Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Changing Role Of Women In Journalism, Caroline Derby

Honors Theses

Throughout the course of time, the role of women in journalism has changed tremendously. Women in journalism were considered inferior to men and had to fight their way up the ladder to be given the same roles and responsibilities as a man. However, when given breaking stories or interviews with heads of states, women still weren't paid as greatly as a man was, despite the level of work they were doing. We see the remnants of this in today's society. However, thanks to groundbreaking women in journalism, women are now able to be in positions, the same positions within a …

How Doctoral Students In A Formal Leadership Program Conceptualize Followership: A Mixed-Methods Study, Katy J. Johnson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods study was to determine how doctoral students in a formal leadership program conceptualize followership. The methods used to conduct this analysis included distributing a Qualtrics (released in August 2022) survey and conducting one-on-one interviews with a sample of degree-seeking doctoral students within a formal leadership program. The researcher collected quantitative and qualitative data addressing students’ followership style, leadership attitudes and beliefs, and perceptions of followership. These data were analyzed concurrently using a triangulation design. A total of 67 students completed the survey, and seven students were interviewed. The findings revealed that the participants employ …

Sex Trafficking In Southern Nevada, Julianna Jovillar

Student Research

Southern Nevada is facing a sex trafficking epidemic that continues to impact people in the state. Thus, in this brief, I investigate Southern Nevada’s sex trafficking crisis. Based on recent sex trafficking studies and the current legislature, it is apparent that although Southern Nevada is aware of the problem, more can still be done to stop it. As a result, this policy work explores sex trafficking in Southern Nevada, addresses stigmatization as a causal factor, provides political context, and offers policy recommendations related to child victim aid and protection to be considered for legislation.

Mental Distress Among Adults With Serious Mental Illness In A Criminal Legal Setting: A Secondary Data Analysis Of The Mcarthur Mental Health Court Study Data, Violette Cloud

Psychology ETDs

Chronic criminal legal system (CLS) involvement among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) is of growing concern. Mental health courts (MHCs) are a known diversion strategy currently used by the CLS to address this problem. MHCs are seen as an effective method for linking individuals with SMI to needed treatment, removing them from a detention setting, and subsequently reducing recidivism. However, less is known about the impact of MHC enrollment on mental health related outcomes (mental distress). Using the McArthur Mental Health Court Study data, this study aimed to inspect the impact of MHC participation, legal coercion, and treatment motivation …

A Skeptic’S Guide To Using Ai-Driven Content To Promote Access To Digital Archives On Social Media, Rebecca Bakker

Works of the FIU Libraries

Presentation for the Society of Florida Archivist's 2023 Annual Meeting
As cultural institutions continue to digitize their collections and make them available online, social media platforms offer a promising method for promoting and providing access to these digital archives. By incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is possible to create engaging and accessible content that can reach a wider, measurable audience. However, concerns about bias, inaccurate information and ethical considerations abound and must be considered. In this presentation, we will explore the evolution of practices in incorporating AI into digital archive work at the Digital Collections Center at Florida International University …

Don't Forget Me: A Discussion On Social Memory And Commemoration, Anfernee Murray

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis examines the relationship between social memory and social identity development among groups who share contested interpretations of their shared social memory. With social memories being a collaborative process that requires consensus and compromise, there arises conflict when groups are divided in deciding on what event of their shared history is relevant to remember - for it is these memories that influence and shape how a group identifies itself.

For Black Americans, this contention arises in the conversations surrounding the difficult and traumatic histories of their enslaved ancestors by the ancestors of their white counterparts. This is further complicated …

Ambiguous Loss And Grief Group Intervention For Youth In Foster Care, Courtenay Anne Miedema

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Over the past ten years in the United States, there has been an average of 414,000 youth in the foster care system each year (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2020). Youth in foster care are an at-risk population for behavioral, emotional, and relational issues that are often perceived or diagnosed as dysfunctional symptoms. Common presenting symptoms reported by this population relate to ambiguous loss experiences and can be conceptualized by ambiguous loss theory. Ambiguous loss theory has been developed through research with well-defined concepts, assessments, and treatment goals. However, there is a gap in the research on ambiguous …

Examining Food Insecurity Among Mississippi Community College Students, Laura Jean Kerr

Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity among postsecondary students and especially community colleges is a persistent social problem, but the prevalence continues despite much research. Postsecondary students experience food insecurity slightly differently from the general population and they are held to different rules to qualify for food support such as the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP). In this research I examine the prevalence, frequency, and duration of food insecurity experiences among Mississippi community college students. I begin with a discussion of the literature of food insecurity and policy used to address food insecurity. I draw upon Bourdieu’s theory of social fields, capital, and habitus …

