Digital Commons Network^™

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Academic Acceleration, Christy L. Schwartz

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Acceleration is one method of differentiating instruction for gifted students that has proven to have positive academic and social-emotional benefits. However, it is often underutilized by teachers and administrators either due to misinformation or lack of information. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions held by teachers regarding the effectiveness of acceleration as a service option for students who are gifted. Findings indicated that, although teachers appear to be well-informed about the benefits of acceleration on academic achievement and engagement, they appear to be misinformed about the social-emotional effects of acceleration. The majority of teachers indicated that …

Fluency Interventions And The Impact On Comprehension, Colleen Cook

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Reading fluency is understood to be the rate and accuracy of that which is being read and comprehension is the understanding of what has been read. Many studies support the concept that fluency skills support reading comprehension. Many students with specific learning disabilities lack the fluency skills needed for successful reading comprehension. This study provided fluency interventions to elementary students with specific learning disabilities and evaluated any comprehension gains. Students graphed their own fluency gains during the interventions and a pre-test and post-test were given to monitor comprehension. There was in increase in both the average fluency rate for each …

Effects Of Phonological Intervention On At-Risk Kindergarten Students With Reading Difficulties, Laura Lees

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study provides additional data supporting the argument of implementing phonological reading intervention. The study consisted of 20 kindergarten students’ ages five and six years old. Students were identified at-risk for reading difficulties by a teacher created pretest and the administration of STAR a school computer assessment tool. Using a multi-sensory approach, all students received whole and small group instruction in segmentation and blending words. In addition, students at-risk received 30 minutes of intensive instruction four days a week. Results indicated that there was positive reading growth when students were provided direct and systematic phonological instruction. The students at-risk who …

Effect Of Wh-Question Graphic Organizer On Reading Comprehension In Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Josh Connelly

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Many students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) struggle with reading comprehension. The study examined the efficacy of using a wh-question graphic organizer to improve reading comprehension of students with ASD. Two eighth grade students in a middle school, self-contained classroom participated in the study. The data revealed that the graphic organizer was beneficial to Student A in improving comprehension. Student B saw a decrease in scores after the introduction of the organizer. Further research is necessary to determine the efficacy of the intervention. As characteristics of ASD can vary greatly from one individual to another, it may be the case …

The Benefits Of Reading Racetrack With Flashcards, A Smartboard And Time Delay Usage In Increasing Sight Word Recognition And Fluency With Special Education Students, Tara J. Leffingwell

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of the study is to determine if the effects of using reading racetrack paired with flashcards and the enhancement of Smartboard technology with three-second time delay will increase the accuracy of Dolch Sight Word reading. The first participant was a second grade male diagnosed with an intellectual disability. The second participant was a fourth grade female born with Down syndrome and diagnosed with an intellectual disability. Data were taken on corrects and errors of selected sight words on a pre-test and posttest and during intervention. A generalization probe was conducted to see if they could read the 28 …

Improving Vocabulary Comprehension For Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing Students, Tammy Gallion

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to pursue the best ways to use visual representation as an introduction to vocabulary to a deaf or hard of hearing student. These techniques were effective for the student to be able to maintain comprehension. The teacher used either use sign language to demonstrate the sign for the vocabulary word or finger spell the vocabulary word, identified the written word, and said the word aloud in the study. The instrument used for the pretest and posttest were ten Dolch sight words: three, yellow, down, jump, help, run, funny, big, little and play. Documentation from …

The Effects Of Visual Vocabulary Strategies On Vocabulary Knowledge, Maria Phillips

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of picture word pairing and semantic mapping strategies on the vocabulary understanding of second grade students. Fourteen second grade students were given a teacher created pretest on vocabulary words found in their story for the week. Then, the teacher enhanced the usual vocabulary instruction with two visual strategies, picture word pairing and semantic mapping strategies. Finally, they were given a posttest to show how much they improved. Results indicated that the intervention improved all participants’ scores by 15%. Eight out of fourteen had a score of over 80% on the …

Teaching Multiple Meaning Words To Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Students Using Contextually-Based Vocabulary Instruction And Metacognitive Skills, Calla Rieger

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of using contextually-based vocabulary instruction and metacognitive skills to teach multiple meaning words to deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) students. Deaf and hard of hearing students have limited vocabularies and struggle to understand and use multiple meaning words and as a result, their reading comprehension suffers (Paul, 1987). Furthermore, DHH readers are less likely to use metacognitive techniques such as looking back or rereading a text to monitor comprehension, drawing upon background knowledge to define unfamiliar words, and detecting inappropriate information in passages than their hearing peers (Marschark & …

