Digital Commons Network^™

The Organizational Impact Of Smoke Break Management In Strategic Air Command, Glenn G. Hinken

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the organizational impact of smoke break management in Strategic Air Command. Analysis of data from a survey questionnaire showed that although the smoking and smoke break issues touched the majority of the people in SAC and almost every smoker surveyed reported taking smoke breaks, just 27 percent of respondents reported their organization had a smoke break policy. Most of these respondents indicated the policies were lenient in terms of regulating the time and duration of the breaks. Smokers reported spending an average 41.09 minutes per day taking smoke breaks. This figure differed significantly from the time smokers …

Improved Decision Making Through Group Composition, William E. Page Iii

Theses and Dissertations

This experimental study attempted to prove that teams formed with dissimilar personality types would have better decision making than teams which were not formed by dissimilar types. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, based on Jung's Theory of Psychological Type, was used to determine the subject's personality type preferences. Subjects' perceptions of team processes were also investigated. The sample population consisted of military officers and civil servants who attended the Advanced Program Management course at the Air Force Institute of Technology. Decision making effectiveness was determined from team performance on the Time-by-Event-by-Member-Pattern-Observation system (TEMPO). The design for this research consisted of comparing …

An Examination Of The Assumptions Behind Attempts To 'Civilianize' Dod's Acquisition Process, Rolland J. Gagnon

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the validity of a number of assumptions underlying Congressional proposals to form an elite civilian acquisition corps. Specific assumptions examined were (1) civilian personnel in DoD procurement have longer average tenure in specific program positions than their military counterparts, (2) a more centralized civilian acquisition agency (modeled after agencies found in Western European countries) would be more efficient and effective than DoD's current decentralized system, and (3) tenure is positively correlated with organizational effectiveness. A literature review of the latter two issues failed to support these assumptions. Tenure data collected from personnel assigned to Aeronautical Systems Division …

The Development And Retention Of Critical Thinking Dispositions Among Students Of The Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate Management Programs, Luke J. Schaub

Theses and Dissertations

This effort analyzed the development and retention of critical thinking dispositions in students of the Air Force Institute of Technology's School of Systems and Logistics graduate management program. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator was used as a measure of subjects' dispositions. Pre- and post- test surveys were administered when subjects entered and exited the program, and a follow-up administered two to five years later. The pre- and post-tests were administered to 427 subjects and the follow-up to 201 of those subjects. It was found that subjects increased their preference for logical, objective decision-making while enrolled in the program. Subjects also increased …

A Value-Based Hierarchy Of Objectives For Military Decision-Making, Lowell A. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

This study develops a rational model for the incorporation of ethical values into military decision-making. The values considered include obedience to superiors, professional competence, and elements of just war theory such as proportionality and discrimination. A review of the relevant literature on just war theory and professional military ethics points to the science of multi-attribute utility analysis as a means of representing the complex value tradeoffs essential to military decisions. The values and tradeoffs identified are interpreted in a hierarchy of objectives model which is used to evaluate value preferences between decision alternatives. With the hierarchy constructed, tradeoffs between values …

Psychosocial Aspects Of Adventitious Blindness, Sharon Goodman

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Integrating Mathematical Concepts With Technology Education, Chei-Chun Chen

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Should North Dakota Have A Medical School? An Analysis From The Taxpayer's Perspective, Al Larson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Drama Of Alienation: An Interpersonal Examination Of Edward Albee's The Zoo Story And Sam Shepard's Buried Child, Lisa Arnold

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined alienation from an interpersonal communication perspective in order to find a connection between aspects of alienation and interpersonal communication.

Alienation occurs at two levels according to scholars in sociology and psychology. At the social level, one's culture influences behavior in interpersonal relations. At the psychological level, one's perception of self worth influences interpersonal relations. This study used Srole's five aspects of alienation (isolation, estrangement, powerlessness, unpredictability, and meaninglessness) to analyze interpersonal relationships between those alienated on both levels.

Two plays were chosen to exemplify how alienated people need close interpersonal communication. The Zoo Story, by Edward Albee …

A Transcript Analysis Of The Graduates Of Two Postsecondary Institutions In North Dakota: A General Education Profile, Sharon L. Etemad

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined general education at a university and a community college in North Dakota in regard to purpose, structure, content, core, breadth, and coherence. The purpose of the study was to determine actual general education course-taking patterns by all graduates of the institutions and by differentiated majors. The research methodology was a case study and a profile of actual course-taking patterns as recorded on the transcripts of the 1990 baccalaureate degree graduates of the university and the 1989 and 1990 associate degree graduates at the community college.

