Digital Commons Network^™

“I Laughed Along For Years But Hated It Inside:” Understanding Nuance In Peer Teasing Experiences Using A Thematic Analysis, Naomi C.Z. Andrews, Molly Dawes Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction

Peer teasing is ubiquitous, yet ambiguous in nature. Despite recent attempts to delineate and clarify differences in teasing experienced as playful versus harmful, there remains overlap and complexity in these interactions. In the current study, we present a conceptual model of teasing, which includes many nested features that dynamically interact within a teasing episode. Using this conceptual model to guide our work, the goal of the current study was to use qualitative inquiry to bring further conceptual clarity to the overlap between teasing that is experienced as playful versus harmful.

Method

Using semi-structured interviews, we asked university students ( …

Examining The Effects Of Firearm Lethality And Aggressors’ Intentions To Kill On Injurious Firearm Violence At American Schools: A Research Note, Brent R. Klein, Cory Schnell, Steven M. Chermak, Joshua D. Freilich

Faculty Publications

This study examined firearm lethality and aggressors’ lethal intent on injurious fatal and nonfatal school shootings using data from The American School Shooting Study, which covers 329 school shootings in the United States from 1990 to 2016. We developed a new multidimensional construct for measuring shooters’ determination to kill and examined firearm characteristics while considering confounding factors. We identified 11 distinct categories of shooters’ intent, with most showing a strong desire to kill. Both intent and weapon lethality significantly impacted school shooting homicides. Overall, we recommend that prevention and theoretical models should address both factors.

Scaling Laws Of Political Regime Dynamics: Stability Of Democracies And Autocracies In The Twentieth Century, Paula Pirker-Diaz, Matthew Wilson, Soenke Beier, Karoline Wiesner

Faculty Publications

In light of the current rise of authoritarian regimes and the anti-liberal tendencies in some established democracies, understanding the dynamic and statistical properties of political regimes is of critical importance. Despite their relevance, a comprehensive quantitative assessment of these dynamics on a historical scale remains largely unexplored, and the notion that democratization is an irreversible process has gone mostly unchallenged. This study provides a rigorous and quantitative analysis of political regimes worldwide by examining changes in freedoms of expression, association and electoral quality throughout the twentieth century. Utilizing the multidimensional V-Dem dataset, which covers over 170 countries across more than …

Direct And Indirect Associations Of Childhood Adversities With Functional Impairment And Life Stress Among Military Personnel, Laura Campbell-Sills, Emily R. Edwards, Sam D. Strizver, Karmel W. Choi, Jason D. Kautz, Santiago Papini, James A. Naifeh, Pablo A. Aliaga, Paul B. Lester, Ronald C. Kessler, Robert J. Ursano, Murray B. Stein, Paul D. Biese

Faculty Publications

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with physical and mental health difficulties in adulthood. This study examines the associations of ACEs with functional impairment and life stress among military personnel, a population disproportionately affected by ACEs. We also evaluate the extent to which the associations of ACEs with functional outcomes are mediated through internalizing and externalizing disorders.

Methods

The sample included 4,666 STARRS Longitudinal Study (STARRS-LS) participants who provided information about ACEs upon enlistment in the US Army (2011–2012). Mental disorders were assessed in wave 1 (LS1; 2016–2018), and functional impairment and life stress were evaluated in wave 2 …

In Pursuit Of A Better Hospital Quality Metric For Medicare, Brad Wright Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Resilience Mediates The Association Between Discrimination And Psychological Distress Among Rural, Black Women In South Carolina: A Structural Equation Model, Camryn Garrett, Abhisheak Aggrawal, Huiyi Xia, Cheuk Chi Tam, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Sarah Wilcox Phd, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction

The marginalization of intersecting racial, gender, and rural identities compounds the structural vulnerabilities (e.g., discrimination, stigma, health disparities) experienced by Black women in South Carolina’s rural areas. Discriminatory experiences can deteriorate mental health; however, resilience can potentially reduce the ill effects of discrimination by decreasing associated psychological distress. This study examines the mediating role of resilience in the association between discrimination and psychological distress among rural, Black women in South Carolina in the post-pandemic era.

