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0897: William A. “Red” Dawson Collection, 1915-2023, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

William Alfred “Red” Dawson, a native of Valdosta, Georgia, led his high school football team to a state championship and played for four years at Florida State University. Dawson briefly played professional football for the Boston Patriots in the AFL and the Orlando Panthers. He was serving as an assistant football coach at Marshall University when a fatal plane crash killed seventy-five players, coaches, staff, and prominent citizens of Huntington. Dawson was essential in restarting the Marshall University football program, serving as acting head coach and coached through the 1971 season. He then began working in the construction industry and …

The Influence Of Ai Tool Dependence On Students’ Perceived Preparedness And Confidence In Higher Education, Julia Fichera

Honors Theses and Capstones

As AI tools are becoming more integrated in higher education, how these tools may impact students’ perceptions of their own independent writing and communication skills has been questioned. This study seeks to understand how reliance on AI writing tools in higher education influences students’ perceived preparedness and confidence in their independent writing and communication skills. Survey data was collected from 102 university students; after removing incomplete entries, 99 responses were included in the final analysis. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, and Mann-Whitney U tests.

The tests reveal that greater AI reliance is associated with lower self-perception …

An Examination Of Firm-Level Differences In Form Ap Amendment Filings Across Big Four Audit Firms, Benjamin Black

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Stream: Valuing Music Catalogs As An Alternative Asset Class, Amelia Jade Magay

Honors Theses and Capstones

This thesis builds a quantitative valuation framework for music catalog transactions and tests its limits systematically. The goal is not to produce a formula that perfectly prices every deal. The goal is to identify where streaming-based financial analysis is a useful underwriting tool, where it breaks down, and what categories of value investors appear to be pricing beyond publicly available streaming data.

Brief #1: Collaborative Aggregation & Marketing Of Local Farm Food: A Qualitative Analysis Of Farmers' Collaboration Strategies, Evan England, Rachel Filippone, Hannah Stokes-Ramos, Cindy (Luyue) Zheng, Olivia Burton, Analena Bruce

Food Practice Research

This report presents research findings from a comparative case study of four Collaborative Aggregation and Marketing Models: Local Harvest, a cooperative non-profit, farmer-owned, and certified organic CSA, Three River Farmers Alliance, an online food hub and regional distributor, Vernon Family Farm Store, an on-farm, year-round store that aggregates from local farms, and Fresh Start Farms, a food hub, farmers’ market, and CSA operated by the nonprofit Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success.

Enhancing Hospital Length Of Stay Using Ai Agent Modular Capabilities, Dami Fred

Theses and Dissertations

Hospital Length of Stay (LOS) analysis is essential for managing hospital efficiency and financial performance, yet the analytical depth required remains inaccessible to many organizations due to technical and resource constraints. This thesis introduces the AI Agent Modular Capabilities (AIAM) framework, which decomposes LOS analysis into discrete, codifiable capabilities integrated into a single skill activatable with one prompt. Seven AI Agent Modular Capabilities were developed using a Work Breakdown Structure and tested against a simulated hospital scenario across three successive skill versions. Results demonstrate that the packaged AIAM skill produces comprehensive, consistent, multi-section LOS analyses from a single interaction, outperforming …

The Adolescent Development Of Small Business Owners’ Entrepreneurial Mindset, Fern Arredondo

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how small business owners in Southern California interpret experiences before age 20 that influenced the development of the eight domains of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Entrepreneurial Mindset Index (EMI). This study used a qualitative phenomenological approach to explore how adult small business owners reflect upon and interpret experiences before age 20 that influenced the development of their entrepreneurial mindset. By examining the influence of pre-adulthood on these owners, the study aimed to deepen the understanding of how early experiences shape entrepreneurial mindsets and contribute to long-term entrepreneurial success. …

A Holistic Approach To Country Branding: Examining A Master Brand And Sub-Brand Framework, Musa Pinar, Aycan Duran Tekoglu, Tulay Girard

