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Masters Theses

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Existential Crisis (Or The Art Of Buying A Guitar), Maxwell Miller Apr 2024

Existential Crisis (Or The Art Of Buying A Guitar), Maxwell Miller

Masters Theses

Existential Crisis (or the Art of Buying a Guitar) is an audio-visual creative project consisting of three works for guitar, voice, and electronics. I perform them using a real-time audio manipulation program developed in the open-source programming language, SuperCollider, with live video projection created in the open-source programming language, Processing. The title comes from grappling with internal expectations, questions of purpose, and the absurdity of being a thinking, sensing creature, which are recurring themes in my life. When these feelings come into sharp focus, it is sometimes overwhelming, but I believe that processing these feelings through art is an innately …


Bringing About Modernity: A Comparative Study Of Urban Development In Korea That Connects East Germany And The Two Koreas, Junghyun Kim Apr 2024

Bringing About Modernity: A Comparative Study Of Urban Development In Korea That Connects East Germany And The Two Koreas, Junghyun Kim

Masters Theses

This study builds upon the theories of architectural modernism advocated by the International Congress of Modern Architects (CIAM) and Le Corbusier as well as previous studies regarding East German experts being sent abroad to assist in urban development and modernizing schemes of non-European countries. This study examines the East German assistance in the reconstruction of the North Korean city of Hamhung and how North Korea absorbed the ideas of urban modernization advocated by the Soviet Bloc architects. Then the study will shift in focus to look across the border in South Korea which was influenced by a similar idea which …


Analyzing The Cynical Perspective Of Death In The Book Thief, Dorothy Elizabeth Hollar Mar 2024

Analyzing The Cynical Perspective Of Death In The Book Thief, Dorothy Elizabeth Hollar

Masters Theses

In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, death is used as a theme and a character to convey the plot of the story. The character of death is used as a device to show the life of a young girl living in Nazi Germany through the eyes of something more sinister and pessimistic. The story explores trauma, friendship, and the power of words when it seems all hope is lost. This thesis will explore the aspect of death as a character and will examine how it works in the story. The creative portion of my thesis will examine the themes …


Pretty Girls Don't Eat Pizza: How An Eating Disorder Taught Me I Am Enough, Hannah Kuhn Mar 2024

Pretty Girls Don't Eat Pizza: How An Eating Disorder Taught Me I Am Enough, Hannah Kuhn

Masters Theses

Eating disorders have become one of the most fatal mental disorders, and yet many people still don’t know anything about them. This allows society to misinform people on what this disorder is, and for those suffering from it to feel misunderstood and alone. Patients and their families don’t need more medical advice on the topic. They need to hear a raw, honest and messy story from someone who is not cured, but overtime has found the resources, hope and strength to continue living with it everyday until healing is granted. This is a story that both informs and shows the …


Addressing Chaplain Care And Resiliency As Protective Factors To Burnout In Community Chaplaincy, Robin Jonell Ratcliff Mar 2024

Addressing Chaplain Care And Resiliency As Protective Factors To Burnout In Community Chaplaincy, Robin Jonell Ratcliff

Masters Theses

This paper will address Chaplain Care and Resiliency as Protective Factors to Burnout in Community Chaplaincy. There will be a problem stated, literature review covered on the subject, the results of the assessments, scales, and screening used to address burnout. Then the author discusses training and interventions and shows analysis of said training and interventions.


The Nature Of Beauty And Its Objective Manifestation Serve As Evidence Of The God Described In The Bible, Michael S. Libby Mar 2024

The Nature Of Beauty And Its Objective Manifestation Serve As Evidence Of The God Described In The Bible, Michael S. Libby

Masters Theses

In exploring the concept of objective beauty in nature, a strong argument emerges for the existence of a divine creator as described in the Bible. This thesis, titled “The Nature of Beauty and its Objective Manifestation Serve as Evidence of the God Described in the Bible,” proposes that the intricate design and objective manifestation of beauty in the world are indicative of a higher transcendent being, prompting us to contemplate the profound mysteries of creation and the interconnectedness of aesthetics and spirituality. Through this lens of beauty, we are challenged to engage in a thought-provoking discourse that encompasses apologetics, philosophy, …


