Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

College Level Career Counseling, Ain Roost

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was designed to examine and evaluate vocational decision making and counseling at Utah State University and to provide a basis for further research. A written questionnaire was given to a random sample of 500 college students on the Utah State University campus.

It was found that over 15% of freshmen could not express a vocational choice, and of those who could,their commitment to it was weaker than the other classes. Immediate family, friends and college professors were the most influential people in making a career choice, with the influence of college counselors being almost negligible. Other than influential …

Rural-Urban Personality Differences In Utah Adolescents As Measured By The Cpi, Benjamin K. Nelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The CPI (California Psychological Inventory) was administered to 395 high school students to determine if personality differences exist between rural and urban adolescents in Utah. Of those tested, 219 were selected from three rural schools and 176 were selected from three urban schools.

Ten of the eighteen individual scales of the CPI showed differences between rural and urban students at the P < .05 level. Two of the four classes of scales showed differences at the P < .01 level, and the other two classes showed differences significant at the P < .05 level. In each case where significant differences were found, the differences favored the urban students. The results of this study indicate that the urban students in Utah tend to have more positive personality characteristics than the rural students.

A Reliability Measurement Of The Transactional Analysis Checklist, Robert B. Kahn

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of the study was to measure the reliability of a checklist created and standardized for the study. The development of the checklist, referred to in the study as the Transactional Analysis Checklist (TAC), finds its basis in Transactional Analysis theory.

The literature available pertaining to Transactional Analysis was reviewed. No literature, prior to the study, existed which directed itself specifically to the examination of an instrument that could be used during the diagnostic phase of treatment.by .Transactional Analysts. The lack of literature was a partial motivator for the study. It was suggested that informally constructed devices are being …

Some Aspects Of Conditioning Behavior In Rainbow Trout, Salmo Gairdneri, Reed E. Harris

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Effects of exercise, social facilitation, and delayed conditioning after vi exercise on the learning behavior of 5 to 6-inch rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, was measured in a conditioned avoidance response apparatus. The conditioning schedule contained an intertrial interval between alternate presentations of conditioned (light) and unconditioned (shock) stimuli. This randomization eliminated learning losses found in a previous study. Mean percentage avoidance, the measurement of learning, did not decrease significantly during conditioning trials. Exercised fish learned avoidance better than did non-exercised fish. Mean percentage avoidance for fish exercised at 0.5 ft/sec was 66.3; at 1.0 ft/ sec, 1.5 ft/sec, and …

The Comparative Effects Of Two Reinforcement Schedules Applied To Groups In Teaching Arithmetic Skills, Ronald C. Bennett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A behavioral approach to teaching in the public school system is difficult because of the inherent difficulty of finding positive reinforcers and administering them simultaneously to large groups of students.

This study attempts to apply the same tangible reinforcers to two groups of students under different schedules of reinforcement. The students in the study were in special classes termed "learning adjustment" classes because of their failure to perform at grade level in regular classroom settings.

One group was on a continuous schedule of reinforcement using tokens and gold strike stamps as reinforcers. The second group was also on a continuous …

Utilization Of Phoneme-Grapheme Relative Frequency Data As An Effective Method Of Developing Reading Materials For Navajo Students, Wesley K. Roberts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis suggests a new method of developing reading materials for Navajo students. The core of this method is based on phoneme- grapheme relative frequency correspondence data.

A short story was phonetically edited and rewritten using the phoneme-grapheme relative frequency method. This short story was one of the major products of the thesis.

This short story and three other short stories previously phonically rewritten, were presented in both this form and in original text to 38 Navajo students for reading.

Reading speed and reading comprehension were measured for each student on the short stories. The students performed with superior reading …

Effect Of Sex Orientation Of Stimulus Objects On Sex Differences In Language Development, Cathy Walters

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this study was to aid in discovering whether or not the sex differences in language development are at least partially a result of the differential effect of the environment on the two sexes by determining whether the sex orientation of stimulus objects presented to preschool children would influence the quantity and quality of verbal responses emitted by the children. Twenty preschool children, 10 boys and 10 girls, were each presented with neutral, masculine oriented, and feminine oriented stimulus objects and were asked to respond to them in the form of a story. Quantity of verbal responses was …

Semantic Influence And Concept Attainment Of Slang And Its Effects On Parents' And Teenagers' Linguistic Interaction, Kim Earl

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this research was to determine parents and teenagers slang awareness and when this awareness begins to appear in the vocabulary of the younger generation.

