Digital Commons Network^™

Casd 2482 Introduction To Rehabilitative Audiology, Rosette Reisman

Open Educational Resources

Auditory intervention for children and adults; implications for early hearing detection and intervention; assessing communicative needs. Amplification devices, cochlear implants, hearing assistive technology, hearing protection and modes of communication. Experiential clinical-related activities.

Covid-19 Impacts On Refugee-Serving Ngos In Clarkston And The Atlanta Metropolitan Area, Georgia, United States, Ghazal Khaksari

Theses and Dissertations--Anthropology

This study provides a unique anthropological perspective on how technology, language, NGO staff, and culture intersect during emergency times, which can affect NGOs’ abilities to reach and help communities. Findings of this study emphasize the importance of equality in digital access and of available and culturally competent interpreters in reducing the gap between NGOs and refugee communities. The digital divide has played a fundamental role during the pandemic, often leading to other problems for both NGOs and refugees. This issue has taken a variety of forms in terms of access to education, language classes, community cohesion, and communication with and …

“People [Are] Not Dying Because Officers Aren't Following Their Training. ‘It's Because They Are.”: The Construction Of Police De-Escalation Of Individuals In Mental Health Crises In Canadian Media, Renée Haddock

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Police are often assumed to be the "de facto" response to people in mental health crises. Contact between police and Canadians with mental illness and in crisis is routine and on the rise (Livingston, 2016). Police responses to these incidences have been criticized after several, highly publicized and tragic encounters between police and people in mental health crisis and the overrepresentation of people of colour in these instances. Media outlets determine which stories are prioritized, how they are framed, and which information to include or omit (Fawzi, 2018). Notably, public knowledge of police activities greatly impacts community perceptions of police …

Leadership In Behavioral Health, Rebecca Mccoy

School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Leadership in healthcare is difficult when dealing with human contact in its most raw and vulnerable way. Leadership in behavioral health is just as challenging as direct practice practitioners tend to be the ones who move up into these roles. This study will exam “Identifying factors that promote successful leadership and challenges that cause barriers to having successful leadership in behavioral health.” This includes soft and hard skill knowledge, growth opportunities and the strengths and struggles in moving into leadership roles in this industry.

The study is based on phenomenological research to gain an understanding of the individual experience …

Examining Disparities In Pre-Conviction Detention: A Race And Gender Analysis Of Criminal Charging And Detention Practices In Ramsey Countyention Practices In Ramsey County, Gabriel P. Exman

School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations

Race and gender disparities in the U.S. criminal justice system are well documented, primarily in sources of national post-conviction data. However, localized and pre-conviction studies remain limited. This study examined race and gender disparities in pre-conviction detention outcomes and charge severity in Ramsey County, Minnesota, between 2017 and 2019. Using a descriptive, exploratory quantitative design and a retrospective single-cohort analysis, the researcher analyzed trends in arrests, charge severity, and pre-conviction incarceration duration across race and gender groups. Findings indicate disparities in both charge rates and pre-conviction detention durations, with Black men and Native American women experiencing longer periods of incarceration. …

Ensuring A Future For The Past: Balancing Heritage Tourism And Historic Preservation, Kyra Frew Sexauer

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Savannah’s historic city plan, Charleston’s colonial architecture, and New Orleans’ Creole and Cajun culture and cuisine all have a commonality: they tangibly and intangibly connect the past to the present. Each city has a distinct and recognizable landscape, shaped by its built environment, history, and culture, which is listed as a National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) – the most prestigious recognition a historic district can receive in the United States. Heritage tourists are drawn to these places by their history, culture, and authenticity. In 2022, a combined 42,320,000 million tourists poured into the streets of Savannah, Charleston, and New Orleans. …

Modeling Recreational Risk Factors On The Landscape: A Predictive Gis Analysis Of Recreation Accident Response Near North Bend, Washington., Naomi S.J. Van Roon

