Digital Commons Network^™

Quest For Survival: What Comprises And Effective Team, Kathleen Brayer

Theses

The journey to thrive competitively in the millenium will demand teamwork. Historically, corporate America has had difficulty implementing teams to drive performance. In theory building effective teams seems easy but in reality putting this knowledge into practice that changes behavior and fosters learning is a difficult challenge for corporations today. Through a series of 13 interviews this study benchmarks both the service and manufacturing industry to identify the characteristics about what comprises an effective team in organizations today, how their organizational design impacts team development and the different ways that people learn, think about and understand teams in organizations. Developing …

Customer Service Goes To College, Donald Hudspeth

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a feedback model that can be used to gather data from students that have shared a common educational experience at a college in Croatia. Historical data was researched on surveys, interviews, and focus groups in order to discover the characteristics of each. The characteristics were classified as either a strength or a weakness of each of the models. The operating constraints of the college were identified as the effect that cultural differences can play in the collection of data and the financial budget. After these constraints had been applied …

Evolution In The First Person, Elouise Oyzon

Theses

Discusses the production of the artist's computer animated piece which is based upon experiences during pregnancy.

Exploring The Effectiveness Of Counseling Programs Designed To Promote Positive Behavior Changes In Young Children, Gwendolyn Pruitt-Donnell

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of counseling programs designed to improve school and classroom behavior of young children. The study focused on an eight week session Behavior Management Program for 4 groups of students. Each group had 9 students which included 32 participants in all. The groups met once a week for 30 minutes. The participant's school and classroom behavior was monitored daily during treatment. Teachers were asked to rate the participants on behaviors using the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale - 39 before and after treatment. The results of the study supports that counseling programs …

A Comparison Of Self-Esteem In Stepfather And Nuclear Family Children, Nancy Briggs Collins

Theses

Not available.

Self-Managed Work Teams: How Implementation Plans Affect Success Or Failure, Julia E. Meeker

Theses

This applied learning project will deal with the implementation of empowerment in an organization and the importance of an implementation plan.

Research shows that resistance to change by management or front line employees can lead to the failure of the change. Resistance to change is a normal human reaction but can be minimized through effective change management.

Effective change management includes clear, understandable, complete communication at the appropriate time. The development of a change implementation plan can reduce the resistance to change by providing information that addresses employees concerns regarding the proposed change.

The purpose of this project is to …

The Rural Older Adult Population And Transportation Services, Penny L. Isenmann

Theses

OAT . incorporated provide transportation service throughout the state of Missouri. OATS initially began serving the rural population of older adults. OATS now provides transportation for non-emergency Medicaid patients. Head Start, and other organizations.

Demographics, mobility, gender differences, normal age related changes. cognitive and physical impairments and disabilities are discussed in relation with driving and mobility needs Transportation affects all aspects of the older adult's life.

The White House Conference on Aging and the OIder Americans Act were influential in legislation which began funding transportation services tor older adults. Federal. state and local governments. and private agencies are responsible for …

Own-Brands : An Investigation Into Their Development And Potential In The Irish Grocery Market, Mary Patricia O'Connor

Theses

The title of the thesis “Own-Brands - An investigation into their development and potential in the Irish Grocery Market” illustrates what the thesis hopes to explore.

The overall value of the own-brand market is approximately £350 million, which represents almost 17% of total grocery expenditure in the Irish market. The last few years have seen a resurgence of own-brand with major Irish owned grocery retailers shifting from primarily low cost no frills staple goods to a focus on quality marketable goods at value for money prices, to rival the brand leaders in their respective categories and to compete with the …

Career Maturity: A Comparative Study Of Adults With Attention-Deficit Disorder And Adults Without Attention-Deficit Disorder, Christine L. Mason

Theses

A comparative study was conducted to explore the differences in career maturity in adults with a diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) and adults without a diagnosis of AD/HD. Thirty adults with AD/HD and thirty-three adults without AD/HD completed a personal data questionnaire and My Vocational Situation (MVS). The control group also completed a twelve question screening instrument for AD/HD. The data was statistically analyzed using independent sample t-test for equality of means.

