Digital Commons Network^™

An Exploration Of Sense Of Belonging Among Black Males Attending A Predominately White Institution, Nicolas T. Wright

Masters Theses

This study was designed to gain insight on how Black male students attending a predominantly White institution defined and described sense of belonging. In addition, the researcher sought to see if Black male students at the research institution developed a sense of belonging. Using a qualitative approach, the researcher interviewed five Black male students. The participants were students of sophomore to senior standing. Results showed that Black males students defined sense of belonging as acceptance and comfort. Additionally, the results showed that Black male students were able to create a sense of belonging at their predominantly White institution. Participants discussed …

Aau Basketball - Participants' Perceptions Of Their Aau Experience, Hakeem R. Willis

Masters Theses

In the United States, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) has become the focal point for college recruiters in searching for top talent amongst middle and high school basketball athletes. Financially, AAU basketball can be expensive, making it difficult for families to allow their children to compete. However, players feel that AAU participation is worth the investment because of the benefits, which includes collegiate exposure. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of former AAU basketball players' experience. The research question used to guide this study was: what are former AAU basketball players' perceptions of academic requirements, time/money, …

Heroic Texts And Special Effects, Joshua D. Goss

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Female Anti-Heroes In Contemporary Literature, Film, And Television, Sara A. Amato

Masters Theses

The anti-hero character has steadily become more popular in contemporary literature, film, and television. Part of this popularity is due to the character's appeal to the audience. This character type often commits acts that challenge the regulations of society. These acts, however, can become wish fulfillment for some audience members, making the acts of the character a vicarious experience as well as making the character more relatable because of the character's flawed nature.

This study will trace some of the evolution of the female anti-hero by discussing an ancestral character of the female anti-hero—Hester Prynne the protagonist of Nathanial Hawthorne's …

Behavioral Patterns Of The Cannibalism And Sexual Taboos, Kayla R. Rice

Masters Theses

Previous research has suggested that there may be a connection between the cannibalism taboo and sexual attraction. Specifically, it appears that when forced to choose someone to cannibalize, people choose victims in a pattern that mimics who they would choose to be sexually intimate with. To confirm and explore this relationship, the current study measured sexual orientation and examined whether participants' preferences in who to cannibalize if forced reflected their desired sexual partner. Participants recruited from Amazon Turk responded to forced pair choices regarding either desired sexual partner or cannibalism victims. Targets included all combinations of three variables: Physical Appearance …

Children With Special Needs And The Effect On The Family, Taylor N. Downey

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the family unit after the addition of a child with special needs. Additional stressors, positive and negative emotions were also explored in this study. The results of this study suggested that all families have different experiences with their child but they may feel similar emotions, feelings, and face the same characteristics depending on their child's diagnosis.

Do Smartphone Applications Aid In Weight Loss? A Study On The Efficacy Of Apps As A Supplemental Weight-Loss Aid, Elizabeth C. Fitzsimmons

Masters Theses

Over the past decade, mobile technology has been developed in the hopes of improving health outcomes, especially related to weight loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone application as a supplementary weight loss tool among highly motivated individuals. Twenty-five individuals over the age of 18 were included in the study based on BMI and participation in a Midwest weight-loss clinic. Intervention group participants (n = 13) were instructed to use the MyFitnessPal app to monitor food intake and receive SMS-style nutritional messages. The control group (n = 12) received no mobile-based intervention, but …

Neon Calico, Joshua Webb Garrett

Masters Theses

This is a work of creative fiction in the genre of cyberpunk that explores themes of loss, sexuality, and trans-humanism though the eyes of a young Asian-American woman who struggles to cope with the loss of her former boyfriend, with an emerging sexual attraction to a friend of the same sex, and with feelings of disconnectedness complicated by a loss of humanity brought on by her continually improving her own physical body through cybernetic implants and augmentation. Inspired by such works as William Gibson's Neuromancer and Shirow Masamune's The Ghost in the Shell, this book explores the struggle that …

