Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Managing Undocumented Students: Do Undocumented Students Hinder Student Performance?, Gregory Hill, Daniel P. Hawes

Public Policy and Administration Faculty Publications and Presentations

Illegal immigration is a salient topic for policy makers and for local units of government who are responsible for implementing policies. One particularly relevant policy topic is to what extent undocumented students affect performance in public schools, and if undocumented students do have an impact on performance, what can be done about it? Using Texas as a case study, this analysis finds that, surprisingly, undocumented students have only a marginal effect on the overall performance on standardized exams. Among Latinos, however, there is a statistically negative effect. Furthermore, evidence suggests that managerial skills can mitigate those negative effects.

Middle Paleolithic Hominin Lake Environments In Saharan North Africa, Cynthia Anne Bradbury

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Contemporaneous with the transition to biologically modern humans was the episodic change from wetter to drier environments in the Egyptian Sahara. At Bir Tarfawi, White Lake sediments represent a wet phase occurring prior to the last interglacial in the now hyperarid Egyptian Western Desert. One hypothesis for the development of Western Desert Pleistocene lakes was that the northward migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) provided a path for summer-constrained, Atlantic-sourced precipitation resulting in local precipitation. Oxygen and carbon stable isotope analysis of climate proxies such as the gastropod, Melanoides tuberculata, indicate precipitation and groundwater sources as well as the …

The Metroburb: American Values In Facebook Culture, Heather Marie Carlson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Using critical discourse analysis, fantasy themes were extracted from user profiles and postings to examine American values found in Facebook culture.

Core values found on Facebook worked to create not only socially recognizable identities enacted and communicated through the participants, but also a particular culture to which participants both reflected and contributed in Facebook. Themes and values extracted from findings indicate that Facebook users should be casual, technologically-aware, social, respectful and fair to others, “good little copers,” financially savvy while at the same time valuing higher education, a healthy lifestyle, family and travel.

Because Facebook is an interestingly fluid cultural …

The Impact Of ‘‘No Impact Man’’: Alternative Hedonism As Environmental Appeal, Jen Schneider, Glen Miller

Jen Schneider

As ‘‘No Impact Man,’’ writer Colin Beavan conducted a one-year experiment to determine whether he and his family could reduce their environmental impact to zero while living and working in Manhattan. This article examines the No Impact Man (NIM) experiment both as ‘‘alternative hedonism,’’ a reconceptualization of the ‘‘good life’’ that avoids unduly damaging the natural world, and also as a kind of ‘‘eco-stunt,’’ an attempt to garner significant media coverage about positive environmental behaviors. We use DeLuca’s theorization of the ‘‘image event’’ to analyze the No Impact Man franchise—blog, book, and documentary film—though we modify that theory in order …

Ereading For Research, Michelle Armstrong

Michelle Armstrong

Data on ebooks is beginning to show that this format is transforming the library world. More and more libraries are developing ebook collections and patrons are learning to expect this format as an option. Much of this success is the result of devices like the Kindle and iPad which mimic a much more natural reading experience, at least in the traditional sense. Reading a novel or any text straight through works well on these devices. However, not every type of reader interacts with a book like this and in fact many academic faculty and researchers need more freedom to read …

We're All In This Together: Supporting The Dissemination Of University Research Through Library Services, Michelle Armstrong

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

One of the primary functions of universities is the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge. Yet, most institutions only focus on supporting faculty in the initial discovery process, requiring researchers to fend for themselves when sharing their work. Institutional repositories (IRs) have a unique opportunity to expand traditional library services by supporting the dissemination of university research.

Thinking beyond archiving graduate theses and faculty publications, librarians are developing new IR services which can assist faculty in a variety of ways. Managing researcher pages, consulting on copyright transfer agreements, exchanging publication information with other university stakeholders, even launching library-based publishing services …

On The Interaction Of Variation And Exceptionality In Modern Hebrew Spirantization, Michal Martinez

Michal Temkin Martinez

Modern Hebrew (MH) spirantization is a variable phenomenon with many exceptions. Adam (2002) claims that the variation is driven by the exceptions and concludes that spirantization is changing, yielding what is currently a variable grammar, with expected and variant forms in free variation, and moving toward one with no alternation. This paper reports the results of an acceptability rating task showing that, in alternating segments, the expected form is still rated as more acceptable than that variant forms, and that which variant surfaces (stop or fricative) depend on its underlying root position. Additionally, participants indicate that some variation is acceptable …

Writing And Assessing Information Literacy Outcomes, Ellie Dworak

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

Many universities are revising their curriculum guidelines to include information literacy outcomes. How can subject classes meet these outcomes without taking excessive time from the content, and how can the results be effectively and efficiently measured? This breakout session will cover the ACRL information literacy guidelines as well as subject specific information literacy guidelines; writing measurable outcomes; and using clickers to quickly and simply measure success.

