Digital Commons Network^™

Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity, And Depression, Jeanne Marie Goacher

Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of depression that is going untreated in adolescents with an Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. This study included high school age students (grades 9-12) who either had a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD, had never been diagnosed with depression, and who have never been treated for depression and another group who did not have a diagnosis of either ADD/ ADHD or depression. After obtaining parental permission, through a questionnaire format, the students were given the Beck Depression Inventory. A Chi-Square was performed to …

The Effect Of Binaural Auditory Beats On The Anxiety And Psychological Hardiness Levels Of Graduate Students, Terry L. Moore

Theses

Three graduate students from a Midwestern urban university were selected from a pool of volunteers based on elevated levels of anxiety. The students were initially tested using the Self-Evaluation Questionnaire and Hardiness Scale. Students were provided with audio tapes using binaural beats. Each Self-Evaluation Questionnaire score was tracked for the purpose of determining the affect of the audio tapes on levels of anxiety and hardiness. All three students showed reduced levels of anxiety after using the tapes, with either a similar or higher level of Hardiness.

The Relation Of Job Satisfaction To Degree Of Disclosure About One's Sexual Orientation For Gay, Lesbian, And Bisexual Educators, Jane Ellen Miles

Theses

The threat of discrimination and job loss causes many gay, lesbian, and bisexual (g/ I/ b) Americans to keep their sexual orientation a secret at work. The decision to keep one's personal life hidden increases the level of stress experienced and can coincide with lower levels of job satisfaction. The fear of discrimination is even greater for g/1/b individuals working in K - 12 educational settings due to the more socially conservative environment of schools. This study examined the relationship between degree of disclosure about one's homosexual orientation and one's level of job satisfaction. It was hypothesized that there would …

Correlates Of Offenders Among Individuals With Severe Emotional Disturbances, Jaimie Peoples

Theses

Mental illness, in the context of severe and enduring mental illness, is a growing problem particularly among incarcerated individuals and is likely to have implications for the way mental health services are utilized in local jails, state prisons, and federal prisons. The goal of the current study was to determine a relationship between persons suffering from mental illness among individuals with a criminal background.

As the prison populations increase, so do the number of mentally ill individuals involved in the criminal justice system. Many criminals suffer from homelessness and health-related concerns (e.g., substance abuse, HIV infection), these individuals may alternate …

Abusive Relationships: Hidden Crimes, Neidra V. Banton

Theses

Domestic violence is a crime, and the first step toward addressing the problem is through communication. Making society aware that there is a problem starts the process. Once communication of the problem is known then education is the next step. Educating society and all individuals affected by domestic violence whether as a victim or as a community helper is crucial toward stopping the crime.

Research of this social problem comprises the first three chapters of the graduate paper. Chapter one addresses the thoughts and reasons behind the belief that domestic violence is criminal through the research gathered from the social …

A Study Of The Correlation Between Coping Strategies And Locus Of Control, Joyce Everett

Theses

This study explores the relationships between gender, locus of control and coping strategies. The Ways of Coping Questionnaire and Levenson's IPC scale were distributed to employees at a social service agency and at a graduate school in the Midwestern United States. The study consisted of 26 males and 26 females who volunteered to participate by returning the completed instruments. At-test was conducted. and gender differences in locus of control and coping strategies were analyzed. No significant differences were found between locus of control and gender and gender and coping strategies. A Pearson r correlation was completed to determine a direct …

Public Relations And Politics: A Winning Combination For Public School Bond Issues And Tax Referendums, Cindy L. Gibson

Theses

In 1990 voters in the Ritenour School District approved the first of several bond issues that provided for the renovation of district facilities. Following approval of the bond issues, the district success fully passed a Proposition C Rollback Waiver, a type of tax increase only found in Missouri.

Finding the additional funds to effectively manage today's schools is a national concern . Ritenour School Di strict leaders, like so many other public school officials throughout the United States, sought the financial assistance of their community by conducting tax levy and bond issue elections.

Like most successful political campaigns, school referendums …

The Redesignment Of An Acute Inpatient Dual Diagnosis Unit, Irene Harris Griggs

Theses

This project will focus on the study of mental illness and chemical abuse/dependence as it has progressed into the entity of dual diagnosis or what experts consider co-existing or co-occurring disorders.

