Digital Commons Network^™

The Psychology Behind Voting Behavior In Kosovo, Fjolla Qorri

Theses

The extent to which voting is a rational behavior is highly debated among social psychologists and political scientists. This paper aims to answer the question of what guides the voting behavior in Kosovo. Firstly, it suggests that the voters’ rationality is limited and that implicit biases override policy analysis. Secondly, it argues that social identity, family voting, gender bias, ideology, and emotions are all significant in its own way in guiding the voting behavior in Kosovo. It does this through a combination of secondary and primary research that includes one survey of 250 respondents and the Implicit Association Test (IAT). …

Social Media And Its Impact On Users’ Decision Making To Visit A Fine Dining Restaurant, Petra Malbasa

Theses

This study focused on exploring what factors and social media tactics are important to consider when creating an effective social media strategy for a fine dining restaurant in Zagreb for Facebook and Instagram. The important factors to consider when creating an effective social media strategy and useful social media tactics to use for a fine dining restaurant in Zagreb were defined. The study used a qualitative research approach and in-depth research questions. Ten participants shared their personal experiences connected to social media and fine dining restaurants. Fifty percent of the participants were experts in marketing and the food industry who …

A Passive Solar Retrofit In A Gloomy Climate, James Russell Fugate

Theses

A common perception with solar technologies is that they are practical only in sunny regions of the country. The sun is a source of clean and plentiful energy, but for regions of the country that experience frequent cloud cover, solar energy is typically not considered a worthwhile endeavor. In addition to the problem of limited sunshine, solar energy is often deemed to be too expensive for the average homeowner, particularly without significant government incentives. For solar technology to be adopted on a broad scale, it must make practical sense to the homeowner, not just economically, but also for an improved …

Why Day Zero Matters In Early Ambulation For Postoperative Patients: An Evidence-Based Project, Danielle Tekolste, Danielle Currier, Mary Anne Wheatley

Theses

The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to review the literature to determine if ambulation on postoperative day zero improved patient outcomes when compared to ambulation on postoperative day one. The PICOT question used in this research project was: In adult patients in a postoperative setting, how does ambulation within twelve hours of surgery compare to non-early ambulation after twelve hours of surgery improve patient outcomes during the first thirty days following surgery? This topic addressed both quality improvement and evidence based practice in nursing.

Uses And Gratification Of Posting Selfies On Social Media, Amanda Kearney

Theses

Selfies have become an easy and instantaneous form of self-expression and communication. Posting selfies to various social media platforms has become wildly popular and socially accepted in the digital age. This study investigated the motivation behind posting selfies to Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat using the framework of uses and gratification theory. This study also compared differences in gratification sought from individual social media platforms. A cross-sectional survey shared on Facebook using a snowball sampling method recruited participants who post at least one selfie per week (N = 156). Factor analysis revealed five gratifications for posting selfies to social media: attention …

Justice By Any Means: The Relationship Between Societal Stress And The Rise Of Vigilantism In Comic Books, Gregory Heerkens

Theses

The following study used sales data to ascertain the presence of a link between current socio-political tensions (as measured by the Bulletin of Atomic Sciences’ Doomsday Clock and national crime statistics) and the prevalence and acceptance of so-called “vigilante justice” portrayed in the top-selling comic books during the period between 1989 and 2001. The purpose of this study is to understand what, if any, relationship exists between dark times and desperate measures; between a feeling of powerlessness in world affairs, and the belief that justice outside of the system is acceptable when that system, at home or abroad, fails to …

College Students’ Use Of Digital And Traditional Media: Uses And Gratifications Approach, Kelly M. Bodine

Theses

In the higher education field marketers need to better understand how to keep abreast with the trends of their current and future audiences. With ever-evolving technologies, students’ have multiple methods in which to acquire campus related information. The aims of this study were to discover what communication methodologies students employ when learning about campus information and what methodologies they employ when actively searching. Based on a uses and gratifications framework, this study involved conducting an online survey to compare college students’ use and level of influence from traditional or digital media marketing. The findings of this study show that both …

Online News Coverage About Fraud And Self-Defensive Behavior In China, Congxi Wang

Theses

This study explores the role of online news media in directing people’s behavior in China. Previous literature shows that Chinese tend to be suspicious or hostile towards strangers and those outside their network. This study assumes that this self-defensive behavior was caused by negative portrayal of strangers in Chinese online news media. A survey and a qualitative content analysis were conducted to understand how the exposure to crime news affects people’s perception of strangers and public safety in China, then causes self-defensive behavior in China. The finding shows consistency between survey responses and media coverages about strangers, which establishes the …

