Digital Commons Network^™

“Circling The Wagons And Shooting Inward”: Understanding How Nursing Administrators Approach The Policy Process, Jill M. Moore

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop an understanding of factors that nursing education executives in higher education believe are essential to influencing and implementing sound policy decisions. This study sought to answer the following: (a) what characteristics and skills do nurse administrators in higher education believe are essential to positively influencing the policy-making process, and (b) what organizational features do these nurse executives believe impede or facilitate their ability to influence policy processes? This study utilized an exploratory qualitative design representing a collective case study. The sample selection was purposive and included in-depth interviews with nurse educators …

Defining Student Success And Identifying The Rhetorical Appeals That Colleges And Universities Use To Engage Students In The Pursuit Of Higher Education Degrees, Michael J. Baker

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of the study included examining how four-year institutions of higher education define student success, measuring student success, and examining how words associated with student success were used to appeal to people interested in college degree attainment. Information from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education was used to obtain a sample of 30 academic institutions with similar attributes to Indiana State University. Websites from Academic Affairs, Office of the President, and Student Affairs were examined for mentions of student success. Burke’s work with rhetorical appeals and the dramatistic pentad was used to analyze and interpret the mentions …

Identifying, Cultivating, And Utilizing Elementary Teacher Leaders, April Holder

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how elementary principals identify, cultivate, and utilize teacher leaders within high-growth elementary schools. For the purpose of this study, high-growth schools are schools that surpassed the state average of high growth for the bottom 25% and top 75% in English/language arts and math for two consecutive years based on the Indiana Department of Education A-F Accountability Report Card. Through this qualitative study, the roles of the principals in three similar Indiana elementary schools were analyzed in regard to the commonalities of the identification of teacher leaders, cultivating talent and leadership, and …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Technology Effectiveness In High School, Heather L. Gianfagna

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine high school teachers’ perceptions of technology in the classroom, including technology access, usage, and effectiveness. This study was conducted by administering a survey to high school teachers, Grades 9 through 12, in Indiana. The survey, entitled Teachers’ Perceptions of Technology Effectiveness in High Schools was used with high school teachers’ to determine their perceptions of technology access, usage, and effectiveness in classrooms. A total of 343 teachers submitted complete responses to the Teachers’ Perceptions of Technology Effectiveness in High Schools. I developed a survey to quantitatively measure the perceptions of teachers on …

Improved Upper Limits On The Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background From 2009-2010 Ligo And Virgo Data, J. Aasi, Marco Cavaglia, For Full List Of Authors, See Publisher's Website.

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Gravitational waves from a variety of sources are predicted to superpose to create a stochastic background. This background is expected to contain unique information from throughout the history of the Universe that is unavailable through standard electromagnetic observations, making its study of fundamental importance to understanding the evolution of the Universe. We carry out a search for the stochastic background with the latest data from the LIGO and Virgo detectors. Consistent with predictions from most stochastic gravitational-wave background models, the data display no evidence of a stochastic gravitational-wave signal. Assuming a gravitational-wave spectrum of ΩGW(f)=Ωα±(f/fref)α±, we place 95% confidence level …

Reproductive Health Education In Nctb Curriculum And Text Books: A Critical Review, Salma Akhter, Shah Shamim Ahmed, Muhammad Salahuddin

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Student Publications

The Education Policy-2010, paved the way to introduce Reproductive Health (RH) as part of curricula of few selected subjects for the secondary school children in Bangladesh, which can be considered as a first step in the right direction. Consequently subjects like Physical Education and Health and Home Science has been chosen to incorporate some aspects of RH for the students of classes VI-VIII, and Science are for the students of classes IX-X. This article aimed to explore, examine and review critically to what extent incorporation has taken place and whether this has fulfilled the learning needs of the adolescent groups …

Selective Indicators For Optical Determination Of Disease Biomarkers, Lovemore Hakuna

Dissertations and Theses

The most abundant biological thiols, homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys) and glutathione (GSH) have been the subject of intense research due to their association with a wide range of diseases. They play a key role in maintaining the redox status of biological systems. Selective detection methods for these thiols are challenging due to their similar structures and properties. Current commercially available detection methods use separations, fragile and expensive enzymatic or immunogenic materials and complex instrumentation. This has led to a global effort towards developing simple and inexpensive optical probes and indicators selective for specific biological thiols.

