Digital Commons Network^™

Vaccination Coverage And Factors Associated With Covid-19 Vaccination In The Adult African American Community In South Carolina: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Brittany Divon Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected African American communities, revealing longstanding disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. In South Carolina, where these inequities are particularly evident, understanding the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among African Americans is crucial for advancing health equity. This thesis examines vaccination coverage and explores social, economic, and psychological predictors of vaccine uptake in a sample of 305 African American adults through a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2023.

Vaccination status was categorized as unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, and fully vaccinated (with or without a booster). Ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to examine associations between vaccination status …

Is Access Enough?: Toward A Blueprint For Prosocial Digital Interventions In Schools (A Case Study On The Implementation Of A Cmc-Based Gratitude Intervention), Carmen Latrice Landy

Theses and Dissertations

This organizational autoethnography examines the process by which a researcher-practitioner began implementing a CMC-based gratitude intervention for adolescents in a school setting. Too often, innovations are unable to reach full adoption within organizations because the real-world implications have not been fully considered. This study seeks to bring a deeper understanding of the facilitators of and barriers to school-based implementation. Through observations and critical reflection, this study highlights the importance of relationships, processes, and mutual agreements in any effort to introduce new practices to an organization. Weick’s (1988) findings on sensemaking combined with the constructs of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation …

An Autoethnography Of Organic Representation In Queer Arts Documentation, Eden Joyce Prime

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this project is to illustrate the importance of documentation processes grounded in ‘organic representation,’ a media practice paradigm from the work of A. J. Christian (2020). Organic representation prioritizes narrative co-creation, informed consent, and intersections of identity and cultural knowledge. To effectively document a subject’s lived experience, a media professional must share intersections of identity and/or culture with the subject and provide opportunities for narrative co-creation. Intersectional positionality gives media practitioners authority to document important narratives in a way that honors the identity and contextual significance of the subject. For journalists documenting the life and work of …

Effects Of Face-To-Face Communication On Network Recall, Gage Austin Pierce

Theses and Dissertations

Research in the field of social cognition found that humans use schema for the storage and processing of network information. Schema use differs by gender and power, in theory because individuals differ in the schemas that apply to the network structures they are involved with. I analyzed a survey dataset collected during the COVID-19 pandemic that asked respondents about how often they interacted with people, and organizations, as well as what forms of communication they used. In addition, a network recall survey experiment was conducted to measure their network recall accuracy. If schema are learned cognitive rules the brain uses …

Destruction, Possession, And Power: The Treaty Of Hartford As A Prototype For United States Indian Policy, Madyson Anne Buchalski

Theses and Dissertations

Amidst a growing interest in the field of Native American legal history, this article aims to bridge a gap in the scholarship between the colonial period and the United States’ nineteenth- and twentieth-century federal Indian Policy. By examining the terms presented in the lesser-known Treaty of Hartford, signed in 1638 following the Pequot War, it is demonstrated that many foundational legal precedents which reappeared in later centuries emerged much earlier than typically assumed. By highlighting this overlooked agreement and comparing it against later proceedings, this article takes a fresh approach to Native American legal history by drawing a throughline from …

Comparing Stress Levels And Experiences Between Mothers And Fathers Of Children With Angelman Syndrome, Katherine Helen Fix

Theses and Dissertations

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurogenetic disorder characterized by significant developmental and cognitive impairments, disruptive behaviors, and a hallmark happy demeanor. Past studies have shown that certain features of AS contribute to increased parental stress. Other studies report that in general the stress of parents of children with disabilities is influenced by stereotypical gender roles surrounding factors including daily care taking tasks, financial responsibility, and medical care involvement. This study aimed to compare perspectives among mothers and fathers of individuals with AS to identify discrepancies and themes relating to stress, specific hardships, and caregiving roles. Parents of children with AS …

Gta Anxiety: Teacher-Development For Graduate Students In English, Gracie Rose Warda

