Digital Commons Network^™

Experimental Investigation Of Nonlinear Dynamics In Single Mode Semiconductor Laser Diodes With Phase Conjugate Feedback, Gordon T. Hengst

Theses and Dissertations

The semiconductor laser diode offers a unique system to investigate nonlinear dynamics when optical feedback is applied. Although there is extensive research of laser diodes with optical feedback from normal dielectric mirrors, very little has been done experimentally to analyze the effects of degenerate phase conjugate feedback from a BaTiO₃ crystal. This research experimentally investigated the dynamics of a single-mode laser diode with weak phase conjugate feedback using both the self-pumped and double phase conjugate geometries. The experimental results validated a mathematical model which numerically evaluates the Lang-Kobayahsi coupled differential equations. The model simulated the nonlinear behavior of a …

An Interview Study Of Native American Philosophical Foundations In Education, Vivian Delgado

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to focus on oral Native American world views or philosophies. Native world views and philosophies and epistemology deal with the foundation of knowledge of and about aboriginal peoples. In most cases oral traditions are thousands of years old and have maintained their philosophical value. Prior to the establishment of Western education, narratives among indigenous people were used to teach and educate in the most formal sense. Today it serves as a credible and authentic source in Native American education and is weighted with the same importance that it has always had. The re-discovery of …

Effects Of Expert Statement Validity Assessment Testimony On Lay Evaluations Of Children's Statements, Marcus Choi Tye

Theses and Dissertations

Research on memory and suggestibility in children continues to demonstrate circumstances under which children may not give accurate accounts of important events. In investigating and treating child sexual abuse, it is important to determine what has happened. Statement Validity Assessment is a witness credibility assessment technique developed by Udo Undeutsch which focuses on the reality of individual statements. It involves a special open-ended investigative interview, Criteria-Based Content Analysis, which searches for the presence of characteristics which indicate that a statement is based on an experienced event, and a Validity Checklist which examines alternate hypotheses. This technique has been widely used …

Literacy Development: Teacher/Student Interaction In A Whole Language Classroom, Nadine C. Tepper

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study on literacy development within a whole language classroom focuses on the reading and writing experiences of five second grade students. The classroom teacher was also a participant in the study and practiced various whole language teaching methods in the teaching of reading and writing. The data gathered for this study were descriptive fieldnotes developed from the observations, in-depth interviews of the participants, documents from the site, and writing samples.

The portraits of the students described specific learning behaviors and styles that came forth as they read books and wrote stories in journals. The portraits also defined the …

Jewels Of Promise, Carolyn L. Smitley

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Attitudes Of Business College Faculty And Administrators Toward Distance Education: A National Survey, Gary J. Ross

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Four Girls Respond To Young Adult Horror Fiction, Betty Silliman

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study provides insight into the separate reading experience of four adolescent girls as each engaged in the reading and discussion of a popular, self-selected young adult horror novel. The analysis and interpretation of data focused on the appeal of texts and the sociological implications of the reading experience. While questions regarding the appeal of young adult horror fiction grew from work with adolescent female horror readers, the social dimension of the inquiry stemmed from concerns of critical literacy theorists with regard to the ideological content of texts and its potential to shape readers into accepting dominant views.

Data …

Interagency Collaboration: A Firsthand Look At Defining Responsibilities And Roles In Providing Services To Children With Diabilities And Their Families, Deann Donarski

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Guide To Web Site Promotion: How Companies Can Draw More Qualified Traffic To Their World Wide Web Sites, Donald L. Dunnington

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compile techniques available to public relations practitioners to promote World Wide Web sites to a targeted business-to-business audience, Without an active promotion program, using a variety of online and offline media, companies are unlikely to draw sufficient qualified traffic to their web sites to justify the cost of a site. Web technology is changing so fast, and content and usage are growing so quickly, that the only way to keep up is through use of online resources. Finding the resources specifically focused on web site promotion can be daunting, however, without guidance as …

A Study Of Empowered Employees At Two Sears, Roebuck And Company Department Stores, Wellington Watts

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed and compared the results of two surveys. The first survey of 40 empowered employees was conducted at the Sears department store in Deptford, New Jersey. The second survey of 40 empowered employees was conducted at the Sears department store in Alexandria, Virginia.

