Digital Commons Network^™

Delinquency In The Caribbean: Stakeholder Perceptions Of Root Causes, Laura Nolterieke

Honors Theses

There is a gap in the research on juvenile delinquency within the Caribbean context. As countries such as St. Lucia, Guyana, St. Kitts, and Nevis have growing delinquency and crime rates, there is a need to bridge this gap in the literature. This research sought to examine the main causes of juvenile delinquency within St. Lucia, Guyana, St. Kitts, and Nevis, as described by juvenile justice stakeholders, such as probation officers, prosecutors, and judges, within their respective countries. Through the use of grounded theory, the data were coded and analyzed using a constant comparison method. From these data, six themes …

Tiny Homes As A Method To Increase Equitable Housing: Tiny Homes Detroit And Kalamazoo, Katie Kozlowski

Honors Theses

This thesis assesses the relative merits of housing programs such as Tiny Homes Detroit for other places where equitable and affordable housing is in short supply such as Kalamazoo, MI. For context, prior to information on Tiny Homes, and Tiny Homes in Detroit, information about the forces that shaped the contemporary housing crisis in both Detroit and Kalamazoo are provided. Topics in these preliminary sections include information on Redlining, Subprime Mortgages, Equitable Development, and Gentrification. For a variety of factors summarized in the thesis, Tiny Home Communities are a possible solution that, on a micro scale, can provide the most …

Photofading Of Black Dyes In Cotton And Polyester Fibers Resulting From Environmental Exposure To Sunlight, Maggie E. Mahaney

Honors Theses

Color is one of the most important properties analyzed during forensic fiber examinations due to its discriminatory power. Differing colors in fibers are usually sufficient grounds for exclusion, but in cases where a lengthy period has passed between crime commission and evidence recovery, the high probability of environmental degradation having altered the questioned fibers’ properties could lead to false exclusions. Photofading, the loss of color resulting from exposure to light, is a common form of degradation observed in fibers. Although well-known in the dyeing industry, it is not typically factored into forensic fiber examinations. Published photofading research has been limited …

Innovating Sustainability Education Through The “Bird’S Eye” Perspective, Carly Kasicki

Honors Theses

Various disciplines were used to define sustainability through their lens and set an education space that integrated students into finding needed and creative solutions for the problems affecting their community. This was done through the creation of an University Honors course that took 13 students and put them into a class split into two parts: setting a base foundation of sustainability knowledge through learning the views and struggles of different disciplines every week and then building a sustainability project that caters to the needs of the community. This class was used to create an education experience that is responsive to …

A Compilation Of Accounting Case Studies, Richard Brohaugh

Honors Theses

This thesis compiles twelve case studies provided by Dr. Victoria Dickinson. Each of these cases, which were performed over the course of the 2018-2019 academic year, presented accounting problems that used both fictional and real-world situations to provide an experiential approach to learning. These cases presented numerous types of business problems and challenged me to better understand the various dimensions of accountancy, ranging from data analytics to banking and finance. The procedures used to gather solutions and data for each of the cases were unique, but for each case, I was able to learn how to research potential issues and …

The Effects Of Emotionally Appealing Messages On Perceptions About Marine Plastic Pollution: Implications For Science Communication On Social Media Outlets, Shelby Miller

Honors Theses

Marine plastic pollution (MPP) is one of the most pressing problems in the world today with many effects on ecological, economic, and social aspects of society. Global plastic production is around 322 million tons, with 10% of the world’s plastic products entering the ocean every year. Environmental campaigns use humor and shock in order to influence consumer behavior in regard to plastic products. Such approaches are important to utilize on social media in order to effectively communicate the issues posed by MPP. In this study, students and staff at the University of New Haven campus were given a survey containing …

Prevalent Technical Leadership Styles And The Impact On Early Engineering Careers, Connor Eigelberger

Honors Theses

This study explores the question of ‘what is the most prevalent leadership style found in industry’, from an engineering student’s internship experiences. Over the course of a Mechanical Engineering student’s four years of internships, they recorded their observation to three questions: ‘What is the dominant leadership style at the Anheuser-Busch InBev Jacksonville Brewery?’, ‘What is the dominant leadership style in the broader engineering sector?’ and lastly, ‘What is the dominant leadership style entry-level engineers should know in order to be successful?’. It reflects on their personal experiences within the engineering industry and suggests an ideal leadership style which can be …

