Digital Commons Network^™

Social Patterns In Physical Infrastructure: Associations Between Socioeconomic Status And Walkability, Kaylee Coursey

Honors Theses

Studies analyzing the relationship between socioeconomic status and physical infrastructure of a city are inconsistent in findings but agree on racial and class disparities. Utilizing walkability (Walk Score) as a measurement for physical infrastructure, this thesis aims to understand the relationship between socioeconomic status and the walkability of a city. The Socio-Ecological framework suggests that environmental experiences are correlated with the social functioning of a community. Thus, socioeconomic status has a significant impact on the quality of one’s built environment.

Using housing data from the 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) and Walk Score, a series of quantitative analyses were conducted …

Predictors In Help-Seeking Intentions For Friends With Eating Disorders, Allie M. Robb

Honors Theses

Emotional intelligence is a significant factor in one’s well-being as high emotional intelligence predicts sound mental well-being and a better quality of life as one can accurately understand emotions (Kulkarni & Velhal, 2023). However, low emotional intelligence has also been found to be a predictor not only of the development of mental health disorders but also have the lowest intentions to seek help (Ciarrochi et. al., 2002; Kulkarni & Velhal, 2023). Because they are unlikely to seek help, it is important for others who see the potential cause to help intervene. The purpose of this study is to investigate the …

Creating A Space For Relaxation And Wellbeing At The University Of South Alabama, Mary Wolf

Honors Theses

A program to provide supplementary support for the mental health and wellness of students at a midsize Southern University by providing a centrally located “relaxation space” for students on campus during the last two weeks of the semester is proposed and tested. A central location was found on campus to host the space. The researcher also developed an online survey for students to review the space. The trial was run for two weeks, and participants were able to access the online survey throughout those weeks. The results of the survey were analyzed to better understand the students’ responses to the …

Examination Of Urban Spatial Structure After Covid Based On Hedonic Price Model, Shaoting Wen

Honors Theses

The traditional monocentric and polycentric city model assumes that people commute to the urban centers/subcenters (UCS) for work and, thus the houses close to the centers have convenience premium in commuting cost which drives up their prices. However, with more and more people switching to hybrid /remote working, average commute cost decreases, leading to the location of UCS and commute time influence less on housing price. This paper revisited the hedonic price model under the polycentric city context with the introduction of kernel density estimation (KDE). By choosing three of the top ten high-remote potentials and three of the top …

Epistemic Spaces And Fields: A New Framework For Social Epistemology Applied To The Internet, Zizhe Cheng

Honors Theses

This thesis introduces "Epistemic Spaces and Fields," a novel framework for social epistemology inspired by the analogies of space and fields in physics to better elucidate how epistemic environments shape epistemic practices. Part A establishes the theoretical underpinnings of epistemic spaces and fields, demonstrating how social, cultural , and power dynamics distort individuals' capacities to obtain and communicate knowledge. Part B applies this framework to the digital realm, examining how the Internet and social media reshape our epistemic contexts and introduce new challenges to critical thinking.

Dynamic Key-Based Privacy-Preserving Authentication Scheme For Internet Of Drones, Zain Chaudhary

Honors Theses

The Internet of Drones (IoD) proliferation has catalyzed transformative changes across various industries, from agriculture to urban management. However, expanding drone networks also presents significant security challenges concerning secure communication and authentication. This paper introduces a robust privacy-preserving key-based authentication scheme tailored explicitly for the IoD, utilizing a matrix key generated by Hierarchical Message Authentication Codes (HMAC) and the SHA-256 algorithm to address these vulnerabilities. Our system enhances security by ensuring each drone in the network can authenticate securely and reliably with a central unit, preventing unauthorized access and securing communications against common threats like eavesdropping and impersonation attacks. Our …

Downtown Hattiesburg: In History And Memory, Joseph Reosti

Honors Theses

This paper explores how public memory of Downtown Hattiesburg has been shaped by race, class, and historical change, drawing primarily on oral history interviews conducted by the author. Once the heart of the city, Downtown Hattiesburg experienced significant decline from the 1970s onward due to suburbanization, white flight, and demographic shifts. In response, the 1970s saw the emergence of a historic preservation movement focused on revitalizing memories of the city's early 20th-century prosperity (1910-1929), often idealized as a period of economic success even despite racial segregation. Many interviewees identified this era as the city’s "golden age," despite its deeply inequitable …

How Grading Systems, Classroom Management, And External Factors Affect A Students Intrinsic Motivation In The Classroom, Mckenzie L. Carrier

