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Results :: Search Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Your search for Keyword agriculture economic resulted in 49 match(es).


Spatial Cognition among Montana Eleventh and Twelfth Grade Agricultural Education Students
Author: Price, Danielle Nicole
Date: 2004-05-15
Program: Agricultural Education
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine high school student's spatial cognition abilities to identify features and attributes in agriculture production images, projected in two-dimension (2D) or three-dimension (3D). The effects of selected demographics on spatial cognition were examined. The population consisted of 101 high school students from selected secondary agricultural education programs during the Fall Semester of 2003. Criteria for participation were that the class size be 10-15 students enrolled in 11th or 12th grade. The agricultural classes were randomly assigned as either par...
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Natural Resource Rents and Institutional Change
Author: Scarborough, Brandon Christopher
Date: 2005-08-15
Program: Applied economics
Abstract: Recent literature argues that nations with abundant natural resources - primarily oil and minerals - tend to grow more slowly comparatively to resource-poor nations. Much of this cross-national variation in economic performance may be explained by the interaction between natural resources and institutional quality. Focusing on the importance of economic institutions in the form of property rights and the rule of law this paper presents an alternative explanation for the diverging economic paths in resource rich nations. economic rents generated from abundant oil and gas resources may affect in...
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An Exploration of the Relationship of Explanatory Style to Academic Achievement, College Student Persistence, ACT/SAT Composite Scores, and College Student Inventory Measures
Author: Fox, Leann Alicia
Date: 2006-05-15
Program: Agricultural Education
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of explanatory style to academic performance, SAT or ACT composite scores, College Student Inventory (CSI) data, and retention or attrition of Montana State University College of agriculture students. The predictive capability of measured independent variables to anticipate first to second year attrition of freshmen in the College of agriculture (COA) at Montana State University (MSU) was tested. The potential for using the Academic Attributional Style Questionnaire (AASQ) to identify COA students most susceptible to attrition during ...
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The Historical Power of the Imagination: Ngugi Wa Thiong'o and the Production of Place
Author: Ongaro, Shannon Marie
Date: 2004-05-15
Program: History
Abstract: The Norfolk Hotel stands as a symbol for diverse cultural projects. Playground to white settlers such as Karen Blixen and her cohorts, it represents a British colonial history of Kenya. Purity, civilization, and order all are hallmarks of traditional colonial conceptions of "good government." In the Norfolk's heyday as a sanctuary for white settlers, it was seen to exist in contrast to its surroundings. The Kenyan landscape itself could not have been stranger to the colonists coming from Great Britain. Kenya did not have the green rolling hills and year round water that white settler...
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An Examination of International Studies in Undergraduate Agricultural Curricula at 1862 Land Grant Institutions
Author: Brooks, Shannon Elizabeth
Date: 2005-05-15
Program: Agricultural Education
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the status of international agricultural education at 1862 land grant institutions, by answering the question, what are our 1862 land grant institutions doing to integrate international studies into their undergraduate agricultural curricula? There were two investigations conducted, (1) a content analysis and (2) a survey. A website based content analysis was conducted. A qualitative analysis of the contents of 57 land grant institution's college of agriculture' websites identified current trends in agriculture with regard to international themes. The...
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The Relative Poverty of American Indian Reservations: Why Does Reservation Poverty Persist Despite Rich Neighbors?
Author: Cookson Jr., John Anthony
Date: 2006-05-15
Program: Applied economics
Abstract: American Indian reservations have per capita incomes $9,000 lower than adjacent counties. This paper seeks to explain why using an approach akin to the analysis of country-level data. I estimate differences in levels of income and income growth for a decade where Indian economies were transformed greatly by casino gambling - the 1990s. I test several recent innovations in the theory of economic growth within the context of American Indian economies and assess how economic performance depends on veto players, human capital investment, and windfall wealth. I find that measures of rule of law, re...
