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Interactions in English Second Language Classrooms: How Does Cultural Background Influence Classroom Participation and Interaction Styles?
No full textIn my ethnographic research, I observed the interaction between students in English language acquisition classes at the Boise State Intensive English Program. Classroom interaction and participation is an essential part in language acquisition in an intensive environment. This study focuses on analyzing classroom observations/teacher and student interviews to explore how cultural background influences class engagement. Many students struggle with different cultural normatives in a multicultural environment that follows American practices, in regards to social practices, authority, expression, and group activities. Many students have a reluctance to work in groups, ask questions, and work outside of their gender, age, and ethnic ties. It examines participation among students from collectivist and individualist cultures and how teacher intervention affects interactions. Understanding how cultural roles play a part in students\u27 attitude towards classroom participation, educators can create more inclusive and effective learning environments. Based on students\u27 nationality, some are more inclined to participate, while others naturally are more reserved and stick together in groups. Through teacher encouragement, pedagogy significantly improves interaction. Recognizing cultural influences, ESL educators foster a more inclusive classroom, improving students confidence and language development
Tunable Biomedical Device Degradation via Controllable Ald Coatings
No full textMagnesium is widely used in various applications (e.g., aerospace, automotive industries, etc.) due to its exceptional mechanical properties, such as its high strength-to-weight ratio. However, when exposed to harsh environments, magnesium alloys experience a higher corrosion rate than most metals. This could be beneficial for some applications, such as in the biomedical field. When in contact with body fluids, magnesium’s corrosion allows the process of bioresorption. Compared to other metals, such as titanium and stainless steel, magnesium enhances performance when used for a wide range of medical implants, which makes it attractive for this application. One challenge to be addressed is corrosion rates; too high may be detrimental to the functionality and lifetime of implants, while too low can cause dysplasia or osteoporosis. An alternative to combat this challenge is by applying biocompatible coatings via atomic layer deposition (ALD) on the magnesium alloy to preserve its mechanical properties, allow bioresorption at the end of its lifetime, and improve predictable implant lifetimes. ALD is an advanced coating technology that provides precise thickness and substrate conformality, making it ideal for this application. Various atomic force microscopy techniques were utilized to examine the material properties of various coating thicknesses
Filling in the Blanks: Textual Critique in Comestor\u27s Tobit
No full textThe Historia Scholastica Project consists of the transcription and translation of Boise State University’s copy of Peter Comestor’s twelfth century Historia Scholastica. The Tobit project joins with the greater goal of producing a comprehensible and accurate translation of Boise State’s fifteenth century incunabulum copy of the work located in the Albertsons Library which is both accessible and informative to the larger Boise State community.
To date, this Latin cohort has translated 230 lines out of 730 total lines. By May 2025 we anticipate a total of 300 lines. Our translation process utilizes Jacques-Paul Migne’s Patrologia Latina volume 198 as a tool for textual criticism and comparison. In addition to transcription, textual comparison, and translation, our cohort has directed our research towards a historiographical analysis of Tobit, endeavoring in our methodology to examine Comestor’s treatment of historicity as it applies to the content, context, and composition of Tobit. Our research approach in this has been twofold: first, surveying scholarly sources that record similarities and discrepancies in Tobit’s content and historical context, and second, conducting an inquiry into Comestor’s sources. Conclusively, we hope to produce an accurate translation of this chapter — and an informed analysis of its historiography — that will serve as a foundation for current and future Boise State members interested in the Historia Scholastica Project
The Impact of Dog Ownership on Student Well-Being
No full textThis study examines how pet ownership affects mental health and stress through social interactions, emotional support, and stress reduction. Our research will analyze how pet ownership impacts mental health and stress among Boise State students. While previous studies have explored the positive health effects of pet ownership, our research incorporates the resources available to students on the Boise State Campus. We plan to collect research through a survey of students on the Boise State campus with a self-reported questionnaire addressing mental health, stress, and anxiety as it relates to pet ownership. The expected findings are pet ownership reduces stress levels and improves mental health and overall well-being. Pet ownership is a determinant of health because it increases physical activity by encouraging outdoor time and reduces stress levels. Pets provide companionship and release feel-good hormones like oxytocin and serotonin, which can significantly improve mental well-being. Our research aims to raise awareness about the mental health benefits of pet ownership while providing information on resources available to students
Childhood Trauma and Anxiety: A Guide to Boise State Resources
No full textResearch Question: What resources are available to students at Boise State who have experienced childhood trauma and live with anxiety?
