Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Sexual Assault On College Students' Daily Occupations: A Phenomenological Approach, Lee Ann Hodge

Online Theses and Dissertations

It is estimated that 1 in 4 women experience sexual violence while in college (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2006), which may result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Occupational therapy has been used to provide interventions for PTSD, but there is a gap in the literature addressing occupational therapy intervention for college students who have experienced sexual assault. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to inquire into students’ lived experiences of daily occupations while in college after having experienced sexual assault, through thematic analysis of data from two interviews conducted in Kentucky and Ohio. Six meaningful themes were developed: changes in …

Exploring The Experiences Of Young Adult Rock Musicians Through An Occupational Lens, Brooke E. King

Online Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the occupational experiences of young adult rock musicians using first-hand accounts solicited through semi-structured interviews. Participants included 9 male rock musicians ages 19 to 35 who actively participated in an income-generating rock band. A grounded theory approach was used for data analysis and interpretation. Participation in a rock band was conceptualized as a dynamic process between identifying as a musician, facing challenges, and meeting challenges, which either led musicians to persevere or discontinue engagement in the band. Results challenge typical stereotypes associated with rock band participation and contribute to understanding the connection between occupational engagement and …

The Devil In The Details: Popular Demonology, Addiction And Criminology, Kyra Ann Martinez

Online Theses and Dissertations

Theories of diabolism have, since antiquity, made manifest societal fears of the unknown. Demonology, as discipline, flourished within the West accordingly; to function, at the inception of early modern science and during the "transition" to capitalism, as a device to translate alterity. At this juncture, theories of the demonic were occulted under scientific methodologies and institutionalized across the structures of modernity. "Evil", as discursive paradigm, was politically incarnated, canonized, and absorbed under the auspices of the state towards the consummation of socio-political "diabolic" enemies of society. In continuity with the past, "evil" continues to operate in the contemporary as a …

Habitat Use By Wintering Passerines In Fire-Managed Forests Along The U.S. Gulf Coast, Justin Michael Michaud

Online Theses and Dissertations

Coastal habitats are being impacted by land development, fragmentation, and disturbance related to climate change. The remaining natural areas need to use planned management that may, in some cases, include the use of prescribed fire to maintain habitat quality. Numerous species of passerines, including some with declining populations, use the Gulf Coast as a wintering area, and some depend on habitats managed by fire. To provide information for land managers, I studied the winter bird community at Naval Live Oaks in Gulf Islands National Seashore with two primary objectives: (1) to describe the distribution, abundance, and diversity of the non-breeding …

The Role Of Psychological Capital And The Areas Of Worklife Model In Predicting Job Burnout, Sylwia K. Oles

Online Theses and Dissertations

Job burnout is a widely spread global phenomenon that has been linked to negative work outcomes. Various factors can either contribute to or hinder job burnout development. Previous research established the role of the six areas of worklife model as well as psychological capital on job burnout. However, the relationship among these variables has not been clearly defined. The purpose of the present study was to attempt to understand predictors of job burnout in order to reduce its occurrence. Data was collected with a sample of college students. Four areas of worklife (workload, control, reward, and values) as well as …

Development Of A Medium Scale Apparatus For Testing & Teaching Dispersed Dust Flame Effects, David Petrow

Online Theses and Dissertations

Combustible dust explosions and flash fires are a leading cause of property damage, injuries, and death in industries around the world. An example of a disastrous dust explosion occurred at CTA Acoustics in Corbin, KY in 2003. This explosion cost the lives of seven workers and injured 37 more. A mobile inexpensive dust dispersion apparatus (DDA) was designed, built, and tested to reproduce medium scale dust flash fires. By using fuel amounts varying from 0.45kg to 4.54kg the DDA created dust clouds ranging from 2.5m to 7.5m in diameter. With these measurements, the characterization of dust hazards and validation of …

Product Packaging, Pester Power, & Preschoolers, Casie Prible

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to lay the groundwork that could lead to future research by exploring the pester power of preschoolers in reference to product packaging and grocery shopping and with regard to gender, age, and birth order. Preschoolers can act as powerful persuaders on parental spending, specifically through the use of nagging, pestering, or aggressive behaviors. Marketers often employ techniques such as using child-oriented packaging to attract a child to certain products in order to motivate a desire for purchase and thus affecting the buying decisions of parents. This study analyzes preschoolers (2 to 5 years-of-age) in …

Appraising The Current Status Of The National Institute For Occupational Safety And Health's Fatality Assessment Control Evaluation Program, Douglas Schwindt

Online Theses and Dissertations

Today, generally 13 U.S. workers die from workplace injuries. In 1970 on average, there were as many as 38 workplace fatalities on each day (DOL 2016). As a response to this alarming reality, the government enacted the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970. This governmental legislation created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to regulate safety in the workplace; as well as, The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health who was charged with "developing new knowledge in the field of occupational safety and health and to transfer that knowledge into practice" (CDC NIOSH 2017).

