Digital Commons Network^™

The Soulless Machine, Nathan Lomas

Theses

Since their creation, we have grown increasingly reliant on machines to aid us in our understanding and perceptions of the world - the camera is no exception. As an extension of the human eye, it allows us the opportunity to examine our environments from new perspectives, offering up views that we may not be able to witness on our own. Though in truth, the structure of the machine is ingrained in everything we know: from the natural world to our social patterns, actions are prescribed, parts move with united purpose, yet there is a certain comfort in the surrender of …

Subject Vs Object, Francesca Lalanne Jeune

Theses

This paper focuses on the concepts that inform my thesis work for the Master of Fine Arts in Fine Arts Studio from Rochester Institute of Technology. I have always been intrigued by circumstances such as war and oppression. I have also wondered about the opposite, moments of peace and serenity. Inevitably, I have allowed these dualistic thoughts to govern my artwork, abstractly through form and underlying narratives. In my thesis, I investigate concepts such as identity, history, memory, and how they play a role in my artwork. I see history as a tool for examining identity, while memory serves as …

Palpable, John Archer

Theses

To provoke intrigue using simplified, whimsical, playful (toy-like) forms with recycled materials that convey complex, possibly dark, relationships to foster a curiosity of innocence lost and deliver a deeper meaning (Archer, 2012). To me life is an exercise in exploring the human condition; specifically relationships. From the day we arrive we establish relationships with everything in our world, even before we arrive, if we count the ten months of uterine swimming. The sights, sounds, and touch of lights, voices, and caress all play a part in our connection to the world. My thesis work focuses on the connections among interpersonal …

Man : Woman : Human, Maressa Tosto Merwarth

Theses

The present day atmosphere seems to be so much about one or the other. Whether it is politics, religion, or even something as small as Apple or PC, it seems like it is impossible to exist in the middle; you either "are" or "are not." With the blinders firmly strapped on, there is so much not coming into view. By only seeing things in absolutes, is what we DO NOT experience and believe as important as what we DO?

This is a cumbersome question without a simple yes or no answer. However, rather than attempting to create some kind of …

Think Aloud: Can Eye Tracking Add Value In Detecting Usability Problems?, Alekhya Paruchuri

Theses

The protocols of Think Aloud and Eye Tracking, in their own unique way have proven to be great methods to understand users' thought processes, and their mental models when interacting with interfaces. However the effectiveness of the combination of the two protocols in discovering usability problems has not been explored. This study aimed to discover if the addition of Eye Tracking data (fixations and scan movements) to the traditional protocol of Think Aloud can uncover more usability problems. Web users were split into three groups: Eye Tracking Only (ET), Think Aloud Only (TA), and Eye Tracking and Think Aloud Only …

Pablo & The Artists: A Mobile Game For Art Education, Yixiong Zhou

Theses

Pablo & The Artists is an educational mobile application project. This documentation aims to focus and further explore the opportunities of a mobile application by analysing the process of Pablo & The Artists. My emphasis is on the design aspect of creating a mobile gaming experience, involving researches on user behaviors of a particular group and technical implementations of a complex mobile application.

Video Game Huds: Information Presentation And Spatial Immersion, James Babu

Theses

Researchers have analyzed various aspects of the video game experience; however, analysis of how the presentation of game status information affects the player's sense of immersion into the virtual environment has not been explored. This study aims to discover how feelings of immersion are affected by diegetic, or environmentally based, methods of presenting the player's status versus non-diegetic methods. Avid gamers were told to play two games, one diegetic based interface and the other a non-diegetic interface, to see how their spatial immersion experiences differed between the two designs. In addition to the use of questionnaires to evaluate the level …

Ultra Shiny, Beccy Feather

Theses

Ultra Shiny; what could be more compelling to a crow, or a hypnotized, dazed supermarket consumer? This thesis will discuss my theories regarding package design, advertising techniques, glitz, pizzazz and pyrotechnics from the sublime to the ridiculous, as a legitimate strategy for art making, both utterly sincere and ironic.

A Comparison Of Different Forms Of Methamphetamine On Locomotor Activity And Sign Tracking Performance In Rats, Christine E. Michaels

Theses

No abstract provided.

Avoidance, Escape, And Approach Behavior In Individuals With High Behavioral Inhibition, Nicole Anastasides

Theses

No abstract provided.

Motivation In Foreign Language Learning Settings: The Case Of Arabic In The Usa, Abdelmohssen Bouteldjoune

Theses

The term motivation has been the key for several research studies in language learning since Gardner and Lambert (1972) introduced the term to the field; however, the term did not go beyond the two types instrumental and integrative. Several studies were built over these terms, but none of them has explicitly investigated the motivation for learning Arabic language as a foreign language in the USA. Arabic is one of the languages where motivation for learning in the USA is increasing, thus came this study to investigate the reasons and orientations i.e. initial motivation for learning Arabic and if the materials …

