Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Dyslexia As A Neurological Learning Disability: A Plan For An Instructive Website For Parents And Early Elementary Teachers, Rasma M. Gertners

Masters Projects

The learning disability known as “dyslexia” is often misunderstood by parents and educators. Dyslexia is a life-long, neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a deficit in phonological awareness and processing. Its likely causes are genetic as well as environmental. Other conditions known to co-occur with dyslexia are Speech and Language Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, memory problems, and others. In order for children with dyslexia to reach their highest reading potential, the disorder must be remediated before age seven or eight using intensive, explicit reading interventions. Teachers and other education professionals, using prescribed screening instruments, can identify phonological awareness …

Where To Start? A Tool For Thinking About The Sdgs And Community Foundation Work, Katie Leone, Tessa Lesage

The Foundation Review

The merits of advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are widely agreed upon by the global community, but designing and applying strategies to do so at the local level can be challenging. This article aims to support community foundations in moving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development forward in practical ways by exploring the use of a point-of-entry wheel to create a shared language that can help community foundations align their local efforts with the global goals.

Since 2012, Collaboratory has been exploring the potential for integrating sustainability — encompassing economic, social, and environmental pillars — as a strategic …

Lanthorn, Vol. 56, No. 07, October 4, 2021, Grand Valley State University

Volume 56, August 2, 2021 - April 18, 2022

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Lost Causal: Debunking Myths About Causal Analysis In Philanthropy, Jewlya Lynn, Sarah Stachowiak, Julia Coffman

The Foundation Review

What if philanthropic evaluations told us that changes in the world had occurred, as well as how and why they occurred, including in what ways foundation funding and grantees contributed to those changes? What if evaluations made change pathways more visible, tested hypotheses and assumptions, and generated new insights based on what happened in the “black box” of systems change strategies? This type of learning comes from causal analysis — inquiry that explores cause-andeffect relationships.

Yet currently in philanthropy, particularly for strategies and initiatives that feature high complexity, few evaluations use robust techniques for understanding causality. Instead, philanthropic evaluation tends …

Tfr 13.3 Full Issue

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Faith-Based Interest Groups On The Development Of The Trafficking Victims Protection Act Of 2000, Samantha K. Lynn

Masters Projects

In the nearly 21 years since the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) was passed, there has been an increase in research analyzing the influences that led to the development of the legislation and their impact on anti-trafficking efforts. A review of the literature revealed the most influential groups were faith-based interest groups who lobbied for a sex trafficking focus that would enforce an anti-prostitution agenda. The impact of faith-based interest groups on the 2000 TVPA and subsequent anti-trafficking policies has been significant and deserves critical analysis given the failures of the TVPA to effectively address trafficking crimes, in …

A Study On The Beliefs Of Juvenile Justice Practitioners On Youth Behavior And Treatment, Chase S. Christenson

Masters Theses

The following study was conducted to determine the beliefs juvenile justice practitioners (police officers, juvenile probation officers, and youth specialists) have about youth behavior through the lens of Wolfe’s (1998) Entitlement Theory. The four beliefs explored between juvenile justice practitioners are: (1) beliefs about why youth act out, (2) what changes youth behavior, (3) an expectation of youth obedience to authority, and (4) attachment relationships influencing youth behavior. The researcher used a 43-item survey measured with a 5-point Likert scale and open-ended questions that were administered to West Michigan’s juvenile justice practitioners through Qualtrics. Responses were analyzed using an ANOVA …

Can't Fail Curriculum…For All Grade Levels, Raymond Kettel

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

Making The Most Of An Adjunct Placement, Leah Morin, Austin Phillips, Jon Jeffryes

Presentations

This poster discusses approaches to ensure that adjunct placements leverage the temporary placement to the benefit of both adjunct librarians and institutions. Librarians can leverage short-term employment to develop skills and gain experience in new library environments. Libraries maintain services while seeking longterm solutions and progress on key projects leveraging skill areas supporting adjunct librarians’ professional development. Clear career goals, intentional supervision, and guidance on translating experience to future job applications can ground an adjunct appointment in mutually-beneficial principles.

Fostering A Sense Of Belonging In Students Who Are At-Risk For Suspension Or Expulsion: A Small-Group Intervention For Middle School Students, Shayna M. Brooks

Masters Projects

Research shows that students who are at-risk for suspension or expulsion lack a sense of belonging at school. A sense of belonging is an essential contribution to success at school and in life, and therefore, students who lack belonging are unable to reach their full potential. Students who are suspended or expelled are also more likely to drop out of school and be incarcerated as adults. Despite this research, many schools still have zero-tolerance policies in place that result in suspension and expulsion of students. Instead of teaching students the skills they need to be successful, suspension deprives students of …

Addressing Student Discipline Discrepancies Through Restorative Justice And Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports, Josh Jackson

