Digital Commons Network^™

Actuarial Prediction Of Adhd Using Neuropsychological Data, Kimberlyn Williams

Honors Theses

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common psychiatric diagnosis in children and a frequent psychiatric diagnosis in adults. ADHD is a clinical diagnosis based on self-reported symptoms which makes accurate diagnosis challenging. Actuarial prediction has been demonstrated to be more accurate than clinical judgment. The current study explored an actuarial approach to predicting ADHD based on a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests. This project utilized test data from Meyers Neuropsychological Battery (MNB) to develop a logistic regression model to accurately predict diagnosed ADHD cases (n=65) from normal functioning cases (n=79) with a history of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). Binary …

Examination Of Sex-Differences In Neuromuscular Function Following Acute Bouts Of High- And Low-Load Resistance Exercise, Avery S. King

Honors Theses

High-load resistance training (>70% 1 repetition maximum (RM)) is commonly believed to be the superior method for producing neuromuscular adaptation with a resistance exercise program. Recent research has shown that lower-load resistance training (<50% 1RM) could produce similar responses when taken to failure. However, nearly all the existing research has been completed in males, making it unclear if this holds true across sexes. The purpose of this investigation, therefore, was to examine sex-differences in neuromuscular function and fatigue following acute bouts of high- vs low-load unilateral leg extension taken to volitional failure. Twenty-nine (16 females) resistance-trained subjects completed unilateral high-load (HL) and low-load (LL) resistance exercise bouts. The condition and leg utilized for the first visit was randomized and the opposite condition was completed on the other leg 24 hours (±1 hr.) after the first session. Surface electromyography (EMG) of quadriceps, exercise performance, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during each visit. The present data suggests a more pronounced accumulation of fatigue in the muscle throughout LL, as indicated by greater reductions in repetitions completed with each set and more pronounced reductions in EMG median power frequency (EMGMDF). Despite similar patterns of EMG amplitude (EMGAMP) across the exercise bouts, the present data suggest that HL produced significantly greater muscle excitation than LL when collapsed across all other factors. Overall, males completed more repetitions across sets and during each condition when compared to females. Consequently, males also reported a greater set RPE/repetitions in reserve (RPE/RIR) and session RPE (sRPE).

Case Study Analysis: Exploring Johnson & Johnson's 1982 Tylenol Contamination Crisis And Ongoing Talcum Powder Crisis Through The Six Principles Of Crisis And Emergency Risk Communication, Caroline Tibbs

Honors Theses

In 2002, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a new field of communication, called Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC). With the creation of this new field, the CDC developed a streamlined CERC guidebook in order to provide a standard for the crisis communication strategies and responses of specifically healthcare organizations, but any organization can benefit from utilizing the CERC framework. The CDC also identified six key principles of CERC, which are as follows: response time (“be first”), accuracy (“be right”), credibility (“be credible”), having empathy (“express empathy”), promotion of actions (“promote actions”), and respectfulness (“show respect”). …

Far Beyond Words: Analyzing Information Gained Through Nonverbal Communication Across Neurologically Diverse Populations, Addison Bracken

Honors Theses

Nonverbal communication (NVC) refers to all communicative acts except speech that convey messages through signals. Humans perceive and express emotional information through nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, proximity, body language and movement, gestures, eye contact, and haptics. NVC can be just as if not more informative than verbal language as long as the observer is aware of the communication’s meaningful cues. Recognizing the varying nonverbal communicative abilities of a neurologically diverse population allows for more significant interpersonal communication. Despite the different trends of NVC comprehension for populations with varying levels of neurological ability, these paralinguistic cues prove to be …

Reimagining Work: Examining Work Under The Fair Labor Standards Act, Dustin W. Tucker

