Digital Commons Network^™

Wmu Career And Student Employment Services – Present Practices And Future Recommendations For Employer Relations, Amanda Jeppesen

Honors Theses

Career services offices currently find themselves in a rapidly changing environment. Due to economic hardship, students and employers are expecting more effective and fruitful engagement, and offices must create innovative solutions to provide such engagement on shrinking budgets. Career services staff charged with conducting employer relations activities are charged with brokering these relationships between employers, students, faculty and staff, and the offerings of their departments. The purpose of this study is to determine current practices for the career services offices at Western Michigan University, Oakland University, and Central Michigan University. Then, best practices identified by industry experts will be explored …

Treating Bipolar Disorder And Schizophrenia With Biomedical Protocol, Samantha M. Cardenas

Honors Theses

Bipolar Disorder and schizophrenia afflict approximately 2% of the human population, more than 12,400,000 people. When family members, co-workers, and care-givers are factored in, more than 10% of the population is directly impacted by these medical conditions. Finding a way to reduce the severity of the symptoms or cure these diseases would positively impact a large number of people. This paper defines and differentiates between these two similar-but-different maladies, and explores both the traditional courses of treatment as well as the most current research with potential to help combat these diseases – especially genetic mapping with the use of neuroimaging. …

Influences And Perspectives: Studying Abroad In Germany, Alexandra Nelson

Honors Theses

A group of Western Michigan University students who studied abroad in Germany within the past two years were surveyed to better understand what influences opinions and stereotypes of another culture. In this thesis the country and culture that was specifically observed was Germany. This thesis focuses on three factors that influence an individual’s opinions of another culture: (1) the influences from the individual’s family, friends and culture/society of his/her home country, (2) the influences from the host country’s culture/society of his/her study abroad, and (3) the influences of his/her experiences while studying abroad. In the survey, the students were asked …

Perceived External Factors Leading To The Resumption Of Occupations Following Acquired Amputation, Danielle Brown

Honors Theses

The aim of this study was to determine external factors leading to resumption of occupations after acquired amputation. In this paper, occupation is defined as the role and activity a person deems necessary for daily living. The working hypothesis is that there are external factors that enable prosthesis wearers to resume relevant occupations.

Methods: The design of this study included a qualitative (phenomenological) approach. Following HISRB approval, a convenience sample of two participants was enrolled in the study. The subjects were active clients of a prosthetic training program and met the industry criteria of an acquired amputation and regular use …

Labeling Of Retinal Ganglion Cells In A Rat Glaucoma Model, Lucia Rodriguez

Honors Theses

Glaucoma is a degenerative disease of the retina containing multifactorial structural and functional defects. There is a loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) seen in this optic disorder. Cupping of the optic disk seen in glaucoma is a result of the loss of RGC axons at the optic nerve head where the nerve fibers connect. As a result of these factors, visual field loss is common among glaucoma patients.¹ In the United States, this visual field loss associated with glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness since glaucoma is difficult to detect.² Usually, increased intraocular pressure …

Walk-Training Increases Expression Of Gdnf In Pectoralis Muscle But Not Diaphragm From Mouse, Erin Donovan

Honors Theses

Neurotrophic factors are proteins that play an important role in the development and maintenance of neurons. Recent studies have shown that neurotrophic factors may hold promise for treating damage to the nervous system caused by trauma or diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is expressed in skeletal muscles and affects peripheral motor neurons. Results of previous studies have demonstrated that exercise can increase GDNF content in skeletal muscle of rat. The goal of the current study was to examine whether expression of GDNF in skeletal muscle of mouse is also regulated …

The Consequence Of Freedom: A Sociological Analysis Of The Suicide Epidemic In Luthuania, Kyle Kaminski

Honors Theses

Lithuania has the highest global suicide rate at 40.2/100,000, according to the international suicide statistics provided by WHO (2004). Lithuania's suicide rate is over 2.5 times more than the global average. The top five countries in terms of suicide rate are Lithuania, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Hungary (Ibid). All of these countries were previously under the Soviet Union's control from the end of World War II to the end of the Cold War in 1989. Lithuania has not always been at the top of the rankings for global suicide rates. Lithuania's suicide rate spiked almost 20 percent during the years …

The Effects Of Shiatsu Massage On Stressed College Students, Hannah E. Daniel

Honors Theses

This research discusses the effect that Shiatsu massages can have on stress in college students. A Shiatsu massage class was surveyed to provide further research.

