Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Personal And Interpersonal Predictors Of Worry In Male And Female High School Students, Barbara Anne Davis

Masters Theses

This study identified which among several factors would best predict the tendency to worry in male and female adolescents. The potential predictors were divided into two different categories: personal and interpersonal factors. Personal factors included perfectionism, self-consciousness, and locus of control. Interpersonal factors included parental attachment, parenting style, and peer attachment.

Participants in the study completed several scales that measured the predictors. The data were then analyzed to determine the relative contribution of each factor in predicting worry, and to specify the factors that best predict worry. Gender differences in worry levels and in how the factors predicted worry were …

The Effects Of Practice With Decodable Texts On The Reading Fluency Of Low-Achieving First Grade Children, Nicole Forsythe

Masters Theses

This study examined the effect of a reading intervention using practice with decodable text on the reading fluency skills of four struggling first grade students. Participants received guided practice reading short decodable books twice a week for seven weeks. Pre and post-test standardized word reading scores were obtained using the Test of Word Reading Efficiency (TOWRE). Word reading fluency was assessed after each session by a list of words from the decodable texts. Results showed a marked improvement in each participant's fluency score, with all four participants at least doubling their baseline fluency as measured by words read accurately per …

The Use Of Silence As A Political Rhetorical Strategy, Timothy J. Anderson

Masters Theses

Existing research on the rhetorical strategies of politicians has mainly focused on the speeches, appearances, and debates of political figures. Yet the absence of a clear response when expected, or silence, is a significant and frequently utilized rhetorical strategy. More directly, Erickson and Schmidt (1982) posit that, even though it is important to study, the topic of political silence has only received meager attention. Various politicians including President Clinton and California Congressman Gary Condit have both used political silence as responses to situations, and each instance had a different outcome. The focus of this study is on how the strategy …

The Accounts That Defendants Give For Crime: Relationship Between Accounts Given And The Perceived Seriousness Of The Crime, Danielle Bree Trammell

Masters Theses

The present study examined whether the accounts that defendants give (i.e., apology, excuse, or justification) would have an effect on the perceived seriousness of the crime and assigned penalty. The study focused specifically on burglary, a non-violent crime. It also examined how participant characteristics, such as age, gender, political ideology, and history of victimization, affected the perceived seriousness and assigned penalty. This is a growing area of interest, given the societal impact of crime. There is significant disparity in sentencing that exists for perpetrators who are convicted of similar crimes. It is important to examine the possible explanations for this …

Impact Of Service Delivery Model, Presenting Problem, And Consultee Characteristics On Teachers’ Preference For Academic And Behavioral Remediation, Kathy Wilson

Masters Theses

This study examined teachers' preferences for academic and behavioral remediation. Specifically, the impact of service delivery model (traditional or flexible), type of presenting problem (academic or behavioral), and selected consultee characteristics (age, years of experience, grade level taught, years at current school, and level of teacher education) on teacher preferences was investigated. Individuals completed a demographic information sheet and an analog study. The survey consisted of two hypothetical scenarios of two different students found within the classroom. The first scenario described a student who only exhibited behavioral/emotional issues. The second scenario described a student who presented with only academic issues. …

A Study Of Role And Function Differences Between School Psychologists Working Within The Flexible Service Delivery System And More Traditional Settings, Jaime L. Hahn

Masters Theses

Practicing school psychologists were surveyed including those working within the Flexible Service Delivery System (FSDS) and traditional settings. The questionnaires were completed by 91 school psychologists from throughout Illinois and Indiana. Participants completed questionnaires examining their specific role and function as a practicing school psychologist. Specific roles that each respondent was asked to rank used a Likert scale consisting of (1) Standardized Testing, (2) Curriculum Based Assessment, (3) Individual Therapy, (4) Group Therapy/Social Skills Training, (5) Consultation with Teachers, (6) Consultation with Parents, (7) Organizational Consultation, (8) Conducting Research, (9) Classroom Intervention, (10) Pre-referral Meetings, (11) Psychological Reports, and (12) …