Team Queue: A Mobile Application Which Provides A Third Party Stage For An E-Sports Service Provider, Mengying Wang

Theses

E-Sports, known as electronic sports, professional video gaming or pro gaming, refers to the use of video games for sports. In today’s a growing economy, there is a continuous strengthening of the E-Sports industry; E-Sports has officially become a kind of sports. Believe or not, E-Sports has an incredible market share in the gaming market. In 2017, E-Sport the grew of 41.3 % over last year, which equates up the value of $696 million (NewZoo, 2017).

According to 2017 Global E-Sports Market Report (NewZoo, 2017), day, worldwide, there are E-Sports games held every day. It also reported that 67 million …

Cyclist Safety In Urban Areas, Limin He

Theses

Cycling as an alternative means of transport is encouraged in urban areas because of the societal and environmental benefits it brings to most cities. However, the conflicts between cyclists and motorists become more obvious in complex urban areas, which places cyclists in a dangerous situation- a higher chance to get involved in serious injuries. To analyze how the problem happens, this paper talks about the user research, environment and collisions analysis. Then, this paper presents survey procedure and results related to user demands for cycling safety. The visibility limitation was found to be the main reason for the conflicts. In …

Microfluidic Study Of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2o2) Transport Modeled On The Msn-Da Neuron Pathway, Carrie A. Phillips

Theses

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are produced throughout the body and can cause damage, lead to neurodegenerative disorders, and deactivate neurons involved in the release of essential neurotransmitters. However, the underlying mechanisms affecting neuronal dysfunction are controversial and are not yet well understood. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a common ROS, has been shown to inhibit evoked dopamine (DA) in the Nigrostriatal region of the brain. Although unconfirmed, one theory claims that the DA-modulating H2O2 is produced in medium spiny neurons (MSN), based on close proximity. However, most literature cites H2O2 as a very small molecule which can travel far, diffuse readily, and …

Effects Of Defusion And Deictic Frames Interactions On The Development Of Self-As-Context In Individuals With Disabilities, Sebastian Garcia-Zambrano

Theses

MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Ruth Anne Rehfeldt The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a defusion exercise in combination with perspective- taking interactions as a brief protocol based on the Relational Frame Theory (RFT). The protocol was designed to alter verbal statements about the self through the implementation of training on deictic frames (I-YOU, HERE-THERE, AND NOW-THEN) in conjunction with an exercise of defusion. A pre-post design with a control group was implemented to evaluate the effects of the protocol on the frequency rate of self-as-context and self-as-content statements. Adolescents with disabilities were selected and assigned to …

The Effects Of Societal Threat On Authoritarianism And Social Dominance Orientation, Chasity Ratliff

Theses

The present study examined the effects of societal threat on levels of authoritarianism and social dominance orientation and investigated if those self-report measures were consistent or inconsistent with a measure of implicit attitudes regarding Americans and Immigrants. Exposure to societal threat was hypothesized to increase authoritarianism and social dominance orientation, as well as to increase implicit prejudicial attitudes, as measured by the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP), towards out-group members. Based on prior findings, men were expected to have higher levels of social dominance orientation. As predicted, exposure to societal threat significantly increased right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation. Additionally, …

Directing Rebecca Gilman's Boy Gets Girl: A Southern Feminist's View On What I’M Supposed To Do As A Woman, Kelley Mcgahey Jordan

Theses

“Directing Rebecca Gilman’s Boy Gets Girl…” reviews the process of directing Boy Gets Girl by Rebecca Gilman, presented on October 26-29, 2017, in the Cristian H. Moe Laboratory Theater at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. This document chronologically details the year-long production process for the director, beginning with the preliminary research and discussing the development of a concept, through formulating designs, conducting rehearsals and observing performances, and concluding with a post production evaluation. This document begins with Chapter 1, exploring the preliminary research which developed into the director’s concept and vision for production. Chapter 2 explains the pre-production process, …

A Td's Awakening: A Technical Direction Thesis On Spring Awakening, Andrew Julian Armas

