Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Exercise In Cognitive Function In Older Ad, Josephine Sagan

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Between Two Schools Implementing Trauma-Informed Classroom Management, Maddie Steffen

Honors Program Theses

Traditional classroom management methods are ineffective with students who have or are experiencing trauma. Students will not physically be able to learn until they feel like they are in a safe space. A trauma-informed classroom provides students with a safe environment to facilitate learning. This approach to classroom management focuses on more than academics, but also the student’s well-being. It involves teachers trained in trauma awareness and strategies to help students cope with their emotions and engage in learning effectively. This project will study how two schools in a large urban public school district in the Midwest part of the …

Fostering Multiliteracies And Engagement With Multimodal Texts In The Secondary English Language Arts Classroom, Amanda J. Hargis

Graduate Research Papers

This study underscores the potential of multimodal texts to enhance student engagement and understanding in high school English Language Arts classrooms. While student preferences for different text formats varied, challenges remain in how to connect classic literature to contemporary students. However, the integration of multimodal resources can offer valuable opportunities for enriching the learning experience. Future research and continued adoption of culturally sustaining pedagogies in instructional practices will be key to maximizing the benefits of multimodal texts in diverse educational settings.

The Effect Of Student Discussion Groups On Music Preference, Abby Steffen

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of three different listening conditions on how students rate their preference of musical genre. The preferences of the students could then be analyzed and incorporated into daily teaching. The participants were fifth-grade students of the researcher. Students (N = 44) were divided into three groups: Listening Only, Small Group Discussion and Teacher Info. Students in the Listening Only group listened to a playlist of music representing ten genres and rated each genre on a scale from 1(I don’t like it) to 5 (I like it a lot). Students in the …

Front Matter - Table Of Contents - Preface

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Environmental Information Avoidance Motives On A U.S. Campus, Mary Beth Deline, Laura N. Rickard, Jared V. Worwood, Pei Geng, Elisabeth Reed

Iowa Journal of Communication

Although communication, broadly, is often identified as a key factor across campus sustainability initiatives, few studies have examined specific information behaviors that can affect reception of such efforts. We therefore seek to characterize motives for a key communication barrier to campus sustainability efforts: environmental information avoidance (IA), and to investigate whether these motives differ in relation to known or unknown information. This exploratory study thematically analyzed answers from an open-ended question on a questionnaire with faculty, staff and students on a U.S. university campus. We identified six environmental IA motives, ranging from information overload to efficacy constraints. Correlational analysis found …

An Unconventional Etiquette: Emily Post And Etiquette In Society, In Business, In Politics, And At Home., Jillian Klean Zwilling

Iowa Journal of Communication

In 1922, Emily Post published, Etiquette in Society, In Business, In Politics and at Home, which became a national bestseller. While other etiquette manuals had been written up to that point, none has been so successful and enduring in the American consciousness as Post’s. In this article, I explore the rhetorical strategies Post employed in creating a text that follows the conventions of an etiquette manual but breaks the convention of exclusivity generally associated with etiquette texts. I argue Post was successful because of her uniquely American approach to etiquette. The success of Post’s text can be attributed to her …

Book Review: From Thought To Action: Developing A Social Justice Orientation, Joy L. Daggs

Iowa Journal of Communication

In the second edition of From Thought to Action: Developing a Social Justice Orientation, Sanford helps to provide a framework for students’ first exposure to allyship and activism. In the preface of the book, Sanford (2024) articulates the three major purposes of the book, which include helping new allies, “a) focus on common humanity, b) feel less isolated on their social justice journey, c) figure out how to move from thought to action, either individually or collectively.” (p. xiv) The book could be used to supplement a course on Intercultural Communication, encouraging students to take their knowledge to collaborate with …

Small Business Burnout: Reversing The Entrepreneurial Exit, Adele Kuruppu

Honors Program Theses

This thesis aims to review the current literature on entrepreneurial burnout, identify critical issues, evaluate and assess the research findings, and produce a plan for both new and experienced entrepreneurs to both avoid and minimize burnout. As a business and entrepreneurship student interested in opening a small business myself, I have become drawn to the topic of burnout and how it affects the family dynamic. Qualitative interviews revealed correlations between entrepreneurial characteristics and burnout as well as work-family conflict and burnout. By drawing from current literature and insight from small business owners, this study seeks to identify fundamental causes, symptoms, …

Reexamination Of College Students’ Behaviors And Knowledge Of Recycling, Ella Hilbrant

Honors Program Theses

The motivation for and consistency of recycling behavior varies widely from person to person. For some, motivation stems from concern for the environment, while others lack motivation to recycle at all or will only recycle if convenient. Within college students, differences in motivation and recycling habits may depend on factors such as personal demographics, involvement in specific classes or student groups, recycling habits before college, etc. Recycling behaviors can also stem from environmental literacy, which is how individuals understand, process, and use environmental information needed to make informed, sustainable, and environmentally friendly decisions (Null et al. 2021). Furthermore, on-campus recycling …

Iowa Journal Of Communication, Volume 56, Number 1, Fall 2024 [Download Entire Issue]

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Welcome From The Editor, Kristen L. Majocha

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Visual Documentary Of Intimacy: Obama Presidency Through Pete Souza's Images, Yung Soo Kim

Iowa Journal of Communication

This study aims to provide a more in-depth analysis by exploring how images of President Obama successfully led the public to perceive him favorably. This qualitative visual analysis shows that the success of Mr. Souza’s coverage of President Obama stems from his documentary images of intimate moments of the president. Those intimate documentations might help some viewers embrace President Obama as trustworthy, at least for those who came to know him more via these images.

