Scholarship & Research
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Item The social consequences of blood quantum in Native American communities(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2024) Young, Lyndsey Alexis; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Matthew HermanIn the United States, many federally recognized tribes use a minimum blood quantum to determine membership. The concept of blood quantum was introduced to Native American tribes by several U.S. federal Indian policies. In recent years, several studies have detailed the impact of blood quantum policies on tribes and offer alternative membership criteria. No studies have analyzed the impact of blood quantum on individual Native Americans. Social decisions like dating, marriage, and family creation are all influenced by minimum blood quantum membership criteria. In this study, survey and interview data from enrolled and non-enrolled descendant Native Americans were used to assess the level of influence blood quantum has on these social decisions. The results of the surveys were statistically analyzed based on gender identity and enrollment status using an independent sample t-test. The study observed no significant difference in how male and female participants felt about the enrollment status of their partners and children. A significant difference in how enrolled and non-enrolled descendant participants felt about their partner being enrolled in the same tribe as themselves was found. The interviews revealed five themes that participants thought were important when considering blood quantum in social decisions. Those themes were: cultural knowledge/inheritance, benefits of enrollment, family involvement in dating, cultural compatibility, and cultural identity. For many tribes, traditional kinship systems and marriage practices require tribal members to marry outside of their kinship groups, sometimes resulting in inter-tribal marriages. One of the biggest issues posed by minimum blood quantum membership criteria is that individuals must look within their own tribe or reservation for a partner to ensure their children will be enrolled. Native American individuals are faced with the decision of either dating within the confines of blood quantum and potentially breaking traditional kinship practices or dating outside the confines of blood quantum and potentially having children who do not meet blood quantum enrollment requirements.Item Implementation of new literacy practices based on the science of reading: a relational leadership approach(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2021) Sullivan, Nichole Daines; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Tena VerslandThe purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand how literacy leaders describe their roles and responsibilities in relationship with each other as they lead the implementation of a new literacy curriculum based on the science of reading through the lens of relational leadership. Further, the study sought to understand how literacy leaders include multiple perspectives and empower others in a purposeful, ethical way through the process of the science of reading curriculum implementation. Specifically, this paper examined how literacy leaders led change in literacy instruction in response to student achievement data that did not exemplify the excellence and potential they believed their students could achieve. A single case study design was chosen for this study, so that the focus of the study would be on the process and relationships of literacy program interactions. The results of this study found that the antecedents for relational leadership and the development of relational leadership during the implementation of a literacy curriculum based on the science of reading are multidimensional and comprised of five themes: (1) trust and mutual positive regard as antecedents for relational leadership, (2) intentionally developed vision building takes time, (3) knowing people and teams through regular interaction, (4) consistent messaging of fidelity to the implementation of literacy curriculum, and (5) intentional support and effort of teachers and administrators. These factors connect to what relational leaders know, their state of being, and their actions, and these factors work together to create a context where a deep change in the teaching of literacy can take place within a school system.Item The effects of limiting access to abortion on domestic violence(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2020) Salemo, Katherine Marie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Isaac SwensenThis paper estimates the effect of access to abortion on the number of reported domestic violence victims using abortion clinic closures in the state of Texas that resulted from a statewide policy change. Results suggest that a decrease in access to abortion services causes a decrease in the number of reported intimate partner victims, though the evidence is weak. When analyzing the effects by relationship type, the results appear to be driven by victims with no legal ties to their offender, such as dating partners. The results indicate that a law enforcement agency that no longer has an abortion clinic within 100 miles reports 13.8% fewer dating partner victims. Because domestic violence crimes are vastly underreported and the data I use are exposed to this issue, the results could be due to a change in the frequency of the crime or a change in the decision to report the crime. This is the first paper to estimate this causal relationship, contributing to the literature by analyzing a policy that could have unintended impacts on victims of domestic violence.Item Using student perception of college environment for developing academic self-efficacy in engineering and computing education(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2021) Clark, Jennifer Irene; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Tricia SeifertNext Generation Experts (NGE) are needed to fill engineering and computing careers. Access to college degree programs in these disciplines has been identified as an important contribution in addressing this problem. Students enter university with varying levels of academic readiness based on environmental circumstances outside their control. In Montana, many communities are limited in their ability to provide advance math and science coursework with even fewer providing engineering or computer science topics. Montana State University (MSU) is the state's land grant institution is charged with educating the sons and daughters of Montana's working class citizens. This problem of practice study considers the experience of academically underprepared (AUP) students interested in engineering or computing with retention initiatives in the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering (NACOE). Understanding student perceptions of how the college environment influences academic self-efficacy development with engineering and computer science content can provide direction for retention programming. This qualitative study uses a complex theoretical framework, and phenomenography as a research approach to consider the range of student experience with an AUP retention program in the NACOE. Thirteen students participated in a study version of the AUP retention program which consisted of 6- topic focused, weekly meetings. Eight students provided feedback through a 1:1 interview following a semi-structured interview protocol. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using an iterative process introducing a shift in perspective related to the relationship between physiological states and their influence over mastery, vicarious, and social persuasion experiences. Physiological states sit in the space between environmental experiences continually shading engagement between the environment and student. Findings described how physiological states interact with mastery, vicarious, and social persuasion experiences. Environmental factors, including people, had an influence on the developing relationship between AUP students who participated in a study version of the AUP retention program. Demonstrating the importance of structure, this study showed the value of community in developing relationships between students and academic content. Normalizing the variety of academic readiness levels shifts from deficit thinking to an allowance of gracious space to begin a college degree from any point without a hidden script of expectation. Borrowing from the college athletics' programs, introducing a Redshirt year changes the game. The Redshirt in Engineering Consortium borrowed and implemented this idea to support recruitment and retention in AUP populations. AUP students are also the NGE in engineering or computing. It is the responsibility of current experts to teach them they have potential to be successful in these disciplines through inclusive environments.