Digital Commons Network^™

Use, But Pay? Factors Affecting The Adoption Of News Websites Among Young Adults, Julian Koegel

Theses

This study explored young people's consumption of and willingness to pay for traditional news websites with both uses and gratifications and diffusion of innovation theory as theoretical frames. Based on a survey sample of U.S. college students, it revealed similarities and differences among certain groups of adopters. Regression analyses found when aiming for new young readers and potential payers, news producers should focus on addressing needs for surveillance, understanding, and entertainment, give as many people the opportunity to try out the website, and target particularly e-book readers, but avoid those playing a lot of online games. Social media features, expressed …

Epistemic Uniqueness, Permissiveness, And Peer Disagreement, Tung-Ying Wu

Theses

Disagreement is very common in controversial areas such as politics, law, religion, and philosophy, but it is also very common in daily interactions. Clearly, in every disagreement it is neither the case that one should always defer to others, nor that one should always insist she is right. Instead, one should first evaluate the credence of the dissenter’ testimony. Suppose she recognizes the dissenter is her epistemic peer. In the current debate of the epistemology of peer disagreement, it is controversial whether one is rationally required to suspend one’s judgment when disputing with peers. Three different views have been proposed: …

Discourse Of Defection: Political Representation Of North Koreans, Bethany Ann Stallings

Theses

This paper uses theoretical frameworks from Critical Discourse Analysis to analyze articles from a South Korean English-print newspaper (the Korea Times), one humanitarian group's website (Liberty in North Korea), and an article in The Economist as examples of the two major discursive styles of representation(s) of North Korea and its people. In mapping the two major representations of North Korea and its people: 1) as "defectors" and 2) as "refugees," I examine the discursive themes employed in each of the three texts. I conclude by describing some of the implications of a discourse of defection and suggest that for future …

Effectiveness Of Text-Messaging In Spanish Vocabulary Teaching / Learning, Flavia Melisa Velasquez

Theses

Mobile learning is the attainment of any knowledge or skill through using mobile technology, anywhere, anytime (Hashemi et al. 2477). Hashemi and Ghasemi also state that mobile phones are one of the most successful technologies in the past two decades (2947). More and more educators are using mobile phones as an educational tool. Second Language Acquisition has also been redefined due to the advent of Mobile learning and text-messaging. Khazaie and Ketabi explain that "the value of deploying technology at the service of learning and teaching seems to be both self-evident and unavoidable" (174). There are many studies of using …

Evaluating The Impact Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy On Children With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Keely Deanna Sabaini

Theses

The present study examined the effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a core behavior modification method on students with severe behavior disorders. A pre/posttest design was implemented and both control and treatment groups were exposed to testing measures. Students in the treatment group were exposed to ACT as well as contingency based classroom management, and a token economy in an attempt to increase grade point average (GPA), days in attendance, and psychological flexibility. Results are discussed regarding the increase in GPA and attendance, and levels of psychological flexibility are also elaborated upon. Limitations, implications, and future research are …

Socioeconomic Status And Social Class As Predictors Of Career Adaptability And Educational Aspirations In High School Students, Alec Eshelman

Theses

This study examined socioeconomic status (SES) and perceived social class as predictors of career adaptability and educational aspirations in a sample of American high school students. SES was measured using caregivers' occupation and education, and the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status--Youth Version (Goodman et al., 2001) assessed subjective social class. Career adaptability was be measured using the Career Futures Inventory-Revised (CFI-R; Rottinghaus, Buelow, Matyja, & Schneider, 2012) and the Career Maturity Inventory (CMI) Form C (Savickas & Porfeli, 2011). Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regressions. SES and perceived social class independently predicted educational aspirations and expectations, while SES …

"Oh, You Are An Exception!" Academic Success And Black Male Students Resistance To Systemic Racism, Lacharles Travell Ward

Theses

This study theorizes how Black male students narrate their experiences at a traditionally White institution (TWI). To date, research focusing on Black men in higher education highlights the continual struggles of Black men against racism (Feagin, Vera, & Imani, 1996; Harper, 2006, 2009, 2012; Smith, Yosso, & Solórzano, 2007); however, what remains to be extensively theorized is Black male academic excellence. Thus, I argue that it is vital to progressively broaden what we know about Black male students as intellectuals. In this study I forefront how Black male students articulate their intellectual identities and educational experiences on a traditionally White …