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Recently, nation branding has drawn the attention of policymakers worldwide, as nations recognize its strategic importance in achieving and sustaining success in the global competitive landscape. This study provides a conceptual framework based on master brand and sub-brand architecture to examine country branding holistically by integrating macro and micro perspectives, country brand equity, and their effects on consumer preferences. The specific objectives are to 1) identify the dimensions of master brand, sub-brand, and country brand equity and develop reliable and valid measurement scales for each dimension, and 2) develop a conceptual framework that integrates the master brand, sub-brand, and brand …

When Social Inflation Pushes The "Good Neighbor" Away: How Market Exit Behavior Triggers Brand Betrayal And Trust Erosion, Waros Ngamsiriudom, Mohan Menon, Mitra Devkota

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Social inflation, marked by rising litigation severity, shifting jury attitudes, and expanding third-party litigation funding, has intensified financial pressures on insurers operating in disaster-prone markets. In response, many insurers have withdrawn or restricted coverage, creating a sharp disconnect between long-standing brand promises and current market behaviors. This article examines how these systemic pressures produce “brand betrayal,” a consumer perception arising when insurers’ market exit actions contradict their relational positioning as reliable, community-oriented partners. Drawing on signaling theory, relationship marketing, and institutional perspectives, the article develops a conceptual framework linking social inflation to brand trust erosion through market exit behavior. The …

Leading With Integrity: Ethical Leadership, Quota Fairness, And Salesforce Retention, James Deconinck

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This study examines how ethical leadership, ethical climate, quota difficulty, distributive quota fairness, and person–organization (P–O) fit jointly shape salespeople’s turnover intentions and actual turnover. Survey data from 203 salespeople in a national computer-industry firm were paired with organizational turnover records collected one year later. Ethical leadership strengthened ethical climate, distributive quota fairness, and P–O fit, while ethical climate further enhanced fairness and value alignment. Quota difficulty strongly reduced fairness. Fairness also contributed to P–O fit, indicating that justice experiences tied to quota allocation shape value congruence in meaningful ways. Both fairness and P–O fit predicted lower turnover intentions, and …

Performance Outcomes Of Critical Access Hospitals: A Resource Dependence Theory Evaluation Of Change Of Ownership Versus Independence, Colette Christina Martin

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) play a vital role in sustaining healthcare access in rural communities, yet many face persistent financial and operational constraints. A change in hospital ownership is frequently seen as a strategy to sustain these hospitals, improve access to capital, supplement administrative infrastructure, and leverage system-level expertise. However, empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of acquisition for CAHs remains limited and mixed. Guided by Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) and the Balanced Scorecard framework, this study examines whether ownership change is associated with differences in financial performance, utilization, staffing, and quality outcomes among CAHs.

Using Medicare Cost Reports, the American …

Trump Accounts: New Irs Guidance On A New Retirement Account For Children, Heath Mcconnell, Michelle Freeman

Faculty Open Access Works

Excerpt: 

Among the changes made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was the creation of a new type of account called the “Trump account.” In simple terms, these accounts are designed to allow individuals under age 18 to begin saving for retirement, typically through contributions made by their parents or other eligible contributors. This article will begin with a discussion of the underlying reasons for creating these accounts and their enactment as part of the OBBBA. Following that, it will discuss the rules relating to these accounts from both the OBBBA’s statutory language as well as recently published …

Internal Talent Development Integration With Organizational Strategy: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Hermenia Faith Ricks

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of executives in a healthcare organization regarding internal talent development and integration with organizational strategy. The purpose of the study addressed the problem statement by examining the meaning executives ascribed to internal talent development as it relates to organizational strategy and the fostering of human capital. The problem addressed in this study was that internal talent development is often inadequately embedded in organizational strategies, limiting organizational competitiveness and long-term performance. The study sought to address the research question How do executives in a healthcare organization exploring the …

Advancing Ethical Innovation In Human–Ai Collaboration: Trust And Legitimacy In Technology-Mediated Teams, Sanket Ramchandra Patole

