Digital Commons Network^™

Initial Validation Of Novel Performance-Based Measures: Mental Rotation And Psychomotor Ability, Philip Fatolitis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Given the high-risk nature of military flight operations and the significant resources required to train U.S. Naval Aviation personnel, continual improvement is required in the selection process. In addition to general commissioning requirements and aeromedical standards, the U.S. Navy utilizes the Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB) to select commissioned aviation students. Although the ASTB has been a good predictor of aviation student performance in training, it was proposed that incremental improvement could be gained with the introduction of novel, computer administered performancebased measures: Block Rotation (BRT) and a Navy-developed Compensatory Tracking task. This work constituted an initial validation of the …

The Dark Side Of The Tune: A Study Of Villains, Michael Biggs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

On championing the villain, there is a naive quality that must be maintained even though the actor has rehearsed his tragic ending several times. There is a subtle difference between to charm and to seduce. The need for fame, glory, power, money, or other objects of affection drives antagonists so blindly that they ve no hope of regaining a consciousness about their actions. If and when they do become aware, they infrequently feel remorse. I captured the essence of the villain by exposing these lightless characters to the sun. On Monday, April 9th and Tuesday, April 17th, 2007, on the …

What Makes Them Click? Applying The Rational Choice Perspective To The Hacking Underground, Michael Bachmann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The increasing dependence of modern societies, industries, and individuals on information technology and computer networks renders them ever more vulnerable to attacks on critical IT infrastructures. While the societal threat posed by hackers and other types of cyber-criminals has been growing significantly in the last decade, main-stream criminology has only recently begun to realize the significance of this threat. Cyber-criminology is slowly emerging as a subfield of criminological study and has yet to overcome many of the problems other areas of criminological research have already mastered. Aside from substantial methodological and theoretical problems, cyber-criminology currently also suffers from the scarcity …

The Effect Of International Short-Term Mission Trips On Intercultural Sensitivity In Secondary Christian School Students, Conrad Swartzentruber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study examined the effect of international short-term mission trips on the intercultural sensitivity of secondary Christian school students. Christian schools utilize mission trips as a strategy to prepare students for an increasingly global, interdependent world. Research literature purports the short-term mission trip as one model for facilitating a higher degree of intercultural sensitivity through an experiential framework. Current literature contains studies that examine the effect of mission trips for post-secondary students and for younger students through mission organizations, but no empirical study explores mission trips organized by a secondary school.

A qualitative case study framed this research, providing …

From Teacher To Teller: How Applied Storytelling Informs Autobiographical Instruction., Peggy Rosann Kent

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses autobiographical inquiry to "re-member" how I came to understand that applied storytelling was a valid teaching tool in facilitating autobiographical expression in mature learners. It is an examination of how story sharing and story listening can transform a continuing education classroom into a learning community. Applied storytelling can help elders reframe their negative mental models about the value of their stories, memory, and mythology and create opportunities for positive story sharing experiences. I selected highlights of my journey that best represented my experience and use of applied storytelling techniques. Each chapter includes an exercise and reflection as …

Relationships Between Student Attendance And Test Scores On The Virginia Standards Of Learning Tests., Jeffrey Cassell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between student attendance and student test scores on a criterion-referenced test, using test scores of all 5^th graders in Virginia who participated in the 2005-2006 Standards of Learning tests in reading and mathematics. Data collection for this study was performed with the cooperation of the Virginia Department of Education using a state database of student testing information. Pearson correlation coefficients were determined for the overall student population and for the subgroups of economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, limited English proficient, white, black, and Hispanic. The results of this study indicate that there is a …

Claudius Greer Clemmer, Doctor Of Humane Letters January 4, 1911-November 20, 2005., Sheila Breen Agen Pedersen Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While there are facts that are known about Claudius Greer Clemmer, there is much that is not known. By most accounts, he was a generous man who grew up during some of the hardest years of the Great Depression, worked to get an education, and had a successful teaching career. Clemmer worked diligently to do what he could to support himself and his family, working at two jobs. When his career track changed from teaching to business, in 1946, he experienced success in business and investments, sharing that wealth with East Tennessee State University and others. The intent of this …

Dismantling The Master's House : Deconstructing The Roots Of Antiblack Racism And The Construction Of The "Other" In Judaism, Christianity And Islam., John Chenault

