Digital Commons Network^™

District Leaders' Perception Of Multi-Tiered System Of Supports Implementation: A Qualitative Study, Julia E. Facer

Theses and Dissertations

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a model that can be implemented in school buildings with the support of school district leaders. However, the voices of district leaders involved in MTSS implementation are limited in the research. This study sought to investigate what district leaders perceived as impacting factors towards MTSS implementation and draw conclusions about impacting factors from their opinions. Ten district leaders in a mountain west state of the United States were interviewed via Zoom and had their transcripts analyzed for impacting factors using a form of thematic analysis. All participants were involved with MTSS at their district …

Full Issue

Journal of Response to Writing

No abstract provided.

Building Response Into Labor-Based Grading Contracts, Kat O'Meara

Journal of Response to Writing

No abstract provided.

Improving First- And Second-Year Student Writing Using A Metacognitive And Integrated Assessment Approach, Leanne Havis

Journal of Response to Writing

Metacognition emphasizes an awareness and understanding of one’s thought and cognitive processes, along with management of cognition through multiple strategies including organizing, monitoring, and adapting. Before students can truly become effective writers, they must develop an appreciation for the amount of planning, organization, and revision that comprises a writing assignment. In order to improve student writing, the exam autopsy approach, an integrated post-exam assessment model that draws upon self-assessment, peer review, and instructor feedback, was modified to include metacognitive components for use with essay exams and writing assignments. The current study employed a mixed-methods design with a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent group …

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (Pots): A Frequently Missed Diagnosis, Aubrey R. George, Blaine A. Winters

Student Works

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a debilitating chronic illness that involves a sustained tachycardia upon standing and affects millions of patients in the United States alone. POTS is most commonly seen in adolescent females and substantially reduces overall quality of life. In 2019, less than a third of all providers had heard of POTS and patients may wait over a decade for a proper diagnosis and treatment. With the intermittent and variable nature of symptoms, 83% of patients reported being misdiagnosed with a psychological condition before receiving a diagnosis of POTS. Understanding the relationship between autonomic compensation and hemodynamic …

Understanding And Working Through Self-Harm, Maya Wilde

Student Works

Self-harm is a coping strategy used by many adolescents dealing with mental disorders. Fifteen articles from academic journals published between 2012 and 2022 were examined. Those who struggle with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) experience overactivation in the fronto-limbic system of the brain, which includes the amygdala (Kaess et al., 2021). Self-harm decreases activity and stress in the amygdala and increases the amount of dopamine in the brain (Kaess et al., 2021; Reitz et al., 2015). Self-harm may be used as a way to regulate negative affect. Seeing blood might be a significant part of an episode of NSSI, but it is …

Reporting Verb Variation Across Disciplines: An Academic Corpus Study, Grant Eckstein, Jacob D. Rawlins, Hannah Taylor, Haley Briggs, Andrea Candland, Elizabeth Hanks, Sarah Hill

Faculty Publications

Reporting verbs are used in academic writing to establish authorial voice when referencing previous research. Although the practice is widespread, inexperienced academic writers and second-language learners may struggle to select appropriate reporting verbs within their given discipline or may overuse them in ways that signal outsider status. The present study explores the distribution of reporting verbs across six disciplines in a corpus containing 270 academic research background sections (introduction and literature review). The results illustrate that disciplines vary widely in the number and type of reporting verbs used. While common reporting verbs across disciplines include argue, examine, report …

Trauma And Poetry. The Case Of Primo Levi, Ilona Klein

Faculty Publications

Most North American readers have come to know and appreciate Primo Levi by his major works in prose. His The Periodic Table (1984) catapulted Levi onto the American stage of scientific-humanistic authors, having the New York Times named it among the Best Books of the Year in 1985. Instead, American readers will likely stumble upon Levi’s poetry by accident, simply because every now and then one of his poems in translation appears in print somewhere. Compared to Levi’s prose, his poems inevitably evoke a sense of unease, for their tone, their style and their content are so unlike the familiar, …

In Their Own Words: Perspectives On Collection Weeding From Library Employees And Teaching Faculty, Dan Broadbent, Megan Frost, Gregory M. Nelson, David Pixton

Faculty Publications

Following a Science and Engineering collection weeding project of over 350,000 print items, our research team conducted interviews with 20 library employees and 19 teaching faculty involved in the project. The purpose of the interviews was to assess the interviewees’ perspectives and feelings relating to the time required to complete the project, inter- and intra- library communication, the decision-making processes, and their personal assessment of the costs and benefits of the project. The interviewees also offered their views of the overall project’s successes and areas for improvement. Drawing from a qualitative analysis of the interviews, we provide guidance for other …

