Digital Commons Network^™

The Efficacy Of Teaching Conflict Resolution, Joan E. Grigaitis

Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of Conflict Resolution Programs in an elementary school. The question to be studied was whether incidents of disciplinary referrals would be reduced after implementing a Conflict Resolution Program. The entire student population of Simpson Elementary School for the academic years 1994-1995 and 1995-1996 served as subjects for this study. Disciplinary referrals were tallied for the students for the 1994-1995 academic year (i.e., the "control" group or prior to the Conflict Resolution Program). A Conflict Resolution Program was implemented coincident with the start of the 1995-1996 academic year. Disciplinary referrals were …

Derivation And Modelling Hue Uniformity And Development Of The Ipt Color Space, Fritz Ebner

Theses

Metric color spaces have been determined to be significantly non-uniform in the hue attribute of color appearance. Several independent sources have confirmed the non-uniformity. A data set was obtained during the course of this thesis work that contains the largest sampling of color space to date which can be used to compare models of color appearance. The data set obtained was compared to existing data sets and found to correspond closely. Lookup table methods were employed to test significant differences between data sets. A simple modeling approach was taken based on commonly understood color space models and knowledge of the …

Aba/Lovaas Treatment For Autism And Pervasive Developmental Disorders In The Monroe County Area, Kelly Byrne

Theses

The purpose of this project was to provide school psychologists, and other professionals, an overview of the ABA/ Lovaas programs being implemented in the Monroe County area (upstate New York). Parents were surveyed, in order to gather information on the Applied Behavior Analysis/ Lovaas method they are using to treat their child. To provide additional information about the children participating in the project, a direct observation of the child was conducted and a rating scale was completed (Childhood Autism Rating Scale). Ten families participated in the project, with the child's ages ranging from 37 months to 66 months. Project results …

Using Impact Group Therapy With Middle School Students With Behavioral Disorders, Jennifer Marafioti

Theses

Middle school students with behavioral disorders offer the greatest challenge to standard group counseling curriculas. Their age places them at the threshold of adolescence which is a notably difficult stage of development. Their disorder places them at risk of peer rejection and school failure. The rationale for developing a group counseling toolbox is to make it easier for counselors to utilize a multi-sensory approach with this unique population of students. This curricula will consist of group counseling activities appropriate for middle school students with behavioral disorders as well as the props needed to facilitate success.

Psychological Service Delivery In The Schools: Has There Been Rapid Reform?, Tracey Schrader

Theses

Psychological service delivery in the schools was investigated through a mail survey of eighty-one practicing school psychologists in Central New York State. The response rate was 42%. Actual and preferred practices within both alternative and traditional service deliveries were investigated to discover the extent to which reform has occurred in the field of school psychology in the 1990's. Possible factors that could be perceived as barriers to preferred service delivery were also studied. Significant differences were found between actual and preferred practices, as well as between the average percentage of time spent in both alternative and traditional service deliveries. Results …

Mirroring The Life Of Their Times: The Group Legacy In The Changing Face Of Theatre, Christopher J. Stephens

Theses

Christopher J. Stephens’ thesis, Mirroring the Life of Their Times: The Group Legacy in the Changing Face of Theatre, explores the enduring influence of the Group Theatre on American theatre practice, particularly in actor training and ensemble performance. Founded during the Great Depression, the Group Theatre was inspired by the work of Stanislavski and the Moscow Art Theatre, but evolved its own distinct ideology rooted in realism, political engagement, and emotional truth on stage. Stephens traces the formation of the Group through the efforts of Harold Clurman, Cheryl Crawford, and Lee Strasberg, examining their emphasis on ensemble acting, psychological …

Effect Of Peer Mediation Program On Short-Term Suspensions, Alison Sharp

Theses

Peer mediation has been proposed as a means to reduce violence within our schools and improve conflict resolution skills. In this study, peer mediation's effect on short-term suspensions for fighting, both aggregate and individual, was examined. Qualitative data was gathered from student mediators in one school to assess their views of and experiences with mediation. Records kept by two mediation programs were analyzed as well. The number of short-term suspensions for fighting in four urban middle schools was analyzed for 62 middle school students given short-term suspensions for fighting and subsequently mediated within the 1996-97 school year. Significant reductions in …

