Digital Commons Network^™

The Use Of Visual Arts In World Language Instruction To Increase Student Motivation And Attitude, Marilena Bevilacqua Martello

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Because of the complexity and changeability that characterize languages, language learners face a number of various factors in their quest to acquire a new language. Nevertheless, it is the level of motivation and personal attitude toward language learning that will determine their rate of success (Dörnyei & Csizér, 1998). The purpose of this study was to find out (1) whether there was a relationship between the use of visual art in world language instruction and student motivation, and (2) whether student writing skills improved when visual art was used for Content Based Instruction. The study used a mixed method research …

Seeking Mirrors: A Study Of Student Selection And Use Of Culturally Relevant Texts, Suzanne V. Kromer

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Despite a growing body of work involving culturally relevant pedagogy, methods for selecting culturally relevant literature, or involving students in the selection process, are poorly understood. The objective of this qualitative study of a seventh grade language arts classroom was to explore a process for students to assess and select culturally relevant literature. This study also probed how the implementation of culturally relevant literature impacted achievement, engagement, and interest. The resulting process utilized cultural relevancy rubrics and book previews, which led to a majority of students finding a culturally relevant novel. During the literature unit, student achievement rates were maintained, …

Impacts Of Anthropogenic Noise On Litter Chemistry And Decomposition Processes In A Semi-Arid Ecosystem, Peggy Martinez

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Chronic anthropogenic noise in ecosystems can change avian/arthropod/plant interactions, but it is unclear how changes in herbivory pressure affects functional traits of plants. We asked how anthropogenic noise, mediated through changes in arthropod abundance, altered timing of leaf senesce, chemical composition (i.e. C/N ratios, total phenolics) and decomposition rates of leaf litter in Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. wyo.). Additionally, we asked if changes in arthropod abundance altered secondary metabolites (i.e. monoterpenes) in foliage. We broadcasted recorded gas compressor station noise (24hrs/day) from April through October 2015 in a sagebrush steppe ecosystem of Idaho, USA. We quantified …

Optimizing Barrier Removal To Restore Connectivity In Utah’S Weber Basin, Maggi Kraft

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

River barriers, such as dams, culverts and diversions are important for water conveyance, but disrupt river ecosystems and hydrologic processes. River barrier removal is increasingly used to restore and improve river habitat and connectivity. Most past barrier removal projects prioritized individual barriers using score-and-rank techniques, neglecting the spatial structure and cumulative change from multiple barrier removals. Similarly, most water demand models satisfy human water uses or, only prioritize aquatic habitat, failing to include both human and environmental water use benefits. In this study, a dual objective optimization model identified in-stream barriers that impede quality-weighted aquatic habitat connectivity for Bonneville cutthroat …

Testing The Test: Expanding The Dialogue On Workplace Writing Assessment, Lindsay Elizabeth Tanner

Theses and Dissertations

This project is a case study of writing assessment practices in a particular workplace called "High Hits," a local search engine optimization (SEO) company. The writing tests given to new hires serve a parallel purpose to academic placement exams, in that they are a high-stress, high-risk situation that aims to evaluate writer ability rather than the quality of the completed task (Haswell 242, Elbow 83, Moss 110). However, while academic assessment measures ability with the aim to improve the students' learning, workplace assessment is driven by market forces and is seen in terms of return on investment. This case study …

Phased-Array Feed Instrumentation And Processing For Astronomical Detection, Interference Mitigation, And Transient Parameter Estimation, Richard Allen Black

Theses and Dissertations

Radio astronomy, the survey and study of naturally occurring astronomical radio signals, is a challenging field in terms of engineering requirements. The typical astronomical signal of interest is incredibly faint, resulting in very low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) on the order of -30 dB or lower. To detect such signals, one must have an uncommonly low and stable receiver noise temperature, high gain through large aperture reflectors, and state-of-the-art signal processing algorithms. One must also be able to mitigate the effects of interference, the presence of which, even if extremely weak, can completely mask the faint astronomical signals of interest. To …

