Digital Commons Network^™

A Pedagogical Approach To Cello Studies Influenced By The Eshkol-Wachman Movement Notation, Romina Monsanto Colina

Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to create visual and spatial cues for cello students to better learn the instrument through a notation system developed by the author. The research and notation are based on Noa Eshkol and Abraham Wachman's movement notation, which notates general body movement. The new movement notation, developed by the author, is directed to specific movements for cello players. Learning to play the cello by ear has been a primary pedagogical method. Students and professionals struggle to learn new music and techniques because they rely on hearing more than kinesthesia, the sense of movement. Musicians spend …

“I’M Stressed—You Have To Do Something To Help Me:” The Relationship Between Student Academic Entitlement, Academic Stress, And Satisfaction, Rebbecca L. Nemec

Dissertations

Concern over academic entitlement has grown in higher education in the last two decades. Academic entitlement, defined as unfounded expectations of academic success, undeserved services and unrealistic accommodations (McLellan & Jackson, 2017), in nursing students is an under investigated phenomena. The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of academic stress and general student satisfaction on academic entitlement beliefs in baccalaureate, junior, and senior level nursing students. In this correlational, cross-sectional study, the transactional theory of stress (Lazarus & Folkman, 1987), and Jeffreys’ (2022) nursing universal retention and success model were used to understand how academic stress and …

A Comparative Descriptive Study Exploring Undergraduate Versus Graduate Self-Regulated Learning In Online Nursing Courses, Monica Panaitisor

Dissertations

Preparation of new graduate nurses is more important now than ever given the current state of health care. The pandemic has caused online nursing education to be a permanent content delivery modality across all degree programs. Best practices for e-learning only address course organization, instructional materials, learner interaction, course technology, and support while having no regard for the unique learner needs of different degree levels. Online learning success could be determined by how well students are able to self-regulate their learning; however, these behaviors have rarely been measured and compared in nursing students at different degree levels taking online nursing …

Exploring The Relationship Of The Noncognitive Variables Of Grit And Mindset In Baccalaureate Nursing Students And Their Impact On Academic Success, Alecia Hollis

Dissertations

The study aimed to evaluate how the noncognitive variables of grit and mindset could impact the academic success of baccalaureate nursing students. With the present and growing shortage of nurses, attrition within nursing programs is cause for concern. Attrition is a multifaceted problem; however, academic failure is one contributing factor. While cognitive factors, such as the standardized aptitude test (SAT), pre-nursing science GPA, pre-nursing GPA, and standardized entrance exams (Al-Alawi et al., 2020; Chisholm-Burns et al., 2021), have traditionally been used for admission criteria, increasing evidence suggests that noncognitive factors, like grit and mindset, play a crucial role in academic …

Impact Of Thermal-Hydric Stress Of Physiological Performance And Mating Behavior Of Fiddler Crabs, Talene G. Yeghissian

Dissertations

Fiddler crabs live on the edge of their thermal tolerance limits, balancing the need to thermoregulate with the need to mate. Previous research suggests that increased temperature reduces fiddler crab surface activity time, thus decreasing mating opportunities, throughout the range species with greatest impacts to low latitude populations. The less studied missed mating opportunities associated with behavioral compensation for thermal stress are crucial to understanding species vulnerability to climate change. In this dissertation, I describe a combination of experimental and observational approaches in the field and in the laboratory to investigate the physiological and behavioral responses of fiddler crabs to …

Peer Victimization In College Student Mental Health And Well-Being: Moderating Effects Of Perceived Social Support, Erica Van Overloop

Dissertations

Peer victimization is associated with several short- and long-term psychosocial consequences for both children and adults. Although there is evidence that peer victimization negatively impacts college students, the degree to which it may affect students’ mental health and well-being remains unclear. Most studies of peer victimization among college students focus only on retrospective accounts of childhood victimization, leaving many unknowns about how recent or ongoing victimization may impact students. The present study examined both retrospective and recent experiences of peer victimization in a college student sample (N = 366, 18-29 years old) while considering the moderating role of perceived …

