Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Social Anxiety On Co-Witness Suggestibility, Susan Schober

Theses and Dissertations

Misleading post-event information, especially presented through co-witness discussion, has consistently shown to be a powerful way to alter a witness’s memory for an event. Less is known about how misleading co-witness information affects those with specific individual difference traits, however. The current study analyzed the impact of social anxiety on susceptibility to co-witness misinformation and memory conformity (i.e., co-witness suggestibility). Participants viewed a short film of a simulated home robbery and some discussed the film with a confederate posing as a co-witness. During the discussion, the confederate introduced either accurate or misleading information about events in the film. After the …

Using Student-Generated Problems (Sgp) As An Instructional Strategy To Enhance Undergraduate Engineering Students’ Knowledge Application Ability And Problem-Solving Skills, Sameera Algarni

Theses and Dissertations

The Student-Generated Problems (SGP) instructional strategy represents an exclusive area of real-world practice used by some educators to give powerful support and responsibility to college students for their learning experience (Mestre, 2002; Zurcher, Coppola, & McNeil, 2016). Undergraduate Engineering students often have difficulty applying gained knowledge in real-world settings and are reportedly underprepared for workplace challenges (Luo et al., 2015; Negro et al. 2019). This study examined the effects of the SGP instructional strategy used in an undergraduate Electrical Engineering course to determine students’ abilities to apply conceptual knowledge and problem-solving skills in real problem lab activities. The need for …

System Modeling: An Exploratory Study Of Engineering Students’ Conceptual Knowledge And Problem-Solving Skills, Ademola Amida

Theses and Dissertations

System modeling (SM) instructional strategy, an application of system thinking (ST), canbe used as an instructional approach to help students develop SM skills and deepen their understanding of subject matter (Hung, 2009). Mechanical engineering students have difficulty applying gained knowledge in real-world contexts and are reportedly underprepared for workplace challenges (Kirkpatrick et al., 2011; Warsame, 2017). This study explored the efficacy of system modeling (SM) instructional strategy in a mechanical engineering course. Specifically, the study sought to understand students’ perceptions and experiences with the use of system modeling in enhancing their conceptual knowledge and problem-solving skills. This study employed a …

Saudi Arabia’S Reputation From The Point Of View Of The American People In The United States Compared To That Of The Islamic Republic Of Iran And Turkey, Hamed Ateeq Alghamdi

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The reputation of a country has a significant influence on competitiveness, public diplomacy, international perception, and international relations. The aim of this research was to investigate Saudi Arabia's reputation from the point of view of the American people in The United States, compared with American perception of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey. Method: A sample of 378 participants completed the 33-item questionnaire using a 7-point Likert scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics utilizing SPSS Version 26 were used to analyze the data. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-tests revealed significant differences in the perception of Saudi Arabia …

Mental Health Impact Of Forced Marriages, Neha Batool

Theses and Dissertations

To address the mental health impact of forced marriage in the United States, this study examined the lived experiences of nine women who were forced to marry between the ages of 10 and 25. Semi structured interviews, Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), and Feminist Standpoint theory were utilized to explore their experiences prior to, during, and after their forced marriage, with a particular focus on their psychological wellbeing, coping mechanisms, help seeking behaviors, barriers, and needs. A total of eight superordinate themes emerged that highlighted the role of gender socialization, intergenerational violence and trauma, and adverse childhood experiences in forced marriages, …

Educators’ Perceptions Of Youth Behavioral Health Training In Schools Across North Dakota, Elisa Laura Diederich

Theses and Dissertations

During the 2019 North Dakota legislative session (the 66th Legislative Assembly), Senate Bill 2149 was introduced to amend the North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) at Title 15.1 Elementary and Secondary Education, Chapter 07 School Districts, Section 34, which addresses behavioral health (including mental health) in an educational setting. This bill was enacted.The purpose of this flexible design qualitative study was to investigate experiences teachers, principals, and school counselors have had related to their students’ mental and behavioral health. Furthermore, this study investigated the perceptions North Dakota educators have had related to professional development on student behavioral health. Finally, this study …

Remote Sensing Of Piping Plover (Charadrius Melodus) And Least Tern (Sternula Antillatum) Habitat: An Automated Methodology, Kane Hammond

Theses and Dissertations

Lake Sakakawea, located in central North Dakota, is a 286-kilometer-long reservoir with over 2,462 kilometers of shoreline (Garrison Power Plant, 2011). This reservoir is maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Each summer, the USACE employs a crew of approximately 12 individuals to monitor the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus, hereafter; plover) and Least Tern (Sternula antillarum, hereafter; tern) at this location. Given that these species frequently return to the same breeding areas, monitoring efforts are largely focused on those areas. However, this is a dynamic system and amount of available habitat can change in response to precipitation. …

