2021 Theses and Dissertations
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Item A Developmental English shuffle: Analyzing the impact of one Texas community college’s shift from multi-level stand-alone offerings to corequisite courses(4/5/2021) Dole, Ivan; Scott, GrayDevelopmental English (DE) has been under fire from critics who think it acts as a barrier rather than as a support to the success of students placing into DE. In Texas, such pressures led to a wave of reforms and changes affecting delivery and structure of DE instruction. This dissertation draws on years of internal data at one community college to explore the impacts of these changes on student success. Overall, DE students found success (68.5%) at the same rate as their college-ready counterparts (64.7%). There was a significant difference between Prerequisite support and Corequisite support (p < .001) with Prerequisite having the greater effect on success. There was also significant difference between Hybrid, Lecture, and Online offerings. Hybrid was found to be the most effective modality and Online the least effective. Additionally, a multiple linear regression predicted a success rate of 93.5% if a DE student took a 16-week, Fall-term, Hybrid freshman composition course with Prerequisite support. While there are limitations and more questions to consider, the study’s exploratory and quantitative findings offer direct implications for DE faculty, programs, and administrators.Item A light in the flame: Perceived burnout among underrepresented minority physician assistant educators in the United States(7/12/2021) Sturges, Daytheon; Massey-Stokes, MarilynThere is a keen interest surrounding burnout in academic medicine with an existing need for more studies regarding the subject (Dandar et al., 2019). The priority population for this study were underrepresented minority (URM) physician assistant (PA) educators in the United States. The purpose was to determine external and internal contributors that lead to perceived burnout, as well as to investigate if primary and secondary appraisal inform burnout coping strategies. The study also sought to determine if there was an existing relationship between demographic factors (gender, age, self-identified race, faculty role, and “years in faculty position”) and emotional exhaustion (EE). This study employed a mixed-methods research design using a convenience sample representative of URM PA educators from across the United States (n = 101). For the quantitative portion of the study, the participants completed a demographics survey and the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Educators Survey from which their average EE score was calculated. For the qualitative portion of the study, 11 participants were interviewed to identify burnout perception, burnout contributors, and burnout coping strategies. An independent samples t test, Pearson’s r correlation, multiple linear regression, and one-way analysis of variances were used to determine the relationship between demographic variables and EE. Qualitative data were analyzed by categorizing the findings into codes and organizing the themes into parent nodes. Data analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between gender and EE. This relationship demonstrated that women URM PA educators experience burnout at increased rates compared to men URM PA educators. There were no statistically significant relationships between age (r = .015, R2 = .000225, p = .883), self-identified race (F (1, 98) = .108, p = .744, η2 = .001), faculty role (F (1, 97) = 3.09, p = .082, η2 = .031), and “years in faculty position” and EE (F (1, 99) = .271, p = .604, η2 = .003). The overall predictive model of the demographic variables and EE score was not statistically significant (F(5, 92) = 1.859, p = .109, R2 = .092, adjusted R2 = 0.042). The qualitative data offered insight into burnout perception, contributors, coping strategies, current institutional and programmatic burnout strategies, suggested institutional and programmatic burnout strategies, common occupational stressors, initial responses to occupational stressors, and overall experiences of URM PA educators. Study results yielded insight regarding burnout perception among URM PA educators in the United States. In turn, these findings can be used to inform future health education interventions aimed at preventing burnout among URM PA educators.Item A phenomenological analysis of a girls’ club quilting project(7/19/2021) Cottle, Jennifer Pierce; Dutton, CatherineThe phenomena of connection, competence, and self-efficacy have not been explored in the context of an after-school girls club. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of 9 girls engaged in a quilting project in an after-school program for expressions of connection, competence, and self-efficacy using a feminist quilting metaphor to stitch together a feminist relational framework, psychosocial framework, and social cognitive framework. Secondary data was collected from the de-identified transcripts of an after-school program evaluation which used semi-structured interviews with the participants. Transcripts were analyzed using a three-stage coding process. Themes were organized into a novel strategy called Code Group Quilt Blocks and found poetry. Findings indicated that the participants expressed connection, industry, specific self-efficacy, and boredom regarding the quilting project. The quilting project provided an opportunity for the girls to develop connection and friendships with one another, as well as an opportunity to develop and learn new skills. This study has implications for improving the experience of children in after-school programs and for the use of a new strategy for qualitative analysis.Item A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of an online educational intervention on interprofessional team collaboration(10/28/2021) Garey, Amanda Kay; Landrum, PeggyThe purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an online interprofessional education competency (IPEC) online educational module intervention on the level of interprofessional team collaboration (ITC) on three subscales, as measured with the Assessment of Interprofessional Team Collaboration Scale (AITCS-II) in interprofessional healthcare providers. A two-group randomized controlled trial, with repeated measures design was used for this study. This study was conducted from October 2020 to June 2021. A computer-based randomized generator assigned 161 subjects to the intervention (n = 75) or control group (n = 86). The intervention group participated in an IPEC focused module and the control group participated in a routine family-centered care module. Data collection for both the intervention group and control group occurred at three time points: at baseline, immediately after completion, and at 1 month after completion of the module. The intervention group had statistically significant differences in all three subscales of the validated AITCS-II tool immediate post-intervention in partnership (p < .001), coordination (p < .001), and cooperation (p < .001) in comparison to the control group. The control group was not statistically significant at any time period. The intervention module was effective in increasing the level of collaboration within healthcare teams. This study supports assessing teams for their level v of interprofessional collaboration, providing insight into strengths and weaknesses of interprofessional teams, and integrating Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) related education is impactful. Study outcomes can assist organizations in building strategic plans to meet professional development goals and quality outcomes. The study findings have the potential to motivate healthcare leaders and researchers to replicate similar studies and seek further evidence to translate research into practice.Item A study of human connections through terministic screens and narrative strategies in selected works of Sarah Orne Jewett(7/28/2021) Lentschke, Leanne; Bridges, PhyllisNineteenth-century American author Sarah Orne Jewett provides a voice for undervalued cultures and illustrates the significance of these cultures in her narratives. This study examines human connections in Jewett’s masterpiece, The Country of the Pointed Firs, and six short stories. A Dunnet Landing story, “The Foreigner,” three Irish stories, “The Gray Mills at Farley,” “Bold Words at the Bridge,” “A Little Captive Maid,” and two stories that have a setting outside of Maine, “Tame Indians,” and “Jim’s Little Woman.” Twentieth-century rhetorician Kenneth Burke’s rhetorical theories of terministic screens and identification are applied to the selected works by Jewett to examine Burke’s rhetorical theory of terministic screens. Burke asserts that terministic screens are a type of lens made up of terms that select, reflect, and deflect one’s reality. Consequently, one’s language is a representation of how one interprets the world. Additionally, this study analyzes the narrative structure in Jewett works through James Phelan’s narrative as rhetoric in which he asserts that “texts are designed by authors to affect readers in particular ways conveyed through occasions, words, techniques, and structure forms” (Phelan, Narrative Theory 5); and Wayne Booth’s communication concept of telling and showing. Jewett utilizes various strategies in her narratives to illustrate human connections, which include episodic narrative structures, embedded tales, long quotations, dialect, folkloric elements, and a sense of place. The first chapter of this study includes an introduction to Jewett and the selected works; it further introduces Burke’s term terministic screens. Chapter two of this study examines the function of folkloric elements in the selected works by Jewett. Chapters three through five examine human connections, terministic screens, identification and division, and narrative strategies utilized by Jewett in the selected works. The study concludes with an examination of the vital role of terministic screens and how these screens are significant in understanding Jewett’s folk communities. Jewett was aware of her audience, and she possessed the skill of acquainting readers with the undervalued cultures of the nineteenth century.Item An auto/ethnographic exploration of the effects of a reservist's deployment on the support system: The theory of deployment communication and resilience for a support system(4/12/2021) Covey, Jamie M.; Gullion, Jessica Smartt, 1972-The purpose of this study is to understand how the support system, including family (such as parents and