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An Exploration Of Power Relations In Select Plays Of Girish Karnad A Foucauldian Perspective, Srinivasa Yogananda Rao Netrakanti

Theses and Dissertations

The present study, ‘An Exploration of Power Relations in Select Plays of Girish Karnad: A Foucauldian Perspective‘ aims to study power relations among the different characters in the three plays of Girish Karnad viz., Tughlaq, Naga-Mandala and Tale- Danda through Foucault's three modalities of power viz., bio-power, disciplinary power and sovereign power.

Chapter 1, Introduction gives a bird-eye view of Foucauldian concepts of power followed by the three modes of objectification and dividing practices, subjects and power relations, inter-connectedness between power and knowledge, panopticism, bio-power and discourses, the application of Foucauldian theories of the three major powers. Next, a Girish …

Intervening For A Better Social Life? A Comparative Analysis Of Psychological Egoism And Aristotle As Alternate Foundations For Applied Social Psychology's Aims, Samuel D. Major

Theses and Dissertations

The scientific aim which distinguishes applied social psychological research from basic social psychological research is that of using social psychological theory to develop interventions meant to rectify social and practical problems in hopes of fostering a flourishing or thriving social sphere. In developing their interventions, however, many applied social psychologists have failed to consider their pre-investigatory philosophical commitments, commitments which imply the kind of flourishing social life that may come as a result of interventions rooted in them. The aim of this dissertation is to invite applied social psychologists to consider if their frequently noted, yet often unexamined, commitment to …

The "Essence" From Within: A Phenomenological Study Examining The Lived Experiences Of Racial And Ethnic Minoritized Women (Raemw) Senior Level Administrators At 4-Year Predominately White Institutions (Pwis) In The United States (U.S.), Felicia Crockett

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of senior level RAEMW administrators who work at 4-year PWIs in the U.S. and analyze the impact of institutional environments on their success. The theories that guided this study were: Crenshaw’s (1994; 1989; 2015) intersectionality framework and four tenets of CRT which include counter-storytelling, the permanence of racism, interest convergence, and intersectionality (Hiraldo, 2010, 2019). This study was guided by the three research questions: 1) How do RAEMW senior level administrators describe their experiences navigating higher education, 2) How do senior level RAEMW administrators describe the impact of institutional environments …

Alma Mater: Implications Of Student Mothers Not Receiving "Nourishment" From Their University, Haylie M. June

Theses and Dissertations

Student mothers, comprising over one-fifth of college students, face unique challenges balancing academic pursuits with parental responsibilities. They seek higher education to improve financial prospects and set examples for their children. However, financial burdens, including childcare costs and debt, hinder their progress. Moreover, they face role conflict and societal judgment, feeling undervalued and alienated within the university community. Despite their resourcefulness, challenges persist, emphasizing the need for institutional support. Research explores how student mothers utilize social, cultural, and financial capital to manage their roles. Interviews with thirty-nine student mothers reveal heavy reliance on individual resources but underscore the need for …

Intergenerational Transmissions Of Body Image And Eating Issues: An Analysis Of Maternal And Interpersonal Socialization From College-Age Women, Elena Kae Cotter

Theses and Dissertations

Negative body image affects countless young American women and can lead to serious eating concerns if overlooked. A young girl may develop negative body image if she is pressured to fit into dominant social appearance standards perpetuated by the media and social groups such as her friends, peers, and family, especially her mother. One relationship that remains underexplored is that between mothers and daughters, specifically regarding young adult women and their retrospective thoughts on their mothers’ influence on their self-presentation at a young age. This study uses qualitative interviews and content analysis of transcribed interview texts, focusing on maternal influence …

