Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Professional Preparation Of The Ncaa Division I Athletic Director: An Occupational Framework, Jeffrey Charles Spenard

Masters Theses

The study collected occupational data from the 99 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I membership institutions head athletic directors. The purpose of this study was to identify common professional preparation and occupational characteristics among NCAA Division I athletic directors. Through issuing an electronic survey, the current study identified common characteristics and themes among Division I athletic directors specifically within the socio-demographical background, educational background, professional experience and career progression, and career and job satisfaction. The study also provided demographic information about the participant’s institutional athletic department. The necessity of this study is not due directly to the current lack …

Alarm Calling In The Context Of Flying Predator Stimuli: A Field Study Of Carolina Chickadees (Poecile Carolinensis), Christopher Erik Zachau

Masters Theses

This study describes chick-a-dee calling behavior of Carolina chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) in the presence of “flying” predator models. Previous experimental research with black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapilla) as well as Mexican chickadees (Poecile sclateri) suggested a relationship between the presence of predator stimuli and the note composition of chick-a-dee calls.

Carolina chickadees were presented with two types of stimuli in field settings. These models were painted to resemble either a predatory sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) or a blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata). Models consisted of pairs of five varying shapes, making ten models in …

The Effects Of Land-Use Change On The Hydrological Properties Of Andisols In The Ecuadorian Paramo, James Joseph Hartsig

Masters Theses

The Ecuadorian páramo is characterized by unique soil properties that allow the ground to hold large amounts of water. These páramo grasslands support Andean cities and communities as a source of water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural use. Although recent research has suggested that changes in land use can decrease the amount of water and affect the water-holding capabilities of the soil, the hydrologic effects of different land uses, including burning for livestock grazing and pine planting for carbon credits, are currently under debate.

This research tested hypotheses about moisture-related properties of páramo soils under different land uses at two …

Predicting Forgiveness In Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence, Sarah Elizabeth Gilbert

Masters Theses

Several theories have attempted to explain the stay/leave decisions of women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). One recent study suggests that women’s intent to return to their abusive partners was related to forgiveness of the abuse; consequently, this study aims to identify factors that may make women more likely to forgive IPV. It was hypothesized that commitment, specifically both personal dedication and constraint commitment (Stanley & Markman, 1992), would predict forgiveness and that denial of injury would mediate the relation between commitment and forgiveness, as women may be more likely to deny the severity of the abuse in order to …

There’S An App For That: Foreign Language Learning Through Mobile- And Social Media-Based Video Games, Trenton Edward Hoy

Masters Theses

There is no doubt that the video game industry is undergoing a major upheaval, yet in spite of the recent reconceptualization of video games, educational games as a whole remain the pariah of the industry. Very little has been done in the wake of recent social and industry trends to adapt instruction of academic subjects, especially foreign language, for delivery through video games. Prior studies discussing the potential of games developed specifically for language learning have focused primarily on general principles and have offered no recommendations for platform, genre, or other aspects of design. Through an online survey as well …

Consumer Willingness To Pay For Eco-Labeled Refrigerators, Xiaogu Li

Masters Theses

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has used environmental information provision as a policy tool to take advantage of consumer preferences for products that meet higher environmental standards. Such environmental programs include a variety of policies ranging from eco-labeling programs to voluntary environmental agreements between governments and manufacturers. This study analyzes the effects of two such programs - the ENERGY STAR program, an eco-labeling program, and the Climate Leaders program, a voluntary environmental agreement program - on consumer preferences for a household appliance. The study estimates consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for the two programs and examines factors that motivate …

Dendroclimatic Analysis Of Climate Oscillations For The Southeastern United States From Tree-Ring Network Data, Yanan Li

Masters Theses

Dendroclimatological research along a geographical gradient is important to understanding both spatial and temporal characteristics of climate influences on tree growth. In this study, three tree-ring width chronologies, obtained from field collection and previous research, were used to represent tree growth along a longitudinal transect from coast to inland in the southeastern U.S.: Hope Mills, located at the Atlantic Coastal Plain; Linville Mountain, located on the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains; and Gold Mine Trail, located on the western side of the Appalachians. The variations of ring width indices in chronologies reflect extreme climatic events such as severe droughts …

Geospatial Data Accessibility In Web 2.0 Environments, Sara Helen Mcnamee

Masters Theses

Geographically referenced data is becoming a robust source of information because the use of place-based relevance searching is being employed as a popular form of information access and dispersal. To address this trend, the researcher conducted a study on the usability of the USA National Phenology Network (http://www.usanpn.org/), engaging 6 volunteer participants structured usability test of the USANPN mapping application. The participants were asked to complete two tasks, and data was collected both during (in the form of a think aloud exercise) and after the test (in the form of an exit interview). From the data collected, the researcher aimed …