siblings), friends, and co-workers experience the deployment of a Reservist who is not married and does not have children. This qualitative research used both ethnographic responses from participants, and my autoethnographic writings as the deployer and researcher. The ethnographic research collection spanned the course of the deployment and was tailored to target collection during the three phases of deployment (pre-deployment phase, deployment phase, and post-deployment/reintegration phase). Using grounded theory, I developed the theory of deployment communication and resilience for a Reservist’s support system which posits (1) the support system needs to diverse, (2) the practice of mutual permissive protective buffering in frequent communication, and (3) the need for both deployer and support system to educate themselves on the challenges of reintegration. Another important outcome of the study is confirming the important role of military-to-military friendship in coping and healing during the reintegration phase. This project is the first of its kind focused on the support system of a Reservist.Item An examination of the vocabulary development of children who are dual language learners with a focus on the language environment and literacy practices in preschool classrooms(5/19/2021) Ponce-Gwynne, Lorena Magda; Moore, LinMAGDA LORENA PONCE, M.Ed. AN EXAMINATION OF THE VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN WHO ARE DUAL LANGUAGE LEARNERS WITH A FOCUS ON THE LANGUAGE ENVIRONMENT AND LITERACY PRACTICES IN PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS MAY, 2021 ABSTRACT Teachers play a critical role in children’s education and language development that starts with early education. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships of the language and literacy practices of early childhood education teachers and the language environments of preschool classrooms with the vocabulary competencies of the children who were Dual Language Learners (DLLs). In addition, the study investigated whether children’s receptive and expressive vocabularies were related to teachers’ years of experience, skills in Spanish, and preparation to work with dual language learners. Secondary data from a multi-state study conducted by Castro et al. (2017) was the focus of analyses. The sample consisted of 141 teachers and 249 children. Observation instruments included the Early Language & Literacy Classroom Observation—Dual Language Learners (ELLCO--DLL, Castro, 2015), and the Language Interactions Snapshot (LISn, Sprachman et al., 2009). Children’s English and Bilingual vocabularies were measured by the Receptive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test (Brownell, 2011). Expressive vocabulary in English was measured by the Woodcock Johnson Battery-Picture Vocabulary Subscale III (Woodcock, 2005). Spanish expressive vocabulary was measured by Woodcock-Johnson Vocabulario Sobre Dibujos (Woodcock & Muñoz Sandoval, 2005). The English receptive vocabulary scores and both English and Spanish expressive vocabulary scores for this sample of preschool children were more than one standard deviation below the mean of 100. However, the Bilingual receptive vocabulary scores were within the normal range. Children’s conversations with teachers and peers, teachers’ professional development to work with DLLs, and the teachers’ classroom practices were significant contributors to children’s language competencies. Recommendations included targeted professional development for teachers that support more conversational exchanges and increased reading session to children in small and whole groups. In addition, classrooms were lacking in resources in Spanish.Item An exploration of college students' beliefs of parental influence on their character devlopment and of their own beliefs about the role their character plays in their academic achievement(6/14/2021) Sanders, Crystal L; Gillum, NerissaABSTRACT CRYSTAL LYNNETTTE SANDERS AN EXPLORATION OF COLLEGE STUDENTS’ BELIEFS OF PARENTAL INFLUENCE ON THEIR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND OF THEIR OWN BELIEFS ABOUT THE ROLE THEIR CHARACTER PLAYS IN THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT APRIL 2021 The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate college students’ beliefs of their parents’ role in influencing their character development, and of their own character in influencing their college academic achievement. Two research questions guided the study: (1) What are college students’ beliefs about how parental role modeling influenced their character development? and (2) What are college students’ beliefs about the role their character played in their academic achievement? Data were collected from 10 undergraduate college students who met the criteria for participation. Each participant participated in a virtual semi-structured interview. Each interview was audio recorded. The interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed for emerging themes. The data yielded 10 themes: Be kind to others, Be a better me, Identifying a connection with parent(s), Spirituality as a vehicle to teach positive character traits, Most influential stage, Most credit for current character traits, Connecting with others increases opportunities for success, Being a hard worker helps me achieve, Being