Honors College Capstones

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/17056

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A Directorial Approach to the Production of Robert Patrick's Kennedy's Children
(1982-05) Wilson, Jeffrey Michael
No abstract prepared.
The Constitutional, Legal, and Ethical Concerns of Employing Jury Consultants to Assist in the Jury Selection Process
(1996-12) Martinez, Patricia L.; Kens, Paul A.; Luizzi, Vincent L.; Bourgeois, Eugene J.
No abstract prepared.
Review of Pharmacological Uses of the Solanaceae
(1997-12) Weatherford, Trudie Lynn; Koehn, Robert D.
This paper is aimed at an audience interested in the varied medicinal applications of the Solanaceae family. The Solanaceae, also known as the nightshades, include plants prized for their many uses, including food sources, divination, drugs, and medicines. The family derives its potency from the range of alkaloids it contains. This paper combines the information found in herbals, in surveys of indigenous tribes, and in modem day applications in order to give the wide-ranging medicinal uses over time and between cultures. Characteristics, distribution, and usage patterns of the family are discussed. Next, the nature and purpose of the alkaloids are described. Then the types of sources used are reviewed. Following that is a list of the medicinal uses of Solanaceae given by genus and species. The idea behind an ethnobotanical survey is that it is time consuming to essay random plants for medicinal drugs, but through years of association many native cultures have acquired a great knowledge of medicinal plant value. Tribe and area data, along with mode of preparation, are given when available. The chemical composition of certain species is described after that. Modem uses of Solanaceous alkaloids are then listed. Concluding statements are made concerning the future of Solanaceous plants and indigenous cultures.
New Blood: A Pint Sized Portfolio
(1999-05) Wampler, J.J.; Shields, Holly
No abstract prepared.
Stage Manager's Handbook for the Texas State University-San Marcos Department of Theatre and Dance
(2003-12) Yancey, Renee Elizabeth; Hood, John
No abstract prepared.
San Marcos Young Writers Program
(2004-04) Rutland, Michael Travis; Bell-Metereau, Rebecca
No abstract prepared.
Cultural Knowledge and Self-Esteem: The Importance of Sharing Our Heritage Through Story
(2004-12) Alvarado, Danielle Nicole; Garcia, Gilda; Silva, Stella
No abstract prepared.
From the Yucatan to Europe: Memoirs of My Study Abroad
(2006-03) Harkabus, Lindsey Carolyn; Frost, Christopher
No abstract prepared.
Pathways Out of Poverty: How Microfinance Can Revolutionize U.S. Foreign Aid to the Developing World.
(2006-05) Molina, Diana; Mihalkanin, Ed
Poverty is a growing problem that has eluded many experts in the development industry for decades. Every progress has brought with it new issues, or unintended consequences. For example, the "Green revolution" that allowed many to maximize crop output has indirectly helped to increase life spans in the developing world, however, the unintended consequences were increased fertility rates, resource depletion, and overpopulation. For over fifty years, the development industry has attempted to respond to the challenge presented by poverty with little, if any, sustained progress. Over the years, many lessons were learned, and aid shifted in focus or intentionality, yet even this has failed to yield promising results. The main weakness of large scale government aid has been its inability to connect with the poor themselves, at the local level, and on their terms. In fact, it is the large-scale of the development industry itself that hampers its ability to remain flexible and accessible to the poor. Fifty years have led to a growing development industry, and along with that growth, comes unfettered bureaucracy that contributes to the lack of improved conditions for the poor. The best solution for a failed project is not to invest in it more but to reduce or eliminate it. Likewise for the U.S. development industry, the best method of eliminating the rampant bureaucracy now hopelessly embedded in the system is to eliminate the development industry itself and to concentrate any assistance to the humanitarian realm (i.e. money for natural disasters, genocides, or other emergencies). The challenge of poverty is best understood by those who live with it daily. Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) that are deeply connected to the poor, are able to rapidly respond to their changing needs. These needs in turn are responses to the challenges of poverty. For an MFI, these challenges involve understanding what exists, deciding on an appropriate role, designing in relation to local circumstances, focusing on sustainability, and being willing to learn from experience. Responding effectively offers the prospect that microfinance interventions will play an important role in reducing poverty. Furthermore, when not only government funding, but government attention is placed on successful microfinance programs, the challenge of poverty will meet an equally powerful and pervasive condition among the poor: the desire for self-improvement.
Coming up with New Ideas by Talking to Others: Linking Work Relationships to Caring Communication
(2006-05) Reed, Catherine; Hood, John Robert
This study used Social Information Processing (SIP) to develop a model of predictors related to the perceived acceptance of new ideas (PANI). We specifically focus on the role of supportive communication within three types of work relationships-coworkers, supervisors, and others outside the organization. Forty-eight questionnaires were obtained from two organizations. The findings suggest that the only work relationship that has a significant impact on PANI, is that with others outside the organization. Controlling for an individual's desire to innovate, the social support received from others outside the organization accounted for an additional 33% of the variance. The overall model explained slightly over half (54%) of how people perceive the acceptance of their new ideas. We link these findings to the boundary spanning literature, suggest future research directions, and discuss limitations of the study.