Theses and Dissertations

As composition studies turns its attention toward graduate pedagogy, scholars like Macauley and Jankens suggest that teacher-development programs, that is teacher- support courses for graduate students just beginning as university instructors, might be one place to start. Many GTA instructors enrolled in the teacher-development course demonstrate an ironic ambivalence that mirrors that of their First-Year Composition (FYC) students. The following case study style research draws upon the lived experiences of four scholars in English departments across the United States, as well as my own experience from the researcher positionality of a current GTA. Synthesizing these lived experiences is an attempt …

Student Insights On The Most Valuable Aspects Of Genetic Counseling Programs’ Online Presence During The Application Process, Anna Cathryn Girten

Theses and Dissertations

When applying to genetic counseling graduate programs (GCGPs), past research has demonstrated that students prefer websites that are updated and easy to navigate. Program websites contribute to students’ first impressions of the program and serve as an important source of information, but there is limited research on the role of social media and other online content during the application process. This study aimed to identify the importance of online platforms and helpfulness of specific content for students applying to GCGPs. An electronic survey was distributed to current students and recent graduates of accredited genetic counseling programs, and 148 responses were …

Understanding Contemporary Declines In Psychological Well-Being Among Youth: A Self-Determination Theory Approach, Shawn Stewart Mcnally

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines contemporary declines in psychological well-being among older adolescents and emerging adults through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Across three interrelated papers, it explores how changing social conditions may shape experiences of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, SDT’s basic psychological needs, and how these processes may be especially consequential during adjustment to and navigation of college. The first paper is conceptual in nature and argues that contemporary societal pressures, parenting practices, and technology-related contexts may operate together to undermine basic psychological needs. The second paper is qualitative in nature and uses interviews with undergraduate students to examine how …

Assessing Hereditary Cancer Risk And Genetic Counseling Knowledge And Interest In Appalachian Kentuckians, Ashton Farmer

Theses and Dissertations

Appalachian Kentucky has the highest cancer incidence in the United States and about 5-10% of all cancer has a hereditary cause. Despite this, there are no board- certified genetic counselors located in the area, and few genomic studies have been done in this population. This study aimed to define Appalachian Kentuckians’ interest in cancer genetic counseling and knowledge of cancer risk factors. An original online survey including multiple choice, Likert scale, and open response items was utilized to assess interest in pursuing cancer genetic counseling and how knowledge of cancer causes impacts interest in cancer genetic counseling. A total of …

Recollection Of The Archaic Psyche: A Comparative Study Of Viacheslav Ivanov’S Realistic Symbolism And Carl Gustav Jung’S Analytical Psychology, Jack Wilson Dedmondt

Theses and Dissertations

While nominally appearing disparate in their construction, the theoretical systems pioneered by Russian Symbolist poet Viacheslav Ivanov and Swiss psychologist Carl Gustav Jung operate under parallel hermeneutics of inference concerning the symbolic comprehension of reality. This dichotomy is drawn between an immediate (conscious) stratum of sensible reality of Apollonian, concrete, individual, and intelligible forms, and a transcendent (unconscious) stratum of Dionysian, associative, collective, and nominally unintelligible forms. In the present investigation, we aim to identify the proximity between Jungian analytical psychology and Ivanov’s “Realistic Symbolism” in order to provide the groundwork for future application of Jungian methodologies as an interpretive …

Resting-State Functional Connectivity Of Dopaminergic Reward Pathways Across The Adult Lifespan, Julia Cardarelli

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the effect of age on three major dopaminergic reward pathways using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Resting state imaging refers to low-frequency brain connectivity in the absence of task demands or directed thought patterns. The pathways included in this thesis are as follows: the nigrostriatal, mesolimbic, and mesocortical pathways. These pathways rely on dopamine and are known for a variety of functions, most notably regulating responses to rewarding and aversive stimuli. This analysis compared the connectivity between key regions of interest, where transmission originates in the midbrain and substantia nigra, and terminates in the orbitofrontal cortex, …