An Interdisciplinary Approach To Facilitating Positive Outcomes Among Veterans Experiencing Vision Impairment: Applications Of Posttraumatic Growth Theory, Emily Watkins, Corinna Trujillo Tanner

Student Works

Objective: Using an adaptation of Tedeschi and Calhoun’s model of posttraumatic growth (PTG), the psychosocial impact of vision impairment (VI) is contextualized and intervention targets are identified which nurse practitioners may utilize to optimize positive psychosocial outcomes, including PTG, for their veteran patients who are living with VI.

Method: Qualitative and quantitative studies were identified through MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, and CINAHL Complete searches. Limiters included human subjects, English language, and publication through 1996 to 2022. Search terms included vision loss, visual impairment, veterans, military, soldiers, servicemen, servicewomen, posttraumatic growth, positive outcomes, and blindness rehabilitation. Additionally, books by Tedeschi and Moore …

Comparing Relative And Absolute Reliability Of Short Versus Long Narrative Retells, Jenna Hollis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to examine and compare relative and absolute reliability estimates between brief, linguistically compact narrative retells and longer, more linguistically diffuse narrative retells. The participants included 190 school-age children in firstsixth grade from Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Participants completed two brief narrative retells using the Narrative Language Measures (NLM) Listening subtest of the CUBED assessment and one longer narrative retell using the wordless picture book Frog, Where Are You? (FWAY). These language samples were then analyzed for language productivity, complexity, and story grammar elements using the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts software program and …

Defining Dyslexia Within And Across Disciplines: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Ann Marie Trumbo

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: In the present study, we conducted a systematic review to investigate the core features of the definition of dyslexia across different disciplines according to their associated professional organizations and published research in order to evaluate the presence and type of inconsistencies within and across disciplines in how dyslexia is defined. Method: Definition statements of dyslexia from professional organizations in medicine, education, speech-language pathology, psychology, and the International Dyslexia Association were collected via scope of practice guidelines or via the organization's official website. Using a database with a wide disciplinary reach, we collected 764 of the most cited articles from …

The Christian Approach To Psychology, Preston Keller

Student Works

This article analyzes the implications of the current worldview of contemporary psychology and demonstrates that these implications are not compatible with the worldview of a Christian approach to psychology. The contrast between Greek Naturalism and Hebrew Theism are presented as the historical foundations for the worldviews of contemporary psychology and Christianity, respectively. The ontological, epistemological, and ethical assumptions of a Christian approach to psychology are explored. The Christian approach to human flourishing, psychopathology, and psychotherapy are contrasted against contemporary psychology's approach to these three areas. The article concludes by suggesting that the field of contemporary psychology should make space for …

Contextual Factors Associated With Organizational Learning In Hospitals: An Instrument Development Study, Bret Lyman, Kylie C. Thorum

Faculty Publications

Aim: Develop a valid, reliable research instrument to measure contextual factors associated with organizational learning in hospitals.

Background: A valid, reliable instrument for measuring contextual factors associated with organizational learning is needed so nurse leaders and researchers can improve healthcare by facilitating and studying organizational learning.

Methods: The Organizational Learning in Hospitals model guided development of the Organizational Learning Instrument-Context. Content validity was refined and evaluated through cognitive interviews and expert reviews. The instrument was distributed to direct care nurses in Magnet® hospitals in the United States. Intraclass correlation coefficients validated the use of multilevel analyses. Construct validity was assessed …

Inclusion And Deliberative Dialogues: Exploring Outcomes Of Transformative Experiences For Adolescents, Hadley Robertson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore outcomes of participating in a deliberative dialogue for adolescents. Participants attended a deliberative dialogue facilitated by the primary researcher. After the dialogue, participants completed journal prompts that asked about their experience participating in the dialogue. Results indicated that participation in the dialogues impacted adolescents’ confidence and open-mindedness. Findings also indicated components of atmosphere that contributed to willingness to engage, and strategies participants can use in future conversations. Deliberative dialogues are an avenue for transformative experiences and the data from this study can help experience designers understand these types of experiences for adolescents. …

Lack Of Access To Insulin Among People With Type 1 Diabetes In The Us, Hannah Randall

