Digital Commons Network^™

Identifying The Agricultural Mechanics Knowledge And Skills Needed By Kentucky Agriculture Teachers, Thomas Poole Jr

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The agricultural industry increasingly relies on complex machinery and technology, creating a need for skilled workers that are proficient in agricultural mechanics. School-based Agricultural Education (SBAE) programs play a crucial role in preparing students for careers in this field. However, many agriculture teachers feel unprepared to teach agricultural mechanics due to gaps in technical skills, self-efficacy concerns, and safety considerations. This study sought to determine the agricultural mechanics knowledge and skills that Kentucky agriculture teachers need to successfully teach agricultural mechanics in SBAE programs across the state. Using Wells et al.'s (2021) Agricultural Teacher Education and Agricultural Industry Partnership Model …

Master Of Disguise: Humor, Disguise, And Performance Anxiety, Jordan Pearsall

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study examined humorous facial disguise in relation to social anxiety during a speech task. Social anxiety is characterized by a strong desire to present a positive image of oneself to others, while simultaneously doubting one’s ability to do so (Clark & Wells, 1995). Performance anxiety is a subtype of social anxiety that affects individuals in various performative contexts, to include public speaking. Previous research has examined the relationship between social anxiety and facial concealment through face-masking (Karimi 2024; Saint & Moscovitch, 2021), concluding that facial concealment can serve as a safety behavior intended to reduce social anxiety. Further, humor …

Managing Campus Dissent: An Assessment Of University Responses To Pro-Palestinian Protests, Kathryn S. Walker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

University leaders face challenges navigating student dissent and effectively upholding free speech while encouraging students to view the world from a new perspective. Higher education institutions employ a variety of strategies to handle campus crises and mitigate negative perceptions that may arise. This qualitative research study provides insight into the crisis communication strategies employed by university administrators at ten institutions with the highest number of pro-Palestinian protest days from October 7, 2023, to May 29, 2024, through the analysis of university statements and student newspaper responses. Campus leaders found themselves in a challenging position, unable to satisfy all constituencies. Each …

Assessing The Behavioral And Health Effects Of Turtle Racing On Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene Carolina Carolina), Michelle Weaver

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

To make informed management decisions regarding box turtles (Terrapene spp.) and other turtle species, one must understand what influences them at multiple levels of biological organization. Common influences include the pet trade, urbanization, habitat degradation, and disease. One factor that has not been studied but could influence turtles at multiple levels of biological organization is turtle racing. It is common practice to use wild caught turtles at these events because there is a lack of regulation and enforcement. My study focused on evaluating the effects of turtle racing on eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina; hereafter EBTs) …

The Role Of Educational Administrators In Shaping School Culture, Bo B. Culver

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This qualitative multiple-case study explored the role of educational administrators in shaping and sustaining positive school culture across three high schools in Alabama: a suburban public school, a rural public school, and a private Christian academy. Guided by transformational and ethical leadership theories, the study examined how administrators influence school climate, navigate challenges, and respond to external pressures. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and cultural artifact review. Findings revealed that administrators who modeled ethical leadership, maintained visibility, and fostered relational trust were more effective in cultivating inclusive, resilient, and values-driven school cultures. Shared leadership practices and …

Bridging Diversity And Discipline: Stakeholder Perceptions Of Dei And Technical Rigor In Agriculture Education, David A. Yarbrough

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

School-based agricultural education (SBAE) serves as a foundational model for preparing students through classroom instruction, Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), and FFA involvement. This study examined the perceptions of Georgia high school agricultural educators regarding how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives impact technical rigor and traditional agricultural knowledge within SBAE programs. Educators reported that DEI efforts did not compromise technical rigor, and traditional elements, such as SAE and FFA, remained central to program success. These findings suggest that inclusion and tradition can coexist, with DEI seen as a complement rather than a conflict with SBAE goals. The results provide valuable …

Alabama Agriculture Teachers’ Perceptions Toward Compensation And Extended Contracts, Allison Kincer