Factors Influencing Substance Abuse/Dependence And Treatment Outcome Of Adolescents In A Residential Substance Abuse Program: An Exploratory Study, Melissa L. Moody

Masters Theses

Previous research examining the risk factors associated with alcohol and other drug use has primarily focused on the adult population. Few studies have investigated the factors which influence adolescent substance abuse and the respective effects on treatment outcome. This in spite of the considerable decline in the age-of-onset for problematic substance use that could, if gone untreated, escalate into dependence and a variety of other interpersonal problems which extend across the lifespan. Effective interventions targeting the adolescent population would therefore seem to be of utmost importance to both researchers and clinicians. It has been suggested that individualized treatment programs focusing …

Factors Influencing Body Image Perception Of Eastern Illinois University Track And Field Athletes, Sandra L. Hussey

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Does Knowing Cost Of Enteral Supplements Affect Preference Or Acceptance By Free-Living Older Adults?, Michelle J. Acklie

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

An Exploration Of Parental Involvement In Head Start Programs, Shaundra Shanese Ceaser

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

African Americans And Caucasian Americans Perceptions And Experiences Related To Racial Identity And Stereotypes, H. D. Crockett

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Body Image Perceptions Of Seventh Grade Male And Female Adolescents: A Qualitative Analysis, Laura A. Collins

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Factors That Affect Party Institutionalization: Ethnicity, Electoral Systems, And Economics In East Europe, Joe Robbins

Masters Theses

This thesis examines party institutionalization in East Europe. Ethnicity, electoral systems and economics are variables explored in the substantive chapters. Many political science studies examine the number of parties in East Europe, but only a few studies study party institutionalization. Chapter 1 establishes the foundations for this thesis and provides an overview of each chapter.

In the second chapter, I analyze the relationship between institutionalized parties and ethnicity. Kitschelt (1992) argues that in the absence of institutionalized parties, voters look to other factors, such as ethnicity, when voting. The results from this chapter report that ethnicity plays a limited role …

Corporatist Features Of The Security Sector In Democratizing Countries: A Cross-Regional Analysis Of Brazil And Romania, Sebastian Huluban

Masters Theses

The topic of the thesis is to analyse, from a cross-regional comparative perspective, the relationship between the corporatist features and the civil-military relations in two democratising countries, Romania and Brazil. I choose Romania and Brazil because these two countries present peculiar features regarding the civil-military relations within their regions, and, in addition, these countries share a peculiar heritage regarding the corporatist arrangements both in terms of intellectual-cultural legacy and contingent decisions. The paper encompasses a double attempt as an answer to the current appeals within the civil-military relations literature for new analytical perspectives. First, I will show that the corporatist …

Democratic Consolidation In Eastern Europe, Michael Rudy

Masters Theses

This thesis examines democratic consolidation in five Eastern European countries. The Baltic States have consolidated their democratic regimes but Romania and Bulgaria have struggled to do so. I attempt to explain why this has happened. In chapter one, I introduce the topic and provide an overview for the next six chapters.

In the second chapter, I examine the literature that pertains to this topic. The literature focuses on several aspects of democratic consolidation. I examine how economic growth, privatization, foreign direct investment, modes of transition, violence, initial post-communist political contest winner, electoral laws, and the citizenship law all play an …

Political Leadership And The Quest For Unity And Development In Africa, Thierno Thiam

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Trial Of The Effects Of Intercessory Prayer On Student Performance, Christopher Clark

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study is to test the efficacy of intercessory prayer on academic performance. One hundred and four students enrolled in a college business class and 63 regular church attendees volunteered to participate in the study. Design for the study was a matched groups reversal design. The students were paired according to their GPA's and randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first test of the semester constituted a baseline measure. For the first four-week period of the class and the first test, neither of the groups received prayer. Next, the church goers each received the …

The Effect Of Choice Order On Off Task Behavior In A Child With Autism, Lisa R. Cole

Masters Theses

This research project was designed to examine the effects of child-choice versus clinician-choice over the ordering of activities during speech-language therapy sessions. The dependent variables included disruptive/inappropriate behavior, non-task related verbal behavior, and redirection to the task. The independent variable was the presentation of choice over the ordering of activities within a therapy session.