Ballard Brief

Insulin is a life-preserving medicine for individuals with type 1 diabetes. Insulin is especially inaccessible in the United States compared to other high-income nations due to patents and production monopolies, insufficient insurance coverage and other barriers to healthcare, and increased use of insulin analogs. As a result. individuals affected by this face a series of challenges, from turning to insulin rationing, and high rates of diabetic ketoacidosis. to a high mental toll. While this remains a complex issue. policy measures may be an effective way to make insulin more accessible for more Americans. Education on the need for better access …

Food Waste In The United States, Jayden Davis

Ballard Brief

Americans produce billions of pounds of food waste every year. affecting the environment and economy in which they live. The average American throws out more than 400 lbs. (181 kg.) of food annually, which translates to 30%-40% of the total US food supply. Issues including unsustainable practices within the food supply chain, high aesthetic standards for produce among retailers and customers. and uninformed consumer behavior all exacerbate the food waste problem. Among other reasons. the negative consequences of food waste include increased greenhouse gas emissions. wasted and compromised water supplies. and economic losses. Redistributing unwanted or unsold food to organizations …

Inadequate Maternal Health Care For Women In The United States, Rebecca Stull Zundel

Ballard Brief

Although insufficient maternal health care has seen improvements in most developed countries, it is still a rising issue in the United States. This insufficiency may partly be due to the accessibility barriers that both rural and urban women face in reaching adequate care. Additionally, the expenses of maternal care or gender discrimination within medical establishments may dissuade women from seeking the care that they need. Women who receive inadequate care are at a higher risk for maternal mortality, the death of their unborn or newly born infant, and having a low-birth weight child, which comes with many issues of its …

Southern Appalachian Ghost Stories, Zackery Youngblood

Final Projects

About southern Appalachian ghost lore.

Age-Related Differences In Food-Specific Inhibitory Control: Electrophysiological And Behavioral Evidence In Healthy Aging, Whitney D. Allen

Theses and Dissertations

The number of older adults is estimated to double from 52 million to 95 million by 2060. Approximately 80-85% of older adults are diagnosed with a chronic health condition. Many of these chronic health conditions are influenced by diet and exercise, suggesting improved diet and eating behaviors could improve health-related outcomes. One factor that might improve dietary habits in older adults is food-related inhibitory control. We tested whether food-related inhibitory control, using behavioral (response time, error rate) and scalp-recorded event-related potential (ERP; N2 and P3 components) measures of food-related inhibitory control differed between younger and older adults over age 55. …

Dating App Facilitated Sexual Assault: A Growing Phenomenon, Kristen Mella Hamblin

Theses and Dissertations

Dating App Facilitated Sexual Assault (DAppSA) is a new phenomenon and growing concern. Research on DAppSA is extremely limited. This study aimed to identify unique victim and assault characteristics associated with DAppSAs. A retrospective SAMFE chart review of patients (N = 3,413) from 2017 to 2020 was conducted. Sexual assault nurse examiners completed SAMFEs. Inclusion criteria for DAppSA cases included 1) victim was 14 years of age or older; 2) victim indicated they met the perpetrator on a dating website or app; 3) the SA occurred at the initial in-person meeting; 4) victim had a SAMFE with evidence collection. DAppSAs …

Frequency And Magnitude Of Obstacles And Helpful Behavior Items In End-Of-Life Care As Perceived By Nurses Working In Critical Access Hospitals, Shalyn C. Larsen

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Twenty percent of Americans live in rural areas where most of their healthcare is provided in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). It is unknown how frequently obstacle and helpful behavior items occur in End-of-Life (EOL) care in CAHs. Objectives: To determine the frequency of occurrence scores of obstacle and helpful behavior items in providing EOL care in CAHs. To also determine which obstacles and helpful behaviors have the greatest or least impact on EOL care based on the magnitude scores. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to nurses working in 39 CAHs in the United States. Nurse participants were asked to …

The Candle And The Flame, Tessa Mcmillan Mcmillan

Children's Book and Media Review

Fatima’s family was murdered outside the city of Noor by bloodthirsty magical beings, the Shayateen Djinn, when Fatima was a child. Ghazala, an Ifrit djinni warrior, found Fatima close to death. Ghazala sacrificed herself by merging her powerful Ifrit magic into Fatima’s failing body. Fourteen years later, Fatima is scraping a living in Noor while struggling to hide her Ifrit powers. Meanwhile, Noor is protected from the Shayateen by the maharajah’s troops and Ifrit warriors, with Zulfikar as the Ifrit Captain. When an Ifrit spiritual leader is murdered, Zulfikar needs to fill the vital vacancy quickly. Surprisingly, he finds his …

