Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Hugo Chávez, El Camino Hagiográfico: Religión Y Bolivarianismo En La Construcción Discursiva Del Culto A Un Presidente, Lilia Malavé Conley

Theses and Dissertations--Hispanic Studies

This dissertation examines the discursive construction of the political-religious cult surrounding Hugo Chávez through a theoretical and methodological approach that integrates Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA). Its central objective is to identify and interpret the incorporation of elements from the Venezuelan religious imaginary–particularly from popular Christianity–into the symbolic configuration of Chávez as a sacred figure within official discourse. The corpus analyzed includes official transcripts from the television program Aló Presidente, as well as two animated short films titled Chávez Nuestro que Estás en el Cielo (“Our Chávez Who Art in Heaven”), broadcast on Venezuelan public …

Paratum Fuit: Double Perfect Marking In Classical Latin Passives, James F. Epperson Ii

Theses and Dissertations--Linguistics

Despite thousands of years of study, certain constructions in Latin remain insufficiently described in modern Latin linguistics. One such construction is the double perfectum, an analytic verbal construction comprising the perfect passive participle and a perfectum forms of the auxiliary esse. These forms are rare, largely absent from educational Latin materials, and receive limited attention in scientific descriptions of Latin, often focusing on their evolution into the modern Romance verbal systems. Pinkster (2015) identifies them within a broader class of resultative constructions, but acknowledges their inconsistent usage. Earlier scholars, such as Riemann (1927), interpreted them as stative, while others, like …

Applied Essays In Industrial Organization: Pricing In Short-Term Rental Markets And Policy Implications In Tobacco Consumption, Richard J. Applin

Theses and Dissertations--Economics

Economics 101 teaches that the interaction between supply and demand determines the prices and quantities consumers face. In econometric research, it is critical to remain aware of this canonical fact, as failure to do so can introduce bias in the estimation of economic parameters. This dissertation empirically demonstrates the importance of factoring in economic structure in three applied essays.

In the first essay, I estimate the impact of rating visibility on Airbnb pricing using a two-way fixed effects model. To do so, I primarily rely on an instrumental variables approach that I argue should identify a supply-side relationship. I provide …

Three Essays On The Impacts Of Pollution, Isaiah Chapman Bryant Sheth

Theses and Dissertations--Economics

My dissertation is broadly focused on using data to quantify the consequences of pol- lution and is organized into three chapters. Chapter one estimates the effect on infant health of drinking water contamination attributable to tropical cyclones. Chapter two examines the heterogeneous effects of a policy aimed at reducing air pollution based on pre-existing air quality conditions. Lastly, chapter three investigates how regula- tions aimed at shaping housing development to minimize climate risk impacted the housing market in Houston Texas. Each of these chapters considers different con- sequences of pollution, from direct health costs of pollution exposure to secondary effects …

Essays On The Labor Market Consequences Of Economic Uncertainty, Emographics, And Oil Price Shocks, Linli Zhao

Theses and Dissertations--Economics

This dissertation explores how economic uncertainty and oil price shocks influence the U.S. labor market, focusing on the roles of age distributions, manufacturing characteristics, and labor skills. Chapter One investigates how uncertainty and age distribution affect employment volatility across U.S. states using data from 2000 Q1 to 2017 Q4. The findings show that states with a larger share of prime-aged workers experience lower employment volatility in the face of economic uncertainty. Chapter Two examines how global oil shocks influence manufacturing job flows, drawing on data from the Annual Survey of Manufactures and the Census of Manufacturers between 1980 Q3 and …

Harnessing Ethnicity For Effective Leadership: Reimagining Ethnic Politics As An Institutional Asset In Africa, Obaloluwa A. Aka

Theses and Dissertations--Political Science

Ethnic identity remains one of the most enduring forces shaping political behavior and leadership in Africa. Often viewed as a source of division, this study reframes ethnicity as an institutional asset capable of fostering accountability and enhancing leadership quality. Drawing on Afrobarometer Round 9 data from 35 African countries, the paper shows that ethnicity consistently predicts vote choice affirming its political salience. Rather than treating this as a democratic obstacle, the analysis demonstrates that when mediated through trusted traditional leaders, ethnic identity can strengthen satisfaction with democracy, trust in institutions, and perceptions of governance. Logistic regression models reveal that trust …

Towards A Sociological Theory Of Consent And Coercion In Sexual Violence Against Women, Lisa Kistler

Theses and Dissertations--Sociology

Recent data estimate that 26.8% of adult women in the U.S. have experienced rape in their lifetime. In this context, the phrase “consent to sex” is a prominent narrative countering sexual violence. Yet, there is no consensus on the meaning of consent, nor how the practice of consent is affected by coercion, resulting in a puzzle of consent. In response, the present project brings together existing research and theory to conceptualize consent and coercion in new ways. It asks, broadly, how do different forms of coercion complicate sexual consent and contribute to sexual violence against women today and answers this …

