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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. …

The Bleeding Edge Of Misogyny: How Gender-Based Harassment And Infrastructural Neglect Shape Menstrual Distress, Mackenzie J. Miller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Despite growing attention to menstrual health, organizational research has largely overlooked how workplace conditions shape menstrual experiences. Dominant perspectives frame menstruation as an individual issue that negatively affects work, neglecting how features of the work environment – such as gender-based harassment and access to menstrual-related infrastructure – contribute to menstrual distress. Addressing this gap, this dissertation adopts a bidirectional perspective, examining how social and material workplace conditions shape menstrual distress, defined as the extent to which menstrual symptoms interfere with daily functioning. Drawing on the transactional model of stress and objectification theory, I hypothesized that gender-based harassment would predict menstrual …

Early Life Adversity And Reward Reactivity In Humans, Maria C. Potts

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Both animal and human research has identified early life adversity (ELA) as a prominent risk factor for substance use disorder (SUD). However, the underlying mechanisms linking ELA to SUD development remain unclear. Animal studies point to differences in reward responsiveness as the primary explanation; specifically, that ELA could lead to individual differences in the attribution of incentive salience to reward-predictive cues, or the “sign-tracking” behavioral phenotype. Sign-tracking has been linked to addiction-related behaviors in both animal and human studies, but no human studies have examined whether sign-tracking could partially explain the link between ELA and SUD. In fact, human studies …

The Effect Of Innovative Value Proposition On Buyer Reactions: The Moderating Roles Of Price Orientation And Perceived Risk, Chad Stuttz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Value propositions are essential to the success of personal selling in the Business-to-Business (B2B) context. While earlier studies have offered valuable insights into the roles of value propositions in driving B2B sales, they have often regarded value propositions as uniform. In this dissertation, I argue that value propositions vary in their levels of innovativeness. The dissertation introduces the concept of innovative value proposition (IVP) and proposes that IVP indicates greater future growth potential to buyers, leading to more favorable reactions such as responsiveness and willingness to engage than less innovative ones. Additionally, the dissertation explores the moderating effects of buyer …

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 …

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 …

“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 …

Interpersonal Dark Side Of Impostor Thoughts: Predicting Workplace Ostracism Via Surface Acting And Cognitive Dissonance, And The Moderating Role Of Self-Leadership, Asiye Zeytonli

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation investigates the "interpersonal dark side" of workplace impostor thoughts

(WIT), exploring how the internal experience of feeling like a professional fraud translates into

the social exclusion of colleagues through defensive ostracism. While prior literature has

extensively documented the intrapersonal distress associated with the impostor phenomenon,

such as anxiety and burnout this research addresses a critical gap by examining how these

internal states drive behaviors that harm the organizational social fabric. Drawing upon an

integration of Conservation of Resources (COR) theory and Cognitive Dissonance Theory

(CDT), I propose and test a dual-pathway model. The first pathway (COR) suggests that …

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 …

Operationalizations Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Health Prediction, Sarah Josephine Miller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has been consistently linked to suboptimal health outcomes and behaviors across the lifespan. As such, there has been widespread adoption of measures like the 10-item cumulative ACEs count measure developed by Felitti and colleagues (1998) across research literature and clinical practice. However, this measure was not developed with consideration of optimal psychometric properties and thus consists of several limitations that inhibit understanding of the specific dimensions of adversity that influence health outcomes. This 3-study dissertation focused on different measurement and statistical techniques to better understand the associations between ACEs and health. In study 1, …

Taxpayers Willingness To Use Ai Conversational Tools, Nessrine Mesto-Assaad

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With the rapid emergence of Artificial Intelligence Conversational Tools (AICTs), such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini, and their widespread use, the need to understand users’ acceptance of this emerging technology has increased. Prior research has investigated users’ acceptance of AICTs in hospitality, tourism, e-commerce, and retail industries. However, users’ acceptance of the use of AICTs for tax information remains relatively underexplored in the tax context. Therefore, this study investigates taxpayers’ willingness to accept and use AICTs for tax-related questions when e-filing their tax returns. Drawing on the Artificial Intelligence Device Use and Acceptance (AIDUA) model as a research framework, this …

