bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Road Construction and Bull Thistle (Cirsium Vulgare) on the Plant Communities of Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Authors:   , Kritsch Margaret
Published: February 2023

Disturbance of ecosystems by road construction results in habitat fragmentation and edge effects. Studies assessing effect of road construction on the native plant communities and dispersal of exotic plant species have indicated this type of disturbance promotes invasion by exotic plants. I studied the relationship of recent road construction and spread of bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten.), a nonnative, invasive plant species found primarily along disturbed roadsides of Bryce Canyon National Park (BRCA) in southern Utah. Additionally, I assessed the effects of road construction and bull thistle on the plant community structure in BRCA. Community and population data were collected along four transects at six different sites. Three of the six sites were designated \disturbed\ because of recent road construct ion and the other three sites were designated \undisturbed\. Transects at each of these sites were placed at increasing distances from the main park road, Federal Highway 63. I hypothesized that the number of bull thistle individuals would decrease as distance from the road increased. I also hypothesized that the presence of bull thistle and road construction would affect plant community structure by decreasing species richness and diversity. Furthermore, I hypothesized that more non-native plant species would be present at sites that had been disturbed through recent road construction. Bull thistle was found only at Disturbed Sites, with the greatest density found on the transect closest to the road. Results also indicated Disturbed and Undisturbed Sites differed significantly with Undisturbed sites having higher species richness, species diversity, and species dominance relative to Disturbed sites. All parameters at Undisturbed and Disturbed Sites, though, decreased as distance from the road increased. Disturbed Sites were found to have a greater number of nonnative plant species than the Undisturbed Sites.
The Effect of Yucca Glauca Leachate on Germination and Growth of Native Grass Seeds
Authors:   , Young S.
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of soapweed on emergence, germination, and growth of six native grass species. Treatments were Yucca mulch, Yucca seeds, and soil from around Yucca plants. Grass species were buffalo grass, blue grama, switchgrass, big bluestem, little b1uestem, and sideoats grama. Emergence of sideoat grama and little bluestem was inhibited in Yucca soil. Germination and growth of four grass species treated with Yucca leaf leachate was studied. Germination was not retarded but epicotyl and radical growth appeared to be retarded. The effect of steaming on Yucca soil was also investigated. Emergence rates of sideoats grama and little bluestem indicated that steaming may lessen the inhibitory effect of Yucca soil.
The Trend of Financing Urban Property
Authors:   , Wilson Irvine
Published: February 2023

This thesis is intended as a survey of terns in financing urban property. Urban property as construed by this study includes all incorporated cities, towns, and villages. This interpretation is used firstly, in order that a more complete analysis might be pictured, and secondly, because investments in property are not necessarily restricted because of the number of inhabitants in a particular town or city.
The Distribution and Related Studies of Ceratoides Lanata (Pursh) Howell in Northwestern Kansas
Authors:   , Stearns Michael
Published: February 2023

A portion of the eastern distributional boundary of Cerutoides lanata (Pursh) Howell, commonly referred as winterfat, is located in northwestern Kansas. However, because only a general description of its location in Kansas exists, a study was conducted to determine the extent of distribution in counties in which the species occurred. Sightings of winterfat stands in four counties were recorded and mapped with site locations and legal descriptions. Five stands of winter fat were selected for ecological studies on the basis of topography, homogeneity of vegetation, intensity of past use, and size. Characteristics of stands such as slope, exposure, species composition, basal cover, frequency, mean height, mean width, age, and sex distribution of winterfat plants were variable among stands. Soil samples from inside and outside of each study site were analyzed and significant variability existed in their chemical composition. Germination and seedling vigor tests on four levels of sodium and calcium chloride and in different soils indicated that winterfat seeds were more tolerant of calcium and that the percent survival, height of stems, length of roots, and leaves produced on seedlings were not inhibited in soils from outside the stands.
Effects of Rhetorical Sensitivity on Customer Satisfaction in a Retail Environment
Authors:   , Stanton L.
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study was designed to examine how rhetorical sensitivity affects customer satisfaction in retail environments. The theory of rhetorical sensitivity was examined concerning how the customer service employee's level of rhetorical sensitivity affects customer satisfaction was researched. The Rhetsen instrument was administered to 21 customer service employees of Wal*Mart Stores, Incorporated and 184 Rhetorical Sensitivity Customer Satisfaction (RSCS) customer satisfaction surveys were administered to customers of Wal*Mart Stores, Incorporated to determine if communication styles of the customer service employee affected the customer's satisfaction level. Demographic classifications including age, years of employment in the retail industry, years of employment with Wal*Mart Stores, Incorporated, and years of experience working at the customer service desk were examined. ANOVA and multiple regression analyses were calculated to determine significant results. The results of the research revealed that rhetorical sensitivity does not have a significant impact on customer satisfaction. However, years of employment with Wal*Mart Stores, Incorporated did impact the employee's \noble self\ factor, a sub-scale in the Rhetsen instrument. The researcher concluded that Wal*Mart Stores, Incorporated could benefit by providing additional communication skills training to new and long-term employees.
Auditory Processing Abilities of Medium Security Inmates
Authors:   , Ziegelmeier Yvonne
Published: February 2023

