Towards Effective Delivery Of Digital Interventions For Mental And Behavioral Health, Varun Mishra

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

The pervasiveness of sensor-rich mobile, wearable, and IoT devices has enabled researchers to passively sense various user traits and characteristics, which in turn have the potential to detect and predict different mental and behavioral health outcomes. Upon detecting or anticipating a negative outcome, the same devices can be used to deliver in-the-moment interventions and support to help users. One important factor that determines the effectiveness of digital health interventions is delivering them at the right time: (1) when a person needs support, i.e., at or before the onset of a negative outcome, or a psychological or contextual state that might …

Autoethnography On Teaching During A Pandemic, Kelsey Ufford

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted and changed teaching strategies in a young adolescent science classroom and how the pandemic changed personal ideas around online learning. Prior research shows how online learning can be implemented successfully in collegiate classrooms, but it is rare to find research that shows how to successfully implement online learning in a young adolescent classroom. This point of view is from a rural, Iowa middle school standpoint and data was collected through the use of personal journals, emails, and a timeline from March 2020 and May 2020. After the …

Demographic Study On Smartphone Preference Among Students In Nigerian Universities, Adekunle Simon Ayo, Dimowo Oiza Lauren

Malaysian Journal of Computing (MJoC)

This study investigated smartphone preference among undergraduate and postgraduate students in Nigerian universities. Specifically, the study examined the extent to which students’ demographic attributes such as gender, age, usage experience and educational level influence their preference for smartphones. The study also identified and ranked smartphone brands based on selected factors like brand name, brand attachment, perceived usefulness, social influence, price, aesthetic value and product design and features. A cross-sectional survey research design was used for the study. The study population comprised all full-time university students in Nigeria both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Questionnaire was designed and electronically administered using …

Evaluating Household Food, Energy, And Water Environmentally Oriented Anti-Consumption In The Us: Toward A Comprehensive Theory Synthesis, Jacob Slattery

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Introduction – Everyday household activities using food, energy, and water (FEW) resources consumed in the US have perpetually contributed a large amount of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, amplifying the effects of climate change globally. These actions are embedded and routinized effectively at the individual level, resulting in habits inert to changes in household FEW behaviors more friendly to socio-environmental impacts. Public and voluntary policies could help shift perceptions of FEW household conservation, but a gap in environmental political and psychological research reveals a deficit in evidence examining the antecedents of the moral or personal norm concept.

Objective – The …

Quaring Sorority Life: Identity Negotiation Of Queer Women Of Color In Culturally-Based Sororities, Antonio Duran, Crystal E. Garcia

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Using quare theory as a theoretical framework and critical narrative inquiry as a methodology, researchers centered the stories of 20 queer Women of Color affiliated with culturally based sororities. Participants spoke about how they perceived gendered and heterosexist norms in their sororities and how they negotiated their identities in these environments. Findings reveal that queer Women of Color made crucial decisions regarding their identity negotiation while in the process of joining their organizations. Moreover, some participants articulated how, once affiliated, they strategically minimized attention to their sexuality and gender, while others asserted these identities to disrupt hegemonic norms.

Critically Examining The Experiences Of Queer People Of Color In Culturally-Based Sororities And Fraternities, Antonio Duran, Crystal Eufemia Garcia, Hannah Lee Reyes

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Guided by Queer of Color critique as a theoretical framework, this research project investigated the experiences of Queer People of Color in culturally-based sororities and fraternities (CBSFs). Engaging in a secondary analysis of two critical narrative inquiry studies (one focused on Queer Men of Color and the other on Queer Women of Color), we examined how systems of power and oppression manifested across CBSFs. In addition, we interrogated how Queer People of Color practiced agency when faced with oppressive settings. Findings revealed the politics of disclosure given anti-Black histories and religious origins of organizations, the different ways organizations regulated gender …

Owning Educational Change In Korean Schools: Three Driving Forces Behind Sustainable Change (Excerpt), International Education News, Taeyeon Kim, Minseok Yang, Sunbin Lim

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

“Can the innovative educational changes imposed by the pandemic be sus-tained for the long-term?” That’s the question that Taeyeon Kim, Minseok Yang, and Sunbin Lim ask in the third commentary in a series launched by Corrie Stone-Johnson and the Journal of Educational Change. This question builds on the first commentary in that series by Yong Zhao and Jim Watterston – “The changes we need post-Covid” and the sec-ond “What can change in schools after the pandemic?” by Thomas Hatch. This week’s post provides an excerpt from the third commentary, highlight-ing they key lessons and implications from the pandemic experiences of …

