Digital Commons Network^™

Sex And Setting: A Look At Operational And Organizational Stress In Policing, Laura Anne Lundell

Honors Program Theses

Several studies have looked at how the sex of an officer may or may not influence stress levels within the setting of municipal departments but very little research regarding gender and stress can be found for officers on university or college campuses (Burke, Richardsen & Martinussen, 2006; He, Zhao & Archbold, 2002; Lilly, Pole, Best, Metzler & Marmar 2009; Morash, Haarr & Kwak, 2006; Norvell, Hills & Murrin 1993). Similarly, when sex is looked at as it relates to stress, research is lacking in whether men and women officers experience or are affected differently from operational and organizational stress.

For …

Factors Affecting Religious Beliefs At A Public Midwestern University, Dana Catherine Shook

Honors Program Theses

There is general disagreement in the literature on religion regarding its consequences, and whether they are positive or negative. Theorists such as Freud and Marx argue that religion is detrimental to the individual and society, while some, such as Sorokin and Jung, have found beneficial effects of religion (Ferraro & Albercht-Jensen 1991). This thesis also explored my assumption that doubting and/or critically thinking about religion is useful in creating the global citizens the world may benefit from. Global citizens, in my estimation, are individuals who have respect for individual or cultural differences, regardless of nationality, race, gender, religion, or creed. …

Religion In The Classroom, Allison Kay Carey

Honors Program Theses

When most people hear that one wants to increase the study of religions in a public high school most think that it will infringe on the constitutional rights of the students, but this is not the case. "Teaching about religion in the schools is often confused with the teaching of religion, or religious advocacy and indoctrination." This quotation describes why the study of religion has been left out, but it is imperative to understand why the study of religion is so important in a 21st century education. Diane L. Moore gave five main reasons why she felt students need to …

Creating Units For Second Grade Learners Of English As A Foreign Language, Laura Elizabeth Messerly

Honors Program Theses

Teaching English as a Foreign Language is becoming more popular as English is in high demand in countries throughout the world because of globalization (Niklov, 2006). The chief difference between English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) is that the language is being learned in a non-English speaking community (.EFL) versus an English speaking community (ESL). These non-English speaking communities are being affected by multinational corporations. As businesses grow and globalize, flourishing across continents, factories and branches are sprouting up in places all over the world. Technology, too, has contributed to the spread of …

What Motivates Individuals To Participate In Camp AdventureTm Child And Youth Services?, Jennifer Lynn Engler

Honors Program Theses

This thesis investigates the motivations of individuals who participate in CACYS and which motivation factors are most important to current participants. It will seek to answer the following research questions:

1. What are the motivations of college students to participate in CACYS?

2. Does motivation for participating in CACYS differ based on the major of the participant?

3. Does motivation for participating in CACYS differ based on the participant's year in school?

4. Does motivation for participating in CACYS differ based on the age of the participant?

5.Does motivation for participating in CACYS change with the number of years participated …

Burnout In Scholarship And Non-Scholarship Female College Swimmers, Kelly Mateas

Honors Program Theses

An emerging concern in the world of sports is burnout among amateur athletes. It is a major issue that must be addressed because some of the world’s best athletes are becoming victims to it. Not only is burnout affecting athletics, it is effecting the lives of those individuals who burn out and leave sports all together. Athletics help build a foundation of life skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem solving that athletes rely on daily. Sports provide a safe environment that can help keep the majority of participants out of trouble. It is important to have a better …

Recession, Unemployment, And Attendance At Major League Baseball Games, Bradley Joseph Shatek

Honors Program Theses

When a country experiences an economic downturn, as the United States has since late 2007, the negative effects are widespread. Workers are laid off, and households and firms spend less due to decreased income. In most industries, revenues and profits decline during recessions, and professional sports franchises may be no different. In a period of high unemployment, one would expect that consumers first cut back on recreation and entertainment. This study was designed to determine the impact of unemployment on one such entertainment activity, Major League Baseball games.

