Digital Commons Network^™

Relationship Between Speaking Proficiency And Cultural Identity Of Korean Heritage Language Speakers, Minha Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Heritage language speakers from immigrant families often navigate between two languages and cultures as they form their personal identities. In this process, some develop their identity through their personal choices and external pressures, while others remain in a state of identity confusion. Although many factors contribute to the formation of their identity, the field of language education has continued to focus on the relationship between language proficiency and identity, assuming language ability could be one of the key influences. This study investigated the relationship between Korean speaking proficiency and cultural identity among Korean heritage language speakers born in the United …

Hybrid Bermudagrass Drought Tolerance In A Cool-Season Climate, Ashley J. Beazer

Theses and Dissertations

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) (KBG) is the most commonly grown cool-season C3 turfgrass. However, as global temperatures rise, KBG struggles to tolerate higher temperatures, leading to increased irrigation demands--a growing concern in arid and semi-arid regions facing escalating drought conditions. In contrast, hybrid bermudagrass (HBG; Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers. x Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy), a warm-season C4 grass, has demonstrated promising adaptability in traditionally cool-season climates. Since 2008, HBG has been successfully grown with minimal winterkill in Provo, UT, USA, and is now being considered for broader adoption in similar climates. Two separate studies were conducted to evaluate the …

Bridging The Language Proficiency Gap: Seeking Strategies For High Language Proficiency, Maria Isabelle Lyon

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores factors contributing to high proficiency in German speakers, focusing on university graduates who achieved Advanced High or Superior ratings on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) at the end of their university studies. The nine participants, all of whom had significant exposure to German during and/or before their undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University (BYU), shared insights into their language learning experiences. The study uses interviews and surveys to examine key characteristics, strategies, and experiences that influenced participant proficiency. The findings highlight motivation, consistency, and humility as key factors contributing to learners. Participants emphasize intrinsic motivation, consistent …

Examining Shifts In Reader Identity Through Explicit Fluency Instruction, Mercedes Allen

Theses and Dissertations

Fluency-a reader's ability to read accurately, with correct expression, speed, and prosody-is a main component of the science of reading (Rasinski, 2016). Although the science of reading has been a significant topic surrounding the issue of improving literacy in schools, there is little focus on the teaching of fluency at the secondary level (Shanahan, 2021; Steinle, 2022; Wexler, 2008) and how fluency influences reader identity. This article seeks to explore this question through the lens of the dialogical self (Hermans, 2001). In this case study, three 11th grade students participated in a series of lessons targeting components of fluency-accuracy, speed, …

The Effects Of Goal Setting On Sports Performance Of Competitive Athletes: A Meta-Analytic Review, Kelsi L. Crotts

Theses and Dissertations

Goal setting is widely used by athletes as a strategy to enhance sports performance. Despite its theoretical foundation in Goal Setting Theory (GST), empirical research has yielded mixed findings regarding its effectiveness in competitive athletic settings. Prior meta-analyses have included studies across various skill levels and motor tasks unrelated to sport, limiting their applicability to experienced athletes. The current meta-analytical review aimed to (1) evaluate the impact of goal setting on sports performance among competitive athletes, (2) examine the influence of goal characteristics such as difficulty, specificity, proximity, type, source, and feedback, and (3) identify methodological limitations in existing research …

Harnessing Strengths Through Peer Coaching: Supporting The Well-Being Of Novice Esl Teachers, Joclyn M. Farrales

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the effects of strengths-based peer coaching on novice ESL teacher well-being. Language teachers often face challenges in job security, teacher and financial status, institutional demands, and burnout. Novice ESL teachers especially face concerns about balancing teaching and student roles, building knowledge of the realities of teaching, and scaffolding a support system. The Virtues in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) was used to identify participants' strengths, and teachers were assigned a peer to collaborate with who shared similar strengths. These teachers met with their assigned peer coach eight times throughout the semester to discuss ways of implementing strengths …

