1941 research outputs found
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A School Community Needs Assessment of the Albia Community School District
Get PDFv, 63 leaves. Advisor: Robert L. WhittThe problem. The purpose of this study was to present an assessment of the educational needs of the Albia Community School District as
viewed by parents, voters, and civic leaders in the community, thereby aiding the Board of Education, administration, and faculty in planning
the curriculum, facilities, budgets, in-service, etc.
Procedure. The opinionnaire method of research was employed to determine the reactions by the parents, voters, and civic leaders. Two methods of administering the opinionnaire were used. One, a group interview technique was used with the civic groups. Secondly, a mailing technique was used to administer the opinionnaire to parents, voters,
and the Chamber of Commerce. The results were analyzed by computing the average rating of each objective used in the study and arranging the
objectives in order of importance according to the average rating. Thirdly, the objectives were grouped under a major heading and the ratings for the objectives were averaged. That average became the average rating for the major heading. There were sixty objectives used. They were grouped under eighteen major headings. The eighteen major
objectives were ranked In order of importance according to their average ratings.
Findings. The response to the opinionnaire was good. There were 74.5 percent of the participants that returned the completed opinionnaire. The emphasis of the participants seemed to center on fine arts, use of leisure time, health and safety, and family living. The major objectives' averages ranged from 3.8 to 2.9 on a five point scale where
five was the highest possible score.
Conclusions. The immediate purpose of the study was to provide a basis for the Albia Community School District to initiate long-range planning
of philosophy, goals, and activities, facilities, etc. The study provided that basis by providing a summary of the ratings in order of importance as determined by the participants. The members of the school district feel that emphasis needs to be placed on the fine arts curriculum. In the opinion of the author of the study, the fine arts
curriculum in this particular school district needs strengthened.
Recommendations. The results of the study should be adopted by the Board of Education and the superintendent or his appointed edministrator
should assume leadership for developing an executive committee of a cross-section of the community (including students) to begin a serious
study of the curriculum of the Albia Community School District
Effectiveness and Cost of Litter (Trash) Removal in an Amusement Park as a Function of Incentive Procedures and Age of the Children
No full text19 leaves. Advisor: Margaret LloydThe problem. An incentive procedure designed to facilitate litter removal in an amusement park was evaluated in this study.
Procedure. A constantly changing population of vacationing children of varying ages were offered complimentary tickets for amusement park rides contingent upon bags of litter picked up in the park. The per cent of litter removed, the number of size of sacks filled, the number and reported ages of children participating, the number of tickets issued, the number of tickets redeemed, and the cost of rides for which they were redeemed were all recorded. Findings. A cost and effect analysis showed that this particular incentive program for litter removal was approximately two and one half times as effective at about the same cost as traditional salaried maintenance. Overall, eight to fourteen year olds were the most efficient. Large litter was consistenly picked up more thoroughly than small litter, especially by the children. Conclusions. Incentive procedures for litter removal appear to be prefereable to traditional maintenance procedures in an amusement park in terms of both cost and effectiveness. Recommendations. Similar projects could be effectively maintained in other settings with minimal supervision
Communications Between Parents and School Personnel in the Newton Elementary Schools
No full text88 leaves.The Problem. The purpose of the study was to determine the quantity, quality and effectiveness of communication that takes place between parents of elementary school children and the teachers and school administration of the Newton, Iowa, Community Schools.
Procedures. Two separate surveys were made by mailed opinionnaires. One study group consisted of 12.5 percent of the parents with a child in grades one through six in the eight Newton public elementary schools. The other group was composed of all elementary teachers and principals in the same eight schools.
Findings. Eighty-seven percent of the 128 elementary school personnel and seventy-five percent of the 188 parents surveyed mailed back the opinionnaires. Most parents indicated satisfaction with present school-home communication; however, parents felt more conferences were necessary than do teachers. Sixty-four percent of the teachers wanted two conferences and twenty percent wanted one; while forty-nine percent of the parents wanted two, and forty percent wanted three or more conferences. Parents indicated they wanted frequent comprehensive written commmication from the schools as well as one-to-one meetings with school personnel. Teachers placed more stress on parents visiting school, attending scheduled functions and giving their children a positive attitude toward school
The Financial and Labor Impact of Cybernation on the American Republic Insurance Company
No full text99 leaves.The problem. Few studies of cybernation have been conducted on one specific company without any comparisons drawn with another company in a related industry. The problem of cybernation and its impact upon a single firm has not been well studies in economics, and this study seeks to remedy this gap in econmoic literature. Procedure. The research procedure consisted of personal interviews with personnel in top management, middle management and some lower management. A guide composed of questions was prepared for these various levels in order to insure that a uniform procedure would be followed during the interview. The information obtained covered the period immediately preceding the introduction of the computer into the firm as well as the period of time during which the computer was used and also the immediate future.
