Digital Commons Network^™

Validity And Reliability Of The Balance Tracking System™ During Static Stance, Cody L. Grotewold

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: The Balance Tracking System™ (BTrackS™) is a balance board designed to quickly analyze postural control through center of pressure (COP) analysis.

Purpose: Examine concurrent validity and test-retest reliability of the BTrackS™ during static stance.

Methods: A convenience sample of 51 healthy collegiate students between 18 - 25 years old (21.8 ± 3.1 years) completed four, 20 second (s) trials of feet together static stance during both eyes open and closed trials. Data was simultaneously collected on the BTrackS™ and a laboratory force plate to establish concurrent validity. A second testing session was administered 48 - 72 …

The Effect Of A Pettlep Imagery Intervention-Based Pre-Performance Routine On Golfer's Short-Game Performance, Logan Baughman

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Studies have suggested that imagery has a positive effect on performance in a variety of sports. The PETTLEP model (Holmes and Collins, 2001) includes the seven minimum elements sport psychologists incorporate into their imagery scripts. The PETTLEP model is the most comprehensive imagery model, thus providing the most functional equivalence. Golf is the interest of this study, with research stating that imagery has an overall positive impact on golf performance (Nicholls & Polman, 2005). However, studies involving the PETTLEP model have not been investigated thoroughly. There are several shots that have not been studied with the PETTLEP model, therefore this …

Role Ambiguity Of Head Volleyball Coaches And Strength And Conditioning Coaches In Division I Athletics, Meredith Paskert

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Role ambiguity is common in interdependent organizations and can negatively affect employee performance and organizational effectiveness. NCAA Division I athletic departments are examples of interdependent organizations containing the collaboration of many specialized staff members. Therefore, collegiate athletic departments could be susceptible to the existence of role ambiguity. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of role ambiguity between head volleyball coaches and strength and conditioning coaches within a collegiate athletic department. Questionnaires were sent to head women’s volleyball coaches and their respective strength and conditioning coaches (who are in charge of creating and implementing strength and conditioning …

Academic Engagement, Motivation, Self-Regulation, And Achievement Of Georgia Southern University Sophomore Students, John O. Lemay Iv

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Research has shown that engagement, motivation, self-regulation, and their individual effects on student achievement are established factors that influence college students’ success. However, what is less clear are these variables’ relationships and their collective influence on achievement. Since students face unique trials as they persist through college, consideration of these relationships and their effect on the achievement of all students is necessary. There is a widening achievement gap between sexes; females have now passed males in enrollment, persistence, and graduation rates. Previous research in this area has been largely centered on undergraduate female students in their freshman year, but the …

Zen And The Art Of The Journey, Brenda Christian Brown

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The works in this exhibition represent the transdisciplinary research and practices used to explore humanitarian concerns with stress and suffering. It is a Buddhist fact that all humans suffer. And it is the inner journey that allows the guidance out of suffering and towards freedom. For me, the recognition of suffering was there since infancy. I have spent a lifetime searching for answers through the philosophy of Zen, the study of Buddhism (as religion), the study of neuroscience, the arts (both liberal and fine), the practice of meditation, and the psychological process of mindfulness.

The attention to the present moment …

Puzzled Representations: Popular Media And How Educators Come To Know Autism, Vanessa N. Keener

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

People learn about the world through popular culture. Popular culture media representations of autism can be found in TV, film, literature, Internet media, advertisements, and more. This study employed a quantitative correlational design to survey 273 Georgia educators regarding their perceptions of autism, including knowledge about autism, best practices for teaching students labeled as having autism, perceived positivity and accuracy of popular media representations of autism, as well as participant identification with popular media representations of autism and personal characteristics (i.e., age, sex, level of education, type of degree, years of teaching experience, professional and personal experiences). Six major findings …