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Perceptions of the Montana Land Grant System Held by Legislators and Faculty
Author: Duffey, Lisa Marie
Date: 2004-05-15
Program: Agricultural Education
Abstract: A survey was conducted to determine the perceptions of the agricultural components of the Montana land grant system: College of agriculture (COA)/Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and Extension Service (ES), held by Montana legislators and faculty working in the system. Surveys were mailed to 150 legislators (85 returned) and 198 faculty members (85 returned). Responses were analyzed using SPSS 12.0. Results found that legislators and faculty preferred an administrative structure with one leader for all three components of the agriculture land grant system. Overall, both populations agreed...
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Landscape and place-identity in a Great Plains Reservation community: a historical geography of Poplar, Montana
Author: Warren, Scott Daniel
Date: 2008-05-15
Program: Earth Sciences
Abstract: This study constructs a historical-geographical narrative of Poplar, Montana and explores residents' place-identity in the context of economic restructuring. Located on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in northeastern Montana, Poplar offers an ideal setting to better understand how economic restructuring affects the lives of residents in northern Plains reservation communities. Loss of businesses, consolidation of services, and general economic restructuring continue to challenge communities on the Great Plains. For Great Plains Indian reservations, however, these problems are compounded by a...
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Infusion: urban and domestic transformation
Author: McQuinn, Dylan Thomas
Date: 2009-05-15
Program: Architecture
Abstract: The turn of the Century in this country brought with it the introduction and ensuing growth of water-born trade markets, facilitating the establishment of a series of metropolitan hubs scattered along the coastline. The subsequent hundred years has seen a major increase in population within these areas accompanied by an economic shift away from maritime trade. Older ports have been abandoned, leaving behind antiquated urban infrastructure. The subsequent dismantling of these vast waterfront industrial areas has provided an opportunity for the reconfiguration of these spaces and the implementat...
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Creating the Old and New Wests: Landscape and Identity in Anaconda and Hamilton, Montana
Author: Bryson, Jeremy Glen
Date: 2006-05-15
Program: Earth Sciences
Abstract: This research employs case studies of Anaconda and Hamilton, Montana to explore the creation of the Old and New Wests. For nearly a century, Anaconda functioned as a copper smelting city. However, since the smelter closed the community has witnessed withering population losses, economic contraction, and investment withdrawal. Alternatively, Hamilton has a long history of recreational and leisure amenity investment. Recently, Hamilton's rapid population growth, economic expansion and considerable investment have transformed the community. This research seeks to understand and interpret the chan...
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The geographic and economic importance of hunting in Southwestern Montana, USA
Author: Bergstrom, Ryan Dennis
Date: 2008-05-15
Program: Earth Sciences
Abstract: Montana's big game species were at one time brought to near extinction through exploitation and the myth of superabundance. Today they are seen as one of the state's most prized possessions, with millions of dollars spent annually on their sustainability through the management efforts of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Funding for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks is provided through a hunter and manufacturer sponsored excise equipment tax provided through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program, or as it is more commonly referred to, the Pittman-Robertson Act, as well as state hun...
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An Analysis of the Enactment of Anti-Price Gouging Laws
Author: Davis, Cale Wren
Date: 2008-05-15
Program: Applied economics
Abstract: Anti-price gouging (APG) laws are state-level price controls only effective during times of emergency. From standard economic analysis, there are no apparent beneficiaries from price ceilings. Thus, the enactment of APG laws is puzzling from an economic perspective. The passage of APG laws is first analyzed with case studies of all thirty-one state laws. The case studies include information such as disasters that triggered the enactment of the laws, detail on enforcement and penalties, and information on supporters and opponents. This information is used to help determine why policymakers enac...
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Seeley Lake Montana. Developing a Sustainable Community within a Grid-Dependent Town.
