Digital Commons Network^™

Leading Standards-Based Reform: Examining The Role Of The Principal In Raising Student Achievement In A Program Improvement School, A Case Study 2004-2008, Jacqueline Sanderlin

Theses and Dissertations

The role of the principal has changed in definition and perception over the last decade. today's principal is deeply involved with instruction, curriculum, accountability as well as management of the school site. Given this change, there is a need to define critical skills essential to principal leadership, particularly of low performing schools. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the role of one principal in Los Angeles, California over a four year period as a school leader who implemented standards-based reform to raise student achievement in a Program Improvement school. The results of this case study will …

“They Are Men Who Would Die By The Stars And Stripes”: The 2nd Arkansas Cavalry (Us) During The American Civil War, Brian K. Robertson

Theses and Dissertations

The 2nd Arkansas Cavalry (US) was one of a handful of Federal regiments raised within the state during the Civil War. The men in the unit came from a broad geographic cross-section. Not only were there enlistments from the traditional stronghold of Arkansas Unionism, the Ozark Mountain Region, but there were also a significant number of enlistments from the Ouachita Mountains as well as the Arkansas Delta. While differing little socially or economically from their secessionist neighbors, the men in the unit nonetheless chose to maintain their loyalty to the United States government. An examination of the regiment reveals that …

The Effect Of Locus Of Control, Motivation And Learning Style On Retention In Online Community College Courses, Vondra O. Armstrong

Theses and Dissertations

Literature is replete with the uniqueness of the community college student as it relates to remediation, persistence, and academic success; yet very little literature exists on the community college and retention in online courses. The purpose o f the study was to examine the effect of student characteristics, locus of control, motivation, and learning style on retention in online community college courses. The descriptive discriminant function analysis revealed one function that was primarily defined by age and ethnicity, locus of control was not supported, while motivation and learning style preference were predictors of retention to a lesser degree. Completers tended …

The Proficiency Of English As A Second Language Students At A U.S. Metropolitan University: A Survey Of The Beliefs And Perceptions Of Core-Course Instructors, Pamela Henline Villines

Theses and Dissertations

The success of English as a Second Language (ESL) students at university level in the United States depends upon their ability to perform at a level of language proficiency deemed adequate by university core-course instructors. This writing begins with the historical derivation of “language proficiency,” and continues on to examine the curricular demands of the Intensive English Language Program (IELP) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). ESL students, both IELP graduates and IELP non-affiliates, may enroll in the core courses required to earn a degree from UALR. This thesis is based on the results of a survey …

Bollywood Broads: Reconstructing The Femme Fatale In Popular Indian Film, Erin Zimmerman Moss

Theses and Dissertations

Mumbai is currently one of the most prolific and lucrative film centers in the world. Its production of the "Bollywood" popular film has attracted billions in audience members outside the nation of India, many of whom do not belong to Indian culture in the Diaspora. The significance of this influence draws from the cross-cultural borrowings increasingly present in Bollywood cinema. The advent of Western investment in the production center has coincided with the diversification of the standard Bollywood film from "masala" musical to more genre specific action, horror and even romantic comedy musical. Within this genre expansion, a nod to …

Des Perdues: The Precariousness Of Loss, Alissa Grace Davis

Theses and Dissertations

The majority of losses that take place in a day are not large, or sad, they are built almost entirely on behaviors and systems that have nothing to do with loss. Most of these, I discovered, are the result of deliberate carelessness. The word loss is as difficult to define as truth, but its variation is what makes it so interesting and evocative. It is not, and never has been, a definition of loss that I seek: it is not enough to simply say I lost this person or that place, we must consider what is left and what can …

Informal Caregivers Of Advanced Cancer Patients: The Impact Of Geographic Proximity On Social Support And Bereavement Adjustment, John Garland Cagle

Theses and Dissertations

This research explored the social and psychological needs of caregivers of advanced cancer patients, and their subsequent bereavement adjustment. The study focuses exclusively on informal caregivers who provide assistance to patients receiving hospice care for end-stage cancer. Those individuals living furthest from the dying care recipient, the long distance caregivers, were of particular interest. This study used a prospective design to explore how a caregiver's geographic proximity impacted their social support and bereavement adjustment. A 2 x 3 repeated measures design was used to gather data from caregivers before a patient's death (using a pre-death questionnaire) as well as after …

A Science & Mathematics Magnet School At Maymont, Sarah Shamus Nakfoor

Theses and Dissertations

I am interested in the idea that schools should be designed to offer individualized learning."A Science & Mathematics Magnet School at Maymont" explores a type of school that is becoming more familiar and accessible. By allowing students who have an interest in excelling in school and preparing for their future careers to come together and meet one another and experience aneducation that might not otherwise be available can be beneficial in many ways. In most cases, because of the funding required for such specialized schools, class sizes are reduced to meet budgets and the schools are opened to the community …

