Digital Commons Network^™

The Practice, Regulation, And Political Context Of Midwifery In Mississippi: Attitudes Of Healthcare Professionals, Alexandria Broadway

Honors Theses

The current state-by-state system of midwifery regulation—or lack thereof—has made the issue a subject of debate amongst policy-makers, community-members, and healthcare providers as a whole. In Mississippi, the practice of midwifery is, at present, legal but unregulated, meaning there is no protocol for licensure, certification, or registration. In 2011, a bill that sought to require all non-nurse midwives in the state to become Certified Professional Midwives through the North American Registry of Midwives or a successor organization was proposed. Though the legislation passed the House of Representatives, it was never signed into law. This bill, along with past and current …

Do Good: Greek Letter Organizations And Community Service, Lesley Brumfield

Honors Theses

Upon entering college, students are presented with opportunities to get involved with a variety of organizations in order to broaden their learning experiences. These extra-curricular groups are established with a variety of objectives. For example, there are groups centered on academic programs, groups established for sports and recreation, groups for the lovers of the arts, groups based on community service, groups affiliated with certain religious denominations and groups whose sole purpose is to bring students together to interact in social settings. One type of group found on nearly every college campus is the Greek letter organization or social fraternities and …

Television’S Effects On Speech And Language: The Parent’S Perspective, Hillary Fortenberry

Honors Theses

Purpose: This study focuses on an area seldom studied, the parent’s perception of television’s influence on their speech and language disordered child’s receptive and expressive skills. Understanding the parent’s perspective on specific effects television has on speech and language development can be valuable by providing educators and child caretakers with answers as to why parents allow their children to watch television. With this knowledge, parents can be educated as to what type of programming and to what extent viewing should be allowed for children to gain positive speech and language outcomes from their television viewing experience.

Method: .This study gathered …

Mattie T Revised Consent Decree Compliance Rates In Selected Mississippi Delta Counties, Rachel Griffin

Honors Theses

This is a study using archival data study that reflects the identification rates of Black students with Specific Learning Disabilities for four selected Mississippi Delta school districts. This study is relevant because of the court mandated requirements of the Mattie T. Revised Consent Decree (2003). There were no human participants involved in this study because the aggregated data was gathered from the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) website. The data was analyzed for compliance to the Mattie T. goal of achieving a 1.85% or less differential between the Black and Other racial groups as well as changes within three reporting …

The Great Advertising Campaign: The Effectiveness Of British Petroleum’S Post-Oil Spill Campaign, Brianne Painia

Honors Theses

On April 20, 2010, one explosion on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig in the Gulf of Mexico caused the greatest oil spill disaster in United States history. The effects of the spill were realized almost immediately. Seafood fishers lost jobs and product, the Gulf was tainted, and people around the nation realized the damage was not going to go away any time soon. The question asked around the nation was, “What are they going to do about it?” The “they” being British Petroleum, the owners of the ill-fated oil rig. BP did do something about it; they advertised. The corporation …

Attitudes And Social Factors As Predictors Of Male Perpetration Of Sexual Assault, Andrea A. Massa

Honors Theses

Previous research has demonstrated a significant association between sexual assault perpetration and hooking up, male peer support for woman abuse, alcohol consumption, and rape myth acceptance (Burt, 1980; Flack, Daubman, Caron, Asadorian, D’Aureli, Gigliotti & Stine, 2007; Schwartz & DeKeseredy, 1997). In the present study, we tested these relationships on the collegiate level by asking male students to indicate levels of male peer support for woman abuse (MPS), acceptance of rape myths (RMA), alcohol consumption, and history of hooking up and sexual assault perpetration during their undergraduate experience. Participants in this study were 200 male Bucknell students (sophomores - seniors) …

Disclosing Sexual Assault Victimization To Others, Nicole S. Shea

Honors Theses

Previous research has demonstrated that victims of sexual assault disclose their assaults most frequently to members of their intimate social circle. Unfortunately, some friends and family members give support in ways that are perceived as unhelpful by victims. The present study found that victims' reports and non-victims' expectations of positive support after disclosure differed significantly. These results indicate that significant efforts are needed to change the campus culture by increasing support for sexual assault victims.

