1941 research outputs found
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The Effects of Noise and Aggressive Cues on Preschoolers' Encoding and Interpretation of Social Information
Get PDF[vii], 60 leaves. Advisor: Jane Rankin.The Problem: These studies examined preschool-age boys' social information processing in situations of arousal. It was hypothesized that, under conditions designed to increase arousal, boys would respond more aggressively than those in
neutral conditions.
Procedure: A total of 60 four year old boys participated in each of two studies. In both
studies, boys in the experimental condition were exposed to 80 dB of white noise and were shown posters depicting aggressive acts, whereas boys in the control condition experienced normal noise levels and were shown neutral posters. Each boy was asked how a boy puppet should respond in six enacted conflict situations. These responses
were rated for level of aggression. Next, each boy participated in two stereotyping tasks assessing his tolerance for chlldren pictured with gender consistent, neutral, or inconsistent toys. Heart rate was measured as a manipulation check and each boy's aggressive behavior was measured in a free-play situation. In experiment one, the hypothetical conflict situations were hostile in their intent as compared to the ambiguous situations enacted in experiment two.
Findings: Analyses of variance indicated that boys in the arousal condition responded with significantly more aggression than did boys in the control condition. No significant differences were found between conditions in the boys' tolerance for children shown pictured with gender inconsistent toys. There were no significant
differences in heart rate between the arousal and control conditions, therefore differences in aggression between groups cannot be directly attributed to physiological arousal caused by the white noise. In the first experiment, there were considerable discrepancies between raters in evaluating aggressive playground behaviors, making it difficult to determine whether there was a correlation between responses in the puppet task and subjects' behavior in a natural setting. The interrater reliability for the playground observations in the second experiment was acceptable, but weakly correlated with aggression ratings in the puppet task.
Conclusion: Heightened aggression in the arousal condition may be due to boys' tendency to attribute hostility to their peers when their social information processing is biased during the encoding and interpretation stages of conflict situations (Dodge & Crick, 1994).
Recommendations: The fact that noise and aggressive cues elicited more aggressive responses in both hostile and ambiguous situations suggests that the procedures applied in this research might provide a safe and ethical way to study young children's physical aggression. Further research is needed to separate the effects of noise and aggressive cues in eliciting aggressive responses and to understand how girls process social
information in conditions of arousal
A Comparative Analysis of the Characteristics of Males and Females Who Select Nursing as a Profession
Get PDFvii, 137 leaves. Advisor: Sandra Sellers.The purpose of this study was to examine if there were any changes
over the last 33 years in factors that influence career choices of males and
females who become registered nurses. A structured self-report survey
including 33 fixed alternative and short response questions, patterned from
studies by Mannino (1963) and Williams (1973), was developed by the
researcher and mailed to 150 male and 150 female registered nurse in Iowa.
Data examining background characteristics and demographic information were
collected from a sample of 63 male and 84 female registered nurses in Iowa.
Four research questions were developed to help determine the factors
that influence males and females to choose nursing as a career, specifically
those factors that were similar and different between male and female nurses.
The data were utilized to determine implications for the marketing and
recruitment of men into the nursing profession. The theoretical framework of
the study was social role theory.
The respondents were primarily caucasian, Catholic, married with
children, and averaged an age of 41.8 years. They had been in nursing 14.2
years and their most recent nursing position was staff nurse.
An analysis of the data revealed the factors that influence males and
females to choose nursing as a career to be similar. Ranked factors influencing
the choice of nursing as a profession by both male and female subjects
included "to help people". The male nurse was single, was older when he
decided to become a nurse and when he entered a nursing education program.
He aspired to obtain a management position in nursing, and had relatives in
nursing. He had an associate degree in nursing, had been in the armed forces,
had a college degree other than nursing and a career prior to nursing.
Findings of this study reveal that the male nurse of today had changed
little from the male nurse in the studies of Mannino (1963) and Williams
(1973) and is similar to the female nurse of today. Suggestions to increase
recruitment and marketing of men in nursing included presenting nursing to
males as appealing, introducing non-traditional career choice possibilities to
males early, and actively targeting young males through the media. Marketing
should be done in an androgynous manner, recruitment should be aimed at
men in allied health professions, male role models such as male nurse
recruiters or nursing faculty should visit with potential male nursing students,
and school counselors need to be informed about the potential of a career in
nursing. The advanced practice nurse needs to continue to conduct research on
men in nursing to identify more factors for marketing and recruitment
The Effect of Transient Mood on Performance Outcomes and Levels of Motivation Variables
Get PDF[viii], 118 leaves. Advisor: Donald EvansThe Problem. This study investigated the effect of transient mood on need for achievement (n Ach), need for approval (n App), need for power (n Pow), and performance outcome measures. It was hypothesized that subjects experiencing negative transient mood states would be associated
with lower n Ach, lower n Pow, and higher n App than in a neutral mood state. It was further hypothesized that subjects experiencing a negative
mood state would have lower performance levels than subjects in a neutral affective state. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that mood state would be associated with specific life values (as measured by the Life Success Measures Scale). Individuals with high levels of n Ach and n Pow would place more importance upon values related to occupational success dimensions.
