Digital Commons Network^™

Billing Below Title : The Contested Autobiographies Of Frances Farmer And Louise Brooks, Karen M. Anderson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Today autobiography and memoir hold great interest for the average reader as well as the literary scholar. Some argue this form has replaced the novel as the dominant modern/postmodern narrative expression. Its study crosses departmental boundaries, surfacing in disciplines such as psychology, as well as English/literature. This thesis focuses on the autobiographies of two Euro-American actresses of the early twentieth century. Intersecting the study of film, narrative, autobiography (“female” or feminist, as well as canonical or “male”) and modernism, it focuses on text and subtext, analyzing reasons for both the works’ and actress/authors’ cultural marginalization. In art as well as …

Synergistic Interactions Of Chlorambucil, Dha, And Trail In Jurkat And H460 Human Cancer Cells, Jennifer Ellen Bush-O'Donnell

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Traditional chemotherapeutic drugs are prone to toxicity and may result in secondary cancers. In recent years much attention has been garnered by alternate methods of cancer treatment with fewer side effects, including immunotherapy and administration of ω-3 fatty acids, both of which have been shown to cause apoptosis in cancer cells. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a fatty acid, is a normal component of cell membranes and is safe for systemic administration. The cytokine TRAIL (tumor necrosis factorrelated apoptosis-inducing ligand) is able to induce apoptosis in cancer cells while sparing normal tissue. In this study, the alkylating agent chlorambucil (CLB) was combined …

Constance Cary Harrison, Refugitta Of Richmond : A Nineteenth-Century Southern Woman Writer's Critically Intriguing Antislavery Narrative Strategy, Gaillynn Marie Bowman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Although often maligned by literary scholars, Constance Cary Harrison, nineteenth-century novelist, journalist, essayist, and short-story author, achieved popular success with her subtle, but often radical, explorations of gender, and slavery during the antebellum and post-Civil War years. Furthermore, Harrison developed innovative characterizations of African-Americans while seeking nineteenth-century southern and northern readership through conciliatory prose. In particular, Harrison characterized a slave who gained his freedom and maintained a successful, independent life, without white assistance. This unique perspective for a Southern writer of her era stemmed from the war time destruction of her homestead, Vaucluse, which compelled Harrison to recreate an idealized …

Am I My Neighbor's Keeper : Toward A Community-Based Model Of Local Violence, George F. Bills

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this exploratory concurrent mixed methods study is to better understand the community context of domestic batterer intervention systems (Gondolf, 2002) by converging demographic trends in crime and arrest, family income, and marriage and divorce rates with community status indicators and marital conflict themes. In the study, county-level Uniform Crime Reports data, US Census data, and Vital Statistics data will be used to analyze community differences in social context and patterns of domestic violence in Cabell County, WV and Lawrence County, OH. At the same time, the local domestic batterer intervention system in Cabell County, WV, will be …

The Effectiveness Of The Secondary Weapon Of The West Virginia State Police, Jesse Andrew Davis

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The present study examines the effectiveness of the West Virginia State Troopers’ secondary weapon, Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) pepper spray (CAP-STUN®), as a means of alternative use of force for non-cooperative subjects. The WV State Police have adopted OC in an effort to reduce the number and severity of injuries sustained by suspects. This method was adopted as an optional means to effect arrests through non-lethal force. The use of OC can control and restrain individuals while causing the least possible harm to the individuals without increasing danger to troopers or others. Questionnaires were sent to West Virginia State Troopers for …

Spatial Heterogeneity Of Soil Nutrients, Nitrogen Dynamics, And Vegetation In A 3rd Order Stream Floodplain In Southwestern West Virginia, David Allen Dick

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Soil processes often exhibit spatial heterogeneity within ecosystems and this heterogeneity may influence community structure. This study was conducted to determine spatial patterns and variability of soil nutrients and plant communities within different vegetation types in a stream floodplain in southwestern West Virginia. One 5-m × 5-m site was established in each of three vegetation/drainage types: pasture (PA), old field (OF), and wetland scar (SC). Pasture and SC sites were located ~25 m apart on flat bottomland; the OF site was located on a moderate slope 6.3 m above bottomland, ~200 m from PA and SC. A 10-m × 1-m …

Development Of A Gis Geodatabase As A Tool For Analyzing Spatial Relationships In The Species Distributions Of West Virginia Fishes, Nathan D. Bowe

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

One of the most complete references to date of fish species distribution in West Virginia is a 1995 book entitled “The Fishes of West Virginia” (Stauffer, et al.). In this project, geographic information systems (GIS) and relational database technology have been utilized to adapt that reference into a system where spatially arranged collection site features are related to distribution data through a series of common fields among tables in a geodatabase. The geodatabase is stored in an MDB-formatted database management system (DBMS) which is readable by Microsoft Access and useful in its own right as a means to query distribution …

A Social/Cognitive View Of Leaders With Visible Disabilities, George Adkins Jr.

