Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Oil, Power, And Discourse: How Chevron Evaded Its Dues To The Indigenous Communities Of The Ecuadorian Amazon, Kine Norland

Master's Theses

Abstract

The principal objectives of this thesis were to shed lights on the backside of oil and to question the great power of big corporations. I researched why Chevron refused to acknowledge its legal obligation to remedy the complex problems it has caused in the Ecuadorian Rainforest. The catastrophes the indigenous communities have been facing are about to change as a result of grass root mobilization against Chevron. By the use of observations, discourse analysis of the media, and the use of theories from Michel Foucault, I was able to explain how Chevron has managed to escape from the terrible …

A Tale Of Two Superpowers: Nigeria And China Relations, Faouziatou Aboudou Kabassi

Master's Theses

The study discusses the historical development of the Sino-Nigerian bilateral relations. The paper provides a detailed view of china's FDI in Nigeria and the diverse challenges faced by the oil rich country to develop its own economy through NEEDS as a result of china's economic power. China’s partnership with Nigeria is ideally for economic growth but practically poisonous to Nigeria’s development goals as China is solely pursuing its own interest and diverting its partner from working toward its NEEDS goal. A deep investigation of the relations should be reviewed for both countries. This will be needed to produce vital economic …

Do Culturally Engaging Reading Materials Matter? An Analysis Of Rural Libraries In Burkina Faso, Erica Ernst

Master's Theses

Academics have noted the lack of culturally relevant reading materials in African libraries. Book collections are primarily composed of donated materials from western countries intended for a western, rather than African audience. This research project aimed to gain insight onto children’s reading preferences in the rural Burkina Faso and to learn about the popularity of local photo books that were added in 2009. Quantitative methods examined library book checkout records in three categories of African, French, and local photo books. Additionally the library subscription records were used in order to gain information about the children including age, gender, and ethnicity. …

Nouns And Verbs In The Tagalog Mental Lexicon, Linda Walton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to study grammatical categories in the Tagalog mental lexicon using lexical decision tasks. Some linguists question whether words in Tagalog can be classified as nouns and verbs (Foley, 1998; Kaufman, 2011) because most root words can be inflected for any grammatical function and because verbs cannot be used in their uninflected form. Previous studies with English and German (Kauschke and Stenneken 2008) have shown that participants respond differently to nouns and verbs in lexical decision tasks. These studies have also shown that participants respond differently to transitive and intransitive verbs in lexical decision tasks. …

The Globalization Of Cosmetic Surgery: Examining Bric And Beyond, Lauren E. Riggs

Master's Theses

What is driving the globalization of cosmetic surgery? Using BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries as a model, this master's thesis systematically identifies and analyzes (1) the origins of cosmetic surgery in historical, regional, and country-specific terms, and (2) examples of how cosmetic surgery has become normalized. As a result, clear patterns emerge in regards to: embedded power structures related to racism and war; the results of Western interests rapidly opening countries’ markets to high media and corporate influence—especially in the wake of political oppression and austerity; the exacerbation of pre-existing class, color, race, and gender prejudice by hyper-consumerism; the …

Youth In Interfaith Dialogue: Intercultural Understanding And Its Implications On Education In The Philippines, Jayeel Cornelio, Timothy Andrew E. Salera

Development Studies Faculty Publications

In the wake of religious conflicts around the world, interfaith dialogues are being introduced to facilitate intercultural and religious understanding and tolerance. Although the participation of young people in interfaith dialogue and its impact on education is crucial to its sustainability, the literature on youth and interfaith has been very limited. This article addresses this gap by probing the significance or impact of interfaith on the views of our youth respondents on other religions. The view of our youth respondents show that interfaith dialogues do not have to begin and end in theological discussions. To them, the significance of interfaith …

