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The Female Adolescent Experience: Barriers To Physical Activity, Roberta Katherine Parsons

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Measuring Levels Of Satisfaction, Commitment, And Constraints Of Middle-Age Women Exercising In Fitness Centers, Melissa Dowd

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of the study is to determine the levels of satisfaction, commitment, and constraints for middle-age women exercising in fitness centers in the Cedar Valley. Members of five fitness centers participated by completing surveys regarding their opinions of their current fitness center. The data gathered from this study can be used by management of fitness centers in planning, marketing, and implementing programs and services.

Participants in the study (n=260) completed the survey containing four sections: (a) satisfaction dimensions of facility, services, staff, and social; (b) items measuring commitment to a service provider; ( c) structural, interpersonal, and intrapersonal constraint …

Exploring Influential Pioneers Of Youth Related Delinquency Theories, Latika Monique Speller

Graduate Research Papers

The purposes of this study are to explore who the pioneers of youth related delinquency theories are and to examine these theories in depth to identify their importance to society as a whole and to discuss the contributions these theories have made as well as future directions of these theories pertaining to criminology and sociology. Also explored in this study are the many factors that contribute to youth becoming delinquent and characteristics of delinquent behavior.

This study was a literature review of theorists that explored and researched theories pertaining to delinquency. After researching the work of these theorists, their findings …

The Application Of The Sport Commitment Model To Strength And Conditioning, Nicholas Ryan Troupe

Graduate Research Papers

Since strength and conditioning has become accepted as a necessity for individuals to succeed in athletics, strength and conditioning professionals have been asking the same question. What can be done to get athletes to commit to a strength training program? Whether in-season or out of season, strength and conditioning professionals attempt to assist athletes in committing to a program using a variety of motivational strategies. The Sport Commitment Model (Scanlan, Carpenter, Schmidt, Simons, & Keeler, 1993) is a theoretical model which can help strength coaches understand the varying commitment levels of the athletes. Specifically, the Sport Commitment Model suggests both …

Learning Cycles In The Biology Classroom, Christine Winstead

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Self-Injury And The School Counselor, Carla J. Wosoba

Graduate Research Papers

Self-injury is an issue that has increasingly attracted the attention of school counselors in recent years. School counselors have daily contact with students and are thus an important resource for working with adolescents who self-injure. This paper provides an overview of self-injury including demographics and risk factors, followed by ethical considerations for school counselors such as confidentiality, professional competence, and referral. The school counselor's role is addressed, providing suggestions for assessment, prevention, and interventions for use with students who self-injure.

Spelling Instruction In The Primary Grades, Kathleen Ziegler

Graduate Research Papers

This paper chronicles a multi-year effort to study best practices according to spelling research and the implementation of these practices into a primary classroom. This effort occurred in a school situated in the inner city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school consists of approximately 330 students grades one through five and serves a diverse population of students. Over the years of this work, approximately fifty percent of students at the school were African American with the remaining students primarily Caucasian. Sixty-nine percent of students are considered low SES ( socioeconomic status) as they qualified for the free and reduced meal …

Considerations For The Diagnosis Of Personality Disorders In Adolescents, Katherine J. Young-Kent

Graduate Research Papers

The diagnosis of personality disorders in adolescents is a controversial idea. Personality disorders can bring about a stigma and may create effects on quality of life. Developmental implications should be considered when diagnosing adolescents with personality disorders, or any other mental illness, due to the incomplete formation of identity during adolescent years. There is also evidence that attachment patterns may influence personality disorder symptoms and should also be considered as a way to conceptualize personality in general. The current diagnostic systems may not provide a complete framework from which to conceptualize adolescents and ideas for restructuring the diagnostic system is …

Ready Or Not, Here They Come : A Look At Kindergarten Readiness, Sara J. Swyter

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined the subject of kindergarten readiness. Both socially and academically mature and immature children were included in this study. An intervention model was presented for children who assessed behind their peers socially and academically. It was documented and reported that children who were assessed as below their peers socially and academically were able to make good progress through the intense one-on-one interventions performed; however, their growth was not enough to completely catch them up to their non-struggling peers. Results were shared and recommendations were made for future children academically and socially immature.