Honors Theses

The idea of motivation in the classroom is one that often ends up with the students who are often motivated by external factors rather than internal ones. Research increasingly demonstrates how this idea of extrinsic motivation has affected students, but intrinsic motivation is more effective for students in a long-term setting. This study will examine the influence of grading contracts and traditional grading on undergraduate students’ sense of motivation in their college ENG 102/102R classes by understanding how students define success, and their level of likeness to being motivated with a grading system. The researcher created and distributed an original …

Informative Recital, Avery Molnar

Honors Theses

We must keep discovering pieces by underrepresented composers. For example, playing pieces by underrepresented composers in music classes at public schools is important. If the students do not see their identities represented in the curriculum, it is more difficult to picture themselves in a potential career. Students must see themselves being represented in their curriculum to expand the student’s full potential later in life. A hidden curriculum is something not in the curriculum. If something is not part of a curriculum, students will start to conclude that the subject does not matter and is not worthy of learning whether it …

Sisu, Kaizen, And American Management: An Exploratory Study Of Cross-Cultural Approaches To Organizational Success, Bryan Hagenbarth

Honors Theses

Abstract Introduction

This thesis, “Sisu, Kaizen, and American Management: An Exploratory Study of Cross-Cultural Approaches to Organizational Success,” explores the interplay of cultural management methodologies across three nations – Finland, Japan, and the United States. It proposes a hybrid organizational model that integrates the principles of Sisu, Kaizen, and the American Dream (respectively) to common business practices.

Through the idea of “cross-cultural analysis,” this study delves into the underlying cultural frameworks – termed "human hardware" – that shape societal values and behaviors. The goal therein is to analyze the influencing characteristics that affect their adoption (and effectiveness) of foreign management …

Dance Inclusivity For People With Low Vision, Emma Winckler

Honors Theses

The primary concentration of my project was providing education to promote inclusivity in dance for people with low vision. My objectives for this project were to create a literature review relating to my project, create an educational infographic for how to best support those with low vision in a dance class, and share the infographic I created with the WMU dance department and at the Barbra Rider Colloquium.

Dance has been an integral part of my life and in my experience, I’ve never seen dance opportunities provided to people with low vision. After looking more into dance with low vision …

Bridging The Gap Between Occupational Therapy And Therapeutic Horseback Riding: An Interdisciplinary Approach To Further Engagement In Childhood Occupations, Veronica Smith

Honors Theses

My name is Veronica Smith and I have been a CTRI (certified therapeutic riding instructor) since 2022. I began volunteering at a therapeutic riding program center in elementary school and have accumulated 5000+ hours of experiences that instilled this passion in me. With these experiences, I recognized a gap and developed my thesis project with a clear vision.

With a passion for occupational therapy, and a special interest in equines, I focused my undergrad honors thesis project that also served as my baccalaureate project for the occupational therapy assistant program around these values. I created an activity book that can …

Aroma Comparison Of Different Pawpaw Cultivars From The Kentucky State University Pawpaw Research Program, Lauren A. Miskimen

Honors Theses

The aim of this study was to perform an analysis on the volatile profile differences in six pawpaw cultivars. There are over 30 pawpaw cultivars known to exist, and the flavor differences can be quite different for each; however, limited flavor analytical work has been done to understand which flavor compounds could be causing those differences. Recent work in Dr. Zyzak’s lab using gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) has identified key aroma compounds in the KSU-Atwood^TM cultivar. However, little is known about the other cultivars. This approach involved two steps: using a combination of GC-O and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to …

When Do Justices Vote Against Their Ideology?, Ember Bowman

Honors Theses

This paper examines the inherently political nature of the U.S. Supreme Court, focusing on the appointment process, judicial behavior, and the influence of public opinion and how those cause justices to vote against their ideologies. The Supreme Court was created to be an independent judiciary, however, today that proves to be untrue. It analyzes constitutional provisions and the historical development of the Court’s powers, drawing on Federalist No. 78 to emphasize the importance of judicial independence. This study highlights the role of the President and Senate in appointing justices, exploring how political and demographic criteria affect nominations. Additionally, it addresses …

Independent Mediation: A Restorative Justice Approach To Conflict Resolution Among College Roommates, Sarah Morris

Honors Theses

College roommates significantly impact students' college experience. Universities have traditionally aimed to improve roommate satisfaction through pairing strategies, but evolving technology trends regarding students independently selecting roommates via social media have limited this application. This research proposes an alternative: equipping students with informal restorative justice training to independently manage roommate conflicts. Drawing on restorative justice principles, the training focuses on developing skills in active listening, framing dialogue, and crafting effective, non-transactional apologies. These methods foster accountability and empower students to collaboratively resolve conflicts without university intervention. This informal approach minimizes logistical burdens compared to formal restorative justice programs. The training …