Truth And Fiction, Rachel Michele Schroeder Feb 2024

Truth And Fiction, Rachel Michele Schroeder

Masters Theses

This literary review explains the importance of literature in helping to indirectly describe reality. The review takes the reader through a plethora of literary examples and gives brief psychological and philosophical argumentation to showcase the importance of literature in the lives of children and adults. The Function of Fiction describes the ways in which fiction is intended to be employed. On the Psychology of Stories discusses how stories impact behavior. On Myths examines the ways in which myths connect to history and culture. On Fables and Fairytales dissects how stories often have a moral and encourage the best in humanity. …


Training The Volunteer Technical Artist For Their Role In Worship Ministry, Stephanie Wilkinson Feb 2024

Training The Volunteer Technical Artist For Their Role In Worship Ministry, Stephanie Wilkinson

Masters Theses

Church technical artists have an integral role in modern worship services due to the use of technology in church production. The purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of different aspects of the role a technical artist has in worship ministry, as well as to explore current training practices and determine effective ways to train the volunteer technical artist holistically beyond their technical role. Church technical directors, technical volunteers, and worship pastors were interviewed and surveyed to collect data used to determine the level of importance of a volunteer’s different roles and responsibilities and how they affect worship …


The Shared Values Society: On The Inability To Validate Beliefs And Its Effect On Pluralistic Governance, Tanner L. Smith Feb 2024

The Shared Values Society: On The Inability To Validate Beliefs And Its Effect On Pluralistic Governance, Tanner L. Smith

Masters Theses

The nature of truth affects beliefs in such a way that all worldviews are left on a level playing field, each with no more of an objective claim to truth than any other. As a result, no one worldview has an intrinsic right to dominate the government or, through it, other worldviews. Furthermore, philosophical secularism’s noble notion of protecting individual freedoms by limiting the influence of moral values in the government has led to a loss of intergroup bonding and a value vacuum in public life. At the same time, because beliefs constitute some of the most profound aspects of …


The Modern-Day Widow: Wrongly Shamed And Shunned In Evangelical Communities, Nancy Beise Feb 2024

The Modern-Day Widow: Wrongly Shamed And Shunned In Evangelical Communities, Nancy Beise

Masters Theses

Evangelical women suffering in destructive, abusive marriages suffer doubly when their faith communities do not understand the nature of intimate partner violence and the trauma of sexual betrayal. Too often these women are sent back into dangerous relationships without resource and with the additional burden of shame (Matthew 23:4). If they choose to divorce in order to escape abuse and find peace and healing, they are most often rejected and shunned as sinners. This work identifies who these women are according to scripture, defines abuse and betrayal trauma, and calls the evangelical community to an awareness of the suffering made …


Training Considerations For The Identification And Investigation Of Human Trafficking Cases In Law Enforcement: A Case Study, Emilie O. Coleman Feb 2024

Training Considerations For The Identification And Investigation Of Human Trafficking Cases In Law Enforcement: A Case Study, Emilie O. Coleman

Masters Theses

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to identify the need for specialized training in identifying and investigating human trafficking cases to be provided to law enforcement officers. Approximately 40 million people are victims of human trafficking, and the numbers continue to grow each year. Front-line officers are generally under-prepared to recognize and handle human trafficking cases which shows the need to provide effective and appropriate training to help identify victims and investigate human trafficking cases. Research to provide a solution is guided by a qualitative case study investigation for the purpose of developing and proposing actionable changes law …


What's Growing On? Raising Awareness Of Florida’S Declining Citrus Industry And Its Economic Impact, Emily Gail Snyder Feb 2024

What's Growing On? Raising Awareness Of Florida’S Declining Citrus Industry And Its Economic Impact, Emily Gail Snyder

Masters Theses

The adult population of Central Florida fails to understand the consequences of the decline of the citrus industry in the state of Florida resulting in lost jobs and wages, lost tax revenue, and a loss of acreage due to the increase in housing and infrastructure from the influx of people moving to Florida. The decline of the citrus industry in Florida is a large problem that not many people recognize as an issue. With nearly 6.9 billion dollars earned for the state of Florida along with the support of approximately 33,000 jobs, the citrus industry is a major contributor to …


We Don’T Talk About Influence: An Analysis Of Disney’S Encanto & Its Influence On Viewers’ Perceptions Of Colombian Culture, Olivia Grace Keyser Feb 2024

We Don’T Talk About Influence: An Analysis Of Disney’S Encanto & Its Influence On Viewers’ Perceptions Of Colombian Culture, Olivia Grace Keyser

