Digital Commons Network^™

Keeping Gideon's Promise: An Evaluation Of Indigent Defense In The State Of Mississippi, Andie Beth Netherland

Honors Theses

The United States Constitution awards its citizens rights that many other countries do not. One such right is the Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial along with the assistance of counsel. Since the Supreme Court decision Gideon v. Wainwright, the responsibility of providing effective counsel has been pushed on each state. States throughout the nation have fragmented systems of indigent defense that fail to meet their responsibility, and thus many citizens have been denied their Sixth Amendment rights. For many decades, this denial of a constitutional right has been a topic of discussion. Some states have taken steps to …

The Future Was A Riot: Causes Of Youth Unemployment In Spain And Challenges To Immigration And The Welfare State In The Era Of The Common Market (1999-2016), Andrew Hayes

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to exam the causes behind unusually high youth unemployment in Spain, even after the 2007-8 financial crisis has subsided. The primary means of investigating these causes is through constructing a set of empirical models and then using these models to perform several time-series regressions to find whether changes in educational patterns, demographics, and immigration have had any concrete effect on the youth unemployment rate and social capital. Some qualitative work is done; particularly in describing the legal structure surrounding unemployment and in the description of the Spanish welfare state. In my research, I find …

The Effects Of Hearing Loss On Literacy Skills In Down Syndrome: Assessing Parents' Knowledge, Annalise Claire Valle

Honors Theses

Purpose: Although hearing loss (HL) is prevalent in individuals with Down syndrome (DS), there has been little research investigating the effects of HL on language and literacy skills in this population. The purpose of this study is to document the frequency of HL in DS, as well as language and literacy outcomes, and to determine if there is a difference in language and literacy outcomes for children with DS with HL and those without HL. Parental knowledge of HL and language development was also measured. Method: A five-part survey was distributed to 77 members of DS-Connect, a National Institute of …

An Analysis Of Mississippi Tax Incentives, Bruce H. Brawner

Honors Theses

The locational decisions of firms present a complex economic and political problem for State Legislatures across the United States of America. It is well known that individual states compete against one another, offering large packages of incentives to firms who open within their borders — a process popularly known as the race to the bottom. This thesis examines public subsidy information reported by the Mississippi Development Authority alongside wage and employment data from 1990 to 2016 in a local projection framework to examine whether or not treatment effects of local government spending are significant. I then employ the same method …

Surrendering To The Tangle: Essays, Caroline Abide

Honors Theses

A collection of creative nonfiction essays exploring the author's gender and sexuality, changing worldviews, and coming of age (under the direction of Kiese Laymon).

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms In College Students: An Examination Of The Association With Emotion Regulation, Posttraumatic Growth, And Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, Cayla S. Hari

Honors Theses

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptoms, nonsuicidal self-injury, emotion regulation, and posttraumatic growth in college students. One-hundred and fifty-three participants, aged 18-57, completed self-report measures about their experiences with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), emotion regulation (ER), posttraumatic growth (PTG), and potentially traumatic events (PTEs). In line with hypotheses, results indicated a significant positive correlation between PTSS and both NSSI and PTG. Contrary to predictions, no significant relation was seen between ER and PTG and ER did not moderate the relationship between PTSS and PTG. A post hoc correlational analysis assessing potential …

Walking Gait Measurement And Gait Parameters Extraction, Chenye Li

Honors Theses

A fourth generation walking gait measurement device has been designed to capture and analyze detailed gait and stride metrics which eventually provides a Fall-Risk Assessment score. Specifically, the device has been modified to fit the residential environment and the elderly consumers which is low-cost, user-friendly, and portable. The gait parameters would be obtained by the on-board gait analysis protocol. Through gait parameters people's falling risk can then be calculated so that people can be alerted to take precautionary measures before falling. Overall, the device has been made and demonstrated having better performance than its previous generations. The on-board gait analyzing …

Breastfeeding Support Programs: Systematic Review Of Socioeconomic Literature, Chinelo Ibekwe

