Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Prompted Tutoring On An Emporium Model Math Course, Juliette Michelle Young

Honors Theses

My research goal is to investigate how specific prompting of students would affect their involvement and progress in an emporium developmental math course. With the aim of increasing the students’ involvement and progress I tested a method that was in tended to increase students’ perceived connectedness with the classroom and promote the use of the available tutors and teachers. I monitored consenting students’ progress in the Spring 2015 courses and sent emails to students who met any one of three different criterion: (1) If the students time investment was below a threshold. (2) If the student’s mastery pace was less …

Black And White Advertising In Fashion Magazines, Lauren E. Necaise

Honors Theses

This thesis consists of a quantitative analysis with respect to black and white advertising in select women’s fashion magazines. There were five research questions outlined.

A code sheet was created to obtain data with regard to factors including: number of black and white and total advertisements, product/service category, setting, advertisement size, percent of black and white of the ad, position, product/user, black and white visual and verbal (words/ information), emotional/intellectual appeal. This allowed the research questions to be answered. A qualitative analysis was also performed on repeat advertisements for products that used both color and black and white advertising with …

Young And Unemployed: A Multivariable Analysis Of Youth Unemployment In Jordan, Morgan E. Mabry

Honors Theses

The level of youth unemployment in the Middle East is higher than any other region in the world. The detrimental effects of early unemployment can be broad and long lasting. This paper discusses some of the factors of youth unemployment in the Middle East, such as poor education systems and underdeveloped labor markets; and the social effects such as delayed marriages and political unrest. It then goes on to analyze the School-to-Work Transition Survey (SWTS) to understand the impact of age, sex, individual education, and parental education on the transition from school to work. The results indicated that sex and …

An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Study Styles And Demographics Across Multiple Accounting Class Levels, Savannah B. Hooper

Honors Theses

Approaches to learning are elemental to a student’s learning outcomes. Prior research indicates that accounting students with a deep learning approach have a more successful student learning outcome than do accounting students with a surface learning approach. Accounting accreditation and regulatory agencies have recommended that coursework be directed towards more critical thinking and real-life preparation of students. These characteristics are indicative of the deep learning approach. After ascertaining the learning approach adopted by introductory, intermediate, and advance accounting students at a public university with a main and satellite campus, this paper reports on demographic characteristics that may impact a student’s …

The Effects Of Mindfulness Meditation And Mind-Wandering On Coping-Related Hopefulness In Undergraduate College Students, Shelby N. Green

Honors Theses

High levels of stress in college students are extremely prevalent. This is evident in time-consuming academic responsibilities overlapping with family life, work duties, and personal life. Stress can have negative impacts on academic performance and physical health in college students , and it has been correlated with various negative outcomes including anxiety and depression (Segrin,1999), increases in headaches (Labbe, Murphy & O’Brien, 1997), increased rates of athletic injury (Brewer & Petrie, 1996), suicidal ideation and hopelessness (Dixon, Rumford, Heppner, & Lipps, 1992), sleep disturbances (Verlander, Benedict, & Hanson, 1999), poor health behaviors (Sadava & Pak, 1993; Naquin & Gilbert, 1996), …

Mud Volleyball Tournament Fundraiser Event Supporting The Water Project, Autumn Gammon

Honors Theses

The WMU Mud Volleyball Tournament took place on September 26, 2015 as Autumn Gammon and Morgan DeBoer’s honors thesis project for the Lee Honors College. The tournament was a fundraising event that helped bring awareness to The Water Project, a non-­‐profit organization that is dedicated to bringing clean water systems to communities throughout Sub-­‐Sahara Africa. Held at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center and Fairgrounds, the event brought together Western Michigan University students and surrounding community members for a fun-­‐filled day in the mud supporting a deserving cause.

