Digital Commons Network^™

The V.O.I.C.E Workshop: A Verbal Outreach And Interpersonal Communication Empowerment Workshop For The Staff At An Lgbtq+ Homeless Program, Nayla A. Long

Occupational Therapy Capstone Projects

Youth who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community often end up homeless and without a support system due to rejection. Fortunately, Montrose Grace Place (MGP), a non-profit organization, that serves the LGBTQ+ homeless youth in Houston, Texas gives them the support that they need due to these unforeseen circumstances. MGP has made it a priority to give these youth a comfortable environment, however, they do face some barriers. Currently, the organization has police security during their outreach nights, which can at times result in an uncomfortable environment for some youth. This capstone project utilizes an occupational therapy stance to …

Elective Course Development: Occupational Therapy In The Acute Care Setting, Ella Thompson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Projects

Introduction: Observation, informal discussion with experts[1], and the literature indicate that occupational therapy (OT) students often enter the acute care setting for Level II Fieldwork (FW II) or new jobs post-graduation with deficits in knowledge, skills, and clinical judgment specifically for the acute care setting (Baird, Raina, Rogers, O’Donnell, & Holm, 2015; Gibbs, Dietrich, & Dagnan, 2017; Knecht-Sabres, 2013). Without specific courses in acute care, students in the majority of OT graduate programs do not get extensive exposure to this setting. The development of an elective on OT in acute care for Georgia State University’s (GSU) OT graduate …

Income As A Modifier Of The Relationship Between Cognitive Impairment And Education, Lillian M. Morgado

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: Education is considered a protective factor against cognitive decline. However, the relationship between education and cognition may be further complicated by additional factors. Income may moderate the protective association of education against cognitive decline.

AIM: Here we evaluate the 2020 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) wave to examine the strength of the relationship between education, income, and cognitive impairment.

METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of the education, income, and cognition scores of 15,412 respondents to the 2020 HRS survey.

RESULTS: Results from this analysis show lower income levels reduce the protective association between education and cognition. Education has a protective …

Essays On The Health Economics Of Female Genital Cutting, Gaius Ahamide

AYSPS Dissertations

I investigate the impact of a legal ban on female genital cutting (FGC) using background information on girls and their families. Furthermore, I incorporate the impact of income shocks, represented by drought events, in addition to the aforementioned factors, and analyze how both exogenous variables influence the prevalence of cutting. Using the previous results and a two-stage estimation, I assess the effects of FGC on health and education outcomes.

My analysis relies on the Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in Senegal and Mali from 1995 to 2018, which offer nationally representative data on health, education, and FGC. I specifically focus …

Understanding Racial Inequities In Coproduction: The Case Of Public Education, Esther Han

AYSPS Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the prevalence and mechanism of racial inequities in coproduction within public education: parent involvement. Also, it evaluates the effectiveness of the government initiatives, managerial approaches to promote coproduction, on alleviating the inequities. Using National Household Education Survey (NHES) 2012-19, the study primarily conducted logit regressions with Jackknife replication method. Results showed that the co-delivery and co-commissioning activities at school offer unequal access to racial minority parents, and the racial disparities were bigger for co-commissioning than co-delivery. Racial gaps in abilities and resources primarily explained the racial disparities in coproduction, yet the contributing factors varied by race. Finally, …

High School Nutrition Education Modules For Homeschooling, Miranda J. Baker

Nutrition Masters Projects

The increasing prevalence of obesity is increasing in the adolescent population. Many preventable diseases that may manifest later in life are associated with modifiable risk factors established during this time. Adolescents are at risk for chronic diseases related to diets consisting of increased fat, sodium, and sugars combined with decreased consumption of fruits, vegetables, and high fiber or calcium-containing foods. General nutrition knowledge questionnaires demonstrate that students receive inadequate nutrition education. Homeschooling is growing in popularity in the United States, which allows the opportunity to integrate nutrition education because the instructor or parent accompanies their students during cooking, tasting, and …

Implementation Of A Preparatory Student Success In First-Year Bsn Students: A Quality Improvement Project, Jherika Tyler

Nursing Doctoral Projects (DNP)

Background: Completing nursing school is a challenging task for many students. Nursing schools and faculty are responsible for identifying barriers to student success and facilitating successful outcomes. The purpose of this project is to implement a preparatory student success course to assist nursing students with overcoming academic and social barriers.

Purpose: Implementing such a course will promote student success, which will have a positive impact on nursing students, faculty, institutions, and the current nursing shortage.

