Digital Commons Network^™

Economic Development And The Absence Of Democracy In China, Megan Whipp

Masters Theses

My research will look at the reasons for China's lack of democracy. China has become increasingly developed giving the Chinese people greater wealth, improved education, and better access to healthcare. Based on Seymour Lipset's 1963 study which finds economic development fosters democracy, China should have become democratic. But, China is not a democracy.

The methodology employed in this study is a case study. A case study ensures an in-depth analysis of the relevant factors which could affect China's prospects for democracy. This study advances the understanding of China's continued authoritarian rule finding two factors especially influential. The first factor is …

Blocked Localized Wavefunction Analysis Of Π And Σ Bonds In The Metal Carbonyl, Kazuhito Nakashima

Masters Theses

The bonding features in group 10 and 11 metal carbonyls Ni(CO), Pd(CO), Pt(CO), [Cu(CO)]+, [Ag(CO)]+, and [Au(CO)]+ have been studied with BLW method. The carbon monoxide is well known as both a π acceptor and a σ donor. The π back bonding and o bonding are synergistic in these metal carbonyl complexes, because the π donation from the metals polarizes the metals and creates a negative force field as an additional driving force on the σ donation from the carbon end of CO vice versa. The synergistic effect in the metal-carbonyl bonds can be described by decomposing the binding energy …

Testing The Effectiveness Of Cognitive-Behavior And Medication Therapy In The Acute Treatment On Unipolar Mood Disorders: Processes And Case Histories, Alyssa H. Kalata

Masters Theses

The present study sought to investigate two areas of interest: (1) the process issues involved in conducting a randomized controlled trial with low-income individuals being seen at community mental health agencies and (2) patterns in case histories of individuals who participated in depression treatment outcome research at community mental health agencies. This study gives a detailed analysis of conducting a randomized controlled trial for unipolar mood disorders in two community mental health agencies in the Southwestern Michigan region. Process issues at the levels of identification and recruitment of participants, attendance and retention of participants, project implementation, and broader systemic issues …

The Eternality Of The Immutable God In The Thought Of Paul Helm: A Critical Analysis, Ronnie P. Campbell

Masters Theses

Paul Helm, professor of theology and philosophy at Highland Theological Institute, has written extensively on God’s relation to time. Following in the tradition of Augustine, Boethius, Anselm, and Aquinas, Helm upholds God’s temporal mode of existence as timelessness. This thesis seeks to determine whether Helm and other eternalists are justified in holding that God’s temporal mode of existence is atemporal in light of the doctrines of incarnation and creation. Central to this inquiry is whether God is strongly immutable. In conclusion, this thesis argues that while the divine timeless view is coherent, it rests on an untenable notion of strong …

An Ethnographic Inquiry Into Prudent Behavior And Culturally Correct Attitudes Of Ethnodoxologists Living Among The Lakota Oyate, Joseph T. Dorer

Masters Theses

For centuries, the indigenous people of North America have been plagued by white encroachment. People of European descent have come among Native Americans in almost every form imaginable. They have been treasure seekers, soldiers, bearers of horrific diseases, liars, rapists, murderers, missionaries, anthropologists, government workers, doctors, and teachers. In the summer of 2004, in spite of my own reluctance, I became part of this historically menacing group. Still, I am somewhat different than the others I’ve already mentioned–I came as an ethnodoxologist.

Other ethnomusicologists have come among the Lakota people to study music and culture including Frances Densmore, R.D. Theisz, …

It Was And It Isn't: A Rhetorical Exploration Of Simulacra In Emerging Church Vintage Worship, Kevin Paul Mahan

Masters Theses

Ironically, a new vintage movement of worship was being taught in a certain strand of the emerging church movement. Dan Kimball, pastor at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California, established his teachings to reach the postmodern generation absent from seeker-sensitive churches in a text called The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations. This text suggested many elements, or symbols, for worshipers to include in vintage faith worship gatherings that would connect with the post-Christian culture. Eight of these symbols were chosen – the band, technology, video screen broadcasts, life-stage groups, ancient structures, light, symbols of the faith, and …

Moving Melodies: Contemporary Music Culture Of Mongolian Nomads And Opportunities For Contextualization, Erica Marin Logan

Masters Theses

There are many obstacles to sharing Christ with nomadic peoples. Obstacles include distance of travel from one family group to another, the mobility of these family groups, the finances and investment to locate the families every season, the lack of fellowship and discipleship materials for those that do become Believers, and the peer pressure that these Believers face in the midst of this lack. What resources can be offered to fill this gap? How can the Gospel be communicated in a relevant and engaging way to a people group that is spread out across hundreds of miles, resistant to sedentary …

To Give Or Not To Give; Attributions Of Philanthropy Motivation In Fundraising Letters, Chelsey N. Willis

