Digital Commons Network^™

Bias In Perceptions Of Parenting Roles: Analysis Of Gender And Socioeconomic Status, Krislea E. Wegner

Theses and Dissertations

After industrialization in the United States, men primarily moved from the farm to the workplace, leaving women responsible for the children and maintaining the household alone. This arrangement contributed to the so called "tender years" doctrine, which suggested that mothers were better caretakers of the children and should therefore receive sole custody. The preference for mothers continued until the 1960's, after the women's liberation movement, when a large portion of women moved from the home into the workforce. State statutes were later changed to establish gender-neutrality for the purposes of determining custody decisions and suggested the custody of children should …

Hybrid Stochastic Models For Remaining Lifetime Prognosis, Steven M. Cox

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force is developing its next generation aircraft and is seeking to reduce the risk of catastrophic failures, maintenance activities, and the logistics footprint while improving its sortie generation rate through a process called autonomic logistics. Vital to the successful implementation of this process is remaining lifetime prognosis of critical aircraft components. Complicating this problem is the absence of failure time information; however, sensors located on the aircraft are providing degradation measures. This research has provided a method to address at least a portion of this problem by uniting analytical lifetime distribution models with environment and/or degradation …

Constructions Of Female Identities In Mary Gordon's The Other Side And Maureen Howard's Before My Time, Neli Gogovska

Theses and Dissertations

In Women's Time Kristeva designates three broad currents of feminist struggle: first, the suffragist movement declaring a universalist view of women's experience regardless of class, age, and cultures; second, the phase of difference, that she regards as "returning to an archaic (mythic) memory as well as cyclical or monumental temporality of marginal movements" (355); and third, a trend that she wholeheartedly supports for their concept that "the dichotomy of man and woman as an opposition of two rival entities is a problem of metaphysics" (366).

This thesis discusses Howard and Gordon as proponents of the second phase because they write …

Intercultural Knowledge And Skills In Social Service Work With Refugees: Perspectives From Providers And Recipients Of Service, Katherine Amy Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study examined how social service providers and refugee recipients of public social services in a small city in an upper mid-western state described the intercultural knowledge and skills they felt were necessary for effective provision of services to refugees. The study sought to add to a body of knowledge related to the concept of “cultural competence,” a concept that has received increasing attention in human service fields over the past twenty years. Lum (1999) describes cultural competence as an outcome goal “related to the master of cultural awareness, knowledge acquisition, skill development, and inductive learning” (p. 12). …

The Relationships Among Childhood Psychological Treatment, Adult Psychological Functioning, Dating Abuse, And Schema, Tonia L. Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine childhood psychological maltreatment’s unique associations with adult psychological functioning, being the recipient of dating abuse, and maladaptive schemas. The present study controlled for witnessing parental physical and psychological maltreatment in order to examine these associations. It was hypothesized that childhood psychological maltreatment would be related to symptoms of adult depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and obsessive-compulsive problems. In addition, it was hypothesized that childhood psychological maltreatment would be related to being a recipient of psychological and physical abuse in dating relationships. There is an underlying assumption in Young and Gluhoski's (1997) schema- focused …

Perceptions Of Domestic Violence In Lesbian Relationships: Stereotypes And Gender Role Expectations, Betsi M. Little

Theses and Dissertations

In light of evidence suggesting that violence between lesbian couples is often times dismissed as “mutually combative,” expectations that support this perception were examined in the present study. T"> this end, undergraduate participants (N = 287) read a newspaper brief describing an incident of domestic violence taking place within the context of a lesbian partnership. As gender-based stereotypes guide not only expectations for the behavior of lesbians, but their appearance as well, participants were shown pictures of both the alleged victim and accused that varied in terms of how feminine or masculine they appeared.

Participants were randomly assigned to one …

Cons, Ex-Cons And Odinism Across Cultural And National Borders: Why Attempt To Procure Knowledge And Dare We Not?, Lene T. Vallestad

Theses and Dissertations

The occurrence of right-wing extremism is becoming more prominent in the social landscape of Western European countries, including Norway, and in the United States. Amongst these movements one will find groups that base and justify their racist behavior in religious beliefs. Odinism, a pre-Christian, Norse neopagan faith, has merged racist beliefs and violent behavior with religious creed and ideology, and is a prime example of these right-wing religions.