Scalable Solution Of Time-Dependent Pdes Through Component-Wise Exponential Integrator, Chelsea Drum

Dissertations

Exponential integrators, such as exponential Runge-Kutta or Rosenbrock methods, are designed specifically for the time integration of stiff systems of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and allow the use of larger time steps than other general-purpose ODE solvers. However, these methods rely on computing matrix function-vector products that are traditionally computed using a Krylov projection, such as Lanczos or Arnoldi iteration, that involves substantial computational expense at high spatial resolution. Krylov Subspace Spectral (KSS) methods' frequency-dependent approach, designed to circumvent stiffness in linear problems, computes these products with greater scalability. We propose the combination of such KSS methods with exponential integrators …

Expanding "Standards" Through Embracing Diversity: The Clarinet Quintets Of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Joyce Solomon Moorman, And James Lee Iii, Lauren Miller

Dissertations

Diversity in music education has been a long-standing discussion amongst educators. This document advocates for the recognition and acceptance of the intrinsic and extrinsic values of diverse peoples and their musical contributions while creating tolerance and respect. The focus lies with three composers, two African American and one African English, in service of promoting inclusion for composers of minority groups within the clarinet repertoire.

The goal is to expand standard clarinet repertoire, with “standard” defined as compositions considered important in building a well-rounded clarinetist in America, to include works such as Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in F-sharp …

Identity Development In Black Caribbeans: A Proposed Model, Shenelle Frederick

Dissertations

The paper is a critical review of the literature exploring factors contributing to Black Caribbean identity development. The paper sought to understand Black Caribbeans’ migratory history, views on mental health, and factors contributing to their identity development in the United States. Migrating to the United States can be a harsh reality for many migrants because they eventually realize that their Black skin is associated with negativity. An exploration of Black Caribbeans’ history and growing up in predominately Black societies could provide some insight that contributes to some of their ideologies and beliefs regarding forms of racism and believing that hard …

Caring For A Family Member With Dementia: Collectivism And Individualism As Predictors Of Caregiver Burden, Christina Wawrowski

Dissertations

Caregiver burden, often associated with physical, emotional, and financial strain, is a significant concern for family members who are providing care to their loved ones. This study involved exploring the experiences of serving as a caregiver to a family member with dementia to better understand the relationship of collectivistic and individualistic orientations with perceived caregiver burden, while considering the level of social support and dementia severity. The research involved a quantitative approach, administering the Individualism and Collectivism Scale (Cultural Orientation Scale), the Caregiver Burden Inventory, the Functional Rating Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and a demographic survey …

Understanding The Barriers And Contributions To Success Among African American Graduate Students Pursuing Doctorate Degrees In Clinical Or Counseling Psychology: A Comparative Analysis Of Predominantly White Institutions And Historically Black Colleges And Universities In The U.S., Chelle' Thomas

Dissertations

This study investigated the barriers encountered by African American students in earning doctorate degrees in clinical or counseling psychology at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) compared to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This study aims to elucidate the challenges encountered by African American graduate students in their pursuit of doctoral degrees in clinical or counseling psychology. The study focused on analyzing the obstacles and positive impacts experienced by African American graduate students as they strive to obtain doctorates in clinical or counseling psychology. Multiple challenges and contributions have been identified in this a phenomenological qualitative study. The qualitative results indicate …

Exploring Psychology Graduate Students’ Desire And Ability To Discuss Their Personal Trauma History With Clinical Supervisors, Madeleine Lane

Dissertations

Inspired by the archetype of the “wounded healer,” described by Carl Jung as a psychologist who enters the field with psychological wounds of their own, and the prevalence of such wounded healers in the mental health field today, this study aimed to explore clinical psychology doctoral students’ experiences of self-disclosure of their personal trauma history, a specific type of psychological wound, in clinical supervision. The goal was to explore whether and how students’ trauma history is discussed in clinical supervision; the importance of such discussions for students’ professional and personal development; and the impact of having or not having …

