Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Resource Scarcity On Undocumented Students In Higher Education, Sebastian Melendez Lopez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Much progress has been made in understanding the impacts of identifying as an undocumented student in higher education, but knowledge of the scarcity of resources impacting undocumented students remains limited. Objective: This descriptive study examined the relationship between accessibility to social support and the psychological well-being of undocumented students in higher education. Methods: Quantitative data was gathered cross-sectionally from participants recruited using nonprobability sampling methods. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and Social Support Survey Scale were used to gather data on participants' psychological distress and social support. A descriptive analysis was performed to yield summary statistics of participants’ demographics, …

Developing An Ebook For First Responders: Exploring Arts-Based Interventions To Counter Burnout And Build Resilience, Taysia De Mesa, Baylor Duncan, Emmanuelle Evans, Ashley Herbinger, Hannah Kent, Olivia Waldorf

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

The researchers in this project studied the prevalence and impact of burnout among first responders, after which they produced CRISP (Creative Resilience Initiatives for Service Providers), a groundbreaking art therapy-based program published in an electronic book format aimed at addressing burnout and fostering resilience among first responders. Our program aims to foster resilience by integrating art therapy's Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) model with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and anti-racism strategies. The ETC model aligns with inclusive and diverse practices as it emphasizes a system-focused approach in using creativity, self-reflection, and cultivation of effective body-mind empathy. The CRISP eBook features 18 …

Integrating Collective Art Healing Practices Into Contemporary Art Therapy, Taleene Armen, Nicole Aviel, Ej Liao, Brianna Mitjans, Mandy Schuster

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

Five graduate students from the Marital and Family Art Therapy Program at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) conducted a research study to explore the characteristics and attributes of collective art practices and how they contribute to healing. A survey including quantitative measures and qualitative responses were administered on the Qualtrics platform, allowing for a wide geographic reach and rapid data collection. The subsequent qualitative analysis involved the creation of visual artworks by the researchers, utilizing the arts as data to identify additional common themes contributing to healing attributes. The data revealed three major themes, or characteristics, of how art contributes to …

The Effects Of Online Mind Mapping On The Cognitive Outcomes Of Students And Their Perceptions In The Collaborative Prewriting Stage, Yen Thanh Hai Duong

Doctoral Dissertations

In language acquisition, writing is the most challenging skill that English learners must master. Students often struggle at the beginning of their writing process with idea generation. Due to students’ low academic achievement and their struggles, online mind mapping is suggested as a useful tool to support language students’ brainstorms and idea organization during the writing process. The purpose of this mixed-method study was to investigate how online mind mapping can help students collaboratively brainstorm and organize their ideas during the prewriting process. This study focused on the effects of online mind-mapping intervention on student academic writing performance and perceptions …

The Effectiveness Of Mind Maps As An Instructional Approach For Developing Critical-Thinking Skills And Dispositions: A Meta-Analysis, Carmen De Jesus

Doctoral Dissertations

Mind mapping is the most flexible visual learning and active instructional approach. It has many applications, such as brainstorming, taking notes, memorizing, and conceptualizing complex topics using associations between images and keywords, colors, and visuospatial characteristics. Students can elaborate mind maps individually and collaboratively, digitally or nondigitally. Teachers can also elaborate mind maps for studying purposes. This meta-analysis aims to investigate the effectiveness of mind mapping as an instructional approach for developing critical-thinking skills and dispositions. With 22 studies (20 of which are international) and 1,535 participants, all employing a quasi- experimental study design, this meta-analysis is a comprehensive exploration. …

Thematic Mapping Of Apidae Holdings Within The University Of Arkansas Arthropod Museum, Baylie Lenora Day

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Museum biological collections store species data that can be utilized in research on biodiversity, environmental change, invasive species, public health, and disease. The University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum, which began in 1905, houses over 750,000 specimens and has not yet been digitized. Making data publicly accessible via the internet makes the data available to the entire scientific community. The goal of this project was to create a digital resource to allow greater access to the University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum holdings. To do so, data from Bombus (bumble bee) and Xylocopa (carpenter bee) specimens were databased in Excel and displayed …

Does Appearance Matter? The Relationship Of Perceived Body Size And Physical Appearance On Students' Attraction To Physical Activity At Recess, Danielle Belcher

Master's Theses

Drastic declines in recess physical activity (PA) have been observed within recent years (Center for Disease Control (CDC), 2017). Due to recess’ discretionary nature, psychosocial variables associated with PA are predictors of students’ PA levels. Recess is also a time of heightened bullying occurrences (Vaillancourt et al., 2010). Appearance-based bullying is the most common type of victimization that occurs in schools, transpiring more often in children with larger body max indexes (BMI), and possibly altering students’ physical self-perceptions. Physical self-perceptions have been shown to impact PA motivation, however, it is still unknown the extent to which appearance-based bullying, body size, …

