Digital Commons Network^™

Effectiveness Of A Parenting Skills Seminar In A Community Based Setting, Michelene Moeller

Theses

This research evaluated the effectiveness of three parenting skills seminars in a community based setting. Thirty-six Caucasian participants, 9 males and 27 females attended a parenting skills seminar for five consecutive weeks, two and a half hours per session. The researcher conducted three seminars. The participants completed a self-reporting evaluation on three domains: parenting skills, discipline, and stress and worry related to the parenting role. The findings supported the hypothesis that parenting skills seminars are effective. Participants reported improvements in parenting skills and experienced a reduction in some stress and worry about being an effective parent following the parenting skills …

The Investigation Of The Needs Of Contemporary Woman And Development Of The Business Plan For Time For You, Ltd., Paula P. Macmann

Theses

This project focuses on the changing roles - and subsequent needs - of today's women.

Society slowly adapts to change; consequently, the responses to women's needs result in some being met, some only being addressed while others are completely ignored.

Still. changes in society have afforded unique opportunities for today's woman. Associated with these opportunities comes challenges. Segments of society continue to hold gender based stereotypical beliefs limiting women to traditional roles. But a new version of women's potential has emerged in the last quarter century. These new attitudes open up a more expanded scope of roles. They also result …

A Comparison On Student Motivation Of Students Who Enroll Voluntarily And Involuntarily A Vocational Training Program, Teresa Ross-Taylor

Theses

The present study compared the motivation of female students who enrolled in a federally funded vocational training program voluntarily with those who enrolled involuntarily. The federal government has mandated that females receiving public aid must complete a trade and obtain full-time employment. The study was conducted from January 1, 1994 through March 31, 1994. Motivation was evaluated by vocational completion, average length of stay (ALOS) , and GED completion. The students have to complete all the required assignments and pass a competency test in the vocational area to be considered a vocational completer. In addition, they were required to complete …

The Impact Of Year-Round School On Stress In Elementary School Teachers, Henriette Ingeborg Baker

Theses

In an effort to assess the impact of year-round school on teacher stress, a sample of 39 elementary school teachers from a year-round school was compared with a sample of 35 teachers from an elementary school in an adjacent district that is on a traditional schedule. A measure of teacher stress, the Teacher stress Inventory (TSI), was administered to the teachers after they had completed one-half of the school year. Analysis of the data revealed that there was no significant difference in stress levels between the year-round teachers and the teachers on the traditional schedule. Stress levels were in the …

An Investigation Into The Development, Design, And Feasibility Of A Comprehensive Breast Diagnostic Center, Kelly W. Emrick

Theses

This thesis will focus on the feasibility of implementing, operating, and managing a free standing comprehensive breast diagnostic center for the detection of breast disease.

The important concern for diagnosis, treatment, and management of breast cancer in women is no new theory to the health care industry. Current public awareness of breast cancer is at an all time high. Every day the American public hears some aspect on the subject, whether it is on the evening news, TIME magazine, or just by word of mouth at the office.

This business plan will provide an all encompassing prospectus for potential investors …

Empowering The Survivors Of Downsizing, Marian W. Guidry

Theses

Downsizing, a term relatively new to the business world just a few years ago, has now become a house-hold name. In an effort to trim the budget, companies are reducing their personnel at an alarming rate.

The recent downsizing is having a devastating effect on employee morale. Downsizing threatens the security and self-esteem of survivors and victims. It causes turmoil and shatters the morale inside of organizations.

Survivors of downsizing are faced with the challenge of remaining loyal to the organization, even when feelings of insecurity and cynicism are dominating. Fear is permeating the workplace. Lack of mobility and advancement …

Spiritual Awakenings, Saundra Annette Austin

Theses

Not available.

Empirical Research Study Of Rates Of Return On Earnings And Cash Flow, Joseph A. Agiato

Theses

Business valuation texts and reference sources all seem to indicate that the rate of return on cash flow should be between 300 and 600 basis points lower than the rate of return for earnings. Thus, when using a build-up approach to determine the rate of return on cash flow, an addition of between 3 percent and 6 percent is necessary to arrive at a rate of return on earnings. This thesis analyzes the relationship between earnings and cash flow (as dividends) over a two year period from 1993 to 1994.

