Digital Commons Network^™

Networked Computers + Writing Centers = ? Thinking About Networked Computers In Writing Center Practice, Stuart Blythe

The Writing Center Journal

No abstract provided.

Reforming Education In The Land-Grant University: Contributions From A Writing Center, Patricia Lambert Stock

The Writing Center Journal

No abstract provided.

Improved Heterogeneous Distance Functions, Tony R. Martinez, D. Randall Wilson

Faculty Publications

Instance-based learning techniques typically handle continuous and linear input values well, but often do not handle nominal input attributes appropriately. The Value Difference Metric (VDM) was designed to find reasonable distance values between nominal attribute values, but it largely ignores continuous attributes, requiring discretization to map continuous values into nominal values. This paper proposes three new heterogeneous distance functions, called the Heterogeneous Value Difference Metric (HVDM), the Interpolated Value Difference Metric (IVDM), and the Windowed Value Difference Metric (WVDM). These new distance functions are designed to handle applications with nominal attributes, continuous attributes, or both. In experiments on 48 applications …

Impact Of A Six-Trait Character Education Program On Sixth-Grade Students’ Perceived Attitudes And Behaviors, Cindy S. Baumgartner

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a pilot character education program, called BOOMERANG, on students' reported attitudes and behaviors of six character constructs. The subjects consisted of 80 sixth-grade students enrolled in a small Midwestern town during the 1995-96 school year who were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group. The intervention consisted of a 16-week character education program led by trained high-school students for a weekly, 30-minute session, using a pilot character education curriculum designed by the researcher. The intervention program consisted of six character traits: (a) caring, (b) citizenship, (c) …

Preservice Teachers’ Use Of Curriculum-Based Measurement In An Informal Assessment Based Reading Clinic, Tina M. Schroeder

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study investigated 13 preservice regular education reading teachers' use of curriculum-based measurement (CBM) data under specified conditions. Conditions included: (a) providing preservice teachers with 75 minutes of training in the use of CBM in reading, (b) biweekly CBM administration and graphing during a 10-week practicum experience, and (c) concomitant use of other reading measures [e. g., Reading Miscue Inventory (RMI), Running Records (RR)]. Exit interviews indicated that preservice teachers made use of CBM data in some, but not all, of the important ways suggested in the research literature. Preservice teachers provided the following positive ratings of CBM: (a) CBM …

Perceptions Of Problem Solving: Where's Waldo?, Darla Olk Stack

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Until recently, intervening for a child experiencing difficulty in school meant referring the student for special education evaluation. Problem solving is a new administrative arrangement recommended in many states, where a team of people who know the child, meet to define and recommend interventions to address the concern prior to referral for possible special education placement.

The purpose of this study was to observe the problem solving process and describe the process as it is implemented in the schools. Results indicated that while documentation of problem solving suggested problem solving was taking place, the traditional test-and-place model continues to be …

The Relationship Between Adolescent Alcohol Consumption And Selected Sexual Behaviors: A Retrospective Study, Linda L. Schoonover

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine if the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption by adolescents is associated with their voluntary participation in a continuum of sexual behaviors.

Sixty-one males and 14 females between the age of 18-25 from two substance abuse agencies in Iowa were surveyed. They were asked to provide some basic demographic information (i.e., age, gender, etc.,) and to retrospectively answer questions regarding their referral source to the agency where they completed the questionnaire, residence as an adolescent, family with whom they lived during adolescence, personal quantity and frequency choices for alcohol consumption, attitudes and …

Field Dependence-Independence And Sports With A Preponderance Of Closed Or Open Skills, Wenhao Liu

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The focus of much research on field dependence-independence in sport settings has been on the relationship of field dependence-independence to sports with a preponderance of closed or open skills since 1970s. Although most of the previous research supported the claim that field dependence is of greater advantage to sports with a preponderance of open skills and field independence an advantage to sports with a preponderance of closed skills, several studies provided inconsistent and contradictory results. In addition, few of those studies involved adequate sports and sample size and some used a different sport classification. Little comparison, if any, of field …

Anatomical Abnormalities In The Dominant Right Coronary Artery And Its Implications On Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty And Eventual Patient Outcome, Katherine E. Brown

