Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

A Comparative Study Of The Organizational Culture Of Capra Accredited And Non-Accredited Municipal Park And Recreation Agencies, John E. Farland

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to explore and examine the organizational cultures of municipal park and recreation agencies in the United States. Further, the study sought to compare the organizational cultures of municipal park and recreation agencies which have achieved accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) versus those who have not achieved CAPRA accreditation. Organizational culture according to Schein (1985) included characteristics found within a working environment, a pattern of assumptions, both written and assumed, passed on to new members. Authors throughout the literature wrote that all organizations have culture. Accreditation is a …

Risk-Taking Propensity And Its Relationship To Achievement Motivation Among Selected Municipal Parks And Recreation Directors In The State Of Iowa, Jiangong (Brad) Tan

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study was to examine the risk-taking propensity and achievement motivation among selected park and recreation directors in the state of Iowa. More specifically, the study is designed to determine the relationships between risk-taking propensity and achievement motivation. In addition, the study seeks to explore the relationships between various demographic variables such as age, gender, education level, city size, agency size, organizational budget, and years of professional experience in the park and recreation field and either risk-taking propensity or achievement motivation.

Atkinson's Theory of Achievement Motivation and McClelland's Need for Achievement were employed to better understand the …

Leisure And Aging: A Content Analysis Of Leisure Textbooks And Leisure Academic Journal Articles, Leila Rod-Welch

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study will review literature related to leisure and aging. We live in an aging society. People are expected to live healthier and longer. Therefore, there is a need to analyze how older adults are portrayed in leisure textbooks and academic journal articles which are typically used to educate and train recreation professionals. This study explores whether leisure textbooks published in the United States addressed the topic of aging and, if so, to what extent. In addition, any differences between leisure textbooks and specialty leisure and aging textbooks were analyzed. A content analysis of 54 leisure textbooks from six U.S. …

Parental Perceptions Of A Midwest Public Library: An Exploratory Study Of Chinese-Speaking Residents, Lingxin Ruth Yan

Graduate Research Papers

The United States has experienced the rapid growth of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) students in public schools since 1990. Issues concerning CLD students such as their limited English proficiency, school failures, parental involvement in their education, appropriate models of bilingual education and study resources provided by libraries have caused increasing concerns from policy makers, school administrators and educators at all school levels. Facing the diversity population reality, both school libraries and public libraries are called to become more culturally responsive in providing effective outreach library services to ensure academic success of all CLD students and meet the needs of …

Body Type And Perceived Physical Competence In College Female Dancers, Brenna Marie Vogel

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The relationship between body type and perceived physical competence was determined among college female company dancers. Participants were from one of four technique based dance companies at a midwestern university. They were questioned as to their perceived physical competence in seven different styles of dance, all of which had been offered at the selected university over the previous academic year. Body type was calculated using both the Body Mass Index Scale and the Body Composition Analyzer, which is a bioelectrical impedance analysis of one's body fat percentage, total body water, and body weight. A total of 44 participants took part …

Leisure: Definitions, Patterns, And Constraints: A Study Of University Students In China, Shisi Zhou

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

China has witnessed tremendous social transformation in the last three decades due to the introduction of the "open door" policy and economic reforms in the late 1970s, which has resulted in great changes in Chinese culture and identity considerations. University students, as one of the most energetic and creative groups of individuals in the society, are playing and will play an important role in leading leisure lifestyles in China in the future. The purpose of this study was to examine the understanding of leisure (xiuxian in Chinese), leisure patterns, and constraints among university students in China.