The purpose of this study was to study the relationship …

The Importance Of Utilizing Older Workers As They Become A More Significant Factor In America's Work Force, Marilyn K. Brown

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of how America's companies are beginning to realize what a valuable asset their older employees have become. These people bring years of experience, knowledge , skill and loyalty to the work place. Contrary to stereotypes of older workers being slow, inflexible, unproductive, costly, uncreative and not adaptable , organizations are discovering that these people in general do not fit this "mold."

Throughout history there has been a change in attitudes toward older individuals. During colonial America, age represented authority, power , arrogance and greed. Around the time of the American Revolution, equality among …

Evolution Of The Workplace: Where Do We Go From Here?, Patricia L. Brockmeyer

Theses

This paper will take the reader on a fascinating journey through the workplace from colonial times to the decade of 2000+. It will be a tumultuous roller coaster ride with victories and sacrifices for both employees and employers. It will begin with the birth of our country when labor was largely concentrated either in agriculture, or people were self employed in retail, or skilled trades. It will identify the somewhat nefarious methods for obtaining servants, from Europe and Africa when indentured servants and slaves provided cheap labor.

Soon the industrial revolution invaded the shores of the new nation and workers …

Breast Cancer: New Cause For Concern, Karen L. Prideaux

Theses

This thesis will focus on the results of eight randomized studies and how these results were utilized by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to change their guidelines for breast cancer screening mammography in women 40-49 years of age.

The incidence of breast cancer has been steadily on the rise since the 1970s. This increase in the number of new cases has caused some individuals to view breast cancer as an epidemic.

To date, research has not answered the question of what causes breast cancer, although their are many theories. Therefore, since the disease can not be prevented, women must rely …

The Impact Of Corporate Training Programs And Business/Education Partnerships On The Skills Gap Of The American Workforce, Clare G. Romeo

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of the impact of corporate training programs and business education partnerships on the skills gap of the American workforce.

Research indicates that there is an emerging crisis in the American workplace. Increased demand for highly skilled workers, combined with an aging workforce, has created shortages of skilled workers, shortages that are predicted to grow for many years to come. This shortage of skilled workers required by employers is defined as the skills gap.

Some of the causes of the skills gap are demographic trends, technological change and increased international competition. One major factor …

Special Care Units: Specialization In Long-Term Care, Marilynn Anne Schaus

Theses

i99SThere were two purposes of this study. The first was to conduct a literature review of the research findings on special care units. These units are segregated areas of a nursing home specializing in the care of Alzheimer's and dementia related patients. The purpose of the research was to determine what constitutes a special care unit, what is "special'' about the units and the units effectiveness in the treatment of dementia patients.

The second purpose of the study was to compare existing special care units in the St. Louis Metropolitan area with the research findings. Eight nursing facilities with a …

Marketing Student-Athletes, Susan Emilie Sagara

Theses

This thesis explores the increasingly strategic role of parents and student-athletes in marketing themselves for collegiate athletic scholarships. Focusing primarily on high school athletes aiming to secure positions in college athletic programs, Sagarra argues that recruiting is not just the domain of coaches and scouts—it is a business-like endeavor that requires active family involvement. The project examines how athletes and their families can take initiative to promote both academic and athletic qualities, navigate NCAA and NAIA recruiting rules, and leverage external resources such as coaches, scouting services, and media. It discusses the pressures athletes face—emotionally, academically, and socially—and how informed …

The Impact Of Self Directed Work Teams On Organizational Performance, Wanda M. Roane

Theses

This is an expository study that will examine organizational problems that have contributed to the declining health of north American businesses. It will further identify a treatment approach, that when strategically applied can improve a business' performance and ultimately its ability to compete in global markets.

