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A Late-Quaternary Record Of Environmental Variability From Lake Sediment Cores, Wind River Range, Wyoming, Tyler Johnson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Sediment cores from two alpine lakes in Wyoming's Wind River Range were collected and analyzed to establish a record of depositional and mineralogical variability. Due to the hydrologic setting and isolation of Fiddlers and Louis lakes, these cores yielded the longest continuous limnological record in the region that extends back nearly 20,000 years to full-glacial conditions, a rarity for alpine lakes in the western United States.

To develop a paleolimnological record for Fiddlers and Louis lakes, the sediment cores were analyzed using four laboratory techniques. These techniques included particle size analysis, x-ray diffraction, heavy mineral analysis, and loss-on-ignition. Radiocarbon ages …

A Comparison Of Forgiveness Across Two Cultures: Lebanon And The United States, Zeina Yousof

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Research suggests that the propensity to forgive expressed by societies is often influenced by the cultural orientation of the society. Collectivistic societies tend to express a higher level of willingness to forgive than individualistic societies. This study examined how two samples of different cultural orientations, Lebanese and American, define forgiveness and express their feelings, thoughts and behavior towards a specific offender who has hurt them in the past. In addition to that, the willingness to forgive of the two samples was measured. Measurement instruments for this study consisted of the Enright Forgiveness Inventory and the Willingness to Forgive scale. These …

The Relationship Between Aggression And Measures Of Neuroticism And Agreeableness In College Students, Ashley Alexandra Buol

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Past studies on aggression have typically focused on physical aggression (Crick & Grotpeter, 1995). Recently, however, researchers have started to look at a subtle form of aggression known as relational aggression (Crick & Grotpeter, 1995). There have also been few studies that have focused on perceptions of aggression, as well as the personality traits that may be associated with these perceptions. Thus, the current study was designed to explore the relationship between personality characteristics, specifically agreeableness and neuroticism, and perceptions of aggression. The relationship between the levels of aggression and perceptions of aggression was also examined. Four questionnaires were utilized …

Psychometric Comparisons Of The Reasons For Living Inventory For Young Adults And The College Student Reasons For Living Inventory In A College Sample, Ashley A. Heck

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the present study was to examine and compare the psychometric properties of two self-report measures designed to assess suicide-related behaviors in college-age populations. Screening for suicidality is important to identify and support individuals who may be at risk for suicide-related behaviors (Joe & Bryant, 2007). Both the Reasons for Living Inventory for Young Adults (Osman, 1998) and the College Students Reasons for Living Inventory (Westefeld, Cardin, & Deaton, 1992) were developed to assess the reasons that young adults may have for refraining from self destructive acts. These measures were analyzed in terms of their factor structure and …

Cloning In Young Adult Fiction, Jennifer L. Kehoe

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to discover the issues raised about human cloning in young adult fiction. This study determined the themes found in the young adult fiction selected and if those themes reflected issues about human cloning. The questions asked in the study were: 1. Does young adult fiction confront the complexity of ethical issues about human cloning? 2. Do the plots and characters in young adult fiction about cloning provide substance to provoke reader response to the ethical controversies that surround cloning? A thematic analysis was conducted. The researcher read each book and recorded themes that were …

The Question Is The Answer : Making The Language Arts Classroom Meaningful With Essential Questions And Student-Driven Inquiry, Ashley A. Jorgensen

Graduate Research Papers

Coalition research scholar, Grant Wiggins, firmly believes the idea of a question-driven, inquiry approach to teaching and learning should be at the heart of a school's mission. In examining one of the chief questions of a school's mission, that is, 'What are the aims of a high school curriculum,' Wiggins says it must involve getting students to "use their minds well" (Cushman, 1989). Wiggins says that, "students should emerge from their high school career with an integrated vision of how to think within the culture, which implies a broad understanding, not just narrow or rote expertise" (Cushman, 1989). In order …

Performance-Based Assessment Of School Psychology Interns : Analysis Of Problem-Solving Skills As Demonstrated In Comprehensive Case Examinations, Kimberly Suzanne Hansen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

School psychologists are integral partners in the facilitation of the problem solving process, especially when the process is embedded within a tiered service delivery system incorporating response to intervention philosophies. Therefore, it is important that new school psychologists entering the field be competent in the skill areas needed to produce positive student outcomes. It is important for school psychology training programs to assess these competencies to improve individual student competencies as well as to improve the training provided by the program in the future. Comprehensive case studies are performance-based assessments that can be utilized to evaluate individuals, as well as …

Baby Boomer And Genx Elementary Principals : Differing Perspectives On Schooling, Lisa M. Fry

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Studies on generational analysis inform us that each generation is shaped by the influences they share during their formative years. The common experiences and historical circumstances experienced during this time influences their generational identity and results in a world view that is unique to that generation. This world view and generational identity impacts their belief system and practices as they emerge as leaders in mid-life.

