Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

History Lessons From Esther: The Leopold Von Ranke Lecture Delivered At The Phi Alpha Theta Induction Ceremony, Kent R. Olney

Scholarship – Academic Affairs Office

The German historian, Leopold Von Ranke, noted the following: “Every epoch is immediate to God, and its value is not based on what emerges from it, but on its very existence.” My assignment was to respond to Von Ranke’s thoughts. I have done so by drawing on four observations made from the OT book of Esther. These observations pertain to truth, years, obscurity, and heroes; all of them matter to God and all of them should matter to the historian. In a sense, these four elements are the raw materials, or building blocks, of history in any generation. I conclude …

A Curriculum Designed To Teach Elementary-Age Children In Diverse Settings The Kingdom Concept Of Loving One's Neighbor, Abigail J. Flood

Honors Program Projects

United States Census data from 2020 show that the country is becoming increasingly diverse and urbanized. Other research shows children are aware of race from an early age and can pick up biases and stereotypes by watching the adults around them. However, there are no children’s ministry curricula that specifically address how children should navigate differences from a biblical perspective. To fill this gap, a children’s ministry curriculum was written to model how children can love their neighbors like Jesus did, especially those who look different from themselves. The curriculum is comprised of an introduction for the ministry leader, five …

Student-Athletes’ Religious Beliefs, Religious Behaviors, And Religious Identity At A Christian University, Daniel M. Allen, Sean Strehlow, Audrey M. Chisum, Kevin D. Dougherty, Perry L. Glazner, Sarah A. Schnitker

Faculty Scholarship – Sociology

Athletics occupies an ambiguous place within the greater university mission, particularly at religious institutions. Intercollegiate sports programs may purport to reinforce the university’s aim to develop the whole person, but the nature of athletics can compromise student-athlete religiosity and well-being. Little research has focused on the religiosity of student-athletes and the potential implications for religious institutions. Our analysis features data from 884 senior students at a private, religiously affiliated, NCAA Division I university. Comparing student-athletes to non-athletes, we found that student-athletes scored higher than non-athletes on religious beliefs, religious behaviors, and sense of religious identity.

Embodying Integration: A Sociological Study Of Graduate Student Religiosity In Christian Higher Education, Daniel Allen

Faculty Scholarship – Sociology

Social science research has historically posited an inverse relationship between higher education levels and spirituality, but recent research has nuanced this assumption. Faith formation is a celebrated part of Christian higher education in particular, and graduate programs have grown among Protestant Christian institutions in recent years. However, little research addresses graduate student perceptions of the spiritual quality of their experience. This study asks what program-level features correlate with a high-quality spiritual experience for graduate students studying in a Protestant Christian context. Using data collected between 2014-2020 from 3,274 graduate students at a private, not-for-profit Christian university, we find that students …

The Impact Of Sports Nutrition Knowledge On The Physical Effects Of Low Energy Availability In Female Cross Country Runners., Abby Olcott, Catherine Anstrom

Student Scholarship – Family and Consumer Science

Learning Outcome

To understand the impact sports nutrition knowledge has on the risk for developing LEA in Female Cross Country Runners.

Background

The International Olympic Committee introduced the concept of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S) to accurately encompass the condition previously known as the Female Athlete Triad. LEA is the root cause of RED-S. (Mountjoy et al., 2014). The purpose of this study was to measure sports nutrition knowledge and the impact knowledge level has on the susceptibility to develop LEA in female cross country runners.

Methods

A quantitative design was used. Participants included the women’s cross country team …

The Relationship Between Musicianship, Academic Achievement, Academic Motivation, And Self-Esteem, Ellie Krumsieg

Honors Program Projects

Background

Past research suggests that students involved in music are intrinsically motivated. For example, Diaz (2010) showed that undergraduate musicians possessed high levels of academic intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is a predictor of high academic achievement as well. Additionally, past research indicates that music education is positively correlated with academic achievement and self-esteem. This study continues to investigate the relationships between musicianship and academic motivation, academic achievement, and self-esteem, but does so using a post-secondary sample and an expanded classification system for musicianship.

