Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

PDF

2013

Eastern Kentucky University

Theses/Dissertations

Articles 1 - 30 of 77

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Success And The Balance Of Commitment And Time: Effects Of Perceived Time Management Control On College Student Performance, Ashley Twehues Dec 2013

Success And The Balance Of Commitment And Time: Effects Of Perceived Time Management Control On College Student Performance, Ashley Twehues

Honors Theses

This study explores how time management and the perception of control over time contribute to undergraduates success in college. Although students have good grades in college, they may not be able to achieve the desirable combination of a high GPA, extracurricular involvement and a career-related employment history. Students often become overwhelmed with the pressure to achieve this success, but lack the time management skills to balance everything. This paper explores how students best use their time in order to gain college success. Extant literature suggests that students who are more involved on-campus with academics, extracurricular activities and employment opportunities achieve …


Comparison Of Odonata Populations In Natural And Constructed Emergent Wetlands In The Bluegrass Region Of Kentucky, Brittany Ann Brookshire Miss Dec 2013

Comparison Of Odonata Populations In Natural And Constructed Emergent Wetlands In The Bluegrass Region Of Kentucky, Brittany Ann Brookshire Miss

Honors Theses

With the degradation and destruction of many natural wetlands in Kentucky, there are high incentives to look at the remaining natural wetlands and the new artificial wetlands that are beginning to become prevalent among biologists. Wetlands are important to dragonfly populations just as dragonflies are vital to wetland function. In my study I looked at the fluctuation in Odonata (dragonfly and damselfly) populations at ten artificial wetlands and ten natural wetlands in the Inner Bluegrass region of Kentucky. In my study the dragonfly populations were monitored based on Shannon and Simpson's diversity, Species richness, and number of individual and species …


Transgender Representation In The Media, Jessica N. Jobe Dec 2013

Transgender Representation In The Media, Jessica N. Jobe

Honors Theses

The media is pervasive in American society – more people have television sets than college degrees. For this reason, media is crucial in the spread of information. The way groups of people are represented in the media can be both reflective of and influential on society's (possibly stereotypical) perceptions of these groups. The transgender community often gets misrepresented in the media. As a whole, the transgender community faces a lot of prejudice in American society, and current transgender representation in the media has the power to reinforce negative stereotypes. Twelve examples of news, television, and movies from as early as …


A Case Study Of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Rebecca Lynch May 2013

A Case Study Of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Rebecca Lynch

Honors Theses

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a physiological disorder that causes many negative effects involving a variety of systems in the body, such as the endocrine, metabolic, psychological, and reproductive systems. This paper will explore the complex mechanisms behind the manifestation of PCOS and how these, and other factors, may make diagnosis difficult. In order to thoroughly understand these aspects of PCOS, the causes, symptoms, and treatments were explored. The diversity of causes and symptoms of the disease add to the difficulty in diagnosis and treatment of PCOS. The best treatment option varies among individuals, and the effectiveness of each treatment …


Drug Trafficking Related Violence And Corruption Among Specific Populations In Mexico, Matthew B. Courtney Apr 2013

Drug Trafficking Related Violence And Corruption Among Specific Populations In Mexico, Matthew B. Courtney

Honors Theses

The trade of illegal narcotics through Mexico has resulted in the rise of powerful and organized criminal businesses that are not afraid to bribe, or kill, any who cross them. This has caused a dramatic increase in violent crime and government official corruption. This document will begin by defining these organizations and examining their creation. Next the violence caused by these organizations will be analytically categorized in order to better understand the criminal's motivations and tactics. This study will examine current data to determine which populations are more prone to violent crime or corruption by looking at the victims relationship …


Factors Influencing College Attendance Of Appalachian Kentucky Students Participating In A Federal Educational Talent Search Program, William Bowling Jan 2013

Factors Influencing College Attendance Of Appalachian Kentucky Students Participating In A Federal Educational Talent Search Program, William Bowling

Online Theses and Dissertations

Post-secondary education is quickly becoming a requirement for many growing careers. Because of this, an increased focused on post-secondary enrollment and attainment has been seen in the education community, particularly in the K-12 systems. To that end a large number of programs and organizations have begun to provide assistance to these students in the form of academic advising, college coaching, and personal enrichment. Since the enactment of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, there has been a burgeoning population of such programs like the TRIO family.