The Silent Grave: A Geophysical Investigation Of The Brush Arbor Cemetery In Starkville, Mississippi, Kathryn Cassidy Jean Rayburn

Theses and Dissertations

The Brush Arbor Cemetery is an early-to-late 19th century Black cemetery that was also the meeting place of one of the first Black church congregations in Starkville, Mississippi. The cemetery has suffered greatly from structural violence and degradation. Utilizing Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), this research has revealed important information about the Brush Arbor Cemetery. The results of the GPR survey suggest there are 54 potential unmarked burials in addition to 35 marked burials. The Viewshed analysis suggests that the likely meeting place of the church congregation is in complete view of the white Odd Fellows Cemetery directly across the street. …

Evaluation Of Early Maturing Cultivars, Optimal Harvest Timing, And Canopy Reflectance Of Peanut To Maximize Grade And Yield, Joseph Bryan Whittenton

Theses and Dissertations

Peanut digging timing is difficult to predict due to indeterminate growth and peanut pods maturing underground, resulting in the need to research methods that provide consistent measurements, while reducing time and effort for farmers and researchers. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the Maturity Index 1 and Maturity Index 2 in predicting peanut grade, the accuracy of the North Carolina 2 degree day method in predicting peanut yield, and remote sensing vegetative indices sensitivity equivalence (SEq) to peanut Maturity Index 2 and harvest grade (TSMK) for cultivars IPG-914 and Georgia-06G in Mississippi.

Maturity Index 1 and …

Marxist Analysis Of Social And Economic Narratives In Childrens' Cartoons, Shane Mcgregor

Theses and Dissertations

Using a Marxist framework with a grounding in critical literacy, this study employs a content analysis methodology to analyze 25 episodes of five of the most popular children’s television cartoons in order to understand how these cartoons portray economic and social systems, as well as how the messages these cartoons express would tend to support these systems. In so doing, this research hopes to provide a conceptual framework that educators and parents can use as a guide for demonstration of a critical approach to understanding the curriculum of children’s media inside or outside of the classroom. Educators can modify this …

Anxiety, Depression, And Fear Of Dependency In Middle And Older Adults, Darby D. Mackenstadt

Theses and Dissertations

Negative stereotypes of aging, such as dependency, tend to paint a picture of older adults as frail or a burden on society. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the Fear of Dependency Scale and anxiety and depression, evaluating gender, age, and physical health as moderators. Findings suggest that age moderated the relationship between fear of dependency and depression and anxiety in women, with middle-aged women reporting the highest levels of depression and anxiety. Similarly, poor physical health in women with high fear of dependency being related to higher levels of depression and anxiety. Fear of dependency was related …

A Generalizable Method And Case Application For Development And Use Of The Aviation Systems – Trust Survey (As-Ts)., Jamison Hicks

Theses and Dissertations

Automated systems are integral in the development of modern aircraft, especially for complex military aircraft. Pilot Trust in Automation (TIA) in these systems is vital for optimizing the pilot-vehicle interface and ensuring pilots use the systems appropriately to complete required tasks.

The objective of this research was to develop and validate a TIA scale and survey methodology to identify and mitigate trust deficiencies with automated systems for use in Army Aviation testing. There is currently no standard TIA assessment methodology for U.S. Army aviation pilots that identifies trust deficiencies and potential mitigations.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify …

​​Evaluating The Utility Of Trial-Based Functional Analyses Of Inappropriate Mealtime Behavior: A Comparison Of Identified Functions Across Functional Analysis Methods, Meredith Huff Staggers

Theses and Dissertations

A critical first step in addressing problem behavior is to identify the function of the problem, or reason for engaging in the problem behavior, using systematic assessment procedures known as a functional analysis (FA). The literature consistently demonstrates the effectiveness of FAs, and variations of FAs (e.g., trial-based functional analysis [TBFA]) for assessing a variety of topographies of problem behaviors across populations, age groups, and settings; however, the use of TBFAs for assessing the function of inappropriate mealtime behavior (IMB) has been documented in the literature only once. The purpose of the current study was to contribute to the research …

Mill's Harm Principle: A Study In The Application Of 'On Liberty', Sandra J. Peart

Jepson School of Leadership Studies articles, book chapters and other publications

English philosopher and political economist John Stuart Mill argued that people learn by choosing: this is how they become creative and productive individuals. For this reason, and because he felt that individuals are typically the most capable people to make their own choices, Mill was highly skeptical of restrictions on choice placed by a third party, such as the state.

