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Gifted Student Achievement And Motivation Levels Related To Participation In Gifted Programming, Stacey M. Jambura

Graduate Research Papers

This study evaluated the gifted program of an urban school district in the Midwestern United States. Fifteen identified gifted students ( 4 male, 11 female; 11 European-American, 4 African-American; 7 ninth grade, 4 tenth grade, and 4 eleventh grade students) participated in the study by replying to a survey. High school gifted student attitudes toward achievement and motivation were examined and open-ended prompts supplied information on program strengths and weaknesses. Results indicate that participation in the program has led to the development of critical thinking skills, increased students ' desires to strive for excellence, and allowed students to examine different …

Correlates Of Life Satisfaction And Acculturation Among University Students, Carrie D. Morrison, Susan E. Mason

Modern Psychological Studies

The present study compared correlations between life satisfaction, acculturation, socioeconomic status, and social support for students born in the United States and for students not born in the United States. Acculturation scores differed significantly between American-born and foreign born participants, while life satisfaction scores did not, indicating that living in a new country is not necessarily a negative experience for college-age students. Furthermore, acculturation to the host culture, that is, American culture, was found to correlate with life satisfaction among American-born students, and socioeconomic status correlated with acculturation for both groups. We recommend that future acculturation research control for socioeconomic …

Single Parenting: Fewer Negative Effects Of Children's Behaviors Than Claimed, Dominic Schmuck

Modern Psychological Studies

In this literature review, research on single parenting is examined. Current research heavily correlates single parenting with internalized and externalized behavioral problems in children. After broader investigation it appears traumatizing events (e.g. divorce, separation) display a confounding variable which is not given adequate significance in research on single parenting. Reviewed research in which early childhood differences in children raised by dual-, or single parents were controlled for has not found behavioral differences between these two groups. In this article, research on adopted children has also been examined. Adopted children taken care off by single-, or dual parents do not show …

Playing In Trelis Weyr: Investigating Collaborative Practices In A Dragons Of Pern Role-Play-Game Forum, Kathleen Marie Alley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive case study examined adolescents' and emerging adults' literate and social practices within the context of a role-play-game (RPG) forum, investigating the ways participants read and collaboratively composed within this space. As a researcher, I was interested in how this space functioned and how the interactions between members impacted their composing processes, with particular attention to the role of online spaces and popular culture in adolescents' motivation to engage in this forum. This study was guided by three research questions: (1) In what ways is Trelis Weyr, an RPG forum, organized as a virtual environment?; (2) In what ways, …

Factors Predicting Pap Smear Adherence In Hiv-Infected Women: Using The Health Belief Model, Crystal L. Chapman Lambert

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus are at increased risk for developing cervical cancer. Current guidelines reflect that Pap smears should be performed twice during the first year after diagnosis with HIV and annually thereafter. However, women with HIV are not obtaining Pap smears per the current guidelines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate HIV-infected women's attitudes toward cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening. The research design is an exploratory, cross-sectional, quantitative design. The sample of convenience consisted of participants recruited from two ambulatory HIV clinics in Florida. Attitudes were assessed using Champion's Health Belief Model and …

An Analysis Of Factor Extraction Strategies: A Comparison Of The Relative Strengths Of Principal Axis, Ordinary Least Squares, And Maximum Likelihood In Research Contexts That Include Both Categorical And Continuous Variables, Kevin Barry Coughlin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study is intended to provide researchers with empirically derived guidelines for conducting factor analytic studies in research contexts that include dichotomous and continuous levels of measurement. This study is based on the hypotheses that ordinary least squares (OLS) factor analysis will yield more accurate parameter estimates than maximum likelihood (ML) and principal axis factor anlaysis (PAF); the level of improvement in estimates will be related to the proportion of observed variables that are dichotomized and the strength of communalities within the data sets.