The profiles of general education coursework at the two institutions were similar. …

Analytical Prediction And Experimental Verification Of Blade Loads Experienced By Two, Three-Bladed, Fixed Pitch, Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines, Scott M. Klingenstein

Theses and Dissertations

Wind turbine blade structural designers need measured blade structural load data to project blade life. These data are necessary to validate analytical predicton models and to optimize advanced blade structural designs. The objective of this work is to furnish designers current blade load data and to compare the analytical blade load predictions to the measured loads.

This analysis is based on ninety hours of wind turbine loads data collected in 1990, on the SERI 7.9 m and Aerostar 7.5 m blades. The blades were installed on identical turbines, located adjacent to each other. The data were collected covering a wide …

The Impact Of Early Intervention On Subsequent Classroom Placement, Amy Jo Sanner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of an Early Childhood Special Education program in a small city in northeastern North Dakota. The study examined the classroom placements and supportive services required by two hundred seventy two (272) preschool aged handicapped children prior to, during, and subsequent to their participation in the early intervention program. Children included in the study had attended the preschool program some time between the 1984-1985 school year and the 1990-1991 school year.

The following research questions were posed: 1) What types of children, based on primary handicapping condition, require a less restrictive …

A Comparison Of The Development And Importance Of Play In Handicapped And Nonhandicapped Preschoolers, Lynn Ann Moen

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Public School Teachers And Administrators In Regard To The Relative Importance Of Ten Factors As Potential Motivators For Teachers In Their Job Situations, Keith M. Altendorf

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Development Of Human Emotions From Neonate To Preschoolers, Edwina Davies Luevanos

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of Obstacles Encountered By Students Who Completed Correspondence Study Courses, And Reasons For Withdrawal From Correspondence Courses At The University Of North Dakota During Fiscal Year 1990, Karen A. Berthold

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of The Adequacy Of Air Force Regulations Guiding The Development And Procurement Of Software User Manuals, Amy M. Baines

Theses and Dissertations

As the Air Force increases its emphasis on controlling the cost and quality of software development, it's important to ensure that the documentation to support that software is also quality controlled. This research evaluated the adequacy of current regulations by comparing the process for developing Air Force software manuals with the process for developing similar types of user manuals, both within and outside of the Air Force. A comparison to the regulations guiding the development of Air Force Technical Orders revealed that the requirements for software manuals are unclear, dispersed through numerous regulations, and at times contradictory from one regulation …

The Child Witness: The Effects Of Videotaped Versus Live Testimony On Juror Perceptions Of Guilt., Sharon Kaye Hagen

Theses and Dissertations

A total of 192 jury-qualified subjects participated in this study which compared the effects of a child's videotaped deposition on juror's perceptions of a defendant's guilt to live in-court testimony. A three hour trial, videotaped from a simulated case of child physical use being conducted for the Trial Advocacy Class of the University of North Dakota Law school, was shown to all subjects. A separate deposition of the child's testimony, identical to the live testimony, was also videotaped and shown to half the subjects. Eight juries viewed the videotapes of the trial with the child testifying on the witness stand …

Theme Studies And Thinking: How Children Use Reading, Writing, And Talking To Develop And Extend Their Thoughts., Laurie M. Wenger

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, the thinking practices of students as they used reading, writing, and talking in a thematic unit of study were described and analyzed.The subsidiary questions were suggested by recent studies and reports that indicated a decline of "thinking" in American schools. The questions were: (1) What categories of thinking were evident in the language and behaviors of young learners? (2) What environmental factors contributed to the development of children's thoughts and ideas?The thinking of nine first graders was described by semantic maps, direct observation, video and audio tapes, and analyzed using the categories of Bloom's Taxonomy and Tough's …

The Interaction Of Parishioner Gender And The Pedestal Effect As Influences Upon The Friendships Of Catholic And Protestant Clergy., Nanette Marie Matthews

Theses and Dissertations

The present investigation employed Wright's self-referent model of relationships in the examination of clerical friendships. It was hypothesized that the pedestal effect would be strongest for Catholic women, followed by Protestant women, Catholic men, and Protestant men, and that this variable would be inversely related to the total relationship index obtained from parishioners, the level of acquaintanceship as indicated by parishioners, and the total relationship index completed by clergy/controls toward their best friends. Hypotheses were offered regarding certain scales from the Acquaintance Description Form-Final (ADF-F). It was expected that utility and security values would tend to be high for clergy, …

Development Of An Instrument To Evaluate Boys Basketball Coaches., Peter Michael Oliszczak

Theses and Dissertations

A modified Delphi technique was used to develop a usable instrument for the evaluation of boys basketball coaches. The study was designed to identify competency items appropriate for assessing coaching effectiveness based on a consensus of opinion (Delphi technique) among selected experts.The study was conducted in a three-state region: North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. An expert panel of judges refined the ninety-five questionnaire items compiled by the writer for their use in the study. The selection panel consisted of nine athletic directors, nine principals, and nine coaches.Four rounds of the questionnaires were used in the study. The first questionnaire …

