Digital Commons Network^™

Beliefs Of Male Elementary School Special Education And General Education Teachers Regarding Full Inclusion For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Saudi Arabia, Sultan Alanazi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

AbstractThe current educational settings for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Saudi Arabia consist of special institutions for students with intellectual disabilities and special classrooms within public schools. The Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia is interested in full inclusion for students with ASD because of the social, psychological, and educational benefits it can provide them. One crucial factor for achieving full inclusion is considering elementary teachers’ perceptions and beliefs toward full inclusion, as they are one of the primary stakeholders in this venture. Therefore, elementary general education and special education teachers’ beliefs regarding full inclusion for students with …

The Integration Of Assistive Technology By Female In-Service Teachers Of Students With Learning Disabilities In Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Interview Study, Badriah Alotaiby

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study is to explore the teachers’ perceptions of integrating assistivetechnology into the curriculum for students with learning disabilities in Saudi Arabia. It is known that teaching students with learning disabilities had been one of the significant difficulties in the past and nowadays. Therefore, integrating assistive technology into the educational process would make it easier for the teachers of students with learning disabilities to teach these students through the use of integrating assistive technology. The use of such assistive technologies will be beneficial for learning disabilities students as well. The main question guiding this research is: What …

An Ecofeminist Ontological Turn: Preparing The Field For A New Ecofeminist Project, M. Laurel-Leigh Meierdiercks

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ecofeminists have predominantly refuted oppressive conceptual frameworks by rejecting dualistic logic and value hierarchies, despite the foundational view of ontology that underlies our logic and value systems. I argue that ecofeminists must engage in the creative process of articulating an ecofeminist ontology. I demonstrate that the omission of ontological discourse in ecofeminist scholarships is primarily due to the time period during which ecofeminism gained peak traction and their concerns with essentialism. I also show that feminists experienced an ontological turn in the 2000s that produced a new model for ontological theories that would be beneficial for ecofeminists to embrace. In …

Band Members’ Attitudes Toward The Queer Community And Perception Of Band As A Safe Space, Brian J. Panetta

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework of human development and Yuval-Davis’ analytical framework of belonging as a lens to explain how the band environment might cultivate positive attitudes toward the queer community, this study investigated band members’ attitudes toward the queer community and their perception of the band as a safe space. Utilizing adapted inventories with established reliability and validity, the following research questions were addressed: 1) What are queer and non-queer band members’ attitudes toward the queer community? 2) What are queer and non-queer band members’ attitudes toward the band as a safe space? 3) What differences exist between the independent …

Introductory Geology Laboratory Students' Learnings From And Perceptions Of Physical And Virtual Polarizing Light Microscopes – An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study, Christy M. Bebeau

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Undergraduate geoscience laboratory courses provide hands-on learning about earth materials. However thin section analysis is not typically included in introductory geology laboratories, likely due to the polarizing light microscope (PLM) costs. Therefore, there is a lack of research about the educational outcomes of novices learning these skills.

In this inquiry, I conducted mixed methods research about novice students' learning of thin section analysis in an introductory geology laboratory and evaluated learning and perception differences between students who used a virtual PLM and those who used a physical PLM. I collected data from Creative Exercise (CE) assessments in student midterm and …

A Gateway To Next-Generation Patient Monitoring System, Kishore Kumar Kadari

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare patient monitoring is undergoing a significant digital transformation, and the integration of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly crucial in reshaping patient care. In an era where digital technology is revolutionizing medical practices, this research aims to take a leading role in advancing a fundamental aspect of predictive and sustainable healthcare practices, enhancing patient outcomes and uplifting the practice of medicine.

This research focuses on the study of Digital Twins for precision health, which are designed to monitor and provide intricate, personalized feedback dynamically during a patient's healthcare experience. The architecture of the system is …

Inquiry-Based Teaching Of Science In The Saudi Kindergarten Classroom: A Multi-Case Study Of Early Childhood Educators’ Attitudes And Practices, Intisar Alawthah

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this qualitative multiple case study was to understand three Saudi kindergarten teachers ’attitudes toward enacting inquiry to teach science in the kindergarten classroom. This study was guided by two research questions: 1) What attitudes do Saudi kindergarten teachers hold about using inquiry to teach science in their classrooms? 2) How do Saudi kindergarten teachers enact inquiry in their science teaching in the Saudi context? This case study helped to understand Saudi kindergarten teachers’ attitude toward using it in the kindergarten classroom and clarified how Saudi kindergarten teachers enact inquiry to teach young children science in their classroom. …

The Experiences Of A Black Teacher Educator Surrounded By Whiteness In Teacher Education: A Critical Autoethnography, Lamicah Lindsey

