The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of television violence and cultural identity on international students' perceived vulnerability. A total of 73 international students who registered at Ball State University spring semester 1999 participated in the survey research project. MANOVA revealed a significant relationship between perceived vulnerability and television exposure. Although no significant relationship was found between perceived vulnerability and cultural identity levels, there was a significant interaction effect between television exposure and cultural identity. International students who were heavy viewers and had assimilated identity exhibited the greatest perceived vulnerability. Theoretical and methodological implications of the findings were discussed for future research. / Department of Speech Communication

This study reported responses regarding factors which influenced the initial involvement and retention in sport by athletes with visual impairments competing at national and international levels. Fifty-five (55) athletes with visual impairments (40 male and 15 female) in attendance at five of the 1992 United States Association for Blind Athletes (USABA) national championships were interviewed. The championships included: judo, track & field (divided into two separate competitions; sprinters and field events; and distance runners), swimming, and goal ball. Athletes who were selected for and did participate in the Paralympics in Barcelona numbered 24. Biographic and demographic information were gathered in addition to 43 descriptive and open-ended questions in hour-long interviews.In general, the athletes interviewed were successful in their early contacts with sport, did not think of themselves as handicapped, disabled, or physically challenged, preferred to be referred to as visually impaired, and came from very supportive families who did not hinder their progress in sport. The positive factors perceived to influence involvement in sport were quality of life issues. Factors mentioned included: fun, health and fitness, friendships, and competition. Other comments of interest not falling into the above categories included: "high level of success", "satisfaction", "challenge", "enjoyment", "increased self-esteem", "self-confidence", "puts life in perspective", "I have a better outlook", "it balances my life", and "keeps my life normal".For a person with a visual impairment, sport seems to have some unique contributing qualities. Participation in sport was an important part of the lives of these athletes and contributed greatly to improved confidence and self-esteem, and to their efforts to be accepted by society in general. Sport was the means to an end and not the end itself as evidenced in the relatively small number of responses (nine out of 55) relating 'winning' as reason for involvement. Failure did not mean losing as defined by the score at the end of a competition. At this time in the history of sport for athletes with visual impairments, it appears that involvement in sport is a great asset to personal life satisfaction. / Department of Educational Leadership

This paper explores the complex relationship between securing the rights of citizens to privacy and national security priorities under conditions of government mass surveillance. The inquiry examines the conflict between those who support and those who stand in opposition of government surveillance, and is framed around the question of whether changes in technology and the concept of nationalism help inform our understanding of the increase in surveillance post-9/11. From a peace and conflict studies perspective, the work analyzes how the rise of nationalism in the post-9/11 era and the protracted wars against terrorism, in combination with the growth of technological power, have impacted the relationship between state-surveillance and democracy. Findings identify protracted warfare, technology and corporate profits as conflict drivers within the surveillance system, which gives rise to moral dilemmas and structural polarizations in the political culture and institutions of the state and society. The analysis concludes that these dilemmas systematically create an imbalance of power between the citizen to the state, and cannot be fully addressed unless the efficacy of war is critically questioned.

This study deals with the analysis of public opinion about crime and attitudes regarding criminal justice issues along two major dimensions. The first part concerns how respondents rank crime among a list of nine social problems (unemployment, high interest rates, inflation, crime, the high cost of living, moral decline, taxes, dissatisfaction with the government, and Reagan). The second dimension examines some research questions. These are whether there was any association between the respondents' perception of crime trends and each of the following: demographic background, neighborhood safety, the death penalty, gun ownership, frequency of locking doors, avoidance of teenagers, and the evaluation of police job performance; and also whether there was any association between the respondents' victimization experience and seriousness of crime and police job performance. The data were obtained from the archives of the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research in Michigan.

Long popular in northern Europe, protected bike lanes, also known as "cycle tracks" or "separated bike lanes," are seeing increased interest in the United States. One of the primary benefits of protected bike lanes is that they may provide a higher level of comfort than a standard bike lane that is only delineated by an inches-wide painted stripe. Several methods exist for quantifying the quality of service provided by a roadway for a bicyclist; however, many of these models do not consider protected bike lanes and of those that do, none are based on empirical data from the US. This is problematic as engineers, planners, and elected officials are increasingly looking to objective performance measures to help guide transportation project design and funding prioritization decisions. This thesis addresses this gap by presenting a cumulative logistic model to predict user comfort on protected bike lanes using surveys conducted in the United States. The model is for road segments only and not signalized intersections. It is developed from the results of in-person video surveys conducted in Portland, Oregon. The survey was completed by 221 individuals who viewed 20 video clips each. The model is validated using 3,230 responses to a survey of those who have ridden on protected bike lanes in multiple cities around the US. A cumulative logistic model is used because it predicts the distribution of ratings, providing a clearer picture of a facility's performance than a mean value produced by a simple linear model. The resulting model indicates that buffer type, one-way vs. two-way travel, motor vehicle speed, and motor vehicle average daily traffic volumes are all significant predictors of bicyclist comfort in protected bike lanes. Survey results also show that protected bike lanes are generally more comfortable than other types of on-street infrastructure, consistent with previous research findings.

