Bringing down the mountains: The impact of mountaintop removal surface coal mining on southern West Virginia communities, 1970--2004

Stewart Burns, Shirley L West Virginia University 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

While surface mining began in West Virginia during WWI, the practice did not expand until WWII. Used to fuel the war effort, surface mining would become the industry-preferred means of mining coal and gained a permanent place in West Virginia's coal mining industry. Mountaintop removal surface coal mining began on Fayette County, West Virginia's, Bullpush Mountain in 1970. An extreme version of strip mining, during mountaintop removal the tops of mountains are removed via blasting in order to reveal the coal seams below. The last thirty-four years has seen an escalation in this mining method from forty-four permits covering 9,800 acres throughout the 1980s to the granting of permits covering 12,540 acres in a nine-month period in 2002 alone. This increase in mountaintop removal has impacted southern West Virginia not only environmentally, but socially and culturally as well. The introduction of 20-story draglines in the 1980s allowed for the swifter removal of coal by mountaintop removal. The process enjoyed a great expansion during the 1990s after the Federal Clean Air Act was amended to include a more stringent emissions standard. This increased the demand for southern West Virginia's low sulfur, high volatility coal. Since that time, the process has entered many southern West Virginia coal communities. The UMWA, once staunchly aligned with coal community citizens, continually found itself torn between its Union members working on these sites and the coal community residents opposed to this mining technique. Many coal community residents directly affected by this process created "free spaces" where they could band together in opposition. Many citizens have been plaintiffs in lawsuits against the coal companies operating in their communities, but West Virginia politicians' have vacillated between silence and protectionism. As a direct result of mountaintop removal, the environment of southern West Virginia has suffered as the conversion of continuous hardwood forests have been turned into a fragmented landscape interspersed with grasslands more characteristic of the mid-western United States than Appalachia. This study focuses on the various impacts this newest form of coal mining has had on coal communities in the nine southernmost West Virginia counties where it takes place, and on the UMWA's declining influence as a traditional counterweight in southern West Virginia. The social, economic, political and environmental consequences are also explored.

A study of the effect of an integrated continuum of intensive crisis intervention services (ICICIS), including Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), on civil commitments in North Central West Virginia

Williams, Robert D West Virginia University 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

The mental health service delivery system in West Virginia is ineffective at resolving psychiatric emergencies, as evidenced by a high civil commitment rate, leading to an annual $4 million non-budgeted expense to the state. West Virginia's two State hospitals are regularly at capacity, causing civil committed patients to be diverted to community psychiatric units, often at the state's expense. At one of the state's 13 Comprehensive Community Mental Health Centers (CCMHC), United Summit Center, two evidence based treatment modalities, ICICIS and ACT, are examined for their effectiveness at lowering the civil commitment rate per 100,000 and civil commitment hospitalization days. The results indicate that both modalities are effective. In evaluating the effectiveness of United Summit Center's ICICIS, a four-year study of commitment rates per 100,000 revealed a range for the 13 CCMHC of 38--462. The mean was 200. United Summit Center ranked second lowest with a rate of 65 per 100,000. In evaluating the effectiveness of United Summit Center's ACT program, 26 participants that had been in the program for one year, were compared across three conditions by an analysis of variance. The three conditions were annual civil commitment hospitalization days two years prior to joining ACT, one year prior to joining ACT and one year after joining ACT. The 26 participants averaged 60.35 civil commitment hospitalization days two years prior to joining ACT, 98.54 one year prior, and 18.73 one year after. The results showed significance at the p < 0.01 level when comparing civil commitment hospitalization days one year prior to joining ACT to one year after joining ACT.