This was a pioneer study whose purpose was to investigate the auditory processing abilities of inmates residing in a medium security prison using the SCAN-A: A Test for Auditory Processing Disorders in Adolescents and Adults. Subject selection criteria was met if the subject passed an otoscopic examination and a pure tone threshold hearing screening. Forty-one inmates, with a mean age of 33.1, met the selection criteria. The SCAN-A was administered according to the examiner manual specifications. Responses were recorded for later quantitative analysis. Scores for the auditory figure-ground, competing words, and competing sentences subtests, and the total test were significantly lower than scores for the nonnative sample. Subjects were judged to have \questionable to disordered\ central auditory processing abilities. Findings should be interpreted cautiously because of questions raised regarding the structure of the SCAN-A. Further investigation of the prevalence of central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) within the prison system is warranted.
A Comparison of Attitudes of Special Education and Regular Classroom Teachers Toward Teaching and the Educable Mentally Retarded Child
Authors:   , Willis Ronald
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this paper was to (1) determine whether teacher attitudes held by special education teachers differ significantly from those of the regular classroom teacher, and (2) determine whether these teachers differ significantly in the attitudes they express toward the educable mentally retarded child. The subjects used in this study were a randomly selected group of fifty elementary school teachers from the state of Kansas. Half of these teachers served in special education units for the educable mentally retarded, and the remaining twenty-five teachers were employed in the regular classroom. This was an uncontrolled group as to age, experience, knowledge of exceptionalities, teaching field, marital and parental status. The Minnesota Teacher Attitude Inventory was used as a measure of general teacher attitudes found to be associated with teacher-pupil rapport. A behavioral description checklist was employed to measure attitudes expressed toward the educable mentally retarded child. In an attempt to analyze the attitude differences expressed by these two groups on the MTAI and the behavioral description checklist, a t test for means was employed. Analysis of the data justified the rejection of the null hypothesis for both methods of measurement. The difference between the means for the two groups on the MTAI was significant beyond the .05 level of confidence and on the behavioral description checklist the difference was found to be beyond the .01. Correlations were calculated between years of experience and scores obtained on both measures for the two types of teachers. Only one correlation coefficient was significant beyond the predetermined .05 level. A correlation of .47 was found to exist between years of experience and negative attitudes expressed toward the EMR child by the special education teacher. This correlation coefficient was significant beyond the .01 level of confidence.
A Comparison of Academic and Nonacademic Self-Concept in Elementary Level Learning Disabled and Nonlearning Disabled Students
Authors:   , Lorenson Lynette
Published: February 2023

It has long been theorized that self-concept and self-esteem have an affect on achievement in school, especially in children with problems in learning such as those with specific learning disabilities. Many studies have been done looking at the effects of self-concept on achievement. Problems exist, though, in that a specific model of self concept is rarely used, homogeneous sample populations are difficult to develop, and the scales used to measure self-concept many times measure variables other than self-concept. Self-concept has been seen to be a multifaceted construct and, as such, different concepts may exist for academics, peers, parents, and physical attributes. In the present study, Shavelson's hierarchical model of self-concept was used as a base from which to measure the general self- concepts and academic se lf-concepts of 22 learning disabled and 27 regular education students in grades three through five. The Self Description Questionnaire, a scale based on the hierarchical model of self-concept, was used as the instrument to measure the level of academic and general self-concepts between the two groups. The results from the present study reveal no significant differentiation between academic self-concept of children with learning disabilities and children without learning disabilities. No significant results were found between the groups in terms of general self-concept.
Observations of The Use and Efficacy of Changing A Patient's Concept of His Role : A Psychotherapeutic Device
Authors:   , Edwards Ethel
Published: February 2023

The problem we faced was to try to develop some form of psychotherapy that would not consume a great deal of time. It was desirable that it should be applicable to a wide range in type of cases and that it should be simple enough so that it would require little training on the part of the therapist.
The Effects of Emg Biofeedback and Emg Assisted Relaxation Training on Handwriting Quality
Authors:   , Garrett Larry
Published: February 2023