Findings. The insurance industry was ready for computers. The most economical method of determining whether or not to implement a computer system was to have a feasibility study conducted. The results of this study showed that such a system would enhance the firms competitive position and would help secure a continued profit growth. It was cheaper to rent the computer system than to purchase it. Structurally, the operating costs of the new system were about the same as those of the pre-electronic data processing systems. Salaries, supplies, and equipment costs were somewhat higher because of higher skill requirements, greater quantities of material and more sophisticated machines. More cost was involved in unproductive time initially but decreased considerably over this period of time. Clerical costs decreased through a reduction in the clerical force. The computer saves not only all of the costs of separate file maintenance, but also the costs of clerical people needed to conduct search and transfer which existed under the old system. Conflicting and overlapping services have been eliminated. The productivity of clerical operations has increased through greatly improved processing techniques. Greater operating efficiency has been obtained in data processing through increased speed, improved accuracy, and decreased equipment idleness. Expense is reduced because of faster billing procedures. There is more flexibility for the expansion of the firm's data processing capabilities as growth occurs. More timely decisions can now be made by management. More control of information and strengthening of the organizational structure has resulted. There has been some displacement effect on the clerical level. The supervisory and managerial levels have remained unchanged for the most part. No problem of old-age versus young or skilled versus unskilled has existed. There has been an upgrading of the skill levels of computer-affected personnel. Departments have become more functionalized. Cybernation enables a firm to handle larger volumes of insurance without requiring a substantial increase in employment. In summary, cybernation has been a good investment at American Republic
Theodore Roethke, Pantheist
Get PDF81 leaves. Advisor: Dr. Edward MayoTo this writer, there appears to be a definite pattern of implied pantheism in Roethke's early poems, a pattern more obviously developed in the middle poems, and even more fully expressed or implied in the later poems, including those published after his death.
And so, in an attempt to prove that Roethke's poetry is pantheistic, this thesis first contrasts his views on nature with those of two other American poets, Robert Frost and T.S. Eliot. Both Frost--enjoying nature but distrustful of it, and Eliot--convinced of the essential hostility of nature toward man and, above all, feeling modern man to be alienated from the natural world--provide a backdrop against which Roethke's rapturous and painful journey into nature and his growing tendency toward pantheism are more clearly viewed.
The methodology of this thesis consists of 1) furnishing germane opinions of such Roethke critics as make even passing reference to his pantheistic leanings but especially of 2) analyzing in depth several representative poems from each of three stages of his poetic development: the 1941-1958 collection, Words for the Wind, The Far Field poems, published in 1964, ana finally, portions of Straw for the Fire, published in 1972, but representing some twenty years of poetic development. The analysis of these poems consists of an evaluation of various aspects of them such as imagery, sound effects, rhythmic pattern rhyme, if any--to determine how the fore-going contribute to the quality of Roethke's pantheism. Naturally, the content of each poem is the primary concern because the writer believes that a consideration of that content shows a definite pattern of pantheism which developed in Roethke's poetry through the years.
The conclusion of the thesis includes a survey of recent critical views of the poetry that acknowledge even briefly the pantheism of Roethke, also a summary of the writer's reasons for believing that it is the poems themselves that offer the strongest evidence of that pantheism. These reasons for belief in his pantheism include the discernible pattern of his turning away from depression toward a belief in the One, the Light beyond light; his continual catalogues of the 'lovely diminutives;' his unique imagery, highly evocative and symbolic; the poet's strong belief in the compassionate source within nature; his reverence for all of nature--even the strange and the ugly; a deep yearning toward what he thinks that 'littles' represent. And surely the most powerful argument of all for the pantheistic view of his poetry is based on the thoughts that he voices through the imagery, the statements or affirmations of the Roethke who believes in something beyond his finite self. 'I'm more than when I was born;/ I could say hello to things,/ I could talk to a snail;/ I see what sings!/ A lively understandable spirit/ Once entertained you./ It will come again./Be still./ Wait.
The Dubliner Dilemma : Circumstance or Environment
Get PDF87 leaves. Advisor: Dr. Grace EckleyThe problem. The series of fifteen stories progress from childhood to maturity and reveal the paralysis (Joyce's term for the Dubliners) or entrapment of Dublin's citizens. Some learn from the paralysis and profit by the experience such as the small boy in "The Sisters" who gains spiritual and intellectual knowledge when he learns something about the paralysis of the priest. Others can never change and are caught in the paralysis of their environment such as the dutiful daughter in "Eveline" who weighs the idea of leaving against staying and concludes that it is her duty to stay.
