Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Predictive Value Of Apgar Scores When Developmental Rates Are Established: An Elimination Of Corrections For Prematurity, Daniel M. Phillips Iii

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the relationship between Apgar scores and developmental delay after eliminating corrections for prematurity. Developmental assessments were taken at six and twelve months-of-age using the Clinical Adaptive Test (CAT) and the Clinical Linguistic and Auditory Milestone Scale (CLAMS). From these assessments, a rate of cognitive-developmental growth was established. Developmental rates then were used to predict developmental age when the infants were 17 months of age. The subjects were 52 preterm infants (gestational age< 32 weeks), who had moderate to severe I-minute and/or 5-minute Apgar scores. One- and 5-minute Apgar scores, grouped by moderate to severe range separately, were compared to developmental age assessments utilizing developmental rates and two existing methods of correction. No significant differences were found in CAT, CLAMS, and combined CAT/CLAMS developmental assessment means based on Apgar group. The Developmental Rates method, however, was significantly correlated with and predicted developmental outcome at 17 months of age. These findings suggest that Developmental Rates are a more accurate method of developmental age assessment and prediction.

The Effects Of Fragrance Instructional Set, And Boredom Proneness On Performance In A Vigilance Task, Sheryl Lynn Roberts

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of fragrance upon vigilance performance, stress, and workload. The role of subjects' expectations and boredom proneness upon vigilance performance were also examined.

All subjects were assessed for fatigue, workload, and boredom proneness. Subjects were then randomly assigned to conditions based upon fragrance and instructional set. One group of subjects was given Peppermint enhanced air and the other was given unscented air. Half of the subjects in each group were told that the fragrance or air would help their performance, while the other subjects were told nothing about the effects …

From Realist To Constructivist Theory In Public Administration: Development Of A Quality Perspective, Ernest Edward Sides Iii

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Management

The purpose of this study is to formulate a behavioral theory of public organization development and administration that replaces positivism with constructivism as its underlying paradigm. This study contends that the level of maturity with respect to quality is a function of the degree to which an organization's latent thinking and conceptualization has advanced toward constructivism. The underlying thesis is that public administration and organization behavior stems from multiple realities not possible under positivism. Efficiency is not an appropriate criterion for analysis under the tenants of constructivism and should be replaced with quality as a criterion.

The use of quality …

Names As Insults Among Middle School Students, Susan M. De Veer

English Theses & Dissertations

The following is a study of playful and insulting name-calling among suburban and rural public middle school males and females in grades six through eight in Tidewater, Virginia. Little is known about the effects of name-calling on self-esteem. Students were asked to rate the comfort level of the names they reported their friends called them. They were also asked to list their favorite television programs, films, and music videos to determine what influence, if any, the media has on name-calling. The 135 participating male and female students completed an anonymous survey administered by their teachers during home bell.

The collected …

The Association Between Perceived Family Support And Psychological Well-Being In Infertile Couples, Linda Marquardt Mintle

Health Services Research Dissertations

A correlational research design utilizing a cross-sectional survey methodology was used to investigate the association between perceived family support and psychological well-being in infertile couples. Family stress theory and the construct of boundary ambiguity were conceptual frameworks applied to the developmental family life cycle. Respondents were 35 married infertile couples with primary infertility recruited from a private For-profit infertility clinic located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Responses on the Moos and Moos (1984) Family Environment Scale and from the SCL-90-R developed by Derogatis (1977) measured perceived family support and psychological distress respectively. Major findings indicated that infertile couples rated their families …

Hardiness And Sensation Seeking As Potential Moderating Variables In The Stress-Illness Relationship, William N. Campbell Jr.

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

One hundred and fifteen undergraduate psychology students participated in a study designed primarily to investigate the personality styles characterized by "hardiness" and "sensation seeking" as potential moderators in the stress illness relationship. Subjects completed inventories measuring life-event stress, perceived stress, and illness experienced during the previous year, as well as questionnaires measuring hardiness, sensation seeking, and maladjustment. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships between life-event stress and illness and perceived stress and illness as well as a significant negative relationship between hardiness and maladjustment.

Multiple regression analyses showed that life-event stress, perceived stress, and the two measures used together significantly …

Hold As A Monosemic Verb, Amy D. Camp

English Theses & Dissertations

The verb hold is normally presumed to be highly polysemous; dictionaries ascribe to it several senses and sub-senses. This treatment is supported by the polysemous bias in current semantic research. In this thesis, I claim that hold is monosemic, with ascribed meanings resulting from pragmatic modulation. My treatment of hold is based on Charles Ruhl's work with monosemy in his book On Monosemy: A Study in Linguistic Semantics.

