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Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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Understanding The Effects Of Physical & Psychosocial Stress, And Personality Type On Neck Muscle Load Among Healthcare Workers, Mohammed J. Al Hassan May 2011

Understanding The Effects Of Physical & Psychosocial Stress, And Personality Type On Neck Muscle Load Among Healthcare Workers, Mohammed J. Al Hassan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In spite of strong prevalence of neck and shoulder musculoskeletal disorders among health care workers, the effect of their routine work activities, which demands physical exertion and high cognitive load, on the loading of neck-shoulder musculatures is not clearly understood. Additionally, it is currently unknown as to how the internal loading of the neck-shoulder musculature caused by the external work-related factors is affected by the individual personality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the musculoskeletal loading of neck-shoulder musculature when human participants performed physically and cognitively demanding exertions. The loading of neck-shoulder musculature was evaluated using objective and …

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A Survey Of Bariatric Surgical Patients' Experiences With Behavioral And Psychological Services, Jessica C. Peacock May 2011

A Survey Of Bariatric Surgical Patients' Experiences With Behavioral And Psychological Services, Jessica C. Peacock

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The following study assessed behavioral and psychological services currently being used by bariatric patients before and after surgery. A convenience sample of N = 380 was generated through solicitation on an online support website; inclusion criteria included having had surgery in the United States after implementation of accreditation standards in 2005. Participants completed an Internet-based survey that assessed services completed, satisfaction with services, perceived impact of surgery on mental and physical health as well as diet and physical activity behaviors, and current reported diet and physical activity behaviors. Overall, participants reported completing more services before surgery, and afterwards the most …

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First Year Student Expectations: General Education Goals At A Multi-Campus Community College, Sherri Anna Robinson May 2011

First Year Student Expectations: General Education Goals At A Multi-Campus Community College, Sherri Anna Robinson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In recent years, there has been a focus on the importance of general education in colleges and universities as a means of delivering a quality liberal education. Completion of a general education curriculum in the community college is required for successful completion in all associate degree programs. As more students are choosing community colleges to begin their studies, their general education experiences may affect their successful transfer to the baccalaureate, performance in the future workforce and participation as educated citizens.;Unfortunately, students have described general education as "a barrier" to their major or courses to "get of the way." At the …

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Reform Of Secondary Education In Post-Communist Estonia: Advancing Or Dismantling Social Cohesion, Cassandra Jo Garcia May 2011

Reform Of Secondary Education In Post-Communist Estonia: Advancing Or Dismantling Social Cohesion, Cassandra Jo Garcia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The concept of integration in the most basic of senses refers to intermixing of groups of people that were previously segregated. Estonia, as the focal point of this study as opposed to another post-Soviet nation, is unique in that it is such a small country, and this state possesses a variety of traits that distinguishes it from other states in the process of reform and from other multicultural states. Over 25% of the population of Estonia speaks Russian as their mother tongue, and currently the youth of these Russian-speaking communities are feeling the weight of the integration process. Education reform …

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Con[Text], Virginia D. Millard May 2011

Con[Text], Virginia D. Millard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

My work explores the relationship of text and image to the creation and perception of our roles in the world, principally from a feminist point of view. I examine the influence of symbols and labels, both imposed and carefully chosen, on the identity women present to the world and ourselves. Through photography and design, I reflect on the roles I fill in my own life as an artist, wife, mother, and daughter and the symbols and words associated with such roles in the hope of revealing a larger truth about communication and relationships through words and images.

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Essays On The Effectiveness And Competitiveness Of State Government Expenditures, J. Sebastian Leguizamon May 2011

Essays On The Effectiveness And Competitiveness Of State Government Expenditures, J. Sebastian Leguizamon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation addresses issues related to the effectiveness and consequences of state and local spending in the United States. Chapter two examines how merit-based aid tuition assistance contributes to the retention of graduates in a state. An analysis of restricted-use administrative data for West Virginia graduates suggests that in-state college graduates that received merit-based aid to attend college are no more likely to work in the state after graduation, compared to those who did not received the assistance. These graduates are between 1.9 and 5.2 percentage points less likely to remain in the state, decreasing the overall effect of merit-based …

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Reboot, Nick Lejeune May 2011