Multiple Target Tracking In Realistic Environments Using Recursive-Ransac In A Data Fusion Framework, Jeffrey Dyke Millard

Theses and Dissertations

Reliable track continuity is an important characteristic of multiple target tracking (MTT) algorithms. In the specific case of visually tracking multiple ground targets from an aerial platform, challenges arise due to realistic operating environments such as video compression artifacts, unmodeled camera vibration, and general imperfections in the target detection algorithm. Some popular visual detection techniques include Kanade-Lucas-Tomasi (KLT)-based motion detection, difference imaging, and object feature matching. Each of these algorithmic detectors has fundamental limitations in regard to providing consistent measurements. In this thesis we present a scalable detection framework that simultaneously leverages multiple measurement sources. We present the recursive random …

"What More Could I Have Done?" A Graduate Student's Experience Teaching Writing About Writing, Lena May Harper

Theses and Dissertations

As writing about writing (WAW) research enters its "second wave," characterized not only by an increase in data-driven studies that theorize and assess the effectiveness of WAW curricula (Downs) but also by an increase in its prominence and adaptation, particularly among emerging writing studies scholars and teachers (e.g., Bird et al.), a space has opened for more and varied types of research, especially empirical research, to determine its effectiveness and to produce more solid recommendations for training and curriculum development, especially for those who are new to the field. This case study, which highlights how a novice teacher responds to …

Reliability Of Feqdrain For Modeling Performance Of Sand Treated With Large-Diameter Prefabricated Drains For Liquefaction Mitigation, Travis Hatch Meservy

Theses and Dissertations

Finite element modeling of laminar shear box testing that consisted of loose sand treated with large diameter prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs), was performed. The objective of the modeling was to evaluate the reliability of the computer program FEQDrain for predicting excess pore pressure ratios (Ru) at sites treated with prefabricated drains. FEQDrain was found to be capable of successfully modeling measured excess pore pressure ratio time histories from the laminar shear box experiment, as long as an appropriate combination of €˜number of equivalent cycles and €˜shaking duration was chosen, and sensitive parameters were in the range of measured values. Hydraulic …

Faculty Perceptions Of Open Educational Resources Quality By Peer Review, Olga Maria Belikov

Theses and Dissertations

In this paper, 936 faculty free response reviews of open textbooks from the Open Textbook Library were analyzed for content and themes. The reviews were completed by faculty members at institutions in the United States and Canada. The textbooks were evaluated regarding their comprehensiveness, content accuracy, relevance longevity, clarity, consistency, modularity, organization structure flow, interface, grammatical errors, and cultural relevance. The results of the reviews found that the across 9360 comments regarding the quality of open textbooks, of these comments 97.3% reflected adequate or exceptional reviews of the textbooks. Faculty often compared the texts to traditional textbooks and in all …

Emotional Wellness And Learning, Emilie Correa

Dissertations

“Education has two great goals: to help students become smart, and to help them become good” (Lickona & Davidson, n.d., p. 15). This program evaluation is an evaluation of the Emotional wellness (EW) program in District 1234 (pseudonym). Through this program evaluation, one can expect to gain a deeper understanding of the original program goals, framework, and effectiveness, based on district-wide culture and climate surveys. The primary research questions for this program evaluation are to determine if the emotional wellness program (EWP) is being implemented with fidelity, and how the EWP is impacting stakeholders in D1234. This program evaluation serves …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Mentee Experiences In A Campus-Based Mentoring Program, Shelley Haddock, Toni Schindler Zimmerman, April Gile Thomas, Lindsey Weiler

Journal of Youth Development

Preventing first-time offending youth from repeating delinquent behavior is of interest to society. Empirical evidence indicates that high-quality mentoring can prevent a wide array of negative outcomes for at-risk youth. This study examines the perspectives of 87 first-time offending youth, ages 10 to 18 years (M = 15), who participated in Campus Connections: Therapeutic Mentoring of At-Risk Youth. Through in-depth individual interviews, youth reported that mentoring helped them: (a) improve school experiences and performance, (b) create healthier relationships, (c) feel better about themselves, (d) think more positively about their future, and (e) decrease engagement in delinquency. The mentees attributed program …

