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2013

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Neuroticism As A Moderator Of The Relationship Between Family History Of Drinking Problems And College Alcohol Use, Pahul Hanjra, Arden Moscati, James Clifford, Amy Adkins, Danielle Dick Jan 2013

Neuroticism As A Moderator Of The Relationship Between Family History Of Drinking Problems And College Alcohol Use, Pahul Hanjra, Arden Moscati, James Clifford, Amy Adkins, Danielle Dick

UROP Posters

Literature has long suggested a correlation between family history and alcohol dependence; heredity plays a role in risk for alcohol dependence. To investigate the influence of the personality trait neuroticism as a moderating factor of the relationship between family history of alcohol dependence, and an individual’s alcohol consumption, analyses were conducted in the Fall 2011 Spit for Science cohort. Survey questions examined the binary variable of whether participants reported a family history of drinking problems, as well as the continuous variable measuring the number of alcoholic drinks participants had consumed in the past 30 days. There were a total of …

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How Important Is Being "Liked"? The Relation Between Facebook Use And Well-Being, Lauren Oglesby, Allison Crowley, Prachi Desai, Jhaminique Lynwood, Meredith Murgia, Kelsey Richardson Jan 2013

How Important Is Being "Liked"? The Relation Between Facebook Use And Well-Being, Lauren Oglesby, Allison Crowley, Prachi Desai, Jhaminique Lynwood, Meredith Murgia, Kelsey Richardson

UROP Posters

Facebook is used by approximately 1.06 billion(Craig,2013) to keep in touch with family and friends. However, the question remains whether Facebook is helpful or harmful to people’s well being. According to a research study conducted by Gonzales and Hancock (2010), Facebook use enhances self-esteem by providing multiple opportunities for selective self-presentation through photos and personal details. Another research study by Twenge, Freeman and Campbell (2012) found that participants who spent time on social network sites endorsed more positive self-views. While some research indicates that Facebook has a positive effect on the user other studies suggest that Facebook use is detrimental. …

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The Narcissistic Teammate: Effects Of Narcissistic Subtypes On Self-Serving Attributional Biases, Ashley Brown Jan 2013

The Narcissistic Teammate: Effects Of Narcissistic Subtypes On Self-Serving Attributional Biases, Ashley Brown

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"The self-serving attributional bias in collaborative group efforts is the tendency for individuals to take more personal responsibility for the group's success and less personal responsibility for the group's failure. Much previous research has linked narcissism with self-serving behavior. Narcissism can be broken down into the grandiose subtype, characterized by superiority and entitlement, and the vulnerable subtype, characterized by low self-esteem and preoccupation with others' opinions. The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether grandiose and vulnerable narcissists engage in self- serving behavior differently in various situations. College students completed a team activity, which involved completing cognitive tasks …

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The Effects Of Social Media On Fashion Consumption, Sydney Mccarthy Jan 2013

The Effects Of Social Media On Fashion Consumption, Sydney Mccarthy

Honors Theses

The fashion industry, like most business in general, has been heavily impacted in recent years by the introduction of online social media. Social media has changed the way in which people not only communicate, but also how firms advertise and reach their consumer. The purpose of this research was to explore the ways social media impacts fashion consumption, specifically among the female, college-age demographic. Secondary research was used in the initial stages of the process to gather information prior to conducting primary research. Both qualitative and quantitative research was then conducted. The primary method for collecting qualitative data was personal …

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Shame On You: How Media Affects The Formation Of Negative Body Image In Adolescent Women, Brittany Lee Cosenza Jan 2013

Shame On You: How Media Affects The Formation Of Negative Body Image In Adolescent Women, Brittany Lee Cosenza

Honors Theses

The culturally accepted body ideal is grov^dng increasingly thinner. Youns women seem to be particularly susceptible to an internalization of this ideal throuah media exposure. This susceptibility led me to explore the relationship between media exposure and negative body image. After examining a plethora of literature on the subject, I discovered that body dissatisfaction seems to have become the societal norm for adolescent girls. Images of women in the media have become a source of comparison that often results in a discrepancy betv^^een actual physical body t>T?e and the idealized body type. Objectification theory^ explains how media may lead …

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An Exploratory Study Of Automated Tools To Support Scrum-Based Project Management In Agile Software Development Teams, Nirmal Dharmaratne Jan 2013

An Exploratory Study Of Automated Tools To Support Scrum-Based Project Management In Agile Software Development Teams, Nirmal Dharmaratne

Honors Theses

The growing use of Agile Methodologies for project management has led many organizations to utilize agile-based project management tools. This thesis explores areas for improvement in project management tools for software development teams using the Scrum methodology. A qualitative research method was used to gain insight on the users' satisfaction and possible new utilities to create that would complement the OnTime Scrum project management tool. This paper further describes the methods and experiences encountered in the designing and implementation of a Work Breakdown Structure website tool that was selected as a utility to support project management.

