Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of A Speech-To-Text Assistive Technology Writing Accommodation For Students With Cerebral Palsy, Kirstin Franklin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a motor disability characterized by impairments in movement, muscle tone, or posture that can also include intellectual, executive functioning, language and memory skills, and academic achievement deficits in children with CP (Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022; Levitt & Addison, 2019). These neurological consequences and motor impairments can impact written expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a speech-to-text assistive technology (AT) accommodation that was applied to circumvent the impaired spelling and handwriting (i.e., transcription) skills resulting from CP. Three male students (Grades ranged from 6-10) with CP participated …

Reentry For Formerly Incarcerated Individuals: A Focus On Workforce Reentry And Recidivism In Appalachia, Margaret E. Francisco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Formerly incarcerated individuals face challenges to successful reentry, a critical component of reducing recidivism and improving public health outcomes. These challenges are particularly acute in rural Appalachia, where structural disadvantages such as limited economic opportunities, healthcare access, and public transportation intersect with stigma and systemic barriers related to prior incarceration. This dissertation addresses these gaps through a mixed-methods examination of reentry and recidivism, grounded in public health frameworks and focused on the unique context of rural Appalachia.

This work includes three studies. First, a PRISMA-guided systematic review synthesized qualitative research on barriers and facilitators to employment following incarceration. Findings highlighted …

Hierarchy In Sensation: Exploring The 40 Hz Auditory Steady State Synchrony In The Primary Auditory And Prefrontal Association Cortices, Deepshila Gautam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Auditory processing begins in the cochlea and ascends through brainstem relays to the cortex, where sound features with increasing complexity are encoded. The 40 Hz auditory steady-state response (ASSR) reflects induced gamma synchrony shaped by local cortical circuit dynamics. Disrupted 40 Hz ASSR is a consistent finding in schizophrenia, linked to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction in inhibitory interneurons, making it a promising translational biomarker. While multiple ASSR generators have been identified, it is not known if these are redundant or represent unique activity. This dissertation investigates regional differences in 40 Hz ASSR across two principal generators: the primary auditory cortex …

Empowerment Through The Sisters Lifting As We Climb Network: Examining The Organization’S Impact On Black Women, Sharnay Hearn Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological case study examines the role of empowerment within the “Sisters Lifting as We Climb Network” through the experiences of Black women participants in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Utilizing in-depth semi-structured interviews, the research investigates the organization's origins, evolution, and social support mechanisms that foster empowerment, as well as participants' experiences with programs and activities over the past nine years. Additionally, the study identifies areas for organizational improvement to further enhance participant empowerment.

The findings of this research support the empowerment theory framework by clarifying the preconditions, processes, and outcomes of empowerment within the Network, which fosters sisterhood and enhances participants' …

An Examination Of Legal Status, Law Enforcement Perception, And Crime Victimization And Reporting Among Hispanic Immigrants, Guadalupe C. Cabrera

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study relied on in-depth interviews with naturalized citizens and lawful permanent resident Hispanic immigrants to explore their perceptions of law enforcement and experiences with crime victimization and reporting. Past literature has explained that the absence of legal status may deter crime reporting. We added to this body of work by investigating relationships among legal status, trust, and reporting behaviors. This study finds that direct experiences with law enforcement and acquired knowledge may be a better indicator of law enforcement trust and crime reporting compared to legal status. While most participants expressed trust in law enforcement, others felt neutral due …

Comparison Of Nutrient Concentrations And Primary Production Indicators Across Plume Fronts, Taylor Dishon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Coastal buoyant plumes carry low-salinity waters containing particulate and dissolved terrestrial materials with an abundance of nutrients into the coastal ocean, including inorganic nitrogen and phosphorous. Plume fronts act as transport barriers created from the convergence of a fresher plume with an older, saltier plume or with ambient waters, leading to potential accumulation of phytoplankton and nutrients. This accumulation creates an optimal environment for primary production. The primary goals of this study were: to investigate the distribution of and potential relationships between nutrient concentrations and chlorophyll a across plume fronts of the Winyah Bay River Plume, and examine potential relationships …

Perceptions Of First-Year College Students On Respect In The Classroom During Their High School Career, Jane Adele Bailey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the influence of teacher respect on classroom climate, student- teacher relationships, and academic performance. Through interviews with college students reflecting on their high school experiences, this research identifies specific teacher actions and communication that foster respect in the classroom. By identifying what respectful communication and actions are through the interviews, teachers will be able to use these in their classrooms.

