Digital Commons Network^™

Nest Success, Nesting Habitat, & Nestling Feeding Rates Of Red-Headed Woodpeckers In East-Central Illinois, Nathan Cole Hudson

Masters Theses

The Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is a classic oak savanna species that has suffered significant population declines caused, in part, by extensive loss of savanna habitat and agricultural development. Despite consistent data that reveal a dramatic decline throughout much of their range, few studies have examined other possible explanations. In an effort to determine potential causes for their continued decline (as well as add to existing knowledge of nesting biology), we examined nest success and nesting micro-habitat features. We compared micro-habitat variables at: 1) golf and non-golf course sites, 2) successful and failed nest sites, and 3) nest and random …

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In Elementary School Children In A Rural Illinois School District, Amy M. Miller

Masters Theses

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), one of the most commonly diagnosed childhood disorders, adversely affects children's academic, social, and emotional functioning. There were three purposes for this study. First, this study attempted to determine the number of students diagnosed with ADHD in the three elementary schools of a rural Midwestern school district as reported by parents. Secondly, the study attempted to discover discrepant practices in the methods of diagnosis and treatment ofADHD for students from a lower socioeconomic status than for those from the middle or upper class as reported by the parents. Thirdly, this study assessed teachers' knowledge and …

Taking Out The Trash: Critiquing The Equipment For Living Of White Trash Films, Tasha Rose Dunn

Masters Theses

Over the past decade, class has become a lightning rod issue in the United States as the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen. One of the main reasons for growing class segregation is the mere fact that U.S. culture carries enormous social anxieties about poverty and, in turn, blame the poor for being poor. As a result of hegemonic beliefs about class, crude discourses are formed and fostered through the mainstream media creating both inaccurate and damaging portrayals. Such damaging portrayals are immediately evident in a variety of mainstream Hollywood films produced in the past decade …

Factors Influencing The Academic Major Selection Of Undecided Students: A Phenomenological Study, Christina D. Thompson

Masters Theses

This phenomenological, qualitative research study was designed to determine the most commonly selected academic major chosen by previously undecided students, the various factors that influenced the academic-major decision, and the similarities between the study participants. By comparing a Fall 2006 spreadsheet of undecided freshmen enrolled at Eastern Illinois University to a Fall 2008 spreadsheet of Eastern Illinois University students, the major choice of these previously undecided students was Communication Studies, determined to be the most highly selected academic major. Previously undecided students who had chosen Communication Studies were recruited for participation in this research. Data was collected through a demographic …

C.U.B.S.: Creating Unique Beginnings For Student Involvement On Campus, Alisha Scaggs

Masters Theses

Promoting student involvement on college campuses is an important asset for the college community. Involvement plays a role in several factors, one of the most important being overall student satisfaction. In what way is student satisfaction affected when first year students are given an extra leadership opportunity where they are automatically put in a leadership position just as they move onto campus? More importantly, in what manner will placement in a leadership role impact their development? The present study investigated the role of student involvement in the personal development of a group of Midwestern university freshmen women placed in a …

Natural Resources, Investment, And Growth In Low Income Countries, Dena L. Reavis

Masters Theses

Rents generated by natural resource endowments can be lucrative and highly productive sources of revenue for countries of all income levels. Countries able to develop sound investment strategies that efficiently allocate resource rents into highly productive activities can set themselves on paths of long-run stable growth. This study estimates the effects of several host-country characteristics on inflows of foreign direct investment and per capita incomes for low income countries finding that investments in human capital do attract inward foreign direct investment. Some evidence supports the hypothesis of a natural resource curse when the abundant resource is agriculture or food.

Analysis Of Transcription Factor Promoter Binding In Rat Hepatoma/Fibroblast Hybrids, Jordan C. Angle

Masters Theses

When hepatomas (liver cancer cells) are fused with fibroblasts (undifferentiated body cells), there is complete extinguishing of all tissue-specific gene expression. Once it was discovered that many hybrid cell lines do not express needed transcription factors for liver-specific gene transcription, the factors were reintroduced and forced to express through the use of plasmids. Even if the two primary transcription factors were present in the system, downstream tissue-specific gene expression was not rescued. To examine potential mechanisms for the repression of liver-specific gene expression in hepatoma x fibroblast hybrid cells, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChlP) was used. This procedure allows the liver-specific gene …

Long-Term Assessment Of Predatory Fish Removal On A Pond-Breeding Amphibian Community In Central Illinois, Lee M. Gross

Masters Theses

Habitat loss and fragmentation are important contributors to population declines in many species, so maintaining suitable habitat has become a priority for wildlife management. Removal of introduced fish can help restore suitable habitats for amphibian populations, although long-term assessments of such removals are lacking at the community level. In 2001, drift fences and pitfall traps were constructed around the majority of four ponds to monitor an amphibian community in a nature preserve in central Illinois. Rotenone™ was applied to ponds containing introduced fish in 2001, and again, in 2003. I collected data from 2005-2007 to determine the long-term impacts of …