Comparative Practices & Perspectives: Gender, Development And Empowerment In Uttarakhand, India And Northern Virginia, Sara Duke

Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis is a qualitative comparative case study which investigated the values, practices, perspectives, and strategies of Indian and American community organizers (practitioners and volunteers of non-profits and non-governmental organizations) who use microfinance, including savings schemes, as an instrument within the social intermediation process of developing disadvantaged women's capacities for self-sufficiency/empowerment. The focused inquiry was conducted through similarly structured in-depth interviews of directors, staff members and volunteers/community-based organizers of a women's business center in Northern Virginia, a large U.S. metropolitan area, and a women's federation in the rural Himalayas of Uttarakhand, India. Interview questions focused on savings, social intermediation, …

The Bin Laden Phenomenon, Robert J. Vandenberg

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Clothes Encounters : The Transgression And Transformation Of Gender In Male-To-Female Film Representations, Christopher M. Stoner

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Correlation Of Peak Flow In The Red River Of The North To Changes In Climate And Land Cover, Virginia M. G Regorrah

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Survey Of Ethics In United States Remote Sensing Education, William A. Wetherholt

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Train Songs, Shane Winterhalter

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Critical Factors For Training In Rural Psychology, Christine M. Boulton-Olson

Theses and Dissertations

Students in graduate level psychology training who intend to work in rural settings must be familiar with and educated in how rural life and identity impacts clients. Currently, there are few doctoral training programs in psychology that offer courses specifically tailored to rural populations despite the fact many psychologists are employed, or work with people, in rural settings. As such, there is a need to understand how to best prepare students in doctoral training in psychology for competent work as psychologists in rural areas. Given the nature of rural culture, rural mental health, urban versus rural characteristics, the current status …

A Historical Geography Investigation Of The Urban-Rural Fringe Of Grand Forks, North Dakota, Todd A. Fahrni

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of The Use Of Mental Health Services By Refugees In An Upper Great Plains City, David Wal Jal

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Recreation Use Characteristics Of The Maah Daah Hey Trail, James C. Lindstrom

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Hurricane Katrina On The Structure, Performance, Capacity, And Future Of The Lumber Industry, Thomas Eric Mcconnell

Theses and Dissertations

This investigation focuses on the effects of hurricane Katrina on the structure, performance, capacity, and future of the lumber industry in the impacted area. The basis of the examination is a survey of both hardwood and softwood lumber mills in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. Total response rate was 42.4%. Results support the hypothesis that the storm did have a significant and negative effect on the commerce of responding facilities. Contribuing factors, such as raw materials supply and procurement, physical damage tothe mill and resulting variations to operation, productivity and quality issues, as well as human resources, were impacted in differing …

Socioeconomic Development In The Southeast Region Of The United States From 1995 - 2000: A Structural Equation Modeling And A Gis Modeling Approach, Erdenechimeg Eldev-Ochir

Theses and Dissertations

This research presented in this study demonstrates that county level population growth, economic growth, and localized social structure are interrelated. An analysis of the spatial distribution of these factors in the Southeast Region of the United States during the period of 1995-2000 also indicates the importance of differences in rural versus urban and coastal versus non-coastal areas as well as the importance of such factors as highways, large cities, and universities in economic, population, and social structure interrelationships. An extensive dataset is used in the analysis as a number of analysis tools including statistical analysis, econometric models, spatial econometric models, …

Natural Hazards In Mississippi: Regional Perceptions And Reality, Patrick Lee Threatt

Theses and Dissertations

This study comprised of a survey of 807 students in geosciences classes at Mississippi State University to determine the perceived level of threat from eight natural hazards: hurricanes, hail, lightning, tornadoes, earthquakes, ice storms, floods, and wildfires. Responses were analyzed to detect spatial differences in perceptions of threats across the state of Mississippi for comparison. Actual occurrences of the natural hazards and preparations for dealing with these hazards were recorded by county and MEMA districts. Threat perceptions for hurricanes, ice storms, floods, and lightning showed spatial differences, whereas threats from hail, tornadoes, earthquakes, and wildfire showed no spatial differences. All …

Registered Dietitian Dress And The Effect Of Dietitian Dress On Perceived Professionalism, Connie Lynn Packer

Theses and Dissertations

People use others' dress to make assumptions, including how they believe the wearer will behave. Observers then adjust their behavior in response to the anticipated behavior of the wearer. Physician or nurse dress affects the degree to which patients perceive the medical professional as confident, experienced, competent, mature, trustworthy, and professional. Dietitian dress has not been studied. Our purpose was to identify 1) the current level of formality of dress of registered dietitians (RD), 2) characteristics of dress codes, 3) the effect of RD dress on patient/client perceptions of professional traits, and 4) the level of formality at which an …

A Comparison Of A Scorecard Systems To Determine Supplier Efficency, Santosh Noone

Theses and Dissertations

The new trends of global competition, heightened customer expectations, and harsh economic conditions suggest that future competitiveness will be determined by a company's ability to develop strategies to optimally align and manage an extended network of supplier relationships. To remain in competition every company needs to attract and retain high-caliber suppliers. To accomplish this, firms must accurately evaluate vendor performance and must work with their suppliers to improve areas of weakness.

