Digital Commons Network^™

Motivating Students To Read, Lashonda Renee' Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This applied research study was conducted to motivate third-grade students to increase the amount of time that they read each day at school and at home to support further the passage of the Third-Grade Summative Assessment. In the study, I examined the implementation of the Accelerated Reader Program to establish student reading goals and to enhance the school’s reading culture. I used teacher interviews, teacher surveys, and parent surveys in this study. The findings revealed that students who passed the Mississippi Third-Grade Summative Assessment increased their reading proficiency. A positive impact was made on the students’ reading proficiency, attitudes, motivation, …

Purple To Powder Blue: Exploring Interactions Between Military-Connected Students With Disabilities And Student Services At The University Of Mississippi, Maura Mollet-Hobbs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the interactions between military-connected students with disabilities (MCS/D) and student services at the University of Mississippi. As the population of MCSs in higher education continues to grow, partly due to expanded federal education benefits like the Forever GI Bill, a subset of these students face challenges related to their disabilities. This study focuses on MCS/Ds and examines how institutional support and policies intersect with their complex identities.

The research employs a mixed-methods approach to investigate how MCS/Ds interact with student services at the University of Mississippi, considering the intersection of their military connection and disability status. By …

The Daily Choices And Personality Quiz: Designing And Testing A New Manipulation Of Masculinity Threat, Caitlin M. Shaw

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Boys receive unique messaging about their gender identity from an early age, including that they must avoid anything associated with femininity (Blakemore, 2003). Failure to follow this group norm is usually met with punishment or ridicule (Kane, 2006; Katz, 2020). Unsurprisingly, this socialization might teach boys that manhood is not guaranteed. Precarious manhood theory (Vandello & Bosson, 2013) argues that manhood–but not womanhood–is a status that must be socially earned, but can be revoked, making it “precarious.” Since the theory’s inception, researchers have explored ways to experimentally examine the consequences of “lost manhood” using masculinity threat paradigms which describe men …

Examining Stress, Stress, Potentially Traumatic Events, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, And Emotional Support Among Individuals With Skin Disease Symptoms, Taylor A. Strange

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the complex interplay between psychological stress, trauma-related experiences, and skin disease symptoms, alongside the potential moderating role of emotional social support. While the worsening effect of stress on skin conditions is well-documented, the specific association between trauma and dermatological symptoms, and its contribution to inflammatory responses, warrants further exploration. The stress-buffering hypothesis posits that perceived emotional support can mitigate the negative impact of stress on quality of life in chronic health conditions. This hypothesis has found support across various chronic physical and psychological ailments, yet its applicability to dermatological conditions remains less established. Our study pursued two …

Academic Achievement Variables: Significance Devalued By Correlated Variables, Ray J. Yancy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This correlational study investigates the relationship between student academic achievement and various external factors, including funding, student attendance, school attributes, and family income, across 147 Tennessee K-12 public school districts. Using Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) and End-Of-Course (EOC) scores to define student achievement, the study analyzes data from over 1900 schools during the 2023-2024 school year. Employing the statistical analysis software - SPSS - for descriptive and correlation analysis, the study excludes schools with incomplete data. The findings reveal significant correlations between student achievement and 80% of the external variables, rejecting the null hypothesis in 12 of 15 cases …

Loneliness And Ambulatory Blood Pressure, Patric Justin Leukel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and is by extension associated with potentially life-threatening events (e.g., heart attack, stroke). Loneliness, which has been linked to cardiovascular health problems, may be an important risk factor for hypertension. Most studies exploring psychosocial factors and blood pressure focus on single-point measurements of blood pressure, which have notable limitations. The current study investigated the association between loneliness and markers of hypertension (i.e., mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure dip, average pulse pressure, and AASI) in a diverse sample by utilizing an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) device. Sixty …

Careers On The Spectrum: Enhancing Higher Education Career Services For First-Generation Neurodivergent College Students, Shyra Jannay Lynch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the unique career service needs and experiences of first-generation neurodivergent college students (FGNCS) at the University of Mississippi. First-generation college students (FGCS), as the first in their families to attend college, often face distinct challenges in navigating higher education due to limited familial support and unfamiliarity with academic resources. Meanwhile, neurodivergent students, those with conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and various cognitive differences, encounter unique barriers related to sensory sensitivities, communication, and social integration within academic and career environments. At the intersection of these identities, FGNCS encounter distinct challenges in career services that may not …

Comparative Effectiveness Of Biologic Or Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs In Terms Of Opioid Tapering And Discontinuation Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Shadi Bazzazzadehgan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: Pain is the most common patient-reported outcome in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), frequently managed with long-term opioid therapy (LTOT), despite limited evidence supporting its efficacy and safety. Given the inflammatory nature of RA pain, biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) may relief pain and facilitate opioid withdrawal. This study compared rates of any opioid tapering, rapid opioid tapering, and opioid discontinuation among Medicare beneficiaries with RA who initiated b/tsDMARDs, including tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi bDMARDs), non-TNFi bDMARDs, or Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi).

