Wong, Ho Yin. / Thesis submitted in: October 2008. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 265-275). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.ii / 緒論 --- p.iii / Acknowledgement --- p.iv / Abbreviations --- p.ix / List of Tables --- p.ix / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introductory Chapter --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- The Two Research Questions --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Significance of Studying the DPJ --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Dissertation Framework --- p.7 / Chapter 1.5 --- Chapter Conclusion --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Background of Japanese Politics --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1 --- Opposition Failure in Japan --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2 --- External Constraints Faced by Opposition Parties --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Electoral System --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Electoral Campaign Law --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Clientelism and Centralized Government Financial Structure --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Party Organization of the LDP --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Voting Behavior --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Press Club System --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Conclusion --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3 --- Opposition Fragmentation in Japanese Politics --- p.32 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Opposition Fragmentation under the 55´ة System --- p.32 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Opposition Cooperation and the Break Down of the 55´ة System --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- The New Party System and Opposition Coalition Failure --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- The NFP Internal Fragmentation --- p.43 / Chapter 2.4 --- Opposition Failure and the DPJ --- p.48 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- The Emergence of the DPJ --- p.49 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- The Expansion of the DPJ --- p.52 / Chapter 2.5 --- Chapter Conclusion --- p.54 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Theory and Methodology --- p.57 / Chapter 3.1 --- Party System --- p.58 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Four Attributes of a Party System --- p.58 / Chapter 3.1.1.1 --- Number of Parties --- p.59 / Chapter 3.1.1.2 --- Relative Strength and Size --- p.59 / Chapter 3.1.1.3 --- Structure of Competition --- p.60 / Chapter 3.1.1.4 --- Cleavage System --- p.61 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Two Propositions of Party System Change --- p.62 / Chapter 3.1.2.1 --- Cleavage System as a Determinant of Party System --- p.62 / Chapter 3.1.2.2 --- Party System as a System of Interaction --- p.65 / Chapter 3.2 --- Party Organization --- p.68 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Electoral Competition Perspective --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Sociological Perspective --- p.72 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Institutional Perspective --- p.75 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- Genetic Model --- p.76 / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- Institutionalization --- p.77 / Chapter 3.2.3.3 --- Implication of the Institutional Perspective --- p.78 / Chapter 3.2.3.4 --- Conclusion --- p.80 / Chapter 3.3 --- Media --- p.81 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Role of Media --- p.81 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Media as Neutral Transmitter --- p.82 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Media as Watchdog --- p.83 / Chapter 3.3.1.3 --- Media as Servant --- p.84 / Chapter 3.3.1.4 --- "Media as “Trickster""" --- p.86 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Media Effect --- p.87 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Short-term Effect --- p.88 / Chapter 3.3.2.1.1 --- Agenda-Setting --- p.88 / Chapter 3.3.2.1.2 --- Framing --- p.88 / Chapter 3.3.2.1.3 --- Promote Image Campaign --- p.90 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Long-term Effect --- p.91 / Chapter 3.3.2.2.1 --- Political Involvement --- p.91 / Chapter 3.4 --- Methodology --- p.93 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Assessing Party Organization --- p.93 / Chapter 3.4.1.1 --- First-hand and Second-hand Interview --- p.94 / Chapter 3.4.1.2 --- Documentary Research --- p.94 / Chapter 3.4.1.3 --- Content Analysis on Politicians´ة Statements --- p.95 / Chapter 3.4.1.4 --- Counting on Distribution of Posts --- p.95 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Assessing Media Strategy of