Digital Commons Network^™

Readability And Suitability Of Local Disaster Preparedness Materials In Predominantly Hispanic Border Communities: A Case Study Of Cameron County, Texas, Katarzyna Sepielak, Dawid K. Wladyka

Sociology Faculty Publications

Community awareness is a key component of disaster resilience and numerous agencies developed a plethora of preparedness materials. Previous studies evaluated national-level resources and social media content indicating that these efforts are not effectively reaching vulnerable populations, as the information is provided at or above the secondary education level. However, the local-specific content has been mostly overlooked in the analyses, subsequently neglecting the needs of areas with specific demographics and hazards, like predominantly Hispanic border communities. Thus, this study turns to local preparedness and mitigation materials, rather than general internet searches or national level documents. We analyze information provided on …

Resources In Northeast Nebraska's Waste Could Power The Future, Reese Vanosdel, Emma Kurtz, Tyler Knaak

Project Energy Nebraska: Student Projects

Environmental Engagement in the Community projects, summer 2024

A poster titled Resources in Northeast Nebraska's Waste Could Power the Future for clients City of Norfolk, Nebraska (Steven Rames) and City of Wayne, Nebraska (Wes Blecke and Sandy Brown).

Advisor: David Gosselin

Curbing The Campus Mental Health Crisis: The Role Of Extracurricular Activity Participation, Rosanne Villemaire-Krajden, Erin Barker

Journal of Youth Development

Rates of distress on post-secondary campuses are alarmingly high, calling for a shift towards learning environments that better address emerging adults’ holistic needs. This cross-sectional, mixed-method study examines the role that extracurricular activity participation can play in such approaches. Online survey data was collected from 302 undergraduate students (M_age = 21.3) to assess extracurricular activity participation prior to and during their university attendance, across quantitative indicators (i.e., type and number of activities). Students’ qualitative accounts of the influence of their extracurricular activity participation on their development and wellbeing was examined using thematic analysis. Results indicate that rates of …

The Influence Of Student-Teacher Relationship Quality On Educational Outcomes For Students With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Cassidy Ann Spradlin

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The purpose of this dissertation study was to examine the associations between student-teacher closeness, student-teacher conflict, and educational outcomes (i.e., academic, social, and behavioral outcomes) for students with elevated symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Positive student-teacher relationship quality is linked to educational success and has been found to be inversely related to adverse outcomes in the general population. Previous research has examined differences in student-teacher relationship quality for students with ADHD, but the association between student-teacher relationship quality and educational outcomes is not well understood for students with ADHD. This dissertation study examined the association between student-teacher relationship quality and …

Estranged Temporality: How Time Tells Stories In Science Fiction, Phillip H. Howells

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

According to Darko Suvin in his influential critical treatise, Metamorphoses of Science Fiction, estrangement in Science Fiction (SF) gives authors the ability to build worlds related to but distant from our own using specific metaphors. This dissertation takes up this term and applies it to the fulcrum of time in SF as a method of creating possible futures and imaginative pasts in order to illuminate the realities of the present. The realities of the present are congruent with the material circumstances of the past, and this can be seen in the kinds of SF worlds built by members of …

Risk Factors For Online And In-Person Stalking, Intrusive Harassment, And Violence Within A Community Sample, Elisha J. C. Chan

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Stalking and intrusive harassment (SIH) and stalking violence are prevalent and serious public health concerns associated with significant physical, psychological, financial, and social consequences. The growing proliferation of technology and the internet has only exacerbated the problem as SIH behaviors can be easily perpetrated via electronic means. Given its prevalence and negative impact, it is imperative to investigate the risk factors for online and in-person SIH and stalking violence to better predict and mitigate its detrimental effects. The current study therefore aimed to 1) examine the descriptive characteristics associated with online and in-person SIH and stalking violence; and 2) identify …

My Ai Companion: An Examination Of The Removal Of Erotic Role Play From Replika Through User Discussion On Reddit, Chelsee M. Allen

