Digital Commons Network^™

Masks: A New Face For The Theatre, Alexi Michael Siegel

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

This study seeks to reimagine and reinvigorate modern theatre’s relationship with mask work through text-based historical research and practice-based artistic research. It focuses on three ancient mask traditions: pre- and early Hellenistic Greek theatre, Japanese Noh theatre, and Nigerian Egungun masquerades. Research on these mask traditions and recent masked productions informed the development and staging of a masked performance of Charles Mee’s Life is a Dream. The production featured sections for each of the ancient masking styles and a final section that explored masks in a contemporary theatrical style. As a whole, this creative project pulls masks out of …

A War Won In The Skies: Air Superiority In The Second World War, Chandler Dugal

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This paper studies the impact that air superiority had on the outcome of the Second World War in both the European and Pacific theaters of war, and argues that it was the determining factor in the outcome of the conflict. The paper outlines both the tactical and strategic aspects of air-power along the respective 'fronts'. In addition, the relative quantitative and qualitative strength of the air forces of the belligerent nations are discussed, along with their aircraft production and technological capabilities.

The Psychology Of Performance In Elite Youth Soccer Players, Matthew Best

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This study is a holistic assessment of psychological mindsets, which are one’s attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions, in elite youth male soccer players between the ages of 13 and 18 and the exploration of the relationships between these mindsets and performance outcomes. The mindsets that were assessed were expectancy, growth mindset, value, goals, belongingness, grit, and self-regulation, and the performance outcomes were minutes played, goals scored, and goals allowed. The mindsets were selected through a review of research in education and sport. I conducted Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFA) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient analyses to assess the validity and reliability of the …

A Snowball's Chance: Debt Snowball Vs. Debt Avalanche, Evan Mcallister

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Traditional mathematical analysis states that the most efficient way to pay off interest-bearing consumer debt is to pay the individual debts in order from largest to smallest interest rate. In doing this, the debtor will eliminate the largest sources of interest first, thus shortening the overall time-to-pay. This method is known as the “Debt Avalanche.” The “Debt Snowball” method, popularized in large part by investor-author David Ramsey, recommends that consumers pay debts in order from smallest to largest, regardless of interest rate. In this paper, I conduct an empirical analysis of the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finance (SCF), calculating …

In Translation: An Examination Of Esl Policy On Paper As It Relates To The Realities Of Implementation, Grace M. Cuevas

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This honors research project explores the features of Title III requirements as they relate to the actual experience of students and their families. This paper synthesizes my experience researching English as a Second Language (ESL) specific supports and policy to inform my time spent accompanying an upper-level administrator for the Harrisonburg City Public School (HCPS) system, and interviewing professionals at an area school. In this paper I outline the results of interviews with 13 service providers. Interviews examined the “letter of the law” and the subsequent “spirit of the law” through application of a social work lens to the different …

An Interdisciplinary Code Sepsis Team To Improve Sepsis Bundle Compliance In The Emergency Department, Jill M. Delawder

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

Purpose: Sepsis is one of the leading causes of mortality with over 700,000 hospitalizations and 200,000 deaths annually. Various tools exist to aid in the early identification and treatment of sepsis including electronic alert systems, standardized order sets, nurse-initiated protocols and specialty trained teams. Despite available guidelines, mortality rates for severe sepsis and septic shock are near 50%.

Methods: The aims of this rapid cycle quality improvement project were 1) to develop and implement an interdisciplinary team to address early implementation of evidence-based sepsis bundles in the emergency department and 2) to compare sepsis bundle compliance three months pre-and three …

Use Of Telemedicine To Improve Cpap Non-Adherence In Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, A Pilot Study, Kristin L. Hanger

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

Abstract

The aim of this project is to improve continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) non-adherence in patients newly diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by recurrent collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Untreated, OSA is associated with co-morbidity and decreased quality of life. The standard for OSA treatment is CPAP. Adherence to CPAP is not optimal. Applying telemedicine technology to monitor adherence of CPAP treatment, allows for early intervention. Prior research has shown mixed results with use of telemedicine on non-adherence rates.