Anxiety may result from traumatic experiences, particularly during childhood. Traumatic experiences can have a significant impact on the brain\u27s development and the regulation of emotions, leading to increased risk of anxiety. Childhood trauma is a determinant of health. The aim of our research is to share how childhood trauma leads to anxiety and offer students information on the resources at Boise State. To find substantial information on this topic we are going to use the Albertsons library database to find peer-reviewed articles on how childhood trauma increases the risk for anxiety. We will utilize the Boise State Health Services website to research resources available to students. The expected findings from our research will provide those who may be struggling with anxiety and to highlight resources available to students at Boise State
Medicaid Expansion and Mental Health Outcomes
No full textQuantitative Easing (QE) is a non-traditional monetary policy tool used by central banks to stimulate economic activity during periods of economic downturn or uncertainty. In the United States, to combat the economic fallout of the 2008 financial crisis, the Federal Reserve implemented several rounds of QE (commonly referred to as QE1, QE2, and QE3) significantly expanding its balance sheet through large-scale purchases of U.S. Treasury securities and mortgage-backed securities. These interventions were designed to restore stability to the financial system and stimulate economic recovery. My research explores how this policy disproportionately benefited individuals who held financial assets, particularly stock market holdings, as they experienced substantial appreciation in their net worth during and after the QE periods. Conversely, individuals without these asset classes (often from lower-income brackets) saw little to no comparable gains, thereby widening the existing wealth gap. My study analyzes individual-level data, provided by the Federal Reserve Economic Database (FRED), from 2006 to 2019 and employs a generalized Difference-in-Differences econometric model to estimate the effect of QE, measured by the percentage of purchased treasuries, on net worth across treated and untreated populations. My results of this study offer insight into the distributional consequences of this unconventional monetary policy and its role in shaping long-term inequality between wealth classes
Exploring Levels of Adherence to Masculine Norms and Their Influence on Men\u27s Expressive Writing
No full textResearch surrounding the impacts of masculinity on men\u27s expressive writing is limited. Previous studies have focused on gender differences in emotional expression and language use between men and women. Such past studies have indicated that men encounter societal pressures influenced by gender roles that restrict their emotional expression. While the literature helps frame how men differ in their use of language and levels of expressiveness in writing based on gender, there is a lack of knowledge about how adherence to masculinity affects this. The current study examined factors such as masculinity adherence and stressful life events through men\u27s expressive writing. By looking at men\u27s levels of adherence to traditional masculine norms and language patterns, such as cognitive, emotional, and mental health-related words, we can better understand how masculine norms are associated with emotional expression. More knowledge in this area may help to determine the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions, such as expressive writing, for various groups of men. We hypothesized that men with higher levels of adherence to masculine norms would demonstrate less emotional expression in their writing than men with lower levels of adherence
Cultural Dimensions and Educational Values: A Thematic Analysis of Mozambican and US Parental Beliefs
No full textHofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory (1991), as applied in the Culture Factor Group’s Country Comparison Tool highlights Mozambique’s collectivistic culture as less oriented towards success and achievement than the United States’ individualistic culture (The Culture Factor, n.d.). This is reflected in high dropout rates among primary school students in Mozambique and low literacy rates compared to the United States (U.S. Agency for International Development, n.d.). However, in 2008-2015, Mozambique experienced a trend of student population growth in the areas of social sciences, humanities, and social services (Miguel et al., 2022). Parental belief systems include factors such as parental involvement and cultural beliefs, and these factors impact children’s academic achievement (Spera et al., 2009). Through a qualitative analysis of interviews with Mozambican parents (n=9) and US parents (n=35), we examined differences in these populations in