Digital Commons Network^™

Where Should The Action Be - Inside The Classroom Or Outside The Classroom? A Comparison Of The Action-Learning Outcomes In Singapore, China, Korea, New Zealand And Australia, Jens Mueller, Wee Liang Tan, Hanjun Hu, John Thornton

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

No abstract provided.

Constraints To Youth Participation In The Current Federal Political Environment, Judith G. Bridgland Sorenson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research explores the constraints to youth participation through the mechanism of the National Youth Roundtable. In 1999 the National Youth Roundtable was established as the centrepiece of the Federal Government's `Voices of Youth' initiative, designed to go to the grass roots of the youth population and seek their participation on matters of policy development. This was to be the new interface between young people and the Australian government, replacing the peak body for youth affairs as a more effective participation mechanism.

Silenced Voices: Experiences Of Grief Following Road Traffic Crashes In Western Australia, Lauren Breen

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Despite the introduction of road safety measures and media campaigns, crashes are a leading cause of death in Western Australia. While economic costs of crashes are relatively easy to determine, their psychosocial burden remains appreciably under-studied, as are the social, cultural, historical, temporal, and political contexts within which grief experiences are housed. As such, I explored the experience of grief resulting from losing a loved one in a crash in Western Australia and described the influence of contextual factors on those grief experiences.

Resistance Exercise In Men Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy For Prostate Cancer, Daniel A. Galvao

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis encompasses two literature reviews (chapter 2 & 3) and two experimental chapters (4 and 5) examining the available literature on exercise and cancer, resistance training and its anabolic responses in older men and women, the side effects of Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer and finally, the role of resistance exercise as a clinical intervention to counteract such changes as an adjuvant therapy.

An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Social Capital And Subjective Well-Being In Four Regions Of Spain In The Mid-1990s, Maria Puerta Francos

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research offers an analysis of two concepts: subjective well-being and social capital. I examine each concept separately, looking at their underlying determinants and characteristics, and I also look at the links between these two notions, as there is theoretical support for their interdependent relationship. I have conducted data analysis of five samples, all part of the World Values Survey 1995-1996. The WVS 1995-1996 offers vast data for Spain and for four autonomous regions - Basque Country, Andalusia, Galicia and Valencia. For the national sample N= 1211. Regional sampling is as follows: Basque Country (N=2205), Andalusia (N=1803), Galicia (N=1200), and …

Social Work, Independent Realities & The Circle Of Moral Considerability: Respect For Humans, Animals & The Natural World, Thomas D. Ryan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Social work's conceptualization as to what it is that entitles an individual or entity to moral consideration, or as having moral status, is thoroughly anthropocentric, and is articulated in complete disregard of the context of our fundamental evolutionary continuity and our embeddedness within an evolving natural world, and flies in the face of the reality that we already inhabit mixed communities and a wider household. It is deemed to be obvious that we are islands of moral value in an otherwise valueless natural world.

Professional Perceptions Of Domestic Violence: The Relationship Between Causal Explanations And Views On Prevention And Intervention, Rachel A. Taylor

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The 1970s saw a shift of focus by professions responding to domestic violence cases perpetrated by men towards women within Australia. Their focus was targeted at the factors that surround male perpetrators? violent behaviour. As a result, a number of alternative interventions were established based on a new understanding of domestic violence. Wider explanations have therefore led professional groups to form different angles of approach. Consequently researchers have found that perceptions towards domestic violence and the effectiveness of relevant interventions remain controversial across professions (Laing, 2002). Based on the literature supporting the importance of consistent professional perceptions and responses towards …

Exploring Young People's Concepts Of Smoking Addiction: Perceived Opportunities To Try Smoking Without Becoming Addicted, Calvin Wang

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study explores how young people conceptualise addiction to smoking and, also the relationship between young people's addiction beliefs and intentions to smoke cigarettes. Addiction to smoking is a major health problem, not just for adults, but also for young smokers, up to 60% of whom are dependent on nicotine. However, anti-smoking prevention efforts targeted at young people generally emphasise ill-health effects and little attention is paid to addiction education which is generally considered relevant only to adult smoking and cessation efforts. Perhaps as a consequence, young people appear to have many misconceptions and unrealistic ideas about addiction, and these …

