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Electronic Theses and Dissertations

University of Louisville

2015

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Articles 1 - 30 of 44

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Conflicted Tourism : Heritage Narratives, Sectarian Schism, And Economic Growth In Northern Ireland., Ashleigh Larissa Bixby Dec 2015

Conflicted Tourism : Heritage Narratives, Sectarian Schism, And Economic Growth In Northern Ireland., Ashleigh Larissa Bixby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines tourism as a politically charged facet of the economic process in Northern Ireland. While violence has abated in the region, sectarian conflict continues to affect Northern Irish society. Tourism has helped develop the economy by opening the market to visitors through the marketing of the region as unique and different. As conflict in the region is ongoing, the rise of tourism as a viable economic strategy raises the question: how does the Northern Irish tourist industry reconcile the past and ongoing conflict in order to present the region as a desirable tourist destination? The answer lies in …


Educational Excellence Through Dual Degrees : Using Symbolic Convergence Theory To Make It Happen Here., Stephanie Ann French Dec 2015

Educational Excellence Through Dual Degrees : Using Symbolic Convergence Theory To Make It Happen Here., Stephanie Ann French

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Interdisciplinary studies is a goal for the University of Louisville as it pertains to the Vision 2020 Plan. Implementing interdisciplinary studies is a part of Educational Excellence, goal number one of five strategic goals in the Vision 2020. Each of the colleges at the university has devised a strategic plan to determine how each will contribute to that goal. This specific research provides an overview of various issues pertaining to implementing programs in interdisciplinary studies. It then explores a specific instance of interdisciplinary possibilities by focusing on a single instance of what might become an exemplar of interdisciplinary studies. Specifically, …


Standing In The Intersection : Using Photovoice To Understand The Lived Experience Of Black Gay College Students Attending Predominantly White Postsecondary Institutions., Erica Caton Dec 2015

Standing In The Intersection : Using Photovoice To Understand The Lived Experience Of Black Gay College Students Attending Predominantly White Postsecondary Institutions., Erica Caton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The intersection of multiple oppressed identities is characterized by the compounded effects of victimization, intimidation and continued marginalization by dominant culture groups in society. Despite a growing body of knowledge about the individual experiences of racial and sexual minorities, there remains a lack of understanding of the unique life experiences of individuals with intersecting oppressed identities, specifically Black gay youth. Failure or inability to recognize, understand and take action in response to the needs of Black gay youth in college, perpetuates a culture of oppression that compromises the physical and mental well-being, and the academic success of these students. Engaging …


Differences In The Impact Of A Healthy Relationship Intervention On Family Cohesion, Parent-Child Relationship And Child Well-Being By Intimate Partner Violence Relationship Type., Erin E. Ness Roberts Dec 2015

Differences In The Impact Of A Healthy Relationship Intervention On Family Cohesion, Parent-Child Relationship And Child Well-Being By Intimate Partner Violence Relationship Type., Erin E. Ness Roberts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) between the parents of children living at home has shown to have a profound effect on learning outcomes, developmental milestones, pediatric development, future mental health and overall physical safety and wellbeing (Anda, Block & Felitti, 2003). Although much research has been done on outcomes of child-witnesses and parenting in IPV relationships, some evidence suggests (Kernsmith, 2006) that the role of family dynamics among parents, as part of the IPV dynamic, is a critical variable. Other researchers (Johnson, 1995; Graham-Kevan & Archer, 2003) have theorized that violence with a high degree of controlling behaviors, often called Coercive …


Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Teams : Insights And Experiences Of Chaplain Interns And Social Work Interns., Ann Hayes Ronald Dec 2015

Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Teams : Insights And Experiences Of Chaplain Interns And Social Work Interns., Ann Hayes Ronald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2030, the population of those 65 years and older is projected to be 72 million, which will represent 20% of adults in the United States. This large group will have affected many aspects of our society, including families and healthcare providers. Decisions about medical care, caregiving, financial concerns, and new circumstances in living arrangements will be made. Perhaps no aspect of life will be as important as how one spends the end-of-life. Importantly, the care that individuals receive is likely an important aspect of this end-of-life experience. Interdisciplinary palliative care teams provide effective and comprehensive end-of-life care for patients …