Owning Educational Change In Korean Schools: Three Driving Forces Behind Sustainable Change, Taeyeon Kim, Minseok Yang, Sunbin Lim

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

In this essay, we discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic drove key changes in schooling and what forces can sustain these changes. Responding to the argument that COVID-19-driven changes may not be sustainable, this essay offers a counter narrative from the Korean context, in which educators re-visited existing school systems and re-constructed policies and teaching practices to fill the educational vacuum caused by the pandemic. This essay specifically builds on interviews conducted with Korean educators throughout the 2020 school year during COVID-19. First, we discuss ownership of educational change as reflected in educators’ narratives. We then explore three driving forces behind …

Exploring The Diagnostic Journey Of A Preschool-Aged Female: A Retrospective Case Study, Lindsay Nicole Crafton

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to investigate the diagnostic route of a preschool-aged female initially suspected of having ASD with communication deficits and explore her journey to seek and receive services. In any diagnostic experience, it is imperative that caregivers understand the steps to seek appropriate evaluations and receive necessary services to improve their child’s quality of life. While there are some systemic procedures in place aimed to identify children with communication disorders or other developmental concerns such as ASD early; the ultimate responsibility falls on the caregiver to follow up and follow through. Although diagnostic criteria for …

The Connection Between Body Modification And Personality, Taylor Ann Shoemaker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has been inconsistent in its findings regarding the associations between body modifications (e.g., piercings, tattoos, augmentation, scarification, split tongue) and the Big Five personality traits (i.e., openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism). All traits have been found to be significantly correlated with body modification in at least one study, but their significance differed from study to study. The purpose of the current study was to examine the associations between body modification and each domain of personality concurrently to add to the literature surrounding differences between modified and unmodified individuals. To participate in this study, participants were asked …

There Is Nothing Certain But Uncertainty: Manipulation Of Uncertainty And Its Association With Worry And Intolerance Of Uncertainty, Casey E. Brugh

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Intolerance of uncertainty is related to a variety of clinical and nonclinical concepts including clinical and nonclinical levels of worry (Buhr & Dugas, 2002) as well as several disorders, including general anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social anxiety disorder (Einstein et al., 2014). Since it has been found to be a transdiagnostic concept, research has suggested that it could be a target of intervention (Dugas & Ladouceur, 2000). However, little research about the manipulation of uncertainty exists. This study sought to examine how manipulation of uncertainty in a vignette-based intervention alters individuals’ levels of global worry, as well …

Black And Hispanic Student Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of The Career Academy Model, Holly Bernard

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Education reform has been at the forefront of policymakers’ plans since 1817 with the founding of the Connecticut Asylum at Hartford for Deaf and Dumb Persons. Over the following 200 years, various social and economic shifts have increased policymakers' focus on the purpose of education and how institutions can develop contributing members to society. Globalization demands countries to have a well-educated workforce, and in the United States today, education reform has focused on expanding educational opportunities that lead to positive economic growth for individuals and nations as a whole through innovative practices. In short, access to quality education and experience …

Personal Technology Use, Social Media, And Daily Affect In Emerging Adults, William Crabtree

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Personal social and communication technology has been widely adopted by the world in the 21^st century. With this widespread worldwide adoption, significant controversy exists debating the effects these social technologies have. Specifically, there is a strong debate in the scientific literature over the psychological effects of social technologies, smartphones, and social media usage. Some arguments are made that modern technology can help improve psychological well-being, whilst others claim it has destroyed a generation of adolescents and merging adults. The present thesis aims to address this debate by exploring the current research from a variety of methodologies about social technology …

Cultivation Theory: Media Effects Toward Consumer Evaluations Of The Criminal Courts, Lindsey Dale Elliott

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

A substantial body of literature connects media effects to consumer perceptions of the criminal justice system. Research on the topic of cultivation theory has highlighted that an increased fear of crime within the general populace, due to an exaggeration of violence and criminal activity in the mass media, has spurred increased support for punitive policing, harsher sentencing, and positive feelings toward capital punishment. However, no research exists to explicate the cultivation of consumer perceptions toward the criminal courts. This study examines the impact of media consumption through television, the internet, and social media on consumer evaluations of the criminal courts. …

The Role Of Parental Generation And Parenting Style With Respect To Work Ethic Of The Millennial Generation, Ember Campbell

