Education Commons^™

Students At A Chinese Radio And Television University: Reasons For Participation, And Perceptions Of Their Status As Students And The Quality Of Their Learning, Huiping Ding

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this case study was to investigate students' participation in distance education and perceptions of their status as students and the learning achieved within the context of a radio and television university in the North of China. This study focused on the students who had completed a two-year college program and been promoted to a four-year bachelor's degree program. Data was collected and analyzed from observations, interviews and document reviews.

Results of the study identified many reasons for students' participation at the radio and television university to pursue their higher education. The primary reason for most was their …

United States American Students' Experience With And Orientation Toward International Diversity In A Midwestern Comprehensive University Setting, Olga V. Kostareva

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The growing phenomenon of globalization has directly affected all levels of postsecondary institutions as evidenced by the strong emphasis colleges and universities place on internationalizing their campuses. Among the forthstanding efforts toward campus internationalization is attracting international students to American colleges and universities. Numbers of international students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities have indeed been very high, placing this country in the leading position for hosting students from abroad. Hhowever, the role international students play in the overall process of internationalization has rarely been addressed. While the presence of international students is believed to contribute significantly to the intellectual …

The Relationship Of The Co-Curriculum With Student Faith Development: Challenge And Support At A College Of The Church, Eric Bradley Braun

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Luther College (Decorah, IA) is a liberal arts school of 2550 students that has been affiliated with the Evangelical Church in America since 1861. Its mission includes a higher calling to help students connect faith with learning, freedom with responsibility, and life's work with service. The college co-curriculum includes more than seventy campus organizations, seventeen intercollegiate sports, thirteen music ensembles, a comprehensive work-study program, and numerous community connections. Amidst these chaotic activities and events, relationships, and challenging learning environments, student faith is developing. Administrators at the college do not seem to understand the significant relationship of the co-curriculum with student …

Speech Recognition: The Interpretation Of Training And Using Speech Recognition Software From The Perspectives Of Postsecondary Students With Learning Challenges, Delann Soenksen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examined the utilization of speech recognition programs by five college students with learning difficulties. A qualitative approach was implemented over the course of two semesters, Fall 2003 and Spring 2004, to: (a) ascertain students' perspectives on speech recognition, and (b) understand how students used speech recognition programs as a tool to meet the academic demands of postsecondary education. Data collection for this study included interviews, participant observations, field notes, videotape, and course assignments. This study provided qualitative data regarding an assistive technology tool that has traditionally been studied within a quantitative paradigm. Environment, individual characteristics, and life demands …

A Descriptive Study Of The Frequency And Intensity Of Physical Activity Among Incoming First-Year Students At Luther College, Kristi Leonard

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Young adults are not as active as they should be in comparison to national standards. They are more overweight than is healthy. The purpose of this study was to describe the physical activity volume (frequency + intensity) of incoming first-year students at an Iowa liberal arts college. Did certain demographic characteristics, such as gender; projected major area of study; age; native language; religious preference; ethnic background; and past high school and projected college athletic, theater/drama, and music participation of these students make a difference in their volume of physical activity? This study focused on the examination of exercise behaviors of …

A Qualitative Investigation Of Student Interactions In A Learning Activity Center: Defining Success, At-Risk Factors, And Resiliency For Developmental Programs In Community Colleges, John L. Kalkwarf

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This purposive study selected ten students of different background in order to understand how the educational success of adults was affected by Learning Activity Centers (LAC) in a community college. The ten selected students were all non-traditional students who had at least these three at-risk factors: (a) they scored below the college minimums on a diagnostic test in reading, writing, or mathematics, (b) they were below student financial aid guidelines, and (c) they had an interrupted educational history of two or more years. The ten students were paired into five categories: (a) Sudanese males, (b) Mexican females, (c) single parent …

Application Of Case Study Methodology In The Context Of Undergraduate Critical Care Nursing Education, James A. Hauschildt

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study represented an initial effort to investigate how a case study methodology could be used in the context of critical care nursing education. The study hoped to improve students' content specific knowledge of critical care nursing and facilitate critical thinking processes vital to clinical decision making. The study describes the transformation of a critical care-nursing course from a traditional lecture-based approach to a case study approach.

