Digital Commons Network^™

Idioms In Chinese Efl Contexts: A Review Of 2004-2018, William Shanahan

University Honors Theses

This paper reviews the discourse of 21 contemporary papers that focus on idioms in Chinese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts. Key topics are identified: comprehension and retention, motivating factors, familiarity, and student perceptions. Common factors between the papers in each topic are analyzed, and some gaps in the literature identified. This paper further finds which common factors between papers are also common between multiple key topics. It seeks primarily to answer a single research question:

• Where is the friction in the discourse between the East and the West, and how does it impact idiom EFL education in Chinese …

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Writing Through It, Casey M. Lowrey

University Honors Theses

This memoir spans several years of the author's life. It begins with the early years of high school, and the beautiful mess that comes with them, and ends in the rebuilding of a life following complete devastation. This manuscript incorporates poetry in order to emulate the raw vulnerability and emotion that could not fit in a prose piece. The intermingling of the two form a poetry and memoir fusion that refuses to be contained within any number of formats.

A Lot Of Admiration And A Little Bit Of Worship: Parasocial Relationships And Young Women, Raz Mostaghimi

University Honors Theses

This research examines young women’s experiences with parasocial relationships (PSR) and how they use media in relation to their PSRs. I intended to determine if young women experienced romantic (PSRR) and platonic PSR in different ways with different goals, if PSR/PSRR impacted young women’s beliefs and behaviors, how PSR used social media in relation to their PSR, and if nonfictional and fictional media figures resulted in different goals for the PSR. I recruited Portland State University students who were women between the ages of 18 and 30 for a focus group and follow-up interviews on the subject of their PSRs. …

Is It Possible To Change Someone's Mind Online? A Graphic Design Thesis, Laurel Benson

University Honors Theses

This paper explores whether or not it is possible to change someone's mind on the internet. Using an examination of traditional argument resolution techniques as a foundation, this paper builds upon that foundation and questions whether or not such techniques are appropriate on the internet. A mixture of primary and secondary research led to a surprising conclusion. It is in fact possible to change someone's mind on the internet, but to do so often involves techniques that are diametrically opposed to the traditional argument resolution techniques that were examined in the first part of the paper. This paper proposes that …

The Relationship Between Attachment Style And Hyperperceptions, Nolan E.G. Welch

University Honors Theses

Three different attachment styles from previous research were examined in a closer context to see if they were predictive of hyperperceptions in romantic relationships while using social networking sites (SNS). The hyperperception model, a new communication concept, focuses on the over-attribution of others' relationships based on brief observations through SNS usage. Undergraduate communication students recruited from the Pacific North West and another university in the Midwest, with an active Facebook account, were sampled for this research. Participants responded to survey questions designed to test if hyperperceptions occurred in their romantic relationship from observations they made on SNSs. The participants' partners …

The Relationship Between Teachers' Perceptions Of A Lack Of Parent/Family Support And Teachers' Self-Efficacy, Carson S. Mcnamara

University Honors Theses

Teachers' self-efficacy is shown to be affected by many different factors, including students, parents/families, and schools. Teachers' perception of a lack of parent/family support may be related to their reports of self-efficacy, that is, their perceived ability to successfully teach their students. This study uses data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 to investigate the relationship between math teachers' perceived lack of parent/family support and their teaching self-efficacy. This study controlled for teachers' educational attainment, sex, and race to improve the estimates of this relationship. Results show that there is negative relationship between teachers' perceptions of a lack …

Racial Capitalism And Expropriation In American Welfare Reform, Sam A.G. Bruns

University Honors Theses

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, or PRWORA, is a major act of US welfare legislation that was signed in 1996 by President Bill Clinton. Under the program it authorized, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, welfare recipients can only receive benefits for up to 60 months lifetime and must maintain full time employment as soon as required by welfare administrators. As a result, welfare enrollment and the quantity of benefits distributed have decreased significantly since PRWORA was passed. The implementation of a welfare work requirement was a key goal of an anti-welfare policy position that became …

Living With Water In A Modern World: An Analysis Of Water Relationships In Two Globally Different Rural Areas, Haley Morris

