Digital Commons Network^™

Digital Interactive Games For Assessment: A Study Of The Effectiveness Of A Digital Game As A Measure Of Students' Understanding Of Boolean Logic, Mohammad Ali Haji

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Digital games have been used mostly for entertainment but recently researchers have started to use digital games in other areas such as education and training. Researchers have shown that digital games can provide a compelling, creative, and collaborative environment for learning. However, the popularity of computers and the Internet brings this question to mind: Are the assessment methods falling behind and remaining traditional? Will the traditional methods of learning and knowledge assessment be sufficient for this new generation who are starving for new technology? This study investigates the effectiveness of using a digital interactive game as an assessments method - …

Blivits!, Charles Sutter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Blivits! is a feature-length documentary produced, written, and directed by Charles Sutter in pursuit of the Master of Fine Arts in Film & Digital Media from the University of Central Florida. This thesis examines the ethical questions of making a documentary in the digital era. In accordance with the restrictions of the program's guidelines, this film was completed a budget of less than $50,000. The film was shot over 18 days, in various locations up and down the east coast of the United States. This thesis is the record of Blivits!'s journey through development until completion of picture lock.

Financial Forest, Karen Carlson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Regular savings behavior is critical for low-income Americans to achieve financial mobility. New technology tools are being used to improve personal awareness and attention to financial goals. This thesis reviews mobile learning (mLearning) research and leading commercial personal finance smartphone apps, both of which inform the design of Financial Forest, a savings app. Participants in the 4-week Financial Forest savings study are found to have a statistically significant improved perception of the difficulty of building an emergency fund.

Gayme: The Development, Design And Testing Of An Auto-Ethnographic, Documentary Game About Quarely Wandering Urban/Suburban Spaces In Central Florida., David Moran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

GAYME is a transmedia story-telling world that I have created to conceptually explore the dynamics of queering game design through the development of varying game prototypes. The final iteration of GAYME is @deadquarewalking'. It is a documentary game and a performance art installation that documents a carless, gay/queer/quare man's journey on Halloween to get to and from one of Orlando's most well-known gay clubs - the Parliament House Resort. "The art of cruising" city streets to seek out queer/quare companionship particularly amongst gay, male culture(s) is well-documented in densely, populated cities like New York, San Francisco and London, but not …

The Effects Of Parturition On Pelvic Age Indicators, Rosanne Bongiovanni

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Estimating age from skeletal remains provides a critical component of the biological profile of an individual. To date, there are different methods used on select parts of the skeleton to assess the age of the individual, and currently, the pelvis is relied upon heavily to obtain accurate and reliable age ranges (Berg 2008; Brooks and Suchey 1990; Buckberry and Chamberlain 2002). Many have stated that age related changes follow different trends in males and females, with parity presented as one of the possible causes for such differences (Berg 2008; Meindl and Lovejoy 1989; Resnick and Niwayama 1998; Suchey and Katz …

Effects Of Individual-Oriented Relationship Education On University Students' Knowledge, Beliefs, And Attitudes, Sara Polanchek

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This quasi-experimental, exploratory study adds important empirical research to the relatively new field of individual-oriented relationship education. It describes the extent to which specific relationship beliefs and attitudes are held, and evaluates the impact of an undergraduate, semester-long Intimate and Family Relationships course on these beliefs. Utilizing data collected over two semesters at the University of Montana, this study compared 356 student responses at the beginning and end of the semester on three separate scales designed to quantify select measures of specific constraint beliefs and attitudes: Attitudes About Romance and Mate Selection (AARMS), the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), and the …

A Phenomenological Study Of Leadership: Developmental Pathways Of Leaders With Disabilities, Mika Watanabe

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Research on leaders with disabilities is largely limited in scope to civil rights and disability rights leadership. This qualitative research investigated how individuals with disabilities transformed themselves into leaders in the disability field. This research focuses on the leaders’ perceptions of critical experiences and relationships that influenced them as leaders. A phenomenological approach was used to understand the lived experiences of six leaders with disabilities. Open-ended interviews with recognized leaders who had disabilities were analyzed by examining their narrative statements, resulting in a combined description of their lived experience.

The results of the analysis revealed that these leaders with disabilities …

Nets Or Vaccines: Malaria Vaccine Research, David Ernenwein

Pepperdine Policy Review

The global battle against malaria has seen many victories in the developed world but the undeveloped world and particularly Africa continue to suffer from this disease. The development of the RTS,S vaccine and ongoing research into additional vaccines have been touted as the solution to the crisis. However, the news of the successful RTS,S trial should be viewed with caution. Concerns over the effectiveness of the existing vaccine and the cost of further development may not be justified, especially given the known effectiveness of current treatment methods. This research must be watched carefully lest the allure of the vaccine blind …

The Impact Of Clean Energy On Economic Growth: An Econometrics Approach, Cheng Zhang

Pepperdine Policy Review

This paper reviews the relationship between economic performance and clean energy using country level data. A combined instrumental variable and fixed-effect regression model is adopted to determine the relationship. By examining data in the past 50 years, we conclude that developing alternative energy will harm GDP growth, but to a relatively small degree. Thus, policymakers can take advantage of alternative energy research and development as a long-term investment that will reduce reliance on traditional energy sources.

