Digital Commons Network^™

How Have You Experienced Being On Testosterone? Narrative Inquiry Into The T-Body Experience, Noah Andrew

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This qualitative research project is an inquiry into understanding how testosterone-bodied (T-bodied) individuals experience testosterone. The term T-bodies is a more inclusive way to describe all individuals who are taking testosterone for the purpose of transition, as not all of those people identify as strictly transgender. This research uses qualitative interviews and storytelling to allow for T-bodied people to tell their stories and allow for better understanding of the bodies undergoing transition. The key result from this study is understanding that while people might finally feel comfortable in their bodies due to the changes testosterone gives them, they also find …

The Beef Debate: Religion, History, And Harmony In India, Shreya Singh

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In this thesis, I analyze the rhetoric circulating during the 1977-78 textbook controversy debates and further probe into the politics of religion and identity in post-Independence India. I discuss the subsequent issues that have emerged due to a deeply divided and disputed historical narrative about who Indians are (and who they should be) as well as how Hindus and Muslims have internalized their identities. Further, I analyze Rajya Sabha debates from 1977-78 to trace the ideograph as it moves through Indian political discourse and discuss its implications for Indian multiculturalism and communal coexistence.

Implementation Of Brain Breaks® In The Classroom And Its Effects On Attitudes Towards Physical Activity In A Chinese School Setting, Ke Zhou, Sensen He, Yanli Zhou, Biljana Popeska, Garry Kuan, Li Chen, Ming Kai Chin, Magdalena Mo Ching Mok, Christopher R. Edginton, Ian Culpan, J. Larry Durstine

Faculty Publications

This study aimed to examine the effects of three-months of classroom-based Brain Breaks Physical Activity Solution (Brain Breaks®) on attitudes toward physical activity levels of primary school children in Henan Province, China. The participants were 704 children enrolled in grades 3-5 who were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group participated in Brain Breaks® video intervention for 3-5 min daily, at low-to-moderate intensity for three consecutive months. The control group resumed their normal routine. The children’s attitudes in both groups towards physical activity (PA) were evaluated using the self-reported Attitudes toward Physical Activity Scale …

The Moderating Role Of Mindful Awareness In The Associations Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Coronavirus Exposure With Sleep Patterns, Shyanne Faith Sporrer

Honors Program Theses

Although many studies have focused on the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and sleep outcomes (Chapman et al., 2011; Kajeepeta et al., 2015), the role of mindful awareness has not been explored in this interaction. Additionally, few studies have explored the impact of COVID-19 on sleep outcomes. The current study worked to bridge these gaps in the current literature. Data in this study was collected by asking students at the University of Northern Iowa to self-report their current sleep patterns, exposure to COVID-19, and mindful awareness while retrospectively reporting their past ACEs (N = 143). Past literature in …

"It All Just Ends": Death Attitudes Across Age, Gender, And Religion, Bekah Bass

Honors Program Theses

Death is a social and biological reality that affects everyone.However,the effects of death are not uniform. Data for this study were collected from a convenience sample (N=322) through an online survey distributed through social media and email (January and February 2021). The survey utilizes the Death Attitudes Profile –Revised by Wong, Reker, and Gesser (1994) to investigate differences in death attitudes across different demographics including age, gender, and religion. Results show correlations between positive, neutral, and negative death attitudes and the age of respondents, suggesting that negative death attitudes decrease as one ages, and certain types of positive attitudes increase. …

Precarious Enjoyment: Suicide Contra Schizophrenia, Mohammed Rawwas

Honors Program Theses

Mainstream psychology denies the unconscious, and is therefore unequipped to properly address the problematic of mental health, instead providing the coordinates for the symptom-formation of mental unwellness as a reaction to the inherent split of the subject, through the installation of the myth of the self-identical I. This same myth is perpetuated through capitalist individualism and the imperative to enjoy, and in the University through the discourse of science. The aim of psychoanalysis is to traverse the fantasy of this symptom-formation, and return the split to the subject. Finally, suicide is posited as the inevitable result of a self-identical notion …

Literature Review: Improving End-Of-Life Care And Creating A Good Death, Erna Smlatic

Honors Program Theses

The need for quality end-of-life care has increased drastically around the world in the last few centuries due to a surge in life expectancy. As people are living much longer, they are developing and succumbing to chronic progressive diseases which can significantly decrease quality of life. But what exactly does it mean to care for the aging population who are nearing death? Defining quality care at the end-of-life is important but also differs for individuals based on a variety of factors including age, culture, and life experiences. End-of-life care does not come as “one size fits all” and it challenges …

