Digital Commons Network^™

Psychological Traits And Public Attitudes Towards Abortion: The Role Of Empathy, Locus Of Control, And Need For Cognition, Jiuqing Cheng, Ping Xu, Chloe Thostenson

Faculty Publications

In the summer of 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the historic Roe v. Wade ruling, prompting various states to put forth ballot measures regarding state-level abortion rights. While earlier studies have established associations between demographics, such as religious beliefs and political ideologies, and attitudes toward abortion, the current research delves into the role of psychological traits such as empathy, locus of control, and need for cognition. A sample of 294 U.S. adults was obtained via Amazon Mechanical Turk, and participants were asked to provide their attitudes on seven abortion scenarios. They also responded to scales measuring empathy toward the …

Organic Hazes As A Source Of Life’S Building Blocks To Warm Little Ponds On The Hadean Earth, Ben K.D. Pearce, Sarah M. Hörst, Joshua A. Sebree, Chao He

Faculty Publications

Over 4 billion years ago, Earth is thought to have been a hazy world akin to Saturn’s moon Titan. The organic hazes in the atmosphere at this time could have contained a vast inventory of life’s building blocks and thus may have seeded warm little ponds for life. In this work, we produce organic hazes in the lab in atmospheres with high (5%) and low (0.5%) CH4 abundances and analyze the solid particles for nucleobases, amino acids, and a few other organics using GC/MS/MS to obtain their concentrations. We also analyze heated (200°C) samples from the high methane organic haze …

Pressure Induced Modification Of Electronic And Magnetic Properties Of Mncrnbal And Mncrtaal, Brandon Schmidt, Paul M. Shand, Parashu Kharel, Pavel V. Lukashev

Faculty Publications

Spin-gapless semiconductor (SGS) is a new class of material that has been studied recently for potential applications in spintronics. This material behaves as an insulator for one spin channel, and as a gapless semiconductor for the opposite spin. In this work, we present results of a computational study of two quaternary Heusler alloys, MnCrNbAl and MnCrTaAl that have been recently reported to exhibit spin-gapless semiconducting electronic structure. In particular, using density functional calculations we analyze the effect of external pressure on electronic and magnetic properties of these compounds. It is shown that while these two alloys exhibit nearly SGS behavior …

Sefer Yosippon As A Source For Hasmonean History: The Mysterious Story Of John Hyrcanus And The Parthians, Kenneth Atkinson

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Literature Review Of Factors Contributing To Archaeal Diversity, Anna R. Carmen

Honors Program Theses

Archaea, being classified as its own separate domain only within the past fifty years, has earned a reputation of being notoriously difficult to culture in a laboratory setting. Because of this, their functions in ecosystems and potential for use in bioremediation is largely unknown and untapped. In order to further develop methodologies to successfully cultivate these microbes, an analysis of past research is needed to help understand where to lead research. After analyzing past studies on archaea and recalcitrant microbes as a whole, it is found that other factors are often overlooked and a label of recalcitrance is added. This …

We Did What? To Whom? An Analysis Of How Us Educational Materials Present The Philippine-American War And Occupation, Jude Beekman

Honors Program Theses

Since the turn of the 21st century, decisions of American leaders have continued traditions of American exceptionalism and general attempts at dominance, although this is continuously brought into question. A generation has since passed through school and experienced curriculums that have implied such American exceptionalism and dominance. Acknowledged for decades, the military-industrial complex has extended into the 21st century with involvement across the globe, but notably in the Middle East. For those indigenous to the Pacific, militarism extends to how people perceive the bodies and selves of indigenous peoples. There exist multiple definitions of colonialism and imperialism, but in essence, …

¿Tengo El Derecho A Votar?: Un Análisis De Las Leyes Del Acceso Lingüístico Y Los Impactos De Recursos Multilingües De Votación En La Participación De Votantes Hispanos En Iowa Y Michigan, Madeline L. Hinz