Samuel Florman And Literature Of Technology, Paul F. Sharke

Theses

In 1996, engineer and author Samuel Florman asked why engineering and technology had been represented only lightly in literature. From a mere handful of books dealing with this topic, he named The Control of Nature (1989), by John McPhee, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974), by Robert Pirsig, and The Soul of a New Machine (1981), by Tracy Kidder, as being among the best examples of a literary expression of engineering. These three works are examined here in light of Florman's own four books on the subject of engineering, The Existential Pleasures of Engineering (1976), Blaming Technology …

Psychodynamics Of Language, Pamela Ann Margerm

Theses

This work examines the origins of our existing principles of communication to observe patterns of language and their causes. The study surveys twenty-five hundred-years of Western language and writing and its evolution through cultural interaction. The nature of this evolution is the topic of this thesis. There are four periods of time that are studied for their influence on language and writing: the Late Classical Period, the Early and Late Medieval Period, the Early Renaissance, and the Twentieth Century. The study revealed that language and writing have always had a significant metacognitive function within Western culture. Language and writing have …

Development Of A Practical And Effective Technique To Determine The Complete Level Of Autonomic Neural Activity During Stress, Vikki Hazelwood

Theses

Clinical evidence exists to suggest that an individual's level of stress contributes to the state of many physiological and psychological disorders, The autonomic nervous system, by adjusting parasympathetic and sympathetic activity, is attributed with the control over an individual's level of neural stress. Therefore, it is desired to develop a better and quantitative understanding of the stress! autonomic system mechanism.

Previous work has been done to gain a partial understanding of such activity. The primary objective for this study is to complement and advance the previous work by determining whether there is other physiological data which could reveal more about …

Motion In Graphic Design, Yuh-Yun Peng

Theses

This project analyzed how the psychological feeling of motion can be performed on a non-moving graphic design space. It focused on the visual expression, psychological interpretation and functional usability of motion in graphic design. It involved a methodological analysis of the structured interaction between motion approaches and graphic design elements. In order to represent the analysis and possible progression of this project, the Motion Card Pack was designed to supply the whole range of motion definitions including 64 strategies, which gave users detailed information about motion in graphic design. This pack also encourages users to use the cards as creativity …

The World Of Illusions, Joel Rosen

Theses

This thesis describes the development of a computer program which demonstrates several optical illusions. The illusions are accompanied by explanatory text and analysis. The software is multimedia in nature, incorporating video and sound. The author used Macromedia Shockwave and Director to create the thesis show, entitled "The World of Illusions."

Darkness Within, Virginia Gibson

Theses

This thesis presents an analysis of a body of work that I completed between September 1995 and April 1996. I will discuss the raison detre for the work and the historical touchstones that have influenced my thinking and my style. Aspects of the body of work that show its main technical and thematic currents will be discussed. Finally I will present some details of my method of working and how that method works in consonance with the thematic content of the work. My work is at one time intensely personal and, if executed properly, personal to the viewer as well. …

Heaven On Earth, Elena Cambio

Theses

None provided.

Self-Advocacy And Self-Determination Skills In Middle School And High School Students: A Transition Needs Assessment For The East Rochester Union Free School District, Connie Izzo

Theses

Students with learning disabilities have a unique need to acquire self-advocacy skills and an attitude of self-determination to facilitate their successful completion of secondary school, as well as to enable them to transition to college and the workplace. The following paper considers the issues of learned helplessness and locus of control with regard to the need for direct instruction in self-advocacy skills and other skills leading to self-determination for students with learning disabilities. Included are the results of a needs assessment survey conducted in grades 7-12 of a suburban school district. Forty-two students with learning disabilities were administered a survey …

Clio-The Youngest Of The Muses, Denise Wellenstein

Theses

None provided.

