Digital Commons Network^™

Validating The Sexual Anxiety Inventory, Allie Smith

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Sexual Anxiety Inventory (SAI) is a psychometric tool intended to measure sex-related anxiety for individuals in many different relationship stages and irrespective of sexual experience. A sample of 419 participants aged 18 to 76 responded to the items of the SAI as well as measures of generalized anxiety, depression, sexual sensation seeking, sociosexuality, and personality. After factor analysis, five factors were determined to have unique properties while being interpretable. A series of correlational testing between these factors and the measures of anxiety, depression, sexual sensation seeking, and sociosexuality demonstrated the strength of SAI factors as measurement tools. Exploratory correlations …

Challenging The Master Narrative Of Holocaust Victimhood: Examining The Holocaust Through A Gendered Lens, Annabella Blowers

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Women are severely unrepresented in the master narrative that has come to define what it means to be a Holocaust victim. Although men and women were subjected to different forms of victimization, women’s unique experiences of suffering have been marginalized and subsumed within the male-dominated master narrative. Examining the Holocaust through a gendered lens challenges this existing narrative of Holocaust victimhood. Conducting a gender analysis of the Holocaust is essential to fully incorporate women’s experiences into Holocaust history and the grossly inadequate narrative society uses to define Holocaust victimhood.

An analysis of fifty Holocaust fiction novels revealed that literature’s depiction …

What The Eye Doesn't See: The Power Of Non-Ocularcentric Engagement In Museum Learning, Sophie J. Houghton

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Museums are unique spaces of teaching and learning. Museum exhibits transcend the constraints of classroom learning by leveraging visitors’ curiosity and allowing for increased learning autonomy. However, this learning often comes solely through visual interaction, due to museums’ role in preservation and protection of their collection. Though visual-based learning is common in museums and in Western education at large, multisensory elements cement learning autonomy and prompt visitors to learn through play. These principles are exemplified through children’s’ museums, science museums, and museum adaptations for blind and low-vision visitors. Through multisensory adaptations, traditional museums can transform their impact on visitors. This …

Medial Temporal Lobe Surface Features And Cognition In Aging Amyloid-Positive Individuals, Jacob Johnston

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Memory consolidation and metabolism are known to differ between amyloid-beta plaque positive (A+) and negative (A-) amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia participants despite similar medial temporal lobe (MTL) volume between groups. Using high-dimensional surface analysis (shape characterization), this study identified structural differences in the medial temporal lobe between A+ aMCI, A+ AD dementia, and amyloid-negative (A-) healthy control groups (CON), specifically in the CA1 and subiculum regions of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. Additionally, regional brain surface-based features were correlated with procedural and episodic memory measures, finding positive associations between CA1 integrity and episodic memory …

Teaching Resilience In Pacific Islander Children Through Culturally Adapted Stories, Isabel Medina Hull

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the efficacy of culturally adapted bibliotherapy in promoting resilience among American Samoan children aged 5-13 years in response to high adolescent suicide rates in the Pacific Islands and the need for culturally adapted and supportive interventions grounded in mental health wellness. Bibliotherapy, particularly the identification with story characters, has been recognized for bolstering mental wellness, resilience, and emotional regulation in children. In this research, the children's response to bibliotherapy was measured through card sorting and forced-choice exercises, assessing their engagement with literature mirroring their experiences. The materials were developed in collaboration with Samoan cultural brokers on island …

One Size Does Not Fit All: Creating Educational Equity For Later Diagnosed Autistic Women, Naomi Julian

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Autism research focuses on the externalized behaviors usually associated with the male phenotype of autism with little representation of the internalized behaviors associated with the female phenotype of autism. Even more so, there is little research involving later diagnosed autistic women — especially women of color. Beyond this, non-white individuals have been marginalized within the sphere of education, and their marginalization is exacerbated by an autism diagnosis.

