Digital Commons Network^™

On The Provenance Of Software Systems: Automating Software Traceability With Knowledge Graph And Large Language Model Synergy, Tyler Procko

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The present dissertation delineates a system that enables those engaged in software development to automatically generate and maintain project life cycle provenance. All projects are implemented and made manifest with the development of artifacts, e.g., papers, code files, etc. Tools exist to accelerate artifact creation, but little focus is paid to the processes that produce them. In terms of Ontology, or, from Ancient Greek, the study of being, the two most basic entities in reality are Continuant and Occurrent, or, roughly, “Artifact” and “Process”. This dissertation posits that for any created artifact, its process of creation, i.e., its life …

Ethical Ai Use And Classroom Integration Training Modules, Daniel Boudon

Open Educational Resources

This project focuses on developing comprehensive training modules to equip students and faculty with the knowledge and skills necessary to ethically and effectively use AI tools in academic settings. The training consists of interconnected modules that cover a wide range of topics, including the ethical use of AI, evaluating AI-generated content, integrating AI tools into curriculum design, and creating AI-enhanced classroom activities. Additional modules emphasize fostering digital literacy, staying updated with AI advancements, and collaborating on best practices for AI in education.

Designed for flexibility, the modules cater to diverse academic disciplines, making them suitable for undergraduate and graduate courses, …

An Equitable End: Meeting The Needs Of Queer Families Within Deathcare, Nyssa Peck

University Honors Theses

This thesis seeks to explore end-of-life care experiences of queer families, focusing on interactions with palliative and hospice caregivers. Currently, end-of-life (EOL) practitioners in institutional and medical care settings are often poorly equipped to interact with queer families due to inadequate cultural training models, personal biases, and ignorance regarding the queer identities of their clients. This manifests in substantial inequities within deathcare systems regarding the accommodation of the unique needs of queer familial structures. Drawing upon multidisciplinary scholarship, I sought to examine these needs, which diverge from that of heterosexual families due to queer families’ absence of legal protections and …

Intimate Partner Violence Among College Students: The Influence Of Gender, Sexual Orientation, Race/Ethnicity On Bystander Intention, Brooke M. Puharic

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) among college students is an issue across gender, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity. The present study highlights the sociodemographic characteristics that influence physical IPV involvement among college students by reporting past year prevalence and frequency rates of physical IPV involvement by gender, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity. Additionally, the current study builds on research about bystander intention to intervene by exploring the influence of these sociodemographic characteristics on participants intentions to intervene, as well as their preferred type of intervention.

Participants were 525 university students recruited from the psychology research pool. They were presented with eight hypothetical vignettes …

Dei From The Perspective Of Racially And Sexually Minority Social Work Students, Ilse Ivonne Trejo, Miguel Gabino Lopez, Annette Clarke Jones, Octavio Ramirez

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This explanatory sequential mixed-method research study examined the experiences and perspectives of racially and sexually minority social work students enrolled at Fort Hays State University. By integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches, the study aimed to uncover the unique challenges these students face, such as feelings of belonging, microaggressions, and a lack of culturally competent mentorship. It also highlighted resilience strategies and institutional supports that contribute to their academic and personal success. The findings offer valuable insights for social work educators and administrators seeking to foster more inclusive and supportive environments for minority and sexual students in rural PWIs.

Overcoming Challenges To Student Belonging At A Majority-Minority Hispanic Serving Institution: A Competing Demands Framework, Christopher Donoghue, Richard S. Reinschmidt, Lauren Chow, Junius Gonzales

eJournal of Public Affairs

Sense of belonging is a fundamental human need that can raise the chances of self-actualization and academic success in college. Latine and other historically underrepresented student groups may experience greater challenges in this area than White students due to a greater propensity for feelings of belonging uncertainty, perceptions of inequality or experiences with microaggressions, or greater struggles with food and housing insecurities, even when they outnumber White students on campus. In this study, we utilized a person-centered approach to explore the heterogeneity in belonging in a large sample of undergraduate students (N=2,003) between the ages of 18 and 25 at …

Bridging The Gap: Stress And Support Systems For Underrepresented Students Pursuing Graduate Education, Carlos A. Tavira-Villegas

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Embedded within the United States educational system lies a history that is marked by centuries of exclusion, where students of color were denied the right to an equal education. Despite this legacy of injustice, a story of resilience and bravery also exists, as countless individuals fought for the right to access and succeed in an equal education. This literature review examines the historical exclusion of Mexican American, Asian, and Black students in the United States. Important legal cases will be explored to trace the progression of educational equity in America. Several theories will be reviewed, including social identity theory, ecological …

