Digital Commons Network^™

Empower Yourself Through Self-Defense: Enhancing Personal Safety Through Self-Defense Education, Stephanie Carlson, Naomi Brower, Aaron Hunt

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The Empower Yourself Through Self-Defense program, developed by Utah State University faculty in 2024, builds participants’ confidence by equipping them with self-defense knowledge and skills. Participants reported reduced fear, increased preparedness, and strong interest in continued training. The program enhances personal safety by empowering individuals with practical skills for self-protection.

Outcomes And Impact Of An E-Commerce Extension Program In Rural Utah, Amanda D. Ali, Paul Hill

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah State University Extension’s E-commerce Accelerator (ECA), a mentoring service of the Rural Online Initiative, provides hands-on e-commerce training to small rural businesses in Utah. From January 2024 to July 2025, thirty-five (35) businesses have successfully created online sales websites, with 27 (68%) reporting increased sales revenue.

Enabling Scalable Camera-Based Streamflow Monitoring With Serverless Cloud Computing, Sajan Neupane

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This thesis introduces a modern and automated method for monitoring rivers and streams using cameras and cloud-based software tools. Traditional monitoring methods often rely on sensors placed directly in the water, which can be expensive, hard to install, and difficult to maintain, especially in remote or rough terrain. In contrast, this approach uses cameras to observe water flow from a distance, offering a safer and more cost-effective alternative. However, camera systems come with their own challenges, such as collecting large amounts of image data, transferring it reliably from the field, and analyzing it quickly enough to be useful. This research …

“Are There Any British Soldiers In Tobruk?” National Identity During The Siege Of Tobruk, May To November 1941, Stewart Golightly Weight

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Throughout this thesis, I examine what it meant to be British during the 1941 Siege of Tobruk. This is important as it reveals previous assumptions about the Second World War’s British Army, including its religious practices and regional distinctions, were more diverse and influential than previously assumed. To do this, I analyze previously overlooked sources concerning religion, morality, and regional identities to demonstrate that Second World War Britishness was not monolithic.

Golden Eagle Predation Of Greater Sage-Grouse On Diamond Mountain Plateau, Victoria E. Thorpe

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Predation and the perceived risk of predation can have major impacts on prey populations. Golden Eagles are considered one of the main predators of adult greater sage-grouse. Sage-grouse populations have been declining for decades throughout the West and wildlife managers are concerned about the impacts of golden eagles on sage-grouse. We investigated the nonconsumptive effects of golden eagles on sage-grouse by conducting observational surveys for golden eagles, sage-grouse, and other predators at sage-grouse lek sites near Vernal, Utah during the sage-grouse breeding season from 2022–2024. Additionally, we examined the prevalence of sage-grouse in golden eagle diet using DNA metabarcoding of …

Using Behavioral Skills Training To Teach School Staff To Implement Functional Communication Training, Megan Johnston

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This project looked at how to train school staff in effective strategies for supporting students with disabilities who engage in challenging behaviors like hitting, self-injury, or crying. We taught three school staff members to use a behavioral intervention called Functional Communication Training (FCT), which helps students learn more appropriate ways to communicate their needs, while also ensuring they do not gain access to reinforcement for challenging behaviors. Staff were trained using Behavioral Skills Training (BST), a step-by-step approach that includes instructions, modeling, practice, and feedback. After the training, the school staff were able to use these strategies correctly, and the …

Heating Methods To Advance Primocane Emergence And Yields In Red Raspberries, Alyssa Palmer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Raspberries are an important high value crop for local markets in Utah and throughout the Intermountain West. However, Utah’s harsh winter and short growing seasons present challenging growing conditions. New primocane-bearing cultivars are becoming available, but many of these produce fruit later than what is needed for local markets. Protected cultivation offers the opportunity to give more consistent production under Utah’s difficult growing conditions for berry crops. Protected cultivation methods include high tunnels, low tunnels and row covers. In addition to protecting against damaging temperatures, protected cultivation also advances crop growth through warming the soil and plants. Combinations of heating …

Using Luminescence Of Quartz Temper From Archaeological Pottery To Infer Wildfire Intensity In The Southwestern Us, Brooklyn D. Dib

