Digital Commons Network^™

Coping With Health-Related Problems And Psychological Distress Amongst Older Adult Hospital Patients, Fotini Katerina Zachariades

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study addresses the extent to which coping strategies can predict emotional status amongst a sample of older adult hospital patients in Perth, Western Australia. Older people are frequently in hospitals because of the large number of serious health problems that are more common in this age group. Older people vary in how well they deal with illness, and negative emotional reactions can complicate medical care. The emotional states of depression, anxiety and somatic complaints were assessed in a group of 120 older adults from two Perth hospitals. Two questionnaires were administered: the Depression, Anxiety and Somatic Complaints subscales from …

Influence Of Home And School Environments On The Academic Performance Of Chinese-Australian And Anglo-Australian Students Studying At An Academically-Oriented High School In Perth, Western Australia, Ranbir Singh Malik

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Although minority status has been associated with low academic achievement, the “high Asian achieving syndrome" remains as one of the unresolved sociological puzzles. Consistent evidence suggests that regardless of the family status, children from the Asian migrant families, settled in the industrialised countries, tend to perform academically better than their counterparts from the dominant group. This disparity is attributed to a number of factors, which taken separately, do not address this complex issue. In Australia little research has been done to compare the home environment and school experiences of children coming from Chinese-Australian and Anglo-Australian families even though the number …

A Study Of The Adjustment Problems Experienced By Workers Undertaking Short Term International Relocation, Carla Fedora Sharp-Paul

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study focused on the adjustment problems created by the effects of living and working in a culturally unfamiliar environment. Sixty-five internationally relocated workers, both male and female aged between 30 and 60 years, from different countries, who were on short-term relocation to Singapore, were asked to complete a survey. This survey questionnaire consisted of 56 questions, about the adjustment problems that they faced while on relocation and the availability or non-availability of pre-departure training. The conceptual framework for this study was developed by referring to difficulties uncovered in the literature review on the topic of international relocation. Questionnaire items …

Target Language Avoidance By Thai Teachers Of English: Thai Teachers' Beliefs, Sasithorn Vacharaskunee

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Interactionist theories of second language acquisition (SLA) claim that both comprehensible input and modified interaction in the target language are necessary for language learning. In the foreign language context, little opportunity exists for such input simply through exposure to the target language outside the classroom. Therefore, the quantity as well as quality of input within classrooms is especially important. However in spite of this fact many non-native teachers of second language, including English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers, tend to avoid using the target language in their classrooms. This has serious pedagogic implications. Thai teachers are typical of many …

Early Attachment And Eating Disorders: A Comparative Study Between Anorexia Nervosa And Bulimia Nervosa, Francoise Ringer

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this research was to study the association between adult mental representations of curly attachment relationships and eating disorders, and to compare attachment classifications between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The sample consisted of 62 women with eating disorders, divided between anorexia nervosa [restricting type (n=20) and binge-eating/purging type (n=l6)], and bulimia nervosa (n=26). The measures were (a) a structured interview based on the ''Diagnostic Survey for Eating Disorders" (Johnson and Connors, 1987) and the DSM IV criteria for the classification of eating disorders, and (b) the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) (George, Kaplan and Main, 1985). The AAI …

Justice Or Differential Treatment? : Adult Offenders With An Intellectual Disability In The Criminal Justice System, Judith Cockram

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of the study was to present a thorough examination of the extent of participation of adult offenders with an intellectual disability within all levels of the criminal justice system in Western Australia, that is, from arrest to charge, to court appearance and finally to conviction. Western Australia provides a unique opportunity to examine the operations of the criminal justice system, because it possesses comprehensive computerised data sources on offenders, and by utilising the State central register on people with disabilities; it was possible to include in the study a significant proportion of those people with an intellectual disability …

Self-Esteem: The Influence Of Parenting Styles, Jean Wolff

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study examines parent/child relationships and their possible influence on self-esteem. The parenting styles: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and unmatched, are assessed (by child report) and compared to levels of global and specific domains of self-esteem to determine whether parenting style influences self-esteem in children. Eighty-four children aged 11-12 years of age; male and female were asked to complete three questionnaires. The questionnaires were: Child Report of Parental Behaviour Inventory (Schluderman & Schluderman, 1970) to ascertain their parent's parenting style; Harter's (1985), Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC), to measure the child's self-esteem and a demographic questionnaire. ANOVA and ANCOVA were used …

