Digital Commons Network^™

Internal Governing Policies, Eastern Illinois University

Primary Documents of Eastern Illinois University

No abstract provided.

Faculty Publications In Eiu-Accessible Subscription Databases, Library Services, Eiu

Criterion 3 Documents

No abstract provided.

Effingham Performance Center: Art At The Crossroads, Keith Sutterfield

Undergraduate Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Hst 5950a : Thesis I, Health Studies

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Hst 5950b : Thesis Ii, Health Studies

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Grayscale, Emily Bowers

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Long-Term Effects Of An Aac Communication Partner Training Program, Brooke Capp

Masters Theses

The current investigation was a follow-up study to a research project conducted in summer 2012 by Fanale. The Fanale (2012) study looked at the effectiveness of parent training on parents' perspectives of AAC, as well as parents' use of specific communication facilitating strategies. The follow-up maintenance study investigated long-term effects of training on parent perceptions' and use of communication facilitating strategies. Through this project parents received additional training and different levels of support over four months in order to enhance the parents' abilities to utilize AAC in other environments, activities, and communication partners, as well as gather information on parents' …

2014 Warbler, Eastern Illinois University

The Warbler

The 2014 Warbler, yearbook of Eastern Illinois University.

Assessing Middle School Students' Perceptions Of Social Support Provided By Teachers And Other School Professionals, Constantine J. Pappas

Masters Theses

Despite the expanding body of research pertaining to social support practices within the educational environment, there remain questions regarding which types of social supports and teacher behaviors students perceive as being most meaningful. This mixed-methods study investigated students' perceptions of social supports as offered by teachers and other school professionals through the use of qualitative narrative reports and quantitative rating scales. Participants included 94 regular and special education middle school students. Results revealed three types of positive social support (Informational Support, Instructional Support and Emotional Support, respectively) and one type of negative social support (Lack of/Negative Emotional Support) that emerged …

Comparison Of Direct Instruction And Parent Consultation For Promoting Social-Emotional Competence In Preschool And Kindergarten Children, Michael Stinson

Masters Theses

Direct instruction and parent consultation interventions for promoting social-emotional competence of preschool and kindergarten children were compared. Thirty-six Parent/child dyads were randomly assigned to a direct instruction (children receive intervention from the researcher), parent consultation (coaching from the researcher), or control group. Teachers and Parents were both asked to complete the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales - Second Edition (PKBS-2) before and after the seven week intervention to measure changes in social-skills and problem behaviors. Two-way mixed-factorial ANOVA was conducted to compare changes in social skills from before to after the intervention across conditions. A significant interaction of time of …

Significance Of Gateway Requirements To Student Success: A Mixed Methods Approach, Ashley Rashaun Bell

Masters Theses

This study was constructed to examine Gateway's students' perceptions of the program's "extra requirements" to their success. Participants were 48 students who were successfully released from the Gateway program in the spring of 2011 and 2012 semesters. The researcher completed a mixed methods approach to receive a more in depth understanding of students' perceptions. Results suggested that students' overall perception of the Gateway program was positive, with students perceiving the program itself as the most significant to their success. Participants also viewed the program's weekly advisor meetings and study table requirements as significant to their success. Many participants cited the …

The Relationship Between Classroom Management, Coping Styles, And Stress, Shawna Hoots

Masters Theses

One of the major demands that contributes to the stress of teachers is how to manage students' problem behaviors in the classroom. However, coping strategies may buffer the effects that classroom management styles have on stress levels in teachers. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between classroom management styles and stress and how coping may moderate this relationship. Participants included 94 teachers from across northern and central Illinois. Indifferent classroom management style was associated with higher levels of stress, though no other significant correlations were found among stress and classroom management styles. Emotion-focused coping and problem-focused …

Help-Seeking Attitudes In India: The Role Of Religion, Intergroup Anxiety, Collective Self-Esteem, & Emotional Intelligence, Ashlee M. Beck

Masters Theses

The present study examined religious differences in help-seeking attitudes, intergroup anxiety, collective self-esteem, and emotional intelligence in Hindus and non-Hindus in India. Data were collected from 55 participants, who were predominantly students at either University of Mumbai or St. John's College Agra. Of these participants, 38 were Hindu and 17 were non-Hindu. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Inventory of Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Services, the Intergroup Anxiety Scale, the Collective Self-Esteem Scale, and the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test. Statistical analyses were computed using t tests for independent means, correlational analyses, and descriptive statistics. The results of these …

At The Intersections Of Dialogue, Social Media, And Crisis Communication: A Case Study Of Consolidated Edison's Communicative Response To Superstorm Sandy, Nathan Furstenau

