Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating Current And Prospective Major League Soccer Marketing Strategies To Spanish Speakers In The United States, Larissa Lee

Honors Theses

This quantitative study identifies the relationship between Spanish-language marketing and Major League Soccer (MLS) fandom and support among consumers. Data were collected by administering a survey in both English and Spanish to ensure inclusivity and increase accessibility. A total of 497 responses were collected, and a series of simple linear regressions were conducted using SPSS to evaluate if MLS fandom and team support could be predicted by language preference for marketing campaigns, perceptions of current Spanish-language content availability, cultural representation, cultural inclusion, and demand for more Spanish-language content.

Results indicated statistically significant differences across all hypotheses. Regarding the dependent variable …

Southern Miss: The Legacy Of Resilience, Ashley Lewis

Honors Theses

Southern Miss: The Legacy of Resilience is a creative work composed of two components: a short expository styled documentary and a written component primarily focused on the methods and techniques used to film the documentary. On February 10th, 2013, an EF-4 tornado significantly impacted the University of Southern Mississippi’s campus in Hattiesburg. The campus obtained significant damages to eight buildings located near Hardy Street on the southeastern portion of campus. The impact of the tornado left the university with over $20 million worth of damages. At the time, the university was temporarily closed for Mardi Gras break. However, a recovery …

An Insight Into The Venom Gland Proteome Of The Two-Spined Trap-Jaw Ant, Odontomachus Haematodus, Aaron Morgan

Honors Theses

Ants are ecologically important and highly abundant organisms, playing key roles in many ecosystems. One recently introduced species in the southeastern United States is Odontomachus haematodus (the two-spined trap-jaw ant), a South American native that has often been misidentified, contributing to limited research on its biology and venom composition. This study aimed to provide the first detailed characterization of the venom apparatus and proteome of O. haematodus. Specimens were collected and dissected, and venom-related proteins were extracted and analyzed using SDS-PAGE and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS-ESI). Confocal microscopy was also used to visualize the sting apparatus, including F-actin filaments and …

Does Sponsorship Context Matter? Comparing Local And National Sponsorship Effects On Consumer Behavior, Kathryn Flock

Honors Theses

Sponsorship use has become increasingly important as a marketing strategy for influencing consumer perceptions of the sponsoring company. This, in turn, establishes consumer relationships that result in favorable behavioral intentions. While prior research has examined national and global sponsorships, there is limited research on the differences between national and local sponsorships and how these differences could influence consumer perceptions and behavioral intentions. The purpose of this study was to examine how local or national sponsorship affects consumer perceptions, including sincerity, trust, attitude toward the sponsor, and behavioral intentions.

A mixed-methods approach was employed for this study. Study 1 used qualitative …

A Comparative Legal Analysis Of The English And Scottish Reformations, Erin Hanson

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the legal and institutional mechanism that contributed to the decline in Catholicism in early modern England and Scotland during the Reformation period. By analyzing statutory developments, ecclesiastical court structures, and enforcement practices, it compares how each kingdom implemented religious reform and regulated religious conformity. Rather than focusing solely on theological differences, this study emphasizes the role of legal structure and legal institutions in shaping religious governance.

Chapter I outlines the historical and legal background of the English and Scottish Reformations. Chapter II examines prior literature, and Chapter III states the methodology used in this study. Chapter IV …

Appellate Review Of Child Custody In Mississippi, 1994-2024, Eleanor Detweiler

Honors Theses

This study examines changes in child custody decision-making within the Mississippi appellate court system over a thirty-year period, with a particular focus on the role of legal custody as a separate consideration from physical custody. Using a longitudinal empirical research design, appellate court decisions from 1994, 2004, 2014, and 2024 were analyzed using Nexis Uni. Cases were identified using the search term “child custody” with emphasis on case headnotes indexed under “child custody” as the area of law. Variables including party roles, types of custody sought, reasons for appeal, and case outcomes were recorded and evaluated to identify trends over …

What Happens After The Program Ends? Maintenance Of Physical Performance And Resistance Exercise Participation Following Exercise Oncology Interventions, Alexander Matthew Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Cancer survivors frequently experience persistent impairments in physical performance that compromise functional independence, quality of life, and long-term health. While supervised exercise programs meaningfully improve physical performance, there is uncertainty regarding the durability of these benefits and the factors that influence long-term participation after programs end. Although exercise oncology programs typically include both aerobic and resistance exercise (RE), participation in RE tends to decline once supervision ends and remains lower than aerobic exercise over time. Therefore, the overarching aims of this dissertation were to: 1) evaluate the sustainability of physical performance improvements following exercise interventions in cancer survivors; 2) …

An Electronic Automated Service To Improve Bowel Preparation, Gabriel Diaz

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: To reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer, optimal bowel preparation is imperative. At an outpatient gastroenterology clinic has been experiencing an increased number of patients arriving for their colonoscopy with poorly prepped bowels.

