Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Adolescent Athletes' Use Of And Attitudes Toward Performance Enhancing Supplements, Stephanie R. Smith

Masters Theses

Performance enhancing supplements are widely used today in the competitive sports community. With the desire to be the best competitor, younger athletes are using supplements. Although there is no strong evidence that supplements will benefit adolescent athletes, this population is using supplements. The purposes of this study were to identify male and female adolescents' frequency of supplement use, nutrition knowledge, and collect data that will aid in the development of nutrition education materials for adolescent athletes.

Social Identity Theory In Campus Recreation: Examining Organizational And Exercise Identification Among Recreation Center Users, Kiel Emberton

Masters Theses

Social identity theory is often used in commercial settings to provide a basis for psychographic market segmentation. This usage has led to the development of organization identification in traditional business settings. Campus recreation is unique in that the primary product of consumption is exercise. In describing exercise behavior, social identity theory has been applied to explain the unique psychological attachments exercisers have to their exercise behavior. This application of social identity theory created the exercise identity construct. The purpose of this study was to examine social identity theory in campus recreation. Specifically, this study investigated the correlation between frequency of …

Advocacy Coalitions In Iowa And Illinois: Examining Same-Sex Policy Subsystems, Heather (Aiden) Ethington

Masters Theses

Literature on LGBT politics and rights has been limited. at best. Little information exists as to how coalitions form and build on successes and failures. Seeking to expand the body of research. this study examined the interest group coalitions active on either side of the highly divisive issue of same-sex marriage. Through a comparative case study, the research showed that at the subnational level many issues affect coalition success, including political culture, divisiveness, and in what arena policy change is occurring. Unsurprisingly, the study shows that perturbations in the subsystem led to the greatest response from coalitions, which led to …

Incremental Predictive Validity Of The Wechsler Intelligence Scale For Children, Fourth Edition: Predicting Academic Achievement With Wisc-Iv Fsiq And Index Scores, Shannon Hollinger

Masters Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to replicate the incremental predictive validity study of observed Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children- Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) factor index scores in predicting reading and mathematics achievement in a sample of referred children from a Midwestern community. Taken from an archival data set, the sample was composed of 298 students who were evaluated as part of special education referrals ranging from kindergarten through 9th grade. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to assess proportions of reading and mathematics achievement obtained from the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test- Second Edition (WIAT-II) and the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement-Third …

Middle School Teachers' Perceptions Of Strategies That Provide Social Support To Students, Heather Moore

Masters Theses

The present study built on the results of Suldo, Friedrich, White, Farmer, Minch, & Michalowski (2009), which identified several teacher behaviors perceived by middle school students as showing high or low social support. The present study collected data from 123 regular and special education middle school teachers using the Teachers' Perceptions About Social Support for Students (TPASSS) survey to investigate middle school teachers' perceptions of the high and low social support behaviors suggested by Sul do et al. (2009). The purpose of the present study was to investigate which behaviors the teachers in the present study and the students in …

What Parents Want From Parent-Teacher Conferences, Meghan A. Saxine

Masters Theses

Although parent-teacher conferences are common in most schools, there have been very few research studies investigating them. The purpose of this study was to identify what parents want from parent-teacher conferences. The specific goal of the present study was to identify, through the use of a questionnaire, the components of conferences that are most valued by parents. One hundred and seventy seven parents completed a questionnaire and provided feedback about aspects most valued during conferences. More than half of parents indicated that their child was present during the conference and all of the conferences followed a teacher-led format. Although parents, …

School Psychologist Training And Diagnosis Of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Katharine M. Zwolinski

Masters Theses

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder that is characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. ADHD is commonly diagnosed in childhood and one of the most frequent referral concerns brought to the attention of school psychologists, yet it is often misdiagnosed (Cotuono, 1993; Des granges, Des granges, & Karsky, 1995). The goal of this study is to explore ADHD training among specialist level school psychologists, assessment procedures they were exposed to during training, the information they rely on when determining if a child meets ADHD diagnostic criteria, and the accuracy of the diagnosis. It was hypothesized that the …

International Image Repair: Integrating Culture Into Image Repair Discourse, Nicole Mangiaracina

Masters Theses

An organization's image and reputation rely heavily on how it interacts with its stakeholders. With an increase in globalization, more organizations are conducting business internationally with diverse stakeholders. When an organization faces a crisis, it must design specific messages that meet the needs of its stakeholders and the public. Image Repair Theory not only provides strategies for crisis communicators when crafting messages, but it also provides guidelines to critically evaluate those messages. Most crisis communication research, including Image Repair Theory, does not address cultural differences. The ways in which a culture perceives, understands, and communicates about crises and image repair …

