Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating Descriptive Richness In Collection-Level Metadata, Oksana L. Zavalina, Carole L. Palmer, Amy S. Jackson, Myung-Ja Han

University Libraries & Learning Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

When many collections are brought together in a federation or aggregation, the attributes of the original collections can become difficult to discern. Collection-level metadata has the potential to provide important context about the purpose and features of individual collections, but the qualitative aspects of collections are difficult to describe in a systematic way. This paper reports on a content analysis of collection records in the Digital Collections and Content (DCC) aggregation, conducted to analyze the kinds of substantive and purposeful information represented across 202 cultural heritage collections. We found that the free-text Description field often provides more accurate and complete …

Number 12, 2008, Palara Editor

PALARA: Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association

Complete Issue

Mixed Methods For Mixed Reality: Overcoming Methodological Challenges To Understand User Activities In Virtual Worlds, David F. Feldon, Yasmin B. Kafai

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

This paper examines the use of mixed methods for analyzing users’ avatar-related activities in a virtual world. Server logs recorded keystroke-level activity for 595 participants over a six-month period in Whyville.net, an informal science website. Participants also completed surveys and participated in interviews regarding their experiences. Additionally, the study included online ethnographic observations of Whyville and offline observations of a subset of 88 users in classroom and after-school settings during their participation. A mixed-methods analysis identified a major user emphasis on avatar appearance and customization that was invariant across user typologies. Implications for the use of mixed methods in online …

Communication On The Paper "A Reference-Dependent Regret Model For Deterministic Tradeoff Studies", Xiaoting Wang, Evangelos Triantaphyilou, Edouard Kujawski

Faculty Publications

This communication focuses on a fundamental problem related to the recently introduced Reference-Dependent Regret Model (RDRM) [E. Kujawski, Syst Eng 8(2) (2005), 119-1371 for deterministic multi-criteria decision-making. Kujawski asserted that the RDRM model satisfies three properties. The first of these properties, referred to as the "independence of dominated alternatives," seems to be an intuitive one. According to this property, the RDRM model preserves the ranking of two alternatives Ai and Aj with ranking Ai > Aj when a new alternative dominated by Ai is introduced or an old alternative dominated by Aj is dropped. In this communication it is demonstrated algebraically …

Antitrust Private Enforcement – Case Of Poland, Agata Jurkowska

Yearbook of Antitrust and Regulatory Studies

This article presents the main difficulties surrounding private enforcement of antitrust law in Poland, currently the key implementation problem in the field of antitrust law. Whereas the basic standards concerning the public pillar of antitrust enforcement have already been established, either in the European Community (EC) or in its Member States, the private pillar of antitrust enforcement has not yet been fully developed. The fact that private enforcement of antitrust law is possible, and in fact equal, to public enforcement is not yet commonly recognized. In response to the European Commission’s White Paper on Damages actions for breach of the …

The Effects Of Catholic And Protestant Schools: A Meta-Analysis, William H. Jeynes

Journal of Catholic Education

A meta-analysis was undertaken including 41 studies to determine the influence of Catholic and Protestant schools. The analysis examined studies undertaken at both the elementary and secondary school level. The results indicate that both Catholic and Protestant school students do better than their counterparts in public schools. In addition, Protestant school students excelled more than their Catholic counterparts on most standardized tests, but Catholic school students did better than their Protestant school counterparts on non-standardized measures. The significance of these results is discussed.

Nurturing Spirituality And Vocation: A Catholic Approach To New Teacher Induction, Richard Shields

Journal of Catholic Education

The Catholic school system in Ontario, Canada, is fully funded by the government. Recently Ontario’s Ministry of Education mandated an induction year, the New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP), for all new teachers. This legislation provides an opportunity for Catholic school boards to take the lead and shape creative and effective programs for new teacher induction. The mission of the Catholic school and the vocation of a Catholic teacher give meaning and direction to the new teacher’s professional educational practice. This article first explores some of the pastoral theological concerns that those charged with developing a Catholic approach to NTIP need …

Introduction, Judith Schachter

Pacific Studies

An introduction article to this special issue of the Pacific Studies journal focused on adoption and fosterage.

