Digital Commons Network^™

In For A Shock?: Discretion And Disparity In Program Assignment, Brianna Mathis

Honors Theses

Due to the massive prison population in America, correctional agencies are considering alternatives to standard incarceration. These programs are designed to redirect individuals from serving a prison sentence, and are instead assigned to a program specifically targeted at reducing offenders’ likelihood at recidivating. Typically, the main focus of these programs centers on education, job training, and various types of counseling. The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) has implemented two programs that aim at reducing recidivism: the first was the Regimented Inmate Discipline Program (RID), which was later replaced with the Recidivism Reduction Program (RRP). While both programs were intended to …

The Emergence Of Southern Dialectical Features In Native Spanish-Speaking English Language Learners In The American Deep South, Ana Chua

Honors Theses

It is generally assumed that students who study a target language in a particular country or region will gain the dialectical features of the place in which they had studied. While the current body of research generally supports this finding, dialectical adaptation to a specific area does not occur equally among all individuals, and studies that attempt to explain this resulting degree of dialectical adaptation based on individual and social factors is one that still needs greater attention. This investigation sought to examine the extent of dialectical adaptation to Southern American English (SAE) in six Spanish-speaking English Language Learners who …

Relaciones De La Familia: Un Proyecto Americano, Jadyn Snakenberg

Honors Theses

This collection of Spanish short stories explores familial relationships through the eyes of an American female college-age student.

An Analysis Of The Effects Between Prison Documentaries And Popularity Among Viewers, Dominique Malone

Honors Theses

This research examines the themes between a variety of prison documentaries and the subsequent viewership. In recent years, documentaries depicting prison life have risen in popularity due to a number of factors such as violence, drama, hysteria, and an overall sense of fascination (Cecil, 2009). This popularity may have impacted views on the current criminal justice system considering most people never have contact with the criminal justice system in their lifetimes (Cecil, 2009). Therefore, these documentaries may serve as one of the only bases for information that they may have about the system (Cecil, 2009). Because prison documentaries are fulfilling …

Feminine Agency And Masculine Authority: Women's Quest For Autonomy In Monastic Life, Kathryn Temple-Council

Honors Theses

From the earliest days of the Christian church women eagerly sought to pursue a life of devotion to Jesus Christ. This led to the foundation of women’s monastic communities, also known as convents. The path to a life in holy orders within the male dominated church was fraught with challenges to women’s authority to be the authors of their own religious experiences. Women were defined by early church fathers including Tertullian, Ambrose, and Jerome as lesser human beings than their male counterparts, inheritors of the sin of Eve and led by their inherent sexual deviance and demonic susceptibility. It is …

Creating Characterization Through The Use Of Setting And Counterpoint Characterization, Caroline Taylor Hood

Honors Theses

The researcher looked at contemporary short story collections to analyze how the authors used setting and counterpoint characterization to develop fuller characters. The researcher then discussed how she would apply their methods to her work.

A Synthesis And Analysis Of Anhydrous Hydroxide Ion Conducting Polymer Electrolytes, Stanton Heydinger

Honors Theses

This project investigates the synthesis and physical properties of polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether (MePEGn where n=3 or 7) based polymer electrolytes. The two polymer electrolytes explored in the experiments were designed from two different MePEG chains that varied in their overall length and degree of polymerization. The first MePEG backbone contained three polymerized ethoxy groups and the second contained seven. Both MePEGn polymers were modified by substituting an imidazolium group in place of the alcohol functional group at the end of the PEG chain. This modification was made to create a polymer electrolyte with an attached positive charge that could …

Country Roads, Take Me Away: Coal Mining And Migration In West Virginia, 1971-2010, James J. Slaughter

Honors Theses

West Virginia’s population peaked in 1950. Parallel to this, employment in the coal mining industry peaked in 1948. Popular discourse links these two trends together. It is suggested that the decline of the coal mining industry, which was previously a stable source of employment, has led West Virginians to leave the state searching for better job opportunities elsewhere. This thesis uses first-difference regression models to analyze the relationship between lagged year-to-year changes in coal-mining employment and year-to-year changes in net-migration to and from West Virginia. A positive and statistically significant relationship is found between 1-year lagged changes in coal mining …

