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Her Story Told Her Way: A Narrative Inquiry Into Black Women’S Perception Of The Strong Black Woman., Chulyndria Chanee Laye Aug 2023

Her Story Told Her Way: A Narrative Inquiry Into Black Women’S Perception Of The Strong Black Woman., Chulyndria Chanee Laye

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The narrative surrounding the meaning of being a Black woman has historically been dominated by stereotypes such as the mammy, jezebel, sapphire, and angry Black woman. Black women have attempted to control their own narrative through the internalization of these stereotypes, leading to the creation of the Strong Black Woman (SBW) construct. While the SBW is comprised of a sense of caretaker, independence, and emotional restraint, Black women’s attempts at embodying this construct in the face of societal oppression and familial responsibilities can and often does have negative effects on their mental health. Although the behaviors associated with the SBW …


Explicit And Implicit Measurements Of Sensory And Emotional Responses To Stimuli In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asmita Singh Aug 2023

Explicit And Implicit Measurements Of Sensory And Emotional Responses To Stimuli In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asmita Singh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that causes significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges and it is often involved in sensory processing issues that lead to feeding problems. While our understanding of how sensory responses differ in people with ASD is limited, past studies indicated atypical responses to certain stimuli. If these stimuli can be identified, they could be good indicators to identify the risk of autism in young children. The main objective of this dissertation was to identify a specific stimulus leading autistic children to exhibit atypical responses in terms of sensory or emotional aspects. Children between …


An Exploration Of Saudi Women’S Experiences And Perceptions Towards Participation In Physical Activity And Sports In The United States, Ahmed H. Sumayli Aug 2023

An Exploration Of Saudi Women’S Experiences And Perceptions Towards Participation In Physical Activity And Sports In The United States, Ahmed H. Sumayli

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A significant proportion of Saudi women are currently living in different Western countries, including the United States of America. Physical activity and sports participation play a significant role in maintaining health and well-being for all individuals. Understanding their physical activity experiences and perceptions regarding participation in sports activity during their stay in the United States is important. This study aimed to understand if the length of residence in the United States and/or acculturation to the U.S. environment could significantly change Saudi women's patterns, attitudes, and behaviors towards sports and fitness activities. This qualitative study was carried out to explore and …


Enhancing Depression Screening And Treatment For Latinxs Residing In The U.S., Linda Esperanza Guzman Aug 2023

Enhancing Depression Screening And Treatment For Latinxs Residing In The U.S., Linda Esperanza Guzman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: In the U.S., Latinxs with Spanish as their preferred language encounter two prominent structural barriers impacting access to treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). The first is that MDD symptoms commonly go undetected in Latinxs with Spanish compared to English as their preferred language. This might be perhaps because commonly used MDD screeners lack somatic symptom survey items culturally specific in how MDD may present among Latinxs with Spanish as their preferred language. The second structural barrier is that treatment access and completion rates are lower in Spanish-speaking than English-speaking Latinxs, perhaps due to treatments lacking the structure and …


Differences In Due Process During Post-Conviction: Examining Jurisdictional Influence On Exoneration, Kimberly Hawkins Aug 2023

Differences In Due Process During Post-Conviction: Examining Jurisdictional Influence On Exoneration, Kimberly Hawkins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research on wrongful conviction has found several factors associated with an erroneous conviction. As of yet, research has not delved into the jurisdictional effects on exoneration. Using the American State’s use of the death penalty for a proxy of punitiveness, this study will examine if there is a relationship between use of capital punishment and exoneration rates. The National Registry of Exonerations is the most comprehensive collection of exonerations to date and this secondary data source will be analyzed using logistic regression models to examine differences across policy environments. Result show that non-death penalty states have a much higher exoneration …


Juvenile Justice System Involvement And The Transition To Early Adulthood: Does Direct Intervention Help Or Harm?, Cameron Miller Perrine Aug 2023

Juvenile Justice System Involvement And The Transition To Early Adulthood: Does Direct Intervention Help Or Harm?, Cameron Miller Perrine

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present study examines the effects of the juvenile justice system on youth as they transition to early adulthood. The present study adds to the literature by incorporating comparison groups of youths and by testing multiple explanations of recidivism: Labeling Theory and the Life Course perspective. In total, 267 adults were recruited via online survey and sorted into three groups: Externalizing Behavior and Juvenile Justice Involved, Externalizing Behavior and Not Juvenile Justice Involved, and Not Externalizing and Not Juvenile Justice Involved. In addition to demographics, participants completed measures of past externalizing behaviors, past juvenile justice involvement, social disadvantage, deviant peer …


