Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of An Industrial Technology Associates Degree For Lake Region College, Michael L. Nottestad

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Laboratory Denitrification Using Sediments From The Elk Valley Aquifer, Alison E. Kammer

Theses and Dissertations

An experiment was conducted to determine if a decrease in the content of sulfides related to denitrification could be measured in the laboratory using sediments of the Elk Valley Aquifer in eastern North Dakota. The experiment entailed analyzing sediments for sulfides and solid organic carbon and isolating them in sample containers with a nitrate solution to determine if a measurable decrease in these components could be observed.

Previous denitrification studies in the Elk Valley Aquifer showed an increase in sulfate in conjunction with a decrease in the concentration of nitrate. Sulfate is a by product of autotrophic denitrification where sulfide …

Lithospheric Flexure Of The Devils Lake Basin, North Dakota, Erica M. Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

Devils Lake is the largest lake in a chain of approximately 20 interconnected lakes in east central North Dakota. The Devils Lake drainage basin of approximately 8,600 km2, lies in a bowl sculpted by glaciation; thus it is closed and receives and loses water only through precipitation and evapotranspiration. Since 1940, the lake level has risen 14.4 m due to increased precipitation. Geological data show that in the past 10,000 years the lake has alternately dried up and filled due to climate fluctuations (Murphy et al., 1997). During this time it has reached its spill elevation of 444. 7 m …

Fractional Derivatives, John M. Beach

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, the reader will not find a study of any kind; there is no methodology, questionnaire, interview, test, or data analysis. This thesis is simply a research paper on fractional derivatives, a topic that I have found to be fascinating. The reader should be delighted by a short history of the topic in Chapter 1, where he/she will read about the contributions made by some of the great mathematicians from the last three centuries.

In Chapter 2 the reader will find an intuitive approach for finding the general fractional derivative for functions such as e^ax, x …

Domestic Violence: What Remedies Are Available To Victims Of Gender Motivated Violence That Are Put At Risk By State Actors?, Jennifer Sampson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Automated Oracle For Verifying Gui Objects, Juichi Takahashi

Theses and Dissertations

The promise of test automation - the automatic application of software inputs to find bugs - is tempered by the difficulty of automatically verifying behavior. Indeed, the lack of tools for behavior verification is a major factor in keeping automated testing out of the mainstream. This thesis develops a technique that aids automatic behavior verification for a particularly difficult problem: determining the correction of screen output. A methodology to capture and compare screen output is presented and a case study using Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® is described.

Computer-Based Methods For Constructing Two-Level Fractional-Factorial Experimental Designs With A Requirement Set, Steven L. Forsythe

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation developed four methodologies for computer-aided experimental design of two-level fractional factorial designs with requirement sets (DOE/RS). The requirement sets identify all the experimental factors and the appropriate interaction terms to be evaluated in the experiment. Taguchi graphs and similar manual methods provide techniques for solving the DOE/RS problem. Unfortunately, these methods are limited because they become difficult to use as the number of factors or interaction terms exceeds ten. This research showed that the DOE/RS problem belongs to a class of difficult-to-solve problems known as NP-Complete. It is the combinatorial nature of NP-Complete problems that causes them to …

Covalidation Of Dissimilarly Structured Models, Samuel A. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

A methodology is presented which allows comparison between models constructed under different modeling paradigms. Consider the following situation: Two models are constructed to study different aspects of the same system. One model simulates a fleet of aircraft moving a given combination of cargo and passengers from an onload point to an offload point. A second model is a linear programming model that optimizes the aircraft and route selection required for the same scenario. We develop a methodology to structure the comparison between large-scale models such as these. Models that compare favorably using this methodology are deemed covalid. Models that perform …

