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An Assessment Of The Climate At Greenwood Elementary School, Des Moines, Iowa
Get PDF78 leaves. Advisor: Dr. Richard BrooksThe problem. There are a number of varied populations that a single school community finds itself attempting to serve. Students, parents, central administration, teachers
and other staff members have different perspectives, thoughts and concerns regarding their school. This study is designed to
determine present group perceptions in a given school community.
Procedures. The CFK Ltd. School Climate Profile was administered to students, parents, central administration, teachers and other staff members associated with or served by
this school. Responses to the profile questionnaire by these various groups comprise the data for this study. An analysis of variance for the differences between means of the five groups on both "What Is" and "What Should Be" was run by the Computer Center at Drake University. Differences between means of "What Is" and "What Should Be" in the combined
groups with the t being the test statistic was also run by the Center. The Scheffe Method was used to compare differences between pairs of means in the area where the analysis of
variance was significant.
Findings. In comparing the mean differences between groups in responses to climate characteristics for "What Is" there appeared to be eight pairs of means that were significantly different. The Scheffe Method of Comparison was used to compare the eight significantly different pairs of means
and for the item characteristic of effective teaching and learning strategies "What Is" there was a significant difference between means for teachers and students with the students viewing this characteristic more positive than teachers. The results or comparing differences between means for "What Is" and "What Should Be" across all groups indicate that there is a significant difference between the "What Is" and "What
Should be". The direction of difference is that the "What Should Be" mean across all groups was greater than the "What Is" mean across all groups.
Conclusions. There is very little difference in how the previously mentioned groups perceive the climate at Greenwood School. The climate is perceived by the various groups as being good but not ideal. Teachers are more critical of their effectiveness than any of the other groups and administrators are the most positive about the school's climate
Negotiations and Curriculum-Instruction Components
Get PDF177 leaves. Advisor: Dr. Prudence DyerThe problem. The problem of this study was to determine the frequency with which curriculum and instruction-related concerns are evident in collective negotiations in Iowa and how important these concerns are as perceived by
the educational leadership. The sources of data were the statements or points of view expressed by persons in positions of leadership and an analysis of actual practice.
Procedures. The study population was composed of the public school districts (K-12) in the state of Iowa that elected to negotiate contracts for the first time under the
Public Employment Relations Act of 1974. To obtain points of view of leadership, data were collected from two persons who held leadership positions in each of the sample school
districts: (1) the person who was designated as the staff member who is most expert in curricular matters; and (2) the person who was the elected president of the local teacher
organization. To obtain the points of view of college and university leadership, data were collected from a random sample (nation-wide) of professors expert in curricular matters. The negotiated contract from each of the selected sample districts was analyzed to obtain data on actual practice. The instrument consisted of thirty-four identified
curriculum-instruction components. Each component was rated by each person in each leadership group in terms of its perceived importance in negotiations. The instrument served as the criteria for analysis of the contracts. For the four groups of data, frequency distributions were calculated for
each of the identified curriculum-instruction components. A one-way analysis of variance was used to determine whether or not there were any significant differences (alpha level
.05) between the means across the three leadership groups on the ratings of each component. The least-significant difference test was used for the significant F value.
Findings. The findings related to contract analysis show that (1) twenty-six of the components appeared in the selected sample contracts as either Primary or Secondary
Importance or both; (2) eight of the components did not appear in any of the contracts analyzed; (3) four of the components appeared exclusively as Primary Importance;
(4) nine of the components had ratings in both Primary and Secondary Importance categories since they appeared in at least one contract as either Primary or Secondary Importance;
and (5) thirteen of the components appeared exclusively as Secondary Importance. The findings related to the points of view of leadership are that (1) each leadership group rated each of the identified curriculum-instruction components as important in negotiations; (2) there was general agreement
on the relative importance of nineteen of the thirty-four components; and (3) statistically significant differences were found between the means across the three leadership groups in the ratings of fifteen of the thirty-four components.
Conclusions. The results of the contract analysis indicated that (1) curriculum-instruction components have been negotiated and are of contractual concern; and (2) the
negotiated components represent more concern with process related curriculum-instruction components than with substance related curriculum-instruction components. The results
of the leadership ratings indicated that (1) each identified curriculum-instruction component was perceived as important in negotiations by each leadership group; and (2)
there is a discrepancy between the perceived importance of the identified curriculum-instruction components as negotiable
items and the identified curriculum-instruction components actually negotiated in the contracts.
