Digital Commons Network^™

A Time-Management Procedure For Helping Graduate Students Accomplish Academic Tasks, Yousef Abdulwahab Abuhmaidan

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of time-management and a task checklist on task completion, the amount of study time and students' grade point average (GPA). A package consisting of a time-management calendar and a task checklist was provided to five Jordanian students. A multiple-baseline across subjects design was used. Individual weekly meetings were conducted to assess the progress of the students on the use of the time-management calendar and task checklist. Students were asked to bring proof of accomplishments for the completed tasks. During the study the completion of tasks went from 64.6% to 92.2% …

Curbing Noncontractual Absences In A Mental Health Setting Through The Application Of Contingent Rewards, Craig A. Crawford

Masters Theses

In this study, the effects of contingent rewards on attendance behavior of direct care staff in a psychiatric institution were investigated. The intervention consisted of a letter of commendation and an opportunity to win a lottery for the staff exhibiting perfect attendance for a two week pay period. A multiple baseline analysis of three units failed to show significant declines in absenteeism although there were areas of significant improvement.

The Effectiveness Of Video Tape Monitoring Of Direct Instruction Procedures Across Teachers, John H. Cottrell

Masters Theses

A multiple baseline across subjects experimental design was used to evaluate the effects of monitoring subject performance and providing feedback regarding the implementation of Direct Instruction (DI) procedures from video taped recordings of the subject's presentations of the DI lessons upon the implementation of those DI procedures. The subjects were two junior high school special education teachers who teach reading using the SRA Corrective Reading; Decoding B program. The DI lessons were recorded on VHS video tape and observational data were recorded during baseline. During intervention, a monitor also provided feedback on the subjects performance using examples from the video …

The Effects Of Adventure Activities On An Objective Measure Of Self-Concept, Marjorie Ellen Bethke

Masters Theses

Although a plethora of studies have linked experiences in adventure education to the enhancement of self-concept, virtually all have been faulted on methodological grounds. In this study the inferential leap from test performance to actual behavior was narrowed, if not eliminated, by utilizing systematic direct observation as an alternative to self-reports. A single behavior, hugs, was isolated as an indicator of self-concept. Eighth grade Outdoor Education students were observed over a baseline period, then engaged in a short-term, intense, adventure education experience. A second baseline revealed an appreciable increase in the rate of hug behavior under select circumstances. The data …

Increasing The Participation Rate For International Behaviorists At The Convention Of The Association For Behavior Analysis, Marsha Lee Benz

Masters Theses

This is a descriptive study that reviewed past participation of International behaviorists at the Association for Behavior Analysis (ABA) convention, to provide sore help to these presenters to improve the experience, and to disseminate behavioral information outside of the United States by trying to Increase International participation at the ABA convention.

These methods were used to Invite the behavioristsi (a) call for papers, (b) personalized invitations, and (c) poster invitations. Procedures used to improve the convention experience weret (a) an interest questionnaire, and (b) pre- and post-convention surveys.

Comparisons were made between the number of International presenters from years 1981 …

The Effect Of Feedback Given To Nurse Aides On Response Latency To Patient Call Lights In A Geriatric Nursing Home, Patricia L. Matuszak

Masters Theses

Feedback has been used in staff performance and management systems in various human service settings. It was applied to four female nurse aides in a geriatric nursing home to decrease response latency to patient call lights. A multiple-baseline-across-subjects design was used with each aide receiving feedback on her mean response time to assigned patients' call lights. Two of the four subjects demonstrated a decrease in mean response times, while two showed little effect after feedback.

A Hydrogeologic Investigation Of The Balkema Wetland, Daniel V. Fronczek

Masters Theses

The Balkema wetland, located In southwestern Kalamazoo County, Michigan, represents complex biological and hydrologic Interaction between surface water and a two-aquifer hydrologic system. Situated on the southeastern flank of the Kalamazoo moraine, the glacial geology of the area plays a key role in the understanding of the hydrogeologic function of the wetland. A two-aquifer system, an upper unconfined, and a lower confined, Interact In the vicin ity of the wetland where the c la y /till aqulclude dividing the two systems 1s absent. Various parameters, both hydrologic and geochemical, were measured In the study area, Including specific conductance values of …

The Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home's Foster Shelter Care Unit: Toward An Evaluation, Michael John Underwood

Masters Theses

A formative evaluation of the Foster Shelter Care Unit was conducted in order to analyze the success/failure of the program during its firs t year of operation. Data on 77 cases were analyzed, and nine Independent variables and one dependent variable were bivariately tested 1n order to provide a theoretical explanation of the success/failure rate.

