Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Adolescent Peer Perceptions Reflected In The Yearbooks Of Mormon Homosexual And Heterosexual Men, David C. Pruden

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study explored the peer perceptions of adolescent heterosexual males and their homosexual counterparts who had not disclosed their feelings of erotic same-sex attraction to their classmates. The study focused on members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a conservative Christian denomination with clear doctrinal prohibitions against homosexual behavior. The handwritten messages from peers found in the senior high school yearbooks of 30 heterosexual and 30 same-sex attracted adolescent men were content analyzed to examine similarities and differences in the themes that emerged from the data.

The results indicated that there is a difference in the kind …

The Case Of Youth Gangs In The Mormon Cultural Region A Synthetic, Dialectical Theory Of Social Problems: Bridging Social Constructionism And Objectivism, Ramona Avis Linville Higley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This dissertation uses the case of youth gangs in the Mormon Cultural Region to present a synthetic, dialectical theory of social problems, bridging the perspectives of social constructionism and objectivism. The primary assertion of this dissertation is that communities use social problems as tools to establish and maintain social boundaries and to protect the core values and beliefs of the established communal order.

The case of youth gangs in Utah, core of the Mormon Cultural Region, demonstrates that both social problems and the organizations involved with social problems follow a natural-history cycle similar to that reported in social movement literature. …

Outcomes And Presurgical Correlates Of Lumbar Interbody Cage Fusion, Rick Lacaille

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Rates of lumbar fusion surgery have been increasing with an estimated 192,000 procedures performed annually. However, satisfactory outcomes of lumbar fusion vary considerably and often emphasize technical success, such as arthrodesis, rather than Ill functional and quality of life outcomes. Interbody cage fusion was recently developed and touted as a superior alternative to existing lumbar fusion procedures. There is, however, a paucity of research to support these claims, particularly with regards to functional and quality of life outcomes. Moreover, predictive correlates of outcomes for interbody cage fusion have not been given adequate attention in the literature. The aims of this …

Predicting Social And Psychological Adjustment From The Importance And Restrictiveness Of Religion In Late Adolescence, Lisa Diane Lucas

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In working with Renee Galliher, I had the opportunity to administer a questionnaire to 118 college students. This questionnaire included the Personal and Relationships Profile (Strauss & Mouradian, 1999), as well as questions assessing religious attitudes and activities. From these questionnaires, a data set was compiled and I presented this research at the recent conference of the Society for Research on Child Development.

Social Stratification And Health In Dynastic Egypt: The Differential Effect Of Disease Among The Elite And Working Classes, Jerilyn Hansen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Social stratification in Dynastic Egypt between the elite and working class is suspected to have created differential health conditions for these two social classes. It is hypothesized that due to differing living conditions, resulting in varying levels of exposure to infectious pathogens, workloads, and quality of diet, the elite and working class will have dissimilar health conditions. Specifically, it is expected that the working class of Dynastic Egypt suffered ill health more often, and more severely, than the elite. The health conditions of the elite and working class were measured by the prevalence of the density-dependent disease tuberculosis, the workload-related …

The Effects Of A School-Wide Peer-Administered Praise Intervention On Student Problem Behavior, Meredith L. Brent

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study evaluated the effects of a peer-administered positive behavioral support intervention on a school-wide problem behavior. Utilizing the differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors method (DRl), peer monitors praised incidences of walking in order to decrease incidences of running in the hallway. A multiple baseline design across two hallway settings was used to evaluate the effect of peer monitors administering verbal praise and praise notes to students who demonstrated the desired behavior, walking. A lottery drawing in which recipients of praise notes received small prizes was conducted at the end of each week during the treatment phase. Results indicated that …

