Digital Commons Network^™

Bringing Patriarchy To Looksmaxxing: Identification And Exploration Of Strategies To Restabilize The Patriarchy In The Looksmaxxing Community, Mackenzie Grace Freeman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research literature on looksmaxxing is subsumed under the incelosphere, which is acknowledged as a white and male supremacist space. Yet, researchers fail to attend critically to the structure of patriarchy, choosing instead to base their analyses within the mainstream hegemonic masculinity paradigm. Using a Bourdieusian framework, this project fills a gap in the literature by transcending the mainstream paradigm to explain how the looksmaxxing community uses the body as a site of crisis management in response to patriarchal backlash, with the ultimate goal of restabilizing the patriarchy. This project uses a community-led survey from a popular online looksmaxxing community. This …

Trust, Literacy, And Choice: Exploring How Taxpayers Decide Between Self-Preparation And Professional Assistance, Bethany Jo Elam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Each year, taxpayers must decide whether to self-prepare their tax return or hire a tax professional. While the decline in paper filing has made electronic filing the standard, the ease of access to both DIY tax software and tax professionals allows taxpayers to switch between these options each year if they wish. While previous research has focused on tangible predictors such as cost and accuracy, psychological factors, such as trust, remain largely unexplored in the modern tax-filing environment. This study investigates the relationship among perceived tax literacy among taxpayers, various dimensions of trust, and the intention to use tax software. …

Forces Of Movement: How Changing Perceptions Of Slavery And Freedom Affected Black Lives In The Mason-Dixon Borderland, 1861-1872, Rachael B. Nicholas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Mason-Dixon Line, first surveyed between 1763 and 1767, became the symbolic “dividing line” between free and slave states in antebellum America. This perception of the Mason-Dixon Line allowed a larger borderland to grow around it: the Mason-Dixon Borderland, which consisted of northern Maryland, Washington, D.C., southern Pennsylvania, northern Virginia, and the Shenandoah Valley (western Virginia and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia).

Americans used slavery and freedom as referents to make decisions about survival, military policy, politics, and freedom-seeking during the Civil War. Those decisions had consequences for their movement across the Mason-Dixon Borderland, causing it to change as …

Examining Moral Susceptibility In Ai Vs. Human-Assisted Decision-Making, Seth James Fogle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are increasingly integrated into decision-making contexts, yet their influence on ethical judgment remains unclear. This study examines whether advice from an AI advisor, compared to a human advisor, affects moral susceptibility in a consumer decision-making scenario. Using a 2 × 2 between-subjects experimental design (advisor type × price condition), this research tests whether personal agency, perceived objectivity, and diffusion of responsibility operate as psychological mechanisms underlying ethical decision-making.

Results indicate that advisor type did not significantly influence moral susceptibility, nor did it significantly affect the proposed mediators. Additionally, the price condition did not moderate these relationships. …

Facial Aesthetics And The Esthetic Plane: Effects Of Modern Lip Trends, Allison Paige Fritz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate whether there is a difference in aesthetic preferences of lip position between dental professionals and the general public, which we will refer to throughout the paper as lay people. In addition, age and gender differences will be determined to evaluate whether there is a need to re-evaluate the accepted normative values for lips to Esthetic plane (E-plane).

Experimental Design and Methods: A cross sectional, observational study design was used. The study aim was to evaluate the perception and opinions regarding lip position and fullness of both lay people …

Development Of Periodic Plasmonic Nano-Structures For Enhanced Labeled Bio-Sensing Systems, Kyle Zackary Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The biomedical industry has seen sustained growth over the past half century, with a continually increasing demand for flexible, easy-to-use, and cost-effective tools. One large area of commercial interest has been point-of-use or point-of-care diagnostics, using optical based Lab-On-Chip (LOC) style systems. Label and label-free fluorescence detection systems are common benchtop modalities that have seen recent integration into these portable, cost-effective LOC applications. However, despite their maturity, there are still opportunities to improve device characteristics, specifically in reference to throughput, limit-of-detection (LOD), and hybrid integration (along with associated costs).

