Digital Commons Network^™

"Goo-Prone And Generally Pathetic": Empathy And Irony In David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest, Benjamin L. Peyton

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Critical considerations of David Foster Wallace’s work have tended, on the whole, to use the framework that the author himself established in his essay “E Unibus Pluram” and in his interview with Larry McCaffery. Following his own lead, the critical consensus is that Wallace succeeds in overcoming the limits of postmodern irony. If we examine the formal trappings of his writing, however, we find that the critical assertion that Wallace manages to transcend the paralytic irony of his postmodern predecessors is made in the face of his frequent employment of postmodern techniques and devices. Thus, there arises a contradiction between …

A Comprehensive Analysis On Eeg Signal Classification Using Advanced Computational Analysis, Kaushik Bhimraj

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Electroencephalogram (EEG) has been used in a wide array of applications to study mental disorders. Due to its non-invasive and low-cost features, EEG has become a viable instrument in Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI). These BCI systems integrate user's neural features with robotic machines to perform tasks. However, due to EEG signals being highly dynamic in nature, BCI systems are still unstable and prone to unanticipated noise interference. An important application of this technology is to help facilitate the lives of the tetraplegic through assimilating human brain impulses and converting them into mechanical motion. However, BCI systems are remarkably challenging to implement …

The American Pastoral Tradition And The Stories Of Breece D'J Pancake, Christopher Blackburn

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In the late twentieth century, Breece Pancake carried on the American pastoral tradition by both featuring and modifying characteristics of early American pastoral literature. Breece Pancake does not directly imitate his predecessors, but instead brings the spirit of the nearly 200-year-old tradition in which he participates to a twentieth-century audience. Part of the enduring relevance of the literature in the American pastoral tradition, including The Stories of Breece D’J Pancake, is that at the heart of these stories is a theme that has defined and continues to shape the American experience: the struggle with living in liminal spaces.

Examining What Factors Affect High School Students’ Educational Aspirations, Kalle T. Pray

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study sought to examine the factors that influenced a high school student’s educational aspirations. This study used data collected by the High School Longitudinal Study (HSLS) 2009-2013 to examine how a student’s engagement, interest, attitudes toward math teacher, counselors helping with college materials, and meeting with a counselor influence a student’s educational aspirations. The findings suggest that student engagement, student interest and meeting with a counselor were significant predictors of higher educational aspirations even after controlling for being white, female, academic track, and family income. Counselors helping with college material was also a predictor of higher educational aspirations, however …

Femme Fatales And The Shifting Gender Norms Of The 19th Century, Esther M. Stuart

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This project seeks to explore female monstrosity, specifically the femme fatale, in Gothic literature and its reflection of the shifting gender norms of the nineteenth century. The late 1790s experienced a distinct narrowing of female gender roles. While authors like Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Hays publish during the eighteenth century, a backlash against such feminist voices took hold as a resurgence of spheres ideology and more traditional gender norms came into vogue. This particular shift in attitudes towards female gender norms is reflected in Scottish poet Anne Bannerman’s work as well as English novelist Charlotte Dacre’s Zofloya. Both authors’s works …

Romantic Interest Selection From An Imago Relationship Therapy Perspective, Lauren O. Patterson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT) is a model of couples therapy that is not empirically validated (Jakubowski et al., 2004). IRT proposes that individuals select Romantic Interests (Interests) that are similar to their Childhood Caregivers (Caregivers) in an effort to heal childhood wounding (Hendrix, 1988). The current study sought to evaluate the IRT proposition of romantic interest selection by evaluating patterns in romantic interest selection, particularly the relationship between Caregiver and Interest personality characteristics, adult attachment dimensions, gender, and geographical location of origin. In addition, the study considers similarities in participant narratives of positive and negative experiences with Caregivers and Interests. …

An Exploration Of The Underlying Mechanisms Causing Spasticity In Young People With Cerebral Palsy, Alexis Carnes

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background and Objective(s): Spasticity is a common symptom experienced by individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). Spastic CP is often accompanied by hypertonia. Currently, there is a limited understanding of the contributions of spasticity to hypertonia which can in turn hinder the development of new rehabilitative measure to improve these conditions. Additionally, clinical evaluation of spasticity is limited to observational techniques such as the Ashworth scale. The purpose of this study was to compare differences in passive joint torque in the upper extremity between individuals with severe, spastic CP (MACS III-V) and healthy, age-matched controls at different speeds during passive stretching. …

Leading Ladies: A Mixed-Method Study Of The Influence Of Gender Bias On Leadership Styles For Women Who Lead Secondary Schools, Angela S. Coaxum-Young

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed method study is to determine if women who lead secondary schools have gender bias experiences that might influence their leadership styles. The study focused on the accounts of five women who lead secondary schools, their gender bias experiences, their perceived leadership style and whether or not they believed the experience influences how they lead. Through in-depth interviews and survey completion, the data from both sources revealed the common leadership styles and gender bias experiences among the research participants. When examining the shared experiences three salient themes emerged: (a) A belief that gender bias still exists …

The Influence Of Coach Leadership Behavior And Authenticity On Burnout Among Collegiate Athletes, William Ryan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if coach authenticity and leadership behavior can influence burnout in collegiate athletes. By using congruency rooted in the multi-dimensional model of leadership and the leadership scale for sport, a mediating variable of authenticity, and a criterion variable of burnout, it was hypothesized that coach authenticity and congruence in the coach-athlete dyad, will influence rates of burnout evidenced by their ability to account for a significant proportion of the variance associated with burnout. The data analysis used in this study was a meditational analysis, which examined how coach-authenticity and congruency predict athlete burnout.

