Purpose The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to identify the major personal, social and academic adjustment problems experienced by minority graduate students at two contrasting institutions and (2) to compare the identified major adjustment problems of such students. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a predominantly white institution, and Virginia State College is a predominantly black institution. The minority students under study, therefore, are black in one case but white in the other. Procedure A questionnaire was developed through a review of the literature with emphasis placed on three studies: (1) Han (1975), (2) Sharma (1971), and (3) Stevens (1976). The inventory incorporated a le point Likert-type scale for respondents to indicate their opinion toward stated items labeled desirable/undesirable indicative of adjustment concerns. Descriptive statistics were used in analyzing the data. Frequency counts and percentages were calculated for each item on the questionnaire. A level of 50 percent or more was used to determine major problems depending on whether the item was labeled desirable/undesirable. A 25 to 9 percent level was used to identify items as concerns. Chi Square tests were used to compare the identified problems. Population This study was concerned with the full-time minority (i.e., black) graduate students enrolled at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a traditionally white institution, and the full-time minority (i.e., caucasian) graduate students enrolled at Virginia State College, a traditionally black institution. Forty-eight respondents constituted the total target population. There were thirty-seven minority black graduate students from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and eleven minority caucasian graduate students from Virginia State College. Summary of Findings The major academic adjustment problems encountered by black graduate students while studying at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University were instruction not meeting the individual needs of students and the employment of irrelevant factors by some professors to make student evaluation. The major social problems reported were making personal friends with caucasian graduate students, being accepted by the social peer groups and inhibited participation in campus activities. The major academic adjustment problem encountered by the caucasian graduate students while studying at Virginia State College was instruction not meeting the needs of students. The major social problems were making personal friends with black graduate students, being accepted by the social peer groups and inhibited participation in campus activities. The major personal problems were apprehensions about enrolling at the institution and negative experiences encountered while attending the institution. The comparisons made between the minority black graduate students and the minority caucasian graduate students yielded very similar results. The data revealed that the minority groups were similar in the adjustment problems encountered and the concerns identified. The largest percentage of major adjustment problems for both groups occurred in the Social area. The academic area contained the second highest area with major adjustment problems for the minority black graduate students, while the second highest area for the minority caucasian graduate students was the personal area. Major Recommendation College and university officials when considering the recruitment, restructuring or enhancing the environment of the minority graduate students should review the findings of this study as presented in Chapter IV. Specific recommendations with regard to the findings and conclusions are offered in Chapter V of this study. / Ed. D.

A collection of 120 strains of saccharolytic intestinal Bacteroides was examined for plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). These strains were previously characterized for standard phenotypic properties (variety of carbohydrates fermented, metabolic end products, and complex carbohydrate hydrolysis). Additional phenotypic characterizations included bacteriocin production, cell wall analysis, and antibiotic susceptibilities. The interrelatedness of the strains had been determined by DNA homology experiments. The strains were distributed among 10 major DNA homology groups or genospecies. Plasmid DNA was found in 52 strains (43%) distributed among all ten major DNA homology groups. The plasmids ranged in size from 2 to 65 megadaltons (Mdal) as estimated from their migration distance in agarose gels during electrophoresis. A small plasmid of 2 to 6 Mdal was found in 42 of the plasmid bearing strains. Seventeen of these strains also contained larger plasmids (20 to 65 Mdal). Ten strains contained only a large plasmid. There was no apparent correlation between the presence of any particular plasmid size with the DNA homology grouping of the host strains. Size estimations calculated from plasmid DNA reassociation curves (C₀t curves) agreed with the agarose gel electrophoresis size determinations. Four plasmids were selected for reference use in DNA homology studies. They were isolated from B. fragilis strains 2553 and 4076, B. thetaiotaomicron strain 5482, and B. uniformis strain T1-1 respectively. These plasmid preparations were radioactively labeled in vitro using the 4 