Effects Of Personal Technology Devices On Instruction And Learning In High School Biology, Susan P. Beatty, Teresa Clark Ed.D., Dusty Reed, Yuejin Xu

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the use of personal technology devices during classroom instruction as learning tools by high school biology students. The study sought to determine how a classroom environment with a Bring Your Own Device instructional method in place affected student achievement and student perceptions about biology, as well as viewpoints about their devices as tools for learning. Technology in the hands of teenagers today is nearly ubiquitous and often distracting in the traditional classroom. As the literature indicates, different views exist about the efficacy of using personal technology for learning. This study intended to …

Foot Obsessed But Not Necessarily Depressed: The Relationship Between Paraphilias And Mental Health Outcomes, Amber Eagan

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The present study aimed to examine the prevalence rates of paraphilic arousal, behavior, desire, and distress as well as to explore the relationship between paraphilic engagement and psychological distress in a college and online sample. Participants completed a number of online self-report measures that asked about their experience with seven paraphilic behaviors, their desire to experience each paraphilic behavior, distress associated with engaging in each paraphilic behavior, in addition to their current symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. The majority of the participants (69%) reported engaging in at least one paraphilic behavior at least once in their lifetime, and the …

The Impact Of Kinderquest On Reading And Math In Early And Intermediate Elementary Students, Stephanie Sullivan

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This paper explored the history of education, including how the focus has evolved into the current demand for a qualified workforce, and the practices of retention and social promotion. Grade level retention research examined the positive and negative impacts on students, as well as alternative intervention approaches. An in-depth study of an early intervention program, KinderQuest, was conducted to determine the relationship between students’ reading and math achievement. Data was analyzed by comparing students that participated in the KinderQuest program and students that progressed through the traditional progression of kindergarten through Grade 6. Additionally, reading and math scores of KinderQuest …

Educating Collegiate Journalists To Cover And Cope With Traumatic Events, Stephanie Elder Anderson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

STEPHANIE LYNN ELDER ANDERSON. How to Educate Collegiate Journalists to Cover and Cope with Traumatic Events (under the direction of DR. TERESA CLARK.)

This research study applied the qualitative method of open coding of data from professional journalists and journalism faculty members to determine whether trauma journalism should be incorporated into existing journalism curriculum. Trauma journalism emerged in the early 1990s but has not been integrated in most journalism programs. Prior research indicated the reasons trauma journalism is not included in most curriculum is because it is not an ACEJMC accreditation standard, there’s limited qualified faculty members to teach such …

Valhalla In Escrow, Deena Lilygren

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

A collection of short stories.

Examining The Relationship Between Inattention, Impulsivity, And Externalizing Behaviors In Children: Does Intelligence Play A Role?, Carrie Blackeye-Hall

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study gathered data using archival clinical files from the Murray State University Psychological Center, which provides psychological services to students, faculty, staff, and community members. The majority of the participants for the sample consisted of Caucasian (93%) males (60%) seeking an assessment (N = 76). Measures of externalizing behaviors and attentional problems were gathered from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and a measure of general cognitive ability (GAI) was gathered from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV). It was hypothesized that the relationship between impulsivity and externalizing behaviors would be more pronounced when intelligence is lower. …

Making The Gilded Age: Myth, Money, And Misery In A Market Society, Austbrook D. Hudson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This project argues myths are central to society. For the Gilded Age, this was especially true. Myths helped to explain the world, individually and nationally. Stories structure life. Stories structure nations. They are consequential in times of change when the world is incomprehensible. At an individual level, the self-made ideal explained success and failure. It came with an implicit promise: every individual had an equal opportunity to succeed in the new economy, and the system was fair. Myths of the Western experience explained national identity. It revealed traits including rugged individualism, independence, and perseverance came from taming the frontier. These …

Effects Of Posttranslational Modification Of Transcription Factor Gli-Similar 3 By Sumoylation On Insulin Transcription In Pancreatic Β Cells, Tyler M. Hoard

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The ability to control blood glucose levels is a fundamental component of vertebrates. In these organisms, blood glucose homeostasis is achieved through a fine-tuned mechanism that largely involves the secretion of hormones from the endocrine pancreas into the bloodstream. These hormones include glucagon, which is secreted by the α cells of the pancreas and initiates the release of glucose into the bloodstream through gluconeogenesis in the liver, and insulin, which is secreted from the β cells and signals the uptake of excess blood glucose by the peripheral tissue. Gli-similar 3 (Glis3) is a transcription factor that has previously been shown …

Measuring Health And Wellness Of International Students, Jennifer Cosby, Jennifer R. Cosby

