In today's society, there exists an ever-growing concern over the serious deficit in the primary physician services. With the high cost of health care consistently rising, increased demands are being made for better health care practices. The problems now facing the medical profession emphasize the lack of supply, distribution, organization, utilization, and financing of physician services.The problems of helath care are not mutually exclusive of one another; but rather, they are interrelated and dependent. The problems have manifest themselves in overburdened physicians, rapidly rising medical costs, lack of appropriate use of equipment and facilities, lack of any medical care and services in many rural areas, maldistribution of physicians in urban areas, and delays in seeking medical care by the population.During this time when medical schools are re-examining the objectives and potentialities of their programs, schools of allied health professions are developing and expanding their "non-physician" programs. One of these allied health professions receiving a great deal of attention is the physician assistant. The physician assistant, however, has not been readily accepted into established medical practice. Questions concerning minimum educational standards, licensing, legal responsibility, professional roles, and future professional goals have been raised.The present investigation was undertaken in order to determine the impressions of practicing, licensed physicians in the state of Indiana concerning the utilization, roles, and acceptance of the physician assistant concept. More specifically, this study was designed to determine what, if any, relationship between descriptive aspects of the physician and his practice and his impressions concerning the utilization of the physician assistant in medical practice. The descriptive aspects of the physician population included: medical specialty, age of physician, number of years in practice, type of practice, size of practice, the location of the practice, military experience, distance to urban areas, distance to nearest hospitals, and number of new patients seen each day.The population for this study consisted of a 10 per cent random sample of physicians practicing in Indiana during 1972. The questionnaire utilized was constructed and items selected on the basis of job descriptions, tasks, and functions presented or proposed, in some form, in clinical settings, physician assistant training programs, and to physician assistants throughout the country.The practice of quality medicine mandates that physicians be a conservative group and not take extreme positions. If confronted with a "rating-scale" type of answer, responses might tend to fall in the middle ranks. For this reason, a forced choice (yes or no) type of questionnaire was developed. Each item was designed to measure the impressions and opinions of the physician toward some aspect of the role concept for the physician assistant.A questionnaire was mailed to each of the sample members. Included with each questionnaire was: 1) an explanatory letter introducing the study, 2) an addressed, stamped envelope to be used in returning the survey form. At three week intervals, a follow-up survey form was sent to those sample members who had not returned the form. This was done for two follow-up periods to ensure maximum return.The data was handled in two ways. Initially, the data was handled in a descriptive manner; that is, a simple frequency count was done to see how physicians as a group answered each question or statement. Next, the physician population was categorized and each of the variables was measured. The statistical method used for this study was the chi square (x2) method.The mailing questionnaire was chosen as the method of data collection because it was inexpensive, successful with individuals of higher socioeconomic groups, larger sample size, and bias of the researcher minimum to results.The sample for this study consisted of a ten per cent random sample. The study was initiated in April, 1973, and terminated in September, 1973. A total of 451 questionnaires were mailed to the population sample. Of these, 225 were returned, accounting for a 51.3% questionnaire return.Of the physicians surveyed, 38.8% practiced general medicine. Genreal surgery accounted for 11.0% of the sample. The remainder was made up of various specialties. It was also observed that 32.0% of the physician sample were in the age range of 41-50 years and 28.4 were in the age range of 51-60 years. Only 2.7% of the physicians were under 30 years and 3.1% over 70 years.Of the physicians sampled, 34.4% had been practicing medicine for over 30 years and 53.9% of the physicians practiced alone. Only 1.4% of the physicians were retired.Of the physician sample, 49.8% saw from 26-50 patients each day and over 42% practiced in urban areas greater than 100,000 population. Only 8.1% of the physicians were practicing in areas of 5,000 or less population.With respect to military experience, 77.1% practiced medicine in the military.With a breakdown in regards to distance to nearest urbanarea (100,000 population), 45.4% were within 10 miles and 15.5% were located in areas greater than 50 miles from urban areas. Furthermore, 90.6% of the physicians were located within 10 miles of a hospital.It was observed that 72.1% of the physicians saw from 0-5 new patients each day; 6% saw more than 25 new patients each day.An analysis of the data revealed that physicians as a group agree with the philosophy of the physician assistant concept. The majority of physicians felt that the physician assistant should be trained through approved academic programs which were under the direction of recognized medical schools. In conjunction with this, the physicians felt that standardization in terms of quality and