Honors College Theses

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https://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu/handle/mtsu/3483

The capstone experience of the Honors College curriculum is the thesis, conducted across two consecutive semesters. This unique opportunity allows students to conduct scholarly research or a creative project under the direct guidance of faculty mentors.

A thesis project is required of every student who graduates from the University Honors College. The purpose of the thesis or project is to prepare the student for graduate or professional school, to provide an opportunity for the student to complete a scholarly or creative project of significant proportions, and to gain a new perspective on knowledge by becoming a contributor to the recognized knowledge in a particular field of study. This experience provides invaluable preparation and a competitive edge to students applying to graduate or professional schools.

Honors College Thesis Archives Collection is now preserved online through Walker Library’s institutional repository called JEWLScholar and are indexed in the library’s catalog. The thesis archives prior to 2015, are printed copies maintained in Special Collections (4th floor) of the James E. Walker Library and are also indexed in the library catalog.

Use the search box or "browse by" filters on the right side of this page to navigate the Honors Thesis Collection.

To see other Honors College publications, please visit http://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu/handle/mtsu/4362

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2D Versus 3D

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2023-05) Creter, Sidney

This thesis goes through the history of 2D and 3D animation, and debates why 2D animation rarely receives 2D animated movies in theaters anymore. Along with this investigation of animation, I also created an animated short film in 2D and then recreated it in 3D to give direct comparisons between the two mediums. I cover topics such as why 2D dominates television even though it fails to come back to theaters, how Pixar led the 3D animation renaissance, and much more. This link leads to my 2D and 3D animated short films that will be compared in this essay. https://www.behance.net/gallery/167803433/Creative-Thesis-Project
A Comparison of Giuseppe Verdi and Antonio Ghislanzoni's Aida and Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2021-12) Gretz, Hayley

A musical theatre fan knows many musicals have been based off books, but opera has also been a popular source of inspiration for musical composers. Aside from obvious genre differences, opera and musical theatre have different storytelling techniques. This comparative essay explores how Elton John and Tim Rice adapted Giuseppe Verdi and Antonio Ghislanzoni’s 19th century opera Aida into a Broadway musical. The thesis is organized into four main sections: the history of both shows, a plot comparison, character analysis, and the staging of both productions. These sections seek to discover what both productions have in common and more importantly, what is different and why Elton John and Tim Rice made specific choices in modifying the story. This thesis found that the opera and the musical share many similarities, but main plot points and character traits were changed in the musical to appeal to modern audiences. In an application of these findings, the second half of the project is an original script for a musical based off another Verdi opera, La Traviata. In addition to watching the opera, I also read Alexandre Dumas’ La Dame aux Camélias, upon which La Traviata is based. The time setting is unspecified, but the dialogue is completely modern. The opera is rather tragic, so I opted to make my adaption more of a comedy and make the characters more relatable. Just as Elton John and Tim Rice did, I kept to the same story of the opera, but made changes to reflect modern society.
A Comparison of Giuseppe Verdi and Antonio Ghislanzoni’s Aida and Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2022-05-06) Hayley Gretz

A musical theatre fan knows many musicals have been based off books, but opera has also been a popular source of inspiration for musical composers. Aside from obvious genre differences, opera and musical theatre have different storytelling techniques. This comparative essay explores how Elton John and Tim Rice adapted Giuseppe Verdi and Antonio Ghislanzoni’s 19th century opera Aida into a Broadway musical. The thesis is organized into four main sections: the history of both shows, a plot comparison, character analysis, and the staging of both productions. These sections seek to discover what both productions have in common and more importantly, what is different and why Elton John and Tim Rice made specific choices in modifying the story. This thesis found that the opera and the musical share many similarities, but main plot points and character traits were changed in the musical to appeal to modern audiences. In an application of these findings, the second half of the project is an original script for a musical based off another Verdi opera, La Traviata. In addition to watching the opera, I also read Alexandre Dumas’ La Dame aux Camélias, upon which La Traviata is based. The time setting is unspecified, but the dialogue is completely modern. The opera is rather tragic, so I opted to make my adaption more of a comedy and make the characters more relatable. Just as Elton John and Tim Rice did, I kept to the same story of the opera, but made changes to reflect modern society. KEYWORDS: Opera; Musical Theatre; Musical Theater; Aida; Elton John; Tim Rice; Giuseppe Verdi; La Traviata
A Cross-Cultural Analysis of COVID-19 Mask Mandates and Social Distancing Measures