Two studies were construed to measure the intended purpose of t his research. Study A was conducted to determine if semantic influence and concept attainment of slang definitions would be greater for teenagers than that for adults. The instrument was an open ended word list consisting of 25 slang terms. Criterion for the selection of words was assessed by determining if each word used could be found in three of the five sources. …

Factors Affecting Quality And Location Values For Resident Deer Hunting In Utah, Jim C. Wrigley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Application was made of the economic rent method of resource valuation for the resident deer hunt in Utah. Total economic, location and quality rent values were estimated for all hunting units. These values incorporate the relationship existing between the variable use cost and the units of activity associated with the site.

Data were collected by mail survey from hunters following the 1970 season. Approximately 2033 questionnaires were used in the analysis. Additional data were collected from the Utah Division of Natural Resources.

The total rent value estimated from the model was approximately $3,326,238.00. Eighty-five percent of the total was attributed …

An Analysis Of Factors Influencing Farm Family Residence Location, Larry Keith Bond

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Census data reveal that the percentage of farm operators in the United States that live off-farm is increasing. It has been suggested that this may be due largely to a shifting of residence off-farm. An analysis of factors influencing residence of farm families has been done at the national level. In addition, a cross section analysis of county data within states has been attempted. However, a purely local analysis is needed to pick up the variation obscured by aggregate data. The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate variables that might be expected to influence residence location, and …

An Economic History And Analysis Of The Great Feeder Canal Of Southeastern Idaho, Gary Wayne Gneiting

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this paper is to relate the economic history of the Great Feeder Canal and preform an analysis on its flow of water. Historical chapters are portrayed chronologically and reveal in sight into the rustic irrigation problems that faced those individuals who developed the Great Feeder Canal. The latter part of the paper entails an economic analysis indicating that the Great Feeder Canal is unique in that it uses nearly twice as much irrigation water per acre as other canals in Southeastern Idaho, yet it tends to maximize net social benefits.

The Influence Of Ethnic Background, Religion, Education, And Income Upon Family Planning Behavior And Attitudes Of Certain Married Couples At Utah State University, Gustavo Loza-Montenegro

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this study was to determine whether certain socio-cultural factors tend to influence family planning behavior and attitudes of certain married couples at Utah State University. Socio-cultural factors considered in this study were: ethnic background, religious preference, level of education, and income. These socio-cultural factors (independent variables) were examined from the standpoint of their influence upon one or more of the following dependent variables: the use or non-use of family planning, the extent to which family planning is used, attitude toward the most important source of information for family planning, and attitude regarding the single method which is …

Impact On Rural Incomes Of Improved Water Management Practices In Milagro County, Ecuador, Phillip H. Lloyd

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Farm budgets based on survey data a reused to calculate the net revenue for average irrigated and unirrigated farms for four tenure classes on the Milagro irrigation project, Ecuador. Differences in net revenues between irrigated and unirrigated farms within each tenure class are assumed to be the return to investment in irrigation capital, assuming homogeneity of all other production factors.

The internal rate of return is calculated on investment in irrigation capital assuming returns to such an investment are the difference in net revenues between irrigated and unirrigated farms. Investment in such capital is found to be highly profitable assuming …

Economic Development: Diagnosis Of The High Andean Valleys Of Venezuela (Tuñame And Burbusay), Eloy Davila-Spinetti

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The primary objective of this study was to set development policies applicable for the high Andean valleys of Tuñame and Burbusay (Venezuela); and secondly to develop a quick and inexpensive way to assess development prospects of high Andean valleys similar to the ones studied here.

The methodology employed was to classify various agricultural regions with specific development phases using the Thorbecke's classification and policy scheme. Production functions were estimated, fitted and analyzed to determine the parameters pertinent to such a classification for the two valleys where data was available.

The analyses and classifications permitted a limited enumeration of policies for …

Reliability Comparisons Of Navajo Indian And American Caucasian Individuals Responding To Acoustic Stimuli From Conventional And Automatic Recording Audiometers, J. Clinton Harris

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A study was made to determine the reliability of Navajo Indian and American Caucasian subjects to air conducted pure tones.