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Gender, Sexuality, And Music Education, Jordan Wesley Tippitt Jan 2013

Gender, Sexuality, And Music Education, Jordan Wesley Tippitt

Honors Theses

Abstract: This thesis was written to study how inequalities of gender and sexuality reveal themselves in music education. I wanted to study gender and sexuality as a social construct to better understand how these groups have an effect on the music education experience. I found that music education is lagging behind most other academic subjects in understanding gender/sexuality; furthermore, the discipline does not seem to be heading in the right direction. I found it tremendously difficult to find any queer theory literature based around music education. After my research I concluded that in its current state, music education is not …

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Thematic Transformation In The Operas Of Francis Poulenc: Gender, Spiritual, And Psychological, Elizabeth Brooks Bruening Jan 2013

Thematic Transformation In The Operas Of Francis Poulenc: Gender, Spiritual, And Psychological, Elizabeth Brooks Bruening

Honors Theses

Although Francis Poulenc is perhaps best known for his one hundred and fifty contributions to the genre of French art song, melodie, this study focuses on his mere three operatic compositions. This work illustrates and analyzes the theme of transformation within each of Francis Poulenc’s three operatic compositions: gender transformation of Les Mamelles des Tiresias (1944), spiritual transformation of Dialogues des Carmelites (1953), and psychological transformation of La Voix humaine (1959). Research was conducted through viewing each production and studying its musical score and libretto. Published works ranging from scholarly articles to Poulenc’s personal journal were consulted in order to …

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The Art Of Peking Opera: Chinese And European Operatic Traditions: Commonalities And Divergences, Portia Nicole Davis Jan 2013

The Art Of Peking Opera: Chinese And European Operatic Traditions: Commonalities And Divergences, Portia Nicole Davis

Honors Theses

Peking opera is an art form that combines music, singing, dancing, acting, and acrobatics. The skill necessary for performance is shown through the vigorous training required of the actors that portray characters on stage. A study of Peking opera’s history allows a better understanding of the developments and changes that have occurred to make Peking opera what it is today. Peking opera’s costuming and makeup, stylized movements, and stage presence set it apart from other Chinese art forms and operas that one could see around the world today. One major development of Peking opera occurred during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). …

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The Refuge Of Fools, Merrill Lee Girardeau Jan 2013

The Refuge Of Fools, Merrill Lee Girardeau

Honors Theses

The main character of The Refitge of Fools, Mar>’ Canon Israel, resembles H.L. Mencken's iconoclast. Mencken v\Tites that an iconoclast uses an instinct that supersedes the logic of religion, a logic he calls "the refuge of fools." Known as M.C., Mar\- Canon attends a private Christian high school in the South. Instinct acute, however, she regards the "God concept" with extreme suspicion. The Refuge of Fools visits her junior year of high school, each chapter taken from a month of that year. Her lifelong friend Palmer wants to change the nature of their friendship but cannot decide whether to …

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Millions Of Owners, Not Hundreds Of Millionaires: An Analysis Of The Middle Class As A Requisite Condition For Democracy In Contemporary Russia, Isaac Alan Lichlyter Jan 2013

Millions Of Owners, Not Hundreds Of Millionaires: An Analysis Of The Middle Class As A Requisite Condition For Democracy In Contemporary Russia, Isaac Alan Lichlyter

Honors Theses

Building on Lipset's modernization theory, this thesis makes the argument that a robust, independent middle class is vital for the long term sustenance of liberal democracy in Russia. Following a discussion of scholarly literature on what constitutes democracy and the middle class, a historical analysis compares and contrasts the trajectories of the middle class and democracy in Russia from the late-Soviet Era to the present, This thesis draws on public opinion polling, media reports (both Russian and foreign), and scholarly works to perform a mixed qualitative and quantitative analysis to show that middle class Russians provide the most reliable base …

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When Cultures Collide: A Comparative Study Of The Culinary Cultures Of Uruguay And The Lebanese Community In The Mississippi Delta, Claire Nicola Reid Jan 2013

When Cultures Collide: A Comparative Study Of The Culinary Cultures Of Uruguay And The Lebanese Community In The Mississippi Delta, Claire Nicola Reid

