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Her Voice Matters: Life Histories Of Black Women Teachers’ Working Conditions, G. Funmilayo Tyson-Devoe

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explored Black women’s lived experiences as teachers in urban schools during the era of 21st-century education reform. It centers around the relationships between Black women teachers (micro), their working conditions in low-performing urban schools (mesa), and neoliberal education policies (macro) that affect their work. The theoretical frames were Black feminist thought and critical race theory. The research questions were as follows: first, what are the working experiences of Black women teachers of tested subjects in low-performing urban public schools and, second, how do socio-political factors affect their working conditions? The research design was qualitative and included narrative inquiry …

Latinas In Stem Education: Paying It Forward, Evangelina Guillen

Theses and Dissertations

Hispanic female students are the minority population when it comes to taking higher level classes in the Science Technology Engineering and Math fields. According to Hinojosa, Rapaport, Jaciw, and Zacamy (2016), “STEM fields are defined here as majors in computer and information sciences, engineering and engineering technologies, biological and biomedical sciences, math and statistics, physical sciences, and science technologies” (p. 3). Traditionally, more boys enroll in STEM courses than girls. Hispanic and minority students, specifically Hispanic women, have been underrepresented in STEM education fields and careers. Why does STEM education matter for Hispanic female students? Because it gives Hispanic students …

Estimating Age In Mule Deer: Accuracy And Influence On Reproduction, Morgan S. Hinton

Theses and Dissertations

Accurate estimates of parameters and demographic rates of wildlife populations are crucial to management and conservation. One parameter of interest is age because it influences multiple demographic rates and behaviors including reproduction, dispersal, migration, and disease transmission. There are a number of methods used to estimate ages of wildlife. One of the most common methods used for mammals is evaluation of patterns in dental eruption and tooth wear. In the first chapter, we evaluate the accuracy associated with estimates of age from dental eruption and patterns of tooth wear for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). In the second chapter, we use …

Effects Of Maternal And Neonatal Hypoxia On The Future Life History Of Daphnia Magna, Rachael Lowman

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Early exposure to hypoxia is related to a variety of physiological and metabolic changes that have lasting effects on organisms’ physiology and life history. We measured the effects of maternal and embryonic mild, intermittent hypoxia on the life history of four clones of microcrustacean Daphnia magna, an emerging model organism for the studies of senescence and longevity. Daphnia individuals were produced parthenogenically, maintained in individual vials, and fed standard algal concentration daily. The cohort consisted of 189 individuals. We measured body size at first reproduction, fecundity (including late-life fecundity peak), offspring sex ratio, and longevity. We found no effect …

Boyeristic Tendencies: A Look Into The Life History Of The Student Affairs Scholar-Practitioner, Ginny J. Boss, Merrily S. Dunn

Georgia Journal of College Student Affairs

The purpose of this study was to provide more insight into the skills and support systems needed to encourage scholarship among student affairs practitioners. We used topical life history to examine the scholarly lives of eight student affairs practitioners. To guide that examination, we leveraged the questions posed by Jablonski et al. (2006) as our research questions: “What skills and knowledge [did] practitioners need to develop a scholarship agenda?" and "What support, coaching, and job modifications create[d] environments for practitioners to be successful” (p. 197). Participant life histories revealed a variety of direct and indirect influences, such as institutional context, …

The Life History Of Learning Subsistence Skills Among Hadza And Bayaka Foragers From Tanzania And The Republic Of Congo, Sheina Lew-Levy, Erik J. Ringen, Alyssa N. Crittenden, Ibrahim A. Mabulla, Tanya Broesch, Michelle A. Kline

Anthropology Faculty Research

Aspects of human life history and cognition, such as our long childhoods and extensive use of teaching, theoretically evolved to facilitate the acquisition of complex tasks. The present paper empirically examines the relationship between subsistence task difficulty and age of acquisition, rates of teaching, and rates of oblique transmission among Hadza and BaYaka foragers from Tanzania and the Republic of Congo. We further examine cross-cultural variation in how and from whom learning occurred. Learning patterns and community perceptions of task difficulty were assessed through interviews. We found no relationship between task difficulty, age of acquisition, and oblique transmission, and a …

