Effect Of Seed Mix Design And Planting Time On Floral Resources, Madison Carleton

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of different management strategies used in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) prairie restorations. Specifically, this research assesses how well these practices support pollinator communities, which serve as indicators of habitat quality.

"We'll Never Get This Opportunity Again": Lived Experiences Of Platform-Based Gig Workers, Catey Hoehn

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Platform-based gig work has rapidly expanded in the United States, leading to growing concerns about economic precarity, algorithmic management, and the sustainability of labor performed through apps. Gig work has been accused of fostering exploitative conditions, masking control through the language of flexibility, and deepening cycles of debt and insecurity for workers. However, the lived experiences of gig workers often reveal complexities that differ from public narratives and company portrayals. This thesis builds on sociological studies of labor precarity to examine how platform-based gig workers experience, internalize, and resist algorithmic control. Utilizing qualitative semi-structured interviews, fifteen rideshare and delivery drivers …

An Exploratory Attempt To Incorporate Social Criteria Into Spent Nuclear Fuel Site Screening And Relocation, Julie M. Sorfleet

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Spent nuclear fuel, also known as nuclear waste, is the byproduct of nuclear power generation. The need for safe and responsible long-term storage and disposal of radioactive fuel presents significant technical and social challenges. These challenges are compounded by several factors, including the emerging nuclear renaissance in the United States, climate and coastal hazards, and the lack of consolidated interim or permanent storage. This research explores perceptions of risk, relocation, and siting spent nuclear fuel, predominantly focusing on Humboldt County, California. I used online surveys, the Analytic Hierarchy Process, and geographic information systems (GIS) analysis to inform how social and …

All Red Inside: Embodied Metaphor In Clive Barker's Books Of Blood, Ian Vargas

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The collection Books of Blood is an anthology series of short stories written between 1984 and 1985. Only two, the very first and last, have any unifying story. For our purposes we will be looking at stories in particular that exemplify the themes I am speaking about. Barker's writing often heavily focuses on the ways that the body stands outside the control of the individual, something that a person resides in and must always rely upon, but is not actually in their control in most senses. His horror explores the ways in which the human body is both the first …

Housing Cal Poly Humboldt Students, Andrea Santamaria

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Student Housing & Residence Life at Cal Poly Humboldt has been consistently critiqued for the shortage of spaces available and unsuitable student placements. Student input from a 2024 survey is used to call for affordable and equity-based housing accommodations. Results showed that the first factor students consider when selecting between housing options is Cost. More incentives are needed to recruit a higher number of students living on campus. 33.88% (41 students) prefer to live on campus regardless of obstacles or challenges. 66.12% (80 students) would rather live off-campus. Improving housing experiences can decrease low retention, graduation, and recruitment rates, as …

Snag Failure And Fuel Recovery Following Stand-Replacing Fire In The Klamath Mountains, Joseph R. Nicholas

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

High-severity wildfires can produce extensive patches of standing dead trees (snags), which later contribute to surface fuel loading and present a hazard as they decay and fall. In the Klamath Mountains of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon, recent increases in the occurrence of large stand-replacing wildfires have raised concerns about fuel and vegetation recovery trajectories, the likelihood of future fires, and resulting impacts to local communities. Nevertheless, the post-fire environment may offer opportunities to enhance ecological and community resilience. Estimates of snag failure and fuel loading can support land management planning and risk assessment following wildfire, though such work is …

Physiological Conditions Of Barn Owl (Tyto Furcata) Nestlings As Indicators Of Habitat Quality Within The Wine-Growing Region Of Napa Valley, Christian Cortez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The global environmental impacts of increasing agricultural demand a transition to sustainable farming practices, including the use of integrated pest management to decrease reliance on harmful pesticides. Vineyard managers in Napa Valley, California, have implemented this strategy by establishing nest boxes that attract barn owls (Tyto furcata) which, in turn, provide an ecosystem service by removing rodent pests. Studies in this system have found uncultivated landcover to be positively associated with distributional and demographic measures of habitat quality for barn owls, but individual measures have not been thoroughly explored. I examined three physiological conditions of barn owl nestlings …

Benthic Community Structure Changes In Northern California Following A Marine Heatwave, Franklin D. Moitoza

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In 2014, an unprecedented ecosystem shift impacted the rocky reef communities of northern coastal California following a rapid succession of severe disturbance events. Rocky reef communities shifted from kelp forests to large scale urchin barrens due to the demise of the sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides), an unprecedented marine heatwave event (MHW) and increased purple sea urchin densities. This “perfect storm” caused a decrease in benthic species richness and led to a change in community structure due to intense sea urchin grazing. Here I examine the richness of the benthic community across four survey sites over an 8-year time …

Empowering Former Hispanic Student-Athletes To Become Leaders In College Athletics: An Identity-Specific And Assets-Based Leadership Training Program For Career Advancement, Raquel Orozco

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This work examines the complexities of navigating dual identities as emerging Hispanic women leaders in the spectrum of college athletes, and how Hispanic women can face personal and societal challenges when it comes to transitioning from college and then into the professional world.

