Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Interfaith Prayer Service Program

Postville Project Documents

The program of an interfaith prayer service, march, and rally held in Postville, Iowa on July 27, 2008.

Iowa Academy Of Science: The New Bulletin, V04n4, Winter 2008, Iowa Academy Of Science

New Bulletin

Inside This Issue:

--Message from the Executive Director

--IAS NWR Website

--Science: Our Past and Future

--Iowa Academy of Science Fellows

--IAS Board Retreat

--Announcements, Events & Deadlines

--Spotlight on Des Moines University

--Iowa Academy of Science Membership Overview

--ISTJ—Practical Science Education Applications from Iowans to the World

Ant Diversity In Two Southern Minnesota Tallgrass Prairie Restoration Sites, Pamela M. Kittelson, Monica Paulson Priebe, Phillip J. Graeve

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

There is little basic information about ant species richness and abundance in tall grass prairie restorations despite the importance of ants to plant community structure and function. We compared ant abundance and richness, vascular plant cover and richness, and soil compaction at two southern Minnesota grassland restoration sites, a prairie reconstruction and a prairie remnant undergoing rehabilitation. We collected a total of 3,523 ants from 12 different species. Plant species richness ranged from 45 in the prairie reconstruction to 95 in the remnant prairie. We found five more species of ants and significantly higher mean ant species richness per plot …

Editorial Board & Iowa Academy Of Science Officers And Directors

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Gender On Health Care Policy In The State Legislature, Ashley Wilson Huth

Honors Program Theses

This paper examines whether descriptive representation, in terms of gender, affects substantive representation among female legislators in a single state legislature. Data are collected from the 82nd General Assembly of the Iowa state legislature's lower-house. The unit of analysis is the individual bill. Controlling for legislator and district characteristics, I test whether legislator gender has an independent effect on the likelihood of the introduction of healthcare legislation. Utilizing the substantive representation index, and logistic regression with robust-cluster-standard-errors, I find that males introduce more healthcare bills when compared to females. The implications of this finding in terms of legislative representation are …

The Iowa Caucuses: Effects Of Presidential Campaigns On State Politicians, Amy Kathleen Meyers

Honors Program Theses

The Iowa caucuses have been a topic of fascination for many political scientists, the media, and political junkies. Their prominent nature attracts media from all over the United States and can significantly impact the day-to-day lives of Iowans. In studying this topic, close attention must be paid to how campaigns necessarily treat elected state officials differently than ordinary Iowans. More specifically, legislators are treated differently in the processes by which campaigns lobby state legislators for support, the benefits officials receive, and the ways in which such lobbying can detract from their roles as state legislators. All of these factors are …

Militarization Versus Democratization: A Case Study Of Pakistan And India's Divergent Political Paths Since Independence, Zenab Afzal Chowdhry

Honors Program Theses

Since the fall of colonialism, countries once ruled by French, British, Spanish, and Belgian empires have embarked upon state and nation-building, constructing social, political, and economic institutions to solidify their status as a functional and sovereign state. While several former colonies have slowly adopted democratic policies and institutions, many countries in South Asia and Latin America have undergone a series of military dictatorships, communism, socialism, and other governing forms. Some of these regime forms, as in the case of Cuba and communism or Pakistan and its military dictatorship, have proved resilient in the face of what scholars have called "waves …

Interfaith Service And March Poster

Postville Project Documents

A poster announcing an interfaith service and march in support of immigrant families and a call for immigration reform.. in Postville, Iowa on July 27, 2008.

Geography Newsletter, 2007-2008, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Geography.

Geography Newsletter

Inside this issue:

-- Alumni Newsletter
-- News From the Head
-- Department News and Activities
-- Notes from the Geographic Alliance of Iowa
-- Student News
-- Faculty News
-- Alumni News
-- University of Northern Iowa GeoInformatics Training, Research, Education and Extension

The Roles Of Coaches And Teachers : Fostering A Climate For Motivation In An Age Of Accountability, Jocelyn Hays

Graduate Research Papers

This paper examines the difference between how a coach motivates an athlete or fosters a climate for motivation versus how a teacher motivates a student or fosters a climate for motivation. One way to examine how coaches and teachers motivate their athletes and students is to examine the roles of coaches and teachers as motivators. Examining the roles of coaches and teachers as motivators and the subsequent discussion of how the roles of coaches as motivators could inform the roles of teachers as motivators seeks to satisfy society's call for teacher accountability.