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This critical inquiry into the social constructions of "black" and "white" identities analyzes the roles of the three "western" monotheisms (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) in the cognitive and sociohistorical developments of racial slavery and antiblack racism. Specifically, it investigates the sociohistorical consequences of the inherent dualisms of the "western" monotheisms and how those dualisms are expressed in the production of social theories and systems that rely on believer/non-believer oppositions and binaries defined by a Manichaean view of the universe and a teleological conception of history that fosters and sustains an eternal holy war against infidels. What emerges from this analysis …

André Jeunet : Expanded Educational Opportunities For A Photographic Exhibition., Brian J. Davis 1958-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In spring 2006, the Frazier International History Museum, in conjunction with the Ekstrom Library Photographic Archives at the University of Louisville, mounted an exhibit of 47 photographs taken by a young French foot soldier during World War I. The exhibit, titled "André Jeunet: Images of WWI by a Pacifist Soldier," ran from May 19 through September 4, 2006. The main concept behind the exhibit was to show images of World War I that focused less on the horrific aspects of combat and more of the everyday life the of common soldier, and to highlight that although many soldiers fought out …

Impact Of Standardized Testing Emphasis On Teaching And Learning In Kindergarten Through 12th Grade In United States Schools: East Tennessee Principals' Perspectives., Terri Dodge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The pressure to perform on standardized tests in the United States has become intense. Increased accountability has caused principals to think about their perceptions of standardized testing with regard to accountability measures, test validity, use of test data, impact of testing on the curriculum, and stress related to testing. The purpose of this study was to investigate kindergarten- through 12th-grade principals' perceptions of standardized testing. The study included 91 principals of Title I and nonTitle I schools located in 8 rural East Tennessee school districts. Data were gathered using a survey instrument to determine principals' opinions of standardized testing.

There …

The Arab Quest For Modernity: Universal Impulses Vs. State Development., Kevin Wampler Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Arab Middle East began indigenous nation building relatively late in the twentieth century. Issues of legitimacy, identity, and conflicts with the West have plagued Arab nations. Arab states have espoused universal ideologies as solutions to the problems of Arab nation building.

The two ideologies of Pan-Arabism and Islamic modernism provided universal solutions to the Arab states. Both Pan-Arabism and Islamic modernism gained validity in political polemics aimed against colonialism, imperialism, Zionism, and the West. Both ideologies promised simple solutions to complex questions of building modern Arab society. Irrespective of ideology, Arab states have always acted in self-interest to perceived …

An Assessment Of Read 180 Regarding Its Association With The Academic Achievement Of At-Risk Students In Sevier County Schools., Jayson Nave

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

READ 180 is an intensive reading intervention program designed to meet the needs of students whose reading achievement is below the proficient level. The program addresses individual learning styles through adaptive software, interesting literature, and direct instruction with reading skills. The purpose of this study was to compare the achievement of academically at-risk students in Sevier County Public Schools in East Tennessee who participated in the READ 180 pilot program with the achievement of their academically at-risk peers not enrolled in the intervention program before and after its implementation in order to assess the reading intervention program. The Sevier County …

Encountering Stereotype Threat In The Workplace : How Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Employees Meet The Challenge Of Negative Stereotyping., Gary M. Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Employee retention continues to be a major drain on the resources of organizations, especially in terms of personnel, productivity, and financial resources. One of the primary motivators of employee turnovers established by research is the issue of unfairness in the workplace. This study investigated the dimensions of unfairness related to being a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender employee. Specifically, the issue of stereotype threat and its effect on job performance was explored. Using an on-line survey, members of LGBT labor union caucuses and LGBT employee resource groups were asked to complete a questionnaire that assessed demographic differences and responses to …

Trophies Or Treasures: The Burden Of Choice For Mothers, Wives, And Daughters In Washington Square, The Portrait Of A Lady, And The Bostonians., Melissa C. Huisman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the world of Henry James's novels, characters are often placed in difficult situations where their happiness depends on their ability to make a free choice. Female characters are manipulated and diminished by a patriarchal system that not only seeks to subordinate their will, but also to objectify them, to place them on the shelf as a trophy. Fathers and husbands are typically the controlling agents, but James also presents women who appropriate the dominating role.

