Digital Commons Network^™

Aging And Religious Participation In Late Life, Kuan-Yuan Wang

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between two dimensions of religiosity, religious service attendance and religious beliefs, and the process of aging, controlling for the effects of covariates known to affect religious development among older adults.

Methods: Secondary analysis of longitudinal data from the Florida Retirement Study was used to assess the trajectories of religious development over time as modeled with two growth processes: religious service attendance and religious beliefs. We analyzed data from six interview waves (Waves 1 and 5 - 9) with 1000 older adults age 72 or over. Covariates included demographic factors …

Processing Facial Emotions: An Eeg Study Of The Differences Between Conservatives And Liberals And Across Political Participation, Karl Evan Giuseffi

Department of Political Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Behavioral differences have been reported between conservatives and liberals when categorizing facial expressions, yet no study explores potential differences in the manner in which the two groups process facial expressions, let alone how partisanship contributes or how political engagement may vary with brain processing of facial expressions. In this context, processing refers to brain patterns following exposure to a facial expression and participants’ subsequent attention to the presented facial expressions. This thesis addresses the question of whether political temperament is associated with differences in neural processing. Research subjects participated in an emotion discrimination task while event-related potentials (ERP) were captured …

Attitudes Of College Students In Relationship To Weight And Physical Activity, Emily N. Estes

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is a limited amount of knowledge of the impact current and goal weights of college students have on their attitudes surrounding weight and physical activity.

OBJECTIVE: To examine weight/body image and physical activity attitudes of students and whether those attitudes correlate current and goal weights of students.

SETTING: The questionnaires utilized were completed between the years 2006-2011 at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln.

PARTICIPANTS: Male and female students from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln.

RESULTS: The mean BMI of all participants (n=2255) was 23.8 ± 4.1; for females (n=1403) 23.0 ± 4.0; and for males (n=852) 24.9 ± …

The Importance Of Self-Esteem In Learning And Behavior In Children With Exceptionalities And The Role Magic Tricks May Play In Improving Self-Esteem And In Motivating Learning, Shannon Bauman

HIM 1990-2015

This paper was written using various research based sources to determine the effects of self-esteem on learning and behaviors and whether or not the use of magic tricks can play a role in raising self-esteem and in motivating learning for children with exceptionalities. There have been multiple studies that show self-esteem has a significant effect on a child's ability to learn as well as studies that show self-esteem plays a role in a child's behavior. There are opposing studies showing that self-esteem has no effect on learning and behavior in children with and without exceptionalities. There was no information found …

Brown Study An Original Musical Recording, Alan Clark

HIM 1990-2015

For a year and a spring semester, I have been in the works of a school music project. I set out to make a record of ten self-penned songs. Along the length of the project, I would discover musicians and recording artists. I notated my songs on a staff and recorded demos to assist players of drums, electric bass, French horn, and violin. I play guitar, percussion, synthesized instruments, and do all of the singing on Brown Study, the record's title. The technology used to create the songs include a Tascam 2488 (home digital recording device), computers, printers, cell phones …

The Investigation Of A Potential Link Between Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Lucas Driskell

HIM 1990-2015

With the advancement of protective gear and medical aid, soldiers are now surviving traumatic experiences that were once fatal. As a result, the prevalence of brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder in military service members has grown. Those who have obtained brain injury are at risk of developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative syndrome. To date, there is no cure, treatment, or diagnostic method (besides autopsy) for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Because chronic traumatic encephalopathy and posttraumatic stress disorder present many of the same symptoms and have the possibility of deriving from the same traumatic experience, an investigation of a potential …

The Effects Of Adoption On Identity Formation A Qualitative Analysis, Lisa Heath

HIM 1990-2015

While evidence suggests that adoptees do not differ from non-adoptees in their ability to achieve a stable sense of identity, much is still unknown about how specifically the fact of being adopted affects one's identity. The purpose of this research is to take a deeper look at the significance and meaning of being adopted to one's sense of identity through qualitative analyses of in depth interviews with adoptees. Participants were recruited from Psychology classes via the SONA system. The participants (N = 16) took part in an in-depth structured interview and completed a survey battery which included a demographic questionnaire, …

