Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Cognitive Dissonance And Information Sources In Home Furniture Purchases, Toni-Rochelle S. Ford

Theses and Dissertations

The present research seeks to increase understanding of cognitive dissonance by exploring the various information sources that may influence the negative feelings that may arise during post-purchase evaluation. Specifically, the author focuses on the impact of consumer opinion seeking, traditional media search, internet search and social media search on cognitive dissonance by employing two studies. In Study 1, depth interviews are collected and analyzed in an effort to gain more insight into the search process and consumers perceptions of the helpfulness and credibility of different information sources. Categories of information sources, categories of which sources were deemed most helpful or …

Determination Of Salient Design Elements Through Eye Movements, Aesthetics, And Usability, Bryan C. Asuncion

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of study 1 was to use a remote eye tracker to understand how eye movements change with 7 geometrically varied remote controls to determine design element saliency. 20 participants were used to measure the following eye metrics: number of fixations prior to first fixation of any AOI, time to first fixation of an AOI, number of fixations on an AOI, dwell time of the first fixation on an AOI, total dwell time of an AOI, and the percentage of time spent on an AOI. The results of the study showed that all participants spent between 75-85% of their …

Developing A Short-Form Measure To Predict Illicit Use Of Prescription Stimulants, Joanna C. Hachtel

Theses and Dissertations

Research relating to illicit use of prescription stimulants (IUPS) has, for the most part, focused on describing behaviors of IUPS. However, there have been few attempts to measure IUPS in a consistent manner or determine how to best predict IUPS in an effective and concise manner. Data from Mississippi State University undergraduates (N = 703) were analyzed to create two shortorm measures to predict lifetime IUPS. The data-driven shortorm consisted of 15 items and 5 factors, and accurately classified 74.8% of participants as users versus non-users. The hand-picked shortorm consisted of 8 items and 5 factors, and accurately classified 84.6% …

Health Science Curriculum For Early Childhood: Teacher Implementation And Impact On Child Health Knowledge, Carla J. Mays

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation contains two secondary quantitative data analyses studies. In the first, implementation of the WannaBee Healthy? Be Smart! Be Active! Be a Leader! health science curriculum was examined to expand understanding about teacher usage of an integrated health curriculum. Specifically, researchers assessed the amount of activities within each curriculum domain (i.e., books, creative expressions, language/literacy, math, science) and the number of activities within each theme of the lessons (i.e., nutrition, physical activity, sleep) utilized by participating teachers. Prior to implementation, teachers (N = 68; M age = 35.5 years old) attended a one-hour training where use of the curriculum …

Healthcare Experiences Of Transgender Mississippians: A Qualitative Study, Micah D. King

Theses and Dissertations

For this study, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 transgender adults who lived, or had previously lived, in Mississippi and sought healthcare services in the state. The questions asked focused on identifying the barriers to care that these individuals faced as well as the strategies for navigating the barriers they employed. Recommendations for providers were also considered.

False Memories In Recognition Memory: Recollection Or Familiarity?, Alexis E. Payne

Theses and Dissertations

False recollection refers to the retrieval of contextual information associated with an event that has not occurred. For instance, during a recognition task, one might identify a nonstudied word presented at test as old because she remembers the font color of the word during study. Although instances such as this are rare and typically occur at a varying rate of 0-5%, current models of recognition such as the Complementary Learning Systems (CLS) model and the Dual-Process Signal-Detection (DPSD) model do not contain a mechanism to account for their occurrence. Although both the CLS and DPSD models have support from studies …

An "[Un]Readiness To Be Touched": The Critique Of Sentimentalism In Sensation Fiction, Rachel Vernell Wolfe

Theses and Dissertations

Early sensation novels such as Wilkie Collins’s The Woman in White, Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s Lady Audley’s Secret, and Ellen Wood’s East Lynne use the eighteenth-century notion of sentiment in very distinct manners. These novels demonstrate a perspective in transition regarding sentimentality in how they apply sentimental qualities to very specific character types. Some characters are extremely sentimental, whereas others appear completely void of emotion and are even described as automata. These sensation novels even feature sentimental journeys and objects, as well as allusions to sentimental novels such as Laurence Sterne’s A Sentimental Journey and Henry Mackenzie’s Man of Feeling. The …

The Effects Of Dual Enrollment On An Institution: Student Persistence And Degree Attainment At The Community College, Stacey S. Irwin

Theses and Dissertations

The overall college enrollment rates for young adults have increased over the last several years. While this is promising, a notable amount of students do not attain a degree. This scenario can create major consequences for the United States as global competitiveness requires a workforce that possesses a postsecondary degree. Dual enrollment is a program that has been seen to answer the need for more postsecondary graduates. Despite the robust literature that suggests the positive effects for students who participate in dual enrollment, limited research exists on the effects of dual enrollment on the institution. Therefore, this study attempted to …

