Digital Commons Network^™

The Controversy Of Sex In Advertising, Tammy Bankhead Wright

Theses

Advertising has been highly criticized due to its power to influence people's attitudes and actions. Advertising is the nonpersonal communication of information, usually paid for and persuasive in nature, about products, services or ideas of identified sponsors through various media.

The main idea that will be developed in this culminating project is the fact that although sex in advertising is a part of our culture and society, as a communications device, the use of sex in advertising is not always effective and does not sell most products.

There will be no actual debate to determine what amount of sex in …

Alcoholism In The Elderly, Jo Ann Koehler

Theses

The purposes of this study were to examine the problem of alcohol abuse in the elderly, to look at the physician's understanding, detection, and treatment of this subject, and to gain knowledge regarding the older adult's view of this problem, and the willingness of these adults to discuss it openly with health professionals.

The methodology employed in this research project was qualitative. Information was obtained from both physicians and older adults through brief questionnaires. The sample consisted of 61 physicians and 47 older adults.

Findings suggest that physicians may be deficient in the knowledge needed to detect and treat alcohol …

An Examination Of Attitudes In Females Identified With An Eating Disorder, Iris Jo-Ann Lee

Theses

The main purpose of this study was to investigate attitude demonstrated by participants in an outpatient multidimensional group treatment program for eating disorders. The problem concerned clarifying the attitudinal differences between eating disordered and non-eating disordered females after involvement in a time-limited treatment group. Procedural guidelines of the study were described for two groups designated as 5 eating disordered experimental subjects and 29 non-eating disordered control comparison subjects. Both groups completed the Eating Disorder Inventory, a 64-item self- report inventory which allowed measurement at pretest and posttest intervals. Data from this measure were collected before the beginning of treatment and …

Smoking Behavior Of Women In A Chemical Dependency Treatment Program, Bonnie L. Hoeckelman

Theses

The research question which will be discussed is smoking behavior in women who are participating in a treatment program for chemical dependency . The women subjects were between 18 and 40 years old . This study explored the relationship between smoking behaviors and substance abuse behaviors including alcohol usage . A sample, chosen at random, completed a personnel interview and a questionnaire. The research identified several areas that were similar between the smoking behavior and substance abuse. These areas included environment, personality, peer relationships and situational cues. The associated behaviors that began at the preadolescent age carried over into the …

A Simplified Drive-Reinforcement Model For Unsupervised Learning In Artificial Neural Networks, David B. Suits

Theses

Partly in response to the apparent limitations of explicit symbol processing used by traditional artificial intelligence research, there has been, within the last decade, a growing interest in artificial neural networks. This thesis focuses on the development and testing of a model for describing certain kinds of biological phenomena. The many artificial neural networks available may be classified into three types: (1) self-organizing networks, which have input but no feedback; (2) unsupervised networks, requiring minimal feedback (perhaps a signal indicating success or failure); and (3) supervised models, which employ far more extensive (and, I think, biologically implausible) feedback mechanisms. In …

Quality Circles: "Teaming Up" At The Electric Utilities, Steven W. Mistler

Theses

The :focus of this project is the hypothesis that productivity of employees of utilities will improve in terms of increasing quality of their service, while controlling operating costs if they participate in teams involved in the decision-making process.

With the government taking steps to deregulate the sale of electrical energy, electric utilities will be thrown into a competitive market for the first time. Managers will find it necessary to keep quality high, while keeping rates low.

As American industry faced competition from Japan, management began to adapt the programs used by Japan to fit their own organizations. One successful program …

Ageism And Lesbians: An Exploratory Study, Suzanne Murdock-Amant

Theses

Ageism, not aging, oppresses. Women are oppressed by other women as well as by themselves . This is an exploratory study of the root sources of ageism in the lesbian community, speculating about t he conscious and unconscious motivations around ageism. It is assumed to be clear to all lesbians who have shunned patriarchal notions, build- in negation and diminishing of women, that ageism distracts lesbians from the pursuit of t he essential self, the very identity which lesbianism makes possible.

One old lesbian writes that she thinks it ironic that even in a woman-identified society like the lesbian community, …

A Comparison Of Family Stress With Gifted Children And Non-Gifted Children, Cynthia R. Motley

Theses

The goal of this research was to design and test a psychological attitude measure intended to compare the stress experienced in families of gifted children with the stress experienced in families of nongifted children. After a review of the literature, evaluation by 5 experts and a pilot study with gifted families, a 31 item survey, organized under six categories was compiled. This survey, the Family Stress Scale (FSS) was given to the families of 755 children enrolled in grades 1 through 3, at three schools in the Hazelwood School District. Thirty one families with gifted children and 67 families with …

Acculturation Of The Vietnamese Refugees And Immigrants In St. Louis, Missouri. Exploratory Study, Maria Ratuszynska

Theses

The purpose of this research was to study the acculturation of Vietnamese refugees and immigrants . 44 refugees and 19 immigrants residing in St . Louis, Missouri (city and county) participated in the study. Subjects were administered the Cultural Identity Questionnaire and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 . Demographic information was obtained using a data sheet.