Relationship Between School Climate And Student Achievement, Gail H. Greenway

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Increasingly public schools in the United States are finding that factors beyond curriculum and instruction impact student achievement. Much research has been conducted on the relationship between school climate and student achievement (Cohen, McCabe, Michelli, & Pickeral, 2009; Guo & Higgins-D’Alessandro, 2011). This study set out to determine if there was a correlation between school climate and student achievement in middle schools in the Central Savannah River Area Regional Educational Service Agency region in the state of Georgia. Findings from this quantitative study indicated that there is a statistically significant, positive relationship between school climate and student achievement in middle …

Finding My Voice: Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse, Diane Lafrance

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This autobiographical study reflects experiences of surviving child sexual abuse and my journey through curriculum studies as a route to finding power through my voices. Using currere as a lead theory to frame this work, this study reveals a first-person account of sexual abuse to detail my development to empowerment and how I learned to advocate for myself and other childhood victims. Within this work, the method of currere, psychoanalytic theory, focusing, hypnosis, and healing through writing are discussed as processes for increasing self-understanding.

Examining Preference Of Home-Based Telemental Health Among Rural Veterans, Paige Dixon

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Rural veterans face significant disparities to health care that have resulted in lower physical and mental health related quality of life when compared to their urban counterparts (Weeks et al., 2006). Such disparities are further complicated by the six-fold increase in prevalence of mental health diagnoses among Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans (Seal et al., 2009). These rising rates are particularly relevant to rural veterans as they represent 41% of the overall Veteran Health Administration enrollees, but only 19% of the general population (U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs, 2012; U.S. Census Bureau, 2014). Rural veterans face three …

Resilience As A Mediator Of The Relationship Between Negative Life Events And Psychological Well-Being, Anna L. Faircloth

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The relatively young field of positive psychology serves to redirect the focus of common psychological investigation and intervention on factors that deplete well-being, toward characteristics and experiences that promote happiness and well-being (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). Two features that have been consistently associated with measures of psychological well-being are resilience and negative life events (Avey et al., 2010; Shonkoff et al., 2012). The current study examined the relationship between negative life events, well-being, and resilience. Specifically, the study was designed to determine if resilience mediates the relationship between negative life events and psychological well-being among emerging adults. Participants were 325 …

Capacitating Services And The Bottom-Up Approach To Social Investment, Charles F. Sabel, Jonathan Zeitlin, Sigrid Quack

Faculty Scholarship

A crucial component of the new social investment paradigm is the provision of capacitating social services aimed at the early identification and mitigation of problems. We argue that conceiving of this paradigm change as a comprehensive and concerted investment is misguided. That perspective ignores more practical, piecemeal approaches in which costs and benefits are clarified through efforts at implementation, rather than estimated ex ante. Similarly, in this bottom-up approach, reform coalitions are not formed through comprehensive initial bargaining, but rather developed on the fly as programmes demonstrate their benefits and create clienteles. A crucial proviso is that decentralized efforts are …

Loneliness, Meaning In Life, And Depressive Symptomology In College Students, Abigail Oehler

Honors Theses

The present study aimed to better understand the relationship between loneliness, meaning in life, and depressive symptoms in college students. Two-hundred and forty-seven participants, ages 18-37, completed self-report measures about their experience with depressive symptoms (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale), loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale- Version 3), and meaning in life (Meaning in Life Questionnaire). The following was hypothesized: 1) symptoms of depression, loneliness, and meaning in life will be significantly related; 2) meaning in life will mediate the relation between loneliness and depressive symptoms. Results demonstrated all constructs were associated as expected (ps<.001). Contrary to hypothesis, meaning in life did not mediate the relation between loneliness and depressive symptomatology. However, post hoc regression analysis illustrated that loneliness was the only unique predictor of depressive symptoms. This study suggests more research is warranted on understanding specific mechanisms relating loneliness to depressive symptoms in college students.

A Survey Of The History And Legality Of Sacred Music In American Public Schools, Anna Greenlee

Honors Theses

Sacred music has long been a staple of American public school music repertoire, even since the beginnings of school music in the nation. This text provides information for music educators to use as a defense of their use of sacred music for educational purposes. Also, this text gives examples of legal conflicts brought about by improper use of religious material within the public school arena. Additionally, this text provides detailed procedure and data analysis of a survey designed to evaluate the atmosphere surrounding sacred music repertoire choices in the American music classrooms of 2017.