The Tao and Massage
(2006-05) Standlee, Amanda B.
The formal study of massage first appears in the early writings of Chinese medicine, which evolve from the Tao. This thesis draws upon both my experiences as a massage therapist, and the current research that examines the therapeutic benefits of massage. While considerable evidence for the efficacy of massage has been gathered using the research techniques of Western science, I also will demonstrate how understanding massage in terms of the Tao can help to create a comprehensive appreciate for the benefits of massage.
Gender and the Aggressive or Compassionate President: An Analysis of Electability for Presidential Candidates
(2006-05) Eimerbrink, Micah
This two part study explored the effects of gender and gender related descriptions on the evaluation of a Presidential candidate. In the first study, participants evaluated sentence descriptions of Presidential candidates. From the first study five sentences were selected that did not influence the participants decision to vote for that candidate, as well as one "compassionate" sentence and one "aggressive" sentence. These sentences were used to construct paragraph descriptions used in the second study. These paragraph descriptions manipulated candidate gender, and aggressive, compassionate, or neutral descriptions to test the effects of these variables on the decision to vote for the candidate, as well as the ratings of effectiveness on selected Presidential duties. While the data supported the decline of gender stereotyping in the evaluation of effectiveness on Presidential duties, a significant interaction for candidate gender and candidate description for the preferred type of President was found. The male compassionate President candidate was most preferred while the female compassionate President was least preferred.
Cui Bono: The Looming Contradiction Between Empire and Democracy
(2006-05) Forrest, Ryan Jeffery
During the last five years, America has embarked on its final trek to global domination. The anxiously anticipated final trek began with acts of terror committed on American soil that brought about drastic changes in domestic security, set precedent for preemptive, preventative, or precautionary warfare, and reinvigorated the movement to dominate space. The motif of the acts of terror was exploited to garner fear and brandish power by haughtily making vulnerable an American working population. In the dawn of the twenty-first century, America fought wars of global domination. Though officially fought for liberation and the furtherance of democracy, the wars paradoxically stunted both. The leaders of empire, after the deaths of three thousand people in New York City, glutted their public with liberty-defying legislation and smothered disruptive protectorate states with carpet and saturation bombing, realizing imperial objectives without achieving the publicly pronounced aims of the wars. The trek to global domination was not an inevitable consequence of democratic pluralism, but rather the product of two and a quarter centuries of imperial ambition. This brief text will give a between-the-lines historical analysis of double-standard imperial policy coupled with shrewd North American statesmanship from the early seventeenth century to the present-day.
Don't Forget the Camera: Poems
(2006-05) Moody, Trey
No abstract prepared.
Bottled Water: Why Is It so Big? Causes for the Rapid Growth of Bottled Water Industries
(2006-05) Miller, Mark; Brown, Brock
No abstract prepared.
The Transformational Power of Mecca in the Rhetoric of Malcolm X
(2006-05) Holsinger, Kara Denise; Mandziuk, Roseann
This paper explores whether Malcolm X's rhetoric changed as a result of his first trip to Mecca after converting to "true" Islam. The analysis utilizes two of Malcolm's speeches given at the Harvard University Law School Forums of March 24, 1961 and December 16, 1964. Two forms of rhetorical analysis are applied to these speeches: Lloyd Bitzer's "rhetorical situation" and fantasy theme analysis as outlined by Sonja K. Foss. Taken together, these analyses reveal that Malcolm's first trip to Mecca precipitated fundamental changes in his worldview.
The African American Experience Both Past and Present
(2006-05) Musgrove, Walter Forrest; Watson, Dwight
The African American Experience:Both Past and Present, is one African American's (Walter Musgrove) account of his experience as a minority here at Texas State University. This thesis includes a brief overview of the desegregation of higher education in Texas as well as at Texas State University. Musgrove offers a unique perspective as not only as a Texas State football player, but also as a member of the Mitte Honors Program. The thesis covers issues such as the classroom environment to life in a college town.
