Digital Commons Network^™

The Maternal Figure Symbolizes Stability And Continuity In The Novels Of George Eliot: A Close Reading Of The Mill On The Floss, Razan A. Naseb

Masters Theses

This study delves into the intricate mother-daughter dynamics and societal critiques in George Eliot's 'The Mill on the Floss,' focusing on the Tulliver women's battle within a patriarchal society. It vividly portrays how Maggie Tulliver's emotional and intellectual needs are overshadowed by Mrs. Tulliver, who places social status and financial security above all, mirroring the deeply ingrained gender norms of their time. The research argues that the novel's exploration of women's confined roles and the enduring influence of maternal figures still strikes a chord, tackling timeless issues of gender and familial relations.

Through the stark contrast between Maggie's rich inner …

Framing Maternity Care Access In The United States: A Comparative Analysis Of Online News Sources, Esther Dowell

Masters Theses

The ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in the Dobbs V. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case has far-reaching consequences for maternity care in the United States. One of these consequences is limiting or eliminating access to maternity care, not just access to abortion. The news served as an essential source of information regarding the leaked opinion in the Dobbs case and continues to be vital in disseminating information regarding the effects of the decision.

This study took a qualitative approach through use of content analysis to examine how limited access to maternity care and maternity care …

Two Essays On The Economics Of Global Food Demand, Savant Nzayiramya

Masters Theses

This study provides an understanding of global consumption patterns across major spending and food categories using data from the 2017 International Comparison Program (ICP). The first chapter examines the demand for food and non-food items across 162 countries using the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) to estimate demand for nine spending categories: food, clothing, furnishings, transport, housing, health, recreation, education, and miscellaneous. We calculated expenditure, own-price, cross-price elasticities, and marginal shares across these spending categories and performed a welfare analysis to determine the compensation required to maintain the same utility following inflationary periods. The findings indicate that food is …

Holy Asexualities: Discursive Constructions And Late Medieval Religious Women's Asexual Embodiment, Mackenzie Wynn King

Masters Theses

This thesis traces multiple strands of late medieval asexuality and compulsory sexuality that inflected the lives of holy women. Reading the sexuality of these holy women through the lens of asexuality adds another dimension to the study of medieval virginity, and challenges the presumption that virginity was always a struggle. It also has the radical potential to disrupt the naturalization of sex in both modern and medieval periods. This thesis begins by examining medical and natural philosophical discourses, which constructed a gendered iteration of compulsory sexuality by naturalizing lust as an inherent feature of women’s bodies. It next examines hagiography, …

Enhancing Climbing Recreation And Conservation In Vertical Environments Shared By Humans And Bats Through Input From Rock Climbers, Mason Cordan

Masters Theses

White-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), has killed millions of bats since its discovery in the United States (U.S.) in 2006. This disease was found in a cave in New York and has since been detected in 40 states as it’s believed spores can be transported by both natural and anthropogenic means. For these reasons, the National Park Service (NPS) is working to mitigate the spread of WNS and limit disturbance of bats by implementing educational programs and decontamination protocols. Many of these measures have been centered around caves and visitors that …

Effects Of Repeated Reading With A Reader's Theater Approach On First Graders' Reading Fluency, Comprehension, And Prosody, Allison M. Murray

Masters Theses

Reading fluency is a critical skill to acquire to advance reading achievement in elementary grades and beyond. The purpose of this study was to determine how a reading fluency intervention using repeated reading methods influences first graders’ oral reading fluency, prosody, and comprehension. Participants were 21 students from a first-grade classroom (n = 9 male, 12 female) in a suburban school. The study was based on action research with the teacher engaging in educational practices and reflection. Students took part in a fluency intervention using Reader’s Theater scripts from the adopted curriculum at the school. Assessments examined accuracy, prosody, …

Understanding Linguistic Treatment Across Species: A Comparative Study At Zoo Knoxville, Dynestee S. Fields

Masters Theses

Zoos are unique locations that often bring the natural world into urban settings for the purposes of conducting research, engaging in conservation initiatives, and educating and entertaining the public (Miranda et al., 2023, p. 290). However, the version of nature that zoos construct can be imperfect in that zoos may obscure the reality of their environments and create discrepancies in their treatment of different species. Engaging with environmental communication scholarship that explores how humans consider the voices of nonhuman animals and align animal representations with human interests, I use an ecolinguistic framework to inquire into how nonhuman animals are treated …

Leadership Journeys Of Twelve Women In The Wine Industry: A Qualitative Study, Colleen Baker