El Hip-Hop Cubano: An Agent Of Social And Political Change In Cuba?, Margaree Jackson

Honors Theses

Cuba experienced two distinct periods during which Afro-Cubans encountered various constraints and opportunities. During the Revolutionary Period, the Cuban government outlawed all forms of discrimination and created many opportunities for Afro-Cubans to participate in society. However, these new opportunities came with the price of outlawing discussion of racial discrimination and political and social organization along racial lines. Afro-Cubans who still experienced racial inequality faced the threat of political imprisonment if they spoke out against discrimination. In contrast, during the Special Period, Cuban experienced a devastating economic collapse in 1991. Government policies created in response to the collapse removed many of …

Generational Marketing: An Imc Approach To Increase Non-Profit Awareness And Giving In North Mississippi Status:, Anna Kate Joyce

Honors Theses

The number of Americans giving and advocating for non-profits has decreased from 2012 to 2019. While the amount of dollars donated has increased, money is coming from significantly fewer sources. Giving and awareness advocacy for non-profit organizations differ among generations. Non-profits are having to market to multiple generations in different ways to gain advocacy and support for their organizations. The historical, cultural, economic, and social experiences of people’s lifetimes shape the way individuals perceive the world and their place in it. Each American generation has different traits and characteristics that makes it unique, and non-profit organizations can target each generation …

Are Adult Esl Programs In Northern Mississippi Meeting Student Needs?, Jessica Jill Flynn

Honors Theses

As the immigrant population increases in the United States, there is a growing need for adult English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. Not only must these programs be available, they must also be accessible to potential students based on individual needs. This study investigates whether adult ESL programs in northern Mississippi are satisfactorily meeting those needs. Literature in the areas of second language acquisition, pedagogy, and adult ESL classroom research is reviewed, along with statistical background information relevant to the investigated geographic region. A qualitative methodological approach is employed, utilizing online, anonymous surveys to measure program characteristics and student …

United States Suicide Analysis: 1999-2016, Malynn Clark

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to create information visualizations surrounding suicide trends from 1999-2016 in the United States. The original data was obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Compressed Mortality Database. This database permits users to download several fields of information regarding deaths for the years given. Using this information, many graphs below show trends and patterns for suicide. One notable trend includes the higher proportion of male to female suicides for all categories explored including: age group, race, and metro/nonmetro status. The goal is to bring awareness and understanding surrounding the suicide epidemic in the …

Monkey Mind: Everyday Observations Of Mental Illness, Mikhayla Dunaj

Honors Theses

When I first was able to identify that I dealt with anxiety, I was 18 years old. At the time, I didn’t know how to explain it, and assumed it was only because I was in an unhealthy relationship, after already having been in an abusive one. At the end of my third year at Western Michigan University, I suffered a mental breakdown and started counseling.

The process of counseling was difficult, because as I opened up more, I realized that I had spent a majority of my life stuffing down things that were actually anxiety symptoms, assuming that it …

The Effects Of The H2-A Program On Southwest Michigan Farmers, Marisol Quiroz

Honors Theses

Growing up as the daughter of migrant farm laborers has sparked an interest in researching the effects of the H-2A program. With more and more unwilling domestic laborers, farmers were left with a significant lack of workers. The H-2A program is a guest worker program, that brings foreign laborers into the United States in order to assist farmers in their harvesting efforts. The lack of willing domestic labors to assist farmers in times of harvest has created the need for such program. This is a reoccurring trait throughout American history, where other guest worker programs such as the H-2A program …

Instructional Focus And Task Load In Performance Of A Fine Motor Skill, Adam Linden

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

A Performance Of Classical Trombone, Benjamin Hahn

Honors Theses

No abstract available

Syrup Process Optimization, Anelis Susana Chiluisa Calvache

Honors Theses

The purpose of this project involves the optimization of a marshmallow syrup process, sponsored by the owners of the line, the Kellogg Company was the sponsor. This report shows the work that was done for the period of three months, and covers the objective of the project, as well as the problem statement. The Kellogg Company currently produces a Syrup as an ingredient in the production of several cereal bars. The process is divided in four sections: Gelling Mix Tank, Syrup Mix Tank, Syrup Cool Tank and Syrup Use Tank. The entire process itself takes around 80 to 120 minutes …

