Digital Commons Network^™

Loving The Mountains, Leaving The Mountains: The Appalachian Dilemma And Jim Wayne Miller’S The Brier Poems, Madeline Dawson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For decades now, the Appalachian community has been internally combatting two equally strong feelings—an inherently rich love of the mountains and a conflicting urge to leave the mountains. In recent years, Appalachian writers have produced a new literary tradition of identifying, discussing, and remedying this dilemma. Jim Wayne Miller’s 1997 The Brier Poems unapologetically explores the Appalachian community’s complicated relationship to its region. bell hooks’ 2012 Appalachian Elegy: Poetry and Place and Savannah Sipple’s 2019 WWJD and Other Poems then expand Miller’s exploration as both hooks and Sipple collectively represent voices that have often been left out of the stereotypical …

John Horton Conway: The Man And His Knot Theory, Dillon Ketron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

John Horton Conway was a British mathematician in the twentieth century. He made notable achievements in fields such as algebra, number theory, and knot theory. He was a renowned professor at Cambridge University and later Princeton. His contributions to algebra include his discovery of the Conway group, a group in twenty-four dimensions, and the Conway Constellation. He contributed to number theory with his development of the surreal numbers. His Game of Life earned him long-lasting fame. He contributed to knot theory with his developments of the Conway polynomial, Conway sphere, and Conway notation.

Cyberspace Vs Green Space: Nature’S Psychological Influence In Neuromancer, Blade Runner 2049, And The Stone Gods, Zackery Castle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cyberpunk science fiction is often set in dystopian futures where capitalism and rapid technological growth have rendered the planet ecologically devastated. The people of these worlds are host to numerous mental illnesses that many attempt to cure with drugs, entertainment, or other aspects of their fast-paced existences, but these solutions are rarely successful. When characters come to embrace the remnants of the natural world, however, they typically show signs of mental healing as the result of exposure to nature. This thesis analyzes William Gibson’s Neuromancer, Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049, and Jeanette Winterson’s The Stone Gods alongside research …

Posthumanism In The Early Modern Period: Jonson, Marlowe, And Shakespeare, Kayli Compton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the existence of posthumanism in the dramas of Ben Jonson, Christopher Marlowe, and William Shakespeare – the three most prominent playwrights of the early modern period. Posthumanist theory, which gives scholars the opportunity to look at past works in a new and unique way, attempts to re-locate the human in the diverse creatures and objects in the world we inhabit. By applying posthumanist theory to older works, we can better understand the early modern period and its writers as well as their relevance to the present. Their plays’ messages serve as warnings that work to guide humanity …

A Quantitative Study To Examine The Relationship Between School Administrators’ Path-Goal Approach And Teachers’ Perceived Working Conditions, Tierra Stark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between school administrators' path-goal approach to leadership and their teachers' perceptions of working conditions. Findings from this research may help school administrators and leadership preparation programs to understand better the application of theories related to motivation, leveraging power, and goal attainment. The conceptual framework behind this study was the inherent inclinations of school administrators in approaching leadership decisions from four pathways; directive, supportive, participative, and/or achievement-oriented.

For use in statistical analysis through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), data were collected via a questionnaire to currently practicing …

The Comparative Effects Of Three Virtual Nature Exposure Methods On State Social Motivation: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Samantha A. Castelblanco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is well established in the research literature that exposure to nature positively affects physical and mental health. However, research regarding the effects of nature exposure on social health is less developed. Prior research found that watching a video of nature improved state social motivation. Building on this research, the current study compared the effects of three methods of virtual nature exposure on state social motivation in a randomized controlled trial. In this 3X3 between-subjects experiment, participants (N = 426) 18 to 73 (M_Age = 27.69, SD = 12.19) were randomly assigned to experience 3-minutes of nature …

Academic Performance Among First-Year College Freshmen Following Participation In A Summer Bridge Program, Gregory Anderson Cross

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the differences in the academic outcomes of first-year academically underprepared TN Promise-eligible college freshmen who participated in a college bridge program. A comparative research design was applied to existing data, including first-semester GPA, first-semester credit completion rate, first college-level mathematics course GPA, first college-level English course GPA, and fall-to-fall persistence rates. A random sample of 412 first-time freshman college students from five cohorts was analyzed using descriptive statistics for eight research questions. These findings indicated that there were no significant differences among college bridge participants and non-bridge participants. Non-bridge program participants …

Accepting Or Opposing The Status Quo: A Look At The Women Characters In Mariama Bâ’S So Long A Letter (1981) And Chimamanda Adichie’S Purple Hibiscus (2003), Omolola Giwa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

What exactly is the status quo of women in Africa? Women’s selfhood has been systematically subordinated or outright denied by law, customary practices, and cultural stereotypes. Scholars like Judith Bennet suggest that religious practices and colonial rule subjugate African women. Patriarchal ideologies guide the society’s discrimination against women and this has influenced the status of women, especially married women and the way they respond in times of affliction.

