Digital Commons Network^™

Affect Perception In Computer Mediated Communication, Rachel E. Townsend

University Honors Theses

The perception of affect influences the subjective perception of an individual’s environment (Isbell & Burns, n.d.). Accurate affect perception leads to increased resilience and positive coping mechanisms when faced with daily life stressors (Robinson, Moeller, Buchholz, Boyd, & Troop-Gordon, 2012). Communication technologies have revolutionized the ways in which individuals connect to one another professionally and socially (Joseph B. Walther, 1992). This study investigated accurate affect perception in computer mediated communication (CMC) from a multidisciplinary perspective. One hundred fifty four research participants ( = 26.84, = 9.66) responded to a self-report questionnaire hosted by Qualtrics.com. A multiple linear regression was conducted, …

Communication Tools Towards A Bioregional Consciousness, Elona Trogub

University Honors Theses

Recognizing that ecological collapse is within reach, I draw upon the observations that poorly distributed power dynamics supported through the reinforcement of individualism, hierarchism, reductionism, linear thinking, etc. are some of the basic principles that pose a challenge when it comes to embracing new and very ancient ways of interacting with the rest of living systems. There exist “original instructions,” reinforced by recent scientific acknowledgements, that contain guidelines for needed action and interaction to prevent anthropogenic ecological collapse. I utilize storytelling as well as several of the leverage points for systems change suggested by Donella Meadows (1999) in deconstructing the …

Positive Behavior Supports: An Alternative To The Overuse Of Psychotropic Drugs, Rachel Woollard

University Honors Theses

The potential benefits of positive behavior supports were explored in a sample of elderly persons and traumatic brain injured persons, all of whom were exhibiting behavioral problems. The sample was drawn from Woollard Ipsen Management, LLC’s clientele base and included persons living in adult foster care homes and assisted living facilities within the State of Oregon. All sample members exhibited behavioral symptoms (n=100) that threatened to result in eviction from their places of residence and most were taking at least on[e] psychotropic medication (n=75). Behavior consultants (n=5) working with the residents were also interviewed and observed. Data was collected on …

Music And Acculturation: Using Culture-Focused Music Therapy To Address The Adverse Effects Of Acculturative Stress, Christopher A. Arnold

University Honors Theses

More than any other demographic in the United States, Native American populations experience the highest rate of suicide proportional to population size. This is just one of numerous statistics indicative of the overall status of Native American psychological health. There has been increasing research demonstrating that Native American suicide rate and depression is positively associated with acculturative stress, and negatively associated with traditional heritage cultural integration. Because an increased amount of acculturative stress for Native Americans is correlated with high suicide rate and occurrence of depression, while increased traditional culture integration may be linked to lower suicide rate and occurrence …

International Perspectives On Sustainable Agriculture In Cuba, B. Danielle Smith

University Honors Theses

Since the economic crisis following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba has restructured their agriculture with a greater focus on domestic production of domestically consumed produce, and a dramatic reduction of petroleum products in all aspects of food production. This overhaul has included the broad application of what is termed agroecology – agricultural practices which focus on principles of biodiversity and sustainability – and inter-farm cooperation facilitated by the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) and Campesino a Campesino. Academics and journalists from within and abroad have critically examined aspects of the novel reforms developed in the country …

Neighborhood Sustainability: The Genesis Of Three Ecodistricts Within Portland, Oregon, Laura Waddick

University Honors Theses

This research aims to gain a better understanding for how the processes, goals, and actions are formulated and implemented throughout three EcoDistricts within Portland, Foster Green, Living Cully, and South of Market (SoMa). More specifically, this study will analyze how these districts are formed around three different drivers in the push for sustainability. The research will use case studies to provide insight into exactly what those drivers might be, whether they be citizens, institutions, etc., and then what this means for on-the-ground results. As EcoDistricts currently reside as the most well-known example for neighborhood sustainability in Portland, and arguably across …

Cellular Automata As Cellular Spaces, Max Orhai

University Honors Theses

The topology of an abstract cellular complex is developed from the idea of a locally finite space consisting of countably many elements, and can provide a coordinate- free definition of both the geometric structure and discrete dynamics of cellular automata.