The Right To Gender-Affirming Care, Justin J. Soulas

Theses and Dissertations

As of recent, twenty-four states have enacted bans on gender-affirming care, restricting minors from accessing medically necessary treatment. Existing scholarship has begun to explore the profound impact of these bans on transgender youth, their parents or guardians, and the medical professionals who support them. However, the body of literature on this rapidly evolving issue remains limited. This thesis aims to fill that gap by offering a legal defense of gender-affirming care, grounded in judicial precedent. It argues that parental rights to make medical decisions for their children—recognized in constitutional jurisprudence—extend to decisions involving gender-affirming treatment. Additionally, it draws on anti-discrimination …

Water Conservation For The Great Salt Lake: Measuring Success And Uncertainty In Utah's Efforts, Sarah E. Witney

Theses and Dissertations

The Great Salt Lake in Utah, United States is one of many saline lakes worldwide that is currently in decline. The shrinkage and collapse of global saline lakes is primarily caused by irrigated agriculture and other human consumptive uses, with secondary contributions from global climate change. Great Salt Lake's area has decreased by more than 50% relative to its long-term natural level. The decline of these lakes triggers serious and long-lasting socioeconomic consequences, including destruction of habitat, degradation of air quality, and damage to the economy. The Utah state government has instituted a variety of programs to conserve water to …

"She Could Worship Now Even In The Desert": The Monastic Life As An Escape To Higher Consciousness In The Works Of Henry James, Tabetha A. Madsen

Theses and Dissertations

Stephen Koch has argued that Henry James is a writer that is deeply concerned with consciousness (93). Many critics acknowledge James's attention to the metaphysical. What fewer critics have observed is that the study of the metaphysical was not simply an intellectual process for James. Instead, James's study of consciousness often reads like the private experiences of the mystic. Much of the mysticism in James's work comes from his frequent use of monastic images and values. James's use of the monastic image--characterized by the qualities of obedience, silence, celibacy, and escape--explores the limitations and possibilities of consciousness in a more …

A Unique Light: The Presence, Salience And Portrayal Of Unique Religious Values On College Football Television Broadcasts, Joseph Bradford Hovey

Theses and Dissertations

A mixed-methods content analysis case study of BYU football broadcasts (2023-2024), guided by agenda setting and framing theories, was conducted to determine to what extent the unique Latter-day Saint religious values of BYU were present and salient, as well as how they were framed, on BYU football television broadcasts. Using the university's 2024 brand messaging guide as a standard for topics indicative of such religious values, the 25 game broadcasts were analyzed and coded for presence or absence of religious values along with sentiment valence in each case. Frequency tests determined that 56% of games over the two seasons included …

Testing The Feasibility, Acceptability, And Preliminary Impact Of A Brief Behavioral Sleep Intervention To Improve School-Aged Childhood Sleep Behaviors, Isabella Delores Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: Parent knowledge of what healthy sleep looks like in their children has scarcely been evaluated, and little is known as to whether improving child sleep through a brief behavioral intervention that emphasizes mastery, personalization, motivation, and modeling will enhance sleep outcomes in children. As a result, we designed this study with the following aims in mind: 1) determine existing parental knowledge of healthy child sleep practices of parents; 2) test the impact of a personalized, brief parental sleep intervention aimed at increasing parental self-efficacy and parent behaviors; and 3) determine preliminary feasibility, acceptability, and impact of this personalized intervention …

Navigating Light And Darkness: The Intersection Of Space, Faith And The Psyche In Ana Plácido’S Luz Coada Por Ferros, Alondra V. Ramirez Herrera

Theses and Dissertations

Ana Plácido (1831-1895) was a Portuguese writer whose literary contributions remain largely overshadowed by her infamous trial for adultery and her relationship with Camilo Castelo Branco. Despite societal constraints on female authorship in the nineteenth century, Plácido used literature as a means of self-expression, autonomy, and intellectual freedom. This thesis employs spatial theory to analyze her collection of texts Luz Coada por Ferros (1863), written during her imprisonment, to explore the interplay between physical confinement and artistic freedom. By examining the symbolic and psychological dimensions of space in her work, this study highlights how Plácido navigated themes of female agency, …

