Digital Commons Network^™

Engaging Young Children In Art Museums Through Interactive Programming, Rebekah K. Bostic

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Young children can be successfully engaged in art museum programs in many ways. Rather than identifying only one pedagogical strategy that is most effective for them, it is more productive to consider how different approaches affect the experiences of children in a museum. Despite the considerable body of existing research about educational strategies for preschool children, a clear synthesis of various pedagogical methods has not been applied to art museum programming for this age group. This research project used participant observation as its methodology to conduct four case studies attempting to answer the question: “How do different museum educational strategies …

A Post Apocalyptic Romp: Designing Costumes For Phoebe In Winter, Emmalee Berger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis will document the process of costume designing for Phoebe in Winter by Jen Silverman. It will examine the process from first read of the script through initial and final design meetings and to execution and production of the design. This will report on challenges specific to this production, such as nudity and violence on an academic stage, and the subsequent solutions. Phoebe in Winter was produced by West Virginia University School of Theatre and Dance in October of 2024. The design process began in February of the same year.

Romantic Materialities And The Politics Of Care: Negotiating Movement In A More-Than-Human World, April J. Mcginnis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the ecological politics of movement in Romantic literature. It contributes to a growing body of scholarship that investigates the important role that walking played in nineteenth-century literary culture. Many authors from this period cast walking as a practice that frees up not only the body but the mind as well, as the steady rhythm of the feet lulls the walker into a state of self-absorbed introspection and heightened creativity. Because of this, walking was a celebrated part of the creative process for many writers. The freedom they celebrate is possible, however, only in spaces that are level, …

Manualized Interventions For Individuals Experiencing Or At-Risk For Adverse Life Experiences, Sierra P. Mcnicol

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Occupational practitioners have a role in providing holistic and client-centered care to promote occupational performance, engagement, and satisfaction through occupations. Many individuals are impacted in the engagement of occupations secondary to adverse life experiences that have caused mental distress, difficulties in cognitive processing, limited social support, and disruptions in social determinants that have made accessing services complicated. Purpose: Due to the increased likelihood of individuals who have experienced adverse life experiences experiencing occupational distress and performance limitations, the capstone student aimed to develop an understanding of adverse life experiences, provide insight into the needs of the population, and develop …

No Sweeter Sound: Musicking, Transformative Pedagogy, And Collaborative Social Justice In Choral Settings, Natalie N. Shaffer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Choral music and its conductors occupy a tenuous space in the 21st century. In a new cultural atmosphere influenced by Gen Z’s expectation of welcomed diversity and intolerance for injustice, TikTok’s rapid global dissemination of information and entertainment, and society’s desire for authentic connection following the Covid-19 pandemic, the dichotomies present in choral music are no longer being glossed over. Difficult conversations about race, gender, ableism, social location, and other intersectional identifiers are at the forefront of academic writing and conference presentations. Evidence of transformative pedagogy and culturally responsive practices are beginning to appear in classroom syllabi and rehearsal techniques …

Does Education On Aseptic Non-Touch Technique Affect Nurse Knowledge On Aseptic Technique When Placing Ultrasound Guided Peripheral Intravenous Lines? A Quality Improvement Initiative, Hannah G. Keyser

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project attempted to increase nurse’s knowledge of aseptic technique when placing USG-PIVs in hospitalized adult patients after educational training on the Aseptic Non-Touch Technique Clinical Practice Framework (ANTT CPF). Implementation of the ANTT CPF in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) at Ruby Memorial Hospital, as a didactic educational session for nurses already trained to place ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous lines, was utilized for this DNP project. Pre- and post-surveys were employed to determine changes in knowledge scores as well as feelings of comfort and knowledge related to the CPF. Results remained stable for survey …

Searching For The "Tender Places": Shoddy, Knowledge, And Material Culture In The Civil War Era, Robert William Novak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the American Civil War era, shoddy was difficult to understand. It was simultaneously seen as evidence of advancing western civilization as well as a disgusting amalgamation of refuse and disease that threatened those who touched it. Made from shredding woolen rags and tailors’ clippings, the recycled woolen fibers could by applied in myriad woolen blends that came to dominate the ready-made clothing industry that developed through the first half of the nineteenth century. Its application could soften coarse blends and refine the appearance of cheap cloth. When the American Civil War erupted in 1861, however, shoddy came to define …

An Evidence-Based Practice Initiative To Improve Blood Pressure Control, Teresa D. Hines

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction/Background: High blood pressure (HBP) is a significant public health concern. It affects millions of adults in the United States (US) and half of the adult population in the Appalachia regions. High blood pressure is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality Appalachia. Complications associated with high blood pressure result in substantial economic burdens for patients and their families, healthcare systems, and national economies. High blood pressure is a significant health issue in West Virginia (WV), with an estimated 602,000 people suffering from HBP.