socially reserved leads to missed opportunities, and Lack of self-regulation contributes to doing work at the last minute.Item An exploration of the experiences of caregivers raising children with a cystic fibrosis diagnosis and the relationship between anxiety, depression, and quality of life: An online exploratory mixed-methods study(4/30/2021) Dingus Keuhlen, Kristina; Ladd, Linda, Ph. D.This online mixed-methods study was designed to explore, analyze, expand upon the lived experiences of caregivers raising children with cystic fibrosis and the connection to the systemic influences contributing to their elevated rates of psychological symptoms. A main purpose of this study was to expand specifically upon the TIDES data (Quittner et al., 2014), which found that caregivers in this demographic experience two to three times elevated rates of anxiety and depression than community samples. The hope of this study was to investigate and obtain an understanding of the obstacles this group faces daily while analyzing the data, to give a voice and meaning to participant’s reality. A total of 155 participants completed the survey, predominantly mothers (n=142) with a good representation from fathers (n=13). To assess psychological functioning, participants (n=100) completed four quantitative surveys: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Caregiver Quality of Life-Cystic Fibrosis (CQOLCF), and Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R). MANOVA testing found parents raising adolescent daughters ages 14 and older reported the lowest rates of anxiety and depression and highest quality of life as compared to parents of sons and all other groups. Caregivers raising children from birth to six experienced elevated levels of anxiety and depression. Mothers reported higher levels of anxiety and depression and lower quality of life, as a whole, while fathers reported greater struggles with symptoms of anxiety than depression. The present study expanded the quantitative analysis from TIDES by incorporating a qualitative exploration into the lives of caregivers raising a child with CF, with a range of participant responses (56 to 82). Multiple levels of coding found five themes consisting of The CF priority, Resources & Support, Pandemic Amplification of Distress, Natural Skepticism and Cautious Optimism, and Barriers to Seeking and Receiving Mental Health Services. These themes helped to highlight the obstacles caregivers face when considering mental health treatment interventions, specifically stigma and access to therapists. It is recommended that a shift in the current mental health program be assessed to incorporate enhanced and more frequent psychological check-ups for children with CF as well as their caregivers.Item An in vitro investigation of the molecular effects of aging and exercise signaling within human skeletal muscle cells(4/23/2021) Zumbro, Emily L.; Duplanty, Anthony A.The older population is steadily increasing and is expected to double by the year 2050. With this comes the increase in prevalence of chronic disease, sarcopenia being of utmost concern in regard to skeletal muscle (SKM) health. Sarcopenia is associated with additional morbidities, including insulin resistance, resulting in the reduced quality of life in these individuals. Resistance exercise is a common form of treatment for sarcopenia to attenuate the loss of muscle mass but the quality of the muscle may still be suboptimal due to potential mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. The purpose of the study was to invesitgate the molecular effects of aging in myoblasts related to cell homeostasis, myogenesis, and mitochondrial biogenesis and whether general exercise signaling via the β-2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) could rescue the dysregulated signaling resulting from aging. Human SKM myoblasts underwent an in vitro continued passaging protocol to represent aging in vivo. Formoterol (FORM), an exercise mimetic, was used to stimulate general exercise signaling. Four conditions were included in this study (n = 6), control (CON), aging (AGED), CON with FORM stimulation (CON+FORM), and AGED with FORM stimulation (AGED+FORM). Extraction of total RNA was conducted once myoblasts reached 85% confluency and was followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analyses. Gene expression was analyzed and represented the following categories: (a) cell homeostasis, (b) myogenesis, and (c) mitochondrial biogenesis. The delta-delta cycle threshold (ΔΔCT) method was used to normalize genetic expression followed by one-way anaylysis of variance (ANOVA) for each gene with significance set at p < .05. Aging resulted in a significant increase in atrophy-related gene expression only in addition to non-significant robust effects on genes associated with oxidative stress, protein synthesis, autophagy, substrate utilization, myogenesis, and mitochondrial biogenesis. Formoterol stimulation significantly increased genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis and atrophy in addition to significantly downregulated myogenesis. Additionally, FORM stimulation seems to reduce oxidative stress, though not significantly. Taking all findings into consideration, general exercise signaling representative of combined aerobic and resistance exercise