Highly selective chemical probes and …

Trashed: The Myth Of The Southern Poor White, April Elizabeth Thompson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The fact of class has been a powerful tool in the process of identity formation, particularly in the American South, which has been viewed as a region apart from the national imaginary. To counter this exclusion, Southerners have often relied on stereotypes. One of the most prevalent and tragic of these is the stereotype of poor white trash, a construction that has been utilized to insist upon elite white Southerners' exceptionalism and innocence and to assert their rightful place in American historiography. While it is difficult to calculate their level of success, as perceptions of the region have varied through …

The Role Of Higher Education In Rural Community Development, Anita Faye Thompson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions commonly play a role in community development. Rural communities may be even more dependent on the university's investment. As higher education has looked to meet demands of stakeholders calling for greater accountability, it has become necessary for universities to be able to justify the effectiveness of these efforts. The purpose of this study was to determine the elements necessary for successful rural community development in Western Oklahoma. Utilizing the Delphi research method, 20 community development experts in rural Western Oklahoma participated in the three-round survey process. In the initial survey, participants collectively submitted a list of 41 …

Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy: Examining The Effects Of Career Choice, Education, And Work Experience Of Entrepreneurs, Melissa W. Sisco

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Prior research on the relationship between self-efficacy and career decision making is inconclusive because of the lack of theoretical background and causal conclusions. More research is needed to investigate how the educational background, career choice, and work experience, of entrepreneurs, influences their career decision-making self-efficacy beliefs and how those beliefs effect their decision to become entrepreneurs. The purpose of this study was to investigate to what extent career choice, education, and work experience related to the level of career decision-making self-efficacy among participants in the Ventureprise business incubation program who are or are intending to become entrepreneurs. The education and …

Designing And Implementing A Micro-Controller Based Primary-Side Sensing Flyback Converter For Leds Driver, Nam Nhat Tran

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The fast development of LED and its applications has enabled a new generation of lighting device with higher efficiency and long lifespan. By employing a primary-side sensing flyback converter and the PIC18F micro-controller series, an LED driver could achieve two important features: (1) the compatibility with the available lighting fixtures, and (2) reducing unit price. The flyback converter was chosen for its simplicity, competitive low cost, and its ability to provide a constant output current, a necessarily important factor to an LED driver. Meanwhile, the PIC18F micro-controller series offer numerous advanced features which include but not limited to pulse-width modulation …

Ethnic And Language Matching: Effects On Hispanics' Treatment Perceptions, Carlos Adrian Ojeda Cedeno

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cultural adaptations to mental health treatment have been recommended to improve treatment outcomes in minorities, including Hispanics (Griner & Smith, 2006). One such adaptation includes matching the therapist to the client on culturally salient variables, such as spoken language or ethnic background. Yet, most investigations about the efficacy of matching have been correlational or have not examined language and ethnic match together (Cabassa, 2007). I investigated the effects of both ethnic and language matching on Hispanics' perceptions of psychological treatment. Participants were 100 Hispanic adults (36 men) randomly assigned to one of four conditions. In each condition, participants read a …

Evaluation Of Low-Tannin Grain Sorghum In Broiler Chicken Diets, Samantha Aniecia Shelton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of dietary grain sorghum on broiler live performance, carcass yield and shank (leg) and breast skin coloring. Iso-caloric diets were formulated where sorghum replaced corn at rates of 0% (control), 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% for a total of 6 diets. For each of the two trials, 1500 Cobb 500 male broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 60 pens with 25 birds per pen (10 pens/diet) and grown to 46 days for the first research trial and 41 days for the second. There were no differences (P>.05) …

Recreational Risk Assessment Using Geospatial Analyses On Beaver Lake, Arkansas, Laura Ahrens

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Accidents and deaths occur regularly on lakes and waterways due to natural phenomena as well as human error and recreation. People use lakes and waterways as sources of recreation, but do not always act responsibly on the water. During summer 2013 and winter 2014, over 100 surveys were administered in Beaver Lake, Arkansas to local and federal agencies regarding their knowledge and perception on accident locations and causes. These surveys were conducted in English and approved by the university after being tested on peers. The surveys included demographic data sex, income, education, as well as Likert-scaled responses. Research was also …