The Relationship Between External Locus Of Control And Test Anxiety In Late Adolescence, Diana L. Michaelson

Theses

This study examines the relationship between external locus of control and test anxiety in late adolescence. Locus of control was measured through the I,P,C scale based on Hanna Levenson's (1974) theory. Test anxiety was assessed through the use of the State Trait Anxiety Scale as developed by Speilberger ( 1970). The research focused on the state, or situational anxiety experienced as the result of the announcement of a pending test. The hypothesis stated that those exhibiting characteristics of external locus of control (powerful others and chance) will exhibit some form of test anxiety. The sample used for this research was …

A Study Of The Impact Of Peer Mediation On Attitudes And Behavior Of Sixth Grade Students, Melanie Penerman

Theses

Students encounter conflict situations daily in school settings. Some are able to ignore or walk away from the conflicts. Others are not equipped with the skills necessary to deal with conflicts. The search for proactive and creative responses to youth violence has propelled many educators to seek programs that will teach kids how to develop non-violent solutions to conflict

The purpose of this research study is to determine the changes in students' attitudes, skills and behaviors for managing conflict in the school setting as a result of the initiation of a peer mediation program. Participants for this study involved students …

Concerns Of Gifted High School Students Related To Their Giftedness, Donna P. Spiegel

Theses

Adolescence is a time of change and uncertainty. Adolescents strive for belonging and acceptance while concurrently seeking a unique identity. Research on gifted adolescents demonstrates that as a group, they exhibit good psychosocial adjustment. Other research contends that being both gifted and adolescent may make some, vulnerable to certain difficulties. This study uses an author- designed survey to examine the concerns of 63 gifted high school students from four school districts in suburban St. Louis. Survey items reflect concerns expressed in the literature and are clustered into areas of concern: existential concerns, internal conflicts, school/academics, expectations of others, perfection/fear of …

The Relationship Between School Counselor's Perception Of A Supportive School Climate And Reported Level Of Job Satisfaction, Kimberly A. Nelson

Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between a school counselor's perception of a supportive school climate and reported level of job satisfaction. School climate was determined using the School Climate Scale, while job satisfaction was determined using the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. Participants in this study were randomly selected from a list of all counselors employed in a school counseling position as of January 1998, obtained from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Analysis of the data was completed using the Pearson r to assess the correlation between school climate and job satisfaction.

The Relationship Between Personality Type And Career Pathway Choices Among Ninth And Tenth Grade Students, Margaret Mcilroy Goodin

Theses

Two hundred three ninth and tenth grade students from a small, rural. public high school were tested using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator {MBTI) Form G. Students were divided into six groups on the basis of their previously chosen career pathway. as prescribed by the Missouri Model Guidance Program. using the Career Pathways Interest Inventory (CPIJ). The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a significant relationship between personality type and career pathway choice among adolescent students. The two variables were compared using a chi-square statistical analysis. Results indicated that a significant relationship between personality type and career …

Differences In Self-Perceived Family Health Between Eating Disordered And Non-Eating Disordered Individuals, Karen M. Wright

Theses

In this study, the constructs of autonomy and intimacy which were key concepts in the separation-individuation process were studied in relation to eating disorder symptomology. Eating disordered individuals receiving counseling were compared to a non-clinical sample of graduate and undergraduate students. The hypothesis tested was that eating disordered women will perceive their family as significantly less healthy as compared to non-eating disordered women. This was determined by the overall score of perceived family health as measured by the Family of Origin Scale. At-test for independent samples indicated a significant difference. The researcher also hypothesized that non-eating disordered women would report …

The Relationship Between Working Status Of Mothers And Parental-Child Attachment, Sherri Denise Brown

Theses

The factors which influence the development of attachment between mothers and children were examined in this study. The researcher specifically looked at the differences in attachment with regard to the mother's work status during infancy. Thirty-five adolescent subjects completed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment test (lPPA). The subjects were categorized into four groups based on what their mothers' work status was during their infancy. The information regarding work status was obtained through a demographic sheet completed by the parents of the subjects.