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to explore Alabama agriculture teachers’ perceptions toward compensation and extended contract grants that the state offers annually. The current study was a microreplication of Still and Solomonson’s (2024) prior study and was conceptually framed by their agriculture teacher compensation model. Using a Qualtrics-based data collection instrument, the researcher used multiple points of contact as recommended by Dillman et al. (2014) and collected usable data from 95 Alabama agriculture teachers. The researcher used descriptive statistics to analyze all data collected as part of the current study. The researcher found that respondents felt they …

Transforming Workforce Pipelines: Equity, Credentialing, And Drone-Integrated Apprenticeships In Missouri, Linda S. Stinson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how Missouri integrates drone technology into Registered Youth Apprenticeship and Career and Technical Education programs to develop equitable, credentialed pathways into high-skill careers. Grounded in Human Capital Theory, Credential Signaling Theory, and Transformational Leadership Theory, the research explores how emerging technologies intersect with labor market demands, credential access, and instructional leadership. The literature review highlights both national and international models of scalable apprenticeship systems, emphasizing the role of intermediaries, credential alignment, and early STEM exposure. Missouri’s initiatives, including the Top Drone Academy, serve as a case model for workforce-aligned innovation, yet challenges persist in infrastructure, teacher certification, …

Developing Cultural Intelligence Skills At Gracepoint International Church In Gastonia, North Carolina, Sumner Brichelle Rhodes

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Churches across the globe are constantly being reshaped by issues of interculturality, global migration and questions of power and belonging. As churches deal with these dynamics, in our globalized world, it is important for them to have the tools and skills necessary to lovingly reach out to people of all cultures and differences. Reaching people of diverse backgrounds is a part of the Central Commission that Christ commanded for His Church in Matthew 28:19-20. This project explores how developing a high Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is essential for the Church. CQ can help churches lovingly connect with and embrace people of …

Mineralization, Characterization And Selective Degradation Of Lignocellulosic Biocomposite Materials, Steven A. Soini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Developing novel functional materials, chemicals and biofuels from renewable plant sources has become a main area of focus within material science. The biosphere contains naturally occurring polymers that can be harvested to this end. Lignocellulosic materials are an important class of plant biomass consisting of three main components, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Wood has an inherent 3D hierarchical structure ranging from the nano- to bulk levels of organization, thereby achieving excellent mechanical properties while maintaining high porosity and low specific density. It carries significant promise for the production of chemicals, refinement of biofuels, and the development of novel functional materials. …

The Observer & The Observed, Azarakhsh Shafieikadkani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This thesis examines the concept of the gaze and its role in shaping identity, particularly in relation to marginalized genders, including women and non-binary individuals. Rooted in feminist and psychoanalytic theories, the research interrogates the power dynamics between the viewer and the viewed, exposing the ways in which patriarchal structures influence visual representation. Drawing from personal experiences of growing up in Iran and the complexities of immigration, the project critically engages with how societal norms manipulate identities and reinforce objectification. Through experimental photography, I distort and deconstruct the human form using materials such as hair gel on plexiglass and matte …

The Practice Of The Communal Pot -Olla Común- By Low-Income Women As A Strategy To Face Hunger On The North Coast Of Peru, Ricardo M. Sabogal-Suji

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, the ancient practice of the communal pot (olla común) has become even more popular. This consists of neighbors spontaneously organizing themselves to collect food to cook for needy people. Peru is characterized by informality and ontological precarity that persist over time regardless of the political context, leading to endemic food insecurity. The pandemic crisis further aggravated the situation of Peruvians, leading the Peruvian government to support the growing communal pots that had traditionally been autonomous. The food crisis has persisted in post-pandemic times, which is why communal pots have multiplied, many of them becoming, …

The Effect Of Political Ideology On The Persuasiveness Of Gainvs. Loss-Framed Climate Change Messages: Testing Competing Hypotheses, Sada Rice

