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A Psychometric Investigation Of The Ucla Loneliness Scale With A Sample Of College Women., Arlow W. Andersen Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Loneliness is considered one of the most prevalent social problems. Difficulties in definition, measurement, and conceptualization have hindered its investigation. In an attempt to address these difficulties, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale was developed in 1976 and subsequently revised. It has become one of the most widely used measurements of loneliness.This investigation was an attempt to address further some of the lingering concerns about the psychometric properties of the Scale. Two hundred women enrolled in undergraduate classes at the University of North Dakota were administered the UCLA Loneliness Scale along with a battery of other …

Security And Involvement In The Parent-Adolescent Relationship, Susan J. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was the investigation of the dynamics which occur in relationships between parents and their adolescent children. Two hundred and eighty-four adolescents from local high schools were surveyed using the Acquaintance Description Form for Adolescents. They were also asked to take home the Parental Response Questionnaire for their parents to complete. Of these, responses were received from one hundred and seven parents.

Previous research has suggested that differences exist between relationships maintained by adolescent children and their mothers and fathers, particularly on the variables of security and involvement. Fathers have traditionally been described as less secure …

A Procedure For Performance Assessment Of Drugs Hypothesized To Be Effective In Controlling Motion Sickness, Zainab N. Ahmed

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is conducting research into the effectiveness of certain drugs for controlling motion sickness. If the drugs are found to be useful, they must still be proven to have no harmful effects on the operator's performance abilities. There are many methods for assessing performance effects of drugs but very little standardization exists. The Unified Tri-Services Cognitive Performance Assessment Battery (UTC-PAB) is a performance assessment method designed to be used by all military branches. This will encourage standardization of drug testing, exchange of data, and comparability of methods. Five tests were chosen from the UTC-PAB …

Freedom Of Information And Open Records Laws: Aid Or Hindrance To Government?, Chase H. Boardman

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of School Administrators Of The Nurses' Roles In A School Health Program, Vida A. Gorsegner

Theses and Dissertations

Nursing roles in school health programs differ within various school settings. These roles range from traditional nursing activities to nurse practitioner and mental health nurse roles. Literature specific to the roles of nurses in a school health program is limited; however, studies indicate that the school nurse role is multidimensional. Role theory was the framework used for this study. The purpose of this study was to determine school administrators' perceptions of the role of the nurse in a school health program.

The sample profile included 48 school administrators from a two county area in an upper midwest area. The two …

Lady, If You Go Into Politics: North Dakota's Women Legislators, 1923-1989, Ann M. Rathke

Theses and Dissertations

Little is known about the seventy-two women who served in the North Dakota legislature between 1923, when women first took seats, and 1989, the state's Centennial year. Their collective story has been absent from major scholarly works about the history of North Dakota, a state which prizes its unique and colorful political heritage. The purpose of this study is to remedy this lack of information.

A variety of published and unpublished sources were consulted, including the records of proposed bills and resolutions. A survey was developed and used to obtain additional biographical and other information about current and former women …

An Analysis Of The Effects Of Phenytoin In Treating Motion Sickness And The Effects Of Motion Sickness On The Human Electroencephalogram, Todd M. Banducci

Theses and Dissertations

This research had two goals: to continue the ongoing research at AFIT to determine the efficacy of the anticonvulsant drug phenytoin in combating the onset and progression of motion sickness; and to note whether or not there is a discernable similarity in the brains of the test subjects to indicate a common point of origin (epicenter) and propagation pattern of the effects of motion sickness in the brain. Eight male DOD personnel were used as subjects to complete twelve trials. Four subjects completed the phenytoin verses placebo double-blind crossover experiment. These four subjects experienced a 99% mean increase in their …

Investigation Of Parent Program On Mediating Stress As It Relates To The Special Education Process, Mary Carol Stammen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a parent training program, "FACTS," by: (1) increasing the parents' perceived ability to participate in the special education process of their child as an active participant, and (2) lowering the level of stress experienced as they interact with the educational system of their children.

