Digital Commons Network^™

An Evaluation Of Social Media Use And Its Association With Nutrition Behaviors Among Female Parents, Meredith St. Cyr

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Recent studies have indicated that an unhealthy diet plays a role in the development of overweight and obesity, which are among the most severe public health challenges of the 21st century. One population that has become an emerging focus is female parents aged 21 – 35. Research has demonstrated that the transition to parenthood and the years following are often a turning point regarding developing obesity and that early effects on weight gain are likely to be cumulative and persistent. A unique characteristic of this population is their high utilization of social media. This study utilized a mixed methods study …

What’S Agape Love Got To Do With It?: Teaching With Courage, Passion, And Compassion In A Rural Elementary School In North Georgia, Jhanna Bryson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores the crucial role of love in teaching, specifically focusing on the content of a rural elementary school in North Georgia. Drawing on qualitative research and personal experiences of the author, as well as other teachers at the same school, this study examines how love, manifested through courage, passion, and compassion, can significantly impact teaching practices and positively influence student outcomes in challenging educational settings. Theoretically my dissertations draws upon three bodies of literature such as critical pedagogy, (e.g. Darder, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2018; Freire, 1987, 1998, 2000, 2019; Giroux, 2010, 2018; hooks, 1994, 2001), radical love, …

Highlighting Opportunities For Anaerobic Co-Digestion Of Food Waste From Universities With Pulp And Paper Mill Sludge, Md Nizam Uddin

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The disposal of food waste (FW) in landfills presents significant environmental and economic challenges, including greenhouse gas emissions and loss of potential resources. Concurrently, the pulp and paper industry, a major sector in the United States, generates substantial quantities of recalcitrant organic waste that is high in lignocellulosic content. Anaerobic co-digestion of FW with pulp and paper mill sludge (PPMS) emerges as a potential strategy to address both waste streams simultaneously, potentially enhancing organic matter degradation and biogas yield. However, the efficacy of this co-digestion approach and its broader sustainability implications remain insufficiently characterized. This study employs laboratory-scale experiments to …

A Muse In A Minefield: Poets, Pedagogy, And The Practice Of Liberation, Fran Dundore

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In this poetic inquiry I share my experiences as a public educator within the contexts of aesthetics, identity, and power. Reflecting and inquiring poetically on nearly thirty years of public practice and leadership, I consider my personal experiences and conversations with current teachers and call them into action to speak up about the ramifications of this current political climate on their curriculum and their pedagogy. I focus on the works of poets and theorists such as Oliver (1986, 1992, 1998 & 2011), Whitman (1855, 1892), Hughes (1951) Counts (1932), Rosenblatt (1978 &1995), Freire (1970, 1974 & 1978), and Greene (1973, …

Examining The Moderating Effect Of Self-Compassion Between Rumination And Alcohol Use, Victoria Forgea Allen

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Abundant research suggests alcohol use among college students as a public health concern (SAMHSA, 2014). Previous studies support rumination, a manner of responding to emotional distress which involves repetitively and passively focusing on the distress, is linked to problematic alcohol use among college students (Oswalt et al., 2020). On the other hand, not all college students who experience rumination engage in problematic alcohol use which suggests the presence of a moderating variable. Due to its emotion regulating abilities and positive associations to well-being, self-compassion may be on factor that affects the relationship between rumination and alcohol use (Diedrich et al., …

Psychotherapist Awareness And Competence Managing Social Media Concerns, Jing Wen Ong

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Social media use increased substantially in recent years, spurring the growth of research focused on its association with mental health. Previous research examined the relationship between positive and negative aspects of mental health and social media use. Other studies explored the relevance of social media to professional practice of psychologists including the use of social media to reach populations with limited access to mental health services and ethical dilemmas arising from social media use; however, there is limited understanding of the pertinence of social media to concerns that clients discuss in therapy and therapist competence in handling these discussions. The …

Social Support In Black Individuals: The Moderating Effects On The Relationship Between Resilience And Well-Being, Imani Elise Crosby

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Black individuals possess numerous strengths and positive contributions that build strong communities and cultivate psychological well-being (Biglan et al., 2012). However, much of the current literature focuses on hardships Black individuals face, skewing the larger discourse of their lived experience. This exclusive focus on adversity often neglects pathways by which Black people thrive and flourish. It is important to consider how Black experiences relate to a sense of well-being. Resilience, or the ability to “bounce back” from adverse experiences is linked well-being outcomes (APA, 2012). However, it is unknown whether the promotive effects of resilience directly contribute to well-being outcomes …

The Effects Of Cultural Responsiveness And Therapy Duration On Black Americans’ Therapy Preference, Katilyn M. Ashley Treem