A Race To The Finish: An Analysis Of Factors Contributing To The Achievement Gap In Portland Public School District, Victoria Noggle

University Honors Theses

Closing the achievement gap is one of the most talked about issues within the United States education system. The achievement gap refers to disproportionality in rates of achievement between white students and students of color. The question should not be how one closes the achievement gap but what factors contribute to the achievement gap and how these factors can be addressed. This paper looks at the achievement gap between white and black students on a national level, focusing on research addressing different factors pertaining to the gap. Five main factors contribute to the achievement gap between white and black students: …

The Secret Life Of The Cross-Cultural Fairy Tale: A Comparative Study Of The Indonesian Folktale "Bawang Merah, Bawang Putih" And Three European Fairy Tales, Sarah Nicole Donaldson

University Honors Theses

Folklore was one of the earliest developed forms of story telling, and fairy tales especially remain influentially pervasive in society today. In this paper, I seek to deconstruct five versions of the Indonesian folktale "Bawang Merah, Bawang Putih," through comparisons with the European fairy tales "One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes," "The Fairies," and "Mother Holle," using an interdisciplinary approach incorporating psychoanalytic and feminist theories in a close reading of the tales. Through tracking the transfer of money in the tales, I establish that heroines rarely keep their money as young, marriageable girls are considered commodities themselves within the fairy tale world. …

Drainage Reversals Due To Tectonic Uplift: An Investigation Through Modeling, Max Gregory Bordal

University Honors Theses

In mountainous landscapes throughout the world bedrock dominated river channels record a history of the tectonic and climatic evolution of the drainage basins that contain them. In traditional analysis of river profiles, uplift and erosion are considered to be in balance in a steady state. In this study the transient state of a drainage basin is explored and numerically modeled, where a Gaussian shaped pulse of tectonic uplift overwhelms the river's incision and forces a diversion of the drainage network. I review the derivation of and use the detachment limited stream power equation to execute a model to find the …

The Socialization Of Women And Its Effect On The Wage Gap Within The United States, Kaitlin Lawrence

University Honors Theses

President Kennedy signed The Equal Pay Act in 1963, a time when women were making an average of 59 cents on the dollar compared to men. 49 years later, that value has only risen 17.5 cents. If the current rate of progress continues at the same pace, it is projected that the wage gap will cease to exist by the year 2057; 94 years after The Equal Pay Act was established. Politicians, economists and women’s rights activists, among others question what must be done to bridge the wage gap and how has it continued to be perpetuated for so long. …

Technology-Based Training For Older Employees: A Literature Review, Daria Maletis

University Honors Theses

Technology-based training is being increasingly adopted by organizations of all sizes. It allows employers to cut costs and to train more employees at the same time. However, arguably the greatest benefit of computer-based training is that it is very flexible and can be customized to the needs of the organization as well as to the individual needs of the trainees. This paper explores what adjustments can be made to computerized training programs for older employees to make their learning most effective. The results of the literature review show that older adults benefit from simple and consistent interface design, large font …

Adoption And Child Trafficking: Structural Violence In The International Adoption System, Vanessa Virgiel

University Honors Theses

In the United States there exists as part of the institution of international adoption a hegemony of “saving” orphans from developing or economically devastated nations. This hegemony is a factor contributing to an adoption “market” in orphans, leading to incidences of the trafficking of children as part of the intercountry adoption system. This study's purposes are thus twofold. First it is a preliminary attempt within the academic realm to determine the emergence of this hegemony by delineating the US history of intercountry adoption from its origins in the mid-1940s as a response to humanitarian crises, to its current status as …

Trace Metal Analysis Of Drinking Water At Portland State University, Emma Claire Prichard

University Honors Theses

Clean drinking water is essential for human and environmental health, but pollution of drinking water sources due to lack of resources or investment allows poor drinking water quality to be pervasive even in developed areas. Portland State University, located in Portland, OR, U.S.A., had reports of poor drinking water quality in a major academic building (Cramer Hall). In order to investigate, a trace metals analysis of drinking water was conducted using EPA Method 200.7 Section 8.2: Dissolved Metals, via Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Concentrations of 10 different metals were determined in 22 building areas. Results show …

Nancy Huston's Danse Noire, Elizabeth Klosty Beaujour

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Age, Education, And Bilingualism On Confrontation Naming In Older Illiterate And Low-Educated Populations, Sameer Ashaie, Loraine Obler

