Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Connecting Children And Families: Expectations And Experiences Of Professional Foster Parents, Samantha A. Goodrich

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Volume 16, Number 4: November/December 2010, Jean C. Nelson

UConn Libraries Newsletter

Page 2 The Vice Provost for University Libraries reflects on the changes we have seen as an institution and how the financial support of our friends has enabled us to invest in learning.

Page 3 Research in the Archives & Special Collections uncovers the story of political activist Vivien Kellems.

Page 4 Fall Library Forum takes on the classroom versus online learning debate.

Page 5 In a guest column, the department head for UConn’s Journalism Department highlights the risks journalists are taking in Mexico.

Page 6 A visual look at a full fall semester of activities.

Page 7 The Dodd …

The Heart And Mind At Work: The Effects Of Implicit And Explicit Reasoning On Performance Appraisal, Scott Ryan

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Monhantic Fort Gunflints: Continuity Or Change In Mashantucket Pequot Lithic Manufacturing Patterns Due To European Contact, Scott E. Williams

Master's Theses

Abstract Monhantic Fort was a late seventeenth century fortified village located on the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation in southeastern Connecticut and was occupied between 1675-1680 during the time of King Philip’s War. The objectives of this study are to reconstruct Pequot behaviors related to production, maintenance, use, and discard of gunflints and other lithic tools made from European flint at Monhantic Fort and further if their patterns of manufacture and technologies were altered through contact with Europeans. As a number of the lithic tools, including the gunflints, recovered at Monhantic Fort had similar morphologies it was first necessary to determine exactly …

An Assessment Of The Social Impact Of Feminist Network Organizing: A Qualitative Study Of The First Nepali Women's Global Network (Nwgn) Conference, Barret Katuna

Master's Theses

In this study, the author examines the efforts of one transnational feminist network, the Nepali Women’s Global Network (NWGN) to organize through a conference addressing gender inequality matters that shape the experiences of Nepali women on a global and national level and the variant experiences of conference participants based on their social locations. Recognizing the complexity of individual social change on a personal level as well as process-based institutional social change challenging social norms, the author posits the following two research questions 1) Can conferences organized by feminist networks initiate social change? and 2) How can feminist networks best promote …

Effects Of Embodiment On Perceptual And Affective Responses To Infant Crying, Jennifer B. Bisson

Master's Theses

Three experiments were conducted to investigate how changes in bodily states might be related to perceptions of infant vocalizations. In Study 1, participants were asked to hold a pencil between their lips, mimicking a smile, while listening to infant crying. Although there were no embodied effects for perceptual ratings, results indicated that this manipulation decreased participants’ self-reported, negative affect. In Study 2, participants were played both infant crying and birdsong while exposed to similar embodied manipulations, including activation of muscles related to approach and withdrawal behavior. There were no embodied effects for ratings of crying or for affect. Comparing Study …

Effects Of Delayed Auditory Feedback On Young Infants’ Crying, Sarah M. Sanborn

Master's Theses

Neural control of newborn crying has typically been considered to originate primarily in the lower brain centers, although support for this assumption is limited. To address this, the present study manipulated newborn infants’ perceptual experience during a cry bout through use of delayed auditory feedback (DAF). Atypical cry productions during DAF would suggest that newborn crying is under higher levels of cortical control than previously assumed. Infants’ spontaneous crying was recorded for 2 minutes at 4 weeks of age (n=16) and again at 8 weeks of age (n=17) using an ABA design, alternating synchronous feedback with DAF. Standard repeated-measures 2 …

The River Discontinuum: Applying Beaver Modifications To Baseline Conditions For Restoration Of Forested Headwaters, Denise Burchsted, Melinda Daniels, Robert Thorson, Jason Vokoun

Center for Integrative Geosciences

Billions of dollars are being spent in the United States to restore rivers to a desired, yet often unknown, reference condition. In lieu of a known reference, practitioners typically assume the paradigm of a connected watercourse. Geological and ecological processes, however, create patchy and discontinuous fluvial systems. One of these processes, dam building by North American beavers (Castor canadensis), generated discontinuities throughout precolonial river systems of northern North America. Under modern conditions, beaver dams create dynamic sequences of ponds and wet meadows among free-flowing segments. One beaver impoundment alone can exceed 1000 meters along the river, flood the valley laterally, …