Criterion-Referenced Cut-Points In Cardiorespiratory Fitness Associated With Metabolic Syndrome In Adult Americans, Nicholas Gabriel Kavadas

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To identify criterion-referenced cut-points in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a nationally-representative sample of young- and middle-aged American adults. Methods: The analytic sample comprised 3302 Americans aged 20–49 years who participated in the 1999–2000, 2001–2002, and 2003–2004 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. CRF was assessed by a submaximal run/walk test on a treadmill. MetS was determined using American Heart Association criteria, measured as the presence of three or more risk factors (high waist circumference, high blood pressure, high fasting triglycerides, high fasting glucose, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). Receiver operating characteristic …

The Effect Of Child Sexual Exploitation Material Offender Age, Motivation For Use, And Treatment Interest On Public Perceptions Of Offense And Treatment, Beth Catherine Kliethermes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to better understand factors that may influence public perceptions related to child sexual exploitation material offenders. Specifically, the current study aimed to examine the impact of offender age, motivation for use, and treatment seeking on public perceptions of the offense of child sexual exploitation material possession, as well as treatment implications. Furthermore, public perceptions regarding mandatory reporting of viewing and possessing child sexual exploitation material were explored. The study utilized a vignette in the style of a criminal case describing a situation in which a man is charged with possession of child sexual …

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 …

Endolysosome Involvement In The Protective Effects Of 17Ơ-Estradiol Against Hiv-1 Protein-Induced Neuronal Injury, Nicole Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Although combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) effectively suppresses HIV-1 infection and increases the lifespan of people living with HIV, up to 50% of HIVinfected individuals are experiencing HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), with clinical symptoms ranging from mild cognitive impairment to severe dementia, for which no effective treatment is currently available. Synaptodendritic impairments, such as decreased dendritic spines and synaptic loss, that occur in various brain regions including the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus are key pathological features of HAND that correlates closely with neurocognitive impairments. The development of synaptodendritic impairment in HAND in the post-cART era is complicated and not fully understood; …

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 …

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 …

Teaching On The Prairie: Narrative Lived Experiences Of Self, Belonging, And Place From Two Beginning Teachers In Rural North Dakota Schools, Mundi Schmidt

Theses and Dissertations

Retaining rural Midwestern teachers is problematic for many K-12 school districts. Through interviews with two first year teachers in rural North Dakota schools, this study considered what experiences contributed to a successful beginning teaching career in a rural school. It was thought that teacher education preparation pertaining to rural schools specifically would increase the likelihood of retention for these beginning teachers. Rural communities and schools in North Dakota are plentiful and provide the stepping-stone into the teaching profession for many beginning teachers. The choice to stay in the rural school or move into a larger school community has a significant …

Riparian Vegetation Changes Along The Red River Of The North: 1997-2018, Laura Akindo

Theses and Dissertations

Riparian zones are areas along waterways that are typically covered by woody vegetation, herbaceous plants, and grasses. Flooding is an important process in riparian habitats as it continuously causes net gains and losses of substrates in riparian communities that determine the productivity of the riparian area. Most notably by providing new areas on the floodplain to be colonized by riparian plant species. Sometimes extreme flooding events can temporarily devastate riparian communities, as in most cases the area recovers quickly. This study evaluated the effects of the 1997 Red River flood on the woody cover in the riparian area cover along …

The Transformation Of Teacher Education Using Three-Dimensional Science Instruction, Patricia Ann Arnold

Theses and Dissertations

The impact of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) on K-12 science education has gained significant momentum over the last several years. Evidence of the NGSS can be seen in revised state science content standards and amended teacher preparation standards. Due to this growing impetus, a holistic redesign of teacher preparation to systemically implement three-dimensional science teaching and learning needs to be prioritized. Based on this premise, this study investigated the change in pre-service teachers’ perceived self-efficacy in teaching science using three-dimensional instruction upon completion of an NGSS-designed intervention incorporated into an introductory science methods course. Designed as a “working …

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 …

Exploration Of Deep Learning Models For Maximum Throughput To Hybrid Beamforming And Compressive Channel Estimation, Youness Arjoune

