Digital Commons Network^™

Disproportionate Discipline: Race/Ethnic And Gender Disparities In Rates Of Lunch Detentions And Subjectivity In Teachers’ Reasons For Those Punishments, Paul Michael Fram

Theses and Dissertations

The intent of school discipline policies, practices, and procedures is to shape student behavior to create an optimal learning environment for all students. However, school discipline falls short of this goal because it is rife with race/ethnic and gender disparities. These disparities contribute to inequitable academic and life outcomes that plague, in particular, African American children. This dissertation addresses these disparities through a thematic literature review, a quantitative analysis of inequities in rates of lunch detention, and a mixed methods analysis of subjectivity in reasons for lunch detention.

The literature review explains the problematic aspects of school discipline, the racial …

Hybrid Theory-Machine Learning Methods For The Prediction Of Afp Layup Quality, Christopher M. Sacco

Theses and Dissertations

The advanced manufacturing capabilities provided through the automated fiber placement (AFP) system has allowed for faster layup time and more consistent production across a number of different geometries. This contributes to the modern production of large composite structures and the widespread adaptation of composites in industry in general and aerospace in particular. However, the automation introduced in this process increases the difficulty of quality assurance efforts. Industry available tools for predicting layup quality are either limited in scope, or have extremely high computational overhead. With the advent of automated inspection systems, direct capture of semantic inspection data, and therefore complete …

Affective Risk Perceptions Toward Travel In A Covid Era: Policy And State Political Influences, Chloe Riley

Theses and Dissertations

This paper aims to analyze the influence of state political affiliation and policy on affective risk perceptions, in the context of COVID-19. The study of risk perceptions in the travel literature is important because it can help industry leaders predict tourist decision-making and ensure feelings of safety for travelers. The relevance of risk perceptions has become even more apparent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzes three policies put into place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19: mask mandate, cancellation of public events, and school closures. Affective risk perceptions were measured by the Tourism Crisis Management Initiative’s …

Preparing Students To Think In The 21St Century: The Impact Of Asynchronous Online Discussions On Critical Thinking Skills In A High School English Class, Evan Way

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate how the implementation of asynchronous online discussions into the classroom impacts the critical thinking skills of secondary language arts students. Although critical thinking has shown to be an important 21st century skill (Paul & Elder, 2002), many students are leaving high school lacking the thinking skills necessary to succeed in a modern society (Arum & Roksa, 2011; Conley, 2015). Standardized testing results within the population of this study indicated similar critical thinking deficits as the rest of the nation. This study focused on two central research questions: (1) To what extent …

The Devil And Tom Robot: The Use Of Robotics To Impact Empathy In Secondary Students Of American Literature, Susan K. Porter-Voss

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research study was to evaluate the effect of a robotics-based intervention on empathy for students enrolled in secondary English and literature courses. Empathy, as a concept, is an integral component of reading comprehension and student motivation. A decline in reported individual levels of empathy among young adults can negatively influence longitudinal academic and career success. Robotics present a promising method in which to impact student learning in K-12 environments. Student manipulation of Wonder Workshop Cue robots in designed challenges was integrated within literature content standards for English III. The outlined study measured the impact of …

Modified Em Algorithm In Smcure Package Based On Proportional Hazards Mixture Cure Model With Offset Terms, Jiaying Yi

Theses and Dissertations

Mixture cure model is a useful method of survival analysis for population including cured proportion and uncured proportion. The R package SMCURE applies EM algorithm to estimate the coefficients of covariates in the mixture cure model. Although an offset term is specified in the SMCURE statement, the offset term is not appropriately handled in the algorithm. This thesis aims to adjust the EM algorithm for the proportional hazards mixture cure model in the SMCURE package. In addition, the offset term can be specified separately in the incidence part or the latency part. The numerical experiments include simulation study and real …

Cognitive Consequences Of Covid-19 Infection And Quarantine-Induced Social Isolation: Hope For The Young And Mildly Infected, Kristin Nickole Kirchner