Methods

Black women (n = 300, mean age = 48.6) living in rural South Carolina were recruited from January to February 2024 using …

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (Pfoa) And Elevated Salinity On Growth, Reproduction, And Movement Of Physa Acuta, Juana Baudrix, Andrea Rizzo, Samuel Richardson, Jason Doll, Daniel Elias

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Freshwater ecosystems face increasing threats from pollutants such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and elevated salinity. This study examined the effects of PFOA (1.69 µg/L) and elevated salinity (2.5 g/L) on Physa acuta growth, reproduction, and movement over a 21-day exposure. Movement increased across treatments, and reproductive output also increased with salinity and salinity + PFOA, with increased egg sac production in the combined treatment (p < 0.05), while PFOA alone reduced total egg production. Growth was higher with PFOA but decreased in the salinity and salinity + PFOA treatments. Our results suggest that P. acuta increases reproductive output when exposed to combined stressors, prioritizing egg sac production at the cost of movement and growth. These trade-offs may influence P. acuta population dynamics and freshwater ecosystem processes. While this study provides insights into the effects of PFOA and salinity, further research is necessary to understand the long-term ecological consequences in field conditions.

Metabolic Consequences Of Sleep Disorders: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Their Role In Diabetes, Victoria S. Parma

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to grow globally, and more strategies are needed to combat this public health problem. Considering the link between sleep problems and risk of type 2 diabetes, the objective of this review is to discuss the experimental and epidemiological evidence underlying the link between sleep disturbances (such as insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea), and the development of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, which are impairments that can eventually result in type 2 diabetes. In order to explore this, PubMed and Google Scholar were utilized to find pertinent peer-reviewed publications, reviews, and …

The Relationship Between Hand Grip Strength And Cognitive Function In Middle-Aged And Elderly People In China: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Based On Charls Data, Haiwei Li, Jing Zhang, Peipei Cheng, Liwei Guo, Xuemei Sui M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

This study explores the relationship between hand grip strength (HGS) and cognitive function in China’s middle-aged and elderly population. We employed a cross-sectional design using data from 4535 participants aged ≥ 45 years from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study national dataset. The relationships between HGS and various dimensions of cognitive function, as well as the association between HGS and cognitive impairment, were investigated using ordinary least squares regression models and logistic regression models. Dose–response relationships between HGS and cognitive impairment were modeled using restricted cubic spline curves. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness …

Summary Of Taxonomy Changes Ratified By The International Committee On Taxonomy Of Viruses (Ictv) From The Bacterial Viruses Subcommittee, 2025, Dann Turner, Evelien M. Adriaenssens, Rudolf I. Amann, Pavol Bardy, Nina Bartlau, Jakub Barylski, Stanislaw Błażejak, Majid Bouzari, Ariane Briegel, Yves Briers, Daniel Carrillo, Xia Chen, Dennis Classen, Ryan Cook, Marco A. Crisci, Arnaud Dechesne, Paulina Deptula, Bas E. Dutith, Bert Ely, Lars Fieseler, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

This article summarises the activities of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses Bacterial Viruses Subcommittee, detailing developments in the classification of bacterial viruses. We provide here an overview of all new, abolished, moved and renamed taxa proposed in 2024, approved by the Executive Committee, and ratified by membership vote in 2025. Through the collective efforts of 74 international contributors of taxonomy proposals in this round, 43 ratified proposals have led to the creation of one new phylum, one class, four orders, 33 families, 14 subfamilies, 194 genera and 995 species. These proposals mark significant progress in refining the taxonomy …

An Experimental Investigation Of Federal Messaging On Public Support For Enforcement- And Treatment-Based Approaches For Opioid Overdose Prevention In South Carolina, Lídia Gual-Gonzalez, Hunter M. Boehme, Peter Baker, Melissa Nolan Ph.D., Mph

Faculty Publications

Background

As the opioid overdose crisis continues to produce excessive morbidity and mortality in the United States, government agencies have applied various approaches to prevent overdoses, including law-enforcement efforts (e.g., arresting people who use drugs, interrupting drug traffickers, etc.) and treatment-based approaches (e.g., naloxone, medications for opioid use disorder, etc.). Public perception and support of these approaches are relevant for informing policy, allocating resources, and effectively implementing community interventions to prevent drug-related harms.

