Digital Commons Network^™

Relations Among Academic Program Elements And Students' Sense Of Belonging, Rosemary Ashby

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis studies specific elements of an academic program and their relationship with students’ sense of belonging. To gather data, participants responded to a questionnaire that contained items designed to understand their experience in their major. The quantitative portion asked about the program elements (independent variables) and used the General Belongingness Scale to measure their sense of belonging (dependent variable). This also included questions that had participants report their perception of how each element affected their sense of belonging. The final item was open-ended and asked for their general thoughts on belonging in their program. The findings suggest that the …

Music Is My Language: Analyzing Autism Acceptance Within Communities, Cielo Bake

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the intersection of music and romanticism, drawing upon the emotional expressionism of Romantic era composers, inspired by Romantic literature, such as Frederic Chopin and Franz Liszt as a vehicle for communication. The ultimate goal was to determine a way to bridge the neurodivergent and neurotypical gaps in connection, enabling a stronger community that values every member of its locale and allows for a sense of belonging. The format for this research is through a performance, comprised of a piano recital of Romantic Era music by Frederic Chopin and Franz Liszt and improvised original music with a speech. …

Stress, Screens, And Social Skills: Parental Stress As A Longitudinal Predictor Of Preschool Social Behavior Mediated By Parental Technoference, Sarah Ashby

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the longitudinal relationship between parental stress, parental technoference, and preschool children's social behavior, including physical aggression, relational aggression, and prosocial behavior. Using data from Project M.E.D.I.A., the study explores how parental stress may be linked to disruptions in parent-child interactions through increased use of digital media, termed "technoference." It was predicted that an increase in parental stress would increase physical and relational aggression, and decrease prosocial behavior over time, as mediated by parental technoference. A sample of 460- parent-child dyads was analyzed across three time points using structural equation modeling. Despite expectations, results did not find significant …

The Impact Of Positive-To-Negative Teacher Interaction Ratio On Student Performance, Naomi L. Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

Challenging behavior is a growing problem for teachers. Praise has been promoted as a positive strategy for addressing problem behavior. The ratio of praise-to-correction (positive-to-negative) may be important to the effectiveness of praise. A 4:1 ratio has been recommended as optimal to improve student performance. This ratio has never been experimentally tested. There is little known of the feasibility and social validity for maintaining a high positive-to-negative ratio. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 4:1 positive-to-negative ratio (PNR) on problem behavior and academic performance of junior high students with an intellectual disability classification in …

How Do Religious Women Cope With Marital Conflict And Hardship? Article 2, Elizabeth M. Lyman, Loren D. Marks, David C. Dollahite, Chelom E. Leavitt, Tamara M. Chamberlain, Christina N. Cooper

Faculty Publications

Frequent and unresolved conflict is a significant relationship risk factor for divorce, but it has also been shown that religion strengthens marriages, specifically in ways that give direction and motivation for couples in resolving marital conflict or other marital hardships. Thus, a study of how successful religious couples resolve conflict is pertinent in helping us better understand how to strengthen marriages and families. Our qualitative study of 113 highly religious women of diverse faiths and races found that women’s perceived relationship or connection with God reportedly impacted conflict resolution and coping with marital hardship. Results suggest greater reconciliation and unity …

Recommendations For Adapting Religious Materials For People With Aphasia, Allison Dahl

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study aimed to discover whether text adaptations for aphasia commonly applied to secular texts are also applicable to religious texts, as religious texts are often held in a special regard by religious people. This research included five participants with aphasia who consider themselves members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These participants indicated preferences using a 7-point scale between paired samples of religious text formatted using common aphasia-friendly text adaptations. These quantitative data were analyzed for preference trends. Additionally, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews focused on adaptation preferences as well as aphasia’s effects on …

The Learner's Experience Using Augmented Reality, Michael Lionel Atkinson

Theses and Dissertations

Augmented reality (AR) is a promising learning tool that has the potential to improve learning experiences in unique ways. While AR has been extensively studied in terms of learning outcomes, relatively little has been researched about the qualitative aspect of the learner experience and how that may inform better instruction. This multi-article, journal-ready dissertation addresses this gap. The first article is a review of the literature on what researchers have learned about AR in learning, systematically identifying six areas that appear salient yet underrepresented in the literature. The second article expands further upon this theme by conducting a qualitative study …