may be beneficial in older individuals to reduce oxidative stress leading to improved intercellular signaling across pathways important for overall SKM health.Item An in-depth analysis of beer flavor and its impact on consumer refreshing perception(1/8/2021) Hampton, Amy; Broughton, K. ShaneBeer is the most consumed alcoholic beverage worldwide and a known source of refreshment. Refreshment is defined as an emotional response to a food consumption experience; nevertheless, there is a very limited understanding of beer refreshment and its impact factors. The objective of this study was to determine how sensory attributes, specifically flavor and alcohol-related, impacted refreshment post-beer consumption using a survey, consumer study, and volatile analysis. A preliminary beer survey (n = 1,050) indicated that consumers believed beer was highly refreshing (≥8 out of 10). Flavor and temperature were major impactful factors for refreshment, along with a “clean and crisp” flavor profile. According to survey results, a consumer study was conducted to test how flavor types and alcohol levels impacted beer refreshment. Participants (n = 322) rated 13 beer samples (three flavor types: citrus, cucumber, or lime x 4 alcohol levels: 0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, and 7.5% abv., plus the control: non-alcoholic beer base- Heineken 0.0) for liking and intensity of refreshment as well as six sensory attributes. The consumer study elucidated that alcohol levels and flavor types significantly affected consumer's perceived refreshment based on ANOVA, MANOVA, and partial least squares (PLS), p < 0.01. A majority of consumers preferred a citrus-flavored beer and an alcohol level of 2.5% abv. Volatile profiles of three pilsners (Carlsberg, Heineken 0.0, and Michelob Ultra) were analyzed using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). Volatile analysis indicated specific esters (ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl hexanoate), terpenes (D-limonene and linalool), and aldehydes (acetaldehyde, isovaleric aldehyde, hexanal, nonanal) were common volatiles in three beers, which might associate with acceptance and preference by consumers. The significance derived from this thesis research revealed that flavor type and alcohol level significantly impact perceived refreshment. The addition of citrus flavor to the beer base with a 2.5% abv. created an ideal experience of sensory attributes and the highest overall acceptance. In the development of new and existing beers, a balance of flavor, alcohol, and volatiles are imperative for the refreshing perception.Item An integrated model of functional status and socioeconomic factors affecting hospital length of stay and 30-day readmission risk in individuals with heart failure(11/22/2021) Tran, Vinh Q; Lin, Suh-JenBackground: Acute management of heart failure (HF) is a high-cost enterprise. Cost-effective management of acute HF hinges upon hospital outcomes such as length of stay (LOS) and 30-day readmission (30dRA) rate. Literature has produced regression models that predict these hospital outcomes; however, existing models use a limited scope of traditional medical predictors resulting in weak predictive ability. Functional status (FS) and socioeconomic factors (SEFs) have been found to predict various hospital outcomes in patients with HF; however, existing model performance is limited in its scope. Therefore, a modernized, holistic approach through the integration of FS and SEFs into existing medical predictor based regression models may better predict LOS and 30dRA rate in HF. Purpose: To determine the predictive utility of a model utilizing FS, SEFs, and traditional medical variables on hospital LOS and 30-day re-admission rate (30dRA) in individuals with HF. Methods: Secondary data for 2016 to 2020 calendar years was gathered from a Trauma Level I, safety-net hospital. Hospital admissions with a primary diagnosis of HF were included. Subjects under 18 years old at admission and death during hospitalization were excluded. A total of 2204 medical records were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression on log-transformed LOS data and 1953 records were analyzed using logistic regression on 30dRA data. Results: A LOS model utilizing FS, SEFs, and traditional medical factors was found to be significant (r2 = .207, adjusted r2 = .204, F(8, 2195) = 71.579, p < .001). A 30dRA model utilizing SEFs and traditional medical factors was found to be significant (χ2(10) = 43.185, df = 10, p < .001). Within the 30dRA model, FS was found to be not statistically significant (OR: .996, 95% CI [.985 to 1.007], p = .449). Conclusion: A model utilizing FS, SEFs, and traditional medical factors can predict hospital LOS. FS appears to be less contributory to a 30dRA model compared to SEFs and traditional medical factors.Item An interaction between estrogen and serotonin in sensory neurons as a key regulator of nociception(8/25/2021) Lulla, Sukhbir Kaur; Averitt, Dayna L.Orofacial pain conditions, such as migraine, are at least two times more common in women and have a complex etiology. Orofacial pain, relayed by trigeminal sensory neurons, is linked to gonadal hormone (estrogen; progesterone) fluctuations. The neurotransmitter serotonin (5HT) is a proinflammatory and pronociceptive mediator in the periphery and has been implicated in several female prevalent pain disorders. 