Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

A Contextual Study Of Hair Imagery In The Poetry Of Emily Dickinson, Marlene M. Slough

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Statewide Comparative Study Of Enhanced Referral Services Given To Teenage Mothers Offered By The Illinois Child Care Resource And Referral System Through The Teen Parent Initiative Program And The Non-Enhanced Referral Services Given To Teenage Mothers Offered By The Illinois Child Care Resource And Referral System, Melissa M. Cruz

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Nutrition Facts Label Made Easy: Development, Implementation And Evaluation Of A Label Education Workshop, Kathy Kemper

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

An Evaluation Of The First Year Implementation Of Sesame Street Pep, Kathryn J. Collier

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

An Evaluation Of The Reading Recovery Program At Hawthorn School In Salem, Illinois, Glen A. Bryant

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Subversive In Hyperspace: C.J. Cherryh's Feminist Transformation Of Space Opera, Susan J. Eisenhour

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Male Serial Killers And The Criminal Profiling Process: A Literature Review, Jennifer R. Phillips

Masters Theses

A review of the relevant psychological and sociological literature regarding serial killers is presented. Also described is the investigative process and the procedures involved in constructing accurate criminal profiles. This paper examines the definition, characteristics, and classifications of male serial killers. Additionally, the paper discusses various motivations for killing serially, the importance of fantasy, and emotional, cognitive, and behavioral processes in the serial killer. The process of criminal profiling, which is a relatively new and innovative proactive and reactive investigative procedure, is also described as a tool used frequently in the investigative process of serial homicides. Also described is the …

Counseling College Athletes: Career Choices Based On Motivation, Interest, Gpa, And Academic Major Among Selected Division I, Ii, And Iii Institutions, Don D. Dawson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to provide descriptive and statistical data to identify any differences in three college divisions of men's basketball and baseball student athletes as they related to career decision making in their career interest, academic major and grade point average.

Concepts of this study were originally tested by Dr. Joseph Scott Paul (1986) in his doctoral dissertation, The Intercollegiate Athlete as a Student in Higher Education: An Analysis of Career Expectations, Interests, and Academic Majors.

This study will include men's basketball and baseball student athletes at three different institutions in three different divisions. The research describes …

The Assertive/Vulnerable Dimension Of Dreaming Style, William Andrew Peters

Masters Theses

This study involved the exploration of the Assertive/Vulnerable dimension of dreaming style. Assertiveness and Vulnerability, as characteristics of dreaming experience, were measured using the Dreaming Style Questionnaire-Revised that was derived from a revision of Gruber's 1988 Dreaming Style Questionnaire (DSQ.) For this study, the DSQ-R was administered to approximately 2500 participants. The structure, reliability, validity and waking correlates of the Assertive/Vulnerable scale of the DSQ-Revised was explored. Factor analysis replicated the Assertive/Vulnerable dreaming dimension, first uncovered by the original DSQ, as predicted, with the ten Assertive and Vulnerable items loading together to form one bi-polar factor. The exploration of sub-scales …

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 …

Parental Opinions About Full Day Kindergarten, David R. Carey

Masters Theses

This study focused on the opinions that parents of kindergarten children in Community Unit School District #1 in Charleston, Illinois, have about full day kindergarten and its perceived impact on their children. The Charleston district does not offer full day kindergarten. The study was conducted during the month of February, 1996. It examined whether or not parents of current kindergarten students in Charleston, Illinois would have taken advantage of the opportunity to send their children to full day kindergarten had it been made available. Parents were asked to answer more detailed questions to determine why they answered the way they …

Developing A Student Code Of Conduct For North Clay Jr. High School, Don Carlyle

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to develop a student code of conduct for students in the North Clay Junior High School in Louisville, Illinois. At the time of the study the author was the principal of the North Clay Elementary I Junior High School. The North Clay Junior High School had a student discipline policy called the General Guidelines For Discipline developed by the author. The author constructed a survey instrument to assess the effectiveness of the North Clay Junior High School's General Guidelines For Discipline.

The survey was completed by teachers, students, and parents. The building principal and …

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 …

Wage And Employment Effects Of The North American Free Trade Agreement On The U.S. Manufacturing Sector, Abm Ekramul Nasir

Masters Theses

According to the conventional theories of international trade, trade liberalization equalizes factor prices across countries involved in trade. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a newer form of regional economic integration between a developing country, Mexico, and two developed countries, the United States and Canada. Complying with proposition of conventional theories, it is rational to expect that NAFTA will lead to equalization of factor prices among theses three countries. On the other hand, the existence of a wide gap in wages between the United States and Mexico may lead to lower wages in the U.S.A. This study, however, …

An Investigation Of Transitional Bilingual Programs In Cook, Dupage, Kane And Will Counties In The State Of Illinois, Robert Schwindt

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to investigate transitional bilingual programs in Cook, DuPage, Kane, and Will counties in the State of Illinois. A review of literature reveals that the State of Illinois guideline of three years was not sufficient to allow non-English speaking students to be exited into regular education classes at a level commensurate with their English speaking peers. This study also reviewed transitional bilingual program models in Cook, Dupage, Kane and Will counties in Illinois and revealed a shortage of bilingual teachers and aides. Use of the results of the study will improve the existing transitional program …

A Study Of Secondary School Principals' Perceptions Regarding The Practice Of Special Education Discipline In The State Of Illinois, Debra Linnae Green

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions and observations of principals at the senior high school level in Illinois concerning the methods and procedures currently used in the discipline of students identified as learning disabled, socially and emotionally disabled, and educationally mentally handicapped students.