Author: Jones, Justin Balog
Date: 2007-05-15
Program: Architecture
Abstract: Within ten years, Seeley Lake will be modernized and receive public services such as sewer, full water treatment plants, and cable television. When these developments are implemented in Seeley, the town will grow quickly and without regard for the existing physical environment. The economics of place will change as well; property values and taxes will be inflated to unseen levels. This thesis proposes that a central portion of the small town be redeveloped as offgrid community catering to the existing and future working class of Seeley Lake. Focusing on ten existing blocks in the center of See...
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Borrowing Modernity: A Comparison of Educational Change in Japan, China, and Thailand from the Early Seventeenth to the Mid-Twentieth Century
Author: Batchelor, Randal Shon
Date: 2005-05-15
Program: Education
Abstract: In the pre-modern era, the Japanese, Chinese and Siamese sustained sophisticated educational systems that buttressed complex political, social, and cultural institutions. In the nineteenth century, the rise of Western imperialism threatened the survivals of all three realms. Unlike their East Asian neighbors, Japan, China, and Siam preserved a large measure of self-rule though they had to cede significant amounts of sovereignty. To defend their societies's interests, their leaders sought to modernize their political, social, and economic structures. In the process, they abandoned existing edu...
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Redlining in Montana
Author: Schumacher, Joel Brent
Date: 2006-05-15
Program: Applied economics
Abstract: Redlining is the practice of using the attributes of geographic location of a mortgage loan as the basis for differential and typically adverse treatment of an application. This is a particularly important social problem in the home mortgage market due to benefits which have been shown to be correlated with home ownership. Minority and low income applicants may find redlining to be a major barrier to obtaining home ownership and the benefits associated with being a home owner. This thesis uses a data set collected under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act to examine the mortgage market in Montana...
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Traditional diet of the Saalish, Kootenai, and Pend D'Oreille Indians in North West Montana and contemporary diet recommendations, a comparison
Author: Groessler, Margit Elisabeth
Date: 2008-05-15
Program: Nursing
Abstract: Native Americans in Montana have a higher prevalence of diabetes that the national average. Some health authorities believe this may be due to their current dietary practices. However, to understand the impact of current dietary practices it is important to compare traditional diets with current dietary recommendations. Historical review was used to collect data on the Traditional Native American diet. These data were analyzed and calculated as part of a 2000 calorie meal plan. Untied States Department of agriculture (USDA) and American Diabetes Association (ADA) diet recommendations were anal...
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Changing Soil Degradation Trends in Senegal with Carbon Sequestration Payments
Author: Gray, Kara Michelle
Date: 2005-05-15
Program: Applied economics
Abstract: In Sudo-Sahelian Africa, erosion and nutrient mining are prominent causes of soil degradation. In Senegal, harvesting grains and crop residue from the land impact heavily on soil carbon content, while the insufficient replacement of soil nutrients with fertilizers contributes to negative nutrient balances. Given the economic perspective of the rational farmer and the dynamic nature of crop and soil management issues, this thesis used a regional case study in the Groundnut Basin of Senegal to do the following: describe and assess economic incentives specific the to the case study region; model ...
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I'm so bored with the U.S. - and beyond: theorizing the emergence of postmodern slackers and global Generation X culture
Author: Paliobagis, Ariana Jade
Date: 2008-05-15
Program: English
Abstract: The generation which came of age in the late 1970s through the 1980s has often been described as a cohort of slackers, lazy layabouts who shamelessly rejected the previous generation's passionate attempts at revolution. I argue instead, however, that Generation X, as Canadian writer Douglas Coupland termed it, is responsible for a revolution of its own, but its lack of resemblance to any previous social upheavals has caused it to be misunderstood by many. The failure of the youthful rebellions of the sixties and the shallow response to this of the eighties - selfish materialism - prompted thi...
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In the shadow of the dam(med)
Author: Cuthbertson, Joshua David
Date: 2008-05-15
Program: Architecture
Abstract: Settlers developed the American West by controlling and subduing the processes of nature. This thesis explores architecture that reveals those processes, not subdues them. A prime example of this is the area along the North Platte River in southeastern Wyoming. The area's quick settlement has resulted in poor land development that threatens the area's current, agriculture-dependant, livelihood. Reservoirs developed to support the agricultural industry have reached the end of their useful lives, and now threaten the water supply. Once such reservoir, located in Guernsey, Wyoming, is silting a...
