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What Are The Mechanisms Of Action Of Stereotype Threat And How Does It Contribute To The Development Of Cardiovascular Disease In African Americans, Anthony Gage

Graduate Research Papers

The rate of hypertension and cardiovascular disease for African Americans is disproportionately higher compared to Whites Americans. Previous research has focused much of its attention on biological and socioeconomic differences as a pathway to explain the disparity in rates of cardiovascular disease. Reviewed is the connection between socioeconomic status and cardiovascular disease, but also extends the reach of etiology to include racially induced cardiovascular reactivity responses in African American. Stereotype threat occurs when a member of a stereotyped group encounters a situation where a stereotype exists, the threat of confirming the stereotype produces an exaggerated cardiovascular response. This model takes …

Gifted Student Achievement And Motivation Levels Related To Participation In Gifted Programming, Stacey M. Jambura

Graduate Research Papers

This study evaluated the gifted program of an urban school district in the Midwestern United States. Fifteen identified gifted students ( 4 male, 11 female; 11 European-American, 4 African-American; 7 ninth grade, 4 tenth grade, and 4 eleventh grade students) participated in the study by replying to a survey. High school gifted student attitudes toward achievement and motivation were examined and open-ended prompts supplied information on program strengths and weaknesses. Results indicate that participation in the program has led to the development of critical thinking skills, increased students ' desires to strive for excellence, and allowed students to examine different …

Building Empathy Through Literacy: A Review Of Classroom Literacy Practices, Alyssa J. Bruecken

Graduate Research Papers

The discussion of the reciprocal relationship between empathy and literacy practices is arguably non-existent. This review discusses classroom literacy practices and the empathy flow in each practice. These classroom literacy practices were chosen because of their value in modeling empathy in the classroom while at the same time producing essential literacy skills in students. A reflective framework guides the de-construction of these lesson plans and can be applied to any classroom literacy practice. This reflective framework unveiled empathetic practices in literacy teaching.

Comparing Second Grade Students' Creative And Content Knowledge Performance On Figural Transformation Activities Introduced In A Standard Or Enhanced Manner With Nutrition Content Knowledge Taught Through Factual Or Fantasy Reading, Angela Naomi Webb

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Creativity and problem solving are skills students need for success in the 21st century. With the increasing pressures of achieving higher student scores in emphasized content areas, teachers' instruction in science, social studies, music and art has been reduced to provide additional time for teaching reading and mathematics.These lost instructional areas often allowed students to express themselves creatively. Therefore, educators need to find a way to incorporate creativity into content areas like reading and mathematics.

This 16 week repeated measures study examined second grade students' academic and creative performance on figural transformation drawings during an extended reading-science-creativity integrated unit. A …

The Perceptions Of The Skills And Competencies Needed By New Student Affairs Professionals : A Collective Case Study, Tyann Marie Lindell

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Much research suggests there is a disconnect between how student affairs graduate preparation programs prepare students and what new professionals need. Recent studies indicate the skills, knowledge, and dispositions emphasized in student affairs graduate preparation programs are not necessarily the ones most needed by student affairs professionals.

The framing question of this inquiry is: What are the perceptions of graduates, supervisors, and program coordinators about the preparation of new student affairs professionals? The following supporting questions were asked: 1. What basic competencies do graduates, supervisors, and program coordinators perceive as important for new professionals? 2. How do graduates, supervisors, and …

Designing Elementary Engineering Education From The Perspective Of The Child, Beth Dykstra Van Meeteren

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Many concerned leaders of industry and government believe the ability to sustain our quality of life and address the grand challenges of our times is contingent upon the successful engagement of our younger children in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). What STEM curricula, specifically engineering curricula, should address, how the curriculum should be delivered, and how the children construct an understanding of engineering are still unanswered questions. Engineering curriculum is beginning to emerge for elementary students, but does more to teach children about engineering than allowing them to develop engineering habits of mind.

