Digital Commons Network^™

“There Is No More Sacred Place:” Healing And Faith In Chaplaincy And Religious Hospitals, Annalise Mangone

Honors Theses

For spiritual care providers and spiritual care systems, truly effective medical treatment cannot exist without seeking to look after not only the physical needs of those who are ill, but also the emotional, existential, and spiritual needs of all those in the hospital, including not only patients but also their families and care providers. Through this lens of holistic, whole-person care, spiritual care providers move themselves beyond the status of religious figures or groups, and present themselves as conduits and nodes of connection and expression for the feelings of bereavement, grief, and helplessness. This healing builds up within patients, families, …

Media, Marketing, And More – How Social Technology Is Changing The Face Of Small Business, Lily Reynolds

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to identify the ways in which social media and marketing technology advances are affecting small retail businesses. A total of three interviews were conducted with working professionals in different areas along the fashion supply chain, and were contacted based on common acquaintances. Each interview was conducted over the phone, and lasted between ten minutes and half an hour, with guided and supplemental questions focusing on their experiences with technology in their fields. The results showed that each area was affected in numerous ways, from superficial business changes to advancements at the cores of their …

Primary And Secondary Interventions To Address Common Female Reproductive Health Issues On College Campuses, Alison Yelsma

Honors Theses

My public health capstone/honors thesis was about primary and secondary interventions for college students on the topic of, and surrounding, common female reproductive health issues. I requested current female college students to complete a questionnaire with questions that addressed their knowledge, attitudes and practices in this area. Responses from process and content questions were used to develop suggested peer support and educational sessions for college campuses surrounding endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Xenophobia In The Covid-19 Era, Joanne Jeya

Honors Theses

COVID-19 has altered people's daily lives across the globe and heightened tensions in response to changing economic, social, and political conditions. In the United States, xenophobia has seemingly escalated in the COVID-19 era, particularly towards Asians and people of Asian descent. The assumed reasoning for this rise in anti-Asian sentiment is tied to the presumed origins of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome‐Coronavirus‐2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, first detected in Wuhan, China, prompting some to initially call the disease the Wuhan or Chinese virus, among other racialized terms like the "Kung-flu." It remains to be seen if xenophobic acts have increased throughout the …

Temperature Scale Influence On Perceptions Of Climate Risk, Chelsea Spaman

Honors Theses

This study explored how the use of the temperature scales Fahrenheit and Celsius in climate science communication affects climate change concern. The study specifically targeted Americans due to their familiarity with the Fahrenheit scale, which is not the primary temperature scale used in scientific communication. The study employed a survey, in which the anonymous participants read a short introduction about climate change and temperature rise and then answered a series of questions regarding levels of climate change concern. These questions covered concerns about climate change in general and its potential to harm individual survey participants, flora and fauna, future generations, …

Montessori Education: Teaching Self-Regulation Through Virtual Instruction, Brooke M. Myers, Catherine Scott

Honors Theses

One of the hallmarks of a Montessori education is the development of children’s social and emotional regulation skills. However, what happens when the Montessori curriculum is interrupted due to the onset of COVID-19? Does the transition to online learning impact student opportunities for social and emotional self-regulation? This case study attempts to examine the ways in which a school’s four lower and upper elementary Montessori teachers adjust their instruction to meet student needs online, and the benefits and challenges they experienced as a result. Findings are shared, as well as implications for those engaged in virtual instruction of K-6 students.

“Police Perceptions Amid The Black Lives Matter Movement”, Eadoin Grim

Honors Theses

In 2014, following the police-involved deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, researchers focused their attention on the existence of a “Ferguson Effect,” such that rising homicide rates could be attributed to a reduction in proactive policing due to concerns over heightened public scrutiny. While UCR data would eventually refute the existence of such an Effect, previous research has found that there does appear to be evidence of a perceptual belief in the Ferguson Effect among municipal officers. To date, very little research concerning officer perceptions or experiences has been conducted with campus police departments, creating a substantial gap in …

Hybridized Spirituality In Singaporean Christians, John Lim

Honors Theses

Background: The doctrine of the incarnation and the “scandal of particularity” are central to Christian theology – that the transcendent God became immanent within time and space. Likewise, the church, being the contemporary expression of God, incarnates within and reflects the culture around it. How this incarnation happens is not always clear or acknowledged.

