Digital Commons Network^™

Healthcare Data Analytics For Predicting Health Outcomes Of Older Adults And Emergency Responses Of Aged Care Facilities, Nazmus Sakib

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The United States (US) is experiencing rapid growth in its older adult population, who may suffer from multiple chronic diseases, injuries, and impairments. To meet with the excess demand without compromising the quality of care for older adults, the current aged care systems, such as nursing home systems, will face unprecedented challenges of healthcare resource shortage with rising costs. Accurate prediction of health outcomes of individual older adults will facilitate the aged care professionals to better prioritize healthcare resources for the most at-risk individuals with more focused care and provide more proactive and individualized treatment and care delivery. In addition, …

A Field-Wide Examination Of Cross-Listed Courses In Technical Professional Communication, Carolyn M. Gubala

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study assesses cross-listed courses (courses with a mix of undergraduate and graduate students) to uncover current pedagogical and programmatic trends at a field-wide level. The applied mixed-methods study provides important foundational insights into an under researched area in Technical and Professional Communication (TPC). Research questions include: What courses are cross-listed? How does offering these courses affect writing programs and writing program administration? Through the use of three types of data: (1) course data from institutional documents, (2) interview data from program administrators and/or faculty, and (3) pedagogical materials (syllabi and assignment sheets) from the courses supplied by administrators or …

Predictors Of Goal Attainment Among High School Students In Accelerated Academic Curricula Receiving School-Based Motivational Interviewing Intervention, Camille E. Hanks

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs represent a unique group of adolescents given the high demands of their rigorous coursework and the elevated stress they experience compared to peers in the general education (Suldo & Shaunessy-Dedrick, 2013). These students are often missed in traditional screening procedures that tend to identify students struggling academically or exhibiting disruptive behaviors. Fortunately, Shaunessy-Dedrick and colleagues (2021) developed a comprehensive school-based intervention program, including universal (Tier 1) and selective (Tier 2) components, which aims to support the well-being of AP/IB students. The Tier 2 component of this program (i.e., …

The Nature Of Resilience: A Person-Centered Approach Using Latent Profile Analysis, Yuejia Teng

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Resilience research has become increasingly popular in organizational sciences in recent years. Different factor structures of resilience have been proposed and yet no consensus has been reached regarding its underlying dimensions. Such a variable-centered perspective of studying resilience may be well complemented by a typological approach, which may shed fresh light on the nature of resilience. The current study took a person-centered approach with the advantage of using latent profile analysis to explore a set of latent profiles of resilience. Two studies were conducted. In Study 1 (N = 479), archival undergraduate data were used to explore resilience profiles and …

Measuring Parental Involvement As Parental Actions In Children’S Private Music Lessons In China, Cancan Cui

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Anonymity has long been discussed as a source of disinhibition. The myth of the Ring of Gyges illustrates how a person may act immorally solely because they know they will not be caught (Plato, 375/2017). Incorporating perspectives of rational choice and deterrence, anonymity serves as a form of risk reduction within hedonistic calculus (Beccaria, 1764/1963; Bentham, 1781/2000). Analogous to the myth of the Ring of Gyges (Plato, 375/2017), techniques of anonymity “hide” users from others while online. These techniques serve as a form of risk reduction, reducing the certainty of punishment (Becarria 1764/1963). Additionally, there are many ways by which …

The Adaptive, Social, Communication, And Cognitive Skills Of Monolingual And Bilingual Toddlers With Autism, Marcela A. Galicia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The rates of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD; Center for Disease Control [CDC], 2019) and bilingual individuals are rapidly increasing in the United States (Zeigler & Camarota, 2019). Yet, research on the global development of bilingual children with ASD is limited. Despite the lack of research in this vein, educators and clinicians are tasked with the assessment and intervention planning for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) children with ASD (Dilly & Hall, 2019). There are mixed findings regarding the effect of bilingual exposure on the development of adaptive, social, communication, and cognitive skills of children with ASD (e.g., Hambly & Fombonne, …

School Nurses’ Attitudes And Perceptions Toward Supporting Students With Chronic Health Conditions In An Ecological System, Destiny L. Singleton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Chronic health conditions impact one in four school-aged youth (Van Cleave, Gortmaker, & Perrin, 2010). Supplemental to the medical challenges that students with chronic health conditions face, they also are at risk for a variety of academic, behavioral, and social-emotional adversities. Using an ecological approach for addressing the diverse needs of students with chronic health conditions has been deemed valuable due to the array of key stakeholders, institutions, policies, and cultural norms that impact the development of the pediatric population. A key stakeholder in supporting the functioning of school-aged children with chronic illnesses is the school nurse. School nurses’ skills …

