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Career Development And Trajectories: Women In Senior-Level Management Positions In Nonprofit Organizations And Government Agencies, Jennifer Diane Stevens

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Lighting the way for women today, pioneers like Jane Addams and others have helped women make gallant strides in the field of human and leisure services for the past 50 years. These women took necessary steps towards equality, which ultimately led to changes in attitudes of women, attitudes towards women, and gender roles. Women now make up half of the workforce and are accepted in all sectors today.

However, inequality still exists through transparent barriers that keep women from advancing to senior-level management and decision-making positions. Elements such as family, education, and organizational and personal factors can positively or negatively …

Brief Exposure To Images Of Friends Via Social Media Leads To Higher Momentary Risk For Eating Psychopathology Among College Women Who Internalize The Thin Ideal, Erin Elizabeth Murtha-Berg

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the causal effects of brief exposure to images of friends via social media on state body image satisfaction and momentary desires to engage in weight-loss behaviors among college women and the moderating influence of trait thin-ideal internalization, appearance comparison, body satisfaction, and eating psychopathology on these effects. This was a 2-phase study. Participants (N=183) completed baseline measures online before attending a laboratory appointment. During the laboratory appointment, participants completed an exercise to identify the one similar-aged, female Facebook friend with whom they engaged in the most photo-related activity recently. Participants completed measures of state body image satisfaction …

The Effects Of Parenthood, Gender, And Gender Ideology On The Support For Paid Parental Leave, Amira Allen

Theses and Dissertations

In 2015, 61.4 percent of women and 94.5 percent of men with children three and under were in the labor force. Both working mothers and fathers report higher levels of stress balancing work and family life than they did twenty-five years ago, and many mothers and fathers would like to cut back on their work hours. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives eligible employees of covered employers the option to take unpaid job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons, such as parental leave. Though FMLA applies to both parents, it is more common for maternity leave to occur …

Trailer Park Residents: Are They Worthy Of Society's Respect, Steve Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Existing research is limited in explaining the existence of and reasons for stereotypes held against trailer park residents. This study uses an experimental design to measure attitudes towards trailer park residents, specifically in terms of being considered worthy of society’s respect. An Internet questionnaire was designed and administered to a sample of 559 introductory sociology students at a Midwestern university using semantic differentials to measure attitudes towards a fictitious couple. Participants were divided into a control and an experimental group. The groups were presented with two different vignettes, which were the same except for the experimental group where the vignette …

The Influence Of Mentoring Relationship Quality And Satisfaction On Novice Teachers’ Self-Efficacy, Matar Ahmed Alessa

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the influence of mentoring relationship quality, mentoring satisfaction, and mentor matches on novice teachers’ self-efficacy. Additionally, the study continued to explore a Midwestern State’s mentoring program features, novice teachers’ needs, and challenges of working conditions. The study surveyed 340 novice teachers, with a returning rate of 43.5% (N =148), including 10 participants who provided partial responses. Participants were assigned from different grade levels and school demographics. The study found statistical correlation between mentoring relationship quality and novice teachers’ self-efficacy. Also, mentor matches by school, content, and grade levels did not show a statistical influence on mentoring relationship …

Using The Expectancy-Value Theory To Understand Why Women Persist Or Leave Collegiate Stem Programs: A Mixed Methods Study, Joseph Appianing

Theses and Dissertations

Concerns have been raised about the ability of the U.S. to maintain its global technological competitive advantage in the future because of American college students’ attitudes—particularly women—toward STEM programs and careers (Chen, 2013; Ehrenberg, 2010; Palmer & Wood, 2013). Many female students graduate from high school academically well-prepared to pursue STEM majors, and many choose to pursue STEM majors in college, yet many also leave those majors (Chen, 2015; Hill, Corbett, & Rose, 2010). Theories such as perceived value and expectations for success (Eccles et al., 1983), self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977, 1986), and self-determination (Deci & Ryan, 1985) have been advanced …

Variations In Video Game Play Habits And Beliefs Over Time, John Adam Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

Psychological research about the consequences of playing video games has grown exponentially, correlating to the exponential growth of the video game industry. In the past decade, a major impetus has related to the concept of video game addiction, pathological gaming, or Internet Gaming Disorder. While the presence of this problem is widely accepted and there is growing knowledge about the factors contributing to its development and perpetuation, there is minimal research speaking to intervention. The primary purpose of the present study was to identify a potential pathway to educate members of the gaming community about pathological gaming, with the hope …

Collaboration In English Language Learner Teacher Education: Implications For Moving Theory Into Practice, Katie Erin Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study was developed to fill the gap in current research on what extent five teacher educators, from three Midwest and one Southwest teacher education program, are preparing English Language Learner (ELL) preservice teachers to collaborate in ELL teacher education. The results indicate that ELL teacher educators are not preparing ELL preservice teachers to collaborate for K-12 ELLs. The interview data supports the implication that teacher educators perceive some degree of programmatic reform in teacher education programs is necessary for the integration of collaboration for ELL education.