Honors Theses

The Fair Labor Standards Act is a document created in 1938 to protect workers in the United States. This literature review points to the idea that times have changed. The research presents a timeline to understand the fight for labor standards in the United States. Americans at one point in time were working 14-hour days leaving little to no room for anything else. The research presented offers context to working standards in America. The paper examines the Fair Labor Standards Act through a multi-perspective lens to understand how exactly the document meant to protect workers might be contributing to long …

Preschool Survival Guide: Gardening, Beth Ann Weaver

Honors Theses

Nature-based learning can be defined as utilizing nature in learning experiences to meet developmental domains. The benefits of nature-based learning and play in early childhood are significant. Children who engage in nature have active imaginations, learn new concepts and vocabulary, have respect for their environments, learn and understand biodiversity, have better problem-solving skills and so much more. Despite these benefits, the low prevalence of nature and science-based activities in early childhood classrooms continues to exist due to the lack of knowledge and confidence in these specific subjects. This thesis analyzes developmentally appropriate practices needed to effectively implement science and nature …

The Relationship Between Sun Protective Behavior, Health Beliefs, Attitudes, And Norms Of Sun Exposure Among College Athletes, Avery B. Snyder

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to access the relationship between sun protective behavior, health beliefs, attitudes, and norms of sun exposure among college athletes. An electronic survey was provided to student athletes for about two weeks in October of 2023. Prior to student participation the Institutional Review Board approved the protocol and data collection. The survey was sent to the students by the athletic director through an app called Teamworks that connects to all the athletes at Coastal Carolina. The majority of students who took the survey reported they did not wear sunscreen in past games/practices. Of those who …

Exploitation Of The Screaming: Sexual Violence In Horror Film, Chloe Watson

Honors Theses

Sexual violence has been routinely represented in film since the start of cinema, and these representations can vary greatly depending on the time, director, and genre. In the horror genre specifically, representations of sexual violence are common. Male directors, in particular, create stories of female-centered sexual violence, which can come across as authentic or exploitative. Films such as It Follows and Last Night in Soho display sexual violence in more acceptable ways, while films like All Hallows’ Eve and The Devil’s Rejects exploit the experience for various reasons. The exploitative films have detrimental effects on an audience member’s mentality, as …

Testing For The Significance Of Generational Differences On Opinions Of Nuclear Power, Eli Moore

Honors Theses

Different generations have different experiences from each other depending on the circumstances of the world they were raised in. As a result, different generations have different views of different controversial topics, and there are few topics as controversial as nuclear power. Throughout its history, it has been seen as both the solution to our energy problems, as well as a threat to the safety of life as we know it. This project aims to see if such a difference exists, and if so, what factors would be most influential in creating this difference? Would the past mistakes and catastrophes shape …

Sun Protection Behaviors, Health Beliefs, Attitudes, And Norms Among College Students, Madison A. Klump

Honors Theses

Purpose: This study sought to assess the relationship between attitudes, health beliefs, and societal norms of sun protective behaviors among college students. Methods: Students (n=224) volunteered to participate in an electronic survey through the permission of instructors of an introductory public health class. Results: Those who felt susceptible to skin cancer were more likely to use sunscreen, perform skin checks on themselves, and avoid suntanning. Those who felt there were no barriers for use of sunscreen were more likely to use sunscreen and reapply sunscreen. Those who felt sun tanning was a societal norm were less likely to reapply sunscreen, …

Student-Parent Needs: A Study At Coastal Carolina University, Breton Poster

Honors Theses

This article focuses on Student-Parents as an under-represented group on Coastal Carolina University’s (CCU) campus. Student-Parents face many additional difficulties in their college experience, compared to traditional students. The goal of this study is to bring attention to the needs of student-parents on CCU’s campus and determine how certain stress factors related to being a student-parent can influence their college experience. We found that a majority of student-parents on CCU’s campus faced high levels of financial stress, academic stress, and social stress. As a result, we suggest providing additional resources for student-parents to use on CCU’s campus to help combat …

Opportunity And Oversight: The Nil And College Football Through The Lens Of Ole Miss, Emma Harrington