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The size and frequency of wildfires have increased recently, impacting ecosystems, communities, and human health. This research uses the heat-sensitive luminescence signals of quartz sand temper within archaeological pottery to record past wildfire conditions. Pottery sherds, which are fragments of archaeological pottery, from the forest floor in sites in New Mexico and Arizona were collected from different fire contexts (no fire exposure, historical fires, prescribed burns, and modern wildfires). These forests are primarily Ponderosa Pine with a grassy understory. The interior sand grains of each sherd sample were analyzed using optically stimulated luminescence, which dates when the mineral grains were …

Practical Effectiveness Of Large Language Models In Assisting Landscape Architects In Plant Selection, Paul Gardner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming many industries, but its role in landscape architecture remains relatively unexplored. This study examines how AI, specifically GPT-4, can assist landscape architects in selecting plants for projects. By comparing AI-generated plant lists to those that human experts created, the research evaluates Accuracy, Suitability, Availability, Aesthetics, and Professional Usability.

The results show that AI-generated plant lists were highly efficient, accurately matching site conditions and improving plant availability while significantly reducing selection time. However, human expertise was essential for ensuring aesthetic quality and design intent. While AI can serve as a powerful tool for streamlining plant …

An Evaluation Of Virtual Reality Modeling To Improve Accuracy Of Physical Education Skills In Teenage Students With Disabilities, Kristen Lee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Virtual Reality (VR) technology is becoming more common in schools, especially for teaching and training. In this study, researchers explored how VR can help teenagers with disabilities improve their physical education skills, specifically push-ups, lunges, and jumping jacks. The participants all showed an increase in their skills and reached a high level of accuracy on every skill. The results showed that adding feedback was also necessary for some participants. Additionally, participants enjoyed using the VR equipment and showed high levels of happiness throughout the study. These findings suggested that using VR technology can be an effective way to support teenagers …

Improvisation Of Mands Using Augmentative And Alternative Communication, Lauren Decker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Research shows that young children who use pictures to communicate can use colors, shapes, and functions of items to request when the specific picture of the item is not available. This problem-solving skill is called improvisation, which this study taught to a preschool aged participant with communication delays. A four-year-old preschool student was able to make these requests with basic colors, shapes, and three function pictures. They also were able to make these requests for items not taught to them in different settings. This suggests that improvisation training can be successfully implemented with preschool aged children with communication delays and …

Implications Of The Attenuated Allee Effect On Population Dynamics, Dana Strong

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Allee effect is an ecological phenomenon characterized by a per capita growth rate that increases as the population size increases in the context of low population density. The Allee effect can lead to rapid extinction events. Consequently, ecologists can attempt to control the strength of the Allee effect to help increase the population (in the case of endangered species) or decrease the population (in the case of parasites or pests).

This research aimed to study not the strength of the Allee effect, but the intensity of the Allee effect, or how rapidly cooperation between individuals causes the per capita …

Public Engagement In Small-Town Planning: A Case Study Of The Wellsville Trails And Active Transportation Plan, Tayli R. Hillyard

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This thesis presents a qualitative case study of public engagement in the Wellsville Trails and Active Transportation Plan, developed in Wellsville, Utah—a small municipality with limited staff and resources. Drawing from planning literature on effective community participation, the study evaluates outreach strategies based on their reach, feasibility, and replicability. Outreach strategies in the plan’s development included surveys, stakeholder meetings, a public open house, digital tools, and informal conversations. While early outreach efforts, such as the interest survey and personal invitations, generated meaningful input, the process fell short in sustaining engagement, reaching underrepresented groups, and maintaining consistent communication. The analysis highlights …

Accessing Community Needs In The Tri-County Area Of Rural Utah, Cara Murray, Yvette Rea, Lendel K. Narine

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah State University Extension conducted a needs assessment in the Tri-County area of Utah, encompassing Uintah, Duchesne, and Daggett Counties, to identify key community priorities. Using a three-phased approach, the assessment identified mental health, strengthening relationships, and financial literacy as top concerns. These findings will inform resource allocation to Extension programming to address the region’s most urgent needs.

Tricounty Vaccine Improvement Program (Tc-Vip): Enhancing Vaccine Confidence And Uptake In Rural Utah, Aaron Hunt, Yvette Rea, Annalyz Castro

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The Utah State University Extension TriCounty Vaccine Improvement Program addressed low rural vaccination rates across a three-county area through bilingual social media campaigns, health fairs, training in motivational interviewing, and neuromarketing. Evaluation results showed improved skills, broad community reach, and positive participant feedback, demonstrating a replicable model to reduce vaccine hesitancy and strengthen rural health systems.