There are several recommendations resulting from this study. Teacher education programs …

Attitudes And Beliefs Of North Dakota Early Childhood Educators Toward Gender Constructs, Janelle Jean Ferderer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the attitudes and beliefs about gender and gender diversity held by certified practicing early childhood teachers in North Dakota Department of Public Instruction approved preschool programs. Selected children’s books were used to elicit qualitative responses that provided insight into teachers’ beliefs, attitudes, and practices regarding gender.

The theoretical framework for the study was based on Vygotsky’s theories on the Zones of Proximal Development (ZPD) and the More Knowledgeable Other (MKO), which focus on the importance of the role of educators’ influence in the social development of young children. The methodology for …

Part 3: Who Delivers Health Care In Hampton Roads Today? The Rise Of Nonphysician Professionals, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Health care in our region increasingly is being delivered by nonphysician professionals, who include nurses and physician assistants. We trace the development of this trend and its implications for the future.

Ritualization Of Ethno-Nationalism: A Textual Analysis Of A Hungarian Corpus Christi Procession, Lisa Pope Fischer

Publications and Research

Observing a Corpus Christi procession in post-socialist Hungary, this article uses a textual analysis to explore how the ritual mirrors post-socialist trends that affirm Hungarian identity. This article serves to both document an interesting ritual procession but also view it in light of growing ethno-nationalism that both unites a community yet also shows exclusion of others. It is like a mirror at a microcosmic level that reflects a kind of ritualization of ethno-nationalism.

Mandates Of Maternity At A Science Museum, From Should To Must, David H. Lee

Publications and Research

A pregnancy exhibit at a science museum is an opportunity to research how medical advice is communicated and interpreted. This paper is about the Beginning of Life area of an exhibition called The Amazing You at the Tampa Museum of Science and Industry, where exhibits are prescriptive as well as descriptive. Expectant women are urged to deliver full-term, normal birthweight babies, by behaving according to prescribed medical norms. This study provides ethnographic descriptions of the exhibits, as well as insights from museum visitors who were interviewed. The exhibits, which emphasize fetal rights and maternal duties, are interpreted and critiqued by …

Testing An Integrative Model Of Depressive Symptoms With A Sample Of Latina/O Youth, Diana Slivensky

Theses and Dissertations

Latina/o youth represent a significant portion of the United States population and experience depressive symptoms at greater rates than other racial and ethnic groups. Prior research has found relationships between the cultural adaptation process and negative

mental health outcomes. The purpose of the present study was to test a model of depressive symptoms with a sample of Latina/o youth that aimed to explore the relations among acculturation, enculturation, bicultural stress, adherence to cultural values (i.e., familismo and respeto), family cohesion, and perceived peer support. Additionally, the present study examined gender differences among all the aforesaid variables. Participants included 156 Latina/o …

Inner Strength In Mothers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Oral Histories, Jennifer Weathersbee Steinberg

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this oral history study was to describe the lived experiences of mothers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and to further inform the Theory of Inner Strength in Women (TIS) (Dingley & Roux, 2014). Postmodern feminist oral history methods were used to answer the research questions which included: 1) What are the lived experiences of mothers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? and 2) How do these experiences further inform TIS?

Interviews were manually coded directly onto the digital audio files using NVivo11Plus qualitative data management software. Three chronologic phases were identified among …

Testing Theoretical Models Of Binge Eating: An Examination Of Escape Theory And Affect Regulation Model, Terra Lee Towne

Theses and Dissertations

The present study tested two theoretical models of binge eating (i.e., escape theory and the affect regulation model of binge eating) by combining an experimental design with ecological momentary assessment. After undergoing a negative affect induction, 139 participants, all of whom were current binge eaters, were instructed to eat a pint of ice cream (binge eating condition) or to eat as much as they would during a typical snack (control condition). Participants assigned to the binge eating condition ate either with (binge eating + self-awareness condition) or without (binge eating condition) a visible video camera pointed in their direction. Participants …

The Impact Of Gender, Victim Weight, And Victim Responsibility On Attributions Of Blame And Responsibility In A Case Of Nonconsensual Pornography, Carolyn Ann Uhl