Towards The Promotion Of Positive Development Among Boys In Challenging Contexts: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Engagement In The Scoutreach Initiative, Robey Champine, Sara Johnson

Journal of Youth Development

Engagement in youth development programs reflects the quality of young people’s program-related experiences. However, more research is needed that explores cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions of engagement in programs that serve underrepresented youth of color. The present cross-sectional and mixed-methods study assessed potential relations among dimensions of engagement in the Boston-area Scoutreach initiative, character attributes, self-perceived school competence, and intentional self-regulation. We analyzed data from 32 Scouts (Mage = 9.97 years, SD = 2.46, Range = 6 to 14), 32 parents/guardians, and five Scoutreach leaders. Scouts demonstrated that they were cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally engaged in Scoutreach, and these dimensions …

A Validation Study Of The Cross Cultural Competenc E Navigator, Xiaowen Chen

Theses and Dissertations

C ross cultural competency (3C) is defined as an individual’s capability to effectively function in culturally diverse contexts, which is influenced by a set of individual antecedents. In the literature 3C has been characterized by a number of models and associated measures. In this thesis, 3C capability was described by seven distinctive antecedents, i.e. mindfulness, inquisitiveness, interpersonal skills, emotional stability, cultural knowledge, cultural experience and foreign language. A pragmatic 3C model was presented based on the literature findings, detailing the underlying mechanisms of 3C and its potential nomological network. The model attempted to reconcile three major disagreements in 3C research, …

Hpv Vaccination Of Children Among Motherse Of Mexican Origin, Bibiana M. Carvajal-Suarez

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a causative agent for the development of cancer which is a public health concern worldwide. In the United States (US), the highest incidence of cervical cancer is among Hispanics/Latinos. Although Hispanics/Latinos show the highest utilization rate of HPV vaccine, in general, the vaccination rates are still behind the Healthy People 2020 goal of 80%. The knowledge about this virus has been found low or nonexistent among most populations in the US, especially among minorities and populations with lower education and socioeconomic status. The knowledge and beliefs of Hispanic/Latin mothers about HPV and HPV …

The Use Of Electronic Health Records Data For Public Health: A Snapshot Of Current Practices In Nebraska’S Local Health Departments, Kushal Karan

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Public health issues are constantly changing and require local health departments (LHDs) to continually evolve in their approaches to address these issues. Advancements in health information technology (HIT), such as electronic health records (EHRs), play an important role in the collection of data that can be used to improve population health.

Objective: The purpose of this project was to assess the current use of electronic health records data by Nebraska’s local health departments and identify the data or tools they are using to address the health needs of the populations they serve.

Methods: In this study, a Mixed-Methods approach …

Evaluation Of Adult Mental Health First Aid: Findings From 2015-2017 Post-Course Surveys, Gina Schwieger

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Abstract

Introduction: Lack of knowledge about mental health, lack of access to mental health care, and stigma create substantial barriers to the overall United States adult population from seeking or helping individuals with behavioral health issues. This study evaluated Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses, an evidence-based program for increasing mental health knowledge, decreasing stigma, and increasing the community’s confidence in helping and frequency of referring people in need.

Methods: This retrospective evaluation of 2015-2017 Adult MHFA courses, utilizes qualitative and quantitative data from post-course surveys completed by course participants. Quantitative data was measured using a five-point Likert Scale. …

Improving Trauma Activation Guideline Adherence In A Level Iii Emergency Department, Jesus Valdez

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase appropriate use of trauma activation guidelines by nurses in a level III emergency department. Care provided by a multidisciplinary trauma team is paramount for the severely injured patient, as this may facilitate rapid diagnosis and treatment. Trauma related mortality can be significantly decreased through the care provided. Trauma patients require specialized care at a precise time often called the “golden hour” to help prevent death or disability. Almost 30 Texans die every day from trauma related injuries, which averages to 10,000 people each year. Trauma is the leading cause of …

