Digital Commons Network^™

Is Sexual Violence A Public Concern Or A Private Affair? : An Exploration Of Community Members' Perceptions In A Rural New England Village, Mary S. Thompson

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative methods study explores how community members were impacted by isolated cases of sexual violence that involved their neighbors in a rural New England village and asks whether they perceive sexual violence as a public concern or a private affair. As a pastor in the town when these events occurred, I wondered about the ensuing communal silence and its impact on the community as a whole. Were individuals navigating questions about social norms and communal responsibilities, as they processed personal thoughts about sexual violence and their emotional experiences of their neighbors' pain? Fourteen community leaders representing three generations of …

Nature's Ritalin : The Effects Of Green Spaces On Symptoms Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Roger A. Sideman

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explored the effects of exposure to natural green spaces on symptoms of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among diagnosed college students. Six students from three universities in the San Francisco Bay Area were interviewed regarding the impact of experiences in urban green spaces and wilderness on their perceived attentional functioning, stress, and mood. The study sought to: 1) contribute to the growing base of literature and research on Attention Restoration Theory (ART); 2) offer a potential non-pharmacological alternative treatment for ADHD; and 3) further develop within the field of social work an understanding of the natural environment as it …

The Who, How And Why Of Facebook Use : The Relationship Between Level Of Use And The Big Five Personality Traits, Larua K. Mackie

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between personality traits and level of Facebook use. It was hypothesized that certain personality characteristics such as extraversion and low levels of conscientiousness would be more strongly correlated with higher levels of Facebook use. In addition, the study explored whether agreeableness and openness were significantly correlated to use/non-use of the site as had been found in previous research. Data was collected using an online survey, which included questions regarding demographic criterion, the Big Five Personality Inventory, whether participants utilized Facebook and if so how frequently, and what their reasons …

Critique Of Microcredit As A Development Model, Grace Levin

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

The field of microcredit (otherwise known as microfinance, microlending, or microcapital) has expanded rapidly since the 1980s as an economic means of lifting people out of poverty. Generally, microcredit has been accepted as an effective method for empowering both individuals and communities. In recent years, however, critics have brought to light some of the problems associated with microlending, such as the complex socioeconomic factors that can cause loan programs to fail. These problems stem from the basic tenet of microfinance: the need for lending programs to be managed locally in order to understand the needs of a community and assess …

African Irregular Migrants In Malta: Exploring Perceptions And Renegotiating The Socio-Cultural Siege Of Malta, Hannah E. Durick

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

This paper discusses the influx of African irregular migrants seeking asylum in Malta and how their arrival and growing presence in Malta is perceived by the Maltese. Since becoming an EU Member State in 2004 Malta has been overwhelmed by the number of irregular migrants arriving on its shores while en route to continental Europe. Due to its proximity to the North African coastline Malta becomes a frequent, albeit unintentional, destination for African migrants who are rescued in Maltese waters and subsequently placed in a closed detention facility until their legal status is determined in a court of law. Although …

The Leader As Moral Agent: Praise, Blame, And The Artificial Person, Joseph Hester, Don Killian

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

The leader as the moral agent can be both a singular and a collective entity. Regardless, that individual or group of individuals must establish and live by a moral paradigm where self-respect and respect for co-workers is paramount. In essence, the moral agent must "lead by example." And it is not simply sufficient to choose the correct pathway but to care about choosing the correct pathway, stripping the decision-making process of disingenuous or superficial motives and injecting heart, concern, and passion for doing what is right.

College Sport, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

It’s been some time since I sat down and watched as much as a half of a college football game. Last fall I was in London, a city not infected by intercollegiate athletics, and this fall I simply never got enough time or interest to watch. Then a few weeks ago I did see several games. Florida and Florida State always draws my interest, and the Notre Dame run has been an interesting one.

Modeling The Effects Of The Local Environment On A Received Gnss Signal, Marshall E. Haker

Theses and Dissertations

There is an ongoing need in the GNSS community for the development of high-fidelity simulators which generate data that replicates what can truly be expected from a challenging environment such as an urban canyon or an indoor environment. The algorithm developed for use in the research in this dissertation, the Signal Decomposition and Parameterization Algorithm (SDPA), is presented in order to respond to this need. This algorithm is designed to decompose a signal received using a GNSS recording and playback system and output parameters that can be used to reconstruct the effects on the signal of the environment local to …

Proposal For A Special Issue On Internet Gambling, Betty Mcneal, Rhys Stevens

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

No abstract provided.

An Assessment Of The Many Contributions Of Native American Gaming: Connecticut Then And Now, Ronald A. Nykiel

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

No abstract provided.

