Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Metacognition In Visual Art Education, Renae P. Mccollum

Master's Theses

Metacognition is a conscious activity that occurs in the brain when an individual monitors or controls his or her thinking. Research in multiple fields has found that metacognition plays a significant role in a person’s learning. It is currently a popular trend in general education to teach students metacognitive strategies, and research has shown that it is a practical tool to boost student success. Moreover, metacognition is most effective when it is taught explicitly and regularly practiced by the students. There is a need for more research into the effectiveness of explicitly teaching metacognition in middle and high school visual …

Mindfulness And Resilience As Predictors Of Burnout, Julie Tu

Master's Theses

The faster pace of work due to technological advances and globalization as well as global competition in the workforce may lead to increased chances of stress and burnout among employees. Understanding more predictors of burnout may help companies create better work environments to increase productivity and minimize consequences of burnout (e.g., higher absenteeism, turnover, substance abuse, anxiety, depression). However, not enough research has been done to study the degree to which personality traits predict burnout. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the degree to which trait mindfulness and trait resilience predict burnout. The study was a …

Bilingual Development: Language Input At Home In Sequential Spanish-English Children, Vanessa Noemy Bermudez

Master's Theses

The literature on language input provided to sequential Spanish-English bilingual children has largely been focused on children attending Head Start. The role of siblings in children’s language outcomes has only been investigated in simultaneous bilinguals. The current longitudinal study extended research on language input by investigating early developmental changes in language input and the role of siblings in the language outcomes of 112 sequential Spanish-English bilingual children. Relative exposure was assessed via a parent interview when children were 18 and 56 months of age. Standardized measures of receptive vocabulary and expressive language in Spanish and English were administered at 56 …

The Effects Of Culture And Gender Roles On The Efficacy Of Social Support As A Coping Mechanism For Stress, Quy Minh Vu

Master's Theses

Though social support has been thought to be an effective coping mechanism for handling distress, this generalization comes with limitations in that social support is highly intertwined with specific characteristics that could alter both help-seeking behavior and its outcomes. The present study examined the effects of cultural differences on the effectiveness of differing social support sources (i.e., parents versus peers) between European American and Asian/Asian American samples, as well as the influence of gender role orientation on social support outcomes. Ninety-Five European American and Asian/Asian American participants were assigned to either a parent or peer social support letter task prior …

The Effects Of Gender And Communication Style On The Perceptions Of Leaders Within Computer-Mediated Communication, Azra Zukanovic

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine how perceptions of a leader using computer-mediated communication (CMC) change based on leader gender, communication style, and gender of the recipient. This study had two research questions: whether perceptions of a leader change as a result of congruity or incongruity between the leader’s gender and the leader’s communication style, and whether perceptions of a leader using congruent or incongruent communication styles vary based on the gender of the recipient. This study utilized a 2 (gender of leader: male vs. female) x 2 (communication style: masculine vs. feminine) x 2 (gender of recipient: …

Optimal Direct Yaw Moment Control Of A 4wd Electric Vehicle, Winston James Wight

Master's Theses

This thesis is concerned with electronic stability of an all-wheel drive electric vehicle with independent motors mounted in each wheel. The additional controllability and speed permitted using independent motors can be exploited to improve the handling and stability of electric vehicles. In this thesis, these improvements arise from employing a direct yaw moment control (DYC) system that seeks to adapt the understeer gradient of the vehicle and achieve neutral steer by employing a supervisory controller and simultaneously tracking an ideal yaw rate and ideal sideslip angle. DYC enhances vehicle stability by generating a corrective yaw moment realized by a torque …

The Toddler Autism Symptom Inventory (Tasi): Use In Diagnostic Evaluations Of Toddlers, Kirsty Coulter

Master's Theses

Although symptoms of autism are present early in life and early diagnosis can lead to better outcomes, there is a lack of validated parent interviews for children under the age of three. We developed the Toddler Autism Symptom Inventory (TASI), an interview form designed to assess the presence and absence of skills and symptoms in children aged 12-36 months. Reliability of symptoms and diagnosis, and validity of algorithms designed in accordance with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5^th Edition (DSM-5) and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) diagnostic criteria were established. Reliability and validity of four …

Does Place Matter? Food Insecurity, Perceptions Of Neighborhood Walkability, And Acculturation As Predictors Of Treatment Outcome In An Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Study, Nana Yaa Marfo

Master's Theses

BACKGROUND: Though cross-sectional studies have established a relationship between environmental factors and weight status, few have looked at how these environmental factors influence response to obesity intervention in adults or children. This study explored the impact food insecurity, neighborhood walkability, and acculturation may have had on the outcomes of an obesity prevention study for low-income, Black and Latinx preschool-aged children.