Are All Fraternity Men The Same? Differences In Privilege And Perceptions Of Women And Rape, Kathryn Rogers

Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The current study examined the presence of privilege in fraternity men on a college campus to assess their differences in privilege and how that affects their perceptions of women and rape. The current study focused on men (n = 179) who claimed to be a current member of a social fraternity (n = 69) and assessed whether they were privileged or not based off of their parental household income. While there was a strong presence of privilege among fraternity men, they showed no differences in their perceptions of women and rape. However, they were more likely to have …

A Quality Improvement Project To Increase Eye Care Screenings And Recommendations For Patients With Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus, Amber Ojeda

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Type 2 diabetes affects more than 90 million people and is a major cause of reduced vision and blindness in the United States (Lu et al., 2016). Without proper preventative measures, T2D damages the microvascular within the retina causing diabetic retinopathy (Lima, Cavalieri, Lima, Nazorio, & Lim, 2016). Despite the success of early detection and the availability of diabetic retinopathy screenings, many people diagnosed with T2D do not complete the recommended routine eye exam (Lu et al., 2016). Healthy People 2020’s (HP2020) (2016) target goal for annual dilated eye exams for patients with T2D is 58%. At baseline, only 2% …

Implementation Of A Parental Notification System For The Improvement Of Well-Child Care Delivery, Frances Narvaiz

Doctor of Nursing Practice

This quality improvement project aimed to improve routine well-child exam rates in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics and Texas Health Steps recommendations through the implementation of a parental notification system. Missed well-child appointments impact health care by disturbing continuity of care and complicating preventive care services. Implementation of the parental notification system during June 2017 to August 2017 consisted of 100 patients from birth to 18 years of age for scheduled well-child visits in a pediatric clinic with a large Hispanic and Medicaid population. Interventions consisted of staff training, reminder phone calls 24 to 48 hours prior to …

Improving Early Child Developmental Screenings In A Primary Care Setting: A Quality Improvement Project, Marlischa Jackson

Doctor of Nursing Practice

A dramatic growth of physical, motor, cognitive, communication, emotional, and social development will occur during the 3 years of life. Of children ages 3-17 years of age, 13% have some type of developmental or behavioral condition that goes undiagnosed before the age of 10. Children with multiple health and social risk factors, or those with chronic health disorders, are at greater risk to develop early child delays or disabilities. In the U. S., developmental screenings are only completed 21% of the time during well-child visits. Therefore, the purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase the adherence of health …

Perceptions Of Important Personal And Leadership Characteristics For Newly Hired Principals To Be Successful School Leaders: Views Of School Superintendents, William C. Rolón

Education Doctoral

Research has shown that a strong relationship prevails between principals’ leadership characteristics, student engagement, teacher efficacy, and parental involvement toward responding to the demands of school accountability (Maxwell, Huggins, and Scheurich, 2010). Superintendents across the country are reporting the increasing difficulty of getting adept administrators (Cruzeiro and Boone, 2009). Superintendents who are primarily the ones responsible for the hiring of principals must be able to identify and assess the principal applicants as to their suitability and effectiveness as an administrator to meet the accountability and performance demands (Estes, 2011). This study sought to identify superintendents’ perceptions of the important personal …

Factors That Affect Gay, Lesbian, And Bisexual Students’ Efforts Toward Self-Actualization At A Private, Religious College: A Phenomenological Study, John B. Gormley

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) college students to understand the relationship, if any, between sexual orientation and self-actualization at a private, religious college. Four recent graduates and 14 current students volunteered for semi-structured interviews about their academic and extracurricular experiences at a Roman Catholic college in the greater New York City area. They shared their perceptions of campus climate for GLB students, including homophobia and bias among faculty, staff, and students at the college. Interview data, viewed through the framework of Maslow’s theory of self-actualization and Astin’s …

