Digital Commons Network^™

What Parents Want From Parent-Teacher Conferences, Meghan A. Saxine

Masters Theses

Although parent-teacher conferences are common in most schools, there have been very few research studies investigating them. The purpose of this study was to identify what parents want from parent-teacher conferences. The specific goal of the present study was to identify, through the use of a questionnaire, the components of conferences that are most valued by parents. One hundred and seventy seven parents completed a questionnaire and provided feedback about aspects most valued during conferences. More than half of parents indicated that their child was present during the conference and all of the conferences followed a teacher-led format. Although parents, …

School Psychologist Training And Diagnosis Of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Katharine M. Zwolinski

Masters Theses

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder that is characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. ADHD is commonly diagnosed in childhood and one of the most frequent referral concerns brought to the attention of school psychologists, yet it is often misdiagnosed (Cotuono, 1993; Des granges, Des granges, & Karsky, 1995). The goal of this study is to explore ADHD training among specialist level school psychologists, assessment procedures they were exposed to during training, the information they rely on when determining if a child meets ADHD diagnostic criteria, and the accuracy of the diagnosis. It was hypothesized that the …

Prayers Of Obligation And Well-Being: A Study Of The Effects Of Orthodox Jewish Prayer, Charles T. Coleman

Masters Theses

In a study to explore the effect of concentration during Orthodox Jewish obligatory prayer on well-being, ten Orthodox Jewish prayers were rated by experts (Rabbis) for the inclusion of the five identified prayer types of adoration, thanksgiving, confession, supplication, and reception. The ratings were used to establish a prayer type score for each of the ten prayers studied. Other Orthodox Jewish males (non-Rabbis) were then surveyed about their individual level of concentration during the same ten prayers and about health and psychological well-being. Although the multiple regression analyses showed no link between degree of concentration and well-being, it was determined …

The Concurrent And Longitudinal Effects Of Maternal Approval And Sexual Communication On Adolescent Sexual Activity And Std Acquisition, Amy Blackmer

Masters Theses

Adolescent sexual activity can involve risky behaviors, such as failure to use a condom and having multiple sexual partners, which leads to increased risk of sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnosis. Prior research has shown that maternal factors, including maternal report of sexual communication and adolescent perceived approval of sexual activity, are associated with the level of sexual activity engaged in by adolescents. The present study utilized data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health project (Add Health) to examine the relationship between maternal reports of sexual communication, adolescent perception of maternal approval, and adolescent gender on concurrent and later …

Transition In Conceptualizing The Transgender Experience: A Measure Of Counselor Attitudes, Rachel N. Rehbein

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine counseling practitioner attitudes regarding the diagnosis, conceptualization and treatment of trans gender clients, and to observe possible factors affecting counselor views of trans gender individuals and their presenting issues. The Counselor Attitude Survey (CAS) was designed to measure coonselor attitudes toward trans gender individuals. This measure was distributed to 1000 members of the American Counseling Association throughout the United States and United States territories, resulting in 66 total respondents. Support was found regarding the association between counselor attitudes toward the transgender population and religious and political affiliations. Much of the literature states …

Overt And Relational Aggression In A Camp Setting: Links To Cognition, Emotion, And Behavior, Chelsea M. Fuelling

Masters Theses

Research examining relational and overt forms of aggression and socialpsychological adjustment in childhood has greatly increased over the last decade. Studies have shown that children view both relationally manipulative behaviors and physically harmful behaviors as "aggressive". Children's beliefs about the legitimacy of aggression (i.e., cognitions) and emotions are related to overt aggression. However, few studies in this area have examined both types of aggression ( overt and relational). This study examined the relationship between childhood aggression and children's cognitions, emotions, and behaviors, in a day camp setting. Results demonstrated that all three domains were related to overt and relational aggression. …

Sleeping The Way To Success: Examining The Relationship Between Sleep And Academic Success Among College Students, Jennifer M. Hedges

Masters Theses

The negative effects of poor sleep habits have been widely studied, although there is little research focusing on the academic impact that poor sleep has among the college student population, where poor sleep seems to be prevalent. Research studies have consistently documented that sleep difficulties and daytime tiredness affect more than half of college students. Daytime naps, pulling "all-nighter" cram sessions, and late bedtimes and rise times are just a few of the common scenarios that deeply disturb the sleep quality and quantity of college students. The American Sleep Association (2007) has shown that sleep is necessary for survival in …

Project In Grant Proposal Writing, Betsy Wells

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the process of grant proposal writing from beginning to end. It includes research and theory on preparing a feasibility report, searching for funding opportunities, using narrative in proposal writing, and repurposing text in the medical field and grant proposal writing. Documents included in this thesis are a feasibility report and two grant proposals written as a project for a small community hospital.