Recommendations. A follow-up study could be undertaken in three of four years to analyze contracts to determine whether or not more or fewer of the identified curriculum-instruction components are negotiated in the contracts. Other investigations might be undertaken to
increase the understanding of the issue of negotiations and curricular matters
An Analysis of the Development of Orchard Place : a Residential Treatment Center for Emotionally Disturbed Children
Get PDF147 leaves. Advisor: Dr. James HalversenOriginating in 1886, this social agency was known as the Des Moines Home for Friendless Children and functioned as a foster shelter care facility for dependent and neglected
children, generally up to age 12. Its role for the community was to provide care for young, often ill, children until they were physically well or could be returned home or placed by a committee of the Board of Directors in a permanent home. This service function continued for 77 years and included a name change to Des Moines Children's Home.
The major motivation that sustained the program was the determination of the Board, consisting of thirty women, that their project would be successful in the face of recurring
fiscal pressures. Numerous schemes to raise funds for ongoing operations, as well as to construct a new building were mounted. A declining enrollment and a non-relatedness
to an emerging need in Iowa to program for emotionally disturbed children eventually led to the closing of this child care institution in 1963. This decision by the Board came
as a result of an evaluation by a professional from outside the community. A methodical transition to a goal-directed, individualized
residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed children based upon a detailed analysis of the needs of the community, was begun in 1963. The field of institutional
care for children nationally had experienced problems similar to those faced by this agency which chose to change and adapt to the needs of the community. Orchard Place, the name of the new program chosen by the Board, opened its doors in February 1965 as a residential
treatment center for 12 emotionally disturbed children between 8 and 16 years of age, and evolved to include a resident population of 40 on its main campus. The treatment
program consists of individual psychotherapy, special education and therapeutic living designed for and with each child. Among other services, a group home/half-way house program
was begun in 1970; a foster placement service in 1971; and a therapeutic learning center program in 1974. Based upon the evidence in the literature, current practice in the field and the experience of Orchard Place, several trends emerge. Among these are: the increasing
number of children needing residential treatment; improved funding from the State Department of Social Services at a level near actual cost; an increasing emphasis on accountability and results measurement; and legislation in an increasing number of states that requires that status offenders not be sent to state training schools. This latter issue will place more first-time offenders and pre-delinquent children in the child welfare system, rather than the juvenile justice system, and consequently in residential
treatment centers. Orchard Place appears to be in a position to relate well to these evident trends and to provide services relevant to the needs of the community it serves
Contemporary American Authors' Questioning of Religion
Get PDF69 leaves. Advisor: Dr. Stuart BurnsThe problem. In contemporary American fiction it was noted that religion frequently appeared as a topic of debate. In some novels a major theme was a debate over whether to accept, change, or reject organized religion.
Procedure. Several contemporary novels relating to this theme were read. Then novels of the past, more accepting era of religion, were studied. In contrasting these positions a study was made of literature written on this subject. Various reasons for the change in treatment of religion were investigated.
Findings. It was found that an increase in technical and philisophical knowledge made unquestioning acceptance of religion difficult. Three major positions were found in the novels discussed in this paper. Some authors could come to no conclusion but did see difficulties in accepting religion the way it is. Others felt that inconsistencies should be ignored. Humanism was proposed as a more relevant substitution for religion in today's world.
Conclusions. No one answer was found to this dilemma. But all authors seemed to agree that established religion as it has been known was difficult to accept in an uncritical manner. They did agree that man does need some form of inspiration for his life, whether it be established religion or humanism
Isolation and Identification of the Abnormal Opaque material in the White Mutant of Siamese Fighting Fish, Betta Splendens
Get PDF75 leaves. Advisor: Lawrence E. BrownThe problem. White purine pigments commonly occur as iridophore coloration in a variety of animals. These purines may also be abnormally stored in body integuments. A new mutation, opaque (Op), has been described for the Siamese Fighting Fish, Betta splendens. A build-up of the white material occurs as the fish ages especially in the head and
eyes. Unlike a disease, the condition seems to be irreversible. The purpose of this research was to isolate and identify the constituents of the opaque white material.
Procedure. Any determination of purines in Op white Bettas must account for the guanine in iridophores. Three phenotypes, (i) Op, (ii) spread iridocytes (Si), and (iii) normal, were compared to distinguish between iridophore purines and the white material of the Op Bettas. A fourth
phenotype, a hybrid (Op x Si), was included to determine possible differences in genetic expression. The fish were microscopically inspected both externally and internally. Then various tissue samples were extracted
(O.1N HCl) and components of the extracts separated by thin layer chromatography (1M NaCl). These separated components were then extracted (O.1N Hel) and the ultraviolet and fluorescent spectra were determined.
