Digital Commons Network^™

Stories Of Anti-Racist White Feminist Activists: "A Conversation With Myself", Christina Linder

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Multivariate Methods For Measuring Change From Pretest To Posttest, Justin Leslie Rogers

Dissertations

Three multivariate methods for measuring change from pretest to posttest are compared with respect to statistical power over various levels and combinations of effect size, alpha level, sample size, number of dependent variables, number of significantly different dependent variables, correlation between corresponding pretest and posttest scores, and correlation between unrelated pretest and posttest scores. The method utilizing posttests as the dependent variables and pretests as covariates was found to have superior statistical power in the majority of the scenarios examined. However, there were scenarios where the method utilizing change scores as dependent variables and the method utilizing only posttests as …

Evaluation Of The Performance Of A Random Coefficient Regression Model Cumulative Summation Control Chart Under Varying Model Conditions: With Human Services Applications, Christopher John Mckinney

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Integral Role Of Organizational Characteristics And Their Impact On Lean Implementation Success, John J. Cooper

Dissertations

ABSTRACT The increasingly competitive nature of the manufacturing industry has forced manufacturers to examine alternatives to traditional management philosophies. Although lean's success had been proven it was not uncommon for companies that opt to implement lean concepts to meet with mixed results and sometimes even outright failure. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between organizational characteristics and issues associated with lean implementation. The study identified the following organizational characteristics (a) organizational leadership, (b) organizational culture, and (c) organizational change and examined the role each played in lean implementation efforts. The study also looked at sixteen individual …

An Empirical Comparison Of Four Data Generating Procedures In Parametric And Nonparametric Anova, Anquan Zhang

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to empirically investigate the Type I error and power rates of four data transformations that produce a variety of non-normal distributions. Specifically, the transformations investigated were (a) the g-and-h, (b) the generalized lambda distribution (GLD), (c) the power method, and (d) the Burr families of distributions in the context of between-subjects and within-subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA). The traditional parametric F tests and their nonparametric counterparts, the Kruskal-Wallis (KW) and Friedman (FR) tests, were selected to be used in this investigation. The four data transformations produce non-normal distributions that have either valid or invalid …

The Self, The Church, And Medieval Identities: The Evolution Of The Individual In Medieval Literature, Christopher Michael Flavin

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the construction of literary identities by medieval women, recognizable as an authorial voice that is distinct from those of her contemporaries yet congruent with the gender norms and expectations of her contemporary culture, in both religious and secular literatures from late antiquity through the waning of the Middle Ages. The argument posited here is that texts authored by women, as informed by concurrent male texts and the literary traditions in which individual authors seek to participate, can be read as a taxonomy of responses to the traditions individual authors appropriate and to their contemporaries, directly responding to …

Mourning, Melancholia, And Masculinity In Medieval Literature, Rebekah Mary Fowler

Dissertations

This dissertation examines male bereavement in medieval literature, expanding the current understanding of masculinity in the Middle Ages by investigating both the authenticity and affective nature of grief among aristocratic males. My focus is on the pattern of bereavement that surfaces across genres and that has most often been absorbed into studies of lovesickness, madness, the wilderness, or more formalist concerns with genre, form, and literary convention, but has seldom been discussed in its own right. This pattern consists of love, loss, grief madness and/or melancholy, wilderness lament/consolation, and synthesis and application of information gleaned from the grieving process, which …

Frameworks For Estimating Virtual Water Flows Among U.S. States, Stanley T. Mubako

Dissertations

The United States is the world's top virtual water exporting nation, but not much is known about the country's internal virtual water flow patterns and the volumes involved. Previous studies have suggested that the import of virtual water, defined as the volume of water required to produce a commodity or service, can relieve pressure on a region's water resources. This study seeks to quantify virtual water flows among U.S. states using the water footprint and input-output analytical methods, and to compare the quantitative results to actual water use volumes in agriculture. The results showed an overall pattern where virtual water …

Alcohol Abuse At A Mid-Sized Institution In The Southeastern United States, Michael Anthony Mitchell

Dissertations

Each year thousands of students abuse alcohol on college campuses across the country. After a review of the literature, this study detailed the results of a two-phase study conducted at a mid-sized university in the southeastern United States. The focus of the study was threefold. First, it sought to determine if there were any significant differences between males and females with regard to alcohol abuse and violent and aggressive behaviors. Second, it aimed to learn more about a specific category of students, specifically those who were hard workers in the academic setting but also hard drinkers when not in class …