The traditional approach addressed the content through abundant teacher centered lecture, but did not require students to actively engage in discourse or apply critical thinking skills to real nursing problems. The case study …

Sources Of Stress And Its Impact On Health Behaviors And Academic Performance Of International Students At The University Of Northern Iowa, Israel Gabriel Msengi

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

International students travel from their home countries in search of continuing education abroad without expectations that they will encounter stress. However, upon arriving at American college and university campuses, international students start noting differences with their respective countries. Challenges start developing related to a range of issues including language difficulties, immigration, and cultural shock/alienation concerns which, if not dealt with promptly, might impede their health behaviors and academic performance. This study investigated sources of stress and its impact on academic performance and health behaviors of international students at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). Investigated also were coping strategies that …

Perceived Exercise Constraints And Motivation For Exercise Among University Undergraduate Students, Ryan Paul Harkema

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between perceived exercise constraints and motivation for exercise among university undergraduate students, and to identify if there is a difference in perceived exercise constraints and motivation for exercise among university undergraduate students in the three exercise behavior categories of regular exercise participants, intermediary exercise participants, and nonparticipants. As issues related to overweight and obesity continue to grow in the United States, research efforts must concentrate upon exercise behavior and the factors that influence exercise participation levels. This study focused upon the exercise behaviors of university undergraduate students, as Americans aged …

Internationalizing Higher Education: A Case Study Of A Midwest Comprehensive University, Irene Tan Ai Lian

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The international component of higher education has faced significant challenges over the past two decades due to the effects of globalization. The realization that international interdependence is not an abstract theory but a reality has prompted institutions of higher education in the United States to internationalize their campuses.

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to examine how and to what extent a Midwest comprehensive university has developed its internationalization process Special focus was placed on understanding and drawing conclusions from the perceptions of administrators and faculty members regarding the importance of internationalizing a campus and the factors that …

Student Perceptions Of Ethics And Professionalism In Computer Science: Does Age, Gender, Or Experience Matter?, James Stuart Bohy

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This work explores several factors that impact ethics education in undergraduate computer science, including: the overall understanding of ethics material, any differences between male and female subjects, any differences between traditional age and non-traditional age subjects, and any differences in experience level. Instruments (attitudinal surveys and reflective scenarios) were distributed to four institutions in the Midwest; 74 out of 170 were returned.

Female subjects demonstrated a markedly better ability to distinguish between ethical and unethical behavior in the scenarios (especially in areas where the distinctions were less obvious) and produced higher quality written justifications. There were only 4 attitudinal survey …

Social Experiences Of African-American Female Students On A Predominantly White Campus, Guy Alexander Sims

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examined the social experiences of African American female students at a predominantly white institution finding that in several areas of student life African American female students persisted to graduation without necessarily establishing informal social interactions within the university community. This is contrary to Vincent Tinto's posit that students who fail to make a connection with the campus community are more likely to withdraw from the institution. This study introduces the term irrelation as a descriptor of a social construct I have applied to African American female college students on the campus of a large, public, mid-western university. Irrelation …

Preparation For The Role Of Baccalaureate Nurse Educator: Implications For Development Of Nurse Educator Curriculum, Vickie R. Barth

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics, experience and opinions of nurse educator faculty related to preparation for the role of nurse educator. Eighty-nine baccalaureate nurse educators randomly selected from each time zone of the continental United States electronically completed the “Nursing Faculty Development Survey.” Faculty members within nursing education programs typically hold advanced degrees in nursing. They are considered to be experts within their specialty area. Faculty are often hired for their clinical expertise rather than any formal educator preparation. Colleges of nursing routinely evaluate their programs and review student outcomes to ensure quality education. However, …

Teachers' Perceptions Of The Application Of Instructional Design Elements In The Distance Teaching Process, Lihua Zheng

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Educators use an instructional design process to improve instruction and to ensure learning. Faculty who teach at a distance must rely heavily on the instructional design process because of constraints in distance instruction. Thus, it is especially important for instructors to know, understand, and apply instructional design elements when planning to teaching at a distance. However, little research has been done in this field. Therefore, additional research has become the focus of this study. This study examines the perceptions of instructors at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), Cedar Falls, Iowa, regarding how they understood and applied instructional design elements …

Selected Influences On The Smoking Behavior Among Female And Male College Students Of The University Of Northern Iowa, Evelyn Adom-Boateng

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study primarily, was to investigate and identify the influence of the four focus areas (media, family, peer, and psychological coping technique) on the smoking behavior among female and male college students of the University of Northern Iowa. A description of differences in the influences of the focus areas on the smoking behavior on gender was included in the study. A non-random (convenient) sample of 100 students was drawn from the various Departments and Schools from five colleges in the University (57% males and 43% females).