From Crisis To Aftermath: The Role Of Nursing Professional Development Educators During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Realist Case Study, Kimberly Kanner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, realistic inquiry case study was to examine and understand the experiences of NPD educators as they assisted new graduate nurses transitioning into clinical nursing practice during the COVID-19 pandemic in acute care hospitals in the state of New York. Moreover, this research study sought to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic brought about changes to the NPD educator's role and their ability to assist new graduate nurses transitioning into clinical practice post-pandemic. The sample included NPD educators from acute care hospitals in the state of New York. Data collection included semi-structured interviews and document collection. The …

The Effects Of Work-Life Balance, Teleworking, And Deia On The U.S. Federal Employee Job Satisfaction: Towards Developing A Contemporary Needs Theory, Latara Marie Arterberry

Theses and Dissertations

The study of work-life balance, teleworking, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are increasingly studied among scholars using different theoretical frameworks. However, no study examines work-life balance, teleworking, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility as needs in these contemporary times that, when met, lead to higher employee job satisfaction. Existing scholarship suggests that employee job satisfaction is a function of needs. However, with globalization, human needs have changed to include social justice concerns and the desire to have a more fulfilling family life. When organizations respond to these needs, it leads to employee job satisfaction, which ultimately improves organizational performance. …

Stochastic Programming Models And Algorithms To Improve Resiliency In A Biomass Supply Chain, Jay Artil

Theses and Dissertations

Biomass-based CHP (bCHP) can provide reliable electricity in remote and rural areas because it is an on-site generation resource, and it is designed to support continued operations in the event of a disaster. However, the benefits of such facilities can only be realized if a reliable and economical feedstock supply system is designed, given the system not only efficiently transports biomass under normal scenarios (e.g., when depots and transportation links are functioning properly) but also hedges against unexpected infrastructure/transportation link failures due to severe weather events (e.g., hurricanes). To serve this purpose, this study proposes a three-stage stochastic programming model …

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, And Cardiovascular Health Of Adults With And Without Down Syndrome, Brantley Kyle Ballenger

Theses and Dissertations

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. Adults with DS have cardiovascular and metabolic alteration, which may lead to an increased number of cardiovascular disease risk factors in this population. Such impairments may affect their ability to exercise and perform moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Moreover, MVPA may affect arterial health differently in adults with DS due to endothelial dysfunction and sympathetic impairment. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate differences in cardiovascular health and physical activity (PA) profiles between adults with and without DS. Specific aims of this dissertation …

The Impact Of A Summer Bridge Program At A Public Land-Grant University In The Southeastern Region On The Retention Of First-Time Black Students, Marcus Isaiah Brumfield

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past few decades, there has been a push to retain and increase URM student participation in STEM fields. To address this need, there are STEM Summer Bridge programs that specifically target underrepresented minority (URM) students to assist with the transition from high school to college. Summer bridge programs were established as a response to the effort to help with the transition from high school to college for first-time students. There are a number of these programs that specifically target URM students with the goal of increasing the diversity within professions that are related to the STEM areas of …

Producing College And Career Ready Graduates In Rural High Poverty School Districts, Hilute Hudson Iii

Theses and Dissertations

This capstone project addresses the crucial task of equipping students from rural and poverty-stricken school districts for success beyond high school. While conventional markers of academic achievement often center around standardized testing, this study takes a wider perspective, emphasizing comprehensive approaches to education. By conducting a quantitative analysis that includes surveys of staff and faculty, this research explores the effectiveness of different strategies aimed at nurturing college and career readiness among students in these districts. The findings demonstrate a powerful narrative: educators can greatly improve graduation rates and post-graduation success by going beyond traditional test preparation methods. Key strategies include …

An Examination Of Middle School And High School Special Education Students In Inclusion Classrooms Employing Co-Teaching Model, Antwaunette Jones-Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandates that all school districts provide a free appropriate public education to students with Individualized Education Plans in their least restrictive environment. Co-teaching in inclusion classrooms is a collaborative effort, with a general education teacher and a special education teacher, to provide academic and behavioral support to students with disabilities with their non-disabled peers. A review of the literature identified several studies conducted over the years that document the effects of employing co-teaching models in inclusion classrooms for middle school special education students and high school special education students. The purpose of this qualitative …