Assessing Client Satisfaction In University Counseling: Factor Structure Of A Survey Developed For A Private, Religious-Affiliated Institution, Wai Man Cheng

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the factor structure of a client satisfaction survey developed by BYU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). The survey included (a) universal, (b) individual, (c) couple, and (d) group subscales. Only the universal and individual subscales were analyzed. The couple and group subscales were excluded due to limited sample sizes. For the universal subscale, the analysis supported a first-order model with three factors: (a) clarity, (b) cultural competence, and (c) progress. For the individual subscale, the analysis supported a second-order model. Three first-order factors including (a) symptom relief, (b) insight and awareness, and (c) guidance and coping skills, …

Modalities And Meaning: Instructor Adaptation And Student Spiritual Formation Across Higher Education Learning Environments, Stephanie D. Sorensen

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the dynamic instructor and student experiences inherent in the evolving modalities of higher education. The first article synthesizes qualitative research about the challenges and successes faced by instructors transitioning to online learning environments, especially in their interactions with content and learners. Emphasizing the importance of support for instructors and institutions, it sets the stage for understanding the nuanced experience of online teaching. The second article presents an exploratory case study of a religious education professor teaching across four modalities. His experience emphasized adaptive strategies and underscored the pivotal role of instructor preparation. Findings revealed the instructor's proactive …

The Effect Of Variable Learning Contexts On Novel Word Retention In Adults, Emily A. Badoni

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of decontextualized learning on memory recall and retention within virtual reality (VR) environments. Forty-six healthy young adult participants, both male and female, were randomly assigned to either a consistent VR learning condition (n = 23) or a diverse VR learning condition (n = 23). Both groups were exposed to the same set of 30 nonwords and their definitions across three learning phases. The participants in the consistent condition remained in the same VR environment throughout the study, while the participants in the diverse condition experienced three different VR environments. Immediate and delayed post-tests were conducted …

University Department Chair Perceptions Of Open Access Journals And Open Textbooks, Rebecca Nicole Nissen

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the perceptions of university department chairs regarding open access journals and open textbooks. It was conducted as a qualitative single case study analysis using semistructured, in-person, one-on-one interviews. The six participants interviewed are department chairs from a large, private university in the western United States. Five levels of coding were used with thematic codes drawing from the TAM2 model. Findings revealed participant perceptions on (a) personal values, (b) university mission alignment, (c) predatory journals, and (d) promotion and tenure. The results obtained from this study can inform and influence institutional change and can also help inform future …

The Effect Of Applied Mental Health Courses On College Student Anxiety And Perfectionism, Nathan Thomas Rhees

Theses and Dissertations

University students face a variety of mental health challenges, including increasingly high rates of anxiety. As demand for college counseling services among student populations rises, universities have an increasing need for effective and resource-efficient methods of intervention that support student mental health on their campuses. One area in need of research is that of using university classes themselves as a form of preventive intervention. If effective, this kind of preventive measure might be a particularly attractive method of reducing incidence of mental illness on campus and decreasing demand on university therapy resources. This study involves students at a private university …

Joshua As A Hymn Of Glory: An Analysis And Comparison Of Ancient Near Eastern Texts, Richard D. Jarvis Iii

Studia Antiqua

A knowledgeable reader of the Hebrew Bible understands that there are two conflicting conquest narratives contained in the books of Joshua and Judges. This paper seeks to reframe Joshua 5–11 in a genre other than the traditional interpretation of a conquest narrative. These chapters of Joshua, as compared with Merneptah’s Victory Stele and the annals of Adad-Nārārī II, fit thematically into an entirely different genre from ancient Near Eastern literature: hymns of glory. Using four char- acteristics inspired by the work of Susan Hollis—propagandistic royal ideology, divine empowerment or call, utter destruction of enemies, and will of the deity accomplished—to …

Case Study On A Shift To Open Educational Resources In An Academic Department, Karina May Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

Open educational resources (OER) have the potential to significantly impact the landscape of higher education. However, many users of OER find it difficult to adopt programmatically due to the barriers of awareness, quality assurance, institutional culture, and sustainability. This case study of the successful OER adoption in an education department serves as a look into the conditions and practices that allowed for the promotion, continued use, and production of open educational resources. The results indicate that the climate, technology, and opportunity costs surrounding tenure and promotion were key factors in the faculty's experience with acting on their inclinations toward openness.

