Digital Commons Network^™

"Into The Womb Of Solipsism": The Spectrum Of Loneliness In Wallace's Infinite Jest, Michael Gieger

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Academic critics and casual readers of David Foster Wallace’s 1,079-page novel, Infinite Jest, have long ruminated over the book’s daunting physical size and wide narrative scope. This paper offers an argumentative interpretation of the novel’s immensity through an exploration of Wallace’s thematic preoccupation with solipsism and human loneliness. Building primarily from the critical works of Frank Cioffi and Casey Michael Henry, this essay makes the contention that the length of Infinite Jest behaves mimetically, simulating for its attentive readership a sense of perpetual emotional isolation—an isolation reflective of the epic’s untold lonesome characters. The argument further suggests that length of …

The Relationship Of Social Anxiety And Bullying With Positive Social Interactions Amongst Autistic And Non-Autistic Youth, Nicole Macapagal

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Background: Social relationships and social interactions are vital for developing children and youth as it is important for their development such as social skills and communications. Social supports create social and emotional support for individuals and provide resilience against mental health issues and other difficult situations. Interpersonal relationships help more positive outcomes during childhood and adolescence and into adulthood. Social anxiety is a mental health condition in which individuals fear what others think of them and can prevent interpersonal relationships from happening or having positive experiences. Youth who experience social anxiety are more likely to have poor quality interpersonal relationships …

Symptoms And Displacements: Satan's Detachments In Paradise Lost, Rosemary Rodriguez

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

For my thesis I aim to examine the detachment that Satan has to his surroundings in John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost. Predominantly using psychoanalysis and Marxist theory as my main lenses for analysis, I intend to show the full extent of Satan's punishment and condemnation in the text. A standard close reading of this work shows how flawed and inconsistent Satan is in his disposition and beliefs. From boasting about being able to make a heaven of hell to considering asking God for forgiveness, the text shows him constantly changing. In other words, Satan's mental instability manifests itself in …

Decisions, Decisions: The Influence Of Anxiety On Decision Making, Allisun Romain

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The purpose of the present study was to better understand the influence of state anxiety on decision making, including how constructs such as trait anxiety and emotional intelligence may moderate this relationship. Participants were randomly assigned to a state anxiety-inducing condition or a control condition. They were then prompted to complete a computerized dynamic decision-making task in which optimal performance requires exploring a novel decision environment and learning reward contingencies of the task. Prior to the experimental manipulation, participants also completed self-report measures of trait anxiety and emotional intelligence. Independent sample t tests were employed to measure differences between the …

The Role Of Executive Functioning On Anxiety And Overcontrol On Neurodiverse Youth, Sydney Przygoda

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Autistic youth are at an elevated risk of developing anxiety. Overcontrol, or excessive self-control, shares similar clinical challenges (i.e. rigidity, social perfection) that are often associated with anxiety. Executive functioning (EF) is well-established as being positively associated with anxiety. Taking all this into account, it was predicted that EF may serve as a moderator to the relationship between overcontrol and anxiety. Using both parent and child responses to the Overcontrol in Youth Checklist, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2, this current study explored how overcontrol and anxiety are related. Further, it tested the role …

Intersectionality And The Experience Of Stuttering For Latinos In The U.S., Carolina Beita-Ell

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In research, intersectionality seeks to explore, reflect on, and validate variations in human experience. This study adopted an intersectional approach when contemplating the experience of stuttering for individuals living in the U.S. who identified as Latinx (Latino/Latina/Hispanic). Nine Latinx people who stutter (PWS) - six reported their gender as ‘male’ and three reported their gender as ‘female’, with a mean age of 41, from five U.S. states and Washington, D.C. - participated in the study. A mixed methods design, which consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted online using videoconferencing technology and an online survey that contained three quantitative measures as well …

Collaboratively Constructing Quality Teaching: Involving School Stakeholders In Defining The Possibilities Of Schooling, Susan Chenelle