Influencing Opinions About Bats The Impact Of Levels Of Interaction During Educational Presentations, Samantha Hynes

HIM 1990-2015

This experiment was run to see whether the educational presentations done at zoos and other educational facilities are effectively changing patrons' negative misconceptions about the animals they were seeing. Participants were invited to attend one of three educational presentations, where they were exposed to either a low, intermediate or high level of interaction involving a bat. I hypothesized that regardless of the level of interaction, participants would learn the information, but that a higher level of interaction would cause the biggest perceptual change in terms of how participants felt about the bat and the highest degree of learning. Across the …

The Effect Of Gender And Leadership Styles On Employee Satisfaction, Brittany Williams

HIM 1990-2015

To ensure the success of a company, it is essential for supervisors to interact effectively with the employees they oversee. Effective interactions between supervisor and employee go hand-in-hand with employee satisfaction, which can impact firm performance. The purpose of this thesis is to examine key drivers of employee satisfaction. Specifically, this thesis tests whether or not employees with supervisors of the same sex as themselves are more satisfied than employees with supervisors of the opposite sex. It also compares and contrasts the level of satisfaction an employee has in correspondence with transformational and transactional leadership styles and whether this relationship …

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy As An Effective Therapy In Comparison To Or In Conjunction With Traditional Therapies, Kristen Wilson

HIM 1990-2015

Mental disorders are a prevalent health issue that has an extensive amount of variability in the quantity of disorders, affected populations, and treatment. There are a multitude of approaches or therapeutic methods used by the mental health community. Although each therapy is valuable in unique ways, each therapy may not be suitable to treat every disorder or client. Traditional approaches, such as talk therapy, are effective for certain individuals, whereas some clients may not respond well to any of the traditional talk therapies. When traditional therapies are not working, a referral can be made for a therapy that might suit …

Navigating Authenticity In The Age Of The Internet A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Existential Effects Of Social Media, Douglas Zimmerman

HIM 1990-2015

Our world is a world of technology, and technology is part of what has made human beings so adept at survival. Yet, the 21st century has seen a new type of technology that is unlike anything ever seen before. This new information technology is known as social media (including such things as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.), and it has the power to influence our very being. However, we are seemingly uncritical and unconcerned about social media in relation to society. This project attempts to analyze social media and its relationship to human beings from an ontological standpoint. I do so …

Acute Exercise And Its Effect On Cognitive Performance In Sleep Deprived Individuals: A Review Of Literature., Jennifer Nicole Miller

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This literature review observes seven different studies that researched the effects of exercise on some measure of cognitive or psychological performance when sleep deprived. The purpose of this review is to consolidate the results of various exercise protocols on the effects of sleep deprivation to make a general conclusion regarding the effect on cognition. This will give insight into the future of research regarding how exercise may combat performance decrements seen when sleep deprived. There are several inconsistencies among current research concerning exercise and sleep deprivation; a standard needs to be created so the results of these studies can be …

The Analytic Classroom, Todd E. Pettys

Buffalo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Behind The Seams: An Ethnographic Study Of The Performative Nature Of Theatrical Costumes, Emily M. Lindholm

Student Publications

Actors are said to bring a play to life, but what about the garments that they wear? Like set production, light design, and direction, the role of the costume plays an important part in informing and enchanting the audience. However, this is not all that they do. This paper acts as an in-depth examination of the culture of costume creation and destruction at Gettysburg College, researching their roles as garments, as well as how the garments themselves "act" around others. Imbued with their own set of responsibilities, the costumes are expected to behave certain ways, perform specific functions, and put …

An Actor's Journey Into The Mind Of A Sociopath, Kelsey Amann

Theses

In order to complete the requirements for a Master of Fine Arts at Lindenwood University, I was required to perform a leading role as part of my thesis project. I chose to play Neil LaBute's character, Evelyn, in his play, The Shape of Things. Evelyn is an incredibly complex character; there are muJtiple layers to her and for each layer I did extensive research. This paper will take the reader on a journey through the process as J experienced it, including the decisions I made to create Evelyn.

