Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-114). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

No abstract available. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban,1975.

This thesis has traced the history and chronological development of the academic Department of Natural Resources at Ball State University by researching printed matter concerning the department and by conducting interviews with the people concerned.The history included recent happenings within the department, i.e., course offering implementations, and dates of the movement from program (1967) to institute (1970) to department (1974). It also included the past history of Ball State Teachers College (which became the present Ball State University) and early interest in natural resources courses first offered in 1919. Of particular interest was the research on the Natural Resources Advisory Committee which met from 1965 to 1973 and which formulated the early aspects of the natural resources program and developed them into the present department.The development of the department was researched using personal and written interviews and was basically an assessment of the progress of the present department. Comments were obtained from Natural Resources Advisory Committee members, past and present faculty, graduates of the department and employees of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The consensus of opinion was that the creation of the department was due to the hard work and dedication of its present chairman, Dr. Clyde Hibbs. / Department of Natural Resources

This study presents the perceptions of media outlets and news consumption habits of a specific audience, the undergraduate student population of Ball State. The perception of credibility, accuracy, and trustworthiness all played important roles in media consumption. This study found little support for the hostile media effect among college students. Many respondents indicated they preferred to get their news in multiple perspectives, rather than just one. Consequently, this study supported the opposing views on hostile media effect in the academic research community. / Department of Journalism

Even though faculty are one of the most important components of a successful learning community, little research discusses the experiences and motivational factors that influence faculty to participate actively in learning community programs. This study at Ball State University helped researchers to understand these factors so that they could alter the learning community environment to make it more favorable for faculty participation. Qualitative research methodology resulted in data being gathered via interviews with faculty members who were identified as active participants in the Freshman Connections program during the fall 2002 semester. An interview guide was revised from a study conducted by Golde and Pribbenow (2000). Data were collected in April 2003. The researcher analyzed the data by identifying thematic connections among the data according to guidelines presented by Seidman (1998). / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship existed betweenhomophobic beliefs and rape myth acceptance in undergraduate students who attendedBall State University. In addition, the effect that gender, organizational affiliation, andClass anding had on these beliefs was measured.The project consisted of 242 undergraduate students who lived in Woody/Shalesand Howick/Williams Halls. The project took place during the spring semester of 2004.The findings indicated that rape myth acceptance (RMA) did correlate with homophobia, and that this correlation was significantly higher in males than in females. The findings also indicated that neither class standing nor group affiliation had a significant effect on either RMA or homophobia. / Department of Educational Studies

This thesis explored the differences between 1981 Ball State University undeclared and declared major matriculates freshmen on selected variables related to persistence. This study did not attempt to make forecasts regarding persistence by the study participants, but rather to serve as a base population from which longitudinal studies examining the relationship between declaration of a major and persistence could be based.Responses to a 60-item questionnaire were tabulated and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. A cross tabulation program was used in generating frequency and percentage data. In addition, chi square and T-test programs were used in reviewing the statistical significance of the differences.The undeclared and declared students were found to differ significantly in thier responses to the following variables: 1) college attendance by others; 2) influence to attend college; 3) Ball State University attendance; 4) major/occupation selection priority; and 5) vocational and academic expectations and experiences.

The study determined if the hip hop culture influenced the collegiate experience, specifically attitude, socialization, and personal goals. Qualitative research methodology resulted in the use of semi-structured interviews. Participants were traditional undergraduate students who self-identified as listening to hip hop music at Ball State University. Data were collected in January and February of 2006.The hip hop culture influenced the socialization of the student participants. Participant attitude was seldom influenced by the hip hop culture. Mainstream hip hop had minimal influence on the personal goals of students. The hip hop culture was more than music to the undergraduate students; it was a way of life and provided the motivation to pursue an education. / Department of Educational Leadership

The present research concerned the validation of a neuropsychological screening measure. In a series of investigations the reliability, predictive validity and factor structure of the Ball Neuropsychological Screening Measure (BNSM) were examined.Such procedures were considered essential to investigate the utility of the BNSM.In a two part study, the reliability of the BNSM was investigated (Study 1). First, an attempt was made to determine BNSM test-retest reliability with the finding that subtest means on test and retest were too similar to permit interpretation. In the second portion of Study 1 the internal consistency of the BNSM was examined by computing Cronbach's alphas. The BNSM was found to have high internal consistency, producing an overall alpha coefficient of .951.A discriminant analysis was performed in study 2 to examine the utility of the BNSM in discriminating between normal and impaired adults.The BNSM was found to be highly accurate in this regard, achieving an overall correct placement prediction rate of 96%. Study 3 looked at the utility of the BNSM in correctly predicting lateralization of brain Impairment.The BNSM successfully predicted placement into three groups (Normals, Right-Hemispheric Impairment, LeftHemispheric Impairment) with 95% overall accuracy. Finally, the factor structure of the BNSM was examined in Study 4. Utilizing a varimax rotation, a two factor solution was found to account for 66.8% of the total variance. / Department of Educational Psychology

Thesis (PhDApSc)--University of South Australia, 2003.