Degree Level

An Index of Interpersonal Communicative Competence and Its Relationship to Selected Supervisory Demographics, Self-Actualization and Leader Behavior in Organizations (open access)

An Index of Interpersonal Communicative Competence and Its Relationship to Selected Supervisory Demographics, Self-Actualization and Leader Behavior in Organizations

The purpose of this study was basically twofold: 1) to develop an evaluative instrument to measure interpersonal communicative competence, and 2) to determine its relationship to three other supervisory variables—demographic characteristics, self-actualization, and leader behavior. Hypotheses testing, via the Pearson correlation coefficient, indicated the following relationships between interpersonal communicative competence (as measured by the IICC) and supervisory demographics, self-actualization (as measured by the POI), and leader behavior (as measured by the SBDQ): 1) The age of the supervisor was negatively related to the IICC at the .001 level of statistical significance. 2) Years of formal education was positively related to the IICC at the .001 level. 3) The sex of the supervisor (females scoring higher) was related to the IICC at the .01 level. 4) No significant relationship existed between years of supervisory experience and the IICC. 5) Six scales of the POI (I, Ex, Fr, S, A, C) were related to the IICC at the .001 level of statistical significance, one scale (Sy) at the .01 level and two scales (Tc, Sa) at the .05 level. Three scales (SAV, Sr, Nc) were not significantly related to the IICC. 6) No significant relationship existed between the IICC and the two …
Date: December 1979
Creator: Vaught, Bobby C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effect of the Multiple Talent Approach to Teaching on the Creative Thinking Performance of Elementary Students (open access)

The Effect of the Multiple Talent Approach to Teaching on the Creative Thinking Performance of Elementary Students

The purposes of this study were to ascertain the relationship between the treatment and creativity post-test gains with independent variables of sex, grade, group, and Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills total battery scores. Major conclusions include the following. 1. Girls appear to benefit more than boys from the Multiple Talent Approach to Teaching. 2. Fifth grade students appear to benefit more than third grade students from the Multiple Talent Approach to Teaching. 3. The creativity test score gains favoring the experimental students seem to justify the conclusion that it is potentially possible to enhance creative thinking through a teaching process.
Date: August 1979
Creator: Teeling, Therese Kreig
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Exploratory Study of Children's Ideas About Death, with a View Toward Developing an Explanatory Model (open access)

An Exploratory Study of Children's Ideas About Death, with a View Toward Developing an Explanatory Model

Much research relating to children and death has focused on the age-graded developmental model originally proposed by Nagy in the late 1940s. Children are alleged to pass from an infantile to a mature view, seeing death first as separation, then as the result of intervention by a supernatural being, and finally as an irreversible biological process. Accepted theory for thirty years, scholars have since noted difficulty in duplicating Nagy's findings and have come to question the universal application of the developmental model. Bluebond-Langner proposes an alternative model in which all views of death are present in all stages of development. She maintains that the particular orientation a child displays is a result of personal and social experiences.
Date: May 1979
Creator: Hargrove, Eddie L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Establishment of Helicopter Subsystem Design-to-Cost Estimates by Use of Parametric Cost Estimating Models (open access)

The Establishment of Helicopter Subsystem Design-to-Cost Estimates by Use of Parametric Cost Estimating Models

The purpose of this research was to develop parametric Design-to-Cost models for selected major subsystems of certain helicopters. This was accomplished by analyzing the relationships between historical production costs and certain design parameters which are available during the preliminary design phase of the life cycle. Several potential contributions are identified in the areas of academia, government, and industry. Application of the cost models will provide estimates beneficial to the government and DoD by allowing derivation of realistic Design-to-Cost estimates. In addition, companies in the helicopter industry will benefit by using the models for two key purposes: (1) optimizing helicopter design through cost-effective tradeoffs, and (2) justifying a proposal estimate.
Date: August 1979
Creator: Gilliland, Johnny J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effect of Music and Sound Effects on the Listening Comprehension of Fourth Grade Students (open access)

The Effect of Music and Sound Effects on the Listening Comprehension of Fourth Grade Students

The purpose of this study was to determine if the addition of music and sound effects to recorded stories increased the comprehension and retention of information for fourth grade students. The data were analyzed by a two-factor analysis of variance, with repeated measures for both comprehension and retention tests, for the total population. Each reading level group was analyzed separately by an analysis of variance. Of eight hypotheses tested, six showed a significant difference. The conclusions drawn from this study indicated that the addition of music and sound effects 1) Increases the listening comprehension and retention of fourth grade students; 2) Is more effective for retention for students with a high reading level; and 3) Is more effective for initial listening comprehension for students with low reading level but the effect is not significant for retention.
Date: May 1979
Creator: Mann, Raymond E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Study of the Effects of Conservatism on the Evidential Sample-Size Decisions Made by Auditors (open access)