The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between apparel store satisfaction and the patronage behavior of black college-age consumers. In addition, perceptions of the store attributes, the importance attached to the attributes, and personal characteristics were investigated separately and in relation to satisfaction. A need for this research exists because consumers’ satisfaction with the environments of retail establishments has not been researched as abundantly as satisfaction with products and services. It is important for retailers and students in clothing and textiles and business to understand the immense diversity among consumers if they are to market merchandise accurately and successfully. This study will be of value since it determines the level of retail satisfaction of the subjects since satisfaction needs to be understood before there is an understanding of patronage behavior and buying habits. Data were collected by convenience sampling on the Virginia Tech campus. Surveys were administered to students in four sections of an Introduction to Black Studies course in Spring 1994. The final sample size for this study was 90 subjects. Mean ratings of the responses were tabulated from each variables average item scores. The perception rating signified that the subjects’ general perceptions of the store personnel and atmosphere were between "neutral" and "slightly" positive on the scale. Importance ratings signified that the subjects found the store personnel and atmosphere components listed to be "very important” to "usually important". Satisfaction ratings signified that the subjects felt "satisfied" to "neutral" in relation to store personnel, atmosphere, and apparel stores in general. It was found that there is a significant relationship between the dependent variable, retail satisfaction and the independent variable, perception. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed the relationship between satisfaction with store atmosphere and perceptions of the store personnel and atmosphere to be the weakest relationship of the three satisfaction items. Correlation analyses showed no significant relationship exists between store satisfaction and the other variables, the importance attached to the image attributes, patronage behaviors, and demographics. / Master of Science

This study explores the representation of crime in the news in relation to expressed emotion and intention for future action. Episodic and thematic framing (Iyengar, 1991) and narrative processing (Singer & Bluck, 2001) served as the theoretical foundations of this study and helped examine how scripted news stories involving crime influence levels of fear, anger, and empathy in individuals, and how these emotions subsequently affect behaviors. To measure these framing effects, an experimental manipulation was employed using three conceptually different news stories all involving gun-related crimes. One news story utilized an episodic format, while the other two stories used a thematic format (one positive and one negative). Emotional responses, levels of narrative engagement, policy support, perceived risk of victimization, and pro-social behavioral intentions were measured, all based on exposure to the specific type of news frame. The results of this study indicated that while types of news frames did not have a direct effect on readers' emotions, there was a significant relationship between emotions and future actions. For example, fear, anger, and empathy were significant predictors of perceived risk of victimization, policy support, and pro-social behavioral intentions, respectively. These findings contribute to the understanding of the role emotions play in predicting behavior, both within and beyond the scope of message framing.

Chinese female immigrants were active cultural contributors and participants in nineteenth century America, yet Americans often simplified their roles into crude stereotypes and media symbols. The early western accounts concerning females in China created the fundamental images that were the basis of the later stereotypes of women immigrants. The fact that a majority of the period's Chinese female immigrants became prostitutes fueled anti-Chinese feelings. This thesis investigates the general existence of Chinese prostitutes in nineteenth century America and how they were portrayed in the media. American attitudes toward white women and their images of Chinese women created the stereotype of all Chinese female immigrants as immoral. Thus, they became unconscious pawns of nineteenth century American nativist forces wanting to limit and prevent Chinese immigration based on prejudicial and racist attitudes.

This study presents a detailed and comprehensive overview of the context and domination of the "American Dream House" in the United States of the past one hundred years. Additionally, It investigates the present day status and effects of this dependence. This inquiry uses an alternative method of investigation that involves the use of the popular media and extensive research of the past presentation of the "American Dream House" in it. It also involves research into the effects of promotional campaigns on the public perception of the "American Dream House." The research suggests that there exists a crisis in this country in the form of a severe attachment to the mythological and historical nature of this limited housing form. The investigation further suggests that the characteristics and elements of the "American Dream House" have not substantially changed in the past fifty years. This severe attachment to the characteristics of the past both threatens and confines a search and pursuit for a cure to this country's housing problems of the late 20th and early 2131 century. / Department of Architecture

The 221 members of the Financial Communications section of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) were surveyed about their continuing education views and practices through a mail survey. Out of the 221 members, 118 (53.4%) completed and returned the survey. Respondents were asked their opinions about the importance of different types of continuing education programs, how long it had been since they last participated, and what topic they would most like to see covered in a continuing education forum. The members were asked whether their companies encouraged involvement in continuing education by providing financial assistance and positive recognition. Respondents were also asked their number of years in the field, education, type of company, position level, age, income, and gender.It was concluded through the results of the study that the majority of members find continuing education important to themselves and to their profession. Most of the companies do encourage participation in continuing education and members feel that their companies' encouragement does influence their decision on whether to to participate. / Department of Journalism