The subject in this case study was a nine-year-old boy diagnosed with autism. At the beginning of each therapy session either the child or the clinician decided on the ordering of activities. A picture board and picture cards showed the activities that would be completed in …

The Effects Of Social Fields On The Telepathic Reception Of Information, Jamie A. Yarnall

Masters Theses

Field theories are increasingly used as explanations for extrasensory perception, suggesting the existence of some form of collective mind or social field. These theories imply that groups of individuals create fields that can contain and transfer information. The current study explored the telepathic transfer of information regarding randomly selected target locations. Groups of participants "sent" target locations to individuals, observed on close circuit television, who were either members of the group (ingroup) or not members (outgroup). We hypothesized that ingroup members would achieve above chance hit rates while outgroup members would score below chance. Approximately 30 senders sent 16 trials …

The Impact Of Immigration On U.S. Trade: A Comparative Study, Janice Yuen Lai Yap

Masters Theses

Immigrants play an important role in affecting bilateral trade. Immigrant links to the home country include knowledge of home country markets, language, preferences, and business contacts.

This paper investigates the link between immigration and trade using United States trade data. It analyzes the original study by Gould and the reduced trading partners' study, compares two different time period, and analyzes the role of new variables in the trade equation. The results of this study are divided into three sections.

The first section of this study which compares Gould's original study to the modified Gould's study reveals that immigrants influence loses …

Prediction Of Mental Health Treatment Outcome In Asian American College Students, Jamie Michelle Pitzman

Masters Theses

The current study aimed to examine the relationship between presenting problems and treatment outcome among Asian American college students compared to non-Asian students. The present study also provides information about the relationship between treatment outcome and the following types of demographic and treatment related variables: age, gender, ethnic status, year in school, religion, marital status, parents' marital status, referral source, previous counseling, medical problems, and family history of medical, emotional, or substance abuse problems. Data for this study were obtained from an existing database from an East Coast university counseling center. The entire sample consisted of 173 males and 271 …

Relationship Between Evaluative Groups' Perceptions Of Children And Children's Self-Reported Levels Of Self-Concept, Terry T. Burgener

Masters Theses

The significance of significant others' (parents, peers and teachers) ratings on children's self-reported levels of self-concept were investigated. Self-reported levels of self-concept were determined by administrating the Multidimensional Self Concept Scale (MSCS), while parent, peer, and teacher ratings of children were determined by the use of rating scales designed using selected MSCS items. Results indicated that all significant others' ratings were positively correlated to children's self-reported levels of self-concept. Peer ratings were the most predictive of self-reported level of self-concept, while teacher ratings were the second most predictive variable and parent ratings the least predictive variable. The findings are congruent …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Incidence And Management, Julie M. Olson

Masters Theses

ADHD continues to be a common diagnosis of school children, and according to the DSM-IV, it affects approximately 3-5% of the population. Teachers are often the primary source of information regarding ADHD diagnoses in school children. A previous study by Glass and Wegar (2000) found that teachers were over-identifying children with ADHD and that medication was preferred as the primary treatment for these students. This study further examines teacher perceptions on the causes, incidence, and appropriate treatment methods of ADHD. In addition, this study also examines the prevalence of ADHD as determined by the ADHD Rating Scale-IV (School Version) (DuPaul …

Turning Toward Or Away From God: Religious Coping Strategies Activated In Times Of Crises, William Andrew Robinson