This qualitative study used constant comparative …

Immediate Heart Rate Feedback, Self-Efficacy, And Feeling States In A Vigorous Exercise Setting, Kelsey Lynn Arganbright

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Objectives: Due to low participant numbers, the original purpose of the study was modified to examine differences in Exercise Induced Feeling Inventory (EFI) scores at all time periods during data collection (pre-, during-, and post-exercise) and differences in self-efficacy from pre- to post-exercise. A second purpose was to examine those with previous vigorous physical activity experience and no previous vigorous physical activity experience and effect on changes in EFI scores at all time periods (pre-, during-, and post-exercise). Design/Methods: Participants of a vigorous exercise program (N = 3 7) completed the study. The research design consisted of a quasi-experimental nonequivalent-control …

The Role Of Self And Parental Criticism In Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, Brooke Aleece Ammerman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is found at high rates among adolescents and young adults, and often produces many negative consequences, warranting additional research (Yates, 2004). Parental criticism and self-criticism may greatly influence the likelihood of NSSI in these populations (Wedig & Nock, 2007), but the relationship needs to be expanded upon. The purpose of the current study was to address this need by measuring self-criticism, perceived parental criticism, and parent-reported criticism among adolescents and young adults. Results suggest that levels of self-criticism and perceived expressed emotion may influence whether or not an individual engages in NSSI. One particular aspect of self-criticism, …

Playing By New Rules: Board Games And America's Cold War Culture, 1945-1965, Matthew John Sprengeler

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis examines the domestic culture of the United States during the first two decades of the Cold War, using popular games as an interpretive tool to expand our understanding of the changes that took place. Four board games which were popular during the 1950s – Scrabble, chess, Clue, and Risk – explain some of the anxieties and evolutions in mass culture. Scrabble illustrated the nation's growing respect for expertise and, along with game theory, the hope for intellectual solutions to the country's problems. Chess, often seen as a symbol of the Cold War, served as a proxy battlefield for …

Mental Illness And Schools: An Examination Of How Schools Are Providing Supports And Services To Students With Mental Health Concerns, Nikki Leigh King

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This purpose of this study was to explore the educational experiences of an individual entitled to services through the labels of an intellectual disability and a mental health concern. The study employed qualitative methodologies and methods, through the use of a life/oral history, which allowed the researcher to interview the participant to gain a deeper understanding of the school experiences pertaining to a student with a mental health concern. The study concluded that authentic and individualized supports and services are needed as well as promoting meaningful relationships. Study considerations and future studies are discussed at the end.

An Analysis Of The Effect Of A 21st-Century-Designed Middle School On Student Achievement, Gary David Schwartz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Considering the billions of dollars invested in school buildings and the accountability for improving student achievement, there has been the lingering question about how the physical learning environment impacts student achievement. This study explored the impact of a new 21st-century-designed middle school facility on student academic achievement in mathematics and science. This case study used a mixed methods approach to examine the student achievement of 158 middle school students and the perceptions from 13 teachers and two administrators about the impact of the new facility on teaching and student learning. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect …

Nurturing Resiliency Among Adolescents With Emotional And Behavioral Disturbances (Ebd) In A Special Education Setting, Rimaz Herz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Many youth with emotional and behavioral disturbance (EBD) face significant challenges and difficulties with their families, schools, friends and peers, and even themselves, and experience them academically, emotionally, physically, socially and behaviorally. These youth need resilience to help them overcome these difficulties and challenges. This qualitative study focused on understanding the nature of schooling and interventions provided to students identified as having the most severe emotional and behavioral disabilities or needs, and how such schooling and interventions might explicitly or implicitly promote resilience. The researcher sought to examine interventions used by observing a specific self-contained program with clearly defined services. …

Batman And The Superhero Fairytale: Deconstructing A Revisionist Crisis, Travis John Landhuis

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Contemporary superhero comics carry the burden of navigating historical iterations and reiterations of canonical figures—Batman, Superman, Green Lantern et al.—producing a tension unique to a genre that thrives on the reconstruction of previously established narratives. This tension results in the complication of authorial and interpretive negotiation of basic principles of narrative and structure as readers and producers must seek to construct satisfactory identities for these icons. Similarly, the post-modern experimentation of Robert Coover—in Briar Rose and Stepmother—argues that we must no longer view contemporary fairytales as separate (cohesive) entities that may exist apart from their source narratives. Instead, through strategies …

Christians, Lesbians, Gays, And Bisexuals: Examining The Roles Of Uncertainty And Religiosity In Christian Attitudes Toward Lgb Individuals, Megan Deanne Wharff Kavanaugh