Methods

Using an embedded informational survey design, we experimentally assessed whether public support for strategies to prevent overdose in South Carolina is influenced by language from federal …

Impact Of Food Insecurity Resource Navigation For Primary Care Patients With Diabetes And Hypertension: A Matched Cohort Study, Deeksha Gupta, Darin Thomas, Stella Self, Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Ph.D., Alain H. Litwin, J. Alex Ewing, Lynnette Ramos-Gonzalez, A. Carolina Rudisill

Faculty Publications

Background

Food insecurity contributes to poor health and increased healthcare costs among patients with chronic diseases. Resource navigators can facilitate community-based resource connections, addressing food insecurity, but the impact on healthcare costs and quality of life remains unclear.

Objective

To examine whether food insecurity resource navigation improves clinical outcomes, healthcare charges, and quality of life for patients with diabetes and/or hypertension.

Design

Matched-control quasi-experimental study.

Patients

Patients underwent screening for food insecurity from July 12, 2021, to December 31, 2022, in South Carolina’s largest health system. Eligible patients (18 + years, having food insecurity, and diabetes and/or hypertension) enrolled for …

A Caffeine And Theacrine Combination Improves Cognitive Performance In Tactical Personnel Under Physically Fatiguing Conditions, Blaine S. Lints, Adam T. Harrison, Sten O. Stray-Gundersen, Gianna F. Mastrofini, Riccardo F. Romersi, Noah K. Nakagawa, Mackenzie B. Yonder, Chimaobim E. Martin-Diala, Alexa J. Chandler, R. Davis Moore, Shawn M. Arent Ph.D., Cscs*D, Fissn, Facsm, Fnak

Faculty Publications

Background

Optimizing human performance under stressful physical and cognitive conditions is paramount during high-stakes military operations. As such, interventions to improve warfighter performance by mitigating task-induced cognitive performance deficits are necessary. While caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world, common side effects (i.e. anxiousness, micro-saccades, irritability) may be detrimental to warfighter operations. Theacrine, a purine alkaloid similar in structure to caffeine but with a longer half-life, less habituation, and fewer side effects, is proposed as a caffeine-alternative to enhance cognitive resilience.

Methods

Tactically trained participants (n = 20; F = 5; M = 16; age …

Community And School Programs, Policies And Environments Related To Child Dietary Intake:The Healthy Communities Study, Gail Woodward-Lopez, Alexander C. Mclain, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Natalie Colabianchi, Vicki Collie-Akers, Lorrene D. Ritchie

Faculty Publications

Background

To reverse the epidemic of unhealthy eating and related chronic disease in the United States, intervening early in life is essential.

Objective

Identify features of community- and school-based programmes, policies and environments related to child intake of fruits and vegetables (FV) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB).

Methods

Dietary intake of children 4–15 years old (n = 5138) from elementary and middle schools in 130 US communities was collected by survey (of parent and/or child) in 2013–2015. Features of community programs and policies (CPPs) and school environments were collected by staff surveys, direct observation, key informant interviews, and/or document review. …

Designing Context-Specific Physical Activity Interventions For English Primary Schools: Key Learning From A Four-Month Rapid Ethnography, Robert Walker, Danielle House, Simona Kent-Saisch, Alice Porter, Ruth Salway, Lydia Emm-Collison, Michael W. Beets Med, Mph, Phd, David Revalds Lubans, Frank De Vocht, Russell Jago

Faculty Publications

Background

Physical activity is essential for children’s health. Primary schools offer an opportunity to equitably promote physical activity. However, school-based interventions have been shown to have little to no effect, potentially due to a lack of consideration of school heterogeneity. This study reports on a rapid ethnography study that was used to capture insights into English primary schools physical activity. The data are intended to inform the design of a context-specific intervention to improve pupil physical activity.