Methods: A new-user cohort study design was implemented using 5% Medicare (2012-2020). Beneficiaries with RA, …

Meeting The Mandate: An Applied Research Study On Improving Student Success In Advanced Placement Courses., Heather Bryan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Educational policy influences the landscape of American public schools. School leaders are tasked with navigating change and addressing unforeseen repercussions stemming from shifts in educational policy. As Mississippi moved to integrate Advanced Placement courses in all high schools, school leaders were tasked to comply and provide systems of support for school and student achievement. These unintended consequences led to an adjustment in expectations and rigor in all classrooms. This applied research study with program evaluation aimed to mitigate this change and support not only Advanced Placement students, but all students, to facilitate student growth and achievement. The program sought to …

Do College Students Delegate Over The Counter Product Choice To Pharmacists? A National Survey Experiment, Joanne Elizabeth Mansalay Canedo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: College students are known to have more frequent use for over-the-counter (OTC) cold products. Choice overload can lead to an increased burden of responsibility and dissatisfaction with one’s decision. The act of delegating to a pharmacist can prevent OTC product misuse and potential for abuse. The objective was to examine the effect of OTC choice difficulty and pharmacist accessibility on college students’ likelihood to delegate pharmacists for choosing OTC products for the common cold.

Methodology: An experimental within-subjects survey design was utilized on a national convenience sample of undergraduate students aged 18 years and older through Qualtrics market research …

The Effects Of Timbre On Melodic Dictation In Advanced Placement Music Theory Students, William Thomas Ardrey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of varying timbres on melodic dictation accuracy. Melodic dictation is used not only in collegiate music curricula but also in high school Advanced Placement Music Theory (APMT) courses. Studies examining the effects of varying timbres on dictation are limited (Gephardt, 1978; Gonzalez et al., 2015), and further investigation was needed. Subjects in this study (N = 52) were APMT students who completed melodic dictation tasks in four timbres: Bb clarinet, Bb trumpet, piano, and marimba. A repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant difference in melodic dictation accuracy across …

Improving Teacher Effectiveness, Keith D. Powell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This applied action research with a program evaluation aimed to determine if the Improving Effectiveness Three (IE3) program which is composed of professional development on the Professional Growth System (PGS), engagement in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), and participation in the New Teacher Academy (NTA) improves teacher effectiveness at North Panama High School (NPHS) as measured by the Mississippi Professional Growth System.

For the past five years, the United States has struggled to fully staff public schools with highly effective teachers. This struggle is increasingly difficult in several southern states. North Panama High School, surrounded by more affluent school districts, experiences …

Exploring The Perceptions Of Non-Traditional Graduate Students About Their Experiences With Social Presence In Online Professional Degree Programs, Courtney Elizabeth Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rise of virtual learning has been significant in recent years, with the percentage of degree programs offered exclusively online increasing from 15.4% in 2019 to 60% in 2022. While online courses provide flexibility and convenience, concerns have emerged regarding student engagement, learning outcomes, and satisfaction. Due to limited interactions with peers and instructors, virtual students often struggle with motivation and experience higher levels of anxiety, stress, and isolation compared to their in-person counterparts.

A key factor influencing student success in online courses is social presence, defined as the extent to which learners feel connected and engaged with their instructor …

Framing Ncaa V. Alston: Amicus Briefs’ Competing Visions Of Student-Athlete Compensation, Stuart A. Sutton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative content analysis was to examine how amici curiae frame policy preferences in amicus briefs submitted before the United States Supreme Court in NCAA v. Alston (2021). The questions addressed in this study were what dominant policy frames did interest groups use to frame policy preference in NCAA v. Alston (2021), and which (if any) policy frames in the amicus briefs emerged in the written opinions of the United States Supreme Court? This analysis indicates the complexities and intricacies of competing vision of student-athlete compensation within the persuasive lens of amicus briefs through interest groups. In …

