Digital Commons Network^™

Integrity On The Line: An Action Research Investigation Into Cheating Behaviors Among Honors Students, Latasha Arda Smart

Theses and Dissertations

Academic dishonesty remains a persistent issue in education, undermining both learning and institutional integrity. While it has been extensively researched in general contexts, little is known about its occurrence in high-achieving settings such as honors classes, where students are frequently under increased performance pressure. This action research study investigated the prevalence, causes, and consequences of cheating behaviors among honors students at a rural high school.

The study centered on Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior, Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, and Merton's Strain Theory. Data were collected using a qualitative case study design, which included semi-structured interviews with students, teachers, and administrators, …

The Processing Of Emotional Prosody And Semantics In Native And Non-Native Chinese Speakers, Cheng Xiao

Theses and Dissertations

Emotional information in spoken language is conveyed through both semantic and prosodic cues. While listeners interpret the meaning of utterances (what is said), they also detect the speaker’s emotional prosody (how it is said). For non-native speakers, processing these two types of information simultaneously can be challenging, particularly in a tonal language such as Mandarin Chinese, where the same acoustic feature (i.e., pitch) encodes both lexical semantics and emotional prosody. This dissertation reports a series of behavioral and fMRI experiments investigating how native and non-native Chinese speakers perceive and process emotional prosody and semantics in words and sentences. Behaviorally, results …

Improving District Targeted Support For Schools With Low Student Achievement By Implementing Assistance Relationships With School Leaders, Mary Ashley Gaskins

Theses and Dissertations

Riverbend School District faced a challenge: the lack of a formalized structure for providing schools with targeted support that meets their unique needs and increases student achievement. This study explored how the district-level instructional team could customize support to improve English Language Arts and Math performance at schools with low student achievement. The theory of improvement posited that district instructional leaders engaging in assistance relationships – through modeling instructional leadership and providing conceptual and practical tools – would enhance school leaders' capacity, ultimately improving teaching and learning. A key action of the improvement team was the creation and implementation of …

Developing A Comprehensive Schoolwide Discipline Plan In Title 1 Southern Schools, Rose Clark Kebe

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored how teachers in Title I schools across the southern United States perceived and experienced school discipline practices. The study addressed the problem of inconsistent implementation of restorative and preventive frameworks, which has contributed to inequitable outcomes, teacher frustration, and lost instructional time. Although initiatives such as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are mandated across many districts, inconsistent use and limited fidelity have restricted their effectiveness in improving equitable discipline and school climate.

The purpose of the study was to examine teacher perspectives to inform the development of a culturally responsive, schoolwide behavioral system grounded …

Behind The Gens: A Bioarchaeological Study Of Kinship Structure And Social Change In Iron Age Latium, Italy, Andrea Noemí Acosta Caballero

Theses and Dissertations

The cemetery of Osteria dell’Osa is the only completely published Iron Age cemetery from Latium. Its research legacy continues as dietary, mobility, and biological affinity patterns were reconstructed through carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and strontium isotope analyses and biodistance analysis using bone and dental samples for this dissertation project. The main hypotheses tested are:

a) The diet of people buried at Osteria dell’Osa during the Iron Age likely consisted of mostly grains like wheat and barley, which may yield low carbon isotope signatures;

b) The protein consumption of the diet of people at Osteria dell’Osa was mainly composed of terrestrial protein …

A Comparative Analysis Of Two Symphonies By Robert Volkmann: Symphony No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 44, And Symphony No. 2 In B-Flat Major, Op. 53, Baha Lee

Theses and Dissertations

The 19th-century music scene boasts countless names, but some, like Robert Volkmann (1815–1883), have faded from the spotlight despite his prolific output as a composer, conductor, and educator. Volkmann’s music remains largely unknown and unperformed, waiting to be rediscovered. This lack of recognition provides a compelling opportunity to appreciate a talented composer and rekindle interest in his music. While scholarly inquiries into Volkmann are rare, delving into his major orchestral works, particularly his two symphonies, offers not only an understanding of his artistry but also a chance to revive interest in his captivating music.

