Digital Commons Network^™

Role Of University Staff In Fostering Graduate Student Engagement, Elizabeth Ellen Caulder

Theses and Dissertations

Graduate student disengagement has increased in higher education, especially after changes from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as automation, remote work, and less face- to-face interaction. This dissertation-in-practice investigated whether relationship-focused interventions could boost student engagement. Guided by Social Exchange Theory and Improvement Science, it used a Plan–Do–Study–Act framework to develop and refine a professional development lunch program. The intervention aimed to promote reciprocal interactions between students and staff based on shared goals. Data from observations, attendance, surveys, and interviews were analyzed across three cycles.

This study illustrates how improvement science serves as a practical, systems- focused approach to tackling problems …

Polyvinylidene Difluoride As A Platform For Photonic Circuits, Caleb Duff

Theses and Dissertations

Integrated photonic circuits represent a promising avenue for advancing computing capabilities by replacing electrons with photons as information carriers. This transition necessitates a comprehensive and innovative approach as the well understood requirements for electronic circuits are replaced by the needs of photonic circuits. This work will discuss topological photonics and one of many recent successes in their use to create near scatter free states. This work will then discuss progress towards creating an electromechanical platform using polyvinylidene difluoride [(C2H2F2)n], the platform’s benefits, and how the platform has been tested. This platform would have the potential to create reconfigurable photonic circuits, …

Coastal Development Effects On Estuarine Benthic Microalgal Communities, Henry Christopher Guy

Theses and Dissertations

As key drivers of neritic primary productivity, benthic microalgae (BMA) play essential roles in biogeochemical cycling and estuarine food webs. When considered alongside their shallow, restricted habitats, BMA contribute disproportionately to global carbon fixation. However, the extent of human impact on BMA communities is largely unknown. This study aimed to quantify anthropogenic forcing through specific abiotic drivers of benthic microalgal success. BMA biomass, community composition, porewater nutrients, and sediment composition were measured within two South Carolina Estuaries. North Inlet and Murrells Inlet share similar geographic and morphological characteristics but differ significantly in terms of watershed population. Dissolved phosphate, nitrate, and …

Understanding Spanish Language Patterns In Therapy: Insights Into Therapists, Clients, And Session Characteristics, Vanessa Perez

Theses and Dissertations

Spanish-speaking individuals face significant barriers to accessing linguistically appropriate mental health services. Language match between therapists and clients has been associated with positive impacts on the therapeutic process; however, little is known about how Spanish is used in youth therapy sessions or how therapeutic and demographic characteristics influence its use. Using 54 recorded Spanish-speaking therapy sessions from a randomized controlled trial of school-based mental health services in Los Angeles, California, this study sought to understand who participated in these sessions, how Spanish was used, and what predicted its use. To address these aims, data were drawn from electronic health records, …

Maternal Reading Skills And Child Mortality In Nigeria, Kayode Ibraheem

Theses and Dissertations

Although, child mortality in Nigeria has declined significantly over the past three decades, the country still has one of the highest rates in the world. The inverse relationship between maternal education and child survival is well established, but the mechanisms by which education impacts mortality remain underexplored. This study assessed the mediating effect of maternal literacy in the relationship between child mortality and maternal education, extending prior work that focused primarily on mothers with low education levels. Using the data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, I analyzed 24,865 mothers who had at most secondary education as well …

Semi-Supervised Galaxy Morphology Classification Using Convolutional Vision Transformers, Emily Miller Christen

Theses and Dissertations

Galaxy morphology classification is an essential task for understanding galaxy evolution, but modern high-redshift surveys such as JADES produce a large number of unlabeled images that cannot be handled with traditional manual or supervised learning methods. This work explores a semi-supervised transfer learning framework that leverages labeled data from Galaxy Zoo 2 to classify morphologies in James Webb Space Telescope JADES observations. A pretrained Convolutional Vision Transformer is adapted to the new imaging domain and refined using pseudo-labeling on unlabeled data. Experiments simulating JADES imaging conditions show that reduced resolution and noise significantly impact the separability of certain morphology classes, …