Research has revealed the increase in the number of individuals suffering from co-occurring illnesses since the early 1980's. Because this condition has become the norm rather than the exception, it becomes necessary to focus more clearly on individuals that are diagnosed with this illness and on the most effective treatment in order to assist the individual in recovery.

Individuals have had co-existing or co-occurring disorders prior to the early …

Intensity Of Grief And Belief In Personal Control, Diana M. Alferink

Theses

Much research has focused on stress and its consequences. Some studies have indicated personal control helps an individual handle stress better and remain healthier. Little research, however, has examined the role personal control plays in bereavement as a stressful life event. This correlational study examined the relationship between belief in personal control and grief intensity experienced from losing a loved one to death. Volunteer subjects primarily from Grief Support Groups completed the Belief in Personal Control Scale and the Texas Revised Grief Inventory Results demonstrated some instances when higher belief in personal control resulted in lower intensity of grief in …

A Method Of Work For The Designer Applied To Play Antigone, Hsin-Chih Cheng

Theses

Not available.

The Effect Of The Environment On Office Worker Productivity And Creativitiy, Karen D. Clark

Theses

This paper will explore the effect of the physical and human environment on office worker creativity and productivity.

The study will begin with a discussion of creativity, addressing questions such as: Why do we want creative employees? What value to they bring to an organization? Can the elements that enhance creativity in office workers also enhance productivity? How is creativity enhanced? Why is it that many organizations successfully stifle creativity, thus hampering employee morale and productivity?

Research has shown that the physical environment affects workers' ability to think and function effectively. There is a basic need for aesthetics as a …

Water From The Moon, Christopher A. Duggan

Theses

During the scalding, dry summer of 1988, it would appear 23-year-old Dennis Dearbome is at a crossroads. More accurately, he is not on a road of any kind. The only child of affluent parents in suburban Minneapolis, Dennis finds his carefree existence at home unceremoniously ended when, after a string of lost jobs on his part, his parents decide to evict him from their house. At the same time, his father, an influential bank president, lands him a position as an illustrator for a small greeting card company. Dennjs can handle the technical demands of the job because of a …

Intimacy In Men: The Androgynous Male, Melissa Jane Hillig

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between intimacy and masculinity in men. Subjects completed the Bern Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). The scores were then correlated with levels of intimacy, as measured by the Miller Social Intimacy Scale (MSIS). The scores were determined for sixty-two male. middle class, volunteers, aged eighteen and above. The outcome of the study showed a significant inverse correlation between intimacy and masculinity, and a modest positive correlation between femininity and intimacy. Androgynous individuals reported a significantly higher degree of intimacy than masculine individuals.

Secondary Traumatic Stress In Law Enforcement Personnel, William Carl Heusler

Theses

This study was designed to add to the body of empirical knowledge about law enforcement occupational stress utilizing the compassion fatigue/compassion satisfaction model developed by Figley and Stamm. The predictions that intimate contact with trauma victims will increase the risk for compassion fatigue and burnout was evaluated yielding results that established no difference between law enforcement personnel with direct contact and those that had little or no contact with trauma victims. The suggestion that secondary trauma has a cumulative effect on persons exposed over time was also investigated showing that in this population of police officers, a cumulative impact did …

Exploring The Attitudes Of Parents And Students Toward Homework, Pearl A. Jackson

Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify the attitudes of parents and students toward homework. Since homework can be an effective learning experience for students and can involve parents in their children's education, the researcher sought to gain an insight into the area of homework as seen from the perspective of these individuals. The study examined the attitudes of 30 parents and 30 students in a Sixth Grade Center in St. Louis County. Data for the study was collected by having each of the study's participants complete an attitude survey related to the subject of homework. The results were …

Effects Of Nonstandard Work Schedules On Marital Satisfaction Among Law Enforcement Officers, Annette Marie Jansen

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in level of marital satisfaction among police officers who worked standard hours (day shift) and those who worked nonstandard hours (afternoon/midnight shifts). Thirty police officers employed during standard hours, and 33 police officers employed during nonstandard hours were administered a demographic questionnaire and the Index of Marital Satisfaction Inventory. Scores were tabulated and it was concluded that there was not a significant difference in marital satisfaction among the two groups (t = -.483; p = .631).