Killing Ostriches: Young Women, Family Violence And Youth Work, Judy Kulisa

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Using a phenomenological approach, this study, "Killing Ostriches" sought to investigate the experience of violence in the home of a small group of young women living in the northern suburbs of Perth. Seven young women between the ages of 17-26 took part in the study. Five of these young women claimed to have experienced violence in their family of origin and the: remaining two, introduced for triangulation purposes, claimed not to have done so. The study sought, not only to explore the lived experience of violence in the home for these young women, but to also investigate their experience of …

The Ideal Homeworkers: An Investigation Of Personal & Job Characteristic Requirements For Successful Home Based Work, Maryam Omari

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Global competition, societal changes and other environmental influences have forced organisations to review existing work arrangements. Flexible work practices have been identified as one mechanism for the alignment of organisational and individual goals. Homebased work or telecommuting, which involves working at a remote site, is an example of such a practice. Working from home can have advantages for the organisation in terms of savings in infrastructure costs. Individual employees would also potentially benefit through reduced costs associated with work (e.g. travel and food), and the ability to better manage their work and home life. However, since 25 years ago when …

Aboriginal Students Perceptions Of The Effect Of Vocational Education And Training On Post School Experiences, Steven J. Florisson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Over the past decade there have been dramatic and unprecedented changes in post compulsory education, with an increase of over 40% for year 12 retention rates to 76.6% in 1992 and huge expansion of year 11 and 12 vocational education and training programs. However, for Aboriginal past compulsory age students, the picture is very different. In 1993 the year 12 Aboriginal retention rate was only 24.48% or 982 students (Australia wide), and by 1996 only 10% of the indigenous 15 and older population had any post school qualification, compared to 35% of the total population. Only 34% of West Australian …

The Relationship Between Symptoms Of Perceived Trauma And Verbal Learning And Memory Deficits, Santina Tonizzo

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Recent empirical studies on individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) report an association between PTSD and deficits in short-term verbal memory. While the previous studies utilised a global score of PTSD, the present study assessed the association of individual symptoms as a result of perceived traumatic events with verbal learning and memory deficits. In addition, the severity of the traumatic events was examined as well as gender, age, IQ, education and previous alcohol abuse and drug use. A sample of 148 adults reported to have experienced a traumatic event such as sexual or physical abuse ns children. war veterans, or …

Prisoners' Use Of Social Support, Gaynor S. Hobbs

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Manuscript 1: It is generally acknowledged that prison is often a stressful environment, yet little is known of the coping processes employed by prisoners. This paper aims to examine the question of what facilitates and frustrates prisoners' use of social support whilst imprisoned. This question is examined with regards to both informal (family and friends, other prisoners) and 'formal sources of support (professional support services, peer support prisoners, prison officers). The conclusion that was drawn from this review of the literature is that the role of social support in correctional environments is largely unknown and current thinking is based primarily …

Teachers As Language Learners: A Study Of The Relationship Between Their Beliefs About Language Learning And Their Learning Strategy Use, Rita Tognini

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Abstract not available

Why Communication Is Important: A Rationale For The Centrality Of The Study Of Communication, Sherwyn P. Morreale, Michael M. Osborn, Judy C. Pearson

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This article defends the importance of studying communication. Academic disciplines in higher education are routinely called upon to explain and justify their role in the educational enterprise. Some academic fields such as history and philosophy are more central in the pursuits of liberal arts, while others such as business administration and engineering are more related to career development. The discipline of communication is fairly unique as it crosses these boundaries. As a result, a need exists to provide a rationale for the study of communication. The National Communication Association, in response to requests from communication departments and administrators for evidence …

Defining The Field: Revisiting The Aca 1995 Definition Of Communication Studies, Charles J. Korn, Sherwyn P. Morreale, Don M. Boileau

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This article deals with the problem of defining communication studies in higher education. In 1995, the Association for Communication Administration (ACA) convened a summer conference that produced a two-sentence definition of the field of communication. More than 100 conferees voted their unanimous approval of the definition, which was then disseminated nationally and used by communication scholar/teachers for a multiplicity of purposes. Given the potential utility of that definition and the expansion of communication studies since 1995, the present study surveyed ACA's current members to determine whether they are aware the definition exists, how they have used it, and the extent …