Beyond The Binary: Examining The Impact Of A Restorative Justice Intervention On Administrator Perceptions And Disciplinary Disparities For Black Male Students, Arianne A. Booker

Theses and Dissertations

For decades, black students have experienced educational inequalities, particularly when it comes to academic achievement and school discipline. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate the factors leading to the racial discipline gap among Black male students in middle schools. Black males face more punitive consequences that often result in exclusionary practices than their peers. This problem is due to cultural differences between teachers and students, where teachers’ subjective interpretations of behavior—such as disrespect or defiance—lead to removal from the general education classroom. The theoretical framework that guided this study was Critical Race Theory and Culturally Responsive Teaching. …

Teacher Self-Confidence And Cultural Responsiveness With Multilingual Students: A Mixed Methods Study, Stasha Renee Grooms

Theses and Dissertations

This is an action research study that examined how an eight-week Culturally Responsive Instruction (CRI) Cohort influenced teachers' self-confidence when working with multilingual (ML) students. The primary objective was to explore changes in teachers' empathy toward ML students, uncover shifts in unconscious bias, assess the impact of translanguaging integration on teacher confidence, and evaluate overall self-confidence in serving ML learners. The study used a mixed-methods approach, combining pre- and post-intervention surveys, weekly reflective discussions, and practical classroom assignments to measure growth in teaching strategies and cultural mindset. Findings indicated that participants learned strategies to make instruction more accessible for ML …

Intimate Networks: Sapphic Women’S Activism In Revolutionary Dublin 1916, Justine Nicole Rennekamp

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the often-overlooked role of sapphic women in the Easter Rising of 1916, arguing that queer intimacy and political activism were deeply intertwined within Irish revolutionary networks. While traditional historiography has privileged male, Catholic nationalist narratives of the Rising, this study foregrounds the lives of Dr. Kathleen Lynn, Madeleine ffrench-Mullen, Margarett Skinnider, Elizabeth O’Farrell, and Julia Grenan to demonstrate how women’s same-sex relationships influenced their political participation, modes of survival, and visions of national belonging. Drawing on diaries, letters, witness statements, photographs, and archival silences, this thesis employs queer theory to read practices of visibility, gender performance, and …

Effectiveness Of A Problem-Solving Framework That Incorporates Equitable Pedagogy, Three Reads Comprehension Strategy, Cra, And Schema-Based Instruction On Students’ Math Word Problem Solving Abilities, Amanda Julia Laborde

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a problem-solving framework that incorporated the Three Reads comprehension strategy, Concrete- Representational-Abstract instructional strategy, Schema-Based Instruction, as well as the implementation of equitable pedagogical practices. This mixed-methods action research study was guided by three research questions for which both qualitative and quantitative data had been collected. The first question focused on determining teacher or student strategies within the intervention course that would be a hinderance to the implementation of the prescribed intervention. The second question focused on the impact of the problem-solving framework. The third question focused on the …

Inclusive Postsecondary Education Practices & Staff Beliefs Related To Parent Engagement, Abigail Mojica

Theses and Dissertations

Inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are expanding across the United States, yet research on parent engagement in these settings remains limited. This study examined current practices related to parent engagement within U.S. IPSE programs and investigated whether specific staff and program characteristics were associated with variations in engagement. A national sample of IPSE program leaders (N = 106) completed an online survey assessing staff demographics, program features, and parent engagement activities. The survey was developed for this study, informed by literature on secondary transition, IPSE programs, and parent engagement in both K–12 …

“Why, Marcus, So She Is”: An Examination Of The Father/Daughter Relationship In Shakespeare’S ‘Titus Andronicus’, Anna Elizabeth Cunningham

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is concerned with the father/daughter relationship between Titus and Lavinia in Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus. Scholarship on this relationship is sparse, and chapter two discusses the context that it is typically understood within, namely the father/daughter chastity pattern—in which fathers jealously protect their acquiescent daughters’ chastity from violation, ending in the daughter’s death. It is asserted that Titus and Lavinia fall outside of this pattern. Chapter three examines Titus and Lavinia’s relationship before her assault, asserting that Titus assumes the role of Roman first and father second, which guides his treatment of all his children. Lavinia is connected to …