How Does The University Of Northern Iowa's Recycling Program Compare To The Recycling Programs Of Its Peer Institutions?, Anna J. Schrad

Honors Program Theses

In recent years, the concept of sustainability has become mainstream and has begun to be incorporated into the decisions that businesses, organizations, and institutions make. With over 12,000 students, the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) has great potential to generate large quantities of recyclables (Kaplan & von Kolnitz, 2004). By expanding its recycling program, UNI can increase its appeal to prospective students while gaining economic benefits in addition to protecting the environment. Waste managers at 8 of UNI’s peer institutions (Appendix B) were interviewed to determine how UNI’s recycling and waste diversion efforts compared to similar schools for a variety …

The Impact Of Perceived Importance Of An Ethical Situation (Pie) On Ethical Judgment And Intention: Beyond Moral Intensity, Monica Marie Johnston

Honors Program Theses

The importance of ethics to the accounting profession is well established (Turpen and Witmer, 1997; Abdolmohammadi, Read, and Scarbrough, 2003; Guffey and McCartney, 2008). In accounting, a commitment to ethical behavior is regarded as the basis for all other performance standards, (Turpen et al., 1997), and historically most agree that accountants practice honest principles (Leitsch, 2006). However, business headlines such as those related to the collapse of Enron and its auditor, Arthur Andersen, raise concerns about ethical actions of accountants (Abdolmohammadi et al., 2003). Additionally, accountants and auditors have more recently come under fire due to issues related to the …

Paternal Religiosity And Parenting Style: Influence On The Quality Of Daughter's Friendships, Abigail Anne Buenneke

Honors Program Theses

Research shows that parenting styles fall into three basic categories: authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive (Baumrind, 1971). Also, a high amount of parental involvement has been found to exert a positive influence on children’s academic performance and personality development (Heaven & Ciarrochi, 2008). This study examines the hypothesis that a daughter who reports that her father figure only allows her to develop highly regulated friendships will have a more negative perception of her father figure than a girl who is given more freedom in developing friendships. Secondly, the study examines the hypothesis that a daughter who reports highly regulated friendships will …

Post Exercise Massage: Effects On Next Day Performance Following Heavy Lower Body Resistance Training, Kristin Iehl

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine whether post-exercise massage improves next-day performance on an isometric peak force test after heavy lower body resistance training when compared to a placebo control of ultrasound at zero intensity. This was tested using students at the University of Northern Iowa who had been involved in a resistance training program over the past six months. The importance of this study is that if post-exercise massage improves recovery, even after a difficult resistance training day the athlete will still be able to perform at a high level so resistance training bouts can be more …

Using Mathematics As A Gateway To Literacy For English Language Learners, Krista Hemphill

Honors Program Theses

One teaching approach that alleviates language barriers involves teachers using what students know and can do to develop students‟ understanding of and ability in another area. Thus, 2 teachers can promote ELLs‟ literacy development by integrating knowledge and skills ELLs have from another subject area into their literacy instruction. Specifically, teachers can integrate mathematics into literacy instruction because research suggests that ELLs often understand and successfully carry out mathematical tasks. For example, Gunning (2003) points out that ELLs tend to perform well on mathematical computations. The universality of mathematical symbols seems to promote ELLs‟ understanding of mathematics instruction although lessons …

Primary Source Use In High School History Classrooms: Categories, Frequency, And Assessment, Michaela Goblirsch

Honors Program Theses

Throughout this thesis project, I will research the many various forms of primary sources as well as a variety of assessment styles. By reviewing literature and analyzing results from a survey of high school history teachers, I will discover the manner and scope in which primary sources are used in history classes. Also, I hope to determine which primary sources students respond best to, taking into account their age and gender. Teachers will be able to use this information to construct more engaging and challenging lesson plans featuring primary sources. Knowing which types of primary sources are most effective for …

Ecological Niche Modeling Of Potential West Nile Virus Vector Mosquito Species In Iowa, Scott R. Larson, John P. Degroote, Lyric C. Bartholomay, Ramanathan Sugumaran

Faculty Work

Ecological niche modeling (ENM) algorithms, Maximum Entropy Species Distribution Modeling (Maxent) and Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Prediction (GARP), were used to develop models in Iowa for three species of mosquito – two significant, extant West Nile virus (WNV) vectors (Culex pipiens L and Culex tarsalis Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae)), and the nuisance mosquito, Aedes vexans Meigen (Diptera: Culicidae), a potential WNV bridge vector. Occurrence data for the three mosquito species from a state-wide arbovirus surveillance program were used in combination with climatic and landscape layers. Maxent successfully created more appropriate niche models with greater accuracy than GARP. The three Maxent species’ …

'Fermenting' A Successful Business: Beyer's Wine Cellar, Connie J. Beyer

Honors Program Theses

Beyer's Wine Cellar will be a vineyard and winery located in Mitchell, Iowa. Donald and Lucinda plan to begin production in the Fall of 2011 and begin selling wine to customers in the Spring of 2012. The wines that Beyer's Wine Cellar produces will be sold through the tasting room. Furthermore, Donald and Lucinda also plan to offer wine and grape education classes for the eager wine consumers in the area.

