In The Service of Adults: A.A. Liveright, an American Adult Educator (open access)

In The Service of Adults: A.A. Liveright, an American Adult Educator

The purpose of this study was to identify, investigate, and analyze the life and contributions of Alexander Albert Liveright (1907-1969). It was limited to selected experiences that characterized him as an adult educator. The dissertation primarily examines Liveright's speeches, books, articles, reports, research papers and correspondence; government documents; and newspaper articles located in the Archives and Manuscripts of Continuing Education at Syracuse University. From these data a synthesis and interpretation were developed.
Date: August 1987
Creator: Dressler, Dennis Wayne
System: The UNT Digital Library
John F. Walvoord at Dallas Theological Seminary (open access)

John F. Walvoord at Dallas Theological Seminary

This study gives a historical analysis of the life and career of John F. Walvoord. He has served Dallas Theological Seminary for over fifty years in various capacities. The process of gathering information included a review of literature, a review of the institutional records of the Seminary, and a systematic search of the Archives, providing a chronological history of personal correspondence from the Office of the President from 1924 through 1954. An interviewing process concluded the study and served as the means of evaluation and review.
Date: May 1987
Creator: Mink, Timothy G. (Timothy Gale)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Brain Growth Spurts and Plateau Periods in Normal Elementary School Pupils (open access)

Brain Growth Spurts and Plateau Periods in Normal Elementary School Pupils

The purposes of this study were to determine whether brain growth spurts occur in normal pupils and to determine whether there was a uniform difference in head circumference between boys and girls. Subjects were 3,062 normal elementary pupils, grades one through six, from one suburban school district. Fiberglass measuring tapes were used to measure pupils' head circumference. The hypotheses of the study predicted that the relationship between head circumference and age would be linear. Further, it was predicted that the differences in head circumference between boys and girls would be uniform over seven specified ages. The first hypothesis was tested using a test for linear trend and deviation from linear trend using the General Linear Models procedure. The results indicated that there was a significant linear trend between head circumference and age. The test for deviation from the linear trend was not significant. This would suggest that any deviation from a straight line observed in the data can be attributed to chance. It was concluded that since there was no significant deviation from linear trend, it would suggest a continuous growth of the brain for the ages included in this study. A two-way analysis of variance was used to test …
Date: May 1986
Creator: Bhulpat, Cheerapan
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Development of a Psychobiologic Profile of Individuals Who Experience and Those Who Do Not Experience Exercise-Related Mood-Enhancement (open access)

The Development of a Psychobiologic Profile of Individuals Who Experience and Those Who Do Not Experience Exercise-Related Mood-Enhancement

The present investigation involved the development of a psychobiologic profile of individuals who experience exercise-related mood-enhancement and those who do not. The sample (N=301) consisted of students participating in 10-week exercise classes at North Texas State University. All subjects completed pre-test inventories assessing various psychological (i.e., trait anxiety and depression, attitude toward physical activity, self-estimation of physical ability and attraction to physical activity, expectancies of health benefits from exercise, and self-motivation) and biological (i.e., aerobic capacity and body fat percentage) variables. Trait anxiety and depression were also assessed before and after the 10-week exercise program and state anxiety and depression were assessed on an acute basis on two separate occasions during the program. Multivariate analysis of variance and discriminant function analysis were employed to determine which variables maximally discriminated between individuals who experienced mood-elevations following exercise and those who did not enjoy such rewards. The hypothesis that these two groups of individuals differ significantly from each other was not upheld by the results; thus, an overall psychobiologic profile could not be developed. However, the data did reveal that individuals who held a more positive attitude toward physical activity for the purpose of health and fitness reduced their state anxiety and …
Date: August 1985
Creator: Pistacchio, Theresa M. (Theresa Marie)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Effect of Subvocalization on Silent Reading Comprehension of College Students in a Developmental Reading Class (open access)

Effect of Subvocalization on Silent Reading Comprehension of College Students in a Developmental Reading Class