Optical research avenues at WVU have focused on improving these systems …

The Deposition, Prevalence, And Persistence Of Gunshot Residue In Standard And Less Lethal Ammunition, Liliana Claire Barbosa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

During the discharge of a firearm, gunshot residue (GSR) is released and settles into nearby surfaces, leaving traces that can provide valuable information for forensic investigations. This study aims to improve understanding of the deposition, prevalence, and persistence of standard and less-lethal ammunition through an analytical framework that examines collection and analysis protocols, revealing connections among multiple traces for effective use in investigations and courtroom proceedings.

Research into the chemical residues of less lethal ammunition (LLA) is a critical frontier in shooting investigations. While standard leaded ammunition has over a century of established literature, the chemical fingerprints of LLA residues …

The Role Of Temperature And Carbon Source In Nutrient Acquisition For Peptidoglycan Synthesis In A Gfp-Expressing Borreliella Burgdorferi, Barrett-Anne Conner Briggs

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States with an estimated yearly incidence rate of more than 300,000 cases. Borreliella burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease, is transmitted by the bite of an infected Ixodes scapularis tick and can cause debilitating pathologies affecting numerous body systems. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, joint pain, and a characteristic bull’s eye rash (erythema migrans) at the site of the tick bite. The timely and appropriate use of antibiotics effectively treats early Lyme disease; however, uncomfortable side effects reduce treatment compliance. If left untreated, long-term complications can arise including facial …

Programs Of Support For Wardship Experienced Students: Exploring Program Directors' Expectations And Experiences Through A Bioecological Framework, Adalheid Faith Crum

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this research is to explore the expectations and experiences of program directors of campus support programs which center wardship experienced students. This research question guided the current study: What expectations and experiences influenced program directors’ development and reform of a wardship-centered campus support program? This inquiry applies Ürie Bronfenbrenner’s Person–Process–Context–Time (PPCT) bioecological model. Semi-structured interviewing was utilized for this case study. In this research, six directors of campus support programs centering wardship experienced students were interviewed. Additionally, this work employs content analysis of twenty-eight National Research Collaborative for Foster Alumni and Higher Education (NRC-FAHE) publications, introducing fourteen …

Bridging The Gap: An Innovative Life Skills And Job Readiness Initiative For Those Facing And/Or Experiencing Homelessness, Alyssa Rae Lester

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Homelessness disrupts occupational functioning across all domains of daily life, yet individuals in transitional housing frequently lack access to structured life skills programming tailored to their current level of functioning. This doctoral capstone project developed, implemented, and evaluated a life skills and job-readiness curriculum at the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness West Run transitional housing facility in Morgantown, West Virginia. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model of Human Development and the Bridging the Transition from Homeless to Housed framework, the curriculum addressed four domains: personal development, household management, financial literacy, and vocational readiness. A mixed-methods design combined a structured staff …

Survival In The Stigmatized Industry (Bitcoin Atm), Brooks Mcadam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ii ABSTRACT Survival in the Stigmatized Industry (Bitcoin ATM) Brooks McAdam This paper examines how companies can survive in a stigmatized industry where the same message may attract customers while simultaneously generating skepticism. The study posed the following research question using the Bitcoin ATM industry as the context: Does the message presented on company websites influence the degree of exit risk in a market characterized by moral concerns, exposure to fraud, and unstable regulation? The answer is clear. Messaging is important; however, not every message is equally important. Fee-related messaging emerged as the most consistent predictor of exit risk. Messaging …

Strategic Transition Planning And Post-Graduation Preparedness For Students In Secondary School, Kelsey Renae Armentrout

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The transition period between high school and post-graduation life can be a challenging time for many students. Young adults may follow different paths, including going into the workforce or attending post-secondary education, as well as learning how to navigate life skills such as paying bills, buying a house or a car, applying for jobs, obtaining insurance, and occupations within the adult life stage. While young adults may learn about these things throughout their high school career, it is likely that the feelings of unpreparedness are continuously relevant. The purpose of this DCE is to develop and implement learning modules for …