Content Area Literacy In The Primary Grades: Teachers' Sense Of Efficacy In Teaching Narrative And Informational Text, Christine Cherry Selman

Dissertations

Research has documented the scarcity of informational text and the overabundance of narrative text in the primary grades (Duke, 2000; Yopp & Yopp, 2006). The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine primary teachers’ beliefs, or efficacy, in teaching narrative and informational text as well as assess their use of both text types in the classroom. Efficacy data were collected with a previously established questionnaire that had been slightly altered to assess efficacy in narrative and informational text. Two sub-categories made-up the efficacy measure for each type of text: teacher sense of efficacy in instructional strategies and teacher sense …

Recovering From Hurricane Katrina: Small Business Owners Conquer Katrina: A Mixed Methodology Study, Penny Madonna Adams

Dissertations

On August 29, 2005, residents of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi's Gulf Coast Regions faced death and destruction as Hurricane Katrina made landfall. The hurricane presented numerous challenges to the Gulf Coast Region; hence, many residents continue to rebuild more than five years later. Small business owners, in particular, comprise one of the populations hardest hit.

Prior research identified barriers to recovery hindering small business owners post-Hurricane Katrina. The purpose of the current research is to determine how "recovered" small businesses overcame financial barriers post-Hurricane Katrina. This study examines the recovery process from the small business owners' perspective and evaluates the …

A Methodology To Develop A Communication Protocol For Visualizing Simulations In A Collaborative Virtual Reality Environment, Lacey Suzanne Duckworth

Dissertations

In the technology field, simulations and collaborative virtual reality environments (CVREs) are not generally combined because it is complicated to develop large scale simulations within CVREs. The complexity of combining these two technologies in order to form a better form of visualization stems from the lack of a methodology to help derive these scalable simulations. Simulations require very complex calculations that the CVRE cannot perform as it is overloaded in calculations for the maintenance and stability of the environment itself. Since the simulation cannot be held within the CVRE, the solution is to move the simulation external to the CVRE …

Ruthenium-Based Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Bearing Ph-Responsive Ligands: External Control Of Catalyst Solubility And Activity, Shawna Lynn Balof

Dissertations

Sixteen novel, Ru-based olefin metathesis catalysts bearing pH responsive ligands were synthesized. The pH-responsive groups employed with these catalysts included dimethylamino (NMe₂) modified NHC ligands as well as N-donor dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) and 3-(o-pyridyl)propylidene ligands. These pH-responsive ligands provided the means by which the solubility and/or activity profiles of the catalysts produced could be controlled via acid addition. The main goal of this dissertation was to design catalyst systems capable of performing ring opening metathesis (ROMP) and ring closing metathesis (RCM) reactions in both organic and aqueous media.

In an effort to quickly gain access to new …

Real-Time Riverine Particle Image Velocimetry, David William Dobson

Dissertations

A modular particle image velocimetry program was developed and optimized to read and process video of river surface flows from different sensor types. The program was designed for long-term deployment with the ability to sample data continuously in realtime and save the results in a compact format. The time needed to compute a velocity measurement from video input was reduced by using concurrent processing techniques, multi-threading, and a graphics hardware-based correlation algorithm. When used to process field data on a low power Intel Atom based computer the PIV system was capable of computing up to 64 velocity measurements at a …

The Relationship Between Situational Leadership And Student Achievement, Hope Owens Beaver

Dissertations

The study of leadership has been one of great interest for many years and many leadership theories have since surfaced. Bolman and Deal’s (1991) situational leadership theory places leadership styles into four unique frames and suggests that the most effective leaders are able to utilize the most appropriate leadership frame that a situation might require. This study investigates these situational leadership frames which are structural, political, human resource, and symbolic and the relationship they may have with student achievement based on school performance labels given by the Mississippi State Department of Education.

The study was conducted in two months and …

The Relationship Between Readability Level Of Mississippi's Middle Schools' Websites And Seventh Grade Language Arts Mct2 Scores, Anna Marlene Graves Pickard

Dissertations

Today’s educators face the unprecedented challenge of increasing achievement for all students. One response has been to increase and improve parent involvement and school-to-home communication through the use of school websites. The quantitative section of this study analyzed the readability grade level of the website as it relates to state test scores. For the qualitative section of the study, a sample of middle school principals’ levels of interest and involvement with parents through the website and other methods of communication for student achievement were examined through the use of principal interviews.

