This degree paper examines salary compression in the Department of Administrative Services of the City of Atlanta. The primary intent of this paper is to determine whether salary compression is greatest in the relationship between the hourly subordin ates and the salaried supervisors. It is also the intent of this paper to examine the impact of compression on morale, productivity, and turnover. Survey research was employed in the analysis of the problem. Additional data were obtained through the Department of Administrative Services-Bureau of Personnel and Human Resources in the form of book lets, pamplets, and computer print-outs. Also a wide variety of sup portive materials (e.g., books, periodicals, and magazines) was used. The findings of this study suggest that salary compression in the Department of Administrative Services is a problem that is most severe in the relationship between the salaried subordinates and the salaried supervisors. This study also revealed that salary compression lowered morale, decreased productivity, and increased turnover in the organiza tion.

The primary intent of this degree paper is to analyze the use of career/labor market information in the Atlanta CETA Summer Youth Employment program. In addition, an effort has been made to develop a plan which demonstrates effective use of labor market information within the current framework of the Program.

This investigation examined sense of community, interaction, and feedback. When the three variables are combined, they equate to what is called the human element. This research analyzed each of the variables independently and combined (the human element) in the traditional classroom environment and the distance learning classroom environment. Sixty six (66) survey participants were used to analyze the results of the study. The investigator utilized non probability sampling to obtain the study participants. The participants were composed mostly of undergraduate students who completed SW 350: Child Welfare at San Francisco State University. A survey instrument was created which was adapted from previous researchers' tools. The findings of the study indicated that there is no statistically significant difference in the human element in the traditional classroom environment and the distance learning classroom environment. Course format has a statistical significant difference on sense of community. Students' responses indicate that there is a difference in sense of community in the distance learning environment and the face-to-face environment. A chi square test was calculated. It concluded that students favored sense of community more in the face-to-face environment rather than the distance learning environment. Course format does not have a statistical significant difference on interaction. Course format does not have a statistical significant difference on feedback.

The purpose of this study was to explore factors that contribute to decision making of African American adolescent females to engage in sexual behaviors. This study was conducted in Atlanta, Georgia, Fulton County at a metropolitan high school. An exploratory research design was utilized. A self-administered 78-item sexual decision making questionnaire was administered to the population of 30 African American adolescents who were currently pregnant and those who had previously delivered. A Chi-square analysis was employed to analyze the significant relationship of the hypotheses. It was concluded that there were significant statistical relationships between sexual decision making and age, onset of menses, partners' reaction, and ability/desire to be a parent.

The overall objective of this study is to explore, examine, assess and compare perceived satisfaction with service delivery and perceived social support systems among dual-diagnosis: schizophrenic clients. To attain this objective, the following areas were examined by the researcher: (1) Identifying data/demographic data; (2) Support systems, i.e., family and friends among dual-diagnosis: schizophrenic clients; and (3) Satisfaction with mental health service delivery. Fragmentation and gaps in service delivery were also examined. An exploratory descriptive research design was used in the study. A two-part questionnaire was administered by the researcher to thirty-four Dual-diagnosed Schizophrenic Consumers in two separate Mental Health Facilities in Fulton County. This study was an attempt to compare perceived satisfaction with service delivery and perceived social support systems among Dual-diagnosis: Schizophrenic Substance Abusers. The Null Hypothesis was accepted in this study. It was found that there were no statistical significance in perceived satisfaction with service delivery and perceived social support among Dual-diagnosis: Schizophrenic Substance Abusers.

The purpose of this dissertation is to construct a model of pastoral care that will inform through implications, the conceptualization of the nature, purpose, and meaning of pastoral care to geriatric persons residing in mental hospitals. The pur pose is also to show the relationship of six of the latest theo ries on aging and their use in the model to the life quality of the above mentioned geriatric persons. The study examines the usefulness of theories of aging for their relevancy in developing a model of pastoral care for the Institutional Geriatric Church, especially for those elderly persons coping with change of envi ronment and/or relocation. Pastoral care is concerned with a liberating ministry, to include the total caring resources of this community of estrangement of the geriatric person, so that he/she can experience the grace of God through the release from fear of a change of environment and an adjustment to the move. This liberating ministry further is concerned with the patient’s positive growth to God, acquisition and/or strengthening of a basic integrity of the life they have lived, a religious commitment to the present and the future as well as the building and maintenance of love for self, for peers, and for other members of this church. The liberating ministry, succinctly, is a recog nition and release of potential in geriatric persons in spite of their limitations. The intent is to draw from behavioral science principles and the Liberation Ministry concepts to construct the model.

To mitigate the effects of climate change, the U.S. will need a widespread deployment of energy efficiency efforts and low-carbon electricity generating technologies including nuclear, wind, natural gas, and coal with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), technologies that separate CO2 emissions from the flue-gas of fossil fuel power plants and sequester it in deep underground geological formations. The feasibility of this strategy will partially depend on public acceptance of these technologies as part of a national energy policy. To varying degrees, public misconceptions and knowledge gaps exist for each of these low-carbon technologies. Thus, people need balanced and comparative information to make informed decisions about which low-carbon electricity technologies and portfolios to support. In this thesis, we describe paper-based and computer-based communications presenting multi-attribute descriptions about the costs, benefits, risks and limitations of ten electricity technologies and low-carbon portfolios composed of those technologies. Participants are first asked to rank the technologies under a hypothetical scenario where future power plant construction in Pennsylvania must meet a CO2 emissions constraint. Next, participants attend small group meetings where they rank seven portfolios that meet a specific CO2 emission limit. In a subsequent study, participants instead construct their own low-carbon portfolio using a computer decision tool that restricts portfolio designs to realistic technology combinations. We find that our participants could understand and consistently use our communications to help inform their decisions about low-carbon technologies. We conclude that our informed participants preferred energy efficiency, nuclear, and coal (gasification) with CCS, as well as diverse portfolios including these technologies. The thesis continues with a retrospective view for the value of research that elicits general public opinions of CCS and that develops communications to educate people about low-carbon electricity generation. In the latter, we find that the knowledge of science teachers may be insufficient to correct common public misconceptions about low-carbon technologies among their students. Thus, the communications we developed for this thesis could also benefit science teachers. Overall, we conclude that the computer tool, supplemental materials and procedure developed for this thesis may be valuable for educating the general public about low-carbon electricity generation.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Southern California, 2007. / Adviser: Gerald Swerling. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MHSc--Health Science) -- Auckland University of Technology, 2003. / Also held in print (115 leaves, 30 cm.) in Akoranga Theses Collection (T 610.73069 FAR)

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1947.