Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Influence A Digital Screen Has On The Learning Process, For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, George Gordon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect a digital screen (iPad) had on the learning process, of a vocabulary matching activity, of words to definitions activity, in a student with autism spectrum disorder, in comparison to learning on paper (flashcards). According to past research, digital based interventions are utilized more often in research settings, indicating a growth in its use in educational settings (Goldsmith & LeBlanc, 2004). Individuals with autism spectrum disorder are often given interventions using digital screen based technologies, in academic and other life and skill teaching settings (Ferguson, Myles, & Hagiwara, 2005; Gentry, Wallece, …

Trust Formation Across Multiple Levels Of Virtuality, Amanda Woller

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This study looked at the formation of trust in relation to different levels of group virtuality. Undergraduate students worked in pairs on the game, Command and Conquer: Generals. Teams either worked together face-to-face; met first and then were separated to work together; or were completely separated for the duration of the activity. Face-to-face groups were expected to have higher levels of trust than virtual groups, while the groups that met first were expected to have higher levels of trust than the completely virtual group. Results showed that face-to-face and meeting first groups had higher levels of trust than completely virtual …

Mathematical Modeling And Simulation Of Multialleic Migration-Selection Models, Chad N. Vidden

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Population ecology is concerned with the growth and decay of specific populations. This field has a variety of applications ranging from evolution and survival at the environmental level to the spread of infectious disease at the cellular and molecular levels. Many ecological circumstances require the use of mathematical methods and reasoning in order to acquire better knowledge of the issue at hand. This study considered and analyzed multiple different mathematical models of population dynamics along with their purposes. This foundation was then applied in order to explore the migration of populations from one isolated region to another along with the …

Individual Characteristics And Their Effect On Predicting Mu Rhythm Modulation, Adriane Randolph, Melody Jackson, Saurav Karmakar

Adriane B. Randolph

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) offer users with severe motor disabilities a nonmuscular input channel for communication and control but require that users achieve a level of literacy and be able to harness their appropriate electrophysiological responses for effective use of the interface. There is currently no formalized process for determining a user's aptitude for control of various BCIs without testing on an actual system. This study presents how basic information captured about users may be used to predict modulation of mu rhythms, electrical variations in the motor cortex region of the brain that may be used for control of a BCI. …

The Story Of Taste: Using Eegs And Self-Reports To Understand Consumer Choice, Charnetta Brown, Adriane B. Randolph, Janée N. Burkhalter

Adriane B. Randolph

The authors investigate consumers’ willingness to switch from a preferred manufacturer brand to an unfamiliar private-label brand if taste is perceived as identical. Consumer decisions are examined through recordings of electrical brain activity in the form of electroencephalograms (EEGs) and self-reported data captured in surveys. Results reveal a willingness of consumers to switch to a less-expensive brand when the quality is perceived to be the same as the more expensive counterpart. Cost saving options for consumers and advertising considerations for managers are discussed.

Brain Games As A Potential Nonpharmaceutical Alternative For The Treatment Of Adhd, Stacy Wegrzyn, Doug Hearrington, Tim Martin, Adriane Randolph

Adriane B. Randolph

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed childhood neurobehavioral disorder, affecting approximately 5.5 million children, of which approximately 66% take ADHD medication daily. his study investigated a potential nonpharmaceutical alternative to address the academic engagement of 5th through 11th grade students (n = 10) diagnosed with ADHD. Participants were asked to play "brain games" for a minimum of 20 minutes each morning before school for 5 weeks. Engagement was measured at three points in time using electroencephalogram, parent and teacher reports, researcher observations, and participant self-reports. An analysis of the data supports the hypothesis that daily use …

Developing Soft Skills To Manage User Expectations In It Projects: Knowledge Reuse Among It Project Managers, Stacie Petter, Adriane Randolph