Assessing Happiness In College Students, Ross A. Mcclure

Masters Theses

The present research was constructed with the aim to assess happiness within college students. The research hypotheses were 1.) Students of "belief' faith will experience higher levels of classic happiness than will students not of faith or of "activity" faith, 2.) Students of "belief' faith will experience higher levels of life satisfaction and purpose in life than will students not of faith or of "activity" faith. 3.) Students not of faith will experience the highest levels of contemporary happiness, and 4.) Students not of faith will have the least overall satisfaction with life and have the weakest grasp of a …

Experiences Of Lesbian Women In Social Sororities At Mid-Sized Public Institutions: A Qualitative Study, Kate S. Solberg

Masters Theses

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of lesbian identified women in social sororities at medium sized public universities in the Midwest. Experiences and perceptions of three women were investigated in a phenomenological study to discover the influence of their sexual orientation on their lives as sorority women. Their responses indicated that while their experiences of being out lesbian women in their chapters had been largely positive, there is still a culture of heteronormativity fighting against full acceptance of diverse sexual orientations in the fraternity and sorority community.

"Through The Keyhole Of His Eye": The Restoration Of Jack Kerouac's Duluoz Legend, Gina Marie Lobianco

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Winning The Un-Winnable In Afghanistan? Counterinsurgency And Ethnic Strife, Joseph P. Bell

Masters Theses

After pursuing military actions in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States adopted a counterinsurgency policy to properly address these conflicts. After implementing this new strategy, it appears that the United States has been able to succeed against the insurgency, while losing more and more ground in Afghanistan. Upon examination, it was determined that the ethnic fractionalization in Afghanistan presented a unique challenge to the counterinsurgency effort that had not been present in Iraq.

The effects of this ethnic fractionalization were then analyzed on local counterinsurgency tactics and the overall nation building strategy in Afghanistan. Local counterinsurgency tactics had largely …

The Relationship Between Cyberbullying And Depression In Adolescents, Meredith Mcdermott

Masters Theses

The current study examined the relationship between cyberbullying and depression in high school students, and the relationship between help seeking, parental involvement, and depression. One hundred twenty seven high school students, 43% male and 57% female, between I 4 to 18 years of age, completed a self-report survey. Results indicated that the more experiences students had with cyberbullying, the more likely they were to report symptoms of depression. At an alpha level of .01, results showed that there was a significant positive relationship between bullying and depression, r(125) = .42,p

Sickness And Health, Anthony Smith

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of The 2011-2012 Caate Site Visitors For Athletic Training Educational Programs In Illinois, Tiffany Louise Green

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze faculty, staff, and students' perception of the site visitors who were involved with the 2011-2012 Athletic Training Educational Program (ATEP) Site Visits in Illinois. The perceptions from multiple universities were compared to determine whether there was perceived site visitor subjectivity during each institution's site visit. The problem that arises is that verification of standards is a very subjective task. Most site visitors think that the program they are affiliated with is the best (Price, 2011 ); therefore, it is difficult to accurately state that personal bias is left at the …

Orthorexia Nervosa: Healthy Eating Or Eating Disorder?, Sonia Mahesh Shah

Masters Theses

A new concept called orthorexia nervosa has recently become more prevalent in scientific journal articles. Orthorexia nervosa has been defined as a fixation on eating only healthy foods, spending hours ruminating on meals, and an obsession with proper nutrition (Bratman, 1997). Several studies have attempted to investigate this concept, establish prevalence rates, and determine whether orthorexia is a disorder. Some studies have found an association between eating disorders, anxiety, and orthorexia as well as posited risk factors such as higher body-mass index, level of education, and sex. The present study examined an individual's scores on measures of orthorexia, anxiety, eating …

Challenges Of Forming A Registered Student Organization For Students With Asperger's Syndrome Or High Functioning Autism, Jennifer L. Smith