An Herbal Abc Book: A Contribution To Information Available To Children And Adults, Linda Jo Kirkland

Graduate Research Papers

From Neanderthal to New Age times, plant medicine has been shown to be used by people seeking relief from ailments. There is a lack of information available for children to learn about the simple herbal remedies used by their ancestors even though herbal remedies are commonly used in this country. These plant remedies are both culturally and medically significant. People use herbal medicine to a great extent without consulting medical professionals. Therefore, a research based herbal ABC book would be a significant addition to children’s literature in this country, both as information for children and adults, and as a conversation …

Cooperation Or Irritation: The Relationship Between Teacher-Librarians And Public Librarians In The North Central Iowa Library Service Area, Joette L. Kofoot

Graduate Research Papers

This study explored the role of cooperation between teacher librarians and public librarians in Iowa's North Central Library Service Area. The methodology used for this study was a qualitative study of current cooperative attitudes and methods among the school and public librarians of Iowa's North Central Library Service Area. The researcher conducted a survey among 48 school districts including 143 buildings located in the North Central Library Service Area (NCLSA). A second survey was conducted concurrently with the first and inciuded 83 public libraries in the North Central Library Service Area. The survey response rate included 56 school libraries and …

The Myth And Reality Of Prom: A Qualitative Examination Of The American High School Prom Experience, Sarah C. Brandt

Honors Program Theses

This research compares social and cultural myths about the prom with the reality of the high school prom experience. Data include content analysis of prom-related popular media, and ten qualitative interviews with individuals aged 20-25 about their high school prom experiences. Perceptions of what prom is supposed to be like are influence heavily by the media; study participants' real prom experiences were quite different. Additionally, participants' prom experiences related less with popular media depictions and more with their actual social status in high school culture. Findings support that the media present a narrow, idealized depiction of the prom that rarely …

Birthrate And Population Density As Predictors Of Quality Of Life, Jessica M. Young

Honors Program Theses

It is thought that economies can benefit from developing their members by providing more opportunities. Thus, when populations grow quickly or are large, quality of life may decrease due to fewer opportunities. To test this hypothesis, two studies were used to investigate correlations between population and quality of life variables. The first study considered U.S. states, while the second study examined countries. Population measures included birthrate and population density, as well as population growth rate for countries. State quality of life measures were: graduation rates, GDP, unemployment, poverty, violent crime rate, and income. Country measures were: life expectancy, literacy, GDP …

Social Politics And Freedom: Incorporating Civil Society Into Arendt's Political Thought, Grant J. Rozeboom

Honors Program Theses

The possibility of human freedom has captivated philosophers throughout the ages, often leading them to conclude that freedom is a unique capacity of humanity, exemplifying our potential for politics, contemplation, and/or religious salvation. In the modern age, beginning with the political writings of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, freedom has been understood (at least within the early liberal tradition and common discourse) as unhindered and individuated economic movement, motivated by self-interest and actualized most fully in institutions such as the consumerist free market. Yet, we find that the more we devote our actions to fulfilling our individual interests and needs, …

Surface Temperature Mapping Of The University Of Northern Iowa Campus Using High Resolution Thermal Infrared Aerial Imageries, Alexander Savelyev, Ramanathan Sugumaran

Faculty Work

The goal of this project was to map the surface temperature of the University of Northern Iowa campus using high-resolution thermal infrared aerial imageries. A thermal camera with a spectral bandwidth of 3.0-5.0 µm was flown at the average altitude of 600 m, achieving ground resolution of 29 cm. Ground control data was used to construct the pixelto-temperature conversion model, which was later used to produce temperature maps of the entire campus and also for validation of the model. The temperature map then was used to assess the building rooftop conditions and steam line faults in the study area. Assessment …

An American's Guide To Cultural Brokering, Jessica Anna Sauer

Honors Program Theses

The United States is the world's largest refugee host, welcoming almost 3 million people in the last 30 years, according to the January 16th, 2007 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle. In addition to refugees, the United States accepted 1,266,264 immigrants in 2006, as stated in the Office of Immigration Statistics 2006 Yearbook of Statistics. Furthermore, the Kids Count Data Center reports that one out of every five children lives in an immigrant family. Clearly, these numbers show that immigrants compose a significant part of our communities.