Differences In Race And/Or Gender In Attitudes And Beliefs Towards Obesity Among Students At The University Of Southern Mississippi, Erick Brown

Honors Theses

Overweight and obesity have been described by various experts as critical problems in populations around the world, especially in the United States. These issues are so characterized because they affect numerous facets of life in this society. Researchers in the medical community have repeatedly described the health-related risks associated with obesity rates, asserting that higher risks of debilitating or fatal disease are tied to one’s level of obesity. They also say that obesity rates of populations are related to other disease rates, and many imply or clearly state that obesity is the cause and therefore the problem to be contested. …

“Double-Crossed, So To Speak": Black Female Resistance To Gendered Oppression In The South, Amolie Egloff

Honors Theses

Despite the vast amount of research focused on slavery and the American South, studies focusing solely on the black female’s experience during this time period are a fairly recent development. In the existing literature, these women have been painted a helpless victim caught in the wrath of white men, black men, and even white women. This study presents the stories of black women courageously resisting oppression both while enslaved and just after emancipation from 1830 to 1890. The analysis of a handful of slave narratives taken by the Worker’s Progress Administration in the 1930s and 1940s established that because black …

Parental Involvement In Speech-Language Intervention, Victoria Beech Finley

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how parents of children who are successful in therapy are involved, from the parent’s perspective. Literature on parental involvement in therapy is limited, especially findings from the parent’s perspective. This thesis follows a phenomenological qualitative design. The investigator interviewed three mothers regarding their participation. The investigator then transcribed the interviews and cyclically analyzed them to find salient themes across all three. There were two shared themes, acceptance and emotions. It is hoped that this study will provide insight for other parents so that they can contribute to their children’s success in speech-language intervention.

Relevant Jesus: A Study Of The Integration Of Popular Culture Into The Christian Church, Amie Guenard

Honors Theses

The Christian church today takes on the characteristics of many centuries past in style and ritual. Some churches are choosing to embrace the culture of our booming entertainment industry in order to gain the attention of a “sights and sounds” generation. This research contains a historical review of the relationship between the entertainment world and the Christian church as well as a case study of First Hattiesburg Baptist Church of Hattiesburg, MS. The results of this research show that the deliberate incorporation of secular communication and entertainment strategies into the regular functions First Hattiesburg Baptist Church has had more positive …

Effects Of “Ecoeagle” Advertising Campaign On The Students Of The University Of Southern Mississippi, Zach Knight

Honors Theses

Advertising is at the core of the human experience. An ever-present facet in the life of every person, Advertising provides an excellent opportunity to transmit valuable information to audiences that normally would not be exposed to the desired message. At The University of Southern Mississippi, the university administration desired to educate students about the values and benefits of environmentally conscious decision-making. With this goal in mind, the university created the “EcoEagle” advertising campaign, a targeted approach designed to engage students through a variety of advertising media, with the desired end result of a more environmentally conscious student body. Now several …

The Effect Of Socioeconomic Status On Local School Wellness Policy Implementation In Mississippi Public Schools, Rebecca Masters

Honors Theses

In recent years, rates of overweight and obesity have increased dramatically in America due to nutritionally poor diets and more sedentary lifestyles. Research has shown that obesity is a risk factor for numerous other conditions such as stroke, heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea. Unfortunately, overweight and obesity do not only affect the adults in our nation. Rates of overweight and obesity have also increased among American children. Approximately 17% of American children are obese, which is three times the rate of 1980 (Menifield, Doty, & Fletcher, 2008). In order to improve the overall health of America’s …

Flora Of The Gopher Farm Sandhill, Wayne County, Mississippi, Shira Brittany Nicholson

Honors Theses

This study documents the vascular plants and common lichens of the Gopher Farm sandhill, Wayne County, Mississippi. The Gopher Farm sandhill is located within the Chickasawhay Ranger District of the DeSoto National Forest and is one of the most northerly located sandhills in the Coastal Plain of Mississippi. The sandhill was surveyed 11 times from the spring of 2011 to the spring of 2012, primarily during the spring and fall. The survey resulted in 180 species, including 15 lichens, 1 fern, 2 gymnosperms, and 162 flowering plants. Collections included two rare species (Carex tenax and Rhynchospora megalocarpa) and …