Masters Theses

Autism is a complex disorder, affecting a person's ability to socialize, process information, and communicate effectively. Often, persons with autism struggle with sensory system deficits that compound their isolation. As college campuses welcome an increasing number of students with Asperger's Syndrome (AS) or High Functioning Autism (HF A), student affairs professionals must learn to adapt their skills to challenge and support this population. Student affairs professionals instinctively encourage students to form student organizations (RSO) and to be involved on their campuses to ensure enriching learning experiences. It is important for student affairs professionals to be aware of the effects of …

Comparative Study Of Consumer Attitudes Toward Internet And Tv Advertising, Aneela Sheikh

Masters Theses

Evolution of the Internet has offered a new communication platform to exchange an unlimited amount of data around the world without geographical boundaries. Nicovich, Boller, and Cornwell (2005) indicated that since Internet advertisements are accessible by anyone who has an Internet connection, consumers could get different types of information about products and services by means of a simple click, it could be an important medium for attracting and retaining consumers through advertising.

The research undertaken in this study aims to explore which type of advertising media (TV or Internet) is perceived by consumers as more helpful and influential in making …

Effects Of Positive Bedtime Routines On Sleep In Toddlers, Mallory Osterloo

Masters Theses

Establishment of a consistent bedtime routine is often recommended to parents of toddlers. Few studies have investigated the efficacy of implementing a bedtime routine, without additional behavioral intervention. Sixty-one parents and their toddler (ages 18- 48 months, n = 61) were given written information regarding a positive bedtime routine to examine the effects on bedtime-resistance and improving parent mood. This study found that institution of a consistent nightly bedtime routine with non sleep-disordered toddlers may improve some aspects of bedtime resistance (i.e., calling out), increase sleep duration during the night, and improve parent's negative mood. However, there was no change …

Modeling Supply Chain Network Resiliency In The Aftermath Of An Extreme Event, Varun Ramachandran

Masters Theses

"Failure of infrastructure elements due to an extreme event adversely affects the supply chain networks in any urban environment. This study models the resiliency of a supply chain network by integrating geospatial data with critical supply chain elements and graph theory. This model can then be combined with an extreme event simulation to calculate resiliency. Resiliency refers to the time required for services and select economic indicators to approach pre-event levels (in this study, a return to 80% of the pre-event capacity). This research proposes an interdisciplinary approach to develop a comprehensive framework for resiliency modeling. This approach includes the …

Wavelet Based Contrast Limited Histogram Equalization For Contrast Enhancement Of Digital Mammography, Ashish Vighnahar Avachat

Masters Theses

"Mammography has been the most efficient tool for screening of microcalcification and cancer tissues; however, the raw images produced by mammography systems are usually of poor contrast. In order to use these raw images for early diagnosis; their contrast, sharpness and noise need to be enhanced. Among these important enhancement parameters contrast enhancement is critical. A novel algorithm is introduced which blends wavelet transforms with Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) for contrast enhancement. In this algorithm, the input image is decomposed to its low frequency and high frequency components in wavelet domain. Decomposed coefficients from different bands are then …

Impact Of Interruptions In White Collar Working Environment, Zafar Akhil Khan

Masters Theses

"An interruption is a randomly occurring, discrete event that breaks continuity of cognitive focuses on a primary task and typically requires immediate attention and insists on action. "White collar interruptions" are those that affect knowledge workers in professional, managerial, or administrative positions. Interruptions are often a common occurrence in the white collar workplace.

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the effect of timing of an interruption on the overall performance of white collar workers. This study also analyzes the interruption sources (i.e. externally and internally generated) along with effect of different types of interruptions on both demanding and …

Semantic Preserving Text Tepresentation And Its Applications In Text Clustering, Michael Howard

Masters Theses

Text mining using the vector space representation has proven to be an valuable tool for classification, prediction, information retrieval and extraction. The nature of text data presents several issues to these tasks, including large dimension and the existence of special polysemous and synonymous words. A variety of techniques have been devised to overcome these shortcomings, including feature selection and word sense disambiguation. Privacy preserving data mining is also an area of emerging interest. Existing techniques for privacy preserving data mining require the use of secure computation protocols, which often incur a greatly increased computational cost. In this paper, a generalization-based …

Logistics Modeling And Project Management Practices For Contingency Basing, Amanda Jo Gealy

Masters Theses

"Contingency basing is a critical factor in mission success but requires significant logistical and commander support. Designing and constructing a camp that is safe, secure, and self-sustaining can be a difficult task for a Contingency Basing engineering manager. The infrastructure for basic needs such as electricity, fuel, water, food, and waste management is critical and needs to be flexible.