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Motivating climate change mitigation is a critical priority. This study examined how message framing (gain vs. loss) interacts with political ideology to influence persuasion. Two competing hypotheses were tested. The Regulatory Focus Fit Hypothesis predicted that liberals (promotion-oriented) would prefer gain-framed messages, while conservatives (prevention-oriented) would prefer loss-framed ones. The Differential Context Hypothesis predicted the opposite: liberals would respond better to loss frames due to alignment with threat-based media narratives, while conservatives would prefer gain frames due to lower reactance and perceived novelty. Messages were also tailored to match individual regulatory focus or the broader political context. Results did not …

Investigating Treatment Planning Parameters For Proton Arc Technique In Pencil Beam Scanning (Pbs) Proton Therapy, Umesh Rana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Proton arc pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy is a novel approach to treating complex cancer in the field of radiation therapy. It provides conformal dose coverage to the CTV while reducing dose to healthy tissues. Unlike traditional proton therapy modalities, such as intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT), which primarily relies on static beam delivery, proton arc utilizes a rotational approach to irradiate the tumor from a multitude of angles, utilizing an arc of proton beams. The successful clinical implementation of proton arc PBS technology necessitates the development and validation of advanced treatment planning optimization algorithms and treatment planning techniques to …

Investigating The Portrayal Of Native Americans In Florida’S K-12 Social Studies/History Textbooks: A Critical Content Analysis, Marisa Miceli Schnirman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Textbook bias is an enduring and contentious issue in the United States. U.S. textbooks have long been criticized for perpetuating bias and reinforcing dominant narratives that marginalize minority groups, such as members of Indigenous nations. This study confirms that biases continue to exist in textbooks and promote the harmful narrative that Indigenous peoples are people of the past. This narrative undermines the survivance (Vizenor, 1998), contributions, and very existence of Indigenous peoples. Using a critical lens, this content analysis examines the portrayal of Indigenous peoples in select fourth-grade, eighth-grade, and high school social studies and history texts used in Florida …

Cultivating Mindsets Of Persistence: Experiences Of Undergraduate Women Students In Stem Programs At A Public Research University, Etina Qirjo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

In the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), women's representation is disproportionately low across high school, higher education, and professional sectors. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the factors influencing the persistence of undergraduate women STEM students at a public university by identifying available resources, uncovering obstacles and investigating their personal experiences. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with a sample of 12 female participants enrolled as undergraduates in STEM majors at a public university. The research design chosen for the study was qualitative, focusing on stories from women’s experiences that provide an understanding of what …

Essays On Entrepreneurial Funding In The Era Of Fintech Innovation, Robert S. Reardon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Equity crowdfunding introduces a contemporary framework for the longstanding practice of aggregating capital from diverse groups of investors, ranging from small individual contributors to large, accredited participants. Specialized digital platforms facilitate this capital assembly process by intermediating transactions between entrepreneurs seeking financing and investors, who receive financial securities in return for their contributions. This fundraising mechanism gained prominence in the United States following the implementation of Title III of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act in 2016, which established regulatory frameworks permitting companies to publicly solicit investments online from diverse investor pools.

While equity crowdfunding has expanded capital accessibility, …

The Meaning Of Spiritual Practices For Caregivers Of Children With Cancer In Thailand: A Heideggerian Phenomenological Study, Wipawee Ponkaew

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Caring for children with cancer may bring short and long-term challenges to families due to added healthcare activities focused on the ill child or adolescent. Among available resources and support strategies, religiosity/ spirituality (R/S) have been increasingly identified as a source of comfort.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience and interpret the findings of spiritual practices for caregivers of children with cancer in Thailand. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit participants, with semi-structured interviews. Swanson’s Theory of Caring provided the theoretical underpinning of the study, and Deikelmann’s seven-stage process was adapted for …

Embodied Liminality: The Ritual-Drama Nexus In Pan-Tribal Native American Dance And Theatrical Performances, Oscar Pereira

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This study examines the intersection of ritual, drama, and liminality in pantribal Native American dance performances, emphasizing embodied liminality as a performative process shaping cultural continuity, identity transformation, and communal reinforcement.