Robert Volkmann composed only two symphonies …

Food Insecurity And Social Connection Of Nicaraguan Refugees And Asylum Seekers In Costa Rica: A Qualitative Study, Keren Herran

Theses and Dissertations

Background

Given the physical and mental health consequences of food insecurity, solutions should be evidence-based and seek to prioritize vulnerable populations. This qualitative study adds to limited literature on how refugees and asylum seekers use their social connections to mitigate food insecurity by investigating how Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers in Costa Rica foster social connections and use these connections to acquire and manage food.

Methods

In fall 2024, 35 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in San José, Costa Rica. Participants were recruited through six migrant-serving nonprofit organizations. For study inclusion, participants had to: 1) be 18 or older; 2) …

Application Of Machine Learning For Vascular System Analysis, Alireza Bagheri Rajeoni

Theses and Dissertations

The analysis of vascular structures is critical for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating vascular diseases such as aneurysms, stenosis, and vascular calcification. Traditional methods often rely on manual interpretation of imaging data, which is time-consuming, subjective, and not scalable. This work explores the application of advanced machine learning techniques to automate and enhance vascular system analysis. Our contributions include achieving state-of-the-art accuracy in vascular segmentation, developing a machine learning pipeline to automatically quantify vascular calcification in peripheral arterial disease, and designing a multi-stage machine learning system for abdominal aortic aneurysm analysis that identifies aneurysm boundaries and estimates aneurysm volume in a …

Identifying And Understanding The Barriers To Sexual Health Information Seeking Experienced By Young Adults (Ages 18-26) Using Social Media, Alexander Nicolas Vera

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation uses a qualitative, constructionist approach to examine the sociotechnical and cultural dynamics that shape digital sexual health-seeking practices of young adults. Guided by information practices and affordance theory, the research draws on semi-structured interviews and digital walkthroughs with 20 young adults (ages 18–26) from a convenience sample of young adults residing in South Carolina. Participants described how they use platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit not only to locate information but to assess its trustworthiness, inclusivity, and personal relevance in real time. Through in-depth accounts and screen-based demonstrations via digital walkthroughs, the study examines how participants engage in …

Recognizing The Unexpected: Deep Learning Across Complex Environments, Ge Song

Theses and Dissertations

Ensuring the security, trustworthiness, and operational integrity of modern autonomous and cyber-physical systems presents a critical challenge. While widely utilized in various engineering applications, such as intelligent transportation and industrial manufacturing, these systems require robust monitoring frameworks to identify unexpected anomalies in real-time, thereby maintaining operational safety and efficiency. This dissertation develops advanced deep learning methodologies for anomaly detection and health monitoring, with a particular emphasis on semisupervised reconstruction-based approaches that identify anomalies in complex environments using models trained only with normal operational patterns.

Building on this theme, the first study focuses on analyzing pedestrian behavior and detecting anomalies at …

Spectral Modeling Of Electromagnetic Radiation From Power Converters, Regan A. Varner

Theses and Dissertations

Switching power converters are increasingly utilized in contemporary electronics. They are becoming more compact and operate at higher frequencies, which contributes to radiated electromagnetic interference (EMI). This EMI is important to quantify for electromagnetic compatibility of the converters with other nearby systems. In this thesis, analytical models have been developed for both ideal and non-ideal switching waveforms, employing piecewise functions to describe time-domain waveforms, with their corresponding frequency spectra derived and compared to empirical spectra. The results demonstrate that the comparisons with measured frequency data exhibit agreement with the analytical models up to approximately 25 MHz. Additionally, our analysis indicates …

Calculating Surface Current Velocities From Video Generated From A Near Forward-Facing Camera, Colby James Weeks

Theses and Dissertations

This work presents a camera system for estimating surface currents. A combined camera and IMU system provide high resolution images and high precision orientation information, respectively. This eliminates the need for leveling and enables forward looking operation. The hardware stack includes a Lucid Vision Triton TRT162S monochrome camera, an SBG Ellipse D with dual antenna GNSS for precise pose, and an Nvidia Jetson Orin for acquisition and processing. The Ellipse D provides a hardware trigger at 10 Hz to time stamp each frame and to synchronize images with inertial measurements.