Masters Theses

Bernard Weiner’s work with attribution theory and help giving is used in this study to explore two research questions on communication in fundraising. First, the study looks at how communication from a cancer centre foundation effectively motivates their community and local philanthropists to give money to their program. The study also looks at how the donor’s response motivates the foundation to continue to attract donations. Three hypotheses were made and tested. This study started with a textual analysis of appeal letters from a cancer centre. Letters, based on the textual analysis, were then created as the variables for the study …

To Watch Or Not To Watch? That Is The Question. Identifying The Common Characteristics Of The Reality Television Viewing Audience, Laura Sipple

Masters Theses

Reality television shows are increasingly appearing on network and cable outlets each sea¬son. Not only are they advancing in number, they are consistently dominating the weekly Nielsen’s Top 10 ratings as well. This study seeks to identify the reality television show viewing audience, why captivated their interest to begin watching these shows and what kept them watching week-to-week. By identifying participants who consistently watched these programs, it was believed that various themes would arise out of this study for further analysis and comparison. In-depth qualitative interviews were utilized to further explore the following areas: (1) Who are the consistent viewers …

Through The Eyes Of The Accused: Applying William L. Benoit’S Image Restoration Theory To Saint Patrick’S Confession, Brad Jackson

Masters Theses

Since 1995, William L Benoit’s “Image Restoration Theory” has been applied in various different contexts. While most applications of this theory have been used to analyze modern day apologia, little work has filtered ancient artifacts through Benoit’s theory. This thesis aims to analyze St. Patrick’s defense rhetoric as seen in his autobiographical letter Confession. Emphasis is first placed on the historical account of the life of Saint Patrick in order to establish a foundation for analysis of Confession. An extensive literature review of “Image Restoration Theory” follows before the application of Benoit’s theory to Confession. The author concludes by describing …

A Historical-Critical Examination Of North Korea's Juche Ideology Using Fantasy Theme Analysis: A Vision Transformed, Matthew Warner

Masters Theses

Scholarship on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is severely limited due to the secretive nature of Kim Jong Il and his regime; much of this secrecy and, generally, the closed nature of North Korean society is due in part to an ideology based on self-reliance, Juche. Through a communication scholarship based rhetorical examination this thesis aims to understand and explain how Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il have been able to create and sustain the Juche ideology in spite of North Korea’s poor economic and social condition. The research traces the evolution of North Korea’s Juche ideology from …

Message From The Grave: A Text-In-Context Case Study Of Bikur Cholim Sephardic Cemetery, Christina Louise Olson

Masters Theses

This study utilizes Cara A. Finnegan’s approach to text-in-context analysis of visual communication and rhetoric and applies the framework to a Sephardic Jewish site. The purpose of this study is to better understand the ways by which visual communication is employed to maintain, affirm, and communicate identity and cultural norms and values through a text-incontext case study of the Sephardic Bikur Cholim Cemetery. The text is analyzed in terms of sacred and profane space, hierarchy creation, as a voice for the historically voiceless, as a storage device for memories, and communication device for transmitting cultural values and norms to future …

Understand The Misunderstanding: A Study Incorporating Uses And Gratifications Theory On Why Chinese Film Audiences See America The Way They Do, Meng Zhao

Masters Theses

The Uses and Gratifications Theory states that audiences are active and they seek satisfactions when selecting media. This theory redirects the typical theoretical emphasis on media content to an emphasis on the active audience. The present study focuses on this theory by evaluating the gratifications Chinese audiences receive when watching American films. It discovers gratifications Chinese audiences seek in films, in general, and how their gratifications may be fulfilled by watching American films. The preference for American films among a majority of Chinese audiences would likely affect Chinese audiences’ understanding of the American culture. To be more precise, the study …

The Integrity Of The New Testament Canon, Michael A. Ocealis

Masters Theses

The New Testament canon is authentic and reliable: there has been no exclusion of qualified writings, and the original writings have not been changed.

How Does The Living-Learning Environment Affect Honors Students’ Perception Of Self, Others, And The Institution?, Janaan Mary Decker

Masters Theses

Research supports a positive relationship between living-learning communities and students’ academic accomplishments and personal development. Successful communities reflect the institution’s mission, and the institution’s purpose and goals are adapted for the student population the communities serve. Living learning communities provide a sense of belonging, which is critical for students to persist in college to realize their full personal and academic potential. With limited research concerning living-learning communities and honors students, it is difficult to determine which characteristics of living-learning communities positively affect honors students. This document examines the relationship between the living-learning community (Niemeyer Living Center) and honors students at …

Sayyid Qutb: An Historical And Contextual Analysis Of Jihadist Theory, Joseph D. Bozek