A Constraint-Based Approach To Developing Melodic Improvisational Skills In Intermediate Jazz Piano Students, Alton Xian Rong Wong

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines the pedagogical value of a constraint-based approach in helping students develop improvisational fluency and coherence by facilitating audiation. Although there are pedagogical texts on jazz improvisation that incorporate exercises shaped by constraint-based thinking, there is neither a systematic framework for their application with students of varying levels and musical backgrounds, nor a clear explanation of their pedagogical purpose. This research investigates how constraint-based pedagogy, through the lens of rhythmic, harmonic, and melodic parameters, can be applied independently or collectively to support the development of improvisational fluency in intermediate level jazz piano improvisers. It argues that musical constraints …

Be A Man: Hypermasculinity And Hostile Attribution Bias As Predictors Of Violence, Kaley Nicole Potter

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In recent years, violence has risen to record-high numbers in communities and correctional facilities, with men perpetrating the vast majority of violent crimes. Hypermasculine values (e.g., power, aggression, and domination) have been linked to aggressive and violent behavior. Hostile attribution bias, which leads individuals to attribute hostile intent to neutral or ambiguous stimuli, has also been linked to aggression.

The current study used structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine hypermasculinity and hostile attribution bias as predictors of proclivity for violence, comprised of aggression and historical violence. The model was iteratively modified to assess changes in model fit and constructs. Male …

Ai-Assisted Task Completion: Consumer Sentiments By Effort Level, Jason Mickey Martin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines consumer anger in reaction to firms’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist them in the completion of tasks. Specifically, we focus on instances when AI supplements rather than replaces human effort. Using cognitive appraisal theory and psychological contract constructs, this research investigates how the amount of effort consumers invest into a service review and the effort reciprocated by firms influences emotional reactions. Across two studies, using scenario-based experiments, we find that consumers report higher levels of anger when AI is used to aid in responding to high-effort reviews compared to low-effort reviews. The results suggest that …

Among The Remnants, Jade-Lynn B. Lewis Vance

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This written thesis serves as supporting documentation and research for my Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition, Among the Remnants, at West Virginia University. This dissertation will explain how my artistic vision, influences, research, and thesis exhibition fits into larger art and cultural contexts. Drawing from art history and theory, my work explores memory, touch, and fragmentation. My fascination with artifacts and the stories they hold inspires my research and drives me to create personal connections within my own art. The figurative sculptures serve as a vessel for recalling impactful experiences and embodying personal perception and these interactions. The …

White Lies Of Time: Temporal Racialization In 19th-20th Century American Literature, Yu Uchida

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

By examining mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth century American literary texts, this dissertation project aims to theorize the ways in which whiteness relies on conceptualizations of time to hegemonize non-white subjects and prescribe their historical representations. Because whiteness is dynamic in its emergence and effects and ubiquitous in sociopolitical and cultural realms, this dissertation holistically turns to white, Black, and Indigenous writers to delineate how whiteness functions throughout the period and how racialized subjects negotiate it. Portraying the nation’s history as lived experience rather than objectified knowledge, the racialized authors I examine undermine the concept of linear progressive time that subtends structural …

Accessing Campus Mental Health Services In A Nigerian Southwestern University: Barriers To Academic Success, Caroline Dada

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental health disorders are a significant health concern among higher education institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. A substantial treatment gap exists in the Nigerian healthcare system, and this gap is further worsened by cultural and religious barriers, which reinforce stigma that discourages students from seeking professional help. This qualitative narrative inquiry explored the barriers students encountered when accessing mental health services at a university in Southwestern Nigeria, to increase service access. Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with seven professional mental health providers at a university counseling center between March and April 2025. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify …

Faculty Perceptions Of Engaging Generation Z Students Through Positive Education In The Classroom, Ashley D. Ragsdale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the engagement gap between Generation Z students and faculty in higher education, emphasizing how positive education approaches can help faculty become more confident and effective instructors. Generation Z students prefer instant internet access and digital learning, have shorter attention spans, and tend to be disengaged when instructors rely on traditional teaching methods. After the COVID-19 pandemic, this engagement gap became more evident. This basic qualitative study used semistructured interviews, reflexive journaling, and nonparticipatory observations. Participants included full-time health science faculty at a private university in central Texas. Each had at least 2 years of teaching experience …

Statistical Abstract, Fiscal Year 2026, Tennessee. Department Of Correction

Annual Statistical Abstract

This document is the annual statistical report for the Tennessee Department of Correction during the fiscal year.

Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2026, Tennessee. Department Of Correction

Annual Reports

This document is the annual report for the Tennessee Department of Correction during the fiscal year.

Reinforce Trustworthiness In Multimodal Emotional Support System, Huy M. Le, Dat Tien Nguyen, Ngan T. T. Vo, Tuan D. Q. Nguyen, Nguyen Le Binh, Duy Minh Ho Nguyen, Daniel Sonntag, Lizi Liao, Binh T. Nguyen

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In today's world, emotional support is increasingly essential, yet it remains challenging for both those seeking help and those offering it. Multimodal approaches to emotional support show great promise by integrating diverse data sources to provide empathetic, contextually relevant responses, fostering more effective interactions. However, current methods have notable limitations, often relying solely on text or converting other data types into text, or providing emotion recognition only, thus overlooking the full potential of multimodal inputs. Moreover, many studies prioritize response generation without accurately identifying critical emotional support elements or ensuring the reliability of outputs. To overcome these issues, we introduce …

Parent Perspectives: Child Attendance In Community Grief Support, Janeene Sanderson

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Childhood bereavement can affect children emotionally, socially, and developmentally, creating a need for support that is both age-appropriate and grief-informed. This qualitative study explored how parents perceived the impact of community grief support programs for their bereaved children. The study focused on children ages 8–12 who attended a peer support group, grief camp, or similar community-based grief support program after the death of a loved one. Data were collected through parent interviews and reviewed through thematic analysis. Findings showed that parents perceived these programs as meaningful because they created safe spaces where children could feel normal and validated in their …

The Diagnostic Value Of Serum Ferritin In Telogen Effluvium, Sara Khaled Mohamed Elbasiouny, Marwa H. Elnagdy, Sherif R. Ismaeil, Fawzia A. Saafan

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background Telogen effluvium (TE) is a common cause of hair loss (HL) in females, characterized by diffuse HL. Iron deficiency has a significant relationship with emotional stress, and anxiety is another prevalent cause for HL. So, our aim was to evaluate the serum ferritin levels among TE patients, compared to healthy controls. Methods This case-control study was conducted on 100 subjects, and they were divided into 2 groups, group (A) included 50 patients with Telogen Effluvium and group (B) included 50 healthy normal volunteers matching for age and sex with the patients. Clinical examination of diffuse shedding and positive pull …

Assessment Of Serum Level Of Il-38 In Patients With Non-Segmental Vitiligo And Its Relation To Disease Severity, Zahraa Jafar Ahmed Altaitoon, Al-Shahat Farag Ahmed Sharaf, Hamdy Fouad A. Marzo, Mohammed Samir Sultan

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Vitiligo is a common autoimmune disorder (AID) characterized by extensive loss of melanocytes, causing depigmented skin patches. Interleukin-38 (IL- 38), an anti-inflammatory cytokine, has been linked to several autoimmune conditions, but its involvement in vitiligo hasn’t been confirmed. Aim: To measure serum IL-38 levels in patients with non-segmental vitiligo (NSV) and explores how these levels relate to disease severity and activity. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional case-control study that included 40 patients with non-segmental vitiligo and 40 healthy individuals matched for age, sex, and BMI. Assessment of disease severity and activity was conducted by using the Vitiligo Area Scoring …

Impact Of Social Media On Acne Treatment Practices In Egypt, Hadeer Fathy, Moheiddin Fakhry Alghobary, Nada Mohmed Elhadidy, Sara Hamdy Fouad

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Acne is one of the most prevalent global diseases, affecting up to 85% of adolescents and young adults and contributing to significant psychological burden. Despite available treatments, many patients rely on social media for guidance, where misinformation and unauthorized drug promotion can negatively influence Acne Vulgaris management.

