Digital Commons Network^™

Cmn 4765 : Communication In Families, Communication And Journalism

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Hst 4175 : Health Professions Seminar, Health Promotion

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

2018 Warbler, Eastern Illinois University

The Warbler

The 2018 Warbler, yearbook of Eastern Illinois University.

A Profile Of Policy Discussions Regarding Gender-Inclusive Housing Amongst Four-Year Public Institutions In The Midwest: A Qualitative Approach, Alexis Hill

Masters Theses

This study utilized a qualitative approach to analyze gender-inclusive policies amongst four-year public institutions in the Midwest. This study focused primarily on residence life administrators, who are responsible for the creation and implementation of such policies on their campuses. 40 institutions completed a survey inquiring about their policies or practices, and four institutions were interviewed as a follow-up. Several themes emerged from the study, which included: 1) even if an institution did not have a policy, they more than likely have a practice; 2) change in trends are inevitable and professionals must be willing to change with them; and 3) …

Provisional Admission Impact On College Self-Efficacy: A Qualitative Approach, Carolyn A. Davis

Masters Theses

This qualitative study examined how a provisional admission program (Gateway) at a mid-sized institution in the rural Midwest impacts students' college self-efficacy. Participants were five students who were successfully released from the Gateway Program at the end of the 2016 - 2017 academic year, and were in their sophomore year at time of study. Data was collected from one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The findings suggest that the program's services, with a high emphasis on intrusive advising by program advisors, positively impact students' college self-efficacy. The researcher concludes that students are more efficacious in their abilities after being provided the structure of …

The Biopolitical Elements In Yan Lianke's Fiction Worlds, Xiaoyu Gao

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Development Of Serial Killers: A Grounded Theory Study, Meher Sharma

Masters Theses

The worldview that portrays a serial killer as being a white male, an evil monster with unusual appearance, having dysfunctional relationships (Yaksic, 2015), engaging in animal torture or being sexually or physical abused in childhood, and therefore, sadistically killing for sexual gratification should be challenged (Beasley, 2004). Leyton (1996) and Skrapec (2001) suggested researchers should approach with open minds while searching for knowledge relating to this phenomenon without preconceived assumptions or hypotheses. Furthermore, every serial killers' drive to kill multiple victims may be unique, dependent on his/her history and experiences, and is therefore difficult to quantify (Yaksic, 2015). The current …

The Effects Of Music Therapy Techniques On Clients In A Substance Abuse Group, Moyosore Fabiyi

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of music therapy on clients with substance abuse history attending group sessions in a behavioral health facility. Specifically, the mechanism by which lyric analysis or the musical component may lead to positive therapeutic outcomes was examined. In order to assess the effectiveness of music therapy techniques, a comparison was made between conditions of music alone, lyric analysis alone and music with lyric analysis. One may be able to argue that the mechanism by which music therapy affects clients may lay within the music itself and clients listening to that music. …

The Impact Of Faith Development On College Student Decision Making, Kaitlyn Christine Noah

Masters Theses

Utilizing qualitative methodology, participants' process of faith development was analyzed to determine the impact that development has on their decision making processes in college. To accomplish this, individual interviews were conducted with four participants who came from a faith-based background and it was determined that faith development plays a significant role in each of their decision making processes while in college. Participants all adapted their faith in college to better align with their adult lifestyle. Recommendations were made to better help student affairs professionals understand the process of faith development and comprehend the ways this can affect their students' identity …

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: Prevalence And Correlates, Sarah Wood

Masters Theses

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is a behavior done with the intent of harming oneself without the intent to commit suicide. NSSI includes many different behaviors including cutting, hitting, and burning oneself. NSSI has been associated with anxiety, depression, and emotion focused coping styles. This study aimed to learn more about the prevalence of NSSI among adults and to learn more about the relationship between NSSI, locus of control, anxiety, depression, and coping styles. Results found that lifetime prevalence of NSSI was high (54.8%). This is significantly larger than previous studies have found. Possible reasons for this discrepancy include: an increase in …

Students Perspective Of Healthy Living In College, Andrea Coxey

Masters Theses

Using qualitative methodology, the researcher studied what participants definition of a healthy lifestyle as compared to how they actually live. Through conducting six one on one interviews with participants, it was found that physical health was the most widely recognized aspect of health, and that each participant had a unique definition of health. Mental health was not initially recognized by participants but was shown to be an important connection to all aspects of health including physical health, emotional health, sleep and nutrition. Participants recognized the importance of involvement and their transition to college as impacting their definition of health and …

