Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Contributions Of Mental Health Issues, Traumatic Brain Injury, And Adverse Childhood Experiences To Recidivism Among Rural Jail Incarcerees, Lauren N. Miley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recidivism should be a major concern, particularly for American jails. The Unites States incarcerates 2.3 million people, a number exceeding rates in any other country. Approximately 90% of those individuals will reenter society at some point, and roughly half of those people will ultimately return to jail. This revolving door costs U.S. taxpayers upwards of $39 billion per year, and undermines public safety. Therefore, breaking this cycle of incarceration and recidivism is of utmost concern, and the focus of this dissertation. Mental health problems, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are three potential risk factors for recidivism …

The Contributions Of Mental Health Issues, Traumatic Brain Injury, And Adverse Childhood Experiences To Recidivism Among Rural Jail Incarcerees, Lauren N. Miley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recidivism should be a major concern, particularly for American jails. The Unites States incarcerates 2.3 million people, a number exceeding rates in any other country. Approximately 90% of those individuals will reenter society at some point, and roughly half of those people will ultimately return to jail. This revolving door costs U.S. taxpayers upwards of $39 billion per year, and undermines public safety. Therefore, breaking this cycle of incarceration and recidivism is of utmost concern, and the focus of this dissertation.

Mental health problems, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are three potential risk factors for recidivism …

Evaluating Self-Monitoring Of Performance With A Peer Component On Disruptive Behavior And Task Completion Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorder, Isabella Gural

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Students with emotional and behavioral disorder (EBD) often face a lot of struggles in the classroom (Didion et al., 2018). This can lead to these individuals not finishing school, not getting jobs, etc (Cumblad et al., 1995). Not only is it an issue for the students themselves, but they often engage in disruptive behaviors that disturb their peers and RBTs (Adera & Bullock, 2010; Gottfried & Harven, 2014). Many interventions have been used to increase academic engagement and decrease disruptive behaviors in the classroom for students with EBD, including self-monitoring strategies and peer-mediated interventions. However, regarding studies evaluating self-monitoring interventions …

The Great Resignation: An Exploration Of Strategies To Combat School Bus Driver Shortages In The Post-Covid-19 Era, James E. Cole Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Leading school transportation providers have been turning toward data-driven incentive programs to engage, motivate, and get the best out of their school bus drivers, but the nationwide school bus driver shortage has emerged as a pressing issue of critical importance affecting the education system, transportation infrastructure, and safety of students across the United States. School bus driving is one of the most challenging driving jobs, and low wages, demanding schedules, stringent licensing requirements, and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the shortage of drivers. Identification of strategies to improve school bus driver retention was the objective of this qualitative phenomenological study. …

Evaluating The Prevent-Teach-Reinforce Secondary Model For Individuals With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Christine Colón

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The intensity and range of behaviors displayed by youths with an emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD), along with the limited competence of teachers and parents in responding to these behavioral events, present significant challenges in effectively addressing behavioral difficulties and promoting prosocial skills. The current study evaluated the use of the Prevent–Teach–Reinforce (PTR) model, a manualized function-based intervention model, for three youths with EBD in the home setting. The caregivers of the youths were involved in the 4-step PTR process, contributing to the design and implementation of the PTR intervention within family routines. The impact of the intervention on youth …

All Quiet On The Digital Front: The Unseen Psychological Impacts On Cybersecurity First Responders, Tammie R. Hollis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Driven by the increasing frequency of cyberattacks and the existing talent gap between industry needs and skilled professionals, this research study focused on the crucial human element in the domain of cybersecurity incident response. The objective of this dissertation was to offer a meaningful exploration of the lived experiences encountered by cybersecurity incident responders and an assessment of the subsequent impacts on their well-being. Additionally, this study sought to draw comparisons between the experiences of cybersecurity incident responders and their counterparts in traditional emergency response roles. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a cohort of 22 individuals with first-hand experience working …

