Digital Commons Network^™

Measuring The Effects Of An Observational Format On The Professional Growth Of The Faculty At Lake Tract School, Shelli Doran

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to design a new teacher observation format used by the building mentors of Lake Tract School in observing the participants. The format revolved around the use of pre and post conferences based on a cognitive coaching approach in order to gain professional development and growth. A total of ten tenured and non-tenured teachers participated in the study. All faculties were surveyed as to their perceptions of the current observational format. The data was analyzed using percentages and the responses of the survey guided the creation of the format. Each participant attended a pre-conference to …

Site-Based Management: A Principal's Strategy For Success, Maria Gioffre

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study was to determine effective leadership strategies that are the driving force behind the success of site-based management. The intent was to identify key elements that impart some direction to help principals attain strategies that will boost site-based management and its potential to improve the overall quality of educational achievement. It draws on an extensive literature review and includes results from a teacher survey, observations, and informal interviews. The results reported that the respondents generally agreed with the research that presents leadership strategies, which tend to enhance the effectiveness of site-based management. The analysis suggests that …

A Case Study Using Best And Normative Treatments Related To Adjustment Disorder, Alcohol Abuse, And Sexual Abuse Of Child, Lisa Mcconnell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of normative and best therapy techniques with individuals diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder, Alcohol Abuse, and Sexual Abuse of Child using a case study format. The subject of this study was a 15 year old female who presented with a three-week onset of depressed mood. For the purpose of this study she was seen over a four month period. Treatment emphasis was on reducing depression and anxiety related to the sexual abuse. The Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children and the Children's Depression Inventory were chosen for this study. Post-testing suggested significant …

The Future Of Print And Electronic Periodicals In High School Media Centers, Judy Angelo

Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this study was to determine if southern New Jersey public high school media centers had reduced, increased, or left the same the number of print and electronic subscriptions to periodicals. The selected periodicals that were available online through EBSCOhost were compared to those purchased in print format by high school media specialists. Questionnaires were sent to 70 South Jersey high school media specialists, asking about their print and electronic periodical usage, and their storage procedures, if any, for back issues of periodicals. The media specialists were asked to comment on their behaviors. The data were analyzed …

Use Of The Ebscohost Database In Grades Three Through Five, Allyson F. Cogan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine how the electronic databases available in EBSCOhost, Primary Search, MasterFile Premier, and Searchasaurus, were being used in teaching information skills to the students in grades three through five. The study involved the media specialists who were members of South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative teaching in elementary schools serving grades three through five. A total of 103 surveys were mailed out with a total of 59 media specialists returning them.

Data analysis was achieved by entering the survey results into the SPSS version 11.1 statistical analysis program. Totals and percentages were computed with …

Effects Of Size And Exposure To Predation Threat On Mating Behavior And Predation Response In Male Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia Affinis), Alison Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

Trade offs between mating and predator avoidance advantages were studied in the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis: Poeciliidae). When tested with green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) predators, larger male G. affinis were found to have a higher number of escapes compared to smaller males. Smaller males were captured more often than larger males in groups of six and in both complex and simple habitat types. Large males, on average, were found to attempt more matings and spend a larger proportion of time near the female than smaller males. When trials with predators were compared to trials without predators, large males decreased mating …

Technical And Economic Feasibility Considerations Of Alternative Energy Distributed Generation, Vishwanatha Raju Brahmandhabheri

Theses and Dissertations

The pressing needs for cost effective electric power that provides both high reliability and high quality is creating an opportunity for alternative energy distributed generation (DG). To determine the economic and technical feasibility of such alternative energy distributed generation facilities, electric power customers must understand their electric usage patterns, economic considerations, local alternative fuel supplies and available DG technologies. This thesis discusses the economic and technical feasibility of establishing a distributed generation installation. As a part of technical feasibility, an evaluation has been done to compare DG size and location impact on the operation of the I 13 node test …

Outage Management Via Powerline Communication Based Automated Meter Reading Systems, Thirupathi Venganti

Theses and Dissertations

In many outage management systems, customer trouble calls have been used as the primary source of outages for distribution level outages. However the information from the trouble calls is not completely reliable as they lead to problems like okay-on-arrival reports, over escalation and extended outage times for the customers. But with the recent developments in communication and information technologies, utilities started to adopt Automated Meter Reading systems for their operational needs. In this thesis, an algorithm is developed and implemented that makes efficient use information available from the customers and powerline communication based AMR systems for outages. The work has …

Psychotherapy Outcome Measures In A Client With A Childhood Disorder, Amy S. Lawrence

