Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Psychosocial Effects Of Juvenile Rheumatic Disease : The Family And Peer Systems As A Context For Coping, Jennifer Ann Harris

Master's Theses

The psychosocial effects of juvenile rheumatic diseases and disease activity were examined among 24 families (12 with a rheumatic disease child, 12 with no chronic illness). Rheumatic disease children were paired with a healthy control child nominated by their classroom teacher. Family and child functioning was assessed through measures of stress, competence, coping, and adjustment while observations in the classroom were made to assess peer relations. MANOVA's and ANOVA's were performed to determine significant differences. Families with a child with inactive rheumatic disease tended to be less likely to seek out and accept help, more likely to put activities into …

Bilingual Education: What It Could Mean On The Navajo Reservation, Berniece A. Blackhorse

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

It provides the learner the advantage of participating and functioning in two cultures , socially and academically. Amid all the controversy, the educational system is attempting to provide meaningful education for the limited English proficient students. 'The primary recommendation of this paper is that bilingual programs focus on the needs of the second language learner, with cautions regarding the use of experimental programs.

The Frequency Of Occurrence Of Phonemes In The Speech Of Aphasics, Rita M. Vis

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate the phoneme selection patterns in the spontaneous speech of Broca's and Wernicke's aphasics. The frequency distributions of phonemes for the aphasic subjects was compared to the normal distribution curve of English consonantal phonemes. Differences in the frequency of occurrence of phonemes subsequent to neurological impairment may be linked to the nature of the impairment. In addition, this study described and compared the occurrence of phonological processes in the single word responses of the subject groups. The frequency of phonemes and the occurrence of phonological processes were then analyzed jointly for possible trends.

Analysis of …

Psychosis In A Developmental Psychopathology Context: A Factor Analytic Study Of Schizophrenia In Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients, Paul R. Adams

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Demographic, historical, psychometric, and clinical data were obtained from the psychiatric files of all patients manifesting schizophrenic symptomatology who were hospitalized in an adolescent psychiatric facility during a five year period (N= 71). Factor analysis of the usable data resulted in three interpretable factors, which included: (1) aggressive behavior; (2) disturbed family functioning; and, (3) thought disorder. Age of first hospitalization correlated positively with factor three.

The results provide support for concerns expressed by a number of scientists and clinicians that schizophrenia may not be a discrete, unitary disorder; and that uncritical downward extension of adult diagnoses to adolescents and …

The Reliability And Validity Of An Instrument Designed To Measure Attitudes Toward The Elderly, Jane Schultz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

An attitude is a mental state that influences the way an individual responds to relevant objects and situations. Attitudes toward the elderly have a potential impact on all Americans, as the population is growing older. These attitudes constitute an important area of study because their nature is unclear and their impact extensive.

The Kogan Attitudes Toward Old People Scale (OP) was examined to establish reliability and validity estimates. A questionnaire, consisting of this scale and four others, was administered to a sample of adults. Factor analysis of the OP revealed two factors, which were somewhat ambiguous. Internal consistency estimates for …

The Effect Of Notetaking And Review Among Eighth-Grade Students, Nancy Lindbergy Risch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A study was conducted in which both notetaking and review were systematically varied in order to examine viii eighth-grade student's notetaking and performance behaviors. Three formats of notes (Matrix, skeletal, conventional) were examined in combination with three notetaking strategies (take notes/review own notes, take notes/review expert notes, listen/review expert notes) to form nine conditions. Subjects viewed a videotaped lecture, reviewed their respective set of notes, and were administered the following performance tests: structured recall, factual recognition, application, and synthesis. The number of ideas, number of words, and an efficiency calculation was obtained for each notetaking protocol. Results indicated that subjects …

Neuroanatomical Asymmetry, Handedness, And Family History Of Handedness: A Study Of The Markers Of Structural And Functional Lateralization, Steven A. Lifson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study investigated the associations between (1) handedness (demonstrated preference of one hand for the performance of most unimanual tasks) and neuroanatomical asymmetry (measurable differences in width between the cerebral hemispheres) and (2) familial history of handedness (the presence of a left-handed sibling or parent of a right-handed subject) as an intervening factor in the relation between handedness and neuroanatomical asymmetry. Width measurements of the brain were derived from computerized tomographic (CT) films and grouped in to categories by hand preference (measured by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory) and family history. The measurements of right (n=68), right with left-handed relatives (n=24), …