Adriane B. Randolph

This research explores information technology (IT) project managers' reuse of knowledge associated with soft skills when managing user expectations. Through interviews with IT project managers, several themes emerged: novelty of problems, conditions within the organization, types of available knowledge, and methods for reusing knowledge. Within this study, we discovered the need for additional research on how social norms and organizational conditions encourage or inhibit knowledge reuse. Furthermore, we identified a difference in the usefulness of knowledge captured in formal repositories according to levels of project management experience. The findings confirm, extend, and illuminate the current research associated with knowledge reuse …

School Librarian Influence On Junior High Girls’ Reading, Sarah Turbes

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

My future interest of obtaining a master’s degree in library science led me to my interest in the influence that school librarians have on adolescent girls’ reading choices. Students looking for a good “leisure read” head to the most convenient place: the school library. I was interested to see if librarians influenced students’ reading choices through verbal suggestions or through the selection of novels that they ordered for the library. Keeping the popular literature choices of adolescent girls in mind, I was also interested in finding out if these influences were consciously or unconsciously gendered. While I suspected that the …

The Decision To Run: The Stories Of Women In The Minnesota Legislature, Danielle M. Thomsen

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

The underrepresented status of women in legislative positions is an entrenched flaw in the American political system. Although past research has investigated the obvious gender gap, the spotlight has recently shifted toward the preliminary factors affecting a candidate's political ambition. It has been noted that women have little aspiration to run for office, and are unlikely to even consider themselves as viable candidates. Encouragement offered by political parties and external supporters such as family, friends, coworkers, and community organizations plays a vital role in creating a female candidate. This paper evaluates the impact of outside forces on the female candidate …

The Impact Of Weather Conditions On Mood Variability In Geographically Relocated Versus Non-Relocated Individuals, Jamie M. Scott

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

A void exists in the literature in regards to how identical weather conditions impact individuals from different geographic locations. It is believed relocated individuals are more susceptible to fluctuations in mood stemming from novel weather conditions than indigenous individuals. The sample consisted of 70 life-long Minnesota residents and 25 individuals who have spent minimum of one year living outside of Minnesota. Participants completed a mood self-report measure online for four consecutive weeks to determine positive and negative affect levels. Data was then matched with corresponding weather data for the same time period. No support was found for the hypothesis. However, …

Population Of Northern Leopard Frogs (Rana Pipiens) Migrating Between The Ney Frog Pond And The Minnesota River Valley For Spring Breeding, Rebecca Madison Pollack

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

The Northern Leopard Frogs (Rana pipiens) found at the Ney Nature Center (NNC) are particularly important to the NNC, as they are the initial population of frogs found deformed in 1995. As bio-indicators, frog populations can be used to assess the health of their surrounding environment. This study used standard herpetological field methods to gain a population estimate of Northern Leopard Frogs and the migration route used by these frogs as they moved up the bluffs of the Minnesota River Valley from their wintering site to the Ney Frog Pond for spring breeding. The results gathered provide the Ney Environmental …

Critique Of The Appropriation On Black Culture By White Suburban Youth, Julie Lemley

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This critique is an examination of the appropriation of black culture by white suburban youth as being not only racist, but sexist. The primary view of this phenomenon is through the lens of hip hop culture and its commercialization by patriarchally dominated white corporations to increase profit by targeting the music to white suburban youth. This creates a distinct change within the critical content of the culture as an original context by replacing it with a focus that objectifies women, encourages violence and glamorizes the consumption of drugs and alcohol. In addition, there exists an intentional promotion of luxury consumerism …

Men, Women And Children For Sale: The Dichotomy Of Human Trafficking In The United States And Abroad, Elizabeth Kolbe

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Living in Thailand in 2005 opened my eyes to the real plight of exploited peoples around the world. I was able to experience first-hand the economic and social issues facing potential victims of human trafficking. According to Anti-Slavery International, there are an estimated 200 million people being held in slavery worldwide. Approximately 800,000 people per year are being trafficked across international borders and forced into slavery. Like most Americans, I believed this is a horrible problem facing only people of developing countries. Last year I heard Chong Kim describe her traumatizing experience of being trafficked within the United States. Over …