Investigation Of Chinese Students’ Writing Perceptions At An English Young Writers Camp, Jingshu Chen Aug 2023

Investigation Of Chinese Students’ Writing Perceptions At An English Young Writers Camp, Jingshu Chen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores how a young writers camp that catered to 40 Chinese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners, ranging from students entering the fourth grade to seventh grade, mediated the students’ writing perceptions. More specifically, the main objective of this research was to investigate the impact of the camp on the students' perceptions of writing and their self-identification as writers. The study employed the theoretical framework of Cultural Historical Activity Theory to guide the analysis. Various types of data were collected from the 40 participating students, including pre- and post-camp survey questions, classroom observations, and open-ended interviews. By …


Holocaust Education In Arkansas: An Exploration Of Policy Process And Implementation, Toby Klein Aug 2023

Holocaust Education In Arkansas: An Exploration Of Policy Process And Implementation, Toby Klein

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Holocaust was the attempted extermination of the Jewish people--a fact previously considered to be common knowledge. However, recent national surveys find that Arkansas students have the lowest levels of knowledge of the Holocaust in the United States. A recent law mandated the teaching of the Holocaust for 5-12th grade public school students in Arkansas, however, little is known about the policy process and implementation of such a mandate. Given the magnitude of the gaps in the literature on this topic, this dissertation uses a three article format to address specific gaps and make specific contributions to the literature by …


A Comparative Study Of Techniques For Non-Monotonic Dependence With Emphasis On Sensitivity To Sample Size, Noise Level And Computational Attributes, Fariha Tasnim Aug 2023

A Comparative Study Of Techniques For Non-Monotonic Dependence With Emphasis On Sensitivity To Sample Size, Noise Level And Computational Attributes, Fariha Tasnim

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Evaluating association between variables is often of interest by many researchers. To serve this purpose, different association measures have been developed. However, type of relation between variables affects the degree of relationship. Hence, detection of the rela- tionship between variables is germane to measuring the correlation coefficient. With that mindset, here we explored six non-monotonic measure of association techniques and com- pared them with three classical approaches. Due to inconsistency in definition and range of different techniques, it is not feasible to compare the correlation estimates as their nature of variability differ. Therefore, we used permutation test based on Monte …


The Effect Of Herbal Adaptogen On Feeding-Related Hypothalamic Neuropeptides In Heat-Stressed Broilers, Maryam Afkhami Ardakani Aug 2023

The Effect Of Herbal Adaptogen On Feeding-Related Hypothalamic Neuropeptides In Heat-Stressed Broilers, Maryam Afkhami Ardakani

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Heat stress is a major issue in the poultry industry, having numerous negative consequences for chicken productivity. Decreasing feed intake is one of these issues, which results in higher mortality and poor growth performance. Moreover, Herbal adaptogens, plant extracts that are also known as stress response modifiers, are metabolic regulators that improve an organism's ability to adapt to environmental stresses and minimize damage from such stressors. Previously, we published data indicating that herbal adaptogen supplementation increased feed intake under heat stress conditions. Therefore, we hypothesized that dietary herbal adaptogen supplementation might exert these effects through alteration of the expression of …


Presentation Matters: Effects Of Presentation Order Of Personality Feedback And Need For Structure On Participant Response To Feedback, Alita Marie Mobley Tu Aug 2023

Presentation Matters: Effects Of Presentation Order Of Personality Feedback And Need For Structure On Participant Response To Feedback, Alita Marie Mobley Tu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Psychological assessment plays a vital role in differential diagnosis, treatment planning, and measurement of treatment effectiveness. Insufficient or ineffective feedback to the client can limit the utility of psychological assessment. Finn and Tonsager (1997) advise that assessment feedback will be best received when the feedback content is ordered to start with information that is most consistent with the client’s existing self-concept to information that is the most discrepant from their self-concept. There is minimal empirical support for this practice recommendation. The current study investigates the relationship between presentation order of personality feedback and participant response to feedback (i.e., feedback evaluations, …


Essays Examining Humanitarian Supply Chains: Investigating Operational Characteristics, Activities, And Performance, Llord Brooks Aug 2023

Essays Examining Humanitarian Supply Chains: Investigating Operational Characteristics, Activities, And Performance, Llord Brooks

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the frequency and severity of disasters continue to increase, the need for collaboration amongst all humanitarian stakeholders in humanitarian supply chain activities during all aspects of the disaster cycle has become more critical to the success of relief operations. Humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are voluntary organizations operating in highly dynamic and chaotic environments to provide aid to people in need. But as the impact of disaster increases and the funding becomes more limited and competitive, they face mounting pressures from stakeholders to improve the quality of their operations. Similarly, private organizations are also under higher levels of scrutiny to …


