Digital Commons Network^™

Prediction Of Trauma Responses Following Myocardial Infarction, Risa Nakase Thompson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For survivors of MI, the most common subsequent psychological complications include anxiety and depression. Recent interest has increased in examining the incidence of anxiety disorders, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), among post-MI patients. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate trauma responses among a consecutive sample of post-MI patients. Forty-six post MI patients completed questionnaires and forty completed structured interviews during their initial hospitalization for MI. Six of these individuals reported acute stress disorder symptoms in response to their MI. These six patients scored significantly higher on most measures of PTSD. Thirty-two individuals completed a follow-up assessment of …

Assessing The *Discriminative Properties Of Response -Reinforcer Relations Using Concurrent Schedules Of Reinforcement, Josue P. Keely

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The discriminative properties of schedules of reinforcement have been assessed by making a choice response conditional upon some aspect of the schedule that produced the choice component. The discriminative properties of concurrent schedules of reinforcement and the effect of disruptions in the response-reinforcer relation were investigated using conditional-discrimination procedures. In the first experiment, choice components were produced by responding to one of two variable-interval (VI) schedules. Disruptions in the temporal contiguity between a VI response and a choice component were introduced by arranging a percentage of choice components according to a variable-time schedule. Choice responding was a function of the …

Adult Age Differences In Vocabulary Acquisition As A Function Of Individual Differences In Working Memory And Prior Knowledge, Lisa L. Laumann

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Older adults often complain of cognitive difficulties, such as the inability to learn new information or recall previously learned information. Previous research shows that many older adults do have difficulties with certain learning tasks. However, not all older adults experience these difficulties. Some recent research has shown that, contrary to popular belief, older adults can learn new information under certain task conditions. The purpose of this investigation was to examine how older adults, compared against younger adults, learn new vocabulary under two different learning task conditions. Each participant engaged in two vocabulary learning tasks: a paired-associate task and a contextual …

The Evaluation Of Research For Promotion And Tenure: An Organizational Perspective, Elsa G. Nadler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The literature on promotion and tenure in institutions of higher education includes a substantial amount of research on various aspects of faculty productivity. Yet other research concentrates on the organizational structure of higher education. In his 1986 book, Burton Clark called for research that would examine how what he called the enterprise (the local university as opposed to the statewide system) and departments within it interact in important arenas.;This dissertation takes up Clark's challenge to examine the interaction of enterprise and department in promotion and tenure in three areas: goals, structure and operations. Content analysis of faculty handbooks from 25 …

Modifying Risk Perceptions Of Japanese University Students Using A Culturally Compatible Mode Of Instruction, Susan F. Walsh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Japanese university students who come to the United States present a particular challenge to universities to teach them about their risks to personal property. The usual method of delivering this message, a lecture during the orientation period, may not be the most effective way of presenting the information due to their limitations in understanding English. It was hypothesized that a manga, or comic book, would be an effective and culturally compatible mode of instruction.;A manga was developed and was tested on a group of incoming Japanese freshmen. Forty students (12 females, 28 males) were divided into two groups. One group …

An Examination Of The Perceived Leadership Styles Of Kentucky Public School Principals As Determinants Of Teacher Job Satisfaction, Karen Marie Bare-Oldham

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study was designed to determine the leadership style of Kentucky school principals as perceived by Kentucky public school teachers. The study then measured the job satisfaction of the Kentucky public school teachers and examined the significant relationship between leadership style and teacher job satisfaction. The design and the findings of the study are as follows.;From the population of 40,000 teachers as identified by the teacher certification unit of Kentucky's State Department of Education, a random sample of 500 (250 elementary and 250 secondary) was chosen. Each teacher received a packet which contained the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire ( LBDQ) …

The Dna Sequence From A Cloned 15 Kilobase Fragment Of The Chlamydomonas Acidophila Mitochondrial Genome And Rna Transcript Production In Response To Cadmium, Scott A. Hoffman

Theses and Dissertations

Chlamydomonas acidophila is a unicellular green alga of the order Chlamydomonadales. Our research efforts were allied along two lines: (1) Characterization of the C. acidophila mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) and (2) Elucidation of any molecular events responsible for C. acidophila's heavy metal tolerance. The mitochondrial genomes of the protists have been underrepresented in the sequence databases. Among the protists, the alga genera Chlamydomonas shows a reduced mtDNA content with a highly rearranged gene structure. It was decided to sequence C. acidophila's mtDNA to further elucidate the evolutionary paths among the Chlamydomonads and add to the protist sequence database. A 15 kb …

A Community Wide Study Of The Hospice Referral Process, Jarilyn K. Gess

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to understand the decision making process when seeking hospice care. The objectives were to identify the decision maker for the patient when seeking hospice care, why they were seeking hospice care, who initiated the referral, if the decision maker was aware they can self refer to hospice care, and the benefits of hospice care for the patient and family.