The present experiment was designed to assess the effects that two different relaxation techniques have on the handwriting quality of college students. The experimental design was a 3x4 (conditions x sessions) split-plot design. Twenty-four subjects were randomly selected and assigned to three groups (EMG biofeedback only, EMG biofeedback assisted relaxation training, and control) of eight students each. The dependent variables were microvolts/second generated during each training session and handwriting samples taken prior to the first training session (pretest) and after the final training session (posttest). The microvolts/second generated by each subject were also analyzed by converting them to corresponding range corrected scores. The pretest and posttest handwriting samples were rated on a 5-point rating scale on each of five handwriting variables. An overall rating of the handwriting was also computed. It was hypothesized that EMG biofeedback and EMG biofeedback assisted relaxation training would be more effective in enhancing handwriting quality than the control group. It was also hypothesized that the EMG biofeedback assisted relaxation training procedure would be more effective than the EMG biofeedback procedure in enhancing handwriting quality. The results of the handwriting samples showed there was no significant difference between the groups on any of the handwriting variables. Results of the physiological data showed, when microvolts/second were analyzed, that there was no significant difference between the EMG biofeedback only group and both the EMG biofeedback assisted relaxation training and control groups, with the latter two no differing from each other significantly. When the range corrected scores were analyzed, they showed a significant difference between both the EMG biofeedback only and EMG biofeedback assisted relaxation training groups and the control group, with the former two groups not being significantly different from each other.
Incorporating Multi-Spectral Imaging Into Long-Term Upland Breeding Bird Monitoring
Authors:   , Schumacher Kyle
Published: February 2023

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas, United States partnered with Fort Hays State University Hays, KS in 2014 to begin a collaborative research project that aimed to develop a long-term monitoring protocol guided by the Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the refuge published in 2013. This plan identified specific wildlife taxa underrepresented in management impact assessments throughout the property. As a result of this plan, surveys were established to monitor interactions between upland breeding birds and the vegetation community. I conducted point count surveys in 2016, 2017, and 2018 for 122 observation points across four transects. I measured seventeen vegetation variables at each observation point between 13-26 July 2016, 5-13 June 2017, 24-27 July 2017, and 18-22 June 2018. I obtained multi-spectral imagery for June 2017 from GeoEye-1 satellite operated by Satellite Imaging Corporation to compare the 17 vegetation variables with remotely-sensed vegetation data. I used reflectance signatures of five unique vegetation classes to generate five vegetation cover types by using supervised Maximum Likelihood Classification in ArcGIS. I modeled single-season occupancy by using traditional and remote-sensed vegetation variables as covariates for Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii), grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), warbling vireo (Vireo gilvus), and western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis). Covariates derived from multi-spectral imagery consistently performed equal to or better than comparable field-measured covariates for four of the five species. I then applied the multi-spectral imagery classification technique to imagery of proposed wilderness area at Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska, United States captured 27 June 2018 to assess translatability of these methods. I identified five habitat classes sensitive to vegetative productivity and exposed bare ground that potentially could be reassessed multiple times through the 15 year lifespan of the Comprehensive Conservation Plan to determine vegetation changes across the 9,915 hectares. These assessments promote an adaptive management approach to plant community dynamics on federal properties by allowing for annual assessments that better mimic real world dynamics but require a fraction of the resources.
Wisc-R and Wisc Subtest Scatter in a Clinical Population
Authors:   , Ullman Daniel
Published: February 2023

Two indexes of scatter (range and mean deviation) were measured from the protocols of 86 WISC-R's and 670 WISC’s drawn from the files of a psychological clinic. Scatter scores were significantly different compared to Kaufman's normative data (1976), but substantial overlap still existed between distributions. Scatter indexes were nonsignificantly related to sex; whereas they were modestly correlated with Full Scale IQ and age. The different indexes themselves were significantly intercorrelated and judged equivalent. GPA scores for a subsample (n = 42) of the WISC group were uncorrelated with the scatter indexes. The practical and theoretical implications for using scatter indexes as diagnostic tools or indicators of future functioning were discussed.
Hollow Ware and Jewelry Design with Emphasis on the Construction Method
Authors:   , Nulton Neil
Published: February 2023

