28653 research outputs found
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Hostels reimagined: exploring how capsule design can promote community connection in America
No full textHostels provide a wonderful option for travelers and individuals needing shortterm
accommodation. However, they are not as common in America as they
are in many European countries. Successfully integrating hostels into urban
environments in the United States depends significantly on designing for the
needs of travelers such as privacy, safety, affordability, and convenient locations.
Privacy and safety are significant expectations for many Americans when
traveling - two areas in which hostels often lack a strong reputation. The solution
for these expectations is to design capsule hostels that provide the necessary
privacy and safety options, but also an opportunity for building community.
While hotels and Airbnb rentals remain alternatives, hostels offer travelers an
opportunity for cultural exchange and building connections affordably. This
design emphasizes affordability by offering diverse accommodation options and
shared living spaces. Options include single-person capsules for solo travelers,
family-sized capsules with a bunk and queen bed, and dormitory-style rooms for
8–10 people, which serve as the most budget-friendly choice for individuals or
groups.
The primary goal of this thesis exploration is to offer diverse and more affordable
travel options while encouraging young travelers to engage with people they
might not typically have the opportunity to meet in American cities.Thesis (B. Arch.)College of Architecture and Plannin
Boyce Block
No full textThis creative project explores the historical and cultural significance of Boyce Block, a 19th-century commercial building in downtown Muncie, Indiana, through a short-form documentary. By tracing the building's evolution from its entrepreneurial origins under James Boyce to its present-day role as a vital cultural hub for the Muncie Civic Theater, this project aims to engage the community, preserve the city's heritage, and demonstrate how buildings like Boyce Block reflect the resilience, innovation, and collective spirit of Muncie’s past and present. Through this documentary, I seek to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Muncie’s history, its architectural landmarks, and the vital role they play in shaping community identity.M. A
Cultural killers: using representations of the serial killer in American media to analyze cultural fears from 1955 to 1991
No full textThis thesis analyzes representations of both the fictional and non-fiction serial killer in American media from 1955 to 1991 as mouthpieces through which newsmakers, filmmakers, and audiences could explore major cultural fears. The Introduction highlights the lack of historical analysis, specifically in cultural history, that has gone into understanding representations of serial murder and similar forms of entertainment in media. It further emphasizes the fluidity in how serial murder has been defined by the public, lending credence to the argument that changes in representations reflect changes in the culture those representations stem. This thesis highlights the role of the Cold War as a driving force in American culture throughout the latter half of the 20th century and how the serial killer came to embody the “other.” Primary resources mainly consist of newspaper accounts, film, and film reviews, which are treated as reflections of the particular time in which they originated. The serial killers and films analyzed here are The Night of the Hunter (1955), Edward (Ed) Gein, Psycho (1960), Albert DeSalvo (the Boston Strangler), The Strangler (1964), the Zodiac Killer, Dirty Harry (1971), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), David Berkowitz (the Son of Sam), Halloween (1978), John Wayne Gacy, Cruising (1980), and The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Each subject provides a deeper understanding of how the modern image of the serial killer was influenced by ideological shifts over a prolonged period of time and how the serial killer can be used to understand said shifts.M. A
Parent education in family literacy programs: a mixed methods study
No full textThis mixed-methods study aimed to provide insights into family literacy programs, with a specific focus on the parent education component used by the Parent as Teachers program through home visiting and/or playgroup models. Specifically, the Parents as Teachers program influenced parents’ parental knowledge, parenting efficacy, and parental behaviors. Quantitative data were collected through surveys using questions from the Knowledge of Infant Development Inventory- Short Form- Short Form (KIDI-SF) and the Parental Sense of Competence Scale-Revised (PSOC-R), as well as through a quantitative observation tool known as the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Inventory-Short Form (HOME-SF). Qualitative data were gathered through interviews conducted alongside home observations. 44 participants completed the survey, and ten parents participated in the observation and interview. The study found that higher knowledge averages and smaller gaps between parenting efficacy and satisfaction were associated with older age groups, higher education levels, and longer program participation. Findings from the interviews highlight the importance of support, validation, and community connections in enhancing parental outcomes. This research highlights the importance of family literacy programs in promoting positive parenting practices and provides valuable insights for enhancing program design and implementation.D.Ed
Approach versus withdrawal anger and reading processes
No full textPrevious literature has examined the relation between broad affective behaviors (e.g., positive or negative emotion) and reading comprehension. However, the inconsistencies and mixed findings in the literature (Beukeboom & Semin, 2006; Bohn-Gettler & Rapp, 2011; Scrimin & Mason, 2015; Storbeck & Clore, 2005; Smith et al., 2022) suggest that the relationship is more complex and should be investigated beyond the lens of broad affective valence. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to take a less broad, motivational direction approach to better understand its relation to reading. Specifically, approach- and withdrawal-oriented anger’s role in reading processes such as recall specificity, recall generality, reading ability and textbase comprehension were investigated. In contradiction to the proposed hypotheses, the results suggest that the relationship between recall specificity/generality and reading ability does not change depending on the motivational direction of the emotion induced. Moreover, the findings of the current study suggest that those experiencing neutral, approach-oriented, and withdrawal-oriented emotions likely do not differ significantly from one another in terms of recall specificity, generality, or emotionally charged words. Exploratory findings provide insightful results related to textbase comprehension, PANAS, and emotionally-charged language.M.A