Oral Communication Across The Curriculum: The State Of The Art After Twenty-Five Years Of Experience, Michael W. Cronin, George L. Grice, Patricia R. Palmerton

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This article aims is to guide administrators and faculty in developing oral-communication-across-the-curriculum (OCXC) programs. It examines the rationale for and the most common arguments against OCXC; presents recommendations for designing, implementing, and assessing such programs; reviews published assessments of learning outcomes relevant to OCXC; and offers suggestions for the continued development of OCXC. OCXC was first began in 1975 at Central College in Pella, Iowa. A dissertation and a master's project have examined OCXC. The National Communication Association has promulgated resolutions to guide the development of OCXC and has offered a three-hour short course on OCXC at the past ten …

What Is Good Communication?, Brian H. Spitzberg

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This articles examines the question: What is good communication? The nature of good communication is both ambiguous and ambivalent. This claim can be taken as a reference to the characteristics that defame good communication, or as a reference to the state of scholarly knowledge about the concept of good communication. On its face, the statement seems clear, and yet, in claiming ambiguity and ambivalence, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Such are some of the subtleties of communication itself, and it is such subtleties that require a re-examination of the composition of good communication. The qualifier "good" suggests a nexus of …

A Confrontation With Diversity: Communication And Culture In The 21st Century, Carolyn Calloway-Thomas, Thurmon Garner

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This article highlights the problem posed by cultural diversity to communication in North America. Our motive in posing these questions is not to present a whirlwind tour of diversity, but simply to explore what we consider to be some important issues that are driving the human caravan in North America's shift from monoculturalism to multiculturalism. Answers to such questions should tell us a great deal about how to communicate in the next century. The essay is divided into three sections. Part one explores the framework of creolization and its implications for the communication discipline. Part two examines some social and …

The Communication Department In A State Of Perpetual Crisis: Discount Store University?, David Ritchie

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This article explores the implications of the discount store metaphor as it is commonly used and understood, and considers its implications for how academic departments are led and administered. The metaphor of the discount store is often offered as an implicit criticism of the legislators, trustees and administrators who demand that academic departments justify their curriculum and methods in financial terms. It is also sometimes offered as an implicit criticism of the students and parents who ask about the relevance or usefulness of course content, choose courses and majors with an eye to career and earning potential, complain about the …

Assessing The Perceived Effectiveness Of The Basic Communication Course: An Examination Of The Mass-Lecture Format Versus The Self-Contained Format, Timothy S. Todd, Lou Davidson Tillson, Stephen A. Cox, Barbara K. Malinauskas

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This article evaluates the most effective and efficient instructional format for basic communication courses. The results of the analysis lend support to the use of the mass-lecture/laboratory format. Although B. Erikson and D. Strommer indicated that feelings of anonymity, common in the large lecture class, diminished motivation, commitment and personal responsibility of the students, this study did not find similar results. Students indicated, across both instructional formats, comparable perceptions of student motivation, teacher nonverbal immediacy and teacher credibility. It appears that the mass-lecture/laboratory format was perceived by students as being as effective as self-contained sections of basic courses.

Information Utility, Reader Interest, Publication Rating And Student Newspaper Readership, Carolyn Lin

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This article investigates student motivations for reading a college student paper, including evaluations of performance and content preferences. The declining interest in newspaper readership, particularly among college-age readers has attracted concern among scholars in recent years. In a democracy founded on freedom of the press, fewer than 40% of adults today under the age of 30 subscribe to a paper. This suggests that time spent with newspapers continues to decline even as new media use accounts for the bulk of audience leisure.

Establishing The Research Foundations For Successful Client-Server Computing: What Naturalistic Studies Could Contribute, Patricia Y. Logan, Charles M. Lutz

The Qualitative Report

What is the nature of the process of implementing a new technology? How should the dynamics of implementing a new technology be studied? What research methods are best-suited to the study of complex issues of social and organizational impacts arising from the implementation of a new technology? Client-server computing represents a significant new technology that has not been a focus of research investigations. As companies pursue client-server technology as a replacement for legacy computing systems, there is a need to provide practitioners with grounded research that discover patterns of organizational and social dynamics that influence the successful outcome of a …

Similarities In Aggression, Inattention/Hyperactivity, Depression, And Anxiety Between Friends And Nonfriends, Kristin A. Clark

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Friendship similarities on behavioral and psychopathological characteristics have been proposed as being risk factors for maladaptive development, yet these similarities have not been thoroughly examined. The purpose of the present study was to examine the similarities within children's friendships. It was expected that friends would be more similar than nonfriends on aggression, inattention/hyperactivity, depression, and anxiety. Friendship similarities should also differ across grades, with similarity decreasing as grade increases, and across gender, with boys' friendships more similar on depression and anxiety and girls' friendships more similar on aggression and inattention/hyperactivity.