Objectives: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve patient’s bowel preparation by augmenting paper-based instructions with an automated electronic messaging service that sent dietary, and bowel instructions tailored to patients.

Methods: This project used a quasi-experimental design to compare scheduling and bowel preparation outcomes of patients who received colonoscopies prior to the intervention (control group) with patients who received automated preparation messages (intervention …

Implementing Standardized Screening Protocols For Perinatal And Postpartum Depression And Substance Use: A Quality Improvement Project, Ava Smith

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background/Significance: Perinatal mood, anxiety, and substance-use disorders remain leading contributors to maternal morbidity, impaired maternal–infant bonding, and preventable adverse outcomes. Although national organizations recommend universal screening during pregnancy and postpartum, implementation gaps persist due to inconsistent provider practices, workflow variability, and unclear referral pathways. Strengthening both provider competency and system- level processes is essential to improving identification and follow-through in obstetric settings.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate and strengthen the consistency, quality, and reliability of perinatal depression and substance-use screening practices at an OB/GYN Clinic by implementing standardized screening protocols using the Edinburgh Postnatal …

Improving Consistency In Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Screening: A Readiness And Barrier Assessment Among Rural Hospital Nurses, Ellen Siekkinen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) affects up to 94% of opioid-exposed neonates. A needs assessment at a rural Minnesota hospital, where the local NAS rate exceeds the state average, revealed that neonates at risk are not consistently screened. This lack of screening can delay treatment, leading to prolonged withdrawal, and increase hospital stays and costs.

Aims

This quality improvement project aimed to (1) improve nurse confidence and (2) identify barriers and facilitators to consistent implementation of NAS screening using the Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) assessment tool following a nurse education intervention.

Methods

Twelve full-time and part-time nurses on the Labor, …

Educational Interventions To Improve Interpersonal Communication With Icu Family Members, Adriana Szaboova

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Family members of critically ill patients frequently experience significant psychological distress, often compounded by unclear communication and limited understanding of complex care processes in the intensive care unit (ICU). In the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU), staff identified a gap in structured, procedure-specific education for families during the admission process following cardiac surgery.

Aims/Objectives: This quality improvement project aimed to develop and implement a one-page, procedure-specific family education tool for CVICU admissions. The goals were to integrate the materials into the admission workflow with staff education and to enhance HCAHPS communication scores during implementation.

Methods: This quality improvement project …

Improving Pain Assessments In The Medical Icu, Tyler J. Wiorek

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background 

Approximately half of intensive care unit (ICU) patients experience moderate-to-severe pain during admission, yet pain assessment in non-communicative patients remains inconsistent. Evidence-based behavioral tools such as the Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) have been recommended to improve detection and management of pain in this population.

Aims/Objectives 

This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to implement the Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) among registered nurses in a 29-bed medical ICU and evaluate its impact on nurse knowledge, acceptability, and documentation of pain assessments.

Methods 

A pre–post quality improvement design was used. A convenience sample of registered nurses in a …

Effectiveness Of Aromatherapy To Improve Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting, Mengtian Bludsky

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remains one of the most common and distressing complications following general anesthesia, negatively affecting comfort, recovery, and satisfaction. Although antiemetics are routinely administered, many patients continue to experience PONV. Aromatherapy using essential oils such as ginger and lavender has demonstrated benefit as a low‑risk complementary modality, it was underutilized in clinical settings.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement an evidence‑based aromatherapy intervention to increase aromatherapy utilization and decrease PONV incidence among eligible post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) patients; as well as educate and improve perioperative nurses’ acceptance of aromatherapy.

Methods: …

Full Practice Authority For Advanced Practice Registered Nurses In Texas: A Policy Analysis, Carly Baker Duncan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Texas is one of many states that faces healthcare professional shortages which ultimately results in poor healthcare system performance. The lack of access to healthcare providers is an ongoing challenge that is expected to continue through 2036. One solution to the healthcare access challenge is passing full practice authority (FPA) for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in the state of Texas.

Objectives: This policy analysis was undertaken to evaluate current APRN practice restrictions in Texas and explore policy reforms to address healthcare workforce shortages. Specific objectives included examining primary care health needs in East Texas, workforce needs for primary …

Implementing An Early Lactation Support Workflow To Decrease Missed Lactation Care And Increase Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates, Juleen Johnson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: There are life-saving health benefits associated with breastfeeding. The receipt of early and consistent lactation support improves breastfeeding outcomes. However, for C-section patients at this site, breastfeeding rates are low, initial lactation consults are delayed, and follow-up consults are sometimes not received.

