Digital Commons Network^™

The Polarizing Effects Of Inflammatory Language In Political Blogs, Holly Sarah Hosford

Honors Theses

The Internet, as an unregulated and anonymous outlet, sometimes fosters uncivil political interaction, in which political debates escalate to hate speech or attacks on a social group. There is much debate on whether the political blogosphere will foster a purer democracy or create a more politically polarized society. In order to make conclusions about the societal effects of uncivil political dialogue, I examined the effects of Inflammatory political language on readers of weblogs and other online posts. I created and distributed five versions of an online survey, with each survey containing a different version of mock political blog comments. Each …

Challenging Eu Solidarity? : German-Russian Relations, Jessica Ann Beck

Honors Theses

JESSICA ANN BECK: Challenging EU Solidarity? : German-Russian Relations (Under the direction of Dr. Matthew Loveless)

The European Union and its ability to function as a unified actor in the international sphere will be analyzed in this thesis. When the 27 member states of the EU act as one, this institution clearly has tremendous power to adjust international politics in its favor. In addressing the EU’s ability to act in a unified manner in the international environment, this thesis will analyze how bilateral relations affect unity in EU foreign policy. Often, the actions of individual nations are blamed for the …

The Political Mobilization Of Afro-Ecuadorians: A Comparison To The United States And Brazil, Sederia Gray

Honors Theses

SEDERIA NATASHA GRAY: The Political Mobilization of Afro-Ecuadorians: A comparison to the United States and Brazil (Under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Jackson)

In this thesis, I will use the theory of political mobilization in Brazil by Edward Telles. Telles argues that skin color, social class and residential concentration are the three main factors in politically mobilizing a community. When there is one, distinct race (skin color) and/ or social class political mobilization is high. Telles argues that skin color is an ethnic identity marker that causes political mobilization. In the case ofsocial class in Brazil, Telles argues that groups …

Religious Nationalism In The Post-Soviet World: A Case Study Of The Relationship Between The Russian Orthodox Church And Georgian Orthodox Church During The Five-Day War, Harrison Ford

Honors Theses

HARRISON FORD: Religious Nationalism in the Post-Soviet Sphere: A Case Study of the Relationship Between the Russian Orthodox Church and Georgian Orthodox Church During the Five­Day War (Under the direction of Dr. Ahmet Yukleyen)

This thesis explores religious nationalism through the study of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and its relationship with the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC). Its focus is mainly on the time period immediately before and after Russia-Georgia 2008 conflict, but relevant history of the relationship between the two will be discussed to provide context.

In the post-Soviet era, the Russian Orthodox Church and Russian Federation conduct what …

A Longitudinal Study Of Derived Relational Responding In An Infant With A Significant Language Delay, Charlves William Peterson Iv

Honors Theses

Henry, a child (23 months old at the beginning of the study) with an expressive language delay was trained to derive relations over a three month period. He was taught to match visual, vocal, and signed stimuli for several objects. The researchers were searching for a pattern in the development of matching relations, relations of mutual entailment, and relations of combinatorial entailment over the duration of the study. For each relation the researchers examined the number of trials needed for independent correct responding. The results showed the child’s performance on derived relational responding improved over time. Henry began to independently …

Estimation Of Charge Transfers By Individual Lightning Return Strokes, Lauren Elizabeth Vickers

Honors Theses

LAUREN ELIZABETH VICKERS: Estimation ofCharge Transfers by Individual Lightning Return Strokes (Under the direction of Dr. Thomas Marshall)

The ultimate purpose ofthis project is to estimate the charge transfers of individual return strokes of cloud-to-ground lightning flashes. The data were collected using a sensor that measures and records changes in electric field during storms. The graphical displays ofthe these data show the field changes associated with the return strokes and other related events of a storm’s activity, specifically ofthe cloud-to-ground flashes relevant to this project. These data were used in collaboration with four other data acquisition systems to estimate charge …

The Effect Of Mood On Short Term Memory, Amy Vitell

Honors Theses

ABSTRACT AMY VITELL: The Effect of Mood on Short Term Memory

Eighty-four undergraduate students (13 males and 71 females) from the University of Mississippi were tested on the effect of mood on short term memory. The participants, with a mean age of 19, were made up of 61 Caucasians, 21 African American, and 2 Asians. The participants took part in a free recall task involving 25 neutral words. Next, a film clip was shown to induce a particular mood (either positive or negative, depending on assigned condition). Following the mood manipulation the participants took part in a second recall task …

The Relationship Between Young Women's Self-Perceived Body-Esteems And Calculated Body Compositions, Alyssa Kay Ashmore

