Digital Commons Network^™

May 6, 2026 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Garnet & Black Spring 2026, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

Garnet & Black Magazine

No abstract provided.

Action Research To Explore The Use Of Augmented Reality To Support High School Students In Understanding And Creating Art Work In A Drawing Course, Alicia Joanne Cobler

Theses and Dissertations

High school students in Drawing 1 at a high school in South Carolina struggle to understand meaning or make personal connections to their own artwork. The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the implementation of immersive reality technology, specifically augmented reality (AR), in art for high school Drawing 1 students to help them understand meaning in art and create their own meaningful artwork. Creating personally meaningful symbolic works of art is one of the first Visual Art National Core Standards (National Core Visual Art Standards, 2014). Creating meaning in artwork allows students to understand society, provide an opportunity …

Students’ Experiences Using Peer Review To Affect Writing Self-Efficacy And Writing Performance In An Undergraduate Mass Communications Writing Course, Nina Morrison Brook

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to examine the impact of peer review on writing self-efficacy and writing performance in an undergraduate online writing for mass communications course. The study focused on two research questions: (1) How and to what extent does structured peer review affect undergraduate students’ writing self-efficacy in an online writing for mass communications course in a large public Southeastern university? and (2) How and to what extent does structured peer review affect undergraduate students’ writing performance in an online writing for mass communications course in a large public Southeastern university? This research used peer review …

The Usc Sports Sorority: A Podcast Highlighting The Experiences Of Sjmc Alumnae Working In Sports Media, Griffin Goodwyn

Senior Theses

Women’s sports are on the rise, as indicated by increased media interest and television viewership records across the professional and collegiate ranks. This trend coincides with one specific to the sports media industry, where more women are pursuing careers in that space – and being recognized for their contributions in ways they have not in previous decades.

My project examines both trends in the form of a podcast, featuring interviews with eight alumni and two current students who have sports media experience and ties to the University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications. The podcast consists of …

November 6, 2024 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Tranisitioning From Film To Stage: Three Years Of Growth And Reflections, Ruihan Liu

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis delves into my journey as a Master of Fine Arts candidate specializing in Scenic Design within the Theatre program at the University of South Carolina.

Comprising seven chapters, this thesis provides a comprehensive exploration of my academic and professional trajectory. The introductory chapter offers insights into my transition from a background in Film Production to the realm of Theatre Arts, reflecting on the challenges and revelations encountered along the way.

Chapters 2 through 5 offer in-depth analyses of five stage productions wherein I served as a scenic designer during my graduate tenure. Each chapter delves into the creative …

Queer Eye For Costume Design: An Insight Into The Creative Process From The Perspective Of An Lgbtq+ Designer, Andrew Simon Burns

Theses and Dissertations

From the page to the stage, the creative process manifests itself differently for every theatre artist. During my time in the Costume Design and Technology Program at the University of South Carolina, I have analyzed and adapted my design process through rigorous curriculum and experiential learning. This thesis explores my artistic and professional growth by showcasing my production designs in educational and professional practice. Through these experiences, I was able to acquire a well-rounded set of skills in construction, pattern making, draping, and costume rendering that aide and elevate my designs and ability to communicate effectively with production teams. My …

Learning Through Discourse: Impacting Fractional Understanding Through Virtual Discourse, Laurie A. Gentry-Goodale

Theses and Dissertations

There is a strong need for fifth-grade students to become proficient in mathematical problem-solving using fractional computations because it will have a lasting impact on student achievement. Traditionally, mathematics is taught inside a brick-and-mortar classroom, grounded in rote memorization of facts, rules, and formulas. In recent years, more elementary students have enrolled fully in online learning environments, which emphasize on students becoming problem-solvers, specifically in fractional computation. The NCTM strongly encourages using mathematical discourse as an instructional method but employing mathematical discourse, but its applicability to online math learning is not well understood. This study addressed students' problem-solving skills, mathematical …

Equity-Informed Social Media Covid-19 Risk Communication Strategies: A Scoping Review, Nedra Peter, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Catherine George, Anita Kothari