Teachers Do It All: A Cluster-Based Analysis Of Abbott Elementary, Peter Heryla

Iowa Journal of Communication

This study employs rhetorical criticism to analyze the television sitcom Abbott Elementary (2021). Through close examination of the episodes “Pilot,” “Development Day,” and “Egg Drop,” this analysis aims to uncover key ideas about the multifaceted roles and responsibilities educators are required to assume outside of their main job as “teacher.” Utilizing cluster criticism, the study shows that being a teacher is about more than educating, and that teachers are motivated by common themes when they act outside of their role. The study also focuses on the mediated representation of teachers and the harmful demographic tropes that have historically characterized them, …

The Future Of Mediation: Mcluhanisms For The Quantum Era, Erik Gustafson

Iowa Journal of Communication

The 21st century has been characterized as a time of expansive and rapid technological change, particularly regarding the internet, digital technologies, and now artificial intelligence. Both scholarly and popular conversations have rushed to make sense of the technological phenomenon as they occur. Now, the “second quantum revolution” and the race for “quantum supremacy” threaten to push technological knowledge and applications even further from public understanding. As such, the present article sought to provide a host of theoretical and practical tools that may aid the public and scholars alike in understanding and combatting the overwhelming features of technology that may come …

How Influencer Marketers Inspire Trust: The Case Of Sadaf Beauty, Maryam Amini

Iowa Journal of Communication

This article presents a qualitative case study of Iranian beauty influencer Sadaf Masaeli (Sadaf Beauty), focusing on how she has cultivated her followers’ trust on her Instagram account. Sadaf was identified as the second most influential beauty influencer of 2019 in the world by Forbes magazine (Caludet, 2019). Her example provides insight into how influencer marketing has become a popular way to increase brand awareness, find new customers and enhance purchase intention. In particular, her case highlights the effects of a contradiction shaping influencer marketing. On the one hand, influencers appear as authentic social media users, to attract followers whilst, …

We Did What? To Whom? An Analysis Of How Us Educational Materials Present The Philippine-American War And Occupation, Jude Beekman

Honors Program Theses

Since the turn of the 21st century, decisions of American leaders have continued traditions of American exceptionalism and general attempts at dominance, although this is continuously brought into question. A generation has since passed through school and experienced curriculums that have implied such American exceptionalism and dominance. Acknowledged for decades, the military-industrial complex has extended into the 21st century with involvement across the globe, but notably in the Middle East. For those indigenous to the Pacific, militarism extends to how people perceive the bodies and selves of indigenous peoples. There exist multiple definitions of colonialism and imperialism, but in essence, …

Why Play? Exploring The Realities Of Play-Based Learning In Kindergarten, Sofia Josephine Steele

Honors Program Theses

By nature, children are curious and love to explore the world around them. Play is one way that children can fulfill that innate curiosity. Through play-based learning, educators can utilize that innate curiosity and wonder in children to create valuable learning experiences that will engage and teach them. This pedagogical approach is used in early childhood education to help children develop their academic, social, and emotional skills through appropriate learning experiences that consider their abilities and interests. However, in recent years, there has been a shift away from play-based learning in kindergarten classrooms. The reasoning behind this shift may be …

The Relationship Between Athletes' Competitive State Anxiety And Self-Confidence And Coaches' Behaviors, Derek Anderson

Honors Program Theses

Competitive state anxiety (CSA) and self-confidence are prominent issues in athletics and can cause detrimental effects on athletic performance. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of perceived coach anxiety and perceived coach self-confidence on athlete competitive state anxiety and self-confidence. It was predicted that as perceived coach anxiety increases, athlete competitive anxiety will increase. Furthermore, as perceived coach self-confidence decreases, athlete self-confidence will decrease. Ninety-six Division I athletes from three sports (men’s/women’s track and field, women’s soccer, women’s softball) were recruited. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 25 years of age (M = 20.33, SD …

Desert Or Mirage? An Examination Of Food Deserts In Iowa Cities, Andrew Creasey

Graduate Research Papers

Food insecurity affects millions of Americans and has been widely recognized as a significant health and economic issue. Because of this, researchers have sought to develop ways to identify areas that are prone to food insecurity, which have become known as food deserts. Food deserts have been broadly defined through a confluence of three factors: low income, a lack of vehicle access, and a predetermined distance from a healthy food retailer. But research into food deserts in Iowa is limited, and the most prominent source of information on this topic, the Food Access Research Atlas created by the U.S. Department …

The Cancellation Station Podcast: The Controversies Of Canceling, Quinn Rauchenecker

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The term “Cancel Culture” has had a firm grasp on mainstream culture and disagreements about whether it is doing more harm than good. While the initial intention of the widespread term was created for good, it is now in a space of critique. For my thesis, I use the creative means of podcasting to explore cancel culture and its controversies.

