Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Fragmentation Of The Ulster Unionist Party, Declan Lawson George Hall

Masters Theses

In 1973, the Ulster Unionist Party fragmented after fifty years as the dominant party within Northern Ireland. However, this fragmentation did not simply occur in reaction to the events of the 1960's and early 1970's. It was a long ongoing process that can be traced back to the 1940's and 1950's.

This study is concerned with the splintering of the Ulster Unionist Party and the reasons that lay behind the division. The first contention in this thesis is that the Ulster Unionist Party was never the single united political party that it was often supposed to have been. It was …

An Assessment Of The Teaching Of Technology In Elementary Schools Of East Central Illinois, Peter R. Mcclure

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Applying The Cognitive Dissonance Theory On Improving Pre-Service Teachers' Attitudes Toward Individuals Labelled Exceptional, Kelly Randick

Masters Theses

This thesis study developed from an interest in and an awareness of the need to modify attitudes of pre-service teachers toward those who are labelled exceptional. The effects of negative attitudes toward those labelled exceptional have been repeatedly reported in the literature. Negative attitudes toward those labelled exceptional are reported to have resulted in differential treatment toward and lowered self concepts/esteems of those with disabilities. There had been an inclination for individuals without disabilities to place emphasis on the differences between people with disabilities and those without. These differences were reported to have negative connotations. The central purpose of this …

Similarity/Dissimilarity Of Couples Communication Competence In Relationship To Their Marital Satisfaction, Thomas Kenne Worthen

Masters Theses

Research has shown that similar communicator styles leads to effective communication, and effective communication leads to relationship satisfaction. Using an extension of balance theory, this study analyzed the relationship between spouses similar/dissimilar communication competence ratings and their marital satisfaction.

Subjects consisted of 44 married couples from a midwestern university and the surrounding area. The Communication Adaptability Scale was used to measure communication competence. The Marital Adjustment Test was used to measure marital satisfaction. Using a t-test no significance was found.

The overall competence score of each spouse was broken down into six separate factors (appropriate disclosure, articulation, social experience, social …

The Effects Of Dogmatism, Rhetorical Sensitivity, And Attitude Valence On Selected Speech Ratings, Chris B. Geyerman

Masters Theses

This study empirically examined the demand characteristic construct and the information processing construct of the rating error paradigm. The findings of this study indicated that the position advocated by the speaker with respect to the attitude valence of the raters significantly influenced the speech evaluation process. This study provides support for the demand characteristic construct and the information processing construct of rating error theory. Implications in terms of pedagogy, theory, and future research are discussed.

A Descriptive Study Of Healthy Religion And Its Effects On Personality, Lowell R. Kivley

Masters Theses

"To be, or not to be" religious is no longer the question, according to Erich Fromm. Religion of one form or another permeates humanity, sometimes encouraging, sometimes discouraging healthy personality. The purpose of this study is to analyze factors of healthy religion and to examine their potential association with healthy personality. Although this study did not support the hypothesis that a direct correlation exists between healthy religion and healthy personality (as measured by the Survey of Healthy Religion and Personality), it did bring to light several areas which should interest religious leaders in terms of planning religious instruction. Both secular …

Social Skills Training In Elementary Children, Marsha Calvert Thiel

Masters Theses

A peer rating sociometric scale was administered to fourth, fifth, and sixth graders in six different classrooms. The numbers on the Likert-type scale (1-5) were accompanied by smiling or frowning faces for each student to indicate how much he liked to play with each student in his classroom. Teachers also rated students, indicating how much other children like to play with each student. Ratings given by same sex classmates were used to calculate a mean for each student. Teacher ratings and sociometric means were converted to z-scores. These z-scores were added together with each sociometric z-score receiving …

Sex Differences, Intimacy, And Attractiveness In Reported Self-Disclosure: Same-Sex Dyads Vs Opposite-Sex Dyads, Edmund Forst Jr.

Masters Theses

This study empirically examined the effects of sex (gender), intimacy, and attractiveness on reported self-disclosure. The results were supportive of the attractiveness, intimacy, and gender of the self-disclosee variables in their relationship to self-disclosure. Results failed to support hypotheses involving the gender of the self-discloser variable.