Hiv-1 Tat Interactions With Opioids Are Modulated By Progesterone And Estradiol, Dejun Jackson

Honors Theses

HIV infection and combined substance abuse are comorbid epidemics. Previous studies show that concurrent opioid drug use may potentiate HIV-1-mediated neurotoxicity partly via interactions with opioids. Preclinical studies suggest that the HIV-1 trans-activator of transcription (Tat), an HIV regulatory protein, can synergize with opioids to exacerbate its already neurotoxic effects. However, its interactions with clinical opioids, such as oxycodone, have yet to be elucidated. Additionally, Tat disrupts a number of systems including the dopaminergic system, which contribute to its capacity to potentiate the rewarding effects of abused drugs. Although the neurotoxic effects of Tat may be inhibited by gonadal steroids …

"Turn Up The Music!", Caitlyn M. Hinnerschitz, Catherine Scott

Honors Theses

The elementary school classroom provides unique opportunities for teachers to engage students in STEM thinking, using both scientific content and innovative thinking. In today’s world, educators spend time determining how to both conserve resources when engaging students in hands-on experiences, while still bringing relevant experiences into their lessons. In this lesson, we examine the ways that teachers can address student interests in music and technology through an engineering lesson focusing on amplification of sound and recycled materials

A Compilation Of Case Studies Focusing On Financial Reporting Issues, Haydn Brown

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a compilation of case studies that focuses on various financial reporting and accounting topics. Each case addresses different topics using real world examples of specific companies. The thesis demonstrates the understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and was completed under the supervision of Victoria Dickinson to satisfy the requirements for the University of Mississippi, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, and Patterson School of Accountancy, and ACCY 420 course in the 2018-2019 academic year.

Country Fun: A Cultural History Of Opryland Usa, Nashville, And The Suburban South, William C. Nieman

Honors Theses

This thesis centers around the history of Opryland USA, a theme park and “musical showplace” that existed from 1972 to 1997 in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee. Using a variety of primary sources including park ephemera, newspaper articles, and songs, I show how, over its twenty-five years, Opryland became a country music theme park after initially presenting a seemingly diverse picture of American popular music. I reveal that, despite local businessowners’ and musicians’ reluctance to embrace Opryland at first, the park was accepted by many Nashvillians to the point where it is now nostalgically mourned. Then, putting those primary materials …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Accounting Environment And Procedures Through A Series Of Case Studies, Ryan Mccarty

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a culmination of twelve case studies completed throughout the academic year of 2018-2019 under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson, as a requirement of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and completion of the ACCY 420 course. Each case study is independent of the next, and is an in-depth response to questions and theories that are found outside of this document. Each analysis is accomplished by myself alone and through the studies of Financial, Managerial, and Cost accounting courses in my career at the University of Mississippi. The thesis is intended to analyze accounting procedures and …

A Compilation Of Case Studies On Modern Issues And Applications Of Accounting, Tyler Butler

Honors Theses

Over the academic year spanning from 2018 to 2019, I attained knowledge of the accounting profession and applications of accounting techniques that have arisen from modern needs in the professional world. Having since spent the summer working as an accountant for a private construction company, I have been able to apply the knowledge in a real-world setting. For the thesis requirement, I thoroughly completed case studies on a variety of topics related to accounting. Each of the sections have been completed in case format with attention to readability and thoughtful presentation of information. Every case began with a problem to …

Campus Food Forest, Abigail Spangler

Honors Theses

This thesis develops a cohesive outline to carry out a food forest project on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. The project was created by drawing upon informational interviews with representatives from other universities that have implemented campus sustainable agriculture programs, coupled with a photography project, campus workshops, and a survey of the CCU community to gather data to support the future implementation of food forest project on the CCU campus. A food forest is a 7-layer system of sustainable gardening that functions year-round and mimics the ecosystem and patterns found in nature.