University Honors Theses

This paper investigates how embodied emotions influence access, allocation, and use of water among farmers experiencing droughts. The paper engages with the hydrosocial cycle and emotional geographies to understand how power dynamics and emotions shape nature-society relations. Case studies of droughts in western Rajasthan, India and central Arizona, United States were used to highlight how social and political factors play out through embodied emotions with access, allocation, and use of water. Peer reviewed secondary materials were used for the overall qualitative literature analysis. While, a qualitative thematic analysis on existing theoretical and empirical literature was used to code how emotions …

Portland Oregon's "Right To Return" Policy & Its Relation To Urban Renewal: A Community Psychology Approach, Diadira J. Pedro-Xuncax

University Honors Theses

As displacement begins to be a concerned result of urban renewal and gentrification, city officials are implementing policies to reverse its devastating effects. Specifically, the City of Portland (2015) recently implemented their $96 million policy "Right to Return" to address issues of mass displacement of long-term black residents through a point-based preference policy for affordable housing. While this policy is commendable and perhaps the first step in correcting a city’s heinous history riddled in racism, it is not enough as it stands. Through an interdisciplinary lens I argue that RTR falls short in five major ways: it ignores and dismisses …

Reference-Dependence Performance: Managing And Meeting Expectations, Jose A. Rojas-Fallas

University Honors Theses

Reference-dependence has been a topic of interest in recent history for the field of economics. It’s implications that utility is not solely based on outcomes, but rather how outcomes are interpreted from a previously set expectation has the potential to effect many aspects of incentive structures. In this research, subjects complete a real effort task in which they are provided with information that creates shocks in their expectations. These shocks make the individual readjust to the new information, impacting performance in the real-effort task. We conclude that reference-dependence performance is impacted by adjusting reference points that may have a positive …

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 Use Of Aromatherapy For The Treatment Of Post-Operative Nausea Vomiting, Mikayla J. Whitley

University Honors Theses

Post-operative nausea vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common complications after surgery and a significant cause of dissatisfaction among post-operative patients. Traditional first line treatment of PONV with antiemetic medications can cause severe side effects and can have compounding interactions with other medications. Aromatherapy has been increasing in popularity for the treatment of PONV due to its safety, absence of drug interaction and side effects, and rapid onset due to ease of administration and patient driven treatment. This study looks at a trial of QueaseEASE, an aromatherapy product for PONV, at a hospital in the Pacific Northwest. Overall initial …

Measuring The Association Between Perceived Stress And Incidence Of Infectious Disease Or Illness In College Students In Portland, Or, Trinity E. Joroski

University Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to measure the association between perceived stress and incidence of infectious disease or illness within a large participant group consisting primarily of local college students residing in Portland, Oregon. This was conducted using the widely used and well validated Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), which was distributed via social media platforms, various Portland State establishments such as the campus recreation center, in addition to reaching students by means of talking with professors and other peers. It was found that the condition regarding whether or not an individual missed class or work due to an illness, …

The Consolidation Of Feminine And Feminist Identities: Third Wave Perspectives On Cosmetic Ritual, Grace Hartley

University Honors Theses

Feminists have long been stereotyped as disapproving of traditional forms of feminine expression, said to ascribe to a "'bra burning' Puritanism". And while this has been somewhat over exaggerated, there is some truth to the general feminist critique on traditional feminine accoutrements such as heels, lipstick, the color pink, etc. This is evidenced in seminal feminist works, such as "The Second Sex", "The Feminist Mystique", and from these works comes a profusion of anti-feminine sentiment. However, like many aspects of second wave feminism during the rise of the third wave, this conception of feminine expression was questioned and reformed. Second …

A Systems View Of Cardiovascular Disease, Madisen Cotter

University Honors Theses

The significant proportion of the morbidity and mortality caused by cardiovascular disease is preventable, yet it remains one of the leading causes of death among both men and women, indicating the complexity of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is a multifaceted and persistent problem that calls for using another lens – a systems lens. A systems approach may be a useful tool to understand the structure of relationships that characterize and make cardiovascular disease so persistent and resistant to change. Therefore, the objectives of this paper were to (1) model the network of relationships that produce the epidemic of cardiovascular disease …