In order to understand …

Masks Of The Dark Goddess In Arthurian Literature: Origin And Evolution Of Morgan Le Fay, John Christopher Shearer

Online Theses and Dissertations

The world of Arthurian legend is one steeped in mythology and magic, reflecting ancient Celtic traditions and tales that long preceded it. Such tales often feature perplexing and seemingly contradictory characters who drive complex plotlines and frequently challenge primary figures, greatly impacting how the overall story unfolds. A primary example of such a character is Morgan le Fay, who, by the time Sir Thomas Malory writes Le Morte d'Arthur in the fifteenth century, has assumed a range of roles from sister to King Arthur, Queen in her own right, wicked sorceress, and healer. Using both Post-Colonial and Feminist lenses, this …

Waterparks' Impact On Rural Communities In Eastern Kentucky, Stephen M. Sims

Online Theses and Dissertations

As many rural communities are searching for ways to increase their local economy, several of these communities have begun to turn their attention to the tourism industry. By turning their attention to the tourism industry, they are searching for ways to increase tourism in hopes of bringing in additional revenue that is needed for revitalizing many of these communities. These rural communities are "focused on maximizing individual spending, and providing products and experiences as an incentive to tourists to stay longer and return on repeat visits" (Briedenhann & Wickens, 2004, p. 72). Also, waterparks, as well as amusement parks and …

Ergonomics Programs In Kentucky's Nursing Homes, David Stumbo

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to determine how many nursing homes had implemented ergonomics programs, and how closely these programs followed the NIOSH/OSHA model. It also sought to investigate relationships that might exist between ergonomics programs and MSD rates occurring among direct care workers engaged in moving and physically assisting residents. Findings suggest a high percentage of Kentucky"s nursing homes have ergonomics programs in place for their direct care workers, and that these programs appear to follow the model. In addition, findings indicate a significant relationship between ergonomics programs and MSD rates.

Experiences Of Postpartum Women In One Residential Treatment Facility For Substance Use Disorders: A Qualitative Case Study, Rebecca Jo Williams

Online Theses and Dissertations

A growing opioid crisis in the United States has sparked a need for gender-specific research and treatment to address unmet needs and promote positive health outcomes for both women and children. The primary purpose of this research is to provide insight into the experiences and perceptions of postpartum women with substance use disorders receiving care at one residential treatment facility. Two women, aged 22 and 27 years old, participated in semi-structured interviews designed to elicit perceptions about barriers to treatment, the value of various programs, the role of physical, social, and temporal contexts in treatment, and beliefs about the effect …

The Heinrich Model: Determining Contemporary Relevance, Bryan P. Basford

Online Theses and Dissertations

For as long as his work has been at the core of the safety profession, Herbert William Heinrich has been a staple of debate. His 1931 work Industrial Accident Prevention: A Scientific Approach has sparked worldwide debate on the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of his safety theories, as well as the accuracy or inaccuracy of his research and methods.

Heinrich's work is undoubtedly cited time and again as the foundational teaching for behavior-based safety, as well as countless other teachings in the safety profession as a whole. Despite the continued challenges to the validity of his work, there has been little …

The Effects Of Caffeine Supplementation When Manipulating The Time Of Ingestion Prior To Simulated Rugby Union Activity, Zachary William Bell

Online Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Caffeine is a commonly used supplement, incorporated among athletes for enhancing sports specific performance via physiological and cognitive responses. Rugby is practiced worldwide, played by men and women, requiring varying physical and skill components. Although the effects of caffeine on sports performance have been heavily researched and scrutinized, a suitable time frame for caffeine ingestion prior to activity to elicit an ergogenic effect remains unclear.

Methods: Athletes from a women and men's university club rugby squad were recruited for this study (n=22). Athletes were measured for height, weight, body composition, and resting blood pressure. Body composition was measured utilizing …

Air Consumption And Air Management In The Fire Service, Otis Wesley Broderick

Online Theses and Dissertations

This research was undertaken in order to determine if there was a significant difference between various factors affecting air consumption rates and air management in the fire service. The purpose was to develop a better understanding of what had the most significant effect on air consumption rates in order to develop a point of focus so that fire departments could concentrate their efforts on an area of improvement that would give them the most return for their effort. An air management obstacle course was utilized to simulate work any firefighter could be reasonable expected to perform at a structure fire. …

Enhancing Child Self-Confidence Of Occupational Performance Through The Use Of A Movement Program, Emily Coleman