METHODS: Prior to the start of the primary care-based intervention program (Cloutier et al., 2015), caregivers (n=203) completed measures assessing their household’s food insecurity, their perceptions of their neighborhoods’ walkability, and for Latinx participants, levels of acculturation. Baseline responses were …

First-Time Juvenile Arrestees' Odd Symptoms: The Role Of Parent-School Interaction And Race, Ari Romano-Verthelyi

Master's Theses

Objective.Disruptive behaviors are bidirectionally associated with low-quality parent-school interactions (Hoover-Dempsey & Sandler, 1995). However, Non-White children are more likely to be identified by teachers as behaviorally disruptive (Epstein et al., 2005), more likely to have low-quality parent-school interactions (Serpell & Mashburn, 2012), and more likely to be engaged in the justice system (Hockenberry & Puzzanchera, 2013).Considering that non-White parents may interact with schools and teachers differently than White parents (Mariñez-Lona & Quintana, 2009), it is unclear to what extent race might influence the predictive relationship between aspects of parent-school interactions and disruptive behavior problems. Thus, this study will examine …

The Impact Of Relationships On Youth Developmental Outcomes In A Sport-Based Setting, Khalil Griffith

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of The Under-Body Flow Field Of A Prototype Long-Range Electric Vehicle, Matthew P. Nguyen

Master's Theses

This thesis presents changes to the design of the Prototype Vehicles Laboratory (PROVE Lab) Endurance Car, an electric car intended to break the Guinness World Record for the single-charge range of an electric vehicle. The design range is 1609.34 km, however at the design velocity of 104.6 kph, the drag is 196 N; which requires more battery capacity than the 100 kWh maximum of the baseline model. With a fixed frontal area, drag reduction can come from lowered velocity or reduced CD. CD reduction is attempted in four ways: side skirts between the fenders, a raised ride height, an elongated …

Utilizing Trajectory Optimization In The Training Of Neural Network Controllers, Nicholas Kimball

Master's Theses

Applying reinforcement learning to control systems enables the use of machine learning to develop elegant and efficient control laws. Coupled with the representational power of neural networks, reinforcement learning algorithms can learn complex policies that can be difficult to emulate using traditional control system design approaches. In this thesis, three different model-free reinforcement learning algorithms, including Monte Carlo Control, REINFORCE with baseline, and Guided Policy Search are compared in simulated, continuous action-space environments. The results show that the Guided Policy Search algorithm is able to learn a desired control policy much faster than the other algorithms. In the inverted pendulum …

Predictors Of Ransomware From Binary Analysis, Aaron M. Otis

Master's Theses

Ransomware, a type of malware that extorts payment from a victim by encrypting her data, is a growing threat that is becoming more sophisticated with each generation. Attackers have shifted from targeting individuals to entire organizations, raising extortions from hundreds of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. In this work, we analyze a variety of ransomware and benign software binaries in order to identify indicators that may be used to detect ransomware. We find that several combinations of strings, cryptographic constants, and a large number loops are key indicators useful for detecting ransomware.

Community Attitudes Toward Complementary, Alternative And Integrative Medicine In North Hartford, Connecticut, Andria Matthews

Master's Theses

Background: This study explores the attitudes of residents of North Hartford, CT toward Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine. Methods: Twenty-five semi-structured, 10-15 minute in-person interviews were conducted at five sites over a two-week period in March 2019. Results: Few respondents were familiar with the term “Integrative Medicine.” Familiarity with modalities such as massage was higher (92%). Massage therapy was most often tried in the past (56%). Meditation and relaxation and yoga were the most frequently requested offerings. Cost, transportation, time of day and day of week, all emerged as potential barriers to participation. Pain-related complaints were prevalent amongst respondents. Conclusions: …

The Effects Of Creative And Cognitive Exercises On Body Balance, Gina Digiacomo

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Predictors Of Appraisal And Coping Profiles In Response To Workplace Incivility Experiences, Courtney Pfeifer

Master's Theses

At least seventy percent of employees report experiencing an incivility incident in recent years (Cortina, 2008), and incivility has been linked to negative outcomes, such as stress and turnover (Beattie & Griffin, 2014). The current study applies Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) transactional model of stress to examine predictors of incivility targets’ patterns of appraisal and coping. In particular, I propose that the frequency with which incivility occurs, resilience, and work contexts, such as organizational justice and civility norms, can influence the target’s appraisals and coping. Additionally, incivility research has utilized different time frames to examine incivility and predictors (Cortina, Kabat-Farr, …

