Digital Commons Network^™

One, Two, Unemployment’S Coming For You: How Slasher Films Reflect Societal Fears, Arwen G. Hansen

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Nir Spectroscopy As A Tool For Identifying Additives In Foundry Green Sands, Maurice Kuubata

Graduate Research Papers

The main objective of this study is to investigate the potential of Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a rapid, non-destructive method for identifying key additives such as seacoal and red iron oxides in foundry green sand. Samples comprised of silica sand with bentonite (DC2), seacoal, and/or red iron oxide were prepared. NIR spectra were acquired using an Avantes spectrometer with an Avasphere attachment. To ensure robust results, high-repeatability data was obtained from twelve replicates of two control mixtures.

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the spectral data showed that the first principal component (PC1) explained 99.23 % of total variance for Seacoal …

Violence And Taoist Ethics In Ursula K. Le Guin’S The Word For World Is Forest, Aleena Achamma Paul, Swathi Krishna S

UKL: The Journal of Ursula K. Le Guin Studies

This note critically investigates the ethico-moral intricacies of violence/peace in Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Word for World is Forest (1976) while arguing that her radical political sensibilities are informed by her ardent Taoist worldview. Amidst the urgent tussle for domination by the colonizing Terrans and the struggle for survival by the native Athsheans in the fictional planet Athshe, Le Guin incorporates her incisive critique of imperialist exploitation and militarism while upholding the non-dualistic ethics of Taoism. Moving beyond the moral imperatives and either/or debates, Le Guin illustrates how from time-to-time violence turns to be the singular means of self-preservation …

The Devil In The Forest: How Le Guin Subverts A Tired Trope, Andrew Debella

UKL: The Journal of Ursula K. Le Guin Studies

Scholars understand Ursula K. Le Guin's 1972 The Word for World is Forest as a critique of settler-colonial history, but no academic interest has been given to how this novel also comments on the American religious imagination. This article reveals that Le Guin's allegory to Vietnam replicates the 'devil in the forest' trope to expose how a religiously inspired good/evil dichotomy shaped xenophobic attitudes toward the Vietnamese during the 1970s. By tracing the depictions of Native Americans through American fiction and Captivity Narratives, this article further demonstrates how Le Guin’s novel deploys similar tropes to expose and critique their influence …

The Effect Of Note Highlighting On Note Identification Accuracy In Beginning Band Students, Thomas R. Knowles

Graduate Research Papers

This study was completed in the spring of 2025 and is based on the effectiveness of colored notation in music reading in beginning band students. An extensive literature review was conducted that supports the usage of color in educational material. Extensive research has been done on color in music education, and that research was used in this study. This study’s primary question is how color affects student note-reading. The hypothesis generated for the study is that students who receive highlighted notes see improvement in their note-reading compared to those who do not. The method used in this study was a …

Using A Research-Based Approach To Develop An Updated Claim, Evidence, And Reasoning (Cer) Writing Rubric For A High School Science Department, Robin Ashley Thaisen

Graduate Research Papers

All students must be proficient in reading and writing, and science materials present an added layer to these skill areas. Both national and Minnesota state standards require students to show their understanding of science content through certain practices, including constructing evidence-based arguments. A common instructional approach is a claim - evidence - reasoning (CER) framework for writing scientific conclusions. While there are many sources of CER rubrics and guidelines, both commercial and non-commercial, there is a wide range of language or word choice and formatting, among other differences, and none have been tailored to the ninth grade level. By using …

Anxious, Persistent, And Resilient; Oh My!, Samantha Hilbert

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

Making The Jump: A Self-Study Of The Implementation Of Gamification And Student Discussion In Middle School Mathematics, John Pauly

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Middle school mathematics teaching is a complex practice that incorporates both cognitive and emotional factors (Sen, 2022). Students must have permission to get stuck and unstuck in their thinking while critically considering their approaches (Kapp, 2016), along with opportunities to engage in decision-making, deep reasoning, and discussions about mathematics (Stein et al., 1996). Gamification and game-based learning can place students in an environment where discussion, collaboration and perseverance are highly valued in overcoming challenges and achieving common goals (Kapp, 2016).

This qualitative self-study reflects on the journey of John Pauly, a middle school mathematics teacher, told through his experiences and …

Comparing The Cognitive And Physiological Effects Of Traditional And Virtual Reality Exercise In Overweight/Obese Adults, Emma Kelsey

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Short-Term, High Dosage Creatine Supplementation On Cognitive Measures Following Mental Fatigue In Healthy Young Adults, Olivia Van Meter

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Attitudes Toward Juvenile Offenders: How Juvenile Justice Personnel Perceive Juvenile Recidivism, Morgan Barnette