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This study investigated the possible relationships between parental generation, parenting style, gender, and the work ethic of the Millennial generation. Millennial participants’ work ethic was determined using the Multidimensional Work Ethic Profile (MWEP), with the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) being utilized to determine the parenting style experienced by the 385 participants that comprised the study sample. First, the study investigated the possible difference between parental generation and the work ethic of the Millennial. Second, the study explored the possible difference between parenting style experienced and the work ethic of the Millennial. Finally, the study examined the possible difference between …

School Violence And Its Impact On Student Academic Achievement, Kewanis Kennedy

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the occurrence of school violence and its impact on academic success and attendance. This study will encompass K-12 academic institutions in the state of Kentucky during the 2018-2019 academic school year, with an in-depth analysis of data submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education by the 171 participating school districts. The participating schools shared data in the form of disciplinary actions, attendance, graduation rates, academic achievement, and other relevant demographics. The collected data was analyzed to determine if there was a statistically significant difference among attendance rate, graduation rate, math ACT benchmark scores, and English ACT benchmark …

Monitoring Relationships Between Corticosterone And Snake Fungal Disease In Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Horridus) In Western Kentucky, John Bromley Hewlett

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Over the past four decades, emergent fungal diseases have been the most devastating relative to species declines and extinctions. While most research has focused on fungal diseases affecting amphibians and bats, less has focused on diseases like snake fungal disease (SFD), caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Oo). SFD was first described in 2006 in North America within a Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) population in New Hampshire. Since then SFD has been documented in 19 US states, one US territory (Puerto Rico), and Europe. SFD causes high mortality in some species, including the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus …

An Evaluation Of College Preparedness On Natural Selection Principles Following The Completion Of An Entry-Level Biology Course, Amy Bell

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Evolution education in secondary education has long been a topic of research. The level of knowledge and acceptance of students upon entering college has been studied using various methods; however, no study had provided the perception of preparedness from the student perspective nor had analyzed the individual Natural Selection principles. This study analyzed college freshmen (n=162) in an entry-level BIO 101 course. Participants were given the Conceptual Inventory of Natural Selection Instrument (CINSI) and perception survey questions upon completion of the course. The CINSI data was then analyzed for each of the four Natural Selection principles as well as …

Perceptions Of Covid-19, Information Seeking Behavior, And Political Orientation, Bailey Dodd, Sean Rife

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

COVID-19 was declared an international pandemic in March 2020 and infected millions of people globally in less than six months. Research suggests that a large amount of both accurate and misinformation exists on the pandemic, and it would be expected that an individual’s political orientation would influence their perception of the virus and the information that they endorse. Based on past research, it would be expected that both liberals and conservatives would be equally concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic and endorse similar measures. However, Republicans downplayed the pandemic and were more likely to consider it a hoax, while Democrats exaggerated …

Understanding Resilience And Protective Factors Among Released Offenders, Vanke'via Garner

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 650,000 offenders are being released from prison or jail per year in the USA. After incarceration, released offenders encounter a myriad of challenges that prohibit successful transition into the community. Research has focused on the risk factors that contribute to recidivism – relapse into criminal activity, with limited focus on protective factors that contribute to desistance from criminal activity. Existing research has relied on several theories to hypothesize and explain the causes of desistance, with research suggesting that individual subjective factors and social factors are essential to the desistance process. This study was therefore guided by two theories – …

The Impacts Of Social Capital And Grit On Student Success In Higher Education, Jillian Davidson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study will examine social capital, grit, and student success individually and how these components impact student success in higher education. A correlation test was run to determine a connection between social capital and grit. An ANOVA was assessed to determine the impacts social capital and grit have on student success in higher education based on a survey distributed to undergraduate students at a four-year university. Measuring social capital, grit, and student success in higher education and determining the impacts on student success will encourage educators to provide opportunities for cognitive and non-cognitive prospects for students in higher education.

Keywords …

Work Ethic And Productivity: The Mediating Role Of Leadership, Everly Tapp

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Employee work ethic and workplace productivity are vital for organizational success. Past research has shown leadership style to be influential on both, with the manager-employee relationship impacting employee’s attitude and output in the workplace. This study investigated the relationship between employee work ethic and workplace productivity, while also examining the impact of transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership styles on agriculture equipment dealership employees. The leadership style of service managers, as measured by the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) (5x-Short), was compared to the workplace productivity and work ethic scores of the service technicians they manage. Service technician workplace productivity data was …

Retention And The Sophomore Slump: Understanding Whether Campus Residency Predicts Retention Of Sophomore College Students, Raglena Salmans