Learning Commons @ Uconn Assessment Report: Use And Satisfaction Of The Learning Commons, Kate Fuller

Published Works

Learning commons are borne from user need and created from user input. The rapidly changing needs of students require constant refinement of the services; refinement based on the feedback of primary users is integral to the success of a service such as a learning commons. This study measures the use of, and satisfaction with, the Learning Commons @ UConn one year after it was opened to the public. The findings from the survey discuss how library patrons perceive the services and spaces available in the Learning Commons; recommendations are given for potential improvements to the Learning Commons in the future.

Advertising In Online Social Networks: A Comprehensive Overview, Silvia Stockman

Honors Scholar Theses

This paper examines characteristics of online social networking sites and their implications on advertising. The application of well known interpersonal and mass communication theories to the field allows for an in-depth look at behavioral cues and responses. The interactivity inherent in sites like Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and in other forums encourages advertisers to tap into engaging their consumers. Types of targeting and the success of word of mouth referrals are examined, as are many of the common stumbling blocks. To better understand the potential versus the problems, we conclude with an analysis of return on investment.

Dynamics Of Hiv Risk Behavior In Hiv-Infected Injection Drug Users

CHIP Documents

Forty-six individuals with a history of injection drug use participated in a questionnaire and an interview study assessing their HIV risk behaviors, and their HIV risk and prevention information, motivation, and behavioral skills related to injection drug use and sexual behavior. High levels of past and current risky injection drug use and sexual behavior were reported. HIV risk reduction information was generally high, and many participants reported proprevention attitudes and supportive perceived norms toward HIV risk reduction behaviors. However, many did not intend to engage in these preventive behaviors, and some reported deficits in prevention behavioral skills. Interview data revealed …

Determining Optimal Storage Arrangements For Open Access Data Sets, As For Nsf Data Management Plan Requirements, David B. Lowe

Published Works

Document is a proposed draft of a decision tree to be used in determining what approach to take for making data available in order to comply with open access requirements for data management, as per National Science Foundation requirements.

Scaling Down: How Small To Medium-Sized Cultural Heritage Institutions Can Make Sizeable Contributions To Larger Digital Projects, Michael J. Bennett

UConn Library Presentations

Presentation made for the Connecticut State Library-hosted "Decision Points in Digitization" panel discussion, Hartford, CT October 21, 2010.

Volume 16, Number 3, September/October Newsletter

UConn Libraries Newsletter

Page 2 The Vice Provost for University Libraries says the campus community will notice a significant number of improvements to the Libraries this fall. The Map and Geographic Information Center, together with the Connecticut Geographic Alliance, hosted its first geospatial workshop for teachers in August. Page 3 The papers of noted children’s literature illustrator and author Leonard Weisgard are donated to the Northeast Children’s Literature Collection. Page 4 An improved instant messaging system for help debuts. New collaborative spaces are installed at the regional campus libraries. Page 5 In a guest column, the interim director of the Puerto Rican and …

Digital Asset Management (Dam) Planning/Implementation Survey (8/1/10 - 8/31/10), Michael J. Bennett

Published Works

An online survey conducted from 8/1/10 through 8/31/10 to better assess the current landscape of Digital Asset Management systems (DAM) among cultural heritage institutions. Questions posed attempted to gauge the perceived overall DAM needs and the success and/or failure of current software systems in providing for such features. Topics touched upon by respondents also included institutional buy-in and overall scope planning.

Mujeres, Damas Y Señoritas: El Mundo De Las Revistas Femeninas Españolas Del Siglo Xix Al Alcance De La Mano; The Women’S Magazine Digital Collection At The Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, Marisol Ramos, Michael J. Bennett

UConn Library Presentations

Presentation on a collaborative digital project between the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center and the University of Connecticut Libraries' Digital Program Team. Materials digitally captured included bound monographs from a collection amassed by Juan Pérez de Guzmán y Boza, Duque de T’ Serclaes (1852-1934) that is currently housed at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center’s Archives and Special Collections.