In the creation of hollow ware and jewelry, sound design and craftsmanship become extremely important, perhaps even more so than other art forms. By its very nature a piece of jewelry is precious, not only in its intrinsic value as gold or silver, or gems but also because of its smallness and the delicacy of its design and craftsmanship. Being small it invites close scrutiny as well as a desire to touch and savor its form and surface. Such close scrutiny emphasizes the need for sound design and quality craftsmanship. As in all art forms, the design of hollow ware and jewelry must include such design principles as balance, rhythm, harmony, and contrast to be aesthetically successful. With the above objectives foremost in mind I proceeded to create a body of work which I believe to be of graduate thesis quality.
The Ecology of A Pasture in The Dakota Sandstone Formation in Ellsworth County, Kansas
Authors:   , Blair Byron
Published: February 2023

The vast area of prairie of the United States has long been known as the \feeding grounds\ for herbivorous animals. In the past, the standard of living of the people of grassland regions has been measured largely by the ability of the native ranges to produce ·vegetation sufficient to maintain economical livestock production. It has become apparent that if our desired living standard is to be maintained, we must direct our efforts toward a program by the most rapid and efficient means possible, which will bring economic stability to the seventeen million acres of grassland in the Great Plains region. Need for improving and conserving the grasslands, the nation I s meat basket, has brought forth much information on pasture management; yet more practical data are in great demand. Maximum livestock gains can be secured only if the pastures are maintained at high economical production. ' his can not be accomplished without a knowledge of the problems at hand, and, as far as is possible, their solution. Forage production in the Great Plains varies greatly with topography·, climatic factors , and soil types . Soil types appear to have a decided bearing upon the value of vegetation produced. If the problems of production, maintenance, utilization, etc., on different soil types are to be solved, research on comparable locations must be undertaken. Many pastures have become infested with annual grasses which have caused the operators to become concerned. It is possible, however, that many of the owners have not learned the true value nor the control of 2 these invaders . These problems have brought to light the need for study of pastures in the Dakota Sandstone formations. This thesis is a report of the study of basal cover, composition, yields, consumption, and chemical composition of the vegetation on an average pasture in the Dakota sandstone formation of central Kansas. It is the hope of the author that this information will prove beneficial both to t he land owners and the conservationist.
Cueing and Second-Order Conditioning: Similar or Different?
Authors:   , McVay Kenneth
Published: February 2023

A cueing treatment has been conceptualized as a means by which a novel, neutral stimulus (or stimuli) may come to elicit a conditioned response without any explicit pairing of the cue with the unconditioned stimulus. One other procedure which produces a similar result is higher-order conditioning. It is important to determine the relationship between a cueing treatment and higher-order conditioning to determine whether they may be one in the same. That is, is the mechanism underlying what has been called “cueing” the same [as] that underlying higher-order conditioning. The present study utilized rats in a first or second-order conditioning design. The first-order groups were tested to a CS1 or a contextual cue to determine if similar levels of conditioning were attained. Results indicated that a contextual cue can effectively replace a CS1 in first-order conditioning. However, attempts to use a cue In place of a CS1 in second-order conditioning produced mixed results. One pairing of forward second-order conditioning using CS2-CS1 and CS2-cue did not result in significant conditioning to the CS2. Likewise, a backward second-order pairing of CS1-CS2 did not produce conditioning to the CS2. However, by presenting the cue prior to the CS2 (cue-CS2), one pairing did establish significant conditioning to the CS2. This finding suggests that separate mechanisms may be responsible for cueing and second-order conditioning. These findings are discussed in terms of their possible implications for the better understanding of how human phobias develop.
Dynamics of the Woody Vegetation Along the Arkansas River in Western Kansas, 1870-01/01/1983
Authors:   , Tomelleri Joseph
Published: February 2023

Prior to 1880, the Arkansas River in western Kansas averaged 400m in width, and supported almost no riparian forest. The flow regime and the consequent geomorphology of the river were hypothesized to be the most important forces that restricted the growth of woody vegetation on the banks of the river. The subsequent influx of trees into the channel during the 20th century is correlated to the onset of irrigation, as the reductions in peak discharges enabled tree seedlings to become established in the channel. Until the turn of the century, farmers used only the surface flows of the river to irrigate. Irrigation with groundwater, and the construction of John Martin Reservoir on the upper Arkansas in 1943, also affected the flow regime and shrinkage of the channel. The woody vegetation in the valley probably reached a peak in areal extent during the late 1960's. Since 1970, exploitation of groundwater has dried the river through an 80 km reach, and has severely curtailed the establishment, growth, and survival of trees.
A Reversal Design Investigating the Effects of Electromyographic Biofeedback in Rehabilitation of Recent Stroke Patients
Authors:   , Jarman Randall
Published: February 2023

