Digital Commons Network^™

Do People Obey The Law?, Frederick Schauer

San Diego Law Review

It is customary in a symposium honoring a book as valuable as Laurence Claus’s for the commentators to begin by noting their general agreement with the author’s thesis and then explaining that, in the spirit of academic engagement, they will focus on one small but interesting area in which the author and the commentator disagree. On this occasion, however, it seems more appropriate to reverse that approach. For reasons I will make clear, I am in substantial disagreement with Claus’s normative argument against authority. Unlike Claus, I believe that “because I said so” is often, especially when backed by the …

Law’S Evolution And Human Understanding, Laurence Claus

San Diego Law Review

What a privilege and delight it was to welcome the participants to this conference. I am deeply grateful to the outside commentators, Bill Edmundson, John Finnis, Michael Steven Green, Mark Greenberg, Fred Schauer, and Larry Solum, for contributing so generously. My thanks also go to the many faculty colleagues who joined in the celebration, and particularly to Larry Alexander for convening the event and leading the proceedings, as he so often does, and does so well. This response to the insightful commentaries on Law’s Evolution and Human Understanding grows out of three propositions: law comes first, law is signals, law …

Religion And Insularity: Brian Leiter On Accommodating Religion, Christopher J. Eberle

San Diego Law Review

Crucial to Leiter’s overall case is the claim that there is no credible reason to accommodate religious objectors but not secular objectors: “[N]o one has been able to articulate a credible principled argument . . . that would explain why . . . we ought to accord special legal and moral treatment to religious practices.” He reaches this skeptical conclusion, in significant part, because he takes religion to be afflicted with a troubling defect, that is, religion involves commitment to categorical demands that are insulated from scientific and commonsensical scrutiny. But, I will argue, there is no good reason to …

“Religion” As A Bundle Of Legal Proxies: Reply To Micah Schwartzman, Andrew Koppelman

San Diego Law Review

The debate among legal scholars about whether religion is special is chronically confused by the scholars’ failure to grasp a point familiar in the academic study of religion: “religion” is a label for something that has no ontological reality. Religion has no essence. If it has a determinate meaning, it is simply because there is a settled and familiar practice of applying the label of religion in predictable ways. The question of religious accommodation arises in cases where a law can allow some exceptions. Many laws, such as military conscription, taxes, environmental regulations, and antidiscrimination laws, will accomplish their ends …

Religion As A Legal Proxy, Micah Schwartzman

San Diego Law Review

In what follows, after briefly summarizing Koppelman’s position, I argue that his view is vulnerable to the charge that using religion as a legal proxy is unfair to those with comparable, but otherwise secular, ethical and moral convictions. Koppelman has, of course, anticipated this objection, but his responses are either ambivalent or insufficient to overcome it. The case for adopting religion as a proxy turns partly on arguments against other potential candidates. In particular, Koppelman rejects the freedom of conscience as a possible substitute. But even if he is right that its coverage is not fully extensive with the category …

What Do Young Adults Consider To Be "Smoking?" A Study Of Individual Differences, Amy Susan Farrell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Study validity often depends on accurate self-reports of participant smoking. However, a dearth of empirical literature exists addressing how individuals define ‘being a smoker.’ The purpose of this study was to explore predictors of how young adults define smoking, including ethnicity, gender, and amount smoked. A measure of what constitutes “smoking” was created, ranging from very restrictive definitions of smoking to not at all restrictive definitions. A 3-way factorial ANOVA revealed an interaction effect between ethnicity and smoking level. Pairwise comparisons yielded significant differences between Caucasian light and intermittent smokers (LITS) and Caucasian heavy smokers. Caucasian LITS were more likely …

The Effects Of Diethylstilbestrol Administration During Late Pregnancy On Anxiety- And Depressive-Related Behaviors In C57bl/6 Mice, Jenna Leigh Nelms Sprowles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Exposure to the potent synthetic estrogenic compound diethylstilbestrol (DES) during early development has been found to elicit numerous detrimental effects. Prescribed to millions of pregnant women from the 1930s to the 1970s, it has been shown that exposure to DES caused significant reproductive organ abnormalities and dysfunction in both men and women (DES sons and daughters, respectively) who were exposed in utero. A high incidence of psychiatric disorders has also been reported, primarily in adult DES daughters. Because of estrogen's well-known influence on emotion, it has been suggested that exposure to this estrogenic compound may be able to disturb the …

University Honors Program Newsletters, Honors Program,Georgia Southern University

Honors College: News & Publications (2008-2020)

• Congratulations Fall 2014 Graduates!
• Honors Research Symposium
• Southern Scholars Showcase
• Food For Finals
• Honors First-Year Experience Seminar
• Happy Holidays from the University Honors Program!

