Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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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 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.Item Survey of the 1988-1992 office administration graduates of Lakeland College, Vermilion Campus(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1993) Henry, Blanche Marie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinA follow-up study was made of the 1988-92 graduates of the Office Administration program at Lakeland College, Vermilion Campus, to complete a program evaluation that would facilitate curriculum development and improvement. Surveys were sent to the 115 graduates of the Office Administration program. Of the 77 surveys returned, only 69 or 60 percent were usable. The main conclusions are: (1) Office Administration programs at the postsecondary level continue to offer viable programs. (2) The high priority placed on computer applications in the Lakeland College Office Administration program has proven to be well founded. (3) Word processing is the most widely used software application followed by DOS, spreadsheets, databases, graphics, and Windows. (4) Demand for shorthand or fast notetaking continues to decline. (5) Machine transcription is not widely used in the workplace. (6) Graduates from the Lakeland College Office Administration program tended to rate the instructors and course material very highly. The main recommendations of the study are: (1) Lakeland College should continue to support the Office Administration Department in its efforts to keep pace with changes in technology and business practices. This support should include budget dollars to purchase equipment and software that students will encounter in the workplace. (2) The Office Administration Advisory Committee should review this study to assist the Office Administration Department with possible further curriculum revisions. (3) Increase the course hours devoted to word processing. (4) Implement a new computer course that would introduce students to graphics software. (5) Professional Notetaking be dropped as a compulsory course of the Office Administration program. (6) For a period of one year, Professional Notetaking be offered on a trial basis as an option to assess its demand. (7) Before implementing a two-year Office Administration program at Lakeland College that further study be done.Item The aging workplace(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1998) Schulz, Deborah; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinProblem Statement: The major purpose of this study was to discover the nature of the attitudes of Gallatin County employers toward older workers. Questions to be answered: 1. Are employers open minded in their hiring practices? 2. Do employers use language in advertising for employment opportunities that discourages older workers from applying? 3. Must older employees constantly try to combat stereotypes and attitudes of other employees or their supervisors in the workplace? 4. Are older employees given the same opportunities for growth and development as other employees? 5. Is there a difference in the way male and female are treated? 6. Does working in Bozeman, Montana have greater or lesser opportunities for the aging worker than in other communities?