The obtained scores were analyzed using the t-test statistic for equality of means . The independent variables were political status (refugee or immigrant) . The dependent variables were scores on the Cultural Identity Questionnaire for acculturation, and anxiety, depression and total score of the Hopkins …

Bullies And Victims: How Pervasive Is The Problem In American Schools?, Gail L. Riebling

Theses

Since the topic of bullying has been given little professional attention in the United States, this study examined the Incidence of buIlies and victims in an elementary school In Illinois. Also examined were students' perceptions of how teachers respond to bullying and if males and females appear to be equally victimized. The average age of the students responding was 10.9 years. The gender composition of the sample was 54% female and 45% male. Al I of the children were white. The "Set Straight on BulIies Student Survey" was mailed to 87 students who had completed fifth grade in spring of …

A Study And Comparison Of The Ericksonian Strategic Style Versus The Medical Model Of Herbert And David Spiegel As An Approach To Hypnotherapy, Walter E. Roberson

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to compare and contrast two models of hypnotherapeutic technique. The first model is the strategic therapy of Milton H. Erickson, and the second is the medical model approach of Herbert and David Spiegel. A description of hypnosis is given by several researchers as well as a history of hypnosis as a psychotherapeutic tool. Each of the two models are discussed then noting structure, and use in clinical settings. Results of the study indicated that both models were effective modes of treatment, but the medical model had more of scientific orientation and so is better …

A Correlational Study Between Psycho-Social Variables And Successful Drug Abuse Treatment, Paul L. Susic

Theses

Many studies have been performed to clarify variables associated with successful treatment for drug abuse with very confusing, ambiguous results. Based upon this premise this study will attempt to contribute toward the illumination of factors, having therapeutic value, which facilitate recovery.

This thesis was a study of whether there was specific psycho-social treatment outcome. any relationship between variables and successful Assessment information used to derive data for this study were intake assessment data used in the normal operations of a successful outpatient drug treatment program. Subjects were patients entering treatment for recovery from numerous drugs including alcohol, heroin, crack, and …

Spectrum Communications: The Beginning Of A Two-Way Radio Service Company, Joseph A. Voyles

Theses

The purpose of this study is to investigate the revenue and expense associated with a two-way communication company called Spectrum Communications. This study will examine the issues of planning, organization, funding and marketing, which are essential to a business plan.

The planning and controlling functions often get very little attention from owners of small businesses. The way to strengthen both of these functions is through an effective business plan. Only through an effective business plan can long range goals be established for sales, profits, competitive position and industrial relations. The information gleaned from this study will be used to compile …

Personal Sketches: The Experience Of Role Strain For Fifteen Married, Full-Time Employed Women With Children, Monika Bilger

Theses

Not available.

User Characteristics In Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Michelle Buckenmeyer

Theses

The development of individualized educational environments, to facilitate learning for the diverse population of students in today's secondary school system, has become more prevalent with the increased ease of access to computers that many schools are now enjoying. The use of Computer Aided Instruction is becoming more common as a means for individual tutoring. This thesis explores the problem of individualizing this instruction by analyzing the relationship between preferred teaching methods and computer users" personality types, as defined by the Myers-Briggs type indicator and two other "unscientific" user characteristics. The preferred teaching method was analyzed using various criteria, including user …

Senior Japanese Tourists To Taiwan And Their Marketing Potential: A Case Study, Nai-Chieh Jessie Chen

Theses

For decades, Taiwan's tourism industry enjoyed the great number of Japanese visitors until a few years ago, when the growth rate slowed and even declined. This decline was caused by several factors such as rising price, high appreciation of the New Taiwan dollar, inconvenient visa application procedures, limited airline seats, rising public disorder, and strong competition from neighboring countries. With much money to spend the Japanese tourists were the most welcome group to the world tourism industry. The senior (50 years and older) members among them, in increasing quantity and good financial ability, have become even more desirable among the …

Silent Walkie-Talkie: A Toy For Deaf Children, Roberto P. Acosta

Theses

Not Included

Automated Knowledge Acquisition For Knowledge-Based Systems: Ke-Kit, John Parsons Scott

Theses

Despite recent progress, knowledge acquisition remains a central problem for the development of intelligent systems. There are many people throughout the world doing studies in this area. However, very few automated techniques have made it to the market place. In this light, the idea of automating the knowledge acquisition process is very appealing and may lead to a break through. Most (if not all) of the approaches and techniques concerning intelligent, expert systems and specifically knowledge-based systems can still be considered in their infancy and definitely do not subscribe to any kind of standards. Many things have yet to be …