Masters Theses

Over the past five years, women's global leadership roles have increased to 42.7%, constituting 39.5% of the overall labor force. In the U.S., despite comprising 47% of the labor force, women hold 42% of leadership positions. Despite educational achievements, women remain underrepresented in leadership, notably in agriculture and the wine industry. This study addressed this gap by exploring gender dynamics in underrepresented wine regions—Oregon, South Africa, and Virginia. Employing a phenomenological approach, 12 participants were selected. Themes such as mentorship, community support, collaboration, gender barriers, pathways to position, and continuous participation emerged through coding, guided by the Social Learning Theory …

The Causes And Implications Of Burnout Among Graduate Assistants, Katherine Mary Kuka

Masters Theses

Introduction & Background

Acting as both a student and staff member of a university, the unique role of graduate assistants can often become a catalyst of burnout and stress. Recent studies found 60% of graduate assistants met the criteria for burnout (Park et al., 2021) and 43% of graduate students claim to be experiencing more stress than they can handle (Allen et al., 2021). In this case, burnout is defined as, “A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress” (Parker & Tavella, 2022). Graduate assistants are a subpopulation of graduate students that is growing …

Watch, Follow, Sabotage: Themes Of Stasi Surveillance In The Queer East German Films Coming Out And Die Andere Liebe, Julia Goncalves

Masters Theses

The Ministerium für Staatsicherheit, Stasi, conducted constant and relentless surveillance on the citizens of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), whom it perceived as political threats to the regime’s stability. After organizing and pushing for public visibility, gay East Germans quickly attracted the attention of the Stasi. Even though the East German state regarded homosexuality as a taboo topic, it became the subject of a 1988 documentary, Die andere Liebe, and a 1989 full-length feature film, Coming Out. These films focus on the hardships that gay East Germans faced in a society of compulsory heterosexuality. Existing scholarship on the …

Money, Family, Happiness: Financial Beliefs And Relational Satisfaction In Parent-Young Adult Children Relationships, Keely M. Algya

Masters Theses

This study is framed through the lens of communication accommodation theory and examined the effects of accommodative and nonaccommodative communication on relational satisfaction and identity gaps when discussing finances in young-adult child (YAC)-parent relationships. The sample consisted of 276 young-adult college students who completed a self-report survey about how their parent communicates with them about finances. The cross-sectional survey results provided support for two forms of (non)accommodative communication as being significantly associated with relational satisfaction and identity gaps. Respecting divergent values was one type of accommodative communication that was positively associated with relational satisfaction and negatively associated with personal-relational identity …

Attention, Curiosity, And Pleasurable Solitude Within Adventure Games: A Reading Of Realmyst: Masterpiece Edition And Paradise Killer, Hannah J. Trammell

Masters Theses

The project examines Paradise Killer and RealMyst: Masterpiece Edition as two games exemplary of the adventure game genre that evoke specific affects uniquely collocated within the genre itself. Previous research from authors like Aubrey Anable and Katherine Isbister has shown that video games make players feel and that what they make players feel is important to study. Like the novel and film before, video games are undergoing a legitimation process as objects worthy of study and cultural critique, and it is necessary to begin parsing how their multimedia existence relates to previous categories of genre and audience response. Using scholarship …

“And Am I Born To Die?”: Collective Memory And Trauma In Contemporary Appalachian Heavy Metal, Alexandra Dellgren

Masters Theses

This thesis delves into the terrain of Appalachian heavy metal by tracing the histories of both the region's people and its pristine landscapes marred by capitalist exploitation and colonial abuses. Through a case-study based exploration of the lyrical and sonic expressions of contemporary Appalachian heavy metal bands, my research explores how these artists serve as modern-day storytellers, confronting and processing the enduring trauma embedded in Appalachian history. The musicians, rooted in the very communities they address, are pivotal actors in the ongoing struggle for identity and justice in the face of historical injustices.

The research herein serves as a testament …

Labor Trafficking On The Global Sporting Stage, Luke A. Brice

Masters Theses

The goal of major athletic events is to promote global harmony and goodwill. The host nation was able to showcase its national culture, identity, landscape, and other desired elements by drawing attention to itself from around the globe through these events. The honor of hosting the event is accompanied by heightened criticism of the nation's existing problems with social justice, politics, and the economy. Mega-sporting events have a natural geographic connection and adjust to the political, social, and economic environments of the areas they are held in, which in turn shapes the local character. These occurrences have the power to …

A Character And A Fame To Model Their Own: Statesmanship, Masculinity, And Honor In Northern Political Culture, 1852-1874, Rachel Elise Wiedman

Masters Theses

The advent of the 1850s ushered in a period great change in the United States. Finding themselves in a moment of transition punctuated with a political changing of the guard, Americans were prompted to consider what kinds of political leadership they valued in the midst of sectional conflict and crisis. By the 1870s, the ideals northerners held looked very different than those touted only two decades before. Using the eulogies of Daniel Webster, Stephen A. Douglas, and Charles Sumner, this thesis explores how changing ideals of masculinity drove the transformation of northern political culture and in particular its values regarding …

