TCU Digital Repository (Texas Christian Univ.)
Not a member yet
54550 research outputs found
Sort by
Cluster Analysis for Differential Item Functioning
No full textOne of the major challenges in education is accurately quantifying a student's knowledge and skills. Since we cannot directly measure a student's true intelligence, we rely on test performance, which serves as an imperfect representation of their abilities. This issue arises in many statistical applications where the key problem involves a population in which each individual possesses an underlying ability or trait that cannot be directly observed but can only be inferred through proxy variables. However, these proxies are often contaminated, providing only a noisy or imperfect approximation of the true latent variable.
This project focuses on techniques for recovering latent variables from noisy data. In this context, "recovery" refers to estimating the latent variable using indirect observations. Assuming a linear relationship between the latent trait and the observed proxy variables, we can estimate model parameters and subsequently recover the values of the latent variables.
Specifically, we will examine statistical approaches to latent variable recovery when the test contains items that exhibit differential item functioning (DIF). This means that certain test items do not solely measure the intended knowledge or ability but are also biased toward specific groups. The objective is to develop methods that detect the presence of DIF and adjust for it, allowing for a more accurate estimation of the underlying abilities.
To illustrate these methods, we will use the Holzinger-Swineford dataset, a well-known dataset in psychometrics used to analyze cognitive abilities across multiple domains. This dataset includes 88 observations with scores in five areas: Mechanical Comprehension, Verbal or Visual Comprehension, Algebra Operations, Analytical Operations, and Statistical Reasoning. By applying a linear contamination model, we aim to recover each student's latent ability while accounting for DIF
“Game changers”: The impact of the transfer portal and nil deals on college athletes’ socialization and motivation to stay with their organization
No full textThis study explored the impact of the transfer portal and NIL deals on college athletes. I examined what factors influence college athletes’ decision to stay or leave their sports organization. Data was collected via an online Qualtrics survey with 46 participants, and was analyzed using bivariate correlations, MANOVA, and regressions on SPSS. Results showed that the addition of the transfer portal and NIL deals did not significantly impact college athletes’ socialization process. However, NIL deals significantly predicted satisfaction, which significantly predicted athletes’ intent to stay with their organization. In addition, socialization significantly predicted both satisfaction and intent to stay. While the coach-athlete relationship (CAR) significantly predicted athletes’ satisfaction, it did not predict their intent to stay. Lastly, compared to men, women reported significantly lower socialization and satisfaction scores, but were no more likely to intend on leaving their organization. Overall, if sports organizations want to combat these rule changes and retain both genders of athletes, the answer is through improving socialization
Piano teacher training: Perceptions of the efficacy of learning experiences in baccalaureate piano pedagogy programs
No full textUniversity piano pedagogy programs have developed largely in the last sixty years. Today, many university piano programs offer pedagogy training, either in the form of coursework or degrees at the undergraduate and/or graduate level. This study surveyed professors of piano pedagogy at NASM-accredited universities that offer undergraduate degrees in piano pedagogy, as well as graduates of these programs. This study, conducted via an online survey, investigated the types of learning experiences required by piano pedagogy courses in undergraduate music programs in the United States and examined the opinions of professors and graduates of these programs regarding the efficacy and impact of various learning experiences. In several cases, the experiences reported to take the most time differed from the experiences participants valued the most; some significant differences were also found between the professors’ perceptions and those of graduates. Based on the survey results, this document makes recommendations for ensuring that the content and structure of undergraduate piano pedagogy programs are effective for training future teachers
Campus Protests And Policy Evolution: How Student Movements Have Reshaped University Governance And Speech Codes
No full textThis thesis explores how student-led protests surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict influenced university governance and campus speech policies at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University. Through a qualitative case study approach, the research analyzes institutional responses across three politically and structurally distinct campuses using policy documents, legal filings, media coverage, and university communications. The findings reveal that while student protests consistently challenged university norms and called for structural change, the outcomes varied significantly. UC Berkeley adopted a more collaborative approach, facilitating dialogue and administrative concessions. In contrast, Columbia University and UT Austin employed aggressive disciplinary and law enforcement measures, with Columbia experiencing external political intervention that reshaped its internal governance. Across all cases, the political climate, leadership style, and institutional structure collectively defined as "institutional identity" emerged as critical factors in determining outcomes. The research underscores the ongoing influence of student activism in shaping policy but also highlights the limitations of protest power within constrained political and administrative environments. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between activism, governance, and institutional values in higher education
From Data to Dollars: Forecasting Box Office Opening Weekend Performance with Machine Learning
No full textThis study investigated the practicality of using predictive analytics within the film industry. A multiple linear regression predictive analytics model was built through Alteryx to predict opening revenues. Data was trained with the top 1,000 opening weekends, as found through the IMDb database. Out of 19 potential independent variables, results showed significance between opening weekend revenue and count of theaters, the movie?s status as a sequel, and film budget. Overall, there were certain limitations with machine learning that added additional challenges when forming predictions on more subjective industries, but it was a good start for understanding the variability with opening weekend revenues and the factors that influence it
The era of social media: An exploration of community responses to school districts’ Facebook crisis communication strategies
No full textThe educational K-12 space is evolving. Communication is no longer about only coming together face to face or through newsletters or emails, but there is a preference to online, social media communications. In a society that has a social media-centric culture, school leaders must find ways to connect, collaborate, and effectively share critical information through social media sites. Especially when crisis arise, clear communication is crucial as school communities demands more transparency, rapid communication, and ease of access to information that is efficient and precise (Balasubramanian & Fernandes, 2022; Brion, 2021; Dirani et al., 2020; Eichenauer et al., 2022; Forster et al., 2020; Quinn & Spreitzer, 1997).
