Two major nutritional concerns in the United States today are the increasing consumption of soft drinks and the decreasing intake of fruits and vegetables. This study hypothesized that there is a negative correlation between soft drink consumption and fruit and vegetable intake among college students.Data were collected by means of a 3-day food record. The collection time occurred on three consecutive specified days with college students who ate in the college dining commons. These food records were then analyzed on computer software. A Pearson correlation coefficient was obtained by comparing the average intake of fruits and vegetables for each individual with the average intake of soft drinks for each individual. Using an alpha level of 0.05 and 75 degrees of freedom, a significant negative correlation was found between the amount of soft drinks consumed and the amount of fruits and vegetables eaten. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

The purpose of this study was to analyze possible effects of the 1997-1998 Multicultural Advisor Pilot Program which was designed to positively effect the adjustment of students of color to the Ball State University environment. The study utilizes the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire which examines a student's full-scale adjustment, academic adjustment, social adjustment, personal-emotional adjustment, and attachment/commitment to their education and institution. Results of the study suggest various differences in adjustment to the Ball State University environment do exist between the first-year students of color affected by the program and the first-year students of color who were not involved with the Multicultural Advisor Pilot program. / Department of Secondary, Higher, and Foundations of Education

The purpose of this study was to determine if the attitudes of a selected group of American high school students towards a different nation in general and Iranian's in particular would be affected as a result of presenting them with factual information about that culture through the use of audio-visual aids.One hundred and twenty high school students between ages of 13 - 18 who attended Burris Laboratory School in Muncie, IN. were randomly selected and assigned to an experimental and a control group. The number of students who responded to the questionnaire and participated in the study was 77. There were 40 students in the experimental and 37 students in the control group. A new semantic differential scale was developed by the researcher in order to obtain measures of attitude towards Iranians. In order to validate the measurement instrument a pilot study was performed. The study utilized a Posttest- only design.The experimental group received factual information about Iranian culture through a handout and also two series of slide-tape presentations, which were prepared by the investigator. The control group received no treatment. The information on the handout and slides was about Iranian life style, education, religion, art, tribes, industry, clothing, and architecture. The information was intended to be factual rather than political propaganda. Two weeks after the experimental group received the second series of slides the revised semantic differential scale was administered to both control and experimental groups. The data was analyzed by a 2 by 2 by 2 multivariate analysis of variance. The following null hypotheses were tested:1 - There is no significant difference between the means of the experimental and control groups for various outcome factors of the semantic differential scale when considered simultaneously.2 - There is no significant difference between the means of male and female respondents for experimental and control groups for various outcome factors of the semantic differential scale when considered simultaneously. Findings:1- There were no significant multivariate interactions (2 or 3 ways).2- There were no significant sex differences.3- There was a significant treatment difference in a multivariate sense. However the interpretation of the univariates did not permit the attribution of differences to either factor singly. Rather a linear composite of the 2 factors is needed to explain the difference found. Generally these linear composites are not interpretable in a conceptual sense.Conclusion:The results of the study suggest that giving factual information about Iranian culture through use of slide-tape presentation can bring about some change in the attitude of high school students about Iranian people. However the study failed to identify the nature of this change. Further study is needed to identify better the nature of the change as a result of giving factual information. / Department of Secondary, Higher, and Foundations of Education

The purpose of this study was to investigate the self concepts of a group of high school Negro students in the Muncie Community Schools, Muncie, Indiana, in relation to intelligence, reading achievement, and grade point average. Specifically, the objectives were: (1) to obtain the reading achievement scores, intelligence scores, and grade point averages of a randomly selected group of Negro students in the high schools in Muncie, Indiana, (2) to identify the self-concepts of a group of high school Negro males and the self-concepts of a group of high school Negro females randomly selected from the three high schools in Muncie, Indiana, (3) to measure the relationship of the self-concept of females with their obtained intelligence scores, achievement scores, and grade Point averages, (4) to measure the relationship of the self concept of males with the obtained intelligence scores, achievement scores, and grade point averages, and (5) to measure the relationship of the self-concept of Negro students as a total group with their obtained intelligence scores, achievement scores, and grade point averages. The method of investigation used in this study included the following areas: (1) selection of participants, (2) collection of data, (3) scoring procedures, and (4) methods used in analyzing the data.Of the 278 Negro students in grades ten and eleven in the three high schools, a total sampling consisted of ninety-two (92) students, forty-five (45) males and forty-seven (47) females, or one-third of the total population of grades ten and eleven. The random selection was done during the school year, 1970-71. Two self-concept scales, Maryland Self-Concept as a Learner Scale and Brookover Self-Concept of Ability Scale were administered. Intelligence non-verbal scores, reading achievement scores, and grade point averages, as of January 21, 1971 (semester end) were obtained from the cumulative record card. All data were placed on IBM cards. The method of analysis in the study was multiple linear regression. Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions were reached:1. The self-concepts of a group of high school Negro students are identifiable through the use of the two self-concept scales.