A Phenomenological Study Of Anticipated Intimacy And Sexual Expression Needs Of Aging Male And Female Baby Boomers., Charles Shawn Oak Dec 2015

A Phenomenological Study Of Anticipated Intimacy And Sexual Expression Needs Of Aging Male And Female Baby Boomers., Charles Shawn Oak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the phenomenon of how heterosexual Baby Boomers define and understand intimacy, sexual expression, along expectations and desires relating to their respective expressions across the lifespan through their individual experiences and reflections. A set of guiding questions were used in a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative research design. Data was gathered from thirteen subjects (n=13) using the Rappaport Time Line (RTL) that was used to develop individualized semi-structured interviews and follow-up interviews that were professionally transcribed. These were coded to identify emergent themes. Results of the study provided insight into the phenomenon of how heterosexual …


A Culturally-Sensitive Model Of The Development Of Child Anxiety., Jenny Marie Petrie Dec 2015

A Culturally-Sensitive Model Of The Development Of Child Anxiety., Jenny Marie Petrie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Explanatory models significantly enhance the understanding of etiological influences that place children at risk for anxiety, yet little is known about processes that promote resilient outcomes in children. While contextual factors influence risk and protective processes, cultural constructs have not been incorporated into existing models of anxiety and the role of culture remains obscure. The current study proposes a culturally sensitive model for understanding the etiological and mitigating processes underlying anxious symptoms in ethnic minority youth, and preliminarily tests basic components of the proposed model within a non-clinical community sample of 49 African American (AA) parent-child dyads who completed self-report …


Trapped In The Tiebout Model : The Impact Of Federal Affordable Housing Programs On Migration Of Wealthier Residents., Yu-Chih Lin Dec 2015

Trapped In The Tiebout Model : The Impact Of Federal Affordable Housing Programs On Migration Of Wealthier Residents., Yu-Chih Lin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Housing mobility programs have been implemented in America since the 1990s to solve poverty concentration and to improve the economic self-sufficiency of low-income families through housing subsidies. This policy was based on the assumption that mixed-income neighborhoods provide better resources and opportunities to low-income families so that program participants who relocate to low-poverty neighborhoods improve their economic status. Currently, few studies examine the effectiveness of housing mobility programs under a decentralized fiscal system. Specifically, the migration of program participants may stimulate Tiebout’s vote-with-feet mechanisms and may limit the duration of the newly-created mixed-income environment, leaving poverty concentration and poverty unsolved. …


"If We Don't Talk About It, They'll Never Go Away" : An Examination Of The Experiences Of And Reactions To Stigma By A Diverse Population Of Adoptive Parents In The United States., Jessica Rae Newton Dec 2015

"If We Don't Talk About It, They'll Never Go Away" : An Examination Of The Experiences Of And Reactions To Stigma By A Diverse Population Of Adoptive Parents In The United States., Jessica Rae Newton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adoption challenges the traditional Western notions of kinship and family formation. Because of this, adoption has become a stigmatized status in American culture. Utilizing a grounded theoretical approach, this study examines the experiences of stigma by adoptive parents in the United States and the ways adoptive parents react to and manage this stigmatization. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of 17 adoptive parents living across the country. It was found that adoptive parents experienced stigma through comments made during their interactions with others, which fell into four categories: hesitation toward the birth parents, suspicion of the costs, assumptions …


Testing The Chronic Care Model For Depression In Homebound Older Adults., Brittney Rose Getz Aug 2015

