Digital Commons Network^™

Musculoskeletal Risk Among Radiology Professionals: Ergo, The Importance Of Ergonomics, Jodie M. Caithamer

Honors Theses

Workers in physically demanding occupations are at increased risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), particularly with prolonged exposure to awkward postures and static loading. Healthcare workers, including those in radiology, are particularly affected. This study used an anonymous survey based on the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), to assess body regions of discomfort and ergonomic risk factors.

In total, 48 radiology healthcare workers participated. Musculoskeletal discomfort was highly prevalent, with 96% reporting symptoms in the past 12 months. The most affected areas were the lower back (76.1%), neck (56.5%), and shoulders (34.8%). Awkward postures such …

How Life Enrichment Farms Promote Independence, Health, And Well-Being Through Vocational Skills And Sensory Processing Skills, Olivia Stanek

Honors Theses

There is limited knowledge about life enrichment farms and their role in supporting individuals with disabilities. This project aimed to highlight how occupational therapy can collaborate with these farm-based programs to promote independence, health, and well-being among younger adults with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. An evidence-informed approach and qualitative research methods were used to explore this question, including a literature review and an interview with AACORN Farms, a life enrichment farm located in Michigan. Findings were further examined through occupational therapy activity analysis to identify the vocational, sensory, and meaningful engagement opportunities embedded within the various areas …

The Benefits Of Different Graphic Design Elements And What Satisfies Consumers, Kathryn R. Marston

Honors Theses

This thesis investigates the principles, elements, methodologies, and emerging trends of website design. It has a focus on user experience and design elements such as color, shape, and fonts. As websites have evolved from being a place to share information to a place where goods are bought and sold, design directly impacts the satisfaction of the consumer using the website. This study explores the connection between graphic design and user experience elements and satisfaction of consumers.

The research uses qualitative research to discover the impact of graphic design elements of a website including color scheme, button shapes, and font styles …

Deaf Community, Cochlear Implants, And Language Access, Amelia Segroves

Honors Theses

This thesis looks at how getting a cochlear implant can affect a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing person’s identity, language development, and sense of belonging. It compares people who see deafness as part of a rich culture (big “D” Deaf) with those who see it more as a medical condition (little “d” deaf). By reviewing studies and articles, the research explores how early exposure to language, school environments, and family choices influence how people communicate and see themselves.

This thesis looks at how getting a cochlear implant can affect a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing person’s identity, language development, and sense of belonging. It …

The Design Report: How Image Generative Artificial Intelligence Is Changing The Culture Of Design?, Katelyn M. Walker

Honors Theses

The rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) is reshaping the global culture of visual communication professions by automating design and design-thinking, causing an acceleration in the already-shifting values which favor profit, speed, and cost effectiveness over human expression. As the accessibility of GAI models is integrated into creative spaces, opportunities within the profession are beginning to diminish causing introductory and junior level design positions to be highly competitive and out of reach for many beginner designers’ reach. Additionally, GAI is causing the homogenization of global culture and values, ultimately reinforcing the ideas of capitalism. The result has been a …

Investigating The Theory-Practice Gap In Sales Engineering Transitions, Jack K. Doll

Honors Theses

This research paper reports the investigation of the theory-practice gap that exists for engineering graduates transitioning into sales engineering or technical sales roles. Sales engineering is the practice of employing technical knowledge to facilitate the sales process of complex engineered products and services, acting as a bridge between engineers and customers. A balance of technical knowledge and sales acumen are critical to success in these positions. To investigate this theory-practice gap, the researcher employs a mixed-method design consisting of self-assessment surveys directed at current and previous sales engineers to gauge their readiness and skills at graduation versus the skills they …

The Effectiveness Of Drawing As A Study Tool For Success In Human Anatomy And Physiology, Gracie C. Willis

Honors Theses

Human Anatomy and Physiology courses are packed with substantial information to obtain and retain over a semester. Study techniques students integrate into their studies are indispensable in affecting their success or failure in Human Anatomy and Physiology courses. This study aimed to determine if using drawing as a study technique would positively or negatively impact students' success or failure rate in Human Anatomy and Physiology I (A&P I) at the University of Mississippi. Participants were divided into three groups based on the degree of participation. Group A students chose only to release their unidentified test scores. Group B students released …

