1941 research outputs found
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Student Satisfaction with University Admissions and Financial Aid Services within Selected Organizational Structures
Get PDF107 leaves. Advisor: Donald Adams.The problem. This study was conducted to determine if the organizational structure of an institution's admissions and financial aid offices is related to student satisfaction with the quality of services provided by these offices.
Procedure. Three institutions were identified as
having different organizational structures of admissions and financial aid operations. A random sample of undergraduate students from these three institutions participated in a telephone survey, responding to questions concerning their satisfaction with admissions and financial aid services. Responses were then analyzed using an analysis of variance to determine the extent of difference between student populations.
Findinqs. The results of this research indicated no statistically significant differences in student satisfaction with admissions and financial aid services of different organizational structures. The findings did, however, indicate that freshmen were significantly more satisfied than continuing students on certain questions
regarding admissions and financial aid services.
Conclusion. Freshmen proved to be significantly more satisfied with admissions and financial aid services than continuing students. The least amount of difference between freshmen and continuing students' satisfaction appeared within an institution operating with an enrollment management concept.
Recommendations. Further study examining the
relationship between the organizational structure of admissions and financial aid operations and the extent of satisfaction felt by freshmen and continuing students would contribute more to the literature on admissions, financial aid and student retention. Additional research assessing
satisfaction levels of parents, graduate students and nontraditional students could further impact the way in which institutions of higher education organize to best meet the needs of a changing student population
Smile More: A Subcultural Analysis of the Anchor/Consultant Relationship in Local Television News Operations
Get PDFiii, 209 leaves. Advisor: Michael CheneyThe problem: Few television stations in the United States remain untouched by the influence of news consultants. To become a news anchor for a local television station, a journalist is likely to
receive specialized training from these consultants. The author will analyze the relationship between anchors and consultants
within the framework of an occupational subculture to better understand that relationship,
Procedure: The author uses qualitative research to explore the situation described; specifically, a series of structured interviews with randomly chosen American television news anchors and several representative consultants. Contents of the interviews are analyzed within an occupational subculture paradigm.
Findings: As subcultural outsiders, station consultants can cause irritation and anxiety for news anchors, but the skills they teach are valued by the modern television industry. Some anchors
may be willing to compromise traditional news culture values to survive in their careers, but this compromise may be offset by new perceptions of their social responsibility.
Conclusion: While the skills taught by a consultant may be valued within the television news subculture, his or her role as an outsider
can contribute negatively to the subculture. The hypothesis drawn from qualitative analysis is as follows: If journalistic norms constitute a strong subculture, then those who receive coaching from within the subculture will report a more positive
experience than those who are coached by consultants.
Recommendations: Quantitative research can now be pursued to test the preceding hypothesis
Science and Perception Related to the Environment as an Ethical Concern
No full text285 leaves. Advisor: Michael Myszewsk
The Economic, Career, Social and Personal Effects of Reduction in Force (RIF) in Secondary Teachers Terminated from Three Iowa School Districts, 1981-1983
Get PDFiv, 129 leaves. Advisor: Barry J. Steim.Purpose. The purpose of the study was to collect data on the effects of Reduction-in-Force as they related to the economic, career, social, and personal lives of secondary school teachers, to describe the current status of this group and the adjustments made to job loss.
Procedures. A questionnaire was designed to secure
information of the effects on secondary teachers riffed (1980-1983) from three Iowa multi-high school districts. Comparisons of data were reported in numbers and percentages, grouped and cross-tabulated according to sex, age, subject
area, length of service, and school district.
Findings. Most riffed teachers were in the 31-40 age group, with three to five years of teaching experience, females out-numbering males by a wide margin. Teachers were terminated from all disciplines, the greatest numbers from special education and physical education. Twenty-six percent reported illnesses diagnosed as stress-related to job loss; 55 percent have made life-style adjustments. Some teachers have relocated, either to accept other teaching positions or to make career changes. A large percentage of riffed teachers were recalled within three to six months, some to other disciplines and different grade levels. Not all accepted recall.
Conclusions. Female teachers between the ages of thirty and forty bore the brunt of RIF at the secondary level. The numbers of terminated teachers who were recalled before the next school year began would support the contention that
school districts over-riffed. Recalled teachers are teaching outside their preferred subject and grade areas to a greater degree than before RIF. Major life-style changes were made as riffed teachers sought to adjust, with those making career changes finding teaching skills to have value.
