Digital Commons Network^™

A Creative Climate Framework For Developing Leaders Who Can Navigate Complexity, Uncertainty, And Change Now And Over Time, Christa M. Heydt-Hernandez

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

As organizational environments grow increasingly volatile and complex, leaders face a widening gap in the skills hardest to cultivate in adults: creative thinking, systems thinking, and human-centered design thinking. Yet leadership development has prioritized culture over climate, overlooking a more direct lever for change. This project argues the gap is fundamentally developmental: the skills most demanded of today's leaders are best introduced across childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood—long before the workplace—through what the author terms the Long Game of Leadership Development. In response, this project introduces the Creativity Steward™ framework, a longitudinal model grounded in developmental psychology, creative climate research, …

Leading The Choreography: Preserving Creative Agency In Ai-Supported Problem-Solving, Mikhaila Ackerbauer

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly present in creative and problem-solving contexts, a critical question emerges: how can users engage with AI in ways that preserve rather than erode their own creative capacity? This project explores that question through research synthesis, practitioner conversations, coursework, international conference presentations, and the development of custom AI chatbots trained in the Creative Problem-Solving process. The central finding is a theoretical triangle comprising three interdependent capacities: autonomy, creative self-efficacy, and critical thinking. Grounded in Rhodes' (1961) Four P's framework, the triangle sits within the Person dimension. Convergent themes across the literature, practitioner conversations, and direct …

A Meta-Analysis On Joinder Effects: Do They All Have The Same Magnitude?, Amelia M. Tisk

Student Theses

The present meta-analysis examined whether different forms of joinder and procedural consolidation produce varying levels of prejudice in adjudicative decision-making. Although joinder procedures improve judicial efficiency, psychological research has suggested that combining charges, defendants, or plaintiffs within a single proceeding may increase conviction likelihood, liability judgments, and broader perceptions of wrongdoing. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted across 22 independent study effects examining charge joinder, defendant consolidation, plaintiff consolidation, multiple-complainant procedures, and related aggregation paradigms. Effect sizes were converted to Pearson’s r whenever possible. Overall, procedural aggregation produced a moderate effect on adjudicative outcomes, r = .27, 95% CI [.22, .32]. …

Listening To Those Who Stay: Support Systems Influencing Special Education Teacher Retention, Carol Jean Dawson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Retention among special education teachers is a constant challenge across the country. Educators in these positions often have heavy workloads, emotionally demanding responsibilities, and complex caseloads leading to burnout and high turnover rates. Despite these challenges, most of them persevere in the field for extended periods, which indicate that robust and effective support systems are essential to aiding their commitment. In examining this phenomenon, this qualitative study focused on the lived experiences of six special education teachers who worked in the same school setting for a minimum of five years with the aim of identifying support structures that affect motivation, …

Prefrontal Engagement In Cognitive Flexibility Across Paradigms, Katarina Kalajzic

Honors Scholar Theses

Cognitive flexibility is an executive function that involves dynamically adapting behavior in the face of changing environmental circumstances to achieve a particular goal. Disrupted in numerous psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, OCD, and depression, the neural correlates of cognitive flexibility are not well understood. However, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is strongly implicated in executive function and attentional control processes. Thus, we sought to examine the neural circuitry involved in distinct cognitive flexibility tasks – the attentional set-shifting task and the probabilistic 2-armed bandit task. Through optogenetic suppression, we targeted pyramidal neurons of the rodent medial prefrontal cortex, an …

The Development And Evaluation Of A Group Therapy Program For Perinatal Loss In Rural Appalachia, Hope O'Neill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Perinatal loss can have vast adverse psychological consequences and has limited psychotherapeutic options to assist with those outcomes. Currently, there is no gold standard psychotherapy for the treatment of perinatal grief. Group therapy has proven to be an effective modality for various populations and has been shown to be beneficial for perinatal loss and the subsequent psychological outcomes. This study utilized a previously conducted systematic review to develop and evaluate a group psychotherapy for perinatal loss. The ten sessions of the group were completed by two participants and several constructs were explored pre- and post-intervention: grief, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, …