The test completed by the subjects consisted of twenty-five statements regarding a relationship with their mother. …

Crisis Communication Response For Field Offices Of The Airline Pilots Association, Gina L. Butikofer

Theses

This project-based thesis examines the issue of crisis management, focusing on communication as an integral part of an organization's response to crisis. It explores the benefits of a crisis communication plan to successfully respond to a crisis situation and explores the components, writing style and considerations of a manual that make such a plan useable. This research highlights these communication challenges in relation to the airline industry, and more specifically, to the branch offices of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), by applying the information gathered into a written crisis communication manual.

Chapter one of this thesis discusses the importance …

One Of Tennessee's Women, Jeanne Chinn

Theses

The Library of Congress lists over eighty books that deal exclusively with Tennessee Williams. A vast number of these books cover anecdotal information about Tennessee's personal life, experiences, and relationships through his emotionally turbulent life. A great deal of biographical material presents conflicting accounts and many authors claim to have " the real story'' on Tennessee's life and loves.

If the reader is interested in titillating tidbits on Tennessee, this is not the paper to read. However, Mr. Tennessee Williams wrote from bis heart and his life experiences. Because of this, attention needs to be paid to how he drew …

Knowledge And Attitudes Among Graduate Counseling Students At A Private Midwestern University Toward Transracial Adoptions, Rebecca Hamer

Theses

The purpose of this study was to survey the knowledge and attitudes among Graduate counseling students toward transracial adoption, at a private university in the midwest. This study used a questionnaire designed to gather information on racial issues, parental roles, risk to a successful adoption and the graduate's education and training. The study identifies information on whether students will be prepared to deal with families who seek counseling as the number of transracial placements increase.

The Influence Of Health Care Service Quality On Patient Satisfaction, Mary Ann Hackmeister

Theses

This thesis will concentrate on the delivery of health care services and the influence the level of service quality has on patient satisfaction.

The health care industry continually experiences changes. but the changes that have occurred over the past five to ten years have occurred quite rapidly. These changes have altered the way that patients view delivery of health care services. Those within the industry itself, including physicians, administrators. and staff members, have been faced with many challenges.

From a competitive standpoint alone, today's health care environment is drastically different from the previous decade. Declining revenues for the health care …

Aggression And School Performance Among Seventh-Grade Students Enrolled In A Midwestern Suburban Middle School: A Social-Cognitive Behavioral Perspective, Gayle G. Anderson

Theses

Aggressive tendencies constitute a consistent behavioral pattern that spans early childhood through preadolescence, adolescence, and adulthood. Researchers have linked high levels of preadolescent aggression with adolescent adjustment problems in school, the home, and community. This study explored the relationship between aggression levels and school performance among a sample of seventh-grade students. Thirty subjects were randomly selected from a seventh-grade class (n=230) located in a midwestern suburban middle school. Behavior and academic performance was associated with aggression levels as measured by the Missouri Children's Behavior Checklist (MCBC) among this sample. Academic performance, as measured by Grade Point Average (GPA) was negatively …

Position And Power: Birth Order And Its Relationship To Personality Type, Lesa M. Chastain

Theses

This study investigates the relationship between birth order and other factors with psychological personality traits. Students from seven public and private elementary schools, in a mid-western state, participated in this study. Those included in this study had to meet the following requirements: students could come from families that had up to four consecutive children, none of which were more than three years apart in sibling age. There were sixty-five elementary students who participated. Participants completed a blind questionnaire and were then given the children's version of the MBTI called the Murphy-Meisgeier Type Indicator for Children. The questionnaire revealed their birth …

A Study Of The Relationship Of Adolescent Self-Esteem With Parental And Peer Attachment, Julie A. Cervenka

Theses

This study examined adolescent attachment to parents and peers and its relation to their self-esteem. Attachment to parents and peers was operationalized with the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPP A) by Greensberg and Armsden ( 1987) and self-esteem was operationalized by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE). A convenient, volunteer sample was used from a high school in a suburban area of St. Charles County, Missouri. The 127 adolescents ranged in age from 15 to 19 with an average age of 16 years. The sample included 120 Caucasians (94.4%), 5 African Americans (4%), 1 Hispanic (.8%), and 1 Asian …