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2021-12) Henley, Zoe

Since its discovery at the end of 2019, COVID-19 has heavily affected the world in a myriad of ways. This recent viral outbreak has spurred a shift in societal behaviors globally, from a growing popularity of mask usage, to a normalization of social distancing procedures, along with highlighting cultural idiosyncrasies in regards to disease, illness, health and wellness. Based on the research gathered and presented in this thesis, I develop a cross-cultural inspection of the various components of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it has affected the countries Spain, Japan, and the United States. Along with analyzing perceived risks, adaptations, and stigmas present in the advent of the novel pandemic, I also incorporate a holistic, anthropological approach in order to better elucidate deeper cultural components at play, such as how American ideals of freedom and personal responsibility and Japanese views of group adherence and public spiritedness influence how the virus and subsequently how social distancing procedures are perceived and followed.
A Detailed Description of Corrupt Events in Argentina's History: The Role of Corruption in Argentine Politics, 1966 to 2022

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2023-01-05) Donati, Luciano

KEYWORDS: Economics, Political Science, Corruption
A History of Hand Knitting in the British Isles and My Contemporary Adaptation

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2021-12) Chisamore, Nora

The history of knitting is long and diverse, spreading across continents and islands, all with their own varied techniques. The British Isles are known for their long history in the wool industry and their connection to knitting. This project is to research and record the history of knitting in the British Isles. The different techniques are knitted as samples to demonstrate the style and are based on or from historical patterns. The traditional techniques are then interpreted and redesigned to echo contemporary understandings and interests. This thesis includes sections on England, the Channel Islands, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Each section includes a written history, a sample based on historic patterns, and the relevant charts for the sample. The uniqueness of cultural historical knitting techniques is in danger of being lost. This study points to ways of preserving them for the future. Part of keeping the techniques is bringing to the focus in the current day. I have designed a line of six sweaters based on the historic knitting styles and knitted and fully patterned one of them.
A Series of Character-Education Lesson Plans Based on Biblical Characteristics

( 2023-01-05) Zehr, Amanda

KEYWORDS: Bible; Student-centered; Character-based Education; Elementary education; Lesson Plans
A Study on Composing for Film

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2021-12) Cox, Ian

The goal of this creative project is to examine the process of scoring a film, particularly within the drama, thriller, and sci-fi genres. In the written portion, I examine the methods that three different composers used for three different films. These films are The Lighthouse composed by Mark Korven, Under the Skin composed by Mica Levi, and Enemy composed by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans. I analyze how the scores augment the mood of the films, discussing the instrumentation and composition in each scene. In the creative portion, I have composed the score for a short film where I attempt to implement the methods discussed in the written component of this project. The film follows an isolated man who becomes delusional as his way of life is threatened by outsiders. The score uses chaotic instrumentation and dissonant composition to reflect the story of the film.
A Visual Study of the Evolution of Currency

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2023-05) Cucchiara, Savanna

The function, form, and utility of currency have changed drastically since its early usage as it has been passed between different governments and cultures. This exhibition, "A Visual Study of the Evolution of Currency," displays the related artwork used to analyze the critical changes that occurred to transform currency—tracking the progression from rudimentary currency and early coinage to the complex cryptocurrency ecosystems today. Each artwork highlights one of these junctures in the history of money and encourages discussion about the future of currency and how we assign value to it. Open for public viewing January 28th - February 8th, 2023, in Todd Hall's Glass Gallery, this exhibition displayed five pieces of artwork representing these tangential points in the evolution of currency.
Academic Tenure and Housing Choice

