Digital Commons Network^™

Student Activities And Self-Esteem Of Adolescents, Jennifer Spotanski

Theses

This thesis explores the relationship between adolescent self-esteem and participation in student activities. Conducted in a Midwestern public high school, the study involved 111 tenth-grade students who completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and a questionnaire about their involvement in extracurricular activities. The hypothesis proposed that adolescents who participated in school activities would report higher self-esteem than those who did not. Statistical analyses, including t-tests and Pearson correlations, were used to evaluate the data. Results indicated that both male and female students who participated in at least one activity had significantly higher self-esteem scores than nonparticipants. However, a significant positive correlation …

Attachment Styles And Levels Of Enacted Social Support In Adults, Virginia B. Schenck

Theses

Virginia B. Schenck’s thesis explores how adult attachment styles relate to the actual use of social support—known as enacted social support. While much prior research focuses on perceived support (people’s beliefs about the availability of help), this study shifts focus to what people actually do when they need assistance. Schenck surveyed 110 adults using two self-report measures: the Social Support Behaviors Scale and the Attachment Styles Scale. Participants were categorized into secure, avoidant, and preoccupied attachment styles, though the preoccupied group was too small to analyze statistically. The findings showed that adults with avoidant attachment styles reported significantly lower levels …

Academic Variables Related To Achievement: Academic Self-Concept And Academic Motivation, Anita Janice Steinmann

Theses

This study examined the relationship among academic self-concept (ASC), academic motivation (AMOT), and grade point average (GPA) for 125 sophomores in a suburban Illinois high school. The sample was chosen from a pool of sophomore math classes, which had been separated into three levels of ability: Beginning Algebra, Geometry, and Honors Geometry. The Self-Concept of Ability Scale was used to measure academic self-concept and the Achievement Motivation Scale was administered to measure academic motivation. Through archival review, the researcher calculated GPA for each member of the sample. Results indicated that Academic Motivation had a low positive correlation with GP A. …

Differences In Perceived Parental Nurturance Between At Risk High School Male Adolescents And Male Bright Flight College Freshman Students, Elizabeth A. Rudin

Theses

This study investigates differences in perceived parental nurturance between two distinct groups: at-risk high school male adolescents and academically successful male Bright Flight college freshmen. Using the Parental Nurturance Scale (PNS), the researcher measured each participant’s perception of parental care and support. The hypothesis proposed that at-risk adolescents would perceive significantly lower levels of nurturance compared to their college-bound counterparts. Participants included 15 at-risk students from a midwestern alternative high school and 15 Bright Flight freshmen attending a private university, each selected for their contrasting academic and behavioral profiles.

Findings confirmed the hypothesis: Bright Flight students reported notably higher levels …

Examination Of Post-Tensioned Steel Bridges In Indiana, Hung-I Wu, Mark D. Bowman

JTRP Technical Reports

The purpose of the research study is to conduct an investigation to understand the performance of a relatively new type of bridge construction that involves prestressed (post-tensioned) steel-concrete composite bridge members. Strictly speaking, the technical and economical advantages of this type of structure have been understood for several decades. However, the application of this concept to practice is still very limited due to difficulties associated with the post-tensioning anchorage. The study was thus intended to explore the mechanical behavior of such construction. Both the short-term and long-term bridge performance were evaluated in this study.

The investigation included experimental as well …

Is There A Relationship Between Perceived Spousal Support And Marital Satisfaction Of Female Graduate School Students?, Kelle M. Mccallum

Theses

Deciding to return to graduate school as an adult student creates another role for an individual to fulfill Studies have shown that women. especially. feel role strain or conflict more than men when returning to school Little research has been done on the role the woman's spouse plays in her attempts to complete her degree. This correlational study examined perceived spousal support and marital satisfaction among female graduate school students. Thirty-nine female students volunteered for this study. The volunteers completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the Student Relationships Questionnaire The results suggest there is a significant relationship between perceived spousal …

Children's Literature: Reflections Of The Past, Gina M. Mcandrew

Theses

Thirty picture books for children were reviewed in this study. They were compared on the basis of character development. plot. illustrations. technical aspects and marketability. By using these divisions, parallels were drawn among outstanding works which were then compared to the book written in chapter four.

Results showed that many of the outstanding picture books have withstood the test of time. Their longevity is reflected in their ability to entertain and engross the targeted reader. The task for authors of new books is to capture these time-tested, endearing qualities, ensuring success in the publishing industry.