Theses

This document, A TD’s Awakening: A Technical Direction Thesis on Spring Awakening, is a detailed description of the technical direction process for Southern Illinois University Department of Theater’s Fall 2017 production of Spring Awakening: A New Musical. Chapter One dives into script analysis and includes a scene breakdown and technical requirements for the production as well as a discussion of the goals I wished to accomplish with this project. Chapter Two details the development of the design for the production and examines the monetary and time budgets for the scenic units. Chapter 3 is a detailed account of the production …

Stockholms: An Artifact Of Kink As An Innocuous Method Of Bolstering Kinkster And Fetishist Populations, Kenneth Jeremy Chen

Theses

This thesis is an attempt to affect and activate the population of consumers that are open to sexual experimentation, which in turn will provoke further discussion into sexual identity and sex positivity.

Though there is a high percentage of people who engage in some form of kinky sex, there is still a lack of seriousness in accepting sexual fetishes as valid expressions of sexual behavior.

And so designing by approximating a sort of midpoint between the hardcore and the novel, it would eliminate much of the critical nature one would take with an “other” group if people may find that …

An Evaluation Of The Good Behavior Game Using An Interdependent Group Contingency With Middle-School Children With Ebd, Shanice D. Harvey

Theses

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of an interdependent group contingency commonly referred to as the “good behavior game” (GBG) on reducing disruptive behaviors in a dedicated classroom for students with emotional behavioral disorder (EBD). The participants were four eighth-grade middle school students, with a primary diagnosis of EBD. The intervention targeted inappropriate and disruptive behaviors during two class periods (math and science), as well appropriate alternative behaviors. The class was divided into two teams, with the four participants divided evenly amongst both teams. If a team met the criterion for both inappropriate and appropriate behavior during experimental sessions, each …

Investigating The Etiology Of Preschoolers' Somatic Symptoms And Internalizing Problems: A Twin Study, Matthew Jamnik

Theses

This study investigated the etiology of preschoolers’ somatic symptoms and internalizing problems, using a twin sample. A specific focus was placed on the genetic (i.e., DRD4 and 5-HTTLPR) and environmental (i.e., SES, household chaos, family conflict, and maternal emotional stability) factors that were hypothesized to be associated with these problems. This project also explored the possible gene-environmental interactions (GxE) that may exist among these contributors. It was hypothesized that children who are at greatest risk due to their genotype, environment, or a combination of the two would display elevated somatic symptoms and internalizing problems, compared to children who were less …

Somewhere Else, Xiaoxi Liu

Theses

Somewhere Else is a site-dependent, video, sound installation. Captivated by memory, landscape and time and how they affect both the physical and psychological, I construct my artwork to reflect the liminal in-between. This artwork consists of fragments of recollections of the different places, landscape, moments and locations from my past. The intermittent, jarring, and distant quality of the sounds and video fill the installation space as well as the viewers’ mental space.

Hangout! A Comprehensive Outdoor Activity Planner & Information Sharing Platform, Yani Qu

Theses

Hangout! is a mobile social-activity app, encouraging users to connect with friends and family. Users can specify their preferred leisure activity, whether that may be camping or caving, kayaking or surfing, running or rock climbing—whatever type of fun they are looking for. Combining a GPS location and a user’s history of outside recreational experiences, the app provides news about the area in real time, along with any emergency notifications for issuing caution.

As the name implies, Hangout! is an application celebrating the recreational places you frequent and the people you socialize with. High-quality imagery and video helps bolster a high …

Design For Tea, Xiaoru Chen

Theses

From a perspective of a young Chinese person, I noticed that lots of Chinese youth who like me neither drink tea daily nor understand the cultural meaning of tea. It is concerning that the lack of awareness of tea among Chinese youth might lead to the loss of Chinese tea culture. In this thesis project, I will introduce a system of portable teaware design focused on motivating users to enjoy the true beauty of tea, and so inspiring them to reassess their understanding of tea and themselves.

