Digital Commons Network^™

Cmc Interpersonal Relationships: A Phenomenological Study Of Online Relational Stages, Traci Mccollom Dillavou

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Initiating and developing Internet interpersonal relationships is becoming increasingly popular as technology becomes more relevant and available. In fact, according the Pew Internet and American Life Project (PIALP) (1995) and IntelliQuest (1999), which monitors the penetration, use and appreciation of media in society, the number of Americans online increased from twenty-five million in 1995 to eighty-three million in 1999, an increase of nearly 60 million American onliners in 4 years. More recently, about 106 million American adults have used the Internet; in addition 73 percent of all American young adults between the ages of 12 and 17 have also used …

Latin American Resistance Movements In The Time Of The Posts, Glen Kuecker

History Faculty publications

This article examines the flood of resistance movements in today’s Latin America. It places them in the context of the great economic changes that have swept the world since the end of the Cold War, what is often called “globalization.” Analysis focuses on the “newness” of our contemporary period, especially the importance of the transnational political and economic order. This essay illustrates how social scientists attempt to understand this moment of change, and emphasizes the limitations to their theory. Special emphasis is on the utility of New Social Movement theory as a tool for understanding today’s resistance movements as well …

Morbidity: Poetry And Prose, Robert P. Hansen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The Freudian concept of thanatos, the death instinct, plays a pivotal role in the following collection of fiction and poetry, and also in the nonfictional introductory chapter. In the tradition of Poe, unreliable narrators of questionable morality are used to explore, through fiction, the psychological characteristics of this death instinct, while in the poetry, the subject matter and perspective has been strongly influenced by Ai's work. Each story reflects in some way death, destruction, or criminal activity, and, as might be expected, dead bodies tend to show up in various and sundry places, sometimes where they would be expected, and …

The State Of Public Speaking Courses In Japanese Colleges, Shoko Hayashi

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study is to reveal the state of public speaking courses in Japan. The survey was conducted as a heuristic study for future Japanese Communication Education. Six out of 80 Japanese universities or colleges participated in this survey. The sample included two private universities, two private colleges which were classified as intensive language schools, one private college which was an intensive business school and one university or college that did not indicate what kind of school it was. The three categorized data was gathered ; "Demographic Data," "the Definition of Public Speaking Course in Japan" and "Orientations …

A Case Study Of A Child Presenting Reading/Writing And Behavioral Difficulties, John Daniel Warrington

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this case study/case history was to explore one individual thoroughly in order to develop a more specific appreciation and understanding of what has occurred throughout that person's life. This deeper understanding of lvan's life history is likely to enable the researcher to identify both helpful interventions and structures that are currently in place for him and those that should be built upon or redesigned within the current school and/or home settings. Ivan has experienced significant struggles in both academic and behavioral performance for many years now. He is nearing the end of his formalized educational experience as …

Drug Use And Pool Performance : An Exploratory Study, Robert P. Hansen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This is an exploratory project assessing various aspects of drug use by Competitive Amateur Pool Players. Although the primary focus is on alcohol and its effects on performance, the prevalence of illegal narcotics use is also given considerable attention. The primary research tool was a questionnaire designed to (a) identify the Competitive Amateur status of the respondent, (b) identify the type of drugs used by pool players, and (c) determine the effects these drugs may have on pool performance. The questionnaire was distributed to 55 pool players and the statistical analyses of their responses were supplemented by a limited number …

The Teacher-Student Relationship: Managing Dialectical Tensions And Their Impact On The Classroom Environment, Lori L. Johnson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In this study, I suggest that teachers and students have opportunities to develop and maintain relationships. It is my belief that learning happens within these relationships. This ethnographic study examined dialectical tensions within the teacher-student relationship. Relational dialectics theory suggests that relationships are characterized by ongoing tensions and the ways in which these tensions are managed dictates relational life. The concept of tension simply refers to the ongoing, ever-changing interaction between unified opposites, such as the tension of independence-dependence. In this study, I examined if tensions were visible, how they were managed through interactions, and possible effects on the classroom …