The Relationship Between Burnout Among Secondary School Counselors And Selected Personal And School Variables, Paula P. Johnson

Theses

The purpose of the study was to: (1) assess the level of burnout and stress of public school counselors, (2) detem1ine if public school counselors differed in the reported level of burnout based on selected personal variables, and selected school variables. A convenient, volunteer sample was used from 42 public school counselors in a suburban area of St. Louis, Missouri. The instruments used for the study were the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Form Educational) and a demographic questionnaire.

The findings suggested that that level of burnout in the sample was in the moderate range on the Emotional Exhaustion subscale and in …

Differences In Attitude Between Black And White Women Towards Domestic Violence, Paula Ellis

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the similarities and/or differences between African American and White women in their level of acceptance and personal experience regarding domestic violence. This study compared 62 women, 31 African American and 31 White women, ages ranging from 18 to over 58, employed at an area hospital in St. Louis. The study addressed their experiences and attitudes toward domestic violence. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistical comparisons between the two groups, using the Chi-Square procedure. The results of the study indicate no significant difference in the level of acceptance of violence between the …

A Study Of Death Anxiety And The Near Death Experience, Wanza J. Borgmeyer

Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the level of death anxiety displayed by people who have experienced Near Death Experiences (NDEs) to the level of death anxiety displayed by people who have not experienced NDEs. The Near Death Experiencers were drawn from members of the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS) and others contacted through mutual acquaintances. The subjects were requested to complete the Near-Death Experience scale developed by Dr. Bruce Greyson as well as the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS) developed by Donald I. Templer. Completing the Near Death Experience Scale helped to identify subjects for the …

Using Solution-Focused Brief Therapy With Problem Students, Karen Y. Boyle

Theses

The traditional approaches of spending hours of time addressing each student's problems is no longer feasible today due to the large caseloads of students school counselors and teachers often face. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is an approach which may be used for typical student concerns to achieve rapid observable change. School administrators and leachers will also benefit since each component of the approach may be used independently in a variety of situations. This thesis describes an outcome study of solution-oriented strategy in working with middle school students identified by teachers as having behavioral difficulties in the classroom. Subjects involved were a …

An Investigation Of Social Skill Group Counseling Intervention With At-Risk Students, Kathy A. Bennett

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of teaching social skills to a group of 14 at-risk kindergarten students that were identified by their classroom teachers as exhibiting social skills deficits. A pre-test and post-test experimental design was devised using the Social Skills Direct Observation by Sheridan (1997). Students participated in a group social ski11s training program for five weeks. A statistical comparison between the pre and post test data was then performed by means of a nonparametric procedure. Results of the Wilcoxon's Matched Pairs-Signed-Ranks Test were indicative of positive gains in the students' acquisition of social …

Relationship Between School Counselor Role Conflict And Job Satisfaction, David A. Teeter

Theses

The importance of minimizing role conflict of school counselors has been stressed by researchers as being very important, so that counselors can use their training and expertise to full advantage in the schools. Other studies have also addressed the impact that role conflict has on educators in general, as well as school counselors specifically. This study examines the relationship between school counselor role conflict and their current job satisfaction. Subjects for the study were 33 school counselors in the state of Missouri. The subjects completed a role conflict survey and an instrument measuring job satisfaction. A Pearson r correlation was …

A Comparison Of Body-Esteem In Adolescent Girls Between The Hutterite And Mainstream Western Cultures, Amanda Ann Walgren

Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the cultural basis of body-esteem and negative body image in adolescent females. This study focused on the differences between the culture of the Hutterites, an Anabaptist communal society, and the mainstream Western culture in the same geographic area. The Body-Esteem Scale (Mendelson & White, 1982) was administered to 35 Hutterite and 31 mainstream girls between the ages of 12 and 17. The Hutterite girls were found to have significantly higher body-esteem scores than the mainstream girls. These findings add to the vast amount of research linking body-esteem to cultural factors. Several possible …