A camera calibration step estimates the intrinsic camera parameters and …

Multi-Layer Decision Making For Long-Term Autonomous Mission Based On Dual Process Theory, Shruti Jadhav

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used in precision agriculture, where extended autonomous operation is required for monitoring, intervention, and field management. However, achieving long-term autonomy remains challenging due to battery constraints, environmental uncertainty, and the need to balance exploration with event-driven tasks. To address these challenges, a multi-layer decision-making framework inspired by Dual Process Theory (DPT) is developed. The framework combines reactive return-tobase strategies, exploratory navigation, and directional bias from prior missions, with a conflict-monitoring mechanism that adapts system behavior based on real-time conditions. The approach is implemented in a simulated agricultural grid environment, demonstrating improved adaptability and coverage …

A Qualitative Study Of Middle School Teachers’ Experiences Integrating Computer Coding Into Mathematics Classrooms, George William Austin Iii

Theses and Dissertations

As computers become more accessible in schools nationwide, teachers are embracing them to impact achievement positively (Brudno, 2013; Cetin, 2016). As a result, computer coding instruction has gained attention as a strategy for providing students with skills that will serve them both pre and post-graduation (Burke & Kafai, 2013; Yadav et al., 2016; Ng, 2017). Computer coding is the process of providing instructions for a computer to follow. In 2017, the South Carolina State Board of Education approved Computer Science and Digital Literacy standards for all K-8 public schools in the state of South Carolina (South Carolina Department of Education, …

Enhancing Two-Phase Heat Spreading: Development And Performance Evaluation Of Hermetically Sealed Hybrid Heat Sinks, Walker Ryan Champion

Theses and Dissertations

Modern, high-performance technology presents challenges for thermal management based on power density. To cool heat fluxes to this degree, conventional liquid-cooled heat sinks are utilized because air cooling becomes insufficient (>100 𝑊/𝑐𝑚² ). This study introduces a hybrid heat sink that integrates liquid cooling with a dropwise-enhanced vapor chamber, contains a hermetic seal, and achieves high thermal performance with low energy consumption. The temperature hotspots, thermal resistances, gravitational/pin effects, temperature uniformity, and coefficient of performance were investigated. Experimental results demonstrate a high cooling capacity of 600 W over a 6.25 𝑐𝑚² heating area with a low cooling …

Examining Stress And Anxiety Levels Among Undergraduate Music Majors At The University Of South Carolina, Elise F. Halbig

Senior Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the stress and anxiety levels among undergraduate music majors at the University of South Carolina (USC) and identify potential stressors that might be unique or more prevalent among that specific population. To evaluate this, a questionnaire consisting of 42 questions was administered to participants. Most of the questions were carefully developed by the researcher; however, the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al, 1983) was used to examine participants' stress levels, and 13 selected questions from the Burns Anxiety Inventory (Burns, 1989) were used to examine their anxiety levels. A total of 45 …

Teaching While Stressed: How Mental Support Is Impacting The Teaching Experience In South Carolina, Olivia Striedl

Senior Theses

Teacher shortages are a widespread issue within both the United States and South Carolina. One cause of high numbers of teachers leaving their positions is low job-satisfaction and high stress levels. In this study of teacher mental health in South Carolina, eight teachers were interviewed regarding their experience with job-related stress and support offered to them. The interviews revealed that teachers experience high levels of stress, with many interviewees having stressors in common. Many participants had at least one experience in which stressors pushed them to leave or almost leave their position, showing the importance of mental health when considering …

Hungry Minds: Analyzing The Impact Of Food Insecurity And Food Assistance Programs On Neurocognitive Development And Childhood Mental Health, Kayla A. Davenport

Senior Theses

Introduction: Food insecurity affects millions of children in the United States and is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for poor nutritional intake and adverse health outcomes. However, less is known about how the experience of food insecurity disrupts healthy development and well-being, particularly among American youth. This thesis had two aims: (1) to examine the relationship between household food insecurity and children’s neurocognitive and mental health outcomes and (2) to evaluate how major food assistance programs address, or fail to address, these developmental risks.