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The success of Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty {PTCA) is dependent on the exact knowledge of the coronary artery anatomy and the adaption of the catheter configuration to the anatomical variations. This is a case study of a 54-year-old male with anatomic abnormalities in the dominant right coronary artery undergoing PTCA for a total occlusion. The anatomic abnormalities caused PTCA to fail, and the patient was taken emergently to surgery for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery. At present, newer smaller PTCA guiding catheters have the potential to provide safe and successful PTCA for people with a broader range of anatomical …

An Examination Of Environmental Sensitivity Among Supporters Of An Outdoor Recreation Area, Rodney James Blackman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The environment as an issue has been prominently before the public for over three decades. Yet the question of how much people know about the natural environment and how committed they are to the environment has seldom been considered in research literature. Research of this nature is needed because without it individuals interested in the preservation and conservation of the environment cannot be sure how their efforts to increase people's environmental sensitivity should be applied. The purpose of this study was to examine the level and extent of environmental sensitivity among supporters of an outdoor recreation area/facility in northeast Iowa. …

Attitudes Toward Aging Lesbians: An Exploratory Study, Karen E. Cunningham

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of midwestern college students toward older lesbians. It is hypothesized, due to the commonly held assumptions that older women are "asexual" and that the popular image of homosexuals is extremely negative, that the lesbian identity will go unrecognized by others outside of those to whom they have disclosed their sexual orientation. Variables considered in this study include: (a) knowledge of aging and (b) attitudes toward homosexuality. Two hundred and fifty midwestern college students completed questionnaires that assessed their attitudes toward lesbians, their knowledge of aging, and their attitudes toward aging …

A Neuropsychological Assessment Of Music Stimulation On Individuals With Dementia, Peter Leo Cuff

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Previous research has suggested that musical therapy temporarily improves the cognitive and perceptual functioning of individuals with varying forms of dementing illnesses. However, no research to date has focused on the effects of musical stimulation exclusively. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether, and to what extent, a brief exposure to music might enhance the cognitive and perceptual functioning of clients with mild to moderate forms of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. It was hypothesized that following a brief exposure (6 minutes) to musical stimulation, all subjects (N = 9) would achieve higher scores on the following neuropsychological …

Right-Wing Authoritarianism Relative To Traditional Western Thinking And Locus Of Control, Nadejda Diakonova

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship among right-wing authoritarianism, traditional Western thought and the degree to which subjects tend to perceive themselves as having control over their lives (having internal or external locus of control). It was hypothesized that these three aspects of individuals' cognitive-emotional makeup are interrelated. Three questionnaires were used in the study: the Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) Scale (Altemeyer, 1988), the EastWest Questionnaire (EWQ) (Gilgen & Cho, 1979), and the Locus of Control (LC) Scale (Rotter, 1966). A counterbalanced experimental design was used to control for possible order effects. Duckitt's (1989) conceptualization of …

Maternal Grief Reactions To Their Children's Birth Defects: Factors Influencing Grief Resolution, John W. Mccaskill

Wayne State University Dissertations

The study examined factors related to resolution of maternal grief reactions to the event of learning about their child's birth defects. Subjects were 63 mothers and their toddler-age children, recruited from medical clinics in the Metropolitan area of Detroit, MI. Mothers' ages ranged from 18 to 42 years (mean = 30 years). 63% (n = 40) of the families were Caucasian, with 32% (n = 20) African-American, and 5% (n = 3) from other ethnic backgrounds. Toddlers' ages ranged from 13 to 33 months, with a modal age of 28 months (mean = 25 months, SD = 5 months). 60% …

Learning To Use Reader-Response Methods In The Classroom: One Teacher’S Journey Of Change, Marijo Grimes

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study presents a teacher's view of change as the author of this report planned, implemented, and evaluated a change from traditional literature discussion methods to reader-response discussion methods. Louise Rosenblatt's transactional theory of literature provided the basis for developing the instructional plan. This investigation followed a qualitative research plan of self-study. The setting was a seventh grade heterogeneous classroom in a Midwestern school district. During the semester of implementation, the teacher kept daily field notes, collected student papers, evaluated transcripts of video recordings, and completed regular exploratory writing in an attempt to analyze and understand the teacher's role and …

