Digital Commons Network^™

Overwhelming Systems, Meghan Oconnor

All Theses

My work portrays my own social and cultural desires, fears, and experiences. I employ a narrative format that shows childhood cartoon influences to attract viewers and visual complexity to sustain them. I depict fear, tension, struggle, and isolation to reveal deception, which stems from a response to structures of power. It is a representation, a questioning, and/ or a critique of the state of today's human nature and subsequent condition. I employ images of animals as a stand-in for the human figure, feeling or persona. Mechanical devices are metaphors of harmful systems of culture or power. The illusion of transparency …

Fighting For Revival: Southern Honor And Evangelical Revival In Edgefield County, South Carolina, 1800-1860, James Welborn

All Theses

ABSTRACT
The focus of this work is Edgefield County, South Carolina, a small, rural district in the central-southwest portion of the state. Edgefield has proven indicative of Southern society in general and as a case study has allowed historians to make broader generalizations on the development of Southern culture. This work will show how the seemingly oppositional Southern cultural ethics of honor and Protestant Evangelicalism developed simultaneously and coexisted in Edgefield, emphasizing the aspects of each ethic that reinforced and intensified one another, as well as the resulting public perception of the ethics in tandem. The result will reconcile two …

The Potential For Transformation In Second Generation Afghan Women Through Graduate Education, Mahmud Yusuf

Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the educational experiences of Afghan women in graduate education whose parents are Afghan immigrants. Afghan immigrants are from one of the smallest ethnic groups in the United States and have only started arriving here after the 1980s. Their participation in the educational system has gone largely undocumented. Afghan Americans have been educated in the American system by immigrant parents who have had little experience with this system. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with Afghan American women about education, family, ethnicity, and relationships. The women’s experiences are discussed in the interconnected contexts of the Afghan American experience, …

The Use Of Cinema As Contemporary Metaphor Sources In Assisting Lutheran High North, Houston, Texas, Students In Understanding And Using Gospel Metaphors, Donn Paul Williams

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

In order to clarify (and confuse), Jesus would quite often use common sources in His metaphors with which people of His day could identify. However, the clear meaning for many Gospel metaphor sources are lost in today's culture, especially among youth. The purpose of this Major Applied Project was to help high school students gain a greater understanding of the Gospel message by updating the metaphor sources, by using a common element in their culture, cinema. Scenes from popular movies were used to help students better understand and articulate the following Gospel metaphors: redemption, ransom, rescue, reconciliation, regeneration, replace and …

Authentic Out-Of-Class Communication In Study Abroad Programs: Success Defined By Continued Motivation And Cultural Appreciation, Erin Fairlight Olsen

Theses and Dissertations

The benefits of study abroad experience in second language acquisition have evolved from unchallenged assumption to the focus of rigorous study in the past several decades. The benefits of out-of-class contact with natives have likewise been questioned. Despite conflicting evidence of its benefit, students frequently cite out-of-class conversations with natives as among the most beneficial aspects of their language acquisition experience. Reviewing the extant literature, this study narrows in on authentic communication-that is, meaningful out-of-class contact with natives, in which students are able to genuinely express themselves and their personality-as a previously unanalyzed element of study abroad research. It is …

Exploring The Role Of Culture And Race In African American Adolescents, Obari Sipho Yohance Cartman

Psychology Theses

There are myriad definitions of the terms race, ethnicity and culture in social sciences literature. Often these terms are used interchangeably with no conceptual rationale. This study aims to contribute to our greater understanding of the similarities and differences between the conceptualization and use of race and culture as they are experienced by African American adolescents. Multiple regression analyses and factor analysis were conducted for 223 African American high school aged students who completed a survey about racial and ethnic identity and a variety of positive youth development outcomes. Results showed preliminary support for race and culture being distinguishable yet …

Taking Mormons Seriously: Ethics Of Representing Latter-Day Saints In American Fiction, Terrol Roark Williams

Theses and Dissertations

My paper examines the ethics of representing Mormons in serious American fiction, viewed through two primary texts, Bayard Taylor's nineteenth-century dramatic poem The Prophet and Maureen Whipple's epic novel The Giant Joshua. I also briefly examine Walter Kirn's short stories “Planetarium” and “Whole Other Bodies.” Using Werner Sollors' and Matthew Frye Jacobson's writings on ethnicity as foundational, I argue in that Mormonism constitutes an ethnicity, which designation accentuates the ethical demands of those who represent the group. I also use W.J.T. Mitchell's theories of representation as the basis of my arguments of the ethics of representing ethnicity. As ethical theorists, …

