Digital Commons Network^™

Theatrical Tools To Support The Community Agreement, Bethany E. Post

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

When working with a new group of people, it is common practice to create a Community Agreement in pursuit of quality outcomes. This tool uses dialogue to methodically outline the desired educational or creative environment, democratically articulating the commitments and expectations to remain in place throughout the duration of the group's existence and setting all participants in accord with the work to come. However, the Community Agreement can fail to support individual participants during moments of inevitable tension. In such moments, participants may experience unplanned emotional or physical reactions in response to triggering material or ideas. To navigate these reactions …

Inclusifying The Rehearsal Room: Creating Accessible And Accommodating Theatrical Spaces For Young People, Christian Anderson

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

In youth theatre spaces, it is up to the facilitators to discover and create new ways to include more students, especially those who previously didn't have a seat at the table. Making rehearsal spaces inclusive and accessible to all starts by establishing inclusion as an innate practice integrated into every step of the process. This thesis focuses on creating inclusive and accessible rehearsal spaces outside of the traditional classroom for young people ages 8-22, specifically in community theatre and collegiate spaces. The director's role is explored in two projects: Home of the Brave, a Theatre for Young Audiences production …

The Boyfriend Dungeon Controversy: Fan Labor And Toxic Fan Practices In Progressive Fandom, Angela Orozco

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

On August 11, 2021, the hack and slash video game and queer dating simulator, Boyfriend Dungeon, was released to play on PC and various gaming consoles by indie developer, Kitfox Games. Quickly upon its release, the development team was met with fan outrage regarding a misleading content warning and themes that were not mentioned during the game's fundraising stage. This culminated in an online harassment campaign against Kitfox Games, with many fans targeting the voice actor of the game's main villain.

The following study attempts to analyze some of the core elements of what is now known to online …

Nailed It: Creative Nonfiction Essays, Kristi M. Dao

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Nailed It is a collection of personal essays that follow the life of the narrator as an unlovable outsider raised by parents who are Vietnam War refugees. This collection is made up of seven essays, each focusing on the relationships that have shaped the speaker's identity and ideas about how love works. “Lost in Translation” opens the collection and explores the narrator's attempts to make sense of parental relationships defined by communication errors. The next several essays consider the father and mother as both parents and business owners, as well as relationships with people beyond the immediate household and family. …

Foreign Language Writing Anxiety: Lived Experiences Of International Graduate Students, Padideh Fattahi Marnani

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study investigates the lived experiences of international graduate students dealing with Second Language Writing Anxiety (SLWA), utilizing Moustakas’ transcendental phenomenological approach for data analysis. The study is framed by Horwitz’s theory of Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) and draws on data from seven participants from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Data collection methods included interviews, researcher’s memos, and writing samples. The findings reveal several causes of SLWA, including the experience of being judged, low self-confidence, avoidance and procrastination, limited technical vocabulary and ability to elaborate on ideas, and lack of proper grammar. The consequences of SLWA include …

In Vitro Metabolite Identification Of Indole 3-Ylcycloalkyl Ketones, Inez M. Jacobs-Hinton

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) have emerged as a complex and evolving class of compounds designed to mimic the effects of natural cannabinoids, targeting the endocannabinoid system. Despite their widespread recreational use and therapeutic potential, the safety and pharmacokinetic properties of synthetic cannabinoids remain inadequately understood. This study examines the in vitro drug metabolism of a prominent class of SCs—indole-3-ylcycloalkyl ketones—by identifying and characterizing their metabolites. Human liver microsomes were used to investigate the metabolism of several SCs, including (2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropyl)[1-(4,4,4-trifluorobutyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]-methanone (XLR-12), 1-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-1H-indol-3-yl-methanone (A-796260), 1-[(1-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl]-1H-indol-3-yl-methanone (AB-005), 1-(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl-methanone (FAB-144), and 1-[(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)methyl]-1H-indol-3-yl-methanone (A-834735). Several time points were chosen to assist in elucidating the dynamics of …