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

Human Resource Development (HRD) confronts a central paradox in the digital age. The technologies designed to broaden access to learning and collaboration often reproduce the same social hierarchies that HRD seeks to challenge. Artificial intelligence (AI), digital collaboration platforms, and algorithmic management are widespread features of organizational life. Yet these systems do not generate inclusive outcomes for all workers. Women of Color (WoC), situated at the intersection of racialized, gendered, and technological structures, experience digital transformation as both possibility and constraint. They encounter opaque decision systems, diminished authority in virtual teams, and digitally-mediated microaggressions, while also developing new capacities for …

Artificial Intelligence Adoption In The Workplace. An Exploration Of Augmentation, Oyinkansola O. Sodiya

Management Dissertations

As collaborative work with artificial intelligence (AI augmentation) gains interest, it is crucial to investigate factors that affect how employees perceive and use AI tools at work. Drawing on task-technology fit and technology adoption theories, this dissertation examines the ways in which task dimensions, organizational contexts, and individual differences affect the perceived usefulness of working with AI tools. This dissertation demonstrates that task-technology fit is fundamental. Employees in jobs with high information processing demands are likely to positively perceive the usefulness of AI augmentation relative to employees in jobs with high interpersonal demands. Employees with more proactive personalities perceive greater …

Should More Teams "Trust The Process" Of Tanking?, Eduardo G. Minuci, Alexander Cardazzi, Candon Johnson

Economics Faculty Publications

In many professional sport leagues, the worst-performing teams receive higher probability of earning top draft picks. This provides teams incentives to purposefully lose, or "tank," if they are not likely to contend for the playoffs or championships. We evaluate the effectiveness of tanking to improve team outcomes by examining the most explicit tanking case in the NBA: the "Trust the Process" Philadelphia 76ers. Using synthetic control, we demonstrate that tanking caused the 76ers to be more successful in terms of winning and operating income. However, only operating income had a plausibly positive present value when calculating discounted present values.

Heritage In Digital Literary Discourse: An Analytical Approach To Fawaz Al-Laboun's Tweets, Zuhir Hassan Saeed Alamri

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

This study examines heritage in digital literary discourse through an analytical approach to the tweets of Fawaz Al-Laboun, within a contemporary narrative context shaped by the digital sphere, where narrative forms intersect with creative expression. The study traces transformations in the presence of heritage within the digital environment and explores the potential of short-form narration when employed to generate poetic, cultural, and rhetorical meanings on social media platforms, particularly X. The study relies on the analysis of six selected digital news texts drawn from Al-Laboun's posts. These texts were chosen based on their connection to cultural memory and narrative structure, …

Level Of Integration Of Learning Disability Program Services From The Perspective Of Learning Disability Supervisors And Teachers In Taif City, Abdullah Ahmed Ali Alghamdi

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

This study aimed to investigate the level of functional integration among the core elements of learning disabilities programs in Taif, by surveying the opinions of those working in these programs within a comprehensive evaluation framework. This framework considered the governing legislation and regulations, the efficiency of diagnostic and assessment processes, the effectiveness of implementing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and other operational components that form the scientific and practical basis for the quality of educational services in these programs. The study adopted a descriptive approach, deemed most suitable for understanding the field reality, and its instruments as survey were applied to …

A Stylistic Analysis Of Abu Tammam's Poem "Aya Wayla Al-Shaji Min Al-Khali", Fatimah Abdullah Al Shammry

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

This research undertakes a stylistic study of Abu Tammam's poem "Aya Wayl al-Shajiyy min al-Khaliyy," seeking to reveal the aesthetic and semantic characteristics that distinguish the stylistic structure of his poetry. The study adopted the stylistic approach as a theoretical and analytical framework for examining the poetic text through its phonetic, syntactic, semantic, and rhetorical levels, based on a perspective that views language as a tool for generating both meaning and emotion. The research consists of two main sections: the first addresses the theoretical framework, including the definition of stylistics, its origins, methods, and trends, alongside a biographical overview of …

The Judgments Of The Commentators On Ibn Malik's Statements Concerning Apparent Discrepancies Between Al-Tashil And Its Commentary: A Critical Study, Sarah Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al-Sabih

