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Identity Development And Reconstruction Among Caregivers, Mackenzie Kelly Jan 2021

Identity Development And Reconstruction Among Caregivers, Mackenzie Kelly

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The goal of the current study was to assess possible changes in identity upon becoming a caregiver to another adult. Caregivers of adults (N= 9) completed an online, anonymous survey. A significant change in Identity Commitment was found from pre to post caregiving. Three participants went from a Foreclosed Identity Status pre caregiving to a Diffused Identity Status post caregiving, and one participant went from an Achieved Identity Status to a Moratorium Identity Status. However, no consistent trends in responses were found among these participants, suggesting further research with a larger sample size is needed.

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Effects Of The Covid-19 Economic Downturn On Central Florida Nonprofits, Tiffany C. Chinwuba Jan 2021

Effects Of The Covid-19 Economic Downturn On Central Florida Nonprofits, Tiffany C. Chinwuba

Honors Undergraduate Theses

COVID-19 has had significant impacts on society, both in lifestyle and commerce, especially in Central Florida where the economy is centralized around tourism. While local and state governmental agencies are distributing aid to meet the needs caused by high unemployment, the nonprofit sector mobilized to help fill the gap in assistance by providing resources and services. However prior research into the nonprofit sector finds that prolonged economic downturn may eventually affect the nonprofit force by reduced funding to programs as it did during the 2008 economic recessions. Hence, many nonprofit organizations may be at risk of insolvency in the coming …

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Relating The Big Five Personality Factors And The Method Of Dog Obtainment In Female Dog Owners, Julia Rifenberg Jan 2021

Relating The Big Five Personality Factors And The Method Of Dog Obtainment In Female Dog Owners, Julia Rifenberg

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Dog ownership is highly common in the United States and has a large impact on the U.S. economy due to dogs' required expenses. Thus, it is important to assess dog owners' method of dog obtainment, as it is the first step to canine companionship. Dog owner personality traits and their relationship with where dogs are obtained has not yet been studied. To assess this relationship, we reached current dog owners through an online survey containing the Donnellan et al. (2006) Mini-International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) scale and asked participants where they obtained their dog. Results indicated 90% of participants were …

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A Woman Of Power: The Leadership Of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Hannah F. Anton Jan 2021

A Woman Of Power: The Leadership Of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Hannah F. Anton

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) was elected to the House of Representatives in 1987 and was the first female Speaker of the House, originally elected to the position in 2007. Despite the length and significance of her career in the House, there is very little academic literature devoted to the effectiveness of her leadership. In an attempt to fill this research gap, this thesis will raise the following questions; Is Nancy Pelosi an effective Speaker of the House, and has her effectiveness changed significantly over her term as Speaker? For purposes of this research, leadership effectiveness is defined as the Speaker's ability …

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Coffee Is Fluid: A Discussion On Coffee And Its Modernity, Emma L. Angell Jan 2021

Coffee Is Fluid: A Discussion On Coffee And Its Modernity, Emma L. Angell

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Coffee's worldwide popularity, and especially among Americans, has grown significantly over recent decades. This is credited to the rise of corporate coffee shops like Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts, as well as the inescapable presence of coffee marketing on the internet and social media in our everyday lives. This thesis traces coffee's popularity from its early days as a facilitator in increased production rate in factories during the Industrial Revolution up to the popularity it has gained on TikTok and other social media platforms in the 21st century. My research examines the growth of coffee culture in America through participant observation …

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Generation Succession: Reconceptualizing Generations And Their Mark On The Social Landscape, Ryan Hill Jan 2021

Generation Succession: Reconceptualizing Generations And Their Mark On The Social Landscape, Ryan Hill

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis explores the sociological underpinnings of generation by drawing on Mannheim's theory of generations and applying the concept as an explanative force in long-term societal change. Individuals of the same cohort and national culture make for a generation location; they share a similar parameter of experience within the stream of history. As individuals collectively enter into the formative years of adolescence, significant Imprint Events can forge a bond between them in terms of mindset and worldview (Habitus), which endure over the life course. This group of individuals, as a result, develop a generational consciousness that is distinct from other …

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The Political Impact Of Evangelical Churches In Latin America: Case Studies Of Brazil And Venezuela, Isabella Castro Jan 2021

The Political Impact Of Evangelical Churches In Latin America: Case Studies Of Brazil And Venezuela, Isabella Castro

