Abstract

The researcher's purpose in this study was to investigate a proposed relationship between the spectral power distribution of two different fluorescent lights and two measures of restlessness, motor activity and level of activation. Motor activity was measured using Down's and Fitzpatrick's (1926) Motor Activity Rating Scale. Level of activation was measured using Hoskins (1978) alternate forms of Thayer's Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List. The spectral power distribution of fluorescent lights was selected as a stimulus which might induce restlessness because different colors are known to have different arousing potentials. A General Electric Chroma 50 lamp provided broad spectrum fluorescent lighting. This light has a spectral power distribution which includes the cooler region of the spectrum. A General Electric SPX30 lamp provided warm white fluorescent lighting. This light has a spectral power distribution peaking toward the warm end of the spectrum. It was hypothesized that subjects' would demonstrate less motor activity under broad spectrum as opposed to warm white fluorescent lights. It was also hypothesized that subjects' level of activation would be less under broad spectrum as opposed to warm white fluorescent light.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 9016412; ProQuest document ID: 303713597. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Ann F. Kolanowski, PhD, RN, FAAN

Sigma Membership

Beta Sigma

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Randomized Controlled Trial

Research Approach

Pilot/Exploratory Study

Keywords:

Lights as Stimulus, Environmental Triggers, Elderly Patients

Advisor

Carol N. Hoskins

Degree

PhD

Degree Grantor

New York University

Degree Year

1989

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2019-05-17

Full Text of Presentation

wf_yes

Share

COinS