Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Diffusion Of Gis In Journalism, Ben S. Wasike

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to determine the likelihood of reporters to adopt Geographical Information Systems and to predict the future of the diffusion of GIS in the journalism industry using the diffusion of innovations theory. The study used two data collection methods: in-depth interviews and a Web survey. The indepth-interviews revealed factors that will influence the diffusion of GIS, including the availability of map data, competition between media agencies, the ease of getting management to buy GIS once its functionality has been demonstrated to them, and the general use of secondary GIS products. The Web survey showed that …

Cultural Performance Of Roadside Shrines: A Poststructural Postmodern Ethnography, Rebecca Marie Kennerly

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Marking the site of death on the road with a shrine, an increasingly popular cultural practice in the United States, is a deeply personal, private affair, however, because shrines are placed in the public right-of-way, they attract attention and invite participation, comment, and criticism. These sites, the materials that mark them, how people come to build them, the messages that those who build them hope to convey, and the accumulative force these sites bring to bear in various contexts offer unique insights into our complex, fragmented, and often confounding relationships with death, living memory, and selective forgetting. This project takes …

Verbal And Nonverbal Immediacy: Sex Differences And International Teaching Assistants, Tiwa Saechou

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explains theory and research concerning international teaching assistants, intercultural communication, nonverbal and verbal immediacy, cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning, and sex differences. One research question and five hypotheses were tested via MANOVA and correlation tests. Six hundred and seven undergraduate students completed instruments measuring verbal and nonverbal immediacy, and cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning. Results supported the research question and three of the five hypotheses. Specifically, U.S. Teaching Assistants used more nonverbal immediacy than International Teaching Assistants. Students’ attitudes toward International Teaching Assistants correlated with students’ learning. Students’ perceptions of ITAs and USTAs on verbal and nonverbal immediacy …

Assessing Mental Health Literacy Of First- And Third-Year Medical Students : Knowledge And Beliefs About Mental Disorders, Patricia A. Cheslock

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Mental health literacy is the knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders that influence their identification, treatment, and prevention. It is highly pertinent for the primary care physician to possess appropriate mental health literacy, because it is in that sector that the majority of individuals first seek treatment. As many as 90% of individuals who experience symptoms of a mental disorder are first seen by their primary care physician. However, general practitioners often do not detect or diagnose the presence of a mental disorder, and as many as 50% of these disorders remain unidentified and untreated. This study explored the mental …

Role Of Cognitive Distortions And Dysfunctional Attitudes In Nurses Experiencing Burnout, Cynthia A. Diefenbeck

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

As a means of gathering more data to support the utility of cognitive-behavioral therapy with individuals experiencing burnout, this current study is designed to identify whether or not distorted thinking and dysfunctional attitudes are present in registered nurses who are experiencing burnout and whether or not they differ in registered nurses not experiencing burnout. A mail survey to a random sample of certified critical care registered nurses working in hospital settings was conducted. Participants provided basic demographic data and completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Inventory of Cognitive Distortions, and the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale. In addition, participants completed measures of …

Assessing Patterns Of Social Engagement In Typically Developing Children, Children With Mental Retardation, And Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Using A Standardized Playground Observation Checklist, Daniel H. Ingram

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Prior research in the area of play in children suggests that children's interactions with one another can predict their social competence, their social skill development, and their ability to establish and maintain social relationships. However, most prior research has been carried out in contrived playgroups under adult direction or supervision; few studies have been carried out in naturalistic settings without adult interference. This retrospective, predictive study reviewed archival data to assess similarities and differences in playground interactions between typical children, children with mental retardation, and children with autism spectrum disorder. The study introduced a structured playground observation checklist in order …

Validating The Impact Of Event Scale With Adolescents : A Look At The September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks, Claudia Lingertat

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The current study examined the psychometric properties of the Impact of Event Scale (IES; Horowitz, Wilner, & Alvarez, 1979), a self-report measure of current subjective distress. Twenty-four adolescents from an urban high school were surveyed regarding their experiences from the events of September 11, 2001. The IES showed a moderate correlation with the My Worst Experience Scale (MWES; Hyman, Snook, Berna, & Kohr, 1997). Findings indicate the IES may be effective as a quick screening tool for the intrusive and avoidant symptoms of posttraumatic stress in adolescents pending further research with a larger sample.