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) software has expanded rapidly in recent years, and thus has emerged the importance of exploring human relationships with AI chatbots. Replika, an app which uses AI to mimic human conversation, removed a function called Erotic Role Play (ERP) that allowed for sexual conversation with users’ customizable chatbots in February of 2023. This exploratory qualitative study examines the aftermath of ERP’s removal through an analysis of user interactions on Reddit. Five overarching themes emerged through the analysis of top posts to a Replika-specific subreddit, encompassing topics around mental health, stigma, coping, sex work and gendered …

What Are The Psychosocial Effects Of Service Dogs On Handlers With Disabilities, Kylie Kline

University Honors Theses

This study looks to explore the psychosocial effects that service dogs have on handlers with disabilities. A cross-sectional survey designed to gather information about this directly from service dog handlers was administered to a sample of 20 participants. Then, a qualitative analysis was conducted on data from the survey using an inductive coding scheme that identified themes in the data as key terms and ideas emerged.

Results revealed many nuances surrounding service dogs' effects on handlers' psychosocial health. Notable results include: 20 of 20 participants (100%) reporting their service dogs have had positive impacts on their quality of life; 19 …

A Criminological Analysis Of The “White Supremacy To Anti-Immigrant Violence Pathway”, Ida Oesteraas

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

White supremacy consists of intricate ideologies, systems, privileges, and personal beliefs that result in unequal outcomes based on race in various aspects of life, such as wealth, freedom, health, and happiness (Belew & Gutiérrez, 2021). This dissertation explores the manifestation of white supremacy across various societal levels and its consequent harm and violence against people of color, immigrants, and particularly immigrants of color from Latin America. Here, I coin the term “white supremacy to anti-immigrant violence pathway” to examine how white supremacy has intertwined with our institutions and society, demonstrating how the exclusion and policing of immigrants of color sustain …

Crisis In The Coalfields: State/Corporate Violence, Historical Trauma, & Concentrated Substance Misuse And Harm, Brooke Baker

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

What we frame as "the problem" in our society shapes our responses, which also shapes how and where we spend our resources. The prevailing narratives surrounding drug issues in rural coalfields, West Virginia, the Appalachian region, and arguably throughout the U.S. often mischaracterize the problem. This research explored the relationship between state/corporate violence, historical trauma, and concentrated substance misuse and harm in the rural, central Appalachian coalfields. This study employs a trauma-informed, critical ethnographic approach by utilizing participant observation and photo-elicitation interviewing to collect the data, and a critical qualitative framework to analyze it. The main findings of this research …

Report On Findings From Household Needs Study, Paulin T. Straughan, Mathew Mathews

ROSA Research Briefs

The Household Needs Study (HNS) aimed to capture public perspectives on essential items and activities that are deemed necessary for a normal life in Singapore and to understand the extent to which Singaporeans are able to access these items and activities. To do so, the study adopted the Living Standards Approach (Saunders, Naidoo & Wong, 2022), which purports that individuals experience relative deprivation and/or social exclusion if they do not have access to items and activities that are deemed to be essential by society. In this study, a survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of around 4,000 respondents …

Humanizing Healthcare: Supporting Lgbtq+ Healthcare Professionals And Trainees, Atticus Wolfe

Theses and Dissertations

The public perception of the healthcare profession has been shifting in recent years largely attributed to the rise of scientific and medical skepticism impacting perceptions of the value of healthcare professionals and care itself (Goddard & Patel 2021). While healthcare professions remain associated with higher public value, healthcare professionals and trainees are expected to adhere to rigid expectations of medical professionalism that may contradict other aspects of their identities. LGBTQ+ identity in particular may pose conflicts to the expectations of healthcare professionalism, contributing to lower self-perceived value for LGBTQ+ healthcare professionals and trainees compared to non-LGBTQ+ healthcare professionals and trainees …

First Through The Black Glass Ceiling: Towards Understanding The Communication Of Successful “First” Black Women Of Martinsville, Dasha L. Dillard

