Digital Commons Network^™

Sexual And Bystander Sexual Harassment Experiences Among Part-Time Female Employees: Testing An Interactive Model, Erin Powers

Graduate Research Papers

The current research investigated the impact of sexual and bystander harassment on work-related attitudes, work behaviors, and psychological health. Participants included 314 females who worked part-time at their organization. All participants individually completed a computer administered Workplace Experiences Survey assessing various aspects of their work environment including personal and bystander harassment experiences, work-related attitudes (supervisor, coworker, and work satisfaction), work behaviors (work and job withdrawal), and psychological well-being. It was predicted that both direct sexual harassment and bystander harassment experiences would be associated with more negative work attitudes, greater withdrawal behaviors, and poorer psychological health, with bystander harassment moderating the …

Using Analysis Of Teaching And Assessment Practices To Revise Implementation Of A Force Unit In An 8th Grade Science Course, Caleb Christine

Graduate Research Papers

One thing I have noticed from my fellow teachers is a desire to improve how we teach and to engage our students in active learning. As a new teacher I have that same desire. Accomplishing my goal of being an effective teacher while also improving how the material is presented requires an approach that includes evaluating not only how the students are performing, but also how they are responding to my instruction.

I used self reflection journals to keep track of how I was presenting material in my classroom. I also collected information from completion of ungraded assignments and investigations. …

Research Portfolio, Kezia Mariam Abraham

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Mitochondrial Disease On The Eyes And Possible Treatments With An Emphasis On Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, Olivia Chambers

Honors Program Theses

Mitochondrial diseases are a diverse group of genetic disorders that impair cellular energy production, often leading to multisystem complications, including vision loss. This thesis explores how mitochondrial dysfunction impacts ocular health, with an emphasis on Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a disorder caused by point mutations in mitochondrial DNA affecting Complex I of the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. Through an extensive literature review, this research examines the mechanisms by which mitochondrial mutations damage retinal ganglion cells and evaluates current and emerging treatment approaches. Pharmacological therapies, such as idebenone and other quinone analogs, demonstrate limited but promising results in stabilizing early-stage vision …

Florentine Impressions: Artists Abroad, Jaylin Vander Wiel

Honors Program Theses

Florence, Italy has long been a destination for traveling artists and those looking for international inspiration. I wanted to be part of this tradition and experience my own contemporary version of the Grand Tour, a rite of passage trip to Europe for men in the 17th to early 19th century. Several notable female artists also participated in the Grand Tour or their own European travel and served as inspiration for this project. As someone who values travel and planned to study abroad, I was drawn to this history and the idea of developing as a person and artist through immersion …

The Relationship Between Backgrounds And The Perception Of Tones In Mandarin, Abigail Franks

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Morphtogo: A Video Classification Model For Predicting Protein Functions From Conformational Morphs, Dylan William Bock

Honors Program Theses

Protein function prediction is a crucial task in bioinformatics, traditionally approached through sequence-based, structure-based, or interaction network models. These models, however, fail to capture transient conformations that occur during large-scale conformational changes. MorphToGO proposes a novel methodology of function prediction with the development of a video classification model to analyze morph animations. The image classification portion of the model utilizes the pretrained EfficientNetV2 model to extract features from animation frames, and the video portion consists of a modified GRU architecture for sequence-to-sequence embedding regression to predict the protein’s functional semantics. A custom bidirectional cosine loss function was developed to handle …

Acoustic Analysis Of Vowels In Foreign-Accented English, Hannah Nedder

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Of Both Parent And Child Technology Use On Developing Literacy Abilities, Ava Mcmenomy

Honors Program Theses

This study explored the effects of both parent and child technology use on developing literacy abilities. Research is limited in this area, but is becoming increasingly important as technology continues to evolve and become more commonplace in the lives of both adults and children. This study aimed to determine if there was a correlation between technology use and decreased literacy abilities of children. This study also explored if increased technology use in conjunction with decreased quality of parent-child interactions resulted in decreased literacy skills. Research was conducted through a survey and 15 responses were analyzed. No decreased literacy abilities of …

Arts-Integrated Mindfulness: Social-Emotional Learning For Elementary Education, Ashley J. M. Canny, Katherine A. Taylor Clausen, Amanda K. Cox, Bryce D. Cox

Graduate Research Papers

This action research investigates the impact of arts-integrated mindfulness practices on elementary students’ ability to self-regulate. In response to a significant rise in emotional dysregulation and mental health concerns among young learners - exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic - this study explores how combining mindfulness techniques with artistic expression can enhance emotional awareness, focus, and resilience. Through classroom activities such as breathing exercises, movement, music, and visual arts, students were guided to engage in self-reflection and emotion regulation in creative, accessible ways. Data collected through student surveys and observational records indicated that most participants experienced improved calmness, engagement, and readiness …

Communiqué: College Of Humanities, Arts & Sciences Alumni Magazine, Volume 11, 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Humanities, Arts, And Sciences.