Predictive Modeling Of Floral Species Richness In Michigan Prairie Fen Communities, Nichole R. Mason

Masters Theses

Prairie fens contain high levels of floral biodiversity, including 19 state threatened or endangered plant species, and are classified as rare and vulnerable communities by the Michigan Natural Features Inventory. The objective of this thesis was to develop multiple-regression (MR) models that reliably predict total, native, and invasive floral species richness for use by conservation organizations. Floral biodiversity surveys were conducted in eight southern Michigan prairie fens during the 2012 growing season. Simple linear regressions between fen size and biodiversity were used to optimize sampling strategy and effort (i.e., number of transects and plots per transect) in surveys conducted in …

An Exploration Of The Role Of The Learner In The English As A Second Language Classroom. A Case Study Of A Rural Public Primary School In Vihiga County, Kenya, John Auna Esikumo

Master of Education

Active participation of the learner in the English language class is the foundation upon which the learning of the language takes place. This is because learners‟ scholastic accomplishment may be greatly affected by their active engagement in class as they interact among themselves, with teachers and with instructional resources. Children learn best when they participate enthusiastically in the classroom so as to communicate more effectively and enhance critical thinking. Therefore, teachers should promote strategies that reinforce learning capacities to be more interactive to inculcate skills for life-long learning. This study sought to explore the role of the learner in the …

Chemistry Teachers’ Perceptions Of Team Teaching In Enhancing Their Pedagogical Content Knowledge: A Case Study Of A Secondary School In Embu County, Kenya., Margaret Karimi Njiru

Master of Education

Team teaching is one of the rich avenues through which chemistry teachers‟ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) can be enhanced. However studies have shown that perceptions richly impact on the choices that chemistry teachers make concerning a particular pedagogical strategy like team teaching. Though in team teaching teachers are engaged in the three components of co-planning, co-instruction and co-assessment for a group of learners, chemistry teachers are rarely involved in these components and especially co-instruction. Understanding the chemistry teachers‟ perceptions of team teaching and how these perceptions inform their practise was therefore the aim of this study since through team teaching …

An Investigation On The Utilization Of The Public Library By The Community: A Case Study Of A Public Library In Mombasa County, Kenya, Lydia Ethel Odhiambo

Master of Education

Public libraries are known to play a major role in fostering knowledge and information to the community. They have continued to exist in the society for many generations meeting the various needs of the people by availing print and non-print materials. For many generations people have used libraries to gather information and generate new knowledge though in the recent times there has been a paradigm shift due to technological advancements. Public libraries are government run institutions and they purpose to serve the communities in the regions where they are established. The study was conducted a public library in Mombasa county, …

Critical Literacy Development In Early Childhood Education, Blandina Francis Duwe

Master of Education

Developing critical literacy using action research entails reading African stories to children and asking questions to direct children’s thinking. The idea of critical literacy development arises from the need to empower young children to be engaged in discussion about different issues that are directly or indirectly connected to their lives. This study employed the use of qualitative approach and action research design to explore how critical literacy could be developed in young children. Results found indicated that children can engage in exploring complex issues as long as they are exposed to activities that stimulate thinking to development of critical literacy. …

Reflective Practice As A Component Of Continuous Professional Development And Tutor Competences In Teaching Mathematics In The Primary Teachers’ Colleges In North-West Nile Uganda: A Case Of Certificate In Teacher Education Proficiency, Asega Joseph

Master of Education

In 2007, the Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development, Eastern Africa (AKU-IED) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) of the Republic of Uganda in support of Certificate in Teacher Education Proficiency (C-TEP) for all tutors in Ugandan Primary Teacher‟s Colleges (PTCs). The C-TEP course had two face-to-face components of intensive professional development in designated venues, interspersed by Reflective Practice (RP). The course focused on empowering the tutors with skills to improve their competences in teaching practices. Underlying this course was the belief that skills development and competences in teaching process are …

Effects Of The Preparation And Perception Of Middle School Teachers On The Infusion Of Multicultural Education, John Mccraney

College of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the difference of how teachers perceive multicultural orientation, multiculturalism and cultural relations, multiculturalism and perceived sense of community, and multiculturalism and sense of responsibility based on gender, experience, and racial identity. The subscales on the Multicultural Emphasis Inventory (MEI) measured the teachers’ perceptions. The sample included middle school teachers in a large urban district in central Arkansas.

