Adams State Academic Research

This collection contains theses written by the graduates in Adams State University’s Masters programs.

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Creating Lasting Legacies and Powerful Positions: A Survey History of the Roles, Traditions, Impacts and Influences of Sixteen First Ladies of the United States, from 1789-2001.
First ladies are an important element in presidential administrations and have parallel structures, as they are in a position to be leaders, have important roles, supported various causes and have tremendous influence over presidents. First ladies have developed this role from scratch, entirely since Martha Washington who built a powerful institution in the federal government. Many first ladies have sponsored programs and causes, and have been role models for the people of their times. At times, activism by these women in support of causes and policies has run afoul of social convention and ideological opposition, consistent with evolving roles and expectations for women. Sixteen first ladies have been highly influential in creating and establishing influence and importance in United States History. The early first ladies of influence and importance include: Martha Washington, Dolley Madison, Sarah Polk, Mary Todd Lincoln, Lucy Hayes, Edith Wilson and Lou Hoover. In 1933, Eleanor Roosevelt significantly changed the role of first lady, becoming a vital facet of the presidential administration. First ladies since 1945 of authority and influence include: Bess Truman, Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton. Each of these ladies have established themselves as assets to presidents, and enlarged their public role beyond serving as the unofficial White House hostess. These sixteen first ladies have taken advantage of the opportunity in their positions and created lasting legacies during their tenures as first lady.
Does the Advanced BioStructural Correction Technique have a Physiological Effect on Endurance Trained Cyclists?
The Advanced BioStructural Correction (ABC) chiropractic technique has been shown in practice and case studies to bring an individual back into their normal posture and open up their respiratory system enabling them to breathe more efficiently. There have been no other studies to date on the ABC technique on any type of athlete, specifically endurance trained cyclists. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine whether a series of releases called the ABC chiropractic technique, would have a physiological effect on an endurance cyclist. Specifically, this study investigated whether the ABC technique led to an increase in VE threshold, decrease in breathing frequency (RR), and decrease in heart rate (HR) at sub-max exercise, decrease in heart rate at rest, and increase in V02, VE, and tidal volume (TV) at max, and improved forward head tilt and hyperkyphosis if present in cyclists. Methods: Eleven male and female collegiate or recreationally training endurance cyclists were randomly assigned to a six week, six days per week, training protocol. The experimental group received ABC releases three times a week for the six week protocol, while the control group received no releases. Pre and post metabolic tests were conducted measuring VE, TV, RR, HR, and V02. PostureViewer and goniometer measurements were also taken. Results: There were no significant differences in the control group for any of the variables over the six week period. The experimental group showed a significant increase in RR sub-max, and a decrease in HR rest, from pre to post trials. There were no significant differences in the amount of change between the experimental and control groups. In a practical sense, some dependent variables did improve. VE threshold (L/min) trended toward a significant increase in the experimental group. The % of VE threshold increased in the experimental group from pre to post trials. TV at max also trended towards a significant decrease in the experimental group. Conclusion: A six week endurance cycling protocol with three sessions a week of ABC technique may not be an effective treatment for showing improvement at the physiological level. There was a non-significant but practical increase in VE threshold, and a significant decrease in HR rest in the experimental group. More studies with a larger sample size are necessary to determine if there are any functional benefits to the ABC technique.
