University of Southern Mississippi
Aquila Digital Community (University of Southern Mississippi, USM)Not a member yet
11361 research outputs found
Sort by
Divine Condemnation and Psychological Flexibility: Viewing Psychological Distress through a Religious Lens
Full text linkRecent research has shown the widespread prevalence of psychological distress. Religion can operate both as a resource as well as a problem or barrier to good mental health. Given that some individuals attribute mental distress to religious or spiritual causes, such as punishment from God or demonic involvement, this research examines how these beliefs influence emotional regulation and mental health outcomes. The study surveyed 1,304 participants, including 686 undergraduate students and 618 online participants, to assess their religious attributions, psychological flexibility, and level of distress. The results indicated that those in the general sample who viewed their mental health struggles as caused by religious or spiritual factors had lower psychological flexibility, which in turn was associated with higher levels of psychological distress. Religious attributions were not predictive of psychological flexibility or psychological distress in the undergraduate sample. These findings suggest that religious beliefs might influence mental health through experiential avoidance, where individuals may avoid distressing emotions linked to their religious attributions. The study also explored the role of internal versus external locus of control in understanding these relationships, showing that religious attributions could reinforce an external locus of control, further complicating emotional regulation. The findings have implications for clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of addressing maladaptive religious attributions in therapeutic settings. This research also highlights the need for a more detailed understanding of how religious beliefs shape mental health, offering insights into therapeutic approaches that can help individuals navigate their religious beliefs in ways that promote psychological well-being
Addressing the Gap: A Comparative Case Analysis of the First Week of School in Two Second-Grade Classrooms
Full text linkThe first week of school in the United States public school system constantly evolves as stakeholders strive to create the most functional programs for the students served. Multiple factors come into play during the first week, including classroom management, initial academic instruction, and socioemotional learning. This research project aims to compare and contrast these various factors through a qualitative comparative case study. The specific investigation examines similarities and differences in two public schools, second-grade classrooms at Southside Elementary School located in Lake View County School District, Mississippi (LCSD) and Local Elementary School located in Westbrook County Schools, Tennessee (WCS). Both Mississippi and Tennessee are geographically located in the southern region of the United States, and both have implemented laws requiring the retention of third-grade students if they fail to show proficiency in reading skills during state testing. Hence, students need a strong foundation in literacy skills in preceding grades, such as second grade. To obtain qualitative data, the researcher spent the first three days of the 2024-2025 school year observing one second-grade classroom from each school and conducting interviews with both teachers. Through analysis of this data, a more generalized idea of the impact of the first week of school, evidence-based instruction, and social-emotional learning on effective literacy education programs can be formed
Transcendental Blooms: Margaret Fuller and the Radical Language of Flowers
Full text linkSituated between the literary periods of American Romanticism and Transcendentalism, Margaret Fuller’s writings vary in their topic and medium, offering a unique fusion of literary style as well as a refined yet radical social perspective. Fuller’s work frequently employs flowers as tools for communication rather than as mere symbols, with flowers acting as transmitters of Fuller’s philosophical message in her many sketches and poems. In “The Magnolia of Lake Pontchartrain,” one of her most famous prose sketches, Fuller explores flowers in a nuanced way that exemplifies how floral representations function more like characters than objects in her work. While scholars have assessed the efficacy of Fuller’s feminist and political philosophy in her writing relative to her contemporaries, I argue that the basic function of Fuller’s prose, specifically her use of flowers, operates wholly unlike these contemporaries. Scholarship in the field of communication studies by authors Bruce Clarke and John Durham Peters provides crucial insight into the processes of communication as well as the variable nature of human interaction and social structure. These ideas, coupled with research from Michael Marder in the field of critical plant studies, reveal how Fuller contextualizes flowers to disrupt traditional modes of communication and create a radically alternative backdrop for burgeoning feminist ideas in the social and political sector. Her literary use of flowers generates an alternative, socially active mode of Transcendentalism that combines the natural with the intellectual to reflect and communicate the experiences of nineteenth-century women
The Effect of Gender on Career Success in Remote Work Settings in the Accounting Profession
Full text linkThis study analyzed the career success assessments of hypothetical male and female public accountants working in remote and traditional office settings to determine if gender and work location affect work assessment. Subjects, practicing public accountants, were randomly assigned resumes of hypothetical accountants that included indications of either remote work or traditional office work and the gender of the assigned hypothetical accountants. Resumes of hypothetical accountants were otherwise identical. After initial assessments of assigned hypothetical accountants’ future career success, subjects were asked to recommend activities that would increase the likelihood of the accountants’ future career success. Subjects were then told that the hypothetical accountants engaged in the recommended activities and were given additional information related to the performance achievements of the hypothetical accountant. The process was repeated, after which subjects evaluated the hypothetical accountants’ career success and likely future success. The results suggest that gender did not play a significant role in the evaluation of accountants either working remotely or in a traditional office setting
