Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Cancer Cluster Communications: Bridging The Gap Between Science And Public Perception, Loretta A. O'Donnell

Theses and Dissertations

In response to the increasing request for cancer cluster investigations and the challenges in communicating the complexities of the studies and results, the author conducted case studies of childhood cancer cluster investigations in Dover Township, New Jersey and Fallon, Nevada to review state government communication and responses from residents. The purpose was to assess the residents' understanding and acceptance of the communication and to recommend guidelines for similar investigations based on lessons learned by officials and on recommendations by health risk communication experts in the public and private sectors. The study included content analyses of newspaper articles, intercept surveys, mail …

How To Recruit More International Students, Chien-Wen Huang

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to determine international students' perspectives regarding the (U.S.) school application process, and 2) to compare recruiters' perspectives regarding the application process. Results indicated affordable tuition and alumni's satisfaction greatly influenced potential students' willingness to seriously entertain matriculation at U.S. schools. Major findings from the study included: Asian students represent over half (55%) of all international students on U.S. campuses; the United States remains the preferred destination for the vast majority of international students (80%) due to its advanced educational system; and recruiters, by a wide majority, chose paper-based application forms over online …

An Analysis Of Basic Public Relations Needs Of Non-Profit Associations, Jennifer Szwalek

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the basic public relations needs of nonprofit associations, tiered according to association structure.

A sample of 100 non-profit association executive directors, obtained from the International Association of Association Management Companies (IAAMC), were surveyed by e-mail and in-depth interviews on their public relations needs. Twenty percent of the sample chose to participate.

Online research was conducted at the Web sites of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and within the Association Management Company (AMC) section, the International Association of Association Management Companies (IAAMC) and the Association Management Institute (AMCInstitute).

Research steps also …

Television Public Service In Philadelphia: A Thing Of The Past?, Jill Flanagan

Theses and Dissertations

The researcher carried out this study to determine if national trends in television public service have influenced decision makers in Philadelphia and to provide public relations practitioners with detailed information about local practices. Online and library searches were conducted to secure information about television public service. In addition, the author interviewed communication experts, surveyed staff at six local channels and reviewed station materials.

The author found that Philadelphia's television stations continue to provide free airtime to charities along with traditional public service campaigns. However, research shows that paid PSA campaigns and third-party advertising agreements have grown in popularity. Public relations …

A Library Use Study Of Deptford High School Seniors' English Paper Resources, Anne Denning

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the resources used by high school students enrolled in honors, college preparatory, and general English courses in the completion of their research papers. This applied research study was conducted with the use of a written questionnaire, which was administered to Deptford High School seniors of all academic levels in their English classes. The population and sample of this study were one and the same, 213 Deptford High School senior English students. All seniors attending English class on the day the survey was administered comprised the sample. No attempt was made …

Identifying The Attitudes Of Rowan University's College Of Education Graduate Students Towards Web-Enhanced Courses And The Use Of Webct, Kathy J. Cyliax

Theses and Dissertations

Many important issues need to be addressed in order to implement distance education programs successfully. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of using technology for course delivery, the attitudes of the students participating must also be considered. The purpose of this study was to identify the attitudes of a sample of College of Education graduate students at Rowan University in order to understand their acceptance of or resistance to Web-enhanced courses and the use of WebCT as an instructional delivery tool. Surveys were delivered to 24 professors in the College of Education, who used WebCT as an instructional tool, to …

The Past In The Future: A Content Analysis Applying S. R. Ranganathan's Five Laws Of Library Science To Libraries And Information Services In Young Adult Science Fiction, Bruce Duboff

Theses and Dissertations

S. R. Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science are considered the basis of modem library philosophy. They have remained after over seventy years as the seminal concepts by which other library science guidelines are judged. However, the world has changed dramatically since 1931, and these laws, along with Ranganathan's philosophy, may be in jeopardy of obsolescence.

What has science fiction written about future libraries? Speculative library and information trends and issues like those discussed in science fiction literature are relevant not only for librarians, but for society as well as it wrestles with the issue of information overload.