While the current structures and policies that guide today's educational system were established by the Baby Boomer generation, we could see significant changes as the Baby Boomer behemoth begins to leave the workforce. Around the …

A Study Of Published Journal Articles On Brain-Based Learning From 1985 To 2009, Janece Shaffer

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Educators are required to implement scientifically-based research interventions in their classrooms, but teachers and administrators may not be aware of the current laws and requirements of NCLB legislation. NCLB (2001) requires that educators implement research-based interventions. Brain-based learning programs have been implemented in classrooms throughout the country, even though the research base for such programs may be inadequate. This study presents the results of educational database searches for empirical studies involving brain-based or brain-compatible learning published in educational journals between 1985 and 2009. A total of 77 articles on brain-based learning were published during this time period but only 5 …

Investigating The Use Of Ranking Tasks To Improve Student Conceptual Understanding In An Introductory High School Physics Course, Matthew Joseph Harding

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The focus of this study was to determine whether the use of Ranking Tasks during study of physics could improve conceptual understanding for introductory high school physics students. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by analyzing student performance on the Force Concept Inventory, and the Physics Class Attitudes Survey. As enrollment in introductory physics courses increases, and the variety of students studying physics broadens, instructors will be increasingly tasked with finding new instructional strategies that can benefit these student populations. Results of this study indicate promise for the implementation of Ranking Tasks for identifying student conceptual understanding in Newtonian …

Regional Differences In Jurors’ Attitudes And Knowledge, Heather M. Caspers

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Dynamic social impact theory (DSIT; Latane, 1996) suggests that social influence leads to four phenomena: clustering (regional differences in attitudes), correlation (emergent relationships between attitudes), consolidation (reduction in attitude variance), and continuing diversity (whereby minority opinions persist). These phenomena have been shown in a variety of settings (Harton & Bourgeois, 2004; Harton & Bullock, 2007), but geographic clustering in attitudes about crime have not been examined. These attitudes have the potential to affect a verdict in a trial if a defendant has a change of venue to a different area of the state or the country. Two datasets, the National …

Impact Of The Iowa Smoke-Free Ban Among The College Students Of The University Of Northern Iowa, Jean Marie Vianney Hirwa Kavamahanga

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of the Iowa Smoke-Free Ban impact on: smoking behavior, knowledge of the ban and knowledge of smoking health effect, reported smoking in both indoor and outside venues; support for smoke-free public venues; and self-reported effects of the law on consumption and quitting. A non-random sample of 113 students (49.44% male and 50.44% female) participated in this study.

The 35-item questionnaire was used to evaluate the impact of the Iowa smoke-free ban among college students of the University of Northern Iowa. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the survey responses. The …

National Board Of Professional Teaching Standards (Nbpts) Portfolio Option, Paula L. Buchholz

Graduate Research Papers

I completed three of the entries required by the Young Adolescence Science National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) portfolio as a creative component option for my master's in Science Education. Entry one involved teaching a major idea over time. The theme I selected was molecular basis of heredity in biology class. Entry two based on video evidence of students engaged in scientific inquiry. For this entry, I chose a variable test lab in my physical science class. Entry four was comprised of teacher accomplishments and how they are linked to student learning. I will provide an overview of my …

Project/Problem Based Learning Activities For High School Biology, Susan Considine

Graduate Research Papers

Very early on in my teaching career it became apparent to me that teaching required talent, patience, perseverance, and a wide array of tools. The past thirteen years of teaching have provided insight to the methods that work best in the classroom. Throughout my education as a part of the Masters of Science Education program at the University of Northern Iowa I have been exposed to many different models of teaching and learning. One instructional approach I think is essential to my teaching is project and problem based learning. Science is understood to be a process of finding out and …