For many years North American Business have operated under a paradigm that embraced the belief that bureaucracy was the best organizational form to achieve business success. Research indicates that bureaucracy, and its failure to focus on people and the role that they play has been a leading cause to the decline in business. Many …

The Clinton Health Care Proposal: A Good Idea With Good Intentions, But Will This Dream Ever Come True?, Herbert Joel Segall

Theses

This thesis will focus on the past, present and future status of health care in the United States. Much of the discussion will be centered around the controversial Health Care Reform Bill that was proposed by President Bill Clinton in October, 1993.

During the past century, researchers, scientists, chemists, and physicians have all made great strides regarding their knowledge of the human body. Many of their studies have provided valuable information of how people can live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Additionally, technological advancements have played a large role in medicine. These machines and devices haYe aided physicians in …

Achieving Complete Customer Satisfaction, Marilyn K. Haag

Theses

The term customer service has changed in meaning over the years. There was a time when it suggested an unpleasant experience for both the customer and the business. Employees tried to avoid complaints because they weren't educated in how to handle them. Over time, customer service evolved into a much broader meaning as companies noticed that the leaders in their industry provided service as part of the sale. When companies began to change their own way of doing business, they began to see profits associated with offering service with the sale, and they found that it can be the "secret …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Alcoholism And Self-Esteem, Judy A. Astel

Theses

The relationship between the length of sobriety in the twelve step program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and self-esteem level was examined for 27 recovering alcoholics. Participants included L3 male and 14 female members of AA who volunteered to complete the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and a cover/survey letter that contained demographic questions. Where it was predicted that there would be no relationship between length of sobriety and self-esteem level, it was found that there was a positive relationship between the two for the total group and the female group. That is, where length of time sober in AA increased, the alcoholic's …

The Unemployed Bring More Than Career Needs To Career Counseling, Gerald Edward Curtin

Theses

For much of its hi story career counseling has focused on the career needs of the unemployed (Herr, 1989). Career concerns were more oriented to economic health, to change of an occupation, to the development of pre-vocational ski I ls and the preparation for work. Over the years an ever increasing amount of research has indicated the unemployed suffer many personal needs as a consequence of unemployment (Borgen & Amundsen, 1984; Kasi, Gore, & Cobb, 1975) in addition to career needs. These personal needs are both physical and mental (Banks & Jackson, 1982; O'Brien & Kabanoff, 1979).

In recent years …

Self-Directed Work Teams: The New Wave For American Corporations, Janetta K, Cole

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of self-directed or empowered work teams and on preparing a plan to implement the empowered work team in the customer Contact Center in Wentzville, Missouri.

Self-directed work teams are a relatively new concept in the workforce and could be the 90s version of the total quality concept. The philosophy is that first line management takes a step backward and the workgroup virtually leads themselves. Employees are empowered to make the decisions and then act on those decisions to produce a better quality product than before. The concept is designed around teamwork both from …

A Study Of The Internal Restructuring Of A Major Organization, Cynthia Diane Birkner

Theses

This project deals with a study of the internal restructuring of a major organization. It looks at customer service as a whole and how it is effected if internal communication is not at its very best.

Chapter one covers the basics of good customer service and establishes that, if done correctly, good customer service positions a company for success. A key point is that good customer service stems from a positive self image within the company, among all segments of the work force; and that this self image depends on good internal communications dynamics.

Chapter two reviews the literature of …

House Bill 564, The School Health Initiative: An Implementation Manual For St. Charles County, Anne F. Zerr

Theses

This thesis project will be an Applied Learning Expository Study, creating an Implementation Manual for the provisions set forth in House Bill 564, the School Health Initiative.

The manual will be specific to St. Charles County. It will take into consideration the needs of the St. Charles community relative to the health of its school children.

Passed by the Missouri legislature and signed into law by Governor Mel Carnahan in the summer of 1994, House Bill 564 aims to improve health care access for Missouri's children by creating an innovative infrastructure for primary care delivery. It is a multi-faceted bill …

Violence In The Womb, Violence In The World: The Effects Of Fetal Exposure To Alcohol, Drugs, And Nicotine, Aileen R. Wynne

Theses

This project will focus on prenatal substance abuse and the long term adverse effects of birth defects in the offspring of these women. The focus will discuss a relationship between the drug exposed fetus as a predictor of later development of behavior problems , running along the continuum from antisocial behavior to aggression and violence.