deoxyribonucleic triphosphates (³H labeled thymidine 5'- triphosphate) and Escherichia coli B polymerase I. The percent guanine plus cytosine content of two duplexed plasmid DNA preparations was determined by comparing their thermal stabilities with those of duplexed DNA from three bacterial strains whose percent guanine plus cytosine contents were known. Plasmid DNA p4076 and p5482 were found to have a percent guanine plus cytosine content of 39 and 43 respectively. Three of the reference plasmids (p2553, p4076, and p5482) were large species (22 to 23 Mdal) and did not have any significant base sequence homology with one another. The small reference plasmid (pTl-1, 3 Mdal) had 30% DNA homology with the p4076 reference plasmid. Plasmid DNA preparations from all the plasmid carrying strains were allowed to renature with each of the labeled reference plasmids. Many of these plasmid DNA preparations contained multiple plasmid species. The pT1-1 reference plasmid had moderate (30 to 60%) or higher (61 to 100%) DNA homology with 35 of the plasmid DNA preparations. The reference plasmid DNA, p2553, had moderate or high homology with 10 unlabeled plasmid preparations while the p5482 reference plasmid had similar homology with 9. The p4076 reference plasmid did not have significant base sequence homology with any of the plasmid DNA preparations. Several strains contained plasmid DNA that had homology with both pTl—1 reference plasmid and one (but not both) of the larger reference plasmids (p2553 and p5482). The homology between the unlabeled plasmid DNA preparations and the two reference plasmids may be due to either separate or hybrid plasmids. This was not determined. A computer analysis of 81 phenotypic traits was made, comparing each with the plasmid DNA homology groups. No significant correlation was noted. Plasmid—mediation of bacteriocin production was considered, but there was no correlation between bacteriocinogenesis and the occurrence of any plasmid DNA homology group. / Ph. D.

Information from accounting literature indicates that the mean-per-unit (MPU) estimator may not properly control the alpha and beta risks under conditions of non-normality. This study concerns the effect of non-normal distributions on the validity of existing auditing procedures used in MPU sampling plans. The following question was specifically addressed: Are alpha and beta risk levels effectively controlled under conditions of non-normality when using the MPU estimator in conjunction with the sample size formula? One objective of the study was to provide evidence that a potential problem exists when using traditional statistical sampling techniques with non-normal auditing populations. Another objective of the research was to provide recommendations that would lead to better auditing practices involving the MPU estimator. A simulation study using positively skewed J-shaped distributions was conducted to provide a means for achieving the objectives of the research. The distributions used in the study ranged in degrees of skewness and kurtosis from 0.0 and 3.0081 to 25.6089 and 37.7937, respectively. Simulation procedures considered a two-sided alpha level, an upper beta level concerning the potential acceptance of a materially overstated account, and a lower beta level for the potential acceptance of an account that is materially understated. Simulation results indicate that specified alpha and beta levels are not always attained when using the MPU estimator under conditions of non-normality. Guidelines were then developed for Simultaneous control of alpha and beta risk levels under the non-normal conditions simulated in the research. Case studies were utilized to test and illustrate use of the guidelines. Results of the study are limited, however, because implementation of the guidelines requires a positively skewed audit population reflected by a J-shaped distribution within the degrees of skewness and kurtosis Simulated in the study. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between perceptual type (Haptic and Visual) and presentation mode (multiple and linear imagery) in a visual location task. Specifically, the purpose was to answer the questions: 1. Is there a difference between Visuals and Haptics in a visual location task? 2. Is there a difference between multiple and linear imagery in a visual location task? 3. Is there an interaction between perceptual type and presentation mode in a visual location? 4. Is there a difference in the scores made by Haptics with multiple and linear imagery? 5. Is there a difference in the scores made by Visuals with multiple and linear imagery? 6. Is there a difference in the scores made by Visuals and Haptics with multiple imagery? 