Testing The Chronic Care Model For Depression In Homebound Older Adults., Brittney Rose Getz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Homebound older adults are a unique population of older adults with many chronic illnesses and complex care needs (Qui et al., 2010). Depression is highly prevalent in homebound older adults (Qui et al., 2010). Many Chronic Care Models (CCMs) have been developed to provide a better system of care to those with chronic health conditions (Bodenheimer, Wagner, & Grumbach, 2002; Wagner et al., 2001; Wagner, Austin, & Von Korff, 1996a, 1996b). The Chronic Care Model for Depressed Homebound Older Adults is a model that was specifically designed for the depressed homebound elderly. It addresses many areas for improvement of care …


Temporal Information Processing Across Primary Visual Cortical Layers In Normal And Red Light Reared Tree Shrews., Wenhao Dang Aug 2015

Temporal Information Processing Across Primary Visual Cortical Layers In Normal And Red Light Reared Tree Shrews., Wenhao Dang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Visual neuroscience research has benefitted from decades of efforts of comparative studies of different species, since exploring and understanding the diversity of functional properties of visual system in different species has helped us identify both general organization rules and unique traits of certain species. In this study, spatio-temporal receptive fields (STRFs), together with some other functional properties (etc. stimulus preference to different visual stimuli, orientation tuning, temporal frequency tuning and the F1/F0 ratio of responses to sine-wave grating stimuli), of primary visual cortex (V1) cells were measured in normally reared and red-light reared tree shrews (Tupaia), a species considered the …


Cancer Caregiving : An Exploration Of Values, Burden, Repetitive Thinking, And Depression., Amanda M. Mitchell Aug 2015

Cancer Caregiving : An Exploration Of Values, Burden, Repetitive Thinking, And Depression., Amanda M. Mitchell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individuals who provide emotional, social, and physical care to a care recipient with cancer, without receiving financial compensation, are considered informal cancer caregivers. Research has identified that depression is a significant concern for cancer caregivers and likely impacts the care recipient’s health as well. However, limited literature has evaluated constructs that may affect depression in cancer caregivers. The current study explored how intrinsic and extrinsic cultural motivations, caregiver burden, and repetitive thinking relate to depression in a sample of 46 current cancer caregivers. Results revealed that while cancer caregivers did endorse both intrinsic and extrinsic cultural motivations for providing care …


Predictors Of Father Involvement : The Role Of Early Life Events And Stressors., Qiuli Hao Aug 2015

Predictors Of Father Involvement : The Role Of Early Life Events And Stressors., Qiuli Hao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) dataset to examine the effect of men’s early life stressful events and their father involvement with their new biological child(ren). The problems associated with low level of father involvement or even father absence in the country followed by the dearth of studying men who experienced stressful events during childhood were first discussed. A series of factors in the literature that can affect the level of father involvement and various of childhood stressful events were also presented. Following this, the characteristics of study subjects’ demographics, household information, men’s crime history, …


The Neuropsychological Profile Of Older Adult Musicians And Non-Musicians : Implications For Cognitive Reserve In Late Life., Jessica Vemich Strong, Aug 2015

The Neuropsychological Profile Of Older Adult Musicians And Non-Musicians : Implications For Cognitive Reserve In Late Life., Jessica Vemich Strong,

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Published literature studying children and adults musicians suggests significant differences in neuroanatomy, in brain regions that include the auditory and motor cortices, language centers, and frontal regions and tracts. Studies examining cognitive correlates to these neuroanatomical differences have consistently found that children and adult musicians have better cognitive abilities in the domains of language, verbal or non-verbal memory and executive function. Only one study has examined the differences in cognitive performance between older adult musicians and non-musicians to see how normal age-related cognitive changes may affect these differences. The current study compared cognitive test performance among older adult non-musicians, low-activity …


Examining Macro-Level Correlates Of Farm Equipment Theft : A Test Of Routine Activity Theory And Social Disorganization Theory., Dustin Lee Osborne Aug 2015