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Retention in higher education is an ongoing challenge in America. Traditional research claims a multitude of reasons for freshman college students to stop out, drop out, or transfer colleges. The term sophomore slump was created many years ago as an all-encompassing phrase for the large amount of students who do not return to campus for their sophomore year or end up leaving during the sophomore year. Institutions of higher education are on a continuous journey to retain students and to understand what the cause of students leaving their university is. Campus housing has morphed through the years to provide programming …

Second Thoughts On Fda's Covid-Era Mental Health App Policy, Michael Mattioli

Articles by Maurer Faculty

As the coronavirus pandemic swept across the globe in April 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made an unusual decision. The agency announced that it would relax its enforcement of compliance rules for “digital therapeutics”—smartphone apps designed to address mental health disorders. The measure was a response to widely reported upticks in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse brought on by the pandemic. As an added benefit, the agency explained, digital therapeutics could promote social distancing by removing patients’ need to visit health care providers.

This essay explores the possible lasting effects of the FDA’s temporary suspension …

Social Connectedness And Negative Affect Uniquely Explain Individual Differences In Response To Emotional Ambiguity, Maital Neta, Rebecca L. Brock

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Negativity bias is not only central to mood and anxiety disorders, but can powerfully impact our decision-making across domains (e.g., financial, medical, social). This project builds on previous work examining negativity bias using dual-valence ambiguity. Specifically, although some facial expressions have a relatively clear negative (angry) or positive valence (happy), surprised expressions are interpreted negatively by some and positively by others, providing insight into one’s valence bias. Here, we examine putative sources of variability that distinguish individuals with a more negative versus positive valence bias using structural equation modeling. Our model reveals that one’s propensity toward negativity (operationalized as temperamental …

Implementation Of Brain Breaks® In The Classroom And Its Effects On Attitudes Towards Physical Activity In A Chinese School Setting, Ke Zhou, Sensen He, Yanli Zhou, Biljana Popeska, Garry Kuan, Li Chen, Ming Kai Chin, Magdalena Mo Ching Mok, Christopher R. Edginton, Ian Culpan, J. Larry Durstine

Faculty Publications

This study aimed to examine the effects of three-months of classroom-based Brain Breaks Physical Activity Solution (Brain Breaks®) on attitudes toward physical activity levels of primary school children in Henan Province, China. The participants were 704 children enrolled in grades 3-5 who were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group participated in Brain Breaks® video intervention for 3-5 min daily, at low-to-moderate intensity for three consecutive months. The control group resumed their normal routine. The children’s attitudes in both groups towards physical activity (PA) were evaluated using the self-reported Attitudes toward Physical Activity Scale …

An Analysis Of Soccer Referee Demographics And Motivational Factors In The Western Kentucky Soccer Officials Association, Daniel Hasko

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Through a lens of the Knowledge Gap Theory of Mass Communication and the consideration of Media Framing Theory, this research examined the demographics of soccer referees in the Western Kentucky Soccer Officials Association, in addition to the leading motivations for beginning, continuing, and leaving their officiating vocation. With the knowledge of the aforementioned, this paper aimed to lay the groundwork for a strategic communication plan in the officiating community that addresses the alarming trend that is a lack of certified referees in youth athletics. The data was collected through online surveys that were distributed to active referees in the Western …

Examining The Relationship Between Inclusivity And Well-Being In The Gender, Sexual, And Romantic Minority Community, Sarah E. Weekes

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Research has established that higher levels of inclusivity promote increased levels of well-being in GSRM populations (Yoder & Mattheis, 2016); however, there is a lack of research exploring a moderating effect of psychological flexibility on this relationship. Previous research has also demonstrated that psychological flexibility is related to increased quality of life (Walloch & Hill, 2016); however, the relationship between psychological flexibility and inclusivity remains largely unexplored in GSRM populations. The purpose of this study was to explore how inclusivity, psychological distress, and psychological flexibility correlate with well-being among a sample of 198 individuals who identify as GSRM. This study …

Social-Emotional Learning And Its Relationship To High School Student Academic Achievement In Stem Courses, Maurice Lavelle Mcdougald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of high school student social-emotional learning and its relationship to academic achievement in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) courses as moderated by gender and racial groups and within a rural school in the Sandhills area of North Carolina. Using a quasi-experimental variable-centered design, 202 Junior Reserve Officer Corps students participated in this research. The researcher sought to answer: (1) Do individual high school students' self-perceptions of social-emotional learning skills influence academic achievement in traditional STEM courses? (2) Are there significant variations of individual high school students' self-perception of social-emotional learning …

Restorative Approaches To Intimate Partner Violence And Sexual Harm, Donna Coker (Ed.)

Articles

No abstract provided.