Reboot, Nick Lejeune

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

I am an artist that works with technologically obsolete materials in order to elevate them to have purely aesthetic, sublime qualities. Creating my art this way has led me to profile and understand hoarders; those who collect materials that are otherwise socially useless. They collect these objects to the point where the collection act becomes an obsessive psychological disorder. This thesis will prove that while I identify with those who struggle with this disorder, my own collection tendencies lend themselves to being more related to the processes of contemporary artists and their need to reconfigure the original use of objects …

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Using Mentoring Enactment Theory To Explore The Doctoral Student-Faculty Member Mentoring Relationship, Daniel H. Mansson May 2011

Using Mentoring Enactment Theory To Explore The Doctoral Student-Faculty Member Mentoring Relationship, Daniel H. Mansson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this dissertation was threefold. The first purpose was to examine the advisor-advisee mentoring relationship using Mentoring Enactment Theory (Kalbfleisch, 2002). The second purpose was to examine the relationship between advisees' use of relational maintenance behaviors and their own and their advisors' reports of relational characteristics (i.e., liking, communication satisfaction, relational satisfaction, trust, work commitment, and control mutuality). The third purpose was to examine the extent to which advisees' relational uncertainty with their advisors was related to their use of relational maintenance behaviors and their advisors' provision of career support and psychosocial support. The results of Principal Component …

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Improving Student Coaches' Learning Through Teaching Reflective Techniques, Wesley R. Meeteer Ii May 2011

Improving Student Coaches' Learning Through Teaching Reflective Techniques, Wesley R. Meeteer Ii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this research was to examine how teaching reflective concepts and directing reflective writing would influence student coaches' (SC) level of reflective writing in a one semester coaching internship course. A Multiple baseline format was used to implement the intervention. The intervention used five reflective ideas to try and enhance the level of SCs' reflective abilities including; (a) teaching the SCs a reflective cycle, b) introducing SCs to high levels of quality reflective writing, (c) allowing SCs to assess the level of reflection their personal journals, (d) having SCs write reflective statements within the five reflective levels of …

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Dyadic Interaction: The Effects Of Controlling And Critical Behavior Versus Warm And Responsive Behavior On Participant Behavior And Emotional Response, Joanna T. Prout May 2011

Dyadic Interaction: The Effects Of Controlling And Critical Behavior Versus Warm And Responsive Behavior On Participant Behavior And Emotional Response, Joanna T. Prout

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Previous research has identified parental rejection and control as important factors in the development of childhood anxiety. However, information about the relationship between these constructs and child outcomes has been limited by ambiguous definition and difficulty in performing experimental manipulations. This study attempted to address these issues by examining self-reported anxiety and anxious behavior in 47 college undergraduates who interacted with either a warm- responsive partner or a critical-controlling partner during an origami task. Results showed that participant condition significantly impacted self report of anxiety-distress, anger-frustration, liking for partner, and desire to see partner again. Participants who interacted with a …

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The Pinnacle Of Undergraduate Education: How Do Capstone Courses Support The Development Of Purpose And Integrity?, Kristi D. Wood-Turner May 2011

The Pinnacle Of Undergraduate Education: How Do Capstone Courses Support The Development Of Purpose And Integrity?, Kristi D. Wood-Turner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As early as the eighteenth century students have been expected to complete the undergraduate education with a capstone course. Students spend on average, four years discovering, learning, analyzing, studying, and developing into well-educated graduates. As educators, we design curriculum to impact students' academic development in subject matter, provide connection through disciplines, and ideally deliver significant undergraduate experience to our understanding of student development and retention has become a foremost focus for educators. The purpose of this study was to determine whether capstone courses support the development of purpose (Chickering & Reisser, 1993, pp. 209-234) and integrity (Chickering & Reisser, 1993, …

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Toward A Definition Of High Expectations: Interpretive Case Studies Of Selected Secondary Schools In West Virginia, David S. Tupper May 2011

Toward A Definition Of High Expectations: Interpretive Case Studies Of Selected Secondary Schools In West Virginia, David S. Tupper

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to examine the curricular, instructional and administrative practices that teachers and principals used in establishing high expectations from interpretive case studies of selected West Virginia secondary schools. A qualitative research design was used to focus on the specific practices that teachers and principals used at the three sites. The three sites were chosen using purposeful sampling with a unique attribute. The unique attribute was that each school had to have met adequate yearly progress (AYP) for four consecutive years. Data collection included interviews where a semi-structured interview format was used. Included in the data …

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Bias Blindness: How Police See And Don't See Hate Crimes, R. Jake Stump May 2011