Assimilation And Accommodation In Family Discourse: A Longitudinal Analysis, Marcia Summers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Assimilative behavioral strategies provide continuity through maintenance of similarities, traditions, and interactions, while accommodative strategies result in social innovation through the creation of new modes and interactive patterns (J. Block, 1982; J. H. Block, 1983). It was hypothesized that females would show assimilative discourse patterns through the maintenance of conversational topics, while males would show accommodative patterns through more frequent changes in conversational topic, and that the roots of this pattern lie in family conversation. Nineteen families were videotaped at one month, four months, and four years following the birth of their second child. Results showed that gender-differentiated use of …

The Development Of The Stress-Response Scale For Adolescents, Steven Curtis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Adolescence is an important period in the life cycle for which to study stress, due to the many involved developmental changes that require adaptation. This adaptation can be very stressful and result in pathology. Stress is defined as a "process" involving a continual transaction between stressors in the environment, mediating variables, and stress responses.

The Stress-Response Scale for Adolescents (SRSA) was developed to measure self-perceived stress responses of those between the ages of 14 to 20. The SRSA's development involved three studies. Study 1 involved item selection, scale construction, item reduction, and estimations of internal consistency and validity. Truthfulness items …

Mental Status And Functional Behavior In Male Geriatric Patients, Gregory Lee Mayer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

It was the goal of this study to examine the ecological validity of a number of measures of mental status for geriatric individuals. Subjects were 40 alert, ambulatory male VA patients. Mental status instruments included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) and the Vocabulary subtest of the WAIS-R. Measures of functional behavior included the Woodcock-Johnson Scales of Independent Behavior (SIB) and the Parachek Geriatric Behavior Rating Scale (PGBRS). Significant relationships were found between the MMSE and the SIB, between the WMS and the SIB, and between the WMS and the PGBRS. It was found that estimation …

An Examination Of Open- And Closed-Economic Conditions In Operant Research, Craig R. Loftin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The effect of economic condition on the relation between responding and overall rate of reinforcement has been an area of recent interest in operant research. The present research was conducted to determine whether the manipulation of the economic condition, by the systematic manipulation of the provision of substitute food, has an effect on this relation and whether open- and closed-economies represent two opposing alternatives or two parametric extremes along a continuum. The results of two experiments conducted with pigeons using variable-interval and fixed-ratio schedules of reinforcement suggest that the manipulation of economic condition has a controlling effect on the relation …

Reaction Time In Elderly Subjects: The Effects Of Practice On Two Different Reaction Time Tasks, Dawn Marie Birk

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The reaction time of four groups of elderly human subjects were examined to determine the effects of stimulus presentation and task practice. Each group practiced different tasks, each requiring a response when more than one alternative was available. Two tasks involved making responses based on either visually or auditorily presented stimuli only. One task required decisions to be made on the basis of both auditory and visual stimuli. The fourth group acted as a comparison group and did not practice a reaction-time task; although they did perform a task on the computer and their reaction times were measured. Before and …

Reducing Stress Of Inservice Teachers, Jeffrey R. Curley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A prototype treatment developed to significantly reduce symptoms of stress among inservice teachers was tested in this experiment. Thirty participants selected for high stress levels were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. They were assessed on environmental, personality, and emotional variables, using self-report and expert-judge measures, both pre- and posttreatment. The experimental treatment was holistic, incorporating all processes previously found to be related to reducing teacher stress. At posttreatment, the treatment group averaged 1.02 standard deviations lower on the stress measures than the control group. Significant differences in the posttest means, favoring the experimental group, were found for 23 …

The Effects Of Diary Writing Support Groups On Women's Depression, Self-Acceptance And Well-Being, Linda Elaine Barnes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was conducted to determine whether learning specific writing techniques and discussing them in a small group is more beneficial to women than writing a journal using self-taught techniques, or not writing at all.

Instruments used included the Beck Depression Inventory and the California Personality Inventory (Self-Acceptance and Well-Being scales).