The Association Between Social Media, Toxic Masculinity, And Depression In Young Adult Males, Anthony Warren

Dissertations

The world is shaped by diverse influences that significantly affect individuals’ internal landscapes, leading to both positive and negative effects with profound implications for society. Role models play a pivotal role in shaping the aspirations of young adult males by providing direct and indirect lessons that leave lasting impressions and influence their worldview. In recent years, social media use, toxic masculinity, and mental health have garnered significant attention in understanding the experiences of young adult males. The focus in this study was to examine the relationships between social media use, toxic masculinity, and depression in young adult males ranging in …

Factors Impacting Treatment Decisions In Caregivers Of Autistic Children, Tiffany Harris

Dissertations

Caregivers of autistic children are not only tasked with deciding upon various treatment options for their children’s symptoms but must also navigate the initial crisis that is experienced after receiving a diagnosis of ASD for their children (Blancher, 1984; Ellis, 1989). Leventhal’s Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation (the CSM; Leventhal et al., 1980) is a theoretical framework developed to understand the self-regulatory processes involved in adapting to and managing health threats and posits that cognitive and emotional illness perceptions influence illness outcomes through coping behaviors. This is the first study to examine all major components of the CSM (i.e., cognitive …

Examining Executive Functions And Cognitive Emotion Regulation As Pathways From Childhood Adversity To Learning Effectiveness And Subsequent Functional Impairment In College Students, Fayth Walbridge

Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) refer to childhood abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction that impact later behavioral and physical health, academic, and occupational outcomes (Felitti et al., 1998; Metzler et al., 2017). Prior, studies have more recently shown that ACEs predict deficits in executive functions (Lund et., 2022; Wilson, 2020) and emotional regulation (Badour & Feldner, 2013) and these variables have been found to impact the relation between ACEs and multiple domains of functioning (e.g., psychosocial, behavioral, physical health; Boles, 2021; Cameron et al., 2018; Rudenstine et al., 2019; Trossman et al., 2020). However, no known study has simultaneously examined executive …

The Effects Of Ambient Light Intensity On Affordance Perception, Tyler Overstreet

Dissertations

Humans can reliably perceive whether a slanted ground surface can be stood on or not. In the present study we investigated how differences in ambient lighting conditions affected the perception of stand-on-ability. The study manipulated lighting conditions (photopic, mesopic, scotopic) under which participants made affordance judgements about the stand -on-ability of a presented ramp in a virtual reality environment. We hypothesized that less visual information would be available in the scotopic condition, which would result in changes to affordance boundaries and movement complexity, when measured from head sway and center of pressure. Results indicated that participants’ affordance judgements were more …

Examining The Association Between Parental Attachment, Fictive Kin Bonds, Psychological Needs Satisfaction, Emotional Distress, And Subjective Well-Being Among Black Americans, Roxanne Watts

Dissertations

Secure attachment with parents predicts less emotional distress and greater subjective well-being across the lifespan. One mechanism by which parental attachment supports mental health outcomes is through psychological needs satisfaction (PNS). In addition to the attachment to parents, relationships with fictive kin caregivers are prevalent and important among Black families. The present study investigated the association between parental attachment, fictive kin bonds, psychological needs satisfaction and mental health outcomes (i.e., emotional distress and subjective well-being) in a sample of Black American adults. Two hundred twenty-three (N = 223) participants completed measures of parental attachment, fictive-kin bonds, psychological needs satisfaction …

Understanding The Relations Between Parental Psychological Distress And Child Emotional And Behavioral Problems: A Path Analysis, Lauren S. Erp

