Digital Commons Network^™

Nonprofit Arts Organizations In Grand Rapids, Michigan: An Exploratory Study, Ruth Terry

Masters Theses

To date little research at the local level has been conducted regarding arts and cultural nonprofits. This information is necessary to determine the future course of this sub-sector in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The purpose of this survey is to create a “snapshot” of area nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts agencies and provide information to arts professionals, arts advocates, and policymakers. Through a review of the literature, questions for an exploratory survey were generated. Findings show that participants in this sample found the local arts community and their own financial systems effective. However, additional findings and other studies show that further investigation is …

Resilience And Depressive Symptoms In Midlife Women, Keverne L. Lehman

Masters Theses

Rates of depression are increasing throughout the world, with women experiencing depression twice as often as men. This study utilized the Neuman Systems Model to examine the relationship in midlife women between depressive symptoms and resilience. Women ages 35-55, selected from four health care settings, completed written surveys on demographic information, life events, depression, and resilience. Results supported depressive symptoms as a health concern for mid-life women: 32% reporting current or previous treatment for depression, and 24% screening positive for depression. Resilience, measured by the Polk Resilience Patterns Scale, was related to education, perceived health, conflict in the living situation, …

Tic: Term Intersection Clustering Of Text Documents, Casey R. Bartman

Masters Theses

Preliminary work performed by the author [3] investigated the clustering of text documents based upon the Boolean intersection of document term sets. In that algorithm, documents were associated with terms and the resulting sets of terms were intersected. If the intersection of the sets produced a set equal to or larger than a predefined minimum support level, that new set was considered a relevant cluster. The algorithm’s first intersections were carried out at a three term level, allowing overlap of clusters at this level. Documents that were clustered were removed from further consideration and the process repeated at the two …

Investigation Of The Effects Of A Rapid Response Team On Nurse Satisfaction, Collaboration, And Communication, Jacob William Ainsworth

Masters Theses

The positive effects of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) on clinical outcomes are well known; however little is known about the effects of the RRT on the registered nurses (RNs) who utilize it. The purpose of this study was to a) examine the overall perceptions of nurses on satisfaction, collaboration, and communication and b) explore the differences in perceptions of satisfaction, collaboration, and communication between RNs who have utilized the RRT versus those who have not using a descriptive design. Data were collected by questionnaires from a sample of 340 RNs who worked at a midwestem institution. The results indicated a …

First Year Resident Assistant Retention At Grand Valley State University, Karl Rishe

Masters Theses

The following study investigated the perceptions of resident assistants at Grand Valley State University in regards to retention rates of first year resident assistants. The study looked for links between cognitive dissonance about the resident assistant position and the intent to return to the position the following year. The study was qualitative by nature, asking a series of questions to first-year resident assistants concerning job responsibilities, perceptions of the position before applying and while in the position, and their relationship with their supervisor.

There were few studies found that addressed resident assistant retention or how the perception of the resident …

Where Are The News Media Role Models? A Study Of Skepticism Of The Mainstream News Media Among Communications Graduate Students, Lindsey J. Hugelier

Masters Theses

Recent research has shown that the consequences of news media skepticism can lead the public to disbelieve facts, have differing opinions about important issues, and to choose non-mainstream media sources to receive information. These reactions can be dangerous for the news media industry. It is important to gauge if communications graduate students, potential future media professionals, mistrust the mainstream news media. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between skepticism of the mainstream news media and news choices of communications graduate students. The author surveyed 76 communications graduate students at Grand Valley State University. Results showed that …

Human Trafficking: A Theoretical Application Of Anomie On The Tier Placement System Utilized By The U.S. Department Of State’S “Trafficking In Persons” Report, Jennifer L. Melvin