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis examines heterosexual Christian attitudes toward LGB individuals, specifically to determine if there is a relationship between intergroup contact, uncertainty reduction, and supportive attitudes toward LGB individuals among Christian individuals. Participants completed an online survey, which assessed religious beliefs, levels of uncertainty about interactions with LGB individuals, levels of contact with LGB individuals, and attitudes toward LGB individuals. The goal of the research was to identify the current attitudes of heterosexual Christians and the factors that may influence those attitudes. Findings indicate that participants were unsure, but leaned toward valuing the contributions of LGB individuals in society and believing …

Student Reward Programs In Collegiate Athletics, Danielle N. Bakken

Graduate Research Papers

Incentive marketing is becoming increasingly popular among many brands, companies, and even sports teams. Incentive marketing uses motivational campaigns to promote the consumption or sale of merchandise or services. It encourages consumers to become repeat buyers and/or to become more loyal toward a specific product, brand, or company. An aspect of incentive marketing that is emerging within the sports industry is reward programs; specifically with students of universities or colleges. The goals of student reward programs include increasing awareness and attendance of all athletic events on campus, as well as the possibility of students remaining loyal and purchasing season tickets …

Philanthropy And Health Care Reform: An Examination Of The Pertinent Literature Of Philanthropy And Healthcare And How The Two Should Intersect In Today’S Dynamic Healthcare Environment, Mayme Patthoff

Graduate Research Papers

Many factors are diminishing the reimbursements hospitals receive from private (corporate) and public (Medicare and Medicaid) sources. To remain competitive while dealing with these factors, medical centers have begun looking for alternative funding sources to make up for lost revenues. Supplemental funding is needed to advance patient care, conduct innovative research, and educate the next generation of healthcare workers. The purpose of this study is to conduct a comprehensive literature review to explore how healthcare systems across the country are thinking about philanthropy and implementing strategic development practices to gain and retain grateful patients and community donors to ensure the …

The Effects Of Sleeping On Academic Performance And Obesity, Zach Liddle

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this review was to look at the importance of sleep to children and adolescents. Specific goals of this research paper were to a) define the importance of sleep and its' relationships with overall performance, b) understand the relationship between sleep and academic performance, and c) discuss the correlation between sleep and the obesity rate in today's society.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1) Can extra sleep improve students' grades in school?

2) Could the lack of sleep be increasing the prevalence of obesity?

3) Are there things parents and schools can do to help?

Annual Report Of The Registrar 2012/2013, University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

Contents:

--- Definitions
--- Some Comparisons
--- Annual Report Data
--- Summary of Attendance
--- Attendance by Session
--- Full-Time Equivalency Enrollment
--- Degrees Granted 2012/13
--- Degree Summary 2012/13
--- Program Certificates 2012/13
--- Miscellaneous Enrollment Information
--- Degrees Granted by College, Degree and Racial/Ethnic Classification

The Economic Impact Of Des Moines Parks & Recreation Services, Kristine Fleming, Oksana Grybovych, Brian Gedlinske, Wade P. Kooiman, Jill Lankford, Sam Lankford

Other Faculty and Staff Publications

Park and recreation programs provided by the City of Des Moines deliver services that have a range of benefits or values to residents, businesses, economy, and local government. Many of these benefits are often overlooked and rarely quantified. The purpose of this effort is to quantify the economic value received due to the operation of the City of Des Moines’ Parks and Recreation Department. These values are arranged to reflect factors that produce revenue for the city government, wealth increasing factors for citizens and businesses, cost saving factors to citizens, and cost saving factors for the city government.

Included in …

Motivational Changes In Reading Recovery Children: A Pre And Post Analysis, Salli Forbes, Susan King Fullerton

Curriculum & Instruction Faculty Publications

This investigation set out to determine whether Reading Recovery students demonstrate positive responses in regard to motivational constructs of self-concept, competence beliefs, and/or valuing of reading within Reading Recovery.

