Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Hearing The Difference: A Computer-Based Speech-Perception Diagnostic Tool For Non-Native Speakers Of English, Justin Reed Shewell

Theses and Dissertations

This project was completed to fill a need in the field of pronunciation teaching and learning by providing a computer-based, speech-perception diagnostic tool that helps determine learners' problem areas in the perception of English speech. Current diagnostic tools are few and very limited in their scope and application in the language classroom. The Perception of Spoken English Test diagnoses learners' specific speech perception problems, alerting teachers to areas that require special attention in a particular course or lesson. This project involved the development, production, piloting, evaluation, and revision of a computer-based instrument in an intensive English program. The data collected …

The Effects Of Premarital Sexual Promiscuity On Subsequent Marital Sexual Satisfaction, Sherie Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

A satisfying sexual relationship is an important aspect of general marital satisfaction. Considering that most people will marry, understanding the factors influencing marital sexual satisfaction becomes important in understanding what makes happy, satisfied relationships and individuals in our society. This study builds on previous research, which has indicated that there are a number of "risky factors" associated with having numerous premarital sexual partners, by demonstrating that there are risks associated with the future marital relationship. Using exchange theory concepts, this study empirically examines the relationship between premarital sexual promiscuity and marital sexual satisfaction. The sample included 313 married males and …

Media Relations Between The Hotel Casino Industry Of Atlantic City, New Jersey And The Press Of Atlantic City, Patrick T. Kuhlen

Theses and Dissertations

This study fulfills four purposes. First, it is essential to gain a perspective of public relations and public relations practitioners, specifically those in the Atlantic City hotel casino industry, from the point of view of media representatives. Secondly, how do public relations practitioners view the relationship between their organizations and similar organizations with local media? Next, what can an organization's public relations practitioners do to foster and subsequently nurture positive relationships with media representatives and public relations practitioners? Lastly, what can a public relations practitioner do to move the relationship with media representatives, reporters and editors from mere media relations …

Couples Sharing Recovery From A Husband's Addiction To Pornography: A Qualitative Study, Spencer T. Zitzman

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the therapy process for married couples recovering from addictive use of pornography. The author's proposal was that in conjoint couple therapy, clinicians are able to help organize the relationship to sponsor recovery while helping both members of the relationship heal individually. The prevalence and effects of pornography are discussed through a review of the current literature. Six couples were interviewed following the termination of their treatment in marital therapy to gain a holistic view of the process of recovery and gain groundwork for future development of a concise model of treatment. Results demonstrated that an increase in …

Professional Sports Team Fan And Media Relations: A Public Relations Case Study Of The 2003-04 Philadelphia Flyers Professional Hockey Team, Joseph Mathew Harasta Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The relationships between a professional sports team, its fans and media determine the fiduciary success of the team. The responsibility of developing and fostering this relationship falls to the team's public relations department.

The purpose of this study was to (a) determine the influence team performance has on the relationships between a sports team, its fans and media and (b) find ways to improve these vital relationships. In doing so, sports teams' public relations practitioners might better understand the relationships between their team and its key publics while maintaining these relationships during both winning and losing seasons.

To examine the …

Amusement Park Crisis Management And Its Effect On The Crisis News Life Cycle, Kristin B. Siebeneicher

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate whether effective amusement park crisis management can shorten the crisis news life cycle. Twenty-two in-depth interviews with seasoned media, amusement park public relations practitioners, and park PR practitioners who formerly worked in media were conducted and analyzed through content analysis. Coverage of an amusement ride incident was analyzed through content analysis to support interview findings. Numerous strategies are identified to build a foundation for effective crisis management, and to shorten the duration of crisis news coverage. Differences in managing print media versus television media are discussed. The thesis identifies amusement park incident …

Use Of Online Technologies By Higher Education Public Relations Practitioners And Practitioners' Perceived Preference For Their Use By Their Institutions' Audiences, Mary Elizabeth Erwin Hegel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the use of online technologies by university public relations specialists, and the PR professionals' perceived preference for their use by media, internal and external audiences. The research also looked at other aspects of online technology use by university practitioners such as Web site content and emerging technologies.