Commonalities In Evidence-Based Instructional Strategies For Autism Spectrum Disorder And English Language Learners, Kimberly Michelle O'Mara Aug 2023

Commonalities In Evidence-Based Instructional Strategies For Autism Spectrum Disorder And English Language Learners, Kimberly Michelle O'Mara

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many English language learners experience life on the Autism spectrum. These students will spend much of their day in the general education setting, and teachers will need effective and proven strategies to support them. The data show that Autism Spectrum Disorder is increasing among all populations (CDC, 2023). Current understandings and influences on these learners will be explored. This review examines evidence-based practices presented by premier sources in the fields of Autism Spectrum Disorder and English language learning, seeking commonalities in strategies. Using the findings from the National Standards Report and the National Clearinghouse for Autism Evidence & Practice cross-referenced …


On The Micro-Mechanical Property Characterization And Bulk-Volume Behavior Prediction Of Additively Manufactured 17-4 Ph Stainless Steels, David González-Niño May 2023

On The Micro-Mechanical Property Characterization And Bulk-Volume Behavior Prediction Of Additively Manufactured 17-4 Ph Stainless Steels, David González-Niño

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Selective laser melting is an additive manufacturing technology that opens the possibility to manufacture components with complex geometries that are difficult with traditional manufacturing techniques which could benefit engineering applications such as aviation or structural engineering. However, the lack of a reliable universal predictive model for selective laser melting components could impede the full implementation in industrial applications. Therefore, this dissertation investigates the mechanical behavior of selective laser melting 17-4 PH stainless steel under ultra-low cycle fatigue regime and propose a novel micro-mechanical based modeling using statistical and representative volume element. The first phase of this project examined the mechanical …


Personal Equation, Nicholas Hobbs May 2023

Personal Equation, Nicholas Hobbs

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The body of this paper is a formatted version of text which exists natively on the web and is accessible at www.personalequation.art. Its non-linear narrative is meant to accompany and mirror, not describe, the artwork in the exhibition. The following two paragraphs are copied from the exhibition statement accompanying Personal Equation, which is on view in the Reading Room at the Fayetteville Public Library from April 3 to June 30, 2023: A personal equation is one that attempts to account for the inevitable role of subjectivity in scientific observations. The term was coined by astronomers in the 18th century who, …


A Quantitative Examination Of The Impact Of Moderating Variables On The Experience Of Eudaimonic Outcomes, Brandon Lynn Lawson May 2023

A Quantitative Examination Of The Impact Of Moderating Variables On The Experience Of Eudaimonic Outcomes, Brandon Lynn Lawson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There has been a growing body of research looking into effects beyond enjoyment of media content. However, these explorations have primarily been outcome focused and have failed to analyze variables that could be mediating eudaimonic effects. This thesis examined the results of an experimental study investigating the variables of flow and realism and their possible impact on eudaimonic outcomes of video game play. Using data collected from 193 participants who played either the game The Last of Us Remastered or Elude, this study examined the possibility of flow mediating the relationship between realism and eudaimonic effects. Results of a hierarchical …


What Cognitive Processes Drive Attentional Bias, And How Does Stress Affect Them?, Colton L. Hunter May 2023

What Cognitive Processes Drive Attentional Bias, And How Does Stress Affect Them?, Colton L. Hunter

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Attentional biases toward or away from emotionally evocative stimuli have been well documented and related to clinical outcomes such as social anxiety. Some work has suggested that stress modulates attentional biases, but there are a number of inconsistencies in this literature regarding the direction of that modulation, highlighting a need to examine moderators of that effect. Sex differences in stress effects could potentially explain this inconsistency, as acute stress can affect males and females differently. It is also possible that stress differentially influences multiple component processes underpinning attentional bias, but these processes have not been well character, and to date …


Unveiling The Ancestral Function Of A Neuroendocrine Regulator, Pou-I/Pit1: Insights From Gene Expression Analysis In The Sea Anemone Nematostella Vectensis, Miguel Agostinho Pina Da Silva May 2023

Unveiling The Ancestral Function Of A Neuroendocrine Regulator, Pou-I/Pit1: Insights From Gene Expression Analysis In The Sea Anemone Nematostella Vectensis, Miguel Agostinho Pina Da Silva

