Digital Commons Network^™

Flight Training For Commercial Remote Pilots, Michael Walach

Theses and Dissertations

A remote pilot training program, part of an sUAS course, were studied to determine the effectiveness and portability of the training curriculum. Students in a university unmanned aircraft systems course were the subjects, and multiple data points were collected over the 15 week program. No differences were found in student performance on the metrics used to assess the students regardless of who the students had as a flight instructor. Males scored higher than females on prior flight experience upon entering the course; however, neither gender nor prior aviation experience were significant contributing factors in student success either academically (written tests) …

Characteristics Of School Success As Identified By School Leaders, Dave Wheeler

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how school leaders in the state of North Dakota define success in their schools or districts without using test scores as a measurement. The information shared by these school leaders will be shared with other school leaders in North Dakota with the intent that test data becomes less of a driving force in schools and student engagement, while positive climate and culture become more emphasized for school and district leadership.

This study’s purpose was to diminish the emphasis on state assessment as a singular resource that defines success in schools. Communities, staff …

Girls In Stem, Carrie Leopold

Theses and Dissertations

The recruitment and retention of women in STEM have historically been a struggle. Several causes, such as social factors, stereotypes, and classroom environments, all play a role (Blackburn, 2017). Recruitment efforts are often focused on middle school students. Nevertheless, research shows that children as young as kindergarten already have a preconceived notion about math (Ceci et al., 2014), such as it is too difficult or girls are not 'smart enough' to be successful. By the time some of these girls enter middle school, it can be challenging to change their mindset. Therefore, we need to focus not only on the …

Test Of A Partial Sexual Minority Stress Model With Bisexual Adolescents, Marisa Mango

Theses and Dissertations

Research conducted on sexual minority stress for adolescents has contributed to bisexual invisibility by collectively sampling and analyzing data from lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations, despite recent studies acknowledging statistical differences between bisexual and lesbian/gay experiences (Conlin et al., 2017; Frost et al., 2015; Mason & Lewis, 2016; Mohr & Sarno, 2016). We examined the temporal relations within Meyers (2003) Sexual Minority Stress model of sexual minority processes related to proximal and distal stressors in a sample of 306 bisexual adolescents. They completed measures of sexual minority stress, LGB specific coping, anxiety, and depression. Using path analytic analyses, the findings …

Perceptions Of Consensual Sexual Student-Faculty Relationships, Olivia Pottschmidt

Theses and Dissertations

Consensual, sexual relationships (CSRs) involving university faculty members and students are not uncommon (Richards et al., 2014). Given the increased attention of sexual harassment on college campuses, a number of universities have implemented CSR policies that generally fall into three categories: total ban, limited ban, and discouragement. Despite the intention of these policies,--the prevention of sexual assault and harassment--they have been criticized for being vague and too general (Bellas & Gosset, 2001; Jafar, 2003). Examining student perceptions can provide inside into university culture and inform policymaking. To this end, participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions stemming from …

Bridging The Transition Gap: Student Perceptions Of Middle To High School Transition Practices And School Connectedness, Amanda Quintus

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was two-fold: first, to understand perceptions of high school students regarding their transition from middle school into high school. Grounded theory research methods were used to construct theory from data obtained from the study. Secondly, the researcher wished to advocate for North Dakota high schools for implementing school-wide transition programs to bridge the transition gap during a period of pivotal importance in the lives of our students. A review of North Dakota Century Code 15.1 revealed no statute has been developed requiring North Dakota schools to implement school-wide programs or activities focusing on students transitioning …

An Examination Of Rural Help-Seeking Behaviors Related To Sexual Violence And Mental Health And Well-Being Outcomes, Dacia Kay Oberhelman

Theses and Dissertations

Those who experience sexual violence face numerous barriers in gaining access to resources. Additionally, choosing to seek help following an unwanted sexual experience is a difficult decision that is impacted by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. The Theory of Planned Behavior addresses how these variables can help explain one’s intent to seek help following an unwanted sexual experience. Seeking help following an unwanted sexual experience has also been suggested to be increasingly difficult for those in rural communities due to additional barriers such as: fear of community and family backlash, lack of anonymity, fear of perpetrator(s) discovering services …

The Relationship Between Digit Ratio (2d:4d) And Muscular Fitness: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Brooke Pasanen

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Digit ratio (2D:4D), a marker of prenatal testosterone exposure, is a weak negative correlate of sports/athletic/fitness performance. While numerous studies have examined the relationship between 2D:4D and physical fitness, there has never been a comprehensive study that has synthesized studies examining relationships between 2D:4D and muscular fitness. Objectives: To systematically review and meta-analyze the relationship between 2D:4D and muscular fitness measured as handgrip strength (HGS). Methods: This study systematically searched five electronic databases, reference lists, topical systematic reviews/meta-analyses, and personal libraries in November 2020. Peer-reviewed, cross-sectional studies that reported Pearson’s correlation coefficients between objectively measured 2D:4D and HGS were …

