Nutrition knowledge, Locus of Control, and dietary practices were assessed and compared among male and female athletes at Ball State University with the goal of designing an appropriate nutrition education program. Members of the men's basketball (n=ll), track (n=12) and women's basketball (n=12) and track (n=14) teams were selected as participants in this study. Each participant was required to complete nutrition knowledge, Locus of Control and food frequency questionnaires in addition to completing three 24-hour food recalls on separate occasions.Comparison between gender revealed that female athletes had greater nutrition knowledge levels than male athletes. Women averaged only 90% of advisable caloric intake whereas men exceeded their advisable caloric intake.Male athletes were found not to have better dietary practices than female athletes as previous research suggest. In fact, males exceeded the percent of advisable intake of protein and fat. While, women exceeded advisable protein intake, they consumed less than the maximum advisable fat intake.Comparisons made between sport form revealed two trends: (1) track athletes had greater nutrition knowledge than basketball players and (2) track athletes tended to consume a greater percent of kcalorie intake as protein than basketball athletes.It can be concluded from this study that greater nutrition education should be given to male athletes to encourage lower fat and protein intake. Female athletes need to be educated in the areas of approximate caloric and protein intake. All the athletes need to be educated in general nutrition and nutrition as it relates to physical activity. Further investigation is needed to evaluate the effect of Locus of Control on the dietary practices of both male and female athletes. / Institute for Wellness

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively analyze what motivated students with physical disabilities to get involved in extracurricular activities on the Ball State University campus. Ten students with physical disabilities were asked a series of questions that helped to determine why these students chose to participate.The examination of these data revealed that students with physical disabilities chose to get involved in extracurricular activities in order to meet peers, develop their resume, and gain leadership skills. Recommendations made to encourage more students with physical disabilities to become involved on campus included strengthening Disabled Students In Action, educating the university community, committing to physical access, and developing a specific advertising campaign for the programs most often utilized by these students. / Department of Educational Studies

The purpose of this study was to assess which particular circumstances of HIV antibody testing are most important to Ball State University students when making the decision whether or not to be tested. This study also looked at psychological variables within the individual that may influence one's decision whether or not to be tested. A descriptive correlational study design was used. Subjects were recruited from the psychological science subject pool. These students were enrolled in the Psychology 100 class at Ball State University during the Spring, 1992 Semester. Subjects were also recruited from sororities, fraternities, and business fraternities. A total of 397 subjects (210 males and 187 females) were recruited for the study.Subjects filled out four surveys: an HIV Antibody Testing Inventory, an AIDS Knowledge Survey, the MultiDimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, and the Social Desirability Scale. Results indicated students in this sample preferred going off campus for HIV testing versus on campus. They preferred a medical setting with a medical counselor doing the testing. These subjects did not want peers doing the HIV testing or counseling. The level of AIDS Knowledge subject had did not correlate with their stated likelihood of being tested for HIV. Subjects preferred anonymous testing, but appeared to recognize the benefits of recording basic demographic information. / Institute for Wellness

As new methods of communication have been created by technological advances, it has become important to examine how students use these methods to interact with other students, the campus community, and the world. This study at Ball State University helped researchers understand how students communicated online in order to create policies regarding online communication. Data were gathered using the qualitative methodology of responsive interviewing. Students and administrators were interviewed (luring May and June of 2006. The data were analyzed by identifying important themes, trends, and concepts among the data according to Rubin & Rubin's (2005) model. The study found that institutions should create educational opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to learn about online communication technologies. These educational sessions should include how to use the technologies, the potential for their misuse, and the responsibilities attached to their use. The study concluded that existing policies should be used to address online policy violations. / Department of Educational Studies

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between physical self-efficacy and personal dietary habits among students living in the wellness residence halls of Ball State University. This was a correlational study using previously collected data from six wellness residence halls. Residents from these halls were voluntary participants in the wellness screening, which included the testing instruments used for this study. Fifty-four subjects completed the Lifestyle Assessment Questionnaire (LSAQ) which included both the Physical Self-Efficacy Scale (PSES) and the Dietary Habits Questions (DHQ). The relationship between physical self-efficacy and dietary habits was tested using the Pearson r as the correlation coefficient. It appears that there is a significant linear relationship between the physical self-efficacy and dietary habits among participants examined in this study. This linear relationship should be interpretated with caution, however, because the strength of the relationship between PSES and DHQ scores (r2=.1099) indicates that less than 11% of the variance within the DHQ scores is shared with the variance within the PSES scores. Those who had good physical self-efficacy also had good dietary habits. Further study is recommended. / Institute for Wellness

Sixty-six African American seniors at Martin University, graduating in 2002, described the activities, programs and procedures experienced at Martin University that they judged contributed to their persistence to graduation. Often the reported experiences of the graduates were similar to those of students who dropped out of college, yet these66 persisted to completion of their degree. Also, the graduating seniors suggested policies and procedures to support persistence of current and future students.As a commuter university, many important learning experiences that supported students to graduation occurred in Martin University classrooms. Well-prepared, empathetic, and competent instructors were very important in causing graduating students to realize that the university respected them as serious and worthy students and valued them as competent and determined individuals. Graduating students valued prompt, just communications with administrators concerning instructors and computer equipment.Students stated that the faculty members, other students, administrators, and Martin University as an organization had provided them with life changing experiences, differing from their off campus lives, yet shaping and adding opportunities to their off-campus lives.Responses indicated that Martin University should follow classroom and administrative procedures that cause students to earn a sense of ownership in the university. Also, the university should provide a constant flow of communications about university convocations, policies, procedures, and about changes to academic programs.Martin University must maintain and build on the policies and practices graduating seniors have found valuable. / Department of Educational Leadership