Race, Identity, And Communication: Experiences Of College Students From Underrepresented Groups, Raya D. Petty

Masters Theses

There is a significant difference of the completion of college between minority students and white students. The achievement gap is influenced by race and socioeconomic status of the students. The purpose of my study was to examine the relationship between academic performance and achievement and sociocultural factors including race and socioeconomic status. My thesis will affirm previous research that recognizes a need for resources specifically dedicated to assist marginalized groups in higher education. It will bring attention to minority students, first-generation college students and students with a low socioeconomic status. The project includes a literature review that explores identity, intersectionality, …

Biotransformation Of Oxo-Bile Acids Derivatives By Human Gut Bacteria, Laina Sallam

Masters Theses

Bile acids are one group of steroids that can be metabolically transformed by human gut anaerobes. One of these transformations is the conversion of primary bile acids to secondary bile acids by 7α-dehydroxylating gut bacteria such as Clostridium scindens, Clostridium hylemonae, and Clostridium hiranonis. These anaerobes metabolize bile acid derivatives via 3α- and 7α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSDH). Studies to date have not reported if these organisms are capable of converting 12-oxolithocholic acid (12-oxoLCA) to deoxycholic acid (DCA). The emphasis of this study was to determine the ability of C. scindens ATCC 35704, C. hiranonis DSM 13275, and C. …

Development And Implementation Of A Program For Students With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities At One Four-Year Institution: A Case Study, Katelyn Reinke

Masters Theses

Using a qualitative case study approach, the development of a program for students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at a four-year institution was researched. Interviews and existing documents were used to understand how the program started and how it has changed to meet the needs of its students, giving meaning to the programs current curriculum and practices. Participants gave insight into the development and implementation of the program, the role they play in the program, and insight on aspects they believe to be important when starting a new program. The research found that when starting a program the people and …

Blurring The Spectrum: Exploring Queer Conservatism, Austin P. Mejdrich

Masters Theses

Running parallel to the groundbreaking and historic advancement of LGBTQ rights over the past decade has been the rise in the prominence and public discourse of queer conservative thinking. From the Log Cabin Republicans to far-right nationalistic politics, queer conservatives underscore both diverging ideologies within the modern American conservative tradition and the increase of far-right politics in Western societies. This study argues that queer conservatism, while traditionally less explored in the broader context of sexuality politics, is consequential to an understanding of the LGBTQ community and queer politics. Thus, an exploration of queer conservatism as a political ideology is explored, …

Medicinal Properties Of Cyperus Species (Sedge Family, Cyperaceae), Lata Maishaya Udari

Masters Theses

The grasses that yield therapeutically important products are among the least studied in the Cyperaceae family. Herb-based medicine from ancient times have played a vital role in ailments of various disease and nowadays it has been a particular area of interest in medicine. Phytochemicals are inherent compounds derived from plants that are biologically active, non-nutritive chemicals that act as a defensive or prophylactic medicine in humans. Their extracts have proven to show inhibition properties against different microbes. Despite the prevalence of Cyperus species and their traditional use in medicine, the chemical components responsible for their attributes remain largely unknown. This …

Spice And Herb Use Among Cancer Patients, Mallory H. Krueger

Masters Theses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine cancer patients' use of, perceived benefits, and beliefs about herbs and spices after their cancer diagnosis.

Methods: An online questionnaire was used to explore types of herbs and spices used by cancer patients and assess cancer patients' experiences with, and perceived benefits of, and beliefs about spice and herb use. The online questionnaire included three sections: herb and spice use, herb and spice attitudes, and cancer characteristics and demographics. Participants were recruited through online cancer groups and registered dietitian nutritionists.