In the realm of schooling, the relationship between race, gender, and disability lacks investigation. In this exploratory study, I draw upon qualitative data from interviews of 17 racially diverse autistic women ages ranging …

Transformational Leadership And Teacher Commitment: Examining Differences Between Rural And Non-Rural Teachers, Kyle Jonathan Patterson

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher burnout, absenteeism, and turnover continue to plague schools throughout the United States. Researchers have suggested that a school principal's transformational leadership may impact teacher commitment, though there are limited findings regarding the differences in commitment levels among rural and non-rural teachers. There are also limited findings regarding how the different elements of a principal's transformational leadership (idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration, and inspirational motivation) impact teachers' professional and organizational commitment, if at all. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential differences in commitment levels among rural and non-rural teachers, as well as urban-rural differences in the …

Mathematical Modeling And Understanding The Physiological Mechanisms Of Vibration On Wound Healing And Scar Remodeling, Devin Rion Needs

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic wounds and pathological scars reduce the quality of life for millions of people worldwide. Through mathematical modeling and clinical testing, understanding of how these conditions occur continues to increase. These tools have also been employed to investigate the efficacy of treatments that could impact wound healing and scar remodeling. The purpose of this work is to investigate the physiological effects of vibration treatment on wound healing, blood flow, and scar remodeling through mathematical modeling and experimental testing. This work presents and validates a mathematical murine model for whole body vibration enhanced wound healing (VEWH). This VEWH model builds on …

Effects Of Professional Development On Secondary School Teachers’ Self-Efficacy, Knowledge, And Attitudes About Adhd, Rebecca Jeanne Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Educators in general are not likely to have an accurate understanding of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including its etiology, how it presents, or how it is treated. Teachers also report lower satisfaction with students who have ADHD, including frustration with classroom experiences. Additionally, teachers express a desire to learn more about ADHD and how to manage related behaviors in their classrooms. Students with ADHD report wishing their teachers liked them more and understood that they aren't trying to be difficult. Accurate knowledge of ADHD has been shown to improve teacher efficacy. The current research study is adapted from Latouche …

The Acceptability Of Relationship-Centered Communication Partner Training For Couples Impacted By Aphasia: A Mixed Methods Pilot Investigation, Kathryn-Anne Pertab, Tyson G. Harmon, Jonathan Sandberg, Jon L. Pertab, William S. Evans

Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study explored the acceptability and impact of Relationship-Centered Communication Partner Training (RC-CPT) in couples impacted by aphasia. In particular, couples considered whether discussing their relationship roles and responsibilities was important and relevant to the changes they desire. Preliminary quasi-experimental data regarding perceived communication confidence and the marriage relationship were also obtained.

Method: Three couples participated in RC-CPT across two sessions. Surveys were used to measure communication confidence and the marital relationship before and after participation in RC-CPT. The quantitative findings were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Couples also participated in a semi-structured interview about the acceptability of RC-CPT, during …

Using Rna Sequencing Methodologies To Uncover Common Pathways In Neural Tube Defects: A Comparative Study Of Three Oxidative Neurotoxicants, Aubrey Coleen Johansen

Theses and Dissertations

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the second most common type of congenital birth defect that affect infants worldwide. There are several proposed mechanisms for NTDs, but no definitive mechanism has yet been described. One possible mechanism is oxidative disruption of normal developmental signaling. The purpose of this study is to culture whole mouse embryos with three common developmental toxicants, mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP, a plastic pollutant), Fumonisin B1 (FB1, a corn mold), and valproic acid (VPA, an anticonvulsant drug), all of which are known to cause NTDs, and compare their shifts in redox potential and changes to important signaling pathways through …

Black Stereotypes In Basketball Films, Carsen Jackson Williams

Theses and Dissertations

This study conducts a frequency analysis on the Black stereotypes portrayed in popular basketball films through the lens of media framing. Academic literature has made a frequent topic of racial bias and its role in professional sports, particularly through sports media. However, there is a gap in the literature when looking specifically at basketball films as a whole and the prevalence therein of racial stereotypes, specifically Black stereotypes. Using framing theory as the backbone of the study, a frequency analysis was completed of main characters in the ten most popular basketball films to identify what Black Stereotypes arise. Most common …