Publications and Research

We investigated the effects of age as well as the linked factors of education and bilingualism on confrontation naming in rural Kashmir by creating a culturally appropriate naming test with pictures of 60 objects.We recruited 48 cognitively normal participants whose ages ranged from 18 to 28 and from 60 to 85. Participants in our study were illiterate monolinguals (� = 18) and educated Kashmiri-Urdu bilinguals (� = 30). Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that younger adults performed better than older adults (� < 0.01) and the age effect was quadratic (age²). It also showed Age X Education and Age X L2 Speaking interactions predicted naming performance.The Age X …

The Politics Of Spanish In The World, José Del Valle

Publications and Research

This article offers an overview of the spread of Spanish as a global language focusing on the policies and institutions that have worked, particularly in the last couple of decades, on its promotion. The actions of institutions as well as corporate and cultural agencies involved in this sort of language policy are to be understood as part of a wider movement of internationalization of financial activities and political influence.

The Politics Of Normativity And Globalization: Which Spanish In The Classroom?, José Del Valle

Publications and Research

This articles explores linguistic ideologies in teaching Spanish in the United States. It focuses on debates surrounding questions of normativity and correctness in the Spanish language classroom and curriculum design.

Talking About Open Access: Smash And Subtler Tactics, Jill Cirasella

Publications and Research

This slideshow covers different ways of answering the question “Why open access?” It reviews the knee-jerk reactions many people have when they hear about open access, describes the many benefits of open access, invokes @openaccesshulk’s strategy of SMASH, and discusses what arguments work best with different populations (students, faculty, administrators, etc.). Finally, it addresses why librarians should try to talk about open access without resorting to constant use of the term “open access” and describes a few ways to sneak open access advocacy into other conversations.

Theorizing More Inclusive Cities: A Relational Model Of Boundary Transformation And Urban Research Agenda, Leigh Graham

Publications and Research

To generate more inclusive environments for marginalized urban communities of color demands a strategy that privileges symbolic boundary change and uses it as the inroad towards spatial changes. This paper theorizes a three step relational process of a) communicative democratic activism, b) "multicultural" capital brokers providing access to the policy making process, and c) practices of community building that reflect the role of cities as key sites for sociospatial boundary transformation. An emphasis on discursive and ideational change, relying on communicative democratic processes steeped in historical, comparative analysis opens up our minds towards different classification schemes for stigmatized groups. Participating …

Pioneering Digital Sociology, Jessie Daniels, Heidi Knoblauch

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Does U.S. Macroeconomic News Make Emerging Financial Markets Riskier?, Esin Cakan, Nadia Doytch, Kamal P. Upadhyaya

Publications and Research

This study analyzes the impacts of US macroeconomic announcement surprises on the volatility of twelve emerging stock markets by employing asymmetric GJR-GARCH model. The model includes both positive and negative surprises about inflation and unemployment rate announcements in the U.S. We find that volatility shocks are persistent and asymmetric. Asymmetric volatility increases with bad news on US inflation in five out of the twelve countries studied and it increases with a bad news on U.S. unemployment in four out of twelve countries. Asymmetric volatility decreases with good news about US employment situation in eight countries out of twelve countries. Such …

The Impact Of Global Trends On Ilds, Beth Posner

Publications and Research

There are a variety of important developments in digital information, globalization, demographics, economics, education, technology and more affecting all aspects of 21st century life. These trends are also reflected in changes in new ways that libraries are facilitating the discovery and delivery of information. Using the 2014 New Media Consortium’s “Horizon Report: Library Edition” and the discussion draft of the American Library Association Policy Revolution! Initiative’s “Trends Report: Snapshots of a Turbulent World” this article examines several key trends and disruptions impacting libraries and the world and how these are likely to influence the ways libraries facilitate the discovery and …

Proceedings Of The 1st Annual Cuny Games Festival, Robert O. Duncan, Joe Bisz, Francesco Crocco, Carlos Hernandez, Kathleen Offenholley, Leah Potter, Maura A. Smale, Cuny Games Network