Validation Of The Suicide Resilience Inventory-25 (Sri-25) With African American College Students, James Corye Johnson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Suicide behavior has increased over the last several years in the 15-24 year old age group. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), in 1999, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. There are substantial ethnic group differences in the rates of suicide for adults and adolescents. In both adults and adolescents, African Americans have the lowest rates of suicide in the United States of any other ethnic group. Resiliency behaviors are behaviors/protective factors that buffer individuals who are at risk for suicidal behaviors. This study was designed to examine whether ethnic group …

Determining Criminal Motive Using Deductive Profiling: A Feasibility Study, Kelly J. Dupont

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In recent years criminal profiling has gained increasing popularity and attention as a result of media and law enforcement interest. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the field is lacking in essential empirical support. The FBI's Crime Classification Manual, used to train FBI profilers, states in its opening pages that the information provided in the manual is not empirically derived; rather it is based on the collective opinion of those with experience in law enforcement (Douglas, Burgess, & Burgess, 1992). An area particularly in need of research is the relationship between motive and criminal behavior. Understanding motive can be a …

Assessing The Applicability Of Traditional Urban Transportation Planning Methods For The University Campus: A Case Study Of The University Of Northern Iowa, Jess Douglas Elder

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The development of methods that estimate travel demand and predict travel behavior is among the most significant advances in urban planning. The traditional transportation model has four steps: trip generation, trip distribution, mode choice, and trip assignment. This four-step model (FSM) encompasses an evolving methodology that determines the origin and destination, method of travel, and chosen route of each traveler. The focus of this project is to apply this methodology to analyze travel patterns associated with a university, specifically the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). A survey of faculty, staff, and students was conducted to generate data on UNI travel …

Children’S Perceptions Of Peers’ Intentions In Ambiguous And Aggressive Situations, Tara Jo Finch

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study was to examine high aggressive and low aggressive children's perceptions of their peers' intentions in ambiguous and aggressive situations. Teacher ratings of aggression were assessed for 25 first grade children. Measures were taken to evaluate children's judgments about aggressors' intentions in ambiguous and aggressive acts. In the first part of the assessment, children were read three stories about an ambiguously aggressive situation, asked whether or not it was okay for the provoker to perform the action, and asked why they believed the provoker carried out the aggressive act. In the second part, children were read …

The Social Effects Of Psychism: Spiritual Experience And The Construction Of Privatized Religion, Marty Laubach

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Research

What is the relationship between spiritual experiences and privatized religion? This study defines spiritual experiences in terms of “psychism,” or psychic intrusions in the stream of consciousness that are not perceived by the actor as originating within the “self.” Intrusions interpreted as psychism are regarded by the actor as having the same facticity as empirical experience and are regarded as “proof” of an esoteric belief system. Psychism originated beliefs are therefore resistant to refutation or change, and support spiritual autonomy. Psychism theory is tested using 1988 GSS data on religious beliefs, where psychism is measured using GSS questions on “paranormal” …

Child Sexual Abuse In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Literature Review, Kevin Lalor

Articles

Objective. This article reviews the English-language literature on child sexual abuse in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The focus is on the sexual abuse of children in the home/community, as opposed to the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Method. English language, peer-reviewed papers cited in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) are examined. Reports from international and local NGOs and UN agencies are also examined. Results. Few published studies on the sexual abuse of children have been conducted in the region, with the exception of South Africa. Samples are predominantly clinical or University based. A number of studies report that approximately five …

Learning To Learn-Concepts In A First Power Engineering Course, Badrul H. Chowdhury

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Three well-known and widely accepted concepts in educational psychology are revisited. These are "inventory of learning styles," "taxonomy of educational objectives," and "metacognition." Relationships among these concepts are highlighted. Often, a student can develop his (or her) own learning style by the process of metacognition. Ideas are borrowed from these concepts for use in a first-level power systems course. It is beyond a doubt that both cognitive and metacognitive skills are necessary for students to succeed in any course. While a semester-long power systems course leaves little time for critical thinking and passive reflection for students, certain activities may very …

Educational Change Process: A Case Study Of A Rural School District's Reading Reform, Barbara M. Havel Bohach

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Beginning reading instruction is the subject of much debate in educational fields as well as in the political arena. The product of such debates is often a push to reform reading programs and teachers are targeted as the ones to carry out these reforms. If reading educators have been actively involved in a reading change process, what are their concerns about change and the influence of mandated legislation?