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Drawing upon principles of participatory action research, this study collected input from secondary school stakeholders (teachers, students, caregivers, alumni, staff, and administrators) to create a local definition of quality teaching for students at an urban charter school in the northeastern United States. Analysis of stakeholder input produced four themes, reflecting participants’ views of quality teaching: support for students’ individual differences, flexible learning structures, development of knowledge about students to engage and build relationships, and development and use of professional knowledge. The resulting definition of quality teaching partially overlaps with the principles of culturally sustaining pedagogy (Paris, 2012) with shortcomings that …

Nurturing Black Girls: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Black Girls' Mental Health And Their Lived Experiences With Racial Discrimination In Schools, Marline Francois

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This research explored the lived experiences of Black girls in schools with a focus on racial discrimination and the impact it has on their mental health. Grounded in Black feminist thought and phenomenological variant of ecological systems theory (PVEST), this study used qualitative research to understand the lived experiences of Black girls. Twenty participants engaged in this study through semi-structured interviews to examine their lived experiences in school spaces. The findings of this study acknowledge the profound impact of racial discrimination on the mental health of Black girls. At the intersection of race and gender, this study contributes to the …

Influence Of Parsimony And Work-Related Psychological Constructs In Predicting Turnover Intention When Using Machine Learning Vs Regression, Diego Figueiras

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This dissertation explores the ongoing debate between traditional statistical regression models and machine learning (ML) algorithms in predictive modeling, focusing on the impact of sample size and the number of variables. Study 1 investigates the relationship between sample size and predictive accuracy, proposing hypotheses regarding the advantages of ML over regression as sample size increases. Additionally, the study examines the influence of the number of variables on predictive accuracy, emphasizing the trade-off between ML and regression models. Using data from the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, the research aims to contribute insights into the conditions favoring each modeling approach. Study 2 …

Trends And Barriers In Service Utilization In Underrepresented Ethnoracial Groupswith Autism Spectrum Disorder In The United States: A Mixed-Method Analysis, Sadaf Khawar

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Caregivers with autistic children, particularly from minoritized populations, experience significant barriers while navigating the complex healthcare system, including acquiring services. Therefore, it is crucial to understand what these barriers are in order to inform policymaking initiatives to support families. Notably, there is a significant gap in extant literature to explore trends in service use and unique experiences of caregivers of autistic youth from three historically underrepresented groups in research (and currently not in the parameters of the United States census): 1) South Asian, 2) Middle Eastern and North African (MENA), and 3) East African. This study employed a mixed-method design …

Mentors As Learners: Enhancing And Exploring The Experiences Of Veteran Mentor Teachers In An Elementary School Context Using Stimulated Video Recall Cycles, Melissa Suppa Susnosky

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The purpose of this study was to engage veteran mentor teachers in a professional development experience through the use of stimulated video recall (SVR) sessions to explore and enhance mentor teacher learning processes and outcomes during a student teaching practicum in an elementary school context. The concept of mentors as learners encompasses adopting an educative mentoring stance when guiding student teachers. Taking an educative mentoring stance entails mentors cultivating a vision of teacher learning that emphasizes creating opportunities for inquiry and supporting the conditions necessary for teacher growth (Feiman-Nemser, 2001). This study provided mentor teachers with a unique opportunity for …

Transformative Leadership: Possibilities And Contradictions In The Lives Of Four Early Childhood Directors, Sara Jill Wasserman

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore the ideas of transformative leadership when applied to the context of early childhood education, creating opportunities and challenges for the directors who lead the schools. More specifically, to better understand how ECE directors, who were trying to be transformative, interpreted their experiences and constructed corresponding realities as leaders. Through a series of individual and group interviews, I tried to answer the guiding research question about how ECE directors, working in private, preschool settings, navigate the tensions between a neoliberal system of schooling and the practices of transformative leadership. While there …