The purpose of this study was three-fold. The first objective was to determine the …


Choice Of College Major: An Exploration Of Appalachian Female Choice Of An Early Childhood Education Major, Lisa Newton Gannoe Jan 2013

Choice Of College Major: An Exploration Of Appalachian Female Choice Of An Early Childhood Education Major, Lisa Newton Gannoe

Online Theses and Dissertations

First generation Appalachian female students are exposed to gender differences in roles and career choices that are modeled in the family. A case study approach was used to obtain qualitative data from five students at Eastern Kentucky University and their mothers regarding why these students chose to major in child development and early childhood education. Bandura's Social Cognitive Learning Theory and Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory were used as frameworks for the study. The findings of the study are valuable in advising college students' on selection of a college major and recruitment of dedicated child development and early childhood education professionals …


Suicide Terrorism: Understanding The Mindset And Motives, Joshua Daniel Goss Jan 2013

Suicide Terrorism: Understanding The Mindset And Motives, Joshua Daniel Goss

Online Theses and Dissertations

Suicide Terrorism plays major roles in devastating and destructing cities and their people while communities try to fight the Global War on Terrorism. The devastation and destruction can either be focused on individuals or a certain infrastructure. There are two tactics of executing the acts of suicide terrorism; strapping explosives to their bodies and or steering some sort of transportation into a place of gathering. The methodology of this study is an auto-ethnography. The auto-ethnography is designed to find understanding of personal experiences using a qualitative method of study. Understanding the motives and mindset of suicide terrorist can be very …


Impact Of Disability On Celebration Of Wedding Anniversaries, Emily Lemaster Jan 2013

Impact Of Disability On Celebration Of Wedding Anniversaries, Emily Lemaster

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine how married couples observe their wedding anniversaries. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 couples (four of which one partner has a disability) to determine how they celebrate their wedding anniversaries. This data was compared to how having a disability within the couple affects anniversary celebrations. Several themes emerged that were common among all participants including: an exchange of items, participants, reminiscing about the past, change within the marriage and celebration (which encompasses ritual and tradition). Few differences were noted in the couples who are living with disability. The most prominent is being …


Population Distribution And Abundance Of The Blackfin Sucker (Thoburnia Atripinnis) In The Upper Barren River System, Kentucky And Tennessee., Cory Daniel Stringfield Jan 2013

Population Distribution And Abundance Of The Blackfin Sucker (Thoburnia Atripinnis) In The Upper Barren River System, Kentucky And Tennessee., Cory Daniel Stringfield

Online Theses and Dissertations

The blackfin sucker (Thoburnia atripinnis) is a relatively small species of fish (~155mm) endemic to the headwaters of the Barren River System (UBR) in Kentucky and Tennessee. Due to its isolated distribution and relatively small geographic inhabitance, the blackfin sucker is considered a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in Kentucky by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. In addition, it is included in Tennessee's list of rare wildlife as a Species of Special Concern. This study focused on determining the distribution and abundance of the blackfin sucker in those tributaries that comprise the UBR system, as well …


Breeding Biology Of Chuck-Will's-Widows: Incubation, Brooding, And Provisioning Behavior And Characteristics Of Nest Sites, Ryan Sean O'Connor Jan 2013

Breeding Biology Of Chuck-Will's-Widows: Incubation, Brooding, And Provisioning Behavior And Characteristics Of Nest Sites, Ryan Sean O'Connor

Online Theses and Dissertations

Chuck-will's-widows (Antrostomus carolinensis) are cryptically colored grounding-nesting nightars that breed throughout much of the eastern United States, primarily in mixed-forest habitat. Because of their cryptic plumage and nocturnal habits, little is known about their behavior, particularly their breeding and nesting behavior. Thus, my objectives were to: (1) quantify patterns of incubation behavior (e.g., on bouts vs. off bouts) and the respective roles of males and females, (2) quantify the brooding and provisioning behavior of males and females, and, (3) compare the characteristics of nest sites and randomly selected unused sites to determine those features important in nest site selection.

My …


The First Ten Years: A Descriptive Analysis Of Presentation Abstracts Of The Sso: Usa, 2002 To 2011, Amanda Schneider Jan 2013

The First Ten Years: A Descriptive Analysis Of Presentation Abstracts Of The Sso: Usa, 2002 To 2011, Amanda Schneider

Online Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods study of the first ten years of presentations at the Society for the Study of Occupation: USA (SSO: USA) yields important information about the development of occupational science as a disciplinary body of knowledge. A descriptive, quantitative analysis of the abstracts of peer-reviewed presentations at the first ten annual meetings of the SSO:USA was separately and then collaboratively completed by a group of three researchers. This ten-year study used descriptive statistics with an ex-post facto design to portray research trends in occupational science over the first ten years of the Society. Implications of the study for the …