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Jennifer Cosby

MEASURING HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

2016-2017

Ed.D. in P20 and Community Leadership

Years of research focused on the physical and mental well-being of college students to promote retention. In 2013, international students numbered 819,644 and contributed $27 billion to the United States economy (Le, LaCost, & Wismer, 2016). International students are a valuable resource to the United States because they enhance the cultural diversity of the nation, bring creativity and innovation to institutions, and contribute greatly to the economy (Leong, 2015). Many studies have shown that international students report lower quality of life than domestic …

Why Are Soft Skills Missing In Today's Applicants, Robert Schooley

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The employers in our country are claiming students are graduating high school and college without the soft skills to succeed in this country’s workforce. This study examined what are soft skills and why are they missing from recent graduates. The study took an historical approach to trace how soft skills have been used and ignored in our nation’s educational history to the point where employers are claiming they are missing in today’s job applicants. The study then conducted focus groups with elementary, middle and high school teachers to assess they ideas on why soft skills are missing or if …

Serum Cortisol Concentrations And Behavior Assessment As Tools For Evaluating Stress In Horses Used In Therapeutic Or University Riding Programs, Shikun Chen

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Stress is known to have a negative impact on the health and well-being of animals. Physiological and behavioral changes offer objective and easy to use methods of evaluating stress in horses. However, there are limited studies showing a relationship between changes in stress-related behavior and stress-related serum cortisol concentrations in horses. This study evaluated the relationship between stress-related behavior and cortisol concentration changes in horses used in a university equine program and a therapeutic riding program. Behavior was evaluated by two trained observers during multiple riding sessions. Audio recordings were made during direct observation, and video recordings were used to …

Impact Of The Accelerate You! Instructional Model On Student Success, Tyra F. Henderson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study examines a multi-faceted instructional model used in Applied Technologies programs at a medium size community college. The model accelerates students who have not met placement test benchmarks into college level math with the support multiple strategies utilized in the model, specifically team teaching in the technical and math courses, a learning community structure, weekly tutoring, and a first year experience course. This study examined the impact of the instructional model on student success, specifically course grades and semester-to-semester persistence, and on students’ personal qualities, specifically mindset, grit, and study skills self-efficacy. Mixed methods research design examined statistical significance …

Kinetic Analysis And Mechanochemical Syntheses Of Palladium Complexes, Jonathon Zachary

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Mechanochemical synthesis is a rapidly developing, more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional solution based syntheses. Mechanochemical methods often result in higher overall yields, minimize undesirable side reactions, and present cleaner more concise methods for compound preparation. This work will address the syntheses of three dialkyl 2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylate complexes of palladium(II) iodide and the kinetics of these reactions. Then, this work will address the improved synthesis and purification of 1,3-dimethyl-1H-benzimidazolium iodide and the synthesis of diiodo-bis(1,3-dimethyl benzimidazol-2-ylidene) palladium(II).

The successful synthesis of dialkyl 2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylate complexes of palladium(II) iodide was carried out under solvent free ball milling conditions and the kinetic analysis was …

Soybean Cyst Nematode Populations As Influenced By A Non-Treated Soybean Crop, A Fluopyram-Treated Soybean Crop And A Non-Host Corn Crop, Margaret E. Lawrence

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Soybean cyst nematodes are the most significant plant pathogen to soybeans in all soybean producing areas in the United States. Rotating to non-host crops, and using resistant varieties have been the main ways of managing this plant pathogen throughout the history of soybeans in this country. Fluopyram is a seed treatment that is labelled for the control of early season plant parasitic nematodes in soybean. Up until this point, there has been little to no published research conducted on the effectiveness of fluopyram against soybean cyst nematode. For this study, the objective was to conduct research to determine whether fluopyram …

Cumulative Integration Of Academically Advanced Honors College Students, Scott Adair

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The study sought to understand what caused, or is causing, Murray State University Honors College students to become successful in post-secondary education. The researcher chose to extend the findings of previous research beyond the freshmen year and focus exclusively on what influences persistence until graduation for second, third, or fourth year students. While research that influences graduation is not a new idea, emphasis on influential factors that affect upper-level college students remains relatively unexplored. The whole student, consisting of domains that consider social integration, academic integration, intrinsic motivation, and key interactions that intermingle throughout the collegiate journey, were taken …

Breed Quality Scores For Post-Cervical Artificial Insemination And The Effects On Farrowing Rate And Total Born At A Commercial Swine Facility In The Southern United States, Kathryn R. Prus