Mississippi Pharmacists' Knowledge And Perceptions Of Adhd In Children, Anna Crider

Honors Theses

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that has garnered more attention in the profession of pharmacy in recent years as a result of being more commonly diagnosed in both adult and pediatric populations. With new medications available, pharmacists need to be knowledgeable about how these products may affect patients, especially children. It is crucial to understand pharmacists' perceptions and knowledge of ADHD and its treatments to optimize their provision of treatment for these patients. Due to the lack of literature dedicated to pharmacists' knowledge, familiarity, confidence, and perceptions as it relates the condition of ADHD and its treatments, the objectives …

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 …

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.

The Relationship Between Advanced Academic Services And College Readiness Among Public High School Students In Rural Remote Appalachian Kentucky, Franklin Brian Thomas

Online Theses and Dissertations

The importance of college to the individual and society has prompted recent policies and accountability systems to emphasize college readiness as the primary benchmark for high school success. Advanced/honors courses, Advanced Placement (AP)/dual credit courses, and gifted programs are the most common advanced academic service options available in public schools to ensure college readiness. This study investigated 2014-2015 school year data associated with 2,792 students in five high schools in five different school districts in rural remote Appalachian Kentucky. The goal was to see which advanced academic service was most associated with college ready students. College readiness was measured in …

The Effect Of A Teacher Preparation Program On Teacher Preparedness From The Perspective Of First-Year Teachers And Their Principals, Christi Dee Wright

Online Theses and Dissertations

Teacher attrition, particularly among first-year teachers, has encouraged research studies at identifying concerns and recommendations for analyzing and improving college and university teacher preparation programs. The purpose of this quantitative study is to examine and analyze the preparedness of first-year teachers from a private university. More specifically, the study identifies how first-year teachers and their principals perceive their preparation to effectively teach students in the classroom. First-year teachers and their principals shared their perceptions of teacher education preparedness by taking an online survey. All data collected from the survey were self-reported. Due to a small sample size, multiple years (2010-2015) …

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.

Black Minds Matter: Black Student Perceptions Of Three Kentucky Regional Comprehensive Predominantly White Institutions And The Role Of Campus Support Initiatives In Reducing The Frequence Of Stop-Out And Drop-Out, Christopher W. Blakely

Online Theses and Dissertations

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2015), between 1996 and 2008, Black (African-American may be used interchangeably with Black, as defined through this study) college students had the lowest graduation rates among racial groups at four-year public institutions. Furthermore, more recent provisional data from the National Center for Education Statistics for 2008-2013, further support continued disproportional retention and graduation rates of Black college students. Therefore, given this, the present study examined the relationship between academic achievement and an increase in Black students' satisfaction with their college experience at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) and institutionally funded supportive associations for …

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 …

Posttraumatic Growth As It Relates To Family Environment, Brian Keller

Online Theses and Dissertations

The current study sought to explore the relationship between one's family environment and reported posttraumatic growth. Participants were 197 EKU undergraduate intro to psychology students. They voluntarily took an online survey for course credit. Types and frequency of trauma was recorded using the Life Events Checklist. The Posttraumatic Growth Index was used to measure posttraumatic growth, the Family environment scale was used to assess qualities of family life, and the Big Five Inventory was used to control for personality traits. Results did not support the hypothesis, however, significant correlations with the Moral Religious subscale of the FES as well as …

Going To The Movies: Immersion, Visual Awareness, And Memory, Matthew Whalen Moran

Online Theses and Dissertations

Immersion describes the extent of which one feels involved in a virtual experience. In immersive environments, observers report high levels of sensory interaction, story engagement, and an impression of reality. According to the concept of Inattentional Blindness (IB), many people can miss an unexpected stimulus or object even if it is in their field of vision while attending to a task. Can immersion affect susceptibility to IB, and can it affect memory performance? To answer this question, two model theaters were used in order to manipulate a person's assessment of being immersed in two experiments. A realistic condition used a …