Using an interdisciplinary methodology that integrates archival research, visual anthropology, and qualitative analysis, this study investigates three case studies: (1) the Ghost Dance movement as a liminal ritual of resistance and cultural revitalization; (2) pan-tribal powwows as sites of embodied liminality and cultural revitalization, and (3) contemporary Native American theater, analyzing theatrical plays through the lens of liminality, visual anthropology, theater and performance methodologies.

Examining embodied liminality in historical …

Clinical Validation Of Delivery Analysis Software For Patient-Specific Quality Assurance Of Radixact (Tomotherapy) Treatment, Gagandeep Pama

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) performance for various disease sites treated with the Radixact machine using Gamma (γ) passing rate analysis (%GP) as per AAPM TG-218.

This study analyzed 22 PSQA plans executed on a Radixact machine using ArcCheck phantom and delivery analysis (DA) software. The %GP was calculated using a 3% dose difference (DD), a 2 mm distance-to-agreement (DTA), and a 10% threshold. A passing criterion of ≥95% was applied for PSQA evaluation.

The %GP was analyzed for all sites. The %GP (2D) on the ArcCheck phantom mean γ passing …

Fictional Prophecies: How Kazuo Ishiguro’S Never Let Me Go And Olivia Wilde’S Don’T Worry Darling Foreshadow The Threats Of Biotech And Metaverse Realities, Taylor Pack

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This thesis intends to embrace conversations about technological advancements and create space for examining the ways in which popular technologies of the 2020s are the beginning of a dangerous future for marginalized bodies if gone unchecked and under-regulated. This paper investigates the ways in which modern forms of technology are at risk of mimicking the novel Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and the film Don’t Worry Darling, directed by Olivia Wilde dystopias and argues the need for more conscious consumerism of technology and media alike to acknowledge the ways in which the control of women’s bodies is a …

Determining The Pubertal Age Of Female Subadults Within The New Mexico Decedent Image Database, Jessica Destiny Parenti

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Adolescence marks a critical period of social and biological transition, characterized by the onset of puberty—a pivotal milestone indicating sexual maturity. Shapland and Lewis (2013, 2014) proposed a method for tracking pubertal stages within the skeleton, encompassing observations of various skeletal developments such as the mandibular canine, hamate bone, distal radius, phalanges, and cervical vertebrae 3-5. This study analyzes the pubertal stages in 26 subadult females, aged eight to 20, from the New Mexico Decedent Image Database. By integrating the extensive background information provided by the New Mexico Decedent Image Database, this study explores the factors influencing the onset of …

Groundwater Variability Under Climate Change: Influence Of Precipitation, Evapotranspiration And Sea Level Rise, Anushi Obeysekera

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Expected changes to climate, including longer and drier periods of drought, extreme rainfall events, increased temperatures, and sea level rise, are expected to significantly impact groundwater conditions in the surficial aquifer system, especially along coastlines. A coupled model approach was used linking an Evapotranspiration (ET)-Recharge model to SEAWAT to highlight groundwater variability across an area of interest. The ET-Recharge model is used to develop groundwater recharge and maximum potential groundwater ET based on rainfall and Reference ET scenarios. Groundwater recharge and maximum potential groundwater ET are then used as input into a SEAWAT model to assess changes in groundwater levels …

Examining Relationships Between Sediment Nutrients And Halodule Wrightii In The Southern Indian River Lagoon, Sarah Newton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

In the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), FL, seagrasses have declined 58% since 2009, largely due to eutrophication. Efforts to improve IRL water quality are ongoing, but there has been a lag in seagrass recovery, with Halodule wrightii being the focus of restoration efforts. Because seagrasses uptake nutrients through their rhizomes and blades, this lag may be associated with undocumented pore water nutrient pollution. Thus, deciphering relationships between sediment nutrients and H. wrightii is necessary. In this study, sampling at nine sites in the southern IRL (SIRL) was conducted in spring and summer 2024 during which H. wrightii tissue, sediment, and …