Public Confidence In Social Institutions And Media Coverage: A Case Of Belarus, Dzmitry Yuran

Masters Theses

Social scientists agree that public confidence in social institutions is a crucial element in building democratic society. This is especially true for transitional societies including post-communist countries, because the lack of public confidence in newly emerged democratic institutions can interfere with democratic development. Although different theories explaining public confidence in social institutions were developed, these theories ignored the role that mass media play in building public confidence. The goal of this study is to examine the connection between mass media coverage of social institutions and public confidence in these institutions by conducting content analysis of Belarusian newspapers, reviewing the results …

An Investigation Of Stratigraphic Evidence For An Abrupt Climatic Event 8200 Yr Bp In Valle De Las Morrenas, Costa Rica, Brian Thomas Watson

Masters Theses

Lago de las Morrenas 4 (9.498056° [degrees] N, 83.486111° [degrees] W, 3466 m elev.) is the lowest lake in a chain of glacial lakes located in the Valle de las Morrenas, a valley facing almost due north from Cerro Chirripó, the highest peak in the Cordillera de Talamanca in Costa Rica. Coarse resolution analyses of pollen, microscopic charcoal, and loss-on-ignition of a ca. 10,000 year sediment record from Lago de las Morrenas 4 was carried out to complement and extend previous research on the environmental history of the Chirripó highlands and to provide context for high-resolution sampling and analysis of …

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. …

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. …

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 …

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 …

Rss Feeds, Browsing And End-User Engagement, Mary Beth West

Masters Theses

Despite the vast amount of research that has been devoted separately to the topics of browsing and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) aggregation architecture, little is known about how end-users engage with RSS feeds and how they browse while using a feed aggregate. This study explores the browsing behaviors end-users exhibit when using RSS and Atom feeds. The researcher analyzed end-users’ browsing experiences and discusses browsing variations. The researcher observed, tested, and interviewed eighteen (N=18) undergraduate students at the University of Tennessee to determine how end-users engage with RSS feeds.

This study evaluates browsing using two variations of tasks, (1) an …

Communication In Intercultural Marriages: Managing Cultural Differences And Conflict For Marital Satisfaction, Tiffany G. Renalds

Masters Theses

This qualitative study investigated the phenomenon of intercultural marriages, particularly the unique internal and external elements that impact communication and conflict within intercultural marriages of varying lengths and the intercultural communication competencies utilized by spouses in intercultural marriages. The research focused on three questions: (1) Which internal and external factors impact the effectiveness of communication between spouses in intercultural marriages the most? (2) Which communication competencies do spouses in intercultural marriages develop in order to address cross-cultural differences? (3) How do spouses in intercultural marriages experience and deal with conflict within their intercultural marriages? Data was obtained employing semi-structured interviews. …

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 …

Examining Two Types Of Bullying In High School: Relational Aggression And Cyber Bullying, Sharon L. Lewis

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Diet, Physical Activity, And Lifestyle Factors That Influence Weight Change The First Year Of College, Sarah R. Gaines

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Nutritive Value, Cost, Viscosity, And Acceptability Among Three Developed Oral Nutritional Supplements And A Standard Commercially-Prepared Supplement, Christa R. Huxel

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Mother's Consumer Socialization: The Relationship With Her Daughter's Compulsive Buying Behavior, Autumn L. Berbaum

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Issues In The 2008 Presidential Election: Perceptions Of The Candidates And Their Links To Vote, Justin T. Cross

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Happiness And Me: An Exploratory Study Of Parental And Romantic Attachments And Self-Esteem And Their Effects On Adulthood Body Image Dissatisfaction, Stephanie Kibble

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

School Attachment And The Use Of Alcohol Among Rural High School Students, Michelle L. Weiler

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Using Alternating Treatment Design To Determine Math Interventions For Linear Equations, Bridget Mckenna

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Finding The Path Within The "Ego Tunnel": A Buddhist Approach To Tackling The Problems Of A Western Self, Bryan James Hinman

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Statewide Training On Functional Behavioral Assessment (Fba) Knowledge, Kendra L. Brading

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between School Belongingness And Drop Out Rates, Lauren Sanders

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Test-Retest Reliability Of The Acters-2, Alaine A. Benson

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.