A quantitative, non-experimental research used four one-way analyses of variance to determine whether the evidence existed to reject the formulated hypotheses. The independent variables were as follows: gender for Hypotheses 1-4, teacher experiences for Hypotheses …

Read180 Computer Software By Gender And Ethnicity On Reading Achievement For Identified Special Education Students, Sherrie Bayles

College of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to conduct an independent study to determine the effectiveness of the READ 180 reading intervention program when implemented with middle and junior high school students with disabilities. To address the first and third hypotheses, gender (male versus female) and change over time (fall, mid-year, and at the end of the school year) served as the independent variables for sixth/seventh and eighth/ninth grade students with disabilities, respectively. For the second and fourth hypotheses, ethnicity (White versus all non-White students) and change over time served as the independent variables for sixth/seventh and eighth/ninth grade students with …

Honors Program As A Predictor Of College Readiness Of Private School Students In Arkansas, Jonathan G. Jones

College of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to add to the research available related to college readiness. Each of the four hypotheses were constructed to determine the predictive effects of academic program type (honors or regular) over and above the predictive effects of gender, Plan test scores, number of times the ACT was taken by individuals, and longevity in years on mathematics, English, science, and reading performance measured by ACT scores for 12th grade students in a private Christian school in Arkansas. A review of the literature identified the various aspects of college readiness, the characteristics of effective programs for college …

Alcohol And Drug Use Amongst College Students In Relation To Sexual Abuse, Christyn Hollingsworth

Honors College Theses

The impact of child sexual abuse (CSA) and traumatic sexual experiences has been the subject of multiple studies in which harm was found. Among these harms are emotional distress, psychological issues, and substance abuse. This research analyzed and compared the responses to questions pertaining to substance use and attitudes regarding sexual interactions between college aged students with and without a history of sexual abuse. The participant’s answers were run through an ANOVA to determine statistical variance. Based on prior research, it was expected that victims consume alcohol and use drugs more frequently than non-victims in significant amounts. The findings in …

Not All Who Wander Are Lost: Wandering And Wondering In The Solution-Focused World. An Interview With Frank N. Thomas, Frank Thomas, Michael Durrant

Journal of Solution Focused Practices

Dr. Frank Thomas is Professor of Counseling and Counselor Education at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth (Texas, US). He is also official Archivist for the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Association. Frank and i have been friends and colleagues for nearly 25 years, co-presented at international conferences and writ­ ten book chapters and professional articles together. I endorsed his latest book, Solution-Focused Supervision: A resource-oriented approach to developing clinical expertise Springer), describing it as "THE most significant Solution-Focused book of the past 10 years." Frank is also an Associate Editor of JSFBT.

Marin Beck Honors Portfolio, Marin Elisabeth Beck

Honors Capstone Portfolios

Marin Beck's honors portfolio captured in December 2014.

Katie Westermayer Honors Portfolio, Katie Lynn Westermayer

Honors Capstone Portfolios

Katie Westermayer's honors portfolio captured in December 2014.

Kristen Paulsen Honors Portfolio, Kristen Chastine Paulsen

Honors Capstone Portfolios

Kristen Paulsen's honors portfolio captured in December 2014.

Designing A Library Data Service, Bradley Gulliford

UTA Libraries Staff Publications - Archive

No abstract provided.

A Tale Of Two (And Possibly Three) Atkins: Intellectual Disability And Capital Punishment Twelve Years After The Supreme Court's Creation Of A Categorical Bar, John H. Blume, Sheri Lynn Johnson, Paul Marcus, Emily C. Paavola

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

This article examines empirically the capital cases decided by the lower courts since the United States Supreme Court created the categorical ban against the execution of persons with intellectual disability twelve years ago in the Atkins decision.