Digital Commons Network^™

On The Skewness Of Order Statistics With Applications, Subhash C. Kochar, Maochao Xu

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Order statistics from heterogenous samples have been extensively studied in the literature. However, most of the work focused on the effect of heterogeneity on the magnitude and dispersion of order statistics. In this paper, we study the skewness of order statistics from heterogeneous samples in the sense of star order. The main results extended the results in Kochar and Xu (2009, 2011). Examples and applications in statistical inference are highlighted.

Adolescent Males' Similarity, Emotional Safety, And Change In Strengths-Based Programming, Wendy Elaine Viola

Dissertations and Theses

In recent decades, the use of strengths-based approaches has become increasingly popular in youth intervention and prevention programs (Maton et al., 2004), which emphasize creating emotionally safe environments through the process of relational community building (Maton, 2000). However, relatively little is known about the relationship between group composition, specifically similarity between group members, and emotional safety and program efficacy. This thesis examines the relationship between adolescent males' similarity to their peers in terms of their demographic profiles and behaviors and belief systems, experiences of emotional safety, and changing behaviors and belief systems in a strengths-based intervention program within Ohio juvenile …

Humor-Related Social Exchanges And Mental Health In Assisted Living Residents, Ann Elizabeth Mcqueen

Dissertations and Theses

Social contact is known to be vital for older adults' mental and physical health, but few studies of social interactions have taken place in long-term care settings. The current study investigated whether the psychological well-being of assisted living residents was influenced by factors associated with residents' social interactions involving humor. Specific aims of the present study were to develop and test a measure related to humor-related social exchanges, to examine how humor-related social exchanges affect residents' mental health, and to explore whether humor-related social exchanges mediated the effects of resident and facility characteristics on indices of mental health. One hundred …

Conceptualizing Neighborhood Space: Consistency And Variation Of Associations For Neighborhood Factors And Pregnancy Health Across Multiple Neighborhood Units, Lynne C. Messer, Lisa C. Vinikoor-Imler, Barbara A. Laraia

Community Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this research was to assess the consistency of associations between neighborhood characteristics and pregnancy-related behaviors and outcomes across four nested neighborhood boundaries using race-stratified fixed-slope random-intercept multilevel logistic models. High incivilities was associated with increased smoking, inadequate weight gain and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), while walkability was associated with decreased smoking and PIH for white women across all neighborhood definitions. For African American women, high incivilities was associated with increased smoking and inadequate gestational weight gain, while more walkable neighborhoods appeared protective against smoking and inadequate weight gain in all but the smallest neighborhoods. Associations with neighborhood attributes …

Cooperation, College Knowledge, And Strong Parent Communities In The L.A. Concrete Jungle: The Case For Family-Centered Outreach, Michael J. Smith

Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Urban African American teens are unprepared to compete for jobs in the global marketplace, but higher education professionals could partner with parents to reverse this trend. After reviewing parent involvement literature, this paper shares findings from a study of urban African American parents involved in their children's outreach programs. It found that outreach programs empowered parents by creating "community" and strengthened cultural capital while providing social capital that made parents partners in their children's college choice process.

Criminal Justice Policy Research Institute Newsletter, Portland State University. Criminal Justice Policy Research Institute

Criminal Justice Policy Research Institute Newsletters

Newsletter provides information on:

• Latest research results
• Project and studies underway
• Research awards and distinctions
• Recent research publications

Gateway Center For Domestic Violence Evaluation Report, Portland State University. Hatfield School Of Government. Center For Public Service, Masami Nishishiba, Mathew Jones, Jillian Girard

Center for Public Service Publications and Reports

The Gateway Center for Domestic Violence, which opened in September 2010, is governed by the terms of an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Portland and Multnomah County, Oregon. The intergovernmental agreement established an Advisory Council. It also requires a formal evaluation of the Center. This report assesses the Gateway Center’s operation based on the success measures identified by the Gateway Center Advisory Council.