program content was desirable. It was interesting to note that only 79.7% of the physicians felt that standardization was necessary.Many felt they would rather train the physician assistant themselves for the specific needs of their own practice. Some physicians felt that the training programs could be offered through local hospital training schools and not only through medical schools.The next area of interest dealt with legal responsibility. Only 25% of the physicians responding felt that the physician assistant should be legally responsible for his performance.Almost 66 percent of the physicians said that the physician assistant should be permitted to write certain prescriptions. Also 41% said that the physician assistant should be able to write patient orders in the hospital.The majority of physicians felt that the physician assistant should be able to detect abnormal signs and symptoms and make preliminary diagnoses based on the results of such examinations and report these on patients' permanent records or charts. Nearly 52% of the physicians said that their patients would accept the physician assistant to take care of them when they were sick.Approximately 75% felt that the role of the physician assistant overlaps that of the registered nurse.Most of the sample did not feel that the widespread use of the physician assistant would reduce the present quality of health care. Related to this, almost 79% of the physician sample felt that present health care delivery services need to be restructured.The most quoted salary range for the physician assistant was in the 8 to 10 thousand dollar range.Most physicians stated that if they were to employ a physician assistant, they would devote more time to existing patients.Approximately 16% of the Indiana physicians, at present, employ a physician assistant and nearly 64% said they would consider employing a physician assistant in the future.On the basis of the data collected from this survey of physicians concerning the utilization of the physician assistant in Indiana, the following conclusions are made:(1) The majority of physicians feel that the physician assistant should be trained in approved programs.(2) Only 25% of the physicians feel that the physician assistant should be legally responsible for his performance.(3) The majority of physicians feel that the physician assistant should be permitted to write certain prescriptions.(4) The majority of physicians feel that the physician assistant would be accepted by their patients.(5) Nearly three-fourths of the physicians feel that the role of the physician assistant overlaps that of the registered nurse.(6) Nearly 70% of the physicians felt that health care delivery needs to be restructured in order to better meet patient needs.(7) Most physicians would utilize more time to existing patients if they were to employ a physician assistant.(8) The vast majority of physicians feel that the physician assistant is a valuable member of the health care team and will improve the quality of patient care.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

In 1999, Indiana's General Assembly enacted law requiring every Indiana school"% corporation to designate a Safety Specialist. A training and certification program was established which required the designated Safety Specialist to attend six days of training in 1999-2000, and to attend subsequent annual training.In this study, a survey was conducted among the 294 Safety Specialists from the first group of trainees to determine the impact the Safety Specialist program has had in Indiana school corporations in such areas as school climate, student behavior, administrator/teacher behavior, safety awareness, and the implementation of "best practice" programs. Variables such as school size, location, occupation of the Safety Specialist, number of buildings in the corporation, and full-time vs. part-time status of the Safety Specialist, were considered. The survey return rate was 73%.Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and a t-test. ANOVA indicated that school size, location, and the occupation of the Safety Specialist were significant (F scores greater than 1.0) in determining changes in overall safety awareness and "best practice."School corporations with more than 2000 students showed greater safety awareness and implemented "best practice" programs more often than corporations with fewer than 2000 students; urban schools indicated higher levels of safety awareness and utilized "best practice" programs more often than suburban or rural schools; schools where the Safety Specialist is the superintendent, assistant superintendent, or "other" had "best practice" programs in place and had more safety awareness than schools where the Safety Specialist was the principal, assistant principal, or teacher.Pearson correlation testing indicated little correlation between the number of school buildings and any of the research topics. However, a positive correlation of .806 did exist between school climate and administrator/teacher behavior.The t-test revealed no differences in any category between part-time and full-time Safety Specialists; mean scores in each category were similar.A follow-up case study conducted in five schools of varying size and location revealed results similar to the survey: Safety Specialists in the majority of schools considered the training to have, been worthwhile, its overall impact positive, and their schools to be safer than ever before. / Department of Educational Leadership