All Master's Theses

Search and Rescue (SAR) teams in Washington respond to approximately 900 incidents annually, many stemming from outdoor recreation near Interstate 90 surrounding North Bend. This study utilized predictive GIS analysis to identify areas of concern within state lands, including Mount Si and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural Resource Conservation Areas, Raging River State Forest, and Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area. The predictive model was calibrated using SAR responses to hiking-related incidents between March and November from 2020 to 2023, and incorporated an analysis of risk factors influencing recreationalist incident probability. This research then developed a decision support system to aid land managers …

Too Essential To Fail: Lessons From County Fiscal Crises, Michael A. Francus

Journal Articles

This Article draws out the lessons of counties for municipal finance. To do so, the Article begins by unpacking the municipal finance regulations that have provided counties with extraordinary fiscal safety. The Article then turns to case studies of the eleven counties that either filed for bankruptcy or had state fiscal interventions since the passage of the Bankruptcy Code in 1978. Those case studies show how counties' finances can (in rare cases) go wrong despite well-designed municipal finance regulations. The case studies also show how counties have successfully responded to those crises through bankruptcy and fiscal intervention.

Using that analysis, …

Emergency Action Plan Adoption Across Athletic Training Practice Settings, Samantha E. Scarneo-Miller, Rebecca L. Stearns, Christianne M. Eason, Alicia M. Pike Lacy, Rebecca M. Lopez, Zachary K. Winkelmann, Rebecca M. Hirschhorn, Susan W. Yeargin

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context:

The 2024 NATA Position Statement provides updated recommendations for EAP adoption. Past research on the 2002 statement showed limited adoption by ATs. Assessing current adoption across practice settings offers a clearer picture of the EAP implementation landscape.

Objectives:

To examine ATs' adoption of new EAP best-practice recommendations across practice settings.

Design:

Cross-Sectional study.

Setting:

Online questionnaire.

Patients or Other Participants:

Clinically active ATs (n=614) working in any practice setting (Youth, Secondary School, Division 1 Power 4, Collegiate athletics – Not Power 4, Non-Major Professional Sports, Professional Sports, Non-Sideline).

Main Outcome Measures:

Prevalence of an EAP, adoption of recommendations, and …

Breaking A Criminal Mind: Leveraging Habit Breaking/Building For Crime Reduction, Dru Gerace

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Criminal behavior is often shaped by a complex interaction between psychological processes, habitual actions, and neurobiological mechanisms. This research explores how habitual decision-making and reinforcement patterns contribute to criminal tendencies, integrating insights from neuroscience and psychology. The study examines how early-life experiences, cognitive biases, and environmental factors shape habitual behaviors that may predispose individuals to criminal activity. It also discusses the role of executive functioning, impulse control, and neuroplasticity in breaking maladaptive patterns. By analyzing contemporary theories of habit formation and their neurological underpinnings, this paper offers a multidimensional perspective on the development of criminal behavior. Furthermore, implications for rehabilitation …

Internal Or External: An Exploration Of The United States Police Chief Hiring Process, Kayleigh Walker

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper explores the hiring processes of police chiefs across the United States, focusing on internal versus external hiring practices. The goal of this research was to identify common trends, legislative barriers, and the impact of leadership on the hiring process through historical context, legal analysis, and case studies. The findings suggest that internal hires dominate chief appointments, though external hires are often sought during crises. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research and highlights the need to more fully understand this phenomenon. Understanding the processes and limitations surrounding the appointment of new leadership is critical to reform and …

Analyzing Car Theft Trends In Central Texas: A Comparative Study Of Waco, College Station, And Killeen, Daniel Njogu

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This study examines motor vehicle theft (MVT) trends from 2019 to 2023 in three Central Texas cities—Waco, College Station, and Killeen—using temporal analysis, geospatial hotspot mapping, and make/model data. In Killeen, thefts generally rose over the period, with notable peaks in October and on Mondays. College Station saw an overall decline in thefts but experienced a seasonal spike each March, and Waco’s thefts increased until around 2021 before beginning to fall. Local festivals—such as the Spirit of Texas in College Station and the Heart O’ Texas Fair in Waco—appear to coincide with these seasonal upticks. Hyundais and Kias were most …