Methods: A student success course was delivered in an online modality during the first semester of an undergraduate BSN nursing program. Anonymous surveys were collected …

George S. Counts On The Role Of Indoctrination In Education: An Exegesis, James Alexander Aucoin Keller

Educational Policy Studies Dissertations

In his famed pamphlet Dare the School Build a New Social Order? George S. Counts claims that “for Progressive Education...to be genuinely progressive, it must... become somewhat less frightened than it is today at the bogeys of imposition and indoctrination.”1 The current and prevailing definitions of progressive education and of indoctrination are antithetical to one another making Counts’ challenge and argument from the 1930s contradictory. This quandary calls into question the validity and relevance of Counts’ challenge for educators and educational policy today. Critiques of Counts’ work decry his use of indoctrination, yet little evidence exists regarding Counts' beliefs on …

The Information Content Of High School Courses: How Early Exposure To Stem Impacts Future Decisions, Phillip E. Gustafson

AYSPS Dissertations

Increasing participation in STEM is a major policy goal, yet not much is known about how exposure to math and science in high school influences future STEM attainment. To examine this connection, I develop a dynamic structural model of high school curriculum and college major choice using data from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002. I examine the effectiveness of high school STEM exposure on resolving student uncertainty about academic aptitude and derive the impact of raising graduation requirements in math and science on educational outcomes and student welfare. I find that, while students are initially uncertain about their abilities …

Assessing For Social And Economic Inequities In Vocational Rehabilitation Services Among Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Bridgette M. Schram

Public Health Dissertations

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face disparities in employment. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies in every U.S. state offer services intended to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Yet, institutionalized supports such as VR services may inadvertently perpetuate social inequities as a result of biases in implementation and/or barriers to access due to an individual’s race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. Additionally, factors associated with economic stability (socioeconomic factors) can also perpetuate inequities in interventions and institutional supports. The goal of this dissertation research is to understand the role of social and economic factors within state …

If These Ivory Tower Walls Could Talk: Examining The Experiences Of Ph.D. Students In Education, Kerry A. Wallaert

Educational Policy Studies Dissertations

The Ph.D. is the pinnacle of education. The Ph.D. produces scholars who impact a discipline, the institution, and society. Expectations of scholars include demonstrating intellectual mastery in the field, conducting research, and creating new or expanding current knowledge. It is within the context of doctoral education socialization, where attitudes and values of the professoriate are firmly shaped. Faculty and administrators, considered the foundational socialization agents, facilitate teaching and learning of Ph.D. students into the culture of education programs and academia. The Ph.D. experience is wrought with challenges and successes within and beyond the ivory tower. Experiences within academia highlight supervisor/advisor …

Lift Every Voice And Sing: An Intersectional Qualitative Study Examining The Experiences Of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Queer Faculty And Administrators At Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Jonathan Wesley

Educational Policy Studies Dissertations

While there is minimal literature that address the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans* identified students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the experiences of Black, queer faculty and administrators at HBCUs has not been studied. This intersectional qualitative research study focused on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer identified faculty and administrators who work at HBCUs. By investigating the intersections of religion, race, gender, and sexuality within a predominantly Black institution, this study aims to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at HBCUs by sharing the experiences of the LGBQ faculty and administrators that previously …

The Efficacy Of Group Nutrition Education Within A Virtual Setting, Deja Ivy

Nutrition Masters Projects

The purpose of this project is to assist in creating an online nutrition academy designed for group education with Perfectly Portioned Wellness (PPW) and research the efficacy of the method of education. The project will include creating content, modules, and demonstrate the mini course prototype for the month-long online nutrition and wellness program focused on the PPW Four Pillars of Health: Nutrition and Digestion, Sleep, Stress Management, and Physical Activity.

How White Racial Identity Changes In Time And Context For One Teacher (Educator), Melissa Schellenberg

Early Childhood and Elementary Education Dissertations

For the current study, I engaged in a self-study to understand how my White racial identity influenced my teaching and learning practices in multiple contexts and how my racial identity changed over time. This study was framed in Helms’ (2020) White racial identity framework, which consists of a total of six schemas. Each schema details different ways in which White racial identity presents depending on the level of White racial identity being centered. The current research utilized multiple methods to establish trustworthiness. Data generation and analysis occurred simultaneously. I used artifact elicitation, which involves including a stimulus, during four interviews …

A Descriptive Examination Of The Prevalence Of Asthma Education, Medication Use And Medical Outcomes Among Children With Asthma In A Multi-Year Cross-Sectional Study, Eric S. Coil

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is a chronic lifelong condition that cannot be cured; however, it can be effectively controlled in most cases with medication. One of the most significant asthma treatment challenges is the multi-factorial nature of the disease and the complexity of current treatment protocols which contribute to a lack of medication use and the need for ongoing asthma education.

