Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item The selection of native plants for use in the Montana landscape: selection criteria, aesthetic, cultural and environmental evaluation(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1985) Bruce, Shelly Marie Engler; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Richard K. PohlDuring the past 15 years the landscape industry has experienced increased pressure to use native plants as ornamentals. Although a demand for natives in general exists there has been a relunctance on the part of the industry to offer native species because of the economic risks involved. An ornamental scorecard was developed as an evaluation tool for comparing native plant species with plant species currently available on the ornamental market. The scorecard evaluated 24 native Montana plant species and 20 exotic ornamentals commonly used in the landscape industry in Montana. The aesthetic scorecard rated six visual characteristics using color photographs. Scored were form/habit, flower, fruit, bark, leaf, and seasonal characteristics. The thirteen environmental factors evaluated by the environmental scorecard were transplantability, lifespan, propagation, maintenance/cleanliness, soil texture and pH, moisture regime adaptability (both drought and flood tolerance), exposure tolerances (temperature, light, and wind), insect resistance, and disease resistance. Species were scored by a panel of professional evaluators in the botany, horticulture, nursery and landscape design/architecture fields. These scores allow selection of native plant species with visual and/or functional qualities that are of equal or greater value than those exhibited by plants already available on the retail market, and thus exhibit competitive marketing potential.Item A survey of organization and practice in several semi-nongraded school systems(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, 1967) Owens, Olive V.The purpose of this study was to obtain first-hand information concerning the organization and administration of nongraded school systems. Five semi-nongraded or nongraded schools were visited. Principals, personnel and parents were interviewed. Principals of the five schools also responded to a written inquiry. In addition, representatives of two schools not visited granted interviews and completed the written inquiry. All schools approached cooperated. Some similarities in operation and administration were evident: 1. All of the schools responding were organized on a 'levels' plan for reading skills. 2. Initial ungrading began with some or all of the primary years. 3. Thorough orientation of staff and community was deemed highly important. 4. Lack of appropriate materials was a limiting factor. 5. More funds for equipment, materials and additional personnel were needed. 6. Each school devised its own reporting plan. Operation and administration varied in these respects: 1. Bases for evaluation of pupil progress (teacher judgement, reading tests based on textbook, and/or general achievement). 2. Plans for reporting to parents (conference, card, anecdotal, and/or combinations of two or more). 3. Number of levels for each year's work (from four per year to as many as seven). 4. Financial support of initial innovation (district or foundation). 5. Source of instigation for the plan (administration or teacher-administration group). 6. Organization of groups within classes (by achievement and/or interest). 7. Basis for assignment to classrooms (achievement, age, personality). 8. Extent of curriculum and years which were ungraded at first and currently (only reading in one or more primary grades to all areas in entire school). There appeared to be no one 'best' plan for implementing a nongraded school. There was only a consensus of philosophy. Administrators, staff and parents were generally enthusiastic about the plan. There was a lack of objective evaluation, even in the schools which had operated the plan the longest number of years.Item A comparison of the achievement test scores in the intermediate grades in a school using performance grouping and a school using heterogeneous grouping(Montana State College, Division of Education, 1961) Burton, Priscilla J.The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not a form of ability grouping known as performance grouping had an effect on the students' achievement test scores that would not be obtained in a heterogeneous classroom. The major hypothesis held was that added gains would be shown on the standardized achievement test scores by the students in a school using performance grouping that would not be shown by students in a school using heterogeneous grouping.Item A study of selected factors that may contribute to the incidence of premature infant births in Twelve southwestern Montana counties(Montana State College, Division of Professional Schools, 1961) Burcham, Genevieve S.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Eleanore L. ModeThis study was concerned with three selected factors (socio-economic, geographic, and health facilities) that may contribute to the incidence of premature infant births in twelve southwestern counties in Montana. The documentary and exploratory method was employed in securing the data. The results of this study showed no established pattern of the three factors to the incidence of premature infant births.Item Self concept, marital adjustment, and academic achievement(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, 1978) Loberg, Larry Gordon; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Richard HorswillThis study investigated the interrelationships between self concept, marital adjustment, and academic achievement as measured by grade-point-average. A proportional stratified random sample of students living in married student housing at Montana State University was drawn. The participants were administered three instruments: a biographical questionaire, the Locke Marital Adjustment Test, and the Tennessee Self Concept Scale. The variables, self concept, marital adjustment, grade-point-average, family income, age, years of marriage, parental status, class level, employment status, housing conditions, family self, social self, personal self, moral-ethical self, physical self, behavior, identity, and self satisfaction were correlated using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. The results showed a significant correlation at the .05 level of confidence between self concept and marital adjustment, self concept and grade-point-average, and self concept subscale categories of family, social, personal, moral-ethical, and physical selves and marital adjustment. A significant correlation between marital adjustment and number of years of marriage, wife^ enrollment in college and marital adjustment, and between family income level and self concept was found to exist. The results showed no significant correlation between housing conditions and marital adjustment, housing conditions and self concept, parental status and marital adjustment, parental status and self concept, marital adjustment and grade-point-average of the wife, self satisfaction and marital adjustment, and class level and marital adjustment.Item Diorama construction simplified(Montana State College, Division of Education, 1960) Simmons, Hugh G.The decade preceding the 1960's was an age when the interests of students' and adults' were many and varied. Because of this diversification of interests, ideas to be presented had to be short, to the point, and interesting for effective communication. Each year history was being made, studied, and forgotten by students trying to keep up with the fast-changing pace of events. It was the opinion of the writer that there was a way in which important events could be recorded which would enable students not only to understand an event, but to gain an understanding of the forces or actions which led up to the event. It was the writer's contention that the preparation for and the construction of a diorama, a three dimensional scene incorporating three-dimensional objects with backgrounds in perspective, could stimulate and vitalize history courses at the high school level. The purpose of this investigation was three-fold: to construct a diorama, to produce a slide film set and guide, and to record the various steps in the construction of the diorama.Item The history of federal aid to Montana education(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, 1966) Donohoe, Gordon ThomasThe purpose of this study was to bring together fragmentary information on the impact of federal monies on Montana education. The writer examined federal and state education department records arising in the way of administration and business, dealing with federal education aid. Chronicles, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets and federal laws has been reviewed. The following conclusions seem warranted from examination and analysis of data collected in this historical study: 1. Federal support was offered to Montana schools in 1864. However, the primary impact of federal aid to Montana education was felt with the passage of the Smith-Hughes Act in 1917. 2. Federal educational spending has had an impact on Montana public education although federal policy toward education has been influenced by factors other than educational ones, such as land settlement, national welfare and national defense. 3. Federal aid has been governed by dictates from Washington, D.C. 4. Federal funds in lieu of tax payments have not been sufficient to cover the additional cost of educating the children of federally dependent families. 5. Montana education can expect federal aid and controls in the future, as witnessed by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.Item The views of a group of adolescents concerning their hospital experiences in one Montana community(Montana State College, Division of Professional Schools, 1963) Donohue, Susan; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Eleanore L. ModeThe primary purposes of this study were to determine the views of a selected group of adolescents towards their hospital experiences and obtain information from this group concerning their illnesses or injuries. The study was based on a survey conducted by interviewing a selected sample of adolescents between the ages of twelve and seventeen years. The majority of the adolescents indicated that they did not mind being hospitalized and viewed their hospitalization experiences as 'an experience.' The statistical analysis of the data revealed significant results in the answers to the majority of the questions asked but that there was no significant difference among the responses of the boys and girls.Item A study on individual instruction for distributive education(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Professional Schools, 1971) Burger, Robert Alvin; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: G. Dean PalmerThe purpose of this study was to develop units of individual instruction to be used in distributive education at the high school level. Associated with the units was the gathering of specific related reference and study materials, and testing the written units under classroom and business laboratory situations. This task makes available to distributive education some units of individual instruction that have been developed and tested by this writer. The task makes reference to the procedures used in the preparation of the units and related conditions encountered. It was the purpose of this task to give others some point of reference in their use and construction in units of individual instruction.Item A study of some factors related to success in mathematics and course offerings(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1958) Short, Orley Cortlandt