Pilot Results Of The Teens Lifting Teens: A Statewide Youth Development Program, Megan O. Hall, Vernon C. Parent, Cris Meier, Kaitlyn Line

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Youth mental health and teen suicide prevention are among the highest needs in Utah communities. The Teens Lifting Teens (TLT) pilot program seeks to equip Youth Councils with resources and education through training, near-peer mentoring, and service-learning opportunities to build protective factors among teens. Evaluation results showed that TLT youth exposure to near-peer mentoring and service-learning opportunities positively impacted their lives.

Lagomorphs, Ungulates, And Predation: Exploring Interactions And Quantifying The Effect Of Lagomorph Herbivory In Rangelands, Shantell Marie Garrett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Rangelands are expansive ecosystems that make up more than 30% of the total surface land area in the contiguous United States. In the west, they are typically categorized as shrublands, grasslands or deserts with low precipitation. The vegetation communities consist largely of grasses and forbs and are thus widely used for livestock grazing. Despite their barren appearance, rangelands are diverse ecosystems that are home to a wide breadth of species.

The Henry Mountains, located in south central Utah, is one example of this system type. With their inspiring red-rock mesas and towering plateaus, this public land, managed by the Bureau …

Evaluating Energy Transition Winners And Losers: Are Algae Biofuels Desirable, Feasible, And Viable?, Michelle M. Arnold

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Climate change, environmental degradation, finite resources, and the uneven distribution of energy access all points to an urgent need for a global energy transition. But making that transition responsibly requires more than enthusiasm for “green” solutions—it demands careful evaluation of which energy sources are truly worth investing in. This dissertation develops a practical decision-making framework to help policymakers, scientists, and the public answer three foundational questions about any new energy technology: Is it desirable? Is it feasible? Is it viable? By systematically weighing public narratives, biophysical constraints, and patterns of innovation, the framework aims to prevent wasted time, funding, and …

Material Differentiation On The Yellow Point Ridge Lithic Landscape, Gabriel Boghosian

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This paper identified material use differences on the Yellow Point Ridge Lithic Landscape, utilizing flake morphology to identify use stages of materials found on site. This research confirmed the viability of methods like PXRF in conjunction with Infield material identifications and geologist identifications, as well as expanded the understanding of South-west Wyoming land use by hunter-gatherers.

Built For Participation: A Set Of Measures For Evaluating Community Living For People Of All Abilities As Supported By The Built Environment, Christopher A. Wilson Ii

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

As the world enters a new era of urban living, it is important to develop cities that allow residents of all ages and abilities to fully participate in society. Integration of people with disabilities into daily community living involves looking beyond site- or product-specific features to community- and city-wide systems. Some tools have been developed to begin evaluating cities’ levels of inclusive social participation and to provide recommendations for city planning professionals. However, the tools that have been developed often are too complex for practical use or rely on data that varies in obtainability. Therefore, the purpose of this series …

From Mechanisms To Management: Implications Of Biogeochemical Controllers And Land Management For Soil Carbon Cycling And Storage, Savannah R. Adkins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Climate change and its cascading effects are driven by increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂). Many climate solutions exists to remove this excess carbon (C) from the atmosphere, and soils, in particular, represent one of the few win-win solutions. Soils play a vital role in the global C cycle because they store more C than plants and the atmosphere combined, however, they also release more CO₂ annually than fossil fuel combustion (a major contributor to accelerating climate change). Therefore, preventing CO₂ loss from soil could help slow the progression of climate change, and increasing overall soil …

Understanding Impact Of Starter Culture Blends On The Ph Variation In Cheddar Cheese During Early Aging, Samuel J. Clarke

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Consumer expectations govern what is acceptable when it comes to the flavor, texture, and color of the cheese. These quality attributes of cheese are all influenced by the pH of the cheese which is in turn controlled by the acid production of the starter lactic acid bacteria (SLAB) used to make cheese. Whatever the final pH of the cheese is, is what determines the quality of the cheese. Unfortunately, there are some Cheddar cheese manufacturers that have observed pH variation during the early aging of their cheeses. We hypothesize that the addition of thermophilic, fast-acid producing bacteria, like Streptococcus thermophilus …

Faxes, Emails, And Cad: A Case Study Of The Changing Landscape In Born-Digital Design Records, 1994-2006, Julia D. Larson

Journal of Western Archives

The article examines the technological changeover from analog to born digital design records in the mid-1990s, and is a case study in how one San Francisco Bay Area landscape architecture firm navigated the paradigm shift. The firm retained extensive documentation of the project management/construction administration for large scale projects, and this case study shows how archivists can utilize the analog documentation (like faxes and printed emails) to gain a greater understanding of how design firms began using Computer Aided Drafting and how CAD changed design and the process of archiving.