The independent variables used in the study were: (1) Gender¹ of the self-discloser (male-female), (2) Intimacy (intimate friend, acquaintance, and stranger), (3) Gender² of the self-disclosee (male-female), and physical attractiveness (Attractive or Unattractive). The dependent variable used was the amount of perceived self-disclosure. A 2x3x2x2 analysis of variance used to test each …

An Etiological And Epidemiological Study Of Dental Caries In Children Residing In East Tennessee, Deborah Marie Mcgrath

Masters Theses

The present study examines caries variability in children, between the ages of 2 and 17, residing in the eastern portion of Tennessee. The purpose was to identify factors which are associated with dental health status in children.

Biographic data on 99 children and their parents were obtained through the use of a questionnaire which was distributed in the offices of two pedodontists with practices in Knoxville. Dental health status was measured by the number of decayed, missing, and filled (DMF) teeth supplied by each child’s dental records. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Nie et al. 1975) was used …

The Role Of Automatic Conditioned Reinforcement And Automatic Conditioned Punishment In Infant Vocal Behavior, Rick A. Smith

Masters Theses

Two female children, aged 11 and 14 months, were exposed to a procedure in which an experimenter-emitted vocal response was paired with a reinforcing stimulus (positive condition), a neutral stimulus (neutral condition), or a mild aversive stimulus (negative condition). An AB design was utilized to examine the effects of the pairing procedure on the subjects* vocal responding. Sessions were conducted in each subject’s home. Only one subject was exposed to the pairing with a neutral (control) stimulus, and with the mild aversive verbal stimulus. Responding during the post-pairing period remained constant in the neutral condition, but was markedly reduced in …

An Etiological And Epidemiological Study Of Dental Caries In Children Residing In East Tennessee, Deborah Marie Mc Grath

Masters Theses

The present study examines caries variability in children, between the ages of 2 and 17, residing in the eastern portion of Tennessee. The purpose was to identify factors which are associated with dental health status in children.

Biographic data on 99 children and their parents were obtained through the use of a questionnaire which was distributed in the offices of two pedodontists with practices in Knoxville. Dental health status was measured by the number of decayed, missing, and filled (DMF) teeth supplied by each child's dental records. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Nie et al. 1975) was used …

Effects Of Perceived Power Of Those Assigning Goals On Goal Attainment, Larry L. Langeland

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to present and test with a field experiment the hypothesis that the perceived power of those assigning goals has a significant effect on goal attainment. A survey was used to determine three levels of the independent variable perceived power of three individuals who assigned tasks to subjects. The dependent variables were the number of responses on the tasks of listing 15 specific responses each for increasing cost-effectiveness, improving morale, and improving communication. Forty-three office and management personnel were randomly assigned to three groups, with each group receiving a all levels of power type and …

Preference Under Concurrent Mixed Fixed-Ratio Fixed-Ratio Schedules Of Reinforcement: Control By Intracomponent Ratio Length, Earl Hall-Johnson

Masters Theses

Previous studies using concurrent variable-interval variable interval schedules have suggested that molar, not molecular variables primarily control choice responding. These studies examined pigeons performance under discrete-trial concurrent mixed fixed-ratio fixed-ratio schedules of reinforcement. When each alternative provided two reinforcements per 100 responses, pigeons preferred the alternative containing the shorter initial fixed-ratio. Subsequent studies attempted to shift preference through manipulations of ratio requirement and reinforcement duration in either alternative. Preference was shifted from the mixed fixed-ratio fixed-ratio only when the reinforcement associated with the first component was eliminated. Under all other conditions, pigeons preferred the mixed fixed-ratio fixed-ratio schedules with the …

The Cultural Roots Of Behaviorism, Juan Mario Herakovic

Masters Theses

This thesis traces some of the economic, social, religious and political events that played an important role in the development of behaviorism in the United States. The effects of the Enlightenment, the dislocation of moral and social values, the decline of religion, political upheavals and increased immigration, are seen as destabilizing elements in American society. Emphasis is placed upon the specific values of the American society, and the way in which these values remained constant throughout the social history of the United States. As such, behaviorism represents a scientific approach to the historical continuity of ideas within the nation.

