Digital Commons Network^™

Comparisons Between Chinese And Japanese Characters, Ahmina Graves

Honors Theses

The complexity of the Chinese and Japanese writing systems has intrigued those in the West from their first encounter with the characters. Though the two languages are very different, they share components of their writing systems that have been adapted to each language. This paper looks at the differences and similarities between the two strikingly different languages, as well as the effects on literacy the complexity of the orthographies has had in East Asia. The reforms created by each respective government and the motivations behind these reforms is also explored, as well as the future of the use and form …

Crafting Fear: The Horror Film Trailer, Courtney Dreyer

Honors Theses

My research project investigates horror film trailers in an effort to define the characteristics of this genre and discuss its ideological implications. Focusing on theatrical trailers for American wide-release horror films between 2013 and 2017, I closely viewed a sample of forty trailers to inform my investigation. Horror trailers create an intense emotional experience of both dread and fear, tending to follow a similar narrative structure and employ a common set of stylistic techniques to achieve this emotional intensity. The shared stylistic techniques include elements such as tight framing, innocent imagery, and genre misdirection. The repetition of these elements promotes …

Examining Social Pragmatic Communication: Evidence From Parent And Professional Questionnaires, Katelyn Adams

Honors Theses

Hyter (2007) defined pragmatics as “daily interactions among groups of people with varying worldviews, each influenced by a history of social practices” (p.131). People use aspects of pragmatics in their everyday life depending on the context of their current social situation. For example, one’s pragmatic language could differ in a day from talking with a boss at work to having a conversation with a friend on the phone. These variations in conversational processes result in the assessment of pragmatics being a difficult task.

In this honors thesis, I examined results from Dr. Yvette Hyter’s assessment battery, the Assessment of Pragmatic …

17th Edition Of The Laureate, Jessie Fales

Honors Theses

The Laureate is an undergraduate literary journal sponsored by the Lee Honors College at Western Michigan University. As Editor in Chief of the 17^th Edition, I coordinated the journal’s publication over the course of an academic year. The editorial process follows methodical stages, which have become standard over The Laureate’s lifetime—recruiting submissions, selecting submissions, coordinating with the design center, and hosting a launch party, etc... Of course, every editor has a unique experience, but we must honor the journal’s entity as something larger than ourselves—this journal has existed long before my time, and I hope it keeps on …

School Shootings: A Nexus Of Adolescent Masculinity, Bullying, And Homophobia, Jack Marsden

Honors Theses

Though overall gun violence has plummeted since 1993, multi-victim school shootings have increased in frequency over the last fifty years and the number of adolescent perpetrators has more than doubled since 1996. I borrow from Kimmel and Mahler’s (2001) format to examine seven shootings that have occurred in the fifteen years since their paper’s original publication. I replicate their qualitative methodology and conduct my own analysis of these attacks. My findings suggest that these boys that open fire are mired in a history of routine, merciless bullying and that the content of the bullying is homophobic in nature. I also …

Saints And Sainthood Around The Baltic Sea: Identity, Literacy, And Communication In The Middle Ages, Carsten Selch Jensen

Studies in Medieval and Early Modern Culture

This volume addresses the history of saints and sainthood in the Middle Ages in the Baltic Region with a special focus on the cult of saints in Russia, Prussia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, and Latvia (more commonly referred to in the Middle Ages as Livonia). The articles cover a wide range of topics, for example the introduction of foreign (and "old") saints into new regions, the creation of new local cults of saints in newly Christianized regions, the role of the cult of saints in the creation of political and lay identities, the adaption of the cult of saints in …

Impacts Of Representation On Increasing Flexibility In Understanding Number Composition, Abigail Carr

Honors Theses

Place value is a mathematical concept that young children struggle to understand. A common misconception for children is that the digits that make up multi-digit numbers represent the quantity of that number itself, instead of the number according to its place value (i.e. the 1 in 18 represents 1, instead of 10). The base-ten representation is an efficient way to represent numbers and quantities, but it is not easily learned. One reason children may struggle to fully understand place value is the English language does not make the value of the number known and has hidden base-ten meanings. To contrast, …

Forms Of Bilingualism And Play Across Linguistic Boundaries In Dual Language Classrooms, Kristina Wirtz

Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award (FRACAA)

