Summit Institutional Repository @ PSU (Plymouth State University)
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Cultivating social responsibility in study abroad: a phenomenalogical exploration of study abroad program design
No full textThe Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP) 2007 report, published by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), highlighted ���personal and social responsibility� (p. 12) as one of the essential learning outcomes for US undergraduates. Many in the higher education community responded positively to the AAC&U's report and the need for social responsibility, but research on the topic has shown faculty struggling to cultivate it (Dey & Associates, 2008; Colby & Sullivan, 2009, O'Neil, 2012). This project explored the following questions: Which study abroad program design components cultivate social responsibility among US undergraduate student participants? How do study abroad program leaders and student participants understand social responsibility? I explored these questions through the study abroad literature on social responsibility, an electronic survey sent to BestSemester student participants, and interviews with BestSemester program directors. Seven themes from the BestSemester program director interviews, BestSemester student responses from the electronic survey, and a theoretical framework from the literature review on the acquisition of social responsibility in study abroad are presented.Electronic Thesis or Dissertatio
The impact of equine assisted activities and therapies on trauma recovery: stories of Unites States military veterans who have participated in equine assisted activities and therapies programs
No full textPost traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) are serious concerns for many combat veterans who have experienced violent and traumatic conflict. United States military veterans diagnosed with PTSD/TBI are a population who demonstrate treatment resistance to psychopharmacology (medication therapy)and more traditional ���in office� talk therapies (Erbes, 2006).The focus of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT)for this population is on PTSD symptom mediation as opposed to trauma focus. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the impact of EAAT as a treatment modality for United States military veterans diagnosed with PTSD/TBI from their point of view. Seven veterans who had completed EAAT programs at Professional Association of Therapeutic Riding ���International (PATH) accredited riding centers in New England were the participants in this study. Data was collected from demographic questionnaires, unstructured interviews and researcher field notes. Study outcomes identified three primary themes (self-awareness, accomplishment and belonging) and three secondary themes (safety, nonverbal communication and confidence) emergent from a foundational element (trust). Findings indicated that building a foundation of trust was essential for the active and continued participation of veterans in their EAAT program. This allowed veterans to remain engaged. Over time, veterans felt safe and they felt as if they belonged. The development of safety and belonging allowed for the growth of self-awareness, development of a sense of accomplishment, understanding of nonverbal communication, and confidence. As a result of participation in EAAT, veterans gained personal growth and understanding, which manifested as PTSD symptom reduction. These research findings support the use of EAAT as a complementary treatment modality for United States military veterans diagnosed with PTSD.Electronic Thesis or Dissertatio
A hermeneutic phenomenological study: the lived experiences of first generation college students in the 2012 cohort at a traditional undergraduate university
Get PDFFor students who are first in their family (first generation college students) who attend college, access does not equate with success. They do not graduate from college at the same rate as their non-first generation peers. The purpose of this study was to examine the essence of the lived experiences of first generation college students at a traditional undergraduate university. The aim was to understand their college experiences including student engagement, and the effect of student engagement on academic success and persistence. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was taken to gain a deep understanding of the essences of the everyday experiences of first generation college students at The University. Data collection for this study included interviews, member checking, and a researcher's journal. This study determined that for the first generation college students in this particular setting, the number one factor that contributed to student engagement was making connections. Students made these connections with friends, faculty, staff, and the university. The factors that contributed to academic success for first generation college students are discussed. Additionally, the practical implications of this study are considered.Electronic Thesis or Dissertatio
The spatial ecology of Swainson's thrush (Catharus ustulatus) in the Andean foothills of Ecuador
Get PDFThroughout much of the 20thcentury and beyond, migratory birds have faced rapid declines in North America. The breeding bird survey (monitoring avian population trends since the mid-1960s) and concurrent land use changes implicate habitat degradation and fragmentation as underlying causes of these declines. The Swainson's Thrush (Catharus usutulatus) is a Nearctic-Neotropical migrant that has suffered declines of about 0.7% per year over the last 45 years and is subject to greater declines as human populations expand and suitable habitat at both the breeding and wintering grounds become altered. The breeding ground ecology of the Swainson's Thrush (SWTH) has been extensively studied over much of the last several decades, however, the wintering ground ecology lacks similar effort. No study to date, to our knowledge, has looked at the wintering habitat use and spatial occupancy as they relate to demographics and migratory connectivity of a local wintering population of SWTH. Therefore we initiated a study that incorporated data from the winters of 2013 and 2014 on SWTH winter ecology by using point counts, vegetation surveys, radio telemetry, molecular sexing and isotopic analysis techniques at Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary, Ecuador.