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this case study were to: (1) complete a thorough psychosocial assessment on a psychotherapy client, (2) to attribute the most accurate diagnosis, and (3) explain the most beneficial empirical treatment through research and review. The case study consisted of a single 17-year-old Hispanic male who resided in a group home. Data was obtained through individual therapy sessions and two self-report inventories. Findings indicated that client met criteria for Disruptive Behavioral Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (DBD, NOS). Treatment research was done on Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) for two reasons: (1) due to insufficient studies on DBD, NOS, and …

Community And Land Attachment Of Chagga Women On Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Elizabeth Parnell Carr

Theses and Dissertations

Chagga women who control land on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, have a deep and profound sense of attachment to their lands and homes. This thesis compares their reasons for attachment to the systemic model. The systemic model states that community attachment is dependent on social ties and interactions. The three factors that lead to these ties are length of residence, social status, and age. In-depth interviews with women in 2002 and 2003, a survey from 2002, and field notes from 2002 and 2003 are used to explain the main factors of attachment of women in three villages on the mountain: Mbahe, …

Margaret Cavendish And Scientific Discourse In Seventeenth-Century England, Alisa Curtis Bolander

Theses and Dissertations

Although the natural philosophy of Margaret Cavendish is eclectic and uncustomary, it offers an important critique of contemporary scientific methods, especially mechanism and experimentalism. As presented in Observations upon Experimental Philosophy and Blazing World, Cavendish's natural philosophy incorporates rationalistic and subjective elements, urging contemporary natural philosophers to recognize that pure objectivity is unattainable through any method of inquiry and that reason is essential in making sense and use of scientific observation.

In addition to its scientific implications, Cavendish's three-tiered model of matter presents interesting sociopolitical associations. Through her own use of metaphor and her theoretical fusion of matter and motion, …

Teacher Job Satisfaction And Teacher Burnout As A Product Of Years Of Experience In Teaching, Kristin A. Camilli

Theses and Dissertations

As job satisfaction in adulthood has become an important source of personal fulfillment, research in this area has increased in recent years. Teacher job satisfaction and burnout are among the most important factors contributing to the problem of teacher retention. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether years of teaching experience is a predictive factor of job satisfaction and burnout. The study included 60 participants ranging in teaching experience from 1 year to 44 years. It was hypothesized that teachers who have been in the profession for 1-2 or 3-10 years will be less satisfied and will …

Positive Reinforcement As An Intervention For Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder And Schizoid Personality Disorder, Dana H. Kagan

Theses and Dissertations

Positive reinforcement is effective when used as an intervention for children with inappropriate behaviors. Children with the diagnosis of Schizoid Personality Disorder (SP) and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may exhibit inappropriate behaviors that inhibit their quality of life. When appropriate behaviors are paired with rewards or reinforcements, there is an increase in the likelihood of such behaviors reoccurring. When four appropriate behaviors were reinforced by stickers for a child with SP and ADHD, the behaviors increased, therefore inappropriate behaviors decreased. The data that was collected was analyzed by a two-way ANOVA test. Several types of reinforcement interventions were researched …

Music Technology In The Classroom, John A. Manseau Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The last twenty years have exhibited unprecedented growth of music technology in the fields of commercial music, professional recording studios, personal home studios, and music education in the public school music classroom. With the establishment of school district programs providing students with access to computer technology from state lottery monies, music classrooms are now receiving their own computers and music software. Music software in the marketplace provides challenges to teachers and their efforts to integrate technology to their classroom instruction. How music educators determine what software is needed, what is appropriate, effective, and within their music budget is still a …

Population Ecology And Expansion Dynamics Of Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs In Western North Dakota, Sara Ann Milne

Theses and Dissertations

Black-tailed prairie dog* (Cynomyt ludlvicianus) are a keystone species that were once widespread throughout the Great Plains. Beginning in the 1900* however, black- tailed prairie dogs experienced serious reductions in range an numbers such that recent estimates suggest they inhabit only 2% of their historic range. As a result of the decline in numbers and range, black-tailed prairie dogs arc currently a candidate species for protection under the endangered species act. Because of the species’ status as a candidate species and their importance as a keystone species, conservation biologists and resource managers are interested in developing effective management approaches directed …

Creating An Educational Children's Show For Television, Mary Elizabeth Lizakowski

Theses and Dissertations

The process of creating Eat The Sky, a newly developed educational children’s television series program for a contemporary audience of four to eight year old children, involves researching and examining formulas of successful shows such as Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and Sesame Street.

