Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Role Of Collegiate Athletic Director In Addressing Head Trauma Prevention, Clay Thomas Roe

Masters Theses

Within collegiate athletics, there is a growing interest in the management of head trauma incidents. This qualitative study was designed to answer two research questions: (1) What is the role of athletic directors in the management of head trauma prevention? (2) What are the major concerns of athletic directors regarding head trauma prevention and what should happen in the future? Findings from the research questions revealed three themes: (a) Indirect mention of head trauma prevention in athletic director job description, (b) athletic director delegation to medical professionals, and (c) athletic directors want more research and education on head trauma prevention. …

American Sign Language Interpreting For D/Deaf Individuals With Disabilities: A Qualitative Study And Practical Guide, Emily Mason

Senior Honors Theses

American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting for d/Deaf individuals with disabilities (DWD) is a complex task, and one which lacks an adequate research-base to inform best practices. Using the foundation of existing literature on closely related topics such as the field of ASL interpreting, educational interpreting, education of DWD individuals, and research about specific disabilities occurring with d/Deafness, I compiled a literature review and created a theoretical conceptual framework concerning this topic. In further investigation of this subject, I also conducted a qualitative study through online questionnaires sent out by email to ASL interpreters located through snowball sampling. The data collected …

Fit For The Stage: The Function Of A Pre-Performance Warm-Up Routine For College Theatre Students, Emily Sullins

Senior Honors Theses

College theatre programs require students to perform in stage productions that demand a high level of stamina, endurance, strength, and flexibility. This level of athleticism makes injury rates more prevalent with one dance study documenting a 74% injury rate among participants (Chmelar et al., 1987, as cited in Malkogeorgos et al., 2011). In sports programs, warm-up protocols are utilized as injury prevention techniques. Due to the physical demands on college performers, a specific warm-up routine should be designed and implemented for each production. A properly conceived warm-up will include aerobic exercise, dynamic stretching, and movement patterns resembling those in the …

An Analysis Of The Competing Views On The Interpretation Of The U.S. Constitution, Joseph Longo

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis will examine the competing interpretations of the United States Constitution and the different effects these interpretations would have on the American government and legal systems. By examining legal precedents and different philosophical views, the varying interpretations will be examined and put through real-world scenarios. The founding of America was over 200 years ago, but philosophical views throughout history shall be used in the understanding of the different interpretations and real-world consequences. The thesis will not claim that one interpretation is proper and the perfect one for the United States, rather it will challenge each view in an attempt …

Causes Of Color Blindness: Function And Failure Of The Genes That Detect Color, Dylan Taylor

Senior Honors Theses

Color blindness affects nearly 10% of the entire population, with multiple types of color blindness from various genetic mutations. In the following sections, the nature of light and how the human eye perceives light will be discussed. Afterward, the major forms of color blindness and their genetic causes will be considered. Once these genetic causes have been established, the current method for diagnosing color blindness will be investigated, followed by a discussion of the current treatments available to those with color blindness. Finally, a brief discussion will address possible future work for color blindness with the hope of finding better …

A Spectrum Of Tech: An Integrated Literature Review Of Technologies To Target Social Skills In Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Taylor Caldwell

Senior Honors Theses

Students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often have limited social or communication skills and, thus, need extra assistance in learning when and how to engage in appropriate interactions with those around them. However, because there are several different individual skills (e.g., joint attention, emotional expression, etc.) that fall under the categories of social and communication skills, and there are even more options of devices and programs to choose from within assistive technology (AT) and instructional technology (IT), it may seem daunting to find the right technology to meet a specific child’s needs and to determine whether that technology procedures lasting …

An Umbrella Of Autonomy: The Validity Of The Hong Kong Protests, Ciera Lehmann

Senior Honors Theses

Hong Kong has been fighting for democracy and to retain its autonomy from China, and the world has been watching. Over time, Hong Kongers have seen Beijing blatantly tighten its grip before time was up for the fifty-year agreement since the handover in 1997. In 2014, and again in 2019, hundreds of thousands of citizens filled the streets to participate in pro-democracy demonstrations with the protests only gaining momentum and influence. While there has mostly been support for Hong Kong’s independence movement, there has been argument that Beijing’s actions are completely justified. Should Hong Kong remain autonomous from China, and …