Bias Blindness: How Police See And Don't See Hate Crimes, R. Jake Stump

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines how police see and don't see hate crimes. Prior research has drawn mainly on the ambiguity of hate crime laws and definitions, as well as the struggles endured by law enforcement when investigating these cases. This thesis delves deeper into the issue by analyzing the forces that shape officers' perception of hate crimes and how they influence the way they identify, investigate and report bias-motivated incidents. This research focuses on a police force of a small municipality, of less than 75,000 people, located in a Mid-Atlantic state. An analysis of the department's police records and a focus …

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The Sustainability Of Hunger Relief: Analysis Of Emergency Food Providers In Low Access Counties Of West Virginia, Juston Chad Morrison May 2011

The Sustainability Of Hunger Relief: Analysis Of Emergency Food Providers In Low Access Counties Of West Virginia, Juston Chad Morrison

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hunger in West Virginia has long been considered a problem that stems from high poverty rates and rural low access communities. The purpose of this study is to assess the stability of emergency food providers in economically distressed counties in West Virginia. Data was collected from Clay and Webster counties, of which Clay is considered low access and Webster is severely low access or a food desert. Administrators of emergency food providers were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding basic information about their program, changes in client usage, and possible threats to the existence of their program. The questionnaires were …

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Teacher Candidate Perceptions Of Electronic Portfolios, William M. Baronak May 2011

Teacher Candidate Perceptions Of Electronic Portfolios, William M. Baronak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Today, many students in higher education are considered digital natives - savvier and more experienced with technology than students in the past. In teacher preparation programs, teacher education students are commonly expected to demonstrate achievement of program goals and objectives and national teaching standards in a "portfolio." Gaining in popularity, the electronic portfolio delivers meaningful rich data in an electronic format. Much of the research on electronic portfolios has centered in higher education and has been primarily focused on the delivery of portfolios from the perspective of faculty and on the role of the portfolio in assessment from an administrative …

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Leadership Frames Of College Presidents, Their Executive Cabinets, And Teams In Public And Not-For-Profit Master's Institutions In West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North And South Carolina, And Florida, Richard B. Pagan May 2011

Leadership Frames Of College Presidents, Their Executive Cabinets, And Teams In Public And Not-For-Profit Master's Institutions In West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North And South Carolina, And Florida, Richard B. Pagan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated leadership frames of college presidents and members of their executive cabinets (vice presidents for academic affairs, vice presidents for student affairs, and chief financial officers) to determine their predominant leadership frame(s). It also determined if the leadership frames of the presidents' group and the cabinet members' group diverged or converged. Public and not-for-profit master's degree granting institutions, large, medium, and small, in the states of West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, and Florida participated in this study. Of the 384 senior administrators that were invited to participate, 147 completed Bolman & Deal's Leadership …

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An Examination Of The Characteristic, Resilience, And Leadership Practices In Public School Elementary Principals, M. Suzanne Offutt May 2011

An Examination Of The Characteristic, Resilience, And Leadership Practices In Public School Elementary Principals, M. Suzanne Offutt

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to identify relationships among the dimensions of resilience, leadership practices, and individual demographics of elementary school principals in West Virginia. The author was looking for skills that could be identified and enhanced to improve the recruitment and retention of public school leaders. Many school systems report problems recruiting effective school leaders, and many school leaders report feeling discouraged and overwhelmed by the increasing demands to implement changes and improvements in schools. This study examined the characteristic resilience, the capacity to change and return to a state of equilibrium comparing those characteristics with various leadership …

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Functional Impairments Of College Students With Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder And Necessary Modifications For Higher Education, Sylvia A. Wright May 2011

Functional Impairments Of College Students With Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder And Necessary Modifications For Higher Education, Sylvia A. Wright

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines the impact of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) on college age students 18-25 years old. Qualitative research methods, including semi-structured interviews with students and significant others, writing samples and transcript documents, examine functional impairments of students with AD/HD as well as functional impairment impact on relationships, academics and work. This qualitative research, grounded theory, provides a model for future research studies confirming existing theory and provides a basis for new theory.;The conclusion was that functional impairments continue to exist in college age adults with impairments with issues in concentration, organization, time related issues, time management/scheduling and hyperactivity. These …

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Evaluation Of A Protocol Change To Improve Screening Of Mineral Bone Disorders In Patients With Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease, Jarena Kelly May 2011

Evaluation Of A Protocol Change To Improve Screening Of Mineral Bone Disorders In Patients With Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease, Jarena Kelly

