Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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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 Privatization and state transportation services : a qualitative study(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 2000) Nopper, Marie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe major purpose of this paper was to interview and report the attitudes of individuals who are currently involved with highway transportation in the State of Montana regarding privatization of certain Montana Department of Transportation duties or services. The in-depth interviews explored the topic of privatization and individual opinions on the reliance on private enterprise, market forces and competition for providing public services. Personal interviews were conducted with thirteen carefully selected individuals. At the time of the interviews, each individual was involved in one of four areas of highway transportation; one, private sector engineering or consultant design, including consulting, road design, bridge design or traffic design. Two, current or past employees of the Montana Department of Transportation in the areas administration, maintenance or engineering. Three, general contractor representation; and four, relevant transportation experience through a higher education institute. Preparation for the interviews was based upon a substantial review of literature, including privatization plans from the Commonwealth's of Virginia and Massachusetts, as well as the states of Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Iowa. Privatization plans written by the Montana Contractors' Association, the Providence of Alberta, Canada, the City of Great Falls, Montana, and private organizations such as the Reason Foundation were also reviewed. In addition, related materials from the Providence of British Columbia, Canada, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Labor, the State of Kansas and numerous reports from private consulting firms were reviewed. The main conclusions of these interviews are: (I) There is no one specific definition of the term privatization. (2) There is no clear indication financial savings would occur if the overall mix changed. (3) There would be no savings from any change in the public and private sector mix with regard to buildings, equipment or land. Moving personnel or labor more toward private sector may be a short-term cost saving, but long-term savings are unclear. (4) MDT should be responsible for determining the increase, decrease or maintaining the level of privatization. (5) There is significant room for improvement in oversight of some of the privatization areas. (6) There is a great deal of confusion over how MDT evaluates the success or failure of privatization or private sector performed services or projects. (7) There is a high level of satisfaction with the current mix of private and public sector work with regard to privatization. The recommendations based upon this study are: (1) Maintain the current mix of contracting out or outsourcing for the areas of construction and maintenance. MDT should investigate increasing the amount of outsourcing and re-direct MDT design as project review and oversight for possible improved performance in the area of consultant design. (2) Additional educational and training opportunities should be investigated. (3) MDT should determine levels of privatization without being encumbered by political forces, either internal or external. (4) MDT needs clearer and more communication, both internally and externally, describing the processes of oversight of projects.Item A study to address the effectiveness of University Police programs at Montana State University-Bozeman(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 2000) Rippy, Roger L.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe major purpose of this study was to determine the perceived effectiveness of the Montana State University-Bozeman Police Department at meeting the goals of "Community-Oriented Policing" and the needs of the university community. Achievement of this purpose was accomplished through the methodology of stratified sampling. The survey instrument was crafted in such a manner that it targeted five subgroups of the campus population, which were students, faculty, professional or administrative employees, classified employees, and residents of the family and graduate housing areas on the university. Measures were taken to promote a representative sampling of these population subgroups in order to achieve proportions similar to that, which exist in the population. Additional efforts were made in an attempt to ensure a representative sampling with respect to gender and ethnicity. Preparation of the survey instrument was based upon a substantial review of literature as well as the stated goals and objectives of the Montana State University-Bozeman Police Department. The survey instrument was hand delivered to the respondents with a purpose to obtain quantitative data, which was bias neutral. Reliability and validity were factors that influenced the use of an anonymous survey approach; an approach, which received a return rate of 75% . .The main conclusions of this study are: (I) The current use of the community-oriented policing model presents an opportunity for the University to further expand its programs and services based on needs that were identified in the survey. (2) There should be a concerted effort to increase parking patron satisfaction with this service by providing more effective consumer information about the service and its costs. (3) There is an extremely high level of confidence in University to maintain a safe and secure environment. (4) A majority of the respondents were unaware of what measures the University might employ to effectively respond to a wide range of potential disasters; population awareness is critical to disaster preparedness and emergency management. (5) Although the University has not achieved recognized staffing levels for police services based on population size and density, the University Police Department has been very effective in projecting a higher level of uniform police activity and resource allocation than they actually possess. (6) While current literature indicates that there is a significant correlation between alcohol consumption on campus and crime on campus, there is a disparity between the perceived high levels of safety and those of high levels of underage