This study examined advanced refundings of Indiana school construction bonds from 1993 to 1996. Purposes were to: (a) add to the professional knowledge base about advanced refundings; (b) evaluate the financial consequences on taxpayers; (c) determine benefits as measured by interest rates, terms, and payment amounts; (d) determine whether selected financial conditions and demographic variables impacted refunding outcomes.The population was all instances of advanced refundings by Indiana public school districts in the period studied. Data were collected from the bond transcripts prepared by legal counsels and placed in tabulation forms developed for the project.Primary findings included:(a) Three quarters of the refunding occurred in the first 10 years of the paymentstream; 27% occurred in the first four years.(b) As the size of the issue increased, the cost (as a percentage of the issue)decreased.(c) Mean decrease in interest rate for the refizndings was .023915 or 239 basis points.(d) Net fiscal impact was generally positive, with a mean savings of $224,218. (e) A negative correlation existed between district wealth and annual paymentamount (i.e., districts with high assessed valuations had smaller changes inannual payments).(f) A positive correlation existed between interest rate change and refunding amount (i.e., large issues were more sensitive to slight changes in interest rates).Selected conclusions included:(a) The benefits of refunding diminished with time (i.e., greatest benefits are likely in the first quarter of the payment stream).(b) Some refundings occurred when the decline in basis points was below a standard level used for municipal bonds; this suggests that school officials may engage in refundings for reasons that extend beyond savings (e.g., political benefits).(c) An economy of scale between refunding size and costs supports existing research.(d) Costs for local school district counsel varied considerably, suggesting that no compensation standard was used.(e) Wealthier districts were less interested in lowering annual payments; their pursuit of refunding may have been motivated by flexibility (i.e., shortening the debt life, accessing fiscal resources).(f) Districts with large bond issues benefited from refunding even when the declines in interest rates were slight.Eight recommendations were formalized. / Department of Educational Leadership

A state grant program for alternative schools in Indiana was announced in 1997. Less than one-half of Indiana school corporations applied for the funding for the 1998-99 school year. The purpose of this study was to determine if specific barriers were preventing Indiana superintendents from implementing alternative programs in 1999-2000, and if those barriers were associated with select demographic variables.The results indicated that 77%- of the 264 responding superintendents had or participated in an alternative program. There was a significant association between the size of a corporation's student body and the barrier of 11 acceptance''. This barrier consists of concerns about alternative education that carry a negative tone. There were significant associations between the existence of alternative education and the superintendents' final level of education, the size of the corporation's student body, and the assessed valuation of the corporation. Smaller and poorer corporations with a superintendent without a doctoral degree in Indiana were less likely to have or use an alternative program. / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of this study was to determine if any relationship exists among the factors of:(1) strictness of a secondary school's attendance policy,(2) its attendance percentages, and(3) its withdrawal/expulsion/push out percentages with respect to the school's:(4) student enrollment totals of grades seven through twelve;(5) proximity to an urban or metropolitan area; and(6) socio-economic status of the students.This quantitative study involved four (4) independent variables [policy strictness, enrollment size, urban location, and SES] and two (2) dependent variables [attendance percentages and withdrawal percentages]. Six (6) null hypotheses were tested.A questionnaire was sent to the principal of each of the 668 secondary schools which housed any combination of grades 7 through 12. The primary focus of the survey instrument was to have the schools self-determine the strictness of their attendance policies which were in effect for the 1989-90 school year.The attendance, withdrawal, SES, urban type, and enrollment size data were obtained from the Indiana Department of Education office in Indianapolis. The 1989-90 school year data was used. Each school's DOE-AG (Attendance & Graduates) and DOE-WD (Withdrawal) statistics reported in June of 1990 was compared to the questionnaire answers.Three (3) two-way analysis of variance tests (ANOVA) and F-tests for mean differences were used in the treatment of the data. Post hoc tests using the LSD procedure were also used on all groups showing significant differences at the 0.05 level.Eight of the twelve F-tests showed significant differences at the .05 level and in fact were found to be below a .001 level of probability that the differences were by chance. Also, significant interaction was found between two of the groups (policy group and urban type) when compared to attendance percentage.The findings were:(1) Attendance was most influenced by school size and urban type location than the other factors of policy strictness or socio-economic status of the students. Attendance rates were the poorest in large schools and in schools located closer to urban areas.(2) Withdrawal rates were to be highest in large schools and in schools located in metropolitan areas.