Kentucky Sro Programs: An Examination Of Impact On Reported Criminal Violations And Board Violations, William John Sullivan Jan 2013

Kentucky Sro Programs: An Examination Of Impact On Reported Criminal Violations And Board Violations, William John Sullivan

Online Theses and Dissertations

School violence has become a focal point throughout the United States, sparked by violent mass killings at schools throughout the nation. In response to these horrific attacks, school officials, law enforcement, parents, and others have taken measures to improve school safety. One of the most substantial efforts includes the utilization of specially trained police officers (SROs) in our schools. Currently, there are approximately 230 SROs assigned to Kentucky schools (KASRO, 2013) and an estimated 20,000 SROs nationally (Myrstol, 2010). Regardless of the importance of maintaining safe schools and an environment that is conducive to learning, relatively little research has been …


The Upper Big Branch Mine Explosion: Occupational Hazard Or Preventable Tragedy; A Look At State-Corporate Crime, Cassandra Tate Jan 2013

The Upper Big Branch Mine Explosion: Occupational Hazard Or Preventable Tragedy; A Look At State-Corporate Crime, Cassandra Tate

Online Theses and Dissertations

Corporate crimes, defined as "illegal and harmful acts committed by officer and employees of corporations to promote corporate interests," have a greater impact on society than many street crimes. Corporate crime includes a range of white-collar crimes that affect employees and consumers. White-collar and corporate crimes are often ignored by the media unless there is involvement in some high profile scandal. There tends to be a paucity of research associated with coal industry related corporate crimes. This includes personal and death related events in the coal mining industry. This was evident in the 2010 explosion at the Upper Big Branch …


An Examination Of The Role Of Macro- And Micro-Level Processes In John Adams's Phrygian Gates, James Edward Evans Jan 2013

An Examination Of The Role Of Macro- And Micro-Level Processes In John Adams's Phrygian Gates, James Edward Evans

Online Theses and Dissertations

The research presented in this thesis is an examination of processes at work on multiple levels within Phrygian Gates by John Adams. Previous analyses have presented detailed insights in specific areas, including proportion and temporality, closure, and the roles of process and intuition. This analysis draws from elements of other studies, expands upon them, and presents new research in pitch relationships and formal design in order to explore the interaction of those elements with regard to process and to present a comprehensive view of Phrygian Gates.

Chapter 1 discusses Phrygian Gates in the context of John Adams's compositional output …


A Look At The Deaths Of Career And Volunteer Firefighters In America: Who Has The Higher Rate Of Death?, Matthew Joseph Flanagan Jan 2013

A Look At The Deaths Of Career And Volunteer Firefighters In America: Who Has The Higher Rate Of Death?, Matthew Joseph Flanagan

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study will look at whether career or volunteer firefighters are more likely to die while engaging in firefighting activities, including training. Also, it will look at the causes of death and determine the leading cause of death for both career and volunteer firefighters. This will be done through looking at the numbers of firefighter deaths reported and applying statistical analysis. Only municipal fire departments will be included in this study.


Exploring The Utilization Of Applications As A Form Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication By Speech-Language Pathologists, Joselyn Rae Gilbert Jan 2013

Exploring The Utilization Of Applications As A Form Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication By Speech-Language Pathologists, Joselyn Rae Gilbert

Online Theses and Dissertations

This pilot study consisted of two main purposes: 1) to examine whether SLPs who are already using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in therapy are using apps as a form of AAC, and within what parameters, and 2) to explore possible reasons SLPs are using apps as AAC, and possible sources for their clinical decision making using AAC apps. A nationwide survey was sent out to speech-language pathologists who were members of four ASHA Special Interest Groups. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data gathered from the survey. Results from this study suggested some SLPs use apps as a form …


A Study Of Rural Police Leadership Behaviors In Kentucky: A Full Range Perspective, Frank P. Kubala Jr. Jan 2013

A Study Of Rural Police Leadership Behaviors In Kentucky: A Full Range Perspective, Frank P. Kubala Jr.

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the leadership behaviors of rural police chief's in Kentucky through their self-perceptions and the perceptions of their subordinate officers utilizing the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) Form 5X Short. The author assessed differences in the leadership factors of the Full Range Leadership Model and leadership outcomes between rural police chiefs and their subordinate officers. The sample included 47 rural police chiefs from 4 different regions of Kentucky and 94 of their subordinate officers.