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Marginalized groups are less likely to seek out mental health services than non-marginalized groups. There are various reasons why marginalized groups, such as Black Americans, are less likely to seek out mental health services, one of which is the cultural barriers between a clinician and client. Research suggests that Black Americans feel that clinicians struggle to overcome these cultural barriers. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to actively receive training on how to serve clients with diverse backgrounds. Cultural responsiveness, an extension from cultural competence, is the active application of the knowledge and skills obtained in training. Examining people’s therapy …

Applications Of Predictive And Generative Ai Algorithms: Regression Modeling, Customized Large Language Models, And Text-To-Image Generative Diffusion Models, Suhaima Jamal

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The integration of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms has radically changed predictive modeling and classification tasks, enhancing a multitude of domains with unprecedented analytical capabilities. Predictive modeling leverages ML and AI to forecast future trends or behaviors based on historical data, while classification tasks categorize data into distinct classes, from email filtering to medical diagnosis. Concurrently, text-to-image generation has emerged as a transformative potential, allowing visual content creation directly from textual descriptions. These advancements are pivotal in design, art, entertainment, and visual communication, as well as enhancing creativity and productivity. This work explores three significant studies in …

Exploring Collegiate Athletes' Experiences With Cliques, Cora G. Dodson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

A significant body of literature examines team processes as they relate to the team as a collective unit (Eys et al., 2019). However, smaller units present within a team, such as cliques or subgroups, warrant further scientific exploration and dissemination (Wagstaff & Martin, 2018). Existent literature on cliques in an athletic setting established that intra-team groups are inevitable, while also highlighting their emergence and formation, and their relative consequences at the team level (Martin, 2020; Wagstaff & Martin, 2018). Despite the scientific advancement at the group level, research concerning cliques is scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was …

Classification In Supervised Statistical Learning With The New Weighted Newton-Raphson Method, Toma Debnath

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, the Weighted Newton-Raphson Method (WNRM), an innovative optimization technique, is introduced in statistical supervised learning for categorization and applied to a diabetes predictive model, to find maximum likelihood estimates. The iterative optimization method solves nonlinear systems of equations with singular Jacobian matrices and is a modification of the ordinary Newton-Raphson algorithm. The quadratic convergence of the WNRM, and high efficiency for optimizing nonlinear likelihood functions, whenever singularity in the Jacobians occur allow for an easy inclusion to classical categorization and generalized linear models such as the Logistic Regression model in supervised learning. The WNRM is thoroughly investigated …

Exploring The Relationships Among Adhd, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, And Emotion Regulation, Anna S. Hall

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the relationships among Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and common comorbid struggles for clients, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) symptoms, and executive functions, especially emotion regulation. ADHD and GAD are prevalent mental health conditions, are commonly comorbid with each other, and are both correlated with relative deficits in executive functions. Executive functions comprise higher-order cognitive processes like planning, inhibition, initiation, and monitoring, as well as emotion regulation. Prior research established connections among ADHD symptoms, GAD symptoms, and emotion regulation but did not examine which specific facets of emotion regulation were most relevant. The current study aimed to …

Self-Authorship Among First-Generation Learners: A Qualitative Study, Issac C. Taylor

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In the realm of higher education, an increasingly important concern is the intellectual capacity of first-generation learners. To improve their cognitive, intrapersonal, and interpersonal development in contemporary society, it is essential for institutions to gain a comprehensive understanding of these students' unique challenges. The existing body of literature on first-generation students has predominantly centered on the personal challenges and institutional barriers that impede their pursuit of higher education. However, promoting self-authorship among this student population presents a unique opportunity for faculty, staff, and administrators to facilitate and reinforce the developmental needs of students who are the first in their families …

Computer Cravings In 20th Century Schools: From Creativity To Capitalism, Keely E. Amos

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the push for computers in education from the early 1980s to the early 2000s. During that time, computers were introduced into schools across America with big promises, in turn creating big dreams. Instead of the cognition, creativity, and collaboration that was envisioned with computers in the classroom, the shifting motivations regarding computers have exacerbated the datafication and standardization of our students (Cuban, 2001). The problems associated with the corporation of computers into the curriculum are widespread (Pinar et. al, 1995/2004). Following the methodology of Historiography, this paper provides a critical examination about what was promised, and by …

Exploring Police K-9 Deaths, Their Causes, And Possible Remedies, John Wise

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Police K-9s face daily dangers due to their work. Data collected by the Officer Down Memorial Page from 2000-2023 on K-9 deaths (N = 405) shows that of K-9s that die in the line of duty, many fall victim to heat stroke. Research was conducted comparing heat stroke to all other causes of death. Through an exploration into the history of mankind’s use of working dogs, the unique capabilities of both dogs and K-9 specific dog breeds and applying Routine Activity Theory and Lifestyle Routine Activity Theory to police K-9s, this study’s objective is to bring awareness to, and …

