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- Creator:
- Castellanos, Ralph Joe, Jr.
- Description:
- This thesis explores the role of language expectations on English-dominant Mexican-Americans’ ethnic identity and cultural orientation. Ting-Toomey’s (2005) identity negotiation theory (INT), Torres and Phelps (1997) bicultural orientation model (BOM), and Anguiano and Castañeda’s (2014) Latino Critical Communication Theory (LatComm) guided a thematic analysis of qualitative interview data with 9 Englishdominant Mexican-Americans. The findings suggest that English-dominant MexicanAmericans face ethnic identity challenges from Spanish–speaking Latina/os when the inability speak Spanish is uncovered. My interpretation of participants’ responses suggests that they encounter INT’s identity group differentiation, feelings of ethnic group exclusion, when Spanish-speaking Latina/os challenge their ethnic identity. Participants’ responses exemplify the BOM’s Anglo orientation, high acculturation and low ethnic identity. Participants reported experiences of racial discrimination, barriers to Spanish fluency, and motivations to learn Spanish later in life. The final chapter discusses findings, contributions, limitations, and suggestions for future research.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Communications
- Creator:
- Rankin, Chelsea
- Description:
- Coastal seabirds are prey generalists known to be influenced by food availability, oceanographic conditions, and predator disturbance. Elegant Terns (Thalasseus elegans) nest at three sites in southern California: south San Diego Bay, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, and Los Angeles Harbor. Numbers of nesting pairs fluctuate dramatically within and among years at these sites. I tested the hypothesis that nest numbers were related to prey abundance, chlorophyll a, sea surface temperature (SST), or predator disturbance. Abundances of four of the tern’s key prey species—northern anchovy, Pacific sardine, jacksmelt and topsmelt—were obtained from data on fish entrapped in nearby powerplant intakes. Chlorophyll a and SST were measured by in-situ data from the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations program and satellite data from the MODIS sensor aboard the Terra satellite. Nest number was not related to prey abundance, chlorophyll a or SST according to bootstrap regression analyses. Predator disturbance was estimated by the number of Peregrine Falcon, feral dog and coyote observations at the San Diego site, which had the most detailed data. Disturbance was higher during courtship in crash years (<825 nests) than non-crash years (mean = 8, SD = ±3.96, N = 6, median = 7.5; and mean = 3.44, SD = ±2.40, N = 9, median = 3, respectively). My results suggest that the courtship stage is a trial period in which Elegant Terns assess a site for suitability, in particular by the level of predator disturbance. However, we need standardized methods of collecting disturbance data and nest numbers to generalize findings across all Elegant Tern colonies in southern California.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Environmental Studies
- Creator:
- Record, Shaina
- Description:
- The purpose of this study was to examine intra-individual arousal and anxiety fluctuation and their association with performance in two different military-based challenges in collegiate ROTC cadets (aged 22.78 ± 3.49). Arousal and performance data were collected from 20 male cadets who performed in a military-task competition in order to earn a German Armed Forces Badge (GAFB). Data were collected from the pistol shoot and swim competitions, with arousal measured via salivary cortisol level, and anxiety measured using state scores from the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Using binary logistic regression analyses, no relationships were found between changes in the arousal and anxiety measures and performance of ROTC cadets on the militarybased challenges. It is hypothesized that these findings are specific to the population, and that in more experienced populations the relationship would have been different. Variables that likely interfered with a potential relationship between arousal/anxiety and performance in these cadets included, but were not limited to, experience, time of day of the competitions, diet, hydration, wakening time, and sleep.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Kinesiology
- Creator:
- Barrette, Timothy
- Description:
- Historians studying Rwanda largely focus on the devastating genocide that claimed the lives of narrowly a million Rwandans within 100 days. This has led to fragmented conclusions for the causation of the genocide—much of which are used to push personal agendas. The debate within these circles, however, tends to focus solely on the genocide, and it misrepresents precolonial, colonial, and post-colonial history in order to make Rwanda’s history fit their contemporary narrative. With that, the thesis Imagination, the Hamitic Myth, and Rwanda: The Foundation of Division in Rwanda takes on the challenge of analyzing the precolonial and colonial foundations that permitted a genocide to unfold. More specifically, it investigates precolonial division and economic strife, the colonial imagination, colonial uses of alienation in society, and the irreparable effects of misused science. Overall, the purpose of this is not to levy a claim of guilty to any one constituency involved in the genocide—as everyone was guilty to an extent—but to adjust the historiographic trajectory of Rwandan history making sure new research encompasses the complications within Rwandan society.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of History
155. What My Friends Have Taught Me: Building Cultural Understanding through Third Culture Relationships.
- Creator:
- Wenzel, Elizabeth A.