Does Baby Sign Open The Door To Second Language Learning?, Nicole A. Hulme

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this thesis project is to determine the relationship between an infant's acquisition of Baby Sign and their ability to acquire a second language later in life. An explanation of why infancy is a critical time for language development will be presented and information about the impact of Baby Sign on an infant's development will be provided. There are many research and popular claims regarding Baby Sign that will be discussed, in addition to research findings concerning second language learning. Based on this research, conclusions about the connection between Baby Sign and second language learning will be drawn …

It's A Juggling Act: An Examination Of Work-School Conflict, Danielle Barbara Stuck

Honors Program Theses

Working while enrolled in college has become increasingly prominent, yet its effects on school outcomes and student well-being are not yet understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of individual differences and nuances in the school and work domains to obtain a more precise model of Work-School Conflict [WSC]. Data were collected from 401 undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Northern Iowa and analyzed using hierarchical (blocked) linear regression analyses. While job flexibility negatively predicted WSC, job permeability interacted with number of hours worked off-campus and workload, differentially predicting WSC; while permeability decreased WSC …

Clogging The System, Harrison Postler

Honors Program Theses

This thesis manifested itself in the form of a one-act play, which I wrote and directed at the University of Northern Iowa's Interpreters Theatre. The play is entitled "Clogging the System" and is a comedy with seven characters and one toilet, none of which were played by me. I endeavored to examine how shame functions within our society and how it is indoctrinated at a very young age by using toilets as a vehicle to explore shame based around bodily waste. Additionally, I have incorporated the burgeoning field of literature concerning how humans negotiate the taboo placed upon doing two …

International Students At Uni: An Analysis Of Experiences, Kellie Petersen

Honors Program Theses

It is important that people feel welcome in a society. It contributes to the health and comfort of individuals as well as strengthens society as a whole. This is particularly important to immigrants, who are entering a new country and therefore a new society and culture. Due to their immigrant status, they may feel disconnected from this new society and culture. Such a feeling could be intensified if some individuals within the society and culture display xenophobia. This generally refers to intense and irrational dislike or even a fear of people from other countries, but for the purposes of this …

Don't Paint Your Chevy Blazer In High Visibility Orange, Roy R. Behrens, Rich Dana

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Predicting Commitment For Those In Military Relationships, Darrina Sofia Bledsoe

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Little research has been conducted concerning how deployments affect spouses' and service members' commitment to their relationships (Merolla, 2010). The current study investigated relationship commitment of military spouses and service members in long-distance relationships (LDR) and geographically close relationships (GCR). The investment model (IM; Rusbult, Martz, & Agnew, 1998) predicts that relational commitment is influenced by three factors: satisfaction, alternatives, and investment. Additionally, the perceived stress scale (PSS; Cohen, Kamarack, & Mermelstein, 1983), which focuses on levels of stress influenced by daily hassles, major events, and changes in coping resources, was utilized as a means to predict commitment in conjunction …

Personal Account From Sister Mary Mccauley, Mary Mccauley

Postville Project Documents

An account of the Agriprocessors immigration raid by Sister Mary McCauley, who was the pastoral administrator for the parishes in northeastern Iowa at the time, telling of the actions taken by her and the surrounding community on the day of the raid and the weeks following.

Making Historical Fiction Appealing To Young Adults Through Book Trailers, Chelsey Kolpin

Graduate Research Papers

The Hi-Fi for Wi-Fi website was developed to address the problem that many young adults do not select historical fiction for free reading because they view the genre negatively. The website can be used as an advisory and teaching tool for young adults, teachers, parents, and librarians to increase interest in historical fiction via book trailers. The website includes 15 books that were published in 2003 or after, and are included in the H.W. Wilson core or highly recommended collections. Book trailers and descriptions for all 15 books are embedded on the pages of the website, and are organized by …

Lessons Learned From A Cognitively Guided Instruction Professional Development Project, Christina Nugent

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The professional development, which was the basis for this case study, was a 3- year Title II grant-funded project with Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) as the research-based core. Twenty-one elementary school teachers from an urban setting were studied. The purpose of this study was to analyze the professional development project in order to discover the lessons learned. The professional development model used had several key elements. These elements included an evaluation plan, implementation of the learned strategies, collaboration, summer workshops and follow-up school year sessions, and lesson study. Despite the fact that participants were engaged in the same professional development …

Factors That Influence Superintendents In Iowa To Implement A One-To-One Computer Initiative, Gerald Eugene Schnabel

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study is to identify factors that influence superintendents in Iowa to implement a one-to-one computer initiative. An in-depth, phenomenological based interview method was used. Two interviews were conducted with each of the five superintendents in the study. The superintendent responses were then organized using the Saskatchewan Educational Indicators, which are context, process and outcome indicators. The major questions addressed in the study were: 1. What factors influenced the decision to implement a one-to-one computer initiative? 2. What are the results of implementing a one-to-one computer initiative? 3. What decision-making process do superintendents in Iowa use when …