Dissertations

Maternal psychological distress has consistently been linked to emotional and behavioral problems in school-aged children. Given the high prevalence and negative outcomes of child emotional and behavioral problems, parenting variables have been examined as mechanisms underlying this relation. Research has demonstrated that mothers who endorse high psychological distress report high parenting stress, which contributes to the use of more negative parenting practices. Moreover, parenting stress has been shown to relate to negative parenting practices through parenting inflexibility. Yet, no known study has examined parenting stress, negative parenting practices, and parenting inflexibility as pathways through which parental psychological distress relates to …

Evaluating The Treatment Utility Of Universal Screening For Social-Emotional And Behavioral Risk, Rebecca Wagner Lovelace

Dissertations

Universal screening is a proactive method used by schools to identify social-emotional and behavioral (SEB) difficulties experienced by students to inform necessary intervention supports and practices. Early detection of SEB problems in young children is imperative to effective treatment, but there is currently little guidance and research to support effective use of universal screening data, particularly for SEB risk, to inform treatment. The current study followed up on studies that examine the use of universal screening to inform intervention decision making (e.g., treatment utility) for SEB risk. An alternating treatment design was used to assess treatment effectiveness of matched and …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Career Decision Making In College Students: Investigating The Moderating Effects Of Perceived Covid-19 Impact And Ambiguity Tolerance, Kendall Klumpp

Dissertations

College students face many difficult decisions as they navigate adulthood, including making a decision about their career. Although much research has already been conducted to explore these difficulties, little has explored the potential impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on one’s career-related cognitions. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a new context in which difficulties with career-related decisions may be exacerbated. Through the lens of psychological stress, the current study examined the responses of 231 undergraduate students using a university-based online participant recruiting site, SONA. It was predicted that level of ACEs would be positively related with levels of negative …

Exploring The Degrees Of Ableism Nursing Students With Disabilities Experience, Elizabeth Ruth Brox

Dissertations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020) estimated about 24% of adults in the United States live with a disability. However, the literature suggested only 4.4% of healthcare workers reported having a disability in the United States. Stigmatization and ableism have likely led to nurses hiding their disabilities while practicing, creating less diversity and representation in practice. When healthcare workers have little resemblance to the population they serve, it can lead to distrust, uncaring behaviors, and feelings of exclusion. Increasing diversity and helping to recognize the value of disability in practice could begin in nursing school. This study aimed …

Perspectives Of Academic Nurse Leaders Regarding Mentorship Of Novice Nurse Faculty, Suzanne Campbell

Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive study sought to describe the perspectives of academic nurse leaders (ANLs) in direction of mentorship for novice nurse faculty. By examining the experiences and perspectives of these individuals, vital knowledge gained from this study will benefit future academic nurse leaders, faculty, students, and stakeholders in easing the difficult transition novice nurse faculty face as they enter academia. These perspectives had not previously been studied in depth. Fourteen participants were interviewed who served as deans, directors, or department heads of nursing education programs in Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Associate Degree in Nursing programs at U.S. public …

Brenno Blauth: A Study Of Two Works For Oboe, Pablo Ramon Dos Santos Hernandez

Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to promote the works of composer Brenno Blauth (1931— 1993) through the analysis of his Sonata for Oboe and Piano T.141 and his Concertino for Oboe and Strings T.17. These two significant pieces in the Brazilian oboe repertoire represent the composer’s compositional style and his use of Brazilian elements in his music expression. In both these works for oboe, Blauth fostered Brazilian nationalism by using popular and folk rhythms, enhancing regionalism folklore as well as European influences such as Neoclassicism, Impressionism and the use of bitonality. A short explanation of Brazilian music history will …

A Great War Requiem, Kaylene Cypret

Dissertations

The following dissertation is a researched music composition project that utilizes remembrance poetry from the Great War, also called the First World War or World War I, and the Requiem Mass tradition. The purpose of this study is to create a War Requiem composition that brings awareness to female narratives of the Great War by using Great War Poetry by women poets. The dissertation composition combines Requiem aeternam, Lux aeterna, and Requiescant in pace texts from the Requiem Mass.1 In addition, the composition uses Vera Brittain’s poem “Roundel,”2 Winifred Mabel Letts’s poem “Your Name,”3 Margaret Cole’s poems “Rest” and “Falling …