Honors Program Theses

This thesis examines the linguistic accessibility of voting from multiple perspectives through the analysis of federal and state level electoral legislation in conjunction with language access services available in Iowa and Michigan. It compares a variety of influences on Spanishspeaking participation in elections and the linguistic accessibility of voting in the two states. I have chosen these states because of their similar linguistic makeup and populations of Spanishspeakers and Hispanic/Latine groups as a percentage of their total population. This research includes a discussion of language laws at the state level, how each of these laws impacts voting accessibility, and is …

Exploration Of Affine Functions, Katelyn Jo Stirling

Honors Program Theses

This report starts out with a discussion of fractals. Learning about fractals will lead us to the explanation of what affine functions are and how they can be seen in nature. We will then move on to a mathematical discussion of how affine functions behave. We will see how preserving ratios of distances is significant in our process by looking at a relationship of relative distances. This equation will be further described in our first definition. We then move on to prove that we can state affinity in a new way. After proving the first lemma, we discuss our main …

Balancing Progress And Ethics: Exploring The Science And Ethics Of Gene Editing: Literature Review, Jackson Burgess

Honors Program Theses

Two decades ago, the completion of the Human Genome Project marked a pivotal milestone in scientific history, unraveling the blueprint of human DNA and laying the foundation for the Genetic Revolution. This monumental achievement allows researchers to uncover the correlations between DNA sequences and biological functions. Today, this movement has propelled modern geneticists toward the peak of human health sciences: the ability to manipulate the very essence of our being. With the aid of Genetic Engineering, scientists now possess the capability to alter the fundamental framework of our genetic code, offering the potential to cure fatal genetic disorders alongside other …

Gender And Student Motivation In Domestic And Foreign Language Study, Macey Overturf

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Concert Band Methods And Supplemental Ensemble Material For The High School Band, Carissa Blumka

Honors Program Theses

In a school band setting, most music educators will begin a rehearsal with a warm-up routine. When a unified group warm-up is desired, rather than allowing open time for students to warm up individually, a resource is needed. Many supplemental method books and materials have been published to provide exercises to organize this desired ensemble warm-up. After physically preparing students to play through a warm-up, many effective band directors choose to devote additional rehearsal time to the development of fundamental musical skills. Though much of the school band curriculum is taught through the repertoire selected for the ensemble to perform, …

A Process Evaluation Of A Program Designed To Expand Access To The Iowa Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (Snap-Ed), Justine R. Hoover

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed), implements food- and nutrition-related interventions through direct nutrition education and Policy, Systems, and Environment (PSE) changes. The target audience for these interventions is Iowans with low-income who are eligible or likely eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. ISU SNAP-Ed direct nutrition education aims to equip Iowans with low-income with the knowledge and skills to make healthy food choices and save money on food expenses. ISU SNAP-Ed PSE aims to make the healthiest choice the easiest choice in the food pantry environment. Prior to Federal …

Body Image In College Athletics, Tyrell Gordon

Graduate Research Papers

Body image dissatisfaction of college athletes is a real problem and it is affecting female athletes at an alarming rate compared to their male counterparts. Body image is a multidimensional construct involving perceptions and attitudes of the body’s functional capabilities and physical appearance. Although women experience a greater level of body dissatisfaction than men, previous research shows that men are experiencing greater levels of negative body image than in the past. The dominant explanation for this trend is one of two things, the first of which is that women participate in more aesthetically pleasing sports such as soccer, gymnastics, volleyball, …

Quality Inclusive Classrooms And Integrating The Project Approach With Children With Special Needs, Marie Elizabeth Helmrich

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review aims to identify what elements define quality preschool inclusion. The Inclusive Classroom Profile (ICP) is a measure discussed for quality improvement purposes. The challenges that arise with quality inclusion are also explored. The Project Approach (PA) is explained, including the benefits of the approach, along with the successes and challenges it presents when implementing it in an inclusive classroom. The conclusion of this literature review includes recommendations for educational policies and practices and a recommendation for future research regarding quality inclusion and the implementation of the PA.