“Not Being Classified (English Proficient), Only Limits How Much I Can Learn”: An Action Research Examination Of The Elpac, Manuel De Jesus Acuna Jr

Theses and Dissertations

Emerging language learners across the United States face challenges in accessing equal educational opportunities because they are classified as not proficient, which holds them back. The emphasis on this classification compromises their performance on state exams, jeopardizing their educational future. The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California is a state-mandated exam that non- first-language English Speakers must take and pass in order to be classified as English proficient. Districts and educators must begin to challenge the educational system in California. This research outlines the difficulties faced by emergent language learners who are not classified and the repercussions on their future. …

When One Size Does Not Fit All: Helping Teachers Adapt Scripted Curricula For Students With Disabilities, Julie Elizabeth Broad

Theses and Dissertations

Special education teachers are responsible for differentiating instruction so students with disabilities can access the general education curriculum and meet their IEP goals. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that students eligible for special education receive specially designed instruction aligned with their individual needs, yet at the time of this qualitative action research study, I served as a special educator in a district that mandated the use of scripted curricula for math and language arts. To resolve this problem of practice, I sought to understand elementary teachers’ lived experiences with the scripted curricula, including their effectiveness for students with …

Bridging The Gap In First Grade: Community Perceptions Of Standards-Based Grading And Literacy Communication In A Rural Virginia School Division, Kristin Janssen

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative action research study explored the perceptions of parents, guardians, and teachers regarding standards-based grading (SBG) in first-grade literacy instruction and examined community buy-in toward its implementation in a rural Virginia school district. Although state-level mandates such as the Virginia Literacy Act emphasize evidence-based literacy instruction and foundational reading skills, traditional grading practices remain common in early elementary classrooms. These practices often lack alignment with instructional standards and may obscure students’ literacy progress, creating challenges for communication between schools and families.

Surveys with closed and open-ended questions yielded data from first- grade teachers and parents or guardians to illuminate …

It’S Not A Hierarchy Of Needs; It’S A Maze. A Case Study Of The Challenges And Supports For Former Foster Youth Transitioning To The Community College In Virginia, Lee Hemmrich Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

Despite decades of policy reform and targeted support, today’s former foster youth (FFY) face disproportionate challenges to higher education completion. This qualitative case study explored the lived experiences of six former foster youth as they transitioned from the foster care system to a community college in Virginia. Guided by a conceptual framework integrating Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Bridges’ Transition Theory, and Zimbardo’s Time Perspective Theory, this study sought to understand the barriers FFY encounter, the supports they find most meaningful, how they define successful independence, and the role higher education plays in that definition.

Data was collected through preliminary meetings, …

A Tail Of Consumption: Essays On Pet-Person Identities And Their Effects On Consumers, Mackenzie Micheala Volk

Theses and Dissertations

This work examines how exposure to pet-person identities — identifying as a dog person or a cat person — affects consumer behavior. Across two chapters, results show that exposure to dog-person cues increases preferences for bold and conspicuous product features through heightened desire for dominance-based status signaling. Additionally, exposure to cat-person cues activates a cat-person mindset, boosting support for inclusive businesses and policies by increasing minority support and justice sensitivity. Together, these findings suggest that subtle identity cues in the marketplace can meaningfully shape consumer preferences and social attitudes, with implications for how brands position themselves and how policymakers and …

The Metacognitive Shift: Reshaping Student Attitudes And Adaptive Reasoning Through Error Analysis In Eighth-Grade Mathematics, Samantha Lynn Graves

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized an action research framework to address students’ lack of adaptive reasoning skills in a mathematics classroom in South Carolina. These students often focus on procedural fluency without understanding the reasoning behind the steps. Using a mixed methods design, this study examined the impact of implementing student- led error analysis as a metacognitive strategy on the adaptive reasoning skills and attitudes of 20 eighth-grade mathematics students. The study took place over 6 weeks at a Title I public charter school, and the intervention required students to identify, correct, and explain errors in various problem types, including fractions, applied …

