Digital Commons Network^™

Enhancing Security Behaviour By Supporting The User, Sm Furnell, W Khern-Am-Nuai, R Esmael, W Yang, N Li

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Although the role of users in maintaining security is regularly emphasized, this is often not matched by an accompanying level of support. Indeed, users are frequently given insufficient guidance to enable effective security choices and decisions, which can lead to perceived bad behaviour as a consequence. This paper discusses the forms of support that are possible, and seeks to investigate the effect of doing so in practice. Specifically, it presents findings from two experimental studies that investigate how variations in password meter usage and feedback can positively affect the resulting password choices. The first experiment examines the difference between passwords …

“Read And Be Convinced”: The Image Of The Nonpartisan League In Its Creative Production, The Early Histories, And Wider Popular Culture, John Hest

History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies

In this thesis, I examine the image of the Nonpartisan League in several different contexts, arguing that the League carefully crafted their advocative political image and their opponents painted them as disloyal socialists. The Nonpartisan League was an agrarian radical political movement beginning in North Dakota in 1915, and both its proponents and opponents created powerful images of it. I first examine the creative output of two Leaguers, the poet Florence Borner and the cartoonist John Miller Baer. I then transition to four competing histories of the Nonpartisan League, published from 1920-21, by Herbert Gaston, Charles Edward Russell, William Langer, …

Service Learning Assignments: The Interesect Between Assignment Framing, Student Motivation, And Perceived Relevance, Tori Benders

Communication

Although learning has traditionally happened within the four walls of a classroom, as service learning courses become more prevalent, instructors are challenging their students to take learning outside of the classroom and into the community. Service learning has the potential to transform students and their learning, it is not widely known how to ensure students are motivated to complete these assignments and see them as relevant to their futures. This study used social determination theory and a 2X2 experimental design to survey 271 students about their motivation to complete a service learning project presented to them in an assignment sheet …

Leaving A Lasting Impression: The Role Of Foundational Family, Privacy, And Gender Messages On Coming Out Disclosures, Justin Stewart Motto

Communication

This dissertation investigates the influence of family messages about gender, free expression, conformity, and privacy on coming out disclosures, a difficult experience in today’s society. Using communication privacy management theory, this study explored how heteronormative beliefs, family privacy boundaries, and family communication patterns relate to disclosure concerns. A total of 218 self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) participants were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling techniques. Participants completed an online survey to measure family privacy orientations, family communication patterns, heteronormative attitudes and beliefs, and disclosure concerns. Six linear regression analyses were performed. The findings suggest that both family privacy …

Creating And Facilitating Change For Person-Centred Coordinated Care (P3c): The Development Of The Organisational Change Tool (P3c-Oct), Jane Horrell, Helen Lloyd, Thavapriya Sugavanam, James Close, Richard Byng

More Faculty of Health Research

BACKGROUND: Person Centred Coordinated Care (P3C) is a UK priority for patients, carers, professionals, commissioners and policy makers. Services are developing a range of approaches to deliver this care with a lack of tools to guide implementation. METHODOLOGY: A scoping review and critical examination of current policy, key literature and NHS guidelines, together with stakeholder involvement led to the identification of domains, subdomains and component activities (processes and behaviours) required to deliver P3C. These were validated through codesign with stakeholders via a series of workshops and cognitive interviews. RESULTS: Six core domains of P3C were identified as follows: (i) my …

A Circle-Geocaching Game Based On Classified Specimens, Prabhakara Reddy Agasaladinni Reddy

Computer Science

This paper describes a CIRCLE-Geocaching extensible system played for the purpose of rehearsal learning. The system operates over a classification tree built by an instructor or a group of students engaged in classification, identification and learning of real world objects. Geocaching involves gathering specimens, naming specimens, recording GPS coordinates, and performing experiments on each specimen. It is assumed that student motivation is increased, as it is an outdoor activity to locate specimens using coordinates, allowing students to learn about features during game play. Implementation of this game draws on the Model, View and Template architecture (MVT). Client software is a …

Using Human Error Models To Improve The Quality Of Software Requirements, Vaibhav Kumar Anu