7. Is there a difference in the scores made by Visuals and Haptics with linear imagery? The perceptual type of two hundred (200) community college students was determined through two tests developed by Lowenfeld. Students who were classified as Visual on both tests were designated Visual; students who were classified Haptic on both tests were designated Haptic. Forty (40) Haptics and forty (40) Visuals were selected and randomly assigned to treatment groups. Two groups each of twenty (20) Haptics and twenty (20) Visuals received the linear image presentation; two groups each of twenty (20) Visuals and twenty (20) Haptics viewed the multiple image presentation. The visual task in this study required subjects to view three black and white 35 mm slides which represented three quadrants of a criterion picture. Subjects were to select the criterion picture when they were shown three similar pictures. In the linear presentation, students was three quadrants of the criterion picture one at a time projected by a single carousel projector. In the multiple image presentation, students saw the three quadrants of the criterion picture at the same time, projected simultaneously by three separate carousel projectors. There were twenty (20) items on the test, which was developed by the experimenter from a series of art prints. A series of questions concerning the technique utilized by students to remember visual detail was administered following the treatment. A 2 X 2 factorial analysis of variance was used to analyze the data at the .05 and the .01 significance levels. The results of the analysis of data indicated that there was an interaction between presentation and perceptual type in a visual location task. Examination of the interaction indicated that the difference between multiple and linear imagery was significant for Haptics. Haptics tended to score higher with a multiple image presentation than with a linear image presentation. There was no difference in presentation mode for Visuals; Visuals tended to score the same in the linear image presentation as in the multiple image presentation. Other analyses indicated that there was a difference in the obtained perceptual types and the theoretical distribution described by Lowenfeld and others. It was concluded that community college students constituted a different population than the greater population, with more than the expected number of Haptics and fewer Visuals. Therefore it was suggested that instructional designers, instructors, and administrators consider the perceptual type of students when designing and implementing instruction. Multiple imagery may be the crucial factor in facilitating the learning process for Haptics. / Ed. D.

The response of boundary layer velocity and temperature distributions to small amplitude oscillations imposed by the free-stream is investigated. A straightforward combination of perturbation and numerical methods is applied. The analysis of the effect of the frequency of oscillations shows that in many respects the response of the boundary layer to the oscillations in time is periodic in ξ (ξ = frequency parameter), with the period Δξ ≈ 4.0 and the first harmonic manifesting itself strongly at ξ ≈ 1.15. The available experimental data seem to confirm this finding. Second-order effects of oscillations on velocity and temperature fields are studied for laminar flows. In general the steady-streaming contributions are small, but it appears from the present results that for large Eckert numbers the wall heat transfer may be altered up to 40% by the streaming phenomena. Unfortunately there is no experimental data on this subject. Several models of the oscillatory Reynolds stress (eddy viscosity type) are tested for oscillating turbulent boundary layer flow on a flat plate. Satisfactory results are obtained by decoupling the mean and oscillatory Reynolds stresses. It appears that theoretical profiles of oscillating velocity in low or high frequency regions are relatively insensitive to the details of the models used. This is not the case for intermediate frequencies for which in fact the performance of the present models is not very good. It is concluded that the interaction between the random turbulent motion and oscillations is probably too strong to be neglected and therefore more complex models, capable of incorporating the interaction process, are required to successfully predict the behavior of oscillatory turbulent boundary layers. / Ph. D.

An in-depth study on the time-temperature behavior of epoxy based continuous and elastic fiber reinforced composite materials and the feasibility of using the time-temperature analogy as an accelerated characterization method to predict the long-term behavior are presented. This is a two-pronged investigation as the material investigated (graphite/epoxy) is essentially quasi-elastic at room temperature and viscoelastic at elevated temperatures. Correlations between analysis and experiments are presented whenever possible. At elevated temperatures, master curves of matrix dominated unidirectional laminates are obtained using the time-temperature superposition principle. Using the principal properties (E₁₁, E₂₂(t), G₁₂(t) and v₁₂), master curves of other off-axis laminates reduced at any arbitrary ambient temperature are predicted. The results obtained from the short-term (16-minute) tests, medium term (25-hour) tests and predictions are shown to correlate reasonably well. In addition, the delayed failure prediction and experimental results are shown to correlate reasonably well. Both the experimental and predicted delayed failure results indicate that the creep strength master curves are dependent on the in-plane stress states and that failure modes vary from ductile to aquasi-brittle depending on the duration of the tests. At room temperature, a summary of the unnotched and notched behavior is presented. In the unnotched case, total stress-strain responses of general symmetric laminates are predicted with a non-linear analysis and compared with experimental results. The analysis is used to validate intralamina shear test methods. In the notched case, test results for specimens containing variations in notch geometries and anisotropy are given. These results are correlated to three two-parameter and one one-parameter analytical fracture models. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual framework for improved financial reporting in public higher education in the District of Columbia. Implementation of major concepts was accomplished through development of an accounting manual for public higher education in the District of Columbia which was consistent with the accounting and reporting principles enunciated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), in Audits of Colleges and Universities, and by the National Association of College and University Business Officers in College and University Business Administration. The District of Columbia is unique because the local government performs the functions of state, county, and municipal governments, in addition to functioning as a quasi-federal agency. The District of Columbia government has been severely criticized for the overall quality and integrity of its financial accounting and reporting system. In response to a congressional mandate, the city is undertaking a complete revision of its financial accounting and reporting system. The existing financial accounting and reporting system for public higher education in the District of Columbia has been following federal agency guidelines in contrast to recommended practices by AICPA, NACUBO, and NCHEMS. In development and evaluation of an Accounting Manual to be used by the University of the District of Columbia, the author modified a questionnaire, the manual requirements, and. supporting reference information to four jury groups. The primary jury group consisted of professionals in higher education financial management in the District of Columbia; the remaining jury groups represented various constituencies that would use the proposed manual or be responsible for its adoption. Based on the recommendations of these jury groups and an analysis of the various legal and operational requirements imposed by statue, a manual was developed that was determined satisfactory for operational implementation. The author recommends the use of a similar procedure for developing accounting manuals for use by other institutions and cites the benefit of multiple jury groups broadly representative of experts and users. / Ed. D.

The present study pursued the effect of Rational Emotive Education on irrational beliefs, assertiveness, and/or locus of control in fifth grade students. A random sample of two hundred students were pre- and post-tested in accordance with the Solomon Four Group Design. The Children's Survey of Rational Concepts From C, Revised Rathus Assertiveness Schedule, and the Intellectual Achievement Questionnaire were selected as instruments to measure irrational beliefs, assertiveness, and locus of control respectively. A ten week guidance program was presented to the Experimental Groups by twelve elementary school counselors using lessons from Rational Emotive Education: A Manual for Elementary Teachers. Pre-test and post-test scores were subjected to statistical analyses using ANCOVA and ANOVA. The results of both the ANCOVA and ANOVA revealed that a significant difference at the .05 level was evident only on the Children’s Survey of Rational Concepts which tested the rational beliefs of the students. One week after post-testing, fifteen students and five teachers were randomly selected from the Experimental Groups to be interviewed using questions that focused on the three variables: irrational beliefs, assertiveness, and Iocus of control. Their anecdotal remarks were collected to provide additional information on subtle changes in students that may not have been evidenced by quantitative data. The following is a summary of the results concluded from the study: 1. There was a statistically significant difference between experimental and control groups in irrational beliefs after Rational Emotive Education as measured by the Children's Survey of Rational Concepts. Anecdotal remarks lent support to the statistical evidence. 2. There was no statistically significant difference between experimental and control groups in assertiveness as measured on the Revised Rathus Assertiveness Schedule after Rational Emotive Education. However, assertive behavioral changes were evidenced in anecdotal data as reported by teachers and students. 3. There was no statistically significant difference between experimental and control groups in locus of control as measured on the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Questionnaire after Rational Emotive Education. However, students did demonstrate very subtle change in locus of control as evidenced in anecdotal data, with teachers more explicit in reporting internality changes in locus of control than students. There are implications from these findings in the area of elementary counselor education and elementary guidance program selections. Also, alternative measures of assessing assertiveness in young students might be attempted which are more qualitative than quantitative. Future studies may attempt to modify rational emotive education to include lessons and activities designed to increase knowledge of internality and externality which may influence locus of control in upper elementary school age students. / Ed. D.