Betrayal As A Moderator Of Covid-19 Exposure And Ptsd Symptoms, Karly Sara Weinreb

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been interest in understanding how individuals have fared regarding their mental health symptoms, such as symptoms of PTSD. Prior studies have established a link between COVID-19 and PTSD without considering how COVID-19 may relate to the four PTSD symptom clusters. Further, those who feel betrayed by either an individual or institution tend to have more severe PTSD (Martin et al., 2013). It is possible that individuals felt a level of both interpersonal and institutional betrayal towards other individuals or institutions for exposing them to environments in which there was a risk of …

Vulnerability Of Semantic Networks In Multiple Sclerosis: An Analysis Of Verbal Fluency Data, Sophia Lall

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Word finding difficulty is a frequently reported subjective cognitive concern among persons with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS). Word-finding relies on several information retrieval processes, including search and retrieval from the conceptual store, the phonological store, the syllabary, as well as other stores of information. Neuropsychological assessments, including the semantic verbal fluency measure, can be used to measure word retrieval abilities. Despite this, the MS research literature shows that neuropsychological assessment of semantic verbal fluency yields mixed results in detecting word-finding difficulties. While some studies report finding statistically lower semantic fluency scores in pwMS relative to healthy controls (HC), others found no …

Ideal Expectations And Realities At Hbcus: Examining Counselors' Lgbt Competence, Dae'quawn Landrum

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

There is a dearth of literature about counselor training at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This quantitative study used a multiple regression to examine how graduates of counseling programs at HBCUs report their competence in working with LGBT clients and to what extent LGBT training, years of experience, and religiosity affect counselors' competence. The study consisted of 93 participants that graduated from counseling program sat HBCUs. The results revealed that each variable significantly affected various aspects of competence (knowledge, clinical preparedness, and attitudes). More specifically, counselors’ years of experience were positively associated with knowledge, LGBT training in master’s programs were …

The Importance Of Framing The Context Of Black/African Americans' Livelihood To Enhance Health Outcomes And Mitigate Health Inequalities, Elvis Gyan

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This study investigates the portrayal of Black/African Americans in Health Marriage and Relationship Education (HMRE) programs, which predominantly follow Eurocentric models while examining how social and structural determinants (e.g., community context) influence stress levels, general health, and relationship satisfaction through two main objectives. Firstly, it aims to scrutinize the acknowledgment of biases towards non-Eurocentric communities in published Administration of Children and Families HMRE programs, analyzing 39 research studies. Secondly, it examines the interplay between perceived community context, stress as a mediator, general health, and relationship satisfaction among Black/African Americans across three distinct articles by testing hypothesized process models. Results for …

Camus In A Post-Covid World: A Bibliotherapeutic Approach To Coping With Crisis, Jessica Titterington

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This thesis examines the usage of absurdist literature, particularly a selection of works by Albert Camus, and their relevance to bibliotherapy. The three selected works are his novels The Plague and The Stranger, as well as his essay The Myth of Sisyphus. By analyzing these works through a psychoanalytic lens and with the consideration of generational theory, utilizing absurdist literature as an alternative “medicine” in times of crisis, especially in instances where immediate medical aid is not available, is shown to be beneficial. This thesis also uses the recent COVID-19 pandemic as a model for global crises and explores the …

Development Of High-Fidelity Simulations For Srnas: Airway Fire And Venous Air Embolism, Ashlyn Russo, Brooke Skaggs

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) must swiftly recognize and treat high-risk, low-incidence complications in a high-stress environment. Most SRNAs do not experience high mortality or rare emergencies throughout their training. This project involves developing and implementing two high-fidelity simulations for airway fire and venous air embolism (VAE) to help SRNAs improve their skills in a safe learning environment. Objectives for this project include examining current evidenced-based literature to determine the efficacy of high-fidelity simulation on the SRNA’s knowledge and performance post-simulation, determining the incidence, pathophysiology, and treatments for airway fires and VAE, creating two high-fidelity simulation scenarios, and integrating the …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Perioperative Methadone In Cardiac Surgery, Brock Thornton

