Digital Commons Network^™

Why People Fail To Use Condoms For Std And Hiv Prevention, David T. Brunner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The world is almost 30 years into the AIDS pandemic. People know how to prevent HIV by using abstinence, monogamy and condom use. Despite this awareness, people still put themselves at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Why? This thesis catalogues the various reasons why people fail to use condoms during sexual intercourse. The qualitative information represents specific selections from anonymous personal interviews with over 1500 individuals combined with other available data and information from other HIV field workers and organizations. The findings show four major categories of influences effecting an individual's decision to engage in unprotected sexual …

An Examination Of Consumer Experience And Relative Effects On Consumer Values, Andrew Walls

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the ever changing business climate, the service sector has become a major focus of attention. One key aspect of this competitive environment is the effort of many businesses to differentiate themselves by creating unique customer experiences that accompany their products and services. The challenge to creating memorable consumer experiences is the proper identification of specific characteristics that influence experiences and gaining better understanding of how these impact consumers perceived values. To this end, this study attempted to develop a model that identifies influencing dimensions of consumer experiences and investigates the composition of consumer experiences and the relative outcome on …

Working Hard And Barely Making It: Ideological Contradictions And The Working Poor, Wendi Kane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The existence of large, relatively comfortable, middle and working classes is what has set the advanced capitalist societies apart from most societies throughout history. These classes, while not quite "privileged," offer the hope of opportunity and upward social mobility for those who work hard. Yet in the last 30 years a growing class of "working poor" has emerged who invest many hours working but at wages that keep upward social mobility beyond their grasp. The existence of the working poor, it seems, dispels a key element in the ideology of individualism; they work hard yet do not "get ahead." This …

Marital Satisfaction: Factors For Black Jamaicans And African Americansx Living In The United States, Nvischi Edwards

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Marital satisfaction is the strongest predictor for happiness in many areas of life (Russel & Wells, 1994). A satisfying marriage is associated with better general adjustment and fewer health problems (Bray & Jouriles, 1995). Factors that contribute to marital satisfaction reported by researchers include religion and spirituality (Anthony, 1993; Marks et al., 2008; Shehas, Boch & Lee, 1990), family of origin dynamics (Cohn, Silver, Cowan, Cowan, & Pearson, 1992; Webster, Orbuch, & House, 1995), and quality of family relationships (Timer, Veroff, & Hatchett, 1996). Additionally, satisfying marriages are beneficial to couples and children of these marriages. The purpose of this …

Let The Good Times Roll : Hurricane Katrina, The Blues, And New Normalcy In New Orleans, Alexis Assimacopoulos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Looking Over That Country Again : The Country And The City In Southern Modernism And Postmodernism, Benjamin S. Child

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Perspectives On Black-White Interracial Relationships In The South, Derek W. Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Condom Use And Meaning In Life In College Students, Cahryn Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Ozy : Portrait Of A Record Dealer, Eric Feldman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Work-Topia : An Analysis Of Near-Perfect Worker Control Within A Product Distribution Facility, Christopher S. Elliott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Three Dreams, Three Radical Reformers And The Intellectual, Philosophical And Collegial Connection Between The Beloved Communities Of Learning That They Each Created : Myles Horton At The Highlander Folk School, William Heard Kilpatrick At Bennington College, Royce Stanley Pitkin At Goddard College, Nathan Campbell Best

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Household Economy Of An Island Settlement In 18th Century Connecticut, Benjamin Mcmanus Kelsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Moshing And Thrashing And Headbanging (Oh My!) : Gender, Genre, And Authenticity In The Extreme Metal Subculture, Ben Hutcherson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Internet And Political Engagement, Dana King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

"Falling To A Devilish Exercise": Magic And Spectacle On The Renaissance Stage, Shayne Confer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The enormous amount of research on the subject of early modern magic indicates clearly that magical thought occupied a significant place in contemporary mental patterns. Its existence was widespread enough to cause popular prejudice against its most esoteric forms combined with tacit acceptance of "folk" magic, the kind employed by local men and women for the benefit of their neighbors. The early playwrights who dramatized the magus were thus fairly constricted in how the magus could appear without unduly scandalizing the popular audience. Robert Greene, Anthony Munday, and Christopher Marlowe all drew upon characters from popular chapbook romances and dramatized …

An Examination Of The Factors Underlying The Motivation And Learning Strategies Of Generation 1.5 Korean American Students, Rosa Cho Stoffa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Comprehensive research into student learning has established that the effective use of learning strategies will enable students to take responsibility for their own learning, enhance their motivation in the learning process, and improve their academic success (Sternberg & Grigorenko, 2001). However, little research has investigated the learning strategies used by immigrant students and how these strategies relate to academic excellence. While survey instruments currently exist for assessing these constructs in the general population, the construct validity of theses scales has yet to be examined within immigrant populations.