Both surveys tried to determine if being empowered helped employees feel valued by the company. The surveys also tried to determine if being empowered helped employees improve customer service and if managers upheld their obligations to let employees solve customer problems.

The survey results showed that empowered employees at both stores felt they were better …

Ecology Of Bighorn Sheep In Relation To Habitat And Oil Development In The Little Missouri Badlands., Roger Sayre

Theses and Dissertations

I conducted field research on bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana) in western North Dakota to evaluate their distribution, habitat use, activity patterns, and responses to disturbance. The study was conducted May-December from 1992-94, at Magpie Creek, an area with a high density of roads and oil wells, and Moody Plateau, with a low density of roads and oil wells.Radio-collared ewes (n = 8) at Magpie Creek used steep non-vegetated terrain more than available during summer, but less than available during fall. They used closed juniper areas less than available during summer and fall, but used disturbed habitats more than available …

Telecommuting (And Its Effect On Productivity And Morale), Shown M. Swangin-Horton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the type of effect telecommuting would have on employee morale and productivity. The sample population consisted of one hundred companies and corporations from seven eastern states.

The study indicates that telecommuting had a positive effect on respondents, as their morale and productivity increased. However, some expressed concern about resentment from on site employees and resistance from management regarding the program.

The researcher concluded that with economic, social and environmental concerns, telecommuting can be considered a feasible work solution.

Reading Attitude And Academic Achievement In Third, Fourth, And Fifth Grade Children, Denise L. Moretz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation existed between reading attitudes and academic achievement of elementary school children in grades three, four, and five. Also, the researcher wanted to determine if variables such as gender or time in school affected the relationship between reading attitude and academic achievement.

The subjects consisted of seventy students from three intact classrooms. This study took place in a middle class suburban elementary school in southern New Jersey. Twenty-seven students were from third grade, twenty-one students were from fourth grade, and twenty-two students were from fifth grade, Thirty-eight females and thirty-two …

The Effect Of Gender And Birth Order On Reading And Mathematics Achievement Among Third Grade Students, Laurie D. Rosenberg-Asch

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine that there was no significant correlation between the effect of gender and birth order on reading and mathematics achievement among third grade students.

The sample in this study consisted of students in a third grade class, in a public elementary school in a suburban school district in southern New Jersey. The sample was comprised of forty randomly selected students from two third grade classes in the school. Twenty students were female, and twenty students were male.

Interim report cards were used as the instrument to determine achievement in reading and mathematics. The …

Self-Concept In Gifted Children: A Developmental And Comparative Study, Sherri L. Evangelista

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the various dimensions of self-concept in gifted children, to compare self-concept in gifted and nongifted children, and to attempt to discover a relationship between self-concept and achievement in gifted children. The 25 subjects who participated in this study were a sample of gifted students taken from a population of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students enrolled in a public elementary school in a suburban area in southern New Jersey. The Self-Perception Profile for Children (Harter, 1985) was used to assess self-concept. Mean self-concept scores and standard deviations were calculated for each subscale. …

Effects Of Choice Restriction On The Intrinsic Motivation To Produce Creative Products, Karen M. Suloff

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess whether choice restriction decreased intrinsic motivation for a task resulting in a less creative product. The study focused on two kindergarten classes in a half day school setting. The students were to make collages. The students were either given choice or no choice of materials when making their collage. The morning class was given choice of materials. They were allowed to freely choose what they wanted from the boxes of materials. The afternoon class was given no choice of materials. They were given materials chosen by the experimenter. Two weeks later the …

The Effects Of Social And Tangible Reinforcement On Vocabulary Acquisition In Whole Language, Carolyn M. Brida

Theses and Dissertations

In this study the effects of social and tangible reinforcement in whole language was measured. The purpose was to determine if there were any significant effects of the various treatment conditions on vocabulary acquisition.

