Master of Science

thesisEcological and social impacts from recreational use may influence the quality of outdoor recreation experiences and the sustainability of recreation resources. Campsites are an important outdoor recreation resource where social and ecological impacts are often highly concentrated. Effective recreation resource management, particularly in high-use popular outdoor recreation areas, requires understanding current ecological conditions, and users' perceptions of those conditions. However, as a management and research community, we continue to be unclear about two fundamental concepts related to users' perceptions of campsite conditions: 1) how place attachment and motivations for use influence campers' evaluations of ecological impacts, namely the acceptability of campsite conditions, and 2) how the presence of litter (relative to other ecological impacts) influences those evaluations of campsite conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between place attachment, motivations for use, the presence of litter, and campers' evaluations of campsite conditions. Using a Normative Approach and visual methods, the researcher administered a questionnaire to campers (n=234) in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (Utah). Results indicate that place dependence and motivations for use did not influence campers' evaluations of site conditions, but campers who reported that litter more negatively influenced their experience also reported lower levels of acceptability with degraded site conditions. Furthermore, as campers' place identity increased, their acceptability of conditions also increased. These findings convey that place attachment and motivations for use may not substantially influence campers' judgment regarding conditions, but the presence of litter is potentially highly influential

Echoes of the “Misfounding” of Public Administration: The Voices of Generation X

This paper build on previous research into the X Generation, in particular their apparent cynicism about all theories of organization as being mere strategies of manipulation. Their voices were described in that study as the voice of a new cohort of students that we will increasingly find in our classrooms (Marshall, 1997). Current MPA students at the University of Nebraska at Omaha participated in focus group discussions designed to elicit information about their motivations for enrolling in our graduate program. Initial findings confirmed the organizational commitment of older age cohorts, as well as their identification with large governmental institutions. The younger cohort expressed significant public service idealism despite cynicism about large public bureaucracies. Neither the organizational commitment of the older students nor the idealism of the younger cohort were apparently related to whether they were currently working in the public service. Instead the differences seemed to be related to age and to their various formative social experiences. The X\u27ers had a coherent view of public service, although not the traditional one we know. Their skepticism about large-scale organizations was balanced by a commitment to participatory governance and to the idea of community

Phytoplankton Relationships to Water Quality in Lake Drummond and Two Drainage Ditches

A twelve-month phytoplankton study was conducted in Lake Drummond and Washington and Jericho Ditches from December 1988 to November 1989. Four dominant phytoplankton groups were identified at these sites. These were the Bacillariophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Cryptophyceae and an autotrophic picoplankton component. Over the past 20 years there has been a decrease in the mean pH levels of Lake Drummond and the replacement of one its former major components, the Chlorophyceae, by the Cyanophyceae. Based on water quality analysis results and species diversity indices, Lake Drummond is classified as in an early eutrophic stage of development

Objectively Scored Test Items

The objectively scored test item is one of the most commonly used in assessment today. It is, by and large, one of the most common formats for assessments of L2 learners\u27 listening, reading and, to some extent, writing. Using questions with an objectively scored format has a number of advantages including increased reliability—a larger sample of questions test takers are able to complete in a set time. They also take much less time to mark and analyze. However, this question format also has disadvantages. If not well written, they may not assess the learning objectives they are designed to test or may limit the kind of information that can be assessed in the questions. That being said, if the questions are well written, they can provide classroom teachers with a plethora of information about their students\u27 knowledge and abilities and a balanced learning experience

Does gene dosage really matter?

Mechanisms to compensate for dosage differences of genes on sex chromosomes are widespread in animals and have been thought to be critical for viability. However, in birds, compensation is inefficient, implying that for many genes dosage compensation is not critical, and for some genes, dosage differences have even been selected for

PDAS as workplace tools for science teachers

This paper reports on work in progress on a project investigating the use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) to help students make use of knowledge gained during the study of a Masters course in science education in their professional practice. We report on a review of the literature on mobile technologies as learning tools in workplace settings. We analyse this literature to suggest possible hypotheses for our study. We also describe the selection and design of activities for use on the PDAs, the evaluation strategy based on an activity theory augmented approach for the project and the issues arising during the project

Shared voices, different worlds: Process and product in the Food Dignity action research project

Diversity of perspective makes for greater depth when painting a portrait of community life. But embracing the idea of representing true diversity in a formal research project is a whole lot easier than putting it into practice. The three dozen members of the Food Dignity action research team, now entering the fourth year of a five-year project, are intimately familiar with this challenge. In this article, four of the collaborators explore the intricacies of navigating what it means to bring together a genuine cross-section of community-based activists and academics in an effort to draw on one another’s professional and personal strengths to collect and disseminate research findings that represent the truth of a community’s experiences, and are ultimately disseminated in a way that brings tangible benefit to the heart and soul of that community. The authors include Food Dignity’s principal investigator (Porter) and three community organisers (Marshall, Herrera and Woodsum) in organisations that have partnered with Food Dignity. Two of the organisers (Herrera and Woodsum) also serve project-wide roles. These collaborators share their personal and professional hopes, struggles, concerns, successes and failures as participants in this cutting-edge effort to equalise community and university partnerships in research. Keywords: community-based participatory research (CBPR), food justice, equitable community-campus partnerships, food sovereignty, case study, action researc

The role of APPRAISAL in the National Research Foundation (NRF) rating system evaluation and instruction in peer reviewer reports

This thesis reports on two aspects of interpersonal meaning in peer reviewer reports for eleven researchers in the Animal and Veterinary Sciences awarded NRF ratings in A1, B1, C1 and Y1 rating categories. These aspects are the evaluation of the researcher applying for a rating, and the instruction to the NRF as to the rating the researcher ought to receive. A full APPRAISAL Analysis (Martin & White 2005) complemented by an investigation of politeness strategies (Myers 1989) is used to analyse the reports and show how the various systems of interpersonal meaning co-function and to what effect. The analysis reveals that there are clear differences between the evaluative and instructive language used in the reports. Those for the A1 rated researchers are characterised by only positive evaluations of the applicant, frequently strengthened in terms of Graduation and contracted in terms of Engagement. Overall there is less Engagement and politeness in these reports rendering them more ‘factual’ than the reports for the other rating categories. The A1 rated researcher is therefore construed as being, incontestably, a leader in his/her field of research, worthy of a top rating. The reports for the B1 and C1 rated researchers are characterised by the increasing presence of negative evaluations. In addition, there are more instances of softened/downscaled Graduation, dialogic expansion and deference politeness, showing that there is more perceived contention about the evaluations made. The reports for the Y1 rated researchers (a category for young researchers) focus on the applicant’s demonstrated potential to become a leader in the field. In addition to a high incidence of negative evaluations, downscaled Graduation, dialogic expansion and deference politeness, the Y1 reports are also characterised by a high incidence of advice and suggestions from the reviewers concerning the applicant’s work and standing. At a broader level, the analysis reveals that the language used in the reports has a profound influence on the outcome of the rating process. The reports are crucial, not only for evaluating the applicant but, also, more subtly, in directing the NRF towards a specific rating category. It offers insights into what is valued in the scientific community, what is considered quality research, and what leads to international recognition. The research also adds uniquely to current thinking about the language of science and, more particularly, highlights the nuanced understanding of evaluative and instructive language in the reports that is possible if one draws on the full APPRAISAL framework, and insights into politeness behaviour