Honors Theses

Beginning at an early age, girls realize self-conscious feelings after being confronted with the issue of accepting their changing bodies (Halpem, Udry, Campbell & Suchindran, 1999). In the university setting, young women’s self-perceptions of body- esteem are sensitive to outside influences and peers (Heinberg & Thompson, 1992; Giles, Helme & Krcmar, 2007, Shomaker & Furman, 2007). This study observes the relationship between calculated body compositions and self-perceived body-esteems among female students at the University of Mississippi. Eighty-five female students between the ages of 18 and 23 volunteered to participate in the study. A questionnaire assessed body-esteem levels of the participants …

Freedom's Disciple : The Life, Music, And Impact Of Hazel Dickens, Kelly Landers

Honors Theses

The work of Appalachian musician Hazel Dickens sheds light on many of the musical and cultural changes in our country. Dickens used her music as a voice for the disadvantaged, advocating for improvements in the lives of miners, working-class people, and women, and pushing for all to be treated equally. A wonderful songwriter, performer, and overall musician, Dickens saw her career, music, and beliefs as inextricably linked, and so this thesis will explore her leadership by analyzing her songs and her history.

Understanding Rejection Across Ingroups And Outgroups, Prasant Dubey

Honors Theses

Black and White male undergraduates from the University of Richmond participated in a study addressing rejection. The purpose was to discover how responses to rejection vary amongst individuals who are rejected by their in-group versus their out-group. In other words, is a white male more likely to be impacted by rejection from another white male (a member of the in- group) or a black male (a member of the out-group)? Likewise, it was interesting to note how black individuals respond differently to rejection by the in-group and out-group. Responses to rejection feedback, regarding self-esteem, attributions to rejection, cognitive capacity, and …

That Glorious Fire It Kindled: Extremes Of (Un)Righteous Sexuality In Books I And Iii Of Spenser's Faerie Queene, S. Erin Mclean

Honors Theses

Edmund Spenser's epic romance, The Faerie Queene (1590, 1596), claims to glorify Queen Elizabeth I, but the author hides an underlying critique of the queen throughout the poem. At the same time that Spenser openly praises the English monarch, he also reveals the faults and contradictions present in her image through how he presents the main characters in the story. In Faerie Queene, Spenser establishes a sexuality spectrum that features the lechery of Redcrosse Knight and the hypersensitive purity of Britomart; this demonstrates the various extremes of immoral sexuality. Studying both these characters reveals that the success of each knight's …

Synthesis And Reactivity Of Alpha-Azido Acylals, Gretchen Bell

Honors Theses

alpha-Azido -Azido acylals are a novel combination of azide (N3) and acylal [R-C(OOCR)2] functional groups. Since these compounds are new chemical entities, little is known in the chemical literature about their physical, chemical, and biological properties. This synthetic methodology investigation sought to (1) develop a one-pot, two reaction method for preparing alpha-azido acylals and (2) investigate the chemical reactivity of alpha-azido acylals with phosphine reagents. Progress has been made and will be discussed regarding both the synthesis and reactivity of alpha-azido acylals. This work developed methods and processes that will have significant impact in our broader objective of exploring the …

No Bones About It: Evaluating Faunal Evidence For Ancient Lifestyles At Tall Jalul, Jordan, Chelsea L. Grimstad

Honors Theses

Analysis and characterization of faunal remains -- those bones and bone fragments collected from archaeological sites -- allows anthropologists and archaeologists to more completely reconstruct the ways in which ancient societies survived and interacted. As animals have invariably played an integral role in human society, providing transportation, draft, and a consistent food source, the study of their bones can elucidate the lifestyles and cultural practices of the people who raised and utilized them. Faunal remains for this project were collected and identified during the 2009 dig season at Tall Jalul in Jordan as part of the Madaba Plains Project. Further …

Sustainability In Practice: A Study Of The Sustainable Behaviors Of Students At The Univeristy Of Tennessee At Chattanooga, Audrey Glor

Honors Theses

Sustainable behaviors, such as recycling, are increasingly important as the world's population continues to rise. While many attempts have been made at various institutions, recycling on a grand scale has yet to become a social reality. This study was designed to look at the three broad factors influencing an individual's recycling behavior: social pressure, knowledge base, and convenience. It was hypothesized that social pressure would have the greatest influence on an individual's recycling behavior, while not overlooking the importance of the other two factors. A questionnaire was employed to collect data from a sample population at the University of Tennessee …

D-Day Through Song: Teaching History Through Music And The Theory Of Multiple Intelligences, Lucas Rewa

Honors Theses

Socials studies teachers know that making their lessons engaging for students in of utmost importance. History has a reputation of being one of those subjects that students think is boring. They think that history has no connection to their lives; it has no meaning for them. In order to get the students engaged in the material and to really learn, a teacher has to relate history to the students' lives. They need to foster an emotional attachment between the students and the material. "Emotion is the glue that makes history stick."