Theses and Dissertations

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected over 539 million individuals worldwide, and initial research supports the possibility that COVID-19 may damage the central nervous system either directly or indirectly. Neurological signs and noted cognitive deficits observed in even mildly infected patients are a cause for concern for those infected by COVID-19; the effect of social isolation on the central nervous system is also of interest. The present study sought to determine the extent of these potential cognitive deficits in a young and mildly infected sample of college students. Participants completed an extensive survey assessing their experience with COVID-19 and any …

A Performance Guide To Hyo-Geun Kim’S Art Pop For Korean Art Songs, Taeyoung Seon

Theses and Dissertations

This document contains information about instructions regarding singing with Korean diction for Korean Art songs by a gifted Korean composer, Kyo-geun Kim. He is now a Professor of Business at Ewha Women’s University in the Republic of Korea. The writer offers a brief biography of Kim as a composer and a scholar of music and business. This document will help anyone who would like to learn Korean diction for singing Korean Art Song, particularly, Hyo-geun’s Art Pop Art Songs such as Snow, A Thousand Winds, and What Though Life Conspires to Cheat You. The works are termed ART POP, it …

Detection Of Microcystin Aerosol Particles, Alexis D. Dabney

Theses and Dissertations

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are a growing global concern due to their increased prevalence and magnitude, frequency, and duration in affecting both aquatic ecosystems and human health (Brooks et al. 2015). In a series of experiments, lab-generated aerosol particles containing Microcystis and Microseira were captured using filters to analyze for concentrations of Microcystin, Saxitoxin, and Lyngbya toxins. The solutions were found to contain aerosols but did not contain detectable levels of Microcystin, Saxitoxin, and Lyngbya toxins following analysis by HPLC-MS. While the techniques for generating aerosols were shown to be effective, the generation and analysis of toxins did not produce …

Using Multimedia Vocabulary Games To Improve Newcomer Esol Students Motivation And Vocabulary Acquisition, Elizabeth E. Brittingham

Theses and Dissertations

This study looks at the use of the multimedia learning platform, Quizlet, to help newcomer ESOL students learn English vocabulary. The use of Quizlet to learn vocabulary is supported by Mayer’s Cognitive Load Theory. With an influx of ESOL students, and a lack of teacher training, Quizlet may help to create a more equitable solution for newcomer ESOL students to learn English vocabulary. The findings of this study show that newcomers benefit from using Quizlet to learn vocabulary in the language 2 by matching it to the vocabulary in the language 1, but only if they are able to read …

Incremental, Spaced Repetition And Studymate Flashcards: The Impact On College Student Memorization Of Measurement Conversion Standards, Patricia A. Bromer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the impact of and student perception of incremental, spaced repetition of StudyMate electronic flashcard use on memorization of measurement conversion standards for an online Mathematics in Health Sciences course. Online college classes require more self-direction and usually do not allow for partner or group work. These characteristics of online classes may hinder students’ ability to memorize crucial information, increasing their cognitive load and leading to feelings of inadequacy. This mixed methods study assessed the impact of incremental, spaced repetition of StudyMate flashcard use on college math students’ memorization of measurement conversion …

Evaluation Of The Throw-Catch Assessment, Bryan Terlizzi

Theses and Dissertations

Motor competence assessment has been characterized by the evaluation of motor skill performance in closed performance contexts that lack task and environmental constraints reflective of real-world contexts. In contrast, the throw-catch (TC) assessment employs a dynamic task environment that allows performers to adapt over multiple trials to evaluate the degree of skilled performance via demonstration of a flexible and adaptable repertoire of both throwing and catching actions. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the developmental validity of the TC, as well as the content validity of the TC in terms of assessing throwing skillfulness.