The Influence Of Gain-Loss Framing And Its Interaction With Political Ideology On Social Distancing And Mask Wearing Compliance During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jordan Steffen

Honors Program Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused millions of cases and over half a million deaths in the United States.While health experts urge citizens to adopt preventative measures such as social distancing and wearing a mask, these recommended behaviors are not always followed by the public. To find a way to promote preventative measures, the present study examined the role of gain-loss framing of COVID-19 related messages on social distancing and mask wearing compliance. Moreover, the study also tested potential moderating effects on framing with three individual characteristics: political ideology, subjective numeracy, and risk attitude. A sample of 375 U.S. adult residents …

Promoting A Culture Of Student Self-Advocacy Within Secondary Science Classrooms, Elizabeth Anne Wessels

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the greatest source of self-efficacy that exists among 5-12 students in science through a meta-analysis of three previous studies. After analyzing the collected data, teaching strategies that aim to boost the most influential source of self-efficacy for students are recommended and briefly discussed. Gaining a better understanding of the sources self-efficacy, along with how to support these sources will help science educators understand how to support student self-advocacy.

Communication Theory Of Identity, Identity Gap Theory, And Motherscholaring During Covid-19, Sarah Symonds Leblanc, Elizabeth L. Spradley, Heather K. Olson Beal, Lauren E. Burrow, Chrissy Cross

Iowa Journal of Communication

This article uses an interactive interviewing approach to capture the lived experiences of five MotherScholars during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applying the Communication Theory of Identity (CTI) and identity gaps, we aim to understand how COVID-19 impacted our MotherScholar identities. While CTI and identity gap research has advanced a layered perspective of identity across different contexts, the research is just beginning to explore gaps within and between layers to understand how individuals and groups make sense of those gaps. Our use of “collaborative autoethnography” enables us to extend CTI and identity gap research by teasing out identity gaps that we experienced …

Watching The Watchdogs: Online News Commenters' Critiques Of Journalistic Performance During Terrorist Attacks, Ioana A. Coman

Iowa Journal of Communication

This international comparative analysis explores what categories the public uses to evaluate the media performances of American and French journalists and media covering terrorist attacks. Specifically, the study looked at the Boston Marathon bombing (2013), and the Paris (Bataclan) terrorist attacks (2015), and the related online news stories comment sections of The New York Times and Le Figaro. The online comments of each news story were examined through a qualitative content analysis. The study shows that in a time of crisis commenters both appreciate and criticize journalistic performance and make direct demands to the journalists and editors. When applying journalistic …

Welcome From The Editor, Kristen L. Majocha

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Consideration Of The Ethical Implications Of Artificial Intelligence In The Audit Profession, Marcy Kim Uglum

Honors Program Theses

Given its burgeoning development and powerful use of data interpretation and analyses, AI is important to the future of the auditing profession. These new and emerging tools are needed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of tasks (Baldwin, Brown, & Trinkle, 2007). Firms that provide these auditing services are looking for ways to use AI to assess the risk of unstructured and semi-structured, repetitive, decisions. Although AI is currently playing a prominent role in various aspects of our modern society, the use of this technology is still in the earlier stages of development for the auditing profession. Therefore, this research …

Spreading Awareness And Gaining Donor Support For Uni Dance Marathon, Hannah Marie Dash

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this study was to discover new ways to spread awareness of UNI DM in order to increase support for children and families connected to the local CMN hospital - The UI Stead Hospital. The project explored how nonprofit organizations effectively teach others about their missions, as well as fundraising efforts that contribute to a donor’s decision on if and where to give donations. This new information will help UNI DM discover new and improved ways to expand knowledge of the cause and increase donor participation, which will enhance the financial and emotional support that the organization offers …

Homeownership By Race: Factors That Explain The Homeownership Gap Between Blacks And Whites, Sarah Madsen

Honors Program Theses

A key source of wealth and a symbol of hard work, homeownership is at the heart of the American Dream. The disparity of homeownership between whites and blacks has existed for decades and has only increased. The homeownership rate gap is wider now than before the 1968 Fair Housing Act, with about a 30-percentage point gap. This paper investigates the reasons for the homeownership rate gap by discussing policies history, discriminatory practices, and other minority disadvantages.

School Speech-Language Pathologists' Identification, Use, And Need Of Resources And Materials, Emily Michael, Melissa Tranel, Hannah Fahey

Graduate Research Papers

School speech-language pathologists participated in a survey to determine use of materials and limitations related to access. Participants ranked the communication areas lacking resources and identified materials needed. Areas noted included handouts, evaluation information, and therapy materials/activities. A summary of results and a compilation of resources will be presented.