Honors Theses

This thesis describes a systematic review and analysis of literature concerning breastfeeding and programs focused on improving breastfeeding participation. It examines breastfeeding programs with respect to intervention evaluation and the economic impact of breastfeeding programs, and scrutinizes social factors such as race, ethnicity, cultural identity, income, and age which potentially influence the outcomes of these breastfeeding programs. It explores how breastfeeding programs have reduced rehospitalization of low birth weight and preterm infants through the implementation of one or a combination of the following services to mothers and babies: breast pump supplies, education, and training on breastfeeding, transportation to and from …

Child Sexploitation: A Study Of Machismo And The Commercial Sexual Exploitation Of Children In Latin America, Courtney M. Cone

Honors Theses

This thesis attempts to explore how the inextricable relationship between machismo and poverty connects to the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Latin America through predatory behaviors in order to provide insight to anti-trafficking campaigns. The overt Latin American culture of machismo contributes to the discrimination of women and children, enhancing their inherent dependency on men for economic survival. The inevitable pattern of dependency on patriarchal figures out of vulnerability to societal constructions is evident in economic, political and social structures. The pervasiveness of dependency is seen through patterns of violence against women, patterns of child abuse, and patterns of …

Firearms Trafficking To Chicago: Connections And Implications, Elizabeth Jamell Benner

Honors Theses

The initial purpose of this study was to determine which counties contributed the most to the firearms trafficking route between Mississippi and Chicago, Illinois, and to understand which sociodemographic features may differentiate those counties from their lesser-trafficking counterparts. In order to address any firearms trafficking route, law enforcement agencies must understand the underlying causes and enabling factors. Initial studies of Mississippi counties showed trends of median household income, poverty, and racial disparities. These trends were compared with high-trafficking counties in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin in order to see if sociodemographic factors associated with firearms trafficking are state-specific or may be …

Corporate Accountancy Case Research And Analytics, Elizabeth Clutton

Honors Theses

Corporate accounting is an ever-evolving beast that ebbs and flows with social and technological trends. Management faces new challenges with every interaction and must deal with the consequences. Accounting firms pioneer strategies and solutions to cope with changing regulations and accounting methods while abiding by their governing bodies. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as established by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is responsible for monitoring and correcting public companies. The Financial Accounting Standards Board established by the Financial Accounting Foundation is considered to be the Generally Accepted Accounting Standard setting body for the PCAOB. The cases discussed below all …

A Survey Of Speech-Language Pathologists' Use And Understanding Of Evidence-Based Practice, Emma Kate Thome

Honors Theses

Problem Statement: Prior research on evidence-based practice (EBP) in speech-language pathology is both limited and inconsistent regarding the frequency in which SLPs engage in EBP, their understanding of EBP, and the emphasis that their employers place on EBP. Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to assess SLPs' understanding and use of EBP. In addition, this study investigated the potential barriers SLPs face when attempting to engage in EBP including employer emphasis and opinions toward EBP. Methods: SLPs (n=176) from across the United States participated in an online survey designed to assess their understanding and use of EBP. Participants …

Analyzing The Use Of Expressive Writing Among College Students, Grace Ann Wilbanks

Honors Theses

This is among the first studies to investigate the naturalistic use of expressive writing in college students. To do so, 255 undergraduate students from the University of Mississippi anonymously completed an online survey. Participants first answered basic demographic questions followed by questions assessing their sadness or depression, happiness, and overall adjustment in college. Next, participants responded to questions concerning expressive writing and ways in which they handled demands of college. Finally, respondents then completed a well-researched, standardized measure of depression, anxiety, and stress. Independent-samples t tests revealed that students who engaged in expressive writing demonstrated lower mean levels of sadness …

Atmospherics As A Marketing Tool: The Influence Of The Student Union Dining Atmosphere And Service On Students' Attitudes And Actions, Grayson Beau Huber

Honors Theses

Atmospherics have been a focus of marketing research for decades following the research of Kotler (1971). Atmospherics research has revolved mostly around retail settings, with some research focusing on dining settings for consumers. Visual, aural, olfactory, and tactile factors of atmospherics have been studied in order to provide the best customer experience. Positive atmospherics also can relate to future buying habits. This study focuses on the topic of dining atmospherics on a college campus. The purpose of this research was to analyze any changes in students' opinions following the renovation of an on-campus dining option. A survey was available to …

Addicts Speak: An Exploratory Ethnographic Study Of Opioid Addiction, James A. Hamm

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the experiences of people in recovery from opioid addiction in order to better understand the many process of recovery. Employing both participant observation and focused life history interview, and utilizing a grounded theory approach to data analysis, this research emphasizes data-driven conclusions. The research provides numerous insights into the process of recovery from opioid addiction, as well as factors that help to facilitate and sustain the process, the role that services play, and how services can be developed to better meet the needs of those in recovery.