Honors Program Theses

This study examined the relationship between juvenile justice personnel and the predictive factors of juvenile recidivism. With rising juvenile crime rates across the country, investigation into the causes of juvenile recidivism has also risen. However, not much research has been dedicated to the way juvenile justice personnel view juvenile recidivism. This study surveyed a sample of six juvenile justice personnel including judges, a lawyer, a probation officer, and a detention officer. The survey explored the types of crimes juveniles are perceived to be committing, the frequency of interactions with repeat offenders juvenile justice personnel are having in their respective professions, …

Language Assessment In Pediatric Speech-Language Pathology, Sierra Kay Buscher

Honors Program Theses

Standardized language assessments of children are commonly used to diagnose language disorders, yet these tools are often normed on a narrow demographic of monolingual, middleclass, white children. This narrow normative data has led to misdiagnosis of children who fall outside of the norm created. Studies highlight how cultural, linguistic, and normative test biases disproportionately affect children who speak non-mainstream dialects, are multilingual, have disabilities, or are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The findings of this literature review calls attention to a disconnect between research, policy, and clinical practice, indicating that SLPs rely on standardized assessment tools out of accessibility or in …

Evaluating Corporate Advertising: How Deception Leads To Downfall, Madison Duong

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Implementing Peer-Mediated Support Interventions For Children Diagnosed With Autism, Elise Wehr

Honors Program Theses

This paper investigated how peer-mediated support interventions could be used throughout speech-language therapy services for children diagnosed with autism. A comprehensive literature review was conducted related to the 8 components of the intervention process. Each component was thoroughly researched and carefully structured into best practices for implementing peer-mediated support interventions for children with autism. The primary goal of this research was to develop a resource for speech-language pathologists and related professionals to reference when implementing peer-mediated support interventions. Keywords: peer-mediated support interventions, autism, speech-language therapy, peers

Language As Privilege: Socioeconomic Status And The Politics Of Foreign Language Learning, Brenda Koumondji

Honors Program Theses

This study investigates the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and foreign language learning among young adult learners. Much research suggests that parental education level, household income, and access to educational resources significantly shape language learning attitudes and behaviors. However, United States scholars have lagged in this analysis. Through a mixed-methods research approach, this study combines quantitative surveys and qualitative data to gather comprehensive insights on how SES influences foreign language acquisition, motivation, and advantages. Findings reveal that students with higher SES backgrounds consistently report greater access to language learning resources and significantly higher proficiency levels. While parental education might not …

Addressing The Overemphasis And Impacts Of Academic Language In English Language Learner Instruction, Rebecca Pint

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

The Music Education Gender Divide At The University Of Northern Iowa, Abigail Wendland

Honors Program Theses

While anyone with proper training can direct a band well, the definitive stereotype in music education is that male directors are the default. Women face a multitude of challenges when going into the field because of this stereotype, which is the direct result of decades of prejudice that are now historical tradition. These challenges include the perceived need to adopt a male persona while on the podium, the challenges of working as a public school band director while being a mother, and the guilt that accompanies many women in the field. Obstacles such as these have strongly contributed to the …

Strengthening Social-Emotional Learning For Elementary Students Through Explicit Instruction, Miah Phalen

Honors Program Theses

Teaching social-emotional learning skills has been found to yield various behavioral and academic benefits for students, yet there has been limited research into effective instructional practices for teaching these skills. This qualitative study examined the extent to which specific explicit instruction elements are present in kindergarten lessons from three evidence-based SEL curricula: Kindness in the Classroom, Leader in Me, and Second Step. Each of these lessons was rated on a 0-2 scale regarding the presence of clearly established learning goals, lesson opening, modeling, guided practice, independent practice, opportunities for feedback, lesson closure, and skill sequencing. Results of this study indicated …

A Personal Exploration Of The Cultural Impact Of Shinto And The Meiji Shrine On Japan, Ashley Uitermarkt

Honors Program Theses

This project is a personal exploration regarding the cultural impact of Shinto in Japan, specifically exploring the Meiji Shrine. Shinto is a commonly practiced “religion” or tradition that is a part of the identity of the Japanese people. Like many Americans, I have had exposure to pieces of Japan through popular media like anime and manga. I have also visited Japan on three occasions. These avenues have given me some understanding of Japan but often lead to misconceptions and gaps in understanding of the culture as a whole. Shinto is intertwined with Japanese tradition in a way that many Westerners, …

Effect Of Seed Mix Design And Planting Time On Floral Resources, Madison Carleton

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of different management strategies used in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) prairie restorations. Specifically, this research assesses how well these practices support pollinator communities, which serve as indicators of habitat quality.

005. M.F. Arey (1905-06) [Biography], Iowa Academy Of Science.

Presidents of the Iowa Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Authenticity At Issue: Legislative Resistance To Gen Ai In Constituent Communication, Amy Mccoy

Iowa Journal of Communication

As legislators manage a fast-paced environment including an increasing number of legislative proposals, this research examines their perceptions around and understanding of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) and its potential applications related to constituent communications. This study explores how technological shifts in legislative communication, examined through New Media and Constructivist lenses, are interpreted and experienced by lawmakers. Through a mixed-methods approach using survey and interviews, this research provides insights on the contradiction of using Gen AI for legislative efficiency with concerns of how it may impact perceptions of authenticity and affect democratic engagement.