Effect Of Celebrity Endorsements On Treatment Choices Made By Professionals And Parents With Children Diagnosed With Asd, Jenika Karnik

Theses

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently estimated that one in 50 children are diagnosed with Autism in the U.S. Now, parents out there not only have to face a doctor's diagnosis, but also a flood of confusing promises for recoveries and miracle cures. Parents have to sift through recommendations made by media, celebrities, professionals, and many, many more. The purpose of this study is to examine what influences the choices parents make involving treatment for their children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

An Examination Of Equilibria In The Multi-Site Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma, George A. Mcclain

Theses

Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma is a simple model for the interaction between two self-interested agents who can choose whether or not to cooperate with one another. Many real-world problems can be characterized in terms of the Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma, from the militarization of rival nations to the tradeoff between gas mileage and safety when purchasing a vehicle. The game theoretic properties of Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma are well understood, and previous research by Robert Axelrod into the performance of various strategies in a Darwinian environment is extensive. In this paper we extend Axelrod's work by investigating the dynamics of the Iterated Prisoner's …

A Quantitative Analysis Of The Mental Workload Demands Of Mrap Vehicle Drivers Using Physiological, Subjective, And Performance Assessments, Elizabeth Khol

Theses

United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Operators and vehicle Commanders are specially trained United States military Warfighters that have the demanding task of operating or working onboard Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATVs). Their missions encounter significant mental demands resulting from fatigue, highly stressful situations, and interactions with Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). Excessive mental demands can be the primary factor leading to compromised vehicle communication, missed improvised explosive device (IED) detection, and increased incidents of vehicle roll-over. Research has demonstrated the consequences of mental overloading including increased errors, performance decrements, distraction, cognitive tunneling and inadequate time to …

Judicial Perspectives Of Domestic Violence Courts, Monica Elizabeth Wingler

Theses

The domestic violence court evolved with the feminist movement. As women gained rights, domestic violence became perceived as a male domination issue, rather than a private family matter. The development of the courts was based on therapeutic jurisprudence, and feminist and deterrence theory. Research regarding domestic violence courts is largely based on the effectiveness of victim advocates and batterer intervention programs. There is little to no research regarding judicial perspectives of the domestic violence court. Through inductive analysis of interviews and court observations, I examined how judges perceive the effectiveness of the courts and their general knowledge of domestic violence. …

Usefulness Of Teaching Security Awareness For Middle School Students, Hani Alhejaili

Theses

Technology and the Internet bring many benefits to students. Studies show that technology and the available online resources encourage inquiry and support student success in schools. However, there are many threats to middle school students as a result of the misuse of technology. I believe that teaching security awareness for middle school students through an online interactive program is essential for reducing the risks that could affect them. The online interactive program should be multilingual, completely visual, continually updating, and suitable for both students and their families. Since many efforts have been made to minimize the risks, it has become …

Representing And Inferring Visual Perceptual Skills In Dermatological Image Understanding, Rui Li

Theses

Experts have a remarkable capability of locating, perceptually organizing, identifying, and categorizing objects in images specific to their domains of expertise. Eliciting and representing their visual strategies and some aspects of domain knowledge will benefit a wide range of studies and applications. For example, image understanding may be improved through active learning frameworks by transferring human domain knowledge into image-based computational procedures, intelligent user interfaces enhanced by inferring dynamic informational needs in real time, and cognitive processing analyzed via unveiling the engaged underlying cognitive processes.

An eye tracking experiment was conducted to collect both eye movement and verbal narrative data …

Fluid, Ben Dombey

Theses

For my thesis body of work, I created sculptures comprised of glass and other components. Through material explorations, trial and error, and experimentation, I further developed my sensibilities toward glass. By stretching, curving, stacking, and encasing glass, the resulting sculptures are abstract and self-referential. Through the process of creating, I made many discoveries. I hope viewers will connect with the work and create their own dialogue amongst the sculptures. Experimentation and trial and error were key to the body of work. Implementing my knowledge of glass and the successes of previous attempts, I created controlled scenarios to manipulate glass. Once …

A Graph Theoretic Approach To Quantifying Grey Matter Volume In Neuroimaging, Ashley Zanca

