Digital Commons Network^™

School Supports For Lgbtq Students: Counteracting The Dangers Of The Closet, Lauri Mae Lindquist

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Researchers have reported that being proud and open about one’s sexual and/or gender identity is related to fewer negative psychological outcomes. However, this process of identity development is often impeded by environmental factors, such as minority stress. Through his minority stress hypothesis, Meyer (2003) suggests that suggests that living in a society that is intolerant of central features of the self (e.g., sexual orientation and gender identity) increases the level of stress in individuals with minority statuses. These environmental stressors are consistently shown by research to account for the disproportionate amount of negative psychological and academic outcomes experienced by sexual …

Autobiographical Memory Of Nature-Based Tourists: Formation Of Place Attachment And Influences On Visitor Behavior, Jacob Daniel Jorgenson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The National Park Service (NPS) is currently beginning the celebration of 100 years as a formal agency. Yellowstone National Park, the world’s 1st national park, catered to over 4 million visitors during 2015. Visitation is rising, but there are underlying issues that are highlighted in a recent guiding document; Revisiting Leopold (2012). Congressional budgets are decreasing, younger generations are losing interest in nature, and diverse populations have yet to become fully vested in the NPS. Realizing these pressing issues, Yellowstone sought to understand ways in which visitors can support the park and how to engage visitors to create long-lasting relationships. …

The Acceptability Of Using Moodgym To Treat Depression In Adolescents: A Pilot Study, Jaime Rebekah Long

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Depression rates are high among adolescents, yet most young people do not receive treatment. Alternatives to in-person treatment are needed which are cost-effective and widely accessible. Teens use technology at high rates, but innovative methods of online treatment have not been widely researched in the United States. MoodGYM is a free, internet-based program designed to prevent depression in adolescents which has shown promise in research studies in Australia. To date, no studies with MoodGYM have been published in the United States. This pilot study was designed to evaluate the acceptability of usage of MoodGYM at home by adolescents to treat …

Landscape To Local: A Multi-Scale Evaluation Of Voluntary Efforts To Reduce Fragmentation And Enhance Management Of Rangelands For Sage-Grouse, Joseph Tyler Smith

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

For imperiled species, the hierarchical nature of habitat selection suggests the need for a hierarchical approach to conservation: address threats to persistence operating at broad scales on populations before focusing on the quality of patches or availability of particular resources used by individuals. We apply this approach to conservation and management of habitat for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the eastern portion of their range where cropland conversion continues to fragment sagebrush grasslands. Using locations of active leks in portions of Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota as spatial indices of populations, we found sage-grouse distribution was highly sensitive …

Public-Private Water Conservation: An Assessment Of Attitudes In The Deer Lodge Valley, Montana, Elizabeth K. Rial

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Instituting Collaborative Conservation In Federal Land Management: The Blm's Resource Advisory Councils As An Example, Benjamin D. Donatelle

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Collaborative Conservation is one type of Environmental Conflict Resolution (ECR) that, since the 1970’s, has proliferated throughout public land and natural resource management, especially in the Western United States. As the notion of collaboration has risen in the collective consciousness of public land management professionals, various efforts to capitalize on its use have been instituted through regulatory reforms and legislation. For twenty years the Resource Advisory Councils have fulfilled their regulatory responsibilities and exemplify policy mandated collaborative consensus-building process, yet little research has been conducted to understand what contributes to their effectiveness. This study investigates the effect of instituting or …

Effects Of Academic And Activity Class Participation On Cognition In Young Adults, Emily N. Simpson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Politicized Climate Change Communication: An Integrative Complexity Analysis, Meredith A. Repke

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The vast majority of scientists agree that anthropogenic activities have caused the level of CO₂ in the atmosphere to rise at an unprecedented rate, and that the consequences of such a rise may very well be extreme. Despite these warnings, the American people do not possess, on average, the same level of concern towards climate change as scientists. The polarization of media in recent decades, the prevalence of selective exposure, and the general position on climate change of the two major political parties have led to liberals and conservatives consuming different information relevant to climate science. While evidence exists …

Into The Wild: A Case Study Of The Intersection Of Archaeology And Federal Wilderness Policy, Erika S. Blecha

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Cultural resource specialists working with and for Federal land management agencies have voiced their concern about the perception of cultural sites within federally recognized wilderness areas. However, as a whole, professionals working within the discipline of archaeology have remained relatively absent in the debates on wilderness with regards to human occupation in these designated areas. This thesis introduces the concept of wilderness, its history, perceptions, management, laws, and issues relevant to archaeology. It also draws attention to the paucity of archaeological research and the relaxed nature of cultural resource compliance mandates [National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Sections 106 and 110] …

Discovering The Chinese Mining Child: The Archaeology Of Children And Childhood In Multicultural American Mining Communities, Nicole A. Lane

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Children made up roughly one-quarter of the population of industrial boomtowns in the