Identifying Skeletal Puberty Stages In A Modern Sample From The United States, Jordan T. Wright

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Investigating the onset and progression of puberty can provide insight and evidence for social changes regarding the transition to adulthood. There are also many social factors that can lead to variation in the timing of the onset and progression of puberty. Methods created by Mary Lewis and Fiona Shapland for assessing changes in skeletal development associated with pubertal timing were applied to computerized tomography scans (n=400) from the New Mexico Decedent Image Database and recorded in an attempt to identify adolescent growth trends in a modern skeletal sample from the United States. This is a novel study using the methods …

“You Sound Like A Good Program Manager”: An Analysis Of Gender In Women’S Computing Life Histories, Rose K. Pozos, Michelle Friend

Teacher Education Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

Through the eyes of professional women in computing, we can better understand the impact of workplace structures, higher education pathways, and the particular closed nature of the tech industry. This study of women’s life histories contributes to the work of in-depth qualitative examinations of CS learning contexts and psychological studies investigating phenomena such stereotype threat which contextualize the experience of women in computing environments. Drawing inspiration from Margolis and Fisher’s work drawing the “blueprints” of the “boy’s clubhouse” of computing education [20], as well as McDermott and Webber’s analysis of when math learning occurs [22], we ask when, where, and …

Reproductive Ecology And Phenology Of Thalassia Testudinum (Hydrocharitaceae) In Tampa Bay, Florida, Sheila Scolaro

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Successful sexual reproduction and recolonization are critical in maintaining genetic diversity within seagrass meadows. Thalassia testudinum flower, fruit and seedling production were assessed visually at 10 sites within Tampa Bay, Florida approximately every 4 weeks from May to July 2017 to determine if there is spatial and temporal variation in sexual reproductive effort and if location within a meadow effects sexual reproductive effort. Results from this study reveal strong temporal variability throughout the reproductive season. The month of May was observed as peak Thalassia testudinum anthesis and June was peak fruiting in Tampa Bay during 2017. Flower and fruit density …

Web-Based Graphic Representation Of The Life Course Of Mental Health: Cross-Sectional Study Across The Spectrum Of Mood, Anxiety, Eating, And Substance Use Disorders., Robin Leora Aupperle, Martin P. Paulus, Rayus Kuplicki, James Touthang, Teresa Victor, Hung-Wen Yeh, Tulsa 1000 Investigators, Sahib S. Khalsa

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Although patient history is essential for informing mental health assessment, diagnosis, and prognosis, there is a dearth of standardized instruments measuring time-dependent factors relevant to psychiatric disorders. Previous research has demonstrated the potential utility of graphical representations, termed life charts, for depicting the complexity of the course of mental illness. However, the implementation of these assessments is limited by the exclusive focus on specific mental illnesses (ie, bipolar disorder) and the lack of intuitive graphical interfaces for data collection and visualization.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and test the utility of the Tulsa Life Chart (TLC) as a …

A Life History Study Of Young Chinese Women's Experiences Under The Influence Of Traditional Culture And Its Contemporary Evolution., Wenjun Liu

Plymouth Institute of Education Theses

As Chinese society and culture have become more complex and diverse over time, this has impacted upon the roles and experiences of women. Women continue to face significant barriers while pursuing self-development and enhanced social status. In general, Chinese culture is for men, and there exists a sharp disparity in social status between men and women. There are concerns about how the transformation of culture, family values, education systems and social beliefs affect and impact on young Chinese women. This study analyses the research on women in traditional Chinese culture, and found they have been encountering various problems, such as …

The Invisible Struggle: Understanding The Plights And Success Strategies Of Low-Income Single Mothers In Undergraduate Programs, Christina Matuschka