The researcher collected primary data through a cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire, designed for this study. The author gathered information for the survey from a literature review of Rowan University databases, scholarly journals, books and Internet searches. The survey contained Likert scale type questions, …

Exploring The Relationship Among Etiological Factors Related To Eating Disorders, Erin K. Duffy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to use a cross-sectional and longitudinal research design to explore the causal relationship between personality, coping, social support and eating disorder pathology. After initial data collection, participants were contacted at either an 8-month or 2-month follow-up period. Of the original 270 participants, 134 subjects completed a follow-up portion of the study (112 at 2-months and 22 at 8-months). Participants completed all measures at time 1, and completed measures of eating disorder pathology at time 2. Results from cross-sectional analyses indicated that neuroticism self-distraction and positive reframing were predictive of eating disorder pathology. Results from …

Overcoming Resistance To Change: An Analysis To The Department Of Defense's Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program, Irene C. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research was to investigate the impact of change on organizations, in the absence of a preparedness program and to develop strategies for overcoming resistance to change, in the midst of a proposed initiative that has become stalled as a result of mistrust and cynicism. The results of this research suggests a framework of management techniques that will offer leadership approaches to resurrecting a stalled change initiative and overcoming personnel's resistance to a proposed change project, in order for the project to be more widely accepted. A series of personal interviews and focus groups, a qualitative method …

Conduct, Learning, And Substance Use Disorders In An Adolescent Male: A Case Study, Dana F. Wales

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to examine best practice interventions for an individual diagnosed with Conduct, Learning, and Substance Use Disorders. Empirically supported research was evaluated and compared to normative practices of the agency where the client resided. The intervention process included a psychosocial assessment, Differential Diagnosis as well as multiple levels of intervention. Outcome measures were used to assess depression, anxiety, and coping skills. However, a lack of cooperation and follow through by the client and his family invalidated these measures. Clinical observations and staff reports indicated that the overall intervention had mixed results with this client. …

A Case Study To Determine Best Practice Treatment For A Child Diagnosed With Asperger's Syndrome And Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Amy Schumacher

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to determine the best practice model of therapy to treat a child diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The participant was an eight-year-old Caucasian male who had significant developmental delays. The Behavior Assessment System for Children was used in order to assess the progress John made in the therapeutic setting of which he had been attending. Intervention components included a psychosocial assessment, differential diagnosis, a behavior treatment plan, psychotropic medication and social skills training. A client satisfaction survey was also administered. The normative practice of the agency was compared with empirically …

Public Relations In Print: A Study And Profile Of Public Relations-Generated News Stories That Appear In Delaware Valley Daily Newspapers, Mark R. Marmur

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine public relations practice's impact on journalism throughout the Delaware Valley through analysis of journalistic attitudes about public relations and the success of public relations practice on publicity for Rowan University.

The study analyzed the results of a regional survey given to editors and reporters at 25 daily newspapers throughout the Delaware Valley. The study also included an analysis of publicity gained by Rowan University through its Office of University Relations over a two-month period.

The study found that although a majority of Delaware Valley daily newspaper editors and reporters see public relations …

A Case Study Using Best And Normative Treatments Related To Adjustment Disorder, Alcohol Abuse, And Sexual Abuse Of Child, Lisa Mcconnell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of normative and best therapy techniques with individuals diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder, Alcohol Abuse, and Sexual Abuse of Child using a case study format. The subject of this study was a 15 year old female who presented with a three-week onset of depressed mood. For the purpose of this study she was seen over a four month period. Treatment emphasis was on reducing depression and anxiety related to the sexual abuse. The Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children and the Children's Depression Inventory were chosen for this study. Post-testing suggested significant …

The Hidden Library Curriculum: Children's Electronic Pathfinder Analysis And Information Literacy Skills, Collette Baldasare

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this survey investigation was to ascertain the degree of conformity of selected public library electronic pathfinder collections for children in the United States and Canada to assess format, components, and readability and whether the collections were effectively constructed to be used as starting points for further research. This research paper explains the relationship of instructional design models, information literacy skills, and the analysis of selected resources. An email questionnaire was mailed to ten libraries within the United States and Canada. The email questionnaire is a modified version of a survey sent to academic libraries by Grimes and …

The Future Of Print And Electronic Periodicals In High School Media Centers, Judy Angelo

Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this study was to determine if southern New Jersey public high school media centers had reduced, increased, or left the same the number of print and electronic subscriptions to periodicals. The selected periodicals that were available online through EBSCOhost were compared to those purchased in print format by high school media specialists. Questionnaires were sent to 70 South Jersey high school media specialists, asking about their print and electronic periodical usage, and their storage procedures, if any, for back issues of periodicals. The media specialists were asked to comment on their behaviors. The data were analyzed …

Use Of The Ebscohost Database In Grades Three Through Five, Allyson F. Cogan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine how the electronic databases available in EBSCOhost, Primary Search, MasterFile Premier, and Searchasaurus, were being used in teaching information skills to the students in grades three through five. The study involved the media specialists who were members of South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative teaching in elementary schools serving grades three through five. A total of 103 surveys were mailed out with a total of 59 media specialists returning them.