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The present investigation examined the influence applicant disability status has on perceptions of leadership style, leadership potential and leadership behavior. 165 (78 females and 73 males and 14 people choosing not to disclose their age) undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Psychology courses were randomly assigned to one of three applicant disability status conditions (Non-Disabled, Visually Impaired, and Applicant Needing the use of a Wheelchair) and were asked to provide ratings that reflected their perceptions of the leadership style, leadership skills, and leadership behaviors likely to be exhibited by the applicant on the job. Participants used the Least Preferred Coworker …

Aesthetic Revolutionaries : Picasso And Joyce, Joy M. Doss

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Picasso’s Cubist works and Joyce’s Ulysses transcend tradition, merge time and space, and radicalize form. By accomplishing these feats, the two men become seminal embodiments of Modernism. This thesis examines the conceptual and formal qualities shared by Cubism and Ulysses. With particular attention given to changing concepts of space and time, similarities between the works are related to four characteristics generally attributed to Modernism: deviance from tradition, an emphasis on form, fragmentation, and appropriation of popular culture. The monumental effects of these works on society are examined in the conclusion. The legacy of these aesthetic revolutionaries is unavoidable and continues …

The Influence Of Feminist Pedagogy On Student Participation And Student Perception Of Learning Environment In Distance Education: A Comparative Study Of Web-Based Graduate Distance Education Courses, Tammy R. Johnson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship existed between the level of feminist pedagogy employed in a course and student participation or student perception in that course. The study attempted to measure the level of feminist pedagogy employed in eight randomly selected, web-based distance education courses using a researcher-created instrument: The Feminist Pedagogy Scoring Rubric. Additionally, student perception of learning environment in each course was analyzed through the use of the Distance and Open Learning Environment Scale (DOLES). The rate of student participation in each course was determined by analyzing archived online communications. Four main tenets …

A Comparison Of Relationship Dimensions With Behavior Dimensions For First Time Expectant Fathers, Benjamin T. Cunningham

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Little research exists examining the behavioral and attitudinal changes of first-time expectant fathers. This study was designed to identify any significant relationship between assessment instruments classified as Relationship Measures and Behavior Measures. A longitudinal study of 23 first-time expectant fathers examining identifiable trends and assessment instruments was conducted by a 13 member cohort group. The study took place within 200 mile radius of the “Upper Ohio Valley.” A Correlation Matrix containing each instrument was chosen to examine the variables within Measure in an attempt to identify significant correlations. Results indicate significant correlations were observed between Anxiety in the third trimester …

The Relationship Between Competencies Perceived To Be Important For Administrative Effectiveness And The Higher Education Administration Doctoral Program Of Study : A Needs Assessment, Judith A. Porter

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The duties of higher education administrators have become more complex as a result of issues relating to decreased funding, competition between and among institutions, and increasingly sophisticated technology. Therefore, it is important for doctoral programs in higher education administration to ensure that their curricula remain current. A needs assessment, similar to the one in this study, is an accepted way of accomplishing that goal. Higher education administrators, graduates from two public universities (n = 213), were surveyed to obtain their opinions on whether or not 25 administrative competencies culled from the literature were addressed in their programs of study and …

Telling God’S Sanction : Storytelling In The Narrative Journalism, Memoirs, And Creative Nonfiction Of Rick Bragg, Jennifer Nicole Sias

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Self-described paid-storyteller and Pulitzer-Prize-winning-narrative-journalist, Rick Bragg has used the storytelling techniques he learned from his people to write two best-selling memoirs that redefine the boundaries of the genres of memoir and creative nonfiction. His speakerly texts combine the voices of the working class of the Alabama foothills of Appalachia, his own voice as a member of this culture, and his narrative journalistic voice. In his works, Bragg has managed not only to carve a place for the voice of the working class, but also to celebrate and preserve the oral culture, history, and beautiful language of his people, the working …

An Analysis Of The Relationships Between The Perceived Organizational Climate And Professional Burnout In Libraries And Computing Centers In West Virginia Public Higher Education Institutions, Arnold R. Miller

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between the perceived organizational climate and professional burnout in libraries and computing services units in West Virginia higher education. Research questions were defined to investigate the differences between libraries and computing services units in the perceived organizational climate, professional burnout, organizational climate vs. burnout, demographics vs. organizational climate, demographics vs. burnout, and the combined effects of demographics and organizational climate upon burnout. The Work Environment Scale (WES) Form R, third edition, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) HSS, third edition, and a demographic questionnaire measured the organizational climate, burnout, and demographics. …

A Study Of West Virginia State Police Academy Graduates' Perceptions Of Their Degrees Of Competence And The Relevance Of The Marshall University Community And Technical College Police Science Curriculum, Walter E. Stroupe