The event took a great deal of organizing, with planning starting in the …

Mud Volleyball Tournament Fundraiser Event Supporting The Water Project, Morgan Deboer

Honors Theses

The WMU Mud Volleyball Tournament took place on September 26, 2015 as Autumn Gammon and Morgan DeBoer’s honors thesis project for the Lee Honors College. The tournament was a fundraising event that helped bring awareness to The Water Project, a non-­‐profit organization that is dedicated to bringing clean water systems to communities throughout Sub-­‐Sahara Africa. Held at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center and Fairgrounds, the event brought together Western Michigan University students and surrounding community members for a fun-­‐filled day in the mud supporting a deserving cause.

The event took a great deal of organizing, with planning starting in the …

Domestic Violence: I Am Not A Victim I Am Accountable, Modupe M. Ogunyemi

Honors Theses

Domestic violence has a standard script of men harming women. With the guidance of The Women's Center's domestic violence training packet and Tracy Lett's play, August Osage County, this thesis will prove how art can reflect life and educate individuals on domestic abuse. August Osage County disrupts the standard description of the abuser and victim, provides examples of the six different types of abuse, and calls for individuals to take control of their domestic violent situation. In conclusion this thesis is requesting acountability from the perpetrators and the victims in domestic violent situations as a solution to reducing the …

Relation Between Parental Divorce And Adjustment In College Students, Breanna Connel

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Reconnecting With Our Roots: Farm-Life And Therapy, Spencer T. Hammond

Honors Theses

The movement of society away from farming and agrarian practices has caused much of our society to become disconnected from such basic practices that sustain our lives. Many within the United States have been found to be agriculturally illiterate. This study was aimed at reviewing literature that discusses this disconnection, the effects of natural settings on human health and wellbeing, selected agriculture based therapies, and current programs that combine multiple aspects of agriculture into one program. The second part of this study was a survey that assessed the level of interests and support that residents of Shelbyville, Kentucky may have …

Perspectives On The Evolution Of Hip-Hop Music Through Themes Of Race, Crime, And Violence, Kelsey B. Basham

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the role or race, crime, and violence as major themes in hip-hop music through existing academic literature. Utilizing the three major themes, this paper discusses the inherent ties of race, crime, and violence to the production of hip-hop music which can reflect broader social issues existing in American society over the time period from 1970-present day. Furthermore, these themes will be assessed for their activist oriented ability to suggest change in society for the primary groups affected by the issues contained in hip-hop lyrics. Over time, hip-hop, much like any artistic form, has undergone an evolution, producing …

Characterization Of Aquatic Sediment Bacteria Resistant To Triclosan And Antibiotics Above And Below The Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant, Laura Mims

Honors Theses

Wastewater treatment plants appear to play a role in releasing antimicrobial compounds and resistant genes into the environment. The phenomenon of bacterial resistance to multiple antimicrobial compounds is not well understood with regards to public health. Studies have examined cross-resistance to triclosan and various antibiotics in bacteria. These resistance mechanisms: target site modification, membrane resistance, and efflux pumps indicate possible ways in which bacteria have adapted to antibiotics as well as triclosan. In addition, antibiotic resistance genes occur naturally in the environment and are passed from species to species through horizontal gene transfer. Sediment samples were collected from above and …

The Evolution Of Madness: The Portrayal Of Insanity In Opera, Courtney Miller

Honors Theses

Insanity has always been a fascinating topic in the arts, including opera. Many scholars have analyzed individual operas and their representation of insanity, but limited work has been done on the overall use of insanity in opera. Comparing representations from different periods, one can detect an apparent shift in how opera has portrayed madness. The reason for the change is not immediately obvious, leading to the main question of this study, which considers what might have caused an evolution in operatic portrayals of madness. In an attempt to find an explanation, this project evaluates both the general perception of insanity …

