Digital Commons Network^™

The Effectiveness Of Testing On Information Retention: A Meta-Analysis On The Testing Effect, Renee Jayne Greiman

Honors Program Theses

I have decided to do a meta-analysis on the testing effect because of the recent resurfacing of this topic in psychological circles and because of how it can inform my assessment practices as a future educator. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to explore the boundaries and limitations of the current research on the testing effect. I am particularly interested in evaluating the idea that testing a student over certain material results in higher retention than simply rereading the material or some other method of study. Many students may not realize the power of tests as assessment for their learning …

The Study Of Nitrogen Sources In The Municipal Wells Of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Alison Renee Schell

Honors Program Theses

Groundwater nitrate contamination has been a persistent concern in the drinking water of Cedar Falls, Iowa. Identifying the source of the relatively high nitrates in Cedar Falls Municipal Well 3 is the primary focus of this investigation. Although none of the municipal wells have exceeded the maximum contaminant level for nitrogen ( 45 ppm N 03), the purpose of this project is to investigate the general drinking water quality in the area. To identify the source of the nitrate contamination, groundwater samples from four municipal wells, surface water samples from three sites on the Cedar River, and soil from twelve …

The Development And Utilization Of Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting, Kristen Granzow

Honors Program Theses

How do auditors evaluate sustainability data? As noted, assurance requires comparing data to a set of agreed-upon standards. Auditors provide reasonable assurance for financial information because they can evaluate a company's information based on its adherence to GAAP. Although reporting and auditing standards have not been agreed upon and set for CSR information, auditors are still providing assurance. They use standards developed by nongovernmental organizations discussed below and can determine the amount of assurance provided, either reasonable or limited. Two additional questions arise from this situation: what standards are commonly used to evaluate CSR reports and does a company's industry …

Teen Theatre: Exploring The Role Of The Young Adult In Art And Life, Jessica J. Vaught

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to summarize my exploration with a group of teenagers of two scripts and our experiences throughout the process. The scripts chosen fit two qualifications: I considered them to be examples of true quality in playwriting and they addressed adolescent self-identification. In rehearsals the teens and I discussed the strengths and weaknesses of each script we read and chose to perform a staged reading of the one we considered better suited for our ensemble. A discussion of my decision to direct a staged reading rather than a full-fledged production can be found in the Creative …

Closing The Achievement Gap: The Promise Of Dual Language Programs For English Language Learners, Jocelyn Jane Strong

Honors Program Theses

With an academic achievement gap formed between English Language Learners (ELL) and English-dominant students in the United States, this thesis examines the literature on the successes and failures of different types of bilingual educational programs in order to determine which provide students with the highest levels of academic achievement and affective benefits in an effort to alleviate the differences between the majority and minority language status is education. It also investigates the research on effective practice within these bilingual educational programs, focusing on what administrators and teachers can do in order to foster the highest levels of success within their …

Application Of Graphic Communications: Increasing The Functionality Of The Aplington-Parkersburg School District Website, Holly Janae Richtsmeier

Honors Program Theses

In the Graphic Communications program at UNI, the main focus is on print production. I decided to use my thesis as an opportunity to further explore and become familiar with digital media creation. I feel that strengthening these skills will be a valuable asset to my career development. There is a high demand for businesses and organizations to sustain an online presence. Companies also use digital media in their marketing campaigns and communication pieces.

The theme of real world application is also emphasized in the graphic communications program. Instructors relate the curriculum to the industry as a whole or a …

Gpu-Accelerated Molecular Dynamics Simulation Of Rigid Water, Byron Alexander Tasseff

Honors Program Theses

All simulations of physical systems employ the use of numerical algorithms and approximations to accurately mimic a system's behavior. In classical molecular dynamics (MD), there exists an important tradeoff between the desired accuracy and time scale of a simulation. To decrease computational load and preserve long time scales, MD simulations have often ignored long-range physical interactions among particles after some arbitrary cutoff distance. In many cases, as this cutoff distance is decreased, the accuracy of a simulation significantly degrades.