An Investigation Into A Community Information Database System In The Northeast Of Thailand: Community Empowerment Through Community Learning Centres, Chumnong Wongchachom

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Following the economic downturn in the late 1990s the Government of Thailand restructured the economy resulting in rapid economic recovery. The society now needs developments to project it into the Information Age. This study is but one creative response to this need. To initiate the study, an extensively validated Questionnaire was implemented with a snowball sample comprising 500 representative, non-randomised respondents from the four provinces of the Inpeng Community Network (ICN). The purpose of the Questionnaire was to ascertain levels of information needs and local knowledge, and to identify ten local experts from ICN for subsequent In-depth Interviews. Data obtained …

Anything But A Hypocrite: Interactional Musings On Race, Colorblindness, And The Redemption Of Strom Thurmond, Osagie K. Obasogie

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

"Mirror Worlds": Transpacific Inspiration And Mimetic Rivalry In American And East Asian Literature, 1945-2005., Matthew J. Packer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One conspicuous trend during the world economy's shift to the Pacific Rim in the late twentieth century has been the increased reciprocal inspiration and mimetic rivalry between American and East Asian cultures. For much of the past century, for example, the Japanese have been stereotyped as cultural copycats, when transpacific imitating actually has been mutual: as East Asians have looked to the West for models of development and the imagination, so have Americans looked to the Far East---as even representing the future, according to novelist William Gibson. Americans have drawn inspiration from Eastern aesthetics, while East Asians have copied Western …

Surrendered Resistance: Playing Dead In American Autobiographical Writing, 1840-1933., Georgia R. Kreiger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation focuses on the use of death as a metaphor for lived experiences in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American autobiographical writing. Adopting Paul de Man’s definition of autobiography as a figure of reading rather than a genre or mode, the study analyzes autobiographical death acts in a variety of writings, including political discourse, fiction, and poetry. The writers discussed stage deaths-of-the-self to facilitate descriptions of traumatic events that might otherwise defy verbal expression. They “play dead” figuratively in their texts, similarly to the way one might play dead literally as a survival strategy in the presence of an animal …

Talking To Children About Terrorism, Sean Brotherson

FS Series – Family Science/HDFS

No abstract provided.

Bright Beginnings #8: Understanding Physical Development In Young Children, Sean Brotherson

FS Series – Family Science/HDFS

No abstract provided.

Talking To Children About Armed Conflict, Sean Brotherson

FS Series – Family Science/HDFS

No abstract provided.

Tips On Reducing Stress For Family Caregivers, Sean Brotherson, Marlys Brattell

FS Series – Family Science/HDFS

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Experimentally-Provided Supportive Messages On Middle-Aged And Old Adults' Performance On Everyday Problems., Kristopher J. Kimbler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

It has been suggested that instructional supportive messages consisting of positive emotional content or an offer of practical support have been linked to increased cognitive performance in a variety of domains (Denney, Tozier, & Schlotthauer, 1992; Isen, Daubman, & Nowicki, 1987; Kennedy, Mather, & Carstensen, 2004; Sarason, 1981; Sarason & Sarason, 1986; Tardy, 1992). The exposure to instructional supportive messages has also been linked to the amount of anxious and task-irrelevant thoughts (cognitive interference) that individuals report experiencing during a cognitive task (Sarason, 1981; Sarason & Sarason, 1986). Research assessing the effect of instructional input on performing everyday problems has …