Predicting Academic Achievement In Deaf Poulations Using Measures Of Learning And Memory, Kelly Gleason

Theses

The purpose of this study was to (1) examine the correlation between a test of academic achievement (SAT-9) and a test of cognitive ability (WISC-III PIQ), and between a test of academic achievement (SAT-9) and tests of memory and learning (TOMAL VSR and WSR subtests), and (2) to examine the degree to which each type of test (either WISC-III PIQ, TOMAL WSR, or TOMAL VSR) is predictive of achievement in several achievement areas for deaf and hard of hearing children. The TOMAL WSR and VSR subtests were administered to 30 children enrolled at a school for the deaf in Buffalo, …

School Psychologists' Attitudes Toward Grade Retention, Jill Ortlieb

Theses

A national survey of the attitudes of school psychologists regarding grade retention were investigated in this study. An attitudinal survey was sent to 500 members of the National Association of School Psychologists; the response rate was 49%. The results of the study showed that school psychologists tend to believe that retention is a harmful practice.

Siblings Of Children With Disabilities: The Needs And Adjustment Of Today's Nondisabled Siblings, Lynn Carragher

Theses

This study examined the adjustment of nondisabled siblings of children with a disability. Factors such as family income and characteristics of the nondisabled child as they relate to psychological, behavioral, and academic functioning, and parents' perceptions regarding the needs of nondisabled siblings were explored. Specific attention was given to determining parents' interest in sibling support groups. Study participants consisted of 65 parents who had at least one child between the ages of 5 and 21 with a disability and at least one nondisabled child between. the ages of 5 and 18. The primary caregiver was asked to complete a 22 …

Gays In Aa: How Do They Benefit From The Program Of Alcoholics Anonymous?, Madonna R. Riesenmy

Theses

Objective: Recovering gay alcoholics report that, although the experience of AA is beneficial for them, they have needs different from that of heterosexuals and place dissimilar demands on the program of Alcoholics Anonymous (Ratner, 1988, Paul, Stall, & Bloomfield, 1991). Some of these needs and demands are evidenced in the ways gay alcoholics make use of sponsors, meetings, and gay meetings (Kus, 1987, 1994, Hall, 1994). The present study examines the incidence of relapse and three aspects of recovery: sponsorship, meeting attendance, and attendance at gay meetings during the first year of recovery. Method: A group of gay recovering alcoholics …

Creativity Methods In The Design Of Home Office Seating, Sung-Hyan Kang

Theses

None provided.

Introduction To Pollution Prevention Concepts In Freshman Chemistry Through Simulations And Hypermidia, Aniraban Bhaumik

Theses

As citizens of the 20th century, a key issue we all are aware of is degradation of the environment. In the interest of teaching the environmental issues to freshmen engineers, this study develops a computer aided learning/teaching (CAL/T) tool.

This CAL/T tool consists of Internet based multimedia courseware and intelligent simulations. The courseware assembles the fundamentals of chemistry associated with current environmental issues such as air pollution, stratospheric ozone layer depletion and environmentally sensitive or 'clean' manufacturing. The courseware targets early and comprehensive understanding of pollution prevention concepts with a focus on environmentally friendly manufacturing. The courseware includes: on-line text, …

Spiritual Immigration, Carmen Hernandez

Theses

The thesis presents my personal and external interpretations of people who have been directly or indirectly involved with the immigration process. First, each migration consists of unique elements based on the culture and circumstances of the immigrant. Personal experiences are important to the development of this theme. Individual perceptions of the sea as a migratory vehicle are used to interpret these unique elements. Second, the theme is developed from a humanistic viewpoint. Finally, theories such as the search for Utopia and historical events like the Cuban mass migration to the US are utilized to help understand the immigration process. These …

Strange Bed Fellows: A Case Study Of Merging Departments Through Employee Participation, Eugene Alibrio