Findings. Microscopic inspection of the Op Bettas
indicated iridophores were spread over the body and fins but not on the head as a result of the Si mutation. The white material covered the entire body and fins including the head and eyes. Thin layer chromatography, U.V., and fluorescence
spectra indicated guanine was present in Op, Si, and hybrid Bettas. Comparison of guanine in head extracts showed 3.5 and 2 times more guanine in Op Bettas than in Si and hybrid Bettas, respectively.
Conclusions and Recommendations. The Op mutation may occur as a metabolic malfunction or as a purine-pteridine chromatophore inter-relationship. Guanine gout may result when a lack of xanthine dehydrogenase or guanase prevents guanine destruction to normal by-products. Alternately, increased enzyme activity by guanine deaminase may produce excess guanine that is not normally catabolized and eliminated. A malfunction in chromatophore metabolish might also cause this mutation. An inverse relationship is observed in
that purines increase in chromatophores when pteridines decrease. This may be either an enzymatic or hormonal disorder of the chromatophore. Enzymic and hormonal analyses should be done on the Op Bettas. Several genetic crosses are also needed with subsequent pigment, enzyme, and hormone analyses of the hybrids
Adaptations of Terrestrial Isopods to Varying Wavelengths of Light
Get PDF30 leaves. Advisor: Dr. Rodney RogersThe problem. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the response of terrestrial isopods that were subjected to prolonged periods of varying wavelengths of light, and to measure this adaptability by locomotor activity.
Procedure. Terrestrial isopods were randomly collected from their natural environments, placed in study chambers, and subjected to red, blue, green, white, and no light for three days. The isopods were then removed from
the study chambers and placed on culture plates containing nutrient agar. The culture plates were exposed to a white beam of light in the center of the plate for five minutes.
The distance traveled by each light-adapted sowbug in response to the white light was then measured.
Findings. Terrestrial isopods adapted to the red and blue wavelengths prior to exposure to the white light, showed statistically significant movement when placed on the
culture plates. Isopods subjected to the green and white wavelengths, and to the dark, showed less statistically significant movement. The control isopods, those not exposed to the beam of white light, showed more locomotor activity than did the experimental isopods.
Conclusions. Terrestrial isopod behavior appears to be controlled by the environmental conditions of temperature and humidity and not so much by light and dark as previously
reported. The isopods adapted to the red and blue wavelengths showed more significant locomotor activity. This is agitation due to the red and blue wavelengths as shown in
other crustaceans. With the other isopods, results were very similar as long as the environmental conditions of temperature and humidity remained constant.
Recommendations. Additional studies of terrestrial isopods need to be conducted to determine the importance of temperature, humidity, and photo-negativity. Other research
needs to be carried out to further examine the effects of blue and red wavelengths on terrestrial isopods and other crustaceans
Occupational Prestige Opinions of Iowa High School Seniors : (the 1976 Iowa Survey of Occupational Prestige)
Get PDF167 leaves. Advisor: Stuart TiedemanThe problem: Occupation has been described as a principal determinant of social status. Judgments are made of people on the basis of occupations. If other factors are equal, or nearly so, occupational choice will be
based upon status -- and this is believed to be a combination of economic factors and prestige. Given the importance of occupational prestige as a factor in occupational choice, the problem is to obtain current and accurate evaluations of occupational prestige. This information can in turn be used by guidance counselors and counselor educators who are charged with assisting young people in making occupational choices.
The 1976 Iowa survey of occupational prestige updates statewide occupational prestige opinions of high school seniors, and compares these current opinions with various state and national surveys conducted over the past half century.
Procedure: The state of Iowa was divided into nine geographical regions. Small (fewer than 250 students), medium (250-499 students), and large (more than 499 students) schools were randomly selected from each region. Twenty-two high schools were included in the final sample, with a population of 2,864 seniors taking part in the survey.
The 1947 North-Hatt listing of 90 occupations, together with 16 additional occupations, was randomized on five different questionnaires
and responses were given by the seniors on IBM 509 forms. Computer analysis of the forms was facilitated by the Academic Computer Service at the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Iowa. Ratings and rankings of the occupations were then analyzed on the
basis of total sample, sex differences, rural-urban residence, and school size. Comparisons were made with the 1925 Counts' study, the 1947 North-Hatt (National Opinion Research Center) study, the 1963 NORC replication, and the 1963 Blake study in Iowa.