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cnidaria (i.e., sea anemones, jellyfish, corals) and Bilateria (i.e., vertebrates, sea stars, fruit flies), are sister groups that diverged around 600 million years ago. Despite the long evolutionary time, many cellular differentiation mechanisms, cell types, tissues and behaviors are conserved. Such as neurons, mechanosensory hair cells, feeding behaviors, peristaltic movements, and sleep. Recent advances in genomics, molecular biology and microscopy have fueled an increased interest in understanding cnidarian nervous and neuroendocrine systems. Understanding the developmental mechanisms and the mode of operation of Cnidarian nervous systems helps to reconstruct the ancestral nervous system of the last common ancestor of Cnidaria and …


Ranking Highway Transportation Asset Criticality Through Stakeholder Input Using The Analytical Hierarchy Process (Ahp), Kwadwo Amankwah-Nkyi May 2023

Ranking Highway Transportation Asset Criticality Through Stakeholder Input Using The Analytical Hierarchy Process (Ahp), Kwadwo Amankwah-Nkyi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The transportation system is especially vulnerable to natural and human-made disasters which can have effects on mobility, safety, and the economy. This thesis presents a method to rank transportation assets based on their criticality to the transportation system by uniquely gathering stakeholder input on criticality criteria weights. This serves as a typical first step in vulnerability and resilience assessments. Six criteria were used to estimate asset criticality: Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT), roadway classification, freight output, tourism output, Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI), and redundancy. Then, the criteria are combined via stakeholder input using a weighted ranking scheme called the Analytical …


Memento Mori: Philosophy For The Actor, Edwin C. Green May 2023

Memento Mori: Philosophy For The Actor, Edwin C. Green

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores a philosophy whose goal is to fuel and protect the spirit of the working professional actor. This philosophy greatly inspired my one person show performance and will serve me in my future. Included in this paper will be my artistic philosophy, my resume, headshot, website, photos, and my one person show script, developed in the spring of 2022, titled“Memento Mori”.


Anatomy 101 (A Mysterium) Revelations On Process, Sarah Dianne Loucks May 2023

Anatomy 101 (A Mysterium) Revelations On Process, Sarah Dianne Loucks

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

I came to graduate school thinking all I needed to become a stronger writer was an understanding of craft and technique. To my dismay, I discovered that craft and technique, while helpful and important, are not magic bullets. Instead, I discovered that the main obstacle to my growth as a writer is my own self. This thesis discusses my battle with perfectionism and fear of the unknown in the context of writing my thesis play, Anatomy 101 (A Mysterium), and the subsequent production that occurred at The Global Campus Theatre in Fayetteville, AR in March of 2023.


How Authentic Professional Development And Instructional Coaching Support The Successful Implementation Of Trauma-Informed Practices, Meleah Dannelle Hoskins May 2023

How Authentic Professional Development And Instructional Coaching Support The Successful Implementation Of Trauma-Informed Practices, Meleah Dannelle Hoskins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research study was to examine how authentic professional development and instructional coaching can support the successful implementation of trauma-informed practices at two elementary schools, School A and School B, in Ridgedale School District (pseudonym) (RSD). RSD is a small urban school district in Oklahoma. This study sought to identify the support teachers need to implement trauma-informed practices and the barriers that may affect the implementation. This mixed methods action research study encompassed evidence from multiple qualitative and quantitative data sources within the four phases of the action research spiral (Herr & Anderson, 2014). While utilizing …


Health-Oriented Nonprofit Organizations: The Influence Of Framing And Altruism On Intention To Donate, Abbey Dilatush May 2023

Health-Oriented Nonprofit Organizations: The Influence Of Framing And Altruism On Intention To Donate, Abbey Dilatush

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the influence of framing and altruism on individuals' intentions to donate to a health-oriented nonprofit organization. One hundred ninety-three participants were recruited from social media to complete an experiment online. Participants reviewed fundraising messages using either a statistical frame or a narrative frame. Following the presentation of a fundraising message participants completed close-ended self-report scales to evaluate their perceptions of the ad, their intentions to donate, and their personal altruism. Results demonstrated there was a correlation between intention to donate and ad evaluation. Next, there was no relationship between altruism and intention to donate and neither frame …


The Role Of Multiracial Identity On Chronic Health Conditions In The U. S.: Evidence From The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, Anna Ruth Jinlong Wahls May 2023

The Role Of Multiracial Identity On Chronic Health Conditions In The U. S.: Evidence From The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, Anna Ruth Jinlong Wahls

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Racial identity as it informs health disparities has largely been examined using monoracial groups and a binary framework. This study, informed by critical race theory and stress process theory, investigates the relationship between multiracial identity and health. Data from the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, a national telephone survey that collects health data on adult aged respondents, will be analyzed using a set of regression techniques. Specifically, the number of chronic health conditions reported by those identifying with more than one race will be compared to the number of conditions reported by monoracial individuals.