Performance of the TC …

Effects Of Positive Social Comparative Feedback During Practice On Motor Sequence Learning, Performance Expectancies, And Resting State Connectivity, Allison Foster Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

Positive social comparative feedback indicates to the learner that they are performing better than others. While this type feedback supports motor skill learning in some tasks, the effect of social comparative feedback on motor sequence learning remains unknown. In addition, the OPTIMAL theory predicts that positive social comparative feedback may trigger a dopaminergic response in the brain. However, no studies have utilized neuroimaging techniques to investigate this question. Therefore, the aim of these studies was to determine the effect of positive social comparative feedback on motor sequence learning, performance expectancies, and resting state connectivity of dopaminergic neural pathways.

In the …

Using Video Analysis As A Professional Development Tool In Order To Discern How To Better Foster The Engagement Level Of High School English Learners In A Content Area Class, Jennifer Lynne Ochwo

Theses and Dissertations

Many teachers struggle to engage English Learner students in the classroom as they feel students may be disconnected both academically and socially. In addition, many teachers have minimal intercultural experiences and limited training that could help them connect with these students. This qualitative study seeks to explore the use of video analysis as a professional development tool that would serve as a mirror for teachers who are focused on enhancing English Learners’ engagement in the classroom. The study participants were six teachers who teach sheltered English instruction classes at the Freshman Academy and High School. Data was collected over a …

Physical Activity And Stress Between American Students And Asian International Students At The University Of South Carolina, Hao Lei

Theses and Dissertations

Many college students are physically inactive and have high levels of stress, and this may be worse among increasing number of international students studying in the US. This study investigated the relationship between physical activity and stress among American students (n=92) and Asian international students (n=64). The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare MET minutes/week from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form between those two groups. The independent-samples t test compared the mean of stress from the Perceived Stress Scale between those two groups. Chi-square test was used to compare the percentage of Asian international students and American students …

Food Insecurity Resilience Of Refugee Families In The United States: A Qualitative Study, Maryam Suliman Alhabas

Theses and Dissertations

Refugee families living in the United States often encounter a number of challenges while trying to build a new home and maintain their household food security. Refugee families at high risk of experiencing food insecurity in the resettlement country. Food insecurity among US refugee families is a major public health concern as it adversely impacts their health and wellbeing, since it affects dietary intake and mental health and associated with illness, poor nutrition, and obesity. Little is known about what happens when refugee families face food insecurity experience, and the role of their social contexts in that experience. The objective …

Dying Of Pestilence: Gender, Stature, And Mortality From The Black Death In 14th Century Kyrgyzstan, David Wayne Hansen Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Bioarchaeological studies have provided important information about mortality patterns during the Second Pandemic of Plague, including the Black Death, but to date have focused exclusively on European contexts. This study represents a temporal and spatial expansion of plague bioarchaeology, focusing on Central Asia, the origin of the Second Pandemic. I examine the relationship between stature, gender, and plague mortality during an outbreak of plague at two fortified settlements in northern Kyrgyzstan in 1338-39, the earliest archaeological sites known to contain victims of the Black Death in Eurasia.

Stature is frequently used in bioarchaeology as a proxy for exposures to developmental …

Disengagement Of Male Students In Remediated Ela Classes, Joanne Berardi Martin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to examine the disengagement of male students in remediated English Language Arts (ELA) classes. Male students are disproportionately represented in remediated ELA classes, which indicates that male students are not progressing in their literacy skills at the same rate as females. Data was gathered from an ELA section of male students through a Google survey, a group interview, and two observations of students in a co-taught class. The purpose of these data collection methods was to understand the experiences of male students to determine the source of their disengagement. A focus group with …

Africanizing The Curriculum: African Diaspora Literacy Instruction In Elementary Classrooms, Jarvais Javon Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