Bridges Instead Of Borders: A Look Into Hispanic-American Literature And Its Effect On Hyphenated Youth, Cristal Villarreal

Undergraduate Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Psy 3518 : Psychology Of Language Development, Psychology

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Mar 3550 : Marketing Professionalism And Management, Business

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Cmn 3960 : Public Relations Writing & Production, Communication Studies

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Fcs 4246 : Curriculum For Child Care Homes/Centers, Fcs

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Edf 5590 : Educational Response To Third Age Learning, Secondary Education And Foundations

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Eng 5061a, B, D : Special Topics In Literature And Literary Theory, English

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Psy 4274 : Orientation To Internship, Psychology

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Psy 3780 : Abnormal Psychology, Psychology

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Psy 3515 : Child Psychology, Psychology

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Sos 3400 : Social Studies Teaching Methods, Secondary Education And Foundations

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Sos 2400 : Introduction To Teaching Social Studies, Sociology And Anthropology

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Kss 5130 : Exercise Psychology, Kinesiology And Sports Studies

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Jou 3920 : Public Relations In Society, Journalism

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Psy 4590 : Psychology Seminar, Psychology

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Psy 3521 : Psychology Of Adolescence And Young Adulthood, Psychology

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Kss 5225 : Physical Activity And Aging, Kinesiology And Sports Studies

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Geo 1200g : World Regional Geography, Geology/Geography

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Middle Level Trade Books With Gender And Sexual Minority Content, Jena Borah

Masters Theses

Middle school is often the time students become aware of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and in many schools, perceived nonheteronormative behavior is penalized through bullying. One way schools can reduce bullying and increase successful learning environments is to include trade books that feature gender and sexual minorities. State and national standards set expectations for social and emotional learning as well as critical analysis of high quality reading materials. This research analyzed trade books from the 2013 and 2014 Rainbow Lists which were chosen by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association as …

A Quantitative Study Of The Source Of Stress For First Generation Freshman Female College Students, Amber Byrley

Masters Theses

This study compared the sources of stress between first-generation and continuing-generation freshman female students, Caucasian and non-Caucasian freshman female students, and straight and non-straight freshman female students. This study was conducted at a rural, Midwestern, four-year, public institution, 101 first time freshman students living in on-campus housing participated in this study. A quantitative study was designed using Higbee and Dwinell's (1992) Developmental Inventory of the Sources of Stress (DISS) questionnaire which measures stress in five sub-categories including time management, physical lifestyle, academics, interactions, and chemical stressors. Results of the study indicated that overall, first-generation freshman females experience more total stress …

An Investigation Of The Nexus Between Poverty And The Informal Sector In Developing Economies: A Case Study Of Nigeria, Omotara Adeeko

Masters Theses

This paper examines the relationship between poverty and the informal sector in Nigeria. In order to achieve this objective both primary and secondary sources of data mostly spanning from 1980 to 2014 are utilized. The methodology follows three stages. First, the Granger causality test is performed to determine the direction of causality. Using that information, a baseline model, along with several variants, is built on the next stage. Lastly, a robustness check is completed to ensure that the results do not exhibit severe spuriousness problems.

Granger causality tests indicate that the informal sector causes poverty. Overall, nine models including some …

Athletic Identity And Emotional Regulation In Adolescents, Kellye Kohn

Masters Theses

The ability to regulate emotion is necessary for adolescents to cope with everyday stressors and major life events. Sports participation has been linked positively to the ability to cope and regulate emotion. Athletic identity is a concept that has been linked to anxiety, burnout and lower academic performance; its relationship to emotion regulation had not yet been researched. This paper reviews the literature on athletic identity, sports participation, coping ability and emotional regulation. The current study examines the link between sports participation and athletic identity in youth and their ability to cope with stress and regulate their emotions. One hundred …