The Role Of Early Visual Cortex In Global Motion Processing, Marshall L. Green

Theses and Dissertations

Both visual area V1 and the medial temporal (MT) region of the human brain play a role in motion perception. V1 is thought to process "local motion," such as the movement of a single bird flying across a relatively small part of space, while MT is thought to process "global motion," such as the movement of an entire flock of birds flying across the sky. However, recent studies using fMRI to measure human brain activity have identified signals in V1 that appear to be global motion signals, although it is unclear whether these are related to global motion processing or …

Individual Differences In Creative Cognition, Sarah K. Craig

Theses and Dissertations

Creativity is increasing in value worldwide, but the processes underlying various creative abilities remain ambiguous. The most frequently used assessments of creativity (i.e., divergent thinking tasks; creative problem-solving tasks) differ in surface features and are also rarely examined together. These inconsistencies, in addition to mixed findings in the literature, have caused considerable debate among creativity researchers concerning the particular roles of independent or dual processes that lead to success on different creativity tests. The present study expounded upon these mixed findings using a factor analytic method. The results indicated that individual differences in working memory and fluency ability impact performance …

Investigating Ethical Dilemmas And Ethical Decision Making In The Field Of School Psychology Using The Multidimensional Scale For Ethics In School Psychology, Umbreen Iqbal

Theses and Dissertations

Ethical standards and principals are one of the most significant part of any professional field. Being an applied practice field, the application of ethical codes and conduct is a critical component for school psychologists. There have been numerous research studies on ethical decision making and ethical dilemmas in many applied fields to help update the ethics principles and codes, same is the case for the field of School Psychology (APA, 2017; NASP, 2010). The purpose of this study was to examine school psychologists’ professional characteristics with regards to managing critical incidents that pose potential ethical violations. An additional purpose was …

Modification Of Training Methods And Alarm Thresholds: Two Ways To Reduce Potential Hazardous Clinical Alarm Related Incidents, Manikantan Shanmugham

Theses and Dissertations

Within the healthcare system, nurses, are involved in many critical steps of the patient care process such as surgery triaging, post-procedure recovery monitoring and handoff release to a caregiver. A significant portion of their time is spent on the hospital floors where patients recover from their medical procedures. In today’s healthcare environments, multiple devices – typically monitors, ventilators, and infusion pumps – are used during said patient recovery process. Health equipment manufacturers often add alarms to medical devices, which serve a variety of purposes, ranging from simple notifications to warnings and alerts about potential hazards that require rapid action. In …

Nostalgia And Forestalgia: Testing Construal Level Theory In Regard To Past-Focused And Future-Focused Marketing Appeals, Robert Wixel Barnwell

Theses and Dissertations

Marketing appeals often capitalize upon nostalgia. By highlighting periods of the past, practitioners hope to elicit positive associations in the minds of consumers between the past and desired responses, from purchases to donations to political support. Though less often, marketing appeals also draw upon the future as a way of making the featured good or service more appealing to potential consumers. Could these different temporal distances into the future or into the past impact the reaction of consumers? Could the context of a product being either hedonic or utilitarian have an influence on the outcome of these past or future …

Parent And Child Perceived Coping Socialization During Peer Conflict: A Qualitative Study, Janet W. Kwan

Theses and Dissertations

Despite budding research on parent-child discrepant perceptions of a child’s psychosocial functioning, the potential difference in individual perception of coping socialization is unclear. Further, literature suggests the onset of various impulse-control disorders occurs around middle childhood. Thus, the current study used a phenomenological approach and thematic analysis to examine perspectives of coping socialization, identify intended take away messages, and examine the perceived impact of inconsistent understanding of the interaction. Results indicated both parents and children use verbal and physical cues to understand one another during coping socialization and that their lab discussion was representative of their typical interactions. Themes emerged …

Prediction Of Energy Expenditure From Accelerometers During Physical Activity In Adults With Down Syndrome: The Effect Of Accelerometer Placement, Anthony T. Allred

Theses and Dissertations

There is a need to examine the difference in the relationship between oxygen uptake (VO2) and output from hip- and wrist-worn accelerometers in adults with Down syndrome (DS). The purpose of this study is to identify if that relationship is different between adults with and without DS. Hip- and wrist-worn accelerometer accuracy was also assessed. The sample included 16 adults with DS (10 men; age 31±15 years) and 19 adults without DS (10 men; age 24±6 years). We measured VO2 with a portable spirometer and accelerometer output (Vector Magnitude [VM]) with a hip- and a wrist-worn accelerometer. VM and group …

Procedural Calibration Of Haploscope Wings To Establish Accurate Focal Vergence Depth, Kristen Leigh Massey