Does Attachment To Parents Mediate The Relationship Between Couple Conflict And Adolescent Self-Regulation?, Lisa Tensmeyer Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescent self-regulation follows a developmental trajectory over time with ups and downs during maturation. This paper uses growth curve analysis to look at change in self-regulation over time. Although self-regulation scores may increase during latency, adolescents differ in levels of self-regulation due to biological and socialization factors. In addition, exposure to couple conflict has been shown to affect levels of self-regulation. The current study examined the role of attachment to parents as a mediator between couple conflict and adolescent self-regulation outcomes, controlling for gender of child. Participants were 681 families with a child between the ages of 11 and 13 …

Competitive Balance In Division 1 College Hockey: An Economic Analysis, Christopher Decarlo

Honors Theses

This paper seeks to determine the levels of competitive balance in Division I college hockey using several well known measures of competitive balance. It focuses on the five hockey conferences, specifically on win percentages and concentration of conference and national championships. This paper also seeks to determine any correlation between university actions, specifically athletic spending, and successful hockey programs. Finally, it suggests possible areas of future research and ways to improve on the current research.

Electronic Information Resources Awareness, Attitude And Use By Academic Staff Members Of University Of Lagos, Nigeria, Olatokunbo Christopher Okiki

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper is an attempt to study the issues of electronic information resources awareness, attitude and use by academic staff members of university of Lagos, Nigeria with a view to survey the exposure of academics to electronic information resources. Also, it aims to highlight the challenges faced by the users and suggests some corrective measures for its improvement. A test-retest reliability method of two weeks interval was conducted, response obtained were subjected to Pearson Product Moment Correlation method and a reliability co-efficient of 0.81 was obtained. The random sampling technique together with a questionnaire was used for data collection on …

Content Analysis Of Journal Literature Published From Uk And Usa, Paramjeet Kaur Walia, Manpreet Kaur

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper aims to identify the types of research papers/articles, current trends in the choice of subjects, being included in the Library and information science (LIS) journal literature published from UK and USA. The study also aims to find out the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on LIS subject fields. A content analysis of 165 research papers and journals articles published in the year 2008 in six LIS journals was conducted. Findings indicate that 93 (56.36%) of the articles out of the total 165 were research based. The variation is found with regard to coverage of core subject …

General Structures, Literatures, And Problems Of Libraries: Revisiting The State Of Librarianship In Africa, James Afebuameh Aiyebelehin

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The society we live in is in constant need of information to solve its problems. The library serves as the agency responsible for the collecting, processing, managing and disseminating of this information in various formats to meet the varying needs of the users. Information may be needed for education, entertainment, socio-cultural development etc. It is therefore the duty of the librarian to ensure that there is availability and accessibility to the required information whenever it is needed. This paper looks at the nature of libraries, the structures of libraries, the literature of libraries and common problems plaguing the delivery of …

Modern Trends In Library And Information Science Education In Nigeria: Challenges And The Way Forward, Abdulganiy Okanla Ahmed

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

There had been developmental changes in the society because of its dynamic nature. In view of this, the traditional method of discharging responsibilities in most fields of human endeavour is gradually going into extinction and thus, the need to move along with times. This paper therefore focuses on the challenges of modern trends in Library and Information Science Education in Nigeria. The paper discusses the nature and constraints of information service provisions traditionally. It further accounts for historical antecedents of Library and Information Science Education in Nigeria. It also examines the challenges of modern trends in Library and Information Science …

Home Pages Of Ten Leading Global-Asian Academic Library Websites, Safie Tahmasebi Limoni, Mitra Ghiasi, Ali A. Razavi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

A website’s homepage is a gate to its content, and accuracy of structure is important. This is especially more important on academic library websites that are places for searching for general and specific information.

