Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Spousal Violence Levels Among Substance-Abusing Couples After Behavioral Couples Therapy Versus Individual-Based Treatment, Shannon O'Neill Arehart

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Domestic violence and substance abuse are two of the most prevalent and detrimental social ills plaguing American society today. Additionally, domestic violence and substance abuse are inter-related, and are often found within the same family or relationship. Understanding the relationship between these two problems is essential, especially in the context of therapy or treatment.

Previous studies have shown that behavioral couples therapy (BCT), a treatment for substance abuse problems in which couples participate in conjoint therapy sessions, can be effective in reducing the levels of spousal violence in alcoholic couples (O'Farrell & Murphy, 1995). Additionally, BCT has been effective in …

Medical Students And Their Attitudes Toward Abortion: An Assessment Of Which Factors Influence Medical Students' Willingness Or Unwillingness To Perform Abortions, Katherine M. Krupa

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to determine which factors, if any, influence medical students' willingness or unwillingness to perform abortions. Ample research has been conducted evaluating both the general population's and college students' attitudes toward abortion; however, limited research has been collected on medical students. The present research study attempts to fill this void. The following research questions will be reviewed and evaluated throughout the current study: (1) What personal factors if any influence medical students' willingness or unwillingness to terminate a pregnancy; (2) Are medical students willing to perform abortions for the reasons that women are requesting them; …

An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Language Attitudes And Academic Performance In Northampton County, Virginia, Public Schools, Glenda L. Rose

English Theses & Dissertations

This language attitude study targets third grade, fifth grade, eighth grade and high school students in the Northampton County, Virginia, Public School System. Two hypotheses were proposed. First, students exhibiting negative attitudes toward their own dialect have a lower performance level in language arts classes than students expressing positive attitudes. Second, factors such as sex, race, grade level, and level of exposure to other dialects are reflected in language attitudes. In order to determine the validity of these hypotheses, school officials were asked to identify five students performing well and five students having difficulty in the language arts. Ten third …

Perceptions Of Police Abusive Behavior: Factors Influencing Citizens' Attitudes Toward The Police Use Of Excessive Force, Debra P. Laville-Wilson

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

This study analyzed several factors to determine their influence on the public's perceptions of the police use of excessive force or police brutality. Conflict theory and cognitive consistency theory were used to conceptualize the perceptions of police brutality. Based on these theories, five hypotheses were predicted. Secondary data from a 1995 National Opinion Survey of Crime and Justice were re-analyzed. The data provide 1,005 respondents for the analyses. Analyses were performed at the bivariate and multivariate level.

Findings from the bivariate analysis show that Blacks were three (3) times more likely than Whites to perceive the police use of excessive …

Community Building In Ethically Restructured States: The Baltics, Dovile Budryte

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Drawing on democratic theory, this dissertation explores a thesis that the experience of ethnic restructuring significantly effects the ability of a democratizing state to successfully consolidate its emerging democracy. Ethnically restructured states, it is hypothesized, have an especially hard time creating inclusive democratic political communities, which is a necessary prerequisite for a consolidated democracy.

To test the thesis, the comparative case study method is applied to the ethnically restructured states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. The goal of the case studies is to examine the approaches that the Baltic states used to reduce polarization. The historical background to the case …

The Concept And Practice Of Representative Democracy In Post-Communist Eastern Europe, Georgeta V. Pourchot

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Using the concept of representation, this study advances a comparative interpretive analysis which makes use of hard statistical data and soft data to assess the direction of democratization in Eastern Europe between 1990 and 1998. Specifically, the study looks at how governments in Eastern Europe chose to heed constituencies' calls for the institution of a market economy, and analyzes the degree of government responsiveness towards constituencies. The study finds that the region is moving towards a more responsible and responsive type of governance, but at different paces and degrees. Poland leads with respect to government responsiveness. The Czech Republic displays …

Meaning In Sexual Behavior: Associating Personal Constructs With Condom Use, David W. Indest

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Thirty-seven female and 30 male heterosexual undergraduates responded first to vignettes of sexual behavior in which they were asked to describe the partners' behaviors using their own personal constructs and using the researcher-provided constructs safe sex, unsafe sex, intimate, and impersonal; participants then responded to questions about condom use. Sixty-one percent of participants reported using condoms at least 75% of the time, and 64% reported use on last intercourse. Women reported a higher percentage of intercourse without condoms than did men. Within-subject principal components analysis was used to identify the extent to which an individual's personal constructs loaded …

The Use Of A Modified Stroop Task To Assess Attentional Biasing Related To Adult Attachment Classification, Kristie L. Hebert

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Adult attachment styles can be thought of as representational schemata for how an individual interprets other people's actions, relationships, and emotions in close relationships. This study utilized an emotional Stroop task that consisted of different word/letter stimuli to investigate the effect of attentional biasing, in the form of the interference effect, on reaction times. Five measures of adult attachment were used that varied based on whether attachment was categorized or placed on a dimension. Contrary to expectation, insecurely attached individuals did not have longer reaction times on negative stimuli; however, negative word stimuli did cause an interference effect relative to …

