Digital Commons Network^™

Breaking Binaries: Gender Non-Conforming Lesbians And The Undercurrent Of Biopower On Dating Apps, Lily M. Connolly

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how gender nonconforming lesbians experience and navigate algorithmic constraints, commodification, and self-expression on dating apps. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s concept of biopower, this study analyzes focus group discussions to argue that dating apps encode and enforce traditional gender norms. However, rather than acting solely as sites of constraint, dating apps also provide spaces where gender nonconforming lesbians creatively resist these limitations and subvert platform design to assert their politicized queer identities. This research highlights how biopower operates within digital dating platforms while also illuminating the subversive strategies users employ to reclaim agency. By situating gender nonconforming lesbian …

From Russia With Love: The Transposal Of Hunger Strikes From Russia To Britain In The Late Nineteenth And Early Twentieth Centuries, Rachel Yvonne Stanton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The British suffragettes’ utilization of the hunger strike as a political tool in the early twentieth century has roots tracing back to Russian political prisons of the late nineteenth century. The unique adoption and adaptation of the Russian method of hunger strike in England cannot be fully understood without examining the origins of the revolutionary hunger strikes through a gendered lens. Using case studies of various Russian women and their experiences as both university students and political prisoners, this research aims to unearth the reasons why women in both Russia and England had a particular affinity for the use of …

The Knowledge, Ability And Willingness Of Instructors To Accommodate Students With Disabilities In Higher Education, Hawa Allarakhia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents the findings of a study investigating the knowledge, ability, and willingness of faculty at a large university to accommodate students with disabilities (SWD). It reveals that while many instructors demonstrate a solid understanding of disability legislation, variations in knowledge and confidence exist based on demographic factors, particularly years of experience. Accommodations like extended time and distraction-free testing environments are more likely to be received positively by instructors and granted easily, while there needs to be more inclination to offer resource-intensive options like note-takers. The study also recommends future research and practical strategies for higher education institutions to …

An Investigation Into The Efficacy Of Self-Monitoring And Mixed Schedules For Reducing Stereotypy In Children With Autism, Ryan J. Hinderliter

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with disabilities, especially children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), often engage in problem behaviors that can have a negative impact on their quality of life. This study explored the application of self-monitoring (SM) and mixed schedules as alternative strategies for reducing stereotypy in children with autism. Stereotypy (STPY) is a repetitive motor behavior commonly observed in individuals with autism. The study employed a multiple baseline across participants design with three participants ages 6 and 14, diagnosed with autism, and exhibiting STPY as the target behavior. After participant selection, a baseline phase was followed by three treatment conditions: Differential Reinforcement …

Digital Multimodal Composing In An L2 Italian Classroom: The Effects Of Digital Video Projects On Students’ Development And Investment, Francesca Marino

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite the calls for integrating digital multimodal composing (DMC) into second language (L2) pedagogy, learners’ gains in terms of L2 development beyond writing remain largely unexplored. Additionally, while research points to the potential of DMC to promote students’ engagement and motivation in the L2 classroom (e.g., Hava, 2021; Hull & Nelson, 2005; Shin & Cimasko, 2008), learners’ investment (Darvin & Norton, 2015, 2023; Norton, 1995) in L2 learning through DMC has been underrepresented in previous literature. In addition, DMC research on investment until now has almost exclusively focused on the learning of English as a foreign or second language (e.g., …

Librarian-As-Teacher: A Multiple Case Study Of Academic Librarian Professional Identity And Teaching Practice, Jessica Nicole Szempruch

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore how the educational experiences and professional identities of academic librarians shape their approach to information literacy instruction within the context of post-secondary research universities. Through deep engagement with three academic librarian-teacher participants, the study sought to understand how information literacy instruction is enacted, administered, and experienced by these individual academic librarians. The quintain, or binding concept, connecting all of these cases was the intersection of academic librarian professional identity and information literacy instructional practice at a large, R1 institution in the southeastern United States.