Fostering High Achievement For Students Within And Beyond The Classroom – Building In Students Academic Language And Literacy Skills To Improve Standardized Test Scores In United States History And The Constitution. An Action Research Study, Amber Nicole Gant

Theses and Dissertations

The scores received on high-stakes tests throughout a student’s educational journey are an indication of the level of mastery of advanced content. Subsequently, these scores highlight their ability to access skills that reflect their likelihood to achieve success and become 21st century college and career-ready individuals. As an educator teaching in an underserved area, students’ inability to comprehend academic language and literacy skills negatively impacts standardized test scores and evidence of complete competency of learned materials. This research examines the effects and outcomes of building on students’ academic language and literacy skills to foster higher academic achievement on standardized tests …

Instructional Design To Support Math Identity Growth In Middle School, Sarah A. Foster

Theses and Dissertations

Middle school mathematics classrooms often emphasize performance and correctness in ways that contribute to negative student beliefs, disengagement, and persistent underachievement, particularly among students enrolled in on-grade-level courses. In this action research study, a targeted math identity development intervention was implemented to examine how instructional practices designed to affirm student thinking influenced eighth-grade students’ math self-efficacy, growth mindset, academic performance, and self-perception as mathematics learners. The study also explored teachers’ perceptions of student identity shifts and the instructional strategies they viewed as most effective in fostering positive math identity.

Guided by Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, Dweck’s growth mindset theory, and …

Quality Of Life As A Guiding Construct For Service Delivery In Applied Behavior Analysis, Aaron Randall Check

Theses and Dissertations

Currently, there is considerable research highlighting less than ideal outcomes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across many facets of daily living. The field of behavior analysis has the potential to meaningfully impact outcomes for these individuals if the focus of service provision is improving quality of life. The purpose of this multiple manuscript dissertation is to describe three cohesive research projects intended to contribute to advancing the field of applied behavior analysis towards centering quality of life in service provision. The first project was a systematic literature review which explored the presence of both quality of life and …

Exploring The Impact Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy On Student Cultural Capital, Jessica Asten Leonard

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the intersection of cultural capital and culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) within the context of eighth-grade social studies education. Grounded in a theoretical framework of Bourdieu’s cultural capital theory, Ladson-Billings’ theory of culturally relevant pedagogy, and principles of critical curriculum theory, this research study investigated how elements of objectified and embodied cultural capital manifested in student participants and how those elements may have been influenced using culturally relevant instructional strategies. Within the context of a mixed methods design, a qualitative survey instrument was administered to students enrolled in South Carolina and United States history courses and sought to …

Meeting The Needs Of Students With Disabilities In School Crisis Plans, Christine L. Montesi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine crisis preparedness among educators in public schools across York County, SC. More specifically, the study explored how prepared educators believe they are to meet the needs of students with disabilities during and after a school-based crisis. While a majority of public schools report having written crisis plans in place, less is known about crisis preparedness for students with disabilities. Respondents were asked to provide input on ways to address the needs of students with disabilities during a crisis and report their own perceptions of preparedness.

Data were collected through a survey and …

Soft Skills As The New Hard Skills In The Industry 5.0 Era, Miria Zangirolami Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

As technological advancement reshapes educational and professional landscapes, the human dimensions of teaching have become increasingly critical. This action research study examines the gap between the strong academic preparation of Teachers of English as a Second Language (TESL) pre-service teachers and their readiness to meet professional workplace expectations. Situated within the context of Industry 5.0, where human-centered skills are emphasized alongside digital competence, the study explores how soft skills, punctuality, digital etiquette, presentation skills, and professional attire, can be intentionally developed within teacher education. Guided by the strength model of self-control and achievement goal theory, a targeted workshop intervention was …