Assessment Of Caretaker Resources And Motivation In The Wean-To-Market Phase Of Swine Production, Joshua W. Holtkamp

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This study is a novel application of I/O Psychology principles to the U.S. swine industry. The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) recently identified caretaker motivation related to compliance with biosecurity behaviors as a priority needing to be better understood. This exploratory study seeks to identify if there is indeed a worker motivation issue within the industry that is impacting compliance with biosecurity, and if so, establish both a baseline of motivation and a better understanding of the primary influencing factors. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Job Demands/Resources Model of Burnout as a framework, an online survey was …

Development And Validation Of The Nicotine Vaping Expectancy Questionnaire: Item Generation, Scale Construction, Reliability And Validity, Gabrielle Lynch

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Over the past two decades, cigarette smoking has decreased among teenagers and young adults, but nicotine vaping has increased dramatically. Liquid vape products contain harmful chemicals ingested when vapor is inhaled, and vaping is associated with lung damage and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There has been relatively little research on nicotine vaping and effective prevention and intervention methods have yet to be developed. Changing expectancy processes has been successful in preventing early alcohol use and cigarette smoking, but little is known about nicotine vaping expectancies. An appropriately developed nicotine vaping expectancy measure is necessary to better understand vaping behavior and …

The Effect Of Perceived Discrimination On Alcohol Use Behaviors: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study Among Hispanic/Latinx Drinkers, Ardhys N. De Leon

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Hispanic/Latinx drinkers are more likely to experience adverse alcohol-related consequences and have less access to treatment services. Research indicates that discrimination has a unique effect on drinking behaviors. The Minority Stress Model depicts how discrimination places individuals at a heightened risk for adverse health outcomes. Emotion regulation and alcohol craving are also known to impact alcohol use. This study investigated the impact of perceived discrimination on emotional disturbance, alcohol craving, and alcohol use using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). The following were proposed: H1: Emotional disturbance will predict alcohol craving in the moment (Level 1). H2: The association between perceived discrimination …

Is My Team As Passionate As Me? Effects Of Perceived Dissimilarity Of Occupational Passion-Intensity On Key Outcomes Among Working Adults, Moses Rivera

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation explores the impact of perceived self-to-team dissimilarity in occupational passion-intensity on individual-level outcomes among workgroup members in organizational contexts. Grounded in need-to-belong theory, moralization theory, and equity theory, the outcomes examined include job satisfaction, turnover intentions, involvement in task-conflict, and psychological safety. Additionally, results via three methods for measuring self-to-team similarity and/or dissimilarity were compared. Two self-report online questionnaires separated by one week were administered to 530 adult workers from the US, Canada, and the UK, across a wide variety of industries. Based on a final sample of N = 483, structural equation models—each corresponding to one method …

Two Studies Examining The Effects Of Cash Rewards And Non-Cash Rewards On Employee Perceptions And Motivation, Aaron Mccullough

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

An important component of the total compensation that employees receive is employee rewards. Informing companies on how to best utilize their limited resources to reward and motivate their employees is a critical aspect of management accounting research. In Study 1, I examine employee perceptions and usage of various types of non-cash rewards vis-à-vis cash rewards. Using survey methods, I find employees self-report cash rewards as more motivating than all other types of non-cash rewards. I find employees report no greater likelihood of spending cash rewards or gift card rewards on hedonic purchases; however, when spending any type of reward on …

Trauma And Dynamic Needs: Examining The Role Of Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) On Changes In Youth Needs While In Residential Placement, Ashley Lockwood

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) for youth in residential facilities is greater than youth in the general population and those in other justice settings. Despite recent advancements in the literature on ACEs and treatment for justice-involved youth, an expansion of this inquiry continues to be warranted. The Risk, Needs, and Responsivity framework has not conceptualized the influence of trauma across youth sex and race/ethnicity in rehabilitation efforts. Therefore, the current study has two primary objectives: (1) to explore the presence of ACEs in the lives of youth in residential facilities, and (2) examine the association between ACEs and …