George Eliot And The Anxious Construction Of The Domestic Other: Racial Inheritance, Radical Femininity And Masculinity, And National Identity In "The Spanish Gypsy" And "Daniel Deronda"., Christina E. Godlewski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation seeks to articulate the extent to which George Eliot engages in an active dialogue with contemporary scientific thought, particularly in respect to England's Jewish and Gypsy populations. I examine The Spanish Gypsy and Daniel Deronda to determine Eliot's position in relation to ideologies on race, gender, and class. Eliot's texts manage to expose some of the contradictions regarding these two "domestic others" within the dominant discourses of the Victorian period. Chapter one sets out my critical and methodological framework and foregrounds the discursive proximity between the Gypsies, the Jews, the working classes, and women in the Victorian period. …

Worlds Together . . . Words Apart: An Assessment Of The Effectiveness Of Arts-Based Curriculum For Second Language Learners, Stephanie Urso Spina

Publications and Research

The objective of this study is to assess whether authentic arts-based1 curricula facilitate the acquisition of English as a second language (ESL) without sacrificing proficiency in the first language (Spanish). This question is examined theoretically and empirically. First, the use of an arts-based curriculum is positioned within a Vygotskiian framework of learning as reflected in current research. This overview is organized by two themes: 1) the authenticity of the art experience and 2) the emphasis on social interaction and the cognitive mediation among sign systems. Applicable findings from related literature are reviewed and synthesized within each of these themes. Secondly, …

Examining Problem-Solving Interpretations: The Role Of Age, Sex, And Femininity, Jennifer A. Flinn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The current study examined age and sex differences in communal interpretations (statements focusing on the needs of others), and whether participants' femininity mediated these differences. One hundred and ninety six participants, 121 younger adults (M=19.26, SD=131: 53 M, 68 F) and 75 older adults (M=73.74, SD=7.65: 36 M, 39 F), were given a vignette regarding a hypothetical job relocation problem that involved either a male or female protagonist. To assess interpretations, participants were asked to indicate all the issues to be considered. The degree to which interpretations reflected communal concerns was coded. Results showed that women had higher communal interpretation …

Does Physical Disability Truly Create Impairment In Adjustment To College Life?, Jennifer R. Hurst

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research utilized a mixed methods design to explore the differences between students with and without disabilities in perceived social support, coping style, self efficacy, and college adjustment. In addition, the influence of athletic participation on the above variables was examined in the sub-sample of students with disabilities. Neither survey nor interview results supported any differences between students with disabilities and students without disabilities on the study variables. Results suggested that discrepancies in college outcome variables (i.e. matriculation and persistence) were not a result of differences in disability status, but are the result of differences in adjustment, perceived social support, …

Transactional Distance And Student Motivation: Student Perception Of Teacher Immediacy, Solidarity Toward Peer Students And Student Motivation In Distance Education, Hye Yoon Jung

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Transactional Distance Theory is conceptually significant in that the core nature of distance in distance education is not a geographical or temporal distance but a psychological or communicational distance between students and their teacher(s), as well as among students. In spite of the conceptual significance of the transactional distance theory, the interrelationships among the construct variables and propositions of the theory are unclear. The majority of studies on transactional distance theory either used the theory solely as a conceptual framework, or proposed the refinement of the theory. Literature review indicated that the theory was found to be invalid and unreliable. …

Theory Of Mind And The Assessment Of Suggestibility In Preschoolers, Aryn C. Karpinski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Researchers have been examining the relation between theory of mind and suggestibility with mixed results. Recently, researchers have suggested that theory of mind is not a dichotomous construct, but instead develops in a sequence (Wellman & Liu, 2004). This view, when combined with an examination suggestibility, may clarify the relation. The purpose of this study was to validate the Video Suggestibility Scale for Children (VSSC; Scullin & Ceci, 2001) and a theory of mind scale as predictors of suggestibility in an interview about an experienced and a non-experienced event. Ninety-one preschoolers, ages 3 to 5 years old, completed the 3-week …