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this experiment was to determine the possible relationship between a sow’s ease of breeding on the first service and the farrowing rate and total born. This study was conducted in a commercial farrowing unit in the Southern United States utilizing pen gestation with stock of 6,000 head. Five hundred ninety-seven sows were bred between the months of April and May 2017 were selected for this study. All animals were inseminated using a post-cervical artificial insemination catheter unless insertion of the inner catheter was impossible. The semen dose fell within the following parameters: concentration of 1.5 x 10 …

A Presence-Only Species Distribution Model Comparison Predicting The Distribution Of The Amphibian Chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis), Melanie L. Torres

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Global anthropogenic impacts have incited devastating effects on both human and wildlife populations. Emerging infectious diseases (EID) are one consequence of these impacts. One particular EID, chytridiomycosis, is a threat to global amphibian populations, causing massive die-offs and several species extinctions. While predictive modeling has helped the general understanding of where the aquatic pathogen causing chytridiomycosis, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), could spread to, most models are on continental or countrywide scales. This coarse-scale modeling makes local management and conservation planning for imperiled amphibians difficult. In addition, modeling efforts can vary depending on location and species, making it necessary to test the …

Superintendent Effect On Student Outcomes: Leadership Style, Educational Attainment, And Experience, Casey Allen

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Superintendents with five years of experience (n=48) were surveyed on Full Range Leadership style, educational attainment, and years of experience to determine whether Kentucky school superintendents had an effect on student outcomes. Data was collected on each superintendent’s district Overall Accountability Score (OAS) to determine student performance. Using the district OAS as the dependent variable, independent t-tests were performed to compare high transformational leaders to low transformational leaders, high transactional leaders to low transactional leaders, and high laissez-faire leaders to low laissez-faire leaders. Again, using district OAS as the dependent variable, a t-test was performed to compare superintendents with Kentucky …

Does Being Kind To Oneself Help Fight Against Depression? The Potential Moderating Role Of Self-Compassion In The Relationship Between Romantic Rejection And Depression, Imfong Chan

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

A large body of research has shown that romantic rejection is significantly related to the presence of clinical depression. Growing evidence suggests that self-compassion is significantly negatively associated with depression and other psychopathologies. However, no research has explored the interactive role that self-compassion plays in the relationship between romantic rejection and depression. The present study is the first of the literature to investigate the interaction of self-compassion and romantic rejection on depression. Consistent with the previous studies, romantic rejection was significantly associated with depression. However, a moderation analysis indicated that self-compassion did not moderate the relationship between romantic rejection and …

A Quartz Crystal Microbalance Study Of Thiol:Ene Poly(Ionic Liquid) Polymerization And Gas Absorption, Yueming Wu

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The polymerization process of, and gas absorption by, imidazolium-containing thiol:ene poly (ionic liquid)s (PILs), prepared from bisallylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)imide [NTf₂^-] and pentaerythritoltetrakis(3 mercaptopropionate), was studied. The thiol:ene PILs examined were recently reported by groups at Murray State University. The advantage of thiol:ene PILs over other reported PILs is that thiol:ene polymers are made rapidly by UV exposure and exhibit high mechanical and thermal stability due to high cross-linking. The properties of interest for the thiol:ene PILs were studied using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). QCM techniques are based on the piezoelectric effect, where certain crystals (e.g., …

Implementation Of A Flipped Classroom In A Non-Majors’ Biology Course, Leah Good

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Changes to teaching practices have been requested in almost every field of science and mathematics but their implementation can be daunting. The flipped classroom has become a popular method in K-16 education for integrating active learning in the classroom. Research on the implementation of flipped classrooms has been met with mixed results, however. I sought to determine the effectiveness of the flipped classroom while addressing methodology needs cited by past studies including: using both faculty and student demographic variables, addressing assessment performance using concept inventories, and studying faculty who are not experts in education. I found that flipped and non-flipped …

Arabian Aesthetics In European Modernism, Ferial J. Ghazoul

Faculty Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Final Demand For Structured Finance Securities, Craig B. Merrill, Taylor Nadauld, Philip E. Strahan

Faculty Publications

Structured finance boomed during the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis. Highly rated, structured securities offered higher yield than other similarly rated bonds because of their concentration of systematic risk, but regulatory capital requirements did not account for this risk. As a result, regulated entities facing capital constraints had an incentive to invest in them. We show that life insurance companies exposed to unrealized losses from low interest rates in the early 2000s increased their holdings of highly rated securitized assets, consistent with regulatory arbitrage distorting the demand to hold these assets.