Psychometric Properties Of The Interpersonal Style Questionnaire (Isq) And The Patterns Of Thinking Survey (Pots), Genevieve Allison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Self-regulation is a complex concept that includes multiple interacting factors, and it is studied across multiple fields of psychological research. Various theoretical models have been offered to explain this concept. Although models differ in their definitions of self-regulation, all consistently posit that it consists of emotional, behavioral, interpersonal, and cognitive domains. The current study examined the psychometric properties of two novel measures – 1) McVay and Stinson Interpersonal Style Questionnaire (ISQ) and 2) Stinson and McVay Patterns of Thinking Survey (POTS) – utilizing both a clinical and nonclinical sample. Results indicate that these measures are comprised of three factors across …

A Mixed-Methods Investigation Of Physician Compassion In Consultations For Chronic Primary Pain, Sarah Daehler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Chronic primary pain refers to physical pain that has no apparent organic cause, cannot be explained by another condition, and has associated psychological distress or functional impairment. Chronic primary pain is common and can significantly interfere with functioning, including occupational or social functioning. Research has shown that physicians struggle to treat this population, with many physicians reporting feeling unequipped and many patients feeling that their physicians are unhelpful and dismissive. Compassion may play a key role in improving these difficult interactions. The present study analyzed a sample of 99 participants with chronic pain and 100 healthy controls to learn more …

Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion Infrastructures And Faculty Composition: Associations With Undergraduate Student Outcomes At R1 Universities 2011-2021, Niyonta Nahia Chowdhury

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study explores how the structure and composition of research universities relate to student outcomes. Specifically, it asks whether having visible Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) infrastructures and diverse faculty representation is associated with who enrolls, who graduates, and how graduation rates differ within racial groups at R1 universities in the United States. Using national data from 2011 to 2021, the project analyzes enrollment and graduation patterns across institutions while accounting for differences in geography, governance, and state political context.

Rather than focusing on individual students, the study looks at institutional patterns. It examines how the racial and gender makeup …

Does Psychosocial Stress Moderate The Association Between Indicators Of Vascular Health And Cognitive Performance: An Examination In Native Hawaiian - Pacific Islander And Non-Nhpi Older Adults, Maddy Mills

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Late-life cognitive decline and dementia that are unrelated to normal aging are a source of major global health concerns. Vascular risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, along with psychosocial stress, are well-established risk factors for cognitive decline. However, no research has explored how these variables interact to influence cognitive performance in older adults. Native Hawaiian-Pacific Islanders (NHPI) face disproportionate rates of vascular risk factors linked to cognitive decline, yet this population has been historically underrepresented in health research. As a result, limited evidence exists regarding how these factors collectively impact cognitive performance in this population. This …

Attitudes, Behaviors, And Co-Workers Influence Of Those Who Provide Mental Health Support Services To Refugees And Immigrants., Irene Boamah

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

ABSTRACT

ATTITUDES, BEHAVIORS, AND CO-WORKERS INFLUENCE OF THOSE WHO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES TO REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS

Irene A. Boamah

April 3, 2026

Refugees and immigrants face a variety of mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Despite these mental health issues, there is limited research examining the attitudes, behaviors and coworkers’ influence on those who provide mental health support services to this population. This study examines the relationships between the demographic and professional characteristics of mental health support service providers in Kentucky and the stigmas they may have toward refugees and immigrants.

A cross-sectional …

Serotonin 7 Receptor Modulation On Measures Of Working Memory And Anxiety, Antonio Gutierrez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Serotonin (5-HT) function is critical in the regulation and homeostasis of several neural systems. Alterations in 5-HT levels can directly impact the presence of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. With a wide range of 5-HT receptors, the potential impact each of these modulators have on behavior is important to better understand. The 5-HT7 receptor is the most recently identified 5-HT receptor. 5-HT7 receptors can be found in the thalamus, hypothalamus, and several areas of the hippocampus. Modulation of these receptors impact circadian rhythms, hormonal regulation and memory function. Previous research has that 5-HT7 antagonist compounds lead to conflicting results, highlighting …

From Leaders To Lifesavers: The Impact Of Leader Development On Healthcare Teams, Madison B. Washam