A Mechanical Investigation Of Second Order Homogeneous Dynamic Equations On A Time Scale, Jacob E. Fischer

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This thesis covers the basic aspects of time scale calculus, a branch of mathematics combining the theories of differential equations and difference equations. Using the properties of time scale calculus we analyze a second order homogeneous dynamic equation with constant coefficients, in particular, y ∆∆ − 1 6 y ∆ + 1 8 y = 0. Following the analysis, this problem will be graphically evaluated using Marshall University’s Differential Analyzer, affectionately named Art. A differential analyzer is a machine that mechanically integrates by way of related rates of rotating rods. The process for making the jump between intervals on a …

A Newer Humanism, Andrew Kirkland Johnston

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

New Humanism, a critical movement that can be traced back to the early 1900s and Mathew Arnold, is an aesthetic committed to reclaiming the defining moral agents of Western Europe and liberal humanism. This commitment to the past is still the focal point of academic discussions as scholars contemplate whether or not to move away from the humanist tradition. A Newer Humanism is my own attempt at inserting myself into the academic conversation as I hope to shed light on the current situation plaguing academics. While I argue for the overthrow of the liberal humanist subject, a commitment to the …

The Effect Of Mast Availability On Ambush Site Selection In Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Adamanteus), Berlynna May Heres

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

I examined ambush site selection in eastern diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus). The eastern diamondback rattlesnake (EDB) is an imperiled, ambush predator endemic to southeastern pine savannas and woodlands of the United States. Eastern diamondbacks prey on small mammals that feed on hard and soft mast (e.g., nuts and fruits). In this study, I hypothesized that intra-seasonal shifts in masting vegetation would cause intra-season shifts in ambush site selection in EDBs as the result of a bottom-up trophic effect. I quantified EDB ambush site selection using radio telemetry data and vegetation analysis within a naturalized study site. When EDBs were encountered …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Metabolism And Energetics Of Darters (Percidae), Emma Kirsten Kist

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Ecological niche theory suggests two species cannot live in the same ecological niche and differences should exist among species that appear to cohabitate. Variations in physiology and behavior that potentially enable species coexistence can be reflected in metabolism. This study investigated coexisting darter fishes by measuring the metabolism of greenside (Etheostoma blennioides) and variegate (E. variatum) darters over 48 h using intermittent-flow respirometry. Activity was analyzed using time-lapse videos. E. blennioides mean metabolic rate (154.64 ± SE 52.54 mg O2·kg-1 ·hr-1 ; n=14; p=0.0006) was significantly greater than and varied more than E. variatum’s mean rate (92.51 ± SE 32.70 …

An Ultrasonographic Analysis Of The Structures Of The Subacromial Space, As They Relate To The Postures Of Upper String Musicians, Elliot V. Smithson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: The leading source of general population shoulder pain is subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS) which can contribute to rotator cuff disease (RCD). 1 It has been reported that up to 12% of musicians end their musical career due to musculoskeletal injury.2 SAIS is a common source of shoulder pain in the bowing arm of upper string musicians.3 However, the mechanisms leading to shoulder pain in upper string musicians are not well known.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize aspects of the subacromial space anatomy while in standard playing positions of upper string musicians, specifically measurements …

Stoking The Fires: The Relationship Between Mary Tudor And Eustace Chapuys, 1529-1545, Derek Michael Taylor

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Most published research regarding the court of King Henry VIII and the early years of the English Reformation has relied upon the correspondence of ambassador Eustace Chapuys. Although Chapuys’ assessments of the goings on in England at the time have been often disputed among scholars in regard to their accuracy, little research has been attempted to understand the man writing the letters that have so frequently been cited. During his sixteen years as ambassador Chapuys became a close friend of Henry’s eldest living child, Mary Tudor, who later became Queen Mary I. This relationship has previously gone unexplored. This thesis …

Ideational Grammatical Metaphorical Features Of Efl Textbooks, Yuya Kaneso

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Various genres of textbooks have been researched from the perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). Although the previous research has been concerned with textbooks covering subject areas in English speaking countries, it has not examined English as a Foreign Language (EFL) textbooks. By analyzing 14 EFL textbooks for junior high school and high school students from the perspective of the SFL grammatical metaphor, this study attempts to examine levels of lexico-grammatical complexity and its sequential features as used in the data. The findings show that semantic junctions whereby semantic elements are incongruently realized at the level of lexicogrammar do not …