Aliases And Archetypes: A Spy's Dilemma In Tomás Nevinson, Silke Mckay Schnebly

Theses and Dissertations

Tomás Nevinson is the last novel by Javier Marías. The themes of betrayal, deceit, and doubt that are apparent in his other works continue here as well. The meandering and philosophical narration guides the reader through Tomás' quest for self-discovery. This article uses literary onomastics (the study of names, their meanings and origins) to peel back the layers of the various characters in order to reveal the archetypes they represent. Through analyzing the names in Tomás Nevinson, the reader may come to recognize the archetypes associated with the novel's characters while also recognizing how Tomás interacts with archetypal others in …

I Do, And I Will: Effectual Religiosity May Strengthen The Triad Chord Of Commitment To Promote Marital Flourishing For Women Of Faith, Tamara M. Chamberlain

Theses and Dissertations

Although religiosity often associates with marital satisfaction in sociological studies, very few studies have examined religiosity strengthening marital commitment for women of faith. This study used an exemplary sample to explore how religious, heterosexual married women view religion strengthening their marital commitment. Interviews from 196 highly religious couples provided insight into the following themes and subthemes (1) personal commitment, (a) decision to marry, (b) religious beliefs and practices, and (c) requires effort and sacrifice; (2) moral commitment, (a) sexual relations before marriage, (b) promises made before God, friends, and family, and (c) fidelity and feelings about divorce; and (3) structural …

Exploring The Associations Between Young Adults' Autistic Traits And Parental Differential Treatment, Madelyn Winder Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

The current study sought to identify autistic traits that may elicit parental differential treatment (PDT). Understanding these links are important because numerous studies have shown PDT to have negative implications for healthy development. Participants (recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk) completed a survey assessing their experiences of parental differential treatment and their own autistic traits using the Autism Quotient (AQ) measure (Baron-Cohen et al., 2001). Participants were young adults ages 18-29 (M age = 25.4; 57% Female, 43% Male; 73% White, n = 739) who resided in the U.S. and had at least one living sibling. Using regression analysis, we examined …

Teaching Information Synthesis In First-Year Writing: A Replication And Extension Study, Rachel M. Terry

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the challenges and strategies associated with teaching information synthesis to first-year college students. Synthesis, a higher-order cognitive skill described as "knowledge-transforming," is critical for academic success and informed engagement in an information-saturated society. However, many students enter college with underdeveloped foundational reading and writing skills, compounded by declining literacy rates and the prevalence of fragmented digital content consumption. This study builds on prior research in composition, education, and information literacy to address three key questions: (1) How do students understand synthesis? (2) What strategies do students employ when attempting to synthesize information? (3) What instructional implications arise …

Language Choice And Russian Course Enrollment Among University Students, Emma Calderwood

Theses and Dissertations

University Russian enrollments have been steadily declining in the United States since 2009 (MLA, 2023). No research has been done to examine student motivation for studying Russian since long before the 2022 increase in conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This study surveys two groups of students at the university level: students enrolled in BYU 101-level language classes, and students enrolled in Russian classes at six universities in the United States. The findings report that the most common reasons students choose to take university Russian classes is because they have a general interest in the language, they want to travel to …

Studying Cultural Change With Transhistorical Semantic Directions, Travis Daichi Ashby

Theses and Dissertations

This study advances the use of diachronic word embeddings in cultural sociology, contributing both methodologically and substantively. Methodologically, it synthesizes best practices for constructing semantic directions and addresses challenges arising from diachronic embeddings, including missing data and semantic drift. Substantively, it examines historical changes in schemas and conceptual metaphors related to "processing." By analyzing the changing associations between processing-related words (e.g., "raw" and "refined") and evaluative categories like authenticity, valence, and aesthetics, the study examines whether word-level changes amongst schematically-related words indicate deeper cultural shifts at the schematic level. Findings indicate a growing association between processed states and inauthenticity, a …