Habitat Selection And Niche Partitioning Of Fox And (Sciurus Niger) And Gray (Sciurus Carolinensis) Squirrels In Charleston, Il, Katelyn Marti

Masters Theses

Two species of tree squirrels inhabit Charleston, IL; fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) and gray squirrels (Sciurus caro/inensis). Although these species are sympatric throughout much of the eastern U.S., urban settings are usually occupied by one or the other. In the few localities where they co-occur, little is known about how they partition habitat. Therefore, the objectives of my study were to determine: (1) the relative abundance of each species, (2) whether habitat use differs between species, (3) if habitat use shifts with season, time of day, domestic predator abundance, or mast availability, and (3) observe interspecific and intraspecific interactions. The …

Survival Strategies Of The Endangered Physaria Ludoviciana (Silvery Bladderpod; Brassicaceae), Marissa Catherine Jernegan Grant

Masters Theses

Physaria ludoviciana (Nuttal) O'Kane and Al-Shehbaz is an endangered species in Illinois and Minnesota sand prairies, but has many individual populations in western states. Areas where P. ludoviciana occurs have high summer temperatures, a sandy soil with low water holding capacity and high drainage, the frequent disturbance of blowing sand and little canopy vegetation, giving it a full sun environment. This habitat is where few other plants are able to establish, providing P. ludoviciana with little competition. Physaria ludoviciana exists in a niche where it is adapted and able to establish and persist. The focus of this study was to …

Molecular Structures And Pulsed Discharge Emission Studies Of Volatile Organic Compound Derivatives, Ashley Osthoff

Masters Theses

Understanding the structure and reactivity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and their derivatives is a fundamental concern in the study of atmospheric chemistry. Recently, a series of studies were done aimed at constructing and optimizing a rapid-scan, midinfrared spectrometer in order to study the structure and intermolecular interactions of these compounds. Visible emission spectroscopy was used to optimize the pulsed discharge nozzle that would be used within the infrared spectrometer. The emission spectra of toluene and xylene were used to characterize production of free radical compounds. In addition, control programs were written in the Lab VIEW programming language …

Factors Affecting Dietary Compliance In The Adolescent With Type 1 Diabetes, Maryjean K. Bargren

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to research adult persons with type 1 diabetes and determine what factors played a role in both compliance and non-compliance of their diabetes management as an adolescent. The purpose was also to determine what factors may have caused an adolescent to be non-compliant throughout their adolescent years but who in adulthood became compliant.

Managing diabetes throughout adolescence can be difficult with many changes occurring both hormonally and socially. A medium sized hospital in the Midwest was used to obtain participants for this study. Questionnaires were distributed to patients at their medical appointments. There were …

A Three Part Study Exploring Psi-Conduciveness And Psi-Defensiveness In Groups, Gretchen M. Conner

Masters Theses

The current study examined three separate experiments, conducted during the Spring semester of 2006, designed to explore variables related to telepathy performance. The common theme which runs through all studies in the parapsychology laboratory including the three experiments covered in this document is the exploration of variables related to psi-defensiveness and psi-conduciveness within groups of participants. In Part I, groups of participants were rated by research assistants on the dimensions of friendliness and enthusiasm. It was hypothesized that as friendliness and enthusiasm ratings increased or decreased for a session, hit rates would correspondingly increase or decrease. Results indicated that as …

Adult Children As Possible Barriers To Parental Sexuality In Nursing Homes: A Literature Review, Crystal D. Wanek

Masters Theses

Sexual interest and activity continue across the entire lifespan, but multiple barriers make ~xual behavior difficult for those in nursing homes. With increases in nursing home populations occurring during the last three decades, the anticipation of the baby boomers entering retirement and beginning to enter nursing homes over the next 10 to 30 years suggests that more knowledge is needed to assist nursing homes with making policies that are protective and reverential of sexuality. This literature review seeks to take a comprehensive look at the issue of sexuality for the elderly in nursing homes and identify whether adult children serve …

Gender And Performance In The Mathematics' Sections Of The Illinois Standards Achievement Test And The Prairie State Achievement Exam, Lindsey Leaf

Masters Theses

Despite criticisms about their inability to assess students' learning accurately, high stakes tests are currently used in the United States to measure student and teacher progress. Because of the need for schools to demonstrate students have achieved or maintained satisfactory progress, schools in Illinois regularly administer the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISA T) and Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE), despite limitations in the statistical and technical infonnation available for both of these tests. This study examined possible gender differences on the mathematics portion of the ISA T and PSAE by gathering data from one school district in Illinois. Findings indicated …