No Evidence That Reasoned Analysis Impairs The Accuracy Of (Or Confidence In) Sports Forecasts, Andrew Langbehn

Masters Theses

When making decisions, people can either rely on a gut feeling or engage in reasoned analysis to make a choice. Past research has made competing claims on whether relying on gut feelings or reasoned analysis leads to better decisions. However, these competing claims may be due to the types of decisions being made. Relying on gut feelings has been demonstrated to be superior in judgments about attitudes and leads to greater post-decision satisfaction. However, prior research demonstrating the benefits of gut feelings has used subjective and mostly unverifiable criteria for which to judge the quality of a decision. On the …

The Impact Of Utilitarian Product Reviews On Brand Perception, Benjamin Libon

Masters Theses

The impact of online reviews on consumer behavior has been increasingly studied as online retail platforms have grown exponentially, and internet research used prior to purchasing products has become more common. However, limited research has examined the impact of those product reviews on the overall perception of the brands selling these products. This study exclusively looked at product reviews for high and low-involvement utilitarian products and analyzed how those reviews affect consumers' perception of a brand. Taking a sample of 301 participants, findings showed that star ratings had a drastic effect on consumers' perception of a brand, associating a low …

Social And Cultural Identities Of Mentors And Their Impact On Mentorship Experiences, Temvelo Rejoice Matsebula

Masters Theses

The relationship between social and cultural identities and experiences and how we interpret encounters is vital when looking at mentorship. Early childhood education values the combination of classroom education and field experience for pre-service educators. The ability to be a successful mentor relies on one's ability to reflect on their identity, beliefs, practices, values, and skills. This study sought to explore early childhood mentors' views of their social and cultural identities in relation to their experiences with mentorship by engaging with mentors (n=4) in an interview and through reflective journaling about their experiences. Interviews and journals were transcribed …

Demand For Guided Tours On The Tennessee River., Gessika Lee Guerra

Masters Theses

Knoxville, TN is a major urban center in east Tennessee. Knoxville’s urban planners recognized the need for green space and have installed free greenways and parks within the downtown area over several decades. These attractions are immensely popular and promote urban ecotourism. There is an opportunity to begin or expand guided tour services. This research will analyze the demand and willingness to pay for guided river activities – kayaking and pontoon boating – on the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville. Primary data were collected by 1000 on site flyers connected to an online survey platform. These data were uploaded into …

Exploring Factors Influencing Suicidal Behavior: An Investigation Into Automatic Determinants Of Capability Factors, Matthew A. Russ

Masters Theses

This study investigated the associations between non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), impulsivity, automatic associations with pain, and their combined impact on self-reported capability. The research hypotheses were tested using a sample of 226 participants (182 women, 40 men, and 4 individuals identifying outside the gender binary) recruited from the Department of Psychology participant pool at the University of Tennessee.

An Implicit Association Test (IAT) was employed to measure automatic associations between pain/relief and good/bad. Three self-report questionnaires were also administered, namely the Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury (ISAS) to assess NSSI history, the Acquired Capability for Self-Harm (ACSS) to measure self-reported capability …

Intergroup Dialogue Facilitation: Learning From Experts, Hannah J. Shinew

Masters Theses

Intergroup dialogue (IGD) is a popular and effective tool for fostering communication between social identity groups and increasing social justice awareness and action. It has been implemented widely at colleges and universities across the United States and has also found a place in community-based interventions. Since the development of IGD, researchers have sought to identify participant outcomes and the factors that affect them. However, there is a dearth of research on the role of the facilitator in this process. Past research examining facilitators has examined only novice facilitators and has focused data collection on post-dialogue reflections. Additionally, there is little …

If Not Us, Then Who?: Qtbipoc Graduate Researchers’ Experiences Researching Qtbipoc Communities, Vardaan Dua

Masters Theses

Experiences of minority graduate student researchers, specifically graduate student researchers that identify as queer and/or trans and Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (QTBIPOC) have been largely underrepresented in current scholarship. Utilizing reflexive thematic analysis and semi-structured interviews, in the current study we explored the experiences of 20 QTBIPOC graduate student researchers who conduct QTBIPOC research. Results revealed five thematic patterns, including: (a) recognizing, resisting, and reforming systemic oppression within academia; (b) encountering interpersonal oppression within academic contexts; (c) personal well-being and the role of QTBIPOC research; (d) relations among one’s personal identities and engagement in QTBIPOC research; and …

Burned But Not Forgotten: Foodways Analysis Of Cooking Spaces From The First Kitchen On Thomas Jefferson’S Monticello Plantation, Peggy Marie Humes