The Voice Of Low-Income Adolescent Mothers On Infant Feeding, Mildred A. Horodynski, Kristen J. Mills

Journal of Extension

Adolescent mothers' feeding practices impact infant weight gain. Infant obesity, especially in low-income families, is rapidly increasing. The aim of the exploratory study reported here was to identify factors affecting low-income African American and non-Hispanic White adolescent mothers' infant feeding practices and useful learning modalities. Two focus groups were conducted by a trained facilitator using a semi-structured topic guide. Three themes emerged: (1) feeding decisions related to introduction of solid foods; (2) feeding information/advice provided by others; and (3) useful learning strategies. These themes can be used by Extension professionals in designing nutrition education programs for adolescent mothers.

Distilling Research Into Actionable Knowledge: An Assessment Of A Conservation Buffer Guide, Gary Bentrup, Mary Emery, Nikki D’Adamo-Damery, Cornelia Flora

Journal of Extension

Agriculture and natural resources Extension professionals face increasing challenges in delivering evidence-based information to clients. Illustrated design guidelines may offer one tool for presenting useful information, particularly when delivering assistance for multifunctional solutions. Using conservation buffers as the technical topic, the study reported here evaluated resource professionals' perception and use of design guidelines to communicate technical information for planning and designing buffers for multiple goals. Overall, the results provide favorable support for design guidelines. The study offers insight into what constitutes effective guidelines, and these lessons learned may be applicable to other topics in Extension programming.

Interdependence: Ninth And Newest Critical Element For 4-H Positive Youth Development, Kirk A. Astroth

Journal of Extension

For the past 15 years, a list of eight critical elements has provided a strong foundation for articulating the positive youth development focus of 4-H programs and efforts. Now it is time to revisit this list and update the critical elements for positive youth development. Interdependence is proposed as a ninth critical element that should be included. Research is cited for the importance of this element that was not included in the original list in 1998, and a call is made for a national think tank to update the critical elements.

Creating Safe Spaces Within Extension Programs, Adrienne Duke

Journal of Extension

Extension agents, educators, and specialists are challenged to find effective ways to ensure that our participants learn in program contexts that are inclusive and respectful of all people. In order to make our programs inclusive environments, it is important for us to be brave enough to disrupt statements that are demeaning and marginalize others. This article gives practical ways to deal with statements made by participants that are grounded in prejudice, discrimination, stereotyping, and scapegoating.

Psychometrics And Test-Enhanced Learning In A Patient-Centered Learning Curriculum, Syed Haris Ali

Theses and Dissertations

Validity and reliability of scores obtained on Multiple-choice questions (MCQs), as well as the benefits of test-enhanced learning, have been of interest to medical educator scholars. Presented in this dissertation are four composite studies on these themes. The following hypotheses were tested:

1. Increased MCQ distractor functioning increases the validity and reliability of obtained scores.

2. Correction of item writing flaws (along with enhancement of tested cognitive level) and replacement or removal of non-functioning distractors equally improves psychometric characteristics of MCQs.

3. Repeated testing via free-response items enhances the retention of knowledge of human anatomy, compared with repeated or once-testing …

Learning-Disabled Students: A Comparison Of Achievement Scores Of Students Receiving Services In Pull-Out Classrooms And Inclusion Classrooms, Gerilyn T. Scalf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the achievement scores in reading/language arts and math of fourth and fifth grade special education learning-disabled students who received academic instruction in an inclusion classroom or a pull-out classroom. Student achievement scores from the 2012-2013 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) and the Discovery Education Assessment (DEA) improvement scores were compared with regard to service location and analyzed for significant differences between the locations: inclusion and pull-out classrooms. A quantitative study was used to find the differences in reading/language arts and math achievement scores for fourth and fifth grade special education learning-disabled students …

Faculty Integration Of Technology In Undergraduate Courses At Private Colleges And Universities, Evelyn G. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative research study was to investigate the integration of technology in undergraduate courses by faculty at private colleges and universities. Integration of technology is using technology as an instructional tool to improve teaching and learning (Clayton-Pedersen & O’Neill, 2005; Wilson & Hayes, 2000; Woodbridge, 2004). Chickering and Gamson’s (1987) 7 principles for good practice in undergraduate education provided the theoretical framework for this research. The researcher conducted a survey of full-time faculty at 21 private colleges and universities in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The results of the study indicated that faculty use …