Theses and Dissertations

The overall objective of this dissertation is to improve the capacity of 5G and Beyond systems by improving spectral efficiency, efficiently managing interference, and addressing the radio spectrum’s poor management while enhancing cost, energy, and computation efficiencies. The first contribution of this dissertation consists of designing effective hybrid beamforming solutions using the theory of deep reinforcement learning. The results demonstrate that deep reinforcement learning achieves near-optimal spectral efficiency and provides autonomous decision-making that can learn from interacting with the wireless environment. This method enhances hybrid beamforming computational efficiency, hardware efficiency, and energy efficiency. These methods are also desirable in scenarios …

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 …

Methods For Evaluation Of The Alberta Hail Suppression Project Using Radar Observations, Sankha Subhra Maitra

Theses and Dissertations

The Alberta Hail Suppression Project is an operational weather modification program designed to reduce hailstone induced property damage that has been conducted in the area around Calgary and Red Deer since 1996. Evaluation of the project is done using the project’s C-band radar located at Olds and an Environment Canada operated C-band radar at Strathmore. An in-depth, manual review of radar data from the 2017 seeding operations has identified 21 seed cases and 15 non-seed cases. The effectiveness of seeding is determined using hail indicators of Maximum Vertically Integrated Liquid (MaxVIL) and storm area greater than or equal to 60 …

The Role Of Religion In Rape Acknowledgement And Disclosure, Danielle Marie Piggott

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has demonstrated the dramatic effect trauma can have on religiosity. This study sought to extend this understanding by examining how rape influences religious beliefs and behaviors as well as how religiosity influences acknowledgement and disclosure of rape. The overwhelming majority of the United States population is religious, and religiosity has been associated with several important health indicators, yet very little research has examined the connection between religiosity and specific rape recovery outcomes. A sample of 310 college-aged women completed an online survey with questionnaires about personal religiosity, the religiosity of their surrounding support system, and their sexual history. …

Betelgeuse, A Parameter Study Using Mesa, Cedric Ramesh

Theses and Dissertations

The star α Orionis (Betelgeuse) has enjoyed increased fame and scrutiny over the past two years, largely due to a mysterious dimming event that began in November 2019. Betelgeuse’s relatively close distance combined with its somewhat substantial angular diameter allows for direct imaging of its surface (as performed by the Hubble Space Telescope, 1996) along with a host of other detailed observations. These observations grant an excellent baseline upon which to conduct a parameter study using MESA (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics), a 1D software stellar evolution code.Even though one-dimensional stellar evolution is a mature discipline, we continue to …

Analysis Of The 12 February 2020 Red River Valley Ground Blizzard During The Blown-Under Campaign, Alec T. Sczepanski

Theses and Dissertations

Blowing snow and blizzards are wintertime hazards that greatly affect society in the Red River Valley (“RRV”) located between eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. With poor visibility, snow drifts, and dangerous wind chills, these events can cripple communities as transportation is brought to a standstill. While the underlying mechanisms for blowing snow and ground blizzard initiation are generally understood, there are still many unknowns, including how lofted and blowing snow in horizontal convective rolls affect the thermodynamics and evolution of the atmospheric boundary layer. In the winter of 2019-2020, a research campaign called Blowing Snow Observations at the University …

Evaluation Of The Performance Of A Rosemount Icing Detector During Impacts 2020, Greg Lee Sova

Theses and Dissertations

The Rosemount Icing Detector (RICE Probe) is a vibrating cylinder icing probe that measures the supercooled liquid water in the atmosphere that contributes to aircraft icing conditions. The frequency of the RICE Probe vibration decreases with increasing ice accretion. The RICE Probe was mounted on the fuselage of the NASA P-3 Orion aircraft for the IMPACTS 2020 field campaign. During the project, flight scientists had real-time frequency data for qualitative assessment of the presence of supercooled liquid water. For quantitative measurements of the liquid water, flight scientists used the King Liquid Water Sensor (King Probe) and the Cloud Droplet Probe …

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 …

Criterion-Referenced Cut-Points For Handgrip Strength To Detect Metabolic Syndrome In U.S. Adults, Wyatt Wutz

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To establish gender- and age-group specific criterion-referenced cut-points for handgrip strength (HGS) associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in United States (U.S.) adults. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from the 2011–12 and 2013–14 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was performed on U.S. adults aged 20 years and older. HGS was measured using handheld dynamometry. MetS was measured as the presence of three or more cardiometabolic risk factors according to the American Heart Association criteria. Crude and fully adjusted receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to identify gender- and age group-specific cut-points for HGS associated …

Winter 2021, University Of North Dakota Alumni Association

ALL: UND Alumni Review Master List

Winter 2021 issue of "The University of North Dakota Alumni Magazine." 52 pages

Volume 104, Number 4