Communiqué: College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences Alumni Magazine

Contents:

EVERY ISSUE
Message from the Dean --- 4
Donor Feature --- 5
CHAS Briefs --- 36
Class Notes --- 38

FEATURES
Engineering Advances --- 6
Japan Water Quality Trip --- 10
Theatre Outreach --- 14
A Future in Physics --- 18
International Teaching --- 24

STORIES
SLP Community Partnership --- 22
Professional Readiness --- 28
Syndaver Lab --- 30
Art Teaching Sisters --- 32
Math Alum Now NBA Coach --- 34

Student Affairs Professionals' Sensemaking Following Student Disclosures Of Mental Health Concerns, Andrea L. Meluch, Alison Doehring, Maria Hannah

Iowa Journal of Communication

Based on semi-structured interviews with 23 participants, this study explores how student affairs professionals in higher education make sense of the role-related and communication-related challenges that they face when students disclose mental health concerns. Study results indicated that participants construct their role as student affairs professionals as advocates and sources of support for students struggling with mental health. However, despite framing their role as “helpers” to students, participants noted that they must navigate mental health resources within and beyond their institution, manage constraints on their role, and grapple with external factors that inhibit students’ ability to receive mental health support. …

Teasing In Romantic Relationships: The Roles Of Attachment Dimensions, Relational Uncertainty, And Interpersonal Attraction, Nathan Miczo

Iowa Journal of Communication

Drawing upon DiCioccio’s interactionist model of teasing, this study examined positive and negative teasing in romantic relationships, with relational uncertainty and interpersonal attraction as mediators. Participants completed measures of teasing, attachment, relational uncertainty, and interpersonal attraction. Affectionate teasing was positively predicted by anxious attachment, physical attraction, and social attraction, and negatively predicted by avoidant attachment. Social attraction mediated the relationship between anxiety and affectionate teasing, while physical attraction and social attraction were mediators between avoidance and affectionate teasing. There were no significant results for relational uncertainty as a predictor or for aggressive teasing as an outcome.

The Fifth (202-195 Bce) And The Sixth (170-168 Bce) Syrian Wars In The Dead Sea Scrolls: Implications For Understanding The Origin Of The Maccabean Revolt, Kenneth Atkinson

Faculty Publications

The rulers of the Seleucid and the Ptolemaic Empires fought six wars for control of the region known as Coele-Syria during the third and the second centuries BCE. These conflicts weakened both powers, allowing them to be conquered by the Roman Republic. For the Jews of Judea, the Fifth Syrian War witnessed increased conflicts in the country among its high priests regarding the nature of Hellenistic reforms and how to deal with the Seleucid Empire. These difficulties continued and led to the Maccabean Revolt at the conclusion of the Sixth Syrian War, which would eventually culminate in Judean independence from …

Analysis Of The Menstrual Product Initiative At The University Of Northern Iowa, Catrina Marie Tounjian

Honors Program Theses

Period poverty is defined as the inability to access menstrual products or adequate feminine hygiene due to economic vulnerability. This ultimately can cause social, political, and educational barriers. In the USA, 1 in 5 menstruating students will miss school since they are unable to obtain period products. The relationship between period poverty and educational disparities is not well understood but needs to be addressed to ensure equitable education. The provision of free menstrual products in public restrooms has slowly become more prevalent as a potential interventional approach. At the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa, there is …

A New Application Of The Coimbra Method On Cranial Entheseal Changes, Emily Marie Carlo

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Examining The Role Of Mental Health In Prisoner Reentry, Ireland Laughlin

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Hireability Of Female Hispanic Applicants By Accent/Career Type And Participant First Language, Lauren R. Logue

Honors Program Theses

There has been an influx of Hispanic immigrants in the United States, and negative attitudes toward these individuals have been increasingly expressed in the current political climate. There is discrimination toward the Hispanic community, and this includes in the workplace. One factor that may impact discrimination is accents. This study examined perceptions of women with Hispanic accents in an organizational context. Most previous research in this area has examined the perceptions of male job candidates with other types of accents. 314 participants evaluated a female job candidate who either had a Hispanic accent, did not have an accent (but had …

A Deep Dive Into The Alignment Of Classroom Management And A Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum, Aliya James

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

How Do Documentaries Depict The Experiences Of Juveniles In Correctional Facilities?, Emma Decker