The Moderating Role Of Engagement On Mindfulness, Sarah Rose Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the moderating role of engagement in a technology-based mindfulness intervention among college students. Drawing on archival data from a prior randomized controlled trial, the analysis focused on whether self-reported engagement influenced changes in mindfulness as measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Seventy-five participants in the mindfulness intervention group received brief psychoeducational and practice-based text messages over a 21-day period. A moderation analysis using PROCESS macro tested whether engagement moderated the relationship between pre- and post-intervention mindfulness scores. Results indicated that engagement did not significantly moderate changes in total FFMQ scores, providing no support for …

Teacher Perceptions And Student Self-Reports: Examining Aggression, Delinquency, And Contextual Correlates In Education And Non-Educational Settings, Abigail Claire Boozer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the relationship between teacher-perceived delinquency and student self-reported delinquency, utilizing data from the LONGSCAN data set. The research also examines whether the correlates of these behaviors differ across classroom and non-classroom settings, offering insights into the contextual dynamics of delinquency. Grounded in labeling theory, this study explores the influence of teacher perceptions on student behavior, highlighting how labeling may reinforce or mitigate patterns of aggression and delinquency. By leveraging the rich longitudinal data from LONGSCAN, the research identifies key demographic, familial, and environmental factors that contribute to these behaviors. The findings aim to inform educational interventions and …

On Developing A Behavioral Paradigm To Measure Intolerance Of Uncertainty: The Ambiguous Approach Index, Heather Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research in clinical psychology over the last 40 years has solidified intolerance of uncertainty (IU) as an important transdiagnostic etiological and maintenance factor of affective psychopathology. Theoretically, IU is the dispositional cognitive tendency underlying anxiety related avoidance behaviors, such as worry, checking, and hypervigilance which lead to increased functional impairment. IU is associated with increased severity of numerous psychological concerns including anxiety, depression, and other commonly comorbid conditions. Further, higher levels of IU are found in clinical than non-clinical samples, emphasizing its role in mental health outcomes. However, behavioral paradigms used to differentiate between individuals of different diagnostic groups or …

Toward A Comprehensive Understanding Of The Interrelationships Between Valued Living, Veteran Acculturation, And Mental Health: First Steps Paving The Way For A Novel Valued Living Intervention For Veterans, With Challenges Encountered, Solutions Sought, And Lessons Learned, Victoria Elizabeth Mccutcheon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As part of a growing program of research, the present study builds upon previous findings that revealed meaning in life as a significant protective factor for Veteran psychological adaptation to civilian life (BPAS-MV). This next phase involves examining the utility of a novel EMA/EMI daily valued living intervention in fostering meaning through valued living (VLQ) in order to mitigate psychological distress and promote positive Veteran acculturation outcomes. Though the study is ongoing, small-scale pilot data from the pre-intervention baseline survey examining relationships among the variables targeted in the intervention are reported at this time and methodological challenges in the current …

Sentiment Driven Deep Learning Approach In Stock Market Prediction, Zhiqi Niu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, its application in the financial field has moved from theoretical exploration to practical deployment. Especially in stock market forecasting, machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) have significantly improved the performance of traditional statistical methods by analyzing massive historical data. However, the stock market is affected by multiple dynamic factors, including macroeconomic indicators (e.g., GDP, interest rates), company fundamentals (e.g., earnings reports, management changes), technical indicators (e.g., moving averages, trading volume), and unforeseen black swan events (e.g., political unrest, natural disasters). These nonlinear interactions of these factors makes stock price prediction …

Educating Students Suffering From Social Emotional Trauma, Terry Peeples

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this applied research was to prepare teachers with proper professional development so that teachers can be equipped with the skills and strategies to educate students who suffer from social-emotional trauma. Students are faced with many challenges outside of school. Sometimes these challenges come from the neighborhoods in which they live, their household and living conditions, the amount of violence that students have witnessed, and many more emotionally scarring situations. I have witnessed students miss out on the opportunity of student learning because of the emotional state they were in at that moment. Many times, students do not …

Differing Russian Translations Of British Pre-Victorian Era Politeness In Literary Texts: A Case Study Of Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice, Olga Ponomareva

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This case study investigates the translation of pre-Victorian-era politeness in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice into Russian. The study addresses translators’ challenges when transferring cultural and social nuances from the original English texts to their Russian counterparts. The primary objective of this research is to analyze how Russian translations handle the concept of politeness, comparing strategies used by two translators, which is achieved through a comparative analysis of selected excerpts from the novel, focusing on the translation of politeness as defined by Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness theory. The study contributes to translation studies, showing the importance of cultural …