Seismic Adjustments: The Influence Of Inconvenience And Efficacy Perceptions, State Of Residence, And Demographic Factors, Nicole Elise Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that peoples' perceptions of household seismic adjustments, in addition to their perceptions of earthquakes themselves, should predict the likelihood that seismic adjustments are performed. However, little research has been done to address this issue. While recent research has found peoples' perceptions of the effectiveness of household adjustments to influence adjustment levels, people's perceptions of inconvenience of household seismic adjustments - namely the cost, time effort, required cooperation and required knowledge involved in making these adjustments - have been found to not influence seismic adjustment. However, this study did find that the higher the perceived inconveniences …

The Effects Of Eldercare Responsibilities On Employed Caregivers, Nancy Jean Mcenroe

Theses and Dissertations

The number of people in the older population will continue to grow as the decades progress. The most rapid increase expected would be between the years 2010 and 2030 when the “baby boom” generation reaches 65 years or older. By the year 2030, there will be about 70 million older persons, more than twice the number than for the year 1998.

More and more people will live long enough to experience multiple chronic illnesses, disability, and dependency; in addition there will be more relatives in their fifties and sixties who will be facing the concern and expense of caring for …

An Interview Study Of Educational Success Among American Indian Doctoral Recipients, Linda L. Neuerburg

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to better understand the successful educational experiences among Native American doctoral recipients and why they succeeded where so many others have failed to reach that level of education. The participants' individual experiences were recorded during the in-depth interviews. Their own voices have indicated their path to success.

Qualitative research methods were used in the study including interviews, participant observation, and follow-up telephone interviews. Data were analyzed for themes and results were discussed in reference to the literature. Recommendations for parents, teachers, school administrators, mentors, faculty, and college administrators were provided.

The study allowed the …

The Academic Achievement And Psychological Functioning Of College Students With A Family History Of Alcoholism, Rachel M. Dodd

Theses and Dissertations

Fifty adult children of alcoholics (ACAs) and 50 non-ACAs in an undergraduate college student sample were compared on standardized measures of emotional functioning, alcohol consumption, academic achievement, and cognitive ability. A 2 (parental alcoholism status) X 2 (gender) multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed on each of the four categories of dependent variables. The MANOVAs were followed by univariate analyses of variance (ANOVAs) to determine which variables contributed to the multivariate effect.

With respect to emotional functioning, differences between ACAs and non-ACAs were found for males but not females. Male ACAs reported significantly more current anxiety and long-standing anxiety …

Participant Reference In Narrative Discourse: A Comparison Of Three Methodologies, Stephen A. Clark

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years several linguists have developed quantitative methods for analyzing and describing how speakers of languages refer to activated participants in narrative discourse. One of the first of these was Talmy Givon, whose method (referred to by some as the Recency/Distance method) measured three factors in participant reference: referential distance, potential interference, and persistence. A few years later, Russell Tomlin proposed an alternative model, which he labeled the Episode/Paragraph method. He felt that Givon's method fails to account for the fact that the thematic paragraphs or "episodes" found in narrative texts largely determine the amount of coding material used. …

Getting Out: A Feminist Psychoanalytical Analysis Of Intimate Violence, Aili Marie Smith

Theses and Dissertations

In my thesis I examined various forms of physical and psychological violence within the text Getting Out by Marsha Norman. Getting Out is filled with disturbing visual images of intimate violence. Utilizing various feminist psychoanalytical theorists and critics, I explored the realm of intimate violence. This included paying particular attention to the feminists Rhoda Unger & Mary Crawford in Women in Gender: A Feminist Psychology and Tony Martens in The Spirit Weeps: Characteristics and Dynamics of Incest and Child Sexual Abuse. My exploration focused specifically on the act of violence found in the drama. Not only did I relate these …

Eating Disorders: Prevention, Identification And Treatment In Elementary And Secondary Schools, Marcella I. Stickney

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the responses of elementary and secondary school counselors to students with symptoms of eating disorders. A survey was sent to 1000 school counselors in the upper Midwest (Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin) during the spring of 2000. The survey contained 1 of 4 vignettes which describe either a male or female student presenting with/without symptoms suggestive of disordered eating patterns. The gender of the student in the vignette was randomly assigned. School counselors were asked to report the classification they would designate, assessment procedures they would utilize, and interventions that they …