Publications

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating worldwide impact but most prominent was its effect on marginalised, underserved and equity-deserving populations. Social media arose as an important platform from which health organisations could rapidly disseminate information to equity-deserving populations about COVID-19 risks and events, provide instructions on how to mitigate those risks, motivate compliance with health directives, address false information, provide the opportunity for engagement and immediate feedback. The objective of this scoping review was to synthesise the academic and grey literature on equity-informed social media risk communication strategies developed during the pandemic. DESIGN: The review followed the Arksey and …

Proposed Charlotte To Atlanta High-Speed Passenger Rail Line: An Economic, Infrastructural, And Developmental Analysis In The Upstate Of South Carolina, Ian C. Macurda, Kimberly Whitehead

SC Upstate Research Symposium

This research paper is an in-depth analysis of the high-speed passenger rail line proposed between Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA and its impact on the economy, infrastructure, and future development of the Upstate of South Carolina. Currently, passenger rail service between Charlotte and Atlanta is offered on Amtrak at late hours throughout the night on its long-distance passenger rail line The Crescent from New York City, NY to New Orleans, LA. The train is often delayed and is operating at a deficit for Amtrak, like most of their long-distance routes. Traffic on Interstate 85 through the Upstate is another issue …

Effects Of Brand Music On Attitudes Toward A Team Advertisement, Khalid Ballouli, Michael Hutchinson

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

No abstract provided.

The Daily Gamecock, November 2023, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

November

No abstract provided.

October 4, 2023 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

September 13, 2023 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Words Evaporate, The Images Remain: Testing Visual Warnings In The Context Of Intentions To Vape Among U.S. Adults As An Expansion Of The Theory Of Planned Behavior (Tpb), Carl Arland Ciccarelli

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation applied the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model variables of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, along with the variable of fear to explain individuals’ behavioral intentions to vape. Previous studies have explored the social appeal, intrigue, and potential consequences of vaping among adolescent and college student populations. However, these past studies have largely relied upon focus groups and self-reported data conducted among samples of teen, adolescent, and college student populations. Thus, the aims and designs of these previous vaping studies may have been lacking in construct validity and a theoretical approach from which to explain behavioral …

Capturing Visuals In Hospitality: A Multi-Dimensional Exploration Of Photographs In Interdisciplinary Research, Ningqiao Li

Theses and Dissertations

The widespread practice of photo-taking and sharing behavior fosters research on photographs to probe into consumer behavior and business strategies. Consequently, the critical role of photographic research has been acknowledged in the fields of marketing as well as tourism and hospitality. To delve deeper into understanding photographs, this dissertation carried out three independent but interconnected studies to examine photographs from both macro and micro perspectives.

The first study systematically reviews photographic research across sociology, marketing, computer science, and tourism and hospitality. It explores key topics, methodologies, and theories, and compares the merits and drawbacks of various research methods employed in …

The Daily Gamecock: Play It Back, April 2023, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

April

No abstract provided.

Structure Of Extremal Unit Distance Graphs, Kaylee Weatherspoon

Senior Theses

This thesis begins with a selective overview of problems in geometric graph theory, a rapidly evolving subfield of discrete mathematics. We then narrow our focus to the study of unit-distance graphs, Euclidean coloring problems, rigidity theory and the interplay among these topics. After expounding on the limitations we face when attempting to characterize finite, separable edge-maximal unit-distance graphs, we engage an interesting Diophantine problem arising in this endeavor. Finally, we present a novel subclass of finite, separable edge-maximal unit distance graphs obtained as part of the author's undergraduate research experience.