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing worldwide problem. Patients with CKD are at great risk for multiple health problems and ultimately face end stage renal disease (ESRD). One of the problems of concern is the loss of bone mass, termed mineral bone disorders (MBD). The literature reveals that bone mass loss can begin as early as stage 3 CKD. The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Clinical Practice Guideline (2003), and The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO, 2009) recommend that persons identified in stage 3 CKD be screened for hypovitamintosis D, elevated intact parathyroid (iPTH) levels, and abnormal calcium and …

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Ap Relationship Of The Maxillary Central Incisors To The Forehead In Adult White Males, Maggie S. Adams May 2011

Ap Relationship Of The Maxillary Central Incisors To The Forehead In Adult White Males, Maggie S. Adams

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objectives. To evaluate and compare the anteroposterior relationship of the maxillary central incisors to the forehead in adult white males with harmonious profiles and in adult white male orthodontic patients. Methods. One hundred and one photographic images of adult white males with good facial harmony (control sample) were compared with 97 photographs of adult white males seeking orthodontic treatment (study sample). All images were of the face in profile with the maxillary central incisors and the forehead in full view. The images were imported into Adobe Photoshop(TM) and resized and rotated to the upright head position. Reference lines were constructed …

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Rate Of Response-Independent Events As Discriminative Stimuli, Andres Garcia Penagos May 2011

Rate Of Response-Independent Events As Discriminative Stimuli, Andres Garcia Penagos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study of stimulus rates is relevant to understanding how discrete events integrated in time come to function as a single molar unit that can be discriminated from other comparable units. Two experiments examined the roles of stimulus rates as discriminative stimuli in a conditional discrimination paradigm. Pigeons responding according to a fixed interval (FI) schedule of reinforcement were presented concurrently with pairs of stimulus rates (response-independent blackouts of the operant boxes), so that access to food was granted if the pigeons pecked a comparison key associated to each stimulus rate. One-blackout versus two-blackouts stimulus rates were used on the …

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Self-Reported Posttraumatic Stress And Borderline Personality Behaviors In Relation To Reports Of Traumatic Events, Attachment, Parental Behavior, And Social Support, Vanessa M. Jacoby May 2011

Self-Reported Posttraumatic Stress And Borderline Personality Behaviors In Relation To Reports Of Traumatic Events, Attachment, Parental Behavior, And Social Support, Vanessa M. Jacoby

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are conceptualized as different constructs in the DSM-IV, but research increasingly reveals an association among the symptoms of these disorders. Two relational models were examined: a Shared Risk Factor Model and a Continuum Model. In a sample of 603 college students, principle axis factoring of the Borderline Symptom List and PTSD Checklist showed minimal overlap in symptom presentation, partially supporting a Shared Risk Factor Model. Further support was established as regression analyses showed shared risk factors for reporting a greater number of BPD and PTSD behaviors, including experiencing at least one …

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The Sharing Of And Reactions To Positive Events In Romantic Relationships, Jennifer N. Morey May 2011

The Sharing Of And Reactions To Positive Events In Romantic Relationships, Jennifer N. Morey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated positive event sharing (i.e., capitalization) in romantic relationships as well as partners' responses to participants' positive event sharing, and examined how each relates to attachment style and relationship satisfaction. Participants (aged 18--25, with 89 men and 95 women within 92 couples) completed online daily logs of positive events that occurred over a one week period, whether or not they shared those events with their romantic partners, and their reaction and their partners' reaction to those events. They also completed measures of attachment, their partner's general reactions to their positive event sharing, and support-seeking in a lab visit. …

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Pain And Suicide In A Population-Based Sample, Sarra Nazem May 2011

Pain And Suicide In A Population-Based Sample, Sarra Nazem

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Previous research suggests that individuals who experience chronic pain are at increased risk for suicidal behaviors. No studies, however, have specifically examined the association between headaches and fatal suicide behavior. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether gender moderates the relation between pain and suicide, and whether the relation is independent of the effects of depression. The present study aimed to characterize the relation between pain (headache, back, shoulder, and neck) and suicide. Data were obtained from two sources in the Swedish Twin Registry. A total of 42,928 individuals responded to headache questions in either 1967 or 1973 for the first data …

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Work Adjustment Of Survivors Of Tbi: Subjective Reporting And Indicators Of Work Status., Laura Kay Artman Jan 2011