Changes In Vitrinite Reflectance And Liptinite Fluorescence With Increasing Rank In Dispersed Organics In The Illinois Basin And Its Environmental, Economic, And Political Impacts, Kailey Zalucha-Seaman

Honors Theses

Vitrinite reflectance and spectral fluorescence are commonly used together to determine the rank and thermal maturity of shale samples. Although vitrinite is not commonly found in the New Albany Shale, solid bitumen is found in significant amounts; reflectance of solid bitumen provides another method to determine maturity of these samples. The purpose of this study was to compare the vitrinite reflectance and spectral fluorescence of liptinites to determine the thermal maturity of the New Albany Shale, which can benefit those tasked in the industry who determine the oil and gas potential of these source rocks. Establishment of a relationship between …

Occupational Therapy Treatment Of Distal Radius Fractures: Best Practices, Erika Schleis

Honors Theses

This paper describes information on best practices for occupational therapy treatment of distal radius fractures including current information about etiology, incidence and prevalence, diagnostic criteria, comorbidities, associated client factors involved in this injury and the effects of this condition on occupational performance. Two hypothetical case studies are presented using evidence-based treatment information. Discussion of additional research necessary to continue to determine best practice approaches is presented.

Pain Catastrophizing In College Athletes' At Eastern Kentucky University, Jacob Waldecker

Honors Theses

It is a known fact that athletes become susceptible to injuries with more athletic injury exposures, and that pain is the most common symptom paired with injury. Pain catastrophizing is a phenomenon that is caused by negative thinking that has been shown to reduce treatment outcomes in patient populations. Pain catastrophizing has been studied in different populations, usually with specific body part injuries, showing it is a relevant factor in the outcome of rehabilitation. Nobody has researched the prevalence of pain catastrophizing in highly athletic populations. In Division I athletes at Eastern Kentucky University, 291 athletes were surveyed using the …

Beyond No Fracking: An Anthropological Study Of Individuals Pursuing Sustainable Lifestyles In Eastern Kentucky, Meg Carter

Honors Theses

This study combines research and oral histories that were conducted with eight individuals in Kentucky who are pursuing sustainable lifestyles through practicing methods such as homesteading, living off-the-grid, permaculture, and natural farming techniques. The paper provides a brief history of homesteading and details how the homesteading of today differs from off-the-grid living. It also provides some of the history of Eastern Kentucky and gives insights into the history of homesteading and sustenance farming in the area. The unrehearsed oral history interviews share information that includes, but is not limited to, interviewees’ reasons for why and how they began their transition …

The Effects Of Equine Assisted Learning On Emotional Intelligence Competencies And Leadership Skills, Jade E. Rauen

Honors Theses

The Effects of Equine Assisted Learning on

Emotional Intelligence Competencies and Leadership Skills

Jade Rauen

Dr. Kelly L. Leigers, PhD, OTR/L, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Since the development and understanding of the term emotional intelligence (EI), researchers and businessmen alike have strived to find a way to improve EI competencies. Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is a branch of Equine Therapy that uses the horse to facilitate change in humans. In recent years, EAL has been applied to the field of leadership development. Can a horse intrinsically instill competencies that effect leadership skills in humans? There is limited literature …

Finding Meaning In The Lack Thereof: An Analysis Of Nietzsche's And Sartre's Responses To The Problem Of Existential Nihilism, Daniel J. Hassall

Honors Theses

There have been countless philosophers who have attempted to create ways that humanity can overcome the threat of existential nihilism and the loss of objective meaning. Two of the most influential philosophers who have attempted to do this are Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean-Paul Sartre. This paper analyzes both of their philosophical solutions to the problem of nihilism, comparing and contrasting. While similar in many respects, Nietzsche and Sartre differ on several key aspects: they approach nihilism slightly differently, they have different views about ethics and subjectivity, and Nietzsche is a determinist while Sartre advocates a radical free will. When comparing …