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research is to provide a comprehensive analysis of a salient jihadist philosopher by the name of Sayyid Qutb. Qutb is arguably among the most influential ideologues of modern-day Islamic militancy; yet, there is very little research examining his works. Through in-depth analysis of the historical, social, and political contexts surrounding Qutb and Islamic militancy, this research will examine selected works of Qutb to determine the frequency of his use of militant language and how his usage of militant language relates to his overall ideology; place Qutb’s writings into historical, social, and political contexts while at the …

Effect Of High Temperature Drying Of Paper On Heat Transfer Rates And Sheet Properties, Dania Awni Al-Said

Masters Theses

The objective of this research is to study the effect of high temperature on paper drying rates and properties of both virgin pulp and recycled paper. Process variables as shell temperature, moisture content, refining, basis weight and fiber recycling can affect the drying rate and paper properties. In addition, high surface temperature can affect the heat transfer rates from the dryer shell to the paper. The Gas Heated Paper Dryer (GHPD) is a high temperature dryer where internal shell temperature can reach 300° C, which significantly increases the drying rate. However, there are many concerns about the effect of this …

Incorporation Of Space Syntax Theory In Determining Safe And Efficient Construction Site Layout, Minsuck Cho

Masters Theses

Facility layout is an important to determine a proper arrangement of temporary facilities in a construction site. It significantly impacts productivity and safety of construction. The objectives of layout planning are to minimize travel distance and time, to decrease the facility transportation and setup costs, and to improve site safety. Despite the importance of facility layout, it is often overlooked in the planning phase. Several models have been developed taking some of these factors into consideration; however, construction managers and site planners often regard cost as the most important factor in layout planning and pay less attention to safety and …

Mining For Public And State Approval: Corporate Strategies For Metallic Sulfide Mining On Michigan’S Yellow Dog Plains, Teresa A. Bertossi

Masters Theses

Michigan has become a frontier for metallic sulfide mining due to a high global demand for minerals and a major concentration of sulfide deposits found throughout its Midcontinent Rift. Metallic sulfide mining is challenging, especially in a water-rich state like Michigan. The disturbance of a sulfide deposit during mining activity exposes the sulfide ore to air and water, which can result in sulfuric acid. Subsequently, precipitation can cause sulfuric acid to drain from the mine site, polluting surface water and groundwater. Recently, a corporation called Kennecott Minerals has proposed a metallic sulfide mine called the Eagle Project in Michigan's Upper …

The Hope Of A New College Town At Western Michigan Through Mixed-Use Development And Creation Of A Student Consumer District, James Paul Eichstaedt

Masters Theses

My research will start with investigations into what an American college town is, what are the uses of Smart Growth and Mixed-Used Development in college towns, and the real estate development practices of universities in The United States and one Canadian university. The four case studies in the thesis are The Ohio State University, The University of Norte Dame, The University of Connecticut, Victoria University at The University of Toronto. Other data was collected from survey respondents of close to 200 hundred students at Western Michigan University. The purpose of the survey was to determine what amenities and housing styles …

Living And Dying On The Margins: A Journey Into The Culture Of Pink And Black Women’S Narrative Accounts Of Breast Cancer, Cleothia Gill

Masters Theses

This thesis examines black women's understandings of and experiences with breast cancer through the use of narratives. These narratives offer different positions from which to critically analyze the dominate conceptualization of breast cancer in American society, which is primarily associated with white, middle class, heterosexual women. There is a focus on issues such as breast cancer 'risk', increased mortality rates among black women, dominate discourses and media representations of breast cancer, and mastectomy and body image. African American women's stories are used to 'deconstruct' and reveal how this disease is socially constructed in ways that has profound impact on their …

An Evaluation Of The Challenge Day Program, Deborah S. Higgins

Masters Theses

This research is an evaluation of the Challenge Day anti-bullying program conducted in four Kalamazoo County schools. An analysis was conducted of survey data collected as part of the Challenge Day intervention. T-test comparisons of means were prepared for pre-test and post-test survey responses. This was done for each school that participated in the program: Vicksburg Middle School, Vicksburg High School, Parchment Middle School, and Parchment High School. Changes were noted as either positive (an increase in positive behaviors, attitudes, perceptions or a decrease in negative behaviors, attitudes, perceptions) or negative (a decrease in positive behaviors, attitudes, perceptions or an …

The Development Of A Progressive Failure Model Of A Fiber-Rein Forced Composite Lamina, Michael Maletta

Masters Theses

Void formation is a common problem in many composite material manufacturing processes. Composites fail when micro-cracks, which usually originate at voids, propagate through the material. The mechanical properties of a lamina depend not only on the constituent properties, but also on the tow packing configuration, void content and void distribution. This paper develops a method to determine the mechanical properties of a tow and lamina and develops a progressive failure model to predict the strength of a lamina with varying void content, void distribution and tow packing configuration, using finite element analysis.