Point counts were set up between two forest types, primary and secondary, and they statistically differed with primary sites having larger DBH (t = -2.78, df = 22, p = 0.013), higher cover of woody plants >5 m in height (t = -4.56, df = 22, p < 0.001), and higher canopies (t = -3.76, df = 22, p = 0.001). The total detections of SWTH was significantly higher in secondary forest sites (W = 534, df = 22, p < 0.001), with the highest detection rates in 5 of the 12 secondary stations. These five stations statistically differed from other secondary stations by exhibiting lower DBH (t = -3.49, df = 10, p = 0.007), lower canopy heights(t = -2.12, df = 10, p = 0.036), and higher tree cover (t = 1.98, df = 10, p = 0.044). SWTH densities significantly decreased over the course of the seven week surveying period (F = 6.54, df = 1, p = 0.027). Of the 86 birds caught between the 2013 and 2014 seasons, 85 of them sexed as male and 83 of them aged as young of the year (SY). An additional 27 blood samples donated to us by Kristen Ruegg from UCLA taken across a broader range of Ecuador sexed 20 of them as male. This almost completely uniform population of young males seemed to prefer secondary forest with higher amounts of small trees with low canopy heights. Since birds within this population decreased in density over the course of the field season, we suggest that this population is itinerant in behavior and possibly tracking seasonal fruit.
Radio telemetry revealed that this population of young males exhibited an extreme degree of overlap when tracked simultaneously. Up to eight birds were tracked at one time and they all occupied similar habitat space. Indeed we observed several individuals foraging in the same tree with little aggression towards conspecifics. These tracked birds also occupied relatively large areas (x̅= 2.36 ± 0.92 hectares)and had a short residency time (x̅= 17.1 ± 2.68 days). These findings corroborate the point count results, suggesting itinerant and non-territorial behavior in this wintering population. Intratropical movements are not uncommon in migratory species suggesting this non-territorial population at Wildsumaco either covers large areas to exploit seasonal resources or undergoes a mid-winter intratropical migration.
Migratory connectivity was assessed by analyzing stable hydrogen isotopes (2H) in feathers of SWTH. Precipitation 2H values correlate to the values in bird feathers; therefore this analysis is auseful approach to link the breeding and wintering grounds in some migratory birds. Feather 2H values were extremely variable indicating a broad breeding distribution among this wintering population. When these values were correlated with precipitation values in North America, we found that our birds could breed in three distinct areas stretching across the entire breeding range. This indicates weak migratory connectivity within the boreal subspecies of SWTH. Thus, habitat alteration in a local area on the wintering grounds can affect populations from across the breeding grounds, but these losses may be more difficult to detect.