Biodiversity Of Larval And Adult Dragonflies And Damselflies (Odonata) Of Interdunal Wetlands At Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area, Devon Volz

Honors Theses

The effects of climate change on insects in the United States have yet to be fully understood. Research on the insect populations of Lake Michigan’s interdunal wetlands has been particularly limited. As these vibrant habitats are already at risk of destruction due to increased development, it is vital to have a working knowledge of the species that are living in the habitat. However, to date, there have been no studies on assemblages of interdunal wetlands in Michigan. Examining community compositions is critical to understanding the ecological problems that could occur in the future. This study is the first to look …

Analysis Of Heart Muscle Tissue For Detection Of Fluorescently Labeled Cells In Conventional- And Frozen-Section Tissue Preparations, Lena Anna Mitchell

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Relationship Between — Exam Changes, Exam Costs, And Educational Requirements —And The Decline Of First-Time Candidates For Certified Public Accountancy Examination, Julian Rodriguez

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Studying The Effects Of High School Athletics Social Media, Justin Scott

Honors Theses

This research project focuses on high school athletics social media pages and their relevance to high school communication audiences and institutional communication goals.

I conducted two in-depth interviews with school officials from a large Michigan high school, a survey of the high school sports social media followers, and an analysis of data from that high school’s Facebook page.

I was able to determine that seeing social media content from high school athletics pages had a positive relationship with how the school’s quality of social media communication was perceived, intentions to attend athletic events, and an increased awareness of the school’s …

Self-Reported Professional Competencies Of Rn-To-Bsn Students, Nicole Thompson

Honors Theses

Groundbreaking research by Aiken et al. (2003) and subsequent researchers has determined increased educational preparation and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree obtainment of Registered Nurses (RNs) to be associated with improved patient safety and outcomes. Other organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), have demonstrated professional competency to be an important indicator of quality nursing care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate self-reported professional competency of RN-to-BSN students at the point of graduation in order to investigate the added value of baccalaureate degree obtainment to the actual nursing practice of RN-to-BSN program graduates. The Nurse …

Impact Of Men's Shed On Social Participation And Health Outcomes, Joshua Grimmer

Honors Theses

This paper will explore the concept of a community-based organization, known as a Men’s Shed. The purpose of the research is to determine the positive impacts the North Belfast Men’s Shed has on social participation and overall health outcomes. The key factors observed in this study were the safe environment, camaraderie, social acceptance, and variety of activities the shed offers. The study included a sample of 11 men primarily over the age of 60. At the time of the study, all of the men were retired or unemployed and came from diverse occupational backgrounds. A set of semi-structure questions was …

Helping Children Understand: Using Picture Books To Age – Appropriately Explain Dance-Movement Therapy And Childhood Cancer, Megan Schaefer

Honors Theses

Cancer is the leading cause of childhood death by disease, and there are many different therapies available to patients. One of the most promising forms of therapy is Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT). DMT is an engaging and creative form of rehabilitation, and focuses on the interaction between the body and mind. With this exercise, patients are able to express their emotional processes through physical movement, allowing for an alternate form of communication.

The way that children engage in DMT is highly influenced by their age and developmental stage. When children are presented with a new task, it may be necessary for …

The Effects Of Repealing The Estate Tax And Reducing The Corporate Tax Rate Coupled With A Repatriation Act, Trenton Vanderlende

Honors Theses

Given that significant U.S. federal tax reform is taking place for the first time in over 30 years, this paper examines how changing specific tax provisions may affect the average individual taxpayer as well as the wealthiest 1% of Americans. Three potential federal tax law changes are addressed: repealing the estate tax, reducing the corporate statutory income tax rate, and offering a repatriation holiday for remitting the foreign profits earned by U.S. businesses. These changes are analyzed using publicly available data from U.S. Congressional hearings, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Based on this …

Low-Cost Control Engineering Experiments, Megan Arduin

Honors Theses

The disciplines found within the area of motion and controls is a vital element of each engineer’s education. The ability to understand and then control dynamic systems is a fundamental skill required for many working engineers today. The aim of this project is to further develop the tools and methods available to teach and prepare engineering students to effectively design control system architecture, and then successfully implement their design into real world systems. The main goal is to design an apparatus that can be used to teach control system methods and has an affordable price. There are few experiments where …