By examining multiple assets that are rooted in Hispanic women’s culture, this project presents a leadership workshop by utilizing the ADDIE instructional design model. Each module of the workshop is clearly described, offering community building activities, self-reflections, and the opportunity to complete a leadership profile portfolio.

First-Year College Transition: The Role Of Psychosocial Resources In Student Motivation, Hayley Weatherill

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

First-year students transitioning to college culture have various areas of concern during this developmental period. Adolescents and young adults focus on creating and maintaining social connections while navigating a new environment and keeping up with their academics. With rising tuition costs, economic uncertainty, and pressing social challenges, many students enter college under significant stress. Navigating these challenges successfully requires motivation and support to persist through the first year and beyond. This project explored how college institutions support first-year students’ transition to higher education by helping students fulfill the three basic psychological needs of self-determination theory: autonomy, competency, and relatedness. When …

The Effects Of A Yoga Intervention On Flexibility And Stress Of High School Students, Paige Mccollum

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study examines the effect of a four-week school-based yoga intervention on the flexibility and stress/anxiety levels of high school students. Eighteen freshman students, aged 13-15, participated in two 30-minute yoga sessions per week. Students’ physical flexibility was measured using the sit-and-reach and shoulder stretch tests from the FitnessGram. Stress and anxiety levels were assessed using the SCARED survey and Perceived Stress Scale surveys. Results showed a statistically significant reduction in school avoidance anxiety (p = 0.025) and slight improvements in lower-body flexibility among students with initially low flexibility. Other subscales from the SCARED survey and flexibility testing did not …

Just Keep Swimming: Outmigration Survival Of Upper Klamath Basin Juvenile Chinook Salmon, James M. Whelan

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The removal of four impassable hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River provides salmonids with the opportunity to recolonize their historic range in the upper Klamath River watershed. However, successful reestablishment of salmon populations requires juvenile salmon born in Oregon's upper tributaries to safely migrate downstream through the river's upper reaches. This stretch of the Klamath River, immediately downstream of Upper Klamath Lake, presents multiple migration challenges, including two flow-control dams not scheduled for removal (Link River Dam and Keno Dam), significant water diversions, and water quality issues. To evaluate these challenges, I conducted experimental releases of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon …

True Crime Podcasts As A Scene Of Feminist Reckoning: A Comparative Analysis Of My Favorite Murder And Sistas Who Kill, Rachel C.C. Matteri

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This research examines the cultural impact and ethical implications of true crime podcasts (TCPs). In recent years, TCPs have become a powerful cultural force, with White women often emerging as the primary storytellers and most visible participants in the genre. Their dominance in this space is not neutral and it carries representational weight. It explores the potential for feminist activity made possible by the auditory, self-publishing genre of podcasting. This work focuses on the buddy-comedy subgenre of TCPs. The concerns of this text are that TCPs are dominated by White feminist values and are not an intersectional feminist project. Textual …

Effects Of Teacher Reinforcements On Student Outcomes In Adapted Physical Education: A Meta-Analysis, Yaxeny Moreno

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The primary goal is to review the influence of reinforcement strategies in Physical Education (PE) and Adapted Physical Education (APE) settings, focusing on students with disabilities with the ages of 3-22. Reinforcement strategies, such as positive reinforcement/feedback, token economies, verbal praise, tangible rewards, and additional strategies are essential for fostering engagement and skill development. Literature has provided evidence and results to highlight the importance of applying evidence-based reinforcement strategies to which support the behavioral, social, and physical development of students in both Physical Education and Adapted P.E. settings. The purpose of this study was to review and analyze existing literature …

Exploring The Placebo Effect On The Cortisol Stress Response, Povheng Yam

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The placebo effect is well-studied on pain perception and is often observed to have a pain-reducing effect in patients. A few studies suggest that the placebo effect can influence physiological changes in people. To date, not many studies have examined the placebo effect on stress; thus, the current study explored the placebo effect on participants’ cortisol stress response and self-reported stress while undergoing a modified acute stress task, the Sing-a-Song Stress Test (SSST). The current study includes 44 participants (22 in the control group and 22 in the treatment group). A deceptive stress-reducing tincture (filled with water) was used as …

From Spark To Wildfire: Predicting Wildfire Origins And The Efficacy Of “Fire Safe” Cigarettes In California Grasslands, Trevor Blackwell Haltermann