(3) Strictness of a school's attendance policy did not seem to have a predictable impact upon the attendance rates of the student body with respect to the school's size, urban location, or the socio-economic status of the students. / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of this research was to study the selection of architectural firms for 1997 and 1998 Indiana school construction projects of two million dollars or more. The study reported rankings for architectural selection criteria. Additionally, the study analyzed architectural selection procedures, architectural fees, the degree of respondent satisfaction with architectural services and the finished product, and the amount of inclusiveness in the selection.State records were used to identify the projects approved during the two-year period. Additional data were collected for 81% of the projects via surveys completed by superintendents or their designees.Major findings reported in the study include the following:1. Fees paid to architects ranged from 3.2% to 12.9% of construction costs, with the mean fee being 5.7%.2. In approximately 60% of the projects studied, respondents reported using an inclusive selection procedure for employing an architect.3. Slightly less than one-third of the projects (29%) used a direct selection procedure that precluded the use of a selection committee or the consideration of more than one firm.4. The two most frequently named selection criteria were experience in designing schools and reputation for completing projects within budget.5. The only variable found to have a significant association with the amount of fee paid was satisfaction with architectural services. Respondents in the low-fee category identified the highly satisfied response more than was expected.Outcomes suggest that a considerable number of school officials in the state did not adhere to the accepted best practices concerning competitive selection and the use of inclusive selection committees. The considerable variance in fees paid to architects was not explained by district size, district wealth, the nature of the construction project, or by the selection procedure used.Additional research was recommended in the following areas: (a) replication of the study in other states, (b) qualitative studies of superintendent attitudes about selection criteria and selection committee membership, (c) criteria for setting architectural fees, and (d) factors contributing to superintendent satisfaction. In addition, Indiana policymakers were encouraged to require local school districts to use competitive selection procedures. / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of this study was to document relationships that exist between Indiana public-school superintendents and Indiana home-school families. The study examined if public-school superintendents' perceptions of home schooling and their perceptions of current Indiana home-school regulations influenced their relationships with home schoolers. Further, the study explored home-schooler perceptions of Indiana regulations on home schooling.For the superintendent questionnaire, the entire population of Indiana school district superintendents in office during the 1996-1997 school year was polled. Of the 297 superintendents polled, 192 responded to the initial mailing and three more to the follow-up resulting in a total of 195 responses- a return rate of 66%. The desired population for the home schoolers was all home-school families in Indiana. Based on the Indiana Department of Education estimate of 5500 home-school families registered with them, 550 questionnaires were mailed to home-school families with a 26% return rate.The following conclusions were drawn based on the findings in the study.1. Indiana public-school superintendents probably have a weaker relationship with the home-school parents in their school district than they believe. While nearly 65% of the superintendents believed they had at least a fair relationship with the home schoolers in their district, only 35.5% of the home-school parents believed their relationship with the superintendent was at least fair.2. Home schoolers desire more interaction with the public schools than they are receiving.Twenty percent of the home schoolers who did not have access to services at their local school wanted access to classes and textbooks from their local school district.3. Indiana superintendents are not knowledgeable about reasons parents choose to home school their children. Superintendents believed religion was a reason for home schooling in significantly larger numbers than the home-school parents (86% superintendents verses 55% of home-school parents). Superintendents did not recognize home-school parent concerns such as safety concerns, concerns with academics and problems with public schools.4. All Indiana public schools need a board-approved policy concerning home-schooled students in their district.5. There are children in Indiana receiving little or no education through home schooling.6. Home schoolers in the present Indiana study, for the most part, are representative of home schoolers across the United States.7. While the public perception of home schools has improved significantly in the last decade, superintendents' perceptions of home schools have changed little. Superintendents' perceptions of home schooling were virtually unchanged from the Lindley study completed in 1985. Superintendents believed home schools should have to participate in mandatory testing of students, certification of home-school teachers and should have mandatory registration with the state of Indiana. / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of the study was to analyze the impact on 4-H policy council members, extension professionals and 4-H adult leaders regarding the incorporation of a 4-H urban program into the traditional 4-H program. The study was designed to provide data for Cooperative Extension Service personnel concerning the impact of changes in attitudes toward policy and administration of a-H programs, as well as develop ways and means for the integration of an urban 4-H program into the traditional. 