The Effects Of Self-Monitoring Checklists And Performance Feedback On Study Skills Of College Students With Disabilities, Sherrie Mecham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study utilized a multiple baseline design across two study skills to examine the impact of a self-monitoring checklist and performance feedback on the implementation of study skills for seven college students with disabilities. The accuracy with which students performed study skills was calculated as a percentage based on the number of correct study skill steps completed during a college course divided by the total number of treatment steps. The results show that three of the seven students markedly increased the accurate use of the notetaking and study guide skills immediately when provided with a self-monitoring checklist and performance feedback, …

How Utah Parents Of Utah School Children Judge School Effectiveness, Philip L. Rodgers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

There is a perceived crisis concerning public education in the United States. This has led to an increase in the use of standardized tests for the purpose of measuring school effectiveness. However, the use of standardized tests for this purpose is problematic. Among these problems is the concern that standardized tests may not measure what parents believe are the most important attributes of an effective school. Unfortunately, there is little in the way of empirical evidence regarding parent beliefs in this area.

The purpose of this research was to answer the following four questions.

1. What do parents of school-aged …

Impasse In Marriage And Family Therapy, Valentina V. Popkova-Massé

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this exploratory study was to learn about practicing Marriage and Family Therapists' experiences with therapeutic impasse. The study had several objectives: investigate the incidence of impasse; look into therapists ' experiences with impasse, their attitudes toward it, and their views on its etiology; and explore clinicians' strategies for impasse resolution.

One hundred and six clinical members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) responded to a self-designed questionnaire. The majority of the respondents (83%) reported being stuck in therapy for a few minutes and 35% reported being stuck for three or more sessions during …

Effectiveness Of Utah Level Six Treatment Programs For Juvenile Males Who Offend Sexually: The Client Perspective, Darren B. Brown

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study examined treatment effectiveness from the perspective of former clients of Utah level six treatment programs for juvenile males who offend sexually. Employing an anonymous, self-reported instrument, this study identified a high level of sexual recidivism (44%). In obtaining client perceptions of treatment effectiveness, this study also differentiated between the various components of level six treatment. Individual therapy was rated highest by the clients in helping them in their subsequent efforts not to recidivate. Drug and alcohol treatment received the lowest overall score, while remaining very important in the eyes of a few subjects. This suggests that clients benefit …

The Meaning Of "Being Single" For Mormon College-Age Single Adults, Jana Darrington

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study researched the meaning of being single among 24 college-age adults of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (i.e., Mormons). It examined influences on the construction of meanings of singlehood, gender patterns regarding the meaning of singlehood, and pressures on L.D.S. singles to date and marry.

The most important finding was that positive attitudes toward singlehood are more prevalent than negative or ambivalent attitudes. Families, as gate-keepers and transmitters of cultural information about singlehood and marriage, and the L.D.S. religion were the strongest influences on the development of meanings of singlehood. Families and religion mutually influence one …

Student And Parent Views On School And Community Strengths And Concerns, Tricia Hill Danielson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Lincoln Elementary School needs assessment surveyed students in the third through fifth grades and their parents in order to identify strengths and concerns in their school and community. It also investigated whether or not participants considered family counseling skills as a concern or a strength. The results showed that the concerns and strengths identified by participants fell into three categories: family, community, and school. Parents' primary concern was children watching TV, while children's primary concern was getting enough sleep. Group differences were identified by ethnicity, gender, and marital status. These differences included English/Spanish skills, children showing respect for authority, …

International Economic Convergence: Measuring Economic Growth And Income Inequality From 1975-1999, Brian Kent Smedley

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

As the world continues to be reshaped by technological advances and globalization, national borders are rapidly dissolving. Nations that are many thousands of miles away now seem closer than ever due to modern technology and transportation. The world has experienced tremendous progress and economic growth in the last few decades, and today people in many countries enjoy a higher standard of living than the world's citizens have ever known. Yet despite all that we have accomplished as a human society, somehow we are still unable to solve the most fundamental problem facing humanity: relieving the poverty and misfortune of billions …

Personal Financial Planning Online Course, Camille Olsen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

