Digital Commons Network^™

Health And Gratitude: Grateful Patient Fundraising Practices And Considerations, Scott R. Ford

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of the study is to conduct a comprehensive literature review related to the emerging and rapidly changing landscape of grateful patient related healthcare philanthropy. Of specific review is research relating to the nuances and relationship interactions of patient/caregiver, caregiver/healthcare organization, and patient/organization in the work of soliciting financial support from health care recipients and their families.

Some health care outcomes are truly miraculous. Grateful patients abound. However, sometimes healthcare providers are reluctant to pursue expressions of gratitude, or may not even be aware of when a patient is overtly offering to support their work. Also, offering compelling opportunities …

The Impact And Evaluation Of Forgiveness Education With Early Adolescents, Hillary Karyn Elda Hilbert

Honors Program Theses

Research has shown that forgiveness is a complex process and is vital to one’s well-being (Coyle & Enright, 1997; Enright, 1991; Freedman, 2007). There have been several research studies conducted with various populations (Freedman & Enright, 1996; Coyle & Enright, 1997; Gambaro, Enright, Baskin, & Klatt, 2008; Waltman et al., 2009) who have experienced deep, personal, and unfair hurts. Forgiveness has been found to be healing and beneficial to one’s overall psychological well-being in these studies. It is often assumed that forgiveness is a natural process, but this is not necessarily true. Forgiveness is something that can be taught (Freedman, …

Asset-Based Community Development Practices In International Service-Learning: A Content Analysis Of Short-Term Programs In Nicaragua, Kara Christine Poppe

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of the study is to explore how students on short-term international service-learning programs in Nicaragua interact with local communities by analyzing the structure of the programs as evidenced by course syllabi and website content. After extensive online research of international service-learning programs offered in Nicaragua, seven programs became the focus of the study. The four research questions included: 1) In what ways do the international service-learning programs support key components of service-learning, such as academic connections and reflection? 2) In what ways do the international service-learning program structure the time in the host country for service and tourism? …

Turkish Identity In Poetry Before And After The 1928 Language Revolution, Angela Marie Wrage

Honors Program Theses

The 1928 language revolution in Turkey involved the change of the Turkish writing script from the Arabic to the Latin alphabet, as well as the elimination of Arabic and Persian loan words and associated imported grammar. In this study, we assessed the impact this language revolution had on Turkish identity by examining it through the lens of Ottoman and Turkish literature and poetry. To achieve this, we compared literary and poetic themes from before and after the language revolution; we also studied the activity of prolific writers from before and after the transition to determine what effect, if any, the …

Density And Diversity Of Bees In The Midwestern Agricultural Landscape: Influence Of Surrounding Agricultural Land Use And Biofuel Candidate Crops, Andrew J. Ridgway, Ai Wen, Kenneth Elgersma

Undergraduate Student Work

Recent trends in land management practices have led to dramatic population decline in bees and other insect pollinators (Cameron et al. 2011). Concerns about “Colony Collapse Disorder” in domestic honeybees, for example, have received widespread high-profile attention in the scientific community. While concerns have centered mainly on the domestic honeybee, native bees also provide indispensable, cost-free pollination services to crops production. Despite the value of native bee species, little is known about them in the Midwest region, and recent studies suggest their populations may be in decline specifically due to a lack of native vegetation in this highly agricultural landscape. …

Primer Efficacy In The Dna Barcoding Of Spiders, Rhennetta Jo Bork

Honors Program Theses

DNA barcoding is the process of amplifying a 650 base pair segment of the sequence of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase (COI), and amplifying this gene with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It is used to help identify and distinguish animal species and also to help determine genetic differences in species. DNA barcoding can be especially useful when working with spiders since they tend to be very small and hard to distinguish. However, achieving a DNA barcode can be difficult and thus techniques to improve the method of DNA barcoding can be helpful. This research looked into the different …

Butterfly And Floral Community Dynamics At A Native Prairie Agrofuel Research Site, Benjamin J. Hoksch

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Agrofuel production in the Midwest has historically relied upon monoculture food crops (Zea mays and Glycine max) that do little to support biodiversity or maintain soil and water quality. The University of Northern Iowa’s Tallgrass Prairie Center is investigating the feasibility of establishing and harvesting diverse mixes of native prairie vegetation for use as a sustainable agrofuel. In 2009 48 research plots were established on three soil types, on land with a >30 year history of row crop production in Black Hawk County, IA. Each plot was seeded with one of four native prairie agrofuel crops: (1) Switchgrass1, (2) Grasses5 …

Variation In Mineral Content Of Prairie Forb Species And Content Changes Over Winter Related To Slagging Potential, Jennifer Nyla Wahl Rupp

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Coal fired power plants are responsible for more than 75 percent of the energy produced in Iowa. Burning coal releases large amount of carbon dioxide and other chemical compounds into the atmosphere.