Six themes were identified by the participants lived experiences. They are: teacher demeanor, social interaction, attitude, emotional support, instructional management and facilitation, and listening. The results gave specific actions and communication, in the eyes of the participants, …

Popular Culture As Conduit: Navigating Integrated Marketing Communication In An Age Of Hyperconsumerism, Abbey N. Mccann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the discipline and practice of integrated marketing communication, acknowledging the limitations inherent in analyzing a field deeply embedded in the structures of hyperconsumption. This inquiry adopts a constructive hermeneutic approach, interpreting the dialectical tensions that define integrated marketing communication. These tensions include that between commercial imperatives and cultural critiques, which are further complicated by the influence of popular culture and shifting political climates. As popular culture increasingly intersects with sociopolitical discourse, brands are compelled to navigate these dynamics publicly. This evolving landscape reshapes consumer perceptions and brand strategies, reinforcing integrated marketing communication’s role as both a cultural …

Lipid Nanoparticle-Mediated Drug Delivery To Cns Targets, Purva Khare

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have revolutionized drug delivery, particularly in the delivery of gene silencing siRNA to the liver (Onpattro) and COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna). It is no exaggeration to state that the LNP delivery technology has protected billions of vaccinated people against a severe COVID-19 infection and subsequent mortality. Despite extensive research on LNPs for hepatic and muscle delivery, their potential for brain drug delivery remains underexplored. Many neurological disorders lack effective treatments, making LNP-based approaches promising for crossing or targeting drug delivery to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Brain endothelial cells (BECs), a key component of the BBB, play …

Role Of Cellular Proteins In The Regulation Of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Gene Expression And Dna Replication, Joseph R. Heath

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous human pathogen that infects the majority of the human population. To facilitate infection, this virus relies on a combination of host and viral factors. Previous studies have revealed a number of host proteins that associate with the HSV-1 genome throughout infection but their putative role(s) in this process remain undefined. This study aims to examine two such proteins to determine their contributions to HSV-1 gene expression and DNA replication. The first of these factors is Ints3, a subunit of the Integrator complex. This protein complex functions in transcription regulation, and Ints3 …

Examining The Lived Experiences Of International Students At East Tennessee State University, John The Baptist Anodjo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the lived experiences of international students at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), specifically examining how they navigate social, academic, and structural challenges. Through in-depth interviews with 20 international students from a variety of nationalities, I analyzed issues related to legal status, housing, food insecurity, healthcare, and social integration. I found that students encounter barriers due to immigration policies, financial constraints, and limited access to essential resources. Additionally, international students benefit significantly from support provided by campus services, community organizations, and their social networks, which play a vital role in their adjustment process. While institutional resources are beneficial …

"No One Leaves For Free": A Media Analysis Of The Lived Experiences And Cumulative Impacts Of The Flint Water Crisis., Jordan Leigh Gatewood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In April 2014, the city of Flint, Michigan changed their municipal water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River. The effects of this change have been felt far and wide as news broke across the nation that this water was contaminated with lead and residents of Flint were getting sick. This research analyzes 170 news articles from three local and three national news outlets over a 10-year span, 2014 to 2024, to determine how community voice is presented in news media to portray the lived experiences and cumulative impacts of the Flint Water Crisis. Applying a Critical Environmental Justice …

Deaf Faculty Members’ Experiences In Higher Education Institutions, Stephanie Proctor Horvath