My main interest in the financial field is Personal Financial Planning, which has just been developing over the past few years in the finance industry. Utah State University has been a pioneer in this area, and now offers a minor in personal financial planning through the accounting department. The courses offered fulfill the educational requirements needed to take the CFP (Certified Financial Planner) exam. This designation can be compared to the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in the accounting field. Therefore, the College of Business has decided to offer these courses online so that students and professionals throughout the state can …

Factors That Influence The College Attendance Decisions Of Appalachian Students, Erica Chenoweth

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The current study sought to examine the factors that influence the decisions of Appalachian high school students regarding college attendance. Using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory of human development (1986) as a theoretical basis, direct and indirect influences of environmental factors upon the academic aspirations of Appalachian youth were examined using survey methodology. Results indicated that predictors of college attendance for Appalachian students are not significantly different from those of students elsewhere. Variables reflective of individual academic preparation were most salient in predicting college aspirations for both males and females. Other important predictors included parent education, parent occupation, and socioeconomic status. …

Sampling Considerations In Human Immunodeficiency Virus And Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Needs Assessments, Ryan K. Loo

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reduces the number of healthy immune cells in the human body. When the immune cells drop below a certain level, the person is diagnosed as having acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which increases the likelihood of opportunistic infections. As a result, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A) have an elevated need for medical and support services. HIV/AIDS needs assessments identify unmet needs, and the results are used in the allocation of resources. Failure to accurately identify needs due to nonrepresentative samples may result in PLWH/A failing to receive needed services. Random sampling is rarely used, but convenience …

Community Factors That Correlate With Middle-Adolescent Antisocial Behavior, Olga Kamenchuk

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many adolescents nowadays display antisocial behavior. A large number of theories explaining origin of antisocial behavior have been developed in the last several centuries. The current study utilizes the "ecological" theoretical framework that allows the researcher to consider multiple ecological systems in which individuals operate and to focus on the community factors influencing antisocial behavior.

The researcher used part of the Prevention Needs Assessment survey to identify which community risk and protective factors correlate with middle-adolescent antisocial behavior. Analysis included intercluster, cluster-item correlations, and partial correlations. Results indicated correlations between antisocial behavior and a number of community risk factors, and …

Marginalia No. 14, Merrill-Cazier Library

Marginalia

Issue Number 14: Spring 2003

RIBBON CUTTING & DISCUSSION OF AMERICAN LAW-Pres. Kermit Hall opens Quad-Side Café

SCHOLARLY COMMUNICATION SYMPOSIUM AT USU- Rob Morrison on Journal publishing & profits

FRIENDS HOST BOOK TALK: WATER POLITICS AND THE WEST-Stephen Sturgeon on his new book

WHODUNIT LIBRARY TOUR-Marcia Cheney reports on the Halloween Tour for library staff

WESTERN ARCHIVISTS TO MEET AT USU-Randy Williams reports on CIMA Archivists May meeting

FAREWELL TO A GREAT FRIEND RICHARD BRIAN SCHOCKMEL-Death of Collection Development Librarian

The Flowering Thorn, Thomas A. Mckean

All USU Press Publications

The flowering thorn expresses the dual nature of the ballad: at once a distinctive expression of European tradition, but also somewhat tricky to approach from a scholarly perspective, requiring a range of disciplines to illuminate its rich composition. Most of this latter quality has to do with the very features that characterize ballads... or narrative songs. These include an appearance of fragmentation; a wide range of cultural and social referents; complex, evocative symbolic language; and variation. The notable multiformity of meaning, text and tune is mirrored in scholarship, too. The Flowering Thorn is therefore wide ranging, with articles written by …

Of Corpse, Peter Narvaez

All USU Press Publications

Laughter, contemporary theory suggests, is often aggressive in some manner and may be prompted by a sudden perception of incongruity combined with memories of past emotional experience. Given this importance of the past to our recognition of the comic, it follows that some "traditions" dispose us to ludic responses. The studies in Of Corpse: Death and Humor in Folklore and Popular Culture examine specific interactions of text (jokes, poetry, epitaphs, iconography, film drama) and social context (wakes, festivals, disasters) that shape and generate laughter. Uniquely, however, the essays here peruse a remarkable paradox-the convergence of death and humor.

