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Buber's I-Thou/I-It Construct And Gilligan's Connected/Separate Self Construct: A Theoretical Creative Inquiry, Nancie R. Ziemke

Theses and Dissertations

William Heard's application of Martin Buber's dialogical theory to the practice and theory of therapy bears a striking similarity to the relational theories developed by Carol Gilligan and the writers associated with the Stone Center. Yet these two theoretical constructs have never been critically and formally compared. This study proposes to help fill that gap by critically comparing and contrasting the dialogical and relational constructs.

Seven questions will be addressed. (a) What is Buber's I-Thou/I-It construct?; (b) What is Gilligan's Connected Self construct and the Stone Center's relational construct?; (c) How do Buber and Gilligan/Stone Center's relational constructs compare?; (d) …

Attention Defficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder In Adults, James A. Goetz

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Ratings On The Asha Functional Assessment Of Communication Skills For Adults And Scores On The Western Aphasia Battery For Individuals With Aphasia, Racheal S. Humphrey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between scores on the WAB and ratings on the ASHA Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS1 for adults with aphasia. Twenty subjects with aphasia participated in this study with a mean age of 66 years. The ASHA FACS was completed through an interview format with the speech-language pathologist who was familiar- with the subject. On a different occasion, the WAB was administered to each subject.

A simple Analysis of Variance showed significant differences between the fluent and nonfluent subjects on all subtests of the WAB and ASHA …

Mcmi - Iii Profiles Of Combat Veterans: Predictors Of Educational And Vocational Impairment, Catherine Jenks

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the ability of four selected scales on the MCMI-111, Passive Aggressive, Avoidant, Antisocial and PTSD to determine the amount of variance contributed by each of the scales as predictors of educational and vocational impairment in Vietnam Veterans. Subjects consisted of 40 Vietnam veterans diagnosed with PTSD who received treatment at an outpatient Readjustment Program in Brevard County, Florida. Multiple Regression analyses identified the Passive-Aggressive personality scale on the MCMI-111 as significantly contributing to the variance as a predictor in vocational impairment, however, in an unexpected direction. Results and implications of these findings are discussed.

The Effects Of A Districtwide Criterion-Referenced Testing Program On Students' Academic Achievement And Teachers' Attitudes And Instructional Behavior, John Kenneth Horton

Theses and Dissertations

There is a growing perception that more accountability, in the form of systemwide testing, will somehow lead to improvements in the quality of public education. The formulation of regional and national standards and benchmarks has also led to the increased use of curriculum based testing programs. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a districtwide criterion-referenced testing program that has been administered annually since 1989 in a school district in Manitoba. The study specifically addressed whether the testing program had impacted on students’ academic achievement and on the attitudes and instructional behaviors of the educators involved …

Factors Influencing The Decision To Withdraw Mechanical Ventilation, Deborah D. Gengerke

Theses and Dissertations

Research reveals that the decision to withdraw life-sustaining medical treatment is commonly faced by surrogate decision makers of the critically ill. Factors noted to be considered by healthcare providers when addressing the decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment include poor patient prognosis, poor patient quality of life should the patient survive, and the patient's previously expressed wishes regarding life sustaining treatment.

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that are present in surrogates' decisions to withdraw life-sustaining mechanical ventilation from the critically ill adult. The target population was 31 surrogate decision-makers who had agreed to withdraw life-sustaining mechanical …

Universities And Their Communities: What Fosters Positive Town-Gown Relations?, Nicole M. Spagnolia

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to decipher what solutions and approaches have worked in solving conflicts between colleges and their communities and make the information available to other schools.

A review of research related to this study was conducted in conjunction with in-depth interviews with college relations personnel from various institutions. The information gathered was then used to conduct primary research in the form of a mail survey.

The mail survey was sent to 400 college relations personnel from across the country. The survey was used to discover what conflicts colleges are experiencing with their communities and how they …

Motivational Functions Of Volunteerism: Similarities And Differences Between Low & High Risk Communities, Deborah L. Cole

Theses and Dissertations

A functional approach provides a framework for identifying psychological and behavioral aspects associated with decision-making, experiences, and consequences. The functional approach to volunteerism suggests that different people, or sub-populations, may actually be motivated to serve based upon individual and varying personal, social, and psychological functions. The purpose of the study was to investigate any motivational differences or similarities between adults living in high at-risk and low at-risk communities with regard to volunteerism.