From Survival To Social: The Evolution Of Strategic Competence In B2 English Learners During Collaborative Board Gameplay, Hazza Bin Hazza

Theses and Dissertations

An examination of the communicative strategies of B2-level English language learners was conducted to investigate the evolutionary trajectory of strategic deployment in informal, collaborative, and non-instructional settings. While traditional research has predominantly focused on digital or explicitly educational games within controlled, single-session tasks, a notable gap remains in understanding how learners navigate the linguistic and social demands of non-pedagogical, commercially available board games over repeated encounters. This qualitative case study addressed this gap by observing four learners as they engaged in four sessions of Forbidden Desert, a collaborative survival board game.

The theoretical framework integrated Sociocultural Theory, Communicative Competence, and …

Increasing Equity In Technology Integration, Whitney Anne Colley

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of practice focuses on unequal integration of technology across the district. This action research study aimed to understand teachers’ experiences and promote equitable use of technology in classrooms by implementing a coaching cycle centered on co-teaching and collaboration, which supports teachers beyond simply substituting traditional tools with technology, toward more meaningful integration that improves learning. Teachers often use technology as a direct substitute due to limited time and rushed professional development, which can affect their confidence and effectiveness. The study took place in a public elementary school serving 700 students, in which all students from second to fifth …

Examining Shifts In Attitudes Toward Mathematics: A Mixed Methods Study In Undergraduate Business Calculus, Kathryn Pedings-Behling

Theses and Dissertations

Students in my non-theoretical Business Calculus course at the College of Eastshore almost never begin the class with a positive attitude towards mathematics. They are taking the course to fulfill their general education requirements in mathematics, and for most of them, this will be their last experience in a formal classroom setting with a mathematics educator. This profile of a math-reluctant student is not unique to my Business Calculus course; I have spoken with many fellow educators in similar situations who experience the same persistence of negative attitudes toward mathematics from their own students. Their attitude not only has implications …

Generalized Planning Using Language Models And Its Applications, Vishal Pallagani

Theses and Dissertations

Planning is a fundamental capability for intelligent systems, yet classical planners remain difcult to scale and generalize across domains due to their reliance on hand- engineered models, brittle search procedures, and limited adaptability. These limita- tions constrain real-world applications that require fexible reasoning, robust decision- making, and the ability to operate across diverse environments.

Large language models have emerged as powerful learners supported by their ar- chitectures and large-scale training data, demonstrating strong capabilities in tasks such as question answering, code generation, summarization, and reasoning. Moti- vated by their broad generalization abilities, I investigate whether language models can be systematically …

A Compilation Of Works For Soprano By Moravian Composers From North Carolina, Laura Kay Hutchins

Theses and Dissertations

Moravians are among the first people to compose art music for both instrumental ensembles and works for solo voice in the American colonies. However, if you examine the repertoire taught and available to students of singing, you’ll find the songs of the Moravians are notably missing. To increase awareness, narrow the gap in research, and point teachers toward solo vocal repertoire, this document provides biographical information on several Moravian composers who lived and worked in North Carolina, as well as a compilation of selected works for solo soprano. As a secondary goal, the paper also highlights the contributions of several …

Strain-Induced Oxygen Vacancy Effect On Thermoelectric Properties In Oxide Thin Films, Ebenezer Seesi

Theses and Dissertations

The development of highly efficient and cost-effective thermoelectric (TE) materials is critical for converting waste heat into electricity in advanced power generators. For high-temperature TE applications, transition metal oxides (TMOs) have attracted significant interest because they are comparatively safe, earth-abundant, and stable under oxidizing conditions where many conventional heavy-metal and chalcogenide TE materials degrade. However, the TE performance of TMOs is limited by the intrinsic trade-off between the Seebeck coefficient (S) and electrical conductivity (σ), both of which depend inversely on charge carrier concentration. This constraint limits the achievable power factor (PF = S²∙σ) and remains a central obstacle for …