Evaluating A Wellness Program For Uni Faculty And Staff: Preparing For A Cost-Benefit Analysis, Michelle M. Breen

Honors Program Theses

The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) paid total annual employer medical premiums of $17,967,000 for 2008, an increase of 7.37% from 2007. If medical premiums continue to increase at this rate, UNI will pay $29,556,720 in annual medical premiums in 2015. UNI is not alone in facing rising healthcare costs. Healthcare costs were identified as the "most serious challenge to their bottom line" by 41. 7 percent of the employers in a survey by the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (Kumar 2009). The Business Roundtable Fourth Quarter 2007 CEO Economic Outlook Survey confirms these results with CEO's ranking the …

The Value-Added Tax: Effects On Tax Revenue, U.S. Corporations, And Individual Taxpayers, Joseph Raymond Pudenz

Honors Program Theses

The importance of understanding how a value-added tax would affect the United States is imperative. Many economists have long stated that a value-added tax system would benefit the United States (Hooper & Smith, 1997), and politicians have periodically brought up the value-added tax since the 1960s as a solution to tax revenue needs (Comptroller General of the United States, 1981). Given these facts, it is likely that the value-added tax will continue to be considered as a possible tax system. An adequate level of understanding regarding how a value-added tax is applied and its effects is essential.

Implications Of Physical Attractiveness On Time Allocations From Salesperson To Customer, Emily Anne Prinsen

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if more attractive females—as compared to less attractive females—received better customer service in terms of time it took the salesperson to interact with the customer. The hypothesis was not supported; in fact, just the opposing outcome occurred. Less attractive females were served more promptly than attractive females. The study was performed in a mid-size city in the Midwest.

Introduction - Games And Culture: Asia-Pacific Perspectives, Dal Young Jin

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Financialization Of The Asian Game Industry: A New Business Model, Dal Young Jin

Iowa Journal of Communication

This study is a historical documentation of the recent trends of financialization, mainly to ascertain whether these trends are confirmation that financialization plays a pivotal role in the game market in the midst of the global economic crisis in the early 21st century. The major focus will not only be on capital flow but also on financing, which means that the paper is to map out the way in which the Asian game industry has been part of the transnationalization process in order to fully understand the nature of globalization. Eventually, it examines whether the financialization of the online game …

Setting The Rules Of Play: Network Video Game Policies And Regulations In China, Zixue Tai

Iowa Journal of Communication

By situating online game regulations against the backdrop of the grand scheme of Internet information control, this paper offers a comprehensive, in-depth overview of the regulatory framework wherein the Chinese online video game industry operates. The topics analyzed include the bureaucratic regulatory structure, the ground rules for Web cafes operations, the complicated set of controversial market entry conditions and qualifications for online game distribution services as well as the multitude of concerted official measures and state-centered initiatives with the intent to foster particular genres of patriotic, morally-uplifting game titles and to build a core list of national production clusters.

Making It Happily Ever After: Rectifying The Inherent Contradiction Between Suicide And Hollywood Endings, Mitchell Zoelzer

Iowa Journal of Communication

Hollywood movies often struggle to present depressing ideas realistically. This rhetorical analysis, using narrative criticism, analyzes the presentation of suicide in five Hollywood films: Thelma and Louise, Seven Pounds, Milk, What Dreams May Come, and Dead Poet's Society. This analysis suggests a test to tell how Hollywood will present the suicide by simply knowing when the suicide is committed or by whom. If the suicide is presented at the end of the film or committed by the protagonist, Hollywood will be forced to portray it as positive and unrealistic. The only exception to this rule …

Purchasing Subscription Reference Databases In The Iowa Elementary Public School Library, Michaela B. Seeman