Dexmedetomidine As An Adjunct To General Anesthesia In The Adult Obese Surgical Population, Bryan J. Phelps

Theses and Dissertations

Current estimates place over one-third of the adult population in the obese category. Obesity is associated with a number of pathophysiologic disturbances that complicate the anesthetic course for these patients. The increasing prevalence of obesity and the established positive outcomes for surgical weight loss therapies have led to obese patients presenting for surgery at a rapidly increasing rate. Obesity places the surgical patient at an increased risk for cardiovascular events, respiratory dysfunction, airway management difficulties and increased postoperative pain. It is imperative for the anesthesia provider to be aware of these risks, unique anesthesia considerations, along with alternative therapies, which …

Anesthesia Delivery: Patient Safety Related To Distractions In The Operating Room, Bradley Horner

Theses and Dissertations

Tn today's ever changing sociopolitical world, the influences of multimedia healthcare and its potential impact on patient safety has become a national issue. Healthcare facilities often have policies or guidelines regarding the use of devices that may create distractions in the operating room (OR). With changes in technology and ever changing societal trends these distractions must be addressed to find out what is clinically acceptable nurse anesthesia practice. The purpose of this independent project is to identify common OR distractions and study their effects on anesthesia provider vigilance. The focus of the project will be on smartphone/computer use, reading, and …

Parsing The Mind With Homer, Jonathan B. Holmes

Bridgewater Review

How does one parse the mind? Do we categorize its functioning as mental or physical? Is it one big homogenous lump or a heterogeneous set of distinct abilities or mental faculties? Do we envision its workings to be like some kind of hydraulic mechanism or more like some kind of information processor? A large variety of possibilities have been offered over the centuries. Current models of the mind see it functioning like an information processor with numerous distinct modules carrying out individual tasks. Minds need to be excellent parsers, categorizers, and story tellers in order to get us by in …

Educational Concerns Of Implementing Biosand Water Filters In Rural Uganda, Matthew Engman Spowart

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The world is facing a shortage of clean drinking water. Current predictions, due to growing population, urbanization, and climate change estimate access to clean water to be further challenged in the coming years. Research has indicated that point of use (POU) technologies are likely to be the most efficient at delivering clean water (water cleaned of diarrhea causing microbes and bacteria) to rural populations. POU technologies, and specifically the biosand filter (BSF) are shown to be affordable, effective, and sustainable in rural areas. Many studies point to the need of proper education and follow-up with BSF users. BSF technology has …

How Does Classroom And Behavior Management Preparation Impact Performance And Confidence Among Elementary School Teachers?, Katyellen Lindroos

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Being an effective classroom manager is a key component to successful teaching. Research has indicated that teachers are not satisfied with their credential program preparation in the areas of classroom and behavior management. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a correlation between the amount of management preparation teachers receive in their credential programs and their perceived confidence and preparedness in the classroom. Also, this study sought to discover if supplemental training was beneficial for beginning and experienced teachers. The review of literature presented some common themes within this area of research: the importance of classroom …

Redundancy, Discrimination And Corruption In The Multibillion-Dollar Business Of College Admissions Testing, Monica Ellen Rizzo

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Most American colleges and universities require standardized entrance exams when making admissions decisions. Scores on these exams help determine if, when and where students will be allowed to pursue higher education. These scores are also used to determine eligibility for merit based financial aid. This testing persists even though half of the institutions that require the test scores from applicants have no idea if the scores offer any valuable information about prospective students. The purpose of this study is to examine the biases inherent in standardized college entrance exams, their validity as predictors of college completion, the actual value of …

Advanced Spanish Language High School Students: Perceptions Of Spanish Instruction, Understanding, And Cultural Appreciation, Susan Malanche Smith

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The addition of foreign language study to high school core curriculum benefits learners, society and overlap into the success of other areas of study and critical thinking. The problem in contemporary high school curriculum is that foreign language is disappearing. High school students and educators are failing to see the benefit of foreign language and its benefit to all subjects. The purpose of this study is to identify student perceptions of the importance of foreign language study in high school. The literature review documents the disappearance of foreign language study as part of a high school curriculum. Methodology includes conversations …

The Effectiveness Of Hospital School Re-Entry Programs For Children With Life-Altering Illness Or Injury, Karen Lynne Mixon-Martin