Bridging The Gap: Factors Affecting College Students’ Use Of University Health Services, Courtney Rudolph

Honors Theses

This thesis, titled “Bridging the Gap: Factors Affecting College Students' Use of University Health Services," investigates the barriers and motivators influencing student engagement with campus health resources at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU). Given that approximately 2,000 college health centers across the U.S. serve over 20 million students, understanding why some students underutilize these services is crucial for enhancing campus health outcomes (National College Health Assessment - ACHA, 2024). Using a mixed-methods approach, the research gathered data through surveys (n = 118) and an in-depth interview with the EKU Student Health Coordinator. The study aimed to identify key factors affecting students' …

Investigating The Bioactive Properties Of The Genus Lygodium Through Phytochemical Composition Analysis, Sasha N. Carrasco

Honors Theses

Many of the secondary metabolites produced by plants serve as a chemical defense mechanism against herbivory, some of which have been utilized by humans for medicine (Kusari et al., 2014, Facchini and De Luca, 2008). While many phytochemicals have been identified in angiosperms, other major land plant lineages have received less attention despite their taxonomic diversity and putative utility. For instance, some species of monilophyte (ferns), are used medicinally by indigenous cultures to treat various ailments (Wong et al., 2018). Of focus in this manuscript is the genus, Lygodium (Sw.) which is comprised of climbing ferns exhibiting worldwide distribution. Previous …

Occupational Therapy In Psychiatry: A Safe, Affordable Approach For Better Care, Isabelle G. Cassada

Honors Theses

Occupational therapy (OT) is a therapeutic practice designed to enhance independence in individuals’ activities of daily living (ADL) across all age groups. While widely recognized for its role in physical rehabilitation, it is less commonly applied in mental health care. This underutilization can be attributed to a significant gap in the literature regarding the effectiveness of OT in improving occupational function (OF) for individuals experiencing the negative effects of mental illnesses. Notably, OT in mental health care is not a new concept and dates to before World War I (WWI). This thesis conducts a literature review of fifty-one sources to …

Behind Every Strong Man Is An Even Stronger Woman: Women In The Wwe, Jenna Roberts

Honors Theses

Women in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) have come to the forefront of WWE programming form out of nowhere. This honors thesis sets out to show that this narrative is false and that the progression of women in the WWE began long before the company had its current name. This thesis uses the theory of the four waves of feminism to show the correlation of the evolution of women in society to the evolution of women in the WWE. In doing so, this project shows both the similarities and differences between the women in the WWE and women in the United …

Voicing Experience: Learning About And Understanding The Latina Experience In The United States Through Coming-Of-Age Literature, Audrey G. Childress

Honors Theses

This thesis analyzes the works of Latina female authors from the United States of America in the coming-of-age genre and how the themes addressed in the novels provide readers with insight into what aspects of the Latino culture in the United States affect the decisions Latina women make when it comes to deciding whether to pursue higher education. The thesis examines three novels by Latina authors from the United States in the coming-of-age genre. These novels include The House on Mango Street, The Poet X , and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. It discusses themes such as …

Highs And Hollows: Exploring The Overall Drug Use Of Kentucky Universities From Urban To Appalachian, Venessa Miller

Honors Theses

Drugs cause chemical changes to a person’s mental and physical state and the misuse of such substances is a problem that affects not only strangers but our community and those closest to us. It is of utmost importance to determine the root and depth of the drug problem, especially among populations where the risk is highest. College students, also known as emerging adults, are a vulnerable group due to their unique environment that fosters higher exposure rates and the normalization of substance use. The current study focuses on students in higher educational institutions throughout Kentucky, a state known for being …

Dental Modification Among The Classic Maya Of Chac Balam And San Juan, Ambergris Caye, Belize, Katherine Kelly

Honors Theses

Perceptions of beauty and health are embedded within everyday actions, even a simple smile. How do dental modification practices among the Classic Maya from Ambergris Caye, Belize relate to these perceptions and a person’s identity and status? This thesis analyzes the practice of notching, filing, and placing inlays in maxillary incisors and canines through a qualitative analysis of Classic period AD 250-1000 Maya teeth from the sites of San Juan and Chac Balam. A lack of patterns related to sex, socioeconomic status, and the type of modification in the dentition of five individuals, including two males, two females and one …

Enhancing Fan Engagement In Medium-Sized University Athletics: A Case Study Of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga, Colin Thompson

