Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Mentoring On Work-Parenting Gains And Strains In A Sample Of Employed Predominately Female Afdc Recipients, Charlene Rhyne

Dissertations and Theses

Nationally, as well as locally, the emphasis in public assistance is to assist clients in becoming job ready. To this end, Oregon received waivers necessary to implement an innovative welfare reform effort, JOBS Plus Program (JPP), in 1994. The JPP provided subsidized employment for welfare recipients through the cashing out of public assistance benefits and Food Stamp monies. Employers were required to provide an on-site mentor for subsidized employees as a condition of agreement to participate in the Program.

Mentoring has been shown to positively impact employee overall job satisfaction, tenure, salary and promotion. While mentoring has been seen traditionally …

Voices Of Our Past: The Rank And File Movement In Social Work, 1931-1950, Richard William Hunter

Dissertations and Theses

During the period of the late 1920s through the late 1940s, a most remarkable event in the history of American social work emerged: the development of a vital radical trade union organizing effort known as the ''rank and file movement." Born within the growing economic crisis of the 1920s and maturing in the national economic collapse and social upheaval heralded by the Great Depression, the rank and file movement would attract the support and membership of thousands of professional social workers and uncredentialed relief workers in efforts to organize social service workers along the lines of industrial unionism. Within its …

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Physician Assistants, Roderick Stanton Hooker

Dissertations and Theses

This study examined if physician assistants (PAs) are cost-beneficial to employers. In an era of cost accountability, questions arise about whether a visit to a PA for an episode of care differs from a visit to a physician, and if PAs erode their cost-effectiveness by the manner in which they manage patients.

Four common acute medical conditions seen by PAs and physicians within a large health maintenance organization were identified to study. An episode approach was undertaken to identify all laboratory, imaging, medication and provider costs for these diagnoses. Over 12,700 medical office visits were analyzed and assigned to each …

Innovation In The Writing Center: A Diffusion Study, Talisman Kate Benton Saunders

Dissertations and Theses

An innovation is an idea, object, or practice that is perceived by a certain group as being new. To study the process by which an innovation is introduced to a certain target group and the results of the effort to convince the group to adopt the innovation is to study the diffusion of that innovation. This often involves examination of the social events and communication patterns among and between the stakeholders, change agents, and target group(s). The diffusion model is relevant and useful to many disciplines. It has many practical uses and applications for policymakers in that it offers the …

Impact Of Singing Intervention On Vocal Fatigue Effects: A Single Subject Study, Nancy Devine Ferguson

Dissertations and Theses

This single subject descriptive study investigated the efficacy of singing intervention on the effects of vocal fatigue on the speaking voice of a non-singing individual. Baseline measures were taken on a single subject prior to voice treatment. Data were collected before and after the subject performed a vocally fatiguing task of 1 hour of prolonged reading at 80% of his maximum vocal intensity level. Data collection consisted of the following acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics of the subject's speaking voice: fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, maximum intensity level, and maximum phonation duration, as well as obtainment of the subject's self-perceptions of vocal …

Complaint Patterns Of Japanese English As A Second Language Students, Eriko Matsuda

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates cross-cultural production of speech acts of complaints. Speech acts are considered culture-specific. Speakers of different cultural background may have different ways of dealing with speech act situations. It is important for language educators to be aware of such differences. Previous studies show that second/foreign language learners tend to transfer their first language habits when performing speech acts in a target language. In this study, the complaint speech act performance of Japanese English as a second language students was compared to the performance of native speakers of English and native speakers of Japanese to see if first language …

Tocqueville's Civic Republicanism: The Balance Between Equality And Liberty In American Democracy, Clifford Brantley Smith

Dissertations and Theses

At the heart of America's experience with liberal democratic institutions remains the continuous struggle between liberty and equality. The two are opposed, but form the dual foundation upon which American democracy rests. One foundation emphasized the importance of equal political rights and equality of opportunity. This theme considers the prospects of a person are not predetermined at birth, as in an aristocratic country, but instead are left to be filled by the decisions made through life. Yet for people to have the greatest options available as they steer their way through life, there must also exist the second foundation of …

Šawaš Ili?I-Šawaš Wawa -- 'Indian Country--Indian Language' : A Participant Observation Case Study Of Language Planning By The Confederated Tribes Of The Grand Ronde Community Of Oregon, Gregry Michael Davis

Dissertations and Theses

The Kwelth Tahlkie Culture and Heritage Board (KTC&HB) of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (CTGR) have made it a priority to revitalize one of the languages which historically has been associated with being a Grand Ronde Indian-Chinook Jargon, referred to as činuk wawa 'Chinook talk' or simply činuk.