This study isolates hold's constant semantic contribution throughout 250 diverse example sentences. I claim that hold: (1) presupposes a sequence, and then (2) suspends the sequence.

After an introduction and a chapter …

Conjunctive Decisions In A Paper-And-Pencil Task, Tracy A. Bean

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Many situations can have a significant effect on response time. Some situations affecting response time require union decisions - decisions based on the 'or' rule. The Hick-Hyman law, as well as Sternberg's linear relationship, are based on union decisions. Most situations in the real world, however, are based on intersection or 'conjunctive' decisions - decisions based on the 'and' rule. The relationship between conjunctive decisions and reaction time is examined in the present research. One question this study attempted to answer is whether there is a functional relationship between mean response time and display size.

The study consisted of 139 …

The Relationship Among Self-Reported Aggression, Locus Of Control, Expectancy For Success, And Dream Content, Stephen James Mccullough

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between elements of two dream content analysis systems, and between dream content variables and self-report measures. One hundred and five college students from two universities in Virginia completed the following self-report measures: Generalized Expectancy for Success Scale (Fibel & Hale, 1978), Internal Control Index (Duttweiler, 1984), Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1979), Verbal Aggressiveness Scale (Infante & Wigley, 1986), and Brief Symptom Inventory (Derogatis & Spencer, 1982). They recorded any dreams they could remember over the subsequent three weeks in a dream journal. Only the data of participants who reported five or more dreams were included …

Czechoslovakia's "Velvet Divorce" Ethnicity In The Post-Cold War World, Jonathan Robert Wert

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

The problem addressed in this study is the issue of ethnicity in post-communist Czechoslovakia. Specifically, the roots of the Czechoslovaks' "Velvet Divorce," or dissolution into two independent states, are explored and an explanation is offered as to the cause of this ethnic separatism. The methods used include archival, sociological, and statistical research so as to provide a firm multidisciplinary basis for the. conclusions reached. The results of this research suggest that the nation of Czechoslovakia was never integrated in a meaningful manner. Though unified legally for over seventy years, the Czechs and Slovaks did not develop a common identity as …

The Entry Of The People's Republic Of China Into The Korean War, Yueliang Shen

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

China's entry into the Korean War in October 1950 took both its friends and foes by surprise and quickly escalated that conflict into the first major hot war since the start of the Cold War. This thesis analyzes the Chinese decision making process and the factors that led China into the Korean conflict. Official documents, statements, and speeches of American and Chinese Communist leaders between 1945 and 1950 indicate that historical mistrust and animosity, geopolitical considerations, and a breakdown of communications all contributed to the tragic showdown that caused millions of casualties. Extensively used for this study were declassified foreign …

Demonstration Of A Method For The Development Of A Team Classification System, Ann Marie Yanushefski

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to demonstrate an approach to developing a system for classifying teams. A classification system is important for formulating theories, generating hypotheses, and especially as an aid in generalizing results from one setting to another. Although a number of classifications can be found in the team literature, each was developed in a rational rather than an empirical manner. As an alternative, an empirically derived classification system based on objective, empirical data was considered an improvement. The development of this type of system was the objective of the present study.

The Sundstrom and Altman (1989) classification …

Development Of A K-Correction Factor For The Mmpi-A, Jody Jacobson Alperin

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

In 1992, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - Adolescent (MMPI-A) was developed to meet the unique experiences and needs of adolescents. Despite evidence that adolescents often demonstrate response biases in taking the MMPI-A, currently there is no method to systematically "correct" for the effect of test-taking attitude on profile configuration with this age group. The K-correction factor has been widely used to correct for defensiveness or underreporting of symptomatology on the MMPI among adult respondents, although results of cross-validation research on the effectiveness of the K-correction factor have been inconclusive. The present study derived age-appropriate K-weights to determine the degree …

An Assessment Of The Descriptors And Determinants Of Academic Success Of Selected Allied Health Students In Virginia, Theodora Christine Gordon

Health Services Research Dissertations

This study assessed the relationship of cognitive and noncognitive variables in relationship to academic success of students from selected allied health majors: respiratory therapist (RTT), radiologic technology (RT), surgical technology (ST) and medical records technician (MRT) from hospital based and community college programs in Virginia. Student academic success was defined as academic (classroom) grade point average, clinical grade point average, cumulative grade point average and passing status. The cognitive variables were preclinical (high school) grade point average, academic, clinical and cumulative grade point averages. The noncognitive variables were character type, temperament type/preference for learning style, and the Sedlacek Noncognitive Questionnaire …

A Meta-Analysis Of The Effect Of Computer-Assisted Instruction On The Academic Achievement Of Students In Grades 6 Through 12: A Comparison Of Urban, Suburban, And Rural Educational Settings, Edwin Patrick Christmann

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

This meta-analysis analyzed grades 6 through 12 school students' academic achievement effect sizes from experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational studies that examined the effects of microcomputer-based computer-assisted instruction (CAI) on the academic achievement of urban, suburban, and rural students across various subjects. Those studies compared secondary students who were exposed to CAI with those who were exposed to traditional instructional strategies.

