Digital Commons Network^™

The Hetzel-Hunter Quarry: A Case Study In The Use Of Photogrammetry To Reevaluate Previously Excavated Sites, Catherine G. Kinsley

Theses & Honors Papers

Archaeology is constantly evolving and as new technologies develop it becomes possible to examine sites in ways that were previously unknown. Photogrammetry, a still-developing technology, has the potential to become an invaluable tool that can provide new information when applied to sites that were excavated more than 50 years ago. The Hetzel-Hunter quarry in Clifton, Virginia is a prehistoric soapstone quarry that was originally excavated in 1894 by the Bureau for American Ethnography. By using photogrammetry to produce a 3D map of the site that details aspects ranging from the general shape of the quarry to the grooves in the …

Cyber-Bullying Portrayals In The News Media, Mary L. Alexander

Theses & Honors Papers

Cyber-bullying is a phenomenon that is widely studied. Researches have examined the characteristics of perpetrators and victims, impacts of cyber-bullying on both the victims and offenders, the development and application of law and the development of programs to stem cyber-bullying. Despite a great amount of research dedicated to these aforementioned areas, studies examining the portrayal of cyber-bullying by news media outlets are rare. An understanding of this portrayal is important as the news media is a significant source of public opinions about a vast array of topics in society. As such, the goal of the present research is to provide …

Food As Symbol: Steps Toward A New Taiwanese-To-English Translation Of Nursery Rhymes, Jason Tsai

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study is to translate a cluster of three related nursery rhymes from the Taiwanese oral tradition for the immigrant community and a greater Western audience. The study will incorporate tools in American English poetics as well as anthropology to interpret the symbols that would make this genre accessible and meaningful .

This thesis will begin with a concise overview of Taiwanese as a language variant of Southern Min Chinese insofar as how these linguistic traits affect a credible translation .This report will outline relevant aspects of the language's oral tradition as well as the written systems …

Through An Officers' Eyes: An Exploratory Study Of Felonious Vs. Accidental Law Enforcement Line Of Duty Deaths, Sarah Coen

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this mixed methods study is to understand when, how often, and why felonious and accidental law enforcement deaths occur in the line of duty. Every day officers put their lives in danger to protect and serve the public. While it is irrational to expect officer line of duty deaths to be zero, these deaths can be reduced research that can be done to aid in this reduction is critical. Although studies have looked at the circumstances surrounding the incidents in which officers are killed, they have yet to explore the impact of time and season that this …

The Gravely House: A Case Study In Twentieth Century Archaeology And Material Culture, Jessica L. Clark

Theses & Honors Papers

Material culture is the domain of the archaeologist. Like any science, the methods used and the answers sought in archaeology have changed, and continue to change, constantly adapting to the world in which they operate. Every century has its own legacy to be uncovered. The twentieth and twenty-first centuries are no exception to this, but their archaeological resources are only just beginning to be investigated. Through this research I sought to examine and represent the home of the Gravely family as a case study in archaeology of the early twentieth century. I first studied the historical record of the family …

An Inquiry Into The Harshness Of German Colonialism In Kaiser-Wilhelmsland, Jessica Rohr

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis investigates German colonialism in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. It discusses the pressure and competition Germany experienced as neighboring countries also aggressively expanded and as Europe underwent massive and rapid industrial growth. It also analyzes the harshness Germany employed in colonizing foreign lands and the reasons for such measures, such as perceived racial and social superiority and economic need.

The Effects Of Land-Based Plyometric Training And Timing Of Plyometrics Fusion On Selected Acute Swim Performance Measures, Joshua R. Beard

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study is twofold: 1) to determine the effect of land-based plyometric training on selected acute swim performance measures; and 2) to determine the effect of timing on acute swim performance measures when incorporating plyometric training into a single training session. The guiding hypothesis for this project is that the land-based plyometric training will have a positive impact on acute swim performance, in particular when the plyometrics are performed pre-training session (compared to mid-training session).