An Examination Of Whether Perceived Stress Mediates The Effects Of Income On Engagement And Weight Loss Loss Outcomes In An Online Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention, Kristen Volz

Master's Theses

Individuals with lower income have higher rates of obesity and are underrepresented in weight loss treatment. Moreover, when individuals with lower income do enroll in face-to-face interventions, their adherence and weight loss outcomes are worse due to known treatment barriers, including unreliable transportation, lack of childcare, and scheduling constraints associated with multiple jobs and unconventional work hours. Because online interventions are asynchronous and can be accessed any time of day, they hold significant promise for reducing treatment barriers and improving adherence and weight loss outcomes in lower income populations. However, one drawback of online interventions is that they are self-directed, …

Coastal Adaptation To Sea Level Rise: Effects Of Residential Proximity To The Coast, Climate Change Perceptions, And Attitudes Toward Government For Valuing Ecosystem Outcomes, Kristin B. Raub

Master's Theses

In a changing climate, there has been an increase in the frequency and severity of hazards impacting coastal communities. Traditionally, hard defenses (sea walls) have been constructed to protect these communities, even though they can have negative impacts throughout the nearby coastal environment. There has been increasing consideration of alternative shoreline protection strategies, such as living shorelines, or managed retreat. However, each of these coastal management strategies comes with a series of monetary, environmental, and social tradeoffs making individual preferences dependent on multiple scenario-specific attributes. Ecosystem service valuation is a useful tool for understanding how humans relate to the environment …

Mysci: A New Approach To Teaching Biological Science Laboratories, Korli Alford

Master's Theses

According to the National Science Foundation’s report “Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action,” project-based learning creates effective graduates and future collaborators. Instructors who are able to adapt their course to meet the unique interests of their students create graduates who are more likely to engage with peers and to retain the information taught throughout the class. The goal of this project was to develop a course based on student-driven, evidence-based learning. Five major and 12 minor, student-selectable labs were implemented in the initial test reported herein. A total of seven undergraduate students and three graduate …

Identifying The Need For Self-Management Education In Adult Patients With Type-2 Diabetes In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Le Thi Minh Thu

Master's Theses

The purpose of this thesis project was to identify the need for self-management through investigating the existing knowledge about diabetes self-care and their perception of diabetic control in adult patients with type-2 diabetes Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The 16-Item Diabetes Self Management Questionnaire (Schmitt et al., 2013) and a cross-sectional design was used in this study to explore the diabetes self management related to four subscales such as glucose management, dietary control, physical activity, health-care use and a sum scale as the perception of diabetic control among fifty five participants who were diagnosed with type-2 diabetes in Tan Phu …

The Effects Of Combined Curcumin Supplementation And High Intensity Interval Training On Time Trial Performance In Moderately Active Individuals, Nora Jacqueline Johnston

Master's Theses

Individuals who participate in intensified training programs such as high intensity interval training (HIIT), are at risk for an uncontrolled inflammatory response, which may hinder the body’s recovery process. Curcumin is the most recognized compound in turmeric and has a distinctive yellow color. Curcumin has many medicinal actions and is most well-known for its anti-inflammatory activities. More recently, curcumin has emerged as an agent that can potentially optimize performance during intense exercise and may also attenuate pain and muscle soreness. Additionally, curcumin has been linked to improvements in mental health status such as reductions in depression and anxiety. PURPOSE: The …

Children's Acceptability Of Vegetables: The Relationship Between Food Neophobia, Vegetable Neophobia, Picky Eating, Bitter Sensitivity, And Mouth Behavior, Tara Lynn Egigian

Master's Theses

Although vegetables provide many beneficial nutrients and have been shown to help reduce the risk of dietary related chronic diseases, children in the United States are not meeting the national recommendations of vegetable servings. The overall goal of this research was to study the relationship between children’s vegetable acceptance and the following children’s characteristics: food neophobia (FN), vegetable neophobia (VN), picky eating (PE), 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) sensitivity, Mouth Behavior (MB). The specific objectives were to: (1) develop a novel method for evaluating children’s MB, (2) assess the FN, VN, PE, PROP sensitivity, and MB levels in children in San Luis Obispo …

Shall We Dance: Responses Of Participants To A Dance Class Designed For Parkinson’S Patients, Brittni Lynn Mcalister

Master's Theses

The purpose of this research was to describe the responses of participants in a dance class designed for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients. This study had a total of eight participants—six were adults with PD and participants in the Parkinson’s dance classes, one was the other primary instructor of the Parkinson’s dance classes, and the other one was a care partner of a participant in the classes. In this study, the researcher used both quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze the data. The researcher sought to observe the experiences of participants in dance classes designed for individuals with PD and interview …