The purpose of the present study was to observe the language planning process as executed by the KTC&HB. Initial guiding questions were: (i) What stages is the KTC&HB going through in the process of planning for činuk revitalization? (ii) How do these efforts compare with theory and …

The Effects Of Cohabitation On Subsequent Marital Satisfaction, Brenda Fague

Dissertations and Theses

Most research on cohabitation has focused on the subsequent marital instability of cohabitors. However, these findings are inconsistent and. considering the great number of stable unhappy marriages, marital stability is not an accurate measure of relationship success.

The purpose of this research is to compare the relationship satisfaction reported by married couples who cohabited prior to their marriage with the satisfaction of married couples who did not cohabit premaritally. This research uses respondents' self-reported relationship satisfaction as a measure of relationship success.

General Social Survey data collected in 1988 and 1994 were analyzed to determine the relationship between premarital cohabitation …

Information Content In American Television Advertising: A Replication And Update, Laura Kathleen Sandgren

Dissertations and Theses

Three hundred and seven randomly selected American network television commercials aired between October 18 and November 18, 1997 were analyzed to determine their informational value using the fourteen criteria established by Resnik and Stem in 1977. The results of this study were compared with Resnik and Stem's 1991 study, revealing that there has not been any significant change in the amount of information in American television commercials since Resnik and Stem's replication sample.

This study also used Resnik and Stem's (1977) criteria to further examine if the amount-of information contained in TV commercials varied depending on the gender or age …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Teachers' Attributional Tendencies And Gender Bias Towards Failing Students With Learning Disabilities, Polly Chalette

Dissertations and Theses

Student characteristics, such as sex, race, and socioeconomic status, have been found to influence teachers' perceptions of students and their patterns of interaction with them in the classroom. Behavior and achievement also has been shown to influence a teacher's perceptions. When teachers have been asked for evaluative comments and their expectations for future performance of a student, they have stated ability and effort as their explanations. This study will use the principles of Weiner's attribution theory dealing with success and failure in order to examine teachers' attributional tendencies towards a hypothetical student.

This study intends to examine the degree to …

The Effects Of School-Mandated Community Service On Subsequent Intrinsic Motivation To Volunteer, Carol Berubee

Dissertations and Theses

Many American high schools and universities require students to perform community service. Although social psychological research shows that intrinsic motivation for an activity decreases when that activity is rewarded or when the actor perceives little self-determination in performing the activity, no research has examined the effect of intrinsic motivation on volunteerism subsequent to mandated community service.

The purpose of the present study was to determine if students who had been required to perform community service would be less likely to volunteer in the community at a later date than would those students who had not been required to serve. In …

The Bolinger Principle And Teaching The Gerunds And Infinitives, Anna Maria Baratta-Zborowski

Dissertations and Theses

As teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, few would dispute the importance of teaching a subject such as English complementation by using a semantic rule. The difference in semantic meaning between the -ing and to-infinitive forms has been the object of many studies which have focused on specific groups of verbs (verbs of effort/ perception, emotive verbs, factive verbs, and implicative verbs). However, not many studies were found that covered, systematically, those verbs that are more often part of a native speakers's vocabulary and that might be found in form of lists in ESL/ENNL (English as a …

Patterns Of Time, Place, And Culture: Land Use Zoning In Portland, Oregon, 1918-1924, Margrete Bernard Merrick

Dissertations and Theses

Until recently, few have questioned the notion that the separation of uses in land use zoning is inherently correct. Many observers of the city are now suggesting that zoning, as it has been practiced in this country over the last 80 years, has created cities that are fractured and function poorly. Others propose that zoning should be reconsidered as a remedy for urban dysfunction. They suggest that the whole notion of zoning be rethought.

The purpose of this study is to uncover some of the underlying rationales and methodologies that set the model for zoning. This study examines the rationales …

The Antiquities Act Of 1906: The Public Response To The Use Of Presidential Power In Managing Public Lands, Barbara L. Grover

Dissertations and Theses

President Clinton created Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument on September 17, 1996. The Antiquities Act of 1906 gives the president power to establish national monuments on public lands through presidential proclamation. The Act has been used to create national monuments in places such as Muir Woods, Grand Canyon, Mount Olympus, Jackson Hole, and the 1978 Alaskan d-2 lands. Its use has also produced negative public response, manifested as demonstrations, lawsuits, and congressional bills.

In spite of significant legal and legislative challenges, the Antiquities Act and most of the monuments established through its use remain. The negative public response to the Act …

Development And Validation Of A Work Safety Compliance Measure, Tara L. Smecko

Dissertations and Theses

It is important that organizations manage the safety behavior of employees by the implementation of a safety program including periodic assessment of the safety level (i.e., how frequently employees are complying with safety guidelines) in the organization. The occupational safety literature lacks sufficient assessment tools for measuring employee safety behavior.