Perceptions Of Mental Health Among First Year College Students, Kelly N. Mcgowan

Honors Theses

College students are at risk for exposure to, exacerbation, and development of mental health issues. Exposure to and existence of historical stigmas and misconceptions is a portion of the hesitancy for this population to acknowledge symptoms and seek help. This hesitancy is often put in place by the media, in how they portray mental health Anxiety, mood, eating, psychotic, and substance abuse disorders are prevalent in this population. Colonel Campers are known for their involvement and retention at Eastern Kentucky University and are a representation for this at risk population. The participants were surveyed via a mixed quantitative and qualitative …

Raised Afraid: The Media's Influence In Heightened Fear Of Terrorism, Paige Fetters

Honors Theses

Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, terrorism has become a household topic and a leading headline for the news media. Following the 9/11 attacks, coverage of the event was played around the clock for the first five days. 99 – 100% of Americans followed terrorism-related events by watching television listening to the radio, or reading print news. Exposure to terrorism-related media have increased substantially since the widespread use of smartphones and social media, where news and topics can be shared and discussed around the world in a matter of seconds. The psychological effects of this exposure could affect …

Capital Punishment At Home And Abroad: A Comparative Study On The Evolution Of The Use Of The Death Penalty In The United States And The United Kingdom, Rachel Gaines

Honors Theses

Capital punishment (sometimes referred to as the death penalty) is the carrying out of a legal sentence of death as punishment for crime. The United States Supreme Court has most recently ruled that capital punishment is not unconstitutional. As a result, states are free to abstain from using capital punishment or to use it, and it is accepted for federal crimes. In 1965, the United Kingdom eliminated the use of capital punishment for murder on a temporary basis, abolishing it permanently in 1969, and adopting two European protocols that eliminated its use perpetually for all crimes in 1998. This research …

The Art Of French Melodie: A Manual For Recital Preparation, Kristen Abraham

Honors Theses

This is a documentation of my journey through the research, development and execution of a voice recital, with a focus on the creation of guidelines for how one may achieve success in a future recital. Moving through three phases: Thinking, Doing, and Reflecting, I highlight the important processes required to transition seamlessly through the phases. During the entirety of this project, I kept a journal of each step, documenting everything to maintain the integrity of the process, and organizing the information into sections to make the findings easier to understand, learn, and replicate. My end goal is to produce a …

Socially Deviant Communities Online: How The Pro-Anorexia Movement Utilizes The Anonymity Provided By The Internet To Thrive, Samantha Thomas

Honors Theses

The creation of the internet has produced an environment in which many communities have been able to develop into strong and thriving societies. A large number of communities that are now predominantly online were unable to exist successfully before the establishment of the internet for a variety of reasons. The internet has made it easier for people from different backgrounds and locations to network, form communities, and share information with one another. Unfortunately the internet has also given harmful underground communities the opportunity to develop and thrive as well. Socially deviant communities, groups that support ideas and behaviors deemed unacceptable …

Osteopathic And Chiropractic: An Examination Of The Patient-Physician Relationship In Their Respective Practices, Cody L. Ward

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Shared Prosperity Initiative As A Solution To The City Of Kalamazoo's Impoverished, Maurice Washington

Honors Theses

The Shared Prosperity Kalamazoo Initiative acts a combatant to reducing poverty for the City of Kalamazoo rather than a solution. Combining micro social work training of treatment plans for clients and its incorporated methodologies to the macro problem of poverty for the City’s constituents emphasizes a unique but valuable perspective to have as a potential policy maker. The question is whether such a perspective is truly applicable and such was the goal of the nearly year-long research. Data obtained from interviews, meetings, focus groups and interviews were reviewed from a prior initiative to formulate much of the research and analysis. …

Why Were We There?: Using Oral History To Understand Soldiers’ Perceptions Of Why The United States Was In Vietnam, Bailie Avrit

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Agricultural Teachers’ Concerns: A Regional Perspective., Cristian A. Calixto

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Layers Of Memory At Sachsenhausen: From The Gdr To Contemporary Germany, Barry J. Bookheimer Jr.