Adopting Change: Relational Flexibility As Vice And Virtue On Mota Island, Vanuatu, Thorgeir Storesund Kolshus

Pacific Studies

On the island of Mota in the Banks Islands, children and adults frequently have their matrilineal and even matrimoiety affiliation, and consequently kin relations, altered and multiplied through various forms of adoption. Most of the 850 Motese count themselves as belonging to several kin groups. This creates personalized kin inventories for each individual. Consequently, an element of choice concerning which relation to emphasize is intrinsic to the Motese kinship system. In this paper, some of the reasons and motivations for these choices are outlined. The traditional flexibility of social relations, with their associated transfer of rights and obligations, also proves …

Movements, Resource Selection, And Risk Analyses For Parasitic Disease In An Expanding Moose Population In The Northern Great Plains, James J. Maskey Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Little is known regarding moose ecology in North Dakota, and a decline in moose in northeastern North Dakota may be linked to parasites of white-tailed deer (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis and Fascioloides magna). I investigated the ecology of moose, including the potential effects of parasitic disease. I used global positioning system collars to estimate home ranges and habitat selection and collected fecal samples for diet estimates. I reviewed historical data and examined livers moose for evidence of F. magna infection. I examined 3730 white-tailed deer for P. tenuis and investigated whether prevalence had increased since 1991. I modeled the relationship …

Awareness And Attitudes Regarding Music Therapy In Jakarta, Indonesia : A Survey Amongst College Students, Liana Hadi

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The purposes of this study are to ascertain the awareness, knowledge levels and the attitudes of college students towards music therapy in order to provide a perspective on the possible development of training and education in Indonesia. This study was completed by performing a random survey of seventy one college students, between the ages of 18-24 years old, over several local universities in Jakarta, Indonesia. The survey has 18 open-ended questions, which would require no more than 10 minutes for completion. The survey opens with some general questions about participants’ age, gender, the highest education and their major education. The …

Culture Clash - How Socio-Technical Factors Contribute To Enterprise Information Systems Interoperability, Alan Fisk

Student Scholarship

Despite increasing need for interoperable enterprise-level information systems, achieving interoperability is persistently problematical. Our work highlights social factors as a major contributor to good design, development, and operating practices. The research was conducted at a technologically sophisticated Fortune 50 company where design artifacts suggested by the literature were found to be in place yet good interoperability between systems was not consistently achieved. The data suggest boundary spanners can facilitate interoperability by promoting shared meanings and mindsets that advance acculturation among cross-functional groups. Findings contrast with enterprise systems interoperability literature, which has focused mainly on technological factors to ensure good design …

Employee Volunteerism: Social Benefits Trump Altruism, Donna E. Teeague

Student Scholarship

With over 153 million U.S. citizens in the labor force but only about a quarter of them engaged in community volunteer work (Bureau of Labor Statistics of the US Department of Labor, 2006), the workplace is clearly an under-tapped source of volunteer labor. As the need for volunteers accelerates and supply remains stagnant, it becomes imperative to understand how to recruit volunteers from the workplace. Interviews with twenty seven employees of six US corporations were conducted to probe how beliefs about outcomes and consequences of volunteerism, the influence of important social referent groups and self perceptions of relevant skills and …

Financialism In Pretrial Release And Criminal Case Outcomes: A Relative Comparison Of Finances, Ethnicity And Sex, Daniel White

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of financial resources upon pretrial release and criminal case outcomes. Data related to the pretrial and criminal case outcomes was analyzed to determine the effect that financial ability has on being released prior to trial and the subsequent adjudication outcome rendered. Other relationships included were ethnicity and sex based on the literature in this area.