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 …

Shakespeare's "Honest And Vertuous" Ensigns: Transgressing The Military/Domestic Divide In The Henriad And Othello, Matthew R. Wentz

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores how the military service of the ensign disrupts and ultimately obliterates domestic life in Shakespeare’s Henriad and Othello. The rank of the ensign held expectations of honesty and honor, yet Shakespeare portrays his only two ensign characters, Ancient Pistol and Iago, as ironically failing to adhere to these standards. The received view of Pistol that results from his portrayal in 2 Henry IV as a stock braggadocio is challenged by a sympathetic reading of his character, especially in Henry V. Although Pistol occasionally behaves with honor in Henry V, his military service results in …

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 …

Examining The Effects Of Enclosure Size At Training And At Test In Spatial Reorientation, Zebulon K. Bell

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Previous research has begun to shed light on the differentiated influence of enclosure size on cue use during reorientation (Sturz, Forloines, & Bodily, 2012). Namely, the question remains of why both feature (i.e., objects or landmarks in the enclosure) and geometric (i.e., shape of the enclosure) cues are differentially affected by enclosure size, and the extent to which local (i.e., wall lengths and corner angles) and global (i.e., principal axis of space) geometric cues are affected by enclosure size. Further, it remains unclear whether training size, testing size, or the relationship between training and testing size influences the use of …

How Does Parental Attachment Affect Black Male Delinquency In Rural And Urban Contexts?, Chelsea J. King

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

For more than a century, there has been concern about the nature and extent of crime in the African American community. African American adolescents are more likely viewed to be involved in delinquency than adolescents from other racial/ethnic groups. Guided by social bonding theory, this study examined how African American males’ relationship with their parents and living in rural and non-rural context, affects delinquent behavior. This study analyzes data from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescents to Adult Health (Add Health). Three main hypotheses are tested in regards to parental attachment, family structure, and living in rural and non-rural contexts. …

The Influence Of Resource Scarcity And Childhood Socioeconomic Status On In-Group Inclusiveness, Spencer Dobbs

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Millions of individuals worldwide are malnourished and without clean drinking water due to a lack of environmental resources. Resource scarcity is a ubiquitous ecological threat that significantly influences social cognition and behavior. For example, research on resource scarcity has shown that it significantly reduces in-group inclusiveness. In fact, when individuals are primed with resource scarcity, they are significantly less likely to categorize racially ambiguous others as belonging to their racial in-group. The current study aimed to extend this research by examining the impact of resource scarcity on in-group inclusiveness while also accounting for variations of early life environmental hardship (i.e., …

The Effect Of Social Influence On Perception Of Tornado Warnings, Jason A. Parker

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Tornado activity annually results in many deaths throughout the U.S. As a result, the emergency alert system (including tornado warnings) has made considerable advancements throughout the past few decades. However, continued improvements could be made to warning content that aid to facilitate adaptive decision-making by increasing individuals’ motivation to respond. One method that could increase adaptive responses to warnings is by including the modality of descriptive social information within the warning. Research suggests that normative social influence acts as a powerful motivator for individuals to conform toward the witnessed or perceived behaviors of others. The current study examined the impact …

Intuition And Curriculum: From Precognition To Agency, Sandra Martinaitis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The dissertation is a speculative essay using the framework of Joseph Schwab’s (1969) commonplaces of: subject matter, student, teacher and milieu to examine how intuition can and should form part of curriculum. The overarching theme is that intuition and intuitive teaching and learning is an iterative path which leads to self-knowledge, reflection, cognition and acceptance of ‘other’ -- the Freirian (2010) notion of tolérance-- resulting in critical thinking and agency to ameliorate lives -- particularly of the oppressed. It embraces the clichéd notion of education leading to informed citizens who will make the right choices for society as a …

Examining And Exposing The Darknet, Ton H. Don

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis consists of two studies; the first study is “Diving into the Darknet” and the second is “Exposing the Darknet on Mobile Devices”. The Darknet is a network of hidden sites and services which are built based on anonymity. In “Diving into the Darknet”, we applied different data science methods to establish the relationships between the data in the data set. This data set has information related to seller, drug types, and transactions. Additionally, we used Tableau to visualize the data set. For the second study, we took a digital forensics perspective of the Darknet. Orfox and Orbot, a …

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 …

Neon Nature, Jessamy G. Mcmanus Ms.