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis project was undertaken with the intent to discover the source of a known but hitherto unexplained error in the calibration of the wings for a haploscope used in depth perception studies. The angles of the haploscope wings are used to control the vergence angle of the virtual images projected into each eye. This accounts for a strong depth cue used in AR and depth perception studies. Two experiments were devised to both display and attempt to characterize the error between the theoretical wing angles needed to cause a user's vision to verge at some focal depth and the …

Examining The Impact Of Trauma On Reading Performance Among Elementary Students, Shelby Lynn Mcgrew

Theses and Dissertations

Beginning prior to the foundational study conducted by Felitti et al. (1998), individuals of all ages have been exposed to a variety of traumatic events that had the capacity to alter overall functioning in a variety of ways. Children and adolescents are a vulnerable subset of individuals who are often exposed to various types of trauma which has the capacity to impact academic, behavioral, and social/emotional functioning (Cohen, Berliner, & Mannarino, 2010). The adverse effects related to trauma exposure in children and adolescents have been correlated with externalizing and internalizing disorders, and decreased academic performance (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). An …

Exploration Of Factors Affecting Single Black Mothers' Facilitation Of Father-Child Relationships, Shawn'ta Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

Literature shows that when fathers are involved in their children’s lives, their children have better outcomes and neighborhoods are safer. However, father involvement is often limited in situations where the father is a non-residential parent. Previous research has indicated that there are several factors that may influence a custodial mother’s facilitation of the father-child relationship. These factors may include the existing co-parenting relationship between mother and father and the mother’s perception of the father’s appreciation of her mothering of the child. Particularly in low-income families, the struggle to simply meet economic demands overrides a custodial parent’s desire to facilitate the …

Impact Of Walnuts On Blood Pressure In A Small Convenience Sample Of African Americans In Mississippi, Camille N. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

Hypertension is the cause of about 7.5 million deaths per year, globally. More than 40% of African Americans are diagnosed with hypertension. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of walnut consumption on blood pressure in a small convenience sample of African Americans in Mississippi. Fifty subjects participated in the study. Blood pressure was measured once a week for three weeks prior to the initiation of the intervention for a baseline data of the subjects’ normal blood pressure. During the 6-week intervention, the participants consumed a package of walnuts, daily. Blood pressure was measured weekly. The results …

Implementation And Evaluation Of A School-Based Anti-Tobacco Program In Mauritius: A Pilot Study To Assess The Usefulness And Reliability Of A Tobacco Use Prevention Education Instrument, Shariah Hussenbocus

Theses and Dissertations

Tobacco use among Mauritian adolescents has increased steadily since 2008. Currently, Mauritius has not implemented any school-based anti-tobacco program and there is no instrument to assess the effectiveness of existing anti-tobacco school policies. Since the first cigarette can rapidly lead to nicotine dependence, targeted interventions must be assessed before established patterns of smoking appear. This study evaluated a tobacco use prevention education instrument to determine the effectiveness of a school-based anti-tobacco program. 26 male students completed a survey before and after receiving anti-tobacco lessons. Smoking initiation age could not predict likelihood of tobacco addiction (r(12)=0.320, p=0.311). However, after receiving the …

Afterschool Educators' Teaching Practices Through Tinkering: Nurturing Student Collaboration, Engagement, And Development Of Self-Confidence, Lianna Kali

Master's Theses

Since the early 2000s constructionist pedagogy has become an increasingly popular trend in both formal and informal science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) learning environments to support transformative educational outcomes through the making of personally meaningful objects and artifacts. But with this rise in popularity comes a challenge for educators: understanding what are the teaching practices that are most effective in a maker-centered learning environment to support student learning. Through an ethnographic case study of the teaching practices in a tinkering afterschool program, this study examines the core pedagogical facilitation moves of tinkering educators and investigates how those moves …

Now Hiring: Exploring Deportee Transnational Identities And Socio-Economic Reintegration In Baja California, Mexico’S Call Center Industry, Brenda Vargas

Master's Theses

The anti-immigrant rhetoric in the U.S. intensified deportation, including that of Mexican and Salvadorian migrants with some having served in the U.S. military. Despite weak social connections and explicit/structural barriers in Mexico, many deportees make the decision to stay in Mexico. The focus of this thesis is male deportees belonging to the “1.5 generation,” aged late 20’s-early 60’s, who, after spending their childhood and adulthood in the U.S., have undergone deportation and are faced with social and economic reintegration in the northern border area of Baja California, Mexico. Through 15 in-depth semi-structured interviews, I explore transnational identity negotiations that impact …

First-Generation Students: Who Are They? Why Are They At Risk? How Can We Promote Their Success?, Joe Cuseo

eJournal of Public Affairs

Approximately one third of all undergraduate students in the United States today are first-generation students—that is, students with parents whose highest level of education was high school. This article examines the characteristics of first-generation students, identifies reasons why they are at risk for attrition, and offers specific strategies for improving their rate of college completion.