The Pain Related Self-Statements Scale (Prss): Psychometric Properties In A College Sample, Howard D. Griffin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Pain Related Self-Statements Scale (PRSS) in a college sample. Specifically, the purpose was to replicate the two factor structure of the PRSS, evaluate the instrument's internal consistency, and examine the convergent validity of the PRSS with other measures of coping with pain. The PRSS is a measure of "situation specific" cognitive coping strategies for individuals suffering from chronic pain. The instrument has two subscales: Catastrophizing and Active Coping. Participants in this study were undergraduate psychology students. Each student was given a packet of self-report measures including a …

Early British Espionage Fiction And The Differentiation Of Clandestine Realities: A Study In The Paradox Of The Protagonist’S Motivation In Erskine Childer’S The Riddle Of The Sands, Joseph Conrad’S The Secret Agent, John Buchan’S The Thirty-Nine Steps, And Arthur Conan-Doyle’S The Last Bow, Hans-Jörg Grohmann

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis offers a phenomenological approach to four examples of early British espionage fiction; by discussing the experiences of four protagonists with their perceptions of reality, the study also gives a reconsideration to the literary essence of the figure of the spy of early British espionage stories. In attempting the combination of phenomenology and espionage fiction, the thesis first of all reviews the canon of criticism on British espionage fiction in general. This review criticizes the dilemma of preceding scholarly contributions, focusing on their general ignorance of the early phase of espionage fiction, which was due to the comparison between …

The Influences Of Curriculum Integration On Students’ Perceptions Of Learning, Sheryl Jean Hoffman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine how integrative curriculum experiences influenced fifth grade students' perceptions of learning. An integrated curriculum for fifth grade students, based on a thematic unit of study, was written and implemented by the researcher and took place in a small, urban community in Northeast Iowa. The theme of Flight was used to integrate all subjects and taught for approximately four weeks. The researcher acted as participant/observer and documented how integrated curricular experiences influenced students' perceptions of learning in a classroom that had been primarily subject-centered. The data for this study was compiled from observations, …

Correctional Management : The Systemic Impact And Consequences Of Truth-In-Sentencing Legislation, Timothy S. Sexton

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Recently, a growing number of states have enacted truth-in-sentencing policies which will ensure that certain violent offenders serve at least 85% of their sentence. These policies are designed as a general deterrent to crime by placing an offender behind bars without the chance of parole. Theoretically by increasing the incarceration rate, "the effects of incapacitation will grow because fewer offenders will be free to victimize the population at large" (Parent, Dunworth, McDonald, & Rhodes, 1997, p.l). Although, truth-in-sentencing policies may sound practical, there is growing debate as to the systemic impact that truth-in-sentencing laws will have on correctional systems.

This …

Am I Virtually Me?: Virtual Reality And The Self, Douglas J. Frederick

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Am I Virtually Me? Virtual Reality and the Self is a theoretical discussion that examines the consequences of using Virtual Reality technology. Virtual Reality is examined as a communication medium. The theoretical foundations for this examination include Marshall McLuhan's medium theory and George Mead's Symbolic Interactionism. Drawing upon these theories, which include concepts such as consciousness, mind and self, the focus of this examination is individual expenence. A theoretical argument is constructed which views Virtual Reality as a simulation of consciousness and details two different virtual-selves which arise by using Virtual Reality technology. These virtual-selves are "the pseudo-self' and "the …

An Attempt To Identify Health Defensive Externals, Sarah J. Flynn

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The present study attempted to apply the concept of defensive externality (Rotter, 1966) to health locus of control and preventive health behavior. The study attempted to identify a subgroup of externals, called "health defensive externals," and determine how they may differ from congruent internals and congruent externals in terms of health beliefs and coping strategies. Health defensive externals were thought to score high on chance health locus of control (CHLC) and yet engage in a high number of preventive health behaviors. Participants were recruited from a local chiropractor's office and a local community health clinic. They completed a modified version …

Dirt Behind Our Ears, By Pfc. Arthur N. Wilkins, Steven D. Smith

Faculty Publications

A review of Dirt Behind Our Ears, by PFC. Arthur N. Wilkins.