The study is a qualitative and quantitative descriptive study utilizing a telephone survey design as described by Dillman (1978). One hundred patients who had been referred to Hospice of the Red River Valley (HRRV) …

Time-To-Degree And Credits-To-Degree Of Baccalaureate Degree Graduates, Cathie A. Weissman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to a;sess two measures of accountability (i.e., time- to-degree (TTD) and credits-to-degree (CTD)). A total of 800 University of Wisconsin- Stout (UW-Stout) graduates, 200 from each graduating class from 1990 to 1993 were surveyed to determine the obstacles to four year degree completion and to determine why they completed excess credits beyond what was required to complete a degree program. Four hundred and twelve graduates returned the survey. Data were obtained from student transcripts and from the Bursar’s Office for only those graduates who returned the survey. The data were segmented in order to …

The Development Of The Metacognitive Elements Of Study Scale, Tiffney Jo Yeager

Theses and Dissertations

Current theories suggest that metacognitive skills are an important aspect of effective studying. However, few learning and study questionnaires assess the metacognitive components of studying and those that do often assume that certain strategies are more appropriate than others, regardless of the person or the task. The questionnaire developed in this research was designed to measure the metacognitive elements of study strategies, regardless of the type of strategies used. This questionnaire should provide additional information regarding a person's metacognitive skills, beyond what is assessed by other measures of studying ability.

The new questionnaire (Metacognitive Elements of Study Scale; MESS) was …

The Effects Of Thought Suppression On Later Recall Of Valenced, Self-Referenced Adjectives, Danial S. Sturgill

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of thought suppression on later recall of valenced material. According to Wegner's (1994) theory of ironic mental processes, effortful attempts at thought suppression result in an increased accessibility of the to-be-suppressed thought under conditions of high cognitive load. Participants (N = 180) received an induced-sadness manipulation before being asked to concentrate on associations between visual images (either a white bear or an brown rabbit) and 28 adjectives (14 positively-valenced, 14 negatively-valenced). After a five minute period of suppressing thoughts of one of the visual images, participants were asked to remember as many of the 28 …

Depression, Self-Care, And Coping In Persons With Diabetes, Paula Schuler-Tillmann

Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disorder of the endocrine system that affects virtually every system of the human body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there are over 16 million persons with diabetes in the United States alone. Hyperglycemia, which is sustained over a long period of time, can lead to heart disease, nephropathy, neuropathy, and blindness. To avoid hyperglycemia and its associated ramifications, several self-care activities and life-style changes are necessary.

Depression is present in 8-32% of people who have diabetes. Poor glycemic control is often the result when depression and diabetes are concurrently present in …

Future Warfare, Robert H. Scales Major General

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

Throughout U.S. history, the American military services have had an unfortunate penchant for not being ready for the next war. Part of the problem has had to do with factors beyond their control: the American policy has been notoriously slow to respond to the challenges posed by dangerous enemies. On the other hand, American military institutions have been surprisingly optimistic in weighing their preparedness as they embarked on the nation's wars. The first battles involving American military forces hardly give reason for optimism. The initial defeats in the War of 1812, Bull Run, Belleau Woods, Savo Island, Kasserine Pass, Task …

Cities In Film, Derek M. Farmer

Master's Projects

This report is divided into two distinct sections. The first is the study and analysis of the role of cities in a variety of films released throughout this century. The films I have chosen for study do not merely take place in a city or provide a few passing glances of a city. The films in this report do not use the city merely as a backdrop. These films present the city as a main character. These films show the city setting the theme and tone of a story. These films show how a city can affect and change a …

Conceptual Education Master Plan For The Utah Botanical Center: Part One: Natural Resources, Gregory J. Wright

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The purpose of this study was to assess the needs of four potential target audiences that would be using the Utah Botanical Center (UBC) for educational purposes. The target audiences included school children, college students, nursery and landscape industry, and the general public. The UBC is relocating to a larger site that has wetlands and ponds. The UBC has taken this opportunity to define its mission and goals. Part of its mission is to broaden its educational programming from horticulture based to programming including natural resource conservation topics. This study provides recommendations regarding what educational topics should be covered at …