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2018-05) Seagraves, Cayman

This study tests a model of housing choice to cross-sectional data from the faculty at Middle Tennessee State University. The faculty participants include tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenured professors. The study employs econometric regression, which conditions household decisions based on a variety of factors. The variable of interest in this study is academic tenure. Like past studies, my results indicate that demographic and economic differences largely explain the housing tenures choices that individuals and families make. The results show that being single or Latino decreases the chance of homeownership, and these results conform with past research. Moreover, the regression shows that faculty who have achieved academic tenure are significantly more likely to own a home than those who have not achieved academic tenure. With the results, there is enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis that academic tenure does quantitatively influences housing choice.
Access to Nutritional Food for SNAP Recipients through the Sustainable Farming Method of Aquaponics

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2018-12) Williford, Kaitlyn

As rates of recipients qualifying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Tennessee increase, so do non-communicable diseases due to poor diet. It is imperative to direct attention to this issue in an effort to address the factors that lead to inaccessibility to healthy nutrition for SNAP recipients. This thesis reviews the factors and issues specific to a population of SNAP recipients through a review of literature available on this topic. Additionally, this thesis proposes interventions for SNAP recipients and a possible solution to decreasing food deserts and increasing accessibility to healthy nutrition.
Accounting's Role in the Ethical Behavior of Management

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2015-12-02) Ball, Emily

Within business there are many debates over the ethical behavior that managers employ when making business decisions. There are many decisions made every day that question ethical codes of conduct. Though some actions may be legal, they may not necessarily be ethical. This paper delves deeper into this ethical debate of management’s behavior within organizations. It explains how accounting is used to influence the ethical behavior of management. Even accounting standards and regulations do not encompass all ethical decision making within an organization. Some decisions are entirely based on ethics and what a company deems appropriate. This paper takes the ideas of earnings management and agency theory and determines how they affect the ethical decision making of management. This paper explores the background of accounting and how company culture, agency theory, and fraud affect the ethical behavior of management within a company.
ACUTE OXYTOCIN ADMINISTRATION AVOID ANXIETY LIKE BEHAVIOR IN MALE AND FEMALE MICE

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2023-05) Akter, Marzea

Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter and hormone with a well-established role in prosocial behaviors in animals and humans. It is currently being tested in clinical trials for the treatment of social symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders. However, the behavioral effects of oxytocin treatment in humans have been variable with both prosocial (increased empathy) and antisocial (increased competitiveness) behaviors. Previous studies in our lab have shown increased anxiety-like behaviors in mice treated chronically with oxytocin (12 ug dose per day for 14 consecutive days, data unpublished). The current study aims to see the effect of acute oxytocin administration on anxiety and social behavior in male and female mice to determine if the schedule of oxytocin administration affects behavioral outcomes. Adult C57BL/6J mice will be acutely pretreated with saline or oxytocin (12 μg) via intranasal (i.n.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration an hour before the behavior tests. Mice completed a battery of behavioral tests including the elevated plus maze (EPM), three-chamber sociability task (3C), and free dyadic social interaction (FDSI) after drug administration to determine changes in social behavior and anxiety-like behavior. Human coders coded anxiety-like behaviors, social preference, and social novelty. With acute oxytocin administration, sociability increase as measured by the 3C and FDSI tasks while avoiding increases in anxiety-like behaviors, as measured by the EPM task, associated with chronic administration. Understanding the effects of acute oxytocin administration on anxiety in mice might lead to the development of new treatments for anxiety disorders in humans.
Adaptive Music for Fiction: Writing Multi-Sensory Short Stories in a Digital Age

(University Honors College Middle Tennessee State University, 2021-04-27) Lichtman, John

Since 2011, it has become commonplace for individuals and large companies alike to attempt to create a more immersive reading experience on a digital platform. While their efforts have yielded interesting and impressive results, attempts to intersect books and soundtracks have never been generally embraced as a viable alternative to simply reading. Conversely, video games have been constantly improving the integration of music to encourage more immersive gameplay by using adaptive music that reacts to user input. Using this approach, I have written a collection of five short fictions entitled Sheltered Home: Creaturely Stories and composed accompanying music for each story using a vertically layered method. The objective of this creative thesis project is to combine short fiction with reactive music on a digital, eBook-like platform to encourage a more immersive multi-sensory reading experience.
Adventures of Self-Compassion: Memoir of a Depressed Undergraduate

(University Honors College Middle Tennessee State University, 2020-12-02) Morrissey, Isabella