Prayers Of Obligation And Well-Being: A Study Of The Effects Of Orthodox Jewish Prayer, Charles T. Coleman

Masters Theses

In a study to explore the effect of concentration during Orthodox Jewish obligatory prayer on well-being, ten Orthodox Jewish prayers were rated by experts (Rabbis) for the inclusion of the five identified prayer types of adoration, thanksgiving, confession, supplication, and reception. The ratings were used to establish a prayer type score for each of the ten prayers studied. Other Orthodox Jewish males (non-Rabbis) were then surveyed about their individual level of concentration during the same ten prayers and about health and psychological well-being. Although the multiple regression analyses showed no link between degree of concentration and well-being, it was determined …

The Concurrent And Longitudinal Effects Of Maternal Approval And Sexual Communication On Adolescent Sexual Activity And Std Acquisition, Amy Blackmer

Masters Theses

Adolescent sexual activity can involve risky behaviors, such as failure to use a condom and having multiple sexual partners, which leads to increased risk of sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnosis. Prior research has shown that maternal factors, including maternal report of sexual communication and adolescent perceived approval of sexual activity, are associated with the level of sexual activity engaged in by adolescents. The present study utilized data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health project (Add Health) to examine the relationship between maternal reports of sexual communication, adolescent perception of maternal approval, and adolescent gender on concurrent and later …

Transition In Conceptualizing The Transgender Experience: A Measure Of Counselor Attitudes, Rachel N. Rehbein

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine counseling practitioner attitudes regarding the diagnosis, conceptualization and treatment of trans gender clients, and to observe possible factors affecting counselor views of trans gender individuals and their presenting issues. The Counselor Attitude Survey (CAS) was designed to measure coonselor attitudes toward trans gender individuals. This measure was distributed to 1000 members of the American Counseling Association throughout the United States and United States territories, resulting in 66 total respondents. Support was found regarding the association between counselor attitudes toward the transgender population and religious and political affiliations. Much of the literature states …

Overt And Relational Aggression In A Camp Setting: Links To Cognition, Emotion, And Behavior, Chelsea M. Fuelling

Masters Theses

Research examining relational and overt forms of aggression and socialpsychological adjustment in childhood has greatly increased over the last decade. Studies have shown that children view both relationally manipulative behaviors and physically harmful behaviors as "aggressive". Children's beliefs about the legitimacy of aggression (i.e., cognitions) and emotions are related to overt aggression. However, few studies in this area have examined both types of aggression ( overt and relational). This study examined the relationship between childhood aggression and children's cognitions, emotions, and behaviors, in a day camp setting. Results demonstrated that all three domains were related to overt and relational aggression. …

Understanding French Foreign Policy After The Second World War, Christophe D. Amegan

Masters Theses

This thesis is about providing a general understanding of French foreign policy since the end of the Second World War as suggested by the existing literature on soft power, military interventions, and the promotion of democracy. Even though France came out of the war very weakened, the country over the years has found ways to remain influential on the international scene. France's preference for diplomacy, its reliance on an international institution such as Francophonie, its readiness to intervene militarily when needed, and its support to the promotion of democracy internationally, have all work to preserve France's standing as a middle …

Polarization In Congressional Committees, Andrew Age

Masters Theses

This thesis analyzes whether polarization is occurring in congressional committees, both the House of Representatives and the Senate standing committees, from 1970-2010. Sean Theirault's (2006) research of polarization on the floor of Congress is the foundation for identifying similar results in the standing committees. In addition, committees will be separated into three different types: regional, national, and power. These types are based on previous categorizing strategies by Glenn Parker and Suzanne Parker (1979), Keith Krebhiel (1990), Garry Young and Valerie Heitshusen (2003), and Gary Cox and Matthew McCubbins (2007). The separation of committees is to find if some committees polarize …

Winning The Un-Winnable In Afghanistan? Counterinsurgency And Ethnic Strife, Joseph P. Bell

Masters Theses

After pursuing military actions in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States adopted a counterinsurgency policy to properly address these conflicts. After implementing this new strategy, it appears that the United States has been able to succeed against the insurgency, while losing more and more ground in Afghanistan. Upon examination, it was determined that the ethnic fractionalization in Afghanistan presented a unique challenge to the counterinsurgency effort that had not been present in Iraq.