The purpose of the present study was to develop and validate a comprehensive measure of compliance with safety behavior guidelines in the form of a questionnaire that can be utilized across industries and occupations. The research objectives for the present study were to: 1) Perform factor analysis on the safety …

Speech Intelligibility Of 4-Year-Old Children, M. Jane Firestone

Dissertations and Theses

While speech-language pathologists routinely measure and report speech intelligibility when assessing young children with speech impairments, normative data have not been available for comparison purposes. When assessing children to determine if their communication abilities are at or below that of peers, one must first know what the normative standards are. Knowing the normal distribution for speech intelligibility at several ages would allow for more precise uses of the intelligibility information than is currently possible. Only a few available studies exist to allow tentative normative comparisons of speech intelligibility data.

The goals of this pilot study were to collect normative data …

The Relative Influence Of Internal Resources, External Resources, And Social Support On Parenting Stress, Angela Cecelia Rodger

Dissertations and Theses

This study examined the relationship of three different kinds of resources important to parenting to the degree of stress experienced by 58 mothers of small children who completed a questionnaire distributed through kindergarten classes in three public schools, and through three Head Start centers. Parenting sense of competence and internal working model of caregiving were examined as internal resources. Income level and stability and neighborhood characteristics were examined as external resources, and perceived available social support, which is both internal and external, was also examined. Interrelationships between the resources were predicted, as well as the unique contribution of each type …

Training For Volunteer Teachers In Church-Affiliated English Language Mission Programs, Janet Noreen Blackwood

Dissertations and Theses

There is currently a debate among language educators regarding the training and certification of EFL teachers. Largely ignored in this debate are short-term volunteer teachers in church-affiliated English language mission programs. These teachers fall somewhere on the continuum between untrained language teachers and trained professional language educators. The current study took place in response to the lack of research information available on this aspect of ESL/EFL teacher education.

This study focused on the training that is provided to volunteer ESL/EFL teachers affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) denomination. The four research questions sought to determine how the content and procedures …

Returning Women's Workshop And Retention Of Returning Women Students, Kimberly E. Lamb

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis investigates the retention of returning adult women students by examining: 1) demographic and motivational backgrounds of women who attend a university Returning Women's Workshop and women who do not; 2) retention, bonding, and support measures for the two groups of women; 3) student evaluations of the various Workshop components. The thesis also describes the history of the Workshop and the Women's Study Program.

A telephone survey was conducted of women who either participated in the Returning Women's Workshop or attended the University during the same selected years. All the women surveyed were over the age of 24 and …

The Representation Of Gender In Current Esl Reading Materials, Kyunghee Ma

Dissertations and Theses

This study is a partial replication of E.W. Hoomes' dissertation (1978). The purpose of this study is to investigate whether or not gender bias exists in current ESL reading materials and in cases where gender bias exists, whether it varies by learning levels. Eleven reading books which were used in ESL classes at Portland State University were selected from the textbook lists of Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall in 1997. Content analysis was employed to examine distribution of males and females in passages and illustrations.

Gender bias was found to be statistically significant in the following categories: the assignment of …

Illegal Drug Use During Pregnancy: The Effects Of Defendant Race And Type Of Defense On Juror Judgments Of Guilt, Anita Rotondo

Dissertations and Theses

Since the early 1980s fetal harm "caused" by women's illegal drug use during pregnancy has garnered public attention and legal scrutiny. Motivated by concerns over fetal health, the cost of caring for drug-addicted infants, and public support for get tough on crime policies, various states have employed statutes on child abuse, neglect or endangerment, delivering a controlled substance to a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor to criminally inculpate maternal drug users.

Utilizing a written hypothetical trial summary in which a woman was charged with child abuse for using cocaine while pregnant, this research explored the effects …

Coffee In Nicaragua : Regional Development And Change In The Nineteenth Century, Craig Stephen Revels

Dissertations and Theses

Throughout the nineteenth century expanding coffee cultivation transformed the economic, political, and social landscapes of the Central American republics. In Nicaragua, coffee cultivation developed in two primary regions, the Southern Uplands and the North-Central Highlands. This study analyzes the formation and development of these two regions using six key factors: 1) pre-coffee economic development; 2) transportation; 3) government promotion; 4) labor and population structure; 5) land tenure and access; and 6) capital and credit. Qualitative assessment of the relative importance of these six factors determines which factors were most important in the creation of the Southern Uplands and the North-Central …

Soil Catenas On Glacial Moraines Of The Central Oregon Cascades, Jason Erik Haugland

Dissertations and Theses

Soil development of two catenas in the central Oregon Cascades near Sisters, Oregon was examined on the Suttle Lake (Late Wisconsin age) (44° 25' N, 121 ° 43' W) and the Jack Creek (lllinoian age) moraines (44° 28' N, 121 ° 41' W) with regard to the factors of time as well as slope position.