Methods and Procedures

A survey link was emailed to all undergraduate students at a small, Christian university …

Trending Emotional Disturbance: Strategies Through The Years, Hannah M. Rattin

Student Scholarship – Education

Teaching strategies and supports provided for students with emotional disturbance have evolved over the years. These changes are observed throughout three descriptive studies focused on specific writing strategies spanning three decades from the 1970s until the 1990s. Multiple changes are observed. For instance, terms other than the current “emotional disturbance” have been used over the years. The approach to schooling children with emotional disturbance has also shifted, from an emphasis on functional goals to focusing on academic progress. Additional changes include a more practical approach to implementing these writing strategies and an increased involvement throughout for these students. These changes …

Withstand Or Succumb: Christian Universities And The Implications Of Obergefell V. Hodges, Jonathan Mark Pickering

Scholarship – Academic Affairs Office

Most Christian universities support a traditional view of human sexuality. It is uncertain if they can survive with their religious identity intact, given the rapid increase in societal acceptance of same-sex marriage. The 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision legalizing same-sex marriage increases pressure to be more affirming. Thirty-four presidents at universities in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) participated in a survey, and twelve were interviewed to explore their perceptions regarding that pressure and potential responses. The study was framed by institutional isomorphism theory, and data were analyzed using basic qualitative research methods. The results show that coercive …

Gender Bias In It Hiring Practices: An Ethical Analysis, Harmony L. Alford

Student Scholarship – Computer Science

With the current movement to increase the number of women in STEM-related careers, modified IT hiring practices may be considered debatably unethical. Studies cited in this work have asserted that female representation in STEM fields is integral not only to encouraging continued progression toward gender equality in the workplace but also to creating more inclusive products. In turn, some argue that when faced with reasonably comparable female and male candidates, a hiring manager should select the female candidate in order to increase the female representation in the company and provide a female perspective. However, it is simultaneously debatably unethical and …

Scholar Week, James Upchurch

Scholar Week Archives (2011-2015)

ONU's Scholar Week #5.

Tutorials: Resource Instruction For Distance Learners, Pam Greenlee

Faculty Scholarship – Library Science

Academic librarians, devoted to providing resources and services for learners, find both opportunity and challenge in the continuing growth of online programs in higher education. The technology tools available for online courses are also available to librarians seeking to support those courses with research and information literacy skills instruction. Researchers have delineated factors necessary for achieving defined learning outcomes with online tutorials. These factors include assignment relevance, faculty collaboration, and student interaction. A fourth issue emerges as equally critical; there must be a single iteration of the tutorial, posted in an unique online location, and subject to dynamic revision. There …

Scholar Week, Janna Mclean

Scholar Week Archives (2011-2015)

ONU's Scholar Week #4.

The Importance Of Digitization In Teaching-Oriented University And College Libraries, Craighton T. Hippenhammer

Faculty Scholarship – Library Science

An increasing number of university and college libraries have started digitization programs and there are good reasons why they are doing so. First, we are in the middle of revolutionary change as to how ideas get published and distributed. Over 50 percent of scholarly publishing has gone digital and over 20 percent has gone open access. Governments worldwide are beginning to require tax-supported research be published in open access venues. Secondly, it is imperative that they increase their Archives’ digital presence. Preserving institutional histories is currently being lost because of the entirely digital way academics now communicate and many archives …

Scholar Week, Gregg A. Chenoweth

Scholar Week Archives (2011-2015)

ONU's Scholar Week flyer #3.