Honors Theses

Sachsenhausen is the site of a traumatic and complex history in the twentieth century. Since 1933, Sachsenhausen has taken on many diverse forms: a Nazi concentration camp, a Soviet Special Camp, an East German National Memorial, and after German reunification, a memory site in contemporary Germany. This work examines the contrast between the centralized, nationalist narrative of the GDR, and the current “decentralized” concept at the site in post-communist Germany. Unlike many other memory sites where previous narratives are minimized, obscured, or even destroyed; Sachsenhausen exhibits relics from all eras of its history, conceptualized in this thesis as “layers of …

An Empirical Test For Overrepresentation Of Black Youth Arrests In Mississippi, Ashley R. Mcknight

Honors Theses

The objective of this study is to empirically test for black youth overrepresentation at the initial contact (arrest) stage of the juvenile justice system. In 2002, an amendment was made to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 which called for states to monitor disproportionate minority contact at all levels of the juvenile justice system. Arrest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics has been gathered to determine the rate and percentage at which black youth are arrested compared to white youth. More so, youth population statistics are acquired from the U.S. Census and are converted to percentages. …

The Representation Of The Individualism-Collectivism Cultural Value Dimension In Film Portrayals Of Intercultural Communication, Courtney J. Mcmullan

Honors Theses

Globalization and modernization have changed the world in which we live, bringing intercultural communication to the forefront in our daily lives. Cultural values vary around the world, and these values impact the way people communicate with one another. This study focused on the cultural value of individualism-collectivism and how it impacts intercultural, interpersonal communication and the way it is presented in film. The aim of this study was to conduct quantitative analyses of data gathered from intercultural films to identify the way in which nations' individualism-collectivism tendencies are displayed in film in comparison to a cultural value dimension scale and …

Performativity And Jazz In The Fiction Of James Baldwin And Ralph Ellison, Drako P. Wells

Honors Theses

Since slavery in the seventeenth century, African Americans have been politically and economically oppressed in the United States. Even in recent times, it seems as if simply being black is enough to have a person criticized by society, convicted of crimes, or even killed. However, the frustration that oppression causes has, in many ways, catalyzed the evolution of African American culture and the African American identity. In this study, I examine how two postwar African American authors, Ralph Ellison and James Baldwin, portray the African American struggle with racial injustice and the means of overcoming its negative effects. In this …

Presentation Of Bicultural Identity In Hispanic Children’S Literature, Elena B. Lofton

Honors Theses

Children of all backgrounds can use literature as a means to understand the world in which they live. Therefore, it is important that children’s books represent diverse cultures and experiences. This study analyzed Hispanic children’s literature published in the U.S. that contained child characters with bicultural Hispanic-American identities. The aim of this study was to determine how the linguistic and literary elements in five books, which contained bilingual Spanish-English interwoven text, combined to present a bicultural identity and lifestyle in the United States today. The literary elements analyzed included themes, character portrayal, the roles of family and the elderly, and …

Silenced Voices: Sexual Violence During And After World War Ii, Cassidy L. Chiasson

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the different types of sexual violence present during and immediately after World War II and focuses specifically on the European Theater of the war. Memoirs, journals and diaries were used as primary sources. This research focuses on the overlapping themes of sexual violence in the form of forcible rape and sexual violence as a means of protection and survival. The goal of this research is to provide a comprehensive view of the complexity surrounding many situations in which sexual violence occurred. It also aims to partially fill the gap in historical literature on this topic, and bring …

Title Not Available, Tyler King

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Arigell, Shaylin Carlton

Honors Theses

In this fictional novella, a world is torn in half by a centuries-long war between the Dregmar and the Caimthu. However, the tear in the worlds wasn't as perfect as it seemed, and now a city is poking up through the ragged seams of both worlds. A city filled with neither caimthu nor dregmar, but something else entirely, something not of their world. And that's not the only thing that snuck through the cracks.

Arigell, a soldier in the caimthu army, confronts the edges of both worlds and her own past.

Bekah, a human in another world, comes face-to-face with …