Bobcat Personal Finance
(2006-05) Nichols, Cory; Bruguier, Petra
With the cost of living rising each day, one would assume that personal financial education would be a priority for any college student living in America. However, this assumption is often taken for granted by the majority of college students. In a survey conducted at Texas State University in the Fall semester of 2005, we found that: - 50% of students have 1 to 3 credit cards - 35% of these students do not know the interest rate on their credit cards - Only 51% of the students surveyed follow a budget - Around 75% did not have insurance or a cell phone account in their name - 45% do not know which tax form they filed last year - 89% of the students surveyed do not know their credit score The sad reality for most students is that their financial education begins after being denied a loan or having to "take a semester off" from school due to financial difficulties. However, those students who are not in immediate financial danger are often the most ill-prepared to begin their own lives after college. Parents providing for their child's education often do not realize that they are handicapping their child's opportunity to learn about savings, budgeting and becoming a wise consumer. Of the students surveyed, over half expressed interest in participating in a class on managing personal credit. Personal finance is a key issue involved with becoming independent. Because of the growing importance of credit scores, it is important for students to learn how to manage their credit. Through this manual and the development of the Bobcat Personal Finance Program, we hope to better inform the Texas State student population about their personal finances and encourage the university to acknowledge the growing financial problems associated with young college students' lack of financial education today. The manual we have developed for our thesis contains information regarding various subjects related to personal finance for a college-aged student. We begin with a discussion of Student Loans, including the growing need for student loans in today's society, options for students considering taking out a student loan. Following these sections, we discuss consolidation of student loans and student loan default, along with the consequences of allowing a loan to go into default status. The next portion of our thesis discusses budgeting. It provides information on preparing a budget and tips and tricks for personal budgets. Characteristics of a successful budget, money management basics, and some basic information on the time value of money are also covered in this section. We continue with discussion of consumer credit. The topic is defined, and the factors which make up a personal credit score are analyzed. We also offer tips for improving an individual credit score in this section. Items which are not included in the personal credit report and the reasoning behind the use of personal credit scores follows. This section concludes with examples of benefits resulting from maintaining a good personal credit score. Immediately following the discussion of personal credit scores, we discuss the factors involved in choosing a credit card based on individual need. This is followed with some tips for using credit cards effectively in order to follow a budget, avoid excessive debt, and build a positive credit history. Because of the growing threat of identity theft, the next section of our thesis is dedicated to answering common questions regarding this crime, such as: - How does identity theft occur? - How do identity thieves use my information? - How can I tell if I'm a victim of identity theft? - How can I remedy the effects of identity theft? From the discussion of identity theft, we turn to information on tax preparation. In this portion, we discuss the basic principles of federal income tax, the importance of record keeping, and how to determine how much you owe. We then provide guidance on tax credits, focusing on the two major education credits available; the Hope Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. We conclude this section with information of the various tax forms and some helpful links for additional tax advice. The next portion of the manual defines insurance. Information on automobile insurance is presented, including bodily injury coverage and property damage coverage. Advice on how to manage automobile insurance cost is given next. Following the discussion of automobile insurance, health insurance is presented. Common terms in health insurance contracts and types of health insurance coverage are covered in this section. A brief discussion of disability income insurance follows. The final section of our thesis presents basic information on sample employee benefits for once a student has graduated. Common retirement plans and health care plans are defined. Following this, a brief list of other benefits employees commonly offer is presented. This manual is designed for a college student to gain insight into their personal finances. It is the hope of the authors that this information will contribute to more responsible financial planning for students of all academic backgrounds.
On the Possibilities of Live Conversation in a Postmodern Context
(2006-05) Talamantez, Jessica Carmen
No abstract prepared.
Shaping Success: Organizational Citizenship Behavior and its prevalence in Athlete versus Non-athlete Texas State University Student Populations
(2006-05) Wyss, Nicholas
The body of research concerning the effects that competitive sports may have on its participants present a variety of viewpoints. Some believe sports fosters character building, teamwork, and pro-social development, while others contend that the selfish, exclusionary, and rule-bound world of sports may degrade the moral development of its athletes. In order to address the issue of whether sport participation has an effect on a functional measure of group effectiveness, empirical data was obtained from 81 college athletes and non-athletes. This data was designed to measure organizational citizenship behavior, as composed by three dimensions: helping, sportsmanship, and civic virtue. The data was statistically analyzed to search for significant differences. Overall scores of athletes (M = 3.97, SD + .41) were higher than non-athletes (M = 3.82, SD + .56). Athletes scored significantly higher on sportsmanship (M = 3.94, SD + 0.53) than the non-athletes (M = 3.63, SD + 0.54). Similarly, the athletes (M = 4.12, SD + 0.57) scored significantly higher on the civic virtue measure than the non-athletes, (M = 3.85, SD + 0.47). In contrast to the rest of the findings, athletes (M = 3.84, SD + 0.47) actually scored lower on the helping dimension of OCB than the non-athletes (M = 3.96, SD + 0.39). The results suggest that the competitive experience in fact does assist athletes in developing skills that lead to more effective functioning as group members. The athletes relatively lower scores on the helping dimension, which is confined to assisting specific individuals, could be a result of their competitive nature or a result of the possibility that in an organizational setting such as sport, helping behavior does not lead to increased team effectiveness, and thus is never reinforced.

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