Arousal, Goal Commitment, Goal Difficulty, And Performance, Monica Ann Rickard

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of arousal on commitment to a goal, and secondarily, to test the assumption that more difficult goals result in better performance. It was predicted that arousal would cause research participants to be more committed to a goal, and that those participants assigned a difficult goal would perform better than those participants assigned an easy goal. Research participants were 124 active duty members of the United States Navy stationed at a remote military facility in Cornwall, England. Participants in the arousal group first viewed video clips designed to produce emotional …

Kicking At The Closet Door: The Opinions, Attitudes, And Experiences Of Military Homosexuals, Rodney Lee Parks

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the opinions, attitudes, and experiences of active-duty homosexual/bisexual military servicemembers. Very little research currently exists on this topic because the sample population remains hidden among the ranks of their heterosexual counterparts for fear of discrimination, harassment, and physical violence. Using a snowball sampling technique, survey analysis was conducted to analyze the relationship among homosexual/bisexual military servicemembers and assess their experiences. Most homosexual men and women serve effectively in the military and are proud of their military performance. Although many homosexuals join the military to suppress their desires, the majority (70%) felt that …

The Influence Of National Culture On Crew Resource Management And Team Performance In Aircraft Accident And Incident Reports, Jenny Chia Yi Kuang

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the influence of national culture on crew resource management (CRM) and team performance. Accident and incident reports involving foreign aircraft were qualitatively analyzed to discover the relationship between three of Hofstede's (1980, 1997) cultural values and the variables of teamwork behaviors, flightcrew task performance, and flightcrew error. The three cultural values used in the analysis were power distance, individualism and collectivism, and uncertainty avoidance. Low power distance flightcrews exhibited more instances of positive teamwork behaviors, fewer instances of negative teamwork behaviors, fewer instances of error behaviors, and more instances of task performance behaviors than high power distance …

Effects Of Gender Role Socialization And Investments In Human Capital On The Decision Of A Woman With Children Under School Age To Work Outside The Home, Marion A. Edrington

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The decision of whether or not to work while one's children are under school age is one that is faced by millions of women each year. Using data from the General Social Survey, this study was designed to address the research question: What are the factors that influence the decision of a woman with children under school age to work outside the home full-time, part-time or not at all? The specific effects of gender role socialization and investments in human capital were explored in depth. This study found that both gender role socialization and investments in human capital do have …

Sales Training Practices In Malaysia: Comparisons Of Domestic And Multinational Companies, Mohamad Asri Jantan

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

This dissertation expands the domestic sales training research into international settings by examining and comparing sales training practices of domestic and multinational companies (MNCs) in Malaysia. Fourteen hypotheses were proposed and examined: (1) the two groups' comparative sales training practices; (2) the two groups' sales managers' perceptions toward important sales training tasks; (3) the relationships of the different perceptions toward important sales training tasks to sales 9 managers' performance measures; and (4) the effect of two groups' demographic variables on perceived adequacy of the overall sales training programs.

Cross-sectional data were collected via self-administered questionnaires distributed to sales managers, marketing …

Wavelength Modulation Spectroscopy Of Water Vapor And Line Center Stabilization At 1.462 Μm For Lidar Applications, Colleen Marie Fitzgerald

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Wavelength modulation spectroscopy was employed to investigate water vapor absorption lines in the 1.462 µm wavelength region using an external-cavity diode laser. These measurements were necessary in the development of a lidar (light detection and ranging) instrument for differential absorption measurement of the concentration and movement of water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere. Differential absorption measurements require that the laser frequency remain stable throughout the duration of the measurement. To ensure this stability, the laser output wavelength is monitored and a feedback control loop set up to minimize laser line drift. Three lines were investigated in the 1.462 µm region. …

Implementation Theory And Determinants For Success: A Case Study Of Televised Distance Learning Implementation In An Urban University, Deanne Shuman

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Management

The purpose of this study is to explore the implementation process of a distance learning initiative using televised instruction in an urban university. The scope and complexity of problems faced by colleges and universities today are growing, and public institutions are being asked to do more with less. Despite limited budgets and stretched resources, institutions are expected to be responsive to the challenges of change. Distance learning using televised instruction, which brings the classroom to the learner, is an available technology that can be responsive to students' diverse needs.

This study explores factors that facilitated or served as barriers in …

Part 1: The State Of Public Opinion, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

(First Paragraph) Would you like to see the 14 cities and counties of Hampton Roads merge into a single jurisdiction? Surprisingly, 50.5 percent of 1,169 people polled recently believe that such a merger should occur. For cities or counties where at least 20 individuals responded to this question, the percentage of those desiring a merger ranged from lows of 41.7 in Suffolk and 42.4 in James City County to highs of 54.8 percent in Gloucester County and 55.8 percent in Norfolk. The region's largest city, Virginia Beach, split evenly on this issue, with 153 respondents preferring a merger and 153 …

Front Matter: The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2000, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Cover, front matter, table of contents, and other materials for the 2000 The State of the Region report authored by the Regional Studies Institute at Old Dominion University.