Supply Chain Optimization For Fertilizer Production From Wastewater, Ethan Clement Robey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In West Virginia, approximately 27,000 tons of wastewater solids are generated annually, with nearly 75% being landfilled or alternatively disposed of in a non-beneficial manner. Over the past two decades, the amount of these solids being taken for beneficial uses, such as agricultural application, has declined by 25%, while landfilling has increased by more than 30%. This highlights issues related to eutrophication and disposal costs. This study aims to develop a supply chain optimization framework that addresses the conversion of wastewater solids into fertilizers to match local farm requirements, while determining processing facility locations that minimize transportation costs. To determine …

Optimization Of Feed Manufacturing Productive Capacity, Feed Quality, And Feed Safety Utilizing A Variety Of Pellet Die Parameters, Feed Additives, Conditioning Specifications, And Simulated Feed Bin Storages, Lucas Edward Knarr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In Chapter 2, an experiment was conducted to determine if the inclusion of 1.50% mixer-added water (MAW) and/or 0.25% Azomite^® (AZM) would be suitable in alleviating concerns regarding pellet production rate and pellet quality when manufacturing feed with low-moisture corn. Furthermore, the authors aimed to determine if these additives had varying effects when utilizing different pellet die thicknesses. A 2 (Azomite; 0.00% or 0.25%) x 2 (mixer-added water; 0.00% or 1.50%) x 3 (pellet die thickness; 32 mm, 38 mm, or 45 mm) factorial arrangement was utilized to create the twelve experimental treatments, each manufactured …

The Dual-Factor Model (Dfm) Of Mental Among Appalachian Youth, Mawyah Adel Bashatah

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background. Adolescent mental health is a critical public health concern, particularly in rural Appalachian communities where rates of depression, anxiety, and substance use exceed national averages and access to mental health resources remain severely limited. Traditional mental health frameworks rely predominantly on the identification and reduction of psychopathological symptoms, neglecting the independent contributions of positive well-being to adolescent risk and resilience. The Dual-Factor Model (DFM) of mental health offers a more comprehensive alternative by simultaneously assessing subjective well-being (SWB) and psychopathology, classifying individuals into four distinct groups: Complete mental health, Vulnerable, Symptomatic but content, and Troubled. Despite the DFM’s growing …

Difficult Tasks And Strained Ties: Irritation As A Mediator For Relationship Quality And Caregiver Distress, Payton Elisabeth Radcliffe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Caregiving, defined as providing regular unpaid assistance to individuals with chronic illness or disability, is a widespread role associated with both societal benefit and psychological strain (Berg et al., 2021; Schulz et al., 2020). Prior research indicates that perceived caregiving difficulty is a key predictor of caregiver distress, though the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear (Blom et al., 2024; Gérain & Zech, 2022). Drawing on the Stress Process Model (Pearlin et al., 1990), the present study examined irritation as a mediator linking perceived caregiving difficulty to relationship quality and caregiver distress, while also testing whether caregiver relationship type moderates …

Borrowed But Mine: Time-Based Asymmetries In Psychological Ownership, Elizabeth Ann Brauer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

People often borrow everyday items, such as a friend’s jacket or pair of sunglasses, and after a period of use, may begin to feel as if the item is their own. Psychological ownership captures this felt sense of “mine,” even in the absence of legal ownership, and reflects the extent to which a target becomes incorporated into the self (Pierce et al., 2003). Despite decades of work on psychological ownership, little is known about how psychological ownership develops and changes within interpersonal lending and borrowing contexts. This dissertation examines how possession duration influences psychological ownership in interpersonal borrowing relationships and …

“Black Students Matter”: A Phenomenological Study Of Black Student Experiences At A Predominately White Institution In Appalachia During The Dual Pandemic Of Covid-19 And Systemic Anti-Black Racism, Toni Owens

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As the spread of COVID-19 escalated into a global pandemic in 2020, simultaneously, the nationwide media in the United States (U.S.) highlighted coverage of the country’s ongoing incidents of longstanding systemic anti-Black racism in America, another pandemic. In the Summer of 2020, a collective of Black students at West Virginia University (WVU) signed and publicly submitted a petition to the university’s leadership with a list of demands to address their needs as they were further exacerbated by the dual pandemic. This study is guided by the question, “What are the lived experiences of Black Students at West Virginia University during …