The Sample responded to a 44-item self-report (survey) questionnaire. Overall means …

In Their Footsteps: Women Faculty Of Wartburg College 1914–1945, Susan Kosche Vallem

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hiring and inclusion of women faculty members in private higher education, using Wartburg College as a case study. This study identified and described the educational policies and procedures at Wartburg from 1914 to 1945 related to the hiring of women faculty at Wartburg College.

While the history of women in higher education is well-chronicled, much less is written on the impetus and motivation for hiring women faculty and their impact on the institutions themselves. This dissertation adds to that specific body of knowledge.

Three research questions were investigated in this study: …

Job Satisfaction Among Nurse Educators Of Private Colleges And Universities, Jacqueline Kay Kuennen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

It is widely known that a nursing shortage exists in the health care field today. Less well known is the existence of a nurse educator shortage. Most research has been directed toward investigating the nursing shortage in general rather than the nurse educator shortage in particular. Research on job satisfaction among nurse educators has received recent attention and has been regarded as the most urgent and immediate step in ameliorating the nurse educator shortage.

The purpose of this study was to investigate job satisfaction among nurse educators in private colleges and universities in a midwestern state. In addition to investigating …

Factors Influencing The Health Promoting Behaviors Of International Students At The University Of Northern Iowa, Grace Kokwe Lartey

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that influence the health promoting behaviors of international students at the University of Northern Iowa. More specifically, this study identified the influence of gender and area of origin on selected factors. The total population of international students at the University of Northern Iowa during the Fall 2001 semester was used for the study. This consisted of 355 students from 80 countries excluding the researcher and they responded to a 40-item questionnaire.

Data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). One way analysis of variance (ANOV A) …

Health Concerns Of Reentry Nontraditional Women Students: A Survey Of A Community College In Eastern Iowa, Diana D. Cooke Gehrke

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the health concerns ofreentry nontraditional women students in a community college in the state oflowa. This group was surveyed in May of2000 at the end of the spring semester. Three hundred nontraditional women students were randomly selected from a population of2,164 names supplied to the researcher by the office of admissions. The women were sent a 103- questionnaire survey accompanied by a cover letter and an informed consent. The categories covered were: (a) demographics, (b) tobacco use, (c) alcohol use, (d) personal relationship issues, (e) causes and management of stress, (f) health …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of A Sexual Assault Curriculum At The University Of Northern Iowa, Faith Hope Sonksen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to assess university students' attitudes toward rape and rape mythology and to measure any impact on these attitudes following exposure to a rape/sexual assault awareness curriculum unit. It was hypothesized that students attending the rape/sexual assault unit would demonstrate a statistically significant difference in their rape/sexual assault awareness attitudes and beliefs after taking a sexual assault program, and there would be a statistically significant difference according to gender.

The study sample consisted of 46 (28 male, 18 female) physical education major students enrolled in sections of 420:016, Self-Defense Class at UNI. The mean age …

An Evaluation Of The Ductile Iron Casting Training Program At The Industrial Technology Department Of A Midwestern University, Khalid D. Alkarimy

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study is to determine how efficient this training program is as measured by (a) increasing the knowledge of new employees about the ductile iron casting process and other casting processes as perceived by the participants, (b) participants achievement of the program learning objectives as perceived by the participants, and (c) a positive reaction and attitude toward the program contents, instructors, facility and handout as perceived by the participants. The problem of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ductile Iron Casting Training program offered by the Industrial Technology department of a Midwestern University to …

The Relationship Between Childhood Sexual Abuse And Revictimization In Adulthood Among Uni College Students, Kristine R. Wroblewski

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between childhood sexual abuse and adult revictimization. Two hypotheses were examined. It was hypothesized that childhood victims of sexual abuse were more likely to be revictimized as adults. It was also hypothesized that there would be significant differences in demographic and psychosocial correlates between victims of childhood sexual abuse and those who did not report childhood sexual abuse.