Relationship Between Locus Of Control And Self-Esteem As Well As Locus Of Control And Life Satisfaction In Persons Who Are Physically Disabled, Patricia Kaye Mitchell

Theses

Although various aspects of adjustment to disability have been addressed in current research literature, little empirical and specific data has been gathered in the areas of locus of control, self-esteem and life satisfaction. This study furthered recent research by addressing the relationship between these variables. Disabled adults who are mobility impaired were selected from various organizations in the St. Louis, Denver and eastern regions of the United States. Sixty subjects in this study completed the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Tennessee Self-Concept Scale-Second Edition (TSCS:2) and the Levenson's Internal, Powerful Others and Chance Scale (1, P and C scale). The …

Effects Of Father-Absence On Male Sex Role, Terri L. Portrell

Theses

This study explored the effects that the presence or absence of a father living in the household has on the sex-role development of male children. With an increasing number of males being reared in fatherless, mother-headed families, it is important to understand this phenomenon. Seventy-two male college students, ages 18 to 25, were subjects. Thirty-six were raised in father-present households, while thirty-six were raised in father-absent, mother-headed households. The Bern Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) was employed to assess each subject's sex-role. Past research suggests that males reared without fathers in the home develop a less masculine sex-role orientation and are far …

Effect Of Fine Aggregate Angularity On Asphalt Mixture Performance, Chih-Jen Lee, Thomas D. White, Terry R. West

JTRP Technical Reports

Superpave aggregate qualification includes the fine aggregate angularity (FAA). Fine aggregate angularity levels used in the Superpave system are below 40, 40 to 45 and above 45. The higher values are specified for layers near the surface and for higher traffic levels. The objective of this study was to address the effect of fine aggregate angularity on asphalt mixture rutting performance. A total of 18 mixtures were designed according to the Superpave volumetric design criteria. A surface mixture utilizing a partially crushed 9.5mm coarse aggregate and a single PG 64-22 binder were utilized. The poor quality coarse aggregate was used …

Secondary Traumatic Stress In Law Enforcement Personnel, William Carl Heusler

Theses

This study was designed to add to the body of empirical knowledge about law enforcement occupational stress utilizing the compassion fatigue/compassion satisfaction model developed by Figley and Stamm. The predictions that intimate contact with trauma victims will increase the risk for compassion fatigue and burnout was evaluated yielding results that established no difference between law enforcement personnel with direct contact and those that had little or no contact with trauma victims. The suggestion that secondary trauma has a cumulative effect on persons exposed over time was also investigated showing that in this population of police officers, a cumulative impact did …

A Comparison Of Body-Esteem In Adolescent Girls Between The Hutterite And Mainstream Western Cultures, Amanda Ann Walgren

Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the cultural basis of body-esteem and negative body image in adolescent females. This study focused on the differences between the culture of the Hutterites, an Anabaptist communal society, and the mainstream Western culture in the same geographic area. The Body-Esteem Scale (Mendelson & White, 1982) was administered to 35 Hutterite and 31 mainstream girls between the ages of 12 and 17. The Hutterite girls were found to have significantly higher body-esteem scores than the mainstream girls. These findings add to the vast amount of research linking body-esteem to cultural factors. Several possible …

A Study Of The Relationship Of Self-Efficacy Of Adolescent Females In A Single-Sex School Versus A Coeducational School, Margaret Wolf

Theses

This study examined the self-efficacy of adolescent girls and its relation to the type of high school they attended, whether it was single-sex or coeducational. A convenient, volunteer sample was used from two high schools in the metropolitan area of St. Louis, Missouri. The 234 adolescents surveyed, ranged from 15 to 18 years of age. The participants were administered the Self-efficacy Scale (SES) after parental permission was received. The two schools conducted the surveys during religion classes. An independent t-test showed that there was a significant difference in the self-efficacy of adolescent females who attend single-sex schools and those who …

Field Implementation Of Bioremediation At Indot Facilities-Phase I, Loring F. Nies, Brett Robert Baldwin, Matthew B. Mesarch

JTRP Technical Reports

Bioremediation is often the most cost-effective and successful technique available for the remediation of soils and groundwater contaminated with organic pollutants (e.g. petroleum). The goal of bioremediation is to stimulate naturally occurring microorganisms to biodegrade the contaminants to harmless products. To be in compliance with EPA regulations all underground fuel storage tanks must have spill, leak and corrosion protection. Many older obsolete tanks had deteriorated to the extent that petroleum products had leaked into the environment. In the past, petroleum contaminated soils were typically excavated, followed by landfilling of the contaminated material. The continued use of landfills for disposal of …

Intimacy In Men: The Androgynous Male, Melissa Jane Hillig

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between intimacy and masculinity in men. Subjects completed the Bern Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). The scores were then correlated with levels of intimacy, as measured by the Miller Social Intimacy Scale (MSIS). The scores were determined for sixty-two male. middle class, volunteers, aged eighteen and above. The outcome of the study showed a significant inverse correlation between intimacy and masculinity, and a modest positive correlation between femininity and intimacy. Androgynous individuals reported a significantly higher degree of intimacy than masculine individuals.