Speech Prosody In People With Non-Fluent Aphasia: A Descriptive Study Of Between And Within Utterance Pause, Makayla Brielle Newcombe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of pause duration and frequency in speakers with moderate nonfluent aphasia and apraxia. The speech recordings analyzed in this study were produced by 16 adult speakers of American English (8 males and 8 females). Speech samples were provided by the AphasiaBank database (i.e., narrative samples from the Cinderella Story). Praat acoustic analysis software was used to code the speech samples for utterance boundaries and durations, as well as between and within filled and silent pause durations and frequencies. Results found a difference in silent versus filled pause durations, with silent pauses …

Occupational Prestige Among East, Southeast, And Mixed Asian Groups: Exploring Heterogeneity Within The Model Minority Narrative, Kyli Fox Soug

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The phenomena of Asians exceeding Non-Hispanic Whites in education and income has been thoroughly documented and researched. However, existing research has often overlooked whether this achievement translates into access to prestigious occupations. Moreover, the predominant focus on East Asian perspectives with educational attainment and success frameworks neglects the experiences of Southeast or mixed Asian individuals. This quantitative study examines the unique experiences of East, Southeast, and mixed-race Asian Americans, in gaining entry to prestigious occupations. It seeks to understand the diversity within the broader Asian American population and dispel notions surrounding the homogeneity of the Asian experience.

Caregiver And Clinician Impressions On The Development Of Spoken Language In Autistic Cochlear Implant Users, Courtney Dawn Marks

Theses and Dissertations

The current literature reports that oral language development is not a realistic goal for autistic cochlear implant users (ACI). This is curious, due to the general success of cochlear implants and the fact that many autistic individuals develop strong spoken language skills. Therefore, this study aimed to examine clinician and caregiver insights into spoken language development in the ACI population with the aim of elucidating the factors that influence the poor outcomes reported in the literature. We predicted that cochlear implant function would not be the limiting factor in ACI language development, but that device use and sensory atypicalities might …

Dungeons & Dragons & Dissertations: A Study Of Therapeutically Applied Tabletop Roleplaying Game Groups At A University Counseling Center, Samuel Mischa Chun

Theses and Dissertations

Although there is a large body of research on the effects of unstructured group therapy among college students, there is inconclusive research on how implementing tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) as a structured activity affects group cohesion for therapy groups made up of college students. Participants were adult, full-time university students who are seeking therapy at the university counseling center. This study measured the effectiveness of therapeutically applied TTRPGs in group therapy with a mixed-methods approach. Participants took the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45) to measure psychological functioning, the Group Questionnaire (GQ) to measure group cohesion, and answered five qualitative questions to describe …

Are Women The Silver Bullet? Understanding Women’S Perceptions Of Gun Reform And Red Flag Laws In The United States, Emmeline Farwell

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines women’s perceptions of gun reform policies and how they can be used as a measure to predict how women could potentially view specific gun reform policies like red flag laws. Specific policies like the assault weapons ban and red flag laws are becoming increasingly common, practical measures to reduce gun violence, but little academic research has been done on them. Using data from the 2022 Congressional Election Survey conducted by the University of Texas at Austin University, I use several linear regressions to ascertain how one’s gender affects feelings or support for gun reform generally and for …

Toward Overcoming The Double Empathy Problem: Bridging Autistic And Neurotypical Minds Through Science And Art, Elizabeth Rose Bessey