Self-compassion, conceptualized by psychologist Kirstin Neff in 2003, is a possible mediator to the depression epidemic in university settings. I am among undergraduate students at Middle Tennessee State University who have had experiences with depression. In this thesis, I reflect on moments of self-compassion which led to me finding peace with my depression.
All Colors in Balmy Fields: A Modern Floral Dictionary with Accompanying Poems

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2018-12) Giles, Hannah

n/a
All Humans are Human: Environmental Humanization and Its Positive Impacts on People Struggling with Substance Abuse

(University Honors College Middle Tennessee State University, 2021-04-28) Sands, Briana

The Opiate Epidemic began in three waves, each wave getting gradually worse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Health, and the Department of Health and Human Services changed the guidelines for how prescription opiates were being prescribed and began helping people who have already become addicted. With these changes, the amount of opiate related deaths dropped 5.1% (CDC, 2018). The question then is, why have the trends not changes so much? There must be an underlying factor that is not being taken in account. A study conducted by a Canadian researcher, Bruce Alexander (1978), shows through a series of rat experiments that the environment can be just as impactful as the chemical makeups of addictive drugs. The methods of this procedure included recruiting participants from Facebook support groups to complete a survey asking qualitative questions about the environment they were raised in, the environment their addiction began, and their environment after completing a rehabilitation program. As a result with 23 responses, it was concluded through multiple things that the environment positively impacts sobriety because of confidence, family relationships, and mental health. The negative impacts of environmental dehumanization included abused trust, physical or mental abuse, normalized substance abuse, and poor mental health.
An Analysis of Sponsorship Strategies in Esports

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2021-12) Harmon, Cory

Esports, while originating decades ago, have become exponentially more popular in the last decade. Because of this, businesses are tempted to enter the industry in the form of sponsorships to promote their brands. While well-known companies already have esports sponsorship deals, there is still hesitation from many others. This study examines the sponsorship practices of one endemic and one non-endemic brand. The endemic brand that was analyzed is Razer, a company that manufactures and sells gaming peripherals and has been in esports since the company’s beginnings in 1998. The non-endemic brand was State Farm, an insurance provider that started in 1922. This company entered the esports industry in 2018 but had a deep history with traditional sports sponsorships that influenced their strategies in esports. This study includes a literature review of the beginnings of esports and gives definitions and explanations of sponsorships. This is provided to give the reader context as to why these brands wish to sponsor in esports. There is background given for each company for their general history, as well as esports background for Razer and traditional sports background for State Farm. Then, the strategies of each company are analyzed and then made into advice for other brands wishing to enter esports sponsorships.
An Art-Based Critique of the Media's False Images of Racial Protests

(University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2022-05) Cannon, Ana

We live in a very visual culture, surrounded by images everywhere we turn. These images, especially in news and advertising, influence our ideals, thoughts, and actions. With my interactive thesis art exhibition, I challenged my audiences’ notions of race representation and what makes them think the way they do about race representation and racial protests. By framing the 1992 Los Angeles uprisings in two different perspectives, I opened the conversation up to how media coverage influences the way we perceive events, including the recent coverage of George Floyd's death and subsequent protests in 2020. My creative project emphasized the importance of reading for the dominant forces that influence a visual form (visual rhetoric), and how visual rhetoric functions persuasively.
Analysis of Dental Anxiety and Avoidance Behaviors in Young Adults

(University Honors College Middle Tennessee State University, 2021-05-05) DeLucia, Renata

The aim of this thesis was to analyze dental anxieties in young adults to account for the role these anxieties play in avoidance behaviors in patients. Fifty-eight young adults participated in an online survey about dental fears and behaviors related to dental experiences. We assessed gender differences in dental anxiety as well as the relationship between dental anxiety and avoidant behaviors in the sample. Results indicated that males reported fewer specific dental fears than females; although, males and females reported similar levels of overall dental anxiety. Regarding the relationship between dental anxiety and avoidant behaviors, results indicated that participants with higher dental anxiety practiced more dental avoidance behaviors than those with lower dental anxiety. Lastly, we challenged the prediction that those with high and low dental anxiety would report similar physiological response in dental situations; this hypothesis was not supported. Implications of these findings are discussed.

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