Masters Theses

Crisis is constantly lurking in the shadows for organizations, and leaders must be prepared to respond when it strikes. Traditional organization-stakeholder communication models have largely relied on one-way frameworks, but the advent and widespread adoption of social media is changing the way organizations and stakeholders interact. This project explores how one organization, Consolidated Edison, utilized Twitter to communicate dialogically with stakeholders during the 2012 Superstorm Sandy crisis. Analysis focuses on how the organization's use of dialogue and Sturges' (1994) instructing and adjusting information tactics helped mitigate negative backlash from stakeholders throughout the crisis. Theoretical and practical implications for public relations …

Attitudes Toward Volunteerism By Fraternity Men, Jennifer Serrano

Masters Theses

Many student organizations, such as fraternities and sororities, require members to engage in some type of civic engagement activity as a component of membership. This study focused on the motivations of fraternity men to engage in volunteerism, community service, and philanthropic work. Using a qualitative approach, the researcher conducted semi-constructed one-on-one interviews with four undergraduate fraternity men. The significance of brotherhood, the implications of mandated service, and the impact of completed service explain the various attitudes fraternity men have toward civic engagement. Recommendations for fraternity and sorority life personnel were provided to improve the quality and deepen the breadth of …

An Examination Of The Experiences Of African American Gay Men At A Predominantly White Institution: A Phenomenological Approach, Matthew David Hayes

Masters Theses

Using qualitative methodology, the researcher analyzed the lived experiences of five gay Black men at a Predominantly White Institution in a rural midsized public institution in the Midwest. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews. Common themes included: high levels of involvement, racial segregation, and the dichotomy of being Black and gay.

The Impact Of An Individualized Social Skills Intervention For A High Functioning Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rachel Schaub

Masters Theses

The Social Skills Intervention (developed specifically for this study) is a social skills plus anxiety reduction program that uses direct instruction, anxiety reduction, and reinforcement principles. The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of the social skills training on increasing the frequency of three target behaviors for one 8 year old, female student. A secondary purpose was to decrease student anxiety by teaching how and when to use a specific coping technique. A concurrent multiple baseline across behaviors design was used to evaluate social skills instruction on target behaviors. During baseline, intervention, and maintenance sessions, the participant's …

Personality Traits And Character Strengths As Predictors Of Well-Being, Carissa Johnsen

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how character strengths (i.e., positive characteristics about a person that can be developed) can predict subjective well-being above and beyond personality. Although the relationship between personality and well-being is well-understood, there is little research done comparing personality and character strengths and how character strengths may provide added value in predicting subjective well-being. Thus, the present study sought to examine whether character strengths will predict subjective well-being above and beyond personality. Two-hundred and thirty seven participants responded to scales measuring each person's personality traits, character strengths, satisfaction with life, …

Exploration Of The Relationship Between Schizotypal Traits And Well-Being, James Ciulla

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the construct of schizotypy and whether or not it may have benefits within different conceptions of psychological health, or well-being. Schizotypy is a construct that emerged around the turn of the 20th century. It had historically incorporated aspects later reclassified under other areas of dysfunction, or relegated to social value judgment, and is currently the cause of some debate in the field (Acar & Sen, 2013; Carson, 2011; Farias, Underwood & Claridge, 2013; Kendler, 1985; Tsakanikos & Claridge, 2005; Vollema & van den Bosch, 1995). There has been little research done on …

Substance Abuse In Older Adults: An Exploratory Study, Rachael Hawn

Masters Theses

The increasing number of older adults in the United States, due in part to the Baby Boomer generation, means that there is also an increase in the number of older adults dealing with substance abuse problems. The compounded effects of multiple legal medications with alcohol, illicit drugs, or abused prescription drugs on the withdrawal process are likely to make delineating between legitimate medication side effects and withdrawal symptoms incredibly difficult for medical professionals working with older adults. With the average older adult legally using 17 medications from nine different medical professionals, the physical effects of substance abuse might easily go …

Differences In Mental Health Treatment Recommendations For Older And Younger Adults, Michelle M. Smith

Masters Theses

Failure to meet geriatric mental health needs is increasingly problematic. Research indicates that the problem is not simply a matter of insufficient numbers of mental health practitioners (MHPs), but also ageist attitudes and lack of knowledge about and training with older adults. The current study reviews the literature regarding knowledge about older people, education and training that mental health professionals receive, and the attitudes that are held by mental health professionals. The study also assessed for differences in treatment recommendations that MHP made for older versus younger clients, investigated whether MHP knowledge about the mental health of older adults, attitudes …

An Investigation Of Characteristics Associated With Student Leadership, Aseret Gonzalez

Masters Theses

This study was constructed to examine characteristics associated with student leadership. Participants were 261 students who were involved in a Registered Student Organization in the fall of 2013. The researcher completed a quantitative approach to gain students' perceptions of their student leadership characteristics. Results suggested that students' overall perception of their leadership characteristics was positive, with males and females perceiving their leadership characteristics similarly as well did those who replied to be general members and officers in registered student organizations. Future recommendations for student leadership development are included.