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative life history illuminates the experiences of four low-income single mother students in their undergraduate degree pursuit. The lenses of radical feminism, Schlossberg’s Transition Theory, Intersectionality, and the concept of Stigma were used to understand the experiences. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and document analysis and captured the interwoven nature of the women’s on and off campus lives by exploring the participant’s perception of the enabling or hindering experiences attributed to their undergraduate degree completion. Using Schlossberg’s Transition Theory, the study findings demonstrate how best to support low-income single mother students. While emotional and financial supports were found …

Effects Of Rate Of Drying, Life History Phase, And Ecotype On The Ability Of The Moss Bryum Argenteum To Survive Desiccation Events And The Influence On Conservation And Selection Of Material For Restoration, Joshua Lee Greenwood, Lloyd R. Stark, Lindsay P. Chiquoine

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Desiccation stress is frequently experienced by the moss Bryum argenteum and can influence survival, propagation and niche selection. We attempted to disentangle the interacting factors of life history phase (five categories) and rate of desiccation (time allotted for induction of desiccation tolerance) for 13 ecotypes of B. argenteum. Using chlorophyll fluorescence as a stress index, we determined how these parameters influenced desiccation tolerance. Rate of drying and life phase significantly affected desiccation tolerance. The reaction norms of desiccation tolerance displayed by the 13 ecotypes showed a substantial degree of variation in phenotypic plasticity. We observed differences in survival and fluorescence …

Tracing Life Histories Through Biological Manifestations In A 19th-20th Century Midwestern Poor Farm: Asymmetry, Robusticity, And Adaptive Response At The Milwaukee Poor Farm, Samantha Zahn-Hiepler

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

A life history is comprised of many elements and events: memories, migration, beliefs, wealth, status, health, and even death. Of these life history elements, health is one of the significant traits to trace in bioarcheological studies. Biological variation is an observable trait in skeletal remains, especially that of limb asymmetry, stature, robusticity, and sexual dimorphism. These characteristics, depending upon the extent seen, can provide an insight into sociocultural and environmental practices that may have affected the person and/or population’s quality of life. The Milwaukee County Poor Farm skeletal collection is comprised of a historical population spanning one hundred years and …

I Was Clear With My Goals, Where I’M Heading, And What I Wanted With My Life: Life History Of An Omani Woman And Nurse Leader, Christie Emerson

Doctorate of Nursing Science Dissertations

This study uses life history methodology to examine the personal experience of being an Omani woman during the Omani Renaissance, choosing a career in nursing, and evolving into a nurse leader. There is a lack of research on why Omani women choose to enter the workforce, choose nursing career paths, and what sustains them in the nursing workforce. There is also a lack of research on the path to Omani nurse leadership. The research question is: What is the personal experience of being an Omani woman during the Omani Renaissance, choosing a career in nursing, and becoming a nurse leader? …

Tgf-Β2 In Human Milk Research: Exploration Of A New Field Methodology And New Findings Of Biosimilar Tgf-Β2 In Non-Human Milk, Chlöe A. Sweetman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: There are three aims for this thesis: the first is to develop a field and laboratory protocol for the storage and analysis of transforming growth factor–beta 2 (TGF-β2) in human breastmilk; second, to validate this protocol and the immunoassay used to assess this new method; and lastly, to explore the ramifications of biosimilar TGF-β2 across multiple milks on human health, growth, and immunity through the review of laboratory findings and previous literature.

Rational: Little anthropological research has been done on TGF-β2 in human milk. Anthropology as a discipline is well positioned to provide insight into TGF-β2, combining biocultural, evolutionary, …

Our Counter-Life Herstories: The Experiences Of African American Women Faculty In U.S. Computing Education, Shetay Nicole Ashford

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this life history qualitative study was to explore the Counter-Life Herstories of African American women faculty in U.S. Computing Education. Counter-Life Herstories are derived from Counterstories, life histories, and herstories as powerful social justice tools to uncover hidden truths about marginalized groups’ experiences. Through the collection of timelines, counter-life story interviews, and reflective journal writings, I co-constructed and interpreted the Counter-Life Herstories of five participants using an integrative conceptual framework that included critical race theory and Black feminist thought as interpretive frameworks, and Afrocentric feminist epistemology to govern my knowledge validation process. As an emerging African American …