A Study Of The Relationship Of Self-Efficacy Of Adolescent Females In A Single-Sex School Versus A Coeducational School, Margaret Wolf

Theses

This study examined the self-efficacy of adolescent girls and its relation to the type of high school they attended, whether it was single-sex or coeducational. A convenient, volunteer sample was used from two high schools in the metropolitan area of St. Louis, Missouri. The 234 adolescents surveyed, ranged from 15 to 18 years of age. The participants were administered the Self-efficacy Scale (SES) after parental permission was received. The two schools conducted the surveys during religion classes. An independent t-test showed that there was a significant difference in the self-efficacy of adolescent females who attend single-sex schools and those who …

A Manual Covering The Topic/Subject On How To Develop A Business Plan For Investors/Owners: Formulation And Implementation, James S. Jump

Theses

This thesis will focus on the discussion of business planning and the impact it bas on business owners and investors in today's business climate. Business planning is defined as how organizations utilize internal thought processes to execute a form of a plan of action to compete in a marketplace that offers similar products and services.

One debate about business planning involves big business that develop planning "systems" as compared to entrepreneurs that often times operate with little or no planning. Another debate involves the timing and use of planning. A survey of 220 INC 500 businesses revealed that 51 % …

A Comparison Of Occupational Stress Between Elementary And Secondary School Counselors, Denise L. Dismukes

Theses

The purpose of this study is to compare the occupational stress felt by school counselors at the elementary level to the occupational stress felt by secondary school counselors. Occupational stress is measured using the Occupational Stress Inventory Revised Edition (OSJ-R). Participants in this study are employed school counselors randomly selected from the Directory of Illinois Public Schools and the Missouri School Directory. Analysis of the data is conducted using a 2-sample t-test of means to determine if the level of occupational stress differs in the two groups. Results of this study suggest that there is a difference in the occupational …

Perceived Social Support Of Survivors Of Suicide Who Attend A Support Group Compared To Those Survivors Of Suicide Who Are Non-Attendees, Tina M. Murphy

Theses

Death from suicide results in a troublesome and complex adjustment for the surviving friends and family members. As compared to other forms of bereavement, suicide survivors are likely to experience different grief reactions than people dealing with other types of loss. The survivor of suicide may suffer from social rejection and alienation. In this study, the level of perceived social support of survivors of suicide who attend a support group (n=22 ) was compared to the level of perceived social support in survivors of suicide who do not attend a support group (n=20). Subjects had lost a friend or family …

An Investigation Of Social Skill Group Counseling Intervention With At-Risk Students, Kathy A. Bennett

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of teaching social skills to a group of 14 at-risk kindergarten students that were identified by their classroom teachers as exhibiting social skills deficits. A pre-test and post-test experimental design was devised using the Social Skills Direct Observation by Sheridan (1997). Students participated in a group social skills training program for five weeks. A statistical comparison between the pre and post test data was then performed by means of a nonparametric procedure. Results of the Wilcoxon's Matched Pairs-Signed-Ranks Test were indicative of positive gains in the students' acquisition of social …

An Evaluation Of Home Based Family Services, Tia L. Liston

Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of home-based family therapy by analyzing existing data from a local agency. Files from the past year containing a complete referral form, a client satisfaction survey and follow-up forms from six months and a year, were evaluated to determine the level of client satisfaction. The data was analyzed to determine the differences in frequency of types of difficulties addressed. Data was also analyzed to determine factors related to successful outcomes. Based on results, it was determined that home-based services were successful. An evaluation of types of services and difficulties were …

Children's Literature: Reflections Of The Past, Gina M. Mcandrew

Theses

Thirty picture books for children were reviewed in this study. They were compared on the basis of character development. plot. illustrations. technical aspects and marketability. By using these divisions, parallels were drawn among outstanding works which were then compared to the book written in chapter four.

Results showed that many of the outstanding picture books have withstood the test of time. Their longevity is reflected in their ability to entertain and engross the targeted reader. The task for authors of new books is to capture these time-tested, endearing qualities, ensuring success in the publishing industry.