Digital Commons Network^™

Audience Interpretations Of The Representation Of Women In Music Videos By Women Artists, Libby Mckenna

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how young women audiences may make sense of music videos and how they relate music video messages to their own femininity. Studies of the representation of women in music videos mostly have focused on critiquing content, rather than audience interpretations. This study, using focus groups, looked at how young women interpret music videos featuring women artists and showed that young women perceive sexist and/or stereotypical depictions presented in the videos. During six focus groups, three music videos were reviewed by 49 college students, mostly consisting of young women in their early 20s. The researcher found themes emerging …

Study Of The Ethical Values Of College Students, Victor Mercader

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on five main purposes, all of them interrelated and each focused on ethical values, virtues, or character values. The five purposes are: a) Investigate college students' perceptions of ethical values, including their importance, application, usefulness, origin, benefits, need for education, and courses proposed to be included in the curricula; b) Review literature in areas related to ethical values, virtues or character values of college students; c) Develop and pilot an instrument to assess the ethical values of college students; d) Improve and use the developed instrument to describe the status of college students' ethical values; and e) …

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Satisfaction With Life After Controlling For Self-Esteem, Depression, And Locus Of Control Among Community College Students, Kevin T. Murphy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Satisfaction with Life (SWL) among community college students. Some researchers suggest a relationship exists between EI and important outcome variables (e.g., occupational success & satisfaction with life). However, other researchers suggest measures of EI may simply assess personality variables known to predict these variables. I used the Mayer, Salovey, and Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) to investigate how much additional variance in SWL, EI predicts after three personality variables (self-esteem,depression, and locus of control). A convenience sample of 200 Central Florida Community College Students completed the following instruments: 1) MSCEIT(Mayer, …

Perceptions Of School Climate And Bullying In Middle Schools, Irene Pintado

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Bullying has been identified as a problem that can affect the physical and psychosocial health of both the aggressors and victims. Given the consequences for those who bully, for victims, and for the school environment, early intervention is important to minimize these risks. School staff need additional data to understand the scope of bullying and to adopt effective strategies. This study seeks to meet this need by analyzing the association of bullying behaviors and school climate perceptions of middle school students within the context of school membership. This study used Bronfenbrenner's ecological system theory. Within this framework, a bullying interaction …

Clarifying The Cohesion-Performance Relationship In Teams: Backup Behavior As A Mediating Mechanism, Matthew S. Prewett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between team cohesion and team performance has been extensively studied, but behavioral mediators of this relationship have not been adequately assessed. This study proposed that backup behavior mediates the relationship between team cohesion and team performance. In addition, it was also hypothesized that team goal commitment would moderate the relationship between team cohesion and team backup behavior. 138 participants forming 46 teams of three were assigned to one of fours conditions to test this framework: high cohesion/high goal commitment, high cohesion/low goal commitment, low cohesion/high goal commitment, and low cohesion/low goal commitment. Results indicated no significant differences between …

Educational Backgrounds And Teaching Styles Of Athletic Training Educators In Entry-Level Caahep Accredited Athletic Training Programs Valerie J. Rich, Valerie J. Rich

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the educational backgrounds and teaching styles of athletic training educators and to see if a relationship existed between educational backgrounds and teaching styles. An electronic survey was e-mailed to 338 Program Directors of CAAHEP accredited undergraduate and graduate athletic training education programs. The survey was also posted on the athletic training educator's listserv to recruit more participants. The survey contained questions regarding demographics and educational history, as well as the Teaching Styles Inventory (Grasha, 2002). A total of 198 athletic training educators responded to the survey, and 174 filled out the survey …

Women In Nontraditional Careers, Teresa Ann Roche

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In a traditional male dominated field such as construction, and automotive technology, artificial barriers and attitudes have often prevented qualified females from reaching their full potential. The late entrance of females into these fields has created very few role models for nontraditional younger females entering these professions. This study was designed to create a profile for nontraditional females working in a male dominated work force. A large percentage of females have experienced some barriers due to discrepancies in gender performance. Acceptance by peers, community and administrators, combined with the challenge of balancing family and career appears to be areas of …