Findings: Occupations requiring a high degree of educational training, which receive substantially higher than average monetary rewards, which place more emphasis upon brain power than muscle power, and which offer
a marked degree of service to others, ranked highest among the 106 occupations. Rank order correlations between plus 0.90 and plus 0.95, and product-moment correlations between plus 0.92 and plus 0.94 were found between the 1976 Iowa survey, the two NORC studies, and the 1963 Iowa survey. Significant differences were found between the manner in which young men and young women regard various occupations. Chi-square and "t" tests of significance were conducted. Although there was no significant difference overall when the rural-urban dichotomy was examined, there were more than two dozen individual occupations producing significant differences. There was no overall significant difference in the rating of occupations when the size of school attended was the variable. Again, there were numerous individual occupations meeting the Chi-square tests.
Conclusions: Nine occupations met the .01 and .001 Chi-square tests for all contrasts considered (male-female, rural-urban, and school size). Six other occupations met the test for five of the six contrasts. Lawyer ranked as the number one occupation in Iowa insofar as the opinions of high school seniors were concerned. Ten of the 22 schools
rated lawyer as number one. Physician was second, rated number one by seniors in five schools. Six other occupations ranked first in at least one Iowa high school.
There has been a narrowing in the range of semantic differentiation in the rating of occupations by high school seniors over the past three decades. There is a marked degree of stability in overall rankings of occupations, but numerous occupations have declined sharply in prestige. Most evident of these are ministerial (pastoral) occupations and those associated with governmental service
A First Approximation Toward the Behavioral Specification of Social-Professional Skills for Clinical Psychologists
Get PDF41 leaves. Advisor: Dr. Margaret LloydThe problem. The development of a reliable device to measure the social-professional skills of students in practica in a professional psychology graduate program.
Procedure. Inexperienced practicum students were
rated weekly on their social-professional skills by experienced students and faculty on a questionnaire containing twelve skill dimensions, each with a zero to sixteen point rating scale. As the study progressed rater feedback was utilized to make the dimensions more specific. First,
descriptive performance statements were added to each dimension. Then, performance statements were assigned a range of point values. The maximum possible points for the performance statements were 16, or the total possible points for a dimension.
Findings. The data from this study indicated that
as items became more specific, agreement between two raters improved. However, the reasons for this were unclear.
Recommendations. Students may be given feedback on
their social--professional skills through the social-professional skills rating scale developed here. The effect of such feedback on student performance of those skills should be evaluated
The Suppression of Disruptive Classroom Behavior with Three Durations of Timeout
Get PDF30 leaves. Advisors: Dr. John WilliamsThe problem. Previous research on timeout duration has suggested that short duration timeouts would not be effective when presented following a history of longer duration timeout. This study analyzed the suppressive effects of short duration timeout both prior to and following a longer duration and compared those conditions with a very brief 15 sec timeout.
Procedure. The subjects were four very disruptive, retarded children attending a classroom that met for two sessions per day, five days per week. The observers used an interval recording procedure to record three of the four students' disruptive behaviors and a time sampling procedure to record the fourth child's off-task behavior. Both the rate of edible reinforcers and the rate of teacher
instructions given to each child were held constant throughout all phases of the study. A single-subject reversal design was employed and featured one of the three timeout durations (15 sec, 1 min, 5 min) alternating
with baselines.
Findings. The finding of similar suppression of
disruptive behaviors with all three durations suggests that timeout duration may not be the critical parameter in determining the suppressiveness of timeout. Also, the 15 sec timeout duration provided students a greater availability for classroom instruction than the 5 min duration
The Effects of Leucogenenol On Benzene Induced Bone Marrow Suppression In Rabbits
Get PDF36 leaves. Advisor: Dr. Rodney A. RogersThe problem. These experiments were to determine the extent of leucocytosis and antibody production, stimulated by leucogenenol, in an animal whose white blood cells have been reduced by the action of benzene.
Procedure. The white blood cell counts of rabbits were depressed to 1500 ± 500 cells per cubic millimeter by the action of benzene. At this time the animal, depending upon the grouping, was either given an injection of leucogenenol (2.0 or 0.2 ug) or allowed to recover on its own. Five groups of rabbits were maintained: Group 1, Control animals; Group 2, Benzene only; Group 3, Leucogenenol only; Group 4, Benzene and 0.2 ug of Leucogenenol; Group 5, Benzene and 2.0 ug of Leucogenenol.
Findings. The variations of the rabbits blood profile did not provide significant results. The data seemed to indicate possibilities rather than firm conclusions. The differences between the control group and the experimental
group were only slight and not clear or directional.
Conclusion. The findings, although slight, indicate that leucogenenol does stimulate leucocytosis and antibody formation.
Recommendations. With the use of an agent such as benzene, the effects of leucogenenol can be easily observed. The rabbit as the experimental animal should be changed to
one more suitable