Six male recent stroke patients served as subjects for the experiment. The patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups. All three contained two treatment conditions (B1, B2) and one control condition (A). Each group had a different location of the A condition; AB1B2, B1AB2 and B1B2A. Patients were given EMG biofeedback training to contract the muscles of the forearm on the side of the body affected by the stroke. While in the A condition, muscle activity was monitored but feedback was not given. Each patient was seen for 24, twenty minute sessions. The hypothesis being that the greatest regain of muscle strength would be during the treatment conditions. The results did not support the hypothesis, however, significant differences were found between the groups. The results suggest that the later the control condition appeared in the group, the greater the increase in muscle strength. The ABB group demonstrated no significant change, the BAB group did demonstrate in performance during the A condition followed by an increase in the B2 condition. The BBA group demonstrated a significant Conditions effect F(2,21) = 26, P <.001 and continued to increase in muscle strength during the A condition. It appears there is a critical period of time after a stroke where the brain cells adjacent to the damaged area, are capable of learning to assume the function of the damaged cells.
An Investigation of Counselor Effectiveness
Authors:   , Stroup Carla
Published: February 2023

The purpose of the researcher was to investigate opinions pertaining to counseling services received in high school as reported by college students and to determine the effect of selected independent variables. The following independent variables were investigated: sex -class membership, size of school, college classification level, students who had vocational classes taught by the counselor and those who did not, and the number of times the student visited with their counselor on an individual basis. The sample of 158 subjects included males and females from five different college classification levels. The instrument was developed by the researcher because no published instrument was found. Six hypotheses were tested. They were tested by appropriate single-factor analysis of variance or t-test. Four hypotheses were rejected. Results of the present study indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between the mean ratings of males and females for counseling services received in high school. The findings also indicated there were no significant differences among the mean ratings of counseling services received from students of various sizes of schools. Significant differences were found among college freshmen and seniors pertaining to the total instrument. Freshmen rated counseling services received in high school significantly higher than those of other classification levels and college seniors rated counseling services received significantly lower. Significant differences were also found pertaining to four components of the instrument. In the areas of information about college and scheduling, college freshmen and sophomores rated counseling services received in high school significantly higher while college seniors and graduates rated counseling services received in high school significantly lower. In the area of testing and test interpretation, college freshmen rated counseling services received in high school significantly while college seniors and graduates rated counseling services received in high school significantly lower. The findings also indicated college sophomore rated counseling services received in high school pertaining to career decision making significantly higher while college seniors and graduates rated counseling services received in high school significantly lower. Those students who had vocational classes taught by their counselor rated counseling services received in high school significantly higher than those who did not. Students who visited with their high school counselor more frequently rated counseling services received higher than students who visited with their counselor less frequently or not at all.
The Effects of Coping, Self-Esteem, and Social Support on Stress and Wellbeing
Authors:   , Meyerhoffer-Kubalik Emily
Published: February 2023

The present study aimed to add to the literature on the internal and external factors that may buffer the negative effects of stress. Specifically, the present study examined the effects of coping styles, self-esteem, and social support on both psychological wellbeing and stress. Participants (N = 198) were administered a measure of coping styles (COPE), self-esteem (Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale), social support (SSQ-R), psychological wellbeing (MHI), and stress (ICSRLE). Results showed problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping were associated with better psychological wellbeing and lower stress. Avoidant coping was associated with lower psychological wellbeing and higher stress. Self-esteem was also related to higher psychological wellbeing and lower stress. Overall social support network size was predictive of psychological wellbeing in the overall sample, but not predictive of stress; however, in the college age group, overall social support was not predictive of wellbeing or stress. Satisfaction with social support was predictive of both wellbeing and stress. In general, the findings of the present study agreed with the findings of previous research. Exceptions and implications are discussed.
Differences in Conflict, Trust and Jealousy Measures Among Adult Children of Divorced and Intact Families with High and Low Conflict Levels
Authors:   , Wilkerson Jenny
Published: February 2023

The present study examined whether adult children of high-conflict divorced families and adult children from high-conflict intact families would display more jealousy, a greater lack of trust, and more marital or intimate relational conflict in their own marriages or intimate relationships compared to adult offspring from divorced families with low-conflict and to adult offspring from low-conflict intact families. Participants were 171 students from a Midwestern state university. They completed a demographic information sheet, the Parent Conflict subscale (Bloom, 1985) that was altered to also be used as a partner conflict questionnaire, the Dyadic Trust Scale (Rempel. Holmes. & Zanna. 1985), and the Multidimensional Jealousy Scale (Pfeiffer & Wong, 1989). Overall, there was a significant difference among the four groups (high-conflict divorced, high-conflict intact, low-conflict divorced, and low-conflict intact). Those participants from low-conflict intact parents, had significantly less conflict and more trust within their relationships compared to those from high-conflict divorced parents and high-conflict married parents. Participants from low-conflict intact parents also showed less conflict in their personal relationships compared to those from low-conflict divorced parents.
The Development of an Introductory Costume Course
Authors:   , Humphrey Ruth
Published: February 2023