The data that were chosen for this study included individual and county-level data compiled by the State Court Processing Statistics (SCPS) program of the Bureau of Justice Statistics on the processing of a sample of …

Promoting Hope: Suggestions For School Counselors, Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti, Lisa M. Edwards, Shane J. Lopez

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

School counselors need multiple resources to assist today's students in developing to their fullest potential. This development might often be measured outwardly by academic success; however, psychological and emotional well-being of students is a large part of this success. The construct of hope is defined as a bidimensional characteristic consisting of an agency component (willpower to move toward one's goals) and a pathways component (ability to develop multiple routes to one's goals) and has been linked to academic success, athletic performance, psychological adjustment, and physical health in students (Snyder et al., 1991). Helping school counselors to enhance individual strengths through …

Canadian Food Law Update, Patricia L. Farnese

Journal of Food Law & Policy

Provided below is an overview of developments in Canadian food law and policy in 2008. This update primarily analyzes regulatory and policy developments by the federal government. This focus reflects the significance of federal activities in the food policy realm. As this is the first Canadian update to appear in the Journal of Food Law & Policy, it is appropriate to include a brief summary of the Canadian regulatory framework for food. The regulatory framework provides the necessary context to identify trends driving recent changes in Canadian food law and policy.

Ideal Female And Male Bodies: An Analysis Of College Students' Drawings, Shannon K. Carter, Michelle M. Ortiz

The Journal of Public and Professional Sociology

This study investigates perceptions of gendered body ideals through an analysis of college students' drawings. A sample of 94 college students participated by drawing their image of the ideal female and male bodies. The drawings were analyzed through a gender lens, whereby each participant‟s male and female bodies were compared to determine the features participants used to indicate gender in their ideal bodies. Four major themes emerged that distinguished ideal female and male bodies from each other: (1) body shape, (2) body size, (3) clothing and accessories, and (4) gender roles. An additional theme includes a small group of participants …

Operational Report 2008, University Of Montana--Missoula

University of Montana Annual Financial Reports, 1918-2012

University of Montana annual financial report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2008.

Bridging The Great Divide - Moving From Outsider To Insider: How For Profit Executives Become Effective Nonprofit Ceos, Antoinette E. La Belle

Student Scholarship

A leadership crisis in the nonprofit sector is portended by sector growth, turnover at the top and a smaller cohort of leaders coming up from behind. Crossovers from the corporate sector present an alternative source of CEO talent, but a dearth of empirical research about top executives who cross the boundaries of sector, organization, and, at times role, stymies our understanding of the transition process of for-profit to non-profit leaders. In depth interviews with U.S. nonprofit leaders--both crossover CEOs and CEOs hired from within the nonprofit sector--compared and contrasted transition experiences. Rather than significant differences between the two groups, our …

The Free Press Vol. 40, Issue No. 10, 12-01-2008, Matt Dodge

Free Press, The

Free Press exclusive: Our interview with President Botman--“Storm of epic proportions” Botman paints bleak picture while rolling out budget cuts--USM hosts anti-hate rally--Breaking with tradition

December 1, 2008

The Gavel Gazette

No abstract provided.

Psychological Distress And Change In A Pediatric Obesity Population, Amy Rebecca Beck

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Pediatric overweight and obesity is a growing national epidemic with 15 percent of children ages 6-19 considered obese and at least 22 percent considered overweight. While there is considerable research pointing to contributing factors of obesity, there is a paucity of research which elucidates what contributes to successful intervention. Considering that by the year 2050, nearly 50 million Americans may be obese, understanding the factors delineating success of weight loss and prevention is a necessity. The purpose of this study was to utilize archival data from the LLU Growing Fit Program to evaluate the levels of psychological distress experienced by …

Nonlinearity And Gestalt Therapy : Back To The Beginning, Darryl G. Kim

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Gestalt methods are explored in the context of the nonlinear view. The original Lewinian equations are updated to the current notions of nonlinear dynamics and current Gestalt Therapy theory. Ordinary differential equations and nonlinear processes are applied some of the key features of Gestalt Theory. Theoretical positions are explored and therapeutic impact considered.