School Psychology Practice And Job Satisfaction, Rebecca Fenicle

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

School Psychology as a profession has been shown in numerous studies to be characteristic of high job satisfaction. There are many factors that influence job satisfaction. This study was concerned with the roles of school psychologists in Minnesota and whether a discrepancy in actual and desired roles may effect job satisfaction. “Survey of the Professional Practices of Minnesota School Psychologists” was distributed to practicing school psychologists in Minnesota through an email with a URL link. The on-line survey contained questions concerning demographics, practices (actual/desired), adequacy of training program, barriers, and job satisfaction. This study analyzed the relationships between practices and …

The Reality Of Role-Playing Games: How Players Construct Reality Through Language, Jessica Carlson

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Role-playing games have a unique structure and exist in multiple mediums. Although some research is available on communication in computer mediated role-playing games, little exists on communication practices in tabletop role-playing games. In my research, I reviewed existing scholarly literature on tabletop role-playing games, as well as theory on the role language plays in constructing reality. I conducted passive participant observation on a group of people playing Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. By applying theory to my ethnographic research, I demonstrated how players constructed a collective reality through communication. Players did this by demonstrating their own enthrallment with the game and …

The Effects Of Divorce And Its Associated Stressors On Children And Adolescents, Aaron Brownlee

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Four factors were looked at to determine how children of divorce are affected by their parents divorce. The Family Environment Scale (FES) assessed family environment, Social Support Scale for children (SSSC) assessed social support, and the Life Events Checklist (LEC) assessed appraisal of the stressors shown to co-occur with divorce. The Behavioral Assessment Scale for Children, second edition (BASC-2; parent and self-reports) measured the criterion of this study, behavioral and emotional functioning. The sample consisted of 91 children and their parents from the Mankato area public schools. Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated a main effect of the appraisal of co-occurring stressors …

Lessons Learned In Customizing Hosted Contentdm 6, M Ryan Hess

M Ryan Hess

DePaul University Library will share its lessons learned and recommendations for hosted CONTENTdm 6 administrators wishing to customize CONTENTdm in a way that strikes the right balance between default CONTENTdm sites and sites that stand out and better serve our unique audiences. The DePaul University Library has learned many lessons from customizing its hosted instance of CONTENTdm 6, including the use of jQuery to add interface enhancements and remove some native CONTENTdm features. Unfortunately, this did not prove a long-term solution due to some limitations of CONTENTdm’s built-in customization tools, leading to content management issues and bugs that were hard …

Lanthorn, Vol. 49, No. 02, August 18, 2014, Grand Valley State University

Volume 49, July 7, 2014 - June 1, 2015

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Communiqué, August 18, 2014, Lindenwood University

Communiqué

The Communiqué was the faculty/staff newsletter for Lindenwood University/College from 1982 to 2016.

Time For The U.S. To Engage North Korea 米、本気で北朝鮮と関わりを持つ時期がきた, Mel Gurtov

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Sticks and carrots won't get North Korea to give up its nukes. But a willingness to negotiate a peace treaty and provide security guarantees might.

Exploring The Subaltern Voices: A Study Of Community Radio Reporters (Crr's) In Rural India, Dhanraj A. Patil

The Qualitative Report

Despite India’s remarkable communication media revolution the rural subalterns remained uninformed, unheard and voiceless, who asks the question: Whose Media, Whose Voice? This created a space for community radio (CR) because it is of, for, and by the community. However, in spite of the alternative, counter-hegemonic, and participatory communication ethos, the contribution of CR’s and CRR’s lingered unexplored and unacknowledged. To bridge this gap, within the theoretical framework of alternative-media-theory this study has been undertaken. Based on case studies of India’s pioneer CR’s (Sangam Radio and Radio Bundelkhand) using media ethnography tools a qualitative inquiry was carried out. Findings suggest …

Relationships Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders And Their Fathers, Terry Keller, Julie Ramisch, Marsha Carolan

The Qualitative Report

This phenomenological study investigated the relationships between 7 fathers and their sons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Seven major themes emerged: Shared Activities, Developmental Sensitivity, Emotional Understanding, Fighting the Label, Fatherhood Expectations, Parent Responsibility, and Fatherhood Isolation. Fathers were sensitive to their sons’ emotional needs and developmental milestones. Clinicians can help fathers to develop appropriate relationships with their children that involve shared activities. Clinicians can also assist fathers in coping with isolation and expectations regarding fatherhood, developing desired fatherhood roles, and finding appropriate shared activities with their children.