Cross-National Prevalence And Legality Of Consanguinity & Its Implications For State Security, Emma Dart

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines the impact of cousin marriage prevalence on state stability and the development and behaviors of terrorist organizations, with a special focus on the destabilization of states through the power of kinship networks. Cousin marriage, often intertwined with other social practices such as patrilocality and polygyny, creates an isolated power structure that reinforces the fraternal structure present in kinship networks. The kinship network then uses the power gained through the trust in the community to undermine the legitimate rule of law. This research emphasizes the importance of understanding cousin marriage and its contribution to state stability and finds …

Flying Under The Radar: Navigating Through Frustrations, Tears, And The Politics Of The Liberal Arts Curriculum, Sandra Houghton

Theses and Dissertations

The elements and principles of art continue to highly influence curriculum in the typical art foundations class. The reduction of art and artmaking to their formal properties constricts a student’s ability to engage in real-life artist processes, and many important contextual meanings are lost. Consequently, art foundations curriculum derived from the elements and principles of art narrows the lens through which we create, teach, and talk about art. In my own experience as an art teacher, I have found that this approach limits my teaching and makes it difficult to fully and authentically understand the works of other artists and …

The Impacts Of Co-Occurring Developmental Language Disorder On The Academic, Interpersonal, And Behavioral Profiles Of Children With Adhd, Kirsten M. Hannig Russell, Sean M. Redmond

Faculty Publications

Purpose: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a multifactorial disorder that has been linked to increased risk for behavioral, academic, and interpersonal problems. Developmental language disorder (DLD) has also been linked to poor outcomes in these areas. The presence of co-occurring disorders in children’s profiles is generally associated with poorer outcomes relative to profiles consisting of only one disorder. This study investigated the extent to which co-occurring DLD in children already identified with ADHD presented increased risk for severity of their primary ADHD symptoms, the presence of secondary behavioral problems, and/or increased problems in the tertiary areas of academic performance and interpersonal …

Journal Of Response To Writing 10(2)

Journal of Response to Writing

No abstract provided.

Making Video Feedback For The First Time: A Case Study, Dan Martin

Journal of Response to Writing

This paper examines some of the labor three professors from three different disciplines needed to exert to produce effective VF on student writing for the first time. The research on VF demonstrates that students want more video comments but the labor to learn how to make VF has not been fully identified. I completed a case study with three professors to collect data. I interviewed the professors at the beginning, middle, and end of the study. After transcribing and coding the interviews, I identified where the professors exerted a significant amount of labor to make VF for the first time. …

Responding Through Listening: Promoting Listening Skills Through Lightning Talks And 2x2x2 Storytelling, Elizabeth L. Angeli

Journal of Response to Writing

Current scholarship in writing pedagogy and peer review focuses on how and what to write and say. What is often left unaddressed in these discussions are how we listen and how we teach our students to listen, making listening an often overlooked and understudied piece of the peer review and writing response process. Yet, the quality of the feedback we receive and offer is directly tied to how well we listen to what is said and written. To this fill this gap, this teaching article offers two activities, Lighting Talks and 2x2x2 Storytelling, that promote students’ listening skills so that …

Developing A Learner-Centered Response To Writing Through A Graduate Course In Writing-Across-The-Curriculum, Faqryza Ab Latif, Kristin Winet

Journal of Response to Writing

Although writing-across-the-curriculum (WAC) programs have been commonplace since the 1970s, the focus has largely been at the level of assessment and programmatic development and less on the instructors, particularly graduate teaching assistants (TAs) who adopt these practices. In this article, we describe a pilot WAC graduate-level course in writing pedagogy that our institution developed as part of our recent membership in the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL). We also share how one science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduate student revised her approach to assignment design, feedback, and assessment for a general education course and …

