Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Creative Processes In Elementary Art Education: Memory, Observation, And Imagination, Angela Steuer

Graduate Research Papers

This study explores the factors influencing idea generation and creativity in young students, focusing on 4th graders' engagement using comics as a motivational tool. It examines the roles of memory, observation, and imagination in shaping artistic choices, as well as the impact of teaching strategies, such as structured challenges and personal storytelling, in fostering creativity. This research offers insights into how tailored instructional practices and cognitive processes support the artistic development of elementary students, empowering them to generate original ideas and create meaningful artwork.

Intergenerational Arts In The Classroom: A Win-Win, Audrey Klunenberg

Graduate Research Papers

This paper suggests that intergenerational arts programs, particularly those conducted in public schools, can help participants build empathy, a sense of community and belonging. Evidence of these changes was collected through informal observations during three intergenerational art classes in a first grade classroom, as well as through discussions with participants before and after their participation in the intergenerational arts programming. Empathy and community can be built through carefully planned collaborative art-making opportunities and the effect can be evidenced in the forming of relationships, the absence of behavioral problems, and the building of the facilitator’s personal network. The paper concludes that …

Motivations And Challenges For African International Students In Choosing On-Campus Housing And Transitioning Off-Campus, Francis Dugbartey

Graduate Research Papers

The findings of this qualitative phenomenological study explained the motives and challenges faced by African international students (n = 10) who initially chose to live on-campus and subsequently transitioned to off-campus accommodations. The research was conducted through semistructured interviews with African international students who were currently enrolled at a predominantly White institution in the Midwestern United States, discussing their experiences with housing, cultural adjustment, and financial constraints. Although the initial choices to stay on-campus stem from convenience and institutional support, various challenges pushed the students toward going off-campus. To begin with, the costliness of staying in an institution may be …

Spring 2025 Graduate Portfolio, Alex Billman

Graduate Research Papers

History is more than a mere chronicle of events; it is a dynamic tapestry woven from a multitude of experiences, cultures, and narratives that shape our collective past. My philosophy of history is rooted in the belief that understanding history is essential for comprehending the present and envisioning the future. As a passionate historian with a focus on Iowa's rich and diverse history, I am driven by a commitment to uncovering the stories that have shaped this region and its people. My approach to history is both analytical and empathetic, aiming to bring to light the voices and perspectives that …

Graduate Portfolio, Amber Ellen Hoodjer

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Graduate Portfolio, Cody Miller

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Healthcare Access, Kyla M. Frost

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and healthcare access, and ACEs and healthcare access among people of color. The current study is a secondary data analysis of the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A disproportionate stratified sample (DSS) design and a simple random sample design were used to collect data. The current study examined 48,865 participants who completed ACEs through telephone surveys. The results showed a statistically significant negative relationship between ACEs and healthcare access. The results also showed …

Parenting Support Groups Outcomes, Christina Howell

Graduate Research Papers

According to the American Psychological Association 48% of parents find their stress to be completely overwhelming as compared to 26% of other adults. Sixty percent of parents struggle to focus, and 41% of parents report feeling so stressed that they cannot function (American Psychological Association (APA), 2024). In this study three questions are addressed 1) Are Online parenting support groups successful at supporting caregivers and children? 2) What are the outcomes for caregivers and their children when their caregivers participate in parenting support groups? 3) Are parenting support groups successful at supporting caregivers who have experienced trauma? The findings of …

Recovery Rate For Adolescents With Concussions That Participate In Aerobic Exercise, Katrina Cooper

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities As A Risk For Child Maltreatment, Maddie Hawley

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) and child maltreatment. Data from the 2022 National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) from the state of Minnesota was analyzed. The sample was made up of 38,083 reports of child maltreatment, where the average age of the child was 7.66 years. 51.2% of the children in the sample were female, and White children comprised the largest portion of the sample at 39.6%. Results of this study showed that children with IDDs are at an elevated risk of child maltreatment compared to typically …

Impacts Of Sexual Assault On Mental Health In Adolescents, Nicole Trip

Graduate Research Papers

The current study focuses on the impacts of forced sexual activity on mental health among high school students. This study is a secondary data analysis, using the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), which is nationally representative data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A total of 19,945 high school students with an average age of 15.89 years, and about half of the students were White and male. This study found that experiences of sexual assault are associated with increased depression and suicidal ideation. This study also found that female youth experienced a higher level …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Chronic Health Conditions In Black Individuals, Emily K. Etringer

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and chronic health conditions among Black individuals of different genders. The study employs quantitative research methods and utilizes secondary data analysis on the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percent, mean, standard deviation, range, and inferential statistics, such as correlation analyses, independent groups t-tests, ANOVA, and Chi-square tests. This research revealed a statistically significant finding that Black individuals with an ACE score of 4+ have more chronic …

Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Impact Of Social Support, Cultural Background, And Early Interventions, Alysha Haaland