Development And Testing Of The Performance Diagnostic Checklist For Instructors, Jesse Depaolo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Behavior analysts have been studying behavior related to academic instruction for decades (Dunlap et al., 2001). Instruction has focused primarily on K-12 teachers with much less emphasis on college level instructors (Baum & McPherson, 2019). Additionally, studies related to improving instruction often lack information related to why a particular intervention was chosen. Creating an assessment tool to assist in determining interventions that would be most effective for improving classroom or virtual instruction could be beneficial. Therefore, the purpose of study one was to develop the Performance Diagnostic Checklist for Instructors (PDC-I) which will help guide supervisors of college instructors into …

Stressors, Resources, And Psychological Well-Being Among Working Black And White Caregivers In The United States, Maureen E. Templeman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

By the year 2060 in the United States (U.S.), not only will the number of adults aged 65 and older double, non-Hispanic Whites (Whites), who currently constitute 77% of the older adult population, will constitute just slightly more than half of older adults. As the older adult population diversifies, so will their caregivers. Over 60% of informal caregivers of older adults (caregivers) are employed, and the majority of these are employed full time. Little is known about the unique experiences of working Black or African American (Black/AA) and White caregivers and non-caregivers in the U.S. This dissertation consists of three …

Early Indicators Of Cognitive Dysfunction: The Role Of Mild Behavioral Impairment, Hillary J. Rouse

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Older age is associated with an increased risk for cognitively impairing diseases such as dementia. Despite significant research to find ways to cure this disease, there has been little success. However, a critical need when an intervention is discovered is a need to find ways to identify people who are at the greatest risk of developing dementia earlier in the disease process so that interventions can be implemented at that time. This could potentially lessen their risk or delay when they are diagnosed. Using longitudinal data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC), the aims of this current dissertation were …

Exploring Adult Attachment In Intimate Relationships Among Women Who Were Exposed To Intimate Partner Violence In Childhood: A Convergent Mixed Methods Approach, Ngozichukwuka C. Agu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Trauma in childhood including exposure to intimate partner violence is associated with a myriad of negative outcomes in physical health, mental health, academic performance, and relationship domains. Adult attachment in intimate relationships is a key factor that determines several health outcomes as well as healthy relationships. This study explored: 1) the perceptions of childhood exposures to intimate partner violence and how these exposures could have impacted adult attachment; 2) the perceptions of relationship factors that play a role in the development of adult attachment in intimate relationships; and 3) the behavioral and socioenvironmental influences that frame perceptions of adult …

Poetic Justice: A Counter-Narrative Of The First Black Male Principal In A Coastal Community Since The Desegregation Era, Adrian Anthony

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Entering a new school as a new principal, and the first black male administrator in a community since the desegregation era, was fraught with challenges that have a universal cadence. Additionally, the three-year school turnaround initiative I entered had its own unique barriers. My voice quivers, my head sinks low, my eyes averted but this no more, for I uphold the mantle of men of bronze, for I will lead within this challenge and my voice will go on (Anthony, 2020). Using critical race theory as a framework with counter-storytelling I examined leadership and different forms of racial and gender …

Awareness, Advocacy, And Activism: A Self-Study Of Social Justice Supervision Of Secondary Science Teacher Candidates, Stephanie A. Arthur

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the demographics of public K-12 schools continue to shift towards a wider representation including students of color and students from low-income households, it is critical for new secondary science teachers entering the field to be prepared to teach science that is culturally responsive to their students’ needs and communities. As teacher candidates continue their pedagogical growth while in their final clinical internships in high-needs schools, there is great potential for the university supervisor to support their development within a social justice framework. By encouraging and supporting teacher candidates to include culturally responsive approaches in the biology, chemistry, physics, and …

Interrelation Of Thermal Stimulation With Haptic Perception, Emotion, And Memory, Mehdi Hojatmadani

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Haptics is an interdisciplinary field of science that deals with how humans perceive and respond to different sensory cues perceived through touch. Thermal haptics as a branch deals with how humans perceive the temperature sensation and respond to that. The process in which thermal perception occurs is well known to researchers. What seems missing in the literature is how temperature interacts or sometimes intervenes in other physiological and psychological aspects of our lives. In this research, a series of studies are presented where the main focus was how temperature and brain interact with each other to impede or enhance our …

"They Say We're Expendable:" Race, Nation, And Citizenship In The Dominican Republic., Edlin Veras

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In 2013, new Dominican legislation left approximately a quarter-million Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent at risk of being undocumented and/or stateless in the Dominican Republic. While the histories of racial and ethnic tensions between the Dominican Republic are well-studied, few qualitative works have explored how these harsh migration policies impact Haitians’ everyday experiences. In my dissertation, I sought to understand: 1) How day-to-day experiences of racialization practices shape the lives of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent, and 2) investigate how migration policies impact Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent’s quality of life. I tend to these questions by …

