Digital Commons Network^™

Portrayals Of Gender And Race In Instagram Advertising: An Exploratory Content Analysis, Taylor Moore

Honors College Theses

Race and gender stereotyping is a longstanding problem in the world of advertising. This research utilized content and statistical analysis to answer three questions regarding race and gender stereotyping in Instagram advertising: (1) what portrayals are being shown? (2) how are these portrayals being shown? And (3) are diverse advertisements reinforcing or challenging stereotypes? Tweny advertisements were chosen off Instagram to analyze. Through an analysis of literature on the topic, a code book defining race, person of color, sex, gender, and gender expression was created. Using these variables and classifying the ads as a stereotype/counterstereotype/neutral, allowed for the creation of …

Moral Distress As A Predictive Variable Of Perceived Job Retention In Senior Nursing Students, Rebekah L. Barber

Honors College Theses

New Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduate nurses are leaving careers within inpatient healthcare facilities presumably because of moral distress related to the anticipated workload of registered nurses (RN). BSN curriculums are responsible for providing practical education through clinical instruction; however, many students experience inconsistencies in best practice recommendations. The inconsistencies predominantly originate between didactic nursing instruction and clinical learning within inpatient healthcare facilities. Using a cross-sectional descriptive research design, this thesis utilized the validated Moral Distress Scale-Revised (MDS-R), a 21-item instrument that assesses the frequency and intensity of moral distress experienced by healthcare workers. Student responses to the …

The Political Mobilization Of The Croatian Diaspora: Analyzing The Impact Of The Croatian Diaspora On Croatian Politics., Regina Cabrera Hernandez

Honors College Theses

This paper examines the relationship between the Croatian diaspora and the Croatian nation with the goal of better understanding this relationship and how diasporas can affect the homeland politically. I attempt to do this by studying and analyzing the history of the diaspora, their identity formation, and their actions throughout the 20th century. I begin with a look at the origins of the Croatian diaspora, and the developing relationship between the diaspora and the government of the homeland. With this, as changes in the makeup of the diaspora affected the relationship with the homeland, changes in the homeland also affected …

First Genomic Resource For An Endangered Neotropical Mega-Herbivore: The Complete Mitochondrial Genome Of The Forest-Dweller (Baird's) Tapir (Tapirus Bairdii), Caroline C. Ennis

Honors College Theses

Baird's tapir, or the Central American Tapir Tapirus bairdii (family Tapiridae), is one of the largest mammals native to the forests and wetlands of southern North America and Central America and is categorized as `endangered' on the 2014 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This study reports, for the first time, the complete mitochondrial genome of T. bairdii and examines the phylogenetic position of T. bairdii amongst closely related species in the same family and order to which it belongs using mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCG's). The circular, double-stranded, A-T rich mitochondrial genome of T. bairdii is 16,697 bp in length …

Evaluating Model Fidelity To Aid Model Selection, Evan Hybl

Honors College Theses

In simulation, fidelity has become a topic of interest in determining how well a simulation is able to represent its referent situation. In many cases, the true referent is the real-world scenario in which the system will exist. However, the fidelity of a simulation may be computed in comparison to other referents including other simulation models or tests. Several metrics have been proposed to evaluate a model based on qualitative or subjective parameters. These proposed metrics offer possible solutions for the quantification of model fidelity, however their inability to compare features relative importance greatly limits their applicability to models and …

The Development Of A Mobile Ad-Hoc Network Testbed: Modular Implementation Of Ad-Hoc On-Demand Distance Vector Routing, Gage Gailbreath, Andre Koka, Mohammed Gharib, Fatemeh Afghah

Honors College Theses

In communication systems, a Mobile Ad-Hoc Network (MANET) is a communication topology that has no central infrastructure, in contrast to more common network topologies such as Wi-fi or cellular towers. MANETs are of particular interest in the field as Internet-of-Things (IOT) applications and the push towards 6th-generation (6G) communications continues. MANET networks provide communication access to all nodes within the network using peer-to-peer communications, requiring extensive maintenance and updating of routes within the network as nodes move around. Routing protocols must be designed and used for these networks, and are typically complex algorithms that are difficult to implement on hardware. …

The Evolution Of The Role Of Speech-Language Pathologists In The Nicu: Are Educational Programs Supporting The Change?, Melanie Spinnie

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to determine the progressive roles of speech-language pathologists (SLP) in performing feeding and swallowing interventions in preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and evaluate the education SLPs receive regarding this topic, as well as how this can affect their work in the NICU and what changes in curriculum and experience should be made for SLPs to best serve this fragile population. SLPs have not always been the primary providers in this field, so it is crucial to understand these established roles and how they have changed and will continue to change. …

Diversity Climate, Burnout, And Employee Engagement: Considering The Moderating Effects Of Positive And Negative Affect As Individual Differences, Shreya Tellur

Honors College Theses

No abstract provided.