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

This study examines the instances in which commentators on al-Tashil pointed to what appears to be a difference between Ibn Malik's statements in Tashil al-Fawa'id wa-Takmil al-Maqasid and his Sharh al-Tashil. It aims to analyze these judgments and assess their validity considering textual context and grammatical methodology. Adopting a descriptive-analytical approach, the study correlates the concise formulations of the Tashil with their expanded explanations in the commentary and traces the criteria employed by the commentators in identifying difference or inconsistency. The findings indicate that most cases described as contradiction do not constitute genuine inconsistency. Rather, they result from variation in …

Psychometric Properties Of The Digital Psychological Competence Scale For University Students In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, Mona Saad Falih Alamri

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

Higher education has undergone a rapid digital transformation, requiring students to navigate technology-rich learning environments that demand integrated cognitive and psychological competencies. This study aimed to develop and validate a Psychodigital Competence Scale for university students in the western region of Saudi Arabia, using a sample of 523 students. The initial version included 21 items, which were revised through expert judgment (agreement >= 80%) to produce a final 16-item, four-factor scale. Construct validity was assessed using a pilot sample, and Pearson correlations demonstrated statistically significant item-scale relationships at the 0.05 and 0.01 levels. Reliability indicators showed significant split-half reliability (p < 0.01) and a high Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.908). Exploratory factor analysis supported data suitability (KMO = 0.85, Bartlett's test p < 0.01, determinant = 0.011), and confirmatory factor analysis validated the four-factor model. These findings confirm strong psychometric properties, establishing the scale as a reliable tool for psychological and educational research.

Presupposition In Shaqraa Al-Madkhali's "I Almost See Me": A Pragmatic Study, Hadiah Faiz Monawer Alrashidy

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

This research investigates the presuppositions inherent in the poetic collection (Diwan) titled "Akadu Arani" (I Almost See Myself) by the poetess, Shaqra al-Madkhali. The study aims to categorize these presuppositions and analyze their functional role in articulating the poetess's intentionality, ultimately facilitating the efficacy of the communicative process. Methodologically, the paper adopts a pragmatic framework complemented by a descriptive-analytical approach. The study is organized into an introduction, a theoretical preamble on the concept of presupposition, and five core analytical sections: (1) Existential, (2) Factive, (3) Lexical, (4) Structural, and (5) Non-factive presupposition. The investigation concludes with several key findings, most …

Designing An Instructional Unit To Develop Skills In Sustainable Children's Clothing Production, Mona Omar Ali Al Omar

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

The manufacture of sustainable children's garments-particularly reverse-style transformative clothing-has recently emerged as an innovative approach aimed at maximising utilisation efficiency by designing multifunctional products that prolong service life and reduce waste. The significance of this study lies in preparing female students to engage with the rapid advancements in sustainable apparel production, thereby strengthening their capacity to meet the demands of a modern labour market that increasingly values innovation and sustainability. The study sought to design an instructional unit that would enhance students' knowledge and skills in producing sustainable, reverse-transformative children's clothing, and to implement the unit in order to assess …

The Factorial Structure Of The Positive Thinking Scale Among Graduate Students (A Case Study Of Tabuk University), Mohammed Abdullah Asiri, Hissah Suliman Albalawi

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

The aim of the research was to identify the factorial structure of the Positive Thinking Scale among graduate students, using confirmatory factor analysis, the level of positive thinking among graduate students, and the differences in the dimensions of positive thinking among graduate students, according to two variables: (gender and specialization). To achieve the research objectives, a descriptive analytical approach was used, and a scale was designed consisting of 36 items distributed across five dimensions (optimism and positive expectation, self-discipline and control of higher-level mental processes, mindfulness, critical thinking, and unconditional self-acceptance). The scale was applied to a stratified random sample …

Arabic Proverbs From The Perspective Of Ancient Logic: Al-Maydani's Collection Of Proverbs As A Model, Shihana Saeed Abdullah Al-Shahrani