Theses and Dissertations

The sharing of sexually explicit messages or photographs, known as sexting, is on the rise. As a result, nonconsensual pornography, commonly referred to as revenge porn, is also increasing. Victims of nonconsensual pornography suffer a variety of negative consequences following the distribution of their photographs. Various case and victim characteristics of nonconsensual pornography cases may alter observer perceptions of these situations. This study utilized a mock police report describing a case in which a former romantic partner distributed nude photographs of the victim online without the victim’s consent. The police reports were identical, apart from manipulations of victim gender, victim …

Inner Strength In Men-A Descriptive Phenomenology, Charles S. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenologic study was to explicate the eidetic structure and essence of inner strength in men. Based in the philosophy of Husserl (2012) and developed from the methodology of Giorgi (2009), inner strength in men emerged as a unique phenomenon comprised of five structural themes: 1) mentally managing; 2) purposefully moving; 3) intentional normalizing; 4) intentional connecting; and, 5) mobilizing self to get through. The essence of inner strength in men was “purposefully moving ‘through a glass darkly’ to get to the other side.”

Twelve men aged 50 years or older (m = 60.25 years) shared …

The Impact Of Social Norms On Young Women's Health-Related Risk Perceptions, Intentions, And Behaviors, Karen Elizabeth Vanderzanden

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that social norms may influence individuals’ engagement in potentially dangerous behaviors. The current study examined the influence of descriptive norms and injunctive norms on risk perceptions, intentions, and behavioral outcomes for tanning and binge drinking. Participants were 359 Caucasian women between the ages of 21 and 25 years old residing in the United States who completed online surveys via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk). The study employed a 3 (Descriptive norm information: high risk estimate vs. low risk estimate vs. none) x 3 (Injunctive norm information: approval vs. disapproval vs. none) x 2 (Target risk behavior: tanning vs. …

Parents Of Adolescent Children With Mental Illness: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Lived Experience, Lindsay Yates

Theses and Dissertations

The current exploratory study aimed to understand the experience of parents whose children have severe and persistent mental illness. It was hypothesized that themes developed from parents’ responses to interview questions would indicate the presence of a) grief, b) trauma, c) subjective burden, and d) objective burden. Participants were 13 parents, comprised of conveniently sampled biological parents and legal guardians. Each parent was independently interviewed using a semi-structured protocol. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed by the principal investigator. Transcripts were analyzed using consensual qualitative analysis. An in-depth analysis of each transcript and cross analysis of transcripts yielded seven domains: …

Reading And Play Frequency In The Early Head Start Program On Parent And Child Outcomes, Zachary Flaten

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the channels that Early Head Start (EHS) influences cognitive development in toddlers and successful parenting skills. I use a fixed effects model, incorporating individual fixed effects and time fixed effects, with longitudinal panel data from the EHS Research and Evaluation Project. By employing these methods and running separate regressions on a pooled, control and treated group, I find that when parents nightly read to their child, Bayley Mental Development Index (MDI) and Home Observation for Measurement of Environment (HOME) scores increase. When parents engage in play interactions with their child, I uncover a positive influence on child …

Presentation Effects On Matrix Reasoning Scores, Katharine Elizabeth Lindberg

Theses and Dissertations

Matrix reasoning tasks are popular measures of fluid and inductive reasoning ability. The impact of rule type, number of rules, grouping, overlapping elements, and unfamiliar shapes on matrix reasoning performance has been shown to make matrix tasks more difficult to solve. Alternatively, the relationship of features (the physical and visual dimensions of individual elements within a matrix) to matrix reasoning performance in an adult population has not been established. The current study aimed to test the impact of features (i.e., height, shape, width) on matrix reasoning performance in an undergraduate sample (N = 196) by systematically varying rules and features …

Demographic Differences In The Causal Effects Of Obesity Status On Child Academic Achievement, Yoshie Hayasaka Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Many studies have found a negative correlation between obesity and academic achievement; however, determining and reaching a consensus about the nature of causality between these two variables have posed a challenge for scholars and researchers. If obesity does indeed have a negative causal effect on academic achievement, it has significant policy implications as it affects human capital investment. In this paper, I use the National Longitudinal Study of Youth-1979, Child and Young Adult data and estimate OLS, FE, traditional IV, and Lewbel IV models for children ages 5-12, stratified by race and gender. Under an individual fixed-effects model, I find …

Moving Towards Raising Consciousness: An Inquiry Into How Preservice Teachers Envision Classroom Management, Courtney Caye Lalonde

Theses and Dissertations

Effective classroom management is critical in the creation of learning environments that foster academic success for all students. Preservice teachers must develop an awareness and understanding of all aspects of classroom management and their relation to the two main classroom management approaches: the discipline based approach and the relationship based approach. Furthermore, preservice teachers must have opportunities for authentic practice through structured field experience. This study examines a course restructuring process that was intended to improve classroom management course content. The conceptual framework for this study is based on Martin and Baldwin’s (1994) construct of three broad dimensions of classroom …

Athletic Trainers Describe Their Use Of Imagery: What, Where, When, And Why, Rachel Phelps

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Conduct an in-depth exploration of imagery use by ATs by investigating if ATs use imagery and what, where, when, and why they image.