Aims: This project aimed to implement an early lactation support workflow to decrease missed lactation care and increase exclusive breastfeeding rates among C-section patients on a postpartum unit. Evaluation outcomes were: (1) the receipt of initial consults within 24 hours of delivery, (2) the receipt and timing of follow-up consults, (3) exclusive breastfeeding rates, and (4) staff …

How Does Education Regarding Stress Reduction Technique Activities Affect Phq9 And Gad7, Olu Akande

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD are prevalent among home care patients and significantly impact quality of life. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aims to assess the impact of structured education on stress reduction techniques—such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), progressive muscle relaxation, cognitive reframing, and guided breathing—on PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores. A selected registered nurse at Human Touch Home Care (HTHC) will provide targeted education to eligible patients, using a teach-back method to ensure comprehension. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 assessments will be administered before and two weeks after the intervention. Data will be analyzed to …

Emotion Regulation As A Moderator Of The Association Between Stressful Life Events And Changes In Religiosity, Catharine Mann

Senior Theses

Previous research indicates that religion and spirituality can have a beneficial impact on the well-being of individuals, both promoting health and reducing poor mental and physical health outcomes. Religiosity often shifts across the lifespan, but some experiences can predict those changes. For example, stressful life events (SLEs; e.g., loss of a family member, serious illness) are often associated with a decrease in religiosity. Past research has shown that in adults, the experience of SLEs predicts less identification with previously held religious beliefs. This relation could be influenced by a number of factors, but many are likely related to the use …

Internal Waves, Wind, And Biogeochemistry At The Head Of The Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon, Marisol C. Figueroa

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Coastal submarine canyons are dynamic environments where internal waves, wind forcing, and complex bathymetry interact to regulate physical and biogeochemical variability. This study investigates how intra- and interannual variability in internal waves and upwelling-favorable winds influence cold-water mass intrusions and associated biogeochemical responses at the head of the Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon. Using a 2010--2021 time series of nearshore physical and chemical observations from the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories intake system, combined with local and offshore wind measurements, this work examines variability across seasonal to interannual timescales. Results show that semidiurnal M2 internal tides are the primary drivers of cold, …

Exploring Defamiliarization Techniques On Non-Player Characters, Sereen Hamideh

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

This thesis topic explores the cross section between Non-Player Characters and poetic gameplay, a term coined by Dr. Alex Mitchell which is gameplay that is made deliberately strange or defamiliar to invoke reflection. The researcher used three defamiliarization techniques on a recurring Non-Player Character to test the effectiveness of each technique. The researcher created one level with two different, but nearly identical, quests for the game Starfield. One quest, “A Green Thumb,” contained no defamiliarization techniques, serving as a baseline, while the other quest, “A Blue Thumb,” incorporated three defamiliarization techniques. By analysing player feedback, the researcher aimed to explore …

Influencing Player Tension Using Spatial Composition: Revisiting And Extending The Yuan–Wang Framework, Jiafan Lu

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates how spatial composition in video game levels influences player tension and proposes a normalized quantitative formula based on existing spatial tension frameworks. The researcher independently created a single-player level and related quest in the video game Starfield. The quest, “Remnant of Tiangong” requires players to navigate a starstation containing a variety of spaces in a specific sequence. The researcher measured player tension through survey and biometric data and created a resulting tension curve. The researcher then compared the predicted tension curve to the resulting tension curve. The results show that the proposed formula accurately predicted players' …

Implicit Learning: Exploring Safe Failure Zones Within The Teach–Reinforce–Master Framework, Hanyi Zhang

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the use of the Teach–Reinforce–Master framework in video games. Specifically, the research explores whether players prefer to play through safe failure zones rather than unsafe zones in the reinforcement portion of a game-level tutorial. To test this hypothesis, the researcher created two levels for the game Half-Life 2. One level incorporates a series of best practices for safe failure zones, while the second level does not. The researcher explored whether implicit learning during the reinforcement stage in safe failure zones could be strengthened by implementing more optional paths, prohibiting the use of penalties, adding encouraging rewards, …

Predicting Player Perception Of A Room’S Purpose Through Context Complexity, Ian Rodriguez

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to discover and quantify the minimum amount of information needed for a player to accurately understand an interior room’s fictional purpose. The researcher created a level in Starfield that requires the player to rescue nine hostages aboard a spacestation, each of which is in their own individual room. Hostage rooms were designed with varying levels of appropriateness: the wall texture, room scale, and number of appropriate objects differed. The researcher then recruited thirteen testers to play the level and complete a postsurvey, which asked them to identify the purpose of each of these rooms.