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis analyzes the impact of the Evangelical movement on politics in Latin America, through case studies on of revolutionary leftist Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and far right Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil. Both the Chávez and Bolsonaro political machineries reached out to the Evangelical movement and aligned themselves with new social and political actors associated with this movement. Though these two leaders promised very different programs, they both successfully sought the support of leaders and members of the Evangelical movement. The contradictory context of these two cases in terms of political platforms, their shared association with the Evangelical church, generates …

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History, Ideology, And Evolution Of Criminal Profiling, Gayatri M. Ramesh Jan 2021

History, Ideology, And Evolution Of Criminal Profiling, Gayatri M. Ramesh

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Criminal profiling is the art of using evidence and crime scenes to deduce who the criminal is and where the criminals might be going next. In addition, criminal profiling is also used to link cases together with like victims. While its usage in law enforcement is relatively new, forms of the art have been around for decades. This thesis researches the history, ideology, and evolution of criminal profiling from the early 1870s to its current state. Cesare Lombroso and his research founded criminal profiling by examining how criminals and their minds vary from law-abiding citizens. Following Lombroso, various forms of …

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The Referendum For Independence In Catalonia And Newspaper Coverage: The Importance Of Regional And Political Factors, Sofia N. Julien Jan 2021

The Referendum For Independence In Catalonia And Newspaper Coverage: The Importance Of Regional And Political Factors, Sofia N. Julien

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis analyzes the role of the news media in the Referendum for Independence in the Spanish autonomous region of Catalonia. More specifically, I seek to shed light on if a newspaper's geographical location or political views result in biased media coverage. Based on communications theory, I argue that news coverage can shape the public's political opinion and attitudes. My research analyzed the reporting of two core newspapers by sampling articles from a major newspaper based in Madrid, El País, and a newspaper based in Catalonia, La Vanguardia. My results suggest that the newspaper's location and distribution had …

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Targeting T Cell Glycolysis To Mitigate Graft-Versus-Host Disease, Kevin Ezhakunnel Jan 2021

Targeting T Cell Glycolysis To Mitigate Graft-Versus-Host Disease, Kevin Ezhakunnel

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Hematological cancers account for nearly ten percent of cancer cases diagnosed annually in the United States. Patients who fail to respond to chemotherapy or radiotherapy must often undergo a bone marrow transplant to treat their malignancy. A significant complication following this procedure is Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD), which occurs when donor T cells mount an immune response against recipient tissues. Immunological research has highlighted the role of aberrant T cell metabolism, specifically a shift toward aerobic glycolysis, as a key driver behind the occurrence of this condition. The transcription factor FoxK1 has been revealed to be a key regulator …

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The Usage Of Social Media To Fulfill Social Needs In Introverts, Nathaly Rayo Jan 2021

The Usage Of Social Media To Fulfill Social Needs In Introverts, Nathaly Rayo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the relationship between being introverted and the need to affiliate with others. Specifically, I sought to find out whether social media can be used as a replacement for face-to-face interactions. Previous studies have remained inconclusive on whether social media can be seen as a beneficial tool for individuals who tend to be more introverted. In the study, multiple measures were utilized to determine the correlation between social media usage and need fulfillment. The results indicated that individuals with social anxiety had a propensity towards being more introverted and having an increased amount …

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Interactive Coast, Manuela Monsalve Jan 2021

Interactive Coast, Manuela Monsalve

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Interactive Coast is a moving-image art installation that will mix 16mm film and digital footage. Inspired by the cyclical nature of the biological concept of succession, this installation will focus on human interactions with nature and architecture, specifically at the beaches on the East Coast of Florida. In its biological definition of the word, “Succession is the gradual transformation or creation of a biological community as new species move into an area and modify local environmental conditions” (Rehkopf 1581). The coast, once with its undeveloped tract of mangroves and sand dunes is now interspersed with construction, oil spills, and …

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Mathematical Knowledge For Teaching: Instructional Reasoning In High-Density Black Populations, Desheila Rumph Jan 2021

Mathematical Knowledge For Teaching: Instructional Reasoning In High-Density Black Populations, Desheila Rumph