North American West, underscoring the connections of family to places commonly

thought to be bachelor communities. By comparing artifacts and historical contexts from

three mining communities (Butte, Montana; Deadwood, South Dakota; and Sandpoint,

Idaho) established in the late 19th century, this thesis will contribute to archaeologies of

children, childhood, and socialization, examining material remains as a line of evidence

to study the ways in which relationships, gender, race, and class pervaded the lives of

children in these industrial settings. The methods employed here integrate information

from historical …

More Is The Same, Tyler Reeves Nansen

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Nansen, Tyler, M.F.A. Spring 2015

More Is The Same

Chairperson: Associate Professor Trey Hill

More is the Same is the result of my examination of the perception of space in relation to architecture and landscape. By embracing modern concepts of the grid, formalism and design, this compilation of personal experiences and memories, manifests as post-minimal sculptures. However, when considering the hierarchy of importance in my work this involves pure visual perception over any specific narrative. The final product is an exhibition which elicits a perceptual experience for its viewer.

My work is about space and the creation of visual interactions, …

Environmental Shocks, Differentiated Households And Migration: A Study In Thailand, Neil Marie Bennett

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of Pm2.5 From Residential Woodstove Use For Source Apportionment Application, Virginia M. Porden

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Results are presented for the comparative analysis of the PM_2.5 (Particulate Matter <2.5 µm) emissions from an EPA certified and a Traditional style wood stove using western larch. A total of 92 Quartz QMA 47mm filters were collected using a BGI PM_2.5 SSC (Sharp Cut Cyclone) sampler from each stove type and analyzed on a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer against blank and deuterated internal standards. The results were analyzed using a Welch’s t-test (α > 0.05) to statistically differentiate between stove designs for temperature, mass, levoglucosan, resin acids (abietic and dehydroabietic), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAH] (acenaphthene, anthracene, benz(a)anthracene, pyrene, and retene). There was no statistical difference in levoglucosan PM_2.5 mass fraction between the stove types, yielding a mean levoglucosan fraction of 9.25% and 95% confidence interval of 8.43% …

“I Need A Hand-Up, Not A Hand-Out:” Spoiled Identities And Identity Maintenance Among Single Mothers Experiencing Homelessness, Laura Obernesser

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This research project explores the processes of impression management and identity maintenance through participant observation, informal interviews, and existing documents for an organization that provides services to mothers who are homeless in the Rocky Mountain West. The observations take place in a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for women in the community and region at three different locations. This project focuses on the complex ways in which mothers who experience severe poverty manage and negotiate their identities when confronted with the often unattainable and contradictory expectations of the cultural ideal of motherhood. These women engage in identity maintenance and emotion …

The Cognitive Dissonance Theory Of Torture Perceptions, Shannon Houck

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Torture is commonly perceived as fundamentally wrong, yet sometimes justified. To examine these competing perceptions within a cognitive dissonance theory framework, participants were primed with either (1) a gray spectrum visual cue designed to produce a more flexible, nuanced mindset, (2) a black and white visual cue designed to elicit a dichotomous mindset, or (3) not primed in a control condition. Participants (N= 226) evaluated a torture scenario involving a terrorist perpetrator. Scenarios also varied in the degree of personal closeness to victims in the crisis. Contrary to expectations, participants primed with a gray spectrum cue were not significantly more …

What Is A Hole Made Of: Queer Identity And Grief In Autobiography Of Red And Red Doc>, Rachel Mindell

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

The Temporal Dynamics Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Trauma-Related Negative Emotions, Daniel Dewey

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a psychological disorder that includes re-experiencing,

The Effect Of Community Service Participation On Team Cohesiveness In Ncaa Division I Women's Volleyball Teams, Cara Jo Cocchiarella

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Despite the efforts of many to determine the best means for constructing and maintaining unified sports teams, leaders in the field continue to seek additional methods. This non-experimental quantitative analysis of NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball teams examined the value of community service participation as a team building activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the difference, if any, that exists between the amounts of cohesiveness on teams that employ different grouping strategies in community service work. Participants representing 74 different teams included a coach and a total of 442 players from those schools across the country. Mann …

Developing And Pilot-Testing Community Based Strategies For Increasing Physical Activity In Children In The 3rd, 4th, 5th, And 6th Grade On An American Indian Reservation, Vernon Grant

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This dissertation used a mixed-methods approach to conduct two inter-related studies focused on increasing physical activity (PA) in children in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades on an American Indian (AI) reservation in the northwestern US. Study 1 assessed enhancers and barriers to increasing PA in elementary school children. Six focus groups were conducted with children and adults. Each focus group was comprised of 7 to 11 participants and lasted approximately one hour. The analysis revealed strategies to increase PA during the school day that included implementing structured activities during recess and painting lines on the playground for games …

A Public Revolt Against Spitting: Education And Politics In The Progressive Era, Patrick J. O'Connor

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Insight Dialogue: Investigation Of A Relational Meditation Practice, Zed David Kramer