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The field of teacher education is dominated by whiteness, perpetuating the influence of white ideologies in designing and implementing teacher education at each phase of the continuum (pre-service teaching, in-service teaching, teacher educators). This study employs a critical autoethnographic approach to examine how my experiences as a Black educator have shaped my social justice pedagogy across the teacher education continuum. It also identifies the supports I received during my journey. The findings reveal persistent racial discrimination throughout all phases of teacher education, as well as struggles with imposter syndrome, self-doubt, racial identity, and fear of the unknown. These findings underscore …

Cross-System Strategic Planning: An Exploratory Analysis Of Sequential Intercept Mapping, Timothy Freeman Gerhardt Ii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adults with behavioral health issues (BHIs) are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system (CJS). Local-level system fragmentation perpetuates this disparity. The following studies advance an understanding of the Sequential Intercept Mapping Workshop (SIM-W). The SIM-W is a local-level strategic planning workshop used to address gaps in services, improve local-level partnerships, and co-develop a strategic plan with marginalized groups, county leaders, and cross-system service providers to guide the implementation and delivery of evidence-based jail diversion strategies. Over 300 SIM-Ws have been conducted across the United States, incentivized through state/federal legislation. However, the SIM-W process components and outcomes remain under-explored. Specific …

Avoiding The Debt Sentence: A Narrative Inquiry On The Endarkened Financial Socialization Of Student Debt-Free, First-Generation Black College Women, Candace Marie Henry

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of first-generation Black women who completed at least a bachelor’s degree without student loans. While Black women are most burdened by student loan debt, little is known about the experiences of those who navigate college without accruing student loans. Combining endarkened feminist epistemology with the family financial socialization model, I developed the endarkened financial socialization model to guide this inquiry. Using endarkened narrative inquiry, I engaged eight first-generation Black women who completed college without student loan debt in semi-guided conversations about the financial messages they received growing up and …

The History And Explanation Of Stormwater Ponds In East Tampa, Natasha Sutton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The overall goal of this research was to explore and understand the history of stormwater ponds in the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), a 4,800-acre urban community comprising many different historic African American neighborhoods in Florida's City of Tampa. Seen as one of the most affordable stormwater management solutions in southeastern parts of the United States, stormwater ponds dot the East Tampa landscape. As the manager of CRA funds, the City of Tampa stands out as a main decision maker around the stormwater ponds within the East Tampa CRA. Over the years the stormwater ponds have generated much interest …

Home Is Where The Work Is: How Biases In Managers’ Resource Allocation Decisions Affect Task Performance In Remote Work Environments, Richard D. Mautz Iii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the use of remote and hybrid work arrangements continues to grow, it is important to understand how these arrangements can yield performance. In this paper, I conduct two studies to examine how the remote work environment affects managers’ task assignment decisions across different task types and how those decisions affect workers’ task performance. First, I survey managers, in both a cross-section of industries and specifically in accounting, to study the effect of remote work on their task assignment decisions. Consistent with prior literature and economic theory, I predict and find that managers are more inclined to assign generative tasks …

The Rust Belt Gothic: Charting The Affective Politics Of Deindustrialization And The Emergence Of A Great Lakes Horror Genre In Film, Micheal B. Raines

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Within the past decade, a string of notable horror films set within the Steel Belt has emerged. These works collectively invoke the specter of the ‘Rust Belt’ in their narratives: the industrial Midwest’s derelict urban and suburban sprawls in the wake of the economic decline and white flight of the USA’s once-mighty manufacturing sector. Scholarship has commented upon the subtext of these works individually but fails to observe their collective nature as an emergent subgenre in horror fiction, centered upon directly confronting the Steel Belt’s twentieth-century history of stagnation. In this paper, I examine films which share clear aesthetic and …

Osteoarthritis, Social Role Participation, And Satisfaction With Life: A Quantitative Study Informed By The Social Identity Model Of Identity Change (Simic), Stephanie E. Rosado

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This cross-sectional survey study utilized an adapted version of the Social Identity Model of Identity Change (SIMIC) to investigate associations between post-diagnostic factors, role salience identity changes, and satisfaction with life for U.S. adults with osteoarthritis (OA). Data were collected from 193 adults with OA using ResearchMatch. Results suggest that role limitations significantly contributed to explaining variations in role salience identity. Furthermore, a positive relationship was observed between change in role salience identity and satisfaction with life. A moderated moderation analysis assessing the interaction effects of satisfaction with role performance and social support on the relationship between role salience identity …

Disability, Blackness, And Online Community: Black Twitter As Self-Narrative, Morgan S. Wilson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Black disabled people, especially those with invisible disabilities, are often not included or welcomed by all in the disabled community. In addition, Black disabled individuals also face discrimination and exclusion within the Black community due to ableism. This project will be an investigation of Black disabled community and health culture in online spaces, specifically using Twitter hashtags as a starting point. This research project is about helping to write the whole story, an opportunity that my Black ancestors did not have but still demand, for our generation and those who will come after us. For this project, I conducted an …