Review of the studies in the area of subvocalization reveals that its role in silent reading comprehension remains in question. It appears clear that subvocalization does occur during reading, usually among poorer readers or as reading becomes more difficult, and that it slows the reading process. However, how it affects reading comprehension, or if it affects reading comprehension, remains unclear. This study attempted to answer the question of whether subvocalization affects reading comprehension in an adult community-college population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of subvocalization on the reading comprehension of the community college students in developmental reading programs.
Date: August 1982
Creator: Perkins, Fredda Susan
System: The UNT Digital Library
Perceived Child-Parent Relationships and Child Adjustment in Families with Both Adopted and Natural Children (open access)

Perceived Child-Parent Relationships and Child Adjustment in Families with Both Adopted and Natural Children

This study examined perceived child-parent relationships and child adjustment in families with both adopted and natural children. Of interest was the relationship between these perceptions and the social and emotional adjustment of the children. Perceived parent-child relationships were measured by the Child Parent Relationship Scale developed by Swanson. The California Test of Personality was utilized to measure the children's adjustment.
Date: August 1980
Creator: Ternay, Marilyn R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Forgiveness as the Focus Theme in Group Counseling (open access)

Forgiveness as the Focus Theme in Group Counseling

This study reviewed the literature regarding forgiveness and developed a structured group counseling format with the theme of forgiveness. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of forgiveness as used in group counseling upon depression, generalized anxiety, dogmatism, relationships, guilt, and forgiveness in the participants. Thirty subjects were selected to participate in one of three groups: an experimental group, a comparison treatment group, and a control group. The experimental group and the comparison treatment group participated in two-hour group sessions, once a week for ten weeks. The experimental group was didactic and experiential with the focus on forgiveness, whereas the comparison treatment group was problem solving using Redecision Therapy. All groups participated in pre and post test sessions. The seven hypotheses in this study were tested with a multivariate analysis of covariance as well as univariate analysis of covariance for each hypothesis. Significance in differences between means was tested at the .05 level of significance.
Date: December 1986
Creator: Schmidt, Mellis I. (Mellis Irene)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Relationship of Family Counseling Commitment to Child Self-Concept and Parent Attitude (open access)

Relationship of Family Counseling Commitment to Child Self-Concept and Parent Attitude

The objective of this study was to investigate the conditions under which family counseling was terminated and the relationship of the type of termination to children's self-concepts and parents' attitudes. For the purposes of this study, family counseling was terminated by either mutual termination or by family termination. Mutual termination referred to the family and the counselor mutually agreeing that termination from counseling was appropriate. Family termination referred to the family deciding without counselor agreement that termination from counseling was appropriate. For the purposes of this study a family's degree of commitment to the counseling process was indicated by the type of termination the families chose, that is, mutual or family termination.
Date: August 1980
Creator: Stockdale, J. Steven
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Monte Carlo Analysis of Experimentwise and Comparisonwise Type I Error Rate of Six Specified Multiple Comparison Procedures When Applied to Small k's and Equal and Unequal Sample Sizes (open access)

A Monte Carlo Analysis of Experimentwise and Comparisonwise Type I Error Rate of Six Specified Multiple Comparison Procedures When Applied to Small k's and Equal and Unequal Sample Sizes

The problem of this study was to determine the differences in experimentwise and comparisonwise Type I error rate among six multiple comparison procedures when applied to twenty-eight combinations of normally distributed data. These were the Least Significant Difference, the Fisher-protected Least Significant Difference, the Student Newman-Keuls Test, the Duncan Multiple Range Test, the Tukey Honestly Significant Difference, and the Scheffe Significant Difference. The Spjøtvoll-Stoline and Tukey—Kramer HSD modifications were used for unequal n conditions. A Monte Carlo simulation was used for twenty-eight combinations of k and n. The scores were normally distributed (µ=100; σ=10). Specified multiple comparison procedures were applied under two conditions: (a) all experiments and (b) experiments in which the F-ratio was significant (0.05). Error counts were maintained over 1000 repetitions. The FLSD held experimentwise Type I error rate to nominal alpha for the complete null hypothesis. The FLSD was more sensitive to sample mean differences than the HSD while protecting against experimentwise error. The unprotected LSD was the only procedure to yield comparisonwise Type I error rate at nominal alpha. The SNK and MRT error rates fell between the FLSD and HSD rates. The SSD error rate was the most conservative. Use of the harmonic mean of …
Date: December 1985
Creator: Yount, William R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effect of a Physical Conditioning Program on Physical Fitness and Health Locus of Control Among Adolescent Substance Abusers (open access)