Mechanisms Underlying The Testing Effect, Mary Chapman

Master's Theses

The current experimental study attempted to disentangle retrieval of target information from the context surrounding the information in the testing effect, or the finding that taking a practice test leads to better retention on a final test, for the purpose of discovering the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon. Twenty-three participants studied 30 cue-target pairs over three blocks and then either re-studied the pairs or practiced retrieving the target words for another three blocks. All participants completed a final test in which they recalled the target words for all 30 pairs once and performed a lexical decision task in which they had …

Werewolves: A Three-Dimensional Content Analysis Of Films From 1980-2014, Jennifer Lewis

Master's Theses

WEREWOLVES: A THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONTENT ANALYSIS OF FILMS FROM 1980 – 2014 revolves around how monsters function in stories. Monsters represent fears and teach social norms. They are often portrayed as “other”, but more recently the werewolf has appeared in media as more sympathetic (Brannon 2016, 21; Gilmore 2008, 362; Hughes 2009, 97). Limited research has systematically studied how werewolves are represented in the media. This content analysis focuses on how major werewolf characters are represented in 20 films.

The analysis showcases werewolf characters in today’s culture and what it means to be a monster by analyzing hybridity. This study presents …

Multiple Species Of Distinctiveness In Memory: Separating Task Distinctiveness From Statistical Distinctiveness, Matthew Robert Gretz

Master's Theses

Distinctiveness refers to the memorial benefit of processing unique or item-specific features of a memory set relative to a non-distinctive control. Traditional distinctiveness effects are accounted for based on qualitative differences in how distinctive items are encoded at the time of study. This thesis project aims to evaluate whether a different species of distinctiveness—statistical distinctiveness—may provide a separate contribution to memory beyond traditional encoding-based processes. Statistical distinctiveness refers to the relative frequency with which a specific memory item or set is processed. The current study evaluated statistical distinctiveness through a series of mixed groups in which DRM lists were studied …

Emotion Reactivity, Emotion Dysregulation, And Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Among At-Risk Adolescents: A Multiple Mediation Analysis, Paula N. Floyd

Master's Theses

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is defined as deliberate self-inflicted damage to bodily tissue without the intent to die. NSSI has been identified as a major health concern, as it is related to both poor psychosocial outcomes and increased suicide risk. NSSI is especially important to understand among adolescents, as age of onset is typically during adolescence and prevalence rates are highest among this age group. One of the most well-established correlates of NSSI is emotion dysregulation. While many studies have examined emotion dysregulation and its subcomponents in relation to self-injury, there has been far less work devoted to factors that may …

Discrepant Self-Perceptions As Predictors Of Rule Violating Behavior Among Juvenile Offenders, Kimberly Barajas

Master's Theses

Numerous studies have examined discrepancies between youths’ self-perceptions and others’ ratings across different domains of competence (i.e. academic, behavior, social) (e.g., Jia, Jiang, & Mikami, 2016; Kistner, 2006; Owens et al., 2007) and it is well-established that discrepant self-perceptions are risk factors for maladaptive outcomes (e.g., aggression, depression) in children and adolescents (David & Kistner, 2000; Jia et al., 2016; Kistner et al., 2006). Only one study has examined discrepant self-perceptions (e.g., perceptual bias) in a sample of male juvenile offenders (JOs) (Smith, Lynch, Stephens, & Kistner, 2015). This study sought to extend the literature examining discrepant self-perceptions within juvenile …

A Case Study Of Police Use Of Force On Juveniles In A Southeastern Police Department, Kayce Lowe

Master's Theses

Officer characteristics, situational factors, and organizational factors are common predictors in identifying and explaining police use of force (Friedrich, 1980). While these domains are important, the separation of juveniles in use of force studies is an essential component that is lacking in most use of force literature today. Some studies unintentionally imply that adults and juveniles present the same predictors of force by this lack of separation. Age, specifically the status of juveniles and adults, is not a common predictor of police use of force; however, it is one of the most influential factors in shaping a police officer’s decision-making …

What's Cookin'?: An Analysis Of Food As A Method Of Control In The Penal System, Zoe Livengood

Master's Theses

According to Garland (2001), the U.S. correctional system is a reflection of the culture of control that exists in American society. One way the correctional system exerts control is through food. This concept partnered with Foucault’s ideas about the evolution of punishment and the criminal justice system as an institution creates the theoretical foundation for food as a method of control in the correctional system.

Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, this study examined food as a method of control in three southern Mississippi jails in order to understand how food is a contested space for control between jail staff and …