Aim: The aim of this research is to determine the influence of social media information on the selected treatment method of Egyptian patients with Acne Vulgaris

Patients and methods: This is cross‑sectional study targets Acne Vulgaris patients aged ≥15 with current or past AV who use social media. Data was collected through …

Patellar Morphology In Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients With Unexplained Pain, Mohammed Ahmed Abdelkhalek Abdelrazek, Adham Elsharkawey Elgeidi, Yasser Youssef Abdelrahman Abed, Kamel Mohamed Ahmed Ahmed Youssef

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: An effective surgical procedure for treating end-stage osteoarthritis of the knee (OA) is total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Pain is the main reason why many patients are still unhappy with their results following TKA. Patients who did TKA may experience anterior knee pain (AKP) with or without patellar resurfacing. Research has indicated that the morphology of the patella or trochlear geometry affects the stress on the patellofemoral joint.

Objective: To determine whether clinical scores and pain after TKA without patellar resurfacing were correlated with patellar shape. Methods: This retrospective case control study included 70 cases. We retrospectively assessed patients with …

Effect Of Adenotonsillectomy On Nocturnal Enuresis In Children With Obstructive Sleeping Apnea, Ramla Dahir Hersi, Hossam El-Sayed Elsisi, Ahmed Abdoo Elzehzahy

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is the involuntary passage of urine during sleep and is a common condition in the pediatric population. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep, has increasingly been identified as a significant contributing factor to NE. Previous studies indicate that children with OSA have a higher prevalence of bedwetting than their healthy counterparts.

Objective: To assess the impact of adenotonsillectomy (AT) on NE in children diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 20 pediatric patients presenting with both NE and OSA secondary to severe adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Tonsillar …

Survivin And C-Reactive Protein Serum Levels In Acne Vulgaris Patients In Relation To Its Severity, Asmaa Ayman Gouda, Sara Hamdy Fouad, Hyam Sameh Nada, Hanan Ahmed Salem

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit with variable clinical severity. Increasing evidence suggests that acne may represent a localized inflammatory condition with potential systemic inflammatory involvement. Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis protein has been implicated in abnormal keratinocyte and sebocyte survival, while C-reactive protein (CRP) is a biomarker of systemic inflammation.

Aim of the study: To evaluate serum survivin and CRP levels in cases with AV compared to healthy controls and to assess their relationship with disease severity.

Subjects and methods: This case-control study included 45 patients with clinically diagnosed AV and 45 …

Assessment Of Serum Adropin In Erectile Dysfunction Patients And Its Correlation With Disease Severity, Ahmed M. Eltohami, Sh. Fouad, Khadiga M. El-Hamaky, Abdel Khabir A.

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background Erectile dysfunction (ED) may be considered an indicator of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Adropin is identified to be accompanied by insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism, so we aimed to investigate serum adropin levels in ED cases compared to healthy controls (HC). Methods This case control study included 50 men with ED and and control group of 25 agematched, sexually active healthy men with normal erectile function. Cases group was divided into two groups (25 each) as ED patients with and without type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Validated Arabic version of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 was used to evaluate …

Outcome Of Conservative Management Of Placenta Accreta Spectrum In Mansoura University Hospital, Nasra Hassan Mohamed, Mohamed Mohamed Eltotongy, Maher Elesewi Kamel Elgaly

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) represents a significant global health challenge, with its incidence rising in parallel with the increasing prevalence of cesarean sections (CS). While cesarean hysterectomy is traditionally considered the standard treatment, conservative management offers a fertility-preserving alternative in carefully selected cases. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of conservative treatment for PAS at Mansoura University Hospital over a two-year period.

Methods: This retrospective analytical study included 132 women diagnosed with placenta accreta who underwent conservative management. Patient data, including obstetric history, degree of accreta, bleeding episodes, timing of delivery, and the specific uterine-sparing technique …