Variation In The Fear Response Of Atlantic Sand Fiddler Crabs (Leptuca Pugilator) To Anthropogenic Disturbance, Katrina L. Buttram

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Leptuca pugilator is a common inhabitant of southeast Georgia salt marshes. This study examined the boldness of Leptuca pugilator across environmental conditions and human impacts. Here, boldness was defined as time taken to reemerge from a burrow after a fear stimulus. I hypothesized that crabs would vary in their boldness based on their surroundings, reproductive timing, and sex. Field and experimental trials were conducted to isolate which factors most influence boldness. Field trials were conducted at four sites varying in human influence throughout the breeding season. During each survey, vegetation height, substrate temperature, average burrow width, burrow count, and distance …

Training Underrepresented Minority Students For Careers In Public Health Leadership – Public Health Leaders Fellowship Program, Jigsa Tola

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Shortage and lack of diversity in the United States public health workforce is well documented and remains a challenge to meaningfully improving the health of the population. Although the diversity of the public health workforce has implications for access, care quality, and career opportunities in low-income communities, there is no strong mechanism by which minorities are trained to replenish the workforce. Morehouse College’s Public Health Leaders Fellowship Program (MC-PHLFP) is a cooperative program with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to train undergraduate students for careers in public health leadership.

Purpose: The purpose of this research is …

The Effect Of First-Person Testimonial Versus Didactic Video Interventions On Attitudes And Behavioral Intentions Toward Buprenorphine, Tristan S. Fletcher

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Emerging adults exhibit disproportionately elevated levels of substance use disorders (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2021), opioid misuse (SAMHSA, 2021), and opioid use (Hu et al., 2017; Jones et al., 2015) compared to other age cohorts. If left untreated, opioid misuse and opioid use disorder can lead to various negative consequences, including premature death (Strang et al., 2020). Prior research indicates emerging adults have higher opioid-related mortality rates compared to other age groups in the United States (Gomes et al., 2018). Buprenorphine, an opioid partial agonist medication, is an effective intervention for opioid use disorder (Mattick et …

Railroad Condition Monitoring Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing And Deep Learning Techniques, Md Arifur Rahman

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Proper condition monitoring has been a major issue among railroad administrations since it might cause catastrophic dilemmas that lead to fatalities or damage to the infrastructure. Although various aspects of train safety have been conducted by scholars, in-motion monitoring detection of defect occurrence, cause, and severity is still a big concern. Hence extensive studies are still required to enhance the accuracy of inspection methods for railroad condition monitoring (CM). Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) has been recognized as a promising method because of its sensing capabilities over long distances and for massive structures. As DAS produces large datasets, algorithms for precise …

Social And Structural Determinants Of Health As Predictors Of Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Older Adults In The United States, Kingsley Kalu

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Although vaccination is one of the greatest accomplishments in public health, some people, especially older adults, are reluctant to take vaccines. This study examined the association between the social and structural determinants of health and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among older adults in the United States.

Methods: Secondary data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) was used. The HRS participants were 65 years and older, and the sample size was 2311. Multinomial multivariable logistic regression models were conducted for this study.

Results: The study shows that social determinants of health (marital status, educational level) and structural determinants of health …

Mammalian Biodiversity On Greenways Across An Urban-To-Rural Gradient, Brooklyn C. Zwinklis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Large-scale urbanization is one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss on a global scale due to habitat loss and fragmentation. This has created a need to investigate ways to mitigate the damage caused by urban development, such as studying whether green spaces in urban areas can serve as means of preserving mammalian biodiversity in cities. This study specifically focused on greenways as they are understudied when compared to other green spaces, such as parks and cemeteries. Greenways are linear tracts of paved land, usually designed for human recreational activities. However, their benefits to wildlife have not been well researched. …

Cybercrime Victimization: Online Routine Behaviors, Guardianship, And Identity Theft Victimization In A Nationally Reflective Sample, Ifeoluwa Stella Elegbe

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In this digital era, cybercrime victimization has emerged as a significant issue, with identity theft being one of the most prevalent forms. This study examines the relationship between online routine behaviors, guardianship, demographics, and identity theft victimization in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults utilizing routine activities theory (RAT) as a conceptual

framework. The research applies statistical methods such as descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and logistic regression models to examine theoretically oriented hypotheses. The

hypotheses suggest connections between different online habitual behaviors, steps taken to

protect oneself, demographic characteristics, and the extent to which one has been a victim …

What Does It Mean To Be The Goat: A Narrative Study On Retired White Male Elite Individual Sport Athletes?, Tyler Behrmann

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The greatest of all time (GOAT) is a topic commonly discussed in sports today (Lundberg & Rosenberg, 2020). Despite this increased use of the term, there is a lack of research on the topic of the GOAT which could serve to benefit individuals in performance domains. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory study was to investigate characteristics that describe a GOAT and the impact these characteristics of the GOAT have on individuals. Two participants were included in this study. The participants were white male, retired, and individual sport athletes who competed in multiple World Championships. Participants were interviewed using semi-structured …