Honors Theses

Since 2021, student-athletes have been reaping financial benefits of the commercialized use of their name, image, and likenesses (NIL). In addition to engaging in direct endorsement contracts with third party businesses, student-athletes are likewise working with NIL collectives to secure novel forms of funding opportunities. In this thesis, the current system of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) utilized in collegiate athletics will be examined. While NIL can be a beneficial source of income and exposure to student athletes across the country, the set of rules, or lack thereof, in effect is not substantial enough to maintain a safe and healthy …

The Emergence Of Approachable Luxury In The Grocery Industry, Joseph Curcio

Honors Theses

This thesis examines various trends in the grocery industry that have led to the new age grocer. These trends are centered around the emergence of approachable luxury products on grocery shelves and new grocery stores centered around an approachable luxury approach. Due to the subjective nature of the term “luxury,” it is hard to define, but multiple academic definitions from the Journal of Business Research are analyzed.

The timeline of the luxury grocery is outlined – beginning with traditional Iberian shops to the emergence of the new curated grocer to the revitalization of big box stores. The thesis includes psychological …

Emotional Experiences Of Black U.S. Computer Science And Engineering Students Amid Faculty-Student Interactions, Kyle Shanachilubwa

Honors Theses

Black students encounter unique challenges in computer science and engineering education. Chief among these is a disconnect with faculty due to a lack of mentorship and difficulties in interactions with faculty. Despite these challenges, Black students bring many engineering and computer science assets. This study aims to understand the emotional experiences of Black students in computer science and engineering education. We present an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to answer the questions: (1) How do Black students experience faculty-student interactions in computer science and engineering education? (2) How do Black students experience professional shame in these interactions? To answer these research …

The Relationships Between Parental And Youth Physical Activity Behaviors And Perceptions, Bryanna Deangelis

Honors Theses

Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement by skeletal muscles resulting in energy expenditure. Physical activity has multiple different intensity levels, such as light, moderate, and vigorous. It is extremely important for both physical and mental health. The goals of this study are to examine the relationship between parental physical activity (i.e., leisure-time physical activity [moderate-vigorous physical activity]), youth health (i.e., body mass index [BMI], physical activity (moderate-vigorous physical activity), and perception of parental encouragement towards physical activity in a sample of parent-youth (8-14 years old) dyads. Participants will be sent a link via email that will have the …

Prevalence Of Mental Health Issues In Division Iii Athletes, Logan Streety

Honors Theses

College athletes have always struggled with their mental health, and it has recently become more widely recognized because of their lifestyle. Between managing schoolwork, team responsibilities, and having a social life, it is extremely easy to become overwhelmed and put other things before one’s psychological health. In this study, the SUNY Cortland Women’s Basketball team was surveyed to determine if depression, anxiety, and stress are prevalent in athletes at SUNY Cortland. The DASS-21 questionnaire was distributed to each of the women’s basketball athletes. This 21-question survey produced scores that determined whether they are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and/or stress. …

Social Media Reliance And College Students' Tendency To Conform To Online Behaviors And Trends, Emily Grucello

Honors Theses

The importance of social media is undeniable among college students who frequently turn to online platforms as a form of recreation. While researchers have analyzed the influence of social media on emotional factors, fewer researchers have investigated if reliance on social media has an impact on public behavior and conformity habits. Therefore, the current study assesses if user reliance on two common platforms, TikTok and Instagram, are associated with conformity levels. Data collection came from a sample of 124 college-aged participants. Results found a significant correlation between conformity and Instagram reliance (r = .31, p < .001), as well as conformity and TikTok reliance (r = .32, p < .001), such that higher levels of conformity was associated with higher reliance on Instagram and TikTok. These findings highlight the importance of understanding how consumption of social media has the potential to alter the decisions and behaviors of young adults.