Preliminary Study Of Specific Symptoms Experienced By Individuals With Bipolar Disorder , Gail Reichman Mancini

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study attempted to empirically identify symptoms of bipolar disorder to define a more accurate clinical description. A group of 30 individuals with a formal diagnosis of bipolar disorder, who had joined a support group as outpatients, a comparison group of 30 individuals with unipolar depression from an outpatient support group, and 30 nonpatient adults were administered identical measures of symptoms. Results suggested that individuals with bipolar disorder endorsed symptoms correlated with paranoia to a greater degree than individuals with unipolar disorder or nonpatient adults. In addition, symptoms of hostility, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, global severity and psychoticism, as …

Recovering Digital Evidence From Linux Systems, Philip Craiger

Publications

As Linux-kernel-based operating systems proliferate there will be an inevitable increase in Linux systems that law enforcement agents must process in criminal investigations. The skills and expertise required to recover evidence from Microsoft-Windows-based systems do not necessarily translate to Linux systems. This paper discusses digital forensic procedures for recovering evidence from Linux systems. In particular, it presents methods for identifying and recovering deleted files from disk and volatile memory, identifying notable and Trojan files, finding hidden files, and finding files with renamed extensions. All the procedures are accomplished using Linux command line utilities and require no special or commercial tools.

Matchcoats: Cultural Conservatism And Change, Marshall Joseph Becker

Anthropology & Sociology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Knossos Medical Faculty Site: Late Antique Graves And Other Remains - Appendix A: The Human Skeletal Remains, Marshall Joseph Becker

Anthropology & Sociology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Approaching South Asians In Hong Kong, Hung Mui Sung

Lingnan Theses

"South Asians" is usually an inclusive term to refer to ethnic minorities originating from countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Despite the apparent concern with “South Asians” in Hong Kong society in recent years, such as pushing for legislation against racial discrimination and initiating social and educational programmes to help these minorities to better integrate into Hong Kong society, attention to irreducible cultural differences constituting their heterogeneity is still largely lacking.

The thesis intends to take up the question of the South Asian minorities in the context of post-1997 Hong Kong. By looking at their everyday struggles …

Specters Of The Subaltern : A Critique Of Representations Of Rural Women In Contemporary China, Tsui Sit

Lingnan Theses

China has speeded up modernization since the reform and open-door policy was introduced in 1978. After accession to the World Trade Organization in 1999, China has been further incorporated into the global track. The national policy of economic development requires a continuing exploitation of natural resources and intensive labor from the rural sector, and over the last few decades, there has been a ceaseless wave of rural women going to the cities and working mainly as assembly-line workers, domestic helpers and sex workers.

Developing a subaltern and feminist perspective, this thesis examines representations of rural women in academic research and …

More Than Zero: Accounting For Error In Latent Fingerprint Identification, Simon A. Cole

Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology

No abstract provided.

Lifelong Learning For Older Persons In Hong Kong, Sze Sze, Stephanie Hui

Lingnan Theses

Lifelong learning (LL) has been widely regarded as one of the activities that can enhance well-being of the society and benefit older persons in terms of psychological, physical, mental, and cognitive well-being. In foreign countries like the Unites States of America, the United Kingdom, Finland, France, Australia, and also China, LL among older persons had been developed successfully. Hong Kong, in contrast, has no systematic planning for the development of LL even though the aged population is increasing rapidly. This research aims at constructing a LL model for older persons in Hong Kong. The theoretical framework of study focused on …

Older Mothers' Expectations Of Intergenerational Relationships : The Intergenerational Ambivalence Perspective, Sze Wing Yan

Lingnan Theses

With the effects of social changes, family values have changed and tensions and contradictions are probably more likely to occur among family members. According to the intergenerational ambivalence perspective, intergenerational relationships are inherently structured so as to generate ambivalence. Ambivalence means the contradictions in the relationships between older parents and adult children that cannot be reconciled. Individuals are expected to use various strategies in their attempts to manage ambivalence at least temporarily.

Older women, who often have different life experiences than older men given the influence of traditional Chinese culture, are the focus of this research. The present study aims …

Misperception Of Romantic And Sexual Interests, Bryan L. Koenig

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Part 6: The Race To The Bottom Of The Bay: Boat Taxes In Hampton Roads, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Over the past decade, the region’s cities and counties have diminished the taxes they assess on boats so much that in several cities (for example, Virginia Beach), boat taxes in essence no longer exist. We show that all jurisdictions in Hampton Roads have suffered due to the reduced tax revenue and that the low-tax strategy has not attracted more boats from other regions, as intended. While boat taxes are unpopular and difficult to collect, Hampton Roads appears to have shot itself in the foot.

Front Matter: The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2005, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Cover, front matter, table of contents, and other materials for the 2005 The State of the Region report authored by the Regional Studies Institute at Old Dominion University

Part 3: Richard Florida And The Creative Classes Of Hampton Roads, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Professor Florida argues that highly mobile, creative individuals are the kingpins of modern economic growth. They are especially attracted to regions that offer diverse demographics, cultural opportunities, living styles and residential areas, as well as a tolerance of the uncommon. Hampton Roads does not fare well when measured against several of Florida’s variables. However, we test his hypotheses empirically and find they have only limited validity.

