Secret Schemes is a collection of four short stories and three chapters of a novel; all the stories are humorous and deal with young women and their struggles in romantic relationships.

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The effects or energy input variation on the mixing obtained in a laboratory flocculation unit were studied. The main parameter was the size and shape or paddles used to induce the mixing. A variation in paddle geometry produced a variation in energy input. The effect of baffles was studied and the effect of flocculator geometry was considered by comparing two different length to width ratios tor a single tank. Theoretical models were used in an attempt to describe a flocculation unit by comparing the experimental tracer output with the predicted theoretical output. Some generally accepted design criteria tor full-scale flocculation units were also compared with experimental results. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

This research proposes that consumers often selectively communicate their product knowledge with one another in order to achieve different interpersonal goals or to meet situational demands; as a consequence of this selective message construction process, the communicators' recollections of the product knowledge tend to be realigned with the contents of the communicated messages. To provide empirical support for this proposition, I employed a two-step, memory-based experiment procedure and used interpersonal relationship strength as the key investigating variable to examine communicators' selective message construction behavior and its evaluative consequences. Results showed that participants communicated more negative product information to a strong relation audience and more positive information to a weak relation audience; they were also more likely to negatively interpret ambiguous information to a strong relation audience. After the communication, participants in the strong relation condition showed significantly decreased product evaluations. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine differences between female and male aggression; to examine the effect various aggression, dominance, and couple variables have on female physical aggression; to identify which combination of these variables bests explains female aggression in a sample of couples seeking therapy for domestic violence/anger management; and to identify the influence of male physical aggression on the predictor variables. Overall, based on women's reports, 74.6% (n=63) of the women and 86.2% (n=74) of the men in this sample used at least one act of physical aggression against their partner in the past year. With the exception of slapping and using a knife or gun against partner, men perpetrated individual acts of physical aggression significantly more than did women. Aggression, dominance, and couple variables were found to be significantly correlated with and predictive of female physical aggression. Overall, this study found that 55% of the variance in women's use of physical aggression was predicted by women's psychological aggression, husband demand/wife withdrawal communication pattern, male and female jealousy, and women's disparagement of their partners. Male physical aggression only added 3% of the variance when added to this combination of variables. Since women's physical aggression is explained by various relationship dynamics the theory that women are aggressive only in self-defense is questioned. / Master of Science

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Abstract Customer relationship management as a strategic marketing concept has gained tremendous interest among researchers and practitioners in recent times. Within the last two decades a significant number of research works have been carried out on various issues relating to customer relationship management. However, few empirical studies on market orientation and performance have been established in the Ghanaian banking sector. In an effort to contribute to the existing customer relationship management literature, a study of Intercontinental bank Ghana was conducted. A framework of customer relationship management was designed to guide the study. Specifically, this study examines the customer relationship marketing strategies of banks in a developing country like Ghana using Intercontinental bank as a case study. The study employed quantitative research techniques. Semi-structured questionnaire was designed for the study. The findings show that the bank is doing well by maintaining the relationship it initiates with its clients but must work on improving the number of contact time with them as e-CRM provides them with the opportunity to do so. However, a significant finding from the study is the realization that majority of respondents were willing to recommend the bank to others an indication that they were happy with the level of service at the bank. Although significant portion of those who considered the possibility of leaving indicated that they will do so because of delayed transactions. It is in the light of this that the research is said to play a significant role in the banking sector and for the nation as a whole. / P.O.Box 3077, Kaneshie, Accra Ghana. 0233 244184980/0233 271015288

Master of Science / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Jared R. Anderson / Amber V. Vennum / The present study sought to extend the research on cyclical, or on-again/off-again relationships, by examining whether a history of cyclicality moderated the association between neuroticism and relationship satisfaction. A second goal of this study was to examine the direct and indirect effects of neuroticism on relationship satisfaction through communication. The sample consisted of cohabiting cyclical (n = 1,055) and noncyclical (n = 2,527) couples from a larger dataset collected by the RELATE Institute. Results showed that cyclical partners reported higher levels of neuroticism, higher levels of conflict, lower levels of positive communication, and lower levels of relationship satisfaction than noncyclical couples. Direct actor paths from neuroticism to satisfaction were significant for cyclical and noncyclical females and males. Only the direct partner path from female neuroticism to male satisfaction was significant, and was only significant for cyclical couples. All indirect actor and partner paths were significant for cyclical and noncyclical females and males. Further, a history of cyclicality significantly moderated the direct paths from male communication to male and female relationship satisfaction, indicating this relationship is stronger for cyclical couples.

Thesis advisor: Dorothy A. Jones / Purpose: The purpose of this study was to define, develop, and psychometrically evaluate a scale designed to measure Nurse’s Perception of the Relationship Based Care Environment. Background: Relationship is a complex multidimensional concept. It is a critical component of professional practice and core to the interaction between nurse and patient. While there are a number of scales available to measure different dimensions of relationships between nurses and other groups there is no one scale that captures multiple dimensions. Methods: Based on a review of the literature and an earlier qualitative study, a theoretical representation was developed. This representation became the framework for development of elements and items for the NPRBCE scale. The content validity of the NPRBCE scale was determined by an expert panel of Registered Nurses. Four hundred and seventy three Registered Nurse participants completed the survey. Analysis: Data were subjected to Principal Components Analysis and Cronbach’s alpha was computed to determine reliability of the scale as a whole and each of the components of the scale. Results: The final solution was a five component 56-item scale. The five components include: nurse/ other discipline; nurse/organization; nurse/ nurse; nurse/ patient- knowing the patient; and nurse/patient-respecting the patient. The scale as a whole and each of the resulting components were found to be reliable. The components were parsimonious and interpretable. Keywords: relationship based care, relationship centered care, nurse practice environment / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. Connell School of Nursing. / Discipline: Nursing.