Weightlifting, Performing Arts Electives, And Academic Achievement: A Comparison In An East Tennessee High School, Lana Page

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant relationship between the academic achievement as measured by ACT English, math, and composite scores of students who took 6 or more credits of weightlifting, 6 or more credits of performing arts, or no elective focus in an East Tennessee high school serving grades 9-12 from the graduating classes of 2010 through 2014. The independent variables were the elective focus groups students took during high school and race and ethnicity. The dependent variables were ACT English, math, and composite scores. A series of one-way analyses of variances (ANOVAs) …

Eating In Opposition: Strategies Of Resistance Through Food In The Lives Of Rural Andean And Appalachian Mountain Women, Veronica A. Limeberry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines ways in which rural mountain women of Andean Peru and southern Appalachia use their lived histories and food knowledge in ways that counter Cartesian epistemologies regarding national and international food systems. Using women’s fiction and cookbooks, this thesis examines how voice and narrative reclaim women’s spaces within food landscapes. Further, this thesis examines women’s non-profits and grassroots organizations to illustrate the ways in which rural mountain women expand upon their lived histories in ways that contribute to tangible solutions to poverty and hunger in rural mountainous communities. The primary objective of this thesis is to recover rural …

Hybrid Meshless Method For Numerical Solution Of Partial Differential Equations, Jeanette Marie Monroe

Dissertations

A meshless method for solving partial differential equations (PDEs) which combines the method of fundamental solutions (MFS) and the method of particular solutions (MPS) is formulated and tested. The hybrid method finds a numerical approximation by solving only one system of equations as opposed to the two-stage method of fundamental solutions and method of particular solutions. This new approach, denoted MFS-MPS, one-stage MFS-MPS, or hybrid method, can be applied to a wide variety of PDEs including PDEs with variable coefficients. The MFS-MPS can simplify Helmholtz-type differential operators to Laplacian-type differential operators providing flexibility and simplification to calculating particular solutions and …

Effective Instructional Strategies Utilized In Successful And High Performing Secondary Schools In The Southern Region Of Mississippi, Jeanifer Lynn Pearson

Dissertations

The schools in the United States have implemented measures intended to close the achievement gap for over fifty years (Solomon, 2009). The mandates handed down by the federal government cannot be altered. Therefore, schools are required to determine specific measures that increase student academic success. Prior research has demonstrated that schools can be successful if effective leadership at the district, school, and classroom level was present (Gregory, 2003; Johnson, Livingston, & Schwartz, 2000). At the classroom level, it was the leadership of the individual teacher to determine the creation of innovative techniques aimed at academic success of all students (Farr …

The Influence Of Observational Learning On Self-Reported Physical Activity, Self-Efficacy For Physical Activity, And Health-Related Fitness Knowledge For Physical Activity, Charles Gregory Bullock

Dissertations

The obesity epidemic has caused tremendous burden to our economy and healthcare system. Physical activity is one method that can reduce the obesity rate. However, physical activity declines in high school and does not recover. The likelihood of adolescents continuing their involvement in physical activity depends on how they navigate the highs and lows of their physical activity experiences (Feltz & Magyar, 2006). The purpose of this study is to look at the role of observational learning in physical activity and behaviors in an adolescent population. Specifically, this research examines the influence of observational learning on self-reported physical activity, self-efficacy …

The Effect Of Repeated Reading Strategy On Oral Reading Fluency Of A Fourth Grade Student With Reading Difficulties, Fatmeh Mahmud Al Jaffal

Theses

This study aims at examining the effects of repeated reading strategy on the oral reading fluency of a 9-year-old Fourth Grader with reading difficulties in a private school in the United Arab Emirates. The research employed a quantitative means by using a SingleSubject Design. A pre-post-test design was used. The results of this study indicate that repeated reading strategy is found to be overall effective on oral reading speed and oral reading accuracy. This study has some recommendations for teaching instructions and research. For example, teachers can use it as an instructional approach for improving the oral reading 11w1fluency not …

United We Stand: The Possibilities Of Museums, Schools, And Anti-Bullying, Ashley Scotto

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In 2001, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) described bullying as “widespread in American schools.” The results of an extensive survey throughout the United States revealed that over 16% of school children reported that they were recently bullied. As of 2013, the Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum in Ewing, New Jersey identified that over 30% of all students are involved in bullying as the bully, victim, or both. The comparison of the NICHD study and the statistics provided by the Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum indicate that bullying in the United States has increased within the past twelve years and …

A Review By Kenneth Atkinson Of Reading The Dead Sea Scrolls: Essays In Method, Society Of Biblical Literature, By George J. Brooke, Kenneth Atkinson

Faculty Publications

This diverse collection of essays by George Brooke, the Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis at the University of Manchester, explores how some of the Dead Sea Scrolls might be read and analyzed. The book includes essays that urge scholars to refine traditional methods of studying ancient texts in light of the Scrolls, as well as chapters devoted to text criticism, literary traditions, lexicography, historiography, and theology. Brooke also highlights the relevance of newer methods for the study of the Scrolls, such as deviance theory, cultural memory, hypertextuality, intertextuality, genre theory, spatial analysis, and psychology.

