Digital Commons Network^™

The Relative Age Effect Among Elite Level Triathletes, Christine Price

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of the RAE in elite level triathletes. Is there an overrepresentation of athletes born in the first half of the competition year among elite level triathletes? Is there a difference in the strength of the RAE between males and females, when elite level triathletes are separated by sex?

Tribal And Commercial Casinos In The Midwestern United States: Effect On County Unemployment, Amber Irlmeier

Honors Program Theses

The subject of casinos is constantly surrounded by debate. The proponents of casinos frequently say that casinos bring jobs, and therefore, they will reduce the unemployment rate. This study quantitatively analyzes this claim. Furthermore, previous research looked at either tribal or commercial casinos. This study looks at both tribal and commercial casinos so a comparison can be made between the impacts of the two types of casinos. The sample analyzed is a set of commercial and tribal casinos in eight Midwestern states. The findings are that a commercial casino entering a county is significantly negatively correlated with the unemployment rate, …

Comparison Of Life Experiences Of Men And Women In The Sciences, Tori Nicole Quist

Honors Program Theses

A lack of sense of belonging and stereotype threat have been shown to contribute to women leaving the sciences (Seymour, 1997; Beasley & Fischer, 2012; Deemer et al., 2013). Contributing to this is the fact that most women find affirmation externally (through friends, family and professors) for their life decisions (Seymour, 1997; Zeldin, 2000). A set of comparative studies in 2000 and 2008 were done examining factors affecting women’s and men’s choices of majors and careers (Zeldin, 2000 and Zeldin, 2008). These studies concluded that men relied on achievements in science as the source of their career decisions to enter …

A Preliminary Systematic Analysis Of The Species Of Genus Physaria (Brassicaceae) Of Wyoming, Kayla Rethwisch

Honors Program Theses

Physaria is a recent and rapidly evolving genus of plants in the Brassicaceae family. Particularly problematic are the taxa in the “old” Physaria sensu stricto found in Wyoming, characterized by highly inflated, didymous fruits. Due to the plants in this group being of recent origin, the relationships among them are unknown. This study examined several samples from each taxon in a preliminary study of the taxonomy of these species. The resulting phylogenies were analyzed to determine relatedness among the species. By looking at gene regions, sections on the genomic sequence, it is possible to determine how these various plants are …

Rhetoric And Science: Examining And Identifying The Rhetorical Techniques Used By Students In A Composition Classroom, Amanda Arp

Honors Program Theses

Student use of rhetoric can provide insight into student learning since rhetoric is, in part, epistemological. Epistemology refers to the study of the way someone thinks about a topic. Rhetoric is epistemological, therefore, because rhetoric is, at its core, the way ideas are thought about and expressed. Therefore, identifying and analyzing student usage of rhetorical techniques has the potential to allow a glimpse at the epistemological state of the student mind concerning their rhetorical learning. Insight drawn from knowing what students do and do not know concerning rhetoric could be extremely valuable to teachers in that it could pinpoint opportunities …

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy: Secondary Mathematics In An Urban Classroom, Julia Glissmann North

Honors Program Theses

Research and test scores have shown that African-American, Latino, Native American, and other minority students are underachieving in secondary mathematics. This is concerning not only to school personnel – who are under pressure to have students perform well on standardized tests – but also to the future of the country. When teachers adopt a culturally relevant pedagogy, diverse students will have a better opportunity to learn and retain mathematical content. When academic content is taught in a culturally relevant way, students are able to retain the information, improve their performance in school, and become more informed participants in society. Through …

The Effectiveness Of Flipped Classroom Learning In Higher Education : A Literature Review From 2009 To 2014, Samir Taha Amin

Graduate Research Papers

Some higher education institutes and some individual teachers have flipped their classrooms using the methodology of "lecture out, homework in" thus, enabling students to review lectures before classroom time. Teachers in tum- use classroom time for discussion and homework help instead of lectures. This review discusses the relationship between flipping classrooms and students' engagement and achievement. Studies used in this review were published between 2009 and 2014. The scope of this review is to investigate the effects of flipped classroom models on students' engagement and achievement in higher education. Many studies reported successful implementation of the flipped classroom. Results indicate …

The Usefulness Of Graphic Novels As Information Sources For Nonfiction Reading, Sarah Holub

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to further understand students' ability to comprehend science content information after reading graphic novels. Students were also monitored for interest and enjoyment of the graphic novel format when reading about astronomy, Earth, and space. This descriptive study sought to describe what students learn about science content when reading from graphic novels, what changes occur in students' comprehension statements after reading graphic novels, and the interest and enjoyment students have when reading graphic novels. Participants met four times, for 45 minutes, to read and discuss graphic novels, as well as rate their interest and enjoyment …

Using The Apprenticeship Model In A Library Setting, Jennifer Sloan

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Apprenticeship Model for the teaching of information literacy skills. The research questions for this study were: (a) Will at least 70% of the participating students increase their scores on specific TRAILS Assessment items related to using information responsibly and ethically? (b) What improvements will students make towards the understanding of the responsible and ethical use of information? and (c) What best practices can be gained from the application of the Apprenticeship model to information literacy instruction?