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study investigated the perceptions of graduates of the West Virginia State Police Academy regarding the relevance of the higher education police science curriculum as well as their perceived degrees of competence. The population of the study consisted of four selected cadet classes that were employed full time as West Virginia State Police Troopers in February 2003, N=153. Participants completed a survey questionnaire adapted from Brand & Peak (1995). Additionally, three open-ended questions were addressed by the survey. The survey measured the graduates' perception of the relevance of coursework and their degrees of competence. Data analyses suggested the graduates perceived …

Analysis Of Faith-Based And Government-Based Adult Education Programs In Western West Virginia, Chad M. Trepinsk

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Faith-based and government-based organizations can provide meaningful adult education programs and services to strengthen a community. Organizations that offer adult education programs are vital partners in community development. This research identifies current adult programs and services offered by seven faith-based and six government based organizations in Huntington, West Virginia. Using a survey of eighty-one potential services or programs, data collected from thirteen community organizations determined what types and how many adult programs are available in Huntington, West Virginia. After identifying current adult programs, interviews with each of the thirteen organizations revealed current faith-based and government-based partnerships; questionnaires with faith-based organizations …

Developing Methods For The Rapid Molecular Assessment Of Aquatic Microbial Communities, Traci D. Hudson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Molecular investigations of microbial community structure and dynamics involve costly and time-consuming methods. This approach is limiting when rapid assessment and detection of microbial organisms are needed. In aquatic environments, especially freshwater environments which may be used as a water source, rapid detection of pathogenic microbes is essential. Likewise, monitoring for the presence or absence of various functional genes can be used to indicate the type of microbial community present in the environment of interest. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and optimize methods necessary for the rapid assessment of freshwater microbial community structure and dynamics. Primers …

A Comparison Of Traditional Versus Computerized Anxiety Assessment Using Personal Digital Assistants, Wesley Alan Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The usage of the personal computer has become more prevalent in the field of psychology. The advent of the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) has opened a new area of possible clinical application. These pen-based devices allow for a more natural interface and more mobility. The feasibility and application of the PDA for personality assessment will be examined in this study. Does having a test administered by a PDA lead to a significant change in response patterns compared to a test administered by the traditional pen and paper method? The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the anxiety …

Stereotype Beliefs, Contextual Age, And Knowledge Of Aging In The Elderly, Angela Walker

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Stereotype beliefs, contextual ages, and knowledge on aging of independent and intervention-receiving elderly living in both rural and urban communities and institutions were examined in a convenience sample of 114 participants who were assigned to location and setting. Contextual age is defined as one’s quality of life in regard to environmental, social, and health factors. Participants’ acceptance of stereotypes about the elderly, contextual ages, and knowledge of aging was measured by questionnaires. Results indicated there were no significant differences regarding stereotype acceptance, contextual age, and knowledge of aging between rural and urban elderly. However, differences between community-dwelling and institutionalized elderly …

The American Community Band: History And Development, Jason Michael Hartz

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Contemporary band scholars believe that the American community band experienced a revival at the end of the twentieth century. Examining the community band’s unique history from its earliest forms during the Revolutionary period through the Golden Age of Bands identifies the traditions that supported this revival. The twentieth century, however, is ripe with developments largely independent from previous eras, including the vast expansion of the music education system in the United States and the education of amateur musicians, the Great Depression, and the gradual acceptance of the band as an artistic medium. Through this study, the current revival of the …

The Effects Of Sleep Deprivation On Individual Productivity, Sephra L. Snyder

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Being sleepy on the job can have a vital impact on how well workers can do their job. The study examines the effects of partial sleep deprivation on productivity. It included a nonrandom sample of thirty participants, of which, sixty percent were female and eighty percent were Caucasian. All participants were employed and possessed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.

Participants were asked to keep a sleep journal recording behaviors that could possibly affect sleep. Participants were also asked to complete a demographic questionnaire and a task log sheet. The percent of tasks completed daily on the task log sheet …

Patients’ Perceptions Of Nurse Caring Behaviors In An Emergency Department, Lynn Kimble

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to (a) determine which caring behaviors of the nurse do patients’ perceive as being the most and the least important, (b) examine patients’ perceptions of nurse caring behaviors in relationship to their age and perception of illness; and (c) compare and contrast responses between patients and parents of children who are patients. Data for this questionnaire (N = 59) were collected over a two-month period at a not-for-profit, teaching hospital, which specializes in the care of women and children in an Appalachian state located in the southeastern United States. The Caring Behaviors Assessment instrument …

Correlation Between Time To Peak Torque And Peak Torque To Vertical Jump In College Age Athletes, Craig Adam Kowalski

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The vertical jump is an essential part of athletics to gain an advantage over the opponent. Isokinetic testing provides quantitative data to determine power and how fast power or peak torque is achieved. In this study, after 20 NCAA Div. II athletes were measured for three trials of maximal vertical jump, they completed an isokinetic test of knee extension at speeds of 60, 180, and 300°/sec. The results showed a significant correlation (p<0.05) between peak torque at a speed of 300°/sec and vertical jump p<=0.019. As a result of this study it was found that the vertical jump test is a test of muscle power generated by the quadriceps muscle group, and relates to peak torque values documented by isokinetic testing at 300°/sec of knee extension.