Results: The study included 135 cancer patients. Participants (71.9%) were likely …

Factors Influencing Teacher And Adminstrators' Knowledge And Attitudes About Adolescent Depression, Suicide, And Prevention, Kayla N. Quick

Masters Theses

To date, research has yet to be conducted that examines U.S. secondary school teachers' and administrators' attitudes toward intervening with potentially depressed and/or suicidal students. Additionally, research is needed to identify the demographic characteristics of educators that are associated with general knowledge of adolescent suicide and the risk factors and warning signs that often accompany it. The purpose of the present study was to examine the following hypotheses: 1) certain characteristics (e.g. gender, years of experience with educating children, the amount of training received on adolescent depression/suicide, and knowledge of adolescent suicide and depression) are better predictors of attitudes toward …

Predictors Of Bulimia Nervosa Symptoms, Paulina A. Zdanowicz

Masters Theses

Bulimia nervosa (BN) symptoms involve binge eating, compensatory behaviors, and preoccupation with food and body image. A wealth of research has linked factors such as impulsivity and obsessive-compulsive behaviors to BN. In contrast, social appearance anxiety has not been frequently studied, as it is a new concept, especially as it relates to BN symptoms. This study will examine the links of BN symptoms to social appearance anxiety, impulsivity, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Specifically, it was predicted that social appearance anxiety, impulsivity, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors will positively predict symptoms of BN. The main model in this study found that social appearance anxiety …

Effects Of Main-Stem Impoundments On Hydrology And Larval Fish Communities In Major Tributaries Of Two Large Midwestern Rivers, Jordan Pesik

Masters Theses

Anthropogenic modifications, like impoundments, have altered natural environmental conditions in most lotic systems and impacted fish ecology in many ways. We examined the effect of large river impoundments on fish reproductive behavior by studying the larval fish communities in tributaries of the impounded Illinois and unimpounded Wabash Rivers. We hypothesized that larval fish communities would be similar between the geographically proximal systems, but temporal structuring would depend largely on flow regimes. Biweekly larval densities were greatest among all taxa in the Wabash system, though overall communities were similar between systems. Of the six tributaries, the four smallest rivers were most …

Using Young Adult Literature To Confront Mental Health: A Culturally Relevant Approach, Briana Hendrickson

Masters Theses

This thesis highlights the need for addressing mental health in secondary school settings and argues that high school English educators can help eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness using young adult (YA) literature. I discuss the benefits of using YA literature in the secondary English classroom and why YA literature is an effective tool for introducing timely topics like mental health. I analyze the limitations of popular YA novels such as Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why and Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places and argue that the mental health representation in these novels hinders students' ability to challenge the current …

Reproductive Health And Morphometric Comparison Of Catostomid Species In Two Midwestern Rivers, Bethany Ellen Hoster

Masters Theses

Wastewater treatment effluent, agricultural runoff, and impoundments can alter the water quality and flow regime of rivers. Fishes around the world are increasingly exposed to estrogenic compounds due to the discharge of wastewater into rivers. Estrogenic compounds, such as those found in birth control pills and soybean byproducts, are endocrine disruptors in vertebrates. The Sanitary District of Decatur serves the municipal and industrial entities of Macon County, IL, and discharges its effluent into the Sangamon River, which includes byproducts of industrial soybean processing. I assessed impacts of treated wastewater on the health of fishes in the Sangamon River. Abnormal caudal …

The Relationship Between Resilience, Coping, And Social Media, Lillian N. Hurley

Masters Theses

This study was designed to explore relationships between measures of resilience, coping strategies, social media usage, and depression. Resilience refers to one's ability to endure and recover from adversity. Many theories about what contributes to the development resilience have been explored without a clear consensus. Taormina (2015) argued that adult personal resilience is comprised of four dimensions - determination, endurance, adapatability, and recuperability. Coping, a construct related to resilience, is the process of regulating emotions, cognition, behavior, physiological responses, and the environment in response to stressful events. Past research indicated those with poorer mental health have the tendency to use …

Exercise Science Bs Major, Ksr

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

Health Promotion Community Health Option, Health Promotion

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

Health Promotion Bs Community Health, Health Promotion

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

Cmn Ba, Communication Studies

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

The Anorexic's Anorexia: Depictions Of Anorexia In Popular Culture, Samantha L. Tomson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Using Differing Levels Of Physical Activity As A Context Cue For Memory, Jami Swan

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The current study aimed to investigate the use of physical activity as a context cue for object location memory. The study included 49 undergraduate students who were asked to encode and recall a grid of 14 objects under three different physical activity conditions: rest, rolling a ping-pong ball, and pedaling on an exercise bike. It was expected that participants engaging in matching physical activity contexts at encoding and recall would have significantly higher rates of recall for object locations when compared to participants in the non-matching physical activity contexts. Results did not support my hypothesis as there was no evidence …

Representation, Radicalism, And Reform: Chicago's Public Education Reformers, 1890-1914, Laura Seiler

Undergraduate Honors Theses

No abstract provided.