Online Theses and Dissertations

Sensorimotor deficits are a result of a child's difficulties processing sensory input in combination with motor incoordination. This can lead to many difficulties for children's occupational performance, which in turn, can lead to a decrease in self-confidence for those children. This mixed-method study, through pre and post test results combined with parent reported data, sought to determine if a movement program that combines motor, sensory, and self-awareness components is an effective means of increasing the self-confidence of children with sensorimotor deficits. The results of this study demonstrate an increase in self-confidence in the ability to complete activities of daily living, …

Euphoria: The Transition From Prescription Opioids To Heroin In Kentucky, Alexander Ryan Cundiff

Online Theses and Dissertations

The demand for and availability of prescription opioids has been quite prevalent in the state of Kentucky primarily since the early 1990's. But between 2010 and 2012, reformulations of opioids OxyContin and Opana, along with the passing of HB 217 and mandatory KASPER (Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting) reports made the acquisition of diverted pharmaceutical opioids much more difficult. As a result, prices per pill increased and once opioids became nearly impossible to find on the streets, users then moved to another opiate, heroin. Since 2012, heroin related overdoses have increased significantly in the Bluegrass State. The purpose of …

African American Males, Mentorship, And University Success: A Qualitative Study, Taurean M. Douglas

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study examined black males who successfully graduated from a university in south central Kentucky and their perception of mentorship. Interviews were conducted in an attempt to get the lived experiences of five black males who became first generation college graduates. The researcher used purposeful convenience sampling to select black male graduates who had experienced mentoring. Face to face interviews were conducted and the transcripts were analyzed for themes. The findings suggest that mentoring played a significant role in helping the research participants navigate college and successfully graduate.

Exploring Parents' Experiences Of Raising A Child With Sensorimotor Impairments And Expectations For Leisure Participation, Emily Eicher

Online Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this phenomenological study was to explore parents' experiences and expectations of raising a child with sensorimotor impairments and how leisure pursuits impact their expectations of their children. The development and participation in leisure activities is different for these children and could affect the parents' hopes and dreams for their child's future. Six children between the ages of 5-8 years of age, with sensorimotor impairments, participated in a movement program that was held for eight sessions at an outpatient pediatric clinic to address praxis and sensory processing impairments. Six parent dyads were interviewed during the fifth, sixth, seventh, …

Behaviors, Knowledge, And Education Of Leave No Trace Principles In The Red River Gorge Rock Climbing Community, Brian Gregory Clark

Online Theses and Dissertations

Rock climbing is becoming a very popular and mainstream outdoor activity. With the growth in rock climbing comes an increase in the number of visitors this sport attracts. The increase in visitor usage undoubtedly leads to an impact on the natural environment surrounding these rock climbing areas. Rock climbers acknowledge the impacts that are being made and are taking initiative to lessen their impact while visiting rock climbing areas such as the Red River Gorge (RRG) in rural southeast Kentucky. We know that rock climbers make a substantial economic impact while visiting and this dissertation looks at the environmental knowledge …

Are Mussel Shells Environmental Dna Time Capsules? A Comparison Of Extraction Methods For Obtaining Dna From Shell Material., Kelsey Elizabeth Rogers

Online Theses and Dissertations

Freshwater mussels have become some of the most imperiled species in North America and widespread populations have succumbed to pollution and many other anthropogenic-related factors. With molecular techniques evolving, a recent interest in ancient DNA and museum specimens has emerged and prompted a study to test the ability of several extraction methods to isolate DNA from museum mussel specimens. The purpose of this study was to determine if four DNA extraction methods had influence on total DNA yield (ng/mg) from mussel tissue. The hinge ligaments of freshwater mussels ranging in collection date (1984-2015) were used as the source of genetic …

The Effect Of Practical Blood Flow Restriction Training On Body Composition And Muscular Strength In College-Aged Individuals, Zachary R. Salyers

Online Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of practical blood flow restriction training on body composition and muscular strength in college-aged individuals when compared to a traditional resistance training protocol. METHODS: This study consisted of two randomized groups, an experimental group (BFR), and a traditional resistance training (TRT) control group. The 9 subjects' characteristics were 8 males, 1 female; age: 22 ± 2 years; height: 175 ±7.6 centimeters; weight: 83.4±18.1 kg.; body fat percentage: 21±9%. All participants completed pre-testing measures of girth of both arms and legs, upper chest, and shoulders. Body composition was determined using air displacement plethysmography via BodPod (COSMED …

Analysis Of Union Safety: Determining Relationships Between Union Membership And Injury And Fatality Rates, Madelyn K. Street

Online Theses and Dissertations

In under two centuries the labor union transformed the American workplace, improving wages, benefits, employee engagement, and safety. In more recent years, the government and other organizations have caught up in focusing on safety. Countless studies have been conducted and determined that unions have a significant positive impact on safety compared to work environments absent of a union. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2006-2015, an investigation into the trends of union membership and injuries and fatalities reported in the United States was conducted. It was determined that there was not significant correlation between increased union membership and improved …