Exploring The Experiences Of One Team Of Teachers: Well-Being And Navigating The Demands Of The Education Profession, Abby Weiland

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Much is changing in K-12 education contexts, including an emphasis on performativity and accountability (Au, 2016; Connell, 2009). Against this backdrop, teacher burnout and attrition have been the focus of numerous studies, including examination of organizational structures and factors contributing to burnout (Buckley et al., 2005; Konu et al., 2010). Insufficient attention has been given to how teachers are able to navigate the demands of this profession (Matteucci et al., 2017; Wilcox & Lawson, 2018). Efforts to retain teachers should not only emphasize factors associated with burnout or attrition, but also how they are affected by the systems in place, …

Analyzing Perceptions Of Citizen Science As Part Of An International Learning Experience, Katelyn Marie Miner

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study focused on a perceptions-based citizen science project that emphasizes meaning over measurement. Specifically, student perceptions of citizen science in a unique location, rather than the specific data outcomes of the water quality citizen science activity were analyzed. Many researchers have used citizen science participants to collect samples from water sources around them, increasing the use of mass data collection for scientific purposes.This study was a mixed-methods design, using triangulation of the pre-survey, modified focus group, and post-survey. The goal was to gauge the perceptions of participants in perceived benefits and gains before and after participating in a water …

Understanding The Use Of Crisis Communication In Clery Act Compliance, Allyson L. Rafanello

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research explores the experiences of eight individuals with positional responsibility for the implementation of the Clery Act as a part of a college or university campus community, specifically seeking to understand the use of crisis communication theory in the issuance of timely warnings. Qualitative methods, specifically semi-structured interviews and a content analysis of previously issued timely warnings,were employed. These methods allowed the researcher to explore and seek understanding of a focused area of Clery Act compliance while hearing directly from the individuals charged with managing a detailed and ever complicated process in their efforts to protect their campus communities. …

Halo Sport Ergonomic Effects On Older Adults' Cognitive, Balance, And Motor Performance, Kristina Cavey

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Purpose: To determine if acute application of transcranial direct current simulation (tDCS), administered via the Halo Sport device, influences performance during cognitive, balance, and a motor task in healthy older adults. In addition, the purpose was to determine if tDCS altered PFC activation during any of the three task domains. Methods: Twelve healthy older adults (50.4 ± 5.1 years old) volunteered to participate in two separate trials of cognitive, balance, and a motor task following 20 minutes of tDCS via the Halo Sport or a Sham condition. Results: There was a significant increase in performance of the non-dominant motor task …

Effects Of Exposure To Video Games On Sexual Harassment, Chelsea Renee Washburn

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Previous research has suggested a positive relationship between video game play and negative outcomes, with the APA going so far as to publish a press release on the negative effects of violent media (APA, 2005, 2015a, 2015b; Anderson et al., 2010; Kepes et al., 2017). However, critics argue that these results are marred by publication bias and are overstated (Ferguson, 2007; Ferguson et al., 2020; Hilgard et al., 2017). The current study examined the relationship between the amount of time participants played video games and engaged in sexual and general harassment, and examined whether exposure to video game violence, hostile …

Rising Above The Stigma: Developing Young Leaders Through Peer Mentoring, Shawn Miller

Graduate Research Papers

Permanence is ideally the ultimate goal of the child welfare system, however it is unrealistic to believe that every young adult transitioning out of care will not only find a permanent home, but have had the opportunity to build the social capital needed for a successful transition in today’s society (Scannapieco, Smith, Blakeney-Strong, 2015).

The Process For Nonprofits And Foundations To Engage In Productive Partnerships, Anna Mccutcheon

Graduate Research Papers

Nonprofits and foundations are encouraged to work together, seamlessly, by their constituents, peers, and even each other, but forming a collaborative partnership is not solely determined by preference or opinion (Le et al, 2018). Both foundations and nonprofits face multiple challenges when pursuing on-going, productive relationships with each other. Specifically, expectations that arise before, during, and after the grant proposal process, inconsistency with program performance and measurement expectations, and a lack of candid transparency that prohibits mutual lines of communication between these two entities.