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The goal of this work is to explore my painting of nature in our contemporary time, considering the current geological epoch termed the Anthropocene, an era I think of as postnatural. Neon Nature is a collection of portraits of hypernatural creatures I call “pseudo-specimens”. These pseudo-specimens symbolize hypernature, which describes manufactured nature as better than authentic nature. These specimens are painted in vanitas-inspired still life scenes to act as a reminder of our changing nature, or new-nature.

Influenced by living in suburbia where nature is manicured and controlled, I am interested in the divide between the “born” and the “made,” …

Speaking Out Despite White Noise: Examining The Leadership Of African American Female Technical College Presidents And Vice Presidents, Ashley Morris

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological, qualitative study was to explore the experiences of African American female leaders in higher education. More specifically, this study examined the experiences of these leaders who assume the role of presidents and vice presidents at Georgia technical colleges. The study contextualized the experiences of these leaders and illustrated how those experiences influence their leadership methods and the establishment of their leadership presence. The results of this study form a context for understanding the leadership methods of African American female leaders.

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 …

Female Art And Artisans In Edith Wharton’S The House Of Mirth, The Custom Of The Country, And “Roman Fever”, Julia B. Welch

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In early twentieth century old and new New York social circles, the marriage market’s commodification of women acted as the controlling factor for relationships, female power, and personal identity. When considering Wharton’s works for the first-hand viewpoint that she provided of the marriage market, it becomes clear that her interest in art plays heavily into the way women comport themselves within her novels. In order to discuss this relationship in Edith Wharton’s works, I’ve created terms that delineate the various ways female characters respond to the pressures of the marriage market. The best way to analyze Wharton’s women is by …

Differentiating The Effects Of Animal-Assisted Versus Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy On Positive Psychological Outcomes Through A Stress Induction Context, Catherine J.V. Jones

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The unique benefits of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) such as the human-horse bond, a non-traditional therapy setting, and performing altruistic acts are thought to facilitate positive change in humans. One mechanism by which positive changes occur is through improved coping and resilience in the face of stress. To date, only a handful of correlational studies speak to the potential effects of EFP on resilience-based outcomes. Thus, this study sought to address this gap in the literature by exploring the benefits of EFP compared to traditional Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) in an experimental context. Specifically, we examined the effects of different …

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 …

Examining Anxiety Schemas Through The Context Of A Stress-Intrapersonal Model, Kayla M. Leleux-Labarge

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Explicating vulnerability factors to anxiety difficulties is important as the National Comorbidity Study (NCS) lists anxiety as the most common and costly class of mental health disorders in the United States. Maladaptive schemas, as theorized by Young (1990), perpetuate anxiety pathology by hindering the individual’s ability to alter behaviors, thoughts, emotions, and overall approach to adverse events. Previous research indicates that intrapersonal resources can stymie the development of psychopathological features, even in the context of adverse life events (Floyd, Seltzer, Greenberg, & Song, 2013). The main purpose of the current study was to explore the relationship among adverse life events …

Connecting Emotions To Behavioral Outcomes, Whitney L. Spears

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The field of positive psychology has emerged within the last decade and focuses on investigating happiness and what constitutes a satisfying life (Seligman, 2011; Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). One of the main purposes of positive psychology is to identify resources that can be used to promote psychologically beneficial outcomes (Fredrickson, 2001). Two positive psychological outcomes that can build resources to overcome negative circumstances and lead to a fulfilling life are resilience and well-being. A theory proposed by Fredrickson (1998) that offers a process by which individuals can enhance well-being and resilience is the broaden-and-build theory. Through this theory, it is …

The Effect Of Loving-Kindness Meditation On Physiological And Psychological Reactions To Violent Stimuli, Joseph A. Garcia

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In the past, meditation research has focused primarily on mindfulness meditation, but little research has examined Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM). LKM may be an important addition to treatment or preventative programs for people at risk of exposure to violence or aggression in their lives or work. The current research aims to add to the currently growing body of literature concerning LKM and compassion based meditation practices. The researchers sought to determine if a 12-week course in LKM would have any effect on galvanic skin response (GSR) and heart rate in beats per minute (BPM) during the presentation of a video containing …

Eagle Educator, Georgia Southern University

College of Education: News & Publications (2003-2023)

• Shaping Youth in Bulloch County
• M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
• Certificate in Curriculum and Pedagogy for Social Justice
• Bachelor of Science in Education, Secondary Education
• College to Offer New Degree Program, M.Ed. in TCLD
• The Innovation Studio Offers an Instructional Technology Experience
• MAT in Early Childhood
• From the Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development
• COE Piloting Faculty-in-Residence Program Starting Spring 2017
• Partnership Summit 2016
• edCamp @GeorgiaSouthern
• COE Professor Travels the World for Comparative Research and Understanding
• COE Professor Wins University’s Excellence Award
• Jack Miller Award 2016 Winners Named
• Marvin Pittman Lab School Reunites
• NEW BOARD MEMBERS
• COE Alumnus Named Georgia …