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 Restoration of spotted knapweed infested grasslands in Glacier National Park(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2003) Stringer, Lewis Tipton; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Catherine A. ZabinskiThere is an immediate and on-going need in Glacier National Park (GNP), and other public and private lands, to determine effective methods to re-establish and sustain native plant populations following control treatments of Centaurea maculosa. My research was developed in response to GNP concerns regarding annual herbicide treatment of C. maculosa invaded sites. The aim of this study was to determine if herbicide applications, site preparation and revegetation methods would increase the density and percent cover of native species, while reducing spotted knapweed at two sites in and near Glacier National Park. A priori contrast analysis was used to determine differences in treatment effects. The results of my experiment show that spot spray herbicide application reduced C. maculosa cover without significantly reducing existing native forbs. However, a repeat-herbicide application increased exotic graminoid cover. Tillage reduced the density of C. maculosa seedlings, but resulted in an increase in C. maculosa percent cover, and an overall decline in native forbs. Revegetation methods had limited success at increasing native species, and reducing C. maculosa. The only effect was at Swift Current, where the percent cover of native forbs was significantly higher with the planting treatment, and most pronounced in plots with repeat-herbicide application. Additionally, we measured the composition and density of the seed bank in C. maculosa dominated sites using the seedling emergence method. C. maculosa density was 3,900 and 6,714 seeds / m 2 at the two sites, which was 2 and 3 times higher than the sum of all other species. Seed bank composition and density needs to be considered in efforts to restore C. maculosa infested areas.Item Montana criminal justice personnel attitudes toward the mentally retarded offender(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1987) Christensen, Marsha Ann; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Richard L. HainesItem A survey of businesses on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation to determine the degree of importance of entry-level skills of word processors/secretaries(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1990) Kolstad, Sharon A.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe purpose of this study was to measure the perceptions of small businesses on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana on what skills they preferred an entry-level word processor/secretary possess. Those findings would then be used as the basis for establishing effective business and vocational education programs at Fort Peck Community College, Poplar, Montana. To assess the needs of the small businesses on the reservation, a questionnaire was mailed in August, 1989, to those small businesses employing entry-level office workers. The survey was comprehensive in nature, covering technical and nontechnical skills. Since one of the objectives of the College is to meet community needs, this assessment will aid in the formulation of effective business and vocational courses and serve as areas of emphasis in other courses that will give the graduate competencies for ready employment.Item A study to determine the level of computer literacy in secondary business, mathematics, and computer science teachers in the state of Idaho(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1990) Wasson, Karen Joy; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinCurrently, computer literacy is a term that has many people, professional and non-professional, at a point of confusion. Computer literacy can be defined in a variety of ways and is dependent on the definer's interpretation. All seem to agree, though, that some level of computer literacy is necessary to be successful in the working world. The question is, at what level of computer literacy or computer competence is an individual deemed successful. The major purpose of this study is to determine the level of computer literacy of secondary Business, Mathematics, Science and Computer Science teachers in the state of Idaho. In the normal course of this paper, the researcher hopes to answer the following questions: 1. What is computer literacy? 2. What level of education was attained by those teachers currently using computers in their classrooms? 3. Which teachers are teaching computer literacy and computer programming courses? 4. What high school courses are currently utilizing computers? 5. Are new teachers (1-5 years) using more computers than teachers who have taught for more than 5 years? 6. How important do teachers feel computer skills are with respect to their teaching?Item A survey of businesses in Gallatin County to determine their perception of employees non-technical skills(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1991) Samuelson, Patty L.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe purpose of this study was to measure the perceptions of Gallatin County employers on the non-technical skills their employees possess. Those findings would then be used as a basis for establishing effective adult education, secondary and post-secondary programs in the Gallatin County. To assess the needs of employers in Gallatin County an interview was conducted. The survey was comprehensive in nature and covered non-technical skills needed. The findings illustrate clearly the needs of employers in eight sectors of business. The major findings indicated that employers feel that overall communications are the weakest non-technical skill, and that non-technical skills can best be learned on the job. Also, good personal appearance, honesty, and loyalty to the company are very important non-technical skills. The researcher recommends that educators make an effort to allow students to learn non-technical skills on the job whenever possible. Also, that human relations and written communications be taught as individual classes.Item Teaching methodologies for typing production jobs in the future(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1991) Grimsrud, Vernon Alvin; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe major purpose of this study was to determine which plan; the cycled plan or the concentrated (grouped) method of teaching typing was better for student retention over a period of time. It was tested in three areas: letters, tables, and reports. Two tests were given during the course of the year in each of the three areas. These test were given to a randomly selected group of 30 students in each population. The results of the study indicated that the cycled plan had a slight advantage over the concentrated (grouped) method. This was especially true of the area of reports. The other two areas indicated very little difference. Based on the data from the test scores the cycled plan had slightly better results. Both methods had positive results for the overall group. The improvements shown were far greater than the decreases. Whichever method the teacher prefers to use would probably be the best method for the students to learn and retain the typing skills for letters, tables, and reports. Major recommendations include the following: 1) Teachers should research or do a study to determine what teaching style he/she feels best for the students. 2) Book companies use the educational field for populations and teachers to administer instruments of a study. 