This is based on a survey-comparative method using researcher-made checklists. The population consists of ten leading global-Asian academic library websites confirmed by webometry site. Findings include three factors: search engine available on the first page (P = 0.000), available page for electronic resources separately (P = 0.003), image attraction (P = 0.002), and the bond between a library webpage and non-academic libraries (P = 0.001). There …

Human Rights Policy Paper: Rape As A Tactic Of War, Sarah Fitzgerald

Global Studies Student Scholarship

This paper reports on rape used as a tactic of war, outlining the scope of the problem and introducing policy options to address the issue on a global scale. Policy options targeted at relief services include increasing direct aid through funding fistula surgeries, building rural hospitals, and providing skills training for women awaiting surgery. Additional policy options addressing the problem at its root include legislative changes to stop impunity at the International Criminal Court, revising the Convention on Genocide to include sex and gender, utilization of devices such as the Rape aXe, and changing the culture of misogyny through educational …

Lacuny Junior Faculty Research Roundtable Meeting Minutes, December 2012, Lacuny

Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna: A Public Policy Approach To Saving An Iconic Species, Timothy Patrick O'Brien

Theses and Dissertations

The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is perhaps the most magnificent and most marvelous nomadic wild animal living in the world. It lives in the deep blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the largest of the world’s fin fish and the largest of the 48 other species of tuna (Kuhn, 1996). It is a species that seems to have been designed and sculpted by an artist—sleek, smooth, and beautiful—instead of having been a product of an evolutionary process. Today, the existence and future of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is in question because of the constant overexploitation …

The Structural Constitutional Principle Of Republican Legitimacy, Mark D. Rosen

William & Mary Law Review

Democracy does not spontaneously occur by citizens gathering to choose laws. Instead, representative democracy takes place within an extensive legal framework that determines such matters as who gets to vote, how campaigns are conducted, and what conditions must be met for representatives to make valid law. Many of the “rules of the road” that operationalize republicanism have been subject to constitutional challenges in recent decades. For example, lawsuits have been brought against partisan gerrymandering—which is partly responsible for the fact that most congressional districts are no longer party competitive, but instead are either safely Republican or safely Democratic—and against onerous …

Religious Groups And The Freshman Experience, Tess Culton

ISU Ethnography of the University Initiative

This study examined the benefits provided to first-year students by religious based organizations on university campuses, with an emphasis on the campus of Illinois State University. It also looked at the relationship between the university and these groups. Individuals involved with these groups, both freshmen and adults affiliated, were interviewed. There was also a great deal of observation of group meetings and discussion with university representatives.

Illinois State University’S Student Health Agenda, Cecilia Montesdeoca

ISU Ethnography of the University Initiative

This essay is a short study of Illinois State University’s (ISU) student health agenda. The study examines ISU’s perspective and approach on student health efforts, infrastructure of health departments on campus, and ongoing Health Promotion and Wellness programs and their impact on campus and in the local community. Methods used include interviews with faculty in the Department of Health Wellness and Promotion, ethnographic observations of peer-to-peer health promotion programs, review of Department of Health Promotion and Wellness sponsored materials, and health behavior data. The principle finding is that the University’s agenda and value of health reflects national cultural trends in …

Is The Daily Show Bad For Democracy? An Analysis Of Cynicism And Its Significance, Evan Bartlett

Honors Projects in History and Social Sciences

In recent years, satirical news programs like The Daily Show with Jon Stewart have emerged as an important development in contemporary American society, culture, and politics. Critics have argued that The Daily Show has a negative impact on the political attitudes of American citizens by making them cynical about government and the political process as a whole. As a result of these attitudes, they argue, citizens are less apt to participate in politics and, in turn, this behavior is detrimental to American democracy. The purpose of this research project is to explore the debate over whether or not The Daily …

Ua80/1 Meeting Minutes, W Club

University Organizations

Meeting agenda and minutes for December 2012 meeting of the W Club Board of Directors.

December 13, 2012: Premodern Foucault At The Newberry, Department Of English

Gleanings: Department of English Blog Archive

No abstract provided.