The effects of this ethnic fractionalization were then analyzed on local counterinsurgency tactics and the overall nation building strategy in Afghanistan. Local counterinsurgency tactics had largely …

The Relationship Between Cyberbullying And Depression In Adolescents, Meredith Mcdermott

Masters Theses

The current study examined the relationship between cyberbullying and depression in high school students, and the relationship between help seeking, parental involvement, and depression. One hundred twenty seven high school students, 43% male and 57% female, between I 4 to 18 years of age, completed a self-report survey. Results indicated that the more experiences students had with cyberbullying, the more likely they were to report symptoms of depression. At an alpha level of .01, results showed that there was a significant positive relationship between bullying and depression, r(125) = .42,p

Necessary Competencies For Computer-Based Construction Estimating Curriculum: Delphi Study Of An Expert Panel, Ryan Schulz

Masters Theses

Universities are continuously updating curriculum to meet the needs of students entering the work force in an ever competitive environment. The construction industry is not immune to this competition and in need of competent estimators proficient in producing highly detailed estimates with the aid of computer based estimating programs.

This study set out to find necessary competencies for college students learning how to use computer based estimating programs that can be transferred to real world situations upon graduation. Using a modified Delphi technique, a panel of experts was established from the construction industry and academia too accurately obtain a set …

Orthorexia Nervosa: Healthy Eating Or Eating Disorder?, Sonia Mahesh Shah

Masters Theses

A new concept called orthorexia nervosa has recently become more prevalent in scientific journal articles. Orthorexia nervosa has been defined as a fixation on eating only healthy foods, spending hours ruminating on meals, and an obsession with proper nutrition (Bratman, 1997). Several studies have attempted to investigate this concept, establish prevalence rates, and determine whether orthorexia is a disorder. Some studies have found an association between eating disorders, anxiety, and orthorexia as well as posited risk factors such as higher body-mass index, level of education, and sex. The present study examined an individual's scores on measures of orthorexia, anxiety, eating …

Comparative Study Of Consumer Attitudes Toward Internet And Tv Advertising, Aneela Sheikh

Masters Theses

Evolution of the Internet has offered a new communication platform to exchange an unlimited amount of data around the world without geographical boundaries. Nicovich, Boller, and Cornwell (2005) indicated that since Internet advertisements are accessible by anyone who has an Internet connection, consumers could get different types of information about products and services by means of a simple click, it could be an important medium for attracting and retaining consumers through advertising.

The research undertaken in this study aims to explore which type of advertising media (TV or Internet) is perceived by consumers as more helpful and influential in making …

African American Male Student Leaders And Matriculation: A Qualitative Evaluation, Alexandra Leann Finley

Masters Theses

The current study was designed to identify the correlations between leadership, academic success, and matriculation within the African American male community at a predominantly White institution. Within separate one-on-one interviews, six participants were asked a set of pre-determined questions regarding their involvement and educational experiences at their university. Through coding and analyzing participant responses, five themes emerged, including: 1) academic success as an African American male student leader, (2) leadership skills learned and developed, (3) skills obtained for general success as an African American male student leader at a PWI, (4) the importance of mentoring on shaping an African American …

Effects Of Positive Bedtime Routines On Sleep In Toddlers, Mallory Osterloo

Masters Theses

Establishment of a consistent bedtime routine is often recommended to parents of toddlers. Few studies have investigated the efficacy of implementing a bedtime routine, without additional behavioral intervention. Sixty-one parents and their toddler (ages 18- 48 months, n = 61) were given written information regarding a positive bedtime routine to examine the effects on bedtime-resistance and improving parent mood. This study found that institution of a consistent nightly bedtime routine with non sleep-disordered toddlers may improve some aspects of bedtime resistance (i.e., calling out), increase sleep duration during the night, and improve parent's negative mood. However, there was no change …

Nutrition And Stature: The Residents Of The Island Of Gotland, Sweden Killed In The Battle Of Wisby, 1361, Michelle A. Miller

Masters Theses

This research examines stature in order to assess the socio-economic status of Gotland, an island (and municipality) off the coast of Sweden, before the 1360's. Gotland was known as a wealthy and autonomous peasant republic although it was loosely ruled by the Swedish Crown. In 1361, the Danish Army laid siege on the seaport city of Wisby to obtain its riches. Three days after the battle, the approximately 1800 dead Gotlanders were tossed haphazardly into five common graves. Archaeological excavations took place from 1905-1930 by Bendt Thordeman, among others. The human remains were analyzed in 1937. Osteological analysis in the …

An Exploration Of Communication Strategies For Effectively Organizing And Managing Collaborative Grant Writing Groups, Lisa Dopke

Masters Theses

The present research explored approaches to collaborative grant writing, as little is known about the details or range of variation in the processes that are currently deployed by professionals working within this context. Findings were used to build a typology of the roles specific to collaborative grant writing groups, provide a discussion of ideal group composition and leadership, and to identify and suggest ten best practice strategies for organizing and managing group dynamics and tasks during the phases of the collaborative writing process.