the DPJ --- p.96 / Chapter 3.4.2.1 --- Documentary Research --- p.96 / Chapter 3.5 --- Chapter Conclusion --- p.97 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Internal Coherence of the DPJ --- p.99 / Chapter 4.1 --- Factionalism in the DPJ --- p.100 / Chapter 4.2 --- Three Dimensions of Conflict --- p.104 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Traditional Ideological Conflict --- p.105 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Former Party Affiliation Conflict --- p.106 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Generation Conflict --- p.107 / Chapter 4.3 --- Leadership of the DPJ --- p.108 / Chapter 4.4 --- Existing Literatures Explaining the DPJ Unification --- p.112 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Electoral System --- p.113 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Internal Balance of Selective Incentives --- p.114 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Criticism towards Existing Explanations --- p.115 / Chapter 4.5 --- Three Factors Unifying the DPJ --- p.119 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Leadership Manipulation in Party Organization --- p.122 / Chapter 4.5.1.1 --- Bottom-up Policy Making Process --- p.123 / Chapter 4.5.1.2 --- Balanced Leadership System --- p.127 / Chapter 4.5.1.3 --- Arrangement in the Merger with LP --- p.130 / Chapter 4.5.1.4 --- Conclusion --- p.133 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Collective Incentive of the DPJ --- p.134 / Chapter 4.5.2.1 --- Role of Leadership in Collective Incentive --- p.136 / Chapter 4.5.2.2 --- Differentiation with the LDP --- p.140 / Chapter 4.5.2.3 --- Politicians´ة Conformity --- p.142 / Chapter 4.5.2.3.1 --- The Analysis --- p.144 / Chapter 4.5.2.3.2 --- Analysis Result --- p.146 / Chapter 4.5.2.3.3 --- Conclusion --- p.148 / Chapter 4.5.2.4 --- Conclusion --- p.150 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- Selective Incentive of the DPJ --- p.151 / Chapter 4.5.3.1 --- The Analysis on Party Post --- p.155 / Chapter 4.5.3.1.1 --- Standing Officers Council Post --- p.155 / Chapter 4.5.3.1.2 --- Next Cabinet --- p.163 / Chapter 4.5.3.2 --- The Analysis on Diet Post --- p.169 / Chapter 4.5.3.2.1 --- HR Post --- p.172 / Chapter 4.5.3.2.2 --- HC Post --- p.174 / Chapter 4.5.3.3 --- Conclusion --- p.176 / Chapter 4.6 --- Chapter Conclusion --- p.178 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Media Strategy and Electoral Support of the DPJ --- p.181 / Chapter 5.1 --- Electoral Performance of the DPJ --- p.181 / Chapter 5.2 --- Explanations towards the DPJ Electoral Performance --- p.186 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Structural Perspective --- p.186 / Chapter 5.2.1.1 --- Electoral System --- p.187 / Chapter 5.2.1.2 --- Changing Societal Ideology --- p.190 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Party Organization Perspective --- p.192 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Voting Behavior Perspective --- p.194 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Criticism towards these Explanations --- p.196 / Chapter 5.3 --- Support Base of the DPJ --- p.197 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Unaffiliated Voters and DPJ Support --- p.200 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Characteristics of Unaffiliated Voters --- p.202 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Mobilization of Unaffiliated Voters --- p.205 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Media and Unaffiliated Voters --- p.208 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- Conclusion --- p.212 / Chapter 5.4 --- Media Strategies of the DPJ --- p.213 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Image and Popularity Promotion of the DPJ before 2001 --- p.215 / Chapter 5.4.1.1 --- Popularity Promotion Campaign --- p.215 / Chapter 5.4.1.2 --- Image Promotion Campaign --- p.217 / Chapter 5.4.1.3 --- Clarify Party Vision Campaign --- p.218 / Chapter 5.4.1.4 --- Development of New Media Channels --- p.219 / Chapter 5.4.1.5 --- Conclusion --- p.221 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Policy Oriented Strategy and the Manifesto --- p.222 / Chapter 5.4.2.1 --- Adjustment in Party Organization --- p.223 / Chapter 5.4.2.2 --- Publications in Promoting Policy --- p.224 / Chapter 5.4.2.3 --- Policy-Oriented Electoral Campaign and Manifesto --- p.225 / Chapter 5.4.2.4 --- New Media in Policy-Oriented Campaign --- p.227 / Chapter 5.4.2.5 --- Conclusion --- p.229 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- The 2005 HR Election Defeat and Strategic Campaign --- p.229 / Chapter 5.4.3.1 --- Koizumi´ةs Success in Media Campaign --- p.230 / Chapter 5.4.3.2 --- The DPJ Failure in Media Campaign --- p.232 / Chapter 5.4.3.3 --- Party Organization Adjustment in Strategic Promotion Campaign --- p.235 / Chapter 5.4.3.4 --- Focuses in Strategic Promotion Campaign --- p.236 / Chapter 5.4.3.5 --- New Media in Strategic Promotion Campaign --- p.238 / Chapter 5.4.3.6 --- Strategic Promotion Campaign and the 2007 HC Election --- p.238 / Chapter 5.4.3.7 --- Conclusion --- p.239 / Chapter 5.5 --- Chapter Conclusion --- p.240 / Chapter Chapter 6: --- Conclusion Chapter --- p.242 / Chapter 6.1 --- Summary --- p.243 / Chapter 6.2 --- Theoretical Reflection --- p.246 / Chapter 6.3 --- Current Issues of the DPJ --- p.250 / Chapter 6.4 --- Further Works --- p.254 / Appendix I: Interview Record with a DPJ Officer --- p.257 / Appendix II: Interview Record with Professor Kabashima Ikuo --- p.262 / Bibliography --- p.265