Exploring Barriers And Pathways To Public Engagement On Climate Change, Monica Mayer

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Despite evidence of its severity and urgency, climate change elicits relatively high skepticism and low concern within the U.S. This study explores psychological barriers preventing people from prioritizing the issue as well as potential strategies to overcome those barriers. Interviews with individuals living in Florida identifying as cautious, disengaged, or doubtful about climate change were conducted between September and October 2023. Participants expressed skepticism over humanity’s impact on the climate. They further conveyed that other nations have a larger impact on climate change than the U.S, that the issue’s criticality is exaggerated, and that observable weather shifts are not the …

Humor As An Instructional Communication Tool: Revisiting Humor And Exploring The New Punchline In Human-Machine Communication, Melissa M. Looney

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This research examined the role of humor in instructional communication, focusing on human-to-human and human-machine communication (HMC). As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in learning environments, it is critical to understand how elements such as humor influence user perceptions and, consequently, affective learning outcomes. Previous arguments about humor in educational settings, particularly those centered on traditional student-teacher interactions, have been arguably derelict. Therefore, this research revisited earlier assertions about humor, extending the inquiry to include online communication and AI-driven chatbots in learning management systems. Specifically, the study explored how humor and the type of agent (human or AI chatbot) …

"What Do You Mean By...?" The Role Of Plain Language In Jury Instructions, Jamie L. Vega

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Extant literature indicates there are significant problems related to how jurors comprehend instructions. Cognitive fluency literature explains that when information is presented in plain language, it enhances cognitive fluency by reducing the cognitive load on the reader or listener. Therefore, utilizing a quantitative experiment, this study sought to explore the use of plain language and its role when presenting instructions to jurors. A total of 212 participants were randomly assigned to one of the two jury instruction conditions and one of the six case facts, where they were asked to read a hypothetical self-defense case scenario followed by the corresponding …

Effects Of Language Differences On Healthcare Barriers Experienced By Arab Americans, Abigail Yazdiya

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study analyzes the effects of language differences on healthcare services for Arab Americans. The research specifically investigates the subpopulation of ESL (English Second Language)/bilingual Arab Americans, in order to learn about the effect of a lack of interpretation services and therefore the use of family translators on healthcare treatment. There has been a lack of research on this growing population in the United States. Language barriers can hinder the already difficult process of healthcare. These barriers, combined with other barriers, such as cultural factors, can negatively affect healthcare treatment and outcomes. This study uses surveys to reach people in …

Exploring Hypervigilance Among Trans+ People Navigating Cisgendered Healthcare, Emma M. Tukdarian

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This thesis uses the limited research on LGBTQ+ specific hypervigilance and queer battle fatigue to explore the prevalence of hypervigilance and fatigue in trans+ medical experiences, even when emotions aren't centered in their narratives, while also using participants' narratives and minority stress theory to suggest changes to the American medical system. Data was taken from a previous study of in-depth interviews on healthcare experiences of 60 trans+ young adults ages 18-24. Analysis of the data was done in NVivo using line-by-line coding for mentions of emotional responses linked to hypervigilance within interview transcripts. Results show that 67% of participants shared …

A Social Portal To Online Higher Education: How Students With Disabilities Experience Online Courses, Marisa Lucca

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Although people with disabilities have made significant strides toward educational equity, they continue to face struggles in college that perpetuate their dismal college outcomes. Current research focuses on struggles endured in the on-campus setting and provides little insight into online course experiences. Toward addressing the knowledge gap, the study opened a social portal to online higher education, leveraging disability as an experiential lens to understand online course challenges and the potential for universal design for learning practices to reduce obstacles to academic success. We considered online course experiences concerning impairment effects and disablism within a social relational disability studies perspective. …