Mill famously separated actions into two categories: (1) self-regarding actions that do not affect others; and (2) other-regarding actions that do affect, and may harm, others. In the former category he placed thought and discussion, tastes and pursuits, and association, …

Race, Gender, And Inheritance: The Experience Of Black Farmers In Mississippi, Gbenga Idowu Elufisan

Theses and Dissertations

The population of Black farmers in the U.S. has declined to 2% of farmers in the U.S. because of institutional racism, land dispossession, heir’s property, and youth’s disinterest in farming. Most works on Black farmers have focused on racism, and heirs’ property, but little is known about the influence of race, gender, and inheritance on Black farmers’ experience. To understand this, I asked: what are the contemporary challenges associated with farming among Black farmers in Mississippi? How do race, gender, and inheritance influence the experiences of Black farmers? And how do Black farmers cope with their farming challenges? Twenty farmers …

School Counselors Treating Anxiety In Public School Settings: A Group Manual, Sarah Dyann Voss

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

As anxiety becomes more prevalent in children and adolescents, the demand for mental health resources has also increased. School counselors are highly trained mental health professionals who could be one of the answers to help close the gap of the demand for mental health resources. This review aims to analyze the benefits and effectiveness of school counselors treating anxiety in public school settings by utilizing small group interventions. Most public school settings have school counselors available for students, which is an opportunity for school counselors to provide mental health services. Several research studies have been conducted on this topic, showing …

Embracing Hope: A Counseling Group For Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment, Emily Clayton

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This group manual was created for female identifying adults ages 18 years and older who are undergoing infertility treatment. Infertility is oftentimes accompanied by a complexity of psychological difficulties that present chronic and long term stressors for many individuals and couples (Covington & Burns, 2006; Galst, 2018; Karaca et al., 2019; Rooney & Domar, 2018). Research supports that infertility counseling is effective in treating the wide array of mental health concerns that are associated with the infertility experience (Covington & Burns, 2006; Peterson et al., 2012). This manual examines the impact that infertility can have on mental health as well …

Supporting Children Through Traumatic Loss: A Counseling Group For Children, Sara Swan

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Loss happens within an instant, while grief is lifelong. Children who experience the loss of a close relationship in a traumatic way can negatively affect their mental and physical health, and academic and behavioral functioning, and have a higher mortality rate (Burns et al., 2020; Feigelman et al., 2017). Mental health professionals need to continue to advocate for children who have experienced traumatic loss with an increase in mental health services available to them. Literature is reviewed on grief, complicated grief (CG), traumatic grief, childhood traumatic grief and traumatic death are defined, types of loss, how grief is defined in …

Mental Health Literacy Training For Elementary Educators, Anna Joyce

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Young school children struggle with mental illness at a high rate, but often do not receive treatment or referral to mental health resources (Paula et al., 2014). Because of their age, their support systems are the first line of defense toward recognizing and reporting concerning symptoms of mental illness. Educators act as one of these support systems, but research shows mental health education for teachers is lacking in comprehension and adequacy (Dix et al., 2019). This literature review and training focuses on Mental Health Literacy (MHL), which promotes positive mental health education and literacy through encouraging help-seeking, recognition of mental …

Child-Parent Psychotherapy Training For Mental Health Agencies To Address Symptoms Of Ptsd In Trauma-Exposed Children In Early Childhood, Emily Josephine Bochman

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Approaches for working with trauma-exposed populations have been critical in addressing the widespread prevalence and impact of trauma across the lifespan (Young et al., 2011). With early intervention being critical for reducing the impact of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms persisting throughout the lifespan (Buss et al., 2015), approaches for early childhood populations are essential. One such approach, Child Parent Psychotherapy, has been shown to be one of the most effective approaches for working with trauma-exposed populations under five years old (Lieberman et al., 2015). This literature review and training manual explores the current research and implementation of Child Parent Psychotherapy …

Nature-Based Group Therapy For Women Living With Depression Through A Narrative Lens, Cora Anderson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The field of nature-based therapy treatment is rapidly expanding. With an emphasis on healing the disconnectedness of the modern world through experiencing interconnectedness with the natural world, this modality is particularly useful in treating symptoms of social isolation and hopelessness within populations living with major depressive disorder. The literature highlights emotional and biological benefits of mental health counseling in a natural setting with key therapeutic factors. Researchers highlighted these factors as the natural environment itself, the element of challenge, nature as a third-party influence on therapeutic relationship, and expansiveness and interconnectedness of the natural world (Naor & Mayseless, 2021). Within …