Honors Theses

Every world culture defines itself differently through the application of similar qualifying processes. Gastronomy is an important one of these processes. This thesis aims to explain how food both aids in and exists as a reflection of cultural identity by asking these questions: What are the specifics of how gastronomical processes are applied in Uruguay and the Mississippi Delta? Do the two regions share similar cultural identification structures? If so, in what ways are they similar, and what do these similarities mean in the context of identity construction? In doing this, | aim to explain why culinary practices, more so …

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An Investigation Of The Green Grove Initiative, Haley Brooke Kesterson Jan 2013

An Investigation Of The Green Grove Initiative, Haley Brooke Kesterson

Honors Theses

Game days, particularly football game days, at division one universities generate a great deal of waste. At the University of Mississippi, the amount of waste generated on home football game Saturdays has been increasing. Increasing recycling by spectators may decrease the amount of waste generated and reduce the negative environmental impact of game days. The purpose of this case study was to explore the development and evaluation of interventions that may be effective for increasing recycling behaviors. Various interventions were implemented at each game of the 2012 season. Recyclables were collected and waste was measured following each game. Games with …

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The Same But Different. Negotiating Cultural Identities By Migrant Children In Irish Mainstream Classrooms, Svetlana Eriksson Jan 2013

The Same But Different. Negotiating Cultural Identities By Migrant Children In Irish Mainstream Classrooms, Svetlana Eriksson

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

This article looks at peer dynamics in the mainstream classroom to explore the ways Russian-speaking children/adolescents in Ireland negotiate their cultural identities and their otherness outside the home. The article presents the analysis of semi-structured interviews with thirty parents and their children between 10 and 18 years of age from Russian-speaking families from Russia and Latvia. The participants dwell on how comfortable they feel at Irish schools and what factors impact their feeling of sameness/otherness. The interviews with both generations contribute to creating a multi-dimensional picture which reveals that the perspectives of the agents involved in this study are not …

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A Collaborative Social Computing Model For Transdisciplinary Problem Solving, Jerry Allen Higgs Jan 2013

A Collaborative Social Computing Model For Transdisciplinary Problem Solving, Jerry Allen Higgs

All ETDs from UAB

The capacity to address and solve today's complex problems is becoming exceedingly more difficult because of the transdisciplinary nature of our current system of knowledge. Innovative solutions are no longer the by-products of centralized offices and laboratories. In fact, crafting solutions for truly complex problems requires a collaborative sharing of knowledge that transcends the artificial boundaries of departmentalized offices and research facilities. For decades, segmented information systems built on distributed platforms have kept transdisciplinary problem solving fragmented, without the ability to effectively share knowledge or data. This segmentation has stifled the progress of research reaching beyond the traditional boundaries of …

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Interracial Couple Status In Relation To Birth Outcomes Among Singleton Infants Born To U.S. Resident Mothers, 2004-2008., Su Jin Jeong Jan 2013

Interracial Couple Status In Relation To Birth Outcomes Among Singleton Infants Born To U.S. Resident Mothers, 2004-2008., Su Jin Jeong

All ETDs from UAB

Due to the growing trend in interracial marriages in the United States, the issue of birth outcomes to infants born to such couples deserves more attention and examination. The purpose of this population-based, cross-sectional, observational study is to examine the association between interracial couple status and birth outcomes (i.e. low birth weight, very low birth weight, preterm birth, very preterm birth, small for gestational age) among singleton infants delivered in the United States. Interracial couples are defined as those in a relationship who are not of the same race or ethnic designation. Non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, Asian, Chinese, Filipino, …

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Predictors Of Falls Among Older Adults, Jaspreet Kaur Jan 2013

Predictors Of Falls Among Older Adults, Jaspreet Kaur

All ETDs from UAB

With an aging population, more attention has to be focused on the needs of older adults, especially regarding medical and psychological concerns. Thirty-three percent of older adults fall each year, and falling is one of the leading causes of accidental death nationwide. The objective of this study was to identify predictors of falls among sedentary community-dwelling older adults (age 65+). The study employed a secondary data analysis of measures collected in the Physical and Cognitive Exercise Study (PACES). Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate whether individual or composite measures of vision, cognition, and physical functioning were associated with an …

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The Effect Of An Intensive Oral Hygiene Regimen On Gingival Inflammation During Pregnancy: Clinical And Laboratory Analysis, Maninder Kaur Jan 2013

The Effect Of An Intensive Oral Hygiene Regimen On Gingival Inflammation During Pregnancy: Clinical And Laboratory Analysis, Maninder Kaur