Theses

Brain atrophy occurs as a symptom of many diseases. The software package, Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) is one of the most respected and commonly used tools in the neuroimaging community for quantifying the amount of grey matter (GM) in the brain based on magnetic resonance (MR) images. One aspect of quantifying GM volume is to identify, or segment, regions of the brain image corresponding to grey matter. A recent trend in the field of image segmentation is to model an image as a graph composed of vertices and edges, and then to "cut" the graph into subgraphs corresponding to different …

Understanding Effects Of Presentation On Concept Learning In Technology Supported Learning, Nivedita Singh

Theses

The world of technology has had a significant impact on learning and instructional domain. Today, a large number of devices and software are specifically designed to afford faster and effective learning and instruction. They have not only erased the physical boundaries to resources in education but have also helped create new interactions and engagements for learners and instructors. With this changed scenario, the content or instructional material also needs our attention to become usable and compatible with the changed learning styles and preferences of the learners today. Not only does the content need to seamlessly integrate with the delivery methodology …

Designing Pictorial Stimuli For Perceptual Image Difference Experiments, Susan Farnand

Theses

Imaging system development often involves impact assessment of design choices. For systems that generate images for human consumption, such as cameras and displays, the effect of design decisions are often evaluated using `real-world' images. System changes can have complicated effects on pictorial images that do not, as yet, have specified instrumental measurement methods. Consequently, human observers are often used in image quality assessment. However, human observers can react differently to complex pictorial stimuli both between observers and for a single observer over the course of a lengthy experiment. In an experimental setting, pictorial scenes present a greater opportunity than do …

Dreams And Memories, Sarah Arditti

Theses

In this document I analyze my work, process, and the success or failure of each piece in a body of artwork completed for the Masters of Fine Arts in Fine Arts Studio at Rochester Institute of Technology. My artwork explores personal dreams and memories through experimentation with material, color, technique and form. The works, a combination of paintings and objects, are each connected to a dream or memory and convey a paradox between reality versus illusion, or a sense of detachment from the real world.

Living Fossil, Ben Gilberg

Theses

Living Fossil is a series of still lifes and portraits exploring the language of photography with curiosity and play, formal vision and descriptive candor. It looks at the speculative of materiality and spectacle in image making. This series prescribes new functionality to familiar subjects, challenging a viewer's perceptions of scale, time, significance and artfulness. The photographs document improvised temporal combinations in the construction of narrative and visual puns. Depicting the ordinary in an unfamiliar way, this series looks for beauty in indeterminacy and moments of personal catharsis in the absurd.

Exitus Acta Probat, Zachary John Taillie

Theses

There are many ways in which to tell a story. Through the years humans have told stories by speaking them, writing them and through visual art forms. Stories can define and/or reveal the limits of a person, a place, a movement, or a thought. My art work has been inspired by human stories. My thinking has been shaped by events which I feel the need to communicate through my work. I am not alone in understanding the many meanings of things at the different and deeper levels thought.

My thesis work is generated from a multitude of sources that over …

Emotion In Motion: A Study On Representation Of Sculpture And Body Form By The Theme Of Human Emotion In Motion, Jiwon Han

Theses

This thesis explores the relationship between human emotion and physical expression. The ultimate objective is to communicate essential aspects of the human condition in order to improve understanding and appreciation of our common attributes. In this way, this study is intended to establish artistic identity of the human being through imaginative expressions. In the introduction, essential aspects of specific human emotions and the corresponding physical expressions will be identified. For my initial research, I studied the work of various inspiring artists in their portrayal of human emotions. I attempted to identify the expressions and techniques they used to communicate human …

Flutter-By Interactive Butterfly: Using Interactivity To Excite And Educate Children About Butterflies And The National Museum Of Play At The Strong’S Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden, Lydia Powers

Theses

The National Museum of Play at The Strong's Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden is a tropical rainforest that allows visitors to step into the world of butterflies, but lacks a more comprehensive educational element to teach visitors additional information about butterflies. Flutter-by Interactive Butterfly is a thesis project designed to enhance younger visitors' experience of the Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden with an interactive educational application that aligns with The Strong's mission of encouraging learning, creativity, and discovery. This was accomplished through a series of fun and educational games and animations, designed for use as a kiosk outside the garden and as …

