Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Significance Evaluation And Research Potential Of Prehistoric Sites In Thunder Basin National Grassland, Wyoming, Christopher A. Cojeen

Masters Theses

Known and potential prehistoric archeological sites in Thunder Basin National Grassland in Wyoming are examined and problems involved in significance evaluation are discussed. Emphasis is placed upon the need to develop research strategies to contend with two frequently encountered site types -- lithic scatters and stone circles. Some archeologists (Frison 1978; Tibesar et al. 1987) have suggested that further research on these site types would contribute substantially to an understanding to an understanding of High Plains prehistory. In conclusion, a recent attempt to develop a conceptual basis for prehistoric study in Thunder Basin National Grassland is discussed, and some regional …

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 …

Political Leadership And National Development In The Republic Of Korea, Woo-Sung Koh

Masters Theses

This thesis has attempted quantitatively to establish a positive relationship between political leadership and national development in South Korea during the period from 1948 to 1982.

The major concepts used in this study are political leader (President or Prime Minister), task elite (Cabinet Minister), and national development (political stability and socio-economic development). The social background data of the South Korean cabinet ministers were obtained from newspapers, journal articles, and biographical dictionaries.

Since the inception of the Republic of Korea in 19^8, the various regimes have contributed to bring about South Korea's success with national development. However, their records have varied. …

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 …

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 …

Temporal Pattern Of Gluconeogenesis In Diabetic And Non-Diabetic Chinese Hamsters, John P. Ofenstein

Masters Theses

Gluconeogenesis is a normal physiological response of an individual to low blood glucose levels by which proteins are utilized in order to synthesize new glucose. Gluconeogenic rates in diabetic and normal Chinese hamsters were measured, on four different occasions over a 24 hour period, by injecting a radio-labelled precursor (¹⁴C-lactate) into the animals. Then blood was tested for incorporation of the label into glucose. In the fed state, gluconeogenesis shows a circadian change in nondiabetic hamsters as well as in diabetic hamsters, with the diabetic hamsters showing a significantly greater gluconeogenic rate than the non-diabetic hamsters for every …

Pastoral Production Systems In Eastern Africa: A Comparative Analysis, Stephen Speranza

Masters Theses

This thesis aims at examining variations in pastoral production systems of some Eastern African pastoral societies. It explores interactive models for such variations which focus on specific ecological, socioeconomic and social-structural factors of pastoral production per se. These models highlight some of the factors which create differing degrees of homogeneity or heterogeneity among Eastern African pastoral societies in general.

This problem is of intrinsic interest in anthropology because of the general lack of consensus as to the major factors related to pastoral variations in Eastern Africa or more importantly, in determining which factors are directly responsible for influencing modes of …

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 …

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 …

The Effects Of Precipitation On The Quality Of Ground Water And Leachate Seeps At A Stabilizing Landfill, Nicholas C. Pogoncheff

Masters Theses

A monitoring program was established at a landfill in Kalamazoo County, southwestern Michigan to determine the effects of precipitation on selected parameters in landfill lechate as surface seeps and ground water. Approximately 280 ground-water and surface-water samples were collected from monitoring wells and leachate seeps during more than 11 precipitation events throughout the summer and fall of 1981 and analyzed for specific conductance, pH, chloride, and iron.

Results of the study indicate that infiltration through the refuse due to precipitation is a major factor in controlling the levels of selected leachate characteristics and that with high infiltration rates concentrations will …

An Exploration Of The Relationship Among Rhetorical Sensitivity, Communication Apprehension, And Nonverbal Decoding Ability, Mary Aileen Palanca

Masters Theses

This study explored the potential relationship which might exist among rhetorical sensitivity, communication apprehension, and nonverbal decoding ability. Three measuring instruments, the Rhetorical Sensitivity Scale, the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension, and the Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity, were administered to 109 participants, 68 females and 41 males. Gender and age were examined to see what effect they might have on the potential relationship. No relationship was found among rhetorical sensitivity, communication apprehension, and nonverbal decoding ability. In addition, no relationship was found between gender and the three variables or between age and the three variables. However, it is important to …

Effects Of Contingency Contracting On The Academic Performance Of Special Education Students, Carolyn Marie Nock

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of contingency contracting between parent and child on improving the academic performance of three special education students, ages 14-16, enrolled in a mainstream English class. Two of the subjects had been certified as emotionally impaired, the third as learning disabled. A multiple baseline across-subjects experimental design was employed. The completion of three academic contracts per week entitled the subjects to receive a contract consequence which the parents delivered. The parents determined contract completion based on specified criteria. Academic performance was measured by grades the subjects received on homework, tests, and …

A Comparison Of Selected Critical Writings Of Jean-Georges Noverre And Theophile Gautier And Their Continuing Influence On Dance, Kathleen Carol Tenniswood

Masters Theses

This thesis compares selected critical writings of Jean-Georges Noverre and Theophile Gautier and the impact these writings have had on dance and dancers. It also illustrates that the influence of these writings helped to shape the attitudes of the public concerning dance.