To achieve this study's objective, maximum likelihood, ordinary least squares, and principal axis factor extraction models …

More Than Feeding: Lived Experiences Of Low-Income Women Receiving Lactation Support, Emily Anne Dunn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Increasing breastfeeding duration, especially among low-income women, has become a national public health priority. These mothers and their babies have less equitable access to support, resources, and the health benefits of breastfeeding. This thesis examines breastfeeding from a biocultural perspective with a focus on political economy, embodiment, and human rights. This research explores the lived experiences of new mothers who receive services from a community non-profit lactation support program which is aimed at providing in-home postpartum breastfeeding support to low-income/at-risk mothers. Evaluation of program services and analysis of women's narratives will provide insight into improvement of lactation services for all …

Embodying Social Practice: Dynamically Co-Constituting Social Agency, Brian W. Dunst

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Theories of cognition and theories of social practices and institutions have often each separately acknowledged the relevance of the other; but seldom have there been consistent and sustained attempts to synthesize these two areas within one explanatory framework. This is precisely what my dissertation aims to remedy. I propose that certain recent developments and themes in philosophy of mind and cognitive science, when understood in the right way, can explain the emergence and dynamics of social practices and institutions. Likewise, the view I construct explains how social practices and institutions shape the character of cognition of their constituent agents. Moreover, …

Illegitimate Tasks And Employee Well-Being: A Daily Diary Study, Erin Eatough

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on an occupational stressor that has been recently introduced to the literature, illegitimate tasks, or tasks that seem unreasonable or unnecessary at work. Previous work has demonstrated the relationship between illegitimate tasks and a narrow set of discrete emotions as well as negative employee performance behaviors. The current research contributes to the literature by expanding the nomological network associated with illegitimate tasks and uses a rigorous daily diary methodology in a full-time working sample. It was expected that illegitimate tasks reduce state levels of self-esteem as well as other employee well-being indicators including anger, depressive mood, fatigue, …

Self-Concept Clarity And Self-Esteem In Adolescence: Associations With Psychological, Behavioral, And Academic Adjustment, Danielle Findley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Self-concept clarity reflects the consistency or structure of self-concepts, and is distinct yet related to self-esteem or valence of feelings towards the self. However, research on self-concept clarity is novel and mostly conducted in adults only; studies on self-concept clarity in adolescence are limited. In the present study, self-concept clarity was examined as a related yet distinct construct from self-esteem in middle school. Factor structure and criterion validity of self-concept clarity and self-esteem was established by using factor analysis and examining associations with self- and teacher-reported psychological, behavioral, and academic indices of adjustment. Moreover, mean level gender, grade, and ethnic …

Marginalized African American Grandmothers Raising Their School-Aged Grandsons: Perspectives On Parental Involvement, Felita Grant Lott

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Literature suggests strong, positive and mutual relationships between home and school lead to higher levels of success and achievement for students. Schools should begin to focus on being more aware and sensitive to the cultural and social wealth that marginalized families carry. When institutions of learning begin to tap into and embrace the strengths of their families, it is likely to be of mutual benefit for the students, staff and families. Utilizing qualitative research methodology, this study sought to understand African American grandmothers' perspectives on parental involvement, and identify strategies that supported, maintained, and facilitated their involvement in the educational …

Refinement, Application, And Evaluation Of Cognitive And Affective Chemistry Measures For College Students, Keily Heredia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work describes three case studies conducted to address two major problems in the area of chemistry education research, the lack of reported psychometrics regarding instrument scores, and the need for well-characterized assessments to evaluate college chemistry curricula.

The first case study describes a psychometric evaluation of the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS), an instrument designed to assess student beliefs about the learning of chemistry. Results from this work suggest that the CLASS instrument provides fertile ground for short instruments with reasonable psychometric properties. Responses to a single scale instrument, created from CLASS, showed that students in an …

The Effects Of Exercise Modality On State Body Image, Elizabeth Anne Hubbard

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has shown that chronic exercise positively impacts body image in women. Research defining the modality that yields the best results following an acute session of exercise has yet to be determined. This research attempted to show the psychological benefits that exercise could have on female body image after only one bout of exercise. PURPOSE: The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of three different modalities of acute exercise on state body image in women. This study aimed to determine which modality, if any, is more effective in increasing state body image. METHODS: Twenty-five female …

