Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Today non-point source of water pollution from diffused sources remains the nation's largest source of water quality problems. In Ohio, non-point source pollution is one of the most complex environmental problem, and its impacts are extensive. Assessing state activism in addressing non-point source pollution is not an easy task. Once the state sets limits to the discharge of pollutants from point and non-point source. States apply for funds under the 319 grants for implementing approved non-point source management programs. The states upon receiving funds, allocate funding to projects (non-point source implementation programs) that are run by local government, private agencies and citizen's groups. The key question for us would be, what drives the allocation of funds from the Section 319 grant program in Ohio to address non-point source pollution?_x000d_Using literature in water policies (Lubell,et.al, 2000; Leach, et.al, 2002;Leach and Sabatier, 2005; Coglianese, 1999; Imperial, 1996, Hoornbeek, 2005)and quantitative analysis, we will be studying our questions. The data for the analysis will come from primary data collection from 26 watersheds in Ohio.

Publication Type: Paper/Poster Proposal
Abstract: In Ohio, the so-called ‘Epicenter’ of the 2004 national elections, did the order in which presidential candidate names were read matter in the levels of support they received in telephone surveys?
Researchers conducting pre-election surveys by telephone often administer multiple forms of trial heat questions that rotate the order in which candidate names are presented. In Ohio, the University of Cincinnati’s Ohio Poll uses this practice because
1) codified directives mandate rotation of candidate order on Election Day ballots and 2) research has shown that formulating research designs sensitive to the potential for response order effects improves pre-election measures of voter preferences (see, e.g. Rademacher and Smith, 2001; Visser et al. 2000; Miller and Krosnick 1998).
In this research, we examine whether ballot order impacted voter preference distributions in telephone surveys conducted in a state widely portrayed as one of the key battlegrounds in the race for the presidency. During the 2004 election campaign the University of Cincinnati’s Institute for Policy Research conducted telephone surveys designed to measure voter preferences in statewide races for president and U. S. Senate. These surveys included numerous ballot order experiments.
While the 2004 race for the presidency in Ohio was highly competitive, and received a great deal of campaign and media attention, the race for U.S. Senate was not competitive, and was relegated to the equivalent of a “down-ticket” race as a result. Analyses will examine the impact ballot order had on reported vote preferences in these two contests for president and U.S. Senate. In addition, we will also report the results of ballot order experiments in various types of races, including for president and U.S. Senate, conducted using the Ohio Poll in 2000 and 2002.

Publication Type: School Poster
Abstract: Objectives: to describe continuous quality improvement initiatives of the experiential programs.

Description of the experiential programs: the experiential team consists of the Director, Assistant Director, four Regional Directors, the shared-faculty, a Quality Assurance Supervisor, an Experiential Specialist, and the Experiential Liaison. The experiential team collaborates on designing and up-dating students, preceptors, and sites evaluation forms; longitudinal outcome measures; and developing on-line standardized student assessment examinations. The Regional Directors host several ONU dinners for seniors to obtain their inputs on the quality of rotations and to provide them with information on residencies, graduate schools, and career options. An on-line quality assurance survey for seniors was designed and implemented, a form was designed to assess students’ professionalism on campus, and electronic portfolios were implemented to document students’ experiential activities. Also, a phone survey was conducted to assess the quality of Advanced Practice Rotations (APRs). Furthermore, an electronic survey was developed and distributed to preceptors to identify the ideal preceptor-student(s) ratio. Also, grand rounds video conferences are scheduled on a monthly basis to facilitate discussions on case presentations among Regional Directors, shared faculty, residents, and students. Finally, to ensure the quality of experiential education, preceptors, faculty, and representatives from professional organizations were invited to participate in rotations “Boot Camp.” Topics included: professionalism, problem-solving skills, professional organizations, conflict management, rounding with health care professionals, experiential portfolios, and OSHA/HIPPA requirements.

Conclusions: Faculty at the experiential program at Ohio Northern continue to implement new initiatives to improve the quality of experiential education.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: A number of nonprofit organizations already have begun to expand their operations and activities into the Web. This Web strategy has garnered attention from nonprofits who are looking for needed resources. Technological capability has also become a criterion in evaluating the capability of nonprofit organizations. By addressing the dearth in studying small nonprofits or nonprofits in rural areas, this study examines whether or not smaller nonprofit organizations in rural Ohio can effectively use the Web under disadvantageous circumstances.
By examining 430 small and medium-sized nonprofit organizations in Appalachian Ohio, this study found that there was a huge gap in the adoption of the Web among these nonprofit organizations. The results of the content analysis of the Web found that most nonprofit organizations did not use the Web strategically. In-depth interviews with these nonprofits also revealed that intertwined multiple gaps made this organizational digital divide more complicated and unresolved.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Ohio conducted a pilot of the Surveys of Enacted Curriculum (SEC) to analyze the effects of standards-based education reform. This paper is a first look at the results from Ohio including findings and a blueprint for a systematic, long-term study.