4-H program. The documentation produced by the study offered new base line information and will enhance efforts by Extension Administrators in determining resources, training and programmatic needs of an urban 4-H program.The following assumptions were made relative to the study:1. Millions of boys and girls throughout the United States have been helped through 4-H.2. Leadership skills and abilities, as well as interpersonal communication skills, have been developed by 4-H members.3. The Indiana 4-H program is a proven creditable program.4. A vast number of urban boys and girls have been omitted from the 4-H program in Indiana.5. Two distinct and definable 4-H program styles currently exist in Indiana--one rural and one urban. 6. Variations created by long histories of traditions woven into the ongoing 4-H program cannot feasibly be controlled in the research setting and will be assumed to be equivalent for each sample population. The following research questions were attendant to the study:1. How have the attitudes of 4-H policy council members, extension professionals and 4-H adult leaders in the three selected Indiana counties been affected?2. How will/should the Indiana Cooperative Extension Service policy be affected?3. How will/should the Indiana Cooperative Extension Service Administration be affected?The potential population for the study was defined as all 4-H policy council members, 4-H adult leaders and extension professionals (Youth Department, County Extension Coordinator, and Area Administrator) in three selected Indiana counties (Lake, Marion and Vigo). The population also included the State Director, the Associate Directors, and the entire 4-H State Staff. The study population was a stratified random policy council members and 4-H adult leaders resultingFrom sample. One-third of the potential population, 414 individuals, were asked to complete and return questionnaires.A review of related research and literature was conducted and revealed limited research efforts have been devoted to the impact on attitudes of extension professionals, 4-H the incorporation of an urban 4-H program into the traditional 4-H program. The first section of Chapter II included selected information on attitude change, cognitive models of attitude change and problems for research related to changing attitudes. The second section was devoted to studies relative to organizational change in the Cooperative Extension Service; incorporation infers growth and growth will cause change. The third section dealt with management and leadership behavior of extension professionals.Data for the study were obtained from six sources:(1) federal and state Extension Management Information System; (2) yearly 4-H summaries; (3) 1970 U.S. Census Records; (4) State 4-H Department records; (5) County 4-H Department records; and (6) a survey instrument administered to 4-H policy council members, 4-H adult leaders and extension professionals. The questionnaires consisted of thirty statements divided equally into three areas--policy, personnel and program relative to the Indiana 4-H program. Validation of the survey instrument was implemented and completed through appropriate field testing in a county in Indiana not selected for the study.The data were analyzed using a frequency of distribution for each group of the study population--4-H policy council members, 4-H adult leaders, and extension professionals in each of the three selected counties, as well as the three councils, leader groups and extension professionals. A frequency distribution was also developed for the total population sample of the study. Data obtained from the questionnaires were summarized and presented in narrative form. Tables were developed to report raw data.The respondents were in general agreement with six statements, and predominantly in disagreement with one statement. The statements in the survey instrument were divided into three sections: policy 1-10, personnel 11-20 and program 21-30. Eighty-five percent of the respondents agreed with the policy statements, 80 percent of the respondents agreed with the personnel statements and 84 percent of the respondents agreed with the program statements.

This thesis was an examination of the 1969 general property tax reassessment in Indiana on state and local government levels. Specifically, this study undertook to examine from a statistical viewpoint, whether the State Board of Tax Commissioners accurately and efficiently assessed the public utility properties located within the state. In addition, the same statistical tests were performed on. selected local government assessments of residential properties. In this way, the study was able to point out which agency, the State Board of Tax Commissioners or the local governments, came closest to the 33-1/3 per cent of true cash value legal assessment ratio in Indiana.In the process of answering which agency came closest to the legal assessment ratio, this study examined who was more fair, or uniform in their assessment practices, to the individual taxpayer, the State Board of Tax Commissioners or the local government assessing officials.

A survey of the Mammalian fauna of the Huntington Reservoir Area in Huntington and Wells Counties was conducted from March 1, 1973 through February 28, 1974. Collected specimens were identified to species, catalogued, and made into study skins and/or skulls prior to deposition in the Ball State University Mammal Collection. Data were recorded on body measurements, weights, reproductive condition, and skull measurements. These data were compared to previous mammal investigations in Indiana.The study revealed the presence of 27 species of mammals on or near the Huntington Reservoir Study Area. Twenty-one species were Collected and/or examined by the author, and the additional six species were collected and/or observed by Reservoir personnel.