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Self-Injury: An Analysis Of The Behavior, Causes, And Effective Treatments, Lindsey Huyser

Honors Program Theses

Society has also become obsessed with the quest for a perfect body (Lader & Conterio, 1998). Often, this causes great damage for the self-esteem of women because they are pressured to live up to these high expectations. Self-injury is a way to make women feel better. There has been a rise in women working outside of the home as well, making latchkey children a normal occurrence. Children are often home by themselves when they return from school in today's world, which leaves them with nobody to talk to when problems arise. Self-injury can become a way to heal these issues.

Incorporating Reading Comprehension Tools Into An Anatomy And Physiology Curriculum, Stephanie Monahan

Graduate Research Papers

During the 2003-2004 school year, Hempstead High School in Dubuque, Iowa was one of several schools in the state selected to pilot the Iowa Professional Development Model. The purpose of the Iowa Professional Development Model is to develop a link between professional development and increasing student achievement. A main component of the model plan is the implementation of research-based activities in the professional development plan of a school. Hempstead chose to focus all professional development time on how to produce independent readers/learners by incorporating reading strategies into all curricular areas. Over the course of two school years, a professional by …

God Image, Self-Monitoring, And Willingness To Authentically Forgive, Bryan J. Hall

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Interpersonal forgiveness has become a major topic among researchers, but little attention has been paid to Hunter's (1978) conceptualization of pseudo forgiveness. In the present study, the relationship between personality and religious beliefs on the willingness of people to forgive others was examined. The tendency to engage in self-monitoring behaviors, the conception of the character of God, and the degree to which one identified as a Christian were studied in the context of one's willingness to grant authentic forgiveness. A distinction was made between people who offered authentic forgiveness versus those who merely pseudo forgave. Authentic forgiveness involves releasing the …

Exploring Intersectionality In Education: The Intersection Of Gender, Race, Disability, And Class, Amy J. Petersen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to explore the intersection of gender, race, disability, and class within education. Specifically, I examined the educational experiences of African American women labeled with a disability and from a disadvantaged socio-economic class. Employing qualitative methodology and methods, I interviewed four adult African American women from disadvantaged socio-economic groups to gain a deeper understanding of their lived educational experiences.

The story that emerged from this research was each participant's strength. Their stories revealed that each woman persistently and continually engaged in the world around them in order to negotiate, evade, and resist the dominant ideology …

What Happened To Dad: A Portrayal Of Teenage Fathers In Young Adult Literature, Becky R. Schafer Andrews

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to see if authors of realistic fiction accurately portray the characteristics of teenage fathers. Abundant fictional novels on the topic of teenage pregnancy are in print; however, most seemed concerned with teen mothers and neglect teen fathers. How teen fathers react to being told about the conception to accepting responsibility for their actions was evaluated through a checklist. This research demonstrated that a realistic portrayal of teen fathers is absent from much young adult fiction. In sharing this research with others it is in hopes that more authors will give teen fathers a more …

Shhhhh! The Negative Effect Of Librarian Stereotypes On Junior High Students, Kerry Lust

Graduate Research Papers

Librarians are often portrayed negatively in media. The stereotypical spinster librarian with her hair in a bun and glasses on a chain around her neck has often been portrayed in books, television, and movies. Junior high students are great consumers of all types of media and have often been exposed to this stereotype. This study investigated four questions. What are the characteristics of the librarian stereotype? What are characteristics of junior high students that make them especially easy targets for media influence? Is there a set of characteristics which junior high students attribute to librarians? Can we say that media …

Problem Based Learning, Susan Tebbe

Graduate Research Papers

The No Child Left Behind legislation brought about a flurry of conversations regarding student achievement (McElroy, 2006). Increased use of standardized testing to measure student achievement has resulted in a discussion of teaching models. Is the transmission teaching model with its expository style the only mode to insure student success? Or is the constructivist teaching model with its inquiry style a mode that better leads to student success? This review of literature examines the instructional practices involved in problem based learning, a constructivist approach. The paper focuses on the components of problem-based learning, the benefits and challenges of using this.approach, …

Twins In The Kindergarten Classroom : What Factors Do Parents Consider When Deciding Whether To Place Their Same-Gendered Twins In Separate Or Joint Classrooms?, Tammy Marie Gehling

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In this qualitative research project, the topic of kindergarten placement of same-gendered twins is investigated through interviews with three mothers of young twins in a medium-sized Midwestern city. Specifically, the issue of what parents believe is the "best" placement for same-gendered twins is discussed, along with factors that shaped this decision. Advantages of both separate and joint kindergarten placement are discussed, along with such issues as patterns of twinship, mandatory placement policies, and early-onset separation anxiety. Recommendations are provided for both parents and educators regarding this issue.