High and low at-risk communities were identified by the seven community at-risk indicators suggested by the Carnegie Council on Adolescents. Those communities with three or less indicators were …

Content Validity And Inter-Rater Reliability Of A Hopi Child Abuse Risk Assessment Instrument., Ron Andrew Reid

Theses and Dissertations

Child abuse within the Hopi tribe is a major social problem that affects the mental health and well being of this Native American Indian community. Since 1985, many states have used risk assessment instruments to estimate the potential risk of child abuse. The present study evaluated a risk assessment instrument developed through combining items gathered from these different instruments for use with the Hopi.In this study, three raters used an instrument developed by the primary investigator (Reid, 1995) for review of records at the Hopi tribe's social service program. The files selected for review contained court substantiated evidence of reported …

County Government 2000, Kevin J. Glatt

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Hydric Pine Flatwood Ephemeral Pool Macroinvertebrate And Crustacean Assemblages Along A Temporal And Spatial Gradient From A Hypothesized Colonial Source, Henry Leon Griffith

Theses and Dissertations

A survey of the macroinvertebrate and crustacean assemblages in hydric pine flatwood wetlands during fill and drawdown periods was conducted from September to November 1998, in Lee County, Florida. Physical and chemical information, relationships between community composition and physical and chemical conditions were analyzed and a monitoring plan for detecting impacts of declining water supply in hydric pine flatwood communities was proposed. In addition, possible sources of colonists and patterns of community assemblage were investigated. Twelve ephemeral pools and three associated intermittently exposed cypress heads were sampled monthly, over three months, using 1 D-ring benthic sweep, 2 Hester-Dendy multiple plate …

A Study Of Educator Health, Motivation, And Satisfaction At Middle Township High School, Karen Buesing

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to increase the effectiveness of communication between administration and faculty within a secondary educational organization. Forty-three educators within a total population of 73 participated in the study and completed a survey instrument that examined teacher health, motivation, and satisfaction. The survey yielded quantitative and qualitative data within the areas of demographics, orientation to teaching, areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction, commitment to life goals, and health. Quantitative data was computer-generated, and narrative responses were categorized within general areas related to the teaching profession. All data was presented and discussed within the structure of specific framing …

The Practice Of Inclusion At The Upper Deerfield Township School District, Russell Clark Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of inclusion upon classified and special needs students in regards to social and academic accomplishment. Eight eighth grade special education pupils were placed in a regular education science classroom along with fifteen non-classified. All pupils in the inclusive group received instruction for forty-five minutes each day. Lessons, tailored to each pupil's needs, were cooperatively planned and implemented by both a regular and special education teacher.

Before and after the study, the special education pupils and their parents completed surveys which recorded their feelings regarding the concept of inclusion. Students also …

An Internship Study Of Character Education In A Middle School Setting, Laureen J. Cohen

Theses and Dissertations

This internship experience focused on the study of the effectiveness of a formal approach to character education in a small New Jersey middle school. This effort projected student outcomes to include observable student demonstration of positive character traits. The character traits emphasized consist of respect, reliability, responsibility, and resourcefulness. Hence, the name of the project is the "Four R's."

The entire student body of 254 in grades five through eight participated in this study. The integration of one of the four R's into the current curriculum of each quarter served as the means by which the character traits were presented …

What Employees Want To Know During Times Of Organizational Change, Stacy Smith Napolitano

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what issues or topics are most important to employees during times of organizational change. It is important for managers to effectively communicate these issues, especially in today's changing business world.

The author conducted this research by surveying employees at organizations going through major change. The respondents were selected randomly from employee lists at each organization. The sample size was 315. The data was collected through inter-office mail at each location and sent to the author, who tabulated it using the Microsoft Access computer program. The results were tabulated by overall results, gender, …

Establishment Of Public Relations Programs In New Jersey Public Schools, Liberty Delgado Harshaw

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine effectiveness of public relations methods through use in a centralized, decentralized or coordinated plan. Survey research of public schools in New Jersey studied the following areas:

1. Superintendent training in public relations
2. Establishment of policies
3. Type of programs - centralized, decentralized, or coordinated - and reasons why used
4. Methods of communication used
5. Success of public relations program
6. Feedback methods used to evaluate effectiveness of programs
7. If no PR program existed, reasons why and intentions for implementation of future programs.