An Analysis Of Coaching Efficacy In Volunteer Soccer Coaches, Christopher Lee Kowalski

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between five independent variables and volunteer soccer coaches' overall coaching efficacy as measured by motivation efficacy, character building efficacy, game strategy efficacy, and technique efficacy and five independent variables. The five independent variables explored included the age of a coach, a coach's gender, previous years of coaching experience, participation in a coaching training/licensing/certification program, and previous playing experience.

The study involved 69 participants who coached for the Cedar Valley Youth Soccer Association (CVYSA). The first part of the instrument used to measure coaching efficacy was a questionnaire discussing the various …

An Evaluation Of Appearance, Fitness, Health, Illness, And Body Satisfaction Levels Plus Overweight Preoccupation Of Female Fitness Instructors In Cedar Falls And Waterloo, Ia, Catherine M. Zubrod

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to compare the researcher's results to published norms. This study investigated appearance, fitness, health, illness, and body satisfaction levels plus overweight preoccupation of female fitness instructors in Cedar Falls and Waterloo, IA. The respondents for the study were 41 female group fitness instructors. They responded to the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (Godin & Shephard, 1985) to determine leisure-time activity levels, the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ; Cash, 2000) to determine appearance levels, fitness levels, health levels, illness levels, body satisfaction levels, and overweight preoccupation, and a self-developed questionnaire to acquire demographic data. The study …

The Views Of Students With Disabilities Regarding Dropout And School Belonging, Rebecca L. Brandau

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A large number of students drop out of high school each year. Most of the existing research does not focus specifically on students with disabilities. This study uses survey research to examine the perceptions of 40 students with mild disabilities regarding high school drop out and school belonging. Results indicate that participants believe it is important to graduate from high school, and they believe parents and teachers want them to graduate. The students indicated that their friends think about dropping out of school more than the students themselves do. Participants consistently indicated that they feel they can talk to an …

Sexual Minority Youth In The Research Literature : What Kind Of Coverage Is The Field Of School Psychology Providing?, Jill Hayes White

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The amount of coverage sexual minority youth have received in the research literature over the past 15 years was examined. A content analysis of all research articles published in Psychology in the Schools and The Journal of School Psychology from 1990 to 2005 was conducted. Comparisons were made between the topic areas receiving the most coverage in 1990 versus 2005. Results revealed that issues related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth were discussed in only 0.4% of the articles. Topic areas receiving the most coverage included assessment, intervention, ethical and professional issues as well as race and diversity issues, …

An Analysis Of Intuitive Eating Among College Students, Danielle Marie Vsetecka

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In response to the world's increasing obesity rates, the use of traditional dieting and weight loss techniques is at an all time high. Although dieting rates have rapidly increased, the world's rising obesity rates show no sign of slowing and the effectiveness and effects of dieting have long been questioned. As an alternative to dieting and exercise, a non-dieting approach to weight regulation has emerged. Intuitive eating is one of its main tenants and is defined by allowing individuals to listen to internal body cues to determine hunger and fullness levels to meet nutritional and physical needs. However, few studies …

Significance Of The General Public For Public Relations: A Study Of The Blogosphere's Impact On The October 2006 Edelman/Wal-Mart Crisis, Sergei Golitsinski

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The focus of this study is the general public and its significance in a public relations context. The study questions one of the fundamental principles of public relations, according to which organizations communicate only with those publics which have the potential to cause them negative consequences. The general public, according to -this principle, is considered insignificant and even nonexistent. This study's hypothesis is that new communication technologies have given the general public the power to cause direct negative consequences for organizations. To evaluate this hypothesis, the study examines the October 2006 Edelman/Wal-Mart crisis caused by the "Wal-Marting Across America" blog. …