A variety of types of biomass, including prairie vegetation, are being proposed as biofuel alternatives for electrical generation. Tilman et al. (2006) determined that biofuels from mixtures of prairie vegetation of increasing diversity provide more usable energy, reduce greenhouse gases and produce less agriculture pollutants. The Prairie Power Project of the Tallgrass Prairie Center is testing four mixtures of prairie species for maximum production of biomass. A primary …

Biodiversity And Ecosystem Function And The Design Of Tallgrass Restorations For Biomass Production, Dustin Robert Jon Graham

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Biodiversity and ecosystem function research (BEF) suggests species richness may provide high levels of ecosystem functions. However, few studies have applied a BEF perspective of restoration, which utilizes biodiversity to achieve increases in ecosystem functions. In this study, we test the application of the BEF perspective of restoration in the design of tallgrass prairie plantings as a biomass crops. Specifically, we examine the effects of planted species richness on biomass production, resistance to disturbance, and resistance to invasion by weeds.

Four seed mixes which range in species richness (1, 5, 16 and 32 species) were established in four, field-scale (0.33-0.55 …

The Dual Role Of Self-Enhancement : Protection And Stigma, Corina Evelyn Klein

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Despite the availability of effective treatment options for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), these treatments are highly under-utilized. One of the most cited barriers to treatment among people with PTSD symptoms is public stigma. In fact, the majority of the population experiences a potentially traumatic event (PTE) in their lifetime and should contribute to an assumption of a lack of stigma toward people with PTSD symptoms. Yet, it may be that the stigma perceived by people with PTSD symptoms is more nuanced than what is seen in stigma for other disorders. More often than not, people who experience a PTE will …

Rethinking The Conquest : An Exploration Of The Similarities Between Pre-Contact Spanish And Mexica Society, Culture, And Royalty, Samantha Billing

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The Spanish Conquest has been historically marked by the year 1521 and is popularly thought of as an absolute and complete process of indigenous subjugation in the New World. Alongside this idea comes the widespread narrative that describes a barbaric, uncivilized group of indigenous people being conquered and subjugated by a more sophisticated and superior group of Europeans. There is also a common misconception that the Conquest resulted in a dominance of European culture and a loss of the indigenous heritage that had prevailed in the New World up until that point.

This manuscript explores the period known as the …

On Body Dumps : The Rhetorics Of Corporeal Narcoterrorism, Evan Mitchell Schares

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Though the exact number is unknown, estimates indicate the trade and movement of narcotics have resulted in over 60,000 murders of Mexican citizens. As a result of the rising narcoviolence, Felipe Calderón, early in his presidential administration, made the “War on Drugs” a top priority. Despite this effort to curb the violence, in 2010 alone, more than 15,200 lifeless bodies have been left across Mexico, most likely by drug cartels. A nascent phrase, body dumps, has risen in journalistic reports describing this conscious relocation of the ruined corpse to highly visible traffic areas. This thesis explores the rhetorical constructions of …

“Our Navy” : Women Accepted For Voluntary Emergency Service At Iowa State Teacher's College, 1942-1945, Marissa Krein

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

During World War II, Iowa State Teacher’s College (now known as University of Northern Iowa) was host to the first indoctrination school and later yeomen school (naval secretaries) of the United States Naval Women’s Reserve or the Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES). The first class of 1,500 WAVES arrived at Iowa State Teacher’s College (ISTC) in December 1942. The women endured five to six weeks of an intensive introductory training. In April 1943, the indoctrination school was replaced by a yeomen school. The yeomen school remained in operation until it was closed in April 1945. During its twenty-nine …

Injunctive And Descriptive Norms Effect On Physical Activity, Monica Lynn Ehn

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Nearly half of adults in the United States do not meet the recommended guidelines for both aerobic and strengthening activities despite the benefits of regular physical activity (National Center for Health Statistics, 2014; US Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). The purpose of the current study was to test whether normative feedback (i.e., descriptive and descriptive plus injunctive norms) affects levels of physical activity. Participants wore a Fitbit Zip pedometer to record exercise behavior and received normative feedback messages sent to their mobile phones. Participants were 52 undergraduate students with a mean age of 18.66 (SD = 0.83); 27 …

“God Will Deliver Us” : Human Rights Abuses From Guatemala To Iowa And Back, 1980-2014, Raeann Lillian Swanson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Guatemala’s long internal conflict, the lack of justice, the general poverty, and continued violence since the signing of the 1996 Peace Accords prompt many people to migrate to the United States in search of jobs and opportunities for their family. Since the 1980s, Guatemalans have settled in Postville, Iowa, a small town that is nationally recognized for the ethnically diverse populations that live and work there. In 2008, it was also the site of the largest Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) worksite raid to date and the following criminal trials were unprecedented. Because of the tragedy in Postville, sources that detail …