"A Woman's Face, Or Worse": Otto Rank And The Modernist Identity, Michael L. Shuman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Otto Rank is a significant but generally overlooked figure in the early history of psychoanalysis, and his work provides an illuminating context for the study of subjectivity and modernist culture. The "modernist identity" of my title is intended to represent, first, the concept of the individual self identified and expressed during this period and, secondly, the unique identity of modernist culture developed by artists through creative acts and emanating as the intellectual ambiance of the era. Through an examination of Rank's later theories and the work of prominent modernist artists, including Lawrence, Yeats, and Eliot, this dissertation will show that …

Public Relations Practices In Puerto Rico: An Exploratory Qualitative Study, Delia R. Jourde

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This explorative study is a qualitative assessment of culture as a critical aspect of public relations practice in Puerto Rico. Reviewing definitions of culture, Hofstede's dimensions of cultural values, the Excellence Theory, and international case studies, this study sought to answer the following research questions: What national cultural traits have an impact on the practice of public relations in Puerto Rico? Do Puerto Rican practitioners feel their own cultural characteristics have an impact on their practice of public relations? Does the cultural diversity of Puerto Rico have an impact on public relations practice in that country? Does the country's strong …

Between Knowledge & Practice: Factors That Influence The Operationalization Of Sexual Health Knowledge In African American Female College Students, Jamae F. Morris

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores some of the factors that influence whether African American female college students implement safe sex knowledge. High rates of HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) in the black community and the overrepresentation of individuals under the age of 25 in sexually-transmitted infection (STI) reports indicate the need for research that investigates the physical, social, and cultural aspects of high-risk sexual behaviors and the factors that influence them for this group. African American female college students present a unique challenge to sexual health educators; a challenge that has been relatively under acknowledged and under addressed in research and …

A Comparative Study Of International And American Study Abroad Students' Expectations And Experiences With Host Countries., Evelyn Domville-Roach

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This was a comparative study of international and American study abroad students' experiences and expectations with the host countries. The rationale for this study was to acquire a deeper understanding of different experiences of students who study abroad and to understand whether their expectations of the host country have an impact on their experiences. An opportunity sample of American study abroad and international students was selected from the United States student population and their expectations and experiences of the host country compared. The study addressed 6 research questions, using a mixed-method approach. The principal instrument for the investigation was the …

Lived Religion: An Examination Of "Pass The Salt" Luncheons., Jeff Smith Bernard Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study used a case study approach to examine how religious culture, such as theologies and doctrines, is lived or practiced by "Pass the Salt" luncheon participants. "Pass the Salt" participants are taught the teachings of Harvest Evangelism, an interdenominational Para-church organization; these teachings are evidenced through their cultural toolkit. It was expected that the luncheon participants would practice Harvest Evangelism's religious culture in the workplace. Participant observation and personal interviews were conducted to examine participants' application of the cultural toolkit to their everyday lives, specifically in the workplace. Findings indicated that the leader of the "Pass the Salt" luncheon …

The Perception Of Diversity Held By County Level Professional Staff Of The Mississippi State University Extension Service, Kimberly R. Smith-Russ

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the county-level professional staff?s perceptions of how diversity was being addressed in practice within the MSU-ES. The population consisted of 169 Mississippi State University Extension Service county-level professional staff with 128 or 75.7% completing the survey. Fifty percent of the respondents were female and 41% were males. The majority (70.3%) of the county-level professional staff were White with 23% being Black, 3% other, and 4% not indicating their ethnicity. The majority (75.7%) were at least 41 years of age. This study utilized descriptive survey research design. Means were used to determine how …

The Impact Of Stereotypes On Public Speaking Performance And Anxiety, Simon Y. Kim

Psychology Dissertations

Public speaking anxiety is a common experience in both community and clinical populations and can have a negative impact on quality of life. Although contemporary treatments have been found to be effective, there is a lack of cultural relevance in existing theories and treatments. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of stereotypes, a culturally relevant variable, on public speaking performance and anxiety for African Americans and Asian Americans. Participants (N=97) were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions where they either received feedback that was stereotype confirming or non-stereotype confirming. Analyses of variance procedures were …

Holding Onto Belief, Benny Nyikos

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

It seems that every major book of philosophy is composed of the author's personal views on the world. The philosopher presents his or her views not only to convince readers to take up his or her views but also to send the ideas in the book out for review and debate in order to test the reaction they receive. With this in mind, this paper will present ideas I have encountered in philosophy classes, read in books, and observed in the world at large. The focus will be on the claim that God is dead and what this means to …

Ethnographic Field Research Methods, Edicta Grullon

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Presents ethnographic research methods along with characteristics (evidential and non-evidential "identities") of an anthropologist that may affect his/her access to information and the quality of data collected. Offers several examples from experiences of field researchers. Considers Muslim North Africa as a region demanding attention to its specific cultural realities. Explores ethics and the role of the ethnographer.