During the 1990s Odinism emerged as one of the most dynamic trends within the extreme right-wing milieu in the U.S. and Western Europe. The popularity of Odinism today is connected to the …

The Impact Of Tourette's Syndrome On Families: Perceptions Of Fathers, Mothers, And Children With Tourette's Syndrome, Judith L. Olson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover the impact Tourette's syndrome has on families; specifically, fathers, mothers, and children diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome. More specifically, what is the impact of Tourette's syndrome on fathers who have a child with Tourette's syndrome7 What is the impact of Tourette's syndrome on mothers who have a child with Tourette's syndrome7 What is the impact of Tourette's syndrome on a child with Tourette's syndrome?

Three families were selected as participants. All families had at least one child, ages 10-21 medically diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome.

Qualitative research methods included initial visits and interviews, followup …

With A Map And A Compass: Planning For The Online Journey, Sherry L. Lindquist

Theses and Dissertations

With rising enrollments in online courses, institutions must decide how they will respond. Institutions offering online courses through distance programs are moving those courses into the mainstream, increasing the demand for courses and instructors. Faculty must choose how they will be involved. Institutions will be challenged to find ways to encourage faculty to be involved.

This qualitative study examined perceptions of faculty and administrators to discover how well those perceptions matched. Participants were interviewed at two institutions, using a grounded theory approach.

Faculty and administrators’ perceptions differed about their institution’s initial motive for offering online courses. Administrators claimed online courses …

Spirituality And Coping: Caregivers Of Spouses Afflicted With Alzheimer's, Khalil A. Sakalla

Theses and Dissertations

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can be one of the biggest commitments a spouse will make and the most difficult experience to undertake. Undesired surprises of old age such as a spouse’s affliction with Alzheimer’s disease can increase the individual’s psychological distress and hinder his or her ability to cope with stressful situations. Religious and spiritual beliefs, activities and experience are believed to help distressed individuals bring emotional equilibrium into their lives.

In this study, I explored the influence of spiritual well-being, also religious wellbeing and existential well-being, on task-, emotion-, and avoidance-oriented coping among caregivers challenged …

The Effectiveness Of The North Dakota Family To Family Network: A Descriptive Study, Susan Offutt

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine a parent support system for families of children who have been diagnosed with special needs in an upper Midwesxem iural state. The goal of the study was to determine the efficacy of the present process and gamer information to improve the system.

Qualitative research methods were used. One-on-one interviews were conducted with five family dyads; each dyad consisted of a family whose child was recently diagnosed with a special need and their matched “veteran” family who was trained to provide emotional and informational support. Analysis of the data was designed based …

The Characterization Of The Expression Of Bog25 And 7a5 In Normal And Cancerous Bladder, Prostate And Breast Cell Lines, Katerine Vanasek

Theses and Dissertations

The BOG25 family proteins, BOG25 and 7a5, contain domains of the EH- Network family of endocytosis, intracellular sorting and cell fate determination proteins as well as a C-terminal death domain that may play an important role in apoptosis. No other known proteins contain the same domain combinations which makes this family unique. The normal physiological roles of the BOG25 family of proteins are currently unknown, and this is the first study of the possible role of BOG25 and 7a5 in cancer. Additionally, this study is the first to confirm the transcription of mRNA for 7a5, the putative protein identified as …

Love, Laughter, And Lessons: What A Canine Brought To A Classroom For Students With Severe Emotional Disorders, Katherine L. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether having a dog as a member of a self-contained classroom for students diagnosed with severe emotional disorders held benefits for these students. This study provided an opportunity to explain or predict the effects that a dog had on students’ emotional well-being and learning in the school setting.

The methods and procedures for this study were qualitatively collected and analyzed. This study was considered a case study, because it explored a bounded system over time through detailed, in-depth data collection, which involved observations, student interviews, and parent interviews. The broad research question …

Experiential Career Exploration: Qualitative Examination Of A Group-Based Intervention, Rhanda B. Clow

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the self-reported experience of vocationally stalled adults transitioning from welfare to work as reported on the Session Impact Scale and uses Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) to analyze their observed in-the-moment interactions in an experiential career preparation intervention. The analysis resulted in five domains, Affiliation, Barriers, New Knowledge, Isolated Noteworthy Events, and Negative Impacts, and 20 categories. Implications for the practice of career counseling as well as the training of those who work with transitioning assistance recipients and vocationally stalled adults are discussed. Suggestions for further research with this population in the context of career preparation are also …

An International Service-Learning Experience For Physical Therapy Students: Its Meaning And Effect On Civic Engagement And Leadership Skills, Mary K. Dockter