Exploring The Guilt-Proneness Of Non-Traditional Students, Kristian Leigh Alton

Theses

Current political forces see education as a potential solution to the economic slide the United States is experiencing. This push toward higher education and resulting employment creates a conflict for women expected by society to serve as primary caregivers of children. Research suggests that working mothers experience feelings of guilt related to the conflict between parenting and employment roles that may come from failure to personify the intensive mothering ideology. Student parents potentially share this guilt but few studies exist that investigate this. The results of this study suggest that student parents do experience guilt and identify relationships between guilt, …

Perceptions And Satisfaction Of Healthy Food Choices Among College-Aged Females In A Self-Serve Dining Facility Setting, Kristin Timken

Theses

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Kristin Timken, for the Master of Science degree in Food & Nutrition, presented on November 21, 2011, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: PERCEPTIONS & SATISFACTION OF HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AMONG COLLEGE-AGED FEMALES IN A SELF-SERVE DINING FACILITY SETTING MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Sara Long Roth Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure perceptions of healthy food choices and satisfaction of menu choices among members of a sorority house. Design: Three surveys were used in this experiment, two pre-tests and one post-test. Subjects and Setting: The study consisted of a self-selected sample of …

The Impact Of Background Knowledge And Time Constraint On Reading Comprehension Of Vietnamese Learners Of English As A Second Language, Trang Thi Thuy Nguyen

Theses

Reading in a second language is an interesting area of research because the factors affecting reading have brought about much controversy in related theory and research. Particularly, schema theory has raised long-term debate about whether background knowledge facilitates or impedes reading comprehension. In recognition of such issue, the current research was conducted to examine the impact of background knowledge on second language reading comprehension. Additionally, the impact of time constraint on reading comprehension was also investigated. Thirty-one students of intermediate level of English in Le Quy Don high school, Vietnam took part in the study. Four cloze texts, two of …

The Effect Of Behavioral Skills Training For Dental Hygiene Students On Treatment Of Special Needs Patients During Dental Care Procedures, Tracy A. Tufenk

Theses

This study assessed the effect of Behavioral Skills Training (instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback) using a multiple baseline design to train 3 dental hygiene students to implement basic behavioral procedures (picture schedules, differential reinforcement, contingent escape, escape extinction, and least-to-most prompting) to manage and prevent challenging behavior during dental care procedures on special needs patients. The study took place in a mobile school-based dental clinic set up within 4 special schools. Training consisted of one group training session and several in-vivo training sessions. After training, participants' performance in the absence of feedback was assessed. Data show that participants performed less …

Narratives Of Abuse: A Glimpse Into The Lives Of Battered Women And The Making Of The Film, In The Eyes Of Others, Elisa Herrmann

Theses

The thesis film In the Eyes of Others is the result of three-years of research on viewers' fascination with horror films, Brazil televisions' seeming non-stop broadcast of news about crimes of passion, and my study of the link between crimes of passion and domestic violence. The film tells the story of Amanda and Jack, a battered woman and her abusive husband, who, in the eyes of others, seem like the perfect couple. By showing one of the possible tragic outcomes of a life where violence against women is hidden from the eyes of society, my goal with In the Eyes …

Evaluation Of Growing Media For Annual Herb Production In Green Roof Modular Trays, Mary Margaret Fischer

Theses

Extensive urban development has led to the resurgence of green roofs. These vegetated roofs provide significant ecological and economic benefits including mitigation of the urban heat island effect, reduced storm-water runoff, lower energy costs, increased biodiversity, and improved aesthetics, as well as food production and security. Urban agriculture and food security are becoming increasingly important factors of the green roof renaissance. Due to weight load limitations of potential buildings, the ability to produce quality food in shallow media, less than 6.75 cm, could encourage green roof food production. The effectiveness of a commercially available green roof media and a vermicompost …

Motivation And Attitudes Toward Learning French In The University's Foreign Language Classroom, Brianna Johnson

Theses

In second language research and pedagogy, motivation has been labeled as a key factor for success (Clément, 1980; Dörnyei, 1998; Tremblay & Gardner, 1995; Deci & Ryan, 1985); namely, language learners with high levels of motivation will be more successful than those who exhibit more negative attitudes towards learning the TL. Through classroom observations, student survey responses and personal interviews conducted in a beginner-level university French class, this study attempted to determine broad motivational patterns using Gardner's (1982) binary integrative and instrumental model, and then determine specific origins for these motivations. Four interviewees were selected: two with high instrumental and …

Is There Justice In Trauma? A Path Analysis Of Belief In A Just World, Coping, Meaning Making, And Posttraumatic Growth In Female Sexual Assault Survivors, Danielle Grace Fetty

Theses

By using the theoretical framework developed by Schaefer and Moos (1998), this study examined the mechanisms through which personal beliefs in ultimate justice affect posttraumatic growth in female survivors of sexual assault. Problem solving, spiritual coping, and meaning making were examined as potential mediators between beliefs in ultimate justice and posttraumatic growth through a path analysis. In total, 144 female community survivors, psychology students, and other participants were recruited from a large mid-western university (mean age = 29.3). The online survey was composed of a demographic questionnaire, the Revised Sexual Experiences Survey (Koss et al., 2007), Emotion Thermometer (Mitchell, 2001), …