Undergraduate students (N = …

Parental Influences On Children’S Physical Activity, Molly Eshelman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The general purpose of this study was to investigate the role of parental influence on children's physical activity (PA) behaviors. The specific purposes were to (1) determine the relationship between parental attitudes and their children's PA, (2) determine if parental exercise habits are related to their children's PA participation, (3) determine if parental knowledge of physical activity recommendations is related to their children's PA participation, ( 4) examine the nature of parenting practices on their children's PA participation, and (5) investigate the mediating effect of socio-economic status on the influence parents have on their children's PA participation. Questionnaires were obtained …

Self-Censorship In Iowa Elementary Libraries, Lacey Fliger

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether or not Iowa elementary school children had access to fiction and non-fiction titles containing potentially controversial topics. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether Iowa elementary schools with professionally certified school librarians hold a greater number of recommended books from ALA Notable Children's Books list from 2002-2009 in which reviews do not indicate potentially controversial topics as compared with those ALA Notable Children's Books from the same years in which reviews indicate potentially controversial topics. The methodology used for this study was quantitative research. The researcher randomly chose 45 …

Optimizing Pdf Searchability With Google, Barbara West, Pat Newcombe, Steve Bobowicz

Faculty Scholarship

The Authors recount how they optimized pdf searchability of faculty scholarship on Digital Commons--an institutional repository. They used Adobe Professional to ensure the PDFs were searchable via the full text.

Importance Of Reader's Advisory Interview In Graphic Novel Promotion, Lori Petersen

Graduate Research Papers

Web sites, magazine articles, books, and even summer library programs are promoting graphic novels as an almost magic cure for those children who struggle with the written word or who may be simply lack interest in reading. Much of the appeal of the graphic novel for teachers and librarians is based on the pictures, and it is easy to assume this makes reading easier.

This research sought to explore the graphic novel reading experiences for young readers to ascertain (1) the nature of their understanding of the graphic novel; (2) their tendency to draw inference and interpretation from text and …

Educating A School Community Implementing A One-To-One Laptop Learning Initiative, Shannon Mcclintock Miller

Graduate Research Papers

As a major technological change is implemented into a school community, such as a one-to-one laptop learning initiative, it is essential to educate everyone involved in order for it to be successful. In this research project, the Van Meter 1:1 Laptop Learning Initiative Google Site was developed to provide the resources and continued support needed for the change. The digital tools created to be used through the Google site brought knowledge, collaboration, creativity, and connections to the students, teachers, parents, and community at Van Meter. The tools also served as a way for Van Meter to connect to the world …

Designing A Library Program To Increase The Number Of Fourth Grade Reading Goals, Jodonna Carlson

Graduate Research Papers

The problem identified by this research was at School C, 37% of the fourth grade students were not meeting their reading goal. The library at School C may not have been designed to meet the needs of these students. Action research using both quantitative and qualitative methods to gather data was used in this study. Parental permission was given for four fourth grade students to participate in this study. Two fourth grade teachers also agreed to participate in this study. Field notes were used to gather data during observations of book checkout for each class. Open-ended questions were asked each …

Sheldon Community History Traveling Trunk Project, Jan M. Kinderknecht

Graduate Research Papers

National, state, and local standards guide education in what is taught in the classrooms today. A lack of resources is often a problem in teaching these standards, especially at the local level. The Sheldon third grade teachers needed resources to fulfill the teaching expectations about their local community. The purpose of this project was to develop a traveling trunk filled with primary and secondary resources to be used in the teaching of a social studies unit on the community of Sheldon. Deciding what people, places, and events to include in these resources is often a concern. Another concern was what …

A Need For Picture Books Showing Girls Playing Organized Team Sports, Lisa A. Heiden

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to create a children's picture storybook depicting female characters participating in competitive team athletics. The book shows a young girl learning about the game of basketball and sharing the experience with her older sister. The researcher has a long history of athletic participation and a deep passion for sports. These experiences allowed the researcher to capture the essence of the sport of basketball and create a picture book for children that engages the reader and possibly encourages participation in athletics for children of various ages. The book gives young, athletic girls an early experience …

Functional Behavioral Assessment : School Based Practice And Perception, Clint Henning