My Avatar, My Self: A Posthuman Examination Of Video Games And Cyborg Bodies, Zachery Tyler Rakes

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

My Avatar, My Self is a project which seeks to examine cultural conceptions of the flesh-and-machine physical cyborg and to subsequently challenge these conceptions with a new idea of the cyborg: the conceptual cyborg. This thesis serves to discuss through posthuman theory what the conceptual cyborg is, how it has become a prevalent force in advanced technological societies, and what it means for human beings to be conceptual cyborgs. Beyond that, I also discuss the importance of the conceptual cyborg’s ability to be digitally embodied in virtual spaces, and this idea is expanded on through an examination of science-fiction television, …

Measuring The Self-Assessed Presence Of The Essential Features Of Pbis In West Virginia Schools, James Franklin Harris

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to explore the implementation of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) for the 19 schools participating in the West Virginia Department of Education’s (WVDE) PBIS Project. Specific attention was given to which critical elements are more or less likely to be put in place during the first year of implementation, and which variables related to the process and the schools seem to positively and negatively influence implementation. Schools showed a positive trend of implementation and based upon the literature this should have a positive impact on the students and staff at these schools. There …

Principal Perceptions Of Standards-Based Teacher Evaluation In West Virginia, Brent Douglas Griffith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Standards-based teacher evaluations have become the norm in many states due to an increased focus on student achievement and teacher effectiveness. These evaluations have become integral to the improvement of classroom instruction efforts and the planning of specific professional development for teachers. West Virginia deployed a new standards-based teacher evaluation system in 2014, using the West Virginia Professional Teaching Standards as a basis for measuring teacher performance and growth in certain areas. The new evaluation system also included teacher self-reflection and goal-setting portions. The purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions of school principals as to the effectiveness …

Portrayals Of Gender In The Media: A Content Analysis Approach To Identifying Gender Oppression And Legitimation Of Patriarchy In Magazine Advertisements, Autumn M. O’Toole

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Advertisements are among the most pervasive forms of media. Portrayals of gender in advertisements constitute a significant subject of social research based on this pervasiveness and the influence that advertising media have on audiences. This influence is based on the notion that media is an institutional vehicle for ideas about products, lifestyles, and oppression. In this study, the institution of media is examined through an analysis of representations of patriarchy and gender oppression in media advertisements. The primary research question is: In what ways can we identify gender oppression and the support of hegemonic masculinity and systems of patriarchy in …

Effectiveness Of An Online Ferpa Training Program, Sonja G. Cantrell

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This two-phase study focuses primarily on improving faculty and staff knowledge as it relates to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). Phase one of the study examined the current FERPA training practices at four year, public higher education institutions in West Virginia via an interview process, using a mixed quantitative and qualitative design. Phase two of the study determined the effectiveness of an online comprehensive FERPA training module as compared to an online simple notification of the FERPA regulation module, and whether either significantly increased the level of FERPA knowledge among faculty and staff at one …

The Effects Of Students' Perceptions Of Campus Safety And Security On Student Enrollment, Brian Andrew Carrico

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this research was to determine whether student enrollment is affected by the student perception of campus safety and security when choosing a college. As the competition for students increases among higher education institutions, it is important for higher education administrators to know how to effectively present their respective institution and all of its attributes to prospective students. The targeted sample for this study was freshmen from a regional university in the mid-eastern states who are enrolled in new student seminar classes. The research questions were designed to provide information regarding the extent to which the perceptions of …

Principals' Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of The Jrotc Program, Patty Jean Blake

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this national study was to investigate the perceptions of public high school principals regarding the effectiveness of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program. The study examined the perceived influence of the program regarding the social development of the cadet, the behavior of the cadet, and the overall school environment. Data for this study was collected through an anonymous online survey emailed to current principals in public high schools across the United States where JROTC is offered as a course selection. Of the 3,062 schools identified as the population, 491 usable surveys provided participant information for …

Assessing The Impact Of A Supermarket Shuttle Model On Supermarket Access Within Cabell County, West Virginia, Doug Wiley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Will the implementation of a grocery shuttle impact supermarket access for residents of Cabell County, West Virginia? The concentration of supermarkets in the City of Huntington has led to a service gap in the outlying census block groups of the study area. Supermarket access is concentrated in the City of Huntington and may provide a positive outcome for families living within the city. The study assesses the impact of the implementation of a supermarket shuttle on supermarket access within the study area, through spatial analysis of supermarkets, transportation networks, and census block groups. The transportation network data and census block …