Diese These ist ein Versuch, Ernst Juengers innere Emigration waehrend der Hitlerjahre zu behandeln, um damlt einen Beitrag zum Verstaendnis und zur Klaerung des Begriffs "innere Emigration" zu bringen. Im ersten Kapitel wird der Begriff der inneren Emigration im allgemeinen besprochen, die Entstehungsgeschlchte des Konzepts und die Moeglichkeit einer unabhaengigen Existenz im totalitaeren dritten Reich. Nach dieser Einfuehrung wendet sich die Diskussion den Werken Juengers zu. Die Werke, die gewaehlt wurden, sind folgende: das Essay Das abenteuerliche Herz, beide Fassungen (I929, 1935), der Roman Auf den Mar- morklippen (1942), die Tagebuecher Strahlungen einschl. dem Nachkriegstagebuch Jahre der Okkupation und die Essays Ueber die Linie (I950) und Per Waldgang (1951). Durch die Auswahl der Werke wurde versucht, ein zusammenhaengendes Bild von Juengers Gedankenwelt von der Vorhitlerzeit, durch die Hitlerzeit bis in die Spaetnachkriegszeit zu geben. Hieraus wird erkenntllch, dass Juenger schon vor der Hitlerdiktatur ein verfremdeter Individualist der verinnerlichung und ein Pessimist in Hinslcht auf die Kulturentwicklung war. Seine introvertierte Existenz und seine Gedankenwelt erleichtern den Gang in die innere Emigration, die die schon zuvor bestehenden Veranlagungen nur verstaerkte. Waehrend der Hitlerjahre waechst Juengers intellektueller Widerstand zu neuen Formen. Doch werden die Erlebnisse an der Ostfront zu einem Wendepunkt, denn hier erlischt in ihm im Angesicht der Greueltaten beinahe der musische Mensch. Anstatt zu kapitulieren, wendet sich Juenger zum Gegenkampf und geht durch Der Friede (1944) zum aktiven geistigen Widerstand ueber, Auch in der Nachkriegszeit blieb Juenger ein intellektueller Einzelgaenger, denn die Technokratie in Gestalt der Atombombe und der Nihilismus bleiben eine totalitaere Gefahr fuer das Individuum. Juengers Schicksal war das eines hohen Geistes, der In einer ihm fremden Zeitepoche des kulturellen Verfalls lebte. Die Hitlerdiktatur sowie die innere Emigration waren nur Steigerungen der allgemeinen Entwicklung der faktischen Umwelt, dem Niedergang einer Kulturepoche; von ihr wendet Juenger seinen Blick ab und erkennt einen metahistorischen Weltenplan der Urmaechte. Juenger relativiert also die totalitaere Umwelt durch sein metaphysisches Wertbewusstsein und nur aus diesem heraus kann Juengers innere Emigration beurteilt werden. / Arts, Faculty of / Central Eastern Northern European Studies, Department of / Graduate

It is the intent of this thesis to make an architecture, composed of individual pieces. Each of these pieces or elements are dependent on each other to make the whole. The individual piece has its own inherent characteristics, when combined with the other pieces form a whole greater than the sum of the individual pieces. The whole exists only when there is a structure or order within which a dialogue between the individual pieces can occur. Within this structure the elements begin to inform those elements around them. The opportunity for making the inbetween arises from the interaction with one another. It is because of the in between there is a greater whole. The whole consists of more than the beginning and the end, interior and exterior, or solid and void. Without the exchange between pieces, the inbetween can never be realized to its fullest potential. When the architecture denies the inbetween to exist the whole cannot be achieved. This position or methodology of making independent pieces which question and inform their relationship to the whole is the basis for making this architecture. It is not limited by type, scale use or to this specific project. It is the basis for my architecture. / Master of Architecture

This work is concerned with the resolution of distinct and individual entities coherently assembled such that the resulting whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It is a dialogue between the dynamic and the restful which has as its intermediary a dominant central element. Movement, transition, enclosure, axis and context all work to emphasize and further this interplay of form in which simplicity is arrived at through the layering of complexity. / Master of Architecture