The First-Year Seminar: A Program Evaluation Of Students’ Public-Affairs Awareness, Yasuko Kanamori, Tracey A. Glaessgen, Jeffrey H. D. Cornelius-White

eJournal of Public Affairs

Similar to the public-welfare aim of many universities, Missouri State University (MSU) was granted a specific statewide public affairs mission in 1995 comprising three pillars: community engagement, cultural competence, and ethical leadership. Since the implementation of this mission, the university has engaged in various efforts to promote and foster public-affairs awareness among students, including through its first-year seminar (FYS). This article details a study conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the FYS in enhancing students’ public-affairs awareness. The researchers solicited input from students in the first and last weeks of their first semester at MSU using the Public Affairs Scale–Short …

Book Review: Creating The Path To Success In The Classroom: Teaching To Close The Graduation Gap For Minority, First-Generation, And Academically Unprepared Students, Jonathan Stubblefield

eJournal of Public Affairs

In this article, the author reviews Kathleen F. Gabriel’s 2018 book Creating the Path to Success in the Classroom: Teaching to Close the Graduation Gap for Minority, First-Generation, and Academically Unprepared Students. The book offers instructors both theories and practical tips for implementing inclusive success strategies within the classroom environment. The review identifies the primary purpose of the book, reviews key themes, explores a chapter in detail, and offers a critique of the entire work.

Health-Related Perception And Responsibility Behavior Among Individuals With And Without Chronic Illness, Danielle Dohrmann

Theses & Dissertations

Few studies have examined perceptions of responsibility attribution and well-being, and health responsibility behaviors in individuals with none, one, and multiple chronic illnesses. Adults (N = 421) in medical clinics completed questionnaires for this cross-sectional descriptive study. The Revised Causal Dimensional Scale measured responsibility attribution whereas sub-sections of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program evaluation measured well-being perception and the health responsibility behavior of communication associated with a clinic visit. Chi-square, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallace tests were used to examine demographic characteristics and group differences. Individuals with multiple morbidities and of advanced age perceived their illnesses as more stable and rated …

Perceptions And Clinical Applications Of Feedback Type If Dental Hygiene, Elmer Eleazar Gonzalez

Individual, Family, and Community Education ETDs

Purpose/Objectives: The study assesses whether or not feedback type and feedback delivery method play a significant role in students’ learning and clinical performance. The study explores Ego Stroking Sandwich feedback and Non-Sandwich feedback as the feedback types and Instructors feedback vs. Scoring guide feedback as the feedback delivery method. Students’ perceptions and clinical applications were considered as part of the study.

Methods: Eleven participants were included in the study. One group was the Ego Stroking Sandwich type feedback (n=5) and the other was the Non-Sandwich Type feedback (n=6). Each group performed two dental impressions (a maxillary and a mandibular) while …

Mothers’ Voices: A Narrative Study Of The Experiences And Perspectives Of Mothers Raising School Age Children With Disabilities In One Of Zimbabwe’S Urban Areas, Emillia Masaka

Special Education ETDs

This narrative study examined (1) how women raising school age children with disabilities in one of Zimbabwe’s urban areas, articulated and conceptualized (a) their children’s disabilities and (b) their experiences as mothers of children with disabilities and (2) how their social status, marital status, age, ethnicity, and/or race intersected with their experiences of raising children with disabilities. A localized understanding of how mothers view their children’s disabilities was important because it influences results of any interventions their children might receive. Eight participants volunteered to have three interviews each, with me. Utilizing the social construction of disability, intersectionality, and thematic analysis …

Influence Of Demographic Characteristics On Utilisation Of Eirs By Postgraduate Students In Three Selected Universities In South-West Nigeria, Olubukola Basirat Diyaolu Mrs, Basirat Olubukola Diyaolu Mrs

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Electronic information resources (EIRs) referred to information that are available in electronic format. These resources are very useful in postgraduate education, but it was observed that some factors determined the use of these resources among the postgraduate students who are expected to use EIRs that are provided in libraries. In line with this, this study investigated influence of demographic characteristics on utilisation of EIRs by postgraduate students in three selected universities in south-west Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. 362 respondents represented the sample size for the study. Statistical Package for Social sciences (SPSS) was …

Questioning The Dogma Of Banned Books Week, Elliott Kuecker

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This article examines the dogmatic celebration of Banned Books Week in libraries in the United States through Foucault's notion of the speaker's benefit and the repressive hypothesis. Given that the books featured during Banned Books Week are not legally banned, but actually widely available, it appears this celebration does more for the identity of the field of librarianship than it does to fight censorship.