Many different methods of discipline have been introduced and recommended by educational experts in the special education field.

Suspension and expulsion procedures have been used for many years by public school principals in order to achieve disciplinary control of students with and without disabilities. Even in cases where suspension or expulsion was warranted …

A Study Of School District Compliance Efforts With The Americans With Disabilities Act In Illinois Schools, Roger L. Eddy

Masters Theses

The problem of compliance with state and federal statutes while maintaining a healthy financial picture in a school district has long been a challenge for the educational community. The passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is an example of legislation which has caused school districts to evaluate their educational program as it relates to accessibility, opportunity and accommodations of people with special needs. Indeed, this statutory compliance also challenges school districts to comply while maintaining a sound financial basis. The constraints of funding has made the ADA an even greater challenge than some statutes.

This study was conducted …

The Status Of Automated Accounting Instruction In Secondary Schools In Illinois, Bradley Donnald Kilcullen

Masters Theses

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to find characteristics of schools that teach automated accounting in Illinois. A survey instrument was developed which requested information about school size, computer facilities, demographics about the instructor, and other items that may be useful in finding information about the instruction of automated accounting.

Procedures

This study was conducted in high schools randomly selected in the state of Illinois. Accounting teachers from 250 selected schools were surveyed from the population of 760. Two mailings of the survey instrument were delivered. 151 responded to the first mailing while 28 more responded to the second …

Money Demand Determination In China, Jiang Wu

Masters Theses

This paper provides an estimation of the money demand in China using a basic theoretical framework based on the quantity theory of money. Besides conventional independent variables included in the quantity theory of money, both the expected rate of inflation (serving as the measure of the opportunity cost of holding money) and the extent of monetization in China (serving as an institutional variable) are included in the money demand function. It is supposed that changes in the demand for money in China between 1952 to 1989 were highly correlated with the institutional shifts in monetary sector.

An Investigation Into The Superintendents' Perceptions Of The Benefits Of Instructional Technology In Illinois Schools, C. Michael Shride

Masters Theses

A review of the literature indicated that instructional technology is not new in education. The rapid rate in which it has grown and continues to grow in education makes it a very important issue. Superintendents are in key leadership positions where instructional technology is concerned. Their roles are changing from that of a manager to that of a highly technical leader. The purpose of this study was to examine the perception of superintendents of public schools toward instructional technology. A survey was sent to 50 superintendents in public schools in Illinois in order to determine how instructional technology was used …

Availability Of Technology In Rural And Small Town Central Illinois K-12 Public School Districts, Robert H. Ehlke

Masters Theses

In the current technological information based society there is a critical need to integrate technology with education. Although many technologies have been available for over 20 years, public educational institutions have been slow to acquire and use the technological advances in the classroom for instructional purposes. In order to help the state and the communities of Illinois develop technology plans to meet the technology needs of K-12 public school districts in rural and small town Illinois, there was a need to investigate the availability of existing technologies. This study was conducted to determine the present condition of K-12 public school …

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 …

Ecology And Community Relationships Of The River Cooter, Pseudemys Concinna In A Southern Illinois Backwater, Michael J. Dreslik

Masters Theses

In Illinois the River cooter, Pseudemys concinna, is an enigmatic endangered species. Even throughout its range, ecological studies on the River cooter are rare. During 1994 and 1995 I quantified the: growth rates and trends, population size and structure and dietary habits of a population from floodplain lake in Gallatin county, Illinois. Population estimation (Schnabel method) predicted 136 individuals at a density of 4.6 turtles/ha with a biomass of 3.6 Kg/ha. The sex ratio is slightly male biased (1:1.14). From back-calculated growth data, the von Bertalanffy growth model (Fabens' method) estimates males with a higher growth rate (k) and …

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 Investigation Of Procurement Programs Of School Districts In The Effingham Area, Fran Thoele

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate procurement practices in school districts within a fifty-mile radius of Effingham, Illinois. This investigation was conducted to determine if seeking competitive quotes for cafeteria, janitorial, athletic/PE, teacher, and transportation supplies could be cost effective. The review of literature and research presented compelling arguments for finding ways to save money on these routine supplies. The survey instrument was the basis for seeking respondents' perceptions of the procurement practices currently being utilized. Twenty-nine participants returned valid surveys for a 55% return rate. The findings of this study will be used to develop a plan …

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 …