Using the four elements of respect, compassion, honesty and ihe engagement of young people’s imagination through the use of puppetry as a foundation to build upon, this thesis explains the use of the above four elements used in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and Sesame Street and compares them to Eat The Sky. This thesis also explains the process used …

Effects Of Time Of Day On Executive Function In Native American Children And Non-Native American Children, Jennifer Garaas Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has examined the performance of Native American children on cognitive tasks. The results from these studies indicated that Native American children performed poorer on these tests than Caucasian children, especially on the Verbal IQ scale. Research on cognitive tasks have found that time of day affects performance. One area of cognitive function, not yet examined for susceptibility to circadian influence, is that of executive functioning. The present study examined the effects of time of day on executive functioning in Native American children and Non-Native American children. The study sample consisted of thirty Native American children and fifty-four Caucasian …

Terrestrial Movements And Habitat Use Of Gopher Frogs (Rana Capito) At Fort Benning, Georgia, Jonathan H. Neufeldt

Theses and Dissertations

Gopher frogs (Rana capito) were radio-tracked between the 2000 and 2001 breeding seasons to study their terrestrial movements and habitat use in a longleaf pine- sandhill area on the Fort Benning Military Reservation, Georgia. The telemetry research was conducted in response to the need for biological data concerning gopher frog terrestrial habits. Ultimately the data could aid biologists and land managers in describing critical habitat and the development of a management or recovery plan. Twelve gopher frogs were caught at a herpetofaunal array surrounding two neighboring breeding ponds during a post breeding migration, implanted with miniature transmitters, released and radio-tracked …

The Emotional Intelligence Of Award-Winning Fitness Industry Professionals, Terry Eckmann

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate if award-winning fitness professionals with careers as fitness instructors, personal trainers, and program directors demonstrate higher emotional intelligence than non-award winning fitness professionals as measured by the Emotional Competency Inventory (ECI). The study also compared self and others’ assessment scores as well as differences among women and men and individuals of various ages.

Thirty award winners (23 women and 7 men) and 77 non-award winners (60 women and 17 men) participated in this study. The sample ranged from 23 to 70 years of age. MANOVA was used to analyze the data and …

Genetic Population Structure Of The Plains Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus (Spea) Bombifrons) On The Northern Plains, Todd Becker

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I examined genetic population structure in spadefoot toads (Scaphiopus bombifrons) living in western North Dakota. Spadefoct toads have a very unique life history among amphibians. They are generally limited to being active only during nocturnal wet periods. Because of this, and other factors such as philopatry, it is expected that migration and dispersal rates should be relatively low. I hypothesize that this low rate of movement, along with fairly short dispersal distances when individuals do move, should lead to the structuring of genetic variation at relatively fine scales.

Five microsatellite loci were used to examine population structure …

Numerical Modeling Of Friction Stir Welding: A Comparison Of Alegra And Forge3, Alma H. Oliphant

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to evaluate the capabilities of ALEGRA, a Sandia National Labs hydrocode, and Forge3, a Transvalor S.A. product, to accurately model the Friction Stir Welding Process. ALEGRA and Forge3 are discussed in light of the inherent challenges of modeling Friction Stir Welding, and a rotational boundary condition is added to ALEGRA. Results are presented from Friction Stir Welding modeling outputs from both ALEGRA and Forge3. ALEGRA is shown to be incapable of modeling the Friction Stir Welding process, in large part due to its focus on shock propagation, which causes extremely small time steps. Forge3 …

K-8 Reconfiguration Of A Middle School And Its Impact On The Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment, Samuel C. Hull

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory investigation was to determine the effectiveness of the reconfiguration of a middle school to a K-8 building and its impact on the eighth grade students and their performance on the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (GEPA) test using a method of inquiry design. This study addresses (a) the change agents and how to handle them and (b) identifies the components and ramifications of change. Interviews, observations, and the review of material culture were used to conduct the study. The data gathered was compiled in the narrative with information being shown as tables, charts and graphs. The …

Fast Registration Of Tabular Document Images Using The Fourier-Mellin Transform, Luke Alexander Daysh Hutchison

Theses and Dissertations

Image registration, the process of finding the transformation that best maps one image to another, is an important tool in document image processing. Having properly-aligned microfilm images can help in manual and automated content extraction, zoning, and batch compression of images. An image registration algorithm is presented that quickly identifies the global affine transformation (rotation, scale, translation and/or shear) that maps one tabular document image to another, using the Fourier-Mellin Transform. Each component of the affine transform is recovered independantly from the others, dramatically reducing the parameter space of the problem, and improving upon standard Fourier-Mellin Image Registration (FMIR), which …