A Study of the Effects of Conservatism on the Evidential Sample-Size Decisions Made by Auditors

This research was undertaken to test the effects of conservatism on the decisions made by auditors. The evaluation of the research results provided by the two psychological tests indicated that, when measured on the construct of resistance to change, auditors as a group are essentially heterogeneous and slightly conservative. However, the auditors' test scores on the construct of aversion to risk reflected a homogeneous group who were distinctly conservative. Based on these results, this research seems to indicate that the firm effect is more important in auditors' decision making than personal characteristics except, perhaps, in the area of compliance testing decisions. If this is indeed the case, it could be said that the different audit philosophies held by the public accounting firms and instilled in their auditors may be the prime cause of the substantial differences that have been continuously found in auditor judgments.
Date: August 1979
Creator: Sneed, Florence R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Grief Work Program for Cigarette Smokers Desiring to Quit Smoking (open access)

Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Grief Work Program for Cigarette Smokers Desiring to Quit Smoking

This investigation involved three procedural areas. The first was the development of a "Grief Work Treatment Program" designed for smokers who wanted to quit or reduce smoking. The second was the use of the program in experimental research in order to distinguish a relationship between structured grief work and cigarette-smoking reduction. The third area of investigation concerned evaluation of the program in terms of the subjects' goals for their smoking behavior. Results of the study indicated that the Grief Work Treatment Program was effective. A statistical comparison of treatment and control subjects using Analysis of Covariance, with number of cigarettes smoked daily at the beginning of the program as the covariate, produced a significant F at the 0.05 level on measures taken immediately after the treatment and four weeks later. Thus, in terms of the subjects’ respective goals, the grief work program was effective in assisting subjects to quit or reduce smoking. In addition, correlational tests concerning the treatment group indicated significant relationships existed between the variable, decrease in number of cigarettes smoked daily, and the variables: length of time a subject smoked prior to treatment; importance of cigarettes to the subject; and number of cigarettes smoked daily at the …
Date: August 1979
Creator: Dahm, Patricia J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Impact of Teacher Experience on the Achievement of Third-Grade Students in Inner-City Schools (open access)

The Impact of Teacher Experience on the Achievement of Third-Grade Students in Inner-City Schools

This study investigated the impact of the years of teaching experience of classroom teachers on the achievement of third-grade students in inner-city Title I Schools; on the achievement of those third-grade students who were defined as high achievers, average achievers, and low achievers; and on the achievement of boys and girls in the third grade of inner-city Title I schools. An analysis and interpretation of the data revealed that there were no significant differences in reading and mathematics achievement of the third-grade students when the number of years of experience of the teacher was examined. Reading achievement of third-grade boys and third-grade girls did show significant differences. The more-experienced teacher appeared to have the greater increase in reading scores of the students. In addition to data concerning the hypotheses, information about other teacher variables was collected through a teacher self-report questionnaire. One hundred per cent of the teachers in the participating schools responded to the questionnaire. Data were tabulated by frequency of response in groups according to years of teacher experience. Variables included years of teaching experience in Title I schools, classroom size, and demographic data. Analysis of the data indicated that teachers having more years of experience in Title …
Date: August 1979
Creator: Newman, Rita Gray
System: The UNT Digital Library
Kindergarten Children and Their Concepts About Print: A Developmental Study Based on Bloom's Theory of School Learning (open access)

Kindergarten Children and Their Concepts About Print: A Developmental Study Based on Bloom's Theory of School Learning

This study describes the developmental movement of kindergarten children from oral language toward written communication. The study describes and documents evidence of a sample of kindergarten children as they interact with print concepts in a kindergarten environment. The subjects were thirty kindergarten students randomly selected from three specific kindergartens identified as implementing the Key Vocabulary approach of Sylvia Ashton-Warner. The classrooms were public school kindergartens located in a suburban area of North Central Texas. From the findings several conclusions can be drawn. The learning of kindergarten children can be documented and a profile of that learning can be developed that will have possible future use in the learning career of the child. Kindergarten children may perceive the reading of a story to the group differently from the teacher. The perception of the process of writing by kindergarten children may be different from that of adults. There was evidence of children's writing in their movement from oral language toward print.
Date: December 1979
Creator: Trietsch, Patti Dixon
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Evaluation of a Short-Term In-Service Rehabilitation Training Program (open access)