An Evaluation Of Distributed And Accumulated Reinforcer Arrangements On Skill Acquisition And Preference, Natalie R. Mandel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Discrete trial training (DTT), an evidence-based instructional procedure (Wong et al., 2015), is often used to teach skills to individuals with autism. Manipulations to the reinforcement component of DTT have increased its instructional efficiency, resulting in acquisition of skills in less time (e.g., Cividini-Motta & Ahearn, 2013). Results of previous studies (e.g., DeLeon et al., 2014) indicate that some individuals prefer to complete larger work requirements that result in a larger amount of a reinforcer (i.e., accumulated arrangement), rather than receiving access to small amounts of a reinforcer dispersed throughout the work requirement (i.e., distributed arrangement). In addition, accumulated reinforcer …

Physician Burnout: A Curriculum Design Study, Dian A. Ginsberg

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study created and evaluated an educational intervention that addressed the remediation of physician burnout on an organizational level. This quality improvement study explores existing programs and applies innovation to improve the depth and scalability of a physician burnout program.

Waive It Away: Systemic Injustices Against Black And Brown Faculty And Staff Professionals, Past And Present, Marquis B. Holley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates perceptions and experiences of systemic injustices/racism, which is reflected in policy misuse and/or abuse at a large Research One (R1) university located in the Southeastern United States. In particular, the study will provide a lens for viewing the shortcomings regarding hiring practices, with the misuse of the Waiver of Advertisement, which was an initiative aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of Black and Brown professionals in faculty and staff/administrative positions. It is critical to note that the assumption of this project is that white faculty and staff/administrators are the beneficiaries of the waiver. The study will assess this …

Designing A Health Coach-Augmented Mhealth System For The Secondary Prevention Of Coronary Heart Disease, Avijit Sengupta

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents research that employs design science research (DSR) methodology to develop and evaluate a high-fidelity prototype of a home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) system to support self-management of chronic cardiovascular diseases like coronary heart disease (CHD) and to offer secondary prevention against other chronic diseases with similar risk factors. While the population of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients requiring cardiac rehabilitation (CR) continues to expand, lack of access and other barriers to center based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) presents a huge challenge. A mobile phone and wearable device based technological system can offer an HBCR program for CHD. By following …

A Multi-Faceted Approach To Understanding Acceptability Of Docs K-5: A Qualitative Analysis, Andrea Guarnieri

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated the acceptability of DOCS K-5, a behavior parenting program adapted for parents of elementary aged children. Despite proven efficacy in preventing maladaptive behaviors, parenting programs have historically suffered from low attendance and engagement. Participants (N = 13) attending the pilot DOCS K-5 program took part in six group interviews while enrolled in the program to examine the facilitators and barriers to attendance, perceived effectiveness, and collateral benefits received from participation in the program. This study considered possible cognitive, affective, instructional, and pragmatic facilitators or barriers to attendance and engagement. Participants described motivations to learn various types …

Analysis Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Gene Expression Profiles In A Prospective, Community-Based Cohort, Jan Dahrendorff

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common and debilitating psychiatric disorder that may occur in individuals exposed to traumatic events such as accidents, interpersonal violence, war, combat-exposures or natural disasters. PTSD is a significant public health issue with a high disease burden associated with substantial health care costs and several comorbidities negatively affecting an individual’s quality of life. The biological underpinnings of the disorder are not well understood. Gene expression studies can shed light into the complex physiology of PTSD. However, to date, studies employing a hypothesis-free approach examining the whole transcriptome are scarce and are limited to assessment of …

A Review Of Marine Turtle Orientation And Artificial Lighting Impacts With Novel Results From Florida’S Gulf Coast, Andrea M. Fisher

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Artificial light (i.e. unnatural light emitting from a human-made source) is one of the most extensively distributed, and least managed, type of anthropogenic pollution. Due to the disproportionally high rates of urbanization in critical coastal ecosystems, species, like marine turtles that use beach habitat for nesting activities, are especially vulnerable. Marine turtles employ the use of multiple visual cues (e.g. wavelength, intensity, background illumination, and dark silhouettes) to conduct sea-finding behavior and different variations in cue usage exist across species and geographic location. During nesting and emergence activities, orientation can be interrupted and manipulated by artificial lighting resulting in lower …

Successful Aging In Adults Who Stutter: Exploring Predictors Of Physical And Mental Health-Related Quality Of Life, Amanda Kelly

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to investigate predictors of physical and mental health quality of life in aging adults who stutter (AWS). Our goal was to identify factors contributing to successful aging in this talker group. The aging population is expected to increase exponentially over the next twenty years. Factors influencing self-perceived health-related quality of life have yet to be investigated in aging AWS.

