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. …

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 …

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 …

Rhapsody, Hannah Pennington

Masters Theses

This thesis delves into the topics of love, despair, and perseverance. Rhapsody balks at the cliche of "Love will find a way" and instead embraces the theme of "Love is not always enough." This paper aims to show how flawed characters can still be heroes in their own way, even if they do not receive their happy ending. It takes place in Italy during the late Renaissance and follows the life of a young man named Niccolo, who has just killed a man in the name of love. In an adaptation of Queen's song, Bohemian Rhapsody, Niccolo flees from his …

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.

Naturalism, Christian Molinism, And The Problem Of Evil, Caleb Blackman

Masters Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to create a Christian theodicy by forming an abductive argument showing that Christian Molinism can provide reasons for the existence of evil, and compared to naturalism, it provides the best explanation. This is accomplished by considering the naturalistic explanation of evil and building upon defenses and concepts such as the Free Will Defense and Molinism.

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

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

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 …

Headstarting Eastern Box Turtles In Southwest Michigan: Implications For Growth, Survival, And Spatial Ecology, Faith C. Kuzma

Masters Theses

Turtles and tortoises are one of the most endangered groups of animals in the world as anthropogenic activities like overexploitation, collection for the pet trade, and habitat loss and fragmentation have caused dramatic population declines in recent years. As a result, proactive conservation techniques are being increasingly implemented to facilitate population recovery. Headstarting is a popular chelonian conservation technique that aims to reduce vulnerability and increase survival of juvenile turtles. While headstarting has been a valuable tool for many species, there is increasing evidence that species-specific influences impact its success. In this study, we headstarted four annual cohorts of eastern …

A Global Synthesis Of The Relative Impacts Of Habitat Amount, Fragmentation, And Matrix Quality On Forest Biodiversity, Antoinette Esposito

Masters Theses

Aim To assess the relative impact of different landscape variables on species richness and to determine whether species richness declines more rapidly below an extinction threshold of remaining habitat. The results of this study will help to better inform future conservation strategies. Location Global Time period 1997 – 2013 Major taxa studied Amphibians, birds, invertebrates, mammals, and reptiles Methods Data from 71 studies published in the global BioFrag database were used to determine species richness across multiple landscapes and biomes. The Hansen dataset was used to collect data on habitat amount (forest area), fragmentation (patch density), and matrix quality (mean …

A Multivariate Analysis Of Phytoplankton Assemblages And Environmental Variables In Chautauqua Lake, New York, Emily Palmer

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Branching Fractional Brownian Motion, Reece Beattie-Hauser

Masters Theses

"Fractional Brownian Motion (FBM) is a Gaussian process whose increments are correlated over long times. FBM is an example of anomalous diffusion, and recently it has been used to model the distribution of serotonergic fibers in the brain [1, 2]. To better represent these fibers, branching FBM (bFBM), where FBM trajectories may randomly split into two, is introduced. One-dimensional bFBM is studied in both sub diffusive and super diffusive regimes, examining three potential behaviors of the correlations (memory) in a branching event: both trajectories retain the memory of previous steps, only one keeps the memory, and neither keeps the memory. …

Metal-Ion Doped Borate Bioactive Glasses- A Novel Direction In Minimizing Nosocomial Infections And Antibiotic Resistance, Sarah Fakher

Masters Theses

"Nosocomial infections represent a formidable challenge and induce a substantial burden on patients and healthcare systems. These infections result from the interaction of numerous pathogenic microorganisms, particularly bacteria, and lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Extensive research has been carried out to devise innovative solutions, mainly focusing on antimicrobial natural and synthetic substances. However, the proclivity of bacterial strains to form biofilms complicates treatment and elevates antibiotic resistance, prompting research into pioneering more effective and versatile antibacterial strategies. Borate bioactive glasses (BBGs) are the latest, remarkable classes of biomaterials with a wide array of medical applications, owing to …

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

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 …

Teacher Acceptability Of Praise Across Grades (K-12), Laura Heuermann

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to expand the praise acceptability literature by examining K-12 teachers’ preferences for praise and whether their acceptability for praise, as a behavior management tool, declines as grade level increases. Teacher acceptability and preferences for praise and reprimand were collected through the Teacher Praise and Reprimand Preference Survey (TPRPS) which is a survey adapted from the previously existing Adolescent Preference for Praise Survey (APPS). A total of 140 teachers from rural, suburban, and urban school districts completed the TPRPS survey. Results of the study showed that as grade level increased, teachers reported to praise students …