Lgbtqia+ People And Religious Trauma, Cira Abiseid May 2023

Lgbtqia+ People And Religious Trauma, Cira Abiseid

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or questioning), intersex, and asexual people (LGBTQIA+) experience religious trauma caused by the harmful messaging often aimed at sexual and gender minorities. Identity dissonance can be created when LGBTQIA+ people find their religious and sexual or gender minority identities at odds with each other. A review of existing literature revealed themes of identity erasure, internalized homophobia, and resilience, but there was limited research involving this population. This qualitative study centers the voices of those who have experienced religious trauma based on their identities and works to understand their healing journeys. Fifteen LGBTQIA+ individuals participated …


The Mental Health Experiences Of Daca Recipients And Non-Daca Recipients, Lizeth Ariana Guadalupe May 2023

The Mental Health Experiences Of Daca Recipients And Non-Daca Recipients, Lizeth Ariana Guadalupe

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Millions of immigrant children without legal status grow up in the U.S. and aspire to live and thrive in American society. However, without legal status, they face challenges in integrating into society. Implemented in 2012, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was created to help immigrant youth integrate into society by providing them with work permits, facilitating educational opportunities, and protection from deportation. However, not all immigrant children qualify for DACA, and the recent legal challenges to DACA prohibit new applicants and put roughly 600,000 recipients in legal limbo. The research questions this study poses are 1.) How …


Children’S Disclosure Of School Bullying: The Relation Between Peer Victimization, Internalizing Symptoms, Negative Affect, And Gender, Julia L. Kiefer May 2023

Children’S Disclosure Of School Bullying: The Relation Between Peer Victimization, Internalizing Symptoms, Negative Affect, And Gender, Julia L. Kiefer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Children who are bullied by their peers are at risk for several negative developmental outcomes and are therefore advised to tell an adult when they are. However, victims of school bullying are often reluctant to disclose to adults that they are being bullied. Some bullied children also experience symptoms of anxiety or depression, which could further reduce their likelihood of telling an adult. In this study, I tested the degree to which children’s internalizing symptoms predicted their likelihood of telling adults about being bullied at school, and if this relation was exacerbated by children’s negative feelings associated with telling an …


The Dynamics Of Emotion-Related Impulsivity: An Analysis Of Emotional Control And Daily Emotion-Driven Urges And Actions Via Ecological Momentary Assessment, Jeremy B. Clift May 2023

The Dynamics Of Emotion-Related Impulsivity: An Analysis Of Emotional Control And Daily Emotion-Driven Urges And Actions Via Ecological Momentary Assessment, Jeremy B. Clift

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Emotion-related impulsivity, or the engagement in impulsive reactions specifically in response to emotions, has been identified as a crucial transdiagnostic factor. Mixed evidence from ecological momentary assessments (EMA) underscores a potential discrepancy between the existing measurements of emotion-related impulsivity at trait and state levels. Unlike previous EMA studies examining emotion-related impulsivity through measures of urgency, the current study tested Carver and colleagues’ (2008) reflexive responding to emotion framework by investigating the relationship between emotional control and emotion-related impulsivity. Participants (N = 197) with varying levels of emotional control completed one week of EMA to investigate two central questions. First, we …


Examining The Experiences Of Adult Learners In A First-Year Seminar Course At A Tennessee Community College, Michell Ivey May 2023

Examining The Experiences Of Adult Learners In A First-Year Seminar Course At A Tennessee Community College, Michell Ivey

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of adult learners in a first-year seminar course at Columbia State Community College, located in middle Tennessee, to determine if the content of the course has an impact on the learners’ adjustment to college. With the statewide initiative to reach a goal of 55% of the state’s population having a postsecondary credential, a push has been made to focus on adult learners to help the reach this goal. Understanding and addressing the adjustment needs of adult learners is necessary to aid retaining adult learners through completion. The first-year seminar course …


Influence Of Pregnant Cattle Grazing Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue On Offspring Immune Function, Sidney Nicole Dunkel May 2023

Influence Of Pregnant Cattle Grazing Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue On Offspring Immune Function, Sidney Nicole Dunkel

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective was to evaluate the influence of pregnant cattle grazing endophyte-infected tall, toxic, fescue (E+) during gestation on innate immune response of male offspring to an endotoxin challenge. Crossbred multiparous cows (n = 36) were bred to Red Angus sires and housed in replicated E+ or novel endophyte-infected, non-toxic, fescue (NE+) pastures prior to breeding and throughout gestation. From this calf-crop, a subset of post-weaned steers (n = 8 E+; n = 8 NE+) were selected for a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Blood was collected every 30 min beginning 2 h prior to (Pre-LPS) and continuing 9 h following (Post-LPS) …