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

This research aims to reveal the manifestations of logic in Arabic proverbs, as short, condensed texts that express the Arab mind's experience in deconstructing the contents of Arabic proverbs and maxims in light of the concepts of ancient logic and analyzing them as anthropological tools for establishing cultural truths that reflect the structure of collective Arab consciousness. The research dealt with the logical structure in proverbs in terms of the relationship between premise and conclusion, signifier and signified, and induction and deduction. This demonstrates that the Arabic proverb was not merely a literary or social expression, but rather a rational …

Evaluating The Quality Of Learning Disabilities Programs In Saudi Arabia From Teachers' Perspectives: Qualitative Study, Ahmed Lowiheg Aldousari

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

This study investigates the quality of learning disabilities (LD) programs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from the perspectives of teachers directly involved in their implementation. The study adopts a qualitative research design, utilizing semi-structured interviews conducted with ten teachers of learning disabilities, including five male and five female teachers. The aim of the study is to explore teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of current LD programs, identify key challenges encountered in practice, and highlight areas for improvement. The findings reveal that while teachers demonstrate strong commitment and positive attitudes toward supporting students with learning disabilities, several challenges persist, …

Level Of Cognitive Load Among Students With Learning Disabilities In The Middle Stage In Riyadh Region, Khalid Munahi Hudaib Alqahtani

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

The study aimed to investigate the level of cognitive load among middle school students with learning disabilities in Riyadh and to identify differences in cognitive load levels according to gender (male-female) and grade level (first, second, third). The study adopted a descriptive approach and was conducted on a sample of (80) students with learning disabilities, whose ages ranged from 14 to 16 years. To achieve the study objectives, a Cognitive Load Scale consisting of (30) items distributed across three dimensions was developed: intrinsic load, extraneous load, and germane load. The results revealed that the overall level of cognitive load among …

The Level Of Faculty Members' Awareness At The University Of Tabuk Of The Importance Of Using Artificial Intelligence Applications In Teaching According To Selected Demographic Variables, Mufleh Bin Qublan Bin Bajad Al Judea

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

The present study investigates the level of awareness among faculty members at the University of Tabuk regarding the importance of employing artificial intelligence (AI) applications in teaching. To achieve this aim, the study examines the influence of several demographic and professional variables, including academic rank, gender, years of teaching experience, and the level of training in artificial intelligence. A descriptive-analytical approach was adopted, and data were collected through a questionnaire administered to a sample of faculty members in the College of Education. The results revealed no statistically significant differences in awareness levels attributable to academic rank, gender, or teaching experience. …

The Extent Of Acquiring Scientific Concepts In Science Curricula In The Primary Stage For Hearing, Deaf, And Hard-Of-Hearing Students: Evaluating Achievement, Teaching Practices, Challenges, And Improvement Mechanisms, Rashdan Bin Humeed Bin Masoud Al-Mutarrfi

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

This study aimed to investigate the level of acquisition of scientific concepts among hearing, deaf, and hard-of-hearing students in the fifth and sixth grades, and to identify the teaching practices used by science teachers when teaching scientific concepts to these students. Additionally, the study sought to uncover the challenges faced by science teachers in teaching scientific concepts to hearing, deaf, and hard-of-hearing students and to propose mechanisms to help science teachers in primary education increase the acquisition of scientific concepts among these students. The study sample consisted of 136 male and female students and 137 male and female teachers. The …

Micro-Behavioral Analysis Of Online Shopping Patterns For Blind Users, Yash Prakash, Akshay Kolgar Nayak, Nithiya Venkatraman, Sampath Jayarathna, Hae-Na Lee, Vikas Ashok

Computer Science Faculty Publications

While online shopping platforms provide convenience and autonomy to blind users, their non-visual interactions remain underexplored at a micro-behavioral level. Existing studies have primarily emphasized accessibility and usability challenges but have overlooked how fine-grained, screen reader-driven keystroke-level behaviors reflect users’ cognitive strategies. In this paper, we present the findings of a longitudinal study with 25 blind participants to examine their micro-behavioral patterns, using keyboard activity and screen reader logs on both familiar and unfamiliar e-commerce websites. We complemented this study with semi-structured interviews to contextualize the uncovered micro-behavioral patterns. Our results revealed patterns in how blind users draw upon cognitive …