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MPA 260, Capstone Project, December 2, 2014
Full text link73 pagesDes Moines has become a city disconnected from its metropolitan suburbs. As the metro area has expanded, the growth has been limited primarily to the suburbs. While the downtown has experienced an “urban renaissance” in the past decade, citizens continue to report that they don’t go downtown because of parking issues and the fact that they can do or buy the same things more conveniently in their own suburb.
This paper examines the history and economic conditions that led to this problem and seeks to propose a long-term option to address it: expanding the public transportation system and modifying it to incorporate the benefits of a hub-and-spoke model. In the course of this analysis, the authors conducted a survey of Des Moines and suburban residents to determine their attitudes regarding downtown and public transportation options. They also compared Des Moines to several other Midwestern cities with more mature transportation systems.
The proposed changes to the system include designating High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on metro interstate highways and upgrades to the bus system that could be incorporated into the current Des Moines Area Regional Transportation (DART) authority’s long-term plan, DART Forward 2035. In addition, the team suggests that the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization should reassess the feasibility of a light rail system and/or an electric streetcar system.Professor Allen Zagoren DO, MP
Video-Based Instruction For Introductory Computer Programming
Full text linkVideo replacement of in-person lecture is finding its way into more and more computer science education settings such as inverted classrooms, massive open online courses, online/distance learning, and programming camps. Since the use of video is critical to some pedagogies, the question of how it impacts student attitudes and learning is important. This study investigates this by looking at experiences in the programming unit within two sections of a broad-scope CS0 course, one of which used video-based instruction while the other did not. We found that students in the video section had a more positive view of the learning activities and thought their student-instructor interactions were more meaningful. Student performance data also suggests that video instruction may benefit student learning as well
The Perceived Importance of Vuca-Driven Skills for 21st Century Leader Success and the Extent of Integration of those Skills into Leadership Development Programs
Full text link156 leave
A Comparative Analysis Of Teacher Perceptions Of School Culture In High-Performing And Low-Performing Iowa Schools
Full text link114 leavesThe challenge of improving the performance of public schools has been given attention from a variety of advocacy groups, researchers, government agencies, education organizations and schools. Since the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 2002, titled No Child Left Behind, the stakes for public schools are higher. Despite this increasing pressure, there are still relatively few examples of schools overcoming the challenges of educating all students and closing the achievement gaps that exist in student subgroups of low socioeconomic status, English language learners, special education, and racial/ethnic minority identification. State departments of education collect a vast array of data to monitor public school performance. In most states, teacher perceptions of school conditions are not among those data; however, teachers matter more to student achievement than any other school factor (Rand, 2012).
This study focused on teacher perceptions of the Nine Characteristics of High-Performing Schools in an effort to determine if teacher perceptions of school culture were predictive of school performance in reading and mathematics. A sequential hierarchical regression analysis indicated that while poverty is a strong predictor of school performance, teacher perceptions of most of the Nine Characteristics of High-Performing Schools is also predictive of school performance in reading and mathematics, a conclusion that has implications for school improvement policy and practices
Neuropil Distribution In The Anterior Cingulate And Primary Visual Cortex Of Cetartiodactyla, Primates, and Afrotheria
No full textPrevious studies of the cerebral cortex have utilized the neuropil space as a proxy for
connectivity, highlighting structural differences between cortical areas. The following study aims
to investigate the distribution of neuropil space across 18 mammalian orders in two cortical
areas, sampled from the frontal and occipital lobes. Results indicate a significant difference in
neuropil space between cortical areas and species. The anterior cingulate cortex maintained a
higher neuropil fraction than the primary visual cortex among all species studied.Drake University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; School of Anatomical Sciences, The University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, Des Moines, I
Comparison Of Isokinetic Muscle Performance In Active, Healthy Males And Females
No full textRhonda Cross Beemer, PhD, ATC (Mentor)Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), is a common disorder seen in athletes, and more frequently in females (Taunton et al., 2002). Studies have attributed it to 10% of all medical
consultations and 25% of all injuries to the knee treated in sports clinics. People with this
disorder experience uncomfortable pain around the patella and the patellofemoral joint of the
