Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Text-To-Speech On Students With Reading Disabilities, Melissa Oberembt

Graduate Research Papers

Text-to-speech (TTS) is becoming a common accommodation/support for students with reading disabilities to improve reading skills. This review examines the effects TTS has on reading comprehension, reading rate, written language, as well as the social validity of students with reading disabilities and other print disabilities. Twenty-eight peer-reviewed studies published between 2002 and 2019 were selected for analysis in this review. The reviewed research indicates that reading rate increased, while reading comprehension had mixed results, and writing skills did not significantly improve when TTS was used. Research also confirmed the social validity of TTS. Future research into the effects of TTS …

Best Practices In Assessment And Evaluation Of Literacy At The Secondary Level, Meaghan Kathleen Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

Research over the century has shown that grading practices in schools, especially at the secondary level, are commonly inconsistent, unreliable, and invalid amongst teachers. Grades have a large impact on students’ futures, determining scholarships, colleges, and career paths. Therefore, it is important that assessment and evaluation practices are consistent, reliable, and fair. This paper contains a review of research on the reasons for discrepancies in grading practices, followed by what research suggests is best practice for fair and reliable assessment and evaluation practices. Finally, these findings have been combined to develop a presentation on best practices in assessment and evaluation …

Informed Hearing Loss Prevention For Theatre Uni, Mallory Park

Honors Program Theses

This study explores the opinions and behaviors related to hearing loss and hearing loss prevention in the demographic of theatre workers at Theatre UNI. Data was collected through a survey dispersed in a department-wide email and by measuring sound level in the scene shop and the costume studio. Survey responses from 11 participants indicated that theatre workers at Theatre UNI may be at risk for noise-induced hearing loss and that further education may aid in prevention of hearing damage.

"It's Important To Just Have Your Voice Heard": Young Voters' Change Perception Of Political Efficacy, Christopher Matthew Merck

Honors Program Theses

Youth voter turnout in Iowa spiked in the 2018 midterm election. This paper attempts to figure out why. By replicating a 2004 study examining the voting behavior of young Iowans during the 2002 midterms, this study identified significant shifts in how young voters think and communicate about voting. After conducting 37 open-ended interviews with 18-24-year-olds, it was found that although young people identified many of the same concerns in 2018 as they had in 2002, they were far more likely to vote. Respondents were more likely to identify the consummatory effects of voting, which in turn led to an increase …

She's Not Allowed To Do That: Performing Stigmatized Same-Sex Sexuality, Orion Lee Risk

Honors Program Theses

In the summer of 2018, an emerging theatre company produced Stop Kiss by Diana Son in Waterloo, Iowa, a mid-size industrial town adjacent to the city of Cedar Falls, which hosts a small public university. In Stop Kiss, the two lead characters are women fall romantically for each other, so that in performing their characters the actors embody same-sex sexuality. This paper will explore how the actors playing these two characters engaged with this embodiment, and how doing so affected them.

The Effect Of Math Tracking On Students' Growth Mindsets, Amber Lawrence

Honors Program Theses

This study investigated the effects of tracking in math classes on students’ growth mindset in math. A survey was given to students to evaluate their growth mindset in a quantitative way. Students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grade were surveyed. The 6th grade students had not been officially tracked, the 7th grade students were in their first year of tracking, and the 8th grade students had been tracked for over a year. A one-way analysis of variance was performed and showed a statistically significant difference between the growth mindset scores of the students by grade level. A Student’s T-Test …

Vinyl Advertisement In The Uni Bookstore Windows, Emma Wilker

Honors Program Theses

At my initial meeting with my client representative we discussed his interest in a perforated vinyl advertisement. We met at the UNI Bookstore so I could see these windows in person. The UNI Bookstore windows are divided into sections by thick bars. There are equalsized divisions vertically while horizontally they are divided into three sections: a large middle section and smaller top and bottom sections. He envisioned perforated vinyl on the middle sections of the windows, possibly all of the north facing windows and half of the east facing ones.