5HT can directly activate trigeminal sensory neurons or can sensitize the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 ion channel (TRPV1), a cation channel activated by capsaicin and heat. TRPV1 activation results in calcium influx and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release, leading to peripheral sensitization that heightens pain sensitivity. Previous studies in male rats have shown that 5HT receptors colocalize with and sensitize TRPV1. Furthermore, serotonergic potentiation of CGRP release occurs from the dental pulp of women during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (when gonadal hormones are fluctuating). It is unknown whether estradiol (E2; primary estrogen) enhances or attenuates this serotonergic pain mechanism. As >90% of pain research has been conducted in males, and a small subset examines the trigeminal system, gonadal hormone modulation of female trigeminal sensory neurons is grossly understudied and warrants investigation. Our overarching hypothesis is that hormone status alters serotonergic neuromodulation of the TRPV1-expressing subpopulation of trigeminal sensory neurons. Thus, we examined whether (1) naturally fluctuating gonadal hormones can alter 5HT-evoked pain behaviors, (2) varying E2 concentration and exposure time can alter trigeminal pain signaling and transcriptome, and (3) E2 and estrogen receptors (ERs) can modulate the pronociceptive effects of 5HT on TRPV1 function. We report that exogenous 5HT evokes significant pain behaviors in females during proestrus and estrus. 5HT2A receptor antagonism or a steady-state diestrus level E2 attenuates 5HT-evoked pain behaviors. We also report that ERα, ERβ, and G protein coupled ER (GPER) localize to sensory neurons expressing 5HT2A and TRPV1 mRNA. Lastly, E2 modulates specific trigeminal pain genes and enhances ERα-dependent serotonergic potentiation of CGRP release. Together, the data presented in this dissertation provides behavioral, neuroanatomical, and cellular evidence of a mechanism present in female trigeminal sensory neurons that may exacerbate trigeminal pain disorders in women.Item An investigation of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of computer-aided instruction in middle school choral programs(12/20/2021) Hernandez, Eleazar; Baker, VickiThe purpose of this study was to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the use of computer-aided instruction (CAI) in Texas middle school choral classrooms. Participants (n=23), Texas middle school choral directors, were asked to complete a researcher-designed survey about their demographics and their use of CAI in the classroom both pre-March 2020 and post-March 2020. Results indicated that CAI use increased after March 2020, with Flipgrid, Chrome Music Lab, Sight Reading Factory, iTunes, Garageband, and Mustheory.net being the most frequently used CAI in their respective categories. Participants considered tracking student progress as the greatest challenge to using CAI. Almost 70% of participants had less than one year’s experience using CAI and 50% had been required to teach in-person, synchronously, and asynchronously simultaneously. Future studies could determine if the increased use of CAI in music classrooms extends to other areas of music and if music teachers will continue to incorporate CAI in the post-pandemic period.Item “Are we in or out?” Inclusion of stepparents within a co-parenting system: A phenomenological study(11/15/2021) Papa, Kristina; LeBlanc Gillum, NerissaThe purpose of this phenomenological study was to learn about the lived experiences of stepparents within a co-parenting system. Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory was used to understand stepparent inclusion within a co-parenting system. One research question was developed for this study: What are the lived experiences of stepparents within a co-parenting system? Eleven stepparents completed a demographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. Interviews were conducted virtually and data were analyzed to develop themes. Bracketing and analyst triangulation were used to help contribute to trustworthiness of the data. Six themes emerged from the data: (1) I do not want to replace your mom or dad, (2) My spouse and I work together to parent the kids, (3) My relationship with the biological parent is not the best, (4) Over time I have been accepted more, (5) I have a good relationship with my stepchildren, and (6) I have someone to depend on. The results of the study were compared to the existing literature and conclusions were drawn. Study strengths and limitations and recommendations for practice and future research were presented.Item Assessing the impact of water, sanitation and hygiene (wash) on diarrheal disease and malnutrition among children under-five in Chad(5/24/2021) Azeez, Olumayowa I.; Menn, MindyWater, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are pivotal in order to improve health outcomes and overall quality of life. More than 25 diseases are transmitted by poor and inadequate WASH conditions, killing more than two million people each year, including more children than Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), tuberculosis, and malaria combined. Internationally, poor