"There's Something Wrong About The Way You Look, There's Something Wrong With You": Memorable Messages Concerning Identity And Body Weight, Scott A. Richmond

Masters Theses

This thesis examined the body weight discourse through interviews concerning memorable messages received prior to and after a period of weight loss, along with messages' effects on individuals' identities. As the communication of messages concerning body weight and identity had yet to be thoroughly examined, this study worked to illuminate how the discourse is communicated.

Emergent themes were discussed, such as pre-weight loss messages communicating a separate social identity, less social desirability, and advice about body weight. Post-weight messages themes of acknowledging a change in appearance, positive valuation of the change, and questions on the weight change were also examined. …

Implementing A Street And Property Identification System: A Case Study Of Accra, Ghana, Grace Akpene Ecklu

Masters Theses

An increasing problem in rapidly growing cities of developing countries is lack of a functional and standardized address system to support management of resources and provision of necessary facilities and services. In Accra, Ghana, previous attempts to develop an address system have been fragmented in nature and largely unsuccessful. This paper examines the reasons why previous attempts have failed and how a physical address system can be successfully implemented within the Ghanaian context. Based on interviews with a City Planner and a sample of residents of Accra, the paper identifies political, administrative, technical and socio-cultural challenges as major gaps which …

Individualism And Collectivism In Chinese And American Advertisements, Siu Yu Hsu

Masters Theses

This study examined the different values in TV advertisements targeting younger Chinese (13-29), Older Chinese (55 or above), Younger Americans (13-34), and older Americans (55 or above) using Hofstede's (1984) individualism-collectivism dimensions. With the open door policy imposed in China, younger Chinese became Westernized. A content analysis of 566 TV ads was examined to test the degree of individualism, collectivism, modernity themes, and traditional themes in TV ads among the four target groups. Three hypotheses and one research question guiding this study proposed that TV ads targeting younger Chinese would score higher in individualism and modernity; TV ads targeting older …

Communication Disconnect: Generational Stereotypes Between Generation X/Y And Baby Boomers In American And Chinese Organizational Communication, Yuxiang Du

Masters Theses

This research explores organizational communication between Generation X/Y and the Baby Boomers within the American and Chinese groups using social identity theory. Twenty participants were interviewed about their opinions on this issue. Thematic analysis was used to examine themes in the responses. The themes were organized into six categories: outlining Generation X/Y, outlining Baby Boomers, generational communication, generational stereotypes, cultural influences, and favorable solutions. Two referent elements were used through the whole discussion, social identity and cultural characteristics. The study revealed a strong social identity with all the four generational groups, difficulties in communication and stereotypes because of the identities. …

The Obstacles To The Integration Of Muslims In Germany And France: How Muslims And The States Impair The Smooth Transition From Immigrant To Citizen, Yael R. Cohen

Masters Theses

The place of Islam has been an ongoing debate for decades and still remains unresolved. Since the inception of the guest worker program initiated by European countries following the devastation of WWII, particularly France and Germany, Europe’s largest economies, the unanticipated occurred; what was conceived to be a temporary imported labor force which would eventually return home, turned into permanent settlement. For France, the labor pool emanated from colonial holdings predominantly from Maghreb, North Africa. Germany had no such labor source, but had a long ongoing relationship with Turkey which dated back to the Ottoman Empire. The entrance of this …

Economic & Political Factors For Renewable Energy In The United States, Jeremiah Daniel Yokley

Masters Theses

The results of this study provide some insight to how qualitative regime variables affect the production of renewable energy in the United States. Specifically this paper found that while working with other variables the political affiliation of the President of the United States and the party holding the majority of seats in the United States House of Representatives and Senate can aid in forecasting renewable energy production growth. With this insight it is possible to better prepare for future energy investments by either governments or the private sector. This paper specifically examines total renewable energy production, hydroelectric energy production, solar …

Familial Factors And Attachment Styles Of Male And Female Adult Children Of Alcoholics, Kristina M. Decker

Masters Theses

In the United States, alcohol use disorders represent some of the most prevalent mental health disorders. Research has begun to explore parental alcoholism and its impact on children and families. The present study sought to examine the relationship between parental alcoholism and adult attachment styles in adult children of alcoholics (A CO As), as well as the relationship with several familial factors such as gender of the alcoholabusing parent, family cohesion, family satisfaction, parent-child attachment, physical abuse, and verbal abuse. A sample of 223 college students completed a series of measures on parental alcoholism, family cohesion, family satisfaction, parent-child attachment, …