Procedure. Measures of n Ach, n App, n Pow, Life Success Measures, depression and performance were obtained from 110 college students. In half of the subjects a negative mood induction procedure was
implemented to achieve a transient shift in mood. The remaining subjects were given a neutral mood induction procedure which was not expected to influence their mood state. After the mood induction, subjects were given a series of questionnaires assessing motivation levels and life success values and a task which assessed performance.
Findings. Transient mood state had a significant affect on motivation variables, Life Success Measures, and performance outcomes. As hypothesized, negative transient mood had a significant effect on motivation and performance.
Conclusions. Levels of n Ach and n Pow are significantly effected by an individual's transient mood state. Subjects in the negative mood induction condition had significantly lower levels of n Ach, n Pow, and performance outcomes than those individuals in the neutral mood
induction condition. Affective state caused a significant reduction in both motivation and performance.
Recommendations. Organizations using performance measures and levels of motivation variables as factors in evaluations and promotions, should be aware of the effect transient mood states may have on these measures. Further research is needed to identify what other factors besides affect, effects motivation and performance
Development and Evaluation of an Isospora Suis Sporozoite Neutralizing Antibody Assay in Swine Testicular Cells
Get PDF41 leavesAn in vitro Isospora suis sporozoite neutralizing antibody assay has been developed
in swine testicular (ST) cells. This assay measures the titer of neutralizing antibodies
present in sera, milk and monoclonal antibody culture fluids by determining both the
amount of intracellular sporozoites by immunofluorescence and the cytopathic effect in ST cells. A monoclonal antibody against the apical complex of I. suis sporozoites inhibited the infection of sporozoites in vitro. Hyperimmune sera produced in goats and guinea pigs inhibited sporozoite infection in ST cells. Milk samples from gilts vaccinated with I. suis contained neutralizing antibodies, however the titers did not correlate with protection observed in nursing pigs after challenge
The Effectiveness of Dimensional Analysis as a Problem-solving Method for Medication Calculations from the Nursing Student Perspective
Get PDFiii, 113 leaves. Advisor: Charles S. GreenwoodThe problem. The nursing literature has identified that many nurses experience difficulty in
calculating medication calculation problems. Chemistry educators have adopted a method, dimensional analysis, that is not only easier to learn but also reduces errors when a mathematical conversion is required. The purpose of this qualitative study was to evaluate the effectiveness of dimensional analysis as a problem-solving method for medication calculations from the perspective of nursing students. Specifically, the study answered the grand-tour question, "What perceptions do nursing students have regarding the effectiveness of dimensional analysis as a problem-solving method for medication calculations?" Based on the nursing literature, four sub-questions also were included
regarding mathematical, conceptual, and cognitive deficiencies and mathematical anxiety levels of nurses and nursing students.
Procedures. A purposeful sampling was utilized with 27 nursing students enrolled in a three-year
diploma nursing education program from a hospital-based school of nursing located in central Iowa. To establish trustworthiness of the study, triangulation of the data was accomplished through the use of participant observation, one-to-one, open-ended interviews, and a closed-ended questionnaire allowing conclusions to be draw from multiple referents. Six nursing students requesting additional tutoring were chosen to participate in one-to-one, open-ended interviews based on the criteria for critical case
sampling permitting maximum application of information.
Findings. Data obtained from the nursing students provided themes and conceptual patterns regarding the effectiveness of dimensional analysis as a problem-solving method for medication calculations. Nine emerging themes were obtained from the data examples provided by the six nursing students during the open-ended interviews and categorized into three major conceptual patterns.
Closed-ended questionnaires were answered by 27 nursing students. All of the nursing students strongly agreed and agreed (100%) that dimensional analysis improved their mathematical calculation abilities and conceptual abilities, 92.6% strongly agreed and agreed that it improved their cognitive abilities, and 77.8% strongly agreed and agreed that it reduced their anxiety levels when solving medication calculation problems.