Cultivating Hegemony: Cultural Engineering And The Art Of Power Maintenance In Military Movies, Samuel Lockridge

Theses and Dissertations--Arts Administration

This research explores how the United States military’s assistance to film productions can be better classified and understood as a form of cultural policy. There is a significant gap in the existing cultural policy research concerning interventions into the arts and culture by the military aimed at influencing the thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes of the population. The degree to which the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) long partnership with the film industry should even be considered “cultural policy” remains an open, and largely unexamined question. This dissertation presents an exploratory multiple case study of two films which received DoD production …

Therapist Perspective Of Therapeutic Alliance And Treatment Outcome In Systemic Psychotherapy, Benjamin Larkin Mize Patterson

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

One of the most robust findings in psychotherapy outcome research has been the relationship of a strong therapeutic alliance with improvement in treatment. Most research, however, has measured therapeutic alliance from the client’s point of view, disregarding the therapist’s perspective of this phenomenon. In this naturalistic study of adults in systemic individual, couple, or family psychotherapy (N = 627), both client- and therapist-ratings of alliance were assessed for their associations with treatment outcomes. Multilevel modeling was employed to analyze data from the Marriage and Family Therapy Practice Research Network (MFT-PRN). Client-ratings of the therapeutic alliance and general functioning/relationship satisfaction …

Family And Social Factors In Emotion Regulation And Adjustment In Adolescents, Julia J. Morgan

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Adolescents face many challenges during this unique phase of development. Because of this, it is important to identify how to promote resilience and positive adjustment for these individuals. The present dissertation includes three studies which focused on familial and social factors in promoting emotion regulation and ultimately adjustment among middle and late adolescents.

The first study focused on the importance of alexithymia in the relationships between closeness and communication and internalizing problems, namely depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. Results showed that closeness was negatively associated with depression and positively associated with self-esteem. Communication was not associated with any of the studied …

Childhood Chronic Illness: Assessing Emerging Adults’ Engagement In Social Activities And Predicted Money For Comfort In The Future, Mediated By Money Responsibility And Comparison To Others, Austin B. Mathews

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between emerging adults’ engagement in social activities and their prediction of having money for comfort in the future. Data used was from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) with individuals selected having at least one chronic illness that began during childhood. The study tested a series of hypothesis which tested the relationships between engagement in social activities and predicted money for comfort in the future, as well as, money responsibility and comparison to others as mediating variables. Significant associations were found between frequency of engagement in sports and money …

Debt Through The Decade: Exploring Connections Between Debt Type, Psychological Stress, Spending Habits, And Life Satisfaction, Emily Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Average households in the United States holds $101,915 in consumer debt, contributing to the greater total of America’s $17.3 trillion of total consumer debt (Experian, 2024). Accruing some amount of debt is considered normal throughout a financial lifespan, however, many Americans find themselves completely overwhelmed by keeping up with personal debts and increasing costs of necessities due to inflation. (George & Hansen, 2018; Kim et al., 2019). Following the financial crisis in 2020, many individuals felt increasing financial hardship, with many Americans heavily impacted by their debt holdings. The purpose of the present study is to examine the impact of …

Mapping The Impact Of Leadership Training: A Ripple Effects Mapping Of The Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association’S First Leadership Academy, Kelly May

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

This research study evaluates the first Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association (KEHA) Leadership Academy using the participatory, qualitative evaluation tool Ripple Effects Mapping (REM). This study explored the impact and outcomes of the training, both intended and unintended.

REM is a participatory evaluation method that begins with appreciative inquiry, then continues with a group discussion where stories are “mapped” or illustrated in real time. Using the Theming and Rippling Method of REM, the research team coded the information on site with inductive theming and those themes were then shared and confirmed with the group. After the event, the mapped data was …

Exploring Belongingness, Loneliness, And Distinctiveness On A College Of Agriculture Campus, Sophia Jaramillo-Vasconez

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

The purpose of this study was to explore how sense of belonging, loneliness, and distinctiveness affect students in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (M-G CAFE). By examining the intersection of student demographics and their experiences, this research aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the dynamics that shape students’ agricultural experiences at the postsecondary level. This study investigates the relationship between student characteristics and their reported levels of belonging and loneliness, and how these factors influence perceptions of their representation and distinctiveness within the M-G CAFE program. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was employed, beginning with …

The Relationship Between Perceived Racial Stress And Academic Achievement Of African American Students, Jodie E. Felder