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

To be economically competitive, U.S. citizens must be mathematically competent (Wang et al., 2010). However, students in the United States have consistently underperformed those in other industrialized nations in mathematics (Program for International Student Assessment [PISA], 2018), which threatens the economic health of the nation (Achieve, 2013; Auguste et al., 2009; Harbour et al., 2018; Mickelson et al., 2013). Federal education reform was implemented and failed to improve the mathematics achievement of U.S. pupils (Cheong Cheng, 2020). Researchers have found links between teacher knowledge and student achievement; however, factors mediate this relationship (Hatisauri & Erbas, 2017). As a result, non-significant …

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Sexual Orientation And The Disclosure Of Unwanted Sexual Experiences, Rebekah Kanefsky Jan 2021

Sexual Orientation And The Disclosure Of Unwanted Sexual Experiences, Rebekah Kanefsky

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, and other non-heterosexual orientations (LGBQ+) are significantly more likely to experience a sexual assault. To date, research on barriers to sexual assault disclosure (i.e., telling someone about a sexual assault) has been conducted almost exclusively on heterosexual women. Participants ages 18 to 30 participated in a cross-sectional, online study that assessed unwanted sexual experiences, disclosure of those experiences, perceptions of the police and perceptions of belonging to the LGBQ+ community. Findings demonstrated that survivors who identified as LGBQ+ took longer to initially disclose their sexual assault and had greater negative perceptions of …

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Parental Fear Of Hypoglycemia, Adherence, And Glycemic Control In Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes, Jennifer Scheurich Jan 2021

Parental Fear Of Hypoglycemia, Adherence, And Glycemic Control In Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes, Jennifer Scheurich

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Background: With the rising incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) among young children, it is important to understand factors related to management and outcomes in this population. Parental fear of hypoglycemia (FOH) has been examined in relation to children's glycemic control, but findings have been inconsistent. Adherence has been offered as a potential mechanism, but this has not been examined empirically with this population. This study aimed to elucidate the relations among parental FOH, adherence, and glycemic control in young children with T1D. Methods: Parents of children diagnosed with T1D before age 6 (n = 143) completed self-report measures of …

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Trauma, Resilience, And Empowerment: Post-Genocide Experiences Of Yezidi Women, Tutku Ayhan Ergin Jan 2021

Trauma, Resilience, And Empowerment: Post-Genocide Experiences Of Yezidi Women, Tutku Ayhan Ergin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Under what conditions do women become more resilient and empowered in post conflict settings? Utilizing data from multi site fieldwork in northern Iraq, Germany, and the U.S. involving over 160 in depth interviews, this dissertation addresses this question by studying the experiences of Yezidi women who were subject to genocidal violence by the Islamic State in Iraq in 2014. By adopting an intersectional approach, it contributes to feminist research on post conflict dynamics and suggests that how women cope with trauma and achieve positive changes in their lives depends on a variety of factors. Age, history of sexual violence and …

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Contextualizing The Acute Responses To Arm Cycling, Nicolas Clark Jan 2021

Contextualizing The Acute Responses To Arm Cycling, Nicolas Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The prescription of aerobic exercise modalities engaging the arm musculature have the potential to extend the reach of physical activity and promote cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals with lower body impairment due to excessive body mass, and among individuals seeking to complement and diversify standard leg training. This study compared the acute cardiopulmonary responses obtained during arm cycling and leg cycling performed at different intensities among lean and average (LA) and overfat and obese individuals (OFO). Participants were 37 young and relatively healthy adults. They were tested for mode-specific peak power output and work rate at ventilatory threshold during two randomized …

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Self-Governed Iot Networks: A Blockchain-Based Framework, Mehrdad Salimitari Jan 2021

Self-Governed Iot Networks: A Blockchain-Based Framework, Mehrdad Salimitari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In the modern-day, IoT-enabled devices and sensors are growingly deployed in a variety of applications in consumer, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure spaces. Thus, decentralization of such networks for reducing the maintenance and repair costs is significantly gaining attention. In this dissertation, we investigate a variety of mathematical tools and technological advancements to design a secure, fully decentralized, and self-governed IoT network. On this path, the main challenge is ensuring the data integrity in IoT networks, securing the devices against a variety of attack scenarios, and preserving the privacy of the users. We begin by proposing a prospect theoretic method for …

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Processing Of 3d Porous Biomaterial Scaffolds To Enhance The In Vitro Breast Cancer Tumor Microenvironment, Zi Wang Jan 2021