The Graduate Piano Student With Adhd: Learning And Practicing With Ongoing Challenges In Executive Function, Molly Alyse Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in the United States. According to the DSM-5-TR, ADHD is characterized by inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It is widely considered a disorder for children and adolescents, however, there is a growing number of adults receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood. Because of this later diagnosis, it is unlikely that adults with ADHD have developed effective coping strategies for management of daily responsibilities. While ADHD symptoms create challenges for individuals with ADHD, deficits in Executive Functioning (EF) are one of the foremost contributors to issues with personal, …

Examining Marine Fungal Nitrous Oxide Production, Qintiantian Nong

Theses and Dissertations

Nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas, can be produced by microorganisms inhabiting marine environments. While bacterial denitrification is a major source of N2O, the role of marine fungi in this process remains poorly constrained. This thesis investigates the contribution of marine fungi to N2O production from salt marsh sediments, while also isolating new N2O-producing marine fungi and advancing methodological approaches for quantifying denitrification. First, we conducted experiments to quantify the fungal contribution to N2O production using salt and brackish marsh sediments collected from the North Inlet–Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in South Carolina during the summer and winter …

Teaching The Teachers: A Responce To Legal Illiteracy In Education, Landon Lee Kekoa Fielder

Theses and Dissertations

This action research dissertation aimed to examine the impact of teachers’ knowledge of education law and their perceived understanding of how it impacts their daily functions. This mixed methods study was conducted using digital data collection methods and analysis. The findings of this study revealed an increase in legal literacy among both pre-service and in-service teachers. Quantitative findings indicated an improved understanding of key legal concepts amongst participants. Additionally, qualitative findings expressed a heightened awareness and clarity surrounding legal responsibility for teachers. Across both in-service and pre-service teacher participant groups, participants identified gaps in their understanding and recognized the value …

Rock In Weary Land: The Educational Expertise Of The Black Church, Salondra Daniels Griggs

Theses and Dissertations

Due to a challenging political landscape, Black students receive less educational support from public institutions. As a result, other institutions such as the Black Church have become a “Rock” for Black students to lean on in times of distress. This study examines the educational expertise located within the Black Church. Through a qualitative comparative case study, this comparative case study examines how two Black Baptist Churches in the southeastern part of the United States use their community expertise to support the education of Black student

Contributions Toward Understanding The Weak Lefschetz Property For Two Classes Of Almost Complete Intersection Ideals, Matthew Davidson Booth

Theses and Dissertations

In 1980, Richard Stanley proved that Artinian monomial complete intersections enjoy the strong Lefschetz property in characteristic zero. Since his landmark result, the strong and weak Lefschetz properties (SLP and WLP) have garnered attention from an increasing number of mathematicians from an ever-broadening swath of the mathematical community. Indeed, the Lefschetz properties have been scrutinized for their relation to algebraic invariants such as Betti numbers and the Hilbert function as well as their links from commutative algebra to other branches of mathematics.

However, the Lefschetz properties are also quite subtle; the aforementioned result due to Stanely is a rather rare …

“Get Out To Vote, No Time To Stay At Home”: Grassroots Pedagogy And Political Organizing Of The Johns Island Citizenship School, Anne Elizabeth Mineri

Theses and Dissertations

The 1957 Johns Island Citizenship School emerged from the everyday actions of local leaders like Esau Jenkins, Septima Clark, and Bernice Robinson as a foundational site of grassroots pedagogy and organizing that reshaped the political landscape of the South Carolina Sea Islands. Situated within the critical years between 1957 and 1961, a formative moment in the modern Black freedom struggle, the school demonstrates how local activism laid the groundwork for broader regional and national movements. In a state where literacy tests functioned as mechanisms of disenfranchisement, learning to read and write became a direct challenge to systems of exclusion. Through …

