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Alexander Von Humboldt And Nineteenth-Century Ideas On The Origin Of American Indians, Michael Anthony Wadyko

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation revolves around Alexander von Humboldt's research on Indian origins. Humboldt conducted investigations on Indians during his precedent-setting scientific expedition to Meso- and South America during the years 1799--1804. Officially sponsored by the Spanish crown, the main purposes for this expedition were twofold: to examine, evaluate, and discredit Buffon's "degeneracy" claims about America and its inhabitants, and to gather empirical evidence on geography, climate, flora, fauna, and the indigenous cultures. From these results Humboldt published three major works about the expedition, particularly a thirty-volume work condensed to two volumes, Vues de Cordilleres et monuments des peuples d' Amerique.;From this …

Burnout, Stress And Social Support Among Doctoral Students In Psychology, Kelli Lee Weaver

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The relationships between burnout, stress, and social support have been evaluated across a number of populations within the helping professions. However, no published studies have addressed the relationships between the aforementioned variables among doctoral students in psychology. As a result, the current study attempted to expand knowledge of the relationships between burnout, stress, and social support specifically among Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychology doctoral students. Results suggested that Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychology doctoral students are generally similar in their reports of burnout, stress, and social support. However, several differences were observed between the groups, and these differences are reported. …

Exploring Visitor Meanings Of Place In The National Capital Parks - Central, Wei-Li Jasmine Chen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study uses a new approach to interpretative research based on (1) understanding the meanings visitors attach to park resources, and (2) examining the connections that visitors made after attending an on-site interpretive program. The study was conducted at the National Capital Parks in Washington, DC. This study revealed that many visitors to the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial (i.e. the Triangle) seek something of value for themselves, including everything from connecting with the past and rededicating themselves to the ideals of the nation. The study incorporated mixed method design, including purposeful sampling …

Evaluating Mandatory Parent Education For Divorcing Couples With Children, Brian John Krolczyk

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Court-mandated parent education for divorcing parents with children has become a standard practice in recent years. The West Virginia State Legislature voted to mandate parent education programs in all of West Virginia effective January, 2000. Research suggests parental conflict is a major factor contributing to adjustment difficulties reported by children. Generally, parent education programs for divorcing couples with children focus on adjustment issues for parents and children as they navigate a demanding period of family change. A literature review of current parent education programs in the United States revealed programs differ in teaching methods used and curriculum. It is reported …

Effects Of Reinforcement History For Following Rules On Sensitivity To Contingencies Of Reinforcement, Carolina Aguilera

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present experiment manipulated subjects' experimental history of reinforcement for following rules in order to assess sensitivity to contingency changes. Ten undergraduate students were presented with four training tasks. Half the subjects were presented with instructions that corresponded with the reinforcement contingencies for these tasks (Accurate Instructions group), while the other half was presented with instructions that did not correspond with the reinforcement contingencies (Inaccurate Instructions group). After meeting stability criteria, unsignaled changes in the contingencies of one of the tasks were made to test for sensitivity. Although the behavior of all the subjects eventually changed after contacting the changed …

Persistence Of Response Variation And Repetition, Adam Howard Doughty

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A multiple chained schedule was used to assess the persistence of fixed and variable response sequences. In one terminal link, a single 4-peck response sequence produced food (Repeat) and in the other terminal link a 4-peck response sequence produced food only if it had been occurring infrequently relative to the other 15 possible responses (Vary). Similar response and reinforcement rates occurred in each terminal link. Identical variable-interval 20-s schedules operated in the initial links preceding each terminal link and lower response rates reliably occurred in the initial link preceding the Vary terminal link. After responding stabilized under the multiple chained …

Limits Of Sensitivity To Delayed Timeout From Avoidance, Chad Michael Galuska

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Session-reduction procedures have been employed to assess molar control of avoidance responding. By conceptualizing session reduction as a delayed timeout from avoidance, the present study investigated the limits of molar control while minimizing several methodological limitations inherent in such procedures. Six times during each session, a two-link chain schedule was superimposed on a baseline schedule of variable-cycle shock avoidance. Completion of the initial link (fixed-ratio 10 schedule) produced a timeout following a signaled delay during which the avoidance schedule remained operative. For most rats, the delay was manipulated across conditions from 0 s to 60 s. Control by the delayed …