This study …

A Study Of Adult Patron Library Use And Satisfaction With The Federal Street Branch Of The Camden City Free Public Library, Aaron L. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine how adult patrons were using the Federal Street branch of the Camden City Free Public Library. Additionally, the study measured patron satisfaction with the current level of service that the library was providing. One hundred and three responses were collected over an eight week period. Patrons were asked to evaluate twelve services based on present level of service and importance. From these responses the researcher was able to calculate satisfaction. The services were divided into three service areas: Information Services, Print and Electronic Resources and Library Services. Results of the survey showed …

Budget Expenditures Of High School Library Media Centers In Southern New Jersey, Patricia V. Glave

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the expenditures of southern New Jersey high school library media centers for the 2001-2002 school year. The applied research design employed mailed questionnaires to collect data from the sample of library media specialists from all public high schools in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem counties in New Jersey. Descriptive survey research and statistics were used to describe the characteristics of expenditures in print, non-print and electronic resources for 56 responses. Relationships between expenditures and socioeconomic rank were discussed, as were sources of funding.

As a region, public high school library media centers …

The Effects Of Collaboration Between The Elementary Teacher And Educational Media Specialist On Non-Required Student Library Usage, Kimberly A. Mccauley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not there was a difference in third grade students' non-required school library uses if collaboration on a weekly basis between the educational media specialist and classroom teacher was present. The study contained one experimental group, consisting of one class of third grade students who received collaborative instruction and one comparison group who did not. A comparison of these two groups' non-required library use and their circulation habits, as well as the types of activities they participated in when they were in the library led to the following results: Increased exposure …

The Educational Role Of United States Holocaust Museums/Centers, Christie Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

There are almost three hundred Holocaust museums/centers in the United States whose precise function is unclear. This study of 131 participants was concerned with what materials/resources were in their collection and what educational programs were offered. The electronic mail survey also asked: Who is able to use their collection? Who uses it most frequently? Where do they get funding? What is their main objective: preserve history or educate the public? The results showed that United States Holocaust museums/centers see themselves as responsible for education and furthering public understanding of the Holocaust. There are different angles future research about the relationship …

Minor League Baseball Pr Guidelines: Techniques For First Year Class A Teams, John Sadak

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to accumulate information relative to the various public relations practices, methods and procedures utilized by the 60 Class A Minor League Baseball teams and to determine the extent of common public relations elements. Although the 60 teams are located in different markets, results of interviews and surveys of the teams led the author to conclude that some current practices are common among them.

Phone interviews were conducted with four practitioners to determine a preliminary list of items important to a Minor League Baseball promotional campaign. From that list a survey was created and mailed …

An External Communication Audit Of The National Tropical Botanical Garden, Jennifer Melody Murdock

Theses and Dissertations

This study presents the results of an external communication audit of the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), a congressionally chartered nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of tropical plant diversity. Information was gathered during the communication audit through interviews with NTBG's key decision makers, content analyses of NTBG's primary publications, and a questionnaire measuring the public-organization relationship.

The audit assesses NTBG's external communication policies, practices, capabilities, and needs in the context of systems theory and external relations strategic planning theories. The findings of the audit identify who NTBG considers its target publics and how well they are reaching certain audiences. …

Analysis Of The Theoretical Relationships Between Work Exhaustion, Job Satisfaction, And Turnover Intention Of Air Force Information Systems Managers, Alfred D. Ray

Theses and Dissertations

The use of information technology has increased exponentially over the last two decades (Cohen and Burton, 2001), Accordingly, the ability of organizations to retain their information systems staff has been a critical factor in the effort to achieve strategic goals (Moore, 2002), When IS professionals leave an organization, not only is the number of them available for assignment to projects depleted, the professionals themselves often take specialized skills, tacit knowledge, and understanding of specific business operations and information systems with them (Agarwal and Ferratt, 2002), Chief Executives have become increasingly interested in issues related to the recruitment, development, and retention …

Training Effects On Judgment Accuracy In A Computer-Mediated Environment, Mark M. Lankowski

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force (AF) has named Information Superiority the core competency "upon which all the other core competencies rely". In order to achieve Information Superiority, deceptive communication must be minimized. According to researchers, deception occurs when communicators control the information contained in their messages to convey a meaning that departs from the truth. This research draws on Biros, George, and Zmuds' (2002) deception research model to determine if training to detect deception will improve a person's deception detection performance in a computer-mediated environment. A longitudinal experiment was conducted with AF participants (N=119) where three separate training plans were …

Decision Analysis Model For Refreshment Of Geobase Imagery: Basis For Investment Strategy, Matthew S. Craig

