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Isis Propaganda And United States Countermeasures, Daniel Lincoln Stevens Dec 2015

Isis Propaganda And United States Countermeasures, Daniel Lincoln Stevens

MSU Graduate Theses

The purpose of this study is threefold: 1. Examine the use of propaganda by the Islamic State in Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) and how its propaganda enables ISIS to achieve its objectives; 2. Examine the United States Government (USG) response; 3. Evaluate the effectiveness of the USG response and how it can be improved. The goal of ISIS is to overturn the Middle East, attack westerners in the region and in the West, and create one all-encompassing Islamic State. ISIS' innovative use of propaganda has been central to its success. ISIS uses propaganda more effectively than previous terrorist groups. …


Nonproliferation: Rapid Retreat From The Gold Standard Negatively Impacts Future Nuclear Negotiations, Evan Tyler Beese Dec 2015

Nonproliferation: Rapid Retreat From The Gold Standard Negatively Impacts Future Nuclear Negotiations, Evan Tyler Beese

MSU Graduate Theses

In 2009, the United States and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) concluded a nuclear cooperation agreement which contained a commitment on the part of the U.A.E. not to enrich uranium through its own domestic programs. Dubbed the "Gold Standard” of nuclear nonproliferation by the Obama administration, such an accomplishment has not been repeated in nuclear agreements between 2009 and 2015. This paper examines American nuclear cooperation negotiations following the establishment of the "Gold Standard,” and argues that the rapid reversal of American negotiating policy toward enrichment and reprocessing technologies will hinder U.S. nonproliferation goals going forward.


Reversing The Tao: A Framework For Credible Space Deterrence, Christopher Michael Stone Dec 2015

Reversing The Tao: A Framework For Credible Space Deterrence, Christopher Michael Stone

MSU Graduate Theses

This thesis was written to provide the reader with a firm understanding of the realities of the current DoD space deterrence concept, its shortcomings and the threat that these shortcomings pose to the United States and its Allies if a more realistic, credible space deterrence concept is not created and deployed. To highlight these shortcomings, a review of deterrence theory from classical to modern writers were explored to compare and contrast with the DoD's present concept to highlight its lack of deterrence theory. In addition, it was highlighted through an analysis of the Chinese view of deterrence in space, space …


Terrorism And The Rise Of Isis In Egypt, Jantzen William Garnett Dec 2015

Terrorism And The Rise Of Isis In Egypt, Jantzen William Garnett

MSU Graduate Theses

Using mostly primary source materials this thesis seeks to understand the evolution of and linkages between different terrorist organization that have operated in Egypt and the Sinai, in particular. Of particular interest was the terrorist group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM) which later became an Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham [Syria] (ISIS) affiliate known as Wilayat Sinai. The thesis then documents the group's operations and shows how it has evolved over the past five years into one of ISIS' most lethal affiliates. ISIS' expansion into Egypt by incorporating ABM into its global terrorist network has increased the threat posed by …


Examining The Incremental Validity Of Personality-Based Implicit Association Tests Designed To Predict Behavior Related To Integrity, Maryann Elaine Stassen Jul 2015

Examining The Incremental Validity Of Personality-Based Implicit Association Tests Designed To Predict Behavior Related To Integrity, Maryann Elaine Stassen

MSU Graduate Theses

The present study examined the incremental predictive validity of four personality-based Implicit Association Tests (IATs) for behavior related to integrity and character. Unlike overt-based IATs, the personality-based IATs assess attributes related to dark-side personality syndromes. A temptation manipulation provided opportunities for subjects to follow or break rules and blow the whistle or remain silent when queried about the rule compliance of a confederate and the theft of a wallet. In addition to the four personality-based IATs, subjects also completed five explicit (self-report) overt and personality-based integrity measures and two overt-based IAT measures. Findings generally supported the incremental validity of the …


Linguistic Changes In Foreign Policy Discourse, Kayla Nicole Jordan May 2015

Linguistic Changes In Foreign Policy Discourse, Kayla Nicole Jordan

MSU Graduate Theses

In an ever-changing world of foreign relations, understanding how world leaders process and interpret events will be useful in predicting potential official reactions. The focus of the current study is on the U.S. Congress, who, despite the power they can exert on world politics, is an understudied population. Language, more specifically word frequency in congressional speeches, is one way to measure how people approach situations. Therefore, I examined speeches on foreign policy issues (Iraq, Iran, and North Korea) to elucidate Congressional thinking. Using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) developed by (Pennebaker, Booth, & Francis, 2007), the linguistic constructs …


Climbing The Taxonomy Ladder With Help From The Keyword Method, My Quoc Vu May 2015

Climbing The Taxonomy Ladder With Help From The Keyword Method, My Quoc Vu

MSU Graduate Theses

The keyword method is a mnemonic device used to improve memory. The purpose of this study is to examine whether the keyword method can facilitate higher-order learning and whether the interactive image component of the keyword method is necessary. Participants were asked to study 18 psychologists and their concepts. Undergraduates were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: an own best method control group, and three variations of the keyword method. The variations in the keyword method were related to the "interactive image” aspect of that strategy. The dependent measures measured whether the keyword method can facilitate higher order-learning levels …