In Connection With All Things : The Memory Of Alexander Humboldt And His Works In The Context Of 19th Century Thought In Europe And America, Ray Joseph Werner

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis explores the memory of Alexander von Humboldt, the explorer and philosopher who was known for his travels throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and North America. This paper will examine primary and secondary sources throughout the 19^th and 20^th centuries that mark a change in just how Humboldt was remembered, once as a great thinker, philosopher, and romanticist, then eventually as little more than an empirical scientist. This thesis will contribute to modern understandings of this man by looking at popular publications and writings that track this change over time. It will contribute to the modern understanding …

Caged Manhood : Office Culture And How Walter Camp's Daily Dozen Revitalized The Workforce, 1903-1940, Nick Sly

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis is examines how culture became a means to deal with the problems of over-civilization in the early twentieth century. The realities of a salaried position and corporate work spaces had dramatically changed how the middle class felt about work. Looking at the writings of Walter Camp, the human relations movement, and the exercise culture of the period one can see how the office space was not simply a place of work but a new context for constructing masculinity and a sense of worth.

Different Levels Of Negative Emotions And Their Impact On Prosocial Behavior, Tsamchoe Dolma

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In this fast and competitive world, people are becoming less likely to help others. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014), the volunteerism rate reached the lowest point in 2013 since 2002. This decrease in prosocial behavior makes the study of prosocial behavior important, especially with the increasing numbers of charitable organizations and their competition to attract more donors and volunteers. Public service advertisements (PSA) are used as a common medium to garner help and support, and many of them use emotional appeals to enhance persuasion. The literature on persuasion shows that emotions have persuasive power to change people's …

Implementation Of The Environmental Issues Instruction Model By Elementary Teachers, Barbara Ann Ehlers

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Teachers attend many professional development experiences throughout their professional careers. Many teachers attend because they have a personal desire for professional growth. In addition, in the state of Iowa, they are required to engage in professional development to renew teacher licensure. Professional development is offered on a myriad of topics including the latest educational research on learning, innovations in curriculum, and instructional strategies to use in the classroom. However, just attending does not guarantee improved professional practice. After these experiences teachers may or may not implement the strategies, teaching methods, or information they have learned.

This qualitative study analyzed data …

All Fortune Is Good Fortune: The Role Of Fortuna In A Monotheistic Literary World, Kimberly Bridgewater

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The goddess Fortuna, who ruled over chance and the giving of worldly gifts was a pagan deity who survived through the conversion of Christianity in Europe. Her survival and inclusion in Medieval literature caused conflicts with the Christian religion, especially in relation to beliefs in free will and God’s Providence. Now, twenty-first century scholars are still attempting to figure out how the role of free will can co-exist with Fortuna, especially in regard to the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun, who render Fortuna as a dominant entity in the lives of their Christian characters. …

Identification Of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo By Pre-Service Teachers, Rachel Elizabeth Meisinger

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Current research suggests that Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) is a distinct attentional disorder from Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) that is characterized by a hypoactive, sluggish behavior pattern (Barkley, 2014). Further, unlike ADHD, SCT represents a more passive form of inattention that does not overly disrupt classroom learning goals. Thus children with SCT may be ‘falling through the cracks’ in schools. If children with SCT are going unrecognized in the classroom, they are likely not getting referred for treatment and additional educational services. SCT is related to many internalizing, academic, and social difficulties (Becker & Langberg, 2013, 2014) and early identification and …

Spacial Analysis Of Foreclosure And Neighborhood Characteristics In Miami Metropolitan Area, Florida, Adejoh Emmanuel Ogbe

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In 2013, the State of Florida had 13 of the top 20 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) with the highest foreclosure rate in the country. Despite the high ranking, extensive research on foreclosure has yet to be carried out within the Miami-Fort LauderdalePompano Beach MSA. This research is a foray into an uncharted territory to understand the relationship between foreclosure and neighborhood characteristics in the Miami metropolitan area (MMA) within Miami-Dade County. The study was conducted in two phases: The first phase was to identify the foreclosure pattern in the MMA from 2010- 2013 by implementing the use of spatial analysis …

A Preliminary Investigation Of The Relationship Between Direct Behavior Rating And The Conners 3 Teacher Rating Scale - Short Form, Jessica Stodden Stumme

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A growing body of evidence shows that Direct Behavior Rating (DBR) should continue to be examined as a method of behavior assessment to inform decisions about universal screening as well as progress monitoring for group or individual interventions. Researchers have looked toward DBR as a potential method to capture levels of problem behavior for use in tiered problem solving models. Most research on DBR has focused on comparing its ratings against systematic direct observation. The current study examined the correlation between DBR ratings of academic engagement and disruptive behavior with the Conners 3-Teacher Short (Conners 3-T(S)) form. This is important …

