Examining The Role That Agricultural Education Programs Play In Student Choice Of Production Agriculture Careers, Wesley Estes

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the influence that Agriculture Education programs, at all levels, have on student choice of careers in production agriculture. The average age of a farmer in the United States is increasing, and the shortage of young people returning to family farming operations (or beginning operations of their own) becomes more apparent each year. This study utilizes focus groups of professionals to gather information about the factors that influence student choice in agriculture careers, and the ability of agriculture education programs to either enhance or mitigate those factors. For the purposes of this study, Agriculture Education programs of all …

The Effects Of Early Exposure To Prescription/Illicit Drugs And Drug Metabolites On Larval Zebrafish Behavioral And Motor Function Development, Jacob Thomas, Dena Weinberger, Bikram Subedi, Brandon Capps

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

THE EFFECTS OF EARLY EXPOSURE TO PRESCRIPTION/ILLICIT DRUGS AND DRUG METABOLITES ON LARVAL ZEBRAFISH BEHAVIORAL AND MOTOR FUNCTION DEVELOPMENT

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Biology

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters In Science

By Jacob Thomas, B.S., Murray State University

December 2024

Acknowledgements

Brandon Capps, who pretty much did a whole third of the legwork on this project and saved me lots of headaches;

Chandler Maddox, one of the University of Kentucky’s finest undergrads who came in from the top rope with a folding chair …

University Student Worker Productivity: A Qualitative Analysis, Amanda S. Mansfield

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Student worker productivity is an important aspect of higher education, since many functional units rely on student employees to operate. Student workers communicate with all stakeholders of universities, including incoming and current students and their families, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members. Universities facing issues related to budgeting, enrollment, retention, and employability of their graduates can combat those issues by strengthening the largest labor pool on campus, student workers. The study explored what it means to be a productive university student worker within the framework of Social Exchange Theory and Grounded Theory. The study sought to provide recommendations to universities …

Perceptions Of Available Funding Opportunities For West Tennessee’S Young And Beginning Row Crop Farmers, Logan Meeks

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Research quickly identified many different avenues of funding available to new and beginning traditional row-crop farmers in Tennessee, but questions surrounding local farmers’ knowledge of these opportunities are in question. Many programs specific to the New and Beginning Farmer demographic boasted the potential benefits of using these programs as well as the good work these programs are accomplishing. The current increase in cost of traditional row-crop funding continues to drive the need for more funding resources with New and Beginning Farmers. Providing resources of where farmers can find the best available funds for their operation will expand the level of …

Relationship Analysis Of Storyline Curriculum Engagement And Academic Performance, Cassandra Shockley

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Secondary educators are responsible for moving students from dependent learners to independent individuals who can solve problems and be productive members of society. Science education has changed since 2012 when the PISA and TIMSS results were analyzed and showed that American students perform significantly lower than other countries. In 2013, Kentucky adopted new science standards that replaced the extensive lists of facts to be memorized with a set of performance expectations. Students are now tested on their ability to apply content knowledge to solve a phenomenon. Seventh-grade science teachers in classrooms with wide ranges of academic readiness have resisted switching …

The Effect Of Asynchronous Pre-Service Training On Aac Strategy Use, Cheri Dodge Chin

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the impact of a one-time online, asynchronous training program on graduate students' use of communication partner strategies for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users. The study examines the training effect on the overall correct usage of naturalistic communication partner strategies, the implementation immediacy, the influence of feedback, and the training's benefits and drawbacks. Using an A-B single case research design with qualitative feedback, the study included pre-service university students studying speech pathology or education. Participants engaged in storybook reading activities with communication devices at a university clinic to establish baseline measures. Following this, they completed a one-hour …

The Effectiveness Of Aac Training For Nursing Students To Increase The Knowledge And Success For Communicating With Patients With Complex Communication Needs, Hanna Hill Webb

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Effective communication is an essential practice for nurses and is fundamental for the care of patients. Nurses have significant difficulties communicating with patients with complex communication needs (CCN), which can lead to communication breakdowns and sentinel events. While AAC is a viable option for communicating with patients with CCN, nurses do not receive any training on how to effectively communicate or use AAC with patients with CCN. Nursing students are in the ideal position for learning how to use AAC and communicate with AAC, as they are in the process of learning and entering the field for medical placements. This …

Factors Influencing Engineering Student Persistence: A Two Institution Study, Stephen Drawbaugh

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the persistence factors of undergraduate engineering students and compare those factors at an R2 research university and a regional university. The study further investigated if these factors are different based on gender and race/ethnicity. This study used quantitative methodology to determine the significance of the differences in universities, genders, and races/ethnicities. Tinto’s (1975, 1993) student departure theory, Bean’s (1988, 2001) student departure model, Astin’s student involvement and development theory, and a study by Marra et al. (2012) provided the theoretical framework for this study. Findings from the survey sample of 52 students …