Purpose: The purpose of this …

Evaluation And Identification Of Novel Viruses In Wild Fishes Using Varied Molecular Biology Techniques, Clayton Douglas Raines

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Viruses are among the most abundant biological entities on Earth, yet their diversity and ecological roles in aquatic vertebrates, particularly fishes, remain poorly characterized. This dissertation advances fish virology through integrative approaches that combine historical context, molecular diagnostics, and genomic discovery. A novel hepadnavirus (ApHBV) was identified in asymptomatic Alosa pseudoharengus, emphasizing the prevalence of subclinical infections in migratory forage species. In Catostomus commersonii, transcriptomic profiling revealed sexually dimorphic immune responses to hepatitis B and C-like viruses, highlighting complex host-pathogen dynamics. In Micropterus nigricans, next-generation sequencing uncovered a novel nackednavirus and multiple adomaviruses within hyperpigmented lesions, expanding …

Parameter Estimation Of A 100 Seater Simulated Passenger Aircraft, Michael James Winston

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Virtual flight test aircraft provide good opportunities to test new parameter estimation methods. However, good estimates for the parameters in VIRTTAC Castor, a virtual test aircraft, are unavailable. This thesis uses two well-established time domain methods, the Output Error Method and the Filter Error Method, to estimate the parameters of VIRTTAC Castor. Three standard maneuvers were used: Elevator 3-2-1-1, Rudder Doublet, and Aileron Multi-Step. The parameters were estimated across three different flight conditions: weight, altitude and air speed, which resulted in 27 tests for each maneuver. All parameters, and standard deviations estimated are included in the appendix as a table.

Watershed-Level Survey Of Antimicrobial Resistance From Onsite Wastewater Systems, Trey Franklin Clark

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has quickly become one of the largest global health and development threats. Research related to environmental modes of transmission of AMR has accelerated in recent years, and the US Environmental Protection Agency is particularly interested in this emerging contaminant. Knowledge of how onsite (decentralized) wastewater treatment systems contribute to this issue is lacking, so this research serves to analyze and quantify the environmental dissemination of AMR and fecal contamination from these sources at a watershed level while using statistical analysis to assess relationships between physiochemical, spatial, and sampling parameters. This research surveyed four watersheds …

Perceptions Of Partnership: How Instructional Designers And Faculty Collaborate To Design Online Courses In Higher Education, Robin Zahrndt

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This ethnographic study examines the collaboration between faculty members and instructional designers during the development of online courses at a large, research-intensive university. As institutions expand their digital learning initiatives, effective partnerships between faculty and instructional designers have become increasingly important; however, they are often constrained by hierarchical norms, disciplinary differences, and time pressures. Using a framework for interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare settings, this study analyzed recorded meetings and post-participation interviews to examine how collaboration unfolded and how participants perceived its influence on course quality. Findings indicate that faculty maintained clear ownership of instructional decisions, often viewing designers as supportive …

Assessing Stress, Anxiety, And Burnout In Undergraduate Veterinary Technology Students, Dean Ann Daughaday-Provine

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Academic stress, anxiety, and burnout can negatively impact the mental health and well-being of students pursuing degrees in veterinary medicine. This quantitative study was designed to investigate the effects of academic stress, anxiety, and burnout on undergraduate students enrolled in Veterinary Technology programs. This study gained critical insight from current students transitioning through a rigorous curriculum of standards designed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) has established standards, outlined in policies and procedures, to ensure the quality of assessments and enhancements in veterinary education within accredited Veterinary Technology programs.

Understanding The Influence Of Team Identifications Influence On Perception Of States, Morgan Elizabeth Macke

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Team identification refers to an individual’s psychological connection to a team or athlete (Wann, 2006a), while rival salience involves awareness of a prominent rival team (Wann & James, 2019). This study examined the relationship between sport team identification and perceptions of a state housing a salient rival, specifically whether identification with the University of Kentucky (UK) men’s basketball team influenced perceptions of Tennessee, home to rival team University of Tennessee (UT). It was hypothesized that greater team identification would be associated with more negative evaluations of Tennessee, and that this relationship would be mediated by perceptions of the rival team. …

The Evolution Of Veterinary Technology Education: Growth, Accreditation, And The Role Of Murray State University’S Veterinary Technology Program, Tara Joiner