The subjects who participated in this study were randomly selected from the Korean …

Roses That Grew From The Concrete: A Critical Investigation Of The Intersection Of Race And Gender On The Lived Experiences Of African American Male Senior Student Affairs Officers At Predominately White Institutions, Rahmon S. Hart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite past efforts to address the racial disparities that exist in the higher education workforce, African American male Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAOs) are dramatically underrepresented at predominately White institutions of higher education (PWIs). The lived experiences of this unique group of African Americans have been ignored in the empirical literature. The main research question that guided this study was the following: How does the intersection of race and gender influence the experiences of African American male SSAOs at PWIs? A particular focus of this research was to gain a better understanding of how African American male SSAOs experience and …

An "Island" Study Abroad Program And Its Impact On The Intercultural Sensitivity And Cross-Cultural Adaptability Of Its Participants: Perspectives From A Research Intensive University, Gita Maharaja

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Globalization touches every sphere of our modern lives, and it has become more critical than ever that today's generation gains an understanding of other cultures and develops the ability to adapt to ever-changing environments. One important way that higher education has attempted to prepare students for these challenges is to offer study abroad programs, in which students are given the opportunity for educational experiences in other countries.

Traditionally, study abroad programs have involved immersion in the host culture, with particular emphasis on using and learning the native language. However, other types of program designed to make the experience of living …

Substantive Representation Of Women And Its Consequences: The Passage Of A Gender-Based-Violence Law In Rwanda, Joan Marshall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

How can the increased political participation of traditionally excluded groups, particularly women, impact policymaking on issues that affect those groups? Using the passage of legislation on gender-based violence (GBV) in Rwanda as a case study, this thesis examines how increased women's "descriptive representation" can lead to "substantive representation" in the context of a political and social environment supportive of women's political inclusion. In addition to the increased political presence of women in parliament as a result of the gender-quota laws, the support of an executive government committed to the political inclusion of women and expansion of women's rights and an …

An Empirical Study Of The Influence Of Social Networking On The Transfer Of Tacit Knowledge And Job Performance, Mark Schur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research and consultant work has surfaced examples of the financial benefits of transferring knowledge within an organization. However, for these benefits to be realized the environment must be conducive to learning (von Krogh, 1998; von Krogh, Kazuo, & Nonka, 2000) and to socialization. Socialization is a key component in the sharing or relay of tacit knowledge (Busch, Richards, & Dampney, 2003; Haldin-Herrgard, 2000; Hauschild et al., 2003; Leonard & Sensiper, 1998) because it serves to expand one's network of resources (Seufert, von Krogh, & Bach, 1999) and is a source of justification of an individual's beliefs (von Krogh et al, …

Cultural And Intellectual Responses To The Black Death, Brian David Yurochko

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From the fall of the Roman Empire to the "Age of Translations," Western Europe endeavored to rise above the so-called cultural and intellectual "Dark Ages." That advancement was threatened with the arrival of the Black Death in 1347. Chapter one details the correlation between the spread of the plague and the location of the first universities. It also examines the expansion of the university system throughout the continent in the wake of the plague. The second chapter looks at the cultural, especially religious, explanations of and responses to the Black Death. It examines how medieval society used the religious tools …

Predictors Of Firearm Use And Effects Of Weaponry On Victim Injury In Violent Crime: A Criminal Events Approach, Nicholas Libby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study, framed in the criminal events perspective, investigates situational and contextual factors of violent interpersonal encounters that impact the likelihood of offender weapon usage and, when a weapon is used, the likelihood that it will be a firearm. Furthermore, this study examines the effects that weapons have on levels of victim injury along with other factors that may impact injury independent of weapon use. Three specific topics of interest are addressed: whether or not black offenders were more likely to make use of a firearm, what factors impact firearm use amongst female offenders, and if the findings of Kleck …

Testing Bias In The Occupational Interview: A Pilot Study On Racial Discrimination, Brandon Presley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the possibility of the occupational interview utilizing tests that prove to be bias towards one particular race or another. This study is a pilot study and represents the first step in developing a more extensive research design to examine testing bias within the occupational employment interview setting. Ten black students and ten white students are asked to complete two types of occupational interview samples. Those samples are then reviewed by two black hiring managers and two white hiring managers. The results are examined to determine if one test had a greater impact …