Electromyography Study Of Muscle Fatigue During Isometric Exercises In Swimmers And Non-Swimmers, Tiffany Aeling

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The use of electromyography (EMG) techniques offer strong evaluation of musculature fatigue during activity in different exercises. Studies show that EMG can be used to monitor fatigue patterns in muscles composing the upper extremities and thoracic areas of the human body by analyzing median frequency values. Advances in muscle fatigue research have been critical for improving rehabilitation programs for patients with musculoskeletal conditions. Despite these developments, many collegiate athletes are still at high risk for muscle injury on and off the playing field. Therefore, in order to help reduce injury numbers, it is important that current research focus on the …

Syntheses And Characterization Of [4]Ferrocenophane, Ahmed Sabah Al-Doori

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Metallocenophanes are metallocenes in which the cyclopentadienyl ligands are connected by a molecular bridge. Recently, metallocenophanes have received increasing attention because of their structure, chemical reactivity, and potential use as building blocks for new materials. Even though metallocenophanes have been synthesized by different methods, the majority of these methods involved the use of iron with rare examples of other metals. Therefore, a new method was employed that in addition to making ferrocenophane, will allow us to synthesize metallocenophanes with V, Cr, Mn, Co, and Ni as central metals. This thesis reports the synthesis of [4]ferrocenophane via a “flytrap” route. The …

A Generalization Of The Difference Of Slopes Test To Poisson Regression With Three-Way Interaction, Melinda Bierhals

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Linear regression models involving interaction can use the difference of slopes test to compare slopes for various situations. We will be generalizing this process to develop a procedure to compare rates in a Poisson regression model, allowing us to consider unbounded count data as opposed to continuous data. We will apply this process to an educational data set from a sample of students located in two different Los Angeles high schools. Our model will include a three-way interaction and address the following questions:

• Does language ability impact the relationship between math ability and attendance in the same way for …

Uncovering New Roles For The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (Ahr) In Breast Cancer, Justin Kirk Tomblin

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that is responsive to many exogenous and endogenous ligands. AHR is of particular interest in cancer, and has been shown to play roles in tumor progression. As such, it has received growing attention as a possible chemotherapeutic target. Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer, complicates treatment of breast cancer, and stimulates the growth of larger, more aggressive mammary tumors. Many breast tumors in obese women are estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and, while targeting hormone receptors like ER is beneficial, many obese women see a recurrence of their cancer after standard …

A Case Study : The Perception Of Higher Education Administrators At Historically Black Colleges And Universities On The Importance Of Academic Student Organizations As A Retention Technique, Sherri Lynn Shafer

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This is a mixed methods study looking at the perception of student affairs administrators on the value of student academic organizations as a retention technique at historically black colleges and universities. The study is based on survey responses from administrators throughout the United States utilizing a researcher developed survey tool. Despite long standing research, findings suggest that administrators perceive some value in such organizations, although they are not administrator’s first choice as a retention technique. Administrators indicate that their roles in retention within the office of student affairs vary, as do retention plans. Furthermore, they specify that barriers limiting the …

Adult Neural Stem Cell Differentiation And Signaling Is Disrupted By Low-Level Silver Nanoparticle Exposure In Vitro, Robert Jefferson Cooper

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are an emerging environmental contaminant with unique chemical and physical properties. They are utilized in products like medical dressings and children’s toys for their antimicrobial action. Though AgNP’s bioaccumulative nature and high-level toxicity are established, low-level effects from chronic exposure to AgNP-containing products and environmental AgNP remain unclear. This study uses adult neural stem cells, a model for neural cell function and neurodevelopment, to assess changes in cell differentiation and behavior following low-level AgNP exposure. In vitro, low-level AgNP produced dose- and timedependent formation of co-localized f-actin inclusions and β-catenin puncta. Neurite extension and arborization were also …

A Comparison Of Professional Development Needs Of Beginning Teachers In West Virginia Schools, Carla A. Warren

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this research is to share findings about the perceptions of beginning teachers and mentor teachers throughout West Virginia regarding the professional development topics and skills that are most critical to the success of new teachers. In addition, this study provides data regarding perceptions of goals that are most important in the design of professional development and the most beneficial professional development delivery models for beginning teachers. Responses are used to examine the perceptions of mentors and beginning teachers regarding the professional development needs of beginning teachers. The West Virginia Center for Professional Development provides staff development targeted …