Authors like Chimamanda Adichie and Mariama Ba in their fictional novels The Purple Hibiscus and So Long a Letter focus on capturing the struggles and conditions of women in the Western African …

Searching For Hades In Archaic Greek Literature, Daniel Stoll

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No single volume of mythological or philological research exists for Hades. In the one moment Hades appears in archaic Greek literature, speaking for only ten lines, Hermes stands nearby. Thus, to understand and journey to Hades is to reckon with Hermes’ close presence. As I synthesize research by writers from several different disciplines, may some light be brought into the depths. May we analyze Hades’ brief appearance in archaic Greek literature, examining how what I define as the “Hermetic” emits from his breath in the one moment he physically appears and speaks.

Echoes Of Home, Hanna Traynham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The artist discusses her Master of Fine Arts exhibition, Echoes of Home, held at the Tipton Gallery in Johnson City, Tennessee on display March 15 through April 8, 2022. The author provides insight into concepts and influences relating to the creation of the exhibition with perspective on her intimate connection with place and memory.

The exhibit features five installations addressing home, elusive memory, and the change and continuity of cultural traditions over time. The works consist of a series of large-scale wild clay vessels, gestural clay bookends, a wall installation of cups with a line drawing, suspended porcelain slabs, …

From Acolyte To Apocalypse: Defiance Vs. Conformity In Things Fall Apart, Zoë Kales, Ethan Marunde

Student Research

No community, or person, is perfect. In fact, that is why the search for paradise is ubiquitous in both literature and real life. So, when the British colonize and destabilize the inevitably flawed village of Umuofia in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, two camps form: those who defy the changes, and those who embrace them. To Okonkwo, the rise in “acolytes”—or followers—of the new religion brought by the colonizers is on par with apocalypse. In this presentation, we first detail the novel’s context, including a history of colonization in Nigeria and the life of Chinua Achebe. Next, we examine Okonkwo’s …

Self Care And Burnout Among Child Welfare Workers During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Stephanie Carranza, Claudia Castillo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The study was designed to explore associations between burnout and self-care practices among child welfare social workers and how they were impacted during the Coronavirus pandemic. The researchers completed a qualitative study with research participants by completing interviews via Zoom. All research participants composed of current and former child welfare social workers. Through the data gathered, the researchers found that there were no associations between burnout and self-care practices during the pandemic. It was concluded that burnout has remained consistent regardless of self-care practices prior and during the Coronavirus pandemic.

How Prepared Are Social Workers To Help Their Clients Diagnosed With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?, Isabel Marin

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to understand the competence social workers have with diagnosing and treating OCD. The study is significant since there are many sufferers of OCD who are misdiagnosed. Researchers have found that over 50% of individuals with OCD have been misdiagnosed (Glazier et al., 2015). This study will be significant for all mental health workers including MSW graduates and Master in Social Work students. By understanding what social workers know or do not know about the mental illness OCD we are then able to understand what improvements need to be made in the field of …

Social Work Students Competency Addressing Sexual Health Needs Of Clients, Laken Beltran

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The contents of this study explored how competent social work students feel addressing sexual health issues with clients. Social workers could experience a multitude of problems when feeling incompetent and under-educated when helping clients with sexual problems. Various theories in the realm of social work and psychology alike see the person as a whole, with multiple facets contributing to whom the individual is. Sexual health, experiences, attitudes and sexuality are an integral part of what makes an individual who they are. A qualitative approach was utilized for this study which consisted of a 10-question interview for MSW students. This study …

To What Extent Do Gender Role Stereotypes Impact Mental Health Professionals’ Perceptions Of Men, Raeshema Holland