A total of 3,476 students participated in 24 studies which resulted in 35 conclusions. The sample size ranged from 28 to 425; the mean sample size was 140 students.

The mean effect sizes of urban, suburban, and rural students uncovered …

Self-Esteem, Sense Of Community, And Participation In Organized Sports: A Study Of Rural High School Students On Virginia's Eastern Shore, Michele K. Lee

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Using 1995 Survey data collected from high school students on Virginia's Eastern Shore, this study investigates how rural adolescents view themselves and their communities, and specifically how sports participation may affect self-esteem and sense of community. Adolescents, faced with a transition period between high school and adulthood, must begin to make choices such as attending college or technical school, entering the workforce, and/or moving away from their home communities. These choices are particularly important to the Eastern Shore because its economic vitality is in decline and its social vitality is hard hit by out-migration. Analyses of data from Northampton County …

The Effect Of Technology-Rich School Environments On Academic Achievement And Attitudes Of Urban School Students, Charles R. Grimm

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of technology-rich educational environments on student academic achievement and attitude. The primary independent variable was the type of school (technology-rich school (TRS) and traditional school (TS)). Additional independent variables included gender, ethnicity, and computer ownership. The dependent variables were: (1) student academic achievement (Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (4th-grade), Virginia's Literacy Passport Test (6th-grade), and Tests of Achievement and Proficiency (11th-grade)) and (2) and student attitudes (questionnaire).

The design examined the differences between TRS and TS (N = 1088). Compared were 4th-grade elementary school students attending a TRS (n = …

The Transference Of Traditional American Indian Oral Narratives Into Contemporary Literature, Barbara A. Baisley

English Theses & Dissertations

This thesis will examine Native American oral narratives and determine what influence western culture has had on the written recording of these stories. By examining traditional literature, I will analyze a trickster myth in order to establish Native American literary patterns. I will then examine Henry Schoolcraft's translations of Chippewa oral narratives and determine what is characteristic of Native American oral narratives and what alterations he made in order to market these narratives to an audience deeply entrenched in western literature.

I will also distinguish between Native American narratives translated into English and English narratives that contain an Native American …

A Formative Analysis Of The Full Integration Of Students With Severe And Profound Disabilities In Age-Appropriate Elementary School Classrooms, Nancy Cheshire Rosenblatt

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

This research was conducted in a large urban elementary school where six students with severe and profound disabilities (SPD) were integrated fully in age-appropriate classrooms. The purpose of the research was to collect evidence regarding the effectiveness of this full-integration program. The results were as follows: (1) Reading and math achievement scores were not affected by the presence of an SPD student in the classroom except for in grade 4 where apparently math achievement was affected adversely. (2) Fourth graders in classes with a fully-integrated SPD student had more positive attitudes about persons with disabilities than students in the control …

The Relationship Between Machiavellianism, Self-Monitoring, And Adaptiveness To The Performance Of Real Estate Sales Professionals, Dianne Broman Eppler

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

The focus of sales management is on insuring the success of the corporation by selling its goods or services. The most significant impact on the firm's success is the ability of the sales force to perform. Research to determine what makes a successful salesperson is extensive; however, the results are inconsistent and disappointing. In light of the significant financial impact the sales force has on the firm, additional research that identifies determinants of sales success is necessary.

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the relationships between personal characteristics and sales performance. Specifically, Machiavellianism, self-monitoring, and adaptiveness were hypothesized …

An Examination Of Factors Influencing The Definition Of Rape, Connie Sue Minton

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the concept of rape and factors which influence the definition of rape. A survey consisting of demographic and attitudinal questions and rape scenarios was administered to college students at two middle-sized universities in the southeast. The results indicate that as the level of intimacy between the victim and the rapist increases the likelihood of a situation being defined as a rape decreases. In this study religion and political attitudes were two independent variables which did not influence the definition of rape while race, gender, relationships with women, and attitudes toward women were …

A Comparison Of Graduation Rates For Community College Transfer Students And Non-Transfer Students At An Urban, Regional University, Rory Jay Deshano

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Aerobic Exercise On State And Trait Body Image And Physical Fitness Among College Women, Sherri L. Hensley