Embedding Latin American Archives Into Library Instruction And Practice, Marisol Ramos

UConn Library Presentations

Being both a librarian and an archivist/curator, it is one of my jobs to find ways to embed primary sources into my library instruction. This paper discuss the ways that I have found to integrate the Latin American and Caribbean archival holdings that I manage in the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center into my library services. I will discuss briefly some of the strategies, such as digitization projects, LibGuides and Show and Tells events, that I have used to bridge my archival work with my library work to provide better services to my constituents.

Learning Commons: Addressing The Needs Of Commuter Regional Campuses, Nancy H. Dryden, Shelley G. Roseman

Published Works

The Learning Commons concept in academia is now fairly mainstream and in the evaluation phase at many institutions. This model is gradually making its way into non-residential campuses and proved to be a challenge for five regional libraries of a state university who sought to establish user-centered environments on a shoe-string budget and tight quarters. These Learning Commons initiatives addressed the needs of urban, suburban, and rural based libraries whose student populations ranged from under 300 to nearly 2,000. While there was no single model to address student needs at all campuses, there were commonalities in users’ expectations that guided …

Presentation On Raw As Archival Still Image Format: A Consideration, Michael J. Bennett, F. Barry Wheeler

UConn Library Presentations

No abstract provided.

Raw As Archival Still Image Format: A Consideration, Michael J. Bennett, F. Barry Wheeler

Published Works

Source materials like fine art, over-sized, fragile maps, and delicate artifacts have traditionally been digitally converted through the use of controlled lighting and high resolution scanners and camera backs. In addition the capture of items such as general and special collections bound monographs has recently grown both through consortial efforts like the Internet Archive's Open Content Alliance and locally at the individual institution level. These projects, in turn, have introduced increasingly higher resolution consumer-grade digital single lens reflex cameras or "DSLRs" as a significant part of the general cultural heritage digital conversion workflow. Central to the authors' discussion is the …

Volume 16, Number 2: April/May 2010

UConn Libraries Newsletter

Page 2 The Vice Provost for University Libraries reflects on Google’s recent experience in China. • A new digital collection of 19th-century Spanish women’s magazines is now available to researchers. Page 3 Collector Gary Wait donates a treasure trove of juvenile literature from the 19th century to the Northeast Children’s Literature Collection at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center. Page 4 The Map and Geographic Information Center offers a new internship program, where students earn three academic credits and work eight hours a week while developing advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and digitization skills. Page 5 Associate Professor of Anthropology …

Beyond Racial Precedents: Loving V. Virginia As An Appropriate Legal Model And Strategy For Same-Sex Marriage Litigation, Michael J. Csere

Honors Scholar Theses

This thesis explores how LGBT marriage activists and lawyers have employed a racial interpretation of due process and equal protection in recent same-sex marriage litigation. Special attention is paid to the Supreme Court's opinion in Loving v. Virginia, the landmark case that declared anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional. By exploring the use of racial precedent in same-sex marriage litigation and its treatment in state court cases, this thesis critiques the racial interpretation of due process and equal protection that became the basis for LGBT marriage briefs and litigation, and attempts to answer the question of whether a racial interpretation of due process …

Representing Afghanistan: The United States And Democracy's Imposition, Brantley Hawkins

Honors Scholar Theses

There is an ongoing mission in Afghanistan; a mission driven by external political forces. At its core this mission hopes to establish peace, to protect the populace, and to install democracy. Each of these goals has remained just that, a goal, for the past eight years as the American and international mission in Afghanistan has enjoyed varied levels of commitment. Currently, the stagnant progress in Afghanistan has led the international community to become increasingly concerned about the viability of a future Afghan state. Most of these questions take root in the question over whether or not an Afghan state can …

Emotional Content In Autobiographical Memory Through An Attachment Theory Framework, Elizabeth Tsatkin