This ethnographic study has followed a cohort of students from K through 3rd grade to examine the practices and attitudes of bilingual and “emergent” bilingual learners in a Michigan dual-language immersion elementary school. In our society, American-accented English predominates and has greater prestige over Spanish or Spanish-English bilingualism — a situation that sociolinguists describe as “diglossia.” The school’s mission is to develop balanced bilingualism (idealized as dual monolingualism) and to instill pride in Spanish language and Hispanic culture. And yet, bilingual speakers in the school often share a “code-switching” or “interlanguaging” norm rather than two monolingual norms. It is these …

Rabbi Eliezer Of Beaugency, Commentaries On Amos And Jonah (With Selections From Isaiah And Ezekiel), Robert A. Harris

TEAMS Commentary Series

Rabbi Eliezer of Beaugency represents the pinnacle of twelfth-century rabbinic exegesis of the Bible. A proponent of the literal school, Eliezer completely abandoned traditional rabbinic midrash in his explication of biblical texts and innovated a literary approach that anticipated the fruits of modern scholarship in virtually every paragraph. This volume presents, for the first time in English translation, an extended window into the oeuvre of this master interpreter.

The School Connection Program: Strengths, Challenges, And Next Steps, Luchara Wallace

Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award (FRACAA)

The School Connection Program originally began as a WMU-initiated, community engaged effort to develop and implement an off-site alternative to school suspension for high-need Middle School students in southwestern Michigan county. The original purpose of the program was (a) to provide an off-site location for academic, social, and emotional supports to students separated from their K-12 school setting due to suspension and (b) to ensure that when the student returns to school, they are returning with tools that will help them stay better connected to school and less likely to be suspended again while addressing academic deficits in the areas …

Western News, April 12, 2018, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: More programs to be offered in Florida; Bronco mascot rider nets her own equestrian ‘triumph’; Arbor Day event to mark 10th Tree Campus USA anniversary; On Campus with David Miller.

Inter-Professional Education: A Literature Analysis And Description Of Pacer Study At Western Michigan University, Kari Scholten

Honors Theses

Inter-professional education is a topic that is widely gaining popularity throughout the healthcare field. Because inter-professional practice in the hospital and beyond has proven its value time and time again, universities must take it upon themselves to train their healthcare students to work efficiently and communicate effectively with other disciplines in the healthcare field. Through a thorough literature review, it was demonstrated that inter-professional education studies and simulations that were performed in a range of settings have had positive effects on a variety of factors, including communication, quality of care given, and perceptions of professional roles. A study performed at …

Screens Or Mp4s: Acquiring Clinical Competencies Through The Use Of E-Ospes In Occupational Therapy, Lizahn Gracia Cloete, Lee-Ann Juliana Jacobs-Nzuzi Khuabi, Lana Van Niekerk

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The assessment of clinical competence of undergraduate students is a crucial part of higher education training in occupational therapy. The use of online objective standardized practical examinations (e-OSPEs) was piloted as a technological innovation to determine student learning needs. An action research framework with four phases was used. Descriptive statistics in the form of frequency tables and percentages were used to report survey results. The students had multiple practice opportunities before uploading their best attempt. Thirty participants completed a 12-item survey. The results were analyzed using descriptive analysis and presented by means of statistical graphs. Peer assessment facilitated experiential learning. …

Exposure To, Knowledge Of, And Interest In Occupational Therapy And Physical Therapy As Career Options, Prisca M. Collins, Cynthia Carr

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Lack of awareness and knowledge of the occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) professions has been cited as a barrier to consideration of these professions as career options. This study examined the types of exposure to, knowledge of, and career interest in OT and PT of students from underrepresented minority (URM) and non-Hispanic White and Asian American (NHW-AA) populations. A questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 150 high school and undergraduate college students. Demographic data and student responses to questions regarding exposure to, knowledge of, and career interest in OT and PT were collected. Descriptive statistics and …

Psychometric Properties Of An Instrument Derived From The Intentional Relationship Model: The Self-Efficacy For Recognizing Clients’ Interpersonal Characteristics (N-Seric), Victoria C. Ritter, Farzaneh Yazdani, Tove Carstensen, Mikkel M. Thørrisen, Tore Bonsaksen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The Intentional Relationship Model conceptualizes the therapeutic use of self in occupational therapy. To increase motivation for and success in establishing therapeutic relationships, therapists need self-efficacy for using the self in therapeutic practice. However, attempts to combine this model with self-efficacy theory are rare, and instruments by which to measure self-efficacy for therapeutic use of self are in a developing stage. This study aimed to examine the factor structure and internal consistency of the Norwegian Self-Efficacy for Recognizing Interpersonal Characteristics (N-SERIC).