Y2000 Alcohol And Drug Survey: An Examination Of University Of North Dakota Students, Michael A. Seredycz

Theses and Dissertations

National and regional substance use studies suggest that college students are frequent users of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. This study examines substance use at UND, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods, examining the predictive power of Hirschi’s social control theory in response to collegiate substance use. This research will provide a profile of student activities and beliefs associated with use or non-use, as well as the prevalence of use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

Three focus groups were used to increase reliability and validity of the sample before a quantitative self-administered survey was administered to a convenient sample of students. …

Cognitive Inhibition And Impulsivity In Adult Children Of Alcoholics And Controls, Louise A. Weller

Theses and Dissertations

The genetic transmission of a pattern of impairments associated with alcoholism has been supported by research literature (Dawson, Harford, & Grant, 1992; Schuckit, 1986). No single factor appears to cause the development of a substance abuse problem, but a family history of alcoholism may be one predictive factor (Goodwin, 1985). The offspring of alcoholics are more likely to display disinhibited behavior and impulsivity (Pihl, Peterson, & Finn, 1990) and are more likely to develop drinking problems than the general population (Goodwin, 1971). Researchers have found patterns of cognitive deficits (Tartar, Jacob, Bremer, 1989) and neuropsychological differences (Gabriella & Mednick, 1983) …

Estimating Budget Relationships With A Leontief Input-Output Model, Guenever L. R. Shariff

Theses and Dissertations

Forty years ago, the Office of the Secretary of Defense proposed using the Leontief input-output model to assess tradeoffs in the Department of Defense's (DoD) budget. We demonstrate that the Leontief input-output model can assess tradeoffs in the Air Force's budget. To increase one part of the Air Force's budget, we need to know the interrelationships between that budget area and the other areas. In this research, we look at different methods of how the functional areas might interact. We demonstrate our methodology on two data sets - DoD and the Air Force aggregate budget data. By looking at how …

Alternative Solutions For The Use Of Outdated Computer Hardware, Benjamin Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Parents' Perceptions Of Their Involvement In Selected North Dakota Public Schools, Patricia Groven

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Measuring The Effectiveness Of Selection Procedures And Training Programs Used In A Vocational Training Organization, Matthew J. Coumbe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a private vocational training organization's selection procedures and training programs. Specifically, the selection and training process was analyzed by employing qualitative and quantitative approaches that determined the relevant contribution the process had on employee selection and preparation. As part of this evaluative research, plant managers and supervisors from three machine manufacturing organizations, the program director and faculty of the training organization, and former trainees perceptions were used to compliment the quantitative analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted by assessing the predictive power of interview ratings, aptitude tests, and training tests. …

Social Climate In The University Social System, Peter L. Groff

Theses and Dissertations

Social climate (campus climate), which is defined as "Equal Opportunity Climate, 1" has been deemed important by recent legislation requiring that federally funded institutions demonstrate a good faith effort to assess "climate" as an ongoing concern. The 1991 Civil Rights Act has expanded the working definition of social climate by including both the atmosphere and the behavior of discrimination. Social climate then becomes a legally recognized dimension of the workplace that is assumed to be a measurable concept, as an organizational level characteristic, that can be measured by individual perceptions and experiences with the social climate. One purpose of this …

Handbook On Legal Issues For Music Educators, Scott A. Leonard

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Study Of The Perceived Effectiveness Of Resident Assistant Training At Rowan University, April Adams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of training design, format and length in preparing RA's for their positions. The participants for this study included residence life professional staff, hall directors and resident assistants. Because the population was small, all members were sampled.