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study, “We Don’t Talk About Influence: An Analysis of Disney’s Encanto & Its Influence on Viewers’ Perceptions of Colombian Culture,” was to analyze the way Colombian culture is presented in Disney’s Encanto as well as to determine whether viewers of Encanto learn and develop a favorable view of Colombia and Colombian culture after watching the film. In this qualitative research study, 20 participants completed two questionnaires, which were used to determine their perceptions of Colombian culture prior to and after watching Encanto. The collected data was analyzed through the lens of the communication strategy of entertainment-education. …


Media Dependency In Gen Z Christians, Emma Jolie Best Jan 2024

Media Dependency In Gen Z Christians, Emma Jolie Best

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study “Media Dependency in Gen Z Christians” is to understand and explore the way Gen Z Christians utilize different forms of media as it relates to their faith. This quantitative research approach focused on the extent to which Gen Z Christians utilize extra-biblical and biblical media, which media they are more likely to consume, and which media they prefer. This research provides insight for the audience in terms of the habits of weekly Gen Z media usage and reliance in a digital media-emersed world, as well as insight into the way that Christian Gen Z learns …


My Journey With Faith, Jocelyn Rodriguez Jan 2024

My Journey With Faith, Jocelyn Rodriguez

Masters Theses

A memoir of my life and my faith. I was able to recollect moments when my faith was tested, doubted, and its growth. It's a story of truth, understanding, and wonder of my life was molded not just by my surroundings but by my growing relationship with my faith.


Important Relationships And Realistic Dialogue In Fiction, Timothy Paddock Jan 2024

Important Relationships And Realistic Dialogue In Fiction, Timothy Paddock

Masters Theses

This thesis began as a decision to explore relationships and how they shape the course of our lives. In looking at relationships, it became apparent that communication, specifically spoken communication, is a critical aspect of any relationship. The artist statement discusses the way communication can impact a relationship as well as the correlation between real conversation and fictional dialogue. The critical paper delves into the traits of realistic dialogue as well as how to distinguish between dialogue that works, and dialogue that will bore or distract readers. The research and application of those two projects meet in the creative manuscript …


Unmasking The Resistance: A Comprehensive Study Of Anti-Ku Klux Klan Endeavors In Upcountry South Carolina During The Reconstruction Era, Jacob Spencer Moule Jan 2024

Unmasking The Resistance: A Comprehensive Study Of Anti-Ku Klux Klan Endeavors In Upcountry South Carolina During The Reconstruction Era, Jacob Spencer Moule

Masters Theses

To many in 1865, the American Civil War ended in McLean’s Parlor when Robert E Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S Grant. In reality, however, the American Civil War continued to rage on in the American South, especially in South Carolina, till 1876 when Federal Troops were withdrawn from the South. The South, like most defeated nations, accepted that it had lost the conventional war with the North and with it independence but refused to accept the results of this fighting; primarily the introduction of free-labor principles, equal rights, and voting rights for freedmen. The South …


Somali Students In The American Elementary General Music Classroom, Alice L. Charland Jan 2024

Somali Students In The American Elementary General Music Classroom, Alice L. Charland

Masters Theses

Education must be cognizant of the Somali culture’s inclination to classify music as a morally charged entity. It must also be careful not to forget American cultural values that have defined the music classroom. The purpose of this research was to identify Somali cultural expressions that occur in the American elementary general music classroom and to identify underlying concepts that contribute to these cultural expressions. Additionally, the research sought to bring light to the relationship between the two, so that future music educators might be inspired to create assessments and activities that better suit the needs of all learners.


Tiktok’S Influence On Generation Z Female’S Comparative Behavior, Brookelynn Dinkler Jan 2024

Tiktok’S Influence On Generation Z Female’S Comparative Behavior, Brookelynn Dinkler

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to address TikTok’s role in the comparative behaviors among Generation Z females. This study specifically evaluated the communication of society’s perception of beauty standards and how it resonates with and influences TikTok users. A qualitative approach was taken to gain a better understanding of the lived experiences of participants and fill the gap in qualitative media effects research. The research question being addressed was: How has TikTok influenced society's idea of physical beauty and body image concerns among Generation Z females? Through the lens of social comparison theory, the research found that the application …