Methods

Three researchers conducted a four-month rapid ethnography study within three primary schools in Bristol, UK, between March and July 2024. Several methods …

Designing Context-Specific Physical Activity Interventions For English Primary Schools: Key Learning From A Four-Month Rapid Ethnography, Robert Walker, Danielle House, Simona Kent-Saisch, Alice Porter, Ruth Salway, Lydia Emm-Collison, Michael Beets Med, Mph, Phd, David Revalds Lubans, Frank De Vocht, Russell Jago

Faculty Publications

Background

Physical activity is essential for children’s health. Primary schools offer an opportunity to equitably promote physical activity. However, school-based interventions have been shown to have little to no effect, potentially due to a lack of consideration of school heterogeneity. This study reports on a rapid ethnography study that was used to capture insights into English primary schools physical activity. The data are intended to inform the design of a context-specific intervention to improve pupil physical activity.

Methods

Three researchers conducted a four-month rapid ethnography study within three primary schools in Bristol, UK, between March and July 2024. Several methods …

Predicting Sleep And Sleep Stage In Children Using Actigraphy And Heartrate Via A Long Short-Term Memory Deep Learning Algorithm: A Performance Evaluation, Robert Weaver Med, Phd, James White, Olivia Finnegan, Hongpeng Yang, Zifei Zhong, Keagan Kiely, Catherine Jones, Yan Tong, Srihari Nelakuditi, Rahul Ghosal, David E. Brown, Russell R. Pate Ph.D., Gregory J. Welk, Massimiliano De Zambotti, Yuan Wang, Sarah Burkart, Elizabeth L. Adams Phd, Bridget Armstrong, Michael Beets Med, Mph, Phd

Faculty Publications

Children's ambulatory sleep is commonly measured via actigraphy. However, traditional actigraphy measured sleep (e.g., Sadeh algorithm) struggles to predict wake (i.e., specificity, values typically < 70) and cannot predict sleep stages. Long short-term memory (LSTM) is a machine learning algorithm that may address these deficiencies. This study evaluated the agreement of LSTM sleep estimates from actigraphy and heartrate (HR) data with polysomnography (PSG). Children (N = 238, 5–12 years,52.8% male, 50% Black 31.9% White) participated in an overnight laboratory polysomnography. Participants were referred be-cause of suspected sleep disruptions. Children wore an ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer and two of three consumer wearables(i.e., Apple Watch Series 7, Fitbit Sense, Garmin Vivoactive 4) on their non-dominant wrist during the polysomnogram. LSTM estimated sleep versus wake and sleep stage (wake, not-REM, REM) using raw actigraphy and HR data for each 30-s epoch. Logistic regression and random forest were also estimated as a benchmark for performance with which to compare the LSTM results. A 10-fold cross-validation technique was employed, and confusion matrices were constructed. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated to assess the agreement between research-grade and consumer wearables with the criterion polysomnography. For sleep versus wake classification, LSTM outperformed logistic regression and random forest with accuracy ranging from 94.1to 95.1, sensitivity ranging from 94.9 to 95.9 across different devices, and specificity ranging from 84.5 to 89.6. The addition of HR improved the prediction of sleep stages but not binary sleep versus wake. LSTM is promising for predicting sleep and sleep staging from actigraphy data, and HR may improve sleep stage prediction.

How Multi-Scale Modeling Can Help Examine Social Determinants Of Health And Resulting Disparities, Kyoko Yoshida, Elsje Pienaar, Shalanda A. Bynum, Naomi Chesler, Mitchel J. Colebank, Jessie Heneghan, Nadra Tyus, Jasmine Miller-Kleinhenz, Bruce Y. Lee

Faculty Publications

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in which people live, work, and play, and the wider set of factors (e.g., social and economic systems and policies) that shape a person’s daily life. SDOH can differ significantly across communities and populations, having positive impacts for some and negative impacts for others. Ultimately, this results in differences in health and disease distribution, that are known as health disparities. Despite the known impacts of SDOH and calls to characterize, address, reduce, and eliminate health disparities, they persist and, in some cases, have worsened. To address this challenge, a session at the …