Defending The Role Of Unconscious Intentions: A Response To Wegner, Hannah Bondurant

Theses

Cognitive science has recently supported and popularized the idea that perhaps free will is but an illusion. With his theory of apparent mental causation, Daniel M. Wegner in particular proposes that our beliefs about intention and the control we exert over our actions are actually based upon other factors and usually occur retroactively. Since many of our actions are determined and preformed outside of awareness, the cause of said actions could then be difficult to locate. Part of Wegner’s argument lies in his assumption of brain activity and corresponding behavior as conscious and “controlled” or outside of awareness and unintended. …

The Effect Of The Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies Curriculum On Internalizing Symptoms In Both A Maltreated And Non-Maltreated Sample, Elizabeth Raynor

Theses

The present study examines whether the Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies (PATHS) curriculum has an ameliorating effect on internalizing symptoms among 68 low-income and maltreated participants between the ages of 7 and 11. Participants attended a six-week after school program, which implemented the PATHS curriculum. Pre and post measures were obtained and a repeated measures design was used to analyze all participants across three measures of anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. Results indicated that participants did not report clinical significant levels of anxiety, but that those children whose parents had 11 years or more of education reported significantly lower levels of anxiety …

A Regression-Based Training Algorithm For Multilayer Neural Networks, Christopher W. Sherry

Theses

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are powerful tools for machine learning with applications in many areas including speech recognition, image classification, medical diagnosis, and spam filtering. It has been shown that ANNs can approximate any function to any degree of accuracy given enough neurons and training time. However, there is no guarantee on the number of neurons required or the time it will take to train them. These are the main disadvantages of using ANNs. This thesis develops an algorithm which uses regression-based techniques to decrease the number of training epochs. A modification of the Delta Rule, combined with techniques established …

Examining Family Functioning In Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Through Kinetic Family Drawings, Christiana Lajudice

Theses

Pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) is a mental illness that affects the daily lives of children and adults, particularly their family functioning. Past research has found significant differences in maternal-child warmth and disciplinary warmth, maternal and paternal hostility and tension, family cohesion and adaptability, and minor conflicts between children with PBD and comparison groups. Typical methods for assessing family functioning involve objective scales, questionnaires, and interviews. The projective measure, the Kinetic Family Drawing (KFD), has been utilized with other groups including populations of abused and maltreated children, and children with serious medical illnesses, but has yet to be utilized with the …

Passion For Food: Redesigning The Way We Eat, Nicole Chen

Theses

Where has the passion in food gone? The focus of food has been on the obesity epidemic, as people demand fast, cheap, and easy foods. The symbol of food is no longer seen as a basic need for survival because of the abundance and options of goods. Being unaware of food and its' power to bring and express so many facets of life, has given me the chance to discover areas that could be redesigned. During these past few years learning about food has made me fully understand these processes as a symbiotic relationship. In today's society, what separates people …

Human Reliability Analysis In Healthcare: Application Of The Cognitive Reliability And Error Analysis Method (Cream) In A Hospital Setting, Joey Deeter

Theses

Patient safety is a concern within the healthcare domain as it is estimated that tens of thousands of people die annually from preventable medical errors. For over ten years, traditional Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) techniques (e.g., Root Cause Analysis and Failure Mode and Effect Analysis) have been used in hospitals nationwide in an attempt to explain why these errors occur and what can be done to prevent them. Still, patient safety has not improved significantly. Traditional HRA techniques are limited as analysis tools. They do not consider the context in which workers operate. They are also not based on a …

The Emotions And Two Aesthetic Paradoxes, Nicholas James Curry

Theses

The purpose of this paper is to show that the shape of the dispute over a central issue in the philosophy of emotion—namely, the disagreement over the role of cognition in emotion—provides a useful way of seeing the twin aesthetic paradoxes of horror and tragedy. Recent theories of emotion can be helpfully divided into two camps, the affective and the cognitive. Affective theories hold that emotions consist of bodily affect alone, and are therefore cognitively impenetrable. Cognitive theories hold that emotions are or entail cognition. To discuss the differences between affective and cognitive views, I consider the theories of Jesse …

The Effects Of Caffeine On Spatial Learning And Memory, Romina G. Cupo

Theses

No abstract provided.

Mental Illness Stigma: An Examination Of The Effects Of Label And Gender On College Students Perceptions Of Depression And Alcohol Abuse, Chelsea P. Reichert

Theses

No abstract provided.

Mandatory War In The State Of Israel & The Idf Code Of Ethics, Michal Fine

Theses

No abstract provided.

School Leadership Styles And Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Relationship To Academic Achievement Of Secondary School Students In Four School Districts In Northern Uae., Abdalla Qambar Qasim Ali Loghani

Theses

This study aimed to identify school leadership patterns and their relationship to the academic achievement of secondary school students in four Northern Emirates in the UAE as perceived by the teachers. The study was guided by four research questions and used the quantitative research method. Data for this study were collected through a questionnaire divided into four sections. The first section included demographic information of participants. The second was the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) in its most recent version, which measures passive, transactional, and transformational leadership. The third consisted of ten statements that assessed instructional leadership. The last section comprised …