The objective of the study was to determine how visitors perceive park management method alternatives to preserve scenic beauty in Mounds State Park, and how other factors, such asvisitor characteristics and primary purpose for visiting the state park affected their preferences. Additionally, this study has presented a comparison of preferences for park management approaches between park managers and visitors, and a relationship between visitors' perceptions of scenic beauty and other factors. Furthermore, this study explored the contribution of a qualitative analysis. The result showed that visitor preferences for some park management approaches were influenced by sociodemographic characteristics, while visitor preferences for other park management approaches were influenced by the current state of scenic conditions in the park. Differences were observed between park manager's perceptions and visitors' perceptions. Visitors' perceptions of scenic beauty were related to whether or not they had visited the park in the past. Finally, it was clear that qualitative analysis was worthwhile for obtaining information that quantitative data could not provide. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

The objective of this research was to determine the acceptability and preference of peanut butter and three different flavors of soynut butter among humans. Six hundred and sixty-two volunteers (401 females, 258 males and 3 unknown) between the ages of 18 and up were randomly asked to fill out a demographic survey and taste 1 tsp. (5.33 g) of three different soynut butters (creamy, creamy with honey, and creamy with chocolate) and 1 tsp. (5.33 g) of peanut butter on saltine crackers. After taste testing the soynut butters/peanut butter, volunteers were asked to rate each product on a 9-point hedonic rating scale based on appearance, texture, and flavor; the subjects were also asked as to whether they would purchase the nut butters. Demographic information such as participants' age, gender, year in school, and ethnicity were collected, along with questions concerning their frequency of exercise, eating and smoking habits, and health status of themselves and their families.The creamy with honey and creamy soynut butters were rated highest by both genders for all variables (i.e., appearance, texture, flavor, purchase). The purchase variable determined statistical significance between females and males. The females indicated by their rating that they would be more likely to purchase the chocolate soynut butter vs. the peanut butter, while the males indicated purchasing preference of peanut butter over the chocolate soynut butter.Given that both creamy with honey and creamy soynut butters were accepted by this population based on appearance, texture, and flavor, future research in this area should focus on soy foods in humans and biochemical parameters, marketing niches, specific ethnic or age preferences, and education of the health benefits of soy. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

The institutional legitimacy and impact of the Supreme Court, like all political institutions, ultimately depend on public support. However, unlike other political institutions, the Court does not draw that support directly from the democratic process. Scholars in the United States have examined this problem by analyzing the relationship between public perceptions of judicial institutions and their legitimacy, emphasizing the importance of myth in sustaining support for courts in the absence of democratic accountability. This thesis extends American research to the Canadian case, by examining the role of the media as a significant source of popular perceptions of the Canadian Supreme Court. The objective of this thesis is to provide a preliminary assessment of this role by analyzing newspaper coverage of three of the Court's important and high-profile decisions: The Morgentaler, Thibaudeau and Symes cases. The thesis contends that the media, at times through oversimplifications and mischaracterization of issues, help to perpetuate a positive myth of the Court. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis, this thesis shows that the public appears to base its support on this myth, which is built upon incomplete and oversimplified information. This distorted image of the Court helps to strengthen its legitimacy in the eyes of the public.

This investigation sought to identify linkages between the Texas Supreme Court and public opinion through 1) a matching of written decisions with scientifically conducted public opinion polls; 2) direct mention of public opinion and its synonyms in Texas justices' decisions; 3) comparison of these mentions over time; and 4) comparison of 10 personal attributes of justices with matched decisions. The study moved the unit of analysis from the U.S. Supreme Court to the state court level by using classification schemes and attribute models previously applied to the U.S. Supreme Court. It determined that linkages exist between the Texas Supreme Court's written decisions and public opinion from 1978 to July 1994.

No description available.

Ip Po Na. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-72). / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

In this study, I focus on the changing gender relationships between women and men and on women’s political rights in Kuwaiti society in particular. Specifically, I measure Kuwaiti citizens’ attitudes toward Kuwaiti women in political roles after Kuwaiti women gained their political rights, especially after May 16, 2005. Gender relationships continue to change, and in order to understand these changes it is important to examine the current cultural context in which they are occurring. This context includes political change, cultural development, the impact of the media and economic systems, as well as changing laws, religions, socialization, and globalization. All of these factors influence gender relations in Kuwaiti society. This study focuses specifically on the way that political ideology and perceptions about gender roles impact attitudes toward political efficacy for women in Kuwait. This study focuses on Kuwaiti citizens’ attitudes and perceptions about women’s political rights and changing gender relationships in Kuwaiti society. The study uses survey data based on a random sampling of students at Kuwait University, along with the snowball technique for the general population, taken from Kuwaiti employees in public businesses. The data measure the attitudes of both of these populations towards Kuwaiti women’s political rights. / Department of Sociology

This investigation is concerned with perceived detrimental aspects of land use and the desirability of extending government participation in land use goals. Interviews with 179 persons were conducted. The data reveal a possible direct relationship between social class and the acceptance of land use and economic controls. The project endorses the following proposals: Local regulations should require housing developers to provide the streets and utilities and to dedicate land for parks and schools. Taxation should be used as a regulatory tool for the attainment of public policy objectives. A federal commission is needed to encourage comprehensive land management programs. It is also suggested that future land management questionnaires should use random samples and ask questions about specific land use problems.

This baseline study sought to evaluate Ball State University (BSU) undergraduate students' credibility perceptions of news reports gleaned from the World Wide Web (WWW). A random selection of 378 BSU undergraduate students were phoned and administered a questionnaire,which included newspaper and television news credibility questions for comparative purposes.Among WWW users and non-WWW users combined, credibility perceptions of newspaper and television news were not found to differ significantly, with the majority of respondents ranking newspapers and television medium in credibility. Television held a statistically significant lead over newspapers as the most believable news source in the event of conflicting reports of the same news story appearing in both media.WWW users rated the WWW medium in credibility and felt television to be more believable than newspapers and the WWW in the event of conflicting reports appearing in all three media. / Department of Journalism

Due to technologic breakthroughs, neonatal intensive care units (NICU) are caring for sicker and tinier clients. However, personal beliefs and attitudes about neonatal pain have not kept up with the times. The purpose of this study was to explore knowledge and attitudes of NICU RNs regarding the assessment and management of neonatal pain. The theoretical framework for this study was Travelbee's Human-to-Human Relationship Theory. The sample was drawn from a mailing list obtained from the Central Indiana chapter of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. Thirty nurses completed the study's tool, Use of Drugs for Pain and Agitation Survey of NICU's Questionnaire. Statistical analysis included frequencies and percentages. Results revealed that there was consistent agreement among nurses regarding the belief that neonates do feel pain and that pain assessment and management is different for neonates as compared to adults. Implications are discussed in relation to improvement in nursing practice and to nursing education. / School of Nursing