Conclusions. In this study, nursing students identified that dimensional analysis was an
effective problem-solving method for medication
calculations that assisted them in improving their mathematical, conceptual, and cognitive abilities, as well as decrease their anxiety levels. Dimensional analysis was found to be a successful problem-solving method for both right-brain and left-brain learners because of the ability to be visualized and followed in a logical manner with an explicit step-by-step approach.
Recommendations. The positive findings from this study certainly warrant further quantitative and
qualitative research using dimensional analysis as a problem-solving method for medication calculations with other nursing students, students in other disciplines, and practicing nurses. Regardless of whether dimensionaI analysis is used in education or practice, it remains an avenue to be considered by schools of nursing, hospitals, or other institutions when the goal is competence in medication calculation abilities, reduction of
medication errors, and above all adherence to the code "do no harm.
Self-Improvement and Teen Magazines: A Matter of Fashion and Beauty: A Content Analysis of Sassy, Seventeen and YM--Teen Magazines for Adolescent Females
Get PDF[v], 73 leaves. Advisor: Patricia PrijatelThis research is a content analysis of three teen magazines: Sassy, Seventeen and YM. It replicates an earlier study by Evans, Rutberg, Sather and Turner, to determine if teen magazines targeting a young, female audience still promote self-improvement through fashion and physical
beautification.
The data was collected from ten issues each of Seventeen, Sassy and YM. lssues selected for Seventeen and YM were published during the time
period from June 1996 through July 1997. The issues selected for Sassy were published during the time period from December 1995 through November 1996, Sassy's last issue. Articles, advertisements and photographs were coded
according to the coding scheme developed by Evans, Rutberg, Sather and Turner to facilitate a comparison of results.
Results of the content analysis and comparison with results from the earlier study show that the three teen magazines studied do still promote self-improvement through fashion and physical beautification. The content analysis of photography in each of the magazines shows each of the magazines studied have made progress in representing a multi-cultural, multi-racial population by including pictures of more non-white models.
Further study of teen magazines is needed to determine the impact of the magazines' messages on readers. Further studies might explore a possible
correlation between teen magazine readership and eating disorders or body-image distortion. Further research might also consider uses and gratifications theory to help explain why teen magazines are read, and if the magazines are
fulfilling reader needs
Strategic Planning In Education: A Study Of Intermediate Agencies
Get PDFvii, 85 leaves. Advisor: A.P. Johnston.The problem: The problem of this study was to identify and analyze key factors which influence strategic planning processes in three Iowa area education agencies.
Procedures: Through interviews in the three Iowa area education agencies with the most established strategic plans, selected staff and board members who had been involved in their agencies' strategic planning process which included: the role of leadership; the necessary planning and organizational governance structures; the level of resource commitment; and, other factors deemed important.
Findings: The findings of this study included the need for: leadership and commitment from chief administrative officer and many agency staff; planning structures which incorporated continuity between initial planning and implementation; financial and human resources; tangible results, though the process itself proved more important than any of the products; and, communication about the strategic planning process and plans since a limmited number of staff were actually involved. These factors proved to be highly interactive, frequently blurring one with the other and all interdependent.
Conclusions:
1. Strategic planning was the mechanism of choice in an effort to bring focus and coherence to the area education agencies.
2. Top leadership is crucial to the initiation and sustainability of strategic planning.
3. Action planning and implementation received short shrift in the strategic planning process.
4. Resources for strategic planning are difficult to attribute and even more difficult to account for in their consequences.
5. Talk matters; though there were tangible results, the end product resulting from strategic planning was often intangible.