Methods: This thesis uses a mixed-methods approach, integrating a narrative literature review, a cross-sectional …

Is It Enough? Investigating The Effectiveness Of Adhd Accommodations For College Students, Sreekavya Mekala

Senior Theses

This study explores the effectiveness of accommodations given by the University of South Carolina (USC) for students diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A total of 435 students completed a survey divided into three groups: those diagnosed with ADHD (n = 74), those not diagnosed but familiar with someone with ADHD (n = 321), and those not diagnosed and unfamiliar with ADHD (n = 40). Results showed that while most students with ADHD were aware of accommodations, far fewer used them, and many reported inconsistent faculty understanding and hesitation due to stigma. Students familiar with ADHD viewed accommodations as generally fair …

Populism And Its Effect On International Business Strategy, Julio Cesar Martinez Suarez

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the complex relationship between populism and international business strategy, with a particular focus on how populist mobilizations influence firms' location decisions and strategic planning. As populism continues to shape political dynamics globally, it presents significant challenges for businesses operating in or considering entry into markets governed by populist regimes. Utilizing institutional theory, this study examines the distinct political risks associated with populism, including anti-establishment ideology, the weakening of democratic institutions, and a tendency toward short-term, reactive policymaking. The research explores the consequences of these risks for firms, particularly in emerging markets, where populism often exacerbates uncertainty and …

Introduction: Dreaming The Daily Darg, Corey Gibson

Studies in Scottish Literature

Describes the scope of the Carnegie Trust -funded project on Working Lives in Scottish Writing since 1918, discusses the topics and theoretical perspectives explored in the research phase, noting both change and continuity from the treatment dominant in early and mid-20th century Scottish literary studies, and introduces the essays in this special issue and their contributions to the wider project theme.

Scottish Workers’ Stories Of Life And Labour During Covid-19 From The Workers’ Stories Project, Hailey Maxwell, Ruth Gilbert, Suki Sangha, Ewan Gibbs

Studies in Scottish Literature

This article explores how Scottish workers narrated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their life and work, by analysing 55 fifty-five submissions to the Workers' Stories Project. Between 2020 and 2022, the project creative reflections on the pandemic from workers across Scotland, drawing on the tradition of workers' inquiry and workers' education that encouraged critical reflection and the embrace of worker creativity. Submissions were overwhelmingly literary in form, primarily short prose supplemented by poetry, with three key themes emerging: intimacy and alienation; insecurity and status; and a slower living pace. Cumulatively, the stories underline how COVID-19 magnified workplace injustices …

Incorporating Balance Training Into Ankle Sprain Injury Prevention Programs: An Evidence-To-Practice Review, David Tomchuk, Jacob Meyer, Kyle Schneider, Ben Fox

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries in sports and non-sporting activities. For patients, ankle sprains can result in multiple short and long-term hardships, such as financial burdens of evaluation and treatment, absenteeism from sport and physical activity, and diminished ankle and lower extremity function. However, athletic trainers and other stakeholders are also impacted by administrative and time burdens in caring for ankle sprains and how ankle sprains affect team dynamics and performance. The 2022 guiding systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of incorporating preventive balance training exercises on the incidence of ankle sprains in soccer athletes. The search performed …

Examining Burnout Among Athletic Trainers Employed In The College And Secondary School Settings, Stephanie M. Singe, Dayna Liu, Alexandrya Cairns