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Educational institutions are not only places of learning, but they can be places of refuge and support for students. Academic engagement and performance can be negatively affected for ethnic students of color. This can lead to a disconnection between the education system of teachers, administrators, and students. Studies suggest racial stress contributes to negative environmental factors, to which African American (Black) students have been found to be especially vulnerable. Overlooked, ignored, and misunderstood environmental factors for African American students exacerbate educational obstacles, widening achievement gaps and increasing attrition rates. A lack of culturally guided knowledge among stakeholders lessens the opportunity …

Sex Life Post Childbirth And The Role Of The Partner Relationship: A Qualitative Study, Agata Kopacz

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Sexual problems are common among postpartum women, and sexual functioning during the postpartum period is affected by biological, psychological, and social factors. There is limited research exploring women’s experiences within their romantic relationships and sex lives during the postpartum period. This qualitative study utilized the phenomenological approach to gain a better understanding of the experiences of postpartum women in their romantic relationships and their sexual functioning after childbirth. A total of eight eligible postpartum women were interviewed individually. Data from the interviews were analyzed utilizing the phenomenological data analysis approach and grouped into emerging themes. Four themes were extracted for …

Exploring The Effect Of Personal Mental Health Disclosures On Perceptions Of Doctoral Psychology Applicants, Hunter C. Schow

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

While some research exists discussing the attitudes around personal mental health disclosures as they pertain to both professional decorum and admission to doctoral psychology training programs, little research has analyzed the actual impact of such disclosures on how applicants are perceived. This study aimed to assess whether personal mental health disclosures in admissions essays ultimately affect how applicants are perceived by doctoral faculty determining whether or not to admit them to their program. The hypothesis was that ambiguous disclosures do have an impact, and especially those showing unaddressed or ongoing struggles. An electronic survey utilizing a mixed-methods approach was distributed …

Reducing Burnout In Healthcare Professional Training Programs, Michaela Lillie

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

There is an immense need for behavioral health clinicians in the United States, with an estimated 43.4 million people having behavioral concerns in 2015. An estimated 37% of counties in the United States are facing a shortage of behavioral health workers, which means many people are going without treatment. It also means caseloads will be elevated for current behavioral health clinicians. Research consistently shows that these workers face high burnout rates every year. Though burnout is typically studied at the organizational level, there are elevated rates of burnout at the academic training level. Because research has focused on the organization …

Creating The I-Ace: A Revised Ace Measure Incorporating Perceived Impact And Broader Adversity Experiences, Katherine M. Adams

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) survey is a widely used, evidence-based tool that assesses the number of adverse events an individual experienced before the age of 18 years. Research has shown that total ACE scores are associated with physical and mental health outcomes across the lifespan. The original ACE survey—often referred to as the conventional, standard, or primary version—consists of 10 items measuring adverse experiences across categories of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. However, it does not fully capture experiences that are increasingly relevant when assessing childhood adversity and trauma, particularly among historically marginalized minority and socio-economic populations. One area …

A Psychometric Investigation Of The Consumption Of Pornography Scale (Cops-G) In Undergraduate Students At A Private Christian University, Liberty Jedidiah Lillibridge

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Pornography is a multidimensional and complex topic that provokes feelings of shame, curiosity, and anxiety. In recent times, pornographic searches on the internet amounted to 25% of total search engine requests (Cooper et al., 2000). In a Canadian study on college students’ problematic pornography use, a higher level of pornography use was associated with negative psychosocial functioning and maladaptive use of cannabis, alcohol, gambling, and video games (Harper & Hodgins, 2016). Many researchers have attempted to mitigate the inconsistent measurement of pornography usage (Mckee et al., 2020; Short et al., 2012). Hatch et al. (2020) addressed these measurement issues and …

Self-Compassion And Shame: The Role Of Socioeconomic Status, Amanda Louie

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Undergraduate student mental health concerns are a growing issue on a global scale. One proposed intervention to support student well-being is to increase student self-compassion. Previous research has found that self-compassion can decrease negative affect and shame, and improve well-being and resilience, which in turn may reduce stress. A lesser area of study concerning self-compassion is what effect, if any, socioeconomic status may have on the development of self-compassion in individuals. To address this gap in the literature, this study collected data from college students on the West Coast and used a correlational design to explore the relationships between self-compassion, …

Utilization Of Assessment Results To Improve Identification Of Prenatal Substance Exposure, Whitney R. Mendenhall

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Prenatal substance exposure (PSE) significantly increases the risk of behavioral, emotional, and neurological challenges in children (Eiden et al., 2023). Children with PSE present similarly to children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and are often diagnosed with ADHD due to shared symptomatology (Garrison-Desany et al., 2022). However, PSE has a greater association with long-term cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral deficits (Eiden et al., 2023). While PSE and ADHD share similar symptomologies, treatment and outcomes vary substantially, where early identification and treatment is a critical protective factor against the development of other psychological conditions in children with PSE. PSE can …

Exploring The Relationship Between Individual Value Priorities And Pathological Psychological Traits, Dennis Kurtz

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Values are central to the ways that humans evaluate the world and make decisions, and they play an important role in individual psychological functioning and well-being. Although human values are frequently used in psycho-therapeutic interventions in clinical practice, the precise nature of their relationship to psychopathology is unclear. This research explored the relationship between human values and psychopathology using the Schwartz basic theory of human values and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–3. Participants were recruited from a community mental health clinic. Data were analyzed to determine relationships between value priorities and clinical scales.