Social Cognitive Well-Being Model With Native American Students: Exploring Racial Identity And Internalized Racial Oppression, Megan Kay Smith

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, Lent’s (2004) social cognitive model of well-being (SCWB) was employed to examine the academic and social domain of satisfaction and life satisfaction with 121 Native American college students. They completed measures of positive affect, Native American identity, internalized racial oppression, and life satisfaction along with domain-specific (i.e., academic and social) self-efficacy, goal progress, and satisfaction. Using path analytic techniques, results indicated that the academic SCWB model was a close fit to data and the social SCWB model was a good fit to data. For both models, the relations among constructs accounted for large portions of variance for …

Negative And Positive Attention Bias In Anhedonia And Anxious Arousal: Can Depression And Anxiety Be Distinguished By Patterns Of Engagement And Disengagement Bias?, Helen Sawaya

Theses and Dissertations

Negative and positive attention bias (AB) is the preferential allocation of attentional resources to negative and positive stimuli in the environment, respectively. AB has been studied in various clinical and non-clinical populations and the process has been linked to symptoms of depression and anxiety. Findings so far suggest that negative AB is a trait-based factor that predisposes individuals to anxiety and depression. Positive AB appears specific to a depressed state, yet findings generally remain mixed. Measures of AB have been recently critiqued for their poor psychometric properties. This study addresses three gaps in the literature to further our understanding of …

Teacher Perceptions Of Parent-Teacher Communications And Practice, Misty Rose Tomchuk

Theses and Dissertations

It has been established in prior research that parent involvement and school-family partnerships have the potential to positively impact student achievement; however, creating and maintaining positive and productive parent-teacher communication can be difficult. Since teachers function as the link between school and the home, there is an increased need to study the perspectives and experiences of teachers. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between teacher perceptions of parent-teacher relationships, teacher conversation competence, and teacher communication frequency with parents.

This study involved an online survey distributed to 234 participants via Amazon Mechanical Turk. The following results were …

An Exploration Of Sexual Consent, Sexual Non-Consent, And Nonverbal Sexual Consent Communication Behaviors, Amongst Community Stakeholders., Brent Stewart

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual Consent is a central concept in the field sexual violence and sexual violence prevention (Beres, 2007). However, despite disproportional rates of sexual violence amongst LGBT+ community, currently our understanding sexual consent and its practice is primarily focused on heterosexual encounters of traditional college aged students (CDC, 2017, Muehlenhard, Humphreys, Jozkowski & Peterson, 2016). The current study utilized the Delphi method to develop a better understanding of sexual consent, sexual non-consent, and nonverbal sexual consent communication behaviors among two distinct groups: sexual researchers and men who have sex with men (MSM). Thirty-five panelists (13 researchers 22 MSM) completed one- three …

Transcriptomic And Pharmacological Characterization Of A Murine Line Harboring An Antidepressant-Insensitive Serotonin Transporter, Meghan Alicia Rodriquez

Theses and Dissertations

Perinatal depression is a complex mood disorder often treated with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, which block the serotonin transporter (SERT) and alter synaptic serotonin concentrations. The serotonergic system is highly plastic and serotonin regulates the growth and maturation of neurons and signaling systems from conception through end of life. Notably, interference with serotonin levels during an SSRI sensitive window (SSW) of development in humans and rodents has been linked to neurovegetative effects which increase susceptibility for the manifestation of anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors and can be persistent throughout life. We hypothesize the persistent behavioral perturbations resulting from acute …

Understanding Decision-Making Styles Of Part 135 Pilots In Remote Settings And Their Impact On Aviation Safety: A Qualitative Enquiry Of Alaskan Operational Environments, Dana Atkins

Theses and Dissertations

Aviation is a vital component of the State of Alaska’s transportation system. Air transportation is frequently the only means to move goods, services, and people across the state. Historically, air taxi and non-scheduled/charter air operators (14 C.F.R. Part 135) form the bulk of service providers in Alaska and have poor operational safety records through high rates of accidents. The problem is still prevalent despite numerous initiatives by the Federal Aviation Administration to reduce adverse safety events. Accident investigation reports have nominally attributed causal factors of these accidents to pilot error and at-risk behaviors such as violations. Extant research in aviation …

North Dakota Administrators' And Teachers' Perception On School Calendars: Academic And Social-Emotional Learning, Jacqueline Gaye Bye

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this qualitative flexible design research study was to discover if North Dakota should revise North Dakota PK-12 school calendar requirements for the academic and social-emotional development of students. Innovative reforms that might be beneficial in revising the North Dakota school calendar were researched. A literature review was completed which included relevant, and current (at the time of this study), research about school calendar revisions both nationally and internationally. This research may be a useful guideline of what would be an appropriate amount of time students should spend in school to benefit students both academically and socially-emotionally. Data …