Subjective Time And Mindfulness, Ian Lesueur

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how time is subjectively experienced when one is being mindful or fully engaged in the present moment. Although attending to and being aware of the present moment is a defining feature of mindfulness (Brown & Ryan, 2003), there has been little research done concerning how time is experienced when being mindful. Thus, the present study examined the relationship between mindfulness and four different conceptions of the subjective experience of time: Time Perspective, Balanced Time Perspective, Temporal Focus, and Temporal Depth. One hundred and forty-two university students responded to …

Reuniting Old Allies: A Case For Creative Composition, Stephen M. Jefferies

Masters Theses

Since the split between creative writing and composition that largely occurred in the late 1920s, the two departments have wrestled with boundaries that have defined and challenged both courses. Despite the occasionally contentious relationship between creative writing and composition/rhetoric scholars, the two disciplines have served as strong allies in the past. "Reuniting Old Allies" argues that returning to such an alliance could provide a fruitful, blended approach to writing.

This thesis traces the history of this schism from Aristotle to the modern English department, attempting to reconcile the two departments with a middle-ground approach called critical-creative composition that emphasizes the …

First-Year First-Generation College Students And Their Transition To A University, Jennifer Lynn Stevenson

Masters Theses

Prior research has examined the ways in which first-generation students were underprepared for college life. This study looked at the expectations, self-reported preparedness, experiences, and perceived levels of family support of first year college students. This study utilized a previously administered instrument from Khanh Bui. Results from the quantitative survey were compared between those students whose parents had not gone to college, first-generation college students, and non-first-generation students. The research was conducted at a mid-sized, public, four-year institution in the Midwest. Results from this study suggest, at this particular institution, the differences between first- and non-first-generation students are not as …

Determinants Of Crime In Chicago, Ross Olson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper addresses occurrences of violent crime and their determinants in the city of Chicago using data collected at daily intervals for a period of two years. The economics of crime, in particular the price that crime imposes on society, is briefly explored along with a discussion of general policy techniques that aim to reduce the occurrence of violent crime. The empirical analysis addresses temperature, holidays (both official federal holidays and informal "party" holidays), weekends, unemployment rate, and seasonal trends. Relationships are examined between these variables and total crime, as well as with each component of violent crime: aggravated assault, …

A Case Study Of Attachment And Resilience Variance In A Midwestern Family, Kelly Inda

Undergraduate Honors Theses

It is no secret to social scientists; humans are relational and forming attachments is critical as humans mature and develop. Attachments are usually formed in the first seven months and are only formed to a few persons. Attachment is defined as the trust formed with another person and can provide a secure base with that other person. A secure base is defined as an attachment figure from where one can safely explore and return to for comfort and connection. This idea is central and critical to attachment theory. Through healthy attachments, healthy and sustainable families build better bonds that are …

Keep Calm And Cope On: How Families Cope With Childhood Cancer, Christine Czapek

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of the current study was to examine how childhood cancer affects the family system after a period of time (at least one year) has passed. A questionnaire was developed by the author and given to families that were recruited through a snowball sampling procedure. The final sample consisted of 17 families in various stages of coping after a child in the family was diagnosed with cancer. Findings showed that overall, the women in the study tended to cope in more positive ways than men, that siblings often reported to their parents that they felt excluded and can experience …

The Impact Of On-Campus Involvement In Student's Satisfaction For First Generation College Students, Elizabeth Burbatt

Undergraduate Honors Theses

According to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (2013) 41% of students in four-year colleges and universities will not graduate. There are many reasons for this, including poor academics, low college/degree aspirations, poor study habits, uneducated parents, or coming from a small town. Although it is dependent on the student, Roberts and Styron (2010) found that students who do not become socially integrated oftentimes suffer from persistence issues, as they do not feel connected with the institution. My research examines the relationship between extracurricular involvement and student's satisfaction for first generation …

Spe 5675 : Assessments, Programs And Services For Students With Exceptionalities And English Language Learners, Special Education

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.