"You Play Like A Girl": How Alternative Conceptualizations Of Sexism Impact Attitudes Toward Women In Professional Sports, Kate Wigod

Honors Theses

This thesis examines whether alternative conceptualizations of sexism impact attitudes towards women in professional sports. Specifically, this thesis focuses on the United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT), who sued their governing body in 2018 on the bases of unequal treatment and pay. The choice to focus on this particular team is because these women generate more revenue and outperform the United States Men’s National Soccer Team; two factors that are normally used to justify why female athletes should not be paid equally. To measure sexist attitudes, a survey of 74 questions was administered through Lucid and served as the …

Curriculum Coaches: Pre-Service Teachers Opinions And Perceptions Within The Field Of Education, Brooke Ann Mcintyre, Catherine Scott

Honors Theses

The role of a curriculum coach in the PK-12 school system is a valuable one; the curriculum coach can provide mentoring and instructional supports to new teachers as they enter the field. The importance of this aid can be easily overlooked, nonetheless, because teachers are often unaware of the type of support that is available to them. In this study, a survey was administered to preservice teacher education students at a liberal arts institution in the southeast to evaluate their perceptions of curriculum coaches and their role in the classroom. Findings are shared and implications discussed for both school systems …

"We Missed Our Youth": The Identity Formation Of Child Migrants, Refugees, And Jewish Children In France From 1940 To 1942, Michaela Maria Gouge Watson

Honors Theses

From 1940 – 1942, hundreds of Jewish children from Germany, Austria, Russia, and France were hidden from Nazi and Vichy French authorities in children’s homes in France. These homes were administered by the Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants, a Jewish aid organization that assisted children in need during World War II. This study employs a quantitative content analysis of the testimonies of twenty Holocaust survivors who were hidden children in France between 1940 and 1942 to investigate to what extent the experience of outsider status and trauma affected these children’s personal and religious identity formation. The analysis finds that the …

An Investigation Of The Experiences Of New Teachers And Their Reasons To Stay In The Classroom, Jessa N. Mcentire

Honors Theses

New teacher attrition rates have increased over the years. Twenty percent of new teachers will leave the profession after three years. That number increases to forty-four percent after five years of teaching. For those just entering the profession, these numbers can be daunting. The purpose of this study was to determine the reasons for this departure and what actions schools employ to help lessen this attrition rate. After screening four teachers to gain a general insight into their experiences, eight teachers with a similar educational background were selected for additional interviews. This study was intended to determine how much of …

Foster A Better Future: A Comparative Analysis Of Foster Care Programs For Transition-Age Foster Youth And A Recommendation For The State Of Mississippi, Caroline Glaze

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to find and evaluate different programs aimed at

supporting older youth in foster care. This population of youth could be those in

high school and extends to youth who have aged out of the foster care system.

Through the evaluation of the selected programs based on a set of characteristics,

the study provides a policy recommendation for the state of Mississippi to begin to

better the lives of Mississippi foster youth. The methodology of this study is

qualitative and literature-based. Data was gathered from websites and other

published articles of the selected programs and …

The Book Of Twelve Accounted For Cases, Ty Craig

Honors Theses

This thesis is comprised of twelve case studies. The case studies were completed in conjunction with Professor Dickinson's ACCY 420 course. Each case is independent and has its own abstract.

Topics In Accountancy, Kara Kennedy

Honors Theses

For my thesis, I conducted a thorough analysis of the accounting field and profession through the lens of historical case study examples. In a classroom environment, I researched and debated case topics together with fellow accountancy students under the guidance of our thesis advisor, Dr. Dickinson. Case topics included analysis of broader areas, such as the current conceptual accounting framework or the analysis of accounting careers, along with analysis of more specific areas, such as the sale of debt securities or the appropriate capitalization of costs. Most cases required the evaluation of relevant financial statements in order to gain valuable …

An Examination Of Accountancy Case Studies, Joshua Cathey

Honors Theses

This thesis explores topics that are relevant to the profession of accounting, specific to the experience of a young professional in public accounting. Topics vary from exploration of tools used to analyze data, research into which city would be a good place to start a career, as well as relevant regulatory legal issues. The cases required a mixture of research as well as problem solving to obtain an understanding of the issues at hand. This research aided my ability to perform in front of accounting professionals at case studies that were hosted on campus. Through this research I decided on …

An Analysis Of Case Studies Related To Financial Accounting Concepts And Methods, Alexander Watkins