The Ongoing Faculty Development System: A Case Study Exploring Content Methods Teacher Education Faculty Technological, Pedagogical, Content Knowledge Development, Daniel James Mourlam

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Society has changed from manufacturing to information-based, resulting in an emphasis in different knowledge and skills. When entering the profession, new teachers will be expected prepare learners for key 21st century skills using digital technologies. At a time when near technological ubiquity exists, development of these skills using digital tools has become an expectation. As teacher education programs have responded to the demands for more new teachers that can leverage technologies to develop 21st century skills, much of this preparation has occurred in instructional technology focused courses. However, in recent years attention has shifted to developing these skills in content …

Do Teacher Judgment Accuracy And Teacher Feedback Predict Student Achievement In Elementary And Middle-School Science?, Mason Albert Kuhn

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The quest to find the most effective approach to teach science has challenged teachers and scholars for decades (Ford, 2012; Kuhn, 2010a; Duschl, Schweingruber, & Shouse, 2007). Unfortunately, the recent push for quality science education in schools has not yet resulted in higher achievement on standardized science assessments in the United States. The increased focus on science in school and the lack of growth on national and international standardized assessment has led to reformed-based policies, such as the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), that ask teachers to teach in a way that emulates the practices of scientific inquiry, including argument-based …

Reconciling The Two Cultures : A Case Study Of The University Of Northern Iowa, Elizabeth Ann Collins

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In 1959, chemist and author Charles Percy Snow gave a Rede Lecture at the University of Cambridge in which he named “Two Cultures”—the sciences and the humanities—which, according to his experience as someone who worked in both, were at odds with one another. His words elicited impassioned responses from critics who either agreed with Snow, believing this to be a detriment to society, or vehemently disagreed, believing Snow’s statements to be unfounded, and even antagonistic. This conversation, which had also found relevance in the United States, continues to be important today, and has changed over the years as institutions of …

Preliminary Investigation Into The Cause Of Pinhole Porosity In Aluminum Metal Castings From Serpentine Impurities In Olivine Sand, Brodie J. Biersner

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The problem addressed in this study is how contaminates in the foundry molding aggregate olivine, affect aluminum castings during the casting process. This research will concentrate on hydrated contaminates, specifically the mineral serpentine. The purpose of this research is to better understand how hydrated minerals contribute to the generation of pinhole porosity defects during the casting process. Understanding how impurities in foundry aggregates affect the casting process would aid in the reduction of scrap caused by core and molding sands, ultimately providing savings to the casting manufacturer.

A foundry grade olivine was compared to a new source of olivine to …

The Acute Effects Of Multiple Resisted Sled-Pull Loads On Subsequent Sprint-Running Performances, Carl Stephen Crouse

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Sled-pulling is a commonly implemented form of training for various sports. However, few studies have used sled-pulling as a means of acutely enhancing sprintrunning performances. The purpose of this study was to investigate how various sledpulling resistance loads (95% and 110% of body mass) effect subsequent, unloaded, sprint-running performances, possibly with aid from the effect known as Post-Activation Potentiation (PAP). PAP is a physiological phenomenon which increases the rate of force development of skeletal muscle which may result in the enhancement of power (speed-strength) dominant activities such as sprint-running and jumping.

Participants were a mix of males (n = 11; …

Gender Differences In Social Support During Injury Rehabilitation, Chelsey Ann Bruns

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Athletic injury can be a stress-inducing event that could have negative consequences on the psychological health of the athlete (Anderson & Williams, 1988; Gould, Udry, Bridges, & Beck, 1997). Injuries not only challenge the athlete physically, but also mentally challenge their ability to cope and overcome. A growing amount of research has indicated social support as a key factor in the rehabilitation process for an injured athlete (Yang, Peek, Lowe, Heiden, & Foster, 2010). Athletic injury causes an emotional disruption, and social support could influence the athlete’s reaction to the injury and his or her ability to cope with rehabilitation …

Biblical Literalism And The Acceptance Of Biological Evolution In Christian University Students, Heather N. Chamberlain

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Is it possible to accept biological evolution without rejecting God? Understanding student perspectives about religious belief and biological evolution is important to effectively teach science. There are many factors in this complex relationship and this study explored three: differences in Christian denominations, interpretation of scripture, and perspectives of the relationship between religious belief with acceptance of evolution. The participants were freshman elementary education majors at a Midwest university who completed a questionnaire about religious beliefs and the Inventory of Student Evolution Acceptance (I-SEA).

The results indicated no significant difference between Christian denomination and acceptance of evolution. Participants who took the …