The majority of future conservation efforts rely in part on researchers' ability to convey useful information from their studies to governmental and public stakeholders. By creating awareness within the local communities, partnerships can originate that might generate necessary support and funding for future projects. These projects should focus on obtaining as much information on the full annual cycle of declining migratory birds, concentrating on the wintering grounds. Efforts directed at this phase of the annual cycle will likely have the greatest conservation impact for migratory birds, especially given the proportional total area of the wintering ranges compared to the breeding ranges of most Nearctic-Neotropical migratory species.Electronic Thesis or Dissertatio
Examination of WEF-ARW thunderstorm simulations in northern New England
Get PDFConvective initiation and development in New England can become complicated due to the underlying topography of the region. Not only can the genesis location of thunderstorms be difficult to predict, but their evolution can be just as challenging to determine. Previous research of northern New England convection found that there are preferred regions for convective initiation with respect to large-scale flow. Another previous study also gave some explanations as to why thunderstorms favor these initiation regions. This study utilizes the WRF-ARW numerical model to further investigate these preferred convective initiation regions. The model simulations were conducted using two nested grids with 4-kmand 2-km horizontal resolutions. Four case studies, two within southwest(SW) and two within northwest(NW) mean flow, were chosen to compare model simulations of these events to observed analyses. Within the model results for both SW cases, convective initiation occurred within areas of frequent thunderstorm genesis as identified by previous research. Belge (2007) referred to these genesis regions as areas of typical" thunderstorm initiation. The WRF simulation contained similar features to the observations. A lee surface pressure trough was apparent through Oxford and Franklin counties in Maine. This trough led to convergence within the "typical" genesis region creating the lifting mechanism for the convection to initiate and develop. The NW cases contained differing results. One case featured a surface pressure trough similar to the SW cases that led to convergence needed for convective initiation. The other case exhibited a synoptic-scale pressure trough over New England and convergence within this trough appeared to be enhanced where the convection initiated. Other miscellaneous events were also chosen to further investigate specific features in thunderstorm development. In each case moisture and convective instability were sufficiently available; therefore the convergence was the most important component determining the convective initiation.Electronic Thesis or Dissertatio
Wind climatology of the Mount Washington Observatory (1935-2013)
Get PDFThe Mount Washington Observatory (MWO), which is located on the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire (44.27° N,71.30° W, 1917m ASL), has operated and maintained more than 80 years of continuous weather observations. This is the first climatological analysis of the digitized MWO wind record (1935-present) and incorporates data from 1935-2013. The MWO station site changes and obstructions on the summit made a measurable impact on the wind record. This study did not account for the site changes or obstructions on the summit and did not attempt to make corrections on the record. Since the anemometer moved in 1980 to the current location on the Sherman Adams Building, it has been fully exposed to the prevailing westerly wind direction. Wind speed and directional diel patterns exist during all seasons with the most consistent diel pattern seen in the summer. Summer wind speed peaks before sunrise and decrease to a minimum in the early afternoon indicating frequent planetary boundary layer exposure. The weak winter diel wind cycle implies regular exposure to the free troposphere in the winter where synoptic scale patterns dominate wind variability. The influence of large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns (e.g., Arctic Oscillation) on Mount Washington wind speed is strongest during the cold season, but is relatively weak. A Theil-Sen's slope trend analysis of the Mount Washington wind record from 1981-2013 reveals a decrease of 0.25 m s-1decade-1. Although the finding is not statistically significant, it is consistent with similar decreasing trends observed at other Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude stations that may be a result of Arctic amplification.Electronic Thesis or Dissertatio
The influence of landfalling atmospheric rivers on U.S. west coast precipitation during February 2014
Get PDFAtmospheric Rivers (ARs) are long narrow corridors of high vertically integrated water vapor (IWV) and high integrated water vapor transport (IVT). The regions of high IWV and IVT are typically 2000 km long. ARs represent the majority of extratropical moisture transport and contribute to extreme precipitation and flooding along the U.S. West Coast. Several ARs made landfall along the U.S. West Coast during February 2014and contributed a significant percentage of water year precipitation during an anomalously dry winter. This study investigates the role that landfalling ARs played in precipitation production throughout the western United States during February 2014 as well as their influence on widespread drought after a long dry period. NCEP-GFS model analyses and NCEP Stage-IV precipitation data were used to monitor the lifecycles of ARs and their effect on precipitation production, respectively. In total, twelve ARs made landfall along the U.S. west coast and produced locally as much as 900 mm of precipitation during February 2014. Strong correlation coefficient values between daily average IWV/IVT