Zeros And Ones: Digital Video Aesthetics And Geopolitical Economy In Blackhat, Everett Barnett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Film and media theory has been fundamentally altered by the advent of digital technology, both in terms of film production and broader aesthetic overtures but also in terms of greater digital mediation. Blackhat (Michael Mann, 2015), although not a commercial or critical success, articulates many of the exact circumstances and broader consequences of digital technology in relation to its digital video aesthetics but also its narratives content involving global telecommunication and data systems. As a wholly digital film, Blackhat is uniquely situated to speak not only developments in digital filmmaking but also, by way of its plot line involving stateless …

Understanding Donor Preferences And Intentions: A Theory Of Planned Behavior Approach, Kimberly Cubre

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Advancement teams have a pivotal role in bridging the ever-widening gap in funding for higher education institutions. As this gap continues to expand, these teams have emerged as increasingly prominent players to raise philanthropic support. This research study is aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of their engagement strategies and gaining a deeper understanding of donor motivations and intentions. Employing the Theory of Planned Behavior in conjunction with a revised and tested survey instrument (as validated by Smith & McSweeney in 2007), this study sheds light on donor behavior. It probes into donors' sentiments regarding the philanthropic tactics and communications they …

Count Me In: A Study Of Social Validity, Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports, And A High School, Amie Dia Davis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) has been attributed to a decrease in office discipline referrals (ODRs) and suspensions and to increase academic performance, and engagement, as well as staff, family, and student perceptions of a safe and positive school climate. High schools have had more significant issues than elementary sites with implementing PBIS and garnering staff support due to larger faculty, staff, and student size, multi-faceted organizational culture, and the age of the students served. In addition, factors that have also been cited as inhibiting successful implementation at the high school level are lack of student …

Becoming Conscious: An Autoethnographic Study Analyzing The Relationship Between Identity And Leadership, Aaron Izzo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aims to define the connection between one’s perceptions of self and how one conceptualizes leadership. This study first conceptualized my own identity, seeking to connect my past experiences and interactions with others utilizing a term borrowed from Eastern philosophy, samskara, to see how they impact my current practice within leadership. Within the current body of research, various forms of leadership approaches, such as relational, appreciative, feminist, queer, and conscious leadership, were described and explored. What was found to be missing from the current body of work was a connection between who a person is, how they identify, and …

Human Motion-Inspired Inverse Kinematics Algorithm For A Robotics-Based Human Upper Body Model, Urvish Trivedi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research is to develop a human motion-inspired inverse kinematics algorithm framework specifically designed for a Robotics-Based Human Upper Body Model (RHUBM). This framework offers solutions to challenges in various fields. In humanoid robotics, the framework addresses the problem of unnatural robot movement by enabling the development of motion planning algorithms that incorporate human-like movements. For prosthetics, the framework tackles the challenge of amputee difficulty in learning and controlling prosthetics by providing a user-friendly interface that predicts and visualizes upper limb movements, enabling learning and practice. In rehabilitation therapy, the framework tackles …

Introductory Chemistry Student Success: Evaluating Peer-Led Team Learning And Describing Sense Of Belonging, Jessica D. Young

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Identifying approaches that make science and engineering education broader and more inclusive is core to discipline based education research. Both fundamental and applied research are important in advancing a STEM education that retains the necessary scientists of the U.S.’s future. Thus, the major goal of this work was to evaluate and describe efforts that promote student success within introductory STEM courses. This began with applied research by utilizing quantitative analyses like case-matching, logistic regression, independent sample t-tests, and repeated measures while evaluating the efficacy of peer-led team learning (PLTL). Later, this work delves into qualitative approaches to answer fundamental research …

Caring In Social Studies: An Examination Of Teacher Preparation Standards, Vanializ Agramonte

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Care is something we expect educators to demonstrate towards their students, but are theythemselves being taught the importance of care in education and prepared to enact it in their classrooms? The existing literature on care and care theory in education is limited, but shows a link between care and student success; many educators also point to anecdotal evidence of the importance of care. This study sought to examine themes of care in national standards for teacher preparation. Through the use of directed qualitative content analysis, three national teacher preparation standards (the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the Interstate …

Explorations On Non-Covalent Interactions: From Supramolecules To Drug-Like Molecules, Zhanpeng Zhang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Non-covalent interactions are everywhere in our material world. From the microstructures of organisms to the functional materials used in industrial production, whenever matter exists, there are non-covalent interactions between the molecules that build up the matter.The exploration of non-covalent forces helps people understand the intrinsic principles of life processes, it can be applied to create new supramolecular materials as well. Supramolecular chemistry is a research field focusing on the properties and applications of non-covalent interactions. Various non-covalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonds, metal-ligand coordination, π-π interaction, hydrophobic interaction, etc., are objects of research in supramolecular chemistry.