The Influence Of Social Capital Factors On African-American And Hispanic High School Student Achievement., Jacqueline L. Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The underachievement of African American and Hispanic students has been an ongoing problem for schools in the United States. The purpose of this investigation was to add to the existing body of knowledge concerning social capital of African American and Hispanic high school students’ academic achievement. Using a nationally representative sample from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS: 2002), base year through the first follow-up year database, 551 high school students, the researcher assessed indicators (school-sponsored activities, out-of-school activities, and parental involvement) within the construct of social capital, to see whether social capital could serve as a predictor of …

An Account Of How Chinese Graduate Students In The United States View The Full Span Of Their Educational Experiences: A Grounded, Ming-Che Tsai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many teachers of international students in the United States are challenged to address cultural differences in a classroom. International students often experience psychological, physical and cultural stress when they study abroad, due mainly to unfamiliar environments and a diverse culture. The question this study asks is: Are there any strategies that can be used to benefit these students? This grounded theory study will examine a purposefully-selected group of subjects from China and Taiwan who are currently studying at a large metropolitan university in the Southeastern United States. After data collection and analysis procedure, I hoped there are some things valued …

Contributions By Individual And Group Strategies For Organizational Learning In Architectural, Engineering, And Construction Firms, Robert Beaver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Organizations with multiple operating requirements require support functions to assist in execution of strategic goals. This effort, in turn, requires management of engineering activities in control of projects and in sustaining facilities. High level strategies include employing engineering support that consists of a project management function encompassing technical and managerial disciplines. The architecture/engineering, and construction office (AEC) is the subject of this research. Engineering and construction oriented organizations have experienced challenges to their abilities to learn and grow. This has potential detrimental implications for these organizations if support functions cannot keep pace with changing objectives and strategy. The competitive nature …

Almost Regular Graphs And Edge Face Colorings Of Plane Graphs, Lisa Macon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Regular graphs are graphs in which all vertices have the same degree. Many properties of these graphs are known. Such graphs play an important role in modeling network configurations where equipment limitations impose a restriction on the maximum number of links emanating from a node. These limitations do not enforce strict regularity, and it becomes interesting to investigate nonregular graphs that are in some sense close to regular. This dissertation explores a particular class of almost regular graphs in detail and defines generalizations on this class. A linear-time algorithm for the creation of arbitrarily large graphs of the discussed class …

The Driving Force: A Comparative Analysis Of Gang-Motivated, Firearm-Related Homicides, Christa Polczynski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The knowledge of gang homicides is constantly increasing, but one aspect of gangs rarely studied is drive-by shootings (Dedel 2007; Hutson, Anglin, and Pratts 1994; Hutson, Anglin, and Eckstein 1996; Polczynski 2007; Sanders 1994; Sugarmann and Newth 2007). In this paper are comparative analyses of gang-motivated, firearm-related homicides perpetrated through a drive-by shooting to those which are not perpetrated through a drive-by shooting, by spatial and regression analyses. The data used for the analyses are a combination of incident variables, such as victim, offender, and incident characteristics, as well as social and economic characteristics of the communities in which the …

Pregnancy-Associated Intimate Partner Violence:An Examination Of Multiple Dimensions Of Intimate Partner Abuse Victimization Usi, Shauna Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using three separate and unique sources of data, this study was designed to address: a) the associations between pregnancy-related violence and femicide with sociodemographic characteristics of victims and offenders and with family dynamics, b) how pregnancy affects the risk for threats of violence, power and control tactics, physical violence, stalking, sexual violence, and femicide, and c) how pregnancy contributes to increased severity of abuse. The overall results reveal a significant statistical correlation between pregnancy and the increased risk of intimate partner abuse on many dimensions, including physical abuse, stalking and harassment, sexual abuse, threats of serious harm and death, lethality …

Privacy, Surveillance And The State: A Comparison Of U.S. And British Privacy Rights, Angelina Lander

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the effects of institutional structure on the privacy rights regimes in the United States and the United Kingdom, from 2000-2006. The goal of this research is to analyze how variation in the institutional arrangements across these two countries allowed for more or less protection of privacy rights for citizens. Domestic terrorist attacks during the time period represent a catalyst for changes in police and government surveillance activities. Veto points literature provides the framework for institutional comparison. The first part of the research provides a discussion of the historical evolution of privacy rights in both states, focusing on …