Cantus Imperialis: A Jazz Metal Song Cycle For Large Jazz Ensemble, Thomas Call

Dissertations

Jazz and Metal are genres of music that can seem aesthetically distant, both musically and culturally. Despite this perceived distance, there are evident connective roots that allow for the continuous incorporation of elements from each style and musical perspective into both genres. Many contemporary improvising musicians with jazz ties have explored this connection, such as John Zorn and his various projects such as his trio Simulacrum, and Tigran Hamasyan’s various small ensemble projects. Additionally, many musicians coming from a metal perspective have worked to incorporate jazz and improvisational elements into their work, such as death metal band Imperial Triumphant. Works …

The Impacts Of Gender Minority Stress On Wellness Among Trans And Gender Diverse Adults, Nathan R. Landers

Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of gender minority stress and its connection with wellness among trans and gender diverse adults. Trans and gender diverse (TGD) individuals experience unique and pervasive stress due to living within a society that is hostile towards their gender identities. They are also more than their experiences of gender minority stress. Better understanding TGD wellness is crucial for both researchers and counseling psychologists as a means of holistically viewing TGD communities. The present study examined the impacts that gender minority stress had on the overall wellness among a sample of …

Development And Validation Of An Integrated Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale For Use In Multiple Contexts Using Item-Response Theory, Jordan Lynn Martell

Dissertations

Perfectionistic tendencies have increased substantially over the past 30 years (Curran & Hill, 2019), with additional noticeable increases of both perfectionism and mental health issues since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic (Flett & Hewitt, 2020a). Considered a transdiagnostic process that significantly impacts clinical treatment for a wide array of mental health concerns (Limburg et al., 2017), limitations of current perfectionism measurement necessitate the creation of a scale that can inform prevention and intervention as well as further our understanding of this phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to develop and provide initial validation for a new perfectionism measure …

Secondary Choir Students’ Perceptions Of Inter-District Collaborative Performance Experiences, Juliet Minard

Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to examine the way students perceive their inter-district collaborative off-campus choral performance experience. That purpose allowed me to empower students' voices as I interpreted why students took part in optional collaborative opportunities off-campus, what they took away from the experience, and how they described the individual and collective significance of their engagement with a new population of peers. Observations, semi-structured interviews, artifact collection in the form of concert programs, song literature, and other student-initiated material, and researcher memos were gathered and analyzed to answer the following research questions: Q1 What are students' perspectives …

Exploring The Psychological Impact, Responses To Loss And Resiliency Among University Students During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Kimberly Crystal Monroe

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted university students, affecting their academic and personal lives. This study aimed to explore the multifaceted impact of the pandemic on university students, focusing on the interplay between experienced losses and resiliency levels. The purpose was to understand the overall impact of the pandemic on students and investigate how a resilient mindset, as measured by the Connor-Davidson Resiliency Scale (CD-RISC), predicted reactions to loss (RTL). The research addressed four key questions: (1) Do CD-RISC (resiliency) and cumulative loss predict positive reappraisal, controlling for demographic variables? (2) Does cumulative loss impact scores on the "avoidance" and …

The Development And Content Validity Of An Assessment Instrument In Simulation For Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Programs: An Exploratory Study, Olivia Nicastro

Dissertations

Advanced practice provider (APP) fellowship programs are comprehensive programs designed for physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver safe, high-quality care in their specialized areas of practice (Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Accreditation TM, 2023). An APP fellowship program’s mission is to guide the APP fellow to an expected level of confidence in meeting core competencies within a specific specialty (Klimpl et al., 2019; Reville & Foxwell, 2021). The assessment of competence is often a complex process. Simulation has become a learning modality across the globe in medical, nursing, and pharmacy in …