Athletic Identity Association And Prospective Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Predict Attitudes Of Collegiate Athletes Toward Seeking Help From The Athletic Department, Allie Zerr

Master's Theses

There is an epidemic of mental health issues that has begun to be more openly talked about in college athletics. In 2022, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has found that college student-athletes are now 1.5-2 times more likely to report struggling with mental health than ever before. Previous research has shown a significant association with basic psychological needs satisfaction and overall psychological well-being. Furthermore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible ways that reported of autonomy, competence, and relatedness need satisfaction predicted whether athletes would seek mental health services and identify how athletic identity plays into this …

Clonal Plants' Traits And Responses Following Fire Disturbance In Ponderosa Pine Ecosystems In The Colorado Front Range, Raymond Erskine

Master's Theses

Mountain ecosystems are currently experiencing increasing impacts of disturbances (e.g., wildfire) due to global changes in climate and land use, leading to significant changes in vegetation composition and landscape dynamics. Clonal plants, characterized by their vegetative reproduction strategies, offer a range of ecologically important traits to cope with disturbances. However, clonality is often excluded in studies of post-fire vegetation dynamics in mountain ecosystems, and our knowledge of the ability of clonal plants to respond to differing disturbance regimes is limited. Therefore, I examined the response of understory vegetation following fire disturbance in burned and unburned ponderosa pine stands of the …

An Analysis Of Resources For Developing Music Curriculum In Charter Schools With Proposals For Research Instruments Specific To The State Of Arizona, Emily Stanton

Master's Theses

A robust music curriculum is the foundation for a successful music program. With school choice becoming more prevalent, parents who prioritize musical education for their children need information about the quality of the music curriculum in all school models, including charter schools. Currently, little data is available about music programs in charter schools. This document seeks to address that lack of information with a focus on charter schools in Arizona. There were no participants involved in this research. All proposed questions have not been used for research purposes at this time and are used as examples of options for future …

A Geospatial Analysis Of Patterns In Neighborhood Characteristics And United States Professional Sports Stadium Relocations From 1922-2022, Kara Logan

Master's Theses

In the United States of America, 135 stadiums for new or relocating teams have been constructed between 1970 and 2020 (Bradbury et al., 2022, p. 3). Within those years, researchers, journalists, and community members have examined the impact of those new stadiums on local communities, including economic, environmental, and residential impacts. However, the current scope of literature consists of a considerable number of case studies that examine a single stadium or mega-event, such as the Olympics.

This study will determine what patterns, if any, exist between the demographic and housing characteristics between the stadiums that major league United States professional …

Role Of Atp-Binding Cassette (Abc) Transporters As A Protector Of Testis Stem Cell Niche From Chemotherapy Drugs In Drosophila Melanogaster, Swagata Maity

Master's Theses

In chemotherapy treatments most tumor cells are destroyed by drugs, but some tumor cells are drug resistant, and these are known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). Normal adult stem cells are also chemo resistant. Therefore, investigation of normal stem cells can be useful to provide further knowledge of CSCs. One of the primary ways that CSCs achieve drug resistance is by drug efflux through transmembrane pumps called ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Many studies on ABC transporters have been performed in vitro using cultured cell lines, but very few studies have been performed on normal stem cell populations in vivo. Drosophila …

Culturally Competent Strategies For Tutoring Writing With International Ell Students, Sara Petersen

Mary Ann Bolton Undergraduate Research Award

Welcome: A brief overview about what will be discussed and what participants can take away

● “International ELL students face a variety of unique challenges that require writing tutors to adjust their approaches to tutoring. In our short time together, I will review some of the many academic and cultural barriers that international ELL students experience in university writing centers as well as culturally competent strategies tutors can implement when working with this population.”

How Is International Orchid Trade Regulated, And How Effective Are Those Regulations?, Madeline Roubik

Mary Ann Bolton Undergraduate Research Award

When investigating the trafficking of wild species, animals are often considered before plants (Phelps et al. 2015). This is especially detrimental to members of the orchidaceae family, which are victims of an extensive illegal trade. It spans the entire globe but is especially concentrated in Southeastern Asia (Phelps et al. 2015). When regarding legislation, however, orchidaceae species are some of the most protected in the world. International legislation such as CITES restricts the movement of endangered orchidaceae across borders (Hinsley 2018). The 1992 Convention on Biodiversity (Lawson et al. 2019) also has policies regarding international orchid trade. National laws regulate …

Comparing Preparedness By Midwives And Obgyns: Should The United States Implement A Midwifery Model Of Care?, Abigail Matthews