This study involved an experimental group consisting of 26 parents who received the parent training program and a control group consisting of 24 parents who did not receive the parent training program. Both groups completed pre- and post-test measures. The instruments used for this measure …

Wild Bill Goes To Washington : A Reassessment Of The Senate Career Of North Dakota's William Langer, Eric P. Bergeson

Theses and Dissertations

William Langer is firmly established as a legend in North Dakota history. The legend began during his controversial terms as attorney general (1916-1920) and governor (1932-1934 and 1936-1938). A maverick in the United States Senate after his election to the upper chamber in 1940, admirers saw him as a civil libertarian and a defender of the "common man." The loyalty and devotion of his constituents increased over the years because of his willingness to do favors for them and because of his considerable campaign skills. However, a study of his papers, the Congressional Record, and newspaper and magazine articles reveals …

Model-Based Reasoning In The Detection Of Satellite Anomalies, Ralph W. Dries

Theses and Dissertations

Automatic fault detection and recovery would be a mandatory requirement for a satellite where some degree of autonomy is required. This thesis reviews some AI techniques used for the detection of satellite anomalies, and concludes that the model-based reasoning paradigm is best suited for automated on-board fault detection because it can cope with situations not necessarily programmed into the knowledge base. Using the Scheme language and its SCOOPS object oriented extension, development of software is described that models the pitch control channel in the attitude and velocity control subsystem of a typical geo-stationary communications satellite. This model is used by …

Executive Information Systems For Usaf Hospital Administrators: A Feasibility Assessment, Alan R. Constantian

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigated the feasibility of implementing an executive information system (EIS) for hospital administrators at CONUS-based USAF inpatient medical facilities. A literature search determined that successful system implementation would require that such an EIS be found technically, economically, operationally, and motivationally feasible. Failure to meet any of these feasibility factors would jeopardize successful implementation. Surveys were mailed to each of the administrators and medical systems officers of CONUS- based USAF inpatient medical facilities in order to gather data on these feasibility issues. Approximately eighty percent of the survey population of 66 in each group responded to the survey. There …

Perceptions Of Retired Public School Teachers Regarding Retirement: Implications For Preretirement Planning, Rollie Duane Morud

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify perceptions about retirement and suggestions regarding retirement planning from retired public school educators. The writer's primary interest was in developing a data base regarding the non-financial issues of retirement leading to the design of a preretirement preparation planning program.

A random sample of 393 retired North Dakota teachers from a population of 3930 was surveyed. Seventy percent (274) returned the eight-page survey. The sample had the following characteristics: average age--73 years, average length of retirement--10.65 years, 74 percent were female, 72 percent lived in their own home, 37 percent had moved since …

Comparison And Contrast Of Participation Fee Policies, Andrew O. Dahlen

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Integrating Language Arts With Graphic Communications In An Inner City Junior High School, Kurt Proctor

Theses and Dissertations

Teaching the youth of today is becoming an important issue. Alarming statistics prove that the problems of illiteracy and high dropout rates are not decreasing. If nothing is done to change the prospects of the 13 million school-aged children currently at serious risk of school failure, says a coalition of eleven education organizations, these children will grow up to become adults who will drain the economy in welfare and social service costs and seriously hamper the nations ability to compete internationally. L. B. Schorr (1988) states that in 1987,"the one million youngsters who leave high school without graduating will be …

Gender Difference In Emotionally Disturbed Children, Jane M. Beaulieu

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the consequences to emotionally disturbed elementary school girls of being in the minority in self-contained classes for emotionally disturbed children. This study was conducted in MISII (Modified Instructional Service II) classes, primarily for the emotionally disturbed, in the New York City Public Schools. The ratio of boys to girls was 6.5 to 1. A survey was distributed to teachers of such classes with at least one girl attending. Part 1 of the survey consisted of 36 statements on the following topics indicated by the literature as relevant to the situation of girls …

Drug Testing In The Public Sector, James R. Beal

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to assess the nature and extent of drug testing in the public sector. Drug testing of public employees as well as private employees has been on the rise since the later part of the 1980s. This trend may continue into the 1990s and beyond.