Positionality: Reflecting On The Research Process, Brian Bourke

The Qualitative Report

Through this article, the author provides a reflection on the role of positionality in research, following the completion of a qualitative research project. Through the research project, the White researcher sought to explore the ways in which students of color experience a predominantly White university. Drawing on literature and findings from the research project, the author highlights potential challenges and opportunities of being cognizant of one’s positionality. These reflections illustrate the significance of positionality and serve as a reminder of its potential effects on the research process, as well as on participants and the researcher. The manuscript concludes with recommendations …

Kinematic Effects In Large Transport Aircraft, Shem Malmquist, Dennis A. Vincenzi Ph.D., Dahai Liu Ph.D.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The control of an aircraft relies on sensory feedback. It follows that any aspect that could create a situation where that feedback is faulty can lead to unintended outcomes. The size of very large jet aircraft can result in kinematic effects that impact the perceptions of the flight crew. Due to the large amount of inertia involved, coupled with aerodynamic factors, when the aircraft pitch (θ) is initially changed, the short term actual motion of the aircraft, as viewed from the center of gravity, remains relatively unchanged. As a consequence of aircraft design, this results in the flight deck changing …

Hitting A Moving Target: Cataloging In The Age Of Emerging Technologies, Robert L. Bothmann

Library Services Publications

The proliferation of content in electronic format and other emerging technologies was a chief impetus in the creation of the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records, the ISBD Area 0, and the development of RDA: Resource Description and Access. RDA in particular relies upon extensive sets of small vocabularies used in bibliographic data elements to describe carriers and content. These vocabularies provide a foundation for universal bibliographic control that supports Linked Data. However, some established technologies do not have appropriate vocabulary terms in RDA, relegating these resources to an undocumented area of description that inhibits universal bibliographic control. In conclusion, there …

Changing Landscapes: End-Of-Life Care & Communication At A Zen Hospice, Ellen W. Klein

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines end-of-life experiences at a small Zen hospice in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Through an exploration of how end-of-life communication, sense-making, decision-making, and care in this setting differ from that of typical clinical settings, this project highlights and interrogates the experiences of dying as spiritually, rhetorically, narratively, relationally, and communally bound events.

Keywords: Zen hospice, end of life, narrative sensemaking, medical-ethical decision making, spirituality, healing rhetoric, communities of practice

Library In The Future Tense, Justin Wadland

Justin Wadland

Consumer Learning And Hybrid Vehicle Adoption, Garth Heutel

ECON Publications

We study the effect of differences in product quality on new technology diffusion. We propose a model in which heterogeneity in perceived product quality affects consumer adoption. If consumers experientially infer the quality of a technology, an increase in initial exposure to a low-quality product may inhibit subsequent diffusion. Incentives intended to speed up adoption may in fact have the opposite effect, if they propagate low-quality signals. We examine the predictions of the model using sales data for 11 hybrid-vehicle models between 2000 and 2006. Consistent with press reports that the first-generation Insight was perceived to be of lower quality …

Societal Connection Between Blackness And Criminality Leads To Violence Against Innocent, Casey Bohrman

Social Work (Undergraduate) Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Hemifield Eye-Patching For Modifying The Perceptual-Attentional Bias In Healthy Individuals, Randall L. Miller

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Healthy individuals do not perceive the left and right sides of space equally, showing a leftward spatial bias on visuospatial tasks. This bias may be more attributed to a perceptual-attentional (PA) component than a motor-intentional (MI) component. While monocular eye patching alters this spatial bias via modification of PA but not MI, hemifield eye patches that occluded the left or right half of the visual field have been shown to be more effective at modifying spatial bias, but only in patients with spatial neglect. Furthermore, it is unclear whether hemifield patching affects PA, MI, or both. The goal of the …