The Impact of Hazardous Noise Levels on the Hearing Mechanism of Marching Band Students
Full text linkMarching band participants are exposed to hazardous noise levels, and they are at risk of developing hearing loss. In this study, the impact of marching band noise on the hearing mechanism of marching band students was examined. Participants who were not in the marching band and were not exposed to noise were used as controls. Detailed case history and noise exposure history were collected using a noise exposure questionnaire (NEQ). The pure tone audiometry test was conducted to examine their hearing, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were recorded to examine the inner ear function, and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were recorded to assess the neural integrity. The results of this study showed that individuals in the marching band had more exposure to hazardous noises than non-marching band participants, making them more susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Furthermore, the case history revealed that 2/3 of marching band participants have little education on NIHL making them less likely to utilize hearing protection during rehearsals or performances. Data analysis revealed that marching band participants had elevated hearing thresholds, decreased DPOAEs, and a shallower slope of ABR growth compared to non-marching band participants. These results suggest that individuals in the marching band are more susceptible to sustaining damage to their hearing. To prevent further hearing damage to marching band students, marching band programs should consider providing musician-grade earplugs and instituting hearing conservation programs
Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story: A Comparative Analysis of the Representations of American Serial Killers in News and True Crime Media
Full text linkSerial killers are a subject that have fascinated individuals for centuries in both news and entertainment media. Although research has been done on the representations of serial killers in news media, little research has attempted to connect the representations seen in the news media to those seen in true crime entertainment media. Through the use of four case studies, a comparative analysis was done to compare the framing seen in the original news articles, both local and national, to the framing seen in the later true crime films, documentaries, and series. Although the framing originally seen in the news media is often conveyed in the true crime media, factors such as race, victim choice, culture, and perceived attractiveness play a role in how the serial killer is framed. Of these factors, the prevailing culture played the largest role, indicating that a serial killer’s framing reflects the American public’s fears and ideals at the time. It was also found that true crime films and series often prioritize entertainment over facts leading to unrealistic, and in some aspects completely fictional, representations
Implementing Storytelling into the Elementary School Classroom: A Best Practice Guide with Adaptable Lessons
Full text linkIncorporating storytelling projects and activities in the elementary classroom helps students become more engaged and interested in what they are being taught. Often, there is not enough time in the day to cover all the material, let alone teach students these concepts in fun and engaging ways that every student deserves. Therefore, teachers should be given the resources to help their students learn the material in a fun and appealing way, such as through storytelling. Previous research has shown that storytelling is a multisensory project that reinforces literacy and language skills, increases students’ retention of the information presented, and increases their active engagement (Stanley & Dillingham, 2009).Storytelling is a research-proven and effective method of instruction that can be used to further teach children the six language arts (NCTE, 1996), story comprehension (Campbell & Hluske, 2015), and the parts of a story while encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration (Lisenbee & Ford, 2018). I have collected data from various research articles and scholarly books that have detailed explanations of three types of storytelling (traditional storytelling, digital storytelling, and performance literacy storytelling). This data will be analyzed in a narrative and informational format style. All relevant data is compiled into a guide that will give teachers the information they need to easily and effectively implement storytelling into their elementary school classrooms with sample lesson plans adaptable
for various elementary grade levels and subject areas
Identifying Common Sociodemographic Factors and STEM Experiences Among Women in Male-dominated STEM Fields
No full textDespite continuous efforts to increase gender diversity in STEM, women are still conspicuously underrepresented in many historically male-dominated STEM fields. Even though women represent nearly half of the college-educated workforce, they only make-up 28% of the STEM workforce (White et al., 2021). In fields like engineering and technology, the female representation rates fall to even lower levels. Not only does this gender disparity limit the earning potential of women, but it also impacts the competitiveness of STEM fields. The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between sociodemographic factors, familial characteristics, and participation in extracurricular science activities compared to the persistence of women in traditionally male-dominated STEM fields. These relationships were examined using the frameworks from Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) that states self-efficacy has impacts career choice (Lent et al., 1999), and Gender Schema Theory (GST) that proposed gender roles are developed based on cultural exposure (Bern, 1981).
This quantitative study used a survey instrument to investigate academic experiences, personality traits, STEM identity, and sociodemographic factors in women who are currently studying for or working in STEM fields that are traditionally male-dominated. Data was collected from 147 participants and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression models. Correlation results found parental influence had a moderate impact on self-efficacy and academic performance (r=0.256, p=0.001), positive friend influence had a strong negative relationship when compared to negative social influence (r= -0.478, p2=0.247) were bolstered by parent support.
These results support changes to policy and practice including expanding access to advanced STEM coursework in high school, increasing opportunities for STEM extracurricular activities that are group based and independent and including support for increased parental involvement