This study concerns the organization of an introductory course in costuming through the use of relevant information and materials available and justifies the methods used in teaching the course. Four major aspects of theatre costuming will be examined: costume history, costume design, costume construction, and the practical application of these principles to theatre productions. This study concerns not only these four divisions of costuming in their individual scope, but also concerns their inter-relationships that provide an overall concept of costuming. The study will be divided into four major parts; 1) Course objectives; 2) Instructional methods; 3) Student activities involving the practical application of costuming principles; and 4) Course evaluation.
A Study of the Priority of Selecting and Evaluating a Superintendent as Perceived by Presidents of Unified School Districts in Kansas
Authors:   , Dorrell George
Published: February 2023

The primary intention of this study was to investigate and determine the concepts of the presidents of the boards in one-hundred elected unified school districts in Kansas regarding their priorities of competencies that they seek in their evaluation and selection of a superintendent. The secondary intention was to research the relationship between these concepts and the characteristics of the presidents of the board who hold them. Characteristics such as age, sex, education, board experience, size of district, and student enrollment in each school were weighed. A related problem was to make a comparison of this study with the study by Harvey S. Loy titled “A Study of Priorities of Competencies in Educational Administration as Perceived by Superintendents of Unified School Districts in Kansas”. ..... In the process of making recommendations, this researcher recommends that a similar study should be made of the perceptions of principals and of classroom teachers as to the priorities of competencies which they perceive superintendents should possess. This should be done not only in Kansas but in other states, because Fort Hays Kansas State College, under the direction of Dr. LaVier L. Staven of the Education Department, has opened up a new political area of the superintendency from this type of research and the results of these studies. An evaluation should be made by the colleges, universities, and the Kansas State Department in the requirements of the Administrators Certificate. New courses should be developed to help prepare the superintendent as brought out in this research. An evaluation procedure and a format for boards of education should be developed in evaluating and the hiring of a superintendent. Better use of the experience of superintendents should be used at the college level and a training program developed for superintendents.
The Generalization Effects of Satiation Upon the Effectiveness of Visual Reinforcers
Authors:   , Dehaven Everett
Published: February 2023

The generalization effects of satiation upon the effectiveness of visual reinforcers were examined in relation to both a similar as well as a dissimilar visual reinforcer. A 100% agreement was found with five children and adults selected as judges in classifying the visual stimuli as similar or dissimilar. After the visual stimuli had been shown to be effective reinforcers in a testing period, a male experimenter exposed each child to experimental sessions involving seven different phases. The major finding of the study was the reliable and consistent occurrence of satiation with the visual reinforcers presented to the children. A baseline along with an analysis of each visual reinforcers effectiveness in relation to previous phases satiation revealed that the generalization of satiation to similar and dissimilar reinforcers did occur. The study concluded that the experiment disclosed adequate results to justify further investigation.
The Economic Development of Ness County, Kansas
Authors:   , Wesley John
Published: February 2023

The years selected for study in this thesis cover the period from the time or the second organization of the county in 1800 to the year 1953. Important events prior to this time are included as background material or because they have a bearing on the future development of the county. The plan of this thesis is to devote a chapter to each important division of the economic activity of the county. The county is predominately rural and the entire economy prospers or suffers with the success or failure of the wheat crop. Since agriculture holds such a prominent place in the economy, it has been treated at greater length and in more detail than other phases of the counties’ economic life.
Population Characteristics of the Introduced White Perch (Morone Americana) in the Ninnescah River System and Assessment of Community Structure After Invasion
Authors:   , Johnson Eric
Published: February 2023