The Effect of a Physical Conditioning Program on Physical Fitness and Health Locus of Control Among Adolescent Substance Abusers

The purpose of this investigation focused on determining the effects of a physical conditioning program on physical fitness and health attitudes on inpatient adolescent male substance abusers during and following participation in a six week fitness program. The fitness measures chosen for this study were the 1 1/2 mile run, skinfold, sit-and-reach, and grip strength. The first four of these measures make up the AAHPERD test battery (AAHPERD, 1980). The Health Attribution Test (Lawlis and Lawlis, 1980) was administered to determine health locus of control.
Date: May 1982
Creator: Owen, Guy Madison
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Symptoms of Childhood Depression as Factors in Children's Reading Difficulties (open access)

The Symptoms of Childhood Depression as Factors in Children's Reading Difficulties

The purpose of this study was to investigate symptoms of childhood depression as factors in elementary school age children's reading difficulties. Subjects for study included children who evidenced symptoms of depression from among those referred to the Pupil Appraisal Center (PAC) at North Texas State University for reading difficulties between October, 1983, and April, 1985. The Weinberg Affective Scale (WAS), a screening device for childhood depression, was used to identify the subjects for this study. Using document analysis as the research approach, the researcher examined, recorded, and categorized referral and evaluation statements made by parents, teachers, counselors, and reading specialists the subjects1 PAC files that described symptoms of childhood depression. Also analyzed were diagnostic test data from the evaluation reports of PAC counselors and reading specialists.
Date: December 1985
Creator: Werner, Patrice Holden
System: The UNT Digital Library
Shoulder Muscle Electromyography During Diagonal and Straight Plane Patterns of Movement (open access)

Shoulder Muscle Electromyography During Diagonal and Straight Plane Patterns of Movement

The purpose of this study was to further investigate the relationship between patterns of shoulder movement and muscular response. Thirteen females were tested against maximal manual resistance in twelve different patterns, eight straight plane, and four diagonal. Five of the six subjects who met established kinematic criteria were used for electromyographic (EMG) analysis of the anterior deltoid (AD), the middle deltoid, the posteroir deltoid (PD), and the pectoralis major. No significant differences were found between number of muscles solicited or duration of muscular effort during the different movements. Maximal EMG was significantly higher for the AD in abduction and in flexion than in the other patterns, and for the PD in diagonal flexion with abduction and in transverse abduction.
Date: August 1988
Creator: Nelson, Julia Kathryn
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Development and Contributions of the Department of Adult Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, to Adult Education in Nigeria: 1945- 1980 (open access)

The Development and Contributions of the Department of Adult Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, to Adult Education in Nigeria: 1945- 1980

This study examined the historical development of the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and its contributions to adult education both in Nigeria and in other African nations. This was aimed at providing up-to-date insight into the department's contributions to the development of adult education in Nigeria and in other African nations. Specifically, this study examined the department's founders and their goals, the department's management structure, its relationship with other adult education agencies in Nigeria and in Africa, its programs and services, and the participants in these. This study reveals that the department's founders were both British and Nigerian politicians, educators, and humanitarians. They were concerned with eradicating illiteracy, preparing adults for democratic roles, and improving the economic well-being of these adults. The department does not have a consistent pattern of management. The selection of its leadership is usually based on seniority and academic merits. The department initially relied on donations and on the revenues from the local, state, and federal governments of Nigeria to operate. It now relies on those from the profit from its services to the public and on those from Nigeria's state and federal governments. The department interacts with other departments of the university and with other …
Date: May 1987
Creator: Adeniji, Olufemi O. (Olufemi Ogunruku)
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Historical Inquiry Into the Development of Higher Education in Ghana 1948-1984: a Study of the Major Factors That Have Controlled and Inhibited the Development of the Universities of Ghana (open access)