Examining College Student Perceptions Of Community Police Force Efficacy Based On Experiences And Social Media., Riley Pharion

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This study aims to examine the relations between university undergraduate students and the police force and whether social media content affects the relationship. It will use a qualitative method to gather its results through surveys and one-on-one interviews. The desired sample size we want to collect a small sample of 5-10 undergraduate students for this study. Due to recent discord and accusations of police brutality, it is essential to look at the relations for further reference. Many different factors influence the attitudes of other communities toward the police force, and social media influences many people.

Symptom Presentations And Effective Mental Health Interventions For Those Experiencing Homelessness: A Systematic Review, Abraham Sloves

Theses and Dissertations

Homelessness is a present and concerning issue without a clear solution due partly to barriers in public policy, as well as challenges in homelessness research. Research seems to indicate that barriers to effective research on homelessness include inconsistent and incomplete data on homelessness prevalence, a lack of consistency in defining homelessness, and lack of generalizable research (Hossain et al., 2020). This is especially true when it comes to the intersection between homelessness and mental illness. While research has been done on interventions for unhoused individuals (Morton et al., 2020; Ponka et al., 2020), studies often fail to address the complex …

The Connection Between Fragmentation And Traffic Stops, John Bulat

Wayne State University Dissertations

Throughout the United States, there are hundreds of metropolitan areas. For myriad reasons, the number of local governments within each metropolitan area varies. Some scholars argue that having too many local governments leads to inefficiencies and inequities for the metropolitan area as a whole and for its central city in particular (e.g., Wood, 1958; Dreier et al., 2014). Others maintain the opposite. They contend that having more local governments leads to greater competition between municipalities for citizens and businesses. This, in turn, keeps service costs low, leads to lower taxes, and provides greater choice for citizens in terms of places …

Passing The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act: Gun Control After 30 Years, Kory Lohrmann

Wayne State University Dissertations

In June of 2022, the United States Congress passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) after nearly 30 years of inaction. This dissertation analyzes why after decades of status quo maintenance (lack of gun control action), Congress decided to act following the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde Texas. This research uses hypotheses generated from Punctuated Equilibrium Theory (PET) to compare six different mass shootings to examine what set the Uvalde shooting apart from other similar shooting within the last 15 years. This study analyzes media coverage, public opinion shifts, political saliences, election cycles, and victim characteristics to break down …

The Post-Alert Lexicon: A Multiphased Study To Develop Content For Post-Alert Messages, Jeannette Sutton, Hugh D. Walpole, Micki Olson, Lauren B. Cain, Savanah Olivas, Bruce Pollock, Nicholas Waugh

Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity Faculty Scholarship

Using a multi-phased, mixed methods approach, grounded in theory on alerts and warnings, the Post-Alert Lexicon serves as a companion to the Warning Lexicon to provide evidence-based guidance on how to construct a post-alert message for 45 hazards and missing person events. We draw from the results of quantitative content analyses of a census of post-alert messages issued as Wireless Emergency Alerts from 2012-2022, and public message testing experiments for three hazard types (wildfire, earthquake, and bomb threat), to find that a focus on hazard resolution and public action, rather than the commonly employed language of “all clear,” increases message …

Safe Sex In The Age Of Big Tech Feminism, Brenda Dvoskin, Thomas E. Kadri

Scholarship@WashULaw

Lawmakers and technology companies are regulating online sexuality in the name of feminism. Whereas libertarian ideals dominated early debates about internet governance, “safety” became a rallying cry to regulate online activity in the age of Big Tech. As these regulatory paradigms now clash once again, one trend remains: legislators across the political spectrum and companies around the world are devising interventions that purportedly keep people—and especially women—safe from the risks of online sexuality. Through law and technology, they are targeting everything from privacy invasions to unwanted messages to sexual deepfakes. We call this regulatory and ideological trend Big Tech feminism. …

