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Attitudes Toward Aging Lesbians: An Exploratory Study, Karen E. Cunningham

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of midwestern college students toward older lesbians. It is hypothesized, due to the commonly held assumptions that older women are "asexual" and that the popular image of homosexuals is extremely negative, that the lesbian identity will go unrecognized by others outside of those to whom they have disclosed their sexual orientation. Variables considered in this study include: (a) knowledge of aging and (b) attitudes toward homosexuality. Two hundred and fifty midwestern college students completed questionnaires that assessed their attitudes toward lesbians, their knowledge of aging, and their attitudes toward aging …

Creating Community For Responsible Change, Michael D. Blackwell

Institute for Educational Leadership Monograph Series

Building community is very hard work, and it must be done with sincere, persistent, and concerted effort. My bias is toward a critical cultural pluralism wherein people seek to accept others as human beings without relinquishing the necessity of simultaneously evaluating one's own perspectives as well as others'. In this paper, I move from a clarification of fundamental definitions, to a delineation of the requisite elements, to forging the best possible society -- a community of total participation and humane partnership.

Two Treatment Approaches For Young Children With Autism : Common Ground?, Jodi Suzanne Bronson

Graduate Research Papers

Students with autism display extreme difficulties with communication skills, social interactions, and often engage in restrictive and repetitive patterns of behavior (DSM-IV, 1994 ). As a result of these behaviors, and the often comorbid mental retardation, students with autism have many complex educational needs.

This paper will provide a complete literature review of the historic development of autism, possible etiologies of autism, and current diagnostic criteria. In addition, specifically the literature regarding one current behavioral approach to intervention, the Lovaas Method, and one method of antecedent controlled intervention, the TEACCH model will be reviewed. Additionally, research on other successful interventions …

Fat Storing Patterns Of Migrating Sharp-Shinned Hawks, David John Conrads

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Many species of birds store fat as the primary fuel for migration. Although this is well-documented in many avian families, little is known about fat-storing patterns of migrating birds of prey. Pre-migratory fattening has been recorded in falcons and presumed in buteos. However, fat-storing patterns in migrating Accipiter hawks has not been documented. This study examined the fat-storing patterns of Sharp-shinned Hawks (A. striatus) during a portion of its fall migration. During Sharp-shinned Hawk migration three possible fat-storing patterns are predicted: I) fat deposition increases, 2) fat deposition is maintained, or 3) fat deposition decreases. To determine which strategy is …

Drowning In Loneliness And Writing The Blues: Creating Lesbian Space In The Novels Of Radclyffe Hall And Leslie Feinberg, Laura Ellen Goetz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Feminist theory has long been concerned with identity politics, and feminists have grappled with the ideologies and identities of race, sex, gender, and sexuality, to name only a few. Psychoanalytic theorist Teresa Brennan and postmodern theorist Judith Butler combine feminism with their respective fields in their quests to figure out how subjectivities are created, and why some people are objectified or created as objects, while others are created as subjects. Literature is an excellent vehicle for studying subject/object creation and identity politics, because it often mirrors “real” life, because literature can have such an impact on the lives of those …

Invitations To Sing : A Home-School Literacy Partnership, Connie J. Gordon

Graduate Research Papers

This paper focuses on fostering parent involvement in their children's school life, particularly the writing process. While acquiring literacy, children model behaviors of those around them, both at home and school. Schools need to build genuine partnerships that honor the voices of teachers, parents, and children.

Gender Differences In Science, David Harbaugh

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review examines the research that was available about the trends and the status of gender differences in science. The major factors identified by researchers and educators that contribute to this gender difference are discussed. Suggestions are presented which may minimize the gender differences and provide specific practices that can help improve the situation. The results of this review indicate that although a difference exists, there are ways that educators, parents, and students can make changes to decrease the difference.