In biochemical systems with relatively large amounts of polar water molecules, the error introduced through the use of cutoff distances or …

The Effects Of Property Rights On Ocean Resources: Two Possible Solutions To The Tragedy Of The Commons, Nathan David Miller

Honors Program Theses

Property rights affect how people use resources. Enforcement regimes are able to set clear laws with well-defined property rights. Governments set laws for conservation and economic success. Ocean resources suffer from overuse. Industry and the environment both benefit from regulations that promote ocean conservation. This paper will analyze how the current state of ocean property rights leads to the depletion of ocean resources. Though there are many possible solutions to overfishing, I will analyze two potential solutions to overexploitation in the commercial fishing industry: marine protected areas (MP As) and individual transferable quotas (ITQs ). A synthesis of previous research …

Feedback : Best Practices For Effectiveness, Hanne Elizabeth Wuertz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The focus of this paper is on the use of formative assessment in classrooms which is increasingly becoming a widespread practice in education today. More specifically, the paper examines the role feedback (a crucial element of formative assessment) plays in student achievement. Feedback and the way it is defined, delivered, and used impacts the effectiveness of formative assessment. In addition, decisions about, and changes in, instruction are often made based on what is communicated through feedback. Thus, this paper defines feedback, discusses best practices for effective feedback, and describes how school psychologists can encourage and help facilitate the use of …

"The Effect Of Basic Financial Literacy On Choice Of College Major": A Study Of Accounting And Education Majors At A Four-Year University In The Midwest, Austin Prescott Foster

Honors Program Theses

Previous studies have been done to gauge the level of financial literacy possessed by various cultural sub-groups, what students in different majors see as the driving forces behind what they want their career to be, and income inequalities between jobs. There is currently a gap in the literature with respect to whether knowing the yearly income of one's parent(s) plays a significant role in major choice. This research was conducted to determine whether disclosure of yearly income by parents influences their child's choice of college major.

Cognitive Maps And The Confidence-Accuracy Relation In Eyewitness Identification, Hannah Mazoe Paul

Honors Program Theses

Cognitive maps are map-like representations of a spatial environment. Eyewitnesses are often asked to create a cognitive map of a crime scene so that it can be submitted as evidence in a criminal trial. Another key piece of evidence provided by an eyewitness is a description of the perpetrator which is used to acquire eyewitness identification. To the best of our knowledge, the correlation between cognitive maps and eyewitness identification has never been empirically investigated. The present study asserts the hypothesis that complex cognitive maps are positively correlated with correct eyewitness identifications. This hypothesis has been formulated off previous research …

The Mass Media's Coverage Of Political Campaigns, Katherine Elizabeth Pauk

Honors Program Theses

This study explores the media's coverage of political campaigns focusing particularly on the differences in the amount of issue coverage used by different media outlets. By analyzing the transcripts of five media outlets (The New York Times, the NBC Nightly News, The O'Reilly Factor, The Rachel Maddow Show, and Anderson Cooper 360) I was able to compare and contrast the differences in types of media coverage as well as explore the reasons for those differences. I ran an independent samples T-test in order to find any statistical significance in the data. My study found that there were significant differences among …

Making A Change: Motivational Interviewing In A College Group Setting, Hannah Jo Culbertson

Honors Program Theses

Motivational interviewing is a client-centered counseling style that aims to help reduce ambivalence and create a behavior change. It is typically done in a one-on-one setting. The purpose of this research was to test a group educational session based on motivational interviewing strategies, for its effectiveness in evoking an individualized behavior changes in a group of college students. The session utilized several techniques specifically chosen to be most effective in reducing ambivalence and helping students discover their own individual solution to a problem in order to more successfully make a health related change in their lives.

Pay Expectations: How Do They Influence Selection Of College Degrees And Motivational Effort Towards College?, Benjamin J. Mccarty

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of expected monetary compensation on selection of degree type and motivation to succeed in college. These pay expectations are created based on factors such as educational background required for position and knowledge of personal capabilities and competence. A sample of 57 undergraduate college students, ages 18 and over, took a survey assessing undergraduate major, salary expectations in their post-college career, and motivation of success in college. Levels of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation are measured and compared with pay expectations to determine the motivational influence towards selecting a college major. Gender …

Differences In Interim Financial Reporting: Gaap Vs. Ifrs, Benjamin Carton

Honors Program Theses

This thesis examines the different accounting standards on the topic of interim financial reporting. It answers the question: What are the differences in accounting reporting standards on interim financial reporting between GAAP and IFRS? As the world becomes more globalized, it is likely that GAAP and IFRS will eventually be merged into one universal set of accounting rules. In order to arrive at this combined set of rules, the differences must first be understood and evaluated. Based on existing theory and research, I have argued which specific approach is preferable. I have recommended that the discrete basis be used to …

Determining The Virulence Of Corn Pathogen Fusarium Verticillioides Utilizing Deletion Mutants Lacking Genes Fv_00027 Or Fv_Nps6, Abigail Zieman