A study of the continuum of integration of mathematics content with science concepts at the middle school level in West Virginia

Meisel, Edna Marie West Virginia University 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

The purpose of this study was to examine the practices and perceptions of regular education seventh grade middle school mathematics teachers in West Virginia concerning the integration of mathematics objectives with science concepts. In addition, this study also emphasized the use of integrated curriculum continuum models to study mathematics teachers' practices and perceptions for teaching mathematics objectives in connection with science concepts. It was argued that the integrated curriculum continuum model can be used to help educators begin to form a common definition of integrated curriculum. The population was described as the regular education seventh grade middle school mathematics teachers in West Virginia. The entire population (N = 173) was used as the participants in this study. Data was collected using an integrated curriculum practices and perceptions survey constructed by the researcher. This was a descriptive study that incorporated the Chi Square statistic to show trends in teacher practices and perceptions. Also, an ex post facto design, that incorporated the Mann-Whitney U statistic, was used to compare practices and perceptions between teachers grouped according to factors that influence teaching practices and perceptions. These factors included teaching certificate endorsement and teacher professional preparation. Results showed that the regular education seventh grade middle school mathematics teachers of West Virginia are teaching mathematics objectives mainly at a discipline-based level with no formal attempt for integration with science concepts. However, these teachers perceived that many of the mathematics objectives should be taught at varying levels of integration with science concepts. It was also shown that teachers who experienced professional preparation courses that emphasized integrated curriculum courses did teach many of the mathematics objectives at higher levels of integration with science than those teachers who did not experience integrated curriculum courses.

An Evaluation of State Employees' Preferences for Worksite-based Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Stress Management Programs

Kadushin, Peter West Virginia University 2014 해외박사(DDOD)

Worksite wellness programs (WWPs) have evolved over the last several decades as a way to positively impact employees' health, and to manage rising healthcare costs. Despite the impact that WWPs can have both clinically and financially, participation rates in many programs remain low. Some research has reported success in increasing participation and engagement through tailoring programs to fit employee preferences. The purpose of this study was to investigate the wellness programming preferences of state employees in West Virginia. A secondary purpose was to identify how these preferences differ by health risk, worksite wellness participation, age, and gender. Respondents (N = 18,791) completed a survey that was developed in collaboration with the Public Employees Insurance Agency of West Virginia, with respondents reporting strong interest in nutrition (77.6%), physical activity (81.0%), and stress management programming (61.1%), and with a `personalized webpage' being the most preferred contact method. Interest in wellness programming was higher for females, previous participants, and those who were classified as `high risk.' Focus groups (N = 4) were also conducted at worksites around the state, with employees (n = 24) reporting a lack of knowledge surrounding what programming was offered, and how to get involved. Participants also suggested that future programming should include education tailored to how they could become healthier. Overall the results highlight a lack of familiarity with wellness programs, which was a major barrier to participation. However, interest in wellness programming was high, which suggests that if employees are made aware of what is available, these programs might be taken advantage of.

A qualitative study of pre-service teachers using co-teaching as a method to understand scientific process skills to teach inquiry

McCain, Jennifer Carter West Virginia University 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

The National Science Education Standards (NSES) have established scientific literacy as a goal for all students. The goals advocate scientific inquiry as an instructional strategy to be used in the classroom, and standards of inquiry have even been established. At the same time, co-teaching has become prevalent in classroom as regular education teachers work with special education teachers. The classrooms are inclusive and both teachers are to work together to benefit all the students. Research has shown positive perceptions and negative perceptions of co-teaching. In this study, pre-service teachers are co-taught an elementary science methods course at a medium-sized university. They are co-taught the basic science process skills by two science education instructors. In turn, they teach lessons to the methods course with a co-teaching partner covering the basic science process skills. The pre-service teachers were studied to see how they developed an understanding of the process skills and of co-teaching. The results showed how the pre-service teachers learned the process skills and how they learned about co-teaching. The co-teaching experience was particularly useful in that the pre-service teachers expressed the roles that co-teachers assume when they are in the classroom. This study shows that pre-service teachers should be made aware of co-teaching at the preparatory level and be able to practice co-teaching before being expected to know how to co-teach when they reach a classroom of their own.