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Many people suffer from mental health disorders. Gender disparities in mental health treatment and research need to be continuously addressed to ensure that all individuals seeking emotional support receive adequate and competent care. This research focused on bringing awareness to men's neglected mental health needs. Results are discussed in the context of theories of social roles and ambivalence towards men. This study used social role theory and ambivalent sexism theory to explain best how western traditional gender norms can impact us all. Ambivalent sexism pertains to how our attitudes and beliefs can be shaped and are extremely complex. Ambivalent biases …

Barriers To The Use Of Palliative And Hospice Care Among The Latino Population, Diana Ramirez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Patients suffering from irreversible and terminal illnesses may benefit from the services provided by Palliative and Hospice Care to control any symptom burden and assist in navigating complex medical decisions. Many patients may express hesitation in accepting and enrolling to this service due to misconceptions. Language barriers may add an additional layer of complexity. This study explored the challenges Palliative Care providers encounter when introducing concept of hospice to Spanish-speaking patients their families for the first time. This study implemented qualitative research methods by using semi-structured one-on-one interviews. Ten members of an In-patient Palliative Care Team at a University Hospital …

College Of Education Filemaker Extraction And End-User Database Development, Andrew Tran

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The College of Education (CoE) at the California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) developed a system to keep track of both state and national accreditation requirements using FileMaker 5, a database system. This accreditation data is crucial for reporting and record-keeping for the CSU Chancellor’s Office as well as the State of California. However, the database system was developed several decades ago, and software support has long since been dropped, causing the CoE’s legacy accreditation data to be at risk of being lost should the software or hardware suffer permanent failure. The purpose of this project was to perform extraction …

Preventing Intimate Partner Violence Through Healthy Relationship Education, Jessica Naranjo Larios

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health crisis and is defined as behavior by a current or former partner who causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm (WHO, 2021). The age demographic experiencing the highest rates of IPV is those between 18-24 years old (Brewer et al., 2018). Since many college students fit this demographic, colleges must implement effective evidence-based IPV prevention programs. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of healthy relationship education among college students using the KAP (Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice) model tool.

Methods: This study utilized quantitative research methods to assess …

The Effect Of The Perception Of Mental Health Services On Asian Americans, Angela Dao

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Previous studies have examined mental health issues and barriers in minorities, such as Asian Americans. With a basic understanding of the differences in mental health perception, this study dove deeper into the effect of perception of mental health services has on Asian Americans. The knowledge and understanding that arose from this study will ideally contribute to increased acceptance and usage of mental health services. The study was conducted in an interview format with volunteers from the community. The data was analyzed through transcription and coding. The findings of the study included a difference in generational acceptance of mental health services …

Social Work Students' Understanding Of Childhood Psycho-Emotional Maltreatment By Caregivers, Todd M. Rubin

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Child psychological, emotional maltreatment (CPEM) presents to the social work profession as one of the most challenging to detect, prevent and intervene. The consequences of CPEM have been equally devastating to a child’s development compared to all other forms of childhood maltreatment. The purpose of this study is to assess graduate social work students’ knowledge of CPEM as a determinant of their clinical preparedness to work with families in practice. The rationale for this study is to explore how the lack of focus on CPEM in university education, field experience, and field supervision impacts a social worker’s ability to prioritize …

Ultrasound Evidence For Out Of Season Reproduction In The Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus Polyphemus) In Southeastern Florida, Alyx Shechtman

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2020 - Present

In the northern Florida, the breeding season of Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) is typically limited to the warmer months, with courting from April to June, egg-laying from May to June, and hatching in August to September. In southern Florida, however, there is evidence for the year-round reproduction in Gopher Tortoises. We performed ultrasound examinations on the female tortoises in January to May from a site in Palm Beach County in South Florida to determine their reproductive statuses. We found further evidence of fecundity in South Florida gopher tortoises outside what the typical breeding season of more northern sites.

Postmarked 2022, Students Of Risd, Risd Archives

All Student Newspapers

Postmarked was a publication started during the COVID-19 pandemic by three RISD architecture students. The first issue has the theme of "sonder" and contains student writing and artwork on postcards that deal with this theme.