Using a Critical Case Study design, this study examines the implementation of African Diaspora Literacy (ADL) in three elementary classrooms in order to understand successes, challenges, and student outcomes. African Diaspora Literacy (ADL) refers to becoming literate about African Diasporic peoples, histories, cultures, languages, epistemologies, cosmologies, and axiologies (King, 1992; Boutte et. al., 2017). Against the backdrop of worldwide and systemic anti-Black racism--the most dominant and virulent form of racism (Dumas & Ross, 2016), there is a need for instructional and curricular antidotes in K-12 schools and in the academy (Boutte et. al., 2017). African Diaspora Literacy offers a promising …

Examining The Effects Of A Well-Being Therapy Protocol On Sexual Minority Individuals’ Psychological Well-Being, Thomas M. Toomey

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual minority individuals are at higher risk of mental health concerns than heterosexual individuals due to the impacts of minority stress. Previous counseling interventions for sexual minority individuals have focused on pathology and reducing negative symptoms. However, there is a need for more empirical counseling interventions that address these disparities from a positive psychology perspective. Utilizing a multiple baseline single case research design, the current study examined the impact of a wellbeing therapy protocol for improving the psychological well-being and decreasing depressive symptoms for three sexual minority individuals. There was no functional relationship observed for the Well-Being Therapy protocol on …

Nondestructive Material Characterization Using A Fully Noncontact Ultrasonic Lamb Wave System For Thin Metals, Nuclear Cladding, And Composite Materials, Elsa Z. Compton

Theses and Dissertations

Effective non-destructive evaluation (NDE) inspection system and methods are highly desired in a broad range of engineering applications including thin metal structure thickness evaluation. Ultrasonic guided waves in thin-walled structures, namely Lamb waves, have gained popularity as a NDE method. By using the ultrasonic waves in conjunction with high spatial resolution multidimensional wavefield measurements, thickness evaluations for thin metals can be achieved. This thesis explores the configuration and application of a fully noncontact ultrasonic Lamb wave NDE system for thickness characterization and evaluation of very thin metal plates. We have tested the actuation and sensing of Lamb waves for thickness …

Disinfection Byproducts In Wastewater, Swimming Pools, And Tea: Identification, Quantification, And Drivers Of Toxicity, Caroline O. Granger

Theses and Dissertations

Drinking water disinfection is considered one of the greatest scientific achievements of the 20th Century because it significantly reduced the number of deaths related to waterborne diseases. However, in 1974 J.J. Rook discovered that chlorine, a commonly used disinfectant, can react with natural organic matter to form disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Since then, more than 700 DBPs have been identified, with several epidemiological and toxicological studies linking DBPs to several adverse health effects such as bladder and colorectal cancer, adverse birth outcomes, and asthma. Due to their ubiquity in disinfected water and their adverse health effects, studying the formation and identifying …

Oxidized Graphitic Nano-Amendment Of Cement Composites: Exploring Truly Low Concentrations And Novel Particle Morphologies, Shohana Iffat

Theses and Dissertations

Oxidized graphitic nanoparticles such as multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), can produce enhancements in physicomechanical properties of cement composites that are relevant to structural and durability performance, provided that said nanoparticles are well dispersed in the composite. Lower-bound MWCNT concentrations are reported in the literature in the range 0.01-0.05% in weight of cement (wt%). Such concentrations may not be costeffective for practical applications and may also be excessive since they would result in a nanoparticle surface area at or above 105 m2 for 1 m3 of cement paste, or 104.5 m2 for 1 m 3 of concrete, …

The Effect Of Pulsed Field Dc Electrophoresis And Field Amplified Sample Stacking On The Microchip Electrophoretic Separation Of Organic Dyes, Travis Geoffrey Stewart

Theses and Dissertations

The utility of field amplified sample stacking and pulsed field electrophoresis toward improving electrophoretic outcomes was studied with regards to the electrophoretic separation of three organic dyes rhodamine B, 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescein, and fluorescein salt in microchip electrophoresis conditions. In this study, there were four experimental groups: nonstacking nonpulsed, nonstacking pulsed, sample stacking nonpulsed, and sample stacking pulsed.