The survey was mailed to the superintendents of 594 operating public school districts in …

A Context Analysis Of Same-Company Advertisements In Gay And Lesbian Publications Compared With Mainstream Publications, Sharon Ann Follmer Miken

Theses and Dissertations

In a content analysis, this study reviewed and analyzed advertising placed by national corporations in lesbian and gay magazines. The presumption was that the homosexual population is a viable niche that is being targeted by corporations with a segmented marketing approach. The purpose was to determine if these companies changed the content of these ads in any way to address the needs of the gay consumer.

The two most prominent national magazines that serve the lesbian and gay population in the United States are The Advocate and Out. From these two magazines was drawn a universe of national corporations that …

Parental Involvement And Its Impact On Student Performance In The Primary Grades, Charlene G. Bundy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if parental involvement increased the school performance of students in the primary grades. Research shows that parents who are supportive, monitor their child's activities, help their child, and participate with their child's school positively impact their child's school performance. The independent variable was parental involvement and the dependent variable was school performance. The sample consisted of 20 students in first, second, and third grade. A parent questionnaire was completed by parents who also provided their child's school grades in math and reading. The questionnaire asked parents to rate the frequency that they …

How Are Hospitals Disseminating Their Patient Confidentiality Policies To Their Employees?, Sally Sapega

Theses and Dissertations

Depending on a patient's illness, as many as 100 health professionals and administrative personnel may have access to the hospital record, all with a legitimate reason. Many people are understandably concerned about confidentiality because of the range of information in medical records that is often necessary to ensure an accurate diagnosis and successful treatment -- including very personal information about a person's physical, mental, and sometimes even emotional well-being. This thesis examined how 20 Delaware Valley hospitals communicate their patient confidentiality policies to their employees. The survey specifically asked the channels through which their confidentiality policies are communicated (i.e. training …

The Effects Of Musical Training On Academic Achievement, John Schiavo

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to look at the cognitive development of students who have formal musical training and compare them to students who lack any musical ability. The purpose of the study was to lend support to the positive effect that musical training has on space relations and mathematical abilities.

The sample consisted of twenty students enrolled in an undergraduate psychology course at a major university and twenty students enrolled in a high level music class at the same institution. Most of the subjects came from middle class backgrounds and live in New Jersey. The Differential Aptitude Test, form C, …

The Effects Of Self-Monitoring, An Action List, And Graphing On On-Task Behavior, Paula Chamberlin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if self-monitoring, graphing of on-task behavior time, and the use of a predetermined written action list with self-evaluation of adherence to that action list would increase on-task behavior time during independent study time. The hypothesis was that students in the supplemental instruction program would decrease their incidences of off-task behavior by bringing a predetermined written action list with them to class, self-evaluating adherence to their action list, self-monitoring and graphing their on-task behavior time.

The fifteen students who participated in this study are students who attend Delsea Regional High School, located in …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Educational Resources On The World Wide Web, Nicole A. Fedeli

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide educators with a sampling of the educational resources that are available on the world wide web. It was also designed to determine the different categories of web sites available. The study was conducted by using the Yahoo! search engine. A search was entered for areas such as Social Studies and Special Education. The resulting web sites were then navigated to determine their relevancy to the study. Relevant web sites were placed into the following categories: Information sites and Lesson Plan sites. The sub-categories of Information sites are: For the Classroom, Special Education, …

Empathy And Self-Acceptance: Necessary Qualities Of A Peer Helper, William T. Sharp

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a preliminary study of the qualities of people who chose to be peer helpers. A review of the literature on helping theories led to the conclusion that empathy and self-acceptance were necessary elements of a helper. This study hoped to lend support to this theory. The hypothesis stated that students electing to take a peer helping training course would have different levels of empathy and self-acceptance than those in a cooking class. These qualities were measured using a psychological inventory, and the scores of 115 adolescent subjects (n=115) were compared. There was no significant difference between students …