The New Teacher Of Ideas: A Study On Social Media, Political Influencers, And Generation Z, Brenley Rinaudo

Honors Theses

The current study focuses on members of Generation Z and where they learn about politics and receive political news. Different than previous generations, Generation Z receives news on social media more than on traditional media platforms (Murmuration, 2023). Politicians must quickly begin to understand how to engage and connect with the next generation of voters on these social media platforms. For these reasons, this study surveyed members of Generation Z at The University of Mississippi. Current University of Mississippi students are members of Generation Z and reflect common trends among this Generation, such as constant usage of social media. This …

Catholicism Online: How The Church Is Communicating In The Visual Field, Alexandra Barfield

Honors Theses

ABSTRACT

Given the rise and importance of social media in the last two decades, religious institutions, especially the Roman Catholic Church, have an important place online to fulfill their mission and belief of spreading the Gospel message. Communicating this message on social media and with contemporary marketing practices is an opportunity and a challenge for churches, Catholics, and apostolates alike. In this study, I analyze a variety of Catholic-related Instagram accounts and interview individuals involved in Church management and content creation. This primary research is prefaced with secondary research exploring the status of the Catholic Church in the United States, …

From Page To Panel: Navigating Intertextuality And Multimodality In A Neil Gaiman Graphic Adaptation, Kassandra Whitehurst

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Hidden Connections, Yazmin Goulet

Honors Theses

As a graphic designer pursuing degrees in both Art, from the College of Liberal Arts, and Integrated Marketing Communications, from the School of Journalism, the goal of the art that I create is for it to be seen by many and connect viewers to the messages that I am trying to get across through my work. Art is a form of visual communication, and as an artist, I am always looking at the world around me and seeing how art of all forms connects art to people.

Much how like art itself is used to connect people, for this thesis …

Once In A Lifetime: Designing Hair And Makeup For The Era Of Sound, Olga Goupalova

Honors Theses

This thesis describes the design process of an undergraduate theatre student creating hair and makeup looks for a production of George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart’s Once in a Lifetime, presented by the University of Southern Mississippi in the Fall of 2021. This thesis involved a detailed analysis of characters, the collection of primary research from the Roaring Twenties period, and constant communication with both the production team and the performers in order to achieve the most functional yet aesthetically pleasing hair and makeup designs possible.

Keywords: Hair, Makeup, Design, Theatre, Once in a Lifetime, Roaring Twenties, George S. …

Greco-Roman Paganism And Women Leaders: The Foundation Of Early Christian Art, Rowan Murry

Honors Theses

In this thesis, I explore the impact of Greco-Roman pagan motifs as well as women leaders and officials on the development of Early Christian art by analyzing catacomb paintings, sarcophagi, and minor arts such as finger rings and carved gemstones. I also discuss surviving primary sources written by Tertullian, Eusebius, St. Jerome, and Clement of Alexandria, to gain a better understanding of anti-art views in the first few centuries of the Church’s rise to power. These anti-art sentiments were often rooted in attempts to disassociate themselves from pagan practices while Early Christian art was emerging amongst the lower classes who …

The Multi-Sensory Design Of A Synesthete's Everyday Experience, Madeline M. Spicer

Honors Theses

Perception, which can be defined as becoming aware of occurrences in the world through the senses, is different for every person (Merriam-Webster). My thesis deals with perception in the form of a condition called synesthesia and the communication of this condition using graphic design. Synesthesia is a condition that involves the involuntary crossing of the senses, resulting in multi-sensory experiences every time a synesthete absorbs the world and visible language. Utilizing the field of graphic design, I created several projects to communicate my three goals of conducting research on synesthesia, sharing what I experience every day, and educating others about …

Sustainable Stories: Linking Graphic Design And The Environment To Inform, Educate, And Inspire, Shannon M. Stanforth

Honors Theses

The importance of the field of graphic design lies in its ability to communicate with others. It can serve to transcend barriers, to clarify messages, and to deepen universal understanding. Similarly, sustainability encompasses the three spheres of the environment, society and economy—demonstrating its interconnected complexities and multifaceted applications. In pursuing my Honors Thesis, I aimed to develop a project which would reflect the ideals of sustainability while simultaneously serving to educate about the importance of caring for the natural world. Furthermore, my research explores how the disciplines of sustainability and design overlap and interact, searching to discover ways in which …