Masters Theses

This thesis research evaluates the macrobotanical assemblage identified in soil samples from contexts collected throughout the South Pavilion kitchen space (44AB089) at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello plantation in Charlottesville, Virginia. My primary research objectives strive to establish what types of plant remains are represented in soil samples recovered from three stratigraphically assigned temporal periods in this late eighteenth-century kitchen space. As the first kitchen at Monticello, where enslaved cooks prepared meals influenced by African American and French dishes for the Jefferson family until 1809, this site can help better establish an understanding of the cultural foodways and dishes within this time …

An Analysis Of How Consumers Use Best-If-Used-By Dates As A Cue For Evaluating Food Products, Beth Anne Billie Ray

Masters Theses

Food waste is a significant problem in the United States with over 133 billion pounds of food that goes unused or neglected by consumers every year. Consumers use best-if-used-by dates (BUBDs) as a cue in evaluating food and deciding when to throw away food. Using an experimental sensory approach, 183 consumers evaluated the appearance and taste of salads and lunch meat with varying BUBDs. After completing sensory evaluations, participants were then asked to state their willingness to pay (WTP) for each of the varying BUBDs and the percentage of the food product their household would consume, based on their recent …

Love On The Spectrum: Djuna Barnes’S Case Against Categorization In Nightwood, Kaitlyn A. Alford

Masters Theses

Djuna Barnes’s Nightwood is a challenging and beautiful text that continues to confound readers almost 100 years after its original publication. Though the text is often read as a “lesbian” novel, I consider the possibilities available when we read this text instead with a more open queerness in mind. By looking at the novel’s treatment of image, time, history, gender, sexuality, and identity, a new way of reading is revealed which rejects moves of taxonomization and categorization. This thesis explores how Barnes challenges dominant modes of representation and understanding, not to be a simple contrarian, but to present a new …

Bluegrass: A Voicing, Cade Botts

Masters Theses

In 2010, Fred Bartenstein’s detailed the voice stackings found in bluegrass in his article “Bluegrass Voicings.” [1]This paper will go beyond this discussion of the arrangement of voices to an examination of the harmonic voicing styles found in bluegrass music. Stamps-Braxter’s 1937 arrangement of “Farther Along”[2] and transcriptions of recordings by bluegrass legends Bill Monroe, Stanley Brothers, Reno & Smiley, the Osborne Brothers, Dolly Parton, and the Grascals will be used as a case study to look at multiple chord voicings. Based on the analyses of these transcriptions, a list of “voice leading conventions” for bluegrass compositions will …

When “A Haircut Is Not Just A Haircut”: The Embodied Deconversions Of Former Pentecostal And Holiness Women, Casey Renee Kellogg

Masters Theses

Women of Pentecostal and Holiness belief traditions are known for embodying their faith through a set of dress standards which prevent women from cutting their hair, prohibit any form of pants, jewelry, or makeup, and require they adopt various forms of “modest” attire. While there has been significant scholarship on the social and personal significance of women’s religious dress among church members, there is little to no information about how former Pentecostal and Holiness women perceive these dress standards. Furthermore, while scholars have explored the concept of deconversion, specifically as told through narrative from a more general vantage point, there …

Examining The Impact Of Sports Influencer Advertising On Consumer Behavior In The Us And Saudi Arabia On Instagram., Mohammed Samer Alassaf

Masters Theses

This paper discusses the influence of sports influencers on the buying pattern of fans in the United States and Saudi Arabia. Sports are a crucial part of life in both countries, with numerous athletes being considered celebrities. Sports influencers have a tremendous impact on the audience, who often imitate their behavior and buy the products they advertise. The sports market is huge in both countries, with businesses utilizing sports influencers to promote their brands. Instagram is a popular platform for businesses to gain young fans and customers. The research and development of the sports industry have enabled considerable growth of …

Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development: A Theoretical Reflection On Applied Work, Darcy A. Ayers

Masters Theses

This capstone is a “theoretically and experientially informed report” of the work I began as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in August 2021 and now do as Program Director for SEEED (Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development), a small Black-led nonprofit working to address racialized generational poverty in the communities of East Knoxville. The report serves as a record and reflection of my experience doing front-line anti-poverty work, primarily directing the flagship Career Readiness Program (CRP). I begin this report with a short recounting of the history of Knoxville’s urban development through a Black geographies lens and continue with a review of …

Urbanization On The Landscape Of The Old City: An Archaeological Investigation Of Site 40kn223 In Knoxville, Tennessee, Garrett B. Wamack

Masters Theses

In this thesis, I examine the effects of urbanization on the landscape and the people who lived upon it at archaeological site 40KN223 within the Old City in Knoxville, Tennessee. This landscape analysis focuses particularly on the decades from 1850 to 1920 during the birth and growth of the Old City. Amid the rising tides of commercialization, industrialization, and the flood-prone waters of First Creek, residents established a working-class neighborhood on the fringe of a substantial African American community. I examine this neighborhood and the transformation of its immediate landscape to understand how urbanization impacted its transformation, to learn who …