Digital Commons Network^™

The Electoral College: Size Really Does Matter, Alexander Kirk

Honors Theses

The goal of this paper is to explore and ultimately convince the reader of the merits of the Wyoming Rule method of congressional apportionment as a method for altering the functioning of the Electoral College in United States presidential elections. This is conducted through an analysis of the role that the Electoral College has played throughout the history of American elections, in depth looks at four common proposals for changing or replacing the Electoral College, and finally discussion of the intricacies of the Wyoming Rule and the effects that it would have on American politics.

Profitability And Corporate Social Responsibility, Alexander Kirk

Honors Theses

This project examines the relationship between net margins and measures of corporate social responsibility for the companies in the S&P 500 index. This is conducted through linear regressions of overall, environmental, social, and governance scores on net margin percentages for firms from their annual 10-K reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The corporate social responsibility measures were taken from Sustainalytics via Yahoo Finance and combined with dummy variables for Global Industry Classification Standard sectors. Results indicate very limited role in corporate social responsibility measures for predicting net margins, instead favoring sector specific variables as driving net margins to …

Troping For Justice And Joy: A Feminist Rhetorical Study Of Women’S Reproductive Health, Claire E. Noppenberger

Honors Theses

Taking my cues from feminist rhetorical studies, and the enactment of the personal as political, my thick description of women’s reproductive healthcare is focused on my own encounters with these rhetorics through a collection of my experiences through various media. This description adopts an autoethnographic attitude to approach these rhetorics “as pluralistic, subjective, personal, and potentially inclusive,” by using my own position and narrative to frame this rhetorical study. Just as feminist rhetorical studies require meta-reflexive awareness, autoethnography requires the acceptance of “responsibility for our subjective lenses through reflexivity.” My thick description uses the metadata of these media, including the …

“Smile For Me, Sweetie!”: An Analysis Of Contemporary Gender Based Violence And Discrimination In The Bahamas, Jennifer Munnings

Honors Theses

Women in the Bahamas face various forms of pervasive sexist discrimination and high rates of gender-based violence. However, recent governmental initiatives aimed at addressing gender inequality have not proven effective. The narrow focus on individual reforms like anti-crime measures to curb structural violence highlights a lack of understanding of gender inequality as embedded within social institutions. To interrogate the institutionalized nature of gender inequality in the Bahamas, the present study draws on in-depth interviews with seven Bahamian women’s rights activists to explore the social, cultural, and political explanations for the persistence of gender-based violence and discrimination. Three major themes emerged …

Tuition Resets: An Economic Analysis, Claire Mendelson

Honors Theses

American higher education today is defined by rising tuition and decreasing enrollment. As higher education institutions prepare for a looming enrollment crisis, tuition resets – when colleges or universities decrease their sticker price of tuition – are becoming a newly popular strategy. Although much research has been done regarding the economics of higher education and what influences tuition, no quantitative research study has been done on tuition resets. This research study contributes to the existing literature by quantitatively testing the effect of a tuition reset on an institution’s financial health, as measured by net tuition revenue from students and undergraduate …

Storytelling For Fundraising: Assessing The Impact Of Personal Stories On Donation Behavior, Kate A. Mccarthy

Honors Theses

In fundraising, some nonprofits have sought to channel the power of personal stories by including them in appeal letters. Are stories an effective tool in soliciting donations? In this study, participants read one of three appeals from an unnamed abortion fund. Two conditions contained a personal story, either an “unapologetic” or a “uncontroversial” narrative, about a woman who underwent an abortion; one condition did not include a story. Participants were then asked questions regarding the appeal and the organization before being given a “bonus” dollar, and offered the option of donating a portion of that to an abortion fund. Results …

Design Of New Ruthenium Complexes For Photoactivated Chemotherapy, Lindsey Paul

Honors Theses

Photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) offers a targeted approach to cancer treatment through selective drug activation. Substitutionally labile ruthenium-based prodrugs undergo ligand-loss when irradiated, producing an unbound ligand and a Ru-aqua complex. We report the synthesis and cytotoxicity of several new ruthenium-centered complexes and their irradiation products for use in PACT. A series of complexes were synthesized in order to study the effects of structural differences on cell viability. Cell viability was tested on T47D human breast cancer cells in the presence of compound to determine cytotoxicity and dose-response. While neither the Rucomplexes nor their ligands demonstrated cytotoxicity, their Ru-aqua dissociation complexes …