Writers' Workshop Sponsored By The Idaho Librarian, Kim Leeder, Ellie Dworak, Tom Ivie

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

Let’s face it, writing is hard. Even for those who enjoy the process, coming up with ideas, churning out words to fill up a blank page, and subjecting a draft to endless revision can be extremely challenging and time-consuming! But communicating with others in our field is an important skill, and publishing is a professional requirement for many librarians. At this session hosted by two of the editors from ILA’s journal, The Idaho Librarian, we’ll review the basic building blocks of writing in our discipline, from brainstorming topics to outlining and story development, and we’ll engage in creative activities to …

The Revolution Of University-Based Information, Michelle Armstrong, Julia Stringfellow

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

Traditionally, information and scholarship produced by universities has been disseminated by for-profits publishers who charge for access to this scholarship. This approach to sharing the output of our nation's academic community has significantly limited access to that scholarship. Institutional repositories are revolutionizing how university-based information is made accessible to society as a whole. This presentation will explore how libraries are supporting access to academic scholarship, issues involved in providing the scholarship such as types of information, intellectual property, and quality control, and ways users can access, evaluate, and utilize university-based information.

55,000 Ways To Say Yes: Customer-Driven Acquisitions And More!, Peggy Cooper, Barbara Glackin, Marilyn Moody

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Boise State University Albertsons Library is committed to providing excellent user services, resources and experiences. The panel will discuss how this user service focus has evolved and what is happening in the Library: strategically realigning staff; patron driven acquisitions, finding out what users want and delivering it quickly; increasing liaison outreach to foster personal connections; and exploring effectively embracing mobile technologies.

Undergraduate Research And Scholarship Conference Poster - Authorization Form, Scholarworks

ScholarWorks Publications

To archive an Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Conference poster, please download and complete the authorization form. Once finished, including all required signatures, the form can be turned in at the Reference Desk at the Boise State Library. Electronic files can be sent to: scholarworks@boisestate.edu

Questions can be directed to:

ScholarWorks
208-426-2580
scholarworks@boisestate.edu

Ebooks And More: Accessing Mobile And Digital Library Content, Marilyn K. Moody

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

Albertsons Library now offers a wide variety of digital content. Thousands of library academic eBooks can now be used and downloaded by Boise State faculty, staff, and students. You can also stream videos and music in your classroom. See what is available and learn more about how to use these sources for teaching and research.

Political Polarization As A Constraint On Corruption: A Cross-National Comparison, David S. Brown, Michael Touchton, Andrew Whitford

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Efforts to explain corruption have increased dramatically in recent years. The interest stems from the increasing weight economists assign to corruption when explaining economic growth. Much research focuses on how political institutions influence perceptions of corruption. We move this debate in a new direction by addressing a previously ignored dimension: ideological polarization. We contend perceptions of corruption are determined not only by specific institutional features of the political system–such as elements of voting systems, ballot structures, or separation of powers–but by who sits at the controls. We employ panel data from a broad variety of countries to test our theoretical …

Implications Of Simultaneity In A Physical Damage Function, Kelly M. Cobourn, Hannah J. Burrack, Rachael E. Goodhue, Jeffrey C. Williams, Frank G. Zalom

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

A modeler must often rely on highly simplified representations of complex physical systems when analyzing associated economic issues. Herein, we consider a management problem in which a bioeconomic system exhibits simultaneity in processes governing productivity and damage. In this case, it may benefit the producer to sacrifice productivity to reduce the costs associated with increased damage. We specify empirically a structural damage relationship that explains the biological process by which an invasive species damages a host and estimate the structural model and its reduced form with an exceptional dataset on infestation of olives by the olive fruit fly. We contrast …

The Diagnosis Of Mental Disorders In Clinical Social Work: A Review Of Standards Of Care, Daniel Harkness

Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Licensed to diagnose and treat mental disorders, clinical social workers have begun to develop and practice professional standards of care commensurate with their status as the nation's largest provider of mental health care. Against the backdrop of malpractice claims and awards, this paper reviews the extant standards promulgated by our professional organizations, regulatory bodies, health-insurance and managed-care entities, and the courts to synthesize standards of care for the diagnosis of mental disorders. The limited available evidence suggests that clinical social workers merit congratulations and concern as we rise to the challenge of addressing those standards in education and practice.