Processing Of 3d Porous Biomaterial Scaffolds To Enhance The In Vitro Breast Cancer Tumor Microenvironment, Zi Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Tumors contain heterogeneous cell populations within the tumor microenvironment (TME). TME supports tumor progression and development via the function of multiple cell types and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. 3D porous biomaterial scaffolds can be a type of in vitro tumor models to mimic TME ECM. Current tumor models lack structural complexity replicating tumor ECM, tunable mechanical properties, and have limited mass exchange between cells and their microenvironment. In this work, we firstly developed scaffolds with a hierarchical pore structure via the Freeze-FRESH(FF) fabrication technique that combines 3D printing and freeze-casting. Later, we studied the effect of varying processing parameters and …

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Measurement And Mitigation Of Optical, Recombination And Resistive Losses In Silicon Photovoltaics, Mohammad Jobayer Hossain Jan 2021

Measurement And Mitigation Of Optical, Recombination And Resistive Losses In Silicon Photovoltaics, Mohammad Jobayer Hossain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Today, most of the photovoltaic cells in the market are made of silicon. Great achievements are being attained every year in terms of reducing the price of this kind of cells and improving their efficiency, reliability and durability. However, further improving the cell performance is a challenging task because of the presence of optical, recombination and resistive loss mechanisms in the cell. This work is focused on the measurement and mitigation of these losses. Mitigation of the optical, recombination and resistive losses at first require quantifying those losses and their impacts on the cell performance metrics accurately. Traditionally, solar cells …

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Breaking News: The Presence Of Framing In Partisan Cable News Network's Coverage Of Officers Murdering Black Victims, Andrea Smith Jan 2021

Breaking News: The Presence Of Framing In Partisan Cable News Network's Coverage Of Officers Murdering Black Victims, Andrea Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This study analyzed how the most partisan cable news networks, FOX News and MSNBC, framed victims and officers in their coverage of cases where officers murder Black victims. In addition, this work investigated how these networks discussed systemic racism within their reports. Using Feagin's white racial frame as a framework, the findings suggest that both networks exhibited anti-black and pro-white framing within their reports, although the frequency and the severity varied across networks. Results also show when counter framing was present, MSNBC still perpetuated the anti-black and pro-white frames. These results have implications for how media should improve their coverage …

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Understanding Variation In Sexual Exploitation And Abuse In Un Pkos: The Role Of Military, Police, And Civilian Peacekeepers, Gabriella Cuber Jan 2021

Understanding Variation In Sexual Exploitation And Abuse In Un Pkos: The Role Of Military, Police, And Civilian Peacekeepers, Gabriella Cuber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Apart from perpetuating human rights violations in fragile contexts, sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) in UN peacekeeping operations (PKOs) reduces the international community's ability to pursue peacebuilding missions, threatens the legitimacy of ongoing missions, and undermines gender equality efforts in the host country. While previous research has investigated patterns of SEA violations by peacekeepers, most studies limit their focus on abuses by military and police personnel. This study expands on these studies by examining SEA violations committed by civilian peacekeepers in addition to military and police personnel, as well as separately. I argue that several other determinants beyond military attributes …

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Online Organizational Citizenship Behavior: An Exploration Of New Avenues For Prosocial Behavior In The Digital Age, Sarah Rabon Jan 2021

Online Organizational Citizenship Behavior: An Exploration Of New Avenues For Prosocial Behavior In The Digital Age, Sarah Rabon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Internet use has changed modern workplaces and introduced new options for employee behavior, including organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). While prior research suggests the internet is a unique social environment, and not a simple extension of a traditional in-person workplace, OCB has not been studied in this context. This thesis aimed to identify and document the nature of online OCB and identify how it differs in form and function from traditional in-person OCB. This thesis used a mixed methods approach, with self-report data from 201 participants. Results indicate workers engage in OCB online at a lower rate than in person. Some …

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The Motuporamines Act Through Rho1 And Rac To Control Actin Dynamics In Drosophila, Corey Seavey Jan 2021