Promoting Animals For Well-Being And Self-Acceptance With The Human Patient, Vicki J. Marquardt

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Few empirical studies have been conducted in order to scientifically measure the benefits of using animals with individuals suffering from neurological disorders, or traumatic brain injuries, with or without the inclusion of chronic pain. This study looked at the benefit of using horses in the therapeutic setting, by measuring the levels of anxiety, depression, self-esteem and quality of life pre- and post-therapy, in individuals diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Three groups were used in this study, and were measured pre and post therapy over an eight week period of time. The first group did not participate in the therapy at …

The Evaluation Of Sharper Future: A Community-Based Sex Offender Treatment Program, Lindsay M. Cunningham

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A program evaluation of Sharper Future’s Substance Abuse Services Coordinating Agency (SASCA) sex offender treatment program was conducted in order to ascertain whether the program is meeting its treatment goals as outlined by the SASCA contract and Sharper Future program goals. The participants of this evaluation were 248 past male Sharper Future clients who had been mandated to treatment at the Sharper Future facilities and were funded by the SASCA program. The data used in this program evaluation was archival, as it existed in the clients’ file as supplied by the Sharper Future clinics that run a SASCA treatment program. …

Ethical Decision-Making Regarding Multiple Relationships Between Therapist And Client, Diana Jochai

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The current study examined a new conceptual model of factors critical to a therapist’s decision-making process when faced with the potential of a nonsexual multiple relationship with a client. This new model was founded on the conceptual framework proposed by Street, Douglas, Geiger, & Martinko (2001) and integrated the components of the decision-making process and the individual and situational factors influencing those components identified in existing general conceptual models and specific behavioral guidelines. For the ethical decision-making process to begin, a practitioner must be able to recognize the presenting problem as an ethical dilemma (Brazerman, 1986; Jones, 1991; Street et …

Content Analysis Of University Alcohol Policies: "Party Schools" Compared To Non-Party Schools, Sarah E. Pernie

Dissertations

Universities across the United States are dealing with an alarming number of underage students drinking on or near campus. One prevention tool is having a comprehensive alcohol usage policy for students, which includes content as recommended by a number of national organizations focused on decreasing underage drinking on campuses. Yet little is known about the content actually contained in current university alcohol policies.

To this end, my research involved a content analysis of the alcohol policies from 71 purposefully selected universities across the country. These included institutions identified as "party schools" by the Princeton Review , and a similar sample …

A Comprehensive Retreat Program For High School Youth Ministry Students, Julie Therese Krug

Pastoral Institute

My pastoral project will encompass five retreats that I will work on in collaboration with a team of young adult volunteers and approximately 20 high school juniors and seniors. The "retreat season" will begin with a leadership retreat in September 2007, two Confirmation retreats (December 2007 and March 2008), a freshmen lock-in retreat (January 2008), and a junior high retreat (March 2008). The team will meet weekly for 8 weeks prior to a retreat, at times working on retreats simultaneously, to plan and prepare. The team's tasks will include leading ice breakers, small discussion groups, large group activities, praise and …

Intrinsic And Extrinsic Factors That Influence Instructors' Use Of E-Learning, Salem A. Albalwi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of the study was to determine whether significant differences exist among instructors at King Abdulaziz University's (KAU) Humanities and Scientific Colleges concerning their perceived levels of expertise and current use of e-learning technologies as part of their teaching. The proposed study also assessed influential factors (motivators and barriers) as measured by a survey questionnaire and examined them in terms of sex, academic field, and years of teaching experience.;Statistical methods of analysis for this study used means, standard deviations, frequencies, percentages, factor analysis, a 3-way factorial ANOVA, and Scheffe's Post Hoc Analysis. Based on 227 responses, the findings indicate …

Uncertainty Revisited: Legal Prediction And Legal Postdiction, Ehud Guttel, Alon Harel

Michigan Law Review

Legal scholarship, following rational-choice theory, has traditionally treated uncertainty as a single category. A large body of experimental studies, however, has established that individuals treat guesses concerning the future differently than guesses concerning the past. Even where objective probabilities and payoffs are identical, individuals are much more willing to predict a future event (and are more confident in the accuracy of their predictions) than they are willing to postdict a past event (and are also less confident in the accuracy of their postdiction). For example, individuals are more willing to bet on the results of a future die toss than …