- Description:
- This thesis explored the identity management and third culture experiences within intercultural friendship. Twenty-four intercultural friendship pairs participated in this study. Interviews were transcribed, interpreted, and analyzed using elements of grounded theory. Guided by Identity Management Theory and Third Culture Building Model, the thematic analysis revealed elements contributing to the aspects of cultural knowledge transference, including family values and cultural awareness. In addition, elements of accommodation and interdependence highlighted critical aspects within the third culture experience. The intercultural friendships also highlighted the importance of allyship and support needed to promote stable intercultural friendships. The friendship pairs interviewed for this research contributed to the current research on intercultural friendships by providing tangible elements to the third culture experience through microlevel characteristics, as well as highlighting the importance of intercultural friendships in promoting empathy and understanding of cultural differences through intimate relationships.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Communications
- Creator:
- Gonzales, Kathleen A.
- Description:
- Archaeological excavations were conducted by California State University Fullerton under the direction of Dr. Steven R. James and CSUF students during the fall of 2004 and 2005 on San Nicolas Island, Channel Islands, California uncovering faunal materials from five test units at site CA-SNI-44. Samples of abalone shells collected from the five test units were submitted for radiocarbon dating. The resulting timeline for these five test units dated during the Late Holocene. To place CA-SNI-44 within context to other archaeological sites on the island, three index test units, dated to the Late Holocene were used for comparison: CA-SNI-25 (Martz 1996), CA-SNI-131 (ThomasBarnett 2000) and CA-SNI-238 (Martz 1996). Intersite comparisons were used to determine if overexploitation of sea otter and pinniped occurred, then changes in hunting strategies and diets of the prehistoric people on San Nicolas Island would be reflected in the faunal assemblages. The results suggest hunting strategies shifted from exploitation of migratory pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) to resident species (sea otters and harbor seals), which may reflect not only climatic changes during the Late Holocene, but coincide with the increase in marine resource intensification of shellfish and fish. This thesis will show over-exploitation of sea otters and pinnipeds was not occurring at CA-SNI-44 or the Index Test Units.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Anthropology
157. Isometric Strength between Olympic and Hexagonal Barbells and Relationship to Countermovement Jump
- Creator:
- Malyszek, Kylie
- Description:
- The hexagonal barbell is a commonly used implement for strength and power development. However, as it is a relatively novel tool, little is known of the performance differences between a hexagonal (hex) bar and an Olympic bar. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare isometric performance between hex bar and Olympic bar at the mid-thigh and deadlift position. Isometric performance was then compared to dynamic performance via countermovement jump. Twenty resistance trained men (age = 24.05 ± 2.09 years, ht = 178.07 ± 7.05 cm, mass = 91.42 ± 14.44kg) volunteered to participate. Participants performed isometric mid-thigh pulls (MTP) and isometric deadlifts (DL) utilizing the Olympic bar (OL) and both low (LH) and high (HH) handles on the hex bar. Isometric performance was then compared to dynamic countermovement jump (CMJ) performance. Joint angle was recorded for all pulls and the countermovement portion of the jump. MTP force variables were greater than DL for all lifts, with the only difference between bars seen at RFD 50ms, where HH produced greater RFD than LH. MTP joint angles were more extended than DL angles, and the strongest correlation between isometric and dynamic performance was seen between DL PGRF and CMJ impulse. The findings are likely due to the biomechanical characteristics of the MTP and DL as well as the similarity in joint angle between the DL and CMJ positions.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Kinesiology
- Creator:
- Gulick, Colleen
- Description:
- The purpose of the study was to examine the MMG amplitude and mean power frequency vs. torque relationships during isometric muscle actions in women with higher vs. lower muscular strength. Eighteen women volunteered to perform isometric leg extensions at varying submaximal percentages and 100% of their maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) on a HUMAC NORM isokinetic dynamometer. The women were classified into lower strength (n = 10; 21.8 ± 2.5 y, 164.3 ± 6.7 cm, 58.2 ± 7.9 kg) and higher strength (n = 8; 22.5 ± 2.3 y, 165.4 ± 4.4 cm, 71.7 ± 10.6 kg) groups based on their isometric MVC values (lower = 98.4 ± 18.3 Nm, higher = 162.8 ± 26.1 Nm). An accelerometer (EGAS-S704-10_Rev C) was placed over the vastus lateralis to detect the MMG amplitude (expressed as root mean square, RMS) and frequency (expressed as mean power frequency, MPF). Torque (Nm) was recorded by the dynamometer. Polynomial regression analyses indicated the relationship for normalized MMG amplitude vs. isometric MVC was quadratic for the lower strength group (R 2 = 0.989) and linear for the higher strength group (R 2 = 0.917). The MMG amplitude of lower strength women increased most between 60 and 100% MVC. For MMG MPF, the relationships were linear for both lower (R 2 = 0.495) and higher strength women (R 2 = 0.824). In conclusion, the different torque-related responses for MMG amplitude for lower vs. higher strength women likely reflected differences in absolute torque, and thus muscle stiffness, between groups.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Kinesiology
- Creator:
- Robinson, Kenneth I.