Texture Profile Analysis And Melting In Relation To Proteolysis As Influenced By Aging Temperature And Cultures In Cheddar Cheese, Taylor Rasmussen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Changes in cheese physical properties during aging are related to proteolysis by coagulant type, culture enzymes, and non-starter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB). Storage temperature also affects aging rate. Cultures are important for flavor development , but less is understood about their role in melting and textural properties.

Our objective was to make Cheddar cheese using different cultures, to age it at 6 and 13°C, and measure physical and proteolytic properties over 12 mo to determine whether changes in texture and melting correlated with the extent of proteolysis that occurred during aging.

Cheese was manufactured using Lactococcus lactis starter culture either …

Transition To Nursing Home Of Korean-American Elders, Myungja Kim Hahm Phd

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore factors affecting Korean-American (KA) elders during the transition to nursing homes in the first month following admission. The three aims of this proposed study were (1) to explore culture specific factors that affect KA elders' perspectives during the transitional period to a nursing home, (2) to identify thoughts and feelings of KA elders about their admission into a nursing home, (3) to describe the adjustment process associated with admission to a nursing home. A grounded theory design was utilized to explore KA elders' perceptions/experiences associated with adjustment to a nursing home. Open-ended, …

End Of Life Issues Among Hispanics/Latinos: Studying The Utilization Of Hospice Services By The Hispanic/Latino Community, Iraida V. Carrión

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on how terminal diagnoses impact individuals and families within the Hispanic/Latino community. Hispanic/Latino hospice caregivers, Hispanic/Latino non-hospice caregivers and physicians participated in the study, which explores the utilization of hospice by Hispanic/Latino terminally ill individuals. The data collected from 30 semi-structured interviews, ethnographic participant observations, and archival data were analyzed using structured and statistical analysis. Verbatim transcripts were examined through a combination of ethnographic and content analysis. Barriers related to language and culture, as well as immigration, are critical themes that impact access to healthcare. The physicians' discourses relate patients' responses to terminal diagnoses, including the Hispanic/Latino …

The Influence Of Organizational Culture On The Implementation Of Succession Planning, Lori Powers Fancher

Public Management and Policy Dissertations

Succession planning is perhaps one of the hottest topics today as a result of ethical issues, compensation, development and implementation. Global organizations faced with fast-paced change can no longer afford long, lengthy internal development of an heir apparent. However, those organizations who seek faster, external executive hires have found it no panacea as organizational culture often trumps talent and industry experience. Recent research points to those who do internal succession well, with little disruption and ready change depend on their ability to execute plans (Charan & Colvin, 1999, 2001). A qualitative study was conducted with 30 participants of executive and …

Preparing Thinking Christians To Survive And Thrive In A Culture Of Choice, Scott Sommerfeld

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Sommerfeld, Scott G. "Preparing Thinking Christians To Survive And Thrive In A Culture Of Choice." D.Min. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary—St. Louis, 2007. 211 pp.

Youth are ill-prepared to think and live as Christians in our post-modern world. A retreat for high school seniors and graduates is one way of preparing youth to survive and thrive in a culture of choice, where perhaps the greatest challenge regards rationality for choosing ones religion. Here youth are introduced to the real truth regarding the Bible, choosing God, and living as disciples. While youth were assisted in thinking theologically through the retreat, this …

Acculturation Effects On Culture And Conflict Style, Mae-Li Amick Allison

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

In light of globalization, it is ever more valuable to understand how culture influences the way people manage conflict. Opportunities for individuals from varied cultural backgrounds to interact, and therefore conflict, are inherently greater because the technologies, economies, and livelihoods of people of many countries are increasingly interdependent. The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing people's individualistic-collectivistic culture tendencies and conflict styles, and investigate acculturation as a moderating factor between individualism-collectivism and conflict style among foreign nationals living within the United States. In addition to acculturation, variables that could affect acculturation were also measured, including media use, …

A Model Of The Interplay Of Culture And Immigration Stress In The Development And Maintenance Of Alcohol-Related Disorders In Hispanic/Latino Immigrants, Marilyn J Strada