Examining The Effects Of Hormonal Contraception On Injury In Collegiate Club And Recreation Sports, Kaitlyn Doherty

Honors College Theses

Background: There are differences among injury rates between males and females in collegiate sports. Hormonal contraception is used in females as a way of balancing hormones. There is limited research on the effects of hormonal contraception on injury outcomes in females.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hormonal contraceptives on injury in collegiate club and recreation sports.

Methods: A one-time survey was administered to all students enrolled in intramural sports at a mid-sized Southeastern Division I university. Questions were asked regarding injury history, menstrual cycle, and use of hormonal contraceptives.

Results: Analysis of survey …

Opioid Overdose Knowledge And Attitudes Among Undergraduate College Studentsopioid Overdose Knowledge And Attitudes Among Undergraduate College Students, Kaiya Cook

Honors College Theses

No abstract provided.

Examining The Relationship Between Government Corruption And Internet Freedom In The Republic Of Turkey, Savannah C. Warren

Honors College Theses

Government corruption is a problem found in varying degrees in almost every country around the world. Corruption can be defined as the misuse of public office for private gain. Some examples of government corruption are bribery, theft and tax evasion which all can be found in developing countries costing them trillions of dollars every year. The goal of the current study is to explore the relationship between government corruption and the role of internet freedom, using Turkey as a case study. Internet freedom is a broad term that includes having Internet access, digital rights, net neutrality, and freedom of information. …

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder And Teachers, Samantha Ann Tierney, Samantha Ann Tierney

Honors College Theses

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder, estimated to affect 5% of all children and adolescents. The current rate of diagnosis is steadily increasing. This increase in the number of students with ADHD affects educators, who have a large role in the success of students with ADHD. Despite this, many teachers are not prepared to deal with the extra challenges that come with teaching students with ADHD. Teachers may not be properly taught how to deal with children who have ADHD in their classrooms or the role they have in these children’s lives. The purpose of this study is to …

Per Capita Gdp’S Potential Effect On The Percentage Of Children In Foster Care, Jenna Mcclain

Honors College Theses

Few studies have been conducted on the presence of a direct connection between per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and the percentage of children in foster care in a given region. GDP is a known indicator of economic growth (Powers, 1995; Roshaniza & Selvaratnam, 2015), as is a child’s potential for foster care placement associated with a parent or family’s financial status (Bald et. al, 2022; Barth et. al, 2010). Poverty is the bridge in many of these scenarios – low GDP can be indicative of higher poverty rates, and financial hardship under poverty classification can lead to child maltreatment …

The Relationship Of Insufficient Resources To Leadership Burnout In Rural Nonprofit Organizations, Keilee Webb

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to describe and analyze the relationship between the lack of resources in nonprofit organizations and burnout. In this literature review, the aim is to explore various resources affecting nonprofit entities as they relate to organizational capacity. These specific resources will be reviewed and discussed to understand how closely related those resources are to burnout. Additionally, the implications of nonprofit employee and volunteer burnout will be analyzed. Within the literature review, the research indicates nonprofits in rural United States are more likely to encounter a deficit in connections to resources than their urban counterparts. This …

Predictive Machine Learning And Its Future In Professional Basketball, Zachary Harmon

Honors College Theses

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an ever-evolving field, transforming various aspects of contemporary life. From language models to immersive gaming experiences, AI technologies have become integral to our daily existence. Among the most promising arenas for AI integration is the world of sports. This research delves into the application of machine learning models to predict NBA game outcomes, shedding light on the profound impact of machine learning in the realm of professional basketball. Beyond the scope of game prediction, this study explores the broader implications, such as optimizing the selection of televised games, assisting players in showcasing their skills, and much …

Marching To The Music: The U.S. Military’S Impact On American Youth Through The Marching Band Movement, 1910-1990, Elise Eaton