Differentiating Instruction In The High School Science Classroom: Instructional Accommodations For Students With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, English Language Learners, And Gifted Learners, Nicole M. Kesselring

Graduate Research Papers

Students in today's classrooms come from many different backgrounds and have many different educational needs and learning styles. Today's education emphasizes inclusion of students with learning disabilities and a reduction of out-of-class services for gifted learners. Working to meet the needs of the broad spectrum of students is a big challenge for many of today's science teachers. Indications are that most teachers are making few proactive modifications based on learner variance. Inclusion of students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and English Language Learners (ELL) in science classrooms along with gifted learners calls for a need of differentiated or academically responsive instruction. …

Motivation Factors As Indicators Of Academic Achievement: A Comparative Study Of Student-Athletes And Non-Athletes Academic And Social Motivation, Jonell Pedescleaux

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate non-cognitive motivational factors as indicators of academic achievement of male athletes and male non-athletes as measured by a secondary data analysis of the College Student Inventory (CSI) from Fall 2003 to Fall 2005. Deci and Ryan's (2000) self-determination theory provided the conceptual framework for this study.

The CSI was administered through a survey technique. Participants in the survey sample were selected from 142 first semester freshman male athletes and male non-athletes enrolled at a Midwestern University.

The data gathered from the CSI provided information on non-cognitive variables of academic and social motivation …

An Examination Of The Pertinent Literature Of The Relationship Between Adolescence, Alcohol Use And Leisure, Jennifer Swofford

Graduate Research Papers

Adolescent alcohol use is a significant health and safety concern in the United States (National Institutes of Health, 2006). Alcohol use among adolescents has a number of negative consequences including academic failure, health problems, motor vehicle accidents and personal violence (Bruner and Fishman, 1998). Many researchers contend that the decision to use alcohol is made during childhood and early adolescence (Johnson, O'Malley and Bachman (1984).

This research project examined the relationship between adolescent alcohol use and leisure involvement. Many of the self-reported reasons that adolescents drink alcohol are similar to those benefits they derive from participation in more wholesome leisure …

The Effects Of Planting Methods And Granivory On Seedling Emergence In A Tallgrass Prairie Reconstruction, Justin Vernon Huisman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study investigates effects of various seed incorporation methods (none, cultipack, rake, rake and culti-pack) and seed predation on prairie species emergence and establishment over two growing seasons. To assess seed incorporation, seed was coated with a fluorescent orange powder and sampled with a black light the night of seeding. Powder coated seed was broadcast seeded in early November 2007. Seed was incorporated into the soil by culti-packing, raking, or a combination of raking followed by culti-packing. Seed was not incorporated into the soil in control plots. Granivore exclosures in the research plots were used to determine the effect of …

The Portrayal Of Grandparents As Caregivers In Young Adult Fiction, Susan Christine Bunch

Graduate Research Papers

The number of children and young adults being raised primarily by their grandparents continues to increase (Landry-Meyer & Newman, 2004). If either the grandchild or grandparent is suddenly thrust into a different family structure it can create challenges. Some young adults turn to the characters in literature as models for how to cope with life challenges (Hughes-Hassell & Rodge, 2007). It was the purpose of this quantitative study to explore physical health, mental and emotional health, and lifestyle and social challenges faced by grandparents and grandchildren when the grandparents are the primary caregivers, and how those challenges are portrayed in …

Ornithine Decarboxylase (Odc) Regulation By Mtor: New Insights From Tsc1 Knockout Cells, Alyssa Mae Cates

Honors Program Theses

The polyamine pathway, when improperly regulated, is one central cause of skin carcinogenesis. The purpose of this project was to investigate the relationship between two biochemical signaling pathways, the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway and the polyamine pathway. It is known that the protein mTOR serves to regulate a key protein in the polyamine pathway, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), but the precise mechanism remains unclear. It has been postulated that mTOR acts to regulate ODC through two RNA binding proteins, HuR (a member of the Hu family of proteins) and TIP (tristetraprolin). The project entailed characterizing that relationship using TSCl …