The Relevance Of Fraternity New Member Education Programs, Christopher Miller

Honors Theses

College can be a difficult time of transition for young men, and done properly a fraternity can provide a strong tool for initial and continued success. My thesis will center on a curriculum I developed for the new members of my fraternity, the Michigan Beta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp). Under the auspices of SigEp’s nationally implemented Balanced Man Program, my program is aimed to help new members of college and SigEp understand collegiate life, fraternity, and how living a life centered around the principles of SigEp can help ensure success in college and in life after college. The …

Stimulating The Brain With Creative Movement In The Classroom, Theresa Lytwyn

Honors Theses

This paper explores and discusses the use of creative movement in the normal classroom setting as a means of stimulating the brain to be active in learning and eliciting emotional responses in children. Creative methods of pedagogy are explored through research about the involvement of the Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner, right and left brain functions while learning, 21st Century skills, and movement as a mode of learning. The benefits of arts integration in the classroom are examined as they relate to pedagogy and ways to include all learners regardless of mental, physical or emotional capabilities is discussed. The research …

Backyard Archaeology: Informing The Southwest Michigan Community About Local Archaeological Sites And Research Through The “Evidence Found” Exhibit, Tabitha Hubbard

Honors Theses

This paper is a report of my involvement with and background research for an upcoming exhibit called “Evidence Found.” The project is a collaboration between the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. In this report, I provide a description of the exhibit and my involvement in preparing the exhibit. I also present the research I conducted for use in the exhibit. Joseph Hines, a designer with Project Arts & Ideas, and Dr. Michael Nassaney, a Professor of Anthropology at Western Michigan University and the principal investigator of the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project, are creating the …

Position Tracking Using Wifi, Tyler Bayne

Honors Theses

Position tracking using WiFi is needed as a more accurate method of intra-building tracking due to Global Positioning System's (GPS) lack of accuracy in buildings. The main application of this project is to provide a safety system, which may be either tracking employees within a building and allowing them to send an emergency message through a device, or to track objects throughout a building. The devices can send simple messages to a central location. These messages will include position information and which emergency has been selected. The devices consist of two buttons and two LEDs, and with a button press, …

Position Tracking Using Wifi, Nathan Conrad

Honors Theses

Position tracking using WiFi is needed as a more accurate method of intra-building tracking due to Global Positioning System’s (GPS) lack of accuracy in buildings. The main application of this project is to provide a safety system, which may be either tracking employees within a building and allowing them to send an emergency message through a device, or to track objects throughout a building. The devices can send simple messages to a central location. These messages will include position information and which emergency has been selected. The devices consist of two buttons and two LEDs, and with a button press, …

Subtalar Fusion Fixture Design And Test, Nathan Ortiz

Honors Theses

Subtalar arthrodesis is performed when cartilage in the talo-calcaneal (the ankle) joint is degraded in a patient and there are multiple approaches to this surgery. Using synthetic bone material, fixtures were cast from aluminum, using the process of evaporation pattern casting, and epoxy. This casting was used to grip the calcaneus bone of the foot in order to load it mechanically, simulating different scenarios that would be encountered during walking. The relative displacement of the ankle joint was measured using a digital image correlation (DIC) program that was modified to work in both two- and three-dimensional space. This program can …

Paper And Pixel : A Study In Multichannel Advertising, Jesse Jackson

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Undergraduate Students’ Knowledge About Applying To And Attending Graduate School In Speech-Language Pathology: The Effect Of A Panel Presentation On The Topics, Chelsea Swadling

Honors Theses

The researcher of the following study recognized that undergraduate students in the speech-language pathology and audiology program at Western Michigan University feel unprepared and anxious about applying to and attending graduate school. The following study was conducted in order to determine the effectiveness of a panel presentation in preparing undergraduate students for applying to and attending graduate school. A professional panel of five nationally certified speech-language pathologists was gathered to give a presentation to the speech-language pathology and audiology undergraduates aiming to expand the knowledge base and reduce the anxiety that undergraduates possessed about attending and applying to graduate school. …