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Cardiac surgery includes a myriad of highly invasive and complex procedures that can lead to the development of chronic pain and delayed patient recovery (Murphy et al., 2015). Despite frequent administration of opioid medications, cardiac surgery is associated with moderate to severe pain in up to 75% of patients (Bolton et al., 2019; Choinière et al., 2014; Wang, Song, & Nault, 2021). Methadone, a long-acting synthetic opioid medication, improves analgesia and decreases the risk of chronic pain syndromes among multiple surgical populations. Literature within the last five years suggests a single dose of intravenous methadone in cardiac surgery (0.1-0.3 mg/kg …

Procedural Sedation Training: Competency Verification Through Simulation, Christine Hawknuff

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

A 450-bed tertiary hospital in Central Illinois lacked a standardized process for competency verification for procedural sedation care by registered nurses (RNs). Despite recommendations by many organizations, there are no consistent or standardized guidelines for verifying competency in nursing care of the procedural sedation. This project implemented a Procedural Sedation Training Course which comprised an in-person prelearning lecture, a group simulation learning experience, and an individual verification of competency through simulation.

Fifty-six RNs completed the Procedural Sedation Training Course and demonstrated competency through simulation, and 24 of these RNs completed a procedural sedation within the eight-month pilot period. Qualitative and …

Implementation Of Prenatal And Postpartum Depression Screening For A Telehealth Company, Allison Herrmann, Lori Deibel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Abstract

Depression is a leading mental health disorder. Depression occurring during the perinatal and postpartum periods has become highly prevalent throughout the world, impacting 5-10% of women during (van de Loo et al., 2018) and 9-23.5% postpartum (Bauman et al., 2020). Proper diagnosis and treatment of perinatal and postpartum depression (PPD) is crucial, as depression can lead to poor outcomes including relationship complications and negatively affect child development (Slomain, 2019). The implementation of screening tools can help identify women at risk based on their signs and symptoms of PPD (Bauman et al., 2020). The primary goal of this project was …

Does Diversity Ideology Moderate Participants’ Perceptions Of Therapists Who Do And Do Not Broach?, Emily Allen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction. The literature has grown considerably regarding the act of broaching racial, ethnic, and cultural factors in therapy. Many have highlighted its positive impact on the therapeutic alliance, but little empirical work explores how individual differences influence a client’s response to broaching. This study assessed the effects of participant diversity ideology and therapist broaching behavior on perceptions of a therapist’s effectiveness. I hypothesized that participants in the therapists broaching condition would perceive the therapist to be more effective than participants in the no broaching condition. I also hypothesized that participants’ colorblind diversity ideology and therapist broaching condition would interact, such …

Exploring The Effects Of Mindful Nature Walks On College Student Anxiety, Grace Young

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Individuals pursuing a degree in higher education face challenges that lead to greater levels of anxiety than that of the general U.S. adult population. This disparity, further heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, presents a need for higher education institutions to search for ways to address this spike in student anxiety and other mental health concerns. This mixed-methods study explored mindful nature walks as a low-cost and easily accessible way for college students to reduce levels of experienced anxiety. Using validated quantitative measures, this study examined the impact of three weekly, consecutive 30-minute mindful nature walks on state and general anxiety …

Risk, Protection And Mental Health Among Incarcerated People, Cecilie Froulund Jensen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 40 percent of incarcerated adults experience some history of mental illness, whereas prevalence in the general population is less than 20 percent (Criss & John, 2023). The Survey of Prison Inmates (SPI) is a self-reported survey, examining numerous aspects of prisoners’ life. It has been used to quantify the prevalence of both physical and mental health problems, however, little or no examination regarding the underlying health determinants has been done. The current study assessed state prisoners in the United States and examined both risk and protective factors (historical and current) and their relationships to mental health. The results showed …