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Burnout continues to be an important concern for athletic trainers working traditional employment settings. The purpose of this study was to compare the secondary school and collegiate settings in relation to burnout. Both secondary school and collegiate athletic trainers participated in a self-reported, online cross-sectional design (Qualtrics) to collect data on their experiences with burnout. Data collection occurred during the second week of October 2023 and ceased during the early weeks of November. Collegiate athletic trainers reported moderate burnout overall (54.56 ±15.89) on the CBI whereas secondary school athletic trainers reported low burnout overall (46.67 ±16.57). On the personal-related burnout …

Using Improvement Science To Study The Influence Of A Self-Regulatory Skills Intervention Program Within The Pre-Referral/Student Study Team Process, Abbie Sian-Stirone

Theses and Dissertations

The Dissertation in Practice (DiP) details a continuous improvement study utilizing Improvement Science and Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles to refine a school site's pre-referral/Student Study Team (SST) process. The need for this systemic refinement was driven by reported district-level equity concerns regarding the overrepresentation of Latinx students in special education. The study investigated the influence of a targeted Self-Regulatory Learning (SRL) Intervention Program, which leveraged an SRL Reflection Tool to teach explicit metacognitive and self-management strategies to Latinx students identified as at-risk of special education referral. Conducted in an urban public intermediate school, the research employed qualitative and quantitative data to …

Examining Special Education Administrators' Response To Due Process Complaints And Litigation Specific To Least Restrictive Environent, Melissa Jane Chiplis

Theses and Dissertations

Special education administrators have a complex and comprehensive role that requires them to be knowledgeable about special education law and the development of special education programming within their districts. The complexity of the role includes the managing of federal and state funds, allocating resources for the delivery of special education services, designing professional learning opportunities to support services providers with developing appropriate individualized education plans, and monitoring the effectiveness of special education programs. The outcome of these responsibilities is to ensure students with disabilities receive services in the least restrictive environment and to provide local education agency representatives with the …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Lanthanide Extended Structures And Their Novel Transuranic Analogues, Hunter Bernard Tisdale

Theses and Dissertations

The United States owns a substantial amount of radioactive waste as a result of decades of research, weapons manufacturing, and nuclear energy production. As nuclear energy and research continue to add to our stockpiles of waste, the issue of remediating this waste becomes more pressing. Many of the radioactive constituents of this waste, such as the transuranic (Z > 92) elements, will give off radioactivity at harmful levels for millennia. Thus, a robust method of storing this waste is paramount to ensuring public safety. Currently, nuclear waste is being processed by vitrifying it in borosilicate glass. However, this method has shortcomings …

Personal Finance Education In Florida: Teaching The Teachers, Jessica Morey

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study with an explanatory sequential design investigated teacher financial capability and financial well-being in advance of a mandate that will require high school students in Florida to take a semester-long personal finance course, taught by social studies teachers. Survey results from 47 participants—teachers at a large suburban high school and high school social studies teachers across a Florida school district serving just over 29,000 students—indicated that while most teachers can answer basic financial literacy questions, many lack the financial self-efficacy to ensure their financial future. Teachers had varying experiences with financial socialization. While many had experienced …

Writers Helping Writers: The Power Of Peer Feedback In Student Writing, Heather Palmer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research study was to improve students’ engagement with the writing process by focusing more intently on peer feedback. The study occurred in my sixth-grade classroom in an affluent suburb of a large U.S. city. As an insider to the setting, I used mixed methods to address a problem of practice, having noticed that students were not engaging in revision between their first and final drafts. Through the lens of social constructivism, I examined data collected through surveys, semi-structured interviews, and writing samples. Being both reviewers and recipients of feedback had positive yet distinct impacts on …

The Case For Using Student-Generated Goals To Cultivate Strong Readers, Heather Anne Wyman

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study explored how to motivate seventh-grade students to become stronger readers. I empowered my students by giving them the autonomy to set their own Lexile goals and develop plans to reach them, offering goal-setting lessons along with feedback and support. Students were motivated to meet the goals they created. Lexile assessment data from two benchmark periods enabled me to determine students’ growth, and survey and interview data helped me to determine their perceptions of their increase in self-efficacy and motivation to achieve. While most students did not meet their self-identified Lexile goals, most made academic progress, …