Reclaiming Identity: Miné Okubo's Self-Portraiture And Authorship In Citizen 13660, Caroline E. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I argue that Miné Okubo's repeated self-portraiture in Citizen 13660 asserts her authority of the soul author of the text, forcing her reader to acknowledge the perspective in which the story is being told. Through the images of herself, she makes clear the fact that the story is filtered through her personal experience, rather than the widely accepted understanding that the novel is a universal story. While the written account strives for a sense of objectivity, the images of Okubo, especially when analyzed through the context of her contemporaries, including comics and photographers, shows how her work …

Organismal Classification And The Phylogenetic Tree: Improving Its Teaching Using Decision-Based Learning, Melissa Cavan

Theses and Dissertations

For a lot of students, learning biology is like learning a new language. There are new terms and concepts that a lot of new students have never heard of. Evolution is the cornerstone for understanding biology, yet it is one of the more misunderstood topics. In combination with learning new terms and concepts some students come in with preconceived ideas about evolution or misunderstandings about how evolution and the phylogenetic tree work. The research indicates instructors attempting active learning techniques to increase understanding of the phylogenetic tree with mixed results, where there appears to be some improvement but nothing significant. …

"The Things I Hate": Romans 7 And The Construction Of Self, Nicole Francis

Theses and Dissertations

The construction of the self has been a central topic of discussion throughout Graeco-Roman history and continues to shape modern theoretical debate. This paper situates Paul’s construction of self in Romans 7 within these ongoing conversations, engaging both ancient and modern perspectives. While many scholars have written books on the topic of the Hellenistic and Roman constructions of self that include thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Seneca, Epictetus, and others, none of these extant works have explored Paul’s contribution to this discourse. Acknowledging the historical interests and the academic conversations about the historical Paul, this paper seeks to add …

"The Truth Of Our Historic Encounter": Curating Networks Of The Past In Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad, Holden O. D'Evegnee

Theses and Dissertations

What unites the critical response to Colson Whitehead's 2016 novel The Underground Railroad is universal interest in the text's attitude towards historical truth. I contend that critics fixate so much on the issue of truth that they miss how the novel offers an alternative to historic truth in the form of an aesthetic encounter. During her employment as a "living exhibit" in North Carolina's Museum of Natural Wonders, protagonist Cora despairs at the apparent absence of truth. Despite the overt manipulation of history to justify white imperialism in the museum, Cora experiences a transcendent moment of refuge when she works …

The Value Of Alternative Credentials To Earners And Employers, Daniel O. Young

Theses and Dissertations

Between the rising cost of education and the oft-mentioned skills gap, current and potential students are pursuing alternatives to expensive 4-year degrees. This has contributed to the rapid rise of alternative credentials over the past 10 years. However, these alternatives still struggle with public awareness, questions of validity, and familiarity and acceptance by employers. This dissertation focuses on understanding the research surrounding alternative credentials and specifically looks at whether those credentials have perceived or actual value for gaining or improving an individual's career. To better understand this topic, I looked to the literature for context, and used data gathered from …

Partial Replication Of The Severe Outcome Questionnaire (S-Oq): Determining Benchmarks Using Ecologically Valid Data, Joshua J. Allen

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The Severe Outcome Questionnaire (S-OQ) is a self-report tool whose most recent manual was published in 2008. It measures the treatment progress of the seriously mentally ill (SMI). Objective: 1). Partially replicate the outpatient and inpatient admission, change, and internal consistency data. 2). Provide a manual extension including admission and change data for new settings of care and include treatment modality benchmarks. Method: OQ Measures provided an archival data set drawn from six different community mental health organizations from around the United States covering 101 different clinics (N = 25,511; Male = 11,524, Female = 13,987). We constructed normative …

The Impact Of Sensory Sensitivity On Nutritional Outcomes In Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Rachel M. Qualley