Comparing Children’S Engagement In Storybook Reading With And Without Access To Aac With A Literacy Supportive Feature, Brooke Zimmerman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This thesis evaluates the effects of comparing children’s engagement in storybook reading with and without access to high-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) with a literacy supportive feature. Literacy skills are a fundamental cornerstone for engagement in the lives of young children. Among these skills, the ability to decode words, or phonetically sound them out, plays a pivotal role in the acquisition of literacy. Proficiency in literacy also broadens the communication capabilities of individuals with developmental disabilities who rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods. However, existing AAC technologies currently fall short in adequately strengthening literacy development, particularly …

Key Practices In P-6 Integrated Stem Education: A Delphi Panel Investigation, Leah R. Cheek

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the past two decades policymakers, practitioners and researchers have been summoned to pursue best practices to address and implement improvements in STEM education for P-12 students (Archer, Moote, MacLeod, Francis, & DeWitt, 2020; Emrey-Arras, 2018; Hodson, 2003; National Research Council, 2012). Irrespective of the longstanding investment of time and resources towards STEM education, students’ patterns of STEM involvement in schools continue to be persistently unchanged (Archer, et al., 2020; Ro & Knight, 2016) and even fewer Americans are entering STEM disciplines in the workforce (National Science Foundation, 2018). The purpose of this three-article dissertation study is to support effective …

Dyslexia Training: The Impact On The Perceptions And Knowledge-Base Of Pre-Professionals Preparing To Work In K-12 Educational Settings, Colby Fowler

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research explores the perceptions and understanding of dyslexia among first-year graduate students in speech-language pathology. Employing survey methodology, specifically a pre- and post-survey approach, this research investigates the attitudes and knowledge that the participants have in understanding and addressing dyslexia at the beginning of their graduate training. The study seeks to uncover the existing awareness, potential misconceptions, and the overall preparedness of these emerging professionals in dealing with individuals affected by dyslexia. Through a comprehensive survey analysis, the research aims to contribute valuable insights that can inform the development of targeted educational strategies and interventions within speech-language pathology programs, …

Instagram And Influencer Marketing: An Empirical Study Of The Parasocial Interaction Theory And Its Effects On Purchase Intention, Caroline Marie Chumley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Scholars have studied different factors that contribute to a parasocial interaction theory, and how this relates to purchase intention in the marketing industry. Previous research concentrates on parasocial interactions between television personalities and consumers, rather than influencers on social media. It is important to determine exactly what factors lead consumers to create a parasocial interaction with influencers in the media and determine how that parasocial interaction mediates purchase intention. Influencer marketing on Instagram is included in this study, as it contains brand-sponsored posts and allows users to interact with each other. This study utilizes the parasocial interaction model to determine …

The Kids Aren’T Alright: Examining The Spatial Concentration Of Drug Crime Near Schools In Little Rock, Arkansas, Jason Neeley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the last two decades, violence and death stemming from drug activity has become a concern to communities across the country. Increasingly, policymakers and law enforcement agencies have sought to understand where drug activity is located, including in and around schools, and why some places are more susceptible to drug problems than others. The current study explores two related questions: (1) How do drug crimes spatially pattern around schools? and, in turn, (2) What are the neighborhood-level predictors of the concentration of drug crime? Focusing on Little Rock, Arkansas, I examine the spatial distribution of drug offenses and overdoses within …

Gym Sexual Harassment And Bystander Intervention: An Application Of The Reasoned Action Approach, Eric Schisler

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objective. The purpose of this study was to modify and validate an instrument to examine factors associated with being an active bystander when witnessing sexual harassment at a gym or fitness center. Using Fishbein and Ajzen’s Reasoned Action Approach (RAA), this study aimed to better understand the influence of a person’s attitude, social norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) on their intention to be an active bystander when witness to someone being sexually harassed at the gym in the next 30 days. Methodology. This study utilized an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, with phase one taking place between June and …