Digital Commons Network^™

The Attitudes Of Children With Specialized Language-Learning Needs Toward Process Writing, Kara M. Mcalister

Masters Theses

Students with specialized language-learning needs, who had participated in a computer-based writing lab at Western Michigan University, were interviewed regarding their knowledge about and attitudes toward a process approach to writing instruction. The students orally answered questions posed by the researcher in individual thirty-minute interviews. A Likert-type scale was used to measure the students' attitude toward process writing along with open-ended questions to investigate the students' knowledge about process writing. Qualitative techniques were used to analyze the data.

Responses to the knowledge questions indicated that the students have a better understanding of the meaning and purpose of author groups than …

Development In Drawings And Language Of Young Children With Hearing Impairments, Daniel Carey Nordenbrock

Masters Theses

The use of free choice drawings and contingent questions as prompts to enhance oral language development in young children with moderate to profound hearing losses was the focus of this descriptive and experimental study. The effects of contingent queries (scaffolding) on drawing and oral language were measured using a single subject experimental design in which a staggered baseline was followed by treatment replicated across two sets of students at two levels of language abilities. An extensive coding system for dependent drawing and language variables was developed and utilized for analysis.

The major findings of this study were that the use …

The Effects Of Interactive Songs On Syllable Production In A Child With Agenesis Of The Corpus Callosum, Kelly D. Beens

Masters Theses

Agenesis of the corpus callosum is a disorder which has been the focus of clinical research on various tasks involving interhemispheric transfer of information. However, therapeutic intervention for individuals with this disorder has not been located in the literature by this researcher. Speech-language therapy for a five-year-old male incorporating interaction with songs was employed to activate various portions of the congenitally separated cerebral hemispheres and to encourage information transfer through non-traditional ways to facilitate syllable production.

The child received speech-language therapy for 15, 30-minute sessions. He was prompted to participate physically (with actions or manipulation of props) and verbally in …

Gophers, Ghosts, And Electronic Dreams: A Feminist Critique Of New Literary Forms, Jennifer Sue Boyers

Masters Theses

New literary forms was used as a method to show that women writers construct notions of objectivity, subjectivity, reflexivity and privilege fundamentally different than do males who are writing new literary forms. A narrative new literary form construct was employed and epistemological issues were explored in a self-referentially reflexive way.

The history and epistemological assumptions of new literary forms was explored in order to provide a context for the study. The feminist critique examined the use of autobiography in sociological writing, looked at women writers in the area of science studies, and explored essentialist and non-essentialist feminist epistemologies.

It was …

Hardware/Software Codesign And Simulation With The Occam Programming Language, Roy L. Krans

Masters Theses

Hardware/software codesign is an increasingly popular method for improving system performance and adaptability while minimizing cost. The goal of this design approach is to achieve the desired system characteristics (performance, fault tolerance, cost, power consumption, etc.) by carefully distributing the system functions among hardware and software components. Popular tools for describing this dual hardware/software functionality are behavioral languages such as C++ and Ada. These languages typically include facilities for both traditional sequential programming as well as behavioral modeling.

This thesis examines the effectiveness of occam as a behavioral language and its role in hardware/software codesign. The occam language is used …

Characterization And Expression Of Pseudomonas Fluorescens L-Arabinose Dehydrogenase: Genetic Elements In Pseudomonas Putida, Carol M. Wierenga

Masters Theses

An assay based on the spectrophotometeric properties of NAD/NADH was developed to detect the degradation of L-arabinose to L-arabinolactone. This assay was used to determine the expression of the L-arabinose utilization genes contained in Pseudomonas fluorescens and in the plasmid, designated pPZ221, contained in Pseudomonas putida. The results from this assay, in conjunction with various growth kinetics, indicate that pPZ221 is inducible and repressible for L-arabinose utilization. Thus, the P. fluorescens chromosomal insert in pPZ221 for L-arabinose utilization does appear to contain the regulatory genes necessary for controlling the expression of an L-arabinose operon.