Youth Violence In Harrison County, Mississippi, Ashley Rushing

Honors Theses

Youth violence plagues school communities and has traumatic effects on students, families, and communities (Affonso, Mayberry, Shibuya, Archambeau, Correa, Deliramich, & Frueh, 2010). Even though the rate of crime has declined, children have continued to increase the rates of violent acts (Funk, Elliot, Bechtoldt, Pasold, & Tsavoussis, 2003). Today, violent behaviors are being exhibited at an earlier age than ever before. Tragedies stemmed from youth violence occur almost daily in the United States. Between 1986 and 1991, slayings committed by teenagers, who had shown bullying tendencies as children, rose 124 percent. In 1992, 3,400 people were killed nationwide by teen …

Going Dutch: The Netherlands’ Maternal Health Care Framework As A Model For Sierra Leone, Emily Simmons

Honors Theses

The West African nation of Sierra Leone has received a large amount of attention for its especially high numbers of maternal mortality. Women in that country face a 1 in 8 chance of dying in childbirth or of related complications (WHO, 2011). In response, in 2010 Sierra Leone instituted a policy of free medical care to pregnant women and children under age 5. The Free Health Care Initiative, as it is called, emphasizes physician and clinical care, an approach that seems top-heavy considering the severe lack of physicians in the country. This study will compare the Free Health Care Initiative …

Preparation And Performance Of William Bolcom’S Cabaret Songs, Sara Linger

Honors Theses

The Cabaret Songs Complete by William Bolcom and Arnold Weinstein are true gems amongst the vast genre of twentieth century American art song. These songs are particularly unique because they meld the world of classical singing with modern styles, such as jazz, pop, and blues, as only William Bolcom can do. The songs are musically and dramatically challenging, making them less common in the traditional college student repertoire. Studying and performing these pieces has been a challenging and rewarding experience for me.

The purpose of this thesis is to provide a resource for the preparation of a cabaret show, specifically …

Understanding The Business Of Popular Songs, Jeremiah Stricklin

Honors Theses

This paper presents an analysis of Billboard Music Charts’ top twenty popular songs from the year 2011. These songs are studied to determine whether or not their songwriters adhere to hypothetical rules left by songwriting scholars from the past. The criteria for analysis include: length of introduction, length of the entire song, the presence of a memorable ‘hook’, the connection between tempo and key tonality, and the form of each song. The research concludes that, while songwriters typically adhere to a loose set of rules, they do not follow them exactly. Therefore, the success of a popular song cannot be …

A Comparison Of Van Hiele Levels And Final Exam Grades Of Students At The University Of Southern Mississippi, Cononiah Watson

Honors Theses

This research analyzed students final exam scores in a college mathematics class with geometric components and their van Hiele levels upon entering the class. After the class was completed, each student’s final exam grade was calculated. The researcher used a Spearman correlation to compare the two; the result was a correlation coefficient of 0.742. The researcher then reported that the results of the van Hiele test are a major component in predicting a student’s success in such a class.

Career Calling And Work Motivation In Traditional And Non-Traditional College Students, Cara Wells

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to help define career-related calling through the perception of traditional (18 to 24 years of age) and non-traditional (25 and older) college students and identify what variables of motivation are related to calling. Three hundred and fifty-one participants completed an online survey that measured calling through The Career and Vocational Questionnaire (CVQ), and motivation through the Work Preference Inventory (WPI). Pearson Correlation and independent t-test were used in statistical analysis. Correlational analysis revealed that presence of calling and search for calling are significantly related to intrinsic motivation. Analysis also showed that level of presence …

Perspectives On Technology Change And The Marketing Of Real Estate, Sarah Stetelman

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Libertatem Religionis: Remembering Our Origins, Joseph Tramuta

Honors Theses

At a time when the Catholic Church in the United States is publicly berated with accusations of being an outdated, oppressive institution concerned only with depriving women of their reproductive rights and devaluing freedom of conscience, many contemporary Catholics and others see only the stubbornness and isolationism rather than the constructive good of the church or the scope, depth, and fluidity of the Catholic Church’s teachings about modern society. This paper will assess the extent to which American political thought is ingrained in the Dignitatis Humanae: The Declaration on Religious Freedom from the Second Vatican Council. It will include: a) …

Libertarian Acceptance Among The Students Of The University Of Southern Mississippi, Joseph Lebeau

Honors Theses

How can a potential libertarian portion of USM students be differentiated from the conservative and liberal segments? The most obvious method is to classify students by their respective demographic factors. Demographic categories such as gender, race, age, religion, field of study, etc. could prove to be extremely useful when attempting to identify patterns in populations. The connections between these variables and political ideology are further examined in the literature review. The demographics of a potential libertarian faction have yet to be defined, specifically at the University of Southern Mississippi. Therefore, the goal of my research will be to first locate …

"So God-Damned Far Away": Soldiers' Experiences In The Vietnam War, Tara M. Bell

Honors Theses

This paper is based off of a collection of Vietnam War letters that I processed at the Western Michigan University Archives and Regional History Collections. They are all written to a local woman, Carol, by five soldiers, named Mitch, Dennis, Ron, Willis, and Kenneth. Carol’s responses are not included in the collection.