Literacy Development In Early Intervention: Confidence And Knowledge Of Occupational Therapists, Roberta Carrlson

Theses and Dissertations

Literacy is an essential component of education and impacts learning potential through life. Development of literacy begins in infancy, and children who experience delays in their development are also at high risk of having delayed literacy development. Multiple programs have been designed to help at-risk children meet their developmental milestones and require literacy development to be explicitly addressed. One such program is Part C of the IDEA, also known as Early Intervention (EI). Occupational therapists (OTs) are one profession that supports families under this program. Occupational therapy academic standards do not require literacy development as part of the curriculum, nor …

Rural Mental Health Therapist’S Attitudes Toward Evidence Based Practice And Readiness For Change, Marc S. Dutch

Theses and Dissertations

Rural Mental Health Therapists (RHMTs) face unique obsticles such as having to cover vast distances and isolation. Additionally, RHMTs also struggle with access to continuing education, training, supervision and other resources. Consequently, long tenured RHMTs tend to be at a disadvantage to acquiring and maintaining their ability to practice from an Evidence- Based Practice (EBP) approach in their clinical treatment. This study aims to better understand what Behavior Change factors effect RHMTs attitudes toward practicing from an EBP approach, as well as individual characteristics. Participants were 81 RHMTs practicing in a mental health capacity in the USA. Results indicated that …

Giving Birth On Foreign Soil: A Phenomenological Study Of Somali Women Giving Birth In North Dakota And Minnesota, Tracy Jo Enger

Theses and Dissertations

Health disparities continue to exist in minority populations in the United States. People ofcolor have a higher incidence of negative birth outcomes; and view their experiences with less satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to explore what Somali Muslim have women have experienced during their labor and delivery in Minnesota and North Dakota. This research was conducted to improve our understanding of the needs of Somali women during labor and delivery in order to provide nursing care that is culturally sensitive. Phenomenological data was collected from personal interviews with Somali women who had given birth in North Dakota and …

Gender Differences In Social Presence In Gender-Segregated And Blended Learning Environments In Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Eid Alotaibi

Theses and Dissertations

The present study aimed to achieve one of the goals of the Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, which is the improvement of the quality of teaching approaches and learning outcomes. Additionally, the vision strives for equality among students in all educational institutions, including equality among men and women, who are mostly segregated in all aspects of life (e.g., education). One of the major issues in the online portion of blended learning environments is the lack of social presence. Therefore, the present study used a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design to investigate the influence of gender on the perception of social presence levels …

Perspectives Of Beginning Teachers From Generation Z: A Narrative Study, Troy Bartman

Theses and Dissertations

A wide range of ages in teachers exist in the field of education. New teachers from Generation Z is one specific category that has received little attention. Who are these new teachers? What experiences have they grown up with being from this generation? What might we learn about them that can help us offer better support, training, and guidance to ultimately create better learning environments for students? The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the perspectives that new teachers from Generation Z have on teaching, learning, and teacher development. As the newest generation entering the …

Perceived Social Status And Gender Role Beliefs Impact On Self-Efficacy And Quality Of Life Of Women Of Color, Dependent Visa Holders In The United States, Surjya Bajpayee

Theses and Dissertations

A large body of literature evaluates the impact of acculturation on immigrants in the U.S. but fails to capture the conditions of their spouses (F2/H4 visas). The gendered immigration policies restrict the spouses who are predominantly women from employment, higher education, and any privileges that come with it. To analyze what variable might impact their psychological health, this paper evaluates gender and class factors. The study also explored show much these women are involved in household decision making process. Independent t tests and correlational analysis is used to assess the impact of perceived social status and gender role beliefs on …

Dimensions Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder And Sluggish Cognitive Tempo As Predictors Of Executive Functioning, Depression, Anxiety, Substance Use, And Convergence Insufficiency, Danielle Beyer

Theses and Dissertations

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In addition to the well-known ADHD symptom clusters, a fourth dimension has been identified as sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) and describes symptoms of sluggishness, drowsiness, and daydreaming. SCT represents a unique symptom domain than cannot be accounted for by the other ADHD dimensions. The current study sought to replicate and expand upon the extant literature, hypothesizing that ADHD/SCT symptoms would significantly predict: 1a) impairment in executive functioning on a self-report measure; 1b) impairment on laboratory measures of executive functioning; 2) symptoms of depression and anxiety; …

Sexy For Me: Enjoyment Of Sexualization, Embodiment, And Psychological Well-Being In Recreational Pole Dancers, Kelly Cuccolo