Detecting Aberrant Responding On Unidimensional Pairwise Preference Tests: An Application Of Based On The Zinnes Griggs Ideal Point Irt Model, Philseok Lee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the efficacy of the lz person fit statistic for detecting aberrant responding with unidimensional pairwise preference (UPP) measures, constructed and scored based on the Zinnes-Griggs (ZG, 1974) IRT model, which has been used for a variety of recent noncognitive testing applications. Because UPP measures are used to collect both "self-" and "other-" reports, I explored the capability of lz to detect two of the most common and potentially detrimental response sets, namely fake good and random responding. The effectiveness of lz was studied using empirical and theoretical critical values for classification, along with test length, test information, …

Eschatology In A Secular Age: An Examination Of The Use Of Eschatology In The Philosophies Of Heidegger, Berdyaev And Blumenberg, John R. Lup, Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The topic of eschatology is generally confined to the field of theology. However, the subject has influenced many other fields, such as politics and history. This dissertation examines the question why eschatology remained a topic of discussion within twentieth century philosophy. Concepts associated with eschatology, such as the end of time and the hope of a utopian age to come, remained largely background assumptions among intellectuals in the modern age. Martin Heidegger, Nicolai Berdyaev, and Hans Blumenberg, however, explicitly addressed the subject in their philosophies. The impetus of this study is Heidegger's statement, "Being itself is inherently eschatological," which indicates …

Hispanic Acculturation And Social Media Engagement: A Uses And Gratifications Perspective, Roland Rahe Massa

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Uses and gratifications theory posits that media use is an intentional and selective process by individuals in order to satisfy emotional needs. Basis this theory, the author conducted an exploratory study to compare social media engagement with four factors of acculturation among Hispanic Americans. These variables were also compared to the variables of education level and generation in order to test for a relationship. An online questionnaire captured data from a sample of Hispanic American participants (N = 85). Correlation analysis was performed, and results indicated that generation had a significant relationship with social media engagement and three out of …

Building Empathy Through Literacy: A Review Of Classroom Literacy Practices, Alyssa J. Bruecken

Graduate Research Papers

The discussion of the reciprocal relationship between empathy and literacy practices is arguably non-existent. This review discusses classroom literacy practices and the empathy flow in each practice. These classroom literacy practices were chosen because of their value in modeling empathy in the classroom while at the same time producing essential literacy skills in students. A reflective framework guides the de-construction of these lesson plans and can be applied to any classroom literacy practice. This reflective framework unveiled empathetic practices in literacy teaching.

Two Essays On Mergers And Acquisitions, Dongnyoung Kim

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the first essay, we examine the link between CEOs political ideology - conservatism - and their firms' investment decisions. We focus on the effect of CEO conservatism on M&A decisions. Our evidence indicates that politically conservative CEOs are less likely to engage in M&A activities. When they do undertake acquisitions, their firms are more likely to use cash as the method of payment, and the target firms are more likely to be public firms and to be from the same industry. Conditional on the merger, CEO conservatism appears to have a significantly positive impact on long-run firm valuation. However, …

Dead Man's Switch: Disaster Rhetorics In A Posthuman Age, Daniel Patrick Richards

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

When a disaster the magnitude of the Deepwater Horizon blowout and oil spill takes place, is it natural for the news media stories, investigative reports, and public deliberation to focus almost exclusively on finding the person or group responsible for such a horrendous scene. Rhetorically speaking, the discourse surrounding the event can be characterized as a reductive form of praise and blame rhetoric (epideixis). However, these efforts, while well-intentioned, are troublesome because searches for the one technical cause and the sole personal culpability are thwarted by the sheer complexity of the ecological, technological, scientific, institutional, and communicative network required for …

Use Of Services By Female Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence: In Their Own Words, Michele M. Scordato

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

No

Development Of An Investigator-Designed Questionnaire Concerning Childbirth Delivery Options Based On The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Chun-Yi Tai

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study responds to the globally increasing rate of caesarean section, and specifically to the very high rate of elective caesarean section among Taiwanese mothers as evidence suggests that such elective caesareans pose potential health risks for mothers and babies. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a multi-component instrument based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to better understand Taiwanese pregnant women's decisions regarding their childbirth delivery options (spontaneous vaginal delivery or elective caesarean section). The study was a four-phased mixed method design. First, the TPB guided item development and instrument drafting. Second, pretesting and …

Examination Of The Relationship Of Community College Opticianry Student Outcomes With Instructional Delivery Method And Student Age, William Brent Underwood