Deposition And Diagenesis Of Permo-Triassic Gypsum From Wyoming And Texas: Saline Lake And Groundwater Systems Of Equatorial Pangea, Maya Yamei Bradford

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Knowledge of gypsum textures and the processes that yield them is important for interpreting the history of environments, climates, and life on Earth. This is because gypsum textures are products of specific environmental, microbiological, and diagenetic processes, and because gypsum is relatively common in the Earth’s sedimentary record. Despite this significance, gypsum is relatively understudied. The fundamental goal of this dissertation is to advance our understanding of gypsum textures by presenting detailed, petrography-based investigations of Permo-Triassic gypsum from the continental interior of Pangea.

Gypsum is typical in the Permo-Triassic sedimentary record of tropical Pangea, where it is associated with red …

Ai In The Workplace: Understanding The Path Between Ai Adoption Intensity And Ai-Induced Job Insecurity, Joanna J. Frieske

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more embedded in organizational workflows and is reshaping work environments, changing how we work, make decisions, stay engaged, perform, and learn. While AI adoption is associated with a wide range of benefits, it also presents negative aspects that may affect employee experiences and influence the future of work. Drawing on extant literature and on the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model, Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, and the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, this research proposes a model in which psychological safety mediates the relationship between AI adoption intensity and job insecurity, while procedural justice and AI self-efficacy act …

Effectiveness Of Occupational Therapy-Inspired Educational Sessions For Mothers Accessing Women, Infants, And Children (Wic) Services, Samantha Annette Merew

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This doctoral capstone project examined the effectiveness of occupational therapy (OT)-inspired group and one-on-one educational sessions designed to support the emotional, mental, and social well-being of pregnant and postpartum mothers accessing Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services in Onslow County, North Carolina. Grounded in the Model of Human Occupation and Cognitive Behavioral Frame of Reference, the program aimed to address gaps in holistic maternal health support, particularly among low-income and at-risk populations. Eight structured group sessions and five one-on-one sessions were developed, implemented, and evaluated, focusing on topics such as stress management, emotional regulation, self-care, role transition, and self-advocacy. A …

Divided Loyalties: Military Recruitment And Emancipation In Kentucky, Jacob Joseph Klinger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores how Unionist Kentuckians leveraged their military recruitment to negotiate the scope of federal emancipation during the American Civil War. By 1863, the War Department’s need for troops superseded the racial sensitivities of inhabitants in loyal slave states like Kentucky by promising to free and enlist Black men if white recruits failed to fill the quota. Kentucky’s proslavery Unionists responded and white volunteerism surged by 23 percent, 10 percent more than the national average, to fill the quota and negate military emancipation. Kentucky leaders heralded the recruiting effort but struggled to sustain it alongside an uncredited militia which …

Formation-Based Analysis In Contemporary Saxophone Practice: A Case Study Of Ziwei Shi's The Blue Lotus Bloms, Jiageng Ren

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examines contemporary saxophone repertoire through a formation-based analytical approach, using Ziwei Shi’s The Blue Lotus Blooms as a case study. It is organized into three parts. Part I establishes the conceptual and methodological framework by introducing the concept of “formation-based analysis,” positioning the “condition of musical formation” as its core. Further situating the study within scholarship on practice-based research, cross-cultural theory, and modernism/postmodernism. Part II provides a detailed analytical and performance-based investigation of the work, including the collaborative commissioning process, the application of Thaat as a pitch resource, the role of extended techniques and embodied endurance, and contrasting …

Genomic Variation, Adaptive Evolution, And Invasive And Evolutionary History Of Microstegium Vimineum, Cameron William Corbett

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Invasive species can cause environmental and economic damage, but can offer unique opportunities to study rapid evolution and adaptation in novel environments. Microstegium vimineum (stiltgrass) is a prolific invasive grass in the eastern United States. Historical herbaria collections were used to identify patterns of invasion history and population dynamics over a spatial and temporal scale. Analyses of plastid genomes reveal a complex invasion history, including a single introduction in the southern United States linked to Japan and multiple repeated introductions in the northern United States from various source populations. Spread of introduced populations provide evidence of admixture among previously geographically …