James Q. Wilson And Public Policy Education, Adam Crepelle

Pepperdine Policy Review

This paper provides an overview of the "Character and the Moral Sense: James Q. Wilson and the Future of Public Policy" Conference held at the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy on February 28 and March 1, 2014. The conference invited experts and educators to discuss the legacy of James Q. Wilson, his book, The Moral Sense, and his emphasis of character within policy education. The paper analyzes several major themes which emerged in several panels and describes how they can and should be applied in public policy programs.

Rust-Belt Recovery: The Cleveland Model As Economic Development In An Age Of Economic Stagnation And Climate Change, Ross Lenihan

Pepperdine Policy Review

The economic outlook of the United States is dire. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, poverty has not lessened even as U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has rebounded following the Great Recession. This paper explores the development potential of joint worker-community cooperative structures during the current economic downturn by analyzing the “Cleveland model,” a network of worker-owned cooperatives supported by local education/healthcare "anchor" institutions and financed and organized by a non-profit community development corporation. I find that while worker and community-owned enterprises hold significant promise for both workers and communities in times of economic stagnation and ecological danger, existing market …

Message From The Editor, Jordan I. Sandler

Pepperdine Policy Review

No abstract provided.

Much Ado About Cyber-Space: Cyber-Terrorism And The Reformation Of The Cyber-Security, Christian Pedersen

Pepperdine Policy Review

The threats residing in cyber-space are becoming well understood by policymakers and security experts alike. However, cyber-security defenses and strategies cannot solely be directed towards nation states, as non-governmental actors – such as transnational crime groups and terrorist organizations are becoming increasingly reliant upon internet technologies. Attacks on the digital components of the critical infrastructure, have the potential to unleash devastation on the United States. In a time when reliability and ethnicity of the National Security Administration, the Nation’s leading digital intelligence organization, are becoming increasingly questioned; defensive measures need to be improved to prevent future attacks and improve the …

Agricultural Patenting: A Case Study Of Monsanto, Shannon Moran

Pepperdine Policy Review

In 2012, genetically-modified crops reached 170 million hectares around the globe. The ability to patent basic forms of life such as plant properties and the legal history of those intellectual property rights gives biotechnological companies such as Monsanto immense power in the vital agricultural sector. This article outlines the concerns over genetically-modified products and the implications for follow-on advancements within biotechnology by using Monsanto as a case study. The article finds that patent policies similar to those within the United States severely restrict competition and stifle innovation in not only the agricultural sector but also within research and humanitarian projects. …

Federal V. State Effectiveness: An Analysis Of The Endangered Species Act And Current Potential Attempts At Reform, Nicholas Primo

Pepperdine Policy Review

In November 2013, several Congressional leaders drafted a new bill to reform the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). While the Endangered Species Management Self-Determination Act (ESMSDA) was the first major attempt at updating the crucial U.S. environmental policy in decades, it also inflamed environmentalist defenders of the original bill. More importantly, it raised several questions as to whether state or federal-oriented approaches to endangered species protection and environmental policy more broadly is ultimately more effective. This article analyzes the original 1973 ESA, followed by an analysis of the ESMSDA currently being considered. It will discuss the various strengths and …

The Minimum Wage And Teen Unemployment: A Study Of The Effect Of The Fair Minimum Wage Act Of 2007, Alexander Pino

Pepperdine Policy Review

The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 increased the national minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour. We attempt to evaluate the impact of this statute on low-skill labor. We do so by analyzing the effect of the law on the teen unemployment rate in the five states with no state minimum wages (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Using the adult unemployment rate as a control in a difference-in-differences analysis we find that the 2007 minimum wage increase had a negative effect on teen employment in these states.

Multilevel Examination Of Facility Characteristics, Social Integration, And Health For Older Adults Living In Nursing Homes, Skye Leedahl, Rosemary Kennedy Chapin, Todd D. Little

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Objectives. Testing a model based on past research and theory, this study assessed relationships between facility characteristics (i.e., culture change efforts, social workers) and residents’ social networks and social support across nursing homes and examined relationships between multiple aspects of social integration (i.e., social networks, social capital, social engagement, social support) and mental and functional health for older adults in nursing homes.