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is a process that attempts to uncover specific causes and reinforcement of inappropriate behavior in order to design and implement interventions that more accurately address these behaviors. According to the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, functional assessments are now required in working with students struggling with inappropriate behavior. Despite these requirements there is still ambiguity about how these assessments are carried out in school settings (Gartin and Murdick, 2001). This study consisted of a survey of school psychologists in the state of Iowa to understand how the process looks currently, ten years …

The Unforgettable June 2008 Cedar River Flood, Keri Annis

Graduate Research Papers

Natural disasters such as flooding cause emotional and financial strains. Among those directly affected are children. Communities are forever changed after suffering loses due to flooding. Informational text provides discussion and comprehension for children. An informational booklet about the devastating June 2008 Cedar River flood and the effects it has had on the Cedar Rapids community would benefit third graders in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. Due to the recency of this flood, no informational books about it have been published for children. The purpose of this research project was to create an informational booklet using a non-fiction expository …

A Glance Backwards: An Analysis Of Youth Resiliency Through Autoethnographical And Life History Lenses, Toney Bissett Ford

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate youth resiliency employing dual methodologies, auto-ethnography and life history research respectively, to reveal how two middle-aged adults (one African-American, the other Caucasian) achieved resiliency; and most importantly, how their experiences and insights might inform ongoing efforts to promote youth resiliency. This research project was a follow-up to a previous study (involving four African American participants – two males and two females) conducted to determine the roles that schools and communities play in promoting youth resiliency.

Offering insights into the usefulness of extended research, Herr and Anderson (2005) captured the essence of my …

Issues Faced By Female Middle Managers On Returning To The Workplace Following Maternity Leave., Flora Buckley

Theses

The increased participation of women in the workforce has been one of the major changes in the labour force in recent years. The nature of Ireland’s workforce has changed radically in the past twenty years and women, whether for personal or financial reasons, are now an established part of the workforce. Despite the rapid increase in female participation in the paid labour-force, considerable evidence has been gathered that documents a dearth of women in executive level positions not just in Ireland, but internationally.

Many studies have highlighted issues women face in progressing to senior level management. There is, however, very …

Assessing The Impact Of Social Media On The Celebrity Industry: A Public Relations Perspective, Jessica O'Sullivan

Theses

There has been an increased interest from academics, public relations professionals and industry professionals in the importance of social media in the role of public relations. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of the effect social media has on the celebrity industry, from a public relations perspective.

A qualitative research design was chosen, and the primary methods used to gather the data were semi-structured interviews with online communication professionals from the public relations industry and an online music producer who uses various forms of social media to distribute and promote his music. All interviewees were chosen due to …

Understanding Gender-Based Violence: Evidence From Kilimanjaro Assessment Of Rombo And Moshi Rural, Jane L. Saffitz

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Public Choice And Environmental Policy: A Review Of The Literature, Christopher H. Schroeder

Faculty Scholarship

This paper is a draft of a chapter for a forthcoming book, Research Handbook in Public Law and Public Choice, edited by Daniel Farber and Anne Joseph O'Connell, to be published by Elgar. It reviews the public choice literature on environmental policy making, first generally and then with respect to four fundamental environmental policy questions: (1) whether or not government action is warranted; (2) if it is, the scope and stringency of the government action, including the manner in which a bureaucracy will implement and enforce any statutory standards; (3) the level of government that assumes responsibility; and (4) the …

The Rule Of Law Unplugged, Daniel B. Rodriguez, Mathew D. Mccubbins, Barry R. Weingast

Faculty Scholarship

The "Rule of Law" is a venerable concept, but, on closer inspection, it is a complex admixture of positive assumptions, inchoate political and legal theory, and occasionally wishful thinking. Although enormous investments have been made in rule of law reformism throughout the world, advocates of transplanting American-style legal and political institutions to developed and developing countries are often unclear about what they are transplanting and why they are doing so. The concept of rule of law has become unplugged from theories of law. Scholars clearly have more work to do in understanding the rule of law and designing institutions to …