Teacher Librarians’ Influence On Information Literacy Skills: A Research Proposal, Amy Diewold, Diana Lord, Sierra Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this qualitative study is to find out how school librarians and teachers can collaborate on information literacy instruction in order to help students become more careful consumers of information. In what ways do students meet AASL digital citizenship learner competencies, especially the ethical use and evaluation of information sources, through activities meeting learner competencies in a core content area when taught collaboratively by teacher librarians and classroom teachers? Sixty students, twenty each in grades 5, 9, and 11, will be given a questionnaire after receiving instruction in lateral reading to determine what lateral reading skills students are …

Representation Of Lgbtq+ Characters In The 2019 To 2022 Iowa Teen Award Books, Jamie Thompson

Graduate Research Papers

This qualitative literary content analysis examines the representation of LGBTQ+ themes in the student-nominated Iowa Teen Award (ITA) books from the past three years to help librarians and classroom teachers build an inclusive library collection. The research question posed in this study is: In what ways are LGBTQ+ characters represented in the Iowa Teen Award books? The analysis of eight middle-grade books (Appendix A) using the book analysis tool (Appendix B) identified three themes: Transformation of Understanding, Hopefulness, and Richness of Plot. Results showed that while all the books had a complex storyline, only five of the books showed a …

Gamification And Engagement In A 3rd Grade Classroom, Ellen Braet

Graduate Research Papers

Structural gamification is the addition of elements traditionally found in games into a classroom environment. This research examines the effects of gamification on student engagement in 3rd grade in a math classroom. In this mixed-methods research, a group of 3rd grade students were taught both gamified and non-gamified lessons. At the end of each lesson, the students were given surveys to assess their thoughts on both lesson formats and were observed for on-task and off-task behaviors. This research found that gamified lessons were more effective at improving engagement compared to non-gamified lessons. Future research on gamification in elementary classrooms was …

The Effects Of Sleep Quality On The Performance And Health Of Athletes, Andy Niese

Graduate Research Papers

The quest for victorious supremacy within competitive athletics is a never-ending battle, a cutthroat process where the more successful athletes are willing to go to the extremes of physical training and nutritional modifications to gain any kind of edge over their opponents, many of whom are countering those efforts with the exact same type of self-fortifying tactics. Yet, the rudimentary human need for sleep is often an underestimated and forgotten weapon in enhancing and maximizing athletic performance. Furthermore, it would not be an exaggeration to categorize the basic existential tenant of sleep as the deal breaker for an athlete’s performance …

Exploring Social Emotional Learning: Impact, Policy, And Effective Implementation, Rebekah Simmons

Honors Program Theses

Throughout my time in the education program here at the University of Northern Iowa, I have had the opportunity to witness many lessons surrounding Social Emotional Learning (SEL). This inspired me to want to do more research on the impacts of Social Emotional Learning relating to prosocial behavior and student learning, as well as how state and national legislation influences how Social Emotional Learning is taught within schools. The purpose of this thesis study is to explore the impacts of Social Emotional Learning within school settings and the legislation that influences it.

Integrating Music In Pk-12 Classrooms To Impact Behavior, Improve Academics, And Support Developmental Milestones In Children, Emily Grace Manis

Honors Program Theses

As a child, music was always a part of my life, and I believe this immersion has greatly impacted how I view music’s role in the world of education. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but it wasn’t until I started courses at the University of Northern Iowa that I really decided to focus on early childhood and social emotional learning. My desire to teach, combined with my passion for all things music, led to my decision to focus on how music integration can be a useful tool in every classroom. Specifically I want to focus the research and …

A Qualitative Case Study Of Montessori Approaches To Learning Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic In Iowa, Ellie Penick

Honors Program Theses

This research focused on the unique and innovative ways two Montessori Schools handled the pandemic in the context of Iowa’s COVID-19 regulations. Research focused on the state of Iowa due to its relevance and proximity to the researcher and its notably relaxed approaches to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the purpose and scope of this study, research focused on two Montessori contexts within the state of Iowa. While this research is not representative of all Montessori schools in Iowa, it provides useful insight into the topic that can support further research on Montessori approaches to COVID-19.