Masters Theses

This study reviews the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report. Specifically, the purpose of the current study is to utilize data, consistent with anomic theory, in order to assess the validity of the tier plaeement system utilized by the Trafficking in Person’s Report. In order to develop a baseline of information, a review of the literature available on human trafficking was conducted. Subsequently, through the employment of various statistical analyses (i.e. ANOVA, logistic regression), an examination of the Trafficking in Person’s Report was conducted in order to assess the validity of the tier placement system in accordance with …

Perceived Barriers To Care Among Hispanic Women Who Delay Prenatal Care, Gustavo A. Moretta

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among selected demographic variables and the barriers to prenatal care perceived by English- Speaking, Hispanic women. The Health Belief Model was used as the theoretical framework to guide the development of this study.

The sample consisted of 20 participants aged 18 years to 38 years of age who had sought prenatal care at a primary care clinic in a midwest community. The participants had visited the provider for prenatal care after the twelfth week of gestation. Data were obtained using two instruments. Melnyk’s Perceived Barriers to Care Seale (1990) measured …

Predicting Distribution, Habitat Suitability And The Potential Loss Of Habitat For Sitta Formosa, The Beautiful Nuthatch, Jill C. Witt

Masters Theses

The beautiful nuthatch, Sitta formosa, occurs in high-altitude evergreen and semi-evergreen forests throughout the south and southeastern extent of the Himalayan Mountains. Populations of S. formosa are small, declining and severely fragmented as a result of habitat degradation and fragmentation, and therefore it is considered vulnerable by the World Conservation Union and is included in the 2004 Red List of Threatened Species. I used ecological niche factor analysis to model the potential distribution and predict suitable habitat for S. formosa. By using 59 presence locations, collected from museum specimens and biodiversity surveys, and together with topographic and …

The Transtheoretical Model: A Theoretical Application To Homelessness, Richard D. Campbell

Masters Theses

Homelessness is a complex social phenomenon that requires creative and bold solutions. Regardless of how one views current methods for facilitating the movement of people out of homelessness, the literature indicates there is still room for improvement.

The Transtheoretical model, a construct for understanding the natural process of behavioral change, has never been applied to understanding or facilitating the movement of individuals out of homelessness. This study examines the phenomenon of homelessness, the Transtheoretical model, and how the model could be applied to improving our effectiveness in moving people from homelessness to “housing readiness” and stability. The study produced a …

How Has Multichoice Africa Affected The Way People View Television In African Countries?, Jesse Geston

Masters Theses

South Africa is the only country in Africa that has a formal system of developing, patenting and then marking its creative ideas to the rest of Africa. By understanding the history of South African media and learning about Multichoice Africa, it is clear that South Africa and Multichoice Africa have an impact on the way people from other African countries view television.

Information and communication technology in South Africa is continuing to develop and foreign countries are beginning to express more interest in investing in South Africa. Today South Africa dominates the digital satellite media in Africa through Multichoice Africa. …

Removing Borders: The Influence Of The Toyota Production System On An American Office Furniture Manufacturer, Susan E. Koole

Masters Theses

The Toyota Motor Corporation is one of the top automobile manufacturers in the world and behind its success is the Toyota Production System (TPS). TPS is a philosophy based on continuous improvement and eliminating waste in processes and in the space where work is performed. At the center of this philosophy is the emphasis on learning. Although several companies attempt to implement the methods and tools of TPS, many do not understand the learning organization culture that must be developed to support it.

This case study reveals the needs of Herman Miller, Inc., an American office furniture manufacturer, as it …

Low Back Pain In Police Officers, Jennifer Gwyn Arts

Masters Theses

Low back pain (LBP) is something that police officers deal with on a daily basis. The purpose of this research was to explore whether police officers have a higher incidence of LBP than the general population and to explore what factors officers believe contribute to the LBP they experience. Surveys were made available to all police departments in Kent County and all sworn officers were asked to participate. The difference between LBP experienced by police officers (60.2%) and that experienced by the general population (60-90%) was not found to be significant. The top two answers given by officers as to …