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Recreational pole dancing may have dual implications for women’s mental health. Previous research (Pellizzer, et al., 2016) conducted under the framework of Objectification Theory has reported that enjoyment of sexualization can exert negative effects on body image through self-objectification and positive effects on body image through embodiment. The purposes of this study were to a.) replicate findings from Pellizer et al., (2016) and b.) to examine the theorized outcomes of Objectification Theory not addressed by previous research (eating disorder (ED) symptomatology, depressive affect). Methods: Recreational pole dancers (N = 82) were recruited from five recreational pole dancing schools. Participants …

Literacy As A Means Of Stress Relief In A Domestic Violence Homeless Shelter: Listening To Childrens' Voices, Vonda L. Dahl

Theses and Dissertations

It is well-documented that children who experience housing insecurities, transience and homelessness, whether short or long term, may suffer from anxiety and/or chronic stress (Perry, 1997, 2004; Jensen, 2009). What is less known, or researched, are ways to address that anxiety through the efforts of volunteers and other non-custodial persons and the simple act of reading a book together. This study is social science in nature with a focus on phenomenological research with children that explores the affective value that a literacy event may have on a child’s perceptions of their own level of stress. Participants were recruited from a …

Sexual Gratification As A Motive And Distal Predictor Of Sexual Violence, Frances Grace Eby

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the role of sexual motives as a predictor of sexual violence, considering impersonal sex as a key component in developing intervention and prevention programs. In doing so, this study will fill a gap in the literature by prioritizing sexual motives. Method: Data from two hundred and seven male college students will be analyzed. Participants were analyzed as those who endorsed perpetration and those who did not endorse perpetration and those who endorsed attempted rape and rape. Participants responded to the Sexual Experiences Survey, Revised Conflict Tactic Scales, the Illinois Rape Myth …

K-3 Teacher And Administrator Knowledge Of Dyslexia And Foundational Reading Skills, Pam Jean Krueger

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, the scientific community has provided a great deal of knowledge about the brain and how we learn. Included in this research is a clear explanation of how people learn to read and also what happens in the brain of a person with dyslexia. Because of the great strides that have been made through research, most students can become successful readers, including those with dyslexia. A very large part of this success is the result of knowledgeable teachers using research-based reading instruction beginning in kindergarten. Dyslexia is a common language-based learning disability that affects students’ reading, writing, and …

Effect Of Adolescent Sleep Quality On Appetite, Dietary Intake, And Body Mass Index, Janell Faye Juelich

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose and Background: Several factors have been associated with excess weight gain in adolescents, including loss of sleep. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of sleep quality, quantity, latency, and hygiene on appetite, dietary intake, and body mass indices (BMI) of adolescents.

Theoretical Framework: Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory guided this study to examine the relationship of adolescents’ sleep effects on their appetite, dietary intake, and BMI.

Specific Aims: 1. To analyze demographics, sleep quality, sleep quantity, sleep latency, and sleep hygiene of adolescents and determine the levels of appetite, dietary intake, and BMI levels of adolescents. …

"The Last Major Front": Special Education's Transition To Adulthood And North Dakota, Matthew David Mccleary

Theses and Dissertations

The thesis examines the development and implementation of special education’s transition policy in the United States and North Dakota from the 1980s to the 1990s. Researchers have primarily sought to further evidence-based practices in preparing adolescents with disabilities for adulthood, but the history of this effort has rarely been discussed. In the late 20th century, policymakers, researchers, and educators attempted to turn around negative socio-economic outcomes for people with disabilities by helping youth with disabilities and their families plan for the future and get connected to post-school services and employment. Assumptions about people with disabilities influenced transition programming and the …

Validity Of A Culturally Sensitive Depression Scale For Native American Youth, Todd Phelps

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the validity of a Culturally Sensitive Depression Scale (CSDS). Data were collected on 30 Native American youth living throughout South Dakota. Participants underwent a condensed semi-structured clinical interview for Major Depressive Disorder to confirm diagnosed (n=16) or undiagnosed (n=14). Participants completed two depression scales: the Columbia Depression Scale (CDS) and the CSDS. Both scales were tested for criterion-related validity via concurrent validity which analyzed each scale’s accuracy in categorizing diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals. Construct validity was tested via convergent validity through the Pearson product-moment correlation between the CDS and CSDS. Area Under Curve (AUC) analysis tested each …

Student-Athlete Motivation And Gender, Jessica Schanilec-Gowan

Theses and Dissertations

Billions of dollars are spent each year on athletic teams and the education of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes. Successful athletic programs require teams that are excelling in the classroom and also within their sports. Stakeholders are continually searching for factors that impact the academic success of the student-athlete population. This study explored one of those factors: motivation. In this research, an ex post facto quantitative research format was utilized to determine if there were relationships among three subscales of Gaston’s (2002) Sports and Academics Questionnaire (SAMSAQ) and gender identity. More specifically, the three SAMSAQ subscales that were examined …