Psychophysiological Responses Of Older Adults To An Anxiety -Evoking Stimulus, Angela W. Lau

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relation between anxiety and physiological responses in older adults as compared to younger adults. Heart rate (HR), skin conductance level (SCL), skin conductance response (SCR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were obtained before, during, and after exposure to a Stroop color-word naming task and a snake video from 46 female younger adults (age 18--30) and 28 female older adults (age 65--80) who were designated as either snake fearful or snake nonfearful. No significant group differences were observed on physiological measures to baseline one or during the snake …

Teacher Videotaping As A Method Of Self -Assessing Questioning Skills In Secondary Public Schools, Stephen Alan Alberts Ii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Primarily this action research project was designed to hone my ability to Socratically question students by reflecting on my teaching through the lens of a videocamera---while reconciling my own paradigm with as many outside assessment devices as possible. The paramount consideration of my questioning/framing references was to incite students to think critically (see Pedagogical Skills Honed in chapter seven). The higher priorities of the outside assessors, on the other hand, were more political than instructional in nature (see Reconciling Multiple Assessments in chapter seven).;Scrutinizing and improving my questioning skills (the focus of the research) led to the epiphany that the …

Deference And Disability Discrimination, Rebecca Hanner White

Michigan Law Review

For thirty-five years, the civil rights community has paid scant attention to administrative law principles. Those interested in advancing on-the-job equality for this country's working men and women (or in preserving employer autonomy vis-a-vis federal encroachment) have all but ignored what many consider the arcane technicalities of administrative law. This state of affairs is strange when one considers that administration and enforcement of each of our major federal laws outlawing employment discrimination have been confided to an administrative agency, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"). The EEOC, however, has historically been given short shrift by litigants and by the judiciary. …

Washington University Record, December 1, 2000

Washington University Record

No abstract provided.

Breastfeeding Personal Efficacy Beliefs Of Women University Students, Ann Pollard Cleveland

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many women do not initiate breastfeeding although breastfeeding promotes their baby's health. Three reasons why women do not breastfeed are women's mental organization, cultural beliefs about breastfeeding, and women's breastfeeding personal efficacy beliefs. The conceptual framework for personal efficacy beliefs is Bandura's social-cognitive theory (1992, 1995, 1997). This dissertation used a new research instrument to examine women university students' breastfeeding personal efficacy beliefs. The instrument was tested by mail survey techniques that resulted in a 70.6% respondent rate. University women's personal efficacy beliefs about breastfeeding factored into five factor subscales. In order of magnitude, the personal efficacy belief factors were …

Prognostic Factors For Treatment Outcome In Young Children With Autism, Susannah Grimm Poe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over the past decade, systematic applications of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) have proven an effective means of improving the prognosis for many young children with autism. But in every study indicating that a number of participants have experienced good outcomes from these interventions, there remain a sizeable number of participants who have not had the same success. This study was undertaken to examine the differences between the parental rankings for each of eight characteristics across three points in time for children with autism to determine who succeeds with this kind of treatment and who does not. These parental reports were …

Volume 38, Number 14: December 1, 2000, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

The Scope Of Title Ix Protection Gains Yardage As Courts Continue To Tackle The Contact Sports Exception, Kimberly Capadona

Seton Hall Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law

No abstract provided.

A Modest Proposal: The “Reasonable Victim” Standard And Alaska Employers’ Affirmative Defense To Vicarious Liability For Sexual Harassment, Kamla Alexander

Alaska Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Asia-Pacific In The U.S. National Security Calculus For A New Millennium, Andrew Scobell Dr., Larry M. Wortzel Dr.