Contribution Of Candida Albicans To The Synthesis Of The Volatile Organic Compound Ethanol In Putrefied Bodies, Chelsey Mozingo

Honors Theses

This experiment sought to determine if Candida albicans contributed to the production of the volatile organic compound ethanol in decomposing beef livers. The results this experiment proved to be inconclusive. This experiment showed no correlation between the amount the presence of Candida albicans and the production of the volatile organic compound ethanol based on the standard addition method. This may be indicative that VOC analysis is not an appropriate method for determining time of death based on a quantitative analysis of volatile organic compounds. However, the experimental design most likely needs be altered to accommodate a more accurate method of …

The Apology Of Sidney: Explaining Martyrdom, Michael Marinaccio

Honors Theses

The treatment of important figures throughout history has always played favor to the victor by nature and consequently only been offered thorough significance given the eventual passage of time and publicity. If queried of philosophy and its basic influence on the modern world, laymen would probably have the ability to conjure up the name of Socrates, one of the more prominent, noteworthy philosophers in history.

Effects Of A Spatially And Temporally Predictable Chlorophyll Maximum On Bottlenose Dolphin Distribution In A South Carolina Estuary, Steven W. Thornton

Honors Theses

Numerous studies have focused on the complex relationship between phytoplankton and zooplankton in estuarine environments, but few have scrutinized the effects of this connection on organisms in higher trophic levels. This study examined chlorophyll a concentrations and zooplankton densities in North Inlet, South Carolina, a site where a stable chlorophyll a maximum has been documented to exist at low tide, to determine if they influenced the distribution of resident bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). We hypothesized that patterns of estuarine circulation in the salt marsh serve to concentrate phytoplankton and zooplankton predictably in time and space, and that these patterns influence …

Identification Of Potentially Pathogenic Yeast Species In Seagull Guano By Molecular Techniques, Tobias L. Banks

Honors Theses

Although studies have been performed identifying bacteria present in seagull guano, limited studies have been done with fungi, leaving a significant gap in our knowledge of a potentially significant reservoir of human disease. If pathogenic fungi are being deposited by seagulls in their feces then it is possible that the Department of Health might elect to monitor sand, as well as water, for a broad spectrum of disease-causing microbes. Currently only water is tested for the presence of coliform bacteria. It is hypothesized that there are pathogenic yeast-like fungi present in the guano of seagulls, that these fungi are deposited …

Students' Perceived Parenting Styles And Their Later Romantic Attachment Styles And Preferred Coping Tendencies, Shannon L. Bogart

Honors Theses

In the first of two studies, the use of data compiled from questionnaires concerning perceived parenting style and romantic attachment style of Coastal Carolina University students were used to test the hypothesis that the authoritative parenting style would be related to the secure attachment style. The researcher used the terms attachment style and romantic attachment style interchangeably throughout the study. These variables were then statistically analyzed by a chi-square test of independence and showed statistical significance to support the hypothesis. The frequency of students who answered to have both authoritative parenting and secure attachments was significantly higher than the other …

Authentic Assessment Versus Traditional Assessment: A Comparative Study, Nikki Brawley

Honors Theses

Assessment is defined as "almost any form of measurement and appraisal of what students know and can do." These forms can include, but are not limited to: tests, reports, observations, and questioning. There are two main subgroups used when describing assessment: trasitional and alternative. The term traditional assessment refers to a paper and pencil based test used to determine what a student knows and can recall, i.e. the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests (PACT). The term alternative assessment refers to "almost any type of assessment other than standardized tests." (McAfee & Leong, 2-3) This subgroup can be divided into various types …

Mission Statements: The Soul Of An Organization, Brian Johns

Honors Theses

When a culture is created or decisions are made, the presence of a viable mission statement is critical. This document can be used as a tool to create a business environment employees are attracted to, as a model for how decisions should be made, and is an image of who the company is and what it does. This paper looks to explore the makeup of a good mission statement through scholarly articles and research and the effect it has on corporate culture through real life examples of top companies in a variety of industries, supported by first-hand experience from the …

Augustus And The Architecture Of Masculinity, Katie Thompson

Honors Theses

Many previous studies have been completed on ancient Rome, including studies on Augustus, gender issues, and the Roman games, which have helped create a timeline of Augustus's rise to power, an architectural layout of the Circus Maximus and a social hierarchy based on gender. The purpose of this study is to illustrate the relationship between these three areas of research. The thesis will address the political agenda of the Emperor Augustus and will argue that the perceived notions of masculinity that were prevalent in Roman public life largely impacted his actions. In addition, the thesis will demonstrate how politics and …