Procedure. Research includes background material on James Joyce: his resistence to the smothering effects of his country, religion and family on his intellect and spirit; it includes a careful study of each of the stories; and it includes an examination of various critics and their works for contributions whether their ideas are in agreement or disagreement with this thesis. The plan of analysis and presentation includes, then, an introduction section of the thesis which summarizes facts about Joyce's background relevant to his stories of paralysis, a general statement which is made of the problem dealt with in the stories, and finally each story constitutes a chapter of the thesis which is analyzed on the basis of whether the main character gains knowledge from the paralysis and thereby rises above the paralysis, or can never change and therefore remains in a state of paralysis
The Nature of Iowa Territorial Politics
Get PDF167 leaves. Advisor: Dr. Charles A. NelsonThe problem. Although a number of works have been done on the history of the Iowa Territorial period, 1838-1846, there are no studies which attempt to analyze the development of politics during this period. The essential purpose of this thesis is to examine the nature of political development, the strength of political activity, the nature and influence of partisan politics, the specific development of politics on the various levels of government, and the relationship between territorial politics and national issues.
Procedure. This study is primarily based on an intensive investigation into all of the original territorial papers available in the Iowa State Department of History and Archives, including the collection of newspapers for this period. Further research was done in the various historical journals which contain material relative to the period. General histories were used to compile cumulative data that had a bearing on political development. This material was then used to develop a narrative history of political development in Iowa Territory.
Findings. Early political activity in Iowa Territory was not well organized and largely emanated from the former political experience of the settlers. Party organization was rather slow and sporadic with the first evidence of development in 1840. Political organization was primarily effected on the local level and was largely concerned with local issues. There is much evidence of the development of local oligarchies during the period. There was a major trend of many experienced politicians dominating the Territorial Council and showing real strength in the House of Representatives. All of the Iowa counties evidenced a rather consistent political party bias. Voting records indicate that partisan politics had a major influence on the development of a Constitution for statehood. The major doctrines of the two parties closely followed national party doctrines except on local issues where personal factions often developed
The Origins and Development of the Indian Removal Policy
Get PDF158 leaves.The problem. The purpose of this work is to present a descriptive narrative of the men, problems and events which made up American Indian policy from 1800 to 1840. A primary objective is to trace the origins and mark the major developments of the Federal Government's policy of removing Indian tribes to the western side of the Mississippi River. Andrew Jackson's role in these developments will be stressed.
Procedure. After a brief review of pre-Jeffersonian Indian policy, the thesis traces the events which led from the formulation of the removal concept at the beginning of
the 19th century to its final culmination in the late 1830's. By combining primary sources such as government documents and
collected correspondence with recent secondary books and articles, the thesis focuses on the formulation of removal and not the actual removal operations.
Findings. The study finds that while removal was considered prior to the War of 1812, it was not until Indian military power east of the Mississippi was broken in that conflict, that removal came to be seen as the final
solution to the Indian "problem" in the 1820's. James Monroe, John C. Calhoun and other federal leaders actually defined the policy which Andrew Jackson implemented. Jackson used
this foundation, supported states' rights and allowed Congress to provide the necessary legislation for removal
The Persistence of the Bacterium Serratia Marcescens in the Intestinal Tracts of Turtles
Get PDF30 leaves. Advisor: Dr. Rodney A. RogersThe problem. The persistence of Serratia marcescens in the intestinal tracts of turtles was investigated.
Procedure. Food pellets were injected with Serratia marcescens and fed to the experimental turtles. The retention time of S. marcescens in the intestinal tracts of three
genera of turtles was measured by the recovery of the bacteria in fecal and tank water samples collected every 24 hours and plated on tryptic soy agar and an asparagine enriched agar. Findings. §erratia marcascens was recovered from 28.3% of the experimental turtles in the first fecal or water samples collected following the introduction of the bacterium into the host turtles. In the fifth fecal or water samples, 1.8% of the turtles showed positive cultures and S. marcescens was not isolated after the fifth sampling time.
Conclusion. Serratia marcescens cannot persist in the intestinal tracts of turtles for a period longer than five days with the average retention time being two days.
Recommendations. Additional study should be undertaken to determine the environmental conditions prevailing in the alimentary tracts of turtles. Attention should be directed toward the isolation, identification and enumeration
of the genera of bacteria successfully colonating the digestive tract and the identification of the bactericidal substances operative in the turtle's alimentary tract
A Cost Analysis of an Institutional Token Motivational System
Get PDF48 leaves.The problem: An analysis was performed on the cost and effectiveness of a token motivational system in a state hospital.
Procedure: A token economy program, designed and implemented by a multidisciplinary team, attempted to motivate 48 retarded residents to perform 27 self-help skills and 51 work tasks. Six weeks of residents' baseline performance was compared to the effects of eight weeks of treatment programming. Cost break-outs of the total treatment cost for direct and indirect treatment cost, three stages of program development and a comparison of the monthly ward cost with and without the treatment program were performed.
Findings: The treatment program was effective in increasing the self-help and work behaviors. The various cost breakouts indicated that: (a) professional and non-professional time was reallocated cost to the system, (b) the only major additional cost to the system was supplies, (c) the dollar cost for operating a large number of projects was relatively small.
Conclusion: A behavior modification program fulfills the requirements for a Program-Planning-Budgeting-System analysis and makes possible an evaluation of the cost and effectiveness of a residential treatment program.
Recommendations: Future research should be directed toward developing more useful empirical cost data collection procedures