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The authors of this monograph survey the challenges to U.S. national security that confront this diverse and dynamic region, highlighting the particularly volatile situation that continues on the Korean peninsula. Beyond continued U.S. attention to maintaining a robust military presence and steadfast U.S. alliances, they argue that the United States, without ignoring the key dimensions in the U.S. National Security Strategy of responding and preparing now, should give a greater emphasis to shaping the Asia-Pacific region. They contend that the time is ripe for the United States to launch a major shaping initiative to help ensure that the positive trends …

Knowledge And Practices Of Mothers About Infants' Diarrheal Episodes, Salma A. Moawed, Abdalla A. Saeed

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To study the socioeconomic correlates of infants9 diarrhea as well as infants9 mothers9 knowledge and practice concerning diarrheal diseases. METHODS: Study subjects included 300 infants (150 from Sulaimania Pediatrics Hospital and 150 from the Maternal and Childrens Hospital) with diarrheal episodes during the study period selected by systematic random sampling. Data was collected via a structured open ended pilot tested modified questionnaire filled in by trained Arabic speaking research assistants who interviewed mothers about the diarrheal aspects of their infants, assessed their knowledge and practices concerning diarrheal diseases in children as well as collecting the necessary sociodemographic characteristics of …

Depot Antipsychotics. Patient Characteristics And Prescribing Pattern, Mohammed A. Al-Sughayir

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prescribing pattern of depot neuroleptics and the clinical characteristics of patients attending depot clinic. METHODS: A case series of chronic psychotics attending the depot clinic in the day care center at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Riyadh, over 10 years. Data was obtained from hospital records, patients interview and contact with patients9 relatives and social workers. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 69 (55% were males). The majority were single schizophrenics between 25 and 45 years. Fifty-one percent of patients lost contact with the service. The Chlorpromazine equivalent depot dose was 188.5 mg/day. CONCLUSION: Patients …

Obstetric Handling Of A Deaf Patient, Mohamed S. Mustafa, Mohamed H. Addar

Saudi Medical Journal

We report our experience of obstetric handling of a deaf pregnant patient antenatally, in labor and postpartum. The patient was deaf from childhood. The attending obstetrician had no training in the necessary skills for communication with the deaf. Fortunately, the patient could read and write English very well and communication was carried out through pen and paper. This proved to be difficult, time-consuming and required a lot of patience. The clinical, psychological and human aspects of the management were gratifying. The patient brought up interesting aspects that need to be considered when dealing with similar patients. Experience of deaf mothers …

Symbolic Racism In The 1995 Louisiana Gubernatorial Election, Jonathan Knuckley, Byron D. Orey

Department of Political Science: Faculty Publications

In this paper we explore the effects of symbolic racism on the intended vote choice of whites by examining a white-on-black statewide election. It is argued that symbolic racial attitudes will be activated in a white-on-black election simply because of the mere presence of a black candidate. Methods. The white prospective vote for a white racially conservative candidate is examined using survey data from the 1995 Louisiana gubernatorial runoff conducted by the University of New Orleans Survey Research Center. Results. Symbolic racism was a strong predictor of intended vote choice, even after controlling for partisan identification and self-identified political philosophy. …

The Utilization Of Spirituality In Occupational Therapy: Beliefs, Practices, And Barriers, Jennifer S. Collins

Masters Theses

Spirituality has become an increasingly important topic in healthcare and specifically in occupational therapy. Previous studies of spirituality in occupational therapy indicated that while therapists believed spirituality was important to health and rehabilitation potential, few therapists reported incorporating spirituality into treatment (Engquist, Short-DeGraff, Gliner, & Oltjenbruns, 1997; Howe, 1996; Rose, 1999). This study utilized a survey design to examine occupational therapists' current beliefs and practices regarding spirituality, as well as asking therapists to identify barriers to the use of spirituality in treatment.