First-Generation College Students' Lived Experiences In An Undergraduate Music Education Program: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Joseph Benjamin Earp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the lived experiences of first-generation college students (FGCSs) majoring in music education at a small, private university in the southeastern United States. Through understanding FGCSs’ experiences, university faculty and administrators can make informed decisions that can help this important sub-population of students. The self-determination theory (SDT) and the relationships motivation theory (SDT mini-theory) have guided this study exploring the central research question: How do FGCSs describe their lived experiences while majoring in music education? Sub-questions include (1) how do FGCSs majoring in music education describe challenges relating to self-determination while …

My Spouse Is Amazing Like Me: The Association Between Homogamy For Narcissism And Relationship Satisfaction, Kerry Anne Marsh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study’s purpose was to better understand how narcissistic admiration and rivalry relate to relationship satisfaction and to investigate the satisfaction found in homogamous versus heterogamous narcissistic relationships. The study explored relationship satisfaction of married participants (N = 764), as moderated by their partner’s perceived level and subtype of narcissism. It also examined direct correlations between participant narcissistic admiration and rivalry and relationship satisfaction, as well as correlations between participant and perceived partner narcissism scores. An exploratory study about how relationship length moderates the association between narcissism and relationship satisfaction was also conducted. This quantitative study featured a cross-sectional online …

Digital Commons Statistics For December 2020, Liberty University

Digital Commons Statistics

No abstract provided.

Mermaids Vs. Humans: Reality In Fantasy, Avery M. Powers

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis analyses how fantasy literature relates to and transforms concrete perceptions of reality, tracing its origins from mythic creation epics and the qualities that it shares with scripture. Overall, I propose a more imaginative approach to realistic literature that draws from the truths found in fantasy literature and by discussing fantasy literature and genre.

The creative element of this project includes an excerpt from an original children's fantasy novel. In it, I compare mythical characters with human characters and an imaginary world to the real world as it is experienced by characters from both worlds. The fantastical reality attempts …

The Impact Of Social Media Use On Social Comparison And Body Images Of Young Adult Males, Tresa Lynn Hildreth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With the rise of social networking sites, young people are utilizing social platforms as an on-going avenue for comparison, specifically with regard to body image. Although issues of body image are often attributed to females, males struggle to live up to societal ideals of what a man should look like. This study highlights the body image comparisons that exist with young men and provides insight into the detrimental impact and consequences these comparisons can have on young men as they grow into adulthood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between social media use and body image …

The Founding Fathers' Shift Towards Anthropological Pessimism: From The Articles To The Constitution, Noah Davis

Senior Honors Theses

American colonists grew to abhor the evils of a strong and tyrannical government. After freeing themselves, they created an intentionally weak government that placed trust in the masses to contribute to the country’s well-being. The weak government of the Articles of Confederation was too weak, and the people did not act as virtuously as was hoped. There were many problems of the Articles, and eventually a poor economy led to riots and rebellions. After being given nearly unbridled freedom, the people revealed themselves to be selfish. The Founding Fathers decided that the people needed a stronger government to regulate society …

Digital Diet: Addressing The Effects Of Social Media & Internet Addiction On Stress And Anxiety Levels In Students, Brianna Janey

Senior Honors Theses

The contents of this thesis will address the effects of social media and internet addiction on stress and anxiety levels within students. The research process began by comprehensively defining the problem as being how online usage affects the levels of stress and anxiety within students. After establishing the problem, a review of existing literature presenting possible solutions to this problem was conducted. Each artifact was assessed for overall effectiveness in relation to the target demographic. Finally, a cohesive digital social good campaign that seeks to encourage students to create mindful online habits is presented as a creative solution that successfully …

Exploring Religious Freedom In The American Workplace, Joanna Moran

Senior Honors Theses

The First Amendment specifically protects the freedom of religion, an idea that has been championed in America for over two centuries. In the workplace, religious freedom is more limited. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. United Health Programs of American Inc. and Cost Containment Group Inc. (2016) serves as an example of how some religious expression must be limited in order to protect religious freedoms of the majority in the workplace. The purpose of this thesis is to determine how First Amendment religious freedoms are being protected and restricted in the workplace. This research is relevant to working Americans, as the …

Evolution Of Confession Law, Madison Macpherson

Senior Honors Theses

Many studies have been conducted to examine how false confessions occur, and what their impacts are. Throughout its history, America has instituted standards for interrogation procedures that are aligned with research findings and that build off constitutional principles. These are designed to protect individual rights while still accomplishing the goals of the judicial system. This paper discusses false confessions, interrogation laws, and how these impact a suspect, as well as the other influences acting upon suspects including plea bargaining and psychological processes. A compilation of research findings and case law culminates in the conclusion that changes must be made to …