An Examination Of Group Agreement Among Functional Ankle Instability Participant Inclusion Criteria, Shantelle A. Howe Weichers

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Functional ankle instability (FAI) has been commonly identified in the literature as a cause of ankle injury and dysfunction. However, the participant selection criteria for FAI research have not been consistent. Numerous authors have used various selection criteria, with seemingly no two criteria being alike. Although these inconsistencies in FAI research participant selection criteria may explain the contradictions that have been reported in FAI research, the true nature of these selection criteria differences is unknown. It is uncertain exactly if, and to what magnitude, these selection criteria differed. The purpose of this study was to examine group agreement regarding selection …

What Happens When Veteran And Beginner Teachers' Life Histories Intersect With High-Stakes Testing And What Does It Mean For Learners And Teaching Practice: The Making Of A Culture Of Fear, Shelly L. Counsell

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This qualitative study explored the phenomenon of what happened as Florida's high-stakes accountability system intersected with a beginning and veteran teachers' life histories and different stocks of lifeworldly knowledge at demographically different lifeworld communities. Habermas' (1987) theory of communicative action was used as the theoretical framework to explore what the teachers' responses meant for learners and teaching practice. The research purpose of this study (emphasizing an interpretive approach) sought to gain insights and understandings regarding the phenomenon specifically. The practical purpose (according to critical theory) was to then use the insights gained (enlightenment) in order to contemplate the kinds of …

Hegemonic Masculinity Within Television Commercials, Jonathan A. Hutchins

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examines the portrayal of masculinity and the socialization patterns that can be found within television commercials. Television commercials' depiction of social members and their roles act as guides for social members in which they desire to portray during day to day social interactions and situations. Social members are generally unaware of this social phenomenon because they take for granted their social world and the logistics within it. While television commercials aim to create and encourage consumption, the purchasing of a product, service or event, television commercials also create and encourage social members to believe that these advertised items …

The Influences Of Gender Identity On The Expectancies For Success And Perceived Task Value Of Three Different Activities, Chi Ching Chow

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of gender identity on expectancies for success and perceived task value. The Short form of the Bern Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI-SF) was used to identify four gender identities, androgynous, feminine, masculine, and undifferentiated. The Self- and Task- Perception Questionnaire measured expectancies and task values on three physical activities. One hundred thirty-three students (62 males and 71 females) at the University of Northern Iowa who were enrolled in the aerobic training session of the personal wellness class participated. The mean age of the participants was 20.2 years (SD= 1.9). AN OVA results …

Life Threatening Communication: Assessing Suicide Threat And Its Relation To Psychological Factors In Adolescent Inpatient Sample, Jennifer Bailey

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Suicide is currently the third leading cause of death for children ages 10 to 14 years and adolescents ages 15 to 19 years. Numerous studies have identified factors such as gender, exposure to suicide, psychosocial stressors, and psychological factors as potential predictors for suicide related behavior. In comparison to individuals who attempt suicide, individuals who threaten suicide generally do so to friends and relatives. Given that adolescents who threaten suicide are least likely to come to the attention of mental health care professionals than those who attempt suicide, it is important to understand some of the specific factors that differentiate …

Effects Of Identity On Public-Organization Relationships: A Case Study Of Student-University Relations, Nadezhda Olegovna Bocharova

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The study tested the applicability of identification theory for diagnosing relationship quality between organizations and their publics in PR. A survey was posted on-line in a mid-Western university; 377 students of all classifications filled out the questionnaire. Factor analysis produced one-dimensional identification scale and three-dimensional relationship scale: reciprocity, commitment, and exchange. There were significant positive correlations between identity, reciprocity, and commitment, whereas exchange part of relationship negatively related to the above dimensions. Discussion of student publics was developed along with analysis of factors related to university life. Analysis of variance revealed that identity, reciprocity, and commitment decline with tenure in …

The Effects Of Facial Attractiveness, Weight, And Immediacy On Social Influence: A Test Of Dynamic Social Impact, Melinda Bullock