Review Of In A Human Voice, Jean Keller

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

The Overlooked Dynamics Of Sibling Violence: Sociological Perspectives And Intervention Strategies, Rowland Edet

The Journal of Social Encounters

Sibling violence (SV) represents a pervasive yet underexplored dimension of family violence, encompassing physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. This paper critically examines the intersection of gender dynamics, societal norms, and family structures in shaping SV behaviors. Using social learning theory (SLT) as a foundational framework, the analysis explores how gendered expectations and traditional roles influence the prevalence and forms of aggression, with boys more likely to exhibit overt physical aggression and girls engaging in relational aggression. The paper critiques the deterministic tendencies of SLT, highlighting the agency of individuals in rejecting modeled behaviors, and incorporates intersectionality to address the interplay …

Religious Bodies Crime Control Strategies In Lagos Slums, Nigeria, Lateef Adeyemo

The Journal of Social Encounters

In Lagos' slum areas, where crime and social instability are rampant, religious bodies are uniquely positioned to influence positive change. This study adopted a qualitative, cross-sectional approach, guided by social disorganisation and stakeholder theories, to examine their impact. Purposive sampling was used to select 61 participants for in-depth interviews and key informant interviews. Findings indicate that religious bodies primarily engage youth through sermons and occasional events but lack structured crime control mechanisms. Key challenges include community resistance, limited police collaboration, resource constraints, and threats from violent youth. Furthermore, doctrinal concerns and fear of backlash hinder interfaith collaboration, with some …

Strong Black Women Schema: Sexual Assault, Identity, Mental Health Outcomes, Ishara Jean-Francois, Cassandra Hinger, Kelly Yu-Hsin Liao

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Sexual violence is a significant issue that is affecting the Black community, and it is leading to negative mental health outcomes for Black women (Zounlome et al., 2019). The proposed study will examine on the Strong Black Women Schema and aspects of identity following sexual violence.

Belonging On The Field: Racial Identity, Inclusion, And Challenges Of Athletes Of Color In Predominantly White Sports, Mikaila Ealum, Madeline Koch

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Despite past research exploring the relationship between racial and athletic identities in Black American athletes, there remains a significant gap in literature regarding the impact of sports social environments on the salience of these identities, highlighting the need for further investigation.

Family Risk Classes Predict Longitudinal Parent And Child Outcomes: Understanding The Implications Of Poverty-Related Adversity, Daniel K. Cooper, Benjamin L. Bayly, Brianna Tennie, Francesca Lupini, Martha E. Wadsworth

Faculty Publications

Experiencing poverty and associated risk factors can be detrimental to families’ mental health and well-being. However, it is unclear whether experiencing specific types or patterns of adversity leads to distinct outcomes. Guided by the Family Stress Model, the objective of this study was to (a) identify unique family risk classes based on exposure to various combinations of poverty-related adversity and (b) examine whether the family risk classes differed in their levels of parental coping strategies, couple relationship quality, parenting practices, and child behavior problems. The sample included 301 mother–father–child triads (602 adults and 301 children) with a combined income ≤ …

Religiosity, Patience, And Mental Well-Being Among Ncaa Athletes In The United States At State, Secular Private, And Faith-Based Colleges And Universities, Laura Upenieks, Elizabeth M. Bounds, Karen K. Melton, Perry L. Glanzer, Sarah A. Schnitker

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Patience has been defined as remaining calm in the face of frustration, suffering, or adversity for the sake of something beyond the self. This study examines patience, an understudied virtue in the world of collegiate athletics. Drawing from a sample of 415 student-athletes across the United States, we assess patience as a mediating mechanism between religiosity/spirituality and well-being. Regression results suggest that of the three subscales of patience considered, only greater hardships patience was associated with lower depression, anxiety, and loneliness. We also observed that greater intrinsic religiosity and a secure attachment to God predicted greater patience, yet more frequent …

Navigating Digital Geographies And Trauma Contexts: Conceptions Of Online Communities And Experiences Among Lgbtq+ People During Covid-19, Rachel M. Schmitz, Jennifer Tabler, Ruby Charak, Gabby Gomez, Reagan E. Cole, Joshua J. Schmitz

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

The coronavirus pandemic shaped challenges for marginalized groups. Specifically, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+) people experienced community-building constraints, notably in predominantly rural regions. People are also navigating digital geographies, or online social environments, in novel ways to develop virtual communities in the face of prejudice, discrimination, and potential trauma. Through a minority coping approach, the present study explored LGBTQ+ people’s experiences navigating the dynamics of digital geographies during the pandemic while residing in socially conservative, highly rural physical spaces where they may be exposed to vicarious trauma. Using qualitative semi-structured interviews, data were gathered from 43 LGBTQ+ identifying …