Policy Recommendations For A Multicultural Curriculum For All Elementary Schools In The Republic Of South Africa, Motladi Angeline Setlhako

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review explored the system of education in South Africa. The exploration provided the background information about the unequal and segregated system of education which led to student uprisings in 1976. The curriculum became an area of contestation, and was thus attacked by leading educators, parents, teachers, and students. The people of South Africa called for a single, national, unitary system of education for all South African students. A multicultural education was proposed to unify a deeply divided nation and to support the new nation being born.

Multicultural literature was reviewed. The barriers to implementing a multicultural curriculum include …

A Comprehensive Review Of Treatment Options For Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Kristin M. Vanderah

Graduate Research Papers

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a disorder affecting between 3 and 5 percent of school-age children, manifests as a combination of three core skill deficits: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The deficits have been found to present children with many difficulties in both home and school settings. Thus, comprehensive treatment for individuals with ADHD is of paramount importance to their development and their academic and social experiences. The content of this paper is comprised of a review of the recent research that has been published regarding the three major theoretical orientations of ADHD interventions (pharmacological, behavioral, and multimodal treatment). All of …

Native Americans And Type Ii Diabetes: A Review Of The Literature, Tamara J. Tobin

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to review the related literature on the etiology of Type II diabetes in Native North Americans and its implications for community-based education/prevention programs.

An Analysis Of Student Reaction To The Use Of Interactive Video And Hypermedia To Enhance Post-Secondary Biological Science Education, Paulette A. Church

Graduate Research Papers

The perceived effect on student learning provided by interactive technology in the biological sciences has been studied on a small, private, two-year college campus. The first portion of the study was the perceived effectiveness of interactive video when used for class presentations for biological science majors. The second portion of the study evaluated five campus-produced interactive laserdisc tutorials designed for individual and group use for students taking a general introductory biology lab course.

Teaching Fractions Through The Multiple Intelligences, Lisa K. Freese

Graduate Research Papers

Fractions are frequently used in daily life. However, many students have difficulty learning fraction concepts. In addition, some students begin the study of fractions with negative impressions.

The writer of this article uses Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences to address the difficulties students face in learning fraction concepts. Dr. Howard Gardner, the creator of the Theory of Multiple Intelligences (Ml Theory), believes that it is unfair to teach all students in the same way. Students need opportunities to solve relevant problems that are meaningful to their everyday lives. Rather than concentrating on singular viewpoints and exclusive answers when studying …

A Comprehensive Review Of Treatment Options For Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Kristin Vanderah

Graduate Research Papers

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a disorder affecting between 3 and 5 percent of school-age children, manifests as a combination of three core skill deficits: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The deficits have been found to present children with many difficulties in both home and school settings. Thus, comprehensive treatment for individuals with ADHD is of paramount importance to their development and their academic and social experiences. The content of this paper is comprised of a review of the recent research that has been published regarding the three major theoretical orientations of ADHD interventions (pharmacological, behavioral, and multimodal treatment). All of …

Children Of Divorce : Implication To Teaching, Gloria Mao

Graduate Research Papers

The primary focus of this paper is the causes of divorce and their effects on elementary-age children. The adjustment problems of children of divorce in classrooms are examined. The importance of teachers' roles in easing the transition to school for children of divorce is emphasized. Teachers are assumed to be in a better position to observe the changes of children of divorce and to help them to adjust to their parents' divorce. By being sensitive and supportive, teachers can make a difference in their students' lives. A 7-hour workshop designed to enhance teachers' understanding about children of divorce is described.

