Mr. Alexander Pinto
Mr. Alexander Pinto will present his dissertation research titled, "The Relationships Between Demographic Variables and Measured Burnout Among Athletic Trainers in Multiple Workplace Settings,” on Wednesday, December 7, at 2:00 pm in Pfeiffer Hall #105. Everyone is invited to attend.
Candidate for the Doctor of Education: Learning and Leadership
Co-Chairs: Dr. Marisa Colston and Dr. Jim Tucker
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to explore the extent of burnout in the multiple workplace settings. This included the measurement of burnout within each of eight identified workplace settings and the collection of demographic data to further describe such burnout. Workplace settings included: Professional Athletics, Collegiate Athletics, High School Athletics, Outreach School Athletics, Clinical Medical, Clinical Rehabilitation, Academic Instruction, and Administration. No research to date has explored all of these workplace settings and a clear absence of data existed for five of the eight settings. A random sample consisting of 3200 certified athletic trainers who were members of the national athletic trainers association received an electronic invitation to participate via email. A total of 766 complete and useable responses were complete. The Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey was used to measure burnout on three subscales: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Achievement. Scores for each of these subscales were calculated based on responses to the twenty-two questions included in the Maslach Burnout Inventory. All items were rated with a seven point Likert-based scale. Additional questions gathered demographic-type data including: Gender, Age, Relationship Status, Certification Route, Current Employment Setting, Prior Employment Setting, Education Level, Number of Children, Supervisor’s Status as an Athletic Trainer, Personal Recommendation of the Profession, Hours Worked per Typical Week, Number of Years with Current Employer, and Number of Years in Current Setting. A variety of statistical techniques were used to thoroughly analyze the data, including an analysis of variance to test for differences in measured burnout between workplace settings. The results demonstrated that a
difference does exist between specific workplace settings. For emotional exhaustion, a difference existed between the clinical medical and professional athletics settings. For depersonalization, a difference existed between the clinical medical and administration
settings as well as the clinical medical and clinical rehabilitation settings. No difference was observed in the personal achievement subscale. Additional statistical techniques were used to analyze the demographic variables as related to measured burnout, including: Analysis of Variance, Independent t-test, Bivariate Correlation, Pearson’s Chi-Square, and Sensitivity/Specificity. Numerous significant relationships were found to exist between the demographic variables and burnout.
Ms. Jennifer Voyles
Ms. Jennifer Voyles will present her dissertation research titled, "Student Academic Success as Related to Student Age and Gender,” on Friday, October 21st, at 1:00 pm in Pfeiffer Hall #105. Everyone is invited to attend.
Candidate for the Doctor of Education: Learning and Leadership
Chair: Dr. Vicki Petzko
Abstract:
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Ms. Kristen Randall will present her dissertation research titled, "Exploring Arts Instruction Models and Correlates with Teacher Satisfaction and Educational Outcomes,” on Thursday, October 13, at 1:30 pm in Pfeiffer Hall #105.
Candidate for the Doctor of Education: Learning and Leadership
Chair: Dr. Lloyd Davis
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to explore uses of arts instruction in K-5 elementary school classrooms in a large southeastern school district to determine which arts instruction models were being employed and whether or not any particular model had a greater perceived impact on students and teachers. The mixed-methods study combined interview and survey data and included a population of approximately 120 teachers.
Interviews were conducted with a stratified random sample of 40 teachers previously identified as using arts instruction to achieve a clearer picture of arts instruction models they employed and to gain insight into teacher perceptions of the impact of arts instruction on students and themselves. A content analysis of interview comments was performed to form categories of arts instruction models in use and to determine themes in teachers’ perceptions of the impact of arts instruction. Findings from interview data were used to create a survey. The survey gathered information on teacher demographics and background and arts instruction model(s) teachers most often used. A 5-point Likert-scale asked teachers to rate the impact they observed from arts instruction and the degree of satisfaction they experienced from using the arts.
Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize teacher background and demographic information, as well as which arts instruction model(s) they used most often. ANOVA's were conducted to determine if any arts instruction models resulted in greater perceived impact or satisfaction. A logistic regression and Spearman's rho correlations were done to determine if any background factors (frequency of using arts instruction, Title I status, years of experience, days of professional development) correlated with greater perceived impact or teacher satisfaction. ANOVA findings showed no significant differences among groups of teachers using various arts instruction models; no one group showed higher perceptions of impact and teacher satisfaction. Overall, teachers were highly satisfied with arts instruction and saw numerous impacts from any model they used. Correlations revealed that the more frequently teachers used arts instruction, the greater the perceived impact on students and teachers. An additional correlation revealed a trend of increasing perceived impact and satisfaction the higher the model of arts instruction.
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Ms. Jennifer Litton will present her thesis research titled, "How Depictions of Power Relations, Plasticity, and Abjection in High Fashion Advertisements Construct Terrifying Social Narratives,” on Wednesday, November 2, at 3:30 p.m. in Holt Hall 229-F. Everyone is invited to attend.