Oasis, Parinaz Moghadampour

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This exhibition is about the media, the mesmerizing effects of tech-driven advertisements and their impact on consumerism, and global disasters as the consequences of this phenomenon. This is a critique of technology's immense expansion of advertising's reach. With the advent of the Internet, social media, and mobile devices, advertisers reach a global audience instantly. Using algorithms, digital advertising platforms allow precise targeting based on demographics, interests, and online behavior. This means that advertisements can be tailored to specific audiences, increasing the chances of reaching the right consumers with the right message. Michel Foucault, the prominent French philosopher and social theorist, …

“This Generation Of Women Is Finished”: Misogyny As Social Bonding On Social Media And Patriarchal Constructions Of Femininity, Emma Mierzejewski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This thesis explores online discourse between users on social media platforms, specifically Instagram, in an effort to better understand the patriarchal influence on American social culture. Users on the platform regularly write off misogynistic comments as simply “dark humor” or an extreme expression of one’s “freedom of speech.” At the same time, supportive comments are also influenced by those same misogynistic expectations. I argue that misogynistic thinking in comments and a willingness to uphold them for social bonding provides deeper insights into our society’s attitudes towards women, their roles, and conceptions of femininity in general. I conducted a content analysis …

The Souls Of Black Ghosts: Centering Intergenerational Trauma Of Black Americans From Harriet Tubman To Beloved, Jasmine Mccray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Intergenerational trauma is being debated and researched in fields such as neuroscience and sociology, and yet many question whether one can genuinely feel the negative effects of a lived experience from a distant ancestor. This project aims to raise awareness on the attempts at erasing Harriet Tubman’s heritage through scholarship on her disability, and to highlight the presence of intergenerational trauma (as defined by Dr. DeGruy’s observations in Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome) in Toni Morrison’s Beloved. I note the ripple effects of chattel slavery in the United States seen in the consciousness and unconsciousness of Black Americans within a …

Gendered Violence And Identities: Exploring The Role Of Violence Against And Abductions Of Women In Cracking India And Lajwanti, Erin Mammel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This article argues that representations of women’s bodies as symbols of honor during the partition of India and Pakistan in Bapsi Sidhwa’s Cracking India and Rajinder Singh Bedi’s Lajwanti frame violence against these bodies, and forced conversions and marriages, as forms of dishonor among religious rivals within split territories, which attempt to uphold men’s nationalistic identities. Many scholars, such as Rachna Mehra and Rituparna Roy, have studied the displacement of recovered and rehabilitated women in these texts. There has been less scholarship, however, that explores gendered forms of violence with Hindu nationalist notions of masculinity. Through the lens of postcolonial …

The Impact Of College And Career Student Success Curriculum And Xello On High School Students’ Self-Efficacy, Academic Motivation, And Academic Performance, Rosemyrtle J. Louis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The study aimed to determine whether the school counselor-led CCSS program (Brigman & Villares, 2015), a curriculum designed to foster cognitive and social-emotional skills, combined with the technological college and career exploration platform, Xello (2019), enhances participating students’ self-efficacy, academic motivation, and academic performance. The CCSS and Xello program consisted of five 45-minute lessons delivered in the classroom by school counselors once a week for five weeks. A quasi-experimental design was utilized with 115 high school students from Southeast Florida assigned to either a treatment group (n = 71) or a control group (n = 44). Pretest and …

The Meta-Portal Fantasy, Alex Lawrynas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The genre of Portal Fantasy seeks to bridge the gap between the primary world and the secondary, its characters often upended from their normal everyday lives in favor of the fantastic. I will be focusing on the genre and the effects of its complexity on its characters. For this I will be looking into the ways in which the portal fantasy is constructed, beginning with a brief introduction of the genre, and moving on to dissecting the ways in which the concept of the portal is navigated, the change and or loss of self that occurs, and finally how the …