Exploring The Impact Of The Coaching Relationship On College Student-Athlete Mental Health, Miya Carmichael, Julia Vasquez

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the factors of the coach-athlete relationship that influence athletes’ mental health and to find ways to improve the quality of this relationship. A total of 8 eligible participants in the qualitative study were asked to complete an individual interview session where they answered questions about their personal experiences with coaches as collegiate athletes. We will be searching for the essential structures of the coach-athlete relationship by studying multiple examples of it and finding what experiences athletes have in common. The results of this qualitative study have shown coaching behaviors that promote fear …

Color Psychology: How Colors Can Reflect Our Emotions In Relation To Gender, Age, And Cultural Background., Virginia Alvisi

Honors Theses

Our lives are surrounded and influenced by colors. Colors help us in our everyday lives, from helping us understand different concepts to helping us drive around town with road signs and streetlights. Colors regulate our lives not only physically but also, especially, psychologically. Warm and bright colors can give insight into
energy and happiness. On the contrary, cool and dark ones can be soothing and calming.

Research has demonstrated that colors can shape our experiences and affect our psycho-emotional status (our mental state related to a situation or circumstance). To demonstrate the link between our psycho-emotional state and the use …

Effects Of Age And Gender On Perceptions On Victims Of Financial Exploitation, Kathleen Hillman

Honors Theses

A report by the Center for Victim Research shows that younger adults are more often victims of general and identity fraud (Irvin-Erickson & Ricks, 2019, p. 9); however, research conducted on financial exploitation focuses heavily on older adults. However, a recent study by Gunderson and colleagues (2021) found that older and younger adults are highly susceptible to financial exploitation. The purpose of the current study is to determine if perceptions of vulnerability to financial exploitation vary by the age of the victim. A sample of undergraduate participants will be recruited from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga through an online …

Transcendence In Kierkegaard And Barth, Andrew Myrick

Honors Theses

This paper examines the theological intersections and divergences between Karl Barth and Søren Kierkegaard, focusing on their conceptualizations of God's transcendence. Barth, influential in the twentieth century, viewed divine knowledge as accessible only through Jesus Christ's revelation, critiquing any historical or metaphysical bases for such knowledge. He was significantly influenced by Kierkegaard, who emphasized paradox and the "infinite qualitative distinction." This study traces Barth's evolving thoughts on transcendence across his works, including his critiques of Kierkegaard in his later years. While some scholars suggest a shared theological trajectory based on transcendence, this paper argues for nuanced differences, engaging with the …

Effects Of Attractiveness And Relationship Type Of Perceptions Of Adolescent Sexual Grooming, Alexandra Shappley

Honors Theses

Child sexual grooming is a prevalent issue within the United States, especially with the rise of the internet and social media (Shakeshaft, 2004; Finkelhor et al., 2000; Winters et al., 2017). There has been less research done on adolescent sexual grooming; however, researchers have found that perceptions of adolescent sexual grooming vary depending on the gender and age of the offender and victim (Russel & Gyrus, 2022; Sahl & Keene, 2012). Researchers have found that people perceive a sexual grooming relationship as inflicting more harm if the perpetrator is a man (Hernandez et al., 2019), particularly an older man (Russel …

The Competitive Advantage Of Prioritizing Human-Centered Design Thinking In Business, Joshua Rajan

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the impact of design thinking on promoting innovation within businesses. Design thinking is a human-centered problem-solving approach that solves problems using empathy, creativity, and iterative prototyping. The thesis commences by clearly defining design thinking and presenting its fundamental concepts, emphasizing how it differs from traditional business thinking. The thesis vividly illustrates the real-world impact of design thinking through compelling case studies from the consumer electronics, healthcare, automotive, and entertainment industries. It showcases how design thinking fosters creativity and develops solutions that prioritize customers' needs. The case studies show how companies gained a competitive advantage by deeply understanding …

Imagined Intergroup Contact As A Mechanism To Change Beliefs About Gender, Samantha Oyler