Socioeconomic Status And Rural Community College Students’ Academic Outcomes, Robert Jason Kelly

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative research study was to determine if differences exist in academic achievement based on student SES as measured by grade point average (GPA), credit hours earned, and completion of the academic year for rural community college students enrolled during the 2018-19 academic year. The study used existing data from a multi-campus rural community college located in the Southeastern region of the United States. To answer the research questions, existing data were collected from this community college. The independent variable collected was SES, as measured by Pell grant eligibility. The dependent variables collected included GPA, credit hours, …

Adolescent Black Girls Anger And Aggression: What We Can Learn, Dawn Michelle Latiker

Theses and Dissertations

This case study aimed to understand adolescent Black girls’ response when becoming angry as related to verbal and physical aggression. The study focused on the triggers for anger of 7 Black girls, current strategies in place at the school to help manage their anger and aggression, and it sought to determine if the girls were able to recognize when they became angry. This information is of importance because the school suspension rate has increased for Black girls (Morris, 2013), and there are limited studies to help them manage their anger in order to feel accepted in schools, develop relationships in …

Abundance And Control Of Nuisance Watershield (Brasenia Schreberi) Populations In Mississippi, Mackenzie M. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Aquatic nuisance plants (ANS), like watershield (Brasenia schreberi), negatively affect water chemistry, ecosystem ecology, and human uses of waterbodies if not properly managed. Understanding ecological predictors as well as efficient control strategies is needed for successful control of ANS. This research assessed 1) potential environmental and ecological predictors of watershield prevalence along with 2) submersed injections of flumioxazin herbicide for watershield control. Twenty-one lakes in the state of Mississippi were surveyed for watershield presence. Watershield prevalence was not correlated to water clarity or plant diversity suggesting these are not drivers of watershield prevalence. A series of mesocosm and field trials …

Understanding And Incorporating Wearable Exoskeleton Design Acceptance Into The Construction And Manufacturing Industries By Evaluating Key Stakeholders Within An Enterprise Organization, Matthew Reese

Theses and Dissertations

Safety, quality, and production are critical factors that impact an enterprise organization’s success in industries where tasks are human-centered. One emerging area to help mitigate safety related concerns while enhancing quality and production is wearable technology. More specifically, studies have shown that wearable exoskeletons can prevent awkward posturing and excessive bending and reaching tasks. These are areas that can result in injuries and lost time for employees. While literature has shown that these devices can help prevent injuries and can assist employees with their job tasks, these devices are new, which can make critical stakeholders of an enterprise organization skeptical …

Maternal And Paternal Appearance-Related Pressure And Body Esteem In Emerging Adults: Moderation By Self Compassion And Gender, Alligrace Story

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has shown that appearance-related pressures from multiple sources can influence body esteem in emerging adults. Furthermore, research has shown that self-compassion and gender play a role in body image and the relation between sociocultural pressures and body esteem. Less research has examined how these variables interact in their association with body esteem in emerging adults. Thus, the current study sought to assess these interactions. Participants (N = 877; 492 women) were primarily White (78.9% for women and 76.4% for men) and ranged in age from 18 to 28 (M = 18.70 for women and 19.10 for men). Participants …

“A Hiker Who Is Strong” Is Stronger Than “A Strong Hiker”: Modifier Position Affects Noun Perception, Peter John Weber Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Simple shifts within the syntactic structure of a sentence can have significant effects on the cognitive processes involved in language comprehension (Deckert, 2015; Ellis, 2002; Ferreira, 2003). Modifier position is one such syntactic element that has shown the importance of structure as demonstrated by Karimi et al. (2019). Post-modified words (e.g., a “peasant who was highly educated”) are encoded more robustly and are retrieved more easily than pre-modified words (e.g., a “highly educated peasant”). We explored the potential influence of modifier position on statement believability, namely, how much people believe a statement they have not heard before in Experiment 1. …