The Transtheoretical Model And Psychological Skills Training: Application And Implications With Elite Female Athletes, Linda Ann Keeler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There is abundant empirical evidence supporting the benefits of psychological skills training (PST) on performance (Vealey, 1994). Despite evidence of how PST can help athletic performance, some athletes still do not readily adopt its use (Gould, Tammen, Murphy, & May, 1989). Rather than ignoring individuals that are not interested (Weinberg & Williams, 2001), one possible method of approach would be to apply the transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM) to the use of PST (Grove, Norton, Van Raalte, & Brewer, 1999). This model suggests that behavior change is a progression through a series of stages (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983). There …

Revisiting Capital Punishment: Factors That Matter When Receiving The Death Penalty (A State By State Analysis), Bridget Ann Micka

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Although the death penalty is popular by most accounts, is it really a good social policy? The purpose of this study is to add to this discussion by examining the factors that directly impact death penalty cases. The data used in this study come from the state level database which contains information on all decisions of initial capital direct, state and federal habeas corpus cases between 1973 and 1995. What are the factors that lead some state compared to others to use the death penalty more often? Some have suggested that this could be the result of a minority-majority conflict. …

Between Humanity And Divinity: Christ Consciousness In Jacques Maritain's On The Grace And Humanity Of Jesus And The Epistemology Of Michael Polanyi, Stephen Doering

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work investigates the consciousness of Christ in Maritain's On the Grace and Humanity of Jesus in light of his theory of consciousness in Poetic Intuition in Art and Poetry. At issue is the epistemological question of non-thematic, non-explicit knowledge bearing upon the conscious awareness of Jesus. Michael Polanyi's contribution is his theory of tacit knowledge. In utilizing Polanyi we are able to substantiate Maritain's belief that non-thematic knowledge does, nonetheless, bear upon our explicit conscious awareness. The final chapter brings these points together by investigating Jesus' knowledge and consciousness of himself and his divine status.

Cinematic Scripture: The Structure And Usage Of The Lord Of The Rings As Equipment For Living, Brent Yergensen

Masters Theses

This project argues that film has the capacity to function as cinematic scripture for Christian audiences. Cinematic scripture means that films are authoritative for audiences the same way that written scripture is. In The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, this new form of scripture works as equipment for living by encouraging Christian audiences to go to war against evil through the structure of the film's biblical themes of bifurcation, redemption, and millennialism. This culmination of the rhetorical vision of war comes from three fantasy themes that emerge when Christian Internet writers describe how they use the films: repentance, strength, …

African American Male Faculty And Student Affairs Professionals At Eastern Illinois University: Motivations To Work In The Academy, Jahquan Clayton Hawkins

Masters Theses

The purpose of the current study was to identify factors that both motivate and deter African American male faculty and administrative staff members of Eastern Illinois University to be both recruited and retained at the institution. Subsequently, the attrition and retention of these individuals was the focal point of the research. A naturalistic, qualitative research designed was used during the current study. Specifically, a selected sample of African American male faculty and staff members from the institution under study were interviewed, soliciting responses that addressed issues such as the university's perception of the participants, the participants' views on the campus …

Male Greek Fraternity Members And Their Self-Perceptions On Muscularity, Kevin Malburg

Masters Theses

The quantitative study examined the body image issues of fraternity men at a midsize Midwestern university and their level of concerned with the muscular physique of their bodies. The participants were all undergraduate fraternity men between the ages of 18 and 25. The sample population (N=256) was surveyed using the Drive for Muscularity scale (McCreary & Sasse, 2000) to answer the following research questions: 1) Do fraternity members desire a more muscular physique than the one they already have? 2) What percentage of fraternity members use supplements to enhance their body image? 3) Do fraternity members perceive the opposite sex …

Components Of Academic Motivation: A Multidimensional Overview Of Millennial Female Students At Eastern Illinois University, Karen Huseman

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study was to examine the components of academic motivation among millennial female college students. More specifically, the purpose was to assess multiple factors that contribute to academic motivation among African American and European American millennial college women. The participants for the present study were selected from the female population at a mid-sized state-supported institution located in the Midwest.

Results from the study include that both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards helped to jump-start academic motivation. The role of family support was highly valued in the women's desire to achieve and personal self-confidence and support from others …