Monitoring Relationships Between Corticosterone And Snake Fungal Disease In Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Horridus) In Western Kentucky, John Bromley Hewlett

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Over the past four decades, emergent fungal diseases have been the most devastating relative to species declines and extinctions. While most research has focused on fungal diseases affecting amphibians and bats, less has focused on diseases like snake fungal disease (SFD), caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Oo). SFD was first described in 2006 in North America within a Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) population in New Hampshire. Since then SFD has been documented in 19 US states, one US territory (Puerto Rico), and Europe. SFD causes high mortality in some species, including the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus …

There Is Nothing Certain But Uncertainty: Manipulation Of Uncertainty And Its Association With Worry And Intolerance Of Uncertainty, Casey E. Brugh

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Intolerance of uncertainty is related to a variety of clinical and nonclinical concepts including clinical and nonclinical levels of worry (Buhr & Dugas, 2002) as well as several disorders, including general anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social anxiety disorder (Einstein et al., 2014). Since it has been found to be a transdiagnostic concept, research has suggested that it could be a target of intervention (Dugas & Ladouceur, 2000). However, little research about the manipulation of uncertainty exists. This study sought to examine how manipulation of uncertainty in a vignette-based intervention alters individuals’ levels of global worry, as well …

Understanding Resilience And Protective Factors Among Released Offenders, Vanke'via Garner

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 650,000 offenders are being released from prison or jail per year in the USA. After incarceration, released offenders encounter a myriad of challenges that prohibit successful transition into the community. Research has focused on the risk factors that contribute to recidivism – relapse into criminal activity, with limited focus on protective factors that contribute to desistance from criminal activity. Existing research has relied on several theories to hypothesize and explain the causes of desistance, with research suggesting that individual subjective factors and social factors are essential to the desistance process. This study was therefore guided by two theories – …

An Investigation Into Cte Classroom Instructional Strategies, Jonathan Walker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This researcher conducted this ex post facto study with the help of career and technical education (CTE) teachers across the country. The research was a survey of classroom instructional strategy usage, a teacher’s familial impact on classroom instruction strategies used, and the effects of Covid-19 on classroom strategies used. Data suggested that CTE teachers use different instructional strategies based on teacher demographics and that Covid-19 did have an effect on CTE teachers’ use of instructional strategies. This data suggested the five most used classroom instructional strategies were questioning, guided practice, demonstrations, lab activities, and whole group discussion.

Effects Of Agricultural Education And Career And Technology On Georgia Milestone Tests Scores In Biology, Geometry, And Algebra, Ellison Crews

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Student’s achievement is directly linked to teacher evaluation as well as school and district CCRPI scores. The researcher conducted Independent two sample t-tests comparing student’s achievement on Georgia Milestone test in geometry, algebra, and biology at the district and state level for students enrolled in agricultural education courses, Non-agricultural education CTAE courses and non-CTAE courses. On the state level, student’s scores were grouped into the four-achievement level of Beginning, Developing, Proficient, and Distinguished. No individual scores were available so an average mean score was representative of each students score in the four categories. This study included Independent two sample …

Effectiveness Of The Two Plus Two Online Program In Agriscience Education: A Case Study Of Students’ Experiences And Persistence, Ronald M. Howell Jr

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Higher education is changing, and more community colleges find themselves helping to increase the number of students who receive a bachelor’s credential from a 4-year post-secondary institution. This qualitative study was designed to determine the effectiveness of the online two plus two Agriscience Education program at a university in North Carolina. Twelve current and former students provided feedback about their perspectives and lived experiences through semi-structured interviews.

Preliminary findings suggest that both current and former students find the two plus two program very cost-affordable, flexible, and convenient for transferring two years’ worth of credit and courses to earn a bachelor’s …

Understanding Volunteer Motivations To Serve, Dominique P. Wood

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

An organization’s volunteer development program can serve as a useful tool in the P-20 framework to address transitional gaps preventing smooth and consistent movement of individuals from traditional education to career attainment. Utilizing Maslow’s Theory of Motivation and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, this qualitative study revealed volunteer motivation effectively resolved needs that work toward Self-Actualization. Satisfied needs, addressed by the volunteer experience, places the organization as a relevant partner in the P-20 framework to resolve career attainment goals. The volunteer makes the gift of time, skills, experience, and knowledge based on personal preferences to the organization’s work. Partnerships are achieved …

The Relationship Between Technical Skill Attainment And Post-Graduation Related Placement Of Secondary Career And Technical Education Students In Missouri, Michael Pantleo