Assessing The Relationship Between True Crime Documentary And Podcast Consumption, Fear Of Crime, And Protective Behaviors, Lauren A. Tremblay

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how the consumption of true crime documentaries and podcasts is linked to the fear of crime and the adoption of protective behaviors. Building upon prior research that explores these relationships, this study aims to evaluate the impact of true crime content consumption and fear of crime on individuals’ engagement in protective behaviors. Using a cultivation theory framework with an analytic sample of 665 American adults, three Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions and one structural equation model are used to evaluate the relationship between true crime documentary and podcast consumption, fear of crime, and protective behaviors. Results suggest …

Validating The Correlation Between Illuminance, Nighttime Crash Frequency And Demographic Characteristics On Roadway Segments In District 7, Florida, Aditi Sugeerappa Hoti

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For a long time, streetlights have proved to be an effective tool to help users access roads safely. Hindrance to good visibility at nighttime has been attributed to accidents on the road. Florida is considered to have very dangerous roads due to careless driving which increases as nighttime approaches. Much empirical research has contributed to the attention nighttime crashes receive. This study examines the influence of roadway characteristics along with socio-economic factors on crashes through statistical and spatial analysis of roadway segments in Tampa Bay Region. Illuminance data, crash data and socio-economic data for roadways facing nighttime crashes under low-illuminance …

Online Instructional Clarity: A Phenomenological Study Of Students’ Experiences, Erin Cathleen Bryan Sutliff

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study was a phenomenological exploration of five undergraduate students’ experiences with clear and unclear instructors in online courses at a large southeastern research university. The specific aim was to privilege the voices of undergraduate students about their experiences communicating with their online instructors, particularly with regard to their instructors’ clarity (or lack thereof), and analyze the essence of their experiences using an interpretivist, and specifically, phenomenological perspective. The research was envisioned to address gaps in the instructional clarity literature as well as to respond to calls within both the online learning and the instructional communication literature to explore instructor …

Validating The Correlation Between Illuminance, Nighttime Crash Frequency And Demographic Characteristics On Roadway Segments In District 7, Florida, Aditi Sugeerappa Hoti

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For a long time, streetlights have proved to be an effective tool to help users access roads safely. Hindrance to good visibility at nighttime has been attributed to accidents on the road. Florida is considered to have very dangerous roads due to careless driving which increases as nighttime approaches. Much empirical research has contributed to the attention nighttime crashes receive. This study examines the influence of roadway characteristics along with socio-economic factors on crashes through statistical and spatial analysis of roadway segments in Tampa Bay Region. Illuminance data, crash data and socio-economic data for roadways facing nighttime crashes under low-illuminance …

Online Instructional Clarity: A Phenomenological Study Of Students’ Experiences, Erin Cathleen Bryan Sutliff

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study was a phenomenological exploration of five undergraduate students’ experiences with clear and unclear instructors in online courses at a large southeastern research university. The specific aim was to privilege the voices of undergraduate students about their experiences communicating with their online instructors, particularly with regard to their instructors’ clarity (or lack thereof), and analyze the essence of their experiences using an interpretivist, and specifically, phenomenological perspective. The research was envisioned to address gaps in the instructional clarity literature as well as to respond to calls within both the online learning and the instructional communication literature to explore instructor …

Evaluating Self-Monitoring Of Performance With A Peer Component On Disruptive Behavior And Task Completion Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorder, Isabella Gural

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Students with emotional and behavioral disorder (EBD) often face a lot of struggles in the classroom (Didion et al., 2018). This can lead to these individuals not finishing school, not getting jobs, etc (Cumblad et al., 1995). Not only is it an issue for the students themselves, but they often engage in disruptive behaviors that disturb their peers and RBTs (Adera & Bullock, 2010; Gottfried & Harven, 2014). Many interventions have been used to increase academic engagement and decrease disruptive behaviors in the classroom for students with EBD, including self-monitoring strategies and peer-mediated interventions. However, regarding studies evaluating self-monitoring interventions …