This research was concerned with the effects of a six week short term career education program on self appraisal, knowledge about occupation information, goal selections, career planning, and career decision making as measured by the Career Maturity Inventory (CMI). Only the Competence Scale of the CMI was utilized in conducting this study. This study was not a true experimental research design, instead it was a developmental study designed to establish baseline data for longitudinal studies. Although a true experimental design was not utilized in conducting the study, a treatment group of 53 students and a control group of 53 students were used. The short term career education program was developed specifically for rural Black youth taking into account economic, social, and geographical factors of the population. Non-commercial activities such as music adapted from the culture, multi-ethnic scrapbook, developed by the participants in the short term career education program, and career education activities related to the Black dialect spoken in the community were among some of the innovative and creative activities that attributed to the uniqueness of the short term career education program. The results indicated no significant difference in the treatment group and control group on pretest~pretest comparison on the total competence scale of the CMI. A dependent t-test was performed on each of the five CMI subtests on the competence scale. There was a statistically significant difference in the group mean scores on the five CMI subtests for the treatment group after exposure to the short term career education program. The treatment group mean score indicated an improved gain score on each of the five CMI subtests of the competence scale. The following research questions were developed for each of the five subtests on the Competence Scale of the CMI. 1. Does a short term career education program improve the self appraisal of rural senior high Blacks as measured by Career Maturity Inventory (CMI)? 2. Does a short term career education program improve knowledge of career information of rural senior high Blacks as measured by the CMI? 3. Does a short term career education program improve goal selection skills of senior high Blacks as measured by the CMI? 4. Does a short term career education program improve career planning of rural senior high Blacks as measured by the CMI? 5. Does a short term career education program improve the career decision making skills of senior high Blacks as measured by the CMI? For each of the five research questions the data revealed significant mean score difference gains for the treatment group at the .05 level. The control group experienced a decrease in posttest group mean score after the six week period. Two instruments, the Career Maturity Inventory (Crites, 1973) and a Career Education Program Survey designed by.the researcher were utilized to analyze the data. The findings in this study suggested that the short term career education program was successful with the predominately rural Black population in Port Gibson, Claiborne County, Mississippi. / Ed. D.

Most discussions of telephone rate of return regulation center upon the regulatory effects of the Federal Communication Commission. Little attention is given to the regulatory activities of the state utility commissions. Even when attention is directed toward state commissions, little of it is directed toward the decision-makers (the commissioners) of these agencies. Little explanation is given as to why a 2.49 percent rate of return is approved in one case and a 6.75 percent rate of return in another. Two main theories of regulatory behavior have been offered in the past. The public interest theory offers the hypothesis that regulators are able to discern the public interest and attempt to pursue courses of action that are in the public interest. The theory does not show how the regulators are able to discriminate between the true public interest position and the aberrations sponsored by special interest groups. The "capture" theory hypothesizes that the regulating commission and its commissioners come under the influences of special interest groups. Rather than being concerned with the public interest, the regulators are concerned with distributing the gains from regulation among the special interest groups, including themselves. The model developed within this study flows out of the "capture" theory. It is hypothesized that regulators award rates of return in intrastate telephone cases based upon the appeal probabilities of the relevant parties, the company and the intervenor. The concern for the appeal probabilities arises from the likelihood that an appeal will direct legislative and voter attention to the activities of the commission. Such attention is likely to trigger legislative review with the possible loss of commission prestige, power, budget, etc., or legislative change in the commission structure or scope of responsibility. It is assumed that any adverse effects of legislative action will flow through and have similar effects upon the commissioners. Based upon the theoretical model, empirical models are structured to identify the important public choice variables influencing decisions of the commissions and commissioners, to test for differences between the rates of return awarded in formal vis-a-vis informal cases, and to test the implied allocation under the adversary process. To test these hypotheses, ordinary least-squares regressions were run, using case data from 1965-1969 and commission data from 1967. The regression results raise some interesting questions concerning intrastate telephone regulation. Neither intervenors nor the commission staff appear to have a significant effect upon the awarded rate of return, thus raising serious questions about the adversary proceedings concept. The lower rates of return awarded Bell Telephone Companies raises concern about the alleged benefits from pursuing the Department of Justice plan to disintegrate the Bell Telephone System. It appears that the major limiting force mitigating the power of the firm is the choice of the regulatory procedure used. Finally, jurisdictions using the fair value evaluation method appear more generous in awarding rates of return than those using the original cost method. / Ph. D.