Social reinforcement and tangible reinforcement are used to motivate students to perform (Neihoff & Mesch, 1991) and achieve (Hitz & Driscoll, 1989). The academic performance and achievement of students in the area of vocabulary acquisition is an important part of the academic process. Vocabulary remains a key focus in education (Nagy, 1988). Whole language programs include vocabulary acquisition (Blachowicz & Fisher, 1996).

The sample for this …

Vocabulary Acquisition Of Target Words By Second Grade Students Through Storybook Read-Aloud Sessions, Joann Ulbrich

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of three conditions of vocabulary presentation were examined to determine which method is optimal for vocabulary acquisition of the meanings of unfamiliar words in elementary school students. The design of this study was similar to that used by A. Brett, L. Rothlein, and M. Hurley (1996). Three intact classes of second grade students, N = 59, in a suburban area in Southern New Jersey were randomly assigned to a control group, a group where students received no explanations of target words when they were read a storybook aloud, or a group where students received brief explanations of target …

The Effect Of Coeducational And Same-Sex Cooperative Learning Groups On Achievement, Michelle L. Rodier

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of coeducational and same sex cooperative learning groups on the achievement of first grade students. It is hypothesized that the academic performance of students in all subject areas while participating in a "same-sex cooperative learning group" will exceed their performance in the "coeducational learning group." The subjects of this study were twenty-two first grade students from a southern New Jersey community. This study was divided into two experimental cycles – cycle A and cycle B. Cycle A included three weeks of coeducational cooperative learning groups and cycle B included three …

A Study Of Political Campaign Communication Tactics, Janine M. Aruanno

Theses and Dissertations

This study identified issues and campaign elements important to registered voters in Atlantic County during the 1995 general election. In addition, it measured the importance of issues versus party affiliation and character.

The researcher surveyed 197 registered voters in New Jersey's second legislative district. The survey queried voters about their campaign and candidate preferences in the race for the New Jersey State Assembly.

The study determined the importance of several campaign elements: channels, messages, party affiliation and voting records, Additionally, the research showed which issues sparked interest in voters.

Finally, the research determined that party affiliation and effective campaigning are …

The Impact Of Intranets On College And University Public Relations Professionals, Daniel Murphy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to determine the impact of intranets with regard to the future job responsibilities and functions of public relations professionals in the field of higher education.

The hypothesis of this paper was that as more and more colleges and universities begin embracing intranets as a communication tool, the issue of information management will arise. The question of who or what department will be responsible for the information that is placed on an educational institution's intranet will be consistent and problematic.

College and university public relations professionals need to be aware of the problems, opportunities, changes …

Divorce, Family, And The Effects Upon Children In Educational Settings, Michael W. Stuber

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Of Attendance (Absenteeism) To Achievement And To Single-Parent And Two-Parent Home Status, Kristi H. Weikel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a significant correlation between student attendance and overall achievement level. This study also investigated if there was a significant difference in the absentee rate of students from single-parent homes versus students from two-parent homes.

The sample in this study consisted of one hundred and thirty-five fourth grade students from an elementary school in southern New Jersey. This was the entire fourth grade population for this district. The school was located in a suburban area.

The report cards were used to determine the grade point averages for the students. Their …

Interdisciplinary Public Relations: A Curriculum For Undergraduate Study At Oakwood College, Patrice Thomas Conwell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to create a public relations curriculum for undergraduate study to prepare students as effective practitioners and communicators in the 21st century.

Public relations education has changed over the years to meet the needs and trends of the industry, and today is no exception. The continued rise of Integrated Marketing Communications, and the desire to strengthen the counseling and management functions of public relations make it necessary to evaluate undergraduate curricula to ensure students are being properly prepared to enter the workforce.