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force is in the process of implementing GeoBase, an initiative to change how geospatial information resources are being acquired, implemented, exploited, and sustained on USAF installations around the world. Using GeoBase increases situational awareness and minimizes decision risk for all installation personnel GeoBase is a geographic information system, using commercial-off-the-shelf software to provide one source for spatial information on an installation. GeoBase uses imagery as one layer of information. The accuracy of the imagery directly impacts the effectiveness of GeoBase. The purpose of this thesis was to develop a decision model to be used in determining …

A Correlation Study Of Second Destination Transportation Funding And Vehicle Movement, Stephen D. Wier

Theses and Dissertations

HQ AFMC has consistently experienced problems with the Second Destination Transportation budget being under funded. This under funding causes the command to implement control actions on how funds are allocated to ensure that enough funds are available. This research effort was intended to show the relationship between spending restrictions and how vehicles move between theaters. By identifying whether or not and how the control actions on Second Destination Transportation funding affects inter-theater vehicle movement capabilities, this research seeks to assist those decision makers in making fully informed decisions when allocating scare fiscal resources. The results of this research indicate that …

An Analysis Of Multiple Layered Networks, Kevin T. Kennedy

Theses and Dissertations

Current infrastructure network models of single functionality do not typically account for the interdependent nature of infrastructure networks. Infrastructure networks are generally modeled individually, as an isolated network or with minimal recognition of interactions. This research develops a methodology to model the individual infrastructure network types while explicitly modeling their interconnected effects. The result is a formulation built with two sets of variables (the original set to model infrastructure characteristics and an additional set representing cuts of interdependent elements). This formulation is decomposed by variable type using Benders Partitioning and solved to optimality using a Benders Partitioning algorithm. Current infrastructure …

Deception Detection In A Computer-Mediated Environment: Gender, Trust, And Training Issues, Monica A. Dziubinski

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense is increasingly relying on computer-mediated communications to conduct business. This reliance introduces an amplified vulnerability to strategic information manipulation, or deception. This research draws on communication and deception literature to develop a conceptual model proposing relationships between deception detection abilities in a computer-mediated environment, gender, trust, and training. An experiment was conducted with 119 communications personnel to test the proposed hypotheses. No relationship between gender or trust and deception detection accuracy was found. Partial support was found showing that training improves deception detection accuracy. The most significant finding was that individual’s deception detection abilities deteriorate in …

Strategies Leaders Should Use To Respond To Hostile Questions Regarding Organizational Changes: An Empirical Investigation, Michael S. Gore

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop a tool, using Speech Act Theory, which will help leaders better handle hostile questions they face during organizational change. Specifically, speech act theory, which outlines five question-response strategies, was used to test the effectiveness of question responses to hostile questions encountered during organizational change.

Remote Sensing Systems Optimization For Geobase Enhancement, Steve J. Paylor

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Air Force is in the process of implementing GeoBase, a geographic information system (GIS), throughout its worldwide installations, Air Force GIS needs can be augmented by imagery from aerial and satellite platforms. Imagery has greatly improved over the past several years and provides high resolution coverage of features on earth. Various imagery types will significantly increase GeoBase usefulness in a range of mission requirements, Potential Air Force uses of imagery include identifying heat loss, environmental monitoring, command decision-making, and emergency response, The research develops a decision tool to determine the appropriate imagery for a given Air Force Application, …

Model Selection Analysis Of Depot Level Reparable Asset Retrograde Shipments Within The Continental United States, Michael P. Kossow

Theses and Dissertations

Transportation modal choice for the Air Force retrograde movement of reparable assets within the CONUS is inflexible and is not synchronized with the depot repair process. Additionally, transportation coordinators are compelled by unsynchronized priorities and shipping policies to use express air modes in all cases when the use of LTL modes may be available to meet actual service level requirements at a lower cost, There may be cases where the retrograde shipments of reparable assets via an alternative transportation mode, such as LTL, can still meet fast transportation requirements at an even lower cost than can premium transportation. Historical retrograde …

Developing A Leadership Commitments Inventory, Abigail L. White

Theses and Dissertations

Organizations have been modifying performance appraisal systems to collect data from multiple source to guide supervisor development. Multiple rater programs provide leaders with more than one source of feedback, and give them a more complete, and possibly more accurate picture of their performance, which can facilitate meaningful behavioral change. The purpose of this thesis was to develop and validate a Leadership Commitments Inventory (LCI) from a 360-degree feedback approach that reflected a six-factor leadership taxonomy composed of twelve distinct indices, Using successive content adequacy tests, 48 items were validated and the web-based LCI was administered to 278 participants. Internal consistency …