All Theses

With annual expenditures on leadership development in healthcare exceeding $166 billion, the effectiveness of leader development interventions in improving healthcare outcomes is crucial. This study examined the impact of leader development on team-level outcomes through the implementation of a program aimed at enhancing leaders’ relationship-oriented leadership skills. Specifically, it explored the effect of leader development opportunities on declarative knowledge of relationship-oriented skills, leader-member exchange (LMX), team psychological safety, and team members’ perceptions of patient safety. The study proposed that leaders equipped with relationship-oriented skills can foster healthier, more collaborative environments. Mediation analyses tested whether increases in declarative knowledge served as …

From Clicking To Committing: Psychological Distance And Persuasion In Online Animal Adoption Platforms To Enhance Shelter Visitation, David Goodweather

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Online animal shelter platforms have become a primary channel through which potential adopters view and evaluate adoptable animals, yet many users do not progress from online engagement to visiting a physical shelter. The dissertation examines how online pet viewing translates into intention to book a shelter visit by focusing on the roles of psychological distance and persuasive influence cues within a high-involvement decision context. Drawing on Construal Level Theory and persuasion research, a sequential process is proposed in which sustained interaction with pet profiles reduces distance-related abstraction, increasing receptivity to influence cues that facilitate movement from initial assessment to action. …

Narcissism And Eyewitness Identification, Haley M. Hearn

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

According to the Innocence Project, 69% of individuals exonerated by DNA evidence were initially found guilty due to an eyewitness misidentification (Innocence Project, n.d.-a). A way that investigators attempt to prevent misidentification is by assessing how confident eyewitnesses are in their identifications. There is a large body of research suggesting that these confidence estimates can, in many instances, operate as reliable barometers of accuracy. However, what if an eyewitness is overconfident? Narcissism is a personality trait characterized by overconfidence. If a narcissistic eyewitness reports confidence in their identification of a suspect, should this report be trusted? Two studies were conducted …

Application Of Path Analysis To Determine The Impact Of Age And Sex On The Neural Circuits That Promote Nicotine Withdrawal Severity, Veronika Espinoza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The rising prevalence of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use presents a major public health concern, particularly in adolescent females who are most susceptible to nicotine use and its long-term negative health consequences. The goal of this dissertation was to utilize preclinical rodent models to understand how group differences in age and sex influence neural activation patterns in brain circuits believed to promote nicotine withdrawal. Prior pre-clinical work, conducted largely in male rodents, has established that there are two major brain pathways that modulate the behavioral effects of nicotine withdrawal. These include the mesolimbic and medial habenula-interpeduncular nucleus (MHb-IPN) pathways. To assess …

The Role Of Service-Learning & Critical Pedagogy In Student Empowerment Through Self-Consciousness, Democratic, And Culturally Responsive Education, Shahbaa Zaidan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological research examines the role of service learning that is based on critical pedagogy in empowering students and developing identity and consciousness in a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) on the United States-Mexico border found in South Texas. This study challenges the top-down paradigm, in which empowerment and learning are considered in view of the practices of educators, their teaching methods, and their impacts on student achievement. The research is bottom-up and student-centered. This research explores how students' experiences during service-learning courses shape their sense of identity, voice, and empowerment. Key theories include critical pedagogy (Freire), experiential learning (Dewey), transformative …

Psychological Principles In Writing Center Consulting & Ai, Ella S. Hansen

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

A third of those ages 18 to 24 have engaged with ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025). The newest form, ChatGPT-4, is better at generating more plausible long-form essays and creative writing than ever before (Imran & Almusharraf, 2023), meaning that AI-assisted writing is prevalent at higher education institutions (Cardon et al., 2023) and in writing centers (Goulet, 2025). Limited research has investigated the impact of this on writing center consultants. This multidisciplinary study investigated how consultants feel about large language model artificial intelligence (LLM AI) and how it can impact the consulting process, through the lens of three psychological principles: empathy, social …

A Behavior Analytic Blueprint For Rapport-Building: Investigating The Key Elements For Success, Nelmar Jacinto Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