and 24-h precipitation amounts were found. The analyses indicate that along with IVT magnitude, IVT vector orientation with respect to orography plays a large role in precipitation production. If IVT vectors were oriented roughly parallel to the upslope terrain gradient then enhanced saturated ascent and topographic enhancement of precipitation occurred, whereas little to no precipitation occurred during events where IVT vectors were oriented perpendicular to the upslope terrain gradient. Analyses of the IWV tendency (IWVT) through the IWV budget of two AR events that made landfall during February 2014 suggested differences in moisture source regions and mechanisms that lead to the development and maintenance of the ARs. The analysis of these two ARs suggest that differences in the IWVT can produce large differences in the structure of ARs prior to landfall and precipitation distributions during landfall.Electronic Thesis or Dissertatio
Changing angler behavior to reduce the impacts of lead fishing tackle in New Hampshire: applied social science using community based social marketing
Get PDFFor over two decades, the use of lead fishing tackle has been a controversial topic among the New Hampshire(NH) angling community. In 2013, NH Senate Bill 89 was passed (effective June 1, 2016) to ban the sale and freshwater use of lead sinkers and lead jigs weighing one ounce or less. Likewise, various non-regulatory strategies such as raising awareness of the upcoming law and incentivizing voluntary change are being explored by state agencies and local non-profit organizations to reduce the use of lead fishing tackle. These action categories (i.e. regulatory vs. non-regulatory) are not exclusive, and the most effective and realistic approach to promote behavior change may involve a combination of strategies. In this study, both general freshwater and bass angling groups were identified as important populations of anglers to target in marketing. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TBP) to structure conceptualization and research focus, this thesis uses a mixed mode method to understand NH anglers, with a specific focus on freshwater anglers. Specifically, the target behavior is purchasing non-lead tackle. To better understand motivations and barriers to purchasing non-lead fishing tackle, fifteen key informant interviews were conducted, followed by a random sample survey sent to 6,000 NH anglers. The survey produced significant findings such as the importance of addressing conservation benefits to the angling community. Likewise, these findings will help influence New Hampshire anglers' willingness to comply with the lead tackle ban and use alternatives. This thesis applies theory driven research and findings to the framework of community-based social marketing (CBSM) to create effective, empirically supported strategies for marketing to make it easier for anglers to switch to lead alternatives immediately. The strategies are presented as 19 recommendations to promote conservation through lead alternative tackle purchases. Implementing this research supports project partners' advancement in reducing the impacts of lead fishing tackle in New Hampshire and encourages compliance under SB89by June 2016.Electronic Thesis or Dissertatio
An investigation of the perception of adult learners in an asynchronous online degree program related to the presence or absence of the principles of andragogy
Get PDFThe purpose of this hermeneutic, phenomenological research was to conduct an investigation to determine the elements of an ideal course for adult learners enrolled in asynchronous online degree programs as expressed by those currently enrolled in such programs. Participants of this study included six adult learners enrolled in an online degree program at a rural, northeastern university referred to in this study as, Green Valley University. Participants, in this research, perceive an ideal online environment as one that retains elements of a traditional academic setting, including high quality professors and students, authentic learning opportunities, and a strong sense of community in the classroom, while maintaining the flexibility inherent of the asynchronous environment. Participants emphasized the importance of needing consistency across the discipline to limit confusion as they move from one course to another. Regarding their perception of andragogy, participants perceived only two of the eight andragogical design elements to be present, mutual design and diagnosing the needs of learners. The results of this research may benefit the greater community within higher education because lessons learned can help educators identify current procedures that could be enhanced or modified.Electronic Thesis or Dissertatio
Understanding the conditions that were in place when the LANGUAGE! intervention was successfully implemented at rural middle school
No full textThe purpose of this heuristic case study was to understand the conditions that were present when L was effectively implemented at Rural Middle School (RMS) for approximately 80 RMS students who qualified for the intervention. The focus of the implementation was to close the reading gap between struggling readers and their same-age peers. Employees in the Rural School District who experienced positive results with regard to student catch-up growth were included. The combination of programmatic design, and implementation, along with support in class and other professional development contributed to student gains in reading achievement at RMS.
RMS may benefit from the data collected from the participants, the data analysis and the researcher recommendations. This heuristic case study explains the complexities of implementing the L intervention and describes why the implementation was successful at RMS. RMS and others will be in a position to consider the findings and the value of the description with regard to the implantation of L at RMS.Electronic Thesis or Dissertatio