User Motivations For Using Business Facebook Pages, Malcolm Lee Hong

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Although user motives for personal use of Facebook has been frequently researched, literature that describes user motives for business communication purposes is limited. To understand this process, this study employed uses and gratifications theory to interpret users’ motivations for communicating and using business Facebook Pages. An online survey was distributed and completed by 345 participants. This survey asked participants about their personal use of Facebook, their use of business Facebook Pages, and what type of content on Facebook they found gratifying. Content analysis was also utilized to observe users’ communicative patterns on business Facebook Pages.

It was found that, in …

Projecting The Impact Of The Money Follows The Person Program On Idaho Medicaid Long-Term Care Expenditures, Andrew Michael Hyer

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Background: It is well established that access to home and community-based services (HCBS) as an alternative to institutional long-term care (LTC) leads to better health outcomes. Because Medicaid is the primary payer for formal LTC services, changes in Medicaid policies favoring access to HCBS play a crucial role in “rebalancing” the nation's LTC delivery system. Prior research indicates that expanding Medicaid HCBS may result in lower per patient expenditures. A key part of Medicaid's rebalancing effort is the recently expanded Money Follows the Person (MFP) program, whereby the federal government offers enhanced match funds to assist state Medicaid programs in …

The Family: What Is To Be Done?, Scott Yenor

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

We have seen how the logic of contract and the movement to conquer nature have resulted in a triumph of autonomy and the demise of family. The family thus stands in need of a defense. Defense of the family means defense of an institution, and that defense requires some defense of the nature that these institutions react to and reflect. This is where contemporary advocates have focused their attention. Both the modern principles—the principle of contract and the move to conquer nature—are partial truths, and it is best to understand how they each fit into a proper understanding of married …

The Family's End, Scott Yenor

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Family decline appears to be inevitable when viewed with a long perspective. The family has been progressively differentiated from institutions that now accomplish what was formerly within the provenance of the family. The city's gods, and eventually the Church, replaced ancestral gods. The marketplace, and eventually the modern economy, replaced the family as the unit of economic production. The city replaced primitive patriarchy. Slowly, and more controversially, the state has come to fulfill increasing portions of the family’s educational mission. Even the family’s "provision of social services" has come, more and more, to be a state concern. This "loss of …

Information Literacy Follow-Through: Enhancing Pre-Service Teachers' Information Evaluation Skills Through Formative Assessment, Sara Seely, Sara Fry, Margie Ruppel

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

An investigation into pre-service teachers' information evaluation skills at a large university suggests that formative assessment can improve student performance. Pre-service teachers were asked to apply information evaluation skills in the areas of currency, relevancy, authority, accuracy and purpose. The authors compared the pre-service teachers’ and researchers’ evaluations and used Perreault and Leigh’s Index of Reliability to analyze final projects from two semesters. When asked to evaluate the sources cited in a final project for an Education methods course, pre-service teachers who received formative feedback from librarians improved in most information evaluation areas. Formative assessment is explored as a tool …

Geographic Information Systems Correlation Modeling As A Management Tool In The Study Effects Of Environmental Variables’ Effects On Cultural Resources, Brian Wallace

Anthropology Graduate Projects and Theses

Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) offers the field of Cultural Resource Management greater capacity in managing resources. New regression analysis tools recently released in ESRI ArcGIS software offer potential for determining more accurate statistical analyses of the relationships between cultural material and environmental variables. The contemporary trend of federal cultural resource managers and GIS analysts working with smaller budgets is to allocate fiscal resources for tools which will enable them to continue successfully managing their resource. ArcGIS software continues to be the industry standard in managing spatial data to accurately represent the existence, condition, and location of cultural material. With …

At Albertsons Library, User-Centered Is More Than A Trendy Phrase, Peggy S. Cooper

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

At Albertsons Library being user-centered is at the heart of our decision-making. We focus our collective staff energy on what our users want and need. How do we know? We ask them. In focus groups, in LibQual surveys, at the reference desk, and in course evaluations -- we ask, we listen and we act on their requests.