A Feasibility Study On Utilizing Data Science As An Advanced Lean Manufacturing Tool In The Biopharma Manufacturing Sector, Tanya Heerts

Graduate Research Papers

The critical understanding, on which all else hinges in the biopharmaceutical industry, is that value is only added when a drug or a biologic is produced as a safe, efficacious first-pass product, in an efficient and effective manner. Every other activity is an expense and a cost to the company. In a tightly regulated industry that is facing turbulent times, the need to reconcile rising costs while still maintaining quality within the processes and products is imperative within the biopharma manufacturing sector. Current literature suggests that data science will have major implications in the future of biopharmaceutical manufacturing, however this …

The Effectiveness Of Using Intelligent Tutoring Systems To Increase Student Achievement, Tedi Swanson

Graduate Research Papers

Intelligent Tutoring Systems could be used to provide differentiated instruction. This review examines qualities of Intelligent Tutoring Systems and their impact on student achievement. Thirty peer-reviewed research studies published from 1997 to 2019 were selected for analysis. This review considers how intelligent tutoring systems compare with other methods of instruction, and how an intelligent tutoring system’s on-screen tutor impacts student achievement. Finally, this review considers methods of ITS personalization and how those methods impact student achievement. The reviewed research studies indicated that ITS was more effective than all forms of instruction except small group and individualized instruction. Additionally, on-screen agents …

Women's Occupational Health And Safety In The Informal Economy: Maternal Market Traders In Accra, Ghana, Joyceline Amoako

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Improving maternal health and women’s health is necessary, especially in countries with high maternal and child mortality rates. Most research on maternal health focuses on women’s reproductive health and, as a result, very little is known about the impact of occupation on maternal health (World Health Organization, 2006). It is also interesting to know that “Occupational Health Research” has been heavily criticized for the general absence of a gender standpoint, usually resulting in the exclusion of women and their concerns at the workplace (World Health Organization, 2006). In Ghana, an open-air market is an integral place of work for women. …

Preschool Teachers' Beliefs And Actions Concerning Creativity In The Classroom, Latisha Lynn Smith

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine preschool teachers’ beliefs and actions associated with creative pedagogy. This study partially replicated a study by Cheung (2017) and allowed for comparisons among American, Greek, and Chinese preschool teachers. This qualitative study used case studies to examine preschool teachers’ beliefs related to the definition of creativity, effective creative pedagogy, and contextual factors related to promoting creativity. Participants included three preschool teachers in rural settings in the Midwestern United States. Data included an initial interview, the completion of the Early Childhood Creative Pedagogy Questionnaire (Cheung & Leung, 2013), two lesson observations, and reflection …

Effects Of Political Ingroup/Outgroup Rejection On Behavior And Physiology, Hannah Rose Lentfer

Honors Program Theses

Previous research shows that both exclusion and intergroup threat can increase prejudice and biological markers such as cortisol. Exclusion from an outgroup should increase prejudice and cortisol more than similar interactions in an ingroup since it incorporates both exclusion and intergroup threat. Change in cortisol and prejudice was examined in fifty participants who were excluded by either a politically-based ingroup or outgroup. Two t-tests were conducted to examine the change in a) cortisol and b) prejudice as a function of experimental ingroup/outgroup conditions. Additional analyses were also conducted to further explore cortisol changes and similarity. Cortisol increased more in participants …

Graduate Recital In Viola, Gabriel Forero

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Gabriel Forero Villamizar performed his Master of Music Recital in viola on March 29, 2019, at 8:00 pm in the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Art Center’s Davis Hall. He was assisted by pianists James Mick and Sean Botkin. The program selected included the Sonata No.3 for Viola da Gamba in G minor BWV 1029 by Johann Sebastian Bach, the Concerto “Der Schwanendreher” by Paul Hindemith, Morpheus for Viola and Piano by Rebecca Clarke, Cadenza for Solo Viola by Krzysztof Penderecki, and Nahum by David Wallace. This program’s repertoire was selected to represent a wide variety of styles, techniques, and performance …

Integrating Movement In The Elementary Classroom: Creating Innovative Materials That Incorporate Movement With Content Areas, Hannah Kristine Harrison