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

As wildfires in North America increase in size and frequency, the societal impacts become greater as well. With greater risk and high fire suppression costs it is pertinent to improve fire investigation methods and limit the potential for human caused ignitions. Two distinct studies were carried out to assess the accuracy of fire pattern indicators and the efficacy of “fire safe” cigarette technology in lowland grass fuel types in California. The first study utilized 24 experimental small-scale fires within a wind tunnel to examine the accuracy of microscale fire pattern indicators and the factors that influence the accuracy of predictions …

Facilitating On-Task Behavior In Physical Education For Learners With Asd Through Special Interest Modified Materials: Antecedent-Based Intervention, Gary Smith

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are affected in the areas of social skills, communication, and restrictive and repetitive behaviors that can lead to barriers in accessing physical education (PE). School-based PE helps children learn how to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to live physically active lifestyles. The purpose of this current study is to implement an antecedent based intervention using special interest materials to increase on task and engagement in learners with ASD in PE activities. The intervention showed modest to minimal improvements in on-task behavior and performance for two of the three participants, with high variability and …

Breaking Barriers: The First-Generation Experience In Pursuit Of The American Dream, Milagros Ortega

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This project examines the common misconceptions surrounding First-Generation Latino college students and challenges the dominant narrative that portrays them as unprepared, unsupported, and unmotivated. Through narrative and content analysis of the short films, Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá and Turns in the Road, this project explores the overlapping challenges that complicate their educational journeys. These challenges, financial instability, lack of guidance, and sociocultural dissonance, represent three core barriers commonly faced by first-generation Latino college students. Guided by theoretical frameworks such as the Immigrant Optimism Hypothesis, W.E.B Du Bois’ theory of double consciousness, Gloria Anzaldúa’s concept of Nepantla, and Yosso’s …

Modeling Forest Stewardship In Goukdi’N: An Assessment Of Carbon, Wildlife Habitat, And Fire Resilience In A University Forest, Benjamin Stock

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This thesis presents a forest management plan for Goukdi’n (also known as the Jacoby Creek Forest University Tract), a coast redwood–tanoak–Douglas-fir forest within the ancestral homelands of the Wiyot Tribe. This project addresses the need for a forest stewardship approach that supports ecological resilience, cultural values, and long-term forest health in a landscape shaped by industrial logging, fire exclusion, and decades of under-management. To evaluate potential management pathways, forest growth modeling was conducted using the USFS Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) to compare three management prescriptions focused on carbon storage, fire resilience, and structural heterogeneity and a no-action alternative. Model outputs …

Variation In The Timing And Duration Of Rough-Skinned Newt (Taricha Granulosa) Larval Period In The Center Of Their Geographic Range (Humboldt County, California), Emmery R. Parker

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa) occur along the Pacific coast of the U.S. from central California to southwestern Alaska at elevations from zero to 2,800 m. Across that range, the timing and duration of various life history events (i.e., hatching, metamorphosis, breeding, and oviposition) are largely unknown, although general trends have been observed in a few locales. Larval life stages are particularly important for determining amphibian population persistence, but there have been no formal studies describing the larval period of rough-skinned newts. Using minnow-trap and dip net surveys at nine lentic sites in northern Humboldt County, California (elevations 400 …

Examining The Effects Of Songbird Nest Boxes And Habitat On Avian And Arthropod Communities In A Vineyard Ecosystem, Eleanor Macdonald

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Agricultural expansion threatens biodiversity, but integrating insectivorous birds into vineyard ecosystems may support both conservation and ecosystem services. We tested how nest boxes and habitat composition influence avian and arthropod communities in Napa Valley vineyards using a before-after, control-impact experiment across 20 sites. During the 2023-2024 breeding seasons we conducted avian point counts, sampled key pest and beneficial arthropods, and collected fecal samples from adult and nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) and western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) to detect vineyard pest DNA. Nest boxes significantly increased swallow and bluebird abundance within one year; swallow responses were strongest …

The Effects Of Chronic Absenteeism On Average Daily Attendance Funding In Humboldt County Elementary Schools, Corabelle A. Esmailian

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Chronic absenteeism is linked to poor academic performance and lower social-emotional skills, both of which can have long-term effects on students and their communities. The California Department of Education uses average daily attendance (ADA) to determine most of the funding that public schools receive. When a student is absent, their school loses a portion of potential funding for that day. This study explores chronic absenteeism’s impact on the funding of Humboldt County’s elementary schools with a sequential exploratory research strategy and critical systems lens. Interviews with elementary administrators were conducted using a phenomenological approach to understand how this affects their …

Examining The Impact Of A Health Course On Lifelong Learner Attitudes Toward Psychedelic And Entheogenic Substances, Dustin B. Larrazolo