- Description:
- Community colleges throughout the United States are facing an impending leadership gap and a critical shortage of experienced administrators. This is primarily due to the imminent retirement of college presidents, senior administrators, and faculty within the next 10 years (Shultz, 2001; Tekle, 2012; Vaughn, 2001). As community colleges nationwide face the impending leadership gap, research suggests that these retirements could possibly have a disproportionate impact on the number of African American presidents and CEOs (Boggs, 2003). Findings of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) 2013 report suggest that Grow-Your-Own (GYO) leadership programs have emerged as a valuable and effective strategy to address the shortage of pipeline candidates for future leadership positions. While a robust body of literature describes the need for GYO leadership programs (Benard, 2012; Focht, 2010; Jeandron, 2006; Scott & Sanders-McBryde, 2012), few studies have comprehensively examined how African American college presidents and CEOs who have participated in a GYO leadership program describe (a) their career advancement, (b) the aspects of a GYO program which contributed most to their career success, (c) the impact of GYO program participation had on their iv leadership practices, and (d) the leadership competencies presidents and CEOs feel were most crucial to their career success. The purpose of this exploratory descriptive study was to identify why and how African American presidents were successful and what aspects of a GYO program contributed most to their career success.
- Resource Type:
- Dissertation
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Educational Leadership
- Creator:
- King, Tina M.
- Description:
- Black males have faced animosity in society, causing them to feel little sense of belonging. Our educational systems are microcosms of the unjust social practices these men have faced. The impetus for this study arose from a desire to explore the important role that faculty and staff attitudes and practices play in fostering a sense of belonging for Black males at community colleges. This study also sought to identify whether faculty and staff validation, faculty-student engagement, and the sense of belonging predicted academic success in terms of increased GPA rates and credits/units earned for these men. This study’s goal was to help community college educators play an integral role in helping Black males keep their dream alive by creating a blueprint, or framework that promote, support, and institutionalize their educational attainment. The study used a portion of the 2013-2015 Community College Survey of Men (CCSM) data (N = 590) collected by The Minority Male Community College Collaborative (M2C3) research center. A hierarchical linear regression was performed to test the path analysis model in the study. The path analysis identified the influence of faculty and staff validation and faculty-student engagement on the sense of belonging, while controlling for background characteristics. This study proposed to measure three variables—faculty and staff validation, faculty-student engagement, and sense of belonging—as independent variables to determine the significance of their impact on academic success outcomes, GPA rates, and credits/units iv earned. “Sense of belonging” did not have a linear relationship with credits/units earned, therefore it was removed from the second part of the study’s analyses. To summarize the findings, faculty and staff validation and faculty and student engagement impacted the sense of belonging for Black males at community colleges. Faculty and staff validation was the strongest predictor of credits/units earned. The findings suggest that Black male sense of belonging and an increase in credits/units earned are significantly influenced by the validation received from college faculty and staff. It is in this role, taking these specific actions, that faculty and staff at community colleges can help keep the dreams, goals, and aspirations of Black males a priority.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fullerton
- Department:
- Department of Educational Leadership