Purpose: I conceptualize the process of incarnation as the hybridization of various streams of influence. I examined the lived experiences of hybridized spirituality among Singaporean Christians.

Method: I conducted semi-structured interviews with six Singaporean Christians from the same congregation in Singapore. I used thematic analysis, informed …

Ethics Of Neurocognitive Disorders, Jenna Schneider

Honors Theses

Many individuals have misperceived ideas of what neurocognitive disorders are and how to effectively treat and care for individuals that have these disorders. Individuals working in healthcare need education on what neurocognitive disorders are to be able to provide ethical interventions, and have general knowledge on how to provide care to these people. Neurocognitive disorders, especially among older individuals, is a prevalent health complication that needs attention in order to prevent misunderstanding, and increase the possibly of knowing when intervention is needed. Additional training directed towards ethical practices is essential for both the understanding of caregivers and for the safety …

Projecting Effects Of Stress And Anxiety In Out-Of-State Students, Bryar Brooks

Honors Theses

This study investigated the effects of stress and anxiety on undergraduate in-state, out-of-state, and international students. The current statistics on stress and anxiety in college students in general is mind blowing. Almost 50% of college students say they have moderate levels of stress and 25% of college students say that they have high stress levels. In addition, 44% of students struggle with depression and 50% struggle with anxiety. These have a direct correlation with their sleep habits as well. With these statistics in mind, the goal of this study was to see the statistically significant difference in stress and anxiety …

The Effects Of Virtual Feedback And Virtual Environment On Productivity, Sadie Martin

Honors Theses

Feedback is a procedure frequently used in organizational behavior management across a variety of settings, and it was the most commonly used independent variable within the first three decades of publication in the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management (1977-2009; Balcazar et al., 1989; Nolan et al., 1999; VanStelle et al., 2012). Despite the popularity of feedback in businesses, there has been little research analyzing the effects of virtual feedback and virtual environment on productivity. With technological advances in today’s society, more companies are opting for remote work, and this trend will likely increase with events such as the COVID-19 pandemic …

Versatile Home Workspace Environment, Kayli Holmes

Honors Theses

Since the initial spread of COVID-19, many individuals around the world have experienced a rapid shift from an external workplace, to needing a dedicated workspace within the home. While some individuals have been faced with new distractions like family members and pets, others have been faced with the struggle of having a workspace in common areas, where relaxation and socialization normally occur. Due to the needs for many people to work from home and be isolated from coworkers, it is essential for living spaces to be adaptable to meet these needs. Producing an effective separation can help lead to overall …

The Importance Of Leaders In The Time Of Covid-19, Lindsay Pett

Honors Theses

This capstone examines if leaders mattered during the time of COVID-19. I analyzed this by examining the effect of the stringency of leaders’ policies on total cases and deaths per million from COVID-19. This initial analysis found that a decrease in the stringency index was associated with increases in both cases and deaths. Next, I ran additional statistical analyses examining if leaders had an effect on COVID-19 outcomes independent of the economic situation, health infrastructure, and cultural norms of their respective countries. It was found that the stringency of leaders’ policies still had an effect on cases and deaths independent …

Anti-Police Movement Survey, Julia Peisker

Honors Theses

Due to many highly publicized instances of excessive use of force by the police, namely those associated with George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, law enforcement agencies have recently come under much public watch and criticism. Although anti-police movements have existed since long ago, there has been a new wind of them since these events. This backlash and outrage that have come as a result from these instances of police excessive use of force have led to many changes within police departments across the country, which has likely had far-reaching effects on police officers. Through the use of an online, anonymous …

The Politics Of Everyday Subversion: Crisis, Covid-19, And Coming-Of-Age In Córdoba, Argentina, Abby Flickinger

Honors Theses

This thesis seeks to explore the impact of converging political, economic, and public health crises in Córdoba, Argentina in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on youth and practices of protest and resistance. Utilizing interviews, participant observations and ethnographic data in addition to economic and public health statistics, media coverage, and government statements I establish the basis and context for this triple crisis, as well as the tactics appropriated to criticize the government and expression disillusionment — protests and subversion. Despite modifications to public health concerns, the Argentine democratic tradition of protesting returned against government wishes, and …