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted using quantitative methods to determine if a relationship exists between former Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrators’ Technical Skill Assessment (TSA) performance and their attaining related placement after high school. The study included data from 65,606 Missouri CTE concentrators who graduated during the years 2015-2019. To investigate the relationship between TSA assessment performance and attaining related placement, multiple descriptive models were run and disaggregated by CTE program area, gender, race/ethnicity, IEP status, and SES. The data revealed students who pass their TSA assessment are more likely to attain related placement compared to those not passing their …

The Connection Between Body Modification And Personality, Taylor Ann Shoemaker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has been inconsistent in its findings regarding the associations between body modifications (e.g., piercings, tattoos, augmentation, scarification, split tongue) and the Big Five personality traits (i.e., openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism). All traits have been found to be significantly correlated with body modification in at least one study, but their significance differed from study to study. The purpose of the current study was to examine the associations between body modification and each domain of personality concurrently to add to the literature surrounding differences between modified and unmodified individuals. To participate in this study, participants were asked …

Perceptions Of Covid-19, Information Seeking Behavior, And Political Orientation, Bailey Dodd, Sean Rife

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

COVID-19 was declared an international pandemic in March 2020 and infected millions of people globally in less than six months. Research suggests that a large amount of both accurate and misinformation exists on the pandemic, and it would be expected that an individual’s political orientation would influence their perception of the virus and the information that they endorse. Based on past research, it would be expected that both liberals and conservatives would be equally concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic and endorse similar measures. However, Republicans downplayed the pandemic and were more likely to consider it a hoax, while Democrats exaggerated …

The Reconstruction Of Hatchery Creek: Effects On Macroinvertebrate And Fish Community Dynamics, Patrick Vrablik

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Hatchery Creek is a restored stream in Jamestown, KY that drains Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery. The previous degraded channel of Hatchery Creek caused large sediment plumes in the Lower Cumberland River and was restored to decrease sediment loss and provide the opportunity for a self-sustaining trout population. I predicted that the increased amount of habitat would increase taxa richness, abundance and biomass of macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrates were monitored in three periods; the degraded period, a one-year recovery period, and a restored period using surber and kicknet samples in order to determine biomass, abundance, diversity, taxa richness, and macroinvertebrate biotic index. …

Generational Giving In Public Higher Education, Christine Bernot

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Competition for donors and dollars between higher education and the non-profit sector has never been greater, with Americans giving nearly $450 billion in philanthropic support to charitable organizations in 2019 (IUPUI, 2020). Alumni of higher education institutions are a natural constituency group with a history of giving back to support student needs and programs.

New research in fundraising for higher education analyzing generational giving behaviors of alumni graduate donors could help universities better understand their giving results and support the innovation of new fundraising strategies and best practices. This quantitative research study used historical giving data to examine the …

The Role Of Parental Generation And Parenting Style With Respect To Work Ethic Of The Millennial Generation, Ember Campbell

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This study investigated the possible relationships between parental generation, parenting style, gender, and the work ethic of the Millennial generation. Millennial participants’ work ethic was determined using the Multidimensional Work Ethic Profile (MWEP), with the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) being utilized to determine the parenting style experienced by the 385 participants that comprised the study sample. First, the study investigated the possible difference between parental generation and the work ethic of the Millennial. Second, the study explored the possible difference between parenting style experienced and the work ethic of the Millennial. Finally, the study examined the possible difference between …

How Divorce, Interparental Conflict, And Parenting Styles Relate To Young Adult Emotional Regulation, Madison Jernigan

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Emotional regulation has been linked to one’s ability to establish social relationships, as well as the onset of multiple psychological disorders, such as anxiety and depressive disorders. Researchers are beginning to better understand the development of emotional regulation; however, there is still debate surrounding what role familial factors play in this development. This study sought to better understand three factors that impact families: divorce, interparental conflict, and parenting styles. Specifically, this study hypothesized that participants whose parents are divorced and experienced high levels of interparental conflict would experience poor emotional regulation. Additionally, this study hypothesized that participants who perceive their …

Personal Technology Use, Social Media, And Daily Affect In Emerging Adults, William Crabtree

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Personal social and communication technology has been widely adopted by the world in the 21^st century. With this widespread worldwide adoption, significant controversy exists debating the effects these social technologies have. Specifically, there is a strong debate in the scientific literature over the psychological effects of social technologies, smartphones, and social media usage. Some arguments are made that modern technology can help improve psychological well-being, whilst others claim it has destroyed a generation of adolescents and merging adults. The present thesis aims to address this debate by exploring the current research from a variety of methodologies about social technology …