Sexting And Sexual Relationships Among Teens And Young Adults, Lori Henderson

McNair Scholars Research Journal

The present study examined young adult participation in sexting: a transmission of nude or semi-nude images or sexually suggestive text of themselves to others through cell phones. An online survey was conducted Spring 2010 at large northwest university. Results revealed that nearly two thirds of participants had sent nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves. Cell phones were reported as the primary medium in transmission of sext messages. Nearly half of those who have participated in sexting had sent them to a boyfriend or girlfriend, while 15% sent them to someone they only knew online. To be sexy or to initiate …

No Fees Required: Opening Access To University Content (Tech Talk), Michelle Armstrong, Julia Stringfellow

Michelle Armstrong

This article shares information from a presentation at the 2011 Southwest Idaho Library Association Regional Conference, which explored increased access to university collections and scholarship and the great benefits this provides for all library communities. Access to university records and scholarship, both born digital and originally in paper, is improved by providing them in an open, electronic format. The session featured examples of institutional repositories and the types of digital content they include, and provided resources with information on creating and implementing an institutional repository.

Exploring Dialectics In Grandparent Grief: Communication With Family And Friends Following The Death Of A Grandchild, Ashley Nicole Duchow-Moore

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

A relational dialectics perspective was adopted for this study in order to better understand the tensions and contradictions bereaved grandparents experience following the death of a grandchild. The interviews of eleven grandmothers and five grandfathers were analyzed using a qualitative/interpretive method, leading to implications regarding the nature of grandparent grief. Grandparents experienced tensions in their own grief and in their multiple roles within the family structure after a grandchild died. Grandparents expressed contradictions in their role as a stable supporter versus griever, as well as balancing the need for protection and privacy. Grandparents negotiated these tensions through conscious communicative choices …

Recent Archaeological Investigations At Three Island Crossing: Insights Regarding Late Archaic Diet Breadth And Mobility, Meghan Kim Eastman

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In 1986 and 1987, an important Late Archaic period site was excavated at Three Island Crossing (10-EL-294), near Glenns Ferry, Idaho. As ethnographic reports depict extensive reliance upon salmon for winter consumption (Steward, 1938; Murphy and Murphy, 1960) the recovery of 19,000 fish remains was significant. Analysis of this assemblage demonstrated that the minimum number of individual fish recovered was around 300. Equally important were radiocarbon analyses that identified three distinct Late Archaic occupations. Of note was the recovery of a structure and storage suggesting semi-permanent residence. A subsequent excavation was undertaken at Three Island Crossing in 2008 to determine …

The Quick Response (Qr) Code: Graphic Potential For Libraries, Memo Cordova

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

The convergences of Web-ready mobile tools and applications have changed how we interact with our physical and virtual environments. Web-ready mobile devices (particularly smartphones, but tablets and Wi-Fi ready MP3 players are also on the increase) have supplanted the traditional desktop computer. According to IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, a February 7, 2011, press release noted that “Smartphone manufacturers shipped 100.9 million devices in the fourth quarter of 2010...PC manufacturers shipped 92.1 million units” (IDC). For the first time ever, smartphones have outsold traditional desktop computers. This is telling on several levels, the most salient being that our …

And The Cuts Just Keep On Coming: Idaho State Budgeting In 2009 And 2010, Dick Kinney

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report examines Idaho state budgeting during 2009 and 2010. After first describing Idaho’s people, politics, and budgeting process, it discusses the economic and General Fund revenue situations facing the state. The paper considers adjustments for FY 2010 proposed by Governor Otter and approved by the legislature, and budget recommendations and legislative actions for FY 2011 and their impacts on state spending. The report concludes with developments since the legislative session ended last spring.

Analysis Of Carbon Capture And Sequestration Pore Space Legislation: A Review Of Existing And Possible Regimes, Elizabeth L. Aldrich, Cassandra Koerner

Public Policy and Administration Faculty Publications and Presentations

Liability coverage for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is of paramount importance if the industry is going to mature and develop in a way that will allow it to make a significant contribution to mitigating climate change. Liability for CCS can be broken into two phases – short-term, which covers the pre-injection, injection, and closure stages of the project, and long-term, which covers the post-closure stage. Since pre-injection, injection, and closure occur over a relatively short period of time that may cover 20-30 years, typical liability instruments like private insurance, letters of credit, performance bonds, trust funds, and escrow accounts …