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, autistic people have been portrayed as lacking empathy. However, more recent research reveals mutual, rather than one-sided, gaps in empathy between autistic and neurotypical (NT) people. Decreased empathy can lead to marginalization and even violence, usually toward those in the minority. Regardless of diagnosis, however, there are fundamental aspects of the human experience upon which empathy could be built. In the present study, we explored commonalities and differences in how autistic and NT individuals experience comfort and discomfort. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to discover the causes, emotions, and reactions to comfortable and uncomfortable social situations and environments across autistic …

Educational Barriers For Children In Nepalese Brick Kiln Communities, Eve Burgess

Ballard Brief

Throughout Nepal, brick kilns employ thousands of families annually for the seasonal work of crafting and shipping bricks. As families migrate between work in brick factories and agricultural work at home, more factors block their children from a complete and quality education. The open invitation to begin working with their parents and to help provide for the family becomes a strong temptation that causes many children to give up on school. In addition, Nepal's lack of law enforcement frequently allows children to drop out of school early without consequence. Their parents do not attempt to stop them either, making little …

Examining The Early Influences On England's First Female M.D.: Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Audra Bollard

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

In 1859 Elizabeth Garrett Anderson returned home from a short vacation. At this time she made an announcement so shocking her mother cried for days in humiliation and her father declared it disgusting; she had simply informed them she was going to be a doctor. Victorian women of the upper-middle class were expected to prepare for domestic lives as wives and mothers. In mid-nineteenth century England, professional careers were unheard of for females. Although the British-born Elizabeth Blackwell had become the first female to earn an M. D. in America, where she set up a practice, measures were quickly taken …

Glasnost, Perestroika And Big Mac's: The Significance Of Mcdonald's In The Changing Face Of The Ussr, Theresa Bartholomew

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

Early on the morning of 30 January 1990, George Cohon, president of McDonald'sCanada, left his hotel room and drove to Pushkin Square in Moscow. Nervous about the international press that would be covering the opening of the first McDonald's in this nation and anxious to make the opening perfect, he arrived to see the streets empty in front of the fast-food restaurant except for a lone policeman. Wondering where the anticipated crowds of Muscovites were, Cohon approached the officer, concerned by the apparent lack of interest in the first McDonald's opening in the Soviet Union. After a short conversation with …

Flexible And Rigid Endoscopic Evaluation Of In Vivo Rabbit Larynges: A Pilot Study, Shauntel Mei Li Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the comparability of flexible endoscopy to rigid endoscopy in the examination of rabbit vocal folds in vivo. This work was conducted within a larger parent project that has investigated the adverse effects of combination inhaled corticosteroids (ICs) on voice function in animal models and humans. In this study, both flexible and rigid vocal fold imaging was performed on eight rabbits; four having received ICs and four that were from control conditions. Original recordings were examined frame-by-frame to identify similar views, zoomed in and zoomed out, for flexible and rigid samples. Images were …

A Rifle Totin' Cartoonist: In Memory Of Bill Mauldin, 1921-2003, Casey Sullivan

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

In late 2002, Jay Gruenfeld, a veteran of the Pacific Theater of World War II, set out on a mission to give comfort to a man who unknowingly had done the same for him many years before. During the war, Gruenfeld was an infantryman in the Philippines. In the ensuing battles, his squad was decimated with close to one hundred percent American casualties. Gruenfeld was injured and sent to a hospital to recover, where he felt alone. While there, his father sent him a copy of Up Front, a collection of cartoons by Bill Mauldin. This was the first contact …

A Tale Of Desire And Deceit, Dallas Peterson

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

This essay is a narrative account of the rebellion of An Lushan and the death of Precious Consort Yang, drawn primarily from a section of Sirna Guang's Zizhi tongjian, translated by Paul W. Kroll in "The Flight from the Capital and the Death of Precious Consort Yang," Tang Studies, no. 3 (Boulder: University of Colorado Press, 1985). This narrative also utilizes one of the two biographies of An Lushan: Howard S. Le,y, trans., The Biography of An Lushan (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1960). With these two primary sources and a few key secondary sources I have …