Electrophoretic outcomes were evaluated by examining the electrophoretic separations under an epifluoresence detection method, plotting the signal intensities vs. time, and comparing separation resolutions and signal-to-noise ratios between experimental groups. From this it was shown that sample stacking nonpulsed conditions yielded the best outcome …

In Vivo And In Vitro Investigations Of Mammalian Stem Cell Development: Neurogenesis And Pituitary Progenitors, Allison Culver

Theses and Dissertations

Human development is tightly regulated by complex mechanisms to pattern the early embryo and form specialized tissues. Understanding this regulation is of fundamental importance and can help further understand disease pathologies. Because it is difficult to observe the processes of interest, researchers must rely on the use of model systems. Our research goal is to combine both animal models and in vitro stem cell cultures to address key questions about the mechanisms of development for both the pituitary gland and brain. It is estimated that there are 290-455 cases per million of congenital hypopituitarism. In addition, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) …

Examining The Relationship Between School Policing Behaviors And The Depressive Symptoms Experienced By Black Students, Collin Perryman

Theses and Dissertations

The school policing literature has two major themes: (a) the negative safety outcomes of school safety (Gottfredson et al., 2020) and (b) the central role that school police play in placing Black students into the school-to-prison-nexus (Morris, 2016; Turner & Beneke, 2020). The study of school police roles, how school police interact with educators, and the safety effects of school police presence is important. Just as important is knowing the mental health effects of physical and nonphysical school policing behaviors on Black students. This dissertation sought to fill this gap in part by studying the relationship between school police behaviors …

Null Hypothesis Statistical Testing: A Survey Of The History, Critiques, And Alternative Methodologies, Bradley David Rogers

Theses and Dissertations

Considered normative from the second half of the 20th century (Danziger, 1990), null hypothesis statistical testing (NHST) has received consistent, largely unheeded criticism. Critiques have received more attention in recent years with the recognition of the replication crisis in the social sciences and the American Statistical Society’s statement and special issue on p values (Wasserstein & Lazar, 2016; Wasserstein et al., 2019). This paper seeks to provide a framework for understanding the issue by looking at the history of NHST and investigating some alternatives to the methodology. A brief review of the history, spread, and critiques of NHST is provided …

“We Make A Life By What We Give”: The Impact Of A High School Mentoring Program On The Perceptions And Academic Achievement Of Black Males, Brandon R. Ross

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study describes how a high school mentoring program impacts the academic achievement and postsecondary planning of Black male students. It further explores the perception Black male students have on school and their White teachers. The theoretical frameworks that support this research are social bonding theory (SBT) and critical race theory (CRT). This study used a qualitative design through a survey to examine the following research questions: “How does a high school mentoring program impact the academic achievement and perception of school for Black male students?” The study further examined “How a high school mentoring program impacts the …

Image-Based Crack Detection By Extracting Depth Of The Crack Using Machine Learning, Nishat Tabassum

Theses and Dissertations

Concrete structures have been a major aspect of social infrastructure since the ancient Roman times, so they have been used for many centuries. Concrete is used for the durability and support it provides to buildings and bridges. Assessing the state of these structures is important in preserving the longevity of structures and the safety of the public. Detecting cracks in their early stage allows repairs to be made without the need to replace the whole structure, so it reduces the cost. Traditional methods are slowly falling behind as technology advances and an increase in demand for a practical method of …

Perceptions Of Gifted Male Underperformance, Laura Bryant Palmer

Theses and Dissertations

The underperformance of gifted students is a concern facing all educators. Having students who do not work up to their potential, who make grades lower than test scores show they could, and who choose to focus on other interests instead of academics are issues that occur in many schools. This study sought to learn the perceptions of educational leader in regard to this underperformance. The Palmer Model, a proposed intervention plan, was developed based on a Response to Intervention (RtI) model using a 3-tier intervention approach. Using online questionnaires and focus groups, perceptions were examined and critiques of the proposed …