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this 2-part study was to investigate the impact of an international service-learning experience (SOLE) on physical therapy (PT) students. The quantitative component compared outcomes relating to civic attitude, interpersonal and problem-solving skills, political awareness, leadership skills, social justice attitudes, and diversity attitudes of PT students who participated in the SOLE to PT students who did not participate. The qualitative portion asked the following questions: 1) What beliefs and attitudes did PT students gain from an international service-learning experience? and 2) Did an international service-learning experience assist the PT student in assuming the role of a servant leader? …

The Section 504 Process In Middle Schools: Perspectives Of Parents, Teachers, And Section 504 Coordinators, Kari S. Chiasson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions, experiences, and actions/interactions of teachers, parents, and Section 504 coordinators regarding the development and implementation of the Section 504 process for children in middle schools who have attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), or central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). This study provided an opportunity to explain or predict specific aspects of the Section 504 process, offer insight, enhance understanding, and provide a meaning for those involved in the Section 504 process.

This qualitative study utilized methodologies associated with a grounded theory approach through in-depth interviews. The first …

A Study Investigating The Feasibility Of A Co-Curricular Leadership Program At Rowan University, Christopher A. Farrell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research project was to investigate the feasibility of implementing a co-curricular student leadership program at Rowan University. The project included both a content analysis of transcripts from focus group sessions held with faculty members, administrators and student leaders, as well as analyses of existing co-curricular student leadership programs on several college campuses. Results from the focus group sessions included a strong interest for a co-curricular student leadership program at Rowan University, as well as recommendations for the proper implementation of such a program. Analyses of existing programs from several college campuses provided a methodology for program …

The Effects Of The Type Of Skill Assessment On The Motivation Of Students In Physical Education, Tyler Gene Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to (1) examine the effects of criterion-referenced (i.e., Programmed Practice Sheet or PPS) and norm-referenced (i.e., standardized) skill assessments on the situational motivation of junior high school physical education students (N = 507), (2) determine if student task and ego dispositions could be affected by the type of skill assessment administered, and (3) determine if having choices of skill level affects student situational motivation and perception of autonomy support. Student situational motivation, task and ego disposition, and sense of autonomy were assessed using the Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS), Perception of Success Questionnaire (POSQ), and …

Teacher Management Of Homophobia And Homosexuality In High Schools, Sarah Elizabeth Kiyak

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research project was to examine ways in which high school teachers manage issues of homophobia and homosexuality in high schools. Surveys were distributed to teachers in one southern New Jersey high school in order to measure the frequency of tolerance and adherence to policy regarding homosexual issues of students. The survey, constructed of eleven forced response questions using a Likert scale and one open-ended question, was the instrument utilized in this research project. After the completed surveys were returned, the results were tallied and frequency tables were used to analyze the results. The open-ended questions were …

The Perceptions Of School Safety And Discipline And How These Perceptions Affect Teaching Methods And Strategies, James J. Lapsley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions teachers have concerning safety and discipline within their school and how these perceptions affect teaching methods and strategies. The study took place in a large rural area high school with a diverse multi-cultural background of students. This particular school has increasingly been scrutinized for the disruptive behavior of the students and the ability of the administration to handle these problems among the majority of teachers in the school. This study focused on the perceptions the teachers have about their school policies and procedures and the ability the school has in …

Casuistical Connections From Dunton To Defoe, John E. Fossum

Theses and Dissertations

This master's thesis is primarily concerned with the philosophical conditions of late seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century England that encouraged the emergence of periodical literature and perpetuated the birth of the novel. While most connections between periodical literature and the novel are made on how the former created the readership that ensured the latter's success, I focus on how the epistemology unique to the advent of empirical science together with the growing prominence of casuistic thought created a space in which periodical literature could emerge and the early novel could flourish. I investigate the underlying assertion of a particular philosophical amalgam …

The Organizational Analysis Of Non-Governmental Development Organizations (Ngdos), Urelmaa Tsolmon

Theses and Dissertations

This paper uses the current organizational ecology theory to clearly define organizational population ecology constructs of non-governmental development organizations, and offers specific terminology and understanding of main organizational forms and relational dynamics that define the population ecology of these organizations. The paper examines closely the significance of such interaction and interdependence through transactional relationship of obtaining and distributing of resources and forces of competition. Original organizational theory frameworks are offered for future NGDO organizational research.

Probabilistic Methodology For Record Linkage Determining Robustness Of Weights, Krista Peine Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

Record linkage is the process that joins separately recorded pieces of information for a particular individual from one or more sources. To facilitate record linkage, a reliable computer based approach is ideal. In genealogical research computerized record linkage is useful in combing information for an individual across multiple censuses.