Equitable Academia For Students With Disabilities, Mia Cremer

University Honors Theses

Higher education has been historically ableist based on the exclusivity of academia. This qualitative study describes how the identity of students with disabilities changes through academia. The study included semi-structured interviews with four students with disabilities who are registered with the Disability Resource Center at PSU University. Narrative inquiry revealed how the students’ experience in academia revealed the infrastructure, ableism, accessibility, and classroom climate. The social model of disability provided the theoretical framework throughout the study. The social model of disability identifies how the environmental, social factors, and attitudes towards a person with an impairment prevents them from achieving equity. …

Social Correlates Of Paternal Postpartum Depression: A Statistical Analysis, Sonia Bosch

University Honors Theses

By looking at paternal depression one year after childbirth using the year one data of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Survey (FFCWS), I aim to understand whether maternal postpartum depression is significantly related to the development of paternal postpartum depression. Additionally, I aim to understand whether sociodemographic variables and relationship variables alter the statistical relationship between maternal and paternal postpartum depression. Initially, when examined alone, maternal depression is significantly related to paternal depression (p<0.05). However, once relationship variables were included as control variables in the model, the relationship between maternal depression and paternal depression became statistically insignificant. I recoded data from the FFCWS dataset and conducted statistical analysis of these variables using binomial logistic regressions in SPSS. This study contributes to the discourse surrounding paternal postpartum depression and what variables are most influential in its development. Implications of this study include finding effective interventions on an interpersonal and clinical level, as well as a larger sociocultural level to mitigate the consequences of postpartum depression on families.

Understanding Dignity Through Survivor Testimony, Rachel Fessenden

University Honors Theses

This paper examines the significance of the presence or absence of dignity in the lives of survivors of atrocity. In the aftermath of mass violence and conflict, the honoring of dignity is frequently sidelined or undermined by liberal peacebuilding models in lieu of social and political transformation. These models have been heavily criticized in recent literature for overlooking local context and survivor needs. The necessity for a shift toward humanitarian peacebuilding paradigms has been argued, with calls for the centering of dignity and human rights in post-conflict processes. However, the way in which individuals in post-conflict settings experience the honoring …

Exploring Small Business Management In Mexico And The United States Using Hofstede's Dimensions, Elizabeth R. Thom

University Honors Theses

This thesis paper will consider cultural differences that lead to different processes to achieve workplace effectiveness using the Cultural Dimensions outlined by notable scholar, Geert Hofstede and use said findings to provide theoretical recommendations for a Capstone client. The literature review will highlight important themes that tend to occur in organizations of specific dimensions. In consideration of these themes, the author will highlight the best business practices for small businesses. For comparison purposes, they will specifically focus on the United States and Mexico, where Company X has expressed interest in ultimately opening a high-end retail storefront, using research surrounding Hofstede's …

Suicidal Ideation And Mindfulness Practice In Lgbtq Youth, Mckenna R. Martin

University Honors Theses

Mindfulness as therapeutic practice has been growing in usefulness the last decade, particularly when looking at the impact of mindfulness on depression (Deyo, Wilson, Ong, and Koopman, 2009). A small number of studies have extended beyond depression and focused on the impact of mindfulness on suicidal ideation, one of which were conducted with youth. There is need for further consideration and research surrounding mindfulness practice and LGBTQ youth (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer - identified as ages 15-24) who experience suicidal ideation. There is also a need for suicide prevention programming to expand practitioners’ strategies. Given the prevalence and devastating …

Neuroprotective Effects Of Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators Against Amyloid Beta Toxicity And The Pathways That Provide Protection, Maggie Rose

University Honors Theses

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. The leading hypothesis to explain the prevalence of the disease in the brain is the aggregation of Amyloid Beta peptides in the brain, which form senile plaques and suppress neuronal function. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) have been found to provide protective effects against the neurotoxic effects of Amyloid Beta. This experiment was conducted in two distinct phases: the experimental phase and the literature review phase. The experimental phase sought to determine if Amyloid Beta was neurotoxic to SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, and if STX—an SERM—was able to …

Moving Beyond Migrant Disposability: Interrogating History And Identity, Marisol M. Cendejas

