Digital Commons Network^™

Identifying With Remida: Early Childhood Educators’ Experiences With Reuse Materials In Reggio Emilia Inspired Identity Studies, Michelle Angela Domingues

Dissertations and Theses

Mainstream approaches to identity studies in early childhood education (ECE) are problematic from both social constructivist and early childhood education for sustainability perspectives. Mainstream approaches are influenced by behaviorist theories of developmental psychology literature which privilege individual identity, whereas emerging discourses in identity theory trend toward discussing the multiplicity of social identities. Alternatively, and in contrast to traditional behaviorist and cognitive learning theories, cultural centers like Reggio Emilia, Italy’s Remida Creative Recycling Center promote reuse material projects that socially construct identities in Reggio’s Municipal Infant/Toddler Centers and Preprimary Schools by giving value to waste materials through offering such materials in …

Impactful Care: Addressing Social Determinants Of Health Across Health Systems, Nicole Lisa Friedman

Dissertations and Theses

There is emerging evidence that addressing health-related social needs through enhanced clinical-community linkages can improve health outcomes and reduce costs. Unmet health-related social needs, such as food insecurity, inadequate or unstable housing, and lack of access to transportation may increase the risk of developing chronic conditions, reduce an individual's ability to manage these conditions, increase health care costs, and lead to avoidable health care utilization. In response, work on social needs is happening across large health systems in the United States, but the pace of progress is slow and accountability is diffuse.

The goal of this applied research project is …

A State Of Longing: Perspectives From Nagorno-Karabakh Idps, Isabelle Mcrae

University Honors Theses

Since the ceasefire in 1994, the intractable conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh continues to have a severe impact on security and development in the Caucasus region. Internally displaced Azerbaijanis (IDPs) from Nagorno-Karabakh are one of the main stakeholders in the conflict, and yet little study has addressed the impact of their symbolic values and identity issues vis-à-vis resolution efforts. Accordingly, this thesis focuses on four themes which arose in the author’s ethnographic research in Azerbaijan with internally displaced Azerbaijanis. The paper will address the group’s relation to the land, the framing of kinship and identity, relations with Armenia and the Armenian community, …

Confronting Gentrification: Can Creative Interventions Help People Keep More Than Just Their Homes?, Amie Thurber, Janine Christiano

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Gentrification is changing the landscape of many American cities. As land values rise, people may lose their homes, neighbors, and sites of significance, along with their sense of place, community, and history. There is a critical need to build and preserve affordable housing, yet housing alone will not address the more than material losses. What role can the arts play in sustaining place attachments, restoring relationships, and building place knowledge in gentrifying neighborhoods? This paper explores this question through a systematic review of current research. We identify four prominent alternative interventions in gentrifying neighborhoods—creative placemaking, public pedagogy, community organizing, and …

Development Of The Aaspire Web Accessibility Guidelines For Autistic Web Users, Dora Raymaker, Steven K. Kapp, Katherine E. Mcdonald, Michael Weiner, Elesia Ashkenazy, Christina Nicolaidis

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Websites figure predominantly in everyday life. However, many websites remain inaccessible to autistic people, and existing efforts to improve accessibility are in early stages, do not directly include autistic users in their development, or have not been empirically evaluated. The Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE) used a community-based participatory research approach to create a website to improve health care access for autistic adults. We used the creation of that website as a “living laboratory” to develop the AASPIRE Web Accessibility Guidelines for Autistic Web Users. Our guidelines are grounded in accessibility theory, had autistic end-user involvement …

A Drop In The Bucket: Evaluating Modern Print News Coverage Of Drought In The U.S., Jessica Pollard

University Honors Theses

How the media portrays environmental issues related to climate change can affect public opinion and influence policy making. This paper seeks to explore the media’s portrayal of climate change through the lens of drought, using the drought which took place in California between 2011 and 2017, as a case study. The study finds that while the press gives drought space in newspapers across the country, it infrequently connects the weather event to anthropological climate change. Articles pertaining to the drought in California frequently rely on the expertise of politicians over scientists.

Métis In Oregon: Intermarriage, Agency, And Religion In French Prairie, 1830-1840, Annie B. Amsden

University Honors Theses

This thesis explores French Prairie, Oregon as a colonial setting. The institutions of the fur trade and Methodist and Catholic missions forced their subjects to make decisions pragmatically. However, a feminist perspective illuminates the choices made by French Prairie community members, especially Indigenous women, as related to power structures within the colony.