The results indicate that 8 out of the 9 leadership factors differed between the self-reported ratings by the rural police …


Double Standards In Self-Deception: The Development Of The Self-Other Double Standards Scale, Benjamin T. Lindsay Jan 2013

Double Standards In Self-Deception: The Development Of The Self-Other Double Standards Scale, Benjamin T. Lindsay

Online Theses and Dissertations

Self-Deception creates a mental state in which an individual unquestioningly maintains a belief that has clearly been refuted and proven faulty by some information which the self-deceiver has come to possess. However, aside from personality trait measures, no measurement techniques have been developed which capture the act of Self-Deception in a laboratory setting. In order to fill this need, the current research sought to examine the relationship between self-deception and cognitive dissonance, and used this relationship to create the Double Standards scale.

In the current research, participants completed several surveys online. They then came into the lab, where they were …


A Case Study Of Two Rural Elementary Schools: What Are The Identified Characteristics That Make School A Outperform School B In Reading?, Emily Taylor Finley Levey Jan 2013

A Case Study Of Two Rural Elementary Schools: What Are The Identified Characteristics That Make School A Outperform School B In Reading?, Emily Taylor Finley Levey

Online Theses and Dissertations

The research objective was to gain a greater understanding of schools in rural Kentucky communities. Through interviews and surveys the investigator studied two schools with a similar populations facing many of the same obstacles, such as, a low socioeconomic status. The 2007-2008 Kentucky Performance Report stated that School A had an Academic Index of 105.7 in the area of reading and that School B had an Academic Index of 82.4.

Through the research, the investigator expected to better identify the gaps between lower performing and higher performing elementary schools in the region. My research question was, A Case study of …


Relationship Between A Proxy Of Prenatal Testosterone (2d:4d) And Determinants Of Endurance Running Performance, Simon D. Holzapfel Jan 2013

Relationship Between A Proxy Of Prenatal Testosterone (2d:4d) And Determinants Of Endurance Running Performance, Simon D. Holzapfel

Online Theses and Dissertations

Low ratios of the length of the second finger to the length of the fourth finger in the right (right 2D:4D) and the left hand (left 2D:4D) have been linked to high prenatal testosterone concentrations. Low R-L 2D:4D (subtracting left 2D:4D from right 2D:4D) has been associated with high androgen sensitivity as indicated by low numbers of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) triplet repeats on exon-1 of the androgen receptor gene. Endurance training has led to higher increases in maximal oxygen uptake capacity (VO2max) in men with relatively low numbers of CAG triplet repeats, suggesting a relationship between R-L 2D:4D and VO2max. Moreover, …


The State Of Health And Safety Program Management As It Pertains To Osha In The Funeral Industry: A Formative Analysis, Brad William Kuchnicki Jan 2013

The State Of Health And Safety Program Management As It Pertains To Osha In The Funeral Industry: A Formative Analysis, Brad William Kuchnicki

Online Theses and Dissertations

From a law perspective, contingency refers to possible events that may or may not happen, by which, when happening, some particular title may be affected. In the funeral industry, OSHA regulations govern a vast array of procedures directly related to day-to-day operations. If at any time one of these controls have or have not been implemented, enforced or altered, the organization could be influenced. This thesis will analyze the state of health and safety program management as it pertains to OSHA in the funeral industry.


The Effectiveness Of An Emergency And Defensive Driving Techniques Course Component: Analyzing Student Response To Searching, Identifying, Predicting, Deciding And Executing Skills, Christopher Bradley Millard Jan 2013

The Effectiveness Of An Emergency And Defensive Driving Techniques Course Component: Analyzing Student Response To Searching, Identifying, Predicting, Deciding And Executing Skills, Christopher Bradley Millard

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effectiveness of an Emergency and Defensive Driving Techniques Course by measuring the students' visual and perceptual skills. The final analysis involved 117 students who participated in Eastern Kentucky University's (EKU) Traffic Safety (TRS) 233. Records were obtained through the Traffic Safety Institute and contained no identifying information. Records obtained included a generic unique identification number, gender, pre-test scores and post-test scores.