Optimal Design Of Freeway Incident Response Systems, Raktim Pal, Kumares C. Sinha

JTRP Technical Reports

Several states have introduced service patrol programs to curb the growing adverse impacts of freeway incidents. An efficient patrol program configuration design is needed to ensure appropriate resource allocation. This research seeks to devise a scheme for determining optimally such system characteristics as hours of operation, fleet and crew sizes, dispatching policies, areas of operation, and routing patterns, so that the efficacy of the program is maximized. The interaction of randomly occurring incidents with time-varying traffic adds to the complexity of the problem. The problem is solved using dynamic simulation approaches combined with optimization techniques to incorporate the non-linear impact …

Performance Of Bridge Decks And Girders With Lightweight Aggregate Concrete, J. A. Ramirez, J. Olek, Eric Joseph Rolle, Brian J. Manlone

JTRP Technical Reports

Structural lightweight concrete is a very versatile material and Haydite and Minergy lightweight aggregates can be utilized in the mixture development of concrete for use in girders and decks in bridges. More widespread use of lightweight aggregates (LWA) would result in savings in construction cost due to considerable dead load reduction. The materials phase of this research study evaluated the fresh concrete properties (slump, unit weight, and air content), the mechanical properties of hardened concrete (compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, static and dynamic modulus of elasticity, Poisson’s Ratio, and temperature development), and durability related parameters (air void distribution, freeze-thaw …

Providing Real-Time Traffic Advisory And Route Guidance To Manage Borman Incidents On-Line Using The Hoosier Helper Program, Srinivas Peeta, Jorge L. Ramos, Shyam Gedela

JTRP Technical Reports

This study addresses the issue of whether the message content of variable message signs (VMS) can be used as a control variable to favorably influence traffic conditions in real-time. The focus is on the level of detail of information displayed on the VMS, and not human factor issues. It implies an understanding of driver sensitivity to information content. Also, for real-time implementation, the displayed information should be consistent, timely, and reliable. A framework is developed for optimizing system performance under incidents using the VMS message content as the primary control parameter. It consists of: (i) an efficient control strategy to …

Effects Of Nonstandard Work Schedules On Marital Satisfaction Among Law Enforcement Officers, Annette Marie Jansen

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in level of marital satisfaction among police officers who worked standard hours (day shift) and those who worked nonstandard hours (afternoon/midnight shifts). Thirty police officers employed during standard hours, and 33 police officers employed during nonstandard hours were administered a demographic questionnaire and the Index of Marital Satisfaction Inventory. Scores were tabulated and it was concluded that there was not a significant difference in marital satisfaction among the two groups (t = -.483; p = .631).

The Relationship Between Burnout Among Secondary School Counselors And Selected Personal And School Variables, Paula P. Johnson

Theses

The purpose of the study was to: (1) assess the level of burnout and stress of public school counselors, (2) detem1ine if public school counselors differed in the reported level of burnout based on selected personal variables, and selected school variables. A convenient, volunteer sample was used from 42 public school counselors in a suburban area of St. Louis, Missouri. The instruments used for the study were the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Form Educational) and a demographic questionnaire.

The findings suggested that that level of burnout in the sample was in the moderate range on the Emotional Exhaustion subscale and in …

Second Phase Study Of Changes In In-Service Asphalt (Vol 1: Main Report), Khaled A. Galal, Thomas D. White, Adam J. Hand

JTRP Technical Reports

In response to the need to improve asphalt pavement performance, the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) was initiated in 1987. Products from SHRP included performance-based specifications for asphalt binders and performance-based mix design tests and criteria for asphalt mixtures. The Superpave asphalt binder specification addresses performance of in-service pavements for given environmental and traffic conditions. During the 1985 paving season in Indiana, the original asphalt binder and HMA (truck mix samples) from a number of pavements were sampled and retained. Cores were also taken from these pavements after seven or eight years of service. Condition surveys were performed on these …

An Investigation Of Social Skill Group Counseling Intervention With At-Risk Students, Kathy A. Bennett

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of teaching social skills to a group of 14 at-risk kindergarten students that were identified by their classroom teachers as exhibiting social skills deficits. A pre-test and post-test experimental design was devised using the Social Skills Direct Observation by Sheridan (1997). Students participated in a group social skills training program for five weeks. A statistical comparison between the pre and post test data was then performed by means of a nonparametric procedure. Results of the Wilcoxon's Matched Pairs-Signed-Ranks Test were indicative of positive gains in the students' acquisition of social …

Intensity Of Grief And Belief In Personal Control, Diana M. Alferink

Theses

Much research has focused on stress and its consequences. Some studies have indicated personal control helps an individual handle stress better and remain healthier. Little research, however, has examined the role personal control plays in bereavement as a stressful life event. This correlational study examined the relationship between belief in personal control and grief intensity experienced from losing a loved one to death. Volunteer subjects primarily from Grief Support Groups completed the Belief in Personal Control Scale and the Texas Revised Grief Inventory Results demonstrated some instances when higher belief in personal control resulted in lower intensity of grief in …

The Death Of Privacy, Darren W. Bax

Theses

This thesis will focus on the issue of personal privacy and the growing threat to its existence in a technological society.