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study examined the impact of a three-week Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) health course, “Far Out” Medicine: The Science and History of Psychedelics, on midlife and older adult learners’ knowledge, attitudes, and perspectives regarding psychedelic and entheogenic substances. Eleven midlife and older adults (ages 40 - 80; M = 59.0, SD = 15.35) completed matched pre- and post-course surveys assessing demographic characteristics, factual knowledge, attitudes, personal willingness, and social or policy views. The sample was highly educated (1 associate, 5 bachelor’s, 3 master’s, and 2 doctoral degrees) and demonstrated strong internal consistency and response convergence across repeated measures. …

Looking At God, Looking At America: Examining The Relationship Between Beliefs About God And Support For Social Movements And Government Policies, Tess Starman Phd

Sociology: Faculty Publications

Scholars have long studied the relationship between religion and politics. This study aims to add to the conversation on this relationship by assessing a unique religiosity measure, that of beliefs about the character of God. Utilizing the 2021 Values and Beliefs of the American Public (n=1,336), this study assesses how beliefs about God independently and comparatively impact support for government policies and social movements. Results show that the belief that God is active in the world has the greatest association with policy attitudes. Further, racial identity is a significant moderator for the relationship between belief that God is active and …

The Power Of Absence: Using Group Contingent Negative Reinforcement To Boost Attendance, Kinlee Hobbs

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the use of group contingent negative reinforcement on attendance in a college freshman orientation course at Murray State University. Using behavior modification principles, the Fall 2024 course implemented a reinforcement procedure that allowed students to leave class early if the majority had attended four previous classes. Attendance, Canvas engagement (page views and minutes spent on Canvas), and academic outcomes (pass or fail) were compared between the Fall 2023 orientation course where no reinforcement was used and the Fall 2024 class where reinforcement was used. Independent samples t-tests revealed that Fall 2023 students exhibited higher Canvas engagement (page …

The Role Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Aggression And Substance Use In Young Adulthood, Sadie Goralski

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are widespread within the United States. More than half of the population has experienced at least one adverse event during their youth. Such experiences range from parental divorce to sexual assault. Past research has shown that adverse experiences during the formative years play a major role in the development of multiple physical and mental health issues. The current study aimed to explore the interplay among ACEs and two of these covariates: aggression and substance use. Moreover, the proposed study further investigated the development of substance use in emotionally dysregulated individuals with past adverse experiences. In doing …

Elementary School Mathematics Teacher Perspectives Of Blended Learning, Elizabeth H. Forrester

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the experiences and perceptions of teachers who utilize technology for instructional purposes, blended learning in elementary school instruction, and the impact of professional development (PD) on blended learning instruction. Guided by the Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge theory (TPACK), research aims to understand teachers' motivation and use of blended learning during instruction and the impact PD has had on teachers’ implementation of blended learning. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews of seven elementary school teachers in grades two through five in the state of Kentucky. Findings revealed that teachers experienced technology integration instruction during their …

Dirty Water, Breanna Booker, Michael S. Sinha

All Faculty Scholarship

Plastics are taking over. Every day, humans are exposed to plastic pollutants in a variety of ways. From the water we use to water crops in the field, to the water in our taps, to the liquids we drink from plastic containers, it can be found virtually anywhere you look. Not only is it everywhere in the environment, but it is also within us. It builds up in our bodies. Plastics have become a major public health concern; researchers estimate that the total healthcare cost related to plastic chemicals may be as much as $250 billion.[1]

Water has always …

The Development Of A Children’S Book Designed To Use Bibliotherapy And Mindfulness Skills To Promote Interoception In Young Children With Insecure Attachment As A Result Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Zenaida Agramonte

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

One third of children in the United States have experienced trauma known in the literature as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The long-term outcomes of ACEs have a higher likelihood of reducing interoceptive awareness—the ability to sense internal body signals like heart rate, hunger, pain, and emotions. Research suggests that interventions, such as mindfulness and attachment therapies are useful for increasing interoceptive awareness, regulating emotions, and fostering secure attachment in adults. However, apart from attachment, interventions are lacking for young children. Bibliotherapy is one such intervention designed for young children which potentially fosters secure attachment between child and adult storytellers and …

The Impact Of An Effective Co-Teaching Model For Elementary Students With Disabilities, Emma Y. Carlson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Co-teaching has become a widely utilized practice between a general education and a special education teacher to make inclusive education possible for students with disabilities. This thesis examines the characteristics and impacts of an effectively implemented co-teaching approach on the academic achievement of elementary-aged students with disabilities. The literature review examines the history of co-teaching, describes the components of co-teaching and its various models, and discusses the positive impacts and barriers of co-teaching when the approach is implemented with fidelity. Peer-reviewed journal articles, case studies, and textbooks were utilized to accomplish the literature review and apply the synthesized research in …