Honors Program Theses

Fusarium verticillioides is an important fungal pathogen of com. Many pathogens have virulent genes which are genes that increase infectivity of the pathogen. After a bioinformatics study, it was determined that genes Fv _ 00027 and Fv _ NPS6 are potential virulent genes in F. verticillioides. To determine if either gene ·contributes to the virulence of the fungus, deletion mutants of F. verticillioides were created lacking either Fv _ 00027 or Fv _ NPS6 genes. These deletion mutants were utilized in an optimized com assay to determine the effect of infectivity on com. To test these deletion mutants, com seeds …

The Overrepresentation Of Minorities In Special Education: A Conceptual Analysis Of A Longstanding Conundrum, Aimee Sargent

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this analysis is to examine the issue of overrepresentation of minorities in special education, with a focus on the varying conceptual and theoretical perspectives among scholars and educators regarding the causes and potential solutions to the problem. Views of the issue will be described by comparing traditional perspectives with nontraditional perspectives. Further scrutiny of these views then leads to an analysis of differing epistemologies, contrasting the realist/objective view with that of non-realist constructivism. Thorough examinations of these issues provide a framework of overrepresentation in light of disability and race conceptualizations and present a new approach for addressing …

Effect Of Birth Order Placement On Tendency Toward General Deviance, Nichole Rae Reese

Honors Program Theses

Most of the research conducted on birth order placement has dealt with characteristics such as ambition, responsibility, leadership, athleticism, and so on. I focused my research on the effect of birth order placement on a tendency toward committing general deviant acts. I reviewed and analyzed previous research regarding this topic conducted by researchers and social scientists. I then conducted my own research study by administering a general deviance questionnaire to forty University of Northern Iowa students. After analyzing the survey results using the data analysis program, SPSS, I found that my hypothesis of firstborn individuals committing less general deviant acts …

Key Elements Of Poverty Influencing Language Development And Academic Achievement, Joanna L. Eggert

Honors Program Theses

This paper investigates central issues surrounding poverty and how it influences a child's language development and academic achievement. It examines the differences in amounts of language input in the home environments of children from varying socioeconomic statuses and how this shapes their language acquisition. The research also explores the exposure to prenatal teratogens in addition to environmental toxins associated with poverty that may play a role in disparities in development, such as lead exposure. Furthermore, the issue of unequal healthcare and educational access between individuals of differing income levels is addressed. Ultimately, the purpose of this research is to call …

Incorporating Effective Grammar Instruction Into The Classroom, Erin Mary Harrity

Honors Program Theses

The debate about the effectiveness of traditional grammar instruction has been ongoing for many decades now. Traditional grammar instruction involves memorization of grammatical rules and practice exercise drills. As early as 1936, the Curriculum Commission of the National Council of Teachers of English stated that “‘all teaching of grammar separate from the manipulation of sentences [should] be discontinued…since every scientific attempt to prove that knowledge of grammar is useful has failed’” (Weaver, Teaching 9). So why is grammar still being taught in the same way-through traditional direct instruction-in many schools? It is because some parents, administrators, politicians, researchers, and teachers …

Uncovering Morphological Variation In Light Of Genetic Data Within The Ozark Minnow, Notropis Nubilus, Sara Katherine Holmes

Honors Program Theses

It has been hypothesized that the modern distribution of the Ozark minnow was shaped by the fragmentation of a widespread ancestral population by periodic glaciations during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene eras (Berendzen et al., 2010). Today, the species comprises three distinct genetic clades that are: upper Mississippi and northern Ozarks, western Ozarks, and southern Ozarks. In light of this hypothesis, the objective of this study is to determine if the morphology of the fish displays differences that parallel the genetic variation. One way to determine these morphological differences within a population is to look at the geometric morphometrics …

Why Do Corporations Donate? An Analysis Of Factors Affecting Corporate Philanthropy, Patrick Luensmann

Honors Program Theses

The purpose is to determine the influence of measureable economic variables on corporate philanthropy among the top 30 American companies between 2007 and 2009. The significant variables in the model, with a 10% significance level, are Net Income, Assets, Financial Leverage, PE Ratio, and Profit Margin. The model can account for 87.41% of the change between the two years.