A Proposal For Early Impact, Persistent, And Cost-Effective Job Creation Policies, Timothy J. Bartik

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Socioeconomic Rights Of Refugees: The Case Of Palestinian Refugees In Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, And Syria, Asem Khalil

Faculty Journal Articles

This paper is a contribution to discussions on the possible impact of global crises, especially the current financial crisis, on the economic and social rights of Palestinian refugees in host Arab countries. This paper will be limited to discussing the case of Palestinian refugees in Arab states that host the majority of Palestinian refugees (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria Palestinian refugees constitute a unique case study. ), but recognizes that the impact of such crises reaches beyond refugees, to citizens and other legal and illegal migrants.

Saving Saba Bank: Policy Implications Of Biodiversity Studies, Paul C. Hoetjes, Kent E. Carpenter

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Saba Bank has always been an area of special importance to the neighboring island of Saba in the Netherlands Antilles. Sabans traditionally fished on the Bank as far back as 1907, but increasing foreign fishing pressures on the Bank in the 1970s and 1980s forced many Saban fishermen out. Concerns were compounded by the suspicion that shipping was also damaging the benthic habitat of the bank. Fishery legislation, enacted in 1996, brought an end to unlicensed fishing and established Coast Guard enforcement on the Bank, but also led to protests from neighboring countries that previously fished on the Bank.Research was …

Emerson On Love, Shann Ray Ferch

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Mediocre people want to be loved. True people are lovely. -Ralph Waldo Emerson When I first discovered Emerson's two-part understanding I was caught short, thinking of the implications.

Seekers Anonymous: On Being A Seeker In The Twenty-First Century, Richard J. Leider, Larry C. Spears

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

The term servant-leadership was first coined in a 1970 essay by Robert K. Greenleaf, entitled The Servant Leader. Greenleaf defined servantleadership this way: "The servant-leader is servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. The best test is: do those served grow as persons; do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit, or at least not be further deprived?" While Greenleaf is best …

Gardening Tips For Servant-Leaders, Part 2, Thorsten Grahn

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Metaphors always produce a kind of one-sided perspective, and imply a particular way of thinking and of seeing. They transfer meaning from a wellunderstood source domain such as "gardening" to a rather complex target domain such as "organizational leadership." Different metaphors of organization have different focuses. While the organization-as-machine metaphor focuses on the functioning of each part, the focus of the organization-asgarden metaphor is the healthy growth of the individual plant/person. In organization theory, it is the servant-leader who focuses on the growth of the individual, and who continuously asks himself the Greenleaf test question, "Do those being served grow …

Justice And Forgiveness In The Family, R. John

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

The presence of a committed alcoholic/addict in the midst of a family has a profound effect on the family's structure and dynamic. Over time in such an environment, a web of frustration, disappointment, shattered hope, bitter resentment, unmet expectations, and mutually debilitating codependency is woven, enmeshing equally the alcoholic and his loved ones. This pattern is nearly universal, and yet many if not most alcoholics proceed for years thinking that it does not apply to them. I was no different. For fifteen years, from my first drink at age fifteen until my last at age thirty, my progressive alcoholism was …

Toward A Servant-Led Response Rooted In Forgiveness And Restorative Justice In The Catholic Clergy Sexual Abuse Scandal, Dung Q. Tran

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

A STORY OF CLERGY ABUSE AND FORGIVENESS ASKING A chill in the air, fog smearing his windows, Tom Blanchette drove west of Boston to Lexington. He had an appointment with Father Joseph Birmingham. It had been twenty-five years since Birmingham's going-away party in Sudbury, where they last spoke. "How could I ever explain to anybody that I had laid naked in Father B.'s bed over a hundred times? I didn't know how to explain these experiences. All I knew was I didn't like it. But I saw him every Saturday and Sunday, because I worked in the church rectory; I …