Attention Deficits In Cognitive Abilities As Measured By The Mmpi-2-Rf And Nab, Ashley Nicole Mullins May 2015

Attention Deficits In Cognitive Abilities As Measured By The Mmpi-2-Rf And Nab, Ashley Nicole Mullins

MSU Graduate Theses

Attentional deficits, the inability to sustain attention and concentration, are a common symptom of many psychological disorders (i.e. AD/HD, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, PTSD, GAD, etc.). Previous studies examined the relationship between Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Format (MMPI-2-RF) and measures of attention (Conner's CPT, WAIS III) specifically only with patients with AD/HD or traumatic brain injuries. This study set to explore the clinical utility of patterns on the MMPI-2-RF of people with attentional deficits, as measured by the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB) Attention Module. The final sample consisted of sixty-one adults (37 women, M age = 20.8 years, age range: …


Dark Side Personality Iats: Development Of Non-Bipolar Valence-Balanced Implicit Measures, Benjamin J. Thomas May 2015

Dark Side Personality Iats: Development Of Non-Bipolar Valence-Balanced Implicit Measures, Benjamin J. Thomas

MSU Graduate Theses

Predicting character failure is a challenging risk management problem in many organizations and, while self-report measures of attitudes, beliefs, and personality traits have proven useful, room for improvement remains. Measures using Implicit Association Test (IAT) procedures appear to have some promise in this regard because, unlike self-report measures, they are resistant to impression management artifacts and independent of introspective ability or self-knowledge. Adjectives related to maladaptive personality attributes were used to develop IATs that are balanced with respect to an evaluative dimension (good—bad) in order to not confound self-esteem with semantically distinct descriptors of behavioral tendencies. Although correlations with an …


Barriers To Mental Healthcare Across Age And Education Level, Vanessa Lynn Jones May 2015

Barriers To Mental Healthcare Across Age And Education Level, Vanessa Lynn Jones

MSU Graduate Theses

This study examined the relationship between age and education and perceived barriers to mental health care as measured by the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation (BACE-III). Age ranged from 18-92 and ages were divided into three groups (25 and younger, 26-55, 56 and older). Education ranged from no high school diploma (or its equivalent) to doctoral degrees. A moderation analysis was conducted using each BACE-III factor as well as the BACE-III total. A qualitative analysis was also performed. The results indicated little or no relationship existed between age and education level and perceived barriers to mental health care. The …


Recent Shoreline Erosion Rates Along Black River Bay, Jamaica: Erosion And Recovery After Hurricane Ivan In 2004, Karen Louise Zelzer May 2015

Recent Shoreline Erosion Rates Along Black River Bay, Jamaica: Erosion And Recovery After Hurricane Ivan In 2004, Karen Louise Zelzer

MSU Graduate Theses

Rising sea level is threatening coastal areas, particularly those in the Caribbean which rely heavily on tourism and marine resources to support local economies. The purpose of this study is to analyze shoreline position along the south coast of Jamaica to determine the locations and rates of coastal change. IKONOS satellite imagery sets for 2003, 2007 and 2012 were used to monitor land use and shoreline changes along Black River Bay, including Galleon Beach Fish Sanctuary, in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. In particular, the effect of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 on shoreline changes was evaluated. Erosion rates were significantly higher during …


Hindsight Bias And Guilt, Jessica Frances Johnson May 2015

Hindsight Bias And Guilt, Jessica Frances Johnson

MSU Graduate Theses

This study is an examination of the relationship between hindsight bias and posttraumatic guilt. There is some evidence that guilt following a trauma is caused, at least in part, by the hindsight bias. However, the researchers behind this theory have not tested this theory utilizing the hypothetical experimental design for hindsight bias or tested their conception of hindsight bias in terms of foreseeability and inevitability. This study attempted to do just that. Participants were presented with a scenario about a friend in a car accident. Participants in the foresight group received no outcome. Participants in the hindsight groups were told …


The Development And Validation Of Implicit Measures Of Emotional Intelligence, Louis Leo Oberdiear Jan 2015

The Development And Validation Of Implicit Measures Of Emotional Intelligence, Louis Leo Oberdiear

MSU Graduate Theses

Emotional intelligence (EI) has attracted much attention in the decades since Goleman's (1995) claim that EI is important for success in a wide range of social and professional roles. With this interest has come much debate about whether EI should be defined and measured as a set of abilities or as a set of dispositional self-perceptions. The latter is typically assessed with self-report measures that are susceptible to contamination related to inaccurate self-knowledge and impression management artifacts – problems that may be mitigated by implicit measures. This research used Implicit Association Test (IAT) procedures to develop implicit measures of EI …


Iran As A Strategic Threat To The U.S. In The Middle East And Its Impact On U.S. Policy In The Region, Aaron Michael Craig Richards Jan 2015

Iran As A Strategic Threat To The U.S. In The Middle East And Its Impact On U.S. Policy In The Region, Aaron Michael Craig Richards