The literature review covers four general areas: a brief discussion of the impact of contemporary feminism on traditional therapy; an examination of feminist therapy, specifically its advocacy of consciousness-raising groups as a therapy alternative; women's self-reports on diary or journal writing; and information on modern non-literary journal uses including …

Self-Esteem And Perceived Barriers To And Benefits Of Exercise Among Physically Active And Non-Physically Active College Students, Barbara Brown Bonheur

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine differences in self-esteem, perceived benefits of and perceived barriers to exercise between exercisers and non-exercisers and to determine if relationships existed between self-esteem, perceived benefits of exercise and perceived barriers to exercise, that could explain participation in regular aerobic exercise. A sample of 105 university students completed four questionnaires. The level of social desirability present in participant responses was also measured. Five hypotheses were tested. Utilizing t-tests, a significant difference was found between exercisers and non-exercisers on self-esteem, perceived benefits of exercise, and perceived barriers to exercise. The three variables (self-esteem, …

Ecology Of Gray Partridge In North Dakota, John Patrick Carroll

Theses and Dissertations

I studied gray partridge (Perdix perdix) ecology in north-central North Dakota during 1985-87. The primary goals of this study were to identify habitats important to gray partridge survival and nesting, and to provide baseline data on partridge ecology in North Dakota. I captured and radio-tagged 100 gray partridge, mainly during winter. Individuals were tracked by a vehicle-mounted telemetry system until August of each year. Home ranges, movements, habitat use, and survival were calculated by using the telemetry locations. Winter home ranges averaged 117 ha, and were larger than previously reported in North America. Important habitats used by radio-tagged partridge during …

A Guide In Working With Elementary-Aged Navajo Children Of Alcoholic Parents, George Ray Henry

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

Programs which provide intervention services for children of alcoholics are very new and in their developing stages nationwide. Despite this, the need for such programs exists, particularly on the Navajo Reservation. All available literature was reviewed that relates to the state-of-the-art in programming for intervention with children of alcoholic parents. Programs in use with children are described and the rationale for adapting such programs for use with Navajo children is discussed. A Navajo intervention pilot program for children of alcoholics is outlined.

Influence Of Mission Statements On Teacher Education Programs At Two Church-Related Undergraduate Institutions, Ann Marie Biermaier

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ways in which stated institutional missions influenced the operation of teacher education programs, and the way that teacher education programs used the institutional mission statement in evaluating their programs as it applied to two private, liberal arts colleges in Minnesota. Institutional missions were expected to guide curricular policy, inform the public, and establish criteria for accountability and subsequent program evaluation.

This study was conducted utilizing the case study method. Data were gathered by reviewing documentation pertaining to the institution and to the teacher education program as well as by interviewing administrators, …

The Identification Of Pseudoneglect On A One-Dimensional And Two-Dimensional Task, Sonja Dyane Lawless

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Obesity Management: A Meta-Analysis Of Key Factors, David E. Christian

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Obesity is a prevalent and refractory disorder. This study consisted of a meta-analysis of research focusing on diet and exercise treatments and their impact on obesity related measures. Only studies that report data for periods of 6 months or more after treatment onset were included. Forty-four studies were analyzed. These were drawn from 16 previous reviews of the literature as well as several computer data bases.

Following are some of the tentative conclusions drawn: (a) diets consisting of improved nutritional quality yield superior results to restricted calorie diets; (b) flexible, self-directed exercise yields better results than more regimented exercise; (c) …

Bilingual Education: What It Could Mean On The Navajo Reservation, Berniece A. Blackhorse

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The educational system in the United States is meant for the native speakers of English. As a result, students who are limited English proficient do not succeed academically in this educational system.

Literature presents much evidence as to the effectiveness and successes of students' academic performance when their mother tongue or home language is used in the classroom.

Successful bilingual program models which could be used with Navajo students was sought through the literature.

Through the literature there was no one method that was appropriate for all bilingual programs. There were three distinct program models discussed in the literature: the …

A Preschool-Age Neurodevelopmental Comparison Between Normal-Birthweight Infants And Low-Birthweight Infants With And Without Intraventricular Hemorrhage, William Frederick Corey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Advances in medical technology have provided the mechanisms for sustaining life in premature and low-birthweight infants, resulting in the survival of more of these infants. Low-birthweight (LBW) and preterm infants are placed at risk by a number of medical complications, including intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH).

The outcome of low-birthweight infants with intraventricular hemorrhage has been the subject of a great deal of research and continues to be a much-discussed topic in the medical and psychological communities. As more data become available, it appears that more questions arise concerning the later neuodevelopmental and neuropsychological outcome of these infants.