The Crisis Of Perception In Education: The Scientific And Historic Evolution Of Systemic Educational Reform, Cynthia C. Phillips

Masters Theses

This study presents a literature synthesis that pertains to the evolution of systemic reform. A hermeneutic and heuristic template illuminates the historical tapestry of educational reform. Examination of the antecedents of four waves of educational reform, indicates that an impending paradigmatic shift parallels and perhaps prompts the evolution of systemic reform. The learning organization metaphor builds the synthesis for the following supposition: the history and philosophy of science drive the construction and deconstruction of mental models held by society. The crisis of perception alludes to the possibility that current mental models, established under the Newtonian paradigm, serve to motivate dysfunctional …

The Effect Of External Heat And Humidity On Levels Of Perceived Exertion While Performing A Submaximal Bicycle Test, Erika E. Hanselman

Masters Theses

The effect of changes in environmental conditions on perception of the intensity of exercise using the Borg scale for rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was the focus of this study. Subjects (n= 10) recruited opportunistically from graduate classes in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department performed the test in a climate control chamber located in the Exercise Physiology lab at Western Michigan University. The submaximal test followed the protocol established by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM, 1991).

Each subject performed each of the four conditions three times. Conditions were assigned in random order to each subject. Perceived …

The Use Of Selected Anthropometric Measures In The Prediction Of A One-Repetition Maximum For The Bench Press Weight-Lifting Exercise, Gerald L. Thomas

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if selected anthropometric measures would accurately predict a one-repetition maximum (1RM) for the bench press. Sixty-two college students, 29 males and 33 females, were measured on six selected anthropometric variables and the criterion measure, a 1RM for the bench press. The independent variables were upper arm circumference, chest circumference, wrist circumference, lean body mass, and a 10-repetitions maximum (10RM). Pearson product moment correlations and multiple regression analyses were calculated for all subjects and for each gender. Regression equations involving a number of different combinations of variables were explored. The results indicated the …

The Effect Of The Active Ankle Brace On Ground Reaction Forces, Andrew D. Howell

Masters Theses

The problem of this study was to determine the effect an ankle brace worn for stability had on ground reaction forces. Ground reaction forces present when performing a step down from a height of 8.0 in. while wearing an Active Ankle Brace were compared to the ground reaction forces when not wearing the brace. Subjects (N=50) were randomly assigned to a testing condition. A metronome set at a rate of 100 bpm controlled the walking cadence of the subjects. Subjects were told to walk with a normal gait pattern, at the required cadence, and to use a heel strike landing. …

Planar Over The Cell Routing, Srinivasa R. Danda

Masters Theses

Planar over the cell routing in standard cell layouts is an important problem and it has been studied quite extensively. In two layer standard cell design methodology, Ml layer is typically used for connections internal to the cell, and the M2 layer is available for routing over-the-cell. In this thesis, we consider the Two Row Maximum Planar Subset (TRMPS) problem in Over-The-Cell routing. The TRMPS problem requires selection of the maximum planar subset of nets, which can be routed between two rows of terminals in a cell row. This problem was first encountered by Cong, Liu, and Preas [3]. They …

A Unified Approach To Multilayer Routing, Sreekrishna Madhwapathy

Masters Theses

Several Over-the-Cell (OTC) routing algorithms have been proposed for two and three layer processes. All the existing OTC routers assume that the terminals are laid out in a specific predetermined fashion. These restrictions on the terminals complicate the task of cell design and increase the width of the cells.

In this thesis, we report two results. First, we present a new layout methodology, for obtaining minimum width cells, with arbitrarily located terminals. Next, we develop a multilayer routing approach, which is independent of the cell model used in the layout design. Freed from fixed terminal placement restrictions, cell designers can …

A Feasibility Study For Using Computerized Water Well Records To Delineate Areas Of Recharge-Discharge Potential, Lauren D. Hughes

Masters Theses

A method for delineating areas of recharge-discharge potential has been developed utilizing computerized water well records. The methodology is based on the vertical head differences found between wells with shallow depths of submergence and those with deeper depths of submergence. The residual values generated represent the magnitude of vertical potential and can be contoured to delineate areas of recharge-discharge potential. Well data were obtained from the Kalamazoo County Groundwater Database. Well selection was based on depth of submergence and total well depth.