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Social impact theory (Latane, 1981) explains social influence as a multiplicative function of strength, immediacy, and number. Dynamic social impact theory (Latane, 1996a) states that four phenomena occur as a result of social influence: a) clustering (those living close together have similar attitudes), b) correlation (once unrelated attitudes become associated), c) consolidation (reduction in overall attitude variance), and d) continuing diversity (in spite of social influence attitudes diversity persists). This study used these two theories to examine how facial attractiveness, weight, and immediacy affect social influence. It. was expected that clustering, correlation, and consolidation would occur to a greater extent …

The Role Of Spirituality In Women's Leadership At Community Colleges, Carol L. Hedberg

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This qualitative research study examined the role of women's leadership in Iowa community colleges. Administrative leaders from community college settings, recommended by their presidents, wrote narratives about effective leadership traits and from these narratives, four women leaders were selected and later interviewed. Key thematic categories were developed from the written and verbal narratives. The resulting data set was then analyzed by a comparative case study approach. Emerging thematic categories were interpreted through the lens of four primary research questions addressing the relationship between gender, spirituality, and authentic leadership.

A plethora of issues surfaced from the data. Issues of gender and …

Pieces To The Puzzle, Ann L. Cracco

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Because low-income, first-generation, and disabled individuals have limited access to postsecondary education, Congress established TRIO, a series of programs designed to provide access to college for this targeted population. One initiative suggested to aid in retention and graduation for these TRIO students was mentoring. This study examined the perceived benefits of faculty mentoring for first-generation TRIO students to facilitate retention and graduation rates at a Midwestern Community College. Three faculty members and three TRIO students were interviewed to determine their perception of the benefits of faculty mentoring. The results were consistent with the literature that students who have access to …

Approaches To Studying And Study Tactics Of Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Lisa D. Brodersen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research was designed to describe study approaches and study tactics used by baccalaureate nursing students. Previous inquiry indicates that students will take a Deep, Strategic, or Surface approach to studying and will use specific study tactics to meet the demands of their learning contexts.

The Approaches to Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) was administered to 174 students in Anatomy and Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Nursing Care of the Adult Client. Failing students were less likely to participate. The ASSIST bad acceptable internal consistency reliability and construct validity. A majority (55%) of students took a Strategic approach to studying; smaller …

How The Clinical Settings Of Radiography Programs Affect Learning Perceptions, Peggy Fortsch

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A main purpose of clinical education is to prepare practitioners who can deliver excellent skills and care vital to the health and safety of persons in their care and to society. Clinical education is an essential component for students pursuing careers as health care providers. The purpose of this study was to examine the place of clinical experiences in radiography programs and to describe how students and clinical instructors in three different radiography program models (bridging, external, and internal) perceived the learning experiences in clinical settings.

From the perspectives of students and clinical instructors the following questions were addressed:

(1) …

Bomb Media 1951-1964, Tristan Edward Abbott

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis looks at nuclear films, commercial and governmental, that were released between 1951 and 1964. Special attention is paid to the recursivity that existed between the propagandic, often outrageously inaccurate Civil Defense films made by the United States government and the subversive popular films made by visionary dissidents.

The films are divided into three periods. The earliest period focuses on Samuel Fuller's Pickup on South Street and the Robert Aldrich 's Kiss Me Deadly (based on the novel by Mickey Spillane), along with some of the earliest Civil Defense films. Special attention is paid to the politically minded creation …

Fall Commencement [Program], December 16, 2006, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Commencement Programs

The program of the commencement ceremonies, including a list of institutional leadership, a list of the departments by college, awards given at the ceremonies, and a list of undergraduate and graduate degree candidates.

Uni Schedule Of Classes, Fall 2006, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Schedule of Classes

A listing and schedule of the courses being taught as well as policies and procedures concerning attending classes at the University of Northern Iowa.

Instruction Size Report, Fall 2006, University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

Gives breakdowns of student credit hours offered by status of instructor, average class size overall, and average class size by status of instructor.