All ETDs from UAB

Background: Recent evidence suggests that systemic inflammation as host immune response to oral microbial challenge may well underlie the observed association between periodontal disease and preterm birth/low birth weight (PTB/LBW). The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of vigorous oral hygiene regimen on gingival inflammation and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF)/serum biomarkers (TNF-&alpha, IL-1&beta and IL-6) during pregnancy and its impact on pregnancy outcome. Methods: 120 participants with pregnancy between 16-24 weeks gestation and with gingival index (GI) scores &ge 2 at &ge 50 % of tooth sites were recruited from the available pool of patients at …

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Use Of Social Ecology And Mixed Methods Research To Develop An Instrument To Assess Determinants Of Hiv/Sti Risk Among A Young Adult Population, Lasonja Bonita Kennedy Jan 2013

Use Of Social Ecology And Mixed Methods Research To Develop An Instrument To Assess Determinants Of Hiv/Sti Risk Among A Young Adult Population, Lasonja Bonita Kennedy

All ETDs from UAB

Globally, 340 million people are affected by HIV/AIDS. Approximately 50,000 are newly infected within the United States each year with HIV. One in five of those infected is unaware of his/her status. Young adults are particularly impacted by the disease; 39% of new HIV infections are diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 13 and 29. To comprehensively examine the independent and interrelated determinants of HIV/STI risks among young adults, the researcher developed, validated, and psychometrically examined a self-report instrument guided by constructs from the Social Ecological Model (SEM). Development and validation of the content within the survey was conducted …

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Hard On Your Heart: A Qualitative Description Of Adolescent Prenatal Stress, Candace Clayton Knight Jan 2013

Hard On Your Heart: A Qualitative Description Of Adolescent Prenatal Stress, Candace Clayton Knight

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: Pregnancy during adolescence is potentially stressful due to the concurrent tasks of navigating the typically tumultuous adolescent stage of development and the life altering experience of pregnancy (Kaye, 2008). There is a growing body of research linking prenatal stress to poor birth and developmental outcomes such as premature birth and low birth weight infants (K. Keenan, Sheffield, & Boeldt, 2007; Mulder et al., 2002), which makes describing the relatively unexplored perceptions and experience of stress during adolescent pregnancy important. The life course framework, with its emphasis on social, environmental, and family risk factors, has implications for reducing disparities among …

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Parenting And Parole: The Effects Of Incarceration On Motherhood, Latoya Ledyard Jan 2013

Parenting And Parole: The Effects Of Incarceration On Motherhood, Latoya Ledyard

All ETDs from UAB

The female prison population is the fastest growing prison population in the United States. The rise in female incarceration over the past several years has become a growing concern partly due to the damaging effects on the family; a phenomenon largely attributed to mandatory sentencing guidelines and gender-neutral policies. Research literature on the unique challenges faced by parenting women and the development of reentry programs that foster family reunification has emerged in recent years, but there is still much work to be done. Using in-depth interviews with 14 residents of a transitional center for women in Alabama, I seek to …

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Obesity, Prediabetes, And Perceived Stress In Municipal Workers, Louise Camilleri O'Keefe Jan 2013

Obesity, Prediabetes, And Perceived Stress In Municipal Workers, Louise Camilleri O'Keefe

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity and diabetes are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in the United States. According to the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention, obesity is growing faster than any other public health problem in the United States. The prevalence of diabetes has also increased significantly with an estimated 79 million Americans aged 20 years or older suffering from prediabetes. Few studies have examined the influence of perceived stress on obesity and prediabetes among working adults. Investigations are needed to examine factors that can contribute to higher health care costs for both employees and employers. The aims of this …

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Urban Kindergarten Teachers' Perceptions Of Former Head Start Students And Their Readiness For School, Stephanie Hardy Parker Jan 2013

Urban Kindergarten Teachers' Perceptions Of Former Head Start Students And Their Readiness For School, Stephanie Hardy Parker

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the experiences and instruction of kindergarten teachers in an urban school district who are teaching students who were previously enrolled in a Head Start program. Eleven kindergarten teachers who taught in an urban school district in the southeastern United States participated in this study. Data sources collected for this multiple case study included: (a) semi-structured interviews, (b) observations, and (c) curriculum documents. Results from the study revealed mixed experiences teaching former Head Start students. While some teachers expressed positive experiences teaching former Head Start students, others indicated teaching former …

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Academic Advising Experiences And Retention Of First-Generation Students At A Public Historically Black College And University In The Southeastern United States, Jarrod Ennis Patterson Jan 2013

Academic Advising Experiences And Retention Of First-Generation Students At A Public Historically Black College And University In The Southeastern United States, Jarrod Ennis Patterson