Eighty-eight percent of the 25 students studied made gains by at least …

Communiqué: College Of Humanities, Arts & Sciences Alumni Magazine,Volume 3, Winter 2014, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Humanities, Arts, And Sciences.

Communiqué: College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences Alumni Magazine

Contents:

-- Dean's Message
-- The Oldest Literary Magazine in the Country
-- Even the King Plays Jazz
-- Briefs: Humanities and Fine Arts
-- Inari and a Land Between Two Rivers
-- By the Light
-- The American Way of Eating
-- Kristallnacht: Threads of Memories
-- Finding a Voice
-- CHAS Applause
-- Transitions
-- News in Short
-- 3D Printer: Dimensional Opportunities
-- Americorps: Iowa Energy Efficiency
-- Yager Award
-- Salamanders, Snakes and Turtles, Oh My!
-- Titan: One Man's Search for Answers from a Moon
-- Plant, Grow, Harvest: UNI's Panther Plot
-- Briefs: Sciences …

The Update, January/February 2014, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Humanities, Arts And Sciences.

Update

Inside this issue...

-- Name That! App
-- Department News
-- Name That! App
-- School of Music Events
-- UNI Students Write "The World of Kurt Vonnegut"
-- Just Ann: A Musical about the Life and Times of Former Texas Governor, Ann Richards
-- Interpreters Theatre Productions Schedule
-- Student Spotlight: School of Music: Claudia Restrepo:
-- UNI Women's & Gender Studies Presents: CROW Forum
-- Student Spotlight: Mathematics: Benjamin Castle
-- Featured Organization: Construction Management Club
-- Alicia Jessip Receives Diversity Matters Award
-- Coming Up at Theatre UNI: Mauritius & August: Osage County
-- Student Spotlight: Art: …

The Wright Message, 2014-2015, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Mathematics.

The Wright Message

Inside this issue:

-- Dear Department Alumni and Friends
-- Around Wright Hall
-- Tenure Stream Faculty 2014 - 2015
-- The 2014 Hari Shankar Lecture
-- New Faculty: Heather Gallivan
-- Faculty Spotlight: Russell Campbell
-- UNI on the March
-- Farewell Tour
-- The Center for Teaching and Learning Mathematics
-- Student Organizations
-- Donor Spotlight: Robert Minch & Mary Bothwick
-- An Interview with Dr. Theron Hitchman
-- Alumni Spotlight: Allysen Lovstuen, Jodi Osthus, & Benjamin Wadsley
-- Addresses by Mathematics Faculty
-- Student Spotlight: Caryn Knight & Emily Stumpff
-- Contributions to an Account - Recognition …

In Defense Of Defense: A Statistical Look At Roster Construction, Coaching Strategy, And Team Defense In The National Basketball Association, Luke Ronald Peterson

Honors Program Theses

The three major organized sports featured in the United States – baseball, basketball, and football – cover the spectrum of analytic probability. Baseball, with its basic two parts, pitcher and batter, lies at the easy or low end of the analytic spectrum and so it was the first sport to be studied. From early baseball cards first appearing in the 1890s to The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstracts of the 1980s to the SABRmetrics of today, baseball coaches and fans everywhere are adding a page on analytic probability to their playbooks. Football lies at the high or difficult end of …

A Master's Recital In Flute, Tara Lynn Meade

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Tara Lynn Meade performed a graduate flute recital at eight o’clock in the evening on Friday, March 7, 2014 in Davis Hall at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. Collaborating with Ms. Meade on selected works were pianists Polina Khatsko and Brittany Lensing and flutists Mara Miller and Natalie Neshyba. The recital was presented in partial fulfillment of a Master of Music in flute performance. The program opened with a set of contrasting fantasies — Telemann’s Fantasia No. 3 in B Minor, a baroque work for solo flute, followed by François Borne’s virtuosic Fantasie brillante on themes from Bizet’s Carmen. …