Towards Cloning A Tyrosinase Gene From Pitayas, Kurt J. Chamberlain

Honors Program Theses

Betalains, such as those produced by pitayas, are water-soluble nitrogen-containing pigment molecules (Gandia-Herrero et al., 2005). In most families of the Caryophyllales, betalains replace anthocyanins, which are the pigment molecules found in all other families of flowering plants (Strack et al., 2001). Betalains accumulate in the flowers, fruits, and occasionally vegetative tissues of these plants (Strack et al., 2001). Depending on the structure of the molecule, betalains are classified as either betacyanins or betaxanthins. Betacyanins contribute to red-violet coloration, while betaxanthins contribute to the yellow-orange coloration found only in a limited number of plant species (Gandia-Herrero et al., 2005). The …

Formation Of The Neural Tube Epithelium Basement Membrane During Secondary Neurulation In The Chick Embryo, Leslie Ann Mataya

Honors Program Theses

Neurulation, the formation of the neural tube, is an important process in the development of vertebrates. Because this organ ultimately becomes the central nervous system of the organism, the proper development of a fully-functioning neural tube is paramount to its survival. Neural tube defects, like spina bifida and anencephaly, are among the most common congenital malformations present in live human births. The prevalence of these defects is a definite concern to medicine and human health.

Physical Therapy Availability In The Rural Counties Of Iowa, Kelsea Elizabeth Leacox

Honors Program Theses

According to the Iowa Physical Therapy Association [IPT A], physical therapy [PT] is a vital part of a healthy society, because it allows people to "achieve and maintain mobility and quality of life without surgery or prescription medication" (IPT A, 2009). There have been no published studies researching the availability of PT in rural areas of Iowa (Wilson, Lewis, & Murray, 2009; Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2005). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether PT availability in rural Iowa counties is an issue of concern. Preliminary and qualitative research was conducted to examine this topic. The importance of …

Structure Elucidation Of A Glycosylated Benzyl Ester Of Salicylic Acid From The North American Prairie Plant Oligoneuron Rigidum, Sarah Katherine Miesner

Honors Program Theses

The organic extract from Oligoneuron rigidum displayed anti-microbial activity, indicating a potential future use as a natural food preservative. Three novel compounds were isolated from the active extract. The skeletal structure of the three compounds was determined by spectral methods, and the final structural component that remained to be determined was the locations of the acetate groups. Neutral permethylations were performed on the compounds as the first step in determining the locations of the acetate groups; however, the permethylation technique proved to be ineffective, causing cleavage of the native compounds. The structure elucidation will be complete when a non-degradable method …

Butterfly Response To Floral Resources At A Heterogeneous Prairie Biofuel Production Site, Benjamin J. Hoksch, Mark C. Myers

Undergraduate Student Work

In the Midwestern USA, current biofuel production systems rely on high input monoculture crops that do little to support biodiversity or protect soil and water resources. The University of Northern Iowa’s Tallgrass Prairie Center is investigating the feasibility of cultivating and harvesting diverse mixes of native prairie vegetation as a sustainable biofuel. In 2009, we established 48 research plots seeded with one of four treatments: 1) switchgrass monoculture, 2) warm-season grass mix (5 species), 3) biomass mix (16 species of grasses and forbs), or 4) prairie mix (32 species of grasses and forbs). We hypothesized that more diverse plant communities …

A Study Of Japanese Women Today: Changing Gender Roles And Attitudes Toward Marriage, Shiho Hosokawa

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Japanese women and men are getting married later in life than before and the number of Japanese choosing to live a single person's lifestyle has increased since the 1980's. In the 1970's, the number of women working outside the home was lower than now and most of those who did work, did so only to supplement their husband's income. Today, many Japanese women obtain college degrees and have a paid job, the same as men do. Yet, based on my personal experience and those of others I know, Japanese women often remain the primary caretakers in the home. They are …

A Need For Picture Books Showing Girls Playing Organized Team Sports, Lisa A. Heiden

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to create a children's picture storybook depicting female characters participating in competitive team athletics. The book shows a young girl learning about the game of basketball and sharing the experience with her older sister. The researcher has a long history of athletic participation and a deep passion for sports. These experiences allowed the researcher to capture the essence of the sport of basketball and create a picture book for children that engages the reader and possibly encourages participation in athletics for children of various ages. The book gives young, athletic girls an early experience …

Fall Commencement [Program], December 19, 2009, 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.

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, December 14, 2009, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

Meeting minutes from the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, December 14, 2009, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

Meeting minutes from the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.