"A Comparison Of The Use Of Exercise As A Leisure Activity For Anorexic And Bulimic Teenage Girls To A Control Group", Sara Beth Mccracken

Student Work

The purpose of this study was to determine if the leisure activities of anorexic and bulimic teenage girls differ from those of a control group and to determine the difference between the two groups in their commitment to exercise. Two surveys, the State Technical Institute's Leisure Assessment Process (STILAP) and the Commitment to Exercise Scale, were distributed to anorexic and bulimic teenage girls in an Omaha, Nebraska, treatment facility. The surveys were also given to a control group made up of teenage girls in two Omaha area high schools. Six girls participated in the anorexic and bulimic group and 18 …

Communication Stereotypes Of Caucasian College Students, Danna Voorhes Swartz

Student Work

This thesis examined what communication stereotypes are held by Caucasian college students. The literature review focused on defining stereotypes, the function and roles of stereotypes, how stereotypes serve as communication barriers, and findings of previous studies of stereotypes. The research question asked what are the communication stereotypes of African-Americans, Japanese-Americans and Mexican-Americans as maintained by Caucasian undergraduate college students? Participants in the study were 200 Caucasian, undergraduate students who were asked to complete a survey regarding typical communication characteristics of each group in question. The results indicated uniformity in response to Japanese- and African- Americans with less agreement on characteristics …

Beneficiality Of Affirmative Action In Corporate America According To African Americans, Jevard H. Hitch

Student Work

The purpose of this thesis was to examine whether or not Affirmative Action programs were considered beneficial by African American employees working in corporate America. The focus group method was the means of data collection. Thirty-seven participants from several corporations in a major metropolitan area were audio taped during three separate focus group sessions (an all-male group, an allfemale group, and a combined group). Results suggest that the participants feel Affirmative Action is beneficial to African Americans overall in providing the opportunity for consideration of positions within corporate America. Results also indicate participants believe African American women receive more benefit …

Humorous Communication In Casual Work Relationships: Self-Perceptions Concerning Humor Orientation, Loneliness, And Verbal Aggressiveness, Maurizio Gagliolo

Student Work

In order to understand humor orientation, loneliness, and verbal aggressiveness better, 14 faculty members and 25 graduate students from the University of Nebraska at Omaha completed measures of humor orientation (HO), loneliness, and verbal aggressiveness (VA). These individuals were asked to have an acquaintance (as opposed to a close friend or relative) complete an adapted version o f the HO scale (HOA). Results indicated that faculty members and graduate students did not significantly differ in HO, loneliness, or HO A, however graduate students were more verbally aggressive than faculty members in 10 different questions concerning VA. No correlation was found …

The International Convention On Population Development: The Fallacies And Hazards Of Population "Control", Rod N. Andreason

BYU Law Review

No abstract provided.

Reconstruction Of The English Criminal Justice System And Its Reinvigorated Exclusionary Rules, Kuk Cho

Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Caricature: The Benefits And Challenges Of Large-Firm Practice, Mary A. Mclaughlin

Vanderbilt Law Review

I am the arch-villain of Professor Schiltz's article-not just a partner at a big firm, but the Hiring Partner. Because I have spent part of my career in government service and teaching, I may be uniquely positioned to react to Professor Schiltz's article. After get- ting out of law school in 1976, I clerked for a federal judge for a year and then went to a big firm in Washington, D.C. In 1980, became an Assistant United States Attorney, working as a criminal prosecutor for three-and-a-half years. I then went to Vanderbilt Law School where for two years I taught …

Marital Quality In Deaf-Deaf And Deaf-Hearing Marriages, Anthony G. Mosier

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to assess similarities and differences in marital adjustment between Deaf-Deaf and Deaf-hearing married couples. In examining marital adjustment, Spanier's Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS) was translated from English to American Sign Language (ASL) and administered to 30 Deaf-Deaf and 22 Deaf-hearing couple respondents.

Although there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. Deaf-Deaf couples tended to have higher marital adjustment mean scores than Deaf-hearing couples. Deaf-hearing females reported the lowest levels of marital adjustment.