An Historical Inquiry Into the Development of Higher Education in Ghana 1948-1984: a Study of the Major Factors That Have Controlled and Inhibited the Development of the Universities of Ghana

Universities in many industrialized countries including Japan, and Australia, have enabled those countries to achieve rapid economic and social advancement. However, this is untrue for the universities of Ghana, due to the country's ailing economy, its continued dependence on foreign manpower, aid, and material goods. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to illuminate the major factors and events that have controlled and inhibited the development of higher education in Ghana from 1948 to 1984. The method of acquiring data involved a computer and manual search for documents from 1) ERIC Database, 2) libraries , and 3) Embassy of Ghana, Washington, D.C. The findings include (1) Establishment of universities on the basis of the Asquith Doctrine; (2) Imitation of British universities' curriculum, constitution, standards and social functions; (3) Characterization of universities by elitism, lack of diversity and adaptation, autonomy, excellence and narrow specialism in their honor degree programs; (4) Emphasis on cognitive rather than psychomotor learning; (5) Matriculation of inadequately qualified secondary school science students; (6) Absence of a nationally formulated statement of manpower needs, goals, and effective long-term planning; (7) Financial exigencies; (8) Suppression, perversion and abuse of academic and intellectual freedom by the government and universities; (9) Inconsistent …
Date: December 1985
Creator: Darko, Samuel F. (Samuel Fordjour)
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Examination of the Behavioral Dimensions of Behaviorally Disordered Students Across Grade Levels Utilizing Confirmatory Factor Analysis (open access)

An Examination of the Behavioral Dimensions of Behaviorally Disordered Students Across Grade Levels Utilizing Confirmatory Factor Analysis

A review of the literature regarding behavioral characteristics and underlying factors for behaviorally disordered (BD) students revealed that both elementary school aged and secondary school aged BD students may be able to be described by a similar factor structure. Utilizing ratings obtained on a national sample of BD students with the Behavioral Dimensions Rating Scale (BDRS). Research Edition, the pattern of item ratings for students in grades kindergarten through five (K-5) and grades six through eleven (6-11) was examined to confirm this literature-based theory. Multigroup simultaneous confirmatory factor analysis using maximum likelihood estimation procedures was utilized to compare the covariance structures of students in grades K-5 and grades 6-11. A goodness-of-fit index revealed that the covariance matrices of the two groups were invariant. Since the same factor structure could be used to describe BD students in grades K-5 and grades 6-11, the means for the two groups were compared using Hotelling's T^2 statistic for two independent samples. The analysis resulted in finding a significant difference between the two groups' means. A univariate F test was conducted for the behavioral dimensions to locate the source of the mean difference. A significant difference was found only for Factor I: Aggressive/Acting Out, indicating …
Date: December 1987
Creator: Sarnacki, Ronald L. (Ronald Leonard)
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Association Between Testing Strategies and Performance in College Algebra, Attitude Towards Mathematics, and Attrition Rate (open access)

The Association Between Testing Strategies and Performance in College Algebra, Attitude Towards Mathematics, and Attrition Rate

The purposes of the study were: (1) to determine the effects of four testing strategies upon performance in college algebra, attitude towards mathematics, and attrition rate; (2) to determine the effects of two types of frequent testing upon performance, attitude, and attrition rate, (3) to determine the effects of different frequencies of in-class testing upon performance, attitude, and attrition rate; and (4) to draw conclusions which might help in selecting testing methods for college algebra classes.
Date: May 1987
Creator: Johnson, Charles W. (Charles Windle)
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Descriptive Analysis of Parent Involvement Programs in Follow Through (open access)