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

When otherwise healthy students suffer from a life-altering injury such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), many of them will return to their schools and classrooms, but with dramatically different abilities and needs. Within UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals resides an interdisciplinary team of specialists who collaborate to determine what these children will need in order to prepare not only the student, but also those who will play a part in the success of their return to school. The goal of the team is to create a pre-entry framework that will provide the tools necessary to put into place those services; and …

Gender-Responsive Lessons Learned And Policy Implications For Women In Prison: A Review, Emily M. Wright, Patricia Van Voorhis, Emily J. Salisbury, Ashley Bauman

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The authors review evidence of gender-responsive factors for women in prisons. Some gender-responsive needs function as risk factors in prison settings and contribute to women’s maladjustment to prison; guided by these findings, the authors outline ways in which prison management, staff members, and programming can better serve female prisoners by being more gender informed. The authors suggest that prisons provide treatment and programming services aimed at reducing women’s criminogenic need factors, use gendered assessments to place women into appropriate interventions and to appropriately plan for women’s successful reentry into the community, and train staff members to be gender responsive.

The Ugliness Of Gorgeousness: An Exploration Of The Obsession Of Beauty In Neil Labute's "Reasons To Be Pretty", Asedo Wilson

Master's Theses

This thesis is the culmination of the two-year process of researching, conceptualizing, organizing, rehearsing, directing and producing Neil LaBute’s reasons to be pretty with theatre students from the University of Northern Colorado. The show was performed in March of 2012. The guiding questions for this project included: Why is it important to analyze a character’s internal and external qualities? How can one develop a strong ensemble? What is the role of the media in society’s perception of beauty? How can a successful production with rehearsal limitations be produced? What is it about this material that will keep the actors and …

Friends Of The Library Mcnair Awards, The Mcnair Team

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Satanic Nature Of Racist “Christianity”, Susan Peppers-Bates

Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium

In this paper, Dr. Peppers‐Bates ponders the persistence of individual and institutional racism among modern‐day Christians by applying the anthropological‐psychological lens of the scholar René Girard and his concepts of mimesis and the scapegoating mechanism. The message of the Gospel is incompatible with violence and hatred, yet those who embrace racial stereotyping, even as they call themselves ‘Christians’, are deaf to it.

Imitating Individualized Facial Expressions In A Human-Like Avatar Through A Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization - Tabu Search Algorithm, Evan Husk

HIM 1990-2015

This thesis describes a machine learning method for automatically imitating a particular person's facial expressions in a human-like avatar through a hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization - Tabu Search algorithm. The muscular structures of the facial expressions are measured by Ekman and Friesen's Facial Action Coding System (FACS). Using a neutral face as a reference, the minute movements of the Action Units, used in FACS, are automatically tracked and mapped onto the avatar using a hybrid method. The hybrid algorithm is composed of Kennedy and Eberhart's Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (PSO) and Glover's Tabu Search (TS). Distinguishable features portrayed on the …

Student Perspectives On Narrative Approaches In A Medical Humanities Course, 'Female Role-Models In Health Care Profession', Yenyu Lily Lin, Wing P. Chan, Nen-Chung Chang

Journal of Medical Education

Background: The purposes of medical humanities courses are to foster students' personal and professional development. Conventional approaches present some challenges. For instance, the rapid pace of topic survey courses hinders students from deeply engaging with learning materials. The pre-clinical years offer limited opportunities for interacting with role-models to facilitate students' personal and professional identities. A course on ”Female Role-Models in Health Care Professions” used narrative approaches to foster students' self understanding and professional affiliation. This paper: (1) introduces these innovative teaching methods; (2) reports on students' learning experiences; and (3) discusses the implications of these teaching experiences. Materials and Methods: …

Coder Reliability And Misclassification In The Human Coding Of Party Manifestos, Slava Mikhaylov, Michael Laver, Kenneth Benoit

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

The Comparative Manifesto Project (CMP) provides the only time series of estimated party policy positions in political science and has been extensively used in a wide variety of applications. Recent work (e.g., Benoit, Laver, and Mikhaylov 2009; Klingemann et al. 2006) focuses on nonsystematic sources of error in these estimates that arise from the text generation process. Our concern here, by contrast, is with error that arises during the text coding process since nearly all manifestos are coded only once by a single coder. First, we discuss reliability and misclassification in the context of hand-coded content analysis methods. Second, we …