Communication Resources For Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing Children In Mississippi: Parents’ Perspectives, Julia Rossano

Honors Theses

A parent’s ability to communicate with their child through formative years may often be taken for granted, as the options for such communication seem intuitive and apparent. However, hearing parents of children with hearing loss must not only make a choice between several communication methods, but they must also navigate an environment where the methodologies are not clearly delineated. Blaiser and colleague provide succinct descriptions of the most common methods which can be chosen. These methods include listening and spoken language systems, manual-visual systems, and systems combining these two modalities (Blaiser & Bargen, 2018). This choice is often challenging because …

Boundaries And Pleasure In Ovid's Metamorphoses: A Critique Of Augustan Marriage Legislation, Nicholas Pryor

Honors Theses

Love, sex, and pleasure are all themes that surface frequently throughout Ovid’s corpus. But these are not exclusively Ovidian themes: they warranted great attention from the emperor Augustus as well, albeit for different reasons. While Ovid entertains these themes in ways that reflect prevailing attitudes of pleasure for pleasure’s sake, Augustus attempted to recover traditional, practical conceptions of love and sex in an effort to further strengthen his control over the burgeoning Empire. In many ways, each man’s treatment of love and sex is a reaction to the other’s conflicting attitudes. The enactment of Augustus’ marriage legislation (leges Iuliae) rendered …

Visualizing The Range Of Glaciers: Science, Art And Narrative, Claire E. Waichler

Honors Theses

Glaciers are sensitive indicators and data keepers of climatic change. The glaciers of the North Cascades, Washington, also have significant economic and cultural value as they are enmeshed in hydroelectricity generation, terrestrial and aquatic ecology, and human communities. My project approaches the current climate crisis by examining the past, present and future of the glaciers of the North Cascades through the two lenses of art and science. I review and contextualize the last century of glacier research in the North Cascades to identify patterns of glacier change and how this affects ecological and human communities. Overlaid upon my literature review, …

‘How Has Art Refocused Consumers’ Attention Within A Visual World Through The Exploration Of Package Design?’, Frances Hackney

Honors Theses

The art of design has refocused the attention of consumers as they have entered into a visually demanding world. While this concept is complex and perplexing, stemming from endless influencing factors, the elements of design can be broken down into areas of focus to dissect the visual world of marketing. A simple way to communicate the influence of design on the consumers is to unveil the answers through the study of art.

In this thesis, the study will turn to the world of art to learn more about consumerism. The goal is to understand how visual images and the ongoing …

The Hair You Wished To Comb, Sarah Barch

Honors Theses

This thesis is a collection of poems exploring gender and trauma in Greek mythology by retelling classical stories in a female voice.

Using Components Of American Sign Language To Better The Quality Of Life And Communication Access Of Elderly Persons In Assisted Living, Josie Arnett

Honors Theses

One of the most common conditions that affects people as they get older is presbycusis, the gradual loss of hearing (“Age-Related Hearing Loss”). Because of this, components of American Sign Language (ASL) were taught to elderly persons at Stillwater Senior Living assisted living facility in Edwardsville, IL with the purpose of improving access to communication. Helpful words to know in assisted living such as “want, food, hurt, and better” were taught. In addition, students were taught to feel comfortable with gestures such as pointing or thumbs up as a way to communicate. After learning how to sign certain words, students …

A Comparative Analysis Of Undergraduate Integrated Marketing Communications Degrees In The United States, Anne Watkins Tyson

Honors Theses

No longer are traditional marketing communications methods effectively reaching consumers. The approach of integrated marketing communications intentionally combines all aspects of the marketing communications mix into one consistent message. Research reveals that integrated marketing communications is becoming a more and more popular field of study for students and academics. Because of this, universities are forced to evaluate how their integrated marketing communications programs are taught in order to stay relevant. The purpose of this study is to conduct an analysis of undergraduate integrated marketing communications degrees in the United States. This thesis work defines integrated marketing communications, and also describes …