Preference Of Smiling Esthetics By Caucasian And Chinese Orthodontic Professionals, Tamana Spingher

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: Comprehensive orthodontic treatment aims to achieve optimal facial esthetics, which is guided by established norms that have shown variability across different ethnic and gender groups. There is a paucity of literature comparing the esthetic preferences of Chinese and Caucasian orthodontic professionals regarding smiling esthetics. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived smiling attractiveness ratings between Chinese and Caucasian orthodontic professionals. Methods: One Chinese and one Caucasian lateral smiling photograph generated by artificial intelligence (AI) were used in this study. The maxillary central incisor position was digitally manipulated to simulate variations in anteroposterior (AP) position …

The Impact Of Caregiver Training And Education On Confidence And Perceived Competence In Facilitating Self-Care Skills In Children, Ryan M. Coen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Caregivers, especially those residing in rural Appalachia, face significant barriers and hardships that can hinder their ability to promote ADL, IADL, and self-care skill development. These barriers faced include geographic isolation, socioeconomic barriers, and a high prevalence of disabilities. Many caregivers may struggle to facilitate these self-care skills competently and effectively, and a gap is present in the most effective means to teach caregivers in this region the necessary skills. With almost 20% of individuals in West Virginia lacking access to reliable internet and physical isolation, many of these educational materials may not be effectively distributed (West Virginia Department of …

Bridging The Sensory Gap With Occupational Therapy: Program Development For Sensory Integration In Inpatient Rehabilitation For Adults With Central Nervous System Injuries, Callie Marie Honaker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objectives: This project aimed to identify sensory processing deficits in adults with central nervous system injuries and to inform the development of sensory-informed program components in an inpatient rehabilitation setting. Participants: A total of 76 adults admitted with diagnoses including cerebrovascular accident, brain injury, and spinal cord injury were included. Methods: A structured sensory screening and mental health questionnaire were administered and compared to prescreening admission documentation and PHQ-9 scores. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses were conducted. Results: Sensory impairments were highly prevalent, with participants demonstrating an average of three impairments across the sensory domains. Proprioceptive, tactile, and visual deficits …

Effects Of Fluency-Based And Percentage-Based Mastery Criteria On Learning, Maintenance, Application, And Learner Experience In Behavior-Analytic Skill Acquisition, Marisela Alicia Aguilar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In behavior analysis, staff are often trained to percentage-based criteria to demonstrate that they have mastered a skill. However, percentage-based mastery criteria may not result in long-term maintenance of the skill. In other areas of instruction, fluency criteria resulted in multiple positive outcomes such as maintenance, endurance, and application of the skill beyond the training context, but these outcomes have not yet been widely demonstrated in the context of teaching behavior support plan (BSP) content and implementation. Across two experiments, we attempted to evaluate the extent to which training individuals to a fluency-based or percentage-based criterion resulted in maintenance and …

The Resilient Educator: Examining The Role Of Resilience On A First-Year Rural Music Educator’S Job Satisfaction, Isaac Price

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The future of music education in schools is largely determined by educators' resilience in their positions. Resilience is the process of adapting to adversity by accessing and utilizing intrinsic and extrinsic resources available (Gu & Day, 2007; Squires et al., 2023). Resilience affects various aspects of an educator’s personal and professional life, including job satisfaction (Li, 2023). Job satisfaction can affect teacher health, teacher performance, and teacher retention, which in turn may affect student performance (Huysman, 2008; Lu et al., 2024; Robison & Russell, 2022). The circumstances and events that occur during a teacher’s first year in the profession can …

Lighting The Woods When There Are No Woods, Michael M. Mcginley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Lighting and Into the Woods

Michael M. McGinley

This thesis will document my own journey into the woods. I will discuss my role as the lighting designer, highlighting my design processes and decisions. The show’s evolution and history from the first design meeting to opening night will be documented and reflected upon. Additionally, I will expand on collaboration with the other design team members, the challenges and struggles that I encountered, and lastly my own reflection on the entire process. I will be using lighting paperwork, research photos, and production photos to illustrate key points and highlight details.