The undergraduate curricula of 11 schools were analyzed and compared for subject matter …

Seashore Tourism Brochures And Advertising: Characteristics Of Effectiveness, Andrew Cripps

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the visual design elements that contribute to the effectiveness of seashore tourism brochures and print advertising.

For the first part of the study, the researcher interviewed seven tourism communications professionals for resorts from Cape Cod, Mass., to Virginia Beach, Va. The researcher asked them to indicate the most effective elements in the following categories: brochure format, color tones, overall tone, use of text, style of text, use of photos and the elements within those photographs.

The researcher also conducted a survey of a non-random sample of 31 potential seashore resort visitors. The …

Environmental Radon Decay Products In Neurological Diseased And Non-Diseased Brains, And Brains Of Cigarette Smokers., Hassaan Ahmad Alkhatib

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study was to measure alpha and beta emissions of $\sp{210}$Po (alpha emissions), $\sp{210}$Pb and $\sp{210}$Bi (beta emissions) from brain samples which were obtained at autopsy from persons who were clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), or Controls (no known neurological diseases) and cigarette smokers (SMK). The samples were digested, processed and analyzed for alpha and beta emissions.Measurement of alpha and beta radiation activity in tissues can be used to demonstrate prior exposure of tissues to environmental radioisotopes and/or their decay products. In the present study alpha emissions from brain tissues were measured with …

Coping Styles, Health Status, And Health Care Use Of Elderly Women Residing In The Community., Kimberly Sue Haga

Theses and Dissertations

Community-dwelling elderly women (N = 276) participated in a study which examined the relationships between coping styles and the variables identified in the Andersen Model of health care utilization: predisposing, enabling, and need factors. Within-groups average linkage cluster analysis, using cosines as the similarity measure, was used to form four coping cluster groups, based on five coping strategies. The patterns of coping differed among sociodemographic groups and these differences were significantly associated with physician use. The highest users exhibited a coping pattern characterized by high monitoring, blunting, and avoidance with moderate levels of problem-solving and seeking of social support. They …

College Students' Perceptions Of The Efficacy Of Writing Assignments., Joan Ilene Hawthorne

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined student perceptions of how teaching with writing affects undergraduate students. The focus was on upper division students, usually seniors, who were enrolled in majors where writing activities were incorporated into most or all of the classes in their fields. Questions about the value of writing and the development of a writer, both in the context of a writing-intensive major, were addressed.Data were gathered primarily through in-depth and open-ended interviews with students; classroom observations and document analysis supplemented the interviews. Themes in the data were elicited by a process of coding and reducing data until the major patterns …

Measurement And Prediction Issues Regarding Job Satisfaction Among Rural Physician Assistants., Kyle John Muus

Theses and Dissertations

As increasing numbers of physicians are being trained in specialized medicine and health professional shortage areas remain a common occurrence in the United States, the roles of physician assistants (PAs) in health services provision have become increasingly important, especially in rural/underserved areas of the country. By all accounts, there is a shortage of PAs in the U.S., particularly in rural areas. In response to demand, the number of PAs is projected to increase more than 70% by the year 2000, from its 1993 figure of 24,800 to 42,700.Recruitment is a critical issue in providing adequate health services in rural areas, …

Abroad Again: Explorations Within The Genre Of Travel Writing., Marielle Risse

Theses and Dissertations

Travel writing is a critical subject of study as it is a place where so many fields overlap, including autobiography, fiction, historical records, geography, political science, sociology, and anthropology. From early writers, including the European pilgrim Etheria c. 385 C.E. and the Muslim contemporary of Marco Polo, Abdallah ibn Battuta, to present day authors, travelers have written interesting and important books about areas new to them.As the starting points to my discussion of the genre of travel writing, I use two of the most important studies within the field: Paul Fussell's Abroad: British Literary Travel Writing between the Wars (1980) …