Modeling Artist Networks At Artpark, 1974-1978, Angelina Konovitz-Davern

Theses

Located on the Niagara River Gorge in Lewiston, New York, Artpark—a summer venue for arts and entertainment—traces its origins to 1974 when it was established as a park and art venue that served as home to a visual arts program until 1991. The program annually invited a selection of artists to create experimental, site-specific art within the picturesque landscape north of the Niagara Falls. Providing an experimental alternative to traditional art museums and markets, Artpark has been promoted as a nontraditional institution for the participating artists. However, to what extent was Artpark an alternative institution? This thesis investigates the extent …

Market Transformation For Value-Retention Processes As A Strategy For Circular Economy, Jennifer D. Russell

Theses

There is increasing global interest in the application of circular economy as a tool for enabling the decoupling of economic growth from environmental degradation. Despite this growing interest, there is a lack of in-depth insight about the quantified potential benefits that value-retention processes (VRPs) – direct reuse, repair, refurbishment and remanufacturing – can contribute to circular economy and improved resource efficiency. In this assessment, product-level production impacts are bridged with economy-level insights about market, regulatory, technological and infrastructure conditions, to demonstrate and quantify the essential role of value-retention processes within circular economies. Three representative products were selected from each of …

Oliver's Rumination: A Short Video Game About Failure, Shaemus Spencer

Theses

Studying and working in a creative field requires designers and artists to produce consistently high-level, novel work. In some cases, taking risks to pursue new concepts, methods, or products is highly valued. At the same time, not all companies, students, or individual artists have the resources to risk should their exploration fail. What remains is a crossroad: creative professionals and students are rewarded for taking risks, but are often unable to do so because the possibility of failure carries too much weight.

Changing the way creators see failure could revolutionize the way they work. By accepting and incorporating failure into …

Terra: The Earthen Refrigerator, Priyanka Bambarkar

Theses

This thesis consists of the study of reducing the overuse of technology in a modern household for a healthier lifestyle.

“The kitchen is the most important and expensive room in any household.” - Dan Harel.

It has many appliances and even though not always really appreciated, it does have technologically advanced gadgets. These gadgets were designed for convenient cooking and effective kitchen time usage.

One such appliance which has gained tremendous appreciation is the refrigerator. The refrigerator in general has undergone change over time and has evolved. Initially, satisfying the basic need of food storage and preservation to now satiating …

Velleity, Yiyun Chen

Theses

The work Velleity is an installation of photographs presented on the gallery wall along with a photobook, which explore the process of self-reflection and self-discovery. This experimental work is a form of meditation, which reveals itself through the process of walking photographing, and repurposing into a work of art. The photobook, with its textual references and adaptation of color, develops the concept of the images and text as the language to describe the seemingly unexceptional moments of everyday life. Visualizing the experience as a person navigating different cultures, social expectations, and realities, ponders my displacement in the past and present, …

Becoming, Danlin Zhao

Theses

Life itself is suffering. Suffering is caused by desire. Because desire can cause humans to become obsessed and embittered, it has been considered one of the causes of woe for mankind. Starting with our first cries as newborn babies, desires and cravings are increasingly embedded in our growth. People are often trapped by their desire for something they do not have or by regret for something they have lost. With the increase in negative emotions and desires, people are gradually losing their true happiness. During our short and changing lives, many people prefer to dwell on the past or long …

Piggy Pennies: An Interactive Piggy Bank To Help Children Learn Money Management, Yao Tong

Theses

Wealth management skill has turned out to be one of the most crucial skills for every young people. A good habit of wealth

management would bene­t people on a larger scale in wealth growth and life quality. In this case, it would be most bene­cial to educate people as early as when they are still children. Children usually do not understand where money comes from and how to spend it by nature. However, multiple challenges arise when parents realize the importance of the education of money management skills and teach their children. These challenges include but are not limited to, …

Knock-Knock! Whose Peer? The Epistemic Significance Of Humor, Kaci Harrison

Theses

Debates about the epistemic significance of peer disagreement are highly idealized. Some have even suggested that genuine cases of epistemic peer disagreement never in fact obtain, since even seemingly trivial differences in experience and attitudes can bias evidential processing. This thesis defends the view that these criticisms are overstated: the problem is not that epistemic peer disagreements do not exist, but rather that we lack an account of how it is possible to identify our epistemic peers. I argue that attention to the sense of humor provides one important source of evidence regarding the experiences and attitudes of others that …

Share Food With Love, Bowen Liu

Theses

The home experience of serving food for friends and family, and sharing food is a significant event in my life. Furnishings play a prominent role in this circumstance. For my thesis, I created works that enhance the conditions and ambiance of the residential dining and living experience.

When sharing with friends, happiness is my primary objective. I love to create works containing peacefulness and coziness that could help people calm down and relax. For my thesis body of work, I incorporated gentle curvilinear lines and symmetric shapes to suggest peaceful and harmonious feelings. My material choice was wood as the …