Narratives Of Identity: An Autoethnographic Exploration Of Biracial Identity Construction And Performance In Family, Education, And Media, Eboni Springfield

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis explores the complex construction and performance of biracial identity within the context of the United States, delving into the historical and ongoing impacts of race and racism, and the pervasive influence of white supremacy. Through an autoethnographic approach, this study investigates how personal narratives illuminate the processes of biracial identity construction, expression, and negotiation across three social institutions: family, education, and media. The findings reveal the intricate and intersecting interactions that contribute to identity formation, highlighting the expansive nature of intersectionality. The analysis demonstrates that biracial identity is continuously shaped in response to white supremacy, which complicates efforts …

Positioning Paperback Books As Americana: Cultural And Historical Impacts Of The Wadle Pocket Book Collection, Jake Volk

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The first book in the form of a codex was bound around 300 BCE, but the earliest material used to record writing appeared around 3000 BCE. From these documents recording proto-writing of human history, people have sought to analyze and preserve writing, which continues as a contemporary work of scholars across multiple disciplines to form the field of the history of the book. As the book changed physical form from illuminated manuscripts on vellum to cheaply produced, paperback books, which appeared in the early 1800s, historians have documented these changes; however, more analysis is needed to categorize and interpret how …

Teacher Use Of Rubrics To Assess Claim, Evidence And Reasonings In The High School Science Classroom, Brianna Finnegan

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This qualitative study examines how high school science teachers in an eastern Iowa high school utilize rubrics to assess students’ claims, evidence, and reasoning (CER) in the science classroom. The research investigates the methodology teachers employ in assessing student proficiency using their own rubrics they have created. Data were collected through think-aloud interviews with participating teachers as they evaluated and scored CER examples. Analysis of interview data involved inductive coding to identify common themes and categories, shedding light on teacher’s scoring practices, rubric construction, and perceptions of student proficiency and rubric validity.

Findings reveal that teachers often weigh evidence and …

Dog-Training Programs For Incarcerated Women, Susan Grover

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Prison dog-training programs are a fairly new rehabilitative practice in women’s prisons. This study seeks to identify the effects dog-training programs have on women while incarcerated and then once reintegrated back into their family and community. This study includes an analytic literature review of the research on animal training programs and dog training programs in general. Most of the existing research, however, focuses on men and boys and shows that while prison-based dog-training programs are largely beneficial, they are less so for boys and do create unique vulnerabilities in men’s prisons. This study extends the previous research by examining the …

Boxes With Curves: The Necessity For School Leaders To Empower And Engage Through Culturally Competent Lenses, Priscilla Culp

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this qualitative research study is to examine the experiences and perspectives of an urban elementary school principal in relation to culturally competent practices. As schools become increasingly diverse, school leaders must possess a number of cultural competencies to effectively administer and lead. Cultural competency, for this research, is defined as a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or amongst professionals and enables that system, agency, or those professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations (Cross et al., 1989). Culturally competent school leaders realize the process of change begins with …

The Flute Music Of Claude Arrieu: Jean-Pierre Rampal, Radio, And The French Flute School, Breanna Daley

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The flute works of Claude Arrieu (1903-1990) are relatively unknown, as is Arrieu herself. A composer active throughout the twentieth century and a radio producer in Paris during the 1930s and 1940s, Arrieu and her music are now often lost amongst the more popular works of her French contemporaries. Her compositional output, which includes music written for traditional concerts and over seventy scores for radio and film, displays her ease in navigating the early twentieth century’s changing mediums of music performance. Arrieu composed several pieces for solo flute with piano or orchestra, including the Sonatine for Flute and Piano (1943) …

A Process Evaluation Of A Program Designed To Expand Access To The Iowa Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (Snap-Ed), Justine R. Hoover

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed), implements food- and nutrition-related interventions through direct nutrition education and Policy, Systems, and Environment (PSE) changes. The target audience for these interventions is Iowans with low-income who are eligible or likely eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. ISU SNAP-Ed direct nutrition education aims to equip Iowans with low-income with the knowledge and skills to make healthy food choices and save money on food expenses. ISU SNAP-Ed PSE aims to make the healthiest choice the easiest choice in the food pantry environment. Prior to Federal …

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Burnout, Resilience, And Psychological Safety Within The Workplace, Riley Elenz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

Suspected Vs. Diagnosed Mental Illness, Race, And The Ngri Plea, Alexa Roudabush

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.