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to explore how medium-sized universities, specifically the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), can mimic the successful fan engagement strategies of other universities to build a sustainable and engaged fan base. This study analyzes previous research into the factors that contribute to fan engagement, including the segmentation of attendees into fans or spectators, and compares financial records of selected peer institutions. Peer institutions were contacted in an effort to gain insights from their marketing departments. A randomized survey of the current student population was conducted to analyze what factors motivate athletic event attendance. The …

Bioaffinity Analysis Of Aptamer-Target Interactions, Pooja Karunanithi

Honors Theses

This study explores the bioaffinity of aptamer-target interactions through a comprehensive analysis. Aptamers, oligonucleotides that can bind to target molecules, have emerged as powerful tools in various fields, including diagnostics and therapeutics. The primary objective of this research was to assess the binding affinity and specificity of selected aptamers to their respective targets using a combination of experimental techniques and computational models. The binding affinity of 10 different complexes were measured through surface plasmon resonance (SPR) followed by molecular simulations. The results showed that the 6th complex had the best binding affinity. The data suggest that these aptamers could be …

The Gavel And The Camera: Environmental Law And Photojournalism's Relationship To Appalachian Identity, Emily S. Patton

Honors Theses

Both the federal government and photojournalism have played a substantial role in the “othering” of Appalachia while simultaneously attempting to save it. Examining both institutions demonstrates the exploitative processes that alter the perception of rural communities and their surrounding environment. Stacey Kranitz’s archival exhibit, As It Was Give(n) To Me, internalizes this precarious role of the camera in a region heavily journalized. By inhabiting the area for years, establishing close relationships, and researching the documented history of Appalachia, Kranitz’s work becomes her livelihood in the dissolution of profession vs. personal. She is critical of past projects whose objective portrayal of …

The Jazzy Building: A Revitalization Plan, Christine Bebawy

Honors Theses

The Jazzy building is located at 619-621 Market Street in Chattanooga, TN in the City Center downtown area. Both the interior and exterior of the building show signs of being vacant for a long period. The Jazzy building has significant historical value, especially the east and west facades that feature various ornamentations and details that testify to its significance. Although the building's interior has been severely damaged, it is still possible to salvage and reuse some of the materials. To determine the appropriate use of the Jazzy building, a market analysis of downtown Chattanooga research was referenced, along with a …

Black, White, And Red All Over: Tougaloo College And The Southern Red Scare, Simeon Gates

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to explain the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission’s use of red baiting tactics against civil rights activists. Civil rights activists in Mississippi weathered countless physical, economic, and reputational attacks. The movement took off during the 1950s at the same time as the nation entered the Cold War. White supremacist southerners fought to preserve segregation through violent and nonviolent means. As the rest of the nation slowly came out of Cold War-fueled hysteria known as the second red scare, segregationists in the south were influenced by it. They cast the entire civil rights movement as a …

American And German Environmental Policy: Differences In Institution Building Between The Great Lakes And Lake Constance, Thomas Johnson

Honors Theses

When it comes to the protection of water sources, the relationships between stakeholders around the Great Lakes region and the Lake Constance region differ remarkably. This is due to a variety of different reasons, the biggest reason being the major differences between the political norms of these two areas. During the 1960’s and 1970’s the relations between America and Canada and their respective ecological coalition groups were very different from those between Germany, Switzerland, Austria and their coalition groups. These differences resulted in a distinct evolution in the formation and handling of Transnational Advocacy Coalitions, or parapublic institutions, in the …

Development Of An Algorithm To Identify And Calculate The Amount Of File Slack On An Image Of A Given Drive, Nicholas Flynn

Honors Theses

As society increasingly relies on technology, the rates of cyber crime have been increasing at exponential rates. Cyber criminals are also discovering new ways to hide evidence of their crimes. This study develops a forensic analysis algorithm to evaluate the amount of file slack on an image of a drive. Slack space, leftover drive space on a disk sector after a file has been written, can be exploited to hide data. The algorithm aims to detect and calculate this slack space to help direct forensic investigations. The algorithm was evaluated on a population dataset of 100,000 files with random data …

Communication Research On Sign Language Telecommunication And Digital Modes Of Interpretation., Scooter Briody

Honors Theses

Since the invention and proliferation of the telephone in the late nineteenth century, our world has become increasingly dependent on technologically mediated communication. Nowadays we are just as likely to have our next human interaction through our smartphone or computer screen as we are to meet another person face to face. We do not even tend to think of these things as tools for telecommunication anymore, but rather as extensions of our own will. Despite the overwhelming convenience of this technology, it is also fundamentally created with the interests of certain people in mind. If you are able to use …