Exploring career satisfaction, burnout, and compassion fatigue as indicators of the quality of career engagement of public school educators

Robinson, Beth Colleen West Virginia University 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

This study explored the experiences of career satisfaction, burnout, and compassion fatigue in public school educators working with students in Primary/Kindergarten through grade 12 in schools in Nova Scotia and West Virginia. The research participants included 184 teachers, counselors, and administrators employed by the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board in Nova Scotia and Monongalia County Board of Education in West Virginia. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing the constructs of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and compassion fatigue that have been conceptualized in this study as indicators of healthy career engagement, career disengagement, and career overengagement, respectively. Participants also responded to a demographic survey and to questionnaires exploring history and residual effects of direct and indirect traumatic experiences. Measures included the Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Subscales - Revision III (ProQOL-CSF-R III), History of Traumatic Experiences (HTE), and Impact of Events Scale - Revised (IES-R) for direct and indirect trauma. Previous career engagement studies with educators focused on career satisfaction and burnout. Very few addressed educator trauma or compassion fatigue. In the current study, evidence of career satisfaction, burnout, and compassion fatigue was found across all educator subgroups. Burnout and compassion fatigue were significantly related with current traumatization status deriving from a history of direct and indirect trauma. Multiple regression analyses provided limited support to the hypothesis that elementary educators would exhibit higher rates of compassion fatigue than middle and high school educators. The hypothesis that classroom teachers at all grade levels would report higher levels of compassion fatigue than counselors and administrators was not supported. Nor was support obtained for the hypothesis that educators with fewer years of experience would be more vulnerable to compassion fatigue than those with lengthier career paths. The inability of demographic characteristics to differentially predict the 26.09% of the sample who scored in the upper quartile for risk for burnout, and 33.15% who scored in the upper quartile for risk for compassion fatigue, suggests that prevention and intervention programs should target all educators across demographic subgroups.

Psychological Measures to Predict Serious Prison Violence

Schenk, Allison M West Virginia University 2014 해외박사(DDOD)

With 2.2 million adults incarcerated throughout the United States (Glaze & Herberman, 2013), prisons are crowded, volatile environments susceptible to violence. Prior research has identified demographic and criminal variables that consistently predict prison violence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of psychological variables to predict prison violence among 180 inmates from a state prison in West Virginia. The psychological variables studied included history of mental illness and results from psychological assessments (Beta-III, MMPI-2-RF, TCU Drug Screen II). Using a logistic regression analysis, history of mental illness and the MMPI-2-RF scale of Psychoticism accurately predicted violent inmates from non-violent inmates while controlling for demographic and criminal variables. A weighted measure of violence severity was calculated and a multiple regression analysis was conducted. In the final model, mental health history significantly predicted Violence Severity Index scores. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified three meaningful groups of violent inmates based on the five MMPI-2-RF personality psychopathology scales. Eleven inmates were characterized by high scores on Psychoticism and Negative Emotionality/Neuroticism. Another cluster of 15 inmates were defined by high scores on the Aggressiveness and Disconstraint (e.g., risk-taking, impulsivity) scales. The third group had low scores on these four scales and had moderate scores on Low Positive Emotionality/Introversion. The results of this study support the conclusion that psychological variables have utility in predicting prison violence, but more research is needed to continue understanding this relationship.

Supports of and Barriers to Pursuing a Natural Resource Degree and Career: Perspectives of Culturally Diverse Young Adults

Balcarczyk, Kelly West Virginia University 2014 해외박사(DDOD)