The Arts Show Audience: Cultural Confidence And Middlebrow Arts Consumption, Brian O'Neill

Articles

The arts constitute a form of cultural consumption that has been relatively neglected in recent academic discourse in comparison to the burgeoning literature of cultural studies dedicated to popular and mass media forms of culture. This emphasis within cultural studies on popular genres over traditional forms of art, what has been labelled its ‘cultural populism’ (Mc Guigan, 1992), systematically emphasises common, ordinary taste and resistant aesthetic strategies while denigrating ‘high culture’ as an elitist, middle class leisure pursuit that has little relevance to most people (Willis, 1990). Going against this populist tide, this chapter argues that an examination of popular …

Breast Cancer, The Genetic "Quickfix," And The Jewish Community: Ethical, Legal, And Social Challenges, Karen H. Rothenberg

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Tactile Sensation Mediated By The Infraorbital Branch Of The Trigeminal Nerve (V) On Sexual Behaviour Of Male And Female Rats, Vlastimil Malinek

School of Psychology Theses

This thesis examines Beach's hypothesis that the sexual behaviour of male rats is under multisensory control and is resistant to the loss of tactile information from the vibrissae. The loss of perioral sensation was found to profoundly disrupt sexual behaviour in sexually inexperienced males tested with females showing five ascending levels of precopulatory behaviour. Males did not copulate with females displaying presenting, presenting and hopping, hopping and darting levels of proceptive behaviour. However, males paired with darting females displaying the highest level level of proceptive behaviour did copulate in the presence of perioral anapsis caused by intramystacial injection of lidocaine. …

Cognitive Appraisals In Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder & Other Anxiety Disorders, Jackie Maccallam

School of Psychology Theses

This research applied ideas from the cognition-emotion literature to some of the theories in the OCD literature, and in so doing took'Va multi-dimensional approach to the understanding of OCD. The aim of the study was to explore the nature of 'emotionalcognitive profiles'^ of people with OCD,. and to compare these 'profiles' with those of people with other anxiety disorders and people from a non-clinical population.. Participants from the three groups i.e. an OCD group, ah anxiety group and a non-clinical group were asked to rate a number of appraisal dimensions, in response to four vignettes. There were 10 participants in …

Consumption Taxes: An Examination, Joshua E. Richardson '97

Honors Projects

The current in orne tax system fails to achieve several of these goals. This paper will examine three alternatives to the income tax: a national sales tax, a value added tax, and a personal expen iture tax. The three taxes create the same tax on an item of consumption through different methods. These options will be discussed in comparison to the current income tax on the basis of administrative efficiency, equity, economic consequences, and transitional difficulties.

A Middle School Student-Centered Conflict Management Program: Impact On Student Managers' Self-Esteem, Communication Skills, And Approaches To Conflict Resolution, Thomas J. Keller

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine self-esteem, communication skills, and approaches to conflict resolution of trained student mediators in a conflict resolution program. This study also assessed the perceived transferability of conflict management information and skills from the school to the home environment. Indicators were the frequency, duration, and intensity of sibling conflicts reported by conflict managers and their parents.

The subjects in this study consisted of 60 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at two different middle schools in the state of Iowa. Thirty were trained as conflict managers and assigned to the experimental group, and thirty to …

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Perspectives Of Participants Involved In The Identification And Treatment Process, Judy Davison

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the viewpoints, the perspectives, and the understandings about Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) which are held by parents, teachers, other school personnel, and physicians who are regularly involved in the process of identifying and/or treating students for ADD. A qualitative inquiry approach was initiated in a middle class community in a Midwestern metropolitan area and included individual interviews and classroom observations.

The researcher offered her understanding of the meaning and intentions behind the expressions/behaviors/decisions of individuals who work or interact with children labeled as ADD. An examination of the data revealed incongruencies in …

Student Perceptions Of General Education At A Comprehensive University And Implications, Kenneth E. Nuss

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Using a case study method, I investigated how students negotiate their way through the general education program at a middle-western comprehensive university, and consequently I increased my understanding of the student perspective of this portion of their undergraduate curriculum. From 34 semistructured qualitative interviews with general education science students, I discovered that they could articulate only a dim notion of the purpose of general education. I also became aware that the university structure failed to clearly communicate to students that the faculty values the general education curriculum.

The following themes for further analysis emerged from the student interviews: the purpose …