Pinyin Facilitation Or Hindrance Of Character Acquisition For Beginning Chinese Learners, Yung-Wei Wang

Theses and Dissertations

The current research built on Yan, Miller, Li, and Shu’s (2008) eye-tracking study, which examined how second grade native Chinese speakers focused on Pinyin and Chinese characters while reading sentences. This research also used eye-tracking to examine how Chinese foreign Language learners (CFL) fixated on Pinyin and Chinese characters to determine if Pinyin facilitated or distracted from character learning. Two groups participated in this research: first semester university students enrolled in a beginning level Chinese class, and third, fourth, and fifth grade students enrolled in Chinese dual language immersion (DLI). All participants were asked to read eight sentences in Chinese …

Technology In The Early Childhood Classroom: An Instructional Class For Pre-Service Teachers, Meagan Nielsen

Instructional Psychology and Technology Graduate Student Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a new Instructional Psychology and Technology (IP&T) course for Early Childhood Education (ECE) majors at Brigham Young University. Currently, ECE students take three 1-credit IP&T classes that focus on the following disciplines: integrating technology into the classroom, using coding and computational thinking in the classroom, and teaching in online and blended learning environments. These classes are geared towards K-12 education majors and are taught to a broader group of preservice teachers. ECE majors have a very defined set of grades and ages that they can teach, all of which have unique and …

How Brazilians Used Media To Cope With The Issues Brought By The Covid-19 Pandemic, Vivian De Melo Campos

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world faced lockdown and quarantine restrictions that encouraged or forced people to stay home. Along with the rest of the world, Brazil faced many difficulties during this period and it became one of the countries that lost more lives due to the Coronavirus infection worldwide. This study focuses on showing how people in Brazil coped with the challenges brought by the pandemic. It also focuses on showing if and how participants used media as a coping mechanism. The research was done through qualitative methods with semi-structured interviews with 25 adults who were living in …

Assessing Augmented Reality Instruction In Manufacturing Engineering Education, Janine Draper Price

Theses and Dissertations

Augmented Reality (AR) is fast-growing technology that has proved itself in many applications, including manufacturing environments. Manufacturing engineers benefit in an industrial environment by harnessing this technology in the workplace to guide workers through a variety of tasks. It is no longer a question on whether it is useful, but what are the best ways of applying the technology. Currently there are no published studies on ways to use augmented reality in a Manufacturing Engineering Educational Environment (MEEE). This study examines various ways that AR can be used in an MEEE setting and assesses the value of such applications. This …

Outdoor Air Pollution And Psychological Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis, Jeremy Stanley Bekker

Theses and Dissertations

Human life takes place as part of a global ecosystem, meaning that human mental health is at least partially tied to the health of the planet. Health experts who seek to promote psychological well-being should consider how changes to the broad ecological system may impact their efforts. Given the potential impact of the environment on human well-being, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the impact of air pollution on subjective well-being. The goal of this project was to outline the current state of the research on these constructs and provide a clear framework for what research is still needed. Nonsignificant …

Mindfulness And Observational Drawing, Corinne Christopherson Sonderegger

Theses and Dissertations

Observational drawing has many benefits, yet it can be a difficult and frustrating curriculum for students and teachers alike. As I was teaching elementary and college art classes simultaneously, I noticed a significant discrepancy between my younger and older students. Students in my elementary art classes loved to draw and often expressed how excited they were to make art. However, students in my college art classes were more hesitant and self-conscious about drawing and did not believe they could progress artistically. Many of these students had abandoned drawing in elementary or middle school. This pattern evokes the U curve of …

Psychometric Properties Of The Survey On Flourishing (Surf) In A Nationally Representative Adolescent Sample, Gus C. Salazar

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Adolescent subjective well-being is a topic that has gained significant focus over recent years. This focus is reflected in the formation of measurement tools and interventions used to better understand and improve adolescent mental health. While these are important steps, there still exist problems related to adolescent subjective well-being measurement. Notably, current measurement tools are limited in their content, applicability to various populations, and in their accessibility. Aims: The purpose of this paper is to examine the psychometric properties of the Survey on Flourishing (SURF) when used with a nationally representative adolescent sample. The SURF aims to address some …