Biotechnology Education In The State Of Iowa: A Survey Of Teachers And Factors Affecting Inclusion, Jason Allen Lang

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research studied biology, agricultural education, and family and consumer science teachers in Iowa regarding the topic of biotechnology in their classrooms. The survey study involved collecting demographic information about respondents, which could then be used to characterize those who teach biotechnology and those who do not. The survey also asked about perceived barriers to teaching biotechnology. As the first large scale sampling of Iowa teachers (1477), the survey attempted to provide a picture of biotechnology education in the state. Demographic data showed an aging teaching population, a teaching load of some teachers, especially those in FCS and Ag Ed, …

Biomonitoring Organochlorine And Cholinesterase Inhibiting Insecticide In Eastern Iowa Streams, Matthew Thomas Fisher

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The four chapters in this thesis provide results from five separate investigations. Chapter One describes Isonychia bicolor acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in Northeast Iowa rivers. During 2002 and 2003 insects were collected from 10 sites during May, July and September, three sites on the Volga River were sampled weekly during May and June and one Cedar River site was sampled monthly. Also, in 2003, three sites on the Upper Iowa were sampled weekly in May and June. Sampling often sites yielded few discernable trends, however decreasing AChE activity from upstream to downstream sites was apparent on several occasions on the Volga …

Iowa Journal Of Communication, Volume 38, Number 1, Fall 2006 [Download Entire Issue]

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Embracing The Imaginary Good Mother: Narratives Of Love And Violence From Women Who Killed Their Children, Barbara Barnett

Iowa Journal of Communication

Western culture positions motherhood as a divine calling, and this construct makes the notion that women would harm her children seem baffling and unnatural. This qualitative analysis of news articles seeks to understand maternal violence by analyzing narratives told by women who killed their children. Findings reveal that women who harmed their children portrayed themselves as loving and protective and dismissed their violent actions as accidents or missteps. Women understood society's expectation that mothers be all-loving and all-knowing, and internalized the good mother myth, constructing stories of themselves as caring and nurturing even when their actions were hurtful and destructive.

The Relationship Of Time Spent Training At Three Physiological Loads And Performance In Endurance Athletes, Nicholas L. Maas

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between time spent at three training loads and running performance during a Division I collegiate cross-country season. Subjects were fifteen collegiate level male and female runners all with competition experience of ≥3 years.. Subjects HRmax was determined during a treadmill run to exhaustion. After the completion of maximal testing, the following HR zones were determined; 1) light intensity(< 80% of HRmax), 2) moderate intensity (between 80-90% of HRmax), and 3) High intensity (> 90% of HR max). During the training season, the amount of time spent at in each heart rate zone was determined for each runner. Correlations between the amount of time spent in …

Correlates Of Physical Activity Among Adolescent Males And Females, Rhonda Baumann

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between physical fitness measures, selected psychosocial correlates of physical activity, and self-reported physical activity among seventh and eighth-grade students in rural Iowa. Computerized physical fitness measures were obtained by the HealthFirst Trifit™ computer system, attitudes about physical activity were measured by the Correlates of Physical Activity in Children (CP AC) questionnaire, and physical activity levels were measured by the Physical Activity Questionnaire-Adolescents (PAQ-A). All subjects were enrolled at Tilford Middle School in Vinton, Iowa. Data were collected on 253 seventh and eighth grade students enrolled at Tilford Middle School …

Addressing Diversity: A Case Study Of Teacher Educators' Views And Instructional Practices At A Midwestern University, Alina Slapac

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

It is well documented that while the student population is becoming more and more diverse, the teacher population remains mostly white, female, monolingual, and monocultural (Banks, 2001a; Darling-Hammond, 2002; Nieto, 2000a). Consequently, teacher education programs have the important role of addressing diversity throughout curriculum, field experiences and faculty recruitment.