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the evolution of veterinary technology education, focusing on the growth, accreditation, and role of Murray State University’s (MSU) veterinary technology program. The veterinary profession has experienced significant advancement and expansion in recent years. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredits veterinary technology programs, setting standards and conducting reviews to ensure quality. Murray State University’s veterinary technology program, accredited by the AVMA in 1986, prepares students for the Veterinary Technology National Exam (VTNE) through a comprehensive curriculum and internships (practical experience). Findings from a three-year period (2022–2024) highlight mentor confidence in student readiness at 77.3%, with qualitative feedback …

Analyzing The Impact Of Geographic Location, Owner Knowledge, And Veterinary Guidance On Equine Vaccination Protocols, Colleen Mcanally

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study explored how equine owners decide which diseases their horses are vaccinated for based on their geographic location, the knowledge they have on specific equine diseases, and how much they rely on their veterinarian’s recommendations. A total of 55 horse owners throughout the United States completed an online survey. The results showed that while most owners vaccinate for common core vaccines including West Nile Virus, Tetanus, and Rabies, fewer vaccinated for risk-based vaccines like Leptospirosis. Many owners felt confident in their knowledge of national guidelines for annual core vaccinations, but only a small number of owners were able to …

The Systematic Devaluation Of Legal Scholarship In Criminology And Criminal Justice, Henry F. Fradella

Touro Law Review

Certain bibliometrics have become important indicators of scholarly impact despite their many weaknesses. This Article presents data demonstrating the shortcomings of using citation counts and journal impact factors for law-based scholarship. Moreover, the Article argues that reliance on these flawed metrics is just one example of how scholars in criminology and criminal justice (“CCJ”) systematically devalue legal scholarship.

The Article begins by offering quotations from social scientists that provide insights into the negative ways they view legal scholars and their work. It also quotes from interviews conducted with CCJ scholars who hold a law degree and either earned or are …

Loopholes Of Liberty: The Supreme Court’S Evisceration Of The Fourth Amendment, David J. Looney

Touro Law Review

The Fourth Amendment’s protections against unwarranted government intrusion are currently undermined by the Supreme Court’s third party and open fields doctrines, which permit warrantless access to shared data and private land beyond a home’s curtilage, clashing with the Amendment’s aim to safeguard privacy and property in an era of advanced surveillance. These doctrines enable arbitrary governmental overreach, necessitating urgent review to restore constitutional protections. Rooted in Enlightenment principles, the Fourth Amendment historically protected “papers” and “effects” from physical trespass, as seen in Boyd v. United States. Katz v. United States introduced a “reasonable expectation of privacy” test, but its subjective …

Faith In Small Things: The Rlds Church, The New Left, And The Global 1970s, David J. Howlett

Religion: Faculty Publications

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Preliminary Evaluation Of A Brief Intervention To Enhance Trauma-Informed Attitudes Among Educators And School Mental Health Counselors, Cheri Shapiro, Kara Lee, Courtnie Collins, Tristan Collier, Carl Sorensen

Publications

Professional development training designed to advance knowledge of the impacts of trauma and trauma-responsive practices for educators and counselors in schools and mental health settings have become common. Given the popularity of these training approaches, it is important to understand the potential impact on trauma-informed attitudes and beliefs. This descriptive, exploratory study examined changes in traumainformed care attitudes as a function of participating in a novel intervention designed to support trauma-informed practices in a sample of elementary school educators, administrators, and school mental health counselors (n=194) from one state in the Southeastern US. Positive changes in trauma-informed attitudes from pre …

Teaching Cuba In Georgia Today, Eric Kartchner

The Coastal Review

This essay details a college professor's approach to teaching a course on Cuban history and culture. The professor's pedagogical choices were influenced by Ada Ferrer's book, Cuba: An American History, and José Antonio Bowen's work on fostering independent thinking. The syllabus covered pre-Columbian Cuba, Spanish rule, the wars of independence, the Castro era, and significant cultural aspects like music and religion. The course emphasized multiple perspectives and encouraged student-led research, challenging preconceived notions about Cuba's complex relationship with the United States. The professor aimed to promote critical thinking and understanding through student-driven inquiry.