Effects Of Moderate Exercise Regimen On Reproductive Development Of Replacement Beef Heifers Reared In Drylots At A High Stocking Density, Logan M. Whipple

Theses and Dissertations

Raising beef females in drylots is gaining popularity because a more intensive management style facilitates adequate feeding for growth. However, drylots increase stocking density which has previously been shown to be stressful and impair reproductive development, whereas exercise has been shown to alleviate stress. Therefore, the objective was to determine if providing access to an exercise area would improve reproductive development of replacement beef heifers reared in drylots. Body weight, pedometer readings, and blood samples for plasma cortisol were collected weekly. Additional blood samples for genes associated with welfare, hair cortisol samples, and heifer temperament was assessed periodically throughout the …

Selective Noise Cancelling Application For Misophonia Treatment, Timothy Wunrow

Theses and Dissertations

Misophonia is a sensory disorder where specific stimuli, usually auditory, trigger the fight-flight-freeze response, causing extreme reactions, typically anger, panic, or anxiety. Research into treatment for misophonia is limited, primarily consisting of case studies applying common methods of therapy. However, research into similar disorders like tinnitus shows that there are many avenues of treatment that should be investigated, including audiological treatment. To apply audiological treatment to misophonia, selective noise cancelling must be used to control specific trigger sounds. In this research, a basic selective noise cancelling algorithm was developed using a convolutional neural network and was evaluated using a survey. …

Mitre Attack Framework Adaptation In Uav Usage During Surveillance And Reconnaissance Missions, Jeffrey Greer Iv

Theses and Dissertations

As unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) increasingly become integral to surveillance and reconnaissance (S&R) operations, their susceptibility to cyber threats poses significant risks to operational integrity. The current cybersecurity protocols often fail to address UAV operations’ unique vulnerabilities and challenges in S&R contexts, highlighting a gap in specialized cybersecurity strategies. This research adapts the MITRE ATTACK framework to enhance cybersecurity approaches, safeguarding UAVs against evolving cyber threats. This thesis maps existing vulnerabilities against comprehensive tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) through a scenario-based analysis. Hypothetical and practical S&R operation case studies demonstrate the applicability of proposed cybersecurity strategies, validating their effectiveness in …

Motivations For Habitat Management Of Private Lands In The Southeastern United States: Implications For At-Risk Species, Caleb Michael Blake

Theses and Dissertations

Private lands play a crucial role in protecting at-risk species in the Southeast, and finding ways to increase landowner participation in conservation efforts is essential. I surveyed non-industrial private forest owners in Mississippi to assess how their motivations for land management relates to their willingness to manage for at-risk species. I also assessed if landowners who hunt are more willing to manage for at-risk species. Results showed that landowners are motivated by a sense of stewardship for the land, but there is a lack of awareness about at-risk species. Although the effect size was minimal, there is a significant relationship …

The Impact Of Financial Aid Awards On Alabama Community College Student Success, Theresa V. Mays

Theses and Dissertations

Financial pressures, encompassing factors such as tuition, fees, books, and work-life balance, consistently substantially influence student success in higher education. Existing research highlights finances' significant role in a student's withdrawal decision. This study aimed to assess the impact of financial aid awards on the retention, persistence, and completion of students enrolled in two community colleges in Alabama, primarily those residing in rural or urban areas. The research focused on the retention and completion outcomes of first-time, full-time students who began their enrollment at two community colleges, UCC and RCC, in the fall of 2017 and received financial aid. Utilizing a …

Collectors Versus Non-Collectors With Hoarding Symptoms, Caitlyn A. Nix

Theses and Dissertations

Research assessing the diagnostic criteria for hoarding disorder has firmly differentiated hoarding disorder from normative collecting. However, there has been no examination of non-normative collecting – that is, collectors that experience elevated hoarding symptoms. The current study utilized an online survey to explore differences between self-identified collectors (n = 140) and non-collectors (n = 169) in externalized hoarding symptoms, saving cognitions, and psychosocial functioning. Collectors reported higher general self-efficacy and higher need for control of items than non-collectors. Hoarding symptoms were not significantly different between collectors and non-collectors. These results suggest that identifying as a collector does not significantly change …