The purpose of this qualitative research was to gain more understanding, from the teacher educators' perspectives, about the way diversity is being addressed at a Midwestern university by examining teacher educators' various methods of instruction, and their course materials, which focus on diversity issues and the needs of diverse learners. The …

Obesity In Adolescents And Its Associations With Physical Activity And Diet, Soyang Kwon

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Overweight population in adolescent has increased dramatically in the last three decades in the United States. The increasing rate has become an important public health problem because obesity increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between body weight and physical activity behaviors, dietary patterns, and nutrition/physical activity knowledge by comparing the variables between those students classified as overweight group and non-overweight group. The study participants included 140 adolescents (66 boys and 74 girls) grade 7-8. Physical activity behaviors, sedentary behaviors, and dietary patterns were assessed using a self-report questionnaire. …

Relationship Of Perceived Physical Competence, Exercise Intensity, And Body Mass Index To Enjoyment Of Elementary Students In Physical Education, Wei Mei Sin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The sedentary lifestyles of some children have led to negative consequences for present and long-term health. Schools have the potential to improve the health of youth by providing positive enjoyable learning environments that promote physical activity outside school. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of perceived physical competence, exercise intensity, and body mass index to enjoyment in physical education among elementary students. The sample consisted of 56 fourth and fifth grade students enrolled at Grundy Center Elementary School in Iowa. A self-report questionnaire was used to ascertain information regarding children's enjoyment during participation in physical education …

Objectified Body Consciousness And Eating Attitudes And Behaviors Of College Females And Males, Danielle Jo Eastman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study investigated the relationship between objectified body consciousness (OBC) and eating attitudes and behaviors of both female and male students at a Midwestern university. Based on a survey completed by 369 females and 181 males, relationships between OBC as measured by the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS; McKinley, 1995) and eating attitudes and behaviors as measured by the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26; Garner, Olmstead, Bohr, & Garfinkle, 1982) were analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlations. The OBCS consists of three subscales representing body surveillance, body shame, and control beliefs. A higher score on the EA T-26 indicates an increased likelihood …

Iowa’S Special Education Mediators: Potted Plants Negotiating For A Place In The Sunlight, A Qualitative Examination Of Personal Philosophy And Perceived Power, Amber Elizabeth Benedict

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

On November 19, 2004 the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was reauthorized by the American government. Within the reauthorization, IDEA now includes provisions [20 USC§ 1415 (d-e)] requiring mediation as an alternative to due process litigation. Prior to filing for a due process hearing, parents of children with specific disabilities must consider mediation as an option for resolving disputes concerning a child's special education program. Although mediation has been heralded as a successful dispute resolution tool, little is known about the process preferences or role of the mediator. An understanding of the philosophies and approaches of mediators may assist …

Reforming Rhetoric: Gender Equity, The American Association Of University Women, And The New White, Kim Golombisky

Iowa Journal of Communication

During the 1990s, the American Association of University Women tried to put gender equity back onto a U.S. education agenda that had rolled back equity programming during the 1980s and turned toward standards and testing in the 1990s. Conservatives labeled the AA UW radical feminists and argued black schoolboys represent the greatest at-a-risk student population, a logic that prioritized race over gender and boys over girls. Nonwhite non-Anglo women criticized the AA UW for glossing over differences among girls and women. In its 1998 Gender Gaps, the AA UW wrote a rhetorical alliance with its critics on the right and …

The Contribution Of Socio-Economic Status And Maturity On Injury Risk In Youth Soccer, Kristin Noel Stoneberg

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Soccer is considered the universal sport as it is played by youth in nearly every nation around the world. With such a large number of children involved in soccer, injury is inevitable. Many possible risk factors have been identified, but very little current data address other risk factors such as maturity and socio-economic status (SES). The purpose of this study was to determine injury rates and the association between injury, maturity, socio-economic status, and other risk factors in youth soccer players. There were 440 youth soccer players ages 6-18 years involved in the cohort sample and a sub-sample of 102 …

Gender And Policing : An Analysis Of Police Departments As Gendered Organizations, Kimberly L. Seavey

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Drawing upon eighteen semi-structured, in-depth interviews with women officers from three municipal police departments, I examine the work lives these women experience and how their work lives are influenced by gender. I explore three categories in this analysis: (1) work environment; (2) social relations of work; and (3) occupational identity and role conflict. The analysis is based on in-depth interviews, participant observation, and archival data consisting of documents gathered from all three police departments. The study is guided by Joan Acker' s (1990, 1992a, 1992b) "theory of gendered organizations." I apply Acker's (1990, 1992a, 1992b) theory to determine if the …

The Relationship Between Sexual Behavior And Relational Aggression In College Students, Hiliary Baethke