Design: Qualitative design.

Setting: Online questionnaire.

Participants: 219 ATs (94 females, 124 males, 1 unknown) representing 6 different position titles.

Main Outcome Measure: Modified Imagery Use by Athletic Trainers Questionnaire.

Results: ATs believed instructors should be the ones to teach them how to use imagery. Results showed that 81% of the sample used imagery but 19% did not use imagery for a variety of reasons (i.e., time, lack of education). Images used by ATs fell into …

The Problem-Solving Approach Of Health And Education Professionals Who Have Experience In The Arts As An Artist And Personal Experience In Trauma, Chanel Myers

Theses and Dissertations

Clients face many different obstacles within healthcare and education settings. Professionals in health and education fields are in a position to be a problem-solving resource to clients, students, and patients. The subset of professionals being examined are problem-solving professionals, who work with clients/students/patients, within the health and education fields, who self-identify as an artist, and also have experienced trauma with chronic struggling. How do problem-solving professionals in health and education fields who self-identify as an artist and have experienced trauma with chronic struggling approach problem-solving in their profession? This study used qualitative methods and interviewed ten participants. This study found …

Distributed Team Communication Preferences: A Case Study Of Community-Based Medical Schools, Jessica Sobolik

Theses and Dissertations

It’s surprising that in the 50 years since computer networks were created, geographically distributed teams still face communication challenges. Businesses manage geographically distributed teams across the globe seemingly well, but in higher education, communication between geographically distributed teams on different campuses is a challenge. Faculty-administrators, staff and students are focused on their day-to-day tasks, and send e-mails and voicemails without giving much thought to how those messages are received on the other end. Often, the recipient of that communication reacts negatively, causing conflict.

This mixed-methods exploratory-sequential study qualitatively explored communication challenges, solutions, preferences, and feelings of connectedness and conflict among …

Cameroonian Immigrants Switching From Non-Stem To Stem-And-Related Fields In The United States, Delphine Ngum Tamukong

Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies on STEM education in the United States (U.S.) have largely focused on such issues as the ever increasing need for more STEM workers, STEM attrition/retention, the gender gap in STEM, encouraging more STEM enrollment both at college and post-graduate levels, and the use of modern technology to facilitate STEM education. Other studies have considered the impact of immigrants on STEM education in the U.S. and on the U.S. economy in terms of either creating or filling STEM jobs. Many of those studies underscore the importance of immigrants in boosting the high skilled, much needed, STEM labor force and …

The Analysis And Costume Design Of Jennifer Haley's The Nether, Emily Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

In designing the costumes for a play there are many pieces that have to come together, both personal and collaborative. An analysis of the text and the characters help broaden the ideas that a designer must use. As the costume designer for a production of Jennifer Haley’s The Nether it was important to bring in the analysis as well as everything that the rest of the design team brings in. The final product came out in a fully realized production of the play in February 2017 at UND.

Healthcare Providers’ Perceptions Of Barriers And Facilitators To Making A Recommendation To Screen For Colorectal Cancer, Jesse Tran

Theses and Dissertations

Background. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in North Dakota. It also ranks second in late-stage diagnosis among all cancers. High quality screening tests such as colonoscopy have shown to reduce CRC incidence significantly, but screening rates in North Dakota remain low. The literature is consistent in that a recommendation by a healthcare provider is the most influential factor in a patient’s decision to screen.

Purpose. The purpose of this dissertation was to understand how healthcare providers perceive the barriers and facilitators that affect their decision to make CRC screening recommendations to patients. Identifying …

The Prediction Of Nonmedical Prescription Stimulant Use In College Students, Danielle Lynn Beyer

Theses and Dissertations

The use of prescription stimulant medications, such as Ritalin and Adderall, has increased dramatically over the past two decades (Zuvekas & Vitiello, 2014). Particularly concerning to public health officials has been the escalation of college students who report nonmedical prescription stimulant use (NPS). Studies have identified cognitive enhancement (i.e., increased concentration, etc.) as the primary motive for college students to engage in NPS (DeSantis et al, 2011; Smith & Farah, 2011). Additional findings suggest individuals involved with Greek organizations and/or individuals who maintain lower cumulative grade point averages (GPA) report significantly higher rates of NPS than Non-Greek and/or higher GPA …