The Effect Of A Phytoplankton Maximum On The Trophic Food Chain Of The Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) In North Inlet, South Carolina., Lindsay Michael Stang

Honors Theses

Jones Creek, part of North Inlet-Winyah Bay, South Carolina, is known to have a chlorophyll a maximum that exists during low tide. The goal of this study was to determine if an increase in phytoplankton, demonstrated by chlorophyll a levels, would lead to an increase in zooplankton, fish, and bottlenose dolphins in the area. Sampling for chlorophyll a concentrations, zooplankton and dolphin densities occurred in fall of 2008. Based on the samples obtained, as chlorophyll a concentrations increased at low tide, zooplankton densities decreased. Dolphin density plots showed an increased density in Jones Creek during low tide for spring, summer, …

The New Military History : General Jonathan M. Wainwright And His Experiences As A Prisoner Of The Japanese During World War Ii, John H. Chase

Honors Theses

This thesis applies the principles of the "new military history" to the experiences of General Jonathan Wainwright from his surrender to the Japanese on Corregidor on May 6, 1942, until his liberation by the Russian Red Army three years, three months, and eighteen days later. At its core, the basics of this "new" historical methodology are seductively simple and direct. It is an effort to capture in research and writing the multiple layers of events, people, places and cultures to present a greatly enhanced, and more genuine, interpretation of the past.

The Inheritance Of Lawless Passion : An Examination Of Interracial Relationships Through Slave Narratives, Genna K. Murray

Honors Theses

WPA narratives uphold that during the institution of slavery there was a wide variety of interracial relationships that ranged from the most brutal rapes to the most loving relationships. While some white slave owners took sadistic pleasure in torturing their slave women, others jeopardized their social standing and career to be with the woman they loved. Therefore, it is difficult to make vast generalizations about interracial relationships during slavery and they should really be examined on a case‐ specific level. However, it can be argued that most interracial relationships fell somewhere in the middle of the two previously stated extremes. …

Henry Steel Olcott : From Civil War Veteran To Sinalese Buddhist Nationalist, A Case Study In International Religious Activism, Jennifer Proch

Honors Theses

The nineteenth century was marked by a great deal of religious growth and change. Throughout the world, religion took on new forms, both with the introduction and expansion of movements like the Theosophical Society, and with the revival and reform of older faiths. Cultural exchange and broader exposure to religious ideals, in the form of missions and education were also important features of the century. At a cursory glance, an American Civil War veteran and a Buddhist monk from Ceylon would seem to share little in common, but during this time of increasing interconnectedness these two figures made contact. Henry …

A Conversation Among Sisters : The "Dangerous Lover" In The Texts Of The BrontëS, Jennifer K. Patchen

Honors Theses

Since the Brontes first published their novels, critics and readers have often associated the male leads with the Byronic hero. Certainly, Arthur Huntingdon in Anne's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Edward Rochester in Charlotte's Jane Eyre and Heathcliff in Emily's Wuthering Heights are all, like Lord Byron's own heroes, brooding and damaged men. Each of these men, additionally, is fundamentally willing to flout social expectations. Their search for selffulfillment often leads them outside of the boundaries of conventional society, although the three sisters sometimes ascribe conflicting moral values to that search. For Charlotte and Emily, Rochester's and Heathcliffs strong personalities …

The Effect Of Early Cochlear Implantation On Oral Language: A Review Of The Literature, Nicole Supplee

Honors Theses

Current research suggests that implantation of cochlear implants before 2 years of age significantly impacts oral language development, specifically in increased rate of oral language development. In addition, children who have been implanted early (between 12 months and two years) have been shown to obtain age-appropriate language skills, whereas children who have been implanted later (after 2 years of age), or not implanted at all, do not. Because of the documented benefits of early implantation, researchers have recently pushed to lower the current minimum age of implantation to below 12 months of age. Although research suggests improvements in language development …

Appropriation In Opera : Modern Performance Practice Of Racially Evocative Works, Katelin French

Honors Theses

The repertoire of a classically trained singer has developed over centuries of cultural influence. As singers prepare for recitals, they decide which pieces they will include and how to perform each one. Many factors are essential for these decisions. In the 21st century, our environments challenge us to explore these conditions of creating a recital program. In a post-civil rights era, factors of race and ethnicity should become more important to programming than they were before. The consideration is not whether minority populations are portrayed, but how they are evoked on stage. In the following exposition, I will consider how …