Factors That Influence Males To Teach Agricultural Education, Ashley Thoron

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The need for more males entering the teaching profession is linked to the idea of the gender gap in school with females outperforming males, and the need for young men to have strong role models. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine factors that influence males to teach agricultural education. This study utilized an adapted version of the Ag-Ed FIT Choice Instrument to collect data through a modified version of Dillman’s Tailored Design Method, with three contacts of a pre-notice letter, emailed instrument, and a thank you/reminder. The population consisted of male agricultural education students enrolled in teacher …

Changing Demographics In Career & Technical Student Organizations, Elizabeth Hunt Galloway

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The state of Georgia’s demographics has consistently changed in the last twenty years. Since 2010, the population of Georgia has steadily increased by 1% (Georgia Population by Year, County, Race, & More, 2023). A mirror of the state population increases occurred in the school system with 1% growth each year between 2010 and 2022 (Georgia Population by Year, County, Race, & More, 2023). The demographics of the state of Georgia has changed along with the population with an increase in Hispanic and Black population while the White population has decreased (Hauer, n.d.). The need to increase membership in Career Technical …

A Statewide Examination Of Racial Equity, Culturally Responsive Teaching, And Career Technical Education Outcomes In Kentucky, Reginald L. Mcdaniel Jr.

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the implementation of Racial Equity Policies (REP) and Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) practices in Career and Technical Education (CTE) across the Commonwealth of Kentucky's public school districts. This quantitative research incorporates perspectives from district leaders, educators, and administrators, exploring the interplay between racial equity policies and teaching practices. The study highlighted the influential role of district leaders in shaping positive perceptions and awareness of the tools available to support equity work. The study also revealed disparities among districts, with urban areas leading integration, while rural districts express confidence in their commitment to racial equity.

The study's practical …

Listen Up: Perceptions Of Audiobooks By Teachers, Librarians, And Parents, Megan Bright

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Reading is a critical component of education. From learning to read, to eventually reading to learn, students and teachers rely upon texts to help make sense of the world around them. Methods and tools vary, but teachers, librarians, and parents can all agree that reading is a fundamental skill their students need. However, students are sometimes told to limit their use of audiobooks in favor of reading with their eyes. These limitations may prevent students from finding the books they love and also limit students’ opportunities to use books to learn about the world around them. This study sought to …

Student Knowledge Of Sexual Assault Resources, Kali Forden

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Despite the changes in policy and the endorsement of mandatory reporting among college students over time, less than half of survivors of sexual assault report the incident to police or university officials (Cantor et al., 2020). Further, while there is little research on the subject, Moore and Baker (2016) found that a student’s residence can influence whether they report a sexual assault. This project sought to extend this research to determine whether a student’s residence and knowledge of available resources effects the likelihood to report a hypothetical sexual assault. Additionally, it sought to determine the relationship between reporting a sexual …

Examining Stigma In Rural Mental Health Care Settings: A Mixed Methods Approach, Lainie Krumenacker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

More than half of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness in their lifetime (CDC, 2021), yet stigma towards mental health affects both patients and providers. Although programs exist to address stigma, improve cultural competency among providers, and educate families on the importance of support, facilities are often limited on programs they provide due to allocation of resources and funds. Without a shift in treatment and programing, stigma will continue to impact patient care and outcome.

This study explored stigma among mental health providers in rural communities, while exploring potential differences in treatment among patients due to race. Mental …

Georgia Elementary Agriculture Education Pilot Program: An Extensive Look Into The History, Development, And Success, Christa Steinkamp

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Georgia Elementary Agricultural Education (EAE) was formally introduced through the 2018 Senate Bill 330 (SB33); a two-part bill passed with unanimous support in both the House & the Senate. The first part of the bill included the three-component model of school-based agricultural education for high schools and middle schools which includes classroom/laboratory instruction, supervised agricultural experience, and leadership development through the National FFA Organization. The second part of SB330 introduced an elementary agricultural education (EAE) pilot program. The three-year pilot program started in the 2019-2020 school year with twenty-five schools; and concluded with thirty-one schools at the end of the …

Sociosexual Orientation And Dark Triad Personality Traits Impact On Deception In Relationships, Kristin Lena

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Within the last 10 years, research has suggested that it has become more common for individuals to engage in casual sex. Research has consistently shown that sociosexual orientation, dark triad traits, and deception are all related. This study sought to examine the linear relationship between sociosexual orientation, dark triad personality characteristics, and the use of deception in a relationship. Participants (n = 135) completed this study online and were recruited from a midsize university. Findings did suggest a positive correlation between sociosexuality and deception, as well as a positive correlation between dark triad traits and deception. The findings of …

The Impact Of Instructional Coaching In K-12 Education, Angela Michelle Hickey

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to examine the various aspects of instructional coaching in educational environments and offer a thorough understanding of the impact on teacher growth in a small, rural school district with 90 certified teachers and four district instructional coaches. The study used a quantitative approach that utilizes pre-post assessments to gauge the influence of instructional coaching on many aspects of teacher development, such as high-impact instructional practices, classroom management, and overall pedagogical effectiveness. Statistical studies will identify any significant changes over time and investigate potential links between coaching variables and teacher outcomes. This research aims to comprehensively understand how …