Supporting Stem Self-Efficacy Using Culturally Relevant Pedagogy For Historically Underserved Black Female Students, Rajdeep Young

Theses and Dissertations

The underrepresentation of Black women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields remains a persistent concern in education and the workforce. Research suggests that students’ beliefs about their ability to succeed in STEM, referred to here as STEM self-efficacy, may play a critical role in shaping STEM interest, persistence, and career pathways. Grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and informed by Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Intersectionality, this study examined the impact of a targeted intervention designed to support and strengthen STEM self-efficacy among Black middle school girls. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study investigated changes in participants’ STEM self-efficacy following …

The Affects Of Purposeful Play, Computer Based Instruction, And The Utilization Of Rotational Learning Stations, As An Intervention For The Academic Development Of Early Childhood Children, Jennifer Fanning Long

Theses and Dissertations

This case study explores how purposeful and structured play and computer-based instruction impacts the academic development of young children. Purposeful play and computer-based instruction positively impact children in so many ways. It impacts their cognitive, social, emotional, and academic development. Students are active learners who learn best while playing and participating in their learning. Play is often left out of Early Childhood classrooms due to time constraints and vast academic goals. This can negatively impact the social and academic development of young students. The following dissertation will examine how the intervention of purposeful or structured play and computer-based instruction positively …

You Want A Fight? You Found It: Amplifying High School Students’ Voices To Combat Book Banning’S Silencing Effect, Alicia Sue Weaver

Theses and Dissertations

As a high school English teacher in South Carolina, I was concerned about the silencing of teachers and students through book banning, which limited students’ agency and threatened their perceptions of themselves and others. This mixed-method, embedded-design, action research dissertation tells the story of my effort to resolve this problem of practice and provides recommendations to practitioners facing similar challenges. To better understand the root of the problem, I examined research related to policy, self-censorship, loss of teacher autonomy, and harmful rhetoric. The theoretical framework grounding this study came from two primary lenses: treating literature as windows, mirrors, and sliding …

Teaching English As A Living Language: An Action Research Study Of Communication And Learner Confidence, David Lawrence Brian Levy

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examines the disconnect between language learning in schools and the ability to use the language as a communication tool. Unfortunately, many educational institutions teach language with an emphasis on grammar rules, written exams, and rote memorization instead of as a living language used for everyday communication. This results in students receiving grades which do not reflect their ability to speak the language effectively. The purpose of this study was to explore how instructional practices influence both students’ communicative competence and confidence levels. It also intends to examine ways to redesign classroom instruction to better support real-world …

The Implementation Of A Manufacturing Curriculum In Secondary Education, John Chieyung Kim Ii

Theses and Dissertations

American manufacturing cannot find workers. By 2030, 2.1 million positions will go unfilled, at a projected cost of one trillion dollars. Secondary schools are not solving this problem. At Ypsilanti Community High School, only 23.7% of graduates pursue postsecondary education. The rest enter the workforce without credentials or technical skills. No manufacturing curriculum existed at YCHS. This Dissertation in Practice built one.

The study used improvement science methodology. Two Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles designed, tested, and refined a precision measurement curriculum aligned to NC3 industry certification standards. Thirty-three students participated across both cycles. Cycle 1 used a traditional theory-first sequence over ten …

Examining Role-Play Simulation Effectiveness In Reducing Student Skill Gaps In An Interpreter Education Program, Nicole Nadine Morris

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods action research study was to identify students’ skill development in an interpreter education program using authentic role-play simulations. Three research questions guided this study. Two questions guiding the quantitative data collection centered on skill development during foundational interpreting courses and through the practicum semesters. The third research question guided the qualitative data collection, which focused on the participants’ perceptions of the usefulness of the role-play simulations in preparing them for their practicum placements. Together, the data indicate that the simulations provide significant benefits for students in interpreter education programs in terms of their professional readiness. …