Understanding The Dynamic System Of Terrorist - Government Interaction, John A. Hanrahan

Theses and Dissertations

The nature of action and reaction that forms the basis for terrorist - government interactions creates a dynamic system. Understanding how this dynamic system behaves in response to key government activities can help the government better control the overall behavior of the system. The system dynamics methodology is one tool that can help the government solve specific behavioral problems within the overall system. This research shows the ability of system dynamics to help develop government policy towards terrorism that can directly affect a terrorist's behavior. It supports a government policy of offensive action instead of defensive reaction. It also identifies …

Utility Assessment Of Specificity In Upward Feedback Instruments For Leadership Development, Theresa M. Wardak

Theses and Dissertations

Recently, organizations have been modifying performance appraisal systems to collect data from multiple sources to guide the development of supervisors. Upward feedback programs focus on development rather than appraisal by supplementing traditional downward feedback with subordinate feedback. The utility of two upward feedback instruments was assessed in this study; one is a commercially available instrument, the Leadership Practices Inventory (Posner & Kouzes, 1988) and the other is the recently developed, non-proprietary Upward Feedback Instrument (2002). The Upward Feedback Instrument was designed to measure leadership behaviors at a more specific level. It was thought that greater feedback specificity world lead to …

Memory-Based Tone Recognition Of Cantonese Syllables, Michael William Emonts

Theses and Dissertations

Speech recognition has only recently been applied to Cantonese. Considerable effort, however, has been spent in recognizing Mandarin, the standard dialect of Chinese. Prior to this thesis, the only published work on monosyllabic Cantonese tone recognition is from Tan Lee et al. (1993,1995). This thesis is the first of its kind in that it explores memory-based learning as a viable approach for Cantonese tone recognition. The memory-based learning algorithm employed in this thesis outperforms the highly respected and widely used neural network approach. Various numbers of tones and features are modeled to find the best method for feature selection and …

The Undecided Student And Self-Assessment: A Journey Toward Decision, Lucia A. Lawrence

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this single subject study were (a) to create a profile of the undecided student in regard to academic and career direction and (b) to explore the effectiveness of self-assessment tools as aides for the undecided student. An undergraduate student, who voluntarily came to a Career and Academic Planning Center, was chosen based upon (a) her declaration of being undecided regarding the direction of academic and career pursuits and (b) her willingness to explore self-assessment tools. After selection, the student was given (a) a single item questionnaire, to solely determine whether she was decided or undecided regarding career …

A Single Subject Study On Major Depressive Disorder, Ptsd, And Mild Mental Retardation, Jennifer Yvette Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this single subject study was to compare best practice and normative practice in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Mild Mental Retardation. A client from a community-based agency was used in the study. The client was an African American woman who resided in a low socioeconomic area and whose income was below the poverty line. The client experienced emotional, physical, and psychological abuse and neglect during childhood. She presented with symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, basic coping skills and parenting skills. Outcome data was obtained through interviewing and observations. The treatment consisted …

Philip Morris Faces "The Truth": A Rhetorical Analysis Of The Persuasiveness Of Two Teen-Targeted Anti-Smoking Advertising Campaigns, Marybeth Mcmurray

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the persuasiveness of anti-smoking television advertisements aimed at teens and produced by Philip Morris's Youth Smoking Prevention Program and the American Legacy Foundation's truth campaign. The advertisements are analyzed rhetorically using Kenneth Burke's dramatistic approach, supplemented by theory related to persuasive advertising, characteristics of at-risk adolescents, persuasive attack, and persuasive defense (apologia).

The analysis indicates that strong central themes present in both the Philip Morris and truth campaigns act as a means of rhetorical persuasion, but are not necessarily rhetoric designed to persuade adolescents not to smoke cigarettes. The truth campaign advertisements contain both strengths and weaknesses. …

Marriage Moments: A New Approach To Strengthening Couples' Relationship Through The Transition To Parenthood, Tamara Gilliland

Theses and Dissertations

Strengthening marriages is important to the well-being of individuals, families and communities. The transition to parenthood brings with it particular risks and opportunities for marriage relationships, yet no interventions have been successful in accessing a large number of couples during this critical time prepare and strengthen them for the challenges of becoming parents. The healthcare system has an established education infrastructure (childbirth education) that interacts with a significant number of couples during the transition to parenthood and has become increasingly open to incorporating relationship strengthening efforts into existing programs. The Marriage Moments program was designed to access couples through this …