Machine Tool Interoperability In Smart Manufacturing And Industry 4.0, M. R. Mccormick, Mohammed Shafae, Thorsten Wuest

Faculty Publications

Real-time decision making is supported by data-hungry emerging technologies such as machine learning and digital twins. Innovations in manufacturing process control utilizing these technologies are constrained by interoperability. Marketing materials, sales pitches, and academic literature portray interoperability on the factory floor as seamless and robust. However, this study demonstrates that in spite of plentiful mature standards, interoperability on the factory floor is neither seamless nor robust. To exemplify interoperability in the context of an established and widely adopted standard, this study analyzes the interoperability of machine tools produced by a premier equipment builder which has exceeded US$1 billion in sales …

Differences In Children’S Food And Beverage Consumption Between School And Summer: Three-Year Findings From The What’S Up (Undermining Prevention) With Summer Observational Cohort Study, Michael Beets Med, Mph, Phd, Sarah Burkart, Christopher D. Pfledderer, Elizabeth L. Adams Phd, Robert Weaver Med, Phd, Bridget Armstrong, Keith Brazendale, Xuanxuan Zhu, Alexander Mclain, Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy Ph.D., Rd, Russell R. Pate, Andrew T. Kaczynski, Amanda Fairchild, Brian Saelens, Hannah Parker, Amy L. Yaroch, Emily Eglitis, Anthony J. Holmes

Faculty Publications

Background

Summer vacation is a time when youth gain excessive weight. A key driver of unhealthy weight gain is poor dietary quality. The absence of consistent structure (e.g., school), is hypothesized to be one of the reasons for lower diet quality during summer. This study examined differences in school and summer dietary quality among a diverse cohort of children across three years. We also examined the impact of attending structured programs on children’s diets.

Methods

Parents of 1,032 children (age 5–14 years, 48% girls) completed a time use diary each day for 14-days during school (April/May) and again in summer …

An Upper-Mesopelagic-Zone Carbon Budget For The Subarctic North Pacific, Brandon M. Stephens, Montserrat Roca-Martí, Amy E. Maas, Vinícius J. Amaral, Samantha Clevenger, Shawnee Traylor, Claudia R. Benitez-Nelson, Philip W. Boyd, Ken O. Buesseler, Craig A. Carlson, Nicolas Cassar, Margaret Estapa, Andrea J. Fassbender, Yibin Huang, Phoebe J. Lam, Oliver Marchal, Susanne Menden-Deuer, Nicola L. Paul, Alyson E. Santoro, David A. Siegel, David P. Nicolson

Faculty Publications

Mesopelagic zone (MZ) carbon budgets comparing supply with demand can be difficult to constrain due to the temporal and spatial offsets between key sources and sinks, their associated uncertainties, and potential sampling biases. To address these challenges, the EXport Processes in the Ocean from RemoTe Sensing (EXPORTS) campaign increased the number and variety of simultaneous measurements to monitor temporal variability in the MZ carbon budget using both a Lagrangian frame of reference and long-term autonomous observations. In this study, we collate a comprehensive combination of new and previously published organic carbon supply and demand measurements collected from the surface (5 …

When Victims Become Responsible: Deputizing School Personnel And Destruction Of Qualified Immunity, Milija Zgonjanin

The Journal of Law and Education

No abstract provided.

The Digital Forum: A Pedagogical Approach To Teaching College English Composition, Thomas Edward Plichta

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study focused on the identification of ways to improve the curriculum of freshman Writing Intensive Seminars using an innovative multimodal pedagogical methodology, the Digital Forum, in addition to formal papers and in-class writing. The research examined a Writing Intensive Seminar with approximately 20 students; There were two Research Questions for the present study. RQ1: How does the incorporation of the Digital Forum as a pedagogical approach in college freshman writing classes influence students' levels of behavioral, cognitive, and emotional engagement? RQ2: How does the incorporation of Digital Forums in freshman English Composition courses affect the quality of …

Effectiveness Of A Telephone-Delivered Walk With Ease Program On Arthritis-Related Symptoms, Function, And Activity: A Randomized Trial, Christine Pellegrini Ph.D., Sara Wilcox Phd, Yesil Kim, Scott Jamieson, Katherine Devivo, Daniel Heidtke

Faculty Publications

Objective

Walk With Ease (WWE) is a six-week arthritis-appropriate evidence-based physical activity program traditionally offered in a face-to-face format. Because many populations encounter participation barriers to in-person programs, WWE was modified for telephone delivery (WWE-T). The short- and long-term effects of this program on physical activity and arthritis-related outcomes were examined.