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Deaf faculty members bring diverse perspectives to higher education, yet their experiences remain underexplored in academic research. The critical first year of teaching can shape their career experiences, revealing both opportunities for growth and systemic barriers. The purpose of this study was to understand deaf faculty members’ experiences, focusing on their transition into academic roles, the accommodations provided in their workplaces, and the challenges they faced. This study employed a qualitative phenomenological design, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 15 Deaf faculty members, whose teaching experience ranges from 1 to 30 years. In the reflexive thematic analysis and AI-coding of this data, …

Exploring Factors Influencing Care And Outcome Among Stroke Patients In Tennessee, Omodele Agbejimi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in Tennessee. Socioeconomic variables influence the delivery of stroke treatment and its outcomes. Despite advances in acute stroke care, the burden of stroke keeps increasing. This study aimed to explore literature on factors contributing to stroke care and outcomes in the U.S., assess the determinants of stroke patients’ outcomes, and examine the geographical disparities in stroke hospitalization and stroke death rate and their association with stroke care accessibility in Tennessee.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted using socio-ecological models to explore literature on factors contributing to stroke care and outcomes. A …

The Intersection Of Appalachian Identity And Gambling Behavior, Noah S. Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relation between Appalachian identity and gambling behavior among students in central Appalachia (n = 395). One-way ANOVAs revealed no significant differences in engagement, F(2, 392) = 0.65, p = .523, or severity, F(2, 392) = 0.33, p = .718, across identification groups. Moderated regression showed that identity did not significantly moderate the engagement–severity relation (B = 0.073, p = .099), though engagement itself was a strong predictor of harm (B = 0.696, p < .001, R² = .521). Negative affect predicted both engagement (B = 0.074, p = .001) and severity (B = 0.069, p = .001), while identity remained non-significant. Logistic regression found that identity predicted gambling engagement (Exp(B) = 1.18, p = .034) only when controlling for severity. These findings relay the importance of empirical efforts in Appalachia and suggest that Appalachian identity may not be an independent risk factor in gambling behavior.

Evaluating Online Autism Information: A Content Analysis Of Language, Quality, And Interventions, Jada R. Beal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The internet is a widely used source of autism-related information, yet previous studies demonstrate that the quality, accuracy, and language used in such content remain inconsistent. This study conducted a content analysis of 356 autism-related internet sources obtained from top Google search results, examining their use of neurodiversity-affirming language, the quality of health-related information, and the inclusion of evidence-based interventions. Results showed that medical model language and person-first terminology were more common than neurodiversity-affirming language. Sources targeting caregivers were significantly more likely to use medical model language than those aimed at autistic adults. Only 12.92% of sources included quotes or …

Integrated Stem Education For In-Service K-5 Elementary Teachers: Definitions, Self-Efficacy, And Teaching Practices, Amani Alhassan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increasing interest has been evident in implementing integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teaching in public schools. However, teachers need to be professionally prepared and increase self-efficacy in teaching integrated STEM in their classrooms. Little is known about how teachers' self-efficacy in teaching integrated STEM is related to teachers' practices around STEM integration, particularly in K-5 classrooms.

This convergent mixed-methods study involved surveys with open- and close-ended questions to determine the integrated STEM perceptions, definitions, classroom teaching practices, and self-efficacy level in teaching integrated STEM for 79 northeast Tennessee K-5 teachers. The study also investigated the relationship between teachers' …

In A Safe-Space Of Her Own: Alice's Journey Through A Traumatized Wonderland To Find Attunement And Recovery, Cheston A. Axton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Throughout Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland/Through the Looking-Glass’s 160-year existence, Lewis Carroll’s seven-year-old protagonist has experienced many changes and alterations. With an ever-growing pop culture interest, Alice’s original narrative has undergone numerous adaptations, with each new variation diving deeper into the impact of trauma on Wonderland.