A combination of Social Network Theory and Situational Crisis Theory framework, my netnographic dissertation builds a deeper understanding of crisis management communication strategies via social media. Through examining archival data and analyzing posts of Four North Texas School district Facebook communities. This dissertation answers the following questions:
1. What communication strategies do districts utilize to co-create Facebook culture with their K-12 community?
2. How can effective district communication be characterized by the community's reactions (via emojis/status buttons) and comments on district posts?
The results show that by using netnography to examine Facebook cultures, districts can extract information that will guide strong communication strategies and practices to keep a strong culture between the school district and the larger K-12 community. Findings suggest that community members cared about the quality of postings, alluding to understanding the why behind the decisions during crisis and how the community needs to react verses the amount of postings provided. The timing of the post also makes a difference in the reception. This research? shows potential for netnography to be a viable research method in education and that there is a need for districts to better understand online communities that take on a culture of their own
EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TREE CANOPY COVER AND WALKABILITY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
No full textCities are increasingly adopting and promoting actions in support of their sustainability goals to enhance community wellbeing and improve environmental quality. These actions include providing more sustainable transportation choices, like bike lanes, micro-mobility options (e.g., scooters or e-bikes), and enhanced walkability. Yet, as municipalities offer these alternatives, increasing urban heat may deter residents and visitors from using them. Cities, such as Austin, Texas, have become hotter over the last decade due to increasing impervious cover and tree loss associated with urban (re)development. Urban trees provide cooling effects to the surrounding area through evapotranspiration and shade. Thus, tree shade is important to promote more walkable neighborhoods, especially in the summer months. This study looks at the relationship between canopy cover and urban walkability in Austin. We created a geographic information system (GIS) to examine the interactions between canopy cover, walkability, socioeconomic characteristics (i.e., race, gender, income, and home-owner status), and sidewalks. In doing so, we found a total of 2,552.47 km of shaded sidewalks, equaling about a third of all sidewalks in Austin. We also found that canopy cover and walkability vary by location. Some areas have high canopy cover and low walkability, whereas other areas have low canopy cover and high walkability. Our results also indicate that some areas have less shaded sidewalks than others and vary based on an area's socioeconomic characteristics. The results of this research may be used to promote sustainable cities and urban forestry along sidewalks to help mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) effect
Examining motor unit discharge properties during dynamic muscle actions in males and females
No full textMotor unit firing behavior is influenced by task demands and sex differences. This study compares motor unit population firing behavior of the biceps brachii between two dynamic muscle action intensities (~90% and ~98% 1RM). Using surface EMG decomposition, we analyzed the average motor unit action potential amplitude (MUAPamp) and firing rate (FR) relationship, identifying the Y-intercepts and slopes. A total of 1,361 motor units were identified across loading conditions. Our results indicate that Y-intercept, but not slope, increases with load. Notably, females exhibited significantly lower Y-intercepts, FR, MUAPamp, and slopes (steeper) than males. These findings suggest that, during these conditions, motor unit populations adapt their discharge properties in a load-dependent manner. The observed sex-dependent differences are likely attributed to variations in muscle fiber composition and neural control strategies. These findings provide novel evidence of load-dependent motor unit firing behavior and divergent firing characteristics between sexes during maximal-intent dynamic muscle actions
Postural and Neuromuscular Control with Chronic Ankle Instability
No full textChronic ankle instability (CAI) is a prevalent condition that affects an individual's balance, coordination, and stability as a result of one or more acute ankle sprains. CAI results in proprioceptive deficits, altered and rigid movement strategies, reduced adaptability, delayed neuromuscular responses, and an increased risk of re-injury. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of increasing task difficulty and visual feedback on existing postural control deficits exhibited by individuals with CAI. This study focused on a collegiate sample of adults, including a total of 21 participants to achieve this purpose. 13 participants were considered healthy participants while 8 were considered to be participants with chronic ankle instability, in accordance with guidelines by the International Ankle Consortium and the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool. Four separate tasks were assessed, with each task performed separately for each leg, both with and without visual feedback. The tasks included two balance tests: static balance and dynamic balance, followed by two landing tasks: lateral hop and drop landing. A statistically significant effect for feedback was found on medial-lateral variation for the CAI group (P=0.047), in addition to a significant interaction effect of task and feedback found on anterior-posterior variability in the CAI group (p=0.035). No significant interactions or effects were observed for the landing tasks. These findings suggest that visual feedback may decrease postural control deficits in individuals with CAI