An Evaluation of a Short-Term In-Service Rehabilitation Training Program

This study investigated the effects of a short-term in-service training program for rehabilitation practitioners. Specifically, cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral changes were measured. Also examined with respect to the observed changes were the effects of age, sex, education and other variables. Significant information gain was made by the participants of the training program in comparison with the control group. When the program participants reported their attitudes, no significant difference was found between them and the control group. Judging from the supervisors' ratings, the participants of the program seemed to benefit significantly in terms of information gained, attitudes changed, and placement behaviors exhibited. There was a significant positive correlation between the age of an individual and his or her positive attitude change. The higher the level of education of an individual, the more positive the attitude change that occurred, and the less the amount of dogmatism that was measured. Persons who had been trained in the nonhelping professions showed more positive attitude change than those who had been trained in the helping professions. The questionnaire, answered anonymously by the trainees, indicated that virtually all of them found the training program very worthwhile. When the trainees rated their own perceived change after the …
Date: May 1979
Creator: Reinberg, Linda
System: The UNT Digital Library
Recidivism and Institutional Adjustment of Institutionalized Male Juvenile Delinquents Involved in a Vocational Training Program (open access)

Recidivism and Institutional Adjustment of Institutionalized Male Juvenile Delinquents Involved in a Vocational Training Program

The basic purpose of this study was to investigate if placement in a cottage designated solely for juveniles involved in vocational training significantly improved the institutional adjustment and recidivism rate of institutionalized male juvenile delinquents. An additional purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of an involvement in a vocational training program on institutional and post release adjustment of institutionalized juvenile delinquents. Statistical analysis of the data supported the basic hypothesis that subjects who were involved in the vocational training, regardless of cottage placement, would adjust better to the institution. The two groups of vocational subjects had fewer admissions to the Discipline Cottage and a greater frequency of achievement of privilege-level status than did the group of subjects who did not receive vocational training. The hypothesis that vocational subjects who were housed in a separate cottage would adjust better to the institution than would the vocational subjects who were housed in the regular cottages was also supported. The vocational subjects who were housed separately had fewer escapes, fewer admissions to the Discipline Cottage, and a greater frequency of attainment of privilege-level status than either of the other two groups. The analysis also supported the hypothesis that recidivism rates …
Date: May 1979
Creator: White, Jerry D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Status of Home Visitations as a Part of Vocational Homemaking Education in Texas as Perceived by Useful Homemaking Teachers (open access)

The Status of Home Visitations as a Part of Vocational Homemaking Education in Texas as Perceived by Useful Homemaking Teachers

The problem of this research study was to identify the status of home visitations as a part of Vocational Homemaking Education in Texas as perceived by useful homemaking teachers. The study had a twofold purpose. The first was to develop and validate a survey instrument which would address specific concerns related to home visitations and which may be used as a model for future research studies in Vocational Education. The second was to survey a random sample of useful homemaking teachers in Texas to identify the perceived status of home visitations. Findings indicated that useful homemaking teachers believe home visitations should continue to be a part of homemaking programs, although they are not satisfied with the current status of home visits. The teachers did not perceive home visits as they now exist to be important to the total homemaking program and believed the program would be effective without home visits. Nevertheless, a majority of the homemaking teachers indicated that they would make home visits even if no conference period were provided for the purpose of visits and that they currently make home visits at times other than the designated visitation period. Approximately 40 per cent of the teachers reported they …
Date: August 1979
Creator: Mitchell, Brenda Shepherd
System: The UNT Digital Library
American Prisoners in the Barbary Nations, 1784-1816 (open access)

American Prisoners in the Barbary Nations, 1784-1816

Between 1784 and I8l6, all four Barbary nations had captured and enslaved Americans. Generally the pirates treated the imprisoned Americans harshly, but the aid the United States forwarded to them alleviated much of their suffering. During this period the prisoner issue played an important role in formulating American foreign policy in the Mediterranean because of America's keen commercial interest in that region and its benevolent attitude toward its own citizens. In return, those captive Americans in North Africa supplied their government with valuable intelligence, and, after liberation, some continued to serve their country in the Mediterranean area.
Date: May 1979
Creator: Wilson, Gary Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library
Perceptions of Texas High School Principals and Special Education Directors in Regard to the Participation of Mentally Retarded and Learning Disabled Students in Extra-Curricular Activities (open access)