Theses and Dissertations

Background/Objective: Children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are at increased risk of malnutrition due to restrictive dietary patterns and behavioral difficulties at mealtimes. Research suggests that heightened sensory sensitivity, a characteristic accompanying several of these disorders, may be a contributing factor. However, the effects of sensory sensitivity on nutritional outcomes across distinct NDDs have not been fully explored. This review aims to examine the relationship between sensory sensitivity and nutritional status, food preferences, and eating behaviors in children with NDDs, specifically investigating how atypical sensory processing might influence dietary intake.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, …

The Crystal Ball Is Cloudy: Teacher Preparation Programs' Challenges In Predicting Effective Teaching From Teacher Characteristics, Benjamin Pacini

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher preparation programs (TPPs) stand to benefit if they can reliably link pre-service teacher characteristics with later teaching quality--for example, by better supporting underperformers and spotting high-potential candidates early. In this study, I use data from a university in the Mountain West to analyze the relationships between pre-college student characteristics and teaching evaluation scores during student teaching, as scored on Danielson's Framework for Teaching (FFT) rubric. My findings suggest that no significant relationship exists between FFT scores and demographic characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, or poverty. Pre-college academic variables (i.e., GPA and standardized test scores) show small but …

Pilot Study For Examining The Physiological Effects Of Sustained Attention In A Structured Online Mindfulness-Based Course, Eve Barton

Theses and Dissertations

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI's) and courses have emerged as widely recognized approaches for promoting mental health, improving cognitive functioning, and fostering overall well-being. This pilot study explored the effects of a 15-session, online, structured mindfulness course on sustained attention and subjective well-being, utilizing both objective and subjective measures. The study aimed to determine whether participants' sustained attention, assessed via a smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) task, improved after completing the online course. Subjective attention was measured using the Attentional Control Scale (ACS) and a single item from the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), while subjective well-being was assessed using the Survey …

Deliberate Practice For Multicultural Orientation Training Novice Undergraduates, Eduardo E. Duran

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the efficacy of Multicultural Orientation (MCO) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) frameworks in enhancing undergraduates' ability to address cultural dynamics in therapeutic contexts through deliberate practice. Using a randomized control trial design, 59 participants were assigned to either an MCO as the experimental group or an MI workshop as the control group, each involving pre- and post-workshop video simulations and self-reported assessments. The workshops incorporated deliberate practice exercises with feedback to improve participants' responses to culturally rich client scenarios. Findings indicated significant improvements in cultural humility, comfort, and opportunities for the MCO group compared to the MI group. …

Optimizing Aircraft Taxi Processes: A Novel Cost-Minimizing Queue Discipline For The Pushback To Runway Process, Kevin James

Theses and Dissertations

Optimization of the aircraft taxi process can significantly decrease operating costs for air carriers, especially at major airports where congestion on the ramp is a primary contributor to taxi times. To improve the efficiency of this process, we propose a novel queue discipline which mitigates pushback delays through a dynamic reordering of clearance deliveries. As an alternative to FIFO, the proposed discipline accounts for aircraft delays at the gate before the aircraft enters the queueing system. Our proposed system implements pushback control to allow for controller-imposed variability in runway queueing. To validate our proposed queue discipline, we provide a computational …

Understanding Dialogic Interactions In Online Religious Education, Isaac Munoz Moreno

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I explored how Latter-day Saint higher education professors experienced and facilitated dialogic interactions in online religion courses. Seven instructors who taught synchronous and asynchronous virtual courses at Brigham Young University participated in semi-structured interviews focused on their pedagogical approaches, relational practices, and perceptions of student engagement. Guided by hermeneutic phenomenology and drawing on principles of dialogic pedagogy, I explored how religion instructors cultivated dialogue in virtual classrooms grounded in doctrinal instruction. The findings revealed how professors created a relational presence, navigated institutional constraints, and fostered deep learning and spiritual growth environments. While some participants viewed online dialogue …