Liking And Listening: Impression Formation And Information Processing In Presidential Debates, Lauren Haviland O'Brien

Honors Theses

Ninety-three undergraduate students at the University of Richmond were asked to watch, listen to, or read a transcript of the opening statements from the first presidential debate of the Election of 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon. Afterwards, participants were asked to recall three notable moments in the debate, both list and identify quotes from each Candidate, and indicate their impressions of each Candidate’s personality. The purpose of my research was twofold: to revisit Dr. James Druckman’s renowned experiment on the first presidential debate of 1960 that concluded that Kennedy won on television and Nixon won on …

“Put Your Phone Down, And Say Hi!” Cultivating Positivity Resonance At Ur, Natalie Szumel

Honors Theses

The goal of this study is to advance our understanding of outcomes related to experiencing positivity resonance and additionally to examine the role of technology as a potential barrier to experiencing positivity resonance (PR). I expect to see positivity resonance associated with physical, psychological, and social well-being, while phone use will predict lower levels of positivity resonance.

This study is unique because it focuses on a college campus population and analyses how their well-being is affected by their social behaviors. This study is especially important for a campus like UR given how segregated and exclusive the student population has become, …

Public Perceptions And Knowledge Of Transplantation, Kimberly Smith

Honors Theses

Objective: Organ transplantation is currently the most preferred treatment method for end-stage organ disease. Despite this fact, the need for transplants is currently higher than the availability of organs, resulting in approximately 20 deaths each day. The objective of this study was to use qualitative research methods to better understand attitudes towards and public knowledge of organ transplantation. Method: Fourteen focus groups with 58 participants were conducted by a research team. Thematic analyses were conducted using a phenomenological framework. Results: Knowledge of the transplant process was found to play a critical role in one’s decision to donate an organ. Individuals …

Cybersecurity Education Through Technological And Engineering Literacy Standards, Philip A. Reed, Steven A. Barbato

STEMPS Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Pre-Service School Librarians' Perceptions Of Research Librarians' Perceptions Of Research Pedagogy: An Exploratory Study, Jeffrey Discala, Elizabeth A. Burns, Sue C. Kimmel

STEMPS Faculty Publications

This article is an exploratory study of graduate-level instruction on research designs and methods for pre-service school librarians (PSSLs). Using a focus group of one cohort of PSSLs, we examine students' perceptions of understanding research methods, course content and delivery, and self-reported application of new knowledge from a sequence of two graduate research courses in a Master's degree program. Findings indicate increased appreciation and understanding of the research process among participants and the ability to integrate the research findings of others into their own practice, while also indicating little or no confidence in their own abilities to conduct research in …

Performance Appeals, Environmental Knowledge, And Emotions For Green Advertising, Dooyoung Choi, Ha Kyung Lee

STEMPS Faculty Publications

This study aims to investigate the effect of the green performance appeals in an advertisement on purchase intentions, which are mediated by anticipated positive emotions (i.e., happiness and hope). This study also explores that the mediation model is moderated by individuals’ environmental knowledge. Three experimental conditions were utilized in which three types of green performance appeals (before, after, before–after appeal) were presented in the advertisement of a mock denim brand. Web-based online survey data (N = 201; Amazon MTurk) were analyzed by using ANOVA and PROCESS procedure using SPSS 23.0. The results of this study indicated that when the green-message …

Technology Fatigue Of Faculty In Higher Education, Colleen Halupa, Doris U. Bolliger

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The study investigated technology fatigue in instructors employed at three universities located in the United States. Instructors at three private institutions of higher learning located in two states were invited to complete an online survey that was developed by the researchers. Technology fatigue was operationalized as technology-use related stress (technostress) and frequent change in technology (change fatigue). A total of 171 valid responses were received from participants during a four-week period. Results show that they experienced moderate levels of technology fatigue. No statistically significant differences in responses were found based on the two types of learning environments (campus-based and online). …

Insider Effects: Empathy In Needs Assessment Practice, Kim Pinckney-Lewis, John Baaki