Two studies …

The Stories We Are: Old Meshikee And The Winter Of 1929, Michael Spooner

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Western States Dublin Core Metadata Best Practices, Version 1.2, Cheryl D. Walters, Western States Digital Standards Group

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

Funded by a grant awarded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in the fall of 2001, the University of Denver (Denver, Colorado) spearheaded a multi-state collaborative initiative to create a virtual collection of widely dispersed digital resources on the topic, Western trails. As part of this initiative, 23 institutions in four Western states were awarded mini-grants to create digital content and metadata for resources related to Western trails. In addition to creation of a virtual collection of digital resources, another significant component of this multi-state initiative was development of a set of Dublin-Core based best practices by …

Creating Community: Macnas’S Galway Arts Festival Parade, 2000, Christie L. Fox

English Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Galway Arts Festival, 2003: Focusing On Home, Still Delighting, Christie L. Fox

English Faculty Publications

For twenty-six years the Galway Arts Festival has “morphed” the city of Galway into its natural logical conclusion: the city already boasts a young, artistic community, but for two weeks each summer, the festival brings the spotlight and the crowds to Galway for a celebration of the arts. Of late, however, the festival has suffered from decreased government expenditures on the arts—as have all the arts in Ireland. Recent festivals have been far more subdued than the extravagant Millennial Festival in 1999, during which the city teemed with outdoor events and more than one hundred thousand people gathered to watch …

Canyonlands National Park, Robert J. Johnson, R. Douglas Ramsey

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Satellite image map of Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Reputation And The Control Of Pollution, Arthur J. Caplan

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

This paper investigates the effectiveness of reputation in inducing a polluting firm to self-regulate its emissions when consumers have imperfect information. In particular, we ask to what extent must consumers reward and punish the firm before it chooses self-regulation as its dominant strategy? We find that if payoffs in the stage game are such that both the consumer and the polluting firm have beliefs that are consistent with each others’ behaviors, then the firm has a positive probability of playing clean in each period of a finite game. Further, we find that a weak reward/punishment scheme may have an adverse …

Willingness To Pay For Curbside Recycling With Detection And Mitigation Of Hypothetical Bias, David M. Aadland, Arthur J. Caplan

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

In this article, we estimate willingness to pay for curbside recycling. Using a unique data set, we also test for and detect significant hypothetical bias using stated- and revealed-preference data. A short-scripted “cheap-talk” statement is used to mitigate the bias and provide more efficient estimates of the welfare impacts of curbside recycling programs.

An Efficient Mechanism To Control Correlated Externalities: Redistributive Transfers And Coexistence Of Regional And Global Pollution Permit Markets, Arthur J. Caplan

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Cache Countycommunity Survey Of Future Landfill Alternatives, Douglas B. Jackson-Smith, A. Caplan, T. Jones, T. Grijalva

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

State University in the spring of 2003. The purpose of this survey was to gather scientific information regarding the concerns, perceptions, and preferences of Cache County adults related to various future landfill siting options. The survey was conducted at the request of local officials, the Countywide Service District, and various advisory committees established to make recommendations on a future Cache County landfill site.

Cache County, Utah Agricultural Landevaluation And Site Assessment Handbook, Douglas B. Jackson-Smith, G. Busch

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Urban encroachment on farmland has serious implications for the farm sector. As the county’s economic base and population has grown, important agricultural lands have been converted to urban uses. Since 1986, Cache County has lost 8,884 acres of prime and statewide important farmland - nearly 14 square miles - to urban development. The current rate of development is consuming over 600 acres of prime and statewide important farmland each year. As we plan for the future and the most cost efficient means for housing this population growth, it is important to note two things: 1) Housing is most affordable in …