University Honors Theses

Although much of the literature surrounding forced migration establishes the relationship in between mental distress and the process of forced migration, there is a gap in the literature which specifically illuminates the direct relationship undocumentation has to mental health and that shows mental health is a significant aspect of the "undocumented experience". Here, research questions grapple with the way Latin American migrant groups within the United States have been impacted by undocumentation and illuminate the direct relationship. A literature review and a feminist media analysis pose the two questions: 1) How has migrant disposability allowed the United States to absolve …

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 …

Testing The Bechdel Test, Kathryn Gray Bouchat

University Honors Theses

This paper examines the Bechdel Test and its accuracy in measuring the progressiveness of films. The Bechdel Test is a set of parameters that are used to measure a film's representation of women; for a film to pass the Bechdel Test, two named women must talk to each other about something other than a man. In the United States, 40% of films still fail this test. The representation of women in film, especially teenage girls, creates a negative stereotype; it shows that they are aggressive and only care about their male love interests. The experiment in this paper compares two …

The Effects Of Chronic Chemogenetic Stimulation Of Nucleus Accumbens On Binge Drinking, The Transcriptome, And Neuronal Morphology, Dar'ya Y. Pozhidayeva

University Honors Theses

Background: Binge drinking is a dangerous pattern of behavior. We previously used Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) to modulate binge drinking. Here, we test whether chronically manipulating NAc activity can produce lasting effects on drinking, the transcriptome, and neuronal morphology.

Methods: High Drinking in the Dark (HDID-1) mice were stereotaxically injected with AAV2 DREADDs or GFP in the NAc and treated with vehicle or clozapine-n-oxide (CNO; 1mg/kg) prior to Drinking in the Dark (DID). We then performed 1) RNA-Seq to identify genes changed with alcohol and rescued by CNO and 2) Golgi-Cox …

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 …

Prescription Opioid Use Patterns, Use Disorder Diagnoses, And Addiction Treatment Receipt After The 2014 Medicaid Expansion In Oregon, Rachel Springer, Miguel Marino, Steffani R. Bailey, Heather Angier, Jean O'Malley, Megan Hoopes, Stephan Lindner, Jennifer E. Devoe, Nathalie Huguet

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background/Aims: Evidence suggests Medicaid beneficiaries in the USA are prescribed opioids more frequently than are people who are privately‐insured, but little is known about opioid prescribing patterns among Medicaid enrollees who gained coverage via the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions. This study compared the prevalence of receipt of opioid prescriptions and opioid‐use‐disorder (OUD), along with time from OUD diagnosis to medication‐assisted treatment (MAT) receipt between Oregon residents who had been continuously insured by Medicaid, were newly insured after Medicaid expansion in 2014, or returned to Medicaid coverage after expansion.

Design: Cross‐sectional study using inverse‐propensity weights to adjust for …

Spanish For Native Speakers & The Oregon State Seal Of Biliteracy, Joe Romero

Open Educational Resources Symposium

OER provided the chance to create a needed text for an initiative to bring the Oregon State Seal of Biliteracy to Higher Education, starting at Chemeketa Community College.

This text differs from a traditional 200 level languages course as it includes a broader focus to incorporate ACTLF's four language domains, and the materials are presented in-context to meet the unique needs of a Heritage Language Learner. The relevancy of the content has also been updated to touch on contemporary issues and themes, as well as bring-in new forms of media.

Information on the Biliteracy Seal initiative and the role of …

Collaborating With Six Faculty On Oer Creation, Shanell Sanchez

Open Educational Resources Symposium

This poster will discuss Dr. Sanchez's experience as an Assistant Professor collaborating with her department to create an OER for their introductory course. It will provide tips, suggestions, and recommendations based on experience. Additionally, provide the opportunity to discuss authoring an OER.

The Team Morale Lifecycle: From Bad To Good, Fayez Alsoubaie, Rita Snodgrass, Dave Sherman, Bharat Verma, Aishwarya Joy, Charles Weber

Student Research Symposium

Building and maintaining high levels of morale is key to the performance of a successful organization. The purpose of this paper is to explore the lifecycle of morale for employees and team members. We examined the question of how to take their morale from bad, to good to continuing excellence. Though much research has been performed on each of these topics in isolation, we found no research that covered the entire morale lifecycle in a holistic way. To explore the morale lifecycle, we performed a review of academic and professional literature, focusing on identifying the signs, effects and causes of …