Do The Sexually Dimorphic Biofluorescent Glands Of Plethodon Cinereus Function In Mate Choice And Are They Seasonally Regulated By Photoperiod?, Sam C. Moody-Wynn Jan 2024

Do The Sexually Dimorphic Biofluorescent Glands Of Plethodon Cinereus Function In Mate Choice And Are They Seasonally Regulated By Photoperiod?, Sam C. Moody-Wynn

Masters Theses

The novel biofluorescent glands of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus), have been shown to be sexually dimorphic where males have larger and greater numbers of glands than females. Interestingly, a seasonal pattern of increased numbers of fluorescent glands, which mirrors the peak in testosterone levels, has been described. Currently, the function and regulation of the fluorescent glands is unknown. I predicted that the glands function as a form of male ornamentation used in intersexual communication, and perhaps act as an honest signal of male quality. Even though the fluorescent glands are located on the underside of the tail, there …


Characterization Of The Kansas River Alluvial Aquifer Using Towed Transient Electromagnetic Geophysical Method, Jonathon Daniel Voss Jan 2024

Characterization Of The Kansas River Alluvial Aquifer Using Towed Transient Electromagnetic Geophysical Method, Jonathon Daniel Voss

Masters Theses

"Forecasted urban development areas west of Kansas City, Kansas in the coming decades has caused an increase of research into water resources (Butler et al. 2022). A location of investigation has been the Kansas River Alluvial Aquifer (KRAA) for shallow ground water resources. To investigate the KRAA structure and grain texture, the towed transient electromagnetic system (tTEM) in conjunction with direct push electrical conductivity logs and lithology wells were used to investigate four locations between Lawrence and Manhattan, Kansas. In total, 110 line-kilometers of tTEM data was collected. The tTEM data collected were high quality and through inversions of the …


Human Arm Stiffness Estimation Method Developed For Overground Physical Interaction Experiments: Experimental Validation And Perspectives For Future Applications, Tarani Kanth Kamma Jan 2024

Human Arm Stiffness Estimation Method Developed For Overground Physical Interaction Experiments: Experimental Validation And Perspectives For Future Applications, Tarani Kanth Kamma

Masters Theses

"To build a physically interactive robot for overground applications, it is crucial to first understand the biomechanics of humans underlying overground physical human-robot interaction (pHRI) tasks. Estimating human arm stiffness during overground interactive tasks is a promising first step toward this goal. For this, an arm stiffness estimation technique was developed in our previous works that consider the unique challenges involving overground pHRI, such as the need to estimate the arm stiffness from a short duration of data with fewer repetitions. In this work, our stiffness estimation method is further validated with a passive spring setup with known stiffness values, …


Investigating Prodigy Math Program To Improve Students' Success In Mathematics, Justin A. Bledsaw Jan 2024

Investigating Prodigy Math Program To Improve Students' Success In Mathematics, Justin A. Bledsaw

Masters Theses

This study investigates whether Prodigy improves student achievement in mathematics; whether Prodigy improves, specifically, math achievement of special education students, students of different ethnicities, and students of different genders. Further, the study wanted to explore student perceptions of Prodigy. The study was conducted in two fifth grade classrooms with a total of 31 participants. Two mathematics units were utilized to compare; one on multiplying whole numbers and the other on dividing whole numbers. In addition, participants completed a survey and a focus group interview to find out participant perceptions of Prodigy. Results reveal that the whole group scored higher in …


Burnout In Resident Assistants Of Color, Lily Weaver Jan 2024

Burnout In Resident Assistants Of Color, Lily Weaver

Masters Theses

Burnout among Resident Assistants is very common due to the physically and emotionally demanding nature of the position (Stoner, 2017). For RAs of color, experiencing racism on campus and the barriers to higher education BIPOC individuals face can push them towards burnout more quickly (Jackson, 2012; Hotchkins & Dancy, 2017; Harper et al., 2011). While a multitude of research has been done on RA burnout, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding the BIPOC RA experience of burnout. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to examine how burnout in BIPOC RAs could be connected to their race. The …


From Screen To Classroom: The Role Of Televised Narratives In Enhancing Educational Belongingness For Black American Students, Feyi Oshinyemi Jan 2024

From Screen To Classroom: The Role Of Televised Narratives In Enhancing Educational Belongingness For Black American Students, Feyi Oshinyemi