Masters Projects

Schools throughout the country have relied on suspension and expulsion to create ‘safer’ schools, free from harm and distraction. This trend of reliance on suspension started in the mid-1990s, reaching its peak in 2011. This happened as a result of the implementation zero-tolerance discipline policies nearly nationwide. Zero-tolerance called for specific punishments for clearly outlined unsafe behaviors to start, but as years progressed, zero-tolerance in the form of suspension became a catch all for all types of behavior. In this shift toward suspension as a dominate form for behavior correction, Black students have been suspended at an alarming rate in …

To What Extent Is The Death Penalty A Tool Of Racial Terror In America, And How Can We Fix It?, Gabrielle Boileau

Honors Projects

In this project, I seek to answer the question: To what extent is the death penalty a tool of racial terror in America, and how can we fix it? America has long been plagued by the legacy of slavery and white supremacy. In the reconstruction era, when slavery was no longer legal, angry white citizens would simply round up African-Americans and lynch them if they felt they had done something “wrong”. However, in the modern era, such blatant displays of racism are illegal, and the racist views of society are subverted into the court system. Black men are disproportionately arrested …

Roles Of Social Media In The Black Lives Matter Movement During Covid-19, Reilly E. Olson

Honors Projects

By definition social movements reflect unique times in history. To fully grasp the implications of a movement the social and political climate that induce them must be understood. An intersectional model should be used when framing and studying the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, a modern descendant of both the NAACP and Civil Rights movement. From its inception, BLM has utilized social media as an important tool by coining #BlackLivesMatter, a hashtag that frequently comes to life offline as BLM organizers use it as a call for action and mobilization. The accessibility of social media made its role in the …

Poverty And Homelessness: History, Contributing Factors, Modern Reality And Misconceptions, Personal Narratives, And Community Impact, Makaella Caruth

Honors Projects

This paper provides tangible explanations and evidence as to the severity of poverty and homelessness. It utilizes national and local research, interviews with local organizations and programs, and personal experience doing outreach. Homelessness is a complex social issue stemming from how society was built and how it is regulated, which systemically outcasts those who are facing adversity. Many people are unaware of the realities of poverty and homelessness, especially with the power given to stereotypes and preconceived notions. These misconceptions need to be broken and there must be a more unified approach developed in order to overcome them, which involves …

Gendered Pronouns And Rape Myth Acceptance, Cassandra M. Merritt

Masters Theses

Rape myths, and the acceptance of these rape myths, have been studied extensively for the last several decades. Since the 1980s, researchers have used various rape myth acceptance (RMA) scalesRape Myth Acceptance Scale (Burt 1980), the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (Payne et al., 1999), and the Updated Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (McMahon & Farmer, 2011)-to examine whether certain factors (e.g., gender, just world beliefs, gender norm conformity, and police officer bias) influence individual RMA levels. Little to no research has explored how gendered pronouns used in these scales influence the levels of RMA measured. This study seeks to …

Impacts Of Racial Bias On Student Conduct Processes In Higher Education, Kaylin M. Zocharski

Masters Theses

Current research presents evidence of racial bias’ impacts on student conduct in education, yet most of the research focuses on K-12 schools. This thesis explores the impacts of racial bias on alcohol and other drug relate student conduct at the higher education level. Bias in student conduct can impact feelings of social isolation, lack of support, and identity crises that often increase the likelihood of academic attrition and mental health concerns. A content analysis of student conduct records at medium sized Predominantly White Institution (PWI) will examine the potential impacts of racial bias on this institution’s restorative justice student conduct …

A Descriptive Study Of Serial Killers And The Presence Of Macdonald Triad Symptoms, Vivian A. Zuniga

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an increased likelihood of the presence of Macdonald Triad symptoms (animal cruelty, bedwetting, and firesetting) based on different types of abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) among serial killers. The sample of this study was of 149 serial killers, all of whom met the requirements of being male and having killed 3 or more victims. The results support the three hypotheses that serial killers who have faced physical, sexual, or psychological abuse were more likely to display Macdonald Triad symptoms compared to those who were not abused. In addition, the …

Back Matter

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Placing Bets In A Complex Environment: One Foundation’S Approach To The Opioid Epidemic, Jill Yegian

The Foundation Review

Across the globe, foundations grapple with how to tackle complex, cross-sector societal problems. A major effort by the California Health Care Foundation to reduce opioid-related morbidity and mortality, launched just as opioid use was becoming understood as a problem that could reach epidemic proportions, presents an instructive case study of impact.