Equity Issuance Of Health Care Firms After The 2007 Market Crash And The 2010 Affordable Ca1·E Act, James C. Brau, J. Troy Carpenter

Faculty Publications

We provide an empirical analysis of 195 initial public offerings (IPOs) and 547 seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) of health care firms that issued between 2008 and October 2016. This period represents eight years after the US financial crisis of late 2007 and also includes all equity issuances since the passage of the Affordable Care Act of late 2010. We compare and contrast our results with those of Brau and Holloway (2009) who study health care equity issuances from 1970-2008. We find that global health care issues in both the IPO and SEO markets are significantly over-represented in both the post-crash …

Microcore: A Playable Case Study For Improving Adolescents’ Argumentative Writing In A Workplace Context, Derek L. Hansen, Jonathan Balzotti, Lauren Fine, Daniel Ebeling

Faculty Publications

A playable case study is an immersive, transmedia story controlled by a puppetmaster (i.e., teacher), but played by participants who advance the plot through their contributions and interactions with fictional characters. They are also explicitly educational, consisting of both the immersive, transmedia story, as well as in-game and out-of-game materials provided for educational scaffolding and reflection. We present the Microcore playable case study to illustrate the potential of this new type of experiential simulation that incorporates aspects of Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) to increase immersion. We present results from a pilot test of Microcore with an undergraduate course, identifying design …

Boomerang Employees: Should You Welcome Them Back?, Brad Harris, Richard G. Gardner

Faculty Publications

It’s 4:45 PM on a Friday, you’re about to head home, and then your phone buzzes. You look down to see a text from a previous employee that hasn’t been in contact since departing several months ago (sans a LinkedIn request). He says he just wants to “catch up”, but you suspect another angle. Ten minutes into a coffee meeting the next week and you get it — he wants to come back to the company. A host of questions go through your mind: Is this normal? Why did you leave in the first place? Why do you want to …

The Role Of Context In It Assimilation: A Multi-Method Study Of A Saas Platform In The Us Nonprofit Sector, Ryan T. Wright, Nicholas Roberts, David W. Wilson

Faculty Publications

Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) operate in environments characterized by growing competition for resources and greater stakeholder demands for accountability, which makes deploying and maintaining information systems a struggle. In this competitive, resource-constrained environment, enterprise Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms offer NPOs a cost-effective way access reliable, low-maintenance information technology services. Thus, the extent to which NPOs assimilate SaaS is an important area of inquiry. Yet despite the wealth of research on organizational IT assimilation, we know little regarding whether, when, and how NPOs assimilate IT innovations. We further our understanding of NPO assimilation of SaaS by conducting a context-based study. To do so, …

Development And Application Of A Self-Report Measure For Assessing Sensitive Infordevelopment And Application Of A Self-Report Measure For Assessing Sensitive Information Disclosures Across Multiple Modesultiple Modes, Matthew D. Pickard, David Wilson, Catherine A. Roster

Faculty Publications

Building on the literature that approaches selfdisclosure as a decision-making process, we proposed a selfreported Sensitive Information Disclosure (SID) measure and tested the measure’s reliability and validity in two studies across a variety of interview modes and settings. We used theory to identify potential dimensions of sensitive information disclosures, created potential scale items, performed two separate card sorts, and validated the resulting pool of items in two separate experiments. Participants answered the SID scale items following an interview involving sensitive information, potential risk, and after-disclosure vulnerability. Study 1 was a laboratory experiment conducted with 165 university students. Exploratory factor analysis …

The Missing Framework For Virtually Assisted Activities, Jacob Steffen, James Gaskin, Thomas Meservy, Jeffrey Jenkins

Faculty Publications

Various frameworks and taxonomies exist that classify virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) by their attributes and technical specifications. However, no extant frameworks specifically classify the activities executed with VR and AR devices, which we refer to as virtually assisted activities (VAAs). In the context of past definitions and frameworks of VR and AR, we present a framework for VAAs that examines the underlying motivations for virtualizing some aspect of an activity. By so doing, VAAs are easily compared to similar non-virtualized activities done in physical reality, VR is better compared with AR, and potential benefits …

Partly Cloudy, Scattered Clients: Cloud Implementation In The Federal Government, Elston H. Steele, Indira R. Guzman, James Gaskin, Monica Adya

Faculty Publications

While cloud computing adoption is on the rise, barriers continue to play a critical role in delaying the progress of some cloud computing adoption efforts. In 2010 the United States federal government launched the ‘Cloud First’ policy which requires government agencies to consider the adoption of cloud computing when the solution is secure, reliable and cost effective (Kundra, 2010). Unfortunately, cloud computing adoption among federal agencies has been sluggish. This study investigates pressures asserted to facilitate cloud computing adoption. Although a vast amount of literature exists, very few studies empirically investigate cloud computing adoption from an institutional perspective in concert …