Empathy In Aging, Morgan Kranz, James Charles Arendt

Honors Theses

Empathy in Agingis a project exploring how to show compassion for the inevitable aging process. This form of care is physical and mental. The concept for this work comes from my time working as a nursing assistantin a nursing home. Through my experiences, this project explores what I took away through observation and interaction

Freiden Skincare: Evolving Stigmas For The Sake Of Wellness, Gabrielle Graham

Honors Theses

Frieden (pronounced free-den) is the German word for peace and self-reconciliation. Frieden is a skincare line infused with Cannabidiol, a natural compound found in marijuana plants that can be used for treating pain without the hallucinogenic side-effects (thanks to no THC being present in the product). Health benefits of Cannabidiol extend to topical relief from chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and a multitude of other forms of reprieve from discomfort.

Through my research, I discovered that in a world of fast fixes and reactive remedies, visual communication has influenced consumers to be more thoughtful with their purchases. Thanks in part to …

The Cinderella Tale: Oral, Literary, And Film Traditions, Olivia Camille Williams

Honors Theses

Folk and fairy tales have been told for centuries. The most prevalent medium of dispersing popular tales changed with technological advancements. Printed word superseded oral storytelling, to be succeeded by film. Some communal aspects of the tales were lost as print emerged, but with print came illustrations to describe the text. Film reimbued the tales with some of the theatrical elements of the oral tale while keeping, and heightening, the visual elements of the illustrated texts. The tale Cinderella has been, and still is, remarkably poplar. As such, it has received attention in academic circles and popular culture. The tale, …

Misreading The Hybrid Face: The Alienation Of Performed And Authentic Self In Danzy Senna’S Caucasia And Chang-Rae Lee’S Native Speaker, William E. Landers

Honors Theses

Race is epistemological. It shapes worldviews, conceptions of self, and interactions with society. It defines who belongs in the national community and who counts as fully human. The myth of whiteness as a homogenizing and nativist identity creates false personas around and within racialized others. These personas define non-white populations according to exclusionary stereotypes. These stereotypes, in turn, separate populations based on appearance and cultural practice. This thesis applies Critical Race Theory and comparative racialization tools to examine the historical implications of race on the conception of an authentic, or internally true, identity. These implications are illustrated by the dynamics …

Deaf Education: Bicultural Bilingual Education And Total Communication In General Education, Stacey L. Johnson

Honors Theses

This paper will examine scholarly work in the field of deaf and hard of hearing (d/hh) education in relation to two different approaches used by teachers in this field. The researcher is searching to find which approach, bicultural bilingual in a residential setting or total communication in general education best serves students who are deaf and hard of hearing in the United States. Upon beginning research, it was quickly noted that you cannot look at only setting, communication, or approach; they are tightly bound and must be looked at together.

Efficient Denoising And Sharpening Of Color Images Through Numerical Solution Of Nonlinear Diffusion Equations, Linh T. Duong

Honors Theses

The purpose of this project is to enhance color images through denoising and sharpening, two important branches of image processing, by mathematically modeling the images. Modifications are made to two existing nonlinear diffusion image processing models to adapt them to color images. This is done by treating the red, green, and blue (RGB) channels of color images independently, contrary to the conventional idea that the channels should not be treated independently. A new numerical method is needed to solve our models for high resolution images since current methods are impractical. To produce an efficient method, the solution is represented as …

Reifying Digital Histories, Ed Ryan

Honors Theses

The use of sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat is rooted in nowness. Most users rarely think about the long-term aspects of their relationship with the networks to which they belong, instead focusing on an ever-refreshing interface filled with fresh content. But what happens to this content when it is removed from its familiar digital context? Do the archived interactions, updates, tweets, and other pieces of our digital histories take on new meaning when placed onto a physical substrate? Using the form of the book and my personal Twitter archive, I have addressed my own digital history, looking specifically …

Western Michigan University’S Department Of Dance Marketing Plan, Cassandra Hartline

Honors Theses

The following report constitutes the formal marketing plan for the department of dance at Western Michigan University. This plan is intended to synthesize all of the marketing related information pertinent to Western’s dance department and provide easy one step access to this material at any time. The other purpose of this plan is to dictate the primary objectives the department is looking to accomplish through implementation of marketing tactics.

The first primary objective includes increasing visibility of the department of dance as a whole to both our primary and secondary target audiences; the second objective is to create innovative marketing …