The methodology was tested in Texas and Schoolcraft Townships, the Donnell Lake Study Area, and Kalamazoo County. Regularly …

The Influence Of The Local Community Upon Economic Development And Employment: A Case Study 1991-92, Daniel R. Boone

Masters Theses

Leaders in local communities can influence economic development and employment. This paper reviews positive as well as preventative approaches local leaders can use to ensure vital urban employment.

We look at Albion, Michigan, a small industrial community, as a case study. The city was experiencing the threat of a loss of approximately 700 foundry related jobs during the period of the "study visit." We had the opportunity to observe the community act and react. We learned not only the tools and processes employed but we gained insights into the economic developments in the American industrial society.

Geophysical Investigation At The Mouth Of The St. Joseph River Valley And Adjacent Lake Michigan Shoreline In St. Joseph And Benton Harbor, Michigan, David L. Seng

Masters Theses

A combination of geophysical methods were employed in an attempt to characterize a small section of the shoreline of the St. Joseph, Michigan, region of the Lake Michigan shoreline. Electrical resistivity and Ground Penetrating Radar profiles conducted along the shoreline and within the nearshore environment reveal a buried valley of the ancestral St. Joseph river. This valley represents incision of the channel during lowered lake levels at the end of the Pleistocene.

Lakeward dipping radar reflectors are identified throughout the study site. Within the buried valley the reflectors are not glacial till as is the case outside the inferred valley …

The Nature Of Law And Its Effects On Certain Criminal Acts: A Comparative Study Of Saudi Arabia And The State Of Michigan, Abdulrahman Almejel Alfaraj

Masters Theses

The nature of law and its effects on certain criminal acts was the focus of this study. In this study the researcher compared the effect of two laws: (1) Saudi Arabia law which is a sacred law, and (2) the State of Michigan law which is a secular law. This comparative was on three criminal acts: (1) Homicide, (2) Rape, and (3) Theft. The data for this study were based on secondary data obtained through records available to the public. The purpose of this study is to examine and to compare the nature of punishment for crime and its effects …

Race And Language On A College Campus, William H. Dozier

Masters Theses

This research was used to measure the attitudes of students toward African American English at a predominantly European American University. It was hypothesized that significant differences would be found between the responses of the African American and European American students. Using a random telephone survey of the population, three (Language Legitimacy, Language Acceptance, and Cultural Value) of the four hypotheses were found to be significant. The fourth hypothesis (Employment Inhibition) was rejected indicating that both groups felt language was used as an employment stratification device. The data showed that although there were significant differences in the attitudes by race over …

Hydrogeochemical Delineation Of A Groundwater Flow System, Berrien County, Michigan, Patrick J. Bartnik

Masters Theses

The objective of this study was to examine the possibility of determining groundwater flow directions from natural variations in groundwater chemistry. Groundwater samples were analyzed for major cation and anion concentrations. These data were to have been contoured and then compared with groundwater flow maps generated by conventional methods. The purpose was to determine whether a correlation could be drawn between the two methods. However, the results of the study did not allow for this comparison.

The plotted major cation and anion data did not lend themselves to contouring, which suggests that greater control may be required during the selection …

An Experimental Apparatus For Studying Differential Scattering Of Multiply-Charged Ions From Neutral Targets Following Capture, John Edward Edens

Masters Theses

An experimental apparatus has been designed, enabling measurement of angular differential cross sections for single-electron capture (SEC). The design consists of a microchannel plate detector with a one-dimensional position sensitive anode. A bow-time shaped aperture was employed to convert a radially scattered distribution into an approximate linear one. An electrostatic retarding grid was used to separate SEC contributions from the reaction products. Measurements were made of the angular differential cross sections for SEC of Ar^q+ (q=4-6,8) ions scattering from He and Ar at impact energies of 600 to 3000 eV and angles between 0 and 23 mrad. The experimental …

Structural Effects On Micellar Catalyzed Hydrolysis Of Hydroxamic Acids With Perfluorooctanoic Acid As Surfactant, Xing Zhang

Masters Theses

This thesis demonstrated the structural effects on micellar catalyzed hydrolysis of hydroxamic acids with prefluorooctanoic acid as the reactive counterion surfactant in aqueous acetonitrile solution.