Recommendations. School districts should take steps to ensure that seniority is not the sole criterion for RIF but that it is combined with other criteria to protect academic disciplines and unique programs. Those districts which have successfully retrained riffed teachers and provided supportive environments should be studied as models. Boards and administrators should anticipate trends and make preparations to ensure that the total impact of RIF, if it occurs again, will be diffused
Coping with an Uncertain Loss: Aspects of Bereavement in Two Families with an Abducted Child
Get PDFv, 152 leaves. Advisor: Susan Varhely.The problem. Assuming the form of a clinical case
study, this research project was an exploratory study of the family dynamics operative when a child is abducted by a nonfamily member. The problem of the study was to investigate, compare, and categorize the coping patterns of two families
against the framework of attachment theories as described by John Bowlby.
Procedure. The author conducted a series of structured interviews with two families to explore and assess clinical dynamics of bereavement and coping strategies. The results were categorized against the backdrop of attachment theories
developed by John Bowlby.
Findings. The Bowlby model provided an adequate, if not complete, means of assessment of bereavement processes in the two families. One subject adopted a chronic mourning style while the other demonstrated a pattern that focused on
a continued search for their son and which disallowed conscious grieving. Both subjects were observed to be unfinished in the grief process. The uncertainty of the loss seemed to be the prime factor that prolonged grief in both subjects.
Conclusion. The Bowlby model was acceptable in
defining general grief reactions of the subjects. Each family remained in the grief process for prolonged states which was a taxing problem. Parental commitment to the child remained strong in both cases, however. Although differing in degrees, each subject retained a sense of hope
for the safe recovery of the abducted child.
Recommendations. Recommendations of the study focused on clinical assessment points for professionals involved in bereavement counseling. Unique family, parental, and sibling dynamics were highlighted. Personal awareness issues of the counselor also were discussed. Further research topics included investigating a multi-disciplinary
team approach in solving the problems of childhood abduction and studying grief reactions relevant to various childhood and family life developmental stages
A Model for Electronic Linkage of Organizational Communication in Large High Schools
Get PDFiv, 140 leaves. Advisor: James HalvorsenThe problem. The problem of this study was to investigate the organizational communication models of large high schools. The purpose was to develop a model for electronic linkage of organizational communication in large high schools.
Procedure. A thorough review of the literature in 1) management and educational administrative theory, 2) educational administrative
communication theory, and 3) organizational communication theory, was conducted in order to determine what administrative communication or
organizational communication models existed for use by practicing educational administrators of large high schools (defined as schools
with enrollments with 1000 or more students). Since no adequate models were found, the relatively new field of Organizational Communication was studied for the purpose of finding models in management that could be
adapted for use in the educational setting. Using information, models, and ideas from the Organizational Communication field, the Model for
Electronic Linkage of Organizational Communication in Large High Schools (ELOC Model) was developed.
Findings. The ELOC Model uses the physical linkage of computer networking as its' basis for completing organizational communication. Schools have daily repetitive communication events such as attendance, grading, scheduling, discipline, and announcements which the model addressed. Since each teacher acts as a middle manager in large high schools, the computer linkage allows communication to and between any staff member and the administration. Other organizational communication uses or functions are: 1) organizational functions such as curriculum,
testing, activities, budget, and personnel uses; 2) communication both formally and informally; 3) human input of information for the organizations goals. The ELOC Model also addressed twelve
organizational communication problems prevalent in most organizations, showing how it could eliminate each of the twelve.
Conclusions and Recommendations. The ELOC Model has promise as a means of solving the organizational communication needs of large high schools. The model must be implemented and evaluated before any conclusions can be drawn. However, large high schools are large organizations and as such must move from the bureaucratic age to the information age. The
Model for Electronic Linkage of Organizational Communication in Large High Schools is a total environment organizational communication model
adapted to the struLture and needs of large high schools and can be continually expanded as technology expands our environments and
communication capabilities
The Relationship of Extracurricular Activity Involvement to I.Q., Academic Achievement, Attendance, and Discipline Referrals at a Selected Midwestern High School
Get PDFvi, 127 leaves. Advisor: James HalvorsenThe problem. This study was developed to examine and determine the relationship between involvement in extracurricular activities and the educational lives of students in a selected midwestern high school.
Procedure. Three hundred seventy-four graduating
seniors from a selected midwestern high school completed the Fall Senior Information Sheet and the Spring Senior Information Sheet. These instruments gathered data relevant to activity involvement at the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth
grades. Data relevant to I.Q. scores, academic achievement, attendance rates, and discipline referrals were gathered from available office records. The relationship between extracurricular
activity involvement and 1.Q. scores, academic
achievement, attendance rates, and discipline referrals was statistically analyzed through the use of partial correlations.