Innovative Development Of The Octopus (Cf) Tetricus Fishery In Western Australia, Anthony M. Hart, Stephen C. Leporati, Ross Marriott, D. V. Murphy

Fisheries research reports

In 2010 the broad-scale introduction of a new gear type, the trigger trap, saw a 260% (33 t in 2009 to 119 t in 2010) increase in octopus landings in the Western Australian Developmental Octopus Fishery (DOF). Deployed in waters previously unfished by the DOF, initial catches demonstrated that trigger traps were more efficient and captured a different component of the population, compared to open-ended shelter pots traditionally used in the fishery. This shift caused a surge of interest in commercial octopus fishing.

Stories Of Agency In The Lives Of Incarcerated Women, Carolyn Sandoval, Lisa M. Baumgartner

Adult Education Research Conference

Researchers explored the role of agency in the lives of women offenders. Life history interviews were conducted with 13 women. Five themes emerged including (1) resourcefulness, (2) self-protection, (3) getting even, (4) resisting gendered expectations and (5) resisting stigma and valuing self. Findings have implications for educators and helping professionals.

Elderly Emergent Readers: A Story To Tell And A Voice To Tell It, Laura Elizabeth Williams

LSU Master's Theses

This project involved a qualitative study with life history interviews of Black elderly men and women enrolled with a non-profit organization that seeks to provide education to adults. There was both an observational component and interviews; the observations, with the researcher acting as moderate participant observer, began in spring 2014 and continued through spring 2016. The interviews were conducted over the summer of 2014. The purpose of this project was to learn how and why the seven participants have been pursuing literacy for the majority of their lives, and how and why reading is important to them. This project began …

Comparing Reproductive Capacity Of Nearshore And Offshore Red Snapper, Lutjanus Campechanus, On Artificial Reefs In The Western Gulf Of Mexico, Ricky J. Alexander

Theses and Dissertations

Red snapper collected quarterly from four artificial reefs in south Texas were examined to compare total length, total weight, age, and the proportion of male to female red snapper, calculate gonadosomatic index values, batch fecundity, annual spawning frequency, and annual fecundity, and estimate size and age at maturity. Spawning occurred from April to September, with most active spawning observed in June (58%). Despite larger red snapper producing more eggs, and fish being larger offshore, most active spawning (68%) and egg production (74%) was observed nearshore. Female red snapper reached 50% maturity (L50) between 350-550 mm, and L75 by 600 mm. …

Comparative Analysis Of Organochlorine Accumulation In Two Top Predator Shark Species With Contrasting Life History Traits, Marina C. Beaudry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sharks vary widely in life-history strategies, and possess unique lipid metabolism. Because of this diversity, and organochlorine (OC) lipid association, dynamics of OC accumulation in elasmobranch-rich ecosystems may be ineffectively predicted by the typically relied upon indicators, stable isotopes and body size. I compared ontogenetic OC profiles and concentrations between dusky ( Carcharhinus obscurus ) and white ( Carcharodon carcharias ) sharks. OC concentrations were elevated in the larger, higher trophic position (TP) white shark, but despite a tenably faster growth rate, ontogenetic diet shifts to mammal prey, and regional endothermy, slopes of growth-dilution corrected concentrations with age were equal …

Life History Comparison Of Two Green Lacewing Species Chrysoperla Johnsoni And Chrysoperla Carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Kaushalya G. Amarasekare, Peter W. Shearer

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

We investigated the life histories of two green lacewing species, Chrysoperla johnsoni Henry, Wells, and Pupedis from western North America, and Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) from western Europe in the laboratory. There were both similarities and differences in their life history characteristics. C. johnsoni exhibited a significantly longer developmental time for egg, first instar, and pupal stage than C. carnea. C. carnea exhibited a significantly shorter egg to adult developmental time than C. johnsoni. Except for the pupal stage, the survival of all other life history stages was not species-specific. All C. carnea pupae were able to develop …