"For I Was A Stranger And You Welcomed Me In": Explaining White Evangelical Attitudes Toward Immigrants And Refugees, Joy Girgis

Honors Theses

White evangelical Christians in the United States are a population that plays a vital role in political influence. Data supports the assertion that a significant number of white evangelicals in America harbor negative attitudes toward immigrants, refugees, or the perceived “other.” A contradiction then arises between the political attitudes of white evangelicals toward migrant groups and the main tenants of the faith that evangelicals so firmly proclaim, such as compassion, justice, and love. This thesis will specifically seek to answer the question what explains white evangelical attitudes toward immigrants and refugees? This research utilizes a cross tab analysis consisting of …

Understanding Evolutionary Relationships Between Sedges Genus Rhynocospora, Abidell T. Thomas

Honors Theses

The relationships among species in the genus Rhyncospora, a member of the flowering plant family Cyperaceae, are of value to study as they are essential plant components to our ecosystem. Sedges are necessary for wetland preservation, land-sea barriers, and in many cases serve as a natural water detoxifier. Rhyncospora is a prime genus to ask questions about their phylogeny because their evolutionary history is poorly understood for them to be so prevalent. To understand the relationships between a specific group of sedges (genus Rhyncospora) I utilized nucleotide sequence data in a phylogenetic approach. Phylogenetics is the study of …

“Can I Be Something More Than The Worst Thing I Had Ever Done?”: The Difficulties Of Reentry After Incarceration In Kentucky, Larissa Dm Heslop

Honors Theses

This thesis focuses on the difficulties that people face upon reentry after incarceration in Kentucky. An ethnographic background was used to understand the current situation of incarceration and reentry in Kentucky. Mass incarceration, Kentucky incarcerated population demographics, high costs of incarceration, and Kentucky politics on incarceration are covered in the ethnographic background. A literature review was used to give context to difficulties that people face such as clothing, disenfranchisement, education, employment, family relations and social support, housing, transportation and basic needs, mental health, religion, and stigma. Ethnographic research methods, which consisted of semi-structured interviews and participant observation, were used to …

3d Printing And Occupational Therapy: The Process Of 3d Printing Adaptive Devices, Amber K. Willett

Honors Theses

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has been used in the healthcare field in order to create devices that improve the lives of patients. In occupational therapy, this technology is being used to create splints and adaptive devices that allow patients to heal and better perform tasks in their everyday life. Some of the benefits of 3D printing is that allows devices to be created faster and cheaper than traditional treatment methods. The purpose of this project was to determine how feasible it would be to buy a 3D printer and use it to print open-source assistive devices that could be used by …

Photography And Perceptions Of Beauty, Clayton Gibb

Honors Theses

This thesis explores what “beauty” means and how to explore it through photography. Beauty is a broad idea that needs to be deconstructed and put back together so that we can functionally understand it for our daily lives. While it is subjective, the concept of beauty isn’t so hard to reach. While it takes effort to understand, it can help understand our own selves on a deeper level and how we interact with the world. Photography can be used as a tool that we use to both explore what beauty means to us and communicate those ideas to others. This …

Improving Sexual Health Efficacy: A Qualitative Study Of Female College Students’ Experience With Sexual Health Education And Subsequent Capacity For Application, Naomi Elizabeth Cheek

Honors Theses

Issues such as sexual assault, high rates of sexually transmitted infections, and high teen pregnancy rates are downstream effects of poor sex education. The current study examined the question, “In what ways do a person’s background in sex education, including family, school, and social learning, impact current efficacy and knowledge regarding sexual health?” Specifically, this study looked at the educational experiences of female college students at Eastern Kentucky University through semi-structured qualitative interviews. After signing an EKU IRB approved informed consent document, audio recorded interviews were conducted. All audio interviews were transcribed and then analyzed using thematic analysis to find …