For different hydroxamic acids, the observed pseudo-first order rate constant-surfactant concentration profiles were obtained and were used in the determination of critical micellar concentrations (cmc).

The micellar catalytic effect was satisfactorily explained by the pseudo-phase ion exchange (PPIE) model. The PPIE model was successfully applied in the determination of the reaction rate constants both in the water phase and in micellar pseudo-phase.

Further investigation into more appropriate hydroxamic acids is suggested in order to obtain …

Curriculum Packet Serving Autistic, Educable, And Trainable Students With Mental Impairments, Amy E. Upham

Masters Theses

The education of the special needs population has been an ongoing debate since the creation of special education classes. While some educators feel that a slower version of the regular education curriculum is appropriate others feel that there is no room for the regular curriculum in the education of the autistic, educable, and trainable mentally impaired population.; In this thesis the research reviewed will support the need for a functional curriculum which emphasizes the areas of; self care/ personal development, basic math and language arts. The research will stress that a watered down regular education curriculum will not meet the …

Effects Of Witnessing Domestic Violence On Children, Theresa L. Bundy

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of domestic violence on children. The main questions explored were the effects of domestic violence on the self-perception and behavior of children. The children at a shelter for domestic violence completed the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children and the Self-Perception Profile for Children, depending on the child's age. The children also completed a questionnaire on their views of relationships and their future. The mothers of the children completed a standardized scale that paralleled the scale completed by the children, along with questionnaires on the …

An Analysis Of The Primordial Soup Hypothesis With Respect To Dna Structure And The Genetic Code, Jennifer A. Hart

Masters Theses

The primordial soup hypothesis is currently the most popular origin of life theory. This hypothesis suggests that DNA and self-replicating organisms were formed out of a warm, aqueous environment on the surface of the prebiotic earth. However, recent studies have shown that the primordial soup hypothesis is not only lacking in factual support, it is also internally flawed. The primordial soup hypothesis is statistically impossible, and it does not adequately account for the origin of the specified complexity of the genetic code. The very nature of the genetic code requires an intelligence source. Universal experience shows that specified complexity is …

Measuring Knowledge Of Developmentally Appropriate Practice While Comparing And Exploring Disciplines Of Study, Learning Styles, Degree Of Flexibility, And Values Of Students Enrolled In A Home Economics Child Development Laboratory, Kathleen A. O'Rourke

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Assertive And Alternative Discipline Methods Within 33 Rural Southern Illinois Elementary School Districts, Paula Jean Harlan

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Advantages And Limitations Of The Block 8 Schedule In Illinois High Schools, Philip L. Shelton

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Angola: A Victim Of The Cold War Cross-Fire, Johnson Kofi Kuma

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Lying And Cheating Behavior In School Children, David Workman

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Attributions Of Young Adhd Children, Who Are On Medication, Tonya M. Brinkman

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Synthesis And Characterization Of Novel 5,6-Disubstituted 1,10-Phenanthrolines, Liansheng Zeng

Masters Theses

Two new ligands, 5-amino-6-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline (5-NH₂-6-NO₂-phen), produced by amination of 5-NO₂-1,10-phenanthroline, and 5,6-diamino-1,10-phenanthroline (5,6-(NH₂) ₂-phen) ,produced by reduction of 5-NH₂-6-NO₂-phen, have been synthesized and characterized. The ligand 5-NH₂-6-NO₂-phen has been coordinated to a Ru(II) metal center to produce the Ru(II)-polypyridine complex [ (bpy) ₂Ru (5-NH₂-6-NO₂-phen)] (PF₆ ) ₂ (bpy= 2, 2' -bipyridine) . This complex has been characterized by IR, UV-Vis, ¹H-NMR, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) .