The Conservation And Commodification Of American Ginseng, Mikaela Vaneaton

University Honors Theses

American Ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, is a plant endemic to Eastern North America. It has an almost three century long history of being exported from North America both as a plant harvested from the wild and cultivated on farms. During this time, the plant has been identified as being at risk for becoming endangered by organizations such as CITES (the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species) and various policies have been set in place to track trade and control ginseng harvest. Many scholars currently studying the ecology and conservation of American ginseng use a tragedy of the commons framework established …

Species Diversity In The Hypertragulid (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) Population Of The John Day Basin, Oregon, Lana K. Jewell

University Honors Theses

Members of the family Hypertragulidae (order Artiodactyla, class Mammalia) are the most abundant mammals in the Turtle Cove Member (Oligocene) of the John Day Formation of central and eastern Oregon and make up about 40% of the preserved specimens of the John Day Basin. Three species and two separate genera are described in the area, but any preexisting research lacks statistical support for this level of variation. Species designation among extinct artiodactyls is predominantly based on morphological and morphometric examination of dentition, but studies conducted with extant artiodactyls have revealed that this may not be a reliable diagnostic technique. Other …

Our Lips Are Sealed: A Social Constructionist Approach To Understanding Menstrual Concealment At Menarche, Olivia S. Agrusa

University Honors Theses

At menarche, menstruators receive messages from various sources that urge them to conceal evidence of their menstruation. Concealment refers to the notion that menstruation is to be hidden, especially from men. This belief is often exploited and/or expressed in interactions between menstruators, mothers, and peers, in advertisements, educational materials, day-to-day conversation, and personal disciplinary actions. Themes of concealment are analyzed within a social constructionist framework to understand how narratives develop over time to guide human behavior and maintain social order. This paper argues that the menstrual concealment taboo is a social construction that has been institutionalized into the fabric of …

The Green Gentrification Of N. Williams Avenue, Marcco T. Higham

University Honors Theses

The Albina District in North Portland, Oregon has experienced a tumultuous cycle of disinvestment, decline, and now reinvestment that has caused a shift in its racial and socio-economic composition . As new sources of investment and capital have been introduced into this historically black neighborhood, a new housing redevelopment trend has emerged that reflects consideration to sustainable design and "eco-conscious" lifestyles. This style of redevelopment in N. Williams Avenue caters to those with higher incomes that desire an "urban" and "sustainable" lifestyle through their housing choices. In this paper I argue that this new housing trend is a gentrifying phenomenon …

Insta-Identity : The Construction Of Identity Through Instagram An Extended Literature Review, Bailey Seibel

University Honors Theses

A person's ability to curate, communicate, and perceive their identity through the exploration and sharing of selfhood has never been easier thanks to social media applications that promote user-generated content and encourage self-promotion through computer-mediated communication within a social network. This paper analyzes the role Instagram has in the construction of identity by reviewing existing literature on identity theories, with a focus on communication theory of identity, as well as the methodologies behind representing self to see how they apply to the features and frameworks of Instagram. Based on the review it is argued that social media applications such as …

Brand Logo Shape And Brand Personality, Kyle P. Gold

University Honors Theses

Brand logos are a critical element of brand image equity in the process of visually conveying brand values to a consumer base. While previous studies have discussed logo design elements like color, typography, and complexity on their ability to convey brand attributes - little research has been done on logo shape. This study examines the relationship between brand logo shape - that of the geometric outline of a logo - and the concept of brand personality. To accomplish this, stimuli was created and presented via survey to test if consumers could recognize brand personality factors from a series of designed …

Examining Human Behavior And Tool Use Through Experimental Replications And A Technological Analysis Of Ground Stone In The Lower Columbia, Kelley Prince Martinez

Dissertations and Theses

While ground stone tools represent diverse activities, the technology is analyzed at a coarse level in the Pacific Northwest. Conducting more detailed analyses of ground stone assemblages can inform on regional Indigenous raw material knowledge, resource use, and tool manufacturing and maintenance practices.

In this thesis I addressed questions regarding ground stone technology, including manufacturing time investments, tool recycling, and how ground stone tools were used through the application of experimental tool replication, use studies, and in depth analyses. I replicated tools that are common in the region, including a banded and notched net weight, a maul, two bowls, and …

A Scoring Model To Assess Organizations' Technology Transfer Capabilities: The Case Of A Power Utility In The Northwest Usa, JoãO Ricardo Lavoie

Dissertations and Theses

This research intends to advance knowledge in the technology management field, most importantly in the study of organizations that develop technologies in-house and wish to enhance their technology transfer performance while maintaining adherence between R&D activities and overall business strategies. The objective was to build a multi-criteria decision-making model capable of producing a technology transfer score, which can be used by practitioners in order to assess and later improve their organizations' technology transfer capabilities -- ultimately aiming to improve technology development as a whole. The model was applied to a major power utility organization in the Pacific Northwest of the …