Studies On Synthesis Of Pyrazole From Dibromo And Hydrazine Compounds., Riya Trivedi

Honors Theses

Depression has become the fourth leading case for mortality and morbidity in the world. It is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. Current treatments of depression are inadequate, and the progress in understanding the neurobiology of depression is slow. The first generation antidepressants like monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) have shown to possess a lot of side effects. Hydrazide-based monoamine oxidase inhibitors are known to result in acute hypertensive crises and hepatotoxicity, as well as to interact with many foods and biogenic amine drugs. Tricyclic …

Surface-Eroding Drug Delivery Films For Sequential And/Or Intermittent Release Of Psychoactive Drugs, Jason Price

Honors Theses

ABSTRACT JASON BLAKE PRICE: Surface-Eroding Drug Delivery Films for Sequential and/or

Intermittent Release of Psychoactive Drugs For patients with psychiatric diseases, adherence to medication schedules, medication

errors, and abuse are common issues. Promising new forms of therapy for these patients, such as micro-dosed lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), where patients receive 10-20% of a full dose every third day, present further drug delivery challenges. Sequential or intermittent release of drugs from an implanted device could ensure long-term drug compliance, automate drug dosing during the life of the implant, and eliminate potential for abuse and medication errors. To this end, we generated …

When Attraction Becomes Addiction: A Study In Video Games, Camille Garden

Honors Theses

Since their inception, video games have been accused of everything from encouraging violence to ruining the mental health of children, adolescents, and adults alike. The adverse effects of video games have been studied scientifically to prove their negative qualities. Yet, this criticism is not new or unique to video games. With the birth of every new media format, including but not limited to novels, magazines, and movies, there is some level of controversy surrounding the validity and inherent goodness of the given format. Video games are not the exception to this rule. This research questions the validity and truth behind …

Sir Arthur Evans And The Minoan Myth: The Creation Of Ancient Cretan Culture, Madeleine Mccracken

Honors Theses

This paper explores the excavations conducted in the early 20^th century by Sir Arthur Evans at the site of Knossos on the island of Crete. An analysis of Evans’ humanitarian and journalistic work in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the late 19^th century sets the tone for the paper. I consider Evans’ life’s work at Knossos to gain a better understanding of the man behind it and both why and how he created a modern image of an ancient culture. I will describe in detail a few key monuments and objects which he excavated and reconstructed. I draw conclusions …

Exploring The Lived Experience Of Adolescent Caregivers, Abbigale Laurentius

Honors Theses

In today’s society, the population is aging, and any member of the family could find themselves in the role as an informal caregiver. Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 years old may have these caregiving responsibilities, and it is imperative that healthcare professionals recognize and support this change of roles. A literature review revealed a general lack of research from within the last five years regarding adolescent caregivers. Those studies that were analyzed in the review presented themes of depression, anxiety, lack of education, and insufficient social supports for the adolescent. An unfolding case study was then designed …

The Influence Of A Mindfulness-Based Curriculum On Executive Function In Four-Year-Olds, Victoria Mccann

Honors Theses

Research on the effectiveness of mindfulness as a method for improving a variety of psychological, social, and emotional skills has grown throughout the last decade. Extensive literature reviews show promising results for the improvement of executive function skills utilizing mindfulness-based interventions, though the current literature is primarily focused on adults, adolescents, and older children. Preliminary work has suggested that training executive function skills using mindfulness-based interventions in early childhood would be beneficial, but few studies investigating mindfulness-based interventions for young children exist. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a 12-week mindfulness-based curriculum using yoga had an impact …

An Evaluation Of The Historical Interactions And Epistemologies Of Science And Christianity, Tyler Partridge

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Economic Effects Of Food Affordability, Food Access, And Education On Obesity Rates In Mississippi Counties, Youssef Osman

Honors Theses

The growing rate of obesity across the United States is a topic of great concern considering both the health and financial costs associated with the disease. Many researchers have sought to determine the major causes of obesity so that policy suggestions can be made to reduce its occurrence. Some of the referenced drivers of obesity include high food costs, poor access to healthy food, and a lack of knowledge regarding nutrition. This thesis seeks to find the effects of county-level food prices, income, food access, and education level on obesity rates in Mississippi counties. The analysis uses cross-sectional data from …