The evaluation was conducted 1n order to supply the Foster Shelter Care Unit with recommendations to enhance its success/ failure rate and to modify its existing policies.

The success rate for the unit was 48.1%, and it was found that the only significant association with …

Historical & Contemporary Reasons For The Existence Of 17,000 Unreached People Groups And Factors Being Employed To Lessen Their Number, Larry W. Lagrande

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Further Studies On Purification Of A Mannitol Binding Protein: Use Of Ph Gradients For Elution From Cation Exchange Resin, Kristyne Ann Baumgarten

Masters Theses

Studies on the purification of a mannitol binding protein (MBP) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO were performed. Utilizing the alkaline isoelectric point (pi 8.3) of MBP, pH gradients were used to elute MBP from carboxymethylcellulose cation exchange resins. Purification of MBP was monitored by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylam ide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Only one protein band was seen on SDS-PAGE from MBP fractions elutedat pH 7-8 and 8 .2. Although pH gradients appear to give good purification from cation exchange resins, these procedures lead to loss of MBP activity.

Summary And Analysis Of. Scores On The Michigan Educational Assessment Tests For The Portage Public Schools (1980-1984), Jim Migliaccio

Masters Theses

The objective of this study was to identify the specific areas of weakness and strength in the mathematics and reading programs of the Portage Public Schools in grades 4, 7, and 10, by isolating each of the skill areas and the specific objectives within each of those skill areas by comparing the scores of students in the Portage Public Schools with the scores of all other students in the State of Michigan for five (5) years (1980-1984). After identifying areas of strength and weakness, the intent was to recommend possible remedies for those areas determined to be in need of …

Hydrodynamic Character Of The Dundee Limestone In The Central Michigan Basin, Ann Carol Little

Masters Theses

The Middle Devonian Dundee Limestone underlies most of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. A potentiometric surface constructed of the formation, utilizing pressure data was compared to local and regional structure, permeability trends, specific gravity of the brines, oil accumulations, and surficial topography.

The data were distributed mainly in the central basin area, with information becoming more sparse around the basin margins. This created difficulties in the determination of the extent of control imparted by each of the factors, in flow direction. Surficial topography, on a regional scale, is likely the most influential of the controls, with the Dundee Limestone brines …

Auditory Stimulation-Induced Analgesia In Rats: Its Irreversibility By Naloxone, Ilsun Miranda White

Masters Theses

After receiving intermittent exposure to a tone (3000 Hz, 100 db, SPL), rats were tested on a hot plate for analgesia. Rats that received tone alone showed a higher average paw-lick latency than rats that received either naloxone or saline alone. This result indicates that the auditory stimulus used in this study can be considered a neurogenic stressor and may be added to the list of various noxious stimuli that prouces analgesic effects. Naloxone given to tone-treated subjects produced mean paw-lick latencies were comparable to control group latencies for the first two treatment sessions and to tone group latencies for …

Reactive Counterion Surfactant Catalysis Of Hydroxamic Acid Hydrolysis With Perfluorooctanoic Acid, Mohamed El-Sayed Ayoub

Masters Theses

A micellar effect upon the rate of hydrolysis of hydroxamic acids in aqueous perfluorooctanoic acid has been demonstrated for hydroxamic acids with chain lengths of six , eight, and ten carbons. In this system the counterion, hydrogenion, is a catalyst. Typical rate constant-surfactant concentration profiles for micellar catalysis were obtained. The results for these hydrolyses are consistent with the pseudo-phase model for micellar effects.

In addition the Arrhenius activation energies were determined for the reaction of octanohydroxamic acid at surfactant concentrations above and below the critical micelle concentration of the surfactant. The activation energy is lower for reaction in the …

A Study Of The Reliability And Validity Of A Social Skills Rating Scale For Use With Chronically Mentally Ill, Susan J. Egeler

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and concurrent validity of the Social Skills section of the Day Treatment Client Assessment, a series of rating scales used to assess behaviors of chronically mentally ill adults. Forty-one clients enrolled in a day treatment program formed the 4 subject groups. Each group met for three 1-hour music therapy sessions specifically designed to foster social behaviors. Three observers participated in each group and rated the clients' behaviors using the Social Skills scale. The observers' ratings were correlated with each other to determine the scale reliability and were correlated with staff …

Cognitive Levels Of Thinking For Religious Training Materials And Infusion Across The Curriculum, Patrick Low

Masters Theses

The major accomplishment of this project was the creation of cognitive levels of questions spanning Bloom's (1964) taxonomy of learning, fostering religious training in nontraditional class settings at Kalamazoo Christian High School, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Classes involved were business mathematics, health, and physical education.

