Matching Items (5)
Description
The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding of Navajo students' perspectives on how engineering can be used to improve life in their own communities on the Navajo reservation. Branching off an existing study that aims to develop a culturally-contextualized engineering design curriculum for middle schools in the Navajo Nation, this research focuses on a curriculum module entitled, "Future Chapter Presidents". This module is inspired by the Future City Competition where middle school students are tasked with imagining a better future. To make "Future Chapter Presidents" more culturally-relevant, students are instead tasked with proposing solutions that will improve life on the reservation. This module emphasizes engineering design alongside teaching Navajo Nation government standards by having students in the class run for a position in their local government. Students are prompted with creating a campaign poster that showcases their proposed solutions directed at their own communities. In order to analyze students' perspectives and understanding of how engineering can be used to improve life on the reservation, thematic analysis is used to study each individual poster. Meanwhile, because the researchers conducting this study are not Navajo, Tribal Critical Race Theory (Brayboy, 2006) was applied to ensure that the content of the posters are interpreted from an Indigenous lens. The results of this study can be used to inform future curriculum development for engineering design modules in the Navajo Nation and expand upon existing literature that provides understanding of how Navajo students experience and understand engineering in the context of their culture.
ContributorsPangan, Tyrine Jamella Duenas (Author) / Jordan, Shawn (Thesis director) / Foster, Christina (Committee member) / Software Engineering (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
Massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) offer community spaces where players can interact and develop a diverse range of skills online, such as communication and socialization, that can be applied offline. Designing more inclusive community spaces is crucial to give a more diverse range of individuals the chance to develop these skills. One way to add diversity to an online community space is to attract players with diverse personalities and play styles. This study is a qualitative exploration of personality and play in Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV). The specific research question is: what kinds of patterns exist in player personality and in the choices players make in a massively multi-player online (MMO) game Subjects were given the Big 5 personality survey to measure the five core personality dimensions. The survey also included FFXIV-specific items about in-game preferences and play styles of the players, and it concluded with open-ended questions that allowed subjects to explain certain choices. Thematic analysis was used to find patterns in the open-ended questions. The results of this exploratory study indicate that the players in this community are mostly casual and play FFXIV for the content and social aspects of the game. They enjoyed the customization options and gameplay of FFXIV. It is important to be open to the different backgrounds of players who join the Free Company (FC) and to accommodate their preferences and choices in the game. Consistent player interactions and activities with other members in their FC help to create a sense of community.
ContributorsFlor, Michelle Kaitlyn (Author) / Wise, Greg (Thesis advisor) / Mean, Lindsey (Committee member) / Halavais, Alexander (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2023
Description
This paper explores political indifference in Arizona State University undergraduate students. Indifference is growing at an alarming rate, and as of the last 50 years, young voters between the ages of 18 and 29 have the lowest voter turnout rate. This analysis into ASU students finds that a combination of identity, media, and uncertainty play a large role in political indifference through the lens of communication theory.
ContributorsAhmad, Fajr (Author) / Edson, Belle (Thesis director) / Bryant, George (Committee member) / Symonds, Adam (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Hugh Downs School of Human Communication (Contributor)
Created2023-12
Description
A brief historical analysis of popular models of fatherhood are reviewed alongside current conceptions and representations. The research aim is to cultivate an understanding of the messages portrayed by fathers themselves in public spaces. TED Talks featuring discussion about fathers are analyzed using a thematic analysis with the incorporation of quantitative descriptors. The following four themes emerged: 1.) Fathers as Distinct Figures, 2.) Role Reprioritization, 3.) Role Development, 4.) Effects of Fathering. Future directions suggest survey and experimental designs to better understand media effects of these videos as well as the need to create space for mothers' voices on the topic at hand.
ContributorsReimche, Christina (Author) / Van Ouytsel, Joris (Thesis director) / Erickson, Dan (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics (Contributor) / Hugh Downs School of Human Communication (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
The following dissertation stories and analyzes the discourses and development of human-environmental connections in the Sonoran Desert. Firstly, after providing a brief introduction to the Sonoran Desert region, an overview of relevant theoretical, linguistic, and social psychological ideas is presented in relation to environmental orientation. Then, ten semi-structured interviews with environmentally-oriented individuals from two languacultures—White American (E group) and Mexican/Chicanx (S group)—are analyzed linguistically and thematically to uncover discursive and developmental patterns, respectively, of more-than-human affinities within and between groups. The results of the linguistic portion of the analysis—whose major codes include agentive verb use, personhood markers, I-constructions, and we-constructions—indicate a high degree of overlap between groups. Quantitatively, we-constructions and agentive verb use were more common than I-constructions and personhood markers, although the S group's greater use of I-constructions is of note. Qualitatively, consultants frequently identified emotive and/or cognitive functions not typically granted to more-than-human beings and perceived a degree of personhood within them, illuminating what might be considered a personhood-based affinity (which are linguistically demonstrated via the use of agentive verbs and personhood markers). Secondly, consultants instantiated a mirror-based affinity, which is built on the premise that humans and more-than-human beings can see themselves in one another. This type of affinity is exemplified by the use of I-constructions, and, as is the case for the personhood-based affinity, is most prevalent when referring to more-than-human beings perceived as discrete (e.g., animals, plants) when referring to direct mirrors (e.g., anthropomorphizing a more-than-human being), but is more common among more abstract more-than-human beings (e.g., desert/nature) when referring to scientific and/or spiritual parallels between humans and more-than-human beings. The final type of affinity identified—support-based affinity—is exemplified by the use of we-constructions, and is also most prevalent when referring to more abstract more-than-human beings. The results of the thematic portions of the analysis—whose major codes include cultural influences and more-than-human influences—similarly indicate a high degree of overlap between groups. Cultural influences were more prevalent among both groups, specifically family/friends/partners and education/media; however, it is of note that the first was more prevalent among S group consultants while the second was more prevalent among E group consultants. The more-than-human influences of emotional impact, receiving, and seeing oneself were popular among both. The overarching similarities identified between groups supports the idea that there is an environmentally-oriented cognition that extends beyond language and culture.
ContributorsShea, Jacqueline (Author) / Sipka, Danko (Thesis advisor) / Johnson, Christopher (Committee member) / Vitullo, Juliann (Committee member) / Kwan, Sau "Virginia" (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2024