Multiple data collection methods were …

Beyond Climate In Placencia, Belize: Navigating Environmental Change In The Anthropocene, Rory E. Mckenna

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Examining opportunities for climate resilience requires an evaluation of lived experiences of environmental change which benefits from transdisciplinary perspectives. This research examines those experiences through the lens of anthropogenic change which allows for a critical focus on local conditions of environmental change specific to Placencia Village, Belize, over time. An anthropology of the anthropocene framing shifts the focus from the results of the global phenomenon responsible for climate change to the implications of local human-caused environmental change on natural systems, human-environment relationships and dynamics, and the future trajectories of these relationships. Through the use of interviews, go-alongs, participatory mapping, transdisciplinary …

A Python Pipeline For Rapid Inversion Of Gravity Data Aimed At Early Career Researchers: Application To The Lost River Fault, Idaho, Bradford C. Mack

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Gravity data and modeling can be used to create a 3D view of basin and fault geometries, a valuable tool for seismic hazard assessment. Additionally, access to a high-speed, easy-to-use modeling workflow will enable more researchers to supplement their work with a new method and allow students to be exposed to modeling earlier in their academic careers. The primary goals of this work are to create a widely usable 3D gravity and basin model, to create an introduction to modeling teaching module for undergraduate geology students, and to apply the model to the northernmost two segments of the Lost River …

Effects Of A Treatment Package Of Video Self-Modeling And Contingency Mapping Procedures On Decreasing Aggressive Behavior In Children With Autism, Valerie Younis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Video self-modeling (VSM) is regarded as a successful evidence-based intervention and has demonstrated effectiveness across a range of behaviors, disabilities, and ages. Additionally, the use of contingency mapping (CM) provides a clear visual representation of the relationship between behaviors and consequences in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study extends the literature on VSM and CM by evaluating the combined effectiveness of these two interventions on aggressive behavior in children with ASD. In particular, the combined effects of VSM and CM were evaluated with three students diagnosed with ASD in their respective homes. A multiple baseline design across …

Next-Gen Hr: How People Analytics And Business Acumen Drive Leadership In Strategy, Wistaria J. Joseph

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Quantitative research within the Human Resources (HR) field is scarce, specifically for HR professionals. This study aimed to add to the body of HR professional research focusing on professional development of HR professionals to ascend to significant leadership roles and gain a seat at the company’s strategic decision-making table. This research tackled the moderating role of people analytics and business acumen to determine if they drove Human Resource Management (HRM) strategic propensity from transactional HR expertise and transformational leadership, with upper-echelon and strategic leadership theories providing the backdrop. To this end, a survey was deployed to obtain responses from a …

Organizational Intentionality: Enhancing Business Engagement With Black Entrepreneurs Through Purposeful And Inclusive Strategies, Willye G. Shaw

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Motivated by demands for greater business diversity and proactive efforts of organizations to improve their inclusive engagements with minority stakeholders, this research contributes to the academic body of knowledge related to Black-owned business value by highlighting the impacts of organizations committed to shifting the conventional approach to diversity with this business community. The objective is to delve more into the need for enhanced relationships between organizations and Black-owned businesses, offering insights into the intentional actions, decisions, and strategies that lead to purposeful initiatives by the organizations to refine their business practices, with a focus on sustainable success for Black entrepreneurs. …

Cultivating Coastal Communities: An Exploration Of Synergies And Tradeoffs To The Colocation Of Stormwater Ponds And Urban Agriculture In Tampa Bay, Estenia Ortiz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cultivating resilience in coastal communities such as Tampa Bay is becoming increasingly important as urbanization continues to fuel complex environmental and social challenges further exacerbated by sea level rise, habitat degradation, and more intense storm events. Food and water systems are particularly vulnerable under these circumstances, jeopardizing residents’ quality of life. This research explored the nexus of stormwater detention ponds and urban agriculture, namely community and residential gardens, this research reveals factors to consider in the colocation of these systems to build local community resilience and protect waterways.