The Transnational Beat: Paramilitary Policing And America’S Associational Defense State, Ryan Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the role of Cold War-era American law enforcement and intelligence institutions in shaping U.S. grand strategy and carrying out paramilitary operations. It examines American civil-military relations through the formal and informal relationships between the U.S. military, private organizations, and American law enforcement personnel within a framework I call “associational defense.” The concept provides a framework for observing and comprehending the existence of an American garrison state. While police institutions are civil institutions and not military organizations, law enforcement possessed a paramilitary mission throughout the Cold War and into the War on Drugs and the Global War on …

Individual Differences In Attention Processes And Creative Thinking, Berna Altunisik

Theses and Dissertations

Effects of mind wandering on creative thinking is unclear in the literature. Using multiple measures of mind wandering and creativity, the current study investigates the role of different contexts on the relationship between mind wandering and creative thinking. Thought probes measured intentionality and freely moving dimensions of mind wandering in a lexical decision and a movie task (between-subjects). Three measures of attention control were also obtained. Deliberate and spontaneous mind wandering traits were measured with a survey. Participants did not show off-task behaviors during the mind wandering tasks. Attention control positively predicted creative problem solving and divergent thinking scores. Freely …

The Impact Of Academic Advising On Persistence In Nontraditional Students Completing A Baccalaureate Degree Online, Kali M. Dunlap

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing enrollment of nontraditional students in online degree programs has underscored the importance of effective academic advising practices. These students, often over the age of 25 and juggling full-time employment and family responsibilities, encounter unique challenges in navigating the asynchronous, online learning environment. Academic advisors play a pivotal role in mitigating these obstacles by fostering trust and delivering comprehensive support systems tailored to the needs of online learners. While previous studies have explored various advising models and approaches in connection with student satisfaction, inadequate attention has been given to assessing the quality of advising specifically tailored to nontraditional, online …

Stimulus Complexity And Feature Binding In Visual Sensory Memory, Mary F. Catington

Theses and Dissertations

In all past research, iconic memory shows a significant benefit over visual working memory for storage capacity of visual items. However, this effect has only been studied on simple items such as colors and letters. The goal of this thesis was to determine whether an iconic benefit also exists for visual stimuli with higher visual complexity, such as shapes and faces. Five experiments tested iconic and working memory capacity for complex face stimuli, intermediate-complexity shape stimuli, and simple color stimuli, as well as examining feature binding of objects in iconic memory. Results from these five experiments indicated that increased visual …

Feasibility And Effectiveness Of Physical Activity Program In People With Down Syndrome Using Self Determination Theory, Maria Haider

Theses and Dissertations

Autonomous physical activity (PA) is challenging for adults with Down syndrome (DS) therefore PA programs tailored around facilitators of PA in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) that also align with Self-determination theory (SDT) components could be a feasible and effective way of increasing PA. The purpose was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a physical activity program based on self-determination theory in adults with Down syndrome. A dance program was conducted twice a week for 8 weeks. Each session was 60 minutes long. Adults with DS (n = 8) were tested before and after intervention for basic psychological needs …

Improving Cultural Safety: A Thematic Analysis Of Older Rural African Americans’ Experiences With The U.S. Healthcare System, Sarah Marie Israel

Theses and Dissertations

Despite an increase in research regarding the healthcare outcomes and experiences of diverse groups, some significant gaps in the literature remain. Among the most understudied and underserved groups are those with intersectional identities. Although researchers have made significant efforts to increase research regarding health care experiences of people of color, older adults, and rural populations, less is known about the health care experiences of older rural African Americans. Due to the lack of research focusing on the unique experiences of this intersectional group, qualitative research was an important first step towards broadening this research base. This study utilized a cultural …