Coercion In U.S. Foreign Policy: Evaluating The Utility Of The Jentleson And Whytock Model, John D. Hamilton

Masters Theses

This thesis seeks to test the utility of the Jentleson and Whytock (2006) model, which stems from their study of U.S. foreign policy with Libya. Their study established a model of foreign policy coercion, which they maintain helps explain why Libyan foreign policy changed so radically during the presidency of George W. Bush. The model is applied to American policy, implemented from the Carter administration to that of George W. Bush, towards Iran, Burma (Myanmar) and North Korea. The coercive strategies used by each administration are compared against the prescription and projection purported by the model in order to determine …

Deconstructing Liberalism: Are The Criticisms Associated With Neoliberal Economic Policies Universal?, Jeremy Bowling

Masters Theses

Neoliberalism is a set of economic policies which emerged amongst states during the 1980s in order to create comparative advantages. This thesis explains what neoliberalism is, how it spread around the globe, and what the critiques of neoliberalism are. A background of the critique of Latin American neoliberalism is provided and followed immediately by a case study of three Latin American states. A quantitative analysis of neoliberalism and economic and social data is described and results are provided. The overall conclusion suggests that many of the criticisms of neoliberalism are not universally observed within all states, but some critiques are …

Incremental Validity Of Wisc-Iv Factor Scores In Predicting Academic Achievement On The Wiat-Ii, Shalena R. Meis

Masters Theses

This study examined the incremental validity of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV; Wechsler, 2003) factor scores in predicting reading and math achievement on the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-Second Edition (WIAT-11; Wechsler, 2002). Participants included K-12 students in a medium sized Midwestern school district who underwent an evaluation using the WISC-IV and the WIAT-II. Block entry multiple regression analyses were used to examine whether the WISC-IV factor scores substantially improved the prediction ofreading or math achievement on the WIAT-11 above and beyond the contribution made by the FSIQ. Results indicated that the WISC-IV FSIQ accounted for the majority of …

Construct Validity And Diagnostic Utility Of The Cognitive Assessment System: Discriminating Individuals With Adhd From Random Normals, Allison R. Gaboury

Masters Theses

This study examined the construct validity and diagnostic utility of the Cognitive Assessment System (Naglieri & Das, 1997). Distinct group differences and discriminative validity of 40 kindergarten through second grade students (20 meeting ADHD criteria on the Structured Diagnostic Interview for Parents and the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents, 20 random matched control) on measures of Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive Processing were completed. The ADHD and random matched control groups differed significantly on Planning and Attention scores with large effect sizes but not on Simultaneous or Successive scores. Low Planning and Attention scores but normal Simultaneous and Successive …

Facets Of Mindfulness As Predictors Of Resistance To Alcohol-Related Disorders, Jacob Landers

Masters Theses

Mindfulness is defined as a state of mind, a tendency and willingness to 'bring one's complete attention to the experiences occurring in the present moment in a nonjudgmental and accepting way' (Brown & Ryan, 2003). The concept originated from the Eastern spiritual traditions and has recently made its way to the West. Although mindfulness-based practices have met with success in alleviating a wide range of problematic conditions such as depression, anxiety, and addiction, it is still unclear as to which specific dimensions of mindfulness are responsible for the positive effects. Baer, Smith, Hopkins, Krietemeyer, and Toney (2006) extracted five facets …

Relationship Between Theory Of Mind Performance In A Nonverbal Task And Functioning Level Of Children With Autism, Michael J. Grenda

Masters Theses

Individuals with autism often show deficits in Theory of Mind (ToM), their ability to understand the perceptions of others. The relationship between functioning level and ToM abilities in children with autism has not been adequately explored. This study utilized a nonverbal task of ToM adapted from previous research (Colle, Baron-Cohen, & Hill, 2007) which allowed examination of lower functioning or nonverbal individuals. Participants included nine individuals with autism spectrum disorders and nine normally developing individuals. Functioning level was estimated using a brief autism rating scale. When controlling for nonverbal abilities and age, no significant differences in ToM abilities were found …

A Descriptive Analysis Of One School District's Approach To Response To Intervention For Kindergarten Literacy, Christine H. Lowell

Masters Theses

This study provided a descriptive analysis of one school district's approach to Response to Intervention (RTI) for literacy skills in kindergarten which included two screening measures and their accompanying supplemental literacy instruction. Data, collected by the school, were analyzed for the children deemed "at-risk" of reading difficulty during the fall, winter, and spring assessment periods of the 2008-2009 academic school year. The data included performance on two screening measures, the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) and the teacher-developed Kindergarten Inventory of Skills, and book-level assessments as a measure of early reading skill development. Results indicated that by …

