Thesis (M.A.)-- Brigham Young University. Dept. of Communication. / Bibliography: leaves 113-115.

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The purpose of this thesis is to examine the relationships between personality-centered and issue-centered approaches to a study of attitudes. The relationships will be sought through examination of the essential characteristics of the ideas behind each approach and by exposing the same population to both of the data-gathering methods employed by these researchers, i.e., Rokeach's Dogmatism Scale, and Sherif, et al.'s Method of Ordered Alternatives.

This research sought to find if a significant relationship existed between a factor of personality, authoritarianism, as measured on the Rokeach Dogmatism Scale, and perceived effectiveness of teaching as measured by ratings on the Purdue Rating Scale for Instruction.

The problem of this study was to factor-analyze Rokeach's Dogmatism Scale and examine the factor structures of the scale for differences in the solutions obtained for the male and female groups. It was hypothesized that the Dogmatism Scale consists of several discriminable dimensions of the construct dogmatism and that these dimensions differ significantly for males and females. The dogmatism scale was administered to 186 male and 115 female college students. The male and female solutions yielded thirteen and sixteen orthogonal factors, respectively. Six male factors and eleven female factors were unique to their respective sex groups, indicating that the Dogmatism Scale is multidimensional and that significant sex differences are found when these dimensions are examined.

A growing international research base is suggesting that there can be no more serious sanction taken against children of primary school age than to withdraw their rights to attend school through suspension and exclusion - referred to in Queensland as School Disciplinary Absence (SDA). The short and long-term detrimental consequences of SDA to student recipients, their families, and social structures are well documented. Yet, SDA remains as a controversial, often policy-supported means to manage challenging student behaviour increasingly used by Queensland government schools. To contribute to this growing research, this project examines the potential influence of an array of principals' and teachers' beliefs on their decisions regarding the use of SDA within five government primary schools in Queensland. The study adopts a multi-method, case-study approach and is informed by social constructionist and critical theory perspectives. It draws from Rokeach's (1968) conceptualisation of the human belief system as having a number of sections where particular stated beliefs may be influenced by more powerful beliefs situated within another part of the system, which may (in turn) influence decisions and actions. Data were drawn from school documents, surveys, and interviews. Survey data revealed strong support for the use of SDA but interview data suggested that most participants believed that SDA was ineffective and held overriding concerns for the wellbeing and education of students exhibiting challenging behaviours. In some cases, particular beliefs were shown to override this unfavourable view of SDA and cause educators to become more likely to endorse its implementation. The study examines the complex construction of a variety of educator beliefs regarding SDA in general, the types of students who are more at risk of SDA, school and educator responsibility for supporting these students, and factors believed to prevent or make it difficult to avoid the use of SDA. Also, participants' concerns and recommendations regarding SDA are examined and implications for professional practice and school reform are considered.

This study assesses consumer behavior toward online shopping in Saudi Arabia by studying the factors that affect whether or not they shop online. The sample consisted of 206 Saudis approached using the “snowball” technique. Participants were all above eighteen and Internet users. Participants were asked to give the frequency of their online shopping transactions using a four-point Likert scale. They used a seven-point Likert scale to rate their opinions about trends affecting electronic commerce, companies’ marketing approaches, and other aspects of online shopping. Participants also were asked about their feelings regarding traditional and online shopping using a nine-point bipolar scale. Using the Six Dimensional Achievement Motivations Scale, they were asked to describe themselves, and finally, they were asked to rank the Rokeach Terminal Values based on their importance. The version of the Rokeach Value System used in this study is the one shortened to nine terminal values, by Munson & McQuarrie, 1988, since it reflects better relevance to consumption. Results show that, when compared to traditional shopping, participants have relatively negative perceptions of online shopping. In addition, participants’ demographics and values related to their online shopping frequency, while their achievement motivations were less related. The major limitation of this research is that it was conducted in only one city, Jeddah. Therefore, additional research should be carried out in other cities with larger samples. The research results suggest that businesses in Saudi Arabia should use online shopping as a second channel to distribute their products in addition to their physical stores. This thesis makes a distinctive contribution to the literature, as it is the first to examine the correlation between the Rokeach Value System (1973); the Six Dimensional Achievement Motivation Scale (Jackson, Ahmed, and Heapy, 1976); and online shopping behavior in the world, let alone Saudi Arabia.

The health care industry is undergoing significant change, particularly with the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March of 2010. Using the Rokeach Value survey, the value priorities of the insured and uninsured respondents were assessed. The value priorities were also evaluated for the demographics of gender, ethnicity, education, income, and age group. The terminal value of health was culled out as a moderator variable relative to its influence in the decision to seek health care coverage. The most significant contribution of this study reveals an increased understanding of consumer value preferences and demographics and their influence on health care coverage choices. In turn, it advances personal value theory in a health care context and its implications to behavior and decision-making. The results establish the role of health as a significant moderator variable in the decision process. These findings reveal a multitude of insights, not only for the academic researcher, but for practitioners and policymakers alike who are commissioned to execute the new health care reform bill over the next several years. As health care reform is implemented over the next several years, a combination of legislative and market-based solutions will be necessary to curtail the rising number of the uninsured, and ensure there are parity, equity, and morality in the distribution of health care for all Americans.

Although much has been done in the study of values several important questions relative to the study of values remain. This thesis discusses the questions of what happens to the value systems of those who leave their culture for extended periods of time, do the perceptions of value systems become more accurate after exposure, and how does religiosity affect value systems.The study was based on the idea that each of the cultures being tested (Latin and United States) had a distinct, general value system which differentiated it from the other and yet unified the individuals within it. In this particular study this was not true. However, the possible reasons for this occurrance suggest some intriguing questions for further study. It is possible for example, that these results occurred because the sample group contained all LDS individuals and that this similarity in religion caused more similarity than culture caused differences between the sample groups. Also there was an indication that it is easier to differentiate cultures on the basis of their stereotypes of each other than on the basis of their value systems.

This monograph will serve as a guide to musicians for the preparation and performance of three new works by three living composers: Trumpet Sonata (2010) by Anthony Plog, Running at the Top of the World (2012) by Martin Rokeach, and Sonata - for trumpet and piano (2007) by Charles Reskin. Included will be sections or chapters on the history and background of each work, biographical information about each composer, detailed theoretical analysis and exclusive interviews with the composers. Each individual interview will provide insight into the music, including information on personal inspiration and imagery, a strong focus on timbre, tips and pointers on putting everything together with piano, thematic elements, and theoretical insights. The detailed analysis included in this dissertation will examine these three works further for their idiomatic use of instrumentation, phrasing, articulation, muting, tempi, and dynamics. Suggestions are given for each of these topics viz. interpretation and performance. With regard to my theoretical approach in this monograph, I will be using a variety of methods developed by important theorists including Hugo Riemann and Paul Hindemith. The work of the latter will be expanded upon substantially because Charles Reskin pays special homage to Hindemith in the third movement of his sonata. In my three analytical studies, I will argue that each composer chooses specific chords for a particular structural or semiotic reason. I will also draw important connections between various types of motivic material and discuss other techniques that each composer uses to provide cohesion among movements. / Music Performance