Data analysis was achieved by entering the survey results into the SPSS version 11.1 statistical analysis program. Totals and percentages were computed with …

The Use Of Blocking Software Or Internet Filters In Southern New Jersey Public Libraries, Suzi I. Freedman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if public libraries in southern New Jersey have installed blocking software or filters on their Internet computers and, specifically, to find out what types of filters or blocking software they were currently using in their libraries. The study wanted to see how satisfied librarians were with their filters or blocking software. The study also looked at whether or not public libraries in southern New Jersey have written Acceptable Use Policies which define access to the Internet for some or all of their patrons, including children under the age of eighteen. Finally, the …

Young Adult Public Library Services In Southern New Jersey, Lesa Keener

Theses and Dissertations

In 1995 the National Center for Educational Statistics, conducted a survey on young adult librarianship entitled, Services and Resources for Children and Young Adults in Public Libraries. The survey showed that while 23% of the patrons that used public libraries were YAs, ages 12-17, they lacked librarians, services, resources and areas designed specifically for their age group. The researcher conducted a 2004 survey based on the NCES 1995 study to compare results to see if there were any improvements.The researcher e-mailed 84 descriptive surveys to public library members of the SJRLC and NJYAC, the responses totaled 38, or …

A Study Of Cooperative Relationships Between Small Business Development Centers And Public Libraries, Nancy Polhamus

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to examine the variety and levels of services provided to the clients of local Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) by selected medium-size and large public libraries in the Delaware Valley region. The twelve responding libraries reported a wide variety in the levels of service provided to the local small business community. Librarians reported participating with their local SBDC by providing facilities, reference materials, staff with special training and/or experience in business reference service, staff participation in programs, and combinations of these services. Three libraries reported providing no services at all to support SBDC programs …

New Jersey Public Libraries And Funding, Mary Elizabeth Reeves Fine

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine New Jersey public libraries with budgets exceeding $3 million dollars and find out their sources of funding. In particular, with the financial climate of many state libraries' budgets being cut, the mailed questionnaire focused on whether 18 public libraries out of a selection of 21 libraries in New Jersey have established endowment funds or deferred giving plans. Results found that only a few libraries have funding other than local community tax revenue. Most library directors acknowledge that fundraising is a viable way to diversify their income, and that in concept it …

Effectiveness Of A Treatment Approach For Comorbid Panic Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, And Alcohol Dependence: A Case Study, Vera Biryukova

Theses and Dissertations

This case study evaluates the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy with a focus on therapeutic relationship in the treatment of an adult female who underwent treatment in a community mental health agency. The client was diagnosed with comorbid panic disorder, major depressive disorder, and alcohol dependence. In addition, the client experienced a variety of psychosocial stressors. The client's psychosocial assessment is presented, and the empirical treatment literature related to the client's diagnoses is reviewed. A variety of outcome measures were used. Results indicated that the treatment was effective: the client experienced a significant reduction in the severity of symptoms. However, further …

Perceptions Of Height, Attractiveness, And Power, Michelle A. Worth

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore how perceptions of physical attractiveness and power changed based on an individual's height and gender. Participants were 117 Rowan University students (53 males and 64 females, mean age = 20.9 years). Students were administered a packet that asked demographic data including their age, sex, height, weight, major, hometown, academic status, and marital status. Upon completion of this data, the students were asked to complete a packet where they viewed 10 target persons that varied in height and sex, then answered a series of questions about their perceptions of the target's attractiveness and …

Community And Land Attachment Of Chagga Women On Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Elizabeth Parnell Carr

Theses and Dissertations

Chagga women who control land on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, have a deep and profound sense of attachment to their lands and homes. This thesis compares their reasons for attachment to the systemic model. The systemic model states that community attachment is dependent on social ties and interactions. The three factors that lead to these ties are length of residence, social status, and age. In-depth interviews with women in 2002 and 2003, a survey from 2002, and field notes from 2002 and 2003 are used to explain the main factors of attachment of women in three villages on the mountain: Mbahe, …