Methods

Participants (n = 267) with arthritis were randomized to WWE-T or a wait list control. WWE-T participants received two telephone calls per week (one group and one individual call) for six weeks. Group calls focused on arthritis education and social support. Individual calls focused on problem-solving and goal …

A Tailored Approach To Prep Screening For Awareness And Readiness, Keionda Crumblin Caldwell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a serious health concern in the United States (U.S). Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a vital intervention in the prevention of HIV, yet its uptake and adherence are suboptimal due to barriers in identifying individuals who are most at risk and would benefit most from this preventive measure.

Purpose: This evidence-based project aimed to evaluate whether implementing a PrEP readiness tool at a walk-in clinic would identify at-risk adults and adolescents and lead to an increase in referrals for PrEP initiation.

Method: A PrEP Questionnaire from the Department of Wisconsin Public Health was given …

Improving Depression Screening Of Correctional Institution Inmates, Thelma Chidimma Ozigbu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem: Depression significantly impacted on the quality of life of incarcerated individuals within correctional facilities, where rates of the disorder far exceed those in the broader community, increasing self-harm and suicide risks.

Purpose: This quality improvement project aimed to improve early identification of depressive symptoms and facilitate timely mental health referrals by implementing the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) as a screening tool upon admission.

Method: Using the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice (Iowa Model) as a guiding framework, this project involved training nursing staff to administer the PHQ-9 during initial health assessments. PHQ-9 is a nine-item questionnaire that assesses depression …

Improving Completion Of Diabetes Management Measures In Primary Care, Ashley Tyner Divers

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Adults with type 2 diabetes are at a risk of multiple comorbidities that can be prevented with proper screenings performed as recommended by the American Diabetes Association.

Purpose: Determine if using a checklist on the patient router will improve completion of urine microalbumin, diabetic eye exam, and diabetic foot exam.

Methods: The MA/LPN asked the patient about the last eye exam performed and requested a record from the previous provider if performed within the last year. If the microalbumin was not current, the MA/LPN obtained a urine specimen and placed the order into EPIC. If a diabetic foot …

Enhancing Glycemic Control, Patient Knowledge, And Self-Care Through Structured Diabetes Education, Amanda Suzanne Clark

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The rising prevalence of diabetes, particularly in South Carolina, revealed a significant gap in structured diabetes education programs, contributing to poor glycemic control and elevated A1C levels. In response, this project aimed to assess the integration of a comprehensive diabetes education program into standard care, potentially reducing A1C levels while improving patient knowledge and self-care behaviors in adults with diabetes over four months. The study used a pretest-posttest design to evaluate the effectiveness of this innovative intervention by comparing participants' outcomes before and after the program. Purpose: To determine if a comprehensive diabetes education program could reduce Hemoglobin A1C levels …

The Effect Of An Interdisciplinary Project On Students’ Understandings Of Mathematical Interdisciplinarity: A Qualitative Action Research Study, Jaime Krause

Theses and Dissertations

The siloed nature of education has likely caused some high school students to not recognize the interdisciplinary nature of mathematics, leading them to misunderstand its relationship to other subject areas. A misunderstanding of mathematical interdisciplinarity can cause issues when these students approach interdisciplinary problems later in life. The purpose of this study was to observe, investigate, and analyze the ways in which students understand mathematical interdisciplinarity following a collaborative and interdisciplinary project. I implemented a descriptive qualitative action research approach to determine how a collaborative interdisciplinary project on NASA technology in a high school mathematics course affects students’ understandings of …