Role Of Calcium And Other Cations On Contractile Vacuole Activity Of Tetrahymena Thermophila, Robert William Bird

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The contractile vacuole (CV) of Tetrahymena removes fluids from the cell and maintains cellular integrity. Although many studies have been done, it is not fully understood what controls its function. Therefore, this study sought to further elucidate an understanding of what controls the activity of the CV. The effect of calcium on CV activity was studied. Twenty-four hour cultures of Tetrahymena were centrifuged, washed in an experimental solution and isolated. Single cells were measured and analyzed using computer video imaging and analysis programs. Compared to control cells, cells treated with calcium have statistically significant differences (P < 0.00001) in the following parameters: smaller overall cell volume, CV volume, and the interval between contractions. Calcium has an effect on CV activity. Increases in calcium result in decreases in cell volume and CV volume. Cadmium treated cells differed (P < 0.00001) from control cells in cell volume, CV volume, kinetics (slope) of contraction, and the interval between contractions. Increases in cadmium, relative to calcium, result in increased cell and CV volumes. Taken together, these results indicate that the control of CV activity in Tetrahymena is through stretch-activated ion selective calcium channels.

Perceptions Of Problem Solving: Where's Waldo?, Darla Olk Stack

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Until recently, intervening for a child experiencing difficulty in school meant referring the student for special education evaluation. Problem solving is a new administrative arrangement recommended in many states, where a team of people who know the child, meet to define and recommend interventions to address the concern prior to referral for possible special education placement.

The purpose of this study was to observe the problem solving process and describe the process as it is implemented in the schools. Results indicated that while documentation of problem solving suggested problem solving was taking place, the traditional test-and-place model continues to be …

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Perspectives Of Participants Involved In The Identification And Treatment Process, Judy Davison

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the viewpoints, the perspectives, and the understandings about Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) which are held by parents, teachers, other school personnel, and physicians who are regularly involved in the process of identifying and/or treating students for ADD. A qualitative inquiry approach was initiated in a middle class community in a Midwestern metropolitan area and included individual interviews and classroom observations.

The researcher offered her understanding of the meaning and intentions behind the expressions/behaviors/decisions of individuals who work or interact with children labeled as ADD. An examination of the data revealed incongruencies in …

Understanding Of Wetlands As Expressed By Selected Community Leaders, Donald Nathan Bardole

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study focuses on ascertaining the understanding of wetlands by selected community and state leaders and determining the source of that knowledge. Because of the subjects' positions of influence, this information may become an important element in understanding the decisions made by those community and state leaders. An interview survey was designed and piloted for this study. Community and state leadership positions were first delineated and then individuals selected from each category. The subjects varied considerably in their knowledge of wetlands, showed the presence of professional expediency, and agreed that regulation in some form is necessary. The wetlands knowledge held …

Encyclopedia Of Saints: A Database Of The Saints Of The Catholic Church, Julia A. Mroch

Graduate Research Papers

Encyclopedia of Saints: A Database of Saints of the Catholic Church was written and designed to provide students in grades two through eight with a database file of searchable information about saints of the Catholic church. Saints included in the database came from the Litany of Saints prayer, saints listed in the official calendar of the Catholic church, saints mentioned in three religion textbook series, and saint names cross-referenced to the most common names given to babies at birth. Biographical information was compiled from fourteen collective biographical sources and placed in nine fields of the database. This database will enable …

Peer Relations Of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Joan Elizabeth Licari

Graduate Research Papers

This paper's main focus is on the peer relations of children with ADHD. Many interventions are used with children who have ADHD. One of the most widely used intervention is medication. The drug that is most associated with ADHD is methylphenidate or Ritalin. Medication, which can reduce some problematic behaviors associated with ADHD, has not been found to be very beneficial in peer relations.

Children who have ADHD are at risk for later psychopathology (mental disorders), among other problems, and thus early interventions are critical to reduce the onset of later pathologies.

This paper is intended to provide an overview …

Macrophyte-Macroinvertebrate Interactions In A Lentic Ecosystem And The Effect Of Fluridone Treatment To Control Myriophyllum Spicatum L., Gregory J. Moeller

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Myriophyllum spicatum L. is an exotic macrophyte that can become pestiferous in lentic ecosystems. Two field studies were conducted to investigate: 1) epiphytic macroinvertebrates associated with M. spicatum and native macrophytes; and 2) epiphytic macroinvertebrate community response to fluridone treatment for M. spicatum control.