Honors Program Theses

Movement is an aspect of teaching that often gets left out of curriculum and lesson plans in the elementary classroom. However, brain research and educational studies show that movement can play a critical role in understanding. The goal of this study was to determine how educators can use movement to enhance lessons that are already being taught during the school day without needing extra materials, time, or money. Resources and activities were compiled, organized, and aligned to content standards in order to give educators ideas of ways to modify lessons to incorporate movement. The findings can be found on a …

Determining And Addressing The Needs Of Transracial Korean Adoptees In Higher Education, Alison Yoo-Jung-Kim Dickinson

Honors Program Theses

One out of ten Korean Americans is estimated to be an adoptee (McGinnis, 2007). The majority of these adopted Korean Americans are transracial adoptees (TRAs), a group that has not received enough attention despite their unique experiences, perspectives, and needs. On top of the unique challenges TRAs face throughout life in general, most young adults go on to pursue a higher education which is a developmentally challenging time for anyone, pushing students to define their own values and personal identity (Long, 2012). According to the U.S. State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs (2018), there were 20,800 transracial Korean adoptees (TRKAs) …

Data Analytics Of Job Market Requirements For Technology Related Doctoral Degrees, Sidra Meo Rajput

Graduate Research Papers

To remain competitive in the twenty first (21) century, industries are forced to rapidly embrace new innovations in both automation technology and information technology. This rapidly changing technological landscape has created a state of flux for industries and academia alike.

What is required of most workers in this millennia across the globe is technical skills and this requirement is heightened for workforce with graduate degree credentials. Today's work force are required to constantly keep up with new productivity improvement concepts, tools, and technologies. This necessity mandate continues education throughout one's working age.

In order to conquer this phenomenon, institutes of …

Cultural Practices And The Transmission Of Ebola In Sierra Leone: Lessons Learned From A Medical Anthropology Perspective, Abubakarr Jalloh

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The link between culture and infectious diseases has long been established. This is primarily due to the notion that culture shapes and influences people’s beliefs, actions, and ways of life. Such beliefs and their accompanying actions ultimately contribute to people’s risk of contracting an infectious disease. As such, there is a need for a cultural perspective in understanding infectious diseases because human behavior plays a significant role in the emergent, transmission, and spread of such diseases. This study explores the cultural practices that may have contributed to the transmission of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Sierra Leone during the 2013-2016 …

Toward A Performative Understanding Of Politeness, C. Kyle Rudick, Danielle E. Mcgeough

Faculty Publications

In this article, we argue that critical communication scholars have largely overlooked the study of politeness as a constitutive component of identity, culture, and power. We offer a critical-performative framework for critical scholars interested in studying politeness as a political, discursive, and embodied act. To develop this agenda, we first outline Brown and Levinson’s postpositivist theory of politeness. We then review three challenges to their use of intentionality, Grice’s cooperative principle, and Goffman’s concept of face. These challenges are located in interactional, traditional critical, and discursive understandings of politeness (respectively). Next, we show how a performative understanding of politeness both …

The Impact Of Chronic Poverty On Children's Behavioral Health And Learning Outcomes, Anna Catherine Rasmussen

Honors Program Theses

Chronic poverty is an unfortunate reality many children face every day. The current literature review evaluated the impact poverty has on children’s behavioral health and learning outcomes. Research consistently shows that children living in poverty experience higher rates of conduct problems, such as Conduct Disorder (CD), as well as increased learning problems, such as Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) and diminished academic success. There are several theories for this relation, encompassing both environmental and biological influences, which are reviewed herein. The overall conclusion is that living in poverty negatively impacts children’s behavioral and learning outcomes.

The Anthropological Significance Of Knockloon Hill, Emma Rosentrater

Honors Program Theses

Some of the most intriguing mysteries in archaeology surround monuments that are all that remains of cultures that have left almost no record of their existence. Their beliefs have been lost to the ages and the purpose of the monuments they built along with them. Yet with proper analysis, it may be possible to learn about a site’s purpose and significance in the society in which it was built. One site in particular is Knockloon Hill in County Clare, Ireland (fig. 1 &2). Though it may not be as grand or impressive as other sites, it may hold the key …