Changing Of The Guard In Imperial Ideology Clement Attlee Vs. Winston Churchill, Charles C. Olson

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

On 2 February 1927, the young Labour Representative and future Prime Minister Clement Attlee found himself, much to his own surprise, on the shores of Bombay, sent to find solutions to a problem he later termed "virtually insoluble. " His ship arrived to a confused reception of both noisy protesters, waving banners of "Go Back," juxtaposed by a welcoming rain of flowers and leaves by supporters of the visit.' These polar reactions to perceived British intent in India during the late 1920s no doubt showed Attlee the energy of the debate surrounding Indian independence, which only intensified through the coming …

A Rabbit Model Of Voice Function Changes Caused By The Administration And Subsequent Withdrawal Of Asthma Inhalers, Savannah Forbes Bullock

Theses and Dissertations

Combination inhaled corticosteroids (ICs) are the primary treatment prescribed for patients with asthma; however, voice problems are also associated with ICs. In this study, 32 rabbits were assigned randomly to one of five experimental groups: baseline, induction, induction control, reversibility, and reversibility control. The baseline group received no treatment and larynges were obtained following quarantine. Rabbits belonging to experimental groups received IC treatment twice a day until trained raters noted visible vocal fold changes during endoscopy, which was performed every 2 weeks. When changes were observed, animals were euthanized, and the larynges were harvested from the experimental induction group and …

Exploring Caregiver Support For Advanced Practice Nurses Following An Error, Sunnie Lee Nield

Theses and Dissertations

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) are a growing population of employed individuals within the healthcare system, working in outpatient and inpatient settings. Like other healthcare professionals, nurse practitioners can and do make errors while practicing. Nevertheless, little to no research has focused on them. This research aimed to better understand nurse practitioners' attitudes towards error approach, perception, and cause using the Medical Error Attitude Scale (MEAS). Additional purposes included the further exploration of APRNs' experiences following an error and support they may or may not receive. A convenience sample of ARPNs licensed in Utah was sent an electronic survey via …

Debunking 'Pfeiffer' S Bacillus': Twentieth Century Germ Theory And The 1918 Influenza Epidemic, Conor Tyson

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

In the midst of World War I, a scourge swept the world that proved more deadly than any military battle. Between June 1918 and May 1919, three waves of influenza struck in a worldwide pandemic. The origins of this particular influenza strain remain mysterious even today, but it spread so far and fast that only St. Helena in the Atlantic and several south Pacific islands avoided any infection of this flu. The rest of the globe witnessed a deadly killer. Scientists estimate that 50 to 100 million people died from this pandemic, far more deaths than from the five years …

All Dese Years Of Busy Livin': A Case Study Of Freedwomen In Athens, Georgia, Hollijane Dailey Litchfield

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

A bright-eyed little girl about the age of four or five, dressed adorably in a lacy dress with matching shoes, carried a basket of fruit as she circled the crowded dining-room breakfast table. "Anna, Anna," they called out as she cheerfully brought the basket to each person who requested fruit. Her small hands could not yet perform the laborious tasks required of a house servant but still, she was working, doing her small yet important part. Though what she was doing may seem like a minor task, it symbolized the fact that Anna, despite her young age, was a slave, …

The Effect Of Educating Mas On Hpv Vaccination: A Pilot Project, Alexis Petersen, Karlen E. Luthy, Michael S. Robinson, Janelle L. B. Macintosh

Student Works

Background: The HPV vaccine protects patients against infection and cancers, yet it is underutilized. Medical Assistants (MAs) can play a pivotal role in vaccination and are the focus of this project.

Aim Statement: This project aims to examine whether one educational session can improve the perceptions, knowledge, and comfort level of MAs regarding HPV vaccination.

Methods: The project took place at three separate clinics of one pediatric organization in Utah.

Interventions: A 10–15-minute educational session about the HPV vaccine was presented to the MAs at each clinic, and a pre- and post-survey method was used to analyze the effect of …