drinking. (7) Of sixteen police services functions surveyed, crime prevention, medical and alarm responses, law enforcement, security patrols, and the investigation of criminal incidents were ranked of highest concern. The recommendations based upon this study are: (I) Continued efforts should be made to more effectively market and emphasize the services to the University Police Department in order to form the partnerships which are key to the community-policing model. (2) Begin long range planning for continued growth of the University and the need to expand the size of the police department to meet realistic staffing levels for a 24-hour emergency service. (3) Develop a market strategy that effectively provides consumer information and the range of services available to the parking patron. (4) Conduct follow-up surveys that include a qualitative component.Item A study to address the use of internet/technology in Montana high schools(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 2000) Hossner, Karl; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinA connection to the Internet empowers students. It gives them a research advantage over students who do not have Internet skills or access. It generally gets them excited about learning. A change in student attitude is observed when surfing the net individually or in a small group setting. The traditional teacher-directed classroom changes to a space where students working with their peers in their own school or around the world begin to take responsibility for their own learning. (Cuban in Maskin 1996) This author and others say that student access to the Internet is very important in today's Information Age. In related readings, studies show that when these high school students continue their education, or go to the workplace, those with computer technology skills will have an advantage. This includes a knowledge of where to gain access to information, and better paying jobs. This study gathered information from a sample of the population of U.S. Government teachers in the State of Montana. From information gathered with a questionnaire, along with related readings from other authors, the question of whether students in Montana Schools are using the Internet as a research tool and other questions concerning the computer/Internet literacy of Montana U.S. Government teachers, will be answered.Item The strengths and weaknesses of the Montana Step Program as reported by participants(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 2000) Burton, Anna M.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Nancy G. DoddA telephone survey was conducted of the 1994-2000 STEP NSF Teaching Scholars in order to gather demographic information and current employment on the scholars as well as to gain information about the scholars' perceptions of the STEP program structure. The survey also examined the scholars' perceptions of various supports and barriers to the successful completion of the scholars' undergraduate teaching program. The survey responses (109 out of the 127 scholars) were collected and summarized. Eighteen scholars were not contacted due to the fact that their current address and/or telephone numbers were not listed or unknown. The gender representation of the respondents was 69% female and 31% male. Approximately 50% of the scholars were Native American. No other minorities were represented among the scholars completing the surveys. There were nine (9) different tribal affiliations reported among the Native American scholars. A large number of Native American scholars (69%) reported being parents, which was in contrast to the relatively low number of non-minority scholars reporting themselves as parents (22%). When asked to describe barriers encountered while pursuing a higher education degree, the scholars cited financial struggles (48%) most frequently. Among Native American scholars, adjustment to a new environment was also cited quite often (40%). Information pertaining to support systems both formal and informal, was also gathered in the survey. For formal support, 77% of the scholars reported the STEP Project was a helpful campus support. Individual staff (65%) and individual students (51%) was also a highly regarded support systems among the scholars. The informal support systems acknowledged were family (88%), friends (73%), and for Native American scholars, spiritual support (82%). Scholar involvement in professional development opportunities and service projects was assessed via the survey instrument. The majority of scholars indicated that they had been offered the opportunity to participate in professional development opportunities as well as service projects and that these opportunities were beneficial. Participation in service projects was encouraged among the majority of the scholars. The results of the telephone survey of the NSF teaching scholars indicated that the scholars program has been quite influential and successful in supporting these teaching candidates through financial assistance as well as through academic, cultural, and emotional support systems. Thirty-six percent of the graduated scholars are currently involved in an educational program or as a teacher in a school system. It is recommended that continued support from the STEP Program can be modified or shifted to address the needs of the scholars from the information that was gathered from the survey.Item Conflicts of interest in the Federal bureaucracy : an examination of the interaction between law, agencies and policy making(Montana State University - Bozeman, 2003) Rankin, Michael C., Jr.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Karen C. JacobsonItem Role transition : from nurse to nurse practitioner(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2002) Scribner, Laureli Marie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Vonna BranamItem Intelligent countermeasures in ungulate-vehicle collision mitigation(Montana State University - Bozeman, 2002) Farrell, Justin Edward; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Lynn R. IrbyItem Centered in myth : white western women's memoir(Montana State University - Bozeman, 2002) Knight, Mandy Lynn; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Linda K. KarellItem Rural Family Nurse Practitioner level of confidence for providing emergency care(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2002) Neal, Judith Elaine; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Jean Shreffler-Grant