Las Vegas Locals As Gamblers And Hosts To Visiting Friends And Family: Characteristics And Gaming Behavior, Rachel S. Shinnar, Cheri A. Young, David L. Corsun

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Local gamblers are an important market segment for casino marketers providing a reliable source of revenue during slow periods. This paper presents selected gaming behavior of local residents in the Las Vegas area, linking socio-demographic characteristics with gaming behavior. In addition, this article examines the relationships of Las Vegas area locals and their visiting friends and family members in two aspects. First, we identified the influence local residents have on visiting friends and family in terms of recommendations made regarding gambling in general and specific gaming locations. Second, this article describes how visiting friends and family influence local residents in …

Perceptions Of A Bible Belt State's Proposed Casino Gaming Legislation By Religious Affiliation: The Case Of Kentucky Residents, Desmond O. Brown, Mary G. Roseman, Sunny Ham

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

This study seeks to explore whether differences exist among Kentucky residents' perception of casino gaming based on religious affiliation. A survey was conducted to sample 600 residents regarding currently a widely debated introduction of land-based casinos in the state, yielding a response rate of 38.4%. The results support earlier studies regarding the impact religion has on people's attitudes toward gaming. The findings suggest that Catholics have a more positive attitude toward the legalization of gambling than persons of Protestant faiths.

Developing The Casino Marketing Plan, Andrew M. Klebanow

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

This article stresses the need to develop and implement structured marketing plans. He discusses the benefits of formal planning and the challenges of developing a researched, realistic plan. An outline or framework for a casino marketing plan appears at the end.

Constraints To The Growth Of Native American Gaming, James A. Davis, Samuel M. Otterstrom

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Since the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed in 1988, high-stakes bingo halls and casino operations have spread to reservations across the country and generated millions of dollars in revenues for their respective tribes. While some tribes have been able to exploit their sovereign status and establish high-stakes bingo parlors and casinos on reservations across the country, this study describes how external and internal constraints limit the adoption of gaming ventures by other tribes. Constraints include the location of the reservations, increasing competition, disagreements among tribal members, and opposition from the private and public sectors.

Introducing Ethics Legislation: The Courage To Lead After 200 Years Of Silence (Interview With Jill Long Thompson), Elizabeth Gingerich

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

The test of a good leader is staying in the fight despite the popularity or lack thereof of the issue. Long Thompson reflects that this message is the result of a combination of a good work ethic, a solid supportive group of family and friends, and commonalty of purpose. She opines that voters elect representatives to use good judgment and fully research issues before committing to a particular course of action.

Homes Across The Border: Russian Summer Houses In The Karelian Isthmus And The Finnish State, 1917–1927, Kitty Lam

Faculty Publications & Research

At the end of the 19th century, numerous St. Petersburg residents established their summer homes in the Karelian Isthmus, a picturesque region in the Grand Duchy of Finland, an autonomous province of the Russian Empire. The ease of travel between the Russian imperial capital and the Finnish seaside towns contributed to this practice. After 1917, a new border regime delineated the nascent Finnish state from the equally new Russian/ Soviet state. This change displaced the majority of Russian proprietors, as well as those imperial subjects who rented vacation properties from local Finns. This article addresses how state-building practices distinguishing between …

Returns To Schooling: A Quantile Regression, Arman Oganisian

Economics Student Scholarship

This paper contributes to the large body of economic literature that attempts to estimate the returns to schooling. It uses quantile regression to estimate the effect of an additional year of education on monthly wage for earners in different quantiles. Using data from the young men’s cohort of the National Longitudinal Survey, the paper attempts to control for ability, family background, geography, and race, and finds that the returns to schooling is approximately 3.49% for men. Furthermore, the paper finds that while the effect of education on earnings is not significantly different from quantile to quantile, the significance of education …

Incorporating Stakeholder Input In Research Priorities For The Aleutian Islands, Rachael Margaret Wadsworth

Fisheries

Federal law requires that resource management agencies consider stakeholder input in the selection of preferred alternatives for proposed actions. Not only do stakeholders contribute unique perspectives on the impact of alternative actions and the desirability of various policy objectives, including stakeholders in the decision process adds to the perceived legitimacy of those decisions. Incorporating stakeholder input is legally required and advantageous to sustainable governance of the oceans and implementation of a National Ocean Policy such as ecosystem-based management. Agencies use a variety of formal and informal mechanisms to solicit and incorporate stakeholder input. In this study, we compare expert panel …

Overview Of Bering/Chukchi Sea Wave States For Selected Severe Storms, Katherine A. Pingree-Shippee, Norman J. Shippee, David E. Atkinson