Though drug testing may appear to be means to end drug abuse among public employees, it may not be the best means. In order to fully understand the current controversies sur— rounding drug testing, a detailed examination of available literature was conducted. There are many issues that must be considered …

The Influence Of Age On The Mmpi Responses Of Adult Male Alcoholics., Gary A. Sacks

Theses and Dissertations

Recent cluster-analytic research with alcohol-dependent men has demonstrated the existence of several Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) subtypes that are consistent across diverse samples. Few such studies have been reported which employed age as a variable of interest. Shortcomings of this research include a lack of external, independent measures against which to evaluate the predictive validity of cluster typologies. Subjects were divided into four groups according to age in 10-year increments. The current study detected age-related changes in derived MMPI clusters for 387 male alcoholics who were admitted to a private inpatient treatment program. Subsequent multivariate analyses employing alcohol-use scales …

Efficiency Of Monoclonal Antibodies To Detect Respiratory Virus Antigens In Clinical Specimens, Kenneth E. Irmen

Theses and Dissertations

The development of specific antiviral therapy has increased the need for rapid viral diagnosis and necessitates a better understanding of viral epidemiology. The purposes of this study were to determine the efficiency of immunofluorescent assay employing monoclonal antibodies from commercial sources to detect respiratory virus antigens in clinical specimens and to define the epidemiology of respiratory viruses in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Throat swab, nasopharyngeal swabs and nasopharyngeal washes were excellent specimens for studying viral epidemiology; virus isolation rates were 7.7%, 33.2%, and 39.7%, respectively. Yearly epidemics of respiratory syncytial virus and influenza were observed. In contrast, parainfluenza and adenovirus infections …

Classroom Modifications For Learning Disabled Adolescents: The Effects Of Inservice And Follow-Up Consultation On Four Regular Classroom Teachers, Lynne Chalmers

Theses and Dissertations

This study asked the question: What are the effects of an inservice on classroom modifications for secondary learning disabled students on the teaching practice of four highly able teachers? A secondary question asked was: To what extent are teachers‘ behavior and attitudes affected by follow-up consultation? The participants were four secondary regular classroom teachers representing four curricula areas (English, social studies, health, and biology). All four had been recognized as having the ability to work well with learning disabled students. The procedure used for the study was a form of naturalistic inquiry, specifically participant observation. All four teachers participated in …

Effects Of Chronis Consumption Of Caffeine On Memory For Prose In Young And Elderly Adults, Malva Waters

Theses and Dissertations

Caffeine is one of society's most widely used central nervous system stimulants. Most studies involving caffeine and memory have tested the recall of young subjects following acute administration of caffeine. This study was designed to determine the effects of chronic use of caffeine on memory for prose in young and elderly adults. Forty-nine young and forty-nine elderly subjects read four expository prose passages from the computer screen and orally recalled each story Recalls were tape recorded and later scored for presence of idea units Chronic consumption of caffeine had no significant effect on recall of prose passages. It is speculated …

A Training Manual For Direct Care Staff Of Licensed Community Residential Programs Serving Persons With Developmental Disabilities In Minnesota, Kathleen Anne Griffin Pearson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of An Aerodynamic Particle Sizer With Certified Polydisperse Test Dusts, Stanley J. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

The Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) is a near real time laser particle sizer that counts and sizes particles in the range of 0.5 /xm to 3 0 /xm, which makes it ideal for measuring the particle size distribution of fly ash from coal combustion. While the APS has proven to be a valuable instrument for measuring particle size distribution from flue gas streams, data indicate that the APS may not be providing an accurate particle size distribution over the entire range of 0.5 /xm to 30 /xm.

The primary objective of this study was to determine the ability of the …

Legislative Oversight In The North Dakota State Legislature, George W. Belcher Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to look at the extent of legislative oversight in the North Dakota State Legislature. The State's legislators meet only once every two years for about four months and the rest of the time they are fulltime private citizens and parttime legislators. Oversight of North Dakota's Executive Branch must be done by legislators who are being pulled in several directions by job, family and constituents. Oversight does not rate high on the priority list in the legislative interim.

In order to get an idea of what types of oversight are available to the State's legislators, …

Coping With Conflict: A Study Of Interpersonal Conflict Resolution Styles Of Adult Children Of Alcoholics And Nonalcoholics, Renae A. Myszkowski

Theses and Dissertations

Research on adult children of alcoholics has indicated that such children have difficulty with behavioral and communicative characteristics. Specifically they have difficulty with such behaviors as lying, intimacy, responsibility, and trust. Research also has indicated that adult children of alcoholics rely on coping mechanisms to escape from their chaotic environments and such mechanisms are manifested in behaviors of co-dependency and family roles. Although the literature on adult children of alcoholics suggests that these individuals may have trouble with problem solving in conflict, no apparent literature discusses the strategies of conflict resolution for such individuals.

