In October 2012, Facebook, the world's largest social networking site, welcomed its one billionth user. What catapulted this company, which opened to public users just six years prior, to attract such a large audience and how can this growth be continued in order to maximize profits for this publicly traded company? Young adult Internet users comprise the largest consumers of social networking sites; however, their current rate of adoption pales in comparison with gains made by members of ...
Laurie A Grosik.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Start, Jay Committee members: Mary Beth Leidman; Zachary Stiegler.
Ph.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2012.
English

The purpose of this study was to investigate digital citizenship in Pennsylvania public schools based on the responses of school leaders including superintendents, curriculum coordinators, and technology coordinators. This study examined the relationship between Pennsylvania school leader's beliefs and the implementation of digital citizenship curriculum within their districts and the degree to which digital citizenship is addressed at various school levels. Furthermore, this study investiga...
Chris A Suppo.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Kaufman, Cathy C. Committee members: George Bieger; Crystal Machado.
D.Ed. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

This study investigated the impact pharmaceutical advertising has on participants' allocation of monetary resources to treat depression. The study randomly selected undergraduate students from the General Psychology subject pool at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (N=193). Demographic data was collected and participants were evaluated for beliefs and knowledge about prescription medications, personal and family history of depression and, in order to mask the true purpose of the study, past ...
Shelly Ann Hopkins.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Meil, William Committee members: William Farrell; David LaPorte.
Psy.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

This qualitative study was designed to explore UNESCO's discursive formations of literacy from 1949 to 2002. Documents included general conferences resolutions, policy papers commissioned by these organizations, brochures, booklets, position papers, global monitoring reports, education sector strategy papers. To analyze the data, I drew I drew from three methods of qualitative analysis based on grounded theory, metaphor analysis and CDA and various analytical tools such as Foucault (1972, 198...
Massaer Paye.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Deckert, Sharon K. Committee members: Resa Bizarro; Claude Hurlbert.
Ph.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

The current study analyzed the use of data analysis teaming to improve student performance in reading as assessed by the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). Participants included 174 elementary school students from a school in eastern Pennsylvania. The results of the one-sample t-test showed that although students in the study had comparable reading performance to the DIBELS national sample, they did now show as much improvement in reading when DIBELS data only were be...
Christina Marie Marco-Fies.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Kovaleski, Joseph F. Committee members: Lynanne Black; Jason Pedersen; Mark Staszkiewicz.
D.Ed. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

This study explores the academic lives of three multilingual undergraduate student writers in order to better understand how they have constructed their academic literacies and academic identities since taking the required English courses at a mid-sized state university. Within the overarching discussions of academic discourse and the idea of western academic discourse (e.g., Bizzell, 1992; Canagarajah, 2002; Flowerdew, 2002; Hyland, 2000), the academic literacies model (e.g., Barton & Hamilt...
Whitney Ann Tudor Sarver.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Park, Gloria Committee members: Bennett Rafoth; Susan Welsh.
Ph.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2012.
English

This ethnographic research explored aspects of small town residential hotel life and the perceptions of deviance within the hotel and adjoining tavern. For this study, the researcher resided as a tenant of the Hotel for a period of one year and also observed the tavern ranging in frequency from daily to monthly visits between 2008 and 2012. During the research period, the researcher became a participant observer in order to experience hotel and tavern life, administered interviews, as well as...
Brandon T Stroup.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Austin, Willard Timothy Committee members: Kathleen Hanrahan; John Lewis.
Ph.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

In this study, I ponder these primary questions: What curricular or ideological strands and assemblages in the history of composition allow English professionals to locate the idea of ecology and sustainability in a writing curriculum? How has ecological thinking been embodied in a writing curriculum? What are the implications of this thinking in composition and writing studies? By drawing from curricular and ideological histories, this study responds to these questions by recognizing an...
Brian D Cope.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Rafoth, Bennett A. Committee members: Resa Bizzaro; Michael Williamson.
Ph.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of brand identification and supportive behaviors for alumni of a medium-sized state-run public institution of higher education in the mid-Atlantic region of the US. The research examined the perceptions of donor and non-donor alumni of a state-run public institution of higher education to see if there were statistically significant differences between populations. The donor population was further examined to see if brand identification...
Amber L Stephenson.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Yerger, David B. Committee members: William Donner; D. Heckert.
Ph.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

Direct to consumer advertising (DTCA) has dramatically increased consumer requests for psychopharmacological treatments for depression. Despite increases in treatment awareness and availability, mental health stigma continues to serve as a significant barrier to help seeking behavior among college students. This repeated measures experimental design explored the impact of a mock "radio advertisement" intended to simulate a DTCA with or without a directive to speak to a mental health provid...
Dennis G LaLonde Jr.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Roehrich, Laurie Committee members: Beverly Goodwin; Derek Hatfield.
Psy.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

This mixed-methods and design-based study identifies changes in technology self-efficacy and technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge among forty-one teachers following their participation in sustained, collaborative, and scaffolded professional development for the interactive whiteboard. Self-efficacy is an important determinant in the degree to which a learner adopts a new skill. Identifying means of assisting teachers in integrating technology during their instruction is becoming ...
Joshua David DeSantis.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Rotigel, Jennifer Committee members: George Bieger; Crystal Machado.
D.Ed. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2012.
English