Descriptors, i.e., key terms, were developed from teachers' goals and objectives. Descriptors were then checked in a concordance to help develop Scripture reference for question development. Weekly or biweekly, participating teachers and the curriculum committee were supplied draft sections of the project; they gave feedback relative to usefulness and acceptability.

The results have been termed "very useful" …

The Relationship Of Job Performance To Exercise In A Hospital Fitness Program, Sheryl A. Porter

Masters Theses

An investigation of the relationship between job performance and exercise was conducted over a one year period among a group of hospital employees. Participation in the in-house fitness program was voluntary. The experimental group was employed a minimum of one year prior to the study and exercised at least twice a week the first year the fitness program began. Job performance ratings were compared to a matched group using a correlated t-test. The findings were non-significant.

The Effects Of Instructions And Cue Controlled Relaxation Training On Cardiovascular Reactivity To Social Stressors, Patricia A. Fettes

Masters Theses

Cue controlled relaxation (CCR) training was compared to simple instructions to relax and control blood pressure on the basis of their effects on cardiovascular reactivity to role played social stressors. The CCR intervention consisted of training subjects to say a cue word ("calm") that had been previously paired with muscular relaxation responses, during presentation of stressors. The instructions intervention was associated with significant reductions in blood pressure reactivity, regardless of whether this condition preceded or followed the CCR condition. Factors that may relate to the relative ineffectiveness of CCR are discussed, as well as those that may have been responsible …

The Post-Exercise Cardiovascular Response Of Post Myocardial Infarction Males To Varying Water Temperatures In A Hot Tub, Janeen S. Docsa

Masters Theses

This study compared heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiographic response of post myocardial infarction males taking either vasodilator and beta blocker or just beta blocker medications, and a control, to different water temperatures in a hot tub. Twentysix adult males were observed. Each subject engaged in exercise, then sat in a hot tub for 12 minutes. Each subject repeated this procedure three times, once at each water temperature (36.6°, 38.3°, and 40°C).

The data during immersion indicated: (a) heart rate was affected by increased temperature and duration of exposure; (b) blood pressure was affected by length of exposure; (c) frequency …

Isolation And Characterization Of The Dimers Formed In The Free-Radical And Anionic Initiated Polymerization Of Alpha-Methylstryene, Kevin S. Bosman

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Classical Elastic Scattering For Heavy-Ion Nuclear Reactions, John C. Orrison

Masters Theses

Numerical computer programs were developed to calculate the classical elastic scattering orbits, deflection functions and differential scattering cross-sections for a heavy-ion nuclear reaction model.

Critical points of the deflection functions and differential scattering cross-sections were examined.

Semiclassical modifications were developed for future study to account for the phase relation between independent orbits that lead to the same scattering direction.

A Biomechanical Analysis Of Running Variances Due To Physiological Fatigue Among Highly Skilled Female Distance Runners, Alison B. Stanford

Masters Theses

The problem of the study was to investigate the effect of physiological fatigue upon mechanical alterations in running. The investigation involved a biomedical analysis of kinematic parameters which compared running mechanics of subjects both fresh and fatigued.

The study revealed numerous alterations in running mechanics associated with fatigue. Maximum vertical displacement of the body's center of gravity was found during the toe-off phase and was significantly less during fatigue. Stride lengths were found to be as much as 2.72 feet shorter during fatigue and stride times as great as .42 seconds shorter. Extension of the support leg was less and …

An Investigation Into The Numeric Solution Of Linear Recurrence Relations, Dennis Lee Kapenga

Masters Theses

This is an investigation of the use of some techniques from numerical linear algebra in solving linear recurrence relations.

The classic methods of Oliver and Lozier are compared with several alternatives. These alternatives center on using advances in the theory of numerical linear algebra, computer software, and raw computer performance which have been made in the 15 years since the original research into linear recurrence relations was done.