Reducing Severe Diurnal Bruxism In A Severely Retarded Person, A. Daniel Gomez Fuentes

Masters Theses

Bruxism, the nonfunctional grinding, clenching or clicking of the teeth, has been viewed as a psychophysiological disorder. The literature on the incidence and effects of bruxism indicates that bruxism may affect a significant portion of both normal and retarded population. In the current study a multiple baseline, combining with an ABA design within sessions was conducted. During the generalization step, an ABAB design was used. The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an operant weakening (ice) and operant strengthening (tokens and praises) procedures to reduce the rate and duration of an audible teeth grinding sound in a …

Using Anthropological Approaches In A Human Service Setting, Steven Alan Erickson

Masters Theses

Public criticism of human service organizations has underlined the fact that there are essential differences between organizations which provide services and organizations which produce goods. As service providers, human service organizations represent an organized response to human needs and problems, but this response is affected by different assumptions about people's ability or inability to meet their own needs. The process of providing services entails a number of interactions at various levels between the organization and the community. These relationships are as complex as the people and social systems of which our pluralistic society is comprised, but there are special manifestations …

The Effects Of Caffeine Alone, And In Combination With Nicotine, On Several Behaviors In Rats, Judith S. Devoe

Masters Theses

Several doses of caffeine-sodium benzoate (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 & 20.0 mg/kg, stated as salt) were administered daily by intraperitoneal injections (IP) for an initial twelve consecutive days which constituted Phase I. A probe-dose of nicotine (2.0 mg/kg) was administered in combination with each caffeine dose for the following seven days comprising Phase II. Removal of nicotine subsequent to the last day of Phase II initiated a second caffeine-only (nicotine withdrawal) condition, Phase III. Tests of locomotion and aggression ensued at various points of the study and water intakes and body weights were recorded daily, prior to injections. Overall, locomotion …

Input Frequency And Perceived Impact Of An Interactive Newsletter In A Small Organization, Patricia Calle

Masters Theses

A newsletter, based on the results of two tailor-made self-report questionnaires, was implemented in a vegetable by-product manufacturing company with 83 employees. Need for improvement was detected in the formal communication of organizational policies, projects, goals and events for downward and upward communication relative to performance feedback, non-monetary performance incentives, and response to job-related and personal requests. The newsletter was aimed at facilitating the supply of verbal incentives, performance feedback, formal and informal organizational information and participation in different areas. Prompting procedures were designed to encourage employees' participation in the newsletter. Newsletter impact was analyzed in terms of pre- and …

Self-Actualization And Well-Being Of Baccalaureate Degree Nurses, Lori L. Butkovich

Masters Theses

A study of self-actualization and well-being was carried out using a sample of 80 baccalaureate degree nurses working in two medium size city hospitals. Shostrom's Personal Orientation Inventory was used to measure self-actualizing levels. Campbell, Converse and Rodgers' Quality of Life Questionnaire was used to assess global well-being and well-being within different life domains, specifically job satisfaction. The nurses in this study were generally found, using a t-test analysis over all well-being scores but lower job satisfaction scores than the normative populations. A significant positive correlation between self-actualization levels and global well-being scores was not evidences. Further more, a chi-square …

The Need For Compensating Victims Of Violent Crime, Alan Roger Phelps

Masters Theses

This paper identifies how the victim of violent crime in the United States receives little attention from his or her government. A review of the historical developments which highlight how civilized society has taken the right to punish, negotiate, and receive direct compensation away from the methods of compensating crime victims are examined. Finally, this paper demonstrates how, by utilizing victim compensation programs, the criminal justice system will be improved and the amount of crime and number of victimizations in our society will be reduced.

The Socio-Cultural Transformation Of Japanese Medical Systems, Takako Matsunaga

Masters Theses

Medical systems, just as other social institutions, are not stable and, thus, are subject to change. This essay is an analysis of the socio-cultural transformation of Japanese medical systems in general, and of the "health care system" of the cosmopolitan medical system in particular. No medical system is able to provide problem free medical care to any given population. Thus, the current health issues and changes in health seeking/enhancing behavior in contemporary Japan is examined as the reflection of the maladaptive nature of cosmopolitan medicine to its environment.

The Effects Of Contingency-Management On Probationary Students' Academic Behavior, Brian Delano Yancey

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of procedures designed to reduce student attrition. The contingency-management approach was presented as an alternative to other approaches which assume student attrition to be a function of personality differences, study-skills deficiencies, and ecological deficits. Forty undergraduate students on academic probation were referred to the Self-Management Course offered by the Psychology Department at western Michigan University. The Self- Management Course was designed to deliver behavioral consequences for study behavior more immediately than is normally the case. Students taking the Self-Management Course completed several worksheets, participated in group discussions, and attended a …

Distribution Analysis Of The Cultural Materials From The Mushroom Site (20 Ae 88), Allegan County, Michigan, Charles B. Stout