Determining competence: an examination of predictors and mediators of counseling competence in working with sexual and gender minorities
No full textSexual (gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc.) and gender (transgender, nonbinary, and other gender diverse) minorities (SGM) tend to have worse mental health outcomes when compared to their heterosexual, cisgender peers (James et al., 2016; Meyer, 2003; Newcomb et al., 2020). Therapists have an ethical responsibility to help them navigate their mental health (American Counseling Association, 2014; American Psychological Association, 2017). Unfortunately, therapists are not always prepared to do this (Benson, 2014; Farmer et al., 2013). Bandura’s Social Cognitive Model (1986) has been used within the field of counseling research to build counseling self-efficacy, a concept closely related to competence. This study proposed two models: a sexual orientation model and gender identity model, each examining competence and self-efficacy using known predictors of both. Each model examines the effect of direct service hours and didactic training hours on counseling competence in working with the SGM population through the lens of affirmative counseling self-efficacy, all while examining for potential moderation from counselor identities. One hundred two therapists participated in the study and completed a demographic and clinical experience questionnaire, as well as measures examining counseling competence and affirmative counseling self-efficacy for both sexual orientation and gender identity respectively. A path analysis was used to analyze each model. A full mediation with moderation was found for the sexual minority model. Due to the sample’s composition, moderation was not able to be examined in the gender minority model, and a partial mediation was discovered. Implications for practice, training, and future research are discussed within.Ph.D
MOUD engagement patterns and their association with substance use severity at three years
No full textMedications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are among the most effective treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD), yet real-world patterns of use vary widely. This study examined whether stability or variability in MOUD engagement was associated with differences in substance use severity after three years of recovery. Participants (N = 88) were drawn from the Long-Term Recovery Project, a longitudinal study of individuals with OUD. MOUD use patterns were categorized as stable use, stable non-use, one MOUD change, or two or more changes. A one-way ANOVA revealed significant group differences in substance use severity at 36 months, F(3, 84) = 4.78, p = .004, η² = .15. Post-hoc tests indicated that participants with two or more MOUD changes had significantly higher severity scores than those with stable non-use. These findings suggest that greater instability in MOUD use may correspond to poorer long-term recovery outcomes.M.S
Roots of resistance and resilience: an autoethnographic study into the experiences of deaf individuals from deaf families
No full textThis autoethnographic study was undertaken to explore the lived experiences of Deaf individuals born into Deaf families. While most existing literature about Deaf people tends to focus on the challenges faced by those who were raised in hearing families. This study shifts the focus toward Deaf individuals born into Deaf families, where their upbringing was shaped at birth by having early access to identity, language, culture, and a connection to the Deaf community. This study used an autoethnographic approach through the lens of Critical Theory, supported by the Deafhood Theory and the Postcolonial Theory, to better understand the lived experiences of Deaf individuals from Deaf families. A semi-structured interview was conducted with five Deaf participants who were born into generationally Deaf families, and they had the opportunity to share their stories. Their stories revealed common themes and experiences. The participants described the strengths of growing up in Deaf families, the deep connection to culture and language, and the cherished memories and stories they carry with them. They also shared experiences of systemic oppression and barriers in education, healthcare, and employment. The research questions were answered through the findings related to Deaf identity and cultural pride, lived experiences of growing up in a Deaf family, themes of separation, control and colonization, and inherited resilience and collective responsibilities. This study shows how important it is for Deaf children to have early access to language and culture whether born into Deaf or hearing families, and it offers implications that calls for changes to systems that often create barriers by assuming Deaf people need fixing, instead of recognizing Deaf culture and language. The study also suggests future research that continues to explore lived experiences within and beyond Deaf families.D.Ed
The influence of colorism when judging racial microaggressions
No full textThis study investigated bystanders’ judgments of racial microaggressions based on the skin tone of target. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the theory of colorism (Walker, 1982) mediates racial bias. Using Ma’s et al., (2015) Chicago Face Database, lighter and darker skin tone versions of a facial stimuli were developed to use in the study. Participants were asked to judge how offensive racial microaggressions adopted from Sue et al., (2007) were as they were said to the newly developed facial stimuli. A mixed effects analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine judgements of offensiveness across and within Black and White racial groups. The findings from this study support that colorism is not considered to be a mediating variable when judging racial microaggressions. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed within.Ph.D
Composing a work for wind band that is appropriate to be programed by a university ensemble
No full textMy creative project is a composition for wind band, that has the goal of being programmable for any university ensemble, even one whose enrollment numbers have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. To make this work programmable, I used only standard instruments, slightly reduced from the number of instruments in a standard wind band, and I made the duration of the work approximately 8 minutes. When deciding on the structure of this piece, I analyzed two notable works for wind band: Paul Hindemith’s Symphony in B- Flat for Concert Band (1951) and Vincent Persichetti’s Symphony for Band (1956). Both of these works are multi-movement, which I decided to emulate with four distinct sections instead of writing a multi-movement piece. The inspiration for this project is a simple narrative that I created about an alchemist who attempts and succeeds in creating a philosopher’s stone, then deals with the inevitable consequences of acquiring that much power. The accompanying paper explains the narrative of my piece, my analyses of both Hindemith and Persichetti’s works, and my process of crafting and evolving the main theme of my piece, The Alchemist and the Stone.M.M