An online survey was completed by a total of 40 AWS, age 50 years and older, recruited from the Greater Tampa Bay region and nationally. The survey comprised multiple measures that probed for information regarding self-perceived health …

Native And Non-Native English-Speaking Doctoral Students' Strategies To Understand Idiomatics In Comics And Comic Strips, Himelhoch Luz-Aydé

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Everyday language consists of many idiomatic and figurative expressions. For non-native English speakers to achieve native fluency, control of idiomatics—native speech that includes the use of both idiomatic and figurative language—is paramount. In this study, I aimed to explore the use of comics and comic strips in the learning and comprehension of L2 (second language) idiomatics. Seldom has the topic of comics and comic strips been addressed as it applies to idiomatics learning in second language acquisition (SLA). I employed a descriptive and exploratory approach in this study to address this gap in SLA pedagogy. A total of 21 doctoral …

The Extended Parallel Processing Model (Eppm) And Risk Perceptions Of Twitter Messages Related To Covid-19, Muhammad E. Rasul

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since its genesis, the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 has claimed millions of lives across the world and has infected many more. The population in the US experienced one of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19 in the world, with the number of deaths rising monolithically at one point. Although the development and inoculation of a large number of the public has helped, newer variants threaten to revitalize the growth and spread of COVID-19. Scholars have extensively studied health messages related to COVID-19 in a variety of contexts. However, little attention has been paid to the risk perceptions of health messages related …

Career Development And Workforce Experiences Of Trans People In Their Workplaces, Rene Ragmett Alvarez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Existing research concerning trans people is sparse, and even less research exists regarding their career development and workforce experiences. Hence, I explored the career development and workforce experience stories of trans people. I used a conceptual and theoretical framework in this study to inform my general approach to trans scholarship leading to the specific examination of the career development and workforce experiences of trans persons. The conceptual and theoretical framework included Hale's (1997) suggested guidelines for non-trans people writing about trans people, constructivism, social cognitive career theory, and minority stress theory and informed the qualitative vehicle of this study to …

An Investigation Of The Hot Docs Guide For Weekly Early Intervention Sessions: A Multiple Baseline Design, Cashea Holyfield

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many parents of young children across the United States are increasingly impacted by their children’s display of early childhood challenging behavior. Common examples of these behaviors include feeding difficulties, tantrums, whining, crying, and noncompliance (Barbarian, 2007; Hemmeter et al., 2014; Spencer & Coe, 2003). Though the relationship between early childhood behavior problems and future outcomes may not be causal, researchers have consistently concluded that if left unaddressed, children who demonstrate early challenging behavior are likely to experience some difficulties in academic achievement, sociability, school readiness, and mental health (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2002; Turney & McLanahan, 2015). Behavioral parent training …

Pre-Service Teachers' Knowledge Of The Brain: Implications For Autonomy-Supportive And Controlling Motivational Styles, Katie Jansen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Neuromyths, or misconceptions about the brain and learning that are rooted in scientific fact, have been documented among educators across various subject areas and educational levels throughout the world. The endorsement of neuromyths may affect the ability of educators to support the psychological needs of their students. The present study examined neuromyth endorsement and neuroscience literacy among pre-service educators, as well as their orientations toward autonomy-supportive or controlling motivational styles. Associations between pre- service teachers’ knowledge of the brain (i.e., neuromyth endorsement and neuroscience literacy) and their motivational styles (i.e., autonomy-supportive or controlling) were also explored. Data were gathered from …

"We're The Lucky Ones": A Social Network Analysis Of Recovery After The Iowa Derecho, Kayla C. Jones

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

On the afternoon of August 10th, 2020 a straight line windstorm, referred to as a derecho, tore across the Midwest. Derechos are often described as an “inland hurricane,” with wind gusts exceeding 58 mph. This thesis explores how Iowans relied on social networks to recover from the derecho. Personal networks were analyzed to understand how people utilized relationships for specific types of support. The relationships investigated included informal and formal sources such as family, friends, neighbors, government, volunteers, non-governmental organizations, and self-reliance. Data were collected on social networks and storm recovery through a survey and semi-structured interviews. Using anthropological theories …

Depression During Adolescence: An Examination Of Treatment Outcomes Through An Intersectional Lens, Myesha Morgan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Major Depressive Disorder is a common mental health disorder, with studies suggesting its potential to lead to academic and social-emotional impairment in youth (Alegria, Vallas, & Pumariega, 2011). Although psychological treatments for this disorder have been studied for decades, prior to recent years little was known about the generalizability of treatment effectiveness to non-European samples (Bernal, Bonila, & Bellido, 1995; Bernal & Scharron-Del-Rio, 2001). Data suggest that racial/ethnic minority youth experience more severe depression when diagnosed with the disorder and are less likely to access mental health services. Behavior Activation (BA) is a treatment approach found to be effective for …