WASH conditions are the primary reasons for diarrheal disease, which result in morbidity and mortality among children under the age of five. Moreover, diarrhea is a major cause of malnutrition and has a cyclical relationship with malnutrition. The burden of disease resulting from poor WASH conditions lies heavily upon sub-Saharan Africa (46% of global DALYs). Chad, a sub-Saharan African country, has the second highest under-five mortality rate in the world at approximately 123.20 deaths per 1000 live births, as well as the highest rate of under-five mortality due to diarrhea (499 deaths per 100,000). The purpose of this study was to use secondary data to assess the relationship between improved versus unimproved household WASH sources and diarrheal disease incidence among children under the age of five in Chad. A parallel purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between improved versus unimproved household WASH sources and the incidence of malnutrition among children under the age of five in Chad. Using nationally representative data from Chad from two time periods (2004-2005 and 2014-2015), the researcher used logistic regression analysis to answer three research questions and test three hypotheses. No evidence was found for effects of the usage of improved household water sources and sanitation facilities on the incidence of diarrhea, both in 2004-2005 and 2014-2015 periods. However, the researcher found that specific types of water sources led to increased incidences of diarrhea in 2014-2015, whereas specific sanitation facility types led to decreased incidences of diarrhea. Also, in 2014-2015, the researcher found that having access to improved water sources and sanitation facilities significantly reduced malnutrition incidence.Item Black-white inequality through the lens of race, class, and gender in North Texas, 1880-1940(4/12/2021) Teague, Hollie A.; Yang, Philip Q.Utilizing the three-article format, this dissertation examines the severe inequalities related to race, class, and gender in North Texas from 1880 to 1940. The unifying theme of all three articles is the ways in which inequality was enforced in Black-White relations, including the role of creating and maintaining mainstream cultural memories. Each article investigates a different aspect of Black-White inequality and, while relating to the unifying theme, makes distinct contributions. The first article is a socio-historic examination of anti-Black police violence in North Texas from 1880 to 1930. Patterns of official dereliction of duty, misconduct, abuse, and murder are revealed to have had not only racial elements, but gendered and classed elements as well. The second article takes a comparative approach to a nonviolent community removal in Denton, Texas, and an extraordinarily violent destruction of a community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, both of which targeted economically successful Black neighborhoods and both of which were perpetrated by White Supremacists. Variations in Black resistance and the construction of local cultural memory are also explored. The third article documents experiences with inequality by Black women and girls in North Texas from 1900 to 1940. When read together, these three articles reveal a complex exercise of raced, classed, and gendered power in a region that is often overlooked and understudied.Item Bullying victimization, covitality, and school climate: The moderating effect of accumulative positive traits(6/11/2021) McMahan, Amy; Kim, SamuelBullying is an unfortunate, negative behavior occurring in schools today that comes with a host of negative outcomes. There are a variety of facets that influence bullying; two important ones include the school climate and the individual traits of the student. The way in which students perceive their school is highly impactful of whether they will have positive or negative experiences. Bullying victimization is a part of those experiences in school that shape a student’s view. Additionally, internal attributes also help influence how a student will respond and interpret their experiences. The concept of covitality suggests that students who have a greater number of positive traits are more likely to experience positive outcomes and have greater resilience to negative outcomes. An accumulation of positive traits may equip students who are the victim of bullying with the resources to overcome the negative experience that might negatively shape their view of their school. The purpose of this study is to address the research question of whether covitality moderates the relationship between bullying victimization and school climate. The results of the study found that students generally reported less bullying victimization, higher covitality, and higher school climate. There was a relationship between bullying victimization and school climate. When covitality was added, bullying victimization and covitality, together, predicted school climate. However, covitality was not shown to moderate the relationship between bullying victimization and school climate. These effects did not differ by gender. Limitations, future research, and implications for practice are discussed.Item Burnout and well-being in physical therapist students(8/27/2021) Smith, Allison Marie; Ellison, JenniferBurnout, a