Classroom Teachers' Approaches To Values Education: Exploring Explicit And Implicit Strategies For Teaching And Modeling Values, Maria Ukamaka Clare Okeke

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Abstract This study explores the approaches Nigerian secondary school teachers in Anambra State use to teach values through explicit and implicit methods. Recognizing the need to understand how values are effectively communicated in the classroom, this research delves into the dual strategies employed by educators and their impacts on student moral development. The research used a qualitative interview study approach, which included semi-structured interviews with ten experienced secondary school teachers and a document analysis of teaching resources. This method allows one to investigate the explicit instruction and implicit modeling strategies applied in values education in depth. Findings reveal that teachers …

Racialization Of Urban Black Middle School Students From The Perspective Of Middle School Teachers: A Phenomenological Study In Central And Southeast Michigan, Bryan L. Spencer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University College of Education and Human Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Bryan L. Spencer has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Michael Langlais, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty Dr. Matthew Hertenstein, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2025   Racialization of Urban Black Middle School Students from the Perspective of Middle School Teachers: A Phenomenological Study in Central and Southeast Michigan by Bryan L. Spencer MPhil, Walden …

Development And Validation Of The Youth Programs-Community Education Environment Scale (Yp-Cees), Francesca Adler-Baeder, Alyssa Mcelwain, Julianne Mcgill, Kim Gregson

Journal of Youth Development

The current study focused on establishing the factor structure, reliability, discriminant validity, and construct validity of the Youth Programs – Community Education Environment Scale (YP – CEES) using a large diverse sample of 1,969 youth participating in relationship education programs in multi-session workshops facilitated by trained facilitators. Six subscales were developed based on the extant literature: facilitation quality, facilitator-participant relationship quality, cofacilitator relationship quality, facilitator coregulation skills, individual connection, and group engagement. Cronbach’s alpha reliability indicated high reliabilities for the total scale and the subscales. Confirmatory factor analyses established the factor structure with good model fit for a 6-factor measure. …

Sparks And Developmental Outcomes In Out-Of-School Time Programs: Emipirical Evidence And Theory Development, Alexandra Skrocki, Gary D. Ellis, Andrea Ettekal, Darlene Locke

Journal of Youth Development

We examined relations among select components of the 4-H Thriving Model, focusing on youth sparks and four presumed determinants: program quality, developmental relationships, situational engagement, and dosage. Based on our results and results of previous studies, we propose a formal theory of youth program sparks. Three hundred fifty-six Texas 4-H youth from a variety of 4-H programs state-wide completed a questionnaire measuring sparks, program quality, developmental relationships, situational engagement, and 4-H program dosage. We measured two indicators of thriving: growth mindset and hopeful purpose. Sixty-eight percent of study participants reported being female, 28% reported being male, 1% reported being nonbinary/third …

How Much Is Enough? Dosage And Duration In 4-H Developmental Contexts, Sarah N. August-Henry, Amy M. Leman, Jacinda K. Dariotis

Journal of Youth Development

While research abounds on the outcomes of out-of-school time programs for youth, most studies focus on programs with similar profiles or within the same program category, leaving a notable gap in examining youth experiences across programs with different delivery modes. The current research investigated the perceived experiences of youth in two programs, 4-H community clubs and 4-H camps. Using the 4-H Thriving Model, the study assessed perceptions of the programs’ developmental contexts on three program elements including youth sparks, sense of belonging, and relationships with adults. Data for the study was collected through surveys conducted in 2019 among 4-H community …

Examining The Dangers Of The Digital Age, A Book Review Of Online Child Sexual Grooming Discourse, Olivia L. Villeneuve

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Positive Outcomes Of Out-Of-School Time Activity Participation For Youth: A Pattern-Centered Approach, Alexandra Sandoval, Edmond P. Bowers

Journal of Youth Development

Youth participation in community-based, structured out-of-school time programs (OST) has been found to promote positive developmental outcomes by providing youth with resources to build interpersonal relationships and essential life skills. The increasing prevalence and multiplicity of youth participation in these activities leads us to expand the research evidence regarding the relation between program participation and positive youth development, with a focus on identifying nuanced patterns of OST participation that consider the breadth and frequency of activities across different types of programs. We apply this pattern-centered approach to analyzing how and for whom these activities may promote youth academic competence and …

Metacognition And The 5cs Of Positive Youth Development Programs: A Review Of Metacognitive Interventions, Omolola A. Odejimi, Leslie F. Clark