Socioeconomic Status And Ethnicity As Predictors Of Childhood Career Aspirations, Sydney Saint-Jean

Honors Theses

Beginning at an early age, children discuss what they want to be when they grow up. This is known as their career aspirations. There are multiple factors that influence the career aspirations of children. Some of which includes familial income level, grade level and ethnicity. Although studies suggest that there is a relationship between income level and career aspirations, there is a gap in the literature when examining the relationships between socioeconomic status, ethnicity, grade level, and their effects on the career aspirations of children. This study explores this multi-level relationship on what a child wants to be when they …

One Writer, Two Genres: Composing And Analyzing Creative Nonfiction And Fantasy, Kara Herrera

Honors Theses

Creative writers face a wide range of options when they sit down to craft art out of words. Available to them are many genres, each with their own characteristics or traits. Additionally, many writers have accomplished self-reflection in interviews, Q&A sessions, and in print. It is not unusual to find writers taking their craft and turning it into their subject matter. This project aims for the same. In order to analyze the similarities and differences in the writing process across genres, a “writing about writing” essay is included along with four creative nonfiction essays and a young adult fantasy novel …

Brains Versus Brawn: Militarization And Women In Modern Policing, Emilee Shae Eversole

Honors Theses

This work explores the paramilitarism that has taken policing by storm over the last few decades, the adverse effects caused by it, and what women in policing do to counteract them. Previous research has shown that some individuals believe this type of militarization of policing has severed the relationship between law enforcement officials and their communities, and false beliefs regarding the ability of women to serve as police officers seem to run rampant. However, newer research suggests that women in policing provide a refreshing contrast to this paramilitarism through less invasive tactics, resulting in a more trusting relationship between officers …

Role Of Forensic Chemistry And Analytical Intrumentation In The Identification Of Designer Drugs, Mariah A. Barko

Honors Theses

This thesis describes the overall issues that designer drugs are causing in society today. There are three main types of structural differences between designer drugs and the parent drug they are created from. The substances can be direct or indirect regioisomers with the same atomic components as the parent drug or isobaric compounds containing different atomic components than the parent drug. These substances are slowly becoming classified as stimulants, sedatives, dissociative, psychedelics, or synthetic cannabinoids, and scheduled into one of the classes set in place by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, appropriately once enough information is known about them. …

Nurses' Perceptions Of Person-Centered Care In Long-Term Care, Sophia A. Lefevers

Honors Theses

Over the years, the average lifespan of Americans has slowly increased, nearing almost 79 years of age. This increase has resulted in individuals ultimately becoming more likely to experience one of many underlying health conditions, such as dementia. The result of a condition like dementia is the requirement of more specialized care than an individual or their family can provide for them. This results in them seeking more skilled and focused care, such as within long-term care facilities. One of the goals of long-term care facilities is to provide individuals with a high level of care that promotes their quality …

The Socioeconomic Background Of Europe During The First Half Of The Twentieth Century Reflected In Select Violin Works Of Violinist-Composers Kreisler, Ysaÿe, And Bacewicz, Carlie D. Geyer

Honors Theses

A number of violinist-composers lived and composed during the twentieth century, yielding an abundance of notable violin compositions. During the first half of the century, socioeconomic changes brought about by World Wars I and II significantly impacted culture, including violin repertoire by European violinist-composers. Responses to the socioeconomic climate of a given time and place is very likely to be reflected within art, music, and culture of that time and place. In this study, I will focus on the lives and violin compositions of three violinist-composers of the twentieth century, Fritz Kreisler (Austria-Hungary), Eugène Ysaÿe (Belgium), and Grażyna Bacewicz (Poland). …

Fact-Checking Of Claims From The English Wikipedia Using Evidence In The Wild, Aalok Sathe

Honors Theses

Automated fact checking is a task in the domain of Natural Language Processing that deals with the verification of claims using evidence. Fact checking is becoming increasingly important as large amounts of human-generated information accumulate online. In the recent past, our society has witnessed large-scale spread of disinformation via the internet that has time and again led to noticeable disruptions in the fabric of society. Fact-checking would help mitigate the spread of disinformation by allowing large magnitudes of content to be automatically evaluated for disinformation. In this work, we construe and tackle multiple subtasks of fact checking using labeled data …