Examining Macro-Level Correlates Of Farm Equipment Theft : A Test Of Routine Activity Theory And Social Disorganization Theory., Dustin Lee Osborne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the potential for routine activity theory and social disorganization theory to explain incidence of farm equipment theft at the county level. Relatively few attempts have been made to discern the factors that contribute to such theft. Most are relatively dated, and all focus upon the relationship between victimization risk and the characteristics of individual farms. Accordingly, the current study represents the first attempt to examine the influence of macro-level processes and characteristics upon the problem. Data are gathered for 306 counties housed within four Southeastern States. Counts of farm equipment theft are collected from the 2011-2012 iterations …


Effects Of Amplitude Modulation On Sound Localization In Reverberant Environments., Paul W. Anderson Aug 2015

Effects Of Amplitude Modulation On Sound Localization In Reverberant Environments., Paul W. Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Auditory localization involves different cues depending on the spatial domain. Azimuth localization cues include interaural time differences (ITDs), interaural level differences (ILDs) and pinnae cues. Auditory distance perception (ADP) cues include intensity, spectral cues, binaural cues, and the direct-to-reverberant energy ratio (D/R). While D/R has been established as a primary ADP cue, it is unlikely that it is directly encoded in the auditory system because it can be difficult to extract from ongoing signals. It is also noteworthy that no neuronal population has been identified that specifically codes D/R. It has therefore been proposed that D/R is indirectly encoded in …


Mapping Debris-Covered Glaciers In The Cordillera Blanca, Peru : An Object-Based Image Analysis Approach., Donald J. Biddle Aug 2015

Mapping Debris-Covered Glaciers In The Cordillera Blanca, Peru : An Object-Based Image Analysis Approach., Donald J. Biddle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Accurate remote-sensing based inventories of glacial ice are often hindered by the presence of supraglacial debris cover. Attempts at automated mapping of debris-covered glacier areas from remotely-sensed multispectral data have met with limited success due to the spectral similarity of supraglacial debris to nearby bedrock, moraines, and fluvial deposition features. Data-fusion approaches leveraging terrain and/or thermal data with multispectral data have yielded improved results in certain geographic regions, but remain unproven in others. This research builds on the data-fusion approaches from the literature and explores the efficacy of object-based image analysis (OBIA) and tree-based machine learning classifiers using Landsat OLI …


Parental Influence On Romantic Attraction With Simulated Online Dating Profiles., Johanna Strokoff Aug 2015

Parental Influence On Romantic Attraction With Simulated Online Dating Profiles., Johanna Strokoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Romantic attraction is commonly studied in the scientific literature, with countless theories providing hypotheses for why we find particular characteristics attractive. This study focused on psychodynamic theories to investigate the attraction process, particularly regarding the influence of parental figures on romantic attraction through the psychoanalytic theory of partner selection (i.e., template matching hypothesis used interchangeably), attachment theory, and Core Conflictual Relational Themes theory. With previous research often relying solely on self-report measures of parental figures and romantic partners, this study contributed to the field through capturing the attraction phenomenon through the ratings and selection of simulated online dating profiles. Participants …


Globalization And Inter-Local Cooperation : The Mediating Roles Of Local Contexts In The Global North And South., Eric Yankson Aug 2015

Globalization And Inter-Local Cooperation : The Mediating Roles Of Local Contexts In The Global North And South., Eric Yankson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is an area of scholarly interest which argues that globalization brings about the need for collaboration among local governmental units in order to address common challenges. According to Brenner and Swyngedouw, globalization also results in rescaling because it redefines spatial and political frameworks, and thus transfers powers to actors beneath and beyond the nation-state. Inter-local cooperation is a form of rescaling since it reconfigures territorial boundaries and results in either decentralization or centralization. This research explores the implications of globalization for inter-jurisdictional collaboration, as modified by local factors. It focuses on two city-regions in the Global North and South …


What We See Changes How We See : Analyzing The Plasticity Of The Horizontal Effect., April Marie Schweinhart Aug 2015