Methods: Occupational therapy students (n = 100) from two education programs completed the instrument and …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Needs And Supports For Handwriting Instruction In Kindergarten, Jill A. Nye, Divya Sood

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study was designed to explore the perceived needs of kindergarten teachers as well as the supports they require in preparing children for success in the area of handwriting.

Methods: A phenomenological research design was used and nine kindergarten teachers employed at four elementary schools in a school district in Illinois participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were completed to discuss the perceptions of teachers related to challenges they face and the supports they require in promoting the occupational task of handwriting among the children in their classrooms.

Results: The results from this pilot study revealed that overall …

A Mixed-Methods Study Examining Developmental Milestones And Parental Experiences In Ghana, Kate G. Barlow, Stacey Reynolds

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Ghana currently lacks a systematic method for identifying children with developmental delays, and there do not appear to be any culturally sensitive assessment tools available. The objectives of this mixed-methods research study were to explore normal developmental milestones and parental practices in the Ghanaian population. The study also aimed to identify and describe culturally specific factors that should be accounted for on assessments used in the Ghanaian culture.

Methods: Twenty-eight Ghanaian parents were interviewed and asked to participate in a developmental milestone picture-identification task. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses were performed.

Results: The interviews revealed several cultural factors that …

Normative Or Heavy Clouds? Early Indicators Of Nonverbal Learning Disability Based On Mothers’ Reports, Sara Rosenblum, Michal Piran, Sonya Meyer, Dalia Sachs

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Children with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NVLD) are verbally competent and particularly weak in nonverbal, visuospatial, and social abilities. Most of the literature about NVLD discusses the all-around functioning and diagnosis process during school years. In this qualitative study, the perceptions of mothers of children with NVLD were explored in the context of their children’s daily functioning characteristics during their first 3 years. The aim was to identify early indicators and warning signs of NVLD during the developmental process.

Method: Five mothers participated in two in-depth, semi-structured retrospective interviews.

Results: Two main themes were identified: (a) “Everything …

The Socializer-Spring/Summer 2018, Department Of Sociology

The Socializer

Spring/ Summer 2018 Sociology departmental newsletter.

Emeriti News, Spring 2018, Emeriti Council

Emeriti News

• Contents of Volume XXVII Number 2:
• Message from the Chair: Peter Krawutschke
• Emeriti Council Membership Changes
• March Wednesday II: Gail Griffin
• OLLI at WMU
• In Rememberance
• Medallion Scholarship Recipient Updates
• The Sandra Edwards Colloquiium
• Emeriti Council Book Scholarships
• Coming Wednesday II Events (Fall 2018)

Haworth College Of Business News (04/2018), Haworth College Of Business

Haworth College of Business News

• Presidential Scholars
• Stryker: Putting Strengths First
• Succeeding as a Manager
• It's Tax Season
• Social Media Data
• Refer a Bronco

April 2018, Global News, Haenicke Institute

Global News

• Political theorist links inequality, citizenship, education's promise
• Top geography students test skills in state bee at WMU
• Noble Laureate to give talk on peace building, women's rights
• Confucius Institute hosts 2nd Annual Chinese Bridge Competition
• Senior engineering students showcase projects at design conference
• Kal-Haven Hike-Athon to raise money for Zambian scholarships
• Field notes: An undergraduate on the path to discovery discusses her research
• Take advantage of global engagement opportunities in May
• Registration open for summer Chinese culture classes
• State's first lady announces fall summit to be at WMU
• Application open to incoming freshmen for study abroad programs

Western Michigan University Magazine, Spring 2018, Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University Magazine (1997-present)

• Bronco Entrepreneurs: How They Pivoted and Profited In this special edition, alumni entrepreneurs reveal how they started their businesses and made key pivots to keep their entrepreneurial aspirations alive and thriving. For some, their most meaningful pivot was leaving a job and mustering the courage to launch an enterprise of their own making.
• No Stopping Her When Karen Behnke has a business idea, watch her rise.
• Student Startups and What’s Trending They’re still students, but they’re starting something. WMU advances emerging enterprisers.
• The Bot Builders Gurdeep Singh and Jas Kaur married business sense with robot building know-how.
• Musician, Fundraiser, Candlestick …