Publications and Research

Proceedings of the CUNY Games Conference, held from January 17-18, 2014, at the CUNY Graduate Center and Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Topics in Game Design - Teaching with Virtual and Augmented Realities - Writing with Games - Breaking the Magic Circle: Games & Real Life - Interactive Game Design (What's Your Game Plan? - Designing Ethical Games - Games and Gender - Gaming English Language and Literature - Game, Narrative, Literacy - Teaching with Games - Games, Storytelling, and Narrative - Games and STEM - Learning by Design - Students as Game Designers - Experiencing Reality in Popular Games …

Buenos Aires, Fernando Degiovanni, Fernando Rosenberg

Publications and Research

One of the most important city ports of the Western Hemisphere, Buenos Aires has a history inextricably connected to the fluctuations of the Atlantic economy as well as to its strategic position as a gateway to vast and fertile flatlands that extend far beyond the city limits. Founded and re-founded in the 16th century as a secondary colonial outpost, Buenos Aires was dramatically transformed by the demands of the European markets at the turn of both the 18th and 19th centuries. In this context, two crucial developments are decisive for understanding the physical, social, and cultural fabric of the city: …

Regional Differences In Beverage And Fruit Consumption In China, Xiaotian Wu

Agribusiness and Applied Economics

The purpose of this thesis was to examine the impact of regional and other demographic characteristics, such as age, education level, and household income, on food consumption in China. In total, data for 2342 households from 11 different Chinese cities were analyzed. Two separate studies on fruits and beverages were conducted, each with four `home food' groups and four `away from home food' groups. A two-step quadratic ideal demand system model was used to analyze the regional differences and the effects of the other demographic characteristics on food consumption in China. Regional differences in beverage and fruit consumption were identified …

Applying Serf Analysis To Rank Procurement Strategies For A North Dakota Green Field Pea Processor, Bryant Sanderson

Agribusiness and Applied Economics

There are many crops grown in North Dakota, but only a few have a futures market for prices and are grown readily throughout the country. The specialty crops in North Dakota display many of the same characteristics such as a lack of a futures market, high standards for grain quality, and concentrated production areas. These characteristics create unique procurement risks for specialty crop processors. This project ranks procurement strategies for a green field pea processor located in North Dakota using stochastic efficiency with respect to a function (SERF) analysis. Through SERF analysis, it was found that geographic diversification and forward …

Switching Options: The Value Of Flexibility Provided By Geographical Diversification, Stephan Wegerle Johansen

Agribusiness and Applied Economics

The thesis develops a Monte Carlo simulation model with real options to value agricultural-commodity-trading firms' physical assets in relation to their existing networks of physical assets. The option value measured is the flexibility provided by switching options. This value can guide individual trading firms from an asset-light strategy towards more asset-medium/heavy and more profitable strategies. The thesis explores the value drivers for the optionality to switch origin locations. Optimal asset networks position traders to smooth imbalances in the market through spatial arbitrage. Further, the implications for contracting parts of the capacity, as well as how they affect the option value, …

The Risks Of The Rose City: Assessing The Social Vulnerability Of Communities To Multiple Environmental Hazards In The Portland Metropolitan Area, Daniel R. Logan

Geography Masters Research Papers

In the past three decades, research in the geography of hazards and disasters has expanded beyond the response to hazard events and incorporated the concepts of preparedness, recovery, and mitigation. These issues require a complete understanding of the vulnerability of places to hazards, not only in regards to hazard characteristics but in regards to social and economic conditions as well. This paper offers a case study in hazard exposure and social vulnerability analysis which incorporates the methodology of two previous studies on the same topics. A geographic information system was used to determine vulnerable areas and populations exposed to five …

The Cully Park Inter-Tribal Gathering Garden: Place-Making Through Indigenous Eco-Cultural Reclamation, Randall Morris

Geography Masters Research Papers

Portland's history and geography are patterned, like any city, by spatial imaginings both utopian and dystopian. This examination of the raw landscape of the city’s nascent garden space in Cully Park is an attempt to research a third manifestation of space, one that might be called heterotopia. This research into the Inter-Tribal Gathering Garden is a search for a more complete accounting of place, one which also acknowledges the variety of non-human agencies (a list which would include streets, planning documents, various plants, historical accounts, and even the consistent boundaries of the space itself) found in all heterogeneous …