Ability And Skill Retraining With Task-Oriented Intervention To Improve Functional Independence In Persons With Stroke, Trista Thacker Jan 2013

Ability And Skill Retraining With Task-Oriented Intervention To Improve Functional Independence In Persons With Stroke, Trista Thacker

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the difference that ability and skill retraining used with task-oriented intervention can make on functional independence (as measured by FIM subscales) in persons with stroke. The findings of this study can contribute to the body of literature to support occupational therapy. Review of related literature includes background support for the use of FIM with the stroke population through analysis of the psychometric properties of the instrument. Also, the review of related literature provides support for the use of ability and skill retraining and task-oriented interventions with the stroke population. This supports the …


A Case Study Of One Service Member With Traumatic Limb Loss And The Decision Of Whether Or Not To Return To Duty, Carly Braun Jan 2013

A Case Study Of One Service Member With Traumatic Limb Loss And The Decision Of Whether Or Not To Return To Duty, Carly Braun

Online Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this qualitative case study was to describe the experience of one service member's decision of whether or not to return to duty (RTD) following limb amputation. The participants included a combat-wounded amputee and an occupational therapist who worked with the amputee during his period of transition. Participants were interviewed over the phone. Data from the interviews was transcribed and analyzed by a manual coding process. The service member completed a self-report questionnaire called the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths. Four themes were found: 1) the decision to RTD takes a long time, 2) life factors before …


Applications Of Leggett Williams Type Fixed Point Theorems To A Second Order Difference Equation, Charley Lockhart Seelbach Jan 2013

Applications Of Leggett Williams Type Fixed Point Theorems To A Second Order Difference Equation, Charley Lockhart Seelbach

Online Theses and Dissertations

Using extensions of the Leggett-Williams fixed-point theorem, we prove the existence of solutions for a class of second-order difference equations with Dirichlet boundary conditions. We present these fixed point theorems and then show what conditions have to be met in order to satisfy the theorem. Finally, we provide specific examples to show the hypotheses of the theorems do not contradict one another.


Assessment Of Motility And Hemolytic Activity In Clinical Isolates Of Acinetobacter Baumannii From University Of Kentucky Hospital, Lexington, Ky, Amber R. Stanton Jan 2013

Assessment Of Motility And Hemolytic Activity In Clinical Isolates Of Acinetobacter Baumannii From University Of Kentucky Hospital, Lexington, Ky, Amber R. Stanton

Online Theses and Dissertations

Acinetobacter baumannii is a pathogen rising in notoriety worldwide due to outbreaks linked to multi-drug resistant strains. Research is currently focused on identifying virulence factors, which may contribute to increased ability to cause human disease, such as hemolytic activity and surface motility. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of these two virulent traits in clinical isolates. Forty-eight clinical isolates were recovered from University of Kentucky hospital in Lexington, KY. No hemolytic activity was observed for any of the isolates. Evidence of surface motility was observed in 13 isolates. The brand and concentration of media used allowed …


Expectation Vs. Perspective: A Personal Experience Of Completing Transition From High School To Community, Katherine Steinman Jan 2013

Expectation Vs. Perspective: A Personal Experience Of Completing Transition From High School To Community, Katherine Steinman

Online Theses and Dissertations

A challenging transition occurs when students with intellectual disabilities leave high school, yet there is little data in the literature covering this period of secondary transition. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the perspectives of a young adult with an intellectual disability who completed the secondary transition process, his parent, and a vocational specialist. Data was collected through a semi-structured interview with each of the three participants about their experiences during the secondary transition. Three themes emerged from the data, including "I had no expectations": Expectations of the parent and transition plan; "He can do all those …


Differences In Training Programs And Time Trial Performances Of Teenage Sprint Freestyle Swimmers, John Andrew Stratman Jan 2013

Differences In Training Programs And Time Trial Performances Of Teenage Sprint Freestyle Swimmers, John Andrew Stratman

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of three different training programs on timed swims made by competitive teenage sprint freestyle swimmers of both genders during a typical five-month high school season. Coaches from five teams assigned 49 female and 38 male swimmers from age 13 through age 17 (M = 14.97 years) into one of three training programs. The programs were P1 (swim only, n = 20), P2 (swim plus plyometrics, n = 59), and P3 (swim plus plyometrics and weights, n = 8). Competitive swim experience ranged from novice to seven years or more (M …


The Relationship Between Teacher Leadership And Student Achievement, Sally Ann Sugg Jan 2013

The Relationship Between Teacher Leadership And Student Achievement, Sally Ann Sugg

Online Theses and Dissertations

This paper is a study of the relationship between teacher leadership and student achievement outcomes. English/Language Arts scores were collected from two, large urban middle schools under NCLB consequences and receiving School Improvement Grant (SIG) funding. Scaled scores from the state's Criterion Referenced Test (CRT) in English/Language Arts serve as the measure of student achievement. These student achievement scores were linked at the student level to the teacher primarily responsible for each student's English/Language Arts instruction. Forty-two teachers (N=42) were connected to their students (N=2292) to determine the relationship between teacher leadership and student achievement. In addition, other student characteristics …