Honors Scholar Theses

The current study investigates the relationship between individual differences in attachment style and the recall of autobiographical memories. According to attachment theory, affect regulation strategies employed by individuals high in attachment anxiety and high in attachment avoidance are likely to influence how information about the past is recalled. This study examines how attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance relate to the presence of negative emotions in autobiographical memories of upsetting events with important relationship figures (i.e., mother, father, or roommate). Participants included 248 undergraduate students ranging from ages 18-22 that attend a public university in the northeast. As hypothesized, individuals with …

Adolescent Meaning Making Of Past Experience, Joshua Noffsinger

Honors Scholar Theses

This study examined the meaning making processes of self-defining memories in adolescents, as well as how they co-construct the narratives of these events with their parents. The sample consisted of 53 students, aged 12-14, who came in for recorded laboratory sessions to discuss self-defining memories with their parents. These sessions were later coded on levels of meaning making and co-construction. These codes were, then, analyzed with the adolescents’ questionnaire scores regarding friendship quality, internalizing, and externalizing behaviors. The data revealed that adolescents and parents were both rated higher for more complex levels of meaning making and that those rated higher …

The Framework Of Trade In The Council For Mutual Economic Assistance, Michael S. Bokoff

Honors Scholar Theses

This paper establishes an overview of the variables and constraints that affected trade in the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance. It explores the origins of COMECON, the demographic and resource distribution of the member nations, and the role of trade in a centrally planned economy. The paper’s primary focus is on the emergence of a bilateral trade structure, the faulty price mechanism, and the nonconvertibility of currencies. The paper documents the origins and relationships between the constraints of trade within COMECON, and argues that ultimately, these constraints prevented COMECON from fully achieving its economic objectives.

Conceptualizing Success In Therapeutic Wilderness Experiences: The Creation And Maintenance Of Instructor-Participant Relationships, Chelsea I. Ambrozaitis

Honors Scholar Theses

Researchers have noted that relationships created between instructors and clients in therapeutic wilderness experiences are unique (Russell, 2003; Russell & Phillips-Miller, 2001; Sklar, Anderson, & Autry, 2007; Taniguchi et al., 2009), but little research has been done to explore these relationships. The present study is an investigation of how instructors build and maintain relationships with participants, conceptualize these relationships, and define success in these tasks. Nine instructors from a wilderness program for at-risk youth participated in interviews. Data were analyzed using a line-by-line coding technique. Results of this study add to existing research on wilderness therapy and therapeutic wilderness experiences, …

From Truth To Justice: How Does Amnesty Factor In? A Comparative Analysis Of South Africa And Sierra Leone's Truth And Reconciliation Commissions, Rachel W. Smith

Honors Scholar Theses

Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRC) have emerged in the last few decades as a mechanism for a state to overcome widespread, grave, human rights violations. There are numerous approaches to a TRC all with an ultimate goal: that formerly warring factions, perpetrators, witnesses, and victims can move forward as a united people. I propose that the provision of amnesty is critical to the success of a TRC. I hypothesize that the form of amnesty chosen (i.e. blanket v. conditional amnesty) determines the revelation of truth and realization of justice, which in turn dictates whether a TRC can achieve reconciliation. To …

"My One Regret...": The Case For Cultural Immersion In Study Abroad Programs, Kevin Geyer

Honors Scholar Theses

Study abroad has been an established institution in US universities for almost a century, and hundreds of thousands of students travel to all corners of the world every year. While many list some degree of cultural immersion as a main goal, most students have a difficult time achieving this. Drawing from interviews with twenty-five UConn undergraduates that studied abroad, this study attempts to identify factors that hold students back from cultural encounters. The study also discusses the 'success stories' of undergrads that made significant connections abroad, and highlights the factors that can lead to this (e.g., homestays, jobs, internships).

Executive Power And The People: Does The President Care What You Think?, James Ringold

Honors Scholar Theses

I sought to examine the relationship between public approval of the president and his subsequent behavior. Specifically, I looked at the relationship between public approval and signing statement usage along with their usage following the 2006 outcry against President Bush's use of them.