Issues Of Spirituality And Gender Differences, Michael J. Brawn

Theses

This study focuses on issues of spirituality and gender differences. The often interchanged terms of religion and spirituality are described, and the antagonism of science towards religion which has fostered a dearth of literature is reviewed. Implications for counseling are offered, and observations regarding gender differences are provided. The hypothesis that men and women do not differ on measures of spirituality is examined using the spiritual Well-Being Scale (Ellison & Paloutzian, 1983). Study participants were 45 males and 79 females from a church congregation of moderate Protestants. Results suggest that on measures of spiritual well-being, and on indices of religious …

Intimacy In Marriage: A Comparison Between Married Men With Children And Married Men Without Children, Kurt D. Soell

Theses

This investigation explored the differences in perceptions of levels of intimacy in their marriage between married men with children and married men without children. Participants completed the Intimacy Scale (IS). Levels of intimacy were compared between both groups using a two-tailed independent T-test. The results showed that married men with children showed significantly lower levels of intimacy than married men without children. This study will review definitions of intimacy, marital satisfaction, the development of intimacy, how to improve on intimacy, how to experience intimacy within marriage, and how intimacy is related to the transition to parenthood.

The Knowledge Of Dementia Among Nursing Staff Working In Special Care Units, Julia M. Gray

Theses

Dementia is a growing concern among the elder population. Special Care Units in long-term settings are becoming common placements for elders with dementia. The nursing staff within Special Care Units ideally have additional training in dementia. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the knowledge of dementia among nursing staff working in Special Care Units.

The Relationship Between Job Satisfaction And Caregiver Burden In Female Social Workers Who Care For An Elderly Relative, Joanne K. Kerns

Theses

This study examined the relationship between job satisfaction and caregiver burden in 29 female social workers employed full time at the Missouri Division of Family Services in St. Louis County. Because of multiple caregiving roles experienced by social workers who also care for an elderly relative, it was hypothesized that there would be a significant negative correlation between job satisfaction and caregiver burden. The Caregiver Burden Scale developed by Zarit, Reever, and Bach-Peterson was used to determine caregiver burden. Job satisfaction was determined by Holland and Guttfredson' s Career Attitudes and Strategies Inventory Job Satisfaction scale. No correlation was found …

A Factual Review Of How Nursing Homes Are Accommodating The Elderly With Mental Illness, Martha L. Straughter

Theses

Thanks to improved drugs, diet and medical treatment, America's population is living longer than ever. While this is certainly a good occurrence, there are problems arising from it. Experts are seeing that many of these elderly people have a variety of mental illnesses. These illnesses have either been with the individual since youth, are the result of a deteriorating mind. State hospitals and other mental health facilities are unable to provide continuous, long-term care for the large number of elderly affected with these unfortunate illnesses.

This thesis will address this complex, ever-growing, issue in three parts by identifying and defining …

The Relationship Between Self-Esteem. Locus Of Control, And Gender Among College Athletes, Rhonda J. Kane

Theses

Studies have shown that female athletes can have lower self-esteem than male athletes as they deal with the challenges and issues that arise as they progress through adolescence and become young adults. Researchers have implicated the gender socialization process which places the role of the female athlete in direct conflict with traditional female roles. This casual-comparative study examined differences in self-esteem and locus of control between female athletes and male athletes. Forty-three females and thirty-two males completed the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and the Levenson Locus of Control, I, P & C Scales. The results suggest the self-esteem of female college …

Effects Of Religiosity And Problem Type On Counselor Description Ratings: An Alternative Population Study To Guinee And Tracey, Victor W. Landers

Theses

This analogue study reexamines the work of Guinee and Tracey ( 1997), repeating the interaction between pre-counseling information, religiosity, and problem type and its subsequent effect on counselor ratings of social influence and willingness to seek help. The author assessed members of a large rural county in the Mid-west using an inventory of Christian beliefs. After providing a presenting problem and reading self-descriptions of secular (nonreligious), spiritually empathic, or Christian counselors, participants responded to the Counselor Rating Form-Short and Willingness to Seek Help scale. Based on a paired sample t test, the interactions between participant religiosity and counselor description is …