Candidate for the Master of Arts: English
Chair: Dr. Rebecca Jones
Abstract:
This paper examines how high fashion advertisements use visual rhetoric in order to construct social narratives related to power struggles, plasticity, and abjection. In creating these types of images, high fashion advertisers send explicit and subliminal messages to their viewers regarding the way they should engage with the depicted social narratives—ranging from objectification to violence to death. Through a close rhetorical analysis and observational study of advertisements meeting the qualifications of the above mentioned terms, this paper discusses the problematic nature of the marketing techniques and how they skew interpretations of social issues.
Ms. Katie McClelland will present her thesis research titled, "Unveiling Jewett’s Hidden Voice: The Aborted Voices and Aborted Futures of Sarah Orne Jewett’s The Country of the Pointed Firs,” on Thursday, November 3, at 3:15 p.m. in Holt Hall 229-E. Everyone is invited to attend.
Candidate for the Master of Arts: English
Chair: Dr. Aaron Shaheen
Abstract:
Recent scholarship addresses a deeper significance to Jewett’s female characters than was previously attributed in canonical history. Jewett imbues her women with complexity and sophistication, but also intentionally avoids portraying her females as disproportionately heroic. In fact, it is the darker strains of loss, melancholy, and regret that permeate Jewett’s The Country of the Pointed Firs which provide crucial evidence of a more enriched cohesion between what can otherwise be misinterpreted as disparate chapters and tales of women in rural New England. A pervading recurrence of abortions and otherwise lost children among the predominately female community of Dunnet Landing creates a framework of death and sorrow by which to interpret the actions and motivations of Jewett’s characters. My thesis explores the larger metaphor Jewett establishes by forging an intersection between the literal abortions of her female characters and the figurative abortion of Dunnet Landing’s future; moreover, the aborted futures of Jewett’s female characters mirror the decay of the town itself which has never quite recovered from the loss of its economic vibrancy via the once-burgeoning shipping industry. Jewett’s intermingling of these two themes unveils an immense sense of lost innocence which is cemented by the historical context of the distinct nostalgia for something lost that was setting in all over the country during Jewett’s era.
Ms. Madonna Fajardo Kemp will present her thesis research titled, "Carrollian Language Arts and Rhetoric: Dodgson’s Quest for Order and Meaning, with a Porpoise,” on Wednesday, October 26, at 3:30 p.m. in Holt Hall Room 229E. Everyone is invited to attend.
Candidate for Master of Arts in English: Rhetoric and Composition
Abstract:
Lewis Carroll (Rev. Charles Dodgson) has created language and fictional worlds that serve as commentary on our ability to communicate effectively, and, in doing so, he has created useful and concrete illustrations for the teaching of language arts and rhetorical theory. Dodgson’s ability to create language and illustrations of language issues can be traced back to his personality and style, which considered along with his commentaries on language results in a deeper understanding of his fiction as rhetorical theory. Dodgson, the rule-maker and rule-follower, has used children’s literature to point out the accepted language and language practices that do not have sufficient rules and therefore result in verbal confusion and ineffective speech, as well as the accepted rules that help us to avoid verbal confusion when they are followed—all of which reveals a rhetorical theorist who believed that fettered speech is effective speech.
Ms. Emily Blyveis will present her dissertation research titled, "The Vascular Flora of the Tennessee River Gorge, Hamilton and Marion Counties, Tennessee," on Friday, October 14, in EMCS 230
Candidate for the Master's of Science
Chair: Dr. Joey Shaw
Abstract:
An inventory of the vascular flora of the Tennessee River Gorge (TRG) was conducted between April 2009 and July 2011. TRG is a 41 km long river canyon located on the Cumberland Plateau physiographic province in Hamilton and Marion counties, Tennessee. The 4,970 ha (12,281 acres) study area contains 12 natural communities and 6 unique habitats. A total of nine hundred sixty specimens were collected. Six hundred ninety two species and lesser taxa were identified, representing 392 genera from 123 families of vascular plants. One hundred thirty three county range extensions were documented for Hamilton and Marion counties. Ten rare species were reported including Castanea dentata, Cotinus obovatus, Lonicera dioica, Panax quinquefolius, Scutellaria montana, Viola tripartita var. tripartita, Hydrastis canadensis, Onosmodium bejariense var. hispidissimum, Phemeranthus mengesii, and Polymnia johnbeckii. Four of these taxa were not reported in any other flora on the Cumberland Plateau (Cotinus obovatus, Lonicera dioica, Onosmodium bejariense var. hispidissimum, and Polymnia johnbeckii). Ninety two introduced species were identified, including Albizia julibrissin, Lonicera japonica, Paulownia tomentosa, and Pueraria montana. In addition to the floristic component of this work, a phytogeographical analysis was conducted for twelve other Cumberland Plateau floras. The floristic composition of the central and southern Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee exhibits southern geographic affinities. Examination of the phytogeography of the TRG reveals a central geographic distribution to eastern North America. However 9.5% of the flora has affinities to the southern region while 3.3% has northern geographic affinities.