framing the importance of education based on the involvement in their children’s lives and their self-reported value of education. It was hypothesized that Mozambican parents value education from a perspective of cultural growth and improvement, while the US parents value education from an individualistic perspective focused on achievement and success. Indeed, when noting the importance of education, Mozambican parents described themes of societal development, breaking cycles of poverty, sacrifice, and collective responsibility, as seen in this quote, ‘when we educate our children…they know how to build their nation, their families, and their communities’. US parents were more likely to frame education as a pathway to personal growth and adaptability, and allow for alternative or non-formal pathways, as seen in the following quotes, ‘I don\u27t necessarily have a formal construct of what does education have to be for them because they all have different journeys’, and ‘I\u27m allowing my son to figure out his own way. And if he wants to drop out and get a GED, I\u27m fine with that’. At the same time, the analysis of thematic language and parental involvement highlighted Mozambique’s shifting values towards educational achievement and the diverse perspectives that the US population attributes to success.
References Hofstede, G. (1991). Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind: Intercultural cooperation and its importance for survival. McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. The Culture Factor. (n.d.). Country comparison tool: Mozambique, United States. https://www.theculturefactor.com/countrycomparison-tool?countries=mozambique%2Cunited+states U.S. Agency for International Development. (n.d.). Education in Mozambique. USAID. https://www.usaid.gov/mozambique/education Miguel, L.L.A.J., Tambe, T.A.F. & da Costa, C.S. (2022). Examining expansion and trends in higher education in Mozambique, Africa. Higher Education, 83, 411–439. https://doi-org.libproxy.boisestate.edu/10.1007/s10734-020-00666-4 Spera, C., Wentzel, K. R., & Matto, H. C. (2009). Parental aspirations for their children’s educational attainment: Relations to ethnicity, parental education, children’s academic performance, and parental perceptions of school climate. Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 38(8), 1140–1152. https://doi-org.libproxy.boisestate.edu/10.1007/s10964-008-9314-
An Ethnographic Study of Women\u27s Language Use to Elevate Their Status in a Business Setting
No full textThis ethnography researches the linguistic normalities and abnormalities in the introductions and exit statements made by women addressing other women in a bridal store environment. There is research done on business settings that include men, but there is a lack of research done on an all women business field. An all women business setting was a challenge to find and examine since an homogeneous environment does not exist in many businesses. Although the setting was difficult to find, the process of researching this brought forth many important conclusions. The first being that women use a number of linguistic features to present a friendly and inviting atmosphere to a customer; such as a raise in pitch, and polite turn taking. Secondly, the exit statement is not widely considered as important as the introduction statement, and does not show the same linguistic features as an introduction. Finally, the first introduction shapes the type of communication, open or closed, the customer has throughout their appointment. The findings of this research shows the linguistic tools that women use in introductions, and how important the first introduction is between women in a business setting
Medical or Dental: The Great Divide
No full textResearch shows a significant link between oral health and overall health, yet historically dental care is solely the responsibility of dental providers, not integrated with the rest of the healthcare team. This research will investigate the persistent disconnect between medical and dental coverage and care. In 1840, a decision made between medical and dental professionals at the University of Maryland separated the two professions. At the time, the university refused to integrate dental instruction into the medical curriculum. Following that decision, a dental college was opened at the university. Later in the 1960s, with the formation of Medicare, dental professionals refused to accept Medicare as payment, further dividing the two professions. The goal of this research is to perform a thorough meta-analysis of current and recent research regarding the separation of medical and dental care coverage. It is expected this research will discover the reasons behind the separation, what the consequences are for patient health, as well as potential solutions proposed by medical and dental professionals alike