Assessing The Relationship Between True Crime Documentary And Podcast Consumption, Fear Of Crime, And Protective Behaviors, Lauren A. Tremblay

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how the consumption of true crime documentaries and podcasts is linked to the fear of crime and the adoption of protective behaviors. Building upon prior research that explores these relationships, this study aims to evaluate the impact of true crime content consumption and fear of crime on individuals’ engagement in protective behaviors. Using a cultivation theory framework with an analytic sample of 665 American adults, three Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions and one structural equation model are used to evaluate the relationship between true crime documentary and podcast consumption, fear of crime, and protective behaviors. Results suggest …

Evaluating The Prevent-Teach-Reinforce Secondary Model For Individuals With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Christine Colon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The intensity and range of behaviors displayed by youths with an emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD), along with the limited competence of teachers and parents in responding to these behavioral events, present significant challenges in effectively addressing behavioral difficulties and promoting prosocial skills. The current study evaluated the use of the Prevent–Teach–Reinforce (PTR) model, a manualized function-based intervention model, for three youths with EBD in the home setting. The caregivers of the youths were involved in the 4-step PTR process, contributing to the design and implementation of the PTR intervention within family routines. The impact of the intervention on youth …

The Great Resignation: An Exploration Of Strategies To Combat School Bus Driver Shortages In The Post-Covid-19 Era, James E. Cole Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Leading school transportation providers have been turning toward data-driven incentive programs to engage, motivate, and get the best out of their school bus drivers, but the nationwide school bus driver shortage has emerged as a pressing issue of critical importance affecting the education system, transportation infrastructure, and safety of students across the United States. School bus driving is one of the most challenging driving jobs, and low wages, demanding schedules, stringent licensing requirements, and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the shortage of drivers. Identification of strategies to improve school bus driver retention was the objective of this qualitative phenomenological study. …

All Quiet On The Digital Front: The Unseen Psychological Impacts On Cybersecurity First Responders, Tammie R. Hollis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Driven by the increasing frequency of cyberattacks and the existing talent gap between industry needs and skilled professionals, this research study focused on the crucial human element in the domain of cybersecurity incident response. The objective of this dissertation was to offer a meaningful exploration of the lived experiences encountered by cybersecurity incident responders and an assessment of the subsequent impacts on their well-being. Additionally, this study sought to draw comparisons between the experiences of cybersecurity incident responders and their counterparts in traditional emergency response roles. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a cohort of 22 individuals with first-hand experience working …

Great Power Cyberpolitics: Re-Interpreting Offensive Realism And Power Transition Theory For Cyber Deterrence, Yavuz Akdaǧ

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation assesses the empirical relevancy of realist International Relations (IR) theory in cyberspace and shows how a richer IR-based theory of cyber conflict can enhance the understanding of interstate cyber deterrence, especially in the context of US-Sino hegemonic cyber conflict or cyberwar. As states increasingly engage in cyber conflict by exploiting security vulnerabilities due to global interconnectivity (i.e., the Internet), cyber threat has become relevant for national security. Scholars constructed cyber deterrence to counter the threat using the fundamentals of the Cold War nuclear deterrence. Yet this approach is highly contested; cyberspace defies traditional deterrence concepts. Further theoretical analysis …

Great Power Cyberpolitics: Re-Interpreting Offensive Realism And Power Transition Theory For Cyber Deterrence, Yavuz Akdaǧ

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation assesses the empirical relevancy of realist International Relations (IR) theory in cyberspace and shows how a richer IR-based theory of cyber conflict can enhance the understanding of interstate cyber deterrence, especially in the context of US-Sino hegemonic cyber conflict or cyberwar. As states increasingly engage in cyber conflict by exploiting security vulnerabilities due to global interconnectivity (i.e., the Internet), cyber threat has become relevant for national security. Scholars constructed cyber deterrence to counter the threat using the fundamentals of the Cold War nuclear deterrence. Yet this approach is highly contested; cyberspace defies traditional deterrence concepts. Further theoretical analysis …