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to examine how teachers and administrators initiated and implemented a balanced reading innovation. It also investigated how the Concerns-Based Adoption Model identified teachers' concerns …

Application Of Case Study Methodology In The Context Of Undergraduate Critical Care Nursing Education, James A. Hauschildt

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study represented an initial effort to investigate how a case study methodology could be used in the context of critical care nursing education. The study hoped to improve students' content specific knowledge of critical care nursing and facilitate critical thinking processes vital to clinical decision making. The study describes the transformation of a critical care-nursing course from a traditional lecture-based approach to a case study approach.

The traditional approach addressed the content through abundant teacher centered lecture, but did not require students to actively engage in discourse or apply critical thinking skills to real nursing problems. The case study …

Modeling And Measuring The Dispersion Of Odors From Hog Confinements, François Béra

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A comparison was made between predicted and measured odor concentration downwind of two hog finishing confinements. Two Gaussian dispersion models, STINKBAK and AERMOD, were used. The experimental cases examined odor emanating from a mechanically-ventilated facility and a curtain-sided facility during summer 2003. A field olfactometer was used to measure odor concentration. The odor concentrations served as input to STINKBAK, which then estimated the odor emission rate from the confinement. AERMOD used this emission rate and other meteorological data to predict the peak concentration of odor around the confinement over the sampling hour.

The calculated odor emission rates are slightly higher …

Life Experience In Selective Attention, Jacquelyn M. Davis

Modern Psychological Studies

This correlational study investigated the role of substance use and experience in selective attention using a modified Stroop color-naming task. Thirty-three individuals completed Adult Substance Use Surveys and a computergenerated Stroop task modified by substituting drug words for color names. The prediction was that level of life disruption would interrupt task performance such that those scoring higher on disruption would display slower reaction times. Results revealed life disruption to be significantly correlated with reaction time. Those scoring highest on the disruption measure exhibited slower Stroop reaction times than those with lower disruption scores. These results suggest that treatment interventions targeting …

A Softer Side To Men, Michael J. Lenney

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

“I am on time. It’s the afternoon of my medical for life-insurance suitability. The AMP building in Sydney is my destination. I arrive with about twenty minutes to spare. I don’t remember the receptionist. I don’t remember the faces of the doctors who attended me that day. All I can remember is that I could see the clouds passing over the glass ceiling as my blood pressure was taken several times. The first doctor took my blood pressure three times before seeking another opinion. The second doctor confirmed his fears. I was in the “too high” risk category. At the …

Using Interactive Multimedia (Imm) To Help Year Four And Five Students Identified As Experiencing Reading Difficulties: A Formative Approach, Grace Oakley

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study involved four formative experiments, each of which investigated ways in which IMM (Interactive Multimedia) could be used to help children who experienced reading difficulties. In each of the four contexts, classroom teachers identified a number of students with reading difficulties, selected pedagogical goals for them and worked with the researcher to plan IMM-based activities that targeted the selected goals. The implementations were evaluated formatively and modifications were made accordingly, with the intention of 'fine-tuning' them to facilitate achievement of the pedagogical goals. Facilitative and inhibitive factors were identified during and after each formative experiment, as were unplanned outcomes. …

Child Custody Disputes: Bridging The Gap Between Psychologists And Family Court, Kate Pratsides

Theses : Honours

The number of divorce cases that come before judges and registrars within the Family Court system is steadily increasing, and so is the use of psychologists as expert witnesses. However, little is known about what the judges and registrars think of the psychologist's use of psychometric test results when writing their forensic report, this study attempts to answer that. This thesis is presented in two sections. The first is a literature review of guidelines that are available to psychologists when writing a forensic report. These guidelines include (1) broad guidelines provided by professional associations, such as the American Psychological Association; …

New Testament Theology, Scott A. Ellington

Syllabus Repository

No abstract provided.