Rapport can be defined as a positive relationship between people built through specific actions. Building rapport can benefit organizations by improving performance and increasing work satisfaction. Despite these benefits, research on rapport remains scarce. Curry et al. (2019) completed the most recent rapport study and found that rapport-building led to increased productivity and discretionary effort. The present study replicated and extended Curry et al. (2019) and addressed three limitations of their research: the lack of a control group, the large disparity in time spent with the experimenter, and the rigidity of their rapport conversation script. The study was completed in …

Research "Junkification" Is Caused By Researchers, Not Journals, Simon Sebastian Groome, Jose C. Yong, Norman P. Li

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Concerns about declining research quality have increasingly been framed as “junkification,” whereby academic output expands in volume while declining in epistemic value. A recent paper by Rhodes and Linnenluecke (2025) attributes this trend to changes in publishing, arguing that research quality erodes as journals and publishers become increasingly oriented toward output quantity and metrics, driven by monetization. In 2009, Nobel Laureate James Watson remarked that scientific publishing in the mid-twentieth century was both easier and of a higher standard than today (Web of Stories, 2017). If publishing is much easier of late, as Rhodes and Linnenelucke (R&L) argued, then how …

Predicting Well-Being Outcomes With Job Demands And Resources In A Higher Education Setting, Makinzy D. Hoxsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Faculty in higher education face growing pressures that impact well-being and engagement. Guided by the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework, the present study examined how perceptions of institutional changes, job demands, job resources, and personal resources such as grit and tolerance for ambiguity related to perceptions of well-being outcomes among teaching faculty at Stephen F. Austin State University. Job demands encompass dimensions of workload, emotional labor, work-life conflict, and role conflict, while job resources include elements of autonomy and social support. A multivariate multiple regression (MVMR) analysis was conducted using survey data from faculty members (n = 98). Results indicated that …

From Learners To Leaders: Informal Learning And Leadership Emergence In The Workplace, Ami Rupesh Shah

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This study explored the relationship between informal learning behaviors and leadership emergence in workplace settings while also looking at the moderating roles of occupational self-efficacy and learning climate. Using a correlational, cross-sectional design, data was collected from 361 working professionals through an online survey with 341 being the final sample size. Participants completed validated self-report measures assessing informal learning behaviors, occupational self-efficacy, learning climate, and leadership emergence. Correlational and moderation analyses were performed to test the study hypotheses. Results showed that informal learning behaviors was positively and significantly related to leadership emergence. Moreover, occupational self-efficacy and learning climate both were …

Constant Connectivity To Work, Health Behaviors, Physical Symptoms: Exploring Boundary Management Practices That Can Help, Christina Christodoulou

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The workday inevitably exposes employees to numerous demands that induce stress reactions. Without sufficient recovery (i.e. returning stress reactions to baseline), individuals risk experiencing chronic psychological, behavioral or physical strains. With the rise of constant connectivity to work, recovery is becoming more of a challenge. However, research on the recovery-related consequences of constant connectivity, particularly its impact on health behaviors and physical health outcomes, remains scarce. To fill this gap in the literature, this research explored the relationship between constant connectivity, boundary management practices, health behaviors, and physical symptoms using a mixed-methods, multi-study design. A mixed methods pilot study (N …

Understanding The Effects Of Adventure Therapy On Inner City Youths' Sense Of Relatedness, Nicolas Bellegarde

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adventure therapy is a creative, transtheoretical group-based model of counseling that utilizes kinesthetic activities coupled with metaphors and processing modalities, alongside experiences outdoors, to facilitate insight and motivate healthy communication between group members. Through intentional sequencing and guidance of activities, facilitators aim to improve participants' communication skills, group engagement, and ability to tolerate discomfort and risk while strategically solving problems. In addition, the integration of nature and the outdoors has been demonstrated to improve mental health and well-being, generating a sense of connectedness to the environment and to the group. Adolescence is a time of rapid developmental change characterized by …

Associations Between Controlling Coaching Behaviors And Mental Health Help Seeking Attitudes In Collegiate Athletes, Maria C. Cacheiro