Research will show that of the three leading contributors to birth defects , Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is number one, greater than Downs Syndrome and Spina Bifida. The risk factors of prenatal substance abuse will be described as use of alcohol , other drugs , and …

The Relationship Between Mind Altering Substances And Aggressive Behavior, Keith A. Leonard

Theses

The relationship between aggressive behaviors and substance abuse was examined using subjects placed on probation for assault in St. Louis County. These subjects were administered the Substance Abuse Questionnaire, at the probation office, within seven days of sentencing . The Substance Abuse Questionnaire, designed to assess behavior and risk for behaviors including aggressivity, has a validity scale which measures how truthful the individual was while completing the test. Those subjects whose scores on the Substance Abuse Questionnaire were determined to be valid, were considered in this research. The purpose of this research was to examine whether the introduction of legal …

Rational Bias And Its Relationship To The Glass Ceiling, Kelly A. Levengood

Theses

This thesis will focus on the affect of rational bias to the "glass ceiling." Research has suggested that a "glass ceiling" exists in corporate America . It attributes the lack of women in middle and upper management to the "glass ceiling."

Some theorists acknowledge that not all women want to be at the top in management due to the "mommy track" or general lack of interest for that position. However, for those women who desire a position in upper management, some theorists believe women are blocked from upper management positions by the "old boys network" . . . the "glass …

Stress Levels In Seminarians And Spouses Of Seminarians, Martha C. Lintvedt

Theses

Clients frequently present for therapy reporting high levels of stress. While an overview of the literature indicates that clergy are particularly vulnerable to the impact of negative stress, little is written on the evidence of stress among those preparing for the ministry.

This study examines levels of stress in seminarians and spouses of seminarians. The Osipow and Spokane Stress Inventory (Osipow & Spokane , 1988) was utilized to determine stress levels, the degree to which occupational roles match an individual's training, and the coping resources among a sampling of 13 male students preparing for the ministry at Concordia Seminary. The …

The Surveillance And Control Of Foodborne Diseases, Donal J. Daly

Theses

There is great variation in the extent of surveillance of foodbome disease throughout the world. Some countries contribute important epidemiological and microbiological data to the WHO Surveillance Programme for Foodbome Diseases in Europe. While the UK is a major contributor to this programme, data from Eire has been non-existent. Trends in the incidence of foodbome disease in the UK may have particular relevance to Eire given the similarity of culture. Microbiological and epidemiological data in relation to foodbome pathogens, foods most frequently incriminated in outbreaks, places where outbreaks occur, together witli the main contributory factors are discussed. The broader area …

Statistical Characterization For 3-D Two-Component Tissue Models Using An Extended Microbeam Technique, Dongli Yang

Theses

None provided.

The Clinton Health Care Proposal: A Good Idea With Good Intentions, But Will This Dream Ever Come True?, Herbert Joel Segall

Theses

This thesis will focus on the past, present and future status of health care in the United States. Much of the discussion will be centered around the controversial Health Care Reform Bill that v. as proposed by President Bill Clinton in October,1993.

During the past century, researchers, scientists, chemists, and physicians have all made great strides regarding their knowledge of the human body. Many of their studies have provided valuable information of how people can live longer, healthier, and more productive lives, Additionally, technological advancements have played a large role in medicine. These machines and devices have aided physicians in …

The Conservative And Liberal Debate Over The Success Or Failure Of Welfare Programs In The United States, John L. Rhoads

Theses

This thesis will focus on the debate between liberal and conservative authors concerning the success or failure of the welfare state in the United States of America .

During the 1960's, government involvement expanded greatly through President Lyndon Johnson's great society programs . These programs were designed to alleviate poverty and promote self reliance amongst the poorest segments in society. Overall these programs were accepted by both the general populus and those in government as the morally "right" thing to do.

As time went by, and expenditures and involvement increased, debate surfaced as to how well these programs were doing …