Competing Narratives And Converging Perspectives: Analyzing The Dynamics Of The Pulse Memorial Crisis, Amy E. Maciel

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

In the wake of the Pulse nightclub massacre, the effort to create a memorial devolved into a crisis and ultimate failure amidst a complex interplay of divergent claims. This study explored the evolving memorialization process for the creation of a Pulse Memorial, utilizing Fisher's narrative paradigm to analyze articles from the Orlando Sentinel published between January 1st, 2023, and January 31st, 2024. By employing Fisher's framework, which emphasizes narrative fidelity and narrative probability, this study investigated the dynamic evolution of storytelling related to the Pulse Memorial Crisis. Through thematic analysis, the study explored how stakeholders constructed and challenged the memory …

Subjectivity In Circulation: Jean Baudrillard And The Image As Objective Reality, Jacob Crawley

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to examine Jean Baudrillard’s theory of the image in both historical and philosophical terms and propose that his understanding of the image as disconnected from any sort of objective reality is an important starting point for further discussion of the photographic image. This thesis seeks to answer the question – how does Baudrillard’s theory of the photographic image shape our contemporary understanding of images, and what are the implications of his removal of the referent to reality within photographic images on mass culture, society, and the current state of image creation? This paper seeks …

A Holistic Approach To Animal Farming: Integrating Bioregionalism And Socialist Ecofeminism Within The Context Of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, Sarah R. Spears

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This paper addresses the harmful effects of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) within animal farming systems, including poor animal welfare, environmental damage, and environmental injustice. I argue that bioregionalism and socialist ecofeminism can help inform a holistic approach to mitigating these harms and evoke ethical and sustainable animal farming systems. Bioregionalism emphasizes local resource use, community engagement, and ecological knowledge within a specific region, while socialist ecofeminism critiques oppressive systems and seeks to uplift the viewpoints of all beings, including animals, nature, and humans of various identities. Through a scaffolded hypothetical case study informed by the CAFOs-practicing hog farms in …

Studying Implicit Racial Bias In Breast Cancer Screening, Diagnosis, And Treatment: A Scoping Review, Lillian C. Nguyen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Breast cancer remains a significant public health concern worldwide, with persisting disparities in several aspects of breast cancer care. Implicit bias has emerged as a potential contributor to these disparities. While previous research has examined implicit bias in healthcare, particularly in the context of racial and ethnic disparities, no review has been conducted to examine the association of physician implicit bias and breast cancer care. There remains a need for further investigation into its role in breast cancer care. This scoping review aims to systematically analyze the existing literature on physician implicit bias in breast cancer care to discern its …

Don’T Say Inequality - Ucf Instructors’ Experiences With Florida’S Senate Bill 266 And Its Legislative Kin, Liam A. Gundy

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines the experiences of UCF instructors regarding the implementation of Florida’s Senate Bill 266, which was signed into law in 2023. SB266 prohibits the inclusion of systemic topics in general education, prohibits state funds for DEI programs in state universities, introduces a 5-year post-tenure review, and assigns final hiring authority to the president of the university. This study utilized qualitative results from fill-in text questions (n = 238) in a survey with UCF instructors who had taught a course in the year before recruitment. This study investigated instructors’ understanding and experiences with the bill and administrative communications regarding …

Violence Against Women And Abortion Access: A Content Analysis Of The Impact Of The Overturning Of Roe V. Wade On Victims Of Domestic And Sexual Violence, Salika Vummarao

Honors Undergraduate Theses

On June 24, 2022, Roe v. Wade was overturned, effectively eliminating the federally protected right to an abortion. Following the overturning, several state-specific restrictions or bans on abortion were passed, creating increasingly difficult conditions for people seeking an abortion. Research shows that abortion bans and restrictions disproportionately affect victims of sexual and domestic violence. Hence, this study aims to understand the specific impact of the overturning of Roe v. Wade for victims of domestic and/or sexual violence by analysis of news articles. This issue has not been researched in depth, creating a gap in our understanding. The database NexisUni was …