Patterns Of Cancer Genetic Testing : A Randomized Survey Of Oregon Clinicians, Summer Cox, Amy I. Zlot, Kerry Silvey, Debi Elliot, Tara Horn, Amber Johnson, Richard F. Leman

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction. Appropriate use of genetic tests for population-based cancer screening, diagnosis of inherited cancers, and guidance of cancer treatment can improve health outcomes. We investigated clinicians’ use and knowledge of eight breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer genetic tests. Methods. We conducted a randomized survey of 2,191 Oregon providers, asking about their experience with fecal DNA, OncoVue, BRCA, MMR, CYP2D6, tumor gene expression profiling, UGT1A1, and KRAS. Results. Clinicians reported low confidence in their knowledge of medical genetics; most confident were OB-GYNs and specialists. Clinicians were more likely to have ordered/recommended BRCA and …

Prevention Of Cyberstalking: A Review Of The Literature, Portland State University. Criminology And Criminal Justice Senior Capstone

Criminology and Criminal Justice Senior Capstone Project

With technological advances and increases in the number of people who can access and use technology, cyberstalking is a crime increasing in prevalence across the United States. The goal of this report is to provide a more clear understanding of the definition of cyberstalking, its prevalence, characteristics of both the victims and offenders of this crime, and the modus operandi of the crime. In addition, potential strategies to prevent cyberstalking will be discussed, including but not limited to changing internet behavior and educating the public about cyberstalking.

Drinking With Friends: A Cellular Automata Approach To Modeling Peer Influence On Binge Drinking Behavior, Piper Jackson, Andrew Reid, Niki Huitson, Kathryn Wuschke, Vahid Dabbaghian

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this project, we adopt Cellular Automata (CA) modeling as a means to focus solely on the elements of concern: individual state (binging) and local interactions (peer pressure). CA models are well suited for exploring the dynamics that occur within a population, and are useful for visualizing the clustering behaviour of communities. With this more abstract approach, it is possible to simulate large populations with reasonable computational requirements.

The Power Of Protection: A Population-Based Comparison Of Native And Non-Native Youth Suicide Attempters, Juliette Mackin, Tamara Perkins, Carrie Jeanne Furrer

Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services Publications

This study provides actionable information about intervening with American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth to prevent suicide. Statewide school survey data were used to model the impact of risk and protective factors on self-reported suicide attempts (both AI/AN and non-AI/AN). The cumulative risk and protective model worked similarly for both groups. AI/AN youth had a higher threshold of risk before making a suicide attempt. Protective factors buffered the impact of risk, particularly for the higher risk youth.

The Ethical Implications Of Bartering For Mental Health Services: Examining Interdisciplinary Ethical Standards, Joel A. Lane

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

The present paper discusses literature concerning the practice of bartering for counseling, psychological, or social work services in lieu of traditional monetary payment. The author contrasts the language concerning the practice of bartering found in the respective ethical codes for each profession, and presents literature describing both risks and potential benefits of bartering arrangements. The primary risks of bartering include liability concerns and the potential for harmful or exploitive dual relationships. The primary benefits are that bartering makes mental health services available to those who cannot afford traditional fees, and allows for a culturally relevant compensation method for those whose …

Local Political Knowledge And Assessments Of Citizen Competence, Lee Shaker

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article contrasts the national and local political knowledge of a random sample of 993 Philadelphians with the aim of enhancing the scholarly understanding of citizen competence. Empirical study of citizen competence extends back more than fifty years, but the survey data that have been brought to bear upon the topic are almost exclusively focused on national-level politics. Consequently, sweeping conclusions about the competence of the American public rest upon a narrow foundation. The comparisons in this article depict a slew of differences in the distribution of knowledge across national and local politics, many of which challenge established notions of …

Application Of Reference Models In Technology Management, Farshad Madani

Engineering and Technology Management Student Projects

Reference models, sometimes called with other different words, prepare a general model from a specific view of the related environment. Reference models are considered as a basic foundation to create: 1) a common language among specialists 2) a reference for the entities such as processes 3) relationships among entities 4) tools and decision making procedures for the real world.

In this report, it's tried the definitions of reference model in the selected papers have been reviewed. It's noticeable that in many papers the term of framework is used instead of reference model. Also, applications of reference models are reviewed and …

Samsung Oled Tv Marketing Plan, Baraa Abudawod, Christophe Perrenoud, Chris David, Farshad Madani

Engineering and Technology Management Student Projects

The evolution of television has substantially evolved within the last 2 decades to introduce revolutionary modern technology seen in Plasma, LCD, and LED backlight TV. The changes of television technology will offer thinner, clearer, brighter TV, and reduce energy consumption. After a brief transition of corporate strategy, Samsung has grown into the market as the leading innovative television manufacturer and currently holds 97% market share of AMOLED (Active Matrix OLED) currently seen in mobile devices.