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Contemporary psychology has shown a strong and growing interest in Buddhist psychological (BP) theory and practice, which has informed numerous clinical interventions, influenced psychotherapeutic approach, and increasingly been the subject of empirical investigation (Goyal et al., 2014, Keng, Smoski, & Robins, 2011, Neff & Germer, 2012). This widespread adoption and adaptation of BP concepts, including mindfulness, self-compassion, and compassion, has primarily focused on the development of individual skills and internal change. However, despite the critical role relationship plays in human development, in the experience of distress, and in healing, the development of these skills and qualities in an explicitly relational …

Investigating The Influence Of Airborne Particulate Matter Source And Size On Health Outcomes, Matthew Darryl Ferguson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Air pollution is an environmental health concern throughout the world, and is responsible for an estimated 1 out of 8 deaths. As a common component of air pollution, particulate matter (PM) is one of six criteria air pollutants regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with existing ambient standards for both PM2.5 and PM10. Currently there are no health-based regulations for the size fraction between 2.5 and 10 μm, commonly known as the coarse fraction (PMc). Previous studies show that PMc can induce health effects such as increased inflammation, and may be more detrimental to susceptible populations when directly compared …

On The Map, But Off The Grid: Perceptions Of Authenticity In Polebridge, Montana, William Klaczynski

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Individual And Organizational Influences On Fire Research Use By Fire Managers And Decision Makers In The Bureau Of Land Management, National Park Service And U.S. Forest Service, Vita Wright

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Federal interagency fire policy mandates that fire management plans and programs are based on a foundation of science and that science be transferred to managers in a timely manner. Ultimately, scientists and managers are collectively responsible for ensuring relevant research is developed, transferred and integrated into management. This study used social science theory and methods to understand perspectives about research by fire and fuels specialists and decision makers in the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and United States Forest Service. Applying the Technology Acceptance Model, these included beliefs about research usefulness, beliefs about the ease of using research, …

Improving Mechanical And Neuromuscular Deficits Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, Audrey Rose Campbell Elias

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Despite consistent resolution of knee laxity and return to physical activity following ACL reconstruction, a growing body of evidence implicates impaired weight acceptance strategies as frequent primary drivers in a host of poor long-term outcomes. Most egregiously, the majority of the people with ACL reconstruction will show radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis within 15 years of surgery. Abnormal compression of the knee joint due to impaired knee flexion during weight acceptance is exacerbated by a tendency toward concomitant co-contraction of the knee musculature. Despite a plethora of proposed training paradigms, performance deficits after ACL reconstruction prove particularly resistant to enduring …

Social Impact Of Traumatic Brain Injury In Adolescents: A Mixed Methods Study With A Focus On Rural Adolescents, Brandon Jared Rennie

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a serious public health concern in the United States. The least studied populations are those at the highest risk to sustain a TBI, specifically, youth, and especially those living in rural areas. Despite the documented negative impact on social outcomes and relative importance of social functioning in youth, research is sparse with regard to how various injury and non-injury factors interact to influence social outcomes and how best to assess this population for intervention planning and monitoring. Participants are four adolescents who have had TBIs of mild or moderate severity and their mothers (three …

An Investigation Of Domestic Tourists' Loyalty To A Nature-Based Tourist Setting From A Relational And Transactional Perspective At The Victoria Falls World Heritage Site, Jane Musole Kwenye

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

It is a common belief that Zambian citizens would prefer to vacation in other countries rather than visiting their own natural tourist settings. The primary goal of this study was to understand how to foster loyal relationships between Zambian domestic tourists and a natural setting by investigating factors that influence domestic tourists' loyalty to the Victoria Falls World Heritage site. Destination loyalty was the central concept employed in this study and was examined from both a relational and transactional perspective. Place attachment constituted the relational variable, while satisfaction, service quality and perceived value were the transactional variables.

The Power Of Critical Reflection: Exploring The Impact Of Rhetorical Stories On Metacognition In First-Year Composition Courses, Amy Elizabeth Ratto Parks

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Abstract

Video Prompts For Self-Regulated Learning: Metacognition And Reflection Activity, Janet Sedgley

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This study explored video metacognitive prompts as a method of engaging students in self-regulated learning. The study was completed in the naturalistic setting of fully online learning. Such learning environments imply a distance between faculty and students that makes student self-direction vital to success. However students are only infrequently practicing self-regulated learning skills.

An Empirical Investigation Of The Buddhist Concept Of "Not-Self", Christian Herwitz

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

All individuals have notions about how they would likely approach themselves under times of stress, as well as the ways which would be most helpful to them. The present study investigated four broad ways of approaching the self under stressful circumstances: self-esteem, self-control, self-compassion, and not-self. Not-self, a concept based in Buddhist philosophy, is novel to a Western population, and was the primary focus. In order to comprehensively examine the concept, data were collected from 168 undergraduates on responses to stressful circumstances: by bolstering self-esteem, engaging in self-control behaviors, engendering a sense of self-compassion, or accepting/letting go thoughts, feelings, wants, …