Two hundred thirty-four 4th through 9th grade students completed self-report …

Examining The Impact Of Internet Electronic Commerce On Commercial Organizations In Saudi Arabia, Fahad Abdullah Alyabis

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Saudi Arabia is undergoing tremendous change in both infrastructure and economics, which is helping the Internet to flourish in the region. Although growth of electronic commerce (EC) is slow, it is becoming increasingly global. Businesses worldwide are engaging in this commercial evolution.

The purpose of this study was to provide consumers and commercial organizations in Saudi Arabia with practical information regarding electronic commerce. It attempted to explore the perspectives of Internet users, information technology (IT) professionals, business owners, and managers of online businesses in Saudi Arabia.

Two survey instruments were used to gather data for this study. The first survey …

Accounting For Greed: Unraveling The “Rogue Trader” Mystery, Kimberly D. Krawiec

Faculty Scholarship

In this article, I analyze the motivations underlying the actions of "rogue traders" - market professionals who engage in unauthorized purchases or sales of securities, commodities or derivatives, often for a financial institution's proprietary trading account - and the motivations of the managers or supervisors who are assigned to oversee such traders. After beginning with the observation that rogue trading incidents are neither new nor isolated events, I argue that the continued existence of pervasive rogue trading has remained a mystery for industry observers, particularly given both the extensive legal regime and formal institutional policies apparently designed to curb such …

Using Artificial Queries To Evaluate Image Retrieval, Nicholas Howe

Computer Science: Faculty Publications

This paper addresses the evaluation and comparison of algorithms for generalized image retrieval. The forms of evaluation currently in vogue are not calibrated with each other and thus do not allow the comparison of results reported by different research groups. We address the problem by proposing a class of tests that are algorithmically defined and relatively independent of the image test set. The proposed tests can be tailored to investigate retrieval performance under specific sets of adverse conditions, allowing additional insight into the strengths and weaknesses of different retrieval mechanisms.

The End Of Innocence: Rethinking Noncombatancy In The Post-Kosovo Era, Charles J. Dunlap Jr.

Faculty Scholarship

The protection of civilians and their property in war is an accepted norm of international law - even where the putatively "noncombatant" populace openly supports the immoral use of force by its military. NATO's Kosovo operation suggests, however, that the imposition of hardship on the sentient, adult "noncombatant" population through property loss can erode a society's appetite for malevolence. While civilians should not be targeted, a new paradigm for noncombatancy that allows the destruction of certain property currently protected by international law but not absolutely indispensable to civilian survival may well help shorten conflict and effect necessary societal change.

The Law And The Human Target In Information Warfare: Cautions And Opportunities, Charles J. Dunlap Jr.

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Civil Challenges To The Use Of Low-Bid Contracts For Indigent Defense, Margaret H. Lemos

Faculty Scholarship

In recent years, increasing attention has been directed to the problem of adequate representation for indigent criminal defendants. While overwhelming caseloads and inadequate funding plague indigent defense systems of all types, there is a growing consensus in the legal community that low-bid contract systems-under which the state or locality's indigent defense work is assigned to the attorney willing to accept the lowest fee-pose particularly serious obstacles to effective representation. In this Note, Margaret Lemos argues that the problems typical of indigent defense programs in general-and low-bid contract systems in particular-can and should be addressed through § 1983 civil actions alleging …

A Survey Of Iowa High School Band Directors And Their Students On The Occurrences Of Performing On A Musical Instrument While Experiencing Pain, Crystal M. Franzen Halverson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Learning to play a musical instrument is a challenging and exciting venture for many children. Lessons are the primary means for children to learn to play a musical instrument. Some begin studying an instrument through private lessons and others through a Suzuki program. Many other children begin their study of a musical instrument in the public school system with a music teacher in elementary, junior high, or middle school. Regardless of how one begins to learn to play a musical instrument, by the time high school is reached, it is conceivable that he or she will have had at least …