A Conductor’S Guide To Charles Villiers Stanford’S Songs Of The Sea & Songs Of The Fleet, Brian Niu

Theses and Dissertations

Charles Villiers Stanford is best known for his contributions as a composer to the sacred choral genre and his role as Professor of Composition at the Royal College of Music in London during the Second English Musical Renaissance. Beyond his church music, which is still regularly performed today, Stanford’s secular compositions are largely underperformed, especially for a composer and teacher of his stature. This document provides a conductor’s guide to Charles V. Stanford’s two works: Songs of the Sea and Songs of the Fleet. These two choral-orchestral works are less than 25 minutes in duration each and are scored for …

The Czech Double Bass School: The History And Development Of Bass Education Through The Prague Conservatory, Geordan Raisler

Theses and Dissertations

As a member of the violin family, the double bass has existed for the majority of the instrument's history in an ephemeral state. Across Europe the instrument varied regionally, and differing performance practices hampered the development of pedagogical materials for the instrument, of which wouldn't be developed until the turn of the 19th century when the instrument’s construction began to stabilize.1

The focus of this document emerged from noticing a pattern between the increasing quality of bassists in Central Europe, particularly in the genre of solo music, and the development of pedagogical materials for the double bass during this time. …

Acoustics Of The Kettle Drum: A Scientific Approach To Timpani Performance, Yuesen Yang

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation bridges the gap between scientific and performance approaches in timpani pedagogy. While the timpani have long been a member of various ensembles, its pedagogy often relies on experiential knowledge of the performers. This study synthesizes findings from acoustical research with traditional teaching sources to establish a coherent framework for timpani pedagogy.

Chapter one introduces the study’s purpose, states the problem, and presents the methodology. It also clarifies the scope of this dissertation. It identifies the lack of consistency between acoustic research and current pedagogical approach, proposing a comparative analysis of scientific literature and established pedagogical texts.

Chapter two …

A Compositional Analysis For Selected Works Featuring Saxophone By Braxton Blake, Matthew Allen Floeter

Theses and Dissertations

During the 2025-2026 school year, I have had the pleasure of working with Braxton “Brad” Blake to analyze and present on his theoretical approach to composition. As part of this project, I have learned and performed all of the music in this document. I firmly believe that one’s understanding of compositional technique is more fully realized through the preparation and performance of it. This document will provide insight into the compositional method in Seven Places (1998), Partita (2018), Three Dances (2022), and a Four Pieces for Baritone Saxophone and Piano (2026), presented in chronological order. Additionally, I have conducted several …

The Effects Of Whole-Body Vibration On Countermovement Jump Kinetics And Performance, Garrett Reese Evans

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: Whole-body vibration (WBV) is reported to be an effective training modality for increasing vertical jump height. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear because limited studies have examined the effects of WBV on kinetic variables underling jump height. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of WBV on jump height (JH), modified reactive strength index (RSImod), and eccentric rate of force development (eRFD) during the countermovement jumps (CMJ) in recreationally-active young adults.

METHODS: Fifteen participants (13 male, 2 female, 21.5±1.89yr, 1.78±0.10m, 80.2±15.0kg) completed three randomly-ordered WBV exposures (0s, 30s, or 60s: 35Hz, 2mm amplitude). Three CMJ were …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of The Genetic Cancer Prevention Clinic As A Tool For Managing Patients At Elevated Risk For Cancer, Sydney Marlene Price

Theses and Dissertations

People with an inherited cancer predisposition but have not been affected with cancer or tumors themselves are known as previvors. A previous study suggested the need for the establishment of a specialized management clinic for previvors in the Midlands of South Carolina. In 2022, the Genetic Cancer Prevention Clinic (GCPC) was established to serve this patient population. This study examined effectiveness of the GCPC in helping previvors manage their psychological and medical needs. A mixed methods design consisting of a chart review of patients enrolled in the GCPC (N=34) and a semi-structured phone interview (n=3) was …