For this reason, research …

Changing Accessibility For Tourism In The Aurland Municipality Of Norway, Kari Brekke

Theses and Dissertations

Because of changes in accessibility, the Aurland Municipality in Western Norway may be subjected to increased tourism. In 1991, an all-season highway will open between Oslo and Bergen, which will pass directly through the Aurland Municipality. The shift in importance from mostly seasonal rail/fjord traffic to an all-season automobile traffic has the potential for accelerating tourism pressures in this highly scenic area. The purpose of this study was to address possible problems and prospects of changing accessibility for tourism in the Aurland Municipality.

In order to examine tourism in the Aurland Municipality, a number of methods were used. Fieldwork was …

The Iconoclast: A Study Of A Radical Newspaper, Perry J. Hornbacher

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Adolescent Norms For The Eating Disorder Inventory As Related To Personal Variables In Female Adolescents At One Private Urban, One Rural, And One Semi-Rural High School, Betty J. Larson

Theses and Dissertations

The societal preference for a slender body image has caused an increasing number of adolescents to diet or use unusual methods of weight control. Some adolescents progress along the continuum of restrained eating toward the development of pathological eating disorders. In order to identify risk factors in the development of eating disorders, eating attitudes and behaviors of 454 normal adolescents were studied by using the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) and a personal background questionnaire. The higher the subscale scores on the EDI the more similar the individual's perceptions to those of victims with a pathological eating disorder.

With the exception …

The Relationship Among Teacher Satisfaction, School Organizational Climate, And Professional Growth And Development Attitudes Of High School Teachers, Sharon E. Craig Kabes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify and explore the relationships among school climate, teacher satisfaction, and professional growth and development attitudes as perceived by high school teachers. The study also provided school climate, teacher satisfaction, and teacher professional growth and development attitude profiles.

The NASSP School Climate Survey was used to measure the schools' climate profiles. The NASSP Teacher Satisfaction Survey was used to measure the affective perceptions of secondary teachers of their work environments. The Teacher Professional Growth and Development Attitude Scale was used to measure teachers' professional growth and development attitudes.

One hundred seventy-three teachers in …

Personification Of Death, Mary M. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the primary personifications of death as perceived by college students. One hundred fifteen students from private and public institutions of higher learning were invited to participate in the study. Surveys from one hundred nine were useable. The questionnaire consisted of a demographic survey, factors related to an individual's experience with death and death education, and a research instrument known as the Death Personification Exercise

Of the four pr;..iary personifications, the Macabre (a dark and fearful oeing) and Automaton (an unemotional being) were present most frequently. Out of 109 students, thirty one students …

The Survivors: A Comparison Of Bereavement Experiences Following The Suicide, Accidental, Or Natural Death Of A Spouse, Terence W. Barrett

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare bereavement experiences of suicide survivors with those of other survivors. The primary focus of investigation was upon grief reactions suggested to be unique to suicide bereavement and upon quality of grief resolution two to four years after death. Fifty-seven women and men, between ages 24 and 48, who had experienced the death of a marital partner were interviewed. Subjects were assigned to one of four groups by cause of death (Suicide, Accident, Unanticipated Natural, and Expected Natural). The categories of death served as the independent variable. Dependent variables were total grief reactions, …

The Effectiveness Of Constant Versus Rotating Buddy Dyads On The Social Interactions Of Handicapped Preschoolers, Connie Faye Nelke

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Due to the passage of Public Law 94-142 (1975), widespread attempts have been made to integrate children who have handicaps into settings with their nonhandicapped peers. Although integrated settings may provide the opportunity for social interaction to occur between children with and without handicaps, often interaction does not occur. In order to address the issue of how to best facilitate appropriate interactions in integrated settings, specialized programs such as the FMS buddy system (Quintero, Phelps, Striefel, & Killoran, 1987) have been developed to promote positive social interactions between children with and without handicaps.

One important aspect programs such as the …

A Method For Knowledge Engineering In Clinical Decision Making, Sheila S. Giere

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to validate the problem behavior evaluation section of an expert system computer program, Class.BD. Class.BD was developed to assist special education personnel in determining whether students qualify for special education services as behaviorally disordered/severely emotionally disturbed students.

The subjects were six Utah who regularly individuals from 1) work with the state of behaviorally disordered/severely emotionally disturbed students and 2) participate in multidisciplinary assessment teams. Three of the subjects were special educators, and three were school psychologists.

Specifically, this study investigated the impact of five behavioral factors on the subjects' ratings of the seriousness of …