Computer Science

Creating high quality software is a primary concern for software development organizations. Researchers have devoted considerable effort in developing quality improvement methods that help software engineers detect faults early in the development lifecycle (when the faults are cheapest to detect and repair). While useful, the available approaches still cannot make sure that Software developers are able to identify all or even a significantly large portion of faults. This is because they do not help software developers identify errors (i.e., underlying cause of faults) that may have led to the insertion of the faults (i.e., manifestation of error). This lack of …

The Participating Mind In The Quantum Universe, Menas Kafatos, Keun-Hang Susan Yang

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The Orthodox interpretation of quantum mechanics, which followed the Copenhagen Interpretation but was enhanced by primarily Werner Heisenberg and John von Neumann into a fully developed theory, brought in, among others, the role of measurement, available choices and response of the quantum system. It is, more consistent and clear than other interpretations of quantum mechanics as it provides account of the interactions of observers with the external world. As such, the Orthodox interpretation does a lot more than just account for physical interactions in the atomic world, which was the original goal of quantum mechanics in the early part of …

Interplanetary Habitation: Designing For Life On Mars, Landon Schoeneck

Architecture Theses

How can architecture adapt the complex engineering systems of a Mars colony to sustainable human life? Migration and travel has evolved from the dawn of humanity to the automotive and flight industries of current times. Now interplanetary travel is on the forefront of technological innovation. Innovation is created by those who dream farther forward than current society can understand, and it is necessary to push the boundaries of technology to make the impossible practical. thinking ahead to design for future interplanetary migration is a needed step to compel the world forward, as well as architecture and it’s boundaries therein. The …

Relocated Roots: A Community Focused Urban Agriculture Facility, Alexandra Mills

Architecture Theses

The design of 407 New Street seeks to introduce the agricultural sector into the urban environment. By integrating agriculture into the city context, the project aims to introduce a new typological identity to the neighborhood and revitalize the community. This thesis project, titled “Relocated Roots,” addresses a limitation in current thinking about agriculture within the urban environment. It aims to expand the public knowledge by providing an educated architectural experience that both informs the user of modern growing techniques and positively promotes the message of sustainable city farming.

Absim Exhibition Design: Agent-Based Simulation In The Curating Process, Brady Laurin

Architecture Theses

The design of museum and gallery spaces are typically done by different designers with a mutual understanding of the scope of work for each. In the best possible scenario, these processes will take place congruently, with cooperation from both designers to realize the complete museum. In many cases, these processes take place in isolation from one another, with little to no collaboration between the building designer and the curator. Agent-Based Simulation, or ABSim, is a process often used to analyze the flow of pedestrians in a designed space. Most commonly used to optimize evacuation patterns and transit terminal layout, the …

Architectural Mood And Mental Space: A Cathartic Journey Off The North Shore Of Lake Superior, Ty Englund

Architecture Theses

Most people think of architecture as a profession that is concerned with aesthetic beauty—designs that please the observer through visual perception of the harmony, symmetry, and good proportions crafted by the designer. But, architecture is more than just aesthetics. Well-designed buildings need to respond to the functional needs of the occupants, and ensure structural soundness for safety reasons. However, I believe Architecture is even more than that. True architecture can create feelings and emotions from within, and cause the users to self reflect on their own lives. Furthermore, I suggest that we, as architects, can provide a healing environment for …

Understanding The Micro-Situational Dynamics Of White Supremacist Violence In The United States, Steven Windisch, Peter Simi, Kathleen Blee, Matthew Demichele

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

While substantial effort has been devoted to investigating the radicalization process and developing theories to explain why this occurs, surprisingly few studies offer explanations of the micro-situational factors that characterize how extremists accomplish violence. Relying on in-depth life history interviews with 89 former white supremacists, we analyzed the situational, emotional, and moral considerations surrounding white supremacist violence. Overall, we identified a variety of strategies white supremacists utilize for overcoming emotional and cognitive obstacles required to perform violent action. Furthermore, we also identified the callous effect of habitual violence. We conclude this article with suggestions for future research and recommendations for …