Journal of Youth Development

Positive youth development (PYD) programs have increased positive outcomes for adolescents, however research on the underlying change processes in these programs remains limited. The 5Cs (Competence, Confidence, Character, Caring and Connection) of PYD are a framework of desirable outcomes for youth programs. Change to metacognition is proposed as a mechanism by which PYD programming accomplishes these outcomes. This review describes findings from metacognitive interventions with PYD-relevant outcomes in adolescents aged 10-24. Fifteen electronic databases were searched using keyword phrases related to “metacognitive intervention” and “adolescents”. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. Included studies addressed 2 of the 5 goals of PYD …

Development Of A Comprehensive Social-Emotional Learning Questionnaire For Elementary After-School Physical Activity Programs, Kelly L. Simonton, Mengyi Wei, Pamela Kulinna, Allison Poulos

Journal of Youth Development

Afterschool settings have continued to be identified as an ideal outlet for supporting youth development in many arenas, including physical activity (PA) behaviors and social emotional learning (SEL) skills. In fact, PA centered programs are ideal settings for youth to 8 develop and practice SEL skills in authentic ways. However, there a several issues as it relates to understanding the impact of said programs. This includes reliable measures of youth perceptions of their SEL skills, the diverse ability of learners who may attend these programs, and the age range of learners. Given the realities of evaluating youth development in real-world …

The Impact Of Economic Stress On Marital Satisfaction, Luis Ventura

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Marital satisfaction is considered a common index for measuring the stability and quality of marriages. Various factors have been considered to affect the stability and quality of marriages. In the context of the contemporary world, in which socioeconomic dynamics influence day-to-day existence, economic or financial stress is considered a factor that influences relationships. However, the extent to which economic stress affects relationships is unclear. This study examines the effect that economic stress (through its varied types) has on marital satisfaction. It applies a correlational research design where data is collected using quantitative survey questionnaires on a sample of 80 participants …

A Grounded Theory Study Of The Second Birth And The Processes Of Sanctification In The United States, With Special Attention To Communicating With God, Richard Bruce Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The human experience of Christian sanctification and communicating with the God of the Bible was studied using a Constructivist Grounded Theory. The setting was the United States, a post-truth society with concurrent falling church attendance, diminished Bible reading, and deteriorating social discourse. Fifteen participants met the inclusionary criteria of a second birth experience over one year prior and over 18 years old. Research questions focused on facilitators and inhibitors of sanctification processes, how the participants perceived God communicated with them, and their resultant actions. Results demonstrated that participants reported that God used multiple communication modalities. Participants felt a great closeness …

Exploring Rapport-Building In Coaching Relationships: Coach's Perspective, Tanya Devereaux

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines rapport-building strategies and challenges executive coaches face in their interactions with clients, with an emphasis on demographic influences. By employing a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study captures the subjective experiences of 14 active executive business coaches. These coaches discussed techniques for rapport-building, such as pre-meeting engagement, setting expectations, and creating safe environments during initial sessions. The findings reveal that demographic factors—such as race, gender, and cultural background—impact the coach-coachee dynamic, often necessitating adaptive strategies to align with the unique needs of each client. The themes that emerged from the research aligned with existing literature, and professional experience …

Neurocriminology: Revolutionizing Specialized Training For Criminal Justice System Professionals, Janina Cich

Forensic Scholars Today

No abstract provided.

Centering Black Resource-Poor Adolescent Voices: A Critical Phenomenological Study Of Lived Mental Health Struggles While Enduring The Covid-19 Pandemic, Paulette Dispagna

Counseling and Psychology Dissertations

There is a dearth of research in general and qualitative research specifically about the mental health experience of resource-poor Black adolescents living in Boston. This has implications for the field in terms of how adolescents experiencing mental health issues can be supported and how professionals can create more useful mental health treatment. Drawing from the theoretical lens of critical race theory and more specifically, intersectionality, this hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry examined the ways in which experiencing multiple levels of inequality, especially from racism and poverty, affected a Black adolescent’s mental health. Eleven adolescents were interviewed via Zoom. Six major findings included: …

From Private To Public: Narratives Of Gender-Based Violence Among The Everyday Voices Of The #Metoo Movement, Anna Gjika Phd, Megan Stubbs-Richardson Phd, Mackenzie Paul

SSRC Publications

In 2017, the #MeToo movement garnered international attention when millions of people used the hashtag to share personal experiences of sexual violence. The present study examines how non-celebrity users discussed their experiences of sexual victimization through a qualitative and quantitative content analysis of a random sample of #MeToo tweets (N=1,427). We found that survivors prioritized details about the “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how” of trauma in their disclosures (Bogen et al., 2021). Key themes in their responses included child sexual abuse (22.7%), long-term adverse effects (17.6%), and polyvictimization (10.4%) across the life course. Survivors also utilized #MeToo to …