Miguel A. Nevárez: A Life History Of Educational Leadership, Rolando Avila

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze Miguel A. Nevárez’s educational leadership style by focusing on his notable contributions to The University of Texas-Pan American. The researcher defined leadership style as actions by the leader. After examining Nevárez’s background to place his motivations and actions in proper context, this study analyzed what Nevárez did, how he perceived his actions, and how others perceived his actions. The life history written by the researcher was primarily based on data collected through 25 interviews; however, the researcher also utilized other available published and unpublished sources to supplement the interview data. The …

The Secrets Of Self-Starvation, Zenobia C. Y. Chan, Joyce L. C. Ma

Journal of International Women's Studies

This is a single case study for which a life history approach was adopted. The informant, a patient suffering from anorexia nervosa (AN), was specifically selected because of her particular circumstances. Three themes emerged from her narrative that accounted for self-starvation: saving money, reserving food and competing for slenderness. The paper explores these themes and closes by emphasizing the necessity of understanding the sensitive and untold story of a patient’s self-starvation in her cultural-familial context.

Interrupting Life History: Evolution Of A Relationship Within The Research Process, Ronald Hallett

Ronald Hallett

In this paper the author explores how relationships are defined within the context of constructing a life history. The life history of Benjamin, a homeless young man transitioning to adulthood, is used to illustrate how difficult it is to define the parameters of the research environment. During an “ethically important moment” in the research process, the author had to critically analyze his obligation to his participant based upon the relational titles exchanged. As chaos in Benjamin’s life increased, a choice needed to be made about the researcher’s involvement in his life. Should the researcher provide support or simply document events? …

Filling In The Gaps In Phenology And Life History Of The Cumberland Plateau Salamander (Plethodon Kentucki), Robert C. Bowers

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The Cumberland Plateau Salamander, Plethodon kentucki, is a member of the Plethodon glutinosus complex comprising 16 sibling species, which are best differentiated by range. Few studies have been conducted to gain information on the natural history of P. kentucki. To alleviate this, two sites at Beech Fork State Park in Wayne County, West Virginia were used to study the salamander’s general life history with emphasis on reproduction, phenology, and population size. At each site, three 20m x 20m sample plots were arranged based on viability of the habitat for P. kentucki. Ground searches of all cover objects …

The Use Of Life History Collage To Investigate Significant Learning Experiences Of Woman Development Leaders From India, Susan Seymour

Adult Education Research Conference

The purpose of this study was to use life history collage to explore significant learning experiences related to the personal empowerment of female development leaders from West Bengal, India. Findings indicate a complicated understanding of empowerment - distinct and unique to Indian culture, customs and familial relationships. Central to each woman’s process of empowerment was contact with and the determination to fight against patriarchal norms. These norms were experienced in the brutality of village life and witnessed in dowry deaths, female infanticide, domestic violence, poverty and ignorance.

Understanding Social Justice Learning In Context: The Usefulness Of Complexity Thinking And Social Movement Learning Theories, Margaret Cain, Susan Seymour

Adult Education Research Conference

This study explores the usefulness of complexity thinking/enactivism and social movement learning theories to explain the learning of a commitment to social justice of two white, female, privileged adult educators. Analysis of their life history data showed the value of understanding learning as simultaneous, nested learning processes that co-emerge with the learning context. Theories of learning within social movements were also useful to explain some of the participants’ learning through individual and collective levels of learning, politicized experience, and identity development.

Resistance Meets Spirituality In Academia: "I Prayed On It!", Vonzell Agosto, Zorka Karanxha

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Faculty Publications

We describe the lived experiences of a Black Woman educational leader who has studied and worked in the academy and in the field of K-12 education. This partial life history, excavated through the tenets of Critical Race Theory (CRT), illuminates the social construction of race and the pervasiveness and permanence of racism. We determined through a series of interviews that the participant's resilient resistance is guided by critical spirituality so that circumstances and people who challenge her also confront this source of power. Her lived experience, from student to faculty member, conveys the challenges and opportunities she faces and adds …