Western Connecticut State University
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Effects of Social Class on Body Image and Self-Esteem
No full textDo the images people are exposed to on a daily basis from magazine ads to billboards affect women's self esteem? Forty undergraduate students viewed images of women in different professions and of different body types to test the theory. According to past research all these perfect images people are exposed to on a daily
basis are having a lasting effect on their perceptions of themselves. This researcher wanted to know if exposure to these images would lower women's self-esteem. Results indicated that neither the different conditions (model images versus average body type images) nor the type of profession (lower or higher class occupations) produced any significant differences. Further research is needed to clarify factors related to women's low self-esteem
Connectivism Learning Theory: Instructional Tools for College Courses
No full textAbstract:
This qualitative thesis explores the work of George Siemens and connectivist learning theory, 'A Learning Theory for the Digital Age'. Findings are based on a literature review which investigated the foundations, strengths and weaknesses of connectivism and synthesized conclusions into a knowledge base of practical applications for the college level, Instructional Technology classroom. The half-life of knowledge is shrinking, especially in the field of Instructional Technology; connectivism helps to ensure students remain current by facilitating the building of active connections, utilizing intelligent social networking and encouraging student-generated curricula. Connectivism allows the future of education to be viewed in an optimistic, almost Utopian perspective, as individuals co-create knowledge in a global, networked environment
Student Opinion and Student Course Selection
Get PDFThis study examined the effects of student opinion on course selection. Twenty-nine undergraduate psychology students read a course description similar to those offered by a university course catalogue, then read either one of two student opinions or no student opinion. After reading this information, participants completed a questionnaire that evaluated their thoughts on the course. First, it was predicted that if participants read a student opinion in addition to a course description, they
would make significantly different decisions regarding the course. Second, it was predicted that these participants would also perceive the information as more helpful in arriving at their decisions. Contrary to both of these hypotheses, the presence or absence of a student opinion resulted in no
significant effect on the participants' likelihood to take or recommend the course, or the extent to which they reported finding the information helpful in making these decisions
The True Rise of The Fallen Woman: A Critical Study of Thomas Hardy’s Tess of The D’Urbervilles
No full textThe genre of work known as the literature of the fallen woman adheres to a strict set of guidelines for its infamous female roles. Fault, misery, and death are the ideal circumstances under which these women lead their lives. Thomas hardy, however, with the use of sleep states at critical junctures in Tess of the d'Urbervilles creates an anomaly within the genre with the character Tess Durbeyfield. By developing his character through these states, he not only exonerates her from blame, but also allows her to rise above her sin. Additionally, he leads his heroine through a life of internal ambivalence, thus adding to her isolation from both the world and her genre. This new vision of the fallen woman echoes his feelings on the hypocritically ambiguous society of his day and allows a new concept to take shape within this type of literature--forgiveness. This study explores Hardy's use of these states and their extraordinary effect on the perception of the fallen woman.Master of Arts (MA)Englis
A study of the Bard college writing model and its application in an urban high school
No full textFor over twenty years, Bard College's Institute for Writing and Thinking (IWT) has been used to teach its incoming freshmen how to use writing as a tool to think more creatively and at a higher conceptual level. Bard students use these writing tools to understand the content of all their subject and communicate clearly and creatively. The Bard writing model consists of a series of interconnected writing and dialectic activities that are consistently used throughout Bard College’s curriculum. This program of writing and writing instruction has also been offered to the public in a series of workshops. The majority of the attendees of these workshops are educators from all grade levels and subject areas. Though secondary school teachers use strategies that they have learned at Bard College, the only high school that the researcher could find that has adopted the complete Bard model into its school-wide curriculum is WT High School (WTHS).
This study documented the Bard Institute for Writing and Thinking model by observing and participating in a week-long summer workshop. Data from this site consist of journal entries which describe the activities, group dynamics, and document reviews. After reviewing the Bard IWT curriculum and instructional procedures, the researcher observed and participated in WT High School’s writing and thinking week-long workshop which teaches the same activities as Bard. Nine students responded to semi-structured questions that were designed to ascertain their perceptions of the Bard writing model and their school. Other students and staff members were informally interviewed and also asked about their perceptions of writing and their school.
The researcher did not attempt to prove that the Bard writing model was better than any other writing instructional strategy, but rather presented an alternative way of using writing in all academic disciplines. Writing instruction on the secondary school level often emphasizes structure, neglecting content. This study presents writing strategies that can be used to help students generate and develop higher order thinking ideas that may balance the quality of the content and form of their writing.Doctor of Education (EdD)Education & Educational Psycholog
Effects of Social Influence and Persuasion on Paranormal Beliefs
Get PDFIn the last decade scholars have unexpectedly found that beliefs in the paranormal were not significantly lower
in college students vs. the general population. This research has produced a lot of controversy and concern regarding the student's education level and reasoning skills. To investigate further, the current experiment analyzed the relationship between media and social influence and college students' beliefs concerning the paranormal. In contrast to previous research, no differences in beliefs were supported as a function of media or social influence. Potential reasons for the lack of significant results are discussed and proposals for future studies are offered
Michael Greenberg speaks at WCSU
No full textAuthor Michael Greenberg speaks at Western Connecticut State University on October 9, 2009
Reflections of Existence
No full textFictional horror/fantasy NovellaThis story questions the morality of the modern businessman as he makes his way through a horrifying dream world. Distorted versions of human beings attempt to cause him pain and anguish, as he searches for answers and an exit, to this strange realm of existence