Disentangling Safety And Accountability In Criminal Justice Policy, Benjamin Levin

Scholarship@WashULaw

In this Article, I argue that the U.S. criminal system and debates about criminal justice reform reflect an elision of two largely distinct social functions: ensuring public safety and imposing accountability for harmful conduct. Despite deep disagreement about the specifics, most commentators seem to accept that these are both important social functions. Abolitionists claim that the criminal system doesn’t keep people safe and provide accountability. Instead, it harms—and perhaps is meant to harm—people from marginalized communities and protects the interest of socially dominant groups. Reformers contend that the criminal system can and should serve the safety and/or accountability interests, but …

Abolish What?, Benjamin Levin

Scholarship@WashULaw

From leading academic journals to popular press outlets, abolitionist activism and scholarship have earned airtime in national debates about criminal justice reform. But what is "abolition?" When scholars, lawyers, and activists talk about abolition, they seem to mean very different, even conflicting, things. In this Essay, I focus on a core question that might divide different abolitionists-and different critics of abolition: what is to be abolished? Abolitionists argue that it's critically important to abolish something, while critics of abolition insist that something is necessary to a well-functioning society. Yet, it's not always clear what that something is-both for abolitionists and …

Incitement, Enthusiasm, And The Dangers Of Negligent Protest, John D. Inazu

Scholarship@WashULaw

This Article explores the murky line between protected speech and assembly on the one hand, and harmful incitement on the other. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Oliver Wendell Holmes’s dissent in Gitlow v. New York, it explores Holmes’s famous dictum that “every idea is an incitement” as a conceptual starting point. By analyzing the relational and temporal dynamics between speaker and listener, the Article highlights how meaning and effect are often shaped by the listener’s agency and other circumstances beyond the control of the speaker. Two contemporary cases illustrate these dynamics. The first is the Fifth Circuit …

Lessons Learned From The Trump Rule Of Law Stress Test: Beware Bad Faith Actors, Brian Z. Tamanaha

Scholarship@WashULaw

The second Trump Administration has engaged in a vast swath of actions that press against the outer boundaries of legality. These actions provide a unique opportunity to identify potential vulnerabilities and expose how the rule of law can be undermined. While I will elucidate well-known points along the way, my primary aim is to bring out aspects of the rule of law that usually go unnoticed or under the radar. After setting out basic aspects of the rule of law, I cover three topics: 1) adhering to the truth, 2) pretextual arguments, and 3) flooding the field with actions and …

A Liberty-Balancing Approach To Crime, Sheldon Evans

Scholarship@WashULaw

At its core, the criminal legal system is an ecosystem of institutions that seek to balance liberty interests. The insightful theories and complex practices of crime policy coalesce around questions on how crime impacts the liberties of individuals and communities to be safe, and how this correlates with the deprivation of liberty from offenders through our punishment system. But modern criminal policy, most often associated with the problems of overcriminalization and mass incarceration, has wholly abandoned any such delicate and nuanced balancing. Instead, the system thrives on sacrificing the liberties of offenders in a perverse and ineffective regime that leads …

Auditing Criminal Justice Minimalism, Trevor George Gardner

Scholarship@WashULaw

If criminal justice minimalism is a shared principle among criminal law scholars, it can help to clarify the quality of our disagreements. Every normative proposal in the criminal legal literature can be held to the minimalist standard—audited, so to speak, to account for the policy author’s minimalist claims. To this end, this Essay proposes a four-step framework by which to evaluate adherence to the minimalist principle, where each step serves as a hub for pointed scholarly debate regarding the path to minimalist criminal justice.