Appearance And Perception: The Effects Of Hair Color And Weight On Product Perception, Jamie Harthoorn

Honors Program Theses

Human models are frequently used in advertisements to assist in selling the product. In particular, the use of attractive models is common and seen as a way to grab the viewer's attention and encourage purchase. The common theory is that attractiveness sells: the more attractive the model, the more positive the perception toward the product advertised. On the other hand, the effectiveness of this assumption is difficult to measure. Past researchers have looked at this idea of the effectiveness of attractiveness, but few have looked at specific elements of attractiveness like hair color or weight. Specifically, little research has examined …

Making A Way: Music In An African American Congregation, Emily Miller-Todd

Honors Program Theses

When I began brainstorming ideas for my research, I was initially drawn towards a general study of music's role in church settings. As a music major and religion minor, this topic appeared to be the most obvious way I could combine my interests and apply them to a research project. Broadly speaking, I was interested in describing the role of music in a worship setting and the meaning members of the congregation found in music. In addition, I wanted to develop a research project that allowed me a more thoroughly experiential understanding of music in a congregation through personal participation …

From Strangers To Siblings: An Ethnography Of The Appalachia Service Project Summer Staffers, Rachel Elizabeth Tish

Honors Program Theses

Communication research has typically focused on relationship development in fairly regular, true-to-life settings; there is a lack of focus on friendships that grow out of situations in which people have no relational alternatives. This ethnographic study of the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) offers a contrast: observations, interviews, cultural artifacts, and researcher memories shed light on the friendship processes within various groups of four college-aged individuals who are assigned as work teams for 12 weeks. Together the members of these teams repair homes, oversee volunteers, and typically form relationships that reach a deeper level than most friendships. The study of how …

Thomas Jefferson And His Religious Beliefs In The Contexts Of History And Today, Nolan Christian Hovland

Honors Program Theses

The written word has great power. It has been said that the pen is more powerful than the sword, and one would be hard pressed to prove otherwise. When studying a figure from history like Thomas Jefferson. it is possible to study the architectural designs, pictures, artifacts from his Iifetime, as well as the recent DNA discoveries. but his written words allow for the most complete study of his life. Like other men and women of his day, Jefferson wrote many, many letters. These letters were written to scores of different people over the course of his life. I le …

An Environmental Systems Analysis Of Hydropower And Its Effects Upon Indigenous Settlements In Karnataka, India, Amy Joens

Honors Program Theses

Hydroelectricity is a very common method of energy production. Large dams are constantly being introduced to the river landscape in areas all over the world. There are definite benefits to hydropower, but the drawbacks may be even more evident. As modernization and development expand across developing nations like India, indigenous populations are often subject to the highest ration of negative impacts and consequences. This research explores both the costs and benefits of hydroelectricity, while using specific examples of dam construction projects to analyze aspects of the cumulative effects of a hydropower project. The Kabini Dam in southern Karnataka, India is …

Pulling Back The Veil On Stem Cell Research: The Generation Of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells As An Alternative To Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Sara Ternes

Honors Program Theses

Stem cell research has captured the imagination of many in society, and although it holds hope for repairing the human body, curing disease, and alleviating human suffering, the effects of this pioneering technology present profound ethical and legal implications. While a general consensus exists that the use of adult stem cells is ethically and morally just, embryonic stem (ES) cell research has generated significant debate in both the scientific and legal communities. Decades of legislation and policymaking have led to the creation of a set of human subject research principles that are now well recognized and rooted in the inherent …

"From Research To Realized Garments": A Costume Design Process For Dying City, Tori Rezek

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of my thesis project is to develop and document an approach to costume design that would support this method by creating realistic visual images of the characters the actors developed. This portfolio displays my complete costume design process for Dying City. It includes notes, sketches, research images, and charts that helped inform the final costume design for the production. The collaborative processes I participated in with the production team (involving the director; scenic, lighting, and sound designers; and stage management) and the build team (the costume technical director, cutter/drapers, and stichers) also aided in the development of my …

An Evaluation Of The Species Status Of Physaria Intermedia (Brassicaceae), Katie Arp

Honors Program Theses

The taxonomy of the genus Physaria (Brassicaceae) has been continually under revision as many species groups have proved difficult to resolve. Physaria intermedia (S. Watson) O'Kane Al-Shehbaz, has been a species whose circumscription has more recently been questioned and in need of clarification. The uncertainty surrounding the species stemmed from a combination of its geographical distribution, inhabiting two disjunct locations, as well as some minor differences in morphology that warranted a closer look. The species had been described as occupying southern Utah, northern and eastern (in northern 2/3) Arizona and southwest New Mexico with the remaining specimens inhabiting an isolated …