Language Profiles Of Children Who Have Experienced Complex Trauma And Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Christel G. Ciolino

Masters Theses

Children who experience maltreatment and children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) have similar neurological differences and are at risk for language impairments. However, limited research has been conducted to analyze their specific skill sets. To address this limitation, retrospective data from the Children’s Trauma Assessment Center of Southwest Michigan were analyzed. The linguistic profiles of 79 children with histories of varying numbers of traumatic experiences and comorbid FASD statues are compared in the areas of semantics, syntax, pragmatics, and social communication. Individuals had high pass rates on the CELF-5 Screening Test and high overall scores on the Pragmatic Protocol-Revised …

Spatial And Temporal Changes In Halal Food Sales And Consumption A Case Study Of The City Of Dearborn, Michigan, Sam Roodbar

Masters Theses

With a population of 3.2 million and growing in the US, Arab Americans are an integral part of the economy and culture of the United States and the world. The southeast portion of the state of Michigan is home to more than 300,000 Arab Americans. One of the main agents of cultural maintenance and support for the Arab American community are their ethnic food traditions, specifically Halal food. Since the introduction of Halal food in the United States, the sales and consumption of Halal products has increased immensely. This research seeks to answer four related questions focused on the entrance …

Stifling The Subversive Swing: An Austrian Perspective On The Nazi Jazz Ban, Colin J. Rensch

Masters Theses

This research investigates the rationale behind the Nazis’ suppression of jazz music during the Second World War. Existing scholarship explains the circumstances surrounding this suppression, but it does not explore why the Nazis did not completely eradicate jazz. The goal of this research is to reveal which aspects of jazz the Nazis particularly disdained and why they allowed this music to continue while they so vehemently suppressed other forms of art that they deemed undesirable.

In order for the arguments to be viewed in their proper context, the thesis first discusses the rise of jazz in Austria and the Austrian …

Assessing The Benefits And Risks Of Choice-Based Art Education In The Modern-Day Classroom, Kayla Lindeman

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the benefits and risks of choice-based art education by examining the literature and conducting field research in two third grade art classrooms - one that employs a Teaching for Artistic Behaviors-based (TAB-based, a popular version of choice-based art education) approach to art education and another that adheres to a more discipline-based model. Findings related to student observations, student surveys, and parent survey will be presented within these two unique settings. These findings will be matched against claimed choice-based benefits of: increases in student engagement; instructional and learning shifts; and student engagement in authentic art practices. The findings …

Punks In The Church: The Relationship Between The Punk Subculture And Church In East Germany, Ruth A. Aardsma Benton

Masters Theses

A punk subculture emerged in East Germany during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was an expression of their disillusionment with life, their frustrations with the government, and their pessimistic view of a future that seemed pre-planned. The subculture refused to conform, disengaged from the established system, and expressed their views through song lyrics and other acts of defiance. In the eyes of the state, punks were a threat. The subculture turned to the East German Protestant churches for shelter. The churches occupied a unique place within East German society because the government had granted the churches limited free …

Spatial Effects Of Foreign Direct Investment (Fdi) On Poverty Reduction In Colombia: A Mixed Methods Approach, Mayra Alejandra Yat Aguilar

Masters Theses

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been identified as an important factor in stimulating economic growth and decreasing poverty. In particular, the relationship between FDI and economic growth has been extensively debated in the academic literature but with mixed results. Meanwhile, considerably less work has been done towards investigating the effects of FDI on poverty reduction. Evidence from the limited research linking on FDI and poverty levels is also mixed. Through a more comprehensive survey-based multi-scale method of assessing poverty, this empirical study investigates the contribution of FDI with respect to concurrent quantitative and qualitative assessment of changes in living standards …

A Survey Of Security And Privacy In Mobile Cloud Computing, Bhuvaneswari Rayapuri

Masters Theses

Cloud Computing is an emerging technology that provides shared processing resources and data to computers and other devices on demand. On the other hand, Mobile Computing allows transmission of data, voice and video. From these two there emerges a new concept Mobile Cloud Computing which not only overcomes the problems of Mobile Computing but also integrates Cloud Computing into Mobile Environments to overcome obstacles related to Performance, Security and Environment. This paper also provides a decent description on Security and Privacy, its related problems, threats and challenges. This paper first provides details on survey of Mobile Cloud Computing, then it …