AIM: To examine (a) the prevalence of medication use and asthma education to the severity of asthma outcomes (b) whether any demographic characteristics are associated with differing rates of asthma severity, medication use and asthma education.

METHODS: Datasets (National Health Interview …

“We’Re Still Learning And Growing”: An Ethnographic Program Evaluation Of An After-School Program For Refugee Youth, Shelby M. Anderson-Badbade

Anthropology Theses

Community-based programs for refugee youth are an integral component of their adjustment to life in the US. This study is a program evaluation of an after-school enrichment program for refugee youth, conducted in partnership with a resettlement agency. It examines the ways in which community-based programs can and are currently assisting in refugees’ psychosocial adaptation and acculturation to US culture. Using qualitative participatory action research methods, this study evaluates the program from the perspective of the students. Analysis of the data collected indicates that the program has assisted refugee youth in adjusting to American life through developing meaningful social relationships, …

The Impact Of Breastfeeding Education On Infant Feeding Outcome, Dashia Antunes, Dashia Antunes

Nutrition Theses

Background: Breastfeeding (BF) is widely recognized as the ideal infant feeding method with a multitude of well-known infant and maternal benefits. However, current BF rates, particularly in the southeastern United States, fail to meet current BF recommendations. BF education interventions have shown to be successful at improving BF outcomes, as well as maternal knowledge and self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between BF education and infant BF outcomes based upon World Health Organization recommendations, with a secondary aim of determining the impact of BF education on maternal BF knowledge and self-efficacy.

Methods: Sixty adult female …

The Impact Of Breastfeeding Education On Infant Feeding Outcomes, Dashia Antunes, Anita Nucci, Kate Wiley, Alicia C. Simpson

Nutrition Theses

Background: Breastfeeding (BF) is widely recognized as the ideal infant feeding method with a multitude of well-known infant and maternal benefits. However, current BF rates, particularly in the southeastern United States, fail to meet current BF recommendations. BF education interventions have shown to be successful at improving BF outcomes, as well as maternal knowledge and self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between BF education and infant BF outcomes based upon World Health Organization recommendations, with a secondary aim of determining the impact of BF education on maternal BF knowledge and self-efficacy. Methods: Sixty adult female …

Essays In Behavioral And Experimental Economics, Puneet Arora

AYSPS Dissertations

This dissertation comprises of essays in the field of development economics. Leveraging insights from psychology, mingling them in economic theory, and testing them through experimental (and quasi-experimental) methods, I study three policy questions: Does grading system affect student performance? Does symbolic incentive offered in a competitive game increase student attendance? Does institutional quality affect the provision of public goods and the perception of tax as a burden?

In the first chapter, I study whether level of discretization of reported grades to students affect their academic performance? This is the first experimental study to test how performance reporting using a coarse …

Association Between Income, Education, Diabetes, Dyslipidemia, And Hypertension In Mexican Americans, Other Hispanics And Non-Hispanic Whites, Nora Molina

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have found there is an association between socioeconomic status, education, and race/ethnicity. Existing statistics have shown Hispanics to be one of the largest minority groups in the United States, making up roughly 30% of the population and projected to become largest ethnic minority group in the United States. As a growing population, Hispanics face many barriers related to social determinants of health, including income and education. These social determinants of health (SDH) can impact an individual’s overall health and influence the rate of certain chronic diseases such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Currently, 17% of Hispanics have …

Educational Adequacy, Capability, And Basic Educational Justice: A Revision Of Anderson And Satz, Jared Corbett

Philosophy Theses

There are two leading accounts of the principles of educational adequacy by Elizabeth Anderson and Debra Satz. Anderson’s and Satz’s accounts have been criticized for being insufficiently value-pluralist, and both lack a metric of justice. In this paper, I revise the principle of educational adequacy in order to address these problems. I argue that although the principle of educational adequacy cannot be the only principle in a complete theory of educational justice, it can tell us what basic justice in education requires in measurable terms. I highlight two core commitments that Anderson and Satz share: a commitment to 1) democratic …

An Educational Intervention To Prevent Fractures In Older Women, Sharon Henderson

Nursing Doctoral Projects (DNP)

Abstract

Americans experience an estimated 2 million fragility fractures annually. Women over age 50 bear the higher burden of this condition and have a 1-in-2 lifetime risk of suffering a fracture. About half of people who experience a hip fracture never regain their previous level of function. Seven and half percent of those who suffer a fragility fracture die within 90 days of the event. The total cost for all fractures in the year 2025 is predicted to be $18 billion for American women. The purpose of this project was to provide older women with knowledge and tools to enable …