Theses

The purpose of this study is to identify key areas of importance during a merger of two hospitals' Food and Nutritional Service Departments. The study shows that it is vital to include the staff in developing a mission and vision. This creates a future vision that is action oriented and in which all staff have a vested interest. The nineties have proven to be a time of rapid change. The changes implemented by the Food and Nutritional Services of Optima Health were rapid and unsettling for most staff. This case study discusses what went well, what did not go as …

Analysis Of Rochester Institute Of Technology's United Way Campaign, Cheryl Lund

Theses

The United Way is an organization that exists for the purpose of helping people in need and bringing about positive social outcomes for the public good. Raising sufficient funds through donations continues to be a challenge in the face of decreasing public assistance, and increased cynicism in the United Way caused by the United Way scandal of 1992. The general downward trend of donations to non-profit organizations is reflected in the donations to the Rochester Institute of Technology's United Way campaign. In the past, employee participation in RIT's United Way campaign was 73%, which has been decreasing throughout the years …

Depression Or Suicide In The Elderly: A Guide For Caregivers, Betty Lou Browning

Theses

This project examines elements of depression and suicide in the elderly. An emphasis on accurate assessment for depression and potential suicide is an integral part of the project's focus. An overall theme evident in all references is how hopeless the elderly feel prior to thoughts, plans and actions to end their lives. Depression shows through signs of helplessness, passivity, detachment, physical debilitation, and despair. Biological, sociological, psychosocial and psychological factors associated with aging are discussed. The specific topics and teaching modules provide guidance with the hope that caregivers will begin to understand the devastating desperation that precedes elderly suicide attempts …

Awareness And Usage Of Alternative Medicine In The Elderly Black Population, Deborah Martin Burks

Theses

Alternative medicine covers a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches and therapies. When these therapies are used alone they are referred to as ' alternative'. When they are used with conventional therapies or other alternative therapies then they are referred to as complimentary.

Alternative medicine also embraces health beliefs and practices that fall outside of orthodox medicine. They offer the opportunity for an individual or case manager to explore alternative forms of healing when conventional treatment alone is not effective. Research has shown an increased interest in alternative medicine for the treatment of chronic illness.

The overall goal of this …

Evaluation Of The Role Of Fructosamine As An Indicator Of Diabetic Control, Katherine Hooley

Theses

Diabetes mellitus, a common metabolic disease, is characterised by excess circulating glucose concentrations. Such a hyperglycaemic status provides the stimulus for irreversible glycation (non-enzymatically post-translational) of structural and functional proteins. Protein glycation, although a cause of complication (neuropathy, micro/macrovascular disease), provides a time-averaged index of diabetes status and control. In particular, glycated plasma proteins analysis, i.e., the fructosamine assay, has received favourable response due to its speed, simplicity, low cost, and ease of automation. However, lack of standardisation and a universally-accepted calibrant has limited technical and subsequent clinical confidence in fructosamine analysis. In response, a comprehensive technical evaluation (including novel …

A Correlation Study Of Male Coping Skills And Marital Satisfaction In Dual Career Families, Marian Neumarker Petri

Theses

This study examined the relationship between male coping strategies and marital satisfaction among men in dual-career couples. Thirty-one male subjects who are currently in a dual-career family participated in this study. These subjects were white, Non-Hispanic, college graduates, living in a mid-west city in the state of Missouri. Participants were voluntary and at least one person of each couple was a professional educator. Each male individual completed a demographic questioner, Dual Employed Coping Scale (DECS), and the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMS). The survey was returned by mail as to retain anonymity. The results did not show that there is …

Virtual Reality Modelling Of A Cnc Machine, Damian O'Sullivan

Theses

The increasing importance of training and upgrading skills has led to the use of new interactive technologies in the development of more effective training tools. Previous techniques for training Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine operators, while excellent for their time, varied from brief inexpensive tutorials to expensive on the job training. A CNC machine uses a computer to perform the functions of the machine using a part program stored in the memory of the computer. This thesis describes a Virtual Reality (VR) model of a CNC milling machine, implemented within a VR environment representing a CNC workshop. Its development and …