The New York Times And Media Framing During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Madison Hirneisen

Senior Honors Theses

This study analyzes how The New York Times framed the coronavirus pandemic via Twitter. Using framing theory, this study examines a collection of tweets from The New York Times Twitter account during the week of March 13-20, 2020, which was the week following President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency. Each tweet was manually cataloged according to a specific set of qualifying keywords. From the collected tweets, this study identified four dominant frames that characterized The New York Times’ coverage of the pandemic during the week of March 13, 2020. This study also discusses the structure of the “disease …

Behavioral Finance For The Individual Investor, Drake Gens

Senior Honors Theses

The Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) has been generally accepted in academia despite its well-researched flaws; by understanding how and when markets deviate from efficiency, investors have an opportunity to not only better understand their investing habits, but also possibly generate higher investment returns. Various market anomalies, such as the Value Effect (De Bondt & Thaler, 1985), the Monday Effect (French, 1980), and the January Effect (De Bondt and Thaler, 1958 & 1987), attest to the fact that markets experience periods of deviation from efficiency. Fiévet and Sornette (2016) finding that markets experience inefficiency during periods of significant volatility is confirmed …

Fundamentals Of Teaching Vocal Music Performance, Malcolm Shaquan Richardson

Masters Theses

This study outlines the significance and sole purpose of developing fundamental techniques of student vocal music performances, using professional constructive evaluation that will improve their overall performance experience. One of the most practical ways to support vocalists is to provide a constructive evaluation of their performances. The implementation of constructive evaluation is to reflect upon what is being done well, discover areas of improvement or refinement, plan and facilitate important lessons, and apply the lessons to future performances. As a music teacher who is actively overseeing the development of students as performing or creating musicians, including constructive evaluation is a …

Christmas In The Lutheran Tradition: A Worship Service Of Music And The Word, Brian E. White

Masters Theses

Christmas in the Lutheran Tradition is a worship ministry project originally designed to fulfill the desire for a Christmas Cantata with a focus on the Lutheran love of music as part of worship service. The thesis includes discussions about the early origins of the Christmas celebration and Martin Luther’s incorporation of congregational singing as part of worship service. The thesis details the author’s original concept and the multiple alterations that became necessary as the community, state and nation continued to struggle with the Covid-19 pandemic in the year 2020. The thesis briefly discusses the North Dakota responses to the increasing …

Modern Myths: Adding To America's Cultural Heritage, Kathryne E. Wood

Masters Theses

As children, we believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny. We cower in fear when our friends talk about the Boogeyman, or how they'll summon Bloody Mary in the mirror. We check our closets, in hopes of finding an entrance to Narnia at the back of them. The world is a mysterious place in which anything can happen, anything can exist. What makes these types of stories so special? How do they generate true belief? What propels a narrative from entertaining story to the status of myth, legend, or folktale? This thesis explores the enduring qualities …

Overcoming The Myth Of The Contemporary “Starving Artist”: An Exploration Into The Fusion And Viability Of A 21st-Century Career In Art And Design, Miranda M. Myles Jackson

Masters Theses

This research explores the myth of the “starving artist” surrounding the pursuit of a career in the arts. Artists are often dubbed as starving due to the pre-conceived notion that careers in art do not provide longevity or financial stability. Due to this stigma, budding creatives are often dissuaded at home, school, or both from pursuing a career doing what they love. Arts programs are often cut and or remain underfunded, mainly due to this biased perception. Research indicates that careers in the arts have expanded exponentially due to its merge with various fields. According to both the STEM vs. …

Be Still: A Pedagogical Analysis Of Mindfulness-Based Practices In Vocal Music Education, Hattie Hannah Elder

Masters Theses

Mindfulness and mindfulness-based practices improve productivity in general education and vocal settings and have the potential to revolutionize choral music education. The purpose of this research is to improve vocal music education, vocal pedagogy, and voice practice, through the study of mindfulness-based practices and their relevance in vocal practices. The essential question answered as part of this research is, how do mindfulness and mindfulness-based practices increase productivity in the choral classroom? Sub questions addressed in this research include: 1) What is mindfulness meditation?, 2) How is mindfulness already utilized in vocal settings?, and 3) How can mindfulness best be included …