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether student outcomes are a function of participation in different modes of delivery in an Opticianry program at the community college level. First, the intent was to determine whether differences in instructional delivery methods and background characteristics impact student performance in an Opticianry program. The three instructional delivery methods were traditional face-to-face instruction, online delivery, and a hybrid format where students take theory courses online and attend face-to-face laboratories on campus. A second objective was to determine the role of background variables such as student age, which was the age when entering …

Effects Of Virtual Reality On The Cognitive Memory And Handgun Accuracy Development Of Law Enforcement Neophytes, Richard A. Wright

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of virtual reality training on the development of cognitive memory and handgun accuracy by law enforcement neophytes. One hundred and six academy students from 6 different academy classes were divided into two groups, experimental and control. The experimental group was exposed to virtual reality training for a period of 8 hours. The control group was exposed to the traditional, non-interactive training that occurred on a gun range, also for a period of 8 hours. After exposing the groups to their respective training, a counter-balance technique was utilized to expose …

The Pro-Life Spring And The Future Of Roe V. Wade, Lynn D. Wardle

North Dakota Law Review

No abstract provided.

Rethinking: The Understanding Of Learning And Assessment In The Millennial Generation, Joseph R. Stasio Jr.

AMTP Proceedings 2013

Much has been written and discussed about the challenges of educating members of the Millennial Generation. There is little agreement about which sentiment is more accurate; they are lazy, entitled and spoiled with little incentive to excel academically or they are different than other generations in learning styles and motivation. What does garner agreement is that changes in teaching approaches are warranted if improvement in learning is to be achieved. This paper explores some of these arguments and makes a case for a number of changes to achieve this end.

Effects Of Market Orientation On University Brand Equity, Trang Phuc Tran, Charles Blankson

AMTP Proceedings 2013

Given the propensity of brand equity to act as a good information resource and performance evaluation system for market-oriented universities, the current study proposes that market orientation is positively correlated with brand equity in an academic institution where brand equity is operationalized by four dimensions: perceived quality, brand awareness, brand association, and brand loyalty. This study used open ended interviews to investigate brand equity concept in an educational environment. This method was designed to get individual observations of brand equity from the leaders of colleges and schools. Three Deans and Associate Deans were invited to participate in face-to-face open-ended discussions …

Tension And Energy: Components Of Arousal And Their Effect On Intention To Give, Robert E. Pitts, Julia E. Blose, Rhonda W. Mack

AMTP Proceedings 2013

In the current study we explore a multidimensional conceptualization of arousal to better understand the effect of donation appeals incorporating negative messages on intention to give. More specifically, an experiment is conducted to determine whether varying the level of message negativity has an impact on donor intentions to give where the mechanism by which intentions increase is examined. Using structural equation modeling, the relationship between message negativity, two dimensions of arousal (tension and energy) and intention to donate is estimated. We collected data using the background of an on-campus fund raising program for abused Afghani women held at a mid-size, …

Student Affairs Viewbook, 2013-2014, Division Of Student Affairs, Illinois State University

Student Affairs Viewbook

No abstract provided.

Inclusion, Voice, And Process-Based Constitutionalism, Colleen Sheppard

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

This article explores a growing emphasis on process issues in the elaboration of constitutional rights and freedoms, focusing on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In a diverse range of contexts, judges are framing constitutional rights and freedoms in terms of the processes and practices they require, rather than in terms of specific constitutionally mandated substantive outcomes. Thus, constitutional rights have been interpreted to require a duty to negotiate, a duty to consult, a duty to accommodate, and entitlements to participate in democratic governance. The growing emphasis on processes and practices is positive to the extent that it resonates …

Social Justice And The Charter: Comparison And Choice, Margot Young

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

At a time of radical inequality, the changes sought by social justice advocacy are urgently needed. Yet repeatedly, courts fail to respond adequately to this challenge. A core issue plagues social justice jurisprudence under sections 7 and 15: the difficulty inevitable in the contemplation and expression of the social and political forms in which oppression and social injustice occur. This problem manifests doctrinally in ways specific to the rights at issue. In section 15 cases, the casting of comparator groups has been deeply problematic, and in both section 15 and section 7 cases, the courts fail to deliver a nuanced …