Dynamic Warm-up And Injury Prevention For Female Soccer Players - A Research Study
Abstract
Effect of an 8-Week Combined Strength & Power Training Program on Club Head Speed in Collegiate Golfers
The purpose of the study was to determine whether an 8-week strength and power resistance training program would elicit an increase in club head speed (CHS). In addition to measuring CHS, this study aimed to determine if there were increases in muscular strength and power as a result of the 8-week program. Procedures: The participants for this study consisted of 6 male and 6 female NCAA division II collegiate golfers, age ranging from 18-23 years. All participants were experienced golfers and were not competing in a school supported golf season at the time of the study. The participants were separated by gender, then randomly assigned to either the intervention (N=6) or control group (N=6). Pre-test measures were taken to measure CHS, vertical jump height, back squat 1 RM, deadlift 1 RM, and clean 1 RM. The average and peak swing velocities from 3 max effort swings were recorded and analyzed. The participants then proceed to undergo an 8-week resistance training program. The experimental group performed a strength and power resistance training intervention designed to elicit muscular strength and power. The control group performed their normal off-season resistance training program. The participants trained three days a week. The intervention and control group were then tested post-treatment for CHS and VJ height, and 1RM power clean, back squat, and deadlift. Results: The average and peak of the control groups' CHS pre-test was 101.4 ±8.25 mph. After the 8-week study, the control group decreased CHS to an average of97.6 ±3.82 mph. The average of the control groups' VJ pre-test was 19.9 ±6.92 inches with a slight increase to 20.0 ± 1.235 inches with a peak VJ pre-test of 26.3± 7.2 inches (p=0.024). The average of the control groups' pre-test back squat 1RM was 201.7 ±81.4lbs. with a slight increase to 209.2 ±13.7lbs. and was found to be significant p=0.026. The average of the control groups' deadlift 1RM pre-test was 230 ±43.2lbs. and slightly increased to 244.2 ±14.0 lbs. post-test. However, the deadlift was not significant p=0.138. The average of the control groups' clean 1RM was 99.2 ±33.40 lbs. which increased to 111.5 ±10.9lbs. post-test (p=0.031). The average of the intervention groups' CHS pre-test was 101.36 ± 7.52 mph which increased to 104.6 ±2.47 mph post-test (p=0.004). The average for the intervention groups' VJ pre-test was 19.05 ±3.78 inches which improved to 21.25 ±1.40 inches post-test (p=0.024). The average back squat 1RM for the intervention group at pre-test was 216.6 ±82.0 lbs. which improved to 254.2 ± 32.36lbs. post-test, and reported significance p=0.026. The average deadlift 1 RM for the intervention group at pre-test was 257.5 ±86.2 lbs. which improved to 289.2 ±16.3 lbs. post-test, and reported no significance of p=0.138. The average clean 1RM for the intervention group pre-test was 117.5 ±43.2lbs., which improved to 148.8 ±14.6lbs. post-test, and reported significance of p=0.031. The Pearsons' correlation test reported 1RM back squat was significant (r=0.70, p=0.025), while the VJ trended towards significance (r=0.73, p=0.069). Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that an 8-week strength and power resistance training program increased muscular strength and based on a Pearsons' correlation was significantly related to CHS.
Effects of Trunk-Specific Medicine Ball Training on Instantaneous Bat Velocity among High School Baseball Players
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of six weeks of trunk-specific medicine ball training on instantaneous bat velocity in high school baseball players. This study served to establish whether or not medicine ball training has a value as a sport-specific training technique, as well as to add to the limited body of research examining the best way to prepare athletes for the highly sport-specific demands of baseball. The results of this study may also have applications in other sports that are largely rotational in nature, such as softball, golf, and tennis. This study also tested whether or not the medicine ball training program used increased the strength of the trunk muscles in the population examined. This study will be most applicable to high school age males who participate in baseball. The subjects in this study ranged from ages 14 to 18, a stage of development in which a significant amount of physical, mental, and neurological maturation is still taking place. Further, the skill level of many of these subjects is still developing pronouncedly, and is more focused on increasing the general skill base of the athlete, and less of refinement of particular aspects of skills.