Research included primary sources, Noverre's Letters on Dancing and the Ballets and Gautier's The Romantic Ballet, and secondary sources which related to the specific area of dance. This study has contributed to the literature concerning Noverre and Gautiur and has examined their influence from their lives to the present time.

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 …

Recipe Design And Management In A Nutritional Data Base System, Robert G. Trenary

Masters Theses

The Nutritional Data Base System (NDBS) is an interactive information system which provides the user the ability to create and process menus, recipes and food items. Three primary program modules are thus indicated along with modules to translate user requests and process file and directory information. A discussion of standard data base concepts and an application of these concepts to the processing of recipes in the NDBS system is presented. Future possible expansions are suggested and other similar information systems are discussed.

A Computer System For Understanding English Text In A Kindergarten Story, Janice Anne Freyburger

Masters Theses

A computer system for natural language understanding is presented in this thesis. The system attempts to understand English in a limited domain, a kindergarten-level story about three frogs and a puppy. The system is designed with two modes of operations: the text of the story is processed and its information incorporated into a knowledge database; and as a test of the system's understanding, the system answers questions from the user about the text. If any parts of the test or questions cannot be processed, the user is asked for clarification. The functions of this system are described and analyzed. A …

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 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 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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

The Online Subject/Title Catalog Of Western Michigan University, James N. Sleep

Masters Theses

An online subject searchable catalog has been developed to allow public access to the OCLC-MARC subscription tapes of the Western Michigan University Libraries. The system has been implemented on the Western Michigan University Academic Computer Center DECsystem-10 computer and is currently running with access to nearly one hundred thousand citations. During the design of the Online Subject/Title Catalog, statistical analysis of the source data was performed. Paper products based on the OCLC-MARC subscription tapes, such as KWOC indexes, were also developed. A novel feature of this project was the use of SN0B0L4 as the main computer language used.

Community Education, A Cooperative Effort, Mary Tracey

Masters Theses

The summer of 1981 was the period of an internship with the community education programs of Grandville, Jenison, and Hudsonville. It offered the opportunity to work closely with the directors of the three programs and to become actively involved in these programs. Special projects to work on were assigned in addition to the regular duties of the community education directors. One new program was introduced and put into operation during the internship; another was proposed but not accepted and referred back to a citizens ’ advisory committee. This paper will show how the three communities work together to share materials, …

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Two Different Respiratory Valves On Maximal Oxygen Uptake And Heart Rate Response Of Selected Distance Runners, Jeffry Phillip Morgan

Masters Theses

This study compared selected cardiorespiratory responses obtained from two different respiratory valves, the Modified Otis-McKerrow and the Speak Easy, a mask-type valve, during maximal graded exercise testing of eleven distance runners. The results indicated that both maximal oxygen uptake and minute ventilation were significantly different. Values for maximal VO₂ and V_E were lower with the Speak Easy by 24 and 19 percent, respectively. Further analysis revealed that those differences were significant at submaximal levels as well. The trends in those responses show that the differences increase with increasing workload. However, maximal and submaximal heart rates were not significantly …

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 …

Nitrate Levels In The Groundwater Of Kalamazoo County, Michigan, William Robert Norman

Masters Theses

Nitrate levels from 1,978 wells were compiled and analyzed to identify areas having levels above the Federal and State Drinking Water Standards of 10 ppm, identify possible sources of nitrate in each area and determine factors that produce high concentrations of nitrate in groundwater.

Eighteen areas in which nitrate concentrations exceeded 10 ppm were identified. County-wide, 465 (23 percent) of the wells for which data were available produced water with nitrate concentrations above drinking water standards.

Septic tank effluent is thought to be the most common source of nitrate in the problem areas. Agricultural practices are also likely nitrate contrbutors; …