Exhibition And Interpretation Of Virginia History: Transforming Mulberry Hill, Alyssa R. Foley

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis is divided into two parts. The first, "Examining Virginia's Historic House Museums," is an examination of historic house museums in the United States, and Virginia in particular. This section discusses the role of historic house museums as educational tools, their history in the United States, and the crisis they currently face. The second part is focused on Mulberry Hill, which is owned by the Staunton River Battlefield State Park in Charlotte County, Virginia. The house is currently not open to the public, but there are plans for preservation and interpretation that would make this a possibility. This section …

Form And Function Of The Colonial Plantation: Recreating The Cultural Landscape Of Nomini Hall, Meghan E. Banton

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis combines primary sources about the Nomini Hall plantation and archaeological research of the land to create an interpretation that consolidates and evaluates what is currently known about Nomini Hall’s colonial cultural landscape and how it was utilized. Using Nomini Hall artifacts, knowledge of its cultural landscape, and background information on other colonial plantations and their demographics, this thesis seeks to create a cohesive picture of Nomini Hall’s past.

The Perseverance Of Neoliberalism: Why Obama Has Not Shifted Trade Policy In Response To The Great Recession, Brian Pratt

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis examines Obama’s reasons for not shifting trade during the recession. The author goes into depth about how business groups influence Obama and his decisions on trade policies. Obama’s and Clinton’s administrations and their policies, through documents, speeches, and other sources, are also compared due to the fact that Clinton was the last Democratic president. Scholarly literature is also examined in regards to both Clinton’s and Obama’s presidency.

A Study Of The Characteristics Of Female Delinquent Youth Within The Virginia Department Of Juvenile Justice, Stephanie Meehan

Theses & Honors Papers

No abstract provided.

Empathic Development And Social Relationships, Lisa Marlowe Covington

Theses & Honors Papers

No abstract provided.

Aps: Neglected Agency In Feed Of Transformation, Suncica Sue Vilic

Theses & Honors Papers

Approximately 3 million elders are mistreated annually in the United States. Due to factors such as increase in life expectancy, this number is likely to amplify. Adult Protective Services agencies across the nation have been established by The Social Security Act, with purpose and goal of providing services to stop elder mistreatment and prevent it from occurring further. Although program was created over 40 years ago, APS agencies continue to make little progress and are publicly and legislatively neglected when compared to child welfare programs and domestic violence programs.

This thesis presents overview of APS problems on local, state, and …

Presidential Embodiment Of Soft Power: The Missing Element Of The Current Theory Of Soft Power, Ashley Lauer

Theses & Honors Papers

As a sharp contrast to George Bush, Barack Obama, during his campaign and his first months in office, has received international acclaim and acceptance around the world. Even the vast majority of Europeans, who openly opposed and disliked George Bush, have welcomed Obama enthusiastically. He was even awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2009. Within the first year of his presidential tenure, Barack Obama already appears to have gained back more soft power than George Bush ever had.

The Bush And The Obama Administrations And The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 2001-2009, Laura Simon Espinalt

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis’ aim is to determine whether or not the Obama administration had a chance to produce a more effective foreign policy for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict approach used by the Bush administration. The thesis analyzed the two administrations’ foreign policies toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and compare the diplomacy used by Bust throughout his administration and the diplomacy used by Obama during his first year in office. The requirements that embody good negotiations from a problem-solving perspective and comparison to how the Bush and the Obama administrations have approached the conflict are examined. It is concluded that in order for a …

Successful Grassroots Mobilization: Explaining The Victory Of Tom Perriello's 2008 Congressional Election, Brian John Mandeville

Theses & Honors Papers

The 2008 congressional election for the Fifth District of Virginia was unique for many reasons. It is exceptional that a relatively unknown challenger was able to take on an entrenched incumbent and succeed in defeating him, breaking the trend of incumbent victory seen in almost all House of Representative elections. This research demonstrates that the Perriello campaign's ability to create an effective grassroots network was a significant factor in determining the out come of the election. Through a detailed examination of the activities, personnel, and fundraising tactics that Perriello campaign made use of, this research found that Perriello's victory was …

An Empirical Test Of Hirschi's Theory Of Delinquency, Barbara R. Vanderpool

Theses & Honors Papers

Delinquency has been examined by many disciplines. There is no single explanation for delinquency. This study tests Hirschi's Theory on a group of adolescents that violate laws that have not been adjudicated delinquents. These adolescents have not been labeled delinquent, but have been placed in a facility to assist at-risk adolescents. A modified version of Elliot's National Youth Study questionnaire was used to measure delinquency. This data gathered indicated a significant decline in delinquency while participating in the program. Hirschi's theory is an empirical test found to be relevant to these adolescents.