6. Don't ask if you don't want to hear the answer.
7. You don't know what you don't know until you know.
Recommendations: Additional research could be done to measure the success of strategic planning, to identify the role and results of staff and stakeholder participation, to identify or determine the facilitator skills most likely to produce quality strategic plans, and to compare the formal strategic planning process with the informal process
Nurses' Knowledge of Growth and Developmental Principles in Meeting Psychosocial Needs of Hospitalized Children
Get PDFvi, 130 leaves. Advisor: Linda H. BradyThis was a replication of a study by Dr. Angela Gillis of Nova Scotia. A descriptive survey design was used to assess nurses' knowledge of growth and developmental principles when providing psychosocial care to children. Gillis' questionnaire was mailed to all known pediatric registered nurses of Iowa in 1995. Four hundred nineteen questionnaires were returned. Study results lend support to Gillis' findings regarding a need for improvement in the knowledge and application of growth and developmental principles by pediatric nurses. The study found instructors to be more knowledgeable than both staff nurses and supervisors. Master's prepared nurses were also more knowledgeable than nurses with both associate degrees and diploma preparation. The results of the study suggest ways to strengthen nurses' knowledge and accomplishments in this significant area of pediatric nursing
Particular Constructs of Self-Concept that are Associated with Self-Directedness Among Selected Women Students Enrolled at a Community College
Get PDFvii, 151 leaves. Advisor: Charles L. GreenwoodThe problem. This study was designed to investigate the relationship that exists between particular aspects of community college women's self-concept and self-directedness. It also attempted to identify differences that may occur by age, and educational attainment. Specifically, the study investigated the relationship of a measure of each of five self-concept constructs, as measured by the DOSC, of selected community college students to self-directedness. Determining any differences between traditional and non-traditional age women students may aid in helping educators provide more responsive learning environments. Additional information relative to self-concept and self-directedness can aid educators in understanding the frame of reference out of which adult women students attempt to learn. The concern is not merely to identify self-directed learning behavior in individuals but also to compile information that might aid
educators in assisting women and others on a path to self-directedness in life.
Procedures. Participants were asked to complete a demographic sheet, the Oddi Continuing Learning Inventory and the Dimensions of Self-Concept Scale. Data was analyzed by using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficients, t-tests and partial correlation analysis. A qualitative
assessment was also completed to glean more in-depth information.
Findings. Three of the five factors of the DOSC were determined to have statistical significance with self-directedness indicating the scales might
be useful in aiding educators understanding of students. Older students scored higher on the self-directedness measure than younger students;
however, areas on the self-concept measure showed no significant differences between the age groups.
Conclusions. The DOSC and OCLI are valid and reliable instruments for use with adult students. Three factors of the DOSC scale were significantly correlated with self-directedness, the relationships were moderate and other variables should also be explored. One factors of the DOSC resulted statisticaily significant correlations with educational aspirations; however, the relationship was extremely low and other variables
should be considered.
Recommendations. Several recommendations were made for using different populations, variables and methodology. The results of this study support further investigations of the instruments used
An Analysis of Cultural Content in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Textbooks
Get PDFvi, 90 leaves. Advisor: Sandra L. Sellers.The purpose of this study was to analyze the cultural content of selected
psychiatric/mental health nursing textbooks. The study was based on Madeleine
Leininger's theory of culture care diversity and universality. Four major research
questions were posed for the study: (1) What cultures are represented in
psychiatric/mental health nursing textbooks?; (2) How frequently is each culture
represented?; (3) What is the context within which each culture is represented?; and
(4) How accurately are cultures represented in psychiatric/mental health nursing
textbooks? A qualitative research design was employed for the study. Data were
collected from fourteen selected textbooks using four tools developed by the
researcher.
The findings of this study indicate that cultural content is being addressed in
the psychiatric/mental health nursing textbooks. This content is primarily segregated
into separate chapters. The majority of the textbooks focus on the four largest
minority groups: African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American, and Native-American.
The frequency count of student learning activities indicated that African-Americans were the most often represented cultural groups appearing seventeen times
in student learning activities. Hispanic-Americans and Asian-Americans were
represented almost equally, appearing twelve and eleven times respectively. Native-Americans were represented only one time in student learning activities in the
textbooks. Occasionally a member of another cultural group would be represented.
Some variations in symptoms of illness were included in eleven of the
fourteen psychiatric/mental health nursing textbooks examined. These variations
primarily involved the four largest minority groups. Culture-bound syndromes for
these four groups also were identified. The three contexts of health restoration, health
maintenance, and health promotion were examined but information related to these
areas was not mutually exclusive. Nursing activities identified could be applied to all
three areas.
This study also examined content in the psychiatric/mental health nursing
textbooks for obvious examples of stereotyping and bias. Little evidence of obvious
stereotyping and bias was found.
Further research is needed to develop valid and reliable tools for the
evaluation of multicultural content of all educational materials. Research needs to be
conducted to evaluate the multicultural content of nursing curricula. The effect of
experiential learning on knowledge and attitudes also need to be evaluated.
Nurse educators need to lead the way in research that will contribute to the
effectiveness of multicultural education. It is the responsibility of nurse educators to
develop and implement multicultural content that is accurate and effective in teaching
students to provide culturally congruent care