College Students' Opinions On Parenting, Anne Overton Waller

Honors Theses

There are many potential negative effects of corporal punishment when used to discipline a child (Bell & Romano, 2012; Deater-Deckard, Landsford, Dodge, Pettit, & Bates, 2003; Straus, 2001) and tendencies to use corporal punishment are passed down through generations (Ben-Arieh & Haj-Yahia, 2008; Ember & Ember, 1994; Muller, 1996). The present study compared changes in beliefs about the appropriateness of corporal punishment in college students who received information on corporal punishment and parenting strategies in a parenting psychology class to students enrolled in non-parenting psychology classes. 116 students from the University of Mississippi participated in the present study, including 96 …

An Analysis Of Entrepreneurial Education In The Criminal Justice System, Austin Powell

Honors Theses

Currently, American federal and state prisons release more than 600,000 offenders each year that contribute to the estimated 70 million or more Americans that have some form of criminal record. By holding a criminal record, successful reentry for offenders are difficult because the criminal record serves as a barrier to public benefits. There are many correctional education programs designed to help offenders while in prison to overcome these barriers. Entrepreneurial education programs are becoming more popular, due to the positive recidivism and post-release employment results. The purpose of this study is to compare entrepreneurial education to other programs while analyzing …

Modeling Migraine Chronification And Its Relief; The Effects Of Thc On Recurrent Ntg-Induced Migraine Endpoints In Rats, Blake Sowers

Honors Theses

This study investigated the analgesic effects of a THC pro-drug in a rodent model of recurrent migraine. Rats received 4 nitroglycerin-induced (NTG: 10mg/kg/2ml) migraine episodes every third day for 12 days; saline, cremaphor-vehicle, propranolol (10mg/kg/ml), or THC-VAL-HS (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg/ml) were given IP 30 minutes before NTG. Behavioral endpoints of photosensitivity, activity, orbital tightening, and tactile allodynia were assessed 110 m after NTG. Migraine severity increased over the course of the four episodes, pointing toward chronification and an important step in model validation. However, neither propranolol nor THC-VAL-HS significantly attenuated any of the migraine-related endpoints. These data are …

An Economic Analysis Of The Deepwater Horizon Economic Settlement, Cantrell Gideon Norman

Honors Theses

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010 significantly impacted the Gulf Coast economy. The aim of this paper is to determine the adequacy of Deepwater Horizon Economic Settlement payments in achieving full recovery and restoration of the Gulf Coast economy. This paper contextualizes the event, analyzes other disaster techniques, and discusses the impact of the oil spill on dominant coastal industries. The results are constructed through linear regression models on employment figures for the coastal counties of all five Gulf states. An argument for each state is formed based upon the regression results, supplemented with outside sources and additional data …

The Early Adulthood Experience Of Having A Sibling With A Developmental Disability, Carole Frances Jennings

Honors Theses

This qualitative study explored the early adult's experience of having a sibling with a developmental disability and influences on the experience. The phenomenological method was used, specifically the approach of hermeneutic phenomenology as discussed by van Manen. The phenomenological investigation included the collection of data from the experiential descriptions of the participants gathered during interviews. Based on reflection on the data, essential themes of the experience and influences on the experience were identified. To describe the situational context of the participant, demographic data were collected. Five essential themes of the early adulthood experience of having a sibling with a developmental …

Work Engagement: Antecedents And Effects On Student Employee Academic Engagement, Chase V. Moore

Honors Theses

Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, this study explores the effect of the resources student employees receive from management and from the nature of their work on their engagement at work and their engagement in academic pursuits. Student workers make up a significant pool of workers in our institutions of higher education and supporting academic achievement of student workers is consistent with our institutions' missions. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to examine the antecedents (supervisory support, supervisory feedback, person-organization fit, and person-job fit) that affect levels of work engagement of students employed in educationally-situated work environments, and …