Communication & Theatre Arts Theses

The present study investigated the communication Black women ‘firsts’ of Martinsville, Virginia received and how resilience is communicated throughout one’s lives. Seven Black women who once worked or lived in Martinsville, Virginia were interviewed to discover the resilience themes through their professional lives and how resilience was a factor in how these women became ‘firsts’ in their respective fields. The study's findings show that certain personality and communication traits define and equip Black women to succeed and overcome adversities in today’s society. Furthermore, women who exhibited personality qualities such as assertiveness, faith, rebellion, and self-preservation and communication qualities such as …

Exploring Gen Z’S Identity Formation And Its Influence On Consumption Of Pop Culture And Entertainment Merchandise, Melisa Annette Spilinek

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Fandoms have grown in size and influence, becoming a complex and dynamic cultural phenomenon that richly impacts the consumption of media and consumer behavior. The capitalistic United States with its diverse and media-savvy population, is a prime destination to study fan studies, particularly among young adults who are a crucial component of fandom influence.

The internet has grown to be a major component of the fan experience, an integral part of fandom culture. Online communities provide avenues for Generation Z to connect with others who share similar struggles, challenges, and interests, highlighting the importance of digital platofrms on the evolution …

Supporting Resource Equity For Oregon’S Home Visiting Workforce: Exploring Program Model And Regional Differences, Nicole M. Lauzus, Yumi Lee, Beth L. Green, Erin Gaines, Ron Joseph

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Prenatal and early childhood home visiting is an effective strategy for promoting positive birth outcomes, improving family well-being and preventing child abuse and neglect. One key to successful services is having a strong, well-supported home visiting workforce. In Oregon and nationally, this critical workforce is facing a crisis as programs struggle to hire and retain skilled home visitors, and workers face low pay, difficult working conditions and high job stress.

This learning brief is the second in a series to share findings from a 2023 survey of Oregon’s home visiting workforce, which provides a wealth of information about how to …

Redefining Boundaries: Women's Strategic Position In The Evolving International Public Realm, Hirshi Anadza

Global: Jurnal Politik Internasional

The dichotomy of public and private is always related to the binary oppositions of women and men in social realms. Men are always the representation of the public because masculinity emphasises public discourse, war, and peace, and vice versa with women. Consequently, exploring how women position themselves within the international public sphere is imperative, particularly as the boundary between the public and private realms becomes increasingly blurred. This article argues that women could play a crucial role in this more complex public-private dichotomy while facing the international realm. Nation-states have a role as publics domestically but then change their status …

Relationships Between Environmental Pollution And Corporate Environmental Violence Within The Florida Energy Sector, Lynne Hodalski-Champagne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Environmental pollution and corporate environmental violence (CEV) have become a primary motivator for research, activism, and policy initiatives. Prior research has involved environmental crime, environmental injustice and racism, its origins, history and applications, and effects on public perceptions leading to recommendations for policy implementation. The purpose of the study was to address environmental pollution in terms of total toxic emissions and CEV through analyses of harm inflicted on life, health, and physical integrity of humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. A quantitative correlational design was used with a Pearson’s r correlation coefficient to determine significance with a 95% confidence interval. Routine activities, …

Shattering The Mask: Unveiling The Destructive Force Of Misogynoir, Ledominique Hubbard

Dissertations

As a Black woman, my professional journey has been consistently marred by encounters with racism and gender bias. In this research, I employed autoethnography to shed light on my experiences and meticulously examine the challenges of misogynoir I faced while holding pivotal positions, including that of a detested team leader, an ingenious instructional teacher, and an anti-racist assistant principal across three distinct school campuses in two states. My narrative unfolds in various contexts, notably as the sole Black female teacher and team leader within nine elementary schools in a predominantly white, female-staffed rural district. Furthermore, I underscore my role as …

To What Extent Did Karl Marx's Political Thought Influence The Occupy Wall Street Movement In The 21st Century?, Madalyn A. Schroeder