Carol, Mitch, and Willis all graduated in the same class from Vicksburg High School. From using databases and yearbooks, I learned that Carol knew each of the soldiers from organizations they both belonged in. Although I could not exactly determine how Carol knew Ron and Kenneth, it seems …

Double Take Project: Using Applied Theatre For Campus Climate Change, Christina M. Cody

Honors Theses

Despite research gathered in the Campus Climate Report, I believe that it underrepresented the student experience of the social scene. The document primarily served as an identification tool for four major problems on campus: binge drinking, sexual assault, diversity, and disengagement in the classroom. Double Take Project also identifies similar issues however, this project uses theatrical techniques to gather the anecdotal reality of the student perspective. Double Take Project expands beyond the Campus Climate Report to inspire dialogue in a variety of student-to-student interactions and, more importantly, the project seeks action and solution plans.

The social scene dominates our culture …

The Effect Of Phosphite On Mycorrhiza Formation In American Chestnut (Castanea Dentata), Matthew T. Perkins

Honors Theses

One of the primary hindrances to Castanea dentata restoration in the Southeast is the root rot disease caused by the fungus-like microorganism Phytophthora cinnamomi. Root rot can be combated by the application of mono- and di-potassium salts of phosphorous acid, which are marketed as phosphite fungicides. Despite its value in preventing infection by P. cinnamomi it is also thought that phosphite may impede root colonization by beneficial, ectomycorrhizal fungi. I hypothesized that plants given a routine application of phosphite will display fewer mycorrhizas in the root tips than those plants that were not treated with potassium phosphite. Therefore I attempted …

The Use Of Excess Aircraft As Maximization Of Resources, Jean Paul Pion Garcia

Honors Theses

The United States currently has within just 6 airfields approximately 4,600 grounded aircraft. Out of these excess aircraft, approximately 66,900 metric tons of secondary aluminum could be extracted. All this amount of material equals to approximately 147 million US dollars if sold to the current aluminum market price; the United States government could save up to 450 million US dollars just in electrical power expenses by choosing to recycle these aircraft, instead of producing primary aluminum out of bauxite. Recycling all these aircraft, would also have a positive impact in the environment, since hundreds of acres would be freed from …

Incorporating Hispanic Culture Into A Secondary Instrumental Classroom, Alexander Armstead

Honors Theses

For much of history, there has been a long-standing belief of the superiority of Western art music; that it is more natural, complex, expressive, and meaningful than other musics. This standpoint is being challenged more than ever as advances in musicology, ethnomusicolgy, global communication and media bring musics of other nations and cultures to the doorstep of the American people. There are many benefits to teaching cultural music in the instrumental classroom, including social and musical components. These components have the ability to open the minds of students to a higher sense of community as they enter the "world village" …

Personal Savings In The United States, Samanatha A. Marsh

Honors Theses

Over the past decade personal savings in America has been much lower than in the past. The question is why household savings is so much lower and what factors are contributing to the decline. To answer this question, I look at data collected from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS has conducted a survey of consumer expenditures, or buying habits, since 1984. By using the BLS 2010 Consumer Expenditure Data, I can look at how different factors, such as income, age, family size and number of kids under the age of eighteen all effect household savings. Using the …

The Impact Of Whistleblowing Legislation On Developed And Emerging Markets, Catherine C. Koh

Honors Theses

This paper intends to study the impact of whistleblowing legislations and on developed and emerging markets. The main reason the study is carried out is because there is lack of research and literature conducted on this topic areas. The testing of the relationship between how whistleblowing affects the equity markets in developed and emerging countries is conducted through a multi-regression analysis across four parameters (i) the weekly historical adjusted returns of the countries' indices around the time the legislation was proposed or passed, (ii) the occurrence of the event which is the week when the legislation was promulgated or enacted, …