Honors College Theses

High school bands have evolved greatly since the first band boom in the early 1920s. Beyond the performance responsibilities and commitments to football and sporting events, bands have their own cultural elements that only band members, band staffs, and families of band students truly understand. This thesis will demonstrate that high school band culture since the 1920s developed alongside the changing fortunes of the U.S. military. Accordingly, U.S. military history shaped the evolving culture of high school marching bands and other youth performing arts groups while these civilian youth groups in turn embedded and reinforced elements of U.S. militarism in …

Jumping Frogs On Cyclic Graphs, Jake Mitchell

Honors College Theses

From the traditional game of Solitaire to modern video games like Candy Crush and Five Nights at Freddy’s, single-player games have captivated audiences for gener- ations. We investigate a lesser-known single-player game, the Jumping Frogs problem, on various classes of simple graphs, a graph with no multiple edges or looped ver- tices. We determine whether frogs can be stacked together on one vertex of a given graph. In a graph with k vertices and one frog on each vertex, the frogs must make legal jumps to form a stack of k frogs. The problem is known to be solvable on …

Origin Of Differences In Child Maltreatment Between Italy And America, Morgan Huff

Honors College Theses

There is a distinct difference between the rates of child abuse and neglect in the United States and Italy. Specifically, the United States has a higher rate of child maltreatment than Italy (Bernacchi et al., 2016; Finkelhor et al., 2009). There is also variation in the types of maltreatment that the children suffer within each country (Bernacchi et al., 2016; Mehta et al., 2023). This literature review analyzes potential explanations for these differences in rates of child maltreatment by examining the ways in which this maltreatment may be impacted by access to health insurance, religion, family structure, education, poverty, and …

Variations And Similarities In Trumpet And Vocal Pedagogy, Ryn Jenkins

Honors College Theses

While both disciplines fall under the umbrella of professional music performance, trumpet and vocal pedagogy and performance are typically considered to be separate entities. Even though, historically, the two have impacted each other, very few materials evaluate these subjects in tandem. That is what this thesis proposes to do. In examining the two different disciplines, I will explore their similarities and differences, and how they can impact students and teachers today.

There are many benefits to be gained from studying trumpet as well as voice, but along with those benefits come pitfalls that students can easily fall into. In order …

Diversity Of Choral Festival Literature And The Selection Process, Abigail L. Mcmichen

Honors College Theses

In music education, festival events are a chance to receive feedback from experts in the field. Often, these events have literature lists from which directors are required to choose literature for the event. With choral festivals being so prevalent in music education, the literature lists provided to choral music educators have a major impact on young singers. Literature selection can be intense for choral music educators who decide what factors to consider when selecting literature. The purpose of this study was to explore and analyze the diversity of choral literature through analysis of the Georgia LGPE list while also gaining …

The Automated Wheelchair, Jonathan Doksa Kamba Ngoyi

Honors College Theses

Automation refers to the use of technology to execute tasks through programmed instructions and automated control mechanisms to ensure accurate execution. This minimizes human involvement and encompasses various fields, including business process automation. A notable form of automation is assistive technology, which refers to any device or software that enhances individuals' learning, communication, or overall functionality. This can range from advanced tools like computers to simpler aids like walking sticks. Assistive technology aims to promote inclusivity and participation, particularly among individuals with disabilities, the elderly, and those with non-communicable diseases.

The Automated Airport Wheelchair is a culmination of prior projects …

Restricted At Home, Impeded Abroad: A Study Of Domestic Human Rights Practices And Women’S Global Economic Power, Cameron Elizabeth Cheatham

Honors College Theses

To what extent does the practice of human rights as universal or culturally relative impact women’s status in the global economy? While there is already evidence to show how women have less power in countries that practice culturally relative human rights, this study aims to explore how the domestic practice of human rights influences women’s global power through an analysis of women’s financial inclusion. Using a cross-national, quantitative analysis, I show that human rights practices in the domestic arena directly impact the economic power of women in the global economy. When human rights practices at home are more universal in …

Is There Really Anything Wrong With That? An Aristotelian Analysis Of Duty, Luke J. Mcgrath

Honors College Theses

In the iconic Seinfeld series finale, Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer find themselves in a peculiar legal predicament when they mock a crime rather than intervene to help the victim. The show’s commitment to portraying reality, even in its finale, vividly demonstrates the potential consequences of a society lacking the legal obligation to aid others. This comical incident raises a thought-provoking question about the legitimacy of duty-to-act laws in the United States. This thesis examines the application of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics to the concept of duty-to-act laws and argues for the necessity and benefits of such laws in promoting a …