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Rural Women's Perceptions of the Diffusion of Technological Innovations that Increase Quality Shea Butter Productions in Mali
Author: Kante, Assa
Date: 2007-05-15
Program: Agricultural Education
Abstract: An ethnographic case study was conducted in three villages in Mali (West Africa) to determine the perceptions of woman producers of shea butter toward the introduction of new technologies to save labor input in processing and improving quality of shea butter. During the in-depth interviews conducted, most of the participants said they would be grateful for the technologies, but are facing economic and external market information constraints. A few of the participants still believe that manual churning provides good quality even though it is labor intensive. Participants prefer using visual aid...
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Surveying the Community of Crow Agency, MT for Interest in a Community Radio Station
Author: Doyle, Shane Michael
Date: 2005-08-15
Program: Native American Studies
Abstract: 90% of the Crow Tribe's 10,000 members live on or near its 2.5 million acre reservation. There are currently no television or radio stations intended to serve this area and its population with the vital connections and resources available through the information highway maintained by mass media. This study explores the level of interest and support the Crow community has for a Native American radio station. It also identifies areas of need within the community that can be met by the establishment of a Crow radio station and by the implementation of Native American programming. Research found t...
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Comparative Nitrogen Partitioning and Water use by Native and Introduced Grass Communities in Southern Alberta, Canada
Author: Porter, Shane Warren
Date: 2005-12-15
Program: Land Resources and Environmental Sciences
Abstract: The objectives of this research were to evaluate 1) short-term changes in soil and plant N partitioning created by cultivating and re-seeding native grasslands with two cropping systems of wheat and perennial (crested wheatgrass and Russian wildrye) monocultures; 2) differences in the rate of soil water uptake between Mixed Prairie grasslands, crested wheatgrass and Russian wildrye after a dry-down period; and 3) differences in above ground water use efficiencies, root and crown masses between Mixed Prairie grasslands, crested wheatgrass and Russian wildrye under two different soil water conte...
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Cultural Healing
Author: Zentgraf, Megan Nicole
Date: 2008-12-15
Program: Architecture
Abstract: "Since the stone age man has searched for a comfortable house in a safe place." Alfred Caldwell A residence should be a place where one feels safe, and should want to go at the end of the day. People living in low-income situations have a more difficult time than most at achieving peace of mind in a home due to a constant concern of bills and the stresses of an unstable socio-cultural environment. Low income housing projects frequently create high crime, violence, and a feeling of social, cultural and economic entrapment. This project searches for a solution to these problems throu...
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Pollinators of slender white prairieclover
Author: Pearce, April Marie
Date: 2008-08-15
Program: Entomology
Abstract: Slender white prairieclover (Dalea candida) is a perennial angiosperm, grown at Bridger plant materials center (BMPC) for reclamation purposes. Interest in the pollinators and pests of this plant developed at BPMC following the death of a 5year old stand. The objectives of these experiments were to (1) determine the diversity and identify the potential pollinators on D. candida and other cultivated and non-cultivated angiosperm species using sweep samples and pan traps; (2) determination of pollen load size and composition of individual insects collected on angiosperm plant species; (3) use of...
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Science and Natural History Film and the Larger Media Environment
Author: Ruggiero, Colin Ross
Date: 2005-08-15
Program: Science and Natural History Filmmaking
Abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to examine the ways in which science and natural history films are affected by the larger media environment and in particular, concentrated ownership structures. This first part of this examination is aimed at establishing that the corporate conglomerates that own the majority of mainstream media outlets and resources have sufficient control over the media environment to warrant speaking about specialized programming like science and natural history within the context of the larger corporate-owned environment. The remainder of the paper discusses the impacts this ...
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