Violent Video Games, Externalizing Behavior, And Prosocial Behavior: A Five-Year Longitudinal Study During Adolescence, Sarah M. Coyne, Wayne A. Warburton, Lee W. Essig, Laura A. Stockdale

Faculty Publications

Decades of research on the effects of media violence have examined associations between viewing aggressive material in the media and aggression and prosocial behavior. However, the existing longitudinal studies have tended to exclusively examine aggression and prosocial behavior as outcomes, with a limited range of potential mediators. The current study examines associations between playing violent video games and externalizing and prosocial behavior over a 5-year period across adolescence. Additionally, the study examines potential mediators of these associations, including empathic concern, benevolence, and self-regulation. Participants included 488 adolescents (MAge of child at Wave 1 􏰀13.83, SD 􏰀 0.98) and their parents, …

Teaching Children About Money: Prospective Parenting Ideas From Undergraduate Students, Ashley B. Lebaron, Christina M. Rosa-Holyoak, L. Ashley Bryce, E. Jeffrey Hill, Loren D. Marks

Faculty Publications

Many Millennials (aged 18-30 in 2016) are struggling with financial capability and independence. As efforts unfold to address this issue by improving financial education, Millennials themselves can offer helpful family-centered ideas for children 's financial learning. As part of the Whats and Hows of Family Financial $ocialization project, this qualitative study explored the ideas of 126 undergraduate students enrolled in family finance classes at three institutions from three regions of the United States about how and what they intend to teach their future children about finances. Thematic content analysis and coding of interviews revealed four core themes: (a) "Communicating Family …

Proactive Social Validation Of Methods And Procedures Used For Training Speech Production In Aphasia, Tyson G. Harmon, Lucy Hardy, Katarina L. Haley

Faculty Publications

Background: Social validation evaluates the importance and acceptability of treatment goals, procedures, and outcomes. Previous studies for treatments that train speech production in aphasia have applied social validation during the post-treatment period or to treatment protocols that are already fully developed.

Aims: The purposes of this study were to (1) examine the social validity of goals and procedures experienced in speech production treatment for people with aphasia and (2) evaluate the feasibility of procedural choice-making during such tasks.

Method: Seven people with aphasia and eight speech-language pathologists were interviewed about previous treatment that targeted speech production. Participants were also observed …

Reconsidering Design And Evaluation, Andrew S. Gibbons Iii, David D. Williams

Faculty Publications

In this paper we have put design and evaluation as it were under a microscope with multiple lenses. We use four different snapshots of design, each at a different level of resolution, to reveal new perspectives on the design-evaluation relationship. We believe that the disparate views of designers and evaluators can be resolved by resorting to the middle ground described by Klir. We believe also that the disparate views of educational technologists and learning scientists can be similarly resolved by appealing to the similar principle of Edelson.

Child Inhibitory Control And Maternal Acculturation Moderate Effects Of Maternal Parenting On Chinese American Children’S Adjustment, Jing Yu, Charissa L. Cheah, Craig H. Hart, Chongming Yang

Faculty Publications

The goals of this study were to examine: (a) bidirectional associations between maternal parenting (physical punishment and guilt induction) and Chinese American preschool children’s psychosocial adjustment and (b) the role of maternal cultural orientation and child temperament in moderating parenting effects. Participants were Chinese American mothers and children (N 163, Mage 4.56, 53% boys). Mothers reported on their parenting practices at both Wave 1 (W1) and Wave 2 (W2) and their cultural orientations and children’s inhibitory control at W1. Teachers rated children’s prosocial, internalizing, and externalizing behaviors at both W1 and W2. A Bayesian approach to path analysis was utilized …

Health Risk Feedback: The Effects Of Ace Insight On Stress Reactivity, Heidi Anna Rued

Psychology

Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has lasting repercussions throughout an individual’s lifetime. An adult with a history of childhood trauma is at increased risk for excessive stress reactivity, which exacerbates the development of chronic disease. It is important to investigate how this information can be used for adult trauma survivors. This study assessed the psychophysiological impacts of providing “ACE insight”. Participants completed questionnaires and were given false feedback that their childhood experiences put them at increased risk for excessive stress reactivity and the development of disease. Following ACE insight, participants underwent a speech stressor task during which cardiovascular reactivity …