The Effects Of Reinforcement Sensitivity And Effortful Control On Anhedonia And Valued Living, Houston Howard

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Research has begun to uncover how individual temperamental and self-regulatory differences relate to certain psychopathological symptoms. Specifically, the current literature is expanding the view of how anhedonia, effortful control (EC), and reinforcement sensitivity may relate to one other. The aim of this study was to examine these relationships and explore models that might explain how these variables interact to predict valued living. Specifically, it was hypothesized that 1) greater anhedonia would be associated with lower levels of valued living, 2) the behavioral activation system (BAS) would moderate the effect that anhedonia has on valued living by decreasing its impact, with …

Examining The Relationship Between Inclusivity And Well-Being In The Gender, Sexual, And Romantic Minority Community, Sarah E. Weekes

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Research has established that higher levels of inclusivity promote increased levels of well-being in GSRM populations (Yoder & Mattheis, 2016); however, there is a lack of research exploring a moderating effect of psychological flexibility on this relationship. Previous research has also demonstrated that psychological flexibility is related to increased quality of life (Walloch & Hill, 2016); however, the relationship between psychological flexibility and inclusivity remains largely unexplored in GSRM populations. The purpose of this study was to explore how inclusivity, psychological distress, and psychological flexibility correlate with well-being among a sample of 198 individuals who identify as GSRM. This study …

The Impacts Of Social Capital And Grit On Student Success In Higher Education, Jillian Davidson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study will examine social capital, grit, and student success individually and how these components impact student success in higher education. A correlation test was run to determine a connection between social capital and grit. An ANOVA was assessed to determine the impacts social capital and grit have on student success in higher education based on a survey distributed to undergraduate students at a four-year university. Measuring social capital, grit, and student success in higher education and determining the impacts on student success will encourage educators to provide opportunities for cognitive and non-cognitive prospects for students in higher education.

Keywords …

Exploring The Diagnostic Journey Of A Preschool-Aged Female: A Retrospective Case Study, Lindsay Nicole Crafton

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to investigate the diagnostic route of a preschool-aged female initially suspected of having ASD with communication deficits and explore her journey to seek and receive services. In any diagnostic experience, it is imperative that caregivers understand the steps to seek appropriate evaluations and receive necessary services to improve their child’s quality of life. While there are some systemic procedures in place aimed to identify children with communication disorders or other developmental concerns such as ASD early; the ultimate responsibility falls on the caregiver to follow up and follow through. Although diagnostic criteria for …

An Ethical Evaluation Of Georgia Agriculture Educators And Extension/4-H Agents Regarding Practices And Observations At Youth Livestock Events, Joshua Whitworth

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ethical perspectives and observations of those charged with supervising youth livestock projects in the state of Georgia. Identifying the ethical leadership style of the agriculture/4-H agents and agriculture educators/young farmer advisors, allowed for a closer look at the ethical styles within those who are supervising youth livestock projects. Overwhelmingly, the respondents indicated that they relate most closely with a Duty ethical leadership style, suggesting the respondents will do what is required of them to fulfill the responsibilities of their occupation. Furthermore, observations of practices involved in youth livestock projects were recorded …

The Struggle Of Differential Diagnosis For Childhood Apraxia Of Speech: A Qualitative Case Study, Laken Cummins, Stephanie M. Schaaf, Megan Smetana, Jennifer Gaylord

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the controversial diagnosis of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and the struggle many clinicians face with differential diagnosis through a retrospective qualitative case study following a participant who received the diagnosis of CAS. Research questions targeted the characteristics the participant presented with, whether they were consistent or not, as well as if they were unique to CAS or evidence of a phonological disorder, and the treatment approaches that were implemented throughout the participant’s history of receiving speech-language services and the effectiveness of those approaches. These research questions were answered through the records and documents obtained from the …

Shifting Emergency Remote Teaching Into The Future Of Kentucky Education, Amy Argo

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Kentucky educators discovered the difficulties of a rapid transition to emergency remote teaching. This phenomenological, qualitative research study explores middle and high school teachers’ lived experiences of teaching Kentucky public school students during the shutdown of school buildings during the spring and fall 2020 semesters.