Findings. One highly significant relationship between extracurricular activity involvement and academic achievement for participants was determined. The results indicated a significant relationship between extracurricular activity
involvement and I.Q. as well as decreased discipline referrals for the participants. Although the results also indicated a significant relationship between extracurricular activity involvement and attendance rates, the relationship
was not a particularly strong one. The study discovered that females are more involved in activities and maintain higher grade-point averages than do males. Males, however, have
higher attendance rates and fewer discipline referrals.
Conclusion. There is a significant relationship between involvement in extracurricular activities and the educational lives of students in a selected midwestern high school.
Recommendations. Additional research is recommended concerning the relationship of participation in extracurricular activities and academic achievement in high school students. Further research should be conducted to determine
why a greater percentage of students do not participate in extracurricular activities using larger and smaller populations selected from a variety of population bases
Lethal and Semilethal Mutation Frequency of the First and Second Chromosomes in Two Natural Populations of "Drosophila melanogaster"
Get PDFiii, 40 leaves. Advisor: Michael E. MyszewskiThe problem. The present study was undertaken to
examine potential genetic diversity as measured by the lethal gene frequencies between two natural populations of "Drosophila melanogaster".
High levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) and other
suspected mutagens and carcinogens, i.e., vinyl chloride, chloroform, etc., have reportedly been found in subsurface soil and waters near downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Lethal gene frequency of the first (X) and second chromosomes of the toxic population sample (captured within the toxic plume locale), was determined by genetic analysis and compared to that of a "control" population sample captured in an area believed to be free of chemical contamination.
Procedure. The Basc technique for determining
X-linked lethal mutation frequency and the Cy/Pm method for determining second chromosome lethal mutation frequency were employed. Mutation frequencies were calculated and data was analyzed by the Chi-square method.
Findings. The X-linked lethal mutation frequency of the control population sample was found to be 0%. Compared with the toxic population X-linked lethal mutation frequency of 1.47%, the difference is not significant. Drastic (lethal + semilethal) mutation frequency of the control population second chromosomes was found to be 48%. When compared to the toxic population second chromosome drastic mutation frequency of 56%, the difference is not significant.
Conclusion. The data obtained from this study showed that the chemical contamination of the toxic population sample habitat had no significant effect on the frequency of X-linked or second chromosome lethal mutation
The Influence of Student Absences on Grade Point Average in High School
Get PDFiii, 35 leaves. Advisor: Susan Kovar.The problem. This study was undertaken (1) to
examine the extent that high school attendance level affects grade point averages, (2) to examine the interaction between the effects of intelligence and attendance levels on grade point averages.
Procedure. A two way ANOVA was performed using
grade point average as the dependent variable and
attendance levels and intelligence as the independent variables. The grade point average was figured on a ratio scale and the independent variable of intelligence and attendance were categorized so ANOVA could be used.
Findings. This study clearly shows that the
number of days absent from school has a detrimental effect on grade point average. Across all intelligence categories, grade point averages steadily decrease as absences increase. There is no interaction between the effects of attendance levels and intelligence scores on grade point averages.
Conclusions. This study shows that students can
effectively improve their grade point averages by
making a consciencious effort to attend school
regularly.
Recommendations. There is a need to improve
students' attendance levels and for students to
recognize the relationship between attendance levels, grade point averages and achievement of educational excellence in their high school years, Students, parents and educational staff need to be made more aware of how absences contribute to the problem of lower educational achievement
Self-Perceptions of Iowa Public School Superintendents toward Occupational Stress
Get PDFxi, 226 leaves. Advisor: Barry SteimThe problem. The purpose of this study was to
determine (1) the frequency and intensity of occupational sources of stress as perceived by Iowa public school superintendents, (2) the relationship between perceived occupational sources of stress and demographic variables,
and (3) stress management techniques used by
superintendents.
Procedure. The modified Administrative Stress Index was mailed on October 14, 1985, to forty randomly selected Iowa public school superintendents who represented four school district enrollment categories. Respondents
identified the frequency and intensity of thirty-five stressors on two separate five-point Likert-type scales and provided pertinent demographic information. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.
Conclusion. Results from the study show a difference in the total mean intensity of stressors among age groups of superintendents. There was no difference in the mean frequency of stressors among age groups. There was no difference in the mean frequency or the mean intensity of stressors by five categorical stress factors, superintendency roles, college degree levels, district sizes, district descriptors, number of years in the present position, total number of years in administration, number of
hours worked per week, number of hours of physical exercise per week, and the level of physical health. Of the twenty-three hypotheses in the study, all were accepted at the .05 level of significance with the exception of one.
Recommendations. Research might determine the duration of the stressors, correlation between stress and additional demographic variables, and contributing factors related to high stress levels among school superintendents