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Although the study of relational aggression has been the subject of more research since Crick and Grotpeter (1995) first defined the term, the impact of this form of aggression on college students is still an area that requires more study. Relational aggression is defined as "harming others through purposeful manipulation and damage of their peer relationships" (Crick & Grotpeter, 1995). Current research on relational aggression has established that women are more likely to engage in relational aggression then men (Crick, Bigbee, & Howes, 1996). While research has typically focused on the impact of relational aggression on friendship groups, the impact …

Loss Of Nutrients From Croplands As A Result Of Soil Erosion, Munns Creek Watershed, Grundy County, Iowa, Jihyo Chong

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The temporal distribution of chloride, nitrate, and sulfate in the hydrologic environment were studied in Grundy County, Iowa from June to September 2004. The goal of the project was to investigate the rate of soil erosion and the subsequent loss of nutrients from the agricultural fields of the study area. Water samples were collected weekly from 6 different sites along Munns Creek in the study area near Grundy Center, Iowa. Each sample was analyzed for chloride, nitrate, and sulfate by ion chromatography. Soil core samples were collected from 22 locations in the surrounding agricultural fields. At each location, soil was …

Cohort Study Of Nitrate Exposure From Drinking Water, Mhg Level, And Implications On Possible Recovery Oxygen Uptake By Age-Grade, Patricia Teran Yengle

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

Correlation Between Acculturation And Health Promotion Behavior Among Hispanics/Latinos In Black Hawk County, Iowa, Ki-Hyung Park

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The elimination of the health disparities between different segments of population such as ethnic or racial minority groups in the United States is one of the principal goals of Healthy People 2010. Since 2002, the Hispanic/Latino population has been the largest minority group in the United States, and currently Hispanic/Latinos are the largest minority group in Iowa. The study assesses the relationships among health status, health promoting behavior, and acculturation of Hispanic/Latino immigrants in Black Hawk County, Iowa. A community sample of 54 adults completed a face-to-face structured interview. The instrumentation included the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II), …

Stages Of Change, Process Of Change, Self-Efficacy, Decisional Balance, And Behavior Intention For Exercise Behavior By Young Adults, Danielle Johnson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to assess stage transitions, processes of change, self-efficacy, decisional balance, and behavioral intention measures of exercise among college students enrolled in a conceptual-based university wellness class. A sub-problem of the study was to utilize the Transtheoretical Model as a basis for comparing two approaches of sequencing course content. Results are based on responses to a questionnaire completed by 164 students enrolled in the Personal Wellness course ( 440:010 sections 02 and 06) and the Human Identity and Relationships course (310:053 sections 02 and 05) during the Spring 2002 semester. The 46-item, self-report questionnaire was …

Effect Of A Biomes Genetics Unit On Student Achievement In High School Biology, Melissa C. James

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Research has found the learning cycle to be an effective science instructional tool for implementing hands-on activities and leading interactive discussion. In 2000 a curriculum entitled Biology Instructional Opportunities for Motivating Every Student (BIOMES), was written by teachers from Iowa and Wisconsin and edited by Dr. Jody Stone and Dr. Lyn Countryman of the University of Northern Iowa. BIO MES was designed using a three stage learning cycle format to allow students to be true science investigators and create a more student-centered environment to stimulate the development of reasoning skills. The purpose of this study was to test the BIO …

Student Attendance And Its Relationship To Student Achievement In An Earth Science Class, Gregory Lee Schafer

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research studied the relationship between the attendance patterns of ninth grade high school students and achievement, in a required ninth grade Earth Science course as defined by course grades, in a medium sized Midwestern school district. Data was collected from a school district computerized system spanning a five year period from August of 2000 to June of 2005 and included 3667 data sets. The data consisted of course grades as indicated by A, B, C, D, and F and the number of days absent for each semester. The research question framing the study was, "Is there a statistically significant …

United States American Students' Experience With And Orientation Toward International Diversity In A Midwestern Comprehensive University Setting, Olga V. Kostareva

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The growing phenomenon of globalization has directly affected all levels of postsecondary institutions as evidenced by the strong emphasis colleges and universities place on internationalizing their campuses. Among the forthstanding efforts toward campus internationalization is attracting international students to American colleges and universities. Numbers of international students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities have indeed been very high, placing this country in the leading position for hosting students from abroad. Hhowever, the role international students play in the overall process of internationalization has rarely been addressed. While the presence of international students is believed to contribute significantly to the intellectual …