In the first study evaluating epiphytic macroinvertebrates associated with M. spicatum and native macrophytes, triplicate samples were collected at three sites in both Auburn and Zumbra Lakes, Minnesota, USA. One site in each lake contained primarily M. spicatum, the second site contained M. spicatum and native vegetation, and the third site was dominated by native …

The Pain Related Self-Statements Scale (Prss): Psychometric Properties In A College Sample, Howard D. Griffin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Pain Related Self-Statements Scale (PRSS) in a college sample. Specifically, the purpose was to replicate the two factor structure of the PRSS, evaluate the instrument's internal consistency, and examine the convergent validity of the PRSS with other measures of coping with pain. The PRSS is a measure of "situation specific" cognitive coping strategies for individuals suffering from chronic pain. The instrument has two subscales: Catastrophizing and Active Coping. Participants in this study were undergraduate psychology students. Each student was given a packet of self-report measures including a …

Ecomorphology Of Peromyscus In Iowa, Frederick Dramani Biga

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) and white-footed mice (Peromyscus /eucopus noveboracensis) were collected from weedy and prairie habitats of Black Hawk County, and white-footed mice were collected from forested areas of Hardin County, Iowa. Twenty-three external and cranial characters were measured from 125 deer mice and 72 white-footed mice. Analysis of means by t-tests showed significant sexual dimorphism in deer mice in four cranial characters; palatine width at 3rd molar, width of foramen magnum, width of 3rd molar, and width of the incisor. Sexual dimorphism was also found in white-footed mice in three external and one cranial character: total length, …

The Relationship Between Adolescent Alcohol Consumption And Selected Sexual Behaviors: A Retrospective Study, Linda L. Schoonover

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine if the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption by adolescents is associated with their voluntary participation in a continuum of sexual behaviors.

Sixty-one males and 14 females between the age of 18-25 from two substance abuse agencies in Iowa were surveyed. They were asked to provide some basic demographic information (i.e., age, gender, etc.,) and to retrospectively answer questions regarding their referral source to the agency where they completed the questionnaire, residence as an adolescent, family with whom they lived during adolescence, personal quantity and frequency choices for alcohol consumption, attitudes and …

Demonstrating The Need For Health Educators On Short-Term Medical Missions: An Analysis Of Intestinal Parasitic Infections In A Haitian Clinic Population, Janel Jo Brakke

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the need for health educators on short-term medical missions to developing countries. Specifically, the study was designed to analyze age-specific and gender-specific rates of intestinal parasitic infections in a rural Haitian, mountain clinic population. An extensive review of related literature indicated that 80% of the world's population lives in developing nations, primarily in poverty. Despite the tremendous efforts made by governments and international organizations, the basic health needs of developing nations are not being met (Djukanovic & Mach, 1975; King, 1966; Werner, Thuman, & Maxwell, 1996). Problems of contaminated water, improper sewage …

An Examination Of Environmental Sensitivity Among Supporters Of An Outdoor Recreation Area, Rodney James Blackman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The environment as an issue has been prominently before the public for over three decades. Yet the question of how much people know about the natural environment and how committed they are to the environment has seldom been considered in research literature. Research of this nature is needed because without it individuals interested in the preservation and conservation of the environment cannot be sure how their efforts to increase people's environmental sensitivity should be applied. The purpose of this study was to examine the level and extent of environmental sensitivity among supporters of an outdoor recreation area/facility in northeast Iowa. …

Fall Commencement [Program], December 21, 1996, 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 Graduate Council Minutes, November 14, 1996, University Of Northern Iowa. Graduate Council.

Documents - Graduate Council

Meeting minutes from the Graduate Council of the University of Northern Iowa.

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, October 28, 1996, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

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

Uni Schedule Of Classes, Fall 1996, 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.