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this study was to explore the academic advising experiences of first-generation students at a public, historically black college and university (HBCU) in the southeastern United States. A qualitative analysis using a phenomenological multiple case study approach was used to explore the students' academic advising experiences. The theoretical framework for this study consisted of: the Interactionalist Theory of College Student Departure (Tinto, 1987, 2006), the Theory of Involvement (Astin, 1984, 1999), and the Psychological Model for Student Retention (Bean & Eaton, 2000). In their interviews, participants were asked questions from an approved interview protocol. The questions were open-ended …

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Engaging First Graders In Transformational Early Childhood Emergent Learning Themes, Amanda Daniel Pendergrass Jan 2013

Engaging First Graders In Transformational Early Childhood Emergent Learning Themes, Amanda Daniel Pendergrass

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to encourage learners to care for others and make a difference in the world through Reggio Emilia-inspired teaching and learning practice that promoted transformational education. Students were anticipated to take an active role in helping to develop the transformational educational curriculum. Students recommended ways of making a difference in their school, neighborhood, and community while investigating a learning theme of their interest and choice. A total of 15 first grade students and nine parents participated in this study. Limited literature exists on the topic of Reggio Emilia-inspired early childhood classrooms and recycling …

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Understanding The Relation Between Routines And Problem Behaviors In Children With Clinical Diagnoses, Mark Ryan Pennick Jan 2013

Understanding The Relation Between Routines And Problem Behaviors In Children With Clinical Diagnoses, Mark Ryan Pennick

All ETDs from UAB

The current study investigated the impact of routines on problem behaviors in children with the clinical diagnoses of either PDD, ADHD, or depression/anxiety. Previous research has identified negative relations between externalizing behaviors and routines as well as a link between using routines and having positive parenting. The study extends these findings to children with these various diagnoses and also to internalizing symptoms. In our sample negative relations were found between routines, as measured by the Child Routines Inventory (CRI), and both internalizing and externalizing symptoms when all groups were examined together. Additionally routines were found to moderate the relation between …

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Epigenetic Regulation Of Hippocampus-Dependent Learning, Laura Qadri Jan 2013

Epigenetic Regulation Of Hippocampus-Dependent Learning, Laura Qadri

All ETDs from UAB

Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that underlie learning and memory has advanced a great deal. Research into the role of epigenetics, or modifications above the genome, has the promise of providing an even greater understanding of the precise mechanisms involved in memory formation. Studies of epigenetic regulation of memory in the rodent hippocampus have primarily focused on associative learning using contextual fear conditioning. While these studies have provided valuable insight into the role that epigenetics plays in cognition, it remains to be seen whether the findings generalize to other forms of hippocampus-dependent learning. This work examines the role of epigenetic …

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External Aid And Its Effectiveness In The Reconstruction And Development Of Afghanistan - An Analysis Of The Years 2002-2014, Muneeb Raqeebi Jan 2013

External Aid And Its Effectiveness In The Reconstruction And Development Of Afghanistan - An Analysis Of The Years 2002-2014, Muneeb Raqeebi

All ETDs from UAB

After more than twelve years of major humanitarian, security and development aid and assistance from international community, the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan prepares to shift back security arrangements throughout the country from the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) to Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF). As this transition takes place, the majority of Afghan population and a large number of donor nations and international aid organizations that provided aid to Afghanistan since 2002 are concerned as whether or not this transition will also result in the transition of Afghanistan from conflict to stability, confirming success of the international …

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The Implications Of The Intelligence Reform And Terrorism Prevention Act For U.S. Bureaucracies, Brennan Anderson Reeves Jan 2013

The Implications Of The Intelligence Reform And Terrorism Prevention Act For U.S. Bureaucracies, Brennan Anderson Reeves

All ETDs from UAB

The United States faces a constantly evolving threat from terrorist organizations and individuals who wish to do harm to do harm to its assets and citizens. In 2004, as a response to the 9/11 attacks, the structural organization of the agencies that comprise the U.S. Intelligence Community was changed under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. The goal of the transformation was to enhance the ability and effectiveness of those that are supposed to maintain national security. Coordination and information sharing between the agencies in the IC is essential to ensure that the relevant actors have the knowledge and …

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A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of African American Female School Leaders In Suburban School Districts, Armentress Denise Robinson Jan 2013

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of African American Female School Leaders In Suburban School Districts, Armentress Denise Robinson

All ETDs from UAB

Abstract The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the personal, professional, and sociocultural experiences of African American female school leaders in suburban school districts. These school districts were identified as suburban locations because of low to no student poverty, stellar performances on standardized tests, high graduation and college going rates, and champion academic and athletic team honors. This qualitative study employed a phenomenological design to allow the researcher the opportunity to investigate and gather data through open-ended, face-to-face, one hour interviews with study participants. Three theoretical frameworks--critical race theory, racial identity development …

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