A Comparison Of Perceived Satisfaction With Quality Of Life For Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury And Mental Retardation, Todd Jarger

Theses and Dissertations

An exploratory study was conducted to examine the possible differences in satisfaction with specific quality of life indicators developed by Schalock (1996) between persons with mental retardation and those with acquired traumatic brain injuries. A survey comprised of a Likert-type scale was utilized to interview 41 adults with mental retardation and 27 adults with traumatic brain injury to obtain their perceived satisfaction with their quality of life. The analysis of the data suggests that a significant difference exists between the two groups. The sample of persons with brain injuries expressed lower levels of satisfaction on 10 of the 11 items …

Increasing Sensitivity Toward Handicapped Children Through Inclusion, Christine Nicole Brookbank

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to observe the benefits for non-handicapped students in an inclusive setting. The hypothesis suggested that regular education students would be more sensitive and aware of handicapped individuals when they are read stories about handicapped individuals and participate in a sensitivity program than regular education students who do not receive this form of intervention. The Acceptance Scale for Kindergarten-Revised (ASK-R) helped to assess fifty-eight second graders' perceptions of handicapped individuals. The difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of Classroom B (experimental group given sensitivity program and read stories regarding individual differences; has included child) …

Prevalence And Psychological Correlates Of Eating Disorders Among College Women, Lisa M. Lyons

Theses and Dissertations

Eating disordered behaviors of fasting, binge-eating, and vomiting and purging have increased in prevalence and are approaching epidemic proportions. It is estimated that 1 in 100 females age 12 to 18 are anorexic, while as many as 1 in 4 college-age women are thought to be bulimic or engage in other forms of disturbed eating. Research indicates that those who are eating disordered are more dissatisfied with their bodies, have lower self-esteem, and have a greater tendency to endorse sociocultural mores regarding thinness and attractiveness. The present study investigated a) the prevalence of eating disorders among college women, and b) …

Social Engagement: Depressogenic Factors In The Elderly, Joell P. Worster

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine whether those elderly nursing home residents who maintained social engagement would be less depressed then those elderly nursing home residents who did not maintain social engagement. The study consist of 21 residents who resided in a nursing home. All subjects were given the Geriatric Depression Scale and asked to respond to the 30 question by yes or no. A Mann Whitney Test was performed on the depression scores from the results of the Geriatric Depression Scale. The results were significant with the prediction of the study. Those elderly residents in the nursing …

A Study Analyzing The Ability Of The Yellow Brick Road Screening Test To Predict Future Academic Achievement, Nancy Lazzaro

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the ability of the Yellow Brick Road kindergarten screening instrument to predict future academic achievement using CAT scores as indicators of student performance. There were 31 subjects used in this study. Subjects were selected randomly from the respective elementary school population. The study followed a longitudinal design. Yellow Brick Road scores were obtained, in addition to CAT scores in grades 2, 4, and 6. All scores were recorded anonymously with the permission of the respective school Board of Education.

The data was analyzed using a paired sample T test. Based on the …

A Study Examining The "I Like Me" Program And Its Effects On Self Esteem, Julie Ridgway

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the "I Like Me" Program and determine if the implementation and use of the "I Like Me" Program, in addition to the standard curriculum, in a second grade classroom will significantly increase the students' levels of self esteem as compared to students who are only exposed to the standard health and social studies curricula.

Two samples of students were pretested using the Piers-Harris Children's Self- Concept Scale. The "I Like Me" Program was implemented into one of the two classrooms (Sample B) over a 20 week period of time. The program consisted …

The Effects Of Elementary Peer Mediation Program On Disciplinary Action In The Schools, Elizabeth Anne Haws

Theses and Dissertations

Peer mediation programs offer students options. Students can choose mediation instead of name-calling, yelling, or letting conflicts grow until they explode into violence. Little is known about the effectiveness or manner of implementing these programs. This study examines 62 black male students in grades 4, 5, and 6 from a Burlington County, New Jersey, suburban, public K-6 elementary school. Some data suggest disciplinary action is decreased with a cadre approach to peer mediation established in the school. More attention should be paid to evaluating peer mediation and conflict resolution programs. Under peer mediation programs, students in conflict and peer mediators …