models which accommodate serial dependency characteristics of those data. Results indicate that minimal levels of serial dependency are present in most areas, yet is higher in areas which sample behaviors at very long or short time intervals and the dependent data usually show linear trend or cycle. A review shows that once trends and cycles are accounted …

The Effects Of Self-Recording On The Generality Of Parenting Behaviors, Sonia Beatriz Meyer

Masters Theses

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of parental self-recording from audiotapes of family interactions on effective parenting skills and on the generality of their application to three different times of the day in which different child behaviors occurred.

Two single parents were instructed to deliver correct commands and differential reinforcement and to code and graph their verbalizations from audiotapes. Self-recording was introduced in one situation at a time, while audiotaped assessments were made by the parent in all three situations throughout the day. Both positive and cost incentive systems were used for the delivery of tapes …