The Confluence

The research will investigate the intriguing influences of Karl Marx’s political thought and the Occupy Wall Street movement that came to be in the 21st Century. The study looks to measure the depth and significance of Marx’s influence on a modern sociopolitical movement driven by economic inequality and social justice concerns. By taking a multidisciplinary approach that combines political theory, social activism analysis, and historical context, this investigation shows the extent to which Marx’s ideas informed the ideological foundation and strategies of the Occupy Wall Street movement. By looking through primary sources, protest literature, and the discourse of the movement, …

Cameras For Girls: Nonprofit Spotlight, Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Full Issue: Artificial Intelligence And Data For Nonprofit Organizations, Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Machine Learning For Nonprofit Organizations, Justin Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Nonprofit organizations are often looking for ways to increase efficiency while operating with limited resources. With data more readily available than in the recent past, machine learning provides powerful tools for unlocking valuable insights and enabling nonprofits to do more with limited resources. This paper explores various machine learning techniques to enhance nonprofit operations with an overview of machine learning approaches, including supervised, unsupervised, semi-supervised, and reinforcement learning, and their potential benefits for nonprofit organizations. A practical use-case of donor prediction for fundraising is presented to demonstrate how supervised learning can be employed to identify potential repeat donors. The neural …

Enhancing Nonprofit Efficiency And Productivity Through Ai: Applications Of Chatgpt, Sam R. Calhoun, Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

This article explores how nonprofit organizations can leverage AI to enhance efficiency and productivity. Key areas of impact include automating routine inquiries, supporting fundraising efforts, streamlining administrative tasks, aiding in program delivery, facilitating research and analysis, improving internal communication, and providing professional development. By integrating AI, nonprofits can optimize operations and focus more on their core mission, leading to greater social impact.

At-A-Glance Chart: How Nonprofits Can Use Ai/Chatgpt, Sam Calhoun, Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Research Summaries: Artificial Intelligence And Data For Nonprofits, Erica Jensen

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Author Bios, Back Matter 04

CouRaGeouS Cuentos: A Journal of Counternarratives

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Front Matter 01

CouRaGeouS Cuentos: A Journal of Counternarratives

No abstract provided.

Curiosity, Passion, & Proximity: Motivations For Attending Safe Zone Trainings, D Chase J. Catalano, Daniel Tillapaugh, Rachel Wagner, Kari Dockendorff, Nina Tissi-Gassoway

Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education

LGBTQ+ social justice educational interventions (SJEIs), usually named Safe Zone or Ally Training, offer opportunities for knowledge acquisition and reflection. Ideally, they provide components necessary to cultivate allyship through the development of a liberatory consciousness (Love, 2018) through increasing awareness, engaging in analysis, considering actions, and reflecting on accountability. In this instrumental case study (Stake, 2000) focused on 17 graduate students, faculty, and staff at a large, public university in the Mid-Atlantic, we used liberatory consciousness as a conceptual framework to examine motivation for attendance. Three findings emerged: (1) curiosity, (2) passion, and (3) proximity. Implications of these specific factors …

A Humanistic Approach To Politics: Ahp's Call For An "Authentic" Politics Of Truth And Accountability, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

As human beings on this tiny planet in the cosmos we call Earth, we live as ‘citizens’ in a variety of people-determined land demarcations that we call countries, each with its own unique version of politics. Citizens in the United States and people in the world, therefore, are engaged in a variety of political dramas. It is fair to say that in the United States and globally, the current political climate is very divisive. In the United States and globally, humanity is at an inflection point in the evolution of its consciousness at individual and collective levels. Out of fear, …

Regional Variations In Nabataean Jewelry, Emily Marie Yankura

Theses and Dissertations

The use of jewelry is just one of many avenues for individual self-expression, but even in the most individualistic society it is also a reflection of certain cultural norms, values, and expectations. This thesis is an analysis of Nabataean jewelry in burial contexts from the three main regions of the ancient kingdom - Medina Selah, the Negev, and Petra – with the aim of reaching a better understanding of Nabataean culture through their jewelry. The types of jewelry, materials used in their construction, and many other variables are compared and reveal unique regional variations within an overall Hellenistic style.