Decision Support For Shared Responsibility Of Cloud Security Metrics, Moteeb Aieed Al Moteri

Theses and Dissertations

With the rapid growth of cloud computing and the increasing importance of measuring the security of cloud systems, more attention has been focused on the need for security metrics that are specific to cloud computing. The use of metrics in cloud computing enables improved service selection, service agreement, and service verification. This dissertation presents a taxonomy of cloud security metrics and guideline and a framework for allocating cloud security metrics shared responsibility. The taxonomy considers several novel viewpoints. Metrics are organized by cloud capability type (Application, Platform, Infrastructure) along with the type of cloud deployment (public, private, hybrid, community), and …

Blast: A Promising Approach To Service, Ethics, And Leadership Development In Rural Canada, Zia Saleh, Vance Nakonechny, Maurice St. Denis, Darren Nichols

Journal of Youth Development

As youth define their identity and the values by which they live their lives, formative programs have the potential to change their life trajectories in productive ways. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a rural youth development program that focused on service, ethics, and leadership. In this program, nine rural students (aged 13-18) initiated and led community service projects, engaged in educational sessions on ethics and character development, and formed a diverse social support network. Survey data and a thematic focus group analysis revealed that the program resulted in: (a) skill-building in the areas of teamwork, planning and …

Lois Lenski, A Friend To Children: An Interdisciplinary Analysis Of A Children's Book Author, Stephanie Evans Thomas

Master's Theses

In her lifetime, Lois Lenski wrote, illustrated, and otherwise contributed to more than one hundred books for children and preteens. This study focuses on Lenski’s regional books for preteens, novels that Lenski claimed were written from real life. Using interpretive narrative analysis, this study evaluates two of Lenski’s regional novels: Strawberry Girl (1945), the 1946 Newbery award-winner and second installment in the American Regional series, and High-Rise Secret (1966), the eleventh installment in the Roundabout America series, focusing specifically on Lenski’s creative process. The analysis of Lenski’s works was contextualized using literature focusing on the concepts of character representation, authority, …

Enterprise Social Media Use And Impact On Performance: The Role Of Workplace Integration And Positive Emotions, Murad Moqbel, Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah

Information Systems Faculty Publications

Organizations struggle to find ways to improve employees’ performance. To date, little research has empirically examined the relationship between enterprise social media use and knowledge workers’ performance. Using social capital theory and the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions as our theoretical framework, we investigate the relationship between enterprise social media use and knowledge workers’ performance. We tested our research model by collecting data from employees working for a large information technology firm in the Midwestern United States and analyzing the data using a structural equation modeling approach. The results suggest that enterprise social media use can increase workplace integration, which …

Loyola Marymount University's President's Institute On The Catholic Character Of Loyola Marymount University: A Twenty-One Year Tradition, Cathleen A. Mcgrath, Elizabeth Reilly

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

The President’s Institute on the Catholic Character of Loyola Marymount University provides an opportunity for faculty learn about the University’s Catholic and Ignatian traditions and identity. Each year faculty from colleges and departments across the University participate as fellows in a week-long program exploring issues such as Ignatian pedagogy, scholarship of engagement, faith and the arts, justice, and hospitality. The President’s Institute is designed to provide opportunity for experience, reflection and action. We create a context of trust, allowing faculty to deepen their relationship to the University’s mission and to each other. This year, we focused specifically on the relationship …

Lmu Cares: A Values-Based Approach To Sexual Assault Prevention, Briana T. Maturi

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

The issue of sexual assault on college campuses has emerged in the national spotlight in recent years. Advocacy groups, higher education officials, and the federal government are engaged in an ongoing conversation about best practices regarding prevention and response. Jesuit institutions have the unique challenge of engaging their students in conversations about consent and bystander intervention while also encouraging principles of good practice, particularly challenging students to high standards of personal behavior and responsibility through the formation of character and virtue. Through LMU CARES, Loyola Marymount University launched the “Live the Lion’s Code” campaign to engage the university community in …