Graduate Research Papers

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a critical public health issue that leaves enduring psychological, emotional, and social impacts on survivors. This paper examines the interrelated roles of social support, cultural background, and early interventions in promoting long-term resilience and recovery, with a particular focus on male and culturally diverse survivors. Grounded in Trauma and Resiliency Theory, this literature review highlights key protective factors—including emotional, informational, and instrumental support—while exploring how cultural norms, religious beliefs, and systemic stigma shape survivors’ coping strategies and access to care. The paper also evaluates the effectiveness of early interventions such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, …

Black Girls In School: The Harmful Effects Of Dehumanization And Disciplinary Inequities, Annika Peterson

Graduate Research Papers

Black girls in the U.S. experience dehumanization through adultification and sexual objectification that impact disciplinary practices in the education system. Adultification stereotypes Black girls as more mature, less innocent, and less in need of protection, which results in harsher disciplinary actions and limited empathy from educators. At the same time, sexual objectification reinforces harmful perceptions of Black girls' sexuality and culpability in their sexual violence victimization. The “Jezebel” and “Angry Black Woman” stereotypes continue to influence how Black girls are perceived as either hypersexual or aggressive. These biases and stereotypes contribute to disproportionate disciplinary measures, particularly subjective infractions like “defiance” …

Police Interactions On Adverse Mental Health Outcomes Within Black Communities, Anessa Smith

Graduate Research Papers

This study examines the relationship between police interactions and psychological distress among Black adults, contributing to existing research on systemic racism and mental health disparities. Utilizing secondary data analysis, the 2023 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), this study focuses on the analysis of a nationally representative, address-based sample of non-institutionalized Black adults residing in California, with a sample size of 1,009. The study examines associations between the number of police stops over a three-year period and psychological distress by gender. Findings indicate that a higher frequency of police stops is significantly associated with increased psychological distress. However, no statistically significant …

Sexual And Bystander Sexual Harassment Experiences Among Part-Time Female Employees: Testing An Interactive Model, Erin Powers

Graduate Research Papers

The current research investigated the impact of sexual and bystander harassment on work-related attitudes, work behaviors, and psychological health. Participants included 314 females who worked part-time at their organization. All participants individually completed a computer administered Workplace Experiences Survey assessing various aspects of their work environment including personal and bystander harassment experiences, work-related attitudes (supervisor, coworker, and work satisfaction), work behaviors (work and job withdrawal), and psychological well-being. It was predicted that both direct sexual harassment and bystander harassment experiences would be associated with more negative work attitudes, greater withdrawal behaviors, and poorer psychological health, with bystander harassment moderating the …

The Effect Of Note Highlighting On Note Identification Accuracy In Beginning Band Students, Thomas R. Knowles

Graduate Research Papers

This study was completed in the spring of 2025 and is based on the effectiveness of colored notation in music reading in beginning band students. An extensive literature review was conducted that supports the usage of color in educational material. Extensive research has been done on color in music education, and that research was used in this study. This study’s primary question is how color affects student note-reading. The hypothesis generated for the study is that students who receive highlighted notes see improvement in their note-reading compared to those who do not. The method used in this study was a …

Using Analysis Of Teaching And Assessment Practices To Revise Implementation Of A Force Unit In An 8th Grade Science Course, Caleb Christine

Graduate Research Papers

One thing I have noticed from my fellow teachers is a desire to improve how we teach and to engage our students in active learning. As a new teacher I have that same desire. Accomplishing my goal of being an effective teacher while also improving how the material is presented requires an approach that includes evaluating not only how the students are performing, but also how they are responding to my instruction.

I used self reflection journals to keep track of how I was presenting material in my classroom. I also collected information from completion of ungraded assignments and investigations. …

The Impacts Of A Problem-Based Learning Unit On Computational Thinking Skills In A 7th Grade Lego Robotics Classroom, Madison Beeler

Graduate Research Papers

The primary focus of this study was to determine what impact problem-based learning (PBL) has on developing computational thinking skills, self-efficacy, and earth science understanding in a middle school robotics classroom. Twenty-eight students took part in a 36-day instructional unit based on the 5E Learning Cycle. Students explored Martian geology, analyzing rock data collected by the Perseverance rover mission to make connections between landforms, integrating Earth science with computational thinking tasks. Pre and post-test data assessed growth of computational thinking and self-efficacy. Statistical analysis showed significant growth in student self-efficacy, while gains in computational thinking were not statistically significant. Students …

Strategic Planning And Capacity Growth In Nonprofit Organizations, Rebecca Snapp

Graduate Research Papers

The following is a literature review of the relationship between strategic planning and capacity building in nonprofit organizations. The review specifically examines barriers to strategic planning and capacity building in the areas of environment, leadership, and funding, as well as elements of organizational readiness for strategic planning with the goal of supporting nonprofit organizations as they work to circumvent these barriers.