A set of test examples is presented to provide a basis to compare solution methods. This set of examples was selected to allow experiments associated with the Poincare class of recurrence relations. …

Instructional Leadership: The Role Of The Director Of Library Services For The Grand Rapids, Michigan, Public School District, Judy A. Deruyter

Masters Theses

The purpose of this project was to familiarize the intern with the position of director of library services. A review of the district's media program enabled the intern to assist in the district's media program and work on the curriculum development changes that would be occurring during the duration of the internship.

The major results of the internship were a district handbook detailing policies and procedures for the media specialists and, using Appleworks (Lissner, 1983), a computer program was written for library management and utilization.

Important aspects of the project were curriculum work sessions and the resulting plans for implementing, …

Auditory Temporal Processing Abilities Of Autistic Children, Theresa L. Bender

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Structural Investigation Of A Basement-Involved Thrust System In Southern Sphinx Mountain Quadrangle (Madison Range) Southwestern Montana, Jeffrey Scott Brown

Masters Theses

The Madison Range is the eastern limb of the Laramide Rocky Mountain foreland Madison-Gravelly Arch. The main segment of the Madison thrust system in the map area is the basement-involved Scarface thrust which dips westward, trends north-northwest, and places Archean rocks onto an overturned footwall of Cambrian through Cretaceous rocks. Foliation of Archean rocks in the footwall is folded with overlying sedimentary rocks.

The Shedhorn Mountain thrust splays from the Scarface thrust. It is exposed north and south of the Shedhorn Mountain anticline, but is blind beneath it. The Taylor fault, an east-dipping back thrust, is inferred to be associated …

Stratigraphic And Sedimentologic Analysis Of The Middle Devonian Filer Sandstone, John Charles Rodwan

Masters Theses

The Filer Sandstone, a multistory assemblage o£ lenticular sand bodies, is a member of the Middle Devonian Amherstburg Formation of the Detroit River Group in the subsurface of the western and central portion of the Michigan Basin. It is distinguished from the reworked eolian and nearshore marine sand facies of the underlying Sylvania Sandstone by recognition of its barrier island facies relationships and stratigraphic position within enclosing carbonates unique to the Amherstburg Formation. Lithologically, the Filer ranges from a fine-grained, carbonate-cemented, supermature quartzarenite at its upper shoreface facies, to a texturally-inverted sandy carbonate at its lagoonal facies. Facies distribution was …

Experiment Module For Microprocessor Based Data Acquisition And Speech Processing, Namazi Bin Azhari

Masters Theses

This project involves microprocessor applications to the acquisition of physical data. The experiment module developed here will help the physics teacher and the scientist demonstrate the uses and advantages of digital techniques to students. Specific examples of data acquisition and processing are illustrated using speech and repetitive waveforms. The project centers on a module that is programmed to perform a number of types of data recordings and processings.

An Analysis Of Potential Adjunctive Behavior In Two Developmentally Disabled Subjects, Nancy K. Brhely

Masters Theses

Past research on adjunctive behavior in humans has generally not employed methods which are comparable to those included in studies of adjunctive behavior in nonhumans. Consequently, the results of these studies of adjunctive behavior in nonhumans. Consequently, the results of these studies are often difficult to interpret. The present study examined locomotor movement and salient self-stimulatory behaviors in two developmentally disabled students exposed to four fixed-interval (FI) schedules of food delivery (FI 16-, 60-, 120-, and 240-sec). Results of this study were analyzed according to whether the seven defining characteristics of the prototype of adjunctive behavior, polydipsia, were present. Locomotor …

Effects Of Seating Arrangement On Affective Meanings And Group Interaction In Healthy Senior Citizens, Judith Ann Boughton

Masters Theses

Occupational therapists state that environmental factors (seating arrangements) influence behavior. This ex post facto study examined the effect of peripheral versus central seating arrangement on interaction (verbalizing and looking), affect, and group climate in 41 healthy senior citizens. Nine men and 32 women aged 62 to 83 participated in two collage activities (creative and imitative) in either a parallel/nonsharing group or a project/ sharing group. Seating arrangement was added to an earlier study's independent variables (creative and imitative activities, and sharing and nonsharing groups). Dependent variables consisted of three factors of affective meaning from the Osgood Semantic Differential, evaluation, power, …