3) A continuous study similar to this be conducted for added research knowledge.Item Personal and professional needs of teachers in Montana's Class C schools(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1991) Young, Nancy Kay; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe major purpose of this paper was to determine the personal and professional needs of teachers in Class C schools in Montana, and how college and universities could better prepare them to teach in these school systems. To collect the data for the study, questionnaire packets were sent to each of Montana's 102 Class C schools. Each packet was addressed to the school secretary. A letter to the secretary asked him or her to randomly select three teachers from the school to complete the enclosed questionnaires. It was also specified that the secretary select one teacher from elementary, middle and high school if possible. Of the 306 questionnaires sent, 185 were returned for a 60 % response rate. The findings of the study showed that 72.4 percent of the teachers surveyed were adequately prepared to teach in the Class C school. Growing up in a small community and attending a Class C school helped 33 percent of the respondents be prepared to teach a Class C school. College and university training helped 30 percent of the responding teachers. There are adjustments for teachers who chose to live and teach in a small community. Some of these adjustments include: driving for everything, living in a fishbowl, friends sometimes limited to other staff members, school activities take up a majority of the teachers time both in and out of school, and professional development is limited due to isolation. In regard to the teaching itself, teachers found that the number of preparations involved for lessons and activities require good time management skills. Also they must learn to be creative in order to deal with limited resources. Teachers in Montana's Class C schools said they could have been better prepared to handle extra-curricular responsibilities, small town living and curriculum development. Based on the findings of the study, the writer recommends that college and universities better prepare future teachers by giving them realistic exposure to a teacher's role in the Class C school, addressing curriculum development in the teacher training programs, creating an awareness of small town living in their programs, giving some instruction on how to manage a multi-grade classroom and presenting education students with real exposure to schools of all sizes.Item Impact of tourism on gambling in the Flathead Valley(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1992) Schatte, Karla; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe major purpose of this study was to determine how much tourists gamble on video gambling machines in the Flathead Valley and to produce a profile of the typical gambler in that part of the state. To collect the data for the study, 100 persons who were involved in the gambling activity were interviewed randomly during the month of August, 1991. August is considered to be in the height of tourist season in the Flathead Valley. In addition to the personal interviews, a questionnaire was mailed to 38 bar/tavern/casino owners to compare owners' responses to responses given by persons who were gambling. FINDINGS: The data revealed that, at any given time during tourist season, the majority of persons gambling in the Flathead Valley are local residents (53%) compared to 47% tourists. Male tourists tend to gamble more than female tourists while local females tend to gamble more than local males. The age group that had the most gamblers was 41-50, with age ranges 31-40 and 21-30 in second and third place respectively. Most of the gamblers surveyed (67%) were either high school graduates or graduates of a 2-year college, and 54% of the gamblers reported an income of $30,000 or greater. The gamblers surveyed stated that they do not gamble very often (62% gamble a couple times per week or a couple times per month) and that they do not spend much of their personal funds on gambling (59% spend less than $25 each time they gamble). The presence of legalized gambling apparently does not influence many tourists to visit the Flathead Valley (85% of tourists said "no"), but the overwhelming majority of persons surveyed (80%) believe that gambling is good for Montana. Most gamblers are not aware of problems caused by gambling and believe that gambling revenue should be used to decrease taxes and to improve education. other areas in which they would like to see gambling revenue be used are listed in the study. While only 15% of tourists said gambling influenced their decision to visit the Flathead Valley, 77% of the tourists reported that they believe tourists come to Montana because of gambling; and 66% of the tourists believe that at least half the tourists who visit Montana gamble when they get there. In comparing the bar/tavern/casino owners' responses to the gamblers' responses, the writer found that the owners differed in their perception of the most popular age ranges of persons gambling in their establishments. with regard to this question, 62% of the owners thought that the 31-40 age range was the most common. with regard to how many tourists vs , residents gamble in their establishments, 46% of the owners stated that most gamblers are local residents while 39% believed that the gamblers in their establishments were half tourists and half local residents. The owners also differed on the question regarding whether tourists gamble once they get to the Flathead Valley--46% of the owners reported that only half the tourists gamble when they get there, and 31% reported that very few tourists gamble. with regard to how much local residents gamble, 77% of the owners indicated that local residents either gamble more or about the same as do tourists.Item A survey of expatriate employees of the Higher Colleges of Technology to evaluate the pre-arrival orientation package(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1992) Teja, Nasir; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe major purpose of this paper was to evaluate the pre-arrival orientation package that all new expatriates receive from the orientation committees at the Higher colleges of Technology. To collect the data for the study, questionnaire packets were sent to each of the six campuses. Each packet was addressed to the Executive Assistant to the Director who had been instructed to distributed them only to the expatriate employees. Of the 118 questionnaires distributed, 85 were returned. Nineteen (19) of the 85 were disqualified because they had been hired locally without any orientation, giving 66 or a total return of 55.9 percent. The findings of the study showed that the majority of the respondents thought that the pre-arrival orientation package was generally acceptable. The majority also stated that for the most part, the pre-arrival orientation package portrayed an accurate picture of the Higher Colleges of Technology and life in the Emirates. Most respondents thought that the Emirates was a lot more Westernized than they expected. There were some mixed views about the status of women in the UAE and also about the clarity of the contract. Most people were able to bring appropriate clothing based on information in the orientation package. The respondents thought that the information on furnishing and housing could have been much better. All respondents would have liked a college calendar showing what career vocations are taught and the courses the they would have to teach. Knowing what they know now, most respondents would have accepted the job and would also recommend the job to their friends. Based on the findings of the study, the writer recommends that the Higher Colleges of Technology set up orientation committees at each city, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Al Ain, that oversees the orientation package. The information needed to be kept current by performing ongoing surveys on new employees. The committee should also provide feedback to Central Services who provides information on contract and housing.