The Laureate, Nicole Burchette

Honors Theses

The Laureate’s mission is to provide undergraduate students at Western Michigan University a place in which to publish their works of fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and other creative works. The Laureate strives to be a professional and engaging journal that appeals to all. The opportunity to serve as Editor-in-Chief for the thirteenth edition of the The Laureate has been an honor and a privilege. Along the way I have worked with a variety of team members to select and build the collection. Working close with my fellow editors, this edition of The Laureate came together as the result of much hard …

Gradual Guidance And Independent Activity Schedules For Children With Autism, Amanda Driscoll

Honors Theses

The goal of this intervention was to increase on-task and on-schedule behavior in a child with autism through the use of gradual guidance and an independent activity schedule. The participant was a three year-old boy who exhibited noncompliant problem behavior. He was at mastery level for the tasks that were included in the independent activity schedule and had no prior learning experience with an independent activity schedule. Gradual guidance was used to decrease the time it took for him to learn the complex behavior that is involved with an independent activity schedule and to keep the participant on-task and on-schedule …

The Effects Of Cooling On Collegiate Basketball Player’S Core Temperature, Heart Rate, Rating Of Perceived Recovery And Rating Of Perceived Exertion, Taylor Phelps

Honors Theses

Cryotherapy is commonly used in sport and performance applications however primarily as a means for improved recovery. Intermittent cooling during competition may contribute to improved performance by modifying perceptual or physiological stress. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of intermittent cooling (IC) versus no cooling (NC) through the course of a collegiate basketball game in a thermoneutral environment. METHODS: Eight healthy, (age, 22 ± 1 year, height, 186.7 ± 7.1 cm, weight 93.4 ± 10.1 kg) competitively-trained collegiate basketball players participated in a randomized and counterbalanced repeated measures protocol. Participants performed in 3 simulated games. …

Taboo Topics: Depression, Anxiety, Sexual Assault, And Ptsd; The Influence Of Stigma On Help Seeking, Kaitlyn Cichocki-Goss

Honors Theses

This review analyzes investigations into the stigma associated with depression, anxiety, sexual assault, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how stigma affects patients seeking treatment. The three disorders and the experience of sexual assault are examined for; prevalence, past and present stigma, and the history of the diagnosis. Each of the three disorders and sexual assault carry social stigma. Stigma can be described as a negative belief towards one group of people and in this case, stigma likely prevents people from seeking help. Researchers have found that one way to reduce stigma and the barrier that it has on help …

From Foster Care To Becoming A Family Member, Zachary Henderson

Honors Theses

This exploration examines different aspects of the transition from a foster care placement into an adoptive home. This project was completed using the qualitative research approach will allowed for semi-structured interviews w ith single individuals. Both participants experienced foster care during their youth. The interviewees were drawn from a convenience sample. The interviews were then then transcribed. The transcripts where then examined to search for common themes which may improve the transition for child going from foster care to adoption. Although the sample is small, the insight is great. It seems that the professionals were competent but not humble regarding …

The Effects Of Pet Therapy On Undergraduate Nursing Students' Perceived Stress And Exam Performance, Kathleen Bajorek

Honors Theses

Pet therapy has been found to decrease anxiety and stress levels. Pets are becoming an increasingly more significant part of peoples’ lives and families in the American culture. Nurses need to be aware of the benefits that can come from holistic interventions such as pet therapy in various practice settings. An exploratory experimental research study was conducted to explore the effects of pet therapy on undergraduate nursing students’ (n=7) perceived stress and exam performance. Nursing student exposed to pet therapy reported lower levels of perceived stress compared to nursing student who did not experience pet therapy. Exposure to pet therapy …

Core Aspects Of Curriculum Development: A Literature Review And Development Of Program Handbook For Health Informatics And Information Management, Nicole Yon

Honors Theses

TIle purpose of this review was to determine the basic principles of curriculum design and to understand how they are used to develop a competent curriculum handbook. The findings were used to develop a handbook for the Health Informatics and Information Management major at Western Michigan University. This literature review focuses on a variety of web pages, articles and books that analyzed the topics of curriculum design and curriculum handbook development. A review of the Bronson School of Nursing Handbook and the Temple University - Health Information Management Department B.S. in Health Information Management (HiM) Student Handbook was also conducted. …