The Relationship Of The Transformational Leadership Of The Administrators In America's Middle College High School And Their Feeder Institutions To Selected Indicators Of Effectiveness, Christine M. Michael

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Middle college high schools in America identify potential college students who are at-risk in the traditional high school environment. These students are placed on the college campus to take high school and college classes and receive dual credit for the latter. The program is specifically designed to keep these pupils in high school, graduate them, and send them on to higher education. This investigation focused on the leadership style of the administrators of both the middle college high schools and their traditional feeder high schools and its relationship to four indicators of effectiveness: attendance rate, dropout rate, graduation rate, and …

Program Evaluation Of The Practicum I Summer Program From A Student’S Perspective, Matthew J. Williams

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The organization, function, and value of the School Psychology Practicum I summer program at Marshall University Graduate College is examined. The perceptions of students recently completing the practicum are evaluated to determine their association with the program objectives. Data collection utilizes a questionnaire developed from the goals and objectives of the program and the criteria for evaluation of student performance. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, and crosstabulation are utilized to assess the data. The students expressed an overall satisfaction with the practicum experience. The study’s limitations are explored and recommendations for program improvement are presented.

Comparing Behavior Assessment Measures With Behavior Specific Responses To Assess Aggression In First-Time Expectant Fathers, Lynn Allen

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Thirty- four randomly recruited first-time expectant fathers, ages 20 years to 40 years, were administered a battery of survey questions each trimester of their wives’ pregnancy. This study compared Behavior Assessment Measures (Clinical Anxiety Scale, Selfism-Scale, and the Index of Self-Esteem) to Behavior Specific Measures (Non-Physical Abuse of Partner Scale and the Aggression Inventory) to see if any correlations exist among the test data. The study is trying to identify specific test or survey questions that measure attitudinal or behavioral changes in first-time expectant fathers over the nine months of their spouse’s pregnancy. The results indicated a statistically significant correlation …

The Utility Of Dibels As A Curriculum Based Measurement In Relation To Reading Proficiency On High Stakes Tests, Rebecca Gayle Cook

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills or DIBELS reading measures and the Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition or SAT9 reading scores. The following research question was examined: What is the concurrent validity of the DIBELS reading measures in relation to students’ SAT9 reading scores? In this study, archival data from five firstgrade classrooms at a rural southeastern Ohio elementary school were collected. The results of the study indicated that there was a positive and significant correlation between DIBELS measures and SAT9 scores with the exception of …

Analysis Of Impulsive Behaviors Among Prison Inmates Convicted Of Violent Crimes, Inmates Convicted Of Non-Violent Crimes And Undergraduate College Students, Lonnie Kishpaugh Sr.

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Sudden explosive episodes of rage and human aggression by individuals occur daily in our society. While impulsive aggressive behavior is included in several established psychological disorders, the etiology of such behavior has been widely debated.

This study tested the hypotheses that prison inmates who have committed violent crimes were no more likely to exhibit impulsive behavior, than like numbers of prison inmates who had committed non-violent crimes, or college students who have no criminal record. Groups of 20 each of the respective populations were randomly administered the Kipnis Impulsiveness Scale in accordance with instructions from the manual.

With an alpha …

Parental Satisfaction In A Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Victoria S. Koontz

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify if the factors which indicate parental satisfaction of parents who have children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) were being attained. The research questions were: 1) Was there a relationship between healthcare environment and parent satisfaction; 2) Was there a relationship between patient care and parent satisfaction; 3) Was there a relationship between communication and parent satisfaction? Parental satisfaction will be defined as meeting the parent’s perceived needs of the child and family during admission to the PICU (McPherson, 1999). This study used McPherson’s Parental Satisfaction Survey (PSS). The …

The Relationship Between Student Achievement And Level Of Parent Satisfaction In A Summer Enrichment Program, Royna Faye Lattimore

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between parent satisfaction and student achievement in an activity based, multiage, inclusive, summer enrichment program. The researcher constructed a survey that was mailed to parents the first day of the last week of the program (n=139). Thirty five surveys were returned by mail and five surveys were conducted by phone for a total of forty surveys. The average score for this sample of parents on the whole survey was 3.98 (SD=1.41). The average parent satisfaction score on question fourteen was 4.40.

Multiple regression analysis on 40 parent surveys revealed that …