Cost-Effectiveness Of Outpatient Treatment For Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, And Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, Dwayne M. Horton

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the cost effectiveness of treating Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (NOS), as well as the effects that modality of therapy (i.e. individual, family, and mixed therapy), license of therapist, and secondary diagnosis had on recidivism and total cost of treatment in the care of these patients. One-thousand and thirty-eight patients (56 males, 982 females) diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, 1,674 patients (56 males, 1,618 females) diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa, and 1,997 patients (197 males, 1,800 females) diagnosed with Eating Disorder NOS were included in this study. Results revealed that family therapy was the …

Export Strength And Opportunities For Kentucky Industries, Christopher R. Bollinger, Derrick Jenniges

CBER Research Report

Executive Summary:

This project's primary goal is to quantify export strengths and opportunities in Kentucky industries. We measure export strength as the relative dollar value of exports per worker in four digit industries using U.S. dollar value of exports per worker as the base. Tables were prepared for total exports and a selection of 50 countries representing 98.5% of Kentucky exports and 93.2% of U.S. exports. In addition to the export index, a measure of industry strength based upon labor and comparisons to regional competitor states is provided.

• Industries with a low index value, either overall or for specific countries, …

As Seen On Twitter: African-American Rhetorical Traditions Gone Viral, Tiffani Long

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This communication research study identifies the presence of the African-American rhetorical traditions of call-response, signification, tonal semantics, and narrative sequencing used in communication on the online social media network, Twitter. The objective of this study is to provide insight into the culture and community of Twitter. Additionally, the research demonstrates how traditional oral rhetorical traditions survive in the digital world. Over a 15-day period, tweets were collected by the author using a computer screenshot feature. Using a coding rubric, three coders, including the author, coded the collected tweets for the four rhetorical traditions. Resulting from this procedure, the coders concluded …

Open Ethos Publishing At Code4lib Journal And In The Library With The Lead Pipe, Emily Ford

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

The library world is deeply entrenched in the open ethos, yet there are few examples of library publications that engage in open editorial and peer review processes. In this article we discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by the open editorial processes used at In the Library with the Lead Pipe and Code4Lib Journal. To end, we discuss the need to grow open review and editorial processes in library and information science publications.

The Guardian, December 12, 2012, Wright State University Student Body

The Guardian Student Newspaper

Twelve page issue of The Guardian, the official student-run newspaper for Wright State University. The Guardian has been published regularly since March of 1965.

Building Group Resilience: A Three-Day Curriculum, Andrew Willis Garcés

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Social change organizations are often exposed to stress and disruptive, potentially traumatic events. Despite this, few such groups invest time into actively cultivating resilience practices. Likewise, most existing resilience promotion initiatives are designed for use with individuals, not organizations, and lack the experience-based pedagogical approach necessary to interest many social change activists. This curriculum intervention provides a needed bridge between social change activism and resilience promotion theory. Designed as a three-day workshop, it can be used with entire organizations to support both self-awareness of their existing strengths and the development of new protective measures to boost collective resilience.

Hong Kong Happiness Index Survey 2012, Lok Sang Ho

Hong Kong Happiness Index 香港快樂指數調查

The “Hong Kong Happiness Index Survey 2012” indicates a slight slip of Hong Kong people’s happiness index to 70.5, from 71.3 last year on a scale of 0-100. As before, females continue to command a premium over males in happiness, and older people tend to be happier.

Both work pressures, particularly excessively long hours, and financial pressures are important causes of unhappiness among Hong Kong people. According to the survey results, low-income families are generally less happy than those better off. The lowest happiness score, at 66.9, however, goes to the sandwich class with monthly income from HK$30,000-39,999 per month. …

Error Frequencies Among Esl Writers: A Resource Guide, Maria Teresa Company

Theses and Dissertations

Being a competent writer is an important skill in academic education. However, second language (L2) writers often struggle to be linguistically and lexically competent. This project explored the most frequent linguistic writing errors made by 343 English as a second language (ESL) students when Dynamic Written Corrective Feedback (WCF) was applied as an instructional methodology. These errors were also classified by language groups based on the students' first language (L1). These students were enrolled in an intensive English program at the English Language Center (ELC), Brigham Young University. The first languages of these students were Spanish, Korean, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, …