Twenty-nine educator participants freely discussed their greatest successes and barriers concerning parental support, teacher mental health, communication, digital divides, student motivation, and teacher preparedness. This project gives voice to the teachers of Kentucky with a practical significance: effective online instruction can only occur if educators are properly prepared to teach …

Intrahistiocytic Storage Of Clofazimine Crystals In A Cat, Nathan D. Helgert, Debra L. Miller, Jacqueline C. Whittemore, Mee-Ja M. Sula

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

A 13-year-old castrated male Maine coon cat with a 5-year history of atypical mycobacteriosis was euthanized and submitted for necropsy. The cat had been kept in clinical remission since diagnosis using a combination of the antimycobacterial drug clofazimine and additional multimodal antimicrobial therapy. Grossly, tissues were diffusely discolored red-brown to yellow. Histologically, the myocardial interstitum was expanded by numerous, often multinucleated cells, which were distended by uniformly shaped acicular cytoplasmic spaces. These cells were immunopositive for CD18 and immunonegative for desmin, suggesting a histiocytic rather than muscular origin. Macrophages in other tissues contained similar acicular spaces. Ultrastructurally, the spaces were …

Tutorial: Legality And Ethics Of Web Scraping, Vlad Krotov, Leigh Johnson, Leiser Silva

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Automatic retrieval of data from the Web (often referred to as Web Scraping) for industry and academic research projects is becoming a common practice. A variety of tools and technologies have been developed to facilitate Web Scraping. Unfortunately, the legality and ethics of using these tools for collecting data are often overlooked. Failure to pay due attention to these aspects of Web Scraping can result in serious ethical controversies and lawsuits. This paper reviews legal literature together with the literature on ethics and privacy to identify broad areas of concern together with a list of specific questions that need to …

The Effect Of Organizational Climate On Faculty Burnout At State And Private Universities: A Comparative Analysis, Sait Revda Dinibutun, Cemil Kuzey, Muhammet Sait Dinc

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Organizational climate, that is, the atmosphere surrounding an organization, unites features with individual, organizational, and environmental characteristics that affect the behaviors of individuals within the organization. Burnout is accepted as a syndrome that often occurs in people who work together with others. Faculty members in universities are potential burnout candidates due to their relationships with many students, employees, and administrators. To reduce burnout of the faculty members, it is crucial to maintain a healthy organizational climate. It is also projected that discrepancies in organizational climate can manifest differently between public and private universities. So, the purpose of this study is …

Exploring Relationships Between Arts Administrators In Appalachian Kentucky And Tennessee And Their State Arts Agencies: A Qualitative Narrative Inquiry, Elise L. Kieffer Phd

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

This dissertation explores the relationship of arts administrators in isolated Appalachian communities in Kentucky and Tennessee with their respective representative state arts agencies. Using the narrative inquiry methodology, I participated in interviews with both groups of arts administrators and interpreted those findings through a conceptual framework from the field of healthcare (Feldman-Stewart & Brundage, 2008). This framework recognizes the breakdown of communication that sometimes occurs when one party (the doctor, or in this case, the state arts agency) holds the expertise and position of power, and the other party (the patient, or in my case, the small arts organization) lacks …

Site Tolerance Of The Rada Intein, Chase Taul, Christopher Lennon Dr

Honors College Theses

Inteins (intervening proteins) invade genes at the DNA level and splice out at the protein level. Once thought of as only a parasitic type of a mobile genetic element, recent work suggests a mutualistic relationship has formed in some cases within bacterial and archaeal hosts. After translation, a precursor protein is formed with the intein between two exteins. The intein is catalytic and can excise itself out through protein splicing. Intein insertion is biased towards the active site of the protein and is thought to cause inactivation of the host protein prior to splicing. Intein splicing is responsive to a …

2020-12-04, Board Of Regents, Murray State University

Board of Regents Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

The Chow Test With Time Series-Cross Section Data, James K. Binkley, Jeffrey Young

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

The Chow test is a standard method to test for differences in regression response across groups. In some cases, the groups being tested are composed of a time series of cross sections. If the individual units within the groups have systematic differences, the Chow test is compromised: individual and group effects become confounded. This can cause rejections in the absence of the group effect of interest. We illustrate the problem with Monte Carlo analyses, and propose an alternative bootstrap-like testing procedure that helps eliminate excessive Type I errors.

Voice Therapy Techniques For Male-To-Female Versus Female-To-Male Transgender Individuals And Stereotypical Beliefs That Affect These Techniques, Bailey Lyman

Honors College Theses

This research was conducted to determine the differences and similarities between the therapeutic techniques used with male-to-female versus female-to-male transgender voice clients resulting from their existing and potentially changing anatomy and physiology. It was also conducted to determine the potential impacts of gender stereotyping on therapeutic techniques and a client’s therapeutic course. A review of the literature suggests that although there are quite a few similarities between the therapeutic techniques of male-to-female and female-to-male voice clients, there are crucial differences in these techniques that must also be considered. A few of the differences include considering a degree of change based …