Proactive Personality, Stress And Voluntary Work Behaviors, Ozgun Burcu Rodopman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present study has two primary contributions to the existing literature linking stressors to employee reactions. First, job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion are proposed to mediate the relationship between stressors and both forms of voluntary workplace behaviors, specifically OCB and CWB. A comprehensive framework, which includes both streams of voluntary workplace behaviors (OCB and CWB) will expand the common practice of investigating them separately and helps us better understand the parallel mechanisms linked to OCB and CWB. Secondly, the role of proactive personality will be investigated to gain insights into how it relates to job attitudes and voluntary work behaviors. …

An Analysis Of The Legal Contexts Of Public Education Law: Its Judicial Interpretations And Applications With Regard To Discipline And Special Education And Non-Special Education Students In K-12 Public Schools, Janet Marie Roland

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated legal implications of differential disciplinary treatment of special education and non-special education students in K-12 public schools. It focused on interpreting and applying federal and state education legislation by courts and how various judicial decisions affect discipline practices in public school systems, asking if preferential treatment was afforded to students with disabilities through implementation and interpretation of educational legislation.The historical myriad of complex legislation passed before and after inception of Public Law 94-142 in 1975 was studied, exploring relationships between school discipline of children who do and do not receive special education services. Research included review of …

An Investigation Of A Dual-Factor Model Of Mental Health And Related Physical Health Outcomes Among Early Adolescents, Emily J. Shaffer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the mental and physical health of early adolescents (n = 339) using a dual-factor model of mental health. When employing a dual-factor model, mental well-being is not simply assumed from the absence of negative indicators of mental health (psychopathology). Rather, assessments of positive indicators of mental health (subjective well-being) are used to determine one's level of mental wellness. The current study tested the existence of a dual-factor model of mental health by examining the separability of participants' reports of subjective well-being and psychopathology. Specifically, the researcher hypothesized that the assessment of both of these constructs would result …

Advancements In Rapid Load Test Data Regression, Michael Jeffrey Stokes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rate-dependent effects introduced during rapid and/or dynamic events have typically been oversimplified to compensate for deficiencies in present analyses. As load test results are generally considered as the basis of performance from which foundations can be designed, it is imperative that the analyzed load test data be as accurate as possible. In an attempt to progress the state of load test data regression, this dissertation addresses two common assumptions made during the regression process: (1) the statnamic damping coefficient is constant throughout the entire load test and (2) the concrete stress-strain relationship is linear-elastic. Also presented is a case study …

The Effect Of Transportation Subsidies On Urban Sprawl, Qing Su

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates transportation subsidies as sources of urban sprawl. Apart from tolls, motorists do not pay highway user-fees, but they do pay gasoline taxes. Gasoline tax revenues are insufficient to cover the U.S. highway costs. Government, therefore, uses general tax revenues to cover highway expenditures. Since users do not pay the full cost of their travel, they have an incentive to travel longer commuting distances. Highway subsidies are, therefore, a potential contributor to urban sprawl. A similar argument applies to public transit. To capture the effects of subsidized automobile and public transit travel, we ex-tend the standard urban spatial …

Ethnic Differences In Body Mass Index, Christine Anne Vaughan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The greater body mass of African American females relative to Caucasian females is a well-documented finding implicated in ethnic disparities in health outcomes. The principal aim of the current study was to evaluate a theoretical account that may explain ethnic differences in body mass index. The proposed theoretical account focused on appearance-related concerns regarding the desirability of a thin body type as motivation to engage in weight control behavior. It was hypothesized that Caucasians would evidence greater internalization of the thin ideal than African Americans, which would then be associated with greater dietary restriction and physical activity, thereby predicting lower …

School Principals’ Knowledge And Understanding Of Educator Sexual Misconduct Against Students, Sylvia Sonja Cairns

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to explore what public school principals know and understand about educator sexual misconduct. This project attempted to provide a clearer picture of how administrators perceived and performed their leadership role as moral keeper of the school. In examining the literature, the researcher determined that there is a paucity of information concerning educator sexual misconduct.To accomplish the goals of this research project, the investigator paid particular attention to the study, Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature, prepared by Shakeshaft in 2004 for the U.S. Department of Education. Insights afforded by Shakeshaft's study …

Estimation Of The Particle And Gas Scavenging Contributions To Wet Deposition Of Organic And Inorganic Nitrogen, Silvia Margarita Calderã³N

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen species represents an additional nutrient source to natural environments, and can alter the nitrogen cycle by increasing nutrient levels beyond the requirements of organisms. In Tampa Bay, atmospheric deposition of dissolved inorganic nitrogen species (DIN) has been found to be the second largest nitrogen source, but little is known about dissolved organic nitrogen species (DON). The research goal was to improve the dry and wet deposition estimates by inclusion of the DON contribution. In the atmospheric chemistry field a standard method to measure DON in atmospheric samples has not been agreed upon. This research proposes the …

