Digital Commons Network^™

Mitochondrial Dna Diversity In West Mexico, Emma Zoiss

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The long-standing movement of people, exchange of goods, and transmission of cultural traits are imprinted not only in the archaeological record but also within the genomes of individuals, making ancient DNA a powerful tool for uncovering past interactions and population dynamics. Despite attempts at systematic research, we are still missing critical information about pre-Columbian Mesoamerican populations in the Aztatlán region. This research will focus on those individuals recovered from archaeological sites located both in the highlands of the Lake Chapala Basin, as well as the coast of the Aztatlán core region. The integration of genetics into our understanding of the …

An Acceptable Time, Crystal Mccallie

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This scholarly work is my interpretation of the art in the exhibition, An Acceptable Time, which ecompasses a diversity of media that varies as much in material and process as the span of my life as mother, a steward of the domestic home, and a spiritual child-at-heart myself. At the center of the work is a contemplative beauty inviting the viewer to linger with the art and reflect upon the echoes of the past as they might affect the present. The formal delivery of illustrative realism, a mirage of pattern, and abstract layering draws out major themes of memory, nostalgia, …

Grizzly Bears Moving Onto The Great Plains, John A. Stember

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

High up a coulee on the Montana prairie, Seth and Jennie Becker look over the windswept landscape with binoculars and point out three grizzly bear dens along the rim of a canyon. The couple, who own Stick Leg Ranch, estimate there are eight grizzly bear dens on their property. After their nine-year-old son nearly came face to face with a grizzly, they decided they needed to find a solution.

Over the last five years, grizzly bears have been expanding further and further east onto the Montana prairie. For example, in October 2023, a grizzly bear was caught on game camera …

The Impact Of State-Mandated Certification Of Surgical Technologists On Surgical Site Infection Rates: Evaluating Policy, Practice, And Patient Outcomes, Katherine E. Geiger

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Abstract

Chairperson: Matthew Schertz, Ph.D.

Committee Member: Morgen J Alwell, Ph.D.

Committee Member: Jill Davis, M.Ed.

As a surgical technology instructor, I have witnessed firsthand the impact that certified surgical technologists (CSTs) have on patient safety, particularly in the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs). This professional paper investigates the relationship between state-mandated certification of surgical technologists and SSI rates, with a focus on how standardized education and credentialing influence clinical outcomes. SSIs remain a significant concern in surgical environments, contributing to increased morbidity, longer hospital stays, and greater healthcare costs. The research presented here examines certification requirements across various …

Understanding The Factors That Influence University Environment: Gender Differences In Perceptions Of Female And Male Stem Graduate Students., Rachel Robinson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Despite increasing female representation in higher education, women remain underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. This thesis investigates gendered perceptions of university environment among STEM graduate students, focusing on the role of faculty-student interaction as a form of social capital. The survey was developed and administered with Qualtrics Online Survey Software by members of the Social Science Research Group of the Pacific Northwest Circles of Success: Mentoring Opportunities in STEM. All graduate students in the participating universities pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees in a National Science Foundation STEM recognized program were eligible to complete the survey. Using …

Understanding How Teachers Integrate Social-Emotional Learning In P-12 Classrooms: A Mixed-Methods Inquiry, Sisilia Novena Kusumaningsih

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Learning in P-12 classrooms is filled with joy and social-emotional challenges. As a result, teachers are on the front line of addressing students’ social-emotional needs in the classrooms. Less is known, however, about how teachers integrate social-emotional learning (SEL) into teaching academic subjects and daily classroom activities to support their students. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, this study explored factors influencing teachers’ integration of SEL in their classrooms and their experiences in facilitating students’ SEL skills. 102 teachers in Montana participated in the initial quantitative phase of the study by completing surveys that examined whether and how teacher factors …

The Power Of The Visual Arts To Explore Who We Are And Where We Come From: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Jemina Watstein

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Globalization has changed education, how external influences in our world make us who we are, and how we identify ourselves. Changes caused by globalization have had psychological consequences that have made formulating one’s identity more challenging than ever before, especially for a third culture kid (TCK) who lives a multicultural lifestyle and may attend a different school every year.

One developmentally appropriate way of reducing the adverse outcomes for TCKs is through visual art education. Engagement in genuine inquiry and creation through the process of making, perceiving, and reflecting provides students an opportunity to investigate their multicultural, mobile, and fluid …

The Glass Ceiling In Chinese Higher Education: The Experience Of Female Deans, Mingyu Zhao

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This study was designed to explore the phenomenon of the glass ceiling encountered by Chinese female deans in higher education, using a systematic qualitative research approach to uncover the phenomenon's nature and influencing factors. Adhering strictly to Giorgi's (2009) phenomenological methodology, the study conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 female deans from various regions and institutional types across China, collecting rich data on their career trajectories, multi-level challenges, and coping strategies.