Honors Program Theses

With so many reference materials available for the elementary public school library, making subscription reference database purchasing decisions can be an overwhelming task. The purpose of this research study was to examine how the 15 participating Iowa teacher librarians made subscription reference database purchasing decisions and the use they observe of various reference materials by students and staff influencing these decisions. To answer these questions, I conducted a survey asking Iowa public elementary school teacher librarians how they decided what to purchase and criteria they used for examining reference materials such as subscription reference databases. The population used for this …

Women's Labor Force Participation In Spain: An Analysis From Dictatorship To Democracy, Kristi Philips

Honors Program Theses

In Spain, women’s labor force participation has drastically shifted in the decades since Francisco Franco’s dictatorship collapsed. Changes in government policy and evolving social attitudes have affected the treatment of women and their access to economic opportunities. Using The World Bank and OECD labor force statistics for Spain, this study compares Spain’s historical data with that of France, Germany and Portugal. My results suggest that the dictatorship inhibited women’s labor force participation in Spain in contrast to nearby countries over the same period.

Parental Perceptions Of A Midwest Public Library: An Exploratory Study Of Chinese-Speaking Residents, Lingxin Ruth Yan

Graduate Research Papers

The United States has experienced the rapid growth of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) students in public schools since 1990. Issues concerning CLD students such as their limited English proficiency, school failures, parental involvement in their education, appropriate models of bilingual education and study resources provided by libraries have caused increasing concerns from policy makers, school administrators and educators at all school levels. Facing the diversity population reality, both school libraries and public libraries are called to become more culturally responsive in providing effective outreach library services to ensure academic success of all CLD students and meet the needs of …

Hull Iowa: Yesterday And Today, Lisa Jansma

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research project was to teach the history of Hull, Iowa through an informational book for the elementary students. The research created a history book of Hull, Iowa that will be used to supplement the upper elementary Iowa History Unit at the Boyden-Hull Elementary School and others in the surrounding area.

Fifth Grade Student Learning And Interest In The American Revolution Through Reading Graphic Novels Compared To Reading Biography Or Other Nonfiction Books, Kari Bosma

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine student recall of facts, along with enjoyment of reading and interest in the topic when using graphic novels as compared to illustrated nonfiction prose in social studies content area reading. Twenty-two fifth grade students (13 f, 9 m) in a public school in a Midwestern state participated in the study. Half of the students read about the Boston Massacre and Patrick Henry through graphic novels and read about Paul Revere and the Boston Tea Party with illustrated nonfiction texts, with the other half doing the opposite. The mean number of correct ideas …

A Review Of Instructional Strategies For Assisting Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In The Preschool Classroom, Michelle Miller

Graduate Research Papers

There are many people in today's society who are diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). More and more children in today's schools are exhibiting the characteristics that coincide with ADHD and the children exhibiting such behaviors appear to be getting younger and younger. The author of this review studied current scales and measurements that are being used to effectively diagnose young children with ADHD. The author described common characteristics found in preschoolers diagnosed with ADHD, as well as teaching strategies that are currently used for assisting these children in preschool classrooms.

The Role Of The Teacher Librarian Engaged In Collaboration With A Classroom Teacher During Implementation Of A Pilot Iowa Core Curriculum Unit, Mary Beth Janssen

Graduate Research Papers

This action research study was a mixed methods investigation of a previously taught Native American unit modified to include Iowa Core Curriculum (ICC) content and 21^st Century Learning standards, planned and implemented via a collaborative effort between a rural school district K-12 teacher librarian (TL) and a 5^th grade classroom social studies teacher. The two research questions being investigated asked what TL-led collaborative looks like during implementation of an ICC unit and who benefits from an ICC unit led by a TL in collaborative with a classroom teacher written interview, field notes of the TL and classroom teacher, …

Professional Development: Integrating Technology Into Professional Learning Communities, Debra Robinson

Graduate Research Papers

This review analyzes professional learning communities as an example of an ideal professional development method. The dynamics and advantages of implementing these communities into staff development will be addressed, along with the potential barriers preventing the success of a professional learning community and methods for overcoming these barriers. The Iowa Professional Development Model is described. How professional learning communities fit with this staff development model is discussed. Technology can enhance the quality of professional development within professional learning communities to help facilitate discussion and reflection among members. Further research should be completed on how different forms of technology can better …