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Needs assessment generally refers to the identification of some need or problem to be addressed. The authors aim to demonstrate how empathy, when shaped by authentic affinity or involvement with an organization, can serve the needs assessment experience in a positive way. As part of the chapter, the authors describe their approach and highlight pertinent findings from the needs assessment, which focused on proactive opportunities to enhance outcomes in parent efficacy. The authors also detail accounts of participant experiences within the process, including their interactions with the practitioner and overall experience. Finally, the authors share practitioner reflections on the overall …

Negotiating Against Yourself: Flawed Negotiating Process Leads Chancery Court To Deny M&F-Premised Motion To Dismiss, Robert S. Reder, Matthew K. Vallade

Vanderbilt Law Review En Banc

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Occupational Therapy Acute Care Services On Readmission Rates For Patients In Medicare’S Hospital Readmission Reduction Program, Jessica M. Edelstein

Theses and Dissertations

The United States (US) health care system is faced with the daunting challenge to make healthcare payments commensurate with quality of care provided. To assess quality, metrics for reimbursement have been established by Medicare. One such quality metric is hospital readmissions (readmissions). Readmissions are associated with poor patient outcomes and costly. Associated poor patient outcomes include higher risk for mortality, deconditioning, nutritional issues and cognitive impairments. As a result, readmissions cost Medicare $26 billion annually. Current strategies for reducing readmissions in the US are fragmented and hospital-specific. While specific strategies may vary, hospitals that have low readmissions rates tend to …

University Of Texas At Tyler Catalog, 2020 - 2021, University Of Texas At Tyler

Catalogs

No abstract provided.

University Of Texas At Tyler Course Catalog, 2020 - 2021, University Of Texas At Tyler

Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Process Factors Affecting Reperfusion Time In Patients Presenting With St-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (Stemi), Richard R. Wall

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract PROCESS FACTORS AFFECTING REPERFUSION TIME IN PATIENTS

PRESENTING WITH ST-SEGMENT ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION (STEMI) By Richard R. Wall MSRS, RT(R)(CT)(CI), RCIS

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2020.

Dissertation Chair: Jeffrey S. Legg Ph.D. Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Radiation Sciences

An ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) occurs when the blood flow to the myocardium is suddenly and completely blocked causing the myocardium to become ischemic. A STEMI is a life-threatening condition that necessitates emergent medical treatment. Research has shown that longer …

Can Copyright Law Protect People From Sexual Harassment?, Edward Lee

Emory Law Journal

The scandals stemming from the sexual harassment allegedly committed by Harvey Weinstein, Roger Ailes, Les Moonves, Matt Lauer, Bill O’Reilly, Charlie Rose, Bryan Singer, Kevin Spacey, and many other prominent figures in the creative industries show the ineffectiveness of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace, in protecting artists and others in the creative industries. Among other deficiencies, Title VII does not protect independent contractors and limits recovery to, at most, $300,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. Since many people who work in the creative industries, including the top actors, do …

Resurrecting Magnuson-Moss Rulemaking: The Ftc At A Data Security Crossroads, Ian M. Davis

Emory Law Journal

Welcome to the digital age, where consumer data is more valuable than gold. In this era of information, companies treat personal data as a prized commodity, leveraging its potential to boost business and engage an ever-growing number of customers. Yet when companies fail to protect the sensitive data that they hold, consumers are left with few avenues to obtain redress for the harms they may have suffered. In an effort to protect consumers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been policing inadequate data security practices since the early 2000s. Using its broad authority under Section 5 of the Federal Trade …

Judging Hypocrisy, Todd E. Pettys

Emory Law Journal

Editorialists, politicians, and others sometimes accuse U.S. Supreme Court Justices of hypocrisy, especially when they believe that divisions among the Justices are the product of partisan loyalties rather than good-faith differences in impartial legal judgment. These hypocrisy charges pose a serious threat to the Court’s legitimacy. In legal circles and elsewhere, however, one finds a remarkable lack of clarity about what hypocrisy is and the moral precepts that define its boundaries. As a result, participants in public discourse about the Court can easily find themselves talking past one another. To be assured that the Justices are not hypocrites with respect …

A Framework For Strategic Decision-Making In Construction Professional Service Firms, Oluwasegun O. Seriki