negative psychological response to chronic work stress, has become an increasingly popular topic of discussion in recent years as health care providers and students are pushed to capacity with increasing expectations and decreasing resources. While there is an abundance of research on burnout in physicians and nurses, the literature on burnout in physical therapists (PTs) is far more limited, with minimal research including PT students. Burnout has many negative consequences for the person, their employer or school, and their patients. Burnout follows a developmental process that might begin during students’ academic studies and continues as they transition into the workforce, making burnout an important subject to investigate in students to mitigate or prevent its effects later in life. Assessing burnout in PT students is an important first step toward taking action to prevent and address burnout and improve their well-being. It is also important to determine what factors may influence the development of burnout or which factors may protect against the development of burnout. The purpose of the three studies was to assess the reliability and validity of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory for Students (OLBI-S), determine the levels of burnout in PT students, investigate individual and environmental factors that may influence the development of burnout, and assess students’ perceptions of burnout and well-being while they are enrolled in a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. Test-retest reliability of the OLBI-S and convergent validity of the OLBI-S with the MBI General Survey for Students (MBI-GSS) was assessed in DPT students. Results indicated that the OLBI-S has excellent reliability and good validity. Next, a cross-sectional study utilizing the OLBI-S as well as several other outcome measures was conducted to determine if there is a difference in burnout scores among students in different years of a DPT program, to determine cut-off scores that would be used to group students into burnout categories, and to determine which demographic, individual, and environmental factors may influence the development of burnout. There was not a significant difference in burnout scores when comparing students across years in a DPT program and cut-off scores for burnout groups were established for DPT students. Results indicated that perceived stress, level of resilience, satisfaction with the level of support from faculty, and satisfaction with the overall learning environment at DPT school may influence the development of burnout in DPT students. A final study explored DPT students’ perceptions of factors that promote or impede well-being during their DPT program as well as to explore the students’ definition of burnout. This study utilized a qualitative research design using individual interviews and coding of student responses to questions to assess DPT student perceptions on burnout and well-being. Findings indicated that DPT students experienced burnout as a combination of exhaustion, disengagement, and chronic overload. Factors that negatively affected well-being while in DPT school included unmanageable stress, an excessive workload, and time pressures. Factors that positively affected well-being while in DPT school included prioritizing time, support, and self-awareness.Item Caribbean immigrant parents' cultural perspectives on preparing their children for kindergarten(1/7/2021) South, Suzan Antanya; Snider, SharlaABSTRACT SUZAN A SOUTH CARIBBEAN IMMIGRANT PARENTS’ CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON PREPARING THEIR CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN DECEMBER 2020 Early learning and transition into kindergarten are paramount to children’s development. Parent involvement also plays a crucial role in the experience. Parents being the first teachers for their children, develop and acquire expectations essential to developmental domains, and education. A transcendental phenomenological study explored Caribbean immigrant parents’ cultural perspectives on preparing their children for kindergarten. Parents shared experiences that reflected their prior and current knowledge about preparation process, learning, and the school system in general. The experiences created a balance in the changes and transitions that occurred during the preparation. The study focused on understanding and describing cultural perspectives critical to Caribbean immigrant parents’ lived experiences in the United States. Data collected through in-depth interviews captured parents’ experiences. Data analysis used the four steps of philosophical phenomenological method (a) Epoche, (b) Phenomenology Reduction, (c) Imaginative Variation, and (d) Synthesis. Four major themes emerged from the participant’s representation of their cultural perspectives. The four themes include: (a) balancing expectations, (b) developing relationships, (c) investing in your child’s education, and (d) creating lifelong critical thinkers. These findings demonstrate that parents’ cultural differences, values, and perspectives play a crucial role in preparing, developing, and promoting children’s early learning. Overall, being knowledgeable about Caribbean immigrant parents’ preparation process is instrumental in shaping future research in this area.