Through data analysis, eight themes and three key structures were identified, revealing that the glass ceiling is a product of the complex interplay between institutional constraints, personal challenges, and …

Fungal Symbionts As Hidden Architects Of Forest Health: From Tree Immunity To Beetle Nutrition, Lorinda Sabin Bullington

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Symbioses of fungi with trees and insects play outsized roles in forest ecosystems, influencing tree growth, defense, physiology, and nutrient cycling. While their functional contributions are widely recognized, they remain poorly understood. I integrate findings from three studies examining fungal interactions with conifers and with bark beetles to highlight their significance in tree resistance to disease, nutrient redistribution within the tree, and forest ecology.

First, I demonstrate that foliar fungal endophytes and ectomycorrhizal fungi, together and independently, can enhance resistance in Pinus monticola seedlings against Cronartium ribicola, the pathogen responsible for white pine blister rust. Symbiont inoculation induced host terpene …

Jurisprudence Of Problem-Solving Courts: A Study Of Structure, Success, And Sociological Theory, Lauren M. Boos

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

In response to the failures of mass incarceration and its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, Problem-Solving Courts (PSCs) have emerged as alternatives to traditional prosecution. These courts employ therapeutic-informed and rehabilitative practices aimed at addressing the root causes of criminal behavior. While widely regarded as more effective than traditional courts, PSCs have developed largely without a formal theoretical foundation. This is notable given their alignment with Sociological Jurisprudence (SJ) and Therapeutic Jurisprudence (TJ), which view the legal system as a vehicle for promoting individual and community well-being.

Despite being celebrated as therapeutic innovations, PSCs often embody these principles unevenly. Using …

Situation Assessment Of Wildland Fire Preparedness Efforts In Missoula County: A Communities Of Practice Approach, Sylvia K. Coston

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Due to the multi-jurisdictional nature and increased risk of wildland fire, collaboratives play an important role in creating long-term solutions for building prepared and resilient wildfire landscapes and communities. Drawing from Communities of Practice (CoP) theory, mutual engagement, shared repertoire, and negotiation of a joint enterprise are critical elements of establishing natural resource multi-stakeholder collaboratives or partnerships. This professional paper uses CoP theory to conduct and analyze a situation assessment of Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA). With the support of MCFPA, three focus groups (working meetings) and two interviews were conducted to identify the association’s successes, challenges, and needs. …

Visual Semiotics In Parks: Assessing Pictorial Symbol Effectiveness In Outdoor Recreation Settings, Miranda Jane Foster

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

As interest in outdoor recreation grows, so does the need for effective communication in parks and protected areas. With a larger, more diverse visiting population, managers face new challenges, including intensified recreational use, staffing demands, and barriers to communication presented by cultural and linguistic diversity (Manning et al., 2017; Perry et al., 2021). Effective, indirect communication tools, such as pictorial symbol signage, are essential for addressing these challenges. Pictorial symbol signs are widely used in recreational signage and serve as vital indirect management strategies for communicating to diverse visitors as a universal visual language (Davies et al., 1998). However, research …

Acl Prevention Programming For Female Athletes, Julia Korklewski

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Tenaciously Curious, Joe Mark Taylor

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

In this thesis paper, I will outline the journey I’ve taken throughout my graduate studies at the University of Montana and how it has culminated in my thesis exhibition, Tenaciously Curious. I’ll begin with an Introduction that speaks to the importance of finding ways to connect to nature, and the benefits we gain by recognizing our bodies as extensions of the organic world.

In the following section, Influences, Theory and Lineage, I’ll explore the themes that drive my research, highlight artists who have influenced my work, and discuss why this inquiry feels vital within our contemporary moment.

In the section …

A Pilot Training Program For The Cultural Formulation Interview In School-Based Assessment, Jaida A. Lilly

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

School psychologists are responsible for promoting and maintaining an equitable, inclusive environment for all students to learn. For those who work in school settings, assessment of a student’s academic, mental health, and behavioral difficulties are often a significant component of school psychological practices. However, for various reasons, the assessment process can be flawed, and can unintentionally perpetuate systems of oppression in school-settings; this is especially true when working with children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds. Within culturally responsive assessment, conducting interviews is necessary for connecting with and effectively supporting the student and family. The Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) …

The Effects Of Stigma On Mental Health Treatment Engagement, Kali Diane Strickland