An Analysis Of Primary Resources Used As Tools For Discovery And Research At Archaeological Sites: Nomini Hall Case Study, Jamie Elizabeth Mesrobian

Theses & Honors Papers

Primary documentation is of great help to archaeologists, no matter the site nor the circumstance. At places like Colonial Williamsburg, Belle Grove, Carter’s Grove and Nomini Hall, help has come through primary documentation in many different ways from journals to paintings, from maps to oral histories. It is true that the archaeological excavations at Nomini Hall for Philip Vickers Fithian’s schoolhouse have been confusing.

Alcoholic Beverage Sales To Underage Buyers In The Commonwealth Of Virginia: Deterrence And Equality, William L. Goodman

Theses & Honors Papers

The Commonwealth of Virginia relies on the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to enforce laws designed to deter alcohol and cigarette sales to underage persons. ABC employs underage buyers (UAB) who attempt to make controlled purchases of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes.

The primary purpose of this research project is to determine if compliance checks deter alcohol sales to underage persons. Second, this study attempts to find if underage buyer demographics align with state demographics. Finally, this research attempts to determine if businesses are more likely to sell alcohol to underage buyers based on their race, ethnicity, and gender. This …

Historical Analysis Of Gang Formation And Structure: Case Study Of The Gangster Disciples, Benjamin A. Wright

Theses & Honors Papers

Gang members commit a disproportionate amount of crime, especially violent crime, in the United States. An estimated 3,340 homicides were committed by gangs in 1997 (Maxson, Curry, & Howell, 2002). Considering that the national homicide total was 18,210 on 1997 (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1998), gangs were involved in 18% of homicides nationwide. In addition, the 1997 National Youth Gang Survey also estimated that 42% of youth gangs were involved in the distribution of illegal drugs (Maxson et al., 2002). As research has indicated, gangs and the reason people join gangs are a complex social phenomenon. Although we know more …

Loss And Grief: A New Framework For Examining The Unanticipated Consequences Of Incarceration, Lyria Belle Hailstork

Theses & Honors Papers

This study, Loss and Grief: A New Framework for Examining the Unanticipated Consequences of Incarceration, looks at loss and grief as unexpected effects of imprisonment on those sentenced to prison. Qualitative research methods are used to form grounded theory in finding and describing these circumstances.

The conclusions resulting from this study hae been developed inductively from a collection of data yielding results that are descriptive and non-numerical. Data for this work were obtained from literature, texts, interviews, reports, feelings of individuals, and experiences of the researcher.

Grounded theory, anomie and concepts from unanticipated consequences from the theoretical framework for the …

An Exploratory Study Of The Affect Of Role Strain And The Juvenile Justice System's Division In Power On Juvenile Probation Officers, Kirsten W. Parker-Smith

Theses & Honors Papers

This exploratory, qualitative study reports on the experiences of 20 participants currently working within the juvenile justice system. The study investigated whether role strain was present among juvenile probation officers (POs) in an unspecified, Mid-Atlantic state. This study examines probation officers' role as it relates to the division in power between the state agency which employs the juvenile POs and the local juvenile courts in which they work closely with local judges. The state agency's move to standardize was also explored in relation to an increase in role strain for juvenile probation officers. The expected role strain did not appear …

Empirically Testing The Principles Of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (Cpted) Theory: An Exploratory Investigation Of Perceived Safety In Virtual Parks And Green Spaces, Joel G. Mccormick