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Although correlations between coaching behaviors and mental health have been investigated before, research that extensively analyzes collegiate athletes’ willingness to seek out mental healthcare has not been conducted. Previous research shows that coaching behaviors correlate with athlete mental health and even predict depression levels more accurately than their own personality traits. The current study aimed to analyze the relationship between athletes’ perceived controlling coaching behaviors and their mental health-help seeking attitudes. Participants were surveyed to determine their perception of controlling coaching behaviors, available emotional support, athlete-coach relationship satisfaction, and mental health seeking attitudes. It was found that perceived aspects of …

Attachment And Betrayal: Post-Infidelity Attachment Issues With A Focus On Gender, Taylor Forsythe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Infidelity represents a significant relational trauma that may disturb attachment processes such as trust, emotional intimacy, and closeness. There is a gap in the literature on how different infidelity exposures may relate to these attachment responses; more so, there is a dearth of information on the gender differences for attachment issues following any kind of infidelity. The purpose of this study aimed to examine differences in avoidant and anxious attachment across infidelity groups (no infidelity, non-sexual infidelity, sexual infidelity), and a further comparison of gender differences in those groups. Participants (N = 151) completed online surveys in a larger study …

Relationships Between Therapists And Diverse Children's Populations And Their Effects, Brenda Sanchez Vega

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Roughly around 13.8% of children and adolescents in the United States receive some sort of counseling or therapy; the main focus of the research is on racial/ethnic minoritized children. Because APA’s ethical codes don’t address all possible situations, positive client-therapist relationships are bound to develop, including dyads or dual relationships, improving treatment progress. With the United States continuing to grow in diversity, there’s still a big gap in the literature surrounding minority children in therapy. Speculating if therapy approaches are used effectively for all children, including minoritized children. Based on past research already conducted, developing a positive client-therapist dual relationship …

Parenthood And Mental Health Among University Populations In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study, Tuwani A. Rasengane, Ngozika Esther Ezinne, Antor Ndep, Nnamdi John Eseme, Susarah Maria Richter, Kingsley E. Agho, Ebele Gertrude Ejidike, Michael Agyemang Kwarteng, Kelechukwu Enyinnaya Ahaiwe, Nnaemeka Meribe, Obed Adonteng-Kissi, Edith Daniel-Nwosu, Mchillary Ogiemudia Osamudiamen, Ike Onyebuchi Oforbuike, Grace Obumneke Ogbonna, Isaura Ilorena D.Alva Brito Dos Santos, Okechi Ulumma Amaechi, Ugochukwu E. Uzuegbu, Khathutshelo Percy Mashige, Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and Aims: This study examined the association between parenthood status and psychological well-being among university staff and students in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted across 22 universities in four SSA countries using convenience sampling. A total of 1189 university staff and students, including parents and non-parents, participated. Mental health outcomes were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine associations between parenthood status and mental health outcomes after adjusting for sociodemographic and contextual factors. Results: Participants with children had lower odds of moderate depression (adjusted …

The Hollywood Rap And Trap Culture Industry And Its Portrayal Of Crime, Youth Socialization, And Anti-Social Behavioral Norms, Ishika Sen

Honors Theses

This thesis synthesizes and reflects on media effects and hip-hop studies to examine how the Hollywood rap/trap industry participates in the influence of normalization of crime and anti-social behaviors, substance use, and the sexualization of women among youth (ages 13–21). I integrate analytic evidence on media violence with lyric/content analyses of rap and critiques of the criminal justice system in hip-hop. Specific subtopics from my outline include: theoretical frameworks (media-violence, social learning, cultivation, cultural criminology); corporate marketing and social-media amplification; youth vulnerability; and three patterned domains which include substance abuse, gun violence, and the sexualization of women, often leading to …

Health-Related Quality Of Life Of Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome In Malaysia, Stephanie Yang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrine condition among women of reproductive age. PCOS is known to be a chronic disease that presents significant physical and body image issues, which in turn are associated with lowered emotional and health-related quality of life. Previous studies point to widespread dissatisfaction and delays with the diagnosis of PCOS and a lack of information provided by doctors. This phenomenological study was guided by Wilson and Cleary’s model of health-related quality of life to explore the health-related quality of life in Malaysian women with PCOS. Seven Malaysian women aged 29 to 50 years …