Audiograms were obtained on 30 Navajo and 27 Caucasian subjects as they responded to pure tones presented via a conventional audiometric technique and also via an automatic recording technique.

One audiogram via conventional audiometry and one audiogram via automatic audiometry were obtained on the same day. Replications of the same tests were administered on the following day.

Statistical analysis of the data was employed to determine the reliability of repeated test measurements. Mean threshold differences, standard deviations, Student's "t" test …

Economic Development Of Thailand: An Analysis Of The Agricultural Sector, Thamnoon Soparatana

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study takes a look at government aid to agriculture in Thailand and attempts to analyze its effectiveness. Only two crops have been aided directly by the government, rice and rubber, though others have undoubtedly benefitted by improvements in the country's infrastructure. The regressions performed on some simple production functions indicate that rice yields have been improved through government programs. The program for rubber largely a subsidy for new plantings, ha as yet not had much impact on yields. This maybe due to the fact that the pay-off period is at least seven years. There is also some evidence that …

An Economic Analysis Of Feeding Steers Versus Heifers, Duane Sorensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The question of which sex of cattle to feed is a basic economic decision which must be made by feeders. An economic analysis of costs and returns associated with feeding steers in comparison to heifers would give feeders some assistance in making this decision.

The objectives of this study were to make an economic analysis of feeding a pen of steers and a pen of heifers in a feedlot, then determine the break- even prices for feeder cattle which would make the feeder indifferent to whether he fed steers or heifers , and finally to develop a decision model that …

Toward A Measurement Of The Adequacy Of Health Services In Rural Utah, Michael K. Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The research reported in this thesis was an exploratory nature undertaken for the purpose of developing a measure of the adequacy of health services in three rural counties in Utah. The three counties included in the study area were Beaver, Piute, and Wayne.

Adequacy of health services in the three-county area was measured on the basis of (1) the general population's, or consumer's, perception of the adequacy of the existing services, (2) the professional's or provider's perception of the adequacy of the existing services, and (3) adequacy of the existing services determined by a comparison with an established standard.

The …

Economic Efficiency Of Grazing Systems, Muhammad Nazir

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Benefits and costs of implementing the specialized grazing systems on federal rangelands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) were studied. First only the direct benefits and costs were used to determine the internal rates of return on the Bureau of Land Management investments in grazing systems. Secondly, the effects of these systems on profits of private ranchers were determined. Finally the benefits and costs stream on the Bureau of Land Management and the changes in ranchers' profits were brought together to find out the net gain to society from investing the federal funds in specialized grazing systems.

The …

The Use Of Story Reading As A Method Of Improving Verbal Expression Of Head Start Children, Romayne Norris Sternad

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this experimental study was to conduct and evaluate a teaching method for improving verbal expression performance of Head Start children. The teaching method of language stimulation given the experimental subjects was based on story reading and retelling with active participation by the children in daily small group tutoring sessions, for seven weeks. An academic program given the control subjects included specific vocabulary and sequencing training. Verbal expression was measured by an analysis of stories told by each subject before and after tutoring, in response to sequence pictures and standup figures. Measures of vocabulary, sentence structure and evidence …

Children's Awareness Of Environmental Pollution, Carol A. Darling

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine children's awareness of environmental pollution and the effect of environmental education on the awareness of preschool children.

Data for this study were collected by individually interviewing 20 preschool, 20 first grade and 20 third grade children. These 60 children were presented 15 colored slides and 9 words denoting various types of pollution and environmental symbols and slogans. The slides varied from litter on a beach, chimneys emitting black smoke, and polluted water to such environmental symbols as Smokey Bear, Johnny Horizon, and Woodsy Owl. In addition, the environmental symbols were also presented …

Family Planning Of Mormon Women In Three-Generation Families, Brent C. Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This intergenerational study compared the family planning and related attitudes of females who were daughter-mother-grandmother relatives. Questionnaire responses of eighty-one subjects in twenty-seven three-generation families were analyzed regarding birth control, abortion, and population crisis attitudes. Other variables studied included Mormon orthodoxy, education, and place of residence.

Except for abortion, the generations had significantly different attitudes. The oldest generation's attitudes, which were the most conservative, differed significantly when contrasted with the more similar attitudes of the middle and younger generations. Mormon orthodoxy was the most dramatically significant factor in attitude differences. Education and residence were not significant sources of attitude variance; …

Chris Argyris And Organizational Behavior, Richard L. White

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This paper is about organizational behavior and one man's research and ideas about this subject. That man is Chris Argyris.