With numerous local economies previously driven by manufacturing, Indiana was strongly affected by the economic downturn from 2007 until 2009. One suggestion to facilitate economic growth has been Richard Florida’s “creative class” theory, which asserts that talented and educated people choose to live in creative places. College graduates represent one part of Florida’s “creative class.” Current students at Ball State University were surveyed to understand the importance of place-related factors for where students wanted to live after they graduated. The survey responses indicated that students are most concerned with income potential, cost of living, and distance to family. Alumni residence data from Ball State and three other Indiana universities were also mapped and compared to county-level measures of income, housing, distance from home, and creativity index. This analysis supports the survey findings that economic factors and family connections are likely motivating factors in where graduates have chosen to live and stands in contrast to the overall logic of the creative place theory of development. / Department of Geography

There is a need in the field of international education to form sound assessment practices to provide support for the study abroad experience. This study conducted assessment research using the CrossCultural Adaptability Inventory (CCAI) as a pre and post-test as well as structured interviews to assess the impact and determine the cultural learning outcomes of the two main types of study abroad programs at Ball State University.According to the CCAI, there was meaningful cultural learning that occurred for the students who participated in study abroad programs for the Fall 2001 semester. The interviews revealed that the student participants experienced gains in self-perception, communication skills, and worldview concepts. Further implications include the continuation of assessment in the international education field and the move towards learning based study abroad models. / Department of Educational Studies

Training staff to better meet the needs of a diverse study body is an important component of housing and residence life programs. This study at Ball State University identified the role and effectiveness of the Multicultural Advisor Program and provides suggestions on how to improve. Six focus groups allowed the researcher to explore the Multicultural Advisor Program from Resident Assistants, Multicultural Advisors, Hall Directors, and students perspectives during fall 2003 semester. / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of the study was to assess programs, activities and facilities for physically handicapped students at Ball State University.Study participants included eighty-five individuals identified by University officials. Participants included fifty-six physically handicapped students, nine non-handicapped undergraduate students, ten administrators and ten faculty. Physically handicapped students were divided into seven disability groups including: (1) blind; (2) visually impaired; (3) deaf; (4) hearing impaired; (5) wheelchair confined; (6) limited ambulatory and (7) "other" disabilities.An interview assessment instrument was developed consisting of fifty items divided into five sections. Participants were interviewed for assessment of specific accommodations, general information, legislation, communication and attitudes concerning programs, activities and facilities for physically handicapped students at Ball State University. Fourteen trained interviewers conducted interviews with assigned participants.Physically handicapped students completed assessments from all five sections of the assessment instrument. Non-handicapped undergraduate students, administrators and faculty completed assessments from general information, legislation, communication and attitudes sections.Analyses of assessment data included-profile comparisons by number and percentage of participant responses. Response choices to assessment instrument items were: (1) a great degree; (2) moderate degree;(3) small degree; (4) none and (5) I don't know also collected from all study participants.The following summary of findings is based on analyses of assessment responses received from the study population.1. University transportation services were not as useful for handicapped students as non-handicapped students.2. Physical education facilities were not as useful for handicapped as for non-handicapped.3. Intramural sports provisions were not adequate for handicapped participation.4. Nobility impaired students reported difficulty with University door accommodations.5. Blind and visually impaired reported a greater need for brail and auditory information in public places at the University.6. Deaf and hearing impaired students reported a greater need for visual fire alarms and amplified telephones at the University.7. Wheelchair confined, limited ambulatory and "other" disability students reported little convenience in use of University parking facilities.8. Twenty of fifty-six handicapped students reported inconvenience in use of library card catalogs.9. Six wheelchair confined, one limited ambualtory, one blind, one visually impaired and three "other" disability students reported a need for more appropriate University Health Services.10. Handicapped students reported limited participation in social organizations and special interest groups.11. Twenty-two percent of the handicapped reported a greater need in consideration of handicapped for employment at the University.12. Limited ambulatory students reported a greater need for non-slip floors and surfaces at the University.13. All but five handicapped participants were not familiar with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.14. Participants reported that all institutions of higher education should be accessible to the handicapped.15. Non-handicapped persons reported that handicapped students had more personal adjustment problems than non-handicapped students.16. A greater number of handicapped than non-handicapped students reported that handicapped college graduates secure jobs as easily as non-handicapped college graduates.17. Thirty-six percent of the handicapped students had no information on which to base an opinion concerning career and vocational counseling services at Ball State University.18. Forty-seven percent of the handicapped students had no information on which to base an opinion concerning placement services at Ball State University.Study findings were dispersed to University officials for use in University accessibility development for the handicapped.