Analysis Of Self, Parker Hall

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Self-Analysis is the process of reviewing elements of an individual's own social, professional, and overall self to understand their actions. The point of this analysis is to reflect on where I have come from to gain insight in my path going forward as a counselor. Analytic tools were used to measure important aspects of my character including personality, career aptitude, and general strengths. The specific tools include the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, The STRONG Inventory, and the CliftonStrengths assessment. These formal assessments were then coupled with one-on-one interviews with individuals that played key roles in my life. The paper concludes with …

Trauma-Informed Training For Educators, Kristin White

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The occurrence of childhood trauma in the school setting is an ongoing and pervasive issue. Students impacted by trauma frequently display challenging and problematic behavior, and educators lack the trauma-informed care needed to help them heal. These students often go untreated, and their trauma continues to impact them and those around them. This project aims to review the current literature on childhood trauma and how educators can better support students affected by trauma. The trauma-informed training associated with this project will offer tools, curricula, and resources that educators can implement on their campuses.

Teaching Information Literacy In Untrusting Times: Prioritize Research For Understanding (Not Just Knowledge), Mark N. Lenker Iii

Library Faculty Presentations

A recent Pew study suggests that trust in experts is declining, a trend that requires educators to reframe expectations for learning through research. Rather than emphasizing the characteristics of credible sources (which skeptics and partisans seem increasingly eager to dispute), information literacy teachers should redirect their efforts to prioritize research for a more thorough and realistic understanding of how sources relate to one another. We will review teaching practices in college-level instruction in information literacy and composition that promote and obscure understanding as a learning goal for research.

Participants will:

1. Test-drive a discussion exercise that they can use with their …

Investigating Students’ Career-Readiness In The Agricultural Sciences: A Phenomenological Case Study, Jean A. Parrella, Holli R. Leggette, Theresa P. Murphrey, Christi Esquivel, Anna Bates

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

The agricultural industry lacks qualified workers, suggesting students may not participate in opportunities that effectively develop their employability skills. We used a phenomenological case study approach to investigate Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students’ career-readiness and factors influencing career-readiness. We conducted interviews with 19 juniors and seniors. Open coding procedures revealed five emergent themes—Career Advice-Seeking Behavior,Employability Skills Development, Network Establishment, Relevant Experiences, and Personal Growth. Findings indicate that students do not take advantage of University resources to help them with career preparation. Findings also revealed a lack of employability skills development, especially relating to …

Female Electoral Success In State Legislative Races: A Case Study Review Of Gender Influence On Incumbency, Fundraising, Recruitment, And Policy, Izzy Baughn

Honors Theses

Since the beginning of recorded history, female representation in elective office has been drastically lower than that of the U.S. population. Over the years, there have been many records set for women in office, including the 28% of the 118th Congress represented by women. Considering both chambers of Congress, the House and the Senate, women account for 153 of the 540 seats of the body. This number marks a record high, demonstrating commitment and strength in numbers by women in politics. While 28% female is still a small number in comparison to the amount of women accounted for in the …

Engaging The Rwandan Deaf Community: Sociolinguistics And Education, Lillian Berggoetz

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

This capstone project focuses on language research among the deaf community in Rwanda, Africa. This study examines sign language in Rwanda, the language’s context, and considers one’s positionality as the researcher. This is a three-tiered project. The first tier is an analysis of research positionality and how to do ethical research. The second tier applies qualitative research methods to understand sociolinguistics by interviewing Rwandans in the deaf and signing community. The third tier is a linguistic analysis of colors in data previously collected in Rwanda by Dr. Cecily Whitworth. The ultimate goals for this project are to learn about positionality …

School Social Work And Autism Competency: A Mixed-Methods Assessment Of Pennsylvania School Social Workers, Jami Imhof

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder which currently affects 1 in 44 individuals in the United States. Autism manifests as symptoms that impact the areas of communication, social interaction, and behavior (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Symptoms may create challenges in the school setting, requiring social work intervention. School social workers must be knowledgeable about autism as well as how to best support autistic students. A mixed methods study was conducted among 84 school social workers in Pennsylvania to understand current autism knowledge via an online survey. Ways in which social workers have learned about autism, as well as …

Social Work Best Practices In Schools: Effect Of Family-Focused Case Management On Rural School Students’ Success, Sheryl L. Mcklveen

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

Rural families and children have historically been challenged by a lack of public investment in their communities. Over generations, such deprivation created cycles of pervasive, persistent behavioral health and well-being disparities that negatively impact contemporary families and children, and threaten the socioeconomic future of America (Branson, 2019; Showalter et al., 2019; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). The purpose of this dissertation was to build a model of school social work best practices employing strategies intended to break cycles of unmet needs by reducing social determinant of health (SDOH) risks in rural environments, thereby enhancing the health and …