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

Cumulative evidence shows body dissatisfaction is a salient problem among women, and is linked to various psychological disorders and disturbances. While numerous perspectives regarding the negative body-image phenomenon exist, one area of scientific inquiry is the relationship between physical exercise and body image. With the current sociocultural emphasis on physical fitness and attractiveness, the effects of exercise on body image warrants serious consideration. The present investigation compared 57 women who participated in a 13-week aerobic exercise program to 29 sedentary control women on the following variables: state and trait body image, cardiorespiratory fitness, and body composition. The exercising women were …

Presidential Philosophies And American Foreign Policy: From The Long Telegram To The New Look, John R. Moore

History Theses & Dissertations

American foreign policy often undergoes alteration as presidential administrations change. After World War II president Harry S. Truman and President Dwight D. Eisenhower both implemented a foreign policy aimed at containing the Soviet Union, but the philosophical underpinnings of their foreign policies differed greatly. While the demands of partisan and international politics account for some of this difference, the impact on foreign policy of the two men's personalities deserves attention and investigation. In other words, how did the individual backgrounds, personal beliefs and world views of Truman and Eisenhower dictate their approach to foreign policy? The source used in this …

The Effects Of Subsidies On Public Transit Long-Run Costs, Kofi Obeng, Wayne K. Talley, Christopher Colburn

Economics Faculty Publications

This paper investigates sources of public transit long-run cost increases attributable to transit subsidies. The sources include wage, vehicle capital price and service increases. Service expansion is found to be the major source. Transit cost increases related to subsidies are classified as input price, output and finance effects of these subsidies. Transit costs are more responsive to federal operating subsidies, followed in declining order by local operating, state operating and capital subsidies, respectively.

Attachment Theory And Self-Disclosure Of Hiv Status, Amy H. Grimshaw

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the influence of attachment style on self-disclosure of HIV seropositive status. Subjects were classified according to Bartholomew's model of adult attachment (i.e., secure, preoccupied, fearful, or dismissing). Steps were then taken to assess differences in the subjects' willingness to disclose their HIV seropositive status, the communication style chosen for disclosure, the subjects' perceptions of the importance of disclosing their HIV seropositive status, and the feared negative consequences of disclosure. To increase generalizability subjects were asked to assess their self-disclosure to three types of target persons: lover, same-sex friend, and opposite-sex friend. Attachment style significantly affected perceived importance …

Predicting Strategic Orientations Of Public Research Universities In Economic Development: A Test Of The Resource Dependence Model, Steven Rae Hoagland

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Management

This study is an original application of resource dependence theory to research administration at public universities. It examines the extent to which and under what conditions economic development orientations can be predicted by resource dependence theory. Data analyses concentrate on the combined effects of administrative structure and variations in federal financial support on the economic development orientations of public doctorate-granting universities nationwide.

Data were collected from three sources: (a) published data on the research dollar volume of public universities; (b) higher education personnel directories containing information about research offices; and (c) a mailed survey instrument containing four orientations in economic …

Development Of A Measure Of Homosexual Stress: A Factor-Analytic Approach, Lynn Marie Morris

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Although homosexual stress has been studied in the past, an examination of the literature indicated a need for a reliable and valid measure of this construct. The current study describes the creation and validation of the Homosexual Stress Inventory (HSI), a new measure for I} stressors specific to homosexual men and women. A 70-item measure was created and factor analyzed. For the female subjects, 50 of the original items were retained and four factors emerged, which were labeled Visibility, Family, Work Discrimination, and Violence and Harassment. Among lesbians, homosexual stress seems to be related to more depression, to less social …

Comparing Traditional Statistical Models With Neural Network Models: The Case Of The Relation Of Human Performance Factors To The Outcomes Of Military Combat, William Oliver Hedgepeth

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Statistics and neural networks are analytical methods used to learn about observed experience. Both the statistician and neural network researcher develop and analyze data sets, draw relevant conclusions, and validate the conclusions. They also share in the challenge of creating accurate predictions of future events with noisy data.

Both analytical methods are investigated. This is accomplished by examining the veridicality of both with real system data. The real system used in this project is a database of 400 years of historical military combat. The relationships among the variables represented in this database are recognized as being hypercomplex and nonlinear.

The …

Characteristics, Perceived Skills And Leadership Styles Of Female Executives In The Senior Executive Service, Ahmad Mashayekh

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Management

Recent studies have expressed considerable interest in the representation of women in the upper-level management in the federal government. Yet, very little is known about the characteristics and attributes of women in the executive level of the federal services. Most of the studies are undertaken to examine how women are different from the established male standards, or have used different models or variables to explain the slow career advancement of the women.

Using a 1991 survey of 278 female executives in the Senior Executive Service (SES) this study examines the characteristics, personal attributes, barriers, experiences, and leadership styles of women …