Focusing on East Tampa, a historic Black community in Florida, and the …

Narratives Of Resilience: The Power Of Creative Expression And Community Support During Familial Incarceration, Alana Alexander

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Existing literature stresses that the far-reaching effects of mass incarceration extend beyond prison walls, profoundly shaping familial experiences. Despite this, families remain consistently overlooked in criminal justice discourse, leading to heightened stress and diminished resilience. This thesis is a program review of a community-based program, referred to here as the Storytelling, Creativity, and Care (SCC) program, to protect the confidentiality of its participants and activities. The SCC program integrates neuroscience and narrative theory to explore how storytelling influences cultural perceptions, shapes lived experiences, and supports psychological and physiological healing. Additionally, this work investigates the socio-political narratives that perpetuate stigma and …

“It’S Essential We Learn How To Grow For Ourselves”: The Legacies Of Black Gardening In Racialized Food Systems., Funmi Odumosu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I aim to investigate the impact of food racism on Black communities, with a specific focus on the importance of gardening in combatting food apartheid and fostering holistic connections to nature and community in school-aged children. Inequitable access to major retail supermarkets and unequal distribution of healthy food options are intentionally occurring patterns in the food spaces of predominately Black communities. These food system inequities exacerbate a lack of consumption and potential consequences on the health and well-being of children of color particularly during critical physical and cognitive developmental periods.

Many solutions to these inequities entail implementing …

Are You Who Ai Says You Are? Exploring The Role Of Natural Language Processing Algorithms For “Predicting” Personality Traits From Text, Mukhunth Raghavan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Advances in text analytic approaches to measuring personality traits from text and speech have shown great promise for automating the assessment of personality. While a lot of effort has gone into developing robust algorithms for predicting personality ratings, more work is needed in understanding the function and theoretical relationships of these algorithmic ratings. This study proposes a novel application of the Trait-Reputation-Identity model (McAbee and Connelly, 2016), wherein, algorithm-generated ratings form the Reputation factor and are assumed to resemble learned observer ratings, the original self-report ratings form the Identity factor, and the total set of ratings form the consensus Trait …

Virtual Leadership Through The Use Of Commanders Intent, Lisa M. Hammond

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The shift to remote work triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed organizational dynamics, exposing the limitations of traditional leadership models and emphasizing the need for innovative approaches. This dissertation examines the application of the military concept of Commander’s Intent in remote work settings, focusing on its potential to enhance mission alignment, autonomy, and productivity. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates quantitative survey data and qualitative thematic analysis to explore how Commander’s Intent impacts mission clarity, person-job fit, and leadership effectiveness. Findings reveal that Commander’s Intent strengthens mission alignment and empowers teams to act autonomously while maintaining strategic coherence, …

Reflections On The Teacher Evaluation Process: Experiences Told By K-12 Teachers, Trinicia S. Murphy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In education, it is essential for stakeholders like district leaders, teachers, and government officials to collaborate and create a plan of action that would support K-12 instruction. Collaborations as such have been used for decades by policymakers and researchers to express philosophies, values, and beliefs about education to make improvements and/or push for change. Therefore, the educational system will continue to evolve with current and upcoming research findings. For example, evaluating teachers effectively has been one of the most controversial topics in education. According to Boyd (1989), teacher evaluations were constructed to measure teachers’ competences and promote professional development. Today, …

Γ -Aapeptides Targeting Amyloid-Β Pathway And Neural Repair For Alzheimer’S Disease Treatment, Ning Shen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and progressive neuronal degeneration. Despite extensive research, no treatments have been able to effectively halt or reverse the progression of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of two novel γ-AApeptides, HW-C9 and 125-6b, in AD treatment, assessing both their individual and combined effects. HW-C9 was designed to inhibit Aβ aggregation, while 125-6b was developed to promote neuronal growth and repair. Initially, the therapeutic effects of HW-C9 and 125-6b were assessed both in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that HW-C9 …