Honors Theses

Gordon Allport first proposed the Intergroup Contact Theory in 1954. According to his theory, contact between ingroup and outgroup members, under certain conditions, would lead to positive effects, specifically the reduction of prejudice. Since then, this theory has been expanded to include members of other majority/minority groups. Research suggests intergroup contact has positive effects for reduction of anti-trans prejudice. To date, the focus has largely been on the mechanisms driving changes in attitudes and intentions towards trans individuals through intergroup contact interventions. It is unclear whether this intervention might also promote the acquisition of more nuanced sociocultural understanding about gender, …

The Tripartite Influence Model Of Body Image And Disordered Eating Among Female Athletes: Testing An Expanded Model, Emma Nyrup Tonsberg

Honors Theses

The aim of the study was to investigate how different sources of sociocultural pressure (family, media, peers) described in the Tripartite Influence Model, and additions of teammate- and coach pressures, were associated with thinness-and muscularity internalization and appearance comparisons among athletes. Subsequently, these potential mechanisms were explored as predictors of disordered eating among athletes. Analyses included 71 female athletes. Athletes were recruited through a student subject pool recruitment portal, as well as with local and regional flyers and emails. Participants completed a series of self-report measures in Qualtrics. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was utilized to test the hypotheses. Partial support …

Civil Disobedience Of Social Workers In Hospice, Jamie Leigh Roper

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Reaping What We Sow: The Implications And Outcomes Of Mississippi House Bill 1125, The “Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (Reap)” Act, Kerigan Brewer

Honors Theses

Mississippi House Bill 1125 (MS HB1125), also known as the “Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (REAP) Act,” was signed into law by Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves in early 2023 (REAP Act, 2023). It is one of multiple policies passed into law that limit the rights of transgender people. This thesis aims to clarify the history of the trans community, dispel myths around gender-affirming health care and the trans identity, and discuss the current state of anti-trans laws and transgender rights. Using a policy analysis framework by DiNitto (2011), MS HB1125 is analyzed on points like its social and economic costs, the …

Exploring The Collegiate Choir Participant's Values Within Ensemble Performances, Kaelyn Hunter

Honors Theses

This study examined how collegiate choral ensemble participants viewed their highest quality performance and their favorite performance. Examining characteristics of performances may encourage conversations about performance values between directors and students. Limited research has been done about musicians’ views, as getting accurate and in-the-moment documentation of how musicians feel about their performances is challenging. To provide more insight into this previously understudied topic, this study aimed to explore the musicians’ perspectives on their performances and how their emotions and repertoire are intertwined.

The Primary Investigator (PI) conducted an anonymous study among the 2022–2023 choral ensemble participants at The University of …

Inclusive Policy, Diverse Perspectives: Affirmative Action And The Model Minority Among University Students, Jannie Nguyen

Honors Theses

In lieu of the recent Supreme Court overturn of affirmative action, Asian American students were on the forefront as the main racial group defended in this case. The model minority stereotype obscures societal perceptions of Asians and Asian Americans as collectively intelligent, hard-working, and submissive. Whereas the stereotype appears frequently in academic settings, this research aims to understand and contextualize the perceptions on affirmative action among Asian college students within the context and social dynamics of the model minority stereotype. A qualitative approach was deployed to garner nuance narratives of fifteen participants in the study. Participants in the study represent …

Adults Matter Too: An Examination Of State Adult Missing Persons Policies And Procedures To Implement A Best Practices Handbook, Hunter Smith

Honors Theses

The most recent estimates put the number of active missing person records at 97,127. Over the past eight years, child active records have decreased by 2,530, while adult active records have increased by 14,696. While there is no clear explanation for this trend, a common theory is that there are multiple federal and state laws requiring the entry of missing people under the age of 2; however, very few, if any, extend to adults. Additionally, there is a lack of standardization across available policies and procedures for where these cases should be reported, the time frame for doing so, and …