Invisible Girls: Victimization, Teacher Support, And Pathways To Punishment For Black Girls, Samantha D. Martin

Sociology Theses

Black girls’ unique experiences of victimization, deviant behavior, and punishment are largely obscured from discourse on the cradle-to-prison pipeline. While there have been many studies that establish a link between victimization, offending, and criminalization, few quantitative studies capture the unique processes of resistance and punishment that victimized Black girls experience. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult health, I explore the relationships between adolescent victimization, teacher support, and exclusionary punishment for Black and white girls. By centering the experiences of Black girls, I aim to generate a causal model that accounts for the ways in which …

Dignity, Carla Powell, Carla Powell

Art and Design Theses

Dignity is a body of work examining and celebrating the efforts of women who are in challenging circumstances to compel a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities. Using the most basic of tools, most notably the hand, women can individually change their outcome, as well as that of their families and their communities. The artwork explores these ideas and focuses on the visual processes and products that women’s hands perform and create around the world.

How Ties To Professional Support Networks Impact Social Outcomes Among Homeless Youth, Kara Tsukerman

Sociology Theses

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has made ending youth homelessness a central focus, including providing numerous resources to service providers and awarding millions of dollars in grants to programs specifically catering to youth (HUD 2019b). Using a social network framework, this research uses data from a sample of homeless youth to explore how networks of providers influence how youth interact with housing, health care, and education systems. Binary and multinomial logistic regressions show that particular types of professional support ties can provide youth with alternatives to sleeping unsheltered as well as a place to go other than …

Race And The Impact Of Parental Incarceration On Childhood Outcomes, Asantewaa Darkwa

Sociology Theses

Using Waves I and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), this thesis analyzes the relationship between parental incarceration and adverse life outcomes. More specifically, I examine the associations between parental incarceration and education, depressive symptoms, and criminal justice involvement. Using binomial logistic regression, I examine the differences between youth that had an incarcerated parent (mother, father, or both) compared to not having a parent incarcerated. Results indicate that Individuals experiencing parental incarceration were statistically more likely to experience negative outcomes compared to those that have not experienced parental incarceration.

Living Links: Examining Immigrant Teens' Experiences In Communication Technology Enhanced Transnational Spaces, Bethany Massey

Learning Sciences Dissertations

This study examined the technology-enhanced lived experiences of three Mexican-American secondary students in Southwestern United States. This work extends the research of Basch, Schiller and Blanc (1994) and Faist (2000) in which they explain that immigrant teens experience dual lives due to simultaneous connections that may have resulted in barriers and stressors between their host and home countries. The study answers a call from Velez-Ibanez and Greenberg (1992) and Gonzales, et al. (2005) for research that regards household practices as "funds of knowledge" or that are encountered through lived experiences and that may support the individual in making sense of …

Machine Automation And The Critique Of Abstract Labor In Hegel's Mature Social Theory, Matthew J. Delhey

Philosophy Theses

This thesis examines Hegel’s critique of abstract labor in the Philosophy of Right and the sections on objective spirit in the Encyclopaedia. Against both Frederick Neuhouser’s and Marxist interpretations, I argue that abstract labor, for Hegel, characterizes the specific kind of mechanical labor undertaken in the nineteenth-century factory. Such repetitive labor, Hegel claims, leads to the deadening (Abstumpfung) of the worker through the deforming of her ethical subjectivity, a social pathology he hopes will be resolved by machine automation. By developing two key aspects of Hegel’s social theory—that labor produces ethical subjectivity or education (Bildung) and …

Three Essays On The Economics Of Education, Jarod T. Apperson

Economics Dissertations

This dissertation comprises essays that exploit geographic data in an effort to provide new causal evidence on three topics facing education policy makers.

Chapter 1 investigates the consequences of domestic violence exposure. I show that episodes of domestic violence cause a short-term increase in absences, but I do not find evidence that the events increase or decrease the number of disciplinary infractions, conditional on attending school. In addition, I measure spillovers to peers using plausibly exogenous daily and annual variation in peer group composition. In contrast to earlier research, my spillover results suggest that neither peers’ behavior nor their test …

Examining Education Level Correlation With Cognitive Function Among People With Alzheimer’S Disease, Simone Dumas

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)is currently listed as the sixth leading cause of death among U.S. adults, killing more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. While the number one risk factor for AD is increasing age, to date, little is known about preventive or protective factors of AD. Continued epidemiologic research that seeks to examine risk and protective factors, such as the role educational attainment plays in cognitive functioning among those with AD may offer important preventive insights.

AIM: The purpose of this study is to examine the correlation between education level and the cognition of persons with AD. …