A Master's Recital In Piano, Min Jeong Kim

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

On March 14, 2014, Min Jeong Kim presented a recital in completion of her Master’s degree in Piano Performance. The recital was held at 6 p.m. in Davis Hall at the University of Northern Iowa School of Music. Pieces on the program included: Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 871 by Johann Sebastian Bach, Klavierstücke, Op. 118 by Johannes Brahms, Rain Tree Sketch II by Toru Takemitsu, and Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 81a by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Muddied Waters: Exploring Iowa's Water Policy And Practices, Jorgen D. Rose

Honors Program Theses

Clean, usable fresh water is a precious and valuable resource, but it is one that we often mistreat and misuse. Surface water in particular is extremely vulnerable to human actions and influences; nowhere is this more apparent than in agricultural states like Iowa, where nonpoint-source pollution (runoff) has a dramatic effect on our rivers, lakes, and streams. However, despite this continuing decline in the quality of Iowa’s water, there exists very little public policy aimed at dealing with the problems of nutrient contamination and other forms of nonpoint-source pollution. Furthermore, what policy does exist is either ineffective or insufficient. The …

Sustainability Of Sustainability: Exploring Alternatives In Alternative Energy, Corey C. Cooling

Honors Program Theses

In light of a gap in the literature of what makes or breaks student biodiesel conversion programs, this thesis will give a review and analysis of select existing biodiesel conversion programs and suggest a model reflecting the characteristics of successful student programs.

The study’s research questions are:

1. What are the common themes or factors successful programs exhibit?

2. What institutional factors create a productive environment for biodiesel programs?

3. Can the tactics of successful programs be generalized?

Firstly, I define successful programs as programs that are financially feasible, develop student skills, lower the environmental impact of universities and foster …

Association Between Parenting Processes And Child Behavior Outcomes: The Moderating And Mediating Role Of Child Characteristics, Taylor Elizabeth Ann Goetzinger

Honors Program Theses

Past research demonstrates the importance parents have in determining the outcomes in their children’s lives. Of these outcomes, child academic achievement is extremely important. In investigating past research on parenting practices and styles, factors such as parental monitoring and involvement as well as styles of authoritative, authoritarian and permissive parenting were examined to determine an association with academic achievement in middle school children. Learning disabilities, mental disorders, child personality characteristics and child academic characteristics were other measures explored as buffers in the parenting to academic achievement relationship. Mediating effects were also examined. The current study sampled 179 middle school students …

Landscape, Demographic And Climatic Associations With Human West Nile Virus Occurrence Regionally In 2012 In The United States Of America, John P. Degroote, Ramanathan Sugumaran, Mark Ecker

Faculty Work

After several years of low West Nile virus (WNV) occurrence in the United States of America (USA), 2012 witnessed large outbreaks in several parts of the country. In order to understand the outbreak dynamics, spatial clustering and landscape, demographic and climatic associations with WNV occurrence were investigated at a regional level in the USA. Previous research has demonstrated that there are a handful of prominent WNV mosquito vectors with varying ecological requirements responsible for WNV transmission in the USA. Published range maps of these important vectors were georeferenced and used to define eight functional ecological regions in the coterminous USA. …

Investigating The Effectiveness Of A Professional Development Program For Secondary Physics Teachers, Meghan Reynolds

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

National studies have exposed a shortage of highly-qualified high school physics teachers, with over 25% of physics teaching vacancies in Iowa being very difficult to fill or unable to be filled. In an effort to improve the nation’s education system, there have been broad changes in the framework of what constitutes high-quality teaching which supports a trend away from traditional, lecture-based teaching methods and towards interactive, student-centered methods. This study analyzed the impact of a professional development program that aimed to prepare more high-quality high school physics teachers by building physics content knowledge through the use of reformed teaching techniques …

Education At Its Corp, Steven Michael Pals

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The Great Depression brought about a trial the likes of which the United States had never seen. People from all walks of life found themselves out of work, money, and hope. The depression effected all peoples but each group differently. The working class underwent deeper hardships then most. The New Deal was the brainchild of President Franklin Roosevelt designed to assist the country in getting out of the Great Depression. The New Deal programs included a number of public works programs, which created jobs for the unemployed, including the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was designed to employ unemployed …

The Impact Of Digital Organization On Retention In College Algebra, Mary Benac Staniger

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examined the impact of digital organization for developmental mathematics students using technologically mediated tools in Beginning Algebra to increase retention for successful completion of College Algebra. The focus of the digital organization was student improvement in study skills and academic self-confidence throughout Beginning Algebra. These are two non-academic factors literature suggests are related to college students’ retention and performance. Study skills were measured by how students felt they could assess a mathematics problem, organize a solution and successfully complete assignments. Academic self-confidence was measured by student belief of the ability to perform well in mathematics. Mixed methods were …