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Stigma is often cited as a significant barrier to mental health care (e.g., Andrade et al., 2014), but less is known about the impact of stigma on treatment engagement over time. The literature often calls for prospective studies (e.g., Clement et al., 2015). Additionally, little is known about label avoidance and its relationship to the other components of stigma, public and self-stigma. This study examined stigma’s association with mental health treatment engagement over time and the relationship between public stigma, self-stigma, and label avoidance. Specifically, the study assessed participants’ responses to stigma and related covariate measures. Approximately 5 weeks later, …

Advancing Wildfire Science Through The Application And Parametrization Of Process Based Fire Models, Anthony Albert Marcozzi

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Computational models of wildfires are an important tool for fire managers and scientists. However, representing fuel inputs with sufficient detail for process-based fire models to accurately reflect observed fire phenomena while remaining computationally tractable is a major challenge. This dissertation advances wildland fire science by applying and parametrizing such models to investigate complex fire-fuel interactions across multiple scales.

A primary contribution addresses fine-scale fuel characterization through a novel voxel-based technique converting Terrestrial Laser Scan (TLS) point clouds into three-dimensional (3D) fuel representations. This method was evaluated by comparing simulated fire behavior in the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), optimized using the …

Depth Distribution Of Liquid Water In Greenlands Firn Layer Based On L-Band Radiometry, A Snow Physics Model, And Machine Learning, Taylor D. Moon

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The accurate estimation of the amount of meltwater retained by Greenland’s firn layer and its distribution over depth is essential for assessing both the current and future mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet. When meltwater infiltrates the firn, it exists as a quantifiable volume of liquid water, measurable as the one-dimensional liquid water amount, hereafter referred to as LWA. A promising new tool for estimating LWA is L-band passive microwave satellite radiometry, which can provide twice-daily estimates using empirical models of firn microwave emission. However, this method faces two primary limitations. First, retrievals are untested against field observations and …

Investigating Non-Invasive Survey Methods And Building A Predictive Occupancy Model For Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus Histrionicus) In Western Montana And Northern Idaho, Holli Ann Holmes

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus; HADU) are an imperiled sea duck that breeds along white-water mountain streams, but challenges in surveying them have made it difficult to understand population trends in their Northern Rocky Mountain breeding population. In this study we had two objectives: (1) evaluate non-invasive survey methods for detecting HADU on their breeding grounds in Western Montana and Northern Idaho, and (2) develop an occupancy model to predict potential breeding stream use for HADU across the region. First, we assessed the efficacy of ground-based foot surveys (GBS), environmental DNA (eDNA), and camera traps to detect breeding HADU during …

Occupational Therapy Assistant Education: Exploring The Relationship Between Student Factors And Nbcot Examination Pass Rates, Micahela Parker

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The purpose of this retrospective quantitative study was to examine the predictive ability of gender, age, GPA, attendance and both Level II fieldwork scores (Fieldwork One and Fieldwork Two) on first attempt NBCOT exam success. To practice as an occupational therapy assistant, an individual must complete an accredited occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program and pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam. The NBCOT exam was developed to ensure entry-level occupational therapy assistants have the necessary knowledge to make safe and competent decisions.

The overarching research focus was to understand the extent of one or more of …

Identity Construction Of Post-2000s Class Monitors In The Public University Of China, Guoming Li

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The identity construction experiences of a key group of student leaders in China’s public universities, class monitors born after the year 2000, were explored through a descriptive phenomenological approach guided by Giorgi’s (2019) framework. From the in-depth interviews with 14 participants, how these student leaders interpret and make meaning of their experiences within the unique context of China’s student cadre system was investigated. Three central dimensions of identity construction were showed: (1) alignment with servant leadership discourses that emphasize responsibility, care, and moral commitment to peers; (2) navigation of a complex followership process involving compliance and responsiveness to institutional supervisors; …

Challenged: A Practice-Based Analysis Of Simulating The Realities Of Teaching Through Play, Shanel Lara Locke

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

ChallengED is a classroom simulation game designed to explore the emotional and procedural realities of teaching through interactive play. Rather than attempting to manufacture empathy, the project focuses on conveying the unpredictability, humor, and fatigue that shape daily classroom life. Drawing from my own teaching experience, the game uses experiential realism and embodied interaction to communicate how educators navigate constant interruptions, shifting demands, and limited control. The development process also became a therapeutic practice, offering a way to reinterpret professional challenges through creative experimentation. Situated within practice-based research, ChallengED demonstrates how game design can function as both artistic inquiry and …

Re-Establishing People And Industry: A Study Of The Historical Context Of The Winters Decision (1908) Involving Indian Agent William R. Logan, The Plantiffs In Winters, And Sugar Beet Agriculture On The Fort Belknap Reservation, Montana, 1856-1910, Kellen R. Neighbors