The areas most associated with privacy loss include increased government intrusions, legislation, workplace, healthcare industry, Internet, and identity theft. Chapter one provides a historical perspective beginning with primitive culture and their struggle to maintain privacy in the lives. Interesting enough, privacy protection was not mentioned by the judicial system until 1880 when privacy was defined as the "right to be left alone." To address concerns about privacy reform the Supreme Court cited this right of privacy as having " …

An Investigation Of Social Skill Group Counseling Intervention With At-Risk Students, Kathy A. Bennett

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of teaching social skills to a group of 14 at-risk kindergarten students that were identified by their classroom teachers as exhibiting social skills deficits. A pre-test and post-test experimental design was devised using the Social Skills Direct Observation by Sheridan (1997). Students participated in a group social ski11s training program for five weeks. A statistical comparison between the pre and post test data was then performed by means of a nonparametric procedure. Results of the Wilcoxon's Matched Pairs-Signed-Ranks Test were indicative of positive gains in the students' acquisition of social …

Perceived Social Support Of Survivors Of Suicide Who Attend A Support Group Compared To Those Survivors Of Suicide Who Are Non-Attendees, Tina M. Murphy

Theses

Death from suicide results in a troublesome and complex adjustment for the surviving friends and family members. As compared to other forms of bereavement, suicide survivors are likely to experience different grief reactions than people dealing with other types of loss. The survivor of suicide may suffer from social rejection and alienation. In this study, the level of perceived social support of survivors of suicide who attend a support group (n=22 ) was compared to the level of perceived social support in survivors of suicide who do not attend a support group (n=20). Subjects had lost a friend or family …

The Effect Of Binaural Auditory Beats On The Anxiety And Psychological Hardiness Levels Of Graduate Students, Terry L. Moore

Theses

Three graduate students from a Midwestern urban university were selected from a pool of volunteers based on elevated levels of anxiety. The students were initially tested using the Self-Evaluation Questionnaire and Hardiness Scale. Students were provided with audio tapes using binaural beats. Each Self-Evaluation Questionnaire score was tracked for the purpose of determining the affect of the audio tapes on levels of anxiety and hardiness. All three students showed reduced levels of anxiety after using the tapes, with either a similar or higher level of Hardiness.

The Relation Of Job Satisfaction To Degree Of Disclosure About One's Sexual Orientation For Gay, Lesbian, And Bisexual Educators, Jane Ellen Miles

Theses

The threat of discrimination and job loss causes many gay, lesbian, and bisexual (g/ I/ b) Americans to keep their sexual orientation a secret at work. The decision to keep one's personal life hidden increases the level of stress experienced and can coincide with lower levels of job satisfaction. The fear of discrimination is even greater for g/1/b individuals working in K - 12 educational settings due to the more socially conservative environment of schools. This study examined the relationship between degree of disclosure about one's homosexual orientation and one's level of job satisfaction. It was hypothesized that there would …

Correlates Of Offenders Among Individuals With Severe Emotional Disturbances, Jaimie Peoples

Theses

Mental illness, in the context of severe and enduring mental illness, is a growing problem particularly among incarcerated individuals and is likely to have implications for the way mental health services are utilized in local jails, state prisons, and federal prisons. The goal of the current study was to determine a relationship between persons suffering from mental illness among individuals with a criminal background.

As the prison populations increase, so do the number of mentally ill individuals involved in the criminal justice system. Many criminals suffer from homelessness and health-related concerns (e.g., substance abuse, HIV infection), these individuals may alternate …

The Relationships Of Income, Predisposed Depression, And Marital Satisfactionto, Brian D. Dement

Theses

This study investigated the relationships of income, depression level and marital satisfaction, in the second trimester of pregnancy, to levels of depression approximately six months after childbirth. Data from thirty-eight women, completing self-report questionnaires that included the CES-O depression scales, were analyzed from within a larger survey of one hundred and fifty-one primiparous mothers. The investigation revealed that levels of depression prior to delivery and income were strongly correlated to levels of depression postpartum. The relationship between marital satisfaction and depression was inconclusive.