Service-Learning Faculty Perceptions, Karrie Faye Adkins

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how service-learning faculty's perceptions are influenced by their experience with service learning, and how service learning affects faculty's personal and professional perceptions and job satisfaction. Data were collected from 130 participants at higher education institutions throughout the U. S. via an electronic survey. The data were used to create seven composite variables to represent each service-learning faculty perception area (Personal Growth, Teaching Advancement, Institutional Context, Community, Scholarship, Personal Values, and Institutional Emphasis). It was hypothesized that faculty who perceive having a highly supportive institutional culture of service learning will have higher levels of personal and professional satisfaction …

Natural Environmental Gradients Predict The Microhabitat Use, Fine-Scale Distribution, And Abundance Of Three Woodland Salamanders In An Old-Growth Forest, Joseph Alex Baecher

Online Theses and Dissertations

Woodland salamanders (Plethodonidae: Plethodon)－a group of sensitive, direct developing, lungless amphibians－are particularly responsive to gradients in environmental conditions. Because of their functional dominance in terrestrial ecosystems, woodland salamanders are responsible for the transformation of nutrients and translocation of energy between highly desperate levels of trophic organization (detrital food webs and high‐order predators). However, the spatial extent of woodland salamanders' role in the ecosystem is likely contingent upon the distribution of their biomass throughout the forest. Therefore, a better understanding of woodland salamander spatial population dynamics is needed to further understand their role in terrestrial ecosystems. The objectives of this study …

Federal Preparedness Grants: An Investigation Of The Impacts To Local And State Emergency Management Programs, Brian Alan Barnes

Online Theses and Dissertations

Disasters begin and end locally, but anecdotal evidence suggests that national disaster policies significantly influence state and local approaches. The federal government influences local and state emergency management through national emergency management doctrine as well as providing considerable grant programs to local and state governments who adopt the federal policies. The study attempts to explore some effects of this policy dichotomy.

A survey along with selective interviews were conducted of local and state emergency management officials in North Carolina to examine the impacts of select federal preparedness grants. From 70 surveys and 6 interviews, the following findings were identified. There …

College Campus Emergency Preparedness: Is Avoidance A Reason For Concern?, Thomas G. Barnowski

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative and quantitative research study was to explore the factors and outcomes associated with the lack of emergency preparedness activities related to college campuses. Within the context of pertinent literature was the confirmation of existing campus emergency action plans but the stated behavioral expectations contained in those plans raised questions related to effective functional performance. Additionally, the apparent refusal of college campus populations to actively participate in the preparedness process while offing a myriad of justifications for their avoidance has raised a number of concerns related to the achievement of desired positive outcomes. Discussion of attitudes …

Beer Tourism: Identifying Kentucky Brewery Visitors And Motivations, Kenneth Joseph Berend, Jr.

Online Theses and Dissertations

Craft beer has gained popularity and evolved into an immense industry in recent years. The number of breweries in the United States has increased from 1,460 in 2006 to over 5,300 in 2016 ("Number of breweries and brewpubs in U.S.," n.d.). There are more breweries now than at any other time in U.S. history. The influx of breweries has contributed to increased participation in craft beer consumption and beer tourism. Plummer, Telfer, Hashimoto, and Summers (2005) define beer tourism as "visitation to breweries, beer festivals and beer shows for which beer tasting and experiencing the attributes of a beer region …

Assessing Collateral Consequences Accompanying Sex Offender Registration, Mikayla Brooke Charles

Online Theses and Dissertations

Sex Offenders are often the most feared group of offenders. In response to this fear, sex offender registries were created as a method for monitoring convicted offenders and for providing communities with a sense of security by publicizing information about potential predators nearby. The underlying questions are whether or not notification and registration laws actually reduce crime and make the community safer. According to the literature, and to the current study, they do not. However, community safety and recidivism rates are not the only factors that pose concern attributed to registration and notification. Researchers alike have argued that these practices …

Behaviors, Knowledge, And Education Of Leave No Trace Principles In The Red River Gorge Rock Climbing Community, Brian Gregory Clark

Online Theses and Dissertations

Rock Climbing is becoming a very popular and mainstream outdoor activity. With the growth in rock climbing comes an increase in the numbers of visitors that this sport attracts. The increase in visitor usage undoubtedly leads to an impact on the natural environment surrounding these rock climbing areas. Rock climbers acknowledge the impacts that are being made and are taking initiative to lessen their impacts while they are visiting rock climbing areas such as the Red River Gorge in rural southeast Kentucky. We know that rock climbers make a substantial economic impact while visiting and this dissertation looks at the …