Soils on both catenas are classified as Typic Vitricryands, regardless of slope position. The uniformity of soil classification suggests a limited development, perhaps the result of localized volcanic activity (Blue Lake event, 3500 YBP) adding pyroclastic material to the soils and retarding soil development. High …

ŠAwaš Ilıˀ--ŠAwaš Wawa: A Participant Observation Case Study Of Language Planning By The Confederated Tribes Of The Grand Ronde Community Of Oregon, Gregry Michael Davis

Dissertations and Theses

The Kwelth Tahlkie Culture and Heritage Board (KTC&HB) of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (CTGR) have made it a priority to revitalize one of the languages which historically has been associated with being a Grand Ronde Indian-Chinook Jargon, referred to as c̽ɪnʊk wawa 'Chinook talk' or simply c̽ɪnʊk.

The purpose of the present study was to observe the language planning process as executed by the KTC&HB. Initial guiding questions were: (i) What stages is the KTC&HB going through in the process of planning for c̽ɪnʊk revitalization? (ii) How do these efforts compare with theory and …

Free Trade, Regionalism, And The Democratic Peace Theory, Julia B. Johnson

Dissertations and Theses

Democratic nations worldwide rarely, if ever, go to war against one another. A variety of reasons for these peace loving democracies are offered in the social sciences literature. Many proponents of the theory of a democratic peace argue that democratic nations do not war against one another because of similar libertarian norms of behavior, and prohibitive structural institutions.

This thesis disagreed with the above assessment of peaceful democratic norms and institutions, and sought instead to investigate the role of economic prosperity as a crucial element of international cooperation. Combining the characteristics of democracy and economic prosperity, more fully rounded out …

The Effects Of Educational Setting And Instructor Type On Interaction Modifications, Katrina Kay Mcconaughey

Dissertations and Theses

The precise role of interaction in the process of second language acquisition and its place in the second language classroom are questions that continue to be important in research for both theoretical and applied linguists. The framework for this study is based on Long's (1983b) Interaction Hypothesis which proposes that input is made comprehensible by the modification of interactional structures. Many studies have looked at the differences between teacher-fronted classroom interaction and small group or dyad interaction without a teacher. The use of tutors and teaching assistants is common but not many studies have looked at how variation among instructor …

Technology-Enhanced Presentations In Large Classrooms : Effects On Adult Academic Achievement And Computer Attitudes, Pamela Rae Hilberg

Dissertations and Theses

Rising enrollments and budget restrictions are resulting in larger class sizes which can lead to difficulties with learning. Computer technology has been suggested as a tool that may help overcome some of these difficulties. Research on outcomes is important to find ways that technology may be used by instructors to help students with information processing (Gagne & Driscoll, 1988), and to see if the financial commitment required for integrating educational technology is warranted.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the academic achievement and computer attitudes of students in courses taught with traditional presentations and technology-enhanced presentations taught …

The Stigma Of Obesity : Beliefs About And Attitudes Toward Fat/Obese Persons, Sally Jean Clute

Dissertations and Theses

This research explores the relationship between beliefs about and attitudes toward fat/obese persons, specifically in regard to issues of attribution and perceived responsibility for the physical condition. The purpose of the research is to assess the extent to which fat/obese persons are derogated, given whether or not they are perceived to be held responsible for their fatness/obesity. It utilizes attribution theory (Heider, 1958; Jones & Davis, 1965; Kelley, 1967; Weiner, 1986), in particular, internal locus of control and issues of consensus and distinctiveness (Kelley, 1967) and controllability (Weiner, 1986). The main hypothesis is that fat/obese people will be viewed more …

The Impact Of Relative Gains On Interstate Cooperation In The Areas Of Security And International Economy, Renato Corbetta

Dissertations and Theses

In the last twenty years, the issue of the impact of relative gains on interstate cooperation has been at the center of the debate between the two major schools of thought in International Relations theory, namely neoliberalism and neorealism. Over time, the relative gains problem has ceased to be a radically divisive issue and has worked as a common research program that has brought the two theoretical perspectives closer together. Both neoliberals and neorealists have set aside major questions regarding the origins of the relative gains problem and of states' preferences, and they have focused on the problem of determining …