This study examined the Ball State Diagnostic Inventory. First, the construct validity of the measure and the 14 corresponding psychiatric diagnoses was considered. Secondarily, the investigation considered the psychiatric epidemiology of a college-age population.A review of the literature was presented with an emphasis on psychiatric syndromes, the Neo-Kraepelinian tradition, and the development of empirically based diagnostic criteria. The construction of the Ball State Diagnostic Inventory was placed in the historical context of the assessment of empirically based descriptive diagnostic criteria.One thousand and twenty-two undergraduate and graduate students from four U.S. universities volunteered to complete the Ball State Diagnostic Inventory. Participants were screened for prior psychiatric treatment or a course of psychotrophic medication. The mean chronological age of the subjects was 20.6 years (SD = 1.25) with a range of 18 to 28. The Ball State Diagnostic Inventory is a 218-item measure of adult psychopathology as reflected in the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic Inventory Schedule.The results showed the epidemiological point prevalence rates for this college age sample to correspond to other estimates. The 14-factor solution provided evidence of grouping of symptoms into traditionally defined diagnostic categories. Moreover, derived factors were similar to previous factor analytical studies with major psychiatric syndromes.The results were discussed in terms of their support for the utility of empirically based diagnostic criteria. Further investigations with the Ball State diagnostic Inventory were explored. / Department of Educational Psychology

Lack of physical activity, poor nutritional habits, and unmanaged stress have all been linked to health problems. The present study investigated attitude change toward exercise, good dietary habits, the importance of nutrition information, and stress management due to participation in the Fitness/Wellness course taught by the School of Physical Education at Ball State University. It also examined the effect of gender and class standing on the four dependent variables. A pretest/post-test design was utilized to administer the Attitude section of the Wellness Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior Instrument. The population of 1213 included 59% females and 41% males. Sixty-six percent were freshmen, 22% sophmores, 7% juniors, and 5% seniors. A Paired T-Test showed an overall significant difference between pretest and post-test scores for all four dependent variables. P values for exercise, nutrition information, and stress were all 0.0001. The P value for dietary habits was 0.0021. A MANOVA analysis did not reveal a significant difference when gender or class standing were examined. P values consisted of .091 and .185 for gender and class standing, respectively. / Fisher Institute for Wellness

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

The purpose of this study was to provide quantitative data on members' opinions toward a university health promotion program. A survey research approach was used. A systematic sample of one-half of the Lifestyle Enhancement Center (LeClub) student membership list at Indiana State University was selected to participate in the study. Of the 667 questionnaires mailed, three hundred four subjects completed the questionnaire. The mean age of the subjects was 21 years. One hundred sixty eight subjects (55.5%) strongly agreed that they are receiving their money's worth at LeClub. Current LeClub members felt very strongly or agreed they would recommend LeClub to others (96.7%).T-tests and ANOVA were used to test the hypotheses. No statistically significant difference was found between males and females, among students of varying academic standing, and between new and prior members regarding opinions toward LeClub. A significant difference was found between various levels of participation and opinions regarding a health promotion program (P < 0.01). Those who used the facility the most had the strongest and most positive opinions towards the program. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

In order is meet the requiremcnts for technically sound assessment instruments as required by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), this study investigates the construct validity of Indiana's alternate assessment, the Indiana Standards Tool for Alternate Reporting (ISTAR), a teacher rating assessment as compared to Indiana's general educational assessment, the Indiana Statewide Test of Educational Progress - Plus (ISTEP+), a criterion referenced assessment. Study participants consisted of 284 students from grades 3, 6, and 8. Students were from general and special education. All students in the study were considered not to have significant cognitive disabilities that would have exempted them from ISTEP+ participation. Therefore, all students in the study were required to participate in the fall 2003 ISTEP+ testing session. Students with disabilities in the study were identified as having one of four mild disabilities as defined by the Indiana Professional Standards Board (Mild Mental Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, Emotional Disabilities, or Other Health Impairment. Teachers rated students using the ISTAR assessment during a fall testing window from August 1, through October 31, 2003. The Pearson correlation coefficient used to determine the relationship between ISTEP+ scores and ISTAR teacher ratings. Results of the Pearson correlation coefficient indicated a linear relationship between scores on the two assessment instruments for students in grades 3, 6, and 8 with mild disabilities and without disabilities who participated in both assessments (r = .46 to r = .71). An analysis of variance was used to determine if the ISTAR instrument could, when appropriately completed, differentiate between groups of students who would be expected to perform less well or better than other groups of students. Results from the ANOVA, Levene and Welch procedures as well as the Tamhane post hoc statistic indicated that ISTAR is capable of differentiating between different achievement level groups for the constructs of English/language arts and mathematics. While the study results indicate a sufficient positive relationship, it should be considered to be a baseline study. Additional years of data are needed before valid inferences can be made for the ISTAR assessment tool. / Department of Special Education

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the perceptions and experiences of individuals involved in peer assisted learning (PAL) in the clinical setting of an athletic training education program. A qualitative research approach was utilized to examine the value of PAL experiences in the clinical education setting, define participants' perspectives on interactions with peers in the clinical education setting, and determine which terms were used most commonly by athletic training students and ACIs in describing educational exchanges amongst peers in the BSU athletic training education program. Data was collected through a series of in-depth, semi-structured interviews that pursued the various perceptions and experiences regarding PAL from individuals involved in the BSU athletic training education program. A purposeful sample of 15 participants, consisting of 9 athletic training students, 3 alumni, and 3 ACIs, were asked a set of core questions that explored their perceptions and experiences of PAL within the athletic training program. Data analysis consisted of a coding format which involved the development of themes as a result of the information provided during the interviews. Identified themes were based upon frequency, extensiveness, and significance of comments that occurred through the interview process. The findings suggest PAL activities occur on a regular basis among athletic training students in clinical education experiences and involve informal, active learning situations where students work together to help each other learn. Peers were viewed as individuals having similar knowledge, training, or experiences who help each other with learning, reviewing athletic training competencies and proficiencies, or solving problems within the clinical education setting. Athletic training students involved in PAL at BSU prefer to experience active and informal educational exchanges amongst their peers. Athletic training educators, including faculty, ACIs and even athletic training students, should be aware of the benefits of PAL to learners within athletic training education programs. The use of this type of active, informal learning strategy may significantly impact the success of students involved in athletic training education. / Department of Educational Studies