Investigating Adolescent Bullying Programs: Bridging The Gap Between Theory And Practice, Amanda Waligora

Honors Theses

Recently, substantial research has been conducted towards the widespread concern of adolescent bullying. Definitions and qualifications of bullying incidents have changed as studies and factors relating to bullying have evolved. Extensive amounts of resources can be found and made available for schools, parents, and adolescents in relation to bullying, but the question stands if these theories and resources are being used in the schools, and if so, how. This study focuses to examine current bullying program implementations within school districts of the Southwest Michigan area. Qualitative analyses on interpretive interviews were conducted to determine what school districts are actually doing …

A Qualtitative Comparison Examining How The Educational Needs Of Students With Disabilities Are Met In West Africa Vs. The United States, Katherine Sniegowski

Honors Theses

The focus of this qualitative study was to examine the differences in services for students with disabilities In United States vs Dakar, Senegal.The strengths, weaknesses, and presenting needs of each system were addressed . The research questions addressed were: How is a disability defined?, (2) What support services are available for children with disabilities?, (3) What is the level of family support for children with disabilities?, Ind (4) How are teachers prepared 10 work with children with disabilities? The qualitative methodology used to examine the research questions include: personal interviews with school personnel in a self-contained school for children with …

Neuroplasticity And Mindfulness Meditation, Richard Widdett

Honors Theses

My thesis topic of choice was how mindfulness meditation is linked to neuroplasticity in the brain. The brain is an incredibly complex and powerful organ. Each area of the brain serves a specific purpose and is interconnected. Neuroplasticity is the term used to describe the molding and shaping of the brain based on our experiences from the moment we are born. Mindfulness is defined as the “ability to pay total attention to the present moment with a nonjudgmental awareness of the inner and/or outer experiences.” Many studies have been conducted researching the brain and meditation. The findings from these studies …

Synthetic Cannabinoids: Law Vs. Science, Melissa R. Sterling

Honors Theses

Synthetic cannabinoids are designer drugs which have been made to mimic the effects experiences by tetra-hydro-cannabinol (THC). These substances are sprayed on herbal blends and ingested through smoking. There are many different structures of synthetic cannabinoids because the Controlled Substance Act has outlawed certain structures. A chemist can alter an already known structure by changing a minor detail creating a new legal drug. The problem with these drugs is that they cause many adverse effects and are bad for public health. In order to decrease the use of these synthetic substances the legalization of marijuana is being considered. The issue …

Turn And Face The Strange: Science-Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror In The Work Of David Bowie, Victoria L. Dershem

Honors Theses

David Bowie, one of the most recognizable names in the history of modern music, is primarily famous due to his constantly reinvented public image and often flamboyant alter-egos. However, throughout all his distinct stylistic eras, the presence of science-fiction, fantasy, and horror themes has remained a constant characteristic of his work. It is found on stage and in the studio as a singer and musician, as well as on-screen in his theatrical and television career. This thesis explores how his personal fascination with these genres has influenced his career, through the inclusion of specific references to works of fiction in …

Centering The Right: Mapping The Queer Discourse Of The Family Research Council And Focus On The Family, Stephen C. Brown

Honors Theses

Religious Right organizations like Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council have been known for their vitriolic discourse when it comes to the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) community. The ways in which they have discussed queer rights have characterized the LGB community as especially sinful and a threat to American society. Specifically targeting Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council, this paper looks at rhetorical strategies they have used when discussing gay rights. The paper identifies a significant shift in their discursive practices such that recently the LGB community is portrayed in a more sympathetic …

Identifying The Dna Sequence Requirements For A Synergistic Interaction Between Two Cis-Regulatory Elements, Kaitlyn R. Francis

Honors Theses

My thesis research studies the genetic material that is the blue print to make animal life. In animals, a key type of genetic material is sequences collectively referred to as cis-regulatory elements (CREs). These sequences control the expression of genes; more specifically they instruct when to turn “ON” or “OFF” the production of a gene’s functional product. My research investigates the interaction between the two CREs, the Anterior Element and the Dimorphic Element of the fruit fly species Drosophila melanogaster. These two CREs act synergistically to produce a pattern of expression for the bab1 and bab2 genes that differs …