White perch (Morone americana) is a temperate bass native to the Atlantic Coast of North America from Nova Scotia to the Carolinas. Although once restricted to the Atlantic Coast, white perch recently have been introduced Into the Ninnescah River in south-central Kansas. White perch were accidentally stocked into Cheney Reservoir in 1992 and have been collected at 13 locations throughout the Ninnescah River since 1999. Introduced populations of white perch often overpopulate, out-compete, and drastically reduce other fish populations. I began a study in May 2002 to 1) determine seasonal distribution and relative abundance of white perch in the Ninnescah River system. 2) determine the age structure and relative growth of white perch in the Ninnescah River system. 3) assess the diet of individuals captured in the Ninnescah River system, and 4) assess the effects of while perch on the native fish community of the Ninnescah River system with emphasis on species of concern. Results from the present study indicate that white perch are seasonally abundant, but probably are not present at all times of the year in the river. A total of 841 white perch was collected in the Ninnescah River system from May 2002 through June 2003. All white perch were collected from the North Fork Ninnescah River, with the exception of one individual collected in the mainstem of the Ninnescah River. Of the 840 collected in the North Fork Ninnescah River, 90% (757) of those individuals were collected upstream of Cheney Reservoir. White perch in the Ninnescah River appear to be relatively short-lived, but exhibit rapid growth compared to populations within the native range of the species. Scale samples from 77 white perch, ranging from 44 to 265 mm in total length, were used to determine age structure. Estimated ages ranged from young-of-year (YOY) to 5 years. YOY and age-1 individuals comprised 78 % of the white perch collected during my study. White perch in the Ninnescah River fed primarily on dipteran larvae. Other aquatic insects also were consumed, but to a lesser extent. However, as white perch grew, their diet shifted from a total dependence on aquatic insects to a mixture of insects and fish, I compared fish communities before and after the invasion of white perch on two spatial scales. I used a Spearman Rank Correlation to compare fish communities before and after the invasion of white perch at the assemblage level and the Morisita's Similarity Index to assess changes in community structure at the basin-wide level. At present, the data seem to indicate little measurable effects of white perch on the native fish community. However, continued monitoring and assessment of white perch and the native fish community of the Ninnescah River system is essential to ensure future patterns or trends do not go undetected.
The Effectiveness of Large Versus Small Schools as Measured by College Students' Perceptions of Academic Preparedness
Authors:   , Gotchall Teresa
Published: February 2023

The debate over the effectiveness of large schools versus small schools is a long-standing one, one in which there is no general consensus among researchers. Much of the past research has yielded mixed or inconclusive results. Previous researchers have used variables such as ACT scores, college grade point average (GPA), student participation and satisfaction, and student accomplishments to measure the effectiveness of schools. Expanding on the issue of large versus small school effectiveness, this research examined college students’ perceptions concerning their academic preparedness as an indicator of effective schools, in addition to actual preparedness. For the purpose of this study a small high school was defined as one having 300 or fewer students, a large high school as one enrolling more than 300 students. One hundred and seventy-two traditional sophomore, junior and senior level Fort Hays State University (FHSU) students were recruited to participate in this study. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire containing items covering the following areas: high school grade point average, high school size, size of graduating class, participation in extra-curricular activities in high school, satisfaction with high school, college grade point average, and academic preparedness in nine different areas. Perceptions of overall academic preparedness, and academic preparedness in nine areas were rated by respondents on a five-point Likert scale. Actual preparedness was measured utilizing ACT scores and cumulative college GPA. Additionally, satisfaction with high school and participation in extracurricular activities in high school were examined. The t-test was utilized to determine if there were significant differences between students from large versus small high schools. Comments regarding what students felt their high school did to prepare them for college were categorized detect trends in the responses. Results indicate that there are no significant differences between students from large high schools and small high schools in terms of perceived preparedness or actual preparedness. There were significant differences in relation to extracurricular participation and satisfaction with high school in that students from small high schools reported higher rates of participation and satisfaction. Additionally, students were asked to rate 10 characteristics of effective schools in terms of importance to their academic preparation for college. Parental involvement and community involvement were perceived as significantly more important by students from small high schools than students from large high schools. There were no significant differences among the other eight characteristics.
Trees That Grew of Clay
Authors:   , Schmitz Kathy
Published: February 2023

The creative spirit in me was given as a gift to be developed and treasured by the Lord God, my creator. And so creativity flows in a supernatural way into this life: from the flow comes my work in an exploration of clay.
United States Aid and Human Rights in Latin America : A Logical and Empirical Analysis
Authors:   , Arwine Alan
Published: February 2023