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Honors Papers

In the wake of high maternal and infant mortality rates in the United States, there is a need for childbirth care reform, and investigating the methods with which individuals prepare for this life event grants us insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the current system. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact on preparedness between individuals that used OB/GYNs and those that used midwives to determine how different practitioner types were perceived by their patients. I conduct a qualitative and quantitative survey of people that have given birth in the United States and analyze the results …

Touch The Earth: Integrating Biophilic Design And Nature Rx Therapy Initiatives At Georgia State University, Kennedy L. Burks

Art and Design Theses

Touch the Earth aims to establish a meaningful connection between university students experiencing mental health difficulties and the therapeutic advantages inherent in the natural world. The Touch the Earth program currently concentrates its efforts on an outdoor activity initiative at Georgia State University (GSU) within the Recreational Services Department. This thesis applies the principles of biophilic graphic design and Nature Rx initiatives to revitalize, redefine, and educate GSU students on effective strategies to enhance their mental well-being through a strategic rebranding and the creation of informative and promotional materials. The thesis endeavors to raise awareness, educate, and encourage GSU students …

Decorum, Corran Shrimpton

Art and Design Theses

Before women went to work in factories during World War 2, the domestic sphere was a woman’s place. Although we are now free to venture beyond the four walls of our homes, other barriers, in the form of beauty standards and internalized expectations of femininity, control us and keep us in our place. Decorum explores the tumultuous relationship that I and many women experience with our bodies as we navigate our beauty-obsessed culture. These ceramic sculptures use distorted, fragmented, and abstracted feminine forms to illustrate the ways we restrict and contort our bodies to achieve impossible beauty ideals. Imagery referencing …

The New College Of The Arts: Forming A Collaborative Community At The College Of The Arts At Georgia State University In Atlanta, Ga, Peter Huesemann-Odom

Art and Design Theses

The Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design, the School of Music, and the School of Film, Media & Theatre form the College of the Arts at Georgia State University. These schools operate in separate campus areas. This lack of unified presence impedes collaborative and inspiring exchanges between communities. The New College of the Arts investigates forming a community that combines all the College of the Arts disciplines and highlights the College’s impact on the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University, and the arts. The components needed for a successful evolution are discovered through primary and secondary research, including …

The Effect Of State Repression On Rebel And Insurgent Use Of Violence, Sarosh Sultan

Political Science Theses

The impact of state repression on rebel violence and terrorism is a critical aspect of conflict dynamics. Existing research underscores a dynamic interplay between a state's repressive measures and insurgent violence but mainly focuses on repression being a response to rebel activity. This paper offers a differing perspective by examining how various forms of state repression can shape and incite rebel violence rather than being a mere reaction to it. The study delves into the case of India-administered Jammu and Kashmir and posits that increased state repression can fuel grievances and increase rebel recruitment, driving groups towards more aggressive tactics, …

Mate Guarding Against Strong Men Displaying Affiliative And Aggressive Humor, Jacob Pauley

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Mate retention behaviors serve to discourage partner defection from a current pairbond. Such behaviors are oftentimes more prevalent toward intrasexual rivals exhibiting physical and behavioral cues implicating that rival as an optimal mate. Among these features in men are their upper body strength, a feature diagnostic of heritable fitness, and men's ability to produce humor, a cue to their social competence. This study considered the intersection of these desirable features in shaping men's mate retention behavior toward an intrasexual rival. After learning of a hypothetical interloper exhibiting high or low upper body strength while similarly using humor in an affiliative …

Establishing An Objective, Quantifiable Method For Detecting Erosive Tooth Wear, Camille Kita

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study aims to monitor and evaluate erosive tooth wear (ETW) by measurement of enamel surface thickness and texture in a clinical setting. The objective approach is fundamentally different from the standard subjective visual assessment that professionals in the dental field using the Basic Erosive Wear Evaluation (BEWE) method.

Twenty-nine hyposalivation and three control subjects were used in this longitudinal study, for a total of 597 samples (only 577 teeth were eligible for surface texture analysis) evaluated in a longitudinal study including both baseline and 12 month follow up surfaces. Each participant’s buccal surface of the tooth was first analyzed …

2023 Community Bank Case Study Competition, Joseph Kelly

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

We studied a community bank in Danville, Arkansas named Chambers Bank. This was part of a 2023 Community Bank Case Study Competition, which illustrated the financial analysis, staffing, and training of the bank. We learned about technology implemented into the bank, and how the bank works with customers locally to ensure the best quality care.