While the US strives to welcome newcomers, many immigrants are left in the …

Biracial Filipino Americans In Society, Neal Andrew Molitor

Honors Program Theses

Since I grew up in a small and predominantly white Midwestern town, I was acutely aware of the common cultural aspects of my Caucasian side. I was able to familiarize myself with the Western cultural values, and I felt comfortable within them. My appearance may have differed from my peers' but I was able to assimilate myself with all the local customs. However, I still felt that I was neglecting a major part of my identity. I needed to know more about the other half of my cultural heritage, and I knew that college and this thesis project would provide …

Gaming Towards Academic And Physical Success, Eric Burt

Graduate Research Papers

This review addresses the potential of serious video games and the benefits that serious video games can have on a student academically as well as physically. Serious video games require strategic thinking, problem solving, planning and decision making. Serious video games enable learners to experience ~eal world situations without the real-life consequences. Exergaming provides potential for combining gaming and exercise, this type of video game has tremendous upside. This review of research.investigates how video games can be used to engage learners and help students learn. Research is needed to determine which features of games and simulation~ are important for learning …

School Library Orientation: Introducing Teachers To The Roles And Services Of Teacher Librarians, Allison Emery

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research project was to develop materials that could be used to orient teachers new to a school building to the roles and services of the teacher librarian, the resources he or she can provide, and the culture of collaboration. Research questions seeking resolution were the following: (1) What do teachers new to a school need to know in order to be able to collaborate with a teacher librarian and to be able to use the school library and all of its resources to effectively meet the academic needs of their students? (2) What practices are best …

Who Should Own The Air?: A Closer Look At Smoking Bans, Stacy Mcmullen

Honors Program Theses

Smoking bans result from public health concerns. There are well over 70,000 articles in peer-reviewed journals that link smoking with various health problems [Chaloupka et al. 2004-2005, 2]. There are also a number of states currently debating statewide bans. Are statewide smoking bans the answer to the tobacco problem or are they simply an example of excessive paternalism? The purpose of this paper is to examine the two sides of the argument and determine whether policymakers should implement smoking bans. It will show that, in the end, nonsmokers should own the air, and smoking bans should be implemented to protect …

Adam Smith And Consumerism's Role In Happiness: Modern Society Reexamined, Michael Busch

Honors Program Theses

In modern America, consumerism has encouraged people to seek happiness through constantly expansion of their material standard of living. Consumerism has led to a growth of status consumption and .want-creation, both of which increase consumption without contributing to happiness. Adam Smith observed that lasting happiness is found in tranquility as opposed to consumption. In their quest for more consumption, people have forgotten about the three virtues Smith observed that best provide for a tranquil lifestyle and overall social well-being. Applying the virtues to modern society may decrease overall consumption but will lead to a more satisfied life.

Microcredit In Developing Countries: Evaluating Programs For Poverty Alleviation, Kelly Sue Nessa

Honors Program Theses

There is no question that poverty is a devastating problem in our world today; the UN estimates 34,000 children and 16,000 adults die each day from hunger or preventable diseases with poverty-related causes, totaling more than 18 million a year (Riddell, 2007). One way that poverty is exacerbated is through the inaccessibility of credit to the poor (Todaro, 2006). Microcredit/microfinance has become a popular way of addressing this problem, and this affects a great percentage of the world population that is impoverished. Therefore, a true evaluation of the benefits and downfalls of this economic tool should be addressed. The purpose …

Western Images In African Media: A Semiotic Investigation Of Three Nigerian-Made Films, Terence Ebi Ekiseh