Through The Lens Of Social Media: Examining The Relationship Between Exposure To Social Media Videos Of Police Misconduct And Perceptions Of Legitimacy And Cooperation With Campus Police, Kamal Alhassan

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines how exposure to social media and internet news videos depicting police misconduct influences college students' perceptions of campus police legitimacy, procedural justice, and willingness to cooperate. Although prior research has demonstrated the impact of media portrayals on perceptions of municipal police, limited attention has been given to campus policing contexts. Guided by Tyler’s process-based theory of police legitimacy and Gerbner’s cultivation theory, this quantitative study surveyed 400 students at a large public university in the Southeastern Mid-Atlantic region. Measures included self-reported viewing and engagement with police misconduct content on social media, internet, and traditional media platforms, as …

Disconnected Minds: Exploring Nomophobia And Adhd's Impacts On Driving Hazard Perceptions Among College Students, Stephanie Zheng

Honors Undergraduate Theses

An increasing psychological concern in the 21st century is the development of the fear of being unable to access one's mobile phone, also known as nomophobia. However, its impact on individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) remains largely unexplored. Given ADHD’s association with impulsivity, attentional difficulties, and emotional dysregulation, those with the condition may be particularly vulnerable to nomophobia, which can affect every aspect of their daily lives, ranging from interpersonal relationships to their academic success and overall physical and mental well-being. This study aims to answer four questions: how does ADHD impact the severity of nomophobia among college students, do …

The Life Of Or Measure 110: Evolution, Implementation, And Impact, Matthew D. Albertson

Anthós

In 2020, Oregon voters approved Measure 110, a groundbreaking policy that decriminalized possession of small quantities of controlled substances and redirected cannabis tax revenues to treatment and recovery centers. This article examines the passage, implementation, and rollback of Measure 110 with HB 4002, enacted in 2024. Drawing on state audits, legislative records, and public health data to contextualize Measure 110 within broader debates on public health, criminal justice reform, and policy-making, Albertson analyzes the progressive policy’s aspirational, reform-minded goals and the practical shortcomings in its enactment. Albertson argues that while Measure 110 has faced justified criticism and partial reversal, it …

Crater Pdc Community Identity & Assets: Foundations For Future Branding And Economic Development, Lydia M. Schauss

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This project examines how the Crater Planning District Commission (CPDC) can develop a cohesive community identity through regional branding. Spanning eleven localities in Virginia, the CPDC faces challenges related to fragmented identity, under-leveraged assets, and limited community engagement across its jurisdictions. Through a review of thirty-two planning documents and two rounds of stakeholder focus groups, this research identifies common strengths, recurring issues, and shared aspirations across the region.

The analysis highlights quality of life—defined by affordability, rural character, and community connection—as a central theme. From these findings, the project proposes a branding framework rooted in Asset-Based Community Development and inclusive …

Public Transportation As A Vehicle For Upward Mobility Of Women In Appalachian Virginia, Katy Miller

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Gender and geography are intersecting identities that can affect transportation access and therefore upward mobility. Mobility in rural areas is restricted by economic, temporal, and spatial limitations, as well as infrastructure accessibility. Gendered differences in mobility patterns influence the ability of women to utilize public transportation systems. There is a lack of consideration of rural women in transportation research and planning.

This paper seeks to understand the accessibility of public transportation systems in rural areas to women and how it can contribute to their upward mobility, by studying the Four County Transit system in Appalachian Virginia. Population demographics, current system …

A Review Of Infrared Thermography Applications For Civil Infrastructure, Prabal Shrestha, Onur Avci, Sahabeddin Rifai, Feras Abla, Michael Seek, Karl Barth, Udaya Halabe

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Civil infrastructure is continuously subject to aging and deterioration due to multiple factors, which lead to a decline in performance and impact structural health. Accumulated damage on structures increases operational costs and poses significant risks to public safety. Effective maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation strategies are needed to ensure civil infrastructure’s overall safety and reliability. Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) methods are utilized to assess latent damage and provide decision-makers with real-time information for mitigating hazards. Within the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the research and development of innovative NDE techniques to improve data processing and promote efficient and …