Not only supramolecular chemists, …

Forgotten Learners: An Examination Of The Experiences Of English Language Learners In Advanced Placement And International Baccalaureate Social Studies Courses, Elizabeth Rasmussen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The number of English Language Learners (ELLs) in the United States is rapidly increasing, particularly in high schools. Although the number of ELLs is growing at a fast pace in the United States, the number of ELLs enrolled in advanced educational programming has not increased. After an in-depth review of the extant literature, it is evident that limited scholarly research on ELLs in advanced coursework exists. This is especially true in AP and IB social studies courses, where in many states where “Open Access” and “AP for All” have been adopted. This qualitative study sought to reveal the lived experiences …

Multiple Shots To Understanding Gun Violence, Lexi Gill

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Gun violence is a ubiquitous issue across the United States, and recently, gun violence surpassed the previously recorded highest rates. Each year, tens of thousands of individuals lose their lives to gun-related violence. Gun violence is the leading cause of death among youth and disparately impacts young Black men. Some suggest gun violence is a social contagion that transmits from one individual to another and circulates through certain communities, suggesting gun violence can be “cured” with the appropriate treatment. Despite the proliferation of gun violence, current research on gun violence is underdeveloped. It is imperative to assess gun violence from …

Examining The Factors Impacting The Undergraduate Degree Performance In The College Of Business At Southern Univeristy And Agriculture & Mechanical College, Brian D. Adams

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates factors influencing undergraduate degree performance in the College of Business at Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. The research employes a qualitative approach, utilizing in-depth interviews with faculty and students to identify challenges and strategies for enhancing academic outcomes. Key themes identified include the impact of faculty mentorship, curriculum relevance, technological integration, and institutional support on student success. The study examines undergraduate degree performance in the unique context of a historically black college and university (HBCU).

Findings reveal that faculty and students prioritize teaching quality, curriculum relevance, and supportive services as vital for academic success. Challenges …

Exploring The Associations Between Drug Resistant Mutations, Low-Level Viremia, And Virological Failure In Persons With Hiv In Florida, Adriana Campos

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Virologic suppression is an essential part to a successful regimen for Persons with HIV (PWH) and the 95-95-95 initiative. Yet, PWH experiencing episodes of low-level viremia (LLV) may be more prone to experience virological failure (VF). Currently, studies debate the clinical relevance of LLV and its effect on virological outcomes, but none have explored its interconnectedness with drug resistant mutations (DRM) and antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence – all integral elements in predicting virological outcomes.

The goal of the proposed study was to contribute to the knowledge gap regarding the interconnectivity of drug resistant mutations, low-level viremia, adherence, and virological failure …

Community-Centered Early Warning For Outbreaks In Humanitarian Emergencies: Evaluating Community-Based Surveillance For Priority Communicable Diseases Among Internally Displaced Populations In Iraq, Caitlin M. Wolfe

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Community based surveillance (CBS) is the organized and rapid collection of information from health events identified in the community and includes the systematic detection and reporting of events of public health significance. While used globally to enhance the detection of priority diseases, CBS has not been routinely deployed in Iraq, where a once-robust health system has been devastated by decades of war, international sanctions, and large-scale population displacement. During infectious disease outbreaks, it is imperative to quickly detect and isolate suspect cases, investigate confirmed cases, and trace and monitor the contacts of confirmed cases. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the …

An Analysis Of Florida Manatee (Trichechus Manatus Latirostris) Rescues (1993-2022) With Recommendations For Future Rehabilitation Program Needs, Katherine Frisch

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) are threatened marine mammals that inhabit the coastal and near shore waters along the southeastern United States, primarily Florida. Manatee conservation is multi-faceted. One component of the manatee recovery program is the rescue and rehabilitation program that provides care for sick, injured and orphaned manatees. The science of conservation biology, whose goal is to maintain biodiversity using a multidisciplinary approach, can be applied to aspects of the manatee rescue and rehabilitation program.

A federally authorized, state implemented, rescue system has been in place for many years to rescue and treat injured and orphaned animals. Rescued …

Integrating Identities By Segmenting Domains: Antecedents Of Work-Maternal Identity In The Postpartum Return To Work, Aashna M. Waiwood

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As employed women have children and return to work, they encounter a cross-domain identity transition where their professional and maternal identities are consistently co-activated and must perceptually contend with one another. In this dissertation, I explored this potential for harmonious assimilation of work and parental identities within this postpartum transitory period via a novel construct termed “work-maternal identity (WMI).” Specifically, I examined how working remotely in integrated work and home environments is related to WMI, as mediated by job engagement and perceptions of work belongingness. I also incorporated factors critical to successful resocialization and related to boundary management as moderators …