Since the end of World War II, the United States has been the world’s largest granter of foreign aid. As with any foreign policy instrument, the U.S. use of aid is motivated by political, economic and ideological considerations. Aid can be used to enhance potential relationships, address economic needs of both the U.S. and recipient countries and serve to further U.S. ideological interests and values. The expected return will often depend on the specific aid recipient and surrounding circumstances. Perhaps one of the most controversial questions surrounding the use of aid is the influence it can have on a recipient’s human rights record. In the mid-1970s Congress took steps to tie U.S. foreign aid to the human rights performance of aid recipients. With Congress linking human rights concerns to U.S. foreign policy the relationship between aid and human rights has become an issue of both theoretical interest and policy importance. Despite a lack of empirical evidence that establishes a positive relationship between U.S. aid and improved recipient nation performance it remains U.S. policy to grant aid to countries with a U.S.-defined satisfactory or improving human rights record. This study attempts to determine if there is a significant relationship between U.S. aid to Latin America and the human rights performance of the receiving countries, and what the determinants of U.S. foreign aid allocation are with respect to recipient nation’s human rights records. The design of the study seeks “traces” of a microdecision-making process by exploring macrolevel data. The statistical analysis indicates that economic aid targeted for development projects is highly correlated to a decreased authoritarianism of the recipient regime. Such a change in the governmental regime is also highly correlated to increased respect for human rights. Based on these macrolevel results, macrolevel foreign policy recommendations along with microlevel research recommendations are made.
Portrait of a Revolutionary : Thomas Jefferson and the Coming of the American Revolution
Authors:   , Osborn Robert
Published: February 2023

This thesis is a study of Thomas Jefferson’s development into a major figure in the American Revolution, both politically and intellectually, and his role in the movement through 1776 and the writing of the Declaration of Independence. The purpose of the study is to help insure an understanding of the factors that drew Jefferson into the movement and the contributions that he made to it. Included in the work is a study of the development of revolutionary ideals before Jefferson's entrance, Jefferson's early life and education, as well as his participation in the movement. The primary source of material for this thesis is Volume I of The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, edited by Julian Boyd, although many other primary and secondary sources have been used.
A Comparison of Social and Tangible Reinforcement with Institutionalized Adolescent Offenders Using Verbal Conditioning Task
Authors:   , Dible Gloria
Published: February 2023

The present study is an investigation of the effects of social reinforcement (verbal praise) and tangible reinforcement (tokens redeemable for money) in the learning of a verbal conditioning task by female adolescent delinquents. The study was undertaken in order to determine what environmental events or stimuli serve as effective reinforcers for this population and to assess the effect of presentation method on reinforce effectiveness, as well as to clarify inconsistent findings reported in previous research. Forty Ss, assigned to four groups, were administered a verbal conditioning task using Taffel’s (1955) sentence construction technique. A 21-trail base rate was established for all Ss to make up Block I. Experimental Group I was administered tangible reinforcers during trials 22-63 (Blocks II and III) for sentences beginning with personal pronouns, and social reinforcers presented randomly on pre-determined trials regardless of response. Conditions were reversed for Group II, with social reinforcement given for personal pronouns and tangible rewards presented randomly. To assess the effect of the “masking” procedure, Group III and IV were rewarded contingent upon the correct pronoun response, without presentation of the random reinforcers. Group III received tangible and Group IV social reinforcers for correct responses on trails 22-63 (Blocks II and III). The final 21 trails (Block IV), without reinforcement, served as an extinction block, for all experimental groups. Significant conditioning was demonstrated under all conditions of reinforcement, with an increase in the rate of personal pronoun response form the mean base rate level. Neither type of reinforcement (tangible or social) nor mode of presentation (masked or unmasked) proved to be a significant variable, although a trend indicated that social, unmasked reinforcement might be more effective in changing the behavior of this population. Awareness of the conditioning procedure was not demonstrated, and therefore was deemed to have no significant effect on S performance.
Rites of Passage
Authors:   , Saddler Sarah
Published: February 2023

Rites of passage is a natural progress of evolution in my creative process. It is very simply a continuation and expansion of what has gone before. To date, it is the summation of all my works.
Difference in Assertiveness Between College Males and Females and How it Relates to Experienced Control and Coping
Authors:   , Roth Sharon
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study was to compare the level of assertiveness in college freshmen males and college freshman females versus college senior males and college senior females. In addition, the association between assertiveness and two variables, coping and experienced control, was assessed. Sixty traditional undergraduate students were given the following three self-report inventories to complete: College Self-Expression Scale to measure assertion, COPE to assess coping skills, and Tiffany Control Scales for the reporting of experienced control. Data were analyzed by comparing group means and correlations. Results indicated that no significant differences were reported by the four groups of subjects when using the designated measurement inventories. An ANOVA procedure did indicate a significant intergroup difference on the ECT score of the TCS when the subjects were grouped by grade level and sex. Although the inventories correlated as hypothesized, only CSES and Active Coping of COPE had a significant relationship.