Perceptions Of Benefits From Middle School Agricultural Education Programs, Michael Hunter

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

As agriculture education continues to evolve across the state of Georgia and the country, leaders need to understand the dynamic vision and the importance of this industry. Utilizing P-20 education initiatives and new concepts, leaders can implement agriculture education in more schools to increase diversity and provide students with opportunities to participate in the three-component model of agriculture education. This research aimed to explore the perceived benefits that high school principals, CTAE directors, and agriculture teachers have on middle school agriculture education programs. This research was confined to the Georgia FFA North Region. Findings indicated no significant evidence that middle …

The Impact Of Intra-District, Open Enrollment School Choice On Students In A Selected Georgia School District, Elizabeth Miegel

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to determine the impact of a Georgia school district’s intra-district, open enrollment Choice Program on students who participate compared to those who do not at a selected high school. Three research questions were developed: (1) does GPA differ between students who participate in school choice and students who do not (2) do SAT scores differ between students who participate in school choice and students who do not and (3) do AP test scores differ between students who participate in school choice and students who do not. The research questions were assessed through independent measures t-tests, with …

A Comparison Of Student Achievement On Agriculture Mechanics End Of Pathway Assessments Among Agriculture Programs In Georgia, William Burt

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Agriculture education programs in Georgia are held to the same standards and evaluations regardless of their location, resource availability, and student clientele. For schools with agriculture mechanics programs specifically, students are expected to obtain proficient skills in welding, electrical wiring, woodworking, small engines, concrete, and machinery. Students' are expected to obtain skill sets in these various content areas, yet the equipment and resources available to the educator differs among schools. The experience that a student encounters also differs among schools. For instance, some schools have multiple agriculture pathways for a student to enroll in, while other schools have minimal. The …

Take My Perspective, Please: Perspective Taking’S Impact On Insecure Attachment And Phubbing, Connor Brown

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Phubbing is defined as the act of ignoring another individual (e.g., significant others, friends) by devoting attention to one's phone (Chotpitayasunondh & Douglas, 2018). Previous literature indicates that insecurely attached (anxious and avoidant) individuals are more likely to phub than others (Sun & Miller, 2023a). This study examined correlations between attachment styles and phubbing, finding that avoidant attachment was not significantly correlated with phubbing, while anxious attachment was. As well as examining the correlation between phubbing and perspective taking, results indicate that there was not a significant correlation. The primary interest of this study sought to investigate perspective taking as …

A Critical Policy Analysis Of Kentucky School Districts’ Trauma-Informed Education Plans, Tommy Wells, Alexandra J. Taylor, Amy Lein

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

The Commonwealth of Kentucky has taken its first steps in creating trauma-informed K-12 schools through passing the School Safety and Resiliency Act of 2019. School districts were tasked with developing trauma-informed education plans by July 2021. However, the Commonwealth’s mandate gave broad autonomy to school districts in shaping their trauma-informed education plans’ processes and content. Through a critical policy analysis design, this study examined the availability and quality of trauma-informed education plans from each school district in Kentucky and compared them to the trauma-informed framework developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Findings indicate that only 19 out of …

Pre-Service Teachers’ Experiences With Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support: Universal Screening & Intervention Planning, Alexandra J. Taylor, Tommy Wells, Amy Lein

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Assessment plays a key role in the multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) model. Universal screening is an assessment component embedded into MTSS, specifically within the response to intervention framework. The process of administering, scoring, and analyzing data from a universal screener is an essential skill that pre-service teachers need to gain in their educator preparation programs. In this qualitative, case study approach, we examined the ways an experimental learning project in implementing universal screeners impact pre-service teachers’ beliefs and practices for Tier 1 of MTSS. The project was provided to pre-service teachers to give them familiarization with the implementation of …

Dark Times In Dark Academia, Hayden Eubanks

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Quickly rising in popularity through the help of social media platforms, Dark Academia has become an established literary subculture with a vast fanbase. With similar qualities to the Campus Novel, the Dark Academic genre differs because the characters themselves are college students instead of a professor or other faculty member. This aesthetic is comprised of Anglo-Saxon style of architecture, course study, and fashion combining to create an overall gothic tone that by surrounding the characters with a foreboding foreshadow of the tragedy that the students will embark. The architecture associated with the genre is comprised of red brick clock towers …

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 …

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 …

2023 Sale Conference Proceedings, Elise Lael Kieffer

International Journal of Regional Issues in the Arts

conference proceedings

Beyond Certification: Innovative Strategies To Tackle The Teacher Shortage, Abbigail Lp Morris

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

This article challenges educational leaders to look beyond alternative routes for teaching certification and more towards an increased collaboration between districts and universities to help alleviate the teacher shortage issue in Kentucky. It specifically highlights the works of Omaha Public School District and the University of Nebraska Omaha as a model for proactive teacher pipeline.

2023-06-02, Board Of Regents, Murray State University

Board of Regents Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.