Inclusion And Adaptation Resources For General Music Teachers, Judy A. Doughty

Masters Theses

A majority of music teachers are faced with the responsibility to educate students with special needs in the public school system. As the emphasis on special education becomes more and more important in today's society, music teachers are required to meet the needs of all students. The purpose of this study is to provide resources and share ideas from research as a help to in-service music teachers who are experiencing the inclusion of children with special needs into their music classrooms and programs. The study will discuss the increase in the involvement of music teachers with children who have special …

Technology And Its Impact On Face-To-Face Communication: Does It Bring Us Together Or Tear Us Apart?, Marilyn Holmes

Masters Theses

This study assessed the use of technology and its impact on face-to-face communication among college students and adults. The researcher utilized a selfdesigned questionnaire to ascertain usage patterns and teclmological devices used by participants in their daily communication with family, friends, and co-workers. A total of 673 respondents participated in the study, consisting of 334 college students (undergraduate and graduate students), and 339 adults (administration, faculty, administrative & professional, and civil service employees) from Eastern Illinois University.

Significant differences were found regarding levels of technology usage and faceto- face communication among college students and adults. Both students and adults used …

Videogame Use Among Male Residents In University Housing At Eastern Illinois University, Mark Bodnar Nicklaus

Masters Theses

The present quantitative study of 331 male students living in university residence halls or in university fraternity housing explored whether playing video games promoted social networking and social opportunities for males living in college residence halls. Previous research on video gaming focused on the social networks created among players; however, little research focused directly on male students living in residence halls. Most participants (73%) played video games between 6 p.m. and midnight. Using the Spearman Rho for rank ordered data, a positive relationship was found between the number of hours spent playing video games and the time spent in conversation …

Ethnic Lesbian Identity Development: A Focus On African American And Latino Women, Alexandria Quinones

Masters Theses

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate if there were differences in the developmental progression of a lesbian identity for ethnic women, specifically African American and Latino women, from that of majority lesbian women. Selected societal, familial and personal beliefs were examined to discover their influences on the women's development of a lesbian identity. Responses from ten women indicated there was a variation during their progression towards a lesbian identity in relation to the previous stage models based on majority homosexual individuals. Future recommendations for practitioners and researchers included considering environmental influences for expanding research models examining lesbian …

Retaining At-Risk Undergraduates Through Mandatory Interaction, Brian Jacob Gorman

Masters Theses

Eastern Illinois University has developed an academic assistance resource center for low achieving students k:no-wn as the Student Success Center (SSC). A major service of the SSC is EIU 2919, Strategies for Academic Success, a mandatory course for students who have fallen below a 2.00 cumulative GP A that focuses on removing barriers to success. In the first year of the Center's operation, the percentage of students on academic probation who regained good standing increased from 34% following the 2006- 2007 academic year to 70% following the 2007-2008 academic year. The purpose of the present study was to define what …

Levels Of Homophobia Among Students Attending A Comprehensive Midwestern University, Amy J. Baumgart

Masters Theses

This study looks at past research completed on the topic of homosexuality in the United States, including the history of acceptance of homosexual individuals and perceptions of homosexuality in the perspectives ofreligion, gender, and the law. In addition, the research looks at how the college experience tends to liberalize students. Putting these two ideas together, the study uses the Homosexual Attitude Scale and other demographic information gathering questions to determine the factors that contribute most prominently to homophobia in college students. The sample of students being studied are all undergraduates attending a public, Midwestern, comprehensive university. As a general overview, …

Examining At-Risk Students' Perceptions Of The Role And Function Of School Counselors, Colleen Marie Johnson

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study was to examine the perceptions of the school counselor's role from the perspectives of at-risk middle school students. The principal researcher conducted one-on-one interviews with the sample population in order to better understand the way in which they regarded and perceived the school counselor's role and function. Analysis of the student responses allowed for the identification of emergent themes and commonalities. Several conclusions were drawn from this study's findings. The findings indicated that students denote individual counseling as the primary duty of the school counselor. Further, students believe school counseling is important within their …

Factors Affecting Occupational Therapists’ Decisions To Join Their State Association, Shawn Thomas Ross

Masters Theses

The following research focused on the factors affecting occupational therapists’ decisions to join, withdraw from, or never join their state association. Data was collected using a mixed methods design consisting of a survey that included quantitative questions and a qualitative question. The survey was sent to 1,908 occupational therapists in Michigan and 497 (26%) were returned and usable. Occupational therapists consistently reported dissatisfaction with their state association. Three themes developed regarding reasons occupational therapists’ decisions about membership: prioritization, interpersonal and group communication, and benefits. State and national association memberships were found to be associated. The greatest predictor of membership was …