Development And Preliminary Assessment Of Interprofessional Education Focused On Vulnerable Populations, Celia Pechak, Connie Summers, Barbara Schoen, Margie Padilla, Patricia Lara, Joanna Velasco, Stephanie Capshaw

Faculty Publications

With the current state of the U.S. healthcare system, interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) has never been more important. Health professions educators are increasingly incorporating interprofessional education (IPE) in their curricula in order to prepare students for IPCP. The HealthFocused IPE Community of Practice (representing nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, and speech-language pathology) at the University of Texas at El Paso has created a unique IPE model centered on vulnerable populations. The purposes of this paper are to describe the early development of this innovative IPE model and present findings from an evaluation of an IPE …

Tolkien’S Phonoprint In Character Names Throughout His Invented Languages, Bruce L. Brown, Brad Wilcox, Wendy Baker-Smemoe, Timothy G. Morrison

Faculty Publications

J. R. R. Tolkien claimed to create names based on sound symbolism and invented languages. Previous studies revealed that Tolkien had his own phonoprint (tendency to use the same phonemes repeatedly for character names) regardless of his claims that they reflected different language origins. However, this research examined phonemes and syllables rather than names as whole units. This study compared 183 names from Tolkien’s works and 100 names from the nineteenth Century Us Census. The name recognition software linked names with known languages or provided a “generic” category when no match was found. Results showed no significant differences between the …

Sanctifcation And Cheating Among Emerging Adults, Scott Braithwaite, Paige Mcallister, Elena Henderson, Meghan Maddock, Krista Dowdle, Frank D. Fincham

Faculty Publications

Cheating—a general term for extradyadic romantic or sexual behavior that violates expectations in a committed romantic relationship—is common and leads to a number of poor outcomes. Religion has historically infuenced conceptions of romantic relationships, but societal attitudes about religion are in fux as many seek to retain spirituality even as afliations with formal religion decrease. The present study evaluated a potential predictor of cheating that is more spiritual than formally religious, the “psychospiritual” concept of relationship sanctifcation (i.e., the idea that one’s relationship itself is sacred). In a sample of college students in committed relationships (N=716), we found that higher …

Strength Of Belief: Religious Commitment, Knowledge, And Hpvvaccination Adherence, Wendy C. Birmingham, Janelle L. B. Macintosh, Allison A. Vaughn, Tyler C. Graff

Faculty Publications

Objective:Human papillomavirus (HPV) infects millions of men and women annu-ally and is a substantial contributing factor in many cancers including oral, penile, anal,and cervical. Vaccination can reduce risk but adherence nationwide and, particularlyin highly religious states, is suboptimal. Religious principles of abstinence before mar-riage and total fidelity following marriage may create a belief of protection throughadherence to religious guidelines. However, while one partner may remain monoga-mous, one cannot be assured of their partner's behavior both before and after mar-riage. These misconceptions may create a barrier to religious youth's adherence tovaccine recommendations.Methods:We sampled single young adults, age 18 to 25 years, …

Stories They Tell: The Rhetoric Of Recruiting Independent Consultants, Jacob D. Rawlins, Sarah E. Martin

Faculty Publications

This study investigates the themes that drive persuasive recruiting appeals, or stories, designed to attract new, entrepreneurial workers in the direct selling industry. It offers a rhetorical perspective informed by fantasy theme analysis on the themes present in the recruiting content on the corporate Web sites of three direct selling companies (Mary Kay, Stella & Dot, and Scentsy). The analysis indicates that rhetorical agency is a core theme in the persuasive recruiting stories for these companies. Offering a means for business and technical communication scholars to explore agency or other persuasive story themes in context, this study addresses how a …

Project Sweat (Summer Weight And Environmental Assessment Trial): Study Protocol Of An Observational Study Using A Multistate, Prospective Design That Examines The Weight Gain Trajectory Among A Racially And Ethnically Diverse Convenience Sample Of Economically Disadvantaged School-Age Children, Laura C. Hopkins, Christine Penicka, Carly Evich, Blake Jones, Carolyn Gunther

Faculty Publications

Introduction Racial/ethnic minority school-age children are at risk for unhealthy weight gain during the summer, and there is a dearth of information regarding the underlying behavioural and environmental factors. The study objective is to provide an in-depth examination of dietary and physical activity behaviours and food, physical activity, and social environments of African American and Hispanic school-age children during the summer.