Depreciative behavior is a significant problem facing natural resource managers. The theft of petrified wood from Petrified Forest National Park is one type of depreciative behavior. Despite numerous anti-theft interventions, approximately 12 tons of wood disappear from the park each year. The focus of this study was to design, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce the theft of petrified wood. In addition to gaining a quantitative measure of intervention effectiveness, qualitative interviews were conducted to provide some contextual understanding of wood theft and of designed intervention effectiveness in reducing theft. Tested interventions included a sign, a signed pledge, and a uniformed volunteer. A field experiment revealed a theft rate of 2.1 % under the control condition. All three interventions significantly reduced the theft rate to about 1.4 %. There was no difference in the effectiveness of the three tested interventions. Subjective responses revealed that most theft was not a thoughtless act, but instead occurred because thieves rationalized their particular act of theft as acceptable. The primary rationalization given by thieves was that their piece of stolen wood was so small that taking it would not hurt anything. It appeared as though anti-theft messages were received by most of those interviewed, but that thieves only applied these messages to the larger pieces of wood. In addition, most thieves did not view taking a little chip as stealing. Interviews suggested visitors attended to the following aspects of the interventions: the desired behavior itself, the negative consequences of theft behavior, the visitors' responsibility for those consequences, the sanctions involved for the behavior, and visitors giving their word not to steal any wood from the park. / Ph. D.

The overall goal of this research project was to determine optimal strategies for applying genomic mapping, quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection and marker-assisted selection (MAS) to genetic improvement of aquaculture species. Genes affecting aquaculture performance, or quantitative trait loci (QTLs}, can be mapped in relation to naturally-occuring genetic markers. Knowledge of linkages between marker and QTL alleles can be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS), potentially increasing the rate of genetic progress above that for selective breeding alone. QTL detection and MAS have not yet been practiced on an aquaculture species. I reviewed the technical literature on QTL detection and MAS in other species in order to advance critical discussion of how best to pursue QTL detection and MAS in fish. The need for cost-effectively screening markers suggests polymerase chain reaction-based screening of a collection of microsatellite loci or RAPDs (random amplified polymorphic DNAs). Experimental power calculations suggest that because markers will have to be screened within large progeny groups, selective or sequential genotyping or screening of bulked DNA samples will be needed for costeffective detection of QTLs. DNA amplification fingerprinting (DAF) profiles were generated for brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, in an attempt to identify a genetic marker for the sex determining locus. DNA mixes of nine males and nine females from a group of closely related fish were screened with 100 arbitrary decamer primers to identify candidate markers for more detailed analysis. Upon screening a panel of three male and three female individuals, however, none of the candidate markers proved to be strictly associated with one sex or the other. Screening of DNA rnicrosatellite loci was used to construct a genomic map for tilapia (Oreochromis sp). A male hybrid between Oreochromis aureus and red O. niloticus was crossed with a female O. mossambicus to produce the 3-way cross mapping family. A panel of DNA samples of 2 grandparents, 2 parents and 60 F2 individuals was screened for microsatellite markers with 133 primer pairs using polymerase chain reaction. The genetic map I produced consists of 22 microsatellite loci placed into two linkage groups, with 17 loci remaining unlinked. The microsatellite data were integrated with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) data from collaborators to construct the overall linkage map with 191 markers in 25 linkage groups. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to provide an interpretive commentary of the first Mass Literacy Campaign in Nigeria from 1940-1952. The researcher traced earlier events and forces as they interacted to shape the Campaign. Within the context in which they occurred, five major areas were examined: (a) various influential forces: (b) social, economic and political factors; (c) educational process: (d) special adult population; and (5) curriculum content. This study contributes to increased understanding of internal and external factors that helped or hindered the creation and mass mobilization of the Campaign and could contribute to improved focus for the ongoing Mass Literacy Campaign in Nigeria, 1990-2000. Interpretive commentary involved telling a story through the eyes of actual participants in the events and through the eyes of the researcher. To establish factual narratives and reach defensible conclusions. the researcher collected, categorized, analyzed, synthesized and told a story in the context in which the event had occurred. Primary data included archival and other documentary materials from experts on issues germane to the Campaign. Secondary data included writings, primarily from African and British authors. Tertiary data involved the personal opinion of the researcher. The study concluded, for the most part, that limitations of prerequisites, hampered the propagation of some of the activities. Generally, the activities of the Campaign had more failures than successes in that the planning was not systematic and did not follow an analytical process similar to that of the 1970- 1979 National Literacy Campaign in Tanzania, suggested as a model for any developing nation (Unsicker in Arnove and Graff, 1987). The first Mass Literacy Campaign was not successful. Accurate survey research and findings which could have depicted a correct representation of the masses of illiterates in Nigeria and could have alleviated marginalization of the special adult population were not conducted. This study suggested that prerequisites could have been addressed prior to the inception of such a monumental venture. Furthermore, a study could be conducted to determine if specific inhibitors such as age, cultural inertia, lack of finance or motivation, linguistic barriers, prejudices and nomadism actually affected the proper mass mobilization of the Campaign. / Ed. D.

The current study examined male-to-female partner violence on individual, interpersonal, and contextual/cultural levels. Murray Bowen's theory of differentiation was used as the theoretical framework for understanding the individual variable of self control of emotional reactivity and the interpersonal variable of partner fusion. Feminist theory was used as the theoretical framework for understanding the contextual or cultural variable of marital egalitarianism or gender equality in the relationship. Participants in this study included 133 men from various men's groups (men's anger management groups, a college athletic team, a civic group, church groups, a court services group, and men from counseling centers). Self control of emotional reactivity was measured by the Self Control (Sc) subscale of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI). Partner fusion was measured by the Spousal Fusion (SPFUS) subscale of the Personal Authority in the Family System Questionnaire (P AFS-Q). Marital Egalitarianism was measured by the Marital Roles subscale of the Sex Role Egalitarianism Scale (SRES). Partner violence was measured by using four subscales (physical assault scale, physical assault prevalence, physical injury scale, and physical assault prevalence) of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2). The data analysis consisted of descriptive analysis, correlational analysis, t-tests, and a series of multiple regressions. The findings of the current study support the original hypothesis in which there was a significant relationship between self-control, partner fusion, marital egalitarianism and the use of violent conflict tactics. The study further revealed a significant predictive relationship between partner fusion and three of the four violence measures as well as a significant predictive relationship between self-control and one of four violence measures and marital egalitarianism and one of four violence measures. Since the anger management groups were chosen specifically because of their past violent behavior, analyses were conducted in which the anger management groups ( Anger group) were compared to all other participants (Other group). T-tests revealed significantly higher partner fusion scores for the Anger group compared to the Other group. When the two groups were compared for interaction effects between the independent variables and group membership using a series of multiple regression analyses, marital egalitarianism emerged as a significant predictor of violence for the Anger group, but not for the Other group, when it was coupled with partner fusion. In addition, self control was found to be a significant predictor for the Other group, but not the Anger group with one of the violence measures. Self control did not, however, have a significant interaction effect. / Ph. D.

Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regulations are designed to impede the unintentional movement of pests. In an attempt to reduce concerns about the use of SPS regulations as hidden barriers to trade, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) mandate their members to enact SPS regulations based exclusively on biological scientific merit, under an open regulatory process. However, there are some concerns among American officials about the possibility that Mexico may have enacted stricter-than-necessary SPS regulations to compensate for tariff reductions imposed by NAFTA. A political economy analysis of the enactment of SPS regulations in Mexico suggests that Mexico has not systematically enacted SPS regulations as compensation for tariff reductions. Institutional changes, new regulatory procedures, and political commitment, have reduced the possibility that Mexico enacts economically protectionist SPS regulations, forcing vulnerable domestic industries to seek for other primary sources of protection such as labeling requirements and anti-dumping investigations. In spite of such an improvement, Mexico has enacted some controversial SPS regulations. However, they were enacted not as a compensation for tariff reductions but mainly in retaliation for what Mexican officials perceived as American protectionist SPS regulations such as the former U.S. ban on Mexican avocados (denoted as the avocado case). Mexican avocados are currently allowed to enter the country under a systems approach. The systems approach consists in several steps which successively reduce the probability of pest infestation. The last of these steps restricts imports only to the northeastern states of the U.S. A cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is applied to investigate the adequacy of the former U.S. ban on Mexican avocados, as well as the limited trade regulation which has replaced it. The analysis departs from previous deterministic CBA of SPS regulations by taking into account the uncertain nature of pest infestations. The stochastic CBA suggests that the limited trade regulation currently in place is suboptimal. By applying a systems approach only inside Mexico ( allowing the free trade of pest-treated avocados), welfare gains with a marginal increase in risk would have been expected. / Ph. D.

This study examined the demographic characteristics, reasons for enrolling, and factors affecting the continued participation of African-American women in doctoral programs. The major focus for this study was to identify and examine the factors that African-American women believed influenced their continued participation in doctoral programs. The population for the study included 241 African-American women who were enrolled in doctoral programs in colleges and universities in the Commonwealth of Virginia between 1992 and 1994. Surveys were mailed to these potential participants, however 59 were undeliverable and 40 did not respond to the survey, resulting in a total of 142 respondents. The findings in the study reveal that African-American women in doctoral programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia were 21 to 63 years of age, were more often married than not, and some had more than one child upon enrolling. The results of the surveys revealed that several significant relationships were associated with the selected demographic characteristics of marital status, age, number of children, financial resources, and the factors that influenced the participation of African-American women in doctoral programs. These factors included: marital status; balancing work, home, and school; support groups; family responsibilities; academic preparation; financial assistance; and commuting distance. The data obtained will be useful to educational institutions in making decisions relative to developing innovative programs, improving services, and designing policies and practices that will improve recruitment, retention, and completion of African-American women in doctoral programs. This study will add to the body of knowledge regarding the experiences of African-American women, since there is a very limited amount of information available on this population of women and their experiences in doctoral programs. The exploration into the experiences of these women allowed the researcher to obtain information directly from the respondents as they perceived it to be. The researcher hopes that this study will assist universities in improving their programs and services to African-American women thereby improving its recruitment and retention strategies that will encourage African-American women to remain in their programs and to complete their degrees. The researcher also suggests that African-American women, especially those who remain in ABO status, read this study and contemplate completion. Perhaps these women will become role-models in higher education for younger African-American women attending college. Further study is needed from this population of women to ascertain whether there are additional factors influencing the continued participation of African-American women. A replication of the study may reveal additional information that will further support the findings of this research. / Ed. D.