A Community-Based Approach To Archaeological Site Preservation In A Changing Climate: A Proposed Risk Assessment Along The Lower Columbia, Phillip Daily, Virginia L. Butler

Student Research Symposium

Global climate change is an increasing threat to cultural resources, especially in coastal areas. Archaeologists have responded with risk assessments that gauge these threats and create preservation priorities for land managers. However, most assessments do not include input from descendant communities, which limits their potential value and relevance to archaeologists and tribal partners. We are in the initial stages of developing a risk assessment model for the Lower Columbia that includes a process for collaborating with tribes. In addition to incorporating the existing archaeological and ethnohistorical data typically used in risk assessments, our project will also incorporate indigenous stakeholder priorities …

From Refugee To Citizen: Rhizomes And Roots In The Digital Age, Julia Nett, Michele Ruth Gamburd

Student Research Symposium

This study examines digital media as platforms for current and former refugees to reaffirm and create themselves and to learn to be American. To think of refugees as “uprooted” with “roots that threaten to wither” (Malkki 1992, 32) is misguided. This study utilizes Deleuze and Guattari’s idea of the rhizome (1987) to rethink current and former refugee experiences postresettlement in the US. With the rising ubiquity of digital media and digital technologies, increasing numbers of refugees resettle with smartphones and other technologies. These technologies provide current and former refugees opportunities to maintain hybridized self-conceptions and to feel they are both …

Faculty Senate Monthly Packet May 2019, Portland State University Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Monthly Packets

The May 2019 Monthly packet includes the May agenda and appendices and the Faculty Senate minutes and attachments from the meeting held April 2019.

From Mantra To Prose: The Influence Of The Mundaka Upanishad On Western Poetry And Writing, Walter B. Greene

Young Historians Conference

Written sometime between 300 and 100 BCE, the Indian text known as the Mundaka Upanishad contains some of the earliest philosophical inquiries into the concepts of suffering, the self, rebirth, and humanity’s place in the universe. This paper examines the influence of the Mundaka Upanishad and argues for the value of its study, addressing how the text offers historians a valuable opportunity to look into some of the most influential ideas behind Hinduism, Buddhism, and other Indian schools of thought. This paper also examines the cross-cultural influence of the text, tracing its diffusion from India and its influence on contemporary …

Portland State Magazine, Portland State University. Office Of University Communications

Portland State Magazine

PSU’s alumni magazine, published 2-3 times a year. In this issue: How vacations keep employees engaged; Professor Ken Ruoff explores what the abdication of the emperor means for Japan; a program founded by alumnus Brendan Norman secures internships for veterans on public lands; how hardship funds make a difference for PSU students; reimagining the Burnside Bridge; and more.

Gentrification And Student Achievement: A Quantitative Analysis Of Student Performance On Standardized Tests In Portland's Gentrifying Neighborhoods, Justin Joseph Ward

Dissertations and Theses

Across the United States one would be hard pressed to find an urban center that has been unaffected by the phenomenon known as gentrification. From substantial economic growth to the displacement of long-term residents, the benefits and criticisms of the process of gentrification are wide ranging and extend over a thorough body of literature. Commonly associated with increasing levels of education and higher resident incomes, gentrification should be a boon to struggling public schools that are continually plagued by generational poverty. Unfortunately, the continued widening of the education gap and increasing racial segregation in our public schools suggest that any …

Deriving Lane-Level Insight From Gps Data: Innovations For Traffic & Autonomous Driving, James Fowe

PSU Transportation Seminars

With the on-going disruption of the transportation industry and rapid advancement in ITS technologies; emerging smart cities, navigation systems and autonomous transportation, the need for highly accurate geospatial localization has never been more crucial. These technologies demand that we have more granular location information of vehicles not just on a road, but to a specific lane on the road.

This presentation will give a pedagogical style summary and overview of some of the on-going research work at HERE Technologies and how we have pushed the state-of-the-art in lane-localization of noisy GPS probe data using novel Machine Learning Algorithms and how …

A Data Collection Program For Reducing Ipv In Lgbtq+ Communities, Alexandra Michel, Nicholas Cheke, Lourdes Gonzalez, Rachel Greim

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Sexual and gender minority populations are not currently being accurately tracked or counted in most domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) surveillance programs in Oregon. However, research indicates that LGBTQ+ populations experience IPV at rates comparable or even higher than heterosexual populations. Additionally, distrust of law enforcement and services designed around heterosexual experiences of IPV further reduce the ability of LGBTQ+ populations, particularly transgender women, to access IPV services. We propose that through the use of a PRECEED-PROCEED model, a program could be developed to more accurately collect sexual orientation and gender identity data by IPV service providers …