Acoustic Energy For Use In Mass Spectrometry, Ashton N. Taylor

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Analyzing lipid assemblies, including synthetically produced liposomes and naturally produced extracellular vesicles (EVs), is challenging due to their size, diverse composition, and tendency to aggregate. EVs contain a complex variety of lipids, proteins, and other metabolites. EVs composition can provide us insight into what is happening inside the body and a subcellular level and have potential for noninvasive biomarkers. Liposomes are vesicles that form with a simple phospholipid bilayer membrane and play important roles in drug delivery systems. The use of mass spectrometry (MS) allows for broad analysis of lipids from different classes but their release from the higher order …

Relationship-Influenced Cyber Hygiene (Rich) In Community Banks, Monte L. Ward

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a research study that introduces the theoretical model of Relationship-Influenced Cyber Hygiene (RICH) through its investigation of the phenomenon the researcher experienced: how the interpersonal relationship between top management and cybersecurity personnel within smaller community banks influences the cyber hygiene of top management. Due to the value proposition of community banks to their clients and the limited budget of smaller institutions for investment in cybersecurity controls and initiates, community banks need additional strategies to achieve stronger cyber hygiene, especially as it relates the greatest weakness in most cybersecurity infrastructures—the human element. This study identifies and addresses a …

Internal Audit Obligations To Combat Money Laundering In Ksa: A Qualitative Study Among Saudi Auditors, Mohammed Alzahrane

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Money laundering (ML) presents a significant challenge to Saudi Arabia's financial system, hence the need for comprehensive measures for detection and prevention. This study will analyze various aspects of ML within Saudi Arabia, focusing on its complexities, regulatory landscape, and ongoing efforts to combat it. Saudi Arabia, as a key financial center, faces unique challenges in addressing ML due to its strategic location, substantial oil reserves, and intricate financial transactions. The country's dynamic financial sector and technological advancements amplify these challenges, requiring vigilant measures to counter illicit financial flows effectively. The regulatory framework governing anti-money laundering in Saudi Arabia is …

Artificial Reefs As Management Tools, Tiff Raetzel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Artificial reefs are attractive tools for fisheries management and reef conservation, as they can host large fish biomasses, including fisheries-important species, and they may supplement natural recruitment. Prior studies have established that artificial and natural reefs differ in habitat complexity and host both taxonomically and functionally distinct assemblages. These differences may impact how the reef types respond to environmental disturbance because ecosystem stability is dependent upon habitat structure, species composition, and trophic interactions. A question of management importance is whether artificial reefs host a less- or more-sensitive suite of species than natural reefs, and whether the assemblage is conducive to …

Secondary Teacher Perceptions And Practices Of Intercultural Communicative Competence Development In Online Intercultural Exchanges, Paige L. Roland

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Secondary level world language programs in the United States lack efficient infusion and assessment of intercultural communicative competence in the curricula. When a learner acquires a new language, they also shape their personal identity and expand their ability to successfully interact cross-culturally, thus the need for culture and language to be understood as interdependent components of the bigger whole is evident (Liontas & Siegel, 2019). While there are extensive research theories and studies regarding models of assessment for various competences underlying intercultural communicative competence (e.g., communicative competence, idiomatic competence, sociolinguistic competence) throughout the decades, little research is available which utilizes …

Hurricane Evacuation: Navigating Uncertainty During Covid 19 And With Existing Communication Scales, And Considering Public And Expert Perception Of Alternative Scales, Leilani D. Paxton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the effectiveness of current hurricane warning products and communication strategies, exploring factors influencing public perception of risk and decision-making during evacuations. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining survey data, focus group discussions, and interviews with meteorologists and emergency managers. The first paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hurricane risk perception and evacuation decisions. Findings indicate that while COVID-19 concerns played a role in some individuals' decisions, particularly those with pets or concerns about shelter conditions, the majority of participants evacuated for Hurricane Ian. The study highlights the importance of providing clear, consistent, and …