Masters Theses

This study, which consists of two phases, explores the relationships between religion and coping with stress within the framework of interpersonal and intrapersonal communication. Both pastors and congregational members (n = 855) were surveyed about their perceptions of the role of religion in managing and coping with stress. A focus group involving five members of the clergy was implemented to conduct phase II of the research. This thesis examines how church relationships (i.e. with God, the pastor, and among congregational members) affect our abilities to function through stressful times. For phase I, a modified RCOPE survey (Pargament, Smith, Koenig, & …

An Analysis Of Student Credit Card Debt Determinants And Factors, James Paton

Masters Theses

The Permanent Income Hypothesis (PIH) derived by Milton Friedman in 1957 states that individuals will base their current consumption on what they consider to be their "normal income." Normal income is derived by the individual's current and expected future income.

Credit cards have become prevalent among college campuses. Credit card issuers seek out students because of market saturation and the idea that students, are generally in independence limbo; still being supported by parents, yet regarded as legal adults.

This study seeks to find if the PIH is valid amongst college students by using student credit card debt as a sort …

Conflict Resolution In Africa: A Comparative Analysis Of The Demilitarization Process In Burundi And Rwanda (1993-2003), Victoria Chipoka

Masters Theses

The civil wars that have occurred in Africa have had destabilizing effects on the political and social structure of African countries. The massacres and genocide of 1993 and 1994 in Rwanda and Burundi shocked the whole world into experiencing the horror of the news that more than one million people had been slaughtered in cold blood. The causes of the conflict in Rwanda and Burundi are many and complex. In this paper, my major focus will be on the role the armed forces have played in the conflict and how demilitarization should be the alternative solution in bringing permanent peace …

Predictors Of Recurrent Child Maltreatment, Bridget Kielty

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between child maltreatment recurrence and several predictor variables in 7 rural counties in central Illinois, an under-studied population in the child maltreatment literature. Additionally, factors that contributed to the decision by Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) to provide post-investigative services were also examined. Data were obtained from an integrated database maintained by Illinois DCFS. All indicated cases of maltreatment occurring between January 1, 2000 and March 31 of 2001 were examined for a 12-month period following the initial indicated report for child revictimization or perpetrator recidivism. The …

Nuclearization Of Pakistan: Motivations And Intentions, Rabia Akhtar

Masters Theses

Pakistan conducted six thermonuclear tests in response to five Indian nuclear tests in 1998. There existed an interplay of various actors at the external and the internal level which enabled Pakistan to reach the decision to detonate. This thesis examines the motivations and intentions that acted as a driving force for Pakistan to make the decision to go nuclear. In order to identify these intentions, this thesis applies the national decision making model presented by Graham Allison. The arguments presented will demonstrate whether Allison's model explains the complexity of Pakistan's decision to go nuclear and which part of the model …

Arab American Interest Groups And Congressional Decisionmaking: A Case Study Of The Arab American Institute, Robert L. Harbaugh

Masters Theses

Unlike other ethnic communities in the U.S., such as the Jewish and Hispanic communities, the political power of the Arab American community is largely unknown. Therefore, one manner to gain insight into the political power of Arab Americans is to study the interest groups that represent their ethnic community. This study uses the Arab American Institute as the leading Arab American interest group.

The study recognizes that there are three important variables to determining Arab American influence. The first is voting and is not examined in this study. The second two, which are examined, are direct lobbying on Congress and …

Evaluation Of The Picture Exchange Communication System, Anne Rena Cummings

Masters Theses

The Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS) is a picture-based augmentative communication method that is widely accepted and utilized across children with a variety of disabilities. Despite its extensive dissemination, there is a dearth of empirically based support to document the effectiveness of PECS. The current study is the first to experimentally evaluate the effects of training during each of the 6 phases of PECS. Results indicated that with all 7 participants, the level of PECS responses consistently increased only after training was completed in Phases 1 through 4. In addition, all of the participants showed an increase in PECS responses …