With varying degrees of success, each female character rejects the status of trophy. Instead, each attempts to make choices and determine her own future. …

Teaching Probability And Statistics To English Language Learners In Grade Five., Mary Jo Johnson Neal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An increasing number of English Language Learners enrolling in the Washington County Virginia Public School System during the past several years prompted the idea of this thesis. These students are currently mainstreamed in the regular academic classroom. Adapting to their needs is a new challenge in education for teachers in Southwest Virginia. This thesis offers an opportunity for teachers to prepare for a multicultural classroom setting providing English Language Learners with learning strategies necessary to gain confidence in their mathematical ability and academic success in the areas of probability and statistics. Lesson plans have been specifically designed emphasizing teaching strategies, …

Temperament And Early Communication In Premature Children., Nina King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Premature children are at greater risk for developing communication delays than full-term children, although it is not inevitable. Recent research links specific temperament characteristics to early language development. Thus, temperament may provide a way to identify premature children who are at increased risk. The first purpose of this study was to determine if temperament characteristics of premature children are the same as full-term children when measured by the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised. The second purpose was to determine if temperament and language acquisition, as measured by the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory: Words and Gestures, are linked in premature infants …

A Comparative Study Of International And American Study Abroad Students' Expectations And Experiences With Host Countries., Evelyn Domville-Roach

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This was a comparative study of international and American study abroad students' experiences and expectations with the host countries. The rationale for this study was to acquire a deeper understanding of different experiences of students who study abroad and to understand whether their expectations of the host country have an impact on their experiences. An opportunity sample of American study abroad and international students was selected from the United States student population and their expectations and experiences of the host country compared. The study addressed 6 research questions, using a mixed-method approach. The principal instrument for the investigation was the …

Development And Validation Of A Scale To Measure Health-Related Socioeconomic Well-Being In Persons With A Cancer Diagnosis., Barbara Anderson Head

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The impact of socioeconomic status on the diagnosis, treatment, survival, and overall quality of life in persons with cancer has been well documented. Yet, many studies overlook the relevance of socioeconomic factors when measuring the impact of cancer care. A multitude of tools exist for the measuring of health-related quality of life (QOL) in oncology, but the majority do not recognize socioeconomic well-being as a relevant domain. The FACT-G, perhaps the most often used measure of QOL in oncology, measures the domains of physical, functional, social/family, and emotional well-being as core measures with optional instruments available to address spiritual well-being …

Two Blades Come Together: Stories, Mark Edward Pursell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This collection of seven short stories details the emotional triumphs and complications of characters whose lives are altered by issues of sexuality and disconnection. An adolescent girl feels her father slipping away from her and, in turn, willfully destroys the imaginary world of the boy she babysits; a speech therapist struggles to make headway with a young patient while finding himself unable to communicate with his ex-lover; a gay poet cheats on his boyfriend in a desperate attempt to fuel his failing art. The dramatis personae of Two Blades Come Together is comprised of individuals who struggle towards grace and …

Perceptual Differences In The Conversational Performance Of People With Severe Expressive Aphasia Using Three Types Of Visual Screen Displays On Speech Generating Devices, Laura Figley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A multiple single-subject randomized design experimental study measured the perceptions of three persons with aphasia and their communication partners without aphasia when communicating across three conditions: Condition A--speech generating device (SGD) with No Display; Condition B--SGD with visual scene display (VSD); and Condition C--SGD with traditional grid display (TGD). Quantitative data were collected in the forms of preference choice of display type, a forced-choice ranking of experimental sessions, and 7-pt Likert rating scales. All participants rated the dependent variables of communicative success, ease, independence, and naturalness across conditions. Qualitative data were collected in the form of open-ended interviews conducted at …

The Crazy Ideas You Had: The Impact Of A Literacy Course Design, Delivery, And Teacher On Preservice Teachers' Reading Attitudes, Susan Gebhard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to determine whether the design and/or the instructor of a required literacy course impacted preservice teachers' attitudes toward reading. Furthermore, the study sought to contrast the attitudinal impact of varying course delivery (onsite versus online). Additionally, the study attempted to identify those course activities and/or instructor behaviors perceived by the preservice teachers to have most affected their reading attitudes.

Using mixed methodology research design, this study made use of empirical data obtained from three subscales of the Adult Survey of Reading Attitudes, or ASRA, (Smith, 1990a): Reading Activity and Enjoyment; Social Reinforcement; and Tutoring. Preservice teachers enrolled …

Advertising As Epideictic Rhetoric And Its Implications For Ethical Communication, Cem Zeytinoglu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the ancient sense, epideictic rhetoric was considered as a simple opposition to pragmatic discourse, which predominantly was involved with public business. Public business refers to the matters of the polis and the political setting. On the other hand, epideictic does not address to the political or deliberative situations. It addresses the celebrative situations of a community or a society in which values are created and commemorated.