A qualitative component of the study yielded information concerning what Deaf-Deaf and Deaf-hearing couples consider the most important …

The Efficacy Of Treatments For Childhood Depression: An Integrative Review, Kurt David Michael

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Prevalence estimates of child depression are substantial and morbidity leads to an increased risk of recurrence during adolescence and adulthood. Further, early-onset depression is associated with a number of negative outcomes including: poor physical health, social and interpersonal impairments, academic problems, substance abuse, future maladjustment, and suicidal behavior. In light of the prevalence, persistence, and negative outcomes associated with depression in children and adolescents, several treatments ranging from psychosocial to pharmacological interventions have been developed and evaluated. However, the overall efficacy of treatments remains equivocal because the majority of existing reviews of the child and adolescent depression treatment literature are …

A Comparison Study Of The San Francisco Community Board Whole Schools Conflict Resolution Project, Kimberli Huston

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The key purpose of this study was to compare and contrast the San Francisco Whole Schools Conflict Resolution Project to the School Mediation Program utilized in Clark County, Nevada. The evaluation further assessed the impact the San Francisco Project had on incidents of school-related violence in order to project these figures to the Clark County Program.

The methods used in this evaluation included a review of the implementation processes and training components for each conflict resolution program. The researcher also conducted a pre- and post- training analysis of San Francisco Unified School District incidents of school-related violence. Additionally, the Clark …

Attitudes Toward Higher Education And Acculturation Amongst Native American College Students, Darlene Marie Wilcox

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate attitudes and acculturation levels at a tribal community college to see if they differ from those at a four year state institution. In this study, the NACSAS (Native American College Student Attitudes Scale), and the NPBI (Northern Plains Bicultural Inventory) were administered to Native American college students at both types of colleges.

Results show that there were significant differences between the schools on the subscale of the NPBI, in the “European American Cultural Identification” (EACI) category, and on the NACSAS, on the “Perceived Racism” category. There were more students classified in EACI subscale at …

Clients' Assessment Of The Affective Environment Of The Psychotherapy Session: Relationship To Session Quality And Treatment Effectiveness, Stephen M. Saunders

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

This study investigated clients' affective experience during therapy. Clients (N = 268) completed Therapy Session Reports (TSR) in an early session of treatment. The two sections of the TSR that assess how the client felt and how the client perceived the therapist to be feeling were combined and factor analyzed. Six stable and meaningful factors were derived (Client Distressed, Client Remoralized, Reciprocal Intimacy, Therapist Confident Involvement, Client Inhibited, and Therapist Distracted). Affect scale scores were created and compared to session quality and treatment effectiveness. Clients' affective experience was highly correlated with patient‐rated session quality. The association between clients' affective …

The Relationships Among Body Satisfaction, Self-Esteem, And Social Support In Undergraduate Men And Women, Sarah Murray Hodson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Significant levels of body dissatisfaction exist among college women. Research has also shown levels of body dissatisfaction among college men. Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between body dissatisfaction and self-esteem as well as the relationship between self-esteem and social support. Past research, however, has neglected to determine if a relationship exists between body dissatisfaction and social support.

This study sought to determine if this relationship exists for college men and women. The present study was also developed to test the relationships that have been found between social support and self-esteem as well as between self-esteem and …

Promoting Life Management Skills To Enhance Employment Among Women Receiving Services From The Division Of Workforce Services, Cheryl Cheek

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Erikson's theory of identity development and Marcia's model of identity statuses serve as a framework for this examination of the relationship between women's identity status and employment. The hypotheses of the study were that women with an achieved identity status would be more likely to obtain and retain employment and that interventions would increase their scores on identity-related subscales.

Phase I of this study examined the relationship between identity development and employment among 203 women receiving public assistance. Subjects provided employment and public assistance histories and were categorized into three preferred cognitive styles according to responses to the Berzonsky Cognitive …

Parent And Teacher Expectations For Early Childhood Education In Oman, Fatma Anwar Khamis Al-Lawati

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine parent and teacher expectations for early childhood educational programs in Muscat, the capital city of Oman. Questionnaires were distributed in three private schools in Muscat; these schools differed from one another in terms of their socioeconomic (SES) levels. Parent and teacher expectations were assessed, as reflected in their educational levels and socioeconomic status, in jobs and income level, and by the child's level in kindergarten. Participants were 95 mothers, 52 fathers, and 13 teachers of children age 3.5 to 5.5.

Results indicated that teachers were more developmentally appropriate than mothers and fathers. …