Analyzing Prominent Genes In Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (All), Shima Z. Omar

Honors College Theses

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of childhood cancer. Leukemia is a type of cancer that involves the bone marrow and blood. This research study examined prominent genes in the disease. Two groups of genes, tumor suppressor and cell differentiation, were compared using statistical analysis to compare their binding potential and epigenetic potential. It is most likely that I failed to detect significant differences either because these genes’ function in the disease etiology is not strongly contexed to changes in expression, or that the magnitude of the differences were too slight to be detected with these methods. …

Diet And The Role It Plays In Cognition, Ryan S. Lavrisa

Honors College Theses

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations have calculated the effects of animal agriculture and factory farming to be responsible for generating 14.5-16.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions as well as using 70% of all agricultural land to sustain itself. Plant-based diets such as veganism and vegetarianism have been on the rise as many seek to find diets that mitigate the animal suffering and environmental impact for which animal agriculture is responsible. With the rise of these diets, it is important to understand the cognitive effects adhering to such diets can have on the body and mind, as …

A Study On The Correlation Between The Study Habits Of Nursing Students And Perceived Exam Anxiety, Rebecca A. Bracken

Honors College Theses

Anxiety is a concept very familiar to many university students. This especially applies to students who have decided to major in nursing. With the knowledge and experiences that accompany attending nursing school, come a series of rigorous, high-stakes exams. Nationwide, many students share a common struggle to be successful on these exams, which often leads to a sense of anxiety that becomes associated with one's experience during testing, known as test anxiety. A study across multiple baccalaureate nursing school cohorts was completed to determine a correlation between the various methods used by nursing students to prepare for an exam and …

Quantitative And Qualitative Analysis Of Mutation In Pam-1 Of Model Organism Caenorhabditis Elegans., Jessica Stein, Jessica Stein

Honors College Theses

The pam-1 gene in the model roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans governs meiotic exit and establishment of cellular polarity in the single-celled C. elegans embryo. Mutation of the pam-1 gene results in reduced fertility and fecundity in adult C. elegans and disrupts the anatomy of the germinal gonad. The aim of this study is to qualitatively and quantitatively define the changes in the germline cells associated with mutations to the pam-1 gene. Specifically, we examined the stages of germ cell development within the gonads of adult worms, both wild-type and pam-1 compromised, and identified the changes in the length of the mitotic, …

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas And Small/Community Banks In Rural Areas., Samuel Spencer

Honors College Theses

Drug trafficking is on the rise in America. Drug trafficking brings money laundering, and banks have to combat this with Anti-Money laundering (AML) policies from the Bank Secrecy act. This is combated by the High-Intensity-Drug-Trafficking Area (HIDTA) designation. The designation aims at providing support to local, state, and federal law enforcement to combat drug trafficking in these counties. HIDTA and banks are not connected. Rather I use the HIDTA designation as a proxy to clearly identify counties that have drug trafficking. I specifically focused on small and community banks in rural areas. Small and community banks are disproportionately affected by …

Sensor Updates For Bigheaded Carp-Tracking Autonomous Boat, Jordan Kaufmann

Honors College Theses

Bigheaded carp are an invasive species that overpopulate and compete with the native species of Kentucky Lake as well as many other North American aquatic ecosystems. The movement patterns of Bigheaded carp are being studied nationwide by the United States Geological Survey and multiple universities. These studies ultimately seek to control their spread and reduce or reverse the ecosystem destabilization caused by this invasive species. Such studies are currently conducted manually on Kentucky Lake by graduate students affiliated with the Murray State University (MSU) Biology Department and Hancock Biological Station, and these manual studies are an arduous and time-consuming effort. …

Designing The Power System Of A Robot, Nolan Hays

Honors College Theses

This thesis outlines the acquired skills and knowledge acquired through the course of four years of Murray State University’s School of Engineering. The capstone for students in the department was to team up and complete an interdisciplinary senior design project using skills from various tracks of engineering. For this thesis, there is a greater emphasis on the electrical engineering track. The objective of the project was to build an autonomous robot to complete the various tasks within the scope of the IEEE SoutheastCon 2023 Hardware Competition. The robot was controlled via a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B. There were three …