The Impact Of Advocacy And Social Justice Work On Nonprofit Funding And Support, Brittany Appleton

Graduate Research Papers

Advocacy and social justice work has become a widely discussed topic over the past year, especially in the nonprofit world. As organizations work to move their mission forward and address critical issues in their community, they must balance the delicate relationships they have with their clients, their supporters, other organizations, and the community as a whole. This includes navigating their mission, vision, and values and the values and beliefs of supporters and community members. Taking an active role in advocacy and social justice work can impact these relationships, but little research has been done that shows what that impact could …

Analysis Of Assessments On Secondary Students' Development And Interpretation Of Models, Alaina L. Appley

Graduate Research Papers

As districts are making the shift to three-dimensional learning the development of a coherent set of high-quality task-based assessments has been a challenge. For this research I collected and analyzed twelve of my district's assessments over the scientific skill of modeling from grades seven through 12. The analysis involved two tools developed by NGSS and Achieve.org to determine the extent to which the assessments ask students to perform tasks that are driven by phenomena and use the three-dimensional in service of sense-making, the Task Screener and the Framework to Evaluate Cognitive Complexity in Science Assessments. The findings support what …

Bridging The Informal And Formal Learning Spaces With Whatsapp, Tutaleni I. Asino, Nandita Gurjar, Perien Boer

Faculty Publications

When it comes to digital-based learning, the question of engagement and presence is often focused on online learning involving traditional computing devices such as desktop computers or laptops. However, in areas where mobile devices are the most widely used computing technology, engagement and interaction between teachers and students looks different. In many parts of the world, interactions between individuals takes place through mobile texting applications to bridge formal and informal learning spaces.

One of the most popular mobile tools is WhatsApp, a free cross-platform mobile application that allows users to make calls (voice) and send messages (text). The app averages …

Improving Teacher Evaluation By Walking The Talk Of Standards-Based Grading: Communicating Educator Growth Using Proficiency Scales, Chad Lang, Matt Townsley

Faculty Publications

Teachers and school leaders frequently express a disconnect in the purpose and importance of teacher evaluation, particularly as it relates to educator growth. At the same time, some schools are beginning to communicate student growth through a standards-based grading philosophy. One way schools might “walk the talk” of their grading reform efforts designed to communicate student growth is through the use of proficiency scales to prioritize growth in teacher evaluation. This paper describes implications of simultaneously utilizing a growth model for teacher evaluation and a student growth model via standards-based grading.

Autoethnography On Teaching During A Pandemic, Kelsey Ufford

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted and changed teaching strategies in a young adolescent science classroom and how the pandemic changed personal ideas around online learning. Prior research shows how online learning can be implemented successfully in collegiate classrooms, but it is rare to find research that shows how to successfully implement online learning in a young adolescent classroom. This point of view is from a rural, Iowa middle school standpoint and data was collected through the use of personal journals, emails, and a timeline from March 2020 and May 2020. After the …

Rethinking Sustainability Monitoring In The Arctic By Linking Resilience And Sustainable Development In Socially-Oriented Observations: A Perspective, Tatiana Vlasova, Andrey N. Petrov, Sergey Volkov

Faculty Publications

Monitoring of social-ecological systems dynamics and sustainability is of high importance in a rapidly changing Arctic. The goal of this essay is to discuss and articulate the principles for designing a suitable Arctic sustainability monitoring framework based on the convergence between resilience thinking and sustainable development paradigms. We propose to integrate sustainability monitoring into the socially-oriented observations (SOO) methodologies in order to design Arctic sus-tainability monitoring as a transdisciplinary participatory activity that results in both co-production of sustainability knowledge and building more sustainable and resilient Arctic social-ecological systems by enabling continuous observation and informed decision-making. Special attention is given to …

Effects Of Exercise On Tests Measuring Attention And Executive Function In Younger And Older Adults, Angela N. Burda, Jennifer Baldwin, Johanna Cravatta, Jody Heetland, Kayla Jacobs, Hannah Merfeld, Jaden Rausch, Mallory Rinnels, Regan Zollman

Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study investigated whether or not performance differed between Young and Older Exercisers and between Young and Older Non-exercisers on the Attention Processing Training-Test (APT-Test), Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS), and Functional Assessment of Verbal Reasoning and Executive Strategies (FAVRES). Methods: A total of 119 participants were divided into the following groups: 46 Young Exercisers: (aged 18-40 years), 45 Older Exercisers (aged 60 and older), fourteen Young Non-exercisers, and fourteen Older Non-exercisers. Participants completed the APT-Test, BADS, and FAVRES in a counterbalanced manner. Independent sample t-tests were used to calculate outcomes. Results: Young Exercisers had significantly higher scores …