Psychotherapy Outcome Measures In A Client With A Childhood Disorder, Amy S. Lawrence

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this case study were to: (1) complete a thorough psychosocial assessment on a psychotherapy client, (2) to attribute the most accurate diagnosis, and (3) explain the most beneficial empirical treatment through research and review. The case study consisted of a single 17-year-old Hispanic male who resided in a group home. Data was obtained through individual therapy sessions and two self-report inventories. Findings indicated that client met criteria for Disruptive Behavioral Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (DBD, NOS). Treatment research was done on Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) for two reasons: (1) due to insufficient studies on DBD, NOS, and …

The Relationship Between Racial Identity Attitudes And The Experience And Expression Of Anger, Kirsten Cristinziani

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the racial identity attitudes of African-Americans and experience and expression of anger. For several decades, theories of racial identity development have been postulated (e.g. Cross, 1971; Helms, 1990). Affective correlates of differing statuses of racial identity development have been hypothesized and widely studied. However, the affect of anger has not been given much systematic attention in the literature, though theoretical models of racial identity development do include assumptions of the role of anger. Specifically, in Helms' model of racial identity development (1990), which this thesis adheres to, anger is …

Family Risk Factors Related To Adolescent Adjudication, Jennifer M. Del Russo

Theses and Dissertations

Family and social relationships have been identified as risk-factors for adolescent adjudication. Ninety-five participants between the ages of 13 and 19 were recruited from the Youth Empowerment System (YES) Shelter & Residential Treatment Facility, Camden Day & Residential Treatment Center, and Camden Catholic High School in Camden County, New Jersey. The participants were administered a survey designed by the experimenter and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Chi-square analyses showed significant relationships between adjudication and who the legal guardian was, marital status of their biological parents and legal guardian, their relationship with their legal guardian, biological parents' criminal record and drug/alcohol …

Evaluation Of A Multi-Modal Treatment Approach For Adjudicated Youth, Jennifer K. Swingle

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to examine the effectiveness of multi-modal treatment on an adolescent with comorbid mental disorders in residential treatment using a case study format. The subject of this study was a 16-year-old girl who suffers from Reactive Attachment Disorder, Conduct Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder as well as multiple traumatic incidents in her childhood. For the purpose of this study, she was seen over a nine-month period. Major emphasis was on reducing aggression and depression and on increasing client participation in treatment. Depression and maladjustment were pre-tested and post-tested using the Beck Depression Inventory II …

The Use Of Habit Reversal Training In The Treatment Of Trichotillomania: A Single Subject Design, Courtney M. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of self-monitoring and a multicomponent behavioral intervention on the treatment of Trichotillomania (TTM). The subject in this study was a 12-year-old African American female who has demonstrated hair-pulling behavior for several years. The interventions that were implemented were journaling and Habit Reversal Training (HRT). The types of measurements that were used were direct observation, daily logs, and standardized questionnaires. The standardized assessments were the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC, March, 1998) and the Trichotillomania Severity and Impairment Scales (Swedo et al., 1989). In the study, the introduction of journaling …

From Mission To Megacity: The Changing Concentration Of The Los Angeles City-System, Kerri L. Cosby

Theses and Dissertations

Having an understanding of when, where, and why people settle in an area is crucial in explaining the growth course of a city. However, this cannot be done by looking at a city in isolation. Its surrounding region has a tremendous impact on its development. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the growth of Los Angeles from a regional perspective, called the Los Angeles city-system, which consists of Los Angeles and its hinterland. Connections are made between the history and the geography of the Los Angeles city-system by examining the spatial distribution of population within the region between …

Helping With The Transition To Parenthood: An Evaluation Of The Marriage Moments Program, Elizabeth Brinton Fawcett

Theses and Dissertations

In an attempt to strengthen marriages during the transition to parenthood, the Marriage Moments program was developed from Blaine Fowers' virtues based model of marital quality. Marriage Moments is a non-intrusive, mostly self-guided approach to marriage education, which is easily incorporated into childbirth education classes. The Marriage Moments curriculum stresses building marriage on a strong foundation of friendship and partnership. In this model, marital friendship is strengthened through a shared vision of life and important life goals; partnership is nurtured by the virtues of generosity, fairness and loyalty.

This program was tested on 155 married couples that were expecting their …