Letters To Myself ~ Reflections Of A New Teacher ~ A Curriculum Of Self, Sarah Brittany S. Greneker

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This is a nontraditional, very creative approach to dissertation writing. Using reflective poetic inquiry, I reflect on my experiences transitioning from pre-service to in-service teacher in the early childhood classroom. I taught for 7 years and encountered many situations that would have been beneficial to know prior to becoming a certified teacher. I explore overarching themes of coworker relationships, undergraduate program preparation, the various responsibilities, classroom environment, teacher evaluation, teacher perspective, and teacher mental health and well-being and how they each impact a teacher’s experience in the classroom. This is accomplished through the epistolary genre and letters to myself as …

Exploring Black Queer Doctoral Student Experiences With Utilizing Campus Services, Mitchell Everett

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study utilized narrative inquiry to examine the experiences of Black Queer Doctoral Students (BQDS) with campus services and their ability to ameliorate minority stress and establish community with other students minoritized by their sexual or gender identity. I used the minority stress model and intersectionality as frameworks to understand how students minoritized by their race and sexual identities experienced campus services. The minority stress model provided an explanation of the stress BQDS may experience due their minority identity (Meyer, 2003, 2013). Connecting to community is also an ameliorating factor in reducing minority stress. In addition, structural intersectionality addressed the …

Joy In The Focus, Focus On The Joy, Alicia Cully

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This body of work, Joy in the Focus, Focus on the Joy is an engendered unspoken symbolic language generated from the handwritten words of the English language that are defined or viewed with positive connotations. These symbols are meant to spread the feelings each word embodies with what resonates with the priori or memory of the audience. The symbolic language is a key for an individual to make their own connections with how the symbol’s meaning makes them feel,, resulting in an openly welcome invitation to reach a focused joy in connecting with the displayed feeling(s). My drive to create …

Examining The Impact And Implementation Of Protected Administrative Time On Provider Well-Being And Service Delivery Indicators Within A Multi-State Network Of Primary Care Medical Practices, Lauren Junge-Maughan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background:

Primary care is integral to achieving high-quality health outcomes for the population and decreasing healthcare costs. However, primary care clinicians suffer from conflicting demands, impossible expectations, and burdensome processes. With burnout and mental fatigue increasing, leadership must find innovative programs to implement in their organizations. This mixed-methods research study assessed the impact of one such intervention, protected administrative time (PRAT), on improving provider well-being.

Purpose:

The first aim was to evaluate the association of PRAT on the service delivery indicators of primary care clinicians’ productivity, average appointments per day, patient satisfaction (likelihood to recommend), clinician time to the next …

Service-Learning And Student Success: Are Underrepresented Students Gaining The Same Benefits?, Sondra Bellard

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Service-learning (SL) has increasingly been used as an educational tool based on the theory of experiential learning, which states that knowledge is developed through experience (Kohl, 1984). SL provides students with the opportunity to connect course work to the community leading to a better understanding of the content. Previous research has shown that SL is associated with positive academic, social, and civic outcomes. However, many of the previous studies fail to provide demographic information on the participants, specifically their ethnicities. There has also been a lack of quantitative studies that examine how first-generation students perceive SL and its benefits. The …

Dungeons And Dragons™ (D&D) As A Brief Intervention For College Students, Alexander W. Peralta

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This quasi-experimental study investigated the effect of a table-top roleplaying game (ttrpg), specifically Dungeons and Dragons™ (D&D), on increasing feelings of social connection, decreasing perceived stress, increasing self-esteem and improving adjustment to college among first semester, first year students. participants signed up to either the D&D group or the comparison group. D&D participants (n = 18) attended five one-hour weekly D&D sessions, meanwhile the comparison group (n = 10) went through their first semester of college with no intervention, but completed the study measures at the same points in time as the D&D participants. All participants completed measures of social …

Self-Supervised Contrastive Learning Using Eeg Signals For Mental Stress Assessment, Ugochukwu Uraechu

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

A study is presented to investigate self-supervised contrastive learning (SSCL) models using physiological data obtained from non-invasive wearable sensors for mental stress assessment. The present work involved acquisition of electroencephalography (EEG) signals using wearable sensors, signal preprocessing, data augmentation, and investigation of self-supervised contrastive learning (SSCL) algorithms for multi-class mental stress assessment. Seven volunteers participated in this study executing various mental tasks while wearing an OpenBCI head cap to acquire EEG signals. The acquired EEG signals were preprocessed and utilized for data augmentation in time and frequency domains with different SSCL models. Optimal data augmentation combinations and SSCL models were …