Seventh grade Language Arts MCT2 scores from 205 Mississippi …

Resistance To Educational Change From The Perspective Of Teachers In Ai-Ain Educational Zone In Uae, Wafa Mohammed Ali El Zaatar

Dissertations

This study aimed to investigate the factors for teacher resistance toward the Educational change in government schools in the U.A.E. The factors that this study investigated are the psychological, personal, school culture, and organizational factors. The study was guided by one research question and used the descriptive research method. Data for this study were collected through a survey using a Likert Scale. It was sent to 414 teachers in public schools who taught in different grade levels. Teachers selected were males and females, from different age group, years of experience and qualifications; and they were UAE national and foreign teachers. …

An Analysis Of Peer Leadership Competencies And Skills, John P. Baker

Dissertations

A significant leadership challenge exists while leading others without legitimate or formal authority. Leading without legitimate authority may require different and limited leadership skills and competencies, especially when leading peers. This quantitative study analyzed the leader competencies and skills needed for effective peer leadership.
A literature review identified four competencies cited frequently as important: (a) communication; (b) support; (c) mental/hard work ethic; and (d) reflection/feedback. Analysis of an ROTC leadership assessment database provided convergent validity for the literature review while adding one additional competency, physical. The lack of existing instruments measuring peer leadership competencies and skills necessitated the development of …

Understanding Inter-And Intra-Generational Communication Methods Utilizing A Framework Of Message Sensitivity, Thomas Edwin Craft Jr.

Dissertations

This study was designed to determine if differences existed between generations surrounding their preferred communication methods. In examining the social identity perspective of groups, scholars have found that many groups are categorized based on the social structure in which they exist. Generational groups have created their own social structure and set of cultural norms that define each generation. In a recent report released by the Pew Research Center (2010), when the younger generation was asked an open-ended question, "What makes your generation unique?", 24% of those asked responded "Technology Use." One of the unique differences among these generations is the …

The Effects Of Coping On The Psychological Well-Being Of Inidividuals Who Are Late-Deafened, Jill Marie Meyer

Dissertations

Abstract Recent research supports the application of the theory of adaptation to various groups of individuals with disabilities. The premise of the theory is that individuals with certain disabilities may have greater difficulty adapting to their newly acquired level of functioning (Diener, Lucas, & Scollon, 2006). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between disability factors and psychosocial outcomes, specifically psychological well-being, in a sample of individuals who lost their hearing after age 12. Coping was examined to determine if it was a mediator of the relationships between the disability factors (age of onset, severity of disability, …

The Impact Of A Saturday Enrichment Program With A University Partnership In An Urban Elementary School, Jenny Ellen Gray

Dissertations

The Saturday Enrichment Program (SEP) was an idea conceived by the faculty at a large university in partnership with a surrounding school district that is characterized as urban. The idea of the SEP was to create a whole extra day of learning for students that was a departure from the regular routine of Monday through Friday class. The SEP was designed to be a more relaxed, hands-on, student driven program that followed a Project Based Learning (PBL) philosophy. The teachers were pre-service teachers (PSTs) from the university. This study sought to answer the research question; what are the perceptions of …

Recidivism: A Multi-Level Explanation, Brian Eric Oliver

Dissertations

Numerous studies have shown that several characteristics of offenders are related to their likelihood of recidivism after release from prison. Nearly all of these studies, however, have focused on offenders from just one state. Few studies have examined recidivism rates controlling for the characteristics of offenders from multiple states, and virtually none have examined recidivism rates controlling for characteristics of offenders from multiple states during different periods of time. Additionally, few studies have explored different types of recidivism across multiple jurisdictions. To address these shortcomings, this dissertation applied logistic regression models to data from the publicly available Prisoners Released in …

Whither Criminology?: On The State Of Criminology's Paradigm, Brendan David Dooley

Dissertations

What is the condition of criminology’s paradigm? The reply to this question has implications bearing on the profession’s bona fides as a science as well as its sustainability as an independent academic enterprise. The work attempts to capture the elusive term through the use of five themes: theoretical consensus, methodological consensus, boundaries, the departure from sociology, and the current and future status of the field. In approaching this question the work presents an analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventeen renowned criminologists. The centerpiece of the latter data set was assembled and analyzed in …