What We See Changes How We See : Analyzing The Plasticity Of The Horizontal Effect., April Marie Schweinhart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between the processing of orientations by the human visual system has been related to the orientation content of the natural environment; horizontal orientations, while predominant in natural environments, are perceived less well than vertical and oblique orientations are perceived best, though they are least prevalent in the natural world. This ‘horizontal effect’ has further extended the well-studied relationship between visual encoding and natural scene statistics as the differential perception of orientations in broadband scenes inversely matches their differential representation in the natural environment. However, the original hypothesis that this relationship may have evolved across millennia in order to …


Awareness Of Executive Functioning As A Diagnostic Tool For Mild Cognitive Impairment And Alzheimer's Disease., Jeremy Stark Carmasin Aug 2015

Awareness Of Executive Functioning As A Diagnostic Tool For Mild Cognitive Impairment And Alzheimer's Disease., Jeremy Stark Carmasin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the utility of older adults’ awareness of their executive functioning abilities to predict future cognitive decline. The recently revised Cognitive Awareness Model (CAM) forms the conceptual background of this approach, and suggests that executive dysfunction disrupts awareness in a manner distinct from episodic memory dysfunction. The study design examined how awareness of executive functioning ability may predict both continuous decline on neuropsychological testing and qualitative change in diagnostic status. This form of prediction was tested using a longitudinal sample (n = 661) of older adults with either normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or Alzheimer’s disease (AD). …


Support Partners Of Registered Sex Offenders : Exploring Their Experiences, Identities, And Perceptions., David Patrick Connor May 2015

Support Partners Of Registered Sex Offenders : Exploring Their Experiences, Identities, And Perceptions., David Patrick Connor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although it is widely recognized that many convicted criminal offenders experience considerable setbacks in communities that make their lives more arduous, registered sex offenders (RSOs) who live in American society arguably face more challenging impediments. As a result, ensuring their access to social support is especially salient. The notion that social support is particularly relevant to RSOs is perhaps best manifested through a common feature of community-based sex offender treatment programs, where participating RSOs are obligated to forge social relationships with primary support partners. These individuals are an important population to examine, as they purportedly play important roles with respect …


Contentious Spaces : A Comparative Analysis Of Latin American Resistance Campaigns, 1956-2006., Sean Lee Welch May 2015

Contentious Spaces : A Comparative Analysis Of Latin American Resistance Campaigns, 1956-2006., Sean Lee Welch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Why do resistance campaigns have different outcomes? Specifically, why do some resistance campaigns succeed, while others fail or fall somewhere between success and failure? Examining Latin American resistance campaigns between 1956 and 2006 through a theoretical lens of spatial agency, the varying outcomes of resistance campaigns (success, partial success, and failure) could be explained schematically by the same conditions. Generally, successful campaigns had the same conditions present, which include: facing an authoritarian regime; the ability of the campaign to build cross-class alliances that included urban elements; military shifts through defection, desertion, or open rebellion; the United States’ withdrawal of support …


Relational Aggression In School Settings : The Efficacy Of The First Step To Success Intervention., Alicia Latrelle Dailey May 2015

Relational Aggression In School Settings : The Efficacy Of The First Step To Success Intervention., Alicia Latrelle Dailey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a study of relational aggression (RA) in school settings. RA is a nonphysical type of aggression where the intent is to harm relationships and the social standing of a targeted peer. Examples include social exclusion, gossip, spreading rumors and the silent treatment. RA has negative consequences for both perpetrators and victims, and is associated with friendship problems, peer rejection, depression, anxiety, poor academic performance and dropout. RA is stable and reaches its peak in middle school, continuing into adulthood. In order to address RA, this dissertation argues that early intervention is necessary with young children as early …


The Effects Of Cumulative Victimization On Psychological Distress., Amanda Dishon Brown May 2015