Coup D'Oeil, Stephanie Quarto

Theses

coup d'oeil translates as "stroke of eye;" it also means a sudden blink or glimpse. It was used as a military term referring to a general's ability to assess with a single glance the advantages and disadvantages of a battlefield. I have titled this thesis coup d'oeil because it addresses the general lack of strategy and analysis by viewers of popular images. Images are omnipresent; they guide and influence humanity. They are not inherently adversarial, but when they assault both our conscious and unconscious minds, they can be extremely influential and destructive. The images in this thesis are similarly made …

Identifying Medical Resident Stress With Work Domain Representation, Daniel Nystrom

Theses

Resident physicians must endure substantial amounts of stress to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to become competent, certified physicians. Multiple factors that contribute to high levels of stress in different areas of the healthcare domain have been identified, but stress continues to be a major problem despite this knowledge and efforts to reduce it. This thesis describes a holistic approach to the problem of resident stress by employing methods of Cognitive Work Analysis to systematically review and organize relevant research literature, observations, interview responses, and survey information according to the area of the work domain where each stressor is …

Tailored Type: Studying The Effects Of Typography In Clothing Brand Personalities, Rita Yu

Theses

Understanding how typography influences consumer perception and brand reception is important to successfully employ typographic strategies that positively influence consumers. Utilizing typography to effectively express the intended meaning through text and perception requires extensive thought and skill. The purpose of this thesis was to examine whether specific typefaces used for clothing brands deliver particular brand personality traits. An online survey investigating this relationship between typography and clothing brand personality was created and made available to voluntary participants. A total of 251 usable data sets were collected and statistically analyzed. The findings of this study provided an insight on the association …

Measuring Attention Using Microsoft Kinect, Darren Stanley

Theses

The transfer of knowledge between individuals has increasingly become achieved with the aid of interfaces or computerized training applications. However, computer based training currently lacks the ability to monitor human behavioral changes and respond to them accordingly. This study examines the ability to predict user attention using features of body posture and head pose. Predictive abilities are assessed by an analysis of the relationship between the measured posture features and common objective measures of attention, such as reaction time and reaction time variance. Subjects were asked to participate in a series of sustained attention tasks while aspects of body movement …

Anti-Propaganda Propaganda Animation, Ruban Tamrakar

Theses

This motion graphics project tries to shed light on how a few media conglomerates controls most of the information we get as citizens. This is done to manipulate and control the public. For this project, I picked one of the theories relating to media-society relationship. This theory says that the media has a big influence on society. Here I present the current media-ownership scenario and their motive for information manipulation. Then, I talk about how these companies are able to control the public by controlling the media. At last, I urge the viewers to break the illusion, question every thing …

The Impact Of Daycare And Child Temperament On Parent-Child Interactions, Kyle Bersted

Theses

This study explored the potential impact of child temperament and daycare on behavior problems and parental sensitivity. It was expected that children with more "difficult" temperaments would exhibit more behavior problems and have less sensitive parents when experiencing high amounts of daycare. Measures from 60 families involved in the Southern Illinois Twins and Siblings Study (SITSS) were examined. Results indicated that highly active children exhibited more externalizing behaviors when experiencing less daycare. Shy children experiencing more daycare had more sensitive parents. Additionally, a temperamental difference between co-twins was related to differential parental sensitivity. Lastly, DZ co-twins were more temperamentally different …

It's Hardly Noticeable, John Keedy

Theses

It's Hardly Noticeable attempts to make the abstract visually tangible and prompts a reconsideration of normalcy. Based both in academic research of psychology and personal experience with pathology, my photographs explore the world of a semi- autobiographical character who negotiates living with an unspecified mental illness and its impact on his thoughts and behaviors. As constructed tableaux, they exploit the relationship between fact and fiction, reality and perception, and truth and performance. The photographs question the legitimacy of applying the term `normal' in a societal context by prompting a reconsideration of what, if anything, is normal, or at least what …

Being Close To Far Away, Michailo Tulek

Theses

In 1948 my great-grandfather was imprisoned in a Russian forced labor camp known as the Gulag, an acronym for the title "Chief Administration of Corrective Labor Camps and Colonies" Surviving this life event pushed my great-grandfather beyond the limits of civil society, rationality, and empathy into a world that author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn called, "an unassimilable spiritual earthquake which not every person can cope with." Like millions of others, my great grandfather took a journey into the "Gulag country," a place beyond "vision" or "understanding." In the fall of 2012, I too traveled to the Gulag country, in order to trace …