This study consisted of a survey that was administered to all current and eight former RA's as well as a similar survey that was administered to the professional staff and hall directors. This survey addressed the effectiveness of the current training designs, as well as training formats and length. Additional archival data came from …

The Impact Of Varying Teaching Style Techniques To Better Match Learning Styles In The Science Classroom, Karen M. Santoro

Theses and Dissertations

This paper will address the correlation between student learning styles and the mode of delivery employed for instruction, and the outcome: student test scores.

By integrating a learning style assessment with a teaching style assessment the researcher challenges the belief that science needs to be taught in a systematic, methodical fashion and varying teaching style will result in significantly higher test scores. The test scores of a class taught with traditional science teaching delivery (lecture style) and the test scores of a class taught with various teaching styles were then compared.

The method employed involved using a learning style survey …

Cleaning Up The Junkyard: An Exploration In Developing An Online Course, Wendi Milam

Theses and Dissertations

As America enters the 21^st century, our systems of education must adapt to the changes in culture and technology. Our visions of the modern classroom are no longer limited to a room on a campus with a professor and a blackboard Many classes are going fully online, some are meeting only once a semester if at all. This type of learning and teaching opens the door for many complex questions: What is the most effective style of web site to use? How should the instructor form the requirements of the class? What should the instructor use for academic evaluation …

An Introduction To Formal Sexuality Education: A Qualitative Study., Kari Lynn Berg

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on perceptions of twelve fifth-grade boys and girls during a sexuality education unit in two elementary schools. The purpose of this study was to investigate, through open-ended questions of students and individuals involved with the puberty program planning and implementation, how students and adults accomplished a sexuality education class at the fifth-grade level. The research questions were: (1) How did classroom teachers and students perceive each other over the course of a puberty education unit? (2) What kind of learning environment was created for the puberty education classes? (3) How did the students experience the learning environment? …

Treatment Outcome In Tension Headache: Disregulation As A Potential Mechanism., Paul Allen Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Although considerable research has demonstrated that progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is an effective treatment for tension-type headache, the mechanism responsible for its effectiveness has not been determined. Recent findings regarding physiological disregulation and its impact on headache indicate a possible mechanism for the effectiveness of PMR. Physiological disregulation occurs when physiological responses are not appropriately monitored, or when they are monitored correctly but adjustments are not made in an appropriate manner. It is suggested that this disregulation can disrupt homeostasis which then leads to tension-type headache. Because PMR enhances a person's ability to monitor his/her physiology and make necessary adjustments, …

Syntheses And Characterizations Of Bis(Amido)Cyclodisilazane And Bis(Amido)Cyclodiphosphazane Complexes., Luke Grocholl

Theses and Dissertations

Synthesis and single crystal X-ray studies of the bis(amido)cyclodisilazane [(tBuNSiMe)2(tBuNH)2] (24) and its lithium, zirconium, hafnium, and tin(IV) compounds are described. The pristine molecule is formed as both cis (24b) and trans (24a) isomers. Due to its large bite angle and sterically shielding structure, surprisingly stable metal and metalloid complexes can be formed with the cis isomer. Disorder problems prevent a satisfactory refinement of the cis-isomer's structure, but a single-crystal X-ray study of the trans-isomer (24a) is presented. The interaction of 24b with nBuLi in refluxing THF yielded the heterocubic [(tBuNSiMe)2( tBuNLi·THF)2] (25). The interaction of 25 with ZrCl4 or …

The Relationship Of Gay -Related Developmental Stress To Problems In Living In College -Age Men., Philip Levinson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between the stress associated with growing up gay in our culture and the following variables: depression; history of psychiatric treatment; history of suicidality; alcohol and substance use/abuse; and attitudes toward homosexuality. It was predicted that higher levels of gay-related developmental stress would be a predictor of higher levels of depression, mental health treatment involvement, a history of suicidality, higher levels of substance use/abuse, and more negative attitudes toward homosexuality. Participants in this study were 469 gay, predominantly White, young men who were recruited primarily from Boston area college campuses. Instruments …