A Study Of Diet Culture In Lgbtqia+ Women’S Communities, Cait Rush Msw

All Student Scholarship

Diet culture is a pervasive aspect of the sociocultural environment characterized by contradictory messages about food and health, and a moral imperative to attain thinness (Jovanovski & Jaeger, 2022). Hallmarks of diet culture include body dissatisfaction, lowered self-esteem, and adverse mental and physical health outcomes (Calogero et al., 2018; Kinavey & Cool, 2019; Puhl et al., 2021). While research suggests that LGBTQIA+ community involvement may play a role in safeguarding positive body image (Dahlenburg et al., 2021; Hanley & McLaren, 2015), studies on body dissatisfaction among queer women have yielded mixed, often contradictory results. The purpose of this study was …

Student-Centered Task Box Instruction, Mikayla Meece

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Engagement is vital to all learning situations and has, according to Parsons et al. (2018) been associated with an increase in student achievement. Morgan (2013) highlighted that students comprehend little and lose focus of classroom instruction when teachers fail to use differentiated instruction. Therefore, the researcher in this project utilized task box instruction to increase student engagement and on-task behavior in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) classrooms. Task-box instruction can accommodate for different ability levels and interests, while also modeling initial learning and providing practice with developmentally appropriate skills and strategies (Morgan, 2013). Specifically, task boxes involve providing students with …

Towards Understanding The Function Of An Ets-Like Gene In Nematostella Vectensis: Generation Of A Knockout Mutant Line And A Transgenic Reporter Line, Emily Bullock

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Due to their unique phylogenic position as sister to Bilateria, Cnidaria are often credited with the utility of allowing for reconstruction of ancestral biology based on characteristics shared with bilaterians and other animals. This factor makes investigation into the nervous systems of cnidarians critical in understanding early neural evolution. Wamides, a class of neuropeptides, have been shown to play a regulatory role in life cycle transitions across many different species. The cnidarian specific Wamide neuropeptide, GLWamide, has previously been identified to play an accelerator role in the metamorphic timing of a specific species of sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis. However, …

An Exploration Of Procedural Methods In Game Level Design, Hector Salinas

Computer Science and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Video games offer players immersive experiences within intricately crafted worlds, and the integration of procedural methods in game level designs extends this potential by introducing dynamic, algorithmically generated content that could stand on par with handcrafted environments. This research highlights the potential to provide players with engaging experiences through procedural level generation, while potentially reducing development time for game developers.

Through a focused exploration on two-dimensional cave generation techniques, this paper aims to provide efficient solutions tailored to this specific environment. This exploration encompasses several procedural generation methods, including Midpoint Displacement, Random Walk, Cellular Automata, Perlin Worms, and Binary Space …

Exploring The Experiences Of Minority Former Foster Youths During And Post Care: A Qualitative Study, Caithlyn Snow

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: The intersectionality perspective states that the challenges of minority foster youths are amplified by their status as racial and ethnic minorities, making them more vulnerable to adverse experiences during and after the foster care system. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of minority FFYs as they are in-care, transitioning out of care, and as they strive for self-sufficiency post-care. Methods: This study employed a qualitative design with a phenomenology approach. Primary data collection utilized non-probability sampling. Participants had to be 18 years or older and a former foster youth (FFY). Participants were recruited from …

Treatment Not Punishment: Youth Experiences Of Psychiatric Hospitalizations, Maira Ferrer-Cabrera

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aims to better understand adolescent psychiatric hospitalization regarding the use of coercion at the hands of clinical staff from the perspectives of former hospital staff and former patients' family members. This study was conducted from a critical theory perspective. The researcher surveyed a total of fourteen former staff members and former patients' family members. This research study emphasized quantitative data as the way data was collected. The methods utilized to gather data were online surveys that were collected through Qualtrics and further analyzed using SPSS statistic data editor. The findings of this study showed that 25% of former …

The Community Resiliency Model (Crm) Applied To Teacher’S Well-Being, John Waterson

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The goal of the proposed research is to study the efficacy among educators of a training program based on the Community Resiliency Model (CRM). The role of an educator is currently one of the most stressful vocations in the United States. Chronic stress leads to burnout, has a negative effect on pedagogy, which ultimately degrades the classroom experience. The purpose of this study is to explore whether teachers can learn a simple set of wellness (CRM) skills and become more resilient to stress, which may foster a more robust classroom experience.

My Roman Holiday: Marketing Abroad In The City Of Rome, Emily Whitworth

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis delves into the immersive experience of the Marketing in Rome Summer Program, offered by the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. Led by professors Molly Jensen and Heather Sprandel, the program provides students with a unique opportunity to study global marketing and consumer behavior while crafting marketing plans for small businesses in Rome, Italy. Through a combination of coursework, field research, and practical projects, students explore the intricacies of marketing in a cross-cultural context.