This is a pilot study using telemedicine to monitor adherence data to …

An Analysis Of Interprofessional Rounds Effect On Readmission Rates And Patient Satisfaction, Cynthia Atkinson

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

Evidence supports an interprofessional approach to patient care reduces readmissions, mortality, costs, and length of stay while simultaneously increasing communication, collaboration, and satisfaction of care providers and patients (Vazirani, S., et al, 2005). The health care team in an acute care setting, especially direct patient care providers such as nurses and ancillary disciplines must assess the discharge needs of patients from admission to the hospital until discharge disposition (Zakzesky, Klink, McAndrew, Schroeter, & Johnson, 2015). The purpose of this study was to determine if interprofessional rounds improved patient satisfaction and reduced readmission rates. The interprofessional team consisted of the hospitalists, …

Avid Tutor Training: Strengthening Connections Between Field Experience And Coursework, Laura H. Vandemark

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) is a national college preparation program that seeks to help students who have the potential to attend college but need extra support and access to resources. This project explores the current connection between the Harrisonburg City Public Schools (HCPS) AVID program and the JMU Middle and Secondary Education teacher candidates placed in AVID classrooms for an undergraduate field experience. Overall, this project seeks to better prepare and improve the effectiveness of JMU students serving as AVID tutors. After reviewing the current training as well as anonymous end of semester course reflections from MSSE 371 students, …

Can The Implementation Of Interprofessional Rounds Improve Hospital Throughput Efficiency?, Rebecca Howdyshell

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

Abstract

Efficient throughput processes are a vital part of providing cost effective, safe, quality patient care. Research has shown interprofessional rounds can have success at improving throughput processes. A rural, not-for-profit, 255 bed hospital in a Mid-Atlantic State was experiencing issues with throughput/patient flow. The aims of this quality improvement project were 1). to implement Interprofessional Rounds on the Progressive Care Unit (PCU); 2). To design and build a working Interprofessional Rounds template into meditech to guide Interprofessional Rounds and streamline discharge documentation; 3). to increase the amount of discharge orders entered between 0700 and 1300 by ten percent; and …

The Evolution Of Computational Propaganda: Trends, Threats, And Implications Now And In The Future, Holly Schnader

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Computational propaganda involves the use of selected narratives, social networks, and complex algorithms in order to develop and conduct influence operations (Woolley and Howard, 2017). In recent years the use of computational propaganda as an arm of cyberwarfare has increased in frequency. I aim to explore this topic to further understand the underlying forces behind the implementation of this tactic and then conduct a futures analysis to best determine how this topic will change over time. Additionally, I hope to gain insights on the implications of the current and potential future trends that computational propaganda has.

My preliminary assessment shows …

Building My Director’S Toolbox: For Scab And Beyond, Rebecca Whitney Klein

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The research question forming the basis of this project was “What can I learn about directing and who I am as a director by researching the processes of others and applying aspects of them to a production of Sheila Callaghan’s Scab?” For my research, I first learned as much as possible about the processes of several professional directors, by means of personal interviews and secondary research. I selected directors who I had worked with previously and wished to learn more from, whose methods I believed would be useful as I directed a production of Scab, and/or on whose methods …

Effects Of A Crisis Intervention Team Assessment Center On Emergency Department Length Of Stay, Carlissa Lam

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

Introduction: Emergency departments are overburdened with mental health patients who lack adequate access to behavioral health resources. The influx of patients has led to an increased length of stay in the emergency department for patients who are being evaluated for mental health concerns. Overcrowding can lead to delays in treatment, undesirable medical events, and patient mortality. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) models bring law enforcement, mental health providers, emergency departments, and individuals with mental illness together to improve care for patients in crisis. They have been instrumental in identifying patients in crisis and transporting them to a Crisis Intervention Team Assessment …

Improving Lead Screening In A Pediatric Practice: A Quality Improvement Project, Audrey Myers

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

Abstract

Background: Detectable lead levels in children’s blood have been associated with increased cognitive difficulties, attention deficits, and poorer academic performance. Children enrolled in Medicaid have higher rates of elevated blood lead levels, yet requirements to test all children at age 1 and 2 who are enrolled in Medicaid are not being met. Nationally, 34% of children enrolled in Medicaid do not undergo proper blood lead level screening. The aim of this project was to increase required blood lead level screening rates for children with Medicaid insurance at a private pediatric practice in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.

Methods: The …

Outcomes Of Implementing The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (Cdsmp) In The Kurdish Community, Chinor Fattahi

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

Background: The incidence of chronic diseases signifies a need to redesign the U.S. healthcare system to better support minority individuals. This project examined the impact of the chronic disease self-management program (CDSMP) workshop in the Kurdish community. The literature shows many positive outcomes of CDSMP workshops, including improvements in physical health, self-efficacy, depression, communication with providers, as well as reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations. This results in healthcare cost savings for our local communities and our nation. The literature is limited on managing chronic diseases in the Kurdish population, a growing refugee population in the United States and central …

Improving Breastfeeding In Rural Tanzania Using Bardach’S Policy Analysis Methodology, Katherine Skiff

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

Appropriate breastfeeding has the potential to have the broadest impact on childhood survival in children under five years (U5Y) compared to all other preventive interventions. The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) recommend that all facilities providing maternal services and newborn care have a written policy addressing breastfeeding that is routinely disseminated to staff. Shirati hospital, in rural Tanzania, does not have a breastfeeding policy. Bardach’s 8-Fold Pathway for policy analysis methodology (adapted by Collins for health policy) was used to evaluate three promising breastfeeding policies to improve compliance with this recommendation. They include …