The driving question behind this …

Why Play? Exploring The Realities Of Play-Based Learning In Kindergarten, Sofia Josephine Steele

Honors Program Theses

By nature, children are curious and love to explore the world around them. Play is one way that children can fulfill that innate curiosity. Through play-based learning, educators can utilize that innate curiosity and wonder in children to create valuable learning experiences that will engage and teach them. This pedagogical approach is used in early childhood education to help children develop their academic, social, and emotional skills through appropriate learning experiences that consider their abilities and interests. However, in recent years, there has been a shift away from play-based learning in kindergarten classrooms. The reasoning behind this shift may be …

The Relationship Between Athletes' Competitive State Anxiety And Self-Confidence And Coaches' Behaviors, Derek Anderson

Honors Program Theses

Competitive state anxiety (CSA) and self-confidence are prominent issues in athletics and can cause detrimental effects on athletic performance. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of perceived coach anxiety and perceived coach self-confidence on athlete competitive state anxiety and self-confidence. It was predicted that as perceived coach anxiety increases, athlete competitive anxiety will increase. Furthermore, as perceived coach self-confidence decreases, athlete self-confidence will decrease. Ninety-six Division I athletes from three sports (men’s/women’s track and field, women’s soccer, women’s softball) were recruited. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 25 years of age (M = 20.33, SD …

The Effects Of Exercise In Cognitive Function In Older Ad, Josephine Sagan

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Between Two Schools Implementing Trauma-Informed Classroom Management, Maddie Steffen

Honors Program Theses

Traditional classroom management methods are ineffective with students who have or are experiencing trauma. Students will not physically be able to learn until they feel like they are in a safe space. A trauma-informed classroom provides students with a safe environment to facilitate learning. This approach to classroom management focuses on more than academics, but also the student’s well-being. It involves teachers trained in trauma awareness and strategies to help students cope with their emotions and engage in learning effectively. This project will study how two schools in a large urban public school district in the Midwest part of the …

Teacher Use Of Rubrics To Assess Claim, Evidence And Reasonings In The High School Science Classroom, Brianna Finnegan

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This qualitative study examines how high school science teachers in an eastern Iowa high school utilize rubrics to assess students’ claims, evidence, and reasoning (CER) in the science classroom. The research investigates the methodology teachers employ in assessing student proficiency using their own rubrics they have created. Data were collected through think-aloud interviews with participating teachers as they evaluated and scored CER examples. Analysis of interview data involved inductive coding to identify common themes and categories, shedding light on teacher’s scoring practices, rubric construction, and perceptions of student proficiency and rubric validity.

Findings reveal that teachers often weigh evidence and …

Traumatic Brain Injury And Public Stigma: The Effect Of Perceived Responsibility, Mackenzie Grenko

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

Social Media News Consumption By College Students Using The Elaboration Likelihood Model, Colin Horning

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Social media usage has become a cornerstone of the everyday lives of Americans. From the years 2012 through 2021, the percentage of U.S. adults who say they use the social media platforms of YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, X/Twitter and Snapchat have grown exponentially, according to data from the Pew Research Center (Auxier & Anderson, 2021). Primarily among young people (those age 18-29) social media growth share has been the most prevalent, with this age range being mostly made up of Millennials and Generation Z (or Gen Z). The same Pew Research study found stark differences in the social media …

Haunting Euramerican Memories: Rhetorical Haunting And The Diffuse Memory Of The Dakota 38+2, Noel Keil

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

How Pizza And Stickers Drove My Kids To Read And Kept Them Reading, Tiya Montaño

Graduate Research Papers

Walk into any English/Language Arts (ELA) classroom across the country and you will find books on bookshelves, students on computers or cellphones, and a teacher struggling to garner the attention of their students long enough to make it through the short story, poem, or novel they are reading. This has become an all too familiar image that ELA teachers struggle with. Why won’t the students engage? Are the readings too difficult? Are the readings too boring? Am I teaching them all wrong? All these questions and more fly through our brains as they work towards trying to get the students …