Methods and analysis An observational study will be conducted using a multistate (Ohio and Indiana, USA) prospective design examining the weight gain trajectory among a racially/ethnically diverse convenience sample of economically disadvantaged school-age children. In addition, a subset of …

Online Student Use Of A Proximate Community Of Engagement In An Independent Study Program, Darin R. Oviatt, Charles R. Graham, Randall S. Davies, Jered Borup

Faculty Publications

Research has suggested that independent study students in online courses may benefit from engaging with a proximate community of engagement (PCE) and that students perceive that such engagement will help them succeed. Independent Study students were surveyed at the completion of their course to assess the level at which they actually interacted with a PCE. Survey findings were confirmed with follow-up interviews with students and their parents to triangulate survey data. Findings revealed that students in the study interacted with a PCE when completing the course. The percentage of students actually engaged with a PCE was lower than the percentages …

Exploring The Potential Of Lms Log Data As A Proxy Measure Of Student Engagement, Curtis R. Henrie, Robert Bodily, Ross Larsen, Charles R. Graham

Faculty Publications

This study examines the relationship between log data of student activity in learning management systems and self-reported student engagement survey scores. Log data has the potential to serve as a meaningful proxy for survey scores. Should this be the case, log data could be used as a minimally disruptive and scalable approach to quickly identify who needs help, evaluate design, and personalize instruction. We correlated LMS log data variables to student engagement survey scores to study the relationship between these two sources of data. Overall, log data was not a statistically significant proxy measure of students’ self-reported cognitive and emotional …

Blended Learning: The New Normal And Emerging Technologies, Charles Dziuban, Charles R. Graham, Patsy D. Moskal, Anders Norberg, Nicole Sicilia

Faculty Publications

This study addressed several outcomes, implications, and possible future directions for blended learning (BL) in higher education in a world where information communication technologies (ICTs) increasingly communicate with each other. In considering effectiveness, the authors contend that BL coalesces around access, success, and students’ perception of their learning environments. Success and withdrawal rates for face-to-face and online courses are compared to those for BL as they interact with minority status. Investigation of student perception about course excellence revealed the existence of robust if-then decision rules for determining how students evaluate their educational experiences. Those rules were independent of course modality, …

Generic Vs. Modality-Specific Competencies For K-12 Online And Blended Teaching, Emily Pulham, Charles R. Graham, Cecil R. Short

Faculty Publications

Although research has explored teacher competencies in K-12 blended and online learning, it has not specified which competencies are appropriate to an online or digital medium, which refer to blending in-person with online experiences, or which are generic—applicable in any teaching modality. This article explores selected K-12 online and blended teaching competency documents to determine which specific modalities (online, in-person, blended, or generic) the competencies address. Many competencies are still categorized as generic, and not specific enough to denote a particular context. The authors give recommendations for pre-service teacher education and indicate needs for further research in K-12 online and …

Comparing K-12 Online And Blended Teaching Competencies: A Literature Review, Emily Pulham, Charles R. Graham

Faculty Publications

This article presents a synthesis of reports and research on K-12 blended teaching competencies compared with K-12 online teaching competencies. The skills needed to teach in online and blended environments are distinct from traditional teaching, but teacher education programs often do not equip preservice teachers for the new modes of instruction. Additionally, there is a dearth of research on blended teaching competencies. This review synthesizes 8 blended teaching documents and 10 online teaching documents. Seven global themes identified in both competency domains are (1) pedagogy, (2) management, (3) assessment, (4) technology, (5) instructional design, (6) dispositions, and (7) improvement. The …