This thesis continues this existing discourse by examining Wonderland’s capacity to facilitate recovery in the aftermath of severe trauma. Through this research, the traumatic experiences of Alice, from Christina Henry’s The Chronicles of Alice: Alice and American McGee’s Alice: Madness Returns, are examined concerning their effect(s) on her construction of Wonderland, as …

The Lived Experiences Of Navajo Nurses During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Stephnie Ann Leeson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When COVID-19 was diagnosed on the Navajo Nation, the impact on the people and the healthcare system was not understood. For almost three years, Navajo healthcare workers battled what was known to the Navajo as Dikos Nitsaaígíí Náhást’éíts’áadah, translated as The Big Cough. The Navajo Nation President, Jonathan Nez, referred to it as a Monster, as did many people in the Navajo Nation. Navajo nurses on the frontlines battled the monster daily as they saw friends and relatives succumb to the insidious disease. Much has been written about nurses off the reservations working on the frontline during the pandemic. However, …

Idiomatic Compositional Techniques In John Rutter's Requiem, Marguerite Walsh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

John Rutter is an extremely significant figure in choral music, and his 1985 Requiem is one of his most widely performed works. Despite this popularity, it has yet to be analyzed in a rigorous academic capacity. Requiem is a harmonically rich and sophisticated work, and said lack of previous analysis represents a gap in theoretical research. This thesis analyzes Requiem for significant harmonic structures and idiomatic compositional techniques and applies those techniques in an original composition. Subtopics of note included harmonic non-functionality, modulations, and orchestration. The original work is comprised of two movements for choir and piano respectively titled “Requiem …

An Evaluation Of Key Components Of Natural Resource Camps, Undergraduate Persistence And Success In Natural Resources, Brandy Bishop

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the key components that connect natural resource camps, undergraduate persistence, and overall success through gainful employment within the natural resource industry. The aim of this study was to assess early interest and attitudes towards natural resource career pathways and how education interventions shape students’ career outcomes thus leading to overall success. A longitudinal mixed method design was used combining Conservation Careers Camp survey data (n = 39) with institutional records for Forestry majors (n =655) in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus. Quantitative data was analyzed through …

Latina Senior-Level Leaders In 2-Year Public Higher Education Institutions In Texas: A Life Story Narrative Study, Monica Yvette Escobar-Leblanc

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study was designed to understand the personal and academic experiences of Latinas in senior-level leadership positions in 2-year public higher education institutions in Texas and the impact, if any, of these experiences on their leadership development. Although Latina undergraduate college enrollment has continued to increase, Latinas remain significantly underrepresented in senior-level leadership roles in higher education institutions. Using a life story narrative approach and LatCrit as the theoretical lens, this study examined leadership development across the life span from adolescence to middle adulthood. The thematic analysis of the four Latinas' life story narratives, employed in 2-year public higher education …

The Impact Of Mindfulness Therapy To Reduce Disruptive Behavior In High School, Wendy Nell Peters

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this project was to determine the impact and effectiveness of Gina Biegel’s mindfulness techniques for stressed teens method on adolescent anxiety and the disruptive symptoms that lead to high school adolescents being assigned to detention. This project described a quantitative correlational design research project that investigated a small adolescent sample size, with a goal of decreasing the number of local high school adolescent students who are repeat detention offenders, by implementing Gina Biegel’s mindfulness techniques for stressed teens method on those high school adolescents who were assigned to detention. This was achieved by collecting demographic data from …

An Exploratory Descriptive Study Of Urban Professional High School Counselors' Work Culture, Burnout, And Mental Well-Being, Alexandria L. Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive, exploratory, qualitative study examined urban, public U.S. high school counselors’ perceptions of job-related stress, autonomy, and administrative support within urban school environments. Seven current high school counselors working in urban public schools were recruited through convenience sampling in educator forums on Facebook, followed by snowball sampling to expand the participant pool. Counselors participated in semistructured interviews conducted via Zoom or asynchronous online focus groups hosted on Padlet, depending on the participant’s preference. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis process, supported by Dedoose software for coding and data management. The analysis revealed four major themes: …