Refining The Machine Learning Pipeline For Us-Based Public Transit Systems, Jennifer Adorno

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

According to the Population Division of the United Nations, in the United States, almost 90% of the population will live in urban areas by the year 2050. As the population in a given area increases, higher traffic congestion follows due to an increase of vehicles in the road. A possible way to alleviate congestion could be with widespread use of public transit. However, according to the US Census Bureau, the percentage of individuals commuting through public transportation has been decreasing steadily over time, and the American Community Survey reports that during 2019, only around five percent of the US population …

Refining The Machine Learning Pipeline For Us-Based Public Transit Systems, Jennifer Adorno

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

According to the Population Division of the United Nations, in the United States, almost 90% of the population will live in urban areas by the year 2050. As the population in a given area increases, higher traffic congestion follows due to an increase of vehicles in the road. A possible way to alleviate congestion could be with widespread use of public transit. However, according to the US Census Bureau, the percentage of individuals commuting through public transportation has been decreasing steadily over time, and the American Community Survey reports that during 2019, only around five percent of the US population …

Human Vs Machine: Hyper-Realistic Avatars And Their Efficacy As A Communication Channel, Jill S. Schiefelbein

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hyper-realistic avatars (HRAs), a form of synthetic media, are custom-created digital embodiments of a human, created by capturing and combining that person’s video and vocal likeness. This is the first known study of the efficacy of videos delivered by hyper-realistic avatars as a communication channel in comparison to videos delivered by their human counterparts. An experiment testing how information retention, engagement, and trust vary between viewers of videos delivered by a real human, videos delivered by the HRA representing that same human, and videos delivered by the HRA that discloses to viewers that it is a hyper-realistic avatar is presented. …

Human Vs Machine: Hyper-Realistic Avatars And Their Efficacy As A Communication Channel, Jill S. Schiefelbein

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hyper-realistic avatars (HRAs), a form of synthetic media, are custom-created digital embodiments of a human, created by capturing and combining that person’s video and vocal likeness. This is the first known study of the efficacy of videos delivered by hyper-realistic avatars as a communication channel in comparison to videos delivered by their human counterparts. An experiment testing how information retention, engagement, and trust vary between viewers of videos delivered by a real human, videos delivered by the HRA representing that same human, and videos delivered by the HRA that discloses to viewers that it is a hyper-realistic avatar is presented. …

Nation-Building, Ethnic Boundary Making, And Situational Nationalism: Why Did Montenegro Become More Divided And Less 'Montenegrin'?, Muhammed F. Erdem

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Once ethnically the most homogeneous among the South Slavs, Montenegro is now deeply divided between two factions over statehood and identity. Notwithstanding the expansion of national institutions and elite efforts to mobilize upon them, with independence in 2006 has come less unity, internal harmony, and loyalty to the state, and intensified division and contention. Accompanying the lack of political integration that reaches across ethnic divides has been the further erosion in the popular support for the Montenegrin identity.

This study explores why and how the nation-building efforts of Montenegrin ethnopolitical entrepreneurs, rather than fostering national cohesion, political integration, and titular …

Nation-Building, Ethnic Boundary Making, And Situational Nationalism: Why Did Montenegro Become More Divided And Less 'Montenegrin'?, Muhammed F. Erdem

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Once ethnically the most homogeneous among the South Slavs, Montenegro is now deeply divided between two factions over statehood and identity. Notwithstanding the expansion of national institutions and elite efforts to mobilize upon them, with independence in 2006 has come less unity, internal harmony, and loyalty to the state, and intensified division and contention. Accompanying the lack of political integration that reaches across ethnic divides has been the further erosion in the popular support for the Montenegrin identity.