Work-Related Outcomes And Organizational Commitment, Mushaun Miller

Honors Program Theses

The modern workplace encompasses a multi-generational and diverse workforce. Now more than ever, workplaces include those of various ages, backgrounds, races, and more. It is important for an organization to manage the differences among its employees in order to influence personal and organizational outcomes. After all, work-related personal outcomes allow the employee to evaluate the organization and find his/her place within it- which influences commitment to an organization. Organizational commitment is a crucial goal due to its ability to reduce various dysfunctional behaviors such as absenteeism or turnover. High organizational commitment also leads to various positive outcomes including stronger customer …

Code Readability: A Proposal On The Effects Of Psychology And Comprehension In Software Development And Maintenance, Ethan Brian Sankey

Honors Program Theses

Because of the diversity and complexity of the hundreds of coding languages out there, code readability has become more and more of an issue as the years have passed and as the popularity of technology that required built-in computers has increased. With so many different formats, styles, and restrictions on each language, even a developer with experience in only a few common languages may have trouble remembering which language allows for certain indentation, which language requires variable instantiation, which language requires return statements at the end of functions. While I can appreciate the diversity and efficiency that having many different …

University Of Northern Iowa Graduating Senior Survey 2018-2019 Academic Year, Bailey Holm

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

Contents:

Methodology & Survey Highlights--1
Percentage of Respondents by College--2
Demographic Information--3-6
Post-Graduation Plans--7-11
Educational Experiences & Skills--12-19
Academic & Social Environment--20-28
Comparison Across Years--29-38
Survey Form--39-45

University Of Northern Iowa Strategic Plan, 2019 Mid Plan Report, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of Institutional Research & Effectiveness.

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

A report detailing the progress on the strategic goals within the University of Northern Iowa's strategic plan.

Programs And Courses Catalog 2019-2020, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Programs and Courses Catalogs

This catalog is published for students and other persons who want to know more about the University of Northern Iowa. Its purpose is to communicate as objectively and completely as possible what the university is and what it does. The catalog is presented in sections to give a general view of the university as well as the detailed information required for informed decision making.

Partisanship, Provocation, Protest, And Pugnacity: Communication In A Context Of Conflict - Introduction To The Special Issue, Rachel C. Murdock

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Resign!!!: Acrimony And Protest On President Trump's @Realdonaldtrump Twitter Account, Saman Talib

Iowa Journal of Communication

A major feature of the Trump election and presidency is President Trump's use of Twitter. He has used @realdonaldtrump, his personal Twitter account, to state policy positions, berate various people, and even announce firings. While news coverage focuses on President Trump's tweets, the account itself has been and continues to be the recipient of copious numbers of negative posts from ordinary citizens. The court 's designation of this Twitter account as a 'designated public space' and the large number of negative posts warrants a closer examination of these tweets. This study employed the grounded theory method to analyze the account …

The Rhetoric Of Rhetorical Reactance: Pork Producers' Responses To The Animal Activist Movement, Kathleen German, Adam Rottinghaus

Iowa Journal of Communication

Animal activists made inroads against the fur industry, laboratory research, veal production, and horse slaughter during the 1980s and 1990s. While pork producers were not directly targeted, they nevertheless reacted, perceiving a dire threat to their own industry and a bleak future for pork production. This fear was magnified by their sense that activists were supported by a broad population of non/armers who were naively susceptible to irrational and emotional appeals. This case study points out the complexity of public discourse rippling outward from the animal rights movement. As animal activists raised their voices against fur ranchers, animal researchers, and …

Front Matter - Table Of Contents - Preface

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

"A Global Environmental Movement That Protects Us All:" Racial Scripts, Counterscripts, And Advocating For Social Change In An Environmental Justice Context, Christopher Scott Thomas

Iowa Journal of Communication

This essay explores the means of advocacy in a letter sent by the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) in 1990 that charges mainstream environmentalists with environmental racism. Although the letter is known for its importance in shaping the relationship between environmentalism and environmental justice, engaging the document's collaborative rhetorics illuminates the means by which its signatories crafted resistance and solidarity. To these ends, I argue that the letter crafts links between its signatories based on corresponding structural forces and common concerns. The letter also constructs and advances counter advocacies that work simultaneously as critiques of mainstream environmentalists as well as calls …