The results of this study indicate that beliefs and practices regarding spirituality in occupational therapy may be changing. …

The Relationships Among The Stimulus Functions And The Clinical Effects Of Methylphenidate In Children Diagnosed With Adhd, Emily K. Macdonald

Masters Theses

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed childhood psychiatric disorder in the United States. Approximately 90% of children receiving pharmacological treatment for ADHD receive the stimulant methylphenidate (MPH). MPH is associated with positive effects across many behavioral domains, yet the mechanisms through which it exerts clinical effects have not been conclusively determined. MPH produces reinforcing and subjective effects, however it is not understood how these functions relate to clinical effects. The present study examined the relationship among several stimulus functions and the clinical effects of MPH. Participants were 5 children (aged 10-14) diagnosed with ADHD who were …

Interview With Thomas Lickona, Mary Peter Travis

Journal of Catholic Education

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Presentation Media On Student Reading Comprehension, Jeffrey T. Conklin

Dissertations

The purpose o f this study was to investigate the effect of display media on reading comprehension in students with learning disabilities. This research examined two types o f display media, computer screen and paper.

Three groups of subjects were used in this study: (1) readers with learning disabilities, (2) low achieving readers, and (3) average readers. Three instruments were used to gather performance data in this study: a) a standardized measure o f reading comprehension, b) a measure of individual passage comprehension, and c) a measure of vocabulary knowledge using words from the experimental passages.

The data presented in …

Issues Of Factorial Invariance Inherent In Conceptual Change: Teachers’ Evolving Perceptions Of Classroom Practice, Cynthia C. Phillips

Dissertations

This study explored the extent to which confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) can be used to address the measurement challenges faced by evaluators engaged in the assessment of change; in particular, the interpretation of self-report survey data collected under quasi-experimental conditions. The psychometric principles behind the instruments used to measure change are built on the assumptions that the constructs of interest remain stable and that error and score magnitude alone may vary. This study examined the complications that arise, with respect to the valid use of change scores, when the constructs of interest reflect conceptual change.

CFA techniques are available enabling …

Middle-Level Summer School Effectiveness As Measured By Student Gains In Achievement And Attitude, Melanie Janine Mueller

Student Work

The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent, if any, an effective middle level summer school program, using Edmonds' (1979) five effective schools characteristics (e.g., educational leadership, emphasis on basic skills, high expectations, safe climate, frequent monitoring of student progress) enhanced students' academic achievement and change in attitude.

An Evaluation Of The Self-Esteem Of At-Risk Middle -Level Youth With Intervention Of The Mentorship Program, Lisa Marie Sterba

Student Work

This study concentrated on the self-esteem of at-risk middle school students in a mid-west city involved in an alternative school Mentorship Program. This study examined two aspects of a structured mentorship program for at-risk youth attending an alternative middle school. The first purpose of the study was to evaluate the possible effect of the mentorship program on the self-esteem of the student, while the second purpose was to examine the perceptions of the program's participants. The first method was examined utilizing a quasi-experimental, design and the second employed a qualitative methodology. The Mentorship Program had 16 planned sessions to engage …

Humor At The Work Site: An Exploration Of Relationships Among Sense Of Humor And Supervisor Subordinate Age, Gender And Type Of Humor, Susan Stibal

Student Work

This thesis attempted to replicate the results of the Decker and Rotondo (1999) study by using a similar survey, but testing in three different work settings using a broader age demographic. The results of this study confirm many of the findings by Decker and Rotondo (1999), as well as the findings of Thorson and Powell (1993,1996, 1997) concerning the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (MSHS). The present research revealed that the MSHS scores were age and gender neutral, suggesting that sense of humor in people does not vary according to gender or age. The research also showed that the use …

The Affects Of Conflict Resolutions Skills Of Pre-Release Inmates' And Their Families, Haley Foster

Student Work

This research examined the effects of a program designed to teach a model of conflict resolution to pre-release inmates and their partners. Three inmates and their significant others were given tools that assessed their conflict resolution style and the cohesion and adaptability of their family unit at the start of an eight-week group. These scores were compared to scores taken at the end of the eight-week group and after 90 days. The scores showed a significant increase in the participants' style of conflict resolution. However, certain limitations need to be considered because of inconsistency in research tools and the low …