Scorecards are the matrix system that is used by most companies today to evaluate their supply base. These matrix systems evaluate the suppliers based on various performance factors and …

Social Isolation Meets Technological Innovation: Towards Developing A Model Of Communication Among Parents Who Homeschool, Megan Nicole Tollefson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand how a sample of homeschoolers were using blogs. In this study of homeschoolers and their blog use, a content analysis of 25 blogs with entries from September 2006, February 2007, and June 2007 were studied. The subjects were homeschoolers who blogged; 19 were females, three were males, and six did not clearly identify themselves as male or female. Seven themes emerged through a content analysis: resources, succeeding at homeschooling, homeschooling and fun, advice, questioning homeschoolers, current events, and socialization. These themes were verified through a word count listing from the software used …

Application Of Remote Sensing Lidar Data For The Detection Of Cultural Resources In A Forested Environment: An Example From Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, Julie M. Gallagher

Theses and Dissertations

There has been growing interest in the application of an effective remote sensing strategy for conducting cultural site detection surveys. Light Detecting and Ranging (LiDAR) imagery has demonstrated potential for identifying archaeological sites in remote areas with dense vegetation and surface disturbances. Research was conducted to determine the viability of using LiDAR to detect the presence or absence of pre- and post-European contact archaeological sites in forested environments on Isle Royale, Michigan. LiDAR bare-earth models were used to “see” past the vegetation in an effort to: 1) identify cultural features before the implementation of a ground-truthing survey; 2) develop a …

Built Environment And Rural Women: A Case Study Approach, Jeanine Esther Gangeness

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a worldwide concern resulting in disease and disability which disproportionately impacts women and rural populations. Rural women tend to be physically inactive and are at higher risk for obesity. The purpose of this case study was to describe and explain 1) the perceptions of rural women regarding rural built environments conducive to physical activity, and 2) what influences availability, accessibility, acceptability, and maintenance of these built environments for physical activity of rural women. March 2006 through April 2007 data collection occurred in two rural communities with populations of less than 1,000. The ecologic model and feminist underpinnings guided …

The Population Genetics Of The Wood Frog, Rana Sylvatica, Across Its Geographic Range, Tina M. Squire

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to determine the level of genetic variation across the continental-wide range of the wood frog, Rana sylvatica. Levels of genetic differentiation between sampled populations were investigated as was the possible locations of glacial refugia for this species. DNA microsatellites were used as the genetic marker. This study found significant genetic differentiation across the geographic range of Rana sylvatica that increased with geographic distance. In addition three likely glacial refugia, Alaska, New York and the southern Appalachians, were identified.

A subset of the populations used in the geographic range study was used to investigate the patterns at a …

An Evaluation Of A Low-Cost Uav Approach To Noxious Weed Mapping, Brandon Tyler Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Mapping their location and extent is a critical step in noxious weed management. One of the most common methods of mapping noxious weeds is to walk the perimeter of each patch with a handheld GPS receiver. This is the method used at Camp Williams, a National Guard Bureau training facility in Utah where this study was conducted. It was proposed that a low-cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that made use of a hobbyist remote control airplane equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and digital camera could be used along with automated post-processing techniques to reduce the cost of …

Teachers' Perception Of Their Technology Integration Skills And Its Relationship To Output Generated By Students, E. Leann Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

The main purpose of this study was to determine what constitutes effective technology integration, and if the perceptions of teachers' technology integration skills in actuality matched the skills needed to effectively integrate it into the curriculum. It also attempted to determine if their perceptions were evident in the output generated by their students. Data were collected from three tools: the Professional Competency Continuum (PCC), the Student Product Scoring Guide, and the Lesson Plan Scoring Guide. One hundred and ten teacher PCC scores and their corresponding student products and lesson plans were randomly selected from a group of 290 who were …

Greening American History: Incorporating An Environmental Perspective Into United States Survey Courses, Nelson Paul Rosit

Theses and Dissertations

To paraphrase a well-known historian, there is too little nature in the study of history. Although environmental history is a well established field, nature and the physical environment are still often excluded agents in history pedagogy. The following essay is an effort to remedy this problem. This dissertation has two main objectives. The first is to define and describe environmental history and present a rationale for its inclusion as a major component of survey history courses. The second is to outline ways college teachers can include an environmental perspective in their instructional strategies. It includes three sample lesson plans that …