Epideictic is also different from deliberative public discourse in means of approach toward to audience. Deliberative rhetoric asks audience to decide to take a course of action in a public/political business, whereas epideictic …

Fro Spot My Spyryt Per Sprang In Space : Transgressing Ineffable Boundaries In Pearl / By William Storm, William Storm

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Elementary Foreign Language Instruction On Student Performance On The Mississippi Curriculum Test / By Diana Semmes, Diana Semmes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Showing What We See: Psychoanalytic Vision, Transparency, And Linguistic Pragmatics, Scott Bortle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the possibilities that pragmatic linguistic analytic methods might have for psychoanalysis, both in the latter's attempts to establish itself as an empirically grounded endeavor and in its understanding of its own theoretical constructs. I begin with a discussion of some of the troubles psychoanalysis has had in legitimizing itself in the eyes of its peers since in inception, suggesting that a closer relationship with already-established sociolinguistic sciences (i.e. pragmatic analysis of linguistic interaction) may aid in its promotion.

I then describe how these methods have already been taken up within the field of psychology in the study …

The Development Of Small Christian Communities In The Catholic And Among The Lugbara People Of Uganda After The Second Vatican Council: A Historical, Theological And Pastoral Investigation, Diego Cadri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation depicted the events in the lives of the Lugbara Ethnic group, who will go down in the history of Uganda, through their actual existence, their deeds, their accomplishments and their contributions, but particularly because of their successful, "small Christian communities," an important segment in all its facets, in the Lugbara Christian life. The new way of being Church that came out of the Second Vatican Council, that is, since the 1960s was the small Christian community. These pages narrated the development, the early struggle, the uncertainty, the needs, the goals, the purposes, the accomplishments and the success of …

The Impact Of Teaching Explicit Listening Strategies To Adult Intermediate- And Advanced-Level Esl University Students, Jeanette Clement

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated beliefs about strategy use for the improvement of second language listening comprehension. The study compared participants' self-reports of their strategy use prior to and after four electronically-delivered interventions consisting of explicit instruction and illustration of strategies that can assist in listening comprehension. Participants were 64 international students at intermediate to advanced level of language proficiency (as determined by the Michigan Listening Comprehension Exam (Upshur, Koba, Spaan, and Strowe, 1972) studying English as a Second Language (ESL) at two universities in the Eastern United States. Data were collected using three instruments, the Strategies Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) …

The Bloody Truth: A Psychological And Cultural Study Of Menstruation As Lived And Experienced By Women, Carolyn Deforest

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present research explores the negation and affirmation of menstrual life as found in culture, theory, and the concrete experiences of individual women. A phenomenological and hermeneutical thematic analysis is used throughout. In this study, the aspects of culture analyzed include language, humor, art, television, film, literature, print and television advertising, menstrual education, medicine, and some of the historical influences in the perception of women. Additionally, the formal psychological literature is examined as part of the cultural data, as is the researcher's own observations and cultural experiences.

Overall, this research reveals that the experience of menstrual bleeding has been culturally …

Looping: The Impact Of A Multi-Year Program On The Academic Progress, Retention, And Special Education Placements Of Students In Two South Central Pennsylvania Schools, Joseph Snoke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine if there are increased benefits in a looping instructional delivery system, as it pertains to academic progress, retention rates, and special education placements. Specifically, the study determined if there was a significant difference between students involved in a looping instructional model as compared to those not participating in a looping model. The target population of this study consisted of students looping and non-looping in third, fifth, and eighth grades, who attended rural elementary schools located in central Pennsylvania. The students would have attended the districts between the years of 1999-2005. PSSA scaled …

Utilizing Environmental Factors And Basic Principles Of Pragmaticism To Establish A Theoretical Framework For Integrating Learning Object Based Instruction (Lobi) Into K-12 Instructional Practice, Alex Stone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is a critical theoretical analysis. Its basic premise is that several seemingly intractable issues exist that interfere with the implementation of learning object based instruction (LOBI) in the K-12 online learning environment. The purpose of this study is to identify these issues, and then critique each one individually in order to initiate a discourse that will ultimately facilitate the implementation of LOBI into K-12 public schools. Twelve issues are identified and then individually critiqued. The overriding philosophical influence that drives this study is pragmaticism as presented by C.S. Peirce and basic principles of that particular philosophy are utilized …