Behind The Screen: Exploring Parental Roles In K-12 Online Education, Barbara T. Sandberg, Charles R. Graham, Jered Borup, Richard E. West, Rocio Quiroga Velasquez

Faculty Publications

Independent engagement can be challenging for K-12 online students. Parents’ physical presence makes them an important source of engagement support. Previous research on parental support in online courses is limited and focused on asynchronous learning within a single program. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, online enrollments have grown and instructional modalities have evolved. To better understand parental support post-Covid, we interviewed 21 parents across eight online programs with asynchronous, synchronous, and bichronous course offerings. Parents identified their affective, behavioral, cognitive, and other support roles. Implications for parental roles in addressing the academic engagement gap are provided to both researchers and practitioners.

Capturing Creativity: An Exploration Of The Positive Impact Of Art Integration In Elementary Education, Christina Zander

Theses and Dissertations

My thesis focuses on the necessity of including art in education and the positive impact integrating art has on students mentally and academically. Over the past 2 years, I have seen the major impact integrating art has on students and how essential it is to keep creativity in the classroom. My research explains how incorporating art helps increase both student engagement and retention of concepts. I have also studied how integrating art with mindfulness can help students develop essential SEL skills including emotion management. My research expands on how utilizing art allows individuals and students to better cope with challenges …

Barbie, Taylor Michelle Gale

Theses and Dissertations

The stereotypes placed over men and women throughout various forms of media, including film and TV, song, printed media, and even through objects like toys, have a large impact on society as a whole. Kumari and Joshi (2015) explain that media plays an important role in sharing information concerning what deems to be the fabric of contemporary culture, which can aid in changing, or perpetuating long standing societal norms. This study identifies how Greta Gerwig's Barbie (2023) approaches the themes of the portrayal of women in the media through the Barbie film, examining themes such as objectification, self-objectification, and the …

Self-Guided Onboarding For An Instructional Design Project Manager, Steven Proctor

Instructional Psychology and Technology Graduate Student Projects

The purpose of this project was to provide training for future IP&T graduate students who work as the Instructional Design Project Manager (ID PM) for BYU’s David O. McKay School of Education. This product was intended for use by newly hired graduate students and thereafter for ongoing training as a just-in-time resource.

I created an online textbook that serves as a self-paced training guide. Each chapter is a lesson or sub-lesson with guiding principles, examples, learning assessments, and experiential learning activities to use and learn from beyond the training. A final survey was inserted at the end of each lesson …

Book Review: Atomic Habits, Hadley Parker

Marriott Student Review

Atomic Habits, a book by performance coach James Clear, has taken the world by storm since its release in 2018. In this debut self-improvement novel, Clear seeks to explain how small, good habits will lead to great success in both your personal and professional life. As the psychology of daily habits and their formation is established, Clear’s tried-and-true formula for breaking down bad habits and building new ones comes into play, and it’s not only reasonable but shockingly familiar for the religious majority here at BYU.

The Harmful Nature Of The Busy Mindset, Nate Applegate

Marriott Student Review

In a world full of influencers trying to be inspirational, Randy Pausch stands out for his wisdom and example of optimism amidst adversity. Facing the relentless advance of pancreatic cancer and given only six months to live, Pausch, a renowned computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, delivered a powerful and stirring Last Lecture in 2007. Throughout this final lesson, he shared invaluable insights on life’s significance, emphasizing the finite, yet invaluable, nature of time: “Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think.”

Full Issue

Marriott Student Review

No abstract provided.

Experience Design: The Future Of Business, Grace Xiques

Marriott Student Review

Close your eyes for a moment and think about a few of your most powerful and meaningful memories. Was a specific business involved? What did that brand offer you that contributed to what is now a cherished memory? Whether your memory was of a beach vacation in Florida or a dinner at your favorite restaurant, every experience involves the products or services of one or more companies.

It’S Time To Break Up With Work, Cody Larimer

Marriott Student Review

A recent study shows that employees are productive for only two hours and fifty-three minutes of an eight-hour workday. At first glance, three hours might not seem terrible, but this statistic demonstrates that employees are productive at work just over one-third of the time.