In-Training Improvement: A Tactical Athletic Approach To Enhance The Performance And Wellness Of Law Enforcement Officers, Shai-Enne Kerry Haynes

Masters Theses

Fitness and musculoskeletal injuries are a major health concern among United States law enforcement personnel. The objectives of this study were twofold: 1) to compare the effects of wearing work gear and not wearing work gear during job related specific activities; and 2) identify the negative effects of the required work equipment on law officials and exploring methods to decrease the negative effects. There is an undeniable prevalence of law officials and back issues and other musculoskeletal complications which presents an interrelated research and field test environment. This study leverages research to help advance the knowledge of law enforcement performance, …

Unhealthy Leadership In The Christian Church: A Study Of The Divorce Rate, Curtis William Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to bring healing and direction to a particular area of the Christian church that is destroying marriages and greatly emotionally damaging children and families. This specific research will look at both the divorce rate in the secular community and the divorce rate in the Christian church, thus comparing and contrasting the two. While at the same time, showing how unhealthy leadership in the Christian church continues this damage. Furthermore, this research will also illustrate which gender is most likely filing for the divorces here in the 21st century and answer the questions why, where, …

The Relationship Between Secondary Teachers' Grit And Self-Efficacy Beliefs On Classroom Management And Student Engagement, Laurie White Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teaching as a profession is becoming more and more difficult. School districts are facing a teacher shortage, creating greater focus on recruitment and retention efforts. The majority of these efforts focus on novice teachers (within the first five years) providing support and assistance to help keep them in the classroom. Less effort is placed upon assisting the veteran teacher in maintaining effort in the classroom and avoiding burnout. Those who experience burnout or become disheartened show a reduction in effort negatively impacting student achievement. The purpose of this correlational study was to explore the relationship between teacher passion and perseverance …

The Effects Of Consumer Buying Habits In The Automotive Industry, Tiffany R. Towne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study addressed the effects of consumer buying habits in the automotive industry. With consumer buying habits constantly changing and the advancement of technology and e-commerce, there is a growing opportunity for brick-and-mortar stores and dealerships to adapt their strategies to maintain and enhance revenues and profitability. Failure of organizations to adapt their strategies have resulted in a loss of revenue and led to bankruptcy. This qualitative case study addressed the failure of an organization to adapt to consumer buying habits in the automotive industry resulting in a loss of revenue and profitability. Further, the study provided an understanding of …

Overall Level Of Marital Satisfaction In Christian Individuals Based On Marital Setting And Ethnicity, Rafael Dejesus Acosta

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research on marital satisfaction has been limited to Caucasian couples in a middle and upper socioeconomic status. Because values differ throughout ethnicities, and religious commitment rather than personal satisfaction contributes to higher levels of marital satisfaction, understanding these values and differences may help developers in the field of couple relationship education programs strengthen their approach to helping Christian couples develop skills that contribute to marital satisfaction. The purpose of this research is to examine if marital setting, ethnicity and Couple Relationship Education (CRE) and Marriage Relationship Education (MRE) affect marital satisfaction in Christian couples. The participants in this study will …

Who Is Leading Our Churches In Worship And Are They Ready? A Study On Worship Leading In The Free Will Baptist Denomination, James Anthony Cooper Sr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since the institution of Old Testament-Temple corporate worship, there has been someone assigned the task of leading congregational worship. The Chronicler records King David’s divisions of the sons of Asaph to be “set apart for service…under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the Lord.”1 Although for some churches, a full-time, salaried position is not feasible or there may not be enough existing duties to justify a paid position. In this case, the responsibility of leading worship falls to a person in the congregation who might have any type of background in music or an …

The Relationship Of Religiosity To Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth In Law Enforcement Officers, H. Bradford William Kingsriter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study’s primary purpose was to examine how a law enforcement officer’s (LEO’s) religiosity might predict their production of vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG). There has been limited research regarding religiosity and VPTG within law enforcement (LE). This study sought to expand the knowledge base regarding LEOs, religiosity, and VPTG. Eighty-eight law enforcement officers from an Upper Midwest state completed the survey. The current study utilized the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory–Expanded (PTGI-X) to assess for VPTG and the Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CRS) to evaluate individual religiosity. This study was informed by the theory of posttraumatic growth (PTG) (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996). …