Chris Argyris has been at Yale University for nearly two decades as a professor of Industrial Administration until recently moving to Harvard. During that period of time he has evolved from a beginning student of the behavioral sciences to a respected scholar and research authority in the field of organizational behavior. His own ideas have changed from a beginning theoretical framework to more established and accepted commentaries on organizational behavior.

The purpose of this paper is to dissect and explain …

Values And Schooling, Perspectives For School People And Parents, James P. Shaver

Faculty Honor Lectures

One of the most perplexing issues facing school people is posed by the question, "What should the school's role be in regard to students' values?" Some version of that question may even on occasion provoke concern among parents. When they do become involved in related disputes over what the .school should be doing - usually as part of an aroused minority reacting to a new element in the school program - parents are .likely to make such declarations as, "The school has no business messing with the values of our children!" Individually, they are likely to think, but not say …

Transfer Of Fr Response Rate Bias To Fi Trained Guinea Pigs By Injection Of Brain Homogenate, Lief Carlsen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In an attempt to delineate the physiological and/or chemical nature of the memory process, some researchers have reported that by introducing all or part of the brain of a trained animal into the bloodstream of another animal, the recipient thereby "acquires a tendency" to respond as the donor was trained. However, almost as many researchers have failed to obtain significant results.

Because many of the early experiments had less than optimum designs, their results were often equivocal. Critics frequently pointed out that perhaps increased learning efficiency was due merely to a sensitizing or stimulating effect of the injection and not …

Aldo Leopold's "Land Ethic": An Ecological Extension Of Albert Schweitzer's "Reverence For Life", John Lee Weaver

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

As a member of the world community, and in the process of becoming a professional ecologist, I have begun a search for a personal ecological ethic to guide my actions. Two of the paths I have taken in my search are Albert Schweitzer's Reverence for Life ethic and Aldo Leopold's Land Ethic. They are relevant because each has extended the scope of ethics beyond Homo Sapiens. Their thoughts, with similarities and dissimilarities, form herein my travels.

The Electoral College In The American Nation, Boyd J. Jentzsch

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Democracy in America is often guided by the visible forces of the moment. Dangers are too often seen in the context of political interest--when fire is seen, the hoses of democratic action come wheeling out. But there is no excitement in smoke alone. The near constitutional crisis of the 1968 Presidential elections, (when the strong third party candidacy of George Wallace threatened to throw the election into the House of Representatives), caused a lot of smoke and a spark of flame. The alarm was sounded and the volunteer firemen from the halls of Congress and Capitol Hill responded. The standers-by, …

An Acculturation Study Of Japanese-American Buddhists In Northern Utah, Priscilla Tomich Timper

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The primary purpose of this study was to present a sociological analysis of American Buddhism in northern Utah. Specifically, the analysis covered the acculturation changes of American Buddhism in X __ , Utah, the functions of the acculturation changes, and the effects of secularization on the Buddhists.

The findings were as follows:

1. Buddhism in X___ is becoming "American Buddhism" just as Buddhism in Japan became Japanese Buddhism.
2. Buddhism in X___ reinforces the norms and values of the X___ society but also puts a strain on social relationship by contributing to ethnocentrism and racial segregation.
3. The Buddhist Society in X___ has …

The Changing Role Of The Secondary Counselor In Career Guidance, Norman D. Devries

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

Work can be viewed as man's aim in life, or as his instrument to achieve other goals. Whatever the view, it is wrong to allow the vagueness and error that many individuals frequently face when choosing a career. If we are going to meet this demand, it will be necessary to make vocational guidance available to all those who are making or will make a vocation choice.

Comparative Study Of Four-Year-Old Preschool Children In The Area Of Conservation, Joleen Mae Harwood

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine if four-year-old children are able to conserve and to investigate the influence of social class and sex on the development of this capacity. Collection of data was accomplished by interviewing forty preschool children on three conservation tasks, discontinuous quantity, continuous quantity, and mass. From the findings of this study, it was concluded that the development of the capacity to conserve is so limited among four-year-old preschool children that the influence of social class and sex of the child on conservation ability remains unknown.