The strength a lamina with various tow packing …

Community Response To Habitat Restoration In Sickle And Bear Creeks, With Emphasis On Mottled Sculpin In Sickle Creek, Jason Andrew Deboer

Masters Theses

Habitat restoration is employed by biologists and managers to improve the natural functionality and value of aquatic resources. Systems suffer impairment from many sources, including excessive fine sediment, which negatively affects substrate composition, channel morphology, aquatic invertebrate habitat, and fish reproduction and recruitment. Primary objectives included monitoring the biophysical response to sediment abatement in the Big Manistee River watershed. Secondary objectives included (1) placing the biophysical response to the restoration in the context of a much larger watershed plan, (2) quantifying seasonal mottled sculpin movement and habitat use in Sickle Creek for 1-year, and (3) determining habitat variables which may …

Deference Of Defiance? Principal-Agent Theory And The Us Courts Of Appeals During The Rehnquist And Burger Courts, Nathaniel R. Vanden Brook

Masters Theses

By examining cases from the Courts of Appeals in several issue areas between 1969 and 2002 (e.g., the Burger and Rehnquist Courts), this research examines both the fear of reversal from the high court (judicial impact theory) and whether this results in differences in response from these courts to Supreme Court precedent (principal-agent theory). The study finds that when the Supreme Court grants review to a decreasing number of lower court cases and thus gives a longer leash to these courts that instead of deferring to their principal, the appellate courts often defy the high court and seek to advance …

Improving Query Efficiency Of Multiresolution Data Aggregation For Analytical Exploration Of Large Relational Dataset, Yu-Ting Huang

Masters Theses

Tree structures are developed to organize the data more efficiently by using fewer resources for searching records. This thesis investigates the tree's actual structure on the hard disk to see the influence of different kinds of structures on the tree building time and query execution time. In order to improve efficiency, one multi-file structure and two reorganization structures, BFS and DFS, are examined to achieve this goal. The results indicate that two reorganization structures on KDB-tree structure can significantly improve the query execution time in large data sets and multi-file structure can slightly improve the TPIE lover level building time.

Reconciliation Or Reencounter In The Southern Cone Of South America: Amnesty, Forgetfulness, Forgiveness, Impunity, Memory, And The Power And Politics Of Theatricality, Lee Ann Johnson

Masters Theses

This thesis explores how scholars have defined reconciliation along with the difficulty of doing so. Focusing especially on the Chilean and Argentinean experiences, I argue for the necessity of attaining political or national reconciliation after periods of violent authoritarian rule. I consider truth and reconciliation commissions and detail the mandates under which some have operated. My premise is that although truth and reconciliation commissions are a wonderful tool for facilitating reconciliation, their legalistic and structured nature keeps them from being all that is needed to achieve reconciliation. I suggest that the creative nature of theatre makes it the perfect complement …

Documenting Aguaje Palm Swamp Area And Conditions In The Peruvian Amazon, Malinda Van Sledright

Masters Theses

Mauritia flexuosa is the most widespread and economically important palm in western Amazonia and is known as aguaje in Peru. It is found mostly in "aguajales," but little is known about the size and spatial distribution of these permanently wet oligarchic forests. Aguaje is dioecious; only the female trees produce the coveted fruit, and cutting them down leaves a preponderance of unproductive male palms. There exists a consensus in the literature that levels of damage to aguajales is related to distance from settlements where extractors reside. However, no studies exist which show this relationship. By mapping 24 aguajales and conducting …

A Comparative Study Of Physician Knowledge, Attitudes, Referral Practices, And Barriers To Use Of Music Therapy And Related Allied Health Professions, Rebecca Elayn Frohardt

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to gather information regarding physicians' knowledge, attitudes, referral practices and barriers to use of music therapy in medical settings, as compared with related allied health professions. It is hoped that this knowledge will help music therapists identify opportunities for education and research, leading to the continued expansion of music therapy in health care. Participants were asked to complete a one-time online survey with 20 questions pertaining to basic demographic information, knowledge, attitudes, referral practices, and perceived barriers to use for music therapy and four related allied health professions. Forty-two physicians completed the survey beyond …

The Effect Of Acute Resistance Training On Resting Metabolic Rate In Men, Steven William Ball

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different frequencies of resistance training on an individual's resting metabolic rate (RMR). Six healthy males between the ages of 18 and 35 participated in two separate trials. The first trial involved two full-body resistance training bouts, 48 hours apart with RMR measurements pre- and post-bout and a RMR measurement 24 hours following each. The second trial consisted of four split-body resistance training bouts on four consecutive mornings with RMR measurements pre- and post-bout each morning with a fifth morning for one final RMR measurement, 24 hours after the final …