Doctoral

The construction sector plays a crucial role in the global economy, having critical importance to economic growth, social inclusion and employment. In Ireland, the sector generates a combined value of over €20 billion per annum, with 144,000 persons directly employed in the sector, which is forecasted to grow by 3.9% in 2019. The sector is also hugely complex due to the diverse range of output, from productive infrastructure (roads, railways etc.) to residential (both public and private) and the numerous stakeholders involved throughout its intricate supply chain. The sector is highly susceptible to cyclical economic patterns, making it more challenging …

Strategic Decision-Making In A Turbulent Business Environment: A Dynamic Capabilities Framework For Quantity Surveying Professional Service Firms In Ireland, Michael Adesi

Doctoral

The construction industry contributes significantly to the socio-economic development of nations through infrastructure development, and job creation culminating into the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Quantity Surveying Professional Service Firms (QSPSFs) play a critical role in the construction industry by ensuring that projects are delivered within cost, required quality and duration by providing technical and knowledge-intensive services to clients, contractors and stakeholders. Irish QSPSFs are facing challenges such as tender price inflation, intense competition, a skills shortage and disruptive technology. These challenges coupled with the cyclicality of the sector create a turbulent business environment for Irish QSPSFs, yet there …

The Integration Between Strategy Formulation And Implementationin Construction Contracting Firms In Ireland, Ahmed Hassan

Doctoral

The role of the construction sector in Ireland is critical in terms of the economic and social development however the economic, competitive, and regulatory business environment present a myriad of complexities to firms operating within the sector. The importance of strategic planning for business survival and prosperity has been well documented over several decades of research but there remains a paucity of empirical evidence to determine the in strategic decision-making process under these volatile environmental conditions.This study addresses the perceptible gap in existing knowledge by investigating the characteristics of the strategy strategic decision-making process, strategic choices, and implementation process in …

Ethical Blindspots In Adoption Lawyering, Malinda L. Seymore

University of Richmond Law Review

This Article discusses ethical issues relevant to adoption attorneys, as well as the lessons from behavioral ethics that inform the ethical blind spots common in the practice. The Model Rules for attorneys address a number of areas relevant to the complexitiesof adoption practice. Rules relating to competency and confidentiality, conflicts of interest and dual representation, and the lawyer’s roles as counselor as well as advocate are particularly germane. Although much has been written about the dual representation issue in adoption, other issues of professional responsibility in adoption cases have not been as carefully explored. This Article seeks to remedy that. …

Tailoring Copyright To Protect Artists: Why The United States Needs More Elasticity In Its Protection For Fashion Designs, Robin M. Nagel

University of Richmond Law Review

For as long as copyright protection has existed in the United States, protection has never expressly extended to fashion designs because copyright law categorizes fashion designs as “useful articles” that do not receive any protection. In the eighteenth century, this policy perhaps made sense—most clothing was generic, non-decorative, and required little creativity for many of the everyday garments people wore. Clothing in the eighteenth century was commonly made up of useful articles that served very little purpose outside of their utility. However, in today’s society, fashion has transformed into an industry that prizes creativity, ingenuity, innovation, and something more than …

Attrition In Online And Face-To-Face Calculus And Precalculus Courses: A Comparative Analysis, Sarah Ferguson

STEMPS Faculty Publications

A multitude of online courses are available that provide opportunities for students to meet their higher education needs, goals, and desires in a nontraditional school setting. But, from a content specific perspective, how are students performing in online courses compared to their face-to-face counterparts? This study seeks to examine the attrition rates of online calculus and precalculus students relative to their face-to-face peers in an effort to expand the study of online mathematics pedagogy while providing course-specific data. Several studies have been conducted to explore attrition rates in relation to student demographics, STEM fields, and online course structure, but these …

Systematic Review Of Adaptive Learning Research Designs, Context, Strategies, And Technologies From 2009 To 2018, Florence Martin, Yan Chen, Robert L. Moore, Carl D. Westine

STEMPS Faculty Publications

This systematic review of research on adaptive learning used a strategic search process to synthesize research on adaptive learning based on publication trends, instructional context, research methodology components, research focus, adaptive strategies, and technologies. A total of 61 articles on adaptive learning were analyzed to describe the current state of research and identify gaps in the literature. Descriptive characteristics were recorded, including publication patterns, instructional context, and research methodology components. The count of adaptive learning articles published fluctuated across the decade and peaked in 2015. During this time, the largest concentration of adaptive learning articles appeared in Computers and Education. …