"Keep Coming Back!": How Recovering Addicts Use Narcotics Anonymous For Social Rehabilitation., Taylor Leigh Ransom

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the role of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in shaping identity transformation and social reintegration among individuals in recovery. Using an ethnographic approach, including participant observation at NA meetings and semi-structured interviews with members, along with textual analysis of Narcotics Anonymous literature, this research explores how NA fosters social recovery by providing a structured yet flexible space for identity reconstruction. Through shared narratives, rituals, and peer support, members navigate the transition from an “addict” identity to one centered on personal accountability, community, and long-term abstinence from drugs.

By situating NA within broader sociological discussions of addiction recovery, social capital, …

The Relationship Between College Entrance Exam Scores And First-Year Undergraduate Grade Point Averages At A Regional Public University: An Exploratory Analysis, Kaitlyn Sanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the relationship between college entrance exam scores and first-year college grade point averages for first-year students enrolled at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. Using a three-manuscript approach, the dissertation in practice explores the predictive validity of college entrance exam scores in higher education admissions, evaluates the effectiveness of these exams in forecasting academic success, and connects leadership philosophy to data-driven decision-making in admissions policies.

Manuscript One introduces the problem of practice by situating college entrance exams within the broader context of college admissions. While entrance exams such as the ACT and SAT have traditionally been …

Beyond Guns Vs. Butter: Gendered Dynamics In Security Policy Preferences, Elaine Elizabeth Tagert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation challenges the foundational assumptions of the “guns versus butter” debate by recentering gender, insecurity, and state legitimacy in the analysis of public opinion. Drawing on over 300,000 individual responses across 80 countries, and original survey data from post-conflict Colombia, it demonstrates that the commonly held belief that women are more likely to prioritize welfare over security is both context-dependent and empirically unstable. Rather than reflecting innate preferences, gendered policy attitudes emerge from lived experiences of violence, inequality, and institutional trust.

The first empirical chapter reveals a striking reversal of conventional expectations in the Global South: in regions where …

Mock Trial Team Hosts Annual Chucky Mullins Invitational, Will Jones

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – Several University of Mississippi students earned honors during the fifth annual Chucky Mullins Invitational hosted recently by the university's Mock Trial Association at the School of Law.

Law Professor Recognized For Work With Student-Athletes, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame has recognized University of Mississippi law professor Ronald Rychlak among 16 faculty athletics representatives nationwide.

Fictional And Historical Narratives Of African American Soldiers Of Wwii, Abigail Rae Stewart

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the experiences of African American soldiers during World War II through the dual lenses of oral histories and fictionalized accounts, arguing that both are essential to fully understanding their multifaceted journeys at home and abroad. Oral histories provide direct, personal narratives from veterans themselves, capturing their voices, emotions, and reflections on the discrimination, camaraderie, and resilience that defined their wartime and postwar lives. These firsthand accounts offer invaluable insights into the structural realities of systemic racism within the military and society, as well as the personal sacrifices these soldiers made in the name of a country that …

A Kid's Guide To Infectious Disease, Abby Carroll

Honors Theses

A Kid’s Guide to Infectious Disease is an educational illustrated book intended for young pediatric patients, ages three to five. This project was inspired by my personal interests, involvement at the University of Mississippi, and experience as a medical assistant. Over the past couple of years, I have had the opportunity to work as a medical assistant, interacting with many pediatric patients and their families at HealthPointe Primary Care. As a pre-physician assistant student studying biology, I was inspired to create a resource for these kids by both my classes at the University of Mississippi and my passion for pediatric …

The Relationship Between Religious Coping Styles And Eating Disorder Risk In Christians In A University Setting, Meghan E. Aubuchon

Honors Theses

Existing research on eating disorders and religion is beginning to gain momentum in the present day, but research is lacking on the topic of religious coping and eating disorder risk. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between two known styles of religious coping—positive and negative—and eating disorder risk in University of Mississippi students, faculty, and staff who identify as Christian. A survey consisting of basic demographic questions, the EAT-26, and the Brief RCOPE was distributed via emails sent by the office of IREP to students, faculty, and staff at the University of Mississippi. A total of 330 participants were …

Unspoken Journeys, Katie Ayres

Undergraduate B.F.A. Theses in Studio Art

No abstract provided.