The study hypothesized positive associations between self-enhancement …

Sport-Related Concussions In Division Iii Athletes: A 10-Year Prospective Analysis Of Trends And Incidence, Shaylyn R. Thorne

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Sports-related concussions (SRCs) among college athletes remain a growing area of concern due to a myriad of potential short and long-term implications. Understanding concussion trends and incidence in collegiate sports is critical for guiding prevention and management strategies. This study examined concussion injuries among NCAA Division III collegiate athletes at a single institution over a 10-year period. Analyses focused on trends in concussion incidence across sports, genders, and changes associated with institutional and NCAA policy updates. Results indicated that concussion incidence varied across sports and time, with higher rates in contact sports such as football and soccer. Significant differences occurred …

The Method Is The Message: Movement Law And The Social Change Commons, Raymond H. Brescia

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Legal scholars have long sought to understand the relationship between social movements and the law. A new group of such scholars has argued that to better understand this relationship, and to advance social change that is effective, sustainable, equitable, and just, they must engage in dialogue with such movements to generate ideas that will catalyze that change. For those interested in generating ideas that can spark meaningful and lasting social change, such developments in legal scholarship represent an exciting evolution in the relationship between legal scholarship, legal scholars, and social movements: a relationship that appears to be growing stronger, deeper, …

Dobbs V. Brown, Benjamin H. Barton

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization1is the most important and impactful Supreme Court decision since at least Roe v. Wade, and potentially since Brown v. Board of Education. Past survey data show that most Americans can only name two Supreme Court opinions: Roe and Brown. Dobbs will surely join that list. This Article compares the history, drafting, and opinions of Dobbs and Brown to show what a missed opportunity Dobbs represents. Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the opinion, it should be clear that Dobbs was one of those unique times (like that of Brown) where the Court …

19.3 Ceus, Albright Aaron, Peighton Corley, Yusuf Barburoglu, Jeff Moe

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Navigating the Complexities in Gender-Diverse Counseling: Understanding the Interplay of Gender Identity, Racial Inequities, Economic Marginalization, and Aging

1. Which counseling approach discussed in the article explicitly weaves systemic oppression into cognitive restructuring for transgender clients?

A. Narrative Therapy

B. Gestalt Therapy

C. Intersectional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

D. Dialectical Behavior Therapy

2. According to the article, identity-integrated support networks are valuable because they:

A. Provide financial assistance for medical transition only

B. Affirm multiple intersecting identities, offering validation and belonging

C. Limit social interaction to reduce microaggressions

D. Operate exclusively in online spaces

From The Editor, Jeff Moe

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Welcome to issue 19(4) of the Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling. The mission and purpose of this journal is to illuminate the lived experiences of people who are sexual, affectional, intersex, and gender-expansive diverse and how these experiences relate to counseling, counselor education, mental health, and social justice. Throughout the nearly 20-year history of the journal research on affirming care best practice, scholarship that centers the stories of LGBTGEQIAP + individuals, groups and communities, and innovative research on multiple-minority communities have all been regular features. In addition to the focus of the published scholarship, which includes over …

Ai And Positionality:A Guide For Learning Communities, Emese Ilyés

Open Educational Resources

This practical guide helps educators thoughtfully integrate AI tools while preserving what matters most—student voice and agency. Drawing on research with students navigating AI in higher education, it offers concrete activities and frameworks that position technology as an assistant rather than a replacement for authentic expression. Through adaptable classroom strategies and qualitative approaches, educators across disciplines will discover how to create learning environments where students recognize the value of their unique perspectives in an age of artificial intelligence.

"Expert" Versus "Subjugated" Knowledge In Political Sociology, Marisa Tramontano

Open Educational Resources

In this assignment, created for a 2025 seminar on OER-based Active Learning, Dr. Marisa Tramontano made an open, "low-tech" active learning module comparing excerpts from the book, "Poverty of Philosophy" by Karl Marx with the song of the same name by Immortal Technique. The assignment uses a remixable Google doc to guide students' analyses and comparisons of these texts. The assignment can easily be adapted to other courses or disciplines.