Research Portfolio, Kezia Mariam Abraham

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Largely Enhanced Out-Of-Plane Electromechanical Coupling Effects In Two-Dimensional Molybdenum-Disulfide/Boron-Nitride Heterostructures, Qiong Liu, Vijay Kumar Choyal, James E. Morris, Timon Rabczuk, Xiaoning Jiang, Xiaoying Zhuang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The electromechanical coupling effects in two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted great interest. However, for 2D TMDs, piezoelectricity is confined to the basal plane, and the flexoelectricity-derived out-of-plane electromechanical response is usually faint, limiting the applications of this material family using the out-of-plane electromechanical effects. Here, this work reports a facile strategy to greatly enhance the out-of-plane electromechanical response of hexagonal molybdenum disulfide (2H-MoS₂) nanoflakes by stacking monolayer hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) on 2H-MoS₂ nanoflakes to form MoS₂/BN heterostructures. The d^eff/₃₃ coefficient of MoS₂/BN can reach a value comparable …

Mapping Learning In Higher Education: The Embedding Content Across Academic Programmes Toolkit, John Pierce, Mary Beades, Andrew Shields

Publications

The growing diversification of teaching roles in higher education and the siloed nature of semesterised programmes can inhibit quality teaching and learning. This paper introduces the Embedding Content Across Academic Programmes Toolkit (ECAAPT), a practical model for mapping and tracking embedded content across modules, semesters, and years within higher education programmes that can ease the administrative burden of curricular mapping and change on academics teaching in the sector. Originally developed with a focus on tracking student academic literacies, this model has also been adapted and shown value in mapping and tracking other content, such as graduate attributes, feedback, assessment strategies, …

Do Adhd Symptoms Enhance College Students’ Creativity And Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy?, Jorge Sebastian Montesinos

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Despite years of research focused on impairment, it is possible that attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be beneficial in some ways. Past studies have analyzed ADHD’s potential benefits to creativity and entrepreneurship, but the majority have either been underpowered or have had mixed results. In an attempt to add clarity to these potential ADHD-related strengths, the present study explored the relation between symptoms of ADHD, creative achievement, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE). The current study was a survey of emerging adult college students from multiple U.S. universities. The purpose of this study was to explore relations between symptoms of ADHD and …

Parting The Corn Rows: Nikita Khrushchev’S Visit To Iowa, 1959, Jordan Stiles

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

On September 23, 1959, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visited Roswell Garst to inspect US hybrid corn and agricultural methods. Khrushchev’s initial reforms are discussed to show why Khrushchev sought agricultural knowledge abroad. The details of Khrushchev’s and Garst’s life regarding their work in agriculture are explored up to the visit. The visit would leave an indelible mark on the USSR and Iowa. Khrushchev and his successors would use Garst’s model for hybrid corn farming as the template for Soviet farming. Garst would use his limelight to catapult his corn diplomacy into action around the world. Lastly, the legacy of Khrushchev’s …

True Inclusion: A Qualitative Study In Autoethnography; Examining The Educational Journey And Divine Calling Of An Administrator To Champion The Inclusivity Of Students With Special Needs, Andrea Loutsch

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to dive deeper into the real-life experience of a public school teacher/administrator that ventured into the role of a Catholic school administrator and their role as an advocate for students with special needs. A great deal of the research for the inclusion of students with special needs has been in the realm of public K-12 institutions and their rights as individuals with disabilities, since the introduction of The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. However, many private, Catholic K-12 schools have recognized not only a stronger demand for services for students with …

Broiler Breeders Today: Feather Development And Nutrition, Justina Caldas

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

The broiler industry in the US has observed a consistent decline in fertility and hatchability, particularly the past 5 years. There are numerous managerial and nutritional approaches to optimize the pullet and subsequent mature broiler breeder, and these proceedings focus on feathering. Moreover, these proceedings examine the quantity and quality of broiler breeder plumage as affected by both pullet and hen nutrition.

The Effect Of Mitochondrial Disease On The Eyes And Possible Treatments With An Emphasis On Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, Olivia Chambers

Honors Program Theses

Mitochondrial diseases are a diverse group of genetic disorders that impair cellular energy production, often leading to multisystem complications, including vision loss. This thesis explores how mitochondrial dysfunction impacts ocular health, with an emphasis on Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a disorder caused by point mutations in mitochondrial DNA affecting Complex I of the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. Through an extensive literature review, this research examines the mechanisms by which mitochondrial mutations damage retinal ganglion cells and evaluates current and emerging treatment approaches. Pharmacological therapies, such as idebenone and other quinone analogs, demonstrate limited but promising results in stabilizing early-stage vision …

Addressing The Overemphasis And Impacts Of Academic Language In English Language Learner Instruction, Rebecca Pint

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Citizen-Centric Building Energy Retrofits: Understanding And Supporting Citizens As Occupants, Participants, Decision-Makers, And Learners In Home Energy Retrofits, Nikhil Singh Yaduvanshi

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Residential building retrofits remain significantly under-adopted despite substantial technological advances, economic incentives, and policy efforts, creating a critical gap between technical potential and actual implementation in achieving climate goals. Assessment of citizen involvement in building retrofit processes plays a critical role in formulating effective home retrofit program designs to ensure maximum adoption rates and avoid energy waste. Although, existing retrofit programs and decision-making models recognize the importance of citizen involvement, the extent of citizen capabilities and the effects of citizen-centered approaches on retrofit adoption and building performance has not been comprehensively examined. The adoption and success of retrofit programs depends …