This study predicted that adult children …

Vacuum Forming And Styrene Emissions, Kevin D. Matheson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to investigate if production of composites through use of the vacuum bag forming would result in different levels of styrene emission than the use of the hand lay-up process.

The following objectives were outlined:

1. To test styrene emission levels in a controlled setting by using both hand lay-up and vacuum bag forming processes

2. To determine significant differences in styrene emissions between the two processes

3. To research and develop a vacuum bag forming device which will conform to those used in industry

Quasi-experimental research design was utilized by producing twelve composite samples; six were vacuum …

Individual Differences In Verbal And Spatial Memory: The Contribution Of Gender, Verbal Ability, Spatial Ability, And Sex-Role Orientation, Mary H. Sarafolean

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the degree to which reported sex differences in verbal and spatial memory performance are due to confounds between the sexes on the individual difference factors of verbal ability, spatial ability, and sex-role orientation. Specifically, college age males and females were administered psychometric tests of verbal ability, spatial ability, and sex-role orientation. The contribution of each of these factors to predicting subjects' scores on verbal and spatial memory tasks was analyzed using regression analysis procedures.

Results indicated a male advantage on spatial ability tasks, however, no sex differences in verbal ability were found. Gender of subject was …

Fund Accounting Principles Advocated By Accounting Educators And Hospital/Municipal/College Chief Accountants, Carol S. Dobitz

Theses and Dissertations

The study was designed to determine appropriate content for the Fund Accounting topic offered in college accounting programs to aid in ensuring that accounting graduates have adequate preparation for accounting positions with nonprofit entities.Two questionnaires, containing the same fifty-seven nonprofit accounting principles and different demographic variables, were developed with the input from a panel of experts. These were mailed nationally to Accounting Educators and Chief Accountants employed by nonprofit hospitals, nonprofit colleges, and municipalities. The respondents indicated (1) the nonprofit accounting principles that are in current usage and (2) the principles respondents believed are appropriate.The findings were based on the …

Comprehension And Aging: Pronoun Anaphor., Helen J. Kahn

Theses and Dissertations

The issue of whether old and young adults differ in their ability to resolve pronoun anaphors was investigated. Controlling their own rate of presentation, subjects read stories ranging in length and selected the antecedants for sentences which contained referent nouns and properties that were consistent, inconsistent or neutral with respect to general knowledge. Older adults were less accurate than young adults in noun choice with consistency of information affecting the older adults more than the young adults. Older adults also took longer to read both the first sentence containing the referent information and the final pronoun anaphor sentences in the …

Role Of Newly Synthesized Steroid Hormone Antagonists In Adrenocortico-Steroid Hormone-Induced Hypertension, Justicia Opoku-Edusei

Theses and Dissertations

Excess adrenocorticosteroid hormones such as glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids is well known to induce hypertension in several animal species as well as in humans. Therefore, the development of potent and specific glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid antagonists with antihypertensive effects is clinically necessary. steroid hormone antagonists being used therapeutically present serious endocrinology side effects such as the widely used antimineralocorticoid, spironolactone. The antiglucocorticoids available so far have been active only in vitro or only weakly in viva. Recently, three new exciting adrenocorticosteroid hormone antagonists have been synthesized. RU 486 is a potent antiglucocorticoid (and antiprogesterone with potential as an abortifacient), RU 26752 and …

Molecular And Cytogenetic Characterization Of De Novo Acrocentric Rearrangements In Humans, Lisa Gail Shaffer

Theses and Dissertations

I have studied 26 children who have a de novo rearrangement of the acrocentric chromosomes in order to understand the formation of these aberrations. The families include '25 probands ascertained for Robertsonian-type translocations, 13 between nonhomologous chromosomes and 12 between homologs, and one rea(21;21)(q22;q22). The parental origins of the de novo rearrangements were determined in 26/26 families using QFQ and NOR variants and/or RFLP analyses. While there was no overall difference in the sex distribution of the parents of origin, there were more maternally derived nonhomologous ("true" Robertsonian) translocations (8 mat: 5 pat) and more paternally derived homologous rearrangements (4 …