The Effect Of Different Music Genres On Listeners' Emotions, Benjamin N. Rosenberg

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Music has been shown to have definitive effects on the emotions of listeners, but the effects of different genres of music have been less frequently studied. The purpose of this study was to examine three different genres of music (pop, metal, and EDM), and the different effects on listeners’ emotions that they would have. College students (n = 191), completed a questionnaire assessing genre preference and emotions, before listening to a selection of songs from one of the three genres. Afterwards, they reported their emotions once more. Metal music was found to cause an increase in negative emotions, while …

Best Practices For English Learners With Disabilities In Us Schools – A Systematic Review, Samiratu Bashiru, Jennifer E. Smith

Journal of English Learner Education

This systematic review investigated best practices for enhancing academic achievement among English Learners with Disabilities (ELDs) in US schools. By examining 17 peer-reviewed articles and comparing them to the CEC 2014 Quality Indicators, the study identifies significant practices, including culturally responsive methods, technology integration, evidence-based strategies, addressing service delivery challenges, and improving assessment tools. This review has limitations related to inconsistent terminology and highlights the need for standardized language and continued research. It recommends integrating culturally responsive practices, leveraging technology, and refining inclusive assessment tools. This review provides educators, policymakers, and researchers insights, emphasizing ongoing teacher development and policy alignment …

Visual Imagery Subcategories And Their Neural Associations, Miguel Ibarguren

Undergraduate Scholarship and Creative Works

This literature review compiles research findings related to the brain areas associated with various visual imagery subcategories and explores their contributions to them. Through a search procedure, four research projects were used to identify ten distinct brain areas that demonstrated greater involvement in visual imagery. The visual imagery subcategories discussed in these research projects, and investigated in this review, include scene construction, episodic memory, imagery vividness, and visuospatial imagery. Scene construction was found to utilize the parahippocampal gyrus, hippocampus, retrosplenial cortex, and posterior parietal cortex. Episodic memory involves the same areas as scene construction, but also includes the precuneus and …

Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) As A Predictor Of Adulthood Anxiety States, Emma N. Martin

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2023

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are instances of childhood trauma such as caregiver negligence, domestic abuse, and other dysfunctional relationships that a child may encounter inside or outside of their family. Significant evidence suggests ACEs are a predictor of youth complications, such as attentional, learning, emotional, and behavioral deficits. Anxiety and depressive disorders are two of the most costly childhood health conditions. The more instances of ACE indicated, the “higher [the] odds of anxiety or depression,” with an increased likelihood of internalized comorbidities or engagement with self-sabotaging behaviors (Elmore et al., 2020). This study addresses potential precursors to adulthood anxiety using …

Caring For Ucp, Jailimar Montanez, Jordan Teitelbaum, Samantha Jorgesen, Sydney Stillman, Adriana Chaparro, Jeremy Colon

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2023

The purpose of our project was to assist and foster connections with students and faculty at Unlocking Children's Potential (UCP) Charter Schools. The main focus of our group's service was to assist with day to day classroom activities at UCP. Our goal was to provide a helping hand and watchful eye for the faculty teaching students at UCP. Fostering connections with students at UCP was also an important goal for our service. Each of us individually served in different places at UCP, but every member of the group had extensive contact with at least 13 students in a classroom setting, …

Combating Invasive Species Through The Removal Of Pollution, Sarah J. Howell

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2023

The purpose of my project is to bring awareness to the issues of pollution on campus as well as encourage others to be more involved on campus through volunteerism. My time with the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) and the Arboretum was very valuable. Not only was I able to learn how to identify/properly remove invasive species from an environment as well as how to generally help maintain the gardens at UCF but I was also able to learn about the value of community and working towards a common goal such as cleaning up Greek road. A Key activity that …