Part 4: The Wheels Of Justice: Our Regional Circuit Courts, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

We trace what happens to parties that enter our Circuit Court system as a plaintiff or defendant. In 2003, the nine Circuits that are wholly or partially located within Hampton Roads dealt with 81,008 cases (35 percent civil and 65 percent criminal). Large proportions of these cases are dismissed or settled before they come to trial and very few cases are heard by a jury. We examine a variety of efficiency measures relating to the region’s Circuit Courts and conclude they are operating rather well.

Part 2: Is There A Housing Price Bubble In Hampton Roads?, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

While housing prices increased 40 percent in Hampton Roads (after inflation) during the past decade, most of this increase can be attributed to improved eco-nomic fundamentals such as lower interest rates, increased incomes, Department of Defense housing incentives and more cautious building policies by area developers. Hence, we do not have the kind of housing price bubble that currently exists in cities such as San Diego, San Francisco and Boston, and the state of Florida. We may face some future price adjustments, but they are not likely to be wrenching.

Part 1: The Hampton Roads Economy Midway Through The Decade, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Our regional economy continues to perform better than the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation. The 2000-2004 time period is the best five year time period our region has experienced since 1969. Employment increased four times as rapidly as national employ-ment and we experienced significant job growth in scientific, technical and information technology occupations—-something that has largely eluded us in the past. Defense expenditures increasingly dominate the region’s economy and account for about 75 percent of all recent growth. However, the BRAC process could throw a huge wrench into this prosperity. If all BRAC recommendations, including the closure of Oceana, …

Part 5: Our Art Galleries And Museums: Will They Survive?, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Led by the Chrysler Museum of Art, Hampton Roads is blessed with several excellent art galleries and museums. These valuable institutions, however, are struggling to maintain their collections, programs and hours because of financial strains. It’s apparent that the region’s decision makers have not placed a high priority on the aesthetic sensibilities of the region’s citizens.

Part 7: Unrealized Potential: High Technology In Hampton Roads, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

On the face of it, Hampton Roads ought to be a technological powerhouse because of the high-level federal research facilities and defense installations located in the area, plus a higher education community of considerable size. Yet, while we can claim the second-greatest technological development of any region in the Commonwealth, we are a very distant second to Northern Virginia and have never realized our potential. Future prosperity in technology is tied to developing the modeling and simulation industry that has sprouted primarily in Suffolk, stimulating Eastern Virginia Medical School’s potential in conjunction with Old Dominion University and vastly increasing support …

What Is New In The New Toefl-Ibt 2006 Test Format?, Alla Zareva

English Faculty Publications

In recent years TOEFL has become one of the most popular high-stakes tests affecting not only what and how English language teachers teach but also what and how students learn (e.g. Johnson, Jordan, & Poehner, 2005; Alderson & Wall, 1993). The new 2006 TOEFL–iBT exam is on its way; yet, until now, information about the new test format and test preparation materials is scarce. Above and beyond interest in the test alone, the burning question is what demanded the revision of the current test, given that the latest computer-based TOEFL was introduced fairly recently worldwide. The paper elaborates on some …

A Group-Administered Timeline Followback Assessment Of Alcohol Use, Joseph W. Labrie, Eric R. Pedersen, Mitch Earleywine

Heads Up!

Objective: The current study compares retrospective self-reports of quantity and frequency of drinking with the Timeline Followback (TLFB) method administered in groups or to individuals to determine the equivalence of these methods.

Method: Two-hundred and eleven male college students who reported drinking at least two times per week participated; 118 completed the TLFB in a group setting and 93 completed it individually. Drinking variables assessed were drinking days, average drinks and total drinks during a 30-day period.

Results: Pearson's correlation coefficients revealed significant correlations between single-item quantity and frequency measures and the TLFB on all three variables for the two …

Book Review Of "Gerald Ford And The Challenges Of The 1970s," By Yanek Mieczkowski, Michael A. Genovese

Political Science and International Relations Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Human Resource Management In Today's Academic Library: Meeting Challenges And Creating Opportunities., Kelly D. Blessinger

Faculty Publications

This book is highly recommended for those with an interest in human resource management in libraries. Although the book focuses on academic libraries, the insights provided could be useful to all types of libraries. The varying nature of the chapters in this book would be beneficial for those in administrative and human resource positions, for students learning about the profession, and for those working within the profession. A quote by Sheila Creth in chapter 10 provides the best summary of this book: “The greatest opportunity for success in any academic library lies with the staff. As one colleague observed, our …

Systemic High School Reform In Two States: The Serendipity Of State-Level Action, Edmund T. Hamann

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

Maine and Vermont have been national leaders in state-level coordination of high school reform. Both recently developed almost interchangeable, new, voluntary, statewide frameworks that describe multiple ways high schools should change. Both frameworks—Promising Futures (Maine Commission on Secondary Education 1998) and High Schools on the Move (Vermont High School Task Force 2001)—were published in book form and include extensive bibliographies grounding their claims that they are research based. Both frameworks recommend principles and practices for improving high schools for all students. Both frameworks were drafted primarily by leading local educators with only modest support from experts based beyond the …