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The Hispanic/Latino population represents the largest ethnic minority group in the United States, with immigrants comprising a substantial portion of this population. For both U.S.-born and immigrant Hispanic/Latinos, alcohol abuse and dependence is of particular concern given their reported high prevalence rates, the severe alcohol-related consequences that they experience, and the various barriers to obtain treatment that they encounter. In comparison to members of other ethnic groups, Hispanics/Latinos have the lowest rates of perceived need for treatment, the lowest past and current rates of participation in treatment and the highest dropout rates after attending just one counseling session. Although there …

Smoke And Mirrors: A Cultural-Psychological Analysis Of Tobacco Use, Michael Melczak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This theoretical dissertation explores tobacco use from the perspectives of social constructivism and phenomenological depth psychology. In Part I, tobacco use is described as a cultural artifact, and transformations in tobacco use are traced through three different cultural contexts or "worlds": the indigenous or aboriginal worldview, the European and American worldview of the 17th through mid-19th centuries, and the modern American worldview (or "modernity"). In each of these worldviews, the cultural context informed and influenced (or reflected and reproduced) understandings of tobacco use. One notices the transformation of tobacco use, for example, from a god to a commodity and from …

A Critical Analysis Of The Relationship Among Organizational Culture, Teachers’ Values And Attitudes About Teaching And Learning, And Pedagogical Approaches At An Overseas American School In Egypt, Carissa Maclennan

Digitized Theses

It is the intent of this thesis to highlight the role of culture on the phenomenon of educational borrowing. This study provides a critical analysis through the lenses of globalization theory and comparative education to determine the relationship among organizational culture, teachers’ values and attitudes about teaching and learning, and pedagogical approaches at a private American school in Egypt. This urban school instructs Egyptian students, employs both North American and Egyptian teachers, and implements an American curriculum. This ethnography included six participants employed at the school where the study was based; two Egyptian teachers, two NorthAmerican teachers, and two administrators. …

University Of Pennsylvania Ms Codex 436: A Description And Analysis Of Contents, Jeannette Di Bernardo Jones

LSU Master's Theses

The University of Pennsylvania Ms. Codex 436, an Italian manuscript dated 1682, is a handbook containing alphabets, linguistic treatises, a computus for calculating the date of Easter, mathematical tables, and rules for music theory and singing the liturgy. The manuscript's contents make it possible to identify the compiler as a student; the contents, along with their mode of presentation and the manuscript's general appearance, make it possible to situate him within the culture of humanism and more specifically within book culture in the transition from manuscript to print. The contents indicate who the compiler is in terms of his social …

Deaf And In Need : Finding Culturally Sensitive Human Services, Colleen M. Moore

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

From Martha's Vineyard to Gallaudet University, the Deaf have forged a cultural identity and have fought to be recognized politically, socially, and linguistically. This paper begins with discussion of the history and modern proliferation of the Deaf cultural movement and provides a critical analysis of the state and quality of social services available for the Deaf.

Korean Hurricane Media Discourse Analysis, Youngae Lee

LSU Master's Theses

Presented within this thesis, I have analyzed a particular TV broadcast news discourse called Korean Hurricane Media Discourse (KHMD), which was presented online from YTN, a Korean cable TV news station. The data presents the topic of the Korean refugees who were forced to evacuate to Baton Rouge from New Orleans, after facing the destructions of Hurricane Katrina on August 2005. The methods are Ron Scollon’s TV news frames (1998), van Dijk’s superstructure (1988a and 1988b) and macrostructure (1980), Allan Bell’s news structure (1991), Dell Hymes’s SPEAKING model (1974), and Erving Goffman’s frameworks (1986). Since KHMD is a spoken, plannable …

Film And Its Influence On The Public Perception Of Motorcycle Culture, Solomon Kamman

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

My capstone research project deals with the film industry and how it has influenced the public's perception of the motorcycle culture. In my paper I argue that the biker culture has been grossly misunderstood due to films such as "The Wild One," and "Easy Rider." Through exploitation, as well as the use of specific cultural influence, these movies were greatly effective in creating an image of the biker culture that created fear and hatred towards a misunderstood group. In order to show the reality behind the motorcycle culture, I explore the contemporary demographics of the riders.

Forgiveness, Individualism, And Collectivism, Joshua N. Hook

Theses and Dissertations

Although the scientific study of forgiveness has flourished in recent years, the study of the effects of culture on forgiveness has been minimal. The present thesis reviews the literature examining the effects of individualism and collectivism on forgiveness. In Study 1, four scales are created that are hypothesized to relate to the study of culture and forgiveness. Evidence for the reliability and validity of these scales are presented. In Study 2, the effects of individualism and collectivism are empirically tested. Collectivistic forgivers understand forgiveness within the context of reconciliation, social harmony, and relational repair. Collectivistic forgiveness primarily involves a decision …