Perceptions of Texas High School Principals and Special Education Directors in Regard to the Participation of Mentally Retarded and Learning Disabled Students in Extra-Curricular Activities

The purposes of the study were (1) to determine the perceptions of high school principals and special education directors toward the participation by mentally retarded (MR) and learning disabled (LD) students in extracurricular activities in small, medium, and large schools, (2) to compare the perceptions of high school principals and special education directors, (3) to determine the perceptions of high school principals and special education directors toward the mandates of Public Law 94-142 which deal with extracurricular activities, (4) to compare the perceptions of principals and special education directors in regard to those mandates, (5) to compare the perceptions of high school principals in the three school sizes, and (6) to compare the perceptions of special education directors in the three school sizes. Based on the findings of this study the following conclusions are presented. 1. It appears that working closely with the special education program may help to improve perceptions toward students and laws affecting them. 2. It appears that principals’ perceptions may be improved through a more personal relationship with and awareness of MR and LD students and the laws affecting their education. 3. Low scores in regard to Public Law 94-142 may indicate an intolerance and lack …
Date: August 1979
Creator: Collins, David L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analysis of the Impact of Private Funding on Selected Texas Public Institutions of Higher Education (open access)

An Analysis of the Impact of Private Funding on Selected Texas Public Institutions of Higher Education

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of private funds on selected Texas public institutions of higher education by identifying and comparing the specific ways these institutions are affected by private funds. Conclusions: 1. Private contributions to institutions of higher education will continue to increase in the immediate future. 2. Private contributions to public institutions of higher education come from a variety of sources. 3. Private contributions make a greater impact on programs and projects involving people rather than on buildings and equipment in public institutions of higher education. 4. Future uses of private money in public institutions of higher education also appear to be related to people rather than to capital spending. 5. Public institutions of higher education in Texas will depend upon private funds to a greater extent in the foreseeable future.
Date: August 1979
Creator: Pokorny, Ronald E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Integrative Potential Of The Division For Student Affairs: An Exploration Of Conflict Resolution Modes In An Institution Of Higher Education (open access)

The Integrative Potential Of The Division For Student Affairs: An Exploration Of Conflict Resolution Modes In An Institution Of Higher Education

The integrative potential of the division for student affairs was investigated in this study using as the basis for assessment the six determinants for effective integrative units delineated by Lawrence and Lorsch. A review of related literature indicated that three of five of the determinants were at least partially, if not substantially, met by the division for student affairs. Student affairs was found neither to have influence based upon competence within higher education institutions nor operate within a setting of high total organization influence. Analysis of the data indicated that confrontation was not the primary mode of conflict resolution utilized in the southwestern multiversity studied, but rather, the compromise mode was ranked first by upper- and middle-level managers. The sixth determinant, then, was not met. It appeared that since three of the determinants were met and three not met, the potential for student affairs acting as an integrative unit was limited. Other data gathered through questionnaires, interviews, and factor analysis in this investigation suggested that there was a wide disparity between the modes of conflict resolution actually used on campus and those perceived as desirable in handling disagreements. It was shown that the modes were viewed differently in the higher …
Date: May 1979
Creator: Newell, Sara Lynn Arendall
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Study of Perceptions of Leadership Behavior Held by Deans and Directors of Student Development/Student Personnel Services in Texas Community/Junior Colleges (open access)

A Study of Perceptions of Leadership Behavior Held by Deans and Directors of Student Development/Student Personnel Services in Texas Community/Junior Colleges

The problem of this study was to determine the nature of the perceptions of leadership behavior held by deans and directors of student development/student personnel services in Texas community/junior colleges. The directors were further identified as directors of counseling and guidance, student activities, admissions and records, financial aid, job placement, and health services. Deans and directors from all Texas community/junior colleges constituted the population for this group and were selected from college catalogs and a professional directory. Ranking and correlation techniques were used in the statistical analysis of data. Results indicated that leadership behaviors exist which are common to the field of student development/student personnel services, and that jurors generally agreed with deans and directors on those leadership behaviors which they perceived to be the most and least important to leadership. In addition, deans and directors agreed on those behaviors which they perceived to be the most and least important to leadership in their position and area of responsibility. Data revealed that deans and directors placed a high priority on collaborative-interactive type behaviors and a low priority on administrative-related behaviors.
Date: May 1979
Creator: Parker, David V.
System: The UNT Digital Library