A Correlational Investigation Of Black Females’ Education And Their Reproductive Health, Angela Marie Holliday

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Research supports that people who dropout of high school do substantially worse than those who graduate (Anderson & Pörtner, 2014) based upon research on the consequences of dropping out of high school. High school dropouts “earn less, report lower levels of happiness, commit more crimes, and suffer from poorer health” (Anderson & Pörtner, 2014, p. 113). Dropout rates have a massive impact on employment rates, individual earnings, and crime rates (thinkimpact.com, 2020, para. 7). Students who dropout of high school “face social stigma, fewer job opportunities, lower salaries, and higher probability of involvement with the criminal justice system” (Mass. Dept. …

Anxiety Symptoms Among Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Persist Over Time And Are Independent Of Sle Disease Activity, Daphne Lew, Xinliang Huang, Sara R Kellahan, Hong Xian, Seth Eisen, Alfred H J Kim

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study are to identify patterns of anxiety symptomology over time among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to assess the longitudinal relationship between SLE disease activity and anxiety symptomology.

METHODS: Longitudinal data from 139 patients with American College of Rheumatology or Systemic Lupus International Collborating Clinic (SLICC)-classified SLE were analyzed. Anxiety symptomology was assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Emotional Distress: Anxiety Short Form 8a. SLE disease activity was measured using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)-2000 (S2K) and S2K Responder Index 50 (S2K RI-50). Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) …

Improving Parenting For Families With Involvment In The Child Welfare System: Perspectives Of Social Workers And Parents In Southern California, Laura Velazquez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Child neglection has been a concerning topic in today's society. Therefore, parent classes have been implemented as a method of prevention services. Through evidence-based interventions and the effective outcomes programs parenting classes have stopped incidents of child neglect and abuse by providing parents with the knowledge, education, and skills to prevent this from occurring. This research was qualitative, and the data collected allowed the researcher to discover the outcomes of how parent education can prevent child neglect. This study had 15 participants, 8 parents, and 7 social workers (N = 15). The findings from this research both from a …

Identifying Groups Most Prone To Become Homeless, Jesse Kruse

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This paper will attempt to determine if some groups are more prone to homelessness than other groups within the United States. Then, it will try to determine if some groups are more prone to homelessness within the Inland Empire. Research was conducted to identify if some contributing factors that cause homelessness affect some groups more than other groups. If the contributing factors to become homeless differs between different subgroups of homeless individuals, then perhaps different intervention strategies could be applied to each subgroup.

The Prevalence Of Iron Deficiency And Obesity Among Young Children In The United States, Mirriam Abunaja

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background The coexistence of obesity and iron deficiency among children is one manifestation of the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) and is a public health concern. This study aims to provide useful insight on public health knowledge by presenting a current snapshot of the coexistence of obesity and iron deficiency among pre-school aged children as well as specific risk factors.

Methods This analysis utilizes secondary data from a publicly accessible, national database, the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES). The data examined were retrieved from the years 2015-2016 and 2017-2018. Chi-squared tests were used to test each thesis question. …

Utilization Of Telemental Health By Mental Health Professionals During Covid-19, Zayne Boudreauxramirez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

It has been established that certain barriers and benefits affect a mental health professional’s attitude towards using telemental health. The purpose of this study was to examine a possible relationship between mental health professional’s discipline, theoretical orientation, and treatment approach with their attitudes towards telemental health utilization. This study collected data from 117 mental health professionals from California. A principal component analysis uncovered four factors with attitudes towards telemental health: confidence with telemental health, concerns about telemental health, peer influence, and professional support & behavioral intent. This study showed significant relationships between discipline, theoretical orientation, and treatment approach with confidence …

The Importance Of Self-Care Among Hospice Social Workers, Lillianna Gomez, Divina Perez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Social workers in general face daily challenges, but social workers in the field of hospice face unique daily stressors. The purpose of this study was to investigate what self-care methods hospice social workers use to combat burnout and compassion fatigue. One hundred hospice social workers were surveyed. Researchers used two scales to measure participants’ current self-care methods and their current quality of life. Researchers used two tailed Pearson test to analyze relationships between self-care and burnout as well as self-care and compassion satisfaction. Researchers also utilized various SPSS tests to analyze the relationship between demographics and self-care method. Participants reported …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On School-Aged Children’S Mental Health: Mixed-Method Study Of Families In Southern California, Christina Williams

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

On March 13, 2020, the director of Services to Students with Disabilities came out of the office and stated the employees and students were not returning to school effective immediately due to the world’s shutdown over COVID-19. COVID-19 swiftly created panic causing toilet paper and water to be rationed, but who really took the time to think about how this would affect school-aged children and their families. How does shutting down in-person learning and household dynamics change when a disease taking the lives of almost a million people sweeps across the United States of America. Were parents ready to teach …