Perceived Principal Servant Leadership And Teacher Stress, Donald Harris

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Stress is one of the major factors in teacher attrition, a continuing problem in education. Further contributing to teacher stress are state and federal accountability measures, which put added pressure on schools and teachers to increase student performance. School leaders must navigate not only how to keep pace with these accountability practices, but how to do so in a manner that does not increase the stress on their teachers. To seek answers in how this might be accomplished, this paper investigates the relationship between perceived principal servant leadership characteristics and occupational stress in teachers. Data was collected using the Wilson …

Documenting Fifth-Grade Band Students’ Experiences In A Kodály-Centered Beginning Band Curriculum, Elisabeth Henderson Dhillon

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

ABSTRACT

Based on the work of Hungarian composer and educator Zoltán Kodály, the Kodály method, a sound-to-symbol approach to music-making and literacy stemming from an aural and auditory entry point, forms an integral aspect of many elementary level general music curricula in the United States. In this process-oriented, experiential approach, students hear and explore music kinesthetically, aurally and through folk and art song before visual concepts in the form of notes in formal notation are introduced.

In contrast, traditional beginning band methodologies tend not to incorporate a sound-to-symbol approach, teaching the intricacies of a complex new instrument in conjunction with …

Effects Of Equine Assisted Activity On Children And Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Briana Ciampi, Jeffrey M. Roy

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2016 to 2019

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a spectrum of disorders which are characterized as having impaired communication skills, social skills and repetitive behaviors or body movements.^1,2 Since every individual with ASD presents with different challenges, treatment modalities for ASD are quite diverse. Equine Assisted Activities (EAA) to include therapeutic horseback riding (THR) is a treatment modality that has been utilized more in recent years for children and adolescents with ASD, as it is thought the connection between the individual and the horse can facilitate emotional, behavioral, and cognitive growth.³ Objective: To determine the effectiveness of Equine Assisted Activity …

Effect Of Npo Status On Aspiration Risk In Pediatric Patients Undergoing Procedural Sedation, Stacey Waldron, Kelsey Woycik

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2016 to 2019

Objective:To conduct a review of literature to determine if no solid food or liquids by mouth for more than or less than six hours impacts the incidence of pulmonary aspiration during procedural sedation in pediatric patients. Methods: A PubMed search was conducted utilizing the following terms: “sedation, fasting, and aspiration” and “NPO, pediatrics, and pre-procedural.” Filters included: “within five years,” “review articles,” and “English.” Articles were then screened and assessed for eligibility based on pediatric population, NPO status, procedural sedation, and risk of pulmonary aspiration. Results: Two prospective observational studies and one retrospective review were selected. Beach et al. …

Evaluating Rater Effects In The Context Of Ethical Reasoning Essay Assessment: An Application Of The Many-Facets Rasch Measurement Model, Madison A. Holzman

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Performance assessments are an often desired type of assessment due to their potential for alignment between the assessment and reality. However, due to the rater-mediated nature of scoring (Eckes, 2015), performance assessments have psychometric challenges that cannot be ignored in testing and assessment work. Specifically, performance assessment scores are prone to rater effects, or systematic differences in how raters evaluate performance assessment products (Myford & Wolfe, 2003). The purpose of this project was to evaluate ethical reasoning essay scores for rater effects. The Many-Facets Rasch Measurement (MFRM) model was used to evaluate ethical reasoning essay scores for rater leniency/severity effects, …

The Effects Of An Interprofessional Emergent Writing Intervention For Preschoolers, Danika L. Pfeiffer

Dissertations, 2014-2019

This pre-post design study explored the effects of an emergent writing interprofessional education (IPE) experience for preprofessional speech-language pathology (SLPs) and occupational therapy (OT) students. Six preprofessional SLP students and three preprofessional OT students participated in the study, which had two conditions: (a) unpaired SLPs, and (b) SLP and OT pairs. The preprofessional students delivered 8-10 emergent writing interventions to preschoolers in small groups. The preprofessional students’ learning about emergent writing concepts and interprofessional collaborative practice (IPP) was supported through structured debriefs with their clinical supervisors after each session, as well as facilitated discussions to discuss supplemental readings and their …

The Art Of Couple Satisfaction, Kristy Koser

Dissertations, 2014-2019

ABSTRACT

It is estimated 10-15% of women aged 20-45 or 1 in 4 to 6 couples are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying to conceive. This failure to conceive within 12 months without contraception meets the requirements for a diagnosis of infertility (Association for Reproductive Medicine [ASRM], 2014). With such a large percent of the United States population navigating the world of fertility treatment, the field of mental health must also evolve, offering new areas of specialty to address this specific client population. Couples face significant concerns while undergoing fertility treatment as they cope with complex decision-making, …