Research Posters

Strong storms are regular features over the ocean west of Alaska. These systems often loiter, generating moderate to severe marine states which can exhibit persistence, maximizing damage and hazard potential. This analysis presents the wave states associated with selected storms over the Bering and Chukchi Seas. These include the damaging events of October 2004, September 2005, and November 2009, along with a strong event from September 2011 that exhibited north winds. For each event a brief synoptic overview is presented followed by consideration of the resultant wave state, including parameters such as wave steepness. Wave data come from NOAA’s WAVEWATCH …

Kelp Forests And Barren Grounds: Phlorotannin Production And Holdfast Community Structure In The Aleutian Dragon Kelp, Eualaria Fistulosa, Martin D. Schuster

Marine Biology

The canopy forming kelp Eualaria fistulosa inhabits two organizational states throughout the Aleutian archipelago, kelp forests and barren grounds. Urchin abundance and behavior determines which state dominates in any given area. Sporophyll phlorotannin content and holdfast epibiont fauna were investigated at multiple islands along the Aleutian archipelago to determine how the organizational state affects the production of secondary metabolites and the taxon richness, abundance and biomass of holdfast communities. Barren ground sporophylls had higher phlorotannin content than kelp forest sporophylls, although grazing rates on sporophylls from each state did not differ during in situ grazing experiments. The taxon richness, abundance …

Organizational Issues Related To Governance And Management Of Off-Campus Centers, Cedric Dewayne Macklin

Student Theses and Dissertations

Extensive research has been conducted on students pursuing degrees off-campus; however, limited studies have been directed to explain the growing practice of students enrolling in courses and degrees at off-campus degree centers. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the organizational issues related to governance and management of off-campus centers throughout the United States. Data collection was conducted using recorded telephone interviews that were transcribed, analyzed, and summarized.This dissertation used one introductory question and ten research questions to examine the organizational issues related to governance and management of off-campus centers. The introductory question was: What are the issues and …

The Eastern Echo, December 17, 2012, Eastern Michigan University

EMU Student Newspaper: The Normal News & The Eastern Echo

No abstract provided.

The Eastern Echo, December 17, 2012, Eastern Michigan University

EMU Student Newspaper: The Normal News & The Eastern Echo

No abstract provided.

The Eastern Echo, December 17, 2012, Eastern Michigan University

EMU Student Newspaper: The Normal News & The Eastern Echo

No abstract provided.

Developing A Decision Support System For Emergency Management Services In The Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, Katherine E. Schaefer

Geosciences

Every year the Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB), in interior Alaska, responds to common emergencies, as well as disasters of varying types. This research first tested several geographic information systems (GIS) based network analysis models to demonstrate how these models could serve as 'decision support' tools for emergency planning and response. Six network analysis models based on FNSB data were evaluated to determine the response times of local fire stations. Each model was tested against real call times and simulated summertime fire emergency response call times to verify model accuracy. The simulated times matched the modeled predictions with remarkably high …

Weather-Based Damage Prediction Models For Electric Distribution Networks, David W. Wanik

Master's Theses

From thunderstorms to hurricanes, electric distribution networks are subject to a wide range of warm weather storm events. Tropical Storm Irene (2011) and Hurricane Sandy (2012) are two events in recent memory that disrupted over half of The Connecticut Light and Power Company’s (CL&P) service territory, which left some customers without power for up to eleven days. This research study investigates a damage prediction framework for both thunderstorms and hurricanes that combines two generalized linear models to probabilistically determine the occurrence and extent of damages, known as trouble spots, to the overhead power distribution network. The models are inputted with …

Factors Influencing Fundraising Success At Church-Related Colleges And Universities, Jeff G. Cohu

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore and examine factors leading to fundraising success in church-related colleges and universities that have not secularized their Christian mission, governance, and denominational relationships. This study posed research questions concerning both the specific strategies and leadership behaviors used by individual leaders at successful institutions in the church-related niche of higher education.

The methodology used in this qualitative study featured a grounded theory approach blended with some elements of a comparative study approach. Five institutions were selected based on a purposeful sampling strategy. The data collection methods included in-depth, semi-structured interviews with key institutional …

Landscaping Israel: Power And Resistance On The Ground, Janey Kemp

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Fall Commencement [Program], December 15, 2012, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Commencement Programs

The program of the commencement ceremonies, including a list of institutional leadership, a list of the departments by college, awards given at the ceremonies, and a list of undergraduate and graduate degree candidates.

Debating Immigration: Arizona's Controversial Response To Illegal Hispanic Immigration, Parker M. Wornall

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Hispanic Immigration into the United States is no new phenomena. What is new in regards to this immigration is the strict measures being taken by various states where Hispanic immigration is most prevalent. These laws are proving to be arbitrary, punitive, and unethical. Arizona was the first to pass a “stop policy” on immigration with Senate Bill 1070. This bill does not aptly address the many push and pull factors that have caused this immigration; push factors being factors that will drive people away from Latin America, and pull factors being factors that attract them to the United States. Likewise, …