Electromyography Analysis of Forward Lateral Retro Lateral Incline Exercise and the Potential to Reduce ACL Injury
The purpose of this study was to determine if forward lateral retro lateral incline (FLRL) exercises on an inclined treadmill are more effective at activating and fatiguing the rectus femoris (RF), rectus abdominis (ABS), gluteus maximus (GMA), gluteus medius (GME), hamstrings (HAM), and gastrocnemius (GA) than current standard rehab exercises used for strengthening the core, hip complex and calf muscles, therefore having the potential to better strengthen and train these muscles, and potentially reduce anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Twenty participants (11 males and 9 females) volunteered to be in the study. The mean age of the participants was 21.65 ± 2.62 years, and the mean weight 158.6 ± 31.291bs. The participants were tested using surface electromyography (sEMG) to look at activation of the selected muscles, activation levels compared to maximum voluntary contractions (MVC), and fatigue levels while performing the FLRL exercise compared to rehab exercises (a prone bridge, side bridge, lunge, and step up). All exercises were completed on the same day. The results showed significant differences (p<.05) between the FLRL exercise and the rehab exercises. The FLRL produced higher means of amplitude, greater potential to create hypertrophy by reaching amplitudes at 40% of MVC or greater, and greater amounts of fatigue in the RF, GMA, GME, Hi\M, and GA. The FLRL exercise produced greater amounts of fatigue in the ABS. The FLRL exercise has potential to be an exercise used in the rehabilitation setting of a knee injury and preseason training to prevent injury due to its ability to activate and fatigue these muscles of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex to levels that can produce strength and hypertrophy. The FLRL exercise combined with other exercises used in a training or rehab setting can potentially lead to performance gains, reduced chance of injury, and accelerated recovery.
Exploring Athletic Identity in a Team of NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Players
An athlete will one day experience retirement from their respective sport. Athletic identity can play a role in how the athlete may cope with this transition to life without athletics. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the underlying factors of athletic identity development in a team of Division II Women's Basketball players, and to understand their experiences of a positive psychology intervention focused on developing positive self-identity. This study utilized both qualitative and quantitative measures to gain insight on the topic of athletic identity. Questionnaires, interviews and interventions were conducted over a period of five weeks. Seven NCAA Division II women·s basketball players at a small rural university participated in the study. Through the interviews focused on discovering underlying factors of athletic identity, six emergent themes arose: psychological need to be viewed as an athlete, self-defined athlete, highly invested in sport throughout life, family influence, lack of purpose outside of sport and lack of balance outside of sport. Post-interviews were conducted, focused on discovering the athlete's perceptions of a positive psychology intervention and five emergent themes were discovered: lack of understanding of strengths without sport, intention to stay involved in sport, sport has influenced career choices, self-defined athletes and intervention beneficial and enjoyable. These results suggest that overall, the underlying factors to athletic identity were based on a lack of the athletes finding purpose outside of sport, influence from family and society, as well as a need to be viewed and seen as an athlete. Results also suggested a positive psychology intervention can be beneficial to athletes in allowing them to reflect and gain a better understanding of their life outside of sport.
Exploring Psycho-Emotional Response to Athletic Injury, Rehabilitation, and Readiness to Return in NCAA Division II Collegiate Athletes
Athletic injuries can be devastating occurrences in an athlete's career. The reactions and responses that occur due to the injury can impact the athlete in his/her recovery and return to sport. Therefore. the purpose of the study was to explore the psycho-emotional response to athletic injury, rehabilitation. and readiness to return in NCAA Division II collegiate athletes by exploring their experiences in real time: at the time of injury through rehabilitation and return to sport. This study used qualitative methods to uncover psycho-emotional responses to athletic injury rehabilitation and readiness to return. This study utilized interviews and daily journals over eight weeks. Twelve (5 females, 7 males) NCAA Division II athletes from eight sports (women's basketball, men's lacrosse, softball, women's soccer, track & field, football, baseball, and wrestling) participated in the study. Through the interviews and daily journal entries obtained post injury, during rehabilitation, and upon return to sport, four emergent themes were uncovered: emotional reaction to injury, injury produces social implications, motivation as a driving factor for recovery, and rehabilitation experience impacts view of injury and return. Emotional reaction to injury includes negative and positive emotions at initial injury, followed by a mood change through the process of recovery. The social implications that accompany athletic injury include positive and negative support from the social support system the athletes' interact with daily. The motivation factor as a driving component is a result of these athletes internal drive to return to sport and play. All of these emergent themes can impact the rehabilitation experience and ultimately the view of the injury and the return. If the rehabilitation experience is negative the views of the injury and the return will be negative until the situation can be guided in a positive way. These results illustrate the repercussions after sustaining an athletic injury that results in the athlete being removed from regular sport
Factors that Motivate Female Athletes within the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)
Motivation is one key factor backing the reason that any athlete begins to play. Intrinsic motivations are inherent characteristics that feed off one's internal drive to attain a goal or objective. Extrinsic motivation is outside influences or people that often result in compensation, social approval, or rewards (Bartle, 2006). The real question is what is motivation and how does one continue to keep it up throughout their career. If coaches can tap into an individual's motivation, they may be able to better inspire and keep the desire to compete alive. Motivation is a love for what it is one competes in, practices, and enjoys sports at whatever level that may be. Motivation is desire. It is different for every individual but can be touched by many coaches, peers, friends, and family. Motivation in athletics can be defined as" ... the inclination to pursue and persist in activities related to one's sport"(Taylor, 2005). It is the reason that an athlete practices year round, in-season or off-season. Athletes continue to perfect skills required to be the best at sports. Sometimes it's what is inside of an individual. The motivation can be internal or external. The important factor is finding someone who can tap into one's inner feelings that drive them to do whatever it takes day in and day out. Research question posed for this study include the following: 1. Do collegiate female athletes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) experience a change in motivation for participation in athletics? 2. What are the factors that play a major role in the change of motivation within the collegiate female athletes of the RMAC?