A mixed-methods study was conducted to determine if extra reading practice incorporated into fifth-and sixth-grade social studies and science content classes would have a positive impact on reading assessments for readers at risk. At-risk readers' independent reading levels were assessed using Dynamic Indicator of Basic Early Literacy Skills or DIBELS. Once their independent reading levels were determined, leveled texts on their independent reading levels were matched up to their social stu...
Teresa Vasinko.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Paquette, Kelli R. Committee members: Anne Creany; Sue Rieg.
Ed.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

This quantitative study explored if significant differences exist between how fifth-grade students produce a written response to a narrative prompt using online versus offline writing platforms. The cultural and social trend of instructional and assessment writing paradigms in education is shifting to online writing platforms (National Assessment Governing Board, 2011; National Writing Project, 2010). A mixed between-within subjects with repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) and counter ba...
Vickie L Heath.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Bieger, George R. Committee members: Anne Creany; Beatrice Fennimore.
D.Ed. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

A challenge of second language learning for the 21st century is to incorporate affect into second language learning. The current emphasis on empowering Saudi second language learners into self-directed students underscores the role of affect has for the future of second language learning. In seeking to interpret the words of the five Saudi students learning English as a second language, this research wants to give their language of the heart (and mind) to the field of second language learn...
Joseph Slick.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Bizzaro, Patrick Committee members: Resa Bizzaro; Laura Micciche.
Ph.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2012.
English

This study investigates how first-year composition teachers use portfolio-based assessment groups as opportunities for interdepartmental conversation and collaboration about teaching, probing of pedagogical belief systems and evaluation of teaching practices and as refuges to explore new instructional methods. The study was conducted at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) where freshman writing instructors meet weekly in portfolio grading groups to evaluate student writing; however, these ...
Dauvan D Mulally.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Pagnucci, Gian S. Committee members: Bennett Rafoth; David Schaafsma.
Ph.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

Transition planning is an essential part of the education of students with disabilities. The school psychologist has the opportunity to contribute to the success of transition planning outcomes. A review of the professional literature indicates that there is infrequent emphasis placed on the contribution of the school psychologist in the transition planning process and there is little in the professional literature to indicate how school psychologists are being trained or to what extent they ...
Carrie R Jackson.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Kovaleski, Joseph F. Committee members: Lynanne Black; Edward Levinson; Christoph Maier.
D.Ed. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

The United States Armed Forces were once comprised primarily of single young men. The military began to diversify as servicemen married and started families. As women joined the service a growth in military partnerships and dual-parent military households became increasingly prevalent. With these changes, coupled with the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, challenges were realized about maintaining marital and family norms in balance with professional duties. The contemporary era of wars is...
Margaret C Stewart.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Leidman, Mary Beth Committee members: Jay Start; Zachary Stiegler; B. Gail Wilson.
Ph.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

The purpose of this research was to explore the teacher self-efficacy beliefs of early childhood preservice educators and their preparedness to teach students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Phase One of this mixed-methods approach asked preservice early childhood educators (N = 34) to complete the short form of the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale (Tschannen-Moran & Woolfolk Hoy, 2001) as well as an open-ended vignette survey which described common academic, behavioral, and social challe...
Tricia H Shelton.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Jalongo, Mary Renck Committee members: Beatrice Fennimore; Joann Migyanka.
D.Ed. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

The advent of No Child Left Behind led to increased teacher accountability for student performance and placed strict sanctions in place for failure to meet a certain level of performance each year. With instructional time at a premium, it is imperative that educators have brief academic assessments that accurately predict performance on high-stakes state assessments. Curriculum-based measurement (CBM) is a widely used type of assessment that can be used for benchmarking and progress monitor...
Ellie Whitner Edman.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Runge, Timothy J. Committee members: William Barker; Joseph Kovaleski; Mark McGowan.
D.Ed. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2012.
English

The purpose of this study was two-fold. First, this study attempted to ascertain the perceptions regarding creativity of both professors and students of freshmen-level college courses. Specifically, students enrolled in fall 2012 courses were targeted because they experienced different pedagogical styles of professors in the earliest stages (freshmen-level courses) of their academic careers in higher education. Those freshmen-level courses were perceived as the gateway of academics and creat...
Laura J Strong.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Paquette, Kelli R. Committee members: Mary Jalongo; Sue Rieg.
D.Ed. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

The purpose of this study was to examine graduates' perspectives of factors that contributed to enrollment in and the completion of a public high school alternative education program and the benefits that have persisted beyond graduation. This study examined graduates' perceptions of their experiences in a traditional school setting and an alternative education program as well as their perceptions of experiences following graduation from an alternative education program. The theoretical persp...
Beverly J Knopf.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Helterbran, Valeri R. Committee members: George Bieger; Kelli Paquette.
D.Ed. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013.
English

HIV/AIDS stigma has been studied generally, in relation to other medical conditions, and in relation to gay men. Research demonstrates many detrimental effects of HIV/AIDS stigma, including negative health outcomes. Although women are contracting HIV in greater numbers with every passing year, little research focuses on HIV/AIDS stigma as it relates to women. The few available studies indicate HIV+ women may be more stigmatized than HIV+ men, as evidenced by pejorative media portrayals and pe...
Kendra R McCarty.
Publisher info.: Dissertation/Thesis.
Advisors: Roehrich, Laurie Committee members: Beverly Goodwin; Maureen McHugh.
Psy.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2012.
English