A Descriptive Analysis of Parent Involvement Programs in Follow Through

This study investigated the successful outcomes and practices, the problems and the system of evaluation of the Parent Involvement program of the Follow Through models. The purposes of this research were to describe parent involvement in Follow Through and to utilize these data to formulate an ideal parent involvement program for an early childhood center. One instrument, a questionnaire, was developed to collect the data. The questionnaire consisted of 37 items with two main sections on successful outcomes and practices, and problems in parent-child relationships, parent-school relationships, and in parent-community relationships, and evaluation of parent involvement. Findings reveal that parent involvement in Follow Through has been successful. Successful outcomes in parent-child relationships, successful outcomes in parent-school relationships, and successful outcomes were found in parent-community relationships.
Date: May 1980
Creator: Umondak, Glory Effiong Nkereuwem
System: The UNT Digital Library
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Interentions for the Treatment of Agoraphobia (open access)

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Interentions for the Treatment of Agoraphobia

The problem with which this investigation was concerned is that of treating agoraphobia with cognitive-behavioral group therapy and cognitive-behavioral group therapy combined with the drug alprazolam (Xanax). The purpose of the research was twofold. The first goal was to determine the relative effectiveness of the two treatment conditions on phobic behavior, anxiety, and depression. A second goal was to analyze the results and make recommendations concerning each of these modalities available to agoraphobics, their families, and to treatment specialists. The research design of this study was a randomized, pretest-posttest, experimental group design. The sample (N = 15) consisted of Group I (N = 7), who received behavioral-cognitive group therapy combined with the medication alprazolam, and Group II (N = 8), who received behavioral-cognitive group therapy only. The treatment included 15, 2-hour weekly group sessions, with the addition of a brief medication evaluation prior to each group meeting for Group I. During these sessions, the subjects received information about agoraphobia in the form of brief didactic segments, treatment materials, homework assignments, group interaction, and various forms of desensitization. Based on the findings of this study, the following conclusions were drawn: 1. Multidimensional behavioral-cognitive group therapy can significantly reduce phobic avoidance, anxiety, …
Date: August 1989
Creator: Self, Carolyn
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analysis of the Peer Relationships of Gifted and Gifted-Creative Primary Students (open access)

An Analysis of the Peer Relationships of Gifted and Gifted-Creative Primary Students

The purpose of this study was to compare the peer relationships of highly gifted and highly gifted-highly creative primary students in a gifted classroom of a public school. The study was conducted using thirty-one highly gifted first, second, and third graders who had scores of 140 or better on the WISC-R, WPPSI, or Otis-Lennon. At the beginning of the school year, the Creativity Assessment Packet was administered to the class. The top 20 percent scorers in the class (termed gifted-creative) and those who scored in the bottom 20 percent of the class (termed gifted) on the CAP were targeted for observation. In addition, a sociogram was administered to each student individually for the purpose of determining each child's social status. A bivariate correlation coefficient was employed to express the degree of any relationship between creativity scores and rankings on the class sociogram. Observational anecdotes were used in the discussion of the sociometric results. The following findings resulted from the study. The gifted-creative students, as a group, ranked higher on a class sociogram on measures of friendship and choice of academic work partners than did the gifted group. On sociometric measures of choice of creative work partners, there was no significant …
Date: December 1987
Creator: Greene, Debra Blatt
System: The UNT Digital Library
Perceptions of Student Participants Toward Small Business Institute Programs at Selected Institutions of Higher Education in Texas (open access)

Perceptions of Student Participants Toward Small Business Institute Programs at Selected Institutions of Higher Education in Texas

This investigation examines the perceptions of students enrolled in Small Business Institute (SBI) courses at six collegiate schools of business toward various aspects of the SBI experience. A questionnaire, adapted from an earlier study, was assessed for content validity by appropriate authorities in the areas of the SBI, entrepreneurship, and business communications. Two administrations of the questionnaire were given at an approximate three-month interval. The initial administration preceded all contacts between student consultants and clients. The second administration was given some three months later to essentially the same body of students following extensive contacts with clients. More than 75 per cent of the pre-test respondents also took the post test, thereby augmenting the validity of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Chi-square statistics employed in the study. Results of the study indicate the existence of significant inter-school differences among student perceptions toward the SBI experience, both prior and subsequent to the initiation of contacts with clients. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in pre- and post-administration response patterns within the schools.
Date: December 1984
Creator: Aston, William S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Attributes of Never-Married Singles (open access)

Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Attributes of Never-Married Singles

The purpose of this exploratory study was to compare various attributes of never-married single men and women to married men and women. The Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis, the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation-Behavior (FIRO-B) Scale, and the Personal Skills Map were completed by 138 never-married singles and 139 married volunteers, both male and female. Volunteers were predominantly Caucasian, Protestant, active in their churches, and college educated. Ages ranged from 30 to 39 years. Married volunteers were married only once for five years or more. A step-wise discriminant analysis was run on each of the three instruments to determine which variables were significant across groupings. Summary conclusions were made showing that never-married men and women were more socially energetic but less expressive and responsive than were married men and women. Single men, as compared to married men, were also more passive and saw themselves in a less favorable light. Single women, when compared to married women, were also more dominant. Single women, when compared to single men, were more relaxed and more assertive, but more critical and punitive. An implication for counselors is that never-married single people may need help with relating at a deeper level of vulnerability and personableness. Single men may …
Date: December 1987
Creator: Jagers, J. Lee
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Survey of the Twentieth Century American Trends in Secondary Mathematics Education (open access)

A Survey of the Twentieth Century American Trends in Secondary Mathematics Education

This investigation of twentieth century trends in mathematics education includes the survey of existing literature and questionnaires conducted with retired and active Texas teachers. Historical events, trends in curriculum, instruction, learning theories, and contradictions of twenty-year periods are delineated. Questionnaire responses are tabulated along the same periods and vignettes of typical classrooms are drawn from the data. Results of the survey show the impact of societal forces on mathematics curricula, a continued downward expansion of content into lower grades and expanding knowledge of learning processes. A unified mathematics curriculum, classroom-related learning theory research, and further development of team-teaching are postulated as future trends. Recommendations include further examination of trends through isolation of other variables such as region and ethnicity.
Date: May 1980
Creator: Maloney, Letty Lynn
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effect of Ritalin on WISC-R Block Design WISC-R Coding and Bender Gestalt Developmental Scores of Hyperactive Children (open access)

The Effect of Ritalin on WISC-R Block Design WISC-R Coding and Bender Gestalt Developmental Scores of Hyperactive Children

Psychological research suggests that Ritalin reduces the rate of maladaptive behaviors in hyperactive children but does not improve their academic performance. Teachers, however, often assert that writing skills and other graphic work are improved by Ritalin. Twenty elementary school children who had been diagnosed as hyperactive and who were taking Ritalin were tested using WISC-R coding, WISC-R block design, and Bender Gestalt. Ten of the subjects were assigned to a group which was first tested when the children were off Ritalin and subsequently tested when they were on Ritalin. The sequence was reversed for the remaining ten. This procedure was designed to counterbalance the effect of practice. Direct difference t-tests indicated that there were no differences between groups regarding any of the three dependent measures. Thus, results indicate that the popular conceptions among educators regarding the efficacy of Ritalin for improving visual-motor efficiency is open to serious question.
Date: May 1986
Creator: Wall, Mark
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Comparison Among Selected Groups of Day Care Directors Examining Their Levels of Death Anxiety and Responses to Simulated Death Situations (open access)

A Comparison Among Selected Groups of Day Care Directors Examining Their Levels of Death Anxiety and Responses to Simulated Death Situations

This study compared three groups of day care directors with regard to their levels of death anxiety and their responses to situations involving death that affect children in the day care center. In addition, the study compared the variables of age, years of experience in day care, parental status, and self-reported degree of religiosity with the directors' levels of death anxiety and their responses to simulated death situations. A possible relationship between the levels of death anxiety of the directors and their responses to simulated death situations was also investigated.
Date: December 1980
Creator: Blythe, Barbara Wirth
System: The UNT Digital Library