knee. The purpose of this study was to examine lower extremity muscle performance differences and relationships in active, healthy males and females to determine attributes towards knee injuries, such as PFPS. Previous research has shown that deficits in certain muscle groups may attribute to higher risk of developing knee pain. It is hypothesized that peak torques in all females will be less when compared to males. Subjects were recruited through printed flyers and word-of-mouth methods. After informed consent was provided and signed, subjects’ (N= 10) weight, height, and BMI were recorded. Subjects then underwent a series of muscle performance tests using the Biodex System 4 Isokinetic Dynamometer. Actions performed in this study included knee extension and flexion, hip external rotation, and hip
abduction. All movements consisted of a concentric and eccentric portion in an isokinetic setting. Results: Pearson correlations of data thus far indicate that there are relationships between body weight, BMI, and concentric and eccentric peak torques. Further research needs to be conducted to support the hypothesis.Drake University, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical, Biomedical, & Administrative Sciences Departmen
Fall 2014, Master of Public Administration Capstone
Full text link75 pagesProfessor Allen Zagoren DO, MP
The Relationship Between Self-Assessed Political Skill and the Individual Dispositional Factors of Age and Gender
Full text link228 pagesProblem: While the impact of individual political skill on individual and
organizational success is clear from the research, determining if proficiency in
political skill is contingent upon the individual dispositional factors of age group
and gender are less understood. If these dispositional factors contribute to
individual proficiency in political skill, one would expect significant differences
between these groups on a political skill assessment. The problem is the lack of
research in the nature and significance of gender and age group on political skill
Procedures: This correlational study was conducted to identify differences in the
self-assessment of political skill by gender and age group. This was
accomplished by analyzing the data previously collected by Learn Associates
LLC, with the use of the Political Skill Inventory (PSI) (Ferris et al., 2005). The
PSI was offered to individuals mostly before participation in workshops, classes,
and lectures on the topics of organizational politics and political skill with the
purpose of providing feedback on group competency level in political skill. The
data were not previously analyzed to determine correlations between these
various demographic groups.
Findings:
• No significant mean differences were indicated for the main effect of
gender for the four dimensions of political skill or for political skill
overall.
• No significant differences were indicated for the main effect of age
group for the four dimensions of political skill or for political skill overall.
• A Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test detected a difference
between age group 1 and age group 3 in apparent sincerity with age
group 3 having a greater mean score. However, the effect size was
small.
• No significant differences were identified for the gender factor within
each age group.
• Small to medium effects were identified in favor of males in age group
2 for networking ability, networking ability excluding outlier and overall
political skill.
• Small to medium effects were identified in favor of females in age
group 3 for networking ability and overall political skill.
• A medium to large effect was identified in favor of females in age group
3 for networking ability excluding outlier.
• No significant differences were identified for the age group factor within
each gender category.
• A small to medium age group effect was identified for males in overall
political skill.
• Medium age group effects were identified for males in networking
ability and networking ability excluding outlier.
• Small age group effects were identified for females in networking and
overall political skill.
• A small to medium age group effect was identified for females in
networking ability excluding outlier.
Conclusions:
1. Males and females are of equal ability in political skill.
2. Age group may play a role in one’s political skill. Specifically,
differences exist between younger workers (i.e., 18 to 30 years of age)
and older workers (i.e., 48 to 66 years of age) in the apparent sincerity
dimension.
3. Males and females possess different levels of proficiency in political
skill at different stages in their careers.
Recommendations:
1. It is recommended that similar studies on political skill be undertaken
examining other dispositional factors such as race, national origin, etc.
2. It is recommended that similar studies on political skill be undertaken
examining situational factors such as organization, occupation, careers
level, education level, income, etc.
3. It is recommended that the present study be replicated utilizing a larger
sample size.
4. It is recommended that future studies be conducted determine the
relative importance of each of the 4 political skill dimensions on
individual and organizational success
2014 Advertising Senior Capstone: Se7en
No full textProfessors Dorothy Pisarski and Sandy Henry, advisorsThis Journalism and Mass Communication's class prepared plans books and presentations for a segment of the ACH Foods business, specifically, Tone's Spices. Students were divided into four ad agencies to plan and execute an advertising and marketing campaign for the sponsor, Tone's. The students were challenged to create an integrated campaign including social media. The plans book for the student ad agency, Se7en Advertising, is presented here