Investigation Of Normalized Streamflow In West Central Florida And Extrapolation To Ungaged Coastal Fringe Tributaries, Kim Beth Clayback

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Deriving accurate streamflow estimates for ungaged watersheds provides a challenging task for water resource engineers. Traditional methods include correlation to the nearest USGS streamflow station or numeric simulation of watershed rainfall-runoff processes. Mean annual flow, ten percent exceedance and other streamflow indices can be normalized and non-dimensionalized by dividing by the watershed drainage area and the mean annual precipitation rate. Obtaining non-dimensional parameters can be especially useful for extrapolation of flows to downstream, ungaged, coastal fringe regions. Florida and other states along the Gulf Coast exhibit strong variability in the magnitude of streamflow fraction of precipitation. The irregular patterns created …

The Effects Of Community-Based Service-Learning On Preservice Elementary Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Beliefs About Equitable Science Teaching And Learning, Neporcha T. Cone

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The National Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996) and Science for all Americans (AAAS, 1989) explicitly state that all students regardless of their age, cultural or ethnic backgrounds, gender, abilities, aspirations, or interest in science should have access to equitable educational resources in science. These equitable resources also include access to efficacious teachers of all students. However, the Standards fail to explicate what practices, if any, lead to the development of these teachers. The primary purpose of this study was to identify teacher education practices that positively influenced preservice elementary teachers' self-efficacy beliefs about equitable science teaching and learning. More specifically, …

Biomechanical Evaluation Of Independent Transfers And Pressure Relief Tasks In Persons With Sci: Pilot Study, Tony J. Cresta

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Persons with paraplegia who use a manual wheelchair for mobility are at high risk for overuse injuries in the upper extremities. Years of shoulder overuse performing transfers, wheelchair propulsion, dressing, bathing, and household chores, (activities of daily living or ADL) leads to an increased incidence of cumulative trauma to the shoulders. Few studies have addressed the stressful task of wheelchair transfers among SCI individuals. The goal of this pilot study is to develop valid and reliable measurement technologies to quantify shoulder musculoskeletal stressors during wheelchair transfers and pressure relief tasks among individuals with SCI. Using a standard wheelchair, 10 participants …

The Role Of Src Homology 2 Domain Containing Inositol-5’-Phosphatase 1 (Ship) In Hematopoietic Cells, Caroline Desponts

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The principal isoform of Src homology (SH) 2-domain containing 5' inositol phosphatase protein 1 (SHIP) is a 145kDa protein primarily expressed by cells of the hematopoietic compartment. The enzymatic activity of SHIP is responsible for hydrolyzing the 5' phosphate of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3), and thereby preventing the recruitment of pleckstrin homology domain containing effector proteins. Furthermore, SHIP contains protein-protein interaction domains, such as an SH2 domain, two NPXY and several proline-rich motifs. All of these different domains endow SHIP with the capacity to impact signaling pathways important for proliferation, survival, differentiation and activation. Therefore, we hypothesized that SHIP-deficiency could result in …

Evaluation Of The Long-Term Effect Of Inorganic Leachate On Geosynthetic Clay Liners, Darwish El-Hajji

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Because of its low permeability and high swelling characteristics, bentonite is used in various hydraulic barrier systems and in the manufacturing of Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCLs). Exposure to inorganic solutions containing elevated concentrations of electrolyte can significantly increase their permeability. To enhance the bentonite's chemical resistance to inorganic solutions, the manufacturers of GCL materials introduced propriety soluble polymeric compounds as an additive to bentonite. The resulting materials are referred to as polymer-treated, chemically-enhanced, or contaminant-resistant clays, and are arguably resistant to a host of inorganic chemicals. In this study, the response of both regular and polymer treated bentonite clays to …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between The Presence Of Critical Components Of Classroom Positive Behavior Support And Student Behavior, Gregory S. Ern

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the presence of classroom components of positive behavior support and student behavior outcomes. Data were collected using the Tool for Assessing Classroom Level-Positive Behavior Support (TACL-PBS) developed by Ern (2004) to assess the presence or absence of critical components of positive behavior support at the classroom level. Descriptive data on the instrument including the internal consistency, interrater agreement, and concurrent validity were analyzed and are included in this report. Forty classrooms from ten diverse elementary schools in three school districts were selected to participate in this study. Office discipline …