Honors Program Theses

The juvenile justice system is an entity that is separate from the criminal justice system, with the intended purpose of accommodating the unique needs of juveniles. This system has the primary goals of rehabilitation and punishment, with an emphasis on rehabilitation. Most of the general population has had little to no contact with the juvenile justice system.. In order to fill this gap, a great portion of the public relies on media representation to build up a foundation of knowledge. This can include gaining information from news sources as well as crime based tv shows and documentaries. Little research has …

Inked Narratives: Exploring The Motivations Behind Tattoo Culture, Katelyn Bakker

Honors Program Theses

This study explores the motivations behind tattoo acquisition and the meanings individuals attribute to their tattoos, with a focus on a college-aged population in the Midwest. Using an online survey, I gathered responses from 649 participants to understand the cultural, social, and personal factors influencing tattoo decisions. The results show that tattoos are increasingly viewed as a form of self-expression, with significant differences in motivations between genders. Key motivations for obtaining tattoos include honoring relationships, personal expression, and commemorating life events. Additionally, the study highlights the role of peer influence in tattoo acquisition, suggesting that exposure to tattooed friends is …

Outlaws, Lawmen, And The Emergence Of Justice On The Western Frontier, Kaci Mae Krier

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Building Better: Lean Construction Vs. Traditional Methods, Payton Olson

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

One, Two, Unemployment’S Coming For You: How Slasher Films Reflect Societal Fears, Arwen G. Hansen

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Nir Spectroscopy As A Tool For Identifying Additives In Foundry Green Sands, Maurice Kuubata

Graduate Research Papers

The main objective of this study is to investigate the potential of Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a rapid, non-destructive method for identifying key additives such as seacoal and red iron oxides in foundry green sand. Samples comprised of silica sand with bentonite (DC2), seacoal, and/or red iron oxide were prepared. NIR spectra were acquired using an Avantes spectrometer with an Avasphere attachment. To ensure robust results, high-repeatability data was obtained from twelve replicates of two control mixtures.

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the spectral data showed that the first principal component (PC1) explained 99.23 % of total variance for Seacoal …

Violence And Taoist Ethics In Ursula K. Le Guin’S The Word For World Is Forest, Aleena Achamma Paul, Swathi Krishna S

UKL: The Journal of Ursula K. Le Guin Studies

This note critically investigates the ethico-moral intricacies of violence/peace in Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Word for World is Forest (1976) while arguing that her radical political sensibilities are informed by her ardent Taoist worldview. Amidst the urgent tussle for domination by the colonizing Terrans and the struggle for survival by the native Athsheans in the fictional planet Athshe, Le Guin incorporates her incisive critique of imperialist exploitation and militarism while upholding the non-dualistic ethics of Taoism. Moving beyond the moral imperatives and either/or debates, Le Guin illustrates how from time-to-time violence turns to be the singular means of self-preservation …

The Devil In The Forest: How Le Guin Subverts A Tired Trope, Andrew Debella

UKL: The Journal of Ursula K. Le Guin Studies

Scholars understand Ursula K. Le Guin's 1972 The Word for World is Forest as a critique of settler-colonial history, but no academic interest has been given to how this novel also comments on the American religious imagination. This article reveals that Le Guin's allegory to Vietnam replicates the 'devil in the forest' trope to expose how a religiously inspired good/evil dichotomy shaped xenophobic attitudes toward the Vietnamese during the 1970s. By tracing the depictions of Native Americans through American fiction and Captivity Narratives, this article further demonstrates how Le Guin’s novel deploys similar tropes to expose and critique their influence …

The Effect Of Note Highlighting On Note Identification Accuracy In Beginning Band Students, Thomas R. Knowles

Graduate Research Papers

This study was completed in the spring of 2025 and is based on the effectiveness of colored notation in music reading in beginning band students. An extensive literature review was conducted that supports the usage of color in educational material. Extensive research has been done on color in music education, and that research was used in this study. This study’s primary question is how color affects student note-reading. The hypothesis generated for the study is that students who receive highlighted notes see improvement in their note-reading compared to those who do not. The method used in this study was a …

Using A Research-Based Approach To Develop An Updated Claim, Evidence, And Reasoning (Cer) Writing Rubric For A High School Science Department, Robin Ashley Thaisen

Graduate Research Papers

All students must be proficient in reading and writing, and science materials present an added layer to these skill areas. Both national and Minnesota state standards require students to show their understanding of science content through certain practices, including constructing evidence-based arguments. A common instructional approach is a claim - evidence - reasoning (CER) framework for writing scientific conclusions. While there are many sources of CER rubrics and guidelines, both commercial and non-commercial, there is a wide range of language or word choice and formatting, among other differences, and none have been tailored to the ninth grade level. By using …

Anxious, Persistent, And Resilient; Oh My!, Samantha Hilbert

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.