In January of 2012, Samsung introduced a high definition 55 inch prototype OLED TV at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that seemingly will revolutionize the …

Interview Or Interrogation: A Critical Review Of The Efficacy And Ethicality Of Post-Conviction Sex Offender Polygraph Testing, Arthur J. Nelson

University Honors Theses

Recently the polygraph, despite its scientific dubiousness, has gained popularity across the globe within post-conviction sex offender management programs, even at times being mandated via judicial decree or legislation. Consequently, the application of this controversial device in sex offender rehabilitation has caused much heated, and at times muddled, debate amongst psychologists as to whether the polygraph is effective, or even ethical. This review surveys the current pool of literature concerning the efficacy and ethicality of the practice of post-conviction sex offender polygraph testing in order to give a clearer overview of the published literature, and to point at future directions …

Lay Versus Medical Analysis: A Conflict Centered On The Disciplinary And Professional Identity Of Psychoanalysis, Sam Yoder

University Honors Theses

The psychoanalytic conflict surrounding lay and medical analysis was a prominent conflict within both the European and American psychoanalytic communities. This thesis is an analysis of that conflict from the time period of 1900-1940. I argue that this conflict is an expression of two conflicting ideas for the disciplinary identity of psychoanalysis. Lay analysts believed that psychoanalysis should be a distinct discipline and be used in a multidisciplinary context. Medical analysts believed that through aligning psychoanalysis with medicine it would obtain professional legitimacy. This thesis also covers concepts of professionalization in disciplines.

The Implications Of Migration Theory For Distributive Justice, Alexander Sager

Philosophy Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper explores the implications of empirical theories of migration for normative accounts of migration and distributive justice. It examines neo-classical economics, world-systems theory, dual labor market theory, and feminist approaches to migration and contends that neo-classical economic theory in isolation provides an inadequate understanding of migration. Other theories provide a fuller account of how national and global economic, political, and social institutions cause and shape migration flows by actively affecting people's opportunity sets in source countries and by admitting people according to social categories such as class and gender. These empirical theories reveal the causal impact of institutions regulating …

Ngos In The Transnational Development Network: Exploring Relational Resources In The Promotion Of Food Security, Mariah Kraner, David Todd Kinsella

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Programming decisions by international NGOs operating in the area of development are a function of both humanitarian and pragmatic concerns. Helping communities establish sustainable agricultural cooperatives to address problems of undernutrition, for example, motivates programs implemented by NGOs in the food security sector. But NGOs are strategic actors and must also be attentive to organizational imperatives in regard to funding. These concerns relate to donor preferences and the reality that aid projects must demonstrate tangible results. This paper examines the network of organizations responding to the needs of the one billion people worldwide who live in food insecure environments. We …

Raps Sheet, January 2012, Retirement Association Of Portland State

RAPS Sheet: Monthly Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Past Tense, 2012, Retired Association Of Portland State

Past Tense columns of the RAPS Sheet

January, 2012 "Judith Ramaley: Portland State's First Female President"

February, 2012 "The Regional Research Institute: A Pioneer and a Survivor"

March, 2012 "The Beginning: Teacher Education at Portland State"

April, 2012 "The Beginning: History at Portland State"

May, 2012 "Snapshots of Diversity at PSU"

June, 2012 "Making Music: The Music Department's Beginnings"

September, 2012 "Gordon Dodds: the Savior of Portland State's History"

October, 2012 "The Early Years: Engineering at PSU"

November, 2012 ""Can PSU help?" Special Education Leadership in Autism Research"

December, 2012 "A History of Holiday Giving"

Systemic Propaganda As Ideology And Productive Exchange, Gerald Sussman

International & Global Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Informed by the works of Marx and his progeny (Lukács, Gramsci, Althusser) as well as more recent marxian scholarship, the purpose of this paper is to explore the role of ideology and propaganda in the production and circulation of commodities and in the informalization of the contemporary workplace, particularly in the context of the promotional economy, politics, and culture of the United States. The heightened functions of media and communication technologies mark the pinnacle expression of late capitalism—the production, reproduction and colonization of the sphere of consciousness as a necessary condition for the maintenance of the corporate state as it …

Building A Sustainable And Desirable Economy-In-Society-In-Nature, Robert Costanza, Gar Alperovitz, Herman E. Daly, Joshua C. Farley, Carol Franco, Tim Jackson, Ida Kubiszewski, Juliet Schor, Peter A. Victor

Institute for Sustainable Solutions Publications and Presentations

This report is a synthesis of ideas about what this new economy-in-society-innature could look like and how we might get there. Most of the ideas presented here are not new. The coauthors of this report have published them in various forms over the last several decades, and many others have expressed similar ideas in venues too numerous to mention. What is new is the timing and the situation. The time has come when we must make a transition. We have no choice. Our present path is clearly unsustainable. As Paul Raskin has said, "Contrary to the conventional wisdom, it is …