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

In 1905, Indian Agent William R. Logan filed an injunction to stop upriver irrigators from diverting Milk River water before it reached the Fort Belknap reservation. This culminated in Winters v. U.S. (1908) and became known as the Winters decision, the Winters Doctrine, or Indian Reserved Water Rights. This case is the foundation for Native American water rights cases today. This study explores the historical context of the case, specifically focusing on Fort Belknap Indian Agent William Logan’s role. William Logan was a devout Montana entrepreneur who carried his entrepreneurial spirit into his tenure as Fort Belknap Agent. This fact …

Whole Genome Sequencing From Snowshoe Hare Fecal Samples, Jessica J. Powell

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Genomic analyses can provide powerful insights into important issues in conservation biology, including rapid estimates of overall genetic diversity and related population genetic parameters. Noninvasive DNA sampling from fecal samples is an affordable, efficient, and broadly applicable sampling method that has been used in many targeted genetic analyses. However, the efficacy of whole genome sequencing from fecal samples remains relatively unexplored in most taxa. Here, we present results from two experiments designed to test the quantity and quality of whole genome resequencing data obtained from snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) fecal pellets. Extensive previous research has used genetic analyses …

Enhancing School Counselor Preparedness: The Effect Of Emotional Regulation Training On Outcomes Of Emotional Regulation, Self-Efficacy, And Wellness Measures, Allison Lynn Bristow

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

School Counselors in Training (SCITs) face distinctive challenges while developing their clinical skills and managing the complexities of school counseling. These challenges can lead to emotional strain and burnout, making it essential for SCITs to cultivate strong emotional regulation skills. Counseling and education researchers have discussed various strategies to assist counselors in enhancing emotional regulation skills. However, limited research has assessed the effectiveness of specific trainings on emotion regulation, especially for SCITs. This quantitative study investigates the effectiveness of an emotional regulation (ER) training program offered to SCITs during their field placements in schools. The central research question is whether …

Refining Population-Level Measures Of Early Childhood Vaccination Coverage Using National Immunization Survey-Child Data, Alexandria Nicole Albers

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Background: From 2011-2021, the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended 10 vaccine series by age 24 months, with guidelines for minimum vaccination age, maximum age for rotavirus vaccination, minimum dose intervals, and a catch-up schedule for delayed series initiation. National vaccination surveillance evaluates series completion based on whether children received the recommended number of doses, including a combined 7-vaccine metric (completed seven series collectively). However, this approach overlooks: 1) vaccinations given too early, too late, or too close together, 2) catch-up schedule vaccinations, and 3) completion of all 10 recommended vaccines.

Purpose: To refine national childhood vaccination coverage …

"I'Ve Never Felt A Pain Like This" A Dialogic Analysis Of Parent-Child Estrangement Narratives On Reddit, Grant W. Lane

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

How do adult children estranged from their parent(s) create meaning and make sense of their estrangement in Reddit posts on the subreddit r/EstrangedAdultChild? This study analyzed Reddit posts written by estranged adult children for a presumed audience of other estranged adult children. Using relational dialectics theory (RDT) as a lens for analysis, this research examined the competing discourses that influence the meaning-making and sense-making processes of estranged adult children in their posts when the intended audience is fellow estranged adult children. Seventy-four posts from r/EstrangedAdultChild, authored by adult children who self-identified as estranged from at least one parent, were collected …

The Impact Of Climate Change On Montanans’ Mental Health, Phoebe Bean

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Climate change poses many threats to human health, from vector-borne illnesses and food shortages to injuries and premature deaths related to extreme weather events. Less understood outcomes include the consequences of climate change for mental wellbeing; although the field of psychology examining these effects is growing, gaps in the literature regarding climate-related distress persist, particularly regarding the diverse ways in which people experience climate change-related psychosocial impacts and how they cope with distress. Thus, this study examined the impact of climate change on mental wellbeing through a comprehensive survey that sampled Montana residents across the state (n = 247). Results …

Against Nightfall, Anna Omara Edwards

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

The Hare And The Hawk: Predator, Prey, And Coat Color Mismatch In A Polymorphic Snowshoe Hare Population, Amanda Shuler Emmel

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Climate change effects on predator-prey interactions are complex and poorly understood, with few study systems that explicitly connect specific antipredator traits to particular climate drivers. Such a system can be found in seasonal coat color change, whereby 21 species globally molt from a summer brown to a winter white coat to maintain camouflage with seasonal snow. Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) contend with increased predation due to climate-change induced coat color mismatch under decreasing snowcover. Through a combination of field experiments in the central Cascade mountains, my thesis investigates snowshoe hare mismatch and predation risk from both a predator …