Assessing Residents' Water Knowledge, Communication Preferences, And Risk Perceptions: Insights For Practice And Future Communication, Ashleigh M. Day, Eric S. Cerino, Zoe Zidzik, Laura Umphrey

Iowa Journal of Communication

The purpose of this research was to better understand Flagstaff, Arizona (AZ) residents’ water knowledge, media uses, information sources, and water-related risk perceptions. After collecting survey responses from residents (n=476), results highlighted that most residents know their water supplier, but their risk perceptions varied as related to waterborne diseases and water scarcity. Particularly, participants felt more susceptible to water scarcity issues than waterborne diseases and felt that water scarcity was more severe than waterborne diseases. Further, when considering getting water-related information, many participants preferred receiving information via digital devices. Regarding social media use, participants held the strongest preference for receiving …

Toxic Sweetness And Abstinence: The Citationality Of Robert Lustig's Anti-Sugar Rhetoric, Tyler J. Snelling

Iowa Journal of Communication

Robert Lustig’s (2009) lecture on YouTube “Sugar: The Bitter Truth” animated a widespread conversation about whether sugar poisons bodies. Discourse following the lecture warrants analysis to gage how the meaning of the lecture transformed from a critique of food systems into individual actions. I argue that citationality of “Sugar: The Bitter Truth” fosters healthism by grounding sugar’s toxicity in scientific and affective reasoning that compels individual actions like abstinence from sugar. The pediatrician's lecture enabled the construction of a supposedly "moral eater" who removes sugar from consumption to avoid the poison's consequences. This paper offers tools for examining the spread …

Remembering July 36th: A Semiotic Analysis Of The Student-People's Revolutionary Graffiti, Jordan D. Smith

Iowa Journal of Communication

The use of graffiti as a tool for political solidarity has been universally documented in the academic lexicon. Using symbols of resilience, justice, disenfranchisement, and hope, graffiti is a unique phenomenon for visual rhetorical studies. The variety of artifacts spanning millennia document socio-political shifts, economic disparity, and messages of rebirth for systems in crisis. This study conducts a semiotic analysis of protest graffiti created during Bangladesh’s Student-People Uprising of July 2024 to explore how visual and linguistic signs construct messages of hope and solidarity. Using Ferdinand de Saussure’s (2021) semiotic framework, this research examines the symbolic and rhetorical elements present …

Front Matter - Table Of Contents - Preface

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Back Matter - Call For Submissions

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Fixation On Viruses: Eye-Tracking, Image-Based Agency, And Fear-Appeal Desensitization, Braden Bagley, Lijie Zhou, Hayden Coombs, Matthew Barton

Iowa Journal of Communication

This study examined the effects of image-based assignment of agency (IAA) on COVID-19 and flu fear-appeals by employing eye-tracking technology. Volunteers participated in a 2x2x2 between-groups experiment. Fixation-count and fixation-duration were collected by a Tobii Pro X3-120 Screen-Based Eye-Tracker. After reviewing a fact sheet, participants answered a 29-item survey that included items aligning with the extended parallel process model. The flu/agentic-image/virus-agentic-language message produced significantly higher fixation-frequency to the image and a higher perception of severity than the COVID-19/real-image/human-agentic-language message. Fixation-frequency on the image produced significantly higher fear perceptions, but significantly lower message-quality and message-credibility perceptions. Flu messages led to significantly …

Moldy Whoppers And Vitamin Donuts: Health Halos In Food Advertisements, Debbie Danowski

Iowa Journal of Communication

Health Halos have been used in food advertisements since the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when the advent of mass-produced consumer goods took hold and manufactures began advertising their products. It wasn’t until nearly eight decades later, however, that theoretical framework specifically involving health halos was recognized in advertising research. Though subsequent research suggests the effectiveness of health halos in making unhealthy food appear healthier, there has been little, if any, attention given to identification of the health halos used in food advertising. This study aims to fill the gap by identifying two of the health halo techniques used …

Modeling Inflation Expectations In Forward-Looking Interest Rate And Money Growth Rules, Zhengyang Chen, Victor J. Valcarcel

Faculty Publications

We propose a novel approach that directly embeds rational expectations (RE) into a low-dimensional structural vector autoregression (SVAR) without the need for any mapping to a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model. Beginning from a fully specified “consensus” structural model, we establish an instrumental variable procedure internal to the SVAR to obtain RE-consistent structural responses to identified monetary policy shocks. Our RE-SVAR framework facilitates a comparison across two alternative monetary policy indicators that accommodate long horizons in the formation of inflation expectations in the policy rule. We construct clouds of responses of inflation and economic activity to monetary …