MSU Graduate Theses

This essay will examine Iran's nuclear program and foreign and defense policy and how these threats shape U.S. defense and foreign policy in the region. Iran's advanced nuclear program is only one aspect of its goal to reaching regional hegemony in the Middle East. Iran looks to establish itself as a dominant power in the region by employing non-military tools such as promoting Shiism and Iranian ideology and supporting Arab and non-Arab political leaders and groups friendly toward Iran. Meanwhile, the United States and other world powers are concerned about Iran's enrichment program being diverted to develop nuclear weapons, which …


Understanding The Victim-Offender Overlap: An Exploratory Study, Christine Kay Hannis Jan 2015

Understanding The Victim-Offender Overlap: An Exploratory Study, Christine Kay Hannis

MSU Graduate Theses

The strong and consistent relationship between criminal involvement and victimization is one of the most persistent documented findings within criminological research. The current problem associated with this relationship involves the lack of studies on the nature and extent of why this overlap exists, with even less research focusing on the perspectives of the offenders who identify themselves as victims. The current study attempts to better understand the victim-offender overlap by analyzing the experiences of criminal offenders who also identify as victims of crime, within the context of various theoretical perspectives. Various themes emerge to elaborate on the nature of the …


Gaming And Aggressive Tendencies: The Effects Of Conflict Simulations On Behavior And Political Decision-Making, James Gilmore Jan 2015

Gaming And Aggressive Tendencies: The Effects Of Conflict Simulations On Behavior And Political Decision-Making, James Gilmore

MSU Graduate Theses

Simulations and war games have seen increasing use not only in the military, but various other agencies throughout the United States Federal Government as well. There seems to be a gap in the relevant literature examining if there are any effects on foreign policy decision-making after participating in these games, however. I deployed a survey at a local paintball place, to test for any noticeable effect on people's foreign policy preferences after they take part in a conflict simulation. The results of my research demonstrated a greater need to examine the effects of conflict simulations on decision-making processes. Some of …


Archaeological And Historical Investigations Of The Robert Newsom Farmstead (23cy497), Callaway County, Missouri, James Adam Halpern Jan 2015

Archaeological And Historical Investigations Of The Robert Newsom Farmstead (23cy497), Callaway County, Missouri, James Adam Halpern

MSU Graduate Theses

Scholarly research on slavery in the U.S. has focused on large commercial plantations in the Old South. Yet a majority of slaveholders and nearly half of the enslaved lived in smaller slaveholding houses and family farms (Burke 2010:4). This study helps redress the dearth of research on small slaveholdings through study of the Robert Newsom Farmstead, or "Celia" Site (23CY497), located in Callaway County, Missouri. The research goal is to model the antebellum spatial organization of the landholding, thereby increasing our understanding of slavery at the Newsom site and on non-plantation slaveholdings generally. This was accomplished through collection and analysis …


Examination Of The Effects Of Media Consumption On Mood And Body Dissatisfaction Using Ecological Momentary Assessment, Brooke Lauren Bennett Jan 2015

Examination Of The Effects Of Media Consumption On Mood And Body Dissatisfaction Using Ecological Momentary Assessment, Brooke Lauren Bennett

MSU Graduate Theses

The current study aimed to assess the effects of media consumption on body dissatisfaction and negative affect using Ecological Momentary Assessment, a method of assessment over time and in the participants' naturalistic environment. Thirty undergraduate female participants were assessed randomly five times per day for five days via text messages sent to their phones. During each assessment, participants reported the number of minutes spent watching TV, reading a magazine, and using the internet, as well as their current levels of negative affect and body dissatisfaction. Results demonstrated that the total time spent consuming media was a significant predictor of guilty …


How Does An Interpreter Affect The Client-Counselor Relationship With A Client Who Is Deaf?, Vanessa Ivette Rodriguez-Aviles Jan 2015

How Does An Interpreter Affect The Client-Counselor Relationship With A Client Who Is Deaf?, Vanessa Ivette Rodriguez-Aviles

MSU Graduate Theses

Few studies have explored mental health services such as counseling that are specifically provided to those who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing (d/DHH). This qualitative study was intended as an early research effort within a young field to investigate the impact of having an interpreter present within the therapeutic context. Qualitative data were obtained from an online, open-ended survey of eight d/Deaf and/or hard of hearing counseling clients in which the counselor was hearing and an interpreter was used in the counseling process. It was found that that d/Deaf cultural competence on the part of the counselor is an …


Archaeological And Historical Research To Establish The Jasper County, Missouri Civil War Museum And Park, Christopher Dennis Dukes Jan 2015

Archaeological And Historical Research To Establish The Jasper County, Missouri Civil War Museum And Park, Christopher Dennis Dukes

MSU Graduate Theses

In May, 1863 a group of Confederate guerillas led by Major Thomas Livingston attacked Union troops at William Rader’s farm in western Jasper County Missouri. The guerillas killed eighteen Union troops, who were unarmed at the time, and mutilated their bodies. Most of them were from the first African American regiment of the civil war. The following day Union troops retaliated by burning the town of Sherwood, Missouri and multiple homesteads in the area. These events caused an increase in the brutality of the civil war in Southwest Missouri. To commemorate these conflicts and provide a “living history” site for …