Theses & Honors Papers

Jeffery's Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design has become one of the leading crime prevention strategies used in many countries world wide including the United States. However, to date "Jeffery's complete CPTED model has not been subjected to empirical testing" (Paulsen & Robinson, 2005). The focus of this research is to empirically test people's perception of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles. This research will record the subject's perception of safety of virtual environments using three levels of CPTED design. A virtual landscape will be utilized because it allows for manipulation of the independent variable while holding the other variables …

An Empirical Analysis Of Child Custody Decisions: A Mulitnomial Logit Analysis Of Case Level U.S. Data, Susan Gardner

Theses & Honors Papers

Despite growing interest in the analysis of family structure (in particular divorce) and its impact on the social and economic development of children, little empirical research has attempted to analyze the factors that explain the child custody decisions of the courts. In this paper, I analyze a random sample of 222 state level child custody court decisions in an attempt to uncover the factors that significantly influence the outcome of the decision. In particular, using a multinomial logit approach, I am able to more accurately assess the role of social, demographic, and legal characteristics of each case. Unlike previous work, …

Police Socialization: An Exploratory Study At The Academy Level, Jennifer E. Willoughby

Theses & Honors Papers

Using a self-administered questionnaire, data was gathered on perceptions of police trainee at three law enforcement training academies. Trainees were asked to describe their motivations for entering policing and their perceptions on many different aspects of law enforcement. The study is exploratory in nature with cross-sectional availability. Variables included in this study were career influences, perceptions on work environments, and attitudes on superiors, fellow recruits, and the public. This study hopes to broaden the limited body of research that exists on police socialization. The socialization process and history of law enforcement are discussed and recommendations for future research are provided.

Child Pornography: A Social Problem, W. Richard Wiita

Theses & Honors Papers

Our society is galvanized in that the sexual exploitation of children is an egregious crime. Yet, there is a vast store of child pornography materials readily available; materials that are the recordation of the child's actual sexual abuse. This document explores the history of child pornography, its current state and the environment in which it flourishes, the Internet. this research examines the scope of the problem and those that are associated with child pornography. This body of work is intended to provide greater understanding of the scope of the problem and provide clear and actionable public policy recommendations.

Child Welfare Non-Compliance Issues And The Impact These Issues Have On Children And Families, Celia A. Falls-Ayers

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis examines child welfare problems, how our country address these issues, what services they provide, and the impact on the children and family based on the decisions of the child welfare agency. More specifically, the thesis looks at non-compliance, and studies how prevalent these issues are, if there is a distinguishable pattern between these problems, and lastly, what characteristics are shared between them.

Physical, Social, And Documentary Genocide: The Monacan Indian Nation V. The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Michael C. Cundiff

Theses & Honors Papers

Basic human rights for all citizens, is a standard in Western society which is often taken for granted. When we look back at our past it becomes clear that this standard has not always been the norm. The key to assuring that the future will continue to hold promise and opportunity for all is to remain ever conscious of our collective history and what it has to teach us about where we are headed. This research examines prejudice, racism and bigotry and the "trickle down" effect that these fear based traits can have on all strata of society. By examining …

The Relationship Between Religious Programs And Peer Relationships Of Adults With Mental Retardation, Cecilia D. Beasley

Theses & Honors Papers

This research was intended to look at the relationship between attendance at religious programs on the peer relationships and spirituality of adults with mental retardation. The literature reviews the benefits of spirituality for all individuals, the characteristics of individuals with mental retardation, and the influences of peer relationships. Fifty-nine surveys about the individual's spiritual development, happiness, peer relationships and criminality as well as the importance of religious functions were completed by adults with and without mental retardation. The results indicate that attendance at religious activities does in fact impact spirituality and peer relationships of individuals with mental retardation. They also …

Ethnohistory And Paleopathology Of A Late Woodland Dog, Brendan Burke

Theses & Honors Papers

In this paper, the author approaches a dog burial in the same aspect humans treat their burials. With this, the author was able to uncover what the pathological life history of the dog was. The author was able to support their hypothesis that dogs in the Late-Woodland culture served the role of high relative importance and also as symbols of religious meaning.