Towards An International, Generalizable Marketing Strategy Maturity Model, Juan Manuel Harraca

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In an increasingly dynamic business environment, organizations face relentless pressure to adapt their strategies and optimize value propositions to maintain competitiveness. The formulation of effective marketing strategies has emerged as a critical factor in achieving sustainable competitive advantage and ensuring long-term success. However, many firms struggle to refine their marketing capabilities in response to evolving market demands. Addressing this challenge, the Marketing Strategy Maturity Model (MSMM), introduced by Harraca in 2023, offers a structured framework to assess and improve a firm’s marketing strategy formulation processes.

The MSMM provides a dual approach, emphasizing the enhancement of both the processes and the …

Moral Of The Story: Secondary Language Arts Teachers’ Perceptions Of Students’ Moral Intelligence, Sadia Fauzia Zaman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The literature review reveals a gap in secondary English Language Arts (ELA) teachers’ perception of students’ moral intelligence (MI). While many character education studies examine the student perspective, this study contributes to the limited research on secondary ELA teachers’ perceptions of students’ moral intelligence and how it can be cultivated. This dissertation addresses that gap by collecting and analyzing ELA teachers’ lived experiences and perceptions of students’ MI, as well as exploring how ELA teachers and schools can support students’ moral development by integrating moral and ethical topics into instructional practices. This qualitative study used narrative inquiry to gather interview …

Development And Initial Validation Of The In-The-Moment Asynchronous Student Engagement Questionnaire (Itmaseq) In Higher Education, Elif Topsakal

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the development and initial validation of the In-The-Moment Asynchronous Student Engagement Questionnaire (ITMASEQ), designed to measure undergraduate student engagement—emotional, cognitive, and behavioral—in asynchronous online learning environments. The study responds to the growing need for dynamic, in-the-moment assessments of student engagement, a construct critical to understanding academic success and retention, particularly in online education.

The ITMASEQ included a total of 25 questions: Five contextual questions (study day, study place, company during the study, primary online activity, type of primary online activity), eight emotional engagement questions (enjoyment, feeling calm, anxious, focused, distracted, etc.), seven cognitive engagement questions (interest, …

Framing Barbie: A Thematic Analysis Of News Media, Mckenzie Muskett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study qualitatively examined how newspapers and digital media sources frame the 2023 movie, Barbie, and how news media can either perpetuate stereotypes or uproot them. This was done by first facilitating a thematic analysis of newspaper articles from five major U.S news outlets, New York Times, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune, and then from four major digital news outlets, Newsweek, Reuters, BBC, and NewsNation. This study utilized framing theory to identify ten frames news outlets used to frame Barbie. Additionally, feminist theory was implemented to inform the findings and analyze the articles. …

Understanding The Impact Of Cultural Competency Development On College Students Through Experiential Learning: A Study Of An Honors High-Impact Course, C. H. Kevin Lee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore how students develop cultural competency through participation in an experiential learning-embedded college course. Existing literature often addresses career readiness, student success, cultural competency, and faculty-student affairs collaboration as distinct areas of research. However, while students may engage with diversity best practices as leaders or through diversity-related courses, bridging the gap between curriculum and competency development remains a critical area for ongoing discussion.

This study focused on a course I designed on Korean culture and identity, which provided an overview of topics such as history, politics, cuisine, music, and current events. The …

Navigating Critical Incidents As Black Women Assistant Principals In Title I Charter Schools: A Narrative Inquiry, Marsha T. Henry-Lewis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The racial discipline gap and the school-to-prison persist despite contemporary discourse, legislation and trending best practices implemented to reduce exclusionary discipline and its related consequences. However, school leaders are often faced with critical school discipline events, that based on predetermined consequences, end with students being excluded from school. For my study, critical incidents needed not be major incidents, but they hold some level of significance in the lives of those involved. This study examined how Black women assistant principals experienced critical school discipline incidents while they worked in Title I charters schools in Florida. Narratives were captured during individual interviews …