Meeting The Predeparture And Reentry Needs Of Onu Spanish Study Abroad Students, Rachel M. Groters

Honors Program Projects

The purpose of the Predeparture and Reentry Needs project was to examine the reentry adjustment of Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) Spanish students who had already returned home from required study abroad experiences in order to craft predeparture and reentry programs based on findings. In Phase 1, the researcher recorded qualitative interviews in March and April of 2012 with 22 ONU undergraduate students who studied abroad in Spanish-speaking countries before the spring 2012 semester. Then the researcher listened to each interview again, taking notes on each and transcribing quotes. The researcher found that all students experienced some level and kind of …

Library Selection: The Role Of Newbery Winning Titles In Today's Libraries, Erin J. Kennell

Honors Program Projects

The goal of this research project was to determine if the role of Newbery winning titles in today’s libraries is changing, or if those titles are still held above other titles because they won the prestigious Newbery Award. To answer this question, preliminary research was compiled and a survey was sent to librarians in the state of Illinois. The finding of the research showed that, while many librarians still considered Newbery award winning titles to be a worthwhile contribution to their libraries, there were some who were beginning to question the award and the titles that were chosen. One of …

Teaching Social Justice To Middle School Aged Children, Stacey J. Gerstung

Honors Program Projects

Early adolescents find themselves in a very unique juncture of life. Even though these students in the middle grades are often troublesome to adults, they have the ability to perceive deep truths and are making decisions that will affect the way they live the rest of their lives. This transitional time between childhood and adulthood is the prime time to introduce students to important concepts, such as the need to seek social justice. For this project, lessons regarding various aspects of social justice were taught to the Middle School/Jr. High Youth Group at College Church of the Nazarene in Bourbonnais, …

Scholar Week, Gregg A. Chenoweth

Scholar Week Archives (2011-2015)

ONU Scholar Week #2.

Using Join.Me To Help Library Patrons, Ann Johnston

Faculty Scholarship – Library Science

Article describes the process used by an Informatics Librarian to test out and implement join.me, a screen sharing service. Join.me is fairly intuitive and has been invaluable in helping patrons resolve their password and login issues. It has also been useful in demonstrating searching strategies and helping patrons with problems downloading pdfs.

Scholar Week, Gregg Chenoweth

Scholar Week Archives (2011-2015)

During Scholar Week we take inspiration from 18th century preacher-scholar |ohn Wesley. As “a denominational university in the Wesleyan tradition,” scholarship and piety are thoroughly compatible here. So, in Scholar Week we tune our ear to the gong and echo of Wesley. It is not just history, but his story, even to this day. In our own scholarship projects we join a great cloud of Christians not educated out of their faith, but fashioning an educated faith, where the love of the Lord by heart, soul, strength, and mind is our great and worthy cause.

How Technology Has Affected The English Language Learning Classroom, Natalie Bursztynsky

Technology Essay Contest Winners

English language learners are a growing percentage of students in today’s classrooms. These students’ educational needs will continue to grow, but so will technology. Multiple technologies today can be incorporated into the classroom, and teachers can be comforted in the fact that there will always be something to keep them one step ahead in the English language learning classroom.

Patron Objections To Library Materials: A Survey Of Christian College Libraries Part Ii, Craighton Hippenhammer

Faculty Scholarship – Library Science

A survey of conservative Christian college libraries in the United States and Canada was taken early in 1993 to determine how their librarians handle patron objections to their collections. Surveyed were their policies and procedures, the nature of their support for the Library Bill of Rights, the nature of challenges (84 percent reported students were the objectors), selection of controversial materials, intellectual freedom definitions and level of librarian education. The survey is compared to four other surveys covering academic libraries, and/or public libraries. Included is a sample reconsideration policy and a sample reconsideration form. Having such a policy is shown …

Patron Objections To Library Materials: A Survey Of Christian College Libraries Part I, Craighton Hippenhammer

Faculty Scholarship – Library Science

A survey of conservative Christian college libraries in the United States and Canada was taken early in 1993 to determine how their librarians handle patron objections to their collections. Surveyed were their policies and procedures, the nature of their support for the Library Bill of Rights, the nature of challenges (84 percent reported students were the objectors), selection of controversial materials, intellectual freedom definitions and level of librarian education. Having a reconsideration policy is shown to be crucial for addressing censorship attempts.