Robotics And Children: Their Relationship To Science Achievement, Problem Solving, Adhd Rating Scale Scores, And Learning Styles, Susan Preston Wagner

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated whether robotics could significantly improve science achievement scores or problem solving scores as compared to battery powered manipulatives or an untreated traditionally taught control. Also examined was whether there were interactions between treatment group membership and ADHD Rating Scale scores, and treatment group membership and the learning styles subscales auditory, visual, tactile, and kinesthetic. Fifteen fourth through sixth grade classes, involving 364 students from three schools participated in this study. A fifth grade science unit on force, motion, and machines was taught for 20-30 minutes daily, followed by a 50-60 minute robotics session. The treatments lasted for …

Assertive Behavior Training With Chronic Mentally Ill Persons Using A Videotape Format., Mark Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Young chronic mentally ill persons are individuals whose needs for treatment are well documented. Within the context of existing mental health systems, the client is generally faced with the need to be able to seek out services. With sobering regularity, these persons are quite poorly prepared to communicate their needs effectively.The present research proposed that improvements in the assertive communication skills of young chronic mentally ill persons would promote improvements in their interactions with caregivers. This study was undertaken to investigate a videotape strategy for the training of assertiveness.The sample for this study consisted of 42 male and female volunteers …

Operations Research In A New Spanish Air Force Planning System, Antonio Valderrabano

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research effort was to determine a new Spanish Air Force Planning System. Today's highly technological weapon systems are very expensive, and resources are very scarce. So its selection has to be done very carefully. This process can allow high flexibility, be helpful facing the budgetary problems for all the Air Forces, and also can be easily integrated in a joint defense system. The path defined in this thesis is able to be adapted for different situations. It can be useful for other Services or countries, when their own peculiarities have been set up on the defined …

A Vision System Model, Erik J. Fretheim

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation provides four major contributions to the field of vision research. The first contribution is a general vision system model. The model, which blends biological as well as technological methods into a coherent approach to vision, will provide a basis for implementing vision systems. The second contribution of this dissertation is to demonstrate particular implementations of portions of the model. These implementations will include methods for using Gabor wavelets in edge detection, in preprocessing images for use as feature vectors in backpropagation neural networks, and as basis functions in a recognition/reconstruction network, as well as methods for integrating color …

Some Measurements Of Achievement Among Participants In The Indians Into Medicine Student Support Program, James N. Beiswenger

Theses and Dissertations

The subject of this paper is an assessment of the effectiveness of several student support activities provided by the Indians into Medicine (INMED) program at the University of North Dakota. INMED offers summer enrichment sessions and academic year support for Indian students preparing for health careers.

Program evaluation mechanisms include pre- and posttesting of participants in summer 1990 enrichment sessions, a questionnaire completed by 41 undergraduate and medical students in fall 1990, and statistical analyses of student achievement, with some tests using variables which researchers have found to be associated with achievement in college and professional school.

Teaching Sighted Children About Visual Impairment, Susan M. Edman Hulteng

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Relationship Of Adolescent Self-Image To The Risk Of Pregnancy, Vicki Wessman Downey

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescent pregnancy remains as one of the most pervasive socio- heaUh problems present in the United States. The health, economic, and social risk concomitant with adolescent pregnancy impacts on the child, mother, father, and society. Adolescent pregnancy, the problem that has not gone away, is an endemic phenomenon requiring long-term systematic intervention. It is imperative that underlying factors which contribute to this problem be identified so that subsequent research and educational programs can impact to reduce the problem.

One of the significant factors in teen pregnancy is low self esteem and self-concept. The purpose of this study was to examine …

The Trend Toward Preventative Medicine Through Health And Fitness Programs In The Public And Private Sectors, Christina M. Lehnertz

Theses and Dissertations

Taking Care of the Employees While Cutting Health Care Costs: Can the Private and Public Secotrs Learn from one Another?

In the face of skyrocketing health care costs for employees in both the public and private sector, each must find ways to contain these costs while providing their employees adequate care. The trend has been toward the practice of preventative medicine. Each sector has experimented with and developed different programs for employee health that must operate within the particular constraints of the sector. Public sector examples to be used in the study are public health programs and the old and …

Spark Without Flame: The German Library Of Information A Nazi Propaganda Agency In The United States, 1936-1941, Craig S. Olson

Theses and Dissertations

Most studies of Nazi propaganda have focused on main events inside Germany. This thesis proposes to examine German efforts in the United States in the years before American entry into the Second World War. This will be done by examining one Nazi agency: the German Library of Information which operated out of New York City from 1936 to 1941.

The first chapter explores the formation of the German Library of Information and its goals. The question of whether it as controlled by the Foreign Office or the Propaganda Ministry is also discussed.

The second chapter cover the association between the …