Masters Theses

An analysis of the features, lithics, and spatial distributions of all material culture recovered at the Mushroom site is presented. Based on this analysis and the ceramic analysis done by Mangold (1981:39-67), it is suggested that the major component at the Mushroom site was a warm season encampment, occupied during the late Middle Woodland period. The site appears to have been occupied by a few groups at a time. Comparison between the Mushroom site and the late Middle Woodland component at the Schultz site suggests that fishing may have been an important economic focus at the Mushroom site. Unlike the …

The Effects Of A Minimal Intervention On The Acquisition Of Behavior And An Evaluation Of The Utility Of Its Maintenance, Cheryl Anne Brandt

Masters Theses

Data based measures are rarely collected in. organizations to evaluate the performance of individuals and of any, except for the most major, projects implemented. The present study attempted to determine what was needed to initiate behaviors in implementing new activities and how long it was worthwhile to maintain those behaviors. A minimal antecedent control procedure was utilized to establish product promotion behaviors with six tellers in two banking branches. Data were collected both on teller behavior and the outcomes of teller behavior. The results of the study showed that antecedent controls were enough to initiate behavior but that over time, …

The Effect Of The Nonverbal Cue Of Female Clothing On Perceived Leadership As Determined By Naive Judges, Julie Ann Larson

Masters Theses

The objective of this study was to explore the role that nonverbal cue of clothing had in determining the perceived leadership potential of five women.

Given sketches of five females wearing five female swearing five specific categories of clothing appropriate to the business or professional setting, subjects were asked to choose one figure to sit at the head of the group. The study explored perceived leadership based only on the variable of clothing.

Effects Of Positive, Negative And Balanced Emphases On Perceived Effectiveness Of Performance Appraisal, Joseph Andrew Hammond

Masters Theses

The central theme of the research is the experimental manipulation of three different appraisal processes, namely positive, negative, and balanced appraisals to determine which evaluation tool would be perceived as most useful in motivating and stimulating employees to improve on their performance. Subjects were randomly assigned to groups and presented with scripts exemplifying three appraisal approaches and asked to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of each approach in producing a desired performance outcome. The results showed significant differences between the balanced approach and the other two approaches. However, there was no significant difference between the means of the positive versus negative …

A Comparative Analysis Of Two Methods Of Administering The Position Analysis Questionnaire (Paq), Michael Heenan Swearingen

Masters Theses

This research examined two methods of administering the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ), a commercially available job analysis tool. The currently accepted method of administering the PAQ involves reading the job description, touring the work-site and then completing the PAQ with the incumbent. The second method used only the job description for the analysis data base. The comparison was made using three different measures, selection of GATB tests, "Selected PAQ Items" and PAQ aptitude attribute ratings. The two different methods selected the same GATB tests an average of 83% of the time and selected the same attributes 96% of the time. …

Coalition Politics In Malaysia, Zakiah Awang

Masters Theses

This thesis has attempted to explain the success and the stability of the coalition party system in Malaysia from 1955 to 1982. This success has been attributed to three factors.

The most important factor is the role played by political elites. Malaysian political elites come from a different racial background. It is their willingness to cooperate, work together in harmony and to find solutions through compromises that helped to hold the coalition party together. Elite cooperation, in turn, has been fostered through similarities in the leaders' socioeducational- linguistic backgrounds.

The success of the coalition party is also closely linked to …

Eliminating Overselective Stimulus Control: A Comparison Of Two Procedures For Teaching Mentally Retarded Children To Respond To Compound Stimuli, Keith D. Allen

Masters Theses

Overselective stimulus control occurs when behavior fails to come under control of all characteristics of a compound stimulus after discrimination training. The efficacy of two procedures designed to eliminate overselective stimulus control observed with six trainable mentally retarded children was compared in Experiment 1. A training procedure using S-'s which were minimally different from the S+ was designed to reduce the probability that stimulus discriminations could be based on stimulus characteristics othre than experiimenter specified characteristics defining the S+. This procedure proved more effective in preventing and eliminating overselective stimulus control than an alternate discrimination training procedure. Experiment 2 indicated …

An Evaluation Of A Library Skills Workbook For Beginning College Students, David Dean Alleman

Masters Theses

The quasi-experimental study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of the library skills workbook for beginning students at Hillsdale College. The pretest was administered to five sections of a freshman English course. Five other sections, which analysis of SAT, ACT, and first semester GPA figures indicated were similar to the pretest group, constituted experimental and control groups. The experimental group completed the workbook and a research project. The minimally and moderately instructed groups received instruction and completed a library based project. The posttest indicated significant differences between the groups, probably due to the workbook experience. Recommendations are made for further …