The Motuporamines Act Through Rho1 And Rac To Control Actin Dynamics In Drosophila, Corey Seavey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Given that most cancer patients die from metastatic disease, there is an urgent need to develop drugs that inhibit the spread of tumors. Studies show that the motuporamines activate the small GTPase RhoA to prevent cancer cell migration, but little is known about the mechanism of action of dihydromotuporamine C (Motu33) and its synthetic derivative Motu-(CH2)-33. In the present study, I investigated the biomolecular processes of these compounds in Drosophila by reducing the gene dose of positive and negative regulators of actin dynamics. Consistent with previous findings, reduced gene dose of Rho1 (the Drosophila RhoA ortholog) attenuates motuporamine activity confirming …

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Design-Based Research Toward A Professional Development Program, Karl Miehl Jan 2021

Design-Based Research Toward A Professional Development Program, Karl Miehl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this dissertation in practice was twofold; The first purpose was to design a Professional Development (PD) program for a specialized group of civilian employees working in a large military organization, and the second purpose was to evaluate and refine that PD program using mixed-methods empirical research. The study focused on a group of approximately 100 Instructional System Specialists and Research Psychologists. These employees are highly educated, with the majority holding advanced degrees in their respective fields, yet they lacked a clear path to career development within their organization. Following the tenets of design-based research, a PD program …

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Remediation Of Roadway Runoff Nutrients: Querying Sources Delivery Mechanism, Efficacy Of Stormwater Best Management Practices, And Stormwater Routing Through Karst Geology, Mohammad Shokri Jan 2021

Remediation Of Roadway Runoff Nutrients: Querying Sources Delivery Mechanism, Efficacy Of Stormwater Best Management Practices, And Stormwater Routing Through Karst Geology, Mohammad Shokri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Stormwater road runoff is a widespread non-point source of contaminants such as nutrients, which endangers water bodies, especially in vulnerable karst areas such as Florida. While roadside vegetated filter strips (VFSs) and stormwater basins are generally accepted best management practices (BMPs) for stormwater management, uncertainties about VFS nutrient removal are reported and stormwater basins are concerned of facilitating contaminant transport. In this dissertation, the application and efficacy of engineered infiltration media was tested as a subgrade for the enhanced nutrient removal from roadway runoff. Results of field-scale laboratory testing indicated that a VFS with engineered biosorption activated media (BAM) outperformed …

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The Effects Of A Remote Based Exercise Intervention On Psychosocial Factors In Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Juan Mayo Jan 2021

The Effects Of A Remote Based Exercise Intervention On Psychosocial Factors In Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Juan Mayo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

AIM: The aim for this study was to identify the effects of physical activity (PA) on the psychosocial factors (PA self-efficacy, enjoyment of PA, perceived stress, and depression) amongst young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through the use of a 12-week remotely prescribed exercise program. METHODSs: This quasi-experimental study consisted of a 12-week remote-based exercise intervention (and a no-exercise control group) for young adults (18 – 35 years) with ASD. Participants were recruited through the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), an organization that provides resources to individuals with ASD and their families. The exercise program occurred twice …

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Incongruous Surrealism Within Narrative Animated Film, Daniel Mccabe Jan 2021

Incongruous Surrealism Within Narrative Animated Film, Daniel Mccabe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

A pop music video is a form of media containing incongruous surrealistic imagery with a narrative structure supplied by song lyrics. The lyrics' presence allows filmmakers to digress from sequential imagery through introduction of nonlinear visual elements. I will analyze these surrealist film elements through several post-modern philosophies to better understand how this animated audio-visual synthesis resides in the larger world of art theory and its relationship to the popular music video. This analysis coincides with the practical and theoretical experimentation evident in the film companion to this thesis, Slapper the Cat: A Musical Cartoon. A long-form animated music video …

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An Evaluation Of The Differences Between Perpetrators In Completed And Averted School Shootings, Ashley Winch Jan 2021

An Evaluation Of The Differences Between Perpetrators In Completed And Averted School Shootings, Ashley Winch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

School shootings have received a substantial amount of media attention and there have been a variety of explanations proposed as to their cause. While completed school shootings have been evaluated extensively, little research has been done into school shootings that have been averted, and even fewer studies have evaluated between group differences between completed and averted school shootings. The purpose of the present study was to assess the differences in completed and averted school shootings primarily with respect to the age of the perpetrators, the number of perpetrators, and participation in leakage warning behaviors. Additional demographic variables were assessed with …

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How To Upload Images To The Social Media Archive, Megan M. Haught Jan 2021

How To Upload Images To The Social Media Archive, Megan M. Haught

Libraries' Documents

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