In creating a computerized method for linking censuse records it needs to be determined if weights calculated from one geographical area, can be used to link records from another geographical area. Research performed by Marcie Francis calculates field weights using census records from 1910 and 1920 for Ascension Parish Louisiana. These …

Family Differentiation, Family Recreation, And Symptoms Of Eating Disorders, Birgitta Lynne Baker

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between family differentiation, family recreation and symptoms of eating disorders. The Family Intrusiveness Scales, the Perceived Social Support from Family, the Family Leisure Activity Profile and the Eating Attitudes Test were used. Participants were students at two large universities, one in the East and one in the West. Data were analyzed using correlation and ANCOVA. Findings supported the hypothesis that a positive relationship exists between family leisure involvement and family differentiation. In addition, a negative relationship between family differentiation and symptoms of eating disorders for individuals whose parents are not …

Religion And Gender In Christian, Jewish, And Muslim Married Couples, Anna Mae Ridley

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the influence of religion on gender roles in marriage. Past research indicates that previous theories of marital power have ignored couples' own conceptualizations and have relied on taken for granted assumptions. Thirty-two religious couples (from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths) were interviewed regarding their gender roles. Grounded-theory qualitative analyses were conducted for couples' perceptions of religious influence on gender roles, the development of their gender practice, and their operationalization of marital power. Results are reported according to couples' discussion of role organization, role design, and outcomes. Valuing gender differences moderated religious impact on couples' role development and …

Melioration And The Behavioral Addiction Process: An Experimental Analysis, Jared Micah Dinehart

Theses and Dissertations

Melioration can be a factor contributing to behavioral addiction. In this study, 76 university undergraduates operated a "money machine" by selecting between choices that corresponded to maximization and melioration. Participants initially made choices consistent with a strategy of melioration and demonstrated significantly greater variability in choice behavior when visual cues were presented aimed at exposing the internality (or consequence) of the choice situation. Removal of the visual cues resulted in a return to lower responding. Visual cues may aid in interrupting the behavioral addiction pattern by limiting exclusive use of a melioration choice strategy. Methods of restructuring and experimentation with …

The Million-Dollar Question: Why Pre-Adolescents Watch Television, Emily A. Smurthwaite

Theses and Dissertations

This study presents qualitative research examining the relationship youth have with television. Information for this study was collected through media journals, personal essays, in-depth interviews, and focus groups held with eighteen sixth-graders who attended a charter elementary school in Lindon, Utah.

The question posed to the students multiple times during the data collection was: “Would you give up television for $1 million?” Through the students’ answers and ensuing dialogue, the researcher examined the social value the pre-adolescents attributed to watching television. The findings identify three main categories the students said were reasons they were attached to television, which also corresponded …

Women's Response To Spousal Unemployment: Economic, Labor Force, And Family Constraints, Elizabeth Miklya Legerski

Theses and Dissertations

Using data collected from 29 interviews with the wives of steelworkers who were forced into unemployment, I explore the conditions and factors that shape women's choices in response to their husbands' job loss. Access to a unique and under-studied sample of women married to unemployed working-class men necessitates the use of grounded theory research techniques that allow me to "give voice" to working-class women.

Preserving Trust Across Multiple Sessions In Open Systems, Fuk-Wing Thomas Chan

Theses and Dissertations

Trust negotiation, a new authentication paradigm, enables strangers on the Internet to establish trust through the gradual disclosure of digital credentials and access control policies. Previous research in trust negotiation does not address issues in preserving trust across multiple sessions. This thesis discusses issues in preserving trust between parties who were previously considered strangers. It also describes the design and implementation of trust preservation in TrustBuilder, a prototype trust negotiation system. Preserving trust information can reduce the frequency and cost of renegotiation. A scenario is presented that demonstrates that a server supporting trust preservation can recoup the cost of the …

Communities, Place, And Conservation On Mount Kilimanjaro, Marie Bradshaw Durrant

Theses and Dissertations

The Chagga people have lived and worked on Mount Kilimanjaro for more than 250 years. Through traditions and social practices within their communities and families, strong bonds are established between the Chagga and their home on the mountain. Kilimanjaro National Park and Forest Reserve (KINAPA) was established in the 1970s to protect and conserve the mountain, based on a long history of colonialism and western ideals. As KINAPA has attempted to preserve the flora and fauna on the uppermost portion of Mount Kilimanjaro, they have alienated local residents from the land through a conservation approach that relies on "fences and …