Honors Theses

Abstract

Alexander Pierce Watkins: An Analysis of Case Studies Related to the Field of Financial Reporting in Accounting

(Under the Direction of Dr. Victoria Dickenson)

The following thesis provides answers and descriptions to questions posed in various case studies that have to do with financial accounting,. The cases generally cover topics such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, how specific fictional or real companies have navigated their complexities, the student’s takeaway from the material, and a technical real-life application. Taking Intermediate Financial Accounting in conjunction with the completion of these cases allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of the subject …

Case Studies In Financial Accounting, Ian Ulmer

Honors Theses

The following thesis is intended to examine topics currently faced by accountants in the profession, in the areas of both technical proficiency and ethical theory, with an eye towards addressing potential areas of interest for accountants in the coming years. These case studies consist of established academic cases that use issues encountered and documented by several of the largest companies in the world to teach accounting theory, as well as cases in development by faculty of the Patterson School. These cases are designed to allow students to apply their previously theoretical knowledge of GAAP to case studies that document real-world …

A Study Of Key Accounting Principles For Financial Reporting Through Analysis Of Case Studies, Brent Austin Thomas

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a compilation of the solutions and analyses derived from twelve different case studies covering a variety of topics related to financial accounting standards in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as set forth by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. These case studies demonstrate how key accounting principles studied in academia are adapted into practice by businesses for financial reporting. Through the case studies, the real-world presentations of financial statements are analyzed in order to establish a knowledge of the current accounting climate and promote understanding of specific accounting topics. The case studies were completed under …

An Analysis On Applications Of Contemporary Financial Accounting Topics, Audrey M. Dames

Honors Theses

This thesis is composed of twelve independent case studies, each focusing on a different topic in financial accounting. These cases were completed over the course of a year under the instruction of Dr. Dickinson through the Honors Accountancy Independent Study course. To develop this thesis, I examined the information provided in every case study and performed independent research to analyze each unique accounting topic. In addition to independent analysis, the cases were reviewed in collaboration with other students in the Independent Study course, promoting discussion of varying opinions on contemporary accounting theories. The subject matter of the cases ranged from …

Teacher Perceptions Of Open Educational Resources In K-12 Mississippi Classrooms, Christie Forgette

Honors Theses

In this thesis, I examine K-12 teachers’ perceptions and use of open educational resources (OER) in Mississippi. I used a mixed methods approach to collect data from current teachers at one Mississippi school district. I conducted interviews with, observed, and surveyed 34 teachers at this district. I coded and analyzed the data to draw conclusions. I found that teachers were using OER as supplemental materials in this district, even if they did not know the term OER. Additionally, teachers generally found OER increased flexibility and student engagement in the classroom, especially when paired with technology, but saw several challenges to …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Financial Reporting Through Case Studies, Sarah Clancy

Honors Theses

The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College gives students of the Patterson School of Accountancy the unique opportunity to undergo an alternative thesis process. I completed two classes, one in each semester of my third year, in which I studied technical accounting and financial reporting through case studies. These case studies required that I research multiple aspects of the accounting field, including data analytics, financial statements and other accounting principles. In addition, Dr. Dickinson invited accounting professionals from prominent accounting firms to our class to give honors students the opportunity to learn and network.

I could not be any more grateful …

The 2017 Tax Cuts And Jobs Act: Analyzing Its Financial Impact On Division I Universities, Judge Nash Mcwithey

Honors Theses

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has had a substantial impact in the United States since its inception in 2017. This tax code overhaul has had a profound effect on the way Division I universities operate their athletic department operations and fundraising efforts. By creating new channels of federal tax revenues and eliminating deductions, such as the “80/20” premium seating deduction that has been used by universities, athletic programs have already begun to see a shift in how they must operate. This modification is done in order to avoid any major repercussions from the new tax code. This thesis discusses …

Methods To Detect Forgeries In Static Signatures, Jennifer Lauriello

Honors Theses

Statistical and machine learning approaches to forgery detection in offline sig- natures are attempted and evaluated. Offline signatures are static signatures found on physical media, mainly a piece of paper. A dataset of 330 signatures for 33 people is used, containing five genuine and five forged signatures for each person. The statistical analysis approach proves more successful than a machine learning approach, likely due to the size of the dataset.