This research focuses on assisting the Contingency Basing engineering manager in designing and constructing a feasible base camp using project management and modeling tools. Measuring scalability and resiliency with in the contingency base was studied as well. The methodology concentrates on …

Disharmony And Matchless: Interpersonal Deception Theory In Online Dating, Lyndsey Wagner

Masters Theses

In recent years, computer-media dated communication has not only become extremely popular but has also begun to hold an important function in daily social interactions. This qualitative study investigates the communication phenomena of deception as it occurs in the online dating environment. The research study focused on four questions: (1) About what characteristics are online daters deceptive? (2) What motivation do online daters have for their deception of others in the online dating environment? (3) What perceptions do online daters have about other daters' deceit towards them in the online dating environment? (4) How does deception affect the romantic relationships …

Pediatric Nurses' Death Anxiety And Level Of Comfort In Approaching Families Of Dying Children, Elizabeth J. Cook

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine how demographics; bereavement education; personal death anxiety; and frequency of interaction with death and dying; impact the level of comfort pediatric nurses have in approaching families of dying children. Watson’s Theory of Human Caring (n.d.) and the Quality Caring Model (Duffy & Hoskins, 2003) provide the theoretical framework for nursing actions and outcomes. The convenience sample of 165 pediatric nurses comes from a metropolitan children’s hospital population of 425 pediatric nurses. Nurses are recruited by a mass e-mail to their work e-mails with a link to the online survey. Nurses’ comfort level …

Murder With A Penknife: Individual Identity Formation In Charles Brockden Brown's Ormond, Patrick Prominski

Masters Theses

Charles Brockden Brown’s novel Ormond (1799) is in many ways a typical Gothic novel. However, stripping away its Gothic trappings reveals a more complex tale than Brown’s European Gothic inspirations. Brown seems to have been keenly aware of the struggle to form a distinctly American identity in the wake of the Revolution. Reading Ormond as an attempt by Brown to outline a potential American identity reveals a complexity far beyond Ormond’s Gothic kin. Furthermore, examining Brown’s works Alcuin (1798) and “Walstein’s School of History” (1799) alongside Ormond exposes the basis for Brown’s position on women in the new Republic …

Semiotics, Habitus And Music In The Transmission Of Tibetan Culture In Toronto, John Robertson

Masters Theses

This ethnographic study explores the role of music in cultural transmission in the Tibetan community of Toronto, Canada. Beginning with an integration of Peircian semiotics, Bourdieu's habitus and musical semiosis, I then identify certain non-Tibetan cultural elements being encountered by those in the Toronto community which are potentially creating cognitive structures foreign to those which have their generative principles in pre-exile Tibetan past, and the ways in which Tibetans are transmitting (to varying degrees) cognitive schemata which identify these non-Tibetan elements and protect against their appropriation. After exploring elements which are not Tibetan, I turn to those which are: a …

Place As Plot: A Comparison Of The Use Of Place In C. S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces And John Milton's Paradise Lost, Jonathan A. Whitmer

Masters Theses

C. S. Lewis' fiction constantly relies on the depiction of physical place as a key device in addressing largely metaphysical issues and he does so in a way that goes beyond merely creative descriptions of scenery. What makes his use of place descriptions so unique and significant is the function of place as a key component in his theodicy for a post-Christian world. I especially compare Lewis' approach to theodicy in Till We Have Faces with Milton's approach to theodicy in Paradise Lost. My motive for this comparison comes largely from reading Lewis' A Preface to Paradise Lost coupled with …

Seven Seas Without, Ambereen Siddiqui

Masters Theses

In my work I explore dislocation within a diasporic experience. I use personal and familial accounts of migration, assimilation and reverse culture shock to examine and add to the collective narratives that underlie national as well as individual identities. In reconciling my own sense of loss in having moved away from Pakistan, I appropriate histories, recreate memories and envision futures to mould the present. Investigations of personal experiences inform an analysis of the larger social, political and historical contexts. In my practice I use video, animation and new media technologies to “re-view” archives. My sources include audio and text from …