Part 2: The State Of Education, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

(First Paragraph) Few things are more important to adults in Hampton Roads than the quality of their K-12 schools. These schools, and the students within their classrooms, represent the fondest hopes of this generation for a prosperous future. Many citizens and parents are willing to expend countless hours helping to maintain the quality of their schools and, to the extent they are able, make them even better. Pity the political leader who comes to be viewed as "anti-education." From the latest related statewide initiatives to more localized concerns, K-12 schools are always a focal point of the news in Hampton …

Part 3: The State Of The Regional Economy, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

(First Paragraph) Many factors come into play when predicting the future of the Hampton Roads economy. Defense spending, non-defense-sector growth and a commitment to collaboration among private and public high-tech industries are three very large variables that contribute to the region's pulse and prospects for long-term health. All of these factors, as we will see here, are interconnected. Per capita income, often used to measure a region's economic well-being, should continue to exhibit "baseline improvement" in Hampton Roads, but if the standard of living is to rise above average, some changes would need to be made to the region's economic …

Part 5: The State Of Tourism, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

(First Paragraph) If Virginia is for lovers, then Hampton Roads is for lovers of vacations. From the historic streets of Colonial Williamsburg to the surf and sand of modern-day Virginia Beach, this region offers visitors a wide variety of enticing attractions.

Part 4: The State Of The Military, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

(First Paragraph) From the sprawling Naval Station Norfolk, home port of the Atlantic Fleet, to Fort Eustis, the Peninsula's largest military installation, Hampton Roads has long been known for it's sizable population of Department of Defense personnel and diversity of military bases. In all, more than 100,000 active-duty personnel are stationed in Hampton Roads, approximately 80 percent of whom serve in the U.S. Navy. While Norfolk is no longer considered soley a "Navy town," it continues to be home to the largest naval base in the world.

Part 6: The State Of Government, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

(First Paragraph) With- count them- nearly 100 governmental units in the cities and counties that comprise Hampton Roads, are our citizens being served efficiently and responsibly?

Part 8: The State Of Transportation, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

(First Paragraph) What road do we take- literally and figuratively- to help solve our traffic congestion woes?

Part 9: The State Of The Workforce, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

(First paragraph) Is the workforce as good (or as bad) as they say?

Part 7: The State Of Technology, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

(First Paragraph) What will it take for us to compete in the high tech arena?

Part 10: The State Of Health, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

As a region, Hampton Roads has worked hard to increase the number and quality of its medical facilities. The merger of Sentara and Tidewater Health Care sealed Sentara's position as the region's largest health care provider and forced it to rise to the challenge of offering excellent, efficient medical care. It has proven itself by attaining a ranking of 6th among all of the health networks in the nation, its third consecutive year in the top 10. Only two other health care systems have been named to the top 10 list for this many years. In addition, Sentara Norfolk General …

White Women, Black Revolutionaries: Sex And Politics In Four Novels By Nadine Gordimer, Nancy Topping Bazin

English Faculty Publications

As early as 1959, the white South African novelist, essayist, and short story writer Nadine Gordimer wrote an essay, "Where Do Whites Fit In?" As the black struggle for power intensified and finally achieved its primary goal of black majority rule in 1994, Gordimer continued to reflect upon this question. Her eighth novel, July's People (1981), is a psychological and political fable. It celebrates a white woman's readiness to reject the relationships and privileges that bind her to the white world and her readiness to embrace the new South Africa of an emancipated black majority. The novels written before July's …

Challenges In Delivering Library Services For Distance Learning, Cynthia Wright Swaine

Libraries Faculty & Staff Publications

The first section of this paper on library services for distance education discusses the status of distance learning in higher education. What distance learning means for libraries is addressed in the second section, including considerations related to diverse locations, agreements with participating institutions, delivery limitations, librarian commitment, and awareness of new ways to deliver services. The third section summarizes requirements for libraries and provides World Wide Web addresses for American Library Association and Canadian Library Association guidelines. The fourth section describes the challenges and impact of distance learning on library service units related to administration, collection management, acquisitions, cataloging, collection …

International Student-Athlete Adjustment To College: A Preliminary Analysis, Lynn L. Ridinger, Donna L. Pastore

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

This preliminary investigation was undertaken to determine how well international student–athletes adjusted to college relative to their domestic teammates and the general student body. The results revealed that international student-athletes were significantly more well-adjusted to college than international nonathletes. International student–athletes adjusted to college as well as students and student–athletes from the United States. Results should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size. The effects of gender and ethnicity on adjustment to college were also examined.

Increasing Readiness To Change Among Smokers In A Primary Care Setting, Sheila F. Collicott

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study compared the effectiveness of two brief interventions, direct advice and motivational interviewing, for increasing motivation to quit among male smokers in the pre-contemplation and contemplation stages of change who were primary care patients at an Eastern urban VA medical center. Contrary to expectations, participants receiving motivational interviews did not increase more in readiness to change, motivation, and actions to quit, than those receiving direct advice or a control conversation, nor did they smoke fewer cigarettes per day. As expected, contemplators reported more cutting down and quit attempts than pre-contemplators. Factors that may have limited the effectiveness of interventions …