The Effects Of Cumulative Victimization On Psychological Distress., Amanda Dishon Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Justice-involved women experience significantly higher rates of victimization and psychological distress when compared to the general population. While both childhood victimization and adult Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) both directly contribute to psychological distress, scant research examines the effects of cumulative victimization (both child and adult IPV) across a woman’s lifetime on psychological distress. Additionally, a gap in the literature is the investigation of behavior specific mechanisms (self-esteem, social support, coping, and substance use) that may mediate the relationship between victimization and psychological distress. As such, the primary aim of this dissertation was to explore the relationship between cumulative victimization (childhood …


I Had To Learn That On My Own : Successful First-Generation, Low-Income College Students From Rural Areas At An Urban Institution., Aaron Phillips May 2015

I Had To Learn That On My Own : Successful First-Generation, Low-Income College Students From Rural Areas At An Urban Institution., Aaron Phillips

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

First-generation and low-income college students have been at a greater risk of attrition and have graduated at lower rates compared to other students for some time. Despite this, however, there are first-generation and low-income students who have been successful and have graduated. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of research focused on successful students, particularly those who are also from a rural background. The purpose of this study is to reveal what strategies, practices, actions, and behaviors low income, first-generation students from a rural background employ and engage in to persist and be academically successful. A qualitative methodology was chosen …


Judges' Perceptions Of Sex Offender Registration, Community Notification, And Residency Restrictions., Lauren Nicole Lennon May 2015

Judges' Perceptions Of Sex Offender Registration, Community Notification, And Residency Restrictions., Lauren Nicole Lennon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is a meager amount of literature available on how criminal justice system actors perceive the range of sex offender registration and community notification (SORN) policies and their effectiveness, as well as sex offenders themselves. To date, only one study has been done on judges regarding their attitudes toward sexual offenders by Bumby and Maddox (1999). However, a study has not been completed in regard to judges’ perceptions of SORN and its efficacy in addition to their views on residency restrictions. The following study tries to expand the literature available and examines the perceptions of judges concerning SORN, residency restrictions, …


The De-Feminization Of Femininity : Exploratory Content Analysis Of Gay Male Fashion Magazines., Christopher J. Vincent May 2015

The De-Feminization Of Femininity : Exploratory Content Analysis Of Gay Male Fashion Magazines., Christopher J. Vincent

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis project is an exploratory content analysis that seeks to measure the ways in which gay male fashion magazine de-feminize their representations of feminine performing gay men. 125 images across five summer editions of Instinct Magazine, from 2010-2014, were randomly selected and were measured along the lines of race/ethnicity, fitness of clothing, build, touch, gaze, and body curvature. The research confirmed that gay male fashion magazines do in fact de-feminize their representations of femininity along these variables. The research also reflects pre-conceived ideas of representation along the boundaries of race. Using Michael Warners theory of Publics and Counterpublics as …


Food Safety : Analyzing The Connection Between Government And Industrial Influence., Jennifer Lee Hall 1983- May 2015

Food Safety : Analyzing The Connection Between Government And Industrial Influence., Jennifer Lee Hall 1983-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the leaders within the U.S. food safety agencies and the top U.S. food producing companies, including meat, grain, and seed, and determine the presence of connectivity between the separate organizations. This involved looking at detailed biographical information on each leader, including previous and current employment, educational background and board memberships. Following identification of the agencies, companies, and their leaders, social network analysis was utilized to locate visual and quantitative links. Using the theories of C. Wright Mills and William Domhoff, the results showed a powerful argument that the power elite is still …


The Impact Of Victimization On The Disabled., Derek James Allen May 2015

The Impact Of Victimization On The Disabled., Derek James Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To date victimizations amongst the disabled has been researched, but the literature tends to group these victimizations amongst disabled as a whole. This research is also limited for this particular population and this review tries to outline, expand, and attempts to explain improvements for research by identifying the disabled into specific groups rather than all as one group. For example, individualizing policies and research for the blind specifically or any disability in an individualized approach. In the following an intensive online search of literature regarding different victimizations rates, types of disabilities and correlative victimizations, and the relationship these disabled individuals …