Overcoming Second-Order Barriers To Teachers’ Technology Integration: A Study Of Positive Impacts, Crystal Ann Hume

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored K–12 public school teachers’ self-efficacy, value, and pedagogical beliefs about technology. The teachers worked in a medium-sized, semi-affluent public school district in North Texas. The study investigated second-order barriers to technology integration and what might positively impact teachers’ self-efficacy, value, and pedagogical beliefs. This study used a qualitative descriptive methodology to collect qualitative data about their beliefs by interviewing and observing K–12 classroom teachers who had completed a bachelor’s degree through a traditional teacher education program. Teachers with alternative certifications or noncertified classroom instructors were omitted. Findings revealed that external factors, failure, mistakes, confidence, and professional development …

A Study Of Urban High School Teachers' Perceptions Of Multicultural Education, Clifford D. Alexander

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated urban high school teachers’ perceptions of multicultural education and how those perceptions related to instructional practices. Guided by culturally responsive pedagogy, the study addressed the persistent achievement gap among minority students and the limited integration of multicultural education in U.S. public schools. The purpose of this study was to evaluate teachers’ perceptions of multicultural education and examine their connection to teaching practices and cultural background. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed with a sample of 331 urban high school teachers. Findings indicated that the majority of participants held positive views toward multicultural education, recognizing its role …

Expenditures Of Title I Funds To Maximize Student Performance, Cornethia Danielle Pressley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods case study investigates how Title I funds are allocated and perceived in relation to student achievement in six rural elementary schools in the southeastern United States. Drawing on the Distributive Justice Theory by John Rawls, the study explored the perspectives of three principals and three instructional coaches regarding the effectiveness of Title I expenditures in improving outcomes for economically disadvantaged students. Quantitative data from school report cards (2019-2023), Title I expenditure plans, and SC-Ready English Language Arts assessment scores were analyzed alongside qualitative data from semi-structured interviews about the expenditures.

Findings revealed that expenditures most strongly associated …

Unheard Echoes: Undocumented Students’ Success Amidst Challenges At U.S. Higher Education Community Colleges, Elvia Ortiz Segura

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive study explored the lived experiences of undocumented Latinx students at a southern U.S. community college, identifying support services that assisted students with barriers that emerged in their academic journey. The problem of the study was the complex challenges undocumented students face in higher education and how they are addressed and supported. The research used a qualitative descriptive methodology to magnify student voices and influence institutional policies. Using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as the theoretical framework, this study examined how family, culture, policy, and institutional systems influenced undocumented students’ educational journeys. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with …

Emergent Bilingual Educators’ Viewpoint Of Biliteracy Spaces: Building Capacity For Language Preservation And Development, Maria A. Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the perspectives of emergent bilingual (EB) educators regarding the value of learning two languages simultaneously for EBs at the elementary level in Texas. The problem examined was that EBs were losing their primary language while acquiring English. More EBs were entering bilingual programs with no language dominance or mixed language dominance, and researchers had explored this issue from various perspectives, including teacher language ideologies and assessment practices based on monolingual standards. This inductive qualitative case study aimed to identify what educators perceived as the benefits of bilingual education in primary classrooms where students learned two languages simultaneously. …

Evaluating The Predictive Value Of Basc-3 Anxiety Scale And Working Memory Index Scores For Clinically Significant Test Anxiety: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Non-Classifiable Cases, Des'tiana S. Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation will explore how test anxiety (TA) affects working memory (WM) and whether certain factors can help predict higher levels of test anxiety. Anxiety has been defined as a common experience that can show up in various forms—like general worry, social fears, panic attacks, and specific phobias (APA, 2022). It was described as often triggering our natural “fight-or-flight” response, which can impact our ability to focus, think clearly, and remember things. For students, test anxiety has been especially challenging, affecting how they perform in high-stakes academic settings. Using data from a university based psychological assessment center, this study will …