It Hurt Big Time: Understanding The Impact Of Rural Adolescents’ Experiences With Cyberbullying, Robin Bright, Mary Dyck

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

In the 21st century, the growing use of online technologies has challenged parents and educators to understand the concerns and issues faced by adolescents with cyberbullying both in and outside the school context. The purpose of this study was to examine rural adolescents‘ experiences with cyberbullying in Canada. The participants included 1752 adolescents who attended 16 schools in rural Alberta. The 73-item online questionnaire included the following question: If you have ever known someone to be bullied, been a target of bullying, or ever bullied someone using online communication please describe the situation(s) and what happened as a result. Youth …

Improving Student Engagement With 21st Century Learning Practices, Thelma M. Gunn, Maurice Hollingsworth

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

There is sufficient evidence to support the importance of adaptive student engagement with respect to improved school behavior, academic achievement, and high school completion rates. Students who are more engaged exhibit high levels of adaptive attention, cognition, and behaviour as well as create social, physical, and intellectual resources (i.e., Appleton, Christenson, & Furlong, 2008; Fredrickson, 2001). A three-year study designed to investigate and track student engagement and academic achievement with Grade 9 and 10 students has demonstrated that 21st century instructional practices have the potential to improve students’ perceptions of community, orientation to school, and in particular, their academic strategies.

Secondary School Students’ Lack Of Mathematics Understanding, Masomeh Jamshid Nejad

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

A study was conducted to investigate the influence of pupils’ beliefs on their performance in problem solving. Twenty-seven students from Grade 8 participated in this study. The findings showed that there is a positive correlation between participants’ belief, some subscales of belief and participants’ performance in problem solving. Further research was then suggested. A study was conducted to investigate the influence of pupils’ beliefs on their performance in problem solving. Twenty-seven students from Grade 8 participated in this study. The findings showed that there is a positive correlation between participants’ belief, some subscales of belief and participants’ performance in problem …

Latinos In Action: Cultivating Academics, Access, Equity, And Future Bilingual Educators, Maria Timmons Flores, Marilyn Chu, Michael Sampson

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

Developing bilingual teachers is critical in closing the achievement gap experienced by bilingual and Latino children. This qualitative case study investigated the benefits of an academically grounded cross-age tutoring program designed to support low-income, bilingual high school students to graduate, pursue higher education, and explore education as a possible career. Data sources included observations, interviews, program artifacts, and quantitative academic indicators. Data were analyzed using grounded theory and narrative analysis. Theoretically framed as social design experiment (Gutierrez & Vossoughi, 2010), the study employs cultural historical perspectives and qualitative research to define underlying principles of transformative practice. Findings demonstrate shifts in …

Because It’S A Girl Cake!:Because It’S A Girl Cake!: Fostering Dialogue About Gender Identity In Elementary Classrooms, Niko Wacker, Amy E. Ryken

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

In this documentary account, a kindergarten teacher and teacher educator describe our efforts to explore how young children think and reason about gender expression in and beyond the classroom. We describe our ongoing collaboration to develop a framework for teacher-initiated and student-initiated conversations about gender, which often result from students’ spontaneous remarks and questions about gender norms. We explore the question, How can educators create relevant and engaging learning opportunities to invite young learners to discuss gender norms within the classroom? In this paper we share kindergartners’ conversations about gender and three examples of their writing about this topic. We …

Collaborating To Teach Research Methods In Education, Todd Milford, Catherine Etmanski

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

The purpose of this paper is to describe a pedagogical collaboration between two research methods instructors in a Faculty of Education in Canada. Both instructors represent different paradigms in the classic quantitative vs. qualitative dichotomy in that they were trained in vastly different ways and have tended to approach their research along these same lines. However, despite these differences the paper explores how they each viewed this as a potential limitation in their methods teaching and how through crossing over to each other’s classrooms were able to both expand their own understanding as well as offer a more balanced and …

Life Changing Events For Students: An Initial Exploratory Study, Michael A. Rousell

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

The purpose of this exploratory study was to discover under what conditions teachers’ comments create transformative moments for students. This study shows that emotional arousal, frequently triggered by surprise, appears to be a catalyst for the spontaneous and profound restructuring of a student’s personal schema or worldview. Our brains evolved to respond to emotionally intense challenges rapidly and reflexively. These challenges are instantly processed by the brain’s innate, stress-driven, conceptual, problem-solving system. Our reflexive brain system is organized to accept the most expedient solution, not necessarily the best one. It’s thus quite vulnerable to making impetuous responses that may generate …