The Aaspire Practice-Based Guidelines For The Inclusion Of Autistic Adults In Research As Co-Researchers And Study Participants, Christina Nicolaidis, Dora M. Raymaker, Steven K. Kapp, Amelia E.V. Baggs, Elesia Ashkenazy, Katherine E. Mcdonald, Michael Weiner, Joelle Maslak, Morrigan Hunter, Andrea Joyce

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

As interest in autism in adulthood grows, so does the need for methods to promote the inclusion of autistic adults in research. Our objective was to create practice-based guidelines for the inclusion of autistic adults, both as research team members and as study participants. We conducted an institutional ethnography of three closely related research partnerships that used participatory methods with autistic adults over the years 2006–2018. We used an iterative approach which combined discussions with community and academic partners and artifact review. Guidelines to promote the inclusion of autistic adults as co-researchers focus on being transparent about partnership goals, clearly …

Addressing The Needs Of Non-Traditional Online Students In A Credit-Bearing Il Course, Sarah Ralston

Online Northwest

LIB 307: Online Research Tools and Strategies is a two-credit upper division information literacy course serving an online-only student population at Eastern Oregon University (EOU). The course examines search strategies and techniques used in general and discipline-specific research tools such as databases, library discovery systems, and free online content. EOU's online student population is made up of primarily non-traditional transfer students, most of whom have been out of school for many years, and have cobbled together credits from multiple colleges and universities. Many readily admit they have not used the library since it had a card catalog, and they may …

The Influence Of Hibernation Temperature On Deiodinase 2 In Red-Sided Garter Snakes (Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis), Kalera Stratton

Dissertations and Theses

Environmental cues such as day length and temperature contribute to timing of biological rhythms in seasonal breeders. Life-history transitions such as spring emergence from hibernation, migration, or mating must be coordinated with environmental conditions or survival is compromised. Therefore, there must be chemical signaling pathways in the brain that transduce seasonally-changing sensory inputs into signals that initiate a hormonal cascade, culminating in reproductive behavior. The relative importance of environmental cues to reproductive timing varies with species, time of year, and sex, and the mechanisms driving these differences remain unknown. The role of photoperiod in regulating reproductive behavior has been explored …

Lidar Predictive Modeling Of Kalapuya Mound Sites In The Calapooia Watershed, Oregon, Tia Rachelle Cody

Dissertations and Theses

Archaeologists grapple with the problematic nature of archaeological discovery. Certain types of sites are difficult to see even in the best environmental conditions (e.g., low-density lithic scatters) and performing traditional archaeological survey is challenging in some environments, such as the dense temperate rain forests of the Pacific Northwest. Archaeologists need another method of survey to assess large areas and overcome environmental and archaeological barriers to site discovery in regions like the Pacific Northwest. LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology, a method for digitally clearing away swaths of vegetation and surveying the landscape, is one possible solution to some of these …

Webinar: E-Bikes For Everyone: Electrifying Communities In New Ways, John Macarthur, Sergio Lopez

TREC Webinar Series

Electric bicycle (e-bike) use is a rising phenomenon in North America. In 2018, John MacArthur of Portland State University conducted a national survey to understand issues facing e-bike owners. Reducing physical exertion, conquering challenging topography and replacing car trips are a few of the most important reasons for buying an e-bike. The electric assist of the e-bike helps to generate more trips, longer trips and different types of bicycle trips. Through analysis it also became evident that e-bikes are making it possible for more people to ride a bicycle, many of whom are incapable of riding a standard bicycle or …

Racial Disparities In A State Based Workers' Compensation System, Caroline Kristine Smith

Dissertations and Theses

Racial, ethnic, and linguistic minority workers suffer higher rates of work-related injuries and illnesses in the United States compared to their White counterparts. Explanations for these higher rates include potential socioeconomic causes (education, income, and wealth) and occupational segregation into more dangerous occupations. What is less studied are the post-injury sequelae for minority workers, which is their experiences in the workers' compensation system, as well as their health and return to paid employment. What is known comes primarily from qualitative literature, which includes themes of racial discrimination (from employers, health care providers, and workers' compensation employees), a lack of information …

The Infrastructural Function: A Relational Theory Of Infrastructure For Writing Studies, Sarah Read

English Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article theorizes the term infrastructure as a framework for articulating how writing products, activities, and processes underwrite organizational life in technical organizations. While this term has appeared broadly in writing studies scholarship, it has not been systematically theorized there as it has been in other fields such as economics, computing, and information science. This article argues for a four-part framework that incorporates and builds on Star and Ruhleder’s relational theory of infrastructure. Fieldwork from a federally funded supercomputing center for scientific research operationalizes the theory for its contributions to writing studies scholarship and its applications for industry and writing …