Masters Theses

This creative thesis examines the influence of televised narratives on shaping the educational experiences of Black American students, exploring the interplay between media representation and educational belonging. It proposes how televisual narratives can better reflect and support the educational identities of Black American students, aiming to foster a greater sense of belonging and representation in educational media. This document serves as an accompaniment to the center of this work, a twelve minute pilot episode that explores the challenges and triumphs of students navigating their educational journeys. This work not only provides a detailed breakdown of the episode's narrative and production …


“What Planet Are You On” - Making Meaning Of Sustainability Through Storytelling, Nancy T. Ladeinde Jan 2024

“What Planet Are You On” - Making Meaning Of Sustainability Through Storytelling, Nancy T. Ladeinde

Masters Theses

The term “Sustainability” has come to stay as it is deeply integrated into our everyday life, although it seems complex to understand and engage with. The purpose of this thesis is to know how Unilever, a global consumer goods organization, makes meaning of its sustainability efforts. The method used to achieve this is a thematic analysis of Unilever’s campaign “What Planet Are You On?” a brand campaign documenting their sustainability efforts. Building on storytelling as a theoretical framework, it delves into the strategic use of stories as a communication tool for sustainability efforts, emphasizing its impact on brand narrative, stakeholder …


Influence Of Seeding Strategy On Insect Communities Within Utility Lands, Kylee E. Nissen Jan 2024

Influence Of Seeding Strategy On Insect Communities Within Utility Lands, Kylee E. Nissen

Masters Theses

Pollinator populations are in decline globally due to anthropogenic changes, particularly in areas affected by agricultural expansion and urbanization. Utility lands - managed to prevent tall vegetation encroachment - represent an opportunity to establish native grasslands and support pollinator communities. This study investigates how different seeding strategies used by utility companies influence pollinator community composition within a 15-acre electric right-of-way (ROW) outside St. Louis, Illinois. Despite the logical benefits of native seeding to pollinators, utility companies are often hesitant to do this, often favoring seeding to turf. Seeded in late 2021, the site incorporates randomized plots with turfgrass seeding (no …


Exploring International Graduate Students’ Internship Experiences In The Usa: A Case Of Eastern Illinois University Students, Wale Ishola Jan 2024

Exploring International Graduate Students’ Internship Experiences In The Usa: A Case Of Eastern Illinois University Students, Wale Ishola

Masters Theses

International graduate students in the United States begin their academic journey with the goal of professional growth, but they frequently struggle to secure internships due to bureaucratic barriers and competitive marketplaces. This study explores Eastern Illinois University's international graduate students' experiences through the perspective of sensemaking theory, with the goal of understanding how they make sense of the internship process. In-depth qualitative interviews with ten students revealed that students make sense of their internships in two ways: on one end, the struggles, and on the on the other end, how they are strengthening. Through sensemaking, students analyze and adapt to …


Self-Reported Multicultural Teaching Knowledge Of K-12 Teachers, Ailish Raftery Jan 2024

Self-Reported Multicultural Teaching Knowledge Of K-12 Teachers, Ailish Raftery

Masters Theses

Research continues to show that students who belong to racial and/or ethnic minority groups face a variety of challenges at school, such as disproportionate rates of drop out, behavioral problems, exclusionary discipline practices, absenteeism, placement in special education, and more. These challenges are thought to contribute to the academic achievement gap between White and racial/ethnic minority students throughout the American public school system. Therefore, it is important to assess the multicultural teaching competence of American teachers and investigate barriers to improving culturally responsive teaching practices. Past research has investigated teachers’ multicultural teaching competence, but fewer compared general and special education …


Using Community Science To Monitor Eastern Box Turtles And Engage Public In Conservation, Sarah Zoppa Jan 2024

Using Community Science To Monitor Eastern Box Turtles And Engage Public In Conservation, Sarah Zoppa

Masters Theses

The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina; EBT) is a charismatic species with populations in decline due to habitat loss, disease, and other anthropogenic factors. However, due to their cryptic nature, studying an EBT population can be a difficult and intensive process. To investigate EBT populations in Coles County, Illinois, we used a combination of community science and computer-based pattern analysis to develop an approach to tracking individual turtles. Citizen volunteers submitted photos of encountered eastern box turtle carapaces for shell pattern analysis along with GPS coordinates of the encounter. We have received 220 submissions from 47 community volunteers. …