Starting in 2015, the foundation placed several “big bets” on initiatives aimed at stopping overdose deaths and preventing new addiction. That early investment had dramatic returns, laying the groundwork for scaling pilot projects statewide as hundreds of millions of dollars in government funding became available to address the crisis. …

Developing Critical Communities For Critical Conversations In K-12 Classrooms, Natalie Sue Svrcek, Henry Cody C. Miller

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

As marginalized identities are still largely denied representation in society and students from dominant groups lack sociocultural knowledge to live in a multicultural democracy, books are a powerful tool to address injustices. This article provides teacher candidates as well as practicing teachers with tools to address social justice topics in their classes by building critical communities to support critical conversations and subsequently using texts as tools for teaching in socially just ways. We offer a three part framework including 1) How teachers can begin to prepare to engage in critical conversations with students; 2) Laying out necessary steps for structuring …

Impact Of Benzodiazepines And Polysubstance Status On Repeat Non-Fatal Drug Overdoses, Sarah Mayberry, Sarah Nechuta, Shanthi Krishnaswami

Peer Reviewed Articles

Research has shown that benzodiazepines and mental health disorders can increase the likelihood of repeat overdose, but researcher have not explored this association in Tennessee (TN). We examined benzodiazepines, polysubstance overdose status with/without benzodiazepines, and mental health comorbidities with repeat overdose using statewide data in TN. This study analyzed TN hospital discharge data on nonfatal overdoses for patients ages 18–64 from 2012 to 2016 for 21,066 patients with an initial inpatient visit and 36,244 patients with an initial outpatient visit. The study assessed each patient at one year after initial overdose to determine likelihood of repeat overdose. We used a …

Child Exposure To Intimate Partner Violence In The Latin American Region, Gabriel Alvarado

McNair Scholars Manuscripts

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a major public health issue that harms thousands of families and communities across the globe. Unlike other forms of violence or criminal behavior, IPV is often concealed within the privacy of one's household, where the public cannot witness the occurrence of spousal abuse. Typically, more women are victims in an intimate relationship than men are based on recent research. However, there is a lack of research that investigates the vulnerability of a child who is exposed to IPV. This systematic literature review relates to the analysis and investigation of children exposed to IPV in Latin …

Gvsu Undergraduate And Graduate Catalog, 2021-2022, Grand Valley State University

Course Catalogs, 1963 - Current

Grand Valley State University 2021-2022 undergraduate and graduate course catalog. Course catalogs are published annually to provide students with information and guidance for enrollment.

2020-2021 Charter Schools Office Annual Report, Grand Valley State University

Annual Reports (GVSU Charter Schools Office)

No abstract provided.

Michigan Sex Offender Registry: Implications And Effects, Heather Damuth

Honors Projects

This paper discusses the Michigan Sex Offender Registry Act (SORA) and the ways that it affects offenders, the public, and society. It also discusses the conveniences and the challenges in relation to the SORA including discussions about public safety, and offender rights. The impacts on offenders, victims, and the general public are also discussed. The research was done through the Grand Valley State University Library, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Michigan Legislation. Sources were examined and combined to form an integrative research paper about the sex offender registry in Michigan.

Overcoming The Systemic Challenges Of Wealth Inequality In The U.S., David Peter Stroh

The Foundation Review

The galvanizing public murder of George Floyd and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and Hispanic people have put structural racism and its influence on wealth inequality in the U.S. into stark relief. As multiracial groups express outrage at these visible disparities, we risk missing the other side of the coin: that wealth inequality in turn fans structural racism. Moreover, as they reinforce each other, these two factors erode the social, economic, and political viability of our democracy. Understanding and then breaking this vicious cycle are essential to realizing our renewed commitment to a country that works everyone.

This …

Grand Valley Magazine, Vol. 20, No. 2, Fall 2020, Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley Magazine

Grand Valley Magazine is a quarterly publication about Grand Valley State University produced by University Communications since 2001.

Addressing Sexual Violence In K-12 Education, Taylor Bowie

McNair Scholars Manuscripts

Sexual assault has been widely recognized as a public health crisis for decades. Since at least the late 1980s, rates of sexual violence have been steady around 25% of women experiencing it by their freshman year of college. Our past and most prevalent prevention methods have consistently shown to be useless, as rates of violence have not decreased, and the results often do not lead to increased understanding about sexual assault and violence intervention. In recent years, college campuses have started to implement a new prevention education known as the bystander model. While the literature generally agrees it has some …

Occupation-Based Learning Modules In Preparation For Parole: A Program Evaluation, Alisha Cheyne, Gabrielle Martino, Elizabeth Vander Wall, Natalie Wallace

Community Based

A qualitative research study was conducted that examined occupational therapy students’ fieldwork rotation at Muskegon Correctional Facility, where they implemented a 15-week pre-parole program. One focus group with three participants was conducted. Transcription, coding, and theming followed, providing five themes; restriction, OT perceptions, learning styles, future needs, and relationships. Results showed areas of needs within this population, ways occupational therapy can address this need, and general improvements that can be made to pre-release programs.

Multinational Bibliography On Acculturation (1808-2020), With Url Links To Abstracts Or Full-Text, Joaquim Castro, Floyd W. Rudmin

Online Readings in Psychology and Culture

Acculturation is an ancient topic of scholarship, with ever more interest and importance as migration increases on a global scale. The pace of scholarship has accelerated in the past few decades, with the result that earlier scholarship tends to be lost and recent scholarship is often unfound. The following bibliography is intended to help remedy these kinds of problems. This 2020 revision of Rudmin’s 2011 bibliography has almost 8,300 references, including much of the acculturation literature written in Portuguese, French, and Spanish.