Education Chronicle Issue 1 Number 3, Touro College School Of Education And Psychology - Graduate Division

Yearbooks and Newsletters

"An informational publication of the School of Education and Psychology - Graduate Division"

Dietary Supplements And Sports Performance: Introduction And Vitamins, Melvin H. Williams

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Sports success is dependent primarily on genetic endowment in athletes with morphologic, psychologic, physiologic and metabolic traits specific to performance characteristics vital to their sport. Such genetically-endowed athletes must also receive optimal training to increase physical power, enhance mental strength, and provide a mechanical advantage. However, athletes often attempt to go beyond training and use substances and techniques, often referred to as ergogenics, in attempts to gain a competitive advantage. Pharmacological agents, such as anabolic steroids and amphetamines, have been used in the past, but such practices by athletes have led to the establishment of anti-doping legislation and effective testing …

Internal Organizational Communication During Crisis Situations: The Effect Of Supportive Messages On Employee Stress Levels, Carin L. Kosmoski

Theses

This study investigates the effects of supportive messages from immediate supervisors or CEO's on employees during crisis situations. Supportive messages are hypothesized to decrease the stress levels of employees. The extent to which supportive messages from managers or executives during crisis situations affect employee perceptions of support from their organization, their CEO, and their immediate supervisor is also explored. During the research process, 78 volunteer participants received one of three messages from a hypothetical organization following a hypothetical crisis situation. Spearman's ranked correlations comparing reported support with reported stress levels indicate that, for the group studied, there is a negative …

Self -Care, Perceived Rewards & Hazards, And Personal & Professional Satisfaction In Psychologists In Independent Practice, Joshua M. Buley

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There has been a recent emphasis in the professional literature on the importance of psychologists utilizing a variety of self-care activities in order to buffer against and combat the stressors inherent to their careers. In addition, it has been suggested that due to the proliferation of managed care and other "seismic shifts" within the profession, that hazards associated with the career have increased, while rewards have decreased. There is currently limited information available regarding the extent to which psychologists in independent practice engage in various self-care activities, the perceived helpfulness of engaging in these activities, and relationships among self-care and …

The Readmission Decision For Students Following A Period Of Academic Dismissal: Characteristics That Predict Success, Brent A. Gage

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-method study focused on the success of students readmitted following a period of academic dismissal at a large public four-year institution. The study's purpose was to determine which characteristics of students applying for readmission following a period of academic dismissal have the greatest predictive significance in determining success upon re-enrollment at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Quantitative analyses tested the relationship between factors typically used in the readmission decision and their impact upon being placed in the success versus non-success group. The three groupings of variables included: (1) pre-college characteristics (ACT composite test score and high school percentile …

What Is The Nature Of Emergent Literacy In Iran?, Mahboobeh Ayatollahzadeh

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the process of emerging literacy development in young Iranian children, and it was explored through naturalistic observation of the children's activities at home. The study aimed to determine the main elements of Iranian children's activities at home, literacy tools present in Iranian homes, and the culturally specific literacy experiences of Iranian children. The participants were 48 children ages 2, 2.5, and 3 years, who lived in Tehran and did not attend preschool or a day care center. The mothers of these children are also considered to be participants in the study. The …

Rationale For User Oriented Design Technique Selection, Susan M. Saeger

Theses

This paper analyzes a set of guidelines for selecting a user oriented design technique. A fictional case study is used to illustrate the application of the guidelines.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration In Graphic Design, Jill M. Kepler

Theses

Not Included