The Influence Of Engaging Centralized Student Support On The Academic Achievement Of Student Veterans, Paul Morgan

Dissertations, 2014-2019

As more veterans and service members enroll in higher education, institutions are investing greater resources in the establishment and enhancement of centers to support them. However, little is known about the outcomes associated with utilization of the centers. Furthermore, researchers have consistently aggregated veterans and service members under “student veterans” with little regard for potential differences. Using regression analyses and analysis of variance, this case study explored the effect of visits to a veterans center on grade point average (GPA), the effect of academic need on frequency of visits, and differences in academic achievement for different types of military-affiliated students. …

Arab Nationalism In Interwar Period Iraq: A Descriptive Analysis Of Sami Shawkat’S Al-Futuwwah Youth Movement, Saman Nasser

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Abstract

Historiography of Iraqi Arab nationalism has studied the Iraqi Futuwwah Youth Movement of the interwar period in relation to the European fascist youth model of the post-World War I era. Moreover, the futuwwah is limited by linking its objective to training high school students of Iraq in the area of paramilitary exercises. By re-reading the futuwwah lectures of Sami Shawkat, the Director General of Education and founder of the futuwwah in Iraq, this thesis demonstrates how the movement was rather at the core of Iraqi Arab nationalism. The lectures appear in Shawkat’s book Hadhihi Ahdafuna (These are Our Goals), …

The Effect Of Opioid Overdose Education And Naloxone Distribution Programs On Opioid-Related Mortality, Blake Rogers, Sharon P

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2016 to 2019

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) program implementation in reducing opioid-related overdose mortality. Methods: A PubMed search was conducted using the terms “opioid overdose prevention community naloxone,” yielding 80 records, 36 of which were screened. The remaining 44 articles were reviewed for eligibility, resulting in three articles chosen for the study. Results: An interrupted time-series analysis by Walley et al., and two retrospective cohort studies by Albert et al. and Rowe et al. were analyzed. Conclusion: Studies by Walley et al. and Albert et al. demonstrated a positive association between OEND program implementation …

Long Term Outcomes Of On-Pump Cabg Versus Off-Pump Cabg, Christopher Fetrow, Jessalyn Dickerson

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2016 to 2019

Objective: Assess the long-term outcomes including mortality, revascularization and myocardial infarction events to determine whether off-pump CABG is more effective for patients compared to on-pump CABG procedures.

Methods: Studies were found using PubMed with the search term, “on and off pump CABG” which yielded 1736 studies. After assessing for records within 5 years the search was narrowed to 370 articles and then down to 353 because some articles were not available in full-text. Our search was then divided into first looking at randomized control trials and meta-analysis availability from the 353 articles meeting our criteria. After narrowing our search for …

Pupillometry As A Test Of Infant Word Recognition, Amy Vinyard

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Pupillometry holds great promise as a tool for infant language research but has not yet been used to probe word recognition. The goal of the described study was to design a functioning method that can later be used to test the possibility of using pupil dilation as a gauge of word recognition in 11-month-olds. To do this, we used the methods of an existing study (The Role of Accentual Pattern in Early Lexical Representation, Vihman, Nakai, DePaolis, & Hallé 2004) with modifications. Our method ran a one-sided head turn preference paradigm with the addition of an eye tracker for pupil …

Consolidation: Race, Politics, And Suburbanization In The Newport News-Warwick Merger, David Le Moal

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The Hampton Roads area of Virginia changed dramatically during the 20^th century as it transformed from rural farmland to suburban sprawl. Two cities in the region, Newport News and Warwick, employed a policy known as consolidation. While many cities throughout the United States utilized consolidation in the post-war era, the merging of Newport News and Warwick illustrates how consolidations manipulated and altered the landscape of the city. The modern city of Newport News is split between a large, prosperous, suburban area mainly populated by whites, and a small urban, declining, urban area mainly populated by blacks. The Newport News/Warwick …

Long-Term Proton Pump Inhibitor Use And Effect On Risk Of Fractures, Hannah Messer, Alison K. Conforto

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2016 to 2019

Objective: To conduct an analysis of literature that examined the effects of long-term proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in adults 50 years and older on fracture risk. Methods: A literature search of the PubMed database using the terms “long-term use of PPIs” AND “fractures” Results: All 3 studies reported a statistically significant increased risk of fracture associated with long-term use of PPIs in both men and women over 50. None of the studies showed an increased risk of fracture with short-term PPI use. Conclusions: Health care providers should be informing their patients of the potential risk associated …