Luis Cernuda En El Exilio Y Análisis De Dos Poemas Cernudianos Tardíos, Mary S. Vásquez

The Coastal Review

The Spanish poet Luis Cernuda was viewed by most of his contemporaries in the brilliant generation of poets of 1927 as closed, cold, removed from them and from the explosive issues of that period. Once the tragic Spanish Civil War began in 1936, however, Cernuda was of very few Spanish intellectuals to to fight in the trenches in defense of the Republic. He also worked alongside Lorca and others in the Misiones Pedagógicas, which brought culture to the humble people to whom it belonged. María Teresa León wrote a passionate defense of the solidarity of Cernuda. The poet left Spain …

Leer La Pintura Las Meninas: Niveles B Y C De Español L2, Nydia Jeffers

The Coastal Review

La pintura española Las meninas (1656) de Diego Velázquez ha sido examinada por especialistas de las artes y las ciencias. Esta propuesta didáctica invita a los estudiantes de español de los niveles B y C a practicar la lectura mediante las conexiones curriculares de la obra. Para ilustrar su potencial educativo, se conecta la pintura con más de veinte investigadores de distintas disciplinas. El diseño de las actividades se apoya en teóricos de la adquisición de segundas lenguas y en referentes de artes plásticas del Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (2007) y abarca las competencias lingüísticas del Marco Común Europeo …

Implementation Of A Providence Early Assessment Team (Peat), Barbara Nguyen, Crystalyn Beier, Brittny Ross, Patrick Murphy Ccrn

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Breastfeeding Education In Peripartum Women, Kristen Chassner

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Breastfeeding is nature’s medicine. Though it is considered a natural experience between a mother and a child, it does not always come easy. Education is imperative for peripartum women to learn more about breastfeeding in general, its benefits to the mother and the child, identifying improper latching, and resources to seek help. The purpose of this project was to provide introductory breastfeeding education to peripartum women at a government-funded public health facility in Cleveland County, North Carolina, to increase breastfeeding knowledge, self-efficacy, and the intention to breastfeed for the baby’s first 6-months of life in 100% of the participants. Though …

On The Frontline: Stop The Bleed© Training For School Staff, Mary Michaela Hinson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The American College of Surgeons’ Stop the Bleed© course was introduced in 2015 following an outcry from the community surrounding the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The Stop the Bleed© course was developed as a tool for training that any person could participate in, despite their medical background or knowledge. The course is comprised of a 30-minute didactic portion followed by a 30-minute hands-on portion where participants can practice applying tourniquets, packing a wound, and applying manual pressure. This DNP project aimed to educate school staff in a high school located in North Carolina on Stop the Bleed© in an …

Enhancing Sleep Quality: The Interrelationship Between Sleep Hygiene And Comprehensive Well-Being, Marissa Strenkert

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

In North Carolina, many adults face sleep loss, negatively impacting cognitive functioning, mental health, and physical well-being. This project aimed to educate the public about sleep hygiene techniques and their benefits. An informational session was conducted on sleep hygiene. The informational session included 31 participants, who then completed a voluntary survey to assess their likelihood of adopting the techniques and their satisfaction with the session. Out of 31 participants, 18 completed the survey. The survey consisted of 10 questions, scored on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), allowing for total scores between 0 and 50. Higher …

Achieving Optimal Wellness: Exploring The Benefits And Impact Of Community Health, Erin Riley

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Community health is an essential practice that utilizes non-clinical approaches to reduce health disparities, improve health, and prevent disease through engagement with a population of a certain geographical area. Building on earlier research, this study focused on the members of Alamance County and the increasing numbers of diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia cases from year to year. While community resources and health programs have improved over time, they are lacking in certain geographical areas. The aim of this project was to increase the knowledge and conversations around the most common diseases in Alamance County, through health seminars conducted at a …

Heart Of An Athlete: Educating On The Importance Of Cardiovascular Screening Of High School Athletes, Tiffany Michelle Haley

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

There is a lack of education regarding cardiovascular screening and the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in high school athletes. The target population needing improved education is primarily school faculty, staff, trainers, and coaches. Effective cardiovascular screening and education will aid in the prevention of a catastrophic injury, including SCA and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Educating high school faculty and staff will bring forth awareness of signs and symptoms of SCA and aid in proper care and treatment for high school athletes who are at higher risk. The goal of this project was to educate faculty and staff on …

Teaching With Confidence: Strengthening Nurse Education On Heart Failure Using The Teach-Back Method, Melany Boyd

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Heart failure remains one of the leading causes of hospital readmissions, often due to poor patient understanding of self-care instructions provided at discharge. Nurses play a critical role in patient education, yet many lack confidence and competence in delivering effective education. Additionally, inconsistencies and discharge materials, such as outdated or excessive documentation, can overwhelm patients and hinder their ability to retain vital information. Standardized education enhances the learning experience and ensures consistent messaging across the healthcare system. This project aimed to improve nurses’ confidence and competence in educating heart failure patients at discharge by 10% through the implementation of the …