Social Support From The Athletic Trainer And Symptoms Of Depression And Anxiety At Return To Play, Jingzhen Yang, Julie T. Schaefer, Ni Zhang, Tracey Covassin, Kele Ding, Erin Heiden

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Anomaly Detection Through Enhanced Sentiment Analysis On Social Media Data, Zhaoxia Wang, Victor Joo, Chuan Tong, Xin Xin, Hoong Chor Chin

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Anomaly detection in sentiment analysis refers to detecting abnormal opinions, sentiment patterns or special temporal aspects of such patterns in a collection of data. The anomalies detected may be due to sudden sentiment changes hidden in large amounts of text. If these anomalies are undetected or poorly managed, the consequences may be severe, e.g. A business whose customers reveal negative sentiments and will no longer support the establishment. Social media platforms, such as Twitter, provide a vast source of information, which includes user feedback, opinion and information on most issues. Many organizations also leverage social media platforms to publish information …

The Rise Of Anti-Semitism In Post Cold War Western Europe: The Effect On Current Jewish Populations In Europe, Jewish Human Rights, And The Role Of The Jewish Religion Within Western Europe, Johnathan Eftink

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Since the ending of World War II and the Cold War, anti-Semitism has been prevalent within Western Europe even though the political atmosphere has tried to dissuade and even punish those that harbored such views. The rise of anti-Semitism in Western Europe in contemporary times as evolved into a dangerous atmosphere for Jews in regards to their human rights, their freedom, and their safety. In this paper, the question of why anti-Semitism is re-emerging will be addressed as well how it is being tackled by the respective countries in which it is prevalent. Poland, Hungary, Greece, France, and Germany are …

Student Affairs Newsletter, December 2014, University Of Northern Iowa. Division Of Student Affairs.

Student Affairs News

Inside this issue:

-- Diversity Matters Awards: Call for nominations
-- Student Affairs staff recognition event to be held on January 8
-- Stephanie Germann is now licensed as a Mental Health Counselor
-- Student Services Fee Committee renamed Student Fee Committee
-- The Counseling Center hires new Counselor
-- Lyn Redington wins the Robert Mosier Professional Enrichment Award
-- Julia Rose (Heuer) resigns as Coordinator for Military and Veteran Student Services
-- Mark the dates!

The Abc's Of Being A Fan: An Operant Analysis Of Sports Consumption Behavior, Sean Pradhan

Master's Theses

In the last 30 years, behavioral psychologists have begun to systematically apply the principles of operant theory to the analysis of consumer behavior. Two behavioral approaches that have been successfully employed in consumer behavior analysis are the Behavioral Perspective Model (BPM; Foxall, 1990) and the Behavioral Ecology of Consumption (BEC; Rajala & Hantula, 2000). However, neither of these models has been used to analyze sports consumption behavior. One purpose of the present study was to integrate consumer behavior models with other theoretical approaches to the investigation of sports consumption behavior. A second purpose was to examine the effects of three …

Intentional Weight Loss Among Healthy Women: Behavior Patterns And Psychological Concerns, Kelsea Marie Ryan

Master's Theses

Although there is an extensive literature on women who are overweight, obese, or suffer from eating disorders, less is known about women who are at a healthy weight yet who are attempting to lose weight. To learn more about the psychological characteristics and behavioral patterns of such women, this study analyzed data from the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA-II). We compared these women with two groups of women: (a) those who are at a healthy weight but who are not attempting to lose weight and (b) overweight women who are attempting to lose weight. We employed …

Nowhere: A Kinetic Typography Motion Graphic About The Pursuit Of Happiness, I-Cheng Lee

Theses

nowhere is a motion graphic project that expresses my personal journey of pursuing happiness. To be happy or not happy, people have the choices of their own lives and thoughts. This project shows that positive thinking could lead to better lives through my example.

A short poetic script on how I realized happiness in my life will be expressed in this project through visuals and composition. Every stylized sentence has a particular connection with the inspiring visuals and transitions. The intent of the piece is to install the viewer with the power of positive thinking by reading the poem with …