Communicative Kissing With Alien Poetry: New Muses In Neil Gaiman’S “How To Talk To Girls At Parties”, Leanna Ashley Herbert

Theses and Dissertations

The representation of women in the fiction of Neil Gaiman is a topic that seems to obsess scholars, critics, fans, and (likely) the author himself. It is imperative that closer scholarly attention be paid to the figure of the muse, a figure defined in contemporary culture by her representability, as she appears across Gaiman’s works. This thesis traces the evolution of m/Muses or muse-like figures in the fiction of Neil Gaiman, arguing that the short story “How to Talk to Girls at Parties” imagines an empowering evolution for those who are objectified or silenced by the assumption that they are …

March 1, 2023 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

October 5, 2022 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Image Restoration Under Adverse Illumination For Various Applications, Lan Fu

Theses and Dissertations

Many images are captured in sub-optimal environment, resulting in various kinds of degradations, such as noise, blur, and shadow. Adverse illumination is one of the most important factors resulting in image degradation with color and illumination distortion or even unidentified image content. Degradation caused by the adverse illumination makes the images suffer from worse visual quality, which might also lead to negative effects on high-level perception tasks, e.g., object detection.

Image restoration under adverse illumination is an effective way to remove such kind of degradations to obtain visual pleasing images. Existing state-of-the-art deep neural networks (DNNs) based image restoration …

Drawn In: An Exploration Of The Graphic Narrative, Celia Casciani

Senior Theses

This thesis project aims to explore ordinary stories told through the graphic narrative. The goal is to understand what intrigues us about ordinary stories and what is gained through the use of comics form to tell these stories. The project portion of the thesis consists of a website showcasing comics based on narratives told by students at the University of South Carolina. The research portion uses existing literature, as well as reflections from the creation of the project, to answer the above questions. In the end, I found that we are drawn to ordinary stories through the process of identification, …

February 2, 2022 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Sex Differences And Neuroimmune Effects Of Microglial Response In The Mesolimbic Reward Pathway In Nicotine Substance Use Disorder, Erin Leigh Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Smoking remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with less than 5% of smokers attempting to quit succeeding. This is due to the unpleasant withdrawal symptomology, which includes affective symptoms, such as irritability, weight gain, anxiety, and severe craving among others, as well as the cognitive effects, such as difficulty concentrating. This low smoking cessation success rate is also thought to be due to the long-lasting sensitization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) leading to long-term neuroadaptations in the brain’s reward system and alterations in synaptic plasticity that occur following chronic nicotine exposure and withdrawal. Glial …

Portion Of Profit Donations: Csr As Public Relations Strategy And Its Relationships With Trust And Purchase Intentions, Branden Dylan Cameron Birmingham

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to apply POP donations and messaging as a form of corporate social responsibility (CSR) research. Specifically, this study seeks to understand the relationships between communication factors of portion of the profit (POP) donations and a consumer’s intentions to purchase an item from a corporation, and the level of trust between a consumer and corporation. A key focus of this study was to determine if there is skepticism of POP donations and the impact on overall purchasing intentions, CSR communication factors, engagement, and trustworthiness. This emphasized how ethical values, decision making, relationship building, and trustworthiness are obligations between …

April 7, 2021 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Brand New: How Visual Context Shapes Initial Response To Logos And Corporate Visual Identity Systems, Robert A. Wertz

Theses and Dissertations

When a new logo is released, it does not have an established meaning in the mind of the viewer. As logos have become more highly scrutinized by consumers and critics, it has become more important to understand consumers’ initial response to logos. While other studies have researched the impact of aesthetic choices on viewer reaction to logos, few researchers have attempted to understand the effect of the surrounding visual identity system when a new logo is introduced. This study combines a content analysis of the logo review website Brand New with the voting data from their polls to understand how …

“Hey, I’Ve Got This Kid”: A Study Of Multimodal Semiotics In Adapted Physical Education Strategies, Nancy Morrow Crowe

Theses and Dissertations

General education physical education (GPE) teachers currently face difficulties in providing for the special needs of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in inclusion GPE classes. In addition, there is currently no best practice in how to present information on adapted physical education (APE ) strategies to GPE teachers effectively. This study aims to address the problem of practice through a multimodal semiotic approach in offering GPE teachers APE strategies to implement in their inclusion classes. Specially, the study investigates three GPE teachers as they participate in multimodal semiotics and employ APE strategies in inclusion classes. Three GPE teachers were …