Analytical Methodology For Atm Control Panel Design, Donald C. Johnson

Theses

This thesis presents a methodology for control panel design and layout along with a case study of an automated teller machine (ATM). A predictive model of human endurance and fatigue is developed from anthropometric, biomechanical and kinematics research. The layout problem is formulated to assign controls to locations to minimize the fatigue imposed on an operator performing a known set of tasks. A family of optimal and near-optimal layouts are found using conventional algorithms. The final hardware design refinements are suggested by human factors concerns. Ergonomic guidelines are also proposed for software aspects of the design. The methods and guidelines …

Redesign Of Parts And Simulation Of Flexible Assembly Cell For Safety Water Shower Assembly, Balraj Y. Gardilla

Theses

A Design for Assembly (DSA) method is used to analyze the safety water shower assembly and to redesign the components with emphasis on meeting the criteria of allowing for flexible Assembly Cell (FAS). An Expert System is developed to select the right Assembly using VP-Expert. This thesis contrasts the old and new safety water shower assembly designs and describes the design of a final Flexible Assembly Cell. A PUMA 550 robot was investigated for use in the cell design. The flexible Assembly cell is simulated on silicon graphics using the IGRIP software. The economics of each part presentation method is …

Development Of Cellular Manufacturing Systems For Overall Production Efficiency, Srinivas Lokula

Theses

For years the industrial job shop is facing an increase in complexity and decline in productivity due to increase in parts mix, volume of parts, plant size, machine production rates and part complexity. The development of Group Technology and Cellular Manufacturing seeks to eliminate or minimize complexity and to maximize productivity.

Cellular manufacturing is the physical division of job shop's manufacturing machinery into production cells. Each cell is designed to produce parts requiring similar machinery and machine operations. Cellular manufacturing is one of the best manufacturing techniques to support Just In Time manufacturing and Total Quality Management.

This thesis work …

Design For Manufacturability (Computer Aided Optimum Gear Design), Narayan R. Mareddy

Theses

Design for manufacturing has design as the first manufacturing step. It is important to recognize the importance of design clubing with manufacturing to reduce the production, set up time. In this thesis concepts of design, manufacturing and four different ways of bringing design and manufacturing together are discussed in detail.

As there are large number of variables in the gear rating equations, it is very difficult to achieve optimum design by manual methods unless an extensive trial and error process is carried out. An algorithm has been developed which allows rapid convergence to the optimum gear design. The algorithm has …

The Biological Basis Of Schizophrenia, Franz Sugarman

Theses

None provided.

An Experimental Sequence Examining The Effect Of Task Type, Memory Condition, And Display Presentation Type On Performance Time And Error Rate, Using Columnar Table Versus Vertical Bar Graph Versus Line Graph, Suparna Das

Theses

A total of 126 subjects at various levels of school and a health related manufacturing firm participated in three experiments that compared Tables, Line graphs and Bar graphs forms of data presentation. The experiments were performed each consisting of a training task followed by answering some questions based on the presented material. The experimental series were presented to six groups. Group 1, 3, 5 viewed Line graphs, Tables or Bar graphs respectively while answering the questions while the other three groups answered questions based on memory of either Line graphs, Table or Bar graph presentation.

The independent variables were:

1. Memory …

The Electronic Interpreter For The Deaf, Young-Jun Ko

Theses

None provided.

Fugitive Pieces/Pink, Jo Dagon

Theses

None provided.

Effect Of Developmental Spelling Level On Spelling Achievement, Karen Finn Edwin

Theses

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study was to compare the developmental levels of spelling in first and second graders with measured performance in the classroom over a period of ten weeks.

It was the hypotheses of t his study that children in first and second grade who were functioning at pre-Phonetic stages of spelling abiIity would have difficulty passing weekly classroom spelling tests . A second hypothesis was that students who were developmentally at higher levels would be able to achieve better on weekly spelIing tests.

Procedures

In this study the spelling achievement of thirty-six first graders …

Within Normal Limits, Hikmet Safuoglu

Theses

None provided.

Visual Determination Of Industrial Color-Difference Tolerances Using Probit Analysis, Gregory Snyder

Theses

A perceptibility study was conducted to visually determine the median tolerance values of 45 color-difference vectors in CIELAB color space using surface mode viewing of paint samples. Nine different color centers, each compris ing five color vectors, were employed to collect a superthreshold dataset. Fifty color-normal observers made quantal judgements under simulated Dg^ illuminant regarding the magnitude of color-difference pairs based on comparisons to a near-neutral color-difference anchor pair. Probit analysis was applied to the response frequencies for each vector to estimate the parameters of the distribution and the median tolerance values. Results indicated the probit adequately models the response …

Marks: The Adorned Self, Tom Santelli

Theses

None provided.