Program Evaluation Of Universal Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports In Kentucky, Kelly S. Davis

Dissertations

The current study was undertaken to examine the impact of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) implementation on schools in Kentucky. Research questions evaluated (a) whether schools in Kentucky implemented PBIS with fidelity and (b) how PBIS implementation impacted student outcomes. Results of the study indicated that elementary, middle, and high schools implemented PBIS with fidelity. Associations were noted between PBIS implementation and decreases in office discipline referrals, out-of-school suspensions, dropout rate, and student retention rate. Results suggested that the PBIS model of training and technical assistance used in Kentucky demonstrates a reliable model for schools to follow to implement …

Closing The Achievement Gap Between Boys And Girls, Helen Finley

Dissertations

The critical role of accountability on schools has intensified the need to understand the impact of intervention strategies and best practices on literacy. Of particular concern is the underachievement of boys and identifying the learning differences between boys and girls. Examined in this quantitative study were the strategies and practices implemented by Blue Ribbon and Gold Star school educators to increase the literacy skills of primary-aged boys. Strategies and practices were determined through a Likert scale survey distributed to six Missouri Blue Ribbon and Gold Star schools and an equal number of schools that were not meeting Adequate Yearly Progress. …

Compassionate Care, The Patient Perspective, Lori Burnell Phd

Dissertations

Professional mandates call for nurses to respond with compassion (e.g., American Nurses Association [ANA] Code of Ethics, International Council of Nurses [ICN]) and countless hospital mission and vision statements prominently display compassion as their fundamental purpose. As a component of healthcare and nursing models, however, defining characteristics and standards are inconsistent. Compassion as a means of establishing a connection on a spiritual level abounds in the literature (Buck, 2006; Grant, 2004; O'Brien, 2008; Schultz et al., 2007) and is documented as a nursing requirement (e.g., ANA, ICN); however, it remains virtually uncharted from the lens of the patient. Through interpretive …

Fibromyalgia Self-Care Management: Use Of Essential Oils, Regina Ann Sacco Izu Phd

Dissertations

Fibromyalgia is a female dominant chronic syndrome of diffuse muscle pain on palpation of at least 11 of 18 syndrome-associated tender points present for 3 months or longer. There is no cure. Self-care management involving multimodal integrative medicine approaches may increase treatment involvement resulting in a sense of control and pain relief. This embedded, single case study explored 'how' and 'why' an informant with fibromyalgia chose to initiate and continue self-care management using essential oils over several years to treat symptoms within context reality. Orem's Self-Care Deficit Model and the Principles of Integrative Medicine from the University of Arizona formed …

The Effects Of School Climate Change On Student Success In A Fifth And Sixth Grade School, Kim M. Harris

Dissertations

The significance of the study was to examine intentional strategies to improve school climate relative to student school success as measured by academic achievement, attendance, and student behavior. It was important to understand how student school success was affected by factors related to school climate improvement such as leadership and change processes, initiatives to improve student sense of safety and connectedness, and factors such as time, relationships, grade span, and alignment in academic focus. Understanding how school climate could promote student school success was significant in this study, as was an understanding of the differences between school culture and climate …

Undoing Plessy: Charles Hamilton Houston, Race, Labor, And The Law, Gordon Andrews

Dissertations

Undoing Plessy: Charles Hamilton Houston, Race, Labor, and the Law, 1895--1950, explores the manner in which African Americans countered racialized impediments during the first half of the twentieth century by attacking their legal underpinnings. Specifically, this work explores the professional life of Charles Hamilton Houston, and the degree to which it informs our understanding of change in the pre-Brown era. There were a wide range of forces at work, from individuals, organizations, and institutions, to government in its various forms (local, state, and federal), complicating any strategy to reformulate the parameters of equality. Using both labor and education law as …

The Relationship Between Study Island And Student Achievement, Nathan Travis Bracht

Dissertations

Many schools in America have issues with raising overall achievement as well as the achievement of subgroup populations on state tests required by No Child Left Behind. This quantitative study determined whether an online program called Study Island significantly effected overall and subgroup achievement on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests in communication arts and mathematics at the elementary and middle school levels. The results will inform school officials in this district and similar districts on whether Study Island can meet the needs of their teachers and students. The students in the study began using Study Island in preparation for …