Federal natural resource agencies are facing a human resource crisis. Many natural resource professionals are reaching retirement and attracting young adults to fill vacancies may prove difficult. Although currently on the rise from a recent fall, enrollment in natural resource degree programs has not increased overall in the past three decades, which has resulted in a small and possibly shrinking pool of applicants for natural resource positions. In addition, increasingly young adults in the recruitment pool depart from the traditional background of current natural resource professionals (rural-raised, fisheries/wildlife/biology-educated, angler/hunter, white male) and agency workplace culture has not changed to match this new recruitment pool. To recruit and retain more young adults and underrepresented groups in the natural resource field, more knowledge must be gained about the specific variables that influence the choice of natural resource majors and careers. Therefore, this study aims to examine the supports and barriers that influence the pursuit of a natural resource degree and career through the lens of the Social Cognitive Career Theory. Specifically, this study seeks to answer three main research questions (1) What supports and barriers influence natural resource major choice?, (2) What supports and barriers influence natural resource career choice?, and (3) How do perceived supports and barriers regarding choice of the natural resource field differ between natural resource majors and recent hires?. The findings of the research are presented in the form of three articles for peer-reviewed journals. The first article is based on twenty-two interviews with recent hires with the Fish and Wildlife Service. The second is based on twenty-two interviews with undergraduate natural resource majors at West Virginia University and Alabama A&M; University. The final article compares the data from interviews with both recent hires and undergraduates. By applying the Social Cognitive Career Theory, the first article highlights the supports and barriers that influence the natural resource career path of culturally diverse recent hires. Data revealed that young adults from underrepresented groups perceived unique and more numerous barriers and supports than white males. The second article emphasizes the supports and barriers that influence the choice of and persistence in a natural resource major. Interviews demonstrated that undergraduates from non-traditional backgrounds experienced increased barriers when compared to rural-raised, hunters/anglers in the major. The third article comparing the barriers faced by recent hires and undergraduates emphasizes the similarities between the two groups. The most notable difference between the two groups was that undergraduates experienced increased barriers because of non-traditional backgrounds, whereas recent hires experienced increased barriers because of ethnicity/race. Based on results from each article, suggestions are made to improve recruitment and retention of young adults and underrepresented groups in the natural resource field. Furthermore, the successful application of the Social Cognitive Career Theory suggests its potential for improving future research on natural resource career choice.

An exploration of the adjustment processes of freshmen student-athletes and non-athlete students

Downey, V. Paul West Virginia University 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

The purpose of this study was to examine the adjustment to college of freshmen student-athletes (n = 78) and students (n = 174) at a Division I university. Participants were surveyed using the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ; Baker & Siryk, 1999). Student-athletes were found to be significantly less committed to earning their undergraduate degrees than non-athletes, during both week seven and week 15 of their first semester. Predictor variables accounted for 24% of the variance in social adjustment with a more positive perceived impact of personal-social factors and an internal locus of control, emerging as significant predictors. Commitment to earning an undergraduate degree was significantly predicted by a more positive perceived impact of personal-social factors, non-athlete status and a less powerful others oriented locus of control accounting for 24.9% of the variance. A repeated measure ANOVA, revealed that over time student-athlete adjustment significantly decreased on two of the four subscales of the SACQ, while non-athlete adjustment scores did not significantly change.

Essays on excise taxation: Cross-border effects, quality substitution, and tax earmarking

Nesbit, Todd M West Virginia University 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

This dissertation is a collection of essays examining the secondary effects of excise taxation. The first chapter discusses the history of the excise tax in the United States and provides an introduction to some of the major areas of research examining the excise tax. In addition, this chapter outlines the research agenda for the dissertation. Chapter 2 considers the effects of cross-border sales and tourism on state tax revenues from wine and liquor taxation in the state of West Virginia. The empirical results of this chapter suggest that the revenue impact of cross-border shopping and tourism is economically significant relative to the total tax revenue collected from these sources. Chapter 3 empirically analyzes the effects of the gasoline excise tax on the purchase of gasoline grade. The results show that the per-unit excise tax causes consumers to substitute toward higher quality (higher octane) gasoline while the ad valorem excise tax exerts little influence on the purchase of gasoline grade. Chapter 4 builds upon the previous chapter by modifying the empirical model to control for spatial dependence and controlling for the impact that cross-border shopping may have on the purchase of quality. The results suggest that an increase in a state's per-unit excise tax induces two conflicting effects on the purchase of product quality, with the cross-border effect dominating the relative-price effect. Thus, an increase in a state's per-unit excise tax is found to cause a decline in average product quality in the state. Chapter 5 examines the potential for crowd-out in state highway financing. The results indicate that states respond to federal grants and state earmarked revenues similarly and that these sources of revenue do not cause crowding-out. Finally, Chapter 6 summarizes the major findings of the previous chapters and discusses areas of future research.