This study explores why and how the nation-building efforts of Montenegrin ethnopolitical entrepreneurs, rather than fostering national cohesion, political integration, and titular …

Crossing Schools, Language, And Migration Borders: The Experiences Of Latinx And Caribbean Emergent Multilingual Mothers In K-12 Public Schools, Michelle Angelo-Rocha

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Anti-immigrant sentiment and "English-only" ideologies have a significant impact on educational policies, practices, and processes. This includes parental engagement, the quality of education and life opportunities offered to immigrant children, and families’ well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine how Latinx and Caribbean mothers in Florida with various immigration statuses (i.e., undocumented, asylum seekers, refugees, international students, and mixed-status) and often with limited financial resources attempt to steward their children through the U.S. educational system. The research question was: How did emergent multilingual immigrant mothers experience the K-12 education system in Florida? The sub-question was: How did schools …

Crossing Schools, Language, And Migration Borders: The Experiences Of Latinx And Caribbean Emergent Multilingual Mothers In K-12 Public Schools, Michelle Angelo-Rocha

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Anti-immigrant sentiment and "English-only" ideologies have a significant impact on educational policies, practices, and processes. This includes parental engagement, the quality of education and life opportunities offered to immigrant children, and families’ well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine how Latinx and Caribbean mothers in Florida with various immigration statuses (i.e., undocumented, asylum seekers, refugees, international students, and mixed-status) and often with limited financial resources attempt to steward their children through the U.S. educational system. The research question was: How did emergent multilingual immigrant mothers experience the K-12 education system in Florida? The sub-question was: How did schools …

Context Matters: Profiles Of Emotion Regulation At Work And Home, Roxanne C. Lawrence

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has often examined emotion regulation strategies in isolation, without considering how they may combine to form distinct profiles of emotion regulation. This study aimed to address this limitation by identifying profiles of emotion regulation strategies in the work and home contexts, and by examining their associations with individual differences and outcomes. Latent profile analyses (LPA) with expression of naturally felt emotions and the three emotion regulation strategies suppression, avoidance, and reappraisal as indicators revealed three profiles at work (i.e., low regulators, high regulators, and drain regulators) and three profiles at home (i.e., low regulators, gain regulators, and drain …

Context Matters: Profiles Of Emotion Regulation At Work And Home, Roxanne C. Lawrence

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has often examined emotion regulation strategies in isolation, without considering how they may combine to form distinct profiles of emotion regulation. This study aimed to address this limitation by identifying profiles of emotion regulation strategies in the work and home contexts, and by examining their associations with individual differences and outcomes. Latent profile analyses (LPA) with expression of naturally felt emotions and the three emotion regulation strategies suppression, avoidance, and reappraisal as indicators revealed three profiles at work (i.e., low regulators, high regulators, and drain regulators) and three profiles at home (i.e., low regulators, gain regulators, and drain …

Reading Rent: Interracial Relationships And Racial Hierarchies, Susanna A. Perez-Field

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In examining the musical Rent by Jonathan Larson (1995) and its film adaptation by Chris Columbus (2005), most scholarly work and analyses have focused on the work’s identity as a queer text. I assert that elements of this musical have been overlooked for its depth of racial and class hierarchies. Utilizing sociological theory and interracial relationships, I will examine characters and musical numbers to explore diversity and class positioning.

I will explore Rent for themes of racial, gender, and sexual identities and how they are presented through the friendships and romantic relationships of the eight principal characters (alphabetically): Angel, Benny, …

Reading Rent: Interracial Relationships And Racial Hierarchies, Susanna A. Perez-Field

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In examining the musical Rent by Jonathan Larson (1995) and its film adaptation by Chris Columbus (2005), most scholarly work and analyses have focused on the work’s identity as a queer text. I assert that elements of this musical have been overlooked for its depth of racial and class hierarchies. Utilizing sociological theory and interracial relationships, I will examine characters and musical numbers to explore diversity and class positioning.

I will explore Rent for themes of racial, gender, and sexual identities and how they are presented through the friendships and romantic relationships of the eight principal characters (alphabetically): Angel, Benny, …