Best Practices: Enhancing Ludonarrative Harmony Through Environmental Storytelling, Ryan "Ry" Mendenhall

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the concept of ludonarrative and the possibility of enhancing the harmony between gameplay and story that may be achieved through environmental storytelling using an artifact built within The Witcher 3: REDkit.

A Player Centered Design Method For Spatial Reuse, Franklin (Yuhao) Wu

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates spatial reuse in single-player level design through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), addressing two core challenges: excessive repetition and player disorientation. To resolve these challenges, five best practices are proposed: mixing new and reused content at a macro level, establishing clear spatial identities, varying gameplay upon revisits, altering flow within reused spaces, and leaving visible signs of player impact. These practices were applied in a custom-built quest level for Starfield and evaluated through playtesting combining behavioural observation and surveys. Results suggest that distinctive spatial identities and varied combat encounters were the most effective in creating meaningful …

Best Practices For Re-Traversal Using Gating Techniques To Increase Player Engagement, Jonathan J. Murray

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

The thesis explores common gating techniques used in video games to encourage re-traversal. It forms assumptions about effective best practices in level design and applies them to a Dying Light 2 mod that uses gating techniques.

Best Practices: Encouraging Player Use Of Verticality In Level Design, Hangtao Lin

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how design strategies influence player engagement with vertical spaces in combat-focused level design. The researcher applied strategies such as enemy density, cover placement, supply placement, and ranged enemy pressure to encourage players to move upward during combat. To examine this, the researcher created a custom single-player level in Dying Light using the developer tools to test multiple vertical routes and compare player behaviour across different spatial conditions. The researcher recorded player navigation patterns and spatial choices to evaluate how these strategies guided vertical engagement. The results indicate that all four strategies successfully encouraged vertical engagement, with cover …

Repeated Environmental Object Association And Its Influence On Player Emotion And Decision-Making, Yongchen Wang

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines whether repeated associations between neutral environmental objects and emotionally charged events can condition player emotion and influence in-game decision-making. The researcher developed a custom Dying Light single-player level called, “Conditional Illusion,” in which players explore a mansion and uncover narrative context through notes. Within the level, initially neutral objects, specifically a printer and a radio, were repeatedly paired with safe and horror events respectively, establishing patterned emotional associations. To evaluate the conditioning effect, the researcher recorded players’ facial emotional responses and gameplay footage during playtests, supplemented by post-playtest questionnaires. Results indicated that players consistently rated horror-paired spaces …

Best Practice: Implementing Embedded Narrative To Enhance Storytelling And Player Immersion, Tianyu Zhang

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

This research examines best practices for implementing Embedded Narrative in game levels and evaluates their application. Embedded Narrative refers to environmental clues and artifacts that are not part of the main story but invite players to piece together a backstory. Implementing Embedded Narrative adds depth to storytelling, provides context for the main story, and maintains player interest. This research focuses on Embedded Narrative that emphasizes past events, contextualizes the present narrative, and foreshadows upcoming story beats. Through analysis of existing games, four best practices were identified: (1) Embedded Narrative moments should support the main narrative, (2) Use proper pacing to …

Best Practices Of Using Embedded Narrative To Increase Emotional Impact In The Survival-Horror Genre: Post-Mortem, Peyton Walker

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study is to demonstrate the effect, specifically the emotional impact, embedded narrative practices have on players in survival-horror games. The researcher tested this through a constructed artifact level in Half-Life 2, where the player must collect resources and solve puzzles while being exposed to a collection of embedded narrative scenes. Mixed-methods data and analysis were conducted using multiple approaches, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data from participant survey responses, accompanied by facial recognition technology to assess potential emotions and engagement levels. Results revealed that most testers did feel an increased emotional response to embedded narrative …

Best Practices Of Landmark In Level Design: Maintaining Player Motivation Using Denial And Reward, Ziyi Hua

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the integration of the Denial and Reward principle into landmark design to enhance player motivation and spatial navigation. By employing pre-arrival obstacles and proportional feedback upon reaching a goal, designers can create a curiosity-driven attraction loop. To demonstrate this, an artifact level was developed in the Skyrim Creation Kit, featuring a hierarchy of global, regional, and local landmarks within a semi-open environment. The level implements four best practices: hierarchy of landmarks; create effective denials; pacing denial–reward loops; and using visual conveyance, to pace the player’s journey and reinforce engagement.