Searching For A Voice: An Introduction To Transgender Voice And Communication Therapy, Nicholas Brock

Honors Theses

Over the last 50 years, the cultural shift in the ideologies that shape the minds of individuals have primarily focused on social progressivism. Specifically regarding the United States, prominent leaders such as Harvey Milk pushed for social freedoms for members of the LGBTQ+ community. While Milk and his following fought for freedom and recognition, other leaders and supporters of the LGBTQ+ movement across the world were also fighting with fire in their hearts in their search for social justice. Barriers broke and glass ceilings shattered during these movements, but there is more to be done, today. As recognition of the …

The Weight Of Invisibility: The Effects Of Child Brokering On Sibling Relationships, Andrea Patino

Honors Theses

This research serves to explore the definition of a child broker and the effects that such title can have on children. The research identifies the different aspects that child brokering affects the way the children interact with their families and form relationships. It focuses on the aspects that children may have difficulties with when growing up and what their ways of coping encompass. The primary research was conducted to explore the relationships that children develop with their siblings and how these may be affected by the child’s responsibilities and feelings. The focus on sibling relationships discusses an aspect of child …

Life Between Nations: Third Culture Kids, Helen C. Neely

Honors Theses

“Third Culture Kids” (TCKs) spend several years of their childhood living in a different culture than the one their parents grew up in. Each TCK has a different experience, from location to number of moves to years spent abroad, but TCKs tend to share a unique bond, one that can only form from an understanding of what it is like to grow up between nations. Research and observations of TCKs began in the 60’s but the modern understanding of what a third culture kid is has been formed in the past 20 or so years. While there is abundant research …

What Makes A Detective: Character In Detective Fiction, Jordan Connelly

Honors Theses

As a subgenre of formula fiction, detective fiction is often not considered serious or legitimate literature. Despite this, detective fiction continues to appear at the top of international bestselling lists. This thesis attempts to answer the question: Why is detective fiction so popular? In order to answer this question, this thesis explores the characteristics of both formula fiction and detective fiction in order to gain a better understanding of the genres, as well as the conclusions of numerous critics regarding what makes a good detective narrative. The ultimate conclusion is that the character of the detective determines whether a detective …

"A Miss Is As Good As A Mile": Examining Social Distance As A Predictor Of Academic Performance In Kentucky, Anna K. Davidson

Honors Theses

This paper examines social distance and how it relates to academic performance for students in Kentucky high schools. To perform this examination, I ran a series of bivariate regressions of student performance scores and differing variables that account for social distance such as race and/or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, types of classes offered in a school, and, primarily, location of the school. Results showed that as the number of students of color enrolled at a school increases, the gap in performance between groups of traditionally underserved students and non-underserved students increases. This gap also increases as more students are enrolled in …

The Impact Of Anti-Opioid Print Messages On High-Sensation-Seeking Personalities And Behaviors: A Comparative Study Of Public Service Announcements And Research, Allison B. Gordon

Honors Theses

The rate of opioid overdose deaths has dramatically increased over the past several years. Efforts to reach users to describe the negative consequences of use appear to have little effect on users. This research seeks to understand how mass media messages, specifically printed public service announcements (PSAs), can reverse the upward trend of opioid use by targeting the attitudes and motivations of high-sensation-seekers. The hypothesis suggests a positive correlation between some advertisements and expressed intention to avoid trying or using opioids. Samples included students at Eastern Kentucky University in the Nursing, Psychology, and Sociology departments in addition to accredited, professional …

The Effects Of Culture And Punishment Philosophies On Recidivism: Comparing Prison Systems In The United States And Scandinavia, Alexis Riep

Honors Theses

Overcrowding in prisons is a huge problem in the United States and one that we have yet to deal with successfully. A key factor is recidivism, which is defined as offenders returning to prison or jail post-release. The United States has one of the highest recidivism rates in the world, especially when compared to Scandinavian countries which have the lowest. The socioeconomic historical development and cultural characteristics of both the United States and Scandinavian countries affect the culture of their prison systems and in turn, affects the prison populations and recidivism rates. Comparing the history, cultural attitudes, and prisons of …