The Health and Safety Survey was administered to 589 students at the University of Northern Iowa. There were 398 female respondents and 182 male respondents. The Health and Safety …

Hong Kong Higher Education In Transition: The Academic Community's Perception At The Time Of 1997 Retrocession, Jiyu Yang

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the perceptions of selected faculty and academic administrators of the 1997 retrocession of Hong Kong to China with respect to the dual challenge of Hong Kong higher education assisting with the modernization of socialist Mainland China while maintaining its function supporting the capitalist system in Hong Kong. Twenty-five selected faculty and academic administrators in two representative universities of Hong Kong were interviewed at the eve of the retrocession. Four related themes were investigated in the interviews: the implications of “one country, two systems,” the ability of the Hong Kong higher education system …

A Study Of The Motives, Barriers, And Enablers Affecting Participation In Adult Distance Education Classes In An Iowa Community College, Roger Joseph Rezabek

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to explore the motives, barriers, and enablers that affect adult students in their decision to enroll in community college distance learning credit classes.

Three methodologies were used in the study: an online focus group of distance learning and adult education experts, enlisted to identify the main issues and questions that would be used in interviews with distance students; a questionnaire distributed to a sample of 210 distance students to determine motives, demographic information, and to act as a screening device for the interviews; in-depth interviews with 23 community college distance learners in northeast Iowa, …

A Study Of Service Programs At Selected Midwest Universities, Tammy Lee

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

When students enter a four-year college or university, they begin the journey of higher education. Through direct and indirect means of structured course work, involvement in campus organizations, and other activities, students gain the knowledge and skills crucial to obtaining a career in their chosen field. Although a college or university has primary responsibilities for the education of students, it also has a social obligation to the community in which it is located. One mechanism that has been devised to mutually benefit the students' need to develop as responsible citizens and the communities' need for college or university expertise is …

Cancer Prevention Behavior In Traditional College-Age Individuals, Michelle Renee Hartwig

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to describe cancer prevention behaviors practiced by traditional college-age individuals enrolled at a four year university. Specifically, the study was designed to determine what primary and secondary prevention behaviors the students were practicing and if there was a difference in prevention behaviors between males and females. Demographic information collected was limited to sex of the participant. The behavioral categories examined included tobacco use, early detection practices, alcohol use, nutrition, physical activity, ultraviolet radiation exposure, and sexual behavior. The distribution of the 210 respondents was almost equal with 102 males and 108 females participating. The …

Student Perceptions Of General Education At A Comprehensive University And Implications, Kenneth E. Nuss

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Using a case study method, I investigated how students negotiate their way through the general education program at a middle-western comprehensive university, and consequently I increased my understanding of the student perspective of this portion of their undergraduate curriculum. From 34 semistructured qualitative interviews with general education science students, I discovered that they could articulate only a dim notion of the purpose of general education. I also became aware that the university structure failed to clearly communicate to students that the faculty values the general education curriculum.

The following themes for further analysis emerged from the student interviews: the purpose …

Perceived Importance Of Iso 9000 Factors As Indicators Of Quality In Industrial Technology Related Programs At Four-Year State Regional Universities, Floyd L. Olson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Industry has often used a quality standard known as ISO 9000. No evidence has been located demonstrating the applicability of an industrial quality model to a singular academic department. The problem of this study was to determine if the guidelines for ISO 9004-2 could have been considered appropriate for Industrial Technology related programs and how they could have been used to indicate quality within such programs.

The purpose of this study was to seek knowledge relating the importance of ISO 9004-2 guidelines to audit and/or improve the quality management of Industrial Technology related departments at 4-year state regional universities. This …

A Comparative Study Of The Perceived Educational Needs Of Iowa Merged Area Vii Manufacturers And Iowa Technical Educators, David D. Bradney

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research was a descriptive pilot study that compared the perceptions of Iowa Merged Area VII manufacturers and Iowa technical educators regarding technical curricula, occupational skill certification, and drafting practices as these relate to Associate Degree programs in Mechanical Drafting and Design Technology. The problem was to determine what should be taught in two year technical curricula in Mechanical Drafting and Design Technology. The purpose of the study was to compare the perceived educational needs of Iowa Merged Area VII manufacturers and Iowa technical educators regarding the content of Mechanical Drafting and Design Technology curricula. The populations used for this …

Educational Aspirations And Perceptions Of Health Occupation Graduates From Community Colleges, Lawrence A. Dahl

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The major purpose of this study was to investigate whether associate degree health occupation graduates perceived that the factors proposed in Dougherty's (1987) model on the continuance of education were valid. A second purpose was to profile selected characteristics of this population.

The sample consisted of licensed health care practitioners for whom an associate degree might be an entry level of preparation. The data were collected through the use of a questionnaire constructed to determine educational aspirations degree and to assess perceptions of the factors identified by Dougherty (1987). The data were analyzed using t tests and the chi-square test …