Analysis Of Air Force Compliance With Executive Order 13149, John C. Kirkwood

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force must comply with Executive Order (E.O.) 13149: Greening The Government Through Federal Fleet and Transportation Efficiency. This order focuses on the reduction of petroleum consumption in an effort to reduce dependence on foreign oil and preserve the environment. Specifically, it directs federal agencies (such as the Air Force) to reduce fuel use in the vehicle fleet 20 percent between Fiscal Years (FY) 1999 and 2005. This thesis examines the Air Force's current alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) program and its evolution to determine how effective it is and how it should be adjusted to promote compliance with E.O. …

An Implementation Of A Drill And Practice System To Assist In The Teaching Of Basic Music Theory, Todd C. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

In order to help a group of introductory-level music students achieve a foundational understanding of music theory, a series of computer-based instructional modules were developed using a system called Technology-Assisted Language Learning (TALL). This system, though primarily intended to be used in developing natural language-based instruction, was designed to be flexible enough to handle a broad range of academic subjects. The design of the instruction was largely accomplished via formative evaluation, where student and expert reviews of prototypes played a significant role. Students reviewed three separate prototypes of the instruction, and experts in instructional design and evaluation were also asked …

Using Graphics, Animations, And Data-Driven Animations To Teach The Principles Of Simple Linear Regression To Graduate Students, Daniel Taylor Rowe

Theses and Dissertations

This report describes the design, development, and evaluation of the Simple Linear Regression Lesson (SLRL), a web-based lesson that uses visual strategies to teach graduate students the principles of simple linear regression. The report includes a literature review on the use of graphics, animations, and data-driven animations in statistics pedagogy and instruction in general. The literature review also summarizes the pertinent instructional design and development theories that informed the creation of the lesson. Following the literature review is a description the SLRL and the methodologies used to develop it. The evaluation section of the report details the methods used during …

An Exploratory Study Of The Effectiveness Of The Cpj In Defending Journalists And Press Freedom Ideals In Latin America: Transnational Advocacy In The International Sphere, Leticia A. Adams

Theses and Dissertations

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is one of many nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that work to defend press freedom and the safety of journalists in Latin America. Based on qualitative interviews with employees at the CPJ, open surveys with journalists who have been helped by the CPJ, historical archive research, and informal participant observation, this study shows that organized domestic and international nongovernmental groups can and do make improvements on behalf of journalists and press freedom in Latin America. The CPJ's activities raise issues and place them on the agenda, and they influence discourse, policy, institutional procedures, and state behavior. …

Phylogenetic Systematics And Evolution Within The Family Scincidae, Alison Swindle Whiting

Theses and Dissertations

Scincidae (skinks) comprise one of the largest families of lizards, and the more than 1300 species show great variation in body size and form, and are found worldwide in a diversity of habitats. The group presents many interesting questions ranging from the colonization of oceanic islands, to the evolution of limb loss, yet most of these and other questions remain understudied. The purpose of this dissertation is to use multiple mitochonidrial and nuclear DNA markers in connection with current cladistic methods to address evolutionary questions at many levels within Scincidae. In chapter one, a molecular phylogenetic study, based on six …

Perspectives Of Pro-Revivalism: The Christian History And The Great Awakening, Lisa Thurston Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The Christian History was a pro-revivalist magazine printed in Boston from 1743-1745 during what is known as the Great Awakening. It contained accounts of revivalism written by pro-revivalist ministers from throughout the American colonies, England and Scotland. These ministers believed that the Holy Spirit was being poured out upon the land in a shower of grace, causing unprecedented numbers of people to convert to Christ. In The Christian History, pro-revivalist ministers expressed their support for the revivals and shared their experiences. Thus the magazine has typically been viewed as religious propaganda advocating a single, polemical viewpoint. However, in spite …

Discovering The Merit Of The Wavelet Transform For Object Classification, Matthew D. Eyster

Theses and Dissertations

Vision is the primary sense by which most biological systems collect information about their environment. Computer vision is a branch of artificial intelligence concerned with endowing machines with the ability to understand images. Object recognition is a key part of machine vision with far reaching benefits ranging from target recognition, surveillance systems, to automation systems. Extraction of salient features from an image is one of the key steps in object recognition. Typically, geometric primitives are extracted from an image using local analysis. However, the wavelet transform provides a global approach with good locality. Additionally, the directional and multiresolution properties may …