Work Adjustment Of Survivors Of Tbi: Subjective Reporting And Indicators Of Work Status., Laura Kay Artman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated the use of self-reported functional limitations to indicate employment status of traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors after returning to work. This study used data from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) to examine the utility of self-reported functional limitations in indicating the work status of survivors of TBI. The first research question concerned the most common functional limitation reported by survivors of TBI. The second question asked which functional limitations, if any, could correctly classify the work status of TBI survivors. Results of binary logistic regression suggested that the presence of medical symptoms and emotional dysregulation were reliably …

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Shy Toddlers' Responses To An Unfamiliar Social Setting: The Effect Of Encouragement Of Independence And High Warmth Behaviors., Jessica Stoltzfus Grady Jan 2011

Shy Toddlers' Responses To An Unfamiliar Social Setting: The Effect Of Encouragement Of Independence And High Warmth Behaviors., Jessica Stoltzfus Grady

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Toddlers who are shy may be at risk for poor peer relations, social withdrawal, and social anxiety. A large body of literature supports that parenting behaviors may mitigate this risk, however findings are seemingly mixed regarding whether high warmth parenting and encouraging parenting facilitate or hinder children's social behaviors. The present study employed an experimental design to determine the specific influence of high warmth maternal parenting and encouragement of independence maternal parenting on shy toddlers' approach and avoidance behaviors in a play session with unfamiliar peers. One hundred and nineteen mothers of toddlers between 21 and 27 months of age …

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Does Hydration Status Have An Effect On Wrestling Performance In High School Wrestlers?, Joseph M. Brausch Jan 2011

Does Hydration Status Have An Effect On Wrestling Performance In High School Wrestlers?, Joseph M. Brausch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Context. Hydration is important for all athletes not only for overall health, but for optimal performance during competition. Many studies have shown a relationship between a decrease in physiological function and performance as related to dehydration typically by measuring peak power output and aerobic capacity. But few studies have shown the relationship between hydration or dehydration and the performance of wrestlers throughout a competitive season. Objective. The purposes of this study were to determine: (1) if there is a difference between hydration levels over three time points between a high specific gravity group and a low specific gravity group; (2) …

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Perceived Barriers To Persistence Related To Coping Strategies For Undergraduate Nontraditional Learners, Justin C. Griffith Jan 2011

Perceived Barriers To Persistence Related To Coping Strategies For Undergraduate Nontraditional Learners, Justin C. Griffith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nontraditional learners experience a variety of barriers to degree completion. These barriers affect graduation rates and the time it takes to graduate. The method(s) in which the adult learner deals with each barrier will determine if they persist through their program of study or fail to graduate. This study took place at a collaborative campus involving six institutions of higher learning with both a male and female population. Investigation determined, and subsequently reported, internal and external barriers to education persistence for current nontraditional undergraduate learners enrolled in a variety of majors. The investigation then determined and reported coping strategies each …

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Rapid Assessment Of Delay-Of-Reinforcement Effects On Key Pecking Maintained By Fixed-Ratio Schedules, David P. Jarmolowicz Jan 2011

Rapid Assessment Of Delay-Of-Reinforcement Effects On Key Pecking Maintained By Fixed-Ratio Schedules, David P. Jarmolowicz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Previous research on delay of reinforcement has focused primarily on variable-interval schedules. A fair amount is known about effects of delay duration, signaled versus unsignaled delays, and interval length in the context of these schedules. Less is known about these effects on other schedules of reinforcement. For example, little is known about the effects of delay duration, signals versus unsignaled delays, or the way that delays interact with ratio requirement when behavior is maintained by fixed-ratio schedules. Furthermore, the steady-state designs (wherein stable responding is obtained at each delay duration) used to investigate delay-of-reinforcement effects are often time consuming. The …

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An Investigation Of Trait Aggression: Its Relationship With Reported Injuries And Moral Disengagement, Joseph N. Martinez Jan 2011

An Investigation Of Trait Aggression: Its Relationship With Reported Injuries And Moral Disengagement, Joseph N. Martinez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objective. To examine the potential relationship that exists between the level of aggressiveness and the number of injuries reported during the course of a season. The secondary analysis will determine whether aggressiveness is related to moral disengagement. Background. There are a number of factors that exist that may predispose an athlete to sustaining an injury during participation in sports. According to the researchers Anderson and Bushman innate personality factors may play a role in the event of an injury. One factor that has not been thoroughly examined in the literature is aggressiveness in athletes, which is essentially the personality trait …

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