Access To Healthy And Nutritious Food In Utah: Results From The 2024 Utah Wellbeing Survey, Heather H. Kelley, Palak Gupta, Courtney G. Flint

All Current Publications

Every Utahn, regardless of income, ZIP code, race, age, or health status, deserves reliable access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally meaningful food. Yet, too many communities across the state face persistent barriers that limit their ability to eat well and live healthy lives. This fact sheet reviews results of a 2024 Utah State University (USU) Extension needs assessment that identified food and nutrition security as a high-priority issue in Utah. It explores the current landscape, identifies key challenges, and outlines strategic opportunities for USU Extension and its partners to enhance food security statewide.

Leveraging Consistency: Evaluating Ai Coders For Qualitative Research, Saríah López-Fierro, Carlos Chiriboga-Calderón, José López-Fierro, Rubén Pacheco-Villamar

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

This study provides insights of using Large Language Models (LLMs) for deductive coding tasks in market research. Deductive coding, which applies predefined codes to text, often demands consistency rather than interpretive nuance. 

We compare five closed-weight LLMs with a group of human coders in tagging instances of “Expansive Framing” across qualitative excerpts, using Fleiss’ Kappa, ANOVA, and Estimated Marginal Means. Results reveal that LLMs exhibit higher consistency and faster processing than humans. These findings suggest that integrating LLMs can improve efficiency, making them an attractive asset for firms managing large datasets.

Journal Of Early Hearing Detection And Intervention: Volume 10 Issue 1, Pages 1-58

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

No abstract provided.

Third Grade Reading Proficiency In Deaf/Hard Of Hearing Children Who Received Early Intervention, Jareen Meinzen-Derr, Cassandra Conrad, Mekibib Altaye, Elodie Betances, Jayna Schumacher, Susan Wiley

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Background

Early enrollment in Part C Early Intervention (EI) by age 6 months is linked to improved language and kindergarten readiness in deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) children, but its effect on later academic outcomes is unclear. This study examines whether earlier (<6 months) or later (>6 months) enrollment influences third-grade reading proficiency.

Method

This study used data linked from three Ohio state agencies for infants identified with permanent hearing loss born 2008-2014 who received EI; 412 had third grade standardized reading tests. Reading levels were categorized from limited to advanced. Logistic regression assessed the association between enrollment timing and reading proficiency, …

The Radical Middle: Caregiver Beliefs About Language Access For Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Children, Monica Zmudzinski, Krystal L. Werfel

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The purpose of this study was to explore the communication choices of caregivers of deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) children. Specifically, we explored what communication options caregivers were presented with, identify what factors impacted a caregiver’s decision to pursue spoken language, and identify what barriers exist to learning sign language. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 caregivers of DHH children who had decision making power at the time of their child’s diagnosis. Transcripts were coded using an inductive approach with triangulation between authors. Many families reported that minimal to no information was provided about communication options at the time …

Deaf Parents’ Infant-Directed Touch With Their Hearing And Deaf Babies: Intuitive, Cultural, Or In Need Of Instruction?, Brenda C. Seal Ph.D.

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Preschoolers Who Are Deaf/Hard Of Hearing Using Listening And Spoken Language To Determine Special Education Eligibility, Kameron C. Carden, R. A. Mcwilliam

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The aim of this study was to increase understanding of evaluation practices used when determining special education eligibility for preschoolers who are deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) using listening and spoken language (LSL), particularly during the early intervention to preschool transition. Specifically, we explored alignment of school-based practices with recommended practices from the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE, 2018). An online survey was distributed to school-based special educators, including speech-language pathologists (SLPs), special education teachers, and teachers of the deaf within the United States that included a) evaluation practices, b) eligibility requirements, and c) practice demographics. Participant …