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

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

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 …

Estimating Daily Growth Of Age-0 Channel Catfish In A Free-Flowing, Commercially Exploited Midwestern River, Kaleb B. Wood

Masters Theses

The larval stage in fishes is an important stage in the life history, as their survival dictates the ability of the population to sustain itself as an adult population. While there is a plethora of information available for juvenile and adult life stages of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), very little is understood about their larval life stage. This study sought to determine overall density, growth rates, and size structure of cohorts of age-0 Channel Catfish during a study year on the Wabash River. In 2018, I sampled age-0 Channel Catfish using a benthic trawl from May to September. …

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

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 …

Covid-19 Pandemic And College Students’ Mental Health: Vulnerability And Resilience Factors, Jensyn Morrison

Masters Theses

The world became quickly and suddenly consumed by the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020. Topics such as stay-at-home orders, isolation from society, and social distancing became trending discussion themes in news coverage and daily conversations. The present study aimed to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of college students. Specifically, a total of 123 students from a rural Midwest university and an urban Southeast university in the United States participated in an online survey that assessed COVID-19-related vulnerability and resilience factors (e.g., employment status, living situation, religious beliefs, previous diagnosis, and vaccination status of individuals) …

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. …

The Transition Of Music Students Into College, Amanda J. Durbin

Masters Theses

The arts in college provide a unique experience to students that may be different than other studies. As schools around the nation cut their art programs due to budgets and lack of testing, students who enter a college program in the arts may have different levels of preparation for the demands and needs of their program. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the transition of music students into a college level music program. Research showed that these students are extremely passionate about music where they are fully engaged in the music program, however they may be separated …

Nocturnal Behavior Of Communally Roosting American Crows (Corvus Brachyrhynchos), Caitlin M. Mrowiec

Masters Theses

During the winter months in Charleston, Illinois, thousands of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) gather together each night to roost. While aspects of this impressive sight have been studied elsewhere, there is very limited information on how crows behave at night. Additionally, the mechanics and origins of communal roosting are not especially well understood, and the behaviors involved are not always consistently described. This study sought to provide a more complete assessment of crow communal roosting after sunset. I collected data between 2018 and 2020 by locating communal roosts and conducting continuous observations for 4 hours after sunset, with additional checks …

Navigating Black Identity: Black Young Adults’ Perception Of Being ‘Black Enough’ In America, Tabitha Omanano

Masters Theses

This thesis highlights young adults’ assumptions that social performance and certain cultural proficiencies validate one’s Blackness. I discuss cultural expressions and differences and social behaviors and why such markers and differences are insufficient to define and authenticate Black identity. I posit that the primary determinant of Blackness is a matter of biology and a shared historical context. I begin by reviewing historical and contemporary perspectives on the racial identity of African Americans and Black Africans across various eras in the United States. This is followed by analyzing the ways in which young people question their Black identities—ethnic, cultural, social, and …

Investigating Morphological And Molecular Identifiers For Culex Restuans And Culex Pipiens From Central Illinois, Savannah L. Ettien

Masters Theses

Some of the most prominent vectors for West Nile Virus are mosquitoes of the genus Culex. As a result, efforts have been made to monitor the spread of Culex species as climate change has allowed them to travel to places that they never inhabited before. Since Cx. restuans is a less prevalent vector, most studies for prevention focus on Cx. pipiens, which is the primary vector for the spread of West Nile Virus in the Midwestern United States, especially in the late summer and early fall seasons. As both species share many morphological characteristics and are present at …

Navigating Campus Climate: Microaggressions And Microaffirmations Impacting Trans* College Students On College Campuses, Chas Figueroa

Masters Theses

This study explored the microaggressions and microaffirmations that transgender college students experienced on their campus. The study looked at the impact those experiences had on transgender student perspectives regarding inclusivity on campus. With the population of out college age trans* students growing there is a need to look at the importance of inclusive practices in colligate environments. This narrative approach takes the stories of two trans* college students and interprets their experiences with themes of misgendering, university action, university community, and signs of support. The study indicated that trans* college student’s perspectives on inclusivity was impacted by the microaggressions and …