Mentor And Mentee Perceptions Of The Importance And Effectiveness Of Mentor Support, Cenira Holcomb

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study explored the congruence between mentor and mentee perceptions of the importance and effectiveness of 12 district-specific focus areas of mentor support. While reviewing current data pertaining to teacher attrition, the researcher observed a limited availability of investigations relating to the perceived role of the mentor teacher based on the experiences and observations of both the novice and mentor teacher.The target population for this study was 70 novice and mentor special education teachers during the 2005--2006 school year employed at 13 middle schools in a school district located in Florida. Of the 70 beginning and mentor …

A Marriage Of Convenience: Batista And The Communists, 1933 – 1944, Charles Clayton Hollenkamp

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines the relationship between Fulgencio Batista and the Communist Party of Cuba. At odds during the first several years of Batista's rule, when strikes and repression were the topics of the day, the two sides eventually saw in each other a means to an end. In efforts to understand the Cuban Revolution of the late 1950's, historians often portray Batista as a dictatorial puppet of American business and policy. Contrary to this image, in his first regime (1934 until 1944), Batista presided over the creation of a nominal constitutional democracy. To do this he needed the support and …

Cranial Biomechanics And Feeding Performance Of Sharks, Daniel Robert Huber

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The elasmobranch fishes possess a remarkable diversity of feeding mechanisms for a group containing relatively few species (~1200). The three most prevalent of these mechanisms involve prey capture during which the predator overtakes its prey (ram), prey is drawn into the mouth of the predator (suction), and relatively stationary consumption of sessile or substrate affixed prey (biting). Biomechanical modeling of cranial force distributions, in situ bite performance trials, and kinematic analysis of prey capture behaviors were employed to identify morphological and behavioral specializations and constraints associated with these feeding mechanisms in lemon Negaprion brevirostris (ram), whitespotted bamboo Chiloscyllium plagiosum (suction), …

The Dividend Puzzle: Are Shareholders Entitled To The Residual?, Daniel J.H. Greenwood

Hofstra Law Faculty Scholarship

Using the familiar economic model of the firm, I show that shareholders have no special claim on a corporation's economic returns. No one has an entitlement to economic rents in a capitalist system. Shareholders, the purely fungible providers of a purely fungible commodity, are particularly unlikely to be able to command a share of economic profits. Indeed, since the contribution of shareholders to the firm is a sunk cost, in a competitive market shareholders are unlikely to earn any return at all. Accordingly, market-based analyses of the firm should conclude that shareholder returns result from a market distortion. Similarly, black-letter …

A New Model For Identifying Basis In Life Insurance Policies: Implementation And Deference, Mitchell M. Gans, Jay A. Soled

Hofstra Law Faculty Scholarship

In order to compute the gain or loss on the sale or disposition of an asset, a taxpayer is required to determine the investment's basis. While ordinarily straightforward, at least as a theoretical matter, making this determination can be particularly problematic in the case of a life insurance policy. Since so many taxpayers own life insurance policies, it is somewhat puzzling that the basis calculation principles in this context are not more fully developed. ....

The aim of this paper is to consider these tax basis principles in both descriptive and normative terms. To this end, we have organized the …

Corruption's Hold On The Economy: An Examination Of The Causes Of Economic Development, Peter Raatz '06

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

This study focuses on the relationship between political corruption and economic development through a cross-national survey of twenty-three of the twenty-five European Union Member States. This study was conducted in order to expand on the research conducted by Margaret Goodman and Nathaniel Leff. The survey examined the effect of political corruption on six dependent variables that represent economic development: gross domestic product per capita, unemployment rate, education, fertility rate, infant mortality rate, and government debt. Of the six, GDP, unemployment and fertility were shown to be significant. The findings suggest that corruption index increase coupled with a job creation program …

Affirming The Unborn Victims Of Violence Act Of 2004, Anthony Reinhart '06

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Unborn Victims of Violence Act is a federal criminal law that amends the United States Code and the Uniform Code of Military Justice "to protect unborn children from assault and murder, and for other purposes."9

The Moon, Issue 2, December-January 2006, Dit Journalism Society

Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Our Views Anybody Listening: Researching The Views And Needs Of Young People In Co. Kildare, Kevin Lalor, Katie Baird

Reports

No abstract provided.