An Analysis Of Use Of Automated Tools For Improving The Process Of Software Verification And Validation In A Midwestern Company, Darshak Dodiya

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

As the use of electronics and software in the modern off road vehicles tend to increase, there is a huge challenge of getting the electronics and software tested before making it available for customer use. There are a lot of interactions between the hardware and software for the vehicle to function. And with the amount of interactions in the hardware and software come a lot of problems in verifying the functionality of the vehicle. If proper verification is neglected, the customer might end up getting an unsafe vehicle which can lead to serious consequences. To make these vehicles safe and …

Understanding The Impact Of Vegetation On Surface Roughness Length For Enhancing Wind Resource Characterization In Iowa, Andrei Vladimirovich Kushkin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Wind energy development shows a rapid growth in the United States. This renewable energy source not only mitigates environmental concerns by reducing greenhouse gas emission, but also provides energy independence. Wind is clean and abundant, and is one of the most promising sources of alternative energy. Iowa is among the top wind energy producers in the nation, it is third by installed capacity and first in per capita production. In order to utilize wind resource potential most efficiently, accurate wind resource assessments are required. Changes in the aerodynamic characteristics of a site can have a major influence on the wind …

Annual Report Of The Registrar 2013/2014, University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

Contents:

--- Definitions
--- Some Comparisons
--- Annual Report Data
--- Summary of Attendance
--- Attendance by Session 2013/14
--- Full-Time Equivalency Enrollment
--- Degrees Granted 2013/14
--- Degree Summary 2013/14
--- Program Certificates 2013/14
--- Miscellaneous Enrollment Information
--- Degrees Granted by College Degree and Racial/Ethnic Classification

W.R.I.T.E: Writing’S Role In Thoughtful Endeavors, Catherine M. Miller

Faculty Work

“Mathematicians actually spend a great deal of time writing. If a mathematician wants to contribute to the greater body of mathematical knowledge, she must be able communicate her ideas in a way which is comprehensible to others.” Lee, 2014, pg. 1

Why should our students be different from the mathematicians Lee (2014) refers to in the quote above? Learning mathematics requires a confluence of spoken, written and mathematically abstract languages. After all, who thinks entirely in mathematical symbols? No one, except a few mathematical thinkers who are live in the abstract worlds they construct. Thinking about mathematics in the language …

Ground Arthropod Abundance In Switchgrass And Diverse Prairie Agroenergy Crops, Stephanie Paape, Libby Torresani, Mark C. Myers

Undergraduate Student Work

The University of Northern Iowa’s Tallgrass Prairie Center converted corn and soybean fields in the Cedar River Natural Resource Area to four mixes of perennial tallgrass prairie species. Research plots were randomly seeded with one of four treatments of native prairie vegetation including a switchgrass monoculture and a 32-species prairie mix. We studied ground arthropod abundance in Switchgrass and the 32-species prairie mix at various distances from the nearest woody edge using pitfall traps. We hypothesized that a 32-species Prairie mix would support greater numbers of ground arthropods than a Switchgrass monoculture and that ground arthropod abundance would be greater …

Grassland Bird Nest Survival In Perennial Agroenergy Crops, Libby Torresani, Stephanie Paape, Mark C. Myers

Undergraduate Student Work

Previous research had been done in 2011 and 2012 regarding bird nest survival rates in the Cedar River Natural Resource Area in Washburn, IA. Further analysis of bird nest survival rates was done in this study to research how nest age, calendar date, soil type, and vegetation type influence the success or failure of these nests. New nests were identified in the prairie plots of the Cedar River Natural Resource Area and added to the previous sample size from the original study. A sample size of 97 bird nests total and 67 Dickcissel nests –SPAM (Spiza Americana) were …

Calculating Nutrient Loads From Four Tributaries Of The Cedar River In Iowa, Jacob Donaghy

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A study was done on four tributaries to the Cedar River to determine nutrient concentrations, loads, and the contribution of each watershed per unit area. The Cedar River watershed is primarily agricultural land and extends from southern Minnesota to southeastern Iowa. Past studies have indicated that this watershed is a major contributor of nitrate to the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River. This eutrophication is the cause of the hypoxic Gulf. From April 13, 2010-September 21, 2010 samples were taken from four tributaries of the Cedar River. Discharge data were taken from USGS gaging stations along with a method …

2013-14 Annual Report To The Board Of Regents: Course-Level Continuous Improvement Plans, University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

A report provided to the Iowa Board of Regents regarding continuous improvement processes in courses at the University of Northern Iowa.