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study makes a critical analysis of the portrayal of Western images in African-made films as represented in three selected Nigerian home-made movies. In other words, the study seeks to find out how images of Western European and North American cultures are portrayed in African films. The three films selected for the study are Spirit cf Love, Market Seller, and One Dollar. The films were selected on the basis of their popularity among Nigerian film audiences. They were also selected because they are recent, and are produced by renowned Nigerian filmmakers. The study utilized qualitative method to achieve its objective. …

Mother-Daughter Communication And Media Influence On Self-Esteem And Body Image, Tori Austin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Societal norms based on media venues influence the perception young females have of themselves; however, some literature indicates the mother daughter relationship can help minimize the possible negative effects. Young women are more susceptible to desire distorted media images of glamorous and thin women. As they make social comparisons with mediated images of womanhood, they may become disappointed in their own body image and possess lower self-esteem. The previous research has gaps when discussing mother daughter relationships, media's influence, and the impact on adolescent girls' self-esteem and body image. To determine predictors to young women's self-esteem and body image, 119 …

Exploring The Relationship Between Parent Beliefs And Athletes' Perceptions: A Sport Commitment Approach, Heather M. Dewaard

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between parents' and gymnasts' perceptions on sport commitment constructs. The sport commitment model developed by Scanlan et al. (1993) provides a theoretical framework in which to explain why athletes participate. Two constructs in the sport commitment model, social constraints and support, represent the social influence factors which can be perceived as supportive or pressuring and may come from a variety of sources such as: parents, coaches, teachers, and peers. Parents tend to play an important role in their child's sport experiences (M.R. Weiss & Ferrer-Caja, 2002), and may influence an …

Surface Temperature Mapping Of The University Of Northern Iowa Campus Using High Resolution Thermal Infrared Aerial Imagery, Alexander Savelyev

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The goal of this study was to produce and analyze a heat loss map of the University of the Northern Iowa campus using thermal infrared remote sensing data. Aerial data with the spatial resolution of 0.29m and radiometric resolution of 14 bit was collected. A model for the pixel to radiance and temperature conversion was developed with its parameters estimated with an R² of 0.78. Temperature imagery was shown to be consistent over the time of the survey and accurate to within 12°C. The temperature map then was used to assess the conditions of the rooftops and steam pipelines …

An Examination Of Intercultural Communication Training Programs For U.S. Sojourners In Denominational And Non-Denominational Organizations, Stuart L. Holsing

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Whether for business or personal pleasure, service projects or military service, each year millions travel to destinations very different from their own culture. The preparation of the sojourner for effective interaction in their host culture will largely determine success or failure in meeting the mutual objectives all parties involved. My experiences both as a participant and leader of seven different teams of volunteers with Christian agencies led me to investigate what training is given to equip sojourners for the challenges they will face in navigating the unfamiliar territory of cultural differences in the course of performing their mission. How is …

Season Long Evaluation Of Relationships Between Several Variables And Hitting Efficiency In Four Division I Volleyball Players, Patricia Raelyn Dietz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Throughout a collegiate volleyball season game performance fluctuates game to game and even match to match. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between several anthropometric and independent variables and hitting efficiency in four Division I athletes. Subjects were four female Division I volleyball players who participate in a hitting position. Subjects were tested weekly on vertical jump approach height (VJ), reactive strength index (RSI) using an AMTI force plate, BM (BM), and body composition (BF%). Pearson product moment correlations showed no significant correlations between hitting efficiency and each of the indpendent [sic] variables for each individual or …

Give ‘Em Hill: The Fighter Persona In Hillary Clinton’S 2008 Presidential Campaign, Rebecca Diane Buel

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Hillary Clinton announced her intentions to form a presidential exploratory committee on January 20, 2007. The campaign that followed this announcement was complicated by the many existing images created by Hillary Clinton's many years in the public eye. Throughout these many years, Hillary Clinton struggled to establish voter identification, and was frequently the subject of public criticism, rendering many existing images negative. Furthermore, she served in a variety of roles: governor's wife, first lady, senator, and most recently presidential candidate. Because of the conflicting data resulting from Hillary Clinton's negative publicity and her many roles, her presidential campaign faced a …