Female Athlete Shame: Coaching Behavior And Shame-Coping Responses
Due to the large amount of time coaches spend with their athletes it is surprising, emotions such as shame, humiliation, and embarrassment, can be felt by an athlete without a coach even realizing the impact that their behavior has on the athlete. For this reason, understanding the mechanism or causes for athletes' feelings of shame may help coaches become more aware of their behaviors. The purpose of this study is three fold (illustrated in Figure 1.1 ): (1) will be to explore the relationships of coaches' behaviors on female college athletes' feelings of shame in game and practice settings, and the athletes' shame-coping responses to these feelings. (2) To explore whether the shame-coping responses mediate relationships between coaches' behaviors and adaptive outcomes (trying harder, proving coach wrong, etc.) or maladaptive outcomes (burnout, quitting, etc.) in female athletes. (3) To discover if having a scholarship or being a starter play a role in outcomes of shame.
Fort Foster and the Second Seminole War
During the Seminole Wars in Florida, the United States Army constructed over 200 fortifications in its efforts to push the Seminoles South and force them into compliance with the Unites States Government's plan to remove them to the west. The major tactic of General Thomas Jesup, the supreme commander in Florida, was the construction of numerous fortifications that supplied the troops with the materials required to wage a successful campaign. The fortifications throughout Florida served many practical purposes such as supply depots, hospitals, and staging centers in warfare against the Seminoles. Without the military presence and capabilities of the forts in Florida the United States Government would have been engaged in a longer and less effective campaign against the Seminoles. The Second Seminole War should be understood as an insurgency. The Seminoles actions of rebellion in response to the orders of the United States to leave Florida resulted in the beginning of a new strategy of warfare, which ended the ability of the military to confront a standing army. Fort Foster represents the role that forts played in both the strategy and tactics of a counterinsurgency. By understanding the role Fort Foster played in the Second Seminole War the actual political and military functions of forts are observed. Examining the military tactics and documented records reveal the public perceptions of wars in the nation's history.
Ghetto Nation: Black Power and the Detroit Rebellion of 1967
By the 1960s, millions of African Americans faced pervasive discrimination in housing, education, employment, and law enforcement in the wholly unprecedented environment of the American ghetto. In the urban areas where institutional racism was most oppressive and the evolution of civil rights activity was most acute, violence was inevitable. After several long, hot summers of urban unrest throughout the United States, Detroit, Michigan exploded on July 23, 1967. The most comprehensive study of the Detroit Rebellion of 1967 is Sidney Fine's Violence in the Model City: The Cavanagh Administration, Race Relations, and the Detroit Riot of 1967. In his evaluation of the meaning of the violence, Fine's conclusions stray little from the official account as reported by the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders; he acknowledged the presence of legitimate grievances held by urban blacks but rejected the idea that the violence was a political statement meant to bring about change. This revision to Fine's interpretation is based upon an analysis of the political meanings of violence; a reconsideration of contemporaneous social science research; the increased scrutiny of riot commission politics; and a reevaluation of the intensification of civil rights activity as revealed by the burgeoning field of Black Power scholarship.

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