Methods. Data were collected at nursing homes using a planned missing data design with random sampling techniques. Data collection occurred at the individual-level through in-person structured interviews with older adult nursing home residents (N = 140) and …

Financial Adaptation Among College Students: Helping Students Cope With Financial Strain, Joyce Serido, Soyeon Shim, Jing Jian Xiao, Chuanyi Tang, Noel A. Card

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

This study examines the impact of the recent financial crisis on co-occurring patterns of change in financial strain and financial coping behaviors of college students (N=748) using two-timed, longitudinal data collected prior to the 2008 financial crisis and again one year later. Using a stress and coping framework, we found that different measures of perceived change in financial strain acted as antecedents of change in types of financial coping behaviors. We discuss the importance of these findings in developing the financial decision-making skills that young adults need in an era of increasing responsibility for their financial future

A Pilot Examination Of Self-Esteem, Depression, And Sleep In College Women, Jessica R. Conti, Sue K. Adams, Tiffani S. Kisler

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

While sleep deficits in adulthood are common and worsening, college women experience significantly more sleep problems and depression than their male counterparts. In recent years, sleep has been investigated as one of the primary contributors to college functioning and GPA. No known study, however, has investigated the connection between self-esteem, depression and sleep. Questionnaire assessments were given to 43 female college juniors and seniors, including: demographic information, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Pittsburg Quality Sleep Index. This pilot study investigates the relationship between college self-esteem and sleep quality, as mediated by depression. The results of the study indicate …

Complementary And Alternative Medicine Use And Adherence To Asthma Medications Among Latino And Non-Latino White Families, Elizabeth L. Mcquaid, David A. Fedele, Sue K. Adams, Daphne Koinis-Mitchell, Jessica Mithcell, Sheryl J. Kopel, Ronald Seifer, Barbara Jandasek, Gregory K. Fritz, Glorisa Canino

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Objective: The current study sought to evaluate patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in a sample of Latino and Non-Latino white (NLW) children with asthma, to determine whether parental beliefs about conventional medications and barriers to obtaining these medications were related to CAM use, and to assess whether CAM use was associated with decreased adherence to controller medications.

Methods: Participants included 574 families of children with asthma from Non-Latino White, Puerto Rican, and Dominican backgrounds from RI and from Island Puerto Rico. All parents completed a brief checklist of barriers to medication use and an assessment …

Maternal Anxiety During And After Pregnancy: Effects On Child Internalizing Behaviour, Sue K. Adams, Jennifer F. Daly, Kathleen N. Morgan

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Background: Anxiety during pregnancy can have significant effects on both a developing fetus and long-term developmental outcomes. In animal and human models, prenatal anxiety has been associated with characteristics of inhibited temperament in infants, which may be a precursor to later anxiety disorders. This pilot study examined if maternal report of anxiety during pregnancy differentially explained preschool-aged children’s internalizing behaviour over and above a mother’s trait anxiety. In addition, using multi-reporter methodology, the study examined if maternal anxiety during pregnancy predicted multiple reporters’ ratings of child internalizing behaviour.

Method: Participants in this pilot study included preschool-aged children, their …

Associations Between Family Food Behaviors, Maternal Depression, And Child Weight Among Low-Income Children, Karen Mccurdy, Kathleen S. Gorman, Tiffani S. Kisler, Elizabeth Metallinos-Katsaras

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Although low-income children are at greater risk for overweight and obesity than their higher income counterparts, the majority of poor children are not overweight. The current study examined why such variation exists among diverse young children in poor families. Cross-sectional data were collected on 164 low-income, preschool aged children and their mothers living in two Rhode Island cities. Over half of the sample was Hispanic (55%). Mothers completed measures of family food behaviors and depression while trained assistants collected anthropometric data from children at seven day care centers and a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program outreach project. Multivariate analysis of covariance …

Graduate Teaching Assistants; Critical Colleagues Or Casual Components In The Undergraduate Learning Laboratory? An Exploration Of The Role Of The Postgraduate Teacher In The Sciences., Barry Ryan

Articles

Laboratory training is key to many science subjects and those that teach the practical laboratory skills maintain a pivotal role in undergraduate science training. Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) are regularly used in higher education institutes to teach these practical lab skills. The GTA can be involved in both laboratory teaching and assessing all levels of undergraduates. This varied and challenging role requires support from the institute and if appropriately provided the learning experience can be rewarding not only for the undergraduate, but also for the GTA. In this review, the critical role of the laboratory GTA will be examined, their …

My Journey With Inductive Bible Study, David R. Bauer

The Journal of Inductive Biblical Studies

No abstract provided.

Richard Swinburne